ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 606 E. WASHINGTON ST., MEDINA, OH 44256 330-725-4968 SFXMEDINA.COM

2 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

THIS WEEK AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

(TS) Fr. Tony Sejba; (TK) Fr. Thomas Kowatch; (CC) Fr. Chris Cox; (EL) Fr. Ed Lajack; (JM) Fr. John Mullee;

(PK) Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl; (JL) Deacon Joe Loutzenhiser; (DN) Deacon Dan Norris

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Sunday, April 12—Hospitality Sunday 10:00 am Preschool PSR (XR/SCH) 10:00 am RCIA (RH) 5:00 pm Bingo (CB) 6:30 pm LifeTeen XLT (XR/CH) 7:00 pm MCRHP (RH) Monday, April 13 7:00 pm Boy Scouts—Troop 506 (CB) 7:30 pm Cantor Rehearsal (CH) 7:30 pm Pastoral Council (XR) Tuesday, April 14 8:00 am Morning with Mom (CB) 3:30 pm SFX Faculty Meeting (XR) 5:30 pm Youth Choir (CH) 6:30 pm Bingo (CB) 7:00 pm Cantor Rehearsal (CH) 7:00 pm RCIA (RH) 7:00 pm Stewardship Committee (RLR) 7:00 pm Stitching Stewards (TL) 7:00 pm Young Adult Bible Study (RH) Wednesday, April 15 6:30 pm Women of Grace Bible Study (RH) 6:45 pm Edge (XR/SCH/CH) Thursday, April 16 6:15 pm Elementary PSR (XR/SCH) 7:30 pm Adult Choir (CH) Friday, April 17 9:15 am Moms and Tots (CB) Saturday, April 18 8:30 am Cleaning Angels (CH) 9:00 am Elementary PSR (XR/SCH) 11:00 am Peace and Justice Dinner Setup (XR) 6:30 pm Peace and Justice Dinner (XR) Sunday, April 19 10:00 am Preschool PSR (XR/SCH) 10:00 am RCIA (RH) 1:30 pm Baptism Class (XR) 1:30 pm New Parishioner Welcome (107) 5:00 pm Bingo (CB) 6:30 pm LifeTeen Life Night (XR)

Location key: (CH) Church (CB) Church Basement (LR) Loyola Room (CR) Rectory Conference Room

(XR) Xavier Room (SCH) School (TL) Teachers’ Lounge (LIB) School Library (RH) Randel House

(RHLT) RH Life Teen (RLR) Rectory Living Room (HM) Holy Martyrs Church (K of C) Knights of Columbus Hall

Sunday, April 12—Divine Mercy Sunday 8:00 am Catherine Arnold (TS) 10:00 am Gayle Kasper (TS)

12:00 pm People of St. Francis Xavier (TK) 1:30 pm Baptisms (TK) 3:00 pm Divine Mercy Observance (CC) 5:30 pm Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Miller (CC) 6:30 pm Exalt (CC)   Monday, April 13 7:30 am Paul Humphrey (CC) 2:00 pm Western Reserve (TS) 7:00 pm Marita Tulisiak (TK) Tuesday, April 14 7:30 am Religious Vocations (TK) 9:15 am School Liturgy—Grades K-4 (TS) Wednesday, April 15 7:30 am Jeanne Smudz, James Wolfe, Bob Mickle, Joe Andrich, John Malone, Fritz Hoffman, Janice Goyette and Joyce Ebner (CC) Thursday, April 16 7:30 am Mary Jacqueline Tramonte (CC) 7:00 pm Bishop Pevec (TK)

Friday, April 17 7:30 am Albert Hawker, Sr. (TK) Saturday, April 18 7:30 am Rose and Wilbert Poiser (CC) 8:00 am Adoration for Life (CC) 3:30 pm Reconciliation 5:00 pm Richard Emil Janson (TS) Sunday, April 19 — Third Sunday of Easter 8:00 am The People of St. Francis Xavier (CC) 10:00 am Mildred Benner (TS)

12:00 pm Florence and Stanley Alaburda (TK) 5:30 pm Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Coleman (TK) 

Mass attendance, Easter 2015

Vigil 376

8:00 am 578

(PAC) 8:30 am 350

10:00 am 794

(PAC) 10:30 am 1100

12:00 pm 728

Parish Treasury Update: Easter 2015

Easter Offertory: $38,920.00

Sunday Offertory: $8,225.00

Envelopes: 680

Holy Land Offertory: $1,419.61

Thank you for your generosity! 

Welcome to all visitors! We extend a warm welcome to everyone visiting St. Francis Xavier today! If you attend St. Francis Xavier on a regular basis and consider this your parish home,

please register and become an active member. For more infor-mation, please call our office: (330)725-4968.

3 April 12, 2015

Worship and Sacraments at St. Francis Xavier

Baptisms: Two Sundays each month at 1:30 p.m.; baptism clas-ses every other month. Call the rectory for dates. Reconciliation: Saturdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday before First Friday, 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Anointing of the Sick: Prompt attention at any time, day or night! Please call the rectory to arrange for this sacrament: 330-725-4968. Marriage: Please call as soon as possible! Preparation requires a minimum of six months. Marriage guidelines are available on request. Nocturnal Adoration: First Friday of the month, 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Adoration for Life: Third Saturday of the month following 7:30 a.m. Mass, 8-8:30 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier Church Staff  

Pastor Rev. Anthony Sejba (ext. 8956) Parochial Vicars Rev. Thomas Kowatch (ext. 8955) Rev. Chris Cox (ext. 8957) Deacons Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl Deacon Joseph Loutzenhiser Deacon Daniel Norris Director of Adult Initiation Jenny Bonarrigo Director of Religious Education Susan Rohe-Brooks (ext. 8961) Youth Minister Paul Koopman (ext. 8958) Director of Ministry and Communication Jennifer Webb (ext. 8946) School Principal Bibiana Seislove (ext. 8903) Director of “Little Sailors” Pre-School Monica Gorman (ext. 8920) Business Manager Ray Scherry (ext. 8954)

Sunday Masses 5 p.m., Saturday Vigil; 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m.

Weekday Masses 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday;

7 p.m. Monday and Thursday Reconciliation

Saturdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Parish Pastoral Council

Damian Ludwiczak (chair): 330-725-6567 Jenn Stanziano (vice chair): (330)416-7207 Anthony Kovalik (secretary):(330)723-6315

Mike Baumgartner: (330)725-4445 Jo Ann Cook: (330)725-6240 Tom Corall: (330) 725-7207

Kathy Gaughan: (330)722-8848 Tuesday Hamilton: (330)591-0580

Charise Kasper: (330)721-6510 Bob Pryatel: (440) 382-9399

Rachelle Skupski: (330)721-1785 Vince Tricomi: (330)603-7327

Bingo Sundays: Doors open at 3:30 p.m.; games start at 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays: Doors open at 5:00 p.m.; games start at 6:30 p.m.

Contact us Rectory Offices: 330-725-4968

Parish School of Religion: 330-722-7700 St. Francis Xavier School: 330-725-3345 School Fax: 330-721-8626

Church Basement: 330-764-8912 Latchkey: 330-725-6203

Cemetery (Dave Thomas): 330-722-4477

Rectory office hours

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Readings for the Week

Monday: Acts 4:23-31; Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9; Jn 3:1-8

Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1ab, acd-2, 5; Jn 3:7b-15

Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26, Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9;

Jn 3:16-21

Thursday: Acts 5:27-33, Ps 34:2 and9, 17-18, 19-20;

Jn 3:31-36

Friday: Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15

Saturday: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; Jn 6:16-21

Sunday: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9; 1 Jn 2:1-5a;

Lk 24:35-18

Mass attendance, March 28-29, 2015

5:00 pm 498

8:00 am 316

10:00 am 583

12:00 pm 453

5:30 pm 285

Parish Treasury Update: March 28-29, 2015

Sunday Offertory: $17,064

Envelopes: 422

Thank you for your generosity!

