The temperatures this summer had been let’s just say above normal, and some days just very uncomfortable. But on July 26th, the Feast day of St Anne, it was beautiful. The humidity was down, temps a little cooler. St Anne blessed us with an absolutely beautiful blue sky!
As the Cleveland Diocese participates in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, we as a diocese are privileged and honored to have not one but two Holy Doors: Cathedral of St John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine.
The Cleveland District held their St Anne’s Day Celebration at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid, Ohio. We started our celebration by entering through the Holy Doors with confession for anyone who wished to go, followed by Mass. Fr. Gerard Gonda, O.S.B was the celebrant with co-celebrants Fr. Thomas Sanders, O.S.B, Fr. Frank Basa, Dr. Anthony Sejba, Fr. Robert Marva, O.F.M, CP Fr. Pail Aveni.
After a beautiful mass, everyone headed to St. Anne’s Hall for lunch prepared by the Sisters and volunteers of the Shrine. As always it was delicious. Fr. Gerard introduced the District Board and the home office employees who were in attendance. District Secretary Barbara Sekerak introduced our Scholarship Winner – Jake Sweeney, Veronica Montani, Andrew Sabol, Ashley Birko and Hannah Wintucky followed by having their photos taken with their families. We concluded our luncheon with what is now known as “The Endless Raffle”
The final celebration of the day was the recitation of the Rosary followed by Benediction. Fr. Gerard, Br. Louis and Fr. Lawrence Jurak led the procession to the Shrine’s Grotto for the second and third mystery of the rosary.
Ruth Novak and the choir members from St. Wendelin’s Parish led the congregation in song and praise at the Mass and Benediction.
To see photos from the event, visit the FCSLA Cleveland District photo gallery.
