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  •        Pastors Homily

    25th Sunday In Ordinary Time
    We Are Called to Serve
     
    We are called to service.  Have you ever done a thankless job?  The kind of serving that no one notices—like making coffee after you take the last cup at work or doing the dishes after a great Thanksgiving meal?  We live in world where everyone wants to be recognized.  We often are not very good in serving others.  Taking the position as a humble servant is not easy.

    When Bishop Kenneth Untener became bishop of the Saginaw Diocese, he began his homily at the installation Mass with the words:  “I am Ken, and I will be server.”  Those are familiar words we hear at restaurants.  Yet Bishop Utener was saying much more.  He was declaring that he, like Jesus, had come to serve the people of Saginaw.  As disciples, we too, are challenged to wear the garment of Christ, the servant of all.

    The disciples were arguing about who was the greatest.  Jesus said:  “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”.  Possibly, we could consider two rules to service:  to go where Jesus would go and to allow God to work through us.

    To go where Jesus would go.  As the Son of God, Jesus Christ gave up everything to be born like us.  He was born in a poor family.  He worked as a carpenter.  He worked with fishermen.  He healed the sick and disabled.  He died a horrible death on the Cross to save us from the penalty of our sins and restore us to God.  Where would Jesus go for us?  The real question is “Where wouldn’t Jesus go for us?  He went from the glory of heaven to the agony of the Cross to show us how much God loves us.  If you really want to be the greatest, Jesus says, then go where the Greatest would go.

    Many years ago an eleven-year old boy named Trevor Ferrell saw a news report on the problem of homelessness in Philadelphia, his hometown.  Trevor was so concerned about the idea of people sleeping on the street that he convinced his parents to gather up as many spare blankets as possible from their home and drive him into downtown Philadelphia.  And then this young boy walked up to the first homeless person he saw and offered him a blanket.  Trevor walked up and down those streets handing out blankets until he ran out.

    And this was just the beginning of Trevor’s mission.  He convinced his parents to collect bags of clothes, and make dozens of peanut butter sandwiches to donate to the homeless folks downtown.  Someone heard of Trevor’s mission, and they donated a van and volunteers toward his efforts.  Soon, national television news programs began interviewing him.  Why would an eleven year old boy from a wealthy suburb spend his evenings and weekends making food and collecting blankets for the homeless?

    All Trevor could say was, “it is Jesus inside of me that makes me want to do this.”

    Trevor Ferrell had Jesus, the Greatest of All, living inside him and this motivated him to go where Jesus would go, to the neediest members of his community, to share the love of Jesus with them.

    And the second rule of greatness is that the greatness isn’t about you.  It’s about God working through you.  Read through the Bible from beginning to end and look very carefully at who God used to do His work.  God did not choose the strongest, the most powerful, the bravest, and the smartest people to change the world.  In fact, almost everyone God chose to use for his work would have been voted “Least Likely to   Succeed.”  So how did they end up being heroes of the faith?  They let God use them for His good works.  So what would happen if you and I would do the same thing?

    After Mass, we hope all of you will come to our parish garden on Fleet Avenue by the I-77 ramp for a Meet and Great.  Hot dogs will be served along with light refreshments.  It is always good for us to develop our relationships with one another and to build community among ourselves.

    I saw a sign recently that said:  God does not call the qualified.  God qualifies the people whom God calls.

    Everyone has a calling, a purpose, a plan in the eyes of God.  God wants everyone to be great, but greatness not as the world sees it.  It is greatness as God sees it.

    To review:  To be Great: 
    Rule #1  Go where Jesus would go
    Rule #2  It is not about you.  It is about God working through you.

    Let us embrace these two rules that come to us from the Greatest Person of All:  Namely, Jesus Christ.  Together, each of us can truly become great if we embrace these rules.

     

     

  • Links

  •             Memo
     From Bishop Malesic

    A message from Bishop

    Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

    The latest information from federal, state and local public health agencies informs us that the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is surging in our area, causing increased illness and hospitalizations at levels not seen since the spring. For the safety of all who worship at Catholic parishes throughout the Diocese of Cleveland, I strongly encourage you -- whether vaccinated or not vaccinated -- to wear a face mask while attending Mass indoors. All who want to attend Mass, and who are otherwise vulnerable, should feel safe and welcome inside our sacred spaces. Please use charity and patience with those who do not wish to comply with this strongly stated request. You also might want to consider wearing a face mask for other indoor gatherings, especially for those not yet fully vaccinated. Wearing masks outdoors is not generally required except for activities involving close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

    Those who are ill, have significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immune-compromised or ill, as well as those who have significant fear or anxiety about contracting the coronavirus in a large group of persons are not obliged to attend Mass.
    Pope Francis recently offered a message of hope and unity to the world in an effort to continue increasing confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines, specifically in communities disproportionately affected by the virus. “Thanks to God’s grace and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from COVID-19,” the pope said. “Getting the vaccines that are authorized by the respective authorities is an act of love. I pray to God that each one of us can make his or her own small gesture of love; no matter how small, love is always grand.”

