Dear Parishioners,
I’m sad to tell you, if you have not already heard, that Father Ned Weist died this past week on Monday afternoon. Father Dan Schlegel (pastor of St. Raphael in Bay Village) and Father Jim Winnings (Parochial Vicar at St. Raphael) were visiting him when he died and so prayed the last rites for him. Father Dan has been friends with Father Ned since they both ministered here together at St. Leo’s. Father Weist has been helping out with Mass at St. Raphael for some time during his retirement and so his wake and funeral will take place there where all the parishioners know him. The wake and funeral will take place during this week in which I am writing this and so it will have already taken place by the time you read this. I have a funeral here on Friday, January 10th when Father Ned’s funeral is taking place so unfortunately I won’t be able to present for his but I will be attending the wake and Vespers service for him on Thursday. We still have a large stone with Father’s name on it over by the side entrance of our school and it has been there since he left here for his assignment at Our Lady Help of Christians in Litchfield. I’m glad that we have something here that will remind us to pray for him whenever we see it. Please keep Father Weist in your prayers. May he receive his reward after a lifetime of loving and gentle service to the Church.
While Deacon Pat’s health has not worsened since his time in the hospital, I’m also sad to report that his condition has not improved either. He is alert and able to communicate but his answers to questions are usually very short and sometimes incorrect. He does not initiate conversation but seems to be aware of his condition and is cooperative. His wife Joan is currently looking into other living conditions for him but needs to wait on availability. Deacon Pat will need some more therapy but does not show real signs of improvement. The muscle in his right eyelid will not work in keeping that eye open but he is reading well with his left eye, though his sight is somewhat blurry. He looks good and appears very content but it’s difficult to see him not being the more talkative or outgoing person that we know him to be. At this point, we must just accept that his future health and recovery is unknown to us and we must take it day by day or week by week. I really miss talking and laughing with him and having him at my side during Mass. And of course I feel especially concerned about Joan who carries the burden not only of caring for all of his needs but in finding a suitable place for him to live as she sees how his recovery is coming along. Plus of course she carries the burden of living without him at her side and of doing all that he did in the household. So please keep both of them in your prayers and let’s support Joan as well as we continue to pray in hope for Deacon Pat.
I’m very grateful to David Eller, a longtime parishioner along with his wife Denise, who took wonderful pictures in the church during our Christmas Eve Mass last year (last month!). He also put together a nice slideshow and you can view both on our website (leothegreat.org). We hope to have him take more pictures of parish events during the year that we’ll publish on our website so thanks to him for that gift to our parish.
I’m hearing lately of a number of people who are looking for affordable housing but I understand that prices have risen dramatically in recent months. If you are aware of more affordable homes either for sale or for rent in the area, please let me know so I can direct people to check them out. And let us all pray that everyone may find a suitable place to live as we remember how even Jesus said that he had no place to lay his head.
Fr. James P. Schmitz