Ss. Robert & William

Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish is hosting its 5th Annual Fish Fry, held every Friday during Lent until March 27th, in the Upper Hall at Ss. Robert and William Catholic School.  Enjoy an all you can eat dinner for a mere $12 dollars or take it to go for only $10.  Come join our vibrant parish community, where you will experience fellowship, and fun all while indulging in baked battered dipped Alaskan Pollack, baked Atlantic cod, waffle fries, coleslaw, pasta marina, mac and cheese, and cookies with a beverage.  Ala Carte items include homemade SRW pierogis, clam chowder, or breaded shrimp.  Don’t forget for an additional $1 you can top off your very tasty meal with an ice cream sundae complete with whip cream and toppings! 

Returning again this year is our fish sandwich dinner, which includes french fries and coleslaw for only $6.  We accept Mastercard, Visa, and Discover, no extra fees.  Come for dinner, starting at 4:45 pm and stay for Mass and Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm.

For more information, contact Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish at 216.731.1515 or go to www.srweuclid.cc.  Ss. Robert and William Catholic School is located at 351 East 260th Street, Euclid, Ohio 44132.

On March 22, 2015, Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish, along with St. John of the Cross, will be welcoming Fr. Richard Fragomeni to lead us in a parish mission. It will be the beginning of an exciting four days for our parish family.  “Go In Peace, Glorifying the Lord With Your Life,”  is the theme Fr. Fragomeni will speak on during this presentation.  Go In Peace is an incredible opportunity to grow personally and as a faith community, making it possible for us to glorify the Lord with our lives in Euclid and beyond. 

On Saturday, January 10, 2015, over 225 parishioners gathered for Mass (which was celebrated by Bishop Richard Lennon) and dinner, to celebrate the parish’s fifth anniversary.

Through the generosity of many donors throughout the Cleveland Diocese, the Rooted in Faith, Forward in Hope campaign has raised $170 million in pledges for the Catholic Community of Northeast Ohio.  One of the components of the campaign was to strengthen Catholic Education and to provide facility upgrades.

Annually, Ss. Robert and William Catholic School awards scholarships to outstanding students in recognition of their deeds and accomplishments.  To kick-off our Catholic Schools Week celebration this year, ten students were presented with scholarships for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year, during the 11:00 am Mass on Sunday, January 25, 2015.

The Girl Scout Troops from Ss. Robert and William School collected enough donations from family and businesses to fill a record 152 "Socks of Love." These sock bundles included a new pair of socks, one stuffed into the other, and filled with toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste. These 152 Socks of Love will be donated to the Shower Program at St. Malachi Center in Cleveland. All the excess toiletries were donated to Forbes House in Lake County.

Ss. Robert and William Catholic School will be hosting its annual Catholic School’s Week Open House on Sunday, January 25, 2015, from Noon until 1:30 p.m.  Join us for the 11: 00 a.m. Mass at the Church and stay for the Open House. 

This open house is primarily geared toward new students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade six.  It is a great opportunity for prospective parents and students to meet and talk with the teachers, walk the hallways with student guides, and receive registration and financial aid information for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year. 

Ss. Robert and William Catholic School is dedicated and committed to academic excellence and offers students the highest quality education with STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Math) based learning.  Our administration and faculty are proud to offer advanced classes to students to prepare them for a quality education that will follow them through high school and beyond. 

For more information, to schedule a private tour, or even to set up a shadow day for your student, contact the Admissions Director, Maureen Frydl, at 216.731.1515 extension 229 or email her at mfrydl@srwschool.cc.  Visit our school’s website at www.srwschool.cc and don’t forget to like and follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Ss-Robert-and-William-Catholic-School/105863876110885.

In our continued outreach efforts to the Ss. Robert and William Catholic School community, the National Junior Honor Society has collected numerous winter items that will be donated to Operation Coats for Christmas.  Much appreciation is extended to the very generous students and families who live the spirit of this giving holiday season all year long.

Many area high schools are offering programs in advanced math classes to eighth grade elementary students. Qualifying students are invited to enroll in a freshman level Algebra class. They attend this class at the high school with freshman students, to earn high school credit. It is a wonderful opportunity for students interested in pursuing higher level math courses such as calculus and statistics when actually attending high school after graduation at the elementary level.         

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December 10, 2014           SRW Holiday Story Hour “The Polar Express” at the Euclid Public Library 6:30 p.m. (Registration at the Library is required)  

December 15, 2014           SRW School Christmas Concert 6:30 pm in the Church

December 16, 2014           The “Banquet” Free Community Meal 5:15 p.m. in the Upper Hall

December 24, 2014           Christmas Eve Masses 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.                      

December 25, 2014           Christmas Masses 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

December 31, 2014           Solemnity of Mary Mass 4:00 p.m.

January 1, 2015                Solemnity of Mary Masses 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

January 10, 2015              5 Year Anniversary Celebration  

January 25, 2015              Catholic School’s Week Opens with Mass at 11:00 a.m.

SRW School Open House 12:00 p.m.

January 27, 2015              The “Banquet” Free Community Meal at 5:15 p.m. in the Upper Hall

January 28, 2015              SRW School Open House 6:30 p.m.

“Not all stem cells are bad. We hear often in the media about the use of embryonic stem cells, which we, as defenders of life from the moment of conception, are right to find morally objectionable since harvesting these cells results in the destruction of the life of the human embryo. But there are many other kinds of stem cells other than embryonic ones, and these can be used for a lot of good”, states Fr. Scott Goodfellow.

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Rain and wind did not deter the students of Ss. Robert and William Catholic School as they took to the streets on Friday, October 3, 2014 for the very first SRW Walk-a-Thon. The goal of the Walk-a-Thon was not only to encourage physical fitness among our students, but also to encourage the spirit of working together to earn money for a specific cause. The funds from this year’s Walk-a-Thon were designated for the construction of a new playground to be built in the Spring of 2015. The students were excited to be a part of the efforts to make this dream become a reality.This playground will offer a safe and fun area to play, as currently they only have access to blacktop at recess and after school.

Each grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 8 promised to walk for one hour to raise money for the construction of the new playground. They solicited pledges from family members, friends, and businesses. 55 parents and grandparents joined the students and teachers, volunteering to walk or work at the several stations set up in the path of the walk which included hula hoops, jump ropes, water, and pictures. Spirits were high and the energy was contagious!

  It is with great pride that we can proclaim that the goal has been reached! With 46% family participation over $19,000 was collected. In the Spring of 2015, the Elin Cooke Memorial Playground, named after Elin Cooke, a parent who was instrumental in the planning stages of the project and recently lost her battle with cancer, will be built on the grounds of Ss. Robert and William Catholic School. The support from this amazing community will touch the lives of many children for years to come.

The Mustard Seed, Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish’s on-site Religious goods store, is re-opening for business just in time for the Holidays! The Mustard Seed  is the “little shop with big ‘values’”, showcasing distinctive gift items appropriate for all occasions for people of all ages.  Moved from the house on the parish grounds to the vestibule of the church, and with store hours compatible with Mass times parishioners will find shopping very convenient.

This unique store specializes in gifts of faith, handcrafted items, memorial gifts, sacramental gifts, crucifixes, rosaries, gifts for home and family, holiday items, inspirational jewelry, medals, and it features fair trade merchandise.  Even baby items are available! The next time you are looking for a gift of encouragement, a memento of your faith, or just need a card for a special occasion, The Mustard Seed is the place to visit.

Our newest inspirational merchandise includes light-up LED angels, votive, and ornaments for the holidays. Boxed card sets and nativities are also available to purchase. Watch for new merchandise arriving; our goal is to offer quality items that are the latest and most original designs.

The Mustard Seed offers one stop shopping, unique gift items and something for everyone. For more information on the Mustard Seed hours, please call the Parish Office at 216.731.1515 X230.

Please come and visit us at the following events:

Friday, December 5th, 5-9 p.m., Euclid Holiday Celebration at Shore Cultural Centre

Wednesday, December 10th, 6:30 p.m.  – Holiday Story Hour at Euclid Public Library

Ss. Robert and William Catholic School ‘s “STREAM Evening of Learning” was a wonderful example of focusing lessons on the 21st Century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.  Our Lower School students will share their STREAM projects at our next Evening of Learning:  November 24th from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.

This past year, St John of the Cross and Ss. Robert and William combined youth programs to develop one ministry. I want to share with you our mission, what we have done over the past year and what we are planning for the future.

Life Teen and EDGE are international programs that have one goal. To lead teens closer to Christ. It is about giving teens, from all backgrounds, the opportunity to encounter Christ in a personal way. Life Teen itself has been around for almost 30 years and it continues to adapt to meet teens where they are at while still holding true to the Gospel message. Euclid Life Teen and EDGE share that same goal. We are trying to meet teens where they are at, enter into their world and bring Christ to them. We want them to begin to have a personal relationship with Christ through the various retreats, conferences, bible studies, meetings, etc. The hope is that teens start to make the time to develop this relationship on their own and bring Christ to those in their schools, their families and the community.

