Pastor's Column for June 2, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

         Mary Ann Young was married for 55 years and she and her late  husband Ralph had 2 children, Lisa & Jim, to whom we extend our sympathy at her passing away. She also had 2 granddaughters, Sarah & Jenna. Mary Ann enjoyed family gatherings such as on holidays, cookouts & Sunday dinners. She enjoyed being a housewife & homemaker, a vocation that sadly is not held in as much esteem today as it was in the past. Yet how wonderful it is (and difficult) to create a home where children can feel safe and are well taken care of. Jesus calls each of us to a life of service, and these roles certainly speak clearly of that call. Mary Ann lived a life of faith and so we pray that she may rest now with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.

We extend our congratulations to the parents of those being baptized this Sunday. Jameson & Jonathan Hafner, twin sons of James & Christina Hafner, (& grandchildren of John & Maria Giangrande, who are also the godparents) will be baptized after the 8am Mass. Then Layla Joyce will be baptized after the 11am Mass. We welcome these children into the life of the Church & pray that they may grow to be faithful disciples of the Lord.

This afternoon at 12:30pm, Eddie Abufara will be meeting with those who will be traveling to Italy with me next March (& those who are interested in learning more are also most welcome to attend). We will meet in the parish center where coffee & donuts will be provided. 

Eddie Abufara will also be in the church vestibule before & after all the Masses this weekend to display the beautiful woodwork that is handmade out of olive wood from the holy land and available for purchase. These make wonderful gifts for others and allow us to have sacred images in our homes to remind us daily of our faith. I plan on purchasing new crucifixes for each of our school classrooms as the ones there presently have deteriorated over the years. I believe each classroom should also have a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well. If you’d like to donate a crucifix or statue of Our Lady for a classroom, please let Eddie or myself know. The Christians in the holy land continue to need our financial support more than ever so please consider helping them by your purchase of a religious item. I would be happy to bless it for you with a suggested “donation” of one Hail Mary for me!

This also reminds me that while I stopped by Henninger’s Religious Goods off of Brookpark & W. 137th St., I saw a beautiful 4 foot statue of Mary under the title of “Our Lady of the Streets.” She is holding the infant child and it is made out of wood. I thought it would be nice to display in our school, perhaps in or near the cafeteria where we don’t currently have a larger image of the Virgin Mary to inspire the school children. So I will bless the statue when the students arrive for a new school year later in the summer.

Our thanks to John & Jeannie Sabol who have changed the pictures in the display cabinet in the vestibule of the church in order to honor the men & women of our parish who have served in the military, as we prayerfully remembered them this past Memorial Day weekend. 

We would like to ask all Extraordinary Ministers of Communion to let us know if they are able to bring Holy Communion to someone who is homebound. If you are willing and able to do this, please call the rectory office and let us know when you would be free to do this (e.g., monthly, weekly, weekday, weekend, after one of the Masses & which one, etc.). This does not require a big time commitment. But we want to be sure that those who are truly unable to be present here have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament. Thank you for this consideration. 

Fr. James P. Schmitz

Pastor's Column for May 26, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend I celebrated 3 funerals for men whose faith I really admired. The first was Ronald Ruff, 75, a man who was faithfully at the 4pm Mass each Saturday afternoon. Ron sat on the end of the pew by the stained glass window which depicts the scene of the Visitation of Mary with her cousin Elizabeth. I don’t know if the decision to sit there was intentional but it was certainly symbolic as Ron had a devotion to the Blessed Mother, whose image, you may say, hovered over him during Mass. Ron also came to confession frequently and I admired him for his belief in God’s mercy. Ron lost a daughter through a car accident a few years ago & struggled with that grief that only a parent who loses a child can know. I pray he may be reunited with her in God’s kingdom.

Tim Peak was a young man (59) who had struggled with colon cancer for 10 years. He faced it with courage and perseverance and faith. I visited him one week before he died and anointed him and gave him his last Holy Communion (Viaticum). He spoke to me about his faith, and told me that he assured his loved ones that he was going to be OK because he trusted he would be with the Lord. He was last able to come to Mass on Easter Sunday, again, a grace that he was able to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord in anticipation of his own hope of rising to new life after his struggle with cancer. We extend our sympathy to his siblings, his girlfriend and to his mother who continues to depend upon our prayers and our support.

Larry Robilotta was a delightful man who, along with his wife Joyce, would attend Mass weekly. Larry and Joyce were married for 73 years and were parishioners of St. Leo’s for 71 years…since the very beginning. Larry was an usher but also was involved in so many ways over the years here in his parish. He always had a smile on his face and such a pleasant demeanor. I admired how he and his wife cared so deeply for each other, and how they cared for their 3 children, one of whom spoke beautifully at his funeral Mass. Larry was a man who gave of himself to his wife, his children & to his parish family. May he find peace in God’s kingdom and may his wife Joyce know that we will pray for her and support her in her loss.

