St. Joseph and Nativity of the BVM Catholic Parishes Newsletter — November 2022

St. Joseph

&Joseph st. parish Nativity of the bvm parish

Tony Alessandro

a Life of Faith and Good Works

In Scripture, we are told that “faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). But in turn, as parishioner Tony Alessandro points out, our good works as Catholics can’t take place without faith.

“Before one can get involved in the parish, you’ve got to have faith,” Tony says.

Tony, who was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., has been a parishioner at St. Joseph since 2001, after spending 28 years in Columbus, Ohio.

“For the first half of my life, Jesus may have said to me, ‘So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth’ (Revelation 3:16),” Tony says. “It’s only when I opened the door of my heart to Him, that things started to happen.”

But now, Tony is fully integrated into parish life, serving in a number of different capacities.

“I am currently involved as a lector and Eucharistic Minister from a liturgical perspective,” he says. “I am a member of the Giving Tree Ministry, the Knights of Columbus, and the Men’s Fellowship Group. This year I added the Vincentians, so I’m just in the process of getting started with them.”

In 1986, Tony attended a Beginning Experience weekend, which supports the divorced, separated, and widowed. He was asked to read the Responsorial Psalm at the concluding Mass, which was a memorable moment for him.

“While so doing, I cried like a baby,” he says. “A week or so later, a person of faith I met on the weekend told me I had read well. I laughed. Speaking in front of a crowd is scary, but for a guy who stammered as a child and had the kids in class laugh at him, it’s even scarier. A few weeks later, the priest that made the weekend also told me I had read well.

Again, I laughed. The next time I went to church, there was something in the bulletin — ‘lectors needed.’ I thought to myself, ‘Okay, God, I get the message!’”

Tony Alessandro has been a lector for the last 35 years.

“It Ain’t Home, But It’s Much”

By NATHAN FRANKART

Peace of Christ to you! You’re probably thinking, “Nathan, that’s a peculiar title for an article, what could that even mean?” Fear not, curious reader, I will tell you!

I went on a retreat in late September to St. Mary’s in Baltimore, the oldest seminary in the entire United States. The chapel, the classrooms, and the hallways each displayed incredible detail, each as intricate and gorgeous as the other. Quite frankly, it was one of the most impressive spaces I have ever walked into, and I can only imagine how treasured it is by the seminarians and priests who live there from across the East Coast.

And yet, I ran into this very peculiar Franciscan priest, the Scripture professor of that seminary. We started to share about our respective houses of formations, laughing as we are both named St. Mary’s (as is about another dozen seminaries are also called). Yet, in our conversation, I asked him what he thought about living in this seminary that quite literally drew its architectural inspiration from the Palace of Versailles. He simply said, “It ain’t home, but it’s much.”

It’s an obvious spoof on “it ain’t much, but it’s home”, but it really took me aback. It didn’t strike me as a throwaway line, it was one that prompted me to ask more about what he meant. That is when the tone of our time together shifted. This is what we discussed.

There is nothing wrong with seeing obvious beauty in a worship space, liturgy, or church building. In fact, these very things of beauty are often catalysts of deepening conversion, as was the case for the Rose window in Notre Dame Cathedral for Bishop Robert Barron. They draw us in, captivating us in a mysterious way, inviting us to deeply ponder spiritual things.

But what this Franciscan and I discussed was the fact that these objects of beauty, like the beauty of this seminary in Baltimore, are to serve as directors of our attention, not commanders. We can enjoy the beauty of art in the Church, so long as we remember where we make our home. Our home is not in the physical spaces to which we can attach so much value. Rather, our home is who is contained within those spaces — for it is Jesus Christ Himself that dwells in the places of beauty. Christ is our true home. Reside in Him, rest in Him.

Meet Parishioner Tony Alessandro

continued from front cover

From there, Tony decided to take the leap of faith and serve as a lector at Mass.

