St. Raphael School Students “Go Make a Difference” in Spite of COVID-19

June 2020 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE St.RaphaelSt.Raphael PAIDPAID CHURCH CHURCH Cleveland, OH 44101 525 Dover Center Road 44101 525 Dover Center Road Permit No. 703 BayBay Village, Village, OH OH 44140 44140 Saint Raphael

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER St. Raphael School Students “Go Make A Difference” In Spite of COVID-19 By Principal Ken Mitskavich ince March, the 2019-2020 school year S has looked much different than anyone could have imagined when the year began! St. Raphael School students, parents, teachers, Would Wouldyou like you to like stay to stayconnected connected to theto the Parish Parish using using E-Mail? E-Mail? Then pleaseplease share share it withit with us. us.Just Just go to go our to Parish our Parish Website, Website, www.saintraphaelparish.com,www.saintraphaelparish.com and, and enter enter the the information information under under “Staying Connected Connected Thru Thru E-Mail”. E-Mail”. Information Information will not will be not shared be shared and administrators have risen to the challenge and youand can you remove can remove it at itany at any time. time. Contact Contact Mark Mark Cunningham Cunningham inin the the Parish Parish office office with withquestions questions at (440) at (440) 871-1100. 871-1100. of Remote Learning, continuing to Make a Difference, stay connected, and keep learning. The Home and School Association Shopping Gala Here are just a few of the ways SRS has gone continued from page 7 the distance to make that happen. mind that part of the wordCOVID-19 “fund” is “fun.” Our H According Notice to the National Catholic Educational Our youngest students at SRS have stayed busy & S Association recognizes this, and they offer many Association, Catholic schools raise nearly $2 billion in kindergarten. Weekly Zoom chats, scavenger opportunities for people to participate and support annually. hunts, bingo, and daily stories and lessons that their Catholics efforts. in After the state the of annual Ohio continue Mardi to Grasbe dispensed event, from theThe obligation vendors toat attend the Gala Sunday pay forMass. the Ourright bishops to have a teachers record for families on YouTube help to the Shoppingurge those Galawho are is themost largest vulnerable fundraiser to coronavirus, that Hand booth,their caregivers, and there to is continue a small in admission prayer from charge home. for St. those get our little Raiders ready for first grade. & S sponsors.Raphael will The continue funds to raised live-stream allow daily the andability Sunday to Masses.who choose As the todiocese come of and Cleveland participate. returns to public provideworship, funds important for the new basic guidelines operation will costs be in of effect the to help“This us is protect an important each other. parish “We and thank community you for your Speaking of first grade, the first-grade classes schoolpatience, such understanding as materials, and technological cooperation as upgrades,we implement activity,” this gradual Sara return says. to “Imaginethe public celebration being able of toMass,” complete came together to quickly design, volunteer, and thethe Ohiofuture. bishops’ Perhaps statement most says. important, The full statement it helps canto beyour read at Christmas https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/covid19 shopping 26 days before Christmas.. create, and sew patches to make the annual provide a Catholic education at a reasonable cost. That is what the Gala gives you the opportunity to do.” class banner for Jesus Day. “We did not want Please continue to access our website, www.saintraphaelparish.com, for updates on St. Raphael’s re-opening the Class of 2027 to go without this special plans and procedures. For more information, please send an email to [email protected] tradition,” our teachers say. “We will display or call Sara Seybold at 440-835-0312. We hope to see you there! the banner for them to see on the final drop- off day and present it to Fr. Tim to be blessed. Liturgy Schedule The banner will follow them through the halls of Saint Raphael School like all the classes that Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. │ Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., noon came before them.” Weekday Mass: M, T, W, F, 7:45 a.m. │ M, T, Th, F, 9:15 a.m. │ Saturday, 8:30 a.m. Continued on Page 4 Confessions: Saturdays 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. │ Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 10:00 a.m. - Saturday 4:00 p.m. ThisRemembering Issue: the Fallen of World War II I Promise to Love and Honor St. Raphael School Students “Go Make You Until Death Do Us Part 1 A Difference” In Spite of COVID-19 Flowers of the Fairest: St. Mary in the Garden by Maggie Brady By Dianne Borowski Flowers of the Fairest: 2 St. Mary in the Garden Did you know that many flowers and plants commonly found blooming this In August of 2022, God willing, my husband summer in Northeast Ohio gardens were actually named after Our Lady, or Norbert and I will celebrate our 50th wedding have special Marian symbolism? It’s true! In fact, many people plant a “Mary 3 Feeding the Hungry anniversary. We met 50 plus years ago through garden” full of these flowers as a gesture of devotion to our Blessed Mother. a Catholic singles group. We eventually began Here are just a few plants with special significance to Our Lady. Do you have dating, and the rest is history. Remembering the Fallen any growing by your front porch or in the back yard? 6 of World War II I will never forget the moment I stood before Marigold – The name means “Mary’s gold.” In the medieval period, people Father Costello on that hot, sunny Saturday used marigolds to make cheese and medicine. Its beautiful golden hue I Promise to Love and Honor You morning, reciting my marriage vows, when I 7 Until Death Do Us Part reminded people of Mary’s crown in Heaven. Marigolds also sometimes “weep” which symbolizes Our Lady of Sorrow. Dew gathers in the flower finally realized how serious a commitment I during the night and then drips off like tears when it opens in the morning. was making. I stumbled slightly over the words 8 Covid-19 Notice Shakespeare wrote about “the Marygold that goes to bed with the sun, / as I felt tears form in my eyes. When I placed And with him rises weeping.” flowers before the statue of Our Blessed Mother I prayed for the strength to live up to my vows Daisy – Traditionally called “Mary’s star.” A beautiful as a newly married Catholic woman. legend says that upon reaching Bethlehem, one of the Wise Men saw a lovely daisy blooming that looked just After our honeymoon we returned to the reality like the star they’d been following. When he bent down of married life. I will admit I did not easily to pick it, the door of the stable opened and he caught adjust to my new role. Sharing my life with Life is good. We are now proud grandparents. Our his first glimpse of the Holy Family. another after having been single until I was 31 life has changed as we’ve aged. We still face many challenges but we always turn to God for guidance. Clematis – Also called “Virgin’s Bower.” An old story found myself, at times, frustrated and confused. Norbert now resides in a nursing home. I am not able says that this vine supposedly helped conceal Our Lady Our parish priest at the time recommended we and the infant Jesus during their flight from King Herod make a Marriage Encounter and we did. This to visit him often due to health and transportation into Egypt. When she got up to continue on the way, experience changed my life and strengthened problems but we talk frequently on the phone. Norbert the plant was covered with beautiful white blooms, a our marriage. I will always be grateful for is already planning a party for our 50th wedding gift from God to commemorate its role in protecting the Marriage Encounter. We were blessed with 2 anniversary. He is working on the guest list and menu Rose – Of course, being the Holy Family. so far. I reminded him that there are no guarantees we queen of the garden, a rose children, our daughter Lori and our son Dan. Years later we adopted Jason and Jackie. It is a will live to celebrate that day. He reassured me that Impatiens – These shade friendly flowers were once is also a beautiful symbol for long story, but I’m certain God brought these “God always answers our prayers and I pray every day called “Mother Love,” because their constant blooming the queen of Heaven. One that we will celebrate our 50th anniversary.” Of course called to mind Mary’s never-ending love. They were also of Our Lady’s titles is Rosa children into our lives to become a part of our he is right. God does answer our prayers, perhaps sometimes called “Our Lady’s Earrings” because of their Mystica (Mystical Rose), family. delicate, curving stems. It may seem funny to imagine and her life is foreshadowed not always as we wish, but He does answer all of our Our family faced the same struggles many St. Mary wearing ear-gear like our moms, but why not! in the Song of Songs as prayers. We are blessed. “the Rose of Sharon.” The families face. At times we lived paycheck to great Jesuit poet Fr. Gerard paycheck and dealt with some serious health Manley Hopkins wrote a issues. I worked the night shift for 20 years in poem called Rosa Mystica in a group home for Intellectually Disabled Adults Marriage Resources: which he said, to supplement the income from Norbert’s job. Worldwide Marriage Encounter We decided early in our marriage that God “The rose in a mystery, where is it found? www.wwme.org would be a central part of our married life. We Is it anything true? Does it grow upon ground? — * Helps good marriages become even better It was made of earth’s mould but it went from men’s eyes went to church as a family and prayed together. And its place is a secret and shut in the skies. Had it not been for our strong faith I don’t Retrouvaille (pronounced Retro-vi) In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine believe we would have overcome some of the www.helpourmarriage.org/ Find me a place by thee, mother of mine.” challenges we faced as a couple and as parents. *A lifeline for couples in troubled marriages 2 St. Maximilian Kolbe 7 Remembering the Fallen of World War II St. Raphael by Ashley Herzog ancestry. In 1941, Kolbe was imprisoned at Auschwitz, of the legendary Sister Corita Ambro, those first efforts where he continued to hear confessions and hold secret have swelled into a massive outreach program, and Fred Mass in defiance of Nazi orders. After a prisoner escaped Feeding the Hungry has continued his participation. the notorious death camp, Nazi guards selected ten by Joy Horvath men to be starved to death in an underground bunker On the second Wednesday of every other month, lunch “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty to discourage future escape attempts. One of the men, is served to adults at the West Side Catholic Center. and you gave me drink.” - Matthew 25:35 Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out in anguish, “My wife! Diane Gardner (703-973-0224) organizes the volunteer My children!” Kolbe offered to take his place. Gajowniczek cooks, bakers, and servers. On the menu is glorified St. Raphael is a giving parish, with bountiful food survived the concentration camp, while Kolbe died after chili—with pasta, cheese, sour cream—along with salad collections during Lent, in July, and at Thanksgiving. two weeks without food and water. He was canonized as and bread, and dessert. On average, 130 adults, mostly We have well-attended pancake breakfasts to raise a saint in 1982, forever defined by his most famous quote, men, are served by six volunteers. Some volunteers money for various charitable efforts. Many members “For Jesus Christ I am prepared to suffer still more.” prepare chili at home, according to a recipe from Diane; of our parish drive for meals-on-wheels, pick up and others purchase salad ingredients. Diane feels the chili, In Navahrudak, Poland, ten nuns from the Holy Family deliver unsold bakery items, or cook for shut-ins. But In many countries, springtime is marked with full of vegetables and protein, is well-received because of Nazareth were killed by the Gestapo after they offered what about actually preparing and serving food to various holidays commemorating World War it’s a spicy Mexican dish. The clients give special to die in place of local villagers. They were led into the hungry groups of people outside of the parish? There II. On April 20, the world observed Holocaust attention to the dessert choices: various gourmet cakes, woods, shot, and buried in a mass grave. Sara Salkahazi, are three places of note where generous parishioners Remembrance Day, which honors the eleven pies, and bars prepared by the baker extraordinaire, the founder of Hungary’s Catholic Women’s League, plan, prepare, and serve meals. million people—including six million Jews— Kathy Hegeman. How did St. Raphael get involved? was executed for the crime of hiding Jewish women and killed in Nazi death camps. This international About five years ago, Diane learned about the lunch children at her convent. Salkahazi and scores of other On the second Monday of each month, ten women of the day of mourning is followed by two holidays program, and requested that our parish be included on victims were shot and tossed into the Danube River. parish prepare food for the St. Malachi evening dinner. celebrating the triumph of Allied troops over the Together with volunteers from other parishes, they the schedule. Axis powers. May 8th marked “V-Day,” or Victory Today, sixty pairs of iron shoes along the riverbank commemorate the victims; like the Navahrudak nuns, prepare all parts of a given menu at home, and deliver Day. June 6th marks D-Day, the day American it to the St. Malachi Church Hall, to be served to guests. troops stormed the beaches at Normandy with the Salkahazi is beatified as a Catholic martyr. She is also recognized by Israel as one of 600 “Righteous Among Carol McDonald (440-835-1750) is a 30-year veteran goal of liberating Nazi-occupied France. D-Day of the program. She became involved through a St. was the first domino to fall in freeing Europe from Nations,” non-Jews who helped rescue Jewish people during the Holocaust. Raphael Parish announcement back in the time of Father the Nazi’s grip—and eventually, liberating the Callahan. Over the years, she and other cooks have concentration camps. While modern historians and the media have shed light prepared massive amounts of food according to needs But during the various days remembering the on the failings of the Vatican during World War II, there of the program: sometimes kielbasa or Italian sausage, horror and triumphs of World War II, one group were many clergy members who used their monasteries baked chicken, or scalloped potatoes. They donate their of World War II victims is sometimes overlooked: and convents to hide Jews from the Gestapo. In Italy, time and treasure to feed 300 to 500 people at those Catholic priests and nuns who lost their lives Father Giuseppe Girotti arranged for Jewish families to be evening meals, and many families take advantage of the resisting the Nazis. They don’t have their own hidden in private homes and arranged escape routes out dinner. of the country. He died in the Dachau concentration camp holiday, but many are recognized by the Catholic When St. Augustine hosts their Sunday dinner, St. church as saints and beatified martyrs. in 1945. In Belgium, about 3,000 Jews—mostly children— were hidden in convents throughout the country. Overall, Raphael parishioner Fred Bangeman (216-288-1006) and “Catholic clergy of various nationalities died as it is estimated that Catholic clergy helped save a hundred his volunteer crew are there to prepare and serve meals martyrs at other Nazi-run camps,” reports the thousand Jewish lives during the Holocaust. to 80 to 100 people, 90% of whom are men. When he Catholic magazine Crux. “Of the nearly 2,800 arrives, Fred checks the pantry for ingredients, then uses clergy of all denominations incarcerated at the Nazi As we honor the sacrifice of his creativity to devise a menu. Often, it includes pasta concentration camp of Dachau, 1,773 were priests American troops on D-Day every or rice with some kind of sauce. Frequently, “leftovers” All three of the “lead” people mentioned above are from Poland, of whom 868 were killed. Others were June 6th, we should also take time delivered from funeral receptions, or local restaurants quick to give credit to the MANY volunteers they subjected to exhausting labor and pseudo-medical to honor the Catholic men and such as Panera’s, Outback, and Carrabba’s are available work with. Everyone involved in planning, cooking, experiments.” women who died resisting the to serve. He says that in July and August food donations Nazis during World War II. Their are low, and the pantry is a little bare, so creativity is or serving at any one of these meals is humbled by the Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar from Poland, acts of bravery should inspire especially important. He has made his mom’s special gratitude of the clients, and the satisfaction of sharing refused to sign the Deutsche Volksliste, a pledge us all to fight evil wherever we hotdish with potatoes, onions, and meat, which was time and talents. If you would like to contribute your that would have granted him rights similar to those encounter it. In the words of St. well-received. In response to a St. Raphael Church treasure, time, or talents to these efforts, you can call any of German citizens, provided he shut down his Maximilian Kolbe, “the poison of announcement 38 years ago, Fred helped during the first of the people listed above, or watch for announcements monastery and acknowledge his ethnic German our time is indifference.” Thanksgiving dinner served there. Under the direction in the bulletin. 6 St. Maximilian Kolbe 3 St. Raphael St. Raphael School Students “Go Make A Difference” In Spite of COVID-19 Continued from Page 1 Second-grade students have attended virtual field year we are proud to announce that those students added a food drive to benefit the students at St. trips to Washington, D.C. as well as the Great Lakes were 2nd graders Adele Roe and Glenn Forbes and Leo. To end the year, the seventh and eighth-grade Science Center. Third graders got to “visit” the 8th graders Charlotte Harter and Liam Sweeney. classes participated in a Virtual Baccalaureate Mass, Coral Reefs of Palau, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Charlotte and Liam participated in our virtual May Honors Assembly, and then sent off the 8th-grade and Churchill, Canada – the Polar Bear capital of the Crowning. Adele and Glenn had lead roles in our students with a Virtual Graduation. world! Fourth-grade students practiced their poem- Spiritual Olympics virtual Rosary. Congratulations writing and math facts, learned about the Beatitudes, and thank you to these students for being such great Being thrown into the pandemic situation with and even participated in a virtual novel study. Our examples of Christian ladies and gentlemen.” our 654 students and sixty staff members could fifth-grade students were blessed to have a virtual have been horrifying, however, our teachers hit the retreat led by Dr. Andy Kereky and Fr. Tim! The virtual May Crowning was recorded and made ground running from the first day, continued the available for all to stream on Tuesday, May 12th. rigorous learning in the current curriculum, reflected When it comes to music, the members of the upon and evaluated what was happening with their Beginning Band, Cadet Band, and Concert Band As for the SRS Spiritual Olympics, it was held students, and then adapted to provide the highest have enjoyed 1:1 lessons with Mr. Wirfel via Google virtually on Friday, May 15. “This year our students quality learning experience for our students. I am Hangouts and Zoom and produced the first-ever attended the 9:15 all-school Mass, reached outto extremely proud and humbled by the amount, and Saint Raphael School “virtual band concert”, with friends and family through social media, email, quality of work completed by our students, the each band presenting three songs. Students studied and telephone went on a spiritual scavenger hunt, support of our families, and dedication from our Sergei Prokoviev’s “Peter and the Wolf”, created completed a Spiritual Olympics craft; proudly wore teachers that make us a family at Saint Raphael. melodies using Song Maker in Chrome Music Lab, their SRS spirit wear, sang along to their favorite We do not know for certain what August will look composed musical compositions on QGrooves, and songs, and ended the day with an all-school Rosary. like, but I do know we will be ready to serve our practiced with their recorders via screencasts. Along the way, Home and School provided a video community of students and families to live out our mission at Saint Raphael School! The art classes provided endless fun while students materials in a variety of formats, including ebooks tribute from the students and a Socially Distant learned from home. Our students completed weekly, and audiobooks. Even though our STREAM (Science, parade to celebrate our teachers where the school open-ended Creativity Challenges that stretched Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) center their innovative muscles, using materials they found was shut down, STREAM was alive and well at SRS around their houses. To round out the specials, SRS during the remote learning. Miss Skonce provided students followed Mrs. Brownson’s daily workout endless STREAM learning opportunities to our students calendar, dancing, stretching, doing yoga, and many that they could perform at home with their families. more physical challenges. I would dare to say that the entire Remote Learning experience was an adventure in STREAM learning Sixth graders, meanwhile, stayed connected via finding new solutions for problems, sharing thoughts, a daily 10:00 am Zoom chats with their teachers and trying new ideas! and classmates. Many dogs, cats, and guinea pigs enlivened the meetings. Most importantly, the The school (along with PSR families and the rest of classes continued to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet the parish) came together on Tuesday mornings to weekly. Seventh graders learned to use an online experience Virtual All-School Masses. Even from a presentation platform, Prezi, to showcase a report distance we still worshiped together and were fed by on modern Social Justice Heroes for their classmates. God’s Word broken open for us by Fr. Tim and Fr. Eric. Finally, to provide additional support, our amazing Special Education Team and classroom aides jumped Beloved programs like the May Crowning and Spiritual in to support individual learners through virtual 1:1 Olympics still continued, just virtually. “As in the tutoring sessions with our students. past, we asked our Junior High, Specials, and 2nd- grade teachers to select students who represent and Everyone has enjoyed 24/7 access to the SRS demonstrate those qualities that would make them Virtual Library, and students in all the grades have fitting to represent Saint Raphael School as members been learning how to use library resources and of Mary’s crowning court,” says Mr. Andrachik. “This 4 5 St. Raphael St. Raphael School Students “Go Make A Difference” In Spite of COVID-19 Continued from Page 1 Second-grade students have attended virtual field year we are proud to announce that those students added a food drive to benefit the students at St. trips to Washington, D.C. as well as the Great Lakes were 2nd graders Adele Roe and Glenn Forbes and Leo. To end the year, the seventh and eighth-grade Science Center. Third graders got to “visit” the 8th graders Charlotte Harter and Liam Sweeney. classes participated in a Virtual Baccalaureate Mass, Coral Reefs of Palau, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Charlotte and Liam participated in our virtual May Honors Assembly, and then sent off the 8th-grade and Churchill, Canada – the Polar Bear capital of the Crowning. Adele and Glenn had lead roles in our students with a Virtual Graduation. world! Fourth-grade students practiced their poem- Spiritual Olympics virtual Rosary. Congratulations writing and math facts, learned about the Beatitudes, and thank you to these students for being such great Being thrown into the pandemic situation with and even participated in a virtual novel study. Our examples of Christian ladies and gentlemen.” our 654 students and sixty staff members could fifth-grade students were blessed to have a virtual have been horrifying, however, our teachers hit the retreat led by Dr. Andy Kereky and Fr. Tim! The virtual May Crowning was recorded and made ground running from the first day, continued the available for all to stream on Tuesday, May 12th. rigorous learning in the current curriculum, reflected When it comes to music, the members of the upon and evaluated what was happening with their Beginning Band, Cadet Band, and Concert Band As for the SRS Spiritual Olympics, it was held students, and then adapted to provide the highest have enjoyed 1:1 lessons with Mr. Wirfel via Google virtually on Friday, May 15. “This year our students quality learning experience for our students. I am Hangouts and Zoom and produced the first-ever attended the 9:15 all-school Mass, reached outto extremely proud and humbled by the amount, and Saint Raphael School “virtual band concert”, with friends and family through social media, email, quality of work completed by our students, the each band presenting three songs. Students studied and telephone went on a spiritual scavenger hunt, support of our families, and dedication from our Sergei Prokoviev’s “Peter and the Wolf”, created completed a Spiritual Olympics craft; proudly wore teachers that make us a family at Saint Raphael. melodies using Song Maker in Chrome Music Lab, their SRS spirit wear, sang along to their favorite We do not know for certain what August will look composed musical compositions on QGrooves, and songs, and ended the day with an all-school Rosary. like, but I do know we will be ready to serve our practiced with their recorders via screencasts. Along the way, Home and School provided a video community of students and families to live out our mission at Saint Raphael School! The art classes provided endless fun while students materials in a variety of formats, including ebooks