Bishop Edward Malesic has written his first pastoral letter as the Bishop of Cleveland. A Flourishing Apostolic Church encourages the faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to pray, celebrate the sacraments and serve those in need. Enjoy a short introductory video below and then download his letter, along with questions to further your own personal reflection as well as discussions with small groups.
Introductory Video
My Dearest Brothers and Sisters of the Diocese of Cleveland,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I am writing you today my first pastoral letter, and I thank you for taking the time to read it. It has been over four years since I was appointed by Pope Francis to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, and the time is right for me to share with you where I think the Holy Spirit is calling us as a diocese, a local Church. The goal of this letter is to provide you with a resource for reflection, that you might be drawn more deeply into prayer and a more intimate relationship with Jesus. This letter is composed of four sections, and they build on each other, like St. Paul’s letters. The first three sections remind us of who we are and whose we are, and the final section articulates specific strategies to boldly follow the call of the Holy Spirit as sons and daughters of the Father.
Download A Flourishing Apostolic Church
After reading Bishop Malesic's letter, consider using the reflection questions available for download below. Questions are separated for small groups, individuals and for deeper reflections.
Join Fr. Damian Ference, vicar for evangelization, at one of the Jubilee sacred sites for a reflection on Bishop Malesic’s pastoral letter
Join us Thursday night April 10th, 2025 at 7:00pm at Immaculate Conception Church in Madison for a Jubilee Revival for a Flourishing Church: An Evening with the Vicar for Evangelization with Fr. Damian Ference. Learn More Click Here
Join Fr. Damian Ference, vicar for evangelization, at one of the Jubilee sacred sites for a reflection on Bishop Malesic’s pastoral letter, A Flourishing Apostolic Church, and how it connects to the Jubilee Year of Hope and the Eucharistic Revival. You can obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to one of our Sacred Jubilee Sites and fulfilling the other typical conditions. Click here to learn more.
List of Services
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Daily PrayerList Item 1
If we compare our relationship with God to our other relationships, we know that we make time for the people whom we love most, and the people who love us most make time for us. The same is true in our relationship with God.
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Commitment to the Sacramental LifeList Item 2
A Flourishing Apostolic Church encourages the faithful to, "considering participating in the Sacraments of Confession and Eucharist more often." At a minimum, Catholics should be attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation as well as going to Confession once a year to confession serious sins.
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Commitment to the Sacramental LifeList Item 3
Just as A Flourishing Apostolic Church calls the faithful to more daily prayer and sacramental encounters, Bishop Malesic is encouraging everyone to engage in faith sharing through small groups, conference and retreats.