Busy Corner

Stone for Morgan Waters [the 'g' was inserted]. His house was the parish's home in its early years. He died in 1875, his wife, Catharine Brooks, died in the parish's first year, 1848.

St. Patrick's is an old parish in terms of the Cleveland diocese. It is only a few months younger than the diocese. Cleveland had one church, St. Mary's on-the-Flats. Some farmers in Rockport Township asked the just created first bishop of Cleveland, Louis Amadeus Rappe, for a parish. The parish had its first Mass on St. Patrick's Day 1848 [it was a Sunday that year] inside Morgan Waters' home. About once a month a priest would come to Waters' home. In 1854 the first church was dedicated on land donated by a parish family. In 1897-98 the new church was built. The old church was torn down, and the parish graveyard expanded to those grounds.

The church's congregation was evicted 30 May 2009. The parish is appealing its closure to Rome. Richard Lennon, the bishop, wants it merged with Ascension, and Annunciation, at Ascension's campus. St. Patrick's began with about 40 families, in 2009 they had about 1,100 families. On Sunday, the 30th of May 2010, the parish had its last Mass in that graveyard which had been the site of the first church building.

As time passes some events do happen. Cleveland expanded across the Cuyahoga, annexing one village, and neighborhood after another. West Park formed in 1900 from the township. St. Patrick's received a resident pastor in 1910. Horse wagons were replaced by motor cars, and street cars. West Park became a part of Cleveland in 1923. The church was expanded in the early 1950s.

St. Patrick West Park Cleveland, Ohio at Rocky River Drive & Puritas Avenue

The intersection became that of two two busy city streets. The cemetery is just a sidewalk's width from the street, and a short chain link fence is the border there. On July 20th a driver ran through the fence dislodging, and damaging some grave stones. Since the, a section of the low fence has been replaced; and the stones gathered together. Perhaps, in November they will be set in place (and duplicates? of some damaged ones).

stones gathered together

Patrick's Prayer circle

Some people found the shade on the steps of St. Patrick West Park 'chilly'. A prayer circle took place before St. Patrick in the garden.

Mass amongst the Gravestones, and they were told not to wear green

Saint Patrick West Park Cleveland held a Mass on Memorial Day in the church's graveyard. Some 120 people came, and they were told not to wear green, for the chancery sees that as a political message [which they disapprove of, highly]. The grass did not obey. Throughout the diocese it would be hard to find many Masses held to-day with a greater attendance.
the altar, and early arrivals
The church itself was denied them for three hours short of a year exact. They did have Mass to-day. The celebrant had been an associate there, a few years ago. Before Mass, he had two announcements: the first was about the Communion Hosts, They would be broken up [he did not expect such a turnout], none-the-less, the size does not matter It is fully the Sacrament, and since it might be windy, and the ground is uneven, take care, and we will come to you to distribute; the second was a scolding of the congregation, and a solid, if extreme, defense of the bishop, do not think this improves your hope of re-opening, this is a Mass and however close the political underlying message is to the surface — discount it, you were closed for lack of your financial support [he mentioned this again as an aside in the homily].

The Mass is always a political act. Jesus was condemned as a political prisoner and executed. Mass has been celebrated, often against the wishes of the powers that be (whether they were protestants, turks, communists, fascists, atheists or madmen).

Saint Patrick 'owed' assessments to the chancery, perhaps two score of the parishes had healthy bank accounts; if finances were paramount, then those parishes should be open now. And of course, at times, finances were not the reason why parishes were closed; every rationale offered, has also been denied. Saint Patrick's was one of few territorial parishes closed, the nationality parishes were flush with money.
The altar table and most of the congregants were in the shade of a maple tree higher than the utility poles, but not as high as the church. There was plenty of traffic noise. The parish is under the landing approach of the aeroport. It is not as much a flight lane, as a flight groove. Aeroplanes barely cleared the church, and were often, laterally, within fifty feet of direct vertical of the Mass.
Communion was distributed. Near the end, there were two Portions that fell. They were scooped up, one by the priest, and one by the extra-ordinary minister and eaten. Catholics believe the Host is truly the Body of Christ, and it would be an insult to the Deity to be left alone upon the ground.
After Mass, many stayed for a Rosary. They believe Mary, the Mother of God, will hear their petitions.

Saint Patrick's Anniversary Vigil

through the windshield, sitting in a parking lot
An impressive thunderstorm rolled through western Cuyahoga county in the half hour before 8 p.m.. Just before 8 it diminished to a dripping, that ended. People came out of their cars to begin the vigil. To-night, they held the candlelight vigil at 8 p.m., after the storm cleared. It was the second vigil of the day. They had their regular Sunday vigil at 11.30 a.m..
The year was to the final grains in the sandglass. On the morrow it would be the anniversary for Annunciation and Saint Patrick West Park suffering Masses of Eviction. Lennon closed two down that day [a priest is not allowed to say three Masses on one day]. Annunciation did not protest. Their money has been deposited, and their real estate sold to a scab chain of schools (David L. Brennan's White Hat Mgt./Hope Academies) the owner of which has lobbied the diocese, and Republican legislators and other state politicians since 1998. Patrick's is still under appeal.
The vigilers sang, prayed, lit candles and marched around the outside of the church. They were joined by a couple of Casimiri in solidarity. After they broke up, a trio of luminaries made from plastic gallon jugs were left on the top of the steps.

