Seventy years ago, Archbishop Edward Hoban established the fledgling St. Barnabas Parish, appointing Father Bernard DeCrane as the first pastor. The new parish obtained nearly 19 acres of property in Northfield to serve the growing communities of Northfield Center, Northfield Village, Macedonia, Sagamore Hills and Twinsburg.
“On those 19 acres, this parish pitched its tent,” said Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost. He was the principal celebrant at the parish’s 70th anniversary Mass on June 14, the Sunday nearest the June 11 feast day of their patronal saint. Concelebrating were Father James Kulway, pastor, and Father Jeffrey Lindholm, parochial vicar. Deacon Michael Constantini assisted.
(See photo gallery above.)
In 1956, there was a small barn, a parish house and an old stone chimney, the last remnant of a log cabin that had been on the property. Today, the campus includes a large church building, a school that achieved National Blue Ribbon School status, and other parish-related structures. The parish has grown to more than 3,000 families and several other parishes have developed from it, including Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Macedonia, where Father Kulway also serves as pastor and Father Lindholm is parochial vicar.
“Look what you grew,” Bishop Woost said to the hundreds of parishioners attending the anniversary liturgy. “It’s hard not to marvel at what was accomplished with God’s help.” He said St. Barnabas parishioners have gathered “to worship, praise and serve God and look at what you’ve done. Your parish name is special, named after an apostle, St. Barnabas. He was not one of the original apostles, but he was called by Luke and he followed his charge with great faith.”
The bishop shared information about St. Barnabas, noting he and St. Paul taught, prayed and worshiped for a year, helping the Christian community grow in Antioch. “It was the first place the followers of Jesus were called Christians,” he added. “When people encounter us and see our faith, they know God is alive. They see him present in our midst … To be Christian is not just a title, it’s a way of life and that’s what’s been going on here at St. Barnabas Parish for 70 years,” he said.
“God is present here, where you have pitched your community. The Holy Spirit is working here because of the way this community has grown, expanded and touched the lives of so many … Look to the future … The call of Jesus has not ended, it goes on to the end of time,” Bishop Woost said.
“Thank you for being who you are and what you’ve accomplished with God’s grace. Continue it and give thanks for these 70 years. Ask God to help you, as a community of faith, continue on that trajectory. Give thanks and celebrate today. Happy anniversary,” he added.
After Mass, parishioners gathered on the parish grounds for a picnic with games, music, food and drawings.