January/February 2014

from the bishop:

Make this year a stewardship year theology 101:

The First Commandment I am the Lord your God spiritual fitness:

How do you live like you’re a temple of God?

Want to make God laugh?

Tell him your plans

W

hen I was a student in college, Fr. Charlie Irvin, who was my pastor at the time, told me, “Do you want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans!” Little did I know that those words would come true during my third year in seminary, as I made preparations for my six-month parish internship. As I was getting ready to head off to my internship parish, I shared with some of my seminary classmates that the situation that gave me the most anxiety was imagining the first time that I had to handle an emergency at the hospital without the assistance of the pastor or parochial vicar. In my mind, though, there really wasn’t any need to worry.

After all, my internship would last only six months, and I was pretty certain that my dreaded scenario could never happen in such a short time.

T. Gennara

My internship began on a Saturday in late February as I was introduced to the parish at the evening Mass. Afterward, the pastor left to attend the symphony, leaving me to settle into the rectory. The parochial vicar was away on vacation, so I anticipated a quiet evening as I unpacked. As the pastor’s taillights faded from sight in that night’s snowstorm, the emergency phone line in the rectory rang. An elderly woman was dying at the local hospital, and the family needed someone to pray with her and her loved ones right away.

I calmly explained that neither parish priest was available.

I shared that I was a seminarian, new to the parish and the city.

I volunteered to try to locate an available priest.

The very patient nurse on the other end of the line noted that none of the area priests could be located. Someone–could she mean me?–needed to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. At that moment, I thought, “God, you got me into this. Help me to do what you need me to do.” from the editor Slipping and sliding through the snow in my little car, I made my way to the Father Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of St. John the Evangelist hospital. I managed to find the dying in Fenton. Email: editor@FAITHpub.com. woman’s room and met her family. After sharing viaticum with her, we gathered around her bed and prayed with her. She slipped quietly home to God later that night. When I finally made it home and to bed, the last thought in my mind as I closed my eyes was one of thankfulness–to God, for getting me through my very first pastoral emergency.

I saw the woman’s family at Mass the following morning. They thanked me for being with them as their beloved wife and mother died, and then asked me to lead her wake service. I was deeply moved and gratefully accepted their invitation.

I learned a lot during the course of my internship, but nothing was more important than the lesson of my first night in the parish: surrendering my will to God’s will reveals God’s goodness time after time. Whenever I’m afraid, tired, feeling over-extended or ill-equipped, tempted to put my will or my needs before God’s, I remember that night and think, “God, you got me into this. I know you’ll give me the grace to do what you need me to do.” I remember that special lesson about the first commandment and what becomes possible when we put God first in our lives.

The Ten Commandments and the many beautiful possibilities they open in our lives will guide us through the months of 2014. Although they sound negative on the surface, each commandment invites us into a positive and ever-deepening relationship with God and with our sisters and brothers. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

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FAITH Magazine • Jan./Feb. 2014 • www.FAITHpub.com

Striving for spiritual liberty

St. Genoveva Torres Morales Feast Day: January 5 Liberty is a perennial subject of concern in our society, but we don’t hear much about a certain type of liberty: spiritual liberty.

The life of St. Genoveva Torres Morales (1870-1956) of Spain was marked by hardship. By the age of 13, she had lost both parents and several siblings and suffered the amputation of her leg. Then, despite not being allowed to join the Carmelites of Charity due to her physical condition, she went on to found the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels.

She learned at an early age that true happiness is doing God’s will, and she made this the rule of her life. She did this by renouncing everything that was not for the love of God. By doing so, she received the gift of spiritual liberty, because she had made room for God’s freedom to exist through her.

According to St. John of the Cross, the use of our liberty to imitate the Lord prepares the soul to welcome the freedom to be filled with God. The result is the gift of spiritual liberty. It was a gift St. Genoveva described as “freedom of heart” that exists regardless of poverty or other hardships.

St. Genoveva was known for her kindness and openness to all and for her sense of humor – she would even joke about her physical ailments. Her life of practicing the spiritual liberty she had received from God led to beatification in 1995 and her canonization in 2003 by Blessed Pope John Paul II.

Liturgical Calendar: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Jan. 1 | Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

contents

Jan./Feb. 2014

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yourlife

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work life My co-worker drinks on the job.

Should I do something about it? parenting journey I don’t want my kids to watch horror movies when visiting my parents!

conflict resolution How can I get my adult son to grow up and move out of the house?

your marriage matters She says: “I don’t think our daughter’s destination wedding is valid.” He says: “She’s being judgmental and over-reacting.”

What do they do?

culture Daily bread for the body and spirit

COVER STORY My deepst grief as a mother: The loss of my son

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yourfaith

CNS photo/Paul Haring

D. Quillan

in the know with Father Joe 10 Why is the word ‘catholic’ in the Methodist Creed?

fitness 12 s Hpiritual ow do you live like you’re a temple of God?

101 14 t Theology he First Commandment

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special report: Pope Francis’ exhortation Evangelii Gaudium

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Cathedral Anniversary: The conclusion of the year of faith and year of prayer

Ann Jacob MANAGING EDITOR The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing Volume 15: Issue 1 www.FAITHpub.com Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

www.FAITHcatholic.com Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Elizabeth Martin Solsburg DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Cynthia Vandecar MARKETING MANAGER Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR Michelle Hildebrandt WEBMASTER Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

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profile of an evangelist

Why Lillah is a super volunteer.

my story How the Catholic Men’s Conference changed life for Brian and Tim

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n, bishops and doctors of the Church Jan. 2 | Most Holy Name of Jesus Jan. 3 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious Jan. 4 | Epiphany of the Lord Jan. 5 | St. André Bessette, religious Jan. 6

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yourlife Continue the conversation on Follow FAITHpub

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My co-worker drinks on the job.

Should I do something about it?

Q:

My office mate sometimes appears drunk at work, and I’ve smelled the distinctive odor of alcohol on him. Should I do anything?

a:

You should, but it won’t be easy.

Drinking on the job is a serious offense. As his peer, you’re in a tough spot.

I would recommend you follow St. Thomas Aquinas’ three-step prudence formula – Counsel, Judgment, Command (Ready, Aim, Fire) COUNSEL. Gather the facts about what your best action should be. Prudence always reveres reality. Your first reality-check is company policy. Is there an explicit or assumed prohibition of drinking on the job? What is the consequence of violation? And what are the obligations of fellow employees to report ethical misconduct? If there is a company Employee Assistance Program (EAP),

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JUDGMENT. You’ve gathered information. Now seek counsel, human and divine.

For human counsel, you may want to call your diocesan Bishop’s Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs and get some advice about how you should proceed in a way that is respectful of your coworker and yet addresses your very real concerns. You may also want to contact a local Al-Anon group. Pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom.

COMMAND. If, after you’ve done your homework, you realize you need to act, muster your courage to do so.

If you’ve decided to suggest Alcoholics Anonymous, your company EAP or other assistance, approach your coworker with a tone of genuine concern rather than accusation. Gather materials to provide him and let him know you are worried for him.

If that does not work, or if you’ve decided that his drinking is an imminent threat to himself or others and you need to report the situation immediately, you may want to

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melaniereyesphotography

you can suggest that he contact them.

work life Jim Berlucchi is the executive director of the Spitzer Center, whose mission is to build cultures of evangelization (www.spitzercenter.org).

use words like this with your supervisor, “I’ve been hesitant to raise a sensitive issue about a co-worker. But my concern for him and respect for company policy caused me to ask for your help or counsel.”

At this point, you’ve responsibly referred the issue to the appropriate authority. They now have their own responsible actions to take – referring the employee to the company’s EAP, taking steps to protect clients or other actions. Those things are out of your control, however.

You can’t control the outcomes but you’ve controlled yourself and done your best. Who could ask for more?

St. Raymond Peñafort, priest Jan. 7 | Baptism of the Lord Jan. 12 | St. Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church Jan. 13

45%

of Americans usually make New Year’s resolutions

©iStockphoto.com/Feverpitched

©iStockphoto.com/HannamariaH

©iStockphoto.com/HannamariaH

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?

How are you doing with them so far?

38%

of Americans never make New Year’s resolutions

8%

of people are successful in achieving their resolutions

24%

of people fail in their resolutions every year

Source: University of Scranton, 2012

What kinds of resolutions do people make?

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47% make self-improvement or education resolutions 38% make weight-related resolutions 34% make money-related resolutions 31% make relationship-related resolutions

Resolution: What does that word mean?

Making New Year’s resolutions is all about change. In the New Testament, one Greek word occurs regularly to signify the change of heart from sin to the practice of virtue: metanoia. Metanoia is from the Greek metanoein, to change one’s mind, repent, be converted.

What are you doing for Lent?

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3 | St. Anthony of Egypt , abbot Jan. 17 | St. Fabian, pope and martyr Jan. 20 | St. Agnes, virgin and martyr Jan. 21 | Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Jan. 22

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S. Kendrick

conflict resolution Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

I don’t want my kids to watch horror movies when visiting my parents!

