October 17 2024 - St. Ignatius of Antioch - Our Patron Saint (School Mass)

 Today is the Feast Day of the Patron Saint of our Parish and school, St. Ignatius of Antioch. Happy Feast Day to you all.

What does it mean that St. Ignatius of Antioch is our Patron Saint?

That St. Ignatius is our patron Saint means that St. Ignatius of Antioch, who lived almost 2000 years ago, prays for us in a special way from his place in heaven. We have a special heavenly helper—to help us become the people God made us to be—to help us overcome our trials—to help us grow in faith, hope, and love and to follow Jesus as his disciples. 

Because he is our patron, we look to his holy example and ask for his prayers and intercession 

His statue stands along Lorain Ave, at the parking lot entrance as a reminder that St. Ignatius of Antioch guards us, and prays for us, and loves us, and welcomes all those who want to grow in their faith. 

And that reminder is important, because, I bet, most of us spend very little time thinking about St. Ignatius of Antioch, the person. Even though you probably hear or say his name every day. 

The story of St. Ignatius of Antioch is a great one. He was a Catholic bishop who lived very close to the time of Jesus. After Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus’ apostles were tasked with making disciples to continue the work of spreading the Christian faith. And St. Ignatius was one of those disciples. He was baptized and for a time learned about Jesus under St. John the Apostle, the very same apostle who laid his head on the chest of Jesus at the last supper and stood at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified, who ran to the tomb at the resurrection, and witnessed Jesus ascending into heaven.

So, Ignatius had one of the best teachers you could ever ask for. When he was ready, Ignatius was sent by John to continue the work of the Church in the gigantic city of Antioch, which even 2000 years ago, had a million people, meaning, it had more people than Cleveland. 

Being such an important city, the Roman Emperor came to visit Antioch, but the emperor was not a Christian, in fact, he wanted to destroy the Christian Church. So he summoned Bishop Ignatius, and demanded that he give up his faith and renounce Jesus. 

But remember, Ignatius knew that Jesus is truly the Son of God, that Jesus was crucified, died, and rose from the dead. 

So, courageously, Bishop Ignatius stood up to the Emperor, and told him that there was no way he could deny Jesus, because he knew the Gospel to be true—he knew that Jesus said and did the things the Church claimed. After all, it had only happened 60 years ago. There was no denying it. Even when the emperor threatened to kill Ignatius if he did not deny Jesus, Ignatius held fast to the truth and would gladly die to prove this point, that Jesus Christ is truly God and savior of the world.  

For courageously standing up to the emperor, Ignatius was sentenced to death—to be devoured by lions in Rome, which is why our school mascot is the lion—a reminder of the courageous death of our patron—that we might have the same courage in professing Jesus.

Friends, even if you don’t think of him every day, at least think of him well today, Ask St. Ignatius today to help you become the person God made you to be—holy and righteous in the sight of God, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

October 17 2019 - St. Ignatius of Antioch - Parish Patron Saint (School Mass)

Today is the Feast Day of the Patron Saint of our Parish, St. Ignatius of Antioch. Happy Feast Day to all of our parishioners present.

What does it mean that St. Ignatius of Antioch is the Patron Saint of our parish and school?

That St. Ignatius is the patron Saint of our parish, means that we venerate and honor him in a special way, we look to his holy example and ask for his prayers intercession in a special way. His statue stands along Lorain Ave, as if guarding us from evil, and also welcoming those who want to know Jesus.

Each of us should be able to tell the story of St. Ignatius of Antioch. He was a Catholic bishop who lived almost 2000 years ago. He was arrested when it was against the law to be a Christian. He was sentenced to death, and was marched from Syria to Rome where he was thrown to the lions. Yet, while he made his way to Rome, he did not fear death, nor did he try to escape. Rather, he wrote letters to encourage the Christians to keep the faith, to believe in the promises of Jesus.

Upon the small table in the middle of the sanctuary, is a relic of St. Ignatius, a piece of his bone. And I invite you to direct your prayers to St. Ignatius today, asking him to help you to love Jesus today, to obtain blessings for your family and for this parish.

The theme song for the school year is “Go Make a Difference” right? “Go make a difference” well St. Ignatius lived 2000 years ago. He made a difference in the life of the Church through his courage, he made a difference by encouraging others, he made a difference by teaching others to follow Jesus and to love Jesus. And over those 2000 years he continues to make a difference, now in 2019, not because he made a lot of money, not because he was the best athlete, not because of his popularity, but because of his holiness.

The sort of difference God needs us to make in the world always, always has to do with us growing in holiness, becoming like Jesus in our love for God the Father and our willingness like Jesus to embrace hardship for the sake of the Gospel.

Ask St. Ignatius today to help you make the difference God wants you to make, through faith in Jesus, through patience, love, self-control, and service of those in need, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. St. Ignatius of Antioch. Pray for us.

August 11 2017 - St Clare of Assisi - Our Parish Patron Saint

Today is the Feast Day of the Patron Saint of our Parish, St. Clare of Assisi. Happy Feast Day to all of our parishioners present.

What does it mean that St. Clare is the Patron Saint of our parish?

The practice of adopting patron saints goes back to the building of the first public churches in the Roman Empire, most of which were built over the graves of martyrs. The churches were then given the name of the martyr, and the martyr was expected to act as an intercessor for the Christians who worshiped there.

Soon, Christians began to dedicate churches to other holy men and women—saints—who were not martyrs. Today, we still place some relic of a saint inside the altar of each church.

That St. Clare is the patron Saint of our parish, means that we venerate her in a special way, we look to holy example and her intercession in a special way. Her statue stands in the Church here: garbed in her Franciscan habit, clutching the monstrance to her heart.

Though most of us are not consecrated religious, we too should seek like St. Clare to be garbed with holiness and penance according to our state of life. She reminds that happiness and joy are not found in earthly riches or accolades, but in seeking Christ with our whole hearts. Our patroness said, “We become what we love, who we love shapes what we become”. We are transformed, sanctified, we become the people God made us to be when we love Jesus Christ above all.

“Do you know the story of St. Clare?” We should ask our parish visitors, our visiting families. Bring the young ones to statue, tell them her story, let her teach them about what matters most in life.
You can ask them, did you know that St. Clare is the patron saint of television? Then tell them the story of how the Holy Spirit allowed St. Clare, confined to her sick bed to mystically watch the Mass being celebrated, 600 years before the invention of television! She reminds us to use televisions, computer screens, iphone screens in moral ways.

There is a beautiful blessing St. Clare gave to her religious sisters, which we do well to offer on behalf of our parishioners: “May Almighty God Bless you May He look upon you with the eyes of His Mercy and give you His peace. Here below may He pour forth His graces on you abundantly and in heaven may He place you among His saints.” For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For all the people of St. Clare Parish, that our patroness may be an example of holiness and powerful intercessor for us all.

For the Poor Clare’s and all those religious under St. Clare’s patronage, for their sanctification, and that they may be a witness to the whole Church to seek the holiness for which we were made.
Under the patronage of St. Clare of Assisi, for a proper use of televised media, for an end to the scourge of pornography, and all forms of exploitation.

That St. Clare may teach us seek the presence and protection of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, for increase in devotion to perpetual adoration here and everywhere.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. We pray.

For the deceased priests, religious, catechists, staff, and volunteers of St. Clare parish, for our deceased family members, friends, and parish, for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for all who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.