Although the feast of St. Barnabas wasn?t until June 11, the Northfield Parish dedicated to him observed the occasion a little early, thanks to a visit from Bishop Nelson Perez.
The bishop celebrated the Sunday vigil Mass on June 9. He told the congregation he was offering the Mass for the parish and some special intentions that had been mentioned to him earlier. He also recognized the ordination anniversaries of Father Ralph Wiatrowski, pastor, who observed the 44th anniversary of his ordination this year; Father Joseph Spolny, parochial vicar, who marked 40 years as a priest, and Father Charles Butkowski, parochial vicar, who observed the seventh anniversary of his ordination.
Bishop Perez also thanked Father Spolny for his service to the parish as he concluded his four-year assignment at St. Barnabas. Effective June 12, he became the new parochial vicar at St. Stanislaus Parish in Cleveland. On June 12, St. Barnabas welcomed a new parochial vicar, Father Matt Byrne, who just concluded his assignment at Communion of Saints Parish in Cleveland Heights.
The Mass was the day after the Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA championship series. ?I was at the game,? the bishop said, adding he knelt during the game, to no avail. ?But when I was in Philadelphia, the Sixers didn?t win, either,? he quipped.
?Besides, there?s always next year, right? Welcome to Cleveland,? the bishop said, laughing.
He transitioned the focus of his homily to the message of Jesus, explaining that he spent years calling people to him, urging them ?to come, come, come.? After the resurrection, Jesus was preparing the disciples to carry on his work.
The bishop said Jesus? last words on this earth were ??Go. Spread my word. Salvation depends on you.? And he wanted them to go out
