Summer 2014 - Focus on Sharing God-Given Talents

On The LevelSt. Joseph Parish

In ActionLiving The faith

(“Living the Faith” Continues on page 2)

Joy Powell’s life is like the nursery rhyme that ends with the words: “Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes . . . She shall have music wherever she goes,” for Joy has been singing and playing music for most of her life and for many years here at St. Joseph Church.

“Music is my way into faith,” Joy says. “I feel like it’s helped me become much closer to God. When I play it’s not just that I don’t want to mess up the notes, it’s become much more of a spiritual experience.”

Just having returned from the mission trip to El Salvador, Joy has found music and faith echoing each other even more. “The first Mass I sang at after coming back from El Salvador,” she explains, “everybody said they could hear it in my voice. I could hear it too - I wasn’t just singing the words, I was feeling them.”

Currently, she is sharing her music with two parishes. Here at St. Joe’s 25-year-old Joy has been playing piano and singing at Mass since she was a sophomore. She often joins the choir at noon Mass, coordinates the youth band which plays

It’s been a year of celebration, not only of our parish (at 150 years!) but also of our pastor - Father Lawrence Martello. Fr. Larry is celebrating his

40th anniversary as a priest and his 25th as

pastor of St. Joseph Church. Join us on Sunday June 8th at the noon Mass

to honor the man who has given so many

years of faithful service to our parish. All are welcome

to attend the reception that will follow Mass in the social hall.

( “Living the Faith” Continued from page 1)

at a Christmas Eve Mass, does music for Baccalaureate and Confirmation Masses, and has assisted at youth retreats and Vacation Bible School.

Joy also serves as music director at St.Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in south Lorain. There she plans the music and leads the congregation and acts as cantor for their 4 pm Saturday and 9 and 11 am Sunday Masses every week, playing both piano and organ. “I have a small choir that sings at 11 am Mass and I organized a children’s choir of PSR students that sings during a ‘family’ Mass once a month, when the children also do all the readings and petitions.”

The newest musical adventure in Joy’s life is her career as a music therapist. “I received my B.A. in music therapy at Cleveland State, just passed my boards and a couple of weeks ago was hired by University Hospital’s Parma Medical Center as a music therapist in their Behavioral Center for Older Adults.”

She works with patients the same way an occupational or physical therapist would to help resolve difficulties patients have as a result of a change in life, stress, or medical issues. “I work with the patient and their families to increase their socialization and cognitive skills. Some of the patients come from assisted living or nursing homes, some are in hospice and some have just been discharged from a hospital but are not yet ready to go home.”

One example Joy gives to explain how musical therapy has helped comes from the internship she served at a Cleveland area hospice. “One woman was in the end stage of cancer, and I needed to find out how I could make her more comfortable and enhance her life at that moment. In hospice music becomes very spiritual to people, just as it was with this woman. We would sing hymns together, and I ended up planning her funeral Mass with her. Choosing the music she wanted, sharing her last wishes like that, brought her so much closer to God.”

Joy has found that “music is often a sound track for a person’s life.” She explains, “If a patient listens to a song on the radio, it might bring back memories, and those memories help bring out emotions that a patient might otherwise not talk about. Musical therapy elicits self-expression and validates a person’s feelings - it tells them they are not wrong to feel angry or sad. Then the music becomes a catalyst for analyzing those feelings and learning coping skills to deal with anger and anxiety and stress.

Using another example from her work, Joy talks about a woman who refused to work with anyone, who would not even have them in her room because she was suffering from paranoia. But slowly, Joy was able to work up conversations with the woman, and they began comparing radio stations and songwriters they liked. “When she told me she liked Paul Simon, I learned to play some chords from some of his music on the guitar, and I would sing his songs to her.” Joy laughs when she adds, “She would still criticize me and tell me I got the words wrong, but I was one of the few people she allowed in her room.”

(“Living the Faith” Continues on page 4)

With the success of the fundraising the parish did a few years ago to pay off the mortgage (half a million dollars was raised!) St. Joseph Church is now hoping to encourage legacy donations that range from gifts made during your lifetime to those made as bequests in your last will and testament.

This program - “Faithful Legacy, Ensuring the Future of Our Catholic Faith” - was proposed in April by Fr. Larry, who says he “hopes to continue the rich heritage of our Catholic Faith, which has been highlighted during our Jubilee Year of the 150th anniversary of the parish. I am grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us by our parishioners, past and present. The foundation that has been laid has served us well, but we must continue building Christ’s kingdom here on earth for those coming after us. What will our legacy be?”

