Open house kicks off Catholic Schools Week

Future of St. Paul School: Clara, 1, Hanna 3, and Caroline, 4, with their mother, Teresa Roush

Saint Paul School kicked off the celebration of Catholic Schools Week with an open house after the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday that drew the usual number of students, parents and grandparents.  There also were a number of neighborhood residents who stopped in to see what the school has to offer. 

The school sent out 2,000 postcards last week to households within a mile to publicize the school.  A new trifold brochure has been printed to publicize St. Paul's pre-kindergarten.  A flier also has been

produced to announce an upcoming Kindergarten Visit Day on February 11 at St. Paul.

There also was a story in the Upublish section of the Beacon Journa’s Ohio.com website.  Click here to see the story.

Theme of the Schools Week is  “Dividends for Life.”

“Saint Paul School will be celebrating all week the dividends provided by our school,” said principal Robert Brodbeck. “It is high quality, faith-based education that will continue to pay dividends for years to come.”

Monday will be Comfy Cozy Day with students permitted to wear pajamas, slippers and loungewear fosr a donation of toiletries for Open-M Ministries.During the week students also will be making valentines for shut-ins These are both part of Monday’s theme: Dividends for Life in Our Community.

Tuesday is Dividends for Life In Our Nation Day.  The day will fature a performance by the Illusion Factory theater group for grade Pre-K through 5 and a speaker for the junior high.

See the complete schedule for the week.


Click on the headline to see an album of photos from the open house.

Sun shines bright for Verna Fuller at 99

It was a cold wintry day, but the sun was shinng brightly through the front window of St. Paul Church for the 9 a.m. Mass Sunday.  Some guessed it was especially for Verna Fuller,

Verna,  the oldest active member of St. Paul parish, was being honored for her 99th birthday which was Friday.

Fr. James Berardi, who celebrated the Mass, announced that there was a special guest at the Mass and the pastor, the Rev. Fr. Ralph Thiomas,  came down to the first pew as the Mass was closing to  give her a hug and invite everyone to a celebration in the Parish Activity Center.  Sitting with Verna

was her son, Robert S.. and his wife, Barbara, of Mogadore, with whom she lives. Other family members joined them.

Verna (Basalla) Fuller was born January 29, 1911, the daughter of Michael and Mary Basalla, in Clarence, PA, a small community in Centre County, PA

Verna had two brothers and a sister. He sister, Mary, had moved to Akron and urged Verna to follow because the rubber industry had made the city prosperous. Verna followed her to Akron in the 1920s.

Verna met her future husband at a dance gardens on Market Street. She was Catholic and he was Baptist. They were married July 17, 1942 in Brimfield in Portage County.

Stokes Fuller was born in Asheville, North Carolina. He came to Akron with his mother and a brother, Claude D., who later moved to Foster City, CA. . He worked for Goodyear for 40 years until his retirement in 1969, He died November 1, 1983 at the age of 72 and is buried in Hillside Memorial Cemetery.

Verna remained at their  home on Wilbeth Road until until a few years ago.

Barbara Tomaz, a resident of Pebble Creek nursing home, is believed to be the oldest living member.  She will be 100 years old on November 28. . There are more than 60 members of St. Paul parish who are 90 years or older.

Read previous posts about Verna on Saint Paul TODAY..

Click on the headline to see a few more photos from her celebration.

Catholic Schools Week schedule

Here is the schedule for Catholic Schools Week:

Sunday, Jan. 31  Dividends for Life: In our Parish
Join us in celebrating the start of Catholic Schools Week at the 11 a.m. Mass at Saint Paul Church.

Saint Paul School will be celebrating all week the dividends provided by our school: high quality, faith-based education that will continue to pay dividends for years to come.

See what makes our school so great by touring the school during Open House following Mass from noon to 1 p.m. Enjoy refreshments in the Parish Activity Center provided by the St. Paul PTO.


Monday, February 1 Dividends for Life: In Our Community
Comfy Cozy Day –students will wear pajamas, slippers, loungewear with a donation of toiletries for the Open-M program. During the week we will make Valentines for the Shut Ins of our parish.

Tuesday, February 2 Dividends for Life: In Our Nation
If You Take a Mouse to School Performance by the Illusion Factory (sponsored by Bridgestone) for Pre-K-5
Jr. High Speaker to be announced

Wednesday, February 3 Dividends for Life: In Faculty and Staff
Teacher Appreciation Lunch

Thursday, February 4 Dividends for Life: In our Volunteers and Vocations
Grandparents Day
9:00 Musical Performance in the Parish Activity Center.
9:30-10:00 Prayer Service
10:00-10:40- A-K refreshments L-Z in Classrooms
10:40-11:15 L-Z Refreshments A-K Classrooms

Friday, February 5 Dividends for Life: In Our Students
Closing Mass
Student Treat

Commentary No. 2 on parish expenses

This weekend’s bulletin provides another FYI about parish operating expenses. The table tells it all:

Parish heating costs Dec. 8 to Jan. 13	Actual Cost	Budget
Gymnasium	$775.18	$498.00
Rectory	$1,154.30	$888.00
Church / School	$5,682.40	$4,219.00
Total	$7,611.88	$5,605.00

The offering for Jan 16/17 was $8,921.75
The offering for Jan 23/24 was $8,320.50
Catholic Relief Services was $5,938.73 (This was to aid Haiti earthquake victims)

Last weekend’s bulletin reported that the parish electric bill from December 5 to January 7 was $4,381,71.  The collection was $8,776.50.

Bishop Gries confirms 29 at St. Paul

The Most Rev. Bishop Roger W. Gries, Auxiliary Bishop of the Cleveland Diocese, confirmed 29 students at a 4:30  p.m. Mass on Saturday  in St. Paul Church.

Candidates were presented to the Bishop for Confirmation by the Rev. Fr. Ralph W. Thomas, pastor of St. Paul. The Rev. Mr. Dennis A. Guritza, deacon of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Chagrin Falls,  was

master of ceremonies. Retired Deacon Frank Lonteen of St; Paul read the Gospel.

After renewing their baptismal promises the candidates came forward with their sponsors standing behind them, placing their right hand on the shoulder of the candidate. The Bishop anointed each with chrism (an oil made form olive oil and balsam). The anointing means each is called and chosen by God in Baptism and now in Confirmation.

Each of the candidates wore a read satin sash with the sign of the Holy Spirit on it and the words "Come Holy Spirit Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love."

Bishop Gries met to talk with the students in the Parish Activity Center prior to Mass. He joined them for a class photo. There was a reception in Boeke Hall, sponsored by the St. Paul PTO, after the Mass. the center after the Mass and attended a PTO reception in Boeke Hall.

Music for the Mass was provided by Mrs. Madeline Breen, Mrs. Patricia Trinella and the Spirit Singers.

The photo shows Bishop Gries confirming William Bobbitt, accompanied by his sponsor, Deacon Frank Lonteen

Click to see a list of  the candidates, their Confirmation name and sponsors.

Click on the headline to see more photos.

