The waiting game...

And we wait.

One of the most nerve wracking days I've experienced in a long time.

And we wait.

The fate of all the churches in the Cleveland Catholic Diocese rests in the hands of one man, Bishop Lennon.

And we wait.

The phone rang early Saturday morning and I sprung from the makeshift bed/love seat I've been sleeping in during Mom's rehabilitation.

Nothing yet, and we wait.

The cars of the cluster committee began gathering at the Church Rectory awaiting the arrival of 'the letter.'

And we wait.

Finally, shortly after noon, 'the letter' was hand delivered. The cars left one by one.

Our Lady of Peace had been saved....and hopes that Father Gary would continue to be our fearless leader???

The Bishop says this re-configuration will only strengthen the church in the long run.

But, at this juncture, it appears no one has won. The fruits of this laborious process are months if not years away from being realized.

We are saved, but two churches in our cluster are being closed.

I can not even fathom the mindset of the parishioners at Epiphany and St. Cecilia.

I don't know how I would feel had the tables been turned. It was just awful waiting imagining all outcomes.

I do know having Father Gary at the helm and the character and strength of this parish WILL turn this situation into a positive....and will conquer any roadblocks placed in our way as we strive even harder to continue serving the least of God's children & spreading the Good News.

Today, though on the surface it may look like a time to rejoice, we mourn and pray harder than ever before for the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, the future of the Catholic Community in Cleveland, and for everyone who is going to bed tonight hurting, crying themselves to sleep wondering why it 'appears' as if God has abandoned and forsaken them. (He hasn't. He's closer than you he's ever been. Please don't give up.).