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.
World Mission Sunday Collection: 19-20 October 2019
World Mission Sunday this year is on the weekend of 19-20 October 2019. This is the primary weekend that awareness of the worldwide Missions is communicated to the Faithful of our parishes. Awareness of the worldwide Missions and the World Mission Sunday Collection are promoted in the materials that were sent to the parishes. This is the principal collection benefiting the almost 1,100 missionary dioceses of the world.
A packet of materials, including posters and bulletin announcements, was mailed to each pastor. Additional materials may be found at www.missio.org/resources.
In our continued effort to comply with the requirements of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” the Office of the Bishop, Office for Protection of Children & Youth and Communications department are asking all parishes to please publish the bulletin announcement below during the month of October and December, 2019. When published parishes are asked to forward a copy of their bulletin electronically to Brooke Uehlein (email with direct online link is acceptable) –or mail a hard copy to: Diocese of Cleveland Department of Communications c/o Deacon Jim Armstrong, 1404 East Ninth Street – 6th floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2503
Bulletin Announcement:
Protecting God’s Children
The Diocese of Cleveland’s “Protecting God’s Children” program is a continuing effort to instruct and inform everyone about the protection of children from sexual abuse. To report any past or present suspected inappropriate behavior toward children by priests, deacons, religious, lay ecclesial ministers or personnel associated with the Church, please contact the Diocesan Response Service Office at 216-334-2999 or via email at response_services@dioceseofcleveland.org . You are also asked to immediately inform local authorities about inappropriate behavior.
Annual Liturgical Calendar
The diocesan Annual Liturgical Calendar is now available on the Office for Worship website. Please note that it should be printed on 11”x17” paper.
Registration is now open for the Fall 2019 Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion formation sessions. Registration is to be completed by the parish or institution of ministry, and is password protected. Check your parish’s diocesan email account for registration information.
November Liturgical Calendar Reminders:
The Solemnity of All Saints is a holy day of obligation. A Vigil Mass for All Saints may be celebrated Thursday, October 31, after 4:00 p.m. Masses celebrating the Solemnity are to be celebrated on Friday, November 1.
The Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed is Saturday, November 2, 2019. This day is not a holy day of obligation. Masses celebrating the Commemoration are to be celebrated on Saturday, November 2. There are multiple Scripture options for Masses celebrating this day. Consult the regional Ordo for a full listing of options. Masses after 4:00 p.m. should anticipate the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Tuesday November 5 is Election Day. The USCCB has compiled various resources for Faithful Citizenship, including supplemental prayers of the faithful, on their website.
Monday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day. The USCCB has compiled various resources for prayer for those in military service and their families, including supplemental prayers of the faithful, on their website.
The Cleveland Chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) is sponsoring an annual music festival in honor of St. Cecelia, the patron saint of music. The St. Cecilia Sing Festival and Workshops will be Friday and Saturday, November 22-23, at St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton. More information can be found on the NPM Cleveland website.
A Special Day of Prayer for the Harvest and Fruits of the Earth coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, November 28.
The Liturgical Year ends on Saturday, November 30. The new Liturgical Year uses Sunday Lectionary Cycle A, Weekday Lectionary Cycle II. See the Office for Worship website for the Annual Liturgical Calendar and Notes.
April 2020 Liturgical Calendar:
The Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday of Holy Week, April 7, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please be advised that, in an effort to be fair, parishioners will not have the opportunity to reserve seating for other parishioners in advance. General seating for the Chrism Mass will be first come, first served.
A reminder that during the Sacred Triduum, which begins with Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening and concludes with the Easter Vigil, neither Wedding Ritual Masses nor Funeral Masses are permitted. Weddings without Mass are permitted during the day on Holy Thursday, but not on Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Funeral Liturgies outside Mass are permitted on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
The 2020 Easter Vigil will be celebrated on Saturday, April 11, 2020. “The Easter Vigil, in the holy night when the Lord rose again, is considered the “mother of all holy Vigils”, in which the Church, keeping watch, awaits the Resurrection of Christ and celebrates it in the Sacraments. In the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, the Easter Vigil is to begin no earlier than 7:30 p.m.
Ritual Masses are not permitted during the days of the Easter Octave, though Funeral Masses are permitted. Weddings within the Mass of the Day may be celebrated on these Solemnities. Please reference this online chart for more information.
The Transitional Diaconate Ordination Mass is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Liturgical Catechesis Notes: Influenza or Other Viral Infections and Mass
As ’flu season approaches parishes may receive requests from parishioners to make changes to the liturgical celebration in order to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses. The Diocesan Bishop should always be consulted regarding any changes or restriction of options in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. The need for widespread liturgical adaptations for the prevention of the transmission of influenza in the dioceses of the United States of America is NOT evident at this time.
The USCCB, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control, recommends that the following measures be taken in the celebration of the liturgy:
a) Priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should be especially reminded of the need to practice good hygiene. Ministers of Holy Communion should be encouraged to wash their hands before Mass begins, or even to use an alcohol based anti-bacterial solution before and after distributing Holy Communion.
b) Pastors should instruct people who feel ill not to receive from the cup.
The current Instruction: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Assisting at Mass and Communion of the Sick in the Diocese of Cleveland reiterates that it is always the choice of the communicant to choose to receive the Precious Blood.
The complete publication of the USCCB can be found at here.
The following four are the only approved vendors of olive wood carvings and other gifts for the benefit of Christians in the Holy Land through February 20, 2020:
There have been some reports of confusion by parish staff between vendors; for example, that a booking has been made by one vendor, then a new booking made with a second vendor while parish staff believed that this was merely a rescheduling of the date of the first vendor. If in doubt, you may wish to ensure that you are speaking with the correct vendor by checking the correct contact details with the Chancery. Some vendors have expressed disappointment at the poor sales they have experienced when they have visited a parish shortly after another vendor has visited the same parish. Please note that the above vendors are only approved through February 20, 2020 and therefore should not be scheduled beyond that date. A new list will be circulated early in the new year. As always, if you have positive or negative experiences with any of these vendors please contact the Chancery at (216) 696-6525 ext. 2070
HELEN D. SCHUBERT CONCERTS Fall 2019 (website link)
Cathedral of St John the Evangelist; 1007 Superior Ave @ E 9th St; Cleveland 44114. FREE, (no tickets, no reservations); Free secure parking: Cathedral garage & lot, Rockwell & E 9th St.
Wednesday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m. | The Thirteen Choir (from Washington DC) | Matthew Robertson, Director
Friday, November 8 at 7:30pm| Cleveland Chamber Choir | Scott MacPherson, Director.
Monday, December 2 at 7:30pm| Daughters of St Paul Choir | He is Born: 11thannual Christmas Concert
Visiting clergy must submit a letter of suitability from their superior prior to preaching or public celebration of the sacred liturgy in the Diocese of Cleveland. If you become aware of conferences or similar events with visiting clergy which do not appear to be sponsored by the Diocese of Cleveland, kindly notify the Secretary and Vicar in advance so that he can investigate whether the visiting clergy are able to provide the required attestations.
Tax-Wise Gifting From Your IRA
If you are age 70½ or older, you can save on taxes and make a charitable rollover gift from your IRA to [PARISH NAME]. With a direct transfer from your traditional IRA to a qualified charity such as our parish, you can satisfy your minimum required distribution for the year. Your accountant or financial planner can help you decide if this option is right for you. Contact XXX in our parish office at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or [EMAIL]. Learn more here or contacting Sandy Lucas of the Catholic Community Foundation at 216-696-6525 x1640.
Stock Giving to Our Parish
Did you know that donating stock can be more beneficial than donating cash, due to the tax advantages often associated with transferring appreciated stocks to a charitable organization such as [PARISH NAME]? Gifting appreciated stock (held more than one year) to our parish may allow you to deduct the stock’s full value and bypass capital gains tax. Your accountant or financial planner can help you decide if this option is right for you. Contact XXX in our parish office at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or [EMAIL]. Learn more here or contacting Sandy Lucas of the Catholic Community Foundation at 216-696-6525 x1640.
Catholic Community Foundation Professional Advisors Seminar
Join fellow professional advisors from the legal, tax, trust, insurance, and wealth management disciplines on Wednesday, 20 November (1:00-4:30 p.m. followed by cocktails/networking) at CMBA Conference Center in Cleveland. Seminar topics include philanthropy, charitable and tax planning, and ethics for estate planners. 2.00 hours of general CLE credit and 1.00 professional conduct credit requested for Attorneys; 3.5 hours of CE requested for Accountants, Insurance and Certified Financial Professionals. $50 registration; $25 for Catholic Lawyers Guild members. Click here for details and to register or contact Colleen Rigo at 216-696-6525 x4080.
2019 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal – a total of $12,548,310 raised as of 31 August.
Solicitation Letter: During the week of 7 October, 45,000 households will be receiving a letter from Patrick Gareau, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, asking for support of the 2019 Annual Appeal with a monetary gift. To make an immediate impact, donations can be made online .
Save the Date: 2020 Annual Appeal will take place Feb. 8-9 with the Follow Up Appeal on May 16-17. Click here for updated parish stats and Appeal information. Contact Karen Joyce at 216-696-6525 x1910 with questions.
Spread the Faith Annual Appeal – supporting the Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine
Solicitation Letter: 40,000 households across the diocese will receive a letter from Bishop Perez the week of 21 October seeking gifts to the Spread the Faith Annual Appeal. Funds from this Appeal will allow parishes and the diocese to continue to reach out to more than 235,000 households with the bi-monthly magazine, an online edition, and an e-newsletter that reports weekly Catholic news and updates; all at no cost. Click here to give online go to or contact Karen Joyce at 216-696-6525 x1910.
Priestly Formation Appeal – as of 12 September, more than $338,000 has been pledged from 2,200 faithful donors
Solicitation Letter: Previous donors to this Appeal will have the opportunity to again support our seminaries with a gift. Letters to those who have not yet given this year will be mailed the week of 28 October. To help save resources, online gifts can be made here or by calling Karen Joyce at 216-696-6525 x1910.
’FLU SHOTS
All diocesan employees and their dependents are able to receive a flu shot at any CVS Pharmacy at no cost to them. New this year: Employees enrolled in one of our health plans need to simply show their CVS/Pharmacy card to their pharmacist. Those not on our plans need to use a voucher. Parishes and schools can obtain vouchers for their employees from the Benefits Office by calling (216) 696-6525, ext. 5040 or by e-mail. If you leave a message, let us know how many vouchers you need for your site.
We are now on Facebook. To find out about all of our activities and events, visit facebook.com/DOCParishLife or find us on Facebook @DOCParishLife.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, coinciding with the independence day anniversaries of many Latin American countries. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more about Hispanic/Latino faith and culture. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to share the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry which is fruit of the National Fifth Encuentro process that began in 2015 and culminated in the National Encuentro gathering in September 2018. Discover what the voices of the Latino community said about the needs in the community, their hopes and dreams, the gifts they have to offer the Church, and the pastoral priorities for Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland over the next 3-5 years. Download the Hispanic Pastoral Plan
Nine candidates have been accepted into the First Year Formation cohort for the 2019-2020 Diocesan Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certification Process. Please visit our website for more information. Come and experience evening prayer at a Friday formation session, and learn more about the Diocesan Certification Process at our Lay Ecclesial Ministry Open Houses on November 15, 2019 and December 13, 2019. Click here to view the flyer and RSVP to attend.
Click here for Family Perspectives November
Couple Ministry Training—Western Cuyahoga and Lorain County
Our office would like to schedule a Couple Ministry training for Lorain County and Western Cuyahoga County. Interested clergy are invited to nominate married couples to assist them in marriage ministry. Call or email Bill Boomer – 216-334-2971 with names, emails or questions.
Rescheduled: Send My Roots Rain- Diocesan Bereavement Ministers Annual Retreat
Renewal for diocesan bereavement ministers and those working in grief and bereavement ministry, with presenter Kim Langley. Additional information will be provided as available.
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2019
Contact: Jason Lewis 216-334-2974 or jlewis@dioceseofcleveland.org
Monthly Grief Support
Catholic Cemeteries Association grief support groups will meet on Sunday October 20th at 3:00 p.m. at the following locations: Saint Joseph Cemetery, Avon (temporary trailer office); Holy Cross Cemetery, Akron (office); Holy Cross Cemetery, Brook Park (office), Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland (office), and our newest support location All Saints Cemetery, Northfield (office). The October topics will be ‘Children’s Grief and Family Dynamics in Grief’. A reservation is not required, but is appreciated. Visit our website or contact Rhonda at 216-930-4866.
Three new Sunday Grief Support Group locations: Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland (Miles Ave) started September 15th; All Saints Cemetery, Northfield starts October 20th; All Souls Cemetery, Chardon starts November 17th. If you are interested in participating at these new Grief Support Group locations, please contact Rhonda or call 216-930-4866.
Cemetery Sunday Mass | November 3rd at 3:00pm
Join us in the celebration of Mass. Cemetery Sunday Mass is scheduled for November 3, 2019 at 3 p.m. Mass will be held at several cemeteries. Please click here for more details. For more information please email Rhonda Abrams or call 216-930-4866
First Friday Club of Cleveland. God is Good … All the Time, at Julie Billiart Schools. Lannie Davis-Frecker, M.Ed., President and CEO Julie Billiart Schools. Thursday, October 3, 2019 at The City Club of Cleveland, 850 Euclid Avenue, 2nd Floor, Cleveland. Registration table and lunch buffet opens at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at noon. Registration and more information here
First Friday Club of Akron. Bishop Nelson J. Perez, Bishop of Cleveland. Friday, October 4, 2019 at Tangier Restaurant, 532 W. Market Street, Akron. More information here
Theology on the Rocks – West| Monday, October 14that 7:00 p.m. | 100thBomb Group, 20920 Brookpark Road, Cleveland | $12 per person | Did you know Cleveland is one of the top cities in the country for human trafficking? How is our church helping and what can we do ourselves to help the women and children who all prey to this violation of human rights and our faith. Join us as Sr. Cecilia Liberatore, SND, explains how this happens and what can be done to help. To register and more information click 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.
Fall Individually Directed Retreat (IDR) | Friday, October 18, 6:00 p.m. - Sunday, October 20, 1:00 p.m | Cost: $275
October Morning Prayer for Women | Monday, October 21 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Led by Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, S.C. | Cost: $8
Keys to a Happier Life | Tuesdays, October 22, October 29, November 5, November 12 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m | Presented by Dr. Louise Prochaska, M.A. Ph.D. | Cost: $75 (registration does not include cost of book ($20). Please bring book payment on first day of retreat).
Art and Theology: Mary | Monday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Presented by Fr. Matt Roche, SJ | Cost: $45
Your feedback on the new format for the Diocesan Memorandum is welcomed. Please send comments or suggestions to Ann Marie Perkins.
Flyers which may be of interest to readers of the Diocesan Memorandum may be found here.
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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