Pastor's Blog for August 2, 2020

I celebrated the funeral Mass for Steve Nagy on Friday, July 24th. Steve was a very devout Catholic who was married to his wife Jackie for 57 years. They have 2 daughters who are also active in the Catholic faith. Steve has been homebound for some time but prayed the rosary each day & had a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua. Through their intercession, may Steve rest in peace and may God’s peace be given to his devoted wife Jackie and to their daughters Sharon & Shelly. 

Carmella Shrader was also a long-time parishioner and her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated last Monday. Her children went to our parish school here. Carmella was also a devout Catholic who attended Mass weekly and so it was good for us to bring her body here to the place where she listened to the Word of God and received the holy Eucharist. She also had a devotion to Mary whom we ask to “pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” May Mary also show Carmella her Son now that her exile from this life has been complete. 

I know that many of you have not yet joined us for Mass due to the pandemic and I want you to know that we respect your decision to remain at home during this time. We want you to know that you’re not forgotten and that you remain in our prayers. We hope that you can join us virtually through the live-stream as we celebrate Mass each weekend. We are having the camera replaced (hopefully by the time you read this) as we were getting some intermittent problems with the previous one. The new one is much cheaper but will hopefully give us the same good video and sound quality as the one it is replacing. It’s always better to be actually present with the community when that is possible but at least technology gives us options when that is not possible. But whether you are here or at home during our weekend Masses, remember that we must pray for one another during this unprecedented time.

I know it can difficult to go without the use of a missal at this time but here’s another option if you like to read the scriptures as the lector is proclaiming them or even before or after Mass. If you know what a QR code is (a barcode which can be read by most modern cell phones), you can just “scan” it with your camera app & it will bring up a website with the scripture readings of the day. We’ll have this on our website & in our bulletin and hanging in the entrances of the church for you to scan if you wish to use it. If you’re not sure how, feel free to ask me or Deacon Pat.

As we enter the month of August, I was a bit sad to receive a complimentary Golden Buckeye card from the Ohio Department of Aging. It said it was my pass to discounts and activities and my link to elder caregiver and aging services. Why not just prepare for my funeral services as well? It’s hard to believe this time has come as I still feel like I’m in at least the 2nd phase of life, not in the third and final one. But Father Time (who must be a Catholic clergyman) comes marching in my life. I just hope he marches right back out of it. 

Pastor's Blog for July 26, 2020

Jeanne Slezak, whose funeral Mass we celebrated last Saturday, had been known as “Jinx” her whole life. But as I spoke with her family and saw so many people here to celebrate her life and to pray for her in death, I can see what a wonderful blessing she was to so many. May she who lived 90 years in this life know eternal life in God’s kingdom. I also celebrated a funeral service for Maria Pawloski, who was blessed with 95 years of life. From her 3 children she also gained many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We extend our sympathy to all of them and assure them of our prayers for the repose of her soul.

I want to thank Bill Rosby, a member of our parish, for once again donating 50 yards of mulch (that’s a lot of mulch!) to our parish, as he does every year. That is a very generous act and it makes such a big difference in the appearance of our property. Hopefully those of you who may do business with him can also express your thanks to him for being so kind to our parish.

By now both of the parking lots should be sealed and re-striped which not only protects the asphalt from cracking but makes the large areas appear uniform and neat in their appearance. Coupled with the landscaping that has been done as well, I’m happy to walk the property with Michaela, enjoy- ing the gift of this space which we call home. Our statue of St. Francis of Assisi has arrived and hopefully will be in place by this weekend if we have determined the best place for this saint who was a lover of God’s creation. Thanks again to all those who donated generously toward our landscaping efforts this summer!

As I mentioned last weekend, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has named Bishop Edward Malesic as the 12th Bishop of Cleveland and he will be installed as such on September 14th. As I watched the announcement of his assignment and his first Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist last week on TV, I was impressed with his characteristic gentleness and kindness. Besides coming to us from our neighboring state of Pennsylvania, he also attended a seminary in Ohio. The number of Catholics and priests in our diocese is five times as many as the Diocese he is coming from but we’ll try not to let that overwhelm him. We look forward to having him officially as our new Shepherd in September when we will begin to pray for him by name in the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.

