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Why Catholic? Meet Bishop Edward C. Malesic
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Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions

News of the Diocese

November 17, 2022

Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions
Catholic Charities employees recognized for dedication, contributions

Seven employees of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland were recognized for their dedication and contributions to those they serve at the 23rd annual St. Elizabeth of Hungary celebration.

Bishop Edward Malesic was the celebrant for the Nov. 11 Mass in St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima Church. Awards were presented after Mass and a reception followed in the parish hall. Concelebrants for the Mass were Father James Watson, OFM Cap, St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima pastor, and Father Januarius Lyimo, AJ, St. Augustine Manor chaplain.

“I am so pleased to be with all of you at this Mass,” the bishop said. He noted that St. Elizabeth of Hungary lived a life of love and she gave with generosity. “And she shares a first name with my mother,” he added.

(See photo gallery above.)

Focusing on the altar, Bishop Malesic told the congregation that it is a place where Jesus gives himself to us as a gift of sacrificial love and we return the favor. “We worship him, we pledge our lives to him, we promise to serve him, especially in the poor and those who need the help that we can give. Just as Jesus gives himself completely to us under the signs of bread and wine, we also try our best to give ourselves completely to him in return. That is so evident in those of you who are here today. You give your best to Jesus.”

He also reminded them the altar is a table where we gather as a family of faith. “Jesus is the reason for us gathering around this altar,” the bishop said. “We are agents on behalf of Jesus; we are ambassadors for Christ. We give flesh to the resurrected presence of Jesus.”

He provided some background on St. Elizabeth, explaining she lived a short live filled with giving and self-sacrifice. She married at 14, was widowed at 20 and died at 24. “She was entitled to the life of a queen, but she cast that aside and lived her last years with an unwavering dedication to the poor, the sick and the homeless. She is one of those saints who inspire us to be our better selves … She is an example of selfless love and compassion and she inspires us on our pilgrimage to be saints, too. That is God’s ultimate call to us – be saints,” the bishop said.

He thanked the Catholic Charities employees for never giving up, pointing out how grateful he is that their work of charity never stopped throughout the pandemic. “Jesus, who works through us, is stronger than sickness and death,” he said.

“Catholic Charities makes Jesus present to us. In you, Jesus walks among his people, healing mental illness, binding up physical wounds, feed those who are hungry, seeking justice to those who suffer injustice, bringing a bit of harmony to a very divided society, a bit of hope to those who are financially on the edge and you bring light into darkness. Yes, Jesus is with us – he work in us. I see him in you,” the bishop said.

He told the congregation he knows they are people of love because they give of themselves to make someone else’s life better, using their God-given abilities to lift up others.

“And that is good news for those of you who work in our Catholic Charities, who give of yourselves every time you are at work and someone says, ‘Can you help me?’ You might not be able to everything the person wants. Who can? But you can give a smile, do you best, find creative solutions and treat the other person with respect. I know yours is often difficult work,” Bishop Malesic said.

“Whoever seeks to preserve life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it,” the bishop said, referring to the words of Jesus. “Thanks for showing us what that means by doing what you do at Catholic Charities in imitation of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, your patron saint.”

Twenty-four people were nominated by their co-workers. Pat Gareau, Catholic Charities president and CEO, read the nomination letters for the winners. He presented the four Mission & Values Award winners with a plaque; the two Servant Leader winners with a statue and the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Award winner – the highest award bestowed – with a special statue of the saint.

Sheila Ferguson of Fatima Family Center, Jenny Kutsar of Migration & Refugee Services, Robert Liggett of Holy Family Hospice and Mead Wilkins of Medina County received Mission & Values awards.

Terry Flanagan, who retired last month after 47 years with Catholic Charities – most recently as executive director of mission and special ministries -- and Dobie Moser of CYO were recognized with the Servant Leader awards. Flanagan was unable to attend the celebration so he received his award early during his retirement reception.

Tara Gray of St. Augustine Manor received the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Award.

Gareau echoed the bishop’s words as he thanked all the employees for their dedication and hard work.

Flanagan summed up his career and the feelings of his fellow honorees noting they couldn’t do what they do without the support of their families and loved ones. “We do serious work be we can’t take ourselves too seriously,” he added.

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