St. Patrick Parish, Wellington welcomes Bishop Malesic for Mass, breakfast

Bishop Edward Malesic made his first pastoral visit to St. Patrick Parish in Wellington on Aug. 9, where he received a warm welcome from pastor Father David Trask, Deacon Dino Paoletta and parishioners.

“This parish was founded in 1851 by Irish Catholics, many of whom were railroad construction workers,” the bishop said. “The relied on their faith, much like the disciples in today’s Gospel.”

Reflecting on the Gospel, he noted that the apostles were in a boat that was being tossed about by  waves on the Sea of Galilee. They were afraid and then they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water. Peter called out and said if that was Jesus, he should tell him to walk to him on the water.

“Jesus said to Peter, ‘Come.’ Peter started walking to him, with his eyes on Jesus,” the bishop said. However, when he got distracted and took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink.

“We need to focus on Jesus … He puts us in the boat – the Church – which leads us to salvation … Jesus knows our doubts. He asks us to trust him just one more step today,” Bishop Malesic said.

When Catholics immigrants settled in a community, often they were not welcome so they lived on the outskirts. He noted that when the first bishop of Cleveland, Amadeus Rappe, began construction on the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, it was outside the city limits of Cleveland. However, today, it’s in the heart of the city.

“The immigrants said they weren’t going anywhere. They kept their eyes focused on Christ, passed on the faith and it’s still strong today,” the bishop said. “Faith is what gets us through the hard times.”

He shared a story from his family, explaining his parents lost two of their four children. Then his mother became ill with cancer. “My sister-in-law, who was not Catholic, asked her how she could go on. My mother told her because of her faith,” he said, adding that witness by his mother helped his sister-in-law come into the Catholic Church through baptism.

“We are Christians. We believe in something different … We shouldn’t look at the world outside. We should look at Jesus. Keep your eyes fixed on him and listen for his simple invitation, ‘Come.’ It you start to sink, the Lord will reach out his hand and he will save you,” Bishop Malesic said.

“Come to be enlightened and to be saved and then go to share the good news.”

After Mass, he greeted parishioners and enjoyed a pancake breakfast prepared and served by the parish Men’s Club.

Learn more about St. Patrick Parish in Wellington by clicking here.