Feast of the Assumption, OCIA, and Volunteering at St. Malachi

Speaking of a happy Feast, the Church will celebrate Mary’s Assumption into heaven on Saturday, August 15th, a holyday without obligation as it falls on Saturday this year. Some weeks ago I proposed a mass and a short pilgrimage from St. Peter to Playhouse Square for lunch. Since that proposal, the Cleveland Police Department suggested finding another day due to their staffing limitations with The Feast in Little Italy, a department safety fair and The Fest in Avon. We also have a large wedding in the early afternoon which will put parking space here at a premium. Next year, the Assumption falls on Sunday, a better day for an event such as this. The 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi will occur later this year on Sunday, October 4th; perhaps that will be a day for special feasting.

This volunteer chorus of pastoral musicians from St. Peter and around the diocese will lead us in sung prayer this Sunday evening at the 7:00pm mass.

The inspiration of Jason Falkofsky, our pastoral musician, the group recalls the tradition of men’s choirs in the Church and gives the acoustics in our worship space a chance to shine! Add your voice to theirs this Sunday evening!

Until recently known as the Rite of Christian Initiation, the OCIA is the process through which unbaptized people (catechumens) aged 8 and above enter the Church or those who began but have not finished their initial sacraments (candidates) can come to the fullness of faith at the Easter Vigil. I suspect that we all know someone who was never baptized or who was baptized but never celebrated First Eucharist or Confirmation.

Jesus gives us the words to say: “Come and see”. Our calling is to offer that invitation: come to Mass, meet members of the community and then give the Holy Spirit room to breathe and work. There has been an amazing growth in the number of adult baptisms in recent years in our country and in places like France, where over 20,000 adults were baptized last Easter. Now is the time to begin gently offering the invitation. The worst thing anyone can say is “no,” and the best thing we can say is “I’m praying for you!”

Please remember the sick among us who seek God’s healing hope in body, soul or spirit. In particular, we pray for Clare Wallace and John Keirman who are both experiencing significant vision concerns, and Joyce Watterson and Jacqueline Harris who are recovering from serious falls over the past few months.

I received a request from a member of St. Malachi Oratory asking for volunteers to help prepare and serve their Saturday morning breakfast on August 1st, September 26th and November 21st. Meal preparation begins around 8:00am with service from 9:00am until 10:30am; feel free to offer help as your schedule permits. The meal is served in the basement of the former St. Malachi School, near the corner of Detroit Ave. and West 25th St. Please contact Peggy Connell if you can offer some help to feed the homeless and poor on the Near West side. Email Peggy at peggysuppconnell@gmail.com to offer your help.

Peace and All Good Things!

Br. Phil Bernier, OFM Cap