Dear Parish Family,
HAPPY EASTER! May
each of your families come to know
the freedom of the children of God as
you begin to unfold the glories of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Fr. Phil began his Easter homily with a sobering interview. A journalist decided to track down survivors of suicide attempts on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He asked them what was going on in their minds during the four seconds of that fall. All of them responded that they regretted the decision to jump, one saying “I instantly realized that everything in my life that I thought was unfixable was totally fixable, except for having just jumped.”
That man, Kenneth Baldwin, is still alive – 30 years after the suicide attempt. He has raised a family and teaches high school students. What good words for all of us, but especially for young people: “Everything I thought was unfixable is totally fixable.”
Kenneth Baldwin’s words also describe the first Easter morning. It began in desolation, even despair. The disciples had followed Jesus for several years. They had listened to his powerful teaching. They
saw his amazing works. Now it all
fell apart.
The disciples must have carried a heavy burden of guilt. They had run away. They abandoned the man who had done everything for them. One had the courage to go back and stand with Jesus. But two of them – Peter and Judas – had betrayed Jesus with acts of cowardice and greed. Of these two, one committed suicide. So, Easter morning began in darkness, desolation and guilt. So, did the Resurrection instantly change all of that? In one sense, it did. The things unfixable became totally fixable. But that did not happen in an instant. It began a process that continued 50 days until Pentecost – and beyond. They once thought they knew what it meant to be a disciple. Now they were really going to learn.
Dear Friends, that’s the invitation we have this Easter: we are invited to learn what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus.
We know how urgently we need to become disciples of Jesus – people who are willing to share their faith, to talk with others about what God, Jesus and the sacraments mean to them, to invite others to come to the parish. Only a small percentage of Catholics are real disciple makers. Don’t we want to change that? Yes, most of us do, but we don’t know exactly what to do to become an intentional disciple.
It is so true that most of us live surrounded by what Thoreau called “quiet desperation.” We see signs of that desperation in the increase in drugs, pornography and gambling, but despair takes many forms.
Ultimately only One can give lasting hope in the face of despair – the one St. Peter describes today: the man who “went around doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil.” That man was put to death “on a tree.” That man whose cross becomes the tree of life. That man who takes our desolation and guilt. Because of Jesus, those things that seem unfixable are totally fixable.
Most of us know people who have become disillusioned. Young people say they are losing their faith. To maintain one’s faith with today’s culture is like standing in a rainstorm and trying to keep a candle burning. It takes determination and even some
outside help, especially the sacraments.
LIVE EASTER in the riches of the
Church of which we are members!
Everything becomes fixable!!!
HAPPY EASTER!!!!
--Sr. Carroll
Last Week 1,928.00
M.T.D.March 3,300.00
F.Y.T.D. 89,799.84
BEST WISHES FOR A TRULY HAPPY EASTER from the staff members: Sr. Carroll, Sr. Rosemary, Cece Mees, and Steve Matus as well as Fr. Kishore!!! We thank you all for the many greetings and good wishes and participation in the Holy Week services which were so meaningful. Our prayer for each one is to experience the joyous FREEDOM of the EASTER MYSTERY! which we celebrate for 50 days…until Pentecost Sunday!
We received a letter from Bishop Daniel E. Thomas regarding ALL OF YOU and the Bishop’s visitation and Mass with us this past February 24th:
Dear Sister Mary Carroll,
All good greetings in the Lord, with particular blessings for this Holy Season of Lent! This comes to express my deep thanks for your warm welcome when I was blessed on February 24th to be the celebrant and homilist at St. Mary Parish for the beautiful Saturday Vigil Mass, a pastoral visit and to join the parish community for the fine meal that followed.
The liturgy was very well done, the servers quite fine and the music just splendid. It was so good to be with you, Father Kishore Kottana and all the members of St. Mary Parish, to pray and offer Holy Mass and to spend time together.
