Dear Parishioners,

On even years (like 2024) the Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland calls priests of the diocese together for a three-day gathering called a Convocation. This meeting will take place next week from Tuesday dinnertime until Friday lunchtime. Deacon Del, who assists in overseeing the Mass schedule, was able to get coverage for some of the Masses during the time when Fr. Isidore and I are away. For the two Masses that he was not able to cover with a priest, (Wednesday evening at St. Julie Parish and Thursday morning at St. Peter Parish) Deacon Del and Deacon Ken (with the permission of Bishop Malesic) will be hosting a Liturgy of the Word service that will include the distribution of Holy Communion.

The theme of our convocation is Jesus, the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever: A Call to Continual Conversion. Please pray for our presenters and all participating priests. As we priests respond to this call to continual conversion, may the whole Church continue to grow in holiness.

Last week Fr. Isidore and I had the pleasure of sharing a meal with the Crockpot Thursday cooking crew. Tim and Joanne Pogros hosted the dinner. We not only enjoyed a nice meal and good company, but we were also treated to a demonstration of the Argentinian Tango. We were unaware that the Pogros’ taught this form of dance for many years.

St. Julie Parish is still in need of a parttime maintenance person. This person works with the contracted service people who cut grass, shovel snow, and oversee our HVAC systems at the church and rectory. They would also need to know how to maintain and occasionally fix equipment. They would also need to assist with outdoor and interior maintenance such as shoveling and salting sidewalks, picking up branches, and seasonally stripping and waxing floors. Please contact the parish office if you have questions or would like to apply for the position.

In case you had not noticed, this is election season. I encourage you to read Bishop Malesic letter regarding the upcoming election. It is an insert in today’s bulletin.

Finally, today’s readings highlight the Sacrament of Matrimony. These texts of Sacred Scripture form the foundation for the Church’s teaching on marriage: one man and one woman: faithful, forever and fruitful (open to life). The Church’s teaching about marriage, based on Sacred Scripture, natural law and reason, is both challenging and beautiful. The challenge lies in the fact that marriage requires sacrifice, maturity, and commitment. Marriage is so beautiful that God chose it as one of the primary ways he describes the relationship of Jesus and the Church; Jesus Christ, the bridegroom and the Church as the bride.

In Christ,

Fr. Bob Franco