About Diocese of Cleveland
The Diocese of Cleveland (Latin: Dioecesis Clevelandensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church serving eight counties of northeastern Ohio — Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Wayne. Erected by Pope Pius IX on April 23, 1847, its mother church is the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on East 9th Street in downtown Cleveland, and its current shepherd is the 12th Bishop, Edward C. Malesic (installed Sept. 14, 2020). Today the diocese shepherds roughly 184 parishes serving nearly 600,000 Catholics across 3,842 square miles of northeast Ohio.
- Bishop
- Edward C. Malesic
- Established
- 1847
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 1404 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114
- Territory
- Eight counties of northeastern Ohio: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Wayne — approximately 3,842 sq km (1,483 sq mi).
- Parishes
- 184 parishes (per diocese's own 'Our Parishes' page); 185 parishes per 2023 statistical report.
- Province
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (metropolitan province)
Our History
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland was created on April 23, 1847 by Pope Pius IX for a community of about 10,000 Catholics across northern Ohio. Its first seminary, St. Francis de Sales Seminary, opened in 1848 at Bishop Rappe's residence on East 6th Street and was quickly renamed St. Mary Seminary and relocated to East 17th Street and Hamilton Avenue. The first priests of the diocese were ordained on November 19, 1848, and the cornerstone of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist was laid the same year; the cathedral was dedicated November 7, 1852 at the corner of Superior Avenue and Erie Street (now East 9th Street). The territory of the diocese was altered by the creation of the Diocese of Toledo in 1910 and again by the Diocese of Youngstown in 1943, leaving the eight-county footprint in northeast Ohio that the diocese covers today.
- 1847 — Diocese erected from Cincinnati
- 1848 — First seminary opens; first priests ordained; cathedral cornerstone laid
- 1852 — Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist dedicated
- 1910 — Diocese of Toledo erected
- 1943 — Diocese of Youngstown erected
- Today — Eight counties: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Wayne
Our Bishops
The Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic is the 12th Bishop of Cleveland. He was installed on Sept. 14, 2020, after serving as the 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Pope Francis also named the Most Reverend Michael G. Woost as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland on May 9, 2022; Bishop Woost was ordained Aug. 4, 2022 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
- 12 Bishops in succession since 1847
- Notable alumni: James A. Hickey (later Cardinal, Archbishop of Washington) and Nelson J. Perez (later Archbishop of Philadelphia)
- Two bishops named Archbishop ad personam: Joseph Schrembs (1939) and Edward F. Hoban (1951)
- Current auxiliary bishop: Michael G. Woost (since 2022)
Our Parishes
There are 184 parishes that make up the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Parish communities provide pastoral care for nearly 600,000 Catholics in Northeast Ohio. The diocese's online Parish Locator lets visitors search by home, workplace, or neighborhood within the eight counties and provides Mass times for each individual parish.
- 184 parishes across 8 counties
- Parish Locator and Parish Directory available at dioceseofcleveland.org
- Live-streamed Masses from the Cathedral available online
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
The mother church of the diocese stands at 1404 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114. Regular Sunday Mass schedule: Vigil Mass Saturday 4:30 PM; Sunday 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM (livestreamed), and 5:30 PM. Weekday Masses: 7:15 AM and 12:00 PM (noon Mass livestreamed). Confessions are heard Monday–Friday at 7:45 AM (after the 7:15 Mass until 8:15 AM) and 11:30 AM, Saturdays 3:00–4:00 PM, with a special Holy Week schedule. Eucharistic Adoration is held the first Monday of the month at 5:45 PM; Stations of the Cross are prayed Fridays during Lent at 5:00 PM and on Good Friday at 12:00 PM; the Rosary is prayed every Sunday following the 11:00 AM Mass.
- Sunday Vigil Mass: Saturday 4:30 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:30, 11:00 AM (livestreamed), 5:30 PM
- Weekday Masses: 7:15 AM and 12:00 PM (livestreamed)
- Confessions: M–F 7:45 and 11:30 AM; Saturday 3:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Monday of the month, 5:45 PM
- Cathedral under renovation from May 18, 2026; weekday Masses, confessions, and adoration temporarily at Cathedral Square Plaza across the street
Catholic Education
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cleveland educate more than 40,000 students each day, partnering with parents to serve their children from preschool through high school across 108 schools. The diocese offers 20 high schools and 88 elementary schools with a combined enrollment exceeding 39,000 students (2025 figures). Secondary schools are run by a mix of diocesan administration, Jesuit, Holy Cross, Benedictine, Ursuline, Dominican, Franciscan, and Marianist religious communities.
