Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Our Lady of Peace Elementary School

I've spoken of Our Lady of Peace Church before and some of the wonderful events and fundraising activities spearheaded by this community.

In fact, going back into the archive vault, I believe my first Hidden Gem focused on OLP.

Well, Thursday night was the end of an era.

My entire family went to Our Lady of Peace School. They've always had the best teachers, staff, and offered a terrific education coupled with those incidentals that you can't teach.

On a personal note, receiving a Catholic Education was probably one of the best things that I could have experienced in my lifetime. It laid a priceless foundation for the rest of my life. I will forever be indebted to Our Lady of Peace, the Ursuline Nuns and all of the teachers who pointed me in the right direction to become who I am today (someone I really like).


Our Lady of Peace Church survived the 'cluster' chopping block and was the only church in its cluster to survive. Epiphany has already closed and St. Cecilia will be closing.


Unfortunately, OLP Elementary School did not fair quite as well. Now, it's not as dismal as I make it sound. But, quite a surprise.


With all the flurry surrounding the Cleveland Catholic Diocese Church closings, what was happening between Bishop Lennon and the Cleveland Catholic Elementary School Pastors was sort of swept under the carpet.

Just a few weeks after the dust had settled with the Church closings, it was announced that Our Lady of Peace would become a satellite campus for Archbishop Lyke School. OLP will have a preschool, 3 kindergartens, 3 first grades, and 3 second grades.

4 thru 8 will be on two other campuses.

There was no discussion with parents or parishioners, as there had been with the Church Clustering.

This is what is happening.

Extensive information on how this decision came about was supplied along with answers to questions that may pop up. There had been many meetings with the Bishop, school administrators, and the Cleveland Catholic Diocese Education folks.

It appears that this was a viable solution to keep all of the schools involved vibrant, alive and strong for many years to come as they give the children of Cleveland the best education.

But, this decision can not take away the fact that Thursday night was the final graduation which will ever occur at Our Lady of Peace Elementary School. Now, there will be Pre thru 2 kids roaming around campus. They are cute little bundles but the bigger kids, who have done so much for the neighborhood, the community, and the parish will no longer be on site to assist in invaluable ways.

In fact, just recently, OLP Junior High students raised over $1,000 to put a roof on the new St. Mary's Church in Kenya. These kids, though many of them coming from lower income families themselves, always thought of those less fortunate.

The upper grades had a wonderful choir which will be silenced.

OLP will still have First Communion and possibly some very young servers.

It will be a great challenge to start these youngsters in the education world, and hopefully, lay a great foundation that they can take with them wherever they wind up after the 2nd grade.

I'm sure this will be a wonderful transition for this Parish and will work out for all involved to keep the Cleveland Catholic Schools alive contributing to the future of our children.


The process is just in the beginning stages.


However, that does not take away from the fact that those of us who graduated from the 8th grade at OLP with so many tremendous memories will have a little bittersweet feeling in our hearts knowing how much OLP contributed to our rich history, how the dedicated teachers encouraged us all to dream and reach for the skies, and helped immensely in who we have become today.


If you are not familiar with Our Lady of Peace Elementary School, trust me! The kind, caring, selfless, thoughtful, and successful students they have produced and sent out into this world is my reason for making OLP this week's Hidden Gem. It surely is the end of an era. I am proud to be an OLP Alum and can not say enough great things about this wonderful institution, which hopefully, will continue guiding the little tikes from the very beginning--giving them a tremendous foundation with which to start their education and their lives!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Night of 1,000 Dinners

Time and time again I am blown away by the generosity of my fellow 'earth-mates.'

When there is a crisis, even during difficult economic times, people rise to the occasion, especially extremely caring and generous Clevelanders.

A local church has taken the 'Night of 1,000 Dinners' concept and molded it to suit their current fundraising needs.

Normally, the 'Night of 1,000 Dinners' references a global effort raising awareness to depleting landmines around the world for safety, peace, as well as garnering more land for producing food for those in need.

The more generalized explainer is gathering a group of people together, preferably around the dinner table, to support 'some' common cause.

Parishioners of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Cleveland chose the beginning of Catholic Schools Week to open their homes to family and friends in hope of raising money for THEIR common cause --Our Lady of Peace Elementary School.

Instead of having one huge fundraiser where you usually have to spend a lot of money to try and make a little, each family does their small part in hopes of a big payout!

Parishioners' shindigs range from brunches, luncheons, dinners, cocktail parties and even 'take out' for those who want to enjoy a great home-cooked meal in the luxury of their own home--and still make a difference!

The hosts can invite as many or as few and charge what they deem appropriate in light of the menu served. All proceeds go to Our Lady of Peace Elementary School.

