The Community of St. Malachi Newsletter

· Father Thomas P. Doyle Presentation
· “Sexual Abuse In The Church – Where Do We Go From Here?”
· Soup For The Soul
· Seder Meal
· Please Remember In Your Prayers
· Health Department
· Special Prayers Roster
· Regular Weekly Collection Update
· The Community Needs To Increase Our Income
· ... Do Two Things
· Monday Night Meals
· Social Action Committee
· Talent
· Human Trafficking
· Hospitality Committee
· Easter Vigil
· Spiritual Development Committee
· Wednesday Evening Prayer
· Stations Of The Cross

· Let Us Pray
· Lenten Prayer/Reflection
· Spiritual Development Committee Meeting
· Membership Committee
· Recommitment Membership Forms
· Book Discussion
· Honor Roll
· Men’s Breakfast
· African-American/Native American Appeal
· Samaritan Ministry Workshop
· Pyx Return
· Help Our People Excel
· 2008 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal
· St. Patrick Restoration Fund Drawing
· Twelve Step Reflection Day
· First Friday Club
· Interreligious Task Force On Central America
· Eucharistic Ministers
· 2008 Calendar
· Deadlines

  The Community of St. Malachi – First Personal Parish of the Diocese of Cleveland
Celebrating Faith in God and in the Future! 

 Third Sunday of Lent 

 February 24, 2008 

“Sexual Abuse in the Church – Where Do We Go from Here?” will be the topic of Father Thomas P. Doyle’s presentation on Friday, March at 7:30pm in the Hall. A Dominican priest, Father Doyle is internationally recognized as an expert in the canonical and pastoral dimensions of the problem of sexual abuse in the church.

He became involved with the issue while serving at the Vatican Embassy in 1984 and has since become an outspoken advocate for abuse victims. He now serves as a consultant/expert in clerical abuse cases in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Israel, and the United Kingdom. He has authored eight books, including Sex, Priests and Secret Codes and Meeting the Problem of Sexual Abuse Among the Clergy in a Responsible Way. Join us for this informative, FREE presentation. For further information contact Gene Kramer (216-621-7974) or Jim Connell (440-239-9664).

Please join St. Malachi Center at the annual Soup for the Soul fundraiser on Thursday, March 13. The venue is the Crowne Plaza Hotel Cleveland City Center on St. Clair in downtown Cleveland. Help them Help Others – children in our After School Program, young families in our Partners for Progress program and the homeless in our Shower Program. This year promises to be the best yet with over 20 restaurants donating their favorite and most scrumptious soup. Other features that will make this the best ever are appealing appetizers, sensational celebrity servers, amazing auctions, rousing raffles and YOU!

Ticket registration forms are available at St. Malachi Center (216-771-3036), at the doors of the Church, in the Hall, during coffee hours this weekend, in the Rectory and on line at www.stmalachicenter.org. We have corporate sponsorships still available. Join other generous Cleveland area businesses in supporting our event. Please call 216-771-3036 for further information.

A Seder meal will be held on Saturday, March 15 in the Hall from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. All are welcome. The Liturgy Committee will coordinate the program which will be followed by a pot luck dinner. Please bring a side, salad or dessert to share. Any questions, call Marie James (216-749-2604) or Nancy Mura (216-398-3375).

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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED the family and friends of Jack Gordon, husband of Bev Gordon and the family and friends of Florence Kramer, grandmother of Kimberly Tatro.

Please remember in your prayers for the sick these that have been added (or updated) since our previous edition: Mary Laubenthal James Armour Dick Gibbons Dorothea Liddell

If you need the previous list, you may go to the Malachi Community website at www.stmalachi.org/community.htm. Click on Health Department, found under Newsletter, or you may visit the “We Lift These Prayers” book on the St. Malachi side of the altar. You may then add these requests to your personal list.

Please keep in your prayers all the victims of warfare, both military and civilian, as well as these young people now in the armed forces, and their families:

Please remember to make checks out to the Community of St. Malachi.

The Community needs to increase our income. Everyone can see from the above report that the Regular Offertory Collections from the Community are well below budget. In the seven collections since the first of the year the Community collections have met or exceeded budget only twice. Four have been over $1,000 below budget. The news is not all bad, however. Although we are well below budget, our expenses are also below projected, due to some new efficiencies and some shared expenses with Lakeside College Preparatory Academy. Thus, the Community is managing to pay all of its bills, but just barely. Sound management says we should have a reserve, usually recommended at three months expenses, and we haven’t had that for a long time.

