Stories of hope and joy are front and center in the March edition of the Northeast Ohio Catholic Report.
The quarterly wrap-up opens with great news for the Diocese of Cleveland in terms of preparing to welcome new people into the Catholic Church. The diocese hit a five-year high for the number of people preparing to join the Church: 431 adult catechumens (those anticipating baptism, confirmation and first Communion at the Easter Vigil) and 381 candidates (those already baptized who will be confirmed and recieve first Communion at the Easter Vigil). They participated in this year’s Rite of Election on March 9 at Cleveland Public Auditorium. It was moved from the usual location, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, in order to accommodate the nearly 3,000 people who attended.
The newscast also features a piece about a refugee family that fled the war in Ukraine and has received hope and support from St. Joseph Parish in Avon Lake. The church is helping the husband-and-wife team build their pierogi catering business by allowing them to use the church’s large kitchen.
In addition, the program highlights some of Bishop Edward Malesic’s community activities and events during the past few months.
There also is a video about the process of seeking a plenary indulgence during this Jubilee Year of Hope. The indulgence is a special way to experience God’s gift of healing and mercy.
The quarterly report concludes with a segment explaining how the National Eucharistic Revival, Bishop Malesic’s first pastoral letter and the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope are all ways in which we can more fully experience the hope and joy of flourishing in our faith.