You may have wondered why there was no Cleveland News in English on the airwaves of Tevynes Garsai this morning. It was simply a matter of too much news and/or too little time.
As Aldona was wrapping up the Cleveland News in Lithuanian, I looked at the clock, which read 9:14 and some seconds. Looking at the list of news items I had compiled, I estimated I would need 7 to 10 minutes.
While we've pushed back the start of the Gyvenimo Varpai segment by a minute or two on occasion to accommodate a special interview, I didn't feel comfortable displacing Gyvenimo Varpai so significantly. Starting the parish program late means it also ends late, which leaves an odd, short amount of time to work with at the end of the show.
Bottom line: in live radio we make second by second decisions, for better or worse in hindsight. My fingers are ultimately the ones controlling the buttons in the air studio, and I made a decsion to skip the Cleveland News in English for one Sunday. I felt it was better to do that, than to rush through it, or drastically alter the structure of the nine o'clock hour.
And besides, you can read everything I was going to say on the air in the post right below this one. The on-air version of the news will return next Sunday.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
April 26, 2009
Our condolences to the family of Joanna Stepas-Steponavicius who passed away this week. The funeral mass was held yesterday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The complete obituary is available online at Cleveland.com. Joanna's twin sister Emilija died very recently on March 6th of this year.
Condolences also to the family of Dr. Victor Apanius, who died unexpectedly at age 52 on Sunday, April 12th. Victor Apanius was the son of Vincas Apanius of Chesterland, and was a professor of biology at Florida International University and at Wake Forest University.
The April 19th edition of Amerikos Lietuvis featured an article written by Nomeda Vucianas about the St. Kazimiero Lithuanian Saturday School children who visited the Lithuanian Cultural Garden on March 7th under the supervision of Aida Bublyte-OMeara. The full article (in Lithuanian) is available online here.
Congratulations to the Zaibas over-35 men's basketball team, which won the recent SALFASS basketball tournament played in Cleveland. See the complete article (in Lithuanian) in Amerikos Lietuvis and online at alietuvis.us. Photos of the tournament are available on Shutterfly.
Congratulations to Loretta Cipkus-Dubray, who was recently recognized as a 2009 YWCA Woman of Achievement. Loretta is the daughter of Stasys and Dana Cipkus, and a graduate of John Carroll University. She is currently the CEO of Global Clinical Communications in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Congratulations to Dr. Anthony Bacevice, who was recently elected president of the 5,000 member Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio. In addition to his medical activities and involvement with St. George parish, Dr. Bacevice also hosts the program Healthlines, which airs three times each week on WCLV/104.9 FM. A little-known fact about Dr. Bacevice is that he was a board operator at WCLV back in the 1960's.
The Cleveland Cavaliers look to close out their first round playoff series this afternoon against the Detroit Pistons. Tipoff for Game 4 is at 3:30 pm at the Palace of Auburn Hills, with TV coverage on WEWS Channel 5, and on the radio at WTAM 1100.
In order to continue working on the parish merger process, the St. George Parish Council and its parish merger committee met on April 21st. Various committees necessary to implement the parish merger were named, as well as people needed to serve on them. During the coming months, the St.George committee members will be working with their counterparts from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, in order to manage the process of forming a new, united parish for Catholic Lithuanians in Greater Cleveland.
The parish merger committees from both parishes will meet this Tuesday, April 28th, to coordinate the committees needed and to discuss their future activities.
Gintaras at Lithuanian Village will offer a Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 10th, from 11:30 to 1:30. Reservations are required, and you can call Ruta at 440-669-4145 for details.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish invites you stop by the upper hall for a cup of coffee after 4:00 pm mass on Saturday, May 16th, or after 12 noon mass on Sunday, May 17th. Ruta is also looking for volunteers to help with yard cleanup, spring cleaning and landscaping in and around Lithuanian Village.
Lithuanians will go to the polls to elect a new president next month, and Lithuanian citizens living in Cleveland can cast their vote from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the lower hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunday May 17th. Contact Honorary Consul Ingrida Bublys at 216-486-8692 for more information.
On Saturday, May 30th, the Lithuanian youth groups Svyturys and Naujoji Intriga will perform a concert entitled "Tree of Life: A Celebration of 1,000 years of Lithuania". The event gets underway at 6:00 pm on May 30th in the auditorium at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Mark your calendar for Abiturientu Balius or Graduates Spring Fling, coming up on Saturday, June 6th at Lithuanian Village.
The Baltic community of Greater Cleveland will gather on Sunday June 14th to commemorate the 1941 deportations of Baltic peoples to Siberia. The prayer service begins at 3:00 pm.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
April 19, 2009 - Atvelykis
Our condolences to the family of Dana Verbyla, who passed away suddenly last week. A memorial service was held for Verbyla this past Tuesday at Jakubs & Son Funeral Home. Complete obituary online…
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Algis Penkauskas, who recently underwent surgery.