If you are wondering what kind of gift you could make to the church, we offer the example of an anonymous donor who provided the funds to repair the church roof. Other things you might consider are sponsoring scholarships to St. Joseph School, earmarking funds to buying plants or trees for the parish grounds or for feast days like Easter and Christmas, making a regular donation to the Vincentians, or targeting your contributions to any of the ministries of our parish.

Here at St. Joe’s we have an up-to-date aide to help us in planning our legacy to the church - the parish website. A new link has been added to help you plan the type of donation that bests suits you and to request educational materials. Go to stjosephamherst.com and click under the Giving tab.

(“Legacy of Giving” Continues on page 6)

This month we focus on Citations CCC 234-243, which speak about the Trinity, and which we celebrate on Trinity Sunday June 15.

The word “Trinity” comes from the Latin noun “trinitas,” meaning “three are one.” The Trinity expresses the belief that God is one being made up of three distinct persons who exist co-equally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the Bible never makes specific reference to the word trinity, it supports the idea that God has plural entities by referring to God as “Elohim,” which is the Hebrew plural pronoun for “us.” The Catechism says that the mystery of the Trinity is the central one of our faith - that we must accept it on faith, in order to accept everything else. And that we must accept it on faith because it can never be understood through reason or logic. The

Catechism defines the Father as the Creator with loving care for all His children. Jesus is the Word and the image of God, present on Earth to carry out His plan for us. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence on Earth among us today, here to teach and guide us.

Top TechieAiden Rodachy, a 4th grade student at St. Joseph School, has been chosen to attend a Techie Camp sponsored by Tech Corps, a national group that brings advanced technology training to students, much like the Peace Corps brings help to developing countries. Aiden was among 500 applicants to apply for Techie Camp in Robotics, which only accepted 20 students from Lorain County. Aiden was chosen on the basis of teacher recommendation and an essay he wrote on why he likes technology. Techie Camp is a full-day, week-long experience designed specifically for elementary and middle school students.

St. Joseph Church will offer its “Summercare,” starting in June from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm in the school. Daycare is for ages 5 to 10. The weekly rate is $130 for the first child and $50 for each additional child in the immediate family, or you may pay at the hourly rate of $5 per hour, plus $1 per hour per sibling. Daycare is staffed by Virtus trained personnel who oversee daily activities and occasional field trips, such as visits to the Amherst Public Library for crafts and to the local movie theater.

Summer Care

THE FESTFAMILY FUN

Mark your calendars for the 14th annual Fest on Aug. 3 from noon to 10 pm in Wickliffe. This family festival features Christian bands, games, BMX shows, kids’ areas, opportunities for prayer, vendor tents, giveaways and festival foods. The highlight of the day is an outdoor Mass celebrated by thousands with a fireworks display at the end.

St. Joe’s is sponsoring a bus to The Fest, leaving the church at 3 pm and returning at midnight. Watch the bulletin for cost of the trip and how to reserve seats.

This year’s musical offerings are from the rock band Third Day, the brother duo For King and Country, and American Idol contestants Mandisa and Colton Dixon.

(“FEST = FAMILY FUN” Continues on page 6)From the Editor

It’s been over six years since I took on the editorship of On The Level, and I have so enjoyed getting to meet all the people in our parish through the newsletter. It’s been my pleasure and my honor to write about the many ministries and volunteers who have built our parish into the family it is. And since I’m a history buff, it’s been fun telling the stories of our Catholic saints, our traditions and symbols, our holidays and feasts, and about the many people who have lived the faith throughout history.

But it’s time to move on - and I do mean move because I will be relocating to North Carolina. In June of 2015 I will be retiring from St. Joseph School after 29 years as the librarian and computer teacher. My husband will also be retiring, and we plan to move to the Brushy Mountains of North Carolina to build a “home in the woods.” I will continue to edit On The Level for one more year, but it’s time to start looking for someone to take over this ministry.

(“From the Editor” Continues on page 6)

( “Living the Faith” Continued from page 2)

Sometimes when Joy takes her music into a room at the 14-bed unit in Parma, people are just happy someone is there to spend time with them. “Music has the capability to bring back memories and suddenly they’re with the people and in the places they loved. This is especially important to patients with dementia. If you play a song from their childhood and if they’re able to remember the words, some of the frustration of forgetting things goes away. They know that their minds remember and know some things.”

Joy’s life has been so full of her studies and her music that when asked what else she enjoys doing, her answers circle back to music. “For the past 10 years I’ve sung with the choir at The Fest, and it has completely boosted my faith to see 20,000 people validating their faith through song. It feels like the faith in the room is going through the roof.”

