January/February 2012

F A I T H

e x c l u s i v e

Touched by an Angel to Little Angels – an interview with Roma Downey

f r o m

t h e

b i s h o p

“Love for Jesus and his Church must be the passion of our lives!”

t h e o l o g y

1 0 1

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

Support access to health Protect conscience rights.

Catholic Organizations Respond to HHS Preventive Services" Mandate If

We, the undersigned, strongly support access to life-affirming health care for all, and the ability of secular and religious groups and individuals to provide and receive such care. That is why we have raised objections to a rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services forcing almost all private health plans to cover sterilization procedures and contraceptive drugs, including drugs that may cause an early abortion.

As written, the rule will force Catholic organizations that play a vital role in providing health care and other needed services either to violate their conscience or severely curtail those services. This would harm both religious freedom and access to health care.

The HHS mandate puts many faith-based organizations and individuals in an untenable position. But it also harms society as a whole by undermining a long American tradition of respect for religious liberty and freedom of conscience. In a pluralistic society, our health care system should respect the religious and ethical convictions of all. We ask Congress, the Administration, and our fellow Americans to acknowledge this truth and work with us to reform the law accordingly.

Robert B. Aguirre President Catholic Association of Latino Leaders

John Garvey, JO President The Cat holic University ot America

Rev. John Jenkins, CSC President University of Notre Dame

Rev. Larry Snyder President Catholic Charities USA

Carl A. Anderson Supreme Knight Knights of Columbus

Sheila Gilbert President National Coun<::il of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Patty Johnson President National Council of Catholic Women

Joanne Tomassi National Regent Catholic Daughters of the Americas

James G. lindsay Executive Director Catholic Volunteer Network

The Most Rev. Jose Gomez Archbishop ot Los Angeles Chairman Migration and Refu gee Services

F. OeKarlos Blackmon, ObiSB Supreme Knight/CEO Knights of Peter (laver Christiane Chagnon International Regent Daughters of Isabella William J. Cox President/CEO Alliance of Catholic Health Care Michael Galligan-Stierle, PhD President/CEO Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities

John M. Haas, PhD, STL President National Catholic Bioethics Center Ken Hackett President (athol ic ReliE'f Services

Stephen L. Mikochik, JD Chair National Catholic Partnersh ip on Disability

Jan R. Hemstad, MD President Catholic Medical Association

Karen M. Ristau, EdD President National Catholic Educational Association

Cheryl A. Hettman, PhD, RN PrE>sident National /\ssociation of Catholic Nurses

Geralyn C. Shelvin Su preme Lady Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary

The Most Rev. Timothy Dolan Archbishop of New York President United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

6 yourlife PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

Jan./Feb. 2012 • Volume 13: Issue 1

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table of contents

6 work life Will an office crush ruin my life?

8 parenting journey What defines immodest clothing for teens?

8 conflict resolution My neighbors don’t pick up after their dog 9 marriage matters She says: “My kids aren’t being treated fairly in our marriage.” He says: “I made promises about money to my late wife” What do they do?

10 culture Poletown pierogies

12 yourfaith 12 in the know with Father Joe How do I report liturgical abuse?

14 theology 101 What does the Church mean when it says that the sacred Scriptures are inspired?

16 spiritual fitness Why we all need mercy

19 yourstories 19 profile Catholic radio comes to Jackson 20 our story Bridget Smith’s courageous fight against cancer 22 cover story For Julie Coenen, courage is all in a day’s work 26 special report an interview with Roma Downey

22 19

20

Liturgical calendar: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God January 1 | Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church January 2

T. Gennara

Most Reverend Earl Boyea

T. Gennara

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

J. Luning

contents

3

from the editors

Courage

in the face of brutality

T

his August will mark 20 years since I began seminary at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago. One of the graces of attending seminary in Chicago is the ethnic diversity offered by such a large city. On any given Sunday in Chicago, the Mass is celebrated in dozens of different languages in a variety of ethnically diverse parish communities. Chicago’s ethnic diversity reflects the growing diversity of Catholic parishes within the United States as a whole.

T. Gennara

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

One facet of the pastoral formation that we received in seminary was an intensive exposure to the variety of ethnic parishes in Chicago. It was a way to help us gain an understanding of and appreciation for the unique history and culture of Catholics whose primary language for worship was not English. Those weekend-long experiences also gave us an opportunity to learn more about the personal stories and histories of the people who welcomed me and fellow seminarians into their parish communities.

One of the most memorable experiences I had on such a parish weekend happened when I visited a Vietnamese parish in the heart of Chicago. Each sem-

saint of the month

St. Basil from a family of saints St. Basil was born in 330 in what is present-day Turkey. His family includes St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia, his parents. Basil’s siblings Macrina, Peter, Naucratius and Gregory of Nyssa are all

4

inarian was hosted by a family from the parish, and my hosts were the Nguyen family. After a welcome dinner at the parish on Friday evening, each of us had the opportunity to spend the rest of the evening getting to know our host families. The Nguyens were gracious hosts and shared with me the harrowing story of their escape from Vietnam.

Just before the South’s fall, Mrs. Nguyen and their young children were able to escape to a refugee camp in Thailand.

They eventually made their way to the United States and with the assistance of family, they settled in Chicago in the late 1980s. Because he had been a high-ranking officer in the South Vietnamese Army,

Mr. Nguyen’s story was vastly different. Following the South’s fall, he and other officers were herded into concentration camp-type settings where they spent endless days at hard labor. Despite the brutal treatment he received at the hands of his captors, Mr. Nguyen never renounced his Catholic faith nor did he give up hope of being reunited with his wife and children. He eventually was able to escape and begin the harrowing journey toward reunification with his family.

I always will remember that Friday evening in Chicago in the Nguyens’ apartment as they shared their story with me. To look at them – an unassuming, hard-working family – one would never know the tremendous gifts of faith and courage that had guided their lives as they sought peace and freedom.

That weekend, I learned true courage doesn’t have to look like a super-hero. It can just as easily look like faith-filled parents who relentlessly and tirelessly risk everything in the search for freedom and fulfillment for themselves and for their children. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

honored as saints.

He favored communal living after spending time in monastic life.

His writings focused on the theology of the Holy Spirit.

Basil is a Doctor of the Catholic Church. His works and actions have been very influential in the formation of the Christian Liturgy.

On St. Basil’s Day, it is tradition to give baked bread with a coin inside.

Basil begins his formal education as a youth.

– Story and illustrations by Chris Sushynski

FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious January 4 | St. John Neumann, bishop January 5 | St. André Bessette, religious January 6

75th

Anniversar y

of

the

Diocese

of

Lansing

The Diocese of Lansing celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Throughout the year, we’ll be presenting pieces of our history, thanks to our diocesan historian, Msgr. George Michalek.

In 1924 …

Crosses burned on church lawns

F

or about a decade following World War I, antiCatholicism rose across the United States, much of it due to the activity of the Ku Klux Klan.

The same was true in the Diocese of Lansing.

Klan marches were held in several small towns like Perry and Ovid, rallies were held every Friday night in Gaines, and 3,000 showed up in Owosso in 1924 for a concert sponsored by the KKK. On Labor Day that year, more than 15,000 members marched down Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

Some parishioners of St. Joseph in Gaines recall their fear as children when the Klan burned crosses on lawns of Catholic families, and when they demonstrated at the church to dissuade people from attending Sunday Mass.

When Msgr. William Meyers moved

His works focused on the Holy Spirit.

with his family from Westphalia to Lansing in 1920 as a boy, his was the third Catholic family on the block. A cross burned on their lawn was a clear message to everyone: no more Catholics.

Morrice had a cross-burning on a lawn in the 1920’s, and the Protestant superintendent of Morrice public schools had a cross burned on his lawn after renewing the contract of a Catholic principal in the school district. To support the Catholics in many of the small towns, the Knights of Columbus would often show up in carloads.

Mr. Leo Walsh, secretary of Fr. John W. O’Rafferty, the pastor of St. Mary Cathedral from 1915-40, remembers him standing on the front porch of the cathedral during a Klan demonstration and calling out the names of KKK members he knew, though they were wearing hoods.

Much of the anti-Catholicism stemmed from the fear of losing jobs to the large number of immigrants coming from Europe, many of whom were Catholic. Plus the fear of being overrun politically and spiritually by Catholics.

For a few years in the 1920’s, the Klan came close to electing members to the highest offices in Michigan. Their number at that time is estimated at anywhere between 1/4 to 3/4 million, and their posi-

Icons of Basil portray a serious man.

tion towards Catholics was not considered on the fringe.

In 1924, they nearly succeeded in their push for a state amendment that would lead to the closing of all religious schools.

