How different are the Lord’s ways from our own! Gracious and good to all, the Lord is equally generous in compassion and love to both those who are quick to respond to his invitation, as well as those who are slow to hear his call. May the Lord Jesus always be our life.

4:30 pm John Sopata (Wife)

8:00 am For the Parishioners

10:00 am Mildred Lipnos (Family)

12:00 pm Fannie Waclawik (Diana Derbin)

7:30 am Barbara Koteles (Gerry Howe)

7:30 am Ed Szpulski(Wife and Family)

7:30 am Tony Kacir (Mary and Elmer Krofta)

12:00 pm Shari Reyna and Aaron Thome--Wedding

4:30 pm Sue Koteles (Ed and Amy Koteles)

8:00 am Franklyn and Katherine Burger (Sabol Family)

10:00 am For the Parishioners

12:00 pm Mary Trifiletti (Family)

III Aaron Thome and Shari Reyna

to pay our bills and avoid going into debt

And the recently deceased: Ann Marie Piskura, Fr. William Tezie, and Carmela Imburgia (Sister of Sam Trankito).

Entertainment books are here — they are available by contacting Maryann Anselmo–216-524-1202; Vera Bednarski–216-642-5613; Sue Kenzig–216-642-7506; Kathy Mamone–216-475-7417; Andrea Sabol–440-439-8616; Debbie Valus–216-524-6366. The price is $25.00 until December 2. After December 3, the price is $30.00 Thank you for your support.

Dear parishioners,

9/11 passed with no new acts of terrorism directed at our country; on the contrary, many churches, St. Martin’s included, remembered in prayer and pilgrimage those who died and those who served our nation so well last year. These actions brought a degree of healing to many. Yet, fear still grips our hearts because the roots of terrorism have not been excised. As we consider the possibility of going to war with Iraq, with the abuse scandal in the Church still fresh, with the economy struggling to recover and with our local school system still in a strike mode, it is understandable if our attitudes are not as positive as they could be.

Human solutions to human problems are not sufficient to change the way we feel inside. Of course, we need to do all we can from the human perspective to resolve our problems; but those solutions only take us so far. We must approach all questions of life, no matter how trite, from a faith perspective. It’s the only way that we can be more vibrant persons, a more vibrant parish, a more vibrant church and a more vibrant world. Only through the source of life itself can we have any real enthusiasm about who we are and what we are called to be. We all know who that source is–Jesus Christ. For true, authentic life, we must ask the Lord Jesus to dwell in our heart. Only then will the fears we face shrink away, only then will we know that all things will pass and that which will last forever are faith, hope, and love, the greatest of those being love. What is vibrant parish life? It is individuals bounded together by Christ’s love.

Let’s have a great week as we life in the confidence of being loved by our God and sharing that love with all.

Fr. Jamie

Mark your calendar for Sunday afternoon, November 24, for our annual parish pasta dinner. Again, St. Pius X Church has given us permission to use their kitchen and halls for the dinner. We will have an organizational meeting soon.

All the priests of the Diocese will be meeting on Monday, September 23, with Fr. Steve Rossetti for a day of recollection, reflection, prayer and energizing. Please keep Frs. Matt and Jamie and all other priests in your prayers.

As the priests meet on Monday, please pray for faithfulness in vocations, and an increase in priestly vocations, vocations to diaconate, vocations to religious life, and vocations to marriage and single life.

This vocation prayer comes to us from Borromeo, our college seminary, and Saint Mary Seminary, our graduate school seminary.

Loving God, you speak to us

through many signs and wonders,

and you call us by name.

The life you gave us is a gift.

Grateful for the gifts of life and faith,

may we give of ourselves to our brothers and sisters.

Encourage us to respond to your love with all our hearts

with lives of service.

We ask for another gift.

Send into your Church today men and women

willing to give themselves totally for your people.

Increase in them a desire to serve as priests,

consecrated religious, and deacons.

Fill your Church with holy people

who proclaim the Gospel!

