Sunday, August 1: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:00 a.m. .Stacy Thomas

10:00 a.m. .Thomas Johnston (A)

12:00 p.m. People of the Parish

Monday, August 2: Weekday

7:00 a.m. .Stanley Wallen (A)

Tuesday, August 3: Weekday

9:00 a.m. .Charlotte Bellantis (A)

Wednesday, August 4: John Mary Vianney, priest

7:00 a.m. In Thanksgiving

Thursday, August 5: Weekday

9:00 a.m. .Kathleen Sinclair

Friday, August 6: Transfiguration of the Lord

7:00 a.m. .Genevieve Bush (B)

Saturday, August 7: Sixtus, pope, and companions,

martyrs, Cajetan, priest

8:00 a.m. .Clement Gross

12:00 p.m. Karen Vlach & Charles Bohland

Wedding

2:00 p.m. Charlotte Dailey & John Kaufman

Wedding

5:00 p.m. .Sliwinski Family

Sunday, August 8: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:00 a.m. People of the Parish

10:00 a.m. .Shir-Lee Mueller & Ron Bugala

12:00 p.m. Jeff & Jennifer Lorman Wedding Anniversary

LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION

Regular $10,974.00
Heat $812.00

Assessment $ 365.00
Improvement $291.00

Education $ 38.00
Hunger Hurts $ 20.00

Peter’s Pence $ 17.00
Children $ 7.10

Wedding Banns

III - Karen Vlach & Charles Bohland

III - Charlotte Dailey & John Kaufman

II - Julie Hudak & Andrew Harlan

ORDER OF THE ALHAMBRA

The International Order of the Alhambra, Al Jana Caravan #159, is a fraternal organization of Catholic men dedicated to assisting retarded children. Each spring and summer, at various parishes, they conduct drives to raise money for organizations in the area to further aid and education of these children. Al Jana will be here at St. Mary of the Falls next weekend, August 7th and 8th, following all the masses. Please be as generous as you are able.

SPECIAL CHOIR PRACTICE

August 15th is the date of our Sesquicentennial Closing Liturgy and the choir will be part of that celebration at the 12:00 p.m. Mass.

Choir members are asked to notice that there will be two special practices on Tuesday, August 3rd and 10th, at 7:30 p.m. (please note the time change). Anyone interested in participating in the choir at that celebration is asked to be there for those practices. If you have any questions, call Ceil O’Linn at 871-0934.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL UPDATE

A heartfelt "thank you" to Fran Condora, Donna Hebda, and Judy Martin who have served on Council so well for the last six years, and to Kathy Imburgia who was also a member this past year. Council would like to welcome its newest members, Jacquelyn Burke, Lilie Kilburn, Marie Lansky, and Dennis Lynch. The current Council, in addition to our new members, includes Paul Hansen, Chairperson; John Dascoli, Vice Chairperson; John Gonzalez, Minute Taker; Jerry Gobble; and Paulette Theiss. Congratulations also go to Fran Condora on her recent appointment as a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, representing the sixteen parishes in the Suburban West District.

All questions, suggestions, and/or concerns may be directed to any of the above individuals by calling the Parish Office (235-2222). Minutes of the Pastoral Parish Council meetings are available monthly by accessing the Parish Web Site, listed on the cover of this bulletin or at the Parish Office.

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION

All registrations for PSR classes are due by August 16th. Classroom rosters will be finalized that week and a$10.00 per student late fee will be charged after this date. Please understand that it is difficult for both teachers and students when the classroom dynamics change due to the addition of new students.

All volunteer catechists and aides who have not yet attended a VIRTUS training session are asked to attend the one this Tuesday evening, August 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

Letters went out last week to all PSR teachers regarding grade level faculty meetings and other "beginning-of-the year" information.

A parent letter will be sent the first week of August to those families registered for the new PSR year. A 2004- 2005 PSR calendar will accompany this letter. Please watch for the mail and let us know if you do not receive this.

PATHFINDERS

Permission slips will soon be available (August 7th) for our bowling outing on Sunday, September 12th! The cost will be $10.00, which covers bowling fees, shoes, pizza, pop, and the bus fare. We will leave right after the 10:00 a.m.

Mass by bus to Buckeye Lanes and should be back to the church parking lot by 2:15- 2:30 p.m. It should be a fun afternoon for all!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

When shopping or looking for a gift this summer, please remember that gift certificates are available for purchase (such as Giant Eagle, Tops, Speedway, Blockbuster, and many more) in the Parish Office during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.). If you cannot come in during the day, call ahead and have your certificates set aside for you; evening personnel do not have access to the certificate box but can give you your order in exchange for the amount due.

Scripture Readings for August 8th: Wisdom 18:6-9 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48

GUARANTEED FOR LIFE!

