January/February 2010

Is it Lent again already? @

from the editor

Father Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude. E-mail: editor@FAITHmag.com.

t’s almost Lent again? How can that be? I guess my grandmother was right after all – time certainly does seem to be moving more quickly than ever, and so, in just a few weeks, Ash Wednesday will be here once again, signaling the beginning of the season of Lent. While it may not be the favorite liturgical season of many, Lent is still a necessary and welcome visitor on a number of levels. The season of Lent gets its name from an Old English word that means “to lengthen.” Each year, this season returns just as the days begin to grow longer, signaling the approaching return of warmer weather and times for planting and growth. With the darker days of early winter now receding into the background, the additional light of these days leading to spring offers us the opportunity to focus more intently and intensely on those areas of our lives that need God’s grace to change. As we enter into this season of Lent we must

do so with a willingness to step back and examine our lives in all their dimensions, searching for those habits and attitudes within that need correction, attention, or elimination. Christ, the light of the world, in whose presence we rejoiced at Christmas, is now an aid to self-examination, illuminating those dark corners of our hearts and minds, so that the darkness of sin and sadness may be cast out. Lent is hard work. Lent is about allowing God to assist us to look deep within ourselves, finding that which must be cast out. Is there hardness

A woman

of courage

Elizabeth Solsburg is editorial director of FAITH Magazine. She can be reached at esolsburg@FAITHcatholic.com

am always moved by the stories in our magazine – moments of inspired faith, moments of quiet courage. But, sometimes, the stories actually take my breath away. Hely Merle Benner’s story is one of those. Part of her childhood was spent in the worst of places – a concentration camp. Her mother, her father and her baby brother did not survive the war – but Hely did. She came to the United States and built a new life. She married and had a new family. And for a very long time, she did not talk about her experience in the concentration camp. A few years ago, Hely began sharing her story with a few people, including a

group of women from St. Thomas Parish in Ann Arbor – mothers of former St.

of heart or lack of forgiveness within me? God, help me to cast it out. Do I lack charity or sensitivity to the needs of my sisters and brothers? God, help me to cast it out. Have I developed hurtful or spiteful ways of dealing with my loved ones, friends and co-workers? God, help me to change. Lent affords us the opportunity to work hard in cooperation with God’s grace, allowing the good to grow within us as we once again seek to enhance our spiritual growth through the disciplines of prayer, fasting and charity. Lent offers us time to identify and cast out that which we can do without, encouraging its replacement by that with which we can do great good. Lent gives us the opportunity to allow the warmth and goodness of Christ, the light of the world, to shine in and through us. And so our journey in FAITH continues. Thomas and Father Gabriel Richard High School students. My mother was one of those women. As soon as she heard Hely’s story, Mom called me and told me we had to tell it in the pages of FAITH. It was the only time she ever made a suggestion about the magazine. However, Hely wasn’t quite ready for that large an audience, and so we have waited. It was too important a story to rush – yet too important not to tell. In January 2009, just before her death, the last thing my mother asked me about work was whether or not we would be running Hely’s story. She felt strongly that we all needed to know it – so that we would not forget. And so that it would never happen again. Mom had enormous admiration for Hely’s faith and courage, and so do I. Running this story is the last gift I can give my mother, and I am so honored to be able to share it with all of FAITH’s readers.

Liturgical Calendar: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God January 1 | St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the church January 2

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Why did I survive when thousands of others died?

what you’ll get out of this issue

inside this issue

Hely Merle Benner experienced the horrors of a concentration camp first-hand. When she was a child, members of her ethnic group, the Donauschwaben, were rounded up and shipped off to the camps. From the horror of the camps to a new life in the United States, Hely relied on her Catholic faith. Read more about Hely’s amazing journey – her courage and strength in the face of adversity.

5 work life Should I take a risk on my own business? – Nick Synko 6 parenting journey My grandchildren have terrible manners! – Dr. Cathleen McGreal 7 marriage matters She says: “I can’t stand our daughter-in-law.” He says: “Our daughter-in-law is fine, my wife is the problem.” What do they Do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle

8 culture Got milk? Got a date? Tres Leches Cake

– Father Joseph Krupp

11 spiritual popcorn Lost and Found – Paul Jarzembowski 12 theology 101 What does the church mean when it says that the Sacred Scriptures are inspired?. – Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L. and Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D

columnists

– Michelle Sessions DiFranco

10 in the know with Fr. Joe Is the world ending in 2012?

14 spiritual fitness Where there is love, nothing else matters. – Sister Ann Shields

The Year for Priests

FAITH’s continuing special report on the priesthood – the difference between diocesan and religious priests.

To report allegations of sexual misconduct, call the Victim Asistance Coordinators (Moderator of the Curia or the Chancellor) at

the diocese, 517.342.2450, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or at St. Mary Cathedral, 517.484.5331 or 517.484.5332, after 4:30 p.m. or during weekends. For a more detailed directory, visit www.dioceseoflansing.org

Formation (vocations) 517.342.2507 Bishop’s office 517.342.2452 Legal advisor 517.342.2456 Tribunal 517.484.9080 Finance 517.342.2519

Catholic Charities 517.342.2446 Communications 517.342.2475 Education and catechesis 517.342.2481 Pastoral Planning 517.342.2502

2 | The Epiphany of the Lord January 3 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious January 4 | St. John Neumann, bishop January 5 | Blessed André Bessette, religious January 6

contact info

Where to call at the Diocese of Lansing

from the bishop What makes a human being a person? – Bishop Earl Boyea

4 of at least 16 UN personnel in Haiti – 150 were still missing at the time of this writing. Nations from around the world were sending aid as quickly as possible, but Earthquake devastates western hemisphere’s poorest nation the damaged infrastructure of the country hampered efforts. Telephone he Jan. 12 earthquake lines were overloaded, rubble blocked access, in Haiti decimated a and law enforcement was not able to stop the nation that already suflooting that had already begun. fered from the greatest The U.S. Embassy had no confirmed reports poverty in the western of deaths of the approximately 45,000hemisphere. At the time of writing, 50,000 Americans who live in Haiti, but several critically-injured U.S. embassy personnel there was still no total for the numwere airlifted to Guantanamo. ber of Haitians who were killed or The International Red Cross has set up a Web injured in the magnitude-7 quake. site at www.familylinks.icrc.org to help families get The Red Cross estimates that at least 3 million news of missing loved ones. Representatives from various aid organizations people need emergency services. The United have stated that this disaster is of such a magniNations had released $10 million from its emertude that it will require help for a long time. gency funds, but was also dealing with the death

earthquake in Haiti

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

Jan/Feb 2010 • Volume 11: Issue 1

FA I T H Catholic Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Joanne Eason DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY MARKETING

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR

Lynne Ridenour

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

Janna Stellwag Abby Wieber

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Nicole Ballinger GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN

InnerWorkings

PRINT MANAGEMENT

Doug Culp Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle Paul Jarzembowski Rev. Joseph Krupp Dr. Gelasia Marquez Dr. Cathleen McGreal Nancy Schertzing Sister Ann Shields Michelle Sessions DiFranco CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Haitian archbishop and seminarians killed in earthquake The archbishop of Port au Prince, Joseph Miot, was one of the thousands of victims of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12. His body was found in the rubble of the archbishop’s residence, which was completely destroyed – along with the cathedral, seminaries and large churches. It has been reported that seminarians were trapped under the falling rubble, as were

a number of men and women religious who were attending a study institute. Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based umbrella organization for Catholic charities, said it was mobilizing to provide immediate assistance to Haiti. On Jan. 13 it had already assembled an emergency relief team to fly to Haiti to assist Caritas members already working in the country. At that time, it had not been able to make contact with Caritas members already working in the country.

The U.S. church responds The Catholic bishops of the United States encouraged pastors of churches in the U.S. to take up a special collection for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Funds collected will support the efforts of the USCCB and Catholic Relief Services as they work to provide basic necessities such as food, water, shelter and medical care. They will also respond to the long-term needs of the people of Haiti to rebuild after the destruction

Derek Melot

PROOFREADING

Carlson Productions Tom Gennara (cover inset) James Luning (cover)

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wayne Case Michael Eichhorn Mary Jo Gillilland Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone Joseph Reid Rev. Bernard Reilly James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez Dcn. David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Rev. Jerry Vincke Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple ADVISORY BOARD

The archbishop of Port au Prince, Joseph Miot.

wrought by the January 12 earthquake. Catholic Relief Services has already committed $5 million to this effort and asks all Catholics to consider generous donations to assist them in helping the people of the ravaged nation of Haiti.

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 489065550. ©2009 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin

Visit www.crs.org or make donations by phone at 800.736.3467 or by mail to CRS, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.

FOUNDING EDITOR

faithcatholic.com

St. Raymond Peñafort, priest January 7 | Feast of the Baptism of the Lord January 10 | St. Hilary, bishop and doctor of the church January 13 | St. Agnes, virgin and martyr Ja

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

I really want to go into business as a photographer – it’s always been my dream. I’m really Nick Synko can be reached at nsynko@synkoassociates.com afraid of failing, though. And my wife is concerned about how we will pay for health care. Should I take this risk on my dream?

Should I take a risk

T. Gennara

on my own business?

I don’t have benefits

what do I do about health insurance?

If there is a season to avoid getting sick, it’s flu season. While the govern-

ment debates how health care should be reformed, you need to take steps to protect

examples of people making a sustainable income who are bringing delight and improving the world through their photography skills. You, or your wife, may want to ask them how they found a means for providing health-care benefits.

There are three additional criteria to consider when evaluating the viability of your career dreams: Do you have or can you develop a competitive skill set in the field of your dream? Is your dream a call to follow this particular mission or purpose for your life? Do you have a business plan that demonstrates how you will create a sustainable income, including benefits? Before you make your final decision, consider your dream’s origin. If your dream is of divine origin, it may be an accountable call on your life, a dream that we may want to spell with a capital “D.” your family and finances. Medical bills are one of the biggest causes of bankruptcy in the U.S. When figuring out a health insurance policy, consider: • What is your family health history, are you at risk? • What is your personal health history; what conditions do you have? • How often do you see a doctor? • What prescription medications do you need?

