Saint Mary’s Catholic Church 250 Kraft Street, Berea, Ohio 44017-1499
Rectory: 440-243-3877 • FAX: 440-891-9417 • Website: www.stmaryberea.org
Parish Mission Statement St. Mary's is a faith community which worships together, follows the teachings of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives, evangelizes others by our
lives and actions, gives generously of our time and resources in service to others, shows compassion and love towards one another, provides
religious education and works for social justice for all.
St. Mary’s Parish Staff
Reverend John P. Singler, Pastor
Reverend Max Cole, Parochial Vicar
Ms. Angela Kovacs, Music Director
Mr. Larry Roetzer, Religious Education Coordinator
Mrs. Diana Lipfird, Homebound Coordinator
Mrs. Barbara Goebl, Spiritual Ministries
Parish Office Staff Mrs. Janel Abraham
Mrs. Lorri Masie
St. Mary’s School Staff Mr. Andrew Carner, Principal
Mrs. Nancy Kaesgen, Director of Development
Mrs. Sandi Ziegler, Program Coordinator
School Office Staff Mrs. Mary Beth Hennessy
Mrs. Rhonda Johnson
St. Mary’s Religious Education Staff Mr. Larry Roetzer, Coordinator
St. Mary’s Mass Schedule Weekday: 9:00am Monday through Friday
Weekend: 4:00pm Saturday Vigil
7:30am, 9:30am, & 11:30am
Holy Day Consult Bulletin
Sacramental Ministries
Baptisms: On Sundays After 11:30am Mass
Reconciliation: Saturdays 3-3:30pm
Seasonal Celebrations
Marriage: Contact Parish Office
Anointing of the Sick: Contact Parish Office
Seasonal Celebration
Communion Calls: Contact Parish Office
Celebrating 164 years of Pastoral Service to the Catholic Community of Berea
2nd Sunday of Lent
March 12, 2017
Every year on Ash Wednesday we, the church, hear the call, “Repent and Believe in the Gospel” as we
enter into the Liturgical Season of Lent and are marked with the ashes. It is, as Pope Francis spoke in his General
Audience on Ash Wednesday, a time of preparation for Easter and the
whole meaning of this 40-day period is illuminated by the Paschal
Mystery. As he spoke to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he
reminded us that Lent, by its nature is, a time of “hope” and he invited
us to “get into Lent.” [Those obviously are my words, not the Holy
Father’s!]
“Get into Lent” How so you might ask? How so indeed by
the FAMILIAR good works – Pray, Fast, Give. That’s the mantra of
faithful Catholics. Pray, Fast, Give. And all of us, at any age and at
every age CAN and MUST Pray, Fast, Give.
After Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan, he was led
into the desert, as last Sunday’s Gospel proclaimed, and there he was
tempted by the devil. He was tempted to change stones into bread,
to throw himself off the highest peak, and to bow down in worship to
the devil. His tempter called out to Jesus to be relevant, spectacular
and ever powerful, but Jesus resisted because of his prayer and fasting.
So it is with us to take our lead from Him and to pray, fast
and give. Pray more, fast more and give more in these days NOT be-
cause we are TOLD to, but because we GET to and in doing so ARE
like the Lord who entered the desert to be, as Pope Francis spoke, illu-
minated by His Mission.
Today’s Gospel is His Transfiguration and he teaches his be-
loved friends that suffering is indeed part of the deal to be with Him.
Suffering leads to glory. And our mission is to become one with the Lord. Like at his baptism, the voice of the
Father is likewise heard, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” and confirms in
his Son his mission to lead all to Life. And in this graced Season, our job is to Pray, Fast, Give in order that we
find and know Life!
So, do good and avoid evil this week!
REMEMBER: The Evening of Confession is Wednesday, March 15th from 5-8 in Church.
Make a Holy Hour of Reconciliation and GO to Confession as part of your Pray, Fast, Give.
THANK YOU: for your continued generosity and faithfulness in support of the Church! Blessings!
