Most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland, and The Very Reverend Martin A. Solma, SM have informed the people of St. Aloysius-St. Agatha parish located at 10932 St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland, that the Marianist Order which has staffed the parish since 1980 will no longer be able to do so. The Order will be ending its affiliation on 30 June 2015, where most recently, the Reverend Theodore Cassidy, SM has served as Parochial Vicar and Brother Paul Hoffman, S.M has been the Parish Life Coordinator. Brother Paul has served the parish since 2006.
In a letter to Bishop Lennon, The Reverend Solma, SM attributed the removal of the Marianist to ?aging and diminishing personnel? as the Marianist Province of the United States has had to plan for consolidation of resources and ministries. The Order has offered to continue its sponsorship agreement with the Diocese in support of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, but is uncertain if Marianist personnel will be able to provide onsite staffing.
The Diocese of Cleveland will be working to facilitate the transfer of the parish from the Marianist Community to diocesan personnel and address future staffing needs.
During the announcement after Mass on Sunday, August 10th, Bishop Lennon extended his grateful thanks to the Marianists for their devotion to the people of the Diocese of Cleveland which dates back to 1856 when Cleveland?s first Bishop, Amadeus Rappe, invited the Order to serve and teach at St. Patrick School on Bridge Avenue. The Order went on to teach at seven other schools and from 1916 to 1979 operated Cathedral Latin High School.
