March 2010

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i n t h e k n o w w i t h F r . J o e

If God forgives, why confess to a priest? s p e c i a l

r e p o r t

Why are fewer people going to Mass? w o r k

l i f e

Shouldn’t my employer mind his own business?

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A gift brought back to life @

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Father Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude. E-mail: editor@FAITHmag.com.

ve had a love for music for nearly as long as I can remember. As a small child, I loved to sing – at home, in school, in church – it made no difference. My parents recently gave me a cassette recording of me singing Christmas songs at age 4 or 5 with their encouragement.

As an adult, I’m very thankful that my parents encouraged me to develop that gift of the ability to sing, as it is now an indispensable part of my priestly ministry and is a gift that continues to enrich my life and offer me a great deal of enjoyment.

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

March 2010 • Volume 11: Issue 2

FA I T H Catholic Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Joanne Eason DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY MARKETING

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR

Lynne Ridenour

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

Janna Stellwag Abby Wieber

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

InnerWorkings

from the editor

PRINT MANAGEMENT

At 6 or 7, my parents began to coax thought were more critical have long since the growth of another musical gift in me faded in memory and importance and I find through the gift of piano lessons. My mother myself wondering how I could have let a was an accomplished pianist as a child and more important and life-giving gift become young adult and she played beautifully well dormant and unused. As the saying goes, into her adult years. Unfortunately, arthritis hindsight is always 20-20. has silenced that gift. Mom proved to be a I’ve been thinking about sitting down very capable piano teacher as well. After a at the piano again during these weeks of few years of study with her, I moved on to Lent to see if a dormant gift can be coaxed other private teachers and played through back to life. Perhaps I may be surprised my sophomore year that something that in high school. seemed dead may Mysteriously, through indeed be able to be As my sophomore year brought back to new the power of God, began, I knew that Jesus was raised to new and life. the expectations Isn’t that why wondrous life. He broke the on my time were we long for the going to increase joys of Easter? A bonds of sin and death and rapidly due to wondrous, Godwon for us the gift of eternal increased demands given gift was life – a gift we cannot allow from homework dead, resting in the and extracurricular tomb. Mysteriously, to be squandered and one activities. It soon through the power which we should never take became clear that of God, Jesus was for granted.

I couldn’t keep raised to new and burning the candle wondrous life. He at both ends and that I would have to let broke the bonds of sin and death and won something go in order to maintain some for us the gift of eternal life – a gift we balance in my life. I decided that I would cannot allow to be squandered and one stop piano lessons and take the time that which we should never take for granted.

I had devoted to the piano and apply it Our Lenten journey offers the opportunity to other things that seemed to be more for a similar miracle to be worked in us by important at the time.

God. That which was dead is raised to new It didn’t take long before I stopped life as we are drawn out of our own selfish playing piano altogether. Thirty years habits into renewed, life-giving relationships later, I look back on the decision with a with God and with one another. And so, our fair amount of regret. The activities that I journey in FAITH continues.

Doug Culp Cari Ann DeLamielleure Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle Paul Jarzembowski Rev. Joseph Krupp Dr. Gelasia Marquez Dr. Cathleen McGreal Nancy Schertzing Sister Ann Shields Michelle Sessions DiFranco CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot

PROOFREADING

Carlson Productions Tom Gennara (cover inset) James Luning (cover) Don 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 Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550.

FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 489065550. ©2009 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin

FOUNDING EDITOR

faithcatholic.com

Liturgical Calendar: St. Katharine Drexel, virgin March 3 | St. Casimir March 4 | St. John of God, religious March 8 | St. Frances of Rome, religious March 9 | St. Patrick, bishop M

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FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

God is in the music Helen Wilson has had some tough times – while three of her sisters were dying of breast cancer, her 25-year-old daughter was diagnosed with the same terrible disease. But through it all, Helen kept the faith, and kept on singing. Find out how Helen finds God in music at Christ the King Church in Flint.

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Golfing for God – How Elaine Crosby uses her passion for golf to do good

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Haiti in crisis – What is Catholic Relief Services doing to help?

4 from the bishop Who is a good steward? – Bishop Earl Boyea 5 work life Shouldn’t my employer mind his own business? – Nick Synko 6 parenting journey I can’t stand my son-in-law – three tips to make it work – Dr. Cathleen McGreal

7 marriage matters She says: “He needs to find a job.” He says: “There’s nothing out there.” What do they Do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle 8 culture Managing God’s Gifts – a stewardship journal – Michelle Sessions DiFranco 10 in the know with Fr. Joe If God forgives, why confess to a priest?

– Father Joseph Krupp

11 spiritual popcorn Jesus:The greatest movie star – Paul Jarzembowski 12 theology 101 How can you knowwhat the Bible really means?

– Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L. and Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D

11

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14 spiritual fitness 4 steps to a humble heart – Sister Ann Shields 31 last word What’s a steward? Are you one? – Father Charles Irvin

Workin’ hard for the money?

Or not working at all?

Elizabeth Solsburg is editorial director of FAITH Magazine. She can be reached at esolsburg@FAITHcatholic.com.

@

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verywhere I go, I seem to end up in conversation about the economy. And it’s never about how well we are all doing – everyone seems to be in a constant state of depression. Several of my friends have been downsized out of jobs, and several others would love to get out of really bad work situations – but who can afford to take that risk?

This month’s columns contain a lot of “how to” information – how to take the first steps after losing a job, how to keep your marriage intact when one of you has been laid off, how to avoid losing the job you

do have by doing something stupid – like telling the world on Facebook that you hate your boss.

In our money tip, we asked financial advisor Chris Millio what to do first if you lose

your job. He provides several of the immediate measures you need to take to keep some income flowing. Most important – stay calm, stay prayerful. Your faith really can help you focus your energies where they need to go – on finding new employment.

Jo and Tom Fogle address a common situation for many couples – what to do if one spouse loses a job and the other begins to feel resentful at having to shoulder the entire burden? Resentment can be a marriage-killer – you need to stamp it out as quickly as it rears its ugly head. Tom and Jo will give you a few tips about how to do that.

And if you have a job? Great! Don’t risk it by engaging in behavior that could get you fired. For example, browsing Facebook at work is a no-no. Nick Synko reminds us that we live out our faith at work when we are good stewards of our employer’s time.

And on a practical level, being a model employee may mean you keep your job – while you keep the FAITH.

March 17 | St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the church March 18 | St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary March 19 | St. Toribio de Mogrovejo, bishop March 23

columnists

what you’ll get out of this issue

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inside this issue

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4 n the 12th chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a master who comes home from a wedding feast. If he finds his servants awake when he arrives, Jesus says, the master will have them sit at table and the master will serve them. Jesus then concludes that we do not know when the Son of Man will return, so we must be ready. Jesus finally asks, “Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household?”

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians (4:1-2) calls himself a steward of the mysteries of God; to be a steward, he adds, is to be found trustworthy.

St. Peter, in his first letter (4:10), admonishes his hearers to avoid the evils of the age and, instead, to love one another, especially practicing hospitality. He adds: “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” so that, in all things, God may be glorified.

Stewardship is not about efficiency and organization.

Rather, it is all about giving glory to God by being faithful, wise, trustworthy and generous.

Many begging letters (that’s what my grandmother always called them) come across my desk every day.

My practice used to be just Bishop Earl A. Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. to chuck them into the waste basket. It would be very experienced these great gifts of God not want to share them, good if there were resources to benefit all of them. Since that hand them on, bring others to enjoy this grace? is not possible, however, I have since made it a habit to send Certainly, all of us have heard the phrase, “Time, talent a quick prayer to our Heavenly Father that he look kindly on and treasure.” In our families, these people and their good in our parishes, in our works. Then the request is diocese, and in the universal discarded. Not everything church and world, we are can be done, but it simply to be about giving glory to does not do to completely God. We do so by sharing ignore those who need us. In with others. so doing, we might miss the There is much selfishness opportunity to serve Christ in our world today. It seems the master as he returns at like a world which has been an inconvenient time. untouched by the tremen This summons to be dous gift of God’s own Son stewards, to exercise good pouring out his life and love stewardship falls upon all for us. Protecting who we those who are followers of are and what we have is the Jesus Christ. He does expect watchword for our times, us to handle very carefully instead of the pouring out of the wonderful mysteries we ourselves in sacrificial imitahave been given: salvation, tion of Jesus. This will not grace, the sacraments, the give God glory. church, forgiveness of sins, My sisters and brothers, faith, hope and love. These let us all be good stewards mysteries deserve our of God’s mysteries, generutmost care. ous and faithful, not counting Each of us will care for the cost to ourselves, but these mysteries in different rather laying up treasure for ways, but care for them we ourselves in heaven. must. How can we who have

from the bishop

Who is

a good steward?

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord March 25 | Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion March 28

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FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Q

My boss recently talked with me about how much time I was spending on Facebook. I had Nick Synko can be reached at nsynko@synkoassociates.com. no idea the company was spying on our computer usage. Is this legal?

And even if it is, is it moral? I feel violated!

Shouldn’t my employer

T. Gennara

mind his own business?

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What is the first thing I should do if I lose my job?

Unemployment can be one of the most trying experiences for your whole family; you need

to know how to pull through it.

The important thing is, don’t panic. Here are a few tips to

take while you’re looking for a new job: • Contact the state benefit office to apply for unemployment benefits.

• Check out other ways to get health insurance coverage – losing your job might be considered a “triggering event” that could let you join your spouse’s policy.

If that doesn’t work, you may be eligible for COBRA, a temporary health

insurance coverage program through your previous employer. It’s important to do this quickly – you only have 60 days from the time you’ve lost your job to apply.

• Identify how long your financial reserves will last and create a disciplined budget.

Scrutinize every dollar you spend.

• Contact your bank or mortgage lender and explain your situation.

Request a temporary suspension of home loan payments, or a loan modification to lower payments.

money tip

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ith foreclosures still looming, rising college tuition costs, millions of Americans without health insurance and people forced to put off retirement, it doesn’t seem like you’d be able to save a dime.

But that doesn’t have to be you! We asked financial expert Chris Millio for some common-sense tips to ride out the financial storm.

faith is hardly ever as productive as letting others observe how you live your life at work.

Considering that excellence in all you do honors the Lord, it is then relatively easy to see that excellence at work is an appropriate form of honoring him. Questions such as, “How can I do more?

How can I waste less? How can I help you?” are forms of service to others. How you improve upon even minor things, which all add up, are questions of major importance in today’s highly competitive world of work. Employees who routinely exhibit excellence at work, which is noticed by others, are, in fact, performing an appropriate form of workplace evangelization. By honoring your time at work and legitimate authority, you may become a role model of a Christian life well lived. Perhaps you may then earn the respect of your boss and others and become one of the individuals who, ever so subtly, is a workplace evangelist.

work life

I agree – if you were at lunch on your own time, using your own computer and connecting to the Internet via a non-company connection. On the other hand, if you were using the computer provided by the company and were “on the clock,” then questions of morality, as you suggest, are worth considering.

Today, most employers have established policies that guide workplace Internet usage. Even if your company has not done so, that still does not exempt you from considering that, while you are at work, you are being paid to wisely use your time on behalf of the organization.

If you were to look at the situation you describe from your employer’s perspective, “Thou shalt not steal” may at first seem a bit harsh. However, lost time, lost thoughts and lost opportunities while being paid to be productive are a major concern to most organizations. While few of us would ever consider taking money from the company cash drawer, time lost converts to money lost.

Therefore, if Facebook or other Internet activities are distracting you from providing your employer a full measure of effort, then the conversation your boss had with you is appropriate.

At the same time, your question is an opportunity to address an even larger issue – how we, as Catholics, should conduct ourselves in the workplace. Are we role models of excellence, mindful of others, fully using our talents and paying appropriate attention to and respecting legitimate authority? Proselytizing to others about our

6 I can’t stand my son-in-law

three tips to make it work Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual advisor.

parenting journey

Q A

A major theme of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding was the distress felt by the bride’s parents when they realized she loved a man who wasn’t Greek. The bride,Toula, didn’t know whether her father was more upset that her fiancé, Ian, was a Xeno (foreigner) or a vegetarian! Ian worked hard to be accepted by Toula’s family, including joining the Greek Orthodox Church. By the day of the wedding, all was well – Toula’s parents even gave the young couple the house next door to their own as a gift. Intergenerational conflicts aren’t typically resolved as smoothly in real life as they are in Hollywood!

The die is cast. As parents, we picture rosy scenarios for our children’s futures, but, as they grow, their choices often stray from our expectations. Sometimes parents are surprised by career choices, disappointed when a promising talent turns into a weekend hobby. Other times, someone is a great fit in the family system and then the couple breaks up! But now your daughter has made a lifetime commitment. Your son-inlaw may rub you the wrong way in terms of his personality or his behaviors may trigger red flags. It is likely that your daughter was aware of your feelings before the marriage. But now she has made her choice and that commitment must be respected.

Q

Whenever our neighbor is away, his son has friends over and plays his car stereo with that loud, low beat that rattles all the windows in the neighborhood. This is ruining our Saturdays – what can we do?

Adolescents have a tendency to take risks and test the limits of authority in every possible way.

I wonder if your neighbor knows what his son does when he is away.

Remember that Jesus told us to love one another as we love ourselves. If this

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were your child, wouldn’t you want to know? So, the first step in trying to solve this annoying situation is talking with your neighbor.

You can present yourself as a concerned adult who needs to inform the parent about what happens in his absence. If he is receptive, you can describe how this

• Focus on the goal. When a couple marry, encouragement and support are much more valuable than gifts from their registry lists. In your daughter’s case, this is difficult – but the goal is for their marriage to work. Accept the fact that you may never like your son-in-law, but he is now family. Give him a small photo of your daughter as a baby and ask for one of him to sit beside hers at your house. All babies are likeable!

• Seek out the positive. Instead of compartmentalizing your relationship with your daughter, also schedule brief interactions with the young couple. Treat them to a movie. Show them a favorite hiking trail, restaurant or other site from your newlywed days. Take them to buy a small tree for their home and help them plant it. Search for plants for their apartment. Look for just one positive aspect about your sonin-law each time you see him and write it down in a notebook!

• Pray that your feelings change toward your son-in-law and that this marriage be a healthy one: “Subject to one another out of reverence for Christ,’ (Eph 5:21) and [through Christ] to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love” (CCC #1642).

Our neighbor’s son is always playing loud, thumping music Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

youngster is “ruining” all the Saturdays for the rest of the neighborhood.

But, it could also be that the parent doesn’t think this is any big deal and dismisses your complaint.

He may make excuses for his son or accuse you of making a mountain out of a molehill. You could

offer to videotape the next time it happens so he can witness the intensity of the noise. My guess is that your neighbor will not appreciate the potential embarrassment of that offer and probably will talk to his son and you will be able to enjoy your Saturdays again.

S. Kendrick

what gets my goat

My husband and I really dislike our new son-in-law. I want to maintain a relationship with our daughter, but it’s hard to overlook the way we feel about her husband.

What can we do?

So, how do you make this work?

FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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He needs to find a job Sylvie says: A few years ago, everything was rosy.

Tom was making great money and I was working part-time to save for the kids’ college educations. Then the economy tanked, Tom’s company closed and he lost his job. We’ve had to pull the kids out of their schools and I’m working full time in a job I hate.

I don’t have nearly the time to spend with my family that I used to have.

And Tom is doing nothing but sitting around complaining. He needs to at least try to find a job!

There’s nothing out there!

He said | She said

Tom says: Sylvie doesn’t seem to understand how hard it is for a man my age to get Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage. another job. There is nothing out there. After years of buildenough to wait for a position, then keeping your skills sharp ing my career, I’m back at the bottom and it’s really depressing. by going back to school or volunteering may help you move Without my work, I feel like I’m nothing. You would think Sylvie out of a depressed mood. could be a little more sympathetic.

Life is not always fair, and, when it throws us a curve, we can either adjust our lives to meet the new challenge or we can How ironic as I (Tom), too, was downsized become paralyzed – taking no action and waiting to be dished not just once in my career, but twice! From more of the same. We have always found that by taking the first-hand experience, both Jo and I can initiative and re-inventing ourselves as husband and wife, and as truly relate to this situation. Without trying family, we have been able to steer a course in life that is acceptto simplify the circumstance, there are three actions we have found essential for our relationship to survive the loss of an in- able to each of us. Taking the helm of life and determining the direction we should take is much better than just riding along – come and the devastating feelings associated with losing a job letting someone else direct what we do and where we end up. and being required to start at the bottom again. First is heartto-heart communications between us; second is an opportunity The time for joint action from Sylvie and Tom is now. Procrastinating will only exacerbate an already difficult situation. to re-invent ourselves as a couple and as a family unit; and Finally, and most important, pray together, asking God what third is to take it to prayer. Let us expand on these points as it he desires. We have found that when challenging situations relates to Sylvie and Tom. First, we can almost guarantee that without a level of commu- are encountered, most often God has a different plan for our relationship than we originally did. Discerning God’s plan means nication that encompasses feelings, thoughts, desires and needs, we need to be open to the Holy Spirit’s prodding, open to hidTom and Sylvie will find it extremely difficult to maintain their marital relationship where “two shall become one.” Jo and I have den opportunities and open to making changes, no matter how difficult they may appear. Sylvie and Tom should remember that found that being sensitive to each other’s feelings helps our conchange is slow, so be patient and the unconditional love you give fidence level to be able to share openly and honestly in creating each other will get you through this hurdle in life. a new plan of action that is acceptable to us both.

Through it all, be assured that God will be there to provide the No doubt, in this economy, it is tough to find a job – pargrace and strength needed to keep your relationship growing so you ticularly if you will only accept a position at or above your previous wage and skill level. If you are economically fortunate can take advantage of new growth potential and opportunities.

what do they do?

your marriage matters

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Managing God’s Gifts a stewardship journal

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By Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Photography by Philip Shippert

culture

ince birth, my 4-year-old daughter has been quiet, independent, sweet and easy to please. As an infant, she hardly fussed; even today, she isn’t the whining type if things don’t go “her way.” Heck, I don’t even know when she’s sick unless she’s running a fever of 102 or higher, since she rarely complains about anything.

Often, I have used her pleasant and easy demeanor to my advantage to clean the house, work on freelance projects or even delve into something fun. It was the perfect routine while my other little guy napped in the afternoon: I would get work done while she quietly played in her bedroom. We had a good thing going. That’s what I thought, anyway. Until my little girl uttered something that proved otherwise and would forever change the way I manage my time.

As I was sitting in front of my computer, I heard her muffled little feet creep up behind me. In her sweet little singsong voice, she asked, “Mommy, how come you never play with me while Joey sleeps?”

My heart sank. Her question elicited mixed feelings of sweet affection and guilt. I didn’t know whether to reply with the proverbial and cute “awww” or cry.

I knew right then I had to shuffle things around on the “to do” list in my own life.

My heart was in the right place with wanting to give of my time and talents. I was just failing miserably at being a good

Stewardship Journal Supplies: • 9 ¾” x 7 ½” composition notebook • Two 11 ¾” x 7 ½” pieces of patterned paper • Two 9 ½” x 7 ½” pieces of patterned paper • Metal frame embellishment • Regal paper clip (or any flat paper clip) • 36 inches of ribbon (1 inch wide to cover spine and right margin of inside cover) • Computer and printer • Metal ruler • Utility or craft knife • Double-sided tape (or any scrapbook adhesive)

steward and managing all of it. Especially the one gift from God that trumps everything he’s entrusted me with – my children.