Compare your anticipated needs to the plans available and choose one that is the best fit. If your employer does not offer insurance, consider group plans through various organizations, such as fraternal groups, professional organizations, or churches. These groups may help reduce costs by pooling you with other people. For more information about the Catholic Church’s position on health-care, visit www.usccb.org.

anuary 21 | St. Vincent, deacon and martyr January 22 | Feast of St. Paul, apostle January 25 | Ss. Timothy and Titus, bishops January 26 | St. Angela Merici, virgin January 27

money tip

ith foreclosures still looming, rising college tuition costs, millions of Americans without health insurance, and people forced to put off retirement, it doesn’t seem like you’d be able to save a dime. But that doesn’t have to be you! We asked financial expert Chris Millio for some common-sense tips to ride out the financial storm.

work life

The last word in your question, “dream,” is worthy of consideration. The words, “wish,” or “desire” are not accurate synonyms for the word “dream.” If it is truly your dream, you have to take into consideration the possible origin of your dream; is it a wish of yours – or is it God’s dream or plan for your life? Pope Benedict XVI, speaking to a half-million young people in 2007, stated, “Do not be afraid, Christ can fulfill the deepest aspirations of your heart! Could there be unrealizable dreams when it is the Spirit of God who awakens and cultivates them in the heart?” He continued, “This is why, dear friends, you must not be afraid to dream – with open eyes – of great projects of good, and you must not let yourselves be discouraged by difficulties.” His words are universally applicable. Last year, when I was teaching a staff development workshop on godly dreams, the class and I considered the pope’s words and developed a set of Christ-centered dream criteria. They included: Does your dream promote God’s glory and build his kingdom? Is it moral? Is it restorative or uplifting for you and others? Does it provide hope or generate faith? Is it authentically who God created you to be? All are essential criteria for both you and your wife to consider as you evaluate your dream to become a photographer. Of course, there are many people who will tell you that they or others have not been successful in a career as a photographer or as a _______. You fill in the blank. Yet, there are also numerous

My grandchildren have terrible manners! Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual advisor.

parenting journey

Q A

Grandparents often serve as an example of good manners simply by their actions. My Grandma Esta’s graciousness made a lasting impression on me during one meal in particular. One of my older cousins brought his fiancée to Grandma’s home for brunch. It was the fiancée’s introduction not only to family members, but to the United States. My grandma turned to the young woman and said, “Would you like some strawberries?” To my amazement, after saying, “yes, please,” the young woman moved the serving dish to her placemat! My grandma smiled, asked who else wanted strawberries, and went to the

kitchen. She returned with three serving bowls of strawberries and placed them on the three empty placemats. The essence of etiquette is to make other people comfortable. Even as adults, we encounter challenges when we visit other countries and discover new foods or ways of interacting. Set the stage for mealtime success at your home. The stubby fingers of a toddler have a difficult time with regular utensils; wider utensils, just like extra-thick crayons, are easier for little hands to manipulate. Without them, everything may turn into finger food. Preschoolers enjoy the independence of pouring – which can be a disaster unless a

The neighbor in the apartment next to mine is a heavy smoker. The ventilation system just can’t keep up, and the smoke seeps into my apartment. This aggravates my asthma. I asked my neighbor if he could stop, but he says he can do what he wants in his own apartment. What can I do? It can be difficult to understand how a person can continue smoking after all the information that is in the media about its danger. We need to call it what it is: an addiction. And sometimes the smoker

needs professional help. Perhaps, instead of focusing on the inconveniences and the risks to your health as a secondhand smoker, you could approach the problem from a different perspective: your neighbor’s and his family’s health.

My neighbor smokes

and it’s making me sick

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

Approach your neighbor in a friendly and caring mood Remember this is not a one-meeting solution, but a healing process. It will take time, but by spending that time, you will open the

S. Kendrick

what gets my goat

My grandchildren don’t seem to have the foggiest idea of good table manners, or any other good manners for that matter. How can I help them improve their manners without coming across as an interfering grandparent?

child-sized pitcher is on the table. Learning social conventions can be joint activities. Getting the table ready for a meal when grandchildren come over can be a fun activity once the children are old enough. Why not select one of your tablecloths together? Placemats? Napkins? You might want to set aside two or three choices ahead of time or risk ending up with a fall harvest theme in the middle of February! What about a centerpiece? Where do the utensils go? Preparation time builds an investment into the experience of the meal. Then, model good table manners during the meal; hope that your adult children will also. Take advantage of teachable moments. Grandchildren often fail to acknowledge gifts. Let them observe how you do so. If you will be writing thank-you cards after a birthday, then see if you can take your grandchildren along to select cards. Go to the post office and buy interesting stamps. If they show an interest, buy them their own cards, stamps and address books. Go home, have everyone write one or two cards, play some games and then mail the cards. Grace at family meals is more than manners – it provides spiritual nourishment when the generations come together: “The tradition of the church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer.” Make saying grace the centerpiece of every meal. CCC #2698

door to solving your problem and will show the love of Christ to your neighbor. Sadly, if this fails, you may need to seek legal advice – your health is important and you must protect it.

St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the church January 28 | Feast of the Presentation of the Lord February 2 | St. Blaise, bishop and martyr; St. Ansgar, bishop Februa

“ I can’t stand our daughter-in-law.”

Marilyn says: You’ve heard the saying, “A son is a son until he takes him a wife …”? Well, that’s certainly true in our family. When our son, Keith, got married last year, I was looking forward to having a daughter-in-law – someone to shop with, have over for lunch, do ‘girl’ things. But it hasn’t been like that at all – we never see either one of them. She doesn’t seem to appreciate any of the advice I give her. And I get no support from John – he just shrugs it off. He’s my spouse; he should be on my side!

“ Our daughter-in-law is fine, my wife is the He said | She said problem.” what do they do?

ary 3 | St. Agatha, virgin and martyr February 5 | St. Paul Miki and his companions, martyrs February 6 | St. Jerome Emiliani, priest; St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin February 8

your marriage matters

John Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage. says: Marilyn is being a stereotypical mother-in-law. She thinks the kids should demonstrate to them what love and relationships are all about. spend all their time with us – but they’re newlyweds. Doesn’t Laying on guilt, giving advice when it is not requested, or making Marilyn remember what that is like? Our daughter-in-law, Kaitlyn, comments to Keith and Kaitlyn about how disappointed you may is a perfectly lovely girl. But she has a mother of her own. She’s also feel at not having them around is not only wrong, but could drive trying to build a new life with our son. I know Marilyn is unhappy, them away instead of leading them into a relationship with you. and I feel bad – but she needs to get over this. Keith and Kaitlyn’s first priority is to each other. Their second priority is to their children when God blesses them with some – We agree with John in some respects and can and after that comes extended family. What they may need the most relate to what Marilyn is expressing; now there right now is some space. is a sure sign that both are right and both are It would do Marilyn and John well to revisit their own early days wrong! For a moment however, let us focus of marriage and reflect on what were their priorities. What were on Keith and Kaitlyn as a newly married couple in the process of the challenges they faced from their family of origin and extended creating their own family, their own traditions and rituals, and their family members? When did they themselves reach out and begin to own life together. develop a relationship with both sides of the extended family? If their parents raised them with love and support, they are doing There is a fine line between meddling (bordering on interference) exactly what they should be doing and that is focusing on each and supporting. One of the best ways to identify that fine line is to other and getting to know each other. We can remember our early discover how you related to your parents in your early years of marmonths of marriage and can say without doubt that we needed riage and how your parents related to their parents. Unfortunately, that time together to really start to develop into a husband and a and sometimes fortunately, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree! wife. Keith and Kaitlyn are bringing their own identities into their If either John or Marilyn are exhibiting some of the same traits that marriage, and are discovering how to be a couple. Learning to be a their parents displayed toward them when they were first married married couple takes time, energy, commitment and communica– then perhaps it’s time to stop the family trend. John and Marilyn tion. As they grow into this new lifestyle, Keith and Kaitlyn will should recall that they are called by God to love and support each no doubt feel the acceptance of each other and be more open to other through good times and in bad. This is not the time to ‘feel reciprocal respect as a daughter-in-law and son-in-law. The best bad’ or to ‘just shrug it off’; it is a time for caring and compassion. action for parents of newlyweds is to let them find out what God wants them to be by themselves. Your marriage matters! As parents, we can pray for our children, we can be there for • For marriage resources, visit www.dioceseoflansing.org them when they call or ask, and we can be ready to respond when and click on the Family Life Ministry link. they make the first move. Certainly inviting them over for a special occasion, or to go on an infrequent special outing, or to have a • If your marriage is in trouble, Retrouvaille can help. standing invitation to them is not only right, but is part of how we Visit www.retrouvailleoflansing.catholicweb.com

Got milk? Got a date? Tres Leches Cake

By Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Photography by Philip Shippert

culture

aving met my husband through an online Catholic dating network, there is often a moment of uncomfortable, awkward silence when people ask us how we met. When we’re together and that happens, I look to him to respond. Depending on who’s asking, they’ll get one of two answers. The more common response is that we met through “a Catholic singles network.” But, if he’s feeling casual enough, he’ll simply tell them I’m his “cyber babe” and let them evaluate what that means. Thankfully, it is becoming more and more common these days to know couples who have met online. In fact, one of our best friends, Andy, recently met his girlfriend on a Catholic-based Web site. What is even more unique is that she is all the way from Central America – a connection he would not have made without the help of the online network. Milena came to the United States more than a year ago to earn a degree in psychology. Along with the excitement of an opportunity to study abroad came questions of where to live and how to meet friends. That is where her Catholic faith and a really nice group of people came into play. Milena’s new friends here in the States are part of a ministry that has a network of communities all over the world. Comprising different cultures and ethnicities, they could not be more diverse. But bound by their Christian faith, they are a supportive and unified

group. They are, in a way, an example of the Catholic Church itself – diverse and global, but united by what matters most. And, as far as Milena is concerned, they are a blessing that has made her transition to the U.S. a smooth one. As a way of giving back, Milena is

happy to share her Latin American culinary talents with them. Among the many dishes she enjoys preparing is a dessert which is a favorite with everyone who’s tried it. Tres Leches cake (three milk cake) is very popular in Latin American countries. It is a moist, white cake that is soaked in three different milks for a rich and creamy taste. This recipe is absolutely wonderful and a relished benefit to the members of her group. Beautiful things happen when our faith brings us together. Through the online Catholic singles network, it brought my husband and me together. For Milena’s faith-based group, it offers a sense of belonging and support in a foreign land. And for those who connect with their faith in this magazine, it means delicious Tres Leches cake. Enjoy!

Tres Leches Cake For the cake: 2 cups flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups sugar 9 eggs (separated) 2 teaspoons vanilla ½ cup milk

Milk mixture: 2 cups half and half (or whole milk) 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk

Topping: 2 cups whipping cream 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla jar of maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray a 9x13-inch baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar on high speed until creamy. Add the milk and vanilla, and then the remaining dry ingredients (small amounts at a time) and blend at a lower speed until creamy. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form (2-3 minutes). Gently fold the egg white mixture into the batter until just combined. Pour batter into pan and bake for 40-45 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean). Remove and let cool. In a mixing bowl, combine the half and half, condensed milk and evaporated milk. Set aside. With a fork or skewer, pierce top of cake several times. Pour the milk mixture over the cake until it is finished absorbing. Save any remaining mixture for garnish. Refrigerate at least two hours before serving. Just before serving, beat the whipping cream, sugar and vanilla (in a mixing bowl) until fluffy. Spread over cake. Top each piece off with a maraschino cherry.

St. Scholastica, virgin February 10 | Our Lady of Lourdes February 11 | Ash Wednesday February 17 | First Sunday of Lent February

21 | The Chair of St. Peter, apostle February 22 | St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr February 23 | Second Sunday of Lent February 28

Dear Fr. Joe:

Is the world ending in 2012? T. Gennara

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 1500 E. Saginaw, Lansing, MI

@ 48906 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

What’s the deal with the year 2012? Is the world really going to end? I’ve been getting a bunch of these… let’s get right to it. First of all, let’s name the situation: In the last couple of years, great attention has been drawn to a calendar created and used by many of the preColumbian meso-american cultures. Most people simply call it the Mayan Calendar. Anyway, this calendar is notable for many features, not the least of which is the fact that it abruptly ends on December 21, 2012. This fact has caused a stir on the Internet and even resulted in the making of a very expensive movie named (oddly enough) 2012. The focus of the movie and, in fact, of the stories and panic on the Internet is the fear that this is when the world is going to end. Many Christians who tend to focus on the end of the world and other such things tend to really cling to stuff like this. So, is the world going to end in 2012? Yes. I’m kidding … really. There are several problems with this apocalyptic theory, some of them from the calendar itself and oth-

in the know with Fr. Joe

A man went to the airline counter. The ticket agent asked, “Sir, do you have reservations?” He replied, “Reservations? Of course I have reservations, but I’m flying anyway.”

ers from Scripture. Let’s start with the calendar. First of all, I’ve read a few articles that mention that the Mayan calendar was never meant to be viewed this way. As an example, some of the Mayan inscriptions contain prophecies about events that are to occur after the month of December 2012. That alone

should quiet any talk about it, but it doesn’t. This is from an article in USA Today on March 27, 2008: “But scholars are bristling at attempts to link the ancient Maya with trends in contemporary spirituality. Maya civilization, known for advanced

writing, mathematics and astronomy, flourished for centuries in Mesoamerica, especially between A.D. 300 and 900. Its Long Count calendar, which was discontinued under Spanish colonization, tracks more than 5,000 years, then resets at year zero. “For the ancient Maya, Illustration by Bob Patten

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

it was a huge celebration to make it to the end of a whole cycle,” says Sandra Noble, executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies in Crystal River, Fla. To render Dec. 21, 2012, as a doomsday or moment of cosmic shifting, she says, is “a complete fabrication and a chance for a lot of people to cash in.”

Lost and Found Read more of Paul Jarzembowski’s thoughts on www.spiritualpopcorn.blogspot.com

ive years ago, television audiences saw the passengers of the fictional Oceanic 815 crash on a deserted tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific in the series Lost. For the next five seasons, viewers watched with bated breath as some characters died and others survived; some got rescued while others waited for their destiny. Now in the sixth and final season, so many questions have yet to be answered about the mysteries of the island and the impending fate of the Lost characters. But one thing is true for all those passengers: not only are they lost in the middle of the ocean, but they are also lost in their lives, wandering from their questionable pasts to an unknown future. Their stories are parables reflecting our own experiences. Some people might connect with Locke, full of anger but desperate to believe; others might see themselves in Jack, trying to escape their parents’ shadow; still others identify with Sun and Jin, a married couple struggling to love again; or they might resonate with a friendly guy like Hurley who just wishes he didn’t have such bad luck. And each in their own way, these (and others) are reflections of the Prodigal Son, the central character of one of Jesus’ most famous parables (Luke 15:11-32). Each character on Lost has gone off-track in their past at one point or another, some in sinful ways and others who just got overwhelmed with life’s pressures. This feeling of being lost is where we find the Oceanic 815 passengers. And

like the Prodigal Son, it has been at the lowest point (while sitting in mud with the swine or, in the case of Lost, being stranded on a mysterious island) when people finally realize they are lost and need to course-correct their lives. Over the last several seasons, the Lost characters pulled themselves up with acts of forgiveness, compassion, reconciliation, trust and love. And in an act of divine mercy, God is ready to welcome the repentant with open arms. The same goes for us. When we wander, get off track and stumble in sin, God calls all of us to return home, to ask his forgiveness, and to make amends to live a better, more charitable life. Like any of the Lost characters, let us pray that it might also be said of each of us: “Rejoice, for they were lost, but now, they have been found!” (Lk. 15:32).

spiritual popcorn

So. There we have it. Plenty of reason to not fear an upcoming apocalypse because of the Mayan Calendar. In case that is not enough for you, let’s read the words of Jesus: But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (Matthew 24:36) Or how about this one? Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Luke 12:39 & 40) Jesus makes it clear in Matthew that this knowledge belongs only to the Father. Anyone trying to tell you something different is a huckster. Look at the Luke passage again –based on it, you could actually say that any day someone predicts the world is going to end is a day it definitely won’t. Here’s the thing in a nutshell, brothers and sisters – it’s not our business to know when the world is going to end. It’s our business to be prepared every moment of every day for that end. God’s goal is not to trick us or share some secrets with only a few: God’s goal is to get us to heaven, all of us. Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

12 What does the church mean when it says

that the Sacred Scriptures are inspired? Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L., is Assistant Professor, Department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation, University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation, University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Pilgrimage Destination of the Month Every year, Catholics from around the globe travel to religiously significant locations in order to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the Catholic faith, to venerate Mary and the saints, to ask for intercessory prayers, and to express gratitude. Here is just one of the many places you might want to make a pilgrimage.

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the legendary medieval way of pilgrimage Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James). According to tradition, the Apostle James (Santiago) went to this most northwestern part of Spain to preach and convert people to Christianity after the death of Jesus. After returning to Palestine, he was taken prisoner by the Jewish king, Herodes Agrippa I, and tortured to death.

His disciples stole the body, landed in Spain, and buried him at a secret place in the woods. In the early 9th century, the hermit, Pelayo, heard angelic music in the woods and saw altar lights. The parishioners of San FĂŠlix de Solobio, at the foot of the forest, announced the event, and Bishop Teodomiro went in the forest, found the mausoleum and identified it as the Apostle Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tomb. The field was

called, in Latin, Campus Stellae, field of the star, a name that later on became Compostela.

Name that Church Doctor

The honorary title, “Doctor of the Church,” is bestowed by the pope in recognition of a person’s contribution to the understanding and interpretation of Sacred Scripture and the development of Christian doctrine. See if you know which “Doctor” said this…

“More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.”

What does the Church mean when it says that the sacred Scriptures are inspired?

Professor Nagel: When the church speaks of the inspiration of sacred Scripture, it affirms that these writings have God as their source, and that Saint James did several miracles and many people began to make pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in order to obtain his grace. The influence it began to make on literature and art established Compostela as a place of cult for Christian society along with Rome or Jerusalem. When Pope Calixto II established the Jubilee Year in 1122, the number of pilgrims that made the way in the 12th century rose

What does that symbol mean?

The Chalice with a Cross

We are called to reconcile all things in Christ. All created order bears the signature of the Creator, so everything can act as a bridge, a reminder of the God who is our source and our destiny.

“The chalice with a cross rising from it is a symbol of our Lord’s obedient suffering and the agony of his passion. The cross is a passion cross, the pointed ends of which remind us of suffering.” (Matt. 26:39)

they reveal knowledge of God that, left to ourselves, we humans could never attain. One biblical text, 2 Tim 3:15-17, provides a foundation for the concept of inspiration when it states that the sacred writings “are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” It also employs a rarely used Greek word, theopneustos, which literally means “God breathed” or “God inspired,” when it states that “All scripture is inspired by God…” The “fact” of the inspiration of sacred Scriptures has been affirmed from the beginning of the church by both the

surprisingly to 200,000. The jubilee meant that all penitent travelers who set out on pilgrimage in a Holy Year, a year celebrated each time the apostle’s feast day (July 25) falls on a Sunday, would get jubilee indulgences.

Notables: • The Cathedral and its chapel, Capilla del Salvador. Other features include the Obradoiro,

Author of Image, Chalice with Cross: Walter E. Gast Source: http://wegast.home.att.net/symbols/

Eastern and Western church fathers. At the same time, it is not clear from their writings how these early Christian writers understood inspiration, how it actually takes place. The church has made clear that any ultimate definition of inspiration must consider the very real contributions of both its divine and human authors. Further, the church has eliminated three inadequate definitions of inspiration because they fail to recognize this balance of divine – human cooperation, namely mechanical dictation, mere assistance and subsequent approbation.

