Sep 22, 2020

Our church bells at St. Sebastian Parish rang at 2:30pm on Monday, September 14th, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, when the Most Rev. Edward Malesic, after receiving the parchment given to him from Pope Francis through the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre and having shown it to all present in the cathedral, took his seat in the cathedra in St John Cathedral becoming the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland.

 It was just three years ago that, in the same ceremony (but with more people since there were no COVID regulations) Bishop Nelson Perez became our 11th bishop, leaving us after a short time to become the next bishop of Philadelphia. The nuncio said to him that he should expect to be here longer than Bishop Perez. A great message for us to hear.

Our 170 year old diocese has been under the temporary care of Fr. Donald Oleksiak, elected to his position by the presbyterate of our diocese. He faced monumental difficulties during his duties which included leading us through COVID without benefit of being the bishop. In his homily, Bishop Malesic said that he served the diocese faithfully and well and that he had the biggest smile in the cathedral now that his duties have come to an end. The new bishop said that he also intends to visit all the parishes of the diocese but that COVID will make it take time. In the meantime, please keep him in your prayers.