(Registration is closed for the September 3rd luncheon; please contact Susan at 330-800-1493 to see about late registration. You may view more information here.)

The Bishop Roger Gries Heart of a Servant award recognizes an individual or group for a specific effort or cumulative efforts over the years to broaden, enhance, educate, and connect the Catholic community of Greater Cleveland. 

The nomination deadline is Thursday, October 1. The award will be presented at the Bishop’s Luncheon on Thursday, February 4, 2027. Find more information, including past awardees, more detailed criteria, and a downloadable form here.

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Join us on Thursday, October 1, for “Always Forward” 

Fr. John Bambrick, V.F.

In the Gospel of Matthew (13:45-46) Jesus uses the image of a pearl, one of great price. The Pearl of Great price is valuable but it did not start out that way. The Mollusk encountered a trauma it could not remove and thus began to coat the irritant over many years. This trauma was outwardly changed into a beautiful pearl of great price, yet at its core the trauma remains, forever encapsulated; the core is ugly but the result is beautiful. This can be an image of the trauma of Clergy Sexual Abuse for the Survivor. The Book of Revelation describes Heaven’s Twelve gates being made of pearl (Rev. 21:21), the very entry to paradise is through the trauma at the heart of the pearl. This talk will reflect on the pain, price, purpose, advocacy, human and spiritual aspects of Clergy Sexual Abuse from the experiences of a Priest Survivor.

WHEN
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Doors open at 11:00–connect with other attendees!
Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Center for Pastoral Leadership
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

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Did you know…

…that this First Friday Club of Cleveland is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? And, did you also know that the United States of America was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Thursday, June 11, 2026?

You may view a short video about this consecration at:

https://youtu.be/lwHSOjaRKsA?si=EBY7r3hnEj_wr-yw

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View our schedule for the rest of 2026 here.

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2026 Bishop’s Luncheon

The Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

“The State of the Diocese of Cleveland”

This annual event took place on Thursday, February 5, and it continues to bring together Catholics of all ages from throughout our diocese for fellowship and to hear from our Bishop, the Most Reverend Edward Malesic. As part of this event, the 2026 Heart of a Servant Award was presented to the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.

See the story by Northeast Ohio Catholic

THANK YOU to our 2026 Sacred Heart Sponsors!

We are truly blessed and grateful to have FOUR organizations step forward to sponsor at the Sacred Heart sponsorship level. Thank you to:

View all sponsors on our Club Support page

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Sign up for our emails.

Receive emails to your inbox informing you of upcoming luncheons. We send about one email per week giving information about upcoming luncheons. Click here to sign up.

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 See our calendar of upcoming events here and register online.

Join us and be part of this unique forum for Catholic thought and inspiration!

For additional information call Susan 330-800-1493 or email firstfridaycleveland@gmail.com