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This week
marks one year that parish life changed. We were notified at 4:00 pm on
Monday, March 16, 2020, that we were to close the church and cancel all
activities immediately. That was just three hours before we were
hosting the Collinwood Cluster Mass. I was hosting the other Collinwood
priests and our guest homilist and dinner was already in the oven. Not
to waste my home made Kugelis and sausage and sauerkraut, we still got
together for dinner. In our conversation that evening, we expected that
we would be open again by Easter. Easter came and went with our
Churches closed, and we finally re-opened on the Feast of Pentecost, May
31, 2020. Now one year after this began, we are still dispensed from
the obligation to participate at Mass. Less than half of you returned
for Sunday Mass. Some are watching us celebrate Mass on You Tube. Many
more are finding other ways to keep the day holy. Daily life is so
different. It took one year, and our schools are finally open again,
with a hybrid system of a few days in class and a few days at home with
a tablet computer every week. Our activities had to be cancelled and we
are looking forward to opening in the weeks and months ahead. Many
learned about Zoom meetings and socials. And after a long winter, we’re
starting to go out of our houses again. There are still restrictions on
our activities, but we have adapted. Vaccines are more available and
many are receiving them. Despite the good things we see happening, we
still need to be vigilant. Over one-half million people died of COVID
right here in the United States. So may we continue to demonstrate love
of God and of our neighbor. In addition, may we remember to pray for
everyone involved as we weather this storm. As Pope Francis reminds us,
we should be reaching out to our communities and praying in solidarity
with the Church around the world. He offered this prayer to Mary,
mother of Jesus: O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of
salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the People, know what we need and we are sure you will
provide so that as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to
feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to
conform to the will of the Father, and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to
lead us, through the cross to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
God bless!
Fr. Joe Bacevice |
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
We will pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent after the 7:30
am Mass in English, and every Sunday during Lent after the 11:00 am Mass in
Lithuanian. All are invited to take part in these devotional prayers.
CONFESSIONS
Confessions are now being heard in the church every Saturday from 3-4 pm.
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SURVEY
All are asked and invited to
take the Disciple Maker Survey of parish life as part of a diocesan-wide project
to improve parish life. The results of this survey will help our Parish Council
make concrete plans for programs to improve the spiritual life of our parish.
The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and is accessed online. You can
go to:
https://www.catholicleaders.org/clevelanddmi
and select our
parish, St. Casimir, or go to:
https://portal.catholicleaders.org/dmi/survey/k323a23ky0
to access our parish survey.
The last day to complete this survey will be Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.
PLANT SALE
Spring is right around the
corner! Now is the perfect time to order from our plant sale. Fliers can be
found by the bulletins in church, or on our website. If using our website, once
you click on plant sale info, please click on link at top of page to download to
printable order form. Orders forms can also be emailed or mailed to you, please
call the rectory and leave your address or email. Questions: call Jackie Taylor
216- 509- 0401.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
This
weekend we are accepting offering to support Catholic Relief Services. Please
be generous and support this important work of our Church.
EASTER SCHEDULE
Two week from now we
celebrate Palm Sunday and begin Holy Week. Holy week ends with the celebration
of Easter on Sunday, April 4TH. Palms will be blessed and
distributed at all the Masses on Palm Sunday, March 28TH. They will
also be available between the Masses in the Church. On Holy Thursday, April 1ST,
we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 pm in the Church
(bi-lingual), followed by a period of adoration. On Good Friday, April 2ND,
we will commemorate the Lord’s Passion at 3:00 pm (bi-lingual). On Saturday,
April 3RD, there will be NO FOOD BLESSING. We will celebrate the
Solemn Easter Vigil at 8:30 pm (En.). On Easter Sunday, we will celebrate Mass
at 8:30 am (En.) and 11:00 am (Lith.). Because we are still living with the
COVID pandemic, Holy Week and Easter services will be simplified.
HOLY WEEK CONFESSIONS
During Holy Week confessions
will be heard on Monday evening 5-6 pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday mornings after
the 7:30 am Mass. Confessions will NOT be heard on Holy Thursday, Good Friday
or Holy Saturday.
FAMILY PERSPECTIVES
Today’s gospel refers to an
event that occurred as the people of Israel sojourned in the desert after their
escape from slavery in Egypt and before entering the Promised Land. The people
were, weary from their travel, complained bitterly against God and Moses. It
was a time of darkness for them. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus: “The
light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light.” Where do
you perceive light encountering darkness in your family and community at this
moment? |
Lietuvi