Thank You note from the pastor

We are most grateful to the Ladies Guild for their very generous presentation of $7,000.00 to the Parish.  Members of the Guild have been more than gen­erous in giving of their time and talents throughout the year.

Successful events including the August Card Party, Bake Sales at Christmas and Easter and the Rummage Sale have brought many parishioners and friends together in an effort to promote community and financial support for our Church and School.

Thank you, dear ladies of St. Paul for your loving " and faithful efforts.

The Ladies Guild under the current leadership of  Paula Adam would like to welcome new members to  join them in their special mission to the parish.
  
Father Ralph Thomas,
Pastor

17 million Americans live in extreme poverty

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has designated January as "Poverty in America Awareness Month." Even though the month is over, poverty is with us every day of the year. It's time to end poverty in America once and for all. Today, 39.8 million Americans -- ­and 1 in 6children -- are living below the poverty line. The poverty line is defined by the government as the minimum amount needed to cover a person's or family's food, shelter, clothing, health care and transportation. For a family of four, that amount has been designated at $22,050. Many families are struggling to hang on, forced to make hard choices between hunger, housing and health care. Since 2000, the number of poor Americans has grown by more than 9 million. 17 million Americans are living in extreme poverty, that is, with incomes below half the poverty line. Times are hard for many with the stag­nant economy and high unemployment. Those that can are called to help those that are in need. Go to pover­tvusa.org to see how you can become involved in helping to eliminate poverty in America today.

Shroud of Turin goes on display April 10

TURIN,  Italy (CNA).- When the Holy Shroud is put on display this Spring visitors are expected to pour into the city of Turin, Italy to catch a glimpse.  This exposition, which comes ten years after it was last shown publicly, has already led hundreds of thousands of people to reserve tickets.

The much venerated relic of Christ, the Holy Shroud, will be on exposition at the Cathedral of Turin from April 10 to May 23, 2010.  This marks the first time it will be seen by the public since it was restored in 2002, and the first time that it will be exhibited at all since the Church Jubilee Year in 2000. The restoration efforts were carried out to remove pieces of cloth that were burned in the 1532 Chambéry fire, remove "patches" and a lining placed on the Shroud in 1534, and install new means of support for the Shroud.

According to official numbers released by the Diocese of Turin, the Jubilee year exposition a decade ago saw more than a million visitors to the relic during the 72 days it was on display.  This year, there will only be 44 days to see it, and Italy's Libero newspaper reported this week that 600,000 people have already made reservations.

Pope Benedict XVI plans to visit the site on May 2, 2010.

Men's Conference to include both dioceses

The annual “Answer the Call” conference of the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Northeast Ohio this year will be a combined gathering of men from both the Cleveland and Youngstown Diocese for the first time.

Bishops George V. Murry of Youngstown and Richard G. Lennon of Youngstown will concelebrate the closing Mass for the conference on Saturday, March 20, at Archbishop Hoban High School. :Last year there were 600 men at the conference including 25 from St. Paul Parish.

Registration fee for the conference is $30, but there will be signups in the narthex in coming weeks for a group from St. Paul with a $20 registration. There is no fee for religous who attend.

Featured speakers this year will be Fr. Larry Richards, author of a new book titled “Be A Man: Become the Man God Created You to Be.” and Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and host of a weekly TV program, will be the featured speakers.  Msgr. Robert J. Siffrin, vicar general of the Youngstown Diocese, will give a talk on Reconciliation and there will be a Clergy Affirmation Ceremony for the Year for Priests.  Radio personality Ray Somich will again be master of ceremonies.

Father Larry Richards is a gifted and captivating speaker, preacher and retreat master,
Father Richards was born in Pittsburgh. After high school, he attended the college seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling in 1983. Father Richards continued his studies at the major seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, PA, and received his Master’s of Divinity degree in 1987. He will soon conclude his studies at the University of Notre Dame and be awarded a Master of Arts degree in Liturgy. Ordained to the priesthood in 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Richards serves as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie. He is also the Spiritual Director of the TEC (To Encounter Christ) Retreat Program for the Diocese of Erie.

Ralph Martin has been a leader in renewal movements in the Catholic Church for many years. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, he did graduate work in philosophy at Princeton
University and holds an MA in Theology, from Sacred Heart School of Theology in the Archdiocese of  Detroit. He was the founding editor of New Covenant  Magazine, as well as the founding director of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office, currently located in Rome. Martin is the Director of Graduate Theology Programs in Evangelization and an assistant professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He is also president of Renewal Ministries (www.renewalministries.net), an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization.

Here is the conference schedule:

8:00am - Registration begins (along with coffee and donuts)
9:00am - Start of Conference
12:00pm - Lunch and Confession
4:00pm - Closing Mass with Bishop Richard Lennon
5:00pm - Adjourn

For complete information, visit the website at http://www.cmfneo.com

The website address (url) was printed incorrectly in a brochure.

Volunteers find more homeless in Summit

If you really care about people, you must read the story by Beacon Journal reporter Jim Carney and view the Beacon Journal video on the hunt for the homeless by census takers.  Click on the headline. 

Homelessness is not a choice.  Keith Stahl,  director of residential services for Community Support Services who was involved in his 10th homeless count, can tell you much about that...

''Logical choices do not include being homeless on the street when it is below freezing. . .   It's circumstances in life, for whatever reason, whether they have mental illnesses, alcoholism, a veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, something has caused their thinking to be distorted to the point where they accept this as normal.'' Stahl said.

The census, conducted by about 100 volunteers, occurred all day Tuesday and aims to quantify how many people live in shelters or on the streets so that Summit County gets its share of federal funds to serve the homeless population. About $3.3 million in federal funds comes into the county each year for homeless services.

Susan R. Pierson, vice president of services for InfoLine and chair of the Continuum of Care for the Homeless, said that unofficially about 214 people were discovered to be living outdoors — in tents, under tarps at camps, under bridges, in doorways or inside abandoned buildings and vehicles. Last year's figure was 163.

The counters Tuesday night, she said, found people ''deep, deep, deep into the woods.''

In addition to the numbers gathered Tuesday, Pierson said, there are about 900 beds available in the community at shelters for homeless people.

After four hours of searching the near-downtown area, Stahl and his group found more than 30 tents. Most were empty. They talked to 10 people.

The group found evidence of people living under the All-America Bridge: three bedrolls laid out and blankets used to block the wind. A box of granola bars was left inside an abandoned rail car on track over the Little Cuyahoga River near Eastwood Avenue.

At one spot near Akron's Grace Park, the group found 15 to 20 tents and talked to six or seven people.

Stahl said the homeless camps are so secluded, they are difficult to find..

Going out in the dark and cold at night and meeting homeless people, he said, shows ''the human side of it. They aren't just some person you drive by, but when you talk to them you start to understand they are just a person.''

The homeless, he said, ''are just people. You wonder what happened in their lives.''

Honk will star a cast of 42

The St. Paul  Drama Club finished the fourth week of rehearsals on Thursday for its production of Honk, an award-winning musical based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling.”

“Honk!” tells the story of an odd-looking baby duck, Ugly, and his quest to find his mother.