tribute from the students and a Socially Distant learned from home. Our students completed weekly, and audiobooks. Even though our STREAM (Science, parade to celebrate our teachers where the school open-ended Creativity Challenges that stretched Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) center their innovative muscles, using materials they found was shut down, STREAM was alive and well at SRS around their houses. To round out the specials, SRS during the remote learning. Miss Skonce provided students followed Mrs. Brownson’s daily workout endless STREAM learning opportunities to our students calendar, dancing, stretching, doing yoga, and many that they could perform at home with their families. more physical challenges. I would dare to say that the entire Remote Learning experience was an adventure in STREAM learning Sixth graders, meanwhile, stayed connected via finding new solutions for problems, sharing thoughts, a daily 10:00 am Zoom chats with their teachers and trying new ideas! and classmates. Many dogs, cats, and guinea pigs enlivened the meetings. Most importantly, the The school (along with PSR families and the rest of classes continued to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet the parish) came together on Tuesday mornings to weekly. Seventh graders learned to use an online experience Virtual All-School Masses. Even from a presentation platform, Prezi, to showcase a report distance we still worshiped together and were fed by on modern Social Justice Heroes for their classmates. God’s Word broken open for us by Fr. Tim and Fr. Eric. Finally, to provide additional support, our amazing Special Education Team and classroom aides jumped Beloved programs like the May Crowning and Spiritual in to support individual learners through virtual 1:1 Olympics still continued, just virtually. “As in the tutoring sessions with our students. past, we asked our Junior High, Specials, and 2nd- grade teachers to select students who represent and Everyone has enjoyed 24/7 access to the SRS demonstrate those qualities that would make them Virtual Library, and students in all the grades have fitting to represent Saint Raphael School as members been learning how to use library resources and of Mary’s crowning court,” says Mr. Andrachik. “This 4 5 Remembering the Fallen of World War II St. Raphael by Ashley Herzog ancestry. In 1941, Kolbe was imprisoned at Auschwitz, of the legendary Sister Corita Ambro, those first efforts where he continued to hear confessions and hold secret have swelled into a massive outreach program, and Fred Mass in defiance of Nazi orders. After a prisoner escaped Feeding the Hungry has continued his participation. the notorious death camp, Nazi guards selected ten by Joy Horvath men to be starved to death in an underground bunker On the second Wednesday of every other month, lunch “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty to discourage future escape attempts. One of the men, is served to adults at the West Side Catholic Center. and you gave me drink.” - Matthew 25:35 Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out in anguish, “My wife! Diane Gardner (703-973-0224) organizes the volunteer My children!” Kolbe offered to take his place. Gajowniczek cooks, bakers, and servers. On the menu is glorified St. Raphael is a giving parish, with bountiful food survived the concentration camp, while Kolbe died after chili—with pasta, cheese, sour cream—along with salad collections during Lent, in July, and at Thanksgiving. two weeks without food and water. He was canonized as and bread, and dessert. On average, 130 adults, mostly We have well-attended pancake breakfasts to raise a saint in 1982, forever defined by his most famous quote, men, are served by six volunteers. Some volunteers money for various charitable efforts. Many members “For Jesus Christ I am prepared to suffer still more.” prepare chili at home, according to a recipe from Diane; of our parish drive for meals-on-wheels, pick up and others purchase salad ingredients. Diane feels the chili, In Navahrudak, Poland, ten nuns from the Holy Family deliver unsold bakery items, or cook for shut-ins. But In many countries, springtime is marked with full of vegetables and protein, is well-received because of Nazareth were killed by the Gestapo after they offered what about actually preparing and serving food to various holidays commemorating World War it’s a spicy Mexican dish. The clients give special to die in place of local villagers. They were led into the hungry groups of people outside of the parish? There II. On April 20, the world observed Holocaust attention to the dessert choices: various gourmet cakes, woods, shot, and buried in a mass grave. Sara Salkahazi, are three places of note where generous parishioners Remembrance Day, which honors the eleven pies, and bars prepared by the baker extraordinaire, the founder of Hungary’s Catholic Women’s League, plan, prepare, and serve meals. million people—including six million Jews— Kathy Hegeman. How did St. Raphael get involved? was executed for the crime of hiding Jewish women and killed in Nazi death camps. This international About five years ago, Diane learned about the lunch children at her convent. Salkahazi and scores of other On the second Monday of each month, ten women of the day of mourning is