EIGHT SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – February 27, 2022

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION: Elizabeth Ferenczi, by Rita Balazs

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: (1) From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank all of you for your congratulations, prayers, best wishes, and gifts on the occasion of my installation as the pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. I appreciate also the hard work of everyone who contributed some way to our celebration. May God bless our parish so that we continue to reflect His goodness in all our actions.

(2) In 1859 Pope Blessed Pius IX, facing rebellion against the temporal sovereignty of the Holy See, ordered that Masses celebrated in the Papal States be followed by three Ave Marias, a Salve Regina, a versicle and response, and a collect. He did not make these prayers obligatory in other countries. However, in 1884 Pope Leo XIII made these prayers obligatory and in 1886 included the newly composed prayer of St. Michael as well. The origin of this prayer is tied to a prophetic vision that Leo XIII had of the coming century of increased demonic attacks on the Church and humanity. The Leonine Prayers were officially suppressed by the Instruction Inter Oecumenici of 26 September 1964, which came into effect on 7 March 1965.

However, in the last decade or so, the prayer of St. Michael enjoyed resurgence. Given the situation of the Church (being attacked from within and without) and the world beset with wars and moral corruption motivated many bishops to promote this practice and countless parishes (including in our diocese) have implemented it. Indeed, it does not seem that the attacks of the evil one subsided. The world is in a worse situation than it was in the time of Leo XIII. With these thoughts on my mind, I have decided to begin to pray to St. Michael communally after the end of the Mass. According to the rubrics, the Mass ends with the priest venerating the altar (The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 90) and so we will say it just before we sing the optional recessional song (or have an instrumental).

(3) This week begins the Holy Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday on March 2^nd. There will be two Masses: 12 Noon at St. Elizabeth and 6 pm at St. Emeric. We are asked to turn to the Lord with our hearts and repentance all the time, but during Lent this call is highlighted more. To keep this on our minds, some of the Masses will be celebrated facing God as was done in Advent. Also, we will pray the Stations of the Cross at 10:45am before Sunday Mass. May we all have a spiritually fruitful season of Lent. Fr. Bona

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION (2/20): Sunday offering: $1,250. Special collection: $1,404. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY in supporting our parish. Thank you for sending in your offertory donation through the mail, or through the PayPal option found on the website: https://www.stelizabethcleveland.org/donations/

THE 2022 CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL is underway with an in-pew commitment process taking place this weekend. This is not a special collection; rather, the Catholic Charities Appeal represents the chance for all Catholics to make a significant pledge, payable in installments, to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland in order to support its mission of a society that stands united in its support of the “least among us.” Many parishioners have received a letter from Bishop Malesic requesting their support. If you have not received this letter, please respond to the in-pew commitment process today! If you have received the mailing, please respond to it. There is a box on the in-pew envelope to indicate that you have responded by mail. Please consider a generous gift that will change the lives of the 400,000 who are served each year in Northeast Ohio. Please pray for the success of the Appeal, which provides for essential programs and services in need throughout all eight counties of the Diocese of Cleveland.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially, Jay Kovács, Kathy Szabó, Kamilla Szabó and Anna Melega, Dorothy Fromhercz, Alex Szaday.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED.THIS SUNDAY the 11:15 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and on the website, https://stemeric.com/

This post is also available in: Hungarian