Saint Mary Parish

250 Kraft Street, Berea, Ohio 44017-1499

Rectory: 440-243-3877 • FAX: 440-891-9417 • Website: www.stmaryberea.org

Parish Pastoral Staff

Reverend John P. Singler, Pastor

Reverend Max Cole, Parochial Vicar

Deacon Tom Cully, Pastoral Associate

Ms. Angela Kovacs, Music Director

Parish Support Staff

Mrs. Barbara Goebl, Spiritual Ministries

Mrs. Diana Lipfird, Homebound Coordinator

Mr. John Mastandrea, Adult Faith and Education Coordinator

Mr. Larry Roetzer, Religious Education Coordinator

Mr. Bob Sferra, Sacramental Catechetical Leader

Parish Office Staff

Mrs. Janel Abraham

Mrs. Lorri Masie

School Administrative Staff

Mr. Andrew Carner, Principal

Mrs. Sandi Ziegler, Program Coordinator

Mrs. Nancy Kaesgen, Director of Development

School Office Staff

Mrs. Mary Beth Hennessy

Mrs. Rhonda Johnson

Parish Mass Schedule

Weekday: 9:00am Monday through Friday

Weekend: 4:00pm Saturday Vigil

7:30am, 9:30am, & 11:30am

Holy Day Consult Bulletin

Sacramental Ministries

Baptisms: On Sundays After 11:30am Mass

Reconciliation: Saturdays 3-3:30pm

Seasonal Celebrations

Marriage: Contact Parish Office

Anointing of the Sick: Contact Parish Office

Seasonal Celebration

Communion Calls: Contact Parish Office

Celebrating 165 years of Pastoral Service to the Catholic Community of Berea

Mission Statement

St. Mary is a faith community which worships together, follows the teachings of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives,

evangelizes others by our lives and actions, gives generously of our time and resources in service to others, shows

compassion and love towards one another, provides religious education and works for social justice for all.

1st Sunday of Lent

February 18, 2018

First Sunday of Lent

So here it is, my friends, LENT 2018! It’s all about the purple and the ashes and the overwhelming need

to REPENT and BELIEVE in the GOOD NEWS! So, WHAT Good News will you BE this Lent? WHAT Good News

will you SHARE this LENT? WHAT Good News will you learn and live this LENT?

For many, many years so many of us put on the HAVE TO GIVE UP, NEED TO GIVE UP, MUST GIVE

UP – and then we named things like chocolate, Pepsi, desserts, smoking, beer or alcohol and on and on and then

trudged through the Season of Lent with a kind of attitude, because we had to GIVE UP the stuff we liked, for 40

days! Me too!

So I began to reflect and ask myself and of course all of us; a question

that would explain this HAVE TO GIVE UP attitude is: HOW am I better be-

cause I GAVE UP _________ (and you fill in the blank)? HOW am I better at

the end of the Season if I GAVE UP ___________ (and again, you fill in the

blank)? Phrased in a more positive way; am I BETTER because I didn’t eat

desserts this Lent?

You see, I never made a connection with what I CHOSE to give up –

chocolate or cookies or desserts – with the HOW CAN I BE BETTER after Lent

is over spirit? I never learned about that connection of the three good things

of this Season – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – and only recently learned the

VALUE of making a connection with them and HOW these three TOGETHER

can change my SPIRIT and even make my attitude about the Season better.

I don’t think we’re supposed to be perpetually crabby during Lent, as sometimes I am (we are) when we

go without. But, if we make a wholehearted attempt to CONNECT the three goods of this Season as one THEN

our spirits may change.

So here we go. If I give up sweets (fasting) for the season of Lent and then make my Monday night

Holy Hour (prayer) all about the needy in our world and then make a generous donation

(almsgiving) each week for a particular charity that serves the poor, THEN the spirit of Lent –

that is a CHANGE OF HEART and putting on a RIGHT SPIRIT helps to make a GREAT LENT!

So back to the questions above: So, WHAT Good News will you BE this Lent? WHAT Good

News will you SHARE this LENT? WHAT Good News will you learn and live this LENT?

THANK YOU for your faithfulness and generosity in the Sunday Collection! Grateful LIVING!

