Second Sunday of Lent March 12, 2017 Monday, March 13 8:15 a.m. Mary Keblesh (Women of Faith) 6:30 p.m. Angeline & Louis Vassalotti (Joanna Verderico) Month s Mind Mary Rauch Tuesday, March 14 8:15 a.m. Karen Brown (Todd Brown) 6:30 p.m. Martin Kiel (St. Francis Choir) Wednesday, March 15 8:15 a.m. Charles Gallo (Family) 6:30 p.m. Tom Welsh (Marna & Dean Wheaton) Thursday, March 16 8:15 a.m. Jan Bremer (Larry & Noel Deibel) 6:30 p.m. Pat Bark (The Batal Family) Friday, March 17, St. Patrick 8:15 a.m. Donna McEnaney (The Beitko Family) 9:00 a.m. Intentions of the Bline Family (The Burch Family) 6:30 p.m. Dr. Al Feltrup (Don & Ginnie Pinkston) Saturday, March 18, St. Cyril of Jerusalem 8:15 a.m. Andrew & Teresia Misbrener (Marty & Liz Misbrener) 5:00 p.m. Lucy Eileen Morris (Joe & Jean Fahey) Month s Mind Meryl Boxler March 19, 2017 Third Sunday of Lent Feast of St. Joseph Month s Mind Mary Medford 7:30 am Pro Populo, 9:00 am, 11:00 am Scripture Readings for the Week: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Don't Miss This Week! We should have known once those ashes fell off our foreheads, that we would not have to wait for long to kick Lent into full gear. This Wednesday, March 15th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. throughout every Catholic Church in the diocese, we will have the chance to get it right! Fr. Thomas and I will be joining every priest in the diocese to welcome you to know how much Jesus Christ loves you in the Sacrament of Reconciliation...yes, please just walk in...no matter how long it has been or what you may have done and would rather not think about...we will walk you through it all and help you share in a night you can know just how perfect God's love can make you. Hopefully there is a line down Manchester Road. If so, don't worry you can join us for 6:30 p.m. Mass or enjoy the music. Just come...just let Him love you--we will leave the light on for you--his light--to rejoice in His love for you! Perhaps this Lent we can grow in our understanding of why St. John Paul II teaches, "Confession is an act of honesty and courage--an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God." By now many have heard that Bishop Thomas has given us a dispensation from our abstinence and fasting for this Friday (17th) since it is the feast day of Saint Patrick. Although this has been granted, you don't have to accept it...you could actually just faithfully and lovingly keep your Lenten promise. No, I'm not trying to be some pious and penitential purist. I just want to offer what Saint Patrick himself offered during his Lenten times. It really is all about Patrick's Lenten plea to return to The Lord, to ask God to create a clean heart in us, to be with family and friends at Mass at the very start of the day and to break bread at home in thanksgiving for God's love in your life. However you celebrate it (or don't), just live it up in some holy way! HOLD THE PRESSES! CLEAR THE CALENDARS! Do whatever you can to be here March 19, 20, 21 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. for our annual parish mission. Fr. Ryan Mann is a good friend of mine who was ordained in 2015. He has a wonderful gift of preaching and spiritual direction. Each night he will be opening our hearts up to God's love for us ("I'll Give You A New Heart"). No other parish meetings are permitted those three days since this is an essential part of our Lenten journey. See you then! Pax, Fr. Bline
Collection Information The collection for last weekend was $18,507.00. Our parish is blessed by your generosity! SCHEDULE 2017 MASS All weekdays 8:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. School Mass 9:00 a.m. Fridays through April 7 Parish Mission Sunday through Tuesday, March 19-21 7:00 p.m. rosary Every Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Adoremus Room Adoration All weekdays 7:00 to 8:10 a.m. and 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Also: Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. and Fridays 10:15 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. Stations of the Cross Mondays 2:15 p.m. (with school children) Fridays 7:00 p.m. Confession All weeknights 6:00 p.m. until Mass time Wednesdays 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. Saturdays 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Sunday mornings after 9:00 Mass until 10:50 (through April 9)!Diocesan-wide Evening of Reconciliation: This Wednesday, March 15, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Mass will take place simultaneously)!cluster Communal Penance: Monday, March 27, 7:00 p.m. TENEBRAE Sunday, April 9, 7:00 p.m. Night Prayer Sundays 9:00 p.m. through Palm Sunday Please keep in prayer the deceased, especially Mary Despot. May perpetual light shine upon her. VOCATION CRUCIFIX Please prayerfully consider bringing the Vocation Crucifix into your home to pray with your family that we all answer God s vocation call for us, whether it be to the priesthood, religious, married or single life. The Bokman Family received the Vocation Crucifix this weekend. Do you have an extra hour or two every once in a while to help wash and iron linens for the parish? We occasionally could use a hand washing and ironing tablecloths and/or chair covers. If you think you would be willing to take on a small and infrequent load, please give Chris a call at the parish office 330-644-2225. She is going to try and put together a list of volunteers to call upon when the need arises. Laundering, ironing, and folding instructions will be included. AS WAS STATED IN FR. BLINE S ARTICLE Bishop Daniel Thomas has issued a decree giving dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on the memorial of St. Patrick, celebrated this Friday, March 17, 2017.
