NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINAY TIME – August 7, 2022

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION: Members of the Horvath Family, by Erzsébet Aliczky

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: As we are in the middle of the air-conditioning campaign, I would like to provide answers to two questions: (1) Do we really need it? (2) Aren’t there other matters that we need to address?

(1) As for the first question, it is true that the air-conditioning will make it more comfortable for us. It will also enable me to have 30 minute-long homilies (just kidding). On a serious note, the climate control of the environment in the church fulfills a very important maintenance role. I do not know if you are aware of the fact that the last time our church was painted was only in 2006. Not even 10 years after it, the paint started to peel off. As time went on, the rate of speed at which the paint continues to peel off has only increased. I am shocked how in my two years here the paint peeling has spread throughout the church ceiling and walls. When I came, I saw only the rather extensive damage by St. Joseph and one other place in the nave. Painting is very expensive and should last a good 30–40 years at least (before beginning to deteriorate or need freshening).

The way our church ventilation is set up is inadequate. There is no way for us to ventilate the upper 2/3 of the church and so the heat with humidity is trapped and begins to negatively impact the paint over time and lead to its earlier deterioration. We are in need of new painting, and I would like us to accomplish it by 2025 for the 100^th anniversary of the dedication of the current church building. A functioning climate control in our church should significantly help us in preserving the paint in the church and save us from expensive and unnecessary painting projects in the near future.

(2) We are not forgetting the other needs of the parish either. For example, a few weeks ago we received $11,000 from Bethlen Gábor Foundation in Hungary (BGA) for roof repairs (by the stained glass windows, the drainage pipes, and vents) and for repairing the water damage in the Mindszenty Memorial Room. We have already begun to look at our possibilities in repairing the steps in the church inside stairwells and perhaps next year some sidewalk repairs can be accomplished as well. We continue to do maintenance on the church: we have fixed electrical problems with certain lights in the hall; lights in the kitchen and the outside lights were fixed and switched to LED to save us on electricity. A non-functioning motor in one of the kitchen stove exhaust was replaced as well. Additionally, several volunteers have been working on cleaning and making our church surroundings look beautiful. There is always work to do around the church and I am very grateful to those who lend their time and efforts in helping the parish. If you are able to help with some of the work or know someone professionally whom we could ask, please let us know. Your continued support toward St. Emeric Parish is always greatly appreciated. Please continue to use the various possibilities for giving. Thank you for all your caring, Fr. Bona

EMERIC – AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLATION: Thank you very much for all those who have already donated to our fundraising campaign! We truly appreciate your kindness and generosity. As of August 5, we have collected $9,280 towards our goal of installing air-conditioning units in the church ($79,000). All donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated and can be made with your donations in the weekly offertory basket with a check or an envelope marked “For air conditioning,” on our website with a note of the same, or on gofundme.com. Thank you very much!

9 NIGHTS OF NIGHT PRAYERS (AUGUST 7-15): Each evening, during the 9 Nights of Night Prayer, nine churches in the Diocese of Cleveland will open their doors at 8:00pm to offer a time of Night Prayer beginning at 8:15pm. We will be one of those nine churches. This is a good evangelization opportunity for us. Join us during these nights to be nurtured with Sacred Scripture and refreshed by the loving presence of God. If you can volunteer as greeters and lectors, please let Fr. Bona know. The last night (8/15) there will be an ice cream social as well.

STEPHEN DAY PICNIC: Our St. Stephen Day Picnic will be on August 21. Mass of St. Stephen will be at 11:15AM, Picnic food from 12:30-4PM (Debrecen sausage, stuffed cabbage, gyulás, bread, lángos (elephant ear), cookies, coffee; children menu: hotdogs). A blessing of giant bread at 1PM, music throughout. No need to RSVP.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION (7/31): Sunday Collection: $1,187; Maintenance: $400. May God reward your generosity. Thank you for sending in your donations by mail or using our website https://stemeric.com/donations/.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially for Bev Kimar, Rose Dudevszky, Teréz Kalász, Gerő Kondray, Lajos Boday, and Julius Skerlan.

THIS SUNDAY the 11:15 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and https://stemeric.com/

This post is also available in: Hungarian