| Week
of April 1, 2007
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Dear
Parishioner,
This
week is Holy Week and each year I remind you that these days are
the high point of our shared prayer as a Church community. You will
find a complete listing of the liturgies for Holy Week below.
What
I would like to emphasize is how the days of the Easter Triduum
(Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday), do not simply recall
an event of the past, but celebrate a present reality of Christ
alive among us. When we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper
on Holy Thursday, we not only remember the last meal that Jesus
shared with His disciples on the night before He died, but we also
remind ourselves of Christ's presence with us. Christ is present
as we gather to celebrate meals with our families and those we love.
He is also present in a unique way as we gather to share the Eucharist
with our parish community.
When
we gather on Good Friday we do not simply remember that Christ was
crucified as a criminal almost 2,000 years ago, but we also recognize
that through the gift of His love on the cross we now stand in a
new relationship with God, as those who are now saved by the One
who died for us.
When
we gather, as we will this Holy Saturday, we not only remember that
Jesus rose from the dead, but we also claim our share in His resurrection.
This Saturday, two catechumens will be baptized: Lu Collins and
Phil McNeal. Their baptism reminds us of our own status as sons
and daughters of God. Two candidates, Gretchen Bates and Ed Keyse,
will be confirmed and enter into full communion with the Catholic
Church. Their union with us reminds us that we are all together
the Body of Christ Jesus' living presence in our world.
It
is also important during this Holy Week to remember the teaching
of the Catholic Church concerning the historical responsibility
for Jesus' death. Although one might gain the impression from the
reading of the Passion this weekend and on Good Friday that Jewish
people are to be blamed for Jesus' crucifixion, our Church clearly
teaches that such a conclusion is erroneous. The Romans, under Pontius
Pilate, were historically responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. Although
Jewish temple authorities were likely involved in this process,
the Jewish people in Jesus' time or in our own cannot be blamed
for Jesus' death.
The
celebrations of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday do
not simply recall events of Jesus' life but important realities
of our own. As St. Paul says, We who have died with Christ will
also live with Him.
I
strongly encourage you to join us this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Worship with us, so that Christ may live in you.
Fr.
George Smiga
THE
CLEVELAND ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES
- The Institute is an ongoing opportunity in our area for Christians
to delve into their faith on a deeper level. Please pick up a brochure
in the kiosk and consider whether the Cleveland Ecumenical Institute
for Religious Studies could be an option for your own faith development.
EUCHARISTIC
MINISTERS AND
SACRISTANS - please sign up on the bulletin board by the
kitchenette if you are able to help with Easter Sunday liturgies.
HOLY
THURSDAY ADORATION
There will be a period of personal prayer time before the Holy
Eucharist on Holy Thursday evening until 11:00 p.m. in the Banquet
Center/large hall. We encourage parishioners to sign up on the kiosk
for one of these times.
LOAVES,
LETTERS & MORE The
U.S. Bishops in their 2001 document entitled, Global Climate Change,
state: At its core, global climate change is not about economic
theory or political platforms, not about partisan advantage or interest
group pressures. It is about the future of God's creation and the
one human family. St. Noel is offering two opportunities for education
and action on these matters: On Friday, April 13, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.,
the Social Justice Ministry is hosting the next in our Loaves
and Letters events.
Come
share a simple meal, and then learn a bit about this issue, from
the perspective of our Bishops. We conclude with a chance to take
action by writing a letter (or 3!) to our federal representatives
on pending legislation. Topics and writing resources will be prepared
for all ages. Remember, T he Food is Free, a Letter
is Your Fee .
The
second opportunity will be on Sunday,
April
22, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.; The Beyond JustFaith group is showing the
Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth
. This Earth Day event will be a good opportunity to
learn more about our impact on the planet which has been entrusted
to our care by God.
PROJECT
HOPE ANNUAL DINNER
Project Hope for the Homeless cordially invites you to attend
Eagle's Wings Fundraising Dinner and Auction on Friday, April 27,
2007 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the St. Noel Banquet Center.
Tickets are $40 per person or $300 for a table of eight! Reservations
are requested by Friday, April 13 th . For tickets or auction
donations call 440-354-6417.