To-morrow on the graveyard adjacent to the church there is a Mass scheduled at 10.30 a.m.. To get permission for the Mass a walk from Caiaphas to Pilate was done. It will be both Memorial Day for the fallen veterans, and the closing of the parish church. The parish is still in existence, obviously, but is not recognised by many, and there is a desire for people to forget. Some still remember.

George is moved

Window of St. George the Dragonslayer, in the closed and appealing church of St. Patrick, West Park Cleveland.

23 April is Saint George's Day, but not this year. 23 April was Holy Saturday. Saint George was transferred to to-day. Paschal Sunday [Easter] is the great movable feast. Its tide pushed George onward. It is normal for feasts to move when they fall in Holy Week.

It is also a reminder that time is relative. What is regular and accepted can change in relation. Resurrection Sunday governs the christian calendar, and many days are determined by it; some away, and some intermittently.

Saint George was born in Lydda, Palestine. He usually is understood to have been a soldier. His execution was 23 April 303. The year before the emperor, Diocletian, issued an edict purging the army of christians. George was celebrated as a saint very early, and the stories grew to the point of great unreliability to historic accuracy. The byzantines re-named Lydda, Georgioupolis.

The dragon tale came centuries later. It is an allegory, but many people accepted as true beyond that. The dragon is a symbol of dangerous and conquerable evil. George is the true and brave christian, and all the rest is accoutrement to the story.

Lydda was also a town that suffered more recently. In the middle of July 1948, many thousands of residents and refugees were driven out and marched toward Ramallah. In the 100°F heat hundreds perished. The government leader who ordered the Death March was David Ben-Gurion.

What did not happen at St. Patrick's

Sometimes news is that something did not happen. Cleveland Councilman Martin Keane had scheduled a public meeting for to-day at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's (West Park) social hall [former convent]. A Board of Zoning Appeal hearing had been scheduled for Monday. The Diocese of Cleveland and the pastor of Ascension (now 'Blessed Trinity'), Fr. Doug Koesel, wanted a variance, in order, to establish a 'thrift store' at St. Patrick's.

Save Saint Pat's Committee was planning to demonstrate outside the meeting, and to be present inside. They wanted news outlets to be aware of the zoning appeal, the 'town hall meeting', and their opposition to the proposal. None of these things will happen to-day, or Monday. The Diocese has decided not to request the variance.

The Save St. Pat's Committee had brought two major points of objection to the proposal. One is that under church law, canon law, a parish's patrimony (property) cannot be disposed of while its attempted suppression is under appeal. The other point is, that, the Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People does not allow such activity near children (a school is still operating on St. Patrick's campus).

A, further, third point, is that the building contains a chapel. Now, that chapel is 'sacred space' and had been active at the time of eviction. To have a retail establishment in the same space, is to make it 'profane'. This conversion to 'profane use', so cavalierly, is problematic.

It is not unusual for the chancery to avoid public and media scrutiny. It is unusual for the chancery to abruptly change course. In the these nearly five years of Richard Lennon's episcopal reign, there has been little reticence of the chancery to strictly adhere to canon law, and custom. There is news in this non-event, some still not public.

Four parishes meet in the street

A part of the prayer circle, still visibly feeling the shock of violation.
The new Sunday prayer vigils continue at SS. Emeric, Patrick and James. St. Emeric is still feeling the way for a comfortable format. They gather in a circle, and request members to lead a prayer, or song, english or hungarian. The members are still in shock about being cast into the street. Their pastor left for Miami this morning, no longer welcome in the diocese.
Patricio group photo with banner recognising the Divine Mercy of Jesus.
The Patricios have been following a liturgical office of their own fashioning. They include an exchange of peace, mostly handshakes, and some hugs. They also brought along another specie willing to share their community, a spaniel. People enjoyed touching and greeting the dog, and the dog was fine with it all. Many people find hounds compatible to the Faith.
Praying the chaplet, next to the Patrick door.
They have been praying at the top of the steps of the main entrance of their church on Rocky River Drive, Cleveland. The car traffic drowns them out from time to time, as do the jetline aeroplanes that come to Cleveland Hopkins Airport.

The Casimiri, the Patricios, and the Jacobites all have their gathering at 11.30 a.m. At Casimir's they gather in a flattened semi-circle, or half oval, around the speakers, whom have their backs to the fence, that has become like a spanish retablo (reredo), or an iconostasis (icon screen). To-day they were worried whether the stained glass rose window was removed, leaving the outside protective window not guarding its charge. The vigils are not identical, they do not need to be. They are organic developments of different parishes. As each parish is a separate juridic person, they have different personalities, and it shows; but since they are all brothers in Christ, they have similarities.

