Growing in Faith: PSR
Rev. Charles Strebler • August 16, 2026
“The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ.” – St. John Paul II, Catechesi Tradendae (1979)
Dear Parishioners:
Registration is underway for the 2026-2027 PSR year at Holy Spirit, Avon Lake. We offer in-person session for PSR on Tuesday evening from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and there is also an option for at home/online course. Parents must choose one or the other for their students, the different curricula do not allow for switching between. If an in-person student needs to move online, the student will need to begin the online program from the start.
The registration fee for one child is $75.00. There is a $5.00 off discount per child when registering two or more children. Use the code 5OFF to receive this discount. You can register your child online at Realm for Grades 1 through 8.
The 2026-2027 PSR year begins on Tuesday, September 1 for both the in-person and online programs.
Parent meetings for the new school year will be held on Sunday, September 20 at 6:00 p.m. or on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Katherine Drexel Room off the Atrium in the Holy Spirit Parish Center. At least one parent must attend one or the other of these meetings.
Preparation for sacraments is above and beyond the regular curriculum. First Confession and Communion prep sessions are held once monthly on Sunday morning from 10:15-11:30 a.m. A Parent Meeting for parents of children in Grade 2 who anticipate receiving First Holy Communion in Spring 2027 will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Katherine Drexel Room in the Parish Center. At least one parent must attend.
Confirmation is conferred in Grade 9 (or high school generally) at Holy Spirit, Avon Lake. The Confirmation Preparation Program consists of preparation sessions held once monthly on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. as well as an online component. A Parent Meeting for parents of teens in Grade 9 who anticipate receiving Confirmation in Spring 2027 will be held on Tuesday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Katherine Drexel Room in the Parish Center. At least one parent must attend.
Dr. Hoag and I both take seriously that Christian Education is not about knowing about Jesus, but is about knowing Jesus, having a real relationship with Him. We also affirm that parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. I hold that the places for religious education are: Sunday and Holy Day Mass, the home, and then PSR—in that order! If the first two are not happening, then PSR is not going to do much intellectually or spiritually. This is true not just for our PSR students, but for all of us. We never cease to be learners. Sunday Mass and a home/life where the Lord is present is the foundation on which our intellectual growth is built.
Sincerely,
Rev. Charles F. Strebler
Pastor
“Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."—John F. Kennedy Dear Parishioners: There is a very close working relationship between Holy Spirt and St. Joseph in Avon Lake. We have a common rectory for the two parishes, we share some staff members, we work together on meals for the St. Elizabeth Center in Lorain, we divide the Masses on weekdays, Holy Days of Obligation, and national holidays. The pastors of the parishes know that the people of Avon Lake have their primary parish, but will attend the Sunday Mass that best fits into their schedule, even if it is at the “other” parish. Fr. Ron Wearsch has let me know that beginning the first weekend in September—September 5/6—St. Joseph’s Parish Mass schedule will be changing. It will be: Saturday: 4:30 pm Sunday: 8:15 am 11:15 am 5:00 pm Both parishes will be collaborating to provide confessions on Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm in Holy Spirit Church beginning Tuesday, September 1, 2026. I have said it in some venues, but I want to say it publicly: If Fr. Joe Koopman ever moves on from Holy Spirit we will drop a Mass on Sunday morning and only have two Sunday morning Masses. At this time, I am able to call on a retired priest to assist, but the time may come where that isn’t an option. The church has a capacity of 850 people, and we only get mid-six hundred people total on a weekend; one Mass could serve all our weekend Mass attendees, but we will still have three (One Saturday, tow Sunday.) I promise you that the decision on the new Holy Spirit Sunday schedule will be determined in consultation with the staff, the Parish Pastoral Council, and the parishioners. To be clear: If Fr. Joe Koopman ever moves on from Holy Spirit. He has not given me any indication that he is planning on doing so anytime soon. I can imagine that someday that will happen, whether it is Fr. Koopman leaving his seminary teaching position and becoming a pastor of his own parish or it is decided that he is needed somewhere else in the Diocese for weekend assistance. That day is not here yet We are hoping and happy to have him for many more years of priestly service at Holy Spirit. Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
“By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”—Prayer for the adding of water to the wine at Mass Dear Parishioners: People used to extol Pope Francis for his humility. What I like about Pope Leo is his humanity . · His brother was being interviewed on the day of Leo’s election. During the interview, the brother answered the phone. Leo’s voice was heard asking his brother, “Don’t you answer your phone?” · Robert Prevost called his bank in Chicago to change the information on his account. The customer service rep told him he would have to come in person to a branch to do that. He said that that was not possible. The rep says it must be done this way. Prevost says, “What if I told you I am Pope Leo?” The rep hung up on him. (It did get sorted out by a priest friend of his speaking to the president of the bank.) · Visting a mosque in Istanbul, Pope Leo was told, “If you wish, you may pray.” He replied, “No, thank you.”