Bishop Malesic certifies three new lay ecclesial ministers for service to diocese

As he certified three new lay ecclesial ministers, Bishop Edward Malesic assured them that “the Lord can accomplish more through you than you can accomplish alone. He will be with you every step of the way.”

The newly certified are Claudia Cabrera, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and St. Patrick and St. Malachi Parish, all in Cleveland; Hailie Jester, St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Parma and Joe Mikolajczyk, also St. Charles Borromeo. The certification liturgy was celebrated Oct. 3 in Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe.

The bishop reminded the new ministers that in baptism, we all are claimed for Christ and each of us is given a chance to share in the Church’s mission. “Today, the Church publicly acknowledges those gifts you’ll use to build up the body of Christ … Pope St. John Paul II told us the Church doesn’t belong just to priests and deacons – each of us has a role. We’re all beloved sons and daughters of God and all of us – single, married, lay, religious and ordained – have a call to bring others to Jesus. Claudia, Hailie and Joe, you have been called and are being certified today. You have been prepared. You know the ‘Churchy’ stuff, now pass it on so others can understand,” he said.

“The mission is larger than the 12 apostles could do. Priests and deacons were needed to help … This mission is big. It takes all of us,” the bishop said, noting the Church “is ever ancient and ever new,” but the message of salvation is consistent.

Lay ecclesial ministers serve the Church in a variety of roles, the bishop said, collaborating with the clergy and helping parishes to carry out the mission of the Church. “Serve with patience, humility and love,” he said, reminding them to be faithful to what the Lord asks them to do and not to be discouraged.

Cabrera, a native of Mexico, was a physician who said she encountered Christ’s healing presence in the vulnerability of human life and witnessed the Paschal Mystery in her calling. She said her life and vocation were shaped by an encounter with Christ that began in her childhood. Cabrera is a Benedictine oblate. She has a master’s degrees in theology and clinical research and a doctorate in biomedical health informatics.

Jester said she felt drawn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus from an early age and found her deepest encounters with him through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. As a teenager, she was involved in youth ministry. Experiences at the Steubenville Youth Conferences and World Youth Day awakened a desire to help others encounter Christ, also. She serves as director of evangelization and youth minister at St. Charles Borromeo.

Mikolajczyk said a series of profound encounters with the Lord helped him realize he was being called to live differently, so he left a career in music education to become pastoral minister at St. Matthias Parish. After four years, he accepted the role of ministry specialist in the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Ministry. He and his wife Andrea have two children.

Click here to learn more about the lay ecclesial ministry formation program or contact director Michelle Nowak at mnowak@dioceseofcleveland.org.