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.
Bishop Edward Malesic has made three appointments to his diocesan leadership team. Father Donald P. Oleksiak has been appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Father Daniel F. Schlegel has been appointed Vicar for Clergy and Religious, and Father Gary D. Yanus has been appointed Vicar General and continues as Judicial Vicar. All three served in these same administrative posts under Bishop Nelson Perez. These appointments take effect immediately.
Protecting God’s Children
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 for Protection of Children & Youth and the Communications Department are asking parishes to please publish the bulletin announcement below at least twice between August 2020 and December 2020. When published parishes are asked to forward an electronic copy of the bulletin to Brooke Uehlein (email with direct online link is acceptable).
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.
Collections
World Mission Sunday Collection: 17-18 October 2020
World Mission Sunday this year is on the weekend of 17-18 October 2020. 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.
Tribunal Procurator Mentoring for New Procurators
Due to the current health care restrictions, the Tribunal has not been able to offer procurator training for new procurators. To replace this training, we would like to establish a mentoring program for new procurators who have not attended a training session. Pastors may call Lynette Tait, at the Tribunal (extension 1129) to recommend a parish staff member who has completed a canon law course. The Tribunal will arrange for an appropriate mentor.
Correction—“Saint Mary’s Mission”
The September 2020 edition of the Diocesan Memorandum mentioned “Saint Mary’s Mission,” an organization based in the Diocese of Harrisburg which receives and distributes religious articles. The Diocese of Harrisburg has since clarified that while this organization is not endorsed by that Diocese, they have also do not recall having received particular complaints about the organization’s work. Parishes and other institutions of the Diocese of Cleveland should continue to exercise caution before selling or giving away items used for divine worship. You may wish to consult with the diocesan archives for guidance regarding individual items.
November 2020 Liturgical Calendar
The Solemnity of All Saints falls on a Sunday this year. Masses celebrating the Solemnity are to be celebrated beginning after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Liturgy of the Hours is of Sunday. A Vigil Mass for All Souls’ Day is not celebrated on the Sunday evening.
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) is not a holy day of obligation. Masses celebrating All Souls’ are to be celebrated on Monday, November 2. There are multiple Scripture options for Masses celebrating this liturgy. Consult the regional Ordo for a full listing of options. Ritual Masses are not permitted on All Souls’ Day. Weddings Within the Mass of the Day may be celebrated.
“[A]ll priests may celebrate or concelebrate three Masses, provided that the celebrations take place at different times,” [GIRM 204d] and that the priest keeps for himself the offering from only one Mass. Offerings for additional Masses are to be transmitted to the Chancery office for priestly formation as usual.
The “Order for Visiting a Cemetery on All Souls’ Day…” (Book of Blessings #1734-1754) may be used by a priest, deacon, lay minister, or a family, either immediately following Mass or apart from Mass. If this is done immediately following Mass, the blessing and dismissal of Mass are omitted. The priest may wear either a chasuble or cope for the procession to the cemetery, and a suitable psalm/song may be sung. If this service is used by a family, a family member takes the minister’s parts.
Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26. The Proper Mass is used, with white vestments. “Thanksgiving Day is a holiday with special religious significance…Individuals may bring food to be blessed for their Thanksgiving dinner [to Mass]. Food may also be blessed that will be distributed to the poor.” (Book of Blessings #1755-1756) Thanksgiving Day coincides with the CDC Special Day of Prayer for the Harvest and Fruits of the Earth. The “Order for a Blessing on the Occasion of Thanksgiving for the Harvest” may be celebrated outside Mass by a priest, deacon, or lay minister. (Book of Blessings #1007-1023).
The new liturgical year begins on Sunday, November 29 with the First Sunday of Advent.
April 2021 Liturgical Calendar
April 2021 begins with the celebration of Holy Thursday on April 1, Good Friday on April 2, and the Easter Vigil on April 3.
On Holy Thursday, the tabernacle should be entirely empty. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated after 4:00 p.m. Where a pastoral reason requires it, the local Ordinary may permit another Mass to be celebrated in churches and oratories in the evening and, in case of genuine necessity, even in the morning, but only for the faithful who are in no way able to participate in the evening Mass. Permission for any additional Masses on Holy Thursday must be sought from the Office of the Bishop in writing.
