The Holy Sacrifice of mass - Sunday April 5, 2020 - Palm Sunday

Welcome the St. Francis de Sales Parish website.  Thank you for taking time to familiarize yourself with all of the content that is available:  links to Mass, parish updates,  Fr. Bline’s column, Fr. Bearer’s blog, and much more.

Direct links at the bottom of the page will take you to the Diocese of Cleveland, our Parish school and other sites of interest.

Ways to Give

Thank you for your continuing support of St. Francis de Sales Parish.

So many have asked about ways to continue making contributions! 

We are working on more permanent electronic giving options

If you are called to give now you can set us up on your online bill pay system with your bank’s website.

  • Choose St. Francis de Sales as the company.

 Our address is 4019 Manchester Rd., Akron, OH  44319.  

  • Your envelope number can be the account number for a regular Sunday offering, or just write Sunday offering in the account number field.
  • If you wish to give to:
    • the School, the Capital Fund
    • The Memorare Center or any Designated collection,
    • just write the name “School”, “Capital Fund”, etc. as the account number.
  • Choose the amount you want to give and the frequency.
  • The bank will send us a check.

Thank you for your support and your prayers

Check back for updates and information.

From our Pastor – Father Bline

A Message from Fr. Bline
April 3, 2020

A video message… [...]

31 March 2020 – Fifth Week of Lent
March 31, 2020

My Dear Parish Family, We all know how hard it has been to live our lives the way we are being asked to live them. Now, hearing that we will have to be social distancing for at least the rest of April, so many thoughts and concerns can run through [...]

Meditations from “Divine Mercy”
March 23, 2020

[...]

A message from Fr. Bline- March 20, 2020
March 20, 2020

The Week After… My sister, Deanna, was just a toddler and I was looking forward to starting school. Then this disease entered into our lives, the dreaded mumps. We heard from our older siblings how bad this could be…swelling and pain in the throat so bad we couldn’t eat Captain [...]

Pastor’s Message – March 15, 2020
March 15, 2020

Through The Looking Glass In 1871, Lewis Carroll wrote Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, a sequel to 1865’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland).  He wrote of Alice going through a looking glass and finds her in an alternative universe, where things were contrary to [...]

Pastor’s Message – March 8, 2020
March 8, 2020

Praise Jesus, I finished my final week of classes through the Institute of Priestly Formation at Mundelein Seminary and ran off with my certificate of completion in hand. So, now I am ready to share with you in these final 40 Days/40 Nights and celebrate those Great 50 Days of [...]

Pastor’s Message – February 9, 2020
February 8, 2020

Before I run off to Mundelein Seminary (Illinois) for my final run of classes with the IPF (Institute of Priestly Formation), I thought I would leave you with two updates. This past week our Parish Pastoral Council had elections for our newest council leaders. Please join me in welcoming and [...]

Pastor’s Message – February 2, 2020
February 1, 2020

Not only do the first days of February begin a little differently this year, it seems the whole month is a little off. We begin with the Fortieth Day of Christmas and we end with Leap Day. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord marks the Fortieth day after [...]

See More from Fr. Bline

We have assembled some resources to help with daily prayer and reflection from your home.

Daily Mass

Spiritual Communion
Fr. Bearer

Stations of the Cross for Families
Frs. Bline & Bearer

Prayers & Reflections

A Message from Fr. Bline
April 3, 2020
Fr. Bline

Deacon Ray Herrick

We Too Must Wait
March 29, 2020
Deacon Ray

Opus Sanctorum Angelorum
March 28, 2020
Therese Holderbaum

Meditations from “Divine Mercy”
March 23, 2020
Fr. Bline

The Solemnity of St. Joseph
March 19, 2020
Fr. Bline

Feast of St. Patrick
March 17, 2020
Fr. Bline

Reflections from Fr. Bearer

The Source of the Evils We Face
April 4, 2020

When beginning a conversation about the problem of evil, we do need to spend some time outlining certain types of evil. For some, hitting a red light at a traffic stop while in a rush seems like an evil. At other times, we label sin, injustice, political unrest, terrorism, hurricanes, [...]

The Question of this Season
April 2, 2020

How do we as Christians speak about the evil of this current crisis without sidestepping the issue of suffering with pious platitudes? The levels of suffering confronting us today run layers deep for our lives. The number of infected with rise dramatically in the weeks ahead and those in authority [...]

A restful attention to Him and his presence
March 31, 2020

The Scripture passage about Martha and Mary keeps roaming about my heart these past few weeks. In Luke 10:38-42 we find Jesus in the home of Martha. While visiting, Martha busies herself around the house while her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet doing “nothing”. Exhausted and annoyed, Martha says [...]

