EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

On Wednesday, July 12^th, we will have Eucharistic Adoration in the Church from 6-9pm. All are invited to stop in and spend some time in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. To make a commitment to spend time in prayer, please sign up in the Book Room.

ACCESS TO THE LOWER HALL

From Saturday, July 1^st through Monday, August 7^th, access to our lower hall will be ONLY from the Marcella Road entrance. Construction going on in the old cloak room, Youth Room, and old shower room will close off that area of the school building. This will primarily affect those who go to Sunday Coffee after the 10:00 Mass. This is being done for the safety of everyone who goes into the building.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY INVITES EVERYONE

Our Holy Name Society is pleased to invite the entire parish to attend the Holy Name Picnic and Cookout on Wednesday, July 26^th, from 5-8pm in the back yard of the convent building. Hot dogs, burgers, snacks and soft drinks will be served. Last year, we had live entertainment which might be repeated this year. There is no cost for the picnic as the Holy Name Society underwrites the entire cost. In case of rain, the food will be served in the lower hall. This is a good way to meet fellow parishioners and learn about the Holy Name Society.

The FEST

Are you looking for an opportunity for your family to grow in faith this summer? Join us for a family retreat day on Sunday, August 6^th, at the 17^th Annual FEST, beginning at noon at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe. Outdoor Mass, Adoration, praise and worship and more will inspire you to experience the FULL LIFE that only Christ can give. Check out www.TheFEST.us today.

     July 1^st was the beginning of the new Fiscal (Financial) Year for our parish. On June 30^th, we closed the books on the last year - which we will report on to everyone in September - and look forward to a new year. When a new calendar year opens, many look back at the successes and failures of the previous year and make plans for a better year ahead; we do the same for our Parish with the arrival of the new fiscal year.

     We are entering the fourth year of our lease for the school building and our tenant is beginning a new round of renovations to the school building. Also, the school is no longer part of the Breakthrough School organization and we are negotiating with them to move the lease over to the new organization. So far, this has taken a lot of time and we hope to have an agreement in soon.

     As we announced earlier, the Sisters of Notre Dame did not renew their lease and are no longer on our campus. The school, though, is interested in leasing the convent. We still receive rent from two residential properties. Our rental income brings in the money we need to keep the parish open and make some of the improvements needed on our buildings and property. We still have some masonry work that needs to be done on the front of the Church building before we can complete the work on the Church and Rectory steps.

     The new fiscal year will bring more challenges that are different from what has happened in the past. Our biggest challenge now is to grow our parish. We have to find new ways to attract people to our parish and to relight the flame of faith into those who have given up on their faith. It is something that will take years to accomplish and we have to renew our efforts to be true ambassadors for Christ. We have met with some success, as we have several new registrations over the past year.

     I believe that we have a strong and vibrant parish. We are one of only 16 parishes in the United States that celebrates Mass regularly in Lithuanian. We have achieved financial stability and have been able to meet our operating expenses, though we are having a difficult time raising the money needed to continue to make improvements. 

     Today we are in a position to grow as a community, to build our community, and to make a difference in the lives of the Lithuanian community in Cleveland and in the lives of those who belong to our Parish. It is up to each of us and all of us to do so.

God Bless!   Fr. Joe Bacevice