ABOUT LITTLE HEROES
When the word, '"Hero," is used,, many people think of such Super Heroes as Superman, Spiderman, and Batman, all of whom have extraordinary powers and abilities, and who use these powers and abilities to fight evil and protect good. To other people, the title, "Hero," might invoke thoughts of athletes who made a game-winning shot, or a last second touchdown pass, bringing their team to a triumphant victory.
Well, I'd like to introduce you to a new type of Hero, whom I have had the chance to witness and meet in person. This new type, who might be better known by the title, "Little Heroes," shows extraordinary power, has the courage to make that last second shot or effort to bring on victory, and yet retains the ability to have fun and smile, even with some of the harshest of sicknesses attacking them. They are our children who are fighting cancer, and you can find them anywhere in the world.
On January 21, 2008, my wife, Lisa, and I were told that our three-year-old son, Jason, had Leukemia. At that moment, when we were given the news about our son, our lives changed and our hearts broke. In the days that followed, a team of doctors told us about the treatment plan, and what our son was about to endure. It was impossible to understand how a little boy, who was so playful and happy, could be so sick and have such an evil sickness attacking his body.
As the days went by, we learned a lot about things described by words and names that parents hope never to have to use in the same sentence with their children. We saw our son sicker then we have ever seen him, with medical equipment attached to him that made it seemingly impossible, in our minds, for him to do anything but lay in bed. For a previously very active 3 year old, this inactivity was basically unimaginable.
As we progressed through the first round of several rounds of treatment, we were told by others that children are strong and handle such treatment better than adults because they are young. Even though it was nice to hear about children being strong, it never really hit home till about 3 weeks into our son's first round of treatment. Three weeks into his treatment, Jason was as sick as I have ever seen him. He was fighting cancer. The chemotherapy had wiped out his immune system. He hadteflitis, an intestinal problem. And, on top of everything else, Jason had developed right side heart failure.
He was transferred from the cancer floor, where he had been for the past 3 weeks, to intensive care. Jason slept almost continuously, and, when he woke, was very groggy. About the 4th day in intensive care, Jason showed extraordinary power and courage to not let evil conquer his body. His heart was showing tremendous - miraculous - signs of improvement, and he was not as groggy when he woke, showing renewed signs of strength. We were told that Jason would be returning back to his room on the cancer floor, a major victory in itself. Once back on the cancer floor, it was not a week until Jason had pulled a complete "180," and was back on his feet, laughing, playing and being...well...like Jason again.
The rounds of treatment that followed were challenging, but mild, compared to our first-round experiences. Jason would be sick at first, just wanting to stay in bed while his immune system was down; but then, he would fight back quickly and would be back on his feet chasing the nurses, playing with toys and doing crafts. During the times when Jason was allowed out of his room, recovering as his immune system strengthened, we met other children fighting similar battles to Jason's. It was so amazing to see the smiles on the children's faces as they played or worked on crafts, even though they were still tethered to a medical pole for most of the time, receiving medicine. Seeing these children and their bravery in taking on cancer, and yet enjoying life and having fun, made me realize that I was witnessing some truly heroic behaviors.
Jason finished three total rounds of chemotherapy before being sent to another hospital for a bone marrow transplant. Jason's transplant was the harshest battle that his little body was forced to face, but he never surrendered. He spent nearly 2 months in the hospital, confined to his transplant room, before being discharged for another 2 months, only to be confined to our living quarters. During the time spent in the hospital, my wife and I met other families with children also having bone marrow transplants. Today, almost a year after his transplant, Jason is home playing with his sister, Nicole, his Mom and Dad, and is enjoying each and every breath of life.
Witnessing the heroic acts of Jason and all the other children, and understanding the impact to the families of the children, I have decided to spread the word of the battles being fought by all the little heroes out there, and to also seek your help in supporting these families as they stand by the sides of their children. No battle with cancer is easy, and there are numerous little heroes and their families doing battle right now, as you read this, that are in need of our help. Please help us help the families of the children...theLittle Heroes...fighting cancer.
Men's Discussion Group
Potential Topics
The use of violence in self-defense: a right ? A duty? An evil? Questions and Answers on Gospel Nonviolence: mp3 file on compact disc available in rectory
What should we think about angels and their importance in our lives? Our Sunday Visitor center section from 9/23/07, available in rectory.
How can we understand the 9th and 10th commandments today? Everyday Catholic website for September and October 2007
Why don't we hear much about the Seven Deadly Sins anymore? “Never mind sloth, lust and gluttony - but look out if you're a cruel, bigoted adulterer,” Richard Jinman, The Guardian, 2/7/05; cartoons >here<; and webpage “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Is Purgatory a Blessing? Fr. John Corapi DVD available in rectory: Judgment, Purgatory, Heaven, Hell
Why does it matter whether there is a Devil? “The Devil—Yes, He Does Exist,” Bishop Sheen VHS cassette available in rectory.
Is there room for manliness in the Church today? Article from Crisis magazine, “The New Catholic Manliness”
What are the reasons that people do evil? Column by Dennis Prager and mp3 file of broadcast
BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO ACCOMPANY
SUMMARY OF PARISH CLUSTERS IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND
Bishop Richard Lennon sent a letter on February 5, 2007 to each parish indicating its cluster configuration. The accompanying list summarizes all parish clusters at this time.
SOME OF THE KEY POINTS NOTED IN BISHOP LENNON’S LETTER
GRATITUDE
Bishop Lennon expressed his gratitude for the impressive amount of work and deliberation given this discernment of parish clusters by pastors and parish leaders throughout the Diocese. He is pleased with the many excellent pastoral insights parishes expressed in their cluster proposals. He also expressed appreciation for the extensive amount of time and care given to the review process by the Vibrant Parish Life – Phase II Committee and by members of the Diocesan staff.
CHURCH PRESENCE AND PASTORAL CARE
Individual parishes were notified of their cluster configuration with a statement from the Bishop in which he conveyed his hope that parishes would receive this cluster grouping as an organizational framework to strengthen the unity and presence of the Catholic Church and provide pastoral care in an equitable manner.
CRITERIA USED IN FORMING CLUSTERS
At meetings held during Lent of 2006, parish leaders received a list of objective and subjective criteria to use in discerning cluster proposals which were to be submitted to the diocese by October 1, 2006. From October through January of 2007, parish proposals were carefully studied in light of these criteria in the diocesan review process by the Vibrant Parish Life – Phase II Committee, Bishop Lennon and his staff. Further consideration was given to issues of pastoral and fiscal soundness, the common good of the Church, and forming clusters that will work.
Criteria included parish clusters typically with 2-6 parishes and a minimum of about 2000 households; manageable geography; sacramental needs; workload; neighborhood needs; shared mission and workable fit; existing relationships; common history; and capacity for cluster work.
Almost every parish is clustered with at least one of the parishes named in its proposals, if not several or all the parishes named.
NEXT STEPS
Pastors have been asked to share the Bishop’s letter with the parish subcommittee responsible to discern cluster proposals, the parish pastoral council, finance council and pastoral staff, as well as with parishioners, realizing a final decision on all clusters will be made by April 30th.
Pastors and parish leaders may request further consideration before the clusters are finalized by contacting Bishop Lennon’s office with a written summary of their concerns by March 2.
Bishop Lennon will send a letter in March to describe steps in selecting parish representatives to serve on cluster planning teams and the training schedule for these teams.
In early May, Bishop Lennon will send a letter which will finalize all clusters, identify significant issues and challenges that will need to be addressed in certain clusters, and describe the next steps in the process.
Summary of Clusters as Presented By Bishop Lennon February 5, 2007
These are the cluster groupings presented in letters sent to parishes by Bishop Lennon on February 5, 2007. Following his review of any further considerations from parishes, Bishop Lennon will make a final decision on all clusters by April 30, 2007. Clusters are listed within the Thirteen Diocesan Districts. In some cases parishes are clustered with parishes located in different districts. In these cases, the present listings are arbitrarily placed and do not assume any change in district membership or parish status.
