We, the parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Church, are a community of Roman Catholic Christians, created and gifted by God and called by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus Christ, in word, in worship, in witness and in service.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit and strengthened through prayer, we commit ourselves to further Jesus’ mission.  In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi we strive to provide mutual sharing and support, grounded in the Gospel.  We seek to exercise our unique gifts, lovingly and prayerfully in our parish and in the community of Lorain, Ohio. 

We pledge to work toward the formation of a society founded on the Gospel values.  We commit ourselves to serve the continually changing needs of God’s people by living and encouraging growth in God’s spirit, education in the Church tradition, and a strengthening of the moral life.

 

 

St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Lorain, Ohio is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland and has been witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the east side of Lorain since 1923. We are a vibrant parish of about 850 households, and have an active school with Preschool through Eighth Grade as well as a Parish School of Religion for public school students. From the very beginning St. Anthony Parish has been served by the Conventual Franciscan Friars, and is named for one of the most famous Franciscan saints. Please look over the many opportunities we offer and get involved in those things that interest you.

 

If you have any questions about St. Anthony Parish and its many activities, or to become a registered member of the parish, please call the parish office at 288-0106.

Prayer and Worship

 

Sunday Masses          Saturday Vigil: 5 pm                                                        Weekday Masses   Monday morning at 7:30 am

            Sunday: 9 & 11 am                                                                                           Tuesday evening at 7 pm

                                                Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 am

 

Sacrament of Reconciliation is held Saturdays at 3 pm in the church or by appointment.

 

Morning Prayer, the official prayer of the church is prayed every morning in the church at 8 am, Monday through Saturday.

 

St. Anthony Devotions are held every Tuesday at the end of the 7:00 p.m. Mass.

 

New Life Prayer Group meets every Monday at 7:30 pm in the weekday Mass chapel for Charismatic prayer and song.

 

Parish Prayer Chain is one way our Parishioners pray for one another, especially the sick. Call the Parish Office.

 

Sacrament of Marriage is limited to members of the parish and arrangements should be made at least 6 months in advance.

 

Sacramental Anointing of the Sick is celebrated upon request. Please call the office before your scheduled surgery.

 

Joining the Catholic Church and the Sacraments of Initiation

 

Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church usually do so at the Easter Vigil celebrated each spring. They do this after participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process. If you are an adult interested in more information on becoming a Catholic please call the parish office at 288-0106 and ask for Doris Meyer our Director of Religious Education.

Sacrament of Baptism for Infants is scheduled when parents call the office to make arrangements for the Baptism.

Sacrament of Confirmation for Teens is usually celebrated in the 9^th grade each spring. Call the office to register for classes.

Sacraments for Older Children is a program for those children age 7 and older who have not been baptized or have been baptized in another denomination, or have been Baptized Catholic, but have never practiced the faith. It is based on the RCIA.

 

Annual Prayer and Worship Events

 

Ecumenical Prayer Service is held annually each January. We pray for unity with the members of other local Churches.

 

Blessing of Easter Food Baskets is held in the church every Holy Saturday, and is a beautiful family tradition.

 

Divine Mercy Sunday the 2^nd Sunday after Easter has been designated as “Divine Mercy Sunday” and is a time to rejoice in the mercy of Jesus and place our trust in him. It is usually celebrated at 2 pm in the Church.

 

St. Anthony Feast Day is celebrated every year on or near June 13^th in honor of our patron saint.

 

Respect Life Sunday is our annual reminder of the sacredness of all human life, from conception till a natural death, and is celebrated at all the Masses on the first weekend in October.

 

Blessing of Animals is Franciscan tradition we honor on the Sunday nearest October 4^th the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

 

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

 

Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady by the Lake perpetual adoration chapel is open to visitors 24 hours a day. All are invited to make a visit. Please call the parish office to make a weekly commitment of one hour. Please note: the door is locked during the night for safety and a code is needed for entry.

 

Secular Franciscans are one of the three religious orders founded by Saint Francis. The 1^st order for priests and brothers, the

2^nd for women, called the “Poor Clares”, and a 3^rd order for lay men and women. They make a lifetime commitment to live a

life of prayer and simplicity in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.

 

Faith Sharing Groups. We have several groups that meet regularly to pray and study scripture.

 

Cursillo is a group of men and women who meet every Saturday after the 7:30 a.m. Mass. They strive to encourage one another and grow in the Catholic apostolate. They can also provide information on making a Cursillo retreat.