The answer to this question lies in the process called RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). What is shared is knowledge for life, the knowledge of Jesus as Lord, and how he calls us to live. RCIA kicks off on September 23 at St. Pius X Parish in Bedford beginning at 7:00 pm. St. Martin’s has joined up with St. Wenceslas, St. Pius X, and Holy Trinity to make a four-parish effort. If you are interested in the Catholic Faith, call the rectory. If you would like to be on the team, let Fr. Jamie or Fr. Matt know.

The fall season is upon us and basketball sign-up’s are just around the corner. Sign-ups will be done in person on September 26 and 30 between 6:30 and 8:30 pm, in the lobby of SMT School. You will need to pay in full at this time, which is $45.00, per child per sport. We will also be handing out physical forms at this time. Remember that a physical is only good for one year. After Sept 30, the sign-up’s will be closed so do not forget. If there should be any questions or problems please feel free to contact Steve Crooks at 440-439-2128.

Before you buy all new expensive school clothes, check the uniform exchange. We have a large inventory of clothes for a great price. Call Carol Stanoszek at 440-439-2708.

Sometimes after mass our certificate sellers are as lonely as the Maytag repairman. Please stop and support our parish certificate program. If you’re not ready to buy, they will be happy to explain the plan. Sorry we don’t give free samples.

Some people will give insurance companies some rather strange descriptions of auto accidents to make their claims, for example:

"I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way."

"A pedestrian hit me and went under my car."

"I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment."

"I was on my way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way, causing me to have an accident."

"The telephone pole was approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of the way when it struck my front end."

(from A TREASURY OF HUMOR, edited by Eric W. Johnson, 1989)

Excuses, excuses! We can always find reason to justify our behavior. Jesus doesn’t need excuses; he shows the loving mercy of God the Father in every situation. Let us be merciful as Jesus is.

The Annual Answer the Call Conference

Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Northeast Ohio

Saturday, September 28, 2002

Regina High School, South Euclid, OH

8:00 am to 4:30 pm (closing Mass at 3:00 pm)

Registration fee is $30.00 includes lunch

For more information call Dave Douglas 216-382-9366

Or Rick Bacha 216-328-0495

Speakers and Highlights:

Danny Abramowicz former New Orleans Saints All-Pro wide receiver and a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Jesse Romero, former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff and US Middleweight Kick boxing Champion.

Fr. Martin Pable, author of the book, "Quest for the Male Soul".

St. Helen’s Men’s Praise and Worship Band.

Next weekend, September 28 and 29, will be our monthly ST. Vincent de Paul food Collection. All non-perishable food items would be greatly appreciated to help those in need.

Womankind, an organization that reaches out to women by supporting them during and after their pregnancies thus giving them an alternative to abortion, is in need of disposable diapers (sizes 1 through 5). Please help them by placing your contribution of diapers with the St. Vincent de Paul collection next weekend and mark them clearly "For Womankind". Thank you for your support; your help is truly appreciated!

Are you looking for more? Dissatisfied with what the world has to offer? A Thirst for God not Satisfied? Come to the Life in the Spirit Seminar! Fr. Jamie will be the presenter on September 30, for a teaching on "Repentance and Healing."

The Life in the Spirit Seminar will be held on six consecutive Mondays starting September 16, 7:30–9:30 pm at St. Mary’s Church, 340 Main St., Hudson, Ohio. For more information call Ryeo Kim at 330-656-1312.

The weekend of October 13-14 marks the 16^th Annual Blanket Sunday Collection to aid the needy. The collection is sponsored by the Diocesan SVdP Society with the support of WJW-Fox 8, American Greetings Corporation and WDOL 102-1 FM. Check your closets (and maybe even ask your neighbors) for new or like-new blankets, sheets, pillowcases, towels and washcloths. If you gave us everything last year, you can still participate. We’ll gratefully accept a cash donation and do the shopping for you, making your money go even further with bulk purchases of items needed by low income families. So give someone a blanket for the winter and give yourself a warm feeling!

We are sponsoring trips to:

Thursday, October 24 Trick or Treat Bag Going to Waterford, Spartansburg, Cambridge, PA

Casino and tour of the Festival of Lights $54.00

For more information or reservations contact Dee Kriz at 216-663-7258. All are Welcome!