followed by two holidays program, and requested that our parish be included on victims were shot and tossed into the Danube River. parish prepare food for the St. Malachi evening dinner. celebrating the triumph of Allied troops over the Together with volunteers from other parishes, they the schedule. Axis powers. May 8th marked “V-Day,” or Victory Today, sixty pairs of iron shoes along the riverbank commemorate the victims; like the Navahrudak nuns, prepare all parts of a given menu at home, and deliver Day. June 6th marks D-Day, the day American it to the St. Malachi Church Hall, to be served to guests. troops stormed the beaches at Normandy with the Salkahazi is beatified as a Catholic martyr. She is also recognized by Israel as one of 600 “Righteous Among Carol McDonald (440-835-1750) is a 30-year veteran goal of liberating Nazi-occupied France. D-Day of the program. She became involved through a St. was the first domino to fall in freeing Europe from Nations,” non-Jews who helped rescue Jewish people during the Holocaust. Raphael Parish announcement back in the time of Father the Nazi’s grip—and eventually, liberating the Callahan. Over the years, she and other cooks have concentration camps. While modern historians and the media have shed light prepared massive amounts of food according to needs But during the various days remembering the on the failings of the Vatican during World War II, there of the program: sometimes kielbasa or Italian sausage, horror and triumphs of World War II, one group were many clergy members who used their monasteries baked chicken, or scalloped potatoes. They donate their of World War II victims is sometimes overlooked: and convents to hide Jews from the Gestapo. In Italy, time and treasure to feed 300 to 500 people at those Catholic priests and nuns who lost their lives Father Giuseppe Girotti arranged for Jewish families to be evening meals, and many families take advantage of the resisting the Nazis. They don’t have their own hidden in private homes and arranged escape routes out dinner. of the country. He died in the Dachau concentration camp holiday, but many are recognized by the Catholic When St. Augustine hosts their Sunday dinner, St. church as saints and beatified martyrs. in 1945. In Belgium, about 3,000 Jews—mostly children— were hidden in convents throughout the country. Overall, Raphael parishioner Fred Bangeman (216-288-1006) and “Catholic clergy of various nationalities died as it is estimated that Catholic clergy helped save a hundred his volunteer crew are there to prepare and serve meals martyrs at other Nazi-run camps,” reports the thousand Jewish lives during the Holocaust. to 80 to 100 people, 90% of whom are men. When he Catholic magazine Crux. “Of the nearly 2,800 arrives, Fred checks the pantry for ingredients, then uses clergy of all denominations incarcerated at the Nazi As we honor the sacrifice of his creativity to devise a menu. Often, it includes pasta concentration camp of Dachau, 1,773 were priests American troops on D-Day every or rice with some kind of sauce. Frequently, “leftovers” All three of the “lead” people mentioned above are from Poland, of whom 868 were killed. Others were June 6th, we should also take time delivered from funeral receptions, or local restaurants quick to give credit to the MANY volunteers they subjected to exhausting labor and pseudo-medical to honor the Catholic men and such as Panera’s, Outback, and Carrabba’s are available work with. Everyone involved in planning, cooking, experiments.” women who died resisting the to serve. He says that in July and August food donations Nazis during World War II. Their are low, and the pantry is a little bare, so creativity is or serving at any one of these meals is humbled by the Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar from Poland, acts of bravery should inspire especially important. He has made his mom’s special gratitude of the clients, and the satisfaction of sharing refused to sign the Deutsche Volksliste, a pledge us all to fight evil wherever we hotdish with potatoes, onions, and meat, which was time and talents. If you would like to contribute your that would have granted him rights similar to those encounter it. In the words of St. well-received. In response to a St. Raphael Church treasure, time, or talents to these efforts, you can call any of German citizens, provided he shut down his Maximilian Kolbe, “the poison of announcement 38 years ago, Fred helped during the first of the people listed above, or watch for announcements monastery and acknowledge his ethnic German our time is indifference.” Thanksgiving dinner served there. Under the direction in the bulletin. 