The Community of St. Malachi Blog

36^th Sunday in Ordinary Time                           December 9, 2007

First Reconciliation

Congratulations to Evan Budzar, Ronnie Copfer, Kevin Cush, Mary Lavelle, Madelyn Lockshine, Owen O’Donnell, and Cosette Zupan who received the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Tuesday, December 4.  The quilt, hanging in the front of the church was made by the Reconciliation class. (with a little help from Eileen Zaferopolos)

Karen Duffy

Church Decorating

            Help would be greatly appreciated after 12:30 Mass on both Sunday, December 16 and December 23.  Assist with putting up lights, wreaths, and finally, poinsettias in the church for the Christmas season.  The more folks we have, the sooner we can leave for our many other holiday traditions and celebrations.  Small GOLD ornament (paper, plastic, glittered, handmade) will be placed on our smaller trees. Make or bring a ready-made gold ornament to add to the trees. The Christian Formation and St. Malachi Center students are again decorating our pillar wreaths.  Kay Vine

Advent Celebration

To keep Christ in Christmas, join us for an evening of prayer, song, and community on December 16, 7:00-9:00pm at the Lakewood Women's Pavilion, Lakewood Park.  Come share a moment of peace in this hectic season.  Dress for the weather, as there will be a processional in the park.  This event is sponsored by the Christian Formation classes of the St. Malachi Community.  All ages encouraged to attend.  Refreshments provided.  For further information contact:  Diane Brinich @ 216-521-1360 or Karen Duffy @ 216-346-0784.

Come to the Stable

The Social Action Committee invites the parish and community to enter into our Christmas effort to support the clothing ministry and the men's shower program.  There will be a Giving Crèche (crib) project which will begin with the celebration of Advent.  Go to the crèche (crib) area and take a tag with a gift suggestion noted on it, purchase the gift and wrap it. Attach the gift tag on top of the package and return the gift to the crèche (crib area).  All gifts must be returned to the crèche by Sunday, December 23.  The gifts will be distributed on Monday, December 24.  Please take more if you want to make this a family project.  

 Call Joan Daly at 440-250-1755 if you have any questions.   Thank you for your support.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED:

Family and friends of Elizabeth (Sis) Aylward, sister-in-law of CSM members Kevin and Barb Aylward and daughter-in-law of Mary Jane Aylward.  Family and friends of former Parish member Tom Amon.

CSM HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Please remember in your prayers for the sick these that have been added (or updated) since our previous edition:  Tom Laubenthal, Chris Crawford and Cathy Domann.  If you need the previous list you may go to the Malachi Community website at www.stmalachi.org/community.htm and click on Health Department found under Newsletter or you may visit the “We Lift These Prayers” book the St. Malachi side of the altar.   Then you may add to your personal list. 

CSM Special Prayers Roster

Please keep in your prayers all the victims of warfare, both military and civilian, as well as these young people now in the armed forces, and their families: 

Ricky Brezinski, David Bugaj, Aaron Cimo, Brian Collins, Jim Curtin, Gary Faerber, Michael Gomez, T. J. Gordon, Andrew Harlan, David McLaughlin, Bill Nelligan, Tom Nemes, Michael O’Neil, John Parkowski, , Dave Salinas, Povented P. Taylor Jr., Louis Torres, Victor Valentino Jr., Michael Whalen.

Please continue with special prayers for the countless victims of tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, famines, mud slides, forest fires, avalanches and AIDS epidemics.

Community of St. Malachi Regular Weekly Collection

CSM Spiritual Development Committee

Chairperson contact: Jackie Bluett     440-590-0394   jackierose@aol.com

Advent Season Prayer

If you looking for a way to spend some quiet time during this Advent Season, please consider joining the Wednesday Prayer Groups in the Church at 6pm. Wednesday, December 12th is Taize prayer with special recognition of the Lady of Guadalupe (feast day) and Wednesday December 19 is Bridges to Contemplation based on writings of Thomas Merton.

Chairperson contact:  Joan Daly      440-333-1755             tisherself@cox.net

Cleveland Furniture Bank

The Cleveland Furniture Bank, associated but independent of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, is in need of furniture.  They will pick up the items and give you a listing of your donation which you can use for tax purposes. The Social Action Committee is working with St. Malachi Center and is referring needy families to the Cleveland Furniture Bank.  Call 216-459-2265 to arrange for furniture pickup.

Contact Joan Daly for additional information

CSM Liturgy Committee

Chairperson contact:  Mike Petit     440-884-9309             micheal.petit@uhhs.com

Eucharistic Minister Training
If anyone is interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister there will be training on January 20 from 2pm-5pm through the diocese.  Please contact Pam Pulizzi by January 2nd if you are interested in this ministry.216-941-5054 or pam_pulizzi@yahoo.com.

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St. Malachi Center News

Christmas Boutique

St. Malachi Center is again collecting new or gently used items for our Children's Boutique. Children from our After School Program "shop" for gift items for their families at the Boutique, so gifts of all sorts, for all ages, are welcome and appreciated.  Please bring these items to St. Malachi Center or place the items in the boxes at the front of church by December 14. Please call Ginny Suhr at the Center if you have any questions. Thanks for your help!

St. Malachi Center is looking for volunteers to help children and families shop the Christmas Boutique on Tuesday December 18 and Santa's Workshop on Thursday December 20. Please call Lynn Scott at 216-771-3036 for more information.

