Week of April 22, 2007

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Dear Parishioner,

Easter is the time to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. These sacraments were celebrated in the full and normative sense when two adult members of our community were baptized at the Easter Vigil. Throughout the Easter season we will celebrate Confirmation and Eucharist for members of our parish who are already baptized.

St. Noel, together with several other parishes in our diocese, has moved the celebration of Confirmation to coincide with First Communion. In this way, the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, which mark the initiation into the Church, can be celebrated together.

Next weekend thirty-seven young people will be confirmed and invited to share the Eucharist with us for the first time. One older sibling will also be confirmed. As is our tradition, this will take place at our weekend liturgies. Yet, even as we celebrate Confirmation with those in the second grade, there will always be a need in our community to offer the sacraments to older children or those adults who have not yet received it. Therefore, two weeks from now at the 5:00 p.m. liturgy on May 5 th Bishop Gries will confirm five baptized Catholics who seek the Sacrament:

  Zachary Ewais

  Tyler Rus

  Erica Trebenter

  Darcy Valente

  Peter Westover

I am thankful that the number of candidates allows us to celebrate Confirmation as part of our weekend liturgies. Every sacrament is a parish celebration. We should be grateful to be able to participate by supporting the candidates as they complete their initiation into the church and grow from their example of faith in Christ. Please keep these candidates in your prayers as they are confirmed and receive the Eucharist with us. Take time to congratulate them personally after Mass or in the weeks to come.

Fr. George Smiga

SIGNED LITURGY- On Sunday, May 6 th the 11:00 a.m. Mass will be signed for the hearing impaired. Reserved seating can be found in the first two rows of chairs by the Eucharist Chapel.

NEWS FROM MUJER Y COMUNIDAD - Please check out the kiosk for a letter from Mujer y Comunidad thanking us for our support.  A copy in Spanish for those of you who are bilingual is also posted!

CURIOUS ABOUT CATHOLICISM?    A new inquiry group about the Catholic faith will begin gathering on Tuesday evening, May 8, 2007 and will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Resurrection room.  Please call Alice Hinkel at 440-946-0887 if you would like to join us.  Bring your questions or concerns, a friend if you like and yourself!

SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY - The Beyond JustFaith group is showing the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth on this Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Banquet Center/Large Hall. 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. Popcorn and pop will be served.

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 .

WOMEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST - A Spring Prayer Breakfast will be held in the Banquet Center/small hall on May 12, 2007 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Please come for a morning of Celebrating Women and Our voice in the Community. Sister Beverly Anne LoGrasso, an Ursuline Nun on the staff of the Women's Re-Entry Network, will be our speaker. As always, we will enjoy a delicious breakfast and a time of prayer and fellowship together. The suggested donation is $3.50. There will be a sign up sheet on the kiosk. Any questions please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH – will be held on Sunday, May 13, 2007. Reservations are required. There will be two seatings (10:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.). Adults are $15, Children 6-12 years are $7, and children 5 years and younger are free. For more information or

reservations please call the Banquet Center at 440-946-6635.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for April are as follows: 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.

GIFT SHOW AND TELL - Remember to bring your "Our God Saves" show and tell to the next GIFT session in the brown bag your household received at the March session. If you did not attend GIFT in March, or you need a replacement bag, extra bags (including directions) can be found on the GIFT table in the Narthex. Show and tell will take place during dinner with your tablemates.

SOCIAL JUSTICE/ST. AUGUSTINE- On April 29th our volunteers will be serving the meal at the St. Augustine Hunger Center. There is a sign-up sheet on the kiosk if you are able to lend a hand. Also, if anyone would like to bake cookies please bring the cookies with you when you come to volunteer at the Hunger Center or they can be dropped off at church before Mass on Saturday. Please put the cookies in the Nativity Room (formerly the nursery) on the counter and mark them St. Augustine.

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND – In March we collected $3,597.00. Our expenses for December were:

We thank you for your support.

