The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland announces the appointment of Mary P. von Carlowitz, as its new director of the Office for Human Life. As director for human life for the diocese, Mrs. von Carlowitz will be responsible for planning, coordinating and effectively integrating the activities of the Office for Human Life within a consistent ethic of life. Among her duties, Mrs. von Carlowitz will coordinate public information and education of papal encyclicals and teaching documents of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). She will also coordinate and integrate pastoral care services. In addition, Mrs. von Carlowitz will network with parishes and national, state and local pro-life organizations to promote public policy efforts on behalf of issues that impact human life from conception until natural death. She will also assist parishes and other diocesan organizations to carry out efforts that support consistent ethic of life activities.
“I am so incredibly humbled to be able to accept a position as significant as working to defend human life,” said Mrs. von Carlowitz. “We are all, always called to champion the most primal and fundamental of rights – the foundation that presages all other personal rights – the right to life!”
Mrs. von Carlowitz has extensive experience in parish faith formation and ministry, serving most recently as the co-director of faith formation at Church of the Gesu in University Heights. She also spent many years at the Catholic community of St. Gabriel in Concord as coordinator of youth and young adult ministry, and parish and school ministry.
“I am delighted that Mary von Carlowitz has accepted the role as director of the diocesan Office for Human Life,” said the Most Rev. Edward Malesic, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. “Although there are many causes our Church stands for and is vocal about, the right to life itself must be given our paramount consideration so that people can have the chance to secure all the other benefits that life can afford. I know Mary will lead the office with maximum determination.”
Mrs. von Carlowitz has a Master of Arts degree in theology from Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with dual majors in diplomacy and foreign affairs, and history. Mrs. Carlowitz also is a certified lay ecclesial minster. In addition, she is a member of the National Association of Lay Ministers and the National Christ Child Society.
Mrs. Von Carlowitz also has extensive experience with human life as the servant leader of her own family of eight sons, one daughter, four daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
About the Diocese of Cleveland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland was founded on April 23, 1847. Under the leadership of the Most Reverend Edward Malesic, Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, it is the twenty-third largest diocese in the United States. The diocese encompasses the counties of Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Wayne and Ashland. There are more than 692,000 Catholics in the Diocese, and Catholic Charities-Diocese of Cleveland is one of the largest diocesan systems of social services in the world.