Hundreds of people crowded into Holy Rosary Church on Mayfield Road in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood for 10 a.m. Mass on the feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15.
Father Joe Previte, Holy Rosary pastor, welcomed the congregation prior to Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic. Concelebrants were Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, Father Previte, Father Phil Racco, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake, Father Marty Polito, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Cleveland, and Father Ryan Mann, pastor of St. Basil the Great Parish in Brecksville.
Deacon Bruce Battista read the Gospel in Italian and Bishop Woost, a Feast first-timer, was the homilist.
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“I understood about five words of that,” he quipped, referring to the Gospel. The bishop recapped the Gospel for the benefit of those he called “Italian-challenged, like myself.”
He also noted that as a sacramental theologian, if someone asked what is the Feast, he’d reply, “Easter.” However, in Little Italy, a traditionally Italian neighborhood, and especially Holy Rosary Parish, it means the feast of the Assumption.
“Today is the Feast, a celebration of our Catholic faith, a celebration of the Italian culture represented on Murray Hill, a celebration of the traditions of faith and family, of community and heritage that have made Holy Rosary Parish a beacon of hope and compassion, a source of strength and witness in this neighborhood,” the bishop said.
He noted the Gospel was the story of a visit and an encounter – pregnant Mary visiting her pregnant relative Elizabeth. He encouraged the congregation to hold on to the moment of encounter from the Gospel.
“Easter and the Assumption celebrate the same central teaching of our Catholic faith: the Resurrection, the conquering of sin and death, the hope of eternal life and the transformation of our finite, mortal bodies into a gloriously resurrected body like Christ’s own risen human body,” Bishop Woost said.
“What Mary has already come to experience, we hope one day to share in as well – risen and eternal life in God. So you see, the feasts of Easter and the Assumption are not that far apart. What Jesus makes possible for us through the Easter event, Mary has already come to enjoy at her assumption – the Resurrection.”
While there is no Gospel account of Mary’s death and assumption, the bishop questioned why the Church didn’t choose an Easter story to be proclaimed today, or perhaps an account of Jesus raising someone from the dead, forgiving a sinner or healing someone.
He returned to the story of the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth.
“What do we have here?” he asked, explaining that there are two women, two pregnancies, two hidden lives in utero, a place and time, a purpose and a greeting. It is a sacramental moment, he said, an encounter between human persons and the divine – not just individuals, but a community. What’s going on in Elizabeth’s and Mary’s lives extends far beyond themselves and God, Bishop Woost explained. The visitation is an image of sacramental living, an image of the new life that Jesus brings to Mary, Elizabeth and us, he said.
Recalling how Elizabeth told Mary that the baby in her womb lept at the sound of Mary’s greeting, the bishop asked the faithful to consider what had been happening on Murray Hill for the past few days, noting there were greetings and welcome encounters of family and neighbors and a community that celebrates tradition and heritage, as well as the greetings of faith and prayer, including the bishop’s greeting at the start of Mass, the sign of peace and the greeting of Christ in our reception of Communion.
“When the sound of these greetings reach our ears, the life of god should leap within us for joy. What is happening here at Holy Rosary, on Murray Hill, in these days of the Feast should help us to recognize that Jesus is always at work bringing hope into our lives. Resurrected life, new life is already beginning to be realized. In this our time of visitation, of visiting and revisiting family, neighborhood, community, tradition, heritage and faith, Jesus invites us to encounter the life-giving work of his grace. To be raised up once again in hope and to be renewed in life,” Bishop Woost said.
Bishop Malesic told the congregation that “the Feast is
all about family, neighborhood, community, the Italian culture of this parish and area and the faith of this parish. Greet one another in faith, hope and love. Buona festa,” he said.
After Mass, the bishops and priests joined the Knights of Columbus, parishioners, representatives of Italian organizations and others in a procession through the streets of Little Italy. As they walked, the prayed the rosary and sang. Musicians marched along and the bishops and priests greeted people and offered blessings.
Bishop Malesic spotted one family roasting a pig in their driveway and he broke away from the procession long enough to offer a blessing over it.
The festival continued with additional Masses, a candlelight closing procession and plenty of food, games and entertainment.