So how does one go about fixing all of this? For me it took some introspection, prayer and prioritizing. And, yes, taking on yet another project.

But this one helps me to better manage my time, talents and treasure day by day. It is a personalized journal where I can write down a daily task or goal that is specially chosen to help me (or sometimes force me) to be a better steward of my gifts.

I like to think of it as a documentation of a day in the life of a busy mom, as well as a way to make good use of my time that best serves God. But it isn’t just for moms; anyone can benefit from one of these. It’s amazing how much more one can utilize their God-given gifts with the help of this fun project. I encourage you to try it for yourself.

1

Type and print any copy, and trim all pieces of patterned paper to their appropriate sizes.

2

Adhere an 11 ¾” x 7 ½” piece of patterned paper on front cover of composition notebook, leaving the taped binding exposed and a 1” border on top, bottom and right side.

Repeat this process on back cover with remaining 11 ¾” x 7 ½” piece of paper.

3

On the inside front cover, fold corners over and then the remaining sides.

Place regal paper clip on top of a 9 ½” x 7

½” piece of paper and adhere on the inside front cover. Trim 1/8” corner off of the top and bottom left side (to match up with the folded corners). Repeat this process on the back cover (trimming 1/8” corner off of the top and bottom right side).

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Adhere title and frame to front cover. Tie ribbon to cover the spine and right margin of the inside cover. If you wish, adhere a 1” strip of scrap patterned paper on left margin of inside back cover (to cover exposed area on top and bottom).

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If God forgives, T. Gennara

why confess to a priest? @

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 1500 E. Saginaw, Lansing, MI 48906 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

Q in the know with Fr. Joe

Why should I go to confession? My non-Catholic friends tell me they’re forgiven by praying directly to God; why aren’t Catholics? And if I do have to go, how often?

This is a really relevant issue for us right now in Lent.

We start by looking at some misconceptions about ourselves, the world around us and the nature of sin and grace.

The first and biggest misconception we have seems to revolve around the idea that sin is somehow just about “me and God.” Humans are communal creatures and everything we do, good or bad, reaches out and touches someone. Perhaps the best analogy is to think of sin as a wild dog that we cut loose in a room full of people – someone is going to get bitten and we have no control over that once we’ve loosed the dog.

The most obvious example of this is in the basis of what we believe: We were all condemned by the sin of Adam and all saved by the obedience of Jesus. Beyond that, on a personal and practical level,

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think of how someone else’s sin can change our day and the way we relate the rest of that day.

We can look at the big, crazy examples from our lives. Just last year, at the high school where I was chaplain, we lost a student and his mom to a drunken driver. How tragic and horrible is that? The world was robbed on that day of the gifts, talents and love of two beautiful

human beings because of one man’s sin. The effects of that are obvious.

Now, before we fall into any kind of self-righteous rage, how about our sins? How about gossip? That little tidbit you passed along to your friend about that one guy at work? What were the effects of that? Were there any positive ones? We even sometimes go so far as to try to call it something like “venting,” so that it sounds healthy instead of sick.

What a mess that can make!

We’ve all been victims and we know how impossible gossip is to fight; yet we don’t hesitate to pass along the bad news and our speculations about other people.

The effects of just that one sin can really cause a world of damage and take people away from each other.

Using that example, we can see how that sin is never “just between God and me.” It’s between the wounded person, the whole world and me.

The easiest response to this is to feel despair, but we’ve got good news that trumps all the bad. God offers us a remedy and a beautiful one at that: The sacrament of reconciliation.

We go to reconciliation because we acknowledge that our sin is communal and God’s mercy is boundless.

A police recruit was asked during the exam, “What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?”

He said: “Call for backup.”

Illustration by Bob Patten

FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Jesus: The greatest movie star Read more of Paul Jarzembowski’s thoughts on www.spiritualpopcorn.blogspot.com.

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t might surprise you to learn that one of the most popular film subjects in the history of Hollywood is Jesus of Nazareth.

Some of the movies are quite direct about the subject, like Mel Gibson’s graphic depiction of the crucifixion in The Passion of the Christ (2004), while others are more veiled references to the “Christ figure” like the titular alien in E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982) and Keanu Reeve’s Neo in The Matrix (1999).

In The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Jesus is the triumphant king of heaven and earth, so much so that many of the celebrities of the day (from Charlton Heston to Sidney Poitier to John Wayne) came to worship him. On the other hand, in Jesus of Nazareth (1977), the messiah is all-too-human, experiencing the first century as a simple Jewish man on a mission to save the people with whom he walked.

In more recent years, Hollywood has hidden the face of Christ in characters like the heroic Man of Steel in Superman (1976), the compassionate selfless mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars (1977) or the mystical master Yoda in The

Empire Strikes Back (1981), the wise and selfsacrificing Spock in The Wrath of Khan (1982), the brave Ellen Ripley who faces off against the demonic creatures in Aliens (1986), and three distinct characters in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003): the king of kings Aragon, the cross-bearing servant Frodo and the resurrected high priest Gandalf.

It says so much about the multi-faceted character of Christ that no one movie can completely say everything there is about Jesus of Nazareth.

And as unique as these treatments of the messiah are, they actually say more about us than they do about Christ.

In the Scriptures, Jesus poses a question to the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mk. 8:27). Today, Jesus might offer a similar question to movie-goers: “Which movie about me do you say that I am?” Perhaps whatever kind of Christ figure we most resonate with can give us insight into the way we connect with our Lord – and be a doorway to a deeper relationship with God. So who do you say Christ is? What image of the savior will you meditate on this Good Friday and Easter Sunday – and, even more importantly, how will you take what you’ve seen on screen and proclaim it to the world by your words and actions?

spiritual popcorn

He forgives us for the horror that we inflict on his creation, whether we meant to or not.

Not only that, but God offers it freely and with joy – wow!

Another great reason for us to go to the sacrament of reconciliation is because we are, ultimately, physical creatures.

We were created with a need to see, to hear and to touch. I can sit here in my room and remind myself that I am forgiven, but when someone else – someone I trust – tells me “God forgives you freely,” there’s some real power to that. We are all aware of our own ability to deceive ourselves, but the priest in the confessional has nothing to gain by lying to us about forgiveness. The conviction in his voice alone can, at times, be a big part of the healing.

As a personal testimony, I have to tell you that regular confession has changed my life.

I’m learning more and more how deep the sin in my life goes.

That sounds depressing or sad, but it’s not. Connected to that knowledge is the realization that I am forgiven. More and more, I see that reconciliation is all about maintaining my relationship with Jesus and allowing him to remove everything that blocks me from receiving his love.

So, with all that in mind, how often should you go? Church law is a little bit funny on this, so we’ll have to look at it a couple ways.

First of all, we are required to confess any serious sins at least once a year, so there is that. And it is recommended that we also confess our venial sins.

But, beyond that, if we want to receive Communion, we need to make sure that if we have committed any mortal sins, first we go to confession.

I’ve written tons about mortal sin, so I won’t go into that here, as I’ve run out of space – nothing new, right?

Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

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12

How can you know what the Bible really means?

theology 101

Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L., is Assistant Professor, Department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation, University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation, University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Pilgrimage destination of the month Every year, Catholics from around the globe travel to religiously significant locations in order to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the Catholic faith, to venerate Mary and the saints, to ask for intercessory prayers and to express gratitude. Here is just one of the many places you might want to make a pilgrimage.

Lisieux, France Lisieux was founded more than 2,000 years ago. The town was losing its religious and economic importance until the turn of the 20th century when

France, and later the whole world, in World War II, Lisieux currently discovered the life and receives more than message of a young 2 million pilgrims a Carmelite, Sister Theresa year and the number of the Child Jesus. The continues to grow. town soon became an St. Therese was important shrine of born on Feb. 2, 1873, in Alençon. Therese spirituality. lived in Lisieux for 10 About 100 miles years before entering northwest of Paris, in the Carmelites in 1888 the Normandy region, at the age of 15. In Lisieux is second only St. Therese Therese’s memoirs, Story to Lourdes in terms of a Soul, she explains of number of pilgrims her “little way” to holiness. This “little received in France. Nearly destroyed

Name that church doctor

Q:

A:

St. Anthony of Padua (1195 – 1231) St. Anthony of Padua is the evangelical doctor. He became a member of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) after seeing the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs, who had died in Morocco, being conveyed into a church. From that moment, his one desire was to preach and suffer for Christ’s sake.

He taught theology in various places, but was best known for his oratory. He was a gifted preacher and he worked many miracles. He also labored tirelessly to combat the vices of luxury, avarice, tyranny, and heresy (he actually earned the title of Malleus hereticorum, or Hammer of the Heretics).

He is the patron saint of Portugal, searchers of lost items and travelSt Anthony of Padua ers. with Christ Child His feast day is June 13

The honorary title, “doctor of the church,” is bestowed by the pope in recognition of a person’s contribution to the understanding and interpretation of Sacred Scripture and the development of Christian doctrine.

See if you know which “doctor” said this…

““He prays best who does not know that he is praying.”

FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Q

Can biblical texts have multiple meanings? If yes, how are we to understand the text?

A

Professor Nagel: The question of multiple meanings brings up the matter of the different “senses” that biblical texts can have. For most people, the most interesting sense seems to be the “spiritual” sense – whatever they mean by that. If you ask 30 people to define the spiritual sense, you will often get 30 different answers.

In the church, too, the meaning of the “spiritual” sense has varied over time.

The early church fathers recognized two senses in biblical texts, a literal and a spiritual sense. But since their chief context for interpreting Scripture was the liturgy,

What does that symbol mean?

The sand dollar has been used in modern times as a reminder of the major events in the life of Christ. On one side of the shell appears a flower shape roughly resembling a poinsettia, they emphasized the latter and understood it as the Christological sense of the text, i.e., the text’s meaning when read in light of the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the new life that flows from it.

Later, Thomas Aquinas taught that the most important sense and the starting point of interpreting the Scriptures was the literal sense, i.e. the original meaning of the text for those who heard it. All other senses, including the spiritual,

way” consists not of extraordinary sacrifices, but of the monotony of little acts offered to God through love. Her memoirs were published in more than 60 languages and she quickly became known and venerated throughout the world. In 1925, she was declared a saint.

Notables: • The Carmelite convent that St. Therese entered at age 15 and where she lived a cloistered life of obscurity until her death at age 24.

Les Buissonets

• Les Buissonets (the little bushes) was the home of St. Therese in Lisieux prior to her entry into the convent. It is now a museum.

a reminder of Jesus’ nativity. The shell is pierced with four small holes and one larger one, signifying the four nails and a spear that pierced his body. On the other side is another flower shape resembling a lily, a reminder of his resurrection. A broken shell reveals five tiny bones that resemble doves, a reminder of his Holy Spirit by which he is present with us today. were based necessarily on the literal sense and flowed from it. This meant that any spiritual sense could not contradict the literal sense, but that it must somehow be in line with or develop it.

Father Schoenstene: Biblical texts take on different meanings depending on the historical and cultural context of the community reading them. For example, when Isaiah speaks of the “Suffering Servant,” the Jews of Isaiah’s time would not have understood this as being messianic in nature. Rather, the “Suffering Servant” could have been understood as Israel itself. In contrast, this same text takes on a fuller meaning in the New Testament because of God’s revelation to humanity of himself through the Word, i.e. Jesus Christ.

This is not to suggest the continuum of the truth in the texts is absent, even though the application of the texts may change. The psalms are true though the “meaning” may change through their use in, for example, the liturgy versus private prayer.

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14 Left: The Payment of Dues

by Georges de La Tour, Perhaps, it is not in academic accomplishments or sports or music or drama or art that we take pride, but in our spiritual “accomplishments.” I pray daily, I tithe, I go to confession and eucharistic adoration weekly, I am an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, I teach CCD, I work on the parish bazaar or minister to those in need. Doing these things is wonderful, and we are called to serve, but they can become millstones around our necks when we use them as a security blanket to feel good about ourselves – or as a way of taking out insurance that God will have to love me now because …

Do you get the idea?

That’s how the Pharisee thought. He prided himself on following every jot and tittle of the law – and then despised everyone who did not live up to his standards.

Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the SerNote: his standards. vants of God’s Love. Questions can be addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 When you look at yourself and others, whose stanesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced dards do you use? Do you use yourself as the measurof their own righteousness and despised everyone else. ing stick to determine the ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Phari“value” of others? see and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took A lot of us have fallen into this trap. If we have, God up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I wants us to use this Lent to thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, change our thinking so that dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, we can become more like and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a him! distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast When I get on my “high and prayed, ‘O God be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went horse,” as my father used to call it, I can be judgmental home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be and critical of others. I can humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” Luke 18:9-14. compare myself to others and according to my lights, Sometimes in life, without consciously making a decisee myself as so much better than those around me. God is sion, we “drift” into an attitude in which we see ourselves not pleased! as better than others. Our intellect and/or our talents are In this parable, the tax collector knew that he had commitexcellent and we tend to see ourselves as a “cut above” the ted personal sin and he acknowledged it! He knew that, in rest of humankind. People praise us, we believe what they his position as tax collector, he was working for the Romans say and begin to think and act, quietly at first, as people of and in some ways exploiting his own people. The Scripture the “top tier.” “Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like the does not tell us why he was a tax collector. We can’t hear his rest of men…” reasons and then judge him ourselves as having good reason

4 steps

T. Gennara

to a humble heart

spiritual fitness

“J

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FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

A ‘pearl’ of great value

St. Margaret Clitherow

Feast Day: March 26

Margaret Middleton was born in 1556 in England.

Margaret and her husband, John, supported each other’s faith lives.

Margaret converted to Catholicism during the early years of her marriage.

She supported her husband’s choice to remain an Anglican, as he supported her in her faith. He agreed to allow their three children to be raised as Catholics.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the celebration of Catholic Mass was outlawed. Margaret hid priests in her home and allowed them to say Mass there. Her husband’s brother, John, was one of the priests she housed.

Margaret built secret cupboards for holding the necessities for celebrating the Catholic Mass.

1586 was not an especially good time to be Catholic in England.

to do so. We make so many judgments based on externals!

But Jesus knows the heart and looks at the honesty of the tax collector who is asking God forgiveness for his sins. Jesus also sees the pride and the arrogance of the Pharisee in The his “prayer.”

Pharisee Which one is truly righprided himself on teous?

When you and I stand following every jot before God, we will not be and tittle of the judged on our wealth, our law – and then power, our prestige; the despised everyone judgment of God will not be based on the world’s criteria. who did not live up None of that will have any to his standards. eternal value.

What does have value is living my life, according to the Gospel, thanking God daily that he created me in order that I might be with him in eternal joy! God will never ask how many talents I had, but rather what I did with what he gave me.

Margaret was eventually apprehended and put on trial. At the age of 33, she was condemned to death by compression. It is believed she was pregnant with her fourth child at the time of her execution. She was canonized in 1970 with the appellation, “The Pearl of York.” – Cari Ann DeLamielleure – Illustrations by Chris Sushynski

Spiritual exercises – ask yourself these questions 1. How grateful are you for what you have been given?

2. Do you acknowledge God as the source of all that is good in your life?

3. Do you see him as the origin of all your blessings – however many or few they are?

4. Do you repent when you fail and daily ask his help to live a life pleasing to him?

In other words, as the prophet Micah tells us: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) If you live by these standards, you won’t have time to judge (and most often misjudge) others. Live honorably, act justly, be kind to all and acknowledge God daily as the source of all that is good in your life.

As you practice these things you will “crowd out” the judgmentalism, the negativity toward others. Fear and doubt about yourself will lessen.

As you walk simply and humbly with your God in these ways, you will know his delight in you and that joy, no one can take from you.

saint of the month

Margaret Middleton was born in 1556. She was one of five children, all of whom were raised as Anglicans. Margaret married John Clitherow, a wealthy Protestant who was chamberlain of York.

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“I

love to talk to God all the time,” Helen Wilson sits in Christ the King Catholic Church in Flint; a mischievous smile lights up her face. “Sometimes I’ll try to listen. I’ll say, ‘OK God, talk.” She sits silent for a second or two. “Don’t have

anything to say? Well, let me tell you about this!” She laughs.

“I don’t agree with him all the time. Sometimes I talk to God and say, ‘This is me again, God, and I am way mad at you. Why did you do that?’ Like when three of my sisters were dying of breast cancer and my daughter was diagnosed with it at age 25. When my closest sister and best friend, Sandra, was diagnosed, I said, ‘Oh God, stop. Stop! Please relent.’”

By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Jim Luning

FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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“T 18

“There’s this song that I love to sing. It’s called Alleluia Anyhow. It says,

cover story

‘Alleluia anyhow.

Don’t let life’s problems get you down.

When dark clouds get in your way, lift your hands to God and say, Alleluia ... anyhow.’

“Like old Negro spirituals, you repeat it over and over again until it just gets into you.

“When we were little, we used to sit under our back porch during storms, watching the wind bend these tall, thin trees almost to the ground. They always came back upright. I think about those trees when life sends those storms to me. Why didn’t they break? All I can say is that God never puts more on our shoulders than we can handle. If you give up on the Alleluia Anyhows, you’re just gonna topple.

“Music sustains and comforts in a way I don’t think I can articulate. I don’t think they make words like that.” She sighs, “This feeling you get inside from singing.

What is it? I don’t know. Whatever it is I LOVE it!” She reaches her hands up and out in a gesture of thanks and joy.

H

elen Wilson grew up in Flint with six sisters and three brothers. Her mother walked all 10 children to Mass every Sunday under the watchful eye of Father Norman A. DuKette.

Helen grew up a “DuKette Catholic” and has participated in her parish’s life for more than 30 years as choir director at Christ the King.

Helen remembers the extraordinary priest who introduced her to her faith.

“Father DuKette kept track of us all. He would look out over the congregation every Sunday, and if anyone was missing he called their house after Mass to check up on them. He made sure no one went without food or heat. Yet he kept the heat off all week to save fuel so the church could be warm on Sunday morning.

“He watched over us kids. One day,

when I was 7 or 8, he was giving his sermon and I was whispering something to my sister in the pew. He said from the altar, ‘And Paul said, Helen, stop talking.’

Then he went on with his homily. I was so embarrassed!

“After Mass, I knelt in the aisle as everyone filed out of church.

They patted my shoulder or gave me sympathetic looks as they went by. Pretty soon, the church was empty. I stayed there kneeling in the aisle, but Father didn’t come.

“Eventually, I called out, ‘Father DuKette, I’m here kneeling in the aisle.’

He was back in the vestibule taking off

his vestments. ‘I know,’ he said, and kept changing.

“Another few minutes went by and I called out, ‘Father DuKette, my mother’s gonna wonder where I am if I don’t get

“ I am so glad and thankful, Lord, that you shared in our humanity so that we could share in your divinity!” home pretty soon.’ From the vestibule he replied. ‘Your mother knows where you are, Helen.’

“By this time, my knees were getting pretty sore! Finally, he walked over to

FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

me, and told me to follow him to a seat.

‘Helen,’ he said, ‘these are wonderful stories in the Bible and you are missing them because you can’t stop talking!’

“I was young and I couldn’t be quiet, so I interrupted him. ‘But Father, that’s what you told me last week!’

“He kind of shook his head and said, ‘I know, Helen. I know.’ “‘Let me tell you a story,’ he said, ‘about a carpenter who was driving a nail into a piece of wood. Now this wood was hard, so the first time the carpenter pounded the nail, it barely went in. But he was determined. That carpenter kept pounding and pounding that nail until, finally, it was all the way in!’

“Father DuKette leaned toward me and said, ‘Helen, the board is your head. I am the hammer. And I am going to keep telling you until you see the beauty in the stories and the word of God! One day I will get through to you.’” Helen pauses, caught in her memories of that moment with her mentor and friend.

“It didn’t happen the next week or the week after that,” she continues. “Gradually, though, I started hearing stories and readings that sparked my interest. I wondered, ‘What does that mean?’ Or ‘What does this have to do with me?’ And not just the readings, but the prayers of our Catholic faith! Don’t they just take your breath away? They are so beautiful!

“I

am so glad and thankful, Lord, that you shared in our humanity so that we could share in your divinity! Thank you for allowing us to share in the Eucharist! He’s saying ‘I’m doing this for you, Helen, because I love you. I don’t know how to express that amazing love, except through how I treat others and through music!

“I taught and directed the choir at DuKette Catholic School here in Flint for a lot of years. The majority of our students were Protestant or unchurched, but I wouldn’t teach a song without telling a story about what it means. I love those little rapt faces, looking up and listening to the words of the songs!

“You can’t sing a song just because you’ve got a good voice. It’s got to come from the inside. Like the old Negro spiritual, Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Were you there when they

Father Norman DuKette A month before the stock market crash in 1929, Father Norman DuKette was sent to Flint to begin a parish for black Catholics. The first Mass offered by Father DuKette was at St. Joseph Hungarian Church on the Feast of Christ the King. Because of that, the congregation chose Christ the King as its patron, and eventually raised enough money to buy a house and lots for $4,500 in 1937.

In 1969, the parish faced destruction as I-75 was slated to come through their neighborhood.

The community rallied and built a new rectory on Seymour Street – the first Mass was offered in it on the Feast of Christ the King.

The following year, Father DuKette retired.

– Msgr. George Michalek

nailed him to the tree? Were you there?”

Helen’s face shines with intensity from deep within.

“Feel the story! Were you there when

people were being spat upon or beaten or lynched? Were you there?” Her eyes shine fiercely now. “If you were there, what were you doing? Were you just standing by and watching while this was happening around you? Do you stand by and let this happen today?” She shakes her head and lowers her eyes, “It causes me to tremble.

“Jesus is identifiable in that song, in that experience! He had done nothing wrong, but he freely accepted death on a cross. For me? You did that for me, Lord?!

Our God loves us so much!

“I am just so filled, filled, filled! Sometimes I’ll be in church singing, and then all of a sudden I’m crying and crying! I don’t have the words for it, but I just soar!

“I

s God something, or what?! And this is forever!

God’s not going anywhere.

Every day we love more, live more and grow more.

Everything changes, but God doesn’t change. He’s always the same. He’s always there.

“So when life sends storm clouds and I ask God, ‘Why did you do that?’ He tells me, ‘I know what I’m doing. You’ll be okay, because you’ve got the right stuff.

You are clothed in me.’

“And then comes the music – the songs that lift me up. I know all these years he has been preparing me for whatever is going to happen. Alleluia anyhow.”

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20 What does it mean to maintain a “stewardship way of life?” I’ve always been a church-going Catholic, but several years ago I began a conversion to stewardship as a way of life. This means I view everything in my life – my talents, my time, my treasure – as gifts from God. When you realize God gives us everything we have and everything we need, it’s easier than you might think to share those gifts with others. I realized that Jesus calls me to take care of everyone, not just myself.

When did you start this stewardship lifestyle? Tell us about your journey. Several years ago, when Father Bob McGraw became the pastor at my parish, I welcomed him and said, “If there’s anything you need, let me know.”

Next thing I knew I was on the parish Finance Council. Then Father invited me to attend a meeting of the International Catholic Stewardship Council and my journey toward stewardship took off from there. I’ve attended ICSC annual meetings ever since and am truly living a stewardship life. And it feels great!

Golfing for God How Elaine Crosby uses her passion for golf to do good

J

ackson native Elaine Crosby was a member of the LPGA professional golf tour from 1984 to 1999, winning two major events and racking up an impressive record until her retirement to the LPGA Legends Tour, in which she still plays. Returning to Michigan after living for years in Florida, Elaine started a new online golf venture, findalesson.com, and joined Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish in her hometown. Since 2005, she has been on a journey toward “a stewardship way of life,” thanks to an invitation from her pastor, Father Robert McGraw. FAITH recently caught up with Elaine to learn more about her passion for giving and what she receives in return.

How has your commitment to stewardship affected your faith?

Stewardship puts purpose in everything that I do in my life. It’s a call to discipleship that invites me to use everything I have to serve God. Accepting that call gives life a whole new meaning, a whole new dimension.

This call to stewardship prompts you to support your parish, but also to give generously to the Diocesan Services Appeal, or DSA. Why do you choose to give to DSA? Because I’m asked!

As with all things founded on faith, there’s probably more to it than that. The DSA reflects the combined efforts of parishes across the diocese to provide services and outreach that no single parish could afford to do on its own. Folks should think of the DSA as an umbrella organization of the church that funnels money to programs that support various ministries and our mission as a Catholic community.

Of course, since it’s a ministry of the church, donors don’t ever have

By Marybeth Hicks | Photography by Tom Gennara

FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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to be concerned about what charities might receive their funds. Is this important to you? Yes, the DSA uses a thoughtful approach to dividing the money that is raised. But the Catholic charities it supports are also working toward our stated mission as a church, so donors can have confidence that their contributions are for that purpose.

Can you give another example of stewardship in action other than simply donating funds? As a golfer, my expertise is also a gift from God. So I volunteer to help plan the Bishop’s Golf Outing for seminarians. Also, in the last 10 years, I’ve helped to raise more than $1 million for adoption by hosting the Wendy’s Charity Golf Classic for the LPGA Legends Tour. These are ways to use my God-given talent as a professional

golfer in my discipleship.

What have you learned about the importance of giving through your stewardship journey? Through the International Catholic Stewardship Council, I discovered that Catholics typically give only 1 percent of their income to charity – that’s all charities, not just their parishes. That’s such a small fraction of what we ought to be able to give. We must consider whether we believe what we say we believe – that God will provide for us in all things. I’ve also discovered that it feels really good to tithe! It’s something we do for others that truly benefits us in the process.

What is the state of Diocese of Lansing’s finances?

Questions and answers with Tom Pastula, finance officer, Diocese of Lansing

Is the economy affecting the finances of our parishes and of the diocese? The simple answer is yes – the economy is affecting the finances of both the parishes and the diocese. Some parishes are affected more than others, based on their local conditions. In many communities, the actions of one major employer can have a significant effect on the local parish. In general, parish contributions are slightly down, again with some significant decreases. At the diocese, our DSA exceeded our expectations; however, we had lowered our goal by 10 percent.

What is the state of diocesan finances generally? Dioc-

But there’s a leap of faith that has to happen when you decide to live this way, isn’t there? Oh, yes. I’ve been pursuing this lifestyle for about five years now and I still feel that I’m in the process of conversion. But I’ve been around people who have been living this way for a long time. It’s very powerful.

It causes you to not only respond to requests for support, but to look for ways to be generous toward others.

And it’s not only in terms of our treasure, but in our talent and our time as well. I give a lot of time to serve the church and sometimes people say, “You do so much. It’s too much.” But it’s what I’m called to do. I love it.

esan finances have benefited by the proactive measures taken

by Bishop Boyea this past winter and spring. Unfortunately, this meant that several positions were eliminated and that some staff had a reduction in their hours worked. All diocesan staff also received pay reductions in anticipation of decreased revenues. At this time, it does not appear that any emergency reductions will need to be made to the current year’s budgets.

Planning for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2010, is beginning and we are anticipating a further reduction in diocesan operational funds.

How can families continue to support the diocese through these difficult times? First and foremost, we ask that people pray for the effectiveness of our work as a diocese. On a day-today level, we ask that families discuss the importance of the work their local parish does and evaluate how they can best support that work. The same holds true for the work of the diocese. Additionally, we would ask those who are developing their wills or estate plans to remember their local parish, local and regional schools, and the diocese in these plans.

my story

DSA funds social services programs and other initiatives. Is there anything within the DSA that’s especially important to you? One DSA beneficiary that is close to my heart is funding for priestly vocations. Our college seminarians pay their own way through their undergraduate schooling, aided by the Albers Trust.

That’s very expensive, so anything we can do to offset their costs will help them. And, of course, the diocese pays 100 percent of the education for those studying in a major seminary. That’s a huge expense that we all must share in order to support vocations to the priesthood for our diocese.

Catholic Relief Services

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What is Catholic Relief Services doing to help?

F

AITH interviewed Tom Price, the senior communications manager for Catholic Relief Services, to find out what conditions are like in Port au Prince, and what CRS is doing to help.

numbers

Was anyone from Catholic Relief killed or injured in the earthquake? Before the quake, CRS had 313 people on staff in Haiti, with 120 in Port au Prince. Now, there are more than 325 in Port au Prince. We’ve had some injuries but no deaths, which we are viewing as a minor miracle; we are very grateful. However, many of our staff lost family and friends; the devastation is enormous.

One of our staff members was trapped underneath the rubble in the market area of Port au Prince with her two 12-year-old sons for more than eight hours before being rescued. This was in an area near the cathedral, which collapsed in the quake. Amazingly, she was back at work the next day – although trauma counseling will continue for some time. We’ve been hearing a lot of stories like this – stories of fortitude and endurance.

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% do not have access to an improved water source

Infant mortality rate: 79 per 1,000 live births

What was the impact on the local Catholic community?

As you know, Archbishop Miot’s residence collapsed and he was killed. Archbishop Dolan attended the funeral and Archbishop Miot is being buried next to his devastated cathedral.

At first, we’d heard that a number of seminarians, priests and religious who were attending a religious institute were all killed. However, it appears that was erroneous – the numbers given are estimates of the total Catholic clergy and religious fatalities – at least 100.

We have no firm figures about how the Catholic infrastructure as a whole is doing. From our experience in the field, we know that some parishes are doing better than others.

Can you tell us a little about the scope of the disaster? The scene is as you’ve heard described – there are so many collapsed buildings.

One of our colleagues, who we call “the master of disaster,” said Haiti was the perfect storm for a natural disaster.

It is a major urban center without building codes in a poor country – located on a fault line.

People are living in parks and plazas under tents and tarps – or whatever they can find. Many are sleeping in the open. At night, you can hear singing and praying – there is a lot of noise. The people are not as passive as what you see on TV would suggest – there are a lot of people helping each other. They are sharing food, water, supplies.

When one family has cooking fuel and another has food,

More than

325 80

%

CRS workers in Port au Prince.

of Haitians are Catholic

49.5 years Average life expectancy

48.1 % illiteracy rate

The Diocese of Lansing has raised $380,779 through special collections as of Feb. 15, 2010.

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FAITH Magazine / March 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

they will get together to make sure both families are fed.

The kids are running all over the place. Everything is much more alive than what the TV reports are showing.

Considering the scale of this, there has been very limited violence. The looting has not been on the scale you would expect, even before U.N. and U.S. forces arrived.

What can we do to help? The response from the United States and U.S. Catholics has been overwhelmingly generous. We have raised $19 million and are committed to $25 million. That will not be enough, but is a magnificent start.

Archbishop Dolan of New York went over for the funeral of the archbishop of the Port au Prince and was one of the celebrants. He has also been instrumental in trying to raise money in the U.S. In Haiti’s hour of need, Catholics in the U. S. are really answering the prayer.

To donate: Visit www.crs.org

Above: CRS staff load a truck Catholic Relief workers in with meals-ready-to eat for Haiti are struggling to provide medical staff at St. Francois de food for the tens of thousands Sales hospital. of displaced Haitians who are living in shelters made of sticks and bed sheets. Plastic tarps have been ordered to improve conditions slightly when the rainy season hits in March. But the biggest challenge is distributing food.

A blog from one of the CRS workers in Haiti paints this picture:

Getting that food to all the people in the camp is the challenge.

When CRS distributed more than 1,000 food kits a few days ago at the golf course, thousands of Haitians thronged to the site, pushing against the rope cordon, wanting food. Thanks to Haitian volunteers, CRS staff and the US Army’s 82nd Airborne, order was maintained, but the frustration was palpable. It could have turned unruly quickly with that many hungry people. CRS knows from years of experience you can’t just back up a truck full of food and fling open the doors. There needs to be structure to keep people safe.

That’s why a group of CRS and Caritas staff and volunteers have fanned out in the camp. Some have cans of spray paint, others hold on to about 100 yards of blue rope. A handful of volunteers circles a collection of makeshift tents with the rope. Every shelter in that circle will receive a ticket.Then an X will be painted on the shelter.

There are so many shelters, so close together, the volunteers want to make sure they reach everyone.

Then the team goes tent to tent, pulling back curtains and asking who is the head of the house, then giving them a voucher for two weeks worth of food, stuff like vegetable oil, lentils and bulgar.

It’s a rudimentary method, but it works.

And at this point, that’s what’s most important: Finding something that works. Read more at www.crs.org.

Lane Hartill/Catholic Relief