4

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Update

Thank you for your support by par cipa ng in the Blood Drive on March 22nd. We had 17 people donate blood that day. One single do-na on can help three lives in our Medina com-

munity and also benefit our parish school. St. Francis Xavier will again host a blood mobile drive on Sunday, May 17th from 9:00am to 1:00pm. If you donate elsewhere, please consider changing your dona on site to St. Francis Xavier on May 17th. Mark your calendars for Mornings with Mom on Tuesday, April 14th for last names beginning with the le ers A-K and Tuesday, May 5th for last names beginning with L-Z. You are welcome to a end on the date that is most convenient for your family. The new loca on for Mornings with Mom will be the Church basement and the event starts at 8:00am both dates. Also, please join us for grades K-4 Liturgy this week if your schedule permits. Just a reminder if you are able to assist with our COSI visit on April 21st, please contact Mrs. Herman. We are most apprecia ve of the families that

have completed their registra on informa on for all grades for the 2015-2016 school year and encourage those of you that have not, to do so as soon as possible. If you have any ques-

ons regarding registra on, please contact Kathy Metzger in our school office. It is impera ve that you complete your regis-tra on as soon as possible so that we may con nue to plan for the upcoming school year. Thank you. Have a blessed week. In Christ,

Mrs. Seislove

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

Date Event Time Tuesday, April 21

Friday, April 24 Reconcilia on—Grade 2 1:00 pm in the Church

COSI on Wheels

A Busy Spring is Upon Us!

T W G :

L A :

We educate for excellence and together we learn to become Disciples of Christ

Date Event Time Monday, April 13

7th Grade Visita on—Walsh Jesuit High School

April 14 School Liturgy—Grades K-4

Thursday, April 16 M ’ P N

1:00 pm

Tuesday, Mornings with Mom 8:00 am in the Church Base-ment

9:15 am in the Church

Friday, April 17 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY

St. Francis Xavier “Little Sailors” Preschool Open-ings: We currently have openings available in our Preschool 3’s, 4’s and

Young 5’s Pre-Kindergarten classes for the 2015- 2016 school year. For more infor-mation or to see our preschool please contact Mrs. Monica Gorman at 330-725-3345 (x. 8920) or mgorman@stfrancisxavier.info.

A 27-M 1 — T A W

Date Event Time Monday, April 27 Spring Concert—Grades 1 and 2 7:00 pm in the Gym

Tuesday,

April 28 All School Liturgy 9:15 am in the Church

Thursday, April 30 Market Day Pickup

Friday, May 1 8th Grade Wax Museum in the Xavier Room

Teacher Tuesday

3:00 pm in the Church Base-ment

Congratula ons SFX Piano Students The following students par cipated in the Piano Recital on Monday, March 23, 2015. Congratula-

ons to our very talented students. Thank you to Mrs. Farkas for her commitment to the program. 4th Grade: Olivia Lika, Gabe Gardner, Anna Kalka, Lauren Bangs, Max Uveges, Ryan Palombo, Alex Vano, Elizabeth Gilbert 5th Grade Samantha Bergman, Elizabeth Russo, Alana Zurowski, Noah Kirsch 6th Grade: Alex Dillon, Molly Evrard 7th Grade: Kayla Zurowski, Evan Vazquez, Gabe Puto 8th Grade: Theresa Damm, Ryan Knapp, Ethan Knapik, Lou Piernik, AJ Cook, Nicole Strickland, Ka e Bachmann

SFX-PTC Scholarships available for SFX Class of 2010-2011 — Each year the SFX-PTC awards a senior (or two) who graduated from St. Francis Xavier School a $500 scholarship towards college educa on. The deadline for applica ons is May 4, 2015. Applica on is online at h p://www.sfxmedina.com/school/ptc/ under “ptc resources.” Contact Germaine Wilson for further details at germainewilson@rocketmail.com or 330-241-1328.

