Dear Parishioners,

         Again I want to express my sincere thanks, on behalf of the whole parish, to everyone and anyone who worked before, during or after the parish festival. We had such great crowds, especially on Friday evening. The food and all the “accompanying treats” (the soft, salty pretzels, the cotton candy, the nachos & cheese, the ice cream, etc.) were really delicious. I tried as many as I could (except for the pickles…I like pickles with certain foods and in fact it seems a requirement to my palate with certain foods like grilled cheese or corned beef sandwiches…and the large pickles marinating in the big jar look so enticing, but I just can’t eat one alone without one of the aforementioned foods to accompany it. Am I alone here?) Anyway, it really was good to see so many children enjoying the games, people listening to the music (how could you not hear it?), and parishioners and visitors alike just spending time together after so much alone time during COVID. To everyone who was willing to be a part of that whole experience in any way, we thank you. Though my growing age prevents me from remaining at the festival for its duration (I’m at the age where bedtime begins earlier & earlier), I at least know that people are enjoying each other’s company when I am too tired to remain.

But mixed in with the fun of the festival was the reality of death that always looms over us but is the reason for our faith in the resurrection of Jesus and for the hope of our own rising to new life. I have celebrated four funerals in the last days with another one being scheduled. As happy as I am to see many people come together for something like our festival, I’m sad to see such good people pass from our midst through death. I already wrote about Anthony Arlia and Mildred Ancin so I would like to mention two other people whose funerals I celebrated recently. Jackie Nagy has been away from the parish for the last couple of years, living with her sister in North Olmsted. I got to know Jackie when she attended daily Mass in our chapel when I first arrived here. She was a devout woman of faith and would send cards and notes to me frequently in order to assure me of her prayers & support. She raised two daughters, one of whom (Shelly) is still a parishioner here at St. Leo’s and who has become our rectory housekeeper and cook. Both of her daughters have a living and active faith, something I’m sure that made Jackie very happy. Jackie was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary & to the Divine Mercy Chaplet. May she know now the fruits of her prayers to the Virgin Mary & to her Son as she is shown the Divine Mercy of Jesus in which she trusted.

I also celebrated the funeral Mass for Shirley Lazar, another woman of great faith who had been a long time member of our parish. She raised two children, Shelly & Jeffrey, and we express our sympathy especially to them for the sudden death of their mother. Shirley lived her faith both in and out of our parish community as she was a Eucharistic Minister here and she helped served food at St. Augustine. I always appreciated her smile and her optimistic way of seeing things. She served others with joy. Her daughter spoke lovingly of her mother’s love & faith at the funeral & as always, I extended to them our sympathy & the support of our prayers & faith. May she too rest in God’s peace.

This Tuesday is the feast of All Saints, a holy day of obligation. Mass will be at 8:30am (with the school children) & at 7pm. Wednesday is the feast of All Souls when we pray during the 8:30am Mass for all our loved ones who have died.