“What an opportunity parishioners have to experience quality speakers. These occasions fly too much under the radar, so make it a priority in your spiritual journey to attend multiple presentations this season. I’d love to see attendance double.”

Fr. Bruce RiebeSt. Joseph Byzantine Church440-526-18188111 Brecksville Road, Brecksville

“Cooperation among all the ACE parishes has resulted in an excellent Adult Education program. The topics that are chosen are always appropriate to the times and the needs of parishioners. The presenters are always highly qualified and well prepared, and the sessions are consistently well organized. ACE has my highest recommendation.”

Fr. Allen F. CorriganSt. Victor Church330-659-65913435 Everett Road, Richfield

“I really appreciate the ACE program and the wonderful presentations brought to the members of our Cluster parishes. We never stop learning in life, and this contributes to living our faith as fully as possible.”

Fr. Walt JenneSt. Basil the Great Church440-526-16868700 Brecksville Road, Brecksville

“Adult Catholic Education is a primary effort of the whole Church. I am so grateful that we have the ACE program as a way of making that happen”.

Fr. Ralph WiatrowskiSt. Barnabas Church330-467-79599451 Brandywine Road, Northfield

“I am proud of the ACE program. The participation of all the parishes for quality adult education is necessary. I’m proud of how we work together and proud of the speakers that we have chosen. The call to the “new evangelization” is fulfilled in this program.”

Fr. Pete ColettiSt. Michael Church216-524-13946540 Brecksville Road, Independence

What is ACE?A.C.E. (an acronym for Adult Catholic Education). It is a collaborative regional effort on the part of several neighboring parish communities to provide ongoing faith development and religious education for adults. Our speakers represent the best of pastoral and academic leadership in the Cleveland area and beyond. Each presenter brings a special expertise and unique perspective on the topic he or she addresses. It is our hope that many people will continue to avail themselves of the opportunities offered though the A.C.E. program.

Pastors’ Comments from Participating Parishes“It is a rare opportunity for parishes to be able to offer their members exposure to a wide variety of theological subjects and issues. The ACE Program makes this opportunity a reality. All one has to do is make the effort to participate by attending the lectures. There is always a topic to address all interests.”

Fr. Justin, O.S.B.Assumption Church440-526-11779183 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights

“Updating our understanding of the Catholic Faith is vital in the world today. We are pleased to be a member of ACE which promotes this important endeavor.”

Fr. Thomas HarenSt. Monica Church216-662-868513623 Rockside Road, Garfield Heights

“There is a great hunger among adult Catholics for quality adult education. For years, the ACE program has successfully provided for that need in our area by providing topics of interest presented by noted local experts and scholars. Anyone who says we don’t provide quality adult education has not experienced ACE.”

Fr. Ray SutterSt. Matthias Church440-888-82201200 West Sprague Road, Parma

Adult Catholic Education

FALL 2015 – SPRING 2016

“We carry this precious message

around in the unadorned

clay pots of our ordinary lives.

That’s to prevent anyone

from confusing God’s

incomparable power with us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7The Message, Catholic Edition:

The Bible in Contemporary Language

Formed in the Image of Christ:Eucharistic Living

Fr. Joe MamichTuesday, January 19, 2016 St. Michael Church 7-9pmThroughout the world, there is probably no greater sign of the Catholic Church than members gathering to celebrate Mass. What is it that attracts us to these celebrations? Ultimately, it is in response to Christ’s command “to do this in memory of me.” Yet the Mass is a powerful and life-giving experience in the here and now. Our prayer at Mass provides us with an opportunity that is greater than the recollection of a past event. Beginning with the scriptural roots of the Eucharist, Fr. Joe will explore the manner in which the Mass and the reception of the Eucharist forms Catholics more and more into the image of Christ—a person willing to be broken in love and service of others.

Fr. Joe Mamich serves as the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville, Ohio. He is also a Chaplain to both the Strongsville Police Department and the Strongsville Fire and Emergency Services Department. Ordained in 2006 as a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland, Fr. Joe completed his studies with a Master of Arts in Theology focusing on the history of the Catholic Church in America. He is a popular homilist and speaker.

Reflections on the Beatification of Oscar Romero

Sr. Martha Owen, OSUWednesday, November 18, 2015 St. Monica Church, 7-9pmIn this presentation, Sr. Martha will share her experiences with the people and the martyrs of El Salvador, especially Blessed Oscar Romero and her former mission partner, Sr. Dorothy Kazel. This will be discussed in the context of the historical situation of the late 1970-80’s civil war in El Salvador, as well as the compassionate response of the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team to the horrific conditions that led to the murder of Archbishop Romero and the American churchwomen. Using personal photos and voice recordings, Sr. Martha will help us develop an appreciation for the most compassionate and courageous man she has ever known, Oscar Romero, who was recently beatified by the Church.

Sr. Martha is an Ursuline Sister of Cleveland, Ohio since 1959. She has a Master’s Degree in Education from St. John College and has studied at Edinboro and Cleveland State Universities. She has also done post-graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, in International Relations. Sr. Martha has ministered for many years as an educator, principal, and academic dean in the Cleveland area. She served as a member of the Cleveland Mission Team along with Sr. Dorothy Kazel in El Salvador. While there she was also a co-worker with Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Iconography: a vision of this life and the next

Fr. Thomas J. LoyaWednesday, April 13, 2016 St. Joseph Byzantine Church 7-9pm

Seen in their historical and liturgical context and incorporating the secrets of beauty, icons not only provide us with an image of heaven but also the correct vision of life on earth. They instill in us a sacramental world view which comes to its fullness in the human person where our humanity is seen as an icon of the very interior life of the Holy Trinity. Icon painting appeared not as art for art’s sake, but for the Church. Its purpose is not material but spiritual. The content of icon painting is interwoven with the life, the evolution, and the whole tradition of the Church, so much so that a knowledge of this tradition will be incomplete without a knowledge and understanding of icon painting. Fr. Loya will explore the richness of this tradition, and what mysteries it can unfold for us today.

