Dear Parishioners,
Upon arrival I received a pile of 3-ring binders filled with notes from cluster and merger meetings. On one page was a Mission Statement of who and what the new merged parish would be. Here’s what it says:
St. Bernard and St. Mary parishes have a significant historical presence in the Akron community. Coming together as St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish, we continue to welcome both friend and stranger. As members of the Diocese of Cleveland, we answer the call of the Lord Jesus through the practice of our Roman Catholic faith and its rich Tradition. Honoring our common history and faith, we answer God’s call for:
REVERENCE – as a devout people, moved to be transformed by the Holy Eucharist,
COMMUNITY – as a united people from many cultures, ready to share our gifts as the Body of Christ,
JUSTICE – as a loving people, willing to welcome and serve with compassion,
EDUCATION – as a teaching people, committed to instruct and inspire a diverse population through our school and our parish,
FORMATION – as a spiritual people, eager to be nurtured by scripture, sacrament, and reflection.
Since July I have tried to capture an aspect of this Mission Statement with a photo on the front cover of the parish weekly bulletin.
Today’s bulletin and for the next few weeks is a reminder that: We answer God’s Call TO BE FORMED – as a spiritual people, eager to be nurtured by Scripture, Sacraments, and Reflection. The photo is of a meeting of the Rays of Mercy. They come together every Friday at 3PM in the Upper Room, and once a month for inspiring talks and fraternity. They are one of a number of growing small groups in the parish coming together to put into action what our SB-SM Mission Statement declares in word.
Another formation event is our upcoming Day of Reflection for Liturgical Ministers. Please Register. This includes Ministers at the 8PM SUNDAY MASS. Fr. Albert Haase, OFM, will again join us for 3 inspiring talks, Lunch, and Update Sessions for each ministry.
Liturgical Minister’s Day
January 28, 2012 from10am-3pm
At SB-SM SCHOOL 750 S. Main
Please register at the Parish Office so we can order Lunch 330-253-5161 or to Beth Lowe at:
parishsecretary@stbernardstmary.org
Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers,
Music Ministers, Greeters, Readers, and Ushers.
This past Wednesday evening a good number of parishioners, and some Catholics from other parishes, met at the school for “Catholicism” by Fr. Robert Barron. It was a powerful DVD presentation on our faith. Personally, I was ‘amazed and afraid’ that Jesus is the Son of God. Of all the founders of religions in the world, as Fr. Barron points out, Jesus is the only one who calls people to Himself…a relationship with Him, not simply to a path to blissfulness, or to Sacred Laws, or a way of moral living, or wise sayings – but to Him.
There are nine more sessions and each stands alone. Feel free to join us some Wednesday evening from 6:30-8pm in our school cafeteria. It’s free and worth it.
Join us at 2PM today for a Holy Hour for Life. All are invited to join in prayer at SB-SM or at home.
CLUSTER LENTEN MISSION at St. Vincent’s February 13, 14, &15 at 7:00pm. Fr. Blaise Czaja, CP, will be our presenter. He received his vocation to become a Passionist priest when he attended a parish mission in eighth grade. He has been blessed with being able to do this ministry during most of his priesthood. He is a very popular and well received preacher. Frs. Kraker, Valencheck, and I hope you enjoy his insights.
Enrollment in our parish elementary school will open February 1st. We have 180 students currently. Although we had to raise tuition substantially for the coming 2012-2013 School Year, we believe the quality of education and Christian formation in the Catholic Tradition is well-worth it.
Please consider our Catholic School as an option for your child or grandchild. In a multi-cultural student body, a child learns how to get along with others respectfully and to nurture Christian values for life.
Nineteen students graduated from the school in 2007. Seventeen of them entered college last September. This is an outstanding achievement for an inner-city school. (Actually we cannot locate the other 2 students, so it’s possible the entire class went on to college!)
Thanks to the great work of the faculty and administration SB-SM School is a success story that Akronites are hearing about. We encourage your support in the Fr. Hilkert Fund Envelope in your packets, or in volunteer service to our children. Peace, Fr. Dan
