Overview

“Grace supposes culture, and God’s gift becomes flesh in the culture of those who receive it.” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 115)

 A very special gift and quality of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is her cultural diversity. Since her founding in 1847, people have come from many different countries to form a faith community blessed with the riches of diverse cultures. Diversity is a growing reality in the United States and in the Church which we are called to embrace. The Catholic community of Cleveland, precisely because it is “catholic, that is “universal,” has always taken Christ’s command seriously to “Go and teach all nations…”

The Church’s mission to evangelize, or proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to advance the Kingdom of God is centered on the encounter of faith with culture and on the promotion of justice. This is a process of conversion characterized by dialogue. In this process, the Church both gives from its treasure of faith and receives from the distinctive humanity of each and every culture. (see Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi)