Welcome to 2019. Traditionally on the Feast of the Epiphany, the important dates of the Church year are announced.      The Christmas Season ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 14th. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6th. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, April 14th, and the Resurrection of the Lord is celebrated on Sunday, April 21st, Easter Sunday. The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on Sunday, June 2nd, and the Easter season concludes with the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, June 9th. The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ – Corpus Christi – is celebrated on Sunday, June 23rd. The Feast of Christ the King takes place on Sunday, November 24th. The new Year of Grace, 2020, begins on Sunday, December 1st, the First Sunday of Advent.      This year will also be significant for us as a parish because on Friday, October 25th, our parish will be ten years old. When we had our fifth anniversary, we celebrated with a parish directory and encouraged everyone to participate in our Clambake and Autumn Raffle. At the Pastoral Council meeting this Tuesday, I will ask the Pastoral Council to form a committee to plan several events and projects to make our 10th Anniversary memorable. I’m also open to listen to ideas from anyone else in the parish. Please contact me. I hope to make this anniversary truly memorable for all of us.                         God Bless! Fr. Joe Bacevice

PASTORAL COUNCIL

The first meeting of our Pastoral Council will take place on Tuesday, January 8^th, at 7:30pm in the Rectory. We ask all new members of the council to read our Parish Council Constitution which can be found on our website. At this meeting we will select the officers for the coming year. Our Council members for 2019 are: Nancy Anzlovar, Anthony Bacevice, Dana Cipkus, Ted Egan, Loretta Gudenas, Giedre Jesmantas, Judy Kowalski, Faye Roth, Gerald Thompson and Albert Yevchak. We thank them for their commitment and willingness to serve.

LAY ECCLESIASTICAL MINISTRY

The lay ecclesial ministry formation process assists in the education, training, and formation of lay people leading to certification as a Lay Ecclesial Minister. Certified Lay Ecclesial Ministers work in collaboration with the ordained to serve the needs of parishes and Catholic institutions in the Diocese of Cleveland. They may serve in a variety of leadership roles as Pastoral Associates, Catechetical Leaders, Ministers of Sacramental Preparation, Youth Ministers, Social Outreach Coordinators, Bereavement Ministers, Music Ministers, Campus Ministers and Ministers of Adult Faith Formation. An Information Night for all those interested in the lay ecclesial ministry formation process will take place on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 from 7-9pm at the Center for Pastoral Leadership. If you cannot attend and would like more information, please call the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Office at 440-943-7670.

THE PERMANENT DIACONATE

Our diocesan Diaconate Formation Office is accepting inquiries for men interested in the diaconate. To be considered, an applicant must be Roman Catholic, at least 30 years of age (minimum age for ordination is 35), who is an active member of his parish with the support of his pastor. He must be in good health, of sound moral character, mature in faith, regularly practice in the sacramental life of the Church and have a sense of vocation to service. If married, he must be in a valid Catholic marriage for a minimum of five years, have the support of his wife and family and be in a strong, stable marriage. If unmarried, he must be willing and able to commit to celibacy. An upper age limit for application has not been established for the Cleveland diocese, but the expectation is that ordained deacons will have the health and energy to provide a minimum of ten years of ordained ministry to the diocese of Cleveland. The deadline for inquiries to our Diocesan Diaconate Aspirancy Program, which will begin in September 2019, is March 1, 2019. Men who are interested in applying to the 2019 program are asked to write to Deacon David S. Kushner, Director of Diaconate Formation, Center for Pastoral Leadership, 28700 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092 by the March 1, 2019 deadline, or telephone the Diaconate Formation Office at 440-943-7651.