March 2009

s p e c i a l

r e p o r t

Times are tough – what can we do?

p a r e n t i n g

j o u r n e y

Can you reason with a pre-schooler?

f r o m

t h e

b i s h o p

Welcome Home!

The church’s arms are open to you

Strangers in a strange land

how faith helps us face the unknown

Father Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude.

E-mail: editor@FAITHmag.com.

from the editor

I

n 1993, during my second year in seminary, we celebrated a first as we welcomed two new seminarians from China. It was a wondrous experience for both the seminary community at large as well as for my class, as we welcomed Peter and Joseph into our midst. I vividly remember the stories Joseph and Peter shared with us during those first few weeks. They had no idea they were going to leave for studies in the United States until just a few hours before their departure. They had almost no time to say their goodbyes to family and friends. Both had learned a little bit of English, but there was much more for them to learn. They shared about the very difficult conditions faced by the Catholic Church in China at that time as well as their amazement at the openness and tolerance that is a part of our society.

As they shared their stories and as they grew to become an integral part of the seminary community, I couldn’t help but marvel at their willingness to come to a strange land with its strange language, culture and customs. It was hard to imagine being in their shoes, leaving behind everything that was familiar and comfortable and loved, taking the risk to enter into unknown territory.

Yet they would say again and again that God had been so good to them in providing them with this opportunity and that they trusted in faith that God would see them safely through, permitting them, in time, to return to their native land.

People like Joseph and Peter and

Vy Than, who is the subject of this month’s cover story, have a great deal to teach us about how we can, like them, face unknown territory with faith, hope and trust in God. When Vy and her family came to the United States from their native Vietnam in 2000, their experience was much like that of my classmates, Peter and Joseph. With the same trust in God’s goodness and with the support of a loving faith community, a strange land, filled with the unknown, has become a new home. Vy’s experience has deepened her love for God and her trust in God’s goodness.

As Lent begins, each of us is standing at a gateway that can lead us into unknown territory. How will

our spiritual lives grow and change in the weeks ahead? Who will we be as people of faith when we emerge from Lenten quiet into Easter glory?

Will we make good use of the days ahead as an opportunity for individual and communal growth, or will we just mark time until Easter is here once again? This is unknown and challenging territory. Yet Vy, Peter and Joseph teach us that we can see this experience as an opportunity to trust even more deeply in God’s goodness and willingness to see us through. They also remind us that we have a responsibility to support and encourage one another as faith-filled companions along the way. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

world news

Welcome Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit!

Detroit Cardinal Adam J. Maida hands Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron his crosier during his installation ceremony at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit Jan. 28.

Allen Henry Vigneron was born in Mount Clemens, Mich., in 1948 to Elwin and Bernadine (Kott) Vigneron of Fair Haven. He grew up in Immaculate Conception Parish, Anchorville, attending the parish grade school through eighth grade. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Detroit Presbyterate on July 26, 1975, at St. Clement of Rome.

On Oct. 1, 2003 he became bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif. Bishop Vigneron oversaw the design and construction of the new Cathedral of Christ the Light, which was dedicated in 2008. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI and installed Jan. 28 as the fifth Archbishop of Detroit.

Bishop Earl Boyea and the entire Diocese of Lansing rejoice at the return of Archbishop Allen Vigneron to Michigan – we pledge our prayers and loving cooperation in our joint mission of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Liturgical Calendar: St. Katharine Drexel, virgin March 3 • St. Casimir March 4 • St. Perpetua and St. Felicity, martyrs March 7 • St. Frances of Rome, religious M

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

From Vietnam to Lansing – Vy Than’s amazing journey

inside this issue

Vy Than grew up in a small village in Vietnam.

Her grandfather fought with the South Vietnamese forces alongside the U.S., so when the North Vietnamese prevailed, Vy’s family had to leave. Find out how she found a new life in Lansing, and how her faith helped her become an American. – Todd Schulz

16 ‘This is where I will die’ why Celeste returned to the Catholic Church

Celeste left the Catholic Church when she was 19.

Protestant traditions appealed to her, and she joined the Assembly of God. Find out what drew her back – and why the church is her home once again. – Kate Runyan

A FAITH special report on the economic crisis

20

22

5 money tip Create an emergency fund – Ted Zale 6 parenting journey ‘I do it myself!’ Can you reason with a pre-schooler?

what you’ll get out of this issue

– Dr. Cathleen McGreal

11

12

7 marriage matters He says: She treats our child better than “my” child!

She says: It’s time for our own child to be number one. What do they do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle 8 in the know with Fr. Joe What is purgatory? If I go there, will I ever get to heaven? – Father Joseph Krupp 9 fact or fiction Can the pope make mistakes? – Doug Culp 10 Theology 101 Pray alone or together? Why people need the church. – Cardinal Justin Rigali 12 spiritual fitness Close to Christ? How to become his brother or sister. – Sister Ann Shields 31 last word The church’s most famous convert – Saul became St. Paul – Bishop Carl F. Mengeling

5

work life I lost my job – now what?

– Nick Synko

March 9 • St. Patrick, bishop March 17 • St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the church March 18 • St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary March 19

columnists

5

The economy is in a recession. People are losing jobs.

Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation.

What can we, as Catholics, do?

How is the church helping?

FAITH’s special report about the economic crisis answers some of your questions

Is it morally acceptable

to smoke?

What do parishioners say?

“Smoking is totally moral. It’s like choosing to drive a car or something – you take risks, but it’s your life. But it’d be different if, like, you were hotboxing with a 5year-old. You should raise kids in a smoke-free atmosphere.”

– Jason, 24

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl A. Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

March 2009 • Volume 10: Issue 2

FA I T H P u b l i s hing Ser vice Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Joanne Eason DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICE

faith by the numbers

Vicki Wells-Bedard

“Absolutely not. Your body is from God and it’s supposed to be respected. You’re killing yourself. And more than that, you’re hurting others. People should spend that money for God, not gluttony. It’s never OK to smoke – I think our culture has proven that. I don’t think moral people are out smoking.” – Gabriella, 37 “It isn’t moral. If you’re really a Christian, you’re not a smoker.” – Mark, 48

What does the church say?

What did you say online?

17

%

Yes, it’s a personal choice.

9

%

Yes, if you control secondhand smoke.

74

%

No, it’s a danger to yourself and others.

According to The Catechism of the Catholic Church,“The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.” (CCC 2290) So the question becomes, what constitutes abuse?

letters to the editor

Visit FAITHmag.com to vote in our next poll: Is it ever acceptable for Catholics to use artificial contraception?

Dear Editor: Concerning C.J.T. Sutton’s letter in the November FAITH: So why didn’t you depart the Mass? After all if you believe in child sacrifice, you are free to sacrifice to Molech as the ancient Israelites did when they strayed from the worship of the one true God. The followers of Molech also creduloulsly believed that through the sacrifice of their own children to the god that they would enjoy health, economic prosperity and security from their enemies. As Ecclesiastes says, “there is nothing new under the sun.” (For the complete text of this letter, please visit www.faithmag.com.

– Mrs. Leeta von Buelow, Dexter

In the Jan./Feb. Work Life column, we inadvertently mentioned a Web site that in no way represents the teachings of the Catholic Church nor the opinions of FAITH Magazine. We regret the error and apologize to our readers.

In the Jan./Feb. issue, we inadvertently omitted writing and photo credits for Accept the Challenge – the Diocesan Men’s Conference.

The story was written by Bob Horning and Steve Harmon; photography was by Tom Gennara.

St. Toribio de Mogrovejo, bishop March 23 • Solemnity of he Annunciation of the Lord March 25

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR

Lynne Ridenour

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

Janna Stellwag Abby Wieber

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Patricia Oliver SECRETARY

InnerWorkings

PRINT MANAGEMENT

Andrew Peltcs

EDITORIAL INTERN

Doug Culp Kevin Duffy Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle Bob Horning Rev. Joseph Krupp Dr. Gelasia Marquez Dr. Cathleen McGreal Kathryn Runyan Nancy Schertzing Sister Ann Shields Susie Skowronek Michelle Sessions DiFranco CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot

PROOFREADING

Carlson Productions Tom Gennara Sheri Kendrick James Luning (cover) Donald Quillan

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wayne Case Michael Eichhorn Mary Jo Gillilland Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone Joseph Reid Rev. Bernard Reilly James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez Dcn. David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Rev. Jerry Vincke Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple ADVISORY BOARD

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Publishing Service, Catholic Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. 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 onto FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 ©FAITH Publishing Service.

FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service.

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Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin

FOUNDING EDITOR

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Q

I was laid off almost a year ago from my job in an auto plant. I haven’t been able to find a job anywhere. I’m only 42 and I need to support my family. What can I do?

We then work together to answer each question on separate sheets of paper. Next, we set aside the answers to question #1. No one wants to – everyone wants to do what they want to do. However, when it comes to career detour situations, the challenge is that you have to do what you gotta do, even though you do not want to do it.

To successfully make a career transition, everything depends upon how committed you are to performing those

Nick Synko can be reached at nsynko@synkoassociates.com

“gotta do” activities that, at first, seem like a significant stretch.

Of course, the more routinely you work your way through such challenges, the more naturally you become comfortable with the new you. It literally becomes easier to be the new you than the old you.

In each of these situations, we find that wisdom, experience and the Holy Spirit provided solid answers to that second question. In their hearts, people know what needs to be done.

How did the people mentioned earlier fare? The engineer took out loans, returned to school and is now a nurse. The divorced dad working as a traveling sales representative scaled back his lifestyle to fit his new local job and reduced income level. The widowed mom is now working as an administrative assistant after taking several valuable computer skills classes. The ballet dancer relocated, took an entry-level job as a customer service representative and, in just a few years, greatly increased her initial income.

Different stories, yet there is a common outcome of a successful career transition. You, too, may learn to truly believe Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Nick Synko

Create an emergency fund Ted Zale, a veteran financial counselor, has wisdom to see you through economically troubled times.

Create an emergency fund. This is called stress relief. Stock away enough

cash to cover six to 12 months of bills and, suddenly, the swirling economic

uncertainty doesn’t seem quite as scary. Don’t approach this money as an investment meant to yield high-interest returns.

It’s a savings account, plain and simple. Stick it in a money market account,

money tip

O

minous headlines about layoffs.

Soaring prices at the pump.

“For sale” signs and plummeting stock markets. Everywhere you turn lately, you see a test of your financial faith. Never fear. Here are commonsense tips to survive the current money crunch:

a short-term CD or any dependable option you can access quickly. Avoid the temptation to make this cash “work for you” by tossing it into the stock market.

The emergency fund does its job by helping you sleep at night. “One of the sad things about our country is we do not have a high savings rate,” Zale says.

“It’s even more critical in tough times.”

work life

• Question # 1 – What do you want to do to get a new job?

• Question # 2 – What do you know you must do, even though you do not want to do it?

now what?

T. Gennara

A

What does the mechanical engineer do when he comes to understand his engineering career is the major cause of significant and long-term job dissatisfaction? What does the recently divorced dad do now that his travel schedule is no longer possible? What does the stay-at-mom do when her spouse suddenly passes away? What does the professional ballet dancer do when …? As I work with individuals who hit their career crossroads, the simplest of exercises is where we begin. We ask two questions.

I lost my job

“I do it myself!”

T. Gennara

Can you reason with a pre-schooler?

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

Our 3-year-old is driving me crazy. His favorite word is “No!” and his favorite phrase is, “I do it by myself.” He is too young to listen to reason, but I don’t believe in spanking. What’s the best way to discipline a child this young?

parenting journey

Q A

It is certainly true that the logic of a pre-schooler doesn’t match our logic. In Isaiah, when we read that the Lord says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts” (Is 55:8), I’ve sometimes wondered if God looks upon us as quizzically as we look upon children. For example, when my daughter, Erin, was 3, I told her to put her mints where her baby sister, Kaiti, couldn’t reach them. I turned around and saw that she had placed them up her nose. Not exactly what I had in mind.

But we can discipline young children despite their unusual reasoning. Here are some tips: • Make your expectations very clear by keeping your commands simple: “In two minutes we’ll be putting the toys away.”

Then, “Two minutes is up, so you need to help pick up the toys on the rug and put them in the toy box.”

• Let the child know that he has communicated effectively even if things aren’t going to go his way: “I know you want to take a bath all by yourself, but when a boy is 3, then his mom or his dad stays in the bathroom. Older boys like your brother do

Q

My next-door neighbor went away for the weekend and her kids threw a pretty wild party. I don’t know her very well. Do I tell her?

There is a West African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Although we live in a society that embraces family privacy and household boundaries, we, as Christians, are responsible for the well-being of our youngsters.

Even if you don’t know your neighbor well, if the children were minors, you are especially obligated.

A

First, you must consider that you don’t know if the kids had permission. You also don’t know if a responsible adult was present, but that the party was just too loud for your taste. Keep those things in mind as you prepare to talk with your neighbor.

Start with a concrete comment: “What a good time your kids seemed to be having last weekend.”

When a child misbehaves Parents often find that each of their children responds somewhat differently to disciplinary techniques, and they tend to modify their discipline somewhat based on the child’s temperament and personality. Time-out can be modified to be effective with many children.

• Remove the child from the “social center” of the room to a designated “time-out” spot.

• Set a timer for one minute for each year of age – two minutes for a 2-year-old, and so on.

• Explain the rule that was broken in a matter-of-fact way, rather than an angry manner.

• If the child leaves the spot early, explain that the timer has to be started again.

• Make sure that the child understands why she was in time-out!

• Re-adjust as children get older – for example, introverts might need a spot in the social center, rather than away from it!

How do I ask for

what I want?

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor

Or, “Wow, the music your kids party guests were playing was totally new to me.” Or, “Was it someone’s birthday?” Said in a neutral tone, these kinds of comments will allow you to open the door to a conversation, without putting your neighbor on the defensive.

If she says she’s aware

of it and taking care of it, drop the topic. If she seems aware but unconcerned, you can mention that you had trouble sleeping that night, and ask if the next party could be a little quieter. Remember, you’ll have to live next door for a while – your goal is to keep the peace!

S. Kendrick

what gets my goat

“Reasoning” with a pre-schooler

take baths by themselves.”

• Clarify likely outcomes that children cannot predict to avoid disciplinary problems in various contexts: “At Grandma’s house, there are lots of cousins and that means lots of sharing. What are some toys we can bring that are good sharing toys?” Obviously this is not the place to bring a brand-new toy that wouldn’t be easily passed around!

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Brian says: When we got married, Katie was a wonderful step-mother to my daughter, Amber. She took her shopping, taught her how to make brownies, things like that. But after our son, Alex, was born, all that changed. When Amber is here on my visitation weeks, Katie does nothing but demand help around the house. She wants to plan all our “fun” outings for the weekends Amber is with her mother. Amber is hurt and confused, and I’m feeling angry and resentful.

It’s time for our own child to be the focus He

your marriage matters

She treats “our” child better than “my” child

said | She said

Katie says: Well, of course I favor my own child.

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

What mother wouldn’t? Amber is a nice girl, but she does have a mother of her own. She’s most always will feel closer may be aggravating Katie, also old enough to help out a little. After Alex was born, I exto his biological child than who is feeling left out. Likepected Brian to spend time with him and me alone – we are a the step-parent will. That is a wise, Amber’s change in befamily now. I feel as if Brian is so wrapped up in making sure natural phenomenon, and it havior after Alex arrived may Amber’s feelings aren’t hurt that he’s ignoring our son. is survivable if both Katie and be aggravating Brian, who Brian can focus in on the real feels like Katie may be trying Stepthe downward spiral begins problem. We will suggest the to sever his relationship with family to gain momentum and can problem resolution may be his biological child. The truth dynamics ultimately lead to a crash that found in strengthening their usually lies somewhere in the are land destroys the relationships. couple relationship – and do middle; and Brian and Katie mines waiting to explode, Unless Brian it with little need to begin looking at the especially if they are not and Katie focus on issue by focusing on their Stepapproached with care and can regain Amber and relationship with each other family precision. Raising stepchilcontrol of the Alex! Most first. Brian might also ask dren can be a challenging job situation by often, trouwhat he could do to help on dynamics are land – but joyful. When merging getting to the bles between the weekends when Amber is mines waiting to two families with children, root of the parents and visiting. It might even help if explode, thereby creating a stepfamily issues, their children some of the household chores unit, extensive communicarelationship (regardless could be accomplished before tion between the two spouses will deteof biological Amber arrives, then each is often lacking. Here, we’re riorate and connections) member of the family could talking about practical comultimately are manifesplan a small outing. Tom munications focused on cause additations of isbelieves it has little to do with the parent-child(s)-parent tional injury sues between Amber and Alex and a whole dynamics. Without clear to Alex and their parents lot to do with Brian and communication, a lot of Amber. No – in this case Katie. Once Brian and Katie unfounded assumptions can one escapes being injured in between Katie and Brian. For get their relationship back on come into play – by the para relationship crash that deexample, Brian’s ‘extra’ attentrack, they will be amazed at ent and the new step-parent. stroys a family unit. In a step- tion to Amber (as a result of how the “children” problem Once assumptions are made, family, the biological parent Katie’s behavior toward her) will disappear.

what do they do?

T. Gennara

especially if they are not approached with care and precision.”

Dear Fr. Joe:

What is purgatory?

T. Gennara

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

Q

What is purgatory?

If I go there, will I ever end up in heaven?

When I was young, I thought “purgatory” was Mom’s cute nickname for me …

What is purgatory? Well, the catechism says some amazing things about purgatory; let’s check them out: All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (1030) The church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The church formulated her doctrine of faith on purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire. (1031) I use an image with my students that they claim is helpful, though they may just be acting polite: When we die, we enter into God’s presence and God’s presence is a fire. I know we’re used to the idea of hell being hot, but that is not really the image that has been handed down to us. Anyway, this fire of

in the know with Fr. Joe

A

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.

“Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.” “Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his mother asked. “Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!”

God’s presence has an immediate impact on us: purification. See, during our lives, we accumulate all kinds of damage to our souls, all sorts of layers of deception and pain that cover and wound our souls. Think of them as battle

scars. Anyway, these impurities, when exposed to God’s Holy Fire, begin to burn up, just like coal that goes into a furnace. Does it hurt? Yes, but, as I tell my students “It’s a weight room hurt.” It’s a hurt we want badly and are

ready for because of God’s grace and love.

I saw a documentary on how silver is purified. In the show, the silversmith took a lump of misshapen, blackish rock and put it in an intense fire. When he pulled it out some time later, it was a small lump of pure silver. He explained that if you leave it in too long, or take it out too early, the results aren’t good. The narrator asked the logical question: “So, how do you know when it’s time to take it out?” The silversmith said an incredible thing. He said that he looks at the burning rock and when he can see his reflection, the rock is ready. Purgatory is the same idea: When God looks at us and sees himself, we’re ready to move into the fullness of heaven.

Can people in purgatory go to hell? Nope.

They are in the process of heaven already. Is purgatory a separate place from heaven?

I don’t think so. I would describe it as a part of heaven.

The catechism also says this: This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore Judas Maccabeus made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.”

From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead: Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Here are the facts: The Catholic Church does hold papal infallibility as a divinely revealed dogma. However, the church limits this “infallibility” to the pope’s ex cathedra teaching, or his teaching “from the chair.” Infallibility does not apply to every doctrinal and personal act of the pope.

fact or fiction?

A Decade of FAITH FAITH Magazine will be 10 in 2009! As we gear up for this important anniversary, we are going to be looking back at some of the great stories from the past decade, and finding out, “And then what happened?”

J. Luning

In March 2005, we featured Frank Bolak on our cover.

Frank’s near-death experience after a motorcycle accident changed his life, and his relationship with God. And then what happened?

Frank continues to be treated for hepatits C and has been in remission for a year. He is still active in Scouts, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He volunteers at the Walker Tavern historical site, where there is a Frank Bolak Heritage Trail.

10 years of FAITH

sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation?

Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. (1032) This powerful section makes it clear that you and I can help our beloved dead by praying for them after their death. It is human understanding that says it’s all said and done at death, but God’s love is so great in and through us that we can have an impact on our beloved dead even after their death!

Well, I’m out of space now. I guess purgatory is a bit bigger than I thought.

Enjoy another day in God’s presence.

fact or fiction?

The pope cannot make mistakes.

Certain conditions must be met in order for a teaching to be considered an ex cathedra teaching.

It must be clear that the pope is speaking as the spiritual head of the universal church, not merely as a theologian, preacher or even ordinary of the Diocese of Rome. The pope also must be teaching a doctrine of faith or morals in this capacity, as spiritual head of the universal church, with the clear intention to teach with all the fullness and finality of his apostolic authority in order to bind the whole church.

When all these conditions are met, the church understands the pope’s teaching to be exempt from the possibility of error, therefore, infallible.

Papal infallibility is a personal charisma promised to St. Peter and his successors that cannot be delegated. So for doctrinal decisions and instructions to be considered infallible, they must be issued by the pope himself in his own name according to the conditions required for an ex cathedra teaching.