However, God turned a bad situation into one of ecumenical cooperation, according to Msgr. George Michalek, archivist for the Lansing diocese and source of much of this article. He noted that Catholics, Lutherans, and Christian Reformed fought together to defeat the proposal.

Celebrating the tradition of St. Basil’s Day.

6 | St. Raymond Peñafort, priest January 7 | The Epiphany of the Lord January 8 | Feast of the Baptism of the Lord January 9 | St. Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church January 13

work life

Q

a

I have developed a completely inappropriate crush on my new boss. He’s married, so I know he’s off limits. How do I deal with my feelings without causing problems at my job?

Feelings of attraction are commonplace and we all sometimes experience unruly desires. Sometimes the best way to conquer an inappropriate desire is to ask yourself – What it would be like if it were fulfilled?

So go ahead and imagine for 10 minutes. Wonder and rehearse in your mind.

Your boss detects your feelings and responds positively.

Fun flirting escalates. You both enjoy it. Months later you both definitely cross the “off limits” line. The logical fulfillment of your crush is realized.

How do you feel? Are you happy? Proud of yourself? Do you feel ennobled?

Now imagine that your boss’ wife and children visit the office. He greets her with a kiss and fusses over their children.

She beams, and while hustling the kids off, says, “See you at Sarah’s softball game, honey.”

He glances quickly at you, turns down his eyes and returns to his office, closing the door.

How do you feel now? Write down your feelings.

Continue to imagine any number of scenarios: • Your boss turns cold toward

9 marriage matters

10 culture

you, acting in an icy and distant manner.

• He confides that he wants to be with you, but he can’t leave his wife ... just yet.

• Etc. The outcomes are innumerable, but the point is the same.

The end of desire reveals the true nature of each desire.

Is your crush just “inappropriate” or could it be exceedingly dangerous? And if conceived, would the results bring you and others genuine happiness?

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. And desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.

(James 1:14-15)

You’re obviously smart enough to know what’s off-limits in action, so do the same with your heart. Guard your heart with all vigilance for from it flows the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23) It’s time to secure your heart.

First, let your feelings follow the facts. With a sense of humor and faith, let your adult mind take over.

Second, recognize the

T. Gennara

Will an office crush ruin my life?

8 parenting journey

P. Shippert

yourlife

inside:

Jim Berlucchi is a workplace professional with Spitzer Center. potential gravity of your desire. Your infatuation is with another woman’s husband. This is a path to sin.

Third, make the most of your error. Confess your emotional indulgence to the Lord, seek his grace in confession, and come out stronger, better and freer.

Fourth, renew your mind with the truth. The temptation will likely re-emerge. Nip it in the bud by living an examined life.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Finally and always, draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8 )

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Y O U R

L I F E

parenting journey

What defines immodest clothing for teens?

When they were sixth-graders, I took my daughter, Shannon, and one of her friends to the mall. We went our separate ways in the store and when we met up again the friend proudly displayed a T-Shirt with bold lettering: “My boyfriend’s out of town!” She announced, “This means that I have a boyfriend.” I explained the innuendo behind the message but she didn’t want to return her purchase. When handed the shopping bag, her mother said, “That would be a good shirt just to wear at home!” Immodest clothing sends messages that run counter to the respect and dignity of a person.

Be aware of culture and context. “Modesty inspires a way of life which makes it possible to resist the allurements of fashion and the pressures of prevailing ideologies. The forms taken by modesty vary from one culture to another. … Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 2523-2524) As the catechism points out, there are cultural differences in what would be considered appropriate attire. In Italian churches, women wear dresses with sleeves or cover their

Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual advisor.

My neighbors don’t pick up after their dog We share a back yard with our townhouse neighbors and they keep letting their dog out to ‘do his business’ but then don’t pick up after him. We’ve asked them nicely and it works for a few days, but then we’re back to the same problem.

8

come into contact with it, or be transmitted to people who accidentally step in it and track it home. Particularly at risk, of course, are children who play on the ground.”

This is a health issue and you have the right to enforce drastic

FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com

conflict resolution solutions. However, before you do so, you might want to consider putting together an educational flier to distribute among the townhouse neighbors, and perhaps on local community bulletin boards. Approach your neighbor with it first, and mention the principle of the Golden Rule – would they want their children exposed to this kind of hazard?

If this doesn’t work, you may need to file a complaint with the local health department.

S. Kendrick

Among the 10 reasons an animal resource coalition lists for a dog’s owners to pick up after their dogs is this one – which I consider the most important: “Abandoned dog poop can host diseases and/or parasites that can infect other dogs who

Redefine what it means to be “hot”! In their report on The Sexualization of Girls, the American Psychological Associated noted: “It’s natural to want to fit in when you’re growing up. But it’s never worth giving up who you are just to be accepted by someone else. Try to focus more on what makes you a good and caring person. Recognize your talents and accomplishments and those of the people around you. You can help to redefine “hot” as being someone who’s confident and caring.”

T. Gennara

Clothing is an expression of identity.

The choices that we make in terms of clothing are a way of aligning ourselves with particular groups. Adolescents define themselves in many different ways, “I am someone who is athletic” or “I am someone who loves to draw.” Choices in clothing reflect self-conceptions as well. T-shirts display one’s taste in music or a favorite sports team. Wearing a brand name reveals information about knowing what is cool (for the moment) and even economic status. When children are young, their parents have the most influence on the types of clothes they wear. But peers become more influential as kids move into the teen years. Clothes aren’t simply functional; they are an external sign connecting a teen with the peer group.

shoulders with shawls. In the United States, many styles of short-sleeved dresses are worn to church. Modesty involves knowledge of the context and setting. An outfit that might be modest at the beach is probably not suitable when going to dinner or a movie!

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

St. Anthony of Egypt , abbot January 17 | St. Sebastian, martyr January 20

She

SayS:

“My kids aren’t being treated fairly in our marriage.”

he

“I made promises about money to my late wife”

Sharon says: Jack’s children from his first marriage are lazy and refuse to work. Although my husband doesn’t give them money now, they stand to inherit everything he brought into the marriage.

It didn’t seem so unfair at the time, but now that we’ve been married more than 10 years, it seems unjust that his children will get more than mine.

I

Jack says: Sharon knew that my late wife and I intended that the money we’d accumulated during our marriage should go to our children. I know she disapproves of them, but they are my children, and I do not want to renege on their inheritance.

What

t feels like there is more to this than just how to distribute money!

Unfortunately, both Jack and Sharon have what a rational person would consider legitimate positions, and that can be problematic in finding a solution. If this is an issue that is driving a wedge in Jack and Sharon’s relationship, then they might want to consider not passing along an inheritance to any of their children.

do they do?

no different than we need to adjust to life as our bodies change with age.

Second, Jack and Sharon should remember that their marriage is different from their prior marriage(s); consequently, decisions made by, or with, a former spouse should be tempered with the needs and desires of their new spouse.

This is a new relationship and as such, should be viewed separate and distinct from prior unions. Jack should understand that it would be inappropriate and wrong to give priority to decisions made with his previous wife without regard for Sharon’s feelings. This is not reneging on a decision; it is failing to give adequate consideration to this new situation and relationship.

It would be beneficial for Jack and Sharon to discuss this issue with love and a gentle spirit toward each other to help them find an acceptable solution. It may be helpful if they would write, on paper, their thoughts and feelings on the situation; remembering that the spiritual fruit of goodness compels us to discuss with each other in a manner that is truthful, yet with kindness.

your marriage matters We are reminded of a proverb that says, “In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.” (16:9) Jack and his late wife may have intended one action (based on their situation at that time), but with a new family, is that what Jesus would do given this new situation?

Jack and Sharon have created a new family unit that requires new solutions and new decisions.

A big problem faced by families today is the process of merging two family units that were created previously into a new family unit. In order to achieve harmony between husband and wife, all children of the new unit should be treated equally and given the same considerations and opportunities. Children should not be viewed as “yours” or “mine” when it comes to equal treatment, but “ours.” Doing otherwise creates needless turmoil and division within the family unit.

T. Gennara

Our experience is that the quickest way for a marriage relationship to encounter problems is to introduce money issues.

Two key points should be given consideration by Jack and Sharon.

First, decisions/ideas/thoughts held prior to their marriage will need to be visited periodically during their marriage to ensure they are still appropriate and applicable.

Most married couples know that decisions made during one phase of their relationship may not be appropriate or valid in a future phase. Relationships change, needs change, and each spouse should be willing to adjust as different situations present themselves

SayS:

Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage.

9

D

uring my college years, I would, from time to time, work off-campus at a diner or coffeehouse to tackle class projects. On one occasion, I ended up in the quaint little Polish town of Hamtramck, which is surrounded by the city of Detroit. I found it to be a unique and quiet refuge from my personal struggles, overwhelming deadlines and occasional homesickness.

pie

Michelle DiFranco is a designer and the busy mom of two children.

FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com

P. Shippert

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contagious in a way that could change the world.

Reflecting back to my college days, my problems were few and my tasks were small compared to the hardships the Polish people faced both overseas and here in the American town in which they settled. But for even my most mundane challenges, I think of Blessed Pope John Paul II, the statue and his words to the people of Hamtramck, and I draw inspiration from his faith, conviction and courage.

I am grateful for the warm welcome and comfort Hamtramck provided me when visiting years ago. I also eagerly share with you a recipe for pierogies generously provided by the Polish Village Cafe of Hamtramck. When you eat this great cuisine of the Blessed Pope John Paul II’s homeland, I hope you will think of him and how his courage has affected so many lives.

T. Gennara

When facing a daunting task, I find there are three sources of comfort for me: prayer, people and food. Well, Hamtramck, known for its Polish heritage, was an offsite haven that offered all three. A beautiful church, a wonderful community and, yes, the best authentic Polish food you will find anywhere.

Near one particular restaurant that I visited for its pierogies is a statue of Pope John Paul II. I figured it was there simply because the Polish Catholic community revered him as one of their own. But there was more to the statue than I realized at the time. I later learned that it was erected to commemorate his visit to the neighborhood while bishop of Krakow. Since then, it has served as a symbol of hope, inspiration and courage for the city he “knows very well.” Those were his words to the crowd in passing on a return visit to Hamtramck as pope in 1987.

His visit and that very personal statement resonated with the people of Hamtramck, and his time there provided a great sense of comfort and hope during a period of communist unrest for the people of Poland abroad, and social adversity for the Polish immigrants right here in a struggling industrial Detroit neighborhood. If Pope John Paul II embodied anything to his faithful flock, it was courage. And as history would later prove, that courage was

Poleto

St. Agnes, virgin and martyr January 21 | Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children January 23 | St.

own

erogies culture

Potato and cheese pierogies

Dough • 2 – 2½ cups flour • 1 egg • ½ cup lukewarm water • pinch of salt • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Filling • 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and boiled • 1 onion, chopped and sautéed in 1 tablespoon butter • ¼ to ½ cup of farmers cheese (or ricotta) • salt and pepper to taste In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients for the dough. Knead until smooth and let rest (covered). In a separate bowl, fork blend (do not mash) all ingredients for the filling.

Set aside. Roll dough to a 1/8-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out circles using a biscuit cutter or the top of a two-inch glass. Place a teaspoonful of filling in the center of each circle. Fold over and pinch edges with a fork (or finger) to seal.

Boil pierogies for 5-8 minutes or until they float to the surface of the water. Remove with a strainer and pan fry them in butter until a light golden brown. Serve alone or with a side of sour cream.

Francis De Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church January 24 | Feast of St. Paul, apostle January 25 | Ss. Timothy and Titus, bishops January 26 | St. Angela Merici, virgin January 27

11

yourfaith

14 Seminary professors talk Scripture

16 What is mercy?

in the know with Father Joe

Dear Fr. Joe:

Q

a

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

My priest seems to make a lot of mistakes at Mass that I think may be liturgical abuses – is there something I should do about this?

Thank you for this question! In many ways, you’ve captured an important element of our lives as Catholics right now and summarized so many questions – let’s get right to it!

First, let’s acknowledge a good thing – you have a desire to protect the Mass and be sure its celebrated right.

This is a good and holy thing.

When we celebrate the Mass together, it is important that we maintain and celebrate our connection to all Catholics in heaven and on earth. Local customs are good and important expressions of regional spirituality and can enhance the way a believing community worships, but too much local expression can muddle the more important connection: namely, that connection to Holy Mother Church.

With that in mind, I’d ask you to take a step back and consider some things to help you decide what to do. As a priest, you’ll find many of us can be particularly sensitive to people accusing us of abusing the Mass. At the

12

T. Gennara

How do I report liturgical abuse?

core of the priesthood is the Eucharist we celebrate and, the phrase “liturgical abuses” is, in my mind, a conversation stopper, not the beginning of a dialogue. So, my first piece of advice is that you should assume the priest loves the Mass and would not wish to abuse it. If you start from that perspective, any dialogue you have with him will go much, much better.

The second thing I’d invite you to consider is that one of the great challenges to being a priest right now is that the Catholic world seems to have an overabundance of experts on liturgy. A priest who does little but write articles and give interviews about the failings of other priests is not an expert – I often think of the quote from President Roosevelt about how there are people who “do” and people who criticize the doers. When the people to whom we go for information on the Mass and on being Catholic are people more intent on evaluating others than actually getting out and serving God’s people in real and tangible ways, then

FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com

we need to turn them off in every sense of the word. As Catholics, we need to be better than that.

Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know.

One time, a man approached me after Mass, angry that I gave Communion to a boy who was wearing a hat. He was outraged at his perception that the boy was disrespectful. I had to explain to him that the young man had a brain tumor and recent surgery had left his head disfigured in such a way that exposure was simply too much for a 11-year old boy to handle. Had the man asked me a question instead of attacking, it would not have been such an embarrassing moment for him.

This brings me to raise another point: I think it is important to ask ourselves if our need to monitor liturgy and make sure it’s perfect is sometimes a need on our part to control. There are some folks who simply can’t sit at Mass without evaluating it and making sure it is in accordance with their interpretation

of the law. I invite all of us to pause and see if that is what we are dealing with here.

If you really believe there was something about the Mass you attended that rendered it invalid or illicit– for example, the priest used invalid matter for the Eucharist, or neglected to use the words of consecration – talk to him first. If that doesn’t work, then you may write to the bishop.

Remember to sign the letter and include your address.

As Roman Catholics, it is an important part of our tradition that things be orderly and precise – this historical precedent goes back a long way. However, what we must never do is let that need for order translate into a strange sort of “Catholic fundamentalism.” Remember, salvation is a messy business. God took flesh and came among us, and he chose to do so at a very confusing and crowded time. Sometimes, our desire for a “perfect Mass” can prevent us from seeing the beauty present in every Mass.

Enjoy another day in God’s presence.

St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church January 28 | St. John Bosco, priest January 31

Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L., is an 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

Y O U R

F A I T H

theology 101

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

Seminary professors talk Scripture 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, i.e. the Holy Spirit is behind the human words through which

14

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.

– Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L.,

FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com

When the Church speaks of the inspiration of sacred Scripture, it affirms that these writings have God as their source, and that 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 Eastern and Western Church Fathers.

At the same time, it is not clear from their writings how these early Christian writers understood inspiration, i.e., 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.

Mechanical dictation, often depicted in stained-glass windows as an evangelist writing on a scroll as an angel whispers in his ear, places too much emphasis on God while reducing human cooperation to mere passivity. Mere assistance, on the other hand, describes inspiration as the Holy Spirit merely protecting a human writer who writes freely from error. This definition overemphasizes the role of human contribution at the expense of the divine. Finally, subsequent approbation states that a book of sacred Scripture

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord February 2 | St. Blaise, bishop and martyr; St. Ansgar, b

When the Church speaks of the inspiration of sacred Scripture, it affirms that these writings have God as their source, and that they reveal knowledge of God that, left to ourselves, we humans could never attain. is inspired only upon its acceptance by the Church as a sacred text. Again, this definition elevates the role of the human community while almost ignoring altogether the active role of the Holy Spirit throughout all the stages of the text.

Having said what inspiration is not, the Church is now thinking more about the whole process of inspiration. It explores this matter in the 1993 document, “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church,” issued by the Pontifical Biblical Commission. In particular, it recognizes that a believing community passes down traditions that capture faithfully their experience of God, and that subsequent generations also experience these as compelling and pass them on until eventually the traditions reach the written form that we now call sacred Scripture.

– Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D.

Catechism Quiz

Q:

The Word of God and its interpretation form such an inseparable connection that one cannot stand without the other. “Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the Holy Spirit, they contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.” What are the three pieces that make up the Word of God and its interpretation?

A:

Sacred tradition, sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church (CCC 95)

What is an ecumenical council?

An ecumenical council gathers the bishops from the whole Catholic Church to discuss and settle issues dealing with Church doctrine and practice. The word ecumenical itself comes from the Greek, meaning “the inhabited world.” It originally referred to the Roman Empire.

The first “ecumenical” council was the Council of Jerusalem and is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. It addressed the observation of biblical law by, especially, Gentile converts in the early Christian community. It is generally referred to as the Apostolic Council rather than by the name of ecumenical.

