The following is a letter from Father Christopher Tuttle, Vicar Forane and Pastor of the Ross and Pike Consortium:

     After surveying the needs of everyone within the Ross and Pike County Consortium, the Mass schedule will be changing.
     The current Sunday morning Mass schedule is problematic due to the fact that there are concurrent Mass times. Right now, we have an 8am Mass at St. Peter, a 9:30am Mass at St. Mary Waverly, a 10am Mass at St. Mary Chillicothe, and an 11:30am Mass at St. Peter. This is an issue if one of the two priests assigned here are ill of a Sunday morning. Also, there are no nearby priests who aren't already saying Masses. Additionally, if the number of priests in the diocese determines there is only one priest for this consortium in the future, the schedule needs to accommodate that.
     So, there needs to be enough time between the Masses for priests and musicians to travel, especially when this becomes one canonical parish. Moreover, to facilitate the catechetical needs and emphasis in the consortium, we need the Chillicothe parish Mass times to be spread apart (8am and 12pm) to accommodate for that. Also, after seeing the October count numbers from years past and Mass attendance since I have been here, 4 Masses are sufficient.
     Therefore, the new Sunday Mass schedule will start the weekend of September 9-10, 2023.  It will be as follows:

Saturdays: 5pm @ St. Mary Chillicothe
Sundays: 8am @ St. Peter Chillicothe, 10am @ St. Mary Waverly, 12pm @ St Mary Chillicothe

     Thank you all for your understanding, and let us pray for each other as we go forward!
 

The results of the Real Presence, Real Future planning initiative are now available! Please visit the official diocesan website: Real Presence, Real Future - Catholic Diocese of Columbus (columbuscatholic.org)

Information regarding the Chillicothe-Waverly consortium can be found on page 90.

Bishop Fernandes has given permission for parishes in the Diocese of Columbus to explore the renewal of the practice of offering the Eucharist under both kinds, with the host and the chalice for those who wish to receive it.

Several notes are necessary:

1. This is not yet a full renewal of the former practice. It is a time of experimentation which will begin on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and will take place at ONE Mass in each parish on the Sundays of the Easter Season. In the Consortium, this will be the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Peter’s, the 9:30 a.m. Mass at Waverly St. Mary Queen of the Missions, and the 10 a.m. Mass at Chillicothe St. Mary’s.

2. No one is obliged to receive from the Chalice. When you receive the Host, you receive the whole Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus the Risen Lord. He is fully Present under both forms.

3. If you choose to receive from the Chalice, you must do so by taking the Chalice from the minister and taking a sip, then handing the Chalice back to the minister. No one is permitted to “dip the Host” into the Chalice. The extraordinary ministers will be instructed not to allow anyone who attempts to do so. This is a strict instruction from the Bishop for the permission to renew distribution under both kinds.

4. We will take this opportunity to return to the former manner of coming forward to receive Holy Communion, with the Host being distributed in the center at all Masses. Communicants will come out of the pew row by row from the front as was the usual practice pre-Covid.

Thank you for your cooperation with this effort.

Effective July 11, 2023, there will be a few changes to our pastoral team. Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes, Bishop of Columbus, has made the following priest appointments that will affect the Chillicothe-Waverly consortium of St. Peter in Chillicothe, St. Mary in Chillicothe, and St. Mary Queen of the Missions in Waverly:

* Father Timothy Hayes has been appointed pastor of St. Edward the Confessor Church in Granville, Ohio.
* Father Christopher Tuttle, current pastor of St. Peter in Columbus, will be taking his place as pastor of the Chillicothe-Waverly consortium.
* Father Milton Kiocha has been appointed parochial vicar of St. Pius X Church in Reynoldsburg.

We thank Father Hayes and Father Kiocha for their years of service  to our consortium, and welcome Father Tuttle!

Let us all pray for these three priests, as well as all priests in our Diocese and greater Catholic Church, during this time of transition and change.

Click on the link below to read the Catholic Times article about the upcoming changes:

Priest assignments will affect churches in diocese - Catholic Times: Read Catholic News & Stories (catholictimescolumbus.org)

118 Church St. (Church)
285 W. Water St. (Church offices enter from side door by                          church)
126 Church St. (Convent)
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601

740-774-1407 - Church Office
740-774-0474 - Convent
740-701-2552 - Sacramental Emergencies
740-772-2812 - St. Vincent de Paul Society
                  (for monetary or food assistance)

Contact Us
Office Hours are
Mon-Thurs 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (closed 12-1 for lunch)
Fri 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

New Consortium Weekend Mass Schedule (Effective September 9, 2023)
Saturday  5:00 p.m. @ St. Mary Chillicothe
Sunday     8:00 a.m. @ St. Peter
                    10:00 a.m. @ St. Mary Waverly
                    12:00 p.m. @ St. Mary Chillicothe

Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday          5:30 p.m. @ St. Peter
Tuesday          8:30 a.m. @ St. Mary Chillicothe
Wednesday   8:30 a.m. @ St. Peter
                          5:30 p.m. @ St. Mary Waverly
Thursday        8:30 a.m. @ St. Peter
Friday              8:30 a.m. @ St. Mary Chillicothe
                          9:30 a.m. @ Bishop Flaget School
Saturday        8:30 a.m. @ St. Mary Waverly

Reconciliation Schedule
Monday        6:00 p.m. @ St. Peter
Wednesday 6:00 p.m. @ St. Mary Waverly
Thursday      9:00 a.m. @ St. Peter
Saturday      9:00 a.m. @ St. Mary Waverly
                       4:00 p.m. @ St. Mary Chillicothe

Whether you wish to set up your weekly or monthly stewarship of treasure, become a Sister Guardian or the various charities, click the Online Giving link below.  For more information about being a Sisters Guardian, visit the Sister Guardian page under Parish Information above.

(to be prayed when one cannot receive the Blessed Sacrament)

My Jesus, 
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 
I love You above all things, 
and I desire to receive You into my soul. 
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally, 
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.