Father Mike Gurnick welcomed members of the St. John the Evangelist Leadership Guild as they gathered for Mass in St. Patrick Church on Bridge Avenue in Cleveland’s historic Ohio City neighborhood.
In the homily, Father Gurnick reminded the approximately 75 guild members that the Easter season was coming to a close on Pentecost (June 8). Throughout the Easter season, he said there was a recurring message of love in the Gospels and readings at Mass. He encouraged them to let the Lord instill that love in them and to recognize that they are his beloved sons and daughters.
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After Mass, Father Gurnick provided a brief history of the parish, which was established in 1853. The current church dates to 1877, he said. It is known as the mother church of Cleveland’s Irish population on the city’s West Side. On St. Patrick’s Day, he said the church is filled with the faithful who attend Mass before beginning their celebrations, including at the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Cleveland, just a few minutes to the east.
There are many multi-generational families who still call St. Patrick’s on Bridge their home parish. “We have some fifth generation Catholic families who still come here, at least on special occasions,” he said, explaining that the St. Patrick’s Day Mass honors those who came before them and created the faith community that still exists.
“The neighborhood and parish have changed over the years,” Father Gurnick said, noting the Near West Side, which once was home to many Irish, now includes a variety of nationalities. There have been struggles through the years, “but we don’t do it alone,” he added. Parish and neighborhood organizations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, other parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland and even other denominations join in the effort to help those in need.
“This is a place of welcome for those looking for a spiritual home. Our doors are open and the lights are on,” Father Gurnick said, referring to St. Patrick’s continuous mission of faith and ministry. He said between nearby St. Malachi Parish, of which he also was pastor and which recently became an oratory (the church remains a place for sacred worship, but it no longer functions as an active parish), and St. Patrick’s about 500 meals are served to the needy each week. The home parishes of many St. John the Evangelist Leadership Guild members assist with the meal ministry.
“This is an opportunity for me to publicly thank you for your support and for coming to our home tonight. We are glad to be in your midst,” Father Gurnick said.
After Mass, guild members reconvened in the parish hall for a meal and a program with the bishop.
Patrick Grace, executive director of the Catholic Community Foundation, of which the guild is a part, welcomed all to the gathering and thanked them for their ongoing support of diocesan ministries.
Bishop Malesic spoke about his recently released pastoral letter, “A Flourishing Apostolic Church.”
He told the group that when something flourishes, it’s at its best. But also reminded them that “Without God, we can’t flourish. And we want the Church in our diocese to flourish, not just to survive.”
The bishop said he wants us to be “one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” He also encouraged the group to think about the meaning of being a missionary. For many, it conjures up thoughts of serving in a far away land. We may not think of ourselves as missionaries, but by virtue of our baptism, each of us is a missionary. He said the late Pope Francis challenged every baptized Catholic to seem himself or herself as a missionary. And Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota and founder of the Word on Fire ministry, spoke at last summer’s Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana reminding attendees that their Christianity is not for them. Rather, it needs to be given away, he said.
“Missionary disciples share their faith,” Bishop Malesic said. “Many people are sacramentalized but not evangelized,” he said, explaining that we need to develop a relationship with Jesus and the Eucharist. “Make friends with God,” he said.
In his pastoral letter, the bishop encourages the faithful to know the paschal mystery, which encompasses Jesus’ suffering, death and Resurrection, to make friends with Jesus and to become missionary disciples. We can do this through a daily prayer life – he encourages at least 15 minutes of daily prayer – a commitment to sacramental life, becoming part of a small, faith-sharing community and knowing and sharing your story.
The bishop also talked about the three things healthy parishes do well: worship, evangelize and serve, which are the heart of a parish.
“I encourage small groups to form,” he said, explaining that even though he is “the chief evangelist of the diocese, sometimes I need to be evangelized, too.” Bishop Malesic said he is part of a small group of bishops who meet regularly to share their faith, to talk about various topics and to join in retreats. He said one thing that always takes place at charismatic retreats is people sharing their stories or giving witness, much like what happens at support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. “People talk about their experiences and share a story of how God ‘broke in,’ how they encountered him and how he helped them,” he said. “I encountered the Lord in college. You may not have encountered him the same way.”
Recalling a recent visit to the Northeast Reintegration Center, a minimum/medium security women’s prison in Cleveland, the bishop shared the story of an inmate who said she wouldn’t be the person she is today if she hadn’t been sent to prison. “I have been changed,” she said.
“Our actions should show what we believe … words and actions go together,” the bishop said. “We should propose our faith to others, but never impose it.” He said faith must not be used as a threat or a weapon.
“An evangelist always shares the good news with joy, with a smile … a person who has met/encountered Christ isn’t a miserable person,” the bishop explained.
He said we are not perfect and it’s impossible to get to heaven on our own. We need help, which is why God sent his son, Jesus, who is perfect, to be our savior.
“I can’t make the Church flourish. Only Jesus can,” he added.
Click here to learn more about the St. John the Evangelist Leadership Guild. Information about the Catholic Community Foundation, which is marking its 25th year of service to the diocese, can be found here.