A perfect way to support a good cause AWAY from the TV, computer, iPod, Blackberry and enjoy the company of good friends! It's a win-win situation for all involved!!!!!

Our Lady of Peace Elementary School has been serving and educating the children of Cleveland since 1924.

The very first students were children of immigrants fleeing war-torn European countries. Now, mainly comprised of inner-city African-American students, the goals remain the same today: to give each and every child the best education while enriching every other facet of their life. Being a Catholic School, the Catholic Doctrine is taught, in hopes of instilling 'the light of the gospel to be of service to their families, their churches, and their civic communities.' A challenging curriculum gives each student the opportunity to compete at the highest level with any other student around at the High School and College levels and beyond.

Whatever they are doing seems to be working! Last year, 100 percent of the first graders made 'benchmark' or 'emerging' status on a nationally used test of oral reading fluency. And in charitable giving, even though many of these families face hardships themselves, the students collected over 800 canned food items for the parish Food Pantry in October. The Food Pantry helps those in need in the neighborhood.

The students not only get a great education but a solid foundation for a hopeful future!

I salute creative ventures aiming at preserving neighborhoods, strengthening schools, empowering our future with positive reinforcement, reminiscing on our past, and allowing people to enjoy each other (as in olden days before clutter and busyness!!!). Therefore, I have chosen OLP's 'Night of 1,000 Dinners' as this week's Hidden Gem.

New Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

A new weekly feature beginning today is an idea I’ve been courting for years! A project near and dear to my heart which never materialized until now because I was missing the appropriate venue. What a better vessel than my personal work blog!

Being a true Cleveland girl, I just love Northeast Ohio. Don’t get me wrong. I love traveling and have some pretty amazing cities already on my passport with many more hopefully ahead of me! But you can have the New York’s and the LA’s. Just give me Cleveland, Ohio. I’m amazed at the ignorance of some travelers I run into who have never been to Cleveland but have something negative to say about it. I challenge them to make the trek and promise they won’t be disappointed!

In 'Hidden Gems' I will showcase a different 'gem' each week. I characterize 'gem' as being a place, location, or event in Northeast Ohio which contributes to the eclectic yet traditional ambiance of this city. It may be well-known or it may be something that only neighborhood folks cherish. Obviously many of my 'hidden gems' have touched me personally in some way. However, I’d love to hear from my readers with other 'hidden gems' around town! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic tour around Northeast Ohio!

My first 'Hidden Gem' is near and dear to my heart, OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

I have lived in this Parish my entire life. We attended grade school here. My Mother was the Parish secretary for many years. I'm a Cantor and Choir Member. Regardless of my tie, I truly believe it is the prettiest church in town! I am honored to call our Pastor, Father Gary, friend. He's one heck of a guy. A great priest. When disgruntled Catholics leave the church or have negative things to say, I wish they would attend a Father Gary Mass & all that would change! It all began a long time ago when Father James Cummins, just back from serving in World War I, was asked to start a new parish. After being on the front line and seeing some awful happenings, he dedicated this parish to Mary, Our Lady of Peace, back on September 11, 1919.

The very first Mass was celebrated in the billiard room of the old Luna Park at East 110th and Woodland Avenue. Worshippers used park benches as makeshift pews.

The temporary church frame was up in time for Easter, 1920. In May of 1923, the "new" church was ready for use.

Our current church at the corner of East 126th and Shaker Blvd was begun in 1949 and finished in 1951. It truly is breath taking! When you enter and get a glimpse of the stained glass, the thousands of hand painted tiles, the sculptures, the marble, and every little nuance, you are blown away.

The old church was re-named "Cummins Hall" in honor of our first Pastor who organized our parish in the first place. It is the hall attached to Our Lady of Peace Elementary School.

Our Lady of Peace School gives the neighborhood kids a faith-filled education, regardless of their religion, and prepares them for life. Most, if not all of our kids, go onto top ranking high schools and college. They become pillars in the community. We are proud to say it all begins in grade K! The school kids take it upon themselves to help local and national causes as well. The kids have raised lots of money for fellow Catholic Churches needing assistance in Central America and around the world as well as local charities right back here in the Cleveland area.

UPCOMING EVENT:

This Sunday, April 13th, OLP is holding their annual Run For Peace. This event raises money which will be used for scholarships for Our Lady of Peace Elementary School students. Put on your running OR walking shoes, and join us at the corner of East 126th and Buckingham Avenue Sunday morning for a good cause! The race begins at 9am. It goes about three miles to Benedictine High School and back. Refreshments will be served in the school gym after the run. Hope to see you there! Any questions, feel free to call the Church Rectory at 216.421.4211.

This 'Hidden Gem' is one special piece of Cleveland's history. Hopefully you have enjoyed this first hand look and will make a special visit yourself one day!