SebastianParish Community

SaintNewsletter of the

476 Mull Avenue – Akron, OH 44320Phone 330-836-2233 – www.stsebastian.org

June 2008

It was a beautiful spring Saturday, and Bill Karg, a St. Sebastian seventh grader

riding his bicycle at race pace, was round-ing a corner on the parish grounds. Bushes obscured his view of an oncoming pedes-trian: Monsignor Hilary Zwisler. After the near collision – the monsignor leapt to safety at the last second – he gave the boy a “here, here young man” reprimand, but then followed that up with a chuckle. It’s safe to assume that neither the carefree seventh grader nor the legendary founder of St. Sebastian parish could, at that mo-ment, foresee that one day Bill Karg would become Father William Karg, follow in the monsignor’s footsteps and take the reins of his childhood parish. In fact, Monsignor Zwisler recalled the incident at Father Karg’s ordination. Father Karg will retire on June 22, fol-

lowing 13 years as pastor of St. Sebas-tian. His final Masses are on June 21 and 22. “The parish’s beautiful, good families” are what he says he will miss the most.

Father Karg came to St. Sebastian in 1995 after several

other parish assignments in the Cleveland Diocese, as

well as a three-year

“pastor in residence” in Rome, where he led a pastoral training program, taught pastoral theology and advised students.

After graduating from Borromeo Semi-nary and St. Mary and being ordained, Father Karg was assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Par-ish on Cleveland’s west side, and then Epiph-any Church. He did a clergy internship for urban ministries, which helped him minister in a forgotten neighborhood on Cleveland’s southeast side. He also developed a special understanding and interest in the problems of those living in the inner-city, including

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2 St. Sebastian Years continued

5 Our Parish Council

6 Vacation Bible School 2008 Rainforest Adventure!

7 Summer Doesn’t Mean a Vacation from God

8 Father Karg: Take Five “It’s been God’s work. I believe that with all my heart.”

– Father Karg

Retiring Pastor Reflects on His St. Sebastian YearsBy Holly Pupino

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addiction. “It wasn’t boring,” he says of those days.

Returning home In 1995, in his 13th year as pastor of St. Henry Parish, also on Cleveland’s southeast side, Father Karg learned of Father John McDonough’s retirement at St. Sebastian. St. Sebastian parishio-ners began urging him to apply. When he approached the bishop about whether he should pursue the position, as St. Sebastian was his childhood parish, Bishop Anthony Pilla simply replied, “Why not?” “That was that,” says Father Karg. “I applied, and here I am.” Despite his 30-year absence from the parish, Father Karg still knew many of the families – a great advantage for a new pastor. Although every parish has its challenges and needs, he knew he had a strong foundation of leadership to move the parish forward. That foundation has only strengthened over the years. “Certainly, one of the defining characteristics of St. Sebastian Parish is leadership – lay leadership and clerical,” says Father Karg. “This parish has produced 22 vocations to the priesthood and even more religious women. It tells me that a lot of people took their Faith seriously and en-couraged their sons and daughters to do the work of leadership in the Church.” Over the years, a large number of St. Sebastian parishio-ners have played key roles in leading the city and county, as well. Father Karg says he recently came across an old photo-graph – from the 1950s – showing a group of men, including his own father, who volunteered their time to go door-to-door in the neighborhood asking for pledges to build the new (cur-rent) church building. “These men [it was the 1950s so women weren’t asked to canvass neighborhoods] were ready to step up to the plate and knock on doors and, like them, there have been hundreds more through the years who have been instrumental in making this parish work,” Father Karg says. Other characteristics which define St. Sebastian are its large numbers of multi-generational families – some fourth-generation – and the symbiotic relationship between the parish and school. “This parish had its school from the start,” says Father Karg. “The school anchors the parish and the parish anchors the school. Our school has always had a good reputation and draws families in. Kids grow up here, move away and then come back when they have children because of the

Retiring Pastor Reflects on His St. Sebastian Years

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school, and the parish as well.” At the time of his retirement, the parish has 1,550 registered families and 440 stu-dents enrolled in the parish school and pre-school. “I would like to be remembered as a faithful priest who did my job the best I could,” says Father Karg. “I would like to be remembered as one who regularly encouraged people to grow in prayer, and who promoted faith formation in every kind of way.” Father Karg defines faith formation as “knowing and growing in one’s faith and being comfortable with sharing it with others.” He takes particular pride in St. Sebastian’s Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) process. Father Karg would like to see the parish grow and move forward in areas such as Christian outreach, ecumenical efforts and evangelization. Unlike other Christian de-nominations, he believes Catholics tend to be too insular and private about their Faith. “We need to be much more active in reaching out to non-Catholics and non-active Catholics,” he says. “We need to bring the word of Jesus to those who have not heard it.” Father Karg believes Pope Benedict XVI’s call for “gentle invitations” to be a won-

derful model for evangelization. When you get to know someone well enough, simply invite them to Mass or a church function or share some other information about church teachings. “There are many misunderstandings about our Faith,” he says. “People don’t realize the beauty of these teachings and the richness of our Faith.” Whether it is by using the parish Web site, the Internet or direct mail postcards, Father Karg suggests parishioners put on their “think-ing caps” and come up with some clever, up-to-date ideas to promote evangelization. And yet Father Karg believes if there is one word that could truly change St. Sebastian for the better, that word would be “stewardship.”

“It’s crucial,” he says. “We are doing well, but I know we can do better. Stewardship can turn a parish around in a completely different direc-tion for the better.” Father Karg notes that about 400 families returned stewardship Commitment Cards this year. The cards are the way parishioners commit to giving of their time, talents and treasure. “Even many parishioners who have been very active in our ministries may not associate what they have been doing with the word ‘stewardship,’” he says. “But this is something that, as a parish, we need to understand and embrace.” As pastor, Father Karg has faced his share of challenges and tough decisions. One tough decision was changing the policies about the parish school’s boundaries. The new policy generated some angry complaints initially, but Father Karg believes the change has ultimately proved good for the parish and school. Another tough decision was merging the contemporary Mass held in Zwisler Hall with traditional Mass held in the church. Over a period of several decades, two separate congregations had developed within the parish – with many regular parish-

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Retiring Pastor Reflects on His St. Sebastian Years

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ioners never seeing parishioners who attended the other Mass, and Father Karg knew these groups must be united. Yet another tough decision was delaying the remodeling of Zwisler Hall for about a year and a half in order to direct financial resources to the faculty of the parish school. Father Karg says, at the time, he noticed increasing turnover in the school, never a good sign, and he began a two-year plan to make the teacher salaries more comparable to those of public school teachers. Today, he is proud to say the salaries are within 75 to 80 percent of the prevailing wages for public school teachers.

St. Sebastian Parish operates with a budget of nearly $3 million. Each and every day, it requires about $7,700 to keep the parish and school operating. Father Karg says the parish may need to tighten expenses and secure more restricted funds for the parish foundation in order to keep tuition stable at the school. Stewardship, as in the model of other successful parishes, ultimately is the key to keeping the parish vibrant and strong.

Moving on Father Karg, who will be 70 on June 23, plans to live in a condominium community north of the Cuyahoga Valley

National Park. He looks forward to staying fit, swimming and spending many hours cycling on the MetroParks’ Bike and Hike Trail. His ministry work will continue as a fill-in priest to St. Basil the Great and St. Barnabas parishes, and he is also interested in working with college students, the poor, and promoting faith formation. He still feels he has much to offer.

As he has aged, Father Karg has come to appreciate all the more spending time with young families and children who are so full of life. On the other end of the spectrum, he says per-forming the Sacrament of Last Rites has become even more profound. “This goes way deep,” he says. “This is life and death and being part of these moments is an honor and a privilege.” Once into retirement, Father Karg is looking forward to opening a wood box that’s been stored in his office since 1996. It’s full of hand-written letters sent to him over the years: letters from parents whose babies he has baptized, letters from couples he has married, letters from family members touched by funeral homilies - letters that will, no doubt, bring back memories. “As I will say in my final homily, this whole thing – all that we’ve accomplished here at St. Sebastian – is God’s work,” he says. “I believe this with all of my heart. We recently published a list of 17 parish initiatives of compassion and justice within our local community and beyond. I take great pride in that list, as well as the many other great things we have done here. I may have been the instrument in some cases, but it is work we’ve all done together.”

St. Sebastian Years continued from page 3

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A community as large and diverse as St. Sebastian Par-ish is always well-served by a group of people that

can tie everything together. Within our parish, the ministry that connects our pastor to the various ministries and committees at St. Sebastian is the Parish Council. The Parish Council also serves as an advisory group to the pastor on a variety of different topics that relate to effective administration of parish needs. Currently, St. Sebastian has a 13-member Parish Coun-cil. New members are nominated each March and April. Pa-rishioners are encour-aged to self-nominate if they are interested in serving on the Par-ish Council. Officer positions are Secretary, Past-Chair, Chair, and Vice-Chair. Council members serve three-year terms, and are ap-pointed on a rotational basis. In other words, on any given year, the Past-Chair will be serving his or her third year on council, the Chair his or her second year, and the Vice-Chair will be a newly appointed member. This ensures continuity among the officer positions. Parishioners unfamiliar with our council’s current membership can find a listing on the parish Web site at www.stsebastian.org, or in the parish bulletin. Currently, the council is involved in a major project: the implementation of the first stages of our Five Year Pastoral Plan. “The Five Year Pastoral Plan is something that is ex-tremely important to the future of the parish,” Past-Chair Bert Brownfield explains. “A copy of the plan outline was recently published in the bulletin. It will allow parishioners to see how our goals and plans for the next five years are scripturally based, and where we’re trying to move with things.

“Currently we are working on having leaders from dif-ferent ministries attend Parish Council meetings. They will get a chance to see how meetings operate, and also how Parish Council tries to link things together. We’re kind of like liaisons between the pastor and the church and the different lay committees that are out there. We’re trying to bring some continuity to everything so that there aren’t many committees doing the same tasks at different times.” Bert explains that the Parish Council will seek to con-

nect different parish groups and improve efficiency as part of the Pastoral Plan. “What we might do is say ‘This is a project Parish Coun-cil has been working on, now let’s see what other parish ministries we can bring into the project to help. How can we connect this to other ministries?’” Parish Council also has a way of

opening the eyes of those who serve. “As a result of serving on Parish Council, I’ve become a lot more aware of the different committees, ministries, councils and activities of the parish,” says Bert. “I have a better understanding of how the parish is a huge, diverse organization that you just don’t know about unless you re-ally become involved.” Parish Council is always interested in more parishioners becoming involved. “We would like everyone to consider the possibility of serving on the Parish Council,” he says. “We need young people. We need people who have a lot of experience with the parish, people who are new to the parish; we need all different kinds of people. Obviously, we are doing our best to meet the needs of everyone in the community, and a diverse council helps us achieve that.”

Our Parish Council

Front row, (l to r): Jeff Sheeks, Alice Luse, Chair Chris Tipping, Vice-Chair Tony Mastromatteo, Linda Beringer

Back row: (l to r) Carolyn Humston (staff ), Deacon Terry Peacock, Bert Brownfield, Micki Trenta, Chris Minear, Tom McCusker, and Fr. Karg

Not Pictured: Maggi Blischak, Chuck Sassano, and Cory Schultz

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Please join us this summer for Vacation Bible School, “Rainforest Adventure.”

From June 23-27, we invite all St. Sebastian youth in kindergarten through fifth grade to join us for a week of faith-filled fun. For this year’s VBS, parish volunteers will turn Zwisler Hall into a rainforest, where children will learn and play with Shari the Butterfly, Bill the Toucan, Tad the Frog, Esme the Macaw, and Cleo the Monkey. With the help of these critters, children will delve deeper into the scriptures and learn what it means to live as a Christian steward. All of the animals will em-body a particular aspect of stew-ardship. For example, Shari the Butterfly will help our children understand the need to value our natural resources. Cleo the Monkey, the loudest creature in the jungle, highlights the importance of praising God “loudly and proudly.” Each day will focus on a particular theme, using scrip-ture and the example of one of the animals as its backbone. For example, during the day themed “We share,” children will hear the scripture passage found in Ruth 2:1-17, which tells the story of Boaz and Ruth. Volunteers will work to help the children understand the stewardship message of that story. The children will also receive a Bible verse to memorize, and Shari the Butterfly will show them how she shares her beauty with the world. All of this will take place amidst a day of constant activity. “The children will move from station to station,” says Carolyn Humston, Director of Religious Education. “There will be different activity stations set up, and as the children move about the hall-turned-rainforest, they will grow in their understanding of the theme for that particular day.” Campers will spend each day rotating from the Rain-

