65th anniversary

65th anniversary

YOUNGSTOWN

The male chorus of Mount Zion Baptist Church, 827 Wilson Ave., will celebrate its 65th anniversary with a program at 4 p.m. Sept. 20.

Male choruses from Ohio and Pennsylvania will present songs of praise.

Ministries chapter

boardman

Dr. Pete Wasko of New Wilmington, Pa., will be guest speaker when the Youngstown Chapter of Igniting New Life Ministries, an interdenominational ministry, meets Monday at Elton Beard Cabin in Boardman Park.

Fellowship will begin at 6:30 p.m. with ministry at 7.

He is a retired chiropractor and now serves full time with his “Acquire the Edge Ministries.”

His journey includes serving in Vietnam, battling drugs and alcohol, being in a mental institution to becoming a doctor then inspirational speaker.

Men of Faith

COLUMBIANA

Men of Faith will meet at 8 a.m. next Saturday at Das Dutch Haus Restaurant, 14895 South Ave. Ext., for Rick Kinsey Day on the theme “The Power of Your Words.”

Speaker will be Matt Miller with special music by Melanie Miller.

Parish family picnic

HUBBARD

St. Patrick Church will sponsor a parish family picnic and Mass on Sunday in the large pavilion at Chestnut Ridge Park to welcome the new pastor, the Rev. Mike Swierz.

Parishioners will gather in the park at 11:30 a.m. with a Mass at noon. There will be no 11 a.m. Mass at the church.

A picnic will follow, and hot dogs, utensils and paper products will be provided. Parishioners are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert to share and non-alcoholic beverages.

Family games including horseshoes, volleyball and cornhole are planned.

Special occasions

villa maria, pa.

Two members of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary continued their journey of faith in two separate celebrations to mark the occasions.

In August, Eilis McCulloh celebrated the Rite of Entrance into the Novitiate, ending her candidacy year, and took the next step on her journey as she became a novice.

Sister Audrey Abbata continued her journey with a First Profession ceremony in September, where she professed to spend the next three years in vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Annulment reform

YOUNGSTOWN

After a yearlong study by experts in church law, the Vatican has announced a reform of the procedure for obtaining an annulment of a previous marriage. These changes are meant to simplify and shorten the annulment process in the Catholic Church.

A major change in the process will be that cases that are judged in one ecclesiastical court will no longer need to be confirmed by a second court unless an appeal is made by one of the parties. In a case that is unambiguous, the local bishop will judge the case himself rather than referring it to a tribunal.

These and other changes in the annulment process take effect Dec. 8, the first day of the Holy Year of Mercy.

In a statement of Sept. 8, Pope Francis said: “It is therefore the concern for the salvation of souls that, today as yesterday, remains the supreme objective of the institutions and laws, and drives the Bishop of Rome to offer to the Bishops this reform document, insofar as they share with him the task of the Church to protect the unity in faith and in discipline regarding marriage, the cornerstone and origin of the Christian family. The drive to reform has been fueled by the enormous number of faithful who, while wishing to be at peace with their conscience, are too often separated from the legal structures of the Churches due to physical or moral distance; charity and mercy therefore require that the same Church, as a mother, to be closer to her children who consider themselves separated.”

Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown said: “This reform of the annulment process is an important step in protecting both the indissolubility of marriage while at the same time offering those whose marriages have failed an opportunity to be reunited with the Church. I hope and pray that presently divorced and remarried Catholics will welcome this opportunity to apply for an annulment.”

Pope Francis called for the annulment process to be free; Bishop Murry has eliminated all fees. For information, call Monsignor Peter Polando, judicial vicar of the diocese at 330-744-8451.