SebastianParish Community

SaintNewsletter of the

476 Mull Avenue – Akron, OH 44320Phone 330-836-2233 – www.stsebastian.org

August 2007

Youth Ministry is an essential com-ponent of parish life. Why is this so?

It is because children do not always stay at home. Nor should they. Here is what I mean. For the first several years of their lives, children progressively move away from that initial close bond of mother and infant. It may start with the mother leaving the child in the crib and walking away, to the first day of school, and so on. Little by little children begin to develop friendships with their playmates at school. Then, in high school, young teens begin to look beyond the home for new friends. All of this is part of the classic separation process, leading to the day of becoming independent adults. It is crucial for young people to have a good environment during those teen years, as they develop new friendships. It is impor-tant that teens experience healthy and well balanced activity outside the home, and yet with parent involvement. This is what youth ministry builds on. As children venture out, little by little, to be on their own, the Church should be there as that trusted place away from home where they can engage in socializing and learn how to respond to the needs of others – es-pecially the elderly, the sick and the poor. Such formation is an important component of this ministry and allows teens to grow in their faith

through special participation in the Eucharist, retreats, discus-

sions and other means. In looking over the first

half of this year’s activi-

ties of our Junior High and Senior High Min-istry, several images come to mind: Ice skating, a CYO retreat in January, volunteering at the International Festival, and sled riding, to name a few. In March, the youth ministry did a service project for Children’s Services, had a dinner meeting, and went bowling. Among other things, in April, they did a spring clean up of the parish grounds. This is not a com-plete list, but gives you a sampling of some of the Junior High activities. The Senior High youth did some simi-lar activities, and in addition, served at St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen each month, and held a special party in May to honor all graduating seniors. Both groups took part in the special Youth Mass June 9 at 4:30 p.m. Through our participation in the Vibrant Parish Life process, we have been paired with St. Vincent Parish, and our first cooperative effort is a joint Youth Ministry with them at both junior and senior high levels. Under the direction of Cathy Sivec and the many parent volunteers, participation in youth ministry is growing. Help us get the word out to your children, grandchildren, friends and neigh-bors that this is a great youth program. In your prayers, please ask the Lord to guide and protect our young people, and through their parents and our efforts, help them grow in their faith and stay close to their Church.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. William D. Karg

The Value of Youth MinistryDear Parishioners,

2 Youth for Christ

3 Back to School Just Around the Corner

4 Gratitude Makes the World Go ‘Round

5 St. Sebastian Finance Council Keeps Safe Watch Over Parish Finances

6 Congratulations to You! 7 He’s Got All the Right Moves

… And a Big Heart Too

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The Junior and Senior High School Youth Ministries at St. Sebastian will kick off their new year in Septem-

ber. Meanwhile, both groups have been busy this summer with activities that promote faith formation, friendship and community service.

The Senior High School Youth Ministry begins its new year with a bonfire from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9 at the home of Cathy and Harry Sivec, 1356 Jefferson Ave. The Junior High Youth Ministry will have its bonfire at the Sivec home from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 16. The evenings will include hot dog and marshmallow roasting, get-to-know you games, and planning. New members are always welcome and every-one is encouraged to bring ideas for the year. “What’s new for us is that the St. Sebastian and St. Vincent parishes now have combined youth groups,” says

Cathy. “This is part of our diocesan mission to cluster – or join groups – between the two parishes.” Seven years ago, when Fr. Robert Jackson asked Cathy if she would be interested in starting a youth ministry at St. Sebastian, she said, “yes,” in part, because she remembered the huge impact the youth group of her small Presbyterian church had on her as a teen. Cathy knows first-hand that not all teens have the same advantages in life. Working for Stark County Children’s Services, she investigated cases of abuse and trained foster parents. Earlier in her career, she counseled pregnant teens. The Sivecs have the support of two other parish couples

– John and Cindy Kendrick and Pat and Ginny Morabito – to work with the Senior High Youth Ministry. She needs a few more dedicated adults to help with the Junior High Youth Ministry, but was thrilled with the response that came from the Stewardship interest/commitment cards. In fact, the Sivecs welcomed about 14 interested adults to their home in July to introduce them to the programs. “One thing I hope to stress is that the youth minis-tries are not just for kids from St. Sebastian Parish School, although we love to have them. I have also been visiting PSR classes, and we really do encourage members to bring their friends. We were thrilled to have 77 kids attend an ice cream social at St. Vincent’s.” The Senior High Ministry is an especially diverse group, with members coming from St. Vincent-St. Mary, Arch-

Youth for Christ

Junior High students share a snack and some laughs.

Continued on back coverSenior Highs cozy up and take a break after leading CYO retreat discussions.

Senior High girls huddle to keep warm at Camp Christopher.

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When school resumes on Aug. 28, St. Sebastian stu-dents and parents will notice a few changes.

For starters, the students will have a lot more fun dur-ing recess, thanks to a brand new playground constructed during summer vacation.

“We are excited to be moving the playground to a brand new location and adding new equipment,” says St. Sebastian School Principal Howard Scheetz. “I know the kids will be excited.” In addition to the new playground, the school also will have two new teachers – Allyn Rose and Amanda Coyle. Mr. Rose, a second-year teacher from St. Augustine in Barberton, will replace retiring junior high social studies teacher Teresa Frank. And Ms. Coyle, who just graduated from Walsh University, will teach first grade. “Last year, we had three kindergarten classes, so this year we had to add an additional first grade class to accom-modate all of the students,” Mr. Scheetz says. The 2007-08 school year will be a busy one for St. Sebastian as the school will go through the Diocese of Cleveland’s accreditation process. “Every seven years, our school must go through this

intense process,” Mr. Scheetz says. “Being accredited is important for our school, and we take it very seriously.” The school’s rich curriculum includes classes in music, computer skills, art, Spanish and physical education. The student body also attends Mass each Thursday at 8:15 a.m. “We are building on the current curriculum that we have in place,” Mr. Scheetz explains. “The teachers are look-ing forward to some newer textbooks.” Enrollment remains the same in 2007-08 – 450 students for kindergarten through eighth grades and 40 stu-dents for the preschool. “Enrollment has not changed because we cannot ac-commodate any more students in our current building,” he says. “We are at the maximum right now. We have a waiting list for almost each grade.”

As he begins his ninth year as principal of St. Sebastian School and his 39th year in education, Mr. Scheetz says he is honored that families are eager to be a part of the school. “I have to admit that it’s a great school,” he says. “We have great teachers and an excellent staff.” Mr. Scheetz also is quick to recognize the parents. “The parental involvement is wonderful,” he says. “They are committed and dedicated and I am blessed to be a part of such a great school community.” Continued on page 4

Back to School Just Around the Corner

Parish volunteers labor in the sun as they build the new playground.

Playground construction is complete!

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Last year, Fr. William Karg began laying the groundwork for

a gratitude ministry. It sprang from a desire to thank parish volunteers for all they do at St. Sebastian. Anne Hergenrother and Debbie Large soon joined him to help carry out this goal. Past involvements primed Anne for her role in the Gratitude Ministry. As former president of a women’s orga-nization, Anne was known for writing customized notes of appreciation. Her notes received positive feedback on a regular basis. “This showed me the importance of a thank-you note,” Anne says. Later in life, Anne experienced the joy of receiving a heartfelt “thank-you.” While her sons were students at Walsh Jesuit High School, their principal consistently sent out handwritten notes of gratitude to the school community. “This made me realize how nice it was to be thanked,” she says. “It’s not that you needed it, but it meant a lot.

A little recognition goes a long way.” Such events inspired Anne to help Fr. Karg with the Gratitude Ministry. “To me, it is a very inexpensive way to affirm people,” she says. “It’s easy and it reaps great benefits.”

With Fr. Karg, Anne and Deb-bie leading the charge, the Gratitude Ministry writes lots of notes thanking the leaders of our parish organizations. The ministry meets approximately five times a year, making sure all par-ish leaders receive an annual letter of thanks – with a reminder for them to

also thank those volunteers in their ministries. Further testaments of ap-preciation are shown in their statements of thanksgiving featured in the “Grati-tude Corner” of the parish bulletin. “I like the ministry because it is a happy ministry,” says Debbie Large. “Anne and the other members are a joy to work with.” By participating in the Gratitude Ministry, Anne and Debbie have found that they have a more profound appreciation for the generosity of their fellow parishioners. “I don’t think any volunteer can be thanked enough. We are thankful for the opportunity to get to participate in parish life,” Debbie says. Know of a ministry or person who needs thanking? Let the members of the Gratitude Ministry know. To make a suggestion, or direct an inquiry about the Gratitude Ministry, contact Anne at 330-836-5834 or Debbie at 330-668-9664.

Gratitude Makes the World Go ‘Round

St. Sebastian PSR September marks the start of St. Sebastian’s PSR pro-gram. The PSR program provides faith education for chil-dren who do not attend St. Sebastian School up to eighth grade. “We have a wonderful, qualified, certified and dedi-cated staff,” says PSR Principal Melane Francis. “We teach kids about the faith – we have sacramental programs, classes on the Rosary, and participate in events such as the May Crowning and Jesus Day.”

PSR classes are held in St. Sebastian School on Sunday mornings, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. The PSR teachers offer parents special Lenten and Ad-vent workshops to help increase in-home faith education. Parent orientation for the new school year will be held on Sept. 16. For more information about St. Sebastian’s PSR program, please contact Melane Francis at 330-836-9107. For questions about how to register your child for PSR, contact Carolyn Humston at 330-836-2233.

Back to School Just Around the Corner (continued from page 3)

Debbie Large (left) and Anne Hergenrother (right)

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As you drop your offering into the collection basket and watch it disappear through a flurry of hands

down the pew, there is a good chance that you might think to yourself: “I hope the parish puts that money to good use.” Aside from the initial sacrifice demanded by a parish tithe, donating treasure to the church requires sincere trust in St. Sebastian’s fiscal responsibility. Parish finances are multifaceted. Juggling the income and expenditures of a large parish community is an extremely demanding task. The primary focus of the priesthood centers on sacra-mental and pastoral ministry. Very few priests have the knowledge – or the time – to wholeheartedly engage in the principles of accounting and finance. For this reason, St. Sebastian Parish maintains a Finance Council to assist the pastor and business manager with financial decision mak-ing. Currently composed of seven volunteer members – Tom Van Auker, Ken Contrera, Rosanne Burns, Bill Berger, Tricia Gerak, John Munka, and Jim Burns – the Fi-nance Council meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 a.m. “The meetings last about two hours depending on the agenda,” Finance Council chairman Ken Contrera says. “But there is constant communication between the business manager, Tim Kastelic – if not daily, then at least three or four times a week.” At these meetings the Finance Council tracks unpaid bills, notes the offertory status, makes suggestions and ap-proves expenditures, reviews monthly financial statements,

and draws up a report for the diocese. “We take our job very seriously,” Ken explains. “We have a fiduciary duty to our parishioners for their hard-earned donations and contributions. We work hard to make sure that in every area – from management to human resources, marketing to finance – the parish and school are fiscally responsible. We are truly entrenched in the decision-

making process.” Every member of the Finance Council is equipped with a background in ac-counting, auditing, finance, or administration. The majority are CPAs and/or hold master’s degrees in their field. While highly qualified, the council itself is strictly a consultative body; the mem-bers themselves have no final say regarding financial decisions. “Every parish in the Dio-cese of Cleveland is required to have a Finance Council,”

Ken says. “But the council itself doesn’t have any financial responsibilities. We cannot sign checks or make payments. We are there solely to advise Fr. Karg and Tim Kastelic. In addition to the seven volunteer members, the Fi-nance Council also includes parish representatives and staff. These include a representative from the Home and School Association; Melissa Hamlin, who represents the Parish Foundation; Principal Howard Sheetz; Fr. Karg; and Tim Kastelic. “We have a great team,” Ken says. “They are outstand-ing in everything that they do and our parish is blessed to have these people working behind the scenes.”

St. Sebastian Finance Council Keeps Safe Watch Over Parish Finances

(Left to right) Tom Van Auker, Ken Contera, Tricia Gerak, John Munka, Roseanne Burns, Jim Burns. Not pictured, Bill Berger.

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Congratulations to you! This year our parish received 366 stewardship commitment cards. Many thanks to

all who participated. You are the reason that St. Sebastian is such a wonderful parish!

Here’s some of the good news about the commitments you made:

• St. Sebastian parishioners are prayerful! Parish families made over 900 commitments to spend time with God in prayer.

• We have a very active parish with many dedicated members. Adults, children, and teens made over 400 new commitments to ministries. (That’s on top of the 939 re-commitments to ministries.)

• Many relatively inactive families took steps to become more involved in our parish. Fifty-four families who were not previously active in any ministry signed up for

a total of 194 ministries. • The five ministries that had the most new sign ups were:

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Giving Tree, Home and School Association (HASA), Athletics – CYO and Altar Servers.

• Your generosity continues to make possible all of the good work accomplished in our parish. The total an-nual pledge made by parish families was $495,014. This is a tremendous first step towards meeting our annual budget of $1,003,600. Thank you for your generosity!

Sometimes our stewardship efforts are misunderstood to be “all about the money.” But it’s not all about the mon-ey. St. Sebastian’s parishioners are certainly generous, but if we reduce our stewardship success to a dollar figure, we discredit our greatest wealth: the exceptional talent of parishioners and the spiritual richness of our prayers. The only reason for your financial gifts is to facilitate our spiritual growth and the well-being of those in need. Thanks to all of you who have made commitments of time, talent, and treasure. We hope that all our efforts will bring the pres-ence of Christ and the message of the Gospel into our lives and into the world, helping those who are in most need of God’s love.

Congratulations to You!

Deacon Don McArdle, of Catholic Stewardship Consultants, led a retreat of parish ministry leaders at St. Sebastian, June 22 and 23. The retreat, entitled “Be Not Afraid to Come Follow Me,” included talks by the deacon, reflection

time and small group discussion.

