Cleveland Catholic Mass Mob II

April 27, 2014 at 11 AM

St Barbara’s Parish at 1505 Denison Ave


The first Catholic Mass Mob in Cleveland was a huge success. Typically the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass at St Casimir at 8223 Sowinski Avenue in Cleveland would attract about 100 people but over 700 attended Mass on March 23, 2014 for the first Mass Mob in Cleveland.

The second Mass Mob will be this Sunday and hosted by St Barbara’s Parish at 1505 Denison Ave. Cleveland 44109. It is located on Denison Ave. between West 16th St. and the southbound entrance to SR 176, in a part of the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood previously known in Polish as na Barbarowie.

The special bilingual (English and Polish) Mass will be concelebrated by Fr. Hilinski and Fr. Panek at 11AM. Along with the Mass, there will be a procession with parishioners dressed in Polish costumes carrying a picture of St. John Paul II, prayers and presentations in Polish and English, and a performance by Diakonia, a musical group from Columbus followed by a reception with refreshments in the Parish Hall.

Sunday is also the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. John XXIII served as pope from 1958 through 1963 and John Paul II served as pope from 1978 through 2005

At 4 o'clock a.m. Sunday morning, there will be a live broadcast from the Vatican in Rome. You can view the canonization ceremony at Saint Casimir, and St. Stanislaus in Cleveland, and SS. Peter and Paul in Garfield Heights. Each of these parishes will have light breakfasts available for this historic event. And morning Masses will be conducted with Divine Mercy Devotions after. For more information call the following numbers; St. Casimir and St. Stanislaus (341-9091) and SS. Peter & Paul (429-1515).

It is also Divine Mercy Sunday. Celebrating the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed by Christ Himself to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, this feast was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, the day that he canonized Saint Faustina.

AJC inter-faith Diplomatic Seder

The 11th Annual AJC (American Jewish Committee) inter-faith Diplomatic Seder was held at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood last Thursday. 

Each spring, when the world of nature renews itself, the Jewish people reflect upon their emergence from slavery and the meaning of freedom. 

Do you know why an orange has been added to the Seder plate?

Photos and videos from the Seder 

US Air Force Honor Guard

There was a very special guest at the 2014 Parade. The United States Air Force Honor Guard Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington DC marched in the 2014 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland Ohio.


The mission of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard is to represent Airmen to the American Public and the World. The vision of the USAF Honor Guard is to ensure a legacy of Airmen who: promote the mission; protect the standards; perfect the image; and preserve the heritage.

Before the Parade began, the Honor Guard drilled on a side street.

See the  United States Air Force Honor Guard  march in the 2014 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland.

2014 Cleveland Saint Patrick's Day Parade

The 2014 Cleveland Saint Patrick's Day Parade was the 147th such Parade.

Three Divisions of thousands of marchers and bands and floats and hundreds of thousands of parade watchers.

If you missed the big Parade or just want to see some more check out the 15 pages of photos and videos from the 2014 Cleveland Saint Patrick's Day Parade .

Cleveland International Hall of Fame - 2014 Class

The 2014 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame will be inducted at a dinner ceremony in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott at Key Center on the evening of Monday May 12, 2014

The induction ceremony for the 2014 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame on May 12, 2014 is Sold Out!

We are working with the Marriott to add a few tables so if you want to attend, you need to contact Debbie ASAP at deb@ClevelandPeople.Com or 216-381-8310. You can also publish (for a little while yet) congratulatory messages in the collector's edition program book.

The early Sell Out is a testament to the outstanding inductees.

The 2014 Class consists of (alphabetical order):

• Monte Ahuja
  inducted by Thomas Zenty



• Eugene Bak
  inducted by Ben Stefanski



• Margaret Callander
  inducted by Kona Gant



• Jim Foster
  inducted by Dick Pogue



• Donna Hom
  inducted by Margaret Wong



• Joseph P Meissner
  inducted by Jeremy Lin



• Ernie Mihaly
  inducted by Richard Fleischman



• Thomas J. Scanlon
  inducted by Sam Miller

Indian Holi Festival in Cleveland

FICA, Cleveland State University Center for International Services and Programs (CISP) and Indian Student Association (ISA) hosted a Holi celebration in Cleveland at CSU on March 29, 2014.

The "Spring Festival" was greeted with a surprise blizzard of more than 5" of snow but people braved the elements for the good food, camaraderie and especially the performances - both traditional and modern.

Photos and videos of Holi in Cleveland

Kalyani Veturi dance students 

Social Media gets Religion

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter and others) has been used to create Flash Mobs for impromptu dance and other performances, Cash Mobs to help a small business get lots of customers and other "Mobs" to get a larger than usual group of people together for a common purpose.

In an attempt to increase awareness of, and attendance at, grand old parish churches a new series of mobs formed. A group of Catholic church enthusiasts wanted more people to experience, and re-experience, the beauty of Catholic community and parish life. They appropriated the idea of a "flash mob", and created the Catholic Mass Mob.

The first was the Buffalo Mass Mob. After the Associated Press wrote about the Second Buffalo Mass Mob, the idea spread to Rochester, Cleveland, New Orleans, Columbus, Wilmington, Covington, New York City, and Philadelphia.

Parishioner leaders from St Casimir Catholic Church in Cleveland have been active since the Church was originally closed down several years ago. Stanislav Zadnik, Joseph Feckanin, John Niadzialek, Wojtek Flezar and others organized weekly prayer vigils at the Church until it was reopened on July 15, 2012. Zadnik heard of the Mass Mob in Buffalo and spread the word to the others and, after discussing with pastor Rev. Eric Orzech, spread the news of a Catholic Mass Mob at St. Casimir Church at East 82nd and Sowinski.

