One appeal — that of St. Mary, Lorain – was about the name of the parish. The parish Mary Mother of God, was formed by the merger of St. Mary Parish and Holy Trinity Parish, at the site of St. Mary Parish. As a result of their successful appeal, Mary Mother of God Parish will return to the name, St. Mary.

Regarding the other 11 parishes who successfully appealed their closings or mergings, Bishop Lennon’s letter pledged: “I will move forward and carry out the Congregation’s [for the Clergy] directives in an orderly manner.” Presumably, this means that the churches will be re-opened. Many of the people from the various parishes who were involved in or supported the appeal process hoped and wanted their churches opened immediately — by Palm Sunday or Easter.

How and when the churches are opened remains to be seen. As Bishop Lennon stated in an earlier letter (March 27), “this is a very complex matter with no easy or perfect solution.”

Consider:

• four of the parishes were part of mergers: St. Mary, Akron with St. Bernard, Akron (new name = St. Bernard-St. Mary); St. John the Baptist, Akron with Annunciation (new name = Visitation of Mary); St. Mary, Bedford with St. Pius X and Holy Trinity in Bedford (new name = Our Lady of Hope); St. Patrick, Cleveland with Ascension and Annunciation (new name = Blessed Trinity).

In these cases, the re-opening of the churches will affect the other parishes involved in merging. (Since three of the mergers involved just two parishes, will the “other” parish go back to its former name and identity?) Depending on the size and financial strength of the merged parish, the re-opening of the appeal church might put the viability of the new ”merged” parish at risk. Another concern how many people will stay with the “merged” parish — would the community remain large enough to stay viable? Another consideration is financial – the funds of the appeal parish would be returned to it — would the new ”merged” parish be financially strong enough to remain viable?

• In the case of every appeal parish, it is uncertain how many parishioners (and others) would choose to return/belong to the re-opened church. Would there be a large enough community to re-create a truly viable and vibrant parish?
• The appeal parishes will face various financial conditions and challenges. In every case, the diocese has been using the funds from each parish for necessary security and upkeep (such as keeping a low level of heat on during the winter months), as well as for critical repairs/maintenance. The remaining funds would be returned to each appeal parish as it re-opens. In some cases, the parish had strong savings and will be able to sustain itself for a considerable time. Other parishes were in precarious financial shape before their merging/closing and so the new community may have few funds at the beginning and experience immediate  financial struggles. Some of the appeal parishes were indebted when they merged/closed and so would face even greater challenges.
• Staffing is also a serious issue. Several pastors of the appeal parishes retired when the parish closed/merged; they are not available to return. In addition, the other members of the parish staffs have moved on in their lives: some have retired, some have found work in other parishes, some have found jobs in other professions.

 As a diocese, we are in uncharted territory; we’ve never had to do this before. For the sake of the people — of the parishes that will be re-opened; of the parishes that were part of a merger with these parishes; of those who are uncertain whether to remain with the new parishes they have made a home in or return to the parish home they left; of those who were alienated at the closing of the churches and are watching to see what will happen now; of the priests, deacons and staffs of the new parishes, the parishes that were closed or merged and (especially) of those who will be called to serve the parishes that are re-opening; of our whole diocesan church – it is so important that we do this wisely and well, that we do it right.

 The Scriptures for the Easter season remind us that Jesus is our source of unity and giver of peace:

I have told you this while I am still with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name — he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14: 25-27)

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. (John 17: 20-23)

In the days leading up to Pentecost each year, the Church prays “Come, Holy Spirit!” This prayer is especially appropriate for our local church, the Diocese of Cleveland. In the days leading up to Pentecost, on Pentecost and in the days and weeks following Pentecost as the process of planning and re-opening parishes continues, let us pray for the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit and the abundance of the Spirit’s gifts for us all.

In the Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs I: The Church on the Path of Unity, we pray:

Lord, renew your Church which is in Cleveland by the light of the Gospel.