TIME – It's the Easter egg hunt (we postponed it from last week due to the weather)!! Come to the teen center at 7:00 tonight (Sunday!!).

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)

HAM SALES – thanks to all who supported the sale – we raised over $1000 for the youth ministry. We have one ham remaining in the cooler. It's vacuum-sealed, fresh and delicious until June. Please call Anthony to purchase (946-1128 x20)

CLARK BARS – we have a few boxes remaining to support Terry as he battles his cancer. Please stop by the table in the narthex and buy a bar for $1.00, and continue to pray for his recovery. Terry was at Mass last weekend and looks great!

BIKE NEEDED – A Noel Movers client is in need of an adult male bicycle to replace his bike that was recently stolen. He uses the bike to travel to and from his job. Please call Anthony if you have a quality bike in good condition to donate.

BLOOD DRIVE – The American Red Cross will be at St. Noel Church on Sunday, May 20 th to conduct a blood drive. Further details will be in the bulletin and on the kiosk. The Northern Ohio Regions supplies 57 local hospitals and tries to collect 900 units every day to keep the supplies at adequate levels. High schools and colleges supply 15% of the blood so summer break is a critical time for other groups to help. Please consider donating blood on May 20 th . If you're interested in volunteering to help on the 20 th , please call Anthony.

CAMP YAC – Our annual junior high camp is scheduled for the week of June 25 th . This is a great chance to involve your 6-8 th grade student in a great week of fun, service and spiritual activities. Brochures available in May.

ST. NOEL MEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM – Any men 30 years or older are invited to join the St. Noel Men's Softball Team. Please call the parish office at 440-946-0887 for details.

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.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS IS SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2007. Let us come together as a diocese from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. to pray for vocation and hear vocation stories. Choose from five different locations. Come to St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima Church in Cleveland, Fr. Robert Marva, OFM Cap., pastor; St. Paschal Baylon Church in Highland Heights, Fr. Michael Arkins, SSS, Pastor; ; St. Peter Church in Lorain, Fr. Kenneth Wolnowski, Pastor; St. Rose of Lima Church in Cleveland, Fr. Jose Antonia Posadas, OFM, Pastor; St. Vincent Church in Akron, Fr. Joseph Kraker, Pastor. Pope Paul VI designated Good Shepherd Sunday as World Day of Prayer for Vocations. May those who have dedicated their lives to God through the vocation of marriage, priesthood, deaconate, consecrated life, and single life remain faithful to their commitment. For further information, contact the Diocesan Vocation Office at 800-869-6525 or 216-696-6525 ext. 3490.

“THE CHURCH'S POSITION ON DIVORCE: LEARNING ABOUT THE ANNULMENT PROCESS”- Join Sr. Christine Rody, SC, JCL, of the Diocesan Tribunal Office on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at St. Mary Church, 401 North Street, Chardon, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, as she clarifies the Church's position on divorce and offers valuable information on the annulment process. To register or for more information, kindly call Karen at 440-352-8282.

FAST TO END TORTURE – Thursday, April 26, 2007, from 5-6:00 p.m.: Vigil to Close the School of the Americas (SOA) ends a day-long fast on Cleveland's Public Square. Join us as we fast 7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. To organize your own fast/event, contact IRTF for a packet: 216-961-0003 or www.irtfcleveland.org .

ADVOCACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – Wednesday, May 2 nd: Join IRTF annual human rights advocacy trip to Washington DC, or meet at your congress person's local office. For cost/travel info, contact IRTF at: 216-961-0003 or www.irtfcleveland.org

WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY – Saturday, May 12 th , 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Kid's games, world music and dancers set the stage for this global celebration of worker justice. Purchase food and fair trade clothing, crafts, coffee, chocolate and nuts from local vendors. Held at Tri-C Metro, Campus Center. Info at: 216-961-0003 or www.irtfcleveland.org

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