Sunday, June 14, 2026 – The Eleventh Sunday In Ordinary Time
One evening recently I saw the news report regarding the celebration of life of Rodney Jordan, the owner of Cali Bar in Bond Hill. Rodney Jordan died as a result of a car crash on May 16. At this celebration and remembrance of his life, countless residents of the Bond Hill area sang his praises and the good he offered to the neighborhood. His bar was a welcoming place to gather. He also offered it to families who needed a gathering place after a funeral and were unable to afford a more expensive venue. It drew patrons from across Cincinnati and beyond. Jordan organized coat drives and back-to-school supply events. A friend reflected “He was just the shining star anywhere he went, he just shined.” And “the atmosphere he created was one of peace and togetherness. It was always peaceful, no chaos and confusion. It was just like one big family.”
We all deserve a place like the Cali Bar and good friends and neighbors like Mr. Jordan. We often need that kind of place to heal emotionally and be around those who are there to support us. It can be an oasis in a world where we often are on edge regarding what we can do and say. And returning to a word we all know, these settings offer the best of “community.” Community is at its best and achieves its purpose when we feel the love and support and we question and challenge one another with sensitive and pastoral care.
I hope and believe our St. Francis de Sales parish community meets these standards. We hear that we have a welcoming community where we greet one another with smile. We are interested in each other’s lives. Our before and after mass getting acquainted with each other makes real that we our united as members of the Body of Christ. We like our social events like Donut Sundays and Brunch N’ Learns. We are looking forward to our parish picnic on Sunday, July 12 We do have a really good thing going here at the parish.
In thinking about these important venues of gathering and support, it calls to mind that fictional watering hole in Boston named Cheers – the location of a famous comedy television show from years ago. May our parish and many other social gathering places live up to the Cheers theme song:
Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name.