Priests are often asked to make sense of this world (which at times seems a failing proposition, especially now). But Jean-Félix Picard, who was both a priest and an astronomer, became the first person — lay or clergy — to give humankind an accurate idea of our planet’s size.

Click here to read more...

Please join us this weekend as we celebrate the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Our 5pm Vigil and our 9:30am Masses will be live-streamed on our website and on Facebook .

Growing in Faith August Issue

US Conference of Catholic Bishops Bulletin Insert Live the truth and beauty of God’s plan for married love!

Dear Saint Rita Parish,

Thank you for supporting this year's Youth Ministry Rummage Sale! We became very aware early on how much God had his hand on the sale. Many doors needed to be opened in order for it to happen safely, and God opened every single one of them! Due to your generous donation of items we were able to have our most successful year yet, bringing in $12,377! A very special thank you to all our amazing adult and teen volunteers who made this annual event happen. Without the help of volunteers, that sale would not have been possible. This money will help us with our goal of providing teens opportunities to encounter Christ. With so many unknowns before us, this money will help us enter into a whole new era of youth ministry.

One question we get asked every year is, "what happens to the items that are left over?" We donate these to various organizations that are in need. Every year is slightly different, depending on what that need is. Local charities that have been helped by our Rummage Sale include: Thea Bowman Center, Family Promise, St. Vincent de Paul, Woman Kind, West Side Catholic Center, and many other organizations. We work very hard to use this ministry to provide for as many groups as we can. Once all the ministries have been served, a Goodwill truck comes and takes the rest. The items you donate have provided so much in their “second life," instead of taking up space in a landfill.

We LOVE hearing about parishioners who keep a “rummage sale shelf," but we also understand that not everyone can hold onto items for a year. In the next bulletin, we will share various locations you can donate to throughout the year. If you don’t mind holding onto items for us, then we look forward to taking them next summer in the 2021 Rummage Sale!

Thank you again,

Youth Ministry/ Rummage Sale Team  

We are still accepting donations for Christmas in July. Please click here for a list of items we are collecting.

This is this last week to drop off donations in the Family Room. You are welcome to stop by Saturday, August 1 from 12:00pm - 6:30pm, Sunday, August 2 from 7:00am - 3:00pm, and Tuesday, August 4 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm . All items will be donated to local charities.

As of June 30, 2020, Fr. Burchell retired as Pastor after 15 years of serving Saint Rita. Many parishioners have asked how they can celebrate Father's impact on our parish community. Fr. Burchell has a great passion for Catholic education. For those wishing to make a monetary donation in honor of his leadership, we are excited to present The Rev. Richard K. Burchell Educational Fund to help support the Saint Rita Merit Scholarship program and future parish educational initiatives. The school and Faith Formation remain our largest ministries and integral to maintaining our vibrant parish. To make an online donation please click on one of the links below.

Today on our virtual tour of Saint Rita, we feature the PRIEST’S SACRISTY and SACRARIUM . The Sacristy and the Sacrarium are not typically seen by many in the congregation, yet they play a very important role in the preparation and conclusion of Mass. Did you know…

The priest’s sacristy is located at the back of church. It is a room where the priest and altar servers prepare for Mass. Special clothing and objects that are used during Mass are stored here. The priest, or MAIN CELEBRANT , wears a long white robe called an ALB under his vestments. He wears a CHASUBLE and STOLE over the alb. The priest also wears a STOLE when he celebrates a sacrament. The stole and chasuble are different colors. During Lent and Advent, the robe color is PURPLE , a symbol of penance. At Christmas and Easter, the robe color is WHITE , a symbol of resurrection, birth, and rebirth. On Good Friday, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, and major martyrs’ feast days, the color is RED , a symbol of the majesty of Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit. During Ordinary Time, the celebrant wears GREEN , a symbol of hope. On the feast days of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the priest wears WHITE or BLUE to symbolize her purity.

The SACRARIUM is a special sink with a metal cover that drains directly into the ground, not the local sewer system. Vessels that held the consecrated body and blood of Jesus are washed in the sink. Sacred vessels are stored in a safe or locked room. Among these include the chalice, ciborium, paten, creuts, and monstrance. Only water is permitted to be poured down this special sink. Any remaining Precious Blood must be consumed by Eucharistic ministers or the priest before the chalice is cleaned in the sink.

FUN FACT: The priest who is vested for Mass is a witness to the historical roots of dress. The alb and chasuble puts the emphasis on his liturgical role, and the priest’s body is “hidden” in a way that takes him away as the center of the liturgical action and recognizes the true source and summit of the celebration, Jesus Christ.

This program is easy, self-pacing, and suitable for all ages!

We invite you to learn more about Saint Anne and Saint Joachim. Join us in Google Classroom for Catechesis tools, prayers, and crafts! Enter code w3mlkco.

It's Christmas in July at St. Rita School! Principal Sikora and school staff was on campus to unpack 15 brand new smart screens this week! These will accommodate all the new laptops that have been outfitted in all academic classrooms, Kindergarten to 8th grade. Thank you to all of those who worked tirelessly on/or donated to our annual #walkathon campaign. $60,000 was raised to outfit our new classrooms with this new technology!

School will be opening soon, and so will the After School Childcare Program. To guarantee your child a space in the program, please register now. The registration form can be found and downloaded from the school website under the Resources tab. Please complete the form and mail to St. Rita School, Attention: Rosanne Stark, 33200 Baldwin Rd., Solon, OH 44139 or you may scan and email it to  strita.aftercare@gmail.com . The registration fee will be billed on your first invoice. Any questions, please contact Rosanne Stark at 216-570-8218.

Saint Rita School is looking to hire a qualified and energetic aftercare assistant. The program operates Monday - Friday from 2:30pm to 6:00pm, when school is in session. Responsibilities include supervising registered students in grades K-8, interacting with parents and other school staff and faculty, adapting to behavioral and educational needs of the children, and applying appropriate conflict management skills when needed. At this time, we are looking to hire an assistant for all five days or just two to three days, whichever best fits your schedule. To apply, please email your resume to  strita.aftercare@gmail.com  or call Rosanne Stark at 216-570-8218.

In sympathy, we remember Jennifer Miller, wife of Brandon Miller, and mother of Samantha and Ava. Please remember her and her family in your prayers.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

If you have a special prayer request, we encourage you to email the Saint Rita Parish Prayer Network at prayernetwork@stritaparish.com.

Please remember in your prayers the following … Nicole May, Mary Preisler, Mary Jane Aveni, Delores Krasnodembski, Art Madsen, Gregory Broad, Cheryl Joyce, Ian Wright, Russell Masetta, Sherry Woolery, John Caetta, Jane Gladish, Joe & Madeline Giordano, Lauren Sautter, Richard George, Katie Ayres, Sandra Wisner, John Lechner, Ron Simpson, Richard Lesky, Jonathan Sedor, Lisa Moulding, Maddie Tripodi and Kathy Babareka.