The play, featuring a cast of 42 students,  will be staged March 19, 20 and 21 in the Parish Activity Center.

Honk is being directed by sixth grade and science teacher Judson Hartman.  The producer and Drama Club advisor is fourth grade teacher Janet Hazlett. Assisting are eighth grade teacher Sean Collins,

Spanish teacher Anne Wright and  seventh grade teacher Kathleen Bean. Tom Liggett is handling music and sound and there are many orher parent helpers.

Playing the starring role as the Ugly Duckling is Ally Bachmann, an “anything but ugly” sixth grader.

Other roles are Kendra Alexander, Ida; Marco Colant, Drake; Shannon Lloyd, Maureen, Jacqueline Wammes, The Cat; Sean Horrigan, Greylag; Amanda Wightman, Dot; Sami Woodill, Penny; Austin Leslie, Father Swan; Sierra Robinson, Mother Swan; Allie Joyner, Bewick, Lexi Chisolm, Grace; Isabelle Miller, The Turkey; Sydney Sloan, Henrietta; Anna Liggett, Maggie Pie; Emily Roberts, The Bullfrog.

Geese and fish are played by Nikolas Ruiz-Lopez, Nick McInturff, Sam Smith, Kemar Parmer, Gabe Lidderdale, Nadia Timofeev, Paige Harbarger and Jaclynn Wood. The ensemble by Amanda Owens, Maddie Peters, Erika Jordan, Nichole McCullars, Katherine Neugebauer; Regina Neugebauer, Keiara Sanford, Kaiti Thomas, Haley Boatwright, Maris Sarlouis, Kimberly Maxwell, Faith Chrostowski, Cindy Preston and Daisha Hawkins.

Honk has won multiple awards including the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical (beating the Lion King and Mamma Mia for the prize).

Click on the headline to see photos from Thursday's rehearsal.

Nativity Choir to sing at Cathedral March 14

The Choir of Nativity of the Lord Jesus, directed by JoAnn Marcinkoski, is one of five choirs that will sing at St, John Cathedral for the 5:30 p.m.Sunday Masses during Lent. The Nativity choir is scheduled for March 14, the Fourth Sunday of Lent.  Others are:

Lent II, February 28 : Choir of St Joseph (Avon Lake)  Lorene Coughlin, director
Lent III, March 7, Choir of SS Peter & Paul (Garfield Heights) Susan Lezan, director
Lent V, March 21,  Choir of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Macedonia) Jason Lorenzon and  Kimi Nose, directors
Palm Sunday, March 28, Choir of St Peter (North Ridgeville) Jim Akoury, director

Dates for Diocesan liturgies

Catholic Charities goal is $10.5 million

The 2010 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal is underway with a goal of $10.5 million. The theme this year is “Trust in the Lord.Hope in the Lord.” Previous donors to the Appeal received a letter in January from Bishop Lennon asking for a donation. The  February 5 issue of the Universe Bulletin will include an Appeal insert with parish goals listed.

Brochure provides information on Pre-K

Information on St. Paul's pre-kindergarten is provided in

a tri-fold color brochure. To see a copy, click on the headline

and save to your computer.  
              Here is information from the brochure:

Our Pre-Kindergarten Program
Our Pre-K program at St. Paul School will nurture your child’s spiritual, educational,
physical, and social-emotional development within a well-planned curriculum that is developmentally appropriate for your young child.   

St. Paul’s Pre-K offers a warm, affirming environment that fosters the growth of young children working and playing together as a community of learners. Through our enriching faith-based curriculum, our  young children are more confident to enter into kindergarten with a heightened base for success and a love for learning.

To be eligible for the Pre-K program, a child must be 4 by September 30.

Tuition: Full Day Pre-K $380.00 a month    
Half Day Pre-K $220.00 a month

Registration Requirements:
Birth Certificate
Baptismal Certificate
Immunization Record
Tuition Deposit
Physical Examination (Due by Sept. 1st)
Note: Registration is official once all these requirements are met.

Goals For Our PRE-K Program Are…
✹Compliance with the State of Ohio educational norms
✹ Parent communication about their child’s development and progress
✹ Creativity, play, and structure that will nurture a child’s cognitive, social, emotional and language development
✹ Religious formation
✹ Warm, caring environment to form
friendships with peers
✹ Development of skills each child needs for subsequent grade levels:
Including Literacy, Spanish, Computer, Music, and Gym

Please contact Kathy Harris at 330-724-1253 for more information about our Pre-K program.

SCHOOL BELIEFS
As Catholic School Educators, we recognize our responsibility to each student to aid religious, academic, psychological, social, and physical development.

Therefore:
✹ We believe we are called to instruct each student in the Catholic faith
while providing opportunities to practice faith in a Christian atmosphere.
✹ We believe in the dignity and individuality of each person.
✹ We believe in an environment conducive to learning and encouraging each student to work to his/her potential.
✹ We believe our students will be prepared to go out into the world and be faithful, essential, caring, and giving members of society.
✹ We believe in fostering respect for others, a healthy self-image, and a sense of responsibility.
✹ We believe parish and parental involvement is important.


MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Saint Paul School is to live the love of God and the love of neighbor
while challenging each person to reach academic, social, and spiritual potential.


St. Paul School
1580 Brown St.
Akron, Ohio 44301
330-724-1253
Fax-330-724-1127
stpaulakron@leeca.org

Rudy DiDonato elected Serra Club president

Rudy DiDonato of St. Paul Parish is again president of the Akron Serra Club.  DiDonato, who has been president for three previous years, replaces Ron McAvoy of St. Paul.

Other officers are Kathy Mihelick of Holy Family, secretary; John Ohlin of St. Mary, treasurer; John Amedeo of St. Paul, vice president for vocations; Ron McAvoy of St. Paul, vice president for programs; Maggie Walker of St. Paul, vice preisdent for membership, and Tom Giffels of St. Vincent, vice president for communications. Trustees are Vic Dandrea and Pete Mihelick, both of Holy Family

The Akron Club has 24 members.  Moderator is Fr. Ralph V. Coletta. The members, by parish, are:

Holy Family: Douglas Auckland, Vic Dabdrea, Dave Fetyko, Mary Ann Kolosi, John and Kathryn Mihelick and Donald and Catherine Sulak.

Sacred Heart (Wadsworth): Steve Dusgauzi

St. Eugene: Dennis Dunn

St. Mary (Akron): Sam Barklo and John Ohlin.

St Mary (Hudson):  Edward Griffith, Robert Maher

St. Paul: John Amadeo, Rudy DiDonato, Ron McAvoy and Maggie Walker,

St. Sebastian: Frank Flanagan, David Hilkert, Gerald Stitz and Ray Thomas..

St. Vincent: Thomas Giffels and  Philip Kaufmann

Woman murdered after Mass in Youngstown

An 80-year-old woman was shot in the head in an Ohio parish parking lot following morning Mass on January 23. Each day, Angeline Fimognari attended Mass and spent three hours praying at St. Dominic’s Church in Youngstown. The murderer has not been apprehended.
“The homicide at St. Dominic Parish on Saturday, January 23, is a horrific and shocking event in and of itself, but especially because it occurred at a holy place,” said Bishop George Murry of Youngstown. “I will celebrate the 8:00 a.m. Mass this Wednesday, January 27, the Mass that Miss Fimognari usually attended, to be with the parishioners who were her friends and family so that as a community we may all pray for her.”


