Citing pandemic concerns, Greensburg bishop to offer public farewell in a virtual Mass

Citing the ongoing public health threat of the coronavirus, Bishop Edward C. Malesic will make his public farewell to the diocese’s 138,000 Roman Catholics in a virtual Mass.

Officials with the Greensburg Diocese said Friday the Mass will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. Aug. 30 from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg. It will be available for viewing on the diocesan website, Facebook and YouTube.

Although the Mass will be Malesic’s public farewell and in-person attendance will be limited due to the pandemic, parishioners will be able offer messages to Bishop Malesic at www.DioceseofGreensburg.org/BishopFarewell.

Those who wish may submit a typed message, upload up to three photos or submit a video link.

This summer, Pope Francis, who had sent Malesic to Greensburg five years earlier, appointed Malesic as bishop of the Cleveland Diocese. The announcement generated an outpouring of public comments from parishioners who credited him with steering the diocese through rough waters during the grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

“When we posted the Diocese of Cleveland’s announcement that Bishop Malesic had been named bishop there on our Facebook page July 16, we had more than 3,000 reactions and shares almost immediately. We expect a very large engagement with both his farewell Mass on Aug. 30, on the diocese website and Facebook, and on the farewell page,” diocesan spokesman Jerry Zufelt said.

Zufelt said the collection of comments will be presented to Malesic as he leaves Greensburg.

Malesic, 60, a central Pennsylvania native, was installed as bishop of the Greensburg Diocese in July 2015, following the retirement of Bishop Lawrence Brandt. Malesic is scheduled to be installed to his new bishop role on Sept. 14 in a 2 p.m. Mass at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in downtown Cleveland. It will be livestreamed on the diocesan website and Facebook.

Within eight days of the vacancy, the College of Consultors — a group of priests selected by the previous bishop — will meet to elect an administrator who will be responsible for the daily operations of the diocese until a new bishop is installed.