This past week we celebrated the Funeral Mass for Linda Coffman. I first met Linda when she attended our RCIA sessions a couple years ago. Though Catholic all her life, she just wanted to learn more about our faith and have a better relationship with Christ. Then she became ill with cancer and I would visit her at her home when she was taking chemotherapy treatments. It was a long, difficult battle for her and she passed away at the age of 61. I'm grateful to Ron Kollar, one of our Eucharistic Ministers, for bringing Holy Communion to her during the last few months (as I am to all our Ministers who bring the Eucharist to the sick & homebound of the parish). Linda was a gentle person & she leaves behind a daughter in Brunswick, a son who lives across the street from her nearby the parish & several grandchildren, siblings and relatives. May she rest now from her struggles and know God's peace.
We also express our sympathies to Rhonda Richlovsky whose mother, Darlene Dolens, passed away last Sunday after being removed from life support. She had a massive stroke at home and could not recover. Darlene was from Mary, Queen of Peace Parish and her funeral Mass was celebrated there this past Thursday. Please keep Rhonda and her mother in your prayers.
Congratulations to Chief Angelo Calvillo who was sworn in as Cleveland's Fire Chief on April 6th! He and his wife are parishioners and they have 3 adult children. This is what is written of him on the website of the city of Cleveland: "Chief Calvillo has worked in multiple disciplines of the fire service including Fire Prevention, Hazardous Material response, Director of Training and Fire Suppression. Chief Calvillo was also involved with the Cuyahoga County Regional Hazardous Material Team and the Joint Hazard Assessment Team. Chief Calvillo has been a functioning paramedic since 1996 and started the first paramedic pumper. Chief Calvillo oversees approximately 751 employees, operating from 27 different fire stations." We are proud of him and of all the firefighters, police officers and other safety personnel who are members of our parish. May their patron, St. Michael the Archangel, protect them from all harm.
Remember that the annual Woman's Reverse Raffle will be next Saturday. Good food & fun times. Fr. Vesely & I attend even though we're of the male persuasion. Perks of being priests I guess.
Finally, Sister Erin Zubal OSU, our principal, will speak to us briefly this weekend with good news of progress in our parish school. It's been a great year & we're grateful for her competent leadership.