The Diocesan Memorandum (formerly the Clergy Memorandum) is a service of the Office of the Chancellor for clergy and lay leadership of the Diocese of Cleveland, providing a summary of relevant and timely information from the Office of the Bishop and other diocesan offices.
Collection for the Holy Father
Each year, the annual Peter’s Pence Collection in support of the works of the Holy Father is held in parishes across the country. The proceeds from this collection fund emergency-relief assistance to those throughout the world who suffer from war, oppression, and natural disasters. This year’s Collection is scheduled for the weekend of 25-26 June 2022. Bulletin inserts and announcements can be found here.
General Intercessions
The Subcommittee on African American Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages the faithful to prayerfully recall the 7th anniversary of a mass shooting that occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, in which nine African Americans were killed during a Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. We encourage parishes to remember the innocent victims of racially motivated violence and are providing sample intercessions that can be included at Mass on the June 17 anniversary date, on Juneteenth (June 19th), or on another fitting occasion.
July Reminders:
July 4 – Independence Day. The Mass of the Day may be used or proper orations for Independence Day may be used with white vestments and singing of the Gloria. Readings may be of the day (LECT: # 383), or chosen from For the Country (LECT # 882-886) or from For Peace & Justice (LECT # 887-891), or any combination of these options. There is a choice of two Proper prefaces. Intercessions may be taken from the Book of Blessings # 1965: Prayer on the Occasion of the Inauguration of a Public Official, which is itself an adaptation of Archbishop John Carroll’s prayer originally composed for the inauguration of George Washington.
July 22 – Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Proper orations for St. Mary Magdalene are used, with white vestments. The Gloria is sung. Readings are Proper (LECT # 603). The newly approved English translation of the Proper Preface for the Apostle to the Apostles is found on the USCCB website.
July 29 - Memorial of Saint Martha has been expanded to become the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus. An interim Mass formulary has been posted online, available as a free PDF download in both English and Spanish. Indications given in the Lectionary for Mass for July 29 remain the same, and other texts in the Liturgy of the Hours may be supplied by the Common of Holy Men until the approval and implementation of new proper texts that include Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus together.
Be the Light – Catholic Charities continues its work on the front lines to serve the growing number of individuals and families most in need. The Appeal is blessed to have raised over $10 million dollars as of April 30 this year but we are down approximately $500,000 from this time last year. Our second letter of the year will be coming to mailboxes May 10th. Parishes can go to click here for updated parish stats and bulletin announcements.
Annual Appeal for Priestly Formation
\This annual request for donations will be delivered to over 35,000 households the week of May 23rd. The Annual Appeal for Priestly Formation supports our seminarians’ personal growth and development. This includes seminary coursework and study, field education, spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops. Click here to donate online. Email Sarah Gozur or call 216-696-6525 x1049 with questions or for additional information.
Parish Legacy Gift Opportunities
The Catholic Community Foundation has many different resources to assist your parish in promoting legacy gifts in support of your parish. If you are interested in these opportunities, please email Jean Ann Montagna or call her at 216-696-6525 x8070.
FreeWill: A Free, Legal Will Building Resource for Your Parishioners
The Catholic Community Foundation has partnered with FreeWill to offer a free, legal will building resource to your parishioners. It is a great tool for them to support your parish for years to come. In this 30 minute webinar, FreeWill staff will explain how it works and how to promote it with your parishioners. CCF staff will also be there to answer any questions and provide templates for promoting this opportunity in your parish. Go to catholiccommunity.org/freewill-learning to register.
The Sandra S. and Thomas C. Sullivan Foundation Grants
Who is eligible: Catholic and other nonprofit organizations whose focus is on providing aid to the poor and needy and educational opportunities to persons who would otherwise not be able to participate. Guidelines and the application can be found here. The application deadline is July 15th.
Alleluia Ball Benefits Tuition Assistance
The Alleluia Ball 2022 lived up to its theme of “Keeping Dreams Alive” as it raised more than $1.5 million for Catholic school tuition assistance across the Diocese of Cleveland. The gala drew more than 700 people to the Hilton Cleveland Downtown hotel on March 26.
Alleluia Ball donations also support Fund a Dream scholarships through this unique program that makes it possible for donors “adopt a student” by providing them with tuition assistance. These benefactors then receive updates through the school year to let them know how their assigned student is progressing, as well as communications from their student.
Angel Scholarship Fund
New Ohio Scholarship Tax-Credit Program Lets You “Turn Taxes into Tuition” by Directing Your Tax Dollars to our Catholic School Students
Through the Angel Scholarship Fund, you can now contribute funds that will be used to provide tuition assistance for students to attend our Catholic schools, for which you may receive a 100% Ohio income tax credit of up to $750 ($1,500 if married filing jointly) against your 2022 state tax liability. In other words, the state of Ohio allows you to ‘spend’ some of the state income taxes you must pay anyway to provide tuition assistance for students seeking an education in our Catholic schools. The Angel Scholarship Fund is a win-win-win for taxpayer donors, scholarship recipients, and our Catholic schools. This short video explains how easy it is to contribute to the Angel Scholarship Fund.