forest Rhythm station, to the Sky High Storytelling station, Green Tree Games station, Swing Vine Science station, and Canopy Crafts station. Each day will be packed with fun activities designed to lead children into a deeper under-standing of the Faith. If you are interested in registering your child for this

exciting faith-building week, please send a completed regis-tration form to the rectory. If you do not have a registration form, please contact the rectory at 330-836-2233 to get one. We have opened registration to children throughout the com-munity, but we have to cap off participation at 200 children, so be sure to register soon. In addition, if you are interested in serving as a VBS volunteer, we would love to have

your help. After all, “We could not do it without our volun-teers,” Carolyn assures. Please contact the rectory to offer your help as well. We are incredibly excited to offer VBS this summer. The cost is $20 per child. St. Sebastian’s VBS pro-grams are always a suc-cess, and we are confident that this year’s program will prove to be the same. We hope you will join us.

Vacation Bible School 2008Rainforest Adventure!

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School is out – there’s no more homework, school proj-ects, or papers to be written. The pools are open and

the smells of chlorine and sunscreen fill the air. Cars headed to the lake are packed with towels, chairs, coolers, buckets and shovels. Hammocks are hung in shady backyards for lazy afternoons filled with reading and relaxation. Yes, summer has arrived with its slower pace and it’s time to relax and take vacations. Even though we take vacations and enjoy the leisurely pace of the season, we need to remember that summer is not a time to take a vacation from God. In fact, summer can serve as the perfect opportunity to grow in our relationship with God, especially since most of us have considerably more free time. So, instead of neglecting your faith due to busy days and late nights, try these simple steps to embrace God during your vacation.

Vacation Bible SchoolVacation Bible School is a great way for younger children to learn about God through songs, activities and fellowship. The fun-filled lessons build upon Gospel teachings while keeping kids’ attention. For older children, it is a great opportunity to offer service by being a team leader or assistant. Adults can help plan, decorate, organize, and teach during the week as well. It’s an event the entire family can participate in!

Pray Behind the WheelAs you begin your journey this summer, be sure to say a prayer as a family for safe travels. It’s the perfect chance to include God in your vacation, and it teaches your children that you put your trust in His loving hands. A decade of the Rosary or a simple personal prayer for safety are both great options.

Summer Reading ProgramAlmost every family with children participates in a sum-mer reading program – either a formal program from the

school or local library, or a “Mom-said-I-have-to-read-dur-ing-the-summer-or-else” program. Either way, why not incorporate some religious books into the reading list? A book about a favorite saint, or a book that teaches us how to better defend our Faith, or even a compilation of prayerful

reflections, would be a great additions to any Catholic reading list.

Give Thanks for the SunPraise God for the sun, time off from school, and easygoing days by dropping by the church on Tuesdays for Adoration. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed from 9 a.m.-

9 p.m., ending with Benediction. Or, before heading to the pool, why not attend daily Mass

with the kids? It’s a perfect way to start the day and set the tone that, vacation or not, God is still an impor-tant part of your family life.

Grill Out with GodSummer is the perfect time for grilling out. While prepar-ing the meat, why not put on some Christian music to set the tone? Select hymns, Gospel music, or contemporary Christian music – whatever you enjoy – to incorporate your faith into mealtime.

Don’t Take a Vacation from MassOften while on a vacation away from our parish family, we are not familiar with where to attend Mass. Don’t let that be an obstacle for you. Check out www.masstimes.org in order to find out where and when to go to Mass. In addition, if you are lodging at a hotel, the concierge will assist you with directions to the nearest Catholic Church.

Enjoy the warmer temperatures and the relaxed atmo-sphere. Just don’t forget who provides the sun and the sand! And most importantly, remember to take God on vacation wherever you go.

Summer Doesn’t Mean a Vacation from God

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Many St. Sebastian parishioners have come to know Father Karg well over the past 13 years. But do you know his:

- Favorite Hymn? Steal Away with Jesus (an old Negro spiritual)

- Favorite Parable? The Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son

- Favorite Scripture Verses? Luke 24 and John 3:16

- Best Evidence of the Holy Spirit on Earth? “Reconciliation and forgive-ness; seeing sinners return to God and the Church through my confessional work,” he says.

And,

- One of His Most Memorable Moments with God? Seeing a rainbow emerge on a horizon in New Mexico while still grieving the loss of a close friend. “The rainbow is the symbol of God’s faithfulness,” says Father Karg.

Father Karg: Take Five