It is with great joy that I introduce myself. My name is Fr. Jacob Bearer. The bishop has asked me to be your next administrator, and I have accepted this assignment with gratitude and excitement. I cannot wait to see the good things God has in store for us in the future (I will officially start on January 15th). Just a little background about myself: I am the son of my wonderful parents Brian and Kelly Bearer and have two beautiful sisters, Bryanen and Marissa, a beautiful niece Regan, and a soon-to-be brother-in-law nicknamed Bug (I’m still not sure why). I hope you will get to meet my family soon. We grew up in Painesville, OH (Lake County). I attended public schools until the time I entered the seminary. Before wanting to become a priest, I had a lot of ideas through the years. I was thinking of everything from veterinarian to police officer to the military to teacher to lawyer or something else. All that changed when I had a profound encounter with Jesus Christ towards the end of my time in high school. Jesus changed my life, and I haven’t been able to live the same since. It was then that I began thinking about priesthood. There were doubts and ups-and-downs through my time in seminary, I wasn’t sure what God had in store for me. God knew, though, and in 2017 I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland, and priesthood has gotten better and better every single year. My first assignment was at St. Francis de Sales in Akron, in the Portage Lakes area (New Franklin). It was there that I learned two important lessons: (1) Life is a lot better and easier when we just listen to God and do what He asks, and (2) I don’t have a clue and need to keep learning every day. My second assignment took me to St. Columbkille in Parma where that learning continued. In so many ways both assignments complemented each other well and prepared me for this providential assignment to be your next administrator and, hopefully, your next pastor. God bless you all!
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Father Jacob Bearer
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William Steigerwald
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WILLIAM STEIGERWALD grew up in Burton, Ohio and graduated from Berkshire High School and Auburn Career Center in 2020. He has been an active member within his parish, St. Helen, where he grew a love for ministry. William earned a Bachelor's Degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Theology. He graduated in December of 2022 and is excited to continue working for the Church.
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CASSIE BRUMBAUGH grew up in Brecksville, Ohio and graduated from Brecksville Broadview Heights High School in 2015. She became very active in the youth ministry program at her parish, St. Basil the Great in Brecksville. Because of the great impact the program and her Youth Minister had on her she decided to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville and study Theology and Catechetics with a concentration in Youth Ministry. She graduated from Franciscan University in May 2019 and began her career in ministry at SS. Edward & Lucy parish in July 2019.
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Cassie Brumbaugh
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FATHER JOHN BURKLEY attended Borromeo Seminary High School and College and St. Mary Seminary. He was ordained a priest on May 30, 1970. Father John has served the parishes of SS. Cosmas and Damian in Twinsburg, St. Jerome and St. Catherine in Cleveland, St. Francis of Assisi in Gates Mills, St. Gregory the Great in South Euclid and St. Robert in Euclid. He came to SS. Edward and Lucy Parish on October 15, 2001. Pictured with Father John are his beloved pets, Winston and Grant
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Deacon Greg Frania |
DEACON GREG FRANIA was born in Painesville, Ohio on March 11, 1952 . He was raised in Madison and later moved to Chardon in 1965 where he graduated from Chardon High School in 1970. Greg entered the Air Force in September 1970 and served at Pope AFB in North Carolina and then two tours of duty in Southeast Asia. Deacon Greg married Kathleen Carr on November 23, 1985 and they live in Huntsburg. They have two children and a daughter-in law; Susan, Nathan and Michele. Deacon Greg was a former parishioner for 30 years at St. Mary in Chardon. He came to SS. Edward and Lucy Parish in 1995 and was ordained as a Deacon on May 11, 2002 becoming the first deacon to serve at SS. Edward and Lucy Parish.
Deacon Greg says he was proud to be a part of the pastoral ministry at SS. Edward and Lucy and sincerely thanks all those who supported and prayed for his ministry. He retired on June 1, 2017. We wish him all the best in the years to come. |