Oct 22, 2026

Greetings,

This weekend across the United States is Priesthood Sunday. This is a day to pray for priests, recognize the need for them, and to promote vocations to the priesthood, both diocesan and religious. I am always so grateful for the support that you show me and the other priests and seminarians that minister here at St. Sebastian Parish. We know that we are not perfect and we can’t be all things to all people, but we try, and that you honor that effort means more than you can know.

To help us celebrate, this year we will be visited by Mr. Daniel Jordan, a seminarian from our diocese. He is in what we once referred to as the minor seminary called Borromeo Seminary. It was considered our collegiate school. But since the restructuring taking place around the world, terms such as freshman or senior no longer apply. Daniel participated in the diocese’s propaedeutic immersion year. This foundational year focuses heavily on spiritual, intellectual, human, and pastoral growth before intensive theological study begins.

He will be speaking at all of the Masses this weekend. Hopefully, he will touch a bit on his experience with the propaedeutic year, which, quite frankly, I’m still trying to fully understand and spell!

Welcome, Daniel! I hope you enjoy your time here at St. Sebastian Parish. Please keep him and all of our seminarians in your prayers.

On a side note, the Deanery of Southern Summit County will be hosting a dinner on Saturday night for the priests and seminarians who are able to make it as part of this celebration. I am fortunate enough to be on the Admissions Board for the seminary, but not all priests are able to be in touch with the new batches of seminarians, and this is an attempt to help make connections between the priest and those who aspire to be one and work among them some day.

IN OTHER NEWS:

NIGHT MASS: On Monday, November 2, All Souls’ Day, there will be a special Mass at St. Sebastian Parish at 7pm. Damian Ference will be our celebrant and homilist, and St. Christina will be present in our sanctuary. The Mass will largely be lit by candlelight, and prayers will be offered for our deceased brothers and sisters. Hope to see you there!

On a side note, in the Diocese of Cleveland, Bishop Schrembs declared November 5 to be the Feast Day of St. Christina who is in residence at St. Sebastian while the Cathedral is being renovated. The Mass that day, which is also a school Mass, will be in her honor.

GARDEN CREW: The St. Sebastian flower beds and pots were tucked in for a long winter’s nap this past Saturday morning. A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped keep our grounds so beautiful over the warm months. The amount of compliments we receive all summer long is stunning and shows how beauty can really be an act of evangelization. Many blessings!

CALLED TO FLOURISH: The Diocesan Capital Campaign currently taking place at St. Sebastian Parish continues to charge forward. Thank you, and many blessings on those who have participated so far either in donations or prayer. As of the writing of this letter (Monday), we are well over 50% and saluting 60% from afar. If you haven’t already, you will be contacted either by phone or mail, and your prayerful consideration is appreciated. Also, thank you to our parish volunteers who are donating so much of their time to this endeavor. You are awesome.

God Bless,

Fr. Valencheck