Cleveland was in the spotlight the weekend of Feb. 18-20 as thousands of people flocked downtown to participate in the NBA All-Star 2022 festivities.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is celebrating its 175th anniversary on April 23 and Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, said his team decided to take advantage of the All-Star weekend excitement to help raise awareness of the faith.
Mike Hayes, director of the Office of Young Adult Ministry; Francine Costantini, director of the Office of Youth Ministry; Miguel Chavez, director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship; and Terri Yohman, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life recruited volunteers to help work shifts Feb. 19-20 outside the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist at East Ninth Street and Superior Avenue. A large banner sporting the wine and gold colors of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team shared the message of the diocese’s 175th anniversary.
Seminarians from Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries joined the evangelization opportunity, as did youth and young adult groups from across the diocese, including several students from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, St. Hilary Parish in Fairlawn, St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Parma and Catching Fire, a Catholic young adult group in the diocese.
Everyone bundled up as protection against the frigid temperatures and stiff wind on Feb. 19. Temperatures were a bit warmer the next day, although it was still breezy and chilly. But the weather didn’t deter the volunteers’ enthusiasm.
“God exists and he loves you,” Father Ference said, as he and volunteers passed out stickers with that message. As vicar for evangelization, Father Ference said it’s his job to help share the good news and to help people understand they need to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. He said Pope Francis tells us in the Joy of the Gospel (his apostolic exhortation) that this joy will fill the hearts and minds of all who encounter Jesus. The pope also reminds Catholics that by virtue of their baptism, they are part of the Church’s evangelization ministry and are called upon to help spread the word.
Volunteers offered friendly greetings to passersby, distributed the stickers, mini basketballs and free hot chocolate. They also invited people to visit the cathedral and pray. And there even was a mini basketball hoop attached to the construction fence in front of the cathedral so visitors could have some fun shooting hoops if they wanted.
Father Ference said he and the team are working on other ways to help engage people and to spread the good news of the Catholic faith.