Fraudulent Unemployment Claims
If you have received requests from ACR or ODJFS to provide personal information for an employee who has not filed for unemployment, please respond with: Claimant has not applied for any unemployment benefits, FRAUD, and forward immediately via email to Cathy Slezak at ACR and Kathy Pierce or call 216-731-8215.
Social Media
In order to help better coordinate efforts to evangelize, share pertinent information and best practices for digital/social media, the diocesan communications office is collecting the name, email address and other pertinent information for those responsible for social media in the parishes and school across the diocese. Parishes and schools are encouraged to fill out the form at https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/socialmedia.
Website Festival/Carnival Listings
Parishes which will be holding a summer festival or carnival this summer can have a simple listing (dates, time, address) placed on the diocesan website. Please go to dioceseofcleveland.org/festivalrequest to submit the request. Requests should only be made by a parish staff member. The listing, once approved, will appear at dioceseofcleveland.org/festivals.
Review Board
June 13 is the deadline for candidates to submit applications for four current openings on the Diocese of Cleveland Review Board.
The Review Board is an 11-person consultative body charged with providing advice to Bishop Edward Malesic on all aspects of sexual abuse of minors, including prevention, claims of abuse, policies and responses to victims. There are openings for persons in the following categories: A clinician experienced in the diagnosis and/or treatment of sex offenders; an accomplished educator; a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who has completed a course of treatment; a human resources professional.
Further information is available here.
Diocesan Synod
Our Diocesan Synod Team is working hard to prepare for the pre-synodal gathering at Cleveland Public Hall on Saturday, June 11, from 10 am - 4 pm. Delegates from across the diocese will come together to reflect on the feedback received during the listening sessions and discern our next steps forward. The diocesan synodal process will conclude with the 4:30 pm Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Registration information for delegates has been sent to the contact person that submitted the synthesis report to the diocese. If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Saenz or the Synod contact person for your parish or organization.
Although the pre-synodal gathering is limited to invited delegates, Bishop Malesic is asking parishes to support the pre-synodal gathering through fasting and prayer on June 11thfrom 10 am - 4 pm. Please invite parishioners to cover the synod in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, or by praying the rosary, or a Divine Mercy chaplet, or through some form of fasting. For additional Synod updates, click here.
Thank you for all that you are doing to create safe environments in our parishes, schools and Catholic institutions. This is the time of year when we collect the Annual Compliance Forms indicating our compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. We must have on file documentation of our efforts over the past audit year (July 1, 2021—June 30, 2022) to keep kids safe.
The forms will be mailed out by June 20, 2022 to the parishes. Please return the form by July 15, 2022. Email the form to Debbie Morris or mail it to Diocese of Cleveland, Office for Protection of Children, 1404 E. 9th St. 5th Floor, Cleveland OH 44114. Any questions, email Sharon Minson or call 216-696-6525 x 1157.
Instituto Emaús - Escuela de Discípulos Misioneros | Emmaus Institute - School of Missionary Disciples | Saturday, June 25, 9 am-4 pm | Center for Pastoral Leadership, Wickliffe | Church History / Historia de la Iglesia
Retiro Matrimonial: Encuentro con el Amor, Dios y la Vida | Marriage Retreat: Encounter with Love, God and Life | June 18, 8 am-8 pm | Sagrada Familia, Cleveland | Costo $100.00 por pareja incluye desayuno, almuerzo y cena | Cost $100.00 per couple includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
For more information, please contact Misael Mayorga at 216-374-9440.
Lay Ecclesial Ministry Retreat | July 15-16, 2022 | Jesuit Retreat Center, Parma
The Lay Ecclesial Ministry Office is pleased to invite you to an overnight retreat “Eucharist: Food for Our Journey”. Fr. William Bouhall, Spiritual Director for Borromeo Seminary, will direct our annual retreat this year. We will soon be entering a time of Eucharist Revival in our Church, and this retreat will prepare our hearts for this important journey. Open to all lay ministers in the diocese, it will take place at the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma beginning Friday evening, at 7:00 PM on July 15, through Saturday evening, 7:00 PM. Retreatants are welcome to come as early as 3:00 PM to enjoy the chapel and grounds of the retreat center.
Please invite and encourage lay ministers that are seeking to deepen their spiritual formation to participate in this retreat. The $115 cost covers three meals on Saturday, a single room, and all materials. Registration and additional details can be found here or call the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Office at 440-943-7670 with questions.
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter is about to be recognized by Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families. There are multiple couples from around the Diocese that would like to offer some brief presentations in late August or through September about the November gathering. If your parish is willing to host one of these quick talks to help enrich marriages at your parish, please feel free to email Terri Yohman and get on the schedule.
Sign up for eNewsletter
The Office of Youth Ministry sends out an eNewsletter once or twice a month with information for those ministering to youth in our diocese. It is the primary means of communication from this office. Priests, deacons, PCLs, as well as youth and campus ministers are encouraged to sign up. If you would like to receive the email, please sign up here. See archived eNewsletters here.
