Feast of the Assumption Highlights 7 Great Catholics Things to Do This Week for Catholic Clevelanders

This is your list of what to do in Catholic Cleveland for the Feast of the Assumption from Father X…

1. GO TO MASS! The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION which means that you must attend Holy Mass unless you have a good reason to miss. But why would you want to miss this beautiful feast day commemorating when Our Blessed Mother was assumed, body and soul, into Heaven?

2. There are two opportunities to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio – and if you have never been, you need to make a pilgrimage to this holy site! The first one will be with the Ohio Catholic Bishops on Wednesday, August 14th. A highlight of the day will be a special candlelight Rosary Procession and Vigil Mass for the Assumption at 9 pm featuring both Bishop Malesic and Bishop Woost from Cleveland as the concelebrants. Bishop Thomas from the Diocese of Toledo serves as celebrant. More info here: https://www.ohiocathconf.org/pilgrimage.

3. Come back to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation on Saturday, August 17th with a regional pilgrimage sponsored by the Institute of Christ the Sovereign King with a 10:30 am Rosary Procession and a Solemn High Mass (Latin) in the Basilica. Canons from Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh will be in attendance. Learn more here: https://www.institute-christ-king.org/news/1688-our-lady-of-consolation-pilgrimage,

4. When you attend Holy Mass at the Shrine of St. Elizabeth in Cleveland on Thursday, August 15th, you will have the opportunity to receive blessed herbs after the Mass provided by the parish. There are three Masses with a Solemn Mass at 6:30 pm. See more here: https://www.institute-christ-king.org/images/cleveland/bulletins/Cleveland_Bulletin_2024-08-11.pdf.

5. Do not forget about the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio as they have been sponsoring an Assumption Pilgrimage for 59 years! While there are Masses and devotions throughout the three days beginning on Tuesday, August 13th, there is a Maronite Pontifical Divine Liturgy at 7 pm on Thursday, August 15th with Bishop Elias Zaidan and Bishop Gregory Mansour as celebrants. These are Eastern Rite liturgies but will fulfill your Holy Day obligation. https://www.ourladyoflebanonshrine.com/_files/ugd/9499fa_853f96d66b03491790d1ff1d0a87a096.pdf

6. Known just as “the Feast” in Cleveland circles, no August is complete without a trip to Little Italy for great food, fireworks and a Solemn Procession through the streets at 11:15 am on Thursday, August 15th! https://holy-rosary.org/schedule-of-events

7. Finally, Father X has never heard of this custom before but it sounds very interesting. Saint Ambrose Parish in Brunswick is offering a “Bowing Ceremony” which is described like this in their parish bulletin: “Starting in some small towns around Rome, a fascinating custom for this feast day is called “the Bowing Procession". The statue of Mary is carried through the church symbolizing her journey to heaven. The statue of Jesus is also carried through the church symbolizing Jesus in heaven, coming to meet his mother. The procession with the statues of Jesus and Mary meet under an arch of flowers and bow together three times.” The Bowing Ceremony will be Wednesday, August 14th at 6:30 pm. More info here: https://stambrose.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SA-Bulletin-7-28-24_2_1.pdf (page 6).

Have a great Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!!