Father John

GAME ON Lent 2018

Parish Office closed 2/19/18

in Observance of Presidents

Day.

Sunday February 18 First Sunday of Lent Gn 9:8-15 / 1 Pt 3:18-22 / Mk 1:12-15 (23) 7:30 am For All Parishioners Living and Deceased 9:30 am Margaret Grizzell Gay Grizzell 11:30 pm Bill Ball Family Monday February 19 Lenten Weekday Lv 19:1-2, 11-18 / Mt 25:31-46 (224) 9:00 am Farrel Irene Kleem Kleem Family Tuesday February 20 Lenten Weekday Is 55:10-11 / Mt 6:7-15 (225) 9:00 am Special Intention 2:00 pm Nursing Home Mass: Aristocrat Berea Wednesday February 21 Lenten Weekday Jon 3:1-10 / Lk 11:29-32 (226) 9:00 am Isabel Malloy Friends Thursday February 22 The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle 1 Pt 5:1-4 / Mt 16:13-19 (535) 9:00 am Alex & Julia Sakal Rose Schweda 1:30 pm Nursing Home Mass: Northwestern Friday February 23 Lenten Weekday Ez 18:21-28 /Mt 5:20-26 (228) 9:00 am “Living” - Donna Macaul Amy Mushinski

Saturday February 24 Lenten Weekday Dt 26:16-19 / Mt 5:43-48 (229) 4:00 pm Pete & Mary Harnegie Children Sunday February 25 Second Sunday of Lent Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 12-18, 15-18 / Rom 8:31b-34 / Mk 9:2-10 (26)

7:30 am For All Parishioners Living and Deceased 9:30 am Christopher Jackman Family 11:30 pm Bob Hardman Hickey Family

Mass Schedule and Intentions

Homebound Ministry

Our Homebound Parishioners are very important to us and we want to make sure their spiritual needs are being met. If you or a friend or family member are homebound and unable to attend Mass, we would like to bring the Eucharist to you in your home. Please call Diana Lipfird, the Home-bound Parishioner Coordinator, at 532-9491 or e-mail her at dlipfird@gmail.com. We will set up a time and day for the Extraordinary Minister to visit that best fits your schedule. If you are an Extraordinary Minister and would like to be part of our team of taking Communion to the homebound, please call Diana at 440-532-9491.

Please remember in prayer all who are ill or homebound, especially the following:

Jackie Ayala Maggie Armstrong Donna Baker Mary Anne Bialosky William Conroy Chris Copenhaver Melanie Kuper Owen Dumm Jim Duncan Chuck Duncan Michael Figlar Brian Follen Joan Foust Carol Furnadel Betty Glynn Gerry Grant Wayne Goforth

Katie Halley Betty Hardman Mark Hill Hanna Kessler Karen Kljun Jim & Louise Knapik Don Kovach Les Lindenmeier Rob Lucas Karen M. Joseph McLaughlin Shem Miller Tom Nicolay Frank Novak Leo Oblak Ed Paschke James Rollin Mary Elizabeth Ryba John Serrao Jeanine Surma Chester Talarczyk

Bulletin Prayer List

In Your Charity

In your charity, please remember the

repose of the soul of Janet Nicholas.

May she rest in eternal peace.

Mass Intentions for 2018

The Mass Intention Book for 2018 is open

for your Intentions. Dates are available

for February & March.

Contact the Office to schedule or submit

your request in writing - please include a phone number

in case we need to contact you. We will do our best to

accommodate your requests.

Anniversary Wishes

If you will be having a wedding anniversary in the month of February and would like your names listed in the bulletin, please call the parish office (440) 243-3877 or email jabraham1@stmaryberea.org

Gerald & Joan Foust February 1st - 60 years

Richard & Kathy Wesbecher February 1st - 49 years

Jim & Carolyn Deppisch February 14th - 31 years

Ed & Cheryl Causey February 21st - 32 years John & Janice Goetz

February 23rd - 61 years Mike & Charla McKenna February 24th - 56 years

Sunday, February 18 - Sacramental Sunday 10:30am - FJG 1st Communion Meeting 12:30pm - FJG Mtg Rm Coffee, Tea & Thee: Book Study Series - “What Jesus Saw From the Cross” 6:00pm - FJG Confirmation Meeting

