Dear Parishioners,
It’s proving to be a very busy time of the year for me, but I continue to find my ministry here at St. Leo’s to be so enjoyable, thanks to your support and kindness. We are always working to think of ways that our parish community can grow, not so much in number (as good as that is) but in strength, in faith, in meeting your spiritual needs and in doing our best as a parish community to join with the whole Church in proclaiming the Good News. I still have a couple more people to introduce to you whom I believe will be great additions to our parish and school communities, but for now I need to say a word about the children who received their First Holy Communion during the 11am Mass last Sunday.
We had 12 children who received this Sacrament and I am so proud of their parents for the commitment they made to bring their children to our Faith Formation Sessions these past few months as we helped the children prepare for this important sacrament. As you know, we made a big change in our sacramental preparation for First Communion and for Confirmation. Changes are always a bit scary, but we knew that a different approach was very much needed. I’m happy to say that due to the parents, grandparents and guardians of these children, the year went along very successfully. These children were not only present at our Faith Formation Sessions on Sunday morning, but at the 11am Mass as well. In the past, it was so discouraging to prepare students for the Eucharistic Sacrament but then fail to see them at Mass on the weekend. It just didn’t make sense. Of course none of us are perfect and that’s why we are all “Practicing” Catholics…because we all need to practice, over & over again, the responsibilities of a living faith. So I am grateful that the students & their family members were willing to make the sacrifices necessary to grow in their relationship with God and the parish community. We are so happy that these children are now receiving the Eucharist with us. May they all continue to be nourished every week by the Body & Blood of Christ.
Congratulations to Vincent Rongone & Elizabeth DeCaro who will be married this weekend. They are both faithful to our Eucharistic worship each week and I know they will be a great reminder to us of the marriage of Christ with His Bride, the Church. May they know many happy years together.
The Confirmation students (who will be Confirmed by Abbot Hoover next Saturday during the 4pm Mass) will be traveling to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid this Sunday. I hope I can join them there as my grandmother & family used to go to this sacred place when I was a child (and I have since celebrated Mass there both in the chapel and at the outdoor shrine). These students have also been preparing for this sacrament during our Faith Formation Sessions on Sunday mornings. We look forward to their reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit next weekend. The Confirmation candidates from Mary Queen of Peace and St. Thomas More will also be joining us as it makes it easier for the Bishops and Abbot to confer the sacrament on the students from several parishes at one of the churches instead of going to each one individually. We welcome all those who will be joining us.
We now have 32 people signed up for our trip to Italy next March. There is a limited number who can join us so that we keep it manageable but there is still time to sign up if you are interested in going. A small deposit of $300 is required and you can get more information about the trip by visiting our website at leothegreat.org. I’m looking forward especially to visiting some new places but also the old favorites, especially Rome and Assisi. Viva la Pasta!
Fr. James P.Schmitz