TV story on murder


Bishop Murry statement

Caritas donations for Haiti top $65 million

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  (CNA).- Following an appeal on Jan. 21 for $42 million to provide 200,000 survivors of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti with immediate food, water, shelter and medical assistance, Head of Communications for Caritas Internationalis, Patrick Nicholson, told CNA on Tuesday that cumulative donations since then have added up to $65 million. Catholic Relief Services is a member of Caritas Internationalis. 

On Jan. 21, the Catholic charitable organization reported that financial support had been "flooding into Caritas offices around the world" since the earthquake and that, as of that date, Caritas Internationalis had received $33 million destined for Haiti.  In the last five days the amount has very nearly doubled, bringing the total to $65 million.

Nicholson told CNA that contributions had come from all of the 165 countries where Caritas is present, in Asia, North and South America, Africa, Europe and the Pacific.  They had even received a $5,000 contribution from Caritas members in the Congo.

"Operations are up and running," he said.  "So far, we have 40 trucks bringing goods from the Dominican Republic."

There are currently about 500 Caritas staff working in Haiti, including 60 parish priests and religious working in 32 parishes to provide aid to around 150,000 people.

Asked what will be done with the donations in surplus of their appeal goal, Nicholson responded, "Caritas will use any remaining funds in the long-term reconstruction of Haiti. This will mean rebuilding schools and hospitals, providing permanent shelter, giving people back their livelihoods, and preparing them for future disasters."

These long term plans are still in their initial stages, he added, "at the moment we’re solely focused on the first phase of the emergency – saving lives by providing healthcare, food, water and temporary shelter."

Nicholson also expressed his concern at the lack of success stories being reported from Haiti in favor of news publicizing the difficulties facing aid operations.  He said that there are plenty of successes to be reported, citing the examples of the reopening of the St. Francis de Sales Hospital and the fact that assistance reaches more people every day.

Pope urges priests to use digital technology

VATICAN CITY  (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is encouraging Catholics, especially priests, to use media technologies to reach new audiences with the message of God's love.

The Pope affirmed this in a message, released Saturday, for the 44th World Communications Day, which will be celebrated May 16.

The theme of the day, "The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word," reflects the Year for Priests currently underway in the Church.

The Pontiff affirmed that in digital communications, "priests can discover new possibilities for

carrying out their ministry to and for the Word of God."

"The recent, explosive growth and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry," he stated.

The Holy Father underlined the mission of priests, who "have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments."

They are called to build up "the communion that God creates with all people," he said, "in Christ and with Christ."

"Responding adequately to this challenge amid today's cultural shifts, to which young people are especially sensitive, necessarily involves using new communications technologies," Benedict XVI affirmed.

He continued: "The spread of multimedia communications and its rich 'menu of options' might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled.

"Yet priests can rightly be expected to be present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different 'voices' provided by the digital marketplace.

"Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis."

The Pope added, however, that "priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart, their closeness to Christ."

"Thanks to the new communications media," he said, "the Lord can walk the streets of our cities and, stopping before the threshold of our homes and our hearts."

In a press conference Saturday for the public release of Benedict XVI's message, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, clarified that the Pope is not encouraging priests to spend all of their time on the Internet.

Rather, he said, the Pontiff is exhorting priests to enhance their pastoral work by reaching out to others through digital technology.

The message is not just for priests, the archbishop noted, but for all Catholics: New media technology is a great opportunity for believers.

As is tradition, the Papal message was presented on the occasion of the feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron of journalists and the Catholic press, who is celebrated today.

Click on the headline to read the complete message.

Mass for Clarence Deger is Wednesday

Clarence L. Deger, 91, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2010.He was born in Middletown, Ohio. Clarence retired from General Tire and Rubber Co. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps serving

with the 3036th Army Air Forces Base Unit during World War II. Clarence was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society and Knights of Columbus Council 3410.

Mr. Deger was preceded in death by wife, Marie; sons, David and Gerald. He is survived by children, Ron (Lisa) Deger, Theresa (Jerry) Hartman, Chuck (Kathleen) Deger, Marsha (Terry) Porter, Cindy Deger, Kevin Deger, Danny (Sharon) Deger; brother, Joe Deger; grandchildren, Brian, Johnny, Michael, Christina, Heather, Tara, Michelle, Jason, Angela, Colleen, Matthew, Andrew, Daniel and David; and several great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Tuesday 4 to 8 p.m. at the Anthony Funeral Home Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S. Main St., where the Knights of Columbus will recite the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery where military services will be held. Donations may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church Building Fund. (Anthony Funeral Homes, 330-724-1281, www.anthonyfh.com)

[Beacon Journal, Akron, OH,Monday, January 25, 2010, page B5, col. 3]

PTO seeks help for Catholic Schools Week

PARENTS NEEDED FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
January 31-February 6

Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate Catholic education and at St. Paul School we have a busy week planned. There are some areas we are still looking for helpers to insure we have a successful week. Please consider how you can help in one or more of the opportunities by checking the boxes below.

□ Sun, Jan 31 Open House Refreshments following 11:00 mass
Coordinat    ors: Steve & Melynda Dort

□ Wed, Feb 3 Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
            □ Coordinator for event
            □ Set up tables & coverings before 10:00 am
            □ Warm food & replenish as needed (3-4 volunteers needed) from 11:30-1:00
            □ Clean up & pack leftovers at 1:00
    □ Provide Food for Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, please drop off before 10:30 on Wed
Last Names:   A-H     Salads
I-R      Main/Side Dishes
S-Z      Desserts

□ Thur, Feb 4 Grandparents Day
            □ Coordinator for event
            □ Pick-up doughnuts and drinks
            □ Set up tables & coverings before 9:00 am
            □ Serve and replenish (4-5 volunteers needed) from 9:30-11:30
            □ Clean up at 11:30

□ Sat, Feb 6 Fun Fest, Help with concessions, games, clean-up
            Coordinators: Kristi Woodill and Teresa Llyod
            □ 1st Shift from 10:00-12:00
            □ 2nd Shift from 12:00-2:00
            □ Clean up at 2:00

 Much help is needed to provide a wonderful celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Please show your support of our teachers, staff, families, and students by giving of your time and talents to make these events a success. Thank you.

Print Name: ______________________________________  Phone: ________________


Email: __________________________________


Please return to school by Wednesday, January 27 Or reply via email to tlwammesfam@sbcglobal.net with Name and Phone Number.

Thank You! Your St. Paul School PTO

Monday Feast Day: Conversion of St. Paul

St. Paul, named Saul at his circumcision, a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, was born at Tarsus, the capitol of Cilicia. He was a Roman citizen. He was brought up as a strict Jew, and later became a violent persecutor of the Christians. While on his way to Damascus to make new arrests of Christians, he was suddenly converted by a miraculous apparition of Our Lord. From a fierce persecutor he became the great Apostle of the Gentiles. He made three missionary journeys which brought him to the great centers of Asia Minor and southern Europe, and made many converts. Fourteen of his Epistles are found in the New Testament. He was beheaded in Rome in 66, and his body is kept in the Basilica of St. Paul near the Ostian Way.

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St. Paul
St. Paul was born at Tarsus, Cilicia, of Jewish parents who were descended from the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Roman citizen from birth. As he was "a young man" at the stoning of Stephen and "an old man" when writing to Philemon, about the year 63, he was probably born around the beginning of the Christian era.

To complete his schooling, St. Paul was sent to Jerusalem, where he sat at the feet of the learned Gamaliel and was educated in the strict observance of the ancestral Law. Here he also acquired a

good knowledge of exegesis and was trained in the practice of disputation. As a convinced and zealous Pharisee, he returned to Tarsus before the public life of Christ opened in Palestine.
Some time after the death of Our Lord, St. Paul returned to Palestine. His profound conviction made his zeal develop to a religious fanaticism against the infant Church. He took part in the stoning of the first martyr, St. Stephen, and in the fierce persecution of the Christians that followed.

Entrusted with a formal mission from the high priest, he departed for Damascus to arrest the Christians there and bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was nearing Damascus, about noon, a light from heaven suddenly blazed round him. Jesus with His glorified body appeared to him and addressed him, turning him away from his apparently successful career.

An immediate transformation was wrought in the soul of St. Paul. He was suddenly converted to the Christian Faith. He was baptized, changed his name from Saul to Paul, and began travelling and preaching the Faith. He was martyred as an Apostle in Rome around 65 AD.

Excerpted from Lives of the Saints
Patron: Against snakes; authors; Cursillo movement; evangelists; hailstorms; hospital public relations; journalists; lay people; missionary bishops; musicians; poisonous snakes; public relations personnel; public relations work; publishers; reporters; rope braiders; rope makers; saddlemakers; saddlers; snake bites; tent makers; writers; Malta; Rome; Poznan, Poland; newspaper editorial staff Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Diocese of Covington, Kentucky; Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama; Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Symbols: Book and sword; three fountains; two swords; scourge; serpent and a fire; armour of God; twelve scrolls with names of his Epistles; phoenix; palm tree; shield of faith; sword; book.

Often portrayed as: Thin-faced elderly man with a high forehead, receding hairline and long pointed beard; man holding a sword and a book; man with 3 springs of water nearby.

[Source: Catholic Culture Liturgical Calendasr]

Andrew Pachipka dies at 86

Andrew Michael Pachipka  (Andy)
Andy Pachipka passed away peacefully in his home, Friday, January 22, 2010 surrounded by his loving family.

Andy was born on November 24th, 1923 to Emro and Mary (Slovak) Papchipka in Clarence, Pa.

Andy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company as a welder/mechanic for 40 years, retiring in 1984.

Every year he went to Montana to hunt big game. He was a former member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and belongs to St. Paul Catholic Church.

Andy is survived by his wife Katy of 63 years; his son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Barb; daughter, Susan; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Steve Dulabahn; grandchildren, Erin Yerkey (Chuck), Justin Dulabahn (Summer), Scott Church (Aimee), Tricia Wozniak (Jim), Kelly Church (Barbara), Rick Meek, and Kim Woodbury (Jim); great grandchildren: Mathew, Michael and Christopher Woodbury, Matthew and Jessica Yerkey, Rachel and Lauren Wozniak, Niko Church; sister-in-law, Lillian Pachipka; many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Mero, Frankie, John, Johnnie, and Joey; sisters, Susie Palinkas, Stella Watkins, Margie Kuder, "Tootie" Hunsicker, Mary Harvey, Anna Duda, and Helen Makidon.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. at the Anthony Funeral Home Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S. Main St. and 11 A.M. at St. Paul Catholic Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday 2 to 6 P.M. at the funeral home where a Rosary will be recited at 4:00 P.M. Donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. (Anthony Funeral Homes, 330-724-1281, www.anthonyfh.com)

[Beacon Journal, Akron, OH,Sunday, January 24, 2010, page B6, col. 5]

Funeral held for Haitian archbishop

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- Throngs of mourners turned out for a funeral Mass on Saturday for the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, whose body was pulled from ruins near the national cathedral after the massive earthquake in Haiti.

When the service ended, the body of 63-year-old Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot was taken to Lilavois Cemetery for burial.

Those dignitaries included Haitian President Rene Preval and the archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan. 

"He was a good man," Preval told CNN.
During the funeral, mourners, most of them clergy, lined up to pay their respects to the archbishop, who was laid in an open white casket. There were injuries to his face.
Friends called Miot, who became archbishop in the capital in March 2008, a humble man who was well-liked.

The roof of the historic Catholic cathedral caved in during the ea=rthquake, leaving the interior and entrance full of rubble and shattering the stained-glass windows. The archdiocese's offices and Miot's residence were destroyed in the earthquake, and a Mexican rescue crew found Miot dead in the ruins two days later.

Thank You from Deacon Frank

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I would like to sincerely thank everyone who was with me and my family in body and spirit this past weekend as we celebrated my retirement. I am greatly blessed to have had the prayers, love and support of the parishioners and friends of St. Paul Parish over the many years of my ministry.
Thank you too, for all the cards, gifts and good wishes expressed at the receptions after the Masses. It was heartwarming to see all the friends I have made here at St. Paul. I will never forget your kindness and I will keep you all in my prayers.

With many hugs,
Deacon Frank Lonteen and Family

Sacred Heart parishioners saying goodbye to church

Bishop Richard G. Lennon will celebrate the final Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Church, our neighbor parish on Grant Street.

The closing of the parish after a 96-year history is told in a poignant story by Beacon Journal religion writer Colette M. Jenkins on the Community Page front today.

It’s more than a place of worship to Elizabeth Bersesh, Jenkins reports.

''Sacred Heart helped us come to America.” Bersesh said. “I was 9 years old and we had stayed in a refugee camp for two years. Father (Aloysius) Bartko was the pastor then, and someone who had been at the refugee camp asked him to intervene to help my family and he did,'' said Beresh, 55, of

North Canton. ''When we got here, the people of the parish were very cordial and warm and embraced us to help us get our new lives started.''

The Hungarian nationality parish will be the sixth parish to close in Summit County since last March, when Bishop  Lennon released a list of parishes that would close or merge as part of a diocese-wide reconfiguration plan to address declining enrollment and parish revenue, changing demographics, and fewer men in the priesthood.

Beverly Murphy said she will miss the warmth of the community and the compassion of the parish administrator, the Rev. Robert Clancy. In fact, Murphy, of Massillon, came to the parish because of Clancy, who also served as chaplain at Akron General Medical Center.

''My mother was ill for many years and Father Bob ministered to her for about 12 years before I met him. My mother always spoke very highly of him and talked about how he always took care of her,'' said Murphy, 72. ''When my mother died (in 2002), we could only think of taking her to Father Bob.

