This week, our parish turns ten years old. Our opening Mass was on Sunday, October 25, 2009. Over the past few weeks as I was preparing for our Announcement and Commitment Sunday, I had time to reflect on all we accomplished in ten years. Last weekend, I tried to quantify what we did with building repairs and putting the buildings to good use. But now, I think of what we have accomplished as a community. We have come closer together and have learned to trust each other. We have brought a spirit of renewal to our organizations and have created new ones. We have become more responsive to the needs of the parishioners and those who live around us.      We are continuing on our journey as a parish community serving each other, our neighborhood and the Diocese of Cleveland. As we go forward into the future, we look at the challenges ahead of us, and we ask ourselves if we are willing to meet the challenges.      Today I ask you to make a financial commitment to support the parish. I also ask you to make a commitment of your time to grow in faith, and a commitment of your talent to help others on the journey. Let us go together into our future.         God Bless! Fr. Joe Bacevice

 

MISSION SUNDAY
 

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday, the day all of us are asked to support the missionary efforts of the Church throughout the world. We do this by praying for the success of our missionaries and by contributing to support their work. We invite you to participate in this effort by donating to the Mission Sunday appeal. Please use the envelopes provided for this appeal next weekend.

 

COMMITMENT WEEKEND
 

Our Increased Offertory Commitment Sunday is this weekend at all the Masses. We encourage all parishioners to complete and turn in your Commitment Cards to the Church. The Commitment Card contains information on how to plan your increased Offertory gift to the Church, and asks for your commitment over the next year. If you have any questions regarding this program, or how to give electronically, please contact the parish office.

 

THANK YOU
 

The recent collection for the Diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Blanket Sunday totaled $165. Many needy families and individuals will receive warm blankets and other necessities for the winter months thanks to all our parishioners who assisted through donations and prayers. If you haven’t had a chance to contribute, donate online at www.svdpcle.org   or make a check payable to SVDP.

 

PASTORAL COUNCIL

 

This year, we will be electing four members to our Pastoral Council for a two year term beginning January 1, 2020. Application forms are available in the Book Room and will be accepted through November 3, 2019. Voting begins on the weekend of November 16-17, 2019 and concludes December 1, 2019. Any member of the parish, age 16 and older, with a few exceptions, is eligible to run for a seat on the Pastoral Council. We invite you to seriously consider serving on this important advisory body in our Parish.

1 WEEK UNTIL FALL FUND RAISER Just TWO weeks until our Clambake/ Steak Bake/Autumn Raffle. Don’t delay, buy your dinner tickets today. LAST DAY TO BUY TICKETS is October 20. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door. Our Ninth Annual Clambake/Steak Bake/Autumn Raffle will take place on Saturday, October 26th, beginning after the 5:30 Mass in our upper hall. Raffle tickets are now available at the back of the Church. All parishioners are asked to pick up their envelope with Raffle tickets, as this will save us the cost of mailing them to everyone.     DINNER (as well as extra lottery drawing) TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE after weekend Masses at the main entrance to the church, in the cafeteria after the 10:00 Mass, and during the week at the rectory during business hours. Ticket prices: Clambake - $30, Steak-bake - $35, extra dozen clams - $10. In addition to great food, there will be plenty of refreshments, a basket auction, split raffles, sideboards and much more.       WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS to help with this project: help set up, clean up, bake, and help in other ways. Please sign up in the church’s main entrance to help us out.      PROGRAM BOOK Again this year, we are printing a program book for our Fall Fund Raiser. Parishioners, Parish Organizations, and businesses are invited to advertise or send their greetings showing support for our Parish. An ad can be placed in the book for as little as $10. Ad forms are in everyone’s ticket envelope. Additional forms are available at the back of the church. Everyone is invited to participate.

 

A NEW WAY TO GIVE

You can now manage your donations to the parish online. You donations can be taken directly from  your checking or saving account ot credit card (MasterCard, Visa or Discover). To enroll in online banking, simply go to our website, click on the button marked online giving, and follow the prompts. You will have the ability set up a whole year of giving at one time, and you will have the ability to change your offerings at any time, or make special one time offerings.
     For your convenience, you will find simple to understand instruction sheets at the entrances to the Church. The process is simple and secure. Using online giving will help you be a more responsible donor to our parish.

ALL SOULS DAY

Saturday, November 2^nd, is the Feast of All Souls, the day we remember our dead. Since All Souls Day is a Saturday, we will celebrate only one Mass at 7:30am. We invite families who have lost a loved one since last November 2^nd to participate in this Mass. An All Souls Day envelope is included with the offering envelopes with space to include the names of the dead you want to be remembered during the Mass.
    All Souls Day candles, which can be inscribed with the name of the deceased you want remembered, are available at the Rectory. They will burn for 5 days beginning Nov. 2^nd; the donation for the candle is $5. All are invited to join in lighting a memorial candle.

 

PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY
 

On October 27^th Catholics will celebrate Priesthood Sunday, a day set aside to celebrate the importance of the gift of priesthood in the life of the Church and for us to reflect on the ministry that our priests share with us - when we gather at the Table of the Lord, and when we call on them in our times of need. Consider sharing a personal note or a card of thanks with them.

     We pray that our young people will be inspired by the ministry and witness of our priests and that their hearts will be open to hear and respond to God’s call. More information on priesthood can be found at www.clevelandcatholic-priesthood.com