For those who are watching Mass at St. Leo’s from their home, I wanted to let you know that although the audio is very clear now, if you would like the assistance of closed captioning which shows text on a television or video screen which transcribes the audio being spoken, this is generally available to you as you watch Mass being celebrated. It should always be available if you watch the on demand videos but we’re trying to make it available as the Mass is being live-streamed as well. Just click on the cc (“closed caption”) symbol in the lower right hand corner of your device to view this text. It is not 100% accurate as it is computer generated, but it will do a respectable job transcribing the audio.

Bishop-designate Malesic described as ‘a wonderful, kind and gentle soul’

The faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland got their first look at the new diocesan shepherd this morning when Bishop Edward C. Malesic, bishop of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was introduced at a livestreamed press conference at diocesan headquarters in downtown Cleveland.

“I met with him last night and found him to be a wonderful, kind and gentle soul,” said Father Don Oleksiak, diocesan administrator, as he introduced Bishop-designate Malesic.

The newly named bishop, who will be 60 on Aug. 14, will be installed as the 12th bishop of Cleveland one month later -- on Sept. 14 -- in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. The appointment was made by Pope Francis.

“I am so happy to be here,” the bishop-designate said, acknowledging that he is coming to a much larger diocese. “I am looking forward to it,” he added. But still, he admitted it was a shock when he received a phone call two weeks ago from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United States, telling him the Holy Father wanted him to serve as bishop of Cleveland. He echoed remarks made by Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez, his predecessor in Cleveland. “Be careful when you answer a call coming from the 202 area code,” he quipped.

“I love the Diocese of Greensburg. I thought I’d die there,” he said, reflecting on his five years as leader of that diocese. Previously, he served as a priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Bishop Malesic said every change in his career has come with new blessings “and God provides me with the grace to do what I need to do.”

He succeeds Archbishop Perez, who served as the 11th bishop of Cleveland from September 2017 until his appointment as archbishop of Philadelphia in February.

“I called Archbishop Perez after I spoke with the nuncio. When I told him I had been appointed bishop of Cleveland, he said two words: ‘Lucky you.’”

The bishop-designate said he is extremely grateful to Archbishop Perez for the work he did in Cleveland, including strengthening the schools and making deep strides in connecting with the community. He said he is looking forward to getting to know and work with the diocesan staff, the clergy and the faithful throughout the eight-county diocese.

“I was filled with great joy this morning to learn that our Holy Father has appointed Most Rev. Edward C. Malesic as the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland. Bishop Malesic brings to his new diocese vast administrative expertise, a priestly heart and a deep commitment to serving the pastoral and temporal needs of the Church with zeal and energy,” Archbishop Perez said. “It has been a privilege to work with him here in Pennsylvania since my appointment as archbishop of Philadelphia in January. The Church in Ohio is receiving a true gift from Pope Francis in the person of Bishop Malesic. I know he will serve joyfully as a faithful shepherd and spiritual father.”

The bishop-designate also thanked Father Oleksiak, who will continue to serve as diocesan administrator until Bishop Malesic’s installation, for all his hard work.

Bishop Malesic said coming to a diocese with 700,000 Catholics is a bit overwhelming, but he is looking forward to learning about the diocese and promised to be responsive to the needs of the people. When asked what the clergy could expect of him, he responded, “I’m a brother to them I am a priest at heart. I understand their challenges and will treat them fairly and kindly.”

He also addressed some remarks to the faithful in the Diocese of Greensburg, expressing his sadness as leaving. “It will not be an easy transition,” he said, but he told them their prayers will make the change easier. “You helped me learn to be a bishop. You walked with me and we did m any good things. I will never forget my time in Greensburg.”

As an act of thanksgiving for his new appointment, Bishop Malesic said he will celebrate noon Mass today in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the mother church of the Cleveland Diocese. The Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website and archived for later viewing.

The bishop-designate also asked the people of Cleveland to keep him in their prayers as he transitions to the diocese and his new role.