Q:

Despite my objections, my parents let our young kids watch horror films when they visit. How do I put my foot down on this issue without making my parents angry?

a:

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When I visit Disneyland and see the Snow White ride, I think about one of my own childhood responses to a scary movie. I misinterpreted the scene in which the witch holds up an apple that she had just dipped into poison. I thought she was holding up Snow White’s heart! In my 4-year-old mind, I had combined the story line of the hunter coming back with Snow White’s heart with this later scene. It was enough to evoke nightmares for several nights. There is no question that children interpret media differently than adults, even when the content is targeted toward children.

In the case of horror films created for an adult audience, the effects on children may be quite intense.

Put your foot down! One version of the origin of this phrase is that when bicycles were invented, riders learned to put a foot parenting down to stop and change course. The image of the bicycle rider journey stopping to change course works well as a metaphor for talking to your parents. Since they have continued to show horror films Dr. Cathleen McGreal is despite your objections, it is time to stop and decide on a new dia psychology rection. What is it about watching these movies with the children professor and certified spiritual that interests them? Talk to them about how this goal could be director. met through an activity that you would support. Would they be comfortable with the grandchildren stopping at the library before visiting so that they could bring an age-appropriate DVD? Respect their point of view. Your parents may be making the same decisions with grandchildren that they made when raising you, and “you turned out OK!” Don’t argue about mistakes you think they made as parents – focus on the current situation. Although making different decisions can lead to intergenerational tension, it doesn’t need to lead to anger. Acknowledge their views, but be calm and clear about your decision.

What if they respond by saying that horror films are appropriate and they have no plans to change? Decide on your reaction before speaking to your parents. Perhaps the visits will have to be limited to your home. Or you may decide to stay during the visits. Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance before your conversation: “But the Lord’s mercy is from age to age, toward those who fear him. His salvation is for the children’s children. (Psalm 103:17) What do you think? Follow FAITHpub on 6

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How can I get my adult son to grow up and move out of the house?

Q:

My adult son does not want to move out of the house. Any suggestions about how I can get him to grow up and move on?

a:

When discussing this issue it is important to remember that millions of adult children are still living at home and, in today’s economy, it is likely they are doing so for financial reasons. Still, it can be challenging for both parties.

To begin, a positive and clear communication between parents and adult son must take place. Parents need to explain to the son that the transition from parents’ home to his own place is an expression of his own autonomy and a sign of his self-sufficiency and ability to take care of himself in a responsible and independent way. It is important for the parents to select their words carefully to help him understand that this is an opportunity to change – to reach a new stage of his growth. Under no circumstances should the son feel that he is being pushed away from “his” family home. Parents must be receptive to their son’s response and help him to articulate his hesitations, doubts and concerns.

Then, together, parents and son must discuss the timetable for this important rite of passage and the steps that everyone will follow. The Catechism reminds us, “When they become adults, children…should assume their new responsibilities…” (2230)

St. Vincent, deacon and martyr Jan. 23 | St. Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church Jan. 24

He says

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sHe says “I don’t think our daughter’s destination wedding is valid.”

“She’s being judgmental and over-reacting.”

Kathy says: Our daughter just informed us she is planning to marry a young man out on the beach – with some Internet-ordained “minister” conducting the ceremony.

We raised her as a Catholic, and I know this is not a valid marriage.

I’m not sure we should even attend, but Terry disagrees.

A

Terry says: I think Kathy is being judgmental and over the top.

Of course we should attend our daughter’s wedding, no matter what the circumstances! I’m not sure I’ll forgive Kathy if she doesn’t go to the wedding with me.

What do THEY do?

A new addition to your family – gaining a son-in-law – is a time to rejoice! But weddings can be a source of stress, particularly when there are disagreements about the nature and meaning of the ceremony. Destination weddings (including those on the beach and outside of a church) have become increasingly popular – just watch any wedding TV show. But for Catholics, it is the norm for weddings to take place during Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the paschal mystery of Christ. (CCC1621)

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ening and prayerful manner. It is more important at this stage Kathy has a right to be concerned, as it appears their daughof the situation that Terry and Kathy work toward a mutually ter has given very little credence to – and/or does not have a acceptable solution to their differences than make a decision on good understanding of – a sacramental marriage. If Terry also attending the wedding. Through prayer and a focus disagrees with the Catholic teaching on marriage, it will complicate reconciling any differences with on each other’s feelings, they will find a solution.

Kathy. We are reminded of Proverbs 19:20, “Listen In conversation with other couples, it has been our to counsel and receive instruction, that you may experience that Catholic parents often do not talk eventually become wise.” openly about the sacrament of marriage to their chil Obviously, this is an opportunity for Terry and dren, believing they will just pick it up by osmosis!

Kathy to explain Catholic marriage practices and Again, once Terry and Kathy are in agreement, this why they are important, but not before they recis a perfect opportunity to share with their daughter your oncile their own differences. We recommend Terry and fiancé how their marriage became a sacrament marriage and Kathy start by offering up a prayer for guidance and the part Christ played in it – how Christ helped matters from the Holy Spirit and the wisdom to resolve carry the heavy load of their relationship when needDeacon Tom their differences. Then they can share their deepest ed and how it all started by having Christ present at and JoAnne feelings with each other, for example: “How does it the beginning. Sharing their story and the importance Fogle help prepare couples make us feel that our daughter, although raised in that God has played in their relationship will not only for marriage. the Church, would choose to not accept the sacrarefresh their commitment to each other, but may have ment of marriage in our traditional Catholic way?” a positive impact on the decisions their daughter and future son-in-law make. When we witness to our “How does it make us feel when our Catholic relichildren, in word and action, God’s hand at work in our daily lives gious practices are not given due consideration?” “What is our understanding of a sacramental marriage?” These are only starter and in our marriage relationship, it will make an impact on them, if not immediately, then in the future. questions, of course, and should be discussed in a non-threat-

4 | Conversion of St. Paul, apostle Jan. 25 | St. Angela Merici, virgin Jan. 27 | St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church Jan. 28 | St. John Bosco, priest Jan. 31

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DAILY BREAD

for the body and spirit

D

uring the holidays, we can be prone to overindulging between Christmas and New Year festivities. An excessive variety and quantity of food find their way to our tables, making their flavorful contributions to our merriment. I mean, what would Christmas be without the family feast? Ham? Eggnog?

Pumpkin pie? Christmas cookies? Need I go on? Well, ironically, it is often afterward, when our Lord’s birthday has passed and we are in the uneventful doldrums of January and February, that I find myself contemplating a healthier (physically and spiritually) perspective on the role of food in our relationship with God.

4 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for kneading) 1 package active dry yeast 1½ cups warm water (not hot) 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling) 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more for sprinkling) 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary (plus 1-2 whole sprigs for topping off) In a drinking glass, dissolve yeast and warm water and let stand for about 10 minutes, or until a foam appears. Combine flour, salt and chopped rosemary in a large mixing bowl. Add extra virgin olive oil and the yeast mixture. Combine by hand until dough is moist and elastic.

If it is still too wet, add a bit more flour.

Knead for about five minutes on a lightly floured surface and form into a ball. Place in a bowl with about a teaspoon of olive oil and roll dough ball until completely coated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until dough doubles in size. Place dough on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan and press out to fit pan. Cover with plastic wrap for an additional 20-25 minutes. Remove wrap and use fingertips to press dimples over the top of the pressed dough. Drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle kosher salt and rosemary (removed from stems) all over as well. Let stand for an additional 15 minutes and bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until light golden brown on top. Using kitchen scissors, cut into squares.

S. Folkertsma

T. Gennara

After the holidays, I typically suffer from what my husband labels “gut-rot.” It comes from having eaten too much rich food. You know you have it when you find yourself craving salads and light soup, instead of more of the same rich food that seemed so tempting just days before. It is the gastronomic equivalent of guilt. Your stomach feels full, your body feels heavy and lethargic and your brain involuntarily starts imagining what the lining of your arteries must look like. During those first few weeks of post-holiday hangover, our family enjoys simple, light meals. Fresh-baked focaccia and a soup or a salad can be a great antidote for gut-rot.

But perhaps there is a spiritual dimension to this annual pattern, too. The First Commandment mandates, “I am the Lord your God, you shall not have any gods before me.” Like so culture many other worldly pleasures and distractions that steal our atMichelle tention from Jesus during the holidays, food itself can become DiFranco is a a substitute god. Does the food we prepare, eat and discuss designer and the busy mom of with our friends and relatives really help us honor and celebrate two children.

Christ’s arrival? Or is the holiday that celebrates Christ’s arrival a convenient avenue for us to prepare, eat and discuss the foods we love? Sometimes the simple, lighter meals that occupy the dinner table in January feel like the penance that is needed to “right the wrong” of self-gratification.

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with food in any form.