XLT – Eucharistic Revival Launch | Saturday, June 11, 2022
Teenagers are invited to be part of the diocesan launch of the Eucharistic Revival. We will start with Mass at the Cathedral, a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Cleveland to St. Peter Church, and a big XLT - Eucharistic Adoration with praise & worship music. Bishop Malesic will preside at Adoration, and Fr. Damian Ference will preach. All are welcome. Plan to bring teens with you, and invite young adults, families, and parishioners of all ages to be part of this exciting event. Share this flyer to help promote the evening.
Blessed Carlo Institute for Youth Ministers | August 9-12, 2022, Center for Pastoral Leadership
The Blessed Carlo Institute for Youth Ministers is a four-day, three-night formation experience that includes classes each morning taught by seminary professors, afternoon workshops by ministry experts, off-campus excursions, daily Mass, and more.
Adults who minister to youth in grades 6-12 as parish youth ministers, school campus ministers, pastoral ministers, catechists, volunteers, and others are encouraged to attend. Pastors, please consider asking your staff members who work with youth to attend and covering the fee for their training. Registration open now; spots are very limited. More information and registration link here.
Mark Your Calendars for these Upcoming Events:
Sign up for our YAM e-newsletter. This month’s content will include:
Question of Faith Podcast recent episodes: Roe v. Wade possible reversal; Carrie Underwood making Axl Rose smile; How to share faith with children who have left the Faith.
All are invited to attend Catholic Renewal Ministries’ 39th Annual Conference to be held on Saturday July 16th 2022 at St. Albert the Great Parish Reception Hall, 6667 Wallings Rd., North Royalton. This year’s theme is “Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks”. Guest speakers will be Bishop Sam Jacobs, Sr. Marie Fidelis from the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ Community, and Fr. Bob Franco. Visit the CRM website or call Sandy at 440-554-8119 for more information and to register. Advance registration postmarked by Wednesday, July 6th, is $30, and at the door $35.
Catholic Renewal Ministries will host a Healing Mass on Friday, May 27th, at 7:00 p.m. at St John Vianney Church, 7575 Bellflower Rd, Mentor 44060. Fr. Bob Franco will be the celebrant. Praise and worship will begin at 7:00 p.m., and the liturgy will start at 7:30 p.m. Healing Prayer teams will be available after Mass for individual prayer. For more information, please contact CRM at 440-944-9445.
The Stark County Chapter of Magnificat invites you to a Breakfast on Saturday, June 4th. Micky Wolf will be the guest speaker. Join us in a special time of fellowship and sharing at Walsh University, Barrette Center, 2020 East Maple Street, North Canton, Ohio.
Option 1: $25 Mail-in – Go to magnificatstark.weebly.com/mail-in-reservation
Option 2: $26 Online – Go to magnificatstark.weebly.com/online-reservation
Reservations cannot be accepted after May 21. Open seating. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. There will be an optional Mass at 8:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel at Walsh University. For further information call Rosemary Pfiffner at 330-904-6096
Catholic Renewal Ministries will host a charismatic Pentecost Mass Celebration, Sunday, June 5th, at St. Peter Parish, 35777 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville 44039. The celebration will start at 2:00 p.m. with praise and worship. Fr. Bob Franco will be the celebrant. After Mass, there will be an opportunity for individual prayer for healing, and there will also be fellowship time. For more information, please contact CRM at 440-944-9445.
St. Bernadette Relics at Our Lady of Lourdes in Ada, Ohio | Thursday, June 2nd to Saturday, June 4th | For full schedule visit www.stbernadetteusa.org/Ada / www.LourdesAda.org
First Friday Club of Akron
Mike Ragon, Peter's Shadow Healing Ministry | Friday, June 3, 2022 | Our Lady of Cedars, 507 South Cleveland Massillon Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333 | Registration and more information here.
Jesuit Retreat Center Programs, 5629 State Road, Parma, Ohio 44134
For more information on the programs listed below, please click here or call 440-884-9300.
June Sabbath Days - a Personal Retreat Day | Friday, June 10, from 8:30am - 3:30pm | $50
June Morning Prayer for Women | Monday, June 13, from 9:30 - 11:00am | Sr. Mary Ann Flannery | Free Will Offering (walk-ins welcome, registration is no longer required).
Cinema & Conversation: Mass | Monday, June 27, from 7:00 - 9:00pm | Free Will Offering
Sr. Ignatia AA Women’s Recovery Retreat - Serenity: Cultivating Peace One Day at a Time | Wednesday, June 29, from 8:00am - 3:30pm | Presented by Karen S., Jo Ann P., Sue M. and Marybeth S. | $35
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Submissions for the next Memorandum should be made to Ann Marie Perkins by the 15th of the preceding month. Guidelines for submissions are available here.
Child & Youth Protection
Our promise to protect, our pledge to heal.
To report an abuse, please contact local law enforcement and:
Kathleen McComb, Victim Assistance Coordinator
Response Services – 216-334-2999
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland © 2024
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