There have been 21 ecumenical councils 1. First Council of Nicaea (325) 2. First Council of Constantinople (381) 3. Council of Ephesus (431) 4. Council of Chalcedon (451) 5. Second Council of Constantinople (553) 6. Third Council of Constantinople (680-681) 7. Second Council of Nicaea (787) 8. Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870) 9. First Council of the Lateran (1123) 10. Second Council of the Lateran (1139) 11. Third Council of the Lateran (1179) 12. Fourth Council of the Lateran (1215) 13. First Council of Lyon (1245) 14. Second Council of Lyon (1274) 15. Council of Vienne (1311-12) 16. Council of Constance (1414-1418) 17. Council of Basel, Ferrara and Florence (1431-1445) 18. Fifth Council of the Lateran (1512-14) 19. Council of Trent (1545-1563) 20. First Council of the Vatican (1870) 21. Second Council of the Vatican (1962-65)

What was Vatican II? Vatican II is a common way of referring to the Second Council of the Vatican, or Second Vatican Council.

The 21st ecumenical council derived its name from the fact that it was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on Oct. 11, 1962, and closed under Pope Paul VI on Dec. 8, 1965.

The primary concern of Vatican II was to address the relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. As Bishop Christopher Butler, OSB, put it, Vatican II represented the Church’s attempt to study and understand itself. This undertaking involved the two dimensions of understanding the Church in itself through a looking back to the Church’s roots in Scripture and tradition and an understanding of the Church in relation to the world.

bishop February 3 | St. Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs February 6 | Blessed Pius IX, pope February 7

Interview and sidebars by Bob Horning

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spiritual fitness

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St. Jerome Emiliani, priest; St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin February 8 | St. Scholastica, virgin February 1

Why we all need mercy

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o often we associate it with kindness, generosity or going the extra mile. Perhaps we think of mercy in terms of soup kitchens, clinics for the poor or service to a neighbor. We may associate it with pity, sympathy and compassion – a desire to make something better for someone ... such as reaching out to those in unfortunate circumstances or victims of natural disasters.

Often, we don’t make much distinction among the various expressions of mercy. In fact, we mainly think of mercy as a concrete response to a situation, rather than an attitude of the mind and heart.

In this article, I want to focus on mercy as an internal foundation stone of all our charitable endeavors. True mercy, in the biblical sense, is first of all a matter of the heart, before it translates into human action.

God desires through the circumstances of others to call forth from us a generous and compassionate response. But there is a much deeper level of response that God desires to elicit from us. He wants to share his heart with us and that primarily, has to do with deepening our personal relationship with him.

God’s love is expressed in mercy

Spiritual exercise: At this point, take a moment to reflect on God’s merciful love towards you.

If you can, just take five minutes and think of the ways God has had mercy

The son goes and squanders that inheritance on “loose living.”

Destitute and hungry, he comes to his senses. He realizes even the pigs on the pig farm have it better than he does – and so he begins the trip back to his father’s house. The father, longing for him, watches daily, hoping against hope. Finally, he sees his son coming. He runs out to meet him and receives him back with a warm embrace; restoring all the privileges and benefits of being a son in the father’s house.

All this occurs while the son is still trying to form the words to ask for forgiveness. That is mercy – the extension of forgiveness and kindness to one who deserves the opposite.

Mercy always has characterized the living God. In speaking of contemporary man and woman, Pope John Paul II wrote: “To humanity which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, the Risen Lord offers his love that pardons, reconciles and reopens hearts to hope.

Mercy is ‘a love that converts hearts and gives peace.’” (His last Divine Mercy Message, 2005)

on you when you deserved the opposite. Where might you be today if God had not forgiven you? In our human condition, it is almost impossible to extend mercy if we have not been willing to receive it from God. Have you

T. Gennara

God’s heart is a fountain of mercy. God’s love for us is expressed in mercy – an extension of kindness and forgiveness to one who deserves the opposite.

We do not deserve God’s love.

We can never earn it or win it.

He loves us completely because we are, first of all, his sons and daughters through baptism.

That is not just a pious title, it is reality. We are truly adopted through Christ’s blood, shed on the cross for us and through

the baptismal waters poured over us that come from the very heart, the wounded side of Christ. We belong to him.

So deep is this relationship that even though we stray, we sin and we fail to live as children of God, he always is willing to receive us back, to forgive us and to restore the relationship.

He has mercy on us.

Oftentimes, we treat our relationship with God lightly or we hardly refer to it at all. We live as we want to without even a thought for the one who made us in his image and likeness.

We are his children – truly.

And like any good and loving Father, he is deeply saddened when we reject, ignore or pay lip service to him. So often, we act like the prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke who asked for his inheritance because he wanted to leave home to do “his own thing.” In biblical times, requesting the portion of your family inheritance from the father was tantamount to saying, “Give me what’s coming to me.

As far as I am concerned, you are dead to me.” And, wonder of wonders, in this parable, the father gives him the inheritance.

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

fully received the mercy he so desires to give you?

Get a FREE copy of the booklet, Captured by Mercy, by Sister Ann Shields, available by calling: 1.800.282.4789

10 | Our Lady of Lourdes February 11 | St. Cyril, monk and St. Methodius, bishop February 14 | The Seven Holy Founders of the Order of Servites, religious February 17

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our lives!”

Perhaps, brethren, our most pressing pastoral challenge today is to reclaim that truth, to restore the luster, the credibility, the beauty of the Church “ever ancient, ever new,” renewing her as the face of Jesus, just as he is the face of God. Maybe our most urgent pastoral priority is to lead our people his month, I would like to share with all to see, meet, hear and embrace anew Jesus in and through his of you the presidential address given Church.

by Archbishop Timothy Dolan at the Because, as the chilling stageneral meeting of the U.S. Conference tistics we cannot ignore tell us, of Catholic Bishops on Nov. 14, 2011. fewer and fewer of our beloved An excerpt of the address is presented here; to read people – to say nothing about it in its entirety, please visit www.FAITHmag.com. those outside the household of the faith – are convinced that JeMy brother bishops: It is with That truth has been defended sus and his Church are one. As that stunningly simple exhortaby bishops before us, sometimes Father Ronald Rolheiser wontion of Blessed Pope John II that and yet even today, at the cost of ders, we may be living in a postecclesial era, as people seem to I begin my remarks to you this “dungeon, fire and sword.” prefer a king morning.

That but not the “Love for Jesus and his Church truth – that kingdom, must be the passion of our lives!” he, Christ, a shepherd You and I have as our sacred and she, his with no duty, arising from our intimate Church, are flock, to besacramental union with Jesus, one – moistlieve without the Good Shepherd, to love, ens our eyes belonging, a cherish, care for, protect, unite and puts a spiritual famin truth, love, and faith ... to lump in our ily with God shepherd ... his Church. throat as we as my father, You and I believe with all our whisper with as long as heart and soul that Christ and De Lubac, I’m the only his Church are one.

“For what New York Archbishop Timothy child, “spiriThat truth has been passed would I ever M. Dolan, president of the U.S. tuality” withon to us from our predecessors, know of him, Conference of Catholic Bishops, out religion, the Apostles, especially St. Paul, without her?” addresses the U.S. bishops Nov. 14, 2011, during their annual faith without who learned that equation on Each year, fall meeting in Baltimore. the faithful, the Road to Damascus, who we return to Christ withteaches so tenderly that the this premier out his Church.

Church is the bride of Christ, see of John Carroll to gather as So they drift from her, get that the Church is the body brothers in service to him and mad at the Church, grow lax, of Christ, that Christ and his to her. We do business, follow join another, or just give it all Church are one. the agenda, vote on documents, up. If this does not cause us pasrenew priorities and hear infortors to shudder, I do not know mation reports. what will. The reasons are mulBut, one thing we can’t help tiple and well-rehearsed, and we but remember, one lesson we need to take them seriously. knew before we got off the We are quick to add that plane, train or car, something we good news about the Church hardly needed to come to this abounds as well, with evivenerable archdiocese to learn, dence galore that the majoris that “love for Jesus and his ity of God’s people hold fast Church must be the passion of

from the bishop

“Love for Jesus and his Church must be the passion of our lives!”

Carlson Productions

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to the revealed wisdom that Christ and his Church are one, with particularly refreshing news that young people, new converts and new arrivals, are still magnetized by that truth, so clear to many of us only three months ago in Madrid, or six months ago at the Easter Vigil, or daily in the wonderfully deep and radiant faith of Catholic immigrants who are still a most welcome – while sadly harassed – gift to the Church and the land we love.

But a pressing challenge to us it remains ... to renew the appeal of the Church, and the Catholic conviction that Christ and his Church are one.

Next year, which we eagerly anticipate as a Year of Faith, marks a half-century since the opening of the Second Vatican Council, which showed us how the Church summons the world forward, not backward.

Our world would often have us believe that culture is light years ahead of a languishing, moribund Church.