Fr. John
Monday March 13 Lenten Weekday Dn 9:4b-10 / Lk 6:36-38 (230) 9:00 am Bert Formanik Friends from McDonalds Tuesday March 14 Lenten Weekday Is 1:10, 16-20 / Mt 23:1-12 (231) 9:00 am Barbara Polasik Natalie Woelfle 2:00 pm Aristocrat Berea Mass Wednesday March 15 Lenten Weekday Jer 18:18-20 / Mt 20:17-28 (232) 9:00 am Greg Cahlik Family Thursday March 16 Lenten Weekday Jer 17:5-10 / Lk 16:19-31 (233) 9:00 am Dennis Culler Chester Talarczyk 1:30 pm Northwestern Mass Friday March 17 Lenten Weekday Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a / Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 (234) 9:00 am Timothy Glynn Pat & John Vanderaar
Saturday March 18 Lenten Weekday Mi 7:14-15, 18-20 / Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 (235) 4:00 pm John Habermann Family Sunday March 19 Third Sunday of Lent Ex 17:3-7 / Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 / Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 29a, 40-42 (28)
7:30 am For All Parishioners Living & Deceased 9:30 am Arthur Traverso Family 11:30 am Brother Bernard Polinak Jane Savinsky
Mass Schedule and Intentions
Homebound Ministry Our Homebound Parishioners are very important to us and we want to make sure their spiritual needs are being met. If you or a friend or family member are homebound and unable to attend Mass, we would like to bring the Eucharist to you in your home. Please call Diana Lipfird, the Home-bound Parishioner Coordinator, at 532-9491 or e-mail her at [email protected]. We will set up a time and day for the Ex-traordinary Minister to visit that best fits your schedule. If you are an Extraordinary Minister and would like to be part of our team of taking Communion to the homebound, please call Diana at 440-532-9491.
Collection for 3/5/17: $14,489.00
Thank you for your generosity to the Parish.
Weekend Collection
Please remember in prayer all who are ill or homebound, especially the following:
Maggie Armstrong Donna Baker Mary Anne Bialosky Frank Blatnick Larry Buchwalter Owen Dumm Brian Follen Joan Foust Timothy Glynn Gerry Grant Wayne Goforth
Katie Halley Dennis Jamiot John Kern Les Lindenmeier Rob Lucas Karen M. Joseph McLaughlin Leo Oblak Mary Elizabeth Ryba Kathy Staub Jeanine Surma Chester Talarczyk
Bulletin Prayer List
In Your Charity
In your charity, please remember the
repose of the souls of Francis
Templeman and Rita Pignatelli
May they rest in eternal peace. “Jesus waits in silence”
Silence gives us a new outlook on every-
thing. We need silence to be able to touch
souls… Jesus is always waiting for us in si-
lence. In that silence He will listen to us,
there He will speak to our soul, and there
we will hear His voice. Interior silence is very difficult but we
must make the effort. In silence we will find new energy and
true unity.
Excerpted from: Love: A Fruit Always in Season Daily Medita-
tions by Mother Teresa (Ignatius Press 1987)
Mother Teresa
Anniversary Wishes If you will be having a wedding anniversary in the month of March and would like your names listed in the bulletin, please call the parish office (440) 243-3877 or email [email protected]
2017 Mass Intentions
If you would like to schedule a Mass Intention for 2017 the
Mass Book is Open for your intentions.
Your request can be made by contacting the parish office
(440) 243-3877, email at
[email protected] or by mail.
The usual Mass stipend is $10.00 per Mass. We will do our
best to accommodate your requests.
Sunday, March 12 Monday, March 13 9:30am - Church Stations of the Cross 10:00am - Chapel Rosary 12:00pm - FJG Mtg Rm Rosary Makers 7:15pm - Church Rosary Tuesday, March 14 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 11:00am - Chapel Bible Study 12:30pm - Chapel Quiet Prayer 2:00pm - Aristocrat Berea Mass 6:00pm - Church Youth Choir Rehearsal 7:00pm - Chapel Bible Study 7:30pm - Church Traditional Choir Rehearsal 8:00pm - FJG Mtg Rm TMIY Program Wednesday, March 15 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 5:00pm - Church Diocesan Confession Night 7:00pm - Chapel Liturgy of the Hours Thursday, March 16 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 1:00pm - FJG Mtg Rm Tri-City Seniors Pinochle Club 1:30pm - Northwestern Mass Friday, March 17 7:00pm - Church Stations of the Cross Saturday, March 18 3:00pm - Church Confessions
Parish Events Bible Study
Bible Study this week we will be discussing Session One of
Treasures Uncovered as part of Lenten prayer. We meet in the
chapel at 11:00am and again at 7:00pm to open our hearts to the
parable of the Good Samaritan.
Quiet Prayer
Quiet Pray will meet on Tuesday, March 14th, at 12:20pm. We
will begin our prayer time with Lectio Divina using the gospel
from Sunday’s liturgy. This will be followed by 20 minutes of
quiet prayer. When we come to the quiet place within each of us,
we open ourselves to allow the Lord to enter more deeply into our
lives. Come and join us to see if this type of prayer would be
helpful for your spiritual life.
The schedule for Rosary has changed. We will no
longer have Rosary on Friday’s. We will continue
to gather in the Chapel Monday - Thursday at
9:30am for the Rosary.
Rosary - Change in Schedule
Family Perspective
God wants to bless our families. Are we too busy and
stressed to notice and accept these blessings? God is
present, waiting to meet and bless us in our families,
but needs our time and attention. We need to take
time together as families to have fun, to talk, to work
together, to eat and pray. Schedule some “family
times” in the calendar and see Jesus in the transfigura-
tion of your family members and relationships.
That Man is You (TMIY) Ever know someone who started Lent with firm re-
solve but lost focus as the weeks progressed? Is that
man...you? A group of St. Mary’s Men meet weekly
to discuss the sacrifice and service required not just for
Lent, but for life.
Join us on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm at the Fr. John
Garrity Center for conversation, prayer and learning.
Newcomers are welcome.
Holy Hour for the Unborn
The Knights of Columbus Council 14416 will mark the Day of the Unborn Child with a Holy Hour at St. Mary’s on
Saturday—March 25th—9:00am St. Mary’s Church—Berea
The Day of the Unborn Child is part of the Knights’ com-mitment to build a culture that respects and protects every human life from natural conception to natural death. The March 25th Holy Hour will begin at 9:00am with a Eucharistic procession from the church to the Resurrection Chapel. The closing procession at 10:00am will include a stop at the outdoor memorial to the unborn if the weather permits. Please join us to prayerfully celebrate the gift of life.
12 Step Spirituality
This week begins the study of the spirituality of the Twelve Steps
using the book, Seeds of Grace: Reflections on the Spirituality of
Alcoholics Anonymous. We will meet in the chapel from
2:30pm to 4:00pm. All 12 steppers are welcome.
Music Ministry and Liturgy Notes By Angela Kovacs
Director of Music and Liturgy
FIND YOUR FAITH IN JESUS
On the mountain’s peak, Jesus is there robed in shining white clothes, Moses and Elijah to his left and to his right. God says, “This
is my beloved son… listen to him.” And yet, people still falter in their faith! No one said that being a Christian was going to be
easy. During this Lenten season, try to look into your faithful self and see what you can improve. No one is perfect, and life has a
way of making something as simple as outwardly loving God difficult for simple mortals! Peter, James, and John were afraid when
they saw this miraculous sight, and yet Jesus asks them to rise to the challenge of being his follower. We too can make a promise in
our heart to follow Jesus for the rest of our days.
Choir Rehearsal Schedules: Traditional Choir and Contemporary ensemble meets to rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm.
Youth Choir also rehearses on Tuesdays at 6.pm. If you are interested in participating in any of these choirs, cantoring, or playing
an instrument during mass, please call or see me after mass up in the loft. Call the music ministry office for more informa-
tion: 440.243.3877 ext 27.
Ministry Schedules
Third Sunday of Lent - Weekend of March 19th
Mass Lector Cantor Extraordinary Ministers Servers 4pm D Pusti S Scanlon (H) M McGinty, M E Nichols, R Wesolek M Hupp (C) J Hupp A McGinty 7:30am D Reeves K Zanotti (H) M Dole, R Straub, N Picard J Waters (C) M Waters J Draves 9:30am G Irvin S Ward (H) J Irvin, K Laneve, R Laneve O Irvin (C) C Zielinski M Laneve 11:30am J Pae J Schwarz (H) M Patena, C Rose, K Walcutt C Snyder (C) L Patena S Clemons ** Due to the Cold & Flu Season the Blood of Christ (the cup) has been suspended for the Winter Season **
Third Station:
Jesus Falls the First Time
Jesus knew well what awaited him in Jerusalem
and which path the Father was asking him to
take; it was the Way of the Cross, the way of
sacrificing himself for the forgiveness of our
sins. Following Jesus means sharing his merci-
ful love, entering his great work of mercy for each and every per-
son and for all persons. The work of Jesus is, precisely, a work of
mercy, a work of forgiveness and of love! Jesus is so full of
mercy! And this universal pardon, this mercy, passes through the
Cross.
How am I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, spit on him and
insult him?
Fourth Station:
Jesus Meets His Mother
Mary prayed, she worked, she went to the synagogue.
But every action was carried out in perfect union with
Jesus. This union finds its culmination on Calvary.
Here Mary is united to the Son in the martyrdom of her
heart and in the offering of his life to the Father for the
salvation of humanity. Our Lady shared in the pain of the Son and ac-
cepted with him the will of the Father, in that obedience that bears fruit
and grants the true victory over evil and death.
How am I like the mother of Jesus who suffers in silence?
Excerpted from: Stations of the Cross in the Words of Pope Francis
(2015 All Saints Press)
Stations of the Cross
Religious Education News To find all the upcoming activities for both PSR and Sacramental Preparation join us at our new parish website (www.stmaryberea.org). Select “Teaching” from the top category bar, then select “Religious Education Office”. Make us a favorite!
PSR Calendar of Events 3/12/2017 – 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session 3/13/2017 – 6:45pm – St. Mary Church – PSR in session 3/19/2017 – 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session 3/20/2017 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session 3/26/2017 – NO LITTLES in session (Spring Break) 3/27/2017 – NO PSR in Session (Spring Break) 4/02/2017 – NO LITTLES in Session (Spring Break) - 9:30am – St. Mary Church – Candidate Mass -10:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – 1st Sacrament Prep Session 4/03/2017 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session 4/09/2017 – 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session 4/10/2017 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session 4/16/2017 – NO LITTLES in session (Easter Sunday) 4/17/2017 – NO PSR in Session (Easter Holiday) 4/23/2017 – 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session 4/24/2017 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session 4/29/2017 – 9:00am – St. Mary Church – 1st Communion Practice - 10:00am – Fr. Garrity Center – 1st Communion Retreat 4/30/2017 – 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session (Last Class) 5/01/2017 – 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session
Fill our Hearts This Lenten season our PSR students will be sacrificing money earned from jobs performed to Our Lady of Nazareth School in Nyrobi-Kenya to support their newly established school for children with special needs. If you’d like to contribute, please notify the REO or call the Rectory for more details.
Please consider helping out those in need!
Spring Break There will be NO PSR on Monday, 3/27, due to the Public Schools Spring Break. LITTLES will NOT meet Sunday, 3/26, or Sunday, 4/2, to observe Spring Break.
Sacramental Preparation
For the most current information about the Parish Sacramental Prepa-ration Program, including schedules, please visit our Parish website at:
http://www.stmaryberea.org/sacramental-prep
Confirmation Candidates … 04/02/2017 –Sunday–9:30am–Candidates Mass (St. Mary Church)
Confirmandi will be involved as Servers, Lectors and as Greeters at our entrance doors. This Mass is considered part of the prepa-ration process and therefore should be considered required.
04/02/2017 –Sunday–10:30am–Service Event (Fr. Garrity Center) First Sacraments Eucharist Session #3. Candidates will be able to support this session by helping in either training session and/or setup and cleanup of the refreshment.
04/29/2017 – Saturday – 9:00am – Service (Fr. Garrity Center) First Communion Candidate Retreat
First Sacraments Candidates 4/02/2017 – Sunday – 9:30am – Candidate Mass (St. Mary Church)
First Sunday of EVERY month for CANDIDATES and FAMILIES; RESERVED SEATING; First Communion Candidates are asked to be GIFT BEARERS
4/02/2017 – Sunday – 10:30am - Eucharist Session #3 Fr. Garrity Center; Candidates and Parents will share a light re-freshment; Candidates and Parents will meet separately with their Teacher/Leader
4/29/2017–Saturday–9:00am–St. Mary Church/Fr. Garrity Center First Communion Candidate Practice & Retreat. All First Com munion Candidates will meet in the Church at 9:00 for a cere mony practice. After practice the candidates will spend the day reflecting on their upcoming reception of the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
This year the 8th Grade Classroom of Champions teams
consisting of Joey Hupp, Nora McCarthy, Joey Waters, and
Connor Hack won their competition and missed the final three
championships round by only two questions. We are proud of
the entire team and the 7th grade alternates, Milan Urbancic,
Lauryn Patena, Ella Powell, and Ryan Boomer.
The SMS Power of the Pen team competed at districts and
did very well. Both 7th grade team members Lilianna Fuehrer
and Damion Goss scored high enough to take them to Region-
als. Lilianna placed fourth out of 94 writers!
The 8th grade team consisting of Connor Hack, Nora
McMcarthy, Olivia Petit, Hudson Hightower, Celeste Leopold,
and Kaitlin Kilbane took 3rd place out of 18 schools. They did
very well individually as well. Nora took 7th overall; Hudson
took 10th, Olivia took 11th, and Connor took 30th earning them
an invitation to Regionals. Aidan McCarthy, Meghan Laubert,
and Johnny Tinter are our alternates and helped all of the writ-
ers increase their abilities during practices. Congratulations to
our entire teams of talented writers!
Don’t forget to turn your Yankee Candle orders into the
school office by March 15th. Any parishioner that would like
a catalog may stop at the Rectory or School Offices. Yankee
Candle offers some new fresh scents for Spring and Summer
and candles make great Easter and Mother’s Day gifts. All
proceeds raised will be used to support the school. Remem-
ber, online shopping is available at
www.yankeecandlefundraising.com
St. Mary’s group number when placing an order online is
990001283. Online orders will be sent directly to your home –
no need to come to the school to pick up your order. If you
have any questions, please call the school office,
440.243.4555. Thank you for your support!!
Important Dates to Remember:
03/13/17 - Lego Club – Group 1 / 3:30p.m.
03/14/17 - Student Council Mtg. / 8:00a.m.
“ “ “ - Kdg. A – fieldtrip /10:00a.m.
“ “ “ Sewing Club / 3:30p.m.
“ “ “ Chess Club / 3:30p.m.
“ “ “ - Camp Chris Parent Mtg.,/6:30p.m.
03/15/17 - Kindergarten Screening
“ “ “ - Band Practice / 3:30p.m.
“ “ “ - DRAMA Practice / 6:30p.m.
03/16/17 - Kindergarten Screening
“ “ “ - Kdg. B – fieldtrip / 10:00a.m.
“ “ “ KidzArt / 3:30p.m.
“ “ “ - Math Club/3:30p.m.
“ “ “ - DRAMA Practice /6:30p.m.
03/17/17 - No School
“ “ “ - DRAMA Practice /6:30p.m.
St. Mary Catholic School News Corner
From March 1st - April 9th, you’re invited to join other Chris-
tians for 40 Days for Life. 40 days of prayer and fasting for an
end to abortion. You’re also invited to stand and peacefully
pray anytime between 7am - 7pm during a 40-day vigil in the
public right-of-way outside Preterm—12000 Shaker Blvd.,
Cleveland 44120 or Planned Parenthood—25350 Rockside
Road, Bedford Heights 44146 or Family Planning—54 South
State Street, Painesville 44077. Please help spread the word
about this important community outreach. If you’d like more
information and especially to volunteer to help, please contact
John Noall at (216) 245-9744 or email at
Easter Flower Memorial Gift
Donor: _________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________ Donation Amount: __________________
Check # ___________ Cash _________
In Memory of: ___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Donor and memorial names will be printed in the bulletin. Your donation of any amount will help defray the
cost of maintaining a beautiful Easter Season when we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord.
For publication purposes, please return this slip and your donation to the Parish Office, Attn: Janel Abraham
by Monday, April 3, 2017.
Berea Historical Society
Old World Pasta & Meatball Dinner
Saturday - March 25th - 5:00p-7:30p
Amazing Auction Items, 50/50 Raffle & Entertainment
The Fr. John Garrity Center at St. Mary’s Church
250 Kraft Street, Berea, Ohio
$12.00 Adults ~ Children 6-10 $6.00 ~ under 6 / FREE
Tickets available at the Berea Historical Society
118 Bridge Street
10:00am - 3:00pm on Monday’s
(Tickets are also available at the Door)
Catered by the renowned Santo’s Restaurant with the added
attractions of Homemade Desserts
Dispensation from Lenten Abstinence on Friday March 17, 2017
Out of pastoral solicitude, Bishop Daniel Thomas has formally dispensed the faithful of the Diocese of Cleveland from the obliga-
tion to abstain from meat on the Memorial of Saint Patrick, Bishop, which will be observed this year on Friday, March 17th.
Those who choose to partake of meat on that day are encouraged to undertake another penance that day in the form of a corporal
or spiritual work of mercy. In this way, a faithful Catholic still keeps the penitential spirit of a Friday in Lent and unites oneself
more closely with the suffering Christ and His Church.