Rev. Kevin McCaffrey - Pastor
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Welcome to Our Parish!
Fr. Kevin McCaffrey |
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The Week Ahead
Monday, January 13, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Friday, January 17, 2020
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Sunday, January 19, 2020
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Divine Mercy. Lord, I Trust In You!
WE NEED ADORERS FOR THE FOLLOWING DAYS/TIMES: Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday: 2 a.m. Friday: 8 a.m. Please call the Parish Office if you can help. 330-854-2332 |
Look below for more exciting things going on in the Parish & School!
Encountering God In Daily Life
Personal Stories about Encounters with God
1 Kings 19
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
I started with this verse because my encounter with God was somewhat similar in that it was not some monumental experience. In fact I’m sure many people will just pass it off as just a strange coincidence, but for me it restored my faith.
This was a long time ago for me when I had just gotten out of the Army and I was going through some very difficult times personally. I was still going to Mass, but I was really having doubts that God existed and was truly listening. In fact I was sitting in a pew just before Mass, thinking of just walking out. I desperately called out and said, “Lord I need to know if you are really there and if you actually care.” This was not a challenge to God to prove to me He existed, but more of a plea for help. Fortunately I stayed for Mass and was soon to have an answer to my prayer.
That night I had one of those dreams that you know is different. I can’t really explain how I know it was different, but I normally don’t remember my dreams and this one was very vivid. It wasn’t very exciting, just a dream about getting ready to go to work. In that dream I went to tie my shoes and the shoestring on the right shoe broke. That was it. That was the whole dream, and I woke up wondering what the heck that was about. I ended going back to sleep and didn’t think about it anymore that night.
In the morning after I had gotten up and eaten breakfast, I had forgotten about the dream and just went about my usual routine to get ready for work. When I went to put on my shoes, the exact same shoelace as in the dream broke. It’s not like the laces were frayed and you expect them to break; these were perfectly good laces or so I thought. At the time I thought, “Lord if this is your way of telling me you are there, it is a little strange.” It got me at least thinking about it. I decided it would be best for me to go to confession later in the week.
I did go to confession the next Saturday after I went to visit my mother in Akron. The old priest that heard my confession was a very devout and holy man by the name of Father Hilkert. After the confession I said my penance and started to walk out of church. Then the strangest thing happened. It was like I was no longer in the church. I don’t know where I was. I was all alone in what felt like a very cavernous place, although I could not see anything.
Then I felt like someone, at the time I thought it was the priest, was examining my soul. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was a very mystical experience for me, and I’m not one of those people prone to that type of thing. To be honest, I would not have believed it had it not happened to me. From that point on I definitely knew that God existed, and He is with us through our trials on this earth, and He does let us know He exists sometimes in the simplest ways.
Anonymous Parishioner
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
I started with this verse because my encounter with God was somewhat similar in that it was not some monumental experience. In fact I’m sure many people will just pass it off as just a strange coincidence, but for me it restored my faith.
This was a long time ago for me when I had just gotten out of the Army and I was going through some very difficult times personally. I was still going to Mass, but I was really having doubts that God existed and was truly listening. In fact I was sitting in a pew just before Mass, thinking of just walking out. I desperately called out and said, “Lord I need to know if you are really there and if you actually care.” This was not a challenge to God to prove to me He existed, but more of a plea for help. Fortunately I stayed for Mass and was soon to have an answer to my prayer.
That night I had one of those dreams that you know is different. I can’t really explain how I know it was different, but I normally don’t remember my dreams and this one was very vivid. It wasn’t very exciting, just a dream about getting ready to go to work. In that dream I went to tie my shoes and the shoestring on the right shoe broke. That was it. That was the whole dream, and I woke up wondering what the heck that was about. I ended going back to sleep and didn’t think about it anymore that night.
In the morning after I had gotten up and eaten breakfast, I had forgotten about the dream and just went about my usual routine to get ready for work. When I went to put on my shoes, the exact same shoelace as in the dream broke. It’s not like the laces were frayed and you expect them to break; these were perfectly good laces or so I thought. At the time I thought, “Lord if this is your way of telling me you are there, it is a little strange.” It got me at least thinking about it. I decided it would be best for me to go to confession later in the week.
I did go to confession the next Saturday after I went to visit my mother in Akron. The old priest that heard my confession was a very devout and holy man by the name of Father Hilkert. After the confession I said my penance and started to walk out of church. Then the strangest thing happened. It was like I was no longer in the church. I don’t know where I was. I was all alone in what felt like a very cavernous place, although I could not see anything.
Then I felt like someone, at the time I thought it was the priest, was examining my soul. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was a very mystical experience for me, and I’m not one of those people prone to that type of thing. To be honest, I would not have believed it had it not happened to me. From that point on I definitely knew that God existed, and He is with us through our trials on this earth, and He does let us know He exists sometimes in the simplest ways.
Anonymous Parishioner
If you have had an experience of God, we want to hear about it! Please contact the rectory so we can add it to the bulletin and the website!
God Bless!
To read more Encounters with God click below
God Bless!
To read more Encounters with God click below
CCD Classes for Children K-8 - Register Now
CCD begins on Sept 8th at 9:30 AM. If your child or grandchild does not attend SS Philip & James School and would like to take part in CCD classes, please print the form and return it to the Parish Office. We hope to see you Sunday!
New Learning Corner
Welcome to our new Learning Corner where we will talk about different aspects of the Catholic Faith or Mass each week. On our first installment we feature Brother Casey, as he explains the introductory rites of the Mass. You can either scan the QRL code below with your camera on your phone (it will then open up the video in YouTube) or you can click the link below.
To see previous Learning Corner Codes and Links, please click on the box below.
Knitting & Crocheting Club
Come Join Us our next meeting is August 14 at 7 p.m.!
Call Regina Roach for details. 330-323-5272
The Knitting and Crocheting Group is always working on various service projects. Recently they are focusing on a few specific projects and would love your help.
First Service Project: Red Scarf Project Foster Care To Success
When children graduate and go off to college, they often receive care packages from home. Foster children have aged out of the foster program by the time they head off to college and often have no one to send them care packages. The Red Scarf Project - Foster Care to Success sends care packages to these college students three times a year. The red scarves are included in the Valentine's Day package.
Scarves may be knitted or crocheted and can be any shade of red. They may also include other colors as long as the primary color is red. Dimensions should be 60 inches long and 5-8 inches wide. The organization is based out of North Olmstead Ohio.
The scarves must be received by the organization between September 1st and December 15th.
Second and Third Service Projects: Knit or Crochet Hats for Newborns, Children, Adolescents, Adults.
Hats for Adolescents and Adults will be provided to the Calvary Mission in downtown Canton.
Hats for Newborns and Children will be provided to Akron Children's Medical Center.
Hats for newborns and children should be made with 100% acrylic, to prevent allergic reactions.
Call Regina Roach for details. 330-323-5272
The Knitting and Crocheting Group is always working on various service projects. Recently they are focusing on a few specific projects and would love your help.
First Service Project: Red Scarf Project Foster Care To Success
When children graduate and go off to college, they often receive care packages from home. Foster children have aged out of the foster program by the time they head off to college and often have no one to send them care packages. The Red Scarf Project - Foster Care to Success sends care packages to these college students three times a year. The red scarves are included in the Valentine's Day package.
Scarves may be knitted or crocheted and can be any shade of red. They may also include other colors as long as the primary color is red. Dimensions should be 60 inches long and 5-8 inches wide. The organization is based out of North Olmstead Ohio.
The scarves must be received by the organization between September 1st and December 15th.
Second and Third Service Projects: Knit or Crochet Hats for Newborns, Children, Adolescents, Adults.
Hats for Adolescents and Adults will be provided to the Calvary Mission in downtown Canton.
Hats for Newborns and Children will be provided to Akron Children's Medical Center.
Hats for newborns and children should be made with 100% acrylic, to prevent allergic reactions.
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R.C.I.A.
