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ur first issue of FAITH was about birth, about new beginnings and new life in celebration or a new millennium. It was about original birth and re-birth. The second issue of FAITH presented us with experiences and journeys into the world of belonging to others. Those experiences are a constituting part of us. The Journey toward belonging to others In order to find and discover our own selves Is our focus In this Lenten Issue.
Our faith journey, our questing (and our questioning) begins when we experience the shock of realizing that we are outside our mothers womb. Ever after that we quest to return to that original state of belonging and connection. Our subconscious directs us to bring back our sense of security and our being "at home" with the source of our life, our mother and our God. Maturation and growth bring us into the journey that calls us to leave home and then live lives connected with others and with God. Our psychological, emotional and splrttual quest Is to belong again. We are always "other directed!'
In our life immediately after birth, we profoundly experience solitude, that state or separation from others that comes with our being in an independent, unique and individual existence. Solitude, as we all know, is both a curse and a blessing. Its power can propel us to overcome self-centered existences and then enter a world in which we are connected to others as well as to the Source of our existence, our being and our life. In the desert of being alone, we are In that paradoxical curse which 15 at the same Ume a blessing. The solitariness
we experience in our emotional and spiritual desert is something that is strange and alien to us, seemingly against our nature. In our mother's womb we experience a belonging that we search for during the rest of our lives. Forever after we are driven to belonging to others, toward belonging to the Source of our life - belonging to God. This is the essence or religion, the fundamental reality of "re-ligio," religamenting that which was dislocated, separated and fractured. Our religious sense begins In a desert experience. It is common to us all. ll becomes central when we are deserted by ones that we love. And so is religion's questing and questioning. It is a reality that is deep within our nature. This is so because our nature was designed with the intention that we come to fully exist in knowing others, and in belonging to them. We were "purpose-built" - brought into life with an intention and meaning that forever haunts us, driving us to Communion, and intimacy with the Source of our being - God . Such, then, is our journey in FAITH. 1)
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Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUIIUSHU
Rev. Fr. Charles Irvin EDITOR IN CHIEf
Patrick M. O'Brien MANAGING EDITOR
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Kathy Funk ASSISI'AHT EDITOR SI'Afl' WRITER
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Mollie Lauffer CR£AT1YE a EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Evelyn Barella Rev. Fr. Lawrence Delaney john Fitzpatrick Dean Hedglen Rev. Fr. joseph Krupp Ronald Landfair Dr. Cathleen McGreal Most Rev. Kenneth]. Povish jan Rynearson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Peter Glendinning Christine jones james Luning CONTRIBUTING PHOJOGRAPHERS
james Luning COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Wayne Case Mary Delano David Fenech Patricia Garcia Georgejaksn Rev. Fr. J Thomas Munley Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone james Rhadigan Michael Rizik Ricarrlo Rodrigui.z Rev, Fr. james Swiat ADVtSORY IIOARD
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FAITH Magazine is wondeifull 1have been excited about its coming and 1just wanted to send you a note and congratulate you on a job well done.
The uplifting message of Kate's rebound from divorce could have been wid without re-visiting tl1e details of the breall-up. ... Kate, and her former NancyZ.jac: husband, and all those who are healingfrom divorce and just a short note to congratulate annulment are in my prayers. you on your wondelful work. (FAITH Magazine, February FAITH Magazine is superb! 2000 Issue) Keep up the good work. Fr. joe Ema·Lynne Bogue Krupp is truly God-sent. He is special in ways he may not I would like to thank you for even realize. God bless all of you. sending FAITH Magazine to Lan and Mary Malinowski the jackson Cooper Street Correctional Facility. I have Kudos! FAITH is inspirational, personally found it to be a very educational and fun! wondeiful and inspirational Mary Jo Kinne magazine filled with
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the 40 aysof ent The Lenten season is a time for penance. The Catholic Church recognizes three forms of penance: fasting, prayer and charity towards our neighbors. This year, however, when you're thinking about giving somethmg up,
positive encouragement that we, as children of God, need to continually read and hear about. Gregory Heileman
Congratulations on FAITH Magazine! I have just read the second issue and it was as compelling as the first. Everything about the magazinr is special, from the graphics, layout and design, to the enriching content of the articles. Kathy Smith Send your leUens to: Editor, FAITH Magazine 300W. onawa Lansing. Ml 48933 or vie e-mail lrclrvln@rc.net
8 Give the money from returnable cans and bottles to a local charity.
9 Encourage the youth group at your parish to find something to give up that gives In return. partlcl· pate In a Food Fast 1 Volunteer at a soup problem pregnancy event, a 24kllchen. center. hour fast and education pro• 2 Experience Hunger 5 Participate In for a Day. Attend the ~· gram for youths In grecles Operation Rice -... 8-12. Contact Lisa Bowl. See page luncheon at SL Mary Strother at Cathedral on Man:h 22 24 lor more or (517) 342·2470. following noon Mass. The contact Lisa Strother luncheon Includes soup, bread at (517) 342·2470. 10 Sponsor a Work of and water. Proceeds are given Human Hands sale at your to e local charity. 6 Donate used books to a parish. The sale of hand· literacy coalition. made products offers hope 3 Send "thinking about you" and self·ntllance to low· cards to nursing home 7 Adopt a needy family for Income men and women residents. Easter. Collect whatever from around the world. Items are needed to make Contact Lisa Strother at .. Make a donation of baby their holiday spacial - clothing, (517) 342·2470. Hems to a rlght·to-llle group or food, Easter baskets, etc.
11 aean out your closets. Donata clothing that you no longer need to your local SL Vincent de Paul Society.
12 Finished With the closets? Start on the kids' toy boxes. Donate toys and let the kids participate. Explain how their toys will now enrich the lives of children In
need. Mass at SL Mary cathedral on Wednesdays and Fridays during LenL Collections era taken for various charities In the Lansing area such as Mother Teresa House and Advent ouse Ministries. 14 Ask your parish priest what you can do.
Editor's Note: Thanks to Lisa Strother, Msgr. Miclwd Murphy, Arlene Woelfel, Sr: D01ita Wotislw and Mary Dalla for their contributions to this article.
in the know with r.]oe noticed a young man with a rather befuddled look on his face standing on a porch. I walked over and asked him what
modale the lad, so I rang the bell and said, "What next?'' He responded, "Runf' Talk about getting In over your head! I thought of this story as I read your many wonderful questions. I thank God for your hunger to know, It means you are thinking of your faith and are taking it seriously. God bless you for your questions.
Why do I have to go to Mass when I can pray alone? When we were baptized, we entered into a covenant with God. Our parents promised ÂŁ our behalf that we would leaP the faith, love the faith and live the faith of the Catholic Church. God, for His part, removed our sin, strengthened us for the fight ahead and took us into His loving arms, promising to care for us our entire lives. (Please note: God didn't promise to make our life easy or take away our pain. He promised to walk with us in our lives and to share our pain.)
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Pan of our obligation is that we attend Mass weekly. Its our best source of strength for living the faith and it surrounds us with two imponant things for our walk with God the presence of jesus and a community of believers. St. Augustine compared the haptismal waters to the waters of the flood in the time of Noah; it saved some and drowned others. ln the same way, not following through on our baptismal promises by living the faith of the Church and attending Mass puts our souls in danger. To be honest, l don't think e should ask what we have to do, but try to find out wh1t we need to do in order to grow in holiness. Its a shift in our St. Joseph, II l~>l}{lnd oj ,\ l eu 1
thinking from an obligation to a response of love to jesus who holds nothing back in His love for us. Our attendance at Church is a requirement of the law of Jove and, as baptized people, we must follow that law. Not because we have to, but because He is wonh it. ______ M ______ " __ MM••--
UNDERSTANDING UNCONDmONAL LOVE Why do I feel alone even when I am in a crowded room? Look around you. Are the other people in the room speaking your language? That might be the first problem. OK, OK, that might not have been as funny as 1 thought it
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was, but it does contain a truth. What language DO you speak? Is it the language of faith, or of the world? The Janguage of faith is borne of prayer (including reading the Bible), good works and seeking God. When we do these things, we get ourselves in touch with God, who is the Author of Love. We learn each day that we are sons and daughters of the One who loves perfectly. Through these things, we grow in awareness of the unconditional Jove of jesus (look up unconditional in your dictionary and get blown away). When we understand that, we know we are no longer alone. We are not afraid to take risks, which is required if we
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want friendship. We don't care if we get rejected because we understand they are rejecting one for whom the Son of God died. When we know Gods love, we have all the love we need, so we share it. This draws others lO God and to us - we find we are not alone anymore. Enjoy another day in Gods presence!
---------------------Send in Your Questions to: "In the Know with Fr. Joe" FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottawa Lansing, M I 48933 or E-Mail JoelnBiack@priest.com or go to our Web site www.FAITHmag.com
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The more I travel, the more teens seem to look alike, regardless of ethnicity, gender or geography. The malls of the country seem to have become a sort of Dr. Frankenstein-like laboratory for cloning this fashion monster. Mall-centered stores like Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, AeroPostale and other such youth-marketed outlets seem to have established a clothing style monopoly for youths as well as adults. This gave me pause to consider the effects of culture why some elements become integrated and foundational, tr't. while others remain somehoW'(__)' specific to the groups that spawn them. I knew that
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disliked her as soon as I saw her. A 16-year-old girl, I thought, had no right to wear the same shirt that I had purchased on sale only last week.
It was, I decided, an insidious plot by the store Old Navy to outfit the country in a state of androgynous "fleece-dom," a prelude no doubt to some sort of secret invasion. just the kind of things those secretive, sneaky Canadians might be behind. When and where did fashion seemingly become "age· less," "sex•less" and even "color-less"? It had recently
occurred to me that somehow and somewhere, most American teens have become slaves to a sort of universalizing of clothing. Baggy, khaki-colored cargo pants, fleece tops, chunky footwear, and the ubiquitous baseball cap (worn backward, with an overly curled brim or slightly askance, of course) have become the wnorm." Apparently, such a style has become a son of dopple· ganger dress code, adopted by teens seemingly nationwide. FAITH Magazine
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Mardi 2000
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something had gone largely wrong In my world when I determined that, Increasingly, my son and I seemed to like much (but not all) of the same music. My suspicions were
confirmed when, dunng an Arts and Entertainment presentation of the Millennium New Years' Eve program from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I was treated to a sight that was the epitome of what I call "cultural crossover." There was "Big Will" Smith, he of Independence Day and Men In Black summer blockbuster film fame, as wen as the reigning "Fresh Prince" of rap/hip-hop belting out his smash hit, Will2K. Seated in the front row of the audience were President and Mrs. Clinton and their daughter Chelsea. The First Family was engrossed in the music, and as a collective group, began to give "Big·upsn to Smith, and "raised the roof' (ask your teenagers for an explanation thereof). It was, I decided, the best and worst of the concept of culture that America has to offer. Most people tend to mistake f culture as only an outward sign or symbol. However, mucH like Catholic liturgies, wh1le they .may exist authentically in their own right, they tend to speak or point to a much deeper reality.
he millennium watch Culture Is not a monoiHhlc thing. My list of cultural lnflu· ences Is a muftl·faceted list of all that I am. Black. male, Catholic, convert, lay minister, native Mlchlganlan, child of the '60s, adult of the '80s, "UnHed Stater," sports fan, wrHer, broadcaster, journalist, teacher, student - the list goes on and on. And yes, of course, first and foremost, a child of God. Any one of these cultural influences begets
understanding with a specific group of people who share a similar trait. Yet, the real challenge is to first identify and then dialogue with someone who doesn't share any of these traits with me, an admittedly more difficult task as the world becomes a much smaller place everyday. The mythology of the "melting pot" or ethnic/culwral assimilation would have us do away with such differences. To do so
misses the point of culture, and misses the point of "us" in some way, shape or form, we are all connected, if only by the differences that we share. And that, I believe, is a good thing - to share something, even if only our differences, and not to create a son of gray, dull sameness in the world. I asked the young lady, "Of all the colors available in the store, why did you chose that specific one?" She remarked, "It made me think of the sky, when I was a little girl, and I would lay on my back, just staring up. I missed that. Now I seem to have a thousand things to think about. 1 sometimes really miss being just a kid." I smiled as she talked, thinking about my own reasons for my choices as well. We did, after all, have something in common.
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Most of us recall a best seller, I'm OK! You're OK! Like a magnet, the alluring "OK~ attracted readers at all levels of the "already and not yet" of their lives in pursuit of happiness. It alTered hope and a "way out" for readers who viewed themselves and some others as not OK. A sense of being worthless, unlovable and unloving resulted in bitterness and a paralysis for change. Consequently, their lives became aimless, empty and unhappy. In spite of many positive and negative variations on the "OK" theme, there Is a basic truth at work. It is decisive
for our happiness and the happiness of others. It is always
valid for everyone at all times, in all situations and experiences. It is the dynamic source of hope for all our aspirations, of resilience for so many recoveries and new starts and of greatness of soul and holiness. Underlying the OK is the primal "yes" of God to all creation that it is good. Surpassing the good of all creation is God's "yes" to human persons made in God's image and likeness that they are open to love - and that all arc lovable. This issue of FAITH aiTirms the basic goodness of all reality, especially of human persons as a participation in thf goodness of our Creator. It aiTirms that we are God-like i,n
our capacity to know and love and that we find our meaning, destiny and happiness in being the image and likeness of God. How are we like God? We humans share with God the power to know and love - God knows and we know - God loves and we love. All our fel¡ low human persons have the same power to know and love.