Strengthen the bond of unity between the faithful and the pastors of your people,

together with Benedict our Pope, Richard our Bishop, and the whole Order of Bishops,

that in a world torn by strife your people may shine forth as a prophetic sign of unity and concord.

Let us together continue to pray these words. Amen!

Relish the Easter Season on Tuesdays May 15 & 29 at 6:30 in the library. We will reflect on the Sunday Gospels and the Ascension and Pentecost events in Acts.  Join us!

YOUNG ADULT OPEN GYM

Young Adult Open Gym continues on Tuesday evenings 6:30- 8:30 PM.  Contact JP Graulty at jp2801@gmail.comfor information.  All young adults welcome!

WEDNESDAY PRAYER GROUP

Join us this week at 7pm for  Bridges to Contemplative Living which uses Thomas Merton’s writings as a starting point for silence, contemplation, and discussion. Next Wednesday is Adoration of the Eucharist at 7pm in St. Patrick rectory.

PENTECOST FEST!

This year’s Pentecost Fest is Wednesday, May 23, in the hall. Please join us at 6pm for a Pot Luck Dinner. Bring an appetizer, side, main dish or desert according to the first letter of your last name: A-G, Appetizers/side dishes; H-N, Main dishes; O-Z, Desserts. After dinner, 12 people of St. Malachi parish and staff will share their faith journey and we will all celebrate in song.

RELISH THE EASTER SEASON

Relish the Easter Season on Tuesdays May 8, 15 & 29 at 6:30 in the library. We will reflect on the Sunday Gospels and the Ascension and Pentecost events in Acts.  Join us!

EVERYDAY PROPHETS THIS TUESDAY

This Tuesday, May 8, Deacon Tom Senn SFO will speak at Everyday Prophets,  a lunchtime program celebrating the work & dedication of those in our community who serve others. Speakers share stories of their own life  journey. Bring lunch (beverage & dessert are provided); enjoy stories, fellowship & inspiration. Come to Noon Mass; meet in the hall at 12:30 & finish by 1:15.  TAIZÉ PRAYER THIS WEDNESDAY“Jesus … went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mk 1:35).  Join us this Wednesday at 7pm  for Taizé Prayer a meditative, candlelit service including simple chants sung repeatedly, rich silence & prayers of praise & intercession.

LITURGY COMMISSION

The Liturgy Commission will meet this Tuesday at 6:30pm in the rectory.

PARISH VOTING CONTINUES

Please cast your ballot for 3 At-Large Council members and for changes to the Council Guidelines. There is a ballots in this week’s bulletin; dropped your ballot in the box by the church doors, or vote online at the parish website, www.stmalachi.org. Voting ends next Sunday, May 13, after the 12:30 liturgy. Thank you for participating in this important election!

Click here to go to the ballot.

Please do consider a  diversity of ages and experiences on the Council as a whole.  Whoever is elected will join the members of Council who remain:  Jeannie Cleary-Burns, Jeff Barbalics, Matt Rossman, Mike Graham, Kay Vine, Kevin Aylward, Cathy Graham, Dave Kennard, Dorothy Weathers, Nadge Herceg, Linda Kennard, Marie James, and Kate Gallo.

Hi! My name is Peter Chengelis. When I first came to St. Malachi three years ago, I was a young adult new to the neighborhood and looking for a convenient place to go to church.  Fortunately, the people here instantly drew me in.  Without really realizing what was happening, I found myself more and more involved.  First, with the Christian Formation program, where I am teaching fourth and fifth grade, then the Evangelization Commission and the Parish Pastoral Council.

Seeing how we have grown as a parish over the last couple of years has truly inspired me, and I now look forward to our efforts to become a more welcoming and engaging parish to all the people we serve.

Hello!  My name is Heather Gerheim-Gladden.  I am married to George and we have two amazing boys.  My family and I have belonged to St. Malachi for eleven years.  I enjoy sharing my time and talents with my church family.  Currently, I co-teach the preschool/kindergarten/first grade Christian formation class.  I am also a Eucharistic minister and an occasional member of the St. Malachi music ministry.  I have also tried my hand at lectoring.