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When you see Don McCardle heading to Mass or a Parish

Council meeting, you might notice the spring in his step. Sure, he is an active 73 year old who devotes many hours each week to parish and community service, but did you know he’s a profes-sional dancer who is still entertaining audiences? Don and his wife, Carolee, recently returned to Akron from Palm Springs, Ca., where they lived for a year while Don was performing in the “Fabulous Palm Springs Follies,” a lavish $8 mil-lion variety show featuring performers between the ages of 55 and 80.

Don learned about the show one morning while watching the “Today” show. He was pretty confident that if he auditioned he would be offered a contract. After all, he has been danc-ing since age 9. It was just a matter of making sure Carolee was onboard to leave their family and home for a year. She was. “It was a fantastic experience,” says Don. “We made a lot of wonderful new friends – the cast included men and women who came from movies, TV, Las Vegas, Broadway – former

Rockettes – very talented and profes-sional people.” While in the Follies, Don per-formed two three-hour shows a day, five days a week. After just a few weeks of seven-hour rehearsals, his weight dropped from 172 to 138. Don’s love of dancing began when, as a child, his mother sent him once a month to downtown Akron with $32.50, which covered all of his fam-ily’s housing and utility expenses. To have a walking companion into town, he agreed to accompany his friend to her dance class. His training in tap, ballet and jazz led to opportunities in New York by age 17, extensive work on the night club circuit and a gig in the U.S. Army choreographing shows for soldiers in Europe in the mid-1950s. His Army roommate was Gary Crosby, son of Bing. Over the years, he performed with the Clooney Sisters, Frankie Lane, Gene Krupa and other notables. He and Carolee had their own locally televised variety show and he served as an adjunct professor of dance for 15 years at the University of Akron. Today, his daughter, Colleen Contillo, runs his McCardle Dance Studio, located in Cuyahoga Falls. Although every performance was a joy in Palm Springs – Don says the audience’s warm reception brought the song lyrics, “You light up my life,” to mind – he and Carolee became home-sick. “We missed our daughter, our grandkids, our friends and our church,” Don says. These days, Don is as busy as ever. He helped revive the parish’s new

Stewardship committee, compiled a much-needed parish volunteer data-base, and serves on Parish Council and as a Eucharistic minister. He serves on the boards of the American Heart Association and Akron’s Ronald McDonald House, which offers affordable and, in many cases, free room and board for families whose children are receiving treatment across the street at Akron Children’s Hospital.

He devotes at least 20 hours a month to the non-profit, oftentimes soliciting food donations. He is espe-cially proud of the Ronald McDonald House’s new garden, featuring a Don Drumm sculpture and ground lighting, made possible by gifts from the artist and Ann Brennan. In all his adventures – whether pulling out the old dance shoes and putting himself in the spotlight once again or helping those in need in Ak-ron – Don says the 23rd Psalm guides him daily. “God takes care of me so I always have the feeling that I want to help others,” he says. “I know when I go to bed at night, I feel good about my day and what I have accomplished.”

He’s Got All the Right Moves … And a Big Heart Too

Don and Carolee McCardle

Don devotes many hours to Akron’s Ronald McDonald House.

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bishop Hoban, Walsh Jesuit, Our Lady of the Elms, and Firestone High Schools. Throughout the school year, the groups meet once a month with activities that promote faith formation and service to others. Activities that are just for fun are also planned. The high school group meets on the second Sunday of every month, September through May, from 6 to 8 p.m. The junior high group meets on the third Sunday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. “A lot of it is based on what the kids bring to us,” says Cathy. “They may want to discuss some aspect of our faith, an issue of so-cial justice, or something going on in the world. Sometimes we just put out a hat and let the teens submit questions or topics anonymously.” This summer, teens involved in the youth ministry planned a Mass and assisted with the parish’s Vacation Bible School in June, took an overnight trip to Cedar Point

in July, and attended Fest, a Christian musical festival fea-turing Michael W. Smith, in August. St. Sebastian’s Junior High Summer Camp also brought the younger teens together, where they enjoyed a bike ride

with Fr. Karg in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, volunteered at Open M, made rosaries, or had fun at Laser Quest. Cathy knows the hardest part for teens is stepping out of their comfort zone and getting involved, especially if they don’t have a friend with them. But, if they take that first step, it can be very rewarding.

“Over the years, I have seen God speak through a lot of different things that went on with the group,” Cathy says. “It touches me to see how these youth have grown in their own faith life, seeing them awaken to it.” For more information about either youth ministry, con-tact Cathy Sivec at 330-835-1427.

Youth for Christ (continued from page 2)

Friendship grows while enjoying Youth Ministry activities!