This past Saturday, our Parish Staff, Parish Council and Parish Finance Council came together to pray, eat and dream at our Parish Leader’s Retreat. In the midst of rebuilding after Covid, and entering into the Memorare Center, we came together to prayerfully discern how to best use the new building and how to best move forward as a parish. We looked at what we excelled at as a parish and what new areas we could embrace as a community. Overall, it was a fruitful, life-giving time—praise God!
Speaking of fruitful, life-giving times, the Easter Mission offered by Fr. Bearer and the Damascus Missionaries was a wonderful time to enter into to who Jesus is as victor and how the Holy Spirit can work in our lives if we confidently ask for more of the Spirit in our lives. The time of healing was uplifting. Healings happened! All glory to God! Thank you to Jeff and Kira Andrea who led our praise and worship each night. Thank you to our parish staff and music ministry who helped make the event run so smoothly. Thank you, Fr. Bearer, for all you do to teach us and lift us up in the power of Jesus.
This year is another year for transitions. Just last week we received the assignments from Bishop Malesic and mentioned them at Mass last weekend, but I wanted to share them here if you didn’t catch them last weekend. With thanksgiving to God, I share with you:
- Jacob Bearer will transfer to St. Columbkille Parish, Parma
- John Mulhollan will transfer to St. Francis de Sales, Akron
- Matthew Jordan will transfer to St. Basil, Brecksville
- “Fr. Alex Clark” will begin his priestly ministry at St. John Vianney, Mentor
I am grateful for the many ways God has blessed us as a parish community. Many of you might remember Fr. John Mulhollan when he served here as an intern. What a gift he will be for us. While we continue to give thanks to God for our priests and who God sends us to bring His sacramental presence to us, don’t overlook how blessed and wonderful each of you are who make up this community. Each of you bring Jesus to the community and make it what it is—home. I am excited to see how God will bless us in the days ahead.
May God’s peace and joy be with you,
Fr. Jeremy
