Aug 22, 2025

Greetings,

Typically, when I come home from vacation, I expect something major to be different with the parish. But it is always much the same when I get back. That was not so much the case this year! All of the projects that had been in progress while I was away have been buttoned up for the beginning of the school year and a few new ones began. The seminarians moved back to the seminary and there were even a couple of nice upgrades to our local parks!

As this letter is being written to you, it is the calm before the storm. Our new school year is beginning, and we are preparing for Bishop Malesic to come speak at TOR. The morning after I got home from being away, there was the school open house, and it was good to hear so many compliments about the upgrades to our building and the excitement of (most of) the students preparing to return to their studies along with our new teachers who stepped into the giant shoes of our educators who retired last year. Adding to long list of excellent faculty that have served our school over the years, I would like to welcome, Alanna Data, Matthew Powell and Hannah Reese. Please keep them and all of our students, faculty and staff in your prayers.

 IN OTHER NEWS:

AWAY AGAIN: I was in New York all last week visiting my sister. She lives in the mountains where there is spotty cellphone reception at best. In one more week, I will be heading back out to Mundelein to the University of Saint Mary of the Lake for more training for the diocese. As it turns out, I will have even less reception in Illinois because we are being asked not to have our cellphones nor our computers with us for the week. I tell you this, if you have something time sensitive that needs taken care of that Fr. Marcelli cannot do for you such as any wedding appointments - they need to be made soon!

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION: PSR classes are beginning soon. Classes are held on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:45am (so that students and their families can attend the 11:00am Mass.) Opening day is September 7. Now is the time to register! Call the parish or register at PSR@stsebastian.org.

FORTY HOURS OF DEVOTION: Mark your calendars to participate in our Annual Eucharistic Devotions coming up in September. Opening ceremonies will be held at the 9am Mass on Sunday, September 14 and continue through Tuesday, September 16 at 7pm. I hope to kick off some other practices concerning the Eucharist at that time. Details coming soon.

NEWS OF PRIESTS FROM ST. SEBASTIAN: Fr. Peter Morris who served as parochial vicar at St. Sebastian and was most recently pastor of SS. Peter and Paul in Doylestown, is moving to become the next pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Mentor! Taking his place in Doylestown will be Fr. Joe Robinson who did his internship here. Fr. Anthony Simone who served here for four years will be made pastor in October. And Fr. Barry Gearing (who never served here but who many of you know) has recovered well enough that his medical leave of absence has been concluded and he has returned to his duties at St. John Neumann. Please keep all priests and seminarians in your prayers.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck