Please remember our Seminarians and all those discerning religious vocations in your prayers:

Deacon Josh Cochrac
Scott Swinerton
Sean Neville
Jeremy Gaugler
and
Sr. Michelle Blevins, Novice, SND
Mike Mucic, Aspirant to the Diaconate

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis
Bishop Nelson Perez

Rev. Wally Hyclak
Rev. Ryan Cubera
Deacon Richard A. Mueller
Sr. Jane Reisinger, SND

Rev. James M. Roach
Rev. Michael Brunovsky 
Rev. James L. Caddy
Rev. John R. Hengle 
Rev. Frederick F. Pausche
Rev. James Mayer OdeM
Rev. Daniel J. Reed
Rev. Daniel P. Redmond 
Rev. Christopher Cox
Rev. Robert F. Wenz 

On May 16, I, along with my eight classmates, graduated from Borromeo Seminary.  The weeks leading up to the commencement ceremony were full of due dates, spilled coffee, and laughter amongst the hallways.  Towards the end of my time at Borromeo, I was led to reflect on what the Lord had given me during my time there.  He has given me brothers, He has taught me how to seek Himself who is the Truth, He has given me memories that I will forever cherish, and He has given me hope and peace for all that will come to pass in my life. 

Through prayerful discernment, discussion with my superiors and with trusted friends and mentors, I have decided to discontinue in the seminary formation program.  I feel great peace in moving in this direction where I believe the Lord is calling me.  With that said, I am truly grateful to all of you, the parishioners of St. Mary of the Falls.  Thank you for the many ways that you have supported me through the past few years: by your kind words of affirmation and encouragement, your friendship, and most importantly, your prayers.  I am so blessed to be part of such a vibrant parish as together we all strive to seek, know, and to love the living Christ. 

In my time of discernment and in this coming transition, I have found the words of St. Teresa of Avila to be most comforting:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Again, thank you all for your support.  I am looking forward to remaining active in the parish, and I look forward to spending time journeying with you.  Please, continue to keep me and my classmates in your prayers as we head into this next stage of life’s discernment. 

In Jesus,
Eddie Miller

Deacon Joshua Cochrac was ordained a Transitional Deacon on April 6, 2019.  During his year of ministry serving as a Deacon, Josh has been assigned by Bishop Perez to minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wickliffe.   Josh will be entering his fifth year at Saint Mary’s Seminary and in the spring of 2020 will be ordained a priest.  Josh spent last academic year working with Catholic Charities at Matt Talbot Home for Recovering Men where he worked with men facing addictions to drugs and alcohol.  Josh spent a year on internship at St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick, where he assisted in various ministries, taught at the day school and assisted with RCIA and PSR. This upcoming year Josh will be studying Canon Law, Pastoral Administration, Pastoral Counseling and Scripture.

Josh entered Borromeo Seminary in August of 2011.  He spent four years in the college and has now spent nine years (total) in formation.  We look forward to celebrating Josh’s priestly ordination with him and his classmate in May.

Scott Swinerton will be entering his third year at St. Mary Seminary. This upcoming academic year Scott will be on his pastoral internship at St. Charles Borromeo parish in Parma. While on his internship Scott will emerse himself in the life of the parish and get to see firsthand what a parish priest does on a day to day basis. Also this year Scott will be spending time visiting the sick and the homebound, teaching at the school, assisting at liturgies and many other ministries throughout the parish. Please continue to pray for Scott as he enters into his pastoral year and also pray for all those who are in formation. 
 
 

I have been a member of St. Mary of the Falls my entire life and it is truly a home to me.  I went through grade school at St. Mary and it helped me to form a good faith foundation.  St. Mary of the Falls prepared me well for St. Ignatius High School and now, seminary formation.  At a young age, I developed a deeper relationship with and understanding of God through my Catholic education, but I didn’t begin thinking about Priesthood until my freshman year of high school.  I became very involved in our parish’s Life Teen program and began to take my faith more seriously.  I’m blessed to have many other brother seminarians at St. Mary because it was through them that the idea of seminary came to my prayer.  These men served as great role models for me and made me think, “maybe I’m called to this as well.”  With much prayer throughout high school, I decided that the next step in my discernment process is to enter the seminary.  After two years of formation at Borromeo Seminary, I was accepted into the Basselin Scholars program through Theological College at The Catholic University of America.  I am in my second of three years studying philosophy through the Basselin program.  I'm looking forward to begin writing my master's thesis this year and to continue to discern where the Lord is inviting me to lay down my life in service of His Church and His people.

Fr. Wally is happy to announce that Jeremy Gaugler has been accepted into Borromeo Seminary starting in the fall.  Jeremy lives in Olmsted Township, with his three sisters, Megan, Mackenzie, and Caitlyn and his parents Kim and Chris.  He graduated St. Mary of the Falls Grade School and then from St. Ignatius High School in May of this year.  Jeremy has been very involved in Life Teen throughout his years in high school.  He has also been an altar server and lector at the 6PM Mass.  He is very excited to begin his time in the seminary and is looking forward to the friendships he will make and growing in faith and love of the Lord.  Please pray for Jeremy as he begins his formation in the seminary.

On August 23, 2019, Sr. Michelle was accepted into the Novitiate of the Sisters of Notre Dame.  This first year of her novitiate, the canonical year, will again be located in Covington, Kentucky and will be dedicated mostly to study and prayer. She will attend classes with some of her SND sisters to study her community’s charism and constitutions. She will attend intercommunity classes with others who are also in formation in the Greater Cincinnati/Covington area. And she will take a Theology class at Xavier University. In addition to prayer and study she will also have some time for ministry. She will work with adults who are learning English as a second language, and she will work with inner city children through a community sponsored after school program. She is looking forward to working closely with her new novice director and seeing what desires God has for her. Please keep her in prayer as she continues to pray for her St Mary of the Falls family back home.

On August 18, 2019, I was accepted into Candidacy for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Diocese of Cleveland after completing a year of Aspirancy. The year I spent as an aspirant was a time for me to further discern my calling and get use to school and homework after a 30 plus year hiatus. It ended up being a great experience and )ew by. This year as a candidate, besides going to classes, I will be experiencing my firrst year of Field Education. For this portion of the program I have been assigned to St. Brendan Church in North Olmsted. So if you don’t see my wife and me as much it’s not because we’re hiding or have moved. Please continue to pray for us as we continue on this exciting journey. We will continue to pray for all the wonderful people here at St. Mary of the Falls and look forward to seeing you every chance we get. May God bless you and keep you in                                                                His peace.