- 108 Catholic schools (preschool through high school)
- 20 high schools including St. Ignatius, Walsh Jesuit, Padua Franciscan, Magnificat, Beaumont, Archbishop Hoban, Gilmour Academy, Lake Catholic, Holy Name, Elyria Catholic, Cleveland Central Catholic
- 88 elementary schools
- Total enrollment exceeding 39,000 students
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
The diocese invites inquirers to discover the Catholic faith and join a parish community through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). Those interested can connect with their nearest parish to begin the journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
- Inquiry and catechumenate programs offered at every parish
- Sacramental preparation at Easter Vigil
- Connection via dioceseofcleveland.org/becoming-catholic
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Cleveland is the social-services arm of the local Church, providing food, housing, family, and senior services across the eight-county region. The diocesan website highlights that Catholic Charities serves more than 3.2 million meals each year, reflecting the breadth of its hunger-relief and outreach work.
- 3.2 million meals served annually
- Food, housing, family, immigration, and senior services
- Outreach hubs across northeast Ohio
Clergy, Religious, and Vocations
The diocesan Offices of Clergy and Religious oversee priestly life, diaconal formation, religious communities, and the vocation discernment process. The diocese maintains a public Clergy Directory, a Child & Youth Protection office, and operates the Centers for Pastoral Leadership as seminaries for priestly formation. Currently the diocese reports roughly 401 priests (325 diocesan, 76 religious), 180 permanent deacons, 97 male religious, and 661 women religious (2023 statistics).
- Clergy Directory published online
- Centers for Pastoral Leadership serve as the diocesan seminaries
- Child & Youth Protection office maintains safe-environment standards
- Office of Vocations supports discernment
Worship, Sacraments, and Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule at the cathedral, the diocese supports the seven sacraments through every parish — including Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Diocesan devotions include weekly Eucharistic Adoration (first Mondays at the cathedral), Stations of the Cross during Lent, the Rosary after Sunday Mass, and an annual TV Mass broadcast on WUAB Channel 43 every Sunday at 10 AM (also carried on Cox Cable Channel 45).
- Daily livestreamed noon Mass from the Cathedral
- Weekly TV Mass on WUAB Channel 43 and Cox Cable Channel 45
- Eucharistic Adoration first Mondays, 5:45 PM
- Stations of the Cross Fridays in Lent and Good Friday
- Sacramental prep for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage
Shrines and Special Worship Sites
In addition to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the diocese officially recognizes two shrines: St. Paul Shrine Church and St. Stanislaus Church. These sites serve as pilgrimage destinations and centers of devotion within the diocese.
- St. Paul Shrine Church
- St. Stanislaus Church
- Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (mother church)
Communications and News
The diocese maintains an active news operation at dioceseofcleveland.org/news, publishing pastoral letters, liturgical schedules, and announcements (such as the 2026 Holy Week and Chrism Mass schedule and the temporary cathedral worship arrangements during renovation). The TV Mass reaches homebound Catholics each Sunday.
- Diocesan news at dioceseofcleveland.org/news
- Livestreamed Masses from the Cathedral
- TV Mass on WUAB Channel 43, Sundays 10 AM
- Social media presence on Facebook, X/Twitter, and YouTube
Giving and Stewardship
The diocese invites the faithful to support the mission of the Church through the Annual Catholic Appeal, parish offertory, planned giving, and other stewardship programs. Ways to give are highlighted at dioceseofcleveland.org/ways-to-give.
- Annual Catholic Appeal
- Parish offertory
- Planned giving and bequests
- Donor-advised and stock gifts
Safeguarding and Accreditation
The diocese maintains a robust Child & Youth Protection program in compliance with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It also publishes accreditation information for diocesan schools and ministries, including standards for safe environment training, background checks, and reporting.
- Child & Youth Protection Office
- Safe-environment training and background checks
- Diocesan accreditation published online
- Reporting procedures for safeguarding concerns
