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Church of SS. Cosmas and Damian
Parish History
1978 - 1985

     To meet the spiritual and social needs of the parish, several groups were established, among them the Legion of Mary which was formed in 1978 as an association of men and women.  The Legion's purpose is to increase personal holiness among its members, and to foster a deeper devotion and understanding of Mary's continuing role in the Church through weekly apostolic works.  Active membership involves weekly meetings and activities.  Auxiliary members offer a daily rosary and Legion prayers at home.
     In the early spring of 1978, Fr. Wagner was transferred to St. Mark's parish in Lakewood.  A farewell reception was held for him on Sunday, April 4, at the school hall.  In the interim, Fr. Severt was appointed as administrator pro tem until a new pastor was named and arrived to assume his duties.
     Fr. Robert E. Friedel was named and appointed pastor effective May 15, 1978.  Fr. Friedel came to us from Holy Family Parish in Parma.  Ordained in 1957, Ss. Cosmas & Damian was his first pastoral assignment.  Fr. Friedel was formally installed on June 11 with Monsignor Thomas P. Campbell, Dean of North Summit County Deanery, presiding.  An evening reception was held to welcome him to the parish and to the community.
     In 1978, Parishioner Vincent Belsito was admitted to Candidacy for Permanent Diaconate by Bishop James Hickey.  He was ordained as Permanent Deacon on June 17, 1979, by Bishop Hickey at St. John's Cathedral.  A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at Ss. Cosmas & Damian on June 24.  Rev. Belsito has served as principal at St. Columbkille School in Seven Hills and as Director of Theology at Padua High School.  He was the principal at St. Rita's School in Solon from 1987 to 1994 and in 1999, he became Deacon Pastoral Assistant Director of Religious Education at Ss. Cosmas and Damian.
     To meet the growing and ever-changing needs of the parish and the community, a program was established through the Ministers' Association to aid needy parishioners and stranded travelers.  Within the parish St. Anthony's Corner, a parish clothing and food exchange, was established by Al and Marie LaForest in 1980.  Several other parish members became involved in the repairing of clothing and distribution of food to Sr. Henrietta at Our Lady of Fatima Mission Center, the West Side Catholic Center, Head Start in Twinsburg, and Womankind in South Euclid.  This was succeeded by the St. Vincent de Paul Society to take care of the needs of the poor and the hungry.  Paul Zamiska was elected first president of the society.
     In June, 1980, Fr. William H. Severt was assigned to St. Joseph's parish in Cuyahoga Falls.  Fr. John C. Chlebo of St. Mark's parish in Cleveland and newly ordained on June 7, reported for duties on June 24.  That year the parish renovation, which started six years previously, continued.  Doors were refinished, and stained glass representing the four evangelists, Mary and Joseph, and Ss. Cosmas & Damian were added to the entrance of the Church.
     To promote devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the tabernacle was moved away from the Altar of Sacrifice, creating a new Eucharistic Throne located next to the Chapel.  The guidelines of the Vatican Council on Liturgy proposed that the Eucharist be enthroned in a special place in the Church, separate from the area of Sacrifice, in order to add to its dignity and purpose.  A new and permanent main Altar of Sacrifice was donated by two long-time parishioners.
     In order to meet the changing needs of the parish, in the spring of 1981, Saturday Mass was changed from 7:00pm to 5:00pm after a poll was taken of the parish.
     Fr. Friedel celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination on May 16, 1982.  The homilist was Rt. Rev. Roger Gries, OSB, Abbot from St. Andrew Abby.
     The highly successful PALS preschool program for three- and four-year old children was founded on September 10, 1984.
     In the fall of 1985, the Renew Program came to Ss. Cosmas & Damian parish.  This was a three-year process of parish growth which was broken down into five sessions consisting of six weeks each over three calendar years.  Weekly homilies, as well as the liturgies, were centered on a current theme during this period.  The program allowed for large and small group activities, and take-home activities were distributed through the parish bulletin.

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