The big news this week is that diocesan officials and the Catholic bishops in Ohio announced a “soft opening” that will allow the public celebration of weekday Masses later this month and celebration of Sunday Masses beginning with the solemnity of Pentecost the weekend of May 30-31.
But things are nowhere near close to what was considered normal just three months ago – before the coronavirus pandemic caused nearly instant upheaval in people’s lives. Despite the turmoil, parishes, schools, ministries and organizations throughout the diocese continue their creative efforts to stay connected. Many clergy quickly moved out of their comfort zones and embraced technology to livestream and/or record Masses, liturgies and prayers while others adopted a more personal approach with fireside chats and ask the pastor sessions on social media.
In-person meetings and classroom teaching have been replaced by the use of Zoom, Teams and other electronic forums. However, as people gradually begin to leave their homes and return to work and Mass, life likely will remain much different for the foreseeable future.
Below is another look at how entities throughout the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland continue to stay connected as the health crisis lingers.
Fireside chats, Church of the Gesu, University Heights
Jesuit Father Karl Kiser, pastor of Gesu Parish, borrowed an idea that proved popular for the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: fireside chats.
Father Kiser pulled up a chair next to the fireplace and sat down recently for the first in a series of fireside chats. He focused on the Examen, a 500-year-old form of prayer introduced by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus also known as the Jesuits, and how he incorporates it into his daily prayer life. In a casual, informative way, he also tackled questions submitted by parishioners. So far, last week’s session had more than 700 views and several “thumbs-up” of approval.
Click here for a link to his fireside chat.
Father Kiser also encourages people to send him their questions or comments at gesucleveland@churchofthegesu.org.
Feeding the hungry, St. Ambrose Parish, Brunswick
During these tough times, the St. Ambrose Parish community continues to find ways to come together and help those in need. For example, every Wednesday the Catholic Works of Mercy Ministry distributes a week’s worth of groceries to needy families in Cleveland.
Volunteers come to the church daily and work at the recommended social distance of six feet apart as they make 150-200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that are distributed each day to various outreach programs in the area. Those unable to come to the parish make sandwiches at home and drop them off at the parish office.
St. Ambrose also is receiving donations of food, soap, educational supplies for children who are learning from home, cleaning and paper products, canned foods and more. Volunteers also are making masks. Parishioners said these community outreach efforts are reminders that God is with them and that they are there for those who need them.
Anyone interested in volunteering with any of the groups can visit the parish volunteer page, stambrose.us/volunteer.
Celebrating Jaguar seniors, Saint Joseph Academy, Cleveland
It’s been a tradition for a dozen years at Saint Joseph Academy, the 130-year-old all-girls school in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, to celebrate College Decision Day for the seniors at the school’s College Acceptance Wall.
As acceptances for each student are known, a card with her name and the college/university name are placed on the College Wall. On May 1, which is National College Decision Day, seniors are encouraged to wear a T-shirt, sweatshirt or other apparel item to reflect their school choice. Together, they gather by the College Acceptances Wall. One by one, each student places a paw print sticker on the card that reflects her college decision. Photos are taken of the event and shared on social media and in other Academy communications.
This year presented a challenge as the event could not be conducted at SJA, so school officials decided to get creative. The SJA college counseling team decided to create a PowerPoint highlighting each senior wearing a shirt announcing her college/university decision. Students who submitted their photos and information were featured in a slide show. With the help of the SJA marketing team, the slide show was turned into a video that was shared with the 182 seniors, their families and on the SJA digital channel. It can be viewed here: youtube.com/watch?v=X9ybUC62LQQ&t=28sas well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
School officials said the thought of not being able to celebrate the senior traditions this year was incredibly said for the seniors and their parents/guardians.
“Our faculty and staff felt it was important to move forward with our traditions but still adhere to Gov.
(Mike) DeWine and Dr. (Amy) Acton’s directives and the guidelines from the Departments of Health and Education. With input from our seniors and their parents/guardians, we found ways to celebrate these important milestones in special ways,” school officials said
SJA also honored the class of 2020 with gifts of Pura Vida purple and gold bracelets (the school colors). The bracelets were mailed to the entire senior class along with a special message from Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis, SJA president, to commemorate their last year together. Corrigan-Davis is retiring at the end of the school year. Each senior also is receiving a yard sign at no cost. And the SJA Athletics Department has been highlighting spring senior spotlights on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Sharing their thoughts, St. Joseph Parish, Avon Lake
Chet and Audrey Roberts of Avon Lake wrote to say how fortunate they consider themselves to be as parishioners at St. Joseph Parish. The couple enjoys viewing the online Saturday and Sunday Masses on the parish website, Facebook and CCTV.
“The televised Mass retained all of the reverence for the sacred ceremony being performed. And, in a thoughtful gesture, parishioners were invited to say a prayer of ‘Spiritual Communion’ since we could not receive,” Chet Roberts said. He indicated they also “attended” other devotions offered by the pastor, Father Ron Wearsch, during the weeks the churches have been closed. .
“Audrey and I have also made it a point to take a small lunch to Avon Lake's Veterans Park, and at the conclusion of our lunch to say the rosary. We have found that the landscape of wind, waves and clouds could offer us a ‘spiritual location’ for prayer while the Church was locked. Our rosary intentions would always include reasons for gratitude as well as the grace to deal with specific circumstances in our lives,” he said.
“For me personally, the changing weather is God's way of daily reminding us that we are not in charge. We can use science to forecast it (sort of) but the actual weather remains out of our control,” Roberts said.
“Like all of creation, the changing weather is a reminder from God to retain our humility and acknowledge who is in charge,” he added.
Happy Mother’s Day, St. Rita Parish, Solon
Several parishes across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland found creative ways to honor mothers last weekend for Mother’s Day.
Michelle Petitti, a member of the pastoral staff at St. Rita Parish in Solon, said the parish hosted a no-contact Mother’s Day event on May 10. Parishioners were invited to drive to the church and each mother received a flower courtesy of the parish Respect Life group.
Staff and parishioners were on site to wave and greet each vehicle while maintaining proper social distancing. Each vehicle received a special blessing of holy water from the parish priests – Father Richard Burchell, pastor, and Father Ed Janoch, parochial vicar -- and Deacon Mark Janezic.
Petitti said they welcomed more than 150 cars during the event.
Click here for a short video.
Share your story
Is your parish, school or organization doing something unusual to help others during this health crisis? Send the details, a photo and your contact information by email to ckovach@dioceseofcleveland.org for consideration in a future story