''When my sister and I attended Mass there, Father Bob always welcomed us and the parishioners were warm and welcoming. Sacred Heart just felt like home to us, so we travel there from Massillon,'' Murphy said.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, located at 734 Grant St., was founded in 1915 by Hungarian Catholics. Initially, parishioners celebrated Sunday Mass at St. Bernard Church in downtown Akron and weekday Masses at the Sacred Heart rectory. The congregation celebrated the blessing of its church cornerstone on Nov. 23, 1924, with nearly 3,000 people in attendance. The church building was dedicated on Sept. 13, 1925.

Today, the parish is made up of 185 households, according to diocesan records. When its final Hungarian Mass was celebrated last Sunday, Magda Rozsa couldn't help but be overcome with emotion. Rozsa, 74, came to Akron from Hungary during the revolution in the late 1950s.

''The Mass has always given us a chance to pray and worship in our own language. It's very sad to know that the last Hungarian Mass has been said at Sacred Heart,'' said Rozsa, of Green. ''Sunday is probably going to be even harder because our (church) family will be going in different directions. Hopefully, all of us will find a road that God gives us to follow.''

Last year, six parishes in Summit County closed — Ss. Cyril & Methodius in Barberton, and St. Hedwig, Annunciation, St. John the Baptist, Christ the King and St. Martha, all in Akron. St. Martha and Christ the King merged to form Blessed Trinity. St. John and Annunciation merged to form Visitation of Mary. St. Mary and St. Bernard in downtown Akron will merge in June.

Clancy, who has served as administrator of Sacred Heart since August 1992 and chaplain at Akron General since June 1989, said he believes his parishioners understand that the closing is a matter of good stewardship. Like many other ethnic parishes in the diocese, enrollment has decreased and the need for a culturally specific Mass has declined. Effective Friday, Clancy will become the Parochial Vicar, or associate pastor, at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Cleveland.

The photo by Beacon Journal photographer  Ed Suba Jr. shows Fr. Clancy reading the Gospel at the final weekday Mass.

Click on the headline to read the full story.

Nun from Akron hurt in quake stays to help

Humility of Mary Sister Judith Dohner, who grew up in St. Secbastian parish,  made a conscious decision to stay in Haiti after the devastating earthquake left her with a concussion and broken ribs.

''I know I have the strength I have and the ability to live in the midst of all this tragedy because of your love, support and prayers,'' the Akron native wrote to family members in an e-mail. ''I don't plan to come home . . . it's about the sheep and the shepherd thing . . . why would a shepherd leave its flock?''

Sister Judith  is a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms High School. She entered the Villa Maria, Pa.-based religious order in 1963 and earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing at the University of Akron and the Ohio State University, respectively.

In a poignant story on page 1 of today’s Beacon Journal, religion writer Colette M. Jenkins writes about how Sister Judith finds Christ in others.

''I tell people you have to be deaf, dumb and blind to miss Him. I see a woman carrying another sick woman on her back . . . the Good Samaritan. I see mothers weeping 'because their children are no more.' I see people carrying mattresses on their heads, 'pick up your bed and walk'; I see a woman who lost a baby at birth all bent over . . . the Bent Over woman in the Gospel . . . See what I mean? I am the one who is blessed.''

Dohner went to serve in Haiti, after spending 11 years with migrant farm workers in Florida. After visiting Haiti, she said she was compelled to ''be with and be of service to the people in need.''

Dohner also describes how she herself was injured and tells of a funeral for two who died.

Click on the headline to read Jenkins story which is one of two touching religion stories she wrote for todaiy’s newspaper.  The other (above) was on the closing of Sacred Heart parish

Where those plastic bags go

Have you every wondered where plastic bags end up after they're thrown away?  They may land in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch," where ocean currents between Hawaii and Japan have swept together masses of debris to equal the size of Texas.  Even if you live inland, littered bags, landfilled bags, and those traveling to landfills could end up being blown or washed many miles into the ocean.  This island of floating trash is often called "plastic soup," because 90% of marine litter is plastic, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.  Plastic bags are one of the top 12 items

found in coastal cleanups.  To avoid adding your plastic bag litter to this already huge problem, consider making this the year that you switch to reusable bags.  You'll reduce waste and the harm done to marine life that accidentally ingest the "soup."  Giant Eagle and other local grocery stores have recycle bins on site to collect plastic bags for proper disposal.  You can also go to www.greenamericatoday.org for a list of websites that offer reusable bags.  Remember, as Catholics we believe that the Earth is a gift from God and that we are responsible for its care.

Fun Fest set for Saturday, February 6

Fifth Annual Fun Fest at St Paul's

Saturday, Feb 6, 2010  

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Boeke Hall

✮ Games to play!

✮ Prizes to win!

✮ Inflatables

✮ Great fun for families

Volunteers are still needed for the Fun Fest. If you can volunteer, please contact Kristi Woodill at kwoodill@neo.rr.com or at 330-724-9372.

Pope's message to be read at Haiti rites

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  (CNA).- Funerals for Archbishop of Port-au-Prince Serge Miot and Vicar General Charles Benoit, who both died in the catastrophic earthquake last week in Haiti, will be held on Saturday, January 23. During the Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio will read a message from Pope Benedict to all the country's Catholics.

Speaking to CNA outside the Apostolic Nunciature in Haiti, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Bernardito Auza said he expects large crowds to attend the funeral services for Archbishop Miot “because he was very beloved. Priests, religious and lay people will be present.”

“The archbishop's burial will be temporary,” the nuncio explained. “As an archbishop, he has the privilege of being laid to rest in the Cathedral, but since the Cathedral was destroyed, he will only be able to be transferred there once a new one is built, and we don't know when that will happen.”
Archbishop Auza told CNA that the Funeral Mass will start at 8 a.m. in front of the cathedral and that the  main celebrant will be the President of the Conference of Bishops of Haiti, Archbishop Louis Kebreau of Cap-Haitien. The homilist will be H.E. Bishop Joseph Lafontant, Auxiliary Bishop of Port-au-Prince.

“I will say a brief word and read the Message of the Holy Father to the Church in Haiti after the homily,” stated the nuncio, who added that a message from the Pope to the priests and faithful of Port-au-Prince will also be read.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, Chairman of the Board of Catholic Relief Services, will also be in attendance and will read a letter from Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Archbishop Auza also explained the activities following the funeral, saying, “After the Mass, there will be a convoy to Lilavois (Santo 19) for the internment of the remains of Msgr. Miot, at the seat of the Bishops' Conference … Then the USCCB delegation will have a brief tour - two distribution points, Saint Francois de Sales Hospital, the offices of the CRS and Caritas, then back to the Apostolic Nunciature, where the delegation is staying.”

Pope's second book on Jesus of Nazareth is finished

VATICAN CITY (CNA).- After meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in a private audience, American Rabbi Jacob Neusner, prolific writer, professor and expert in Judaism, told L'Osservatore Romano newspaper about his history with the Pope. He also mentioned that the Holy Father confided to him that the second volume of Jesus of Nazareth is complete.