Here s What s Happening Around the Parish This Week Sunday, March 12 - Play Practice, 12:30-4:30 p.m. (Gym) - Cub Scouts, 12:30-2:00 p.m. (Refectory) - Youth Group, 7-9:00 p.m. (Upper Room) Monday, March 13 - Avila Holy Hour after the 8:15 morning Mass - PSR, 7-8:00 p.m. - Men s Scripture Study, 7-8:00 p.m. (VHM) Tuesday, March 14 - Women s Book Study, 9-11:00 a.m. (VHM) - Play Practice, 3-4:30 p.m. (Gym) - Choir Practice, 7-9:00 p.m. - Pro-Life Meeting, 7:00 p.m. (Queen of Heaven Parish Life Center) - RCIA, 7:15 p.m. (Upper Room) - Parish Pastoral Council, 7:15 p.m. (VHM) Wednesday, March 15 - Diocesan-wide Evening of Reconciliation, 5-8:00 p.m. - AA/Al-Anon, 7:30 p.m. (Refectory) Thursday, March 16 - Widows of Faith Hope and Charity, 9-11:00 a.m. (Upper Room) Saturday, March 18 - Men s Scripture Study, 7-8:15 a.m. (Upper Room) -Play Practice 12:30-4:30 p.m. (Gym) Sunday, March 19 - Play Practice, 12:30-4:30 p.m. (Gym) - Boy Scouts, 5-6:30 p.m. (Refectory) - Parish Mission, 7:00 p.m. (Church) LECTIO Eucharist Bible and Video Study Groups: Tuesday 7:15 p.m. Refectory Wednesday 1:00 p.m. Coutts Home Thursday 12:30 p.m. Upper Room 7:15 p.m. VHM 60+ CLUB On Monday, March 20 th at 1:00 p.m. in the Upper Room, the 60+ Club will welcome parishioner, usher, and restaurateur Mr. John Menches. John will share the story of his culinary roots and trace back to his greatgrandfather, Charles Menches, who is widely credited as the inventor of The Hamburg as we know it today. After his presentation, we ll have dinner at Menches Brothers in Green. No RSVP necessary. Questions? Give Fran a call at 330-606-0327. Last week was truly a grace-filled time at St. Francis de Sales Parish. Our First Communicants grew in love of the Eucharist at their First Communion Retreat, our Confirmation Candidates and Sponsors celebrated the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at their Spirit Day, and our RCIA Elect and Candidates travelled to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland, to participate in The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process through which adults and young people join, or complete their initiation into the Catholic Church. RCIA is for three groups of people: those who are not baptized, those who were Baptized into another non-catholic Christian denomination and wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, and Baptized Catholics who were never formed in the Catholic faith and have not received the two final Sacraments of Initiation: Confirmation and the Eucharist. The journey of the RCIA candidate does not follow a set time frame, but instead one that follows the promptings of the Holy Spirit. During this time they consider how God is speaking to them. Scripture is prayed over, faith formation sessions are shared, they ponder what life changes are needed to fully and faithfully respond to God s call to conversion and, finally, what initiation in the Catholic Church truly means. We currently have 11 people praying over their call to the Roman Catholic Church, 51 candidates for First Holy Communion and 43 candidates for Confirmation. While the Lenten Season is a call to all the faithful to a deeper and more meaningful commitment to our Catholic Faith, may we also use this time to extend our prayer to our brothers and sisters who are encountering the faith in new ways; that they may know and appreciate God s purpose in each of their lives and understand His undying love for them. Happy and Holy Lent, Kathleen Newell Ott Director of Faith Formation
A REGIONAL WOMEN S RETREAT L I V I N G W I T H THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION SATURDAY, MARCH 25 9AM-3PM S T. FRANCIS DE SALES PARIS H 4019 M anches ter Rd. A k r on, OH 44319 Inspiring talks, Adoration, Confession, and fellowship with sisters in Christ Registration and information: stfparish.com (click retreat link) Registration deadline: Friday, March 17 Cost: $15 (includes light breakfast and lunch) Questions: therese@stfparish.com or 330.644.2225 WOMEN S RETREAT REGISTRATION FORM - DEADLINE FRIDAY, MARCH 17 Name Email address (print clearly) Phone Parish City of parish Mail form and check for $15 written to St. Francis de Sales Parish with Women s Retreat on memo line to: Mary Wagner, 171 Townes End Dr., Wadsworth, OH 44281 May place form and check in envelope labeled Women s Retreat and drop in collection basket or take to parish office.
