Now that the celebration of Holy Week and Easter is finished for this year, I have spent some time reflecting on what we did right this year and how we can improve our Holy Week/Easter celebration in the future.      I was very happy at the number of participants at our Holy Week/Easter celebrations. Now I would like to know what you thought about our celebration of Holy Week/Easter, and I would like to hear your suggestions on improving these celebrations.      With this bulletin is a brief survey. I invite you to fill it out in the next few weeks. You can return the completed form in the collection basket or drop it at the rectory (either through the mail or dropped in the mail box). You do not have to sign the survey, but I ask you to be open and honest with your responses. I will use your suggestions when we start planning for next year.      Also to those who worked to make this years celebration a beautiful experience for all who participated, from those who decorated the Church, and planned the celebrations, to those who sang in the choir, acted as lectors, servers and communion ministers, - to all of you I say thank you.   God Bless! Fr. Joe Bacevice

 

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter when, in the light of Christ’s resurrection, we are reminded of His great mercy for us and our call to be merciful to one another. On this Sunday we are reminded to ask God for His mercy, be merciful to others, and strive to completely trust in His Son, who is Divine Mercy Incarnate.

     The message of mercy is that God loves us – all of us, no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive his mercy, and let it flow through us to others. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering A–B–C.

A – Always for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, asking forgiveness for our sins and asking him to pour out His mercy upon us and the whole world.

B – Be Merciful to Others. God wants us to receive His mercy and then extend His love and forgiveness to other, just as He does.

C – Completely Trust in Jesus. The graces of God’s mercy are dependent on our trust in Him. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive. Pray for mercy and extend mercy to others. Begin each day saying: “Jesus, I trust in You!”
                              

COMMUNION RITE AT MASS

     Beginning THIS weekend, we are changing our Communion Rite posture to reflect the original policy, first established in 2003. We will remain standing after the Lamb of God, through the singing of the Communion Hymn, until the end of the distribution of Holy Communion. Once the last person has received Holy Communion and the Communion Hymn ends, we may kneel or sit for private prayer.
     More information, including documentation, may be found on the Diocesan Office of Worship website: www.dioceseofcleveland.org/worship

HOLY HOUR
 

Friday, May 3^rd, is the First Friday of May. We will have our Holy Hour from after the 7:30 Mass until 9:00am. Also, our Wednesday Evening Eucharistic Holy Hour will be on May 8^th, from 6:00-7:00pm. All are invited to stop in for some time of quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

 

MASS TIMES CHANGING
 

As we announced last weekend, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent (November 30-December 1, 2019), we are changing our weekend Mass schedule. Masses will be celebrated on Saturday evening at 5:00pm (English), and on Sunday morning at 8:30am (English) and 11:00am (Lithuanian).

 

HOLY NAME SOCIETY INVITATION

Along with the Bishop’s mandate to standardize our religious posture during the Communion Rite at Mass, we at the Holy Name Society, invite everyone in the parish to join us in raising your voices in song to the glory of God. Sacred Scripture itself exhorts us to sing to the Lord, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in its section on religious music, quotes the famous expression attributed to St. Augustine: “He who sings, prays twice.”

 

AVAILABLE MASSES

We still have 21 Mass openings for this year, both on weekdays and on weekends. For those who would like to schedule Masses for 2019, please contact our office. The usual offering for Mass is $10. Once these Masses are scheduled, we will open the 2020 Mass book.

 

A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

“As the Father has sent Me, so I send you!” As Jesus gives witness to God’s love and forgiveness, each of us is called to live this same mission. Parents and spouses have the opportunity to give witness to the faithful love of God and for each other. They do this in the ways they hold each other accountable to live the Gospel and in the times they mercifully forgive and reconcile.