The Community of St. Malachi Newsletter

· Annual Community Meeting
  · Election of The New Council Members
  · Update on The Cluster Planning Process
· Personal Needs Fundraiser
· Celebration Of Service
· Health Department
· Prayers Roster
· Regular Weekly Collection Report
· Monday Night Meals
· Wednesday Evening Prayer:
  · Bridges To Contemplation
  · Praying With The Labyrinth
  · Adoration of The Eucharist
  · Let Us Pray
  · Being The People Of God
  · Two Presentations: Prophet And King /Servant

· Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
· Confirmation
· Book Discussion
· Bag Project
· St. Malachi Center
· Phew!
· Young Adults In The City (20's And 30's)
· Interreligious Task Force On Central America (IRTF)
· Eucharistic Ministers
· 2008 Calendar
· Deadlines

· Nominees For Community Of St. Malachi Council

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

 Fourth Sunday of Easter 

 April 13, 2008 

The Annual Community Meeting for the Community of St. Malachi will be on Sunday, April 20 immediately following the 11:00am liturgy.  The two main items on the agenda are the election of the new Council members and an update on the Cluster Planning Process.  Part of the discussion on the cluster process will include a review of the vision statement for the cluster.  In addition, the Annual Report will be distributed.  Please plan to attend.

If, unfortunately, you are unable to attend the Annual Community Meeting and you would like your vote cast, you have the opportunity to be a part of the voting process with the following steps:

1. § Pick up a PROXY FORM at the membership table in the hall or call 440-232-7622 to have one sent to you.
2. § Select a Community member as your proxy.
3. § Complete the form.
4. § Your proxy is to turn in the form at the membership table the day of the annual Community meeting before the voting takes place.

Attached to the Newsletter are the profiles of the candidates who are to be elected at the Community Annual Meeting.

On Saturday, April 26 from 7:00pm (note time change) to 10:00pm a dinner and dance will be held in the Hall. Tickets are $10/each adult, ages 14 and up. Babysitting will be provided after dinner, as needed. Tickets are available at coffee hours on April 13 and April 20.

The Personal Needs Fund was established by the Community to address the emergency needs of Community members.

Consider volunteering you time, talent or raffle prizes. For further information, contact Marie James (216-749-2604), Nancy Mura (216-398-3276), Fred Leonard (216-671-4938) or Diane Brinich (216-521-1360).

This year's Celebration of Service, to honor all St. Malachi volunteers and those in ministry, will be on Saturday, April 19, at noon in the Hall. Return the bottom of the flyer (found in the back of the church) or use the signup sheets located in the kitchen. RSVP by April 14. For information or to RSVP, call 216- 861-5343.

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CSM HEALTH DEPARTMENT –   

Please remember in your prayers for the sick these that have been added (or updated) since our previous edition: Philomena Masterson, Roy Krabs

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 REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS the following families and friends who have experienced the loss of a loved one:

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. Bob Simoneau

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

• Wednesday Evening Prayer: Join us this Wednesday at 6:00pm in prayer and silence with Bridges to Contemplation, based on the writings of Thomas Merton.
• Join us Wednesday April 23 for Praying with the Labyrinth. 
  We will start inside the Church at 6:00pm and walk the Labyrinth, weather permitting.
• Join us Wednesday April 30 at 6:00pm for Adoration of the Eucharist. 
  This is a time for prayer and silence in the presence of the Holy Eucharist.
• Let Us Pray: The prayer group for women meets in Church on Wednesdays at 11:00am. 
  Come for prayer and stay for 12:00 mass.
• Being the People of God: This speaker series is about ministry and answering the Baptismal Call. It continues Thursday April 24 in St. Malachi Center at 7:00 pm. Fr. Mike Woost, professor of theology at St. Mary Seminary, will present the first in a series of responses: Priest.
• The other two presentations, also by Fr. Woost, will be on Tuesday May 6: Prophet and Tuesday May 20: King /Servant. Meet in the School Hall at 7:00pm. We will break up into groups at the end of each evening, to bring to light how to manifest what we have learned.

