Week of March 3rd

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Dear Parishioner,

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. The forty days of Lent are a time for us, as Catholics, to reflect upon our own Baptismal call as we prayerfully support those in our midst who are preparing for Baptism and Full Communion with the Church. Lent is also traditionally a time to focus on opportunities for prayers, fasting, educational growth, and communal support. With these aims in mind, please consider the following opportunities which will be offered here at St. Noel.

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES

• Ash Wednesday (March 5th)-Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes at Noon; distribution of ashes with Eucharist at 7:00 p.m.
• Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, adult Catholics are also asked to fast-that is, limit their food to a simple full meal and two lesser meals.
• The First Sunday of Lent, March 9th, Jeff Suszynski and Rob Woolnough, who are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and Theresa Moir, Brett Ramming, and Matthew Renfro, who are seeking Full Communion with the Church, will be blessed at our 10:00 a.m. Liturgy and sent to a Diocesan celebration with the Bishop.
• The Second Sunday of Lent, March 16th, prayers for those preparing for Full Communion with the Church will be offered at the 10:00 a.m. Liturgy.
• 3rd, 4th, 5th Sundays of Lent at the 10:00 a.m. Liturgy-"The Scrutinies," when we pray for our catechumens, Jeff Suszynski and Rob Woolnough, as they prepare for Baptism and Full Communion with the Catholic Church.
• Wednesday, April 2nd, at 7:30 p.m., Parish Communal Penance Service.
• The Stations of the Cross-On Friday, April 11th at 7:30 p.m. our new Stations of the Cross will be blessed and we will celebrate the Way of the Cross together in our renovated church.
• Lenten Prayer Booklets by Joseph Creedon, entitled "From Ashes to Alleluia: Daily Gospel Reflections and Prayers," are available in the hall lobby to guide our personal prayer for Lent-one per family. "Together In Christ: The Lenten Edition," is also available to help families prayerfully prepare for Lent.

EDUCATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH

• Scripture Study-Come to grow in your appreciation of the Mass' ritual--A three-part series about the Mass: Word, Memorial, and Meal, led by Fr. Bob Marrone. We will explore the scriptural and historical basis of the Eucharistic celebration. Join us on Mondays, March 10,17, and 24 in the basement of Willoughby Hills City Hall from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Commentaries will be available at each session (the cost is $5.00 for a commentary).
• Finding Forgiveness Film Fest-Join us for an afternoon of food, fellowship, films and forgiveness as we view clips from a variety of movies including Ordinary People, Shawshank Redemption, I Never Sang For My Father, and many more. We will begin in the small hall on Sunday, March 16 at 1:15 p.m. with a soup and salad lunch. The day will include opportunities for watching film clips, sharing responses, and reflecting on our own experiences of forgiveness. A sign-up sheet will be available on the kiosk and a fee-will offering may be made for lunch.
• Parish Seder Meal- On Sunday, March 23 at 5:00 p.m. join us for the traditional ritual of the Passover meal led by Rabbi Fred Eisenberg of Temple Israel. You may make your own seder plate or borrow one of ours. Bring the whole family for an evening of tradition, good food, and fellowship. A sign-up sheet is on the kiosk or call Marianne Slattery at 440-946-1128 X 21 to register.
• Lenten Bags - We will once again this Lent be collecting bags of items for Forbes House, the Lake County women's shelter; Project Hope, The Lake County homeless shelter; Birthright; and St. Augustine Hunger Center. Tags indicating the items needed for each agency can be found on the table in the Lobby. Please use a plastic garbage bag for your items, closing it with the yarn and tag provided. If you do not have your own plastic bags, please help yourself to the plastic bags which are also on the table.

SOCIAL/FUND-RAISING EVENTS

• St. Noel Fish Fries-Fridays of Lent, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. beginning this Friday. Volunteers needed for serving and clean-up. Sign up on the kiosk if you can help.

As you can see, there are many opportunities for spiritual, educational and communal growth during the Lenten Season. May God bless us all in our Lenten journey.

Fr. George Smiga

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - I am happy to announce that we have met with representatives of Jance Construction who have determined that we will be able to resume weekend liturgies in our church the weekend of March 22-23. Not all aspects of the church will be completed by that date, but the church will be usable for worship. Moving back to the church will allow our hall staff to honor their contracts with people who wish to use the hall for weekend events.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jance Construction for the Craftsmanship Award which they recently received for their restoration of the south terrace of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work included the removal and replacing of 21,000 square feet of terrace marble and bluestone paving originally installed in 1916. It should be an encouragement to us that we have such an esteemed company responsible for the construction here at St. Noel.

A PRAYERFUL TOUR OF ST. NOEL CHURCH -

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. (Mk. 15:15)

Early in the history of the Church it became the custom of the faithful to follow the actual way walked by Christ from Pilate's house in Jerusalem to Calvary. As time went on, pilgrims to the holy city desired to continue this devotion when they returned home, thus also making it available to those who could not travel to Jerusalem. In the fourteenth century when the Franciscans were entrusted with the care of the holy places in Jerusalem they promoted marking the Lord's Way of the Cross with an image, such as a simple cross. It is not only the Scriptures, written reflections and prayers that are essential components of this devotion, but also the action of prayerfully walking from station to station. In order to facilitate this walking meditation, fourteen pavers, made from slate originally purchased for our sanctuary and recently discovered in our basement, will be placed in the floor of the church to create a Way of the Cross in the midst of our worship space. Each paver will be marked with the image of the Jerusalem cross and carry the number and title of the particular station.

"Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, as we recall your journey to Calvary, keep us mindful that it is you who always walks with us as we encounter the "Calvaries" of our own lives."

