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Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers

News of the Diocese

October 28, 2021

Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers
Point people to the Lord, bishop tells newly certified lay ecclesial ministers

After years of education and formation, five people joined the ranks of certified lay ecclesial ministers in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Four of the five received pins and official certification during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic on Oct. 23 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The fifth was unable to attend due to an illness in the family.

Stephen Biro, Deborah Bruening, Melissa DiFini and Mary Lou Ozimek were recognized at the liturgy. Debra Kacsala will receive her pin and official recognition later.

Since 1985, the diocese has certified more than 400 laity for ministerial leadership. They fill a variety of roles in the local Church, including pastoral associate, youth ministry leader, parish catechetical leader, directory of liturgy and/or pastoral music, campus minister, pastoral care coordinator in hospital, nursing homes, prisons and/or jails. However, they share one mission: pointing people in the direction of the Lord, the bishop said.

Teamwork is as the heart of what Pope Francis is asking of us, Bishop Malesic said, referring to the recently begun Synod on Synodality. We are being asked to determine how we can walk together better as a Church in order to fulfill our mission of announcing the good news. And we must do it with gladness, he added.

“We need to go together,” he said, noting one body can’t walk it two directions. It’s important to work together, minister together – lay and ordained – “to promote a Gospel that is so desperately needed in our age of confusion, anger and division,” he added.

In the first reading, people from many cities were going together “to implore the favor of the Lord.” As they walked, others joined them, saying they heard that God was with them. Bishop Malesic said we should tell all people “That we are walking with God and they are welcome to join us. Isn’t that an apt image of the Church and its basic mission to evangelize?” he asked. In fact, it’s the calling of every baptized person.

He challenged the newly certified lay ecclesial ministers to “Wake up the faithful to their own calling.” In addition, he urged them to walk with the people and accompany them along the way, but not to wander aimlessly with them. “Know where you want to go. Take them to Jesus. Take them to the community of his people, the Church, and always take them with love.”

He told the ministers they all have a heart for the Church, for Jesus and for the people. However, he cautioned that ministry can be difficult. “At the end of the day, none of you will save the Church. That is not your role. Your role is to point people in the direction of Christ, using the teaching of the Church as your guide. After you have done your best and worked your hardest, using your most creative ideas with the guidance of your pastors and the longstanding tradition of the Church, go to bed, like Pope St. John XXIII did, saying, ‘It’s your Church, Lord. I’m going to sleep now.’”

Then, with the seeds they planted in the people they serve, “Trust that the Lord will cause growth that you might never see, but the growth is there, nonetheless. Trust in the Lord … it is Jesus who is in you. So, you not only walk with others, he walks with you,” the bishop said.

The ministers should go wherever the Lord sends them – to those with disabilities and adaptive needs, those in parish schools of religion and sacramental preparation, the sick, those who are near the end of life – those helped by parish and diocesan ministries, he said. Also, he reminded them to “Encourage our laity to be intentional disciples. Help our children to grow to know and serve the Lord and to know the language of our faith. Guide the people who come your way to follow Jesus, to be a part of the new evangelization.” In addition, he invited them to “Use my motto for what I expect of you: ‘Serve the Lord with gladness.’”

Here is a snapshot of the new lay ecclesial ministers:

  • Biro and his wife Kathy have two daughters and are members of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fairport Harbor. He has been involved in youth ministry and for the past 14 months, oversaw day-to-day operations of the parish after the pastor’s retirement.
  • Bruening and her husband David have five children, including one with Down syndrome. They are Gesu parishioners where she chairs the Respect Life Committee, coordinates the Women’s Bible Study and developed and implemented the Young Adult Ministry for Adaptive Needs.
  • Kacsala and her husband Michael have two children are St. Cyprian parishioners. She has been involved with youth ministry, the evangelization committee, PSR catechist and an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. In August, she became director of religious education.
  • DeFini and her husband Joseph are Divine Word parishioners. She serves as a Parish Council member, catechist for Children’s Liturgy of the Word, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, she brings Communion to the homebound and those in nursing homes and hospice care and was a PSR catechist.
  • Ozimek and her husband Ken have three children. She is a parishioner at the cathedral, where she is a volunteer and serves on the RCIA team, coordinates the lector ministry and is on the Finance Council. She works as assistant executive director of the Catholic Community Foundation.

For more information on the lay ecclesial ministry program, click here or contact Pattie Batchman, program director, 440-943-7669, or pbatchman@dioceseofcleveland.org.

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