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ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA

This word echoes in me because it’s “the season” and because so many came forward to help prepare the church for the season’s depth and beauty. Special thanks to: Jo, Roy, and Laura Krabs, Carl Zupan, Pat Forkas, Lois Dingman, Theresa Andreani (for the recreated and lightened banner across the loft), Joe Wegrzynowski, the Smith, Pellegrino, Johansen, Slivka, Bullock, Meyer/Dusek, Aylward, and Pritts families.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO IN SUCH A PRAYERFUL AND DIGNIFIED WAY, FILLED THE ROLE OF SERVERS DURING THE HOLY WEEK SERVICES!

Blessings on: the Junior High students (Good Friday Stations), prayer leaders throughout the Lenten and Triduum season, for the hospitality and planning coordinators, choir members and musicians, sacristans, St. Malachi “maintenance department,” and Ronnie Trickso (for the now traditional Good Friday “decorating meal” of the much-loved tuna casserole), Mike Schipper, Marianne Kerr, ushers, Arlene Corrigan (for the altar frontal and lectern banner), Bob Corrigan, Carolyn Meyer, Terry Jungquist, Gene Witts, Lou Keim, Rick Bluett, and Peter Toomey. If I’ve omitted any names, it is an oversight. ALL those who volunteer to help are greatly appreciated.

It is humbling to experience so many members working together to create so much good for us all. It is also a “shout out” ALLELUIA time for them and their witness to Easter Faith!

Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation, which all Catholics should receive. If you are an adult who has not yet been confirmed, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our cluster parishes this year on Tuesday, April 22, at 7pm at St. Wendelin Church. Any adult or teen wishing to be confirmed should call St. Malachi rectory to register (216) 861-5343. Adult Confirmation preparation is held at St. Patrick Church, Bridge Ave., (631-6872) on April 10 and 17, from 7-9pm.  

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Book Discussion

The April meeting is Wednesday April 30 at 7:00pm.  We will view and discuss the film “Amazing Grace.” It is the story of William Wilberforce who, as a Member of Parliament in the late18th and early 19th centuries, brought about an end to the slave trade. Meet at the home of Sarah and Karl Toth, 7641 Ragall Parkway, Middleburg Hts. (440-826-3144). 

Looking ahead: The book for May is Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. The book for June is My Sister’s Keeper by Jodie Picoult. Call Casey Stangel at 440-234-8766 for further information.

On Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 am to Noon, we will begin our "bag project."  Sowers, cutters, snippers, coffee makers, cloth (heavy duty) suppliers, and "observers" are welcome to meet at St. Malachi Center. As part of our efforts to recycle, we will be making simple shopping totes for use at Community Corner Hunger/Resale Center (Lou Keim, Director) and Malachi Mart (Lee Oglesby, Manager).  If you can't come at that time, but would like to help, please contact Kay Vine at 440 871-5868.  

St. Malachi Center’s RAFFLE is NEW and IMPROVED this year! Tickets are only $12 each or three for $30! There will be a monthly drawing, starting in April, through the beginning of November. The monthly prizes total $500, $250, $150 and $100. The winning ticket goes back into the “hopper” to be eligible with the other for the grand prize of $5000 for 1st place and $1000 for the runner up.

See the St. Malachi Center website, www.stmalachicenter.org, or the Church bulletin boards for more details. The seller of the grand prize ticket receives $250 and the person who sells the most tickets receives $250. The grand prize drawing is Saturday November 8 after 4:30 Mass in the School Hall. Call Ginny at 216-771-3036 if you want to sell tickets.

It’s time for the St. Malachi Center fundraiser at Max & Erma’s Restaurant on Thursday, April 17. Get a ticket on the Malachi Center website. Have lunch, dinner or carry –out at Max & Erma’s at 30105 Detroit Rd. in Westlake. Present the ticket, and St. Malachi Center receives 20% of your purchase as a donation. Bring your family, bring your friends, eat good food and enjoy the knowledge that St. Malachi Center benefits too!

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Phew! is a weekend of support, respite, and celebration for those who minister among God’s People. Join us on Friday, April 11at 6:00pm to Sunday, April 13 at 11:00am at Cedar Hills Camp & Conference Center in Painesville, OH. If you spent the last ten or more years living in response to the Spirit’s call to you to build the Kingdom of God, please consider this retreat. The retreat leader is Patrick Cleary-Burns, a spiritual director who has ministered in various ecumenical and Catholic ministries since 1975. The registration fee is $200. Scholarships are available. For more information, please contact Patrick Cleary-Burns, LLC, 4657 Liberty Rd., South Euclid, OH 44121; 216-375-7510; pcleary-burns@earthlink.net.

On Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 - Noon, Young Adults are invited to volunteer with MedWish International in Cleveland. You'll join other young adults to sort medical supplies for redistribution to the underserved around the world. No previous experience required. To register, please call Laura (216-228-9516) or e-mail to 2006yaic@gmail.com or mjvogel@clevelandcatholiccharities.org. This event is sponsored by Catholic Charities through the Youth & Young Adult Ministry and CYO Office.

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The InterReligious Task Force on Central America is a Cleveland-based interfaith group that promotes peace and human rights in Central America, southern Mexico, and Colombia. We work to change U.S. policies, corporate actions, and consumer behaviors that undermine this vision of nonviolent social change.

On Saturday, April 12, IRTF will conduct a PHONATHON to call people on our mailing list who are already supportive of our human rights work. We provide a script and we mainly leave answering machine messages. Food will be provided. To sign up for a two hour shift call 216-961-0003 or email sarah@IRTFcleveland.org.

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Eucharistic Ministers:

• April 20: Heather Gerheim Gladden, Mary Englert, Jen DeJohn, Brian Horning, Rose Horning, Duane Horning, Anita Fox, Kate Galo, Stephanie Pritts, Marie James, Linda Mullen
• April 27:Bill Johansen, Roseann Kaminsky, Lou Keim, Marianne Kerr, Cathy Jacob, Sue Knize, Gene Kramer, Ellen McIntyre, Mary McNamara, Paul Kunkel, Mary Ann Kunkel

ALLELUIA 

First Lay-Directed Personal Parish of the Diocese of Cleveland

Celebrating Faith in God and in the Future

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NOMINEES FOR

· Pat Cleary Burns: My wife Jeannie and I made the choice to be members of CSM because we believe in its vision and values. It is important for us to call on the spirit of the founding men and women and look upon this time as an opportunity. We need to witness to the dynamic nature of our community as we work with our cluster parishes. We also need to be open to them witnessing to us about the dynamic aspects of their communities. My prayer is that both communities that result from the clustering process will include the CSM vision of our life together as responsible people of faith.

· Jeannie Cleary Burns: I joined my husband as a member of the Community and am delighted to feel a part of this vibrant parish. I would be honored to assist CSM as a member of the Community Council during this challenging and important time of discerning a right path for our cluster as we all seek to follow Jesus’ commands to love one another and build His Kingdom.

· Mike Graham: In addition to previous involvement, I am currently involved in planning the next Men’s Retreat, men’s bi-weekly sharing group, Spiritual Development Committee, to name a few. By getting involved I have discovered the heart of the Community and the parish. At times, I see the members through Jesus’ eyes feeling their energy of love. I am running for this position as a way of giving back and receiving from the Community. I am ready to step up and serve.

· Ron Perger: I am running for Community Council for two reasons: first, because I was asked, and I believe that I should follow the Spirit. Secondly, because I believe that the Community of St. Malachi needs to remain a strong presence in the community and this diocese as a personal lay-directed community. I believe that we as a community need to set the example for the diocese and the church and challenge the norm as Christ and the apostles did to move the church forward. I have been blessed to have the Community as my spiritual home for most of my adult life. Unfortunately, on any given Sunday, I now only see the church half-full and wonder what happened to the people who used to be standing in the aisles? I ask myself, “What can we as a community do to bring people to God?” I still believe the saying that “A church alive is worth the drive!”

· Jim Zaferopolos: I was born and raised in Kavala, Greece and came to this country with my mother when I was ten years old. I have been with Myers University for 28 years and, presently, am an Associate Professor of History and Political Science. My wife, Eileen, and I have been married for 39 years and have five grown children and 10 grandchildren. We are particularly engaged by the notion of an active and participatory lay community; this is what attracted us to the Community of St. Malachi. My interests led me to the Social Action Committee of which I was a co-chair last year. I am very dedicated to helping in whatever way I can to assist the development and the enhancement of the Community of St. Malachi.

 

· Barbara Aylward: I love this Community, believe strongly in its Mission Statement and have always had a commitment to service. Over the years, I have had many opportunities to serve in a variety of capacities and have always tried to be part of the Community’s growth and change. We are at a unique crossroad in the life of our Community. With the decision upcoming in our clustering process, this will be a critical year for my involvement. My history as a member helps me to know where we have been, which is important in understanding where we will go in the future. I look to enhance our parish life by sharing in the work of our Community Council this year.

· Bob Simoneau: During my first year as treasurer I came to understand the Community budget and finance cycle much more thoroughly and worked with the Community to try to get it on a sound financial footing. This past year I improved reporting and represented the Community on the Cluster Planning Team. I currently chair the Cluster Finance Subcommittee. If re-elected, I plan to continue to focus on fiscal soundness, provide regular reports to the Community and to make the Community finances even more transparent to our members. As we go forward with clustering, working with our cluster partners will continue to grow as an important role for the treasurer.

Christian Formation:

· Christine Crawford: As a CSM member for over 15 years, St. Malachi has been an integral part of our family. We feel that the ministries of St. Malachi are vital to the neighborhood we serve and our beliefs as Christians. I believe that the education of our children is one of the most important roles as parents and as part of a faith community. I look forward to working with parents, teachers and the Community to enhance the Catholic education of our children.

· Pam and Joe Pulizzi: We have been members of the Community for over a decade. We understand that the unique make up of the Community requires communication initiatives and ideas that keep us in constant contact with each other. We hope to continue in our roles as chairs of the Communications Committee to help to increase the relationship between the members of Council and the Community as well as to increase the networking between members and committees.

· Marie James: I believe that social events knit the Community together more strongly. We need to enjoy each other’s company. I am willing to help that to happen.

· Nancy Mura: I have enjoyed being co-chair of this committee during the past year. It’s given me an opportunity to meet many members while helping at Community events. Hospitality plays a role in meetings and events by providing refreshments, assistance and support. I have the enthusiasm and desire, with my co-chair, to determine how we can help now and in the future.

 

· Gary Pritts: I have a great love for the Community, which has nurtured me and been my home for 29 years. Prior to St. Malachi’s I served for three years as chair of the Liturgy Committee in my college parish and continued involvement with the Community Liturgy Committee for a number of years. Through the experience of being involved with the men’s retreats, my appreciation and love for ritual has increased. My hope, intention and prayer is that my service might help us more fully participate in liturgy and, as a result, that we might experience God’s saving power and be transformed.

· Stephanie Pritts: Community of St. Malachi has been my spiritual home for 29 years. It is the place where I met and married my husband of 25 years and where our two sons received their first sacraments. Over these years, I have been involved in a variety of ministries, among them Liturgy, Refugee Ministry, Vibrant Parish Life, Christian Formation, Spiritual Development and small prayer communities. I have a deep love for liturgy and feel called to serve the Community in this capacity at this time.

· Carol Anders: I have been an active member of the Membership Committee for several years so I am aware of its mission as well as its significance during the clustering process. While I have some ideas for attracting new members to our committee, I know that the existing members of our group work very well together and will continue to assist and support the co-chairs. Fran and I as co-chairs agree on the objectives that need to be accomplished this year.

· Fran DeChant:

I’ve served on the Membership Committee for three years. I’m familiar with the responsibilities of this important committee. As co-chair, I hope to continue the work of welcoming new members and helping them to participate fully in the spirit and the ongoing activities of the Community of St. Malachi.

· Joan Daly: Having been trained at Maryknoll, I worked with migrant workers in California. I believe I can bring sensitivity and understanding to those in need of the services of the Social Action Committee. It is my conviction that the Social Action Committee leadership and members will be required to maintain a spirituality and sense of dedication to the community and the people we serve.

Spiritual Development:

Jackie Bluett: I feel it is a privilege to serve as a chairperson for the Spiritual Development Committee. I am grateful to the others who participate on the committee and their support. We hope to continue to offer individuals and groups opportunities for learning and for deepening their experiences of God’s love and their love of God through Jesus Christ for the building of community and service.

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