The past year has been quite fruitful. Life Teen saw many new faces and has been tweaking the things done in the past so that we can make things as fruitful as possible for the teens. One of the new things we started this past year is a thing called Dead Theologians Society (DTS). It starts with the evening Mass at SJOC and then take a trip back in time and gather in candle light and Gregorian chant and learn about a different saint each week. Another new thing we started is called Living Stones. This is our discernment group for those that are open to the possibility that God might be calling them to Priesthood or Religious Life.

EDGE is our ministry for 7th and 8th graders. The Lord is blessing it and it has become quite popular. We started the beginning of the year going every other week and by January we had EDGE Nights every single week. I know for me personally, it has been a great source of inspiration. To see middle school teens starting to dive into their faith and enjoy things such as adoration is an amazing thing. This year we will be hosting our EDGE Nights at SJOC on Tuesdays from 7-845 in the new youth space. We have also added EDGE hangouts from 3-430 on Thursdays to give them some social time.

The theme and focus for Life Teen and EDGE this next year is Inspire[d]. We will be looking to the people of the Bible to be inspired and in turn we go out and inspire others. We kicked off EDGE this year with a Messtival. We had a series of races and challenges containing ketchup, pudding, fluff and so much more. Life Teen kicked off with a Tail Gate party full of food, games and a water balloon launch across the parking lot.

If you have questions or want to get involved in any way, contact Chris Kelley at 216-731-1515.

Have you made a commitment to support the greater Cleveland area by visiting its many cultural institutions?  Now, what if that was coupled with an evening of wine, food and raffles?

Then come join us on Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Museum of Divine Statues (12905 Madison Ave., Lakewood).

This exclusive affair is an interactive social event which will offer you wine to sample (beers will be offered, too), and heavy hors d’oeuvres.  Various auctions and raffles will be available with proceeds designated for tuition assistance for SRW students.

You will have the opportunity to browse The Museum of Divine Statues at your leisure.  This museum is designed to pay tribute not only to the art and history of Cleveland’s Catholic churches, but to the city’s immigrant roots. 

Events tickets are limited and can be purchased at Ss. Robert & William Parish Office (367 East 260th St., Euclid).  Credit cards are accepted.

For additional details, contact Ellen Ivory at 216.731.1515, ext. 230 or eivory@srweuclid.cc.

On Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the gymnasium at Ss. Robert & William Catholic School will be transformed into a Christmas shopping delight with their annual Holly Berry Bazaar.  This craft fair celebrates the uniqueness of the local artist and crafts by conveniently bringing homemade items to you for your gift giving.

New to this year’s bazaar will be the “Christmas Traditions” basket raffle.  You will have the opportunity to win tickets to local cultural events and a variety of other gifts.  An array of jewelry, floral designs, an assortment of craft items, home party items, and even treats for your puppy will also be offered. 

Admission is $1 and includes a free coffee/cookie station.  A light lunch will be available.

For additional details please call the parish office at 216.731.1515 or visit www.srweuclid.cc.  Ss. Robert & William Catholic School is located at 351 East 260th St., Euclid.

On Wednesday, September 17, 2014, faculty, staff, students, and parishioners of Ss. Robert and William, along with neighbors, family, and friends of Elin Cooke, gathered in the grove area for a ground breaking ceremony.  The Elin Cooke Memorial Playground is a playground that is being built for the benefit of the students, parishioners, and surrounding community as a place for kids to be kids, and come to enjoy healthy, safe, physical activity. 

The new, state of the art playground will accommodate up to 100 children at a time, with 23 different activities.  It will be ADA compliant and the playground is expected to be ready for use in early spring of 2015.  Funds for the playground have been donated by several significant donors, the children of the school through a walk-a-thon and read-a-thon, and most recently through donations to honor and memorialize Elin Cooke.

Elin was a resident of Euclid, parishioner, and school parent.  Most importantly, Elin loved children and desired for this community to be a strong, vibrant place for children.  Elin was a champion of the playground project.  Elin recently passed away after a heroic battle with cancer in which she taught all of us to face challenges with grace, dignity and never let it stop our joy!  It is only fitting that the school playground will be named after this phenomenal woman.  Fr John D. Betters, Pastor, reflects “Our hope is her spirit of infectious joy and love will live on for generations of children as they enjoy this playground.”  `

Under a beautiful, sunny, cool, autumn afternoon, the Cooke family gathered with Fr. John Betters, staff, Council President Kristen Holzheimer Gail and contributors, Jane Monreal, from Monreal Funeral Home, to break ground with personalized, pink shovels while a crowd of supporters looked on with encouragement and gratitude for this generous addition to our community.  Ss. Robert and William Catholic School & Parish is located at 367 East 260th Street, Euclid, Ohio 44132, 216.731.1515, www.srwschool.cc, or www.srweuclid.cc.  Additional photos can be found on Facebook, like us and watch for us on Twitter and Instagram coming soon.