We have one more person whom I have invited to speak to you briefly after Communion this weekend. His name is Luke Brown and we have been advertising his Sacred Heart Counseling service in our bulletin for some time now. Luke is a devout Catholic who offers therapy with the perspective of faith. He and other counselors are now using space here at St. Leo’s on the 2nd floor of our Parish Center where we have a couple of private offices. This was the space we were formerly using for our Preschool children, who are now in classrooms in the school building. I told Luke that we would like to support his important service and so we are partnering with Sacred Heart Counseling by providing them space on our campus for their services but also by our financial support to parishioners who see them. This means we can help reduce the cost for parishioners who desire therapy but who struggle to find the financial resources to take advantage of that opportunity for healing. I fully support this important work and want to confidentially assist parishioners who would like to take advantage of this ministry. Please feel free to ask Luke or myself any questions you may have about how this can benefit you or a member of your family. Monday we will have our Memorial Day Mass outside at the Shrine (weather-permitting) at 9am.

I wish our school children a safe & fun summer as they begin vacation on Friday.

Fr. James P. Schmitz

Pastor's Column for May 19, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

This has been a whirlwind of a day…actually of a week…no, a month really. This is typically a busy time of the year for us but so much is going on right now that it’s hard to remember when I was involved in so many things. But the Lord is good and provides the strength necessary to do what needs to be done. And most of all, he provides the people upon whom I rely, and they come with many God-given gifts and with generous hearts to serve the people of this parish. So please pray for all of our staff…new and veterans alike… who give so much. They are really my joy and I’m so grateful for all they do to keep everything afloat.

Much is happening in the school right now as the 8th graders prepare for graduation, which will take place this Monday, May 20th , at 6:30pm in Lux Hall. I have gotten to know many of them pretty well and they will be missed as they move on to high school. Please pray for them and for all those who are graduating at this time of year.

Yesterday our new principal, Mr. Lorenzo Jones, introduced himself to our school faculty and shared with him his vision for our school community. He was honest with them about the fact that he had applied for this position at several Catholic schools but specifically chose St. Leo the Great after he and I shared our visions and goals with each other. He felt (as I do), that we have a similar vision which will allow our parish school to become a place where the children entrusted to us can grow academically as well as spiritually. I am confident that he will be a strong leader for our school community and I already look forward to the new year ahead of us.

This Monday, May 20th, is the 35th Ordination Anniversary for Deacon Pat Berigan. So please congratulate him and thank him and Joan for all they do for our parish community. I continue to feel their support and am grateful to have people I can share ideas and ministry with. We will celebrate this special occasion as soon as this crazy month of May is behind us.

This past Friday we celebrated the last School Mass with the students. Next year we’re going to increase these monthly Masses to twice a month, and will likely have other grades attend Mass more often, as currently the 8th graders attend Mass every Friday morning. The one question the students ask me the most is, “When are we going to church again?” and I’m really happy they ask that question! We are going to be focusing next year on how our Catholic faith can have a positive influence on all of our students, whether they are Catholic or not (or even non practicing). It’s a great challenge today as you yourselves know from other family members who no longer practice their Catholic faith on a regular basis. But I am hearing that things are starting to turn around in that respect and I know the Holy Spirit is always working to bring people to faith. We just need to do our part in cooperating with the grace of God, especially by our witness or example.

We welcome Carter Hruby into God’s Church this Sunday as he is baptized into our faith. May he grow with his parents and godparents into a man of living faith.

This weekend we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, which brings the Easter Season (the last 7 weeks) to a close. The paschal candle will be moved from next to the pulpit where it has been lit for every Mass since the Easter Vigil and it will be placed by the baptismal font where it is of course lit for every celebration of baptism. But before you see the green vestments of Ordinary Time, we have two more feasts that follow Pentecost but are separate from our Easter celebrations: The feast of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ & the feast of the Holy Trinity.

Pastor's Column for May 12, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

The chest cold I had a couple of weeks ago was just about gone…I just had a little bit of coughing lingering on, but then last weekend it came back in full force. The doctor told me it was caused by a virus that is going around and that the cough lingers on for many people so I just had to do the usual recommended remedy: get plenty of rest, drink a lot of fluids and stay away from parishioners who may think I’m still contagious from it (OK I made up that last part but I did stay away). The other symptom is that all the coughing keeps me from getting a good night’s sleep which means I’m tired throughout the day. When that happens for several nights in a row, it makes for a miserable week. But I offered it up for my many sins & hope that by the time you read this, I’ll be risen from my bed. Or is that risen from the dead? Either way, I hope to be up & about.