During his time in Greensburg, Bishop Malesic, who has been a priest for 33 years, immediately recognized the severity of the opioid epidemic in Western Pennsylvania. He said heard any stories from parents and clergy about young people lost to addiction, which prompted him to establish an Opioid Task Force. The task force conducted a series of listening sessions focusing on education and prayer. He also released his first pastoral letter, “A Pastoral Letter on the Drug Abuse Crisis: From Death and Despair to Life and Hope,” on June 29, 2017, in response to the opioid epidemic in the region. In it, he called on the people of the diocese to take action against the opioid scourge and outlined diocesan and parish efforts focused on prayer, education and cooperative actions with social service agencies already engaged in the fight against addiction.

In response to the clergy abuse crisis and the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report and in order to increase diocesan transparency and outside oversight, Bishop Malesic established a Safe Environment Advisory Council to assist the Diocese of Greensburg. The advisory council oversaw a series of seven listening sessions around the diocese, each of which was attended by Bishop Malesic and gave parishioners the opportunity to express their feelings about the grand jury report, make observations and offer suggestions.

In February 2019, Bishop Malesic announced details of a Comprehensive Reconciliation Initiative, which includes a Survivors’ Compensation Program, to support survivors of abuse.

He also is a strong supporter of Catholic education and earlier this month, announced the formation of the Saint Pope John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership in Greensburg. The partnership was made possible by the single-largest donation from a family the Diocese of Greensburg received in one year. The anonymous $2.4 million donation, combined with $1.7 million in existing funds donated by other individuals and businesses, make $4.1 million in scholarships and tuition assistance available for the 12 Catholic schools in the Greensburg Diocese during the 2020-21 academic year.

In Remembrance – Father John A Ocilka, Former Parochial Vicar at St. Leo the Great

Bishop emeritus Martin Amos of Davenport, Iowa will be the main celebrant at the 11 a.m. July 22 funeral Mass for Father John A. Ocilka. Mass will be at St. John Bosco Church, 6480 Pearl Road, Parma Heights. Father David Liberatore, pastor emeritus of St. John Bosco Parish, will be the homilist.

Father Ocilka, 62, died on July 17.

His wake will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. July 21 at St. John Bosco Church. Bishop Amos will preside and Father Lawrence Jurcak, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Hudson, will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 7 p.m.

Father Ocilka was born on Oct 30, 1957 to the late Al and Gladys (Barnfield) Ocilka. He was educated at Holy Family (Mt. Pleasant) School, Cleveland; Chanel High School, Bedford; South High School, Cleveland; Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe: and Saint Mary Seminary, Wickliffe.

Bishop Anthony M. Pilla ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 28, 1994 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland.

His first assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Leo the Great Parish, Cleveland. On June 13, 2000, he was assigned as parochial vicar at St. John Bosco Parish. During this assignment he also served as spiritual advisor for the Holy Name societies, South West District, effective May 18, 2005. On June 30, 2007, Father Ocilka was appointed administrator of St. Clement Parish, Lakewood. He was granted a medical leave of absence to attend to his personal health on Oct. 30, 2012 and was granted total and permanent disability retirement on Oct. 1, 2012.

Father Ocilka is remembered as a joyful priest whose smile was infectious. He dealt with chronic illness for the last few years and remained optimistic throughout.

Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland.

Pastor's Blog for July 19, 2020

Congratulations to Patrick & Gillian Cooley, married here in January of last year, whose son Theodore Patrick will be baptized this weekend at St. Leo’s. May God continue to bless them as they begin their family. 

Our parking lot has been patched to cover the holes that we get each year from the salt and abuse that comes as a result of the snow plowing truck in the winter. Our parking lot is in very good shape as we have done large sections of patch work every summer during the last few years. So this week a company will be putting a sealer on top which helps maintain it. It will be re-striped as well and the handicapped spaces will be freshly painted to indicate those reserved spots.