The two met privately on Monday at the Vatican for 20 minutes, which the Rabbi Neusner called a "great gift" and said was "time enough for a nice meeting between two professors."  During this encounter, the Pope chose to reveal to him that the second volume on Jesus is ready for the press.

The American rabbi was in Rome to take part in Catholic-Jewish dialogues following the Pope's visit to the Synagogue of Rome.  He's no stranger to the environment, having dedicated his life to the scholarly study of Judaism, including how it interacts with Christianity and Islam.

Rabbi Neusner has written various treatises addressing inter-religious subjects.  In fact, so impressive was his 1993 treatise "A Rabbi talks with Jesus" that then-Cardinal Ratzinger wrote that it was "the most important novelty in the last decade for Jewish-Christian dialogue," a review which the Rabbi published on the inside cover of the book.

The next contact between the two came in 2007 when Pope Benedict XVI dedicated several pages in his first volume on Jesus of Nazareth to the Rabbi's treatise, which concerns Christ's teaching of the beatitudes on the mount.

Bishop Gries to confirm 29 on Jan. 30

The Most Rev. Roger W. Gries OSB will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 4:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday, January 30, at St. Paul.  There are 29 candidates for Confirmation. Candidates must be present in the Parish Activity Center at 3:30 p.m. A class photo with Bishop Gries will be taken. Sponsors do not need to arrive until 4 p.m.  There will be a reception in Boeke Hall following the Mass.  Here are the candidates:

Candidate	Confirmation Name	Sponsor
Andrew Albertson	Matthew	Adam Albertson
William Bobbitt	William	Frank Lonteen
Dylan Carmany	James	James Carmany
Michael Casalinuovo	Matthew	Steve Casalinuovo
Mitchell Crouse	Anthony	Carolyn Conjerti
Matthew DeShane	Christopher	Michael DeShane
Evan Dukeman	Michael	Theresa Canfora
Brandon Edwards	Michael	Christopher Codispoti
Joshua Garey	John	Bridget Factor
Steven Gruska	Anthony	Lauren Gruska
Justin Hale	Justin	Jennifer Fulton
David Hartsook	David	Rodney Hayslett
Ethan Harvey	Patrick	Thomas Harvey
Erica Hathaway	Teresa	Suzanne Inglis
Jordan Johnson	Elizabeth	Danielle Hertzig
Kaitlin Kammer	Ambrosia	Deanna Aguilera
Jacob Knowles	Jacob	Marilyn Spiros
Richard Lovell	Anthony	Tony Lovell
Justin Lyde	Justin	Louis Lyde
Jon Martin	Francis	Joseph Pappano
Joseph Morrison	Patrick	Doug Meinen
Bryan Needham	Anthony	Damiam Sedlock
Samuel Neugebauer	Nicholas	Hildergard Neugecbauer
Cynthia Preston	Rita	Emily Gerhartinger
Emily Roberts	Elizabeth	Lori Wammes
Sierra Robinson	Christine	Lori Wammes
Ryan Testa	Daniel	Gerald Testa
Zachery Vinez	Michael	David Markwald
Jacqueline Wammes	Cecilia	Helen Thomas

Pick up a card in the narthex to pray for a candidate

3,109 abortions performed in Akron in 2008

There were 3,109 abortions performed in Akron in 1948, according to the Right to Life Organization.  One facility on E. Market Street performs actual abortions and another on Waterloo Road supplies pills which cause aborrtion.

Statistics for 2009 are not yet available from the Ohio Department of Health. 

Statistics listed in a full page ad on page B2 of today’s Beacon Journal state that 29,613 children were killed and women harmed in Ohio in 2008.

Akron hosts abortion facilities, the ad reports, that performed the following number of abortions on women from these Ohio counties:

Summit    1601
Stark    752
Portage    379
Medina    266
Wayne    142
Columbiana    125
Tuscarawas    121
Carroll    32
Holmes    9

Spelling, geography bee winners announced

Marco Colant, son of Gerard and Jo (Shoup) Colant, won the St. Paul Spelling Bee on Wednesday by correctly spelling the word punctuation.  Marco is in the seventh grade.
Eighth grader Kendra Alexander came in second. There were 12 pasrticipants in the Bee. Sean Collins is spelling teacher.

Eighth grader Sam Neugebauer won the Geography Bee on January 13. Hew is the son of Paul and Emma  Neugebauer

500 children in Salesian schools die in quake

MADRID, Spain  (CNA).- The Salesian Office in Madrid has revised its early estimates on the number of children and teens who lost their lives in the collapsed buildings and schools operated by the order in Haiti.  Officials now say that as many as 500 are buried under the rubble after the devastating earthquake.

According to a statement, “the U.N. Crisis Unit has been in communication with Haiti police who, nonetheless, continue the search for survivors.”

“The deaths of three Salesian religious needs to be added to this tragic number,” the statement indicated.  “Hubert Sanon, 85, Atsime Wilfrid, 28, and Vibrun Valsaint, 26,” all perished in the earthquake.

Mass, rally planned for Right to Life

A Mass with Bishop Lennon as celebrant and the 29h annual Youth Rally for Life are scheduled   Friday in Cleveland on the the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the landmark case Roe vs. Wade that legalized abortion in the United States.

The Most Reverend Richard G. Lennon, Bishop, Diocese of Cleveland will celebrate a Mass of Remembrance for the Unborn, on behalf of the Community of Jesus, the Living Mercy at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist on Friday at 7 p.m.  All are welcome to participate in this Eucharistic liturgy.

The annual Rally for Life will be at noon on Cleveland Public Square.

Rally coordinators expect to draw from high schools, colleges, and pro-life groups in the area to address such subjects as abortion, positive alternatives to abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, and other issues that affect the value and existence of human life.

Talks should be under five minutes and reflect the philosophy that human life is a continuum from conception until natural death and must therefore be protected, enhanced and loved by every member of the human community.  Two important aspects of the Rally are young people speaking out and young people being educated.


Anyone wanting more information about the rally or desiring to register as a speaker is advised to call (216) 226-6663 or 216-  661-3000 or go to the Rally website at www.rallyforlife.org  The Rally is sponsored by Cleveland Right to Life.

For more information, contact Virginia Hanley at 216-226-6663.

Homeless count could hit 1,200

Last year when temperatures dipped into the teens, census volunteers counted nearly 800 homeless with 659 in shelters and another 129 tucked away in cars, parking decks, under bridges and elsewhere.  Experts believe there may be closer to 1,200. 

Pam O'Neill, of Akron, who has volunteered for 22 years with the St. Bernard Catholic Church sack lunch program, said the number of low-income and homeless people receiving a lunch has increased in recent years. The group serves about 125 people daily.

''These people have become my friends,'' she said. ''They need to know there are people out here that care what happens to them.''

She said they talk about their tents and other items they need to live outdoors.

Susan R. Pierson, chair of the Akron Summit Barberton Continuum of Care for the Homeless, said there are about 955 beds for the homeless throughout Summit, but the county needs about 300 more permanent supportive housing units to care for all of the homeless.

She said she hopes that perhaps 10 to 20 new beds can be added each year to help solve the problem and has set a goal of creating 178 more beds over the next 10 years.

Click on the headline to read the story on the census count by Jim Carney on page 1 in today’s Akron Beacon Journal.

Blessing of lambs for St. Agnes feast

VATICAN CITY (VIS) - This morning, in keeping with the tradition for today's feast of St. Agnes, the Pope blessed a number of lambs in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace .

The wool of the lambs is used to make the palliums bestowed on new metropolitan archbishops on June 29, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles.

The lambs are raised by the Trappist Fathers of the Abbey of the Three Fountains in Rome and the palliums are made from the newly-shorn wool by the sisters of St. Cecilia.

Student Mass will be Monday instead of Friday

Because of the Feast of  the Conversion of St. Paul, the regular student Mass will be on Monday instead of  Friday next week.  The 8:30 a.m. Mass for the feast day Monday, January 25,  is planned by Mrs. Shelly Pixler's fifth grade class.

The conversion of St. Paul is depicted by the metal artwork on the back wall on the right side ot the church (northeast corner) which shows occupations in his life from Saul to Paul.  The conversion also is depicted in the famous painting by Michelangelo below.


See the Scripture readings for the feast day.

Conversion of St. Paul celebrated in painting

The conversion of Saul (St Paul) the feast day celebrated Monday, January 25, is portrayed in this famous  fresco by Michelangelo. On the road to Damascus, where he was going to obtain authorization from the synagogue to arrest Christians, Paul was struck to the ground, blinded by a sudden light from heaven. The voice of God, heard also by Paul's attendants, as artists make clear, said, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' They led him to the city where, the voice had said, he would be  told what he had to do. According to a tradition, connecte with the medieval Custom of representing pride as a falling horseman, Paul made the journey on horseback. He lies on the ground as if just thrown from his horse, prostrate with awe, or unconcious. He may be wearing Roman armour. Christ appears in the heavens, surrounded by angels. Paul's attendants run to help him or try to control the rearing horses. The bolt light confirms the symbolic meaning; the dim awarerness of fallen man is touched by the lightning flash of grace, and as universal conciousness awakens in him, he loses his identity as a persecutor and gains true knowledge

Kindergarten Visit Day is February 11

Click on image to enlarge for better view if desired

Reminder: PTO/Boosters meeting, uniform exchange

PTO/Booster Club meeting is Thursday (Jan. 21)  at 6:30 in Boeke Hall.

The uniform exchancge also is Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Parish Activity Center.  The uniform exchasnge is coordinated by Teresa Llyod and Suzy Capron..

Rescuers find body of Vicar General in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The body of Vicar General Charles Benoit was found beneath the ruins of the Port-au-Prince Cathedral today, a week after the catastrophic earthquake that wreaked havoc on the Haitian community. Vicar General Charles Benoit was discovered with his hands around a reliquary which contained a host inside.

Despite the bad news, rescuers were encouraged by a dramatic two hour rescue that took place Wednesday. Enu Zizi, 60, had been trapped beneath the rubble in the Port-au-Prince Cathedral since the devastating quake hit last Tuesday evening local time.

Zizi's first words upon being pulled from the wreckage were to tell her rescuers, “I love you.” Caritas worker Ruth Schoffl translated Zizi's message for her fellow rescuers and said, “It was like witnessing a small miracle.”

“After a week of searching we heard this voice. I was able to speak to her, translating for the rescue team,” said Schoffl. The Cancun Mexico Rescue Brigade and the South African Relief Team are credited with rescuing Enu,who, aside from injured lips and a possible broken leg, was not critically hurt.

“The rescue of Zizi has been the best thing in the team we have experienced,” said Ahmed Bham, leader of the South African Relief Team. “It is the first time we have saved somebody's life after such a long time after the quake.”

“The team has got an energy boost,” he continued, “and we are heading out to do more work as there is still hope.”

Catholic Schools Week St. Paul School 2010

 
Sunday, Jan. 31
Dividends for Life: In our Parish
Join us in celebrating the start of Catholic Schools Week at the 11 a.m. Mass at Saint Paul Church.

Saint Paul School will be celebrating all week the dividends provided by our school:  high quality, faith-based education that will continue to pay dividends for years to come. 

See what makes our school so great by touring the school during Open House following Mass from noon to 1 p.m. Enjoy refreshments in the Parish Activity Center provided by the St. Paul PTO.

Monday, February 1 
Dividends for Life:  In Our Community
Comfy Cozy Day –students will wear pajamas, slippers, loungewear with a donation of toiletries for the  Open-M program. During the week we will make Valentines for the Shut Ins of our parish.

Tuesday, February 2 
Dividends for Life:  In Our Nation
If You Take a Mouse to School Performance by the Illusion Factory (sponsored by Bridgestone)  for Pre-K-5
Jr. High Speaker to be announced

Wednesday, February 3 
Dividends for Life:  In Faculty and Staff
Teacher Appreciation Lunch

Thursday, February 4 
Dividends for Life:  In our Volunteers and Vocations
Grandparents Day
9:00 Musical Performance in the Parish Activity Center.
9:30-10:00 Prayer Service
10:00-10:40- A-K refreshments   L-Z  in Classrooms
10:40-11:15  L-Z Refreshments  A-K Classrooms

Friday, February 5 
Dividends for Life:  In Our Students
Closing Mass
Student Treat

St. Paul to mail 2,000 postcards

St, Paul School next week will mail out 2,000 postcards in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week.  The cards will go to households within a two-mile radius of St. Paul to promote the school. 

Catholic Schools Week will open on Sunday, January 31, at the 11 a.m. Mass followed by open house in the school.

The front of the card shows 10 students in a photo emblazoned with the schools website address and telephone number and the offer: “Bring this post card in for a free gift.”

st.paulschool  is in large gray and orange letters. Under the headline is the school name and address and the school’s mission:

“The mission of St. Paul School is to live the love of God and the love of neighbor while challenging each person to reach academic, social and spiritual potential.”

Below this are these headlines:
Register neo for nest school year!
EdChoice and financial aid are available.

Students in the photo are (first row, from left) Alex Tran, kindergarten; Jesse Slita, Grade 3, and Bryce Leslie, Marc Adam and Carly Wightman, all kindergarten.  Second row (from left) are Emma Leeser, Grade 4; Allison Bachman, Grade 7, Nichole McCullars, Grade 5; Valenna Sales, Grade 3, and Liam Harvey, Grade 1.

The other side of the postcard states that “The faculty and staff of St. Paul School recognize and nurture each child’s God-given talents and strengths.”

We offer:
Grades Pre-K through 8
Daily Religion Classes
Weekly Mass and Prayer Services
Sacramental Preparation
Opportunities for community service
State-of-the-Art computer lab with internet access
Music, Art, and Physical Education Classes
Scouting Programs for boys and girls
Enrichment and Remedial Programs
Concerts and Plays
Hot Lunch Program
After Care Program daily until 6 p.m.
Vibrant PTO
Parent Booster Club
CYO Sports
Power of the Pen, Morning Walking Club