A LENTEN DAY OF REFLECTION

We will be invited to Encounter God’s Mercy, Healing, and Restoration during this beautiful time of Lent.  Take some time for yourself and your relationship with God by stepping away from your normal routines of life for five hours.  Join other parishioners from the area parishes of Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, and beyond for this Lenten Experience.   Our presenters will be Tom Pussel and Ginny Pippin.  Space is limited to 60 participants.  The cost is $25; meal and snacks are included.

Praying for Elect and Candidates

As we enter into this holy season of Lent, let us remember in our prayers the Elect and Candidates who are preparing to join our Catholic family.  The Elect—those preparing for baptism - have been called by name and are entering into the final stages of their journey toward the waters of rebirth.  The Candidates, who have already been baptized in another Christian tradition, are preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Lenten Fish Fry

Fridays during Lent  5:00-7:30pm (excluding Good Friday)

Our Lenten Fish Fry this year includes dine-in and drive-thru options, senior discount, live music, beer & wine (dine-in only), and a 50/50 raffle to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Cash or Credit Card

Stations of the Cross During Lent

Stations of the Cross will be held in the church on Fridays during Lent at 7pm, on March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and April 4th and 11th.  On Good Friday, April 18th, Stations will be at 12 noon.

Pilgrims of Hope Presentation

Join several pilgrims as they share photographs and reflect on their Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Assisi, Florence and Rome with Bishop Edward Malesic that took place in January.  The presentation is Sunday, March 30, 11:45 a.m., immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lorain.



Pray Together With Hallow

We’re thrilled to announce that St. Raphael is now partnering with Hallow, the #1 prayer app!  Through prayer and meditation rooted in the Catholic faith, Hallow helps people grow closer to God and find peace.  Users are able to pray alongside Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Miriam, Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, + many more.  Join with our faith community on the St. Raphael parish page to pray together.



Homily 2025-03-23

“Many years ago, I had the privilege of reading a book by Rabbi Harold Kushner. I also had the opportunity to meet him in person. He wrote an interesting book called When Bad Things Happen to Good People. He and his wife suffered the loss of a young son, and everyone was trying to figure out the “why” of it. And what Harold Kushner concludes is that to as the question, “why do bad things happen to good people”, is really the wrong question. . .

Adult Faith Formation Schedule

APRIL EVENTS

Apr 1,8,29 from 10-11:30 AM – Bible Study “The Way of Beauty”

Apr 7 from 7-8:30 PM – The Way of Beauty (Bible and Art)

All events in the Community Room

Bible Study

We continue “The Way of Beauty” this Tuesday, Apr 1.  As Holy Week approaches, we turn our gaze to the scenes of the Agony in the Garden.  Our Bible texts are: Matthew 26:36-56, Mark 14:32-52, Luke 22:39-53, and John 18:1-12.  We will consider eight pieces of art not currently on view in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s permanent collection, as well as our own stained glass window here at St Raphael.  Classes meet from 10-11:30 AM in the Community Room.

Bring your Bible and a notebook!

Evening Bible Study

The Way of Beauty – Monthly Evening Bible Study returns Monday, Apr 7 from 7-8:30 PM in the Community Room for our final session.  We will be studying Scripture passages that are represented by art in the permanent collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Bring your Bible and a notebook, or just show up and we’ll have a Bible for you.

Saint Raphael Drama Club presents

Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr

March 29-30 & April 5-6

Saturdays at 7:00 pm

Sundays at 3:00 pm

Admission $5

Children grade 2 and younger FREE

A Journey into the Unknown

Refugee Simulation and Action - Tue, April 1

What would you do if your family was forced to flee your home with little notice and only a backpack?  Join fellow citizens as we experience the reality that many migrants and refugees face due to war, political upheaval, and climate change.   We will also learn about our Church teaching on migrants and refugees and join together in prayer for our neighbors who are refugees.

Neighbors Who Care Collection

Saint Raphael Social Concerns Ministry is holding its traditional Neighbors Who Care Lenten Collection. The ministry will be collecting a variety of nonperishable foods, household supplies, toiletries and gift cards.  Items can be dropped off in Good Shepard Square until April 2nd.  Please prayerfully consider a donation.



Land of Peace Religious Items

On the weekend of April 5 & 6, representatives from Land of Peace mission, a nonprofit organization, will be visiting our parish. They will be selling crucifixes, religious artwork, and rosaries to raise funds to help support our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East.  These items are all made of olive wood, native to Israel and Bethlehem.  Since tourism has declined, Christian families in the Holy Land have been greatly affected.  Your valuable support plays a crucial role in alleviating the hardships faced by these families.  Please stop in the Lunchroom after all weekend Masses to browse and purchase items.  Our parish priests will be on hand to bless any items that are purchased.  To learn more, please visit their website: www.landofpeace.org

Saint Raphael Student Council

The St. Raphael Student Council is hosting a trivia night next Tuesday, April 8, from 6:30 - 7:45 in the Community Room.   This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a fun social evening and benefit the students of our school.

$5 Donation benefits Student Council

Pizza & Pop available for purchase

 All parishioners are welcome!

Guild Annual Charity Luncheon

Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 11:30am ($55/person)

Our luncheon is a time for socializing as well as a fundraiser for Guild charitable activities throughout the year.  Please join us at Westwood Country Club as we welcome Journalist and Communications Expert, Maureen Kyle, as guest speaker.  Registration is needed by April 22.

Fear of the Lord

From the treatise on the psalms by Saint Hilary, bishop

The meaning of “the fear of the Lord”

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.

Notice that when Scripture speaks of the fear of the Lord it does

not leave the phrase in isolation, as if it were a complete

summary of faith. No, many things are added to it, or are

General Offertory Fund

Contributions are welcome at any time!

Collection for Eastern Europe

These funds are collected during Lent and are used to grant monies to support seminaries, social service programs, youth ministry, pastoral centers, church construction and renovation, and the transmission of the Gospel message through television, radio, and the Catholic press in central and eastern Europe.

It Takes Little to be Big

Volunteers Needed at BBBS Greater Cleveland

Looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in a child’s life?  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland is dedicated to creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the potential in local youth.  Volunteers can serve as mentors, helping guide and inspire young people through companionship and encouragement.  To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.bbbscle.org or contact Clarissa Sarsama, Program Director, at csarsama@bbbscle.org or 216-452-5225.

Catholic Charities Annual Appeal

The 2025 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal kicks off with an in-pew appeal at all Masses the weekend of February 15-16.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION MINISTRY

Do you need:

• Assistance in discerning God's will in your life?
• Help identifying the movements of good and evil spirits in making wise decisions?
• Help in growing deeper in your relationship with God?

Contact parishioner Mike Manco for spiritual direction: mikemanco63@gmail.com or 216-496-4001