Week of May 20, 2007

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Dear Parishioner,

The Gospel of Jesus calls us to care for those in need. One of the most direct ways in which we try to meet this challenge here at St. Noel is through our Social Justice Fund. This fund is used to support the monthly meal at the St. Augustine Hunger Center on West 14 th Street. It also provides direct assistance to parishioners and others in Willoughby Hills who are in difficult financial situations and cannot pay a utility, rent, or medical bill. Requests for such assistance are reviewed and assessed by a four person committee with the understanding that the support should be limited to emergency circumstances and not be used for sustaining regular household expenses.

Donations to this fund tend to drop in the summer months. You can see by the report in the bulletin this week that the expenditures for assistance are considerably larger than the money recently collected.

Therefore, if you usually donate to the Social Justice Fund please consider giving a bit more next week. If you have not donated, please consider contributing something so that those in our parish who are facing economic hardship might find their burden lighter to bear.

Fr. George Smiga

MEAL MINISTRY REMINDERS -  Parishioners in need of short term assistance with meals, such as might occur at the time of a surgery, a funeral or the arrival of a baby, are reminded that our Meal Ministry is here to help!  (Unfortunately we are not able to handle long term needs that might arise for someone who is homebound or chronically ill.)  Please call in your requests to the parish office who then will forward them to our coordinator, Margaret Neville.  If you would like to participate (cook) for the meal ministry please see the sign-up sheet on the kiosk.

BABY BOTTLE BOOMERANG:   Baby bottles to be filled with change to benefit Hannah's Home are still available on the table in the Narthex.

STATE BUDGET ACTION ALERT – The Catholic Commission of Lake & Geauga urges us to call Senator Timothy Grendell at 614-644-7718 and urge him to restore Medicaid for working parents from 90% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) to 100% FPL. Healthy parents help keep their children healthy and in school. Having healthy children means these parents stay working and attain economic stability. Over 25,000 working parents lost coverage when this eligibility was cut in the 2006-2007 budget. It is a matter of restoring previous levels that are important.

(Cuyahoga County residents visit: senate.state.oh.us/senators to learn who your state senator is.)

SPEAKERS FROM INDIA – Ms. Meera Malek and Mr. Mahesh Upadhyaya who work with International Partners in Mission will be with us on Monday evening, June 4 th to tell us about their work in human rights and their efforts to foster peace and reconciliation among Hindus and Muslims in India.  We will gather at 7 p.m. in the Resurrection Room for this informative evening.

RCIA INQUIRY – Our next inquiry session for RCIA will be Tuesday evening, May 22 nd at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room.  If you are interested in exploring the Catholic faith and would like to join the group please call Alice at 440-946-0887.

“PROJECT SUMMER STOCK” – In the month of April our food pantry provided emergency food to 60 families in our area, a record high, sad to say. As summer approaches we are looking for your assistance in helping to fill our shelves with items not always available to us from the Cleveland Food Bank, Country Neighboring and Harvest for Hunger.   To this end we are having a food drive which we are calling “Project Summer Stock,” on the weekend of June 9 th and 10 th .  We welcome any nonperishable foods, soaps and paper products but we do have a particular need for the following items:  canned fruits, soup, spaghetti sauce, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, bathroom tissue, shampoo, bar soap, paper products, dishwashing liquid, and tooth paste.   We are the designated government food pantry for most of Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills and Waite Hill and are also grateful for the food that our cluster partner, Divine Word in Kirtland, sends our way.  Thank you in advance for your support of this important ministry!  

SOCIAL JUSTICE/ST. AUGUSTINE- On May 27 th 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. After all the Masses on May 26 th & May 27 th , we will be collecting for our Social Justice fund. 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 on the counter and mark them St. Augustine.

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND – In April we collected $365.00. Our expenses for April were:

We thank you for your support.

PRO LIFE AD - the Pro Life Commission at Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby is inviting your participation in an ad to run in the News Herald on Father's Day.  A copy of the ad can be found on the Social Justice Section of the kiosk.  Forms to complete to have your name in the ad and where the form and your $5.00 donation are to be mailed can be found in the kiosk as well.  June 8, 2007 is the deadline for your submission. 

CHILDREN who received communion for the first time this year are invited to the Cathedral for a special blessing from Bishop Lennon. On Saturday, June 9 th at 4:30 p.m. the Bishop will celebrate Mass with children who have received first Holy Communion since Easter. Children are invited to wear their Communion or Sunday outfits as they will participate in a procession with Bishop Lennon.