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, LECTORS AND SACRISTANS - If you are able to help at 7:00 p.m. liturgy on Ash Wednesday, March 5th, please sign up on the kiosk.

THE JAIL MINISTRY - is in need of two German Bibles. If you can help, please call Ada Gornik at 216-289-0180.

"LET THERE BE PEACE" - Our peace prayer and reflection group continues to meet from 1:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Sunday afternoon in the nursery. All are welcome. Also, please join us this Sunday evening, March 2nd at 6:30 p.m. for an Ecumenical Prayer Service for peace at the Methodist Church on the square in Painesville.

CURIOUS ABOUT CATHOLICISM (OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS)? Do you have questions about, or an interest in the Catholic faith? If so, please plan to join us on Thursday evening, March 6, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in the nursery when we will begin a new inquiry group for RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns please feel free to call Marianne Slattery at 440-946-1128, X 21 or Alice Hinkel at 440-946-0887.

SEEDS OF LITERACY PROJECT - Thank you to the sixteen St. Noel parishioners who have answered our call to tutor children and adults at St. Augustine Parish Learning Center. The response has been gratifying, not only for the children and adults whom we are helping, but also for the tutors themselves as they take on the responsibility of this important ministry. They have already made an impact on the lives of their students. This project is part of the St. Noel/St. Augustine Partnership. Now we have another challenge for someone who is willing to help. We need to find a tutor to continue "home-schooling" for Daniel, a nine-year old boy with lack of stability in his life. He is a loving child, and is taking well to the extra attention and instruction he is getting from his "home schooling" at St. Augustine Learning Center. His current tutor must leave and we will need someone to continue where his current tutor has left off. It is not necessary to be a teacher and it is possible that two people can do the job if they would like to share the responsibility. The commitment would be for the rest of this school year. To sign up as a tutor or to receive more information, please call our parish office at 440-946-0887. Brochures are available on the kiosk.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP - Activities for the month of March are as follows: March 6th games, your choice. March 13th - guest speaker, Sister Elizabeth. March 20th - luncheon consisting of Cavatelli, meatballs and sausage, salad and Tiramisu for dessert. Tickets are $6.00 per person. March 27th - steal-a-gift, socializing, birthday and anniversary celebrations, we will be serving cookies. Please remember to bring your food donation for the food bank. Everyone is welcome to attend the Senior fellowship on Thursdays.

PRIME TIME - Teens! Join us for our 2-week series with parishioner Tim Warneka, LPCC who is a martial artist and adolescent therapist. We will use our whole selves to learn about our Catholic peacemaking heritage through the principles of the nonviolent martial art of Aikido. Build peace in mind, body and spirit!!

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP - Our next session is Tuesday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m.

CLEVELAND FOOD BANK - Our volunteers are serving at the Food Bank on Monday, March 3rd. We leave the church at 5:30 p.m. and return at 8:45 p.m. Would you like to volunteer? Please call Anthony if you can help (440-946-1128 X 20).

CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES - We're meeting March 6th at 7:00 p.m. BRING YOUR SPONSOR!! You need an adult with you so if your sponsor can't make it, bring a parent along!

NOEL MOVERS - The moving ministry is in need of dressers, beds, and any other furniture items in good condition. Please call Anthony (440-946-1128 X 20) if you can help.

GORDON FOOD SERVICE - Please pick up a flyer after Mass today! You can check it out online at www.gfsmarketplace.com.

EASTER HAMS - It's not too early to start thinking about purchasing your spiral-sliced ham through PRIME TIME, our awesome high school youth group! These delicious hams are fully cooked and vacuum-sealed to ensure freshness. Last year, over 130 people enjoyed these hams, and we hope to increase that number this year. You can place your order in March!

THE DIVORCED AND SEPARATED OF LAKE AND GEAUGA COUNTIES - A divorce recovery group will take place on March 18th through May 6, 2003. Tuesday evenings, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Gabriel, Concord. Contact Catholic Charities at 440-352-6191 to register or for more information.
Also, the group will be attending 10:00 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Wickliffe on Sunday, March 9th. For more information please call 440-974-8769.

CATHOLIC UPDATE - entitled " Examen of Consciousness-Finding God in All Things":
A popular Method of Prayer from St. Ignatius and His followers, by Phyllis Zagano, is now available in the kiosk.

PROJECT HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS - is pleased to invite you to our 10th Anniversary Dinner featuring a silent auction and music by the Circle of Friends Gospel Quartet. The dinner will be held Saturday, March 22, 2003, 6:30 p.m. at the Kirtlander Party Center, 9270 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland. Tickets are $50.00 per person. Reservations are requested by Friday, March 7th. For tickets, call 440-354-6417.

ALWAYS OUR CHILDREN - The parent's support group for families and friends of gay and lesbian Catholics welcomes you to join us at our next meeting, Sunday, March 9th, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the library of the Administration Center at St. John Vianney Church on Bellflower Road in Mentor.

TAIZE PRAYER - will be held Thursday, March 6th, 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 460 E. 321st St., in Willowick. For further information please call 440-943-2133. All are welcome.

THE JESUS EXPERIENCE - is an amazing chronicle of the saints and rogues who carried the message of Christianity across the globe. This six-week series is rich in Christian history, music and art. Produced by the Paulist Productions, a ministry of the Paulist Fathers, the program will be premiering on the Hallmark channel on March 9th. Consult your local listings.

LAKE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL- presents Jesus Christ Superstar. Performance dates are March 14,15,21,22 at 8:00 p.m. and March 16,23,at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $7.00 for students and children and $10.00 for adults. For reservations, call 440-951-0077 between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Quick View of Meetings for the Week

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