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Gaudete Sunday is a time for joy and hopefulness

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. It marks the halfway point of Advent. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice. The priest may wear a rose-colored or pink vestment instead of purple, as is worn the other three Sundays of Advent. Also, the pink candle is lit on the Advent wreath. Even the readings reflect a spirit of joy, com...

Feast day of St. John of the Cross is Dec. 14

John is a saint because his life was a heroic effort to live up to his name: ?of the Cross.? The folly of the cross came to full realization in time. ?Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me? (Mark 8:34b) is the story of John?s life. The Paschal Mystery

Bishop Perez brings Christmas to the county jail

Annual Christmas Mass for inmates features message of hope In what has become a longstanding tradition at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland joins men and women inmates at the county jail to celebrate a Christmas Mass. In his first opportunity to worship with more than 50 inmates from the jail, Bis...

How can I de-stress this Christmas?

My family says I get cranky at Christmas — easy for them to say, since I do most of the work to make Christmas perfect. Is there a way for me to de-stress, while still having a great holiday? God loves us so much that he decided not just to save us, but to do it by becoming one of us. Although we know that Jesus — God among us — ...

Hanukkah message to the Jewish Community in Northeast Ohio from Catholic Bishop Nelson Perez

In this season of goodwill and reflection, I wish to extend Happy Hanukkah greetings to our sisters and brothers in the Northeast Ohio Jewish community.

Sacred Heart Chapel parishioners celebrate feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Hundreds of people gathered the evening of Dec. 11 at Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is observed on Dec. 12. Bishop Nelson Perez attended as a special guest. Festivities began at 9 p.m. in the parish hall with food and entertainment and concluded about 2 a.m. on Dec. 12, after Mass. Mariachis ...

Bishop Perez continues celebrating Masses with the faithful across the diocese

Cleveland Bishop Nelson Perez spent time traversing the diocese last weekend to visit the clergy and faithful in parishes in Hinckley in Medina County and Euclid in Cuyahoga County. During the second weekend of Advent, the bishop first stopped at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Hinckley on Dec. 9. Father Edward Estok, parish administrator, concelebrat...