“The Catholic Community Foundation board is a testament to the generosity of the faithful in the Diocese of Cleveland,” said Patrick Grace, the foundation’s executive director.
The organization paused its work on May 28 to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a talk by Bishop Edward Malesic, Mass in Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel and a dinner in the Aula at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe.
The foundation, which Grace said is one of the most successful in the country, supports the mission of the diocese to provide for the spiritual, educational and charitable needs of people throughout Northeast Ohio. To that end, Grace said it has raised funds for many important need, including helping to provide hundreds of thousands of meals, plus services and programs through Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, as well as providing support for the diocesan seminaries that are preparing future priests and supporting Catholic education throughout the diocese.
“Private donations support these important works,” said Grace, who has led the foundation since 2007.
Since its inception 25 years ago, Grace said donors have helped the foundation raise $697 million, laying a solid foundation for these charitable works.
Bishop Edward Malesic joined the foundation board to help celebrate the milestone and offered his thanks for their hard work and generosity over the years. He applauded them for putting their time, energy and talents to work for the Church.
In remarks prior to Mass, the bishop told the board and guests that “only if Jesus changes us can we build up and change the Church. He’s the one who changes things.”
Bishop Malesic noted proudly that with eight men ordained to the priesthood on May 17, the Diocese of Cleveland surpassed the number of ordinations in Chicago and New York combined. Funds raised by the foundation to support the seminaries helped form these men for their ministry, he added.
“We used to be cultural Catholics, not Catholics by choice. The decision was made by someone else for us, someone (like parents) who had you baptized. But what is it that made you decide you wanted to be involved with the Church?” he asked. At some point, the bishop said he also had to decide if this was the Church he wanted to be in.
In his recent pastoral letter, “A Flourishing Apostolic Church,” the bishop wrote that we must encounter Jesus, fall in love with him and follow him. “Once we realize that we are beloved sons and daughter of God, our lives change,” he added. Friendship with God is an important dimension to our relationship with him. The ultimate goal is to become missionary disciples, he said, “and to bring some of heaven to earth.”
The bishop said many people “are loved into the Church by others. You can go places that I can’t and you can lead people from where they are to where God wants them to be … Know your story and tell it. Faith is personal, but don’t keep it private.”
He said Jesus taught us that the Church must do three key things: pray/worship (Mass), evangelize and serve.
“For 25 years, the foundation board has stood with the faithful as teachers,” he said, thanking them again for their service and asking them to continue their leadership.
Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Andy Turner, president/rector of Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries, Father Chris Trenta, a seminary professor, and Father Vince Hawk, pastor of Holy Trinity and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception parishes in Avon, followed the bishop’s presentation.
Father Hawk, the homilist, told the group he has been ordained for 23 years and recalled the chapel before its recent renovation, thanks to the Heart of a Shepherd campaign, an initiative of the foundation.
“There used to be red carpet, then it was repaired with silver duct tape and eventually upgraded to red duct tape,” he quipped. “We’ve come a long way,” he said, looking across the gleaming floor, the revamped sanctuary, new altar, customized painted ceiling, newly refurbished pews and relocated tabernacle. He thanked the foundation board for providing campaign leadership to help finance the major renovation at the seminary, including the chapel. The project has drawn countless accolades from faculty, staff, seminarians, parents, visitors md others.
“Our generosity becomes a tangible expression of our faith,” Father Hawk told the group. “We are transforming and building up the body of Christ with our work and through the proclamation that we are living out the Gospel through acts of charity, education and service.”
He said their mission of carrying out the Gospel continues to bear great fruit. “We re called to continue that mission. Our faith compels us to see our possessions as resources,” he added.
I pray that the Holy Spirit continue to inspire us to be faithful stewards rooted in faith, hope and charity,” Father Hawk said.
A social hour and dinner followed the liturgy.
Learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation and the causes it supports here.