Nov 06, 2025

Greetings,

The parish office hours are changing.  It appears that there is a need for the office to open earlier than it has been.  When Cathy Sivec arrives at the offices there are already people at the door.  So, it was recommended to open the office earlier at 8:00am so that those who have business after Mass can find our staff there and ready to assist them.  That also means that the office will be closing earlier.  We are going to conclude office hour activities at 4:00pm and see how that goes.  These new office hours will not affect any evening appointments with your priests.

IN OTHER NEWS:

ADORATION:  Next weekend we will begin sign-ups for adopting an hour of adoration on Tuesdays.  The goal is to have two or three persons or groups sign up for each hour.  That way, if someone cannot make it or is running late, there are backups.  You may sign up on the hour or on the half hour.  Afternoon through dinner time is where we have our most pressing need.  We will continue to rally for the adoption of hours until we get our roster filled.  For the time being, we will use sign-up sheets on the altar rail by the St. Mary statue.  Eventually the hope is to transfer that information to a program that can send reminders or allow you to note that you will be gone (such as on vacation).  Please pray about it and consider signing up beginning next weekend! 

SISTERS LEAVING THE AREA:  Earlier this year we learned that the Dominican Sisters at Our Lady of the Elms were no longer able to maintain a community here and so left Akron, selling their convent.  This week we learned that the Daughters of Divine Charity who ran Francesca House can no longer run their home and so will be closing their facility.

Francesca House, which is just a double yellow line running down Portage Path outside of our boundaries, is a home for the elderly.  It is located right behind The Mustard Seed.  The aging of the sisters and the rising costs of maintaining the buildings are making it impossible for them to continue their mission.  Residents have been told that they have until December first to find new living arrangements.  What will become of the building is not yet known.  Please offer up a prayer for a good resolution to this situation. 

STATE OF THE PARISH:  I failed to mention in the parish report this weekend that if you have any further questions about our financial statements or if you would like to increase your online giving or begin online giving, please call Milissa Smith, our business manager at 330-836-2233.  If you missed this presentation, you may find it online at the end of last week’s 9:00am Mass stream.

REGISTER FOR THE PARISH:  In past years we have had registration forms available for persons who might want to register for the parish on the State of the Parish weekend, but I didn’t arrange for it and a couple of people requested to join the parish.  You may register one of three ways:  1) Stop by the parish office during business hours (or make an appointment).  2)  Register online.  3)  Call the office and register.

Registrations help the parish when resources are being determined for distribution.  It also helps us help you when you need something such as a sponsor form or to be married or other such things.  If you live outside of our boundaries and are not registered (even if you come to Mass here oAen) we may not have jurisdiction to help you!  So, if you can, sign up and welcome!

ADVENT CONCERTS:  Advent begins later this month on Sunday, November 30.  We will have our regular organ recitals on Tuesday afternoons and a Christmas concert with choir and orchestra on December 14.  Mark your calendar now!

God bless, 

Fr. Valencheck