Infallibility is different from “Divine Inspiration,” by which God is the principal author of the inspired writing or utterance, and from “Divine Revelation,” by which God makes known some previously unknown truth. Infallibility is concerned only with the interpretation and effective safeguarding of truths already revealed. – Doug Culp

10

Pray alone or together?

why people need each other through the church Cardinal Justin Rigali is the archbishop of Philadelphia. He serves on many committees at the Vatican, and attended the Second Vatican Council. FAITH is honored to ask this eminent Catholic churchman and scholar some questions about the Catholic Church in the new millennium.

Q

We’ve seen a decline in Mass attendance over the last couple of decades.

Has there been a change in the theology of communal worship? What are people missing by not being active in the life of the church?

By reason of our baptism, all of us are given this immense privilege of being able to participate in the Eucharist, to be able to share in the worship of the community, which is the holy sacrifice of the Mass. So this is, first of all, not a duty but a privilege – an immense privilege.

That said, it is also a duty. Sometimes people don’t realize that. The greater sorrow is they also don’t realize it’s a privilege because they don’t understand the Mass. That explains an awful lot of the negligence that exists. But we must keep in mind that God constantly calls us to effort, and constantly reminds us that he

theology 101

A

is God. We have to join with Christ in worshipping him. And actually, Mass attendance fluctuates. In some areas, Mass attendance goes down, but in many places in the church, there is a revival. I came back some

months ago from Nigeria, and what an incredible scene it is. The Masses begin at 5:15 a.m., every day of the week, and people fill the church. So there are moments of lapse on the part of all of us, but we must keep in

Church of the month The parish of St. Augustine, established in 1594, is the oldest in the U.S. In 1976, the cathedral was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine Origin: The roots of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine began with the sighting of the Florida coast by Admiral

Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles on Aug. 28, 1565, the Feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Menendez’s party came ashore on Sept. 6, at a spot they called Nombre de Dios (Name of God).

Menendez himself landed on Sept.

8 and a Mass was celebrated giving thanks to God for the journey. The day was the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.

The Spaniards then set about establishing a settlement, which Menendez named St. Augustine, in honor of the saint on whose feast day they had first seen land.

11

Are you a heretic?

A theology professor once remarked that there were no new heresies, just old ones repackaged. To test the truth of this statement, consider this recent real-life scenario and see if you can name the error involved:

Body AND soul?

A science teacher who is Catholic laments the fact that a field trip to the “Body Works” exhibit had been cancelled due to concerns over the mind that many people are stirring us on by their example. They prompt us to a greater fervor. Why? Because they have a greater realization of the duty and the privilege.

Q

What does a cardinal do?

Well, he gives interviews to magazines.

[And is deeply appreciated for that]. Most of the cardinals are also a bishop or archbishop of a diocese and, as such, act as the primary catechist for their people. That role doesn’t change when a man becomes a cardinal. But being a cardinal adds an international dimension. It adds a participation in

A

appropriateness of the subject matter. He complains, “I just don’t get it. As Catholics, we are only concerned with the spirit anyway; the body just isn’t important.”

What is at stake? The value and dignity of the whole human being (body and spirit) What is the truth? This view disincarnates our spirits from our bodies and locates some of the different organizations within the Vatican. It brings with it the need to be present in Rome to participate in various other organisms by which the pope receives counsel. Basically, however, as a diocesan bishop or archbishop, his role is the same – but with more demands. There are more claims on his time, more appointments to be kept in trying to fulfill the duties involved in being named to various organizations. So, for instance, in Rome I am a member of the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation of Divine Worship. This is an added commitment that was given to me as a cardinal over and above the pastoral role of trying to shepherd, with wonderful collaboration, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

– Elizabeth Solsburg and Douglas Culp

This was, in fact, the beginning of the parish community of St. Augustine, which was continually active from 1565 to February 1764 and from 1784 to present. The parish registers date back to Jan. 24, 1594 - the oldest European document of North American (north of Mexico) origin extant in our country.

The present Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine, a National Historic Landmark, was constructed in 1797 in the Spanish Mission style. After a fire gutted the church in 1887, it was restored by New York City architect James Renwick, who added the Spanish Renaissance-style bell tower.

In 1965, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first Mass, Archbishop Joseph Hurley, sixth bishop of St. Augustine, commissioned a renovation, enlarging and remodeling of the cathedral, the construction of the

all value in the spirit alone. The church’s teaching regarding the importance of the incarnation of Jesus is subsequently called into question, along with the belief in the resurrection of the body (and therefore its eternal value) at the final judgment. This error can be described as having Gnostic and even Manichaean undertones, which both taught that the relationship between spirit (good) and matter (evil) was one of hostility and even of mutual exclusion.

Words of wisdom – can you complete the proverb?

The Sacred Scriptures teach us “to get wisdom, to get understanding!”

(Proverbs 4:5) Now it is time to put yourself to the test to see how far along you are in this quest by completing this proverb. Remember, no peeking into your Bible! __________________, honor for a fool is out of place. a. Like the sparrow in its flitting b. Like snow in the summer, or rain in harvest c. Like one who entangles the stone in the sling (Answer: b – Prov 26:1)

Prince of Peace Votive Chapel at the mission grounds and the construction of a 20-story illuminated cross.

Notable features: •S tyle – The church is representative of Spanish Colonial and Renaissance Revival.

• Stations of the Cross – The oil paintings representing the stations of the cross are copies of the paintings found in the Vatican’s Pauline Chapel.

• Stained-glass windows and altars – The stained glass windows were created by Mayer Studios of Germany and the altars are of sculpted marble.

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spiritual fitness

and your brothers are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking around on those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother.’”

It is a pivotal passage for any true disciple. Jesus was telling them that they, too, could be in as close a relationship with him as our most intimate family relationships. The litmus test was whether you were willing to do what he asked. To the extent that you were, you were drawn into the circle of those who had

Spiritual exercise

Close to Christ?

how to become like his brother or sister Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. Questions can be addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

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1) Doing our own will, our own way, gets us into trouble. Ask the Lord for grace to surrender our stubbornness and closemindedness so that we can be open by grace to hear his voice say to each of us, “Come, follow me.” Jesus does want a personal relationship with you and then he wants to bind you to other likeminded individuals, who also are seeking God so you can help one another.

hen I was very young, I was introduced to 2) Read the first four chapters the world of gasoline, grease, oil, brake of the Gospel of Mark linings, inner tubes and all manner of I

f you want, you can read the • supplies for cars. My father owned a gas whole Gospel to get an overview, station and he repaired cars as well. The but, mainly, over this next month, men he associated with were, in some respects, rough and spend most of your time on the tough – but they were also honest and kind. I liked to be there, first four chapters. Just read and re-read. Let God’s Spirit convict to ask questions, to learn. But, as I grew, I also began to see and challenge and change you. a genuineness, a sincerity about them. They were men of their M

ark’s Gospel is the shortest of • word. I liked them. Later, my father also managed an interstate the four. Many biblical experts truck terminal and many truckers would stop for food and a see this Gospel, which has all rest before traveling on. I got to meet many of the “regulars” the earmarks of an eyewitness and they always treated me with deference and respect – even account, to actually be the first Gospel written. It was probably standing if I walked into the main area. Why? Well, I think my composed somewhere around father had made it clear: This is my daughter. Treat her as I do 65-70 AD. It is believed that – and they did, with never an exception.

What does this anecdote have to do with the Gospel of Mark? In Mark 4:31-35, we read: “And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him: ‘Your mother

the eye-witness of Jesus from whom Mark got the material for his Gospel was none other than Simon Peter.

• Mark was a cousin of Barnabas

13 the same desires, the same goals. Jesus is extending the same invitation to each of you who read this column. Because God’s word is living, it has the power to make that call real for you at this moment. Jesus is inviting you into a circle of brothers and sisters who want the same thing – to be intimately united in will and purpose; to be one family.

There were men my father could no longer employ because they didn’t have the same work ethic or the same honesty.

Sometimes he would have talks with them and they would grow and change.

Sometimes they chose not to grow and change and they were the less for it. But those who did were friends for life.

That is what Jesus wants for us – his sons and daughters! He wants friends, not just for life here, but for eternity. He wants a family of sons and daughters

The peacemaker – Saint Casimir Feast Day: March 4 Patron saint: of Poland and Lithuania Canonized: 1522 Meaning of name: A combination of the Slavic kazic meaning “to destroy” and mir meaning “peace,” so, literally, “to destroy peace.”

Claim to fame: Casimir was born the third son to King Casimir IV, grand duke of Lithuania and king of Poland, on Oct. 3, 1458.

His tutor – Father Dlugosz, the Polish historian, a canon at Cracow and later archbishop of Lwów – was a deeply religious man. He was a strong influence on Saint Casimir. King Casimir was impressed with his son’s justice and piety, so he gave him a mission – to lead the army against the Turks. During this expedition, St. Casimir experienced conflicts.

He believed the war was wrong, but felt obligated to honor his father’s request. However, when his troops deserted because they weren’t paid, he readily returned home. King Casimir, outraged at St. Casimir’s behavior, exiled him.

St. Casimir used his time in exile to pray, study and serve the poor.

Why he is a saint? Casimir rebelled against his princely status, wore plain garments and gave of himself to Christ’s poor and sick.

How he died: While he was in exile he became ill from fasting and mortification. He died at the age of 26.

An experience of saying goodbye – with hope A young friend of mine (30 years old) died recently of cancer. I was privileged to be with him and with his family and friends in those last weeks and days. It was not easy.

Death never is, but I was struck a number of times by the faith that marked everyone present. Many young people

in their 20s and 30s did not shy away from death, but were there serving and praying – night and day.

It was terribly hard to say goodbye, especially for his wife of just one year. But never did I hear despair or hopelessness. There were plenty of tears and grief – of course. But they were all bound together by the conviction that they would see him again.

And they strengthened and held one another up by that certainty.

Even Peter, in his last days, could say to me, “They knew that they would see “Don’t worry each other again.” about me. I will be all right, but please take care of my wife. Focus your attention on her, not me.” Right then, I marveled that this friend, fighting for breath, should think not of himself, but of his wife. Where does that strength and selflessness come from? It comes from the commitment made some years before that: “God is the center of my life, I want to follow him and I ask him for friends who will help me on the way.”

God supplied what Peter asked for – and so he will do for you, if you tell him that you choose his will and his way above all.

saint of the month

and traveled with him on some of the missionary journeys. Later, he was with Paul during the time Paul composed his letters to the Colossians and to Philemon.