(work of gold) Façade and the towers, “Torre de las Campanas” and Torre de la Carraca. The sculptures of the Portico de la Gloria, another entrance door, are considered some of the most important works of medieval art. •A lso, the Festival of the Apostle is celebrated at the end of July. On the eve of his feast day, there is a great fireworks display in front of the cathedral, El Fuego del

Apostol. On July 25th, during Mass, a huge incense font attached to the ceiling of the cathedral is swung throughout the nave. •T he Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares, with its facade of granite, is one of the oldest buildings in Santiago. It was founded in 11th century by Alphonse II in order to entomb the mortal remains of the Apostle James there.

theology 101

Professor Schoenstene: In plain terms, the notion of the sacred Scriptures as inspired means that what is in the Scriptures is what God wants to be there. In other words, the Holy Spirit is behind the human words through which God communicates to us. Because of this inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the human words that comprise the Scriptures are trustworthy, in regard to both faith and the moral life, and contain the revelation of who God is to us, and of who we are in relation to God and to each other.

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) St. Teresa was named the Doctor of Prayer in 1970. Her spiritual writings are remarkable. The account of her own spiritual life, contained in Relations and most famously in Interior Castle, rivals St. Augustine’s Confessions in terms of being a spiritual treasure. She founded the convent of Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Primitive Rule of St. Joseph at Avila in 1562. She was mainly responsible for the renewal, reform, and expansion of the Carmelites throughout Spain. She is the patron saint of Spain and those who suffer headaches. Her feast day is October 15.

14 Where there is love, T. Gennara

nothing else matters Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. Questions can be addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

“G

spiritual fitness

reat crowds were traveling with Jesus and he turned and addressed them, ‘If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with 10,000 troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with 20,000 troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple’” Luke 14:25-33. Here, at the beginning of a new calendar year, and not far from the beginning of the church year (First Sunday of Advent), is a very good time to read this Gospel and ask ourselves some serious questions – questions that are crucial to our eternal salvation. Jesus addresses his disciples and tells them they need to examine their lives and see if their priorities are in good order. So, ask yourself: • Is the Lord, his commandments, his teaching (in other words, his way of life), the standard for my personal life? • Do I take time to reflect; to ask myself whether my priorities, my goals, are in keeping with those of the kingdom of heaven? • Of course, we will make mistakes, we will fall, but do we get back up again through repentance and begin anew each day? Many of us, I would venture at this point, say it’s just too hard to live like that; it is just too taxing, too discouraging, to keep trying because I am not holy enough, I don’t have a saintly personality; I am too sinful, too weak. Well, brothers and sisters, it is too hard if we try to do it under our own steam. All the good intentions in the world, all the resolutions won’t make it happen – because our

sinful natures war against our soul and too often they win. Then, we settle for so much less than God intends. You, by baptism, are a son or daughter of God! Truly! That is not just some kind of analogy. It is reality. If so, then God who is our Father will do everything to help us receive the power, the inspiration, the encouragement we need to make the right decisions, to quickly repent when we fail and rise again ready to continue. But here’s the key to that kind of life: It is love. First, God’s love for us and then our love in response to his. I’d like to share something from my childhood: When I was 6, early in the summer, I met the boy next door, who was my age. We became fast friends, but I quickly learned that I couldn’t play with him every day because he had very

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

A teacher of women

St. Angela Merici Feast Day: January 27

Angela Merici was known for her love of solitude and prayer.

She converted her home into a school.

Through her prayer, Angela received a vision that she would educate women. After her uncle’s death, she returned to Desenzano and converted her home into a school to teach girls about Christianity. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1524, Angela lost her sight but continued on her adventure. When she returned to the place where she lost her vision, she recovered instantly as she prayed in front of a crucifix. Upon her return to Desenzano in 1535, Angela found 12 virgins and created the Institute of Saint Ursula.

On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she lost her sight, but continued on her adventure.

severe allergies and his family had to regularly take him out of town or to the ocean where the air was better for him. But when he was in town, we walked to school together every day, played together and watched out for one another. The next summer, his family took my friend to the shore again and I missed him. While I was talking to my aunt one day, she asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up. I said promptly that I wanted to marry my friend. But, she said, he is very sick and it would be very hard for you because you would have to take care of him all the time. In all the solemnity a 6-year-old could muster, I replied, “But when you love someone, nothing else matters.” As the saying goes, “Out of the mouths of babes …” My child’s heart had captured the essence of a disciple’s life. When you truly love, nothing else matters! Our Father in heaven gave his only son out of love for us. Ponder that for a while. Jesus so loved the Father that he gave his life on the cross – so that you and I could inherit eternal life and be with the source of all love forever. Ponder that. God gave us the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate (our defense attorney). He gave us the Spirit to dwell within us so that

She is famous for saying, “Beware of trying to accomplish anything by force, for God has given every single person free will and desires to constrain none; he merely shows them the way, invites them and counsels them.” – Illustrations by Chris Sushynski

we could be inspired and comforted and strengthened and encouraged to love God in return and to love the people he gives us. Ponder that. You are infinitely loved. Ask God to reveal that to your heart – not just to your head. Both are necessary that you might be able to respond to God as a true disciple. The cost to reprioritizing our lives so that they are the priorities of the Gospel is high. It costs our flesh a lot, but when we know we are loved and love in return, nothing else matters. Jesus is asking that he be in first place in our relationships. (“Hate” in the Gospel does not mean rejection of others; it means that we put God and his will in first place over all people and all other goals in life.) His commandments, his teaching, are to shape our thoughts, our speech, our actions, our career choices, our state in life, our choice of relationships, etc. We can make good and right choices when we know that we are loved. Allow the Holy Spirit in the silence of your heart to speak of his love for you; give him time and quiet to speak. Once we hear that small, still voice we will never be the same.

saint of the month

Angela Merici was born in Desenzano on March 24, 1474. She was known for her love of solitude and prayer. When she was 10, she and her sister were orphaned and sent to live with an uncle. At 15, Angela entered the Franciscan Tertiary Order.

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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n 1936, when Hely was born to Nik and Anna Merle, the insanity of a world heading toward war hadn’t infected Nakovo, their idyllic farming community in the Danube (Donau) River Valley of the Banat Region of Yugoslavia. A local farmer of German (Schwaben) heritage, Nik provided well for his family. He was able to hire local Serbian villagers to help with the harvests each fall. He enjoyed local acclaim for his skill as an accordionist and singer.

“Once I was old enough, my father taught me to play the accordion too, and when my mother sang along, people loved listening to us!” Hely smiles. “My grandparents, aunts and uncles all lived in Nakovo. The Catholic Church was at the center of our town and of our community life.” “As a child, my father and his parents briefly lived in the U.S. Dad and his cousin, Frank Freimann, had been like brothers in Chicago. But my grandparents had farmland in Banat, the breadbasket of the Balkans. The farmland and the simpler way of life drew my father and Grandmother Susie home.” “My father married my mother, and they planned to raise their children in the love of their families and faith. They were going to name me Helene after my godmother,” Hely recalls, “but my father thought it was too long a name for a little girl.” Generations before, the Austro-Hungarian Empire

had controlled Hely’s village in modernday Serbia on the Romanian border. The emperor had awarded land to German pioneers who settled in the Donau Valley. Though life was difficult for the earliest pioneers, later generations of these

Donauschwaben became prosperous farmers who maintained their German language and traditions, distinct from their Serbian and Romanian neighbors. To 6-year-old Hely, however, these distinctions weren’t important. “The Serbians in our neighboring villages were our friends, never our enemies,” she says simply.

N 1942, EVERYTHING changed when Hitler declared that all Donauschwaben must serve the Fatherland. He sent forces to draft young Donauschwaben men. Nik was forced to leave his beloved family and farm. Hely remembers, “Mother and I stayed with our family around us. My mother’s father was convinced no one would harm us, since we had never harmed anyone else. But many Donauschwaben began leaving Nakovo because of growing persecution and the threat of invasion. On Oct.5, 1944, a caravan of 150 horse-drawn wagons departed, leaving their beloved farms and pastoral lifestyle behind. My father had just come home that September and told us to hold on because he would be home again soon. That was the last time I saw my father. I was 8 years old.”

Clockwise from left: Hely’s parents on their wedding day. Hely at age 6 – her mother made all her clothing. Hely with an accordian in the Zagreb orphanage in 1948. Marshal Tito led the Communist forces that attacked Hely’s village of Nakovo.

By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Jim Luning

NNA AND HELY waited for Nik and the unborn baby Anna now carried. On November 6, Communist forces led by Marshal Tito invaded Nakovo. They imprisoned Hely’s grandfather when he dumped his wine stocks rather than let them get drunk and run wild through the town. That day, he and others were taken away never to return. Any able-bodied Donauschwabe who hadn’t fled were deported to Soviet-backed labor camps in Siberia, sold as slaves to Serbian families or exterminated. “By the time the soldiers came for us, the only ones left were the weak and sick. Since my mother was pregnant with my baby brother, they didn’t ship us out right away, but moved us with others into a section of town they called a retention camp. “The soldiers stole and destroyed everyone’s belongings. We had almost nothing left. They even took our religion away by closing our beloved church and beating anyone who made the sign of the cross or genuflected as they passed by. My brother was born in the retention camp on May 5 – my mother’s birthday. “In the winter of 1945, the soldiers forced us from Nakovo into cattle car trains bound for concentration camps. We were so crammed in that we couldn’t sit down. I remember my Grandmother Susie fought back when they took my mother, brother and me. Two soldiers beat her and locked her in a cellar as others herded us into the cars. “We emerged from the train at a concentration camp in Rudolfsgnad, another Donauschwaben village that had now be-

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come the most brutal of the Donauschwaben concentration camps. Like Nakovo, all the houses had been emptied, except for some straw and horse blankets thrown on the floor. We never knew what happened to the families that had lived there. “My mother, brother and I were put in a room with a great-uncle and what family he had left. They were essential to us, helping get extra food and fuel for an occasional fire. My mother was nursing my brother, Franzi, and needed more food than our daily rations. But even with their help, she was wasting away. “The next spring, we were joined by my Oma (my mother’s mother) who was caring for my cousin Nik. His mother, Lisa, had been sold as a slave to a Serbian family. I was 9 by now, and Nik and I tried to help too. In the attic, we found grains of wheat and other scraps between the floor boards. Just as in our village, the Rudolfsgnad farm families had stored their harvest above their living space. It wasn’t much, but the few kernels of wheat or corn helped supplement a bit. “One day, a Serbian soldier came into our

camp – and my mother and I recognized him as one of the villagers who had helped my father with our harvest. He looked shocked when he saw us. That night, he came to our house, bringing food and words of thanks for how well my father had treated him in Nakovo. After that night, I never saw him again. “But no matter how hard we worked to get food, my mother kept wasting away. Typhoid fever and tuberculosis were ravaging her body as she kept trying to nurse Franzi. Eventually, she had to go to the house for the dying. On May 23, my oma called me to my mother’s bedside. “I went to her and she looked up and said simply, ‘Hely, that is all I have.’ She reached up weakly and hugged me saying, ‘Please take care of your brother so that when your father comes home he can see his son.’ In a few hours, she was dead. “I went back to my baby brother, who was 1 by then. Franzi was smiling up at me. As I bent down to hug him, he reached up and grasped my braids in his frail little hands, trying to climb up. I whispered to him that I would take care of him as our

dear mother had asked. I didn’t know it was a promise I could never keep. “In less than a month, the soldiers took me away to an orphanage. I last saw Franzi in my oma’s arms. By October, he had joined my mother, starved to death in the Rudolfsgnad concentration camp.

