Pastor's Column for November 26, 2017

We prayed for Janet Rosby during the funeral services for her last week. And we continue to extend our prayerful support to the members of her family. She was very religious and was able to spend her last days at Holy Family Hospice on State Road. She was anointed by the chaplain there and I prayed the last rites for her. She was grateful to be helped by these prayers of the Church. May they speed her to God’s peace.

While the repair work on our HVAC in the church is completed, there is still some work to be done on the computer system which controls it so the temperature in the church may fluctuate a little bit but hopefully you will find it to be neither too cold nor too warm. Personally I like the cooler temperatures of the low 60’s but I know that the thinning of blood for some people makes those temperatures feel like they are in Alaska. But I try to get just the right balance to make as many people as comfortable as possible. At least we know that the repairs will allow us to stay warm as these cooler days approach. I’d hate to have a bonfire in the church to keep us from freezing. They can be really messy.

I was very grateful to be at the retreat for priests which took place at the Jesuit Retreat House on State Road in Parma. That has been one of the treasures of the Diocese for many decades. Amazingly, they have several acres of land which are hidden in the middle of Parma where many deer can be seen living in the woods. They just added a new wing which is both practical and beautiful. You may want to check out their website at jrh-Cleveland.org. They host the PreCana program which engaged couples participate in as part of their premarriage preparation and they hold several retreats and conferences there throughout the year. You may want to just take a reflective walk through their woods or just sit in the quiet & peaceful atmosphere there. But do take advantage of this place of prayer and spiritual refreshment if you get the chance.

I ask you frequently to remember the sick and homebound parishioners in your prayers and today I would ask you to especially pray for my brother-in-law Mike. By the time you read this (as I type it on November 15th), he will have had quadruple bypass surgery. His very serious heart disease took him and my sister by surprise and I know many of you are aware of how illness affects so many different aspects of our lives. It brings fear and worry as we are reminded of the fragility of life. Would you say a prayer for him right now so that I can tell him of your support? My sincere thanks. 

Pastor's Column for November 19, 2017

Our next Faith Formation Session will be on Sunday, November 26th at 9am in the Parish Community Center. Please join us as we watch another wonderful video by Bishop Robert Barron on the life of Michelangelo & his tremendous influence on the Church.

We currently have 10 people signed up for the Tour of Italy trip for next October and we only have 4 spaces left. Please see me if you’d like more information on this great opportunity to get a taste of Italy (from a priest who has tasted a lot of Italy!).

We extend our sympathies to the family of Georgianne Mroczka whose Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on November 11th. Georgianne would drive long distances to be with her family for a special occasion or just to offer support to a friend. As we prayed for all the Faithful Departed on the feast of All Souls November 2nd, we continue to remember her and all deceased members of our parish who died, especially this past year.

The Knights of Columbus will be joining us for the 11am Mass this weekend so we welcome them and thank them for their good work in the Church. They are offering a scholarship to a seminarian & asked if I knew one that could use their support and so I recommended that Ryan Arto be the recipient as he spoke to our parish 3 weeks ago about his own vocation to the priesthood. Please be sure to thank the Knights for their generosity to the Church and for their sup- port of seminarians. They also put on a Reverse Raffle last Saturday in Lux Hall which was enjoyed by many. Thanks to the parishioners who supported them in this fundraiser.

You may have heard that there is a Catholic radio station called “The Rock” and can be found at AM1260. You can get more information about it and listen to it live on their website found at http://am1260therock.com. We’re very fortunate to have this Catholic station in the Diocese of Cleveland. In fact, Bishop Perez has already utilized this medium in order to speak to the people of the Diocese. You can support them on WeGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday, November 28th. Again, more information is available on their website.

Since we’re still paying some bills from our parish festival, we don’t yet have numbers to share about our profit but will make that available to you soon. In the mean time, I give thanks to all those who organized, planned, worked at or enjoyed the festival last month. It was good to be with fellow parishioners & to enjoy the great food & entertainment. Looking forward to next year.

Please join us for our Thanksgiving Mass this Thursday at 9am. It’s a great way to begin the holiday season and to put ourselves in the right frame of mind as we prepare for Advent & Christmas which are following close behind. 

