After years of planning, fundraising, deconstruction and construction, Bishop Edward Malesic revealed and blessed the renovations at Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries during a celebration on Dec. 2. The event marked the conclusion of the Heart of a Shepherd campaign.
“Two years ago, I swung the first hammer,” Bishop Malesic said, describing the beginning of the renovation project. “Tonight, I will cut the ribbon on the finished project. This is a testament to the faith and fortitude of our diocese and it shows the love we have for our seminarians.”
(See photo gallery above.)
About 200 benefactors, seminarians, seminary faculty and staff, pastors, representatives of religious orders and diocesan staff members attended the event at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe.
Father Mark Latcovich, president/rector of Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries and Rick Schultz of St. Mary Parish in Hudson, chair of the Heart of a Shepherd campaign, also spoke. The bishop presided at evening prayer in Sacred Heart Chapel followed by a reception in the Founders’ Room and tours of the newly renovated seminary.
The bishop recalled his first visit to the seminary on the day of his announcement as the new bishop of Cleveland.
“The seminary wasn’t in good shape,” he said, noting there was only one plug in the rooms. Extension cords were used to plug in other appliances. “I thought, there’s a fire ready to start here. But the only fire we want here is the fire of the Holy Spirit going into our parishes.”
That visit convinced him it was imperative to continue the seminary renovations conceived by the late Bishop Anthony Pilla, undertaken by now Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez during his time as bishop of Cleveland and overseen by Father Don Oleksiak, vicar general and diocesan administrator until Bishop Malesic’s installation in September 2020.
“Investing this much money into the seminary lets people know we intend to stay here. We form our seminarians to have courage, strength and faith. We want to ensure that they have the best environment to pursue their priestly formation. This is a place where they can form lifetime friends with each other and Jesus,” the bishop said.
He credited Bishop Pilla with creating the CPL and developing a vision to renovate the facilities, noting the importance of the CPL to the diocese. Bishop Malesic also thanked Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar and Archbishop Thaddeus Cho Hwan-Kil of the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea, the Capuchin Franciscans and other religious orders who send seminarians to Cleveland for formation.
“These seminarians can be proud that they serve the global Church,” he added.
The bishop also expressed gratitude to Father Latcovich, Father Oleksiak, priests of the diocese and pastors for their leadership. Schultz and members of the HOS cabinet were credited for bringing the project to completion. He also expressed gratitude to Phil Guban and Brian Stadnik of the CPL administration for their efforts in overseeing the work. CCS, which provided fundraising counsel, the Catholic Community Foundation, led by Patrick Grace, which managed the campaign, diocesan leadership staff who assisted with the effort and the support of priests, pastors and religious orders also were recognized for their role in the initiative.
Bishop Malesic also noted impact of the pandemic on the project, saying, “The pandemic changed so much, but the work of the Church never stopped.”
He acknowledged that the HOS campaign and renovations would not have happened without the support of countless donors, priests, religious orders and the lay faithful.
“We also are grateful to our seminarians. They are the face of the campaign. We did this for them and for our future priests. Thank you to them for their flexibility, for their perseverance and persistence,” the bishop said.
“Thank you, also, to our benefactors. Today, we celebrate the brick and mortar but you, dear benefactors, are the living stones of our Church,” Bishop Malesic said.
Schultz noted that in his capacity as campaign chair, he wanted to know where and how the dollars raised were being used. As the father of a seminarian – now Father Patrick Schultz – he frequently saw the seminary and the need for improvements. In 2018, Archbishop Perez named him to lead what originally was a $30 million initiative for seminary renovations, to support the priest retirement fund and to help newly ordained priests with their student debt.
“Then Bishop Perez was out (assigned to Philadelphia), Father Don was in (as administrator temporarily) and then our new bishop (Malesic) picked up the pieces beautifully,” Schultz said.
He noted the HOS campaign was paused temporarily when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. “We thought there would be 4,000 donors, but not in our diocese. There were 13,411 donors,” he said, noting the widespread support for HOS.
Because of the pandemic, Schultz said the campaign pivoted. While the original three-pronged plan – seminary renovations, support for retired priests and student loan assistance for newly ordained priests – remained, the campaign expanded to provide funds to help parishes with their pressing needs. As a result, Schultz said $52 million was raised and $10 million was sent to supporting parishes for their needs.
Schultz also thanked HOS cabinet members for their efforts in making the campaign a success. “They started the buzz with the parishes,” he said, adding that staff from the Catholic Community Foundation continued the work.
“And seminarians, thank you for allowing us to disrupt you,” Schultz added.
After the remarks, assisted by Father Latcovich, the bishop blessed the renovated seminary and participated in a ribbon cutting with Schultz, seminary faculty, staff, priests, seminarians and others involved with the HOS initiative. All attendees were invited to tour the renovated areas.
The east and west residential wings and lounges are complete, but work continues on Resurrection Chapel, faculty offices and some classroom areas, including construction of a new liturgy laboratory that will allow seminarians a place to hone their preaching and gain practical experience with simulated liturgies.
“You rarely get to see the accomplishments of a project like this, but today we do,” the bishop said, once again adding his gratitude and appreciation.
Click here for more on the Heart of a Shepherd campaign.