Bishop Edward Malesic delivered his annual State of the Diocese address to a sold-out crowd at the First Friday Club of Cleveland on Feb. 5 at Windows on the River.
In addition to the bishop’s address, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, who are celebrating their 175th year of service to the diocese, received the Bishop Roger Gries Heart of a Servant Award. Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA congregational leader, accepted the award on behalf of the sisters.
“You are the heart and hands of our mission,” Sister Karam said of those who have supported the sisters’ work both past and present. “We are truly blessed. We never did this alone.”
(See photo gallery above.)
The award is presented annually to an individual or group for a specific effort or cumulative efforts over the years to broaden, enhance, educate, and connect the Catholic community of Greater Cleveland. It is named in honor of Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries, OSB.
In his address, the bishop called 2025 “an eventful year” that demonstrated once again the “strength and vibrancy of the Catholic Church in Northeast Ohio, especially among its young members.” He told the audience he has never felt as positive about the future.
Among the highlights he discussed were:
The second Youth Mass and Rally in October 2025 drew nearly 5,000 students from all 20 high schools to Cleveland Public Auditorium.
The National Catholic Youth Conference in November 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana was attended by both Bishop Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, as well as 215 teens from the diocese.
Both bishops also attended the SEEK 2026 Conference last month, at which 16,000 college students gathered in three cities, including Columbus, Ohio. A contingent of 100 college students from the diocese were at the Columbus gathering.
2025 also was a Jubilee Year of Hope. The bishop designated 11 sacred sites in the diocese. He said during the year, many people “came back to the Church, to confession, adoration and a more meaningful relationship with God.”
He also led a group of 90 people from the diocese to Rome during the Jubilee Year, where they entered the four Holy Doors.
Last year, the bishop also noted what he called “a thrilling sign of the health of our faith community” when 431 catechumens (unbaptized who were fully initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil) and 381 candidates (those previously baptized in a Christian community who came into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil). They were welcomed during the annual Rite of Election, which took place at Public Auditorium due to the large attendance.
The eight men who were ordained as priests last May comprised the largest diocesan ordination class in many years and one of the largest in the country. He also acknowledged the six transitional deacons who are on the path to priestly ordination in May.
Work is underway to strengthen preparation of couples for marriage and to continue strengthening marriage and family life after the wedding, the bishop said.
In addition, he acknowledged the continuing generosity of the faithful throughout the diocese. “Your donations of time, talent and treasure help us to evangelize our communities with our beautiful Catholic faith and help the faithful grow closer to our good and loving God,” he said. He also expressed his gratitude for the record-setting $15.7 million raised to support Catholic Charities ministries in the diocese, as well as the strong support of the Fund A Dream scholarship program and the Angel Scholarship tuition assistance fund. Fund A Dream participation doubled from 2024, with $1 million raised to provide $2,500 scholarships to help defray Catholic school tuition. The Angel Scholarship Fund offers a 100% tax credit on state income taxes to provide scholarships for low-income families seeing a Catholic education.
Bishop Malesic also reflected briefly on his fifth anniversary as bishop of Cleveland and the pastoral letter he released a year ago.
“As I consider these past five years here, I am incredibly grateful. My greatest joy is being out among you, the people of this diocese,” he added.
Click here for more information on the First Friday Club of Cleveland. The next program at lunchtime March 5 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, will feature Kathryn LaFontana,who will speak on “Catholic Women’s Colleges: Negotiating an Identity for the Future.”