Let Us Love One Another
Bishop Richard G. Lennon
Faithful move forward in hope with vibrancy, strength
Last week I had the privilege of speaking about the Community Report
of the Diocese of Cleveland at the magnificent Museum of Divine Statues,
a beautiful and dignified use of the former St. Hedwig Parish, Lakewood
filled with religious art from closed parishes throughout our Diocese.
The
Museum is a wonderful example of the good that has come from the emotionally
difficult but important reconfiguration of our parishes for the sake of
strengthening Catholic life. Despite the sadness we felt during the closures
and mergers of 54 of our parishes in the Cleveland Diocese, the good news
is that the remaining parishes are growing spiritually and pastorally and
that Catholics in our diocese continue to have a positive impact on our
neighborhoods and region.
The recent report to the Faithful is of special significance for all of us because
it shows the tremendous work being done in our parishes and in our diocese. It
also points to a commitment to continue to move forward nourishing people's lives
spiritually, religiously, socially and addressing the needs of those who struggle
and can use a helping hand.
This vibrancy has been shown in our commitment as a diocese and as people of
God to continue to strengthen our parishes and to have a strong Catholic presence
in our communities; to continue to take seriously our responsibility to be good
neighbors; and to be careful stewards of the money that has been generated not
only through the consolidation process but from our Rooted in Faith-Forward
in Hope capital campaign and Catholic Charities Annual Appeal.
All of the above is being undertaken to put life into the vision we are embracing
as the Catholic community of our eight-county diocese, a vision energized by
the words and message of Jesus Himself: "Do this in memory of me; Go, therefore,
and teach all nations: whatsoever you do to one of the least of our brothers
you do to me." Yes, as the Catholic community of the Diocese of Cleveland we
are committed to the worship of God, to evangelization of all people, and to
helping those in need.
Christ's gospel is being lived out in several of our closed and merged parishes
through various ministries that touch the lives of many. Industrious students
from Lake Catholic High School, Mentor, and Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron
have produced four film reports featuring the new life at our parishes and parish
buildings, which you can view on the diocesan website. Archbishop Hoban
students featured Blessed Trinity Parish, Akron, which is a newly merged and
vibrant parish from the coming together of St. Martha and Christ the King parishes.
They also focused on St. Hedwig Parish, Akron which has been transformed into
Oriana House, an outreach facility to help chemically dependent individuals and
those who need help to face life's challenges. The students at Lake Catholic
focused on the merged parish of Sts. Robert and William in Euclid where there
is a revival of vibrancy in the activities of the new parish and on the former
St. George Lithuanian Parish which is being used as part of the Cleveland Greenhouse
Project providing fresh, locally grown food, nutrition education, and addressing
the issue of food in our communities.
These parishes and other parishes across our diocese have been inspired
by the words of Christ to put new energy into their outreach to the poor;
into their sharing and deepening of the message of the Good News of Jesus
to the Faithful in our parishes, to those Catholics who are inactive
and who are alienated, and indeed to all people; and into their worship
of God in faithfulness to the teaching of the Church thereby uniting
ourselves with the worship of all Catholics everywhere as the Body of
Christ.
As we are in the early days of this new year, may all we do as
God's People be directed to building God's kingdom on earth as it is
in heaven.