WHAT'S HAPPENING
Homily 2026-06-14
“In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. The Spirit doesn’t just teach us what to believe, it also calls us to live what we believe. And one of the clearest signs that the Holy Spirit is at work is when Christians can look beyond their own needs and to begin to care for those who are poor and vulnerable and forgotten. And that’s exactly what the Church has done from its very beginning. In the Acts of the Apostles we hear how the early Christian Community shared . . .”
Homily 2026-06-07 Aloysius
“Well, good morning sisters and brothers. So, hypothetically, if I were to pull out of my wallet a $20 bill and bring it over to these young ones over here, possibly, they’d want it, right? Because, well it’s a good thing, you know. But then, if I were to say well, you get this one, and I pull out a $100 dollar bill, and your parents get the $100 bill, the kids would be a little frustrated. It’s like, but, give me that one, that one’s worth more.”
Annual Mission Appeal
The weekend of June 13-14, 2026, Dr. Geetha Yeruva, founder of Foundation for Children in Need (FCN), will be making an appeal at St. Raphael. FCN was established in 2002 by Dr. Yeruva and Thomas Reddy Chitta along with several friends who adopted children from India. Presently, FCN is sponsoring nearly 1600 children and college students and 100 elderly in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. FCN also addresses various needs such as medical care, health education, women development and others.
St. Vincent de Paul Update
The St. Vincent de Paul Conference here at St. Raphael continues to be dedicated to serving the needs of the poor by providing beds, mattresses and bedding, emergency food supplies, temporary rent and utility assistance and sharing resources for additional longer-term basic needs such as furniture, food assistance and employment opportunities. Your support helps us meet the needs of so many. Since January, we have:
helped 49 neighbors in the Cleveland area which includes 4 children; and paid:
$12, 260 for rent assistance see more
THE 19TH ANNOTATION RETREAT
Are you seeking profound spiritual growth? Do you desire a deeply intimate encounter with God but need a retreat that fits into your everyday life? We invite you to consider the "19th Annotation Retreat," offering the most detailed and spiritually intimate experience of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Unlike traditional group retreats, this is a one-on-one retreat. It is just you and a spiritual director meeting together, usually weekly, for a period of 20 to 25 weeks. Because it is only the two of you, there are no set times or dates—the schedule is completely flexible and built around your life!
Help Us Bring VBS to Life!
This summer, our parish children will journey through Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God during Vacation Bible School—and you can help make the experience unforgettable! We’ve created an Amazon Wishlist filled with supplies needed for crafts, snacks, decorations, games, and hands-on activities throughout the week. By purchasing an item (big or small!), you are helping create a faith-filled, joy-filled experience for our children as they grow in God’s love.
Ø Choose an item Ø Ship directly to the parish Ø Help bring VBS to life
Visit our Amazon Wishlist HERE to donate today!
Thank you for supporting our parish youth and helping us share how amazing God is… WOW GOD!
Encounter Mary, St. Joseph & the Rosary
Please join us on Monday, June 29th @ 7pm for a special presentation on the priesthood. Through a series of short videos, we will hear from priests sharing their stories – their calling, their joys and challenges, their hopes and their needs and explore ways we can support and encourage them in their ministry. Anne Marie Farr will present how we can all help. Talk will be in person in the Zwilling Room and on Livestream.
OLDER (but still relevant) Parish News
Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia
The Alzheimer’s Association will present an education program on
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia on Thursday, June 25,
7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and their risk factors. Join us for information on current research and the resources available from the Alzheimer’s Association. Contact Stan at 440-263-8794 with any questions.
Summer Hunger Center Food Drive
It's time again to collect food for our area Hungers Centers. We are reaching out to you for donations to support the Hunger Centers during the summer when their supplies run low. The Summer Hunger Center Food Drive will run from Saturday, June 6th through Sunday, June 28th. Any food item(s) you would like to donate can be dropped off in the bins in the Gathering Area.
Our sincere thanks to you for your support and care of the Hunger Centers. We wish you and your family a fun and healthy summer.
8-Week Book Study
Ever wanted to read the full text of Theology of the Body but didn’t want to tackle it alone? This summer, join Jen Ricard, TOB CLE Director, for an 8-week guided study through Michael Waldstein’s translation of Pope St. John Paul II’s catechesis on the human person, love, and the meaning of the body. Thursdays, June 25 — August 13, 6:30 — 8:30 PM, St. Sebastian Parish, Forest Lodge, Akron.
Annual Baby Bottle Campaign
Mother’s Day – Father’s Day 2026
To help make a change in a woman’s life and that of her baby and to help agencies provide counseling, prenatal medical care and housing during pregnancy and after birth, the Social Concerns Ministry is working to collect funds to support those in need. From Mother’s Day, May 10th to Father’s Day, June 21st, empty baby bottles can be picked up from the bassinets located in Good Shepherd Square and The Gathering area and can be returned to the same location with your donation.
Men's Huddle Summer Program
Tuesdays, June 2 through September 1
We will be tackling the Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis, chapter by chapter. Join us from 6:30am-7:30am in the community room and bring your own coffee. All men are welcome.
No preparation necessary as handouts will be provided.
Wine, Roses & Art
THE ARCHANGEL MINISTRY JUNE BUS TRIP
Wednesday, JUNE 17, 2026, 9:15am – 7pm
This Archangel trip will focus on traveling to the Youngstown and Lake Milton areas to see the following: The Butler Institute of American Art, The Fellows Riverside Gardens, and the Halliday’s Winery and Restaurant.
Registration Opens May 1st
July 13-17, 2026
Join us for Totally Catholic Rainforest Falls VBS as we Explore the Nature of God! Rainforest Falls is designed with more than fun in mind—it’s a faith-driven adventure rooted in helping kids grow in their relationship with God.
child participant registration
Employment Opportunity
St. Raphael Parish is seeking a reliable, motivated self-starter to join our maintenance team. This role is essential in keeping our school and church environment clean, safe, and welcoming for our students and parishioners. If interested, please reach out to Keith Benya: 440-360-7507 or kbenya@saintraphaelparish.com.
Site Directors Needed!
CYO Athletics is looking to add more Site Directors for our home volleyball and basketball games. We love hosting games in the PAC, but need your help to continue to do so!
This is a paid position and a great way to support St. Raphael Athletics.
If you are interested, please contact St. Raphael Athletic Director Shane Fitzpatrick at sfitzpatrick@saintraphaelparish.com
Envelope Notice
If you have transitioned to Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) online contributions and wish to discontinue receiving physical offertory envelopes, please contact our Parish Bookkeeper, Marcia Beifuss, to update your preferences. Helping us reduce waste and mailing costs is greatly appreciated. Marcia can be reached at:
mbeifuss@saintraphaelparish.com or 440-871-1101
2026 Annual Appeal
This Appeal seeks $15.3 million to support vital ministries serving those in need across the eight counties of the Diocese. Join Bishop Malesic and thousands of faithful in extending God’s love through acts of mercy.
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
A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Edward C. Malesic
"The goal of this letter is to provide you with a resource for reflection, that you might be drawn more deeply into prayer and a more intimate relationship with Jesus."