5 April 12, 2015

The Catholic Commission of Wayne, Ashland & Medina will celebrate its 28th Annual Pope St. John Paul II, Proclaimer of Justice Gala Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, April 18th at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Medina. The 2015 Michael Berken Peace and Justice Award will be presented to Father Bob Wenz, retired Parochial Vicar of St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick. Also being honored with the 2015 Faithful Servant Award is Connie Ebaugh, parishioner at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. Social Hour and Silent Auction begins at 6:00 p.m. fol-lowed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. For inclusion in our program book-let as a patron or ad sponsor, or to make a reservation ($30 per

person), contact Joan Badami at 330-535-2787 or jba-dami@ccdocle.org. Mail checks payable to Catholic Charities Corp. and sent to: Catholic Commission c/o WAM Gala, 795 Rus-sell Avenue, Akron, OH 44307.

Catholic Commission of Wayne, Ashland, and Medina’s 27th Annual Pope St. John Paul II, Proclaimer of Justice Gala Dinner to be held at St. Francis Xavier Parish

Employment Network For general information about our group, call Jim Mayiras at 330-721-9796. Do you know of someone who needs help or direction in their job search? Call Joe Gainard at 330-725-8690. If your company needs talent and has a position available to post with our group, email the information to Dan Cathcart at cathcartd@yahoo.com.

SAVE the DATE!! St. Francis Xavier Parish takes part in the Operation Homes program that helps the home-less in Medina County. There will be a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Sunday April 19, 12:30 - 3:00 at Prince of Peace Church. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children under 10. Take-out is also avail-able. Tickets can be purchased at the St Francis Xavier office or at Prince of Peace the day of the dinner.

SFX Latchkey Director Needed Latchkey, the before and after school program here at St. Fran-cis Xavier School, is looking for a Director for the next school year. The director does all plan-ning, purchasing, and supervision of the operation and staff. This position can be part or full time. Flexibility is key and the ability to maintain a safe and Christian environment for ele-mentary school aged children. Please contact with any ques-tions: Jane McHugh 330-725-

6203 or for an application, please stop in the Church Office 330-725-4968.

6 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

The Tony Imburgia Scholarship was established to assist children of St. Francis Xavier in their efforts to gain a Catholic education at St. Fran-cis Xavier School as defined by the Tony Imburgia Scholarship Commit-tee. Applicants must be enrolled at St. Francis Xavier School for the cur-rent and subsequent school year. Applicants will be judged on:

♦ Related volunteer experience or activities at St. Francis Xavier School/Parish

♦ Essay content and quality ♦ Letter of reference Interested applicants must complete the Tony Im-burgia Scholarship application form. Forms are available by calling St. Francis Xavier School at 330-725-3345. Deadline for submitting a completed application is the end of April each year. Applicants will be notified of any award acceptance before the end of the

current school year. The scholarship award will be auto-matically deducted from the designated school year’s tui-tion. The Tony Imburgia Scholarship awards up to seven (7) scholarships each year. The scholarships for 2015-2016 school year will be in the amount of $750 each. The Tony Imburgia Scholarship Endowment Foundation Board screens all applications for eligibility. St. Francis Xavier School administers the scholarships which are awarded by July 1st of each year. The decision of the Tony Imburgia Scholarship Endowment Fund Board is final. The Tony Imburgia Scholarship is funded by the Knights of Columbus Council #4168.

