Dear Parishioners,

This past week Bishop Lennon was here to celebrate the Red Mass for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officials. It was a prayerful event and an opportunity to honor one of their own, Mrs. Ann Amer Brennan, whose father received the same St. Thomas More Award many years earlier.

While the Bishop was here we had an opportunity for an impromptu conversation. I was encouraged to know that he is concerned about our situation, that he is setting time aside to work on a response to these 12 complex decrees, and that he would like to see the parishes re-established this summer.

Again we will hear more in the weeks ahead as to who will be involved and what the re-establishment of St. Mary’s will actually look like. That information will also explain how all this affects the current St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish and the former St. Bernard Parish.

But there are a few things that will certainly happen. Financial funds, the pulpit, statues, chalices, church furnishings in storage, etc. will be returned to St. Mary once the parish is re-opened. Sadly, it is certain that St. Bernard-St. Mary School will return to St. Mary’s as well. It was the parish school and so everything will revert back.

I am relieved to report that all the funds in St. Mary Bank Accounts and Investment Accounts can be accounted for. Monies removed from those accounts were used for the school alone. All other expenses for the grounds or church building came from the resources of St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish.

As for the school, we are in the final phase of naming a new principal for the school. The life and good work there must continue smoothly for the sake of the children and parents. I hope to have a principal in place within a week; two at the most.

So far our enrollment is down. We budgeted for 180 students and have 158 enrolled today. Please let people know of the great opportunity available in a solid Catholic Education at SB-SM School. Please pray that other families will step forward during these next few months. Although it is about education; it is also about the subsidy St. Mary will have if our projections are off.

Tony Crookston, who was the former council chairperson at St. Mary and a great help here on our SB-SM parish council, is polling former St. Mary parishioners to get an idea as to who is interested in returning. Personally, accurate information would be helpful to the new leadership of both parishes.

Finally, keep all this in your prayers along with the Bishop and priests involved. My unscheduled conversation with him began simply out of his kind concern for my welfare. I know he is concerned for all the priests (limited though we are) who will be part of these re-openings.

It’s times like these – as I’m sure you know – that staying connected to Jesus, the Vine, is essential to survival. So, let’s all hang in there with Him who hung in there for us. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Now and forever!

Oh my Gosh, I have a whole other page to go! What, not enough advertisements this week?

Well sure, we had a big fundraisers this week. The first and probably only St. Bernard-St. Mary Night at the Races was this past Friday, May 5. I want to name and ask you to join me in thanking personally this committee who made Friday such a success:

 

Tom and Rose Fritsch (Chair)

Mike and Patty Ayers Dave and Linda Celik

Jean Cummings Judy and Ray DiMascio

Bob and Lee Friend Paul and Nancy Jaeger

Joanne Krebs John and Ciny Regan

Doug and Mary Jane Palmer Ruth and Dick Reinhart

Amy and Chuck Riggle Lisa and Tony Smith

Helen Trares Richard Williams

 

I think I got everyone and included some patient spouses; please let me know if I forgot someone but let’s thanks these good people who raced harder than any horse to get us the HORSEPOWER.

Because of their efforts, and special recognition here to Joanne Krebs, we had over a hundred sponsors from all over Akron and the Diocesan area who provided gifts and prizes for this benefit. Although they will be receiving a letter of thanks, I ask you to join me in lifting them up in prayer for their generosity to and care for our need here at the parish, school, and in the hunger programs.

We recently received a notice from St. Augustine Parish in Barberton that effective June 3rd they will no longer offer a Sunday evening Mass. We will still be here on Sunday nights at 8:00 PM. Matt and the music ministers will be here as well through most of the summer.

This weekend there is a special collection for the Newman Center and other ministries that foster an increase in faith formation in our young and young adults. Please be assist as you are able. The need is great and the benefit to those in our Newman program here at the parish is just as great.

Volunteers are needed on two upcoming Saturdays – May 12th to help the Knights of Columbus do their Spring Cleaning here on the parish church grounds; and then again – May 19th to help a small crew and hopefully our cluster youth clean the St. Bernard-St. Mary Cemetery on Maple Street. Both projects begin at 9am at either site. Thanks for whatever time you can spare to keep our downtown facility attractive and our cemetery respectful.

Keep in mind that if you are admitted to a hospital or health facility for care, your parish is NOT notified. We have no idea you are undergoing physical troubles unless you or someone from your family contacts us. However, I have found that Fr. Dismas at City Hospital (Summa) and Fr. Milton at Akron General will contact us IF you specifically ask them too. I have found them to be very response to the needs of our parishioners. They are very dedicated priests and a blessing to the Akron area.