Our knowing and loving is open to the unlimited. We can never know enough and never love enough. There is always the tension and summons of the ~already and not yet." This is the dynamism that urges us to know and love more. We are open to relationships with others and with God. It is knowing and loving that distinguishes ourselves and angels from the rest of God's creation. Our freedom toward fulfillment and happiness is realized in being free for life with God and others in which we find ourselves. This basic "goodness" means: "his good that you exist" and "It is good that I exist- even when I am not lovable." All our failures, darkness, despair and loneliness cannot change this basic goodness nor the likeness we have to God. It always remains as the source of our hope and is a way out. Tragically, we can lose touch with our basic goodness, and our God-given humanness when, for a host of reasons, we say, ''I'm nobody- a no, good unlovable." And, unloving, e enter a prison of our own making, in which we are ntombed in our loneliness.
In our Isolation we became an allen among our own. We cui ourselves off from those who make us live - faml¡ ly, friends, society and our Father. In our bitterness and resentment, we choose to be alone. We also deny others the gift of ourselves. How frightening to be alone with one's unrelated, and lonely, heart.
Faith in the God-given goodness of all and being created for relationship through the God-like powers to know and love, opens the door to freedom. loneliness. resentment, anguish and self-pity are at times everyone's lot. They remind us of C.S. lewis: "Man is a totally needful being. Man is one vast need." We and others together are becoming someone and our "vast need" is increasingly fulfilled when we know and love. This issue of FAITH will open many doors. St Augustine (+430) tells in Confessions how he broke free: "late have I loved you, 0 Beauty every ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there I searched for you. In my unloveliness 1 plunged into the lovely thing you created. You were with me. but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone , and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. 1 have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and 1 burn for your peace. Our hearts are restless until they rest in you."
www.FAITHmag.com
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Morch 2000
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FAITH Mag:ulne
Right out of high school, me and my parents basically decided that I shouldn't be livtng in their house because we sure didn't get along whenever I was there. I wanted to do my own thing. Wherever I was each night is where I slept. I didn't even have a bed for three years. 1 was pretty much living out of my car, if I had a car at the time. You can't really afford anything good whenever you're just bouncing back and forth between jobs. The one thing I did make sure that I had enough money for around this time was parties. That's where my money went - definitely. I guess you could say I had goHen Involved wHh the wrong people, but I didn't ever think of It that way. I felt really dose to these people. I thought they were
my friends. It was like a family - they accepted me and I liked that. I liked that a lot. In October or November of 1998, I got a phone call from the West Central Illinois Task Force. They said, uwe need to talk to you about something." It ended up being about the position that I was in. They told me, "Yeah, you're in a lot of trouble. We're going to give you a chance to help us out and help yourself. If you don't help us out, we're going to make sure your situation is not a nice one for what you did." For the next several months, the task force kept harassing me. They would say, "OK, why don't you set us up with a couple of deals?" I wanted to bad. I wanted to real bad, to get out of trouble. I was scared to death. I didn't want to go to prison - there was no way. I'm a little guy - I'm not going to prison. So, I ended up doing nothing. I finally got sick of it on May 22 and said, "OK, if I'm going to jail, then you guys need to do something about it because I'm not going to help you out. And obviously you're not going to help me out. I'm not going to sit here - without a job, without doing anything at all - and just wait for you guys to do something."
On May 25, at 4:20 p.m., I was on my buddy's porch. Three cops showed up and said, ~Mr. Strandberg, we have a warrant." They took me to the police station. They had told me before the actual arrest to have at least $500 for bail. I got that money because I didn't want to sit in jail. So, when we got down to the pollee station, they said, "Oh, yeah, by the way, we were wrong about your ball. Your ball's $30,000."
Obviously something was wrong. Maybe my charges were a little btt worse than the police were making them sound. I was sent to the Fulton County jail. I sat there for the next 62 days. I sat there without knowing what was going to happen. I was taken to court a couple of times, and it was basically, "Can you post bail?" "Uh, no." "OK, well, take him back." I was talking to my lawyer all though this saying, "Update me. What can I do?" And he didn't really know. He wasn't really sure what was {) going to become of this, except I didn't do all the plea bargaining that they expected. They wanted me to rat these people out. I wouldn't do it. So I sat there and sat there and sat there. One thing I dtd do is call my Uncle David in Michigan. I told him the whole situation. l said, ~ Man, this is scaring me. I don't know what l want, you know. This is just really bad news." Uncle David proceeded to write a letter to the states attorney which said; "I will provide for Tim. I will give him a job. I will give him a place to live. I will put him through school. I will keep him out of trouble. Whatever you set as guidelines, hes going to do.'' l did deserve something, but l didn't deserve to go to prison for however long they were promising me, which was six to 19 years. Only a couple of weeks after I'd been in there, I had another uncle - a pas~ tor - who came in one day to visit me. Since he was a pastor, he got to come in and sit with me in a room for a 1 half~hour. Well, he handed me a Bible and said, "You don't have anything ¡ better to do - you might as well start
right? Maybe you should read Bible." He brought me a student Bible that was very easy to read and I could understand it from a good point of view. For the next several weeks, I sat and 1 read the Bible. But more than that, I took notes. I took notes on everything I read. Then 1 started praying- which I hadn't done for years. I mean I actually prayed, not just, "Oh God, help!" "One day l was surprised by, "Hey, you have a visitor!" I walked in and it was Fr. Robert Reynolds, a priest in the Church that l had grown up in. Fr. Reynolds was the greatest inspiration from then on. He gave me hope. He made me realize that my home was with Christ and that l wasn't alone. Here you are locked up in jail, and although there are people with you, you feel very alone, obviously. You don't even get to see daylight. lts lit up in there 24/7, so even if you try to .-·---··.-· it's light there. Everything is away from you because its jail. Reynolds said, "You're not alone In there. If you can't talk to anybody, then at least you can talk to Jesus!' When I first heard thls, I was klnda like, "OK, yeah, that's cool, but He can't talk back to me." And thats what l really needed - I needed somebody to be able to converse with. I'd say my prayers and then I'd read the Bible, and it was like it was pertaining straight to me. There was so many situations where I said, "Wow, thats so true! Thats so true as to whats going on today, or this week, or in my life- period." And I would read the Bible at night, and then I'd dream about it, which was really strange, because it was like going back in time. Like jesus walking through the desert, or something like that, you know? It was really strange. It was actually like a spiritual thing. It was like seeing it firsthand almost, but it was a dream. That helped me ~ ut a lot- knowing that I could go to ~ Jeep and have those kind of d reams. lt really blew my mind. l really felt that was the factor in showing me I
wasn't alone. Fr. Reynolds brought me to the point where l promised myself that whenever l got out of jail - no matter what happened, no matter how long it took, no matter where l ended up - that I was going to change my ways. I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. My grandma, Nadene Rosenberg, was sending me letters and doing all these things for me. She sent me St. judes Prayer. She said, "There's plenty
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of variations to it, but I say it nine times a day for nine days, and on the ninth day you'll get what you want .~ Thats what she told me. So, nine days before my trial, l said, UOK, start saying 'em." Well . just as soon as l started saying the prayers, l got a piece of mail that said, "We're going to give you this plea bargain. Do you wish to accept it?" This plea consisted of 180 days in jail, fines that
were in excess of $1,000, four years probation and no drinking and no substance abuse. Who isn't going to accept that? So l accepted it and went to court on Aug. 23. I ended up getting two felonies out of it. It was one of the happiest days of my life, l can tell you that. l ended up getting 90 days instead of 180 because l was an all right inmate. Then my real trouble started when I got out of jail. My trial really started after that. I got out of jail and ran into some people. These people immediately thought, "Oh, you're out of jail! l et's party! lets celebrate!" And I'm thinking, · veah, I'm out of jail! lets not so l don't go back!M lt was weird seeing these people and not doing the things that I had done with them for years. I thought I was happy wHh them but then I realized that I was just having fun. There's a big difference. l didn't have a secure place to live. I didn't have a secure paycheck. l didn't have a good car. l didn't have people that I felt cared about me in the sense of "they'll take care of me if I needed it." I just had
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these friends that were bard y taking care of themselves. My relationship with everyone has changed drastically since I went to jail. I'm very close to my
parents. I'm very close with my brothers, who I always have been, but now its in a different way. They were there for me through every· thing, and you can't thank somebody enough for that. Obviously I have God. Look what He's given me. He's given me a second chance.
After I came up here, I wasn't sure how to start over. Who is? I was kind of in shock still - 'Post jail Syndrome' is a term that fils that. Or ' Post NonCreauve Syndrome.' I sec everything so diffe rently since I got out of jail. After I came up here, I decided that I was going to spend a lot of my time with the Church, and all of my time with jesus, because thats who spent all that time with me whenever I needed
it most. I don't think it's necessarily paying it back, because I would never have to do that, but I'm just keeping it going. I decided that part of my faith, along with my desire to help people, I could mingle together. I decided to volunteer for a couple things at St. j oseph Church in Dexter. I teach eighth-grade religious cd, which is just great. I didn't really like religious cd when I was younger, because I didn't understand it. That's another reason I want to do it - to try and help make people understand, which I really feel like I'm doing. So, I do that once a week. On Sundays, I'm a sponsor in
the RCIA program, which is so cool. These people actually care. These people want lO know who I am. They want to know things that I can answer for them. We share our experiences. These people want to know why they should be living this life, and I can sure tell them why. I can really tell them why. So, I'm doing that. Above everything, I let people know that if you feel alone, jesus may not be here physically, but just read the Bible - Hcs here. He knows what's going on. I pray every day when I wake up. I just say, UThanks! Wow! This is another day!• I've never been so happy to be alive. I'm glad my luck ran out before my llfedldl
Editors Note· Since moving to Michigan in SqJlcmber 1999, Tint S1randbe1g has been worllingfor his uncle, David Roscnbcr&. as a junior Web Developer for Parish Systems of Dexter. Also, he rt:ccnt(y sta11cd college.
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the journey with D1: Cathleen McGreal sychologists describe a process in our thinking called wmental set.~ We tend to approach situations and relation~ ships in ways that we have established over time - as the popular saying goes, "He is certainly set in his ways!" Most of the time this is a useful tendency. After all, if a method for changing the oil has proved effective in the past, why not follow the tried and true path! How am I set in my ways? Might God be guiding me toward a different path? 1 Allow extra time to do your errands and drive off the beaten pathl Drive down streets that you usually drive past and try to notice ordinary sights that normally don't catch your eye. How do you feel as you do this? Bring your reaction to prayer and ask God to reveal His will for new paths on your spiritual journey.
2 Create a space to listen to God within your home. We enter our kitchens when our bodies need nourishing. We enter our bathrooms when our bodies need physical cleansing. Where do you go to allow God to nourish and cleanse you? A quiet comer with a picture that leads you to prayer or a Scripture passage to read by a candle can create an atmosphere of attentive listening to God. 3 Be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that you are willing to change your mental set regarding prayer if that is the way you are led. Those who paint icons practice their an as a prayer- if artistic gifts are pan of your life, how can these gifts become a prayer? We're invited to pray always. How can a baby be bathed and changed in a prayerful way? Does your parish have opportunities for sharing the rosary? Or for contemplative prayer? Open yourself to the light of the Son -and see what unexpected paths become illuminated with the fire of God's love.
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a documentation of time and ()} place - all the complexities of time placed into a single elTon," he explains. "A basic need for all human beings has been expressed through the humanities in some form.
"We express ourselves through words, music which is mood with sounds - and we do as much as we can visually." A graduate of Southern lllinois University and Cranbrook Academy of An, Bohnert has spent 29 years as a professor of art which includes his teaching at C.S. Molt Community College in ' Flint. Teaching students who ' range in age from recent highf school graduates to retirees has allowed Bohnert to see the importance of life experiences and the e!Tect which those experiences have on a piece of art. "One of the miracles of the mind is that we are able to By Kathy Funk 1 Photography by Peter Glendinning, East Lansing examine who, what, and where we are," Bohnert says. tories and myths present life's drama. They instill failh. "Science can take away the mystery but it can't take away Some stories last through the existence of time. Tltey realize the power of a universal the wonder. l call it 'childhood space. Sudt is the force of an art object. A reflective image that possesses a difference innocence.' Inevitably, you are made by the human spirit for meaningful introspection ... Stories remain as a going to grow old but your testimony of tlte fnâ&#x20AC;˘itful and lost bounty for a peoples survival. An artist acts mind doesn't have to grow old. upon observation and interpretation of stories to present a visual representation of You can still be out there time. Maybe the role of my art is 'lteeper of the story.' Remember. cve1yone ltas a sto1y. giving, sharing and caring. n Thom Bohnert â&#x20AC;˘ An Artist's Statement This childhood innocence is part of the process of creation Yes, each of us possesses a unique story - a story of faith for Bohnen and entails two basic steps - a dream coupled with reality. "I can't imagine anyone's life without having a or hope or a life experience that has the power to touch and enrich others in some way. Thorn Bohnen expresses his dream as part of an experience. This is something that every stories through sculpture, three-dimensional forms utilizing child has. Adults sometimes lose that." metals and mixed media. "Art is an expression that becomes Reality then comes into play. "It's how our dreams
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effectively express our experiences," says Bohnen.