6 St. Maximilian Kolbe 3 ThisRemembering Issue: the Fallen of World War II I Promise to Love and Honor St. Raphael School Students “Go Make You Until Death Do Us Part 1 A Difference” In Spite of COVID-19 Flowers of the Fairest: St. Mary in the Garden by Maggie Brady By Dianne Borowski Flowers of the Fairest: 2 St. Mary in the Garden Did you know that many flowers and plants commonly found blooming this In August of 2022, God willing, my husband summer in Northeast Ohio gardens were actually named after Our Lady, or Norbert and I will celebrate our 50th wedding have special Marian symbolism? It’s true! In fact, many people plant a “Mary 3 Feeding the Hungry anniversary. We met 50 plus years ago through garden” full of these flowers as a gesture of devotion to our Blessed Mother. a Catholic singles group. We eventually began Here are just a few plants with special significance to Our Lady. Do you have dating, and the rest is history. Remembering the Fallen any growing by your front porch or in the back yard? 6 of World War II I will never forget the moment I stood before Marigold – The name means “Mary’s gold.” In the medieval period, people Father Costello on that hot, sunny Saturday used marigolds to make cheese and medicine. Its beautiful golden hue I Promise to Love and Honor You morning, reciting my marriage vows, when I 7 Until Death Do Us Part reminded people of Mary’s crown in Heaven. Marigolds also sometimes “weep” which symbolizes Our Lady of Sorrow. Dew gathers in the flower finally realized how serious a commitment I during the night and then drips off like tears when it opens in the morning. was making. I stumbled slightly over the words 8 Covid-19 Notice Shakespeare wrote about “the Marygold that goes to bed with the sun, / as I felt tears form in my eyes. When I placed And with him rises weeping.” flowers before the statue of Our Blessed Mother I prayed for the strength to live up to my vows Daisy – Traditionally called “Mary’s star.” A beautiful as a newly married Catholic woman. legend says that upon reaching Bethlehem, one of the Wise Men saw a lovely daisy blooming that looked just After our honeymoon we returned to the reality like the star they’d been following. When he bent down of married life. I will admit I did not easily to pick it, the door of the stable opened and he caught adjust to my new role. Sharing my life with Life is good. We are now proud grandparents. Our his first glimpse of the Holy Family. another after having been single until I was 31 life has changed as we’ve aged. We still face many challenges but we always turn to God for guidance. Clematis – Also called “Virgin’s Bower.” An old story found myself, at times, frustrated and confused. Norbert now resides in a nursing home. I am not able says that this vine supposedly helped conceal Our Lady Our parish priest at the time recommended we and the infant Jesus during their flight from King Herod make a Marriage Encounter and we did. This to visit him often due to health and transportation into Egypt. When she got up to continue on the way, experience changed my life and strengthened problems but we talk frequently on the phone. Norbert the plant was covered with beautiful white blooms, a our marriage. I will always be grateful for is already planning a party for our 50th wedding gift from God to commemorate its role in protecting the Marriage Encounter. We were blessed with 2 anniversary. He is working on the guest list and menu Rose – Of course, being the Holy Family. so far. I reminded him that there are no guarantees we queen of the garden, a rose children, our daughter Lori and our son Dan. Years later we adopted Jason and Jackie. It is a will live to celebrate that day. He reassured me that Impatiens – These shade friendly flowers were once is also a beautiful symbol for long story, but I’m certain God brought these “God always answers our prayers and I pray every day called “Mother Love,” because their constant blooming the queen of Heaven. One that we will celebrate our 50th anniversary.” Of course called to mind Mary’s never-ending love. They were also of Our Lady’s titles is Rosa children into our lives to become a part of our he is right. God does answer our prayers, perhaps sometimes called “Our Lady’s Earrings” because of their Mystica (Mystical Rose), family. delicate, curving stems. It may seem funny to imagine and her life is foreshadowed not always as we wish, but He does answer all of our Our family faced the same struggles many St. Mary wearing ear-gear like our moms, but why not! in the Song of Songs as prayers. We are blessed. “the Rose of Sharon.” The families face. At times we lived paycheck to great Jesuit poet Fr. Gerard paycheck and dealt with some serious health Manley Hopkins wrote a issues. I worked the night shift for 20 years in poem called Rosa Mystica in a group home for Intellectually Disabled Adults Marriage Resources: which he said, to supplement the income from Norbert’s job. Worldwide Marriage Encounter We decided early in our marriage that God “The rose in a mystery, where is it found? www.wwme.org would be a central part of our married life. We Is it anything true? Does it grow upon ground? — * Helps good marriages become even better It was made of earth’s mould but it went from men’s eyes went to church as a family and prayed together. And its place is a secret and shut in the skies. Had it not been for our strong faith I don’t Retrouvaille (pronounced Retro-vi) In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine believe we would have overcome some of the www.helpourmarriage.org/ Find me a place by thee, mother of mine.” challenges we faced as a couple and as parents. *A lifeline for couples in troubled marriages 2 St. Maximilian Kolbe 7 June 2020 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE St.RaphaelSt.Raphael PAIDPAID CHURCH CHURCH Cleveland, OH 44101 525 Dover Center Road 44101 525 Dover Center Road Permit No. 703 BayBay Village, Village, OH OH 44140 44140 Saint Raphael