Athens Catholic Community

02/01/2026

Deacon Dan Murray passed away at home, surrounded by his family, on January 30, 2026 after a long battle with Ulcerative Colitis.

Deacon Dan joined the diaconate formation program in the Diocese of Steubenville where he was ordained in November 2012. Dan’s ordination was one of the happiest days of his life. He served as a Deacon in our community for just over 7 years before he and his wife, Lisa, moved back to Columbus.

Dan’s faith not only moved him to join the clergy as a deacon, but also served as a foundation for how he navigated the world. As a middle school English and Social Studies teacher, Dan’s students found him engaging and challenging. He expected everyone to rise to the learning before them. He supported various extracurriculars, including coaching football and directing musicals, most notably his favorite- “Bye, Bye, Birdie!” Dan was also an administrator and worked passionately to establish programs to serve gifted students, first in Vinton County and then at Nelsonville-York City Schools. He was so proud of the students he worked with and shared their excitement and joy as they discovered more about themselves and the world around them.

Dan loved nothing more than to be a part of his community. Before becoming an ordained deacon, Dan was active in the Church community as a lay person, serving as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and sharing his voice as a cantor and lector during Mass. He was an avid sports fan and especially loved baseball and football. Dan found community in everything he did, even activities his children participated in.

As he grew older, he enjoyed spending his time on the sidelines of his granddaughters’ softball and soccer games, laughing with his grandsons at their jokes and antics, attending school concerts and plays, and taking them all to get ice cream when they visited in the summer. His pride in his grandchildren was evident and he spoke often of how he loved them and his amazement at how they were growing and participating in the world around them.

Visitation will be held at 10am on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Sunbury, Ohio. A Mass of Christian Burial will directly follow at 11am. Burial will take place on Friday, February 6, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio at 11:30am. A memorial Mass will be held in Athens, Ohio at a date to be determined.

01/31/2026

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Dan Murray who served in our parishes for many years.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Daniel P. Murray, who died Jan. 30 at the age of 78.

01/23/2026

Information on Mass Attendance and Severe Weather:

The Diocese of Steubenville encourages the faithful to exercise prudential judgment in deciding if it is safe enough to drive to Mass this weekend as we prepare for projected severe winter weather. One’s own safety and the safety of others is a most important matter.

Severe weather (such as is in the forecast) would constitute a grave cause that makes it impossible for the faithful to participate in the celebration of Mass (see canon 1248 §2). Because of the impossibility, the faithful are excused from the Sunday obligation.

You may attend a Saturday evening Vigil Mass if the severe weather has not yet begun at that time and it is possible for you to do so. If you are unable to participate in Sunday Mass, Catholics should devote some time on Sunday at home to worshiping God, including such possibilities as reading Scripture, silent meditation, praying the Rosary, family prayer, and other forms of prayer. Watching the Mass online or on television and making a spiritual communion is also encouraged.

Please contact your local parish for any information on possible changes in the liturgy schedule for the weekend.

07/23/2025

It’s not too late to register for next week’s VBS - Cathletics: Training to be Champions for Christ! VBS will be held Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00-8:15 p.m. at Christ the King and the Holy Family Center. On Friday, we’ll conclude with Mass and a community potluck picnic on the grounds of Christ the King. All are welcome! Register here: https://athenscatholic.org/vbs-registration

05/18/2025

It’s been a spring full of sacraments in our community! In early April, 22 students from St. Paul/Christ the King and Sacred Heart were confirmed by Bishop Edward Lohse. At Easter, we welcomed 13 people into full communion (with 5 baptisms!) at the Easter Vigil. Two weeks ago, 2 students made their First Holy Communion at Holy Cross. And today, 12 students made their First Holy Communion at St. Paul. Thanks be to God for His wonderful blessings on our community!

05/05/2025

Yesterday, the children in the Religious Education Program in Athens celebrated May Crowning at the 10:00 Mass at Christ the King. We pray for the Blessed Mother’s protection and guidance for both our children and the whole world in the days and weeks ahead: “O Virgin most tender, Our homage we render, Thy love and protection, Sweet Mother, to win; In danger defend us, In sorrow befriend us, And shield our hearts from contagion and sin.”

04/13/2025

Today, we held our annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children in the Religious Education program in Athens. Thanks to the contributions of generous parishioners, we filled 900+ eggs and had 5 hunts separated by age: the littlest hunters went right after the 10:00 Mass, followed by RE classes (PreK, K and 1st; 5th/6th; 3rd/4th; and First Sacraments). Many thanks to OU Catholics students Benjamin, Clare, Sheridan, and Danny (and some parents) for their help hiding eggs!

Because of the generosity of our parish community, we had enough eggs and candy to share with the college students and our friends at Sacred Heart and Holy Cross after Easter Masses next Sunday!

03/06/2025

Starting Friday, March 7, the Athens Knights of Columbus will host Fish Fry Dinners on Fridays of Lent at the Holy Family Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dinner is $12 and includes fried or baked fish, fries or baked potato, green beans and coleslaw. There is also special pricing available for families. Desserts are not included with the meal but will be available for donation. Please join us on Fridays during Lent for fish and fellowship! Stations of the Cross will be prayed in the church at Christ the King on Fridays at 7:00 p.m.

03/05/2025

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Today is also a day where Catholics fast and abstain from eating meat.

01/18/2025

Today, 15 students made their First Confession as they prepare to make their first Communion later this spring. The students and their parents gathered for a retreat to learn more about Jesus the Good Shepherd who sets out to bring the lost sheep home. Fr. Mark and Mr. Brett role-played confession so students could see what to expect, and students made lambs that featured some of their personality traits to assist them in the confessional. The lambs returned to the pasture with Christ the Good Shepherd after the students went to confession.

01/05/2025

The Religious Education program in Athens had an Epiphany Celebration to celebrate the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God as revealed to the Three Wisemen. A common tradition is to bless houses on this feast, and our Catholic Women’s Club has provided House Blessing Kits with holy water and blessed chalk for parishioners to bless their homes. With the blessed chalk, we write the year and the initials CMB above the door as illustrated for 2025: 20+C+M+B+25. The initials have two meanings. Historically, they refer to the names traditionally attributed to the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Spiritually, they refer to the blessing itself, represented by the Latin prayer: “Christus mansionem benedicat” (May Christ bless this house). The crosses recall our salvation in Christ. Students participated in a blessing of the Holy Family Center as our house of learning and fellowship, and celebrated with cupcakes and crown making afterwards!

12/15/2024

On this Gaudete Sunday, we celebrated with a blessing of the Baby Jesuses from parishioners’ home crèches at the Masses in Athens. And in Religious Ed, our first graders participated in their own posada with Ms. Gaby and her father who is visiting from Mexico. And our 3rd and 4th graders treated us with a re-enactment of the Creation Story and Mary’s yes. What joy we had as we prepare for Christ’s birth at Christmas!