But, of course, we realize the opposite is the case: the Church invites the world to a fresh, original place, not a musty or outdated one. It is always a risk for the world to hear the Church, for she dares the world to “cast out to the deep,” to foster and protect the inviolable dignity of the human person and human life; to acknowledge the truth about life ingrained in reason and nature; to protect marriage and family; to embrace those suffering and struggling; to prefer service to selfishness; and never to stifle the liberty to quench the deep down thirst for the divine that the poets, philosophers, and peasants of the earth know to be what really makes us genuinely human.

Read the rest of Archbishop Dolan’s address at www.FAITHmag.com

Bishop Earl Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.

FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com

St. Peter Damian, bishop and doctor of the Church February 21 | Ash Wednesday

yourstories Catholic radio comes to Jackson

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hen Doug Shumard and his wife Barb moved closer to their hometown of Jackson, they left behind one of their most prized possessions: access to Catholic radio. Once they settled into their new home, Doug started making phone calls.

One phone call led to another until he formed a group of 16 people that met in Jackson in April 2010. “Within six months, we … were on the air two hours a week on WLCM out of Charlotte.” The board of directors also met with Bishop Boyea.

“This is a fine apostolate and any Catholic interested in participating in this activity has my encouragement and blessing,” wrote Bishop Boyea in a letter to the board.

“This venture is worthy of the support of our diocese.”

Doug says that he feels blessed to have met so many people who believe in the mission of bringing Catholic radio to the Diocese of Lansing.

“I have gotten so much more out of this than I will ever put in,” he said.

For more information, email info@jlcr.net or call 517.748.5277.

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inside

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February 22 | St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr February 23 | First Sunday of Lent February 26

J. Lunning

T. Gennara

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20 Bridget Smith’s courageous fight against cancer

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22 For Julie Coenen, courage is all in a day’s work 26 Touched by an Angel to Little Angels – an interview with Roma Downey

By Kevin Duffy | Photography by Tom Gennara

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our story

cancer Bridget Smith’s courageous fight against

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n May 2009, Bridget Smith was a typical 8-year-old who had just received her first Communion. A week later, her life, and that of her family, would change – and many others would be affected.

She came home from school with what seemed like the flu, but the next day she was hospitalized after she became extremely disoriented. A few weeks after her release, she was rushed to the emergency room with neurological difficulties caused by silent seizures. Eight months of hospitalizations and tests produced a diagnosis of oligodendroglioma brain tumor, a rare cancer that affects thought, speech, memory and coordination, among other things.

By Christmas, the pressure in Bridget’s brain had increased so much that her doctors recommended surgery, one that was risky, could leave her paralyzed and might not save her life. Family and friends increased their prayer. So did parishioners at Christ the King in Ann Arbor, where her grandfather, Dan Foley, is a deacon, and where Bridget’s three older siblings were confirmed. They were joined in prayer by parishioners at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth and the religious sisters who have taught the Smith children in school.

The day before her surgery, Bridget, who had needed help walking, came skipping down the stairs to make her own breakfast.

An MRI showed great improvement, and her surgery was cancelled. Doctors had no explanation for the change, but Bridget’s parents, Brian and Louise, attributed it to prayer.

In fall 2010, however, Bridget began to worsen. Her cancer was progressing, and the pressure in her brain was building again. A surgery in December helped relieve the pressure. Still, she became worse. She required a respirator and couldn’t move her tongue or swallow properly. On Christmas Eve, doctors said recovery was unlikely and suggested that Brian and Louise put her in hospice for her final days. On Christmas Day, Bridget’s ICU room was a gathering place of prayer for friends and family, priests and sisters.

Then, over the next week, her condition improved. She waggled her tongue, her breathing tube was removed and, within days, the doctors asked her to eat, a complicated activity for her at the time. She ate a

couple of morsels, then a small bite of cookie is attentive to the needs and fears of the other children and invites them to play and and, when no one was looking, swiped the to talk. She is representative of the whole rest of the cookie. The neurosurgery team Smith family, which interacts with laughter, couldn’t believe her progress. Bridget recovhumor, warmth, and with a focus on what ered so well that she was able to undergo will work, not on ‘I can’t.’” radiation and resume chemotherapy.

Besides medical and spiritual care, the During her 15 hospitalizations, seven surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and Smiths have received tons of help in daily tasks around the home, in school carpoolsix weeks of daily radiation to date, Bridget has come to be known as “Bridget the Brave” ing and in meals prepared by families at Huron Valley Catholic School in Ypsilanti, among her family and friends because of parish members and Brian’s co-workers at her attitude, perseverance and willingness Masco Corporation. The Smiths’ older kids to endure so much without complaining. also have been helping Her father says “She isn’t out even more at home intimidated by cancer. She and by sitting at Bridget’s didn’t ask for it, but her athospital bedside . titude is ‘this is what I do.’”

A welcome break came When asked how she last summer when the stays even-keeled and family was granted a “wish positive, Bridget just Get the free mobile app at trip” to Disney World, shrugs as if she weren’t http://gettag.mobi courtesy of The Rainbow aware of any other option.

Connection, a MichiganLouise says she doesn’t Scan the above tag based foundation that think Bridget realizes with your mobile device provides support to chilhow remarkable it is that to For more information dren with life-threatening she rarely complains and about Child Life. Or visit illnesses. Bridget says she that her sunny disposiwww.med.umich.edu/ enjoyed everything about tion hasn’t been affected. mott/cfl/about.html the trip, but her favorite “Bridget moves through part was her special meetlife without self-pity,” she ing with the Disney Royal said, “and at home she is like a mother to her three younger siblings.” Court in Cinderella’s castle.

Bridget’s health has been fairly stable Brian and Louise are grateful for the recently, though obstacles remain. She has tremendous medical care at Mott Children’s chemotherapy weekly to keep the cancer Hospital at the University of Michigan. “And, from progressing; she still takes several we have been blessed with the prayers and medications to control seizures; her physical support of the Child Life and pastoral care activity is limited by her poor balance and team and so many spiritual people at the stamina; she can’t attend school, but does hospital,” Louise said. “We have even seen receive twice weekly visits from a teacher.

God’s hand in picking Bridget’s roommates, She recently spent nine days in the hospital having met so many wonderful people who after developing severe mouth sores. continue to pray for Bridget daily.”

Her appetite is poor, and most days it’s The admiration is not one-sided. difficult to get her to eat or drink enough.

Sheila Morris, a specialist in the Child Life Her favorite food? “Chicken McNuggets in program at Mott, said that “Bridget is a a McDonald’s Happy Meal, with a Coke,” beautiful, gentle presence among us. She

When sick children need a ride to the hospital The St. Christopher Transportation Program in Flint, part of Catholic Charities, provides rides to the hospital for seriously ill children. Children and their parents travel to hospitals at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and to Detroit and Lansing. Gregg Berent, director of Catholic Outreach, which oversees the program, says, “We never turn away a child,

she said. It’s her special treat after chemo or any special procedure.

Bridget misses doing things she used to do – gymnastics, Irish dancing, school and seeing her friends – but still has fun. “I like to color and do crafts, play on the computer, go to Kids Kicking Cancer (where she has learned breathing techniques and grown in mental toughness) and my American Heritage Girls troop,” she said. And she loves to receive Communion. Even if tired and half asleep when they bring Communion in the hospital, she perks up and wants to receive, according to Louise. Bridget says, “When I receive, I feel Jesus’ love.”

Bridget’s situation has meant challenges for Brian and Louise, too. “Having a sick child is stressful even on the best of marriages,” they said. “We are regular people.

We get annoyed with each other, we argue about petty things, but we are united in our love for one another and our children.

“We try to remember to thank God every day for our vocation. Walking this road with Bridget has strengthened our relationship.

Sometimes it’s scary, frustrating, and sad, but it’s the life God has given us. We are confident in his plan.”

Their family motto is every day with joy.

Louise said, “We don’t know where this will take us, but we thank God for giving us the grace we need every step. We have lived in crisis mode much of the last three years, but it is often during the crosses we carry that God most shows his love.”

The Befriender Ministry is a parish based listening ministry. These trained compassionate listeners offer spiritual and emotional support to those that are experiencing transitions, illness or loneliness in their parishes. If you would like to start a BeFriender Ministry in your parish, contact the diocese at 517.342.2471

no matter how far we have to go. How can you say ‘no’ to a sick child?” The program serves approximately 100 children every year and costs about $100,000 to operate. “It’a always been tough,” says Gregg, “but God is watching over this program. One way or another, we always keep going.”

If you are interested in more information, visit www. dioceseoflansing.org and click on the link for Catholic Charities.

By Bob Horning | Photography by Tom Gennara

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sking Lt. Colonel Julia F. Coenen to define courage is like asking a fish to define water. It flows so seamlessly through her life, defining it poses a challenge

for this chief nurse of the 110th Medical Group in Battle Creek.

