Celebration of Eucharist Saturday Vigil ............................... 4:00 pm Sunday……….……..9:00 am & 11:00 am

Monday & Thursday ..................... 6:30 pm Tuesday & Friday ......................... 8:15 am Holy Day ..... 8:15 am, 12:00pm & 6:30 pm

Eucharistic Adoration First Friday .................... 9:00 am−4:00 pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday ........................................ 3:00 pm

Rosary is prayed after the Tuesday and Friday

morning Masses.

Marriage Arrangements are to be made at least six

months in advance. Please call Fr. Sal at the Parish Office.

Baptisms Expectant parents are to attend a Baptism

Class prior to making Baptismal arrangements.

140 RICHMOND ROAD

EUCLID, OHIO 44143

Website: www.saintjohnofthecross.org

Parish Office: 216-289-0770

Parish Staff Rev. Salvatore M. Ruggeri..................................................... Pastor

Rev. Timothy Buyansky, OSB .................................... Weekend Assistant

Rev. Edward E. Mehok ............................................... Weekend Assistant

Rev. Mr. Charles Doerpers ............................................................ Deacon

Martha Dodd.......................................... Principal for Student Success at

Ss. Robert and William School

Kate Fraser………………………………………………..Youth Minister

Richard Grebenc……………………………………….Pastoral Associate

Ben Koval….………………….……………Director of Music & Liturgy

Kay Magri.. ................................................................. Business Manager

Parish Office Hours Monday−Friday ............................................................. 8:00 am−4:00 pm

Saturday ......................................................................... 9:00 am−1:00 pm

Parish Membership All are welcome!

Please register at the Parish Office.

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS R O M A N C A T H O L I C P A R I S H

MARCH 5, 2017 • FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Sunday: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7/Ps 51:3-6, 12-13, 17 Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19 Mt 4:1-11 Monday: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Ps 19:8-10, 15 Mt 25:31-46 Tuesday: Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-7, 16-19 Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19 Lk 11:29-32 Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8/Mt 7:7-12 Friday: Ez 18:21-28/Ps 130:1-8/Mt 5:20-26 Saturday: Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 Mt 5:43-48 Next Sunday: Gn 12:1-4a/Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 2 Tm 1:8b-10/Mt 17:1-9

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 2 MARCH 5, 2017

LENTEN REGULATIONS REGARDING FASTING AND

ABSTINENCE:

Our observance of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 1st, a day of fast and abstinence for Catho-lics. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligato-ry days of universal fast and abstinence. Fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fast-ing allows a person to eat one full meal. Two small-er meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Abstinence (from meat) is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to cele-brate more readily his Resurrection. Fridays in Lent are obligatory days of complete abstinence (from meat) for all who have completed their 14th year.

In my opinion, no other season in our liturgical year begins so profoundly and with such power. Last Wednes-day, we gathered in prayer and were marked with the sign of our redemp-tion. Everyone left the church with ashes on their forehead, the sign to the world that we belong to Christ, that we are sin-ners in need of God’s mercy, a sign to the world that we have begun this sacred season. I think that the way that we begin says something about the importance of the season and the impact that it should have on the way that we live our lives. As ashes are placed on the foreheads of believers, the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel” are spoken…words that call us to remember that is what this time is all about. Namely, repentance. What is repentance? As its most basic level, re-pentance is a turning back to God. We begin this season with a call to return back to God, to look at the ways that we have turned from, or strayed from God, and turn back to Him. This, then, should be the goal of our Lent…making ourselves ever more holy in the sight of God. So, as we begin this blessed season, I suppose that the question we must all ask ourselves is, “What must I do to turn back to God, to grow ever closer to Him?” Maybe it is committing to more time in pray-er, more spiritual reading, more frequent attend-ance at Mass. Maybe it is serving Christ in the poor and hungry in our city, or doing our best to become more tolerant of those who are not like us. Maybe it is forgiving another or being more kind, less apt to gossip, more willing to love. In the end, what this season is for us, is up to us. It can be business as usual, or it can be a wakeup call for each of us, a recognition of what it is that we need to improve when it comes to living life as disci-ples of Jesus. We began this season powerfully, let us LIVE this season powerfully as well, that we might, on Easter Sunday be ever more the person that God dreams for us to be.

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Lent. …………………………………...…...

FROM THE DESK OF OUR PASTOR

BEST LENT EVER Join Dynamic Catholic for Best Lent Ever, a free email program featuring author Matthew Kelly. From Ash Wednesday to Easter, you’ll get short, inspira-tional videos to help you identify what stands be-

tween you and happiness...and what to do about it. Go to http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THE SICK AND THEIR CAREGIVERS...

