Around this time of year, and maybe even earlier, we start to hear & see countdowns of how many days remain until the holidays.  There are “x” number of days left until Thanksgiving or there are “x” number of days left until Christmas.  In “normal” years, there are many preparations that go into getting ready for the holidays & this year is no different, though we know & we’ve heard that this year’s holiday celebrations will take on a different look with the continuing pandemic that we are in.

After further review and testing, and as an effort to increase viewership on each parish's YouTube Channel, we will be transitioning the livestream of the Mass over to YouTube beginning on the weekend of Nov. 28-29, 2020, the First Sunday of Advent. Links will be placed on each parish's website and Facebook site beginning the weekend prior, and each weekend thereafter. Parishioners will also be encouraged to "Subscribe" to the Parish's YouTube Channel, which will send them notifications of when the Parish Mass is LIVE on YouTube.

This coming weekend, October 31st - November 1st, the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. Because this great feast falls on a Sunday, there will be NO CHANGE to the Mass Schedule this weekend. Masses will be held on Saturday, October 31st at 5:00 PM, and on Sunday, November 1st at 9:00 AM.

  God, through baptism, has given us the gift of His Spirit to be faithful and loving disciples. May God bless our pastor, Rev. John M. Pfeifer; Senior Parochial Vicar, Rev. Clyde K. Foster; Rev. James T. Klein and all priests throughout the universal Church who give of themselves for Christ’s people.

The Mass Intention Book of 2021 for St. Vincent de Paul Parish will open on Monday, October 26th. There are a couple guidelines to follow, and we kindly ask that you read them. Thank You!

November is a special month in the Church's liturgical calendar. It is the month in which we, in a special way, remember all those who have gone before us in faith. It is the month of All Souls. Here at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, we will remember all those who have died from our parish in the past year with a special Mass on Monday, November 2nd at 7:00 PM, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. We invite you to join us.

Fr. John will offer a special blessing to all animals on Saturday, October 3rd, at 1:00 PM in the East Parking Lot. We ask everyone attending to help maintain social distancing. This blessing of animals relates to the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, whose feast day is October 4th.

Last week, after a two-week hiatus, the celebration of Mass has resumed effective September 9th. We thank you for patience and understanding during these times.

Effective immediately, all Masses, Confessions, Adoration, and activities are cancelled through and including Monday, September 7th!

PRE-BAPTISM CLASS for first time parents will be held in the DePaul Center (former convent) on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 2:00 PM. In light of Covid-19, only 4 individuals will be permitted in the class. Facial masks are required. Please call the rectory at 216-252-2626 to register.

 I come to St. Vincent de Paul and St. Patrick parishes as a Senior Parochial Vicar, ordained 45 years next month. When the retirement age was increased From 70 to 75 “Senior Parochial Vicar” was created to cover the extended time until retirement. I have had a variety of assignments, including campus ministry and parishes in city, inner-ring suburbs, suburbs, exurbs, and country settings.

We are now entering the final week for you to pick up your Summer Raffle Tickets. Tickets can be found in the envelopes at the doors of the church. Raffle tickets with cash are due in to the Parish Office no later than Sunday, August 9th. The drawing of the raffle tickets will be held virtually on the Parish's Facebook page (St. Vincent de Paul and St. Patrick WP) on Tuesday, August 11th at 12:00 Noon.

Join us on Sunday, August 2nd at 3:00 PM for the Divine Mercy Eucharistic Holy Hour, and experience His love and mercy. In order that we may continue this devotion which includes singing, this event will be held via LIVE-STREAM ONLY. It can be viewed by clicking the headline of this story, or by going to svdpcleveland.org/facebook.

This weekend, and for every weekend in July, you will be able to pick up your tickets for our 50-50 raffle at the doors of the church. This raffle normally takes place at the parish picnic, but because of everything going on this year, we are not having the picnic, but we are still having the raffle. Tickets are $2 each & can be dropped off either in the collection basket at Mass or at the Rectory office. Tickets are due in to the Parish Office by Sunday, August 9th.

This Sunday, July 5th, is the First Sunday of the Month. Our First Sunday Divine Mercy Eucharistic Holy Hour will take place at 3:00 PM, and will be available ONLINE ONLY. Simply go to svdpcleveland.org/facebook

Due to some electrical work being done that requires the power of the building to be shut off, there will be no weekday Mass on Wednesday, July 1st. Weekday Mass will be held on Monday, June 29th and Friday, July 3rd this week. Weekend Masses will be at the normal times.

 This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day and so I certainly want to take the opportunity to wish all of our fathers a Happy & Blessed Father’s Day! Thank you too for the continued prayers for my father, at this point he continues to do well and so we are grateful for that. Here in church, we enter once again into the liturgical season of Ordinary Time in a time that has been pretty much anything but ordinary. These past months have certainly changed us, our Church, and our world in so many ways. Right now we are living through a time that is pretty much no way an ordinary time.

Over the last few months, we've heard words such as "cancelled" or "postponed" or "rescheduled" many, many times due to the coronavirus pandemic. We too have had to cancel or postpone a number of different events. Our year-long parish mission, for example, is on hold & I am in touch with our planned speakers to figure out when we want to try giving that a go again.

Unfortunately with everything going on right now, this year’s Parish Picnic is CANCELLED. We will look at either doing something later in the year or celebrating big next year.

Due to rumors of planned protests on W. 130th this afternoon we will be closing the parish office @ 2 this afternoon, 6/2. We will wait to see what transpires before deciding about 8:30 Mass & office hours tomorrow, 6/3.