Bishop Malesic – Messages

Letter from Bishop Malesic – In Ohio, the dignity of life at its earliest stages is being threatened by groups including Protect Choice Ohio in seeking to put an amendment on the November 2023 ballot that would amend Article I of the Ohio Constitution by adding Section 22, “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety.” The amendment, if it gets on the ballet and is passed, would enable abortion up to the stage of “fetal viability” outside the womb.  Click on this link to read the letter:  March-5–2023-Bishop-Letter-on-Ballot-Amendment-Final.pdf

To see the amendment language Click on this link:   https://protectchoiceohio.com/petition_language?vcrmeid=qcoYwAb2UES6F9baCjNug&vcrmiid=nuN2GpgpH0ORztznVw_OEQ

Bishop Malesic grants dispensation from obligation to abstain from eating meat on St. Patrick’s Day – Bishop Malesic has issued the following statement regarding the obligation to abstain from eating meat on St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on a Friday in Lent this year:      “Throughout the season of Lent we are encouraged to take advantage of greater opportunities for prayer, fasting and almsgiving in order to deepen our awareness of and better appreciate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is equally true when we abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent as a reminder that on Good Friday, the Lord offered his flesh for us as the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday in Lent and several have inquired regarding the possibility of a dispensation from the obligation to abstain from eating meat this day. After prayerful consideration, I hereby dispense from the obligation to abstain from meat on St. Patrick’s feast day, March 17, 2023, for those who find it spiritually advantageous to eat meat as a way to celebrate this important feast day in the life of our local Church. This dispensation extends to all members of the Diocese of Cleveland no matter where they are on the feast of St. Patrick, as well as for all Catholics who are actually present in the Diocese of Cleveland on the feast of St. Patrick. I ask that those who exercise this dispensation select another non-Friday day during Lent to abstain from eating meat or to make some offering on behalf of the poor, whether by prayer, fasting or almsgiving in order to recognize and honor our Lord’s mission and passion for the sake of the salvation of souls. 

Be assured of my prayers for all the faithful who continue to strive to imitate the joy of the saints and follow their example with the same seriousness and commitment with which they practiced their faith.

May God bless you and those you love.”

Rite of Election Celebrated at the Cathedral – Last Sunday the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion for candidates entering into full communion in the Church were celebrated at the (full) Cathedral with Bishop Malesic in the afternoon and again with Bishop Woost in the evening. Catechumens came streaming to the Bishop as their parish name was called and the Book of the Elect into which they had entered their names was presented to the Bishop. These are no longer Catechumens; they are the Elect—called and chosen by Christ to be grafted onto His Life as a member of His Mystical Body, the Church. “Look around you!” Bishop Woost told us last Sunday. “The Church is alive in the Holy Spirit!” The Holy Spirit was indeed palpable as the Bishop greeted each person who came forward for election. Afterward, the spacious sanctuary of the Cathedral overflowed with Candidates preparing for full reception into the Church. Because they are baptized, they gathered close to the altar for a blessing by the Bishop. Whenever we, God’s people, gather with our Bishop, who is in communion with the bishops of the world and the Bishop of Rome who is the successor of St Peter, we are in communion with Catholics the world over. The joy of our communion was experienced in the people, in the Bishop, in the beautiful sacred space of the Cathedral, and with some truly heavenly music. We are blessed! Let us pray for Stefan Knaack, the Elect, Lindsey Arch, Candidate for Confirmation, and all preparing for full communion in the Church!