Rooted in Faith, United in Hope: Diocese Marks 75th Jubilee at Solemnity of the Assumption

By Ashley Liprando
Contributing Writer
The Catholic Accent

GREENSBURG – The faithful gathered at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Aug. 15 to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a spirit of hope and unity.

Presiding over the Mass was His Excellency, the Most Reverend Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The occasion not only marked the Assumption during the Diocese’s 75th Diamond Jubilee but also was one of Archbishop Caccia’s first official visits to a United States diocese since being appointed by Pope Leo XIV earlier this year.

“[Archbishop Caccia] is a direct representative of our Holy Father in the United States,” Bishop Larry J. Kulick said. “It is a great honor to welcome him as he meets our people and priests while learning about our history.”

Bishop Kulick noted Archbishop Caccia’s presence as “a gift and tangible reminder that the Church of Greensburg never stands alone.”

Joining Archbishop Caccia and Bishop Kulick were religious men and women with ties to the Diocese, including Bishop Edward C. Malesic of Cleveland, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico of Erie, Bishop Mark A. Eckman of Pittsburgh, Bishop Mark L. Bartchak of Altoona-Johnstown, Bishop Edward M. Lohse of Kalamazoo, Bishop Mark E. Brennan of Charleston, Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo of Newark, and several bishops from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Other attendees included Archabbot Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B.; Reverend Liddy Barlow; members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; and members of the Knights of Columbus.

Extending greetings and good wishes from the Pope, Archbishop Caccia used his homily not only to honor the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary but also to celebrate 75 years of the Diocese of Greensburg and the roots that go much deeper.

Part of those deep roots is found in the diocese’s fifth bishop, Bishop Malesic.

“Greensburg is where I learned to be a bishop,” Bishop Malesic said. “I am proud to say I spent five years as bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg.”

Bishop Malesic noted that 75 years is a good time to reflect on the Diocese of Greensburg and how God has blessed it.

“Parishes are a tremendous blessing,” Bishop Malesic said. “The Church is rightly focused on evangelization. We need to continue spreading the message that Jesus Christ is alive and present in the Church.”

The presence of the Apostolic Nuncio is a sign of the Holy Father’s communion with the Diocese of Greensburg. Like its roots, its people are foundational in filling the pews of houses of worship such as the cathedral.

Addressing the congregation as the “people of God whom the Lord gathers and shapes,” Archbishop Caccia noted that God forms us in different roles, yet we remain one body, the Body of Christ.

Using the physical features of the cathedral as a metaphor, Archbishop Caccia described how its design guides our eyes upward. There we see the destiny God has created for us. These are the mercies he described as being passed down from generation to generation, much like the roots that have shaped the Diocese’s 75-year history.

“Look upward with hope,” Archbishop Caccia said.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is a sign of hope.

As the Mother of Jesus and patroness of the Diocese, Mary signifies the meaning of life’s journey. Bishop Kulick asked that Mary “keep us close to her Son, close to her mission” as we answer God with humility.

“Our Blessed Mother is the patroness of the Diocese of Greensburg, and we celebrate in thanksgiving for her protection as we mark 75 years of faith, the service of our clergy and religious, and the dedication of parishioners across Western Pennsylvania,” Bishop Kulick said.

For 75 years, Bishop Kulick explained, individuals throughout the Diocese have prayed, worshipped, sacrificed, and answered the Lord’s call.

“May God continue to bless the Diocese of Greensburg,” Bishop Kulick said.

As the Diocese looks ahead with hope to the next 75 years, Bishop Kulick said he hopes it will continue to build on its strong foundation, proclaim the Gospel, and be a witness to Jesus Christ in the world. He expressed hope for a continued spirit of unity and faith.

Likewise, Bishop Malesic urged the faithful to “proclaim that message and never let that light go out.”When asked for his hope for the next 75 years, Archbishop Caccia looked around the cathedral and, with a smile, said, “Be good.”