Indeed, our Lord turns himself into food every Sunday. But I think the notion of “daily bread” is an important one. We can use January and February to help us recall the importance and beauty of taking precisely what we need, without consuming to excess. Remember that the manna God gave his chosen people provided exactly what they needed, when they needed it. I enjoy the challenge of preparing simple, healthy and delicious meals that, rather than upstaging or distracting us from God, remind us of his providence and message of moderation and sacrifice. Perhaps for certain meals this January we can come to rejoice in a simple, light bread recipe the way Moses rejoiced when the Lord said to him after hearing the murmurings of his people, “... in the morning you will have your fill of bread, and then you will know that I, the Lord, am your God.”

Rosemary focaccia

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Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Feb. 2 | St. Blaise, bishop and martyr; St. Ansgar, bishop Feb. 3 | St. A

S. Folkertsma

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Agatha, virgin and martyr Feb. 5 | St. Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs Feb. 6 | St. Jerome Emiliani, priest; St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin Feb. 8 | St. Scholastica, virgin Feb. 10

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yourfaith T. Gennara

in the know with Father Joe If you’d like to submit a question for Father Joe Krupp to consider in a future column, please send it to: joeinblack@priest.com. Father Joe is unable to personally answer questions.

Q: What’s the difference between a guitar and a fish?

A: You can’t tuna fish.

Why is the word ‘catholic’ in the Methodist Creed?

Q:

Dear Father Joe: Why does it say ‘catholic’ in the middle of the Creed in the Methodist church I attended recently for a wedding?

a:

I’ve gotten no small amount of “creed questions,” especially since the release of the Mass translations in 2011.Your question will help us kick off a special column that I hope will help us understand the creed we say at Mass and the reasoning behind some of the changes.

Let’s start with some history.

The creed you heard at the Methodist

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Church was the exact same one you say at Mass on Sunday: it’s one that is said (or believed) by most Christian Churches. It’s called The Nicene Creed and it has quite a history. There’s a lot of bad information out there about this series of events and I hope to present a brief history that describes what actually happened and how we got this creed.

We start in the year 313 A.D. Two Roman generals, Constantine (soon to become Emperor) and Licinius (soon to become dead), met in Milan and wrote together a decree that is now called The Edict of Milan. In it, the two agreed that persecution of anyone for religious purposes needed to stop. Some people think that this edict was all about Christianity, but reading the edict shows that is not the case. Christians got special at-

FAITH Magazine • Jan./Feb. 2014 • www.FAITHpub.com

tention in this document because they had gotten special treatment in a terrible way for some time. This edict allowed Christians to gather and be public about their faith for the first time and was a source of great joy to the early Christian community.

Either way, the idea that someone should not be persecuted for their religious beliefs was rather revolutionary thinking for the time. (Side note: Constantine did not make Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, the Emperor Theodosius did that much later in 380 A.D.) The result was that Christians, who had been persecuted on and off for over 200 years, came out of hiding. For the first time in a long time, Christian communities from all over the Roman Empire began talking to each other and, for lack of a better term, compared notes.

The key thing to remember is this: every one of these Christians held their individual beliefs while knowing it could get them tortured and killed – no one was going to “abandon ship” on beliefs they were willing to die for.

One of the beliefs that some Christians held was an idea called Arianism. Arianism was named after a guy named (you guessed it!) Arius, a Bishop from Libya. Arians taught that The Father (God) and the Son (Jesus) were not of the same substance: that there was a time the Son didn’t exist and God created him. This is a complex point that we don’t have time to get into, but in a nutshell, it attacks the doctrine of the Trinity which, according to our Catechism, is the “central mystery of our faith.”

The arguing got really intense and the Emperor Constantine (who was not a Christian

Our Lady of Lourdes Feb. 11 | St. Cyril, monk and St. Methodius, bishop Feb. 14 | Seve

at this time) was driven nuts by the constant bickering and hassles. He called for Christian leaders to gather at a place called Nicea (present day Iznik in Turkey) in order to articulate and put to paper those things that the Apostles handed on to their successors. They prayed, they argued, they fought, they prayed some more and, in the end, they wrote a creed which is now called the Nicene Creed.

This creed is said by Christians of many different stripes all around the world and is held by many as a great gift given to us by the Holy Spirit. So, what about the word “catholic” in there?

The non-Catholics who say that creed are referring, not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the word “catholic” itself which in Greek means “universal.” They are saying that they believe in “one, holy, universal and apostolic Church.”

Q:

In the new translations, we use the word “consubstantial”: I have no idea what it means and don’t understand why we use it.

a:

Well, hopefully, from the above text, you’ll get a sense of why we use it. To defend Christian-

ity against Arianism, the Church Fathers at Nicea had to be clear that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all of the same substance: none were created.

To reinforce this, they used the word “consubstantial” in Latin. In the previous translations of the Mass in English, we translated the Latin word “consubstantial” into the phrase “one in being.” The people who gave us the new translations worried that that phrase was too ambiguous, so they simply put the Latin word right back in there!

An easy help to using the word “consubstantial” in our creed is this: when you say consubstantial, think “of the same stuff.” That’s what they are trying to make sure we understand: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are “of the same stuff.”

I want to close with this encouragement from Pope Benedict XVI. In 2010, he stated that: Many will find it hard to adjust to unfamiliar texts after nearly forty years of continuous use of the previous translation. The change will need to be introduced with due sensitivity, and the opportunity for catechesis that it presents will need to be firmly grasped.

I pray that in this way any risk of confusion or bewilderment will be averted, and the change will serve instead as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world.

I think this is a good challenge for us.

Most people I know (me included!) are still trying to figure out how to prayerfully enter into the Mass when so much of it is in phrases that feel awkward and wording that is hard to understand. But the challenge is more than worth it. It is up to us to learn what we can in humility and obedience so that our prayer together is a prayer that comes right from our hearts.

Don’t give up, the Mass is worth our absolute best efforts, both intellectual and spiritual.

Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

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en Holy Founders of the Order of Servites, religious Feb. 17 | St. Peter Damian, bishop and doctor of the Church Feb. 21 | Chair of St. Peter, apostle Feb. 22

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How do you live like you’re a temple of God?

W

ith the first Sunday of Advent just over a month ago, the Church began its new year. Now, in January, we begin a new year from a secular framework. In both cases, we have been given a golden opportunity to take a look at our lives and ask ourselves some important and probing questions.

• “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.” (1 Cor 3:16-18) • “ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the

Spiritual Exercises: Let’s use this month to examine our lives simply and honestly:

Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

• “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’” (2 Cor 6:16)

T. Gennara

Think of this: We have just celebrated the reality that God loved us so much that he gave us his only Son! His son took on flesh, became like us in all things but sin. He knows our pain, our suffering and our losses. He knows!

He took on flesh and by that act would show us how to live, would actually walk with us on this earth that we might know we have Emmanuel (“God with us”). We are not orphans; we are not alone – ever! By being born on this earth, by living and suffering and dying a horrible death on a cross for us, he broke the power of death so that it would not destroy us forever. God wants us to live with him forever! We are loved beyond price, brothers and sisters. It is because of that love for us we seek to live good lives as our act of thanksgiving! That’s why I offer the questions below. Ask God for the grace to conform our lives more to him. As we do, he actually takes up residence more and more in us – body, mind and spirit.

spiritual fitness 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. You can order her new book, More of the Holy Spirit, for $12 at www.renewalministries.net.

• In light of these Scriptures, what does God ask of us? He asks us to take seriously our call. He asks us to revere him by obeying what he asks because it is for our eternal good!

1. Is God at the center (or coming more to the center) of my decisions, priorities and goals in life? How can I call myself a Christian, a Catholic, if he is not at the heart of what I think and say and do? Otherwise I am only paying lip service to my faith.

2. Do I pray daily with the Scriptures? If not, why not? How can I do God’s will, let alone know God’s will, unless I am seeking the truth in his word? One way to get started is to listen to my daily radio program Food for the Journey. It is a 15-minute commentary on the Mass readings for the day. If you don’t have Catholic radio in your area, go to our website – renewalministries.net – and you can listen each day at your

convenience. Make sure you have a Bible and make use of it.

3. Am I regularly going to the sacrament of reconciliation?

When we are trying to change our lives and priorities, it helps so much to rid ourselves of those sins that inevitably “pepper” our lives.

Remember that the more we confess our sins, the more strength we are given to avoid sin. God wants to give us hope and he is providing the means by which real hope can grow.

Please take advantage.

May God abundantly bless and lead you in these next two months. May you truly become more and more temples of the living God. It is possible because God has told us so.

Follow Sister Ann Shields on Twitter @srannshieldssgl

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theology 101 Doug Culp is the CAO and secretary for pastoral life for the Diocese of Lexington, Ky. He holds an MA in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

gift of the Ten Commandments “is the gift of God himself and his holy will.”

Specifically, the “10 words” are the words of God that “point out the conditions of a life freed from the slavery of sin.” They show us a path of life that sums up and proclaims God’s law and “make explicit the response of love that man is called to give his God.” The first gift: I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange Gods before me.