This past week we finished up our IOWA and CoGat testing for the 2016-2017 school year. Traditionally, our students always perform well on these achievement tests and we are confident we will see continued success when we receive the results of this year s testing. I am so proud of the efforts of our teachers to prepare our students to perform well academically on a regular basis. They are consistently looking to infuse traditional teaching methods with new best practices. Most recently, our 5-8 teachers visited the New London School District to observe seasoned teachers using Student Centered Learning strategies, as well as technology in a blended learning classroom, to improve academic growth among their students. Our teachers left their professional development day feeling recharged and ready to get back in the classroom and implement some of the strategies they saw. I am confident that because our teachers are models of lifelong learning themselves, our students perform as well as they do on a yearly basis. I am equally proud of all of the successes of our students! Not only have they represented St. Francis de Sales well in the classroom, on standardized testing and in national contests such as the Noetic Math Contest, they have also represented us well on the playing field. Much like our teachers in the classroom, our Falcon athletes are under the direction of some wonderful volunteer parents from our school community. They have taught our students to treat each opponent and official with respect and kindness all while being tough competitors. You can always catch the athletic accomplishments of our students on our Facebook page, but I would like to recognize the recent accomplishments of our 7th grade boys and girls basketball teams who were named CYO champions in their division. Also, our awesome cheerleaders were named champions during the cheer competition on Sunday, March 5. As a parish and school community we are blessed to have such wonderful leaders and models for our students, and equally blessed to have well-rounded, Christ-centered students who excel in so much! In His Glory, Kathryn Buzzelli, Principal MARCH 12, 2017 7-9:00 p.m. in the Upper Room Join us as we explore the truth about the Mass! Father Thomas will lead our discussion and will answer YOUR questions! ALL STUDENTS GRADES 8-12 INVITED! AS USUAL, WE WILL END OUR EVENING WITH COMPLINE. All are welcome to join us in Church at 9:00 p.m. Contact Shirley Clark with questions 330-412-9241/ sclark.sfds@gmail.com Widows of On Thursday morning, March 16 th at 9:00 in the Upper Room, Father Bline will share with us Widowhood From a Son s Perspective. It will be a thoughtful and insightful viewpoint. Join us for coffee, snack and fellowship. See you there. Questions? Call Jan Dodson at 330-620-2036. ST. BERNARD HOT MEAL PROGRAM This Wednesday, March 15, St. Francis de Sales Parish will partner with Our Lady of Victory to prepare and serve a nutritious meal to the poor in body and spirit of Akron. Volunteers should plan to arrive at 4:00 that afternoon at the St. Bernard s social hall and the evening will end by 7:00. Questions may be directed to our parish coordinator, Denise Howell at 330-472-2273. The Prayer Shawl Ministry for our cluster parishes will meet this Tuesday, March 14 th at 10:00 a.m. at Nativity of the Lord Jesus Church. Please remember to bring your completed shawls for blessing, your current shawl to work on and any left over yarn to share with others as we celebrate God s love and blessings. Com join us as we gather to pray, crochet, and knit prayer shawls. New members are always welcome. Call Ginny at 330-644- 4132 or Barb at 330-699-4769 with any questions.