“I guess I’d say courage is what it takes to get through a difficult situation,” Julie says after some thought. “You may have a different definition than I do, but I’d say it’s taking that first step into whatever battle you’re facing.”

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n her 28 years with the National Guard, Julie Coenen has taken many of those “first steps,” starting with her decision to join the Guard right out of high school.

“My boyfriend, Kent, and I both joined the National Guard in Omaha, Neb. Six years later, we got married and Kent’s job took us to Michigan.

We decided to put down roots and buy a house in Charlotte.

“The night before we were scheduled to close on the house, my commander called, ordering me to report to Detroit at 0700 hours the next morning. I would serve in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. A few minutes later, Kent’s commander called ordering him up.

“I reported as ordered, but was able to return that night for the closing. We walked in and told the homeowners we didn’t know when (or if) we would be back. But we would buy the house if they would let us store our belongings in the basement while we were in the Middle East. They agreed.

“Over the next two days, friends helped us throw everything we had in boxes and move it into the basement of our new home. A day later, our unit reported to Fort McCoy, Wisc., for six weeks of training.

After that, we shipped out.

“We spent our first week in a staging base outside Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Our quarters looked like a big circus tent near a landing strip. One hundred soldiers slept in rows of cots, went to the bathroom in rows of Port-a-Johns and listened to rows of mission-bound jets screaming overhead. The ankle-deep mud

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FAITH Magazine / Jan./Feb. 2012 / www.FAITHmag.com

and the mess hall rats gave our veteran soldiers flashbacks to Vietnam.

“Scud missiles and the constant threat of chemical weapons worried us more. Our Patriot missiles took out multiple Scuds close to our permanent housing in Khobar Towers. Still, one Scud got through and destroyed a nearby warehouse, killing 26 Pennsylvania soldiers.

“I think fear of the unknown was the worst, though. Kent and

Clockwise from top left: Julie Coenen, her husband Kent and daughters Cammille and Mia.

I used to wonder: What if we had kids we’d had to leave behind?

We agreed that if God blessed us with children, we didn’t want them to have both parents going into war. Since Kent’s commitment was coming up, we decided he would leave the Guard once we got home.

“After five months in Saudi, Kent and I returned home. We unpacked the belongings we had dumped half a year earlier, took a three-week ‘Celebrate Life’ trip, then settled back into our civilian work.

“A year later, the Army ordered me to take medical training.

I would have rather laid cable than deal with sick and injured bodies, but I headed down to Texas for four months of training to become an Army medic. I ended up loving it so much, I enrolled in nursing programs back home, earning my RN, then a bachelor’s in nursing and, finally, my master’s in nursing in 2005. As a civilian, I’m a certified nurse practitioner in family health.

“I actually needed a lot of courage to go back to school. Leaving a job and income behind was a leap of faith for Kent and me. We prayed a lot! But we’re firm believers that you have to keep moving forward and improving yourself every opportunity you get. We’re both glad we took that leap.

“In 1996, we welcomed Mia into our family. Shortly after her birth, I switched to the Air Force National Guard to become an officer. In 2001, Camille was born shortly before 9/11.

“As the news turned more ominous, I had a sense I would be called up again. When stories came on the TV or radio, I started to tell Mia, ‘Momma might have to go over and help those soldiers some day.’

“April 1st, 2003, the senior health tech of the 110th called to give the news that orders had come down, and I needed to report the next morning for active duty. I had to prepare to be gone up to two years.

“I hung up the phone and turned to my oldest. ‘Mia,’ I said, ‘President Bush called and he needs me to go help the soldiers.’

“She looked up at me and asked, ‘Is that because you’re a really good nurse, Mom?’ “‘Yes, Mia,’ I said. ‘It’s because I’m a really good nurse,’” For the first time in the interview, tears well up in Julie’s eyes and choke her voice. She clears her throat. “That’s the hardest thing,” she reflects, “leaving your family.

“Courage isn’t so much for me as it is for them. When I’m on deployment, that’s my job, but soldiers’ families’ are at home surrounded with memories. Maybe they curl up in the blanket you used to snuggle under or eat a favorite meal you used to share as a family, and think of you. I am so grateful to our friends at St. Mary Parish in Charlotte for the support they gave Kent and my girls through the six months I was deployed!

“I have always believed God has a plan, and when it’s my time I’ll have to go. So I shipped out to the Army Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, to serve in an orthopedic ward that treated combat victims.

“We saw lots of chest and brain trauma, not to mention burns.

IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices] are devastating. You don’t see shrapnel wounds like that in a civilian ER – amputated legs, mangled wrists, butt cheeks blown completely off.

“And yet these kids, they’re just kids, thanked me over and over again.” For the second time in the interview Julie’s eyes turn red.

“One Special Ops guy had part of his arm blown off. From his hospital bed, he said ‘Doc, (they all call nurses Doc) I just need a trigger finger. Send me back.’

“I told him I didn’t think that made much sense.

“He insisted, ‘It’s what I do, Ma’am.’”

Julie pauses, then smiles. “There’s nothing better than taking care of soldiers. They give up their lives to protect yours. I think sometimes people forget we’re all for the same goal. We’re all a piece of America, but soldiers are that special part out there defending our country.

“Life is so short and you never know, so I think you need to live it never taking anything for granted.

“You can feel scared to death, but if you don’t back down, you can do anything. The key is taking that first step. That step builds confidence and with confidence comes trust. It might not be pretty or easy to understand, but if you have faith you can make it through. I think then you realize courage is anything you want it to be.”

Visit www.dioceseoflansing.org/catholiccharities

By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Jim Luning

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FAITH exclusive

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Touched by an Angel to Little Angels –

an interview with Roma Downey

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AITH talked with Touched by an Angel star Roma Downy recently about her faith, her career and her new DVD series for preschool children – Little Angels.

What was your experience like on Touched by an Angel?

It was an amazing experience. I am a person of faith and it was so wonderful to portray one of God’s messengers, and to participate in a show that the whole family could watch. It was such an honor.

A wonderful blessing of the show was that Della Reese became such a good friend to me. My mother died when I was younger, and Della lost her daughter during the filming of Touched by an Angel. She told me that she knew God had put her in my life to be a mother to me, but now she knew he had also put me in her life to be her daughter. Then she pulled me close, and said, “I’m your mama!”

Another blessing was John Dye, who left such a gentle legacy – many people said his portrayal of the angel of death assuaged their fears of dying. It’s hard for me to believe he is gone – he left us far too soon.

new DVD series, Little Angels?

You know, for almost 10 years I had the pleasure and the privilege of playing an angel on television. And central to Touched by an Angel was the message that: God is, God wants a relationship with you, God loves you.

And when this chance came up to bring the same message out there but to our little children, I just jumped at the opportunity.

One of the central inspirations was a little prayer that we would say at home growing up in Ireland: “God in heaven, my Savior dear, watch over my children and draw Thou near. Send little angels to be at their side, to light and to guard, to love and to guide.” So in our series, the mother, who I am privileged to voice, says this prayer to her sleeping children.

The DVDs focus on 4-year-old twins, Alex and Zoe, whose nursery ceiling is painted with a mural. On that mural are painted eight little angel characters who come to life when the parents aren’t around. The angels help the kids learn not just practical things such as A-B-C’s and 1-2-3’s, but also about faith, and how to live as good people.

We have a cute little “choir” of angels

that cover a range of personalities to inspire children. Michael is our little boss archangel. He’s the angel the other angels go to when they have a question.

Gabriel blows his little bugle when there is something important to say. Ariel is the guardian angel whose little sword sometimes burns with fire when she’s protecting the kids. Dina, the angel of learning, has an ipad. One of my favorites is Uriel, the angel of creativity, who paints pictures.

Tell us about Operation Smile.

This project is so near and dear to my heart. We travel to countries all over the world to help children who are born with facial deformities – most often cleft palates. This organization restores a face to a little child somewhere in the world who never expected a normal life. It’s amazing the difference surgery can make.

Operation Smile has the loveliest slogan: “Changing lives one smile at a time.”

Sometimes people think there’s so much need in the world they can’t do anything as just one person. It reminds me of the story of the little girl who was standing on the beach throwing starfish that had washed up on shore back into the ocean.

Her father said, “You know, just throwing back those few starfish doesn’t make much of a difference.” She picked up another one, tossed it in the water and said, “Well, it made a difference to that starfish.” If we all did one thing, then surely together we can all change the world.

How has your faith influenced your career?

My faith has definitely influenced my choices of projects – the movies in which I’ve acted may not always have been artistically spectacular, but I’ve always asked myself if they were something I would be happy letting my father see.

And it is so important to me to be part of a church community – our parish is Our Lady of Malibu, and it is a place where we can focus on our identities as people of faith with members of a faith family. My daughter is in confirmation preparation there.

What prompted you to make your

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yourcommun things to do

Jan./Feb. café events

things to do

Catechist Formation Opportunities, Jan. 7 at St. Joseph, 9450 Duffield Rd., Gaines: Topics are 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18 and 19.

Cost is $10 per class and is two hours in length.

For information or to register, email slcorrion@yahoo.com or call 989.288.0548.

Jan. 7, 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m., Christmas program and dinner. All persons with disabilities in the Diocese of Lansing are invited to attend this event at the diocesan center in Madonna Hall, Lansing. Reservations are needed for this event. Contact Joann Davis, 517.342.2497 or jdavis@dioceseoflansing.org.

Jan.15, 1:30 p.m., at Holy Family Church, Grand Blanc’s Father Bush Parish Center – Living and Dying in Faith – an information seminar and discussion on end-of-life issues and Catholic teachings on treatment of the sick and dying, pain management and care. Presenters will include Drs. Barbara and Paul Adams.

Single men and women, mid-30s-60s – are you looking to meet new people?

Lansing Catholic Singles brings together friends for fellowship and fun in a faith-filled environment. For more information and a complete calendar of upcoming events, visit www. lansingcatholicsingles.com or 517.321.7886.

Feb. 4, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Ann Arbor’s 11th annual Educational Trust Fund Benefit will be at Weber’s Inn, 3050 Jackson Ave. For more information, call 734.821.2208 Feb. 11, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Christ the King, Ann Arbor will hold a Holy Spirit Seminar – a life-changing experience

Feb. 2, 7 a. m.-9 a.m., 5th annual Business Breakfast Forum, “Balancing Life, Faith and Career,” forum topic will be – Spiritual Leadership in Organizations – at St. Francis of Assisi’s parish activities center, 2250 E. Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor. For information or to register, contact Janene Ternes, 734.821.2121 or www.stfrancisa2.com/bbf.

to deepen your relationship with God. Cost is $15, which includes material, continental breakfast and lunch. Call 734.426.5514 or orti4519@ earthlink.net.

Feb. 11, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Patrick Parish, Brighton’s 2nd annual Marriage Enrichment Conference. Cost is $65 per couple and includes continental breakfast and lunch. For more information and to register, visit www.idoforlife.org Feb. 11-12, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Lansing (3815 S. Cedar St.) rosary makers’ annual Valentine’s Bake Sale after all Masses. Beautiful handcrafted rosaries, sacrament gifts, books, tapes and other faith-building gifts will be available. This project helps buy supplies for the 34,000 rosaries sent to the missions each year.

Thank you to all who support this apostolate.

Feb. 26-28, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., St. Joseph Parish in Howell will have a parish mission – presenter is Father Gregory Bramlage. For information, contact Deacon Frank Wines, 517.546.0090.

Lenten Speaker Series at St. John Vianney Church, 2415 Bagley St., Flint – Tuesdays, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in the parish center, entrance off the parking lot below the school. For information, contact parish office 810.235.1812.

Feb. 28, Imam Mohamad Algalaieni, from the Grand Blanc Islamic Center Mar. 6, Mr. Phillip Helms will speak about the Quakers.

Mar.13, Dr. John Musgrave from First Presbyterian Church Mar 20, Pastor James Britt from Calvary Methodist Mar. 27, Pastor Steve Maske from St. Paul Lutheran

Feb. 18, Mardi Gras Dance at Light of Christ Parish, 222 Carey St., Deerfield. For information, contact the parish at 517.447.3500.

Feb. 18, “A Call to Holiness, Simple Deeds with Great Love,” at St. Mary, 807 St. Mary’s Blvd., Charlotte, an afternoon of guest speakers, including Sister Ann Shields, in preparation for Lent and to deepen our relationship with Christ.

Feb. 25, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson will have Healing Heart adult grief recovery retreat day, open to Catholics and non-Catholics, women and men who have suffered a loss through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. RSVP by calling 517.783.2748. A donation of $25 per couple, lunch included; but no one will be turned away.

March 9-11, St. Francis Retreat

Center, DeWitt, REFLECT Catholic Retreat for Mid-Life Singles – Single men and women, ages mid-30s to 50s, register for a life-changing weekend. Cost is $145 per person and covers meals, lodging and materials. For information, call 989.450.0993 or www.reflectretreat.com.

March 23-24, Michigan Catholic Young Adult Conference (18-35) at Causeway Bay Hotel, 6820 S. Cedar St. in Lansing; registration will open after Jan. 1. For more information, contact Pat Rinker, 517.342.2485 or prinker@dioceseoflansing.org.

Lansing Catholic Engaged Encounter 2012 weekend dates: Jan. 7-8; March 17-18; July 14-15; Sept. 15-17; and Nov. 10-11. For more information and to register, visit lansingcee.org, call Sue and Wayne Fransted at 810.588.4181 or email info@lansingcee.org.

Deacon Discernment Day – Feb. 19 – If you are a man who feels a call to serve God’s people in a sacramental way, you may be hearing a call to the diaconate. If you would like to find out more, consider attending our Diaconate Discernment Day at noon on Feb. 19 at the Diocesan Service Center’s Madonna Hall in Lansing. We will begin immediately after the 11 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral. Lunch will be served. The discernment involves both a husband and his wife. So spouses are not only welcome, but are encouraged to attend. Please call the deacon office at 517.342.2451 if you are interested in attending.

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nity At our retreat centers Jan. 4, 7 p.m., Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, a general introductory meeting will be held at St. Patrick Church, Ann Arbor’s parish hall. Speaker is Father Dennis Brown, OMV, who will be giving the “exercises in daily life” retreats from January through June. For more information, email AnnArborRetreats@aol.com.

Jan. 20-22, a Retrouvaille Retreat for couples experiencing problems at St. Francis Retreat Center’s Bethany House, 703 E. Main St. in DeWitt. For information or to register, call 800.470.2230, visit www.retrouvailleoflansing.catholicweb.com or email retro4lansing@comcast.net.

Jan. 28, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Christ Church Spirituality Center, 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd., Grosse Pointe – Retreat Day – Praying with Body, Mind and Spirit: Into the Light. Cost is $45, which includes lunch. Presenter is Janene Ternes. To register, contact Janene at 734.429.7754 or for information visit www.prayerin-motion.

Weber Center, Adrian, call 517.266.4000 or www.weber. adriandominicans – Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Mediation by Design – cost $40. March 9-11, 7:30 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Sunday, Women’s Retreat: Mother Night and Seeing in the Dark – deposit $50. April 1-4, On the Way to Jerusalem, a holy week retreat.

St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center, 23333 Schoolcraft, Detroit, 313.535.9563 or www. stpaulretreat.org – Feb. 29, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Women’s Retreat Day – the blessings and challenges of women in mid-life.

Cost is $50, which includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Lenten Fish Fries:

cheese; and March 30 – Mexican dinner.

Cost – adult $7 and children $4. Money raised will go toward parish youth summer mission trips.

Feb. 24-March 30, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., early bird special 4 p.m.-5 p.m., Catholic Community of St. Jude, 801 N. Bridge St. , DeWitt’s Knights of Columbus Friday Lenten Fish Fry includes baked and fried fish, macaroni and cheese, French fries, baked potatoes, bread sticks, coleslaw and drinks. Dessert is additional.

Feb. 24–March 30, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., St Agnes Parish, 855 E Grand River Ave., Fowlerville’s Friday Lenten Fish Fry includes fried and baked fish, cheesy potatoes, French fries, coleslaw, rolls, dessert and beverages. Cost – adult $9, senior $8, children 10 and under $5.

5 p.m.-7 p.m., Lenten meals at Holy Family, Grand Blanc’s Father Bush Center: Feb. 21 – Mardi Gras Dinner gumbo casserole, mac ‘n cheese and paczkis; March 9 – Pasta; March 23 – Soup and gourmet grilled

Jan. 20-March 30, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., St. James, 1010 Lansing St., Mason’s Knights of Columbus all-you-can-eat Friday Lenten Fish Fry includes fried or baked cod, shrimp, French fries, baked potato, green beans, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese,

Catholic Charities St. Vincent Catholic Charities, 2800 W. Willow, Lansing, 517.323.4734 ext. 1050 or www.stvcc.org – is in need of housing items, pots and pans, kitchen utensils and personal needs, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. Donated items are tax deductible. Items can be dropped off or larger items can be picked up.

Catholic Social Services, 4925 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor, 734.971.9781 or ww.csswashtenaw.org, We C.A.R.E. communication and relationship enhancement program winter schedule: Jan. 20-21, St. Mary, 14200 Old US-12, Chelsea; Feb. 17-18, St. Patrick, 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd., Ann Arbor; March 9-10, St. Joseph, 3430 Dover St., Dexter; and March

dinner roll, dessert, coffee or punch.

