Diocesan Social Action Office - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland

05/28/2026

May 31, 2026 • Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity
Today we celebrate a mystery—the mystery that is the Most Holy Trinity, three Persons yet oneGod. The Trinity exists in perfect communion and community as Father, Son and Spirit. God doesn’t just give perfect love—God is Love, and that love reveals itself in the relationship of Father, Son and Spirit. Your challenge this week is to make the connection between love and justice. As Pope Benedict wrote in Caritas in Veritate, “Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth.” Reflect this week on the following questions (as individuals and as families): “How does God’s love for us compel us to take action to fight injustice? Who needs our love the most this week—in the family, in our community, and in our world? How can we share our love? Is it through service, advocacy, financial support or something else?” Select one way of living justice through the lens of love—and do it!

©Center for Ministry Development. Published by the Pastoral Center. http://pastoral.center. All rights reserved.

05/27/2026

05/21/2026

May 24, 2026 • Pentecost
Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church. It is a celebration of the day the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and believers in the upper room after the Resurrection. Each person was given gifts to use to share the good news of Jesus with the world. One of the first challenges the early Church faced was finding the time to distribute food to the hungry. The apostles saw this action as a priority, but their preaching and teaching were taking time from helping the poor. So they appointed special deacons whose task was specifically to serve the poor. Your challenge this week is to look around and see a human need in your parish family which your pastor does not have the time to address. How can you serve someone in distress—physically, emotionally or spiritually? What can you do to help?

©Center for Ministry Development. Published by the Pastoral Center. http://pastoral.center. All rights reserved.

05/14/2026

May 17, 2026 • Feast of the Ascension
This week we have a really special feast—the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. The Ascension reminds us that we are now the physical body of Christ on earth. Jesus could physically leave because he trusted us to be his hands and feet, his ears and voice, his heart, his very being for those who need an encounter with him. We are the Body of Christ on earth. Your challenge thisweek is to enter into the Sunday Eucharist more deeply, remembering that when you consume the host, Christ is dwelling in you in a very intimate way. Then when you leave Mass, find someone who needs an encounter with Christ, someone who needs to know they are loved unconditionally. Reach out and give a hug or a listening ear or a helping hand. Be Christ in the world!
©Center for Ministry Development. Published by the Pastoral Center. http://pastoral.center. All rights reserved.

05/07/2026

May 10, 2026 • 6th Week of Easter
St. Damien of Molokai is honored on May 10. Damien was canonized a saint because of his dedication and service to the l***rs on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. Lepers were considered pariahs who were a threat to healthy people because of their contagious illness. Many of them were torn from their families when they were diagnosed with leprosy. They were taken to Molokai and never saw their loved ones again. (Lepers at the time of Jesus faced a similar alienation. They were often forced to wear a bell around their necks so that people could run from them when they heard the bell.) Damien ministered to the physical and emotional needs of the l***rs on Molokai. He followed Jesus’ example of reaching out to these rejected human beings, offering them the human contact—the simple touch—which they were denied. Your challenge this week is to look for a l***r in your life, but not necessarily in the literal sense of a person with a skin disease. Rather, look for someone who craves human contact and human touch but is denied it. It might be someone who is lonely or angry, smelly or dirty, mentally ill, imprisoned in some way, or living alone without a family member or friend to touch them. Whatever the person’s reality, reach out in love and compassion. Offer the human touch which every person on earth needs to survive and thrive.

©Center for Ministry Development. Published by the Pastoral Center. http://pastoral.center. All rights reserved.

05/06/2026

The local Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) grant window is open. Applications are due by May 29th. Grant materials available at www.ccdocle.org/cchd. Any organization is welcome to apply.

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05/04/2026

Last Call for the first of four opportunities to gather and share about the many ways the Catholic community in the Diocese of Cleveland is promoting, preserving, protecting and enriching life in NE Ohio. Please join us for "All Life One Faith" tomorrow evening at St. Mary in Elyria. Please register if possible, but if not, please show up anyway!

04/30/2026

May 3, 2026 • 5th Week of Easter
In May 1891, Pope Leo XIII shared his landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum with Catholics across the world. In this letter, which is considered the beginning of modern Catholic social teaching, Pope Leo defended the dignity of work and the rights of workers. Your challenge this week is to do something special for someone whose job you may be taking for granted or whose job isn’t valued the way it should be. How can you honor this person and his/her work? How can you show your gratitude for the service which this person does in your life? Perhaps a thank you note, a plate of home-made cookies, or a simple “thank you” will let the person know his/her work matters.

©Center for Ministry Development. Published by the Pastoral Center. http://pastoral.center. All rights reserved.