Living the Word of Christ Together Pastor: Parochial Vicar: Deacons: Office Administrator: Rectory Phone: Office Phone: Fax: e-mail: website: Father Bruce Riebe Father Jan Cizmar Bill Fredrick, Robert Kirschner Michele Wiltshire 440-526-1818 440-526-0016 440-526-6464 stjoebyz@sbcglobal.net www.stjoebyz.com A covenant is a formal agreement between two parties. Assuming both parties enter into the covenant of their own free will, it is a bond that cannot be broken. As time goes on, that covenant will be tested and its validity questioned by skeptics, but it will remain if it is real. God s covenant with his people is real. It began with a promise made to Noah and was renewed in the person of Jesus Christ. It has been tested by man through sin and by evil through Jesus trials in the desert. But here in 2016 it still remains as strong as ever. This Lent, take time to rediscover and reflect on this covenant God has with us. Reclaim your baptism and make it a motivating factor in how you live your life. Take the opportunity this Lenten season provides to increase your devotion and spirituality. You will be tested and you will suffer trials, for life is not always easy. But God has always upheld his part of the agreement. Now is the time to take our part in this covenant more seriously. Pretzel Prayers Once considered the official Catholic food of Lent, pretzels date back at least 1,400 years. Because fat, eggs, and milk were part of the Lenten abstinence, these little bites of bread made only with flour, salt and water were invented. They were wrapped in the shape of arms crossed in prayer, and the three holes in the middle represented the Trinity. Traditionally, pretzels were the perfect food to share with people who were struggling for food or living on the streets because they didn t spoil easily. Make your own pretzels as a family (find recipe on the internet), and share them with someone in need in your neighborhood or community.
March 6, 2016 Glory to Jesus Christ! Liturgy Schedule Monday March 7 8:00 a.m. Lenten Devotions with Supplication to the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday March 8 8:00 a.m. Lenten Devotions with Sermon Wednesday March 9 7:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts ( Joseph Klinkovsky by Joseph Klinkovsky) Thursday March 10 8:00 a.m. Lenten Devotions with Sermon Friday March 11 7:30 p.m. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Saturday March 12 4:00 p.m. Intention of the Parishioners Sunday March 13 10:30 a.m. John Durkot by Family Altar Servers Lectors Greeters March 12 4:00 p.m. J. & J. Kodek S. Tirpak D. & S. LaFleur March 13 10:30 a.m. N. Matyas, A. Steen, D. Doane H. Oros & J. Klinkovsky B. & J. Hallis Love is asking to forgive what courtesy would have avoided. During this Jubilee Year of Mercy a great opportunity to be a recipient of this mercy will be March 15. A Reconciliation Service will be offered at 7:00 p.m. It will consist of some brief prayers, a short homily (from Father Miron) and then individual confessions. Five priests will be available. In addition to Fr. Bruce and Fr. Jan, you ll be able to choose between Fr. Dennis Hrubiak, Fr. Andrew Summerson (newly ordained in December) and the aforementioned Fr. Miron. Try and seize this wonderful moment for the Sacrament of Mercy! There s some additional times for confession leading up to Easter. March 19 3:00-3:35 Palm Sunday 9:30-10:15 Holy Saturday 2:00-3:30 Everyone should make an attempt during this Jubilee Year of Mercy to frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to Easter Sunday. Watch for a Holy Week schedule and Easter message from Father in the mail. There s a full slate of weekday Lenten Services for your consideration. The schedule is listed above. Father preaches on Tuesday and Deacon Bill on Thursday. In many Byzantine Catholic Churches an All Night Vigil is held at the tomb starting after Vespers on Good Friday and ending prior to the Resurrection Matin Service Holy Saturday evening. The sign-up poster can be found in the vestibule. We re looking to have all of the one hour time slots filled. Try making this part of your Holy Week tradition--many people have, with exceptional spiritual results! This Friday is not just any Friday, it s S.O.M.E. (SoOthersMayEat) Friday. Here s how it works. Everyone is asked to skip (fasting) one meal. Bring the money (alms) you save to church (prayer) that night. Wow! All three components of Lent in one swoop! The alms will be taken to St. Augustine s by some of our ECF children. The kids will actively take part in the Presanctified Liturgy (please have your child in the vestibule by 7:15 so assignments and instructions can be made). Coordinator Judy Sholtis invites everyone in attendance for pizza and refreshments afterwards in the hall.
Just two more Lenten Fish Fries! Have you stopped by yet?!? Lunch is served from 11:30-1:00 and supper from 4-7. Carryouts are available. Tell your friends or better yet, bring them along! Church cleaning has started after evening services on the Fridays of Lent (up until Holy Week). If you re able to assist, just hang around in the vestibule and you ll be given a task. Albert Asmondy was buried this past week at the age of 93. For the past ten years he has been on the monthly Communion visitation list. Parish sympathies are offered to his siblings Marge, Bill and Paul, as well as his other relatives in the parish. In blessed repose grant rest O Lord to Your Servant Albert and may his memory be eternal! The Men s Club and Ladies Auxiliary will hold their respective meetings on Tuesday at 7:00. The next choir practice is slated for Wednesday at 8:00 (right after the evening Lenten Service). Sandwich making is scheduled for Saturday, 9:30, in the hall. The annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by GCU Lodge 302 is scheduled for Palm Sunday right after liturgy. Children ages 1-12 are invited to participate. (Bring jars of peanut butter or jelly to be donated to the St. Joseph Outreach. Monetary donations will also be accepted.) For additional info, contact Diana Simpson at 330-205-0476 or dilynnsi@yahoo.com. The annual St. Thomas Potluck will be held April 3 right after liturgy. Attendees are asked to sign-up on the sheet that will be posted next weekend on the vestibule bulletin board. Please indicate how many will be coming (adults/children) and what you ll be bringing (dessert, vegetable, salad, etc). The deadline is March 28. We typically honor parish volunteers at this dinner, as selected by the A-OK Club. This year it s unsung heroes Duane Kattler, Jerry Holderbaum and Barb Fortlage. Your Weekly Offering February 28, 2016 Sunday: E-Giving: 13 Student Envelopes: Cash: Candles: Fuel: Building Fund: Parking Lot Project Donation: Total: $3,210.00 90.00 12.00 64.00 186.00 20.00 3.00 100.00 $3,585.00 Have you remembered St. Joseph Church in your Will and/or Trust? The Cathedral in Parma is seeking altar servers for the washing of the feet segment on Holy Thursday (7:00 p.m.). Contact Father this week if your son is interested. Please remember all of the sick/suffering in your prayers, especially George Prochaska (University); Millie Karaffa (Parma); Mary Jane Dietz (Greenbrier Healthcare, rehab); Charlotte Picha (St. Augustine Towers, rehab); and Donna Neal (home). Hand-stitched Byzantine Style Easter basket covers are on sale at the religious article counter for $40. The proceeds will benefit the St. Joseph Outreach. The parking lot project went out for bids last week. Four companies were invited to be part of the process. The Building Commission will review each bid, once received, and decide on who will be awarded the job. (Anyone wanting to donate to this endeavor can do so by marking an envelope Parking Lot Repair and placing it in the collection basket. We anticipate the cost to be close to $300,000 keep in mind that a lot of sidewalk replacement is included in the base bid.) Spring Forward! Don t forget to change your clocks on Saturday (spring ahead one hour).
The Men s Club Night at the Races is set for April 2. Tickets are $20. This includes a hot meal buffet, beer/pop, twelve horse races, door prizes and music for dancing after the last race. See any member for tickets, or call chairman Mike Karaffa (440-238- 1365). There are still some horses available for purchase. The cost is $20. Contact Chuck Ricco (216-215-8482). You can also talk to Chuck about placing an ad in the race book. Our ByzanTEENS are once again involved with a Honey Baked Ham fundraiser. This year the procedure is a bit different. A gift card needs to be purchased on-line (Go to: honeybakedfundraiser.sbgiftcards.com/st-joseph-byzanteen-fundraiser). If you plan on buying a Honey Baked Ham for Easter or just want to support our teens, make sure you order that gift card. It will be shipped directly to whatever address you d like it to go. If you have questions, call our Youth Director, Ron Misconish (216-392-1540). GCU Lodge 302 is holding a Game Night on March 12 in the Activity Center. Doors open at 5:30. A light dinner, pop and coffee will be provided. Attendees are asked to bring a favorite game and an appetizer or dessert. Please RSVP to Bea Chrustic (216-475-3052). Non-GCU members are welcome to come! Someone you know may need this information: Alternatives to Abortion 1-800-712-HELP (4357) Accessible 24 hours a day. Serviced by a live person at all times. Therapy dogs are not protected as service dogs are for entering all public buildings. Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, affection and entertainment in nursing homes, prisons, schools and retirement centers. They are able to assist in the teaching learning disabled children and reduce stress for victims of accidents, crime, natural disasters and crisis. The Alliance of Therapy Dogs registers, supports and insures members involved in these volunteer activities. This is a network of caring dog owners that are willing to share their special animals to make people happier and healthier in times of need. So the next time you see a working dog, ask first if you may pet the dog and thank them for their service please! A Divine Will Conference featuring Fr. Bucci & Fr. Celso will be held March 12 (9-4) and 13 (9-1) at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Wickliffe. The cost is $40. Contact Joan Gallagher to register (440-442-4426). Young Adults (21-35) are invited to attend a Day of Reflection presented by Fr. Marcos Ghali. The event will take place on March 19 from 2:30-6:00 at the Cathedral in Parma. RSVP by March 16 to Therese at tafetsko88@hotmail.com. University Hospital Hospice is seeking volunteers. The next training session will be at the Warrensville Hts. location on April 7 from 6-9. Contact Patsy Brodie for more info (216-765-2737 or Uhhospice@Uhhospitals.org). PARISH INFORMATION 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