4:30 pm Nesta Cireddu (Lena Demarchi and Family)

9:00 am Harold Greenfelder (Wife and Children)

11:00 am Steve Sadowski (Family)

7:30 am Harold McGinnis (Sally Hanuscin)

7:30 am No Mass

7:30 am Communion Service

7:30 am For the Parishioners

7:30 am Loretta and Rosario Audino (Daughter)

4:30 pm Joseph Mendolera, Sr and Joe Mendolera, Jr.

(Wife and Mother)

9:00 am Jean Slivka (Marge Greenfelder)

11:00 am Frances Miano (Family)

Please note: $10,500.00 is needed weekly

to pay our bills and avoid going into debt

And the recently deceased: Jennie Talani and Theresa Snedeker-Beatty (Mother of Fr. Arthur Snedeker).

With the St. Martin VPL team planning the mission, they are inviting our neighboring parishes to come and to take part in the mission. Frs. Foster, Mahoney, and Mazanec have agreed to make presentations at the mission, a different priest on each night. Pray for the Mission.

If you wish to receive a statement of your 2002 Contributions, please fill in the information below and drop it in the collection basket. Statements may be picked up at the Rectory on Thursdays. If you wish to have your statement mailed, please attach a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Name_____________________________________________

Address___________________________________________

City___________________________Zip Code____________

Envelope #__________________

Dear people,

No doubt you read or heard about the article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer this past Tuesday concerning the situation of St. Wenceslas Parish Elementary School. The parish–parishioners, Finance Council, pastor Fr. Clyde Foster–is in a decision-making process on whether or not to keep its school open. They no longer have a PSR program; they send their PSR children here for our Tuesday night sessions. How difficult it must be for them to come to know what is best for the parish, for the school families and staff, for the parishioners, for the Diocese, and for the community. They have big time concerns about finances, tuition costs, school salaries, repair expenses, fund raising, new loans, and parish subsidy to the school.

There are other questions as well. One question is: what makes a school ‘catholic’? Shouldn’t there be a certain percentage of students who are catholic and parishioners of the parish? If more students are non-catholic than catholic, is the school still catholic? What is the parish’s responsibility to support a school when a majority of students are non-catholic? Will the Diocese provide St. Wenceslas any financial help?

I raise these questions because we here at St. Martin’s need to grow in our awareness of the situations in our community. Vibrant Parish Life calls us to maximize the use of our gifts, not only for our own parish, but also for our neighboring parishes. We are facing similar struggles as those of St. Wenceslas, St. Pius X, St. Mary in Bedford, and other neighbors. St. Martin’s Parish and its school face significant concerns, some of which are financial. We all struggle with change in the number of parishioners, and in their participation in the life of the parish and church. All of us have a more diverse student population in their schools than ever before–more denominations and religions, varied ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as different economic and educational levels.

Yet through it all, we are sisters and brothers, many sharing faith in Jesus Christ. That is one reason for the pulpit-sharing taking place, to hear the stories of what is happening in the parishes of our community, to help build the body of Christ. Wise stewardship involves making tough decisions. Jesus is present to us, especially in these most difficult times. Let us never lose sight of who we believe in, of who we are, and of what we are called to do.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Jamie

Fr. Clyde Foster of St. Wenceslas will be here at St. Martin’s for the 4:30 mass this weekend. Fr. Mazanec goes to St. Mary’s in Bedford for the 5:00 pm mass.

On Sunday March 2, Fr. Tom Winkel, pastor of St. Mary, Bedford, will be here for the 9:00 am mass; Fr. Mahoney goes to St. Mary’s; Fr. Foster to St. Pius X; Fr. Mazanec to St. Wenceslas. The rotation will continue into June. The different parish communities have welcomed warmly the neighboring pastors to their churches. The purpose of the pulpit sharing is to have the neighboring parish communities meet the different pastors, to learn more about one another, and to help each other to be ‘Church’, vibrantly alive with Christ.

Any girl or boy, fifth grade on up, who is not currently an altar server, may contact the rectory with your name, school, and phone number. Practices will begin in Lent.

"The VPL statement is intended to offer a vision and a call for the renewal of parish life through our unity and collaboration. I ask our parish leaders and especially my brother priests, to give me your support in leading this endeavor. We must love the Church and help our people to participate fully in its life. Our discernment and dialogue need to be rooted in love–the love of God, love for each other, love for the Church. We must recognize and embrace the unifying power the Church has for all of us. I look forward to continuing our conversations within the Church as we discern the path to which the Spirit calls us."

(This is the last excerpt from Bishop Pilla’s letter. These excerpts began in the bulletin last October 6. In weeks to come there will be shorter inserts. However, should you desire to read the entire pastoral letter, it is available in the vestibule of the church.)

Check out the following Catholic websites for information, reading, or to buy their products:

www.catholicbooksonline.com (Liguori publications)

www.nationalshrine.com (Basilica of National Shrine of

the Immaculate Conception)

www.livingfaith.com (daily prayers and blessings)

www.osv.com (publications by Our Sunday Visitor)

www.wau.org (the Word Among Us materials)

www.sharetheword.net (articles, inspiration from Paulist

Press)

If you know of a website that provides good Catholic, spiritual material, contact the rectory and we’ll list it in the bulletin.

During a face-to-face confession a lady admitted, "Father, I must confess that I just can’t resist the temptation to sit in front of my mirror two to three hours every day admiring my beauty. I think I need to confess this sin of pride."

After looking at the lady, the priest responded, "Well, it’s not the sin of pride you need to confess; it is the sin of a wild imagination."

(from THE RETURN OF THE GOOD CLEAN JOKES, compiled by Bob Phillips, 1986)

Pride did not paralyze the men who lowered their friend through the roof to the place where Jesus was. It was their total faith in Jesus that produced this wondrous healing of body and soul. The spiritual paralysis of sin and the physical paralysis of body vanished when Christ showed his power as Son of God in this total healing. May our faith be as complete as those litter bearers.

The Rite of Enrollment for all Confirmation Candidates will be held on February 23 at the 11:00 a.m. Liturgy.  Candidates and their sponsors (or parents, if sponsors are not available) will participate in the Rite

Congratulations to Chuck Brockman, Ashley Brown, Brittany Milkovich, and Mitch Tekien for their outstanding effort!  These four eighth grade students participated in the "Math Classic" Mathematics Contest at Saint Edward High School on Saturday, February 8th.

Applications for registration for kindergarten children for the 2003-2004 school year may be picked up in the school office until March 3, 2003. These forms must be returned to school by March 3, 2003.

St. Martin is again participating in the Giant Eagle Apples for the Students Program. Giant Eagle provides the opportunity for students to get FREE computer and educational related equipment into our classrooms. Register for the program at www.gianteagle.com or call 1-800-474-4777. Our School ID Number is 2866. Supporters who registered last year are automatically registered for this year’s program. The program runs until March 22, 2003. Help us earn these needed resources by spreading the word to co-workers, family and friends.

Adult coaches are needed to help with the 2003 track season. The only requirement is the willingness to work with grade school runners. Experience is not required. Call 216-581-4122 and ask for Michael.

St. Martin of Tours School will be selling Malley’s Easter candy until March 18th.  Order forms are available in the back of the church or in the school office.  If possible, payment at the time of ordering would be appreciated--if not, payment is due at time of pickup, which will be on April 10th in the school library from 8a.m. to 6p.m.  Your support in making this fundraiser a success is greatly appreciated.

April 19 Amish Country $57.00

Call Dee Kriz at 216-663-7258 for more information. Ask about $5.00 off coupons for these trips. ALL ARE WELCOME!

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