—which one commentator called the most Midwest response ever. · Someone told me of a friend (I know, with a provenance like that it has to be true) who was in a Peloton group and found that Robert Prevost was in the same group. · Pope Leo goes to get into a car. As he reaches for the door handle, the car begins to drive away. He responds with a gesture of befuddlement and frustration, just like I and, I imagine, some of you would. These are very human situations, ones that you can imagine yourself or your family or friends finding themselves. His Holiness is His humanness. Which is good for us because it reminds us that in our humanness we can find holiness. Not, of course, in our broken, fallen humanity, but in Christ, in whom humanity comes to full stature. Pope St. John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation on the formation of priests, Pastores Dabo Vobis , calls human formation the basis of all priestly formation. He writes, The whole work of priestly formation would be deprived of its necessary foundation if it lacked a suitable human formation. He continues, So, we see that the human formation of the priest shows its special importance when related to the receivers of the mission: In order that his ministry may be humanly as credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the priest should mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humanity. It is necessary that, following the example of Jesus who "knew what was in humanity" (Jn. 2:25; cf. 8:3-11). What is true for priests, it is true of all baptized Christians. If we are preaching to humans, we need to be human in our preaching. We are not angels without temptations and aloof from human realities. It is in sharing the realities of human life with others that we can share the good news of the God who became one with us to truly know our humanity. It also tells us that we can find holiness is the mundane human activities; shopping, household tasks, homework, cooking, are all part of our road to holiness. I am thankful for the example of Leo, the human. Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
“Yeah, two yutes.” “What is a yute?”—My Cousin Vinny. Dear Parishioners: Oh, excuse me, your honor: two youths groups. Yes, we have two youth groups in Avon Lake shared between the parishes of Holy Spirit and St. Joseph: sALt and sALt Lite. sALt, the high school group meets on Sundays from 6:15pm until 8:15pm at Holy Spirit in Fr. Mosovsky Hall. You may have seen that room in the hall on southeast corner by the maintenance office that is the youth group space. The group’s activities range from gathering around the fire pit in our parking lot to local diocesan gatherings and even national youth rallies. Holy Spirit Confirmation students can go from the Confirmation sessions to sALt. sALt Lite (grades 6 through 8) meets Sundays from 6pm until 8pm at St. Joseph in their Social Hall. People can use this link to sign up for the youth group newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0BIFtpm Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
“Having played many roles of scientific intellect I do have an empathy for that world. It's been hard on me because flying the Enterprise for seven years in Star Trek and sitting in Cerebro in X-men has led people to believe that I know what I'm talking about. But I'm still trying to work out how to operate the air conditioning unit on my car.”—Patrick Stewart Dear Parishioners: I don’t think I have to tell you that we have had some issues with the church air-conditioning recently—unless you only attend the Saturday, 5 pm Mass, for some reason the system works on Saturday, but not on Sunday. I expect that this is a concern for you, the parishioners. It is very much a concern for me. I have said that a couple of weeks ago when we had the heavy rains and the A/C was not working well, “The parishioners were getting soaked from the outside, I was getting soaked from the inside, sweating under my vestments.” I am very frustrated with the situation. While the A/C unit is just a couple years old, the control system is much older. However, the real problem with the control system is that we cannot fully access it. Jim Allen took the access codes for the system to his grave. We cannot at this time adjust the times of the system and other issues. This may be one of the issues with the current system. We found out last Sunday that in addition to the A/C, the boiler was running. We have had several experts look at the system and try to figure out how to access it to take control of it. There has been no success. I have instructed Tony Smith, our Multi-Campus Facility Director, that getting these controls sorted out is a priority. This is one of those “what it costs—it costs” situations. We need to get a system that we can set, reset, and control. I ask for your patience—which is ironic since mine is almost gone—as we try to get this situation sorted out. Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
“There is nothing more serious than the sacrilege of schism because there is no just cause for severing the unity of the Church.”— Saint Augustine Dear Parishioners: You may have been hearing about the fuss in the Catholic Church in the last couple of weeks and are wondering what it is all about. There is group in the Church called The Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X ( SSPX ). They follow the teachings of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who rejected parts of the Second Vatican Council, including the current formulation of the Mass. The group ordained four men as bishops on July 1 st without a papal mandate—the authorization of the pope. This was after several warnings from the Vatican and Pope Leo not to do so. This is an act of schism, which is defined by the Church as “the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” Because of the seriousness of the act, any bishop ordained without a papal mandate and the bishops ordaining him are automatically excommunicated for doing so. The Vatican declared the excommunication, which makes the situation even more serious because it sets even stricter penalties on the one excommunicated. This is being portrayed as being merely about the old Mass in Latin, the Tridentine Liturgy, but is about much more. If you have seen any social media about the situation, many of the Lefebvrists followers do not acknowledge Pope Leo as a legitimate pope and reject the Second Vatican Council. Somehow, they know better than the popes, the bishops, and the Church. They are right and everyone else—the vast majority of Catholics—are wrong. Lefebvrists made the choice to follow their course. Now they face the consequences. A note about excommunication since the word is bandied about these days with little precision. Excommunication is seen as the Church’s hammer for punishment. This is incorrect. Excommunication is called by the Church a medicinal penalty. It is meant to make it clear to the offender that a line has been crossed that should not be crossed. Excommunication is a call to repentance and return and reconciliation. It is not meant as a punishment but as a corrective. People get it wrong when they ask, “Why were not the priests who abused children excommunicated?” That situation did not call for a medicinal penalty, it called for an expiatory penalty, which is not about reform but are punitive. Such penalties can include being removed from the clerical state, which was done to many of the abusers, or a life of prayer and penance which others received. Another common misconception is that excommunication puts a person “outside” the Church. This is not the case. Though the relationship with the Church is strained, it is never broken. It is like sending a child who disrupted Thanksgiving Dinner to his or her room. That child is not permitted to be with the family but is not considered not to be a part of the family anymore. When the child considers the bad choices and actions made and apologizes, the child is welcomed back to the table. This situation with the Lefebvrists is a wound in the Body of Christ. We pray for the unity of the Church, in all those separated from her that the “High Priestly” of Christ on the night of the last supper, “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
