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St. Joseph School and Parish celebrate patronal feast day

News of the Diocese

March 20, 2019

Students, faculty and staff from St. Joseph School in Cuyahoga Falls made a short walk to the nearby parish church on March 19 for a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Nelson Perez to honor the feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary.

The parish, which predates the Diocese of Cleveland, is celebrating its 188th anniversary this year. Father Jared Orndorff, pastor, and Father David McCarthy, senior priest-retired in residence at the parish, concelebrated Mass. Assisting was Deacon Kent Davis.
St. Joseph School and Parish celebrate patronal feast day
Before Mass began, the bishop received a specially made wooden box with the parish and school seal as a gift from the parish and school families. Carrie Pasquale, school principal, said there are about 200 students in grades K-8 and another 20 in the preschool program.

The bishop recognized Father McCarthy, who is celebrating the 59thanniversary of his ordination to the priesthood this year.

“He was serving the people of God as a priest before I was even born,” Bishop Perez quipped.

As he usually does when visiting a school, he asked the students to share what makes St. Joseph School special. One boy told him about special methods of learning to help students grasp the subject matter. Other students responded with things like recess, God, awesome students, art and more.
St. Joseph School and Parish celebrate patronal feast day
“How’s lunch? What’s your favorite lunch?” he asked. “Pizza,” responded some students, which brought a smile to the bishop’s face. “I love pizza,” he said.

He told the students that they were celebrating a special day in honor of the adopted father of Jesus. “We don’t hear much about him in the Gospels,” he said, “but he was always in the background and very present in his family’s life.”

Bishop Perez said when St. Joseph learned that Mary was having a child, he felt fear but the words of an angel, “Do not be afraid,” reassured him.

Fear can be paralyzing sometimes, like if a person is afraid to speak in front of a group. At other times it can protect us, the bishop said, using the image of a bus passing by on the street. Our fear of being injured by the bus brings a type of respect which protects us from being hurt by the bus.
St. Joseph School and Parish celebrate patronal feast day
He said St. John Paul II told young people not to be afraid to embrace the call that God gave them – it could be a call to be a son, daughter, priest, husband, wife, mother, father or something else. It is a normal thing for humans to have fear but he said we need to allow the words of the angel to resonate in us.

He shared another thought with the students, telling them to express gratitude and to be grateful for the things they have. “Be grateful for your school, for your family and your parents. This school didn’t just happen,” he said, explaining that it took the hard work of many people to create and sustain the school.

“Be grateful for all that God gave us,” he added.

After the homily, the bishop blessed St. Joseph’s Table which was a table filled with snacks, bread and other foods. The food represented a larger supply of items that were collected at the parish and school.
St. Joseph School and Parish celebrate patronal feast day
St. Joseph’s Table is an ancient tradition in conjunction with the feast of St. Joseph. It is a way of expressing thanksgiving for St. Joseph’s assistance in time of need.

The table includes a statue of St. Joseph, flowers, candles, breads and sweets. During the weekend of March 16-17 and the evenings of the parish mission – March 17-19 -- pre-packaged bread, pre-packaged individual servings of crackers and chips and individual servings of pre-packaged sweets such as Twinkies, Hostess cakes, etc. were collected. The goods will be donated to Walsh Jesuit High School’s Labre program which distributes bologna sandwiches, chips and a treat to the homeless. Also benefiting from St. Joseph’s Table is the St. Bernard Hunger Center, which provides hot meals and lunches.

After Mass, the bishop posed for photos and greeted students and parishioners.

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