Monday, February 19 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 7:15pm - Chapel Rosary

Tuesday, February 20 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 11:00am - Chapel Bible Study 12:30pm - Chapel Quiet Prayer 2:00pm - Aristocrat Berea Mass 5:30pm - Church Youth Choir 7:30pm - Church Traditional Choir

Wednesday, February 21 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 7:00pm - Church/Chapel Vocal Concert - SMS 7:30pm - FJG Mtg Rm Who Am I to Judge Series

Thursday, February 22 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 12:00pm - FJG Mtg Rm Pinochle Club 1:30pm - Northwestern Mass 7:15pm - FJG Mtg Rm That Man Is You (TMIY) 7:30pm - Chapel Study Series for Women: “Walk in Her Sandals” Friday, February 23 4:30pm - FJG Fish Fry 6:30pm - SMS PTO “Girls Night Out” 7:15pm - Church Stations of the Cross

Saturday, February 24 3:00pm - Church Confessions

Sunday, February 25 12:30pm - FJG Mtg Rm Coffee, Tea & Thee: Book Study Series - “What Jesus Saw From the Cross”

Parish Events

Collection for 2/11/18: $13,140.00 Thank you!

Weekend Collection

“Jesus, pray with me, pray in me”

During this Lent, let us improve our spirit of

prayer and recollection. Let us free our

minds from all that is not Jesus. If you find

it difficult to pray, ask Him again and again,

“Jesus, come into my heart, pray with me,

pray in me—that I may learn from Thee

how to Pray.”

Excerpted from: Love: A Fruit Always in Season Daily Meditations by Mother

Teresa (Ignatius Press 1987)

Mother Teresa

Family Perspective

The gospel on this first Sunday of Lent tells us that Jesus

returns from His forty days in the desert proclaiming:

“The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the

Gospel!” Prayer, fasting, almsgiving and the sacrament of

Penance are the Church’s traditional practices that have

proven effective in helping people repent and live the

Gospel. Do not miss this life-changing opportunity!

Schedule time and make the effort to focus your family

on Jesus and His Gospel this Lent.

Your Mercy: Transforming Lives and Communities.

Thank you for your support of the 2018 Catholic Chari-

ties Annual Appeal—your support helps us carry out the

mission that Jesus entrusted to us: “I say to you, what-

ever you did for one of these least brothers of mine,

you did for me.” If you have not done so, please con-

sider giving a gift that will change the lives of the

400,000 who are served each year in Northeast Ohio.

12 Step Spirituality

** 12 step will not meet until after Easter.

Bible Study & Faith Sharing

Bible Study will meet on Tuesday from 11:00am - 12:00pm in

the chapel as we begin our reflection on the Lenten readings.

If you would like to join us for the six weeks of Lent, we do

have a small number of extra books available. Please call Bar-

bara through the parish office and leave a message on her

voice mail. Bring your Bible and join us to see if the Lord

might have a message for you.

Quiet Prayer

Quiet prayer will meet on Tuesday at 12:30pm in the chapel

for Quiet Prayer. This will be followed by reading and reflec-

tion on the book Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr. Why

not try this type of prayer as a way to deepen your Lenten ex-

perience.

Prayer Shawl

Prayer Shawl will meet this afternoon in the chapel from

3:00pm - 4:00pm. If you would like to find a way to use the

gift of your hands to serve the community, why not stop in

and see if this is for you.

Music Ministry and Liturgy Notes

By Angela Kovacs Director of Music and Liturgy

NEW SEASON, NEW YOU

Welcome to Lent 2018. Now is the time for us to reflect on who we are as people of faith in our communities so that we can

become ready for Jesus’ resurrection. Lent is more demure, it is not flashy or ‘fun.’ Lent is the season to look back on your

faith self and improve yourself, to scrub out those rough edges that you may have been avoiding. Unlike the waiting time of

Advent, Lent is much more solemn because of the events at the end. Jesus is not born, he is crucified. Only after this horri-

ble event do we celebrate with Jesus’ freedom from the tomb.

With the new Lenten season, we will be singing a special reflection song before each mass and using the Mass of Mercy by

Lori True. Both can be found on the purple half sheet in the pew. There will also be less organ to have the music reflect the

barren environment of the season. That does not mean to sing less! Instead, we should sing out as we ready for the upcom-

ing events.

