January/February 2016

FROM THE BISHOP:

Catholic schools are our hope for the future IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE:

Should we send our kids to Catholic School?

CULTURE:

The recipe for Catholic education

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INSIDE JAN./FEB.

COVER STORY ‘YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT WITH YOUR KIDS’ – BILL AND THERESA MAKE CATHOLIC EDUCATION A PRIORITY P.16

YOUR LIFE

4 f rom the bishop

Catholic schools are our hope for the future

5 consecrated life

Sister Therese teaches kids to speak Vietnamese so they can talk to their parents

7 goodlife

YOUR STORIES

YOUR FAITH

20 feature story

10 in the know

with Father Joe

Should we send our kids to Catholic School?

12 theology 101

52 years and counting – For Ed and Beth, marriage is ‘a promise, a sacrament, a commitment’

A Girl Scout forever:

14 spiritual fitness

For Marie, scouting is discipleship

The power of prayer

PLUS

8 marriage matters

9 work life

How should I handle a co-worker’s same-sex wedding invitation?

parenting journey

Our new parish

isn’t diverse at all

SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS

22 feature story

What is mercy?

Mission at home

He says: ‘The kids moved out, and now she’s never home.’

She says: ‘I just want to stay active in the community’ What do they do?

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26 culture

he recipe for T Catholic education

SPECIAL REPORT: PASTORAL LETTER ON PORNOGRAPHY P. 28

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30 pope watch

What Pope Francis has been saying and doing recently

31 saint of the month

P. 22

The humble doorkeeper

last word

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An encounter with mercy 3

FROM THE BISHOP

BISHOP EARL BOYEA

is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing @BishopBoyea

OUR DIOCESE IS BLESSED with four wonderful and very faith-filled Catholic high schools. At least once a year, I visit each school, celebrate Mass for the community and then meet with the senior class. This is an opportunity for me to present to them three commercials: 1) do not miss out on this opportunity as seniors to exercise healthy leadership, especially as a class; 2) help me to provide a supportive environment in the school to encourage students to consider a life as a priest or a consecrated man or woman; and 3) spend a great deal of time and energy reflecting on God’s call to marriage (which most will celebrate), consider it when you are dating someone, and learn about natural family planning here in school.

These visits to our Catholic schools give me great hope for the future. I know these young people are all sinners just like the rest of us, but they are also called to be saints, just like the rest of us.

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Then the floor is open to any questions; it is vital to take any and all questions, as this demonstrates an openness and encourages them to actually pose a question. This is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my ministry. The questions usually include why the bishop wears a “pink” skull cap, to which my response is always that it is “magenta” and has simply been a traditional aspect of the bishop’s garb. Favorite colors, food, sports and music also are invariably sought.

Often, the questions will enter the realm of human sexuality regarding abortion, same-sex attraction and co-habitation. To each, my response is the teaching of the Church. I always try to explain why this is the teaching, and how that teaching best respects human dignity as God has created and redeemed us.

Sometimes, they will ask me about political matters and my views of current events, or even of candidates. I am always very careful not to make endorsements of anyone, but usually simply speak about principles.

Then there are the questions about my vocation story, my family, my experiences of God, my prayer life and the joys and difficulties of my ministry. On the latter, my response is usually that the greatest difficulties are trying to deal with disputes in our parishes or in the diocese, and the greatest joy is being with them!

Recently, one of the Masses included the grandparents as a way to honor them. It struck me that many of them are probably contributing to the cost of the education of their grandkids at Catholic school. I know how expensive that tuition is, but what a great legacy to leave our kids and grandkids! In fact, I encourage all of you to consider making a financial contribution to your local Catholic grade or high school, perhaps especially to assist some needy family.

These visits to our Catholic schools give me great hope for the future.

I know these young people are all sinners just like the rest of us, but they are also called to be saints, just like the rest of us. It is good for me to be a small part of the challenge to them to respond to God’s call. The one thing that really strikes me, however, is that they seem to get younger every year!

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

YOUR LIFE CONSECRATED LIFE

SISTER THERESE TEACHES KIDS TO SPEAK VIETNAMESE SO THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR PARENTS

I

ncongruence can be bewildering. Arriving in Michigan in 2002, Sister Therese Vu couldn’t comprehend why the wealthy chose to live in the country and the poor resided in the city. In her native country, Vietnam, the exact opposite is true. The economic anomaly took some time to understand.

BY ROSE ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY

BY DON QUILLAN

Weather was another adjustment because Sister Therese’s first assignment was in the Upper Peninsula.

“My hometown of Lam Dong in South Vietnam is typically in the mid-80s. I was so cold!”

Economic and climate differences aside, Sister Therese, a member of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, has vigorously embraced her ministerial work here. “We are a missionary community and we are sent wherever a need may arise. Our vow of obedience makes it easy to say ‘yes’ and be ready to go wherever our help is needed.”

She continues, “There are 4,000 Sisters of St. Paul in 40 countries and we are still faithful to our first mission, to make the presence of Jesus felt in the varied faces of the last, the least, and the lost, mainly through

education and health care.”

In 2013, Father Joseph Sy Kim, pastor of St. Andrew Dung Lac The Sisters Parish in Lansing, requested help of St. Paul of for his ministry, and Sister Therese Chartres at and two other sisters arrived in St. Andrew Lansing in May 2014. At that point, Dung Lac. Sister Therese was fairly accustomed to American ways, but for Sister Maria Tuyet-Vinh Vo and Sister Anna Le-Duy Tran, arriving directly from Vietnam, the challenges were many.

The 500-member congregation of St. Andrew Dung Lac is made up entirely of Vietnamese parishioners.

Many came to this country in 1975 after the fall of Saigon, so most of their children were born here. This has created one of the gaps the sisters work to close: the cultural differences between parents who fled Vietnam and their own children who were born in this country. “The children are Americanized and often have obtained much more education with many more opportunities. The adults, who primarily only speak Vietnamese, have trouble communicating with their children and with people from other cultures,” states Sister Therese. “If we can help them communicate better, it will help keep the families together.”

In addition to working with the parish children to teach them Vietnamese, Sister Therese’s ministry includes faith formation and assisting in weekly liturgies.

She also is a mentor to her two newer, younger colleagues and must teach them American culture.

Sister Therese glows as she shares, “Before I came, I heard the parishioners really wanted the sisters here.

When we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms.

I feel there is a hunger to have us around them and be with them in their many activities.

“Our plans for the future are to improve our parish programs at St. Andrew. We will continue to pray for vocations so we have more hearts and hands to serve God.” And how will they accomplish this? Sister Therese’s easy going, adaptable manner emerges as she says, “We will put it in God’s hands. What we long for and pray for depends on God’s directions. I enjoy the gifts of wherever I am. I feel very much at peace.”

LEARN MORE FOR THE YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE, FAITH HAS CELEBRATED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN RELIGIOUS LIFE. TO READ MORE, PLEASE VISIT WWW.FAITHPUB.COM

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FAITH HELPS

FROM THE EDITOR

Invest time and energy in your marriage

L

T.Gennera

ATER THIS YEAR, my brother and sister-in-law will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Ten years and two children later, they seem to be doing well as a married couple and as a family. Certainly they have had their share of stresses, just like any couple. My mother’s death in March, changes in their jobs and in areas of responsibility, health challenges along the way, and the joys of raising two young children have been a part of their lives. I also see my brother and sister-in-law regularly doing something that has helped them through the first 10 years of marriage: they are very deliberate about making time to tend to their relationship as husband and wife.

FATHER DWIGHT EZOP

is the editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Fenton.

Email: editor@ FAITHpub.com.

As we begin the Year of Mercy 2016, I encourage all married couples to make the time and to invest the energy in their marriages.”

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Every few months, the kids go with their grandparents for a weekend and my brother and sister-in-law will have a weekend just for themselves.

They take the time to get away and just spend time with one another.

They may go to a bed and breakfast or they may go to a cottage owned by extended family. The point is that they take time away from the hustle and bustle of their very busy lives in order to spend time with one another and grow in relationship. This is a pattern they developed very early in their married life, maintaining it through the first 10 years, and I am certain that it will remain a pattern for the rest of their lives.

The fact that my brother and sister-in-law do this reflects, I hope, an attitude on their part that their marriage is a dynamic and growing reality. They continue to discover new aspects of one another each day and continue to grow in love with one another. In a sense, they are continuing a pattern that began before they were married, while they were still in marriage preparation and very much in the courtship phase of their relationship. This pattern of mutual encouragement, growth and discovery is one they have sought to maintain, even in the face of the demands of everyday life.

There are two other important aspects to what I see my brother and sister-inlaw doing. By devoting time and energy to their relationship, they are showing their daughter and son, my niece and nephew, just how much work a married relationship requires. Mommy and daddy love one another, but they have to work at this, to continue to grow in that love, and it takes time and energy. The other important aspect is that my brother and sister-in-law are revealing just how much work is required in any relationship, including that of marriage.

They teach me how to live my call to celibacy in priesthood by reminding me that I, too, must invest time and energy in the relationships that bring me life – my relationship with God, family, friends, fellow priests and with parishioners.

As we begin the Year of Mercy 2016, I encourage all married couples to make the time and to invest the energy in their marriages. The stresses and strains on marriage are greater now than they have ever been. An experience like a Marriage Encounter weekend might be helpful. Couples can learn more about Marriage Encounter and its desire to “make good marriages even better” at www.wwme. org. Couples who are experiencing difficulty in their marriage should not give up hope. A program like Retrouvaille might be just the opportunity to find the help they need. You can learn more by visiting www.retrouvaille.org.

These are but two of a number of resources that are available to assist couples in growing or healing their marriage. Perhaps a first step could be to reach out to the pastor or pastoral minister at your parish. We pledge to do what we can to walk with each couple, engaged or married, so that they can have a relationship that is happy, healthy and holy. And so, our journey in FAITH continues.

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DISCIPLESHIP

For personal reflection or small group discussion Consecrated Life

1. What is the role of language in identity? Do you feel everyone should just learn English?

Theology 101

1. D id you know that the English word “mercy” appears hundreds of times in the Bible? Discuss your favorite passage on mercy.

See, for example, Luke 6:36, Titus 3:5.

2.

What are your plans for engaging in the corporal works of mercy in this Jubilee Year for Mercy?

Spiritual Fitness

1. In what ways do you find it difficult to surrender to God? Read Jesus’ powerful words in John 15:7.

2. How do you find the time to pray every day? Do you set aside a specific time, or does it vary?

Cover story

1. Discuss the role of faith in education. What is important to you and your family? Faith formation?

Catholic identity? Academic performance?

2. How can you be more involved in your area Catholic school?

FIND MORE ONLINE GO TO FAITHPUB.COM TO FIND ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND RESOURCES

YOUR LIFE

GOODLIFE

MISSION HOME at

D

O YOU EVER WONDER how you can make a difference without joining the Peace Corps? Although a mission abroad can

be an invaluable experience for those who serve and for the communities who are served, more often than not, scheduling,

financial resources or personal commitments keep you at home. But you can stay stateside and still make a difference.

©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB.COM/CHRISTIANCHAN

Faith in action. What about the Jesuit Volunteer Corps?

Its mission is to “engage passionate young people in vital service within poor communities.” Spirituality, a simple lifestyle, community and social justice are its hallmarks. Or visit the Catholic Volunteer Network at tinyurl.com/FM0116goodlife and check with your local diocese.

Plenty of fish. If months or years of volunteering are still not doable, check with nonprofits that may offer mission opportunities at home and abroad for durations of two weeks or less.

Connect with Catholic Refugee Services. The U.S. takes in many refugees, and Catholic social service agencies are often the local partners working with government agencies to help resettle them. Refugees need help financially and with cultural integration until they can get grounded in a new

country. Volunteer locally to help with their transition into your community, or donate to support those who do.

Language love. Learning English is one of the most important skills that refugees need to be successful in America. Local nonprofits or community organizations provide training and can connect you with eager students. Formal English as a second language (ESL) training and certification skills can be transferred to teaching abroad later on.

Newman Center or cultural connections on campus. Check out the Newman Center on your campus for food, relaxation, prayer, worship and volunteer opportunities. Some universities offer programs that connect international students with locals to provide opportunities for friendship, for learning about American culture and for places to celebrate the holidays. Volunteer to create a friendship that will last a lifetime.

BY EMILY LENHARD

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YOUR LIFE MARRIAGE MATTERS

HE SAYS

THE KIDS MOVED OUT, AND NOW SHE’S NEVER HOME Our youngest child just moved out! I was looking forward to having more relaxing time with Pam. But she seems to be gone all the time. I’m feeling more alone than I expected at this time of our lives.

SHE SAYS

I JUST WANT TO STAY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY ©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB.COM/MONKEY BUSINESS

I really miss all the kids’ activities, and I’ve realized all of our friendships revolved around them. I am trying to stay active in the community so I don’t turn into a recluse – which is what I think Jack is looking for.

It’s typical to experience “empty nest” syndrome when the youngest child moves out, but WHAT DO each parent reacts differently.

THEY DO? Particularly if they stayed home to take care of the children, mothers often take the hardest emotional hit when the kids finally leave. The transition can feel like the loss of a job or even the loss of an identity.

The temptation is to escape the suddenly silent house and fill the hours with substitute activities, like what Pam has done. But silence is a powerful aid to interior growth. God does not speak to us in the rushing wind; instead, he speaks most loudly in the still, small silence. (cf. 1 Kings 19:11-13) Pam and Jack can treat this time as a great gift that gives them the breathing room to discern, through prayer, what God wants from this next stage in their lives. And although their parenting role has changed, Pam and Jack still remain con8

DR. MANUEL P. SANTOS AND KAREE SANTOS

are co-authors of The Four Keys to Everlasting Love: How Your Catholic Marriage Can Bring You Joy for a Lifetime (Ave Maria Press, 2016).

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nected to their children, just in a different way.

With the kids out of the house, the focus will naturally shift more to the marriage. If Pam and Jack have grown distant over the years, now is the time to reinvigorate their relationship. If any problems have been swept under the rug, now is the time to fix them. Scripture advises men who grow older to “rejoice in the wife of your youth.”

(Prv 5:18) Wives obviously ought to rejoice in their husbands, too!

If Pam draws closer to Jack, he can help heal the loss she feels from the absence of the children. They can both look for new ways to add fun, spontaneity and contentment to their marriage. They can volunteer together, do home projects, take long walks, travel or just spend time together reading the newspaper at the breakfast table or curling up with a good book in front of the fireplace on a cold evening. This is a chance to take a new direction together and make their marriage even stronger than it was before.

YOUR LIFE WORK LIFE

YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY

How should I handle a co-worker’s same-sex wedding invitation?

T. Gennara

©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB.COM/PRAWNY

This is a very difficult situation, with no standard solution. The assault on the sanctity and even notion of marriage has put faithful Catholics in a very uncomfortable position. Novel, previously unthinkable norms have set us back on our heels, so to speak.

You’re to be commended for your love for the truth and your co-worker.

Her invitation suggests that she’s unaware of your beliefs and the dilemma the invite creates. If that’s the case, it’s probably not the time to try to explain your position. She won’t have ears to hear right now.

There may come a time later when you can explain your position on this topic.

JIM BERLUCCHI Be strong, but is the executive subtle. Since eidirector of the ther attendance Spitzer Center. or gift-giving is an affirmation of the event, either would compromise your convictions. Though you can’t support her decision, you can still be a friendly, collaborative co-worker.

Your decision probably won’t enhance your profile in the office.

You might even be unjustly labeled an intolerant bigot, ironically by the preachers of the gospel of “tolerance.”

Take heart. Jesus paved the way and St. Paul reinforces the principle. “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

(2Tim 3:12) You’re in good company.

A

OUR NEW PARISH ISN’T DIVERSE AT ALL JUST MOVED TO A NEW COMMUNITY, which Q WE has been a big change for all of us. The biggest change is at church, which is virtually an all-white parish – and we are not. How do we help our children feel “at home”? Or would it be better to look for a more ethnically diverse parish?

A

In 2013, the USCCB asked the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate to investigate cultural diversity. The analysis indicated that multicultural parishes are more likely to be found in the West (32 percent) and South (32 percent), with fewer found in the Northeast (19 percent) and Midwest (17 percent). A move to a different region of the country may change the availability of parishes serving specific racial/ethnic communities.

T. Gennara

My co-worker invited me to her wedding to another woman. Do I explain why I’m not going or just decline the invitation? And do I send a gift for something I don’t believe is valid?

Q

DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL

is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

Helping your children adjust to your new community. Talk to the parish staff to learn about different opportunities to engage with other parents. Seek informal gatherings at the church that might attract parents with children of the same age. If your children attend the parish school, then see if parents are needed as volunteers on the playground or at lunchtime.

Use these opportunities to build relationships with other parents. Initiate after-church brunches or other activities. As your family grows closer to other parish families, your children will feel more at home.

The pope’s call for diversity. In his speech at the Ground Zero Memorial last September in New York, Pope Francis said, “ … we can and must build unity on the basis of our diversity of languages, cultures and religions, and lift our voices against everything which would stand in the way of such unity.”

Scripture forms the foundation for the response of the parish toward your family as you become members of the church community: “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Rom 15:7) 9

YOUR FAITH

Should we send our kids to

process to help you determine whether or not you and your family are called to be a part of a Catholic school.

First (and this is a shocker), you should pray. You personally should pray, and you and your spouse should pray. This prayer should, in my opinion, take the form of a simple question: “God, are you calling us to send our child (children) to a Catholic school?” I remember when I was in seminary, I spoke to a priest about some of my fears in regard to being a priest. I caught myself articulating what I thought was the core question, “Do I have what it takes to be a priest?” He said something in response to that which changed my life, “Of course you don’t have what it takes to be a priest, but that is not the question.

The question is ‘Are you called to be a priest?’” I’ve never forgotten the abject power of that simple question.

The same principle applies here: are you being called to send your child to a Catholic school? If so, put aside fears and worries and push forward.

A key part of the process of asking God that question is to listen for the answer. God may give it to you in the quiet of your heart (note: quiet time needed here!), he may give you the answer through the process of finding out if it’s possible – who knows how? They key is this: ask the question and listen for the answer.

The next step is to evaluate. Look at your finances and see what you can do and what you can’t. Please make sure and note that this is something for which you may be called to sacrifice “wants.” My dad and mom always gave us kids the speech about making sure to separate “wants from needs.” Look, too, at any special needs your child may have in order to present that information to the school later. Once you have this information ready, head on over to the local Catholic school and set up a time to ask questions and get a tour.

GRETCHEN MATHOS

CATHOLIC SCHOOL? YOUR FAITH IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE

Someone told me that, as Catholics, we Q are supposed to send our kids to Catholic schools. We are wondering if it’s really worth the financial struggle; are we obligated to do this?

T. Gennara

you for asking this: it’s quite the important A Thank issue. I’ve been blessed to serve as a priest for a

FATHER JOE KRUPP

is a former comedy writer who is now a Catholic priest. @Joeinblack

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little more than 17 years, and every assignment I’ve been given in that time has had a school connected to it. Over the years, I’ve really come to see that Catholic schools are a great gift God offers us; a gift that we often overlook.

Is Catholic education a sacrifice? Of course. If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong. Catholic education, for many people, is a great sacrifice.

It’s a sacrifice for the teachers who, in my experience, are paid significantly less than their public school counterparts. It’s a sacrifice for the parish that the school is tied to, as that parish commits no small amount of its resources toward running, improving and supporting the school. It’s a sacrifice for parents who choose to work to come up with the money needed to pay the tuition. It’s a sacrifice for the students who often are in a building that is not as nice as the public school options.

Catholic education always has been and always will be a sacrifice. The question is: is it one you are called to? I’d like to offer you a three- (possibly four-) step

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about or share with you.

If, in the end, you do these things and come to the conclusion that you cannot “do” Catholic school, what are your choices?

Religious education. Every parish has a Catholic education program: a place where kids are formed in their faith, usually on Sunday or some other day. Be sure and check that out.

The reason we have these programs is because some people are simply not called to Catholic school and this is a beautiful way to experience the joy of growing in our faith. Your parish more than likely has a youth group, check that out and see if it doesn’t help you To be honest, it’s hard for me not to use this article to tell you how much I loved and love the experience of being in a Catholic school as a priest. It regularly blows me away to be around employees at the school and parents who scrape and sacrifice so that the kids can grow in love and knowledge of Jesus and the world our Father made. I could write a whole article just about that. You know, as I think about it, I might just do that. Keep watching this space to find out. Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

B. Patten

Getting to the school is the next step. Get a tour of the place. Ask your questions.

Find out their Mass schedule. Inquire about Adoration and community service. If you know you’ll be needing financial assistance, ask direct questions about that. If you know your child will need special programs, ask about that. See if they have a program where you can volunteer at the school (or parish) in exchange for tuition assistance.

I promise I’m telling you the truth: at almost every school I served in, I was shocked at the amount of tuition assistance dollars that went unclaimed. I don’t know if its pride, if it’s a lack of publicity or there is somehow a lack of need, but I guarantee you that the school has donors who feel a positive debt toward their Catholic school and want to help others get the blessing of Catholic education that they experienced. Be sure and check this out.

If, after that, you don’t feel you have the information you need, you can do a next step and ask to meet with the pastor. Walk him through your decision process thus far and see if he can’t pray with you and show you resources/possibilities that the school didn’t know

Q: HOW DO YOU FIX A BROKEN TUBA A: WITH A TUBA GLUE

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The Judgement of Solomon

by Peter Paul Rubens

What is

MERCY? S. Olson

L 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.

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ET US BEGIN OUR YEAR-LONG REFLECTION on the nature of mercy in honor of the official Jubilee Year of Mercy (Dec. 8, 2015 – Nov. 20, 2016) by considering what Pope St. John Paul II wrote in his 1992 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America. Specifically, God is communion and all people are called to share in this same communion.

This magnificent plan of communion for us belongs to the Father and it has a name – the plan of salvation. Salvation comes from the root word “salve,” which means “to heal, to make whole.” To fulfill this plan, Jesus, the heart of this communion, emptied himself to take the form of a human being and accepted death on a cross (cf. Phil 2:7-8) so that we might be brought to life with Christ (cf. Eph 2:5) and share in the divine life of the Triune God. In other words, Christ became the salve for humanity so that all may be one in God. Today, Christ remains with his Church, the sign and instrument of the communion willed by God. Through the power of the Holy

Spirit, who works ceaselessly to create communion and to restore it when it is broken, God’s unwavering will to save is made known to humanity through the ages.

And what does this have to do with a discussion on mercy? The Scripture scholar Father John L. McKenzie (1910-1991) would have argued that it has everything to do with mercy as it provides us with the very definition of mercy: “the will to save.”

WISDOM THAT ACCOMPANIES MERCY

In the First Book of Kings (3:16-28), we find the tale of King Solomon’s

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famous “custody” case. We are told that there were two harlots who lived in the same house and who gave birth to sons only three days apart from one another. During the night, one of the babies died.

The mother of the dead child then switched her baby with the living child as the other mother continued to sleep.

Upon waking, the mother of the living child found herself with a dead child, but she realized he was not hers. However, there were no witnesses, as the two women were alone in the house.

As they later stood before King Solomon, both claimed the living child. With no way of determining whose child was whose, King Solomon ordered that justice required the living child be divided into two equal parts, one for each of the women.

Upon hearing the king’s judgment pronounced, the woman who was truly the mother of the living child pleaded with the king to give the child to other woman. In response, the other woman said to go ahead and divide the child so as to deny both women a living child.

Of course, we know King Solomon saw through to the truth of the matter and changed his ruling to give the living child to his rightful mother.

On her part, the mother was willing to forgo her parental right out of love and mercy for her child.

YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101

A SAINT ELABORATES ON MERCY

YEAR OF MERCY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties: Personal Needs and Linen Closet volunteers are needed to sort and organize donations, Monday-Thursday; and stock the shelves and get things ready for Friday mornings when clients come to select items. To volunteer, contact Kyle Anne Jansen at 517.262.0466 or kjansen.ccjlhc@gmail.com.

Livingston County Catholic Charities: Volunteers are needed for its Be Our Guest Adult Day Service, open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., which provides recreational and social activities for individuals suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.

To volunteer, contact Suzi Snyder at 517.546.9910.

St. Vincent Catholic Charities: Refugee Services family mentor volunteers to teach clients about grocery shopping; assist in learning the bus system; help open bank accounts; explain aspects of American culture; and more.

Time needed: four hours a month for a minimum of four months. To volunteer, contact Marissa Nalley at 517.323.4734, ext. 1424 or nalleym@stvcc.org.

THEOLOGY 101 QUIZ Test your knowledge of what the Bible has to say about mercy …

“A kindly man benefits himself, but a merciless man ________” A. will receive mercy.

B. harms himself.

C. walks blamelessly.

D. is despised.

Answer: (B) – harms himself. Proverbs 11:17

In his 1980 encyclical Dives in Misericordia, Pope St. John Paul II wrote that the mercy of Christ reveals the love of the Father is more primary and fundamental than the Father’s justice. Mercy “signifies a special power of love, which prevails over the sin and infidelity” of the world.

And mercy alone is “able to justify [humanity], In overcoming to restore justice in the sin, love sense of that transformed salvific order into mercy which God restores right willed from the beginrelationships, ning.” or justice, by This does restoring the not mean dignity and that justice is forgotten. In value of the overcoming offending sin, love party. transformed into mercy restores right relationships, or justice, by restoring the dignity and value of the offending party. Mercy actually calls the sinner to conversion, the most concrete expression of the presence of mercy.

Consider Luke 7:36-50. While Jesus is dining at the house of a Pharisee, a sinful woman stands behind him bathing his feet with her tears and anointing them with oil. When the Pharisee objects, Jesus replies, “Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

True mercy is the most profound source of that justice which amounts to our living in right relationship with God – to living in the communion that is our salvation.

SPIRITUAL READING In Misericordiae Vultus, the papal bull establishing the Extraordinary Jubilee, Pope Francis reminds us that we “are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action our lives” during this Year of Mercy. One way we can do this is through spiritual reading – especially the classics of the Catholic spiritual life. Consider a prayerful reading of this book during the Year of Mercy: Meditations from a Simple Path

by Blessed Mother Teresa (1996 Ballantine Books published

by Random House)

The Simple Path: The fruit of silence is prayer.

The fruit of prayer is faith.

The fruit of faith is love.

The fruit of love is service.

The fruit of service is peace.

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THE POWER

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

OF

1. D evelop a habit of thanking God daily by using one of the Psalms: Psalms 8, 33, 34, 40, 66, 103, 116, 135, 136, 150. There are many, but this list can be helpful to growing in a daily habit of being grateful for all good things – especially those things we can take for granted.

2. Carve out at least 15 minutes every day for just you and the Lord. Read a passage from one of the Gospels (you can use the Gospel reading for the day at Mass if you want). Remember: “The word of God is living and active …” This word has power to change your life. (Heb 4:12) Ask God to help you understand it.

3. As you read, ask God to give you grace to do his will. Ask God to give you a love for his will. (I can hear you saying, “I am afraid, I don’t know what God will ask of me; I am afraid to get too close ...”) I promise you that his will has the power to bless you beyond anything you can imagine.

4. A sk God to increase your faith in his love for you; God is always faithful; he will never abandon you – never! Remember: you and I only see “In a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully even as I have been fully understood.” (1Cor. 13:12)

PRAYER I WONDER HOW MANY OF US seriously believe in the power of

prayer? Do you? In order for prayer for others, as well as for ourselves, to be effective, God wants to teach us how to pray, how to intercede on behalf of others. In a future column, I will be more

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO SISTER ANN SHIELDS: RENEWAL MINISTRIES, 230 COLLINGWOOD, SUITE 240, ANN ARBOR, MI 48103.

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©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB.COM/ROBYELO357

specific about how to pray on behalf of others.

Let me say first that each of us can call on God anytime we want, and he will hear our plea. We don’t have to be perfect to ask God for our needs and the needs of others. We can’t be perfect! But unless we are praying daily, unless we are reading his word daily, we cannot come to know him better, to enter into a personal relationship with him that God himself desires for each one of us.

God doesn’t want to be a kind of slot machine where we put in our request and then see if we win the prize. God desires a personal relationship with each of us. The choice is left to us. God gave us a free will; God will never coerce, but he longs to draw us close to him and share his plans – his will – step-by-step for us and for those we love.

The need to draw closer to God is not a high priority for very many of us. When everything is going well – our health is good, the family is good, finances are good, job security seems to be solid – we tend to think: “What is there to worry about?”

Unfortunately, we often go about our daily business with little thought of the One who created us for a purpose: “… to know him, love him and serve him in this world and to be happy with him in the next.” (The Baltimore Catechism) We can be so caught up in this world’s affairs that we give little thought to the next. Yet, it is imperative that we live this life keeping our eyes on the goal of eternal life.

T. Gennara

SISTER ANN SHIELDS

is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. @srannshieldssgl

As you pray this way daily, and as you begin to see the peace that comes when we surrender to God’s will – God’s way – you will grow in faith. You don’t have to have it all together, just be on the road to loving God’s will and trusting him.

Even while we are on the way, God enables us to begin to pray for the needs of others: family, friends, co-workers, parish, neighborhood … (more on this in future column).

Jesus tells us in John 15:7: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask what you will and it shall be done for you!” Wow! Let’s begin now to do the things I have listed in this article. Begin to build some habits over this next month. Then I will show you how that promise you just read can come true for you in your personal life, as well as for those you love.

YOUR FAITH SPIRITUAL FITNESS

EACH OF US CAN CALL ON GOD ANYTIME WE WANT, AND HE WILL HEAR OUR PLEA. WE DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO ASK GOD FOR OUR NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. WE CAN’T BE PERFECT!

CHECK OUT PAGE 6 FOR DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION OR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

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YOUR STORIES

‘YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT WITH YOUR KIDS’

BY DAWN DOERR PHOTOGRAPHY

BY JIM LUNING

BILL AND THERESA MAKE CATHOLIC EDUCATION A PRIORITY

F

OR BILL AND THERESA MARTIN, sending their children to Catholic school complements what they teach at home.

“Our job as parents is to bring our kids closer to God. We feel like that’s what we’re doing by giving them this education,” Theresa says.

The Martins, parishioners of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Jackson, make Catholic schools a financial, educational and spiritual priority for their family. Parents of Kelly, Rachel, Sam, Lucy and Alex, the Martins consider Catholic schools a dynamic partner in their parenting journey – helping them raise smart, well-rounded and faith-filled kids.

Theresa believes her children benefit from the way Catholic schools integrate faith into every aspect of their students’ lives. “I would just say that they get so much from the daily exposure to the faith at school. It’s not just religion class – they gather for morning prayer, first Friday adoration, school Mass – it’s woven throughout the whole curriculum.

“And as they get older in the high school age, they get opportunities for retreats and mission trips that are not going to be offered in the public schools.

It’s all part of the whole package,” she says.

Both Bill and Theresa attended Catholic schools themselves and believe the tuition is well worth it.

“If it’s that important to you, you’re not going to really put a price on it,” Theresa says. “If it’s a priority, you’re going to try to make it work.

“I had a good experience all the way through the whole school, so I was definitely willing to make the sacrifice to send them there,” she adds.

B

ILL SAYS, “You only get one chance to do it right with your kids and I would hate to look back and wish I had done it differently.”

LEARN MORE DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON AFFORDING A CATHOLIC EDUCATION? CONTACT RENEE FISCHMAN AT 517.267.2107 OR CALL YOUR SCHOOL’S OFFICE AND ASK FOR THE TUITION ADVISOR.

According to Theresa, “It’s an investment in your child and their future, over material things like a car or something. We want to look back on it and say we made the right choice for them.

And we would do it again – for sure.”

In order to afford a Catholic education for their five children – two currently in Catholic elementary, one in Catholic middle school, one in Catholic high school and one at a small Catholic college – Theresa and Bill, who runs his family’s steel business with his parents, rely on a mix of hard work and God's grace.

“Starting out, I’m sure Bill was a little hesitant about paying the tuition.

It wasn’t easy to make the decision, but we’re glad that we did,” Theresa says. “You know, when you’re self-employed, there are times where it’s very slow or he’s busy and working really long hours. We’ve had to take it monthby-month sometimes.”

“Somehow it’s worked out,” Bill says.

“We can’t explain that one.”

When the kids were little, Theresa worked from home part-time doing the office work for Bill’s business, and worked at the school on recess duty and as lunch parent to help with tuition. Now she goes into Bill’s company office part-time, and is also working part-time as an assistant in the St. Mary pre-kindergarten program to offset some of the costs. “I’ve always done what I can to take off that little bit that helps,” she says.

“I know everyone’s situation is different, but if you just go and talk to

“[CATHOLIC SCHOOLS] REALLY WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR CHILD, IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.” the school, in our experience, they are usually really willing to work with you.

Just don’t say right off the top ‘we can’t afford it,’ without at least finding out, talking with the school, going in and asking some questions.” Theresa recommends.

“For bigger families like ours, a lot of schools do have a multi-student discount. Also, as of sixth grade, the diocese offers a diocesan scholarship which they encourage everyone to apply for, and we take advantage of that,” she says.

The Martins’ oldest child also received some financial aid in college because she had gone to a Catholic school.

“You kind of get a little back then, which was nice,” Bill says.

From a budget standpoint, Bill says the family takes the costs associated with Catholic education in stride. “It’s just once you decide to do it, it becomes part of your budget. And that comes off the top.”

“I guess you could say there’s definitely things we do without, but it’s not like I think our kids are suffering,” Theresa says. “You know, they haven’t been to Disney World, but I don’t think that’s affecting them.

“Our kids get jobs when they are 16, and that helps them get ready for college. We’ve told them they are pretty much on their own through college – financial aid, grants and scholarships – so they do quite a bit of the college on their own,” she adds.

Most important, the Martins believe their children receive a great education. “[Catholic schools] really want the best for your child, in a lot of different ways,” Theresa says. “And I think with the smaller class size the teachers are a little more in tune with your kids’ needs.”

Bill likes the discipline, small class

sizes, and strong relationships between parents and teachers found in most Catholic schools.

“I think they encourage so much family participation that you get a pretty good feel if the teacher is doing a good job,” he says. “I mean we laugh about it now with our son who plays basketball – the school busses them one way to away games, but they don’t bring them back, so they pretty much encourage you to go to the game and get him.

“We’ve also had teachers come to some of our kids’ sporting activities outside of school, just to come and support them. It’s just things like that, small touches, I guess,” Bill says.

“One of the big things I notice is that the parents seem to listen to the teacher and aren’t afraid to admit their child has a problem,” he says.

“Whereas in some public school situations, it seems like parents say it’s always the teacher’s fault.

“I also think the parents realize the teachers probably aren’t getting as well paid. They appreciate them being there and let them know it. I think that helps form the bond between the parents and teachers also,” Bill continues.

“We just hope all this together will impact their journey of faith as they get older and make a difference. We’re not guaranteed it will make a difference, but we’re making sure that we’ve done the best we can do,” Theresa says.

“I don’t know for sure if that has anything to do with our daughter choosing a smaller Catholic college over a larger public one, but sometimes those little things make a difference.”

Bill agreed that it is often the small things that have helped them.

“God has definitely helped guide us along the way. I don’t think there’s been a big lightning bolt moment. But it’s a constant,” he said.

TIPS FOR AFFORDING A CATHOLIC EDUCATION FAITH spoke to Renee Fischman, tuition advisor for Lansing Catholic High School and one of the administrators for the Diocese of Lansing Scholarship Program, for her insights on the financial aspects that parents consider when enrolling their children in a Catholic elementary or high school.

Each family situation is unique. A Catholic school tuition advisor can provide you with ideas and solutions tailored to your family’s budgetary needs.

• Financial aid is available from the diocese, and is based primarily on income. We use a third-party service, the Private School Aid System (PSAS) to determine need. The first step is to fill out the PSAS application, available from the school where you plan to enroll. You will need to include your 2015 W-2 forms and a copy of your 2014 federal income tax return. Applications must be post-marked (or completed online) by March 1, 2016, to be eligible for the 2016-17 school year.

• Currently, Catholic students in grades 6 through 9 may be eligible for $750 and high school students may receive a $1,000 grant. Other aid may be available through the school tuition offices and the parishes, so it’s important to check with the school in which you’re enrolling.

• You have to believe that a Catholic education is worth the sacrifice. Regardless of income level, the decision for Catholic education reflects what you believe is important for your children.

In that way, it as an investment.

•C ommunication with school tuition advisors is the key. Our mission is to help families achieve their goal of Catholic education for their children.

YOUR STORIES OUR STORY

CHECK OUT FOR MARRIAGE EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE DIOCESE OF LANSING, SEE PAGE 25

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52 YEARS AND COUNTING

For Ed and Beth, marriage is ‘a promise, a sacrament, a commitment’ HOME FROM THE KOREAN WAR, Ed Farrell returned to his native Upper Peninsula to attend college at Northern Michigan University. His service as an Army artillery instructor cost him his hearing, and a hearing test he took at Northern cost him his heart.

“I tested his hearing,” Beth Farrell recalls, “so I knew what I was getting into. I saved that audiogram, and it’s a good thing, too. It qualified him for VA benefits!”

“I remember shortly after we started dating, she looked at me and said, ‘So are you going to ask me to marry you or not?’” Ed laughs. “I’m half Swedish, and Swedes are passive.”

“Well, I needed to know if I was wasting my time,” Beth retorts. “I had my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from U of M, and had started my career. I had been praying for a good husband, and he was Catholic – which was very important to me. If he wasn’t interested in getting married, I needed to move on.

“My father always told us growing up, ‘You do what you know, not what you feel.’ You have to do things with your brain, not just from emotion. We were old enough to know what we were getting into.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” Ed smiles at his wife of 52 years. “But my mother always told us, ‘you make your bed you have to lie in it.’”

“I’m much more talkative than he is. I know it,” Beth continues. “I’m Italian on all sides, and in our family we were very ... Well, it was a loud family. I had to teach him how to argue. Early on in our marriage, I grabbed him, and said ‘What’s the matter with you?’ He was pouting about something and I can’t stand pouting! If something is bothering you, say it.”

“I kind of modeled myself after my mother.” Ed explains. “It’s not that she never argued. She did. But she argued in a very controlled way.”

“You’ve got to keep communicating. You’ve got to KEEP communicating!" Beth says emphatically. “Marriage is a promise. It’s a sacrament, and a commitment.

We wouldn’t even think about getting a divorce, even though we had three boys in about three years and we both worked full time. Not even in the tough times

– going through cancer and Ed’s depression after his mother died.”

Ed explains, “She went into the hospital for a routine procedure and died of a perforated bowel. I have such respect for her and all she’s gone through in her life – raising seven kids when my father was mostly absent. I never got to tell her before she died.”

“I thank God I was never depressed,” Beth continues. “I figured if you believe in God, you always have to have hope, but there were times Ed lost his hope. It was hard for me to understand, but I learned patience from it. Sometimes I just told him, ‘Get down on your knees with me and we’ll pray.’

“Both of us have been very active in the Church our whole lives. Growing up, we always attended Mass and helped in our parish. Ed is a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus with Assembly 2031, and is active in the local chapter, 7418 here at St. John [Fenton].” She gestures to her husband’s right hand, “That’s his grandfather’s Fourth Degree K of C ring. I taught CCD and religious formation while our sons and grandkids were in elementary school. Now I‘m in our parish’s Befriender Program.

“We attended our first Marriage Encounter about 30 years ago at St. Michael’s in Flint. And we just did another one here at St. John the Evangelist – our home parish in Fenton. Here at St. John’s, we also go to a wonderful program once a month, called Covenant of Love. We have a light supper followed by a video or program. Then we have a little forum at our tables about some topic of discussion.”

“The program was started by younger couples in the parish, so we get to learn and offer advice,” Ed says.

“I hope they understand we’re not that different from most couples. Fortunately, we have personalities and backgrounds that let us solve our problems to our mutual satisfaction. The Lord has been very good to us.

“I learned a lot from my wife. I don’t know if she’s learned anything from me, because she knows everything apparently,” Ed teases.

“I don’t know everything, Ed.” Beth responds. “I learned patience! Marriage can be very hard. You don’t always feel love, but you know you love the person. It goes back to what my father used to tell us, ‘Do what you know, not what you feel.’ It’s worked for 52 years!”

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER A Marriage Encounter weekend is for married couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. It provides essential communication tools for the newly married, as well as for those who have been married for decades. The next Marriage Encounter weekend in the Diocese of Lansing will be held April 15-17 at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. For more information, visit the retreat center website at www.stfrancis.ws.

BY NANCY ROSEBUSH SCHERTZING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

YOUR STORIES FEATURE STORY

Marie stands with her Girl Scout leaders Jennifer Kramer (left) and Sarah Stroik along with her mom, Adele Koné, at the Gold Award Ceremony.

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A GIRL SCOUT FOREVER For Marie, scouting is discipleship

BY EMILY LENHARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

F

OR MARIE, A LIFETIME GIRL SCOUT, faith and scouting go hand-in-hand. “I was able to better my faith in an activity that

was fun at the same time,” she says.

Marie Kone, who attended St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School, Lansing Catholic High School and Michigan State University, found time in her busy life to earn the four Roman Catholic Religious Awards: Family of God, I Live My Faith, Spirit Alive and the Marian. Marie also earned the Pillars of Faith award, given to scouts who have received all four Catholic awards.

Marie earned the designation “Lifetime Girl Scout” because she also received the highest award a Girl Scout can receive, the Gold Award, when she was a junior in high school. The number of scouts who receive this award is very small, and Marie is one of the first in the Diocese of Lansing to have earned it. “[Being a Lifetime Girl Scout] means that, after I received the Gold Award, [I’m] extending,” Marie explains. “You’re not saying, ‘OK, I finished the highest award, now I’m done with that.’”

For her Gold Award project, Marie focused on Burkina Faso – a country in West Africa from which her parents emmigrated – and educating people about the needy in Africa and how people there maintain a life of faith, even though they have so little. She called her project “A Piece o’ Africa.” It included a clothing and shoe drive, and the donations were shipped overseas to African churches for distribution to those who needed them.

Marie is in Vermont now attending medical school and living a “normal” life. But she also carries a special oath everyday – to fulfill her duties as a Lifetime Girl Scout by maintaining a life of service and sisterhood with the Girl Scouts. Whether it’s helping with administrative preparation for meetings or helping to compile an awards database that dates back more than 30 years, Marie keeps the Girl Scouts in her life. It’s “doing the everyday,” as she calls it.

Marie credits her parents for motivating her and instilling her with the drive and determination to complete all of her awards. Her father worked hard to become an engineer and eventually be able to move to the United States from Burkina Faso, and Marie’s mother was a driving force behind the Girl Scouts, reminding her often that many people back in Africa didn’t have opportunities like these.

Marie feels she has become more mindful in her relationship with God by focusing on prayer for others outside herself and her inner circle. “It for sure has had a big impact … I remember every single meeting that we had, we would recite the Girl Scout Law and Promise … and I just think that that’s had the biggest impact on me, especially for what I want to be and do in life.” Marie’s career goal is to be a reconstructive plastic surgeon to help children who are born with facial deformities.

“Girl Scouts definitely helped me grow and strengthen my faith in God and also my everyday activities.”

Can your parish have a Scout troop?

You may have heard concerns about partnerships with Girl Scouts USA and its formational material for troops. The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry has addressed this by engaging the Girl Scouts on a national level. For the last few years, the GSUSA has sent its material to our national Catholic committee for review, and material contrary to our faith has been removed. The printed resources and materials our troops use reflect our values and beliefs.

The National Committee for Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts Catholic Committee on Scouting have an episcopal moderator who works with and guides these Catholic leaders, reports to the USCCB and helps them to continue the work of evangelization through Scouting.

Our Diocesan Scout Committee is made up of Girl Scout, Boy Scout and American Heritage leaders. The other wonderful work of this committee is the production of religious award medals that boys and girls work on and earn each year. By Feb. 1, they submit for receiving this award at our annual ceremony.

The award ceremony this year will be April 10 at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing.

For a more in-depth look at scouting in our diocese, visit FAITHPUB.COM.

ROMAN CATHOLIC AWARDS Family of God: Focuses on the role Girl Scouts play in Church and family life, and on Scouts’ relationships with God. I Live My Faith: Girl Scouts learn about saints, the beatitudes and living in faith.

Spirit Alive: Girl Scouts discover how the Holy Spirit works in their lives and how to demonstrate that to others.

Marian: Focuses on understanding Mary’s role as the young mother of Jesus, a woman of the Church and a great role model.

Pillar of Faith: Awarded to scouts who have received all four Roman Catholic Religious Awards, listed above

YOUR COMMUNITY information, call 810.900.9050.

THINGS TO DO Wednesdays, Jan. 6-Feb. 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Michael, Grand Ledge will have Financial Peace University. For information, call 517.627.8493.

Jan.10, 3-6 p.m., the Respect Life Ministry of the Livingston Vicariate will offer An Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession service at St. Patrick Church in Brighton.

For information, email respectlifelc@ gmail.com.

Lansing Catholic Singles invite all singles (mid 30s-up) to: Jan. 16, 5 p.m., dinner at Logan’s Roadhouse; Jan. 22, 5:30 p.m., Happy Hour at Lansing Brewing Company; Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m., Happy Hour at Fiesta Charra; and Feb. 27, 6 p.m., potluck and euchre/game night. For information, 517.321.7886 or lansingcatholicsingles@live.com.

Jan. 17, 5 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish will celebrate Mass commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner will follow. For information, contact Scott Wright at 734.821.2121 or swright@stfrancisa2.org.

Jan. 21, 6-8 p.m., Women in God’s Service at St. Isidore in Laingsburg is hosting an evening of health and fitness. RSVP Sister Katherine Collard, IHM by Jan. 15 at sisterkatherine7@ gmail.com.

Jan. 29, 7-9 p.m. and Jan. 30, 9 a.m.3:30 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor will have a grief support workshop. For information/registration, call Kelly Hernandez at 734.821.2122 or visit goodmouningministry.net.

Jan. 30, St. John Church and Student Center will have its annual dinner Mardi Gras Masquerade at the MSU Kellogg Center. For tickets, call 517.337.9778. For information, visit stjohnmus.org.

Feb. 5, 4-7 p.m., St. John the Baptist, Howell’s Knights of Columbus will have a Polish dinner in Thompson Hall. For information, call 517.546.7200.

Feb. 6, 6 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic School, Brighton will host a Trivia Night. Cost: $10 per person or $80 per table. For reservations/advertising, contact the school office at 810.900.9050.

Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., ACTION of Greater Lansing will have its seventh annual Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Lansing. Purchase tickets online at actionofgreaterlansing.org.

ATTEND AN EVENING OF HEALTH AND FITNESS

ENRICH YOUR MARRIAGE

Feb. 7, 1-4 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lansing’s Knights of Columbus will host a Polish dinner in the parish hall. Cost is $12. For information, contact Ken Balcer at 517.282.5948.

Feb. 10-March 20, 40 Days for Life Ann Arbor will have its spring campaign. For information, contact Sandie Weathers at 734.657.1936 or 40daysforlifeannarbor@gmail.com.

Wednesdays, Feb. 10-March 16, 5:30 p.m., St. Mary, Charlotte will have a Lenten soup and bread supper in the parish hall. No cost. For information, call 517.543.4319.

Feb. 13, 4:30 p.m., Bishop Boyea will celebrate a special anniversary Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas, East

RETREAT CENTERS ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER, DEWITT, WWW.STFRANCIS.WS OR 866.669.8321 •J an. 15, “St. Thèrése of Lisieux: The Little Way for Everyone” •J an. 20, “We’ve Come to See Jesus,” encounter anew the Lord Jesus Christ •F eb. 12 or 27, “Mercy Knows no Limits,” a Lenten retreat. Directed by Tony Sperendi.

WEBER CENTER RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, ADRIAN, WEBER.ADRIANDOMINICANS.ORG OR 517.266.4000 • March 19, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., a “Day of Contemplative Prayer – Meditation and Mindfulness Practice.” Cost: $35, includes lunch.

• March 20-24, “Holy Week Retreat – Blessed, Broken, Given.” Cost: single $375 and commuter $225. Register online at weber.adriandominicans.org/Registration.aspx CATHOLIC CHARITIES CATHOLIC CHARITIES JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, CATHOLICCHARITIESJLHC.ORG OR ADRIAN 517.263.2191; JACKSON 517.782.2551 OR 517.782.4616 We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation program: Jan. 22, 6-9 p.m. and Jan. 23, 9 a.m.-noon at Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson. Cost is $75 per couple. Pre-registration and payment due prior to class. For registration/information, call 517.782.2551 or visit CCJLHC’s website.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, CCSGC.ORG OR 810.232.9950 It’s back! March 17 is the annual St. Patrick’s Day Box Lunch sale. For details or to preorder your lunch, visit ccsgc.org.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW, CSSWASHTENAW.ORG OR 734.971.9781 We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation: Feb. 12, 6:30-9 p.m. and Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle, 910 Austin Dr., Saline. Cost: $95 per couple. Pre-registration and payment due prior to class. For registration/information, call 734.971.9781 ext. 421 or visit CSSWC website.

Jan. 30, 5:30-8 p.m., St. Michael Parish School, Grand Ledge will hold its annual Mardi Gras. For tickets/ information, contact Laurie Cathcart at 517.627.6187 or lauriecathcart@ stmichaelgl.org.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG OR 517.545.5944 Jan. 19 and Feb. 16, 6 p.m., LCCC, 2020 E. Grand River, Ste. 104, Howell, will have an orientation for persons interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent. To RSVP, call Christine at 517.545.5944.

Jan. 31, Feb. 28 and March 20, noon-3 p.m., Holy Spirit Roman Catholic School, Brighton will host an open house. For a tour of the school or

ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LANSING, STVCC.ORG OR 517.323.4734 St. Vincent asks the community to assist its clients. Current items needed: blankets, twin-size sheets, winter coats, boots and snow pants. If you or your organization are interested in scheduling a special collections drive, contact Rhonda Abood at 517.323.4734, ext. 1205 or aboodr@stvcc.org.

MARRIAGE EVENTS Feb. 6, St. Patrick Church in Brighton will host the sixth annual Marriage Enrichment Conference. Cost is $65/couple. For registration/information, visit idoforlife.org.

Mondays, Feb. 15-March 21, 7:30-9 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton will have “Couples’ Prayer.” For information, call 810.229.8624.

Lansing for couples celebrating their first anniversary in 2016 and couples celebrating a significant anniversary.

Couples planning to attend, RSVP to Richard Budd at 517.342.2471 or rbudd@dioceseoflansing.org.

On Mondays during Lent, St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton will have evening prayer in the chapel at 7 p.m. On Fridays, a soup and bread supper at 6 p.m. will be followed at 7 p.m. with Stations of the Cross.

Feb. 13-14, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Lansing’s Rosary Makers will hold a Valentine’s bake and religious gifts sale after all Masses. All money collected will be used to send rosaries to missions around the world.

St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing will have a Lenten soup and substance series on Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 17, 6 p.m. For information, visit elcatholics.org.

The dates, times and host parishes for the rite of election and call to continuing conversion are: Feb. 13, 9:30 a.m., St. Joseph, Dexter and 1 p.m., St. John the Evangelist, Davison; and Feb. 14, 2 p.m., St. Martha, Okemos.

Mid-life singles (mid-30s to 50s): Feb. 19-21, register for a REFLECT weekend retreat at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt. Cost: $160. For information/registration, 989.450.0993, reflect.michigan@gmail.com or ReflectRetreat.com.

Feb. 27, St. Paul Catholic School, Owosso will have a 12-hour scrapbooking/crafting at the church.

Meals/snacks will be served. For registration/information, call Char Richardson at 989.413.8838.

March 1, 6 p.m., Resurrection School will host its kindergarten round-up in the parish hall. To register, call

517.487.0439.

June 12-18, Canon William Turner, pastor St. Mary, Chelsea, will lead a Jubilee Year of Mercy pilgrimage to Canada to visit Basilica Cathedral of Notre Dame de Quebec’s Holy Door. For information/reservations, call Corporate Travel Service at 313.565.8888, ext. 122 or 185.

June 27–July 8, Father Michael Kuchar will lead a pilgrimage to Scotland and Ireland. For information, contact St. Mark the Evangelist’s parish office at 810.636.2216.

Oct. 1, the 50th reunion of O'Rafferty High School’s class of 1966 will be at Eagle Eye Golf Club, East Lansing.

For information, contact: Donna Queen at 517.372.2005.

Feb. 6, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., St. Martha, Okemos’ “Quiet your Heart, Rest in the Lord” women’s retreat. Cost: $25, includes lunch. For information/ registration, contact the parish office at 517.349.1763 or st-martha.org.

Feb. 7-9, St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor will hold a parish mission: “The Door of Mercy: Crossing the Threshold.” For information, contact the parish office at 734.769.2550.

Feb. 20, beginning at 8:15 a.m., Holy Spirit Seminar at Christ the King, Ann Arbor. Cost: $15. For information/registration, 734.741.1224 or dag.spare@ gmail.com.

Feb. 20, 9 a.m.-noon, Immaculate Conception Church, Milan’s Catholic Women’s Circle is sponsoring a Lenten retreat in the parish family center. No fee for the retreat. RSVP required, call 734.434.2030 by Feb. 13.

Feb. 27-March 2, 7 p.m., St. Mary, Williamston will have a parish

LENTEN FISH FRIES Lenten fish fry dates, unless otherwise noted: Fri., Feb. 12, 19, 26 and March 4, 11 and 18: •4 :30-7 p.m., Queen of the Miraculous Medal School, Jackson will have fish fries. Cost: $10 adults, $9 seniors/students, $8 drive-thru. children age 5 and under eat free.

• 4:30-7 p.m., St. Patrick, Ann Arbor’s fish fires in the parish hall. Cost: $9 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children 5-11, 4 and under free.

•4 :30-7 p.m., St. Joseph, Howell’s fish fries. March 18, Stations of the Cross presentation with live music at 7 p.m.

• St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing’s Knights of Columbus’ fish fries in the school gym. Takeout orders and drive-thru are available.

• St. Mary, Chelsea’s Knights of Columbus Council #3092 will have fish fries, followed at 7 p.m. with the Stations of the Cross in the church.

• St. Michael, Grand Ledge’s Knights of Columbus’ fish fries in Fellowship Hall. Cost: $9 adults, $7 seniors 65+, $6 children 6-12, 5 and under free and $32 family rate.

• Fridays, Feb. 5-March 18, 4:30-7 p.m., St. Mary, Charlotte’s Knights of Columbus’ fish fries in its parish hall. Cost: $10 adults and $5 children, followed by Stations of the Cross in the church.

• Fridays, Feb. 19-March 18, 4-7:30 p.m., St. John, Howell’s fish fries in Thompson Hall.

• Fridays, Feb. 12, 19 and March 1, 5-6:30 p.m., St. Anthony’s, Hillsdale Knights of Columbus’ fish fries. mission presented by Father Ben Luedtke. For information, call the parish at 517.655.2620 or Margaret at 517.655.1696.

Feb. 28-29 and March 1, 7 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton welcomes all to its parish mission. For information, contact the parish office at 810.229.8624.

March 15, 6:45-8 p.m., St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing will have a Lenten Night of Reflection. All adults are invited to come. For information, contact Hannah Turchi at 810.659.8556 or hturchi@strobertschool.com.

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Thursdays in Lent, beginning Feb. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing will have a marriage enrichment program, “Couples’ Prayer.”

To RSVP, call 517.351.5460. For information, visit elcatholics.org.

FISH FRY

CULTURE

THE RECIPE FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION I

REMEMBER ONE DAY during lunch duty at the kids’ school, I saw a plate of dark choco-

late and mint brownies sitting on the countertop in the kitchen. They looked so good that my impulse was to lift the clear lid and sneak one while no one was looking. I ignored the urge and carried on with my duties, but each time I stepped into the kitchen, they caught my eye. They tempted and taunted me. As I gazed at the perfectly stacked plate of brownies, one of the other lunch moms came into the kitchen and quickly grabbed them to pass out to her son’s class for his birthday. That “other lunch SHANE FOLKERTSMA

mom” happened to be a friend, so I grabbed her arm and told her how good they looked. Boom. She gave me one. It was, in a word, amazing.

• 1 box dark chocolate brownie mix •6 tablespoons butter • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar • 1 ½ tablespoons milk •½ teaspoon peppermint extract •A couple of drops green food coloring •6 tablespoons butter •¾ cup chocolate chips Prepare the brownie mix as directed in 9 x 13 pan, being careful not to overbake. Set aside to cool.

For the frosting, combine using mixer: butter, powdered sugar, milk, peppermint extract and green food coloring. Beat until fluffy.

Spread the frosting on top of the brownies after they have cooled.

For the top layer, melt the butter and chocolate chips slowly in a small saucepan on low heat. Mix until smooth and all the chocolate is melted. Let cool partially before pouring over frosting; gently use the back of a spoon or spatula to spread evenly. Allow chocolate to set before cutting into squares.

26

T. Gennara

KARLA’S CHOCOLATE MINT BROWNIES MICHELLE DIFRANCO

is a designer and the busy mom of two children.

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And I’m not the only one who loves them. Karla selflessly organizes a luncheon for the teachers and staff regularly, and by now everyone at the school has enjoyed her chocolate mint brownies at one time or another.

But my friend Karla brings more than just great recipes to the school. She and her husband, along with the many other families at the school, bring an example of their faith. They share their knowledge, insights and enthusiasm for what the Catholic faith teaches and calls us to be.

A Catholic school was never meant to be just a good, private school where kids can get a great education. In addition to all of that, Catholic schools must be a place where students learn about their faith, live their faith and graduate with pride and excitement about being a part of the Catholic family.

I am so thankful for the joyful and energetic leadership at our children’s school. Every week I learn something new about my faith that I, as an adult, did not yet know because my children share what they are learning. And I am so grateful for the families in our school who are also eager to share, learn about, and live their Catholic identity. If my family can get all of that, plus great recipes for delicious mint brownies, I know our family is in the right school!

YOUR COMMUNITY LOCAL NEWS

40 DAYS FOR LIFE ANN ARBOR SPRING CAMPAIGN The 40 Days for Life Ann Arbor team invites people of all faith traditions to participate in their campaign to end abortion through prayer and fasting.

The spring campaign is part of an international effort, which will begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10 and conclude on Palm Sunday, March 20. The team will kick off its campaign with a Jericho March on Feb.7 at 2 p.m., beginning and ending at Planned Parenthood. For more information, contact the Ann Arbor campaign director, Sandie Weathers, at 734.657.1936 or email 40daysforlifeannarbor@gmail.com.

NEWS FROM MCC’S CATHOLIC ADVOCACY NETWORK CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MICHIGAN STANDS READY TO ASSIST REFUGEES

READ MORE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS ON YOUR TABLET, SEARCH FOR THE FAITH PUB APP.

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JAMBOREE 2015 Nearly 700 teens and adults came together on Nov. 1, at the Lansing Center for the annual High School Jamboree. The theme, “Every Piece is Important,” was spelled out in the Scripture reference from 1 Cor. 12:22, “Even those parts of the body that seem less important, are, in fact, indispensable.” This message rang out through the opening prayers, as each parish drew their name on a Lego box, and came together in the opening song as they built the Household of Faith. As the song played from the Lego movie, with new lyrics, the house was built on stage. Thirteen workshops later, the group celebrated All Saints’ Day with Mass with Bishop Boyea, who discussed calls to holiness.

In response to Gov. Rick Snyder’s decision, the Michigan Catholic Conference released a statement reaffirming the Church’s readiness to continue assisting refugees once the governor receives the safety reassurances from Homeland Security he thinks are necessary. The complete statement is available at micatholic.org.

FEDERAL ALERT! PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PRO-LIFE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that will fund government programs for the 2016 fiscal year. Language is included that would protect conscience rights for health care providers. To learn what you can do to support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA), visit micatholic.org.

U.S. BISHOPS DISCUSS CATHOLIC FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP AT FALL MEETING The U.S. Bishops discussed a number of topics during their annual Fall General Assembly, including the approval of a new introductory note and revised text for the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” which advises Catholics on the Church’s teaching on political life and involvement in the public realm. The document is available on the U.S. Bishops’ website: usccb.org.

THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS (USCCB) approved a formal statement, entitled “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography,”

PASTORAL LETTER ON PORNOGRAPHY

BY DOUG CULP

READ MORE THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE STATEMENT IS AVAILABLE AT WWW. USCCB.ORG/ CLEANHEART.

28

was developed under the direction of Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, was approved by the full body of bishops 230 to 4, with one abstention.

According to press releases from the USCCB, the statement represents a response to what Bishop Malone describes as “the pastoral crisis brought about by the production and use of pornography.” Bishop Malone said, “virtually everyone is affected by pornography in some way. So many people – including within the Church – are in need of Christ’s abundant mercy and healing. My hope is that the statement can serve as a foundation and catalyst for increased pastoral attention to this challenge at the national and local level.”

THE BASICS

The primary purpose of “Create in Me a Clean Heart” is to both provide words of “hope and healing” to the victims of pornography, and raise awareness about pornography’s all-encompassing reach and negative impact. The statement is addressed primarily to parents, clergy, diocesan and parish leaders, educators, mental health professionals and everyone else in a position to “help protect children from pornography and heal the men, women and young people who have been harmed by its use.”

The statement is organized according to the following topics: • An overview of the Church’s

DID YOU KNOW… Pornography is directly connected to human trafficking, adultery, domestic violence, the abuse of children and abortion.

teaching on sexuality, the human person and chastity • An explanation of why pornography is sinful and harmful • A survey of the wide-reaching effects of pornography in our culture • An examination of the effects of pornography on men, women, young people and children • A word of hope and healing to those harmed by pornography • An appendix with a link to targeted resources for particular audiences The complete text of the statement is available at www.usccb.org/cleanheart. This page also includes the list of resources referenced by the appendix of the statement, includ-

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on Nov. 17, 2015, at its annual Fall General Assembly in Baltimore. The statement, which

ing resources for support groups and recovery programs; advice for those dealing with family members struggling with pornography; and Internet filtering tools to block pornographic content.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

While everyone should take the time to read the statement in its entirety (it is only 28 pages with the footnotes), here are some of the highlights: The human person and her/his vocation: • “God created the human person, male and female, in his image and likeness, as the crown of creation. Every one of us is a gift, with the inviolable dignity of a person.”

• “ We, and therefore our bodies, are not meant to be used but loved.”

The moral reality of pornography: • “Pornography can never be justified and is always wrong.”

• “ Pornography participates in and furthers what Pope Francis has condemned as a ‘throwaway culture’ where things and people are used and discarded.”

• “ All pornography exploits both the persons portrayed and the viewer and is devoid of love and relationship.”

The role of the Church and the “Way of Freedom”: • “The Church as a field hospital is called to proclaim the truth of the human person in love, to protect people – especially children – from pornography, and to provide the Lord’s mercy and healing for those wounded by pornography.”

THE DEFINITION The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2354) defines pornography in this way: “Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties.

It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world.”

God created the human person, male and female, in his image and likeness, as the crown of creation. Every one of us is a gift, with the inviolable dignity of a person.”

CREDITS

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing JAN./FEB. 2016 VOLUME 16: ISSUE 1

www.FAITHpub.com Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

FIND US ON YOUR TABLET

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

FAITH PUB

Pope Francis kisses a child as he visits the refugee camp of Saint Sauveur in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH JESUS AND HIS CHURCH WWW.FAITHCATHOLIC.COM

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Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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POPE WATCH

Patrick Dally Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Jim Berlucchi | Doug Culp | Michelle DiFranco | Dawn Doerr | Rev. Charles Irvin | Rev. Joseph Krupp | Emily Lenhard | Dr. Cathleen McGreal | Rose Robertson | Manuel and Karee Santos | Nancy Rosebush Schertzing | Sister Ann Shields

– Pope Francis @Pontifex

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Oct. 27, 2015

Carlson Productions | Shane Folkertsma | Mike Frieseman | Tom Gennara | Sarah Moore Kuschell | James Luning | Gretchen Mathos | Don Quillan

POPE TO PRIESTS: “BE PASTORS, NOT OFFICIALS”

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Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR For advertising information: Call 517.853.7600 For subscription information: Call 1.866.76.FAITH

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2015 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

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CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

“VANITY

NOT ONLY DISTANCES US FROM GOD:

IT MAKES US LOOK

RIDICULOUS.” – Pope Francis @Pontifex Oct. 31, 2015

30

Speaking to a group of priests and bishops at a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s decrees on priestly formation and ministry on Nov. 20, Pope Francis said that priests cannot forget their roots, that they aren’t “mushrooms” that magically sprout at ordination. “On the day of their ordination, I always say to the new priests: ‘Do not forget where you came from; from the flock."

He also stressed that priests must learn to rejoice and not become rigid authoritarians with the flock entrusted to them. "The words of St. Ambrose come to mind: 'Where there is mercy, there is the spirit of God. Where there is rigidity, there are only his ministers.' And a minister without the Lord becomes rigid. This is a danger for the people of God. Be pastors, not officials."

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WHAT POPE FRANCIS HAS BEEN SAYING AND DOING RECENTLY

ART DIRECTOR

Parents, can you “waste time” with your children?

It is one of the most important things that you can do each day.

SAINT OF THE MONTH

LAST WORD

MERCY W

HEN SOMEONE ASKS ME, “Why should I go to a priest to confess my sins?” I respond by asking, “Why be baptized?” “Why should you receive any of the sacraments?”

THE HUMBLE DOORKEEPER St. André Bessette | Freast Day: Jan. 7

St. André was born Alfred Bessette in Quebec in 1845. Orphaned by the age of 12, he was a sickly child. He entered the Holy Cross Brothers, but even at the age of 25, he could not read and write.

Although he was almost sent away, the bishop permitted him to stay and receive his vows. He was sent to Notre Dame College in Montreal after he took his vows to act as messenger and doorkeeper. He stayed in this post for 40 years, ministering to the sick.

St. André is known for praying with the sick who came to him, through the intercession of St. Joseph. Many credit their healing to the prayers of St. André. His great devotion to St. Joseph inspired him to build a chapel to his honor on Mt. Royal in Montreal. Although the chapel, known as St. Joseph’s Oratory, grew slowly, pilgrims flocked to it and many were cured. The walls there are lined with crutches.

St. André is buried in the Oratory, although he did not live to see it completed. His love for St. Joseph, his dedication and perseverance in humble acts and his unwavering trust in God led Pope Benedict XVI to say, at his canonization, that St. André “lived the beatitude of the pure of heart.”

BY THE NUMBERS:

80,000

The number of letters St. André received each year

92

Age of the “sickly” St. André when he died

2010

Year he was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI

2 MILLION

The number of pilgrims who visit the Oratory every year

T. Gennara

An encounter with

FATHER CHARLES IRVIN

is the founding editor of FAITH Magazine and is retired.

We need to experience God’s presence to us in our humanity.

We need to experience his tender and loving forgiveness. When we hurt someone, we don’t feel at peace unless and until we ask forgiveness from the one we have offended. We need to experience God’s forgiveness in our own human and personal way when we receive his sacrament of forgiveness.

All of the sacraments are personal encounters with God the Son – Jesus Christ – who reaches us and touches us in and through our flesh and blood. It’s not a matter of what God can do; it’s a matter of our human need to feel the saving love of God in Jesus Christ.

Jesus empowered his apostles to be the conduits of his loving forgiveness. On Easter Sunday, Jesus went to his apostles who were locked up in the Upper Room, and spoke these words to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

(John 20:22-23) These were Jesus’ first words uttered just after his resurrection from the dead, which tells us of the importance and urgency in his mind of giving this gift to us. The next episode was when Thomas put his finger in Christ’s wounds and his hand into Christ’s side, again a needed human encounter with the risen and glorified humanity of Christ.

When we receive the sacrament of penance – the sacrament of forgiveness – we make real, we realize, something we ourselves need. It’s worthwhile noting that in Alcoholics Anonymous’ Twelve Steps to Recovery, numbers four and five require: “Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves” and “Admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” People in recovery programs have come to realize that self-help does not work. Verbalizing our sins and confessing to others does work. It is effective.

So, while God can forgive us apart from the sacrament of forgiveness, he gives us the gift of this sacrament not for his sake, but for ours. When it comes to overcoming our repeated and addictive sins, confessing to those ordained and empowered to be conduits of Jesus’ love can and does work.

There is nothing like the peace and happiness that comes to you when you have confessed your sins to an agent ordained by God to be a conduit of his infinite love and mercy.

May God’s peace be with you.

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