Cleveland Central East District
| Cathedral of St. John St. Peter Conversion of St. Paul | St. Vitus Immaculate Conception St. Andrew St. George St. Francis St. Paul Croatian | St. Adalbert St. Agnes – Our Lady of Fatima St. Aloysius – St. Agatha St. Philip Neri |
| St. Jerome St. Mary Holy Redeemer Our Lady of Perpetual Help | ||
Other Central East Parish: St. Casmir – See Cleveland Southeast District
Cleveland Central West District
| Sagrada Familia Our Lady of Mt. Carmel St. Colman St. Stephen St. Procop | Community of St. Malachi St. Malachi St. Patrick St. Wendelin | St. Augustine St. John Cantius Our Lady of Mercy St. Andrew Kim |
| St. Barbara Blessed Sacrament St. Boniface St. Michael the Archangel St. Rocco | ||
Other Central West District Parish: St. Emeric – See Hungarian Cluster on last page
Cleveland Northwest District
| Our Lady of Angels St. Patrick – West Park Ascension Annunciation | St. Mark St. Mel St. Vincent De Paul St. Ignatius SS. Philip and James | St. Thomas More – Brooklyn Our Lady of Good Counsel Corpus Christi St. Leo the Great St. Charles Borromeo - Parma |
Other Northwest District Parish: St. Rose – See Suburban West District
Cleveland Southeast District
| St. Hyacinth Our Lady of Lourdes St. Stanislaus St. Casmir | St. John Nepomucene Sacred Heart of Jesus Immaculate Heart of Mary St. Lawrence Holy Name | St. Catherine St. Timothy St. Henry |
| Epiphany St. Cecilia Our Lady of Peace | ||
Other Southeast District Parish: St. Elizabeth of Hungary – See Hungarian Cluster on last page
Suburban East District
| St. Paul – Euclid St. Christine – Euclid St. William – Euclid St. Felicitas – Euclid St. Robert – Euclid Holy Cross – Euclid | St. Clare – Lyndhurst St. Paschal Baylon – Highland Hts. | St. Francis of Assisi – Gates Mills St. Anselm – Chesterland |
| Holy Rosary – Cleveland St. Gregory the Great – S. Euclid St. Margaret Mary – S. Euclid | Christ the King – E. Cleveland St. Ann – Cleveland Hts. St. Louis – Cleveland Hts. St. Philomena – E. Cleveland | Gesu – University Hts. St. Dominic – Shaker Hts. |
Suburban Southeast District
| SS. Peter & Paul – Garfield Hts. St. Therese – Garfield Hts. St. Monica – Garfield Hts. St. Martin of Tours – Maple Hts. | St. Mary – Bedford St. Pius X – Bedford Holy Trinity – Bedford Hts. St. Wenceslas – Maple Hts. | Resurrection – Solon St. Rita – Solon SS. Cosmas & Damian – Twinsburg |
| St. Joan of Arc – Chagrin Falls Holy Angels – Bainbridge | ||
Other Suburban Southeast Parishes:
– St. Margaret of Hungary, Orange Village – See Hungarian Cluster on last page
– St. Barnabas, Northfield and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Macedonia – See Summit North District
Lake – Geauga District
| Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – Wickliffe Immaculate Conception – Willoughby | St. Justin Martyr – Eastlake St. Mary Magdalene – Willowick | Divine Word – Kirtland St. Noel – Willoughby Hills | |
| St. Bede the Venerable – Mentor St. John Vianney – Mentor St. Mary – Mentor | St. Anthony – Fairport Harbor St. Mary – Painesville | St. Gabriel – Concord St. Mary – Chardon | |
| Immaculate Conception – Madison St. Cyprian – Perry St. Patrick – Thompson | St. Edward – Parkman St. Helen – Newbury St. Lucy – Middlefield | ||
Other Lake – Geauga Parish: St. Anselm, Chesterland – See Suburban East District
Suburban West District
| St. Adalbert – Berea St. Mary – Berea St. Mary of the Falls – Olmsted Falls | St. Angela Merici – Fairview Park St. Christopher – Rocky River | St. Clement – Lakewood St. James – Lakewood St. Luke – Lakewood SS. Cyril & Methodius – Lakewood St. Hedwig – Lakewood St. Rose – Cleveland | |