Local Artists Wanted for our Annual Holly Berry Bazaar. Join local artisans on Saturday, November 8th from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm, at Ss. Robert and William Parish.  Do you have a unique craft or homemade food item that you would like to sell?  Kick off the holiday season with this festive event.  Contact Ellen Ivory at eivory@srweuclid.cc or call 216.731.1515 if you are interested.  Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish is located at 367 East 260th Street, Euclid, Ohio 44132.

Our first in a year-long series, an Evening of Learning will be held on Monday, September 29th, at 6:30 pm in the SRW School.  Families, prospective students and the community are invited to visit and experience what a STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math) school looks like.  The Middle School students, 4th through 6th grades, and teachers will be hosting this first Evening of Learning.  They will be showcasing a STREAM unit that all middle school students will be participating in and will be sharing with their classmates. 

Teachers and principals from SRW School have spent time during the summer in a three day STREAM Symposium at the University of Dayton.  Karol Pfeifer, 4th grade science teacher reflects, “I was amazed at the things we learned at the conference.  However, it was exciting to discover that many of the strategies and techniques being taught are ones that are already implemented in our lessons at SRW School.”

There are three other Evenings of Learning planned for the rest of the school year hosted by the Upper School students, 7th through 8th grades, Lower School students, Kindergarten through 3rd grades and our final Evening of Learning,  Fine Arts is scheduled for May of 2015.  These Evenings of Learning are free and open to the public.  Ss. Robert and William Catholic School is located at 351 East 260th Street, Euclid, Ohio 44132.  Please contact us at 216.731.3060 for further information or visit us at our website www.srwschool.cc and follow us on Facebook.

The leadership team of SRW School is pleased to announce and welcome 540 students for the 2014-2015 school year.  This team consisting of Fr. Sal Ruggeri, Pastor St. John of the Cross, Fr. John Betters, Pastor Ss. Robert and William, Mrs. Martha Dodd, Principal for Student Success, and Ms. Meg Cosgriff, Executive Principal, has worked hard to ensure a smooth start. The goal of this team was to create unity and a smooth transition for a successful academic year. This seems to have been accomplished as 187 new students (128 from SJOC and 56 students from other schools) have united to create this large and harmonious school body.  To assist with this growth, eleven new teachers and staff have also been added, 10 of whom were formerly employed from St. John of the Cross.

Prior to the start of the school year, teachers spent time in Professional Development which also included a one day retreat for the purpose of learning the importance of being a disciple and modeling the expectations they have for their students.  The teacher retreat was led by Mary Lou Beers and directly relates to the theme of the year. “We are one Body in Christ.” 

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In a few, short weeks, school will commence and students will begin to fill the classrooms.  There is always an air of excitement when returning from a summer’s vacation – the thought of reconnecting with friends, and students who are sporting new book bags and shoes, signal a fresh start to a new academic year.

As Ss. Robert & William Catholic School opens and welcomes their students, they will also be celebrating a new beginning with the partnership of St. John of the Cross School.  Principal, Mrs. Martha Dodd, from SJOC School, has joined the academic team on the SRW campus located at 351 East 260th St. in Euclid.  A number of her faculty and staff have also found a new home there.

"It is my privilege to join the leadership team of Ss. Robert and William Catholic School,” states Dodd.  She continues, “I am impressed by the dedication of the faculty and staff to provide every student with a 21st century school experience rooted in the traditions of the Catholic faith.  In my role as Principal for Student Success, I will work collaboratively with Ms. Cosgriff, to foster a school culture based on the foundation of respect between and among the faculty, staff, students, and families."

With this type of dedication to the students of SRW Catholic School, the school year is surely headed in the right direction.  It will be a positive – and comforting moment - for students to be greeted by warm, familiar faces.  Soon, summer - and the anxieties of a new school year - will be just distant memories.

Ss. Robert and William parishioners are rolling 4,000 pierogis, scheduling bands, building games, gathering prizes and finalizing plans for the fourth annual International Family Festival, August 14-17 at Ss. Robert and William Catholic Church on E. 260 Street.

