“God has entrusted us with the care of creation before our neighbor and future generations.”
Pope Leo XIV
This is the path forward.
This is how our Church will flourish.
Campaign Overview
Our parish is blessed to take part in Called to Flourish: Our Church for the Future, a diocesan-wide effort to strengthen every parish and ministry across the Diocese of Cleveland. This campaign invites us to renew our commitment to the mission Christ has entrusted to us — to grow in faith, serve others with joy, and build a Church that will flourish for generations to come.
By participating in Called to Flourish, St. Christopher Parish shares in a collective effort, so that together we can build a more joyful, welcoming, and spiritually alive Church for all.
The Diocese of Cleveland
Case for Support
St. Christopher Parish
Case for Support
How You Can Support the Campaign
Called to Flourish Campaign Resources
Diocesan Projects
Since its founding in 1847, the Diocese of Cleveland has grown into a vibrant Church with 182 parishes, 108 schools, and one of the nation’s largest Catholic Charities organizations. Today, we are called to once again help our Church flourish by strengthening our parishes, schools, ministries, and communities.
This prayerful effort seeks to raise $200 million to support four strategic priorities:
$85M – Parishes
Sustain parish communities, the epicenter of our faith.
- Strengthen Parish Communities: $70M
- Grow Emergency Parish Support: $10M
- Support Parish Evangelization: $5M
$30M – Worship
Care for the sacred spaces and individuals within our ministry.
- Formation of Current and Future Clergy: $15M
- Celebrating Cathedral Square: $15M
$70M – Evangelization
Welcome others into the glory of faith and strengthen Catholic education.
- Strengthen Catholic Schools: $45M
- Inspire Young Leaders: $5M
- Grow Our Faith: $5M
- Reimagine Camp Christopher: $15M
$15M – Service
Continue the mission of Jesus by responding to those in need.
- St. Augustine Hunger Center: $2.5M
- Bishop Cosgrove Center: $8M
- Catholic Charities Regional Facilities: $4.5M
Our parishes are sancturies of hope, healing, and holiness.They are our communities of missionary disciples and the front lines of our faith.
- Strengthen Parish Communities
- Each parish will keep 50% of the funds it raises – amounting to $70 million that will stay local. Each parish will determine its own priorities, such as capital improvements, ministry expansion, or outreach initiatives.
- Grow Emergency Parish Support
- Expand the Parish Emergency Fund to provide fast, tailored grants for urgent, critical repairs that parishes cannot cover through savings, fundraising, or financing (e.g., failing roofs, broken boilers, major structural issues).
- Support Parish Evangelization
- To foster a culture of missionary discipleship, the campaign will create Parish Evangelization Fund – an endowment that helps parishes and ministries to bring the Gospel to life.
Strong parish communities are essential for the life of the Church; they nurture faith, support families, and become schools of service and evangelization.
Care for the sacred spaces and individuals within our ministry.
Continue to support the formation and care of passionate, welcoming and inspired leaders:
- Formation of Current and Future Clergy
- Year-Round Formation of Pastoral Leaders – investing in clergy at every stage of their journey.
- Care for the Mind, Body, and Soul of Priests – Providing opportunities for rest, renewal, and dignifies care throughout their lives
- Nuture Lay Leadership – Youth Ministers, Catechists, Retreat Leaders and Outreach Coordinators
Ensure the Cathedral’s interior reflects the same beauty and vitality as its recently renovated exterior, while also creating gathering spaces for parishioners and visitors after liturgies and diocesan events:
- Celebrate Cathedral Square
- Renovations including full interior repainting; new lighting throughout; complete sanctuary restoration; and relocated, fully-accessible restrooms on the main level
- Investments in the Historic Chancery and Beyond
Our parishes are sancturies of hope, healing, and holiness.They are our communities of missionary disciples and the front lines of our faith.
- Strengthen Parish Communities
- Each parish will keep 50% of the funds it raises – amounting to $70 million that will stay local. Each parish will determine its own priorities, such as capital improvements, ministry expansion, or outreach initiatives.
- Grow Emergency Parish Support
- Expand the Parish Emergency Fund to provide fast, tailored grants for urgent, critical repairs that parishes cannot cover through savings, fundraising, or financing (e.g., failing roofs, broken boilers, major structural issues).
- Support Parish Evangelization
- Create a Parish Evangelization Fund – an endowment that will foster a culture of missionary discipleship and help parishes and ministries bring the Gospel to life
“A flourishing parish is one that forms missionary disciples, wecomes others into faith, and sends them forth to witness in the world.”
Bishop Edward C. Malesic
A Flourishing Apostolic Church
Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, caring for the vulnerable, and strengthening families.
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Cleveland has been a longstanding beacon of hope and compassion, offering more than 150 programs at 60 locations. This campaign will reaffirm our commitment to serve and conitue the work of Christ by focusing on:
- St. Augustine Hunger Center
- Relocate operations to the OLA/St. Joseph Center
- Expand serving lines & food pantry. Renovate the kitchen
- Add office space for employment, mental health and emergency aid services
- Bishop Cosgrove Center
- Roof, mechanical and restroom upgrades
- Refresh classrooms to house wraparound mental and physical health services
- Renovate kitchen and expand food delivery capacity
- Catholic Charities in Lake, Wayne and Ashland Counties
- Consolidate three separate offices into one central facility
- Increase efficiency, reduce travel for case managers, and improve client access
St. Christopher Parish Projects
To continue growing as a vibrant, Christ-centered community, our parish is launching several key initiatives as a part of the Called to Flourish: Our Church for the Future campaign. Through this effort, St. Christopher Parish will receive 50 cents of every dollar raised, allowing us to pursue the following parish priorities:
- Saving to support future facility improvements, including:
- All Parish Campus roof replacements
- Parish Center upgrades
- Pew and kneeler replacement
- Honoring a century of Catholic education, by:
- Modernizing classrooms to create a more comfortable and functional learning environment.
By participating in Called to Flourish, St. Christopher Parish shares in a collective effort, so that together we can build a more joyful, welcoming, and spiritually alive Church for all.
To learn more about what’s happening at St. Christopher and to hear directly from Fr. John Chlebo, watch the video below:
How You Can Support the Campaign
Every household is invited to take part in the Called to Flourish campaign by prayerfully considering a meaningful pledge. Because pledges can be fulfilled over five years, many families find they are able to make a greater impact than with a one‑time gift.
You have the flexibility to choose the schedule and method that works best for you—monthly, quarterly, or annually. Every gift, no matter the size, moves our parish closer to reaching our goal and supporting the mission we share.
Your personal invitation to participate will arrive by mail. After you’ve taken time to discern your commitment, you can return your pledge card to the parish office or make your gift conveniently online here.
To explore the many ways you can give, visit: https://www.catholiccommunity.org/called-to-flourish/ways-to-give
Campaign Resources
Questions? Please contact:
- Pastor: Fr. John Chlebo | jchlebo@stchrisparish.com
(440) 331-4255 X114 - Communications Coordinator: Colleen McKenna | cmckenna@stchrisparish.com
(440) 331-4255 - Campaign Director: Jorge Sanchez | jsanchez@ccsfundraising.com 314-680-5702
- Campaign Office: calledtoflourish@catholiccomunity.org | (216) 902-1300