News

May 16, 2025

Greetings,
The gold and white banners outside of the church mean that last week we found ourselves with a new pope! Pope Leo XIV was elected the 267th pontiff on Thursday on the fourth ballot of the conclave, an exceptionally quick outcome given this was the largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history and not all cardinals knew one another before arriving in Rome. I was in absolute shock that an American born cardinal would hold this august office. If there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that if somebody had a list of names of candidates for the papacy and someone from the United States was on it, I (thought I) knew that they did not know what they were talking about. How the Holy Spirit works!

That being said, I do not know much about the man who has become our pope and I look forward to getting to know him with you as the days and years move forward. Please keep him and the Church in your prayers, particularly in these early days of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV!

IN OTHER NEWS:

CONCERT THIS SUNDAY: Sunday, May 18 at 4pm, you are invited to experience our fabulous choir joined by our mighty pipe organ, brass and timpani as they perform and give glory to God in the final concert of our Musical Arts series. The concert is free and open to the public. Come one! Come all!

ORDINATION WEEKEND: This weekend is also Ordination Weekend. Those who were not blessed to make the trek to Cleveland on Saturday morning at 10am were able to catch it live streamed from the diocesan website. One of the men who was ordained should be particularly known to you, Fr. Ryan Arto who resided here at St. Sebastian is now beginning his life as a priest. Another local man, Fr. James Parisi hails from St. Hilary Parish. Fr. Jon Hawkins, who is related to some of you, has also become a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland.

Other men ordained for our diocese were Fr. Christopher Cotone, Fr. Kyle Rosser, Fr. Jeffery Lindholm and Fr. Brian Peters who will be replacing Fr. Cameron Popik at St. Hilary. Please keep all these men (and the people they will serve) in your prayers.

MEMORIAL DAY PARISH POTLUCK BREAKFAST: Put it on your calendar now! We will be having our Annual Potluck Breakfast following the 9am Mass on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. Keep an eye out in the bulletin for further details!

THEOLOGY ON THE ROCKS MONDAY: Fr. Anthony Simone is visiting home to speak to us at Theology on the Rocks along with our own Harry & Cathy Sivec on Monday, May 19! See inside the bulletin for further details!

FR. VALENCHECK AWAY: I was away from the parish following the 11am Mass on Sunday, May 4 through Sunday May 11. Then, on that Monday, I was called to a meeting at the seminary for the majority of the day. If you were trying to get hold of me and were unsure if I received your message, I encourage you to try again now that I am settled back at the rectory.

God bless,
Fr. Valencheck