Saturday, March 28 th – 4:00 PM Bill Boyer/Annette Will

Sacristan: Sr. CarrollGreeters: Fred & Diane wolfLector: Mike KarneyGifts/Ushers: Fred & Diane WolfEuch. Min.: John McClaflinServers: Walt Pleban,

Paul Hartenstein

Sunday, March 29 th – 11:00 AM All of our Deceased Parishioners

Sacristan: Ethel SchmittGreeters: Pete & Val SaboLector: Sue KershawLiturgy Word: Rhonda HiesserGifts/Ushers: Pam & Gust RistasEuch. Min.: Sr. Carroll Servers: McKenna Woodruff,

Katie Woodruff

Money Counters for March 29: Shawn Burke, Barb Fashing Church Cleaners Week of March 30: Candace Muskovich

Saturday, March 213:30 PM Confessions4 PM MASS Sunday, March229:30 Classes for PSR & Conf.11:00 AM Mass Monday, March 237 PM “Peter” Tuesday, March 24 Wednesday, March 25 Thursday, March 2610:00 AM Mass – Fr. RonAdoration during day: until 5 p.m. Friday, March 277 AM Communion Service 11:00 Stations of the Cross

Saturday, March 283:30 PM Confessions4 PM MASS- Fr. Ron

Sunday, March299:30 Classes for PSR & Conf. 11 AM MASS – Fr. Ron

This Week’s ScripturesMonday Isaiah 65:17-21 Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-

12, 133/23 John 4:43-54 Tuesday Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-93/24 John 5:1-16 Wednesday Dan 5:1-6, 13-14,16-

17,23-28Wednesday Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 Ps 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 11

Hebrews 10:4-103/25 Luke 1:26-38 Thursday Exodus 32:7-14 Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 233/26 John 5:31-47 Friday Wisdom 2:1, 12-22

Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21, 233/27 John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday Jeremiah 11:18-20

Ps 7:2-3, 9-10, 11-123/28 John 7:40-53 5th Sunday Ezekiel 37:12-14Lent Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Romans 8:8-113/29 John 11:1-45

Parish Staff

Pastoral Leader: Sr. Carroll Schemenauer

440-839-2023

Parish Chaplain: Fr Ron Brickner 419-929-4401

Finance: Diane Wolf 440-839-2023

Administrative Assistant, Catechetical Leader, Webmaster Sr. Rosemary Hug: 440-

839-2023

Finance Council

John Nolan: 419-217-2984

Maintenance: Steve Matus: 440-839-2023St. Mary

Catholic Church

Our Parish Mission Statement:Gathered as a family of faith in Christ Jesus, strengthened by His Word and Sacraments, we will set a living example of our faith by:

Seeking Christ in all we meet Giving of our time, talent and treasure

Youth Leaders: Kristie Jarrett, Jenn Nolan, Libby French

Advocate for Annulments: Sue Kershaw: 440-839-2023

Dear Parish Family, It has been about

a year ago when the sacrament of the sick was offered to anyone in the assembly who may have needed it. It is a

powerful sacrament. In today’s Old Testament reading Samuel anoints David with oil. Over the young man’s head, the prophet pours a horn of oil – and the spirit of the Lord rushes upon David. The Gospel shows Jesus using his saliva and clay to make a rough and ready ointment. He anoints a blind man and when the man washes, he suddenly sees.

These two latter anointings point to an important aspect of prayer: the use of material elements. We all have bodies as well as souls. For that reason, to communicate God’s life in the sacraments, we use visible, material substances: water and oil, bread and wine, man and woman. The Church also has sacramentals – physical objects related to the sacraments: holy water, candles, statues, medals, holy cards, scapulars and so on.

All sacramentals can help us pray, but let’s recommend two. First, the crucifix. When St. Francis

prayed alone, he often held a crucifix in his hand. On Good Friday, we say, “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world.” The cross has everything we need: humility, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, healing.

St. Paul reminds the Galatians that, before their very eyes, he portrayed Christ crucified. By the way, Paul does not say that Christ died so that we could live. No, he died so that we could die. Die with Christ, die to sin, die to old life so we can rise to a new life in Christ. The cross constantly calls us to die to self and live for God.

And the cross is not gloomy. St. Francis meditated night and day on the cross, but by all accounts, he was the most joyful man who walked our earth – apart from Jesus of course and his mother who stood by her son’s cross. So in your prayer space, have a crucifix – and consider taking the cross into your hand and kiss it – even the small cross on your

rosary. The cross can focus our prayer.

The second physical object is a picture or a sacred image. A picture of the “smiling Jesus” can help in quiet moments to bring a sense of peace and serenity to your spirit.

Even care for our bodies (exercise, diet, rest) can affect our prayer. Lent is a great time to experiment with these helps for our prayer.

We see today that the prophet Samuel and Jesus himself used anointing to communicate God’s power. Physical elements, like the cross or a picture, can assist powerfully in prayer. Make it a point to have them in your prayer space.

Let us keep in our prayer all those who will be receiving the Easter Sacraments and making a full profession of faith. We have so many to pray for, and especially for Emma Weber, who is our own RCIA person. Emma

says she is learning an awful lot by attending the sessions.

God already knows who and what we are praying for; it is we who need the prayer to focus our minds and hearts on Christ Jesus who gave us all the guidance we need in the Scriptures and all the strength we need in the Sacraments. Include a sincere Thank You to the Lord for all His wondrous riches to us to help us on the path to heaven.

We so need the Lord in our lives every single day; let us take extra time to pray, to meditate, to be at rest in His Presence and “hear” what the Spirit will speak to your heart.

Last Week $ 1,514.05Electronic 520.00M.T.D. March 6,410.00 F.Y.T.D. $ 100,314.16

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to Michael Karney, Kyle Kidd, Molly Ackerman, Sandra Fretter, Shawn Burke, Aiden Miller,

Hannah Burke, Pete Sabo, Mary DeWalt, and Eric Stack! May each of you enjoy your special Day!!!

There is NO Holy Mass this Thursday morning at 10 a.m. There

is NO ADORATION.

31 DAYS OF WINNING: The winners of this past week are: Celeste Tucker, Chris & Holly Hipp, Rhonda & Michael Hiesser, Trish Summers,

Victor Ciarrone, Donna Zedaker, and Marilyn Griffin. Congratulations to all our WINNERS!

There are still lots of days to win!!Thanks for all your support. So far, we have made a profit of $8,885.00!! Fantastic.

The Church will not be open during the week. Church will be open for you to come and pray on Saturday: 3:00 – 5:00 and on Sunday 10:00 – 12:00.

We will NOT be having PSR and Confirmation classes on March 22, 29, April 5 & April 12.Stay tuned after that.

St. Mary Catholic Church

Our Parish Mission Statement:Gathered as a family of faith in Christ Jesus, strengthened by His Word and Sacraments, we will set a living example of our faith by:

Seeking Christ in all we meet Giving of our time, talent and treasure