After the Homily, where a pastoral reason suggests it, the Washing of Feet follows. Washing of hands is not done.
On Good Friday, if the size or nature of a parish or other community indicates the pastoral need for an additional celebration of the Lord’s Passion, the Diocesan Bishop may permit the service to be repeated later. Permission for an additional Good Friday service must be sought from the Office of the Bishop in writing. The Good Friday liturgy may not be celebrated in the absence of a Priest.
An eleventh Good Friday Intercession may be permitted, composed by the diocesan bishop.
Changed earliest start time for the Easter Vigil
Bishop Malesic has decided that for the year of Our Lord 2021, the Mass of the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night may begin no earlier than 8:30pm. This is a change from previous years.
Nine readings are assigned to the Easter Vigil: seven from the Old Testament and two from the New. If circumstances demand in individual cases, the number of prescribed readings may be reduced. Three selections from the Old Testament, both from the Law and the Prophets, should be read before the Epistle and Gospel. In any case, the reading from Exodus about the escape through the Red Sea (reading 3) should never be omitted.
Please consult the March 2021 Diocesan Memorandum for more details regarding the Triduum in the circumstances which may be known at that time.
2020 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal – a total of $12,569,966 has been raised as of 31 August.
Solicitation Letter: During the week of 19 October, 45,000 households will be receiving a letter from Bishop Malesic asking for support of the 2020 Annual Appeal with a monetary gift. To make an immediate impact, donations can be made online.
Save the Date: The 2021 Annual Appeal will take place 6-7 February with the Follow Up Appeal on 15-16 May. As we navigate through the pandemic look for new, innovative ways to reach donors and support the good works of Catholic Charities. 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 Malesic the week of 19 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, bring the latest news of our diocese to thousands through our weekly digital newsletter and enhance our live-streaming and social media efforts. Click here to give online or contact Karen Joyce at 216-696-6525 x1910.
Priestly Formation Appeal – As of 12 September, more than $305,000 has been pledged from more than 2,000 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 26 October. To help save resources, online gifts can be made at www.CatholicCommunity.org/priestlyformation or by calling Karen Joyce at 216-696-6525 x1910.
Year-End Giving suggested bulletin announcement:
In this season of giving, consider making a year-end gift to our parish in gratitude for all the blessings you have received in life. As you plan to make the most of your charitable donations in 2020, know that we gratefully accept gifts of cash and appreciated assets such as stocks or bonds. Even if you don’t itemize your taxes, because of the new stimulus package passed by Congress, qualified charitable donations up to $300 for individuals may be tax-deductible. The CARES Act legislation also temporarily suspended the limitation on qualified charitable contributions of cash, allowing for a current year deduction up to 100% of AGI. This provision is in effect only for the 2020 tax year. And, if you are 70 ½ or older, you may be able to make a gift of a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA that will help us in our ministry and reduce your taxable income. Talk to your advisors and IRA administrator for more information and to be sure that your IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution gift is made directly from an IRA to a qualified charity such as our parish.
Questions? Contact XXX in our parish office at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or via email at ________. You are also welcome to contact Mary Lou Ozimek of the Catholic Community Foundation at 216-696-6525 x4070 or via email .
Lawyers Guild
The Red Mass will be remembered during the Noon Mass at the Cathedral on Friday, 16 October. Seating is limited but Mass will be live streamed through the diocesan website. The recipient of the Martin T. Galvin Memorial Scholarship will be recognized after Mass. Please RSVP to Colleen Rigo or visit the Lawyers Guild website for updates.
The diocesan Department of Communications, with the help of a team of people from other key diocesan departments and secretariats, has finalized production of the 2020-2021 printed Diocesan Catholic Directory. The online version is always available on the diocesan website (dioceseofcleveland.org) and is updated monthly.
Printed 2020-2021 Catholic directories will be available after October 15, 2020. The cost per copy will remain the same at $20.
