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

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