Christmas Alleluia at My Parish, St. Mary's in Painesville, Ohio

Christmas Alleluia at St. Mary’s Painesville

On Tuesday, December 15^th, at 8 PM, I drove to St. Mary’s to pick up my wife, who was finishing up teaching her PSR catechism class. St. Mary’s has a very fine PSR program, directed by Dr. Shanon Sterringer, and made possible by many dedicated teachers. At the end of class, several of the 8-10 year old Latino students in my wife’s class asked to be excused to go next door to the Fr. Hanzo Center, where the Posados celebration was beginning. This is an ancient religious novena, 9 evenings, celebrated in parts of Mexico, Central and South America, and in a few communities in the United States—including Painesville, Ohio. To my astonishment, there was a procession of about 100 people, led by children dressed as Mary and Joseph, some people carrying candles, and almost everyone singing. The song was a dialogue between Mary and Joseph, desperately seeking shelter, and innkeepers, who responded that there was no more room. What a wonderful celebration of our faith—right here at St. Mary’s in Painesville, Ohio.

At the very moment this was taking place, members of several churches and St. Mary’s, including our music ministry, were holding a Christmas sing-along/liturgy in the Lake County Jail. They were meeting three large groups of imprisoned men and women—singing and praying with them, being with them, bringing comfort and companionship and the beauty of our Christianity to those who have temporarily lost their freedom.

These were three of the activities going on, almost simultaneously, in our parish, a community that is answering the call of Pope Francis for mercy, reconciliation, and celebration. Our parish is singing out, loud and clear, a Christmas Alleluia!

The Beautiful Hymn "Day of Peace," by Janet Sullivan Whitaker

The children's choir at St. Mary's Painesville often sings the beautiful hymn "Day of Peace" at communion time. It is so poignant when children sing this wistful song. Above all we want our children to live in peace. St. Mary's music director, Mary Ann Ratchko-Gamez, does a wonderful job selecting songs and directing the children's choir (not to mention her outstanding flute and Irish whistle playing).

Here is a Youtube performance of this hymn:

Remembering My Mom--November 10, 1923-December 8, 2003

Dad and Mom, August 1947. Willoughby, Ohio

The Gift

This chilly, foggy December 8^th morning,

Twelve years after your peaceful passing into a new life . . .

We remember you, Mom.

You our protector, the one who loved us and cared for us

In good times and bad.

I remember your brood, all siting on the davenport

A winter’s night in the early ‘60s,

Dad working the hated second trick at Fisher Body,

We watching some silly tv show, The Real McCoys,

Seventy-Seven Sunset Strip, Lawrence Welk—for God’s sake.

The whole crew snuggling next to you, Bobby, Denny,

Mary Ellen, Kevin, Jimmy.

Denny and Mary Ellen

Brushing your beautiful hair.

Jimmy and Kevin playing with their toys—

Hand-me-downs to hand-me-downs—they didn’t mind a bit.

Bobby making fudge, the great family treat,

You taking a call from "Duty," from Julia, your blood sister,

Sister of your deep heart.

Skip, your beloved brother, dropping by, out of the blue,

Unannounced, perfectly welcome.

By 9:30 or 10, all your brood put to bed,

You wait for Dad to come home from work.

We sleep deeply, the way children do,

Confident in the security and love

You have given us—

Precious gift beyond calculation.

The crew (minus Baby Jimmy). With neighbors Buster and Jackie Zylowski.

Susie Brock and Mom, 1957.

First Communion party, cicrca 1955 or '57.

Skip, Mom, Uncle Don--circa 1940.

Bobby, Denny, Mary Ellen. circa 1954.

Mom, Mary Ellen, Jimmy. Circa 1960.

So many relatives gone! Circa 1980?

Look how happy everyone was!

"Just Thoughts" for December 6, 2015

Krista and Ed Zivkovich have submitted this "Just thoughts" essay for the December 6, 2015 bulletin of St. Mary's parish in Painesville, Ohio:

Just Thoughts

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."  Gandhi

In his encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis called for a global effort to combat climate change.  This week and next, representatives from over 190 countries are attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris to discuss actions which could ultimately result in less greenhouse gas emissions that harm our planet, causing rising sea levels and temperatures with potentially devastating effects around the world.  Pope Francis wrote,"A global consensus is essential for confronting the deeper problems, which cannot be resolved by unilateral actions on the part of individual countries."

While heads of state, representatives of nations, scientists and others address this critical issue, Pope Francis reminds us,"Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience." (217).  We all have a stake in and responsibility to care for our planet Earth. Following are 4 challenges from Pope Francis' encyclical prepared by the Archdiocese of Washington that are especially appropriate during this Advent season of waiting and reflecting.

1.     Celebrate Beauty - "See nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness...The world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise."  Action: Take time to be outside! Find the natural beauty in your community, and in doing so offer thanks to God for the beauty of all created things, including one another."

2.     Live in a Global Community - "We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it." (229).  Action: Make a commitment this week to serve the needs of the poor in a concrete way."

3.     Slow Down & Unplug - "Inner peace is closely related to care for ecology and for the common good because, lived out authentically, it is reflected in a balanced lifestyle together with a capacity for wonder which takes us to a deeper understanding of life. Nature is filled with words of love, but how can we listen to them amid constant noise..." (225). Action: Find time each day, especially on Sunday's, for quiet moments to talk with and listen to God.

4.     Practice Small Acts of Love - "St. Therese of Lisieux invites us to practice the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness." (230).  Action: Practice a new small act of love as a way of living solidarity with those most in need and being a more responsible steward of God's gifts. For example, reuse & recycle, reduce water consumption & electricity use, avoid using plastic bottles and bags.                          

                                                       

Source: Archdiocese of Washington, www.adw.org/creation

Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for December 6, 2015

Ellen McHugh has written the following petitions for this coming Sunday for St. Mary's Parish, Painesville, Ohio:

Prayer of the Faithful for December 6, 2015

Second Sunday of Advent

Celebrant:  As we celebrate our coming together for the Eucharist, let us, dear sisters and brothers, approach the one God to voice all our needs.

·      For all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; that their work may reflect your will in promoting justice and peace.  We pray to the Lord. 

·      We send a fervent prayer for an end to all forms of violence in our country; we pray for peace, comfort and healing to those directly affected by violence.  We pray to the Lord.

·      We pray that in our daily lives we may experience Advent as peacemakers, quick to hear and listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Let our words always speak your truth with compassion.  We pray to the Lord. 

·      For the retired priests of our diocese; we pray for them as St. Paul prayed, “with joy in [our] every prayer for them, because of [their] partnership for the gospel from the first day” of their ordination.  We pray to the Lord.

·      For the most vulnerable among us, for those who feel isolated, for the sick and the dying, for the hungry and the homeless.  May the message of Advent, that God is with us, inspire us to witness His love in those we serve. We pray to the Lord.

·      That we all may be inspired by today’s gospel and our Holy Father’s call “to embrace by grace the way of humility demonstrated by John the Baptizer and find the happiness of heaven - beginning right here on earth.”  We pray to the Lord.

·      And for those for whom this Mass is offered [name them].  We pray to the Lord.

·      Let us pause now and silently offer to the Father our own particular intentions [allow for     silence. . .].  We pray to the Lord.

Celebrant:  Father, we believe that you will hear and respond to our sincere prayers, asked in the name of your Son, and in the power of your Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.