They have vibrancy and unity. This is neither appreciated, nor fathomed by Dickie Lennon, the man who, literally, 'kicked them to the curb'. He has admitted to people, that, he has no definition of 'vibrancy', and unity is submission to his will.

Prayer Vigils Expand

A small witticism of punish humour i enjoy, is that March 4th can be pronounced, 'march forth'. March Forth, then, is the only day of the year that is a command. It is also Saint Casimir's Day. This July Fourth will be the thirtieth, consecutive, Sunday prayer vigil in front of Saint Casimir's. It has been an unbroken chain. The links of faith in this parish are of strong enduring temper.

And, marching forth from Saint Casimir's the prayer vigils are growing. This Sunday, Saint Patrick's, West Park, will have their third Sunday vigil in synchronicity with Saint Casimir's. The time is 11.30 a.m. St. James, Lakewood, will have their first.

Now, a quickening is beginning to stir at Saint Wendelin. In Akron through the leadership of Nancy McGrath of Code Purple, and others there is a plan of rotating parishes to host a prayer vigil, perhaps involving Saint John the Baptist, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Mary.

Joseph Feckanin, who has become an ambassador of Cleveland's Catholic Polonia, will be talking to Lorain's latin-rite slavs and others to also have a rotating prayer vigil. There had been great spirit at the near co-adjacent Saint Stanislaus, and Holy Trinity.

These committed christians sing, pray and have communal fellowship, and in doing so, have found a greater unity than they had before. This they do in front of the parish churches wrested forcefully, illicitly and ruthlessly from them. Their presence is a christian witness of constancy and steadfastness.

ubi enim sunt duo vel tres congregati in nomine meo ibi sum in medio eorum
For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.—Matthew xviii.20.

Why are they there? They are loyal to Jesus, and cast off by Richard Lennon. Bishop Lennon is like the bad shepherds (pastors) mentioned by Ezechiel in chapter xxxiv; and most unlike the Good Shepherd of the Gospels.
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Postscriptum 8.52 p.m.: In the last hour I have received communiqués from Nancy, and from Joseph.
Nancy says it is slightly in ovo at Akron, with the germ at Saint John the Baptist, and that the latin mass goers of St. Mary's are visiting several parishes as a group.
Joseph replies with this statement:

As we stand in the streets and pray, the power of prayer will overtake the one who has cast us out onto the streets, taken away our houses of God, fenced our artifacts, and counts on devouring our bank accounts. To him we are not vibrant, we are just easy pickings. We don't count, he says we are only a 'handful'; but too much of a handful for him to squash, but handy to plunder. However, we are chosen to represent the tens of thousands, and probably hundreds of thousands who oppose his program. He tries to censor the media. After St. Casimir the media was not allowed in the churches, 'too disruptive', he says. The truth is they are witnesses and he does not want other Catholics to see the truth. Now St. Emeric has brought the media back into the church. And now the vigils will grow and grow. We, Catholics, have had many suffer under the communist yoke. We know the tactics. History repeats itself, and he who wants us to bow before him will repeat like those whom came before him. Our devotion, the Divine Mercy of Jesus, we trust. It is not over yet. — Joe

Postscriptum II, 12.45 p.m. 3 July 2010: Events have flared at St. Emeric's. A heavy "security" presence has descended there. Lennon has called for a game of hardball. The priest of twenty-five years has not been allowed to collect his bible from the church. In partial response there will be a prayer vigil there Sunday at 9.45 a.m., the regular time for the hungarian Liturgy (Mass). It is a question whether they will be on W. 22nd, in front of the church, or in the West Side Market parking lot.

Lennon takes St. Patrick's

When Lennon and his spokesmen say he was welcomed and people enjoy the new benefit his wisdom will bring to them, look at this photograph; not one person in it would agree. Now increase that by those who showed to the other masses, or stayed away so as not to greet Lennon. The camera did not have a wide angle lens to show additional refuseniks, and it doesn't show the people across the street, by the photographer. Click or open link for better detail.
Sometimes the pavement steps speak.
Recent Patrick graduates on the steps in solidarity with those against the lennonist plan.
No not just this congregation, but the entire church.
After the second Mass of Eviction on the 30th of May, a piper led the
parish forward as they retook the church, for a time, till they were seated to pray five decades of the Rosary.
A parishioner of Saint Patrick, and president of Endangered Catholics, Patricia Singleton-Schulte trying to engage the bishop in his forgotten promise of dialog.
The police were there in force, bored out of their wits, but paid by Lennon to bring firearms into the House of the Lord.
I was quite wrong, in that since, Lennon deviates practically not an iota, I thought he would be in a car at 1.30 p.m., after a diversion. That would have been at the time the first decade of the rosary would conclude. People were waiting (with a television cameraman, her reporter and a newspaper photographer at a side entrance). The reporter (Shannon O'Brien) said, on air (after 6.30 pm), that more people were outside the church than inside.
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