Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Live Streaming is Here! Thankfully due to the efforts of a couple of our younger parishioners we can live stream events on “Facebook Live.” At the time of this writing our plan is to live stream the Holy Week Liturgies of Palm Sunday at 8:30am, Holy Thursday at 7pm, Good Friday at 3pm, and Easter Vigil at 8pm, and Easter Sunday at 9:30am. At the time of this writing there are still a few things to work out and this should be the schedule.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, WE ARE ESSENTIAL!!! Even with the stay-at-home order, religious institutions are largely exempt - and rightly so! Offering worship to God, prayer, spiritual support is ESSENTIAL! Never let anyone say religion is merely a nice bonus if we get some time. Faith is not nice sprinkles on the top of society’s cupcake.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is a surreal and sad time. As you have heard by now or noticed if you tried coming to Church, all public Masses and Liturgies are canceled through Easter. All Catholics in Ohio are of course dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass until after Easter. The speed at which the news comes may supersede what I write in this column.

“After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately (3/16/20), to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/Liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops dispense the Catholic faithful in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.” - The Catholic Conference of Ohio

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Corona Virus Update We have seen in the news the concern over the spread of the corona virus. At the time of this writing there are now three confirmed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Concerned for the health of our parishioners and the appropriate celebration of Mass, the Diocese issued a memo with liturgical instructions. The one which we implemented ourselves last week was suspending the distribution of the Precious Blood from the cup.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Change in Distribution of Holy Communion at Mass We have seen in the news the concern over the spread of the corona virus. At the time of this writing there are confirmed cases in the United States but thankfully, not yet in Ohio. Concerned for the health of our parishioners and the appropriate celebration of Mass, the Diocese issued a memo with suggestions for parishes to consider.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Holy Season of Lent The annual Church wide retreat has begun! The beauty of violet vestments, the emphasis on silence in our worship, the “giving up” of certain things as well as the “giving more” of oneself and one’s gifts for others. All to help us grow in our love of God and neighbor. Below are lists for the works of mercy.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Honoring Marriage Month. As you have already noticed, we are praying for married couples and the sacrament of marriage as our post-Mass devotional this month. In the bulletin is a whole page of marriage resources and retreat opportunities. Check it out In addition there will be a special blessing of married couples after all the Masses next weekend (Feb 22,23). If you feel so inclined wear your wedding dresses and tuxedos! Or if that is not possible, dress up special and rejoice in God’s blessing of you marriage!

Beginning Ash Wednesday February 26, we will begin chanting "Ave Regina Caelorum" throughout the Lenten Season.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Catholic Charities Appeal Thank you to all who participated in this year’s Catholic Charities Appeal. This year’s theme is “Faces of Hope: Though We are Many, We are One in Christ.” Please know that even though this is a diocesan collection, the benefits come back to helping people in our parish who benefit from Summit County Catholic Charity services

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Catholic Charities Appeal This weekend is the first of two opportunities to support the Catholic Charities Annual Diocesan Appeal. The second weekend will be in a few months. This weekend we will hear a recording from Bishop Perez, who graciously chose one of his final acts as bishop of Cleveland to be with us on our Feast day two weeks ago.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Candlemas Day! Since the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) falls on a Sunday this year we will have the traditional procession with candles (weather permitting) at the 8:15 Mass. So when you arrive go to the PAC if want to walk in the procession. We will bless candles.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Feast Day!!! May God’s blessings and joy be with us all during this great celebration of our patronal feast! St. Paul, pray for us! One might be tempted to complain that every year our big celebration is in January usually with cold, snow, ice, or slush. It is tough to get out, it is still getting dark pretty early, and there is a grey “blah” feeling.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Eucharistic Devotions Every year our Eucharistic Devotions coincide with celebrating our parish Patronal Feast. What a busy but grace-filled time, and quite fitting since as a parish we strive to keep our Eucharistic Lord at the center of all we do. This year will be a little different since the Bishop will be here for the Feast Day.

Encouraging the Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany! and Get ready for our Feast Day! I know the Christmas season ends after this weekend, but let’s celebrate and get out of it as much as we can! Hopefully this time has been grace filled and spiritually fruitful for us. May we continue to foster that spirit through the year.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   Keep Christmas Going! The season of Advent was all preparation for a major step in God’s saving mission.  Now we celebrate that event and meditate on it for a while.  Going deeper this Christmas season will help get ready for the next steps that lead us to Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. 

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas and Happy Feast of the Holy Family! We continue in this great octave of Christmas celebrating the sublime truth of God the Son, having assumed a human nature to Himself was born of the Virgin Mary to usher in new hope of salvation. God in perfect love condescends to His fallen sinful creatures and is born among them utterly vulnerable.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The “Advent Turn” Toward the Nativity What we might call the “Advent turn” is complete. I do not mean here the turning toward the Lord with “ad orientem” worship (which we have already been doing for 3 weeks). I mean it here like turning a corner.

Perhaps seventy-five or more people attended Saturday mornings Rorate Caeli Mass. It was a beautiful Mass honoring our Blessed Mother. The entire mass was said in candlelight.

Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Gaudete Sunday and “O” Antiphons The Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete (Latin for “Rejoice”) Sunday. Today is a little liturgical oasis when we wear rose colored vestments pointing us to the joy that is soon to come. This day also functions as a hinge in our Advent focus.