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Why Catholic? Meet Bishop Edward C. Malesic
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Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre

News of the Diocese

September 15, 2022

Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre
Bishop Malesic marks second anniversary of installation with Knights of Holy Sepulchre

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Sept. 14 – had double significance for Bishop Edward Malesic this year.

It marked the second anniversary of his installation as bishop of Cleveland. In addition, he had the opportunity to celebrate Mass for the local Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The order dates to at least the First Crusade in 1099. The knights are charged with providing for the needs of the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and for the activities and initiatives necessary to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

“I am blessed to be here on this special occasion,” the bishop said. He noted the knights are a special group. As a bishop, he is a knight. Msgr. Robert Siffrin, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Youngstown, concelebrated the liturgy. He, also, is a knight. Assisting was Deacon Tom Shetina from St. John of the Cross Parish in Euclid. Father Eric Garris served as the bishop’s master of ceremonies.

(See photo gallery above.)

Bishop Malesic congratulated Tara and Dan Mowery who are the co-leaders of the local knights and thanked them for organzing the liturgy.

During the homily, the bishop said he was blessed to be able to visit the Holy Land twice. He talked about what a moving experience it was to be in the places where Jesus, his disciples and other important faith figures lived. He also noted the significance of visiting the places where Jesus suffered, died and rose from the dead.

“Jesus left us the Eucharist as an everlasting symbol of his death and resurrection. We believe the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is represented in an unbloody way at every Mass,” the bishop said, explaining the break is broken like Jesus’ body was and the wine becomes his blood. In this sacrifice, we find ourselves forgiven and redeemed during the Mass. He said we are humbled at Mass.

The bishop told the congregation he had just returned from a pilgrimage with about 50 people from the diocese. One of their stops was in Oberammergau, Germany where they experienced the Passion Play, which has been staged every 10 years since 1634 as a thank you for delivering the village from the plague. The five-hour performance – in German -- takes place in two acts with a lengthy intermission/dinner break. The performance is in an outdoor amphitheater. The bishop said it was excellent.

One memorable scene was at the end. He said it was dark outside and a large fire was lit to symbolize the Resurrection.

“When that cross was put in the ground, our death is turned to life on that cross,” he said.

Bishop Malesic also mentioned some of the other stops on the pilgrimage, including some in Poland. They visited the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and Krakow. He said those stops reminded him of another trip he took about 20 years ago when he was able to visit the Salzburg, Austria home of the Von Trapp family, portrayed in the movie “The Sound of Music. He was able to stay at their former home, which the family donated to the Previous Blood fathers after World War II. He said during the war, the house had been used by the infamous Nazi Heinrich Himmler, architect of the Holocaust. During the Holocaust, millions of Jews were murdered in concentration camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Today, the bishop said the room used as Himmler’s office is a chapel. “I was privileged to celebrate Mass there. Think about that,” he said. “Every Mass offered there replaces the hateful acts of Himmler with love.”

He also recalled visiting the cell at Auschwitz-Birkenau where St. Maximillian Kolbe and nine others died, describing it as a powerful experience. “He gave his life so another man could return to his family. That’s what Jesus does.”

Bishop Malesic recalled seeing an Easter candle in the cell. One of the pilgrims took a photo with her phone and showed him a horizontal streak of light from a small window in the cell formed an image of a cross above the candle.

The group also stopped at the convent in Poland where St. Faustina had her Divine Mercy visions, he said.

“The cross is not a sign of defeat, but a sign of victory. On the cross, we see the savior of the world. If we pick up the cross and follow him, we will have eternal life and that is good news for us,” the bishop said.

He also shared with the group the experience of viewing the bloody cassock worn by Pope St. John Paul II on the day of his 1981 assassination attempt and how the pope later visited and forgave the man who shot him.

After Mass, the faithful were invited to reverence a relic of the true cross, which is in the custody of the cathedral. It was displayed in front of the altar. The knights explained that they could come forward and kneel or bow before the relic. Also, if they had an item they wanted to touch the relic, it would become a third-class relic and must be treated with great respect.

An honor guard from the Knights of Columbus assisted with the liturgy and members of the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament attended the Mass. Music was provided by the choir from St. John of the Cross Parish, under the direction of Francesco Binda.

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