The Catholic Commis-sion of Wayne, Ashland & Medina (WAM) Advi-sory Committee has

passed a resolution in support of Issue 10, the .8 Mill Levy for Medina County Human and Social Services, on the May 5, 2015 ballot. Citing US Catholic Bishops statements on the common good and protecting the vulnerable among us, the Catholic Commission under-stands this funding as vital to directly supporting needed local services to Medina County’s vulnerable children, foster care/adoptive programs, older adults, and residents relying on local mental health and sub-stance abuse programs. The WAM Catholic Commis-sion encourages your prayerful consideration on Is-sue 10, the first tax increase on Medina County citi-zens since 1971. For questions, please contact the Catholic Commission at (330) 263-6176.

2015-16 Applications for the Tony Imburgia Scholarship Endowment Fund are Available

FILL the TRUCK FUNDRAISER—May 1-3. Clean out those closets! The boy scouts are hosting a clothing drive to benefit Easter Seals of Northern Ohio and Troop 506. Donations may be dropped off at St. Francis Xavier Church Saturday, May 2 from 11 am - 5 pm or Sunday, May 3 from 7:30 am - 1:30 pm. Ac-ceptable items include, but are not limited to: cloth-ing, comforters, blankets, towels, sheets, shoes, stuffed animals and purses. Anything made of cloth will be accepted, even torn or stained items. To schedule an advance pick up please call 216-281-1474 and leave a message. All donations are tax-deductible; receipts will be provided.

7 April 12, 2015

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION 330-722-7700, ext. 8961 sbrooks@stfrancisxavier.info

PSR Parent Information is now posted on the www.sfxmedina.com website under About— Parish School of Religion and then the Program you are inquir-

ing about. We have listed remaining classes for each of the PSR programs.

Elementary Classes (Grades 1-5) - Thursday evenings from 6:15-7:45 p.m. Classes resumed and will also be in session this coming Thursday, April 16th, 23rd, and the closing evening on April 30th. On the 30th, the students will all attend the parish 7:00 pm evening mass. Students are reminded to return their rice bowls/offertory boxes for the missions to their catechist.

Preschool Classes (Ages 3, 4, and 5 years old; Sundays during 10:00 a.m. Mass): Classes resume this Sunday, April 12th during the 10:00 am liturgy. Remaining sessions will be April 19th, and April 26th. Our closing class on April 26th will have a special activity for the children.

2014-2015 Sacrament Students Please remember with prayer our 127 students in their last weeks of preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Eucharist. The retreat/workshop day will be Saturday, May 2nd. Students celebrating First Eucharist at 10:00 am on May 9th will come to school from 9:00-11:45 am. Students celebrating First Eucharist at 1:00 pm on May 9th or celebrating at one of the later dates should attend the workshop at 12:45-3:30 pm.

The Edge (Grades 6,7,8) Wednesday evenings from 6:45-8:15 p.m. Our Edge classes on Wednesday evenings are coming down to a precious few. We look forward to all Edge Students com-ing these next weeks, April 15th, 22nd, and 29th.

Edge Service Night: On Tuesday, April 14, students will be doing a Spring craft with the residents at Medina Meadows (550 Miner Dr.). We will gather at school at 6:30 p.m. and re-turn by 7:45 p.m. Permission forms are available on the parish website or at Edge nights. The students attending these ser-vice nights have brought much joy to the residents!

Elementary Classes (Grades 1-5) - Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. The Saturday morning classes remaining for our 2014-15 year will be this coming week, Saturday, April 18th, and April 25th. On Saturday, April 25th, our students will celebrate with a closing mass at 9:30 am in the church. All offertory boxes can still be turned in for the missions.

High School Youth Conference in Steubenville University of Steubenville on June 12-

14, 2015. If you plan on a ending, your registra on form and $40 deposit are due by April 12. This is a wonderful weekend of friends, faith and fun. Reserve your spot now for a life-changing weekend. The total cost is $190; registra on form is available on xavierlifeteen.com under the DOCS tab.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Catholic Heart Workcamp on July 12-18, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA. Be part of mission that can

transform you and the lives of others. The "Steel City" is in great need of helping hands and loving hearts. Don't miss out on this opportunity to share the love of Christ with those in need. The cost is $295; the sign-up form is available on xavierlifeteen.com under the DOCS tab.

Vacation Bible School 2015 Yes, it’s time to think about Vacation Bible School, June 15-19, 2015. This year our theme will be “Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power”. Registration forms will be

available the week of April 26. Parents and Adults in the Parish: We need help in all areas of this scripture based program for crafts, snacks, playground activities, music, decorations, set up and clean up. Come and share in this summer program for our parish youth. Our next working meeting is May 12 at 7:00 pm in the school. Please come with decorating ideas.

Our next confirmation session is on Monday, May 18 at 7:00pm in the Xavier Room. The registration forms have been sent home through the Day school and Edge. If you did not receive a form go to xavierlifeteen.com to download a copy. Baptism and First Communion certificates are due on May 18! Don’t forget! If you missed Session #1 on March 22, you can access the make up work on xavierlifeteen.com .

Edge Summer Camps Registration forms for this year’s camps will be available the week of April 26. Edge Camp 1 will be from June 22-26 and Edge Camp 2 will be June 26 and June 29 to July 2. The camps are for students in the Day School, Edge or Home Schooled who have completed grades 7 and 8. The camp-ers’ days will be filled with giving Service and having Fun and in Fellowship. Questions? Please call the PSR office at 330-722-7700 or 330-764-8961.

8

Francie Anderson Rita Andrich

Jude Ballinger Becky Barker John Benson

Maxine Bergdorf Claire Bevec Flo Boehme Sue Boyne

Samuel Burke Sioux Campbell

Diane Marie Carlson Danny Colonna

Kathleen Cunningham` Steve Delap

Elizabeth Diamond Evan Dolinar

Charlotte Draper Billie Duta

Lynda Erickson Brendan Federinko

John Francisco Bobby Fusco

Rhettec Galaska Roz Ganzer

Jacob Gaume Kerry Grimm Del Guerra Mike Harris

Bill Haumesser Vivian Heim Camden Heil

Charlotte Heil Savannah Heil

Judy Hering Anthony Hosick

Mark Jablonowski Marvin Johnson Charline Karsnak

Mary Keith Mary Kneale

Karl Kopczynski Andrew Korduba Brenda Kutcher

Ruth Lancki Phyllis Lapeus

Steven Lastuka Dave Leidecker

Jerry Liechty Theresa Lobban

Mary Ann Makowski Aaron Markiewicz

James M. McDonald Lou McDonald Lois McFadden Alexa Meyers Nathan Mion Rachael Mion

Mike Mitchell Marcy Nero

John Neuwar Mary Neuwar

Lisa Owen Nathaniel Plasco Richard Pryatel

Betty Radca Bill Ripple Rea Ripple

Mark Rudolph Mimi Russ

Richard Russ Ed Scherer

Marlene Seredick Melissa Sickle

Beth Sielski Jean Smith

Marie Starck Richard Stiver

Faith Szczipinski Janet Taranto

Mackenzie Taylor Dave Thomas Carolyn Vasko Lacey Vickers Celene Wallen Helen Yakubik

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church April 12, 2015

Pray for all military May God heal our sick and suffering

David M. Campbell Ryan P. Cox Wyatt Fields

Nicholas Glenbocki Dan Haggerty

Brandon Hamilton Alex Hicar Kayla Lane Taylor Lane

Reinhard Nann Jonathan Podrasky

Jared Ross Erica Sachleben Taylor Salmons Jeffrey Simko

Daniel Smith Jeff Stein

Kevin Stein David Tagliaferro

Maritza Tagliaferro David Vanik

Aaron Virkler Robert Weiler

J. Matthew Zweifel Joseph Zweifel

If you would like to add a name to the list of active-duty military, e-mail sbulletin@stfrancisxavier.info or call the rectory office.

If you would like to place a name on the list of those in need of prayer, please contact the rectory office, or e-mail sbulletin@stfrancisxavier.info.

