Dear Parish Family,

“God did not make death.” This stark opening line from our first reading is answered at the end of that same passage: “By the envy of the devil, death entered the world.” God made us to live eternally with Him, through Him, and in Him. By enticing us to sin, the devil knew we would die because of our disconnection from God, the source of eternal life. Thanks be to God that He refashioned even death to achieve a twofold end: (1) to put an end to sin and (2) to open back up the way to eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Wherever the evil one puts up an insurmountable roadblock, God will always find a way in Christ to lead us back to Him!
 
Angel Scholarship Fund Results
Thank you to all who invested in our Angel Scholarship Fund (ASF)! I’m happy to announce that as of April 15 we had over $265,000 contributed to assist with tuition assistance at St. Mary School! We had $196,000 contributed by December 31, 2023, and the April 15 extension brought in another $65,000 that people used to get the tax credit in 2023. I am also proud to say that St. Patrick Parish was responsible for investing $35,000 towards our total! For a parish that is about one tenth the size of St. Mary's, this is incredible. Thank you, St. Patrick and St. Mary families, for your support! Let's keep up the good work and raise over $300,000 with this year's ASF!
 
Contributions to ASF are open year-round, and you can certainly take advantage of investing in ASF this Summer while it’s on your heart and mind. You will receive a dollar for dollar tax credit off what you owe on your 2024 state income tax, up to $750 per individual or $1,500 for a married couple filing jointly. Through this tax credit scholarship program, the State of Ohio allows you as the taxpayer to choose to invest your tax money into tuition scholarships at the school of your choice.   
 
Catholic Charities Annual Appeal Results
I am happy to announce that we met our parish goal for Catholic Charities! We raised $70,000 and are at 144% of our $48,000 parish goal. Thank you for commitment to assisting our brothers in sisters in need throughout the Cleveland Diocese!
 
Our parish office will be closed this Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day. We have Mass at our usual 8:45 am time.

I am yours in Christ,
Fr. Scott Goodfellow