As Treasurer, I would like to ask the Community to do two things. First, I would request that during this remaining fiscal year each of us make one additional donation beyond our regular donation. I would leave it to each member to decide what that is. Second, during this re-commitment time, as you sit down to make your pledge commitment for next year, I would ask that you seriously consider raising your financial commitment by five percent (5%). I know these are tight times and many members contribute heavily of your time and talent, so do what you can but don’t feel you have to do more than you can. The Community has met its obligations throughout its history and we will continue to do so. Bob Simoneau, Treasurer

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Chairperson contact: Joan Daly 440-333-1755 tisherself@cox.net

If a parish or community member could use a little bit of help during a temporary situation, please contact Helen Misener at 440-427-8023. The Social Action Committee has volunteers who could provide a ride, do light housekeeping, shop, or just home visit. If you have any questions about the service, please call Helen and discuss it with her.

A parish woman in the St. Malachi neighborhood does expert mending and repair sewing. She also crochets beautiful items. Do you need sewing, mending or repair work done? Are you looking for a beautifully crocheted gift? You will be helping a parish member help herself. Thanks for supporting this new project! Contact: Joan Daly at 440-333-1755.

On February 28, at the Don Umberkley Civic Center Hall (21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River), a free program on Human Trafficking will be held. Ohio is the fifth leading state in Human Trafficking.

Chairperson contact: Marie James 216-749-2604

A meeting to plan a fund-raiser to benefit the Special Needs Fund will be held in the school library after the 11:00am liturgy on Sunday, February 24. All are welcome. Any questions, call Marie James at 216-749-2604.

The Hospitality Committee is looking for volunteers to provide refreshments for the reception in the Hall to follow the Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 22. Please call Marie James (216-749-2604) or Nancy Mura (216-398-3276).

Chairperson contact: Jackie Bluett 440-526-8574 jackierose@aol.com 

• Wednesday Evening Prayer: Join us in Church at 6:30pm for Praying the Labyrinth this Wednesday February 27 and The Presence of God on Wednesday March 5. All Wednesday Evening Prayer, during Lent, meets in the Church at 6:30pm.
• Stations of the Cross: Praying the Stations of the Cross -- Please join us for prayer and reflection on the Stations of the Cross in a contemporary way in Church at 6:00pm on Fridays in Lent.
• Let Us Pray: A weekly women’s prayer group is continuing for Lent. Join us at 11:00am in Church, as we pray the Psalms and other Old Testament readings. Stay for noon Mass.
• Lenten Prayer/Reflection: Anyone interested in praying daily readings and reflecting weekly, in a small group during Lent, please contact Jan Leitch at Ltch5@aol.com.

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All are welcome to the meeting on Tuesday February 26 at 6:00pm in St. Malachi Hall. The meeting should last no later than 8:00pm.

Chairperson contact: Dan Zehe 440-845-5116 dzehesbcglobal.net 

Recommitment membership forms will be available at Coffee Hour on Sundays: February 24 and March 2. After March 2, remaining forms will be mailed. All membership forms should be returned by MARCH 16. If you have questions, please contact Barb Pistillo at 216-692-0172.

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Book Discussion

On Wednesday, February 27at 7:00pm, we will meet at the home of Ellen McIntyre (26760 Chapel Hill Dr., North Olmsted, 440-777-7724) to discuss Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler.

A look ahead: The March book is Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides. The April meeting will be the movie “Amazing Grace.”

Congratulations to our students for achieving the Honor Roll for the 2nd quarter of the 2007-2008 academic years: Kevin Garven Allen Liwosz Madeline Fox Vinny Mullin

All Community and Parish men (ages 16-90+) are invited to attend breakfast on Saturday, March 1 from 8:30am to 10:30am at Ascension Church (14040 Puritas Avenue corner of W. 140th). Gary Pritts, Community member, will speak on “When All That’s Left is God.” The cost is $3.00 or $5.00 for two. About thirty to forty men usually attend, including men from Ascension, the Community and other parishes. If you are looking for something different for Lent, come join a gathering of men. Questions: call Frank Herceg 440-930-2781 or Rick Crow 440-239-8255

For more than 100 years, the Church has had a strong program of evangelization for the African-American and Native American communities. In our diocese, many parishes and programs, including St. Malachi Center, have received program funding from this collection. There is a second collection at all masses on Sunday, February 24.

St. Malachi Church is offering the Samaritan Ministry Workshop on Alcoholism and Addiction. Statistics suggest that 66% of the population uses alcohol and/or other drugs. Of theses, 20% experience major life consequences (drunk driving, health problems) and 10% develop the disease of alcoholism/addiction. Each alcoholic/addict affects on the average 4-5 other lives directly. The purpose of the Samaritan Ministry training is to provide participants with the tools to help individuals with substance abuse issues and their families in the community.

