News

May 02, 2025

Greetings,

Congratulations to our second graders who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday! What a blessing to receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord and take this next step into full communion with the Church.

Thank you to Mr. Keith Johnson, our Parish Catechetical Leader and our teachers catechists, parents and all in the community who helped support these young ladies and
gentlemen to this day. Please say a prayer for our new Communicants!

IN OTHER NEWS:

HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED WITHIN OUR PARISH BOUNDARIES: Spring is here, and you have undoubtedly seen people asking for money at the end of the exit ramp from the highway. Do you wish that there was something that you could do rather than just throw money out of your car window and also make a difference for those who live in our parish boundaries? There is!

One way is to make a donation to the St. Sebastian St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) either in the “POOR BOX” located in front of the Ushers’ Room window at the back of the church or put your donation in a clearly marked envelope and drop it off in the collection. You can also bring it to Parish Office or mail it. Your SVdP parish volunteers meet with people asking for assistance who live within our parish boundaries. They assess their needs and keep records of the help given.

Those who live in other parish boundaries are recommended to contact those parishes, they can also recommend other places that offer assistance. When it is appropriate, they pray with the persons in need and develop the type of relationship that cannot happen when money is given out of a car window (although I am not discouraging that if your heart leads you to do so).

The other way to assist is to become a volunteer with our SVdP. There is a “wading in” period if the task seems ominous. You will work with one of our veteran volunteers and then have a mentor while you discern if this is the ministry for you. Volunteers would need to be available for the weekly Thursday meeting at 7pm when cases are reviewed. If you think you might be interested, please contact the parish Office at 330-836-2233. Thank you for considering and please keep our SVdP volunteers and clients in your prayers.

GROUNDS CREW BEGINS: Another way to make a difference in our parish as well as the neighborhood is to join the Grounds Crew! These inveterate volunteers keep our parish grounds looking beautiful and that attracts so much attention and foot traffic that I consider it also an act of evangelization, bringing God’s beauty to the world. NO
EXPERIENCE NEEDED and this is a great way to get service hours. The Grounds Crew meets every Thursday about 8am in the school courtyard. If you come a little later, just ask someone who is already at work where you are needed.

Also, watch the bulletin for special Saturday morning events. MULCH DAY is coming up on Saturday, May 10. Many hands are needed to haul and spread mulch! Fr. Marcelli and I plan on joining in the fun after Saturday morning
Confessions. Hope to see you there!

CHANGES AT CHURCH: In addition to the new lighting in the narthex of the church, sound has been added to the lobby, brides’ room and ushers’ room as we continue renovating this part of the church. Also, six lights have been replaced with a new technology of light bulb in the sanctuary of the church. Just those six bulbs have made an incredible difference. Our church can be quite dreary and that is because the bulbs that are currently installed largely emit light from their sides and most of their light is trapped in the light canisters. These new bulbs direct most of their light downward. So far, I am pleased with these new lights and if we decide that we like them, these (very expensive) bulbs will replace all the lighting in the church.

SCHOOL NEWS: Early in the morning this past Monday, I received news that Jennifer Rohr, the wife of our Parish School Principal, Anthony Rohr passed away after a long illness. Please keep the family in your prayers.

God bless,
Fr. Valencheck