WHAT'S HAPPENING
Homily 2025-11-23
“Well, today is the last day of the liturgical year, and we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. And you certainly know how to do it here at St. Raphael with extra festivity, with incense and extra bells, and so on. And how appropriate! This feast is relatively new in the Catholic church. It’s only about a hundred years. In a Catholic tradition, 100 years is nothing. It was really exactly 1925 that Pope Pius XI introduce this feast to the universal church.”
Parish Office Closed for Holiday
The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular office hours will resume on Saturday, November 29th:
9am-8pm (M, T, Th)
9am-5pm (W, F)
10am-3:30pm (Sat)
Toy Drive - Donations Needed
St. Aloysius Toy Sale provides a toy shop for families. Fathers and mothers come to shop from a collection of new toys priced $.50, $1 and $2. Parents then gift wrap the toys. This outreach activity enhances the dignity of people as they are given the opportunity to select, purchase, and wrap a toy for their child. Please place your NEW toys to the bin marked “Toy Drive for St Aloysius’s Children” in Good Shephard Square or bring to the lunchroom by noon on November 30th.
#WeGiveCatholic
Giving Tuesday is December 2nd
YOUR SUPPORT helps us to engage each and every high school and middle school teen at the parish (more than 1,000 young people!), to experience the love of Jesus through the love and community of Saint Raphael Parish and the efforts of our High School and Middle School Ministries.
Pope Leo XIV at NCYC
The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC 2025) event featured Pope Leo’s heartfelt dialogue with teenagers, sharing questions, hopes, and stories from Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, in front of over 16,000 young people. Streamed live worldwide by EWTN, in a coordinated effort with Vatican Media, discover inspiring moments and spiritual unity as Pope Leo XIV addresses the future of the Catholic Church in the U.S..
Guild Sweet Street
Sunday December 7th, 9am—2pm in the Lunch Room
Come stroll an extravagant selection of fresh-baked cookies, pastries, nut rolls, and confections sure to please everyone on your holiday gift list. Great for family friends, teachers, neighbors and more. Be sure to treat yourself & have extra on hand for your Holiday Gatherings. Payment by Cash, Check or Credit/Debit Card.
Volunteer Bakers! Contact Cathy Pastron 440-949-9078 or cpastron@yahoo.com
Guild Poinsettia Sale
To help you decorate for Christmas!
December 6th & 7th
Following all Masses in the Lunchroom
Payment by Cash, Check or Credit Card
Once again, we will be collecting donations for small poinsettia plants to be delivered to nursing home residents at O’Neill Healthcare Bay Village.
Poinsettia Sale Questions Contact:
Lynn Merriman 440.382.0338
Gifts for Nursing Home Residents
Help give a gift to a nursing home resident who has no family or few friends. This year we will be gifting needed items to residents at O'Neill Healthcare Bay Village and Huntington Woods Westlake.
To give a gift please call Anne Straitiff at 440-263-6874 or email her at straitiff@oh.rr.com.
Thank You!
The Saint Vincent de Paul, St. Raphael conference would like to say THANK YOU for all of your prayers, time and treasure to support others in need. For people who don’t have beds, 32 beds - 10 full size and 22 twin - have been given to adults and children along with all the bedding. A 14-year-old boy said how happy he was to now be sleeping in a bed.
A single mother of 3 was forced to leave her apartment and everything in it to escape burglars. . .
Sanctity of Work
From - St. Josemaría Escrivá (Furrow) - Finishing properly the tasks committed to us:
Sanctity is made up of heroic acts. Therefore, in our work we are asked for the heroism of finishing properly the tasks committed to us, day after day, even though they are the same tasks. If we don't, then we do not want to be saints. (Furrow, 529)
Advent Candlelight Latin Mass
The 17th Annual St. John Berchmans Advent Candlelight Latin Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Bede Kotlinski, O.S.B. on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 at 7:00 AM at Historic St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1930 W. 54th St., Cleveland, OH 44102. Mass will be served by the St. John Berchmans Altar Servers Ministry (SJB), comprised of students from St. Ignatius, Benedictine and other local Catholic high schools and Home Schools.
Pastor's Discretionary Fund
This fund allows our parish to respond directly to those who come to our doors with immediate needs—families facing sudden hardship, individuals seeking help with food, shelter, or utilities, and those with special needs who turn to St. Raphael for assistance and hope.
OLDER (but still relevant) Parish News
Praetorius Christmas Vespers
Sunday, December 21, 2025 – 4:00 PM
St. Raphael Catholic Church, Bay Village
Artistic Director Jeannette Sorrell weaves the glorious works of 17th-century composer Michael Praetorius into a radiant Vespers service with Apollo’s Singers
and members of Apollo’s Musettes (Treble Youth Choir).
Pre-Concert Talk (David Rothenberg) and Afterglow! (celebrate the season with holiday treats alongside Jeannette and the musicians).
Adopt-A-Family Program
It's the time of year when our Adopt-A-Family Program kicks off. This program is an Advent tradition at St. Raphael that allows parish members to get involved and "make Christmas happen" for underprivileged families. These are children and adults who, without our help, might not celebrate Christmas with presents.
This year, opportunities to adopt full families as well as purchase specific individual gifts will be offered.
Men's Morning of Reflection
St. Ladislas Church - 2345 Bassett Road Westlake, Ohio 44145
Saturday, December 13th, 8:30 am -12:00 pm
Open to All Men — Bring a Son, Grandson, or Nephew (16+). Breakfast will be provided!
Guided by Christ, modeled on Saint Joseph, and lived out in prayer, service, and brotherhood, we commit to discover and embody our authentic identity as men of the Church.
Christmas Tree Sale
Nov 28th - Dec 14th
Bay Village Cahoon Park Gazebo
Hot Chocolate & Candy Canes for the Whole Family!
Proceeds Benefit Community Service Projects
Live Nativity
December 14th
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Bethesda on the Bay Lutheran Church
28607 Wolf Rd, Bay Village
Free and open to the public. The Live Nativity scene will include a manger and several live animals such as Sahara the Camel and Mini Moo the Cow. Cash or canned good donations welcome to support the St. Barnabas Community Cupboard.
Opening for CYO Site Director Coordinator
Dear St. Raphael Parishioners,
We love hosting CYO Games in the PAC and want to keep that tradition alive - but we need your help! St. Raphael CYO Athletics is currently looking to fill the position of Site Director Coordinator.
Dementia Resource
Are you a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer or dementia? The Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation is a non-profit organization and resource which will provide an opportunity for socialization through a variety of art enrichment and wellness programs at no cost. Programs are led by professionals and encourage interactions so important to prevent social isolation. Support groups & individual counseling are also available. We are located nearby at 26633 Detroit Rd. in Westlake.
For more information, call 440-414-0434
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
2025 Jubilee Year of Hope
A banner of the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica is displayed in the church Gathering Area. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door the evening of December 24, 2024, and ushered in the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. Click below for more details.
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."