Malachi Mart

Malachi Mart has lots of things you would buy elsewhere --- cards, gift wrap, groceries, hardware, cosmetics, etc. -- and the prices are LOW, LOW, LOW!  So check out the Mart and help the Center at the same time.  With the Christmas season coming upon us, we all have extra shopping to do.  Shop at Malachi Mart and support the work of the Center while getting a great deal for yourself as well.   Cindy DiNardo, Mart Committee

Entertainment Books 2007-2008

St. Malachi Center is selling 2007-2008 Entertainment Books.  All proceeds go to paying for the work of the Center.  The books are only $25 and the coupons are worth hundreds of dollars of savings for dinners and entertainment over the next year.  They do make great anniversary, holiday and birthday gifts.  You can find Entertainment Books for sale at the back of the Church, at the Mart, and at 9:30am and 11am coffee hours or call Ginny at 216-771-3036

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Advent Lessons and Carols              Helen D. Schubert Concert Series

On Friday, December 14 at 7:30pm the St Ignatius High School Choir will present Advent Lessons and Carols. The St Ignatius High School Choir, under the direction of Jason Falkofsky, is an 80-member male vocal ensemble from Cleveland’s Jesuit Preparatory School. The Chorus participated in the 2006 Heritage Festival in Chicago, for which they were awarded four trophies, including Outstanding Choral Group, as well as a first place ranking. Concerts at the Cathedral are FREE & open to the public.

Free-will offering. Free secure parking - Cathedral Garage (Rockwell & E. 9th St. SE) Information: Greg Heislman, 216-771-6666, x5510; gheislman@dioceseofcleveland.org

Journey to Bethlehem

Join Catholic Charities Disability Services & Ministries for the Annual Journey to Bethlehem liturgy on Saturday, 15 December 2007, at OLA/St. Joseph Center (2346 W. 14th St., Cleveland, OH). Our celebrant will be Bishop Roger Gries. Mass will begin at 10:30 am with a light luncheon following. This year marks the 23rd liturgy for persons with disabilities, their families, friends and loved ones. Call 216-334-2963 or email mjscott@clevelandcatholiccharities.org for more information.

Young Adults in the City (20's and 30's)

On Saturday, December 15, from 9:00am to Noon, please help Providence House, a crisis nursery for children ages newborn - five years old. Our work will include organizing donated Christmas gifts, and their inventory of clothes, food, diapers, etc. To register, please call Laura (216-228-9516) or e-mail to 2006yaic@gmail.com or mjvogel@clevelandcatholiccharities.org. This event is sponsored by Catholic Charities through the Youth & Young Adult Ministry and CYO Office.

InterReligious Task Force on Central America

The InterReligious Task Force on Central America is a Cleveland-based interfaith group that promotes peace and human rights in Central America and Colombia.  We work to change U.S. policies, corporate actions, and consumer behaviors that undermine this vision of nonviolent social change.

IRTF has been invited to do many fair trade sales and information tables this season.  We need volunteers for Saturday, December 15.

The IRTF is located at 3606 Bridge Avenue, Cleveland. Call Franziska Seeck at 216-962-0003 or for full details visit the IRTF website at www.irtfcleveland.org.

River’s Edge (St. Joseph Center)

Forsythe Special, a 3 piece ensemble, will explore the human experience through Celtic music on Sunday, December 16 at 3:00pm.  Come and celebrate the joy of the season with your family and friends!  This holiday song and dance experience will touch your spirit and intoxicate your feet into dancing.  The fee is $10.00.  All proceeds from this event will benefit our Women’s Outreach Center St. Joseph Center, 3430 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, OH 44111

216-688-1111 www.riversdedgecleveland.com

Saint Columbkille Parish Christmas Concert (Parma)

Celebrate the birth of our Lord with Saint Columbkille’s Chorale, Contemporary Choir, Men’s Chorus, Children’s Choir and the Hand Bell Choir on Sunday, December 16 at 7pm. The choirs will perform classical, gospel, contemporary Christian and traditional Christmas music under the direction of Jon Thibo, Director of Music. The concert is free and all are welcome. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be rescheduled and held on Sunday, January 6th at 7:00 p.m. For more information, call (216) 524-1987.

Patron Feast Celebration

On Thursday, December 27, amidst the beauty of Christmastime at the Cathedral, we will celebrate our diocesan patron feast day of Saint John the Evangelist. You are invited to join Bishop Lennon and people from throughout the Diocese in two special events marking this important feast. At 12:00pm a special Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Lennon and at 7:00pm in the evening a Solemn Vespers service will be sung. An informative guided tour of the Cathedral will follow vespers. Free and secure parking is available for the evening service.

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Eucharistic Ministers:

December 16, 2007
Ellen McIntyre, Mary McNamara, Judi Shemkovitz, PamPulizzi, Marty Miller, Barb Pistillo,       Casey Stangel, Bob Rossman, Kathleen Rossman, Stephanie Taylor Ayers, Kay Vine

December 23, 2007
Dolores Sullin, Eileen Zaferopolos, Jim Zaferopolos,  Bruce Wacker, Joe Wegrzynowski,  Dan Zehe, Lori Zehe, Terese Andreani, Barb Aylward, LindaBellini, Jackie Bluett

December Calendar 2007
Refer to the articles above for the complete details.