WOMEN, MEN, GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS - pray with us as we support each other through Jesus' example. Our Elizabeth Ministers are offering a special liturgy on Wednesday, May 23 rd at 6:45 p.m. This ministry offers prayer and support to families experiencing the joys and sorrows of childbearing years. Join us as we pray for comfort and healing for ourselves and others facing the stress, hurt, frustration or loss these issues can bring. There will be people on hand for support, but feel free to invite a friend or family member to accompany you for an evening Mass of Healing. If you or someone you know might benefit from this kind of prayer and support, please encourage her or him to come with you to this liturgy. If you have any questions, please call 440-946-1128 x 21.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS – Get ready for a special agent mission! Join us for a fun-packed week daily from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., July 16 th -20 th . We will transform St. Noel Church into a mission command center as we discover God's force is always with us. You can help St. Noel kids grow in their faith and see how much God cares for them. For this weekend (May 19/20) we invite teachers and staff volunteers to sign up in the narthex after Mass. Volunteers may register their own children this weekend.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – Get ready for a special agent mission! Join us for a fun-packed week daily from 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. July 16-20. We will transform St. Noel Church into a mission command center as we discover God's force is always with us. We will gather in stations for Bible stories, crafts, fun games, delicious snacks, lively music and much more. The closing program will be Friday evening, July 20 th and a special family trip is planned to NASA on Wednesday afternoon. After Masses on June 2/3 and 9/10 sign up in the narthex for SonForce Kids! Bring a friend!

ST NOEL PARISH RETREAT – will be held on Wednesday, June 6 th , from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The retreat is entitled “Mysteries of our Faith,” Celebrating the Feast of the Season. Facilitated by Fran Armbruster, Sharon Waltermier, and Henri Nouwen, (video.) A $5.00 donation for lunch is requested. For more information please call 440-625-1228. Sign up on the kiosk.

ST.NOEL ENDOWMENT FUND . If you have included St. Noel in your estate plan or would like to know how, please contact the office and leave a message for the Endowment. One of our trustees will confidentially contact you. We are making progress toward our goal of "50 Wills for the Future of St. Noel", but we need to know of YOUR plan.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for May are as follows: – May 24 th - socializing, meeting, and then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our luncheon Menu: Chicken Tetrazzini, California vegetables, and peach pie. Cost is $6.00 per person. Deadline for tickets and payment is May 21 st - May 23 rd - 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.

PRIME TIME – We're meeting with the Washington, DC summer service group at 7:00pm in the Teen Center. Get ready for a great trip!

NOEL MOVERS – We are in need of cribs and other baby items. Please call Anthony to donate any useable furniture (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!

BLOOD DRIVE – THE BLOOD DRIVE IS TODAY (SUNDAY)!! The American Red Cross is here; please consider donating blood after Mass today from 9-2pm in the banquet center.

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 the kiosk.

STOCK OPTIONS - the market can be a rough ride!! Why not purchase stock in a lasting, worthwhile commodity - OUR YOUTH!! Coming soon, you can invest in the youth of our parish who are traveling to Washington, DC and Kentucky this summer to perform community service and learn about their faith. Stockholders will receive a stock certificate and an invitation to our service report once we return. Sure it's a fundraiser, but this stock will pay big dividends! Shares sell for $10. Thanks for your support!

RIBS & CHICKEN – It's the first annual St. Noel Cookout on June 9 th beginning at 6:00pm in the banquet center. Chef Randy will barbeque up the tastiest ribs and chicken around. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be hot off the grill!! All proceeds benefit PRIME TIME, our awesome youth group. Tickets are available after Mass next weekend or by calling/emailing Anthony (946-1128 x 20 acamino@stnoel.org . Full slab of ribs - $14.00, ½ slab - $8.00, ½ chicken - $8.00, full slab & ½ chicken - $18.00. Burgers - $5.00, hotdogs - $4.00. ALL PRICES INCLUDE: coleslaw, baked beans, fries, dessert and drink!! TAKE OUT IS AVAILABLE – BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE!!

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 for more information 440-946-0887.

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.

“CHILDREN AND DIVORCE: You're Still Mom and Dad to Me” - Join Bill Glover, M.A., on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, at Divine Word Church, 8100 Eagle Road, Kirtland, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, as he addresses the difficult issues that children of all ages face when their parents divorce and offers practical advice for parents. To register or for more information, kindly call Karen at 440-352-8282.

LAKE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL would like to invite you to their Band and Choir Concert on Tuesday, May 22 nd at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free and for more info please visit www.lakecatholic.org or call 440-951-0077 X 219.

YOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING EXCHANGE STUDENTS - Ever wonder how you could become a host for an exchange student? Students from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, Central America are looking for host homes for the 2007-2008 school year. YFU provides you and the student with support. Call (440)585-0134 for more information.

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” – In a world filled with so many choices and opportunities, how do you decide what to do with your life? Ever wonder where your life is headed? Looking for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment? If you are a single Catholic looking for direction, purpose, and fulfillment in your life, join other men and women from across the Diocese of Cleveland for the “Where Are You Going?” Retreat on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe. This day-long program, conducted by diocesan priests, deacons, religious sisters, and brothers, will help you come to a better understanding of God's vision and plan for your life. For more information or to register, contact the Diocesan Vocation Office at 800-869-6525 or 216-696-6525 X 3490 or www.churchvocations.com.

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