Finally, Scripture tells us quite clearly that Mark was with Peter (See 1Peter 5:13).

• The main focus of the whole Gospel is the proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God and son of man. The focus of the Gospel is on the mighty acts of Jesus, rather than on Jesus’ teaching.

(More about that next month).

Jesus, the Son of God – yes, the Son of GOD – wants a personal relationship with you. Commit or recommit your life to him. When Jesus sees in your heart an honest attempt, with grace, to respond to his invitation, he will draw you more deeply into companionship with him and with like-minded brothers and sisters. There is a sweetness and a strength to that fellowship that are tastes of the life to come.

who are intimately bound to him with affection and trust and a commitment to follow his plan.

At my father’s funeral, a man walked up to me. I knew he was a friend of my dad’s, but I did not know him well. He took my hands, expressing his sympathy and then he said, “Do you know, your father bought me my first pair of shoes when I was 14.

My family had nothing, but your dad believed in me and helped me. I will never forget – even beyond the grave, I will never forget.”

That’s the kind of relationships we all need – and we need to work to build them and to receive them. It begins by taking Jesus’ implicit challenge in these few verses to heart. Whoever does the will of my Father is brother and sister and mother to me.”

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ear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, A recent study noted that the second-largest religious grouping in the United States (after Roman Catholics) is former Roman Catholics. Many of our sisters and brothers of the household of faith have left us.

the grace of the sacrament to have greater openness to the life the Holy Spirit wants me to lead. Seek out this sacrament.

Many of us have fallen out of use of this beautiful sacrament.

If you find yourself in that position, might I ask you to use this holy season as an occasion to return? We want to be perfect, as the Heavenly Father is perfect, and this sacrament can offer us a personal forum to be challenged and graced in order to be made perfect, to be made holy.

Finally, the best advice may be in doing what was done in earlier days. A couple experiencing difficulties can be encouraged to have another honeymoon, to practice courting one another, to treat one another in the ways that helped them fall in love in the first place. This is also good advice for those who are seeking to return to the family of faith. Try it on for awhile. Become comfortable. It will take time, especially if we have become rusty regarding our faith life. But, as we work at this, we will find our hearts being opened ever more to God’s love.

For those of us who have remained in the church, but have loved ones who have wandered off, I can only offer advice I have followed myself: Pray for our family members, love

The reasons for these departures vary greatly, of course, from boredom to actual theological disagreement; from a decision firmly made at some point to just falling into the habit of not going to church; from being offended by someone in the church to making lifestyle choices that are incompatible with Catholic moral teachings.

One of my favorite activities as a parish priest was working with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and talking with adults who were seeking to join the church. Their stories always strengthened my Bishop Earl A. Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. soul. Invariably, they found in the church something for them without ceasing and be good examples. One of my which they were searching. Those who have left the church favorite saints is St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. She know that it filled a need for them, as well, at some point in prayed and prayed that her son would come to the church and their past. be baptized. In the end, the Lord answered This time of year, the Lenten season, is a her prayers and God broke though Augustine’s great time to look back and see if that gift of If you have stubborn and prideful heart. As we know, the church might not still answer your own longings. In the Book of Revelation (2:4-5), Jesus fallen away he became one of the greatest saints in the I pray often to Monica, seeking her speaks to the church in Ephesus and notes from the church and church. help in interceding with our Heavenly Father. that they have lost their first love. This seems the practice of your My sisters and brothers, if you have been to be something like married couples who away, please come back. We are not perfect have grown lukewarm in their affections for faith, – in fact, we are sinners, but that is what the each other. Jesus tells the church to do three church is for. So join us sinners as we try to things: remember what you were like back worship our Heavenly Father as Jesus has then; repent of your sins; and act like you did shown us, by offering up his own body and in the olden days. blood and then sharing that same food for If you have fallen away from the church and our salvation. the practice of your faith, would you please In this season, join us as we fast, as we pray, consider just thinking about what it would be as we give alms and, thus, as we try to be less like to be back? What needs in your spiritual of our selfish selves and try to become more like Christ. Any life could be met by the reception of our Lord and Savior in Lenten season is a good time to make this move, but this Lent holy Communion and the worship of God every Sunday with is special because it is the time today that belongs completely fellow believers? This kind of imagining is important as a first to you. step since it is usually difficult to change our ways and, of course, it is impossible to do so without God’s grace.

Then there is always the need to repent. I have been going to Sincerely yours in Christ, confession every month since ninth grade (and probably before + Most Reverend Earl Boyea Bishop of Lansing that as well, though I can’t remember). I am a sinner and need

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from the bishop

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FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Welcome Home!

The church’s arms are open to you

J. Carlson

would you please consider just thinking about what it would be like to be back?”

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I - cover story

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VY THAN's AMAZING JOURNEY

By Todd Schulz | Photography by Jim Luning

cover story

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cover story

In February 2000, Vy Than was lost, alone and a long way from home.

Vy, (pronounced “Vee”) then 15, hid in a bathroom stall at Lansing’s Pattengill Middle School, crying and praying. She was supposed to be in a classroom beginning the American education she and her family dreamed about when they emigrated from Vietnam.

member of Lansing’s St. Andrew Dung-Lac Parish, where she sings in the choir and teaches Vietnamese and leads Bible classes for elementary school students.

“When I first came here, it seemed impossible, but I’m really satisfied with my life,” Vy says with a smile.

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Vy grew up in Nhon Trach, a small village where life revolved mainly around work in the rice paddies and the routine of twice-daily Mass.

Her grandfather fought with South Vietnamese forces alongside U.S. troops in the Vietnam War, which Vy refers to as “the civil war.” After North Vietnam’s triumph, he was imprisoned But her first day of school was simply too overwhelming. in “re-education” camps for several years. Eventually, he was Vy felt isolated. Even the small group of Vietnamese girls freed and emigrated to the U.S. with several other relatives, all she’d befriended insisted on speaking English. She had no of whom settled in the Lansing area. idea where to go or what to do.

As a result, Vy periodically received gifts that provided tiny So she curled up in the bathroom stall and poured glimpses of America. Sweet candy. Beautiful clothes. Scented out her heart to the God she’d trusted while growing up perfumes and lotions.

Catholic in a small village The packages hinted at the outside Saigon. Initially, I felt alone and so little. The limitless possibilities in a however, faith offered little faraway world that Vy’s father comfort in a foreign land world was so big. God was often dreamed about aloud. where it seemed she’d so high and I couldn’t reach him. I “My dad thought everyone never fit in. felt I was not close to him.” in the U.S. was rich,” Vy says, “There were times when chuckling. “He tried so hard I first came here, I lost faith to get here for a long time.” in God because I prayed to him so hard that I could speak Vy’s family moved to America with the help of humanitarian English a little faster,” Vy says. “I felt like those prayers weren’t answered. I felt alone and so little. The world was so organizations. In early 2000, she boarded a plane with a flock of relatives that included her parents and three brothers, as well as big. God was so high and I couldn’t reach him. I felt I was several aunts, uncles and cousins. not close to him.”

Her first clue that the transition would be challenging? She was Eight years later, Vy’s relationship with God – and her sick for nearly all of the 17-hour trip, which ended in Lansing. Vy feelings about America – have changed dramatically. Now got off the plane and saw snow for the first time.

23, Vy studies nursing at Lansing Community College and School remained difficult. She rarely spoke at Pattengill or eventually hopes to join the Peace Corps. She’s an active

St. Andrew Dung-Lac Parish The fall of Saigon in 1975 prompted many Vietnamese who had resisted their country’s Communist takeover to emigrate to the United States. A large number of them settled in the Diocese of Lansing and were helped

by Catholic social service agencies. Their spiritual and sacramental needs were met

by Vietnamese priests who came through the diocese occasionally. That support became more regular when Father Joseph Tran arrived in Lansing in 1982. He lived at St. Mary Cathedral and said Mass

for the Vietnamese community in the ca- Christmas Eve liturgy that year. Parishiothedral crypt. ners worked day and night to renovate When the community their new parish home. On outgrew the crypt, they May 30, 1999, the parish of began having Mass in St. Andrew Dung-Lac was the cathedral on Sundedicated. day afternoons. BeginDuring the dedication proning in 1984, Bishop cession, members of the Povish established the community, in traditional tradition of celebrating Vietnamese dress, carried the Vigil Mass of Christan image of St. Andrew mas with the VietnamDung-Lac, the proto-martyr ese community. That of Vietnam. St. Andrew was tradition continued with a diocesan priest who was Bishop Mengeling. martyred in 1839, along with Father Joseph Tran In 1998, the Viet116 companions. He was namese community recanonized in June 1988 by ceived the former Cristo Rey Parish site Pope John Paul II. on South Washington Avenue in Lansing. – Based on Living in Joyful Hope, A History of the Diocese of Father Tran was installed as pastor at the Lansing, by Msgr. George Michalek

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

during her freshman and sophomore years at Lansing’s Eastern High School. She understood little of what her teachers said and needed extensive tutoring and a trusty Vietnamese-English dictionary to complete assignments.

Socially, Vy had almost no friends and stuck close to family members.

“It was terrible,” she says. “I hated those days. I didn’t expect it to be so much different. Everybody talked about how nice it would be to live in the U.S., how we could go to school and not have to worry about money. But nobody talked about how difficult it would be to adapt to a new language and culture. I wasn’t ready.”

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Slowly, however, Vy started to learn English. As she became more comfortable communicating, her social anxiety faded and she joined the school’s Asian club, which performed cultural dances in the community and at Eastern, where she graduated in 2004.

Vy gradually emerged from her shell at St. Andrew, where she’d also felt – and behaved – like an outsider. Soon, she became a catechist working with elementary school students. The experience was a spiritual awakening.

Vy’s young pupils asked the sort of simple but complex questions that children often do: • How did God create the universe?

• Why did God create things in the order he did?

• Where was the actual book of Genesis?

The queries caught Vy off-guard

and caused her to begin a thorough examination of her Christian beliefs. She started to search for answers, studying the Bible, pondering deep spiritual questions and praying more than she had since leaving Vietnam, where Buddhism is the major religion.

“They asked me a lot of questions I didn’t know the answer to,” she says with a laugh. “Through reasoning, I answered them and I felt involved with and close to God when I actually talked about him. As I taught them, I learned.”

Vy’s family remains a huge part of her life. She lives in Delta Township with her father, an assembly worker at Comprehensive Logistics and mother, who owns a nail salon.

Many of her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins live in the same neighborhood and the family gathers routinely to catch up on news and cook Vietnamese meals.

“Everyone is so close,” she says.