“My knees were literally shaking,” he says. “Thirtyfive years later my knees don’t shake, but I do ask for the Spirit to be with me whenever I climb the stairs to the ambo. It was as though God put some dots in my life and I had to make the connection.”

Tony’s involvement in acts of service and stewardship go beyond our parish walls, as well.

“Outside of parish life, I’ve been to other events to also keep myself focused and on track spiritually,” he

says. “These include First Friday Forum of Lorain County, First Friday Men’s Luncheon in Cleveland, and the Third Saturday Men’s Breakfast at St. Peter’s/St. Julie Billiart.”

Tony believes in listening to the voice of the Spirit, and being open and following where God asks Him to go, particularly when it comes to giving of his service.

“I would really like for God to just send me a letter and detail what His plan is for me and my life,” he says. “Just look at all the details he gave to Moses in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers! Stewardship, for me, is just trying to figure it out, day by day.”

& Nativity st. Joseph

Understanding Our Parish FINANCES

Dear Members of St. Joseph and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parishes,

Our annual parish financial reports for St. Joseph and for Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parishes are included in this newsletter. Each year, we are required to submit a report of the finances of our parishes to the Diocese of Cleveland as well as a report to you, the members of our parishes. And so I ask you to take a good look at these reports of money that has come in and money that has been spent over the last fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Also included are our budgets for the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2023.

As stewardship parishes, we concentrate on sharing the God-given gifts of our time and our talent and our treasure. I want to thank all of you who are so faithful to the Sunday offertory each week and month through the use of

look at our financial reports quickly dispels that myth. We need to remember that we are the Church. Each of us is a member of the Body of Christ. And each of us is called to be a fully participating member of the Church.

As you look over these financial reports, I ask you to consider whether or not the amount of your weekly or monthly offering might call for some adjusting. Sometimes we get used to a particular amount and it is good to review our personal circumstances and see if this gift of our treasure accurately reflects our life right now. Household and personal expenses are going up each year, and so are those of our parishes. Whether talking about the church or our households, we cannot afford to pay our bills by using up our savings.

As participating members of our parish families, what is the Lord asking of you

for a lot of years now, and for both of my parishes. Online giving ensures that the Lord gets our first fruits each month, that the parish receives this contribution when people are out-of-town, and it also is more convenient for those who use this method regularly to pay their bills.

For St. Joseph parishioners and for Nativity parishioners, signing up is as simple as going to the parish website [stjosephamherst.com] and clicking on “eGiving” at the bottom of the home page. This will take you to “myEoffering,” where you may sign up, indicate your parish, and then begin giving online.

I stand in gratitude for the goodness of the people of our St. Joseph and Nativity Parish Families. Thank you so much for sharing so generously your time, your talent and your treasure so that the Lord’s work may be done. And may the Lord continue to bless you and

THE VETERANS MURAL WALL

Remembering and Honoring Those Who Serve and Defend Our Country

Our parish is blessed to be a part of a community that truly honors our veterans in a very special way. The Amherst Veterans Mural Wall is an incredible memorial to those in our community and our country who have served in the United States military. Serving in the military is a calling and vocation in its own right. From its founding, our country has relied on a strong military and that would not be possible if it weren’t for the dedicated men and women who have fought and given their lives for us. From times of peace to times of war, the commitment of our military veterans is something we can all appreciate and for which we may show our gratitude.

Parishioner John Sekletar worked with his son, a very talented mural artist, to create the masterpiece that is the Amherst Veterans Mural Wall.

Mike Bokulich and John Sekletar

“I joined the Navy right out of high school in 1968,” John says. “I served for four years and was stationed on the USS Saratoga. I grew up Catholic and my faith remained with me through my service and the rest of my life. I attended Mass on the ship. My faith has really kept everything together and being an active part of our parish has been very important to my family.”

For John, honoring all of those who have served in the military is an important part of his life.