It’s always a hassle trying to schedule appointments with people. Someone emails or calls & asks to meet with me & I respond back to them asking for days & times they are available, then they leave me a message with that information & then I get back to them trying to match my schedule with theirs, and then they get back in touch with me to confirm and on & on it goes. But no more. We’re now using a service which allows anyone to make an appointment with me, Deacon Pat or Joan Berigan quickly & easily. You click a link on our website & it shows you the availability of whomever you want to meet with, then you choose the day & time that works best for you & it’s automatically put on our calendars. We can also quickly & easily text you a link if you ask us to in church & it makes the process so simple. This gives me the opportunity to say that any of us on staff are always happy to meet with you for whatever you need...baptism, marriage, funeral plans, counseling, spiritual direction, or any other reason. We often hear the comment, “I don’t want to bother you because I know you’re busy.” But we are here to serve you and are always happy to give you of our time so please don’t ever hesitate to reach out to us. 

Mina Rolando, who is one of our part-time receptionists, has also been the Parish Center Coordinator since we opened up that space in the old convent a number of years ago for people to rent. She has done an excellent job in that position but is now looking to spend more time with her family so if you or someone you know may be interested in that position, please let me know. It would entail giving people information about the space and the services we offer either on the phone or in person, and taking care of all the details regarding the rental of that space. The time requirement varies depending upon the time of the year but it is a paid part-time position that would necessitate someone living close by. Many people rent out that room for things like baptism, graduation or birthday parties, funeral luncheons, showers and even small wedding receptions. We have a full service kitchen and the room also has a large television and drop down screen for use with a built-in projector. There are of course restrooms and the building has a ramp for wheelchair accessibility. Many parishioners make use of this space and we want to continue to allow its convenience to be appreciated by our parish community so let us know if you would like more information. 

New website feature: Schedule appointments online

We’re bringing a new feature to our website that will be make it easier for you (and me) to schedule an appointment together.

Just click on the link where it says, “Make appointment with Fr. Schmitz” and a popup window will appear which allows you to make an appointment with me. You can choose a 15, 30 or 60 minute time frame depending on your need. You can also choose to do a FaceTime or Zoom meeting, especially useful during the COVID-19 situation.

You can do the same with Deacon Pat and Joan Berigan.

A link will also be included in any email correspondence or I can text it to you if you request to see me before or after Mass. It will save you and I time in the back & forth that often takes place when trying to find a compatible time to meet.

Pastor's Blog for July 12, 2020

Our sympathies go to Kathy Schulz whose mother Alice passed away. I had anointed & given last rites to Alice & asked you to pray for her last week. Fr. Dan Schlegel, a friend of the family, celebrated Alice’s funeral Mass in my absence. May she rest in God’s peace. st

I celebrated the funeral of Frank Zupancic on July 1 and so we continue to pray for him and for the consolation of his wife Mary and daughter Cheryl who wrote beautiful words about her father. We called upon the saints to intercede for him when he was given the last rites. May they lead him into paradise.

Finally we remember John Gorencic whose Mass of Chris- tian Burial was celebrated by Fr. Dennis O’Grady this past Tuesday, assisted by Deacon Pat Berigan. We keep these and all the faithful departed from our parish in our daily prayers, especially during daily Mass.

On occasion I am made aware that someone receives an email or text looking like it came from me, asking for money or gift cards or some other favor. One such text was recently received by a parishioner and was signed “Reverend Father James Schmitz, Pastor.” First, I wouldn’t be so formal in such correspondence, and secondly, if I want money from you, I’ll come right out & ask you in person! Needless to say such attempts are fraudulent and you should never respond to them.

Our live-streaming camera has been installed & so now that it is connected directly to our sound system, the audio is 100% clear. It is quite flexible in terms of using presets that are zoomed in on the pulpit (& temporary lector stand), altar & chair or zoomed out to see the whole sanctuary area and even the nave. We will experiment with using these presents during the Mass itself but if that’s not possible on occasion we can still show a zoomed out overview of the sanctuary area. All of our weekend and weekday Masses will be recorded so you can view them any time on demand. Just head to our website (leothegreat.org) to view live or recorded liturgies. If you use our social media (YouTube, FaceBook or Twitter), you may also receive a notification on your device that you click to view the Mass immediately. If you have an AppleTV box at home, you can download the free Boxcast app and search for “Catholic” where you will find St. Leo the Great which you can save as a favorite and then watch live or on demand events on your television. The livestream is about 30-60 seconds behind the actual time so don’t be thrown off by that. We will also be live-streaming funerals, weddings and baptisms but we will ask if you would prefer us not to do so and we will respect your preference. These may be nice to look back on or to make available to those who cannot be present for such occasions, especially during the pandemic. At least some good things can come out of the situation we find ourselves in this year.

