is loose in Sarah and Jeff’s life HOW A VIDEO SERIES EVANGELIZES THEOLOGY 101
Encountering Jesus IN THE SACRAMENTS
GROW+GO
What is Jesus ASKING YOU TO DO?
SPECIAL REPORT:
Fall meeting OF U.S. BISHOPS 1
FROM THE BISHOP
BISHOP EARL BOYEA
is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing @BishopBoyea
Carlson Productions
WHO IS TRUTH? JESUS, THE SON OF GOD
A CLOSE FRIEND ONCE POSED A QUESTION. She told me that she believed something and that I believed the opposite; she wanted to know if we could merely respect each other’s beliefs. I responded that we could respect each other, but since our beliefs contradicted each other, we could not each respect the other’s beliefs. Either her belief was true or mine was true; since they contradicted each other, they could not both be true.
Truth is not some set of beliefs that we all agree to; it is something that is given to us as it is a manifestation of God.”
Now at this point most people will simply walk away from each other, trying to respect the other person while not attempting to arrive at which belief is true and which is false. In fact, she did not want to carry on that conversation. Yet, that is what is called for – a civil conversation to arrive at the truth. As I write this column, we have just celebrated Christ the King. The Gospel reading for this last Sunday in November is from John, and it is the famous encounter between Jesus and Pilate, the Roman governor. Jesus tells the governor that he has come to testify to the truth and Pilate retorts, “What is truth?” He was a skeptic. Perhaps he did not believe there is any truth. However, if there is no truth, then there is no real conversation. The only bond between human beings in conversation with one another has to be a shared rationality, reason at work. Otherwise, our encounters are mere clashes of emotions and the power of exercising one’s will with greater force over the other. But can we agree to use the principles of reason, one of which requires that words have meaning, that truth is attainable, and that through discourse we can actually arrive at a solid conclusion? Now this becomes easier for us as Christians. Earlier in the Gospel of John, Jesus told his followers that he is the truth and the way and the life. Thus, when Pilate later asked Jesus what truth was, he was unknowingly asking the wrong question. The real question is, “Who is truth?” Truth is ultimately Jesus as the Son of God, manifesting the truth of God. Truth is not some set of beliefs that we all agree to; it is something that is given to us as it is a manifestation of God. Now this does not mean that we Christians cannot enter into dialogue with those who do not believe in God. We Christians believe that since God created the universe, he instilled in that universe, and especially in us who are created in his image, his own truthfulness. So truth is attainable by all who are willing to look, with an open mind, upon the world as it is actually given to us, not as we would like to make it. And truth is reachable for those who are willing to look upon human nature as it is given to us, and not as we would like to make it. The goal, of course, for all of us is to reach the happiness of heaven. We are made for this happiness. That truth can be seen in the life, death, resurrection, words and deeds of Jesus. But it can also be seen in those created and redeemed in his image. To know Jesus is to be happy. 3
FROM THE EDITOR
EACH SACRAMENT
HELPS OPEN A DOOR TO GOD
I
HAVE BEEN TEACHING as part of the ministry formation program of our diocese for a number of years. The program, offered in partnership with Siena Heights University, is designed to provide theological formation for those who seek to serve as professionals in ministry in our parishes, those who are discerning the call to the permanent diaconate, and for any adult who wishes to learn more about the riches of our Catholic faith. During my time with the program, I have had the opportunity to teach on a variety of subjects. For this winter term I am scheduled to teach my favorite subject, which is the sacraments. In essence, teaching this particular course gives me the opportunity to reflect upon and teach about that which is at the very core of my priestly ministry – the celebration of the sacraments.
T.Gennera
The textbook I use for the class is titled, Doors to the Sacred, and is authored by Joseph Martos. I've been using that text for years, and one of the reasons I chose it was because of its title: Doors to the Sacred. The title is rich in meaning, but the FATHER most important sense is that each of the seven DWIGHT EZOP sacraments provides a means to enter into deeper is the editor of relationship with God by opening doors that help FAITH Magazine us to see and experience God's love for us in very and pastor of beautiful and concrete ways. St. Mary Parish, The sacraments, in their beauty and diversity, each Charlotte and help us to recognize and respond to God's love for St. Ann Church, us in a manner which makes that love personal. Each Bellevue of the sacraments, through word, gesture, matter Email: editor@ and form, helps open a door to God whose love for FAITHpub.com. each of us is personal, sensible and close. Speaking in the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul reminds us that “God is not far from any of us and that in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:27-28) The sacraments are a primary means by which we constantly encounter the closeness of God, who wishes to be an intimate part of our lives. At Christmas we recalled the event by which God drew so intimately close to us through the mystery of the Incarnation. God takes on our human flesh, our life and living, in order to draw us into a more personal relationship. Each sacrament is a means by which God continues to draw close to each of us. In the year ahead we will be exploring the beauty of the sacraments through a variety of personal stories. I hope and pray that as we open these doors to the sacred, all of us will have an opportunity to reflect upon our sacramental experiences, and how each sacrament opens doors for us to experience individually and collectively the love and life of God. And so our journey in FAITH continues.
The sacraments, in their beauty and diversity, each help us to recognize and respond to God’s love for us in a manner which makes that love personal.”
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YE A R OF
PR AY E R Forming Missionary Disciples PRAYER FOR GRACE TO HEAR GOD IN PRAYER “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” – St. Augustine, Confessions Great are you, oh Lord, and worthy of praise! You created me in your own image that I may come to know and love you, and it is my deepest desire to do so. Therefore, I ask for the graces necessary to be a committed disciple, living the charisms with which you have blessed me. Please grant me the humility of a heart of silence, giving you room to speak to me. Foster a spirit of patience in me to listen for your words. And embolden me with the gift of courage to hear and respond in love to what you say. I ask all these things through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
FIND MORE ONLINE GO TO DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE YEAR OF PRAYER
INSIDE Jan./Feb. 2019
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20 COVER STORY THE WILD GOOSE IS LOOSE IN SARAH AND JEFF’S LIFE – HOW A VIDEO SERIES EVANGELIZES P. 16
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YOUR LIFE
6 marriage matters
He says: “She spends too much money on clothes.” She says: “He is always buying another power tool.” What do they do?
7 parenting journey 5 tips for helping your child learn to share
work life It’s hard to see Christ in a cranky customer
8 culture The Candlemas Connection
YOUR FAITH
10 grow
What is Jesus asking you to do?
11 go ‘God is alive in and
YOUR STORIES
20 my story Kelly’s production of Cross & Light is coming to Lansing
FOLLOW FAITH PUB SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS
22 special report Human Trafficking in Michigan
through each of us’
12 making sense of bioethics Considering the options for Infertile Couples
14 theology 101 Encountering Jesus in the sacraments
PLUS
25 update
Statement from Bishop Boyea on the accountability of bishops
3 0 saint of the month St. Maria Catherine Kasper 5
YOUR LIFE MARRIAGE MATTERS
HE SAYS:
She spends too much money on clothes. I guess we can afford it, but Christina spends a ridiculous amount of money on clothes. She has a closet full of them.
SHE SAYS:
He is always buying another power tool. I have to keep current with changing styles for my job. But Rich certainly doesn’t “need” any more power tools. We barely have room for the ones we have.
HAPPINESS IN MARRIAGE is composed of the many harmonies of
WHAT DO THEY DO?
STEVE AND BRIDGET PATTON
hold master’s degrees in theology and counseling and serve as family life ministers for the Diocese of Sacramento.
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a shared life, and a couple can enjoy these harmonies – even if they have widely differing desires. But to make that happen, Christina and Rich, you absolutely must, before anything else, agree that you will break out of your tit-for-tat spending game. Behavior like this is not only corrosive to your relationship, but it can also lead to financial troubles. Next, clarify your financial goals and create a budget to get there. An essential element will be distinguishing between your wants and your needs. Some of this will be easy – paying the rent is a need, going to Disneyland is a want – but some might not. For instance, do you really need another pair of shoes or a new power tool, or do you just want them?
Be completely transparent with one another – and yourselves – as you make these distinctions. This doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to get all the cool stuff you want. But it does mean you’ll be working together to establish a shared baseline of responsible living, and that’s a huge accomplishment. Once you’ve got your needs accounted for, turn to your wants. You might consider giving yourselves equal, individual monthly spending allowances that each can freely use (or store up) as each wishes. This would get you out of the tit-for-tat loop. If you do this, consider three more suggestions: First, add a third allowance
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category for fun things to do together as a couple. Second, keep all three allowances modest. Then, as you hit your financial goals, give yourselves bonuses. Third, even if each of you has money to freely spend on him/ herself, consider spending at least a little on one another, and do it unconditionally, i.e., without expecting the other to do the same in return. Everything we have in life we have received freely from God, and so, as Jesus taught, since “freely we have received, then freely we should give.” (Mt 10:8) Cultivating small acts of generosity (and expressing corresponding gratitude) in your marriage will gradually move your goals away from the fleeting pleasures of things and toward the much deeper and lasting joys of living for one another.
5 tips for helping your child
LEARN TO SHARE WHEN I WAS A CHILD, my mother turned an entire closet into a
“game cupboard” of family toys. Individual gifts could be kept in our rooms or in the game cupboard. This approach encouraged family sharing as normative in our household, as well as giving opportunities to share one’s personal belongings. Here are some tips to promote sharing:
1
Verbally describe sharing situations. Sharing requires awareness that another person would like to have access to a resource that you are using or that you own. Toddlers benefit when you describe the desire of another child in simple terms.
2 T. GENNARA
DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL
is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.
Allow children space to negotiate sharing decisions. Children are learning to balance their desires to keep something for themselves with the knowledge that another child wants it, too. The goal is to encourage empathy toward others even when parents aren’t directly supervising.
3
Purchase gifts for the family. Gifts that focus on the family can promote cooperation. Remember that these don’t have to be material possessions.
4
Model sharing in your own decisions. Are you stepping forward to donate at church when there is a call to stock the food cupboard? Are you willing to volunteer your free time to meet the needs of others?
5
Don’t force sharing. A child who wants a toy from another child is not entitled to get it. The child who has chosen not to share observes the disappointed reaction. Society often encourages us to accumulate possessions and to look for happiness in them. Our faith leads us in a different direction. St. John Paul II said, “It is Jesus in fact that you seek when you dream of happiness ...” Read his 15th World Youth Day message at tinyurl.com/ybpufevt.
YOUR LIFE WORK LIFE
It's hard to see Christ in a cranky customer
F
IRST OFF, because Jesus isn’t cranky, it’s awfully hard to spot him. That edgy voice, sigh of annoyance or rolling of the eyes doesn’t even remotely resemble the Son of God.
Nonetheless, Mr. Crank is made, and loved, by God. Moreover, the boundless love of Christ is alive in you. That infinite love should be able to deftly handle Mr. Crank, his irritating wife, and their annoying children to boot. Plus, Jesus promised to give us special credit when we love JIM BERLUCCHI those who don’t love us. is the executive As to how, all the standard director of the customer service techniques Spitzer Center apply. Be unfailingly courteous for Visionary and helpful. Consider how Leadership. Jesus must have masterfully handled difficult and demanding clients in his carpentry business. Above all, control yourself and don’t respond in kind. That’s not easy, since anger is a natural response. You might find it helpful to ponder relevant advice from Proverbs: T. GENNARA
YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY
•A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. • Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. • He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. • The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult. • He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Patience is key. With patience, a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. A modern rendition might be: With patience, a cranky customer may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will make the sale. 7
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THE CANDLEMAS CONNECTION If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come winter, have another flight. If Candlemas bring clouds and rain, Go winter, and come not again. hose are the words of an old English poem which helped inspire a tradition that takes
place here in the U.S. every Feb. 2, dating back to 1887. On Groundhog Day, the fate of spring is determined in the quaint town of Punxsutawney, Pa. If the groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil” sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. And if not, we’re in for an early spring! And while thousands gather near Gobbler’s Knob, the small hill where the ceremony takes place, millions of people across the Atlantic in France celebrate Feb. 2 by feasting on crepes for what they call Crêpe Day or La Chandeleur. So what do these traditions have in common? Like many secular holidays recognized on the modern calendar, Groundhog Day and La Chandeleur both have a Christian connection. That’s right, if it wasn’t for Mary and Joseph bringing their infant Son Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, neither would exist! Feb. 2 marks the final day of the 40-day Christmastide season, and is the feast of the Presentation of our Lord, or Candlemas Day. Forty days after Christ’s birth, Mary and Joseph, following Mosaic law, brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for the rites of purification and dedication. Luke 2:22 describes, “When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” While at the Temple, Simeon, a “righteous and devout” man, gave his prophecy about Christ being a light to the Gentile nations and alluded to his crucifixion. Since around the seventh century and in acknowledgment of Simeon’s prophesy, the faithful would host a special procession and blessing of candles during Mass on this day. Hence the name “Candlemas.” That celebration, associated with Simeon’s prophesy has evolved into both Groundhog Day and La Chandeleur. In France, La Chandeleur has also come to be known as Crêpe Day, as the PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANE FOLKERSTMA
customs of the celebration have morphed over time and now include the consumption of crepes. And in the United States, German settlers in Pennsylvania blended the Christian Candlemas holiday with other superstitions, which held that a hedgehog (from where they came) could predict weather, manifesting in the quirky tradition of Groundhog Day. I suspect most casual observers of either holiday are not aware of the Christian origins of the festivities of Feb. 2 ... and it wasn’t until recently, that I learned of this. But it does make me think differently about the news report that arrives each year revealing the outcome of Groundhog Day and how much more winter it portends. And I’m willing to bet that delicious crêpes would bring cheer to me or anyone, especially if Punxsutawney Phil does predict a longer winter!
T. Gennara
T
YOUR LIFE CUTLURE
MICHELLE DIFRANCO
is a designer and the busy mom of three children.
French Crêpes • 1½ cups flour • 3 eggs • ¼ teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 2 cups whole or 2% milk • 3 tablespoons butter melted • Butter (for coating the pan) In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend on medium-high speed (or pulse) until completely emulsified. Cover batter and let rest for 20 minutes. The batter can also be stored in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. Heat a small amount of butter in 9- or 10-inch frying pan over medium to high heat. Pour ¼ cup of batter into the pan. Tilt the pan to spread batter as thinly and evenly as possible. Cook for about a minute, or until bottom is light golden brown in areas. Gently lift edges and flip with a spatula. Cook the other side for an additional 10-20 seconds, or until light golden brown in areas. Repeat process for remaining batter. Serve warm with your favorite fillings!
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YOUR FAITH we hear the words in this Gospel message, we should be reminded to “do whatever he tells us.” That really is our job … to do whatever he tells us. Jesus has the perfect will for our life sealed in his heart, so why wouldn’t we listen and obey? We are a stubborn people and when our way fails, we are lovingly re-directed by Mary's words. Thanks to God’s great love and mercy, we are invited back again and again to try to do it the right way – the way he tells us.
WIKIPEDIA.COM/USER NHEYOB
GROW
as a disciple of Jesus
What is Jesus asking you to do? His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
(John 2:5)
I
CAN’T COUNT THE TIMES from my childhood my mom ended a debate with the words, “Do it
because I said so!” When she launched that phrase from her lips, discussion stopped; it was a done deal. What I didn’t realize at the time was that those words weren’t about control. Instead, they were loving redirection from a problem ahead.
SHERI WOHLFERT
is a Catholic school teacher, speaker, writer and founder of Joyful Words Ministries. Sheri blogs at www.joyfulwords.org
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When Mary spoke her words of command to the servers at the wedding, it wasn’t about control. Her words offered redirection from a problem, and they were an invitation to the servers to be a part of something amazing that was about to happen. Mama Mary knew great things were about to begin with her Son, and she was inspired that night when she spoke those simple, powerful words. Those words guided the servants to Jesus – who was, and is, the answer to any problem or difficulty we face in life We are the servers; we are those called to be Christ’s hands and feet on earth. We are called to live and spread the Gospel message so Mary’s words are as relevant to us today as they were to the servers in Cana the night Jesus performed his first miracle. My mom told me to “do what she said” because she knew there was more to the situation than I could see. Mary knew that, too. Mary knows that still. Whenever
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PRAYER: Take a few prayerful minutes and recall a situation where you didn’t “do whatever he said.” Think about the outcome of that situation, and then pick one tricky or difficult area in your life and specifically ask God to help you “do whatever he tells you.” STUDY: God is full of surprises. We set limits and think in categories, while God acts in amazing, fascinating and surprising ways. Choose three of your favorite Gospel miracle stories and study them, looking for the surprise and genius of God’s love. ENGAGE: What is Jesus telling you to do? As we enter this Year of Prayer to Form Missionary Disciples, recite the diocesan prayer daily and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what Jesus is asking you to do. SERVE: The servants were the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ first miracle, and they were the ones Mary guided to help her son. If we are the servants in today’s Gospel stories, how are we heeding Jesus’ call to serve and not be served? Keep a tally for a week of the number of times you are served and the number of times you serve others. God’s great work happens at the hands of his servants; what are you helping him do today?
Shannon. Scherba is the.Young Adult. Minister for the. Livingston Vicariate,. serving the. parishes in. Livingston. County..
GO
evangelize
‘ God is alive in and through each of us’ PRAY: I have the strength for everything through Christ who empowers me." (Phil 4:13) Prayer is our opportunity to plug into the ultimate power source, to be intentional about acknowledging who we are and whose we are each day. I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide my words and actions. I pray that I am able to be a visible sign of God's love, especially to those who doubt it most. WITNESS: God is alive in and through each of us. I strive to witness to that truth each time I shake a hand or look someone in the eye as I listen to the story of their weekend. We are each created to share God's love in a unique way and to see God's fingerprints on our lives. Sharing those sightings with Every day, I others is just one imagine Jesus way we can witness to the truth, beauty knocking at and goodness that is the door of our God. my heart and
I ask him to INVITE: Every day, I imagine Jesus knocking at the show me how door of my heart and I ask him he will use me to show me how he will use that day.” me that day. I want to share his invitation with others. Sometimes it is as simple as extending a birthday wish via text or offering a prayer for someone who is in the midst of a particular struggle.
ACCOMPANY: Throughout the years, I have said to many young people, "I'll never ask you to do something that I'm not willing to do right alongside of you." This has been in reference to moving topsoil, offering child care or reaching into a bag of returnables that may have sat in the garage too long – but it is absolutely the way that Jesus has called us to mission, side by side. PHOTOGRAPHY BY REY DEL RIO/DEL RIO IMAGES
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MAKING SENSE OF BIOETHICS
REV. TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK, PH.D.
earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org
Considering the options for
infertility industry and try IVF or a related technique like artificial insemination. These approaches, however, raise a host of moral concerns, including that they substitute an act of “production” for the act of marital self-giving, allow a third party outside the marriage to become the cause of the conception, often require masturbation, and may result in significant “collateral damage,” including embryo destruction, embryo freezing and disruptive effects on a woman’s physiology from the powerful super-ovulatory drugs used during the procedures. It can be helpful to keep in mind a particular “rule of thumb” for determining whether a procedure is morally acceptable: treatments that assist the marital act are permissible, while those that replace, or substitute for, the marital act raise serious moral objections. The ideal approach to resolving infertility involves identifying the underlying causes (endometriosis? fallopian tube blockage? problems ovulating? etc.) and addressing those causes so that marital intercourse can now result in a conception. While this may seem sensible and even obvious, many obstetricians and gynecologists today do not offer
Infertile Couples WHEN CATHOLIC COUPLES experience trouble getting pregnant, they often seek medical help and begin to research what options are available to them. A number of moral considerations and questions generally emerge during this process: Why are techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF) considered immoral? What approaches will the Church allow us to try? What does our infertility mean, spiritually and personally, in the face of our fervent but frustrated desire for a baby? When a couple, after having non-contraceptive sexual intercourse for a year or more, begins to investigate whether there are issues related to infertility, some medical professionals simply encourage them to turn to the 12
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much more than a cursory workup or exam prior to recommending that the couple approach a fertility clinic and employ their services to produce a baby via IVF. Couples ought instead to look into techniques that can methodically diagnose and heal the underlying reasons for infertility, like FEMM (Fertility Education & Medical Management, https://femmhealth.org) pioneered by Dr. Pilar Vigil, or NaProTechnology (Natural Procreative Technology, see http://www.naprotechnology.com), led by Dr. Tom Hilgers. Both are Catholic ob/gyns with great track records in helping to resolve underlying infertility issues and helping couples to conceive naturally. NaPro has been around a little longer and employs a range of approaches to help correct certain physical defects. Dr. Hilgers has formed and trained a number of other physicians who work as independent NaProTechnology specialists in the U.S. and abroad. FEMM is building a similar network. On the other hand, a number of other widely-available techniques, instead of assisting the marital act, end up replacing it with another kind of act altogether, namely, an act of “producing” or “manufacturing” children in laboratories. These techniques – like IVF; intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); artificial insemination; hiring a surrogate to carry a pregnancy; and cloning – obviously raise serious moral objections. In some cases, a couple’s infertility will end up being irresolvable. Even as a husband and wife face the grief and Why are sorrow of not being able naturally to conceive children of their own, they techniques can still realize their paternal and like in vitro maternal desires in other meaningful, fertilization fruitful and loving ways. For example, (IVF) they may discern a call to adopt a child, providing a mom and a dad to considered someone whose parents have died or immoral? felt that they could not care for the What child. They might decide to become approaches a camp counselor or a schoolteacher, or provide temporary foster care to will the a child in crisis, generously taking on Church allow an authentic parenting role. They may us to try?” become a “Big Brother/Big Sister” to youth in the community who yearn for a father or mother figure in their lives. Although these solutions do not take away all the grief, they are a means by which God helps to draw good out of their situation. By these means, couples are challenged to “think outside the box” and enter into the mysterious designs of God within their marriage. By stepping away from a desire to conceive and raise biological children of their own, couples facing irresolvable infertility can discover new and unexpected paths to marital fruitfulness, paths that bring great blessings to others, and that can lead to abiding joy and marital fulfillment. 13
Encountering Jesus
IN THE SACRAMENTS Pope Benedict XVI once
IN SEARCH OF …
said, “... the faith is not a
Our culture abounds with spiritual seekers hungry for an theory, a philosophy, or encounter with the true God. Many of these seem convinced idea; it is an encounter. An that they will somehow know God when they see God. encounter with Jesus.” It is this Of course, this implies that they already, in fact, have an encounter with Jesus in the image of God in mind and are looking for the corresponding sacraments that is the focus reality. They are more often than not perpetual seekers of this year’s Theology 101. because they can never quite find the God that exists in their mind out there in the world. This desire is not a bad thing. It is simply misdirected. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Christ is already present to the Church: in his word; in his Church’s prayer; in the poor, the sick and the imprisoned; in the sacrifice of the Mass; and in the person of the minister. The catechism lists one additional way: the sacraments. Consequently, as Pope Francis teaches, Christ is to be encountered “in the web of human relationships” 14
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that is the Church. He locates the fullness of his own identity not in himself as an isolated individual, but in the body of Christ. It is in relationship with our neighbors today, in this present moment, that we can learn how to love and, thereby, enter into communion with the Christ.
WHAT IS A SACRAMENT?
DID YOU KNOW? The seven sacraments were celebrated from the first century of the Church, but were not codified until the Council of Trent (15451563).
Specifically, a sacrament is an efficacious sign of grace. This is to say that a sacrament is capable of producing and conferring the grace that is promised. Pope Francis says it this way: “The sacraments are Jesus Christ’s presence in us.” This is accomplished through the rite by which the Church celebrates a sacrament. The visible rite both signifies and makes present the graces proper to that sacrament. The catechism teaches the efficacy of each sacrament finds its source in Christ himself because
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Writing for OSV Newsweekly, Msgr. M. Francis Mannion argues the sacraments “are the continuation of Christ’s ministry in history.” He makes the point that Christ is present sacramentally to the extent he is present in the world, going so far as to assert the sacraments constitute Christ’s visibility in the world. He points out that Jesus continues to call disciples to follow him and to incorporate them into himself through the gift of the Spirit through the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. Jesus continues to share meals with his followers in the sacrament of the Eucharist; to forgive and reconcile sinners in the sacrament of penance; to heal the sick in the
anointing of the sick; to send forth chosen disciples to preach and to baptize through holy orders; and to bless marriages in the sacrament of matrimony.
YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101
MORE THAN A FEELING There are those who would challenge the claim that we encounter Jesus in the sacraments because they do not feel anything, they are not touched at the core of their being. However, when we speak about the sacraments as an encounter with Jesus, we are not necessarily referring to an emotional event. DOUG CULP Belief based solely on emotion or feeling is on is the CAO and shaky ground, as it is always vulnerable to dulling secretary for over time. In a similar way, belief based exclusively pastoral life for on reason or intellect is vulnerable to doubt. the Diocese of Faith, then, must involve the hardening of the will, Lexington, Ky. primarily through an obedience that allows us to He holds an stand firm through the power of the Spirit in the face MA in theology of doubt and dulling. from Catholic Catholics believe what was revealed, not because Theological we can perceive the truth of revelation by the natural Union in Chicago. light of reason alone or because we get a warm, fuzzy feeling, but because of the authority of God, who makes the revelation. Any lack of material evidence is overcome by confidence in the one who speaks. This matters because the sacraments presuppose faith The catechism explains the even as they also nourish it. This Church, by the power of the Spirit, faith is grounded in the authority gradually discerned there are of Christ who instituted them. seven sacraments instituted by So faith that is an encounter Christ in the same way she did for with Christ presupposes faith in the canon of sacred Scripture and Christ first. for the doctrine of the faith. S. OLSON
it is actually Christ who baptizes, “who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies.” This is also why the Church teaches that the sacraments act “ex opere operato” (literally: ‘by the very fact of the action’s being performed’). For this reason, the sacrament is efficacious regardless of the personal holiness of either the celebrant or the recipient. However, the fruits of the sacraments do depend on the disposition of the one who receives them. The Church, by the “power of the Holy Spirit who guides her ‘into all truth,’” has discerned over time that there are seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ. The seven sacraments “touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase healing and mission to the Christian’s faith.” They are baptism, confirmation (or Chrismation), Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders and matrimony.
HOW DID THE CHURCH GET TO SEVEN SACRAMENTS?
TIMELINE: Top 6 events of the 7 sacraments Jesus Christ
Early Church
St. Augustine
2nd Council of Lyons
1. Christ instituted the Church with its sacramental nature firmly founded on Scripture and tradition.
2. The early Christians loosely applied the term “sacrament” to a variety of experiences, ritual actions and objects – the washing of feet, the sign of the cross, etc.
3. Augustine spoke broadly of the sacraments – their effects, their administration and their fruitfulness.
4. In the 13th century, the Second Council of Lyons (1274), based on the writings of Peter Lombard in his Book of Sentences, defined the seven sacraments we have today.
30-33 A.D.
90-350
354-430
1274
Council of Florence
1439
5. The Council of Florence (1439) said the sacraments “contained and conferred grace.”
Council of Trent
1545-1563
6. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) stated that there were “no more nor less than seven” and defined them more clearly.
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YOUR STORIES
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FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
COVER STORY
WHEN BISHOP EARL BOYEA challenged his diocese to dive
is loose in Sarah and Jeff’s life
into a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, Jeff and Sarah Gray took him at his word.
HOW A VIDEO SERIES EVANGELIZES 17
FOR SOME, that would mean attending a Born in the Spirit retreat, joining a prayer group or cracking open some theology books. For the Grays, it meant turning on the TV and streaming episodes of The Wild Goose from Formed.org – and they were blown away. BY ELIZABETH HANSEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA
“We were told not to binge it,” Sarah says, but it was hard for the couple to restrain themselves to one or two episodes a week. The 14-part series, which takes its name from an ancient Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit, features Father Dave Pivonka, TOR. Nationally known as an engaging and down-to-earth speaker, especially at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s summer conferences, Father Dave takes viewers on a visually beautiful pilgrimage to locations across the country while breaking down the enigma that the Third Person of the Trinity is to so many Catholics. The Grays counted themselves in that number. “I’ve always understood God the Father and God the Son,” Jeff says. “You know the sign of the cross, but I didn’t understand the Holy Spirit.” He and Sarah are both cradle Catholics. “Sometimes if you’re raised in it, it’s just always part of the routine,”
says Jeff, adding that he had sensed in the back of his mind there was a richness to the Mass, even if he didn’t know what it was. That’s been changing. “Recently we’ve been trying to make our faith more of our central activity,” he says, acknowledging this means giving up other things – like more frequent TV entertainment – in order to prioritize their own catechesis. The couple began more actively educating themselves about their faith and making an effort to talk more openly about it, especially as their children grew older and started sacrament preparation. Soon, they were devouring any materials they could find, especially the video content on Formed. Sarah describes it as an exciting journey they’re still on: “I feel like I can’t get enough. I just want to keep watching things, I want to keep reading things, I want to know more.” The Grays took that newfound zeal and excitement to the Diocesan Assembly in September, participating in the Eucharistic procession down Michigan Avenue and soaking up the talks. When Bishop Boyea suggested practical ways attendees can continue their path of missionary discipleship – including
The Wild Goose is a 14-part online video series on discovering a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, narrated by Father Dave Pivonka, TOR. The segments, filmed on location in diverse locales throughout the United States and Canada, are available for free download at THEWILDGOOSEISLOOSE.COM. 18
FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
viewing The Wild Goose – Jeff and Sarah started streaming the episodes within a couple days. “We were so moved by the assembly,” Sarah says. “We got so much out of it and were so excited when we left, we didn’t want to lose that.” Jeff was struck by the bishop’s call to evangelism. “We never thought we were really called to be evangelists; we didn’t know what that meant,” he says, frankly. “But when he said this was the next thing to do, we just said, okay, we’re on board.” Like most couples – Jeff and Sarah celebrated their 15th anniversary in October – the Grays are busy. Along with parenting Ellie, 11, Jake, 9 and Anna, 7, Sarah is a freelance writer, and Jeff is the city manager of Jonesville, where the family lives, about 20 miles from the Michigan-Indiana-Ohio border. But their routine of settling into the couch after the kids went to bed and watching another episode of The Wild Goose became something of a date night in, sparking conversations about what they were learning. They started out taking notes but then learned to just watch, not talking until the end of each episode, when they could unpack its theme together. “Is there a sequel?” Jeff quips as they laugh about their disappointment when they finished the last segment. “We felt like we were growing in our faith together,” Sarah says. She appreciated how each episode features witnesses from other Catholics about how the Holy Spirit has worked in their lives. Being encouraged to open yourself to the Holy Spirit “can seem overwhelming,” she says, but hearing other people’s stories helped her recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence in her own life, even in small ways. “I’ve noticed subtle changes,” Sarah says. “I’m a little more patient, a little more understanding of circumstances that otherwise may have really upset me,
just by praying, ‘Come, Holy Spirit, Your will be done.’” Jeff has noticed similar ways the message of The Wild Goose is permeating his daily life. “People have experiences where they can pray silently and hear God’s voice speaking to them,” he says. But for Jeff, “I spend more of my day … just praying quietly, ‘Come Holy Spirit,’ and what I’ve seen is, it’s not a voice that I hear in my head, it’s that I see [his presence] in people throughout the day and conversations that I have.” Sarah can see the effects in their family. “We’re not perfect by any stretch,” she says, but there’s a peace that’s settled on their home. What’s next? The Grays’ parish, St. Catherine Laboure in Concord, is “small but mighty,” as Sarah says lovingly, and she and Jeff are part of a group of parishioners who want to continue cultivating the fruits of the Diocesan Assembly. They’ve started guiding a weekly Advent discussion group in the parish, in addition to their roles in various ministries. And they’re leading fellow second-grade parents through Formed’s Forgiven series as they help their children prepare for the Sacraments of Penance and First Communion. “We’re pretty new to evangelizing,” Sarah says, “and we by no means feel like we’re experts. We know that’s not the point – we’re not supposed to be experts; we’re supposed to be open to the Holy Spirit. And we’re really trying to be.” Experience aside, the Grays are confident in their calling and unquestioning in their response to open their hearts more fully to God. Sarah is quick to name her strongest takeaway from The Wild Goose, a theme that is resonating with the couple and their family, and beyond them, a parish and community: “The Holy Spirit is very powerful.”
We’re pretty new to evangelizing,” Sarah says, “and we by no means feel like we’re experts. We know that’s not the point – we’re not supposed to be experts; we’re supposed to be open to the Holy Spirit. And we’re really trying to be.”
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YOUR STORIES FEATURE STORY
Kelly’s production of
CROSS & LIGHT is coming to Lansing
A
T 35, KELLY NIETO THOUGHT SHE HAD THE PERFECT LIFE – the big house, money, a handsome husband and two healthy children. She had accomplished every goal she had made and was a
successful musical comedienne, opening for well-known country artists. 20
‘Pray about who God wants you to touch, and bring them to the show’
FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
An agnostic “New Ager,” Kelly held séances and welcomed psychics into her home regularly. What she valued in life was everything the secular world says will make you happy – until she was told her mother was going to die. Suddenly, the “things” she cherished weren’t important anymore. “I found myself on all fours crying out to God or to anyone who would listen,” she says. “I remember thinking: ‘I hope it’s that Buddha guy.’ He was much more appealing than a crucifix. I couldn’t understand how an instrument of torture could be an iconic symbol for billions of people.” While on her knees, Kelly bartered for her mother’s life, saying: “I don’t know who or what you are, but if you keep her alive and show me the truth, I will give you every last breath.” Her mother recovered and lived another 20 years, running triathlons and playing the piano. God also had a plan for Kelly. “God orchestrated such a beautiful story! When I was at my lowest, I cried out for help and that was a prayer God could work with,” she says.
A CATHOLIC JOURNEY A born-again Baptist woman first guided her to Christ. Kelly entered the Baptist church, and for two years, she and her Catholic husband waged a holy war. “He would bring home stacks of apologetic materials defending the Catholic faith,” she says. “I read them and found myself drawn to the fullness of Truth when I was trying to pull him out of the Church.” Kelly fell in love with the sacred Scripture, and God called her to enter the Catholic Church. But after two years of studying the faith, she still had unanswered questions. A self-proclaimed “problem child,” Kelly asked her RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) coordinator where she could find the Catholic doctrine in the Bible. The coordinator went to pray for guidance in front of the Blessed Sacrament when she saw a couple who she thought could answer Kelly’s questions and help her on her conversion journey. In 2000, Kelly joined the Church at Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington Hills.
HOLY INTERVENTION When Kelly attended the Stations on the Cross on Good Friday for the first time, she didn’t understand why the church was so empty. “It broke my heart,” she says. “I was crying out to God, ‘Why would you put me here?’” “I knew the Blessed Mother put me at the foot of the cross saying, ‘Look at my son and what he’s done. Go share his love,’” Kelly says. “I didn’t see it with my eyes, but I saw it with my soul. When I sat BY CARI ANN DELAMIELLEURE-SCOTT
back down, I composed myself and heard God say loud and clear: ‘This is why you’re here.’”
CROSS & LIGHT Kelly’s experiences inspired her to create a musical and multi-sensory video production of Christ’s Passion to Pentecost. Since Cross & Light started touring the country, more than 140,000 people have experienced what the Blessed Mother and God were guiding Kelly to when she prayed the Stations of the Cross. Cross & Light will perform six shows at St. Gerard Catholic Church in Lansing March 21-23, 2019. Kelly says they expect at least 3,500 people in attendance. “After the performance, the man who plays Jesus talks to the audience in his beautiful and humble way and encourages them to pray and accept Christ. Then, the confessionals open because you can’t proclaim the Gospel without repentance,” Kelly says. “Priests have told us that these confessions are some of the most profound and heartfelt confessions they’ve ever heard. It’s because people can relate to Jesus as a human being, and they see his heart and his love for us.” Kelly has a personal story of the show’s impact. When her brother, an agnostic who disliked the Church, attended a performance, he gave his life to Christ afterward. The next step for Kelly is to fulfill the wishes of people across the globe and create a new media adaptation of Cross & Light, which is a digital version of the live event. “After people see the show, they’re always disappointed they didn’t bring more people,” she said. “Pray about who God wants you to touch, bring them to the show, and I guarantee it will change their lives.”
I knew the Blessed Mother put me at the foot of the cross saying, ‘Look at my son and what he’s done Go share his love. I didn’t see it with my eyes, but I saw it with my soul.”
VISIT WWW.STGERARD.ORG TO PURCHASE TICKETS
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SPECIAL REPORT:
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MICHIGAN
A
CCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE, “Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that occurs in every
state, including Michigan.” The term encompasses both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, and the victims are men, women and children, including citizens as well as foreign nationals. In an interview with FAITH magazine in January of 2017, Bridgette Carr, founding director of the Human Trafficking Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, explained that trafficking can occur in everyday settings. “People want to make trafficking into this very exotic thing, but all of us have that feeling that something’s not right,” she said. Trafficking is often hidden in our communities, and can occur in hair salons, restaurants, or landscaping, agricultural and seasonal work, for example. Data from the trafficking hotline show the following for Michigan: • Since 2007, the hotline has received 4,609 calls, which has led to 1,359 cases. • In 2016, there were 249 cases reported, and in 2017, there were 305 cases.
According to Annie Bennett of the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC), “It is sad to see more cases reported, but because of statewide awareness efforts, it is also likely that the increased stats mean that more people know about the hotline and are calling in, which is good.” The MCC, which serves as the official voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan on matters of public policy, works with the Michigan attorney 22
FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
general’s office, as well as agencies throughout Michigan, to help with awareness efforts and to formulate advocacy initiatives. Since January 2018, Michigan has passed the following laws related to this issue, and the MCC advocated for passage of all of these measures: •A llow victims of trafficking to defer and dismiss charges for prostitution-related crimes they were forced to commit while being trafficked. • Allow expert witnesses to testify on the behavioral pattern of trafficking victims as evidence during a criminal trial. • Expand the definition of coercion in human trafficking law, now including controlling or facilitating a person’s access to controlled substances in the definition. • Eliminate immunity from prosecution that had previously been in-state statute for on-duty police officers, if they committed certain prostitutionrelated offenses (sex with a prostitute) during an investigation.
LEARN MORE THE S.O.A.P PROJECT (WWW.SOAPPROJECT.ORG) IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES AND RAISES AWARENESS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. VISIT ITS WEBSITE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP. FOR HELP, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CATHOLIC CHARITIES OFFICE. DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG/CATHOLIC-CHARITIES
HEALING AND HOW MEREDITH REESE AND THE WINGS TREATMENT PROGRAM AT VISTA MARIA HELP VICTIMS
R
ECENTLY, FAITH SPOKE WITH MEREDITH REESE, chief integrated behavioral health officer at the Vista Maria
Agency in Dearborn Heights, about her work with the Wings Program, which is the only contracted treatment program for child human trafficking in the state. Q: What are the physical and emotional needs of victims of human trafficking when they arrive at Vista Maria? A: Victims may suffer from malnutrition, abdominal complaints and fatigue to more serious injuries such as fractures, dental injuries or sexually transmitted diseases. They may lack access to health care, therefore, conditions become chronic and treatment intervention is needed. Emotionally, victims need help with anxiety. They are afraid of the unknown, and don’t know what to expect or who to turn to. They also suffer from the stigma of being trafficked and being labeled as prostitutes. They don’t feel worthy. Victims often left homes where they were neglected or abused, and blame themselves for making the choice that led to their being trafficked. Q: How does the integration of physical and mental health services promote healing and recovery? A: Physical safety is the number one issue when victims first arrive into our programs. They want to be assured that the premises are secured and that no one, such as their traffickers, can enter. They need to feel physically safe before they feel safe enough to share their stories with others. They need to know someone is there to support them. Those who are responsible for providing care need
ANNISTIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY
RECOVERY
to prove they are worthy of trust. Confidentiality is so key! A well-integrated and trauma-informed approach to providing physical and mental health services is essential to meeting the needs of victims. Those providing care are to work collaboratively to prevent re-traumatization of the youth. Addressing both the mental and physical needs of a victim is important advocacy for each person. It may be the first time someone asks what she wants or needs. It is difficult to help victims find their own voice. Providing safety and helping them find their own voice, and participating in decisions, helps them learn to advocate on their own. Q: You have worked with local task forces on trafficking. How do they help raise awareness and help prevent trafficking? A: The Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force provides training throughout the state on identifying victims of trafficking and education about the needs of victims. The task force offered a conference this past year on multiple topics, including Trauma Awareness and the Correlation with Human Trafficking. Visit mhttf.org for more information. Q: Are there any signs of hope? A: Of course, there are signs of hope as youth feel empowered, safe around others and supported to live a life without fear, distrust and abuse. Youth are only victim to their circumstances. Our kids are resilient, and survivors. They have a greater sense of belonging, self-esteem and worthiness. For more on the hope that Vista Maria’s Wings program provides to victims of human trafficking, visit www.Vistamaria.org.
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YOUR COMMUNITY ST. GERARD STUDENTS SPREAD KINDNESS St. Gerard School’s theme for 2018-2019 is "Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord,” which is about opening our eyes to one another and truly "spreading kindness." Each month, a class will share how it chose to spread kindness. Second-graders “opened their eyes” by putting together a friendly book for the custodian, Mr. Gary, who always gives smiles and hellos. They wanted him to know that he is appreciated. The students also wrote letters to Mrs. Fedewa, who cleans the church every Monday morning.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
LOCAL NEWS
CATHOLIC CHARITIES RECEIVES THE WELL OF HOPE AWARD John Manse, director of community services for Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties and the manager of four Feeding Programs, was awarded the Well of Hope Community Champion Award thanking him for his support of the Blessed to be a Blessing Thanksgiving dinner held at the Center for Hope in Flint on Nov. 20. The dinner was sponsored by Well of Hope and Catholic Charities.
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A funeral Mass was held on Nov. 27, 2018, for Sister Maria Auxilio Rea Martinez, director of religious education for Cristo Rey Parish, Lansing, with Father Fred Thelen as celebrant. She joined the Passionist Congregation in 1986, and made her perpetual vows in 1994. After serving as a teacher in Mexico for many years, she eventually came to the United States and began her service at Cristo Rey.
ST. MARY SCHOOL’S CHRISTMAS GIFT BASKETS AND GIVING TREE PROGRAM SOLEMN FUNERAL RITES AT HOLY SPIRIT PARISH FOR ABORTED BABY On Nov. 24, 2018, more than 150 mourners gathered to bury the remains of an aborted baby who was found in the trunk of a car several years ago near Detroit, and finally released by the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office. This was the result of a two-year effort by Citizens for a Pro-Life Society to obtain the baby’s remains for burial. At a request from pro-life advocates in Livingston County, a funeral Mass for the baby took place at Holy Spirit Parish in Brighton. Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, said, “This little child stands for all those who are victims of violence in our land. He or she has no family and so we have become the family for this unknown person.” 24
FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
In November, St. Mary School families in Pinckney continued a longstanding tradition of donating food items for Christmas baskets. The baskets are combined with gift collections from its Giving Tree program for those in need in the parish, as well as the surrounding community. Last year, 50 families received Christmas food baskets and more than 30 families received gifts.
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UPDATE:
Statement from Bishop Boyea on the accountability of bishops
O
N NOV. 12-14, I attended the meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Baltimore.
We heard powerful testimony from victims. The wounds to the body of Christ need to be healed. These wounds are not just the sins and crimes of clergy who abuse, but the bishops who failed in their pastoral and spiritual leadership.
The USCCB was considering several provisions to hold bishops accountable in order to rebuild trust among the faithful. One provision was to establish Standards of Accountability for Bishops, which would cover sexual abuse, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by a bishop. Second, the establishment of a national mechanism to report complaints against bishops in the United States to an ethics hotline operated by an independent third party was announced. The third proposal was the establishment of a special national commission for the reception of complaints given to the ethics hotline. Currently, bishops are held accountable to the pope through the papal nuncio, the Holy See’s ambassador to the United States. This new system would enable anyone to report a complaint against a bishop based on the Standards of Accountability for Bishops, and complaints against a bishop for not properly handling the misconduct of others within that bishop’s diocese. The system would relay complaints to a special commission, a body of six lay members and three members of the clergy. The proposal would enable the body to “investigate allegations against bishops and make necessary reports of the alleged violation to the competent civil and ecclesiastical authorities.” Pope Francis has previously stated that “clergy and bishops will be held accountable when they abuse or fail to protect children.” Additionally, the Holy Father has stated, “the crimes and sins of sexual abuse of minors may no longer be kept secret.” The Congregation of Bishops from the Holy See asked that the U.S. Bwwishops not vote on the Standards for Accountability for Bishops and the new commission. There will be a meeting of the presidents of bishop conferences from around the world to be held in Rome this February. That meeting will address how the Universal Church is handling abuse.
I fully support the standards and lay oversight of complaints against bishops. The Church and her mission are best served when bishops and laity work together. Further, I proposed a measure that was discussed, but not enacted, that the USCCB call upon the Holy See to release all documents that they can legally and canonically make available related to how Archbishop McCarrick was able to rise in the hierarchy, despite allegations being made against him for decades. In the meantime, the Diocese of Lansing, along with all the Michigan dioceses, are fully cooperating with an investigation of the state attorney general into the handling of abuse cases going back to 1950. The attorney general’s office was given full access to all of our clergy files. Many of those files are now in their possession. I have confidence in how our diocese has handled cases and welcome this review by civil authorities. Previously, I announced that the Diocese of Lansing would have an independent audit of our handling of abuse cases, and that we will post the names of clergy who have abused minors on our diocesan website. It is still my intention to do that. Preparation for that work is under way, but is on hold while the attorney general’s office is in possession of our files and conducts its investigation. I am committed to placing victims of abuse first. I repeat my apology, to them and I am sorry that these crimes occurred. I recommit to continuing the ongoing measures of removing from ministry anyone who has abused a minor. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding those who have abused minors. We conduct background checks and train Church workers on how to detect and report such abuse. We employ a victim assistance coordinator and utilize a review board made up of lay professionals to review allegations of such abuse. We have a third-party operated hotline to report abuse. Sin can enter into the human heart at any time. However, these measures have made a positive difference in protecting our youth from abuse. We are not aware of anyone in active ministry in the Diocese of Lansing who has abused a minor. We have not had an incident of a cleric sexually abusing a minor since before the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young Adults was adopted on 2002. For recent acts of clerical abuse and harassment against adults, we remove clergy who have credible allegations against them and investigate. Those instances are made public on the diocesan website. I thank victims who come forward, and encourage anyone who has been harmed by someone in the Church to do so. The wounds to the body of Christ caused by the sins of sexual abuse will not heal until the truth comes out and those responsible are held to account. Jesus tells us the truth will set us free. No matter how painful the truth, we should not fear the truth coming out. Justice for victims demands it. Christ will bring healing for his body, our Church. Our hope is in Christ. May God lead me and my fellow bishops to be the shepherds God intends. May all of us fix our hearts and minds on Christ so his body can fully be the Church God intends. God Bless you all. +Bishop Earl Boyea
USCCB NATIONAL REVIEW BOARD REPORT
REUTERS
Attendees take part in morning prayer at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ General Assembly in Baltimore.
SPECIAL REPORT:
FALL MEETING OF U.S. BISHOPS EVERY YEAR, the United
THE CLERGY SEX ABUSE CRISIS
States Bishops meet
Plans for taking action to address the crisis of sexual abuse by clergy were abruptly halted when a request from the Congregation for Bishops diocese in the country, postponed the assembly’s plans to vote on to discuss issues in the proposals addressing the crisis in the United States. American Church today. USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) President Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, At the meeting this year of Galveston-Houston announced at the opening on Nov. 12-14, the bishops assembly that the U.S. Bishops were asked to delay were prepared to discuss voting on the proposals until bishops from around and take action on some the world meet with Pope Francis in February to discuss the crisis. important issues. The U.S. Bishops had planned to vote on adopting three proposals for action related to abuse: a new Standards of Episcopal Conduct for bishops, protocols for removing bishops because of abuse and the establishment of a new commission to process allegations of abuse against bishops. Cardinal Blasé Cupich of Chicago called on the bishops to discuss and refine the proposals despite postponing the vote on them. He urged the U.S. Bishops to meet again in March to discuss the February meeting and to vote on protocols. Presidents of the 114 Conferences of Bishops and the 21 Eastern-rite Patriarchal Synods, Councils of Churches and Assemblies of Ordinaries are expected to attend the gathering at the Vatican Feb. 21-24, 2019, to discuss “prevention of abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.” The U.S. Bishops are scheduled to gather again for their annual June meeting. Plans for convening in March have yet to be announced. in Baltimore, the first
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FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
The USCCB’s National Review Board Chairman Francesco Cesareo presented a report that calls for including bishops in the Charter on the Protection of Children and Young People; publishing complete lists of credibly accused clergy in all dioceses; improving the auditing process; and enhancing accountability for bishops regarding cases of abuse. The report praised efforts that have addressed the problem of abuse by clergy but chastised the bishops for a lack of transparency. “Today, the faithful and the clergy do not trust many of you. They are angry and frustrated, no longer satisfied with words and even with prayer. They seek action that signals a cultural change from the leadership of the Church. Their distrust will remain until you truly embrace the principles of openness and transparency listed in the Charter. You must come to terms with the past. There cannot be reconciliation without full acknowledgement of the truth.” The report also highlighted the problem of responsibility: “... as more information is publicized regarding the inappropriate handling of abuse by bishops, it remains clear that some bishops have escaped the consequences of their acts of omission regarding abuse, and that little is being done to address this injustice. While most of you have responded appropriately to allegations of abuse, according to a recent report by the Boston Globe and Philadelphia Inquirer, more than 130 bishops – or nearly one-third of those still living – have been accused during their careers of failing to respond to sexual misconduct in their dioceses. Others have been accused of committing abuse. Few have faced real consequences. This must change.” BY SUE PARKER
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
REUTERS
PASTORAL LETTER AGAINST RACISM
EXCERPTS FROM CARDINAL DINARDO’S STATEMENT
“We leave this place committed to taking the strongest possible actions at the earliest possible moment. We will do so in communion with the Universal Church. Moving forward in concert with the Church around the world will make the Church in the United States stronger, and will make the global Church stronger.” To read Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement, visit www.usccb.org/ news/2018/18-187.cfm.
