Dear Parishioners,

I’m writing this before I leave for Italy as there’s enough for me to share with you even now. However, as you read this, we should be in Florence on our way to Assisi where we will be celebrating Mass on Saturday at the Basilica of San Francesco where St. Francis of Assisi is buried. On Sunday we will be in Rome where I will be celebrating Mass at the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. I forgot to tell you last week that I’ll try to post pictures every day on our parish Instagram account at leothegreatorg. I warn you, there will be lots of food pictures.

Sadly I had several funerals the week before we left. On Wednesday, March 15th, I celebrated the funeral Mass for Anna Mae Kostura. Anna Mae was married for over 50 years to Robert & they had 3 children: Lou, Bernadette & Lisa and two grandchildren, Paul & Corine. The family chose a beautiful scripture reading from Proverbs which praises a woman for her faith, for being a wonderful wife and mother and person of faith. It fit Anna Mae’s life so well. It says “The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” I trust that God himself is praising Anna Mae for her good life of faith & love as we entrust her to God’s mercy.

On the same day, I celebrated the funeral Mass for Dianne Toronski, though a close friend of Dianne & her husband Jack, Deacon Lou Primozic preached at the Mass and again spoke of Dianne as a woman of great faith. Dianne has battled cancer for many years but she did so with courage and resignation to God’s will. She was a very active person of faith, and I still remember how well she spoke to the children when we had the Children’s Liturgy of the Word when I first arrived at St. Leo’s. She was also a lector who read the Word of God at Mass, but also lived it in the way she cared for so many others, from her family to those in need. Dianne celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation just recently, something she practiced regularly. She will be remembered by many. Our condolences especially to her husband Jack who is also very active in his faith and in his ministry of bereavement at the family’s funeral home, Golubski’s.

The following day, I offered the Mass of Christian Burial for Clarence Franko. He and his wife were married for almost 60 years, and we celebrated his wife Agnes’ funeral about 2 ½ years ago. They had 5 children, 11 grandchildren & 16 great-grandchildren. I am amazed at how the love of 2 people can become so fruitful in the lives of their children & grandchildren. Clarence & Agnes sat by the statue of St. Ann in our church & every Sunday, before the 8am Mass, I would head back there to say hello to them. We had a special bond because they were members of St. Mark Parish, where I also attended elementary school & where I celebrated my First Mass as a priest. We were there at the same time back in the 60’s & 70’s so we had that in common. Clarence was also an usher and we would have breakfast together along with a couple other ushers who enjoyed his company as well. He too was a man of deep faith and I will miss seeing him and his wife. May they both give praise to God in heaven now for their many blessings.

Finally I celebrated Mass on Saturday, March 18th for David Pekrul, the husband of Noli, who joined us for our pilgrimage to the Holy Land last year. They were married for 37 years. David had 3 children and 7 grandchildren (who called him “Papa”.) We celebrated a Memorial Mass for him and offered our prayers for him that he may know the joys of God’s kingdom. We extend our sympathies to Noli and as always, I assured her of our support and prayers for her. May David and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.