John & Jeanne Sabol have placed pictures in the vestibule display case showing visits of various bishops to St. Leo’s over the years. Thanks to them for this. We continue to pray for our Diocese as we wait for the Holy Father’s decision on the next bishop of Cleveland.

New Livestream Camera is Installed: Great Audio Now

Before I left for vacation, I wanted to make sure our new livestream camera was installed so that you would not be without it while I was gone and I’m happy to say it is installed and working very well. You will find the audio to be greatly improved since it connected directly to our sound system in the church. The camera is capable of being zoomed in and focused on different areas of the sanctuary but I would need to be there to control that so for now the camera is simply focused on the sanctuary. Let me know if this view is acceptable to you.

I’d like to remind you again that you can also watch a video on demand by clicking the link right underneath the video on our homepage, or you can choose the “Leo Live” link from the Liturgy menu at the top of the website. You will find all of our live-streamed video available for viewing at your convenience. We are also live-streaming all funerals, weddings, baptisms and liturgical events in the church (with permission only).

If you subscribe to our social media (Facebook, Twitter & YouTube), you will also be notified of a live-streaming event when it is about to begin. If you have an AppleTV box at home, you can download the free app called “Boxcast” & be able to watch our live and on demand video on your TV. Just search for “Catholic” and you’ll find St. Leo the Great which you can add to your favorites.

Pastor's Blog for July 5, 2020

We have received some generous donations through the Employer Contributions Match Program from Progressive Insurance. Thank you to those who participate in this opportunity for them to send donations our way.

I was finally able to see my dad last week. My sister & I went to his assisted living place in Strongsville & sat outside as he sat inside one of the first floor apartments. We had lunch together & a nice conversation. It was the first time I’ve seen him in over 3 months & was glad to see how well he looked & was doing. I’m noticing more people coming to Mass now as well and that too is good to see. But the plan is to have our new live-streaming camera installed by this weekend as well so there are always options. Thanks again for your cooperation with the wearing of masks and the social distancing. Everything seems to be going very smoothly as far as our weekend liturgies are concerned so let me know if you have any questions or suggestions regarding our public gatherings.

I’ve anointed and given last rites to 3 people this past weekend and so I would like to ask for your prayers on their behalf. One is Alice Schulz, the mother of Kathy Schulz from our parish. After the nurse showed me to her room, she gave me directions on the way back to the front door of the facility but I got lost—apparently due to God’s providence. When another nurse saw me, she said, “Oh there you are...let me show you the way.” I thought she was showing me the way to the front door but she knocked on someone’s door & said, “Father is here...” But I told her that I had already seen the person I came to visit & that she was mistaken but that I’d be happy to anoint someone else if they needed me. It was a man named Ron who actually had spent 6 years in the seminary before he left & got married. I had a nice conversation with his wife and son who were hoping to get a priest to give him the last rites so we prayed together for Ron. Not a coincidence but a “God incident” as they say. Finally, I also anointed & gave last rites to Frank Zupancic who is a parishioner with his wife Mary, and Frank died this past Monday. So please pray for all of these that they may have a peaceful journey home to the Lord. th

As I write this on Monday, June 29 , I am looking forward to a vacation as my last one was back in early February before the coronavirus pandemic hit us so I will be thinking of you this weekend (and maybe even watching you via livestream!). I will be driving to Boston but staying in a time-share that is being shared with me by my cousin, Fr. Dan Schlegel. He stayed close by there last week & I just happened to choose a location in the same area. It’s been several years since I’ve been to Boston but I enjoy historical tours, etc. so I’m hoping sights will still be open despite the pandemic. I just thought too that I’ll be there during the July 4th weekend so that’s not a bad place to celebrate the nation’s independence. I am sorry to miss the 60th Wedding Anniversary of Frank and Arlene Gerda which will be at the 11am Mass this weekend but I congratulate them and hope they have a wonderful celebration.