Welcome Back!
Whether you have been away from the Catholic Church for a long time or a little while, it doesn’t matter, we are very happy to welcome you back and want you to know that there’s a place for you at Saint John Bosco.
We know that life can take some crazy turns and that sometimes we find ourselves wanting what we somehow lost along the way. What is so wonderful about our God is that his arms are always open to welcome us back. God never stops loving us and he always wants the best for us. If your being away was caused by someone associated with the Catholic Church please don’t allow that individual to get between you and the God who loves you. If you think that the best thing for you at this time in your life is to return to the practice of your Catholic faith and the sacraments, we are here to help you.
How to Return
You may be wondering how to return to the practice of your faith. You’ve already taken the first step by coming to our parish website. If you stopped coming to Church and receiving the sacraments on your own and have no other impediments (i.e. marriage outside of the Church), you can simply make a good confession and resume receiving the sacraments. If you are divorced (whether you were married in the Church or not) you can return to the sacraments through a good confession as long as you have not entered into another marriage. Confessions are heard at St. John Bosco on Saturdays from 3:00-3:45 p.m. This brochure will help you through the steps. Reconciliation: A Short Guide.
If you would like to have a conversation with a priest first, please call our parish office (440-886-3500) and make an appointment with our pastor, Fr. Matt.
If you are married or re-married outside of the Church, you can speak to Fr. Matt about how you can return to the sacraments. Please call our parish office (440-886-3500) and make an appointment with him. He will be happy to meet with you.
If you were baptized in the Church, but were not confirmed or did not receive First Communion, please call the parish office and make an appointment with Fr. Matt.
While You Discern Next Steps
While you are discerning your next steps in your relationship to God and the Catholic Church, please feel free to come to St. John Bosco for Mass any weekend at 4:00 PM on Saturdays and 8:30 and 11:00 AM on Sundays. Open your heart to the sacred scriptures as they are proclaimed and join us in praising God.
Also, at St. John Bosco, we have the special blessing of Eucharistic Adoration in our Adoration Chapel from 6:00AM to 10:00PM. You can always stop in for a few minutes or longer and in the quiet, ask for God’s blessings on you, your loved ones, and all of your concerns. Allow God’s peace to enter your heart.
Be assured that we here at St. John Bosco support you through our own prayers and wish you happiness and peace always.
Keep in Touch
You can keep in touch with our parish activities through our Sunday Bulletins and our Facebook page. If you have any questions, please call our parish office or email us at sjbinfo@sjbparmaheights.org. We are here to help.
I would like to tell all those who feel far from God and the church — and I say this respectfully to those who are afraid or indifferent: The Lord calls you and wants you to be part of his people and does so with great respect and love!
Pope Francis: January 8, 2014
The Lord doesn’t proselytize, he gives love and this love looks for you, waits for you — for you who don’t believe or have drifted away. This is the love of God.