    I am fully vaccinated and recommend the same for my family and friends. In consideration of others, I also am wearing a mask during the distribution of holy Communion and I strongly encourage those distributing holy Communion at Mass to wear a mask while distributing as well.
    Remember that the situation seems to be ever changing. This request to wear face masks is temporary and will be changed once this current level of increased coronavirus cases is over. Stay connected to information coming from national, state and local health authorities, and stay home and get tested for COVID when you are not feeling well. Following these recommendations will go a long way in helping to keep you and others around you safe.

    We are all tired of this pandemic, but we must not forget that we are called to care for the health of others in times of crisis and must continue to protect our healthcare system and medical workers.
    May God bless and watch over us in our time of need.

    Bishop Edward C. Malesic
     

  • On-Line Giving

    We are grateful for your support of our church. Online Giving allows you to make contributions to our church without writing checks or worrying about cash donations. This site lets you set up automatic contributions and change the timing or the amount of your gift at any time. You may make pledges and manage your contributions to the pledge amount, and you may make one-time donations to special causes. Please click on "Sign Up for Your New Account" and complete your initial account registration. Thank you!

    Click the link below to get started!

    Online Giving

  • ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ?

    With so much uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 virus and increasing recommendations to avoid crowds and take proper safety precautions, we wanted to remind you that we have options in place now that you can use today. This option is an ideal way to support the parish and our mission should you elect to stay home and worship.

    Online Giving is available for you to make contributions to the church. This option makes use of current technology and security standards and allows you to easily setup recurring contributions. It also enables our church to take advantage of new tools to become more efficient.

    Online Giving Parishioner Benefits
    • Secure and confidential. No need to share payment information with the church office.
    • Efficient. Set up direct withdrawals from your checking, savings account or a credit card.
    • Simple. Start, stop and change your contributions at any time.
    • Convenient. No need to write a check or have cash available.
    • Remote flexibility. You can give from virtually anywhere anytime.

    Online Giving is intended to be a convenient tool for you to use, and we strongly support both Online Giving and Offering Envelopes for contributions to the parish. Online Giving is the electronic way to participate in weekly offertory.
     

  • Calendar  

  • Sick & Hospitalized

    Please remember in your  prayers those who are sick.  May they and their caregivers receive comfort and strength, remembering especially :

    Sharon Arroyo, Ryan Amato,
    Rondell Atwater, The Baileys Family, Matthew Balli,  Joyce Bican,
    Chester Betliskey,  
    Mary Ann Betliskey, Bonnie Donovan,  James Ciesla, Donna Czyzynski, Bobbie Deccola, Joseph Deccola,   Katherine Dolniar, Betty Domorasky, Shelley Forbes,  Joan Gorris,
    Kristin Hill, Liz Humar,
    Jacob Jackson, Millie Jasany,
    Chris Jackson,  Marcedia Johnson,
    The Jorski Family, Stanley  Loszak, Stefania Loszak, Grant Kaurich,
    Patti Kicielinski, Richard Kwiatkowski, Eleanor Peshek, Tom Konkoly, Sharon Krzynowek, 
    Amy Latawiec, Richard Leonard, Barbie Lister,     Ann Marie Medve,  Jeanette Miller, Marguerite Miller, Nikki Milton, Keenan Montgomery,
    Joe Morrish, Donna Murrin,
    Dorsel Nicholas, Diane Nicholas,  Louis Novak, Art Novotny,
    Patricia Rhine, Joel Rivera,
    Karen Seneff, Norman Seneff,
    Tony Seneff, Earl Sheets,
    ileen Skiba,     Margaret Slechta,
    Chuck Slusarczyk,
    Nancy Slusarczyk, Russ Smith,
    Peggy Snyder, Kellie Span, Baarbara Sposet, Michael Sposet, Elaine Stack, Robert Stack, Marilyn Siwek,
    Toni Suchy, Marlene Wesley,
    Betty Wilson, Jerome Wisniewski, Greg Wisniewski and
    Carl Zelenskas.
     


           

  • We Need Your Help

    If your address and phone number have changed, please let us know.  We would like to keep our records up to date.  Also if you would like to share your email address, please contact Sandy Yody  at  
    sjnsyody@st-john-nepomucene.org
    Thank you !

  • IMPORTANT !!!! PLEASE READ

    If anyone receives an email or a TEXT from Fr. Jasany or any of our staff requesting money or saying I need a favor, please delete we will never request money in this manner.  If you have any questions please call the rectory.

  • Altar & Rosary

    The Altar & Rosary Society are looking for new members please see their page for more information.

  • Rosary Makers

    The Rosary Makers will be meeting on September 29, in the Rectory from 10:00 to 12:00