…’Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’ This weekend’s Gospel turns our attention to the end of the liturgical year and to ‘end times’ awareness. We all need to stay awake – be alert – and live in such a way that our hearts and lives are both reconciled with God and those we love. It’s not that we should live in fear but we do need to live in a way that shows we are wise, prepared and at peace with God and family/friends/neighbors. This will be the clear message for the next several weeks. How can we grow in wisdom and see each day as a blessing and an opportunity to be at peace?
…This weekend we celebrate Veterans Day (November 11). It is a day set aside for us, as citizens, to honor and celebrate those who have fought for our freedom and served our country with pride and distinction. We remember those who have given their lives in service to our country. They remind us of the blessing of each day and our freedom. We honor all of our vets. The beautiful garden outside the Chapel entry is a reminder that each day we need to pray for all who serve to protect us. God bless our Vets and our country.
…On November 1, the Feast of All Saints, we had a wonderful Founders Mass as part of our 60th Anniversary. It was a blessing beyond words to see so many who were part of the first days of our parish community. We prayed together and shared a meal in the Mother Teresa Room. They all had wonderful memories and stories. They spoke wonderfully about the parish they helped establish and the blessings of God over the years. While the parish has grown, changed and evolved over the years, what remains constant is God’s faithfulness and the goodness of our members. Many thanks to the 60th Anniversary Committee for such a blessed gathering.
…You can see the goodness of our members over and over again. The coat drive – The WARMTH Project – is going very well. We are well on track to bring warmth and care to 2000 people — young and old – in our ALPHA Village outreach in the city of Cleveland. We will be distributing the coats on November 15 at an early Thanksgiving Meal celebration at Thomas Jefferson School. Thank you so much for sharing the care and warmth of the Lord with those in need. God bless you.
…You can see the goodness of our members in the turkeys and pies that are being collected this weekend. God blesses every offering and sacrifice. Together we will provide 6,500 meals in our region (Akron, Cleveland, Berea, Brunswick) in the weeks ahead. God bless you for your goodness. This is no small feat. It is a soul-stirring testament to the goodness of our community. Many thanks to our good friends at Marc’s. In addition to your turkeys and pies, Marc’s and their vendors helped provide much of the food product needed to create a great meal for thousands of people and families. God bless Orlando Bakery for providing all the bread that we use to make thousands of sandwiches for those who live on the street. We are so blessed. Thank you for your goodness. Please join me in thanking our Catholic Works of Mercy Team and our Community Meal Team… along with our friends at Marc’s… for their great efforts on our behalf.
…Speaking of meals, this Sunday, our neighbors at Saint Martin are hosting their Annual Ham Dinner from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Stop by for some great food and friendship. The good folk from Saint Martin were also very helpful in collecting coats for the Warmth Project.
…As you make your Thanksgiving Day plans, don’t forget to make plans to start your day with Mass at Saint Ambrose at 9:00 am.
…As we bring the care and compassion of Christ to others, it is the Lord who wants to take care of each of us. We will be celebrating the Anointing of the Aged and Infirmed at all the Masses next weekend. Please bring your family, neighbors and friends with you so we can ask God’s blessing upon them. This is a powerful and tender way to bring the peace of Christ to others.
…Last week’s bulletin contained an insert about some ideas/concepts for updating our Church. Many thanks to all who have taken the time to go on the website, review the ideas, ask good questions and offer good feedback. The Vision 20/20 team will be meeting this week to review your input and also offer some good information and answers to your questions. We will also be working to have a budget for the things we must do (roof, skylights, flooring, pew updating, lighting, sound system, HVAC, etc) and a budget for the things we could do if we choose (new altar, statues, entry ways, etc). This information will be very helpful for all of us. Please keep this process in your prayers, so we make good decisions for now and years to come. Watch for more information in the coming weeks.
…Please keep our second graders in your prayers as they prepare for their First Reconciliation this week. May they know the peace that comes from God alone. Special thanks to their parents and catechists/teachers for helping our young people know the tender mercy and compassion of God.
…Invite someone to join you for Church next weekend. All the studies show that almost half the people who don’t come to Church would come to Church if someone asked them. Next weekend is the perfect weekend to invite them to join you. It’s Welcome Home Sunday. We will sing and pray together. We will have refreshments after all the weekend Masses, along with our Annual Ministry Fair in Hilkert Hall. It’s a great way to showcase our parish community and invite your family and friends to engage more fully in the family of God. Invite one… or two… or three… of your family and friends to join you.
…This Sunday, November 12, I have been invited to be a part of The Call at The Q. It’s from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm with the goal of bringing together men from our region to have a stronger faith and deeper connection with God and the Church.
…Prayers this weekend for our Confirmation candidates as they celebrate the Rite of Enrollment. May God strengthen them by the power of God’s mighty Spirit.
…Every day is a gift and blessing. Every day we need to be ready and prepared to do the work of the Lord and live God’s will. Thank you for all you do each day for the Lord. Thanks for the turkeys, coats and pies. God bless you.
