Pastor: Deacons: Office Administrator: Rectory Phone: Office Phone: Fax: e-mail: website: Father Bruce Riebe Bill Fredrick, Robert Kirschner Michele Wiltshire 440-526-1818 440-526-0016 440-526-6464 stjoebyz@sbcglobal.net www.stjoebyz.com Living the Word of Christ Together Our St. Nicholas Celebration Around 170 people celebrated the Patron Saint of Byzantine Catholic s at the annual Potluck. The hall was decorated beautifully and the large tree in the foyer made its appearance after an absence of many years (courtesy of David Petruno). A lot of folks took advantage of it as a Kodak Moment. (See the back page of the bulletin.) The A-OK Club made the dinner wait seem shorter with a version of St. Nicholas Family Feud. The winning table included Mike Andrako, Anne Andrako, Ann Lesniak, Mel Skabar, Pauline Skabar, Mary Jo Keshock, Art Zanutic and Helen Pariza. They each earned a $5 Handel s gift card. St. Nick led all the children out of church at the close of liturgy and met with them at the tree presenting each child a goodie bag courtesy of GCU Lodge 302 and the Men s Club. Many thanks to the crew in the kitchen for preparing the meats (donated by the Men s Club and Ladies Auxiliary) and the volunteers who handled the line. Kudos to the bartenders and the DJ s. Last, but not least, thanks to St. Nicholas himself for making his annual stop on Brecksville Road! The Winners! Lupia Family Playing The Feud
December 10, 2017 Christ is Among Us! Liturgy Schedule Monday December 11 8:00 a.m. Joe/Jennie Smetanka by Mel/Pauline Skabar Tuesday December 12 8:00 a.m. Mary Lukas by Family Wednesday December 13 8:00 a.m. Richard Vagvolgi by Debbie Vagas Thursday December 14 8:00 a.m. William Asmondy by Deacon Bill/Nancy Fredrick Friday December 15 8:00 a.m. Andrew Krajnyak by Debbie Vagas Saturday December 16 4:00 p.m. June Melm by Nick/Marie Ihnat Sunday December 17 10:30 a.m. Intention of the Parishioners Altar Servers Lectors Greeters December 16 4:00 p.m. D. Kattler & M. Ebert G. Huntz G. & J. Huntz December 17 10:30 a.m. J. & A. Loya, C. Csornok H. Pariza & J. Carrig N. Jaryga & M. Cohn The art of living a happy life is constantly adjusting to circumstances. Giving Tree The gifts for the Giving Tree need to be returned by the close of next Sunday s liturgy. (Make sure you tape the tag on the present. The angel ornament is yours as a keepsake.) Confession Opportunities There s some additional time slots for confessions in preparation for the Feast of the Nativity. December 23 3:00-3:45 December 24 9:30-10:15 and 2:00-4:00 Offertory Envelopes/ Liturgical Calendars We once again thank John Hopko (Hopko Funeral Home) for providing the 2018 Byzantine Liturgical Calendars. Feel free to pick one up as you grab your envelopes for the new year on the table in the vestibule. If you have been attending St. Joe s and would like to join, please fill out the requested information on the sheet near the envelopes. If there weren t envelopes for you, please contact Father so the situation can be remedied. Volunteer Banquet Invitations for the January 13 Volunteer Banquet can be found in the mail slots. Stewardship Campaign All parishioners should ve received a Stewardship Campaign form in the mail. Our assigned goal remains $14,000.00. Let s all show support for Bishop Milan, our new administrator, for this much needed appeal. Pledge forms can be returned via U.S. mail or the collection basket. Checks should be made payable to St. Joseph Church (we will forward a lump sum to the chancery). Periodic reports will be listed in the Byzz Line as we march toward that goal! Religious Article Counter Our re-organized religious article counter has a lot of new items. Some may be suitable as gifts. We re anticipating another delivery of Nativity candles. The stand should be open before and after the weekend liturgies up until Christmas. Parish Post Office Take advantage of our Parish Post Office by sending fellow parishioners a Christmas Card. It s only a nickel (benefitting the A-OK Club) and a full address is not needed (just a name). In the same breath, make sure you check your slot each time you come to church. ECF Christmas Program Next Sunday the ECF students will present a short Christmas Program right after liturgy. Make plans to attend!