Interested in learning more about our Catholic faith? Classes are open to any Catholic interested in learning more about his or her faith, as well as any non-Catholic interested in learning about the Catholic Church. There is never any pressure put on anyone to become Catholic; that is a work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s soul. If you know anyone interested in the Catholic faith, please invite him or her to the classes. If you plan to attend, or if you have any questions, please call Fr. Kevin at 330.854.2332.
Interested in learning more about our Catholic faith? Classes are open to any Catholic interested in learning more about his or her faith, as well as any non-Catholic interested in learning about the Catholic Church. There is never any pressure put on anyone to become Catholic; that is a work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s soul. If you know anyone interested in the Catholic faith, please invite him or her to the classes. If you plan to attend, or if you have any questions, please call Fr. Kevin at 330.854.2332.
Holy Hour
Holy Hour. Just one hour with Jesus. The time goes by so fast. There are two book cases in the Peace Chapel. One holds mostly Bibles and references. The other is an assortment of works, from different cenfuries, written for different audiences. I read because that way I won't fall asleep, and imagine myself being chided by Jesus, "Could you not stay awake with me for one hour?" Though there are times when, without a book to read, I have slept. When the words from a book leap out at me, I pause and meditate on what they say. I repeat the words out loud, quietly, and let them sink in deeply. The Imitation of Christ. a book which inspired St. Therese, the Little Flower, written between "1478-7427 by Thomas a' Kempis, sits on the shelf. About 10 books down is one of Matthew Kelly's newer books, written within the past five years. At Holy Hour, you never know what book you will find, or which book will find you. It will be the right book. How do I know? Because the books that find me answer the questions that only God knows I asked. And when that happens, which is often, I am reminded that I am not alone in the chapel. And I am tremendously humbled. Never think for one second that you aren't holy enough to make a Holy Hour. Never think that those who seem more saintly than you belong there, rather than you. Holy Hour changes people. It changes their thinking; it changes their lives. And where else can you get the answers to questions that only God knows you asked? Try it. Make a Holy Hour.
Karen Nelsen
Holy Hour. Just one hour with Jesus. The time goes by so fast. There are two book cases in the Peace Chapel. One holds mostly Bibles and references. The other is an assortment of works, from different cenfuries, written for different audiences. I read because that way I won't fall asleep, and imagine myself being chided by Jesus, "Could you not stay awake with me for one hour?" Though there are times when, without a book to read, I have slept. When the words from a book leap out at me, I pause and meditate on what they say. I repeat the words out loud, quietly, and let them sink in deeply. The Imitation of Christ. a book which inspired St. Therese, the Little Flower, written between "1478-7427 by Thomas a' Kempis, sits on the shelf. About 10 books down is one of Matthew Kelly's newer books, written within the past five years. At Holy Hour, you never know what book you will find, or which book will find you. It will be the right book. How do I know? Because the books that find me answer the questions that only God knows I asked. And when that happens, which is often, I am reminded that I am not alone in the chapel. And I am tremendously humbled. Never think for one second that you aren't holy enough to make a Holy Hour. Never think that those who seem more saintly than you belong there, rather than you. Holy Hour changes people. It changes their thinking; it changes their lives. And where else can you get the answers to questions that only God knows you asked? Try it. Make a Holy Hour.
Karen Nelsen
Prayer for Our Parish
(As Composed by Parish Council)
Heavenly Father, You have called each of us to be a member of SS. Philip & James Parish. Here we unite in worship, and are sent forth to share Your love and make disciples. Lord, we long for our parish to be so on fire that we draw people to You. Empower us with Your Holy Spirit as we strive to work together in this most important mission. Please make our parish amazing, through Your infinite power and grace.
Amen.
(As Composed by Parish Council)
Heavenly Father, You have called each of us to be a member of SS. Philip & James Parish. Here we unite in worship, and are sent forth to share Your love and make disciples. Lord, we long for our parish to be so on fire that we draw people to You. Empower us with Your Holy Spirit as we strive to work together in this most important mission. Please make our parish amazing, through Your infinite power and grace.
Amen.