In a week, Father Michael Woost will drop the bishop-elect title and will be known as Bishop Michael Woost. His appointment as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland was announced on May 9.
The invitation-only ordination Mass is set for 2 p.m. Aug 4 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. All are encouraged to watch the livestream of the liturgy on the diocesan website and Facebook page or to tune in on demand after the Mass.
Bishop-elect Woost, 63, was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on June 4, 1984. The ordaining bishop for his episcopal ordination will be the shepherd of the Cleveland Diocese, Bishop Edward Malesic. Co-consecrators will be Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries and Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa
The last time a Cleveland priest was ordained a bishop for the diocese was June 7, 2001, when Bishop Gries, former abbot of the Benedictine Order in Cleveland, and Bishop Amos, a priest of the diocese, were ordained as diocesan auxiliary bishops. Bishop Gries, who retired Nov. 1, 2013, remains active assisting Bishop Malesic. Bishop Amos was appointed bishop of Davenport on Oct. 12, 2006. He retired April 19, 2017 and returned to Cleveland.
Bishop-elect Woost, a graduate of Saint Ignatius High School, attended Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries. After his priestly ordination, he served as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Madison. He served as co-director of the diocesan Vocation Office 1988-1995, when he began graduate studies at The Catholic University of America.
After earning a licentiate in sacred theology in 2000, the bishop-elect joined the faculty of Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology, where he continues to teach sacramental-liturgical theology. Earlier this year, Bishop Malesic also named him interim director of the diocesan Office of Worship.
The role of an auxiliary bishop is to assist the residential bishop in the pastoral care of the diocese. Bishop-elect Woost has begun his new ministry, celebrating Masses and speaking to various groups in the diocese.
He said he still is adjusting to his new role, noting he was “stunned, grateful and humbled” after learning from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio, that Pope Francis had selected him to be the new auxiliary bishop of Cleveland.
Bishop-elect Woost said he looks to the Lord for guidance as he prepares for his episcopal ordination. He listed St. Augustine of Hippo as one person who shapes his view of a bishop, referring to this quote: “For you, I am a bishop, but with you, I am a Christian. The first is an office accepted, the second a grace received. The first is a danger, the second, salvation. If, then, I am gladder by far to be redeemed with you than I am to be placed over you, I shall, as the Lord himself commanded, be more completely your servant.”
Other Cleveland priests who recently were ordained to the episcopacy include:
- Archbishop Timothy Broglio, ordained a bishop March 19, 2001 while serving in the Vatican diplomatic corps. He currently serves as archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and is based in Washington, D.C.
- Bishop Neal Buckon was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services on Feb. 22. 2011, serving as vicar for the Western half of the United States. He is based in California.
- Bishop David Walkowiak was ordained as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 18, 2013.
Bishop Malesic said he is looking forward to the ordination Mass, calling Bishop-elect Woost’s appointment “great news for the Diocese of Cleveland.” The bishop said he is grateful to Pope Francis for the appointment.
“He is a highly respected, capable and faithful man who will be a good helpmate with me in shepherding the wonderful people of our diocese. I look forward to working closely with Bishop-elect Woost and ask our people to pray for him as he prepares to be ordained as a bishop of our