This year we had unconsciously moved the time of our Good Friday Service (officially called the “Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion”) from 3pm to 7pm. I say we did so “unconsciously” because most of our Holy Day liturgies, etc. begin at that time so I figured we always had our Good Friday service at 7pm with Stations of the Cross at 3pm. However in the past it was reversed & we had the Service at 3pm with Stations at 7pm. We heard some comments from people who came at 3pm that they were disappointed that they did not experience the Adoration or Veneration of the Cross which only takes place at the Good Friday Service. So I just want to let you know that we’ll change that for next year, and also that your comments to us are helpful, heard and taken seriously. So thank you for your input which is always appreciated.                                       

     You may (or may not) have heard that Pope Francis has called for the entire Church to participate in a Synod (a gathering of laity and clergy) which will focus on the 3 pillars of a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. We will do this by gathering together people of one faith to engage in dialogue and respectful listening to one another in order to witness to the Good News of God’s love in the world.                                            

     This synodal journey of the whole People of God actually began in October 2021 and will culminate in October 2023 with the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Bishop Malesic celebrated an Opening Liturgy this past October at the Cathedral downtown which began the diocesan phase of the three-year journey of consultations and discernment. Through the end of this year, all baptized Catholics will be invited to participate in this process of listening, dreaming and discerning God’s call for the Church in the present time. So there will be a Pre-Synodal Meeting on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in our diocese. More information about this Synod can be learned at the diocesan website. But here is a Prayer for the Synod which we invite you to pray as you read this:                                      

     “We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and times in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.”                              

     I wanted to let you know that Father Russ Lowe, former Pastor of St. Leo’s has resigned as Pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church for health reasons. He is now living at Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio, a straight shot down Broadview Road about 30 minutes south of our parish. Regina Health Center offers skilled nursing, rehabilitation services and assisted living and we have several priests and religious sisters of the Diocese in residence there. May I ask you to keep Father Lowe in your prayers? He served the people of St. Leo the Great faithfully for about 10 years and now is in need of our prayerful support. I pray for him daily and ask you to keep him in your prayers as well.