September, 2010

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Sunday is Respect Life Sunday and the month is devoted to the development of human life for the most vulnerable and needy. As stewards of our Father’s creation, we share in His power to give life and preserve it from its inception to its natural end.

This past week Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Chairman of the Pro-Life Activities for the Bishops’ Conference, repeated Pope Benedict’s words in England emphasizing the power of sacrificial love and prayer to transform lives and thus better our society:

“Because we are created in the image of God, who is Love, our identity and vocation is to love sacrificially for the sake of others. Pope Benedict XVI has called this ’the key to [our] entire existence.’ In a homily during his recent visit to the United Kingdom, Pope Benedict reminded us that ‘our hearts can easily be hardened by selfishness, envy and pride,’ and that ‘pure and generous love is the fruit of a daily decision.’ Every day, he reminded us, ‘we have to choose to love.’ In our homes, schools, workplaces, and in public, if we constantly witness to the inestimable worth and dignity of each human life through a loving concern for the good of others, if we allow the dignity of every human life to guide the decisions we make as voters and public policy advocates, we can surely succeed in creating a more just and humane society.

Our efforts, of course, must always be undergirded with prayer—the silent space for personal daily prayer that allows us to hear God’s voice deep in our hearts, and communal prayer that asks God to transform our culture into one that welcomes every human person.’

If you were unable to join the Life Chain on East Market Street this Saturday, sponsored by local churches and the Right to Life of Northeast Ohio, you can still join in today -Oct.3- at the Courthouse in Ravenna, Ohio from 2:30-3:30pm. It is an opportunity to unite communities in silent prayer and be a peaceful witness to the sanctity of life.

Please consider how you or your family can give witness to the respect you hold for God’s gift of life. Let us thank God for the gift of one another. Peace, Fr. Dan

Join OPEN M on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Todaro’s Party Center, where they will be hosting a Fall Fest Luncheon, Fashion Show and Silent Auction. Tickets are $25. Please contact Tiffany Stahl for more information at (330) 434-0110, ext. 404. A table of 10 will be reserved for Holy Family Parish by Doris Stewart. Please mention if you would like to be seated with this group.

Please call the parish office if you can assist with any of the following current projects: the Bethlehem/Giving Tree, our Hunger Programs, choir member, sprucing up the cemetery for All Souls Day, office receptionist, school or church cleaning, and an upcoming Rectory Rummage Sale. An hour or two would be a big help.

The upcoming Holiday Craft Show, Saturday, Nov. 13th, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus #3410 Hall, 2055 Glenmount Ave., Akron. Admission is free, and homemade food will be available for purchase. Vendor tables are now available. Vendor space is $25 and is 10 x 10, with an 8-ft. table and chair. For more information, contact Mary Kay Gross at (330) 620-5411.

“Reflecting Back: 30 years later! The Deaths of the Martyrs of El Salvador!” will be presented by Sr. Martha Owen, OSU, friend and companion of Sr. Dorothy Kazel, OSU and Bishop Oscar Romero.  Join us as Sister Martha shares the story on Sunday, October 17 from 4-5:30 pm at Blessed Trinity Parish (formerly St. Martha Parish) 300 E. Tallmadge Ave. A free will offering will be collected.  Please RSVP by Friday, October 15, by calling 330-376-5144.

Scholarship/Placement Test for 8th graders will be given on the following Saturdays this fall:  October 16, November 6, and November 13.  The tests begin at 8:30 a. m.  Please contact 330-253-9113 or visit our website at www.stvm.com to pre-register for one of these tests.  The top 30 scorers of this Test will each receive a $10,000 academic scholarship to STVM!

This will be the Twenty-fourth Annual Blanket Sunday Collection to aid the needy. It is sponsored by the Diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society. Due to lack of storage space we’ll sponsor a cash only collection. We’ll gratefully accept a cash donation and do the shopping for you, making your money go even further with bulk purchases of blankets and other items for low income families. So give someone a blanket for the winter — and give yourself a warm feeling!

The Rays of Mercy also will collect winter clothing that weekend at the church: socks, gloves, scarves, and hats.

First reading: (The just shall live because of faith)

Second: (Don’t be ashamed to give testimony)

Gospel: (If you have faith!)

Adults 
Where in my life do my attitudes and actions fall short? What changes can I make this week to address this issue? ¿En que aspectos de me vida mis actitudes y acciones  no reflejan mis creencias? ¿Qué cambios puedo hacer esta semana para dar testimonio de mi fe?

Children 
What is one thing I can do this week to show more clearly that I am a Catholic? ¿Qué puedo hacer esta semana para demonstrar que soy católico?

A Baptism class will be held here at St. Bernard Sunday, Nov 21 from 2-4 pm in the main church. There is no cost and pre-registration is not required

Dear Parishioners,

This past week the parish council met. One of the items discussed was the annual Bethlehem Tree/ Giving Tree. This is a project whereby ornaments that contain gift information for a needy person or family are removed from a tree. The gift is then purchased by the donor, wrapped, and brought to the parish for pick up or delivery. It is a wonderful opportunity to extend our charity at Christmas from our parish as well as a way to tell others of Christ.

If the parish is willing to sponsor this event, we will need a number of people to be involved, and most importantly, a person or couple of people to head it up. This event should begin soon. So, if you are interested in leading this event for 2010, please contact the parish office or Council member Patty Ayers at 330-867-6181.

Some other topics from Council: a letter that went to local pastors seeking their assistance with our 3 hunger programs; confirmation that we will have a 5pm Mass on Dec. 31 for First Night Akron; seeking volunteers for the upkeep of our cemetery; efforts to improve the sound system in the church; possible fund raisers in the new year, such as Night at the Races. If  you ever want a copy of the minutes from Council, please don’t hesitate to request one.

Finally, at the recommendation of the Diocese, the statue of the Blessed Mother located between the school and St. Mary church will be moved soon for safe keeping. It will be replaced by a less expensive statue of the Holy Family. The statue of Mary will be stored with other items removed from St. Mary church until the Vatican responds to its closure status.

Welcome the beauty of Autumn! Peace, Fr. Dan