Greensburg bishop addresses flock ahead of September move

By Jeff Himler

Trib Total Media

Barbara Piasecky of Hempfield was saddened by the news last week that Bishop Edward Malesic is slated to leave the Greensburg Diocese to serve in the same role for the larger Catholic community in Cleveland.

Initially, she said, “it was a gut punch.”

But she was more at peace with the pending move while arriving for Mass Sunday morning at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg.

“Everything always happens the way it’s supposed to,” she said. “He’s meant to do for Cleveland what he did here.

“He brought people together and breathed new life into all of our institutions and celebrations that we already did. He’s very personable. He connects with people and makes you feel a part of the community.”

Malesic said he, likewise, is “truly sad to be leaving the Diocese of Greensburg,” in a video message to parishioners included in a live stream of Sunday’s Mass.

“This will not be an easy transition for me,” he said, but added, “I cannot say no to God’s will for me. Your prayers will make the change easier.”

Malesic said the July 1 phone call alerting him to his appointment as the 12th bishop of the Cleveland Diocese came as a shock, as did his appointment five years earlier to the Greensburg Diocese, as its fifth bishop.

“At the time I was the pastor of Holy Infant Parish, a relatively small parish just outside of Harrisburg,” he said. “We had just broken ground for a new church. The footers had just been poured a few days earlier and the Pope was asking me to leave without finishing the job.

“God had other plans than mine, and what could I say other than yes. … I had only ever wanted to be a parish priest. I hope I still am just a simple parish priest at heart.”

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