Moses with the Ten Commandments: By Philippe de Champaigne, 1648

The First Commandment I am the Lord your God

“I

have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.” (Dt 30:19-20)

The rhythm of the spiritual life can be summarized as follows: we first receive, 14

and then we respond. The “10 words,” or the Decalogue, are no exception. The

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The “first word” contains the first commandment of the Law: “You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve him ... You shall not go after other gods.” In other words, our first call and duty is to accept God and worship him.

However, who is this God we are to accept and worship? The answer to this question might well be considered the gift of this commandment. For, in the fuller versions of the commandment (Ex 20:2-17; Dt 5:6-21), God makes himself known “by recalling his all-powerful, loving and liberating action in the history” of Moses and Israel. He is the “one and true God” who is unchangeable, constant, faithful, just, without evil, almighty, merciful and infinitely beneficent.

The proper response It follows from this self-revelation of God that we should believe in him, hope in him and love him. In other words, this gift of the First Commandment invites us to pray for and receive the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.

These theological virtues also are freely given gifts of God that adapt our faculties for participation in the divine nature. In other words, they dispose us “to live in relationship with the Divine Trinity.”

As God reveals his love for us, we have

CNS photo

exalt God and to humble ourselves.

Atheism and agnosticism conclude our a duty to believe in him and bear witness Prayer is the “indispensable condition list. Atheism, whether practical or militant, to him. “The First Commandment refor being able to obey God’s commandis “one of the most serious problems of our quires us to nourish and protect our faith time.” It denies the existence of God and with prudence and vigilance, and to reject ments” as it accomplishes the acts of everything that is opposed to it.” We faith, hope and charity. Sacrifice, when it falsely considers humanity to be “an end to must then be wary of those things that is offered to God in adoration, gratitude, himself, and the sole maker, with supreme threaten to undermine our belief in God, control, of his own history.” While agnostisupplication and communion, can unite in all he has revealed and in all that the us to the one perfect sacrifice of Christ on cism does not necessarily deny the existence Church proposes for our belief. Voluntary the cross and, thereby, transform our very of God, it claims we can know nothing of or involuntary doubt, “neglect of revealed lives into a sacrifice to God. God for God is incapable of revealing himtruth or willful refusal to assent to it,” Promises and vows to God similarly self. In other words, it outright contradicts heresy, apostasy and schism all classify as the veracity of the self-revelation of God in can become signs of our respect for God serious threats to our faith. when we hold ourselves to them faithfully the First Commandment. Consequently, Likewise, acknowledging that we are and lovingly. The evangelical counsels agnosticism can easily lead to indifference incapable of responding fully to God’s and, finally, practical atheism. of poverty, chastity and obedience are of revelation and call, we must hope that God particular value as a response to God’s – Quotes are from the Catechism (1812-1814 and 20562128). will grant us “the capacity to love him in great gift of himself. return and to act in conformity with the comThe Ten Commandments mandments of Bible geography facts charity.” Despair and presumpMount Sinai – Mount Sinai, also known as tion represent the Mount Horeb, is a mountain in the Sinai Peningreatest challenges sula of Egypt. It is actually rather unremarkable as to our hope. mountains go. It is surrounded by higher peaks Finally, the on all sides, has an uninspiring peak and doesn’t First Commandeven offer a mysterious shroud of clouds surMOUNT SINAI: Worshippers pray outside a ment invites us to rounding its top. And yet, it is one of the most fachurch on the summit of Mount Sinai during sunrise in the Sinai Peninsula respond to God’s mous mountains in history because most identify love by loving the location as the place where Moses was given God “above everydox chapel that is not open to the public. The the Ten Commandments. thing and all creachapel encloses the rock that is considered to be tures for him and the source of the two stones upon which the Ten Did you know? because of him.”

Commandments were inscribed. The summit also Consequently, is home to “Moses’ cave,” where Moses is said to There are buildings on the summit of Mt. Sinai: we must guard have waited to receive the commandments. a mosque that is still in use and a Greek Orthoagainst such enemies of charity The way of death as indifference, ingratitude, lukewarmness, The Ten acedia (or sloth) and, of course, a hatred of In addition to the challenges to faith, hope Commandments God that is born of our pride. and charity mentioned earlier, our path to quiz The way of life responding rightly to the First Commandment is fraught with danger as it regards The story of the The way of life the First Commandment serving other “gods.” Superstition, idolatry, Israelites’ jourmakes explicit consists of adoration, prayer, divination (this includes consulting horoney from slavery sacrifice, and promises and vows. Each of scopes and astrology) and magic all reprein Egypt to the these flows from the theological virtues sent actions that violate our duty to honor Promised Land which “inform and give life to the moral and respect the one, true God revealed in has a large cast virtues.” In particular, it is charity that calls this first gift. of characters. Test us to render the aforementioned to God. Sins of irreligion can also take us off the your knowledge of biblical figures Adoration acknowledges God as God, path of life. These include tempting God and name this person: “as the Creator and Savior, the Lord and (putting his goodness and power to the test Master of everything that exists, as infinite by word or deed), sacrilege (profaning or Q: This priest of Midian and and merciful Love.” It also acknowledges treating the sacraments, liturgical actions father-in-law to Moses was no the “nothingness of the creature” who and persons, things or places consecrated “Beverly Hillbilly.” simply would not exist were it not for God. to God unworthily) and simony (buying or A: Jethro (pictured above in red).

In other words, adoration is to praise and selling spiritual things).

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Make this year a stewardship year

And you say, “How have we robbed you?” Of tithes and contributions! ... Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse ... try me in this, says the Lord of Hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?

The authors also note that Jesus talked a lot about money, mostly that we need to beware of it becoming our master. St. Paul also talked about money in chapters 8 and 9 of his second letter to the Corinthians when he was raising a collection for the Church in Jerusalem. At one point, Paul writes: “Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7) The key to all of this is that if we are to be real disciples of Jesus Christ, we have to share what is of great importance to us, and that usually includes our money.

Many years ago, I decided to tithe 10 percent of my pre-tax income. In fact, some years after that decision, I decided to increase that tithe to 15 percent. I did this because I really believed that God deserved that part of my life as much as any other part of my life. I also believe God does love a cheerful giver and that God is never outdone in generosity. I did not want to give God the dregs or what was left over, but, rather, a real substantial portion.

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A recent book by Michael White and Tom Corcoran, Rebuilt, about their hard work and God’s grace in rebuilding the Body of Christ at their parish in Baltimore, has a section on giving entitled “Don’t Rob God.” What a great title! They cite the Prophet Malachi (3:8b-10):

©iStockphoto.com/simonox

he University of Notre Dame recently released a study of Catholic financial giving. One finding was that Catholics are not nearly as generous as members of other religious traditions. Nonetheless, those Catholics who make a conscious decision to give more money and who follow a regular system of doing so give much more away than Catholics who do not follow such a plan. You might say, OK, that seems pretty obvious. The study also noted that those Catholics who make such a plan are most likely to do so based on a set dollar amount rather than on a percentage of income (which is traditionally called tithing). This also sets Catholics apart from other religious groups where tithing is quite common.

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

Another reason for any gift of ourselves is to express gratitude for God’s many blessings upon us. King Melchizedek of Salem blessed Abraham after a battle, and, in return for the blessing, we are told: “And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Gen 14:20) This is the origin of the teaching on tithing. Jesus, while condemning the Pharisees, also commends the tithe: “But woe to your Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”(Luke 11:42) Gratitude, love of God and love of our neighbor should motivate us to give at least a tenth.

The Catechism (2043) reminds us that one of the precepts of the Church enjoins on us as a Christian duty the gift of our treasure: “The fifth precept (‘You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church’) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.”

Thus, my sisters and brothers, we do not give of ourselves simply because others have a need, though that is important. We give primarily because we need to give, we need to share what is ours, for, in the end, we know nothing is really ours. All is grace.

All is a gift from God. Follow Bishop Boyea on Twitter @BishopBoyea

yourstories Profile of an

EVANGELIST

“Opportunities to serve are gifts in themselves.”

Lillah believes the more time she puts into service, the more faith is created within her to share. The strengthening of her faith is not necessarily something Lillah is even conscious of most of the time. “You don’t even stop to think about it,” she says.

L

Why Lillah is a super volunteer

illah Olson and the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing nurture each other. Resurrection provides opportunities for prayer, worship and community that enhance Lillah’s faith. In turn, Lillah helps her parish thrive with her love, support and participation.

Serving in the St. Joseph the Worker Guild, Lillah is able to

physically care for the buildings that house her faith community.

“It’s all of us working together there. It’s all volunteer,” Lillah says. “I am very happy and proud to be caring for the church.

We are just automatically praying as we go along.”

Read more: Find out more about why Lillah gives so much of her time as a volunteer at www.FAITHpub.com

For volunteer opportunities in your parish, contact your pastor or parish office.

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By Mary Kay McPartlin | Photography by Tom Gennara

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Jesse and Joseph find a home after their birth mother changes her mind

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c o v e r

s t o r y

Surreal.