Typically the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass at St Casimir would attract about 100 people but over 700 attended Mass on March 23, 2014 for the first Mass Mob in Cleveland.

Photos and videos from the Mass Mob

Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel Paprika! 2014

The Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel, in collaboration with the Great Lakes Science Center, hosted the 24th annual Paprika! event on March 1, 2014 at The Ritz Carlton Hotel.

This year's theme was Diamonds of Science: The Brilliance of Hungarian Minds and featured a tribute to Erno Rubik who created Rubik's cube.

Photos and videos from Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel Paprika! 2014

2014 Cleveland Kurentovanje Parade and Festival

Returning for its second year on Saturday March 1st 2014, the Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival is based on the most popular carnival event in Slovenia and the central figure of the carnival, the Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers.


The Slovenian National Home, St Clair Superior Development Corp and Sterle's Country House partnered with local businesses and institutions to bring a piece of this cultural event to St. Clair Avenue on Saturday March 1st, 2014

See highlights of the Kurentovanje  Parade and Festival

History of Zero and Arab contributions to Math

Great Lakes Geek Dan Hanson was at a Cleveland Food Adventurers event at Kan Zaman Middle Eastern Restaurant when the conversation steered toward math and science.

He was asked to tell the group a little about Arab contributions to Math and this video snippet is the result.

Is there a connection?

I didn't realize it until someone pointed it out.  I am wearing a Just One Before I Die t-shirt and toking on a hookah.  Maybe with a championship some day I won't need the hard stuff.

Name that Voice

Many people name the voice on their GPS or other device. Not just Siri. My sister has called her GPS voice 'Chloe' for years in tribute to the tech star assistant to Jack Bauer in the series '24'

Some Magellan users call theirs Maggie and Tom-Tom is easy if you use the male voice setting. I've also heard Gypsy for GPS.

Do you have a name for your voice? Let us know.

Kevin Goodman of BlueBridge Networks calls his KG-B.

Sharon Plona Jesse calls hers Jenny as in Jenny Jenny who can I turn to.

It's been a long winter already

RIP Del Donahoo

We are sorry to report that Del Donahoo passed away yesterday evening, February 4, 2014 at the age of 90.


Del was born on November 15, 1923 on a farm in Moravia, Iowa, the youngest of three children. He maintained his hard work ethic, stong values and morality throughout a career that earned him a legion of friends and admirers called "Del's Folks."

He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.

Profile of Del Donahoo

Cleveland's Diversity at Work

Computers Assisting People (CAP) is a Cleveland non-profit that has worked to bridge the Digital Divide since the mid-90s. Since inception, CAP volunteers have refurbished and donated over 15,000 computers to over 450 schools and non-profits in Cleveland.


On Saturday, CAP moved to its new location at 2800 Euclid and a diverse group of volunteers helped out - various races, all ages, men and women - a great microcosm of our community. Here are 2 photos of some of the volunteers. (Debbie Hanson is not in the photos because she took them)

Mayor Ralph Perk's 100th birthday celebration

Ralph J. Perk served as the 52nd mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. He was born on January 19, 1914 which makes this the 100th anniversary of his birth.

A celebration commemorating the event was held on January 17, 2014 in the Michael Schwarz Library of Cleveland State University (CSU).


Perk was known for his outreach to the ethnic communities and his International Fair on Mall C.

He was of Czech descent and started the American Nationalities Movement in the late 1950's.

Photos and videos from Mayor Ralph Perk birthday

India Republic Day

Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) hosts an annual event to celebrate Republic Day. The event, dinner and performances took place on Saturday January 25, 2014.


Dr. Mohan Bafna and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson were honored.

Photos from India Republic Day event

Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony

 Members of the Underground Railroad Society, Coalition for a Better Life, dba Peace in the Hood and other community organizations marched outside of the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall to see the African-American flag raised over Cleveland City Hall.

This was the 40th annual Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony at Cleveland City Hall.

Photos and videos from Black History Month Flag Raising

Beware of Rascal House Cleveland at 20th and Euclid

Beware of Rascal House Cleveland at 20^th and Euclid.

We placed a large order today for the volunteers who were helping move Computers Assisting People (CAP) to its new location.  

3 people heard the Rascal House person say the price (and repeat it) when we gave the credit card number. 

When the pizzas showed up the bill was $100 higher than they told us!  One hundred dollars! 

We called the manager and he would not take responsibility or admit the error.  (some of the CAP volunteers in these 2 photos) 

Since we had about 30 hungry volunteers we ate the extra $100 (and still tipped the driver – it wasn’t his fault!)  but we will not eat Rascal House food again.

Cleveland Botanical Garden’s “Glow at the Garden”

Treat yourself to a magical time at the Cleveland Botanical Garden's holiday event, Glow at the Garden, which opened Friday, November 29th and runs until January 5th. Back for its 2nd year, all of your favorite past Glow experiences are also returning.

Take a train ride through the garden, feast your eyes on over 100 gingerbread houses (you can even decorate your own to take home!), enjoy live seasonal music performances, dozens of trees delightfully decorated by garden clubs, and the twinkling lights. Plus, there are a few new surprises in store for you.

Check out a few pictures of the Forest City Tree Protection crew setting up the 24' concolor fir tree in the lobby.