VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Monday, March 27^th, we will be hosting all the parishes in Collinwood for our Lenten Cluster Mass. After Mass, everyone is invited to our Lower Hall for food and fellowship. We need volunteers to bake, set up, and clean up. Those willing to help out, please sign up in the main entrance of the church or contact Ingrid Civinskas at: icivinsk@yahoo.com or call 440-838-0652.

FROM THE DIOCESE

Out of pastoral solicitude, Bishop Daniel Thomas has formally dispensed the faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland from the obligation to abstain from meat on the Memorial of Saint Patrick, Bishop, which will be observed this year on Friday, March 17. Those who choose to partake of meat on that day are encouraged to undertake another penance that day in the form of corporal or spiritual work of mercy. In this way, the faithful Catholic still keeps the penitential spirit of a Friday in Lent and unites oneself more closely with the suffering Christ and His Church.

ALTAR SOCIETY FLOWER SALE

Spring will soon be upon us and it’s once again time for the Altar Society’s Annual Flower and Vegetable Sale. This year’s sale will begin the next weekend (March 18-19) and will end Easter Sunday (April 16). Fliers and order forms will be available beginning next weekend at the entrances to the Church. Orders and payments can be placed in the collection basket or dropped off or mailed to the Rectory. Support your parish and beautify your yard. It’s a win – win! All proceeds will be given to the Parish.

PASTORAL COUNCIL NEWS

The Pastoral Council is pleased to announce that Father Bacevice has appointed Ted Egan to a two year term on the Pastoral Council. With this appointment, all vacancies on the Council have been filled. The next meeting of our Pastoral Council will take place on Tuesday, April 4^th, at 7:30pm in the Rectory Conference Room.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

Next weekend, troop members from the girl scouts will be selling cookies at the entrances to the Church. All are invited to support their work by purchasing cookies which have been a Girl Scout tradition for 100 years (since 1917).

LITHUANIAN BOYS’ CHOIR CONCERT

The Lithuanian Boys’ Choir “Dagilelis”, an award winning choir from Lithuania, will perform at Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State University, on Friday, March 17^th, at 7:00pm. For information about this concert contact Amanda Muliolis (216-938-7356) or email: boyschoirconcert@gmail.com  To purchase tickets go to: https://dagilelis.eventbrite.com/ The choir will also sing at the 10:00 Mass next Sunday.

    This Second Sunday of Lent takes us on a Journey. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray. Arriving there, they – and we – get a glimpse of the glory that Jesus set aside when becoming one of us. More importantly, they – and we – hear God speak about who Jesus is, and who we are to be.  

     Jesus is the Beloved Son who lives in intimate relationship with the Father and we must listen to him. This glimpse of glory encourages us as we enter more deeply into the season of Lent, a time that call us to turn toward God and to open our hearts, so that God can enter our lives more completely and make us more fully a people of the covenant that began when God called Abram to leave everything. Because Abram trusted in God’s promises, he became the father of a great nation.

     We are to trust in the promises God makes to us through Jesus by listening and obeying his words, thereby becoming beloved sons and daughters. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus tells us. Are you?

God Bless!   Fr. Joe Bacevice

 TIME CHANGE

Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 12^th, at 2:00am. Remember to set your clocks AHEAD one hour before going to bed next Saturday, otherwise you will be late for Mass on Sunday.

COLLECTION FOR THE CHURCHES IN EASTERN EUROPE

This weekend we will be accepting offerings for our annual collection to support the Churches in Eastern Europe. The Lithuanian Church receives funds from this collections, and the Lithuanian Bishops have written us to ask you to be generous.

LENTEN CLUSTER MASS

The first Collinwood Parishes Lenten Cluster Mass will take place on Monday, March 6^th, at 7:00pm at St. Mary Parish, followed by a social in their parish hall. All are invited to join with the members of the other Collinwood Parishes for prayer, reflection, and social time.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Every Friday during Lent we pray the Stations of the Cross at 7:00pm. This week the stations will be led by the Altar Society. All are invited to participate in this traditional Lenten Devotion.

CONFESSIONS

All Churches in our Diocese will be open on Wednesday, March 15^th, from 5 to 8 pm for Confessions. All are invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity in our diocese to receive this sacrament. We are reaching out especially to those who have been away for a while so we can provide an opportunity for them to return to the sacramental life of the Church.