The Church of Saint Rita
March 5, 2021 eBulletin
Celebrate the 4th Sunday of Lent
St. Rita Church Exterior
Each Friday throughout Lent, we will host Stations of the Cross at 2:00pm. Please join us in-person or watch via live-stream on the parish website, YouTube, or on Facebook Live.

This weekend's Masses will be live-streamed at 5:00pm on Saturday and 9:30am on Sunday.
Please Share Your Feedback with this 10-minute Survey
The Cleveland Diocese has prepared a Disciple Maker Index (DMI), an anonymous survey of parishioners. Your input is valuable to the parish staff and Fr. Behrend. It'll help us:
  • identify how we presently support growth and discipleship
  • look for opportunities to support future growth
  • make decisions and plan effectively
  • determine where to focus evangelization efforts
Saint Rita Parish Ministry Updates
8th Grade Scholarship Opportunity

Each year, Saint Rita Parish will award a $500 scholarship to an 8th grade student. To be considered for the Rev. Richard K. Burchell Scholarship, an applicant must be a parishioner or Saint Rita School student, a current 8th grader, and must be committed to continuing his/her education at a Catholic high school in the fall of 2021. Click the image to learn more.
Holy Hour with Benediction

Fr. Janoch will host Holy Hour with Benediction on Thursday, March 25th at 7:00pm in the Church. This will also be live-streamed on our website and on our Facebook page.
Materials Pick-up

Just a friendly reminder that PSR families should stop by the Family Room between 9:00am and 12:00pm on Sunday, March 14, 2021 to pick up their April materials. 8th and 9th graders can also pick up their teen booklets at this time.
Teen Night

Join the Saint Rita Youth Group for a Teen Night on Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 5:00pm following the 4:00pm Family Mass.
Mass for Families and Children

Please join the Family Fellowship Ministry for a Family Mass on Sunday, March 21 at 4:00pm. Please note the time change. After Mass, families are invited to participate in a Lenten Scavenger Hunt around the Saint Rita campus and enjoy pre-packaged doughnuts to go!
Calling all Bakers!

The Thea Bowman Ministry Ouis in need of bakery for its next meal on Saturday, March 20, 2021. Items like brownies or cookies placed in a snack sized zip lock bag is appreciated. Please drop these off to the Parish Office on Friday, March 19, 2021 between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Having that special homemade goodness is really appreciated by those we serve!
CRS Rice Bowl

Timor-Leste has the highest rate of child malnutrition in Asia, and many children suffer from stunting, which makes a big impact on a child’s growth and future. Home gardens and fishponds are helping families provide better nutrition for their children. What do you eat to stay healthy? What can you do to ensure children have enough food to thrive?
This Lent, commit to our global human family through prayer, weekly fasting and almsgiving. What you give up for Lent changes lives. Visit CRS Rice Bowl to learn more.
.
Need a meatless meal? Try this Batar Da’An recipe available here.
Prayer During Lent

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

During Lent, Catholics focus on three practices: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. But how can we pray?

Here are 8 ways to focus on prayer this Lent:
  • Make your abstinence a prayer in action
  • Reflective Prayer
  • Pray the Stations of the Cross
  • Meditate with Lectio Divina
  • Reflect on Liturgical Prayer
  • Join or start a prayer group
  • Pray as a family
  • Start a practice of daily prayer after Lent

To learn more, click here: 8 Ways to Pray During Lent
PRAYER. As a Saint Rita parishioner, you have a complimentary account with Formed! Click the image to access Lenten Resources for the whole family.
FAST. Many parishes throughout the diocese are hosting a Lenten Fish Fry! Click the image to get a list of these parishes.
GIVE. Consider a donation to the annual Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl. Click the image to donate on behalf of Saint Rita Parish.
Meet our RCIA Candidates!

Meet Melissa! Melissa grew up in Chardon and is a Pharmacist for Walgreens (suffice it to say, things have been very busy for Melissa lately!) She and her husband Todd met in college and have two children who attend Saint Rita School. Connor is 8 and Mackenzie is 6 1/2 (note the 1/2)!

Melissa's husband is Catholic, and Melissa has been attending Mass at Saint Rita since Connor was in preschool. Their family has been parishioners since 2014. After making the decision to choose Catholic education for her two children, Melissa decided it was time for her to begin the process of becoming Catholic. This year is exceptionally special because Connor will make his First Communion, and Melissa, a new Catholic, will be able to receive with him!

Throughout the RCIA process, Melissa is most excited about getting a better understanding of all the parts of the Mass. Melissa's college friend Jackie is her sponsor. Jackie has a strong Catholic background and when Melissa first mentioned to her about becoming Catholic, Jackie told her that when she was ready, she'd be there to journey with her.

Melissa loves the entire Saint Rita community - parish and school. "My family is my world, and I can't wait to expand that into the Catholic family."

It's oftentimes said how we are to have "child-like faith." We especially love when children are the catalysts of change. So many of our RCIA brothers and sisters have been led to this process because of their children's questions, curiosity, and appetite for more. We're so fortunate to bear witness to this, and we welcome Melissa to our Saint Rita community!

RCIA is the process through which adults who have not been baptized or catechized hear the message of Christ and enter into the Catholic faith. This year, we are so fortunate to have five RCIA candidates who are preparing to join our Saint Rita community!
Saint Rita Day School
Flight of the Falcon

Meet Brittan! Brittan graduated from Saint Rita School in 2003. She attended Saint Rita from 1st through 8th grade, and while a student, played CYO volleyball, basketball, and softball. She also participated in "Power of the Pen," Girl Scouts, Ski Club, and Student Council.

Brittan loved playing sports, particularly basketball. The school had a strong, competitive team which made for very exciting basketball seasons! In her final year, the Falcons finished second in the City Championship. Additionally, Brittan loved attending weekly Mass. Her grandma would attend, and that was special to see her (and it's not just because Grandma would slip a few Starbursts into Brittan's hands!)

Brittan later attended Gilmour Academy where she played volleyball, swam, served on the Student Council, Honor Council, worked with the Radio Club, and was in the Cum Laude Society and National Honor Society (whew!) Later, she attended the University of Notre Dame and majored in business. She's worked for both Target and General Mills, and relocated to Cleveland to pursue a career in Financial Advising. She's also the founder and CEO of SavviHer, an educational company devoted to helping empower women to own their financial future. She lives in Chagrin Falls with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

Though she's now a Fighting Irish (she's working on teaching her young boys the ND Fight Song!) she's still a Falcon through and through. For Brittan, "Saint Rita is a great place filled with an even better community of wonderful classmates, friends, and families. I loved my time as a student because I blossomed there and learned how to think critically, serve others, and become a loving member of a community. I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to grow and build my faith foundation during those formative years." Thank you, Brittan!

If you or someone you know would like to be featured as a Falcon Flier, please email Michelle Petitti at mpetitti@stritaparish.com.
Spring Sport Registration is Open!

Registration is now open for spring sports. Saint Rita parishioners in grades K-8 or school students are welcome to participate. Click image to learn more. Sports include: Rugrat Track (grades K-2), CYO Track (grades 3-8), Boys and Girls Lacrosse (grades 3-8), instructional golf (grades 2-8).
Mass Times and Stewardship
The Church of Saint Rita | Website