The Elyria area has been clustering for over a year and the instructions were quite clear: Elyria was to have three functioning Catholic Churches when the process was completed. St. Jude (Website | Profile), St. Mary's (Website | Profile) and St. Agnes (Profile) Parishes will continue. Holy Cross and Sacred Heart (Profile) are to close.

Holy Cross will have celebrated their last Mass on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. to be followed by a catered dinner in the social hall of the United Polish Club. Former Pastor, Norman Gajdzinski is joining Administrator, Father Edmund Goldbach, O.F.M., Conv., and Bishop Lennon for this last mass.

How did I become involved in this Polish Parish since I am not Polish by origin? Some 28 years ago, I found their 8 a.m. weekday mass fit very nicely into my workday schedule. I could stop there, and still be at J. & R. Construction Co. on Warden Ave. for my 8:30 a.m. starting time. This habit has pretty much carried on into my present day schedule.

When Father James D. Schorr was Pastor, he created a Chapel, which makes for pleasant meditation for all in attendance. Daily, Father Goldbach is assisted by ever faithful mass server, Steve Kaminski. Theresa Niegowski offers musical accompaniment on the organ and Agnes Zelinski usually serves as either Eucharistic Minister or Reader. Others fill in where needed, but these three have been the backbone for a long time.

This is Holy Cross' Mission Statement: "We the members of Holy Cross Church are God's People transformed by sacraments to become a servant community of love. We honor our Polish heritage with a renewed ecumenical spirit and our prayerful devotion to all people."

Changing times are requiring many changes throughout the Cleveland Diocese. Thanks to the Priests who have served Holy Cross and to the Parishioners who have opened their hearts to me and my Family. We will never forget the kindness that you have shown to us.

SISTER MARGARET McGOVERN, S.N.D.

When the Elyria Catholic High School (Website | Profile) Alumni gather to honor this year's Distinguished Award winners, two new classifications are being added: Outstanding Educator Award, Sister Margaret McGovern, S. N. D., and Exceptional Service Award, Lou Rotunda.

Graduates to be honored are: Barbara Diedrick, 1952; Richard Mole, 1969, and the late Dave Davies, 1975.

Sister Margaret is a Diamond Jubilean of the Sisters of Notre Dame. She was a teacher at EC in the 1950's and returned as Principal in the 1970's. It was under her tutelage that "Silver Dollar Bingo" came into being at EC.

In the 1950's, she was instrumental in the creation of Friendship Day, which has been expanded to Friendship Week and is now carried on as a tradition at Elyria Catholic. She was also involved with the school newspaper, THE CHALLENGE.

Sister Margaret also assisted with the funding of the Dr. James L. Kolopus Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc., which, today is part of Elyria Catholic's Endowment Fund.

Clearly, her fingerprint continues to be evident even to this day. She loves the Elyria area as is evidenced by the many Class Reunions to which he has been invited. She has attended ALL of the 1956 Class Reunions. The Panther Prowl reports her as a special guest for the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1958. She was also in attendance for the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1957. Her continuing influence on her former students is quite evident.

AN OLD FARMER'S ADVICE

"Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got!"
"Always drink upstream from the herd."
"Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in."
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."