I would like to be an at-large member of parish council so I can thoughtfully and prayerfully help our parish look to the future and meet the needs of young families.  I wish for St. Malachi to remain dynamic and forward-thinking and do the best job possible to minister in a changing neighborhood and world.  I would be honored if you would choose me to serve you.

Hello! My name is Cathy Jacob. St. Malachi’s has been at the center of my life for many years:  as a member of the Community, the place of my wedding, of my children’s baptisms and weddings, and my husband’s funeral.  I have served in many capacities over the years, and most recently have been privileged to be a member and Vice-Chairperson of our first Parish Council as a new merged parish.  I bring patience, good listening and conflict-resolutions skills (as a parent, mental health nurse, and therapist), and an unwavering belief in God’s presence in our lives.

It has been a challenging 2 years and more challenges are ahead.  I believe we are at a critical point in our Church and parish.  We have a strong tradition at St. Malachi’s of welcoming liturgies, ministry to the poor, and lay leadership.  I want to see us continue these traditions and grow even more as a faith-filled community.  I would like to serve again as an At-Large member of Council.

My name is Terry Jungquist. I have served on the Pastoral Council for the past two years as part of the Leadership team.

I am willing to return to Council as an At-Large member because I am aware of the positive impact the Council has had in the growth of our “new” parish. The merger process continues. We move forward on our journey as St. Malachi Parish, recognizing our first two years of life have seen us taking our “baby steps”.

At the same time I am conscious of the many opportunities available to me to participate in the life of our parish. Please consider the new names and faces here. They have their unique talents to bring.

My name is John Speier, and I have been a life-long member of St. Malachi.  I am currently a sophomore at St. Ignatius High School, where I am involved with the Marching Band, Academic Challenge and other extracurricular activities.

I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of St. Malachi, particularly the service to the poor.  I feel that it is extremely important for the youth of St. Malachi to become involved, and in order to generate interest in the youth, they must understand what is going on in the Parish.

This is where I feel I can make the greatest impact: on my peers.  I can communicate the Church’s position on issues and help them understand what is going on in the parish.

(April 14, 2012)

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO

GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS OF

THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL OF

ST. MALACHI PARISH

The Parish Pastoral Council proposes that the following amendments be made to Section 8 of the Guidelines and Regulations of the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Malachi Parish. The Amendments must be approved by a vote of St. Malachi’s registered parishioners and would be effective July 1, 2012.  The vote on these Amendments will take place starting April 29 through May 13.

The Amendments are shown below with the proposed amended language highlighted, followed by a brief explanation of the reasoning for the Amendments.

Proposed Amendments to Section 8 (Officers) of the Guidelines (changes from prior version highlighted):

B.        Term Lengths: The length of the term of each Officer shall be one year, beginning on the date of the July Council Meeting at which he or she is appointed and ending when his or her successor is appointed at the July Council Meeting of the following year.

C.        Term Limits: No person serving as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or Secretary may serve more than three consecutive one-year terms without a one-year term out of office.  There are no term limits for the Recording Secretary.

D.        Selection/Election:     At its July meeting each year, the Council shall select a person for each office specified in Section 8A for the next term.

Explanation for Amendments to Section 8:  The additional time commitment connected with serving as part of the Council leadership is significant.  The Council believes that changing the length of Officer terms from three years to one year will encourage more Council members to consider serving as Officers.  The Amendments also make the election of Officers the first task of each newly elected Council rather than the last task of the previous year’s Council.  The Council believes that this is appropriate so that all members of the new Council can participate in these elections.

A full copy of the Guidelines is available at the Rectory or online at: http://www.stmalachi.org/2010/05/final-copy-of-the-parish-pastoral-guidelines/.

Let us resolve to make this week holy by claiming Christ’s redemptive grace and by living holy lives. The Word became flesh and redeemed us by his holy life and holy death. This week especially, let us accept redemption by living grateful, faithful, prayerful, generous, just and holy lives.

