Dear Parishioners, Most recently THE FEDERATION OF DIOCESAN LITURGICAL COMMISSIONS wrote this: Certainly, we value the communal nature of our liturgies and the inherent value of our community of faith and parish life. But these are not normal times. We have learned to adjust, temporarily, to a new normal of participating at Mass in front […]

Dear Parishioners, Another week of changing weather, some days warmer than others, some days with rain, and even frost!!! That is northeast Ohio for you, but, also the same for this world pandemic; things changing all the time! Here at IHM all of my spring and early summer weddings are now re-scheduled because of the […]

Fourth Sunday of Easter A – 2020 INTRO: I have been in a car before as the driver and many times ……. the “back street driver person” next to me all of a sudden says….. “Hey, Jim, I know a shortcut…. Don’t go that way.” I hate shortcuts! Part of it is I am somewhat […]

Dear Parishioners, Staff, Finance Council, and Parish Pastoral Council, I’m sure you have heard the Governors plans for the month of May. A slow and methodical return for businesses, that keep social distance, mandatory masks in public, and cleanliness of hands! The Bishops of Ohio gathered and discussed the STAY AT HOME ORDER that is […]

Dear Parishioners, May is just about here! But, wasn’t April a L O N G month?? Typically, within the liturgy of the Catholic Church, the month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. There is a ritual to be used during this month called ORDER OF CROWNING AN IMAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY […]

Third Sunday of Easter (A) 2020 INTRO: I see more and more people, spending time walking around these days during this pandemic …. Right here on Portage Trail; husbands and wives, families; even Kira and Jeff from the Life Teen Band took their 3 kids to INDIGO LAKE the other day for a nature hike…trying […]

Dear Parishioners, Even though we suspected that schools would be closed for the remainder of the year and now that it is a final decision, we are sad that our students cannot be together. It is so different, and I continue to wonder what is all this and why is our world in this situation? […]

Dear Parishioners, Happy Easter! “Be strong in the Lord and put on the armor of God!” I continue to miss us being together in our church, but have had the delightful experiences of “picturing you” in our church, where you sit, kneel, and stand!! You know, everyone has their special seat and YOU continue to […]

The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night 2020 INTRO: I was never very good in GEOGRAPHY… navigating a map, where’s east west north or south… I still have a difficult time saying “I have to go UP to Cleveland”! LOL Anyway, there is a bit of “symbolic” GEOGRAPHY to point out tonight! Jesus was born […]

GOOD FRIDAY 2020 INTRO: I am sure you all have seen pictures or may even have visited SAINT PETER’S BASILICA. Try and imagine that high altar and the Bernini columns holding up the baldachin over the altar… BREATHTAKING. When I did visit Rome in 2008 the art tour guide took us priests on a tour […]