The winners from the Oct. 5 Bishop’s Golf Classic are students attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cleveland.
The annual outing, which took place at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River, once again was a sellout.
For Bishop Edward Malesic, it was also a much-anticipated opportunity to meet face-to-face – despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic -- with about 144 golfers who support Catholic education. He greeted golfers as they finished play, posed for socially distanced photos and offered some brief remarks at an outdoor social.
“It’s good to be out,” the bishop said, noting that the pandemic has limited in-person public appearance opportunities since his Sept. 14 installation. Although he appreciated the opportunity to meet the golfers, he said he’ll have to meet the again after the pandemic ends. “I’ll have to meet you again when we don’t have to wear masks,” he quipped.
Catholic schools are the winner as a result of the golf outing, he said. Ohio is more fortunate that Pennsylvania, where he previously served, because of school vouchers from the state. “They help,” he said.
Bishop Malesic said Catholic schools provide a quality education coupled with discipline.
“We give the best we have to our kids,” he said.
Although it’s important to teach, the bishop noted that “human beings are more than just minds. We also are forming souls,” he said, through Catholic education.
The bishop also credited Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries – an avid golfer who participated in the outing – for his involvement in the event. Bishop Gries kicked off the outing by offering prayer before the golfers headed out for a shotgun start.
“We are blessed to be able to gather on this beautiful day for a good cause,” he said.
Patrick Grace, executive director of the Catholic Community Foundation, which hosts the outing, also thanked those who supported the event and in turn, Catholic education.
The Alleluia Ball, which the foundation presents every two years, and the golf classic are two major fundraisers for the diocesan Catholic schools. Combined, the two events provided $3.2 million in tuition assistance to 4,041 students for the 2020-2021 school year.