| St. Brendan – North Olmsted St. Clarence – North Olmsted St. Richard – North Olmsted | St. Bernadette – Westlake St. Ladislas – Westlake | ||
Other Suburban West Parish: St. Raphael, Bay Village – See Lorain District
Suburban Southwest District
| St. John Neumann – Strongsville St. Joseph – Strongsville | Assumption of Mary – Brook Park St. Peter the Apostle – Brook Park St. Bridget – Parma St. John Bosco – Parma Hts. | St. Basil – Brecksville Assumption – Broadview Hts. St. Matthias – Parma St. Michael – Independence |
| St. Albert the Great – N. Royalton Our Lady of Grace – Hinckley | St. Bartholomew – Middleburg Hts. Holy Family – Parma | St. Anthony of Padua – Parma St. Columbkille – Parma St. Francis de Sales –Parma |
| St. Colette – Brunswick St. Ambrose – Brunswick | ||
Other Suburban Southwest Parish: St. Charles Borromeo, Parma – See Cleveland Northwest District
Lorain District
| St. Agnes – Elyria Holy Cross – Elyria St. Jude – Elyria St. Mary – Elyria Sacred Heart – Elyria | SS. Cyril & Methodius – Lorain St. John the Baptist – Lorain Sacred Heart Chapel – Lorain St. Vitus – Lorain St. Vincent de Paul – Lorain | Holy Trinity – Lorain St. Joseph – Lorain St. Ladislaus – Lorain St. Mary – Lorain Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary – Lorain St. Peter – Lorain St. Stanislaus – Lorain |
| St. Joseph – Amherst Sacred Heart – Oberlin Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary – S. Amherst | Holy Spirit – Avon Lake St. Joseph – Avon Lake St. Raphael – Bay Village | St. Julie Billiart – N. Ridgeville St. Peter – N. Ridgeville |
| Holy Trinity – Avon St. Mary – Avon | Our Lady Queen of Peace – Grafton St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – Columbia Station St. Patrick – Wellington | St. Anthony of Padua – Lorain St. Teresa of Avila – Sheffield Village St. Thomas the Apostle – Sheffield Lake |
Summit North District
| St. Anthony of Padua – Akron Christ the King – Akron St. Hedwig – Akron St. Martha – Akron | St. Eugene – Cuyahoga Falls Holy Family – Stow Our Lady of Victory – Tallmadge | Immaculate Heart – Cuyahoga Falls St. Joseph – Cuyahoga Falls |
| St. Mary – Hudson Mother of Sorrows – Peninsula St. Barnabas – Northfield Our Lady of Guadalupe – Macedonia | ||
Other Summit North Parishes: St. Victor, Richfield and Annunciation, Akron – See Summit South District
Summit South District
| St. Hilary – Fairlawn Guardian Angels – Copley St. Victor – Richfield | Annunciation – Akron St. Bernard – Akron St. John the Baptist – Akron St. Mary – Akron Sacred Heart of Jesus – Akron St. Matthew – Akron | Immaculate Conception – Akron St. Augustine – Barberton Holy Trinity – Barberton |
| St. Sebastian – Akron St. Vincent De Paul – Akron | SS. Cyril & Methodius – Barberton St. George – Clinton St. Andrew the Apostle – Norton SS. Peter & Paul – Doylestown Prince of Peace – Barberton Sacred Heart – Wadsworth | St. Paul – Akron Queen of Heaven – Green Nativity of the Lord Jesus – Akron St. Francis de Sales – Akron |
Ashland – Wayne – Medina District
| St. Edward – Ashland St. Peter – Loudonville St. Stephen – W. Salem | St. Agnes – Orrville St. Anne – Rittman St. Mary – Wooster | Our Lady Help of Christians – Litchfield – Jesus the Christ Child – Litchfield – Jesus the Divine Redeemer – Chippewa Lake – Jesus Emmanuel – Seville-Creston – Jesus the Good Shepherd – Nova/Savannah – Jesus Our Savior – Spencer – Jesus Our Teacher – Lodi |
| St. Francis Xavier – Medina Holy Martyrs – Medina St. Martin of Tours – Valley City | ||
Other Ashland-Wayne-Medina Parishes: – Our Lady of Grace, Hinckley – See Suburban Southwest District
– Sacred Heart, Wadsworth – See Summit South District
Hungarian Cluster
St. Emeric
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Margaret of Hungary
