Saint Michael Parish
Welcomes You
Our Worship Environment
From the Pastor:
While the window of our patron, together with the Archangels Gabriel and Raphael, is spectacular – the new Saint Michael Shrine provides a wonderful opportunity for quiet prayer and devotion. I have often spoken about the “corners or prayer” once held within many of our Church buildings. The ability to stand before an image of a Saint, possibly light a candle, and invite their intercessory prayer for a particular need. How blessed we are that the parish community continues to offer support for this project through the special second collection each month. While I am extremely appreciative of the many people who have sponsored so many of the projects here, whether they be the mosaics in the sanctuary furnishings, the marble images of Anne & the Child Mary and John the Baptizer and Jesus, the new stained-glass windows in the gallery, other statues, the lighting project, and many more, it has always been important that the shrine area to our patron be the generosity of the entire parish community. I invite everyone over the coming weeks to allow themselves a quiet moment before our patron and to invite his intercession as we seek to come together and increase our faith in, hope for, and charity toward one another. Again, thank you to the many who continue to offer their support and encouragement of the parish through our many projects, activities and endeavors.
On Wings, We Rise – Father Lavelle
One of the recent projects here at Saint Michael is the Gallery connecting the Church and the Parish Hall. The windows had been in need of replacement and the grassy area directly in front in need of drainage. We had the opportunity to renovate this area using Stained Glass Windows which originally were part of the former Saint Joseph the Provider Church in Campbell. Our gallery has eight double sets of windows (16 in total), each measuring 38” wide and reaching 91” in height. The figures in the windows are of a similar style to the windows added to our Church around 2000. They depict the 12 Apostles, Mary (Our Lady of Lourdes) and Joseph, Saint Paul and Saint Anne. The cost of obtaining the windows and installing them (minus some structural work) was $5,000 each. All of the windows have been sponsored. This project will add a vibrant color to the Church, and will also allow us to join in saving treasures from a local parish that unfortunately, no longer exists.
In the summer of 2021, we commissioned a new baptismal font and tabernacle stand for our sanctuary, sponsored by the Altar Guild. At that time, it was determined, that with these new pieces being added, we could enhance the mosaics. We added two new mosaics to the front of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph altars, as well as placing new mosaics on the Altar and Ambo. The existing wooden structures remain. The mosaics were shipped from Italy and arrived just in time for Easter, 2022.
The Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph were united to create a Holy Family Shrine, and the Tabernacle has been placed to the right of the sanctuary, creating a Blessed Sacrament area.
THANK YOU also to the people who sponsored the new mosaics for the sanctuary, as well as the creation of a new baptismal font and tabernacle stand. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by everyone as we come together to worship in word Word and Sacrament. Alleluia, Alleluia!!
Altar of Sacrifice – Robert & Jennifer Smallwood, Jr
Ambo – Mark & Michelle Billy
Blessed Mother Altar – Anthony & Vicki Ricci
Saint Joseph Altar – Joseph & Nancy Mosca
Blessed Sacrament Shrine – Altar Guild
Baptismal Font – Altar Guild
Risen Christ – a gift to the parish
In time for the Easter Triduum, 2023 we were not only able to install the beautiful mosaic of the Holy Spirit above the Tabernacle – sponsored by the Herrmann Family, but we were able to add a statue of Pope Pius X, the “Pope of the Eucharist” to our Blessed Sacrament Shrine.
We installed larger statues of the Blessed Mother and Child Jesus and Saint Joseph in the Holy Family Shrine area.
These new images were carved by the same company in Italy that carved, Joseph, Pius X, along with the mosaic, all come from now closed Churches in the Warren area, namely the former Saint Joseph and Saint Pius X, which merged to create Saint Pope John Paul II, which is not closed and merged into Saints Mary and Joseph in downtown Warren. Not only do these images complement our Church design, but this allows us to honor some past communities in our own diocese. There was a cost to acquire the three statues. The cost paid to the restoration company was $2,500 per statue. If anyone is interested in sponsoring these images, please contact
the parish office.
Additionally, we relocated the smaller statues of the Blessed Mother and Child Jesus and Saint Joseph to the Sacred Heart Chapel (bell tower area).
The image of Christ in Repose from Good Friday, we believe came from Saints Cyril and Methodius in Youngstown, now merged into Our Lady of Sorrows. We are not seeking sponsorship since it is used just one day a year, but it is nice to have this image challenge us on that day, as well as honor another former community in our area.
CHURCH BANNERS
The banners for Palm Sunday (which will also be used for Pentecost and Confirmation) were in memory of Anthony Sano,
a gift to the parish from his wife, Deborah.
The banners for the Easter season are in memory of Tony Peluso, a gift from his wife, Roseann and friends.
Thank you to all for these gifts to the parish and your affection for your loved ones.