Catholic Feast Day Observed in Akron: St. Bernard to Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe With Bilingual Mass Today

By Colette M. Jenkins, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Dec. 8–A bilingual Mass to observe the 476th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe is at 4:30 p.m. today at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 44 University Ave., Akron.

The Catholic feast day for our Lady Guadalupe, observed Dec. 12, is set aside to commemorate the appearance of Mary to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian, in 1531.

Church tradition says an olive-skinned Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, who was made a saint in 2002, and spoke to him in his native tongue. Mary instructed him to ask the local bishop to build a church in her honor on the site of an old pagan temple, a hilltop called Tepeyac. Knowing that church officials might doubt Diego’s story, Mary miraculously imprinted her image on Juan Diego’s tilma, or cloak. That cloak exists today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

After the local Mass, a festival with music by Mariachi Nuevo Zapopan, folkloric dances and Latin American food will be in the church social hall.

Cost for entrance into the festival is $5. Children age 12 or younger are admitted free.

In other religion news:

Events

Canton Christian Women’s Connection Monthly Brunch — North Canton Civic Center, 845 W. Maple St., North Canton. 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Eleanor Daum will speak. Entertainment by the Hoover Hi-Notes. $11. Reservation deadline is Monday. Call Madeleine at 330-453-8289.

Columbia United Church of Christ — 978 Wooster Road W., Barberton. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Homemade Fancy Christmas Cookie & Candy Sale. Items sold by the pound. 330-825-9946.

Dwelling Place Family Church — Barlow Community Center, 41 S. Oviatt St., Hudson. 11 a.m. Dec. 15. Noel Project, an outreach for single mothers. There will be live Christmas music, a puppet show for the kids and more. 330-650-9808.

Evangelical Covenant Church of Hudson — 190 W. Streetsboro St., Hudson. 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Annual Sancta Lucia ceremony followed by a traditional Swedish smorgasbord. 330-650-0564.

Fairlawn Lutheran Church — 3415 W. Market St., Akron. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday. The high school youth will present a live Nativity and a Toy & Winter Coat Drive. 330-836-7286.

First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Breakfast with St. Nick. Pictures with St. Nick for $5 or free with an unwrapped toy brought for Toys for Tots. Christmas crafts and a brunch for $7 and $5 for children. 330-923-5241.

Messiah Sing — First Presbyterian Church, 647 E. Market St., Akron. 7 p.m. Sunday. All singers and listeners welcome. 330-535-3112.

Our Lady of the Elms — 1230 W. Market St., Akron. 7 p.m. Thursday. Taize Prayer, an evening of contemplative prayer in the style of Taize, promotes serenity.

Pilgrim United Church of Christ — 130 Broad Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. 6-8 p.m. Sunday, singles group will meet for games, pizza and conversation. Open to singles ages 30 to 65. 330-928-4847.

St. Michael Serbian Orthodox Church — 2552 Pickle Road, Springfield Township. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Bake and food sale featuring nut rolls, poppy seed rolls, Christmas cookies, baklava and more.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church — 2705 Sixth St. S.W., Canton. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15. Swiss steak dinner. $8, $4 for children. 330-456-7207.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church — 1130 Mercer Ave., Akron. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Holiday bazaar. Commercial and handcrafted gifts, jewelry, clothing, baked goods and other specialty products will be available. 330-724-6486.

Sister to Sister Ministries — Sheraton Suites, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 9 a.m. Dec. 15. Second annual women’s “Breakfast with the Redeemer.” $25 per person. Ticket information, call Stacey Kelker at 330-777-0577.

Temple Israel — 133 Merriman Road, Akron. Temple Israel students will celebrate Hanukkah with residents of Chambrel at 10 a.m. Sunday. Music will resound, and dreidels will fly during the entertainment. Then, it’s back to temple for a latke party in the social hall and the historic dreidel contest. 330-762-8617.

United Church of Christ Church House — 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Dec. 14 and 15. Return of the Light — A Winter Solstice Celebration. A family-oriented interfaith evening of music, dance, storytelling and prayers for peace. Free.