Still, Vy misses her native land. She hopes to return to Vietnam after completing their studies.

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Vy remains in touch with childhood friends, many of whom are starting to marry and have children. She longs to return to their lives and – despite her success in America – mesh back into a society that’s part of her soul.

“It was peaceful and quiet,” she says. “There was a much slower pace in Vietnam. Here, sometimes I can’t find time for myself. When I first came here I walked really slow. Now, I walk fast. Everyone here walks so fast.”

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20 group surveying students. I discovered that I knew a member of the group from my junior high school days. I talked with her and I filled out a survey indicating that I wished to join a Bible study. One thing led to another. With two Protestant influences speaking to me, I eventually made the switch.”

In subsequent years, Celeste met her husband – the son of an Assembly of God pastor. Together they had four children and they resided in California and North Carolina before moving back to Michigan in 1990. As a family, they moved away from the strict Pentecostal tradition and sought out a more charismatic church to worship in. Those churches were often small independent community groups.

Nevertheless, the family worshipped regularly and they were actively involved in the group’s hierarchical organization. At one time, Celeste and her husband were key members dedicated to planting a new church in the community. Ultimately that effort failed, but the experience uncovered a growing restlessness in Celeste’s faith life.

“By moving into the Protestant tradition as a young adult and living there for 25 years, I became schooled in the Protestant notions about Catholicism. As I started experiencing some of the weaknesses of the Protestant tradition, I began to look with new eyes at the Catholic faith. What I found was great wisdom and theological stability, and ultimately I found the Lord himself in the Eucharist.

“The first thing drawing me back to my

“This is where I will live and die”

my story

Why Celeste returned to the Catholic Church

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eleste walked away from the Catholic Church at 19. As a young college student, she told her parish priest and her parents that she wanted something more. More of what she didn’t know, but Protestant traditions were attracting her attention.

“I had a very dear friend who was also raised Catholic. She was gone for a while to visit her sister in Colorado and when she came back, she was talking about the Lord and she seemed really different.

What I noticed in her was a peace, and her relationship with the Lord grew very intimate. One day, I was driving my car

and I remember telling the Lord that I wanted what my friend had. Soon after her return home, my friend joined a Pentecostal church.

“About that time, I started my first year at Wayne State University. One of my first days on campus, I was walking into a building and there was an evangelical

Catholic roots was the liturgical calendar year. I was especially drawn to the stations of the cross during Lent, and I gradually started bringing members of my family along with me. I wanted to impress upon my children the ebbs and tides of the liturgical seasons. During the Advent season, I found myself going to church with my family on Sunday morning, and then I would later attend a Sunday evening Mass by myself.

“After attending Mass one evening, I learned about an upcoming event called Welcome Home Sunday. The seminarian was planning to talk about his return to

By Kate Runyan | Photography by Tom Gennara

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

the Catholic Church and his eventual call sources, the Lord was gradually feeding to the priesthood. I thought it sounded her information that would ultimately interesting and I told my husband that guide her return to the Catholic Church.

I thought we should go. A seminarian A four-part series on the Eucharist had talked about some of the reasons why he the most profound impact on Celeste’s came back to the church. He spoke about change of heart. the benefit of having the authority of the “I learned that the communion meal church for interpretation of scriptural was not just a memorial or a rememtext. People have varying opinions and brance as I had celebrated it as a Protesthe church offers clear and trustworthy tant. Instead, it is a supernatural encoundefinitions about what Jesus wants us ter with the Lord, experiencing him in all to believe. Without this, we are left with of his divinity and humanity. I came to uncertainty. That struck a chord with understand that the Eucharist is the most me because in our Protestant traditions, intimate touch we can have from the Lord we found that this side of heaven. disagreements As I started experi- I began to meditate among members on this and it made encing some of the me more and more at various levels weaknesses of the Protes- hungry for the seemed to result in people parting Eucharist. When tant tradition, ways. I began to I left the church look at the authoras a teenager, I ity structure in the didn’t know what I Catholic Church was walking away and the unity that was there and I saw the from. To be able to receive the Lord in the wisdom of it.”

Eucharist and to know that it is him was As Celeste was re-evaluating elements the ultimate reason for coming back.” of the Catholic faith, her parents contin Celeste came back to the church in ued praying fervently for her return. Her August 2005. For a time, she continued decision to leave the church was difficult attending church services with her family for them and it created a lot of tension on Sunday morning, and then later she – especially when she married outside would attend the evening Mass. She gradof the church. Over the years, Celeste’s ually found herself going to daily Mass parents sent her a steady stream of articles whenever possible to satisfy her hunger and stories about others who left the for the Eucharist. Gradually, other family church and came back. Celeste believes members began accompanying Celeste to that through her parents and other Mass. Over the next few years, Celeste’s

I began to look with new eyes at the Catholic faith.”

• Drifted away. Marriages, careers and the busyness of life can seem to get in the way.

• Had a quarrel with staff. Sometimes, people have been hurt by an incident with a church staff member. The pain is fresh and it’s hard to move on.

• Had an abortion. Women who have had an abortion, or the men who helped them get one, may feel as if there is no hope for forgiveness.

Have you been away from the Catholic Church for a while? Do you feel as if something is missing? How do you come home?

People leave the church for a variety of reasons. According to www.oncecatholic.org, a Web site for returning Your Catholic parish invites you.

Su Parroquia Católica los invita.

Catholics, here are some of them – do you recognize your situation?

• Marriage issues. Sometimes, when a marriage fails, people feel unsup.W ported and alone. Later, they may enter into an invalid marriage and feel that there is no way they can come back. The church’s rules on this issue may seem confusing and overwhelming. www

husband and three of their children were initiated into the Catholic church.

“When I walked away from the church as a young woman, it was almost like the church was getting in the way of my relationship with the Lord. I wanted to go right to Jesus. I thought I had to jump through many hoops and as an adult, I felt many of those things were unnecessary. Now, I have come to understand that the church is not intrusive or oppressive, but rather Christ’s gift to us in order that we can experience the true freedom that comes from knowing Christ. I realize that the Lord established the sacraments for me and I can receive a touch of his grace through those sacraments whenever I make myself available to him.

“I’m grateful for the people that I met and for the ministry I received in the Protestant churches. I learned a love for the scriptures, and I experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, I wish I understood when I was younger that all of that is available within the Catholic Church and even more because of the Eucharist and the sacraments. It was there all along, but I didn’t see it.

While the baptism in the Holy Spirit was a very powerful experience, receiving the Lord in the Eucharist after so many years was very emotional. I wept, but it produced in me a sense of peace at a deep level. I felt like I was home. I later told my husband, referring to the Catholic faith, that this is where I will live and die.”

There are other reasons, and everyone’s story is unique, but the common thread is that you are missing your family, your church, and want to come home.

And home is here for you – if you are interested, call your local parish and ask about programs for returning Catholics, S . or visit the Diocese of Lansing Web site at www.dioceseoflansing.org, or contact Pete Ries at pries@dioceseoflansing.org.

We welcome you back!

e l c o m e H o m e u n d ay c o m

Welcome Home Sunday

So you are thinking about coming back?

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special report

22 money from retirement or college savings accounts.

Still more fear for their financial futures – and their families – on a daily basis.

Perhaps most unsettling is the grim forecast.

In December 2008, the national unemployment rate surged to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s was the highest in the nation at 10.6 percent, with four counties in the diocese – Genesee, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Shiawassee – some of the hardest hit.

President Obama has proposed a nearly $1 trillion economic stimulus plan, including tax cuts and major investments in America’s infrastructure, designed to create three million jobs in the next three years. Yet, many economists predict the country’s recession will stretch well into 2009.

“The biggest unknown is the duration,” diocese financial officer Tom Pastula said.

“How long will this last? What happens to the auto industry in Michigan? There’s a lot of concern out there. We’ve had pinches in the past, but this is uncharted territory.

By Todd Schulz The decline is significant. You can tell this is really getting to people.”

Predictably, pocketbook problems have ather Tom Firestone surveys the devastation of an carried over to the collection plate. Parish giving historically increases between 2 economic hurricane every day in Flint. percent and 2.5 percent each year, Pastula Poverty. Unemployment. Homelessness. Hunger. says. But an informal survey in December Desperation. Crime. showed the diocese’s parishes were on Father Tom considers the human wreckage and track for an average decrease of about 1 suffering every bit as tragic as a natural disaster. Unfortunately, he percent this year. sees little relief on the way.

The diocese also is struggling. Roughly two-thirds of its annual operating budget (which totaled about $7.4 million in the were among the first and hardest hit by a “It’s just very difcurrent fiscal year) comes from a genfinancial storm that includes a slumpficult,” says Father eral appeal for funds – the Diocesan ing auto industry, plunging stock Tom, pastor of Flint’s Services Appeal, or DSA. This year, market and volatile fuel prices.

St. John Vianney the campaign fell about $250,000 In recent months, what some Parish. “If what hapNational short of its goal. call the worst fiscal crisis since pened in Flint had unemployment Pastula says the current happened in the same the Great Depression has rate deficit was reconciled swept rapidly across Michitime span as Hurmainly through the gan, the country and the ricane Katrina, we’d recent closing of the globe, leaving massive be getting aid from DuKette School in destruction in its wake. all over the country.

Michigan’s Father Tom Firestone Flint, the elimination of Tough times have Because it happened unemployment about $40,000 in donations touched most people in the over 20 years, nobody notices. But it’s a rate to Catholic Charities agencies 10-county Diocese of Lansing. disaster. Trust me.” in the diocese and reduction Many have lost jobs, homes or Blue-collar industrial cities such as Flint

Times are tough what can we do?

F

7.2%

10.6% – US Bureay of Labor statistics, Jan. 2009

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FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

How can I hang on to what I have?

‘‘

“I tell everyone the same thing I told them in 1987, 1990 and 2001 – just because the market is down doesn’t mean you should sell everything and get out,” Zale says. “The prudent investor is looking at his funds and looking at the best avenue to place dollars back into the market. If we’re at the bottom, then all the money will be made

when the market ratchets back up. Opportunity is there.”

Zale is careful to offer two exceptions to his advice: 1. Don’t continue to invest at the expense of your mental health. “For those so skittish they truly can’t stand to see their balance go down one more month, they should put their money in a money market

account,” he says. “I don’t advise that, but if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the fire.”

2. Don’t keep pouring cash into college savings accounts if your son or daughter needs the money in one or two years.

“In that case, your investments need to be liquid. You’re better off in a fixed-income product as a short-term CD.”

‘‘

Financial advisors such as Ted Zale have spent several months fielding the same question from clients shaken

by Wall Street’s plunge: “Should I keep investing right now?”

