Area parishes rate Universe Bulletin headline

Akron area parishes got the top headline in the Catholic Universe Bulletin July 10 issue with laudatory but not happy news. The headline across five columns said

Akron-area parishes unite to reach out
to those hit hardest by rough economy

The Rev. Fr. Paul Rosing, administrator of St. John the Baptist parish on Brown Street and Holy Family in Stow, is quoted extensively in the story which explains that he and Tom Allio, director of the diocesan social action office, got priests in southern Summit Couonty meeting regularly to discuss economic conditions and the impact they have on members of their parishes.

St. Paul and other parishes operate the Ozanam Center at Annunciation Church which serves as a St. Vincent de Paul warehouse and service center. Since the economy took a downturn last October, the center haas been receiving more calls for assistance, according to Rev. Fr. Jonathan Zingales, pastor of Annunciation.

The priests so far have created a resource list of existing services and have conducted a survey of needs. Results of the survey have not yet been tabulated.

Although not reported in the article, approximately 350 surveys were distributed to St. Paul parishioners all three Masses in the last week of April. After three weeks, 46 responses were returned. Five were from parishioners who had lost their jobs within the last ten-month period. Thirty responses were from retired parishioners and eleven responses had no indication about job loss or retirement, but had similar concerns and problems. The greatest response was "providing information on how to access services, such as food, energy assistance programs and counseling," followed by "opportunities for prayer for those impacted by the economy." Three-fourths were interested in workshops or seminars on foreclosure, finding employment, debt reduction, job resumes, budget management or dealing with uncertainty and stress. A small group was interested in low-cost transportation services.

One of the photos used with the story includes five of the pastors: Fr John Zingalis, administrator of Annunciation Parish; Fr. Clyde Foster, administrator of St. Bernard; Fr. Ralph Thomas, pastor of St. Paul; Fr. John Terzano, pastor of Mother of Sorrows Parish and Fr. Paul Rosing, administrator iof St. John and Holy Family.

Fr. Rosing was an associate at St. Paul from 1973 to 1978.