By Rose Robertson | Photography by Jim Luning

The word haunted me after learning our 29-year-old son had unexpectedly died. I had been thrust into a place so foreign, I was totally lost and disoriented. How would I ever face a future

minus one of my sons? How would I comprehend that our last conversation and last Christmas were just that? The last. Forever.

Forever is a long time to face when your child is deceased.

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eath is absolute, decisive, unchangeable – making Jacob’s absence ever present. Absence can be very loud. I tried filling that void the first year by remembering that “Last year on this day we ...” As New Year’s approached, I became distraught to leave a year in which he had existed to a year that would never know his imprint. The first anniversary of his death created panic because I could no longer say, “Last year we ...,” presenting the stark reality that for the rest of my earthly life I would never see or touch my son again.

Accepting his absence has been arduas life taught me I have control over nothing aches to tinker in the garage with him. It is ous. Initially, all I could do was exist, going other than my own thoughts and actions. also about remembering his generous spirit, through the motions, putting on a face the Life handed me a hard lesson: nothing in this his infectious laugh, his great bear hugs. world would accept. That in itself is exhaustworld is guaranteed. Not the next day, the About recalling his philosophical conversaing. Time stood absolutely still, making funcnext hour or even the next minute. tions, great campfires and creative recipes. tioning in a “normal” world extremely dif The only guarantees are for our eternal It’s a minute-to-minute journey accompaficult. Three weeks after Jake’s death, I flew union with God. If I ever doubted, and benied by both joy and sorrow. The yin and to Seattle with a friend so she could visit her lieve me I did, I no longer do. In the first the yang. The absolute physical absence and son. As I buckled my seat belt, I fought the hours after we came home from the ER, I the ethereal presence of that absence. compulsion to scream, “How can everyone remember being stricken: “What if every I have found solace in journaling, phoact so normal and complacent when my son thing we believe is a sham? If this is it, I will tography, a support group and gardening. is dead?” I was suddenly thunderstruck with never see my son again!” As quickly as those I often ride my bike to the local cemetery the realization that there must be other peothoughts invaded my grief, a deep feeling of and spend time “riding in prayer” for the ple on that plane with emotional baggage so peace wrapped me in a certainty that obliterdeceased and their families. We champion heavy that simply breathing was a struggle. ated any doubts. In my grief, God became the Eye Bank and the Gift of Life, as Jake When death visits your heart, you have the lap upon which I crawled, the shoulder is a donor. On Christmas and his birthday, choices: the first is to remain stuck in your on which I cried. God held my heart for me we select a cause to support in his memory. grief, the other is to learn how to live with when I was so wounded that the burden of it I co-facilitate a parent grief support group, it. My decisive moment came after the start was more than I could bear. hoping to companion another parent’s pain. of the second year of I relish time working life without Jake. We as a spiritual direcLife handed me a hard lesson: nothing in this world is guaranwere listening to an tor. These life-giving oldies band at the paractivities were proteed. Not the next day, the next hour or even the next minute. ish festival when my pelled by death. Life The only guarantees are for our eternal union with God. husband said, “Let’s is filled with paradox.

If I ever doubted, and believe me I did, I no longer do. dance.” We both love Grief experiences music and dancing, are like fingerprints – but since our son’s each is unique. There death, not one song had played in our home.

I am not unfamiliar with death. I have burmay be common denominators, but each I experienced an awful internal struggle. Inied friends and many relatives, including my person will feel, experience and react difwardly, one side of me hysterically cried, “You father-in-law, dad, brother and niece. They ferently. These are my experiences and my want me to dance? How can I dance when were hard losses, but nothing has been more emotions; my husband’s journey has been our son is dead?” The other side knew my difficult and pain-filled than losing my son. different from mine. I work hard at not lethusband’s deep pain would make his feet It is not the natural order of life to outlive the ting my sorrow detract from my wonderful leaden, too. Without saying the words, his child you carried and cuddled when sick, family. They experience grief in their own request declared that life goes on in spite of the boy you drove to a zillion activities and manner and yet continue to bless me in imunspeakable heartache. And so we danced to made sure Santa and the Tooth Fairy visited, measurable ways that keep me going. I cherevery song until the band stopped playing. In the young man at whose high-school graduish and love them all “bigger than the sky.” that moment, I could hear Jacob whisper in ation you cried and whose college phone Accepting the unacceptable is hard my ear, “Hurrah Mom!! You need to dance calls you cherished, the man who became a work. Today, I still live in a time continagain!” Walking out onto that dance floor husband and father himself. Our children’s uum divided in two: before and after my was the hardest thing, and the best thing, I’d lives are about dreams, hopes, the future and son’s death. Each day, I think of and talk done. That night I began a slow, conscious life. Nothing in that equation hints at death to him, wishing he were still here. Death assent to live. or prepares us for its wallop. catapulted me into the abyss; grace helps Life as I knew it before June 20, 2009, will There are no instructions for how to let go me find my way through. When Jacob was never exist again. I will never be the person forever. It is being in Meijer’s and bursting confirmed, we gave him a print quoting who existed before the phone call that every into tears because you see his favorite yogurt; Philippians 4:13. Little did I know that the parent dreads. While I physically appear the it’s telling his children funny tales about their wisdom and promise of that verse would same, inside I am very different. I am quidaddy while inside you cry; it’s seeing him in become my mantra upon his death: I am eter, more contemplative and, I think, a bethis brothers, knowing their lives are forever able to move forward through the grace of ter listener. I strive for simplicity. I am freer, detoured by his absence; it’s knowing his dad Christ who strengthens me.

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Rose talks more about grief and the healing process on YouTube. Follow FAITHpub

In my grief, God became the lap upon which I crawled, the shoulder on which I cried. God held my heart for me when I was so wounded that the burden of it was more than I could bear.

For information about BeFriender grief support ministry, or to start a group, visit tinyurl.com/DOL-BeFriender.

For information on Toward Healing grief support groups, contact roseroberts@yahoo.com.

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How the Catholic Men’s Conference changed life for Brian and Tim After all, I’m Catholic, I don’t know anything about the Bible and I’m not sure I even want to know what goes on at those kinds of things. Plus, I’ve got other things I need to be doing on a cold, Michigan winter day, like watch some basketball, read a book, paint a bathroom, sort my sock drawer, etc.”

I could come up with a multitude of excuses, all of which were pretty lame. But then a friend brought it up again just prior to the conference. We discussed it briefly, but quickly let it die. At that point, though, I was beginning to think about it and, by the grace of God, I called that friend up and told him that if he went, I would go. What did we have to lose?

Honestly, I had my reservations the entire way there. Then, they opened with a video and I was intrigued: search YouTube for God’s Chisel. The day progressed with some phenomenal speakers, lunch and the opportunity to go to confession. The bishop wrapped up the day with Mass. I walked away from the day with motivation, inspiration and direction. It started me on a path to realizing I needed to begin learning more about and engaging in my faith.

Since that time, I am now deeply engaged in Catholicism.

I’m researching, studying, discovering and practicing my faith.

Christ is transforming me through his word, his example, his truth. I spent most of my previous life living according to my will. Now I’m finally beginning to understand the critical importance of unlearning what this world has taught me and instead living according to his will. I’m not saying the conference launched me into this change of direction, but it most certainly contributed to my conversion.

Moral to my story: Step outside your comfort zone, open yourself to God’s grace, plug yourself into your Catholicism and discover that God’s been trying to get through to you for quite some time. Register for the next Catholic Men’s Conference today. Ask a friend to join you. You and your company will find it’s not misery. What’s the worst that can happen? You lose a Saturday to some entertainment, camaraderie, prayer, contemplation and the opportunity to receive Christ at Mass. skeptical at first: Brian walked away from the day with motivation, inspiration and direction.

“It started me on a path to realizing I needed to begin learning more about and engaging in my faith.”

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very year, about 1,000 men come to Lansing for the diocesan Men’s Conference. For many of them, it is a life-changing experience – two of them tell us about it.

Brian Fors

In 2010, I found myself painted into a pretty tight corner – and I had done all the painting. I was desperately trying to rebuild a life that I had practically forfeited. As a Catholic, I was simply going through the motions, much like I had always done. I was lost mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I heard about the Catholic Men’s Conference being held at the Lansing Center through some conversations with fellow parishioners/ friends. It was a matter of typical guys acknowledging that it was taking place and that we all thought it was interesting, but with no further discussion about it. I remember thinking, “I hope it doesn’t get brought up again because I don’t want someone to confront me about going. That kind of thing is just not for me.

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Photography by Tom Gennara

“is there something more to this Catholic faith?”: The day is not an intense Scripture study going into the deep theological reasoning for everything and anything Catholic.

It was a day that highlighted the “trying, failing and trying again” life of being a Christian man in today’s society.

Tim Underwood If you are like me, and hundreds of other people who are cradle Catholics, you might end up one day asking yourself, “Just what exactly is it I am saying in the rote responses during the Mass? Is it enough to say I am Catholic and attend Mass on the weekend or is there something (or someone) more to this Catholic faith?” This is where I was in 2011 when I registered for my first Catholic Men’s Conference, without telling anyone just in case I decided at the last minute that this wasn’t for me. As the day approached, I was still on the fence about attending, since this was something really outside of my comfort zone. Fortunately, a few days before the conference, I received a call out of the blue from a friend who also was “thinking” of going. We talked each other into “actually” going. Now, I was half expecting that we would have to take off our shoes and socks and chant some secret code before we could get in, but what I actually found were other guys just like us searching for coffee and taking in the surroundings.

The day started with talks from guest speakers on a few subjects geared toward men, followed by confession for those in need (all of us) and finishing with a Mass. Throughout the day, there was ample time to shop for that certain book, picture or crucifix from among the many talented vendors who were present. The day is not an intense Scripture study going into the deep theological reasoning for everything and anything Catholic. It was a day that highlighted the “trying, failing and trying again” life of being a Christian man in today’s society. The conference opened my eyes to, and hinted at, the answers to my questions. The Catholic faith is a way of life radically different from the life shown to us in “reality” TV, advertising slogans or Hollywood. To see hundreds of other men from all walks of life each working on their own relationship with the Lord is inspiring.

To sign up for the next Men’s Conference, visit www.dioceseoflansing.org/2014_mens_conference What do you think? Share your FAITH with your friends and followers on

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Pope Francis’ exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the joy of the Gospel

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n the Solemnity of Christ the King (November 24, 2013), Pope Francis brought the “Year of Faith to its conclusion with the issuance of his first apostolic exhortation entitled, Evangelii Gaudium (the “Joy of the Gospel”). The Year of Faith had been declared by Pope Benedict XVI in an apostolic letter, Porta Fidei (the “Door of Faith”) on October 11, 2011. It began a year later on October 11, 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The goal of the initiative was conversion and the rediscovery of faith so that all members of the Church could become credible witnesses of truth.

Pope Francis’ 200-plus page exhortation (the document can be found in its entirety at the Holy See’s website: www. vatican.va) was issued primarily as a response to the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Oct.728, 2012) that was called by Pope Benedict XVI to study the theme: “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of 24

the Faith.” This same Synod, which began the “Year of Faith,” had actually requested the writing of the exhortation and Pope Francis was happy to oblige them.

The Underlying Theme In order to correctly interpret Evangelii Gaudium, it is important to consider the

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exhortation in light of its underlying theme, i.e. the need for the joyful proclamation of the Gospel. According to Vatican Radio, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, summarized the main message of the document when he presented it at a Vatican press conference as follows: “If we were to sum Did You up Pope Francis’ Know?

Evangelii Gaudium in a few words, Apostolic we could say that exhortations and it is an apostolic encyclicals are exhortation writnormally named ten around the by taking the first theme of Chrisword, or first several tian joy in order words, of the that the Church document in Latin, may rediscover the official language the original source of the Roman of evangelization Catholic Church. in the contemporary world…It is an invitation to recover a prophetic and positive vision of reality without ignoring the current challenges ... Pope Francis instills courage and urges us to look ahead despite the present crisis, making the cross and the resurrection of Christ once again “our victory banner.” (85)

The Specific Themes In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis does not attempt to address the “countless issues” that involve evangelization or to “offer a definitive or complete word on every question which affects the Church and the world.” (16) Instead, his aim is to present guidelines that hopefully will encourage the Church in a “new phase of evangelization.” To this end, he identifies the themes he intends to address at length in the document and which he hopes each of us will adopt in all of our activities: • t he reform of the Church in her missionary outreach; • t he temptations faced by pastoral workers; • t he Church, understood as the entire People of God which evangelizes; • t he homily and its preparation; • t he inclusion of the poor in society; •p eace and dialogue within society; and • t he spiritual motivations for mission. (17) Throughout his treatment of the themes, it is God’s merciful love that serves as the

common foundation. God has loved each one of us first and continually seeks out every person with this message of salvation. Acceptance of this message gives meaning to life. The encounter, then, with Jesus Christ and the joy of sharing this experience of love with others becomes an inseparable bond as each person represents the “prolongation of the incarnation for each of us” (179) that, in turn, requires our showing “mercy towards all.” This mercy, as Pope Francis writes, is the key to heaven. (197)

Types of Papal Documents Apostolic Exhortation: typically issued in response to a synod of bishops in which a pope encourages the Church to undertake a particular activity. Exhortations do not define Church doctrine and are considered less authoritative than papal encyclicals (exhortations are still more authoritative than other papal issuances such as audiences and homilies.)

Encyclical Letters: a general letter

Pope Francis named TIME Magazine person of the year On Dec. 11, TIME Magazine named Pope Francis its “person of the year.” He is the third pope to receive the designation – the others were Blessed John Paul II (1994) and Blessed John XXIII (1962).

The magazine states that the person of the year is one who “for better or worse … has done the most to influence events of the year.” Past

expressing the pope’s thoughts on matters of faith and morals. Encyclicals may be to the entire Church or to a particular Church or people. Encyclicals do not constitute ex cathedra (“from the chair”) pronouncements, i.e., they do not have infallible authority.

Apostolic Letters: a letter that may be concerned with a doctrinal matter or with a papal act such as declaring a church to be a basilica. Apostolic Letters are also of less authority than encyclicals.

recipients of the title have included Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, and Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.

According to Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, “It’s a positive sign that one of the most prestigious recognitions in the international press” goes to a person who “proclaims to the world spiritual, religious and moral values and speaks effectively in favor of peace and greater justice.”

In talking about the pope, the magazine stated, “He talks about Christ’s love like a man who has found something wondrous and wants nothing more than to share it. ‘[Jesus] is waiting for us,’ Francis says…’This thought gives us hope! We are on the way to the Resurrection.’”

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yourcommunity things to do: Jan. 17-19, 2014, Retrouvaille of Lansing weekend at St. Francis Retreat Center, Bethany House in DeWitt. If you have questions, email 3053@retrouvaille. org. To register, visit retrouvailleoflansing. catholicweb.com.

Jan. 17, 31 and Feb. 14, 28, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas Church, East Lansing will have Destination Marriage in Father Mac Hall, a four-session marriage enrichment program. For information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@elcatholics.org.

Beginning Jan. 28, a “Season for

Retreats Dominican Center at Marywood, dominicancenter.com or 616.514.3325 Catholic traditions – “Catching up with Catholicism.” Each session will explore a different aspect of Catholic faith and practice. It is open to all interested in learning about Catholicism.

Wed., 7 p.m.-9 p.m.: Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 19, April 16 and May 21. Cost: $60 for entire series or $15 per class.

St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, stfrancis.ws or 866.669.8321 Jan. 17-19, “A Time to Heal” retreat for men and women who have suffered sexual abuse by a priest or Church employee. Please call the Retreat Center or Father Larry Delaney, 517.669.8321, for information or to receive a brochure.

Weber Center, weber.adirandominicans.org or 517.266.4000 Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., “Praying the Psalms,” the history and formation of the Psalter will be discussed, as well as the various forms of prayer found in it.

Feb. 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., “Migration and Eucharist,” this presentation is a deeper exploration into the meaning of the Eucharist.

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Healing,” a free nine-week small group Bible study designed to help women break free of the guilt and grief of abortion. Space is limited. For information or to register, contact ArborVitae Women’s Center at www.

ArborWoman.com.

Feb. 8, St. Mary Magdalen Church in Brighton will host the fourth annual Marriage Enrichment Conference – “Marriage … Our Sacred Vocation.” The presenter will be Deacon Harold BurkeSivers. Cost is $60 per couple and includes breakfast and lunch. For information or to register, visit www.idoforlife.org.

Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Engaged Seminar, a marriage preparation program for engaged couples at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing, in Father Mac Hall. Registration required by Feb. 4. For information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@ elcatholics.org.

Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Protecting God’s Children Awareness Sessions for Adults at St. Mary Parish in Westphalia.

For information, contact Sally Ellis at 517.342.2551. To preregister for this session, visit virtus.org.

Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 2014 Catholic Men’s Conference – “Accept the Challenge. Come, Follow Me” – at Best Western Plus, 6820 S. Cedar St. in Lansing. For more information and to register, visit www.acceptthechallenge. org/#!event/cxs2.

Feb. 21-23, the Diocese of Saginaw will have a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat for the emotional and spiritual healing of individuals experiencing the painful effects of an abortion. For information or registration, contact Sandy Buza at 800.453.2081 ext.

652 or sbuza@dioceseofsaginaw.org.

Feb. 22, Holy Spirit Seminar registration 8:15 a.m., Mass 9 a.m., seminar 10 a.m-5:30 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 Ave Maria Dr. in Ann Arbor.

Cost is $15, which includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. For information or registration – contact Olga at 734.426.5514 or ortiz4519@earthlink.net.

Feb. 22-23, Catholic Engaged Encounter of Mid-Michigan held in Holly.

A Christian marriage preparation ministry based on Catholic teachings and values.

For information, call Sue and Wayne Fransted at 810.588.4141 or email info@ lansingcee.org.

