St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Defiance, Ohio

09/13/2026

Women's Faith Sharing & Study
starting Sept. 14 in the St. Luke Rm
6:30-7:30 pm
Contact Pam with any questions
419-980-9922

09/12/2026

OCIA: For people who are considering becoming Catholic, the Church offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). We have one OCIA process for both parishes. The next OCIA cohort will begin formal sessions on Thursday, Sept 17 from 7:30-9:15 pm at St. Mary's Parish Ministry Center. The cohort will be viewing and discussing the video series, "The Search." Since this video series is also the focus of the upcoming women's formation series on Monday evenings (and to encourage participation for those sessions), the OCIA sessions will not be open to parishioners until November 5, 2026. The topic or focus for the upcoming OCIA session will be indicated in the bulletin beginning with the weekend of November 1. For someone who is considering becoming Catholic, even if it is after Sept 17, email Fr. Kevin, Parochial Vicar, to get started at [email protected]

09/11/2026

Gospel Reflection by Bishop Barren: Luke 6:39–42
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus commands us to stop judging others. He asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” We are exceptionally good at seeing the fault in others, but we are exceptionally adept at ignoring it in ourselves.

There was a very popular book that came out when I was a teenager. It was called I’m Okay and You’re Okay. It represented the culture of exculpation and feel-good-about-yourself. Not many years ago, Christina Aguilera crooned, “I am beautiful in every single way, and words can’t bring me down.” Look at so many of the debates today; the attitude that is winning is one of self-invention and self-assertion. “Who are you to tell me how to behave?”

In all of this, we are fundamentally looking away from our guilt, our fault, our darkness. We are effectively drugging ourselves, dulling the pain of real self-consciousness. In the process, we turn ourselves into God, pretending to be absolute, flawless, and impervious to criticism. So “remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

09/11/2026

09/11/2026

Domestic Church Corner: Pray for each family member by name.

09/10/2026

🎟️ GET PUNCHED & WIN BIG! 🎉

One card. Three stops. One BIG prize!

Visit all three Defiance Comes Together events on Saturday, September 12, get your card punched at each stop, and you’re entered to win an awesome Char-Broil Grill, Jacob’s Meats Bundle, grilling accessories & MORE! 🔥🥩

Fiesta Defiance ➡️ Arabella Street Fest ➡️ See the Able, Not the Label

Three celebrations. One amazing community. ❤️
Get out there and GET PUNCHED

09/10/2026

🎩🍭 ONE AMAZING DAY ON ARABELLA! 🍭🎩

Okay, Defiance… THIS is the day we’ve been talking about! 🎉

From the Wonka Wobble Amazing Race in the morning to Sunset Blvd rocking the street at night, we’ve packed Arabella with FOOD, MUSIC, KIDS FUN, RAFFLES, GAMES and a whole lot of Wonka-style surprises! 💜✨

🍷 Wonka’s Winery
🥃 Wonka’s Secret Stash
🎟️ $5,000 MEGA Raffle
🏈 Buckeye Tailgate Party
💃 Line Dancing
🎸 Sunset Blvd LIVE
🍩 Krispy Kreme
🍿 Flock Corn & Wonka Floats
🎪 Kids Fun Zone
💵 Cash Cube
…and SO. MUCH. MORE.

There’s really only one question left…

WHERE WILL YOU BE SATURDAY? 👀

We know where we’ll be. 😏

📍 Arabella Street • Downtown Defiance
📅 Saturday, September 12

🍭 GOOD FOOD. GOOD PEOPLE. GREAT MEMORIES.
💜

09/10/2026

🍿 THE FLOCK CORN IS IN THE WORKS! 🍿

The kitchen was popping today! The ladies of The Flock have been busy making batch after batch of their homemade caramel corn for Saturday’s Arabella Street Fest. 💜

Sweet, crunchy, buttery…and made with a whole lot of love (and apparently a whole lot of butter! 😂).

Come hungry and grab some Flock Corn before it disappears!

📅 Saturday, September 12
📍 Arabella Street | Downtown Defiance
💜