Healing Series Part V/VI “Practical Ways to Start Praying with Others”
March 23, 2020

I cannot emphasize enough the “with” in praying with others for healing. Sometimes we tell people, “I will pray for you.” And, this is commendable, especially when we follow through and intercede on their behalf before God. Imagine, though, asking if you can pray with them for a moment right [...]

Healing Series Part IV: Finishing this Series
March 20, 2020

Peace be with you all in these times. It seems strange and yet perfect to finish this series amidst a pandemic. We need to believe and pray for healing all the more right now. And, living in such close quarters with those we love. It can offer opportunities to pray [...]

Healing Series Part III: Healing and the Sacraments: Part 2
August 27, 2019

In Part 1 of “Healing and the Sacraments” we looked at Jesus’ real presence in the Sacraments of the Church. Jesus Christ is the same Jesus Christ at work today who walked through Galilee about 2,000 years ago. And, wherever Jesus went, he taught, delivered people from evil spirits, brought [...]

Healing Series Part III: Healing and the Sacraments: Part 1
August 20, 2019

Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38). His ministry included both preaching and healing. Wherever Jesus went, people were set free from both ailments and evil spirits. Most of us believe that if Jesus walked our streets, people would be converted, healed, and set free, because “Hey, he’s Jesus, and [...]

Healing Series Part II: Theology of Healing 101
August 13, 2019

To begin our short dive into a theology of healing, we can look at two passages from Scripture to direct our study. In this first passage, Jesus describes his relationship to both his Father and to us as believers: “Philip said to him, ‘Master, show us the Father, and that [...]

See More from Fr. Bearer

Reflections from our parishioners

Thoughts on Holy Week – Palm Sunday
April 4, 2020

The excitement of the people of faith on Palm Sunday can be felt by everyone. We are going to get palms! It was an ancient tradition to honor kings by spreading our garments on the ground like a royal carpet; see 2 Kings 9-13, and branches; see Psalm 118:27. Palm [...]

Anne
March 21, 2020

I am devastated.  But as I wept over losing daily Mass, Jesus showed me that it was a share in His pain over those who do not see the value of Mass, who do not regularly attend even Sunday Mass.  My longing for Him, aching to be with Him and [...]

Joanne
March 21, 2020

It is hard to believe that we can’t go to church. I had been informing people that there would be no Eucharistic Adoration and that the church was closed. It was just hard to say, but I know it is for the good of all. The encouraging part is that [...]

Harrison’s Dad
March 20, 2020

Greetings, y’all. In these very surreal times that we have now, yesterday at 4:00 it was extremely uplifting to sit in the St. Francis butterfly garden just up the hill from the Stations… and pray the Luminous Mysteries with Erin and Harrison. The Holy Spirit was definitely with us; and [...]

Jane
March 19, 2020

God often asks more of me than I think I can give.  So, when Lent came I was ready for Him- I was giving up acting out on feelings of anger & frustration.  Then, the coronavirus came & restrictions that were beyond my control gave me a penance I had [...]

Amanda
March 18, 2020

Have you watched any of the Metanoia videos by Fr. Dave? I just watched “JESUS calls and empowers.” Wow! There is so much fear right now looming over us. I’m sure most of our parishioners are scared. I imagined I was Lazarus. I was lying in the tomb with my [...]

Paul
March 18, 2020

I cannot not come to you Jesus. For twenty years, every day, St. Francis, St. Bernard’s, St. Vincent, St.Paul’s North Canton, St. Francis Medina, St. Michael Archangel in Canton, St. John’s In Cleveland . . . Wherever Court was, wherever I was, through all the trials, through all the difficulties, [...]

Annie
March 17, 2020

I am a Christian, and that’s why I’m staying home I’m usually not one to post things like this, but I feel the need to put this out there. I know everyone is talking about Coronavirus, and many people are talking about the Church encouraging us to refrain from our [...]

Read More Parishioner Reflections

Other Resources

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We continue to celebrate daily masses and invite you to pray with us for the Mass Intentions. If you would like to have a Mass offered for a loved one, please call the rectory (330) 644-2225.

Monday, April 6

8:15 a.m.  Scott Ferrall (Jeanne Burke)

6:30 p.m.  Tim McDonald (Mimi McDonald)

Tuesday, April 7

8:15 a.m.  Billy Eggert (Suburban South Program for Adults with Special Needs)

9:30 a.m.  Chrism Mass live streamed from The Cathedral of St. John

Wednesday, April 8

8:15 a.m.  Bill Yingling (The Scott Family)

Thursday, April 9, Holy Thursday

7:00 p.m.  Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Friday, April 10, Good Friday-The Passion of the Lord

3:00 p.m.  Adoration of the Holy Cross

Saturday, April 11, Holy Saturday

7:30 p.m.  The Great Easter Vigil

Sunday, April 12, Easter Sunday

11:00 a.m. Easter Sunday

Please pray for these recently deceased members of our Parish.

Vi Rizzo

BettyBetts