Welcome Back!

The beautiful calendar summer with its good adventures is almost ended. Our children went back to school to continue their education. The regular schedule of our parish ministry begins today, September 13, 2009. The School of Christian Living program starts as well and our teachers are eager to hear children’s summer stories. The teachers Mrs. Michele Lazor, Mrs. Karen Paulison, Mrs. Claire Centrella and Mrs. Jamie Santos, who joined the faculty are ready to serve our children for their spiritual benefit in school year 2009 – 2010.

For me and my family it was a unique and special summer. Two months of the rectory expansion took place from June 26 to August 21, 2009 and passed very quickly. It was a time filled not only with some noise, dust, and little discomfort but also a good time of witnessing all stages of the project. There were several meetings with many people that were involved in the construction. It was a time to observe the fruits of hard labor. Sometimes and my family and I were involved with making decisions and doing a little of the work as well. The Parish Committee accepted Dominick Bucci to be a coordinator for this building project. My family and our parish can’t thank him enough for his remarkable service he did and the time he spent to communicate with SRK General Contractor LLC, Garfield, NJ. Because of his involvement, the job was well done. At the end of the project according to our plans, the painting was done by the volunteers of the parish to defray the cost of the project. In addition to Dominick, we are thankful to his sons, Brian and David and Lenny Hrinuk who gave us a hand. I can’t forget my wife’s work and children who did their share too. After a couple of days of painting, my daughter had a question: father, you are a priest and you are painting? Yes my honey, I do it for you. Yes we enjoyed being part of this project.

In conjunction of this expansion there were other jobs done in our parish. The old ceiling tiles with leaking marks going to the choir loft were replaced with new one. The floor in the parish hall by the windows was fixed by Dominick Bucci. The old wooden floor in the Break Panel Room was replaced with the new tiles. The old electric outlets in the rectory were replaced with new ones. The old wooden floors in the rectory were refurbished. The cement ramp was poured and the double door to the parish hall was accommodated as handicap accessible. Men of the Parish Committee moved furniture from the tea room and church kitchen and the floor was cleaned and waxed. Bob Sleece moved the furniture back. The crack on the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary along Browertown Rd. was fixed, ASIES Group, Fairfield, NJ. The cement footing was poured for the “small” statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of the rectory. The patio in front of the rectory was completed. The old and cracked counter-top and old cabinets in the rectory kitchen were replaced with the generosity of SRK General Contractor. Many of these jobs were charitably done or done with a great discount in lieu of advertisement placed in our bulletin. Let us pray and support our benefactors. We thank all parishioners who supported our project and showed their generosity by giving donations toward Building Fund.

THE BLESSING OF THE RECTORY ADDITION will take place on Sunday November 15, 2009 by Rt. Rev. Dr. Anthony Mikovsky the Bishop of the Central Diocese. On that Sunday there will be one Mass celebrated at 11:00 A.M. followed by the blessing of the addition. The reception will take place in the parish hall. A buffet style dinner will be provided and sponsored by the Cyman Family as a token of appreciation for the accomplished project. All are invited to attend this event with the opportunity to meet Bishop Anthony Mikovsky. Please write the name of your family and number of people attending on the sign up list located in the parish hall.

We are getting ready for Flea Market sponsored by combined efforts of ANS and Daughters of Holy Cross on Friday September 19, 2009,

Our Fourth Annual Beefsteak Dinner Saturday will be held on September 26, 2009

Our annual Tricky Tray on Friday, October 23, 2009.

In addition to that with the efforts of Parish Committee our parish will have new Parish photo directory taken
on October 27-28-29, 2009 by Universal Church Directories of Mansfield, Ohio.

Finally, we all have the responsibilities and a privilege to worship our God on Sunday – Keep Holy the Lord’s Day. We come to the church to present to the Lord many personal intentions and the needs of others. Each Sunday our Savior invites us and nourishes with His Word and His real presence in the Holy Eucharist. We all need Jesus, His guidance, support, and His love.

May God richly bless you. I keep you in my daily prayers. Please remember me in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Joseph