 

Alcoholics Anonymous. There are two AA groups meeting at St. Anthony: A larger group on Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m. in the Social Hall and a smaller group on Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center.

 

Educational Opportunities

 

St. Anthony School offers a complete curriculum for students in pre-school through eighth grade integrated with Catholic faith and morals. We are especially proud of our new library, gym and computer lab. St. Anthony’s students test, on average, one full letter grade above the national average. For information call the school at 288-2155.

 

Parish School of Religion, “PSR”, is our Religious Education program for those children in public schools.

 

                         Nursery (3 yrs. and under) - during the 11:00 a.m. Mass

Pre-School (3 and 5 yrs. old) - during the 11:00 a.m. Mass

Grades 1 thru 8 - Monday evenings, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

 

Confirmation Preparation is held during the 9^th grade year on scheduled Sunday nights. Information for parents and students is published in the Parish Bulletin each year during the month of August. Adults wishing to be confirmed, please call the office.

 

Youth Ministry programs are sponsored by and for high school students. Confirmation preparation, classes, retreats and fun

activities are available for youth.

 

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, “RCIA”, is for those adults seeking to become Christians and for those Christians seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. RCIA is also helpful for those adults baptized in the Catholic Church but who have never practiced the faith. The RCIA meets weekly.

 

Music Ministry

 

Adult Choir. Sings at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays during the school year; and on special occasions. We are very proud of our choir. Yet we can always use new members.  We also welcome cantors and musicians. We provide training for those interested in cantoring.

 

Children’s Choir. (see Children and Family Activities)

 

Children and Family Activities

 

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is held each Sunday during the School year when pre-school is in session at the 11:00 a.m. Mass during the school year. Children in 1^st to 4^th grades hear the readings and a reflection or exercise geared to their level of understanding.

 

Children’s Choir is open to children in 2^nd grade and higher and rehearses after school on Wednesday afternoons during the school year. The choir provides the music for the 11 am Mass at intervals throughout the school year and is featured at the Children’s Mass at 5pm every Christmas eve.

 

Catholic Youth Organization, “CYO”, is an organized sports program for Catholic youth 4th-8th grade. St. Anthony’s sponsors Volleyball games and tournaments for girls and Basketball games and tournaments for both boys and girls.

 

Scouting. Cub Scouts (1st-5th grades), Boy Scouts (6th-12th grades) and Girl Scouts (Kindergarten and up) are all active at St. Anthony Parish.

 

Social and Service Organizations

 

Holy Name Society is the largest men’s organization in the parish and is open to the registered men of the parish who are 18 years of age and older. They promote parish activities and provide for some of the maintenance and upkeep of parish properties and offer services to community care programs. Meetings followed by social activities (basketball, cards) are on the first Monday of each month in the Social Hall.

 

Marian Guild is open to all registered women of the parish, 18 years and older. They help maintain and furnish the interior of the church and also foster a spirit of mutual kindness and promote the spiritual well being of each member. Meetings are held from September through May on the third Monday of the month. They usually begin with Mass in church then move to the Social Hall. The Marian Guild supports vocations and offers scholarships to deserving young men and women preparing for the priesthood and religious life.

 

Parent Teachers Union , “PTU”, was established to encourage and facilitate a closer relationship between parents and teachers so that they may cooperate in promoting the spiritual and temporal welfare of the children in St. Anthony’s School. In recent years the PTU has done much to promote the general welfare of the school through various fund raising efforts especially the annual “Pierogi Sale” which benefits not only the school but the parish as well.

 

Young at Hearts / Senior Sociables brings the senior members of our parish together. It is open to men and women age 50 and older. They meet monthly on the 3^rd Thursday for a prepared lunch at 12:30 pm in the Social Hall (except in January & February). They also sponsor four big events each year: The Spring Card Party, the Old Fashioned Summer Picnic, the Oktoberfest, and the New Years Eve Party. New comers are always welcome.

 

Paduan Travelers  have been sponsoring trips for St. Anthony’s parishioners and friends for many years. Well organized and moderately priced trips to favorite destinations are a hallmark of the Paduan Travelers.

 

                                                                                               Regular and Annual Social Events

 

Watch the Sunday Bulletin for these regular and annual events and more!

 

200 Club Dinners                                             On Saturday evenings, twice a year, sponsored by the Holy Name Soc.

