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Polish Constitution Parade 2012 Newburgh Heights & Cleveland [to-day]

St. Louis Cleveland Heights
Sacred Heart of Jesus Akron
Endangered Catholics Cleveland

St. Patrick Parade 2011 Cleveland
St. Patrick Parade 2012 Cleveland
St. Patrick Parade 2012 ClevelandPolish Constitution Parade 2011 Newburgh Heights & Cleveland

St. John the Evangelist Cathedral Cleveland
St. Stanislaus Lorain

St. Emeric Cleveland

St. Casimir Cleveland

St. Casimir Cleveland

St. Patrick West Park Cleveland

St. Wendelin Cleveland

coverage of re-Constitution Convention

Parish re-Constitution Convention

for Saint Barbara, and Saint Casimir, and Saint Wendelin
held at Alliance of Poles Auditorium

click for television video and text

Linden and Robin

25 April 2012

Parish re-Constitution Convention

On Wednesday, 25 April 2012 at 7.00 p.m., at the former Alliance of Poles Auditorium, 6966 Broadway Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44105 there will be a

Parish re-Constitution Convention

for Saint Barbara, and Saint Casimir, and Saint Wendelin* parishes. All parishioners, prospective parishioners, and friends are invited.

They are ready, and willing to fully resume parish life. They will also collect signatures to an appeal letter to be sent to Richard Lennon asking him to re-open Saint Margaret Mary, South Euclid. A Christian parish supports other parishes.
__________________________
* postscriptum: Saint Wendelin added on Monday

The 13th parish will appeal

The parishioners of the Cleveland Diocese expected thirteen successful appeals. Word from Bishop Lennon mentions only twelve.

"Too many questions were unanswered by the Diocese", says parish leader Patricia Gronick. The sense of shock was great. The parishioners were expecting happy news, and it was denied them. Of course, it is fully within the power of the Bishop of Cleveland to re-open the parish and church; as well as any additional ones still suppressed.

St. Margaret Mary, South Euclid, has contacted the papal nuncio in the nation's capital, and the Prefects of the Congregation for the Clergy, and the Apostolic Signatura in the Eternal City. The parishioners will be having a prayer service and information session on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 7.00 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Church (4217 Bluestone Road, South Euclid, Ohio). All past members of the church, future members and interested parties are welcome to attend.
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addendum: On 8 January 2012, the Diocese released this statement about the parish:

Parish: St. Margaret Mary Parish, South Euclid

Status: Since the time of the closing, the parish’s cash and religious items are being held in custody. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish (South Euclid) is responsible for the incidental operations and maintenance issues at the closed facilities, with assistance being provided by the Diocese. The closing of the parish is under appeal to the Vatican. No disposition or other activities will occur until the appeal has been completely addressed by the Vatican.
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also St. Martha was under appeal. click here. So it was 14 appealing parishes!

Linden B. To-day

Same tree, 20 April 2012. Note leaf formation/development to last year's.

Little Leaf Linden 2011

Tilia cordata is a wonderful tree. Tilia is a genus of several related varieties, species, and they hybridize easily. In English, several names are applied: lime (British usage), basswood (American usage), teil, and linden. All the slavonic nations call the tree, lipa. The traditional name for the month of June is Lipanj in Croat, in Polish July is Lipiec. Leipzig is a germanification of the Sorb/Wendish term. At the time of recent independence for Slovenija, debate was made to put the leaf on the flag, or to name the currency after it.

It is a fragrant flower, that attracts bees for nectar. An herbal team of several medicinal usages is brewed from the flowers. The wood was frequently used for sculpture. Many church statues, altars were carved from it. Many icons were painted on it.

I took a series of photos of a particular tree, last year. The street, a few years back, had several such trees on the tree lawns/devil strip. This one comes to flower days after its sisters. Now, the city has come, year after year and shredded the trees and ground the stumps, one by one. The trees seemed healthy enough. Some people complain they are messy. They always shed something: leaves, flowers, twigs, branches, sap. They push up sidewalks. The root structure is intensive, and the front lawns, sometimes have difficulty in competition for sun, water, and minerals. I like to think, as Robert Frost might, that one should prefer to have such trees survive. In Europe some of their kind have stood a thousand years.

I noticed to-day, it was three weeks ahead in leaf production, as compared to last year. In Ohio, last year was ridiculously wet. Cincinnati had 73.28'' rain and other melted precipitation, Cleveland had 65.32". The previous records were in 1990 at 57.58'', and 53.83". Average for Cleveland was 39.14''. This March 19-23, each day set a record of 80+°F.

9 may

11 may

14 may

25 may

6 june

24 june

19 sept

8 oct

30 oct

31 dec

Forsythia

I remember as a child playing in the backyard, in early spring, being struck by dazzling golden brilliance. A few days before, the shrub was bare and boring. Then i could not stop looking. That was the first time, that, i was impressed by floral beauty. Ever since i am happy to see the first bloom.

