MASSES

We still have several Mass openings for this year, both on weekdays (beginning in May) and on weekends (beginning in July). For those who would like to schedule Masses for 2016, please contact our office. The usual offering for Mass is $10.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Our next Pancake Breakfast will be on Sunday, May 22^nd, after all the Masses, from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Adults - $7 and children 12 and younger - $4. Save $1 by purchasing your ticket early. Tickets are available after the weekend Masses at the main entrance to the Church, in the lower hall after the 10:00 Mass, and at the Rectory during the week. All proceeds benefit the Parish.
 

ROOTED IN FAITH

Last week we received our quarterly distribution from the Rooted in Faith campaign. Including the current check for $2,603.00, we have received a total of $47,364.00 since the program began. This money is being set aside to pay for parish improvements. To those who are still paying their pledges, I invite you to join me in sending in your quarterly payment. If anyone is interested in donating to this program, contact Angie Pavlik at the Catholic Community Foundation at 216-696-6525, ext. 1303. Thank you.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY

Our Holy Name Society appreciates your support. Each summer the Holy Name Society sponsors and organizes an annual summer picnic for all parishioners and provides hotdogs, hamburgers, snacks and soft drinks. Many attendees bring side dishes, salads and desserts. Everyone has a good time. Consider using the May Holy Name Society offering envelope to become an active or supporting member. Dues are only $5 for the year.

CATHOLIC WAR VETERANS

Post 613 of the Catholic War Veterans is having its annual Poppy Distribution the weekend of May 21-22, before and after all Masses. The red poppy is a symbol of the blood shed by our military and a reminder of the sacrifice they made for us. Proceeds from the donations received support the Post’s work with disabled and hospitalized veterans.
 

CITY MUSIC CLEVELAND

St Jerome Parish will again welcome the highly renowned City Music Cleveland Chamber Orchestra for a free concert Thursday, May 12. Doors will open at 7:00pm and the concert will begin at 7:30pm. No tickets are required for this family friendly event. The program will include music by Mendelssohn and Dvorak. Avner Dorman is the conductor and violin soloist Tessa Lark is the featured performer. Join us before the concert in the school gym from 5:30-6:30 for a Chili and Loaded Baked Potato dinner. Adult dinner - $8 and children under 12 - $4.
 

MEMORIAL DAY

Monday, May 30^th is Memorial Day. Again this year, our Catholic War Veterans Post 613 will have their annual Memorial Day commemoration here at St. Casimir, beginning at 8:30am with a service at the Freedom Memorial in our Neff Road parking lot, followed by Mass at 9:00. The commemoration will conclude with breakfast in our lower hall. All are invited.

     Every week when I write the bulletin, I have announcements that come in from organizations, activities going on in the parish that need to be publicized, announcements from the diocese, and other messages that should be of interest to you. It seems that so many things become a priority that we sometimes forget what is really important.
 

     This also happens in our personal lives. When I get together with other priests, often our conversations turn to what our immediate concerns are: how many people come to Mass, the amount of the Sunday offering, the number of funerals compared to the number of baptisms, how will we afford to keep our doors open in the future, and how are we going to find priests to serve parishes in the future when we can’t find a priest to be available to cover a vacation. It seems that we get so caught up in the immediate issues that we lose sight of the “big picture.”
 

     In this week’s bulletin, I wrote two announcements that brought me back to see the big picture.  The first is words of congratulation to Gabija and Vilius, two of our young members who are receiving their First Communion. They don’t worry about budgets and staffing issues or even parking lots. They are here because they want to receive the gift of our Lord’s body and blood so they can grow in their love for Him. They show a simple faith that I believe all of us have to return to so we can regain our perspective on our Church.
 

     The second announcement regards the Eucharistic Adoration in our Church. In the midst of our busy lives, we are called to take some time - be it ten or fifteen minutes, or an hour or more - to just be with Our Lord in quiet prayer, mediation, or just sit in Our Lord’s presence.

     All of us need to step back periodically, and focus on our faith. We have our cultural activities, our social activities, our work activities and our leisure activities. If we don’t spend more time fostering our religious activities, we may find ourselves giving up our precious gift of faith. And without faith, why do we need to be here?

                                                                 
                                                                        God Bless! Fr. Joe Bacevice