SISTER THEA BOWMAN – THE NEXT U.S. SAINT? By a voice vote, the U.S. Bishops expressed unanimous support for the advancement of the cause for sainthood for Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA. As a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, teacher and scholar, Sister Thea exuded a joyous love for Christ and was a tireless voice for intercultural awareness and inclusion in the United States and around the world. Inspired by her teachers from the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, Sister Thea became Catholic at age 9, then became one of the most influential advocates for evangelization and inclusion of African Americans in the U.S. Church. Shortly before her death at age 52 from breast cancer, Sister Thea addressed the U.S. Bishops from her wheelchair, urging them to promote full participation of African Americans within Church leadership, schools and parishes. 27
CNS PHOTO/BEATRICE NJEMANZE, MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC
As he closed the conference, Cardinal DiNardo expressed disappointment in delaying a vote, but said he was hopeful that the delay “will improve our responses to the crisis we face.” He addressed the need for action in his closing remarks. “Brothers, you and the speakers we have heard from have given me direction and consensus. I will take it as a springboard for action. “When the summer’s news first broke, we committed to three goals: to do what we could to get to the bottom of the Archbishop McCarrick situation; to make reporting of abuse and misconduct by bishops easier; and, to develop a means of holding ourselves accountable that was genuinely independent, duly authorized, and had substantial lay involvement. Now, we are on course to accomplish these goals. That is the direction that you and the survivors of abuse across our country have given me for the February meeting in Rome. More than that, in the days prior to the meeting of episcopal conference presidents, the Task Force I established this week will convert that direction into specific action steps. Some of those actions steps include:
• A process for investigating complaints against bishops reported through a third-party compliance hotline. We will complete a proposal for a single national lay commission and a proposal for a national network relying upon the established diocesan review boards, with their lay expertise, to be overseen by the metropolitan or senior suffragan. • Finalizing the Standards of Accountability for Bishops. • Finalizing the Protocol for Removed Bishops. • Studying national guidelines for the publication of lists of names of those clerics facing substantiated claims of abuse. • Supporting the fair and timely completion of the various investigations into the situation surrounding Archbishop McCarrick and publication of their results. We are grateful for the Holy See’s Statement of Oct. 6 in this regard.
The U.S. Bishops voted 241-3, with one abstention, to approve “Open Wide our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter against Racism.” The letter, inspired by the words of the prophet Micah, calls Catholics to love in a way that makes “room for others in our hearts.” It goes on to say: “Love compels each of us to resist racism courageously. It requires us to reach out generously to the victims of this evil, to assist the conversion needed in those who still harbor racism, and to begin to change policies and structures that allow racism to persist. Overcoming racism is a demand of justice, but because Christian love transcends justice, the end of racism will mean that our community will bear fruit beyond simply the fair treatment of all.” Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee against Racism, issued the following statement: “The entire body of bishops felt the need to address the topic of racism, once again, after witnessing the deterioration of the public discourse, and episodes of violence and animosity with racial and xenophobic overtones, that have re-emerged in American society in the last few years.”
THINGS TO DO St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton, will host 8 Great Dates for Couples on Friday nights from January through March: includes catered dinners for two with conversation and video. Child care is provided. Registration is required; call the parish at 810.229.8624 by Jan. 3. Jan. 12 and Feb. 5, 2 p.m., All Faith Ministry for Disabilities, a nondenominational and ecumenical disability ministry, and the Diocese of Lansing’s Special Needs Ministry are hosting Special Needs Masses at the St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 E. Main St., DeWitt. Mass begins at 2 p.m. both days, followed by light refreshments. Please RSVP to Cathy Blatnik at 517.381.1410 or at lcblatnik@juno. com. Everyone is welcome. Beginning Jan. 17, 7 p.m., St, John the Baptist, Howell, will have a Grief Share Support Group for 13 weeks on Thursdays in Conference Room A for anyone working through grief. For information, please call the parish office at 517.546.7200. Jan. 18, 7 p.m., St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish, 4413 Morrish Rd., Swartz Creek, will host a euchre tournament fundraiser sponsored by its Knights of Columbus Council. For more information, call 810.635.3684. Jan. 19, 5:30 p.m., St. Agnes, Fowlerville’s Knights of Columbus Council 8605 is hosting a Chili Cook-off in the Lothamer Parish Center that includes mild, medium, hot and blazing chilies – all homemade. The Euchre Tournament immediately follows the cook-off. For information, call the parish office at 517.223.8684 Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 6:30-11 p.m., St. Agnes, Fowlerville’s Knights of Columbus Council 8605 is hosting two Texas Hold ‘Em events in the Higgins Hall Gathering Space. For more information, call the parish office at 517.223.8684. Feb. 3, 1-3 p.m., St. Francis Catholic School, Ann Arbor, will host an Open House, 2270 E. Stadium Blvd. Come learn about its pre-K through 8th grade school 28
with weekly all-school Mass, before- and after-school care, Spanish instruction and half- and full-day Kindergarten. Financial aid available. Visit stfrancisa2.com/ school for more information. Feb. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lansing Catholic High School is hosting a prospective family night for families with children of all ages to learn what it has to offer. There is a set schedule for the event that includes both breakout and Q&A sessions. Registration is not required but is appreciated. To register, please contact the Admission Office at 517.267.2102 or admissions@lansingcatholic.org. Feb. 9, St. Patrick, Brighton, will host the 8th Marriage Enrichment Conference: “Marriage … Start Up, Tune Up and Fixer Up.” Featured speaker is Allen Hunt, with singer/ songwriter George Lowers. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Earl Boyea. Cost is $65 per couple, rising to $70 after Feb. 1. For information, visit idoforlife. org. For questions, email Paul at idoforlifepnt@aol.com, or call Leisa at 810.229.9863. Feb. 16, 12:30 p.m., St. John the Baptist, 2099 N. Hacker Rd., Howell, will have a Casino Trip leaving from the parish’s north parking lot. For more information, call the parish office at 517.546.7200. Feb. 23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Martha, Okemos’ Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring a day of reflection for women in the parish hall, which includes both a continental breakfast and lunch and ends with 5 p.m. Mass. For information, contact the parish office at 517.349.1763 or visit stmartha.org. Feb. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the Lansing Catholic Men’s Conference will be held at Our Lady of Fatima, 913 Napoleon Rd., Michigan Center. Cost is $30 for students and $40 for adults. There will be motivational speakers, adoration and confession, live music and lunch. Registration and tickets are available online at www.themanevent.org/register. For information, contact Cheryl Olson at 517.342.2556 or colsen@ dioceseoflansing.org.
FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
Feb. 23, 8:30 a.m., St. Michael Parish, Grand Ledge will host its Women's Breakfast in Fellowship Hall located in the church basement. The theme will be "Leave Her With Jesus,” presented by Linda Gardener. Join us for coffee and continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and our speaker from 9 to 10 a.m. For more information, call the parish office at 517.627.8493. Feb. 23-24 in Holly there will be a Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend retreat: CEE is a marriage preparation program based on Catholic teachings and values that emphasizes the relationship of the couple in terms of their sacramental commitment. For more information, visit www.lansingcee.org, or info@ lansingcee.org, or call Sue and Wayne Fransted at 517.740.4132. March 1, 4-7 p.m., St. John the Baptist, Howell’s Knight of Columbus will have a Polish Fest Dinner at 2099 N. Hacker Road in Thompson Hall. For information, contact the parish office at 517.546.9154. March 5, St. John the Evangelist, Davison, will host Mardi Gras with a spaghetti dinner, cannoli paczki and a jazz band in building 450. For more information, please call the parish office at 810.653.2377 or email parishoffice@stjohndavison.org. March 16, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Rita Catholic Church, Clarklake, will host “Find Your Greatness,” with speaker Jonathan Fanning from Dynamic Catholic. The event is appropriate for ages 12 and older, and youth are encouraged to attend. For tickets, please visit DynamicCatholic.com/Clarklake or call 859.980.7900. For information, call the parish office at 517.592.5470. March 22-24, an Ignatius Retreat for Young Adults: This is an opportunity for young men and women ages 18-39 to learn the skills of Ignatius Discernment of Spirits. There will be opportunity for practice of prayerful decisionmaking; Ignatius-style prayer, as well as other ways of prayer; adoration and confession; Masses, good food and fellowship with
one another. Cost is $60. The retreat will be at Vineyard Lake in Brooklyn. For information, contact Dawn Hausmann at 517.342.2506 or dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org. March 26, 7:30-11:30 p.m., Lansing Catholic Corks + Cuisine, a fundraising event for Lansing Catholic High School, will be held at Impression 5 Science Center. Join us for a fabulous tasting event that showcases delicious food from local restaurants and sips of wine and beer from area distributors/brewing companies. Tickets: $40 in advance. Must be 21+ to attend. For event details, online ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities, visit our website at www.lansingcatholic.org. For information, contact Paula Wilcox at paula.wilcox@lansingcatholic. org or 517-267-2121. SHARE YOUR NEWS AND EVENTS SEND YOUR LOCAL NEWS STORIES TO EDITORIAL@FAITHPUB.COM
IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR VICTIMIZED BY SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. If I have been the victim of child sexual abuse by someone representing the Catholic Church, whom should I contact? Contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of Lansing, Cheryl Williams-Hecksel, LMSW, 888.308.6252 or cwilliamshecksel@dioceseoflansing.org. What if I am an adult victim of sexual harassment, abuse, or other types of harassment by someone who works for the Catholic Church? Contact the Lighthouse Incident Reporting service, 844.446.0009, or Lisa Kutas, Human Resources Director, 517.342.2511 or lkutas@ dioceseoflansing.org.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, JACKSON: 517.782.2551 AND ADRIAN: 517.263.2191 or CATHOLICCHARITIESJLHC.ORG •A WE C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class will be held at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church in Vincentian Hall, 1111 Carlton Blvd., Jackson, on Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m. and Jan. 12, 9 a.m.-noon. Both classes must be attended. Cost is $75 per couple. Pre-registration with payment is required. To register, the forms are available on Catholic Charities website at www. catholiccharitiesjlhc.org. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, FLINT: 810.232.9950 AND OWOSSO: 989.723.7239 or CCSGC.ORG •H elp us put Hope in a Box for those in need: In January, it is mouthwash, and for February, it is shampoo and conditioner. Your group, business or organization can help Catholic Charities provide those things to the Community Closet, which aids individuals and families who are in need. Please contact: estebbins@ccsgc.org or visit www.ccsgc.org. • St. Patrick’s Day is coming, and Catholic Charities will be celebrating in a big way with our St. Patrick’s Day Box Lunch Sale on March 14. This fundraiser is a Flint tradition, offering a delicious boxed lunch that includes: a sandwich stacked high with corned beef and Swiss on rye, chips, coleslaw, pickle and a treat. More information to come on our Facebook page and website. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW COUNTY, 734.971.9781 or CSSWASHTENAW.ORG •T wo WE C.A.R.E marriage preparation two-day classes will be held: 1) Jan. 11, 6:30-9 p.m. and Jan. 12, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Catholic Social Services, 4925 Packard in Ann Arbor; and 2) Feb. 15, 6:30-9 p.m. and Feb. 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 910 Austin Dr. in Saline. Both days must be attended. Cost is $95 per couple. Preregistration with payment is required. Registration form is available online at csswashtenaw.org. Class registration is recommended four weeks prior to the date of class. LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG • A WE C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class will be at the Catholic Charities’ office, 2020 E. Grand River, Ste. 104, Howell, on Feb. 4, 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Feb. 6, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Both classes must be attended. Cost is $75 per couple. Pre-registration with payment is required. The registration form is available online at www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org/parish-ministry. Registration is recommended a minimum of four weeks prior to the class date. • March 9, LCCC's 15th annual Salute to the Stars and Celebrity Dance Competition is at Crystal Gardens in Howell. Five dynamic teams will be competing in the dance competition. To learn more about the teams, purchase tickets or become a sponsor for the event, visit our website at www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org. ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LANSING, 517.323.4734 or STVCC.ORG •T wo WE C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes: 1) Jan. 11, 6-9 p.m. and Jan. 12, 9 a.m.-noon, and 2) Jan. 25, 6-9 p.m. and Jan. 26 9 a.m.-noon; both Friday and Saturday classes must be attended. Location for both classes is Cristo Rey Parish, 201 W. Miller Rd., Lansing, in Juan Diego Room. Recommend registering four to six weeks prior to the class. Cost is $75 per couple. Registration and payment are due prior to class. Registration form available at stvcc.org. For information, contact 517.323.4734, ext. 1726 or gallegJ@stvcc.org. 29
SAINT OF THE MONTH The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing JAN./FEB. 2019 VOLUME 19: ISSUE 1
www.FAITHpub.com Most Rev. Earl Boyea PUBLISHER
Rev. Dwight Ezop
ST. MARIA CATHERINE KASPER Feast Day: Feb. 2
is loose in Sarah and Jeff’s life HOW A VIDEO SERIES EVANGELIZES THEOLOGY 101
Encountering Jesus IN THE SACRAMENTS
GROW+GO
What is Jesus ASKING YOU TO DO?
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Jim Berlucci | Doug Culp | Cari Ann DeLamielleureScott | Michelle DiFranco | Elizabeth Hansen | Dr. Cathleen McGreal | Sue Parker | Steve and Bridget Patton | Sheri Wohlfert
St. Maria Catherine Kasper felt deeply called to religious life as a young girl, but delayed pursuing the call to take responsibility for her family. Born in Dernbach, Germany, in 1820, Catherine missed school frequently, completing only two full years of formal education. Her writings reveal that she was “just a little girl” when experiencing a desire to consecrate herself to the Lord. Catherine enjoyed frequent visits to a nearby Marian shrine and often led other children in song and told stories about God and Mary on their walks to the shrine. Catherine’s father died when she was 21, and she and her mother were forced to earn their living. Due to her mother’s poor health, Catherine worked as a farmhand for 10 cents a day, even splitting stones when needed. Catherine was positive about the demanding work, saying, “When I went to
work, I felt the presence of God in me.” When Catherine’s mother died, she was free to answer her call to religious life. She wanted to stay close to home to serve her community, but there were no female orders in her area. Catherine then built her own house in Dernbach, with the help and support of local families. Her service to the poor and sick attracted four other young women, and the group formed the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, professing their vows on Aug. 15, 1851. Catherine finally became Sister Maria Catherine, and led her order until her death in 1898. The ministry of the Poor Handmaids spread throughout Germany, and eventually to North and South America, Africa and Asia. Today, the order serves “God’s people in need of shelter, education, health care or physical and spiritual nourishment.” Sister Maria Catherine was canonized Oct. 14, 2018, with six others, including Pope Paul VI, who beatified her in 1978. Throughout her life, St. Maria Catherine told her sisters to care for “the poor, the sick and the children,” and she herself was the model for that selflessness.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
2018 Catholic Women’s Conference
Carlson Productions | Rey Del Rio | Shane Folkertsma | Mike Frieseman | Tom Gennara | Sarah Moore Kuschell | James Luning | Gretchen Mathos | Don Quillan CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling
Nearly 800 women from the Diocese of Lansing and from across the state of Michigan were inspired and renewed in our faith at the Diocese of Lansing Catholic Women's Conference on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Speakers included Bishop Earl Boyea, Kelly Wahlquist, Erin Looby Carlson and Father Chris Alar. Bishop emeritus Carl Mengeling presided at Mass.
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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 FAITHpub.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. ©2019 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.
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LOCAL NEWS
Diocesan Youth Conference Youth from around the Diocese of Lansing gathered at the Lansing Center on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, for the Diocesan Youth Conference, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" This year's event featured Mark Hart, Taylor Tripodi, Andrew Laubacher (Alob), Mass with Bishop Boyea and breakout sessions with Father Brian Lenz, Sister Sarah Burdick, St. Paul Street Evangelization and Father Mathias Thelen.
FAITH Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM
“ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11
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Membership Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing Want to receive FAITH Magazine? Visit FAITHMAG.COM Follow FAITH Pub The Way to Happiness Is Jesus Find out more at DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG Find a Catholic Church at MASSTIMES.ORG Serving Ann Arbor, Flint, Jackson, Lansing And Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw counties
Save the Date for Catholic Schools Week 2019: January 27-February 2, 2019! #CSW2019