Let us resolve to make this week holy by reading and meditating (on) holy Scripture. So often, we get caught up in the hurry of daily living. As individuals and as families, reserve prime time to be with Jesus, to hear the cries of the children waving palm branches, to see the Son of Man riding on an ass’ colt, to feel the press of the crowd, to be caught up in the “Hosannas” and to realize how the cries of acclamation will yield to the garden of suffering, to be there and watch as Jesus is sentenced by Pilate to Calvary, to see him rejected, mocked, spat upon, beaten and forced to carry a heavy cross, to hear the echo of the hammer, to feel the agony of the torn flesh and strained muscles, to know Mary’s anguish as he hung three hours before he died.

We recoil before the atrocities of war, gang crime, domestic violence and catastrophic illness. Unless we personally and immediately are touched by suffering, it is easy to read Scripture and to walk away without contacting the redemptive suffering that makes us holy. The reality of the Word falls on deaf ears.

Let us take time this week to be present to someone who suffers. Sharing the pain of a fellow human will enliven Scripture and help us enter into the holy mystery of the redemptive suffering of Christ.

Let us resolve to make this week holy by participating in the Holy Week services of the church, not just by attending, but also by preparing, by studying the readings, entering into the spirit, offering our services as ministers of the Word or Eucharist, decorating the church or preparing the environment for worship.

Let us sing, “Lord, have mercy,” and “Hosanna.” Let us praise the Lord with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength, uniting with the suffering church throughout the world — in Rome and Northern Ireland, in Syria and Lebanon, in South Africa and Angola, India and China, Nicaragua and El Salvador, in Washington and Jackson.

Let us break bread together; let us relive the holy and redemptive mystery. Let us do it in memory of him, acknowledging in faith his real presence upon our altars.

Let us resolve to make this week holy by sharing holy peace and joy within our families, sharing family prayer on a regular basis, making every meal a holy meal where loving conversations bond family members in unity, sharing family work without grumbling, making love not war, asking forgiveness for past hurts and forgiving one another from the heart, seeking to go all the way for love as Jesus went all the way for love.

Let us resolve to make this week holy by sharing holy peace and joy with the needy, the alienated, the lonely, the sick and afflicted, the untouchable.

Let us unite our sufferings, inconveniences and annoyances with the suffering of Jesus. Let us stretch ourselves, going beyond our comfort zones to unite ourselves with Christ’s redemptive work.

We unite ourselves with Christ’s redemptive work when we reconcile, when we make peace, when we share the good news that God is in our lives, when we reflect to our brothers and sisters God’s healing, God’s forgiveness, God’s unconditional love.

Let us be practical, reaching out across the boundaries of race and class and status to help somebody, to encourage and affirm somebody, offering to the young an incentive to learn and grow, offering to the downtrodden resources to help themselves.

May our fasting be the kind that saves and shares with the poor, that actually contacts the needy, that gives heart to heart, that touches and nourishes and heals.

During this Holy Week when Jesus gave his life for love, let us truly love one another.

“Let Us Love One Another during Holy Week” was published  in the April 6, 1990 issue of the Mississippi Catholic of the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. It still speaks today.

In addition to the shock and deep mourning, people both locally and nationally spoke of the evil of what had happened. “Evil” is not a word that one is accustomed to hearing much outside of church settings these days, but it is surely an accurate word for what happened.

Yet, it is also important to name the grace and blessing that has been even more present amidst the evil.

Perhaps the greatest blessing and amazing grace was the response of the mother of one of the victims. In an interview on ABC Good Morning just a day or two after her son was mortally wounded, Phyllis Ferguson, mother of Demetrius Hewlin, said,  ”I would tell him [T.J. Lane, the accused killer] I forgive him because, a lot of times, they don’t know what they’re doing. That’s all I’d say.” “I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God’s grace is new each and every day,” she said. “Until you’ve walked in another person’s shoes, you don’t know what made him come to this point.” http://abcnews.go.com/US/ohio-school-shooting-victims-parents-forgive-suspected-shooter/story?id=15816648 Luke’s Gospel recounts Jesus praying from the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23: 34). How blessed are we to have heard and seen those words ourselves!

