Week of January 29, 2006

Weekly Readings

Quick View of Meetings for the Week

Archive of Weekly Bulletins

Dear Parishioner,

As you know the decreasing number of priests in our diocese will necessitate changes to parish life in the upcoming years. In an attempt to prepare for these changes I shared with you some months ago how our diocese is initiating a program of parish clustering. Every parish in the diocese will be asked to submit two or more suggestions for clustering arrangements with neighboring parishes. Each cluster must be composed of two or more parishes and consist of at least 2000 households. The diocese will then choose from the suggestions submitted and every parish will be assigned a cluster by the end of this year. Clustering does not necessarily mean that parishes will merge with each other. What they will be charged to do is to begin long- term planning for the future. They will work together to share ministries and resources and in time explore how they might function with one less priest in the cluster.
The advantage of the clustering approach is that each parish can be an active participant in the cluster's own future and help design the manner in which the shortage of priests can be addressed.

Our Pastoral Council has been working over the last year to determine the clustering suggestion we will offer to the diocese. The council wants to provide a means by which your insights may be included in this process. Our neighboring parishes with the number of registered households are as follows:

Divine Word     1120   households

Immaculate Conception   2549   households

Mount Carmel     3035   households

St. Felicitas     1759   households

St. Francis Assisi   2700   households

St. Noel Church     1576   households

St. Paschal Baylon   2932   households

If you have an opinion (positive or negative) about any of these parishes as a clustering parish we are asking you to pick up one of the yellow forms in the kiosk and fill it out. You can then deposit the form in the collection or return it to the parish office.

Final cluster partner(s) will have a significant input upon the future of our parish. Please take this opportunity to share with our Pastoral Council any insights which might assist this process.

Fr. George Smiga

EL SALVADOR-LATIN AMERICAN COLLECTION - Next weekend our ushers will be in the narthex after all Masses to accept donations for the support  of our priests and religious sister who work in the parishes served by our missionaries in El Salvador.  We thank you for your continued support.

THANK YOU !  Your bountiful contributions to the food pantry this past weekend are very much appreciated.  On behalf of all of our clients we want to extend a heartfelt thank you!

SIGNED LITURGY- Sunday, February 5 th , April Kinder will be joining us to sign the 11:00 a.m. Mass for the hearing impaired. Reserved seating can be found in the first two rows of chairs by the Eucharist Chapel.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – Would you like to spend one hour a week talking and listening to God? We are beginning Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays – starting February 6 th from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can sign up today to spend one hour each Monday or call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

STATE OF OUR VALUES – On Tuesday, January 31, 2006, at 9:00 p.m. EST, President Bush will deliver his 6 th State of the Union address, reflecting on the past year and articulating his broad vision for the coming year. After his speech, pundits and policymakers will respond. We expect a lot of talk about national priorities and values. But who will respond that represents your values or the values of Catholic Social Teaching? The Social Justice Ministry will host a State of Our Values event that night. We will join more than 1,000 other faith communities across the nation as we watch the speech, and contribute our voices to the national dialogue as to whether our values and priorities as a Church and a nation are being met. We'll gather at 8:30 p.m. in the large hall, respond to a few preliminary questions, watch the speech at 9:00 p.m., and then continue our discussion. Please call the office or e-mail Rose Fini at rosalina725@hotmail.com to register.

BOOK SALE – Our parishioner, Tim Warneka, has written a book entitled Leadership the Black Belt Way, which he will be selling and autographing in the narthex after Masses the weekend of February 11 th & 12 th .  Tim is donating 50% of his profits from sales that weekend to “Mujer y Comunidad,” our partnership in El Salvador of women who are starting a small sewing business.  The cost of the book is $19.95.  Please stop by his display to see if you might like to purchase a copy of Tim's book and support our partnership. 

EL SALVADOR REMINDER – Applications and a $50.00 deposit made out to St. Noel are due on February 1 st . Call Alice at 440-946-0887 if you have questions.

THE MATHEMATICS OF FORGIVENESS – Find out how Reconciliation can heal long divisions, Forgiveness solves difficult story problems and Penance is a commutative property. The next GIFT session will enrich your understanding of Jesus' call to forgive “70 x 7 times”. Share fellowship over a meal, and then divide into subsets where a program will be presented on an age-appropriate level. Sessions are Wednesday, February 15 th at 6:00 p.m. or Sunday, February 19 th at 12:30 p.m. Sign-up sheets are available in the narthex after Masses, or online at www.stnoel.org . You won't be asked to show your work, just display what you've learned afterward.

REMINDER - If you registered for GIFT on the installment plan, the second half payment is due now. You may leave your check in the GIFT box in the narthex (made out to St. Noel Church and mark “2 nd installment” in the memo), or you may bring it to the office .

WEDDING MUSIC - We will have an Evening of Wedding Music on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 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 tape the sessions. See you there!

MARDI GRAS 2006 – Treat yourself to a “Night Out.” Join family and friends at St. Noel's Mardi Gras 2006 . The date is set for Saturday, February 25 th . Food, cash bar, music, fun! Tickets are only $30.00 each and available after Mass this weekend. Proceeds benefit the St. Noel Social Justice Commission.

RETREAT - Scriptures: God's Word of Life and Love. The retreat will be held on Wednesday, February 1 st , from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The retreat will be facilitated by Jean Vitek and Fran Armbruster. Eucharistic Adoration will be in the Nativity Room from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. A donation of $5.00 is suggested to cover lunch. A sign-up sheet is on the kiosk. Call Fran at 1-440-729-3976 for more information.

WOMEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST - our winter warm- up breakfast will be held on Saturday, February 11 th , from 8:00-10:00 a.m. in the small hall. Our presenter will be Kitty Busher a member of the St. Noel Music Ministry. Join us as Kitty shares her message and journey of prayer, celebration and healing though the power of music. As always we will enjoy a delicious breakfast and a time for fellowship and conversation. The suggested donation is $3.50. Please sign up on the kiosk by February 7 th if you plan to attend. If you have any questions please call Joyce Rodriguez at 440-286-3060.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP - The activities for the month of February are as follows: February 2 nd – Horse Races, February 9 th – Bingo, February 16 th – 11:30am – Socializing, meeting, 12:30 pm we will have a luncheon consisting of a ham & cheese sandwich w/lettuce, mayo & mustard, chips, bean soup, and vanilla ice cream. Cost of the luncheon is $6.00 per person. Deadline for tickets and payment is February 13 th . Please remember to bring your food donation for the food pantry to this meeting. February 23 rd – Reverse Raffle. We will also celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day. Everyone is welcome to attend Senior Fellowship.

PRIME TIME - See you tonight at 7:00pm in the Teen Center! Don't forget to sign up for the PRIME TIME Bowl. We're playing on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb 5 th ) after the 11:00 Mass. Sign up on the kiosk.

ALTAR SERVERS – We are in need of servers at all our Liturgies. Both children (4 th grade and older) and adults are welcome to serve. Please call Anthony for more information. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to serve together! A special welcome to Marisa Iarussi and Elizabeth Hansen! Thanks for becoming servers!!

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – Our next session is Wednesday, February 1 st at 7:00pm. Bring your bibles.

CLEVELAND FOOD BANK – We're serving at the Food Bank on Monday, February 6 th . Please call Anthony if you are interested in serving (946-1128 x20).

NOEL MOVERS – We are currently in need of mattresses, cribs, dressers, couches, and washers. Please call Anthony to donate these items or any useable furniture.

CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES – Any teen in grade 6-12 interested in being confirmed this year needs to register by calling Anthony (946-1128 x20). Sessions begin March 1 st and Confirmation is scheduled for May 7 th at 11:00 Mass. If you've already registered with Marianne Slattery, you need not call again – thanks!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST – Our annual Valentines Day Pancake Breakfast is Sunday, February 12 th from 10-1pm in the large hall. All proceeds benefit PRIME TIME!! Bring your sweetheart for flapjacks on the 12 th !!

WEEKLY READINGS – The scripture readings for the current week and the upcoming week are published in the bulletin. You can also access the bulletin online at: Weekly Readings. We've also added a link where you can find the readings for any date of the calendar year. Go to the “Catholic Links” page of our website. Thanks for your suggestions!

YOUNG ADULT FAITH FORMATION – Over 30 people participated in the last series. Each session includes a delicious meal, small group discussion and prayer. Choose the topic that interests you and join us for the next series beginning in March. Pick up a brochure in the kiosk.

MUSIC MINISTRY CD'S – The St. Noel Music Ministry CD entitled How Can We Keep From Singing? features the choir, chamber singers and hand bell choir are available in the church office. Proceeds benefit the music ministry pilgrimage fund.

PARISH HISTORY BOOK – The 25 th Anniversary Parish Commemorative Book will be published in both a soft bound and hard-bound edition. The soft bound edition will be mailed to each parish household. The hard bound edition will include a foil-stamped cover and is included with a cornerstone sponsorship. Sponsorship cards are available in the kiosk. For further information, contact Chris Roach at 440-356-1124.

ST. NOEL PARISH HALL – We are taking reservations for any dates in 2006 and 2007. Select dates will fill up quickly. You can check availability by calling the hall office at 440-946-6635. Also mark your calendars for March 18 th , 2006, Shout will be back at St. Noel Parish Hall.

CATHOLIC UPDATE entitled “Letting God In: Daily Meditations for Lent,” by Richard Rohr, O.F.M., is now available in the kiosk.

DIVORCE RECOVERY FOR CATHOLICS    - An 8-week support group program designed to meet the needs of those who are recently separated or divorced will begin on Thursday, February 2 nd , at St. Gabriel Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Rd., Concord, from 7-9:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Catholic parishes in Lake and Geauga counties, the program offers direction, support, and the tools for coping with this life-changing, experience in a confidential setting with trained facilitators. For more information or to register, please call Catholic Charities at 440-352-6191 or 1-800-242-9755.

TAIZE PRAYER – Taize prayer will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 460 East 321 st St. For further information please call 440-943-2133. All are welcome.

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES - The following schools will be holding open houses: All Saints- Wednesday, February 1 st , from 9:00 a.m-11:00a.m. and Sunday, February 19 th from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. For more information please call 440-943-1395 - Gilmour Academy - Sunday, February 26th – Middle and Upper School program begins promptly at 11:00 a.m . Lower School Program runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For information please call 440-473-8050. Notre Dame Elementary – Sunday, February 5 th from Noon to 2:00 p.m. For more information please call 440-279-1127. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School will hold a Preschool Information Night on Thursday, February 9 th at 7:00 p.m. For more information please call 440-585-0800.

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