Members of the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland board and leadership team were disappointed the coronavirus pandemic prevented them from gathering in person last year for a retreat. Although there are encouraging signs that the health crisis is abating, an in-person retreat still wasn’t possible this year, so they opted for a virtual event.
Nearly three dozen people gathered on May 26 on the Zoom platform to hear from Bishop Edward Malesic and to participate in prayer and discussion.
Board President Frank Legan said “Resilience” was chosen as this year’s theme.
“It’s a renewable resource,” he told the group, explaining that the Church found way to continue its mission and work throughout the pandemic. “We conducted our business in new ways,” he added.
Legan told the group that our faith and our resilience need cross-pollination. He expressed thanks and appreciation to Patrick Gareau, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, and Bishop Malesic for their leadership.
“Some things are in God’s hands. They may be impossible for us, but as Jesus says, ‘Nothing is impossible for God.’ You can’t get blood from a turnip, but God can get honey from a rock. He told Moses to strike a stone and water flowed. God is a light in the darkness. He healed the sick; he made the lame walk. He guides us from death into life,” the bishop said.
In these challenging, pandemic times, Bishop Malesic said it’s important to put our trust and faith in the Lord.
“God knows where he wants to take us.”
He acknowledged these times are challenging for those who work with the homeless, for parents struggling to care for and educate their children and for society as a whole which is dealing with the pandemic, racism, polarizing politics and beliefs that divide the nation and other pressing issues. These challenges also affect the Church, he said.
“I’m trying to live my faith the best I can. In Jesus, there is great hope. I know who the truth and the life is and that’s where we hitch our wagon. I try to keep my eyes on Jesus,” he said, adding, “Jesus gives us light in the midst of darkness and hope in the midst of the pandemic.”
He talked about celebrating Mass last week at Progressive Field for the Saint Ignatius High School community – the first time this school year that the entire student body, faculty and staff were able to participate in an in-person liturgy. It was a significant day – the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s conversion. Had he not been seriously injured by a cannonball and faced a long recovery period, he might not have found his faith. As a result of his conversion, Bishop Malesic said St. Ignatius went on to found the Society of Jesus, which sponsors Saint Ignatius, the Jesuit high school in Cleveland.
He also mentioned Robbie Boyce, a Saint Ignatius sophomore, who suffered a severe stroke last fall and has recovered almost completely. When he mentioned Robbie’s name at the Mass, the group cheered.
“That wouldn’t have happened without them gathering for Mass at the baseball field, without St. Ignatius being hit by that cannonball, without him founding the Jesuits and without the Jesuits establishing Saint Ignatius High School,” the bishop said.
He also shared the story of a family he knew in Pennsylvania. The mother wasn’t a regular Sunday Mass attendee, but when the rest of the family watched livestreamed liturgies during the pandemic, she began to watch, too. And when public Masses resumed, she started to go again with the rest of her family.
Bishop Malesic said one thing we learned from the pandemic is that people want to help each other and that “they are hungry for community. We must trust that Jesus has a plan for us. We’re here because God willed us into existence. And he promised us he will be with us until the end of time.”
There is still a long way to go and much more to do, the bishop said, noting we need to have a deeper respect and awareness of the needs of the community and for our faith community.
“The message is to have faith in God; he’s the reason we do what we do. The end of our story is still to be written and God loves a good ending.”