Feb. 24, 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m., St. John the Baptist Church, 2009 N. Hacker Rd. in Howell, Fish Fry in Thompson Hall.

Feb. 24-March 30, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., at St. Joseph’s parish hall, 12145 Ray Rd., Gaines, Friday Lenten Fish Fries.

Questions, please call 989.271.8434.

Feb. 24-March 30, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., St. Mary Pinckney Men’s Club’s Friday Lenten Fish Fry includes baked or beer battered fish, French fries, scalloped or baked potato, coleslaw, homemade macaroni and cheese, beverages and more. Cost – adult $8, senior $7, $4 children under 12.

Carryout is available.

Feb. 24-March 30, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., St. Michael, Grand Ledge’s Knights of Columbus Friday Lenten Fish Fry in parish Fellowship Hall. Allyou-can- eat menu includes fried and baked fish, French fries, coleslaw, corn, cornbread, milk and orange drink. Cost adult $8, senior 65 and older $6.50, children age 6-12 $5, 5 and under free; family rate $27. Carryout is available.

Feb. 24-March 30, 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m., St. Patrick Church, 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd., Ann Arbor’s Friday Lenten Fish Fry. Cost adult $8, senior $7, children 5-11 $6.50, 4 and under free. For information, call 734.662.8141 or www.oldstpatrickannarbor.com.

30-31, St. Mary, 14200 Old Us-12, Chelsea.

Livingston County Catholic Charities, E. Grand River, Suite 104, Howell, 517.545.5944 or www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org.

April 21, join us for an Evening of Laughs – Livingston County Catholic Charities’ 8th annual Salute to the Stars Spring Fundraiser at St. Patrick Church in Brighton – starring Kerri Pomarolli and Ron McGehee, husband and wife comedians.

Catholic Charities of Shiawassee, 120 W. Exchange St., Suite 300, Owosso, 989.723.8239 Catholic Charities invites the Shiawassee County community to share the warmth of the coming Christmas season by donating hats, gloves, mittens and scarves to those in need.

Winter apparel will be accepted at the Owosso office Monday–Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. or on Fridays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

We will be distributing these items all winter.

Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m., Protecting God’s Children Awareness Session for Adults - session is three hours at St. Mary, Westphalia’s parish center. Pre-register at www.virtus.org. Please don’t contact the hosting parish to register.

Dates and locations for the 2012 Rites of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion: Feb, 25, 9:30 a.m., St. John the Evangelist, 404 N. Dayton St., Davison | Feb. 25, 2 p.m., St. Joseph, 6805 Mast Rd., Dexter | Feb. 26, 3 p.m., St. Gerard, 4437 W. Willow Hwy., Lansing

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local news Holy Spirit School – trust in God, he will answer your prayers Holy Spirit School opened in 2002 despite protest from many parishioners and has struggled from the very first day. The pastor had a vision for a school that would be an outstanding center of Catholic education and formation, countering the unfortunate trend in many existing institutions that had lost sight of their missions.

Slowly it grew from a pre-K and K to an elementary school to, finally, a middle school. Bolstering enrollment proved especially difficult; however, it managed to stay open with 50 kids. In 2008, Father John Rocus became the pastor of Holy Spirit. He had a simple desire: more kids for the school. He gave his parishioners and school families a job – pray to St. Philomena, the patron saint of children and schools for more kids. His goal was 75.

In 2011, Father John said the prayers and novenas to St. Philomena had worked, the school had reached 75 – and the 75th student was Philomena. There are now two Philomenas at the school. This is an amazing story of the power of prayer, the power of faith, the power of saints, but mostly trusting in God.

Catholic Leadership Institute’s 2011 national award recipients The Catholic Leadership Institute and more than 600 individuals from around the country gathered in Philadelphia, Pa. to honor Sister Pauline McShain, SHCJ, educator; Thomas Monaghan, founder of Legatus and Ave Maria University; Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM, Cap, archbishop of Boston; and Terry Polakovic, co-founder and executive director of Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Woman in November for the 2011 Award for Outstanding Catholic Leadership.

CLI developed the Award for Outstanding Catholic Leadership in 2000 to recognize people in the Catholic Church whose exemplary leadership in the family, the workplace, the community and the Church has been inspired by their Catholic faith.

For a recap of the evening, visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/catholic-leadership-institute.

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Father Harvey Legacy Society program The St. John School Educational Foundation honored Father David Harvey and his more than 30 years of leadership to the St. John the Evangelist Parish and School with a dinner event at the Coyote Preserve. More than 200 parishioners and guests attended. Everyone enjoyed participating in a silent auction, listening to music and, later in the evening, dancing.

At the event, the St. John School Educational Foundation introduced the “Father Harvey Legacy Society.”

All donors who support the parish or foundation through such a gift will be recognized in the Father Harvey Legacy Society.

Anyone interested in additional information about the society, please contact the parish office at 810,629.2251.

Joseph McCadden honored as ‘Michigan Senior Volunteer of the Year’ Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County volunteer Joseph McCadden was honored as “Michigan’s Senior Volunteer of the Year” for his outstanding work on behalf of the agency’s tax assistance program. Gov. Rick Snyder presented McCadden the State’s highest award for volunteerism at a ceremony held at Detroit’s historic Gem Theater.

In the 16 years he has been at the agency, “Joe the Tax Man” has volunteered more than 1,400 hours to CSSW annually, helping more than 4,500 low-income seniors and disabled adults receive $10 million back in tax refunds. He also has trained hundreds of other tax preparers for the volunteer brigade.

Socks for Seniors – a nonprofit organization helping those in need Socks for Seniors is a nonprofit community service project to help senior citizens keep their feet warm this winter. It collects new socks to be distributed to the elderly in nursing homes. Currently, it is looking for community partners to help it expand this program in the Lansing area. If you can help, please visit its website, www.socksforseniors.com and fill out the form at www.socksforseniors.com/volunteer.html.

If you have any questions, please contact Jamie at Jamie@ socksforseniors.com.

What is courage?

C

oeur is the French word for heart.

When we speak of courage, then, we are speaking about strength of heart; we are speaking about being stouthearted in the face of fear, in the face of imminent loss.

Who among us has not admired people who have been courageous in battle, or courageous in the face of physical illnesses or disabilities… in the face of the loss of their children, their parents, or these days in the face of the loss of their homes? Folks we know have lost their businesses, the loss of their jobs, and the loss of their savings. We can’t help but admire them. So many of our heroes

last word

are saints who, with great courage, have suffered martyrdom.

We live in a time of losses, losses of so many kinds. When you stop and think about it, much of life is dealing with loss.

Courage is not all that exceptional. It is found in the lives of most of us.

It’s difficult for me to understand how those of no faith can face with courage the losses inflicted on them these days. At the same time, it seems to me that our Christian faith in God and in Jesus Christ who took on our human condition, is a wonderful power that equips us with tremendous courage to face down all that life can throw at us.

As Christians, we need also to have moral courage, the courage to stand up for life and for all that is decent and right in the face of the moral collapse we so often encounter in the culture that surrounds us.

Courage, it seems to me, isn’t something that’s simply “nice.” We need moral courage in the face of those who would criticize us for holding dear what we so value. Courage is not simply an admirable virtue. Courage is a necessity. Without it, what would we be?

Perhaps that’s why we have a crucifix hanging in our churches. It reminds us of who we are and all that we can be.

Father Charles Irvin is the founding editor of FAITH Magazine and is retired.

The Diocese of Lansing celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year Can you identify this Catholic school?

Father Paul Grehl celebrates his 80th birthday Father Paul Grehl received a special birthday greeting for his 80th birthday from Pastoral Coordinator Jean Schaub, celebrating Mass at St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach.

After Mass, those with September and October birthdays and anniversaries celebrated with other parishioners. Jean invited people to choose from the potluck luncheon after sharing what the sign on their tables meant.

Though Father Paul is a “senior” priest and retired, he still teaches at Lumen Christi High School in Jackson. He lives at Camp De Sales, Brooklyn, enjoys playing golf and telling jokes before the start of Mass.

Father Paul told us, “God is good … he has more for me to do yet, and I’m grateful.” He remarked that his brother, who is 85, told me being 80 was “no sweat.” – Jan Hoffbauer

If you know any of these people, drop us a line on our Facebook page. Answers next month!

For more local news and parish events, visit www.FAITHmag.com

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notes:

Applications will be available at www.glcef.org or by calling 517.485.8333 by Jan. 30, 2012 • Application Deadline is March 19, 2012 • Eligible grades are 6th-10th at any Diocese of Lansing Catholic school

Follow FAITH Magazine online: p l e a s e

r e c y c l e

• $750 scholarships for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 • $1,000 scholarships for students in 9th and 10th grades

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