“Y

EARS LATER, I learned that my father had been captured with his regiment of German soldiers in Slovenia. As they were marching across the landscape, his captors announced that the war was over. They instructed my father and others to take their POW clothes off and put on new civilian clothes they would provide. My father and others were delighted and stripped right away. As soon as they had removed their clothing, the Serbian soldiers mowed them down with machine gun fire. My uncle escaped. My father died in the massacre that day. “As I boarded the train for an orphanage in Zagreb, I was utterly alone. I think when

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Who were the Donauschwaben?

Left: Hely’s mom and dad in their “tracht” traditional costumes. Above: A map of the modern Banat region.

you live constantly with death, fright becomes part of your daily life. You don’t have a choice, so you just function with it. You sort of get this courage within you that says ‘I am going to survive.’ And somehow you do. “I was 10 and spoke only German, surrounded by Serbians and Croatians. As the only Donauschwaben child in the state-run orphanage in Zagreb, I quickly learned to speak Serbo-Croatian. I went through the first through fourth grades in one year, and became very good at chess. I even began playing the accordion again. “We were housed in the mansion next to Tito’s Zagreb residence. As time went on, I became more identified with my fellow Young Communists. My German language, Catholic faith and Donauschwaben heritage were fading from my memory. Tito visited us sometimes, and occasionally I was invited to perform for him as an example of the gifted Young Communists of his new regime. “In a couple of years, I moved to an orphanage for older children in a section of Zagreb called the Upper City. I attended high school classes and learned Russian as my second language. Serbo-Croatian was my primary language.

“I

WAS 12 the Christmas of 1948 when Paula, a friend of my Grandmother Susie, appeared at my orphanage. She told me Grandmother Susie had escaped

from our village and made her way to Austria, reuniting with her daughter, Jolan. “Paula had found me with my grandmother’s help, and had come to take me to Christmas Mass. Though I hadn’t attended Mass in years, I went with her gladly, delighted to see someone who had known my family. “Sitting there in church beside Paula – even now I get chills remembering! It was like I was reborn there. The words and music of the Mass swept me back home to my early life in our lovely Nakovo. I returned to my orphanage that night, knowing my life could never be the same again. “In the new year, my Aunt Lisa came to take me from the orphanage and reunite me with my surviving family. Oma and Nik survived Rudolfsgnad and had moved to a farm labor camp to join Aunt Lisa after she had been freed from enslavement to a Serbian family. My mother’s other sister, Susie, had been exiled to a Siberian labor camp, but her daughter, Annie, joined us in the farm labor camp. Together, we worked the fields and lived in one room of the old farm house. “Within six months, we moved into the nearby town of Gakovo, where Aunt Lisa found a job. Each day, Nik, Annie and I rode the train to attend high school in the nearby town of Sombor – another former Donauschwaben town. Each night we returned home to our family and a meal Aunt Lisa provided through her work at the government-run food kitchen. “As time went on, our lives changed thanks to the wonderful work of the Red Cross. I cannot say enough about how the Red Cross helped us and other families across Europe, reuniting loved ones and

Various sources estimate that prior to World War II, about 1.5 million Donauschwaben lived in the region now contained in Hungary, Serbia, Croatia and Romania. After the ethnic cleansing that raged from1944 to 1948, only about one-third remained. In Rudolfsgnad alone, more than 9,000 Donauschwaben, like Anna and Franzi Merle, perished from starvation, cold and illness. They lie now in unmarked mass graves that spill over from the former cemetery to the field across the street. By 1955, the Red Cross had resettled most of these survivors in Germany, and many emigrated to other countries throughout the world. Those who remain have integrated into the majority society, so that the Donauschwaben no longer exist as a distinct ethnic group. Those who lived to tell their story largely remained silent as the world focused on the atrocities Nazi Germany committed during the war. In 1997, nearly 50 years after the camps were finally closed, the first memorial to the Donauschwaben genocide was dedicated at Rudolfsgnad. letting families know what had happened to those who were missing! “Aunt Susie was released from the Siberian labor camp and moved to Germany, reuniting with her husband, who had been a Scottish POW. Annie soon joined them. In 1949, my Grandmother Susie, Aunt Jolan and her family emigrated to Chicago – the place Grandmother Susie had left so many years earlier when my father was young. “Grandmother Susie’s nephew, Frank Friemann, had been like a brother to my father in Chicago. Now Chairman of Magnavox Corporation, Uncle Frank had been using his resources to find and rescue family members who had survived. Eventually, he brought 14 of us to the U.S. Though I didn’t know it, Uncle Frank had been working with the Red Cross and the Croatian Embassy throughout my entire ordeal, trying to get me out of Europe. “In 1953, I got passage on a Red Cross Children’s Transport train from Gakovo to Germany, where Aunt Susie picked me up.

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Uncle Frank had determined that I should establish German citizenship so I could emigrate to the U.S. in two years. Soon, Oma, Aunt Lisa and Nik joined me in a two-room apartment where Nik slept in the kitchen and Oma, Aunt Lisa and I slept in the bedroom. We shared an outhouse with the entire building. Aunt Lisa and Oma were very frugal so we had enough to eat although we were very poor. “In 1955, my immigration papers came through. I boarded a PanAm flight to take me to a new life Uncle Frank had arranged. I would stay with my Grandmother Susie, Aunt Jolan and family in Chicago and then attend school through St. Mary’s of Notre Dame.

“I

WILL NEVER forget my first days in Chicago! The first time I visited a grocery store, I almost couldn’t take it. So much to absorb! I had never seen such abundance of fruits and breads! It was frightening really, almost utopian and overwhelming. “In January 1956, Uncle Frank arranged for me to meet his friend, Father Ted Hesburgh, the new president of the University of Notre Dame. Uncle Frank had asked Father Ted to be my guardian. He accepted, and enrolled me in St. Mary’s Academy in South Bend, Ind. “Aunt Jolan took me to the Palmer House in Chicago to meet Father Ted. I wore my best pink suit and carried a dictionary since I spoke German, Serbo-Croatian and Russian at that time – but no English. Father Ted spoke some German, but with the help of the dictionary we did fine. At the end of our meeting, I boarded a train to South Bend with Father Ted. “At St. Mary’s Academy, Father Ted introduced me to Mrs. Olga Mestrovic, who would take me shopping for new clothes. He asked Mrs. Mestrovic to help me because of our shared language and experiences. Her husband, Ivan Mestrovic, was a world-famous sculptor who had last lived in The Upper City of Zagreb before the war. He had been imprisoned by the Communists, but was released from a Croatian prison through the intervention of the Vatican. After his release, he brought his family to the U.S. Mr. and Mrs. Mestrovic practically adopted me when I was at St. Mary’s Academy, then St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame.

“But my guardian was always Father Ted. What can I say about the role he has played in my life? I cannot overstate it. He has been my guardian for more than 50 years. When I am facing a challenge, I call him. He always makes time for me and my family to visit. And even though he hasn’t ever been a spouse or “official” parent, he always has the right answers. “My life has been shaped by these wonderful people, along with all the ones who went before and everyone since. I have so many components; everyone has had a hand in me!” Hely laughs. “My children – Michael, Nik, Peter, Ted, Thad, Matthew and Anna Schork – they are my best friends and, really, they are why I am here today. When their father, Tony, and I divorced after 24 years of marriage, they were there for me and came through it all so powerfully! I consider myself the proudest mom I could be of them and of my 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren! “I constantly asked God, ‘Why me?’ During my divorce, single-parenting or my husband Bruce’s stroke, I would even get angry and ask, ‘Don’t you think I’ve been through enough already?’ “But I know I have a guardian angel watching over me, and a sense of purpose guiding me. There’s not a day I don’t think about my mother and her example of taking care of others. She instilled in me a sense of responsibility I have always tried to honor. When I look at my children and grandchildren, I see my baby brother. I hope I have done my very best and in some way kept my promise to my mother. “For years after I came to the U.S., I

wondered ‘Why are people around me so normal?’ In Europe, I was not much different from the other survivors. But from my first days in America, I’ve known I was different from the people around me. I never wanted my children to feel their mother wasn’t just like everyone else, so I didn’t tell them about my childhood. I told myself I would not dwell on the past.” “But now, at 73, when I sometimes ask God, ‘Why me?’ I believe the answer lies in telling others the story of my life. I cannot change the atrocities I witnessed that were inflicted on my people. I can’t regret, nor will I forget, any part of it. Regretting makes you dwell on the negative and makes you unhappy. Instead, I hope my story can honor the thousands of Donauschwaben who died with my family and those who survived with me.” “I have a great heritage! Now it is time our story to be known. I feel the Lord has guided me to this goal.”

Afterword: Hely Merle-Benner lives in Ann Arbor with her husband Bruce. She is an International Travel Agent with the Conlin Travel Agency. In 1999, Father Ted Hesburgh and Hely traveled to Kosovo as part of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees team to witness the relocation of refugees during the Kosovo War. In 2005, Hely, her son Peter and daughter Anna, traveled to her beloved Nakovo for her first visit since 1945. In 2008, she and her son Ted traveled to Germany to attend her first reunion of Nakovo survivors of the Donauschwaben genocide.

