The closing Mass for the Jubilee Year of Hope was celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic on Dec. 28, 2025 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Concelebrants included Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, Father Joe Mamich, cathedral pastor and diocesan vicar for clergy and religious, Father Damian Ference, cathedral parochial vicar and diocesan vicar for evangelization, as well as several other priests representing parishes or shrines that were sacred sites in the diocese during the Jubilee Year.
“He is here and he is here to stay,” Bishop Malesic told those attending the liturgy.
(See photo gallery above.)
The bishop said although Christmas Day has passed, Christmas can’t be confined to a single day. It is a season and Jesus remains with us throughout the year.
He recalled how the late Pope Francis asked bishops around the world to select sacred sites in their dioceses that the faithful could visit to receive special graces. In the Cleveland Diocese, the bishop chose 11 sites, the cathedral, three shrines and seven parishes. The local sites were located in each of the eight counties of the diocese. (Click here for information on the sacred sites.) Each site received a special cross that was blessed at the opening Mass in December 2024.
Representatives from the sacred sites processed in with the crosses, placed them near the altar for the closing Mass, and processed out with them afterward. The crosses will remain at each site.
“Thank you to all who made room for God to work during this beautiful year. And he did work,” the bishop said, explaining he heard many stories of conversion. “There was so much good work.”
Among the 2025 highlights Bishop Malesic noted 2025 were the 25th anniversary of The FEST, 5,000 high school students attending a youth Mass and rally in October, 1,200 people participating in the first diocesanwide ministerium and 1,000 people attending the Alleluia Ball and raising more than $1 million for Catholic education.
“So much good happened during the year to give us hope for the future. Today, we also celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. Jesus entered human life at the center of his family, and he wants to be at the center of our families He can be found in our churches and shrines teaching us,” the bishop added.
He said Father Mamich commented during his homily at another Mass earlier that day that the Lord “wants us to be a holy family, not a Hallmark family.”
In addition, Pope Leo reminded the faithful that we will always need hope because without it, we are dead, while with it we are reborn.
“The Lord’s way will not disappoint us. It will make us saints,” Bishop Malesic added.