Zale, a vice president at Morgan Stanley, gives the same answer every time.

We’ve never tried to budget for this much of a decrease,” Pastula says. “This (crisis) will affect more of what we do and how we do it than any other economic shock we’ve had in the past. It’s hard because a lot of the activities and ministries we offer are in greater demand. of work hours for diocese staff.

The 5 percent funding cut will create challenges for the Catholic Charities agencies, which offer a wide variety of ministries, including counseling, adoption and foster-care services, and provide

help with basic needs.

The eight agencies – which served almost 90,000 people in 2007 – used the money mainly to cover the cost of providing services to people who cannot afford to pay for them, according to Chris Root, chairman

of the Department of

Catholic Charities.

How one family is coping

On the surface, Michael Draminski has many reasons to feel miserable.

The Lansing-area man is Exhibit A for the hardships created by the current economic crisis. Once a mid-level manager in the title insurance industry, Mike has lost two jobs in just over two years due to corporate downsizing. As of January, he was still searching for work to help support his wife, Lynda, and their two children.

But financial struggles have not broken Mike’s spirit. In fact, the 44-year-old Michigan State University graduate calls his trying circumstances a blessing.

“I’m hard pressed to say any negatives have come out of it,” says Mike, who worships at Lansing’s Immaculate Heart of Mary parish. “This has certainly helped me realize I can be happy, if not happier, with less.”

Mike was stunned in September 2006 when he was one of several employees let go without warning by LandAmerica Financial Group, a now-bankrupt firm where he’d worked for about 10 years. After several months of searching, Mike landed a similar position in Canton. But he was laid off again in June 2008.

Despite holding a bachelor’s degree and boasting a wealth of industry experience on his resume, Mike has yet to find a new job. His Catholic faith, however, has helped calm fears about the future.

“I have a peace about it that I can’t explain other than to say I’ve grown much closer to God than I’ve ever been in my life,” Mike says.

“We’ll have less flexibility now to fill in those gaps,” Root says. “As needs are rising, our dollars are reduced. We’re trying to make the most of what we have.”

In the coming year, the diocese plans to trim another $700,000 from the budget, mainly by reducing staff hours and asking employees to take on a greater share of

Mike began serving on Immaculate Heart of Mary’s stewardship committee about the same time his job troubles started. The experience shaped his perspective on the treasures, time and talents we receive and give back to God. “I recognize God has always taken care of me and he always will,” Mike says. “If he wants me to have to have a job, I’d dare somebody not to give me one.”

Thanks to a recent extension of unemployment benefits, Mike continued in January to collect a much-needed $640 every two weeks. That money and income from Lynda’s job at a title insurance company enabled the family to make ends meet.

“We’re barely paying the bills, but we are paying them,” Mike says. “We’re still paying our tithe and doing so happily.”

Luxuries such as eating out and going to movies are gone.

Paying for Christmas was a challenge. But the Draminskis have discovered that life without the extras many middle-class families take for granted delivers perks that can’t be purchased.

Mike, for example, was able to spend a memorable summer at home with his son, Sam, 13, and daughter, Grace, 10.

“The situation has brought us closer as a family,” Mike says.

“We talk about God as our provider more than we ever did. We talk about being thankful and how we can show our gratitude.”

24

Times are tough

special report

what can we do? (cont.)

health-care costs, Pastula says.

“We’ve never tried to budget for this much of a decrease,” Pastula says. “This (crisis) will affect more of what we do and how we do it than any other economic shock we’ve had in the past. It’s hard, because a lot of the activities and ministries we offer are in greater demand.”

Slumping tax revenues mean Michigan’s state government faces an immediate $200 million deficit that economists predict could top $1 billion by 2010 unless spending cuts are made.

The struggles center, of course, on the auto industry that’s supported the state for more than a century.

General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC needed billions of dollars in emergency federal bridge loans to avoid bankruptcy and are scrambling to restructure their business plans and labor contracts to stay afloat. Ford Motor Co. did not take loans, but sought a credit line from the U.S. government and was restructuring to help offset slumping sales.

Building cars helped build Michigan’s

middle class and provided widespread prosperity for decades.

But the state’s long reliance on auto-related jobs and failure to diversify economically and intellectually have resulted in

Diocesan Services Appeal Down

$250,000

Diocesan reduction to Catholic Charities funding

supplied the Michigan lifestyle: A boat, two Planned reduction shotguns, two to diocesan budget salmon rods and a place near Traverse City. And we loved it. But now it’s gone – or going.

“Now, we’re in the era of high technology and there are people who can’t even spell those words. Fixing this is like trying to turn the Queen Elizabeth around with a canoe paddle.”

Michigan has plenty of resources to deeper attract new industry, including a wealth and more proof engineering talent, manufacturing longed suffering, University of Michigan might and central geographic location, finance professor David Brophy says.

Brophy says. The key is using those as“This is what we’ve reaped,” says sets to carve a new niche such as renewBrophy, who is a parishioner at St. Mary able energy or building the lithium-ion Student Parish in Ann Arbor. “We got a batteries for plug-in hybrid electric cars. heck of a ride out of the auto industry. It The state can’t count on President

$40,000

$700,000

Helping women find jobs The North End Women’s Life Center at St. Luke’s

O

ne man was shaking because he hadn’t eaten for three days.

Another was shivering because he had no coat – and no job to support his wife and five children.

A 70-year-old woman couldn’t read or sign her name.

Boarded, abandoned homes with no windows or heat were housing people who can’t afford to take the bus to the soup kitchen.

These scenes from the front lines of the war against poverty in Flint are all too common for Sister Carol Weber and her colleagues at the St. Luke North End Women’s (N.E.W.) Life Center.

“It’s extreme poverty and it’s not just a concept,” says Sister Carol, who has ministered in Flint for about 25 years. “It’s real.

It’s true. I’ve seen it.”

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FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Obama’s New Deal-like stimulus plan to save the day, Brophy says.

“A little push start is fine,” he says.

“But how long do you want to be the kid propelling the wheel down the road with the stick?”

Instead, Brophy says, long-term fixes must come from the same intrepid entrepreneurial spirit that’s fueled Michigan industries from the fur trade to lumbering and automobiles.

“You’ve got to earn your way out of these things. We let ourselves get into it by drifting for many years when we could have been getting into other industries. Now we want to fix it

overnight. That’s not going to happen.

We’re now in a nationwide and global recession. Everybody is hanging on to everything they’ve got.”

That’s true throughout the diocese, which includes car towns such as Flint and Lansing and countless employers related to the auto industry.

“We have to come together,” says Father Tom, who is navigating a $250,000 deficit at St. John’s parish elementary school. “We have to be willing to help each other and the church has to take the leadership in doing that. We have to stretch ourselves as much as we can financially in these tough times.”

‘Feed my sheep’ How one city has responded When the need to feed Lansing soared, Mayor Virg Bernero called on the local faith community for help.

The response was overwhelming. Roughly 30 churches, including Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, united to form the Church of Greater Lansing Project and meet a 32 percent increase in demand at Lansing’s food banks.

Together, the churches raised money to feed 2,000 people in the city. On Jan. 18, hundreds of Christians gathered at Lansing’s Eastern High School, unloaded boxes of food from

semi-trucks and delivered it to homes around Lansing.

“It was like nothing we’ve done before,” says Father John Byers of Immaculate Heart of Mary. “It’s a good sign that the Holy Spirit is working in a powerful way to meet the needs of so many people really struggling right now.”

The project was spearheaded

by Trinity Church, a nondenominational church in south Lansing. The city’s Christians are committed to stepping across traditional denominational boundaries to spread the love of Christ and care for the

Sister Carol and Sister Judy Blake are leading a fierce fight to help people survive the economic misery that’s consumed Flint for many years.

About five years ago, they launched the N.E.W. Life Center, which provides a wide variety of support, including life skills education and job training, for at-risk women and children.

Headquartered in a former Flint elementary school, the center offers a three-year program designed to help single mothers by boosting their self-esteem, improving their health and landing jobs that eliminate the need for pubic assistance.

Each Wednesday, women are transported to the center to learn skills such as sewing, knitting, cooking, cake decorating and using a computer.

“The goal is to help them get jobs, although that’s almost impossible in Flint right now,” Sister Carol says. “But we’re

Where can you find help?

If you are facing tough times and need assistance, your Catholic Charities agency can help.

• Catholic Charities of Lenawee 517.263.2191 • Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County 734.971.9781 • Catholic Charities of Shiawasee and Genesee Counties 810.232.9950 • Catholic Social Services of Livingston County 517.545.5944 • Catholic Charities of Jackson 517.782.2551 • St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Lansing 517.323.4734

poor, Father John says.

“This was just the beginning,” he says. “We’ll build on this with a number of initiatives.

That’s what’s exciting to me.”

The church isn’t the only charitable organization struggling to raise cash.

The Capital Area United Way, which contributes money to charities in Clinton, Eaton and

Ingham counties, reports that dollars are disappearing due to the economic crunch.

This year, Capital Area United Way distributed about $1.8 million to a wide variety of programs. But as of January, the group’s annual fundraising campaign was running about $500,000 behind its pace from the previous year.

training them so that when the economy lifts a little, they can go into the work world.”

N.E.W. runs an after-school program for the women’s children, providing help with homework and an evening meal.

The center also operates a food pantry, a literacy program and a weekly street ministry that provides basic necessities to people in surrounding neighborhoods.

“The problems are overwhelming,” says Sister Carol, who along with Sister Judy, worked at St. Luke Parish before its recent merger with St. John Vianney. “But in my prayers, God encourages me to help who I can. That’s what he is calling us to do.”

The N.E.W. Life Center’s annual operating budget of about $150,000 is funding largely through a federal grant and assistance from individual donors, though it has received support from individual parishes and a small grant through the Diocese of Lansing.

To learn more about Flint’s N.E.W. Life Center or to donate, call 1-810-239-8710.

26

things to do:

organ transplants are welcome.

For information, call Deacon Dave Scharf at 810.229.8624.

March café events

Catholic Community of St. Jude, DeWitt will present a parish mission entitled Conversion on March 2, 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. in the church.

St. Mary School in Pinckney is starting a Young Fives program for children. Call 734.878.5616 or e-mail marsabbott@stmarypinckney.org.

Great Lakes Cancer Institute invites you to request a FREE kit to test for colorectal cancer during the month of March. Please call 1.866.696.4524.

REFLECT Singles Retreat, ages 30-50, are invited to register for a life-changing weekend at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt on March 20-22.

