Nearly a dozen priests concelebrated the noon Mass on April 24 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to mark the 170th anniversary of the Diocese of Cleveland. Principal celebrant and homilist was Father John Manning of the Office for Senior Priests.
Father Manning used the Bishop Rappe chalice at the Mass. The historic chalice was used by Bishop Louis Amadeus Rappe, the first bishop of the diocese, which was founded on April 23, 1847. Its permanent home is in the diocesan archives.
?I hope I have been chosen to celebrate this Mass because one of my jobs is teaching the history of the diocese,? Father Manning said. ?Of course, another reason might be that I am the oldest priest in the cathedral -- and I think at Cathedral Square -- so I am like the old dinosaur walking toward the tar pits,? he quipped.
?What we celebrate today is the start of a long history that began on very shaky ground,? Father Manning said, noting that after much arguing in Rome, the state of Ohio was divided into two dioceses. Cincinnati, the first diocese, would continue to cover the southern part of the state and a new diocese was formed for the northern half. He said Cleveland was chosen because of its central location.
Bishop Rappe
