I am excited to begin my ministry with you! I will be on vacation this week to help me prepare for the transition to come to Chardon and Thompson, so my first day with you will be Wednesday, August 4. It’s a great day to start this new assignment with you since it's the feast day of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests!

It is with joy and gratitude that we announce Bishop Malesic’s appointment of Fr. Scott Goodfellow as the new administrator/pastor of St. Mary and St. Patrick Parishes beginning August 1, 2021. Fr. Goodfellow grew up in Avon Lake, Ohio, and has been ordained a priest for seven years. He has served as parochial vicar at Ss. Robert and William Parish in Euclid, and most recently as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Hudson. Please keep our parish in prayer during this time of transition. More information will be provided over the following weeks as we make ready for Fr. Goodfellow’s arrival.

As I have shared with many of you, being the interim administrator at St. Mary Parish has been a joyful experience and renewing for my priesthood. It is a privilege to celebrate Eucharist with you, offer forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and gently pray for your loved ones who are journeying home to heaven.

“I am a priceless treasure. God knows me. God hears me. God is my comfort. I am His and there’s nothing better. Forgiven and chosen forever and ever.” These words summarize the Gospel we hear this weekend of Jesus healing the afflicted woman and the daughter of Jairus.

Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” (Mark 4:40) These words of Jesus in the Gospel this weekend should challenge us when our hopes and expectations do not go as we had planned. Maybe, like the disciples, we were looking forward to peacefully cruising along in our life, and a storm comes up which changes our direction and focus.

The Gospel this weekend presents the image of the Kingdom of God as a small mustard seed, which grows into an abundant place of safety and protection for all the birds of the air. As I continue to meet many of you and to witness your generosity and kindness, I am reminded that in large and small ways you are fulfilling this Gospel by making our parish a place where many can find safety and rest for their souls.

Dear ladies of the parish, high school age and up, please join us for the next gathering of the Women of the Well Prayer Group. Due to a scheduling conflict, the June meeting will take place on Saturday, June 5th at 9:15 AM in the Hospitality Room. We hope that you join us!

Over the past two weeks I have been privileged to meet many of you, celebrate the Holy Eucharist with you, and to continue to pray for Father Redmond that he is enjoying the light and peace of our merciful God in heaven.

You will see some changes at St Mary as we return to a new and hopefully better normal environment in our operation and liturgies. In the weeks ahead we want to make certain that our members who feel at all uncomfortable will still have the opportunity to maintain distancing, wear masks and have a clean space to worship.

Together, the Bishops of Ohio have decided that the general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (including the Saturday/Vigil Mass) is to be reinstated (CIC, can. 1247). This will take effect in each of the Dioceses of Ohio the weekend of June 5-6, 2021.

It is with much sadness that I write this letter. Sunday evening, May 9, Fr. Dan Redmond was found deceased in the rectory. At the time of this writing we do not know the cause of death or what the arrangements will be. Fr. Dan was a great asset to both St. Mary and St. Patrick parishes.

Please click here for the complete details regarding the wake and funeral of Fr. Dan Redmond.

It is with heavy hearts to announce that Fr. Dan Redmond passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9th, 2021. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his family. Once funeral arrangements are finalized, they will be announced here. Please stay tuned to this page for further updates.

“Motherhood involves a special communion with the mystery of life, as it develops in the mother’s womb. The mother is filled with wonder at this mystery of life, and ‘understands’ with unique intuition what is happening inside her..."

The following article is an update of the Heart of a Shepherd campaign.

I would like to once again offer my sincere congratulations to all of our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Monday evening. It was a privilege for me to serve as the minister of the sacrament. While no Bishop or Abbot was available for the date of April 26, 2021, Bishop Malesic gave all the Priests of the Diocese the faculty to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation last year after he was installed as Bishop of Cleveland.

The Liturgical Ministry Schedule (for Lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) for the period of May 1 through June 30, 2021 is now available for viewing, downloading, and printing. To access the schedule, click this news story or go to www.stmarychardon.org/ministry-schedules.

Each week as we continue on our Easter journey the scripture readings reveal more of the struggles the disciples had, trying to make sense of Christ’s Passion, death and Resurrection.

In honor of the Year of St, Joseph, the WOW Prayer Group would like to encourage fellow parishioners to join us in a novena leading up to the May 1st Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The novena is prayed for nine days, Thursday, April 22 - Friday, April 30. Then, on May 1st, be sure to enjoy the Feast Day and pray this prayer again in celebration!

This Series is focused on bringing the Young Mother’s of the Catholic Community together in an effort to engage a deeper relationship with Jesus and the Church. This series will be aimed at accomplishing this through a 6-month journey to six local Shrines in the area.