“For 60 years, this parish has been a beacon of hope for Medina County and beyond,” Bishop Edward Malesic told Our Lady of Grace parishioners.
He was joined by Father Bill Smith, Our Lady of Grace pastor, Father Ed Estok, St. Albert the Great (North Royalton) pastor who once served as parish administrator, and Deacon Bruce Dobbins for Mass on May 30 to celebrate the parish anniversary. The Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard.
Prior to the liturgy, the bishop blessed a time capsule that was inserted in the exterior church wall.
(See photo gallery above.)
He congratulated parishioners, noting “We’re meant to be together, not isolated.” The bishop said a parish must do three important things: worship, serve and evangelize. “A church is built on its people, who are living stones with God as the capstone … In essence, we are a family of faith. We stand on the shoulders of those who went before us.”
Bishop Malesic reminded the faithful that they are a sacred sign of Jesus’ presence in the world and he asked them not to keep their faith a secret. “You’ve encountered Jesus here and he changed your lives … Be witnesses of hope, servants of the poor and worship God with your whole heart. This is a community of love,” he said.
Reflecting on the Gospel, the bishop talked about how his image of God changed in college when he began reading a Bible that was given to him. That encounter changed his life, he said.
The Trinity reveals a deep truth about God, the bishop said, explaining that it is “a community of persons so much in love that it becomes one person. We should strive for that, also.” He said marriages and parishes are examples of communities of love.
“This parish points us in the direction we need to go in order to be with Jesus,” he added.
Our Lady of Grace was established on June 6, 1965 on 48 acres of land Hinckley. Before the church was built, Masses were celebrated in Hinckley Town Hall and Hinckley Elementary School. There are about 600 families in the parish today.
The current building was dedicated on Jan. 10, 1969. Father Smith is the seventh pastor.
After Mass, the bishop mingled with parishioners and guests at a reception in the church hall.