Celebrating our priests this Sunday

This Sunday, October 31, is Priesthood Sunday, a special day for recalling the devotion of the servants of God in St. Paul Parish Community..

This photo composite shows the eight pastors who have served
St. Paul in 91 years. Click on the image to enlarge for better view.

The first Mass in the parish was on Columbus Day, October 12, 1919, in Firestone Park School. By April 4, 1920 work was far enough along to permit celebration of the first Mass in the new church on Easter Sunday. Our first pastor, Fr. James Hanley, a decorated Army chaplain, died May 21 the same year of pneumonia. Seven other pastors have since served the parish admirably.

The current staff of St. Paul includes the Rev. Ralph W. Thomas, pastor; the Rev. Matthew Ischay, parochial vicar, and Rev. James B. Berardi, who celebrates one of the weekend Masses and the 7 a.m. daily Mass.

Fr. Ralph W. Thomas came to St. Paul in June, 2002 as an associate of Rev. Fr. John M. Jenkins, who is now pastor emeritus.. He was named administrator on October 10, 2004 and became pastor officially on June 7, 2005.

Fr. Thomas was born May 20, 1938. He grew up in Maple Heights and attended Cathedral Latin High School. He was ordained May 22, 1965 and his first assignment was from 1965 to 1969 at St. Vincent de Paul in Cleveland. He did graduate studies in pastoral counseling at Loyola College in Baltimore in 1988-1999 and has served a dozen different

assignments.

Rev Fr. Matthew A. Ischay was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Paul, effective April 16, 2010, by Bishop Richard Lennon. Fr. Ischay was pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Cleveland which was closed as part of the diocese reconfiguration.

Fr. Ischay, born December 15, 1948, was ordained June 29, 1975. His first assignment was at St. Richard in Cleveland where he served until June, 1982 when he went to St. Thomas the Apostle, He served there until June, 1986 and was then at St. Francis deSales in Parma until October, 1987 when he was named pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. He was pastor there for more than 22 years.

Fr. Berardi was born March 16, 1933 at St. Thomas Hospital and grew up in Firestone Park on Glenmount. He was ordained May 23, 1959 and celebrated his first Mass on Trinity Sunday in 1959 in the old St. Paul Catholic Church which was razed in August 2000 and replaced by the newchurch dedicated by Bishop Pilla on October 26, 2003.

He was chaplain at Akron City Hospital for more than half his years as a priest–25 plus years. He was appointed chaplain on February 6, 1984 and gave up the job reluctantly on the strong advice of his doctors because of a low immune system. His last day at the hospital was November 26,2007. His retirement is listed by the Diocese as December 15, 2007. Fr. Berardi is known for his interests in drama and humor and has a wide knowledge of church history.

We also honor all those who have been associate pastors at St. Paul.