Mass for Nurses will be a repeat performance

A Mass at St. Paul on Thursday, August 6 to honor those in nursing will be a repeat performance of the 2008 program which was attended by about 300, including 200 to 250 nurses.

The Peace Together Choir which performed last year will be making a return engagement and Fr. Neil P. Kookoothe, pastor of St. Clarence Parish in North Olmsted, will be back as concelebrant of the Mass.at 7 p.m. with Rev. Fr. Ralph Thomas.

Purpose of the Eucharistic celebration is to seek God’s blessing on those living and deceased nurses for their work and dedication to healing.

Nursing is one of three careers that lead Fr. Kookoothe to the priesthood. Fr. Kookoothe, originally from Toledo, graduated from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in communications / public relations but then entered Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and received his nursing diploma in 1982. He worked in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital as a registered nurse for eight years and then returned to the University of Toledo and began the study of law. He received his Juris Doctor degree in December 1987 and is currently licensed to practice law in Ohio and Illinois. He received his Master of Arts Degree in theology and Master of Divinity Degree in May 1995 when he was ordained to the priesthood. He was named administrator of St. Clarence in June 2004 and officially became pastor two years later.,

Main organizers of the Mass again are St. Paul parishioners Bob Brodbeck and Mary DiDonato.

Mary DiDonato on May 8 was named Honorary Alumna of the University of Akron. She received the honor at the university’s College of Nursing Pinning Ceremony.

Brodbeck , who has accepted a position as principal of St. Paul School, is the husband of Carol A. (Christ) Broadbeck, a nurse who died unexpectedly Aug. 9, 2006 at the age of 55. Born in Akron on Nov. 8, 1950, she was a life-long member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1968. She received her diploma in Nursing from Saint Thomas Hospital School of Nursing, B.S.N. from St. Louis University, and M.S.N. from the University of Akron. Mrs. Broadbeck worked in health care for more than 35 years.

There will be refreshments in the Parish Activity Center following the Mass.