HOPE
FOR HEALTHCARE :
As legislators on both the state and national level begin to talk
more seriously about health care, it is important that we as Catholic
Christians contribute to the conversation. The St. Noel Health Care
Task Force invites you to join us on Monday evening April 30, 2007
from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Please consider joining us to pray and dialogue
about how we as Catholics might advocate and act most effectively
so that all people have access to health care. We will begin with
a light supper and ask that you RSVP by April 26, 2007 by calling
Alice Hinkel at 440-946-0887 or emailing ahinkel@stnoel.org
.
REMINDER
- Lenten Bags can be
returned to the clothing and food drop-off area in the right hand
bins.
Lenten
Rice Bowls can be returned
to the parish office.
PRESENCE
OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD: In our Lives and In the Eucharist. Join
us for this daytime retreat opportunity as we reflect on the Eucharistic
presence of the Good Shepherd and how we are fed in the meal of
the Good Shepherd. On Wednesday, April 4 th we will gather in the
Resurrection Room at 10:00 a.m. The day will conclude at 2:00 p.m.
and include lunch. A guest presenter, Laura Parran of Holy Rosary
Church, will lead our reflections and discussion. Please sign up
on the kiosk if you plan to attend. A donation of $5.00 will help
cover the cost of lunch. If you have any questions, please call
the parish office at 440-946-0887.
ST.
NOEL FISH FRIES No Fish Fry on Good Friday.
ADULT
BIBLE STUDY : A new
Bible study group for adult men and women is being formed. The group
will meet at St. Noel twice a month on Thursday evenings 7:15 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. in the lower level. The first meeting will be on Thursday,
April 19 th .The first study will be the Gospel of Luke. For further
information call the parish office.
BEREAVEMENT
SERIES
Our Bereavement Ministry invites anyone (participants need not be
parishioners) who is coping with the loss of a family member or
friend to attend a series of evenings designed to support and assist
people in their grieving. The series will be held in the Lower Level,
April 3 rd through May 8 th and each evening will include some time
for prayer. These sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude
at 8:30 p.m. If you would like to attend, please register by calling
the parish office at 440-946-0887. Fliers are available in the kiosk.
STOP
THE VIOLENCE WALK-A-THON- Forbes
House is very excited to announce their first Walk-A-Thon to stop
the violence hosted by the Human Service Club at Lakeland Community
College. The walk will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2007, at Lakeland
Community College. Walkers will be meeting at the Atrium by Breakers
Lounge at 8:00 a.m. to sign in before the walk begins. The walk
will officially begin at 9:00 a.m. and consist of a 3 mile walk
around campus. For more information please call Karen McGain at
440-357-1018.
CATHOLIC
UNIVERSE BULLETIN subscription
forms can be found in the kiosk.
COUNSELING
ASSISTANCE FUND
The Church is committed to helping those who have been harmed as
a result of sexual abuse by representatives of the Church. According
to mental health professionals, counseling is a vital component
of the healing process for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
The Church recognizes, however, that there are people who are reluctant
to contact us for help. This new Counseling Assistance Fund can
help these individuals. If you would like more information, please
go to the website at www.counselingassistancefund.org
.
ST.
NOEL FELLOWSHIP Activities
for April are as follows: April 5 th -NO
MEETING, April 12 th - Bingo, April 19 th
- socializing, meeting, and then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our
luncheon Menu: Beef Stroganoff w/noodles, California Vegetables,
salad, rolls, desert. Cost is $6.00 per person. Deadline for tickets
and payment is April 16 th . April 26 th - we
will celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Also, please remember
to bring your food donation for the food pantry to this meeting.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Senior Fellowship on Thursdays.
RECYCLED
MATERIALS Our Parishioner,
Megan Fraley, a Senior Girl Scout in Troop 655, is working on her
gold award project which is an environmental awareness project.
