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The
Fourth Sunday of Easter each year is known as Good Shepherd Sunday and
is the day of prayer for vocations. The oldest image of Jesus found in
the early Church is the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd carrying
home on his shoulders a lost sheep. I once saw a wood carving of the
Good Shepherd with Jesus having a smile on his face. The joy of the
Good Shepherd was obvious. Jesus speaks of Himself as the Shepherd and
he makes the distinction between the Shepherd and the hired hand. The
Shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep, while the hired hand will
flee danger. Jesus uses this same image when he commissions St. Peter
to lead the Church. From the very beginning of Christianity, the image
of the Shepherd is used both for our Savior and for the clergy. These
images are evident today. We call the Pope the Shepherd of the
Universal Church, our Diocesan Bishops are called shepherds and the
symbols of their office include the shepherd’s crosier. Leaders of
parishes are called “pastors” which call to mind the ancient symbol of
the shepherd. So it is appropriate to take this day and pray for
vocations to the clergy. The Lord has called each Bishop, Priest and
Deacon in a specific way to serve the Church. Members of both the
clergy and the faithful are called to support our clergy through prayer
and to pray that more will receive and answer the call to serve as
members of the clergy. All of us need to continue to pray for an
increase in vocations and to support our priests, bishops and deacons in
their vocations, and encourage our seminarians to continue their journey
following their call of ordained ministry.
God bless!
Fr. Joe Bacevice |
CONFIRMATION CLASSES
Classes are going to
begin to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. To receive this sacrament,
the student should be in the eighth grade (or 13 years old). To register,
contact Jackie at 216-509-0401.
MEMORIAL DAY
Monday ,
May 31, 2021, is Memorial Day. This is the day that we honor our war dead.
This year our Memorial Day remembrance will begin with flag raising and ceremony
honoring our dead in our front parking lot at 8:30 am, followed by Mass at 9:00
am. All are invited to participate in this event. Because of the COVID-19
pandemic, there will be no breakfast after the Mass. |
HOME
MISSIONS
This
week we will take up the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Today, over 40% of
dioceses in the United States and its territories are unable to fund the
essential pastoral work their communities need. Your support of this appeal
helps them meet these faith formation and sacramental needs. Please prayerfully
consider how you can support this appeal. More information can be found at
www.usccb.org/home-missions.
WORLD
YOUTH DAY
Plans
are beginning to form around the World Youth Day pilgrimage that will take place
in Lisbon, Portugal (likely in July or August, 2023). If you are a young adult
between the ages of 18-35 and want to attend World Youth Day 2023, email Mike
Hayes:
mhayes@dioceseofcleveland.org .
THOUGHT
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Since
October, 2009, we have invested more than $540,000 in major improvements to our
buildings and property. At the same time we removed over $400,000 in debt and
have healthy savings and investment accounts. The only debts we have at this
time are our current bills which are being paid in full and on time each month.
We have been able to accomplish all of this because of effective stewardship:
your financial support of our parish, extraordinary donations from living
members, generous bequests, along with responsible handling of the funds
entrusted to us. I thank our Finance Council members for all their help and
advice. They are truly a blessing for our parish. They are: David Oligny, Aura
Jucaitis, Remigijus Belzinskas, Patricia Campbell and Josephine Nampewo.
FAMILY
PERSPECTIVE
In
today’s gospel reading about the Good Shepherd, we find another insight into
Jesus’ dream of how the world might be. While “the wolf” attacks the flock in
order to “scatter and catch,” Jesus is the shepherd who leads not only the flock
he is currently tending, but also is leading “other sheep that do not belong to
this fold.” In the gospel parable, Jesus says: “A good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep.” Who are the sheep in your family life that you are called
to shepherd and how do you give of your life for them?”
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Lietuvi