“After I got out of the service, I got married and we had two children,” he says. “I supported the vets locally with the VFW and the American Legion. In 2010, I took on the project of the mural with my son. We realized how much it affected those in the community so we continued building this project even more. Our mission statement is to ‘preserve history and support the arts.’ I think we have done that.”

Another parishioner, George Roling, was featured in one of the murals.

“I arrived in Germany, Thanksgiving of 1954,” he says. “I have been a member of St. Joseph’s Parish my entire life. I was able to see churches in different parts of Germany and able to attend Mass during my service. Having my faith gave me strength and continues to help us keep the faith through the many difficulties that we face,” George says.

George says that his involvement with the mural all began when he pulled his old uniform out of the closet and put it on.

“I struggled back into that uniform and since then my picture has been on the front page of the paper and then they put me on the wall,” he says. “I feel honored continued on page 5

George Roling

& Nativity st. Joseph

The Veterans Mural Wall

to get to go to veterans affairs and wear my uniform. I am honoring all of those who served and those who gave their lives. I didn’t do much when I served in the military — I was just a Jeep driver!”

Despite his humility regarding his role in the service, we all know how important every single member of our military is. Each job filled within the military is a gift of sacrifice of time and every person who signs up does so knowing that they could potentially give the ultimate sacrifice of their life. We greatly appreciate every gift of service that protects our freedoms in our country.

continued from page 4

For parishioner Mike Bokulich, his time in the service gave him the education for a career and dedication to building a legacy.

“I grew up in Detroit and as a student, I wasn’t particularly gifted,” he says. “At one point, I got into ham radio. It was at that time that I discovered that I had a mind for electronics. I went to orientation for college and the entire time I was there I felt like, ‘This wasn’t right.’ As I stood in line for my books, the store had a large picture of Jesus. I ended up buying that picture instead of my books. The next day I called the Navy recruiter and by Friday, I was on the train to boot camp. I brought it home and it hung in my parent’s house for years. We called it my ‘college diploma.’”

Testing placed Mike in the electronics program where he greatly excelled. He was stationed on the USS Hancock and did two tours in the Pacific.

“Growing up, we walked 10 blocks to attend Sunday Mass at St. Matthew’s,” Mike says. “When I was in the Navy, I was able to attend daily Mass on the ship. After the Navy, I got married and we raised our family. It was thanks to my involvement at the Catholic school that my kids attended that I invented the camera system and built my company.”

Honoring veterans is very important. After the Vietnam War, most veterans did not receive a warm welcome. For both Mike and John, they have vowed to never let this happen if they can help it.

“Many years later, I reunited with a friend that I had made in the military,” Mike says. “While we were together, someone thanked us for our service. My friend cried. He said that after all this time, this was the first time anyone had ever thanked him.”

“It isn’t about politics,” John says. “Our military members make this sacrifice for our country and we have to support them for their service to our country no matter what.

“Our parish has always been very supportive of our veterans and recently of our mural project,” he adds. “We have to keep honoring those who have served and especially those who have given their lives for our country.”

Mike Bokulich and George Roling

st. Joseph amherst fiNaNcial report

of Assets, Liabilities & Fund Balance

&

&

st. Joseph

Statement of School Revenue & Expenses

Nativity b.v.m. church fiNaNcial report

NATIVITY B.V.M. CHURCH

South Amherst, Ohio

Fiscal Year — July 1 to June 30

Fiscal Year - July 1 to June 30 INCOME AND EXPENSE STATEMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION

Income and Expense Statement and Related Information

June 30, 2022 June 30, 2021

Registered Households 296 303 Registered Persons 889 943

This Year Last Year Percent Diff Budget Revenue 2021-2022 2020-2021 2022-2023

Offertory Collections/Bequests $130,803 $118,472 10% $126,500

Designated Collections 4,058 3,113 30% 4,000

Interest & Investment Income (15,684) 34,906 -145% 9,000

Steak Fry/Dinners to go 20,904 18,217 15% 17,500

Rental Income 850 750 13% 700

HOS Payments 20,222 0 10,000

Other Donations & Misc. Income 11,155 2,856 291% 6,500 Maintenance and Upkeep Env 43,244 22,860 89% 15,000

