November 15, 2009

Lithuanian Days kicks off with the Virgis Stakenas concert at 8:00 pm this coming Saturday, November 21st at Lithuanian Village, and continues on Sunday, November 22nd with an exhibit at St. Casimir entitled Neregeta Lietuva, or Unseen Lithuania, and a second exhibition at Gintaras on the First Wave of Lithuanian immigration to America.

Tickets for the Stakenas concert can be reserved by calling Zita Macinskiene at 216-235-5212 or at St. Casimir parish after weekend masses. Lithuanian Days is sponsored by the Lithuanian Community of Cleveland, Inc.

Good news from St. Casimir, the new phone numbers are now working. The telephone number at the St. Casimir rectory is 216-481-3157, and the fax number is 216-481-3724. Regular office hours are from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday, with emergencies handled at any time.

St. Casimir church is now accepting Mass intentions for 2010. Individuals and organizations who want specific dates for their Mass should send their list to the Rectory or place the request in the collection basket.

Last week, a new heating system was installed in the St. Casimir rectory, and new heating units for the Church are on order. These improvements were long overdue. When completed, both buildings should be more comfortable in the winter and, most importantly, more energy efficient. However, they were very expensive. The heating systems together cost just under $40,000. Please be generous in your offerings to help recover the cost for this needed work.

Father Bacevicius would like you to know about four employees serving St. Casimir parish. Janet Verbyla is the office and facilities manager. Rita Kliorys is the director of Liturgical music. Maria Bartkus takes care of the church sacristy, sanctuary and the lower hall. And Michael Jackiewicz is in charge of maintaining the parish buildings and grounds.

If anyone would like to serve on a committee to plan and decorate St. Casimir church for Christmas, please contact Father Bacevicius.

Today’s Plain Dealer features an article about the closing of Chagrin Boulevard grocer Chandler and Rudd, which had been in business in Cleveland for 145 years. Owners Ruta Butkute Marino and her husband Sam Marino have decided to call it quits due to the changing nature of the retail grocery market in Cleveland. The article is also available on Cleveland.com, and I’ll have a link on the blog this morning.

WJCU will present Blizzard Bash 09, a benefit for the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland, next Sunday at the Brothers Lounge. Entertainment features the Jack Fords and the 609s. Details available at wjcu.org.