Spaghetti Dinners                                              On Saturday evenings, twice a year, sponsored by the Marian Guild

Holy Name Men’s mini-retreat & Banquet        On a Monday evening during Lent, sponsored by the Holy Name Society

Special May Program                                       3^rd Monday evening in May, sponsored by the Marian Guild

Spring Card Party                                             On a Thursday sponsored by the Young at Hearts

Parish Pig Roast                                               On a Saturday evening in mid June

Old Fashioned Summer Picnic                          On a Thursday during August sponsored by the Young at Hearts

Parish Picnic                                                     On the First Saturday after Labor day

Steak Fry                                                         On a Saturday evening in the fall, helps fund sporting activities

Oktoberfest                                                     On a Thursday afternoon in October, sponsored by the Young at Hearts

New Years Eve Party                                       On New Years Eve, sponsored by the Young at Hearts

 

Serving Others

 

Parish Nurses. The Parish Nurses provide blood pressure screening after all Masses on the first weekend of the month in the weekday Mass chapel.

 

St. Vincent DePaul Society. Through the generosity of the parish members, SVDP provides temporal necessities for parishioners and residents of the east side of Lorain.

 

Ministers of Care. These Eucharistic Ministers visit the sick and shut-ins in nursing homes, hospitals and private homes.

 

Health Ministry. This is a ministry consisting of nurse volunteers in the health field.  Their purpose is to promote wellness in the church community with a holistic approach of body, mind and spirit in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ who is Our Great Healer.

 

Ministry of Consolation. Support for spouses and family members who experience loss through death, job loss, etc.

 

Liturgical Ministers. In Church we are often in need of more Ushers, Lay Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, Sacristans, and Altar Servers. If you are interested, please call the parish office for more information on any of these vital ministries.

 

Sanctity of Life Committee. This ministry focuses on the supreme value of God’s gift of human life, from the moment of Conception until a natural death

 

Parish Leadership Councils and Committees

 

Parish Pastoral Council. The Parish Pastoral Council is responsible for the policies of the parish and works for better communication among all members of the parish. The council is further divided into commissions whose function it is to suggest policy for the pastoral council to set. A parish wide election process chooses the Pastoral Council Members, but membership on various commissions is open to those interested.  If you should be interested in any of them, please call and leave your name at the parish office.

 

Finance Council. Prepares the annual budget for Church and School and sees to the financial, legal and administrative aspects of parish management.

 

Liturgy Commission. Promotes active participation in the liturgies in a true Christian spirit.  Includes liturgy planning and the art and environment committee.

 

Social Justice Commission. Monitors the signs of the times in the city of Lorain and Lorain County, and has been involved recently in providing support to the homeless shelter at St. Joseph Church, Lorain.

 

Hope Commission. Brings together and coordinates the Parish Nurses, the Ministers of Care, the Ministers of Consolation and Sanctity of Life ministries and represents them to the Pastoral Council.

 

                                                                                                      A Stewardship Parish

 

St. Anthony of Padua Parish practices the spirituality of stewardship and encourages all members to do the same. We share our time, talent and treasure with God and with one another. We urge all members of the parish to become involved in some aspect of our ministry. The first and most basic aspect of belonging to St. Anthony’s and the Roman Catholic Church is participating at the Sunday Mass. If you can do nothing else, if you can contribute nothing else, please join us in praising God. The God who gives us so much yet asks for so little in return. “Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Matthew 26:40)

 

As you have read on the previous pages, there are numerous ways to get involved. So please share of your time and talents. We urge everyone to share in the privilege of supporting the work of witnessing to the Gospel and teaching the Roman Catholic faith through their financial contributions. All members should contribute a minimum of 2% of their annual income to the parish in order for all to have an equal share in the ministry. This tithe supports our many ministries and will help insure our future. Thank you for interest. Thank you for your generosity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

PASTORAL STAFF

 

Fr. Joseph West, O.F.M. Conv., Pastor

Rev. Mr. James Debrason,  Pastoral Associate
deaconjim@adelphia.net

Doris L. Meyer,  Director of Religious Education

icons55@yahoo.com

Diana Lesiecki, Business Manager
diana.4802@juno.com

 
Linda Mathewson, Parish Secretary
churchbelle@juno.com

 

Denise Butti, Bulletin Editor

bulletinexpress@centurytel.net

 

Joanne Churchill, School Secretary

jchurc@leeca.org

 

Joe Morin, Director of Music 

Dean Arroyo, Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Jackie Flores, Maintenance

 

Alan Brailer, Pastoral Council Chair