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

COUNTERS

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Counters for Monday, Mar. 13th…………...”C” Team

MONDAY Lenten Weekday MAR. 6 6:30 p.m. No Mass TUESDAY Lenten Weekday MAR. 7 8:15 a.m. Norma Sedar WEDNESDAY Lenten Weekday MAR. 8 THURSDAY Lenten Weekday MAR. 9 6:30 p.m. Frank Piunno FRIDAY Lenten Weekday MAR. 10 8:15 a.m. SJOC Parish Family SATURDAY Lenten Weekday MAR. 11 4:00 p.m. Frank & Agnes Potochnik

SUNDAY 2nd Sunday of Lent MAR. 12 9:00 a.m. Irene Plevelich 11:00 a.m. Joseph Loparo

Richmond Hts. Hospital-Wed. Mar. 8th…...…Joanne Pointe-Sunday, Mar. 12th……………Legion of Mary

MINISTERS SCHEDULE —MARCH 11-12, 2017

MASS PRESIDER GREETERS LECTOR 1 LECTOR 2 EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS SERVERS

Sat. 4:00pm

Fr. Sal K. Brindo A. Molle

W. Nalepka S. Thomas- Greaves

C. Barni, T. Brokamp, K. Brown, T. Burrello, M. Freas, M. Malta, B. Pophal, R. Raguz

K. Brokamp J. Monger

Sun. 9:00am

Fr. Sal H. Drozin M. Singer

C. Hainrihar R. Somich L. Ashcroft, J. Chounet, M. Haritonovich, G. Petrof, L. Petrof, N. Powell, M. Proctor, M. Somich

A. Champa A. Somich

Sun. 11:00am

Fr. Timothy D. Mallett M. Van Gorder

T. Hocevar L. Williams J. Berquist, J. Bretz, J. Bretz, E. Dulaney, J. Hocevar, D. Hocevar, S. Johnson, J. Solpa

C. Chapo C. Knox

Beverley Argento, Trovatore Briganti, Noella Burrows, Jane DePalma, David DeProspero,

Lillian Dolenc, Constance Durrah, Mary Frain, Ann Grossman, Joe Hocevar, Marlene Hoageson,

Andrew Jarm, Doris Kowalski, Evelyn Kublin, Joan Latessa, Marie Lipold, Joe Matejka,

Ronald Maxey, Joe Pastore, Anna Pepock, Joan Raddell, Martha Rymer, Carole Smigelski,

Frank Somrack, John Tarmann, John Tousel, and Marcie Vanek

Please remember our elderly and homebound as well.

Please notify the Parish Office when a name can be removed from this list.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 3 MARCH 5, 2017

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS PRAYER NETWORK HOTLINE

216-289-0770 ext. 33

Call and leave a short message regarding your re-quest. Let us know when your request has been answered. We can also offer prayers of thanksgiv-ing. All information will be kept confidential.

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE

FAMILY OF:

Lewis “Bill” Kapel

MAY THEY KNOW THE PEACE AND COMFORT OF GOD’S LOVE AND FIND STRENGTH IN THE

SUPPORT OF FAMILY AND OUR PARISH COMMUNITY.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 4 MARCH 5, 2017

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 5 MARCH 5, 2017

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 6 MARCH 5, 2017

NEWS AT ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

LENTEN MISSION-MARCH 6-8th

Monday, Mar. 6th, 6:30-8:30pm The Shroud of Turin—

where Science meets Faith Presenter: David M. Onysko, M. Ed.

