“We are part of a Church that’s bigger than Cleveland,” said Father Eric Garris, vocation director for the Diocese of Cleveland.
He and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost accepted an ongoing invitation from Columbus Bishop Earl Fernandes to visit the St. Thomas More Newman Center at The Ohio State University in Columbus last weekend. Bishops from the other Ohio dioceses also visit the OSU Newman Center during the year, he said.
While there, Bishop Woost and Father Garris enjoyed a meal with Bishop Fernandes, Bishop Woost celebrated Mass in the Newman Center chapel and Father Garris met with several OSU students from the diocese who are discerning possible priestly vocations. Father Garris makes the trip to Columbus a few times a year to meet with local students.
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Father Adam Streitenberger, Columbus diocesan vicar for evangelization and executive director/chaplain of the OSU Newman Center, concelebrated the liturgy, which was attended by 464 people, mostly students. Father Streitenberger called OSU “the premier and largest university in Ohio with many men and women from the Cleveland Diocese. We exist to form them as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, rooted in community and the sacraments, with generosity in service and vocation, so that they might return to be leaders in the Church in Cleveland.”
One recent OSU graduate from the Cleveland Diocese is discerning a priestly vocation as he studies at Saint Mary Seminary in Wickliffe.
“Currently, we have 15 men and four women in seminary or religious formation for orders and the dioceses across the state and country,” Father Streitenberger said. Another sign of the OSU Newman Center’s strength, he noted, is the 647 young men and women who participate in weekly Bible study and small groups. There also are 324 students who spend 30 minute or more in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament each week in the Newman Center chapel.
“Seventy-two (OSU) students will be brought into the Church this year,” he added.
During the March 1 Mass, Father Garris served as master of ceremonies for Bishop Woost and some of the altar servers were OSU students from the Cleveland Diocese. Father Garris said as they head to college, it’s important to keep the connection between the Church at home and school.
In his homily, Bishop Woost talked about the Transfiguration, explaining that the glory of God changes those around him. “God is glorified in the person of Christ, drawing us closer to him to share in his divinity,” he said.
“It is always a great joy to have Bishop (Edward) Malesic, Bishop Woost and Father Eric visit, and our men and women from Cleveland love to see their hometown shepherds. It was a beautiful Mass, served by seven young men and, God willing, future seminarians for Cleveland,” Father Streitenberger said.
Father Garris said he will return at least one more time this year, and Bishop Malesic is planning a visit next March.