Choir Rehearsal Schedules: Traditional Choir meets to rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. Youth Choir also rehearses

on Tuesdays at 5.30pm. If you are interested in participating in any of these choirs, cantoring, or playing an instrument dur-

ing mass, please call or see Ms. Angela Kovacs after mass up in the loft. The Music Ministry office number is 440.243.3877

ext 27.

Mass Lector Cantor Extraordinary Ministers Servers 4pm D Canepari D Kollar (H) S Butcher, G Butcher, J Savinsky J Waters Deacon Tom M Waters C Beatty 7:30am D Reeves K Zanotti (H) J Mastandrea, A Mastandrea, R Straub A Soltis A Soltis T Duldner 9:30am C Garr S Ward (H) R Latanich, L Latanich, V Follen E Garr A Jones M Urbancic 11:30am L Durica J Schwarz (H) D Hickey, P Hickey, M Patena, L Patena Deacon Tom I Crespo M Lubrano

2nd Sunday of Lent - Weekend of February 25th

Ministry Schedules

Communion Distribution:

During the winter months of January, February and

March, Communion will be distributed under one spe-

cies, that of the Body of Christ. We will suspend the

distribution of the Blood of Christ as a precaution during

the flu season. Thank you for your understanding.

The gifts of Bread and Wine offered at Sunday Mass

become the very Body and Blood of Christ. It is a joy to

present these gifts to the Priest as a sign and symbol of

the gifts the community offers – that of their mind, heart

and spirit.

We would like to ENCOURAGE the FAMILY of those

for whom the Mass is being offered to PRESENT the

gifts, after the collection has been taken up.

PLEASE, make yourself KNOWN to the Usher well be-

fore Mass begins, so that due honor of your loved ones

can be made. THANK YOU.

Thursday, March 8 , 2018

7:00PM – 8:00PM at St. Mary of the Falls

Taizé Prayer is an hour-long meditative candle-lit service that

centers around music, prayer, and silence, to quiet the mind,

open the heart and feed the soul.

It is a time of quiet and solitude in the presence of God. A few

words sung over and over again reinforce the meditative quality

of prayer. They express a basic reality of faith that can be grasped

quickly by the heart and intellect, gradually penetrating the whole

being.

We hope you will take one hour out of your busy schedule dur-

ing this holy season of Lent, to experience the calm and peace

that comes from a Taizé prayer service.

St. Mary of the Falls

25615 Bagley Road

Olmsted Falls, OH 44138

(440) 235-2222

www.stmaryofthefalls.org

Taize Evening Prayer:

Religious Education News

To find all the upcoming activities for both PSR and Sacramental Prepa-ration join us at our parish website (www.stmaryberea.org)

PSR

Calendar of Events 2/18/2018 – 10:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – First Sacraments Session #5

- 6:00pm – Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation Session #5 2/19/2018 – NO PSR (Presidents’ Day) 2/23/2018 – 5:00pm – Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation “Social” Event 2/26/2018 - 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session 3/02/2018 - 5:00pm - Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation “Social” Event 3/05/2018 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session 3/09/2018 – 5:00pm – Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation “Social” Event - 7:00pm – St. Mary Church – Confirmation “Spiritual” Event 3/12/2018 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School - PSR in Session 3/18/2018 – 10:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – First Sacraments Session #6

- 6:00pm – Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation Session #6 3/19/2018 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School - PSR in Session 3/23/2018 – 5:00pm - Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation “Social” Event - 7:00pm – St. Mary Church – Confirmation “Spiritual” Event 3/26/2018 – NO PSR (Spring Break) 4/02/2018 – NO PSR (Easter Holiday) 4/09/2018 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School - PSR in Session 4/15/2018 – 10:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – First Sacraments Session #7 - 12:30pm – St. Mary Church – Confirmation Ceremony Practice

- 1:30pm – Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation Retreat 4/16/2018 - 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session