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

What makes a human being Bishop Earl A. Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.

J. Carlson

a person?

n the blog world, there is a report from Campbell County, Va., that investigators did not charge a woman whose newborn baby had suffocated. Regardless of whether the mother was at fault or not, this is what the blog states: “Investigators said because the mother and baby were still connected by the umbilical cord and placenta, state law does not consider the baby to be a separate life.”

from the bishop

beings always lead to this. We humans really like our scapegoats; we like to take out our difficulties on others. The Christian message is quite to the contrary – pour out our lives for others in love. Another blogger comWe have become way mented on this event: too comfortable in our “What makes a human own day with the slaughter person a human person, of the unborn, just as we according to our law, is were way too comfortable whether its mother wishes in our historical past with it to be – at least up to the enslavement of our Afsuch time as it’s alive and rican sisters and brothers kicking apart from and and the wholesale conindependently of her.” quest of the Native Ameri This kind of ingrained cans. When will we learn and legal demeaning of the simple lesson that an any kind of human life is attack on any human life is always the basis of the dean attack on all human life meaning of all life. In this and ends up demeaning all issue of FAITH you have of us? read the heart-rending stoThis month, and every ry of a victim of holocaust. January, we remember Whenever Jewish life was with great sadness the deor is demeaned, as it was cision of the United States even at times in our own Supreme Court that the Catholic history, but cerdetermination of whether tainly to a most base level a baby in the womb is to by the Nazis, it demeaned be a human being is up to all life. This made it posthe woman and is a private sible and acceptable for so matter: she has the right many to participate in the to say yes or no to that We have become way too com- human life much as the actual annihilation of so many of our Jewish sisters Roman emperors so long fortable in our own day with the and brothers, in addition to ago did by giving a thumbs many Poles and many who slaughter of the unborn, just as we were up or thumbs down in the way too comfortable in our historical past were mentally or physiarena. cally handicapped in Nazi While we still must with the enslavement of our African sisters Europe. engage in the political and brothers and the wholesale conquest arena to attempt to protect As you read in Hely’s of the Native Americans. story, this kind of genoall human life, even more cide was not unique to the we must use our love and Nazis, we have seen altogether too many of these kinds persuasion and promises of assistance to convince our of attacks on whole classes of human beings in the past fellow citizens that human life is defined by itself, that it century, from Armenians to Central Africans to those is a given, not something to be classified by us. Each of in Cambodia. Prejudices and the devaluing of human us is a gift from God.

Diocesan priest – religious priest

What’s the difference? By Doug Culp

Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston is a Franciscan.

Q: A:

What is the difference between a diocesan and religious priest?

They’re both priests, but their ministries are a bit different. A diocesan priest, or secular cleric, is ordained for a geographically defined area called a diocese. It is within this diocese that the priest ministers to the local church, generally serving in parish communities – although he may also assist in schools, hospitals and prisons, depending upon the local needs. A diocesan priest does not take any vows – but he does make promises. He commits to living celibately and to be obedient and respectful to his local bishop. He does not live in a religious community, though he may live with other priests. It’s customary for him to wear a Roman collar. On the other hand, a religious order priest is not ordained for a particular diocese. He belongs to a religious community, such as the Franciscans, Claretians or Dominicans. He

strives to live the charism – or grace/mission/goal – of the community’s founder. Religious order priests often have a ministry related to that charism, such as education or health care. However, at the request of a bishop, a religious priest may also do parish work, sometimes in a parish that has been entrusted to his order or congregation. He remains under the authority of his superior and the rule of his community – except as it regards the particular parish ministry where he is to follow the directives of the bishop. Unlike his diocesan counterpart, a religious order priest professes the three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. According to canon law (c.599 – c.601), the vow of chastity “assumed for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” entails the obligation of perfect self-restraint in celibacy. The vow of poverty refers to a life poor in both fact and spirit. It requires both dependence and limitation in the “use and disposition” of goods according to the rules of the religious order. The vow of obedience requires the submission of the

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

is the life of a Q: What typical religious order priest? Religious order priests normally live together as a community. As a community, they typically follow a pre-determined schedule that includes a combination of prayer, work and leisure. With that said, what an individual religious order priest does daily is so varied and complex that it is almost impossible to do anything but generalize. For example, many are unable to live in community for extended periods of time because they are engaged in mission work that carries them to distant lands. Some have one main occupation like teaching, parish ministry or social work and their lives reflect the demands of these positions. Others are contemplatives who spend their days combining prayer with some form of labor in order to sustain the community.

Major orders and their charisms A religious order is distinguished by a charism, or particular grace granted by God to the religious order’s founder or the order itself. Here is a list of a few of the priestly religious orders and their charisms:

Order: Charism: Dominicans Preaching Benedictines

Liturgical prayer and monasticism

Franciscans Poverty Passionists Preaching of the Passion Fathers of Divine Mercy

Preaching of divine mercy of God

Carmelites Contemplative prayer Augustinians Genuine community life Maryknoll Mission Vincentians Redemptorists Salesians

Champion needs of the poor Preach the Gospel to the poor Pastoral charity in missionary expansion

cope: The cope is a long mantle or cape, worn around the shoulders and fastened at the chest with an ornamental clasp. For years, it was used simply as a cloak for warmth and gradually came to be specialized as a vestment for the chant of the Divine Office. Copes were particularly associated with cantors, Today, the cope is worn by priests, bishops or deacons during ceremonial functions other than the Mass.

How has Hollywood depicted Catholic priests? We often hear complaints about how priests and the church are portrayed in the movies. Have things really changed? Take a look back at some priestly depictions from the 1930s and ’40s – an era some call the ‘golden age’ of filmed priest-heroes. In 1937, Father Flanagan’s Boys Town had become so well-known that MGM Studios offered to donate $5,000 toward making a movie about it. Although he originally declined, Father Flanagan agreed to the movie after he saw a script he liked. The movie, starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, was filmed on the campus in Omaha, Neb., and was one of the most popular films of 1938. Spencer Tracy won an Academy Award for his role as Father Flanagan. He donated the famous gold statue to Boys Town, where it remains on display today. DIOCESAN

@ Thinking about the priesthood? Contact Father Jerry Vincke, jvincke@dioceseoflansing.org. Another ministry supported by the DSA. SERVICES APPEAL

father on film

Jesuits Education and mission

B. Patten

what is he wearing?

priest to the will of the legitimate superior as to his occupation, his place of living, his schedule and the rules and regulations of his order or congregation. A religious priest normally lives in one of the communities of his order. He typically wears the religious habit of his order. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, for instance, usually wears the brown robe of a Franciscan. Order priests have initials after their names that identify their religious orders. For example, the Jesuits have the letters “SJ” after their names because the technical name is Societas Jesu, the Society of Jesus, in Latin. Likewise, the title for the Dominicans is Ordo Predicatorum, the Order of Preachers, thus “OP” follows their names.

things to do: The Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus Council #8669 in Montrose has an annual weekly Fish Fry every Friday, from Labor Day through Good Friday. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please come and enjoy a great meal.

community

Good Shepherd Family Life Center in Montrose will have a Soup Supper Feb. 6; and a Sunday Breakfast on and Feb. 14. For more information, contact the parish at 810.639.7600. St. Mary, Charlotte invites all ladies to our afternoon of reflection, “A Call to Holiness, A Call to Serve’ on Feb. 27. Registration opens at 11:30 am, followed by lunch, speakers and concluding with Mass. The cost is $10 or $15 at the door. Call Denise to sign up, 517.543.6647. Dr. Scott Hahn, renowned author and speaker will be at St. Peter in Eaton Rapids on Feb. 6 beginning at 9 a.m. and ending with Mass at 5 p.m. Cost is $10 if you pre-register and $15 at the door. For more information, contact the church at 517.663.4735.

FAITH job network

Critical Issues annual lecture series kicks off 3rd year – a lecture series sponsored by Adrian Dominican Crossroads Mission Chapter: One Foot in the Door, the Other on the Ground: Feminist Resistance to Violence Against Women, 7-8:30 p.m., March 16, St. Mary of Good Counsel Parish in Adrian; and A Spirituality for the Here-and-Now,

January/February Café events St. Therese, Lansing has Bible study Tuesday mornings at 9:15 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 6:45 p.m. For more information, contact Tony Sperendi at 517.487.3749. SS. Charles and Helena, Clio has a Bible study group on Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. in the adult education room. New members are welcome. Please call Carol Waner 810.687.1266. Christ the King, Ann Arbor has small groups to assist you to grow in faith: Bible Study for Women, contact Joan O’Brien

7-8:30 p.m., April 13, at St. Joseph Parish in Adrian. A Life in the Spirit Seminar will be Feb. 13, at Christ the King Church, 4000 Ave Maria Dr. in Ann Arbor. Registration at 8:15 a.m. in church, Mass at 9:00 a.m. and seminar 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. For early registration or information, call Olga at 734.426.5514 or ortiz4519@earthlink.net.

734.994.0695; and Sharing/Listening/Interceding Group, Mondays, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., contact Ann Kopinski 734.426.1279 or kopinski@rc.net. For a complete list, see www.ctkcc.net or contact the parish secretary at pmaher@ctkcc.net. Lenawee/Hillsdale Regional Mission is Feb. 21-23, at St. Mary of Good Counsel in Adrian. Presenters are Father Geoff Rose and Father Tom Helfrich. Parish missions will be at both St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and St. John Student Center Feb. 21-23. Father Wisdom will preach at Masses at both sites on Sunday; and do two talks on both Monday and Tuesday. The same talks at each site.

items is Jan. 18. You can RSVP by calling 517.699.8454 or 517.740.0293. Feb. 6 is the 13th annual Diocesan Liturgy and Music Conference at St. John the Evangelist Church in Davison. There is a discounted registration fee for five or more from a parish. For more information, call Rita Thiron at 517.342.2476.

Beginning Experience for adults is Feb. 5 in Lansing. It is for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one through death, divorce or separation. For more information, call 517.449.3906 or e-mail habusta@aol.com.

There will be a Rachel Vineyard Weekend Retreat, Feb. 5-7. This is a post-abortive healing ministry. For information or to register, call Sandy Buza, Diocese of Saginaw, at 800.453.2081 ext. 652.

Rainbow Homes, 3815 S. Cedar St. in Lansing invites you to their Silent Auction and Dinner on Feb. 6 - auction is 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. and dinner is 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Please consider donating an item to the auction. Deadline for

Beginning Feb. 24 St. John Student Center, 327 MAC Ave., East Lansing there will be a Soup and Substance program on Wednesday evenings during Lent. It will begin with prayer and a simple meal fol-

Job networking

and prayer-supported meetings. Contact Gint at 734.528.4060 or e-mail ctk.tweeners@ gmail.com.

Cristo Rey Community Center is a Catholic Charities Agency. It has an employment and training program designed to prepare workers for employment. The center is located at 1717 N. High St. in Lansing. It can be contacted by fax 517.372.8499, telephone 517.372.4700 or e-mail info@cristo-rey.org.

Looking for a New Year’s gift? The gift of a six-week career workshop not only supplies people with great information, but also reminds them how much God is a part of their lives. In January, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor, will be offering a six-week, in-depth, career transition workshop entitled, Managing Your Career Transition – While Integrating your Career, Faith and Life. The workshop will be presented in six, 2 1/2-hour sessions, Thursdays, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Jan. 14-Feb. 18. To register, call Scott Wright at 734.821.2121. Cost is $65.00. The workshop is open to the surrounding community. Space is limited

“Tweeners” – In-Between Jobs Support Group meets Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Bishop Mengeling room at Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor. If you are unemployed or trying to get back into the workforce, we invite you to join us for Spirit-ed

lowed by a featured speaker. The Catholic Community of St. Jude Knights of Columbus serves the best fish fries around. Join us for dinner every Friday during Lent beginning Feb. 19 at 801 N. Bridge St. in DeWitt. Please mark your calendars in Lent 2010, the Rites of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will be held at the following times and locations: Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m., St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing; Feb. 20, 2 p.m., Christ the King, Ann Arbor; and Feb. 21, 3 p.m., St. John the Baptist, Howell. Retreat Day for persons who are sight-impaired/blind is Feb. 24 at the Diocesan Center in Lansing, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., cost is $10. Reservations are required. Contact Joann Davis at 517.342.2497 or jdavis@ dioceseoflansing.org. There will be a Flea Market and Antique Show, Mar. 5-6 at the Jackson Fairgrounds, 200 W. Granson St. Proceeds provided uninsured expenses for equipment, software, etc. for the visually impaired. For information, call 517.784.7750. Please join Saint Joseph Academy 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on Feb. 3, from for our open house at either our Adrian or Tecumseh campus. To schedule your classroom observation and personal tour, call 517.263.4898 ext 10. Visit us on the Web at www. sjaschool.org.

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

In Memoriam As we went to press, we learned of the death of Ruth Abood, who was our cover story in May 2007. Ruth’s story was an inspiration to all of us, and we admired her extraordinary courage. FAITH extends its sympathy and prayers to her family.

Deaf Ministry Mass schedule: St. John the Evangelist Church, 600 N. Adelaide St. in Fenton, either in St. John Chapel or the main church; Feb. 7, 10 a.m., main church; Feb. 14, 10 a.m., chapel; Feb. 17, Ash Wednesday, 5 p.m., chapel; and Feb. 28, 10 a.m., chapel. St. Thomas the Apostle, 517 Elizabeth St. in Ann Arbor every first, second and third Sunday of each month at 9 a.m. St. Gerard Church, 4437 W. Willow Hwy. in Lansing, Jan. 2, 4:30 p.m. and Feb. 20, 4:30 p.m. St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour St. in Lansing, Feb. 14, 4 p.m.; and Feb. 28, 4 p.m. Immaculate Heart of Mary, 3815 S. Cedar St. in Lansing on Feb. 17, time TBA, Ash Wednesday Mass. the lives of so many in the community. If you would like to make a monetary gift or donate items, please call 810.785.6911.

Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. It will be held at Livingston Catholic Charities Social Service – Be Our Guest Adult Day Office located at 2020 E. Grand River #103, Howell. For more information please contact Linda or Patty at 800-4896107 or livingstoncatholiccharities.org.

Catholic Charities of Genesee and Shiawassee counties are seeking qualified volunteer interpreters for the deaf and hearing impaired. You must be proficient in American Sign Language and members of the Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf are preferred. Mileage reimbursement is available. Hours are flexible. Please contact Lisa at 810.232.9950, ext. 130

Clean your closets for Catholic Charities – as you clean house after the holidays, don’t forget Catholic Charities’ NESK Outreach Center in Flint. Donations of new or gently used items including towels, linens, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, sheets and comforters are welcome. Gifts of dish soap, toothpaste, razors, toothbrushes, diapers, laundry soap, shaving cream, toilet paper, deodorant, shampoo and other personal items can help make the difference in

Experience a Tour of Hope. These guided behind the scenes tours of historic St. Vincent Catholic Charities highlight our rich history. We will share our services and a number of stories from over the years to inspire you. These 60-minute tours are free to anyone in the community. Preregistration is required. To schedule a tour, call Rhonda Abood at 517.323.4734 ext. 1205 or send her an e-mail aboodr@stvcc.org.

Project 2o3 – off to a great start

On Oct. 4, Sister Sue Eichhorn, O.P. was honored for 20 years of service to St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt with a special prayer service and open house. She will be retiring in December. It also was a celebration of her 60th anniversary as a Grand Rapids Dominican. In her time at the retreat center, Sister Sue has worked on weekend retreats, initiated an intern program for spiritual director training and has been a spiritual director for a number of people. She will reside at the motherhouse in Grand Rapids.

On Oc. 25, at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, more than 80 participants from seven different parishes in the Genesee County Region attended Project 2o3. Each meeting includes pizza and pop, community building games, praise and worship, a witness and prayer. Project 2o3 is hosted by a different parish each month. Parishes are free to come every month or select months that best fit their calendars. Each participating parish must provide chaperones for their youth.

Cristo Rey Civil Rights for Immigrants Task Force

@ Upcoming

On Oct. 13, people from across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C. to demand comprehensive immigration reform. Fourteen members from the Cristo Rey Civil Rights for Immigrants Task Force attended. The rally culminated on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Project 2o3 events are Jan. 24 (location TBD) and Feb. 21 at Good Shepherd, Montrose. If you would like information, please contact Amber Zelley, coordinator of High School Youth Ministry at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, 810.694.9072 ext. 153 or alzelley@gmail.com.

St. Jude in DeWitt celebrates its 40th anniversary

On the weekend of Oct. 2425, the people of the Catholic Community of St. Jude in DeWitt gathered to celebrate 40 years as a parish community of faith. Initially established as a mission of St. Therese Parish in Lansing, the parish’s 224 founding families gathered on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1969, for the first parish Mass – celebrated in the gym of DeWitt Junior High School. Eventually, a 10acre parcel of land was purchased in DeWitt and construction of the first parish church and multi-purpose building began in 1973. As the parish continued to grow, plans were made for its expansion, and the parish’s church was built and dedicated on Feb. 2, 1997. St. Jude’s pastor is Father Dwight Ezop.

Father Tom McClain is heading to Rome Father Tom McClain, SJ, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Ann Arbor, has been called to Rome to become the treasurer of the worldwide Society of Jesus. Father Dennis Dillon, SJ, who is working there now, will become the temporary administrator until the provincial, Father Tim Kesicki, SJ, can nominate another pastor.

local news

Catholic Charities

Retreat center honors Sister Sue Eichhorn

Catholic Schools Week is January 31 - February 6, 2010

Celebrating our Catholic Schools

Kathleen Howe makes history

Stewardship in Action Holy Family School and Religious Education students in Grand Blanc joined together to help restock the parish food pantry and Outreach. The students learned that the parish was having difficulty maintaining needed items – as the number of people seeking help has increased. They joined in this stewardship opportunity by having a food drive. The Holy Family School students brought in food, toiletries, paper products and detergent during the week of October 12-16 – collecting more than thousand items. The Religious Education students brought in items every Monday throughout the month of October. Some of the children helped deliver these items right to the pantry. Carrying their donations to the pantry, students got to see first-hand the bare shelves that they helped fill.

We would like to announce that Kathleen Howe has earned her wings for flying model airplanes. She is the first female member of the Capital Area Radio Drone Squadron to accomplish this. Kathleen is 13 years old and is in the 8th grade at St. Michael Parish School in Grand Ledge.

What was so special about Oct. 7, 2009 at Huron Valley Catholic School? It was the memorial of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, but it was much more for those at the independent Catholic school in Ypsilanti. Bishop Earl Boyea travelled from Lansing to celebrate the day with them and to bless their new outdoor Stations of the Cross. After Mass, everyone processed outdoors and recited a decade of the rosary as part of the Stations of the Cross dedication ceremony. Father Steve Mattson, superintendent of the Diocese of Lansing schools, also came to celebrate the day.

Powers Marching Band Tour

Every year at St. John Vianney, eighth graders invite the entire school to bring in food items at the Thanksgiving Mass and distribute them at the St. John Vianney Food Bank. In this photo: Mitchell Milne, Ashley Lince, 8th graders; Jordan Nelson-Fair, 3rd grade

Lumen Christi Kairos Retreat Forty-two Lumen Christi High School students attended a Kairos retreat at Camp DeSales, a 214-acre facility in Brooklyn. Father Geoff Rose, OSFS, was among the 12-member team to help the students draw closer to Jesus. – Jan Hoffbauer

St. Thomas More Academy celebrates its 20th anniversary St. Thomas More Academy commemorated its 20th anniversary on Oct.16, celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop Earl Boyea and six other concelebrants. With about 200 students and alumni present, Bishop Earl Boyea preached about thankfulness for both the good times and the hard times.