As you may know I’m the Catholic priest for Akron Children’s Hospital. It’s a volunteer ministry I somehow inherited by being assigned to St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish. Responding with the Sacraments to a sick or seriously injured child is heart-wrenching – from that I can only imagine what it is like for a parent. As a priest I am often times privileged to be a minister of God’s grace and comfort by just being there.

We need priests today. Often guys don’t think about it because it seems to be an overwhelming task. It is! You just don’t know what to say sometimes. But, the Church needs men who can pray, not be afraid to speak words of faith and hope, and be willing to sacrifice for others – or simply just be there! Think about it, guys. I can tell you there are many a time I walk out of ICU grateful the Lord was in that room with the grace of His Sacraments for those most in need of them. Is God calling you to be a priest?

Don’t forget to stop in the Upper Room to see the Exhibit “Progress & Promise”. It is an inspiring display of the past, present, and future works of 27 religious orders of women in the Cleveland and Youngstown areas. Is God calling you to religious life?

The children in 5th – 8th grades were here from our SB-SM School this week. They came to view the Exhibit and take a tour of the church. For many of the children (most non-Catholic) their experience of nuns and sisters are of two: Sr. Dorothy Mattingly, O.P. who volunteers faithfully everyday in our Kindergarten, and, the other – Sr. Dolores (AKA Whoopi Goldberg of “Sister Act I and II). This exhibit of real Sisters who have given so much over the years was an inspiration to many of the children. Stop in the Upper Room and see.

How’s it going with the new wording of the Mass? You certainly sound strong in your responses. Yeah sure, the Gloria and Creed are still a bit much, but I appreciate you taking the time to pick up a Congregational card or thumb through the missalette to find the proper responses. The Lord be with you!

And last but not least – CONGRATULATIONS to those receiving Sacraments this Sunday morning:

Nathan Novak

Son of Sue and Keith Novak

Receiving his First Communion at the 9:30 Mass – Welcome to the Table of the Lord, Nathan!

Sarah Oberlin

Daughter of Bruce and Sandra Oberlin

Receiving her First Communion and Confirmation at the 11:30 Mass having completed her preparation for full-initiation in the Catholic Church. God bless you, Sarah!

Next time something on St. Bernard since I had to cancel our AFF Class in May. Peace to all, Fr. Dan

 

Queridos Hermanos:

Cuando llegue en Akron en 2010 no sabía yo los retos de trabajar y vivir aca. Como pastor he aprendido mucho y todavía hay tanto más que quiero aprender. La relación entre un párroco y los fieles es como la relación de la que Cristo describía en el evangelio de hoy – entre una vid y las ramas.

La Iglesia es como una planta. Ella no es un club, una organización social, algo en que mi parte es opcional o de vez en cuando. Somos el cuerpo de Cristo y cada miembro es parte de un organismo vivo.

Jesucristo dice que no es parte de su cuerpo es imposible de vivir, está muerto. Un párroco tiene la obligación de responder primero a los católicos que viven y participan en esta parroquia en el nombre de Cristo. Ahora esta parroquia de St. Bernard y St. Mary es grande por solo uno sacerdote. Gracias a Dios pocos Diáconos están de acuerdos de venir y ayudarnos en las misas en español. Trato de hacer todo lo que puedo aun con límites. Tenemos pocos voluntarios también que nos ayudan cuando pueden. ¡Gracias voluntarios!

Sin embargo, en mi opinión los feligreses tengan una obligación también – a conocer al párroco y a los otros miembros de esta comunidad. Si esta vid va a sobrevivir tenemos que estar unidos a Cristo, al párroco, y a uno al otro.

La santa misa es lo mejor manera.

Otra es en peregrinación. Vamos juntos el 3 de junio a Windsor, Ohio, para celebrar la misa a la 1:00 de la tarde, picnic, y visitar la estatua de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. NO misa a las 6:00 ese domingo.

Cuando una persona llama a la oficina parroquial para pedir una fecha por boda, bautismo, primera comunión, etc. posible necesite hacer una cita con el párroco. Si no te conocemos porque no participas en esta parroquia, hay que hacer una cita con el padre como otros católicos. Es igual por personas que viven en otras áreas de Akron y de Summit County.

¿Por qué? Como dije al principio es una oportunidad de conocer y servir a los que no conocemos. Gracias.

Este miércoles hay reunión del Concilio Hispano a las 7:00pm en el Salón de Conferencias.

Todavía hay espacio en nuestra escuela católica por el año 2012-2013. Puede inscribirse en la oficina escolar o llama a la oficina al 330-253-1233 por mas información. Hay ayuda financia por la cuota escolar.

Dios le bendiga esta semana que viene. Fr. Dan