That is what you get by making a gift in exchange for a charitable gift annuity. You are guaranteed a certain income for the rest of your life, no matter how long you live or what interest rates are. Your gift gives twice.

First, to you in income and possible tax deductions and then, to the parish and school at the end of your life. By endowing your gift, it will keep on giving forever. For more information, please contact William Henzey, CPA, CFP®, CFS, our Planned Giving Coordinator, at 427-9535.

RCIA

On Thursday, August 5, 2004, at 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room, we will hold another "Inquiry Session" for those interested in joining RCIA (process for those wanting to enter the Church). So far we have three inquirers:

Marilyn, Ed, and Rachel. Do not be afraid to come and see what happens. Our discussion will based on the topic of "Faith." If you would like more information, please call Sr. Jane at 235-2808.

CONFIRMATION 2005

All candidates for Confirmation on January 9, 2005, should have been contacted by the staff member who was to conduct their interview. If you have not been called, please call 235- 2808 to find out if you turned in your green form or who is your interviewer.

Those who canceled their interview appointment should call to reschedule. Please do not put this off! At this time you will receive a calendar of dates for the immediate preparation sessions.

If God seems far away, who moved?

COMING EVENTS!

Annual Clam Bake

Sunday, September 19th Community Room & Pavilion "Love Rides the Rails" Murder Mystery Friday, October 1st - Sunday, October 3rd

Annual Spaghetti Dinner

Sunday, October 10th Parish Hall Keep watching the bulletin for more details.

CELEBRATION BALL

Don’t let this event pass you by; you’ll have to wait another 150 years for it to come around again!

St. Mary of the Falls has been celebrating its 150th anniversary for the past year. Our yearlong celebration will come to a close with a grand event held at the elegant LaCentre Banquet Facility in Westlake on August 14th. The Celebration Ball will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception. A gourmet dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m., followed by entertainment by an eight-piece band. This promises to be a magical evening . . . you won’t want to miss it! Tickets are only $50.00 per person (thanks to the generosity of our many sponsors) and are on sale now at the Parish Office or by calling Ray and Charlotte at 235-6449 or Bill and Judy at 234-2755 (tables for singles are available). Come see old friends and make new friends . . . join in the celebration!

YOUTH MINISTRY HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT IS HERE!

Next weekend is our highly anticipated Youth Ministry Summer Retreat at St. Leonard's retreat center in Avon. That means the time to get your registration and money in to the Parish Office is RIGHT NOW. We're looking forward to spending a great weekend with you as we all draw closer to the Lord. See you there!

FESTIVAL OF PRAISE

A festival of praise is a time of worship before the Blessed Sacrament using modern praise music. Some may recall such an experience from our Eucharistic Devotions weekend last February. On Friday, August 20th, at 7:30 p.m., the Cleveland Teens Encounter Christ retreat team will be hosting a festival of praise in our church. All are invited to join them in praising God with full hearts and full voices.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

"Right to Life" is looking for adult and teenage volunteers for the tent at the Cuyahoga County Fair. Help is needed the week of August 9th-15th, especially on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (Children’s Day). If you can donate two hours, call Karen Petrus at 243-4750. Free worker passes to the Fair are given to volunteers.

BAPTISM PREPARATION PROGRAM

Parents are reminded that parish and diocesan policy require parents to complete a Baptism Preparation Class before the baptism of their child, if they have not done so in the past five years. The next class is Sunday, August 29, 2004, 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Please call Deacon Tom Daw if you’d like to attend.

This Week in Our Parish

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

Bible Study Com. Rm. 9:00 a.m.

Donut Sunday Parish Hall 9:00 a.m.

Baptisms Church 1:30 p.m.

YM Night Com. Rm. 7:00 p.m.

MONDAY, AUGUST 2

Journey Continuation Com. Rm. 7:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3

Craft Group Com. Rm. 1:00 p.m.

VIRTUS Training Parish Hall 7:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4

Play Practice Parish Hall 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5

CPTO Com. Rm./Pav. 7:00 p.m.

RCIA Mtg. Rm. 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6

RCIC Com. Rm. 4:45 p.m.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8

Bible Study Com. Rm. 9:00 a.m.

THE COMMUNION RITE AT ST. MARY OF THE FALLS

•Approach the Minister of the Eucharist.

•Bow your head, chin to chest, in reverence to the Eucharist (see left).

•Repeat this process for receiving from the cup.

•Return to your pew, be seated, and continue to sing.

•Take time for silent personal prayer when the communion song is finished.

DAY RETREAT FOR TEACHERS

Fr. Clem Metzger, S.J., a veteran high school teacher and Director of the Jesuit Retreat House will conduct a day of prayer for teachers on August 16, 2004. The day begins at 9:00 a.m. and includes presentations, time for quiet prayer, lunch and liturgy at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $20.00. Call 884- 9300 for your reservation. What a special way to prepare yourself for the coming year!