Joy also sings with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and recently returned from a European tour with it. “We rehearse once a week and give concerts at Christmas, in the fall and in the spring. It is so great to be with people who are that passionate about music, and it’s always a privilege being on stage with the Cleveland Orchestra.”

A parishioner at St. Joe’s since she was in second grade, Joy shares a close relationship with her family, made up of mother Josi, sister Julie and two brothers Jim and John. “I think starting in a Catholic school (she attended St. Joseph School for 2nd and 3rd grade) and being part of a family where faith is an extremely important part of life helped all of us get through the grief when my father passed away when I was nine.”

Joy has found that the old saying, “In giving you shall receive,” is very apt because music has led her deeper into faith. Referring to the youth retreats she helped Sue Cotton with, she says, “Those retreats have done more for me than I did for the kids. Leading discussion groups and playing music with them made me understand my own faith better.”

Faith is not an extraneous, once a week thing to Joy - it’s a “normal part of me, of the total me.”

Summer Fun [Watch the bulletin for news of Summer Youth Camp, scheduled for the week of July 28 through August 1. Theme and activities will be planned by a new Youth Ministry leader.

Remember to sign up for Vacation Bible School -- we’ll be celebrating Christmas in Summer! Dates for VBS are July 21-25 from 9:30 to noon. Those between 4 years of age and those who have graduated 4th grade may sign up. Registration is limited, so get your name on the list as soon as possible. Cost is $15. We are also looking for adult helpers. Please contact Catherine Sonntag at 985-3213 or ncsonntag@yahoo.com if you need more information.

St. Joseph School junior high students recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C. Their visit included government buildings such as the Capital, the Air and Space Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, and famous memorials throughout the city. Here’s what a few of them had to say about our national landmarks.

Kelley Bachman was most impressed by the Changing of the Guard at Arlington. “It was such a serious ceremony with the soldiers staring straight ahead and never talking as the wreath was changed. Noah Bonhotel also spoke about walking through the cemetery and seeing all the

tombstones. “Each one of these brave men died to give us our freedom.”

Elena Zaborniak has a special connection to one of the war memorials. She had looked up a relative who died during the Vietnam War before visiting the black granite wall. “I found my great-uncle’s name there and felt connected to him even though he died before I was born. This was my favorite memorial because it honored everyone - all the names were listed - even though this war was not supported here at home.”

Blaine Stencil and Rachel Veneman were impressed by the views they saw of the clustered memorials. “From the Lincoln Memorial,” Rachel said, “you could see the reflecting pool with the image of the Washington Monument in it. And I loved being able to see the plaque on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that marks the spot where Martin Luther King gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.” Blaine remarked on the view he had from the Jefferson Memorial. “You could see the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Washington Monument and the FDR Memorial, all with a background of the Tidal Basin and the cherry trees in blossom.”

FDR MeMorial

arlington

Our Mission Team has adopted a motto for our work in El Salvador. It is simply: “Know Love Serve”. Three small words but if we were to describe their meaning in writing, we could fill volumes of books and never exhaust the subject.

The mission team embarked on our adventure to Teotepeque with the goal of bringing our actions in line with these few words. We equipped ourselves for the task with funds, friends, and plans of making a difference in this poor community. We were greeted with warm smiles of gratitude from the adults and the sparkling eyes of the children who remembered us from last year.

Having visited previously, I thought I was better prepared this year, but in fact, I was once again standing in wonderment at the faith and the generosity of these humble people. I had hoped that I would feel a sense of pride for helping God’s poor; I had hoped my enthusiastic efforts would be a living example of our mission statement.

2014 Mission teaM in el salvador

(“Mission Trip to El Salvador” Continues on page 6)

Reflection on the Mission Trip to El SalvadorBy Marsha Norberg Gantz

Those who wish to volunteer at the Fest with set-up or clean-up may contact Pat Korenko at 440-943-7662 or pat@theFEST.us. You may also offer financial support to The Fest by purchasing a $100 raffle ticket for a chance to win over 20 prizes valued at over $60,000. Go to www.thefest.us/raffle to purchase tickets or fill out donation forms.

(“FEST = FAMILY FUN” Continued from page 3)

For those who wonder what’s involved, I can tell you that it takes 10 to 12 hours a month to line up stories, interview people, find pictures, and write, revise, and email stories to the layout editor. It helps to have some writing talent and to be comfortable talking to people. The good news is, this job does not have to be done by one person! As part of the Outreach Ministry, On The Level already divides its writing, graphic design, and mailing duties among many people. There’s no reason the writing could not also be divided among a dedicated committee. I have many files to pass on, story ideas, an archive of what’s already been done or could be done for each month, lots of clipart, and a list of contacts.