FAITH Magazine • Jan./Feb. 2014 • www.FAITHpub.com

Jan./Feb. café events: Sundays, Jan. 12-March 30, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing will have “Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come” an 11-session DVD Bible study series, by Jeff Cavins, in the Baraga Room. For information or to register, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@elcatholics.org.

Speaker series at St. John Catholic Church in Howell at 7 p.m.: Jan. 16, “Jesus is the New Adam,” presenter is Tim Carpenter; Feb. 20, “Purgatory,” presenter Father Ben Luedtke; and March 12-13, “From Baptist to Catholic,” presenter is Steven Ray. All are invited to attend.

2014 Worldwide Marriage Encounter Schedule – Make your marriage a priority and attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend: Jan. 24-26, at St. James Parish, Mason (NR); Feb. 14-16, at St. Mary Parish, Pinckney (NR); or March 21-23 at the St. Augustine Center near Petoskey. For NR weekends, you sleep at home or at a nearby hotel and attend presentations at the church.

For more information or to register, visit wwme. org or contact Harry and Karen Porter at 888.628.7433 or hrporterhouse@hotmail.com.

Women’s Discernment Retreat – Feb. 15-16, the Diocese of Lansing is sponsoring a retreat for women discerning religious life at the De Sales Center, 1134 Ventura Dr. in Brooklyn. If you have questions, contact Dawn Hausmann at 517.342.2508 or, to register, email dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org. All registrations must be received by Feb. 7.

March 28-29, Michigan Catholic Young Adult Conference, “A Light in the Darkness,” will be held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Lansing. For more information, call Pat Rinker at 517.342.2485 or micyac2.org.

Event News

Friday Lenten fish fries: Fridays during Lent, enjoy wonderful fish dinners at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1259 E. Main St. in Owosso. Senior and children pricing available. Come and support the Knights.

March 7, 14, 21 and 28, 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m., St. John Catholic Church, Howell will have dine-in fish dinners. Takeout available 3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Now accepting credit cards.

March 7, 14, 21 and 28, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., the Knights of Peter Claver will have fish dinner at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1811 Seymour Ave. in Flint. Cost is $9 for dinner and $6 for sandwich.

March 7-April 18, the annual St. Casimir Men’s Club fish fry serving an all-you-caneat lunch, noon-1 p.m. and dinner, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Children 5 and under eat free. A pizza meal for children is available at dinner.

March 7-April 18, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., St Joseph, Gaines Knights of Columbus Council 12186 will have fish dinners in St. Joseph Hall, 12145 Ray Rd., next to the elementary school. Cost: $10 adults, $8 children 5-12, 4 and under eat free.

March 7-April 18, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., St. Augustine Church fish fries at 6481 Faussett Rd. in Howell. Cost: $10 adults and $5 children 5-12.

March 7-April 11, 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., St. Joseph, Dexter Knights of Columbus will have fish dinners at the Knights Hall, 8265 Dexter-Chelsea Rd. Cost: $10 adults and children 10 and older, $6 children under 10, and $9 for all drive-thru meals.

March 7-April 11, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing will have an all-you-can-eat fish fry in the school gym, 955 Alton St., with options of dine-in, takeout and drive-thru. Prices include early-bird special 4 p.m.-5 p.m.; reduced rate for children 5-11; under 5 free; and a family rate. Credit cards accepted.

Lansing Catholic High School is honored to host a benefit concert on behalf of its Heritage 2 Capital Campaign. The concert will feature Ralph and Kathryn Votapek and will be held on March 9 at 2:30 pm at St. John Student Center, 327 MAC Avenue, East Lansing.

Ralph Votapek is professor emeritus of piano at the Michigan State University College of Music. He is the Gold Medalist of the first Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and winner of the prestigious Naumburg Award. He has performed for audiences around the world.

Violinist Kathryn Votapek is currently on the faculty at University of Michigan and is the associate concert master of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. She has an active career as a soloist and guest artist at chamber music festivals throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Lansing Catholic High School has embarked on the Heritage 2 Campaign – Building for the Heart and Soul of our Community which includes the construction of a chapel and a topto bottom renovation of the auditorium, music classroom and practice rooms.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Colleen Murray at 517.267.2109 or colleen.murray@ lansingcatholic.org

March 7-April 11, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., the Catholic Community of St. Jude, 801 N. Bridge St. in DeWitt, will host its fish fry, which includes an early-bird special until 5 p.m.

Takeout available.

March 7-April 11, St. Mary, 14200 E. Old U.S. Hwy. 12 in Chelsea, will have its fish fry in the parish hall 5 p.m.-8 p.m. and 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross in the church.

March 7-April 11, 7 p.m., St. Mary, 10601 Dexter Pinckney Rd., Pinckney will hold its fish dinner. Cost: $10 adults, $9 seniors, $5 children under age 12, and $25 plans for immediate families only. Takeout available.

March 7-April 11, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., St. Michael, Grand Ledge Knights of Columbus will have an all-you-can-eat fish dinner in the parish Fellowship Hall. Cost: $32 family, $9 adults, $7 seniors 65 and above, $6 children 6-12, and 5 and under eat free.

Takeout available.

Catholic Charities Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, ccsgc.org or 810.232.9950

C e l e b r at i n g 2 0 y e a r s

1993 – 2013

Find a catholic church anywhere in the world

$75 and the registration form is at tinyurl.com/LCCC-0114 Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, www.csswashtenaw.org or 734.971.9781 ext. 421,

March 17, Catholic Charities will hold its annual St. Patrick’s Day Box Lunch Sale. Visit our website for details and to pre-order.

Unplanned pregnancy? You don’t need to face this difficult time alone.

Catholic Charities provides counseling and adoption services. For information, call 810.232.3418 or email givehope@ccsgc.org.

We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes will be: Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and Jan. 18, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at St. Mary Church, 14200 E. Old US-12, Chelsea; and Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Catholic Social Services office.

Cost is $95 per couple. To register, call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit csswashtenaw.org.

Livingston County Catholic Charities, www.livingstoncatholichs.org or 517.545.5944

St. Vincent Catholic Charities, stvcc.org or 517.323.4734

Two separate We C.A.R.E. classes: Jan. 21-22, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. or Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and Feb. 22, 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., at St. Patrick Parish, 711 Rickett Rd., Brighton; cost is

Feb. 1 and 8, 9 a.m.-noon, a We C.A.R.E marriage preparation class will be held at Cristo Rey Community Center, 1717 N. High St. in Lansing. Registration forms are available on St. Vincent’s website.

For information, call 517.323.4734, ext. 1700.

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Commissioning of lay ecclesial ministers The Diocese of Lansing is pleased to announce that Most Reverend Bishop Earl Boyea celebrated the rite of commissioning with seven lay ecclesial ministers on Dece. 7, 2013, at St. Mary Cathedral. In responding to the invitation to be commissioned, Pete Fiero, Marita Martin, Doug and Carol McMillan, Cindee McColley, Mary Peacock and Jackie Rosalez committed themselves, in union with the bishop and the Church, to “persevere in the mission of our Lord Jesus by their witness and service.” By participating in this solemn

celebration, lay ministers express their willingness to work more closely with the bishop and share in his pastoral work.

More than 130 lay ecclesial ministers have been commissioned through the Diocese of Lansing since the inception of the commissioning process in 1992. These seven individuals join a group of co-workers who have devoted themselves to some form of special leadership and service within our diocese. They ask for continued prayers as they go forth in love to serve the Lord!

Formation for lay ministry leadership is provided through the diocesan Office of Lay Ministry. Forma-

St. Francis hosts icon retreat

Cristo Rey Community Center recently underwent an exciting transition that includes a new Board of Directors, chaired by Lt. Noel Garcia of the Lansing Police Depart28

provide a 36-credit-hour certificate in religious studies.

For additional information on lay ministry formation, please contact Deborah Amato at 517.342.2512 or damato@dioceseoflansing.org.

Jackson County’s 40 Days of Life

St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt sponsored a religious icon painting retreat. The ecumenical retreat included religious and laity of various beliefs: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal, American Baptist and Methodist.

Jean Schaub, a parishioner from St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach, attended with 19 others. “It was an ecumenical adventure. We did a meditative chanting prayer called the Taize every day and with every stroke of our paint brush, we prayed for someone in need,” said Schaub. “We are a very ecumenical Christian community, much broader than we think.”

Diane Hammel instructed those attending. She studied fine art at Michigan State University and received a bachelor’s degree in arts in theology from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. Her love of icons inspired those attending to paint 30 icons during the retreat.

For future retreats, contact Rev. Timothy Chon at the St. Francis Retreat Center at 517.862.3060 or woongsikchon@ yahoo.com. – Jan Hoffbauer

Cristo Rey Community Center welcomes new board and new executive director

tion opportunities such as retreats, workshops and conferences are offered through the diocese. One example of academic formation is our ongoing partnership with Siena Heights University to

From Sept. 25 to Nov. 3, 2013, 400 people from 30 different churches stood in front of the Planned Parenthood building to silently protest abortion. Beth Thorrez and Eileen Page from Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church joined Sarah Thiede from New Horizons Church when she integrated the 40 Days of Life event for Jackson County.

