St. John the Evangelist Guild gathered recently for prayer, a program and fellowship.
Parishes around the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland host the group, with St. Brendan Parish in North Olmsted welcoming the members on Oct. 25. The gathering began with a short prayer service in the church and a welcome from Father Tom Woost, the pastor. He shared the history of St. Brendan, which has about 1,400 families and a school. The parish will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2024.
The evening continued with a casual dinner and a talk by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, the older brother of Father Tom Woost. Another brother, Father Dave Woost, is pastor of Divine Word Parish in Kirtland and a third brother, Jon, is discerning the permanent diaconate.
(See photo gallery above.)
The bishop, the second-oldest of seven boys, is a son of the diocese and finds it amusing when people welcome him to the diocese. He was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Anthony Pilla in 1984.
“We were not a super pious family” he said, explaining his parents modeled a simple faith, attending Sunday Mass, eating meals together as a family and praying together before and after.
“My parents never mentioned vocations. When I told them I was thinking of entering the seminary, they weren’t surprised,” he said. However, they did tell him that if it didn’t work out, “I could come home. It was OK.”
But it worked out. After ordination, he served in a few parishes before being named vocation director, a position he had for seven years. Then he went to The Catholic University of America for graduate school. After graduating, he joined the faculty at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in 2000. There, he helps educate seminarians discerning the priesthood, men discerning the permanent diaconate, those in formation in the lay ecclesial ministry program and those taking graduate courses at Saint Mary.
While he has a connection with all of his brothers, there’s a special bond with Father Tom Woost. “He was born on my 12th birthday. I got him and a BB gun,” he quipped.
He called his family a blessing, noting they have been very supportive – especially when he had to keep his appointment as bishop under wraps until the official announcement was made on May 2.
“It’s not something you apply for,” he said of the bishop’s position. Dioceses create a list of potential candidates for a bishop’s position that remain secret until a position is available. Then, potential candidates are reviewed and vetted. Suggested names are sent to the pope who makes the decision. Bishop Woost said the bishop-elect is contacted by the papal nuncio and asked if he would accept the appointment.
“How could I turn down the pope?” he asked.
Being a bishop is not an honor, he said. “It’s a service, a ministry God has called me to. I find it very humbling.”
Since his Aug. 4 episcopal ordination, Bishop Woost has been asked to present a number of adult talks at parishes. He said he’d like to see more adult catechesis to help those thirsting for information on their faith.
He also described the experience of attending “Baby Bishop School,” a weeklong program in Rome for newly ordained bishops to help them learn more about their role. “It was fascinating to hear what other bishops from around the world had to say,” he said, adding it was a good experience and he was thrilled to meet Pope Francis.
Since his return, he continues to teach one class at the seminary, help Bishop Edward Malesic shepherd the diocese and serve as interim director of the diocesan Office for Worship.
“I also presided at my first confirmation a few weeks ago and at my first pastor installation,” he said.
“It’s a big diocese and I want to be able to take some of the pressure off Bishop Malesic. It’s been a blessing being able to go to some parts of the diocese where I haven’t been before. I enjoy the opportunity to meet people, to hear their concerns and do what I can to help.”