“Jesus was loyal to his apostles, with full knowledge of their cowardice.”— Mother Angelica Dear Parishioners: I was asked to share the “letter” I used to start my homily last weekend. From : Jordan Management Consultants Dear Sir: Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully. As part of our service, we make some general comments for your guidance, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation, and comes without any additional fee. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory. We wish you every success in your new venture. Sincerely, Jordan Management Consultants Eating Problems for Breakfast by Tim Hansel, Word Publishing, 1988, pp. 194-195 Remember the point of the homily: If God can choose these people, He can choose us! Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
“The council now beginning rises in the Church like the daybreak, a forerunner of most splendid light.”—Pope John XXIII Dear Parishioners: After several sessions of prayerful discernment, there is a new Parish Pastoral Council at Holy Spirit! The members are: Larry Maloney, Chairman Todd Sabath, Vice-Chairman Andrew Renacci, Secretary Mike Breton Dave Fritzman Ray Frank Susie Graehling Jen Luca Mark Seidel And from the Parish Staff: Chris Hoag Nathan Hetrick As I said before, the members of the HSPPC are more akin to a president’s cabinet than they are to elected representatives in a legislature. While they do express the tenor of the parishioners, their role is not to be the speaking voice of a single parishioner or a small group of parishioners. If a parishioner brings a concern to a member of the HSPPC, the member will pass along the concern but will share with me the name of the person asking. As Christians and mature adults, we take responsibility for our words and do not hide behind anonymity. I have said several times before: If you have a concern about something in the parish, talking to your friends and neighbors will not accomplish anything because they have no ability to effect change; it then is just gossip and is not productive. If you have a question, concern, or complaint about the parish or an aspect of it, please bring it to me . I would be happy to sit down with you for some conversation. You can reach me via the parish office 440-933-3777 or email at cstrebler@hspal.org . Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
“And since there is in the Sacred Heart a symbol and a sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another, therefore is it fit and proper that we should consecrate ourselves to His most Sacred Heart – an act which is nothing else than an offering and a binding of oneself to Jesus Christ, seeing that whatever honor, veneration and love is given to this divine Heart is really and truly given to Christ Himself.”—Pope Leo XIII, from the encyclical Annum Sacrum (1899) Dear Parishioners: To mark the 250 th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, celebrated as the birthday of this nation, the bishops of the United States are consecrating The United States to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the image and symbol of God’s love for us incarnate in Jesus Christ. Devotion to Jesus’ Heart has deep roots in the faith of the Church. It was to Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) that Christ appeared showing her His heart and asking for devotion be given and reparation be paid to His Heart. In these appearances, Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary, "Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify its love.” Archbishop Alexander Sample says that the reason for the consecration of the United States, “would be to place our nation under the kingship of Christ.” He also said, “Yes, we are a democratic republic; we are a civil society — but no civil society can long endure without being under the kingship of Christ himself; to place ourselves under God’s providence and care.” He adds, “So at this time, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it’s to remind all of us that — whatever civil government we might have — we are all under, ultimately, the kingship of Christ.” This consecration will take place on Thursday, June 11 while the bishops have their summer meeting in Orlando, FL. That day is the eve of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You are welcome to come and join in prayer at Mass on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, June 12, at 8:30 am in the chapel. As the bishops consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart, let each of us as individuals and families do so as well. I share the USCCB’s prayer: O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: You know the longings of our hearts, and you desire that we enjoy friendship with you. From your pierced side, you have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst. Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with you. We celebrate the abundant gifts you have given this nation, founded on the self-evident truths that our Creator has endowed all people with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We make reparation for the offenses against you and against human dignity that have taken place in this nation. May our hearts be united to yours, so that our families and communities enjoy peace and happiness; may broken relationships be reconciled, injustices repaired, and the wounds of our land be healed. May your holy Catholic Church serve as a sign, pointing all people to your infinite love. O Desire of Nations and Center of History, we ask you to bless these United States of America. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sincerely, Rev. Charles F. Strebler Pastor