"The reality becomes the giving and shmrng for others. It's not just for personal gmn." An internationally known artist, Bohnert had the unique opportunity in 1997 when he was one of 10 artists invited to take part in the Seven tit ]inro International Ceramic Art Workshop in Seoul, Korea. "People ask me how it was," he says. "I found it to be different. 1 came back with three very strong impressions- family, work ethic and traditions. n Family, Bohnen says, is very imponant to him. His wife, Michele, is co-director of Forest Hill Montessori in Flint. His son, Kip, is a senior at Powers Catholic High School and daughter, jemere, is in the eighth grade. "You can't be self-centered in a family situation," Bohnert says. ~An (members) are working for a balance, a contribution." "I can't imagine myself not working," Bohnert adds while reflecting on the second impression he gained from his time spent in Korea. "It's putting discipline into a directed way of life." Tradition, for Bohnert, is fulfilled in "so many ways" by his family. "jaunts in the woods, Christmas gatherings,
Thanksgiving traditions - all are personal ways of gathering with loved ones. It is adhering to a true meaning of honesty with each other and it brings us together." Bohnert has also found a way in which his work can enrich the lives of those in need, particularly physically and mentally abused children, by donating three of his pieces each year to charity. One such charity is ArtShare, an annual auction which benefits the St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center in Detroit. "Its a way of giving,n he says. "The piece is going to help children. I know a child is able to sleep and be fed. We tend to think of that as a given but that's not always the case. ~It's also a way of memoring and bonding that can give rise to what I have said about family, work ethic and tradition. ~ "The way we express ourselves through music, art or writing - that's what is important to me," Bohnen concludes.
"It is my hope to share the same compassion
of giving and sharing in whatever one sees in his or her way of life. just t11in1l of a church wit1wHt art. Art sustains the spirit." J
By Evelyn Barella Photography by Christine ]ones, Ann Arbor Make your meatl... meals munlngful this Lent. H you know of someone who 11 HYing alone and may not cook hot m•ls for him or herself, why not reach out wHh one of these nutrl· tlous meals and a side dish of companionship?
Cook uncovered over low heat, stirring occasionally. about 20 minutes. Remove chili from heat; stir in cilantro. let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a sprinkle of tofu cheese and com tortillas if desired. ~erves 6)
SOUTHWESTERN CHILl 1 T canola oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 1 yellow or red bell pepper, seeded and diced medium zucchini, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 c. fresh or frozen com kernels 1 15-oz. can white kidney (cannellini) beans, or navy beans, drained 1 15-oz. can stewed tomatoes 1 15-oz. can crushed tomatoes 2 T dried parsley 2 tip. ground cumin 1-3 tip. chili powder (to taste) 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper 2 T chopped fresh cilantro Heat oil in large saucepan. Add onion, bell pepper, zucchini and garlic. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 1~m, beans, stewed and rushed tomatoes and dried seasonings; bring to simmer.
SAUTEED RAINBOW TROUT OVER TOMATO BELL PEPPER SAUCE Fresh fillets of rainbow trout Olive oil Milk Drakes Crispy Fry Mix Paprika Dip fillets in milk and then dust in Drakes Crispy Fry Mix. Dust with paprika. Heat olive oil in saute pan. Saute fillets on medium heat until golden brown, frying flesh side first and then turning to skin side; 2-3 minutes per side. Note: Lake Supericlr white fish, tilapia, sole, walleye or lake trout can be substituted for the rainbow trout. Monahan~ Setlfood Marird MDre Monahan
TOMATO BELL PEPPER SAUCE 1 pound plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped coarsely 1 red pepper, seeded, blanched for 5 minutes in boiling water, pureed in processor 1 T olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 bay leaf 3-4 T tomato paste Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Heat olive oil, add garlic, saute slightly (don't brown). Add tomatoes and bay leaf. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf and cool or serve. (Yield: 1 quart) Monahtm~ Setlfood Marird MOte Monahan
1 1/2 c. whole-wheat bread flour 1 c. water 1 T clover honey 1 Toil 1 T active yeast 1 tsp, salt Mix yeast, water, oil, honey and slat in mixing bowl. let stand five minutes. Add flour mix until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Add white flour as needed. Remove dough from bowl and knead on flour dusted surface for several minutes. Place dough in greased bowl and let rise in warm place for one hour. Remove dough from bowl and knead again for several minutes. Shape dough into ball and place on greased cookie sheet or in greased 1 1/2-pound bread pan. let stand in warm place for one hour. Bake at 350° for 35 to 45 minutes. Ffmfdc Maritet 6- Ddt Joe and Dave Campbdi BUT, I DON'T COOK.
HONEY WHOLE~WHEAT BREAD 1 1/2 c. white high gluten flour 1 1/2 c. white bread flour www.FAITHmag.com
Jfyou are not into cooking. you can always buy. Here Is where we got these great Lenten ideas: Tomato Bell Pepper Sauce, .fish fillets and Drake~ Crispy Fry Mix can be purchased at Monahan~ Seafood Mar~t. 407 North Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, Ml48104; (734) 662-5118. Honey Whole Wheat Bread is available at fireside Market & Deli, 410 West Huron SL, AM Arbor, MI 48103; (734) 996-4575. Matth 2000
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FAITH Magazine
community Year of j ub i lee Parish Days of Eucharistic Adoration for March March 4 March 16 March 17 March 20 March 22 March 25 March 28 March 30
St. Casimir Lansing St. Patrick Ann Arbor St. Patrick Brighton St. Joseph Owosso St. Joseph Dcxtcr St. Mary Durand St. Joseph ]acl1son St. Joseph Gaines
Nindt Sunday in Onlinary
nme
Deuteronomy 15: 12· 115 P.aJm 81 :3-8, 10.11 2 Corinlhilne -4:8-11 Mlrtc 2:23-3:8 lllll'ch 12 first Sunday D/ l.tft( Geneeil 9:8-15 Plllm25:+9 1 .,.... 3:18-22 Mart 1: 1;2·15 lllll'ch18 Second Surtclay qJ J.tnt GeMeia 22:1·2, 9a, 1o--18, 1&-
·18 , . . , 118:·10, 15- t:9 Romenl8:31 b-34 Mlrtc 9:2·10 lllll'ch·H Third Sunday of l.tnt EIOdua 20: 1·17 P.ulrn 19:8-11 1 Corinlhilne 1 :22·25 John 2: 13-25
MARCH EVENTS Copies of Diocesan Catholic Campaign for Human Development (COHO) Grant Applications in the categories of Community Organizing and Business Development are now available from the Office of Catholic Charities. Please call Usa Strother or Suzie Wetherell at (517) 342·2463 to receive copies. The deadline
for returning COHO applications is April 14.
The Church of Lansing will welcome catechumens and candidates at five celebraUons of the Rite of Election end Call to Continuing Conversion dur· ing the Lenten season. The celebrations include: • Saturday, March 11 , at 1 p.m., St Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor • Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m., St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing • Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m., St. Mary Star of the Sea, jackson • Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m., St. Patrick, Brighton • Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m., St. Michael, Flint The formal rite, a major step in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), marf<s the closing period of formation and education for the catechumens and candidates. They will now begin an intense period of preparation for the Easter sacraments. The Dioceses of Lansing and Saginaw will co-sponsor the Foundetlons for BeFrfender Ministry, March 9·11 and March 23·25 at the Lansing Diocesan Center. Skilled train· era will lead a workshop to empower volunteer lay people to meet the ever growing need for pastoral care. Attendance at both weekends is required to be certified as a BeFriender Coordinator. For registration materials, contact Steve Rail, Director of Parish Social Ministry, at (51 7) 342·2469 or via e-mail, srall@dioceseoflansing.org Deacon Wyatt Jones of the Archdiocese of Detroit will be the keynote speaker at the Flint
Catholic Urban Ministry (FCUM} Mlsslon/Revtval·2000 on Saturday, March 11. The event win be held at St.
Michael Roman Catholic Church, Flint, from 10 a.m.· 3 p.m. Opportunities will be made available for individual reconciliation. The mission/ revival will include lunch and is free and open to the public. A Catholic Women's confer-
ence, In tlte Fullness of Time Catholic Women in tlte New Millennium, will be hosted by St. Gerard Pariah, Lansing, on Saturday, March 11 , in Weber Hall. The day will begin with registration at 8:30a.m. and conclude with Uturgy at 4 p.m. The conference features inspi· rational speakers, large and small group discussions, Eucharistic adoration, prayer, and Liturgy. For information or to request brochures, call Shirley Robinson at (517) 323·4522. A marrtage preparation work· shop for FOCCUS/Sponsor Couples will be held Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m.·3 p.m. at the Lansing Diocesan Center. The scheduled presen· ter is Anthony Garascia, author of Before "I Do". The event is sponsored by the Office of Family Ministry, Lansing Diocese; Knights of Columbus; and, Ave Maria Press. For information, call (517) 342·2458.
The Lansing Diocesan Council on Women's Concerns will host
Women in Praise of tlte Sacred, A Retn:at Celebrating tlte Sacred in Our Lives Through Song on Saturday, March 25, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30p.m. at the St. John Youth & Family Center in
To find out what's going on In your community, take home a copy of your parish buUetln.
Plymouth. Kathryn Christian, a singer and composer of music based on Scripture and women mystics of the Catholic Church, will be the featured presenter. All voices - beginners to advanced - are welcome to attend. For registration information, call (51 7) 342·2467 or (51 7) 342 2471. Jubilee 2000 and Michigan Coalition will present the con· terence, Breah the Chains of Debt, Friday, March 31 , from 7·9:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 1, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The event will be held at the School of Public Health, U of M, Buildings PS· 1, and PS·2 at 109 S. Observatory, Ann Arbor. Registration deadline is l~ Friday, March 24. For more 6 ~ information, call Barb Pott at (734) 971·9781 '
Lansing Region Special Events St. Casimir Clrurdr, Lansing, will celebrate their patron saint's feast day on Saturday, March 4. The day's activities begin with Mass at 9 a.m. with Bishop Carl Mengeling presid· ing, followed by a Polish break· fast, family-centered activities, and annual parish appreciation by Most Rev. Kenneth J. Povlsh dinner at 6:30p.m.
The 'New' Stations
When Pope John Paul led the Stations of the Cross in the Roman Colosseum on Good Friday, 1991, the participants were surprised by a new format. Five familiar stations were missing altogether, and four others were St. Gerard Parish of Lansing combined into two, in order and Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization will present The to make room for seven Story of Salvation, an explostops that were entirely new sive musical drama, on to this 750-year-old devoSunday, March 19, at 6:30 tion . All this took place p.m. The musical portrays the before a worldwide Cathohc story of Christianity. For infortelevisiOn audience! Tlu! Altar Society of Resurrection Parish, Lansing, will host a travel presentation on Sunday, March 5, at 2:30 p.m. in the parish hall. Fr. Raymond Goehring will speak about Papua, New Guinea.
mation, call (517) 321-7972. The Lansing chapter of the Serre Club will meet
Wednesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. for Mass and a featured speaker at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing. For more information, call Jim Klunzinger at (51 7) 244· 2789. Lenten activities at St. john Catholic Student Parisl1, East Lansing, include the following: • A Labyrinth Prayer Walk will be held on Monday evenings from 6:30·9:30 p.m. • Stations of the Crass will be held on Wednesdays beginning at 5:30p.m. The stations will be followed at 6:30p.m. by a Aft\ Soup an~ Substance dinner Vf/.l presentallon. • A special choral presentation based on the Passion of Jesus Christ will be held on Thursday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m.
New stations in the John Paul series are: 1 the Agony In the Garden 2 the Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus 3 the Condemnation by the Sanhedrin 4 Peter's Denial 5 the Scourging and Crown of Thoms 6 the Promise of Paradise to the Penitent Thief 7 Jesus speaks to His Mother and to the Disciple.
three falls under the weight of the cross, the meeting with the Blessed Mother, and Veronica's veil) were reflections of medieval piety and are not recorded in the Gospels. I have been using the new format privately since 1994 and find its rich biblical approach a powerful source of inspiration and prayer. Fr. joseph Champlin, author of many books on the liturgy, has prepared a booklet (available from Liguori Publications) as a devotional aid, and I am sure there already arc others. A practical difficulty for congregational use is faced by those parishes blessed with valuable and artistic
paintings or plaques for their 14 stations. The fine paintings on canvas in Old St. Patrick's north of Ann Arbor and the rich paintings on copper in St. Mary's Cathedral come readily to mind. Churches and chapels that have only 14 numbered crosses to mark the stations can adopt the new format easily. The Vatican has made it clear that the "old" Stations of the Cross do not have to be replaced, and the traditional 14-station format may contmue to be used. But from the theological and spiritual point of view, I believe we would all be notably enriched by the "new look~ of the Stations of the Cross.
,., ...... wiD.,. orr.r.dlby. mlulonary from the DloaeH Of ~nslng for those persons who were burled In our diOcesan cemeteries during Deaember 1999.
