Mass of the Lord's Supper

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Watch the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

Phone: 216-696-6525

Toll Free: 1-800-869-6525

Address: 1404 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114

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First Friday Club of Cleveland gains insight on Thea Bowman Center

News of the Diocese

July 1, 2019

First Friday Club of Cleveland gains insight on Thea Bowman Center
First Friday Club of Cleveland gains insight on Thea Bowman Center
First Friday Club of Cleveland gains insight on Thea Bowman Center
First Friday Club of Cleveland gains insight on Thea Bowman Center

“We are small but mighty,” said Ella Thomas, describing the Thea Bowman Center, an outreach center serving the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Cleveland. Thomas is executive director of the center, which began in 1966 as a hunger center under the auspices of Epiphany Catholic Church. She’s the only full-time staff member, but there is a corps of 650 volunteers who assist with programs.

Although the church closed in 2009, the center’s mission remained vital to the neighborhood, Thomas said, so it was redesigned as a nonprofit.

Thomas presented a glimpse at what the center offers during a presentation on June 27 to the First Friday Club of Cleveland.

“Believing in the strength of the people of Mount Pleasant, our mission is to affirm and sustain in a trusting environment that promotes health and well-being through education and resources,” Thomas said.

The center is named after Sister Thea Bowman, a much-loved African American religious sister who is on the path to sainthood. A former educator, she became an evangelizer and encouraged Catholics to celebrate their diversity, retain their cultures and to rejoice in their unity with Christ. She died of cancer in 1990 at age 52.

Thomas said she is unsure if Sister Thea ever visited the center. However, she was familiar with Cleveland and was a friend of Sister Juanita Shealey, CSJ.

Sister Thea advocated for using love to overcome fear. She also encouraged people to share their gifts, Thomas said. A key mission of the center and its volunteers is to be certain that “no man, woman or child goes hungry,” Thomas said.

“We meet people where they are,” Thomas said, and Thea Bowman volunteers work to affirm and sustain a healthy environment to help people sustain healthy lives. “We are advocates for healthy lifestyles,” she added.

But that is a challenge since about 65% of the Mount Pleasant residents are at or well below the poverty level. Thomas said there is no major grocery store in the area and the Thea Bowman Center is one of the few food pantries that is open all month. The center also provides a hot meal on Saturdays with assistance from five partner churches. She estimated 150-160 residents take advantage of the weekly meals as well as the opportunity for socialization.

In 2018, nearly 7,900 people received one or more services at Thea Bowman Center. The majority received weekly food support; 65 children ages 5-13 participated in summer programming and after-school activities; 63 seniors participated in computer classes, health, recreational and socialization activities; 98 students registered for adult education programming and four successfully completed the GED program – high school equivalency -- since September 2018.

Thomas also noted that 427 income tax returns were prepared, resulting in $565,000 being returned to the community in tax refunds and earned income tax credits.

“We are expanding the computer program to work with seniors and students at Nathan Hale School,” Thomas said. “It’s important for the students to know keyboarding for when they take the state tests,” she said. Transportation is available to and from school for the students. Thomas said a grant from the Cleveland Foundation helps defray the program’s costs. After-school programs include art, music and tutoring. There also is a summer camp program for youngsters to help encourage learning throughout the year.

“Our vision is to have a healthy, safe and prosperous community in Mount Pleasant,” Thomas said. “If everyone would light just one candle we would have a tremendous light,” she added.

To accomplish that, the center is open to those it serves and to what they tell the staff and volunteers, Thomas said. “We acknowledge that we receive as much as we give.”

Sister Juanita, who offered the closing prayer, also shared her experience with Sister Thea, noting she was happy and she trusted and loved God.

“Where there was good, there was Thea. She was thoroughly black and thoroughly Catholic,” Sister Juanita added.

For more information on the Thea Bowman Center, which is located at 11901 Oakfield Ave., Cleveland, click HERE or call 216-491-0699.

Father Bryan Norton, SJ a St. Ignatius High School alumnus and former St. Basil the Great (Brecksville) parishioner, will speak on “From Pupil to Priest: A Wildcat’s Jesuit Journey” at the Aug. 1 First Friday lunch program. Registration table and buffet open at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $25. Visit firstfridayclubcleveland.org or call 216-589-9852 for more information or reservations. Deadline is July 29.

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