Forsythia is part of the olive family. Most varieties came from the far Orient: Japan, coastal China and Korea. The flowers come before the other leaves on this plant.

Parish opening celebration at Wendelin's

At 7.30 p.m. a street vigil of celebration as scheduled at St. Wendelin, Cleveland. The press came early. At one point, it was almost a one to one correspondence.
More people came. People on the sidewalk were engaged in conversation. While that was going on, a choir was positioning itself on the steps. They began singing, and then people understood the service began. Interspersed between the singing were prayers, and petitions of thanks, and people giving testimonials. Friends from other parishes came too, that is Christian Solidarity.
Twenty minutes after the service was ended, and the press was gone for the moment, people were still there. Half an hour later still, some were still there. There is your picture of "VIBRANCY", that 'buzzword'. You know when the priest says, "The Mass is Ended", and three minutes later not a person is amongst the pews, and the nave is devoid of people; well there is not much parish life there. Here at Saint Wendelin's, there is no priest, no utilities, and the people are still there. They enjoy each other's company. They talk about everything, and nothing. There the parish is alive. Rome confirmed that the parish did not go extinct.

Lennon chose not to exercise his right of appeal, not for mercy. He did not appeal for it was finally impressed upon him, that, he could not win an appeal, and Rome would not appreciate an appeal. He grudgingly recognised that defeat, but would not admit that the parishioners were right.

Lennon relents on 12

Richard Lennon after defending his reconfiguration plan, and alluding that it was in the contemporary spirit of the age, throughout the land*, to close parishes, said he would not exercise his right to appeal Vatican decrees. People were prompted to believe there were thirteen parishes. He listed twelve parishes that he will restore:

St. Mary Akron
St. John the Baptist Akron
St. Mary Bedford
St. Adalbert Cleveland
St. Barbara Cleveland

St. Casimir Cleveland
St. Emeric Cleveland
St. Patrick Cleveland
St. Peter Cleveland
St. Wendelin Cleveland

St. James Lakewood
St. Mary Parish Lorain (which has remained open, but was 'merged' with the closed Holy Trinity)

Previously, Lennon mentioned fourteen, and released a list of 14 on January 9, 2012 at the Museum of Imprisoned Statues (formerly St. Hedwig, Lakewood). That list contained: the open parish of St. Martha in Akron, which is listed as Blessed Trinity; and St. Margaret Mary in South Euclid, which was certain of their successful appeal.
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He still needs work with geography. In January he did not know Cleveland was in the Middle West, to-day he placed Buffalo there.

Saint Wendelin Trusts in Jesus

Saint Wendelin, Cleveland, Ohio, has resumed their street prayer on Sundays. This was the third gathering since the news arrived ordering the Bishop of Cleveland to restore the parish. They all knew Dick Lennon was wrong, now they have a Roman Decree stating so.

They read a couple psalms, sang, prayed, spoke of the news concerning the appeals, and socialised with each other. This is what a parish does.
A small boy plays with a tiny car on the threshold of his parish church. He is continuing parish life in a manner he understands, and enjoys. His acumen, at this point, is greater than many adults.
Elaine Andrews (Ondrejka) Carroll spoke of the billboards celebrating the Vatican's message to the recalcitrant Bishop Lennon. The billboards were not just for St. Wendelin, but for all the parishes that had the courage to continue in appeal for redress and restoration.

Saint Wendelin, Cleveland, O., Parish Picture

On a very busy day on the church calendar, it was also Divine Mercy Sunday. The motto of that devotion is, 'We Trust in Jesus'. The Divine Mercy of Jesus was the patron for all the parishioners whom refused to walk away from their church and parish. They would not surrender their canonical rights. They would not abandon their Christian community which was instituted to be perpetual.

A happy story of another parish

Some eighty people came to the front door of their church, Saint Margaret Mary, in South Euclid, Ohio, on the evening of the Ides of March, three years after Richard Lennon's list of parish closures were made. This March 14th was not a sad one of commemoration of that morbid news, but rather a joyous celebration of new good news. It was an invocation of the parish. Not only, did it still exist; but it was given a Vatican approval of continuation. Its suppression (closure), and subsequent merger with the parish of Saint Gregory the Great was invalid in procedure, and in substance of the canon law of the Catholic Church. The curial prefecture of the Congregation for the Clergy ordered the Bishop of Cleveland to re-open thirteen parishes, all those that correctly submitted and maintained an appeal.

Saint Margaret Mary's cause has not been followed by many outside their neighbourhood. They had not joined cause with parishioners from other parishes, never-the-less, they were successful.

happy parishioners standing for a small group shot

Rev. Dave Ireland, pastor of Saint Gregory the Great (also of South Euclid), speaking of Saint Margaret Mary's, “it could be re-opened and ready to say Mass in less than 30 minutes”.
A smiley balloon was left behind, as symbolic witness of the good news, and happiness of the parishioners upon hearing the public announcement of Rome's mandate concerning their parochial church.

nota bene: all photographs taken and provided by parishioner Mike Gronick.
A youtube interview with a parishioner at the event is available here.
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postscriptum: 17 April 2012. Sad update. Lennon does not list St. Margaret Mary to the surprise, and dismay of the parishioners.

