Today marks the 3rd Sunday of the season of Lent. We are half way to the beginning of Holy Week and, perhaps, this is a good time to reflect on how we have or have not embraced this holy season. If we have been faithful to our resolutions and experienced a deepening of our prayer life, let’s give thanks and praise to God! If we have struggled with prayer, fasting and almsgiving, let’s not get discouraged or be tempted to give up on this sacred time!

Dear Parish Family,   The Diocese of Cleveland has instructed all of its parishes to participate in “The Called For More Pilot” program from the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI). CLI received a grant from the Lilly Endowment to pilot a new process for supporting priests and parishes in thriving in ministry. By gathering information about each priest and each parish, the pilot seeks to give parishioners more awareness about the needs and opportunities of their local community...

This weekend, February 20-21, is the Parish Appeal Weekend for the Annual Catholic Appeal for the Diocese of Cleveland.

Dear Parish Family,  I would like to congratulate all of the children of our parish who recently celebrated the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation for the first time. I am grateful for their families, their teachers and catechists as well as our Religious Education staff and volunteers. Let’s keep them in our prayers as they prepare for their First Holy Communion...

The Gospel for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary time is from Mark 1:21-28. Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Jonah (Jonah 3:1-5, 10) was a reluctant prophet. He was called by God to preach against the city of Nineveh because, “their wickedness has come up before me.” Instead, Jonah attempted to run away from his divine commission. He boarded a ship, was cast overboard and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and sent on his way to Nineveh, the traditional enemy of Israel.

I am pleased to announce that St. Mary Parish in Chardon will be hosting its annual Lenten Parish Mission on Monday, February 22nd, Tuesday, February 23rd and Wednesday, February 24th from 7:00-8:15 p.m. each evening. “The Faith and Real Life Parish Mission” will be presented by Mr. Greg Wasinski, an internationally known Catholic speaker.

  This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. By our baptism, we are all called to be holy. We are called to share our time, talent and treasure to make Christ known, loved and served in our world. Ultimately, we are made by God and for God to know, love and serve him in this life so as to be with God forever in the heavenly kingdom.

As we begin a New Year, the Solemnity of the Epiphany calls us to be people of hope. Certainly, that theological virtue has been tested over the last 10 months with the Coronavirus. Still, today’s readings emphasize the need to embrace that virtue perhaps more than ever.

Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This Christmas season, like this past year, is unlike any that any in our lifetimes. While normal family gatherings may be curtailed, our faith in Christ reminds us that we are members of God’s family as His children. This holy season also draws our attention to the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Click the title above for a special Christmas Message from Fr. Dan Redmond.

This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. This Sunday is known as “Gaudete (“rejoice ye”) Sunday.” This day is a day to be reminded that, in the midst of a penitential season, we are to rejoice that Christ will come again.

  The Second Sunday of Advent presents us with the person of St. John the Baptist. Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 1:1-8 tells us that, “John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: ‘One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

Join us this Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 PM for a Eucharistic Adoration Hour. It will be held in the Church. All are welcome!

  This Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, formerly referred to as "Christ the King," was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.

On Tuesday, November 10th, Fr. Spisak had hip replacement surgery. He will be away from the parish until January 11, 2021. While he is away, Fr. Jim Bretzke, S.J. from John Carroll University will be helping our parish with Mass on the weekends. I am thankful to him for his assistance. During the weekdays, our parish will experience some changes.

Jesus tells us to “stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”  In these final weeks of Ordinary Time, the Church reminds us of the need to be prepared for the coming of the Lord.  The parable in this Sunday’s Gospel comes to us from Matthew 25:1-13.  There are five wise virgins and five foolish virgins.  The ones who were wise brought flasks of oil along with their lamps.  The foolish ones brought no oil along with their lamps.  They had to leave to buy oil and were locked out of the wedding feast.  The bridegroom had arrived for the wedding feast while they were gone. 

   This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. The Church sets aside the first day of November to honor all those who have been welcomed into the heavenly kingdom. All Souls Day, November 2nd, is a day to remember those who have died but have not yet entered into the heavenly kingdom. These are the poor souls in purgatory.

Join us, in person, for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, on Thursday, November 5th, at 7:00 PM in the Church.

The following link is a link to a special message on the upcoming election from Bishop Edward Malesic, Bishop of Cleveland. You will be taken to the article, located on the Diocese of Cleveland website.