The Cleveland Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jelani Watkins, will bring Winter Carols and Lullabies to Historic St. Peter Church (E. 17th St. and Superior Ave.) on Saturday, December 17th at 7:PM. A pre-concert talk given by Dr. Charles McGuire of Oberlin College and Conservatory will begin at 6:30pm. Freewill donations will be accepted. Free parking is available around the church property. All are welcome!
Did you know that the lovely lady with the golden harp has been playing Christmas services at St. Malachi for 49 years?! Susan Strasek will join us again this year on Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning. Plan to arrive one half hour before Mass to hear her prelude music before the Christmas Eve 4PM Mass. Our choir joins in the prelude at the 10PM Mass and the 10AM Mass. COME EARLY!
On December 1, 2019 I on began my pastoral care of St Malachi as your Parish Administrator. Those first months were followed immediately by the onset of the pandemic. In addition to a new administrator, our parish family was forced into a new way of doing things, beginning with sustaining communal life while the world was shut down. Then rebuilding began as we crawled out of the quarantine phase and adjusted to “new normals.” Talk about a flood of change for everyone.
Through it all, I have come to know many of you and the commitment you bring to our small-but-mighty parish. Not without the need to address certain realities, I continue to observe the many wonderful blessings of our community, from the desire to worship well and grow spiritually to ongoing ways of caring for the vulnerable and those in most need. We also have celebrated well as the liturgies balanced festive joy with prudence and safety. Our Homeless Jesus statue graces our property as we continue to collaborate with good neighbors. And our outreach ministries are being reimaged in this post-Covid era.
I especially witness these desires as we experience our Strategic Planning initiative. It is evident that so many parishioners – and friends – love St. Malachi and remain committed to a hopeful future, whatever that may look like, as we look for creative ways to address the medley of strengths and challenges before us.
As we reach this three-year milestone together, know of my deep respect and gratitude for all those who call St Malachi their home. For however long the Bishop has me assigned as your Administrator, may this be a time in which we continue to grow.
Be assured of my continued prayers for you, Fr Tony, and all those we earnestly seek to serve in the name of Christ the Eternal Word.
Advent blessings,
Fr Gurnick
Items can be given individually or placed in a drawstring bag. If you donate an entire bag, please note the size and gender on the attached tag. Items will be collected through December 18th.
Wish List: Large cloth drawstring bag; White socks; Warm socks; Men’s and Women’s t-shirts and underwear; Hat and gloves—L, XL, XXL; Hand Warmers; Deodorant; Disposable Razors; Shaving Cream and After Shave Lotion; Toothbrushes and Toothpaste (travel size). You may also purchase items from the Center’s list on Amazon by going to: URL: https://SMPgiving. Thank you for making someone’s Christmas a little bit brighter!
Please Help Us in Our Outreach Ministry with Our Neighbors! – On Sunday, December 11, St. Malachi Parish will again deliver Christmas greetings and a gift to the residents at Lakeview Tower Apartments. This unique St. Malachi tradition is a memorable opportunity for families and individuals to share a gift and a smile with our neighbors during the Christmas Season. We will be delivering Dave’s Market Gift Cards and greetings door to door from 9AM until Noon (approx.). If you would like to help, please let us know in advance by contacting Jeff Barbalics,(216) 426-5272, jbarbalics@csinc.com.
Let us we remember our loved ones who have passes away and consider having a Mass celebrated for them. St. Malachi is accepting Mass requests through the end of 2023 at this time. Please call the rectory at 216-861-5343 and schedule a Mass.
We will honor our beloved dead during our annual Mass of Remembrance on Saturday, November 12, at the 4PM Vigil Mass. Invitations will be sent this week. If you lost loved one this year and want them to be remembered, please call or email Charlene at the rectory.
In today’s second reading we hear Saint Paul urging the members of the community at Thessalonica to direct their hearts to God’s love through Christ. He wants them to be laser-focused on Christ, and nothing else. He desires that they be strengthened by the Lord and shielded from what is not Christ-like. Good stewards cultivate a “laser-sharp” focus on Christ; not on things that could give them false or superficial images or ideals. Let’s think about our own daily focus: Do we direct out hearts toward Christ or are there other “gods” that claim our attention? Our career? Material possessions? Sexuality? Favorite sports team? Political leanings? Does our daily life point to Christ so that those who are younger and less mature in their faith learn from our example?
Let us we remember our loved ones who have passes away and consider having a Mass celebrated for them. St. Malachi is accepting Mass requests through the end of 2023 at this time. Please call the rectory at 216-861-5343 and schedule a Mass.
St. Malachi Parish will again participate in #weGiveCatholic on Tuesday, November 29. A one-day on-line giving event. St. Malachi’s goal this year is to raise $60,000 for our Back Door Ministries. We will again offer our Matching Donor Program. Make your donation go further by donating during the hours that are designated “Matching Donor”. More information & times to follow. Please participate by going online on Tuesday, November 29 12AM-11:59PM to: https://stmalachi.org website and click on the #weGiveCatholic button. You will be redirected to St. Malachi on the #weGiveCatholic website where you can make your donation. Not able to go online? We accept cash or checks made out to St. Malachi Parish which can be placed in the collection basket or mailed before November 29. Please indicate #weGiveCatholic on the memo line or envelope. Credit Cards are accepted for #weGiveCatholic. Call or stop by the Rectory to make your donation 216-861-5343 on or before November 29. We accept MasterCard Visa, Discover and American Express. Thank you for supporting St. Malachi Parish Back Door Ministries!
Listen to David who distributes the take-out meals to our guests as he shares the story of Monday Evening Supper & its impact on our guests Go to this link: https://youtu.be/n2ElNsBQ3Mk
To learn more about #weGiveCatholic visit us at: https://www.wegivecath olic.org/organization/St-Malachi-Church