Sacramental Preparation

Calendar of Events February 18, 2018 - 9:30am – Sacramental Sunday Mass - 10:30am - First Sacraments Session 5 - 6:00pm - Confirmation Session 5 February 23, 2018 - 5:00pm – Confirmation “Social” Event March 2, 2018 - 5:00pm – Confirmation “Social” Event March 9, 2018 - 5:00pm – Confirmation “Social” Event March 16, 2018 - 5:00pm – Confirmation “Social” Event March 18, 2018 - 9:30am – Sacramental Sunday Mass - 10:30am - First Sacraments Session 6 - 6:00pm - Confirmation Session 6 March 23, 2018 - 5:00pm – Confirmation “Social” Event - 7:00pm – Confirmation “Spiritual” Event April 15, 2018 - 9:30am – Sacramental Sunday Mass - 10:30am – Confirmation Ceremony Practice - 1:30pm – Confirmation Practice May 6, 2018 - 11:30am First Holy Communion May 12, 2018 - 4:00pm Confirmation

“Sacramental Sunday” Our next Sacramental Sunday is today, February 18th at the 9:30am Mass. Greeters should meet in the Resurrection Chapel at 8:45am for your door assignment.

Discipleship Events February 16th - Confirmation Service “Social” Event (Fr. Garrity Center) Parish Fish Fry; Candidates will be expected to help setup, guide, control and cleanup area; this event is expected to end by 8:00am. February 18th – First Sacraments Holy Eucharist Session #2 – “SPIRITUAL” event; Candidates will be able to support this session by helping setup, support and cleanup of this session. The session will end at 12:00pm. February 23rd - Confirmation Service “Social” Event (Fr. Garrity Center) Parish Fish Fry; Candidates will be expected to help setup, guide, control and cleanup area; this event is expected to end by 8:00am. March 2nd - Confirmation Service “Social” Event (Fr. Garrity Center) Parish Fish Fry; Candidates will be expected to help setup, guide, control and cleanup area; this event is expected to end by 8:00am. March 9th - Confirmation Service “Social” Event (Fr. Garrity Center) Parish Fish Fry; Candidates will be expected to help setup, guide, control and cleanup area; this event is expected to end by 8:00am.

For the complete schedule of events and activities for Confirmation a/or First Sacraments go to … http://www.stmaryberea.org/sacramental-prep

St. Mary Catholic School News Corner

Educating the Mind, Nurturing the Soul

Mr. Andrew J. Carner, Principal

A number of our Early Childhood families came out

l a s t S u n d a y a n d j o i n e d i n t h e E a r l y

Childhood Family Faith and Fun Mardi Gras Celebration event. It

was an enjoyable time for the families to celebrate with food, games,

and crafts.

Parent/Teacher conferences were held on February 13th and 15th

after school. These conferences were not mandatory for all students.

Conferences were scheduled at a teacher or parent request. We do

appreciate parents taking time out of their busy schedules to meet

with their child’s teacher to discuss their academic progress. Parents,

your involvement in your child’s education is critical to their success

and we appreciate the effort you make to stay in touch with the teach-

ers. Remember, our teachers are always available via email or voice-

mail to answer any questions you may have about your child’s aca-

demic progress.

Re-Registration forms for the 2018-2019 school year were sent

home a few weeks ago. You will also find these forms on our school

website. Please complete the forms and return them with the neces-

sary fees to the school office by February 28th.

Important Dates to Remember:

2/19/18 - President’s Day / No School

2/20/18 - Sewing Club – 3:30p.m.

2/21/18 - All School Assembly

“ “ “ Band Practice – 3:30p.m.

“ “ “ Grades Kdg., 1 & 2 Vocal Concert @ SMC

-students arrive @ 6:45p.m.

2/22/18 - KidzArt – 3:30p.m.

2/23/18 - NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES – Teacher In-Service

“ “ “ PenOhio Practice – 3:30p.m.

“ “ “ Classroom of Champions Practice – 3:30p.m.

High School Scholarship

The Middleburg Heights Women’s Club is offering a Scholarship

for High School girls that are a resident of Middleburg Heights,

Ohio. You may be attending any high school or be home

schooled in an accredited program. Applications may be ob-

tained from school counselors or by contacting Nina Stein at

(440) 234-8879 or mhwc17@gmail.com Deadline for applica-

tions is Friday, March 16, 2018.

Notes of Thanks - Giving Tree