So if you think you or a couple of people you know would like to be the “town crier” for our parish, please contact me as soon as you feel comfortable. I’d love to have you looking over my shoulder to see what’s involved both with the writing and the scheduling for On The Level.

(“From the Editor” Continued from page 3)

Your gifts can be made in your name or in tribute to a loved one, you can designate gifts through life insurance policies or retirement accounts, you can give cash gifts or transfer securities in your will. These and other types of gifts are explained on the website.

If you would like personal help you may also contact parish finance council members Jack Kahmann or Susan Staffeld, or you may email legacygiving@stjosephamherst.com. Susan reminds us that, “Your donation does not have to take away from your current needs - you can simply make a gift to the church in your last will and testament.”

(“Legacy of Giving” Continued from page 2)

Instead, I began to understand the real meaning of the statement. Despite of, or maybe because of, their abject poverty, I saw men, women, and children striving to love God in a deeper way; depending on God for their very existence; and generously sharing whatever meager provisions they had with us – simply because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

In reality, I thought that I could be an example of Christian love for these kind people, but it turned out to be a moving, heart-felt lesson for me. They became an unparalleled example of knowing, loving and serving God. They didn’t need words – you could see it in their hearts.

Their love and faith transcended any cultural or language barriers we had. I may never know how much of a difference I made in their lives, but I know that they have changed me forever. Standing in solidarity with the poor, even though it was for just a short time, has given, new depth and direction to my life. I thank our church for giving me this opportunity; I thank all the friends I made from the team and from El Salvador; and I thank our God for showing me a clear picture of what it means to follow Jesus Christ.

(“Mission Trip to El Salvador” Continued from page 5)

The Parish Community of St. JosephFather Lawrence Martello, PastorFather Jamie Mazanec, Associate Pastor200 St. Joseph Dr.Amherst, OH 44001Office: 440-988-2848Convent 440-988-2621School: 440-988-4244

WEBSITE www.stjosephamherst.org

This newsletter is brought to you by

St. Joseph’s Stewardship Team

Diane Yale-Peabody, Editor

Email: dpeabodysjs01@oh.rr.com

“Stir Into Flame the Gifts God Has Given You”Mass Schedule: Saturday 4 pm; Sunday 8 am, 10 am & Noon

Reconciliation: Saturday 3-3:30 pm

“Thy Kingdom Come” ... together we build the kingdom Matthew 10:6

Mass schedule: Saturday 4 pm; Sunday 8 am, 10 am, & NoonReconciliation: Saturday 3-3:30 pm

The Parish Community of St. JosephFather Lawrence Martello, PastorFather Michael Denk, Parochial Vicar200 St. Joseph Dr.Amherst, OH 44001Office: 440-988-2848Convent: 440-988-2621School: 440-988-4244WEBSITE: stjosephamherst.com

This newsletter is brought to you bySt. Joseph Stewardship Team

Diane Yale-Peabody, EditorEmail: dpeabodysjs01@oh.rr.com

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Author/photographer John Howard Griffin studied, worked and lived in service to Jews and Blacks, people who have been persecuted throughout history. Growing up in Texas in the 1930s, Griffin was not happy with the education available to him in this southern state, so he moved to France and enrolled in a school as a premed student with extra studies in Gregorian chant at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Pierre. When his studies were interrupted by the Nazi invasion of France, he joined the French underground to smuggle Jews out of occupied France. But he was betrayed to the Gestapo and had to escape back to America, where he joined the Army Air Force. While on duty in the South Pacific he suffered a concussion during a Japanese air raid and was blinded. His studies at the French abbey and his struggles with blindness led him to join the Catholic Church in 1951. In 1957 a miracle occurred, and his sight was restored to him after 12 years of blindness. His next foray into social justice occurred when he darkened his skin to look like a black man and traveled throughout the deep south to experience segregation and the hatred many whites had for blacks. He wrote about his experiences in the best-selling book Black Like Me in 1961. In 1964 he received the Pacem In Teris Award from the the Catholic Interracial Council of Davenport, Iowa. Active for the rest of his live in the Civil Rights Movement, he was a friend of Martin Luther King and was once nearly beaten to death by the Ku Klux Klan. Griffin also became friends with the Trappist Monk Thomas Merton, whose biography he was asked to write. Griffin died in 1980 at the age of 80.