Eucharistic Ministers Commissioned by Bishop Nelson J. Perez
Bishop Nelson J. Perez dons his hat from Saint Joseph Academy
Bishop Perez in center with 35 Seniors newly commissioned as Eucharistic Ministers
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n Monday, September 18, students, faculty, staff and families gathered held the annual mass for Commissioning of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at which 35 Seniors were blessed to be commissioned by Bishop Perez. Saint Joseph Academy was the first in the Diocese of Cleveland to host Bishop Perez on his Diocesan school tour. During the mass, Bishop Perez shared his love of Saint Joseph Academy’s motto, Sursum corda!, or “lift up your hearts!” “Lots of things make Saint Joseph Academy great, but there is one thing that makes it unique: Christ is at the heart of this school, which is rooted in the Catholic tradition. You can learn things like algebra at any school, but here in the Catholic tradition, your mind and soul are nurtured. What a gift,” shared Bishop Perez. He shared that in life, there are many things that will tear us down. He encouraged students to lift up their hearts to God in prayer and praise. “To have a caring heart when difficulties arise, the right place to lift up your heart is to Christ. Never underestimate the power of God’s spirit working through you, in you, for you and even despite of you,” shared Bishop Perez.
He acknowledged the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph who attended Mass, as well as the parents, faculty, administration and Diocesan education officials, Christopher Knight, Secretary for Catechetical Formation and Education, and Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, and Dr. Frank O’Linn, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Schools in the Office of Catechetical Formation and Education for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. After Mass, Bishop Perez met with six students over lunch and discussed their plans for the future, their heritage and the reaction of the family of Alicia Valladares ’18, who has Argentinian relatives, to Pope Francis, who is of Argentinian descent. “They were so excited they were crying,” she shared. Bishop Perez toured the Academy and spoke with students in the Makerspace and received a demonstration of our new Anatomage Table (Saint Joseph Academy is the first high school in Northeast Ohio to have this Table!). He was impressed by the technology opportunities provided to our students. Congratulations to the following newly commissioned Eucharistic Ministers: Mallory Ambrosio, Angela Andrews (sister of Mary
Andrews ’15), Natalie Barendt (granddaughter of Kathleen Griffin Barendt ’48† and sister of Rachel Barendt ’15), Natalie Bauman, Claudia Becker (granddaughter of Sheila Allen Becker ’54), Haley Birchard, Elizabeth Brady (daughter of Eleanor Micko Brady ’81 and sister of Annmarie Brady ’16), Emily Carson (sister of Nicole Carson ’15), Lucy Casper, Cassandra Cisco, Nora Clink, Isabel Esposito, Olivia Finau (granddaughter of Margaret Dailey Bain ’34† and sister of Hannah Finau ’14), Anna Fricker (sister of Emily Fricker ’09), Katelyn Hegeman (sister of Kristen ’13, Nicole ’13 and Brittany Hegeman ’15), Kiara Hoefsmit, Lauren Koch, Natalie Larkman, Kayla Lenahan (daughter of Sharon Stuczynski Lenahan ’87), Elizabeth Lewandowski (granddaughter of Pamela Pawlak Lewandowski N’65), Maeve Maher, Molly Martin, Isabella Mastroianni, Brittany Miller, Jessica Nauman, Kristin Nauman, Jadalise Pacheco, Quinn Patton, Kiera Reilly, Mary Sessions, Allyson Scott (sister of Samantha Scott ’15), Gabriella Sowinski, Margaret Wagner (daughter of Karen Lee Wagner ’83), Caitlyn Walsh (daughter of Megan Darcy Walsh ’84) and Angela Weiland. Saint Joseph Academy FALL 2017
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