“We are preparing a banquet for our festival guests - homemade pierogi, steamed clams, Italian sausage, unique ethnic foods, grilled favorites, homemade bakery and all the favorites people look forward to at summer festivals,” said Father John Betters, pastor at Ss. Robert and William Catholic Church.

On the menu: A wide variety of festival and ethnic favorites are being prepared, including handmade pierogi made by a team of SRW parishioners. Also, hot from the grill: sizzling BBQ ribs, BBQ and baked chicken, Raddell’s Sausage, brats, walking tacos, hamburgers and hot dogs. Additional homemade ethnic favorites like cabbage and noodles, as well as Italian favorites such as cavatelli, sausage sandwiches, chicken parmesan and meatball sandwiches. Loaded gyro (regular or chicken) and fresh onion rings from Freshly’s of Willoughby and steamed clams, homemade lemon shake-ups, domestic beer, Cleveland’s own Great Lakes Beer products and cold pop. 

Plenty of sweets will be served too: cotton candy, root beer floats, ice cream cones, sundaes, fruit cups, and freshly popped kettle corn made by Savannah’s Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn. Homemade bakery, lovingly prepared by SRW Seniors, will be sold in the new air-conditioned Oktoberfest area. 

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During the week of July 21-25th, Ss. Robert & William Parish entertained approximately 80 students in their Vacation Bible School Program. The week concluded with an Intergenerational Luncheon, which included the SRW Senior Group and the grandparents of VBS students.

If you enjoy an adventure in shopping, stop by the annual Rummage Sale on Friday, July 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 19, from 9:00a.m. – Noon. 

This year’s sale, which is held in the school gym, is bigger than ever, offering you a huge choice of computer/office desks, furniture, clean clothing, linens, household items, and so much more.  On Saturday you will even have the opportunity to buy a bag of goods for a mere $2.00.  Don’t miss this opportunity to hunt for that specialty item that could be a real treasure to you.

Another annual event that is being held at the Parish is the free, fresh Produce Giveaway.  The remaining dates of distribution are Monday, July 28th and August 25th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., in the church parking lot.

The Parish has once again teamed up with The Greater Cleveland Foodbank, Euclid Hospital, The Euclid Hunger Center and local Boy Scouts to make this distribution possible.  Items such as crisp cabbage, celery, sweet watermelon, and potatoes were just a portion of last month’s distribution.

Ss. Robert & William Catholic Parish is located at 367 East 260th Street, Euclid.  For additional information on either event, please call the Parish Office at 216.731.1515.

Save the date for the fourth annual International Family Festival, August 14-17 at Ss. Robert and William, 367 East 260th St. Savor homemade pierogi, clams, Italian sausage, unique ethnic foods, a new air-conditioned Oktoberfest area, games of chance (for children, teens, and adults), midway games, pony rides, amusement rides and music featuring The Polka Pirates, Mid-Life Crisis, Joey Tomsick Orchestra, New Barley Corn, Festivus and Phil n’ the Blanks. Old fashioned Car Cruise and Euclid Safety Force vehicles roll in on Sunday. One lucky winner will take home the $10,000 grand prize raffle drawing. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 and can be purchased at the festival or at the Parish Office. For additional information, please call 216-731-1515 or follow the festival on Facebook under “Ss. Robert & William Festival.”

Thursday, Aug. 14

5 pm                Festival opens! Ss. Robert & William School Appreciation Night

7:30-9 pm        Live band: Polka Pirates

5-9 pm             Rocket Ship

5-9 pm             Pony Rides

7-10 pm           Outside Casino         

Friday, Aug. 15

5 pm                Festival opens

7-10 pm           Live band: New Barley Corn

10:15-11:30     Live band: Midlife Crisis

5-10 pm           Rocket Ship

5-10 pm           Face Painting

5-11pm            Laser Tag

6-Midnight      Outside Casino

Saturday, Aug. 16

5 pm                Festival opens

7-11 pm           Live band: Festivus

5-10 pm           Rocket Ship

5-10 pm           Pony Rides

5-10 pm           Face Painting

5-11 pm           Laser Tag

6-Midnight      Outside Casino

Sunday, Aug. 17

11 am              Polka Mass with The Joey Tomsick Orchestra

12 pm             Festival opens

12:30-3 pm      Live band: The Joey Tomsick Orchestra

5-8 pm             Live band: Phil ‘n the Blanks

12-5 pm           Face Painting

12-4 pm           Car Cruise In!

12-7 pm           Laser Tag

1-3 pm             Euclid Safety Forces

1-6 pm             Pony Rides

12-8 pm           Outside Casino

Bake Off (time to be determined)

7:30-8 pm        Raffle Winners Announced