Unity Chapel of Light — 503 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Sacred Chanting with Smiling Heart. Love offering of $10. 330-928-2108.

Unity Chapel of Light — 503 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge. “A Bear a Chair” campaign running through Dec. 24. The congregation is asked to bring in teddy bears to fill the seats in the church sanctuary. The bears are donated to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. The deputies give them to children in need of comforting. The public is invited to attend the church Sunday services at 9:30 or 11 a.m. and bring a teddy bear with them. People may also drop off teddy bears during the church’s daily hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Performances

A Kent Community Christmas — Kent Roosevelt High School, 1400 N. Mantua St., Kent. 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15. “Together at The Manger.” All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Freedom House, a shelter for veterans experiencing transitions in life being built in Kent. $4. http://www.kent communitychristmas.org.

Canton Baptist Temple — 515 Whipple Ave. N.W., Perry Township. 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 3 p.m. Dec. 16. Christmas musical drama One Small Child performed by the Canton Baptist Temple Choir, Orchestra and Drama Team. 330-477-6267.

Centenary United Methodist Church — 1310 Superior Ave., Akron. 6 p.m. Thursday. Dinner and Jazz night featuring Wayne “Punchy” Atkinson Quartet. $5. Food and beverages are extra.

First Presbyterian Church — 636 W. Park St., Barberton. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The Magic City Singers will hold their 50th annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah. Free.

First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Renaissance Ringers, a bell ringing group from the community, present two concerts. 330-923-5241.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” — North High School, 985 Gorge Blvd., Akron. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22. Performed by Celebration Players from Celebration Church. $5. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Royal Family Kids Camp for abused and neglected children in Summit County. 330-762-7458 or http://www.ccakron.org.

Northampton Baptist Church — 333 Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The youth of Northampton Baptist Church will present the Christmas musical The First Leon. 330-929-1419.

Oak Hill Presbyterian Church — 2406 Ardwell Ave., Akron. 7 p.m. Sunday. The Music of Christmas will feature the Oak Hill Handbell Choir and Orchestra, with a special presentation of John Peterson’s cantata, Night of Miracles, performed by the Oak Hill Chancel Choir. 330-784-2432.

Phillips Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church — 413 Iroquois Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. The mass choir will be in concert. The choir is led by Brother Jonathan L. Turner, with brother Brian Burney as guest musician. 330-784-8964.

Seminars, classes

Dwelling Place Family Church — Barlow Community Center, 41 S. Oviatt St. Hudson. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University will take place from Jan. 3 to March 20. There will be practical lessons on eliminating debt, building wealth and more. Learn more about this course by attending one of two orientation meetings at 11:30 a.m. Sunday and Dec. 16. 330-650-9808.

Greater Bethany Ministries — Akron-Summit County Public Library North Hill branch, 183 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron. 1 p.m. Dec. 15. The Credit Success Coach Fundraising Program. Learn how to raise money through empowering people to build, restore or just improve their credit score.

Special services

Broadman Baptist Church — 350 E. Bath Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Observe the Lord’s Supper during a candlelight service. People attending are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item wrapped in white paper to place on the altar. Food will be given to needy families. 330-923-6127.

Christ Is The Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 5 p.m. Sunday, Building Fund service featuring Minister Benjamin Drone and the Buchtel High School Gospel Choir.

Manchester United Methodist Church — 5625 Manchester Road, New Franklin. 7 p.m. Thursday. The Longest Night, a Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness. The service will provide the opportunity to acknowledge the sadness and concern with the loss of a loved one.

Prince of Peace Baptist Church — 844 Garth Ave., Akron. 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Dr. Johnny R. Heckard of Mansfield will preach.

St. Columba Cathedral — Wood and Elm streets, Youngstown. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Bishop George V. Murry will celebrate a Vigil Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Word of His Grace Fellowship — 110 E. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor Bill Wilson, founder of Metro Ministries, will speak. 330-928-9266.

Zion Lutheran Church — 139 S. High St., Akron. 3 p.m. Sunday. Traditional German heritage and carol service. It features favorite carols in their original German words, as well as other anthems in German. 330-253-3136.

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