Pastor's Column for November 12, 2017

Agnes Billick, 92, was a longtime parishioner of St. Leo’s, whose 3 sons attended our parish school many years ago. She was born during the Depression and her father died at a young age. Her mother was also ill so at the age of 13, Agnes had to get her driver’s license so that she could take care of her mother and drive her to her doctor’s appointments. She missed so much of the childhood that many of us enjoyed and the carefree years of being a teenager. Her funeral was celebrated on November 3rd and we pray that she may now have the rewards of her labors.

Congratulations to Patrick Criscuolo who will be receiving his Eagle Scout Award this weekend. Patrick really showed his commitment to service and his leadership abilities when he organized a group to tear down an old deck that was behind the school building. They also prepared the ground there so that it could be used for a garden for our school children to use. Patrick has also been a faithful altar server and is a student at St. Ignatius High School. God bless him as he grows in God’s grace.

We welcome Camden Combs into our Church community as he is baptized this Sunday. It is always a joy to welcome one of God’s children into the Faith. Many blessings on him and his parents.

I will be on retreat this week from Sunday evening through Thursday at the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma. Please pray that it may be a means of God’s grace as I recommit myself to the service of the good people of St. Leo’s.

We continue to be saddened by the violence that exists in our country and throughout the world. We mourn the loss of 26 lives because of the shooting at a little church in Texas and pray not only for them but for the injured and those who mourn the loss of a loved one. While we may feel so helpless in such situations, we can ask for help in learning to be peacemakers in our lives so that others may not suffer as a result of the violence that can come from our words, actions or indifference.

On Friday we celebrated the feast of our patron, St. Leo the Great. We entrust our parish to him and seek his intercession that we may grow into a community of deeper faith, love and hope.

The parish staff celebrated the 89th birthday of Fr. Vesely this past Wednesday, November 8th. We’ll plan to invite the whole parish next year to wish him a happy 90th! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves...he’s only 89 and has a whole year to go before the next milestone. May it be a year of health & happiness. 

Pastor's Column for November 5, 2017

Delores Fine, whose funeral Mass was on October 23rd, was 94 years old. She was a member of St. Leo’s Seniors and would often bring jewelry she was no longer using to give it away to someone whom she thought might appreciate it. She was described by her family as a “giver.” May she now receive from the Lord who allowed her the grace to give.

Florence Bacso had been a parishioner here since the 50’s. She and her husband and two sons lived in a house directly behind (or in front of?) our church. Her sons Douglas & Thomas continue to be members of our parish. Though Florence was baptized Catholic, she had not received the sacraments of the Eucharist or Confirmation when younger so she took “instructions” prior to being married to her husband, and they were married for 66 years. Florence was blessed with 95 years of life and at her funeral on October 24th, we prayed that she may now have eternal life in heaven.

Paul Provenzale, 89, was devoted to his family. He also responded to the Lord’s call to serve our neighbor as he delivered Meals on Wheels to the Old Brooklyn Senior Citizens. He served in the Korean War and was the recipient of the Purple Heart Award. Paul had been a parishioner for the last 8 years and we extend our sympathies to his children and grandchildren. His funeral Mass was on October 27th.

On that same day we also had a funeral Mass for Leonard Schmidt (his wife joked that we shared the same last name except that I spelled it wrong!). Leonard and Kathleen were married for 56 years and have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Lenny was remembered for his sense of humor which he would use when you would least expect it. As a mail carrier, he would make over 480 deliveries a day when he worked prior to his retirement. He converted to Catholicism when he married his wife Kathleen. We pledge our prayers to her and to Lenny.

Finally we extend our condolences to Ramon Cortez on the death of his mother, Felicisima, whose funeral Mass was celebrated by a Filipino priest last Saturday. God’s peace to them.

We extend our congratulations to Katharine Toman & Dale Gobel who are to be married here next Saturday. May they have a long and fruitful marriage.

If you missed receiving a bulletin from a couple of weekends ago, we found the ones that went missing & have them available. Please see one of the ushers.

A lightening strike took out a large limb from one of the trees we had in the front of the school building. That limb fell on power lines which the city repaired very promptly. Unfortunately the whole tree needed to be taken down since it was rotted on the inside. Another power pole on the opposite end of the property also broke as a result of the storm but again was repaired quickly. At least Michaela is happy that there is one less tree for the squirrels to escape to when she’s out for her daily walk.