Total Revenue $215,552 $201,174 7% $189,200

Expenses:

Salaries - Clergy $22,064 $22,075 0% $22,750

Salaries - Lay 37,647 34,025 11% 37,900 Payroll Taxes & Benefits 15,042 17,319 -13% 13,850 Office Expense 7,623 5,173 47% 6,925 Household

Altar Supplies/Missalettes 6,531 4,837 35% 5,200 Misc. Expense 2,086 5,172 -60% 3,600 Utilities 15,108 12,888 17% 16,050 Maintenance & Supplies & Repairs 25,120 19,666 28% 23,575 Property Tax and Insurance 11,638 12,823 -9% 9,850 Stewardship 12,957 14,554 -11% 13,500 Diocesan Assessments 22,048 21,686 2% 22,000 Designated Collections 4,058 3,113 30% 4,000

Total Expenses 181,922 173,331 5% 179,200

Net from Normal Operating $33,630 $27,843 $10,000 Capital Expenses 10,000

Upper Church Roof Replacement 55,710

Total Capital Expenses 55,710

10,000

Total Expenses $237,632 $173,331 37% $189,200

Net Income over Expenses ($22,080) $27,843 -179% $0

Year End Balances

June 30, 2022 June 30, 2021 Checking/Savings Account Bal. $78,635 $84,991 Investments $108,033 $123,757

Total $186,668 $208,748 -$22,080

& Nativity st. Joseph

AD SPACE

st. Joseph parish Nativity of the bvm parish

Fr. Tim O’Connor Serving Both Parishes

Mass: Monday, 9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. - Nativity of the BVM Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - St. Joseph Friday, 9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - St. Joseph 5:30 p.m. - Nativity of the BVM Sunday, 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. - St. Joseph

Confession at St. Joseph: Thursday - Individual Reconciliation 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Saturday - Individual Reconciliation 11:00 a.m. - noon

Eucharistic Adoration (Chapel) at Nativity of the BVM: Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Upcoming Activities and Events

All Saints Day — Tuesday, Nov. 1 Masses as follows: 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish 12 p.m. at Nativity Parish 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish

Altar and Rosary Society Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 1 — 6:30 p.m., Nativity Parish Hall

First Saturday Rosary Saturday, Nov. 5 — 9 a.m., St. Joseph Church

Parent Club Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 8 — 7 p.m., School

Vincentian Meeting Thursday, Nov. 10 — 9 a.m., Conference Room

No School Friday, Nov. 11

Parish Picnic Sunday, Nov. 13 — 12 to 3:30 p.m., SJ Social Hall

Vitalant Bloodmobile Thursday, Nov. 17 — 4 p.m., St. Joseph School

Parish Health and Wellness — Mercy Health Screening Sunday, Nov. 20 — 8 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph Social Hall Lobby

No School — Thanksgiving Break Monday, Nov. 21 – Friday, Nov. 25

Parish Offices Closed Wednesday, Nov. 23 to Friday, Nov. 25

Dinner on the Go pick-up dates Tuesdays, Nov. 8 and 22 — 5 p.m., Nativity Parish

Men’s Group

See Bulletin for meeting dates and times

R.C.I.A. Meetings

Mondays, Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28 — 7 p.m., Nativity Parish Hall

PSR Classes

Wednesdays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30 — 5:30 p.m., School

Faithfully Fit Yoga Classes

Tuesdays and Thursdays in November (excluding Thanksgiving Day) — 9:30 a.m., Nativity Parish Hall

Youth Group Meetings

Sundays, Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27 — St. Joseph Social Hall, 6 p.m.