Week of January 16, 2005

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Archive of Weekly Bulletins

Dear Parishioner,

We continue to deal with our cash-flow problem in the parish. The appeal to increase the collection offerings is going very well. The Finance Committee will provide a complete financial report once all the pledges are in. Meanwhile we continue to look for ways to decrease our expenditures and increase our income.

A significant portion of our income comes from our parish hall. Led by Chef Randy Henning and his experienced staff our parish hall provides valuable resources to our parish ministries by catering weddings and other private functions. In the past we have been able to net over $80,000.00 a year for our parish programs. Those who have been attentive to our yearly reports may have noticed that in recent years those profits have been much lower. This is not because of a drop in quality or use of our hall. Last year we booked as many parties as ever. But the size of the parties has dropped. Weddings which routinely invited 350 guests now usually invite 250. This reduction in party-size cuts directly into our profits. This is a trend being experienced by halls throughout the area. Even with a lesser profit, the hall is still valuable to us financially. Beyond the income we gain, the hall also assumes a significant part of our parish's cleaning, landscaping and snow removal costs as part of its budget. Moreover we routinely use the hall space for our parish programs throughout the week.

As a parish, however, we would be well-served to promote the use of the hall. More events add up to more income for our benefit. Therefore, I am taking time today to ask you to spread the word concerning our parish hall. Anyone who has attended a wedding reception in our hall knows the food and service are of the highest quality. Since we are not a business we are unable to advertise - - we depend upon word-of-mouth. Our reputation is superb. Already most of the Saturdays for 2005 are booked for weddings. It is however when we are able to hold events on Fridays, Sundays or other days of the week that we can increase our profit.

The hall is presently booking events for 2005-2006. So please consider using our hall for your family events and spread the word to your friends. If you own or work for a company, our hall provides an excellent setting for office parties or seminars.

We are open to book parties from 50-500 people. Weekend evening functions range from $36.95 to $42.95 per person depending upon the menu. Monday through Thursday evenings are considerably less. Daytime parties range from $15.95 to $18.95. Food can be served buffet, family style or sit-down. Parishioners receive a 10% discount for Saturday night weddings and a $5.00 per person discount is given for bookings on Friday nights. Any questions concerning the hall can be addressed by calling 440-946-6635.

It is common today to speak of win-win situations. Using our parish hall for your family events is surely one of these. Not only will you receive excellent food and service in a beautiful setting, but you will be helping your parish as well.

Fr. George Smiga

TSUNAMI DISASTER – Thank you to everyone who donated to the Tsunami Disaster. We sent Catholic Relief Services $19,917.00. Any further donations should be sent to: Catholic Relief Services, P.O.Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.

WEDNESDAY EVENING MASS CANCELLATION - Because our GIFT Program falls on Wednesday evening, January 19 th and Wednesday evening, March 2 nd , our Wednesday evening Masses on those two evenings will be cancelled.

VOLUNTEERS are needed to wash the altar linens. If you are interested, please call the parish office at 440-946-0887. You will be scheduled once every two months.

SACRISTANS – HELP HELP!! We are in need of sacristans for the Saturday evening 5:00 p.m . Mass . Please call the parish office at 440-946-0887 if you are able to help, or for answers to any questions you may have.

ROSARY – There will be no Rosary Devotion for the month of January.

MARCH FOR LIFE – The 32 nd annual March for Life, commemorating the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion will take place Sunday, January 16 at 2 p.m. in Mentor.  Participants will gather in the northeast parking area of Great Lakes Mall and travel east along Rte 20 to St. Mary Church.  Warm refreshments and an inspirational program will take place in the school gymnasium, featuring Life Decisions International's Patricia Pitkus-Bainbridge. 

RESPECT LIFE – As we begin a new year let us resolve to support and respect life at every stage.  We can begin by heeding the words of our Bishops and the Holy Father regarding the dignity and worth of human life, which are recalled in a brochure entitled, “Made In His Image.”    Please pick up a copy of this brochure which can be found in the pocket of the Social Concerns section of the kiosk. 

PEACE MESSAGE - Copies of Pope John Paul II's message of January 1, 2005 for the celebration of World Peace Day can be found in the pockets below the Social Concerns Section of the kiosk. 

WEDDING MUSIC – We will have an Evening of Wedding Music Tuesday, January 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the church. This workshop is for engaged couples who will be getting married this year, and will feature over an hour of music appropriate for liturgy, as well as a chance to hear parish soloists and instrumentalists. To better assist you in making choices, you are strongly encouraged to bring a tape recorder and a couple of tapes to the session. See you there.

GIFT REGISTRATION FORMS -Remember to turn in your January GIFT registration form this weekend. Just drop your form in the GIFT box on the table in the narthex. There are additional forms on the table, too! We can always use extra hands so be sure to check off a job you can help with!

ANNUAL FAMILY ITALIAN DINNER will be Friday, January 28 th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The cost will be $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for children ages 6-12 and children 5 and under are free. Tickets will be sold at the door. Volunteers are needed to help serve and clear the tables, and a sign-up sheet is on the kiosk.

MARDI GRAS – 2005 – Start the New Year off “right” and plan to treat yourself to a “night out.” Join family and friends at St. Noel Mardi Gras 2005. The date is set for Saturday, February 5 th . Food, Beverages, Music, and Fun! Tickets are only $35.00 each and available after Masses this weekend.

