Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How’s your Lent Going?
 Hopefully we are all learning to trust in the Lord more. Keep persevering through the desert. It is the perseverance, even through failure and struggle, that helps us trust - that gives God more of an opening to work his grace in us. Remember too that Lent leads us to deeper charity. How about spiritual and corporal works of mercy? Let’s make sure those are on our list too as we journey together through this holy season.

New Process for Distribution of Holy Communion - Trial Period
My hope is this way of coming forward is helpful for people to reverently and prayerfully encounter our Lord in Holy Communion. I am glad to hear any of your reflections or comments on this new process. Again, this is a trial period. At Easter we will return to the previous pattern. We can then discern if we should incorporate this at any point in the future.

Church Security
Security for our church building is important. Even more important is the safety of all who participate in parish life on our campus. Most of the time we lock the church unless there is Mass or some other public prayer service. The one exception was on Tuesdays from 7:30-3pm in order to have some time for people to come and visit the Lord for a holy hour. Sadly, we need to start locking the church on Tuesdays as well. There have not been any major incidents, but I think we are pushing our luck. Furthermore, we now have more young families and high school students in the school building, which can be accessed from the Church. As of now there is no other way of securing the school without locking the church. We will be looking at some options in order to open the church more while still securing the rest of the building. I am sorry if this affects anyone who wishes to come pray on Tuesdays. However, if there are people who want a regular prayer group to meet in the church during the week (not only on Tuesdays) that is possible, but folks will have to work that out with our rectory staff to let the group into the church. Again, I am sorry for any inconvenience, and I very much desire to leave our church open every day for people to visit, but we have to be mindful of proper safety as well.

Monday Night Lenten Holy Hours
Each week has been for a particular intention. Each Holy Hour will begin at 6pm and conclude with Solemn Benediction. 
            Mar 6 - Pope Francis and the Universal Church
            Mar 13 - Bishop Malesic and the Diocese Cleveland
            Mar 21 - Parish of St. Paul
            Mar 28 - Unity in the Church
            Apr  4  - Deeper Reverence in the Liturgy

Confession Opportunities
Lent is word that means spring.  It is a time then for spring cleaning.  That means spiritual spring cleaning of the soul.  Here are the extra opportunities coming up:
At St. Paul’s Thursdays of Lent from 6-7pm

Cluster Parish confessions: 5-6pm on:
Mar 22 at Queen of Heaven Parish
Mar 29 at St Paul Parish
April 4 at St Francis de Sales Parish

Do You Need a “Sponsor Certificate?”
The church normally requires a godparent or sponsor to be chosen for a person being baptized or confirmed respectively. This role is not a merely honorary title but one who is meant to mentor and guide a young person in the Catholic Faith. As such the church requires certain things to be a sponsor. Please check our website for more info on these requirements.
If you are asked to be a sponsor, depending on the local parish, you may be asked to provide a “sponsor certificate” to the parish where the confirmation or baptism candidate is receiving the sacrament. Often, people confuse a “sponsor certificate” with a baptismal record. People sometimes think that since they were baptized here then we will automatically issue a sponsor certificate. This is not how it works. A sponsor certificate from St. Paul’s speaks to how a person is currently living their faith at this parish. I cannot provide a certificate for someone who has  moved away or has stopped practicing the Faith. If you know someone who needs a sponsor certificate, tell them to go to the current parish where they are practicing the Faith. Also, tell them to call; rather than calling on their behalf. The sponsor role is important so we want to make sure people see it as such. It is not just a piece of paper the priest has to sign. For more info check our website or call the rectory if you have questions.

Happy Lent!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr