Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence to all Catholics as the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) celebrates the upcoming anniversary of the death of Dominican St. Thomas Aquinas.

The indulgence is available until January 28, 2025, the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Within the Diocese of Columbus, there are several places connected with the Dominican order, including Columbus St. Patrick Church, Somerset St. Joseph Church and the Dominican Sisters of Peace in Columbus.

“Drawing on the heavenly treasures of the Church,” the Apostolic Penitentiary, which is the office responsible for indulgences in the Church, “willingly grants a plenary indulgence, which the truly penitent and charitable faithful can enjoy under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the supreme pontiff), and which can be applied by way of suffrage also to the souls of the faithful departed still in purgatory wherever they make a pilgrimage to a holy place connected with the Order of Friars Preachers, and there devoutly take part in the jubilee ceremonies, or at least devote a suitable time to pious recollection, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the symbol of faith and invocations of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. Thomas Aquinas.”

The elderly, the sick and those who are unable to leave their homes for any serious reason will also be able to obtain a plenary indulgence. Despising all of their sins and with the intention of fulfilling the three usual conditions as soon as possible, they spiritually join in the Jubilee celebrations in front of an image of St. Thomas Aquinas, offering to the merciful God their prayers as well as the sorrows and ills of their lives.


Msgr. Hendricks honored for LifeCare Alliance work

Msgr. Joseph Hendricks, retired pastor of Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare Church, has received Medical Mutual’s Nonprofit Board Executive of the Year award for his 10 years as a LifeCare Alliance board member.

He coordinates strategic direction and planning for the board and is its immediate past chair. He also has served the board as secretary and vice chair.

In retirement, he continues to be busy, working as Bishop Earl Fernandes’ delegate for community relations, president and chief executive officer of The Villas at St. Therese, and vice president and chief operating officer of Seton Square Housing Corp. In addition, he serves on multiple boards in the community.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Msgr. Hendricks led the LifeCare Alliance board as its chair and offered advice and direction to the organization and its president, helping them meet an increasing demand for services. Demand for meals is still up as much as 83 percent from before the pandemic. However, LifeCare Alliance Meals on Wheels has never seen a waitlist.


Men's Club to hear talk about Archbishop Sheen

Michael Fry will give a presentation titled “A Visit with Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen” at the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club meeting on Friday, March 1 at Columbus St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave., after the 11:45 a.m. Mass. 

No reservations are necessary. A $12 donation to cover the cost of the lunch is requested. 

Fry teaches theology at Columbus Bishop Watterson High School and serves as alumni liaison at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He will share highlights from Archbishop Sheen’s life and letters that he received from him, concluding with a prayer for Archbishop Sheen’s canonization. Each attendee will be able to leave with a third-class relic prayer card.

The club’s next meeting will be on Friday, April 5, featuring a talk by William Heyer on sacred architecture. If you are interested in sponsoring a luncheon, contact Pat Foley at [email protected]. 

SPICE sponsors St. Patrick Day party

SPICE (Special People in Catholic Education) will host its 21st annual St. Patrick party at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 2 in Sorohan Hall of Columbus St. Catharine Church, 500 S. Gould Road.

The event will be a night of Irish fun, fellowship, food, beverages, Irish dancers and entertainment by the Hooligans.  

For reservations or more information, visit the parish website www.stcatharine.com or call the parish office at (614) 231-4509.

Proceeds will benefit SPICE, which started at St. Catharine Church more than 20 years ago and has spread to parishes in the Diocese of Columbus and beyond. Its mission of SPICE is to raise awareness of people with special needs and how to serve them in a Catholic school and parish setting, to raise funds or such work and to serve as a model for other parishes. 

For more information about SPICE, contact Mary Ginn Ryan at [email protected].


Aquinas alumni announce meeting schedule

The Columbus Aquinas High School Alumni Association has announced its schedule of lunches for 2024. 

All lunches are on Mondays with doors opening at 11 a.m. Dates are April 1, May 6, June 3, Aug. 5 and Oct. 7 at the TAT Ristorante di Famiglia, 1210 S. James Road, Columbus, and Sept. 9 at Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School, 2010 E. Broad St.

For more information, contact Lou Nobile at (614) 313-5889 or [email protected].