St. Francis de Sales Parish Mission I Will Give You a New Heart March 19, 20, 21 7:05 p.m. Talk Titles: Sunday Night: You Are Not Heartless Monday Night: Our Hearts in a Heart Broken World Tuesday Night: Cor ad Cor (Jesus Heart to My Heart) Consider coming for all or part of this years Parish Mission. Your heart will never be the same! " with Father Ryan Mann Parochial Vicar, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Parma, Ohio Enjoy one of the free presentations by our school students. They work so hard and you wouldn t believe their talent! Your heart will be truly lightened! #
REQUEST FOR 2016 FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT NAME ADDRESS CITY/ZIP CODE ENVELOPE # HOME PHONE # CELL PHONE # Please place this completed form in the collection basket and your statement will be mailed to you. CATHOLIC RADIO AM 1060 and FM 94.5 Catholic Radio The Living Bread Radio Network on-air pledge drive on March 14-16 will bring you special programming and an opportunity to pledge your support to keep Catholic radio on the air, on the web, and on your phone as they increase their programming. Have you heard the Catholic Challenge Quiz Show at noon on Saturdays and Sundays? Call in your pledge to 888-966-2093 or donate online at www.livingbreadradio.com. Street Evangelization Training Ever wanted to share your Catholic faith with others, but didn t know how to get the conversation started? Come learn how! St. Paul Street Evangelization provides a nonconfrontational avenue for you to share Jesus Christ and the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith with a hungry culture. We have developed a practical method for breaking the ice and asking some simple questions to quickly determine where a person is in their faith journey. This method provides you with a road map of how the conversation will go and how to plant seeds by sharing your own personal experiences to help the person move to the next step. Basic Evangelization training will be held from 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. here at St. Francis de Sales on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Space is limited so sign up today. Register by going to www.streetevangelization.com and clicking our link under Upcoming Workshops or by scanning this QR code: Registration closes April 29 th. Additional information may be obtained by giving Mike Powers a call at 330-618-7688 or email him at 2016.spse@gmail.com. LOYOLA RETREAT HOUSE Upcoming Retreats: The Passion of Jesus April 7-9, 2017, Abbot Clement Zeleznik, OSB Contact Loyola at 330-896-2315 for details Arise: Good Things Radio Retreat (Women) April 20-23, 2017, Father Nathan Cromly Contact Betty at 330-958-3903 for details LENTEN PRAYER OPPORTUNITY: THE GREAT CANON OF ST. ANDREW OF CRETE Join the nuns of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery in a deeply moving, once-a-year Lenten experience on Wednesday, March 29 th at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 1900 Carlton Road, Parma, Ohio. The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete takes us on a journey through the entire Bible, placing us in the shoes of the penitents of the Old and New Testaments and teaching us from their examples. The hundreds of prostrations unite our body and soul as we repent of our sins and experience God s mercy. We will also listen to the life of St. Mary of Egypt and venerate her relic. The opportunity for the Mystery of Holy Repentance (Confession) will also be available. A simple Lenten meal will be served 5:00-5:45 p.m. and the Canon will begin at 6:00 p.m. All are invited to come for part or all of the Canon, even if you are not physically able to participate in the prostrations. The duration of the Canon is approximately 3.5 hours. Please RSVP by Friday, March 24 to 440-834-0290 or christthebridegroom@gmail.com so the nuns can know how much food and how many booklets to prepare.
THEY RE ALWAYS HERE Stop by the Rectory or school during office hours to purchase gift cards for the following: Acme Aeropostale Amazon Applebee's Arby's Babies R Us Banana Republic Barnes & Noble Bath & Body Works Bed Bath & Beyond Best Buy Bob Evans Bonefish Grill Bravo Buehler s Burger King Carrabba Grill Chili's Bar & Grill Chipotle Cinemark Circle K Claire's Cracker Barrel CVS Dick's Sporting Goods Dillards Dunkin Donuts Fleming's Game Stop Gander Mountain The Gap GFS Giant Eagle Handel s Ice Cream Home Depot HomeGoods Honeymoon Grille itunes JCPenney Jo-Ann Fabrics Kohl's Longhorn Steakhouse Lowe's Macaroni Grill Macy's Marathon Marshall s Menches Brothers Michael's Old Navy Olive Garden Outback Steakhouse Panera Pat Catan's PF Chang's Pier 1 Imports Pizza Hut Red Robin Red Lobster Regal Cinema Ross Dress for Less Sam's Club Sears Sheetz Spaghetti Warehouse Speedway Starbucks Steak 'n Shake Subway Sunoco Taco Bell Target TGIFridays Tinseltown Theaters TJ Maxx Toys R Us Walgreen's Walmart Wendy's Whole Foods