For part of the project she is planning and executing a station
for the Holden Arboretum's Earth Day celebration. At this event
younger Girl Scouts can earn ecology patches. Megan's station is
creating door stoppers from recycled materials and here is how you
can help. The following items are needed: rugs (bath size),
towels (Bath towels or larger-no washcloths please), blankets (twin
size or larger), sheets (twin size or larger ). If you
have any of these items you may drop them off by April 15 th in
the collection box which is in the hallway across from our food
pantry.
EASTER
HAMS Hams are still
available!! We continue to work with Chef Randy to provide hams
of the highest quality. We're trying to reach our goal of 60 hams!
Here's what one parishioner said: Last
year was the first year we got one of these hams and it was absolutely
delicious. We are looking forward to enjoying another one this Easter!
They're a great deal at $4.75/lb, and
yo u can place your order by
calling or emailing Anthony (946-1128 x20 acamino@stnoel.org
). Hams can be picked up this week Tuesday and Wednesday
(April 3-4) from 10-3pm and on Saturday, April 7 th from 10-12noon
in the small hall.
PRIME
TIME Join our annual
Passion Sunday prayer service tonight at 7:00pm in the teen center.
SUMMER
SERVICE All spots are filled for
our Young Neighbors in Action trip to Washington DC the week of
July 8-14. Two spots (boys) remain for our service trip to rural
Kentucky the week of June 30 th . These are unique opportunities
for high school teens to live and learn about their Catholic faith.
Call Anthony for more information (946-1128 x20).
NOEL
MOVERS the furniture
bank is going strong! We are in need of mattresses and box springs
all sizes. Please call Anthony to donate any useable furniture
(946-1128 x20)
JUNIOR
HIGH YOUTH GROUP Our
next session is Wednesday, April 18 th at 7:00pm in the lower level.
Bring your bibles.
ST.
NOEL GOLF LEAGUE will
hold a short meeting in the Nativity Room for new and present members
on April 12, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. The league meets at St. Dennis Golf
Course every Thursday from April 19 th through September 7 th .
Starting time is 4:00 p.m. until 4:58 p.m. Dues will be $50.00.
If you have any questions call John Grzincic at 440-585-4727.
GOLDEN
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
- Bishop Lennon will celebrate the annual Golden Wedding Anniversary
Celebration this year at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
on Sunday, July 29, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Registrations are now being
accepted for couples married 50 years (married in 1957). Deadline
for registration is June 15, 2007. Please call the parish office
at 440-946-0887 to register.
CHURCH
OF THE RESURRECTION Solon,
Ohio will be sponsoring two events Taize prayer, held monthly
will be Wednesday of Holy Week at 7:00 p.m. The Friday following
Easter Sunday, April 13, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. the church invites you
to a recital by Jason Vieaux, classical guitarist. For more information
please call Meg Matuska at 440-248-0980 X 25.
RETROUVAILLE
WEEKEND will be held
from Friday, April 13 th (8:00 p.m. through Sunday, April 15 th
(3:00 p.m.) at the Hilton Hotel, 3663 Park East Drive, Beachwood,
Ohio. A registration fee of $50 is requested to confirm a reservation.
If the stresses and strain of everyday living take its toll on your
marriage relationship or you have problems communicating with each
other then Retrouvaille may be for you.
For
more info please call Al or Diane Miskinis at 1-800-470-2230. You
may also learn about Retrouvaille on the web at: www.helpourmarriage.com.
SUMMER
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Sisters of Notre Dame invite women ages 18-40 to participate
in a five-day program of summer service with the sisters. Summer
options include: an inner-city elementary school and Bible camp,
a crisis care center for children, and a rural camp for migrant
workers and their families. These opportunities are available in
Cleveland and surrounding areas in May and July, and in Los Angeles,
CA in August. For more info visit:
www.sndchardon.org
or contact Sister Kathleen Hine, by phone at 440-279-1194.;
CATHOLIC
UPDATE entitled Acts
of the Apostles, by Ronald D Witherup; S.S. is now available in
the kiosk.
LAKE
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
invites you to attend their premier social event of the year The
Emerald Auction, which will take place on April 20, 2007 at the
Holiday Inn Suites & Hotel LaMalfa. To purchase tickets and
for more info call Sara at 440-488-0982 or e-mail
sara.rossetti@gmail.com.
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