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

Praise be Jesus Christ in this new year!

Happy Feast Day St. Paul’s
Due to a miscommunication, I did not expect Bishop Malesic to be here for our 4:30 Mass this weekend.  Thankfully it all worked out, but I could only give short notice about his presence. 
My original hope was that covid would be over by now and we could have a proper Feast Day Celebration with a social and finally conclude our 100th Anniversary, which we were robbed of. Alas, here we are and still waiting.  But we are grateful that last feast day Bishop Perez was here before he went to Philadelphia, and this year we have our new shepherd to visit us. While we cannot have the reception or social, I would have liked to, we are glad to meet our new bishop as we continue to persevere through these times united as a church.

Eucharistic Devotions
Every year at our Feast Day we are also blessed to have our Eucharistic Devotion Week coincide. To honor this we will have a brief time  of adoration and Solemn Benediction following each of the Masses this weekend.  To close out the week of our Eucharistic Devotions, Friday at 5:30pm will be a Solemn High Mass and Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Prayers for our Country
I am writing this column before Inauguration Day, but I hope all goes peacefully.  Even so, I invite all of us to pray for our country asking Our Lady to intercede for us.  We also just had the anniversary of the tragic Roe v Wade decision. Our country needs intense conversion.  On our feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul, may we intensify our own conversions first, and relying on God’s grace, beseech his mercy for our nation.

St. Paul’s Hosting St. Augustine Parish School
Fr. Majikas, the pastor of St. Augustine’s in Barberton, approached me a couple weeks ago with a proposal for our parish to host the lower grades of St. Augustine School children.  Due to major renovations in their school building, teaching the kids in person is not possible.  Even during covid, the desire for in person instruction for the younger kids is great.  Having worked with Fr. Majikas and Elaine Faessel, the principal of their school (who is also a parishioner of St. Paul’s) when I was assigned there back in 2013, I wanted to help out if we were able.  I spoke with our staff and pastoral council.  All agreed that we should explore a solution. 

What we have arrived at is that starting as early as this week, St. Augustine Parish School grades K-4 (around 100 children) will receive their in person instruction here at St. Paul’s. The St. Augustine teaching staff will all work from our campus.  They will be using the northern part of our school building.  The tentative time line is they would remain here through April and depending on the status of the renovations, perhaps through May.

Some logistical things to note would be increased traffic on Greenlawn from 7:30-8am, and 2:30-3pm Mondays through Fridays.  The children will most likely join us for Mass on Fridays at 8:30am.  They will of course follow all appropriate covid protocols while on our campus.  Another question people may have is the potential financial effect on our parish.  St. Augustine School is still providing all expenses in educating their children.  They are bringing any needed computers, paper, and supplies from their school. I will be working with Fr. Majikas to find a reasonable financial solution for them to compensate our parish for increased utilities, cleaning supplies, trash, snow removal, and wi-fi.  Neither our parish offertory, nor other funds, nor the endowment will be used to support this project.  In proper Christian charity, St. Augustine’s and St. Paul’s are working to find a solution that best serves the common good.  I ask that you support this effort with your prayers.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.



Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr

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

Praise be Jesus Christ in this new year!

Happy Feast Day St. Paul’s
Due to a miscommunication, I did not expect Bishop Malesic to be here for our 4:30 Mass this weekend.  Thankfully it all worked out, but I could only give short notice about his presence. 
My original hope was that covid would be over by now and we could have a proper Feast Day Celebration with a social and finally conclude our 100th Anniversary, which we were robbed of. Alas, here we are and still waiting.  But we are grateful that last feast day Bishop Perez was here before he went to Philadelphia, and this year we have our new shepherd to visit us. While we cannot have the reception or social, I would have liked to, we are glad to meet our new bishop as we continue to persevere through these times united as a church.

Eucharistic Devotions
Every year at our Feast Day we are also blessed to have our Eucharistic Devotion Week coincide. To honor this we will have a brief time  of adoration and Solemn Benediction following each of the Masses this weekend.  To close out the week of our Eucharistic Devotions, Friday at 5:30pm will be a Solemn High Mass and Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Prayers for our Country
I am writing this column before Inauguration Day, but I hope all goes peacefully.  Even so, I invite all of us to pray for our country asking Our Lady to intercede for us.  We also just had the anniversary of the tragic Roe v Wade decision. Our country needs intense conversion.  On our feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul, may we intensify our own conversions first, and relying on God’s grace, beseech his mercy for our nation.

St. Paul’s Hosting St. Augustine Parish School
Fr. Majikas, the pastor of St. Augustine’s in Barberton, approached me a couple weeks ago with a proposal for our parish to host the lower grades of St. Augustine School children.  Due to major renovations in their school building, teaching the kids in person is not possible.  Even during covid, the desire for in person instruction for the younger kids is great.  Having worked with Fr. Majikas and Elaine Faessel, the principal of their school (who is also a parishioner of St. Paul’s) when I was assigned there back in 2013, I wanted to help out if we were able.  I spoke with our staff and pastoral council.  All agreed that we should explore a solution. 

What we have arrived at is that starting as early as this week, St. Augustine Parish School grades K-4 (around 100 children) will receive their in person instruction here at St. Paul’s. The St. Augustine teaching staff will all work from our campus.  They will be using the northern part of our school building.  The tentative time line is they would remain here through April and depending on the status of the renovations, perhaps through May.

Some logistical things to note would be increased traffic on Greenlawn from 7:30-8am, and 2:30-3pm Mondays through Fridays.  The children will most likely join us for Mass on Fridays at 8:30am.  They will of course follow all appropriate covid protocols while on our campus.  Another question people may have is the potential financial effect on our parish.  St. Augustine School is still providing all expenses in educating their children.  They are bringing any needed computers, paper, and supplies from their school. I will be working with Fr. Majikas to find a reasonable financial solution for them to compensate our parish for increased utilities, cleaning supplies, trash, snow removal, and wi-fi.  Neither our parish offertory, nor other funds, nor the endowment will be used to support this project.  In proper Christian charity, St. Augustine’s and St. Paul’s are working to find a solution that best serves the common good.  I ask that you support this effort with your prayers.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.



Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr