Members of the Conference of Religious Leadership in the Diocese of Cleveland – also known as CORL – were eager to get acquainted with Bishop Edward Malesic as soon as possible after his installation. But the continuing coronavirus pandemic made an in-person gathering impossible, so they took advantage of technology for the meet-and-greet session.
The group includes representatives of leadership from the congregations of religious sisters who have a presence and ministry in the diocese.
“We had hoped that we would get to see you sooner rather than later,” said Sister Margaret Taylor, SIW, a member of the CORL executive team. “We are happy that we have the opportunity this morning to introduce ourselves to you and have a chance to get to know you better.”
The bishop chatted informally with some of the 30-plus religious sisters as they joined the virtual meeting on Nov. 11.
Sister Laura Bregar, OSU, offered prayer, asking the Lord to give Bishop Malesic “the heart of a shepherd.”
Each congregation had about two minutes to introduce its representatives at the session and to share its history with the bishop. Ten of the 18 congregations were able to participate in the session: the Congregation of St. Joseph; Dominican Sisters of Peace; Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati; Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine; Sisters of the Humility of Mary; Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Sisters of the Incarnate Word; Sisters of Notre Dame; Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis; and Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.
The sisters shared when and where their congregations began, when they started ministering in the Diocese of Cleveland and what ministries they are involved in. Several originated in Europe – France and Germany – and some were invited to Cleveland by the first bishop, Amadeus Rappe. Most of the sisters are involved in education, health care, parish, social service/social justice and prayer ministries. Bishop Malesic heard about the many common challenges they have, including aging membership, lack of vocations and dwindling numbers. Some of the congregations already forged alliances with others to strengthen their groups while others are discerning new relationships with other congregations.
Some of the sisters acknowledged that they are considering painful steps such as whether to actively seek new sisters given their small numbers and aging membership, merging with another congregation or just ending their existence. But they also are looking to the future to ensure that their legacy and years of service are not forgotten.
Bishop Malesic thanked each congregation for its contributions to the Church and the diocese. Several times he made a connection with one of the congregations, noting he had crossed paths with some in that order or recalling a connection to the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania --where he was raised, ordained to the priesthood and served for much of his ministry – or the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he served a bishop for five years prior to his appointment as leader of the Cleveland Diocese.
He learned that some of the congregations – including the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine – have a long history in health care, serving as public health nurses and establishing hospitals. The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati had some sisters who served as nurses during the Civil War, said Sister Margaret Mach, SC.
Sister Margaret Marszal, HM, told the bishop how the Humility of Mary sisters’ mother house is located in Villa Maria, Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh and Greensburg, his former diocese.
Sister Jacinta Benavidez, SIW, explained how the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, who trace their origins to France in the early 1600s, traveled to Mexico to minister. When seven Irish sisters were expelled from Mexico because they were not native born, they were invited to Cleveland in 1930 and they formed a diocesan congregation. Five years later, they founded Incarnate Word Academy, which continues to thrive in Parma Heights.
Sister Margaret Gorman, SND, told the bishop her order originated in Germany in 1850 and when Germany expelled teaching orders in the 1870s, they were invited to Cleveland to minister to the German-speaking population of the diocese. The Notre Dame sisters formed four provinces in the United States, but recently reunited to strengthen their congregation.
Sister Ritamary Welsh, OSU, discussed the origins of her order and the invitation from Bishop Rappe to come to Cleveland in 1850 – just three years after the diocese was created. Within a month of their arrival, the sisters opened a school for 300 students. They remain committed to education and operate Ursuline College and Beaumont School, as well as working at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School.
Sister Welsh also told the bishop that the 40thanniversary of the murder of four churchwomen in El Salvador is approaching next month. Sister Dorothy Kazel, OSU, a member of her congregation and a former teacher in the Cleveland Diocese, was among the women killed. She was working as a missionary and teacher at the diocesan mission in El Salvador at the time of her death. Sister Welsh shared how the congregation is finalizing plans to honor the women.
“I mentioned Sister Dorothy and Jean Donovan (a lay missionary who also was murdered with the sisters) in my All Saints Day homily,” Bishop Malesic said, adding he is aware of their story and their sacrifice.
Sister Taylor closed the meeting with a prayer, saying, “United in the common call to consecrated life, we address the challenges of our time with courage and radical availability of our foundresses. Thank you, God, for the time this morning to get to know each other better. How grateful we are for the many blessings we experience in the Cleveland Diocese and beyond. Let us together minister to serve the needs of your people as we rely on your grace and strength to do so.”
Bishop Malesic offered a blessing and said he is looking forward to an opportunity to meet the sisters in person.