Feb 02, 2023

Greetings,

This Saturday is our 50th annual International Festival! Come on over to Zwisler Hall for a variety of foods, games for the young ones, entertainment and general mayhem. Your fun night out helps keep our sanctuary well stocked and in good repair. To that end, when we took our monstrance in for repairs and re-plating last Tuesday, they gave us a loaner monstrance so that we wouldn’t have to put our monstrance that we use for very special occasions through too much handling. So, what you will see during adoration on Tuesdays is a temporary vessel that you will not recognize. Our regular monstrance, which was donated by the Kraus Family in memory of the nephew of Robert Kraus who was the architect of all of our buildings, should return to our altar at the beginning of Easter. It is thanks to the Sanctuary Society and to all of you who come to the International Festival that we are able to take care of our sacred things so well. Thank you!

IN OTHER NEWS:

WORK AROUND ST. SEBASTIAN: According to the schedule that we have been given, work was already supposed to have begun (and be almost finished) on the water lines along Mull Avenue by now. We had a meeting with the city last week about some other matters and were able to inquire about the Mull Avenue project. While it is true that things are a little behind, the end product is still predicted to be completed on time. More information on this project and on the meeting concerning the Mull/Hawkins Circle will be in Thursday’s Angelus Letter.

On our own property, work continues in the updating of sound, lighting and technology in Zwisler Hall. It has been a little frustrating as we have encountered delay after delay due to one difficulty or another. But things are beginning to come together now. The new sound system appears to be ready to go and tried out at the International Festival. A work crew has been in this week replacing the lighting on the stage and preparing for other equipment to be installed and there is a date for Sound Loop to be added! There is light at the end of the tunnel.

A new Public Address system has been completed in the school, playground and over at Byrider Hall, all paid for by a safety grant! Forty additional speakers have been installed, 4,000 feet of cable laid and a new “command center” put in place. Also, a date has been proposed for the re-bricking of the school courtyard. It is hoped that, at least the part that would affect pre-school drop off, would be completed during spring break. Say a little prayer for that.

SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS: That is how much it costs the parish to educate a child at St. Sebastian Parish. Parishioners who regularly participate in Mass and parish life here can receive a scholarship around $1,900. Additionally, we provide discounts for multiple children. This difference is made up for by the greater parish through the collection, grants, fundraisers and now through the Angel Scholarship Program (thank you to everybody who participated) which garnered our school about $83,000 this year. Next weekend we have our annual St. Sebastian Spectacular Dinner and night out, our largest fundraiser of the year. This fundraiser helps cut the cost of educating our children by providing funds for tuition, salaries and projects that would otherwise need to come from the collection or our students' pockets. Thank you to our outstanding crew, I look forward to another fabulous event! And thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and plans on being there to help keep St. Sebastian Parish School strong.

JAZZ FESTIVAL: Our annual Brick Street Jazz and Wine Festival is looking for sponsors. Contact Cathy Sivec at 330- 836-2233 to get information.

ORGAN: Remember the floor organ that was once in our church? We have been storing it for some time hoping that, either we would find another use for it, or that we might find a good home for it elsewhere. There were bites here and there but so far nothing has come to fruition. Well, now our warehouse has “lost its lease” and our free storage is coming to an end. If you know of anybody who is interested in any way concerning this instrument (or parts thereof) a transaction must be completed by February 10. Please contact me or Lynn Steward 330-836-2233.

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck