Three years after it began, the National Eucharistic Revival will conclude with a closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic at 4:30 p.m. June 28 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, who has been a key part of the revival in the diocese, will concelebrate the liturgy.
“It is hard to believe the three-year National Eucharistic Revival is coming to a close,” said Lynette Cisneros, assistant director of the Secretariat for Catechetical Formation and Parish Life. She and Father Damian Ference, vicar for evangelization, were appointed by Bishop Malesic to lead the revival in the diocese.
The revival began in June 2022 with a Eucharistic procession and Mass. The first year was a year of diocesan revival; the second was a year of parish revival and the final year was a year of mission, highlighted by the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana in July 2024. Throughout the three years, there were numerous events in the diocese, including ballpark Masses, a Eucharistic miracles display, an art contest, a Mass and youth rally for high school students and more.
Although the revival is wrapping up, Cisneros stressed the importance of continuing its mission throughout the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond.
More than 200 people from the Diocese of Cleveland were among the more than 50,000 who attended last summer’s Eucharistic Congress. They were commissioned as missionary disciples at a Mass in August 2024 and continue their work of evangelizing in their parishes and beyond. Delegates to the congress received red T-shirts identifying them as members of the Cleveland delegation. They wore the shirts to the commissioning liturgy last summer and are encouraged to wear them to the June 28 Mass.
Father Ference said a social, featuring the two Jubilee Year ice cream flavors, will take place after Mass in the cathedral courtyard. The two new ice cream flavors are Pilgrim Tracks, chocolate ice cream with chocolate chunks, broken pretzel pieces, peanut butter cups and chopped, toasted almonds, and Jubilee Indulgence, vanilla ice cream swirled with honey crème. Both flavors were produced by Country Parlour Ice Cream Co. in North Royalton, in collaboration with Father Ference.
The cathedral is one of 11 sacred sites designated by Bishop Malesic. One parish in each of the eight counties of the diocese and three shrines comprise the sacred sites. A plenary indulgence can be obtained by fulfilling certain requirements, including going to confession, attending Mass, praying for the pope and his intentions and completing certain other requirements, one of which is visiting one of the sacred sites, engaging in adoration and saying certain prayers. Click here for more information on the indulgence.