A historic Catholic church just east of downtown Cleveland is set to see major changes, with its parish ceasing to operate independently. “It makes me sad, more as a Clevelander, for the city,” the Rev. Frank Godic said. Godic is the pastor at the 150-year-old church on Superior Avenue and East 41st Street, a role he has served in for more than a quarter century — a time in which he has seen significant change and growing hardships.
“I’ve been here for 26 years now, watching it slowly shrink in terms of membership, people dying off, people moving out, nobody moving in,” he said. “And it’s the story of every inner-city parish that we see.” Godic said there has been a steep decline in attendance over the years. Fewer than four dozen people attend Sunday Mass, and there are no organized parish activities.