Tevynes Garsai welcomes Julius Veblaitis, who is a new online listener from New Jersey.
Last Sunday's Plain Dealer Metro section featured an article on Alex and Freda Kunevicius and how they met and married during World War II. The article is available at Cleveland.com, along with a short video of the couple, who have been married 62 years now.
Yesterday, Raimundas Obalis and his choir from Rochester, NY were in town to make a recording with Svaja at St. George's in preparation for the Song Festival coming up in Vilnius this July.
Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers on their 102-84 domination of the Detroit Pistons yesterday in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Z contributed 12 points in the win. Game 2 will be Tuesday at the Q, with tipoff at 8:00 pm. The game will be televised by TNT and Fox Sports Ohio. Game 3 is Friday in Detroit at 7:00 pm, with TV coverage on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio.
The pastors of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishes, together with their two representatives, met on April 14th. Also present at the meeting was deacon Jim Amstrong, appointed by Bishop Lennon to be in charge of the entire diocesan parish merger/closure process.
The topic of the meeting was choosing the parish closure date, which must be submitted to the bishop by April 22nd. The parish merger process requires that both parishes close, and both pastors along with their respective staffs resign. Approximately one week later, the newly formed parish opens with a new pastor and staff.
Committee members have decided to submit a suggested closing date of October, 2009. Bishop Lennon will make the final decision regarding the exact dates for closure and opening and is expected to announce his decision some time in the middle of May. We will make that information available to you as soon as we have received it.
The next merger team meeting will take place on April 28th with the goal of establishing committees needed to handle various merger details, and suggesting persons who would head up and work on the committees.
This morning, the Lithuanian Girl Scout Auxiliary will present an Atvelykis Brunch from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the lower hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Proceeds from this brunch will go to the parish.
St. George paris will also celebrate Atvelykis today after 10:30 mass this morning.
Today there will be no Buffet at Gintaras because of the Atvelykis celebrations at St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. If you’re not going to Atvelykis, you can stop by Gintaras for a cepelinai or three.
Gintaras at Lithuanian Village will offer a Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 10th, from 11:30 to 1:30. Reservations are required, and you can call Ruta at 440-669-4145 for details.
Ruta is also looking for volunteers to help with yard cleanup, spring cleaning and landscaping in and around Lithuanian Village.
Lithuanians will go to the polls to elect a new president next month, and Lithuanian citizens living in Cleveland can cast their vote from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the lower hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunday May 17th. Contact Honorary Consul Ingrida Bublys at 216-486-8692 for more information.
The Baltic community of greater Cleveland will gather on Sunday June 14th to commemorate the 1941 deportations of Baltic peoples to Siberia. The prayer service begins at 3:00 pm.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Algis Penkauskas, who recently underwent surgery.
Tevynes Garsai welcomes Julius Veblaitis, who is a new online listener from New Jersey.
Last Sunday's Plain Dealer Metro section featured an article on Alex and Freda Kunevicius and how they met and married during World War II. The article is available at Cleveland.com, along with a short video of the couple, who have been married 62 years now.
Yesterday, Raimundas Obalis and his choir from Rochester, NY were in town to make a recording with Svaja at St. George's in preparation for the Song Festival coming up in Vilnius this July.
Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers on their 102-84 domination of the Detroit Pistons yesterday in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Z contributed 12 points in the win. Game 2 will be Tuesday at the Q, with tipoff at 8:00 pm. The game will be televised by TNT and Fox Sports Ohio. Game 3 is Friday in Detroit at 7:00 pm, with TV coverage on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio.
The pastors of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishes, together with their two representatives, met on April 14th. Also present at the meeting was deacon Jim Amstrong, appointed by Bishop Lennon to be in charge of the entire diocesan parish merger/closure process.
The topic of the meeting was choosing the parish closure date, which must be submitted to the bishop by April 22nd. The parish merger process requires that both parishes close, and both pastors along with their respective staffs resign. Approximately one week later, the newly formed parish opens with a new pastor and staff.
Committee members have decided to submit a suggested closing date of October, 2009. Bishop Lennon will make the final decision regarding the exact dates for closure and opening and is expected to announce his decision some time in the middle of May. We will make that information available to you as soon as we have received it.
The next merger team meeting will take place on April 28th with the goal of establishing committees needed to handle various merger details, and suggesting persons who would head up and work on the committees.
This morning, the Lithuanian Girl Scout Auxiliary will present an Atvelykis Brunch from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the lower hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Proceeds from this brunch will go to the parish.
St. George paris will also celebrate Atvelykis today after 10:30 mass this morning.
