Week of January 17, 2010

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Dear Parishioner,

We received some very discouraging news this week which concerns our Music Director, Agnieszka Bieniek. Aga is a Polish citizen and is presently in our country on a worker visa. When Aga left employment at Gilmour Academy and came to St. Noel in July, 2009, we applied for a transfer of this visa. The process was guided through the expertise of one of the premier immigration lawyers in Cleveland. It was his expectation that the transfer would be successful. Last week we received notice from the U.S. Citizens Immigration Services that the transfer had been denied and that Aga was expected to leave the country.

Aga and I met with the lawyer and he feels that the government may have made legal errors that constitute grounds for an appeal. We therefore plan to file an appeal and should know within a few months if the appeal is successful.

I believe that Aga is an extremely important gift to our community. Her superb musical skills, her open and winning personality, and her deep faith have all contributed to the continued growth and excellence of our music program. Any of you who attended the Epiphany Concert last weekend saw the energy and excellence that she has been able to accomplish in the few months she has been with us.

I therefore ask you for your prayerful support that our appeal will be successful and that Aga will be able to continue as our Music Director.

                                                        Fr. George Smiga

WELCOME TO NEW PARISHIONERS – We would like to welcome our new parishioner, John M. Benda. You will find his picture on the bulletin board.

ST. AUGUSTINE HUNGER CENTER – Our volunteers will not be serving the meal at the St. Augustine Hunger Center in January. We will resume serving the meal at the end of February.

MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE ILL - The New Year is here and we would like to update our bulletin list of people who are ill. We will be removing all names by January 31st. If there is anyone you would like to remain on the list, please call the parish office before January 31st to let us know.

MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP meets next on Tuesday, January 19th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Banquet Center Large Hall. Bring your bible and binder…We will need them both!

MARK THE DATE- A Pancake Breakfast with a Mardi Gras twist will be held on Sunday, February 14th from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Noel Banquet Center Large Hall. Proceeds benefit the Divine Word/St. Noel Cluster Youth Ministry. Along with breakfast, enjoy a juggler/magician, contests, games, and crafts. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.

PRIME TIME NEWS – Thank you to all of the teens and adults who worked so hard to make our night on Dealing with Stress a great evening. We hope it helped you all during this stressful time of midterm and final exams.

Come join us for a double dose of service. We will meet in Hanson Hall on Saturday, January 23rd to cook a meal for the St. Phillip Neri Community meal program. Join us at the Divine Word 5:00 p.m. Mass and bring your culinary skills to cook up a feast! The following morning we will meet after the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Noel in the narthex. We will carpool to St. Phillip Neri to serve the meal. We should return about 2:00 p.m. to St. Noel. We need parents for driving. Permission slips for the Sunday trip are online and in the kiosk at St. Noel.

PARISH RETREAT: “Transform Yourself in Lent – Be Reborn by Easter” on Wednesday, February 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Led by Marianne Slattery, we will be challenged to transform our lives in Lent by making a 21 day commitment to change the habit of complaining, gossiping, or criticizing. A $6.00 donation is recommended to defray the cost of lunch. Sign up on the kiosk or call the parish office (440-946-0887).

THE ELIZABETH MINISTRY’S “ELIZABETH’S FLOWERS” - will be available in the narthex following all masses this weekend (January 16/17). Designed to identify, pray for, and support the needs of women and their families during the childbearing years, parishioners are invited to select a flower from the display and indicate a particular need relating to pregnancy, birth, adoption, fertility or loss. Elizabeth ministers will pray daily for the families represented, and if requested, will contact the family in order to provide continued support. Prayer cards will be available for personal meditation. For further information on the Elizabeth Ministry, visit the parish website at www.stnoel.org, and click on “Caring Ministries.”

PARISH POT LUCK AND GAME NIGHT – Join us following the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, January 23, for a relaxing evening of food, fellowship, and fun. Bring along a dish to share and any table or board games you might like to play (we’ll have some, too). After dinner, we will set up games like Trivial Pursuit, Buzz Word, Taboo, Chronology, chess and checkers, pinochle, Chutes and Ladders (and many more). All you have to do is decide what game you want to play and we’ll spend the rest of the evening table hopping from game to game (or stay put if your luck is holding out)! Make plans now to join us in the Large Hall for this fun evening of food and entertainment. We will provide pasta and meatballs for the main course, but please sign up on the kiosk with the number of people from each household attending and what you think you might bring as a side dish. If you have any questions or suggestions, please call Marianne Slattery (440-946-1128).