Call 989.450.0993 or e-mail reflectsingles@yahoo.com for more details.

Theology on Tap is March 24, 7 p.m. at the Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington, Ann Arbor.

For information, contact Jen Delvaux at 734.821.2126 or jen@stfrancisa2.org.

Regional Day of Reflection on St. Paul, March 8, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at the Weber Center in Adrian.

community

Refresh Retreat for Catholic singles, ages 21-35, on March 13-15. For information, contact Hallie at 740.418.8975 or Eric at 734.697.0823 or e-mail refreshlansing@gmail.com.

St. Mary in Westphalia will have the Fourth Annual Evangelization Conference on March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event is $10 and includes lunch. For information, call 989.587.4201.

Middle school rally will be March 14, at Gabriel Richard High School. For information, contact your parish coordinator of youth ministry.

St. Isidore in Laingsburg is presenting the Salvation Story on March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the parish church.

Most Holy Trinity in Fowler will have a Lenten Mission, March 17-20. For more information, contact the parish at 989.593.2162 or visit the parish Web site at www.mhtparish. com for the mission schedule.

The annual Michigan Young Adult Conference is March 28 at St. Scholastica Parish in Detroit – ages 18 to 35, married or single, with and without children. For information, contact Diocese of Lansing, 517.342.2485 or prinker@ dioceseoflansing.org.

Organ transplant support group has begun at St. Mary Magdalen in Brighton. Pre-transplant, post-transplant or people who want to learn more about

A spring scrapbook crop will be March 20, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. and March 21, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., at St. Mark in Goodrich. To register, call 810.636.2410.

Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart, March 23 and 30, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at St. James in Mason. It’s a two evening program on personally coping with life issues and grieving. Contact Rose at 517.676.9111 for information.

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County needs volunteers to staff the waiting room at the Washtenaw Child Advocacy Center. For information, call 734.544.2909.

March 28-29, Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend at St. Joseph Retreat Center in Jackson. For information or to register, call Wayne and Sue Fransted, 517.522.5121.

Caregiver and Persons with disAbilities Retreat at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on March 28. Reservations are required. Call Colleen Andrew, 517.342.2560.

Spring into Hope is sponsored

by Youth to Youth at Mt. Zion Pastoral Center in Flushing on March 28. For information, call 810.639.7175.

The fourth Annual Steak & Song fundraiser for the St. Thomas Aquinas Music Ministry will be April 25 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. in the school gym, 915 Alton, East Lansing.

Contact the church office, 517.351.7215 for tickets.

Flint Newman Center at St.

St. Mary in Charlotte has adult faith formation classes on Sundays from 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in the school library.

A Bible study of St. Paul will be at St. Joseph Shrine in Brooklyn on March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2 at 1:30 p.m.

Adventures in Revelation Bible study will be 7 p.m.-8:40 p.m., March 4 and 18 at St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing. To register, call 517.351.5460.

Our Father’s Plan Bible Study series is at Holy Spirit in Hamburg, the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. Contact Deacon Gerald Brennan at 810.231.9199.

Tuesdays with Saint Paul is at St. Matthew in Flint, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. For information, call 810.232.0880.

Wednesday morning Bible study of St. Paul’s Letters to the Romans and Galatians is at St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing, 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. For information, call Carol Ann Wilkinson at 517.351.6841.

At our retreat centers St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt programs – 866.669.8321: March 20-22, REFLECT retreat weekend; March 21, Women Friends/Sister Friends Retreat, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and March 28, 2009 Knitting/Crocheting into the Mystery.

Weber Retreat Center, Adrian, program – 517.266.4000: March 19, Let’s Talk: Lent and Holy Week, (choose either the afternoon or evening session) 2p.m.-3:30 p.m. or 6:30p.m.-8 p.m.

The pastoral care department at Sparrow Hospital, 1215 E. Michigan Ave., needs Catholics to visit the sick and patients’ families. For information or to volunteer, call Chaplain Nanette Mathe at 517.354.3880.

Michael Church is open from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. on Tuesdays for college students. For information, call 810.238.7931.

Communal penance service at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lansing on April 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Second Annual Sage-ing Fair, March 7, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Dominican Center at Marywood, 2025 E. Ful-

ton St., Grand Rapids. For information or to register, call 616.454.1241.

Protecting Children from Sexual Predators Online – National expert Robert Hugh Farley will present. April 23: 1-4 p.m., St. Patrick, Brighton and 7-9 p.m., St. Mary Cathedral Hall, Lansing. To register or for infomation, call 517.342.2555 or mgrima@ dioceseoflansing.org.

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Seeking pornography in the past required some risk to one’s anonymity. Today pornography can be accessed while channel surfing or searching the Internet within the privacy of one’s own home.

No hurt/no foul?

Living a chaste life in a world that Includes pornography

Common attitudes toward pornography include feelings that it is harmless and private. The reality is that more and more people are reporting an addiction to pornography. Following are some statistics about pornography in the United States (http://www.internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html):

To live a chaste life in today’s world, a person first needs to value himself or herself. Second, a person needs to value chastity, the right ordering of one’s sexuality according to one’s state in life. Each of us needs to make choices that support how we value ourselves and our sexuality.

•9 0 percent of 8–16-year-olds have viewed porn online (most of them while doing their homework).

• U.S. porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS and NBC ($6.2 billion).

• Approximately 40 million people in the United States are sexually involved on the Internet.

Getting help

Harmful effects of pornography Researchers are learning about the long-term effects of pornography. Drug addicts can get the drug out of their system, but pornographic images stay in the brain forever. Losing the ability to see one’s spouse or the person one is dating as a person of dignity, beauty and worth places a tremendous obstacle in a marriage, dating or friendship relationship.

The church’s teaching about person, love, and sexuality The essence of God is love. God has created us in his image – to give and receive love.

It may be easy to get mired in pornography by oneself, but it is not easy to break free from pornography alone. If you, a friend or a loved one is trapped in a cycle of addiction to pornography, there is help. Please reach out to a confidential group or a professional counselor who understands, has training and works with people to develop healthy ways to express one’s sexuality and regain the ability to relate to others in a wholesome way.

For further information, see the following Web sites: saa-recovery.org/, www.cosa-recovery.org, www.recoverynation.com.

For an extended version of this article please visit: www.dioceseoflansing.org or www.FAITHmag.com.

Questions for discussion: What changes have you noticed regarding the presence of pornography in comparison to ten years ago? What excuses do you hear to justify the use of pornography? Have you noticed changes in persons you know who are using pornography?

hopeful not helpless

Under the radar no more

my story

Each person has dignity. No one should be used by another. Pornography attacks that dignity and uses another human being.

Our first vocation is to be a human person. To be human includes the ability to love and be loved, to give one’s gifts in service, and to relate to “Mystery” – a reality beyond oneself which we call God. To love implies the capacity to have enough sense of self and self-worth that one can relate intimately with others and act for their good without using them for one’s own self-gratification.

The root word of sexuality is sexus which means to cut or divide. Our sexuality is an energy that inclines us into relationship with others. It expresses God’s intention that we find our authentic humanness not in isolation but in connection. Each of us is incomplete in ourselves, seeking completeness in others.

Pornography distorts this view of the human person, love and sexuality. It isolates, closes a person within oneself. It makes the other into an object to be used, not a person to be related to.

Thus pornography frustrates the very purpose of sexuality which is meant to lead to intimacy and union.

27

28

Catholic Schools Week

Bishop Boyea gives his homily during the Catholic Schools week Mass.

Donald Quillan

Donald Quillan

Donald Quillan

Catholic Schools Week Mass was celebrated on Jan. 26, 2009, at St. Mary Cathedral

Bishop Boyea and poster contest winners.

How we celebrated Catholic Schools Week St. John Elementary, Jackson Knowing this year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week was going to be “Celebrate Service,” the staff at St. John Elementary began in September to formulate a year-long plan to emphasize service for the church, the community and another part of the world. The second week of each month is designated as “Service Week.” On Tuesday, the students bring in can tabs they have saved for a fundraising project at Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. On Wednesday, they collect quarters to contribute to a sponsorship program for a young boy named Musa living in the Watoto Childcare Home in Uganda, which cares for children orphaned due to diseases such as AIDS. Then on Friday, the children bring in food to help keep the church’s St. Vincent Food Pantry stocked for those in need.

To date, they have collected 27 pounds of can tabs, $262 of quarters and 2,470 items of food.

St. John will continue its efforts in service throughout the remainder of the school year. It is a gift to be in a Catholic school where the Gospel can be shared in action and word openly and without apology!

St. Mary Cathedral filled with students to celebrate Catholic Schools Week Mass.

St. Joseph School, Howell St. Joseph’s Catholic Schools Week included activities for pre-school through eighth grade.

These included the students collecting food for the parish Food Bank; the younger grades holding a musical chairs event for St. Stephen Church; and the fifth- through eighth-graders participating in a day-long charity basketball event, with the proceeds going to St. Stephen Church in Cumberland, Ky. – a church the school has supported for more than 10 years.

Jackson Catholic Middle School, Jackson As part of the Catholic Schools Week celebration, students, teachers, staff and parents participated in the school’s weekly liturgy. They offered special prayers and blessings for all connected with JCMS. In the school’s language art classes, students wrote letters to their parents thanking them for their support and encouragement.

Since JCMS is a consolidation, a photo was taken of students from each parish and a note signed by those students expressing their appreciation for the financial and spiritual support of the parish was attached to the photo, which was then sent to the pastor.

The school’s Ambassadors Club, which is made up of representatives from the student body, collected winter clothing for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

St. Thomas Aquinas School, East Lansing Each day of the week had a theme. On Jan. 26, the theme was “In Our Community.” The students did boots with a bonus. They brought in a new or gently used pair of boots and stuffed them with hats, mittens or school supplies. These were given to needy Lansing area families.

On Jan. 29, the theme was “Celebrating Students.” The older students were buddied up with the lower elementary grades for activities. All the students were able to eat lunch with their buddy that day.

On Jan. 30, the theme was “In Our Environment.” The students wore the color green or a shirt with an environmental message on it.

There was a waste-free lunch day as well.

29

FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Holy Rosary, Flint - Holy Redeemer, Burton schools slated to close

Meet Deacon Jerry Brennan – the diocese’s new diaconate director

Holy Cross Church to close

Cathedral in Lansing, which is served by two priests.” Bishop Earl Boyea accepted the commission’s recommendation.

In January, Bishop Boyea was informed by the provincial of the Conventual Franciscan Friars that they are indeed going to withdraw from their ministry in Lansing and leave Holy Cross Parish in late June 2009.