10 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church April 12, 2015

This weekend we celebrate the conclusion of the Octave of Easter with the celebra on of Divine Mercy. In each of the Res-urrec on stories in all of the Gospels, Jesus is quick to extend mercy and forgiveness to those who betrayed, abandoned, and did nothing to li a finger to help him. What is even more amaz-ing? The apostles and the disciples of Jesus who encounter him have the same disposi on toward those who persecute them for preaching and teaching about Christ Crucified and Risen from death. They are able to love, forgive and show mercy to those who would seek to harm them. They also extend mercy to the sick, suffering and those who have died: restoring them to health and bringing them back to life. One of the ways we can extend mercy to others is by our prayers and par cipa on in support of ministries in our country and around the world. These ministries make the care, compas-sion and mercy of God present to those who need it. One of the priests that I met while on sabba cal is Fr. Charlie Keeney, a di-ocesan priest of Brooklyn, New York who serves as a chaplain at Long Island University (LIU). For nine years, he and students and faculty from the University have supported and visited a special ministry that began caring for children of incarcerated women in jail in Tanzania, Africa. He will be here to preach all of the Masses next weekend and to make presenta ons to the children in the school. He will share how priests, sisters and other lay people, who heeded the plight of these children, eventually were able to found and build a school for them and a place to live. Some 450 children a end St. Gemma Galgani School with grades from pre-Kindergarten through the 7th grade. They are in the process of trying to build a high school program for those

currently being housed and educated there. Besides direct care for these children of incarcerated parents, the LIU community has worked on advocacy for a more just penal system in that country that would not extend punishment to the children of those in jail. Fr. Charlie will begin the weekend on Friday by making a slide presenta on to the students at SFX. He will highlight his first trip to Arusha Tanzania when he went with students under the direc on of the late Professor George Sideris. He will tell them of how he heard about a home for li le children whose mothers are in jail as they were in jail with their moms. Then a foreign born priest and some na ve born sisters started a special home for the li le children. The priest explained that the home was like a hotel for li le children spending me there and when their moms are released they go home with them. This home was named St. Gabriel’s a er a young Passionist student who has been canonized. Fr. Charlie will also a end the Peace and Jus ce dinner that we are hos ng here Saturday evening to honor Connie Ebaugh for her work at our own County jail and Fr. Bob Wenz, re red priest of the diocese who most recently served at St. Ambrose. Please remember to mark your calendars for Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 am for Dino Paole a’s ordina on to the diaco-nate at St. John Cathedral. He will be here the next day on Sun-day, May 3rd to preach and assist at the 12:00 pm Mass with a recep on to follow for all who a end. Please plan to a end one or all three opportuni es to pray for Dino, his classmates and their families. Have a blessed week!

Father Tony

PASTOR’S PAGE

Divine Mercy Sunday—Today, April 12 The Second Sunday of Easter, today, April 12, 2015, has been established as Divine Mercy Sunday through-out the Church. Please join us here at St. Francis Xavier for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and veneration of the Divine Mercy Image at 3:00 pm, in the church. In a decree dated August 3, 2002, Pope St. John Paul II established that this Sunday be enriched by a ple-nary indulgence to ensure that the faithful would ob-serve this day (Divine Mercy Sunday) with intense devo-tion and receive in great abundance the gift of consola-tion of the Holy Spirit.

Second Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday

When the risen Christ encounters his disciples in the locked room he adds a new Beatitude to the ones we’ve heard proclaimed before: Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. Stewards of the mysteries of God’s love do not need proof of the risen Christ. They know it because their lives have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who has breathed new life into them. As stewards of this great gift it is appropriate to reflect on how we in turn add new life into our parish com-munities.

232850 St. Francis Xavier Church Medina, Ohio 232850.412 For questions, please contact Rhonda McKinnon 330-861-8493 rmckinnon@stfrancisxavier.info