Faithful have right of access

A self described 'instigator' from Boston came to Cleveland to speak of parishes, and the common problem those dioceses have suffered: Boston in failure, and Cleveland in some recent success. Peter Borré spoke to-day, at the Sheraton Hotel at Hopkins aeroport, to parishioners from several parishes [Adalbert (Cleveland), Barbara, Holy Trinity (Lorain), Patrick (West Park), Wendelin, Emeric, Margaret Mary, James, Casimir, and Lawrence].

before convening

It has been thirty (30) days since the Bishop of Cleveland has acknowledged receipt of several Vatican Decrees. These decrees where issued by the Congregation for the Clergy, which overseas all the parishes of some 5000 dioceses. They say all the appealing parishes where illegitimately suppressed by Richard Lennon, both in procedure “de procedendo”, and by legal discernment of details “de decernendo”. These Roman Decrees are the response to parishioners asking redress, and reversal of the suppression (closures) of their parishes.

a local filmmaker, Michael Wendt, and a local television station did some filming and interviews

Borré has represented, and intervened for the parishes of several dioceses in North America in opposition to episcopal over reach. Nowhere has the victory been so pronounced as for these Cleveland parishes. Each appeal that was received in proscribed time, and maintained throughout to the Congregation for the Clergy was granted acceptance, thirteen individual mandates to restore the status quo ante.

The last line, or virtually the last line, of the decrees is: The Bishop of Cleveland is instructed to enact the implications of this Decree. These are not random words, nor vague ones; they are exact. “The Bishop of Cleveland” is not named, so this is not necessarily directed only to Richard Lennon, but whoever is the Bishop of Cleveland at the time; “is instructed” — is ordered; “to enact” — to make happen; “the implications of this Decree” everything suggested by this document.

What is ordered? Canon 1214: For the allowance of the right of access to “a sacred building designated for divine worship to which the faithful have the right of entry for the exercise, especially the public exercise, of divine worship.” Lennon misstates if he says the meaning of the documents can possibly suggest anything else.

Borré told the conference of parishioners that “the Congregation has spoken”. These “are landmark decrees” that give the parochial right of unimpeded access to church buildings. The parish is open, “size does not matter”, and “Catholic presence is fundamentally manifested at parish level”. He went on to tell them what they instinctively knew: “We are fighting for what is the most important element in Catholicism — the Parish”. Further, this has been compounded everyday, since 15 March 2012, by the failure of Lennon to comply. This is a scandal that does damage to the faith. Parishioners have been denied access to their churches during the holiest of seasons — the Pasch. Further still, this local bishop is possibly separating himself from the universal church.

There is no love lost between Borré and Lennon. Borré of all those in attendance, by far, had the longest acquaintance with Lennon. He speaks with unflattering words about “his nibs”, but accurately, and succinctly. Dick Lennon was the architect of parish suppression, and destruction, in Boston.

Borré came to encourage Clevelanders. Vladimir Ilič Lenin wrote in 1901, a famous essay entitled, What is to be done? Borré spoke to that question. E pluribus unum: co-incidently, people in attendance realised thirteen (the number of successful parishes) was the same as the number of colonies that defeated an earlier tyrant. A solid stance to hold Lennon to church law is needed. The people must not be divided, and must not surrender.

MOCA

5 September 2011

11 January 2012

9 April 2012

I have gotten a two week gig at MuseumOfContemporaryArt (MOCA) on the corner of Mayfield and Euclid; some, odd, sliced, and diced polyhedron with narrow, diagonal windows. It somewhat reminiscent to Mecca's black cube the Ka'aba. A Persian architectural firm in London is involved in the design. Most, if not all, the tradesman find the building ridiculous. We as tradesman are grounded in right angles, this has none structurally. Well, that means more man hours!

My working partner, fine fellow that he is, who has concurred with me on my views, also finds 'contemporary modern' art a joke. If you need to post a three paragraph description to explain what it is, next to it, it is not art. He liked the allusion so much he has increased the length of the description incrementally. I suggested it is art, the art of the 'con', such as Mark Twain describes in Huck Finn. The Duke and the Dauphin fool people, they separate them from their money in one deceit after another. Eventually, the victims become enraged and tar and feather them; which, i suppose, is performance art.

There is a grand cement staircase going up four floors (with a second one hidden next, and under, it), which no one will use when the elevator is up and running. Ha ha! The first and fourth floor have high ceilings. The fourth floor's floor is 11'' thick, and there is not much floor space. An argument can be made that the building is being built upside down, but the same could be said of many of the paintings to be displayed.They are running tourists through it all. There is nothing to see inside, other than construction clutter. Well, part of that is shaking the money tree. There is an internet web camera here.
The most interesting picture may be from the inside looking out. The Oil Can Church (University Circle Methodist), and the Church of the Covenant (Euclid Avenue Presbyterian).