Thank you for your prayers for Fr. Spisak's and my silent retreats. While he is back this weekend, I am still on my silent retreat until Tuesday afternoon. As I write this bulletin in advance of my leaving for retreat, I trust that the Lord has done and will continue to do great things for us as we give Him the space and time to minister to our hearts. God blesses His priests so that they may bless His people. Please let us know how our retreats went as you receive the effects of them in the year ahead!

We are moving into the heart of the Fall Season, and isn't it beautiful! Praise God for the colors of His creation! I am grateful to God every day for the gift of being called to be your shepherd. Thank you for your commitment to our parish family as we grow closer to God day by day. I invite you to be attentive to some of the following events taking place in the days and weeks ahead.

Please join us for a Memorial Mass of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3rd. The Mass will honor all the deceased of the parish from the preceding year. Their names are inscribed in the Book of the Dead, which will be displayed in a place of honor in the church throughout the month of November. All are invited to come and remember the recently deceased as well as loved ones lost in previous years.

As we enter into the heart of October, I am grateful for this month being Respect Life month and being dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Mary received the author of life in her womb, and remained closely united to Him through His life, death, and resurrection. She experienced in her life the full flavor of human joy and sorrow.

Please consider joining us for the Our Lady of Fatima Eucharistic Holy Hour, led by Fr. Scott Goodfellow. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 5th, at 7 PM in the church. It will include Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, Recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. In a special way, we will continue to remember the late Fr. Daniel Redmond. Please send any prayer requests to FatimaPrayers1917@gmail.com.

It’s with great sadness that we learned about the death of Bishop Anthony M. Pilla on Tuesday, September 21. Bishop Pilla was a faithful shepherd in our Cleveland Diocese for many years. He never ceased reminding his flock in Cleveland, “You are good people.” He had a deep spiritual wisdom that saw all people as good as God created them to be. While sin can smear that image of God’s goodness in us, it can never fully wipe it away.

Since the diocesan women's retreat will be held on Oct. 9th, the October WOW meeting has been changed to Saturday, Oct. 16th at 9:15 a.m. in the Hospitality Room. Also, please save the date of Dec. 4th for a WOW Advent Morning of Prayer. We hope to see you on Oct. 16th!

Every year, “America Needs Fatima” organizes thousands of Public Square Rosary Rallies across the nation to pray for America and the conversion of sinners, as Our Lady of Fatima requested. Their goal is to have 20,000 groups across America sign up to pray. Our goal is to join this mighty cause to help win back the heart and soul of America for Mary by spreading Our Lady’s Fatima message and promoting devotion to Her Immaculate Heart. Please join us! 

Happy start to a new Fall season! I'd like to draw your attention to a few items this week.  An Invite to the Life Teen Kickoff at St. Mary’s. I would like to invite all St. Mary’s teens to consider joining the Life Teen Youth Ministry at St. Mary’s.

“ You're missing the point, guys." Jesus tells His disciples how He is going to die, and the next thing they do is argue over who is the greatest among them. I think deep down they know that if they understand what it truly means to follow Him, they will suffer with Him. “

This weekend we remember the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks upon our nation. Please pray in a special way for those who died, their families who continue to deal with the trauma of loss, healing in our nation, and for our world's conversion to a respect for all human life from conception to natural death.

Happy Labor Day Weekend! I hope you enjoy the extended weekend and rest from our daily labors. Although at times it may not feel so, work is actually a gift from God. Work perfects us as it glorifies God through our deeds, and it makes us contributors with the Lord in building the Kingdom of God in our world. May this Labor Day help us unite all of our works with the work of God.

The latest information from federal, state and local public health agencies informs us that the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is surging in our area, causing increased illness and hospitalizations at levels not seen since the spring. For the safety of all who worship at Catholic parishes throughout the Diocese of Cleveland, I strongly encourage you -- whether vaccinated or not vaccinated -- to wear a face mask while attending Mass indoors.

After this week, I'll have been assigned here at the parish for a whole month. I feel so blessed by God to be with you. Time is flying as I immerse myself in parish life. Please continue to help me get to know you by reminding me your first and last name, something interesting about yourself, or a ministry you're involved in at the parish. That will help me make connections and settle in.

   I can't believe we're heading towards the end of summer already! School has already begun for some of our families. In fact, this Monday is the first day of school for our St. Mary School students and teachers. We warmly welcome them back and look forward to the life and joy they bring to our parish.

I began to share a bit about the development of my vocation in last week's bulletin, and I would like to conclude that story in this week's bulletin as I look at my time in seminary formation and early years of priesthood.

Dear ladies, high school age and older, WOW meets this Saturday, August 14th in the Hospitality Room. Please come by 9 a.m. this month as we have a special guest stopping in at 9:15 a.m. Thank you! We hope that you will join us.

As we continue to hear from the Bread of Life discourse in John 6 this weekend and next, I am mindful of Jesus relating His identity as Priest and Shepherd. As you come to know me as your priest and shepherd in Christ, I want to share a little about my own call to priesthood and desire to serve God and His people. The guiding thread through my story (and yours) is that remaining in relationship with Christ deepens our identity in Him and prepares us for His mission.

As I begin my time with you this week, I am grateful to God for His call to come to Chardon and Thompson, for your prayers which are sustaining me in the midst of my transition, and for the work of our Interim Administrator, Fr. Andy Turner, in leading our parish communities faithfully through a time of loss.

Dear ladies of the parish, high school age and older, please join us for the next gathering of the Women of the Well Prayer Group. We meet on Saturday, Aug. 14th, in the Hospitality Room at 9:15 a.m. We hope that you will join us.