What's Happening in Cougar Country

Looking out at a congregation of more than 5,000 high school students at the Cleveland Public Auditorium, Bishop Edward Malesic reflected on the building’s history - concerts, political rallies, basketball games, and even boxing matches. 

But on Thursday, October 23, it was the host of the Diocese of Cleveland’s Catholic High School Rally and Mass. 

The entire Lake Catholic student body, faculty, and staff traveled downtown on 11 buses to join the more than 20 other high schools for a day of music, reflection, and worship.

This is the second time Bishop Malesic has hosted the event. Two years ago, nearly 100 Lake Catholic students and a handful of faculty members attended. This year, Principal Tom McKrill (’07) made it a priority for everyone to experience the celebration.

“The Jubilee of Hope was an incredible chance for our students to see faith come alive in a real way,” McKrill said. “As a Catholic school, we do our best every day to help students encounter Christ, but this event gave them the chance to experience that on a much bigger scale — surrounded by thousands of other young people celebrating the same faith. I wanted every Lake Catholic student to feel that sense of belonging, joy, and hope firsthand.”

In this, the Jubilee Year 2025, the Church’s motto is “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee Year is a sacred time to rediscover God’s mercy, and the theme reminds Catholics to walk in faith, bring hope to others, and move forward together toward God.

Before the mass began, Damascus Worship, a missionary movement devoted to bringing revival to the Catholic Church, led the crowd in upbeat praise and worship. Students sang, clapped, and even danced in their seats.

Fr. Eric Garris, a 2008 Lake Catholic graduate and the Diocese’s Vocation Coordinator, served as emcee and introduced testimonial speakers Claire Green, a senior at Stow-Monroe Falls High School and a member of the Diocesan Youth Council, and Meg Hunter-Kilmer, an author and national speaker. Both spoke about self-worth, especially that of high school-aged people.

“Jesus doesn’t need me, but he wants me,” Green said. “It’s real, undeserved love – not based on performance or anything, just about me. You don’t have to do anything, or prove anything, to be loved by God.”

“The hope that Jesus brings is when he sees all of you – all of your sins, your suffering, your goodness – and he loves you,” Hunter-Kilmer said.

The speakers set the tone for Bishop Malesic’s Mass, which began with a procession of nearly 100 people, including representatives of each high school carrying their school flag as well as petitions from their students, priests representing the participating schools and areas, and seminarians leading Bishop Malesic to the altar on the stage.

During his homily, Bishop Malesic mixed humor and heart, referencing Taylor Swift lyrics and even revealing his Cleveland Browns loyalty, despite being born and raised near Pittsburgh. He then outlined four practices that will help keep the fire of faith alive:

1. Pray daily – through Scripture, the Rosary, or even quiet reflection in nature. Prayer also means listening to God.
2. Let Jesus plan your life. Invite Him into every part of it.
3. Share your faith with others
4. Ask God your purpose. Why are you here, in this time and this place?

Echoing the earlier speakers, he encouraged his “youngest brothers and youngest sisters” to be aware of their purpose and that no one can determine that besides themselves and God.

“You be you. That’s what God wants,” Bishop Malesic said. “That’s why He put you here.”