More than 500 people crowded into Our Lady of Peace Church in Cleveland’s Shaker Square neighborhood on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, for the first night of the 2018 Annual Collaborative Lenten Revival. Bishop Nelson Perez was the celebrant and homilist at the opening liturgy. The revival continues at 7 p.m. Feb. 15-16.
The theme for the three-night revival is “Proclaim the Fast – Forgive the Past – Only Jesus can make it Last.”
Before beginning Mass, the bishop asked the congregation to pray for the victims of the high school shooting incident that occurred that afternoon in Parkland, Florida. He said he would offer the Mass for the shooting victims.
“We acknowledge the loss of life and pain that our brothers and sisters in Broward County are going through,” he said, asking for a moment of silence to pray for those who lost their lives. He also asked that the Lord be merciful to the shooter, and then he led the congregation in reciting the Hail Mary.
In his homily, Bishop Perez shared a story about a man who decided to mug someone, but was startled when the man turned around and he was a priest. “Actually, I think he was a Capuchin,” he quipped, nodding to Father Bob Marva, St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima Parish pastor, and Father David Nestler, Holy Spirit Parish pastor, both of whom are Franciscan Capuchin friars. Their parishes are among those supporting the revival.
As the story continued, he told of how the friar invited the man to talk, forgave him and invited him to have a cigar, which the man refused, explaining, “I gave up cigars for Lent.” The congregation laughed and applauded.
“The point is, the Mass doesn’t change. The readings don’t change. We do,” the bishop said. “This is my 56th Ash Wednesday. Maybe we should go around the church and ask each of you how many Ash Wednesdays you’ve had,” he said, as the congregation again laughed.
“The message is the story. God doesn’t need my cigar or Twinkie or whatever you give up for Lent. He needs you to change your heart. Only a contrite heart will be a source of grace for us. And at times, we all fall short,” the bishop said, adding that our Christian journey begins with the understanding that we need God’s love and forgiveness. “God is God and we are not,” he said.
Lent used to be a time of intense conversion, repentance and recognizing what’s a part of our lives with God and what is not. For those who already were baptized, Bishop Perez said it was “a time for renewal, a time to begin again, to get grace and renew our baptismal promises.”
He connected the theme of the revival with the spiritual journey of Lent. He said if a person dies and is revived at the hospital, that person is brought back to life and has a chance to begin again. “We need to shed what’s crept into our lives; forget last year and think about this year.”
He also encouraged the faithful to forgive the past, noting that sometimes we carry too much baggage. “People talk about the past, but they need to let it go, to move on.”
The revival theme also reminds us that only Jesus can make it last. “Only he can help us forgive the past,” the bishop said. Twelve-step programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous, help recovering addicts whose lives became unmanageable because of their addiction to drugs, gambling or other things. “Those in a 12-step program learn to ‘name their pain’ or their demon and recognize that only a higher power can help restore us to wholeness and peace. We cannot save ourselves,” Bishop Perez said.
“Lent is the time to begin our spiritual journey – to see where we are, where we’ve been and where the Lord wants us to be,” he added. He said the ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday “are an external symbol of what is happening deep in our hearts.”
After Mass, Vanessa Griffin Campbell, who retired recently as head of the diocesan African American ministry, was recognized as a drum major in the community and for her efforts in leading the revival for 30 years.
The revival continues at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16 at Our Lady of Peace, 12601 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland.
Homilist on Feb. 15 will be Father Damian Ezeani. A reception follows the program.
On Feb. 16, Father Bob Marva, OFM, Cap, will be homilist at the youth and young adult night, which will be followed by a reception.
The Revival Choir, which includes members from participating parishes, and praise dancing, are part of the nightly worship sessions. The bishop acknowledged the beautiful music provided by the choir and musicians at the Mass.
Sister Rita Mary Harwood, secretary for parish life and development, said the revival has taken place for decades during Lent and all are invited to attend. It is a collaborative event among a cluster of parishes, including Holy Name, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Peace, St. Adalbert-Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima, St. Aloysius-St. Agatha and St. Dominic. She said parishes take turns hosting the event.