Last weekend I joined with our confirmation candidates, their parents & sponsors for a visit to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid, Ohio, which I mentioned I am well familiar with from visits there in my childhood, especially with my grandmother who lived in Euclid. The Sisters gave a great talk about St. Bernadette (to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared) and also a great witness of her own faith. We pray that these Sisters of the Holy Trinity will continue to care for the shrine and be a shining example to all who visit there. So this weekend at the 4pm Mass on Saturday, Abbot Hoover will be confirming these students from our parish, from St. Thomas More and from Mary, Queen of Peace. We welcome all of them and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to be given generously to those who welcome His presence in their lives.

The Holy Spirit has certainly been working in our parish these last few weeks as we have welcomed new staff members who can share their gifts with us. I’ve already mentioned Angela & Devin Kovic, our new music ministers, and Eric Perusek, our Minister of Engagement. Now I would like to share the news that we have a new Principal as well. Let me share with you the information I shared with the parents, guardians, teachers and staff of our school this past week:

It is with gratitude to God that I am happy to announce the next leader of St. Leo the Great School in Mr. Lorenzo Jones. After interviewing several applicants for the position of principal, Mr. Jones immediately stood out as the person who could bring strong leadership to our school. His many years of experience as the former principal of Holy Hame Elementary School and his most recent position as principal of Villa Angela St. Joseph High School have given him the opportunities to become a knowledgeable and exceptional leader. He is passionate about his calling and known by many in the Diocese of Cleveland as a man committed to the mission of the Church to educate our children in the atmosphere of faith. As a devout Catholic, I am confident he will bring to our parish school the same values that we have held in our Catholic institutions here in the Diocese of Cleveland and in our parish of St. Leo the Great since our very beginning as a community of faith. Mr. Jones has a reputation of being present to parents, teachers and students and as someone who communicates honestly and respectfully with others. I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Jones into this important leadership role in our parish school and look forward to experiencing his love for the education and faith formation of our children.

Fr, James P. Schmitz

Pastor's Column for May 5, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

It’s proving to be a very busy time of the year for me, but I continue to find my ministry here at St. Leo’s to be so enjoyable, thanks to your support and kindness. We are always working to think of ways that our parish community can grow, not so much in number (as good as that is) but in strength, in faith, in meeting your spiritual needs and in doing our best as a parish community to join with the whole Church in proclaiming the Good News. I still have a couple more people to introduce to you whom I believe will be great additions to our parish and school communities, but for now I need to say a word about the children who received their First Holy Communion during the 11am Mass last Sunday.

We had 12 children who received this Sacrament and I am so proud of their parents for the commitment they made to bring their children to our Faith Formation Sessions these past few months as we helped the children prepare for this important sacrament. As you know, we made a big change in our sacramental preparation for First Communion and for Confirmation. Changes are always a bit scary, but we knew that a different approach was very much needed. I’m happy to say that due to the parents, grandparents and guardians of these children, the year went along very successfully. These children were not only present at our Faith Formation Sessions on Sunday morning, but at the 11am Mass as well. In the past, it was so discouraging to prepare students for the Eucharistic Sacrament but then fail to see them at Mass on the weekend. It just didn’t make sense. Of course none of us are perfect and that’s why we are all “Practicing” Catholics…because we all need to practice, over & over again, the responsibilities of a living faith. So I am grateful that the students & their family members were willing to make the sacrifices necessary to grow in their relationship with God and the parish community. We are so happy that these children are now receiving the Eucharist with us. May they all continue to be nourished every week by the Body & Blood of Christ.

Congratulations to Vincent Rongone & Elizabeth DeCaro who will be married this weekend. They are both faithful to our Eucharistic worship each week and I know they will be a great reminder to us of the marriage of Christ with His Bride, the Church. May they know many happy years together.

The Confirmation students (who will be Confirmed by Abbot Hoover next Saturday during the 4pm Mass) will be traveling to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid this Sunday. I hope I can join them there as my grandmother & family used to go to this sacred place when I was a child (and I have since celebrated Mass there both in the chapel and at the outdoor shrine). These students have also been preparing for this sacrament during our Faith Formation Sessions on Sunday mornings. We look forward to their reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit next weekend. The Confirmation candidates from Mary Queen of Peace and St. Thomas More will also be joining us as it makes it easier for the Bishops and Abbot to confer the sacrament on the students from several parishes at one of the churches instead of going to each one individually. We welcome all those who will be joining us.

We now have 32 people signed up for our trip to Italy next March. There is a limited number who can join us so that we keep it manageable but there is still time to sign up if you are interested in going. A small deposit of $300 is required and you can get more information about the trip by visiting our website at leothegreat.org. I’m looking forward especially to visiting some new places but also the old favorites, especially Rome and Assisi. Viva la Pasta!

Fr. James P.Schmitz