Letter from Fr. Marek to Cathedral Parishioners
January 30, 2021
Dear Parishioners,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well as I write to you about the future of our church. Currently our parishioners are maintaining three separate parish properties, each with limited assets. This situation cannot continue indefinitely, while at the same time being able to provide for the pastoral and spiritual needs of the faithful.
Representatives from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Holy Spirit, and St. Mary’s, have been meeting for three years to consider the difficult but necessary recommendation to merge into one parish family. This recommendation was made after a careful review of the following:
– The financial history of each parish
– The review of parishioner concerns as identified through surveys
– The present condition of each property (including Market Value)
– And most importantly, opportunities for evangelization and growth within the local community.
The suggestion from the representatives of the three parishes is that the newly merged parish would be named Dormition of the Mother of God, to be located at St. Mary Byzantine Parish, 4600 State Road, Cleveland.
Since May, 2020 our three parish communities have been celebrating the Eucharist as one family. Now prayerfully, we move forward together to our new location for the spiritually moving celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.
I will be meeting with Bishop Milan Lach, SJ to discuss this issue. If he is in agreement, he will then consult with the Eparchial Presbyteral Council before he makes a decision regarding a merger of the parishes.
Sincerely,
Fr. Marek Visnovsky
Pastor