News
Faith and Fun Shine Through at St. Columbkille Parish Picnic
The St. Columbkille Parish Picnic on June 8 was a resounding success, drawing hundreds of parishioners, school families and local community members to the parish grounds for a joyful celebration of fellowship.
Held in honor of the parish’s patron saint, the event offered something for everyone, starting with noon mass, led by St. Columbkille’s pastor Fr. Anthony Suso.
The rest of the day featured live performances on the main stage from local artists including the Polka Pirates, Legacy Dance Academy, and The Edge.
The secondary stage included interactive shows for attendees to either get moving with the Fitness Through Faith clinic or view and touch exotic animals during Jungle Bob’s Animal Show.
Children enjoyed bouncing and sliding on inflatables, trying their best at games of chance and climbing a rock wall, hosted by the Scouts of America. Teenagers and adults had their share of fun through contests like the "Closest to the Pin" golf challenge. Special visits from Bruno and Bella, Padua High School’s Bruins, added extra fun to the afternoon.
When community members weren’t dancing to tunes from the main stage or trying their hand at a game of skill, they were enjoying some of the delicious food available for purchase. The menu included burgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, chicken and pizza with some stations offering sweet treats like cotton candy.
The day concluded with the much-anticipated Spring Raffle drawing, featuring generous cash prizes and a Grand Prize two-year lease on a 2025 Chevrolet Trax. Raffle ticket sales brought in a total of $41,930 for St. Columbkille School and its students.
Winners were announced during the evening celebration:
3rd Place ($1,500): Diane Francisco
2nd Place ($2,500): Ron Chura
1st Place ($5,000): Lou Gillombardo
Grand Prize (2025 Chevrolet Trax lease): Jack Zanath
Parish and school volunteers showed their commitment to St. Columbkille with their countless hours of service, demonstrating to the broader community that the parish and school are a welcoming and vibrant place.
“It was incredible to see so many of our school families and dedicated volunteers come together to make this day so special,” said St. Columbkille School Principal Meghan Kelley. “The laughter, smiles, and sense of connection remind us what makes the St. Columbkille community so unique—we’re not just a school, we’re a family.”
“This picnic isn’t just about food and fun—it’s a celebration of our unity in Christ,” said Pastor Fr. Anthony Suso. “Seeing families, students and parishioners come together with such joy reminds us that faith thrives in community.”
St. Columbkille Awarded Nearly $10,000 Grant from Ohio EPA for Eco-Friendly Upgrades
St. Columbkille School is taking another step toward environmental responsibility thanks to a generous grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The school was recently awarded nearly $10,000 through the agency’s Recycle Ohio Grant program to install new energy-efficient hand dryers throughout the building.
This eco-friendly upgrade is part of a larger effort to reduce waste and promote sustainability on campus. By replacing traditional paper towel dispensers with modern hand dryers, the school aims to significantly cut down on paper waste and maintenance costs while reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship.
“We’re always looking for ways to be better stewards of our resources and to lead by example for our students,” said Principal Meghan Kelley. “This grant allows us to make a meaningful change that benefits both the school and the environment.”
The hand dryers have already been delivered, and installation is expected to be completed before students return in August for the 2025-26 school year.
St. Columbkille is one of 41 organizations in Northeast Ohio—and 147 across the state—selected to receive a Recycle Ohio Grant this year. In total, the Ohio EPA awarded $1.6 million to recipients in northeast Ohio and $5.9 million statewide to support recycling, litter prevention, and environmental education initiatives.
With this grant-funded project, St. Columbkille continues to lead by example, reinforcing its dedication to sustainability and the well-being of future generations.
Former St. Columbkille Knight Named St. Ignatius Valedictorian, Honored Nationally for Academic and Musical Excellence
St. Columbkille School is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumnus Alisdair Welty, a member of the St. Ignatius High School Class of 2025 and this year’s Valedictorian.
Alisdair’s impressive academic and musical accomplishments include being named a First Honors Ignatian Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Finalist, and a Presidential Scholar Candidate. His talents also shine in the world of music—he was recently named the 2025 Columbia AGO Young Organist.
Continuing his exceptional journey, Alisdair has committed to the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he will major in Organ Performance and Music Theory. He will also pursue a bachelor's degree in Pure Mathematics through a joint program with Case Western Reserve University.
Congratulations to Alisdair on his remarkable achievements. The entire St. Columbkille community is proud to see a former Knight making such an extraordinary impact. We wish him continued success in all his future endeavors!
St. Columbkille Third-Grade Entrepreneurs Take Learning on the Road with Food Truck Project
At St. Columbkille School in Parma, third-grade students recently brought social studies to life through an immersive, hands-on economics project centered around one of today’s trendiest small business ventures: the food truck.
As part of their unit on economics, taught by Mrs. Andrea McIntyre., students explored concepts such as buying, selling, entrepreneurship, and natural and capital resources. To deepen their understanding, each student created their own food truck—from crafting a unique name and writing a detailed business plan to designing the truck itself and even recording a commercial.
The project culminated in a special visit from real-life entrepreneurs Robert and Charles Costanzo, owners of the local BoysRBack Food Truck. The Costanzos shared insights about running a successful food truck business and answered a range of thoughtful questions posed by the students. Their visit brought real-world context to classroom lessons and offered invaluable advice to the budding business owners.
“Our students were so engaged in this project,” said Principal Meghan Kelley. “They not only applied what they learned in a meaningful way, but they also got to experience what entrepreneurship looks like in real life.”
From brainstorming menu ideas to pitching their concepts to peers and professionals, students demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking throughout the entire process. St. Columbkille is proud of its future entrepreneurs and thankful to community partners like the BoysRBack Food Truck for inspiring the next generation of innovators.