ST. AUGUSTINE RAFFLE CALENDARS – are available in the parish office on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (not on Saturdays) or Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost of the calendar is $25.00. For more information please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

CELEBRATING THE LOVE OF GOD – A daytime retreat on February 2, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. will be facilitated by Marc Weagraff and Fran Armbruster. For more information call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

WOMEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST – Our winter warm-up breakfast will be held on Saturday, February 12 th , from 8-10:00 a.m. in the small hall. Our presenter will be Sister Elizabeth Troha who will lift our spirits and involve us in a “Meditation in Motion” through the art of Tai Chi. Please wear comfortable clothing and tied shoes. As always, we will enjoy a delicious breakfast and a time of prayer together. The suggested donation is $3.50. Please sign up on the kiosk if you plan to attend. If you have any questions, please call Joyce Rodriguez at 440-286-3060.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for January are as follows: January 13th – Auction – January 20 th – Luncheon – Noon - meeting, socializing, and then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our luncheon consisting of Pork & Sauerkraut, potatoes, beans, and apple pie. Cost is $6.00 per person. For more information or tickets please call Helene at 216-261-0010. Deadline for tickets and payment is January 17th. January 27th – Games, your choice. We will celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. Please remember to bring your food donation for the food pantry to this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend the Senior Fellowship on Thursdays.

PRIME TIME – Make it a summer to remember!! Come to PRIME TIME tonight (Sunday) at 7:30pm

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – Our next meeting is Tuesday, January 25 th at 7:00pm. Bring your bibles!

SUMMER SERVICE TRIP – We're headed to Chicago the week of July 24-30. Young Neighbors is awesome in Chicago and is open to all 9-12 grade students. Your deposit of $50 will reserve a spot, and 3-4 spots remain! Call Anthony with questions or to register (946-1128 x20)

PANCAKE BREAKFAST – Our annual PRIME TIME Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast is Sunday, February 13 th from 10:00am-1pm in the hall. All proceeds benefit St. Noel Youth Ministry. Bring your sweetheart for flapjacks!!

NOEL MOVERS – We are always in need of twin and full size mattress & box springs. Your donation makes a tremendous difference! Please call Anthony (946-1128) if you have any useable furniture item to donate.

LECTORS NEEDED – Hey teens!! Get involved in the Mass and become a lector. We are looking for interested high school teens to serve as lectors at our weekend liturgies. Proclaiming the scriptures is a tremendous privilege! You will receive training and all the support you need. Call Anthony if you are interested.

THE CLEVELAND ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES will be offering the following courses and seminar. Fr. George Smiga, STD, will teach Matthew: The Gospel of Community, Instruction, and Blood ; on Saturdays, January 22-March 12; Wayne Simsic, MA, will teach The Silent Desert: Meister Eckhart's Teaching on the Spiritual Life , on Mondays, January 24 th – March 7 th ; Ed Gemerchak, MSW, will teach Just Neighbors: An Interfaith Response to Poverty in Cleveland , on Tuesdays, February 15 th -March 15 th ; Timothy K Beal, PhD, Peter J. Hass, PhD and Imam Ramez Islambouli, will be offering a day long seminar on, Violence in the Bible and Qur´an: Wrestling with Difficult Texts ; on Tuesday, February 15 th . Details concerning these courses and seminar can be found in the green and white flyers in the kiosk.

CATHOLIC UPDATE – entitled “Day by Day: Stillness in Lent,” by Phyllis Zagano, is now available in the kiosk.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT – The diocese is sponsoring a program at St. Bede the Venerable Church in Mentor. The program will be on caregiver support and they will be discussing the legal issues, what medical help is available and other care issues. The program will be held on Saturday, January 22 nd from 10:00 a.m. till Noon in St. Bede's Youth Ministry Room in the church building. This program is for people who are caregivers or who might be one in the future. Also those who might need a caregiver in the future. For more information please call Bob Ulman at St. Bede 440-257-5544, ext 105.

THEOLOGY ON TAP – Join the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation's Associate Board of young philanthropic professions for the winter installment of “Theology on Tap.” The program will be held at Bottom's Up (1222 Prospect Avenue, in Cleveland's Gateway District) on Thursday, January 20 th . The featured speaker is Fr. Bob Stec, Director of the Diocesan Vocation Office. Entrance fee of $3.00 includes appetizers and drink specials. Reservations are encourage, but walk-in are welcome—please contact Laura Alduk at 216-696-6525, X 1049,

lalduk@dioceseofcleveland.org or visit

www.cdcf.org/tot.

CROSSROADS will hold its inaugural fundraiser, Carousel , on Friday, March 4th from 6:30 -11:00 pm at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. Tickets are $50. Corporate tables are available. The event will feature a silent auction and will also honor individuals in the community who volunteer their time to help children. Crossroads is a nonprofit organization that provides a full spectrum of mental health and substance abuse recovery services for children and families in Lake County. For more information please call Julie Weagraff at 440-266-4078 or juliew@crossroads-lake.org.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP – Family and friends of individuals with mental or emotional illness are invited to join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:30p.m. at St. John Vianney Church in the Activity Center. For more information, call Barb at 440-256-3922.

ADOPTION INFORMATION MEETING – Anyone interested in learning about International Adoption is invited to an information meeting on Thursday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at St. Noel in the Resurrection Room #1.

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