The celebration was scaled down, but Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland recognized employees for their dedication and contributions to the agency and the people it serves.
Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated Mass on Nov. 6 at Sagrada Familia Church in Cleveland with Father Joe McNulty, pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, concelebrating. The Mass also was signed for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Normally, Catholic Charities employees from throughout the eight-county diocese gather for the Mass and a reception. But the coronavirus pandemic forced cancelation of the reception. Also, attendance at the liturgy was limited to the honorees, nominators and Catholic Charities officials. Others were able to watch a livestream of the Mass.
“It is good to be here today and to celebrate this holy Mass with all of you,” Bishop Malesic said. “I am proud of all you who do the work of the Lord, ministering with the Church and bringing God’s love to those who need it the most. Thanks for using the gifts you have been given by God to be used for good,” the bishop added.
Although he’s only been bishop of Cleveland for two months, Bishop Malesic said he has begun seeing the work of Catholic Charities in the diocese, thanks to Pat Gareau, president and CEO, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland. They visited food centers, family centers, places that care for the elderly and more.
“He has shown me the help we give to immigrants and refugees and the care given by our hospice for those who are dying, and these are just a few examples of what I have seen – and there is so much more to see. I can’t wait,” Bishop Malesic said. “I feel like a dry sponge trying to soak in as much as I can.”
The bishop said the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Award is near and dear to him because his mother was named after the saint. Also, he said a stained-glass window of St. Elizabeth hung in the Diocese of Harrisburg pastoral center, where he worked for many years. There was a sign with the window explaining that St. Elizabeth is the patron saint of Catholic Charities and of the poor and homeless.
“We are lucky to have her standing with us as we do the work of Catholic Charities,” he added. “I believe she is worshiping with us today in a special way.”
Bishop Malesic said he believes St. Elizabeth is “looking to all of us and encouraging us when we get discouraged, lifting us up when we fall down and smiling upon us as we imitate her life and give of ourselves to those who need what we have to offer. We offer hope. We offer love. We offer assistance. Let’s be theological about it – we offer Jesus himself. But, truth be told, Jesus offers himself to use whenever he comes to us disguised as a person who is hungry, a child who is looking for a safe haven, an elderly person who is dying, a person who is looking for a place or a country to call home,” he said.
“While we give Jesus to others, Jesus gives himself to us through those same people,” he added.
Sometimes we get frustrated, the bishop said, noting there are days when we might go to bed and say, “I helped someone today and I feel good.” But there are other days when we say, “You certainly tested my limits today, Lord.”
Yet, in all of this, God is working out his plan in us, Bishop Malesic said, “stretching us to be more patient, more kind, more understanding, more faithful, more alive – and he uses other people to move us forward in faith.”
At least that’s how it is with him, he explained. The bishop recalled visiting Haiti while he was in the seminary and how he saw true poverty for the first time. “But I also say true love and true belief in the eyes of those who were poor in spirit and poor in every other sense, too. I’ve seen that so many times since in the eyes of people this world considered poor, but God considers rich in the amount of love they have in their hearts.”
He noted that it takes people who are committed to the task to bring the Lord’s love to others. “He is asking us to be his missionary disciples. The people who we recognize in a special way today are doing that – and they represent many others who are doing that, too,” Bishop Malesic said.
“For our awardees and all who work on behalf of the poor and needy, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to give you the thanks of the people of the Diocese of Cleveland. And, if I may be so bold, I want to give you the thanks of the communities you serve in all eight counties of the diocese. And you should be proud of being as creative as you have been, as enduring as you have been during this time of pandemic and all the limitations of our work that it has imposed on us,” he said.
“You are special people. Don’t ever forget that. But use your gifts to do good, as I know you will. Be good stewards of our God-given energy, your God-given depth of spirit. Be good stewards of the love God has shared with you. You are people who are blessed, but every blessing is meant to be shared, not hoarded,” the bishop said.
He mentioned that the Gospel shared the story of a craft steward – a sinner – who cheated his master. He pointed out that we might not cheat, but we are sinners. “Look at what the steward did. He made friends with other sinners,” he added.
The steward was inventive; a dishonest man found out by his master, whom he had been cheating. The steward wondered how he would survive, noting he wasn’t strong enough to dig and he was too ashamed to beg. “At least he was honest with himself,” Bishop Malesic said. He pointed out how the crafty steward reduced the amount of money his master’s debtors owed – cheating his master even more – but hoping that by doing favors for them, they would welcome him into their homes. Jesus uses the steward as an example, noting it is an odd parable, but it has a message for us.
He said he things “Jesus is reminding us that we must be as concerned about our future as the steward was. We must be concerned about where we will live, too, but with our greater attention on where we will live after this life. And that is what Jesus is saying to us. Be good stewards and God will provide.”
He encouraged those working for Catholic Charities “to continue to be good stewards, do good, love, seek justice, find peace, forgive those who have offended you, have faith, hope that God will always cover for our mistakes, and then trust – trust that you will be provided for. At the end of the day, we are doing what Jesus told us to do: we are building up for ourselves treasure in heaven.”
He offered his thanks to the awardees “and all who work for God’s kingdom and hope to receive God’s kingdom in heaven.”
After Mass, Gareau announced the nominees and award winners.
The four Mission and Values winners are George Meyer, security and server analyst, information services; Lisa Sepulveda, finance manager, Rose-Mary; Mary Smith, advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, Disability Ministries; and the Women of Bishop William H. Cosgrove Center: Yolanda Long, program assistant; Dawn Philpotts, program assistant; Angie Oatman, cook; Terrel Valentine, program coordinator; and Althea VanHorn, program, assistant.
The three Servant Leader winners were Andrea Harris, senior director, human resources; Garrick Lipscomb, director, information services; and Kathy Yager, director, performance improvement.
Selected for the 2020 St. Elizabeth of Hungary Award was Tammy Hill, office manager, Catholic Charities of Wayne and Ashland Counties.
The Servant Leader and St. Elizabeth of Hungary award winners received statues; the Mission and Values winners received plaques.
Also nominated were Carl Bako, director of fundraising, advancement; Jackie Barnhart, home visitor, Help Me Grow Medina; Natisha Bowling, associate director, Fatima Family Center; Wendy Dial, family advocate, early learning program, St. Philp Neri; Juanita Harris, teacher assistant, early learning program, Parkview; Brenda Hernandez, director, Help Me Grow; Mary Ann King, athletics administrator, CYO; Michelle Kipfstuhl, director, Medina; Lauren Mailey, program administrator, Disability Services; Tracey McKiernan, director, OPMH/CBFS; Christine Nieto, home visitor, Help Me Grow – Lorain; Pam Parker, program administrator, self-sufficiency, Geauga; Tara Pologi, home visitor, Help Me Grow – Summit; Render Stevenson, custodian, Fatima Family Center; Jennifer Tulli, director, Matt Talbot for Men; Sheryl Villegas, director, Ashland/Wayne; and Lynn Wrice-Head, program director, performance improvement. Each received a certificate.
Bishop Malesic said he frequently talks to his father, who lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania. His dad cautions him not to work too hard and to find people to help him.
“I can tell him I have people who help me. Thank you for all you do. I’m so appreciative,” he added.