Catholic Charities and St. John the Evangelist Cathedral offices to move to historic Chancery Building on Superior Avenue.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and Bishop Edward C. Malesic announce a $15 million revitalization of the Chancery Building on Superior Avenue adjacent to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The chancery is on the national historic registry and is a landmark building in downtown Cleveland. The revitalization is in accord with the key elements of the bishop’s pastoral letter that was released earlier this year.
“I am thrilled that, with the help of the faithful, we will breathe new life into this iconic but underutilized office structure adjoining our cathedral in the heart of downtown,” said Bishop Malesic. “Evangelization and service are key aspects of what I am asking all Catholics to embrace in our diocese. The physical renewal of this landmark building will help us bring people together and serve others’ needs in a way that is more fruitful and efficient.”
Once the construction and renovation are completed, the Chancery Building will become the new home for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland and the cathedral offices. Catholic Charities has been located at St. Augustine Health Campus on Detroit Avenue since 2008, and will be moving 150 employees to the Chancery Building in fall 2026.
In addition to the offices of Catholic Charities and the cathedral, the renovation will include a gathering place that will accommodate 150 people. This space will be shared between the diocese and Catholic Charities, and it will be used to engage, educate and evangelize the Catholic community, bringing people to downtown Cleveland.
“Catholic Charities is a vital resource to our eight-county diocese,” said Jim Mullen, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “The relocation of our administrative team to the historic Chancery Building will allow us to deepen our partnership with the Diocese of Cleveland, and at the same time, expand our reach and services to our most vulnerable in the communities we serve.”
The original building on the site was constructed in 1857 as a school building for the cathedral. It was later demolished as part of the construction of a much larger school to accommodate 1,000 students in 1888. After the building was vacated by the school, it eventually became the home of diocesan offices. The building has housed the archives of the diocese since the offices departed in the early 2000s.
“Having Catholic Charities' administrative offices in the chancery is the next chapter of a building that has been so instrumental to the growth of our diocese,” Bishop Malesic said. “Serving God’s people is a foundational teaching of Jesus as written in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25. Catholic Charities does this work every day on behalf of people in need. Having our administrative offices in close proximity will streamline operations and strengthen our ability to serve others. “