Fr. Thomas J. Loya, STB, MA is currently pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, Illinois. He is the host of two radio programs, “Light of the East Radio” which can be heard on EWTN radio affiliates, and “Beyond the Veil” at RadioMaria.us. Using his many gifts, talents and life experience, Fr. Loya uncovers the ageless beauty and genius of the Sacramental Worldview. Those who have heard Fr. Loya might say that he has the soul of an artist, the mind of a theologian, and the compassion of an ascetic.

From Jewish Sect to Christianity: The Story of the Early Church

Sheila McGinn, Ph.D.Thursday, December 10, 2015 St. Basil the Great Church 7-9pmWhat was the experience of the disciples of Christ during that first century following the death and resurrection of Jesus? Known as people of “the Way,” what was their relationship with other members of the Jewish community St. Praxedes and St. Paulto which they belonged, and what factors contributed to their separation from that community. Dr. McGinn will address these and other questions about the evolution of the Christian faith and its rapid expansion into the gentile world. We will learn how this apostolic era was one of diversity in thought and practice, as is our own, and how early Christian leaders tried to discern the Spirit of God at work in these conflicts.

Dr. McGinn is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at John Carroll University. She earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, and is known for her expertise in the area of New Testament Studies, as well as early Christian Theology and Spirituality. In addition, Dr. McGinn has served on the editorial board of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly.

Catholic Ministry to Gays and Lesbians

Sr. Rita Mary Harwood SNDThursday, May 12, 2016 St. Victor Church, 7-9pm

In 1997, at the request of the Bishop, Sr. Rita Mary established a committee to plan for the development of the Diocesan Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry. Based on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ statement, Always Our Children, the ministry has provided pastoral support for gay and lesbian Catholics and their family members. In her presentation, Sister Rita Mary will share the findings and conclusions from the study which now form the basis for the diocesan ministry. Over the past sixteen years, this ministry has offered education, opportunities for prayer and spiritual development, and a system of support which has benefited many in our Catholic community. Sr. Rita Mary will speak of that development as well as the joys, challenges and hopes of those who value this ministry.

Sr. Rita Mary is presently serving on the executive staff of Bishop Richard G. Lennon of the Diocese of Cleveland. Heading the Secretariat for Parish Life and Development, she is responsible for assistance to the parishes of our eight-county diocese. Offices that serve those parishes, as well as all the lay organizations and ethnic ministries of the diocese, are a significant portion of Sister’s responsibility. Sr. Rita Mary chaired the implementation of the Church in the City vision and has initiated new ministries which serve the needs and engage the gifts of many people.

The Church in the Modern World

Fr. Doug KoeselWednesday, September 16, 2015 St. Matthias Church 7-9pmThe Constitution on the Church in the Modern World was one of the most important documents resulting from the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). It calls all Catholics to become engaged with the modern world. It touches on society, the development of culture, capitalism, poverty and social justice, beginning with these famous words—“The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.” How we as a church embody that message remains a challenge to us 50 years after the document was written. Fr. Koesel will highlight excerpts and help us consider ways to realize that we are not meant to be members of the human race but the human family.

Fr. Koesel was ordained for the diocese of Cleveland in June, 1978. He has served in several parishes throughout the diocese, and was a member of the Diocesan Mission Team in El Salvador from 1980-86. He has worked with Marriage Encounter, and brought Retrouvaille—a program for troubled marriages—to Cleveland in 1986 and worked with that program for 10 years. Fr. Koesel has been the pastor at Blessed Trinity Church since 2010.

Hinduism in America

Devi GursahaneyThursday, October 22, 2015 St. Barnabas Church 7-9pmHinduism did not begin at a certain point in history, as is true of the other major world religions, but has its origins in the pre-historical period of time. It is a faith formed from various cultural groups originating primarily in the Indian subcontinent, and is probably best known for its ornate temples, complex mythology, colorful ritual and pantheon of gods and goddesses. However, it claims to be a “Santana Dharma” or eternal religion. As one of its scriptures declares, “The truth is one; the wise call it by many names.” Eminent spiritual thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Joseph Campbell have subscribed to this notion of “Oneness” at the core of all being. America’s absorption of Hindu teachings appears to have had a positive effect, helping Americans to be more open minded about religion.

Devi Gursahaney has provided human resources training and consulting in India and the U.S. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Organizational Development, Devi provides training in cross-cultural competence to a variety of organizations including corporations, universities, government and religious institutions. She loves teaching people how to build community across differences, and to celebrate diversity.

The Christian MysticalTradition: Following the Mystic Path

Martha CampbellWednesday, February 3, 2015 Assumption Church 7-9pm

“The Christian of the future will be a mystic or s/he will not exist at all.” These words of a contemporary Jesuit theologian, Karl Rahner, suggest that mysticism is the vocation of all baptized Christians. After addressing the question, “What is a mystic?” Martha will explore how we can cultivate greater receptivity to this “way of seeing” which is given to us at Baptism. Through poetry, reflection on Scripture and input from contemporary writers, we will learn how others in our tradition—beginning with Jesus—can show us the way. The evening will include time for personal reflection, small group sharing and large group conversation.

Martha Campbell is the Director of Lay Leadership Programs at the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma, Ohio. She is an experienced spiritual director and retreat leader having led retreats and workshops focusing on the mystics of the Christian contemplative tradition. While a member of the Indianapolis Carmelite Monastery, she co-designed and coordinated a series on women mystics in the Christian tradition. She also was a co-leader for a course on “The Psychology