You can order your 2020-2021 printed Diocesan Catholic Directory by downloading and filling out the form at: dioceseofcleveland.org/catholicdirectory, sent along with your payment.
Remember that the online version of the Catholic Directory is updated monthly. It is searchable using the Ctrl + “F” keys on your keyboard. It is downloadable and printable. Your use of the online version is encouraged.
Please direct questions to Sally Benninger, or 216-696-6525 ext. 3130.
The Secretariat for Parish Life and Development was pleased to welcome Michael Hayes to our Staff as director of the Office of Young Adult Ministry on September 28. Mike comes to us from the Diocese of Buffalo where he served as Campus Minister at Canisius College and St. Joseph University Parish. Mike is also co-founder and former associate director of BustedHalo.com, a ministry of The Paulist Fathers that “aims to bring the joy of the Gospel to all people in innovative ways” including radio, written articles, videos, podcasts, and social media. In his new role, Mike will promote effective young adult ministry in the Diocese including direct ministry with young adults, leadership training, consulting activities, and networking opportunities for young adult ministry leaders. We are so happy Mike has joined our Parish Life team.
Youth Ministry
We are updating our contact information for all youth ministers in the diocese so we can stay connected with you! Please fill out this brief survey on our website to help the Office of Youth Ministry update our records and create a Directory of Youth Ministers.
Asian Ministry
Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Reflection on the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Ministry with Asian and Pacific Islanders | Father Ricky Manalo, CSP | Online presentation - October 18, 2020, 7-9 p.m. | Please register here
Hispanic Ministry
From September 15 to October 15 every year in the United States, we honor the contributions of Latino and Hispanic communities with the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month while highlighting their diversity, culture and traditions. Beginning in mid-September, the celebrations coincide with national independence days in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Office for Hispanic Ministry organizes the Faith & Culture celebration each year in partnership with all of the Hispanic parishes in the diocese to highlight the gifts of the Hispanic community. Unfortunately, we are unable to gather together this year. However, the Hispanic parishes will each celebrate a Hispanic Heritage Mass through the month of October. Masses will be live streamed starting at noon (unless noted) on the dates and locations listed below. Please contact the parish or visit their website for more information.
The diocesan Lay Ecclesial Ministers Certification Celebration will be held Saturday, October 24, 2020, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist at 10:00 a.m. with Bishop Malesic presiding. At this Mass, recognition is given to those candidates who have completed all requirements for diocesan lay ecclesial ministry certification this past year. Requirements for certification include a formation and integration component, spiritual direction, an annual retreat, academic preparation, mentoring, and a field experience project. Attendance is by invitation only.
Do you know anyone who has the gifts and talents to serve in lay ecclesial ministry in our Church? A candidate for entrance to the formation program should: possess an attitude of collaboration and relate well with others; possess leadership qualities and experience in training/motivating others; be able to study theology through an academic institution; make formation for ministry a priority; possess a commitment to missionary discipleship; and have respect for the authority of the Church and a desire to work for, with and in the name of the Church. If you or someone you know would like more information about the formation process, contact Pattie Batchman, 440-943-7669.
Click here for Family Perspectives October
Pastoral Care in Times of Crisis Webinar Series
A two-part webinar series will be held on Monday, October 26 and Wednesday, October 28, 2020 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. The sessions will focus on pastoral care in the midst of COVID-19, issues concerning grief, loss and bereavement, and parish transitions in the midst of the pandemic. This webinar is open to clergy, lay ecclesial ministers, parish catechetical leaders, campus ministers, pastoral associates, parish staff members, and marriage and family ministers. Contact Jason Lewis or Katie Galicic for more information or click here to register.