Hope you know how glad I was for the opportunity to greet those gathered afterward in the church hall for such a delicious meal and delightful reception. Please extend my sincere thanks to all those who assisted in the dinner. Your welcome and their prayerful example are a source of encouragement. Hope you know how much your fine work is appreciated.
I thank the Lord for your dedicated and faithful service to Christ and His Church as Pastoral Leader. With a promise of continued prayers for you and your intentions, and for the entire St. Mary Parish community, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,
(signed) Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas
Bishop of Toledo
Just to refresh your minds re: Feb. 24 … the choir under the direction of Sandie Pecora and Bob and Karen Hardway as well as the servers Ethan Nolan, Caleb Bibb, Nicole Kraus, Katie Woodruff, Madelyn Beury, and Paul Hartenstein and the ushers Steve Matus and Gust Ristas at the celebration of Holy Mass…. Then the repeat THANK YOU from the March 3rd bulletin is printed here again: THANK YOU to the people who worked so hard on the reception in the Hall afterwards: John and Cheryl Nolan who chaired this reception, Sue and Bill Fayak and Sr. Rosemary for the centerpieces, Sr. Rosemary for the Mass programs, Mike and Sher Woolsey for the roasters of rigatoni, John and Cheryl for cooking the roast beef, Kristie Jarrett for making the full cake which had WELCOME, BISHOP THOMAS written on it, to all who made a plate of cookies, to all who worked: Rita & Dale Daniels, Pat & Linda Grady, Ray & Sue Kershaw, Alice & John Liles, Pam and Gust Ristas, and to ALL WHO participated in the event. Everyone had a great time, including our Bishop Thomas.
Saturday, April 7th –4:00 PM
Bill & Nadine Davis/Ed & Peggy Davis
Sacristan:Rosemary Romeis
Nan Krisha/Carol Tite
Greeters:John & Penny McClaflin
Lector:Mike Karney
Gifts/Ushers:Bill Fayak,
Jerry Habeck
Euch. Min.:John & Penny McClaflin,
Alice Muniz
Servers:Paul Hartenstein,
Walt Pleban
Sunday, April 8th – 11:00 AM
Henry Ostheimer/John & Brian Conry
Sacristan:Cheryl Nolan
Greeters:Kelly & Dan Sayler
Lector:KelsieSayler
Lit.of Word: Jamie Hilaman
Gifts/Ushers:Kathy & Shawn Burke
Euch. Min.:Sue Bommer,
Paul Hartenstein, Sr. Carroll
Servers:Nicole Kraus,
Madelyn Beury
Money Counters:
Shawn Burke,
Barb Fashing
Saturday, March 31
12 noon – Blessing of Easter Foods
EASTER VIGIL – 8:30 PM –Fr. Tom McQuillen
Sunday, April 1
HAPPY EASTER – RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD
8:30 AM MASS – Fr. Tom McQuillen
10:30 AM MASS – Fr. Tom McQuillen
Monday, April 2
Parish Office closed
Tuesday, April 3
Wednesday, April 4
6 PM Exercise
Thursday, April 5
NO 10:00 AM Mass
Friday, April 6
NO Communion Service
Saturday, April 7
3:30 PM Confessions
4:00 PM Mass
Sunday, April 8
9:30 AM PSR CONF ALPHA
10:40 AM Confessions
11:00 AM Mass
Easter Flowers were donated
memory of thefollowing people.
Let us rememberthem in prayer as
we enjoy the beauty of the flowers.
Ackerman Family
Richard Andolsek
Charles Baptista
Robert Bartlett
Verna Bell
Bodnar Family
Bommer Family
Boyer Family
Roy and Woneta Braden
Sharon Brown
Brunecz Family
Burke Family
Thomas & Elaine Conry
Jack & Lois Conry
Daniels Family
Betty Ehlich
Otto Geist
Gerek Family
Albert & Dorothy Goohs
Monica Grady
Jean Grant
Anna & AlfonsHabeck
Louis & Ann Hanko
Norm Hanko
Joseph & Patricia Hipp
Robert Jackson
Angeline Kershaw
Kovach Family
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Matus
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Matus Sr.