“Catholic education is never easy,” Bishop Boyea told the crowd. Founded by Joe and Jean LeBlanc and their 17 children in 1988, St. Thomas More Academy is a K-12 Catholic School in Burton. With enrollment at about 110, STMA has had 87 graduates since its first graduating class in 1994. Ninety percent of their graduates have gone on to college, while nine former students are currently in the seminary and different religious orders.

On Nov. 12, St. John Vianney Catholic School hosted the third leg of a whirlwind tour by the Powers Catholic High School Marching Chargers, led by Mrs. Marcella GuerraForsleff. The entire student body met in the gym to enjoy the performance, which included the Chargers’ pre-game pieces as well as their halftime routine. Fourteen out of the more than 40 band members have participated in St. John Vianney’s band program as middle school students, including one of the three drum majors.

FAITH Magazine / January/February 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

St. John Vianney School – celebrates special persons day St. John Vianney School celebrated Special Persons Day on Oct. 23. Students invited grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other special people in their lives to share the morning with them in school.

Brian Flynn’s new CD - Beyond the Veil Brian Flynn is a Catholic singer/songwriter. His new album is out now. Beyond the Veil features 11 new songs, including the eucharistic songs, I Believe and Panis Vere. Check out his Web site to listen to his CD and order his album at www.brianflynnmusic.com or stop at your local Catholic bookstore.

Knights of Columbus Council 7816 – makes a difference On Oct. 24, for Make a Difference Day, the East Lansing Catholic Community of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish/St. John Student Center, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and the Knights of Columbus, East Lansing Council 7816 came together to give their time and food

St. John Vianney students begin yearlong study

Burton zoning board gives unanimous approval to Mr. Rogers’ Greenhouse Catholic Charities’ Mr. Rogers Garden Program received unanimous approval from the City of Burton Zoning Board for the construction of a year-round greenhouse/hoop house at the Oct.15 meeting. It will be built on the program’s garden site at Ebenezer Ministries on Center Road in Burton. “Building this hoop house lets us employ a number of area youth through the winter months … training them to train others – teaching them … how to keep a job and make a difference for themselves,” according to Greg Gaines, Mr. Rogers program director. The hoop house project was made possible by a generous grant of $50,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. These gifts allow for various program expansions at both the Ebenezer Ministries garden site and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Flint. Catholic Charities’ partnership with the Mr. Rogers Program has resulted in one of Genesee County’s most successful mentoring programs. The program, originally developed by Mr. Wendell Rogers, provides youth with the opportunity to learn business and employment skills. Catholic Charities is a comprehensive health and human service agency serving more than 30,000 individuals and families in Shiawassee and Genesee Counties each year. If you would like additional information about Catholic Charities or would like to contribute to the Mr. Rogers Program, call 810.232.9950.

nal, family and community service organization. For more information about the East Lansing Council or the Knights of Columbus, please contact Clark Miller at 517.927.2448, Jason Johnson at 517.347.3579 or visit www.kc7816.org.

Sparrow’s Nest – breaking the cycle of poverty Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lansing is transforming communities, one family at a time. The pastor, Father John Byers, invited parishioners to be part of a new Parish Ministry Team that would support a single mother and her children, who were homeless, to become homeowners through the Sparrow’s Nest Program. The parish raised the $10,000 needed to purchase the 2002 mobile home. This presented a challenge for the parish in these difficult economic times. Through the generosity of the Steve and Melinda Roznowski Foundation, the home has been purchased and funds set aside for repairs.

local news

Eighth graders at St. John Vianney are beginning a yearlong study of the Flint River. They began with a field trip to the Flint Farmers Market near the river and then took a hike along the river – learning about the ecology of the river and a bit of history as well. Back at school, they wrote poetry about their experiences. These poems were entered in the River of Words contest, sponsored by our nation’s past poet laureate, Robert Hass. As a culminating experience, they will participate in Project Green, a regional water-testing program. Students will test the water of the Flint River for aquatic life and factors that indicate the health of the river. Last year’s students found out that the Flint River was cleaner than they had thought!

donations to disadvantaged seniors on a fixed or limited income. About 425 pounds of nonperishable food items were collected. Participating volunteers also raked leaves for local parishioners who were not able to do it themselves. Chartered in 1981, and with 320 current members, the East Lansing Knights of Columbus Council 7816 is a Catholic men’s frater-

1 What in the world? The top 10 Catholic news events this month

Church in Italy to issue clarification on cremation – The Italian Bishops’ Conference is preparing to publish updated norms on funeral rites including cremation and the burial of ashes. The manual will explain that Catholic doctrine doesn’t oppose cremation, but rejects the practice of storing ashes at home.

local news

Welcome the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence Sisters

Mother Teresa’s remains will not be returned to Albania – The Indian government has told the Albanian government that it won’t allow the remains of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be returned. Church officials insisted any decision rests with the Missionaries of Charity.

Pope forgives Christmas Eve Attacker – The day after Susanna Maiolo tackled the pope during Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Benedict forgave her. According to officials, Maiolo appeared to be disturbed, and did not intend to harm the pope.

2 Honduran Congress prohibits morning-after pill – A new law passed in Honduras prohibits the consumption and marketing of the morning-after pill. The Honduran Congress stated that the pill has an abortifacient effect, making it unconstitutional.

St. Joseph Cub Scout Pack 368 helps 40 families receive a Thanksgiving meal The St. Joseph, Howell Food Pantry received a donation of 40 turkeys to be distributed on Nov. 21. With just over a week’s notice, one of the main organizers of the Food Pantry contacted the pack leadership and asked if the Cub Scouts would be able to assist in completing a total Thanksgiving meal to be given to those receiving a turkey. The Cub Scouts, with their families’ support, provided the food and assembled the 40 bags, which contained all the traditional Thanksgiving favorites – mashed potatoes, stuffing, veggies and pumpkin pie fixings.

When Father Joseph Rinaldo of the Servants of Charity needed help to bolster the operations of the Shrine of St. Joseph in Grass Lake, his call was answered by two Sisters of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence. Sister Brenda McHugh and Sister Margaret Mary Schissler, of Chicago, have made a significant impact in the community. Sister Brenda has a teaching degree from Neumann College in Aston, Pa., and now teaches religion in Kindergarten and grades 3-6 at Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School. Sister Margaret Mary has an accounting degree from Chicago State University and has taken over the day-to-day operations at the Shrine of St. Joseph.

Heartbeat – gussy up your spirit

Lenawee county parishes share the warmth In Adrian, St. Mary of Good Counsel Parish, St. Joseph Parish and Siena Heights University have provided shelter for the homeless for three winters at the Salvation Army. Twelve other churches in Lenawee also have joined forces to Share the Warmth. The life-changing ecumenical program brings people

together to share the warmth of their hearts during the cold winter months. Last year, a total of 53 individuals took advantage of the warm beds. According to Captain Gordon Knight of the Salvation Army, “Our mission is to keep people alive long enough to find hope.” For more information, call 517.265.2038. – Jan Hoffbauer

The tables in a conference room at the Weber Center in Adrian were decorated as if guests were invited to a wedding reception. Instead, about 40 women joined Sister Pat Hergenroether, CSJ, from Wayne, who presented a program called HEARTBEAT by Gussy up Your Spirit. She is a sister of the Congregation of St. Joseph. The sacred and whimsical program reminded the women that God is present anywhere there is a heartbeat. For information about Sister Pat and her team coming to your parish call Stacie Marentette at 313.247.1851 or online at www.gussyupyourspirit. com – Jan Hoffbauer

New resource helps prepare deaf Catholics for reconciliation rite – The National Catholic Office for the Deaf has developed a new series of 12 lesson plans on DVD to assist in preparing Catholics who are deaf or hard of hearing for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Vatican denounces European ruling against crucifixes in schools – The Vatican said it experienced surprise and sorrow when a European court ruled that the crucifixes hanging in Italian public schools violate religious freedom.

First Canadian elected as superior general of Redemptorists – Father Michael Brehl, a Canadian, is the new superior general for Redemptorists, who were founded by St. Alphonsus Ligouri in 1732.

D. Trumpie

celebrates 10 years and 100 issues

Deacon cured through intervention of Cardinal Newman – Deacon Jack Sullivan, whose cure from crippling back pain advanced the beatification of Cardinal John Newman, preached from the pulpit of Westminster Cathedral on the Feast of St. John Lateran.

Health Care top priority for U.S. Bishops – The bishops have expressed their concern that health-care legislation should not proceed in its current form. The bishops want to ensure that healthcare providers are not required to provide abortions, and that abortion is not federally funded.

The executive team and Board of Directors of FAITH Catholic (L-R), Joanne Eason, Peter Wagner, Tom Pastula, Msgr. Steven Raica, Msgr. George Michalek, Elizabeth Solsburg, Father Charlie Irvin, Bishop Carl Mengeling, Father Dwight Ezop, Bishop Earl Boyea, Patrick O’Brien, Msgr. Michael Murphy.

D. Trumpie

FAITH’s graphic desigers (L-R), Lynne Ridenour, Patrick Dally, Janna Stellwag, Nicole Ballinger (intern) and Abby Wieber.

D. Trumpie

Patrick O’Brien, Father Charlie Irvin, Father Dwight Ezop, Bishop Mengeling and Bishop Boyea unveil the 10th Anniversary Issue.

Patrick O’Brien, FAITH’s president and CEO, with Bishop Boyea and Father Charlie Irvin, FAITH’s first editor.

Bishop Boyea checks out the graphic spread of FAITH’s 100 covers on pages 2 and 3 of the anniversary issue.

FAITH at 10

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Watch the FAITH Magazine anniversary video on FAITHmag.com

Master of Ceremonies, Channel 12 anchor Bill Harris, kicks off the evening.

Father Joe Krupp autographs his new book: On Dec. 10, FAITH celebrated 10 years Smart Answers and Bad Jokes From a Priest and 100 issues with a fundraising event at Who Proves God has a Sense of Humor. the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.

Father Larry Delany shares a laugh with Bishop Carl Mengeling, FAITH’s founding publisher.

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FAITH at 10 FAITH Magazine

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Head of Knights of Columbus honored by city of Rome – Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, head of the Knights of Columbus, was awarded Rome’s Lupa Capitolina prize in recognition of the work and service the organization has carried out in the Italian capital for nearly a century.

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notes:

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