The Altar Servers Christmas Party is December 20. Those attending need to sign the list in the sacristy by next Sunday. (Meet at The Golden Corral in Sagamore Hills at 5:00 or at the Activity Center by 4:30. There s a $5 gift exchange. Pick-up time at the A.C. is 8:00.) ByzanTEEN Catholic Forum Group The ByzanTEEN Catholic Forum Group will meet in the choir loft next Sunday at 9:00. All high school students are encouraged to attend this once a month gathering. Bertha Galaida was buried this past week at the age of 90. For the past couple of years, she has been on our monthly Communion visitation list. Parish sympathies are extended to her son Nick (Michelle) and family. In blessed repose grant rest O Lord to Your Handmaid Bertha and may her memory be eternal! The Week Ahead Altar Servers Christmas Party The A-OK Club Christmas Party is Monday, 6:30, in the Activity Center. The Men s Club and Ladies Auxiliary will have a brief meeting on Tuesday at 7:00, followed by their Christmas Party. Sandwich making will take place on Saturday, 9:30, in the hall. Men s Club Communion The Men s Club Quarterly Communion is next Sunday. Members should gather in the vestibule by 10:15. Ladies BLESS Group The next BLESS (Byzantine Ladies Encountering Sacred Sources) will start January 29 (first of seven sessions). All women of the parish are invited to participate. Thirty Steps to Heaven by Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou is the book that will be utilized. If you need a copy, contact Darlene Hritz (440-237-5237) by December 15 to be included in the group order ($17.70). Your Weekly Offering December 3, 2017 Sunday: e-giving: 13 Student Envelopes: Cash: Candles: Holy Days: Building Fund: Thanksgiving: Christmas: Total: Mirovanije $$ The mirovanije collection from this weekend will be sent to Christ the Bridegroom Monastery in Burton to be included with their Gala total. We served 184 dinners at the First Fry Day Fish Fry. The Outreach earned just over $900. Thanks for those who patronized the meal and to the volunteers. The January Blue Plate Special will be stuffed cabbage. Holiday Cash Giveaway GCU Lodge 302 is holding a Holiday Cash Giveaway to benefit the parish. First prize is $500. Second is $250. Third is $100. Chances are $2 each. The drawing will be held after liturgy on December 17. Please Pray Please remember all the sick/suffering in your prayers, especially Diane Richey (Cleveland Clinic); Bea Chrustic (Marymount) and Helen Sasala (Pleasantview Nursing Home). Will You Help $3,925.00 50.00 15.00 88.00 106.00 105.00 13.00 10.00 50.00 $4,362.00 Interested in E-Giving??? We usually decorate the church on the Sunday before Christmas. This year Christmas Eve is a Sunday, so instead we re looking for volunteers on December 17 right after liturgy (or if you prefer, after the ECF Christmas Program).
The Greifenstein s and more! Molly Percic St. Nick and Friends All photos courtesy of Bill Babin PARISH INFORMATION The Ron & Lindsey Misconish Family The Hallis Gang ACTIVITY CENTER & HALL RESERVATIONS: 440-526-0016 PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: 440-526-6464 (24 hours) CONFESSIONS: One half hour before liturgies for fifteen minutes and by request MEN S CLUB: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. LADIES AUXILIARY: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. A-OK CLUB: 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. COFFEE SOCIAL: Every Sunday after liturgy EASTERN CATHOLIC FORMATION (ECF) CLASSES: Sundays 9:00 a.m. 10:20 a.m. BULLETIN INFORMATION DEADLINE: Tuesday noon