Nearly 18 months after his installation as the 12th bishop of Cleveland, Bishop Edward Malesic was able to visit the diocesan mission in El Salvador for the first time. (See photo gallery above.)
Accompanied by Father Steve Vellenga, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Painesville and director of the diocesan Mission Office, the bishop headed south early on Feb. 14. They will return on Feb. 17.
“I’m looking forward to the warmer weather,” he quipped, referring to the frigid temperatures and mountains of snow he was leaving behind in Cleveland. It’s summer in El Salvador and the forecast during the bishop’s visit is sunny with high temperatures in the low 90s.
The bishop and Father Vellenga arrived in La Libertad, El Salvador the afternoon of Feb. 14. They were greeted by members of the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team, Father Paul Schindler and Father John Ostrowski. Father Schindler, who is in his second stint with the diocesan mission, has served in El Salvador since 2008, while Father Ostrowski has ministered there for 11 years.
La Libertad is on the Pacific coast in Central America, Father Vellenga said.
Their first day included a visit to a memorial dedicated to Cleveland missionaries Sister Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan, who were murdered in El Salvador in 1980 during the country’s civil war.
There is a stone behind the altar at the memorial with an inscription in Spanish. The English translation is: This cross is dedicated to the memory of Dorothy Kazel OSU, born 30 June 1939, died 2 December 1980; Jean Donovan, born 10 April 1953, died 2 December 1980. Who in union with the bishop and the people of the Diocese of Cleveland gave their lives in the service to the Church in El Salvador.
The bishop celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving at 6 p.m. (Central Time) at Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception Parish) in La Libertad. The Mass was livestreamed. Click here to view it on the parish Facebook page and to see additional photos.
Photos courtesy of Father Steve Vellenga and the Facebook page of Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción del Puerto de La Libertad.