Dear Parishioners,

I know that many of you will remember Eileen Gabel as she had been involved in the parish for many years. Sadly she passed away at the age of 86 on Friday, January 5th. Since I had just left for vacation, Fr. Dan Schlegel celebrated her funeral Mass, and would have anyway as they had been good friends for many, many years, since he had been at St. Leo’s himself. I still remember Eileen’s husband Jim who passed away several years ago. They had 5 children and several grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Eileen had worked in the sacristy for many years, ordering candles and helping in many ways to keep the church stocked and in good order. She had a wonderful smile and a pleasant disposition whenever I saw her. May she rest in peace.

I also remember Mary Ann Zupancic, wife of the late Norman. Mary Ann had struggled with Alzheimer’s for several years and so I have not seen her for quite some time as she was being cared for elsewhere. But we thank God for the time she spent at St. Leo’s. She and Norman had 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Mary Ann was 84. I also remember her wonderful smile and her devotion to Norman. I’m grateful to Fr. JohnPaul Cafiero who will be celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial for her at St. Leo’s while I am away. May she and Norman now be reunited in the kingdom of the Lord whom they served.

I want to be sure to thank all of you who sent me or the parish staff a Christmas card or some other holiday gift. We are very grateful for your thoughtfulness. Thanks as well to all those who helped take the Christmas decorations down as we enter once again briefly into the “Ordinary Time” of the church year.

The next liturgical season, Ash Wednesday, will be February 14th (as I’m sure you’ll remember from the Announcement of the moveable feast days in 2024 that Deacon Pat made after the gospel last weekend). The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, after which we begin this Ordinary Time again until Lent begins, was not celebrated on a Sunday this year but on the Monday right after the feast of the Epiphany which of course was last weekend.

You may now visit the website where we have information about the trip to Southern Italy which I’ll be taking with parishioners in March of 2025, which is a Jubilee Year of the Church. This will be a 12 day journey (March 17-28, 2025) and so will be a little more expensive than our trip last year. The price is not yet on the website but should be there soon. It is expected to be about $4500 per person, which includes hotel taxes and gratuities (which were not included in our trip price last year). Please visit our parish website (leothegreat.org) for the URL (too long to put here) where you can get more information. You should be able to reserve your spot there soon with a deposit. As always, please reach out to me with any questions you may have. Space is limited but you have plenty of time to sign up and I’ll let you know when we are getting close to being filled.

I will not be with you this weekend or next as I am beginning the new year with a vacation to celebrate my sister Janet’s 60th Birthday. She and my other two sisters and their husbands and I are taking a cruise to the Bahamas out of Miami. I really hate going away from Cleveland during its beautiful snowy days of winter but fraternal charity forces me to be present for my family obligations so I surrender to this burden. But of course I will continue to think of you and keep you in my prayers, and I am grateful to the visiting priests who will be covering for me during my regrettable absence. I will do my best to submit a bulletin column for next weekend as long as I have access to the internet and I have not become lost at sea.