ASSISTANCE TO HAITI: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, is responding to victims of the massive earthquake in Haiti. To donate, please call 1-877-HELP-CRS, donate online at www.crs.org or send a check to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.  In the memo portion of your check, please write: Haiti Earthquake

SAVE THE DATE! -  On Wednesday evening, February 24th, our cluster committee with Divine Word for Social Justice is planning an event entitled, “Simple Living for Generous Giving,” which will begin at 6:30 p.m. The evening will include a simple meal free of charge, a thrift shop style show by our youth and much more. Further details in coming weeks. 

BISHOP’S REQUEST ON HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION:  As the House and Senate attempt to reconcile their respective bills on health care legislation it is vital that we contact our senators urging that they follow the lead of the House in maintaining the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion.  Please contact our senators as soon as possible to voice the need to support life, the conscience rights of health care workers, affordability and access of immigrants to health care. A blue flier can be found in the Social Justice section of the kiosk with all the details you need to take action. Let us also keep our legislators in our prayers. 

BLANKETS NEEDED – If you have any blankets you are not using there are some homeless people in Painesville who very much need them. Several of our parishioners are working with parishioners from St. Mary in Painesville providing services to those unable to get into the homeless shelter because it is full. Please bring the blankets to the office and we will get them to those in need. For questions, please call Alice (440-946-0887).

CONSUMER PROTECTION WORKSHOP - The Lake/Geauga Diocesan Social Action Office is sponsoring a workshop on being a smart consumer in today’s economy on Thursday, January 28, 2010. It is being offered at two different times that day. See kiosk for details and for sign-up forms.

WINE TASTING AND CUPID’S DINNER will be held on Friday, February 12th at 6:30 p.m. Kick off Valentine’s Weekend by attending this event in the St. Noel Banquet Center. Chef Cupid will be serving minestrone soup, mesclun & romaine salad greens with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing, fresh mozzarella roll, lemon sorbet, petite filet of beef and lobster tail, roasted fingerling potatoes, zucchini and baby carrots, rolls & butter and cherries jubilee flambé. There will be a different wine served with each course. The cost for this event is only $50 per person. You can make reservations by calling the Banquet Center (440-946-6635). Hope to see you there.

AN EVENING OF MAGIC AND A DINNER BUFFET will take place in the St. Noel Banquet Center on Saturday, February 27th at 6:30 p.m. Magician Rick Smith Jr. will be performing. Rick is in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing a playing card 216’ 4”. He has also appeared on “The Ellen Degeneras Show,” “The Wayne Brady Show,” and “Ripleys Believe It or Not Show” to name a few. This show can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Please call 440-946-6635 for reservations and more details.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – All meetings are held on Thursdays at 12:00 noon in the St. Noel Banquet Center Small Hall. Activities for January are as follows: January 21st, 12:00 noon, socializing, meeting, then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our luncheon of meat loaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, mixed vegetables, cherry strudel, salad, rolls & butter. For more information or tickets, please call the parish office (440-946-0887). The deadline for tickets and payment is January 18th. On January 28th, we will have bingo, birthdays & anniversaries. Please bring something for the food pantry to this meeting. Everyone is welcome!

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY – If you are a single woman between the ages of 18 and 40 and would like to experience ministry with the Sisters of the Living Word, we are offering a “window of opportunity” with an Immersion Experience from April 5-10 in Holly Springs, MS. For more information, see the brochure in the kiosk or talk with Sr. Kathleen Heer, SLW. Before the registration deadline of February 15.

BIRTHRIGHT OF LAKE COUNTY is hosting their annual “Cupid’s Closet” fundraiser on Thursday, February 11 at 6 p.m. This Valentines Dinner, Fashion Show and Auction is at a new location – the Croatian Lodge in Eastlake. Tickets are $45 per person. For more information or to get tickets please call Donna Walters (440-352-4515).

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP:  This monthly group hosted by St. John Vianney will be on Wednesday, January 20 at 7:00 p.m.  For more information or required registration, please call Rita (440-942-0336). If you're grieving and feeling alone, it's good to share with others who understand.

CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER: STRESS REDUCTION FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS is the title of a workshop to be held on Tuesday, January 26 from 7-9 p.m. at St. John of the Cross Church (formerly St. Felicitas). Please call Jason Lewis (216-334-2974) for registration information.

MEAL MINISTRY – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hot Meal Ministry will serve dinner to anyone or any family that is in need of a hot meal from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday evenings beginning January 18.

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