The program will take place at St. Malachi Center on Thursdays: March 27, April 3, 10 and 17 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Brochures are available at the Church, Rectory or Center. Call Lori Zehe at 440-888-4947 or fill out the registration form and return it to the Church.

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 PYX Return

If you have a Pyx that you are not using, please return it to the sacristy. We have a limited amount of Pyxs and we need these for communion calls. Thank you!

The shootings at Cleveland Success Tech, and the fights, feuds and stabbings on the east side contributed to the increased awareness among area teens. The teenagers in the St. Malachi Center’s Leadership Academy began discussing how they felt and what should be done. They convened to ask themselves a serious, but simple question, “How can we elevate the safety of the inner city youth?” In late November, Help Our People Excel (H.O.P.E.) began to meet.

H.O.P.E. is a group responding to this relevant and important issue. It’s run by the youth, for the youth. With Tim Walters, the community Organizer for the May Dugan Multi-Service Center (www.maydugancenter.org), they are working on a youth summit to create ways and methods to better the local community. The goal is to bring the community together for an event to talk about the issues, share resources, and to become more successful. In this process, participating youth are practicing skills, learning to organize and plan, and are empowering themselves to be active citizens. Sixteen young people (ages 12-17) are working in small task forces to plan this summit for March 29 at St. Ignatius High School from 12:30pm to 4:00pm. For more information call 216-771-3036

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The theme of this year’s Appeal is “Listen to Him.” Each of us is invited to listen to what Christ has taught us about helping those in need. Let us reflect on the gifts God had given to each of us…”all that we are and all that we have.” Based upon these reflections, determine how much you will return in gratitude for the gifts you have received. Each household is being asked to consider making a pledge to support the ministries and services provided by Catholic Charities. Each of us is encouraged to consider a pledge of support that will be billed over several months. Please pray for the success of the important Appeal and the work of Catholic Charities.

The Annual Restoration Fund Drawing of St. Patrick Church on Bridge will be held on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17. First prize is $10,000. A donation is $20. Only 2,500 tickets will be printed. Tickets are now available at St. Patrick’s Church (216-631-6872) and at St. Malachi’s (216-781-3110).

JoAnne Scullin, BS, LICDC, CHTP, will present “Amazing Grace: The Twelve Steps and the Human Energy Field” on Saturday, March 8 from 10:00am -5:00pm at River’s Edge, 3430 Rocky River Drive. It is a day of reflection for persons with a working knowledge of the Twelve Steps. The day will begin with an introduction to the Human Energy Field including the Chakras. Opportunity will be provided for self exploration and sharing the connection between working the Twelve Steps and the expression of the life force through the Chakras. The cost is $60 and lunch is included. Call River’s Edge at 216-688-111 for reservations.

Dr. Richard B. Fratianne, MD, Director Emeritus of the Metrohealth Burn Care Center will speak on “Building Christian Community in the Burn Unit” on Thursday, March 6 at the First Friday Club of Cleveland at noon at the Metropolitan Restaurant, Huntington Building, 917 Euclid Ave. The lunch is $15. For reservations contact Nancy Walsh at ffcofcleveland@sbcglobal.net or 440-390-0172. Parking is available for $5 at the Huntington Garage.

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This Cleveland-based non-profit interfaith group promotes peace and human rights in Central America and Columbia. The IRTF educates advocates and organizes for peace and human rights, economic justice, and aid to Central American and Colombians. Upcoming activities:

• Ecumenical Advocacy Conference in Washington March 7-10. Security, human rights and social justice
• Teen Trip to Nicaragua: July 14-18. Human rights sweatshops, fair trade
• Latin American Human Rights Trips: June 12-23. Choose from 5 countries

Contact: www.IRTFcleveland.org or 216-961-0003

Eucharistic Ministers:

• March 2: Dolores Sullin, Jim Zaferopolos, Eileen Zaferopolos, Bruce Wacker, Joe Wegrzynowski, Dan Zehe, Lori Zehe, Terese Andreani, Barb Aylward, Jeff Barbalics, Meg Kilbane
• March 9: Linda Bellini, Jackie Bluett, Teresa Chinnock, Jim Connell, Phil Daly, Joan Daly, Diane Dorenkott, Jan Durkalski, Chris Dusek, Al Myers, Jen DeJohn

Refer to the information above for complete details.

First Lay-Directed Personal Parish of the Diocese of Cleveland

Celebrating Faith in God and in the Future

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