The movement started in Texas and has spread to 306 different cities. In the larger cities, people are praying 24 hours a day; in the smaller cities, they are praying for 12 hours. During the 40 days of prayer and fasting, those involved hope to educate local citizens.

During this period, many women asked for help instead of choosing an abortion. Hearts were changed by the prayers of strangers. Don’t be silent anymore – let your prayers be heard to save a life. – Jan Hoffbauer

ment. It also undertook the task of vetting and naming a permanent executive director, Joseph J. Garcia, who embodies many of the principles that Cristo Rey Community Center strives to achieve – professionalism, compassion and enthusiasm.

Garcia is a local business owner, former director of MBA services at

FAITH Magazine • Jan./Feb. 2014 • www.FAITHpub.com

Michigan State University and a former volunteer at Cristo Rey Community Center. The potential networking and bridge-building that he is looking forward to facilitating is an exciting aspect of the forward direction CRCC is looking to take, benefiting both the center and the population it serves.

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The conclusion of the year of faith and year of prayer the 100th anniversary of St. Mary Cathedral

O

n Dec. 9, 2013, Bishops Boyea, Mengeling and Murray concelebrated Mass to mark the closing of the Year of Faith, the diocesan Year of Prayer, and the 100th anniversary of St. Mary Cathedral. Other concelebrants included various priests from the Diocese of Lansing; deacons from the diocese assisted at the Mass. In the congregation were representatives of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Malta and the Knights of Peter Claver.

At the offertory, significant documents from the history of the diocese and cathedral were presented: Bishop Boyea’s pastoral letter, the blueprints of the cathedral and the papal bull naming the diocese.

The permanent St. Mary Church building was consecrated on Dec. 8, 1913, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and became the cathedral for the newly formed Diocese of Lansing in 1937. A new parish center was built under the pastorate of Msgr. James A. Murray. It was dedicated by Bishop Kenneth J. Povish in July1995.

On Jan. 27, 1998, Msgr. James A. Murray was ordained bishop for the Diocese of Kalamazoo and Msgr. Michael D. Murphy became rector of the Cathedral Parish.

On June 21, 2009, Holy Cross Parish in Lansing closed and merged with St. Mary Cathedral.

Effective July 1, 2009, Msgr.

Murphy retired and Msgr. Bernard Reilly was named rector of St. Mary Cathedral.

For more on the 100th anniversary Mass, visit FAITHpub.com

Photography by Don Quillan

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Deacon Daniel Westermann – ordained to transitional deaconate Rev. John Linden, director of seminarians for the Diocese of Lansing, works with people discerning their vocations – whether it is marriage, priesthood, religious life, the diaconate or as a consecrated virgin. In October 2013, he had the opportunity to attend the transitional ordination of Deacon Daniel Westermann and 41 other men who were ordained from the United States, Australia and Canada in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

Westermann, who is from Pinckney, is a parishioner at Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor. He attended St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and, in 2011, went to Rome to study for his master’s degree at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Westermann’s priestly ordination is scheduled for June 2014, at which time he will be assigned to a parish in the diocese.

Father William Lugger walks the El Camino Trail

Deacon Daniel Westermann

Father John Linden

Catholic divorce survival guide Catholic Charities of Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties in Adrian asked Doug and Carol McMillan to discuss the “Catholic Divorce Survival Guide” with divorced Catholics in the area.

The couples who attended had been married from 15 to 32 years. They met to learn how to find peace, power and passion.

The 12-week program features a 30-minute DVD about forgiveness, money, courts, kids, annulment, remarriage, staying single and more. Couples who attended shared that they are learning to move forward, that they need time for themselves and, even though finance is a big issue in marriage, smaller issues can end a marriage. Those attending remarked that they learned they need each other, that being together helps and that forgiveness is a gift they can give themselves.

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FAITH Magazine • Jan./Feb. 2014 • www.FAITHpub.com

Father William Lugger, pastor of St. Casimir Parish in Lansing, completed his 31-day walk of the El Camino Trail in Spain. “It was the most difficult walk I have ever taken, physically, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically,” he shared, adding, “You make your plans, but God delivers what he wants.”

During his time in Spain, Father Lugger hiked 12 to 15 miles a day. He began at 8:30 a.m. and arrived at the next hostel around 3:30 p.m. With other hikers not fluent in English and him not fluent in Spanish, opportunities for conversation were limited. In fact, during his walk, Father Lugger did not encounter another hiker for 25 of the 31 days.

He found he could not hide or find shelter from the terrible storms, wind and rain that assaulted him. He said it was hard on his body climbing the steps and walking on cement. But after he completed the walk, he shared, “It was a beautiful experience.

I am glad I did it. My highlight was concelebrating the Mass at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral with another American priest and other priests.” Before he returned home, Father Lugger spent five days in Barcelona and said the cathedral they are building there simply took his breath away. – Jan Hoffbauer

Diocesan Mass for the deaf and hearing impaired Bishop Earl Boyea celebrated Mass at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing for the deaf community. Each year, the deaf and hearing impaired gather from parishes around the diocese to celebrate with each other in the cathedral. Liturgical signers from Lansing were Veronica Balcarcel and Mieken Vander Waerdeb; Susan Shirk from St. Anthony, Hillsdale also signed. During the songs, the deaf members signed the words they offered to God. Lenore Coscarelli, an instructor at Lansing Community College, signed one of the readings.

One of the goals of the Lansing Diocese for the deaf and hard of hearing community is to have them fully included in the life of the Church.

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Our false gods

W

hen I sat down to write this column about the false gods of our day, I soon realized how difficult it was to organize my thoughts. I found myself awash in identifying them because there are so many modern idols that claim our time, attention and, yes, even our devotion. Clothes, body image, winning at all costs, financial net worth, entertainment and sports figures, power over others, being popular, Internet surfing, tweeting, texting and the hours spent on iPhones, iPads and computers, these are just a few of our modern false gods.

“Transforming Love” was the theme for the second annual Lansing Diocese Catholic Women’s Conference. It is from the Bible verse – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” (Eph 3:17) As more than 1,000 women entered the conference room, they blessed themselves with holy water; Bishop Earl Boyea blessed them again when he concelebrated Mass.

He began Mass by thanking those who had worked hard to make the conference so exciting. He said, “We are honoring the heart of Jesus. We are transforming today. We are not to be transformed by love, but be transformed into love.”

Teresa Tomeo, one of the presenters, said some of the best places to look for love are the sacraments, Scripture and traditions. The Magic Carpet Theater performed two dramas: “At His Feet” and the “Woman at the Well.” Special speakers included Amy O’Rourke, Eileen Craig and Mike and Marita Martin.

For some, it was their first women’s conference, while others had returned because it was a great opportunity for fellowship with other believers. – Jan Hoffbauer

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T. Gennara

Diocese of Lansing Catholic Women’s Conference

To what do you give your time and attention? Being popular? Being admired? Your body and how you look?

Sensuality? Pornography? Habitually drinking too much alcohol?

There are so many false gods that last word our inner selves, our own personal temples, are filled with false gods. You Father Charles Irvin is the don’t know what they are and can’t founding editor even name them? Well then, ask yourof FAITH Magazine and is self what frequently keeps you from retired coming to church on Sunday. That’s a good indicator of your own false gods.

Maybe our own selves are our insidious false gods. They have names – self-centeredness, egotism, and selfishness. I decide for myself what matters and what doesn’t. I decide for myself what is good and what is evil. I have my own moral code and no one else can tell me how I should act. I decide for myself what is true and what is false. I decide for myself what is real and what is only a myth. I decide for myself whether or not there really is a God. All self-centered things are false gods.

Here’s another good test. When I fall in love, is it because I believe that the one I love will make me happy? When I marry, is my partner supposed to make me happy, or do I marry in order to make the one I love happy? Do I “love” in order to find happiness, or do I love in order to give happiness?

Which raises the question: Am I willing to sacrifice my own interests and comfort to make the one I love happy? We should ask ourselves: Did God create us to make himself happy or did he create us in order to share his happiness with us? If we believe we are created in his image and likeness then perhaps we should love like he does. Perhaps we should love to give and not love to get.

This leads us to ask, “How we can make God happy?” After all, if we really loved God, wouldn’t we want to make him happy?

Anything that takes from or diminishes that desire to please God is a false god.

Oh dear Jesus, help me to love like you love!

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notes:

Diocesan Women’s Discernment Retreat February 15-16, 2014

Join us for a Women’s Discernment Retreat at Camp De Sales, 1134 Venture Dr. in Brooklyn. The retreat starts at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 15 and ends at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16.

An opportunity to hear talks and ask questions of religious sisters and other consecrated women about how they live, what they do, how they pray and how they discerned their vocation.

Women 18 and older.

If interested, contact Dawn Hausmann, director of consecrated vocations at: 517.342.2506 email dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org.

For more details, visit www.dioceseoflansing.org/vocations.

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