Today there will be no Buffet at Gintaras because of the Atvelykis celebrations at St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. If you’re not going to Atvelykis, you can stop by Gintaras for a cepelinai or three.
Gintaras at Lithuanian Village will offer a Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 10th, from 11:30 to 1:30. Reservations are required, and you can call Ruta at 440-669-4145 for details.
Ruta is also looking for volunteers to help with yard cleanup, spring cleaning and landscaping in and around Lithuanian Village.
Lithuanians will go to the polls to elect a new president next month, and Lithuanian citizens living in Cleveland can cast their vote from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the lower hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunday May 17th. Contact Honorary Consul Ingrida Bublys at 216-486-8692 for more information.
Mark your calendar for Abiturientu Balius or Graduates Spring Fling, coming up on Saturday, June 6th at Lithuanian Village. Please contact Vilija Klimas at vilija@nasvytis.com or Shirley Kizys at 216-554-9729 for more information, and especially if you have a graduate in your family this spring.
The Baltic community of greater Cleveland will gather on Sunday June 14th to commemorate the 1941 deportations of Baltic peoples to Siberia. The prayer service begins at 3:00 pm.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
April 12, 2009 - Happy Easter!
Our condolences to the family of Antanas Razgaitis, who died recently in New York. Contributions in the memory of Antanas Razgaitis are suggested to the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, 600 Libery Highway, Putnam, CT 06260. A detailed obituary (in Lithuanian) is available here.
Condolences also to the family of Irena Susinskiene, who died here in Cleveland last week. Contributions in the memory Irena Susinskiene are suggested to the Camp Dainava Foundation. The complete obituary can be found here.
Happy Birthday and Ilgausiu Metu to Alexandra Sagys, who is celebrating her 92nd birthday today. Best wishes for many, many more.
Congratulations to Vida Cyvaite Lock, who was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumnae Award from Ursuline College. Vida directs the Cleveland State University School of Nursing.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help church will celebrate Easter mass of the resurrection at 12 noon today. There is no 10:00 am mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help this morning.
The Lithuanian Club & Village will be closed today in observance of Easter.
Coming up next Sunday, April 19th, the Lithuanian Girl Scout Auxiliary will sponsor an Easter Brunch from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the lower hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Proceeds from this brunch will go to the parish.
If you missed the glass jewelry making class at Lithuanian Village back in February, you have another chance coming up on Saturday, April 25. Contact John Yagoda at 440-309-0488 for more information and reservations.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
April 5, 2009
Best wishes to Ona Banioniene, Ruta Degutis, and Marija Marcinkevicius, who celebrated birthdays this week.
A special welcome to all athletes who are in town for this weekend’s Zaibas Seniors Basketball Tournament.
The pastors of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishes, together with their two representatives met this past Tuesday, March 31st.
Their first job is to decide on the closing date for both parishes and submit the closing date document to the bishop by April 22nd. Committee members will be continuing their discussions and consult with their respective parish councils in order to come to the final decision regarding the closing date of both parishes. They have agreed to come to a final decision about the closing date at their next meeting scheduled for April 14th.
An informational letter addressing various questions about the merger process will be distributed at both parishes today. Please take a copy home and read it. The English version of this letter is also available online in a posting below.
Father Bacevicius, pastor of St. George Parish, will hold the second open parish meeting today.
The meeting will take place in the St. George parish hall, immediately following the 10:30 Mass. He will give the latest information concerning the merger of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishes and answer any questions you may have.
Vaiko Vartai i Moksla will present a fundraising dinner today after 10:00 mass, in the lower hall at OLPH. All proceeds go to fund programs supporting disadvantaged and orphaned children in Lithuania.
Also this morning, OLPH will be collecting non-perishable food items for those in need during the Easter season. Collection boxes are available in the back of the church.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help church will celebrate the Easter Vigil at 8:00 pm on Saturday, April 11th, and Easter Sunday masses at 8:00 and 12 noon on April 12th. The full schedule for Holy Week Services at OLPH can be found online at olphofcleveland.org.
On Good Friday, April 10, Lithuanian Village will offer a Lenten Buffet from 5 – 8 pm, along with a book signing by Dorothy Chapon Kazel, sister-in-law of missionary nun Dorothy Kazel who was killed in El Salvador in 1980. Chapon-Kazel’s new book "The Voice: A Missionary's Call to Give her Life" will be on sale.
The Lithuanian Club & Village will be closed Easter Sunday, April 12th.
Last Sunday, when I announced the 2009 officers for Council 25 of the Knights of Lithuania, I neglected to mention that Fr. Gediminas Kijauskas is the spiritual advisor to the Cleveland Vyciai, as he has been for many, many years.
If you missed the glass jewelry making class at Lithuanian Village back in February, you have another chance coming up on Saturday, April 25. Contact John Yagoda at 440-309-0488 for more information and reservations.
Parish Merger Information
The following letter was distributed to members of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishes in this weekend's church bulletins.
Many parishioners have questions regarding the bishop’s decision to merge the parishes of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH). This document attempts to address five main questions:
When will the merger of St. George and OLPH parishes take place?
St. George Parish
Rev. Joseph Bacevice
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
Rev. Gediminas Kijauskas
Many parishioners have questions regarding the bishop’s decision to merge the parishes of St. George and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH). This document attempts to address five main questions:
- When will the merger of the two parishes take place?
- What will be the procedure for merging the two parishes?
- What will be the name of the newly formed parish?
- How will the newly formed parish assume the liabilities and assets of St. George?
- Who will be the pastor of the newly formed parish?
When will the merger of St. George and OLPH parishes take place?
The suggested merger date will be agreed upon and submitted to the bishop by the pastors of both parishes. The suggested date must be submitted within the next few weeks (but no later than April 22, 2009).What will be the procedure for merging the two parishes?
The suggested merger date may be this calendar year or the next, but no later than June 30, 2010. It is important to understand that the date submitted by the pastors is only a suggested date. There is a good chance that the bishop will set the date himself.
The bishop needs to coordinate the reassignment of priests from closed and merged parishes throughout the diocese. Moreover, the bishop has expressed his desire to be present at as many parish closing and opening Masses as possible.
Because the reorganizations during the upcoming year will affect more than 50 parishes, it only stands to reason that the final decision for the closing date will depend in large part on the overall diocesan reorganization schedule.
The word “merger” is somewhat misleading. In fact there are two events – closing and opening: Both parishes close. Both pastors and their respective staffs resign. After a short time (perhaps within a week), the newly formed parish opens with a new pastor and staff.What will be the name of the newly formed parish?
During the aforementioned diocesan meeting, each parish received a comprehensive (nearly 200 page) manual, which explains in detail the various steps and procedures needed to accomplish the merger.
Among other directives, the manual recommends the formation of various committees which, in addition to the parish council, would plan and execute merger related tasks in the following areas:As is evident, there will be much work in planning and executing the merger process.
- finances, facilities and legal matters
- parish staffing and administration
- liturgy and worship
- education/formation and youth ministry
- parish life and social activities
- internal and external communication
- parish archives
According to the information currently at hand, the opening of the newly formed parish is likely to occur within a few days of the closing of both parishes. Because this interim period is so short, it appears that a temporary diocesan administrator will not be appointed to serve during this brief period of time.
The bishop requests the submission of 3-5 names for the newly formed parish, including the rationale for the names chosen. The date for submission of names has not been announced as yet. It is the bishop’s recommendation and wish that the name of the newly formed parish be a new name. Here again is it important to note that the final decision regarding the name of the newly formed parish rests with the bishop.How will the newly formed parish assume the liabilities and assets of St. George?
According to merger procedures, the newly formed parish assumes the assets and liabilities of both parishes. St. George currently has a debt of approximately a half million dollars. This amount has accrued during the past twenty years or so, due to partial payment of diocesan assessments and collections. The debt also includes property and health insurance payments made by the diocese on behalf of St. George.Who will be the pastor of the newly formed parish?
The principal assets of St. George are its 3 acres of property. The value of the buildings and land is unknown at this time. Once the merger is complete, responsibility for the maintenance and sale of these assets may be turned over to the diocese.
According to merger rules, proceeds from the sale of any real estate will belong to the newly formed parish, after deducting the cost of maintenance and sale.
It is important to take note of the diocese’s public statement regarding debts. The diocese does not want old debts to be an unbearable burden to the newly formed parish. In the diocese’s words, it will be possible to pay “some affordable amount” toward past debts “over time”. The possibility of reduction of past debts is not directly mentioned in diocesan documents. On the other hand, it would appear that the diocese intends to be flexible in its collection of moneys owed.
It is possible that the diocese could appoint one of the current pastors (St. George or OLPH) to be the pastor of the newly formed parish. The diocese could also have some other alternative in mind, such as appointing a priest of whom we as yet have no knowledge. So far – it’s anyone’s guess. In this matter the bishop will make the final decision as he sees fit.April 2, 2009
It is important to note that the bishop plans to announce the new pastor well in advance of the opening of the newly formed parish. According to current information, the new pastor will be identified 6-8 weeks prior to the opening of the newly formed parish. So when the bishop sets the opening date of the newly formed parish, it will also be possible to estimate when the new pastor will be announced.
St. George Parish
Rev. Joseph Bacevice
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
Rev. Gediminas Kijauskas
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