Most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland will celebrate a special Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Cleveland. This Mass of Thanksgiving will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2012. Bishop Lennon will be the main celebrant. The Mass is open to the public.
Immediately following Mass there will be a reception at the Galleria at Erieview, 1301 East 9th Street. We invite all members of the community to come and join in the celebration. The reception is free and open to the public.
Looking back in time
A lot was happening 100 years ago in Cleveland. Along with the opening of the Westside Market and a population boom, the poor and underserved in our growing community received a big blessing: the formation of Catholic Charities in the Dioceses of Cleveland. Before, individual orders of nuns would go door to door, business to business, corner to corner, begging for spare change and donations to support their orphanages, hospitals, and programs. After, parishes, communities, and individuals came together to support the needs of many.
Fast forward from 1912 to 2012, Catholic Charities in the Dioceses of Cleveland has grown beyond what anyone imagined. With over 150 programs in eight counties, the organization is the second largest nonprofit employer in the region and recorded over 276,000 unduplicated instances of service last year alone.
For more information about the many ways Catholic Charities is marking this momentous year, please visit: http://www.clevelandcatholiccharities.org/100years.htm
Visit the blog: 100 Years. 100 Stories. at: http://clecatholicchar100.wordpress.com/
100 stories are being shared through September 14, 2012 highlighting the vast array of programs, services, and lives touched by our organization. A special story about the late J. Thomas Mullen, former President & CEO of Catholic Charities is also available.
For more information, contact Samantha Mealy, Director of Marketing and Communications, Catholic Charities Health & Human Services at (216) 334-2906 or (216) 409-7883.