McClaflin Family
Pat & Helen Nolan
Everett & Ruth Patrick
Albert & Angela Pecora
Dr. Albert Pecora
Ridgeway Family
John Ritzic
Don Romeis
Schaefer Family
Elena & Kim Steinburg
Tomazic Family
TroxelRelatives
Mr. & Mrs. M. G. Urig
Bob Wolf
Gene Yocum
Guillermo Ysasi
Rick Zedekar
A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY this EASTER week to Bill Boyer, Peggy Pleban, and Charles Chaffin! May the NEW Life of Easter and Spring bring you new energy and good health for your birthday!!!
From Our Lady of Lourdes Parish: LADIES NIGHT OUT: APRIL 4TH at 6 PM. Potluck Dinner followed by a Speaker at 7 PM. Please call
Sherry Schmitz at 419-929-7616 to place your reservation by April 3rd.
OLOL SWISS STEAK DINNER, SUNDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2018 11 AM—3PM in basement of OLOL. Talented chefs from our parish will be making meals that will make your mouth water: mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, and so much more. Adults: $1l.99; Youth (6-13) $9.99, and Kids (0-5) FREE!
“31 Day of Winning” winners from last week are: Bob & Germaine Matus, Debra Haederle, Denise Robson, Carol Dunn, Sue & Ray Kershaw, Daniel Stober, and Mike & Sheryl Woolsey.
This Week’s Scriptures
Monday Acts 2:14, 22-23
Ps. 16: 1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
4/02Matthew 28:8-15______
Tuesday Acts 2: 36-41
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
4/03John 20:11-18______
WednesdayActs 3: 1-10
Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
4/04Luke 24:13-35______
ThursdayActs 3:11-26
Ps 8:2, 5, 6-7, 8-9
4/05Luke 24:35-48______
FridayActs 4:1-12
Ps. 118:1-2, 4, 22-24, 25-27
4/06John 21:1-14______
SaturdayActs 4:13-21
Ps 118:1, 14-15, 16-18, 19-21
4/07Mark 16:9-15______
2ndSunday Acts 2:42-47
of EasterPs 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
1 Peter 1:3-9
4/08John 20:19-31______
Monday, April 2nd:
The Office will be closed on Easter Monday
Thank You to all those who ministered in so many ways to make our Holy Week, Sacred Triduum, and Easter Sunday Liturgies so meaningful and deepening of our faith in the Risen Lord who comes to us really and truly in each Holy Communion!
There are still prayer sheets on the back table for the Divine Mercy Sunday novena. Divine Mercy Sunday is next Sunday, April 8th.
Memorial Palms…live palm trees used on Palm Sunday and in the weeks to come have been donated in memory of Dorothy & Dwight Holzhauserand Christopher-Jon Braden from Chris & Bill Braden and family, Dorothy & Dennis Burdue & family, Kathy Petry & family, Rosemary & Andy O’Dell & Family, Ethel & Jeff & family, and Dwight & Lois Holzhauser. St. Mary’s thanks you very kindly for your generous gift each Easter!!!
ACA Contributions are still welcome! Our goal is to have every family contribute. Envelopes are on back table. Thank You.
April 8 PSR CONF ALPHA resume
April 13 Practice for Confirmation students
and Sponsors at St. Anthony, Milan
beginning at 6 p.m. with spaghetti
followed by practice at 6:45 p.m.
April 15 PSR resume
CONFIRMATION AT 2:00 pm
ST. MARY’S NORWALK ON
League Street.
April 21 FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
RETREAT9 AM – 2 PM
April 22 PSR CONF
April 28 FIRST HOLY COMMUNION at the
4 PM Mass here.