The Catholic Lawyers Guild Annual Red Mass

The Catholic Lawyers Guild to Honor Judge Sheehan
At A nnual Red Mass , October 6, 2023

(Cleveland) – The Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland will host its annual Red
Mass for all members of the legal profession at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 1007
Superior Ave., Cleveland, on Friday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m.

The historic Red Mass originated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245 to invoke the guidance of the
Holy Spirit on the judges of the ecclesiastical courts and traditionally coincides with the beginning
of the U.S. Supreme Court’s fall session. The Red Mass is sponsored by the Lawyers Guild of
Cleveland and will be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Michael G. Woost along with a large number
of concelebrating priests.

Following the Red Mass, a luncheon will be held at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown a t Key
Center, 127 Public Square in Cleveland. During the luncheon, the Cleveland Lawyers Guild will
present the prestigious St. Thomas More Award to The Honorable Brendan J. Sheehan,
Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas . Judge Sheehan is being
recognized for his devotion to his Catholic faith, his commitment to his family and his ongoing
efforts to provide justice throughout the legal system while promoting excellence in the legal
profession. According to his peers, Judge Sheehan is deserving of t he St. Thomas More Award by
serving with integrity, not compromising his values and by putting God first , above all.

The Cleveland Lawyers Guild also will present a special recognition award to Catholic Charities
Migration and Refugee Services for their work and commitment to refugees who have been
evacuated from their country and help them and their families resettle throughout Northeast Ohio.

The luncheon celebration will also include a presentation of the 2023 Martin T. Galvin Scholarship
winner. Thi s year’s recipient is Benjamin Thomas, a sophomore at Padua Franciscan High School.
Benjamin is a member of the Engineering and Business MyTrack, a Christian Service Volunteer,
on High Honor Roll and enjoys playing golf, basketball and baseball. Benjamin a nd his family are
parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua parish in Parma. The Martin T. Galvin Scholarship was
established in 2018 by the Lawyers Guild with support from the Reminger Foundation in honor of
Galvin, an attorney with the Reminger law firm who p assed away after a battle with cancer. ​

The name “Red Mass” refers to the red vestments worn by the priests and red robes worn by judges.
The color red has long been associated with the Holy Spirit reminiscent of the tongues of fire that
descended upon those on the day of Pentecost. The Red Mass was first introduced to the United
States in 1928 at St. Andrew’s Church in New York City and now is a wonderful tradition here in
Cleveland.

For tickets to the October 6 event, contact Kristen Craig: kcraig@dioceseofcleveland.org or
216- 696- 6525, X 4440.