Although this one grace would be more than enough for us to have received, there have been many more blessings given to us all. The March 2 edition of The Catholic Universe Bulletin has as its editorial, “Where is God?” It reads, in part:

And it’s inevitable that people of faith would begin to ask why God would allow this to happen. How could a loving God not prevent this? And where is God, anyway?

This week, however, we had the opportunity to see God in action.

God was with the faculty and students who courageousely supported each other until help arrived.

God was with the good people at nearby St. Mary Parish who were ready to open their doors and parking lot so that terrified parents and students could connect and find out if they are okay. St. Mary has continued to be welcoming to anyone needing comfort and support.

God was with the emergency response crews, the police and paramedics, the nurses and doctors who tried to save the shooting victimes. God was with the students who donated their organs so that others may have the chance at life that was so crueely taken from them.

God was with the thousands of children, teens, parents, grandparents and members of the community who gathered this week at St. Mary Parish and many other parieshes and churches to pray for and support each other and the families of the victims.

As Frather Dan Redmond, pastor of St. Mary Parish, said earlier this week, God never leaves us. God is always with us, caring for us and comforting us.

We’ve also been able to see God in each other this past week.

People are a little more patient with each other in the school and parish parking lots. They are more loving and present to their children.

Many people came home from work Monday after hearing about the shooting and just hugged and kissed their kids, kids they trustingly send off to school every morning.

It is horrible and tragic events like this that can bring out the best in all of us.

In the days and weeks to come, the people of Chardon will be faced with picking up the pieces.

They will need our prayers and support, our understanding and kindness.

They will remind us that God does not abandon His people.

He’s with us all the time.

We believe that God brings good out of evil, life out of death, forgiveness out of sin, blessing out of tragedy. A human being was the perpetrator of this great evil; God has redeemed it. Blessed are we, for in Chardon, we have seen God doing this in our midst.

View and print the brochure here!

The statement continues: “After evaluating comments, we have decided to add an additional element to the final rule. Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law. Employers wishing to take advantage of the additional year must certify that they qualify for the delayed implementation.”
(Click here to view)

On the surface, this decision seems quite reasonable. Including an exemption for religious employers that permits them to choose whether or not to include contraceptive services in their health care plans would seem to satisfy any concern or objection the Catholic Church or other religion might have. However, the exemption has been drawn very narrowly, with strict requirements.

The Department of Health and Human Services defines eligible groups in this way: “Group health plans sponsored by certain religious employers, and group health insurance coverage in connection with such plans, are exempt from the requirement to cover contraceptive services. A religious employer is one that:  (1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a non-profit organization under Internal Revenue Code section 6033(a)(1) and section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii). 45 C.F.R. §147.130(a)(1)(iv)(B)” (Click here to view)

It should be noted that a religious employer must meet all four requirements to be considered eligible for the exemption. A little analysis of these requirements as it would apply to Catholic institutions demonstrates why these requirements are far too narrow to provide adequate provision for religious groups:
1) “has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose”
Churches (parishes) would clearly meet this criteria; preaching and teaching the faith is the basic mission. Most probably, religious (i.e. Catholic) elementary and high schools would meet this requirement. This may be a more difficult requirement for Catholic colleges and universities to meet. However, health care institutions (e.g. Catholic hospitals or Malachi House) and social service organizations (e.g. Catholic Charities agencies, St. Malachi Center, the West Side Catholic Center) do not have a main purpose of “inculcating religious values” and so would not meet this requirement and, therefore, would not be eligible for the religious exemption.
2) “primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets”
Probably most parish staffs and most (but perhaps not all) Catholic elementary school staffs would meet this requirement. However, Catholic high schools, colleges and universities may or may not meet this requirement. Health care institutions and social service agencies probably would not (but might) meet this requirement. This could lead to the dismissal (or not hiring) otherwise well-qualified and competent individuals simply because they are not Catholics and an agency/institution needs a higher percentage of Catholic staff to meet this requirement. This would hardly be just.
3) “primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets”
Churches (parishes) would easily meet this requirement as would most traditional parochial (parish) schools. However, Urban Community School and most Catholic elementary (and at least some) Catholic high schools in the (inner) city probably would not meet this requirement, given the high percentage of non-Catholic students enrolled. Catholic Health Care institutions and social service agencies serve everyone and certainly would not meet this requirement and so would not be eligible for the religious exemption.
4) “is a non-profit organization under Internal Revenue Code section”
Probably all Catholic parishes, schools and institutions would meet this requirement.

To summarize: Catholic parishes and parish parochial schools who serve fellow Catholics will qualify for the religious exemption. However, many – probably most — Catholic health care institutions, social service agencies and some schools would not qualify for a religious exemption. In her statement, Secretary Sebelius stated, “The administration remains fully committed to its partnerships with faith-based organizations, which promote healthy communities and serve the common good.” It is ironic, to say the least, that a major part of the Catholic Church’s ministry and most of its service to the larger community, especially those in need – the very part that Secretary Selius states that the administration values as a partner – would not qualify for a religious exemption.

Why is this question of a religious exemption for covering contraceptives as part of health care coverage a problem, anyway?

The First Amendment of the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” “Establishment of religion” means that there can be no formal/official church/religion in the United States (as, for example, the Church of England is in Great Britain or Islam is in Saudia Arabia). “Free exercise” means that churches have the right to operate freely in the country, according to their beliefs and without undue restrictions. These new regulations and the restrictive requirements for religious employers to qualify for an exemption prevents the Catholic Church (and other religious groups) from operating freely, according to their teaching and belief. This violates the “free exercise” clause of the First Amendment.

[An important clarification: many people – including many Catholics – sincerely believe that the Catholic Church “has got it wrong” in its teaching about artificial birth control. That is not the issue here. The issue is the ability of the Catholic Church to act according to its own teaching regarding artificial contraceptives.] Based the Church’s teaching about artificial contraceptives, the Church should be free to exclude coverage for contraceptives in the health care plans being offered to employees. This freedom should apply to employees at every Catholic and Catholic-sponsored institution: parishes, schools, health care institutions, Catholic Charities and other social service agencies. As the regulations currently stand, many Catholic and Catholic-sponsored institutions would not be free to exclude coverage that violates Catholic moral teaching. Thus, the right of the Church to “free exercise” of its ministry according to its own Catholic teaching is being violated.

Some might feel that the issue of covering contraceptives in a health care plan is not worth it. Let’s consider a different issue. Currently, the states of Oregon and Washington permit physician-assisted suicide. Suppose physician-assisted suicide became legal across the country. Suppose the U.S. Department of Health and Human services required health insurance coverage for physician-assisted suicide as part of employees’ health care plans. With the current regulations regarding exemptions for religious groups, the Catholic Church could be required to provide coverage for physician-assisted suicide! It is the principle of the thing that matters here.

The easiest and most straightforward solution would be for the Department of Health and Human Services to broaden their regulations and define “qualified religious employer” so that all religious organizations and institutions qualify for the exemption from the mandate to provide coverage for contraceptives, including such religious sponsored institutions as schools, social service agencies, and health care institutions. The U.S. Bishops have sought such changes since August, when the interim rules were first published, but have so far been unsuccessful in their efforts. They are seeking passage of legislation by Congress to write the exemption into law. They ask Catholics and people of good will to contact their Senators and Representatives to support this legislation. (For information on this effort, click here.)

More than 200 years ago, in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, another Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.” Protecting the constitutional right of “free exercise” of religious belief and practice is important for everyone.