Tuesday, Mar. 7th, 6:30-7:30pm

Stories from the Road— Jim Nagle, Storyteller for the Lord

Wednesday, Mar. 8th, 6:30-7:30pm

Taizé Around the Cross Led by Ben Koval, Director of Music

and Liturgy, St. John of the Cross

SIGN UP sheets for Holy Week are posted in the sacristy. Please consider signing up for this most holiest week of the year on the Catholic church cal-endar. LOOKING FORWARD....A reminder to all liturgical ministers that our retreat "From Mass to Mission" will be held on March 31st & April 1st. We will begin with Stations of the Cross on Friday evening at 6:30pm followed by one session. We will then gather again on Saturday at 8:30am for a light breakfast and continue the retreat through lunch. Please RSVP to Anita at 216-289-0770 or email secretary@saintjohnofthecross.org by March 11th. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: We will be celebrating the Sacrament of Anointing at all Masses next week-end March 11-12th. Anyone suffering from physical or emotional illness is encouraged to receive. WOMANKIND is overwhelmed at the generosity of St. John of the Cross. The $2,948.62 raised for Womankind through the baby bottle fundraiser means that women have hope, free pre-natal care and professional counseling. Thank you. THANKS to all who came out and enjoyed our An-nual Pasta Dinner on February 18. And a special thank you to those of you who stayed and helped us clean up. It was a lovely evening of fellowship, food and fun shared by another record crowd. We've been doing this dinner for about a decade now and the crowd gets larger and the enjoyment seems to be higher each and every year. If you'd like to join the team for the next event, contact Celeste Goodin at 216-219-8505. ANNUAL EXTRAVAGANZA: Saturday, April 29th. In the Parish Community Center. This year we honor a special priest, Fr. Edward Mehok. At this time we are collecting “Silent Auction” items. Many of the Ministries will be working on items but you can also make a personal donation in cash, gift certificates or new items (books, pictures, electronics, etc.) by dropping your item(s) off at the Parish Office before March 12th. We will begin taking dinner reservations in March. Ticket prices this year will be $50.00 per person. Don’t miss out on this wonderful evening. Stay tuned for more announcements and fun sur-prises as we welcome Spring at St. John of the Cross. Questions, please call Marilyn Wagner at 216-235-4018.

THERE WILL BE NO MASS MONDAY, MAR. 6TH: everyone is encouraged to attend the Parish Mission from 6:30-8:00pm, “The Shroud of Turin” presentation here at St. John of the Cross. DISPENSATION FROM LENTEN ABSTINENCE ON FRIDAY, MAR. 17TH: Out of pastoral solici-tude, Bishop Daniel Thomas has formally dis-pensed the faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland from the obligation to abstain from meat on the Memorial of St. Patrick, Bishop, which will be observed this year on Friday, March 17. Those who choose to partake of meat on that day are encouraged to un-dertake another penance that day in the form of a corporal or spiritual work of mercy. In this way, a faithful Catholic still keeps the penitential spirit of a Friday in Lent and unites oneself more closely with the suffering Christ and His Church. SIMPLE SOUP SUPPER: Join us for a soup sup-per in the Sacred Heart Room on Friday, March 24th starting at 5:30pm followed by Stations of the Cross.

YOUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 7 MARCH 5, 2017

Last Week’s Giving…………………………$4,299.00

Last Week’s Online Giving..…….……………$924.00

Last Week’s Maintenance Giving……………$464.00

Last Week’s Online Maintenance Giving...…$195.50

Total…………………….…………..……..…$5,882.50

God bless you for your generosity.

Your support is needed and greatly appreciated.

WEEK OF MARCH 6TH

MONDAY-MARCH 6th 6:30pm Parish Mission— The Shroud of Turin (C) 6:30pm PSR Gr. 7-8 (PCB) 7:00pm Edge (PCB) TUESDAY-MARCH 7th 6:30pm Parish Mission— Stories from the Road (C) WEDNESDAY-MARCH 8th 6:30pm Taizé Around the Cross (C) THURSDAY-MARCH 9th 6:30pm Bingo Team #3 (G) 7:00pm Evangelization Meeting (SHR) 7:00pm Areopagus (SRW) FRIDAY-MARCH 10th Day of Abstinence 6:30pm Stations of the Cross (C) 8:00pm AA Meeting (Rm. 6) SATURDAY-MARCH 11th Anointing of the Sick at 4:00pm Mass 7:00am Men’s Prayer Group (Rm.6) 8:30am–7:00pm Pre-Cana Day (G&C) SUNDAY-MARCH 12th Anointing of the Sick at all Masses 9:30am PSR (PC) 6:00pm Life Teen (SRW)

Our Mission

We are the Catholic Community of St. John of the Cross, established in 2009. Uniting the people of God as one family, we are rooted in, and empowered by, our

sacramental life and Eucharistic celebrations. Living as disciples of Jesus Christ,

we recognize our God given potential and challenge one another to share our giftedness,

embrace our diversity, and engage in social outreach, service and education.

In doing so, we seek to extend the reign of God in Euclid and the wider community.

C-Church MR2-Meeting Room #2 SHR-Sacred Heart Room P-Parish Office PG-Parish Grounds G-Gym PC-Parish Community Center PCB-Parish Community Basement Rm. 6 in Parish Community Center SRW-Ss. Robert and William

PARISH SCHEDULE

Pledge Progress

314 responses

Annual Pledge Increase $33,485.