The basis of Pope John Pauls revision was whether or not the episodes on which we meditate are cited in the New Testament. The f1vc eliminated stations (the
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FAITH Magazine
Indulgences? Wasn't the Protestant Refonnation partially over tltat? Docs the Catholic Cllllrch still offer indulgences? Well, yes. A decree from Bislwp Mengeling was issued and l1cre is what it boils down to:
The Jubilee Year Indulgence
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Retired Bishop Kenneth Povish's Cancer is Back By Fr. Charlie Irvin
As many of you know, our Retired Bishop, Kenneth J. Povlsh, has two malignant spots on hts li\•er. He has elected to undergo chemotherapy and radiology to auack the t:ancer. Six or seven years ago, Btshop Povtsh had colon cancer and dtd all that was necessary to conquer it, havmg gi\•en us all a wonderful example and coming out ' ictorious over iL. Now thi5 awful dtse.1se has surfaced again and Bishop Povish is gtving us another courageous example
of fmth . You may wish to send him letters of encouragement as well as offers of prayer and spiriwal sacrifice, asking the Divine Ph>•sician to give him reco\'ery and healing. Bishop Povish attributes his pre' ious victory over cancer to all of the many prayers so many folks offered for his recovery. The least we can do is respond once again to the call to be prayerwarriors on hts behalf. Me~y
Gotl be with him.
A Prayer
for Our Dear Bisliop Kenneth
If you wish to gain a jubilee Year indulgence you have until January 7, 2001 , A.D. to do so under these conditions: • You make a good confession. • You visit, singly or in a group, a designated Jubtlee Year Church which includes: SL Mary Cathedral, Lansing St. Matthew Church, Fltnt St. Mary Church, Westphalia SL John the Evangelist
Prospective Priests Find Pen Pals by John Fltzpatrfck
What's the connection between seminarians of the Lansing Diocese and the fourth-grade religious education class at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish? This year there's a real connection thanks to program coordinator Sue Fitzpatrick who has staned a .. pen palMproject.
Church, jackson Old St. Patrick Church, Ann
Arbor
Old St. John the Baptist Church, Hartland St. Mary Church, Adrian
• Parucipate in a Mass or some other designated liturgical celebrations. • Conclude with; 1 the Lord's Prayer, 2 the Profession of Faith, and 3 a prayer to ·our Blessed Lady for the intentions of our Holy Father, OR
• Vtsit someone who is sick, imprisoned, elderly, homebound or otherwise in need, as if your were visiting Christ (while fulfilling the usual spiritual and sacramental condiuons), OR
• Engage is some penitential practice (such as abstaining from meat, nicotine or alcohol, or fasting from food) and donating from >•our time, treasure or talent to the poor in giving support to some worthy cause.
Sue began the project last fall after receiving approval from Fr. j. Thomas Munley, Chairman of the Department of Formation for the Lansing Diocese, as well as the seminarians themselves. The studentS then composed introductory letters. Issues covered included: "Where did you go to schoolr "What are your hobbies?" and "How many are there in your family?" Plans are being arranged for the students to meet the seminarians this spring. In the meantime, the classes arc building a scrapbook of their communications. It's hoped that the students can finish their project by auending pnesthood ~ ordinations in june at St. Mary Cathedral.
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loca news Fr. Dwight Ezop Receives Appointment proa111m of catholk: Relief Services (CRS), Operation Rice Bowl has grown Into • Wfdely recognized Lenten program of prayer, fUtlng. Ieeming and giving. During the six weeks of Lent, Operation Rice Bowl guides femHies and faith com· munltles on a splrttual journey. During tlie past 24 yean, OperatiOn Rice Bowl has n~lsed more then $105 mil• liOn through the Cltholk: Conwunlty. The Dloc:eH of Lansing has a rich history of supporting Ope111Uon Rice Bowl n evldenc:ed by the following slats: • $23.014 • $38,811 • $38,840
Fr. Dwight Ezop has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of the Catholic Community of St. jude, DeWitt, following the death of Fr. Dan Wunderlich. Ordained in l997, Fr. Dwight has served as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and brieny at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, both located in Ann Arbor.
F.or more information or to obtain Operation Rice Bowl materials, contact Lisa Strother; Director of Catholic Campaign for Human Development for the Lansing Diocese, at C517) 342-2470, or via e~mail: lstroth@dioceseojlansing.org
The Catholic Youth Bible has diocesan connections by Jan Rynearson
The l'irst ever complete CatholiC Youth Bible (CYB) has strong connections to the Diocese of lansing. General editor of the publication is Bnan SingerTowns, Editor of Saint Mary's Press in Winona. Minn. For three years, Singer-Towns served as youth minister of St. john the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton. Among the 12 contributing writers for the book is Ron Kenney, rrent Youth Mmister at . john. •It's exciting to see it (CYB) come out,~ says
Kenney, who is the only contrib· utor to the youth Bible from Michigan. ~ Its Brian$ baby. He tackled this monumental project which large publishers feared. It's taken two years." The writers penned study, prayer and life application dimensions while utilizing the newly revised standard version of the Bible. CYB was wriHen to make It easier for youth to under· stand the Bible's message. The authors, editors,
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d esigners and artists involved in creating Its special fea· lures were focused on the young person seeking answers to life's important questions.
"I was in charge of life appli· cation and used the Hebrew Scriptures from the Old Testament," explains Kenney. "I worked with about 150 different Scripture passages and wrote stories to help young people apply these to their lives. ~ "Cynicism is a hallmark of
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the millennium generation," says Singer-Towns, a native of Grand Rapids. "Today's Catholic youth are struggling with Issues and problems no other generation has ever experienced," Singer· Towns adds.
"I've started to use the CYB with my students," says Kenney. "And its going over real big." Kenney has talked with many other youth ministers who are experiencing the same positive feedback. "jack Armstrong, Youth Minister at St. jude Catholic Church in DeWill, said he purchased one for each person in his group and they're being well received . ~
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Mu•d1 2000
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FAITH M~g;ulne
Papal Pilgrimage
the world
to the Holy Land includes: Amman • C&iro • Mount Sinai • Jerusalem ~itcs
Nc<1r Jerusalem Indudl!.
Bethlehem • Nazareth Jordan River Site • Mount of Beatitudes
Harry Potter author: •t believe In God, not magic:
1
Vatican announces papal trip to Holy Land for March
WASHINGTON (CNS)
VATICAN CITY (CNS)
"I believe in God, not magic," said J.K. Rowling, author of the popular Harry Potter series of childrens books. Some parents have wondered whether the setting of the books and their dealing with witchcraft makes for wholesome reading. In the stories, Harry is an orphan - reared by unloving relatives -who discovers at age 11 that he is a wizard. "I personally think they are moral books," said Rowling. "I absolutely agree that you have the right to determine what your child reads, but I don't think that anyone has the right to determine what other peoples children read." According to The Washington Post, Rowling attends the Church of Scotland, which in the United States is known as Presbyterian.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope John Paul II will travel to Jordan, Israel and Palestinian territories in March on his long-awaited visit to the Holy Land.
By Anne uVtquc (CNS)
The highlights of the March 20·26 visit lndude liturgies in Jerusalem and Bethlehem and meetings with representatives of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The pope will also celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel, which became a site of controversy last year when Muslims announced plans to build a mosque next to the Church. The Vatican announced the trip Jan. 12 after several months of talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian officials. The Vatican statement noted the main events but did not provide a detailed schedule of the pope's visit, his first to the Holy Land.
The Pope continues his visit to the places of Revelation from the Old Testament to St. Paul - the second trip is set for March He already took his first trip at the end of February In Jerusalem, latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah said the pope would also visit the city's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and a Palestinian refugee camp near Bethlehem. In Jordan. the pope will visit a pilgrim· age site on the Jordan River commemorating Jesus' baptism, he said. Despite continuing problems in the region, the pope was determined to make the trip during the jubilee year, which commemorates the 2,000th anniversary of Christ's birth. lnjordan March 20~21. the pope will also visit the Monastery of.Mount Nebo, the mountain from which Moses looked upon the promised land of Canaan after leading the Israelite tribes to safety. He will also celebrate Mass in n stadium in Amman, the capital, and hold meetings with Jordanian King Abdullah II. In Israel and the Palestinian territories March 21-26, the pontiff will celebrate Masses in Bethlehem; at the Cenacle, or Hall of the last Supper, on Mount Zion in Jerusalem; at the Mount of Beatitudes near the Sea of Galilee; at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth;
c.n* Egypt
and at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in jerusalem. The Vatican said the pope would be accompanied by Catholic bishops from the Holy land and would also hold a meeting with the heads of other Christian churches in the area. In Jerusalem, the pope ~ will greet Jewish religious U authorities at the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, the place most venerated by jews, and will meet briefly with Muslim representatives at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the ancient center of Muslim worship. The pope was to hold meetings with Israeli President Ezer Weizman, with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and with Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. The Vatican did not specify when and where the meetings with political leaders would take place. Patriart:h Sabbah said the local church welcomed the pope and the realization of his desire to visit the Holy Land. "The pope has always wanted to visit the Holy Land, and now he is realiz-tl ing his hope and (the local \J
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e ast
0
•••
The Desert Experience Meeting God in solitude and silence Most Rev. Kenneth J. Povlsh
church) is welcoming him," Patriarch Sabbah said at a press conference. "This Is a religious and spiritual visit, and we expect spiritual fruits for the local Christian church. We hope the meeting with religious leaders will bring about more openness and ore fraternity among all rlstlans and among all religions," he said
Similarly, he said, the pope's visit to the Jordanian Wadi al Kharrar baptismal site on the jordan River docs not indicate any papal support of the site as the true location of jesus' baptism, as opposed to the baptismal site on the side of the river under Israeli control. In a press release the government of Israel said, "The State of Israel and its citi· zens of all religions welcome the upcoming visit by Pope Illinois Gov. George Ryan speaks at a news conference where he announced a moratorium on executions.
Since lllinois' death penalty was reinstated in 1977, 13 death row inmates have been I ared, one more than the mbcr of inmates the state s executed, Ryan said a special panel w1ll be formed to study the states capital punishment system. lAI'l
john Paull!. "The State of Israel commends Pope john Paul ll for his efforts in the struggle against antiSemitism and all forms of xenophobia and racism," said the press release. "The government of Israel is convinced that the pope, too, regrets that due to circumstances beyond control, he will be unable to dedicate more of his time to study in depth the resurrection and renewal of the jewish people in the land of their forefathers.~ llv }111111 Tlral'is (CNS) C~~tunl>uling 111 t!Jis swrv ,..., J"'h ll SuJilll\'shy in j.rusakm
It's not easy for Michigan people to grasp either the reality or the symbolism of the desert. We're surrounded by the world's greatest fresh-water lakes, and we say we live in a Water Wonderland. Even in our landlocked Diocese of Lansing there is no spot as much as a hundred miles from Lake Michigan or Huron or Erie. So when we read the Old Testament accounts of Israel in the desert, or when the Gospel tells of jesus spending forty days in the desert before beginning His public ministry, the significance of the desert is probably lost upon us. When spiritual writers or preachers speak of ~desert experiences," we are apt not to know what they mean. It helps if one has seen a desert. As a tourist in Egypt in 1956, I flew over the edges of the Sahara. The desert is awesome. Its very expanse and monotony is inspiring. The desert is quiet and mostly lifeless, breathtaking in its own way. The desert is also hostile. The winds that create sand dunes that appear almost musical can also create sandstorms that are lethal. The desert is waterless, and humans are creatures whose bodies are two-thirds water. To get lost in a desert means almost certain death. The people of Israel first met Yahweh in the desert, and the story of their desert wandering remains the type of human encounters with God. It was also in the desert that Israel was tested, failed, and later found favor with Yahweh again. j esus went into the desert and passed forty days there in prayer and fasting alone with His Father. It was at the end of the forty days that jesus was tempted by the devil in the desen. He was strengthened by all this, and the Holy Forty Days of Lent are modeled after jesus' desert experience. "Nobody has ever accomplished much for God who did not spend time alone with Him in prayer," is a byword my seminary spiritual director drummed into me fifty years ago. Solitary confinement is torture, but being alone with ones beloved leads to great things. Silence is essential to an encounter with God, but we Americans are surrounded by noise most of the time. We have to find times and places where we can meet God in silence. This Lent introduce yourself, or re-introduce yourself. to the desert experience - solitude and silence - for an encounter with God; at home, in Church, or out in the woods; on a retreat, or a day of recollection, or just a quiet period in your day.
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Right now you can support this work for justice and experience the true meaning of Lent: praying, fasting, learning and giving.
For those who hunger and thirst. For justice.
1-800-222-0025, ext. 6 www.catholicrelief.org Catholic Relief Services
Operation Rice Bowl LENTEN PROGRAM
Since its inception 25 years ago, Operation Rice Bowl has been making a difference in people's liVes around the world. thanks to the support of Catholic schools and parishes like yours. Operation Rice Bowl has helped fund hundreds of development projects overseas such as: • Providing clean drinking water. • Introducing health education.
• Improving agricultural techniques. • Facilitating small business loans.
And of the $1OS million raised through the years, 25% has helped fund programs to improve your own local communities. So as Operation Rice Bowl marks its 25th anniversary- with a new look for the new millennium- celebrate what your contribution has done and
how your participation can make all the difference in the world.
Lansing Diocesan Director: Lisa Strother (517) 342-2470
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300 W. Ottawa Lansing, Ml 48933 This complimentary issue: Is from your !001! C:uholic Chun:h
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