Pre-Cana Days
In July, all pastors received the Guiding Principles for Parish Ministries, to assist parish ministries discern how to move forward with in-person gatherings during this time. While we recommend meeting individually with engaged couples, we are aware that parishes would like to schedule Pre-Cana Days for this fall. We ask that you please share the Guiding Principles for Parish Ministry document with your parish Pre-Cana teams to assist in their planning. In order to promote parish Pre-Cana Days through our office, we need to provide some assurance that parishes are following the principles and guidelines that have been set for the health and safety of all. We also continue to recommend only four of the Pre-Cana sessions: Communication, Sacrament, Morality and Sexuality. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
Immigration Raid Response Information Session
Following the migrant raids which occurred in our area two years ago, members of the Welcoming the Stranger Committee discussed the fact that we had not been prepared to respond. A Rapid Response Subcommittee was formed tasked with expanding our reach through collaboration with existing groups, developing a plan of response, and providing training for volunteers. The next information session will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2020 starting at 7:00 p.m.
We are hoping to launch the Northeast Ohio Rapid Response Network (NEORRN) this fall. A software management system will be in place by then, with funding to run the system. We have developed training modules for the various areas of response and are honing our skills at training via Zoom. All that is missing is the team of dedicated volunteers who will bring this alive. Please note that, other than the position of Hotline operator, which needs to be staffed on an ongoing basis, most of the volunteer positions are only needed in the event of an ICE enforcement action in your area. We are preparing and training for something that we hope will never happen!
Register in advance for the NEORRN information session on October 8 here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the meeting. If you have general questions about volunteering, please contact Emily .
[Please visit our website for the most updated schedule of events.]
Monthly Sunday Grief Support October 18th:
Catholic Cemeteries Association continues with our monthly in-office grief support groups on October 18thwith limited seating for social distancing. We meet the 3rdSunday of every month from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Meeting sites are sanitized and seating is arranged so everyone is at a safe distance. Participants are requested to RSVP so we can plan appropriate social distancing at each location. It is required that participants wear protective facial coverings. The October topic is “Children’s Grief/Family Dynamics in Grief”. To RSVP or for questions, please contact Rhonda at 216-930-4866.
October: Month of the Most Holy Rosary - Prayer Guide and In Remembrance Tribute:
Catholic Cemeteries Association’s annual Walk-to-Remember event (walking memorial Rosary) has been substituted with a self-guided Rosary and a memorial tribute. A prayer kit is available during the month of October (includes a Rosary prayer guide and a candle/one per household) at all of our cemetery offices. The Rosary prayer guide is also available to download from our website. Families were given the opportunity in September to submit the name of their loved one to be featured “In Remembrance” on the CCA website and Facebook page during the month of October. The deadline for submitting “In Remembrance” names was September 30, 2020.
‘A Closer Walk With Thee – New Monthly Grief Support E-Newsletter:
Catholic Cemeteries Association has a wonderful new monthly grief support e-newsletter named, ‘A Closer Walk with Thee.’ This e-newsletter is emailed the first Tuesday of each month to any family/individual who has expressed an interest in our bereavement programs. To subscribe to this valued grief support resource, visit the Bereavement page on our website, or contact Rhonda at 216-930-4866.
First Friday Club of Cleveland
Health and Human Services- Navigating through the Pandemic with Faith | Thursday, October 1, 2020 | Program begins at Noon | Live Webinar Via Zoom | Registration and more information here.
Young Catholic Professionals and Theology on the Rocks
Young Catholic Professionals - Cleveland and Theology on the Rocks West are teaming up for a virtual discussion on Monday, October 12that 7pm! Join via Zoom and listen to Dr. Ed Kaczuk discuss the Theology of the Brain, a course that he teaches at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, OH. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Visit ycpcleveland.org/events or theologyontherocks.wixsite.com/west to secure your ticket today!
Added after initial publication:
October 2020 Workshops/Retreats
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.
First Spiritual Exercises | Friday, October 16 - Friday, November 13 from 9:00 - 10:30 am | Bill Hobbs, Richard Krivanka and Jim Shea, SJ | Cost: $150
Cinema and Conversation: Hesburgh | Monday, October 12, 7:00 pm | Cost: Free Will Offering
Live Webinar - Hungering for Christ: Living the Eucharist During the Time of Pandemic | Monday, October 19 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm | Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP | Cost: See https://www.jesuitretreatcenter.org
October Morning Prayer for Women | Monday, October 26 from 9:30 - 11:00 am | Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, SC | Cost: $10
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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