The following is a letter from our Pastor, Fr. Dan Redmond on the occasion of Palm Sunday.

This week I have started doing a video of a program I do for the school children each week. It is called D.O.G. Discover our God. Attached is what I put together for Holy week. Hopefully it will help you navigate all of the liturgical celebrations that we would have been a part of. - Deacon Larry Boehnlein

Today (April 2, 2020) Governor Mike DeWine extended the executive “Stay at Home Order” to continue to curb the spread of the Coronavirus in the State of Ohio. Out of deep concern for the common good, as well as the physical and spiritual well-being of all the people of Ohio, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio have agreed once again to cooperate with the governor’s direction. To that end, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio extend the temporary suspension of all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies at least through and including Sunday May 3rd. Click title for complete article.

As we prepare for Holy Week one of our traditions is the blessing of palms on Palm Sunday. Since we cannot celebrate public masses Fr Redmond has blessed the palms that we would have given out and they are available for you to pick up in the gathering space of the church.

The following is the Letter of our Pastor, Fr. Redmond, to the Parish Family on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

We have found it necessary for the health of all involved to postpone the St Helens / St Marys preCana day event originally scheduled for March 28th. We did not take this action lightly, and intend to reschedule the day for a time yet to be determined. We are looking at dates in June. Please read entire article!

The following is the Letter of our Pastor, Fr. Redmond, to the Parish Family on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

St. Mary Chardon will have "order from your car" takeout dinners available this Friday from 4:30-7:00. Please pull in the back parking lot for directions. Adult dinners include cod, shrimp, pierogies, steamed vegetables, soup, salad and coleslaw. Kids meals include pizza, pierogies, salad and pudding.

"I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go." – Joshua 1:9 As you can imagine, COVID-19 has greatly impacted our weekly collections. With Masses cancelled through Easter, automated giving will help your Parish pay the bills.

After serious consideration of the grave health risk involved in public gatherings and in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the bishops of Ohio have decided, effective immediately, to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday.

In an effort to safeguard the faithful now that the coronavirus (COVID-19) has emerged in Northeast Ohio, the liturgical changes contained in this article will take effect immediately, until further notice.

On March 12, 2020 the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ohio issued a letter in response to Governor DeWine's executive order regarding large gatherings. Although the Governor excluded churches in the order, the letter dispenses the Catholic faithful in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass for the weekends of March 14-15, March 21-22 and March 28-29. The letter follows in this article.

Due to Governor Dewine’s request to limit public gatherings, this week’s fish fry (Friday, March 13th) will be take-out only! We feel it is very important to do our part to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. The menu and prices are listed in the article. Thank you.

This Wednesday, March 11, 2020, our parish and all of the parishes in the Diocese will offer “An Evening of Confession” from 5:00 pm -8:00 pm. Parishioners are asked to evangelize by inviting family or friends who are away from the Church to join in this special Lenten practice. Priests at all parishes will be present for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. More information is available at welcomecatholics.com.

As we begin this Lenten season please consider singing with our 10:00 a,m. choir. We urgently need singers to help make this Lent and Easter season a celebration of our hope in Christ. You can call or text me at 440-477-0654 Thank you for giving of your time and your talent. Joseph Trivisonno

Come join us on Thursday, March 12th for our annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at 5:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria. RSVP’s are necessary. We need volunteers to make corned beef and cabbage. Please bring either an appetizer or dessert to share. (Turn in your receipt to be reimbursed for the cost of the meat.) Non-members cost is $5 per person. Members can pay their dues on this evening.Call Peggy at 440-724-1866 or Joe at 440-821-1926 to make your reservations.

Pancakes and More!!!! St. Mary Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast will be held on Sunday, March 15- 8:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Adults $8—Kids under 5 -free - Kids 6-12—$4. We will offer real Maple Syrup, all you can eat Buttermilk, Blueberry and Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, and Bacon, juice and coffee.

The next book discussion continuing on "30 Days with St. Teresa of Avila" will be after the March WOW mtg., on Sat., 3/14. WOW begins at 9:15 a.m. in the Hospitality Room until around a little after 10 a.m. We hope to see you there! There is so much going on at St. Mary for Lent that WOW decided to have our spring retreat in May. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 16. More details will be coming soon

As a reminder, Confirmation Spirit Day Retreat dates are March 7th and March 8th (depending on your specified date). Students are to report in the school lobby at 9 AM. Each day will end with 4:30 PM Mass, approximately 5:30 PM. Parents are welcome to attend Mass. Any concerns, please call the PSR Office.

Friendship Breakfast will be held next Sunday, March 1, 2020 following the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Masses. Please join us for coffee, juice, donuts and fellowship.