After consultation with

The Diocesan Coordinating Commission made the recommendation in June 2008 that “When the Franciscan priests are no longer able to staff Holy Cross in Lansing; the parish status will be reassessed to determine if it will be maintained as a chapel. At that time, the parish may merge with St. Mary

the Presbyteral Council, the bishop made the decision to merge Holy Cross and St. Mary Cathedral parishes in June. Holy Cross Church will close. In his letter Bishop Boyea invited “the parishioners who have provided many charitable services to area residents to continue their fine work by working with (their) colleagues at Saint Mary Cathedral Parish.”

planning tomorrow’s churches

“A deacon is ordained to be configured to Christ as servant and called by the Holy Spirit. My job is to help men discern whether they truly have this call and prepare them for ordination.

Like many of my fellow deacons, I felt this call while working in the secular world.

I have worked primarily in financial and management positions. But there is nothing like holding the head of baby in your hand as you baptize the child and welcome her into the church.

My wife, Ronnie, and I have been happily married for 35 years. We have five wonderful children. I love to spend time with the family and hike.

Today, my hobbies involve working with the poor or troubled youth at Maxey Boys Training Facility.”

To learn about becoming a deacon, please call 517.342.2451.

With a view to strengthening the Catholic presence and mission around the Diocese of Lansing, the diocese began in 1998 an intensive study of parishes and schools through the Office of Pastoral Planning. This process included listening sessions connected with the VOICES process, the self-study through the PEI/SEI, parish assemblies and regional meetings with parish representatives leading to recommendations for the future. The Diocesan Coordinating Commission: “Planning Tomorrow’s Churches” engaged in broad consultation and deliberation in order to make their recommendations to Bishop Boyea last June.

As the diocese moves forward in the implementation of the plan, the educational components have a particular urgency due to a number of factors. If not responded to, they would create further hardship for the educational mission of the church. In the Genesee

Vicariate, the education ministry has been particularly hard hit. Dwindling enrollment and finances, demographic shifts and the overall economy of the Flint area have had a devastating impact on Catholic schools in the area.

Demographic studies anticipate these trends will continue in Genesee.

For these reasons, area pastors, in consultation with the diocesan Department of Education and Catechesis and Bishop Boyea, came to the decision that Holy Rosary School, Flint and Holy Redeemer School, Burton should close at the end of the current school year.

Holy Rosary School may remain open if certain benchmarks are met.

Families of current students of Holy Redeemer and Holy Rosary Schools, if closing, who elect to send their students to either St. John Vianney or St. Pius X Schools in Flint, or St. Mary School in Mt. Morris will receive a one-time financial grant of $1,000 per student for the 2009-10 school year. Also, families of current students of St. Robert Bellarmine in Flushing, St. John the Evangelist in Fenton and Holy Family in Grand Blanc schools will receive a one-time financial grant of $500 per student for the 2009-10 school year.

St. Agnes’ new center dedicated

Donald Quillan

local news

On Jan. 18, Bishop Earl Boyea dedicated the new Parish Life Center at St. Agnes Church in Fowlerville.

The new center features a social hall/gym that can hold up to 300 people. “Our hope,” says Colleen Pryslak, the parish manager for the project, is that the hall will serve both the social and athletic needs of the parish. In addition, it may be available for rental by outside groups.”

The new building also includes two showers. “These,” says Father Lothamer, the pastor, “were put in so St. Agnes could join other area churches in housing the homeless.” Lothamer noted that, in addition to housing the homeless, a committee of parishioners is investigating the possibility of sponsoring a meal once a week for the needy in the community.

Bishop Boyea and Knights of Columbus at the St. Agnes Parish Life Center dedication.

March For Life

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March for Life 2009 FAITH asked: “What was most memorable about the March for Life Rally?”

I have attended the March for Life Rally since I was 8 and every year the trip becomes a richer, more meaningful experience. Now that I am in my 20s, I cannot help but recognize the significance and immediacy of the pro-life movement for my generation. With abortion, contraception, abstinence and other pro-life issues becoming more and more personal to my peers, it is increasingly important to stand up for and protect life at all stages. At one point during the rally, preceding the march, one of the speakers asked to hear from all of the marchers under the age of 30; the response was deafening! The thousands of young men and women who stood up for life on Jan. 22 offer encouragement to young people everywhere and hope for the future of our cause. Choose life!” – Marilynn Anater, student, Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, IN

St. Pius X’s annual Military Mass

local news

At its Military Mass of Appreciate on Jan. 24 the parish was recognized by Operation Care Package of Michigan for its “dedication and support to our American Service Men and Women serving the United States of America.”

The names of 112 soldiers were read during the petitions. If you would like to learn more about supporting our troops, visit www.ocpmi.com.

Sister Joan May enters into eternal life

Each fourth-grade student at St. Mary School in Pinckney was taught how to make a rosary as a one-time class project.

Ten years later, the project has grown into a full-fledged school tradition.

Students make rosaries during their free time throughout the school year, with supplies paid for by parents. At the end of the year, the class partners with the parish’s Rosary Altar Society for selection of a missionary organization to donate the rosaries.

Sister Joan May of St. Mark the Evangelist in Goodrich, age 67, entered into eternal life on Jan. 16, after a sudden heart attack. Her funeral Mass was celebrated on Jan.19 at St. Mark. Bishop Earl Boyea officiated.

Sister Joan entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Mich., on Sept.1, 1959, and was preparing to celebrate her Golden Jubilee – marking 50 years as a religious Sister. She was appointed pastoral coordinator of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Goodrich by Bishop Kenneth Povish in June 1989.

Andrea Seyka, new CEO for St. Vincent Catholic Charities Andrea Seyka joined the charitable organization more than 12 years ago as director of accounting. Since then, the nonprofit has almost doubled in size, and year by year her responsibilities expanded with it. Her job title changed to chief financial officer, then chief operating officer and, last October, she was promoted to chief executive officer.

sharing the wealth

St. Mary students mark 10 years of rosary making

Michigan Catholic Conference’s 2009-10 Advocacy Priorities Recognizing the tremendous budget difficulties that lay ahead, Michigan Catholic Conference announced that protecting statewide programs that benefit Michigan’s poor population will top its advocacy efforts during the 95th legislative session. The conference also will lend its support to any legislation that limits and regulates the destruction of human embryos following the passage of Proposal 2 in November.

Knitting for a difference St. Catherine Labouré in Concord started the program Knitting for a Difference in 2007. The program’s motto is “Making the world a better place – one stitch at a time.” The members work countless hours knitting and crocheting chemo hats and caps for the needy. In 2008, they made 1,061 hats.

Twelve organizations have benefited from this worthwhile ministry. They include the cancer centers in Jackson, Marshall and

Interactive tribute to Cardinal Adam Maida, archbishop of Detroit

The Michigan Catholic Conference’s Web site has an interactive Web page that pays tribute to Cardinal Adam Maida, the archbishop of Detroit, whose resignation was announced Jan. 5 in Rome. Bishop Allen H. Vigneron of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., succeeded him as archbishop of Detroit.

You can visit the interactive web page at: http://www.micatholicconference.org/ public_policy/publications/adam_cardinal _maida.php

Coldwater, Jackson’s Catholic Charities Linen Closet and John George Home for Men. If you are interested in volunteering, donating hats or yarn to this ministry please contact St. Catherine Labouré Catholic Church, c/o Joyce Rochow, 211 Harmon Ave., Concord, MI 49237 or 517.563.2861.

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FAITH Magazine / March 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

What struck me most about the March for Life was related more to the context of the event. With President Obama’s inauguration just two days before, his soaring rhetoric was fresh in the minds of all present, and many of the speakers used his own words to plead for the rights of the innocent unborn. It astonishes me that he can speak about freedom, liberty and rights for all, while at the same time supporting legislation such as Freedom of Choice Act, allowing mothers to deny their own children the right to live and the opportunity to have the freedom to pursue happiness.”

– Mary Zahm, student, Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, IN

Diocesan resources available for the Year of St. Paul

Community’s generosity makes Livingston Catholic Social Services’ programs possible With the support of many individuals and numerous organizations, Livingston County Catholic Social Services was able to provide Christmas gift and food boxes to more than 65 county households, serving some 100 residents.

Holy Family in Grand Blanc sent its evangelization team to Florida at the end of January to be trained to implement the program Parish Evangelizing Cell System. During the Lenten season, the evangelization commission trained all the parish evangelizing cell leaders and they were commissioned on the Feast of Pentecost. If you would like information about this program, please contact Father Kusi Cobona, associate pastor of Holy Family, at 810.694.4891.

The faith’s most famous convert Saul became St. Paul

Bishop Carl F. Mengeling is the retired bishop of the Diocese of Lansing.

D

uring the Pauline Year (June 29, 2008-June 29, 2009) that celebrates the 2,000th anniversary of Paul’s birth, many have been getting to know this “giant of the faith” and our greatest missionary ever. It is already a grace for me!

Like most people, occasionally something comes to me out of the blue – drops like a ton of bricks – and I learn something I’ve sort of known all along. I’ve celebrated the Conversion of St. Paul every Jan. 25. I was ordained a bishop on that day. All these years, my focus was on Saul’s conversion to the Risen Christ who appeared to him and spoke to him on the road to Damascus.

In this Pauline Year, I’ve been reflecting on the three accounts of the conversion in Acts and in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. One

day, it dawned on me that I had missed a basic truth – something so obvious that I had taken it for granted: Yes, Saul joined the Risen Christ, but he also joined the church!

The inseparable union between Christ and his body, the church, is clear from Christ’s

own words. When Saul, who had persecuted the church in Jerusalem and Judea, heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus, the voice said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Saul, who had already encountered Jesus in the Christian communities he had persecuted, immediately entered them in Dmascus, and went on to establish many more churches across the Roman Empire.

Paul’s life and teachings were shaped by these words of Jesus. Several decades after his conversion, in 56 A.D., he wrote to the church at Corinth and used the image of the body to explain the union of Christ and church.

He summed it up in Chapter 12, verse 27: “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.”

When Saul joined Jesus, Saul joined the church!

last word

Holy Family evangelizing with cell system

Four parishioners from St. Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor stand outside the Supreme Court Building at the end of the March for Life in Washington on Jan. 22. They were among hundreds from the Lansing Diocese in the rally. From left are Mike Stephens, Terry Fremuth, Bob Horning and Paul Malocha.

J. Luning

To assist you in celebrating the Year of St. Paul, the Diocese of Lansing’s Web site has created a resource page, which is located at dioceseoflansing.org/Yearof StPaul.html.

St. Thomas the Apostle parishioners attend March for Life 2009

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