Dozens of people from parishes across the Diocese of Cleveland took part in the first Diocesan Day of Service on April 5. Others will participate in projects this weekend or another time. But the intent was the same: to be of service to others.
The service day offered an opportunity for the faithful to serve as Eucharistic missionaries and pilgrims of hope in conjunction with the Eucharistic Revival Year of Mission and the Jubilee Year of Hope. Greg Coogan, diocesan secretary for catechetical formation and parish life, said parishes were encouraged to participate in the service day.
A plenary indulgence may be obtained by participating in certain works of mercy such as visiting the sick and imprisoned, spending time with the elderly and homebound, aiding the sick or disabled and helping those in need. Click here for more information on the plenary indulgence or to view a video about indulgences.
(See photo gallery above.)
A large group of parishioners from the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist were involved with the April 5 service day. They began with morning prayer in the cathedral before beginning their projects.
Some traveled to the nearby Joseph & Mary’s Home where they served breakfast and interacted with residents. One volunteer played cello for the residents. The facility, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, is Northeast Ohio’s first and only medical respite. It offers a warm, safe environment where people can recuperate and connect to housing and other resources as they continue healing.
Other volunteers cleaned and organized inside the cathedral while another group made Easter cards for the homebound.
Some traveled to St. Colman Parish on Cleveland’s West Side where they assisted at the Refugee Resource Center, a nonprofit venture that assists the refugee and immigrant population in Greater Cleveland.
Yet another group went to St. Aloyius/St. Agatha Parish on Cleveland’s East Side where they did interior and exterior maintenance and cleaning at the parish, which is marking its 125th anniversary. Some volunteers also worked with Sister Mary Jean Raymond, pastoral associate at St. Aloysius/St. Agatha.
Other cathedral parishioners hosted a baby shower for Zelie’s Home residents. Zelie’s Home is a caring community where women thrive as they embrace motherhood. It helps to empower pregnant and parenting women to take positive and effective action on behalf of themselves and their children by providing physical, emotional, spiritual and professional support.
The women from both homes – Garfield Heights and Lakewood – enjoyed brunch and each mom received a large bin of items for their children and/or the babies they are expecting. The women expressed their gratitude for the event and the gifts.
And another volunteer cohort traveled to OhioGuidestone, formerly Berea Children and Family Services, where they planned, organized and hosted an Easter egg hunt. The group selected and purchased age- and gender-appropriate gifts for the bunnies displayed on the center’s giving tree. After the egg hunt, children received their gifts and there was a pizza party in each of the resident cottages. Volunteers said the children were excited about the event and were very grateful.
“The entire community service day at OhioGuidestone was for us, the volunteers, a blessed experience coupled with Our Lord’s love and kindness, which left a permanent mark on our hearts,” said one of the volunteers. “We are all looking forward to next year’s opportunity to reach out to those who need to be reminded that they are loved.”
Watch next week for additional reports and photos from more service day projects around the diocese. Send information and photos to ckovach@dioceseofcleveland.org.