On the one-year anniversary of the dedication of the new altar for St. Brendan Church, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost returned to the North Olmsted Parish to celebrate Mass.
Students from St. Brendan School, their families and other parishioners attended the March 27 liturgy. Concelebrants were Father Tom Woost, pastor and brother of the bishop, and Father Paul Wirsiy, parochial vicar. Assisting was Deacon Bob Herron.
During his homily, Bishop Woost showed the students and others in the congregation a photo he had taken of his brother, Father Woost, at about age 3. He was sitting on a rock in their backyard looking pensive. The bishop was about 15 when he took the photo.
(See photo gallery above.)
“That was his thinking place,” the bishop said. “If you look, his face shows surprise, wonder nada amazement and his hands are folded like in prayer. This is one of my favorite photos of him a little boy,” he added.
The bishop said with Holy Week underway, we are asked to think, reflect and pray about what Jesus did for us – how he lived, died and rose for us. As children, he said their mom asked him and his six brothers to be quiet from noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday during the time Jesus suffered on the cross before his death.
“She asked us not to talk. It was a time to pray and that made an impression on us,” he told the students.
He suggested that they use the church as their “thinking and praying place,” much like Father Woost used the rock in his backyard. “Think about Jesus’ love for us.”
He also noted that Holy Saturday would be extra special for two of the students who will be baptized and accepted into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. The students are very excited, he said. “It will be a very special day for them and this is our special place,” he said, gesturing around the church. “Find your own ‘rock’ at your house or maybe outside when the weather is nice so you have a special place. Ask Jesus to make these days holy because he loves you. He loves you so much he wants to share his life with you and he wants you to share your life with him.”
After Mass, the bishop walked over to the school where he watched the preschool class of 4- and 5-year-olds participate in a special “foot-washing” ceremony. Their teachers rolled red and blue paint on their feet and a classmate helped guide them across a large sheet of paper. At the other side, the classmate helped them wash the paint off their feet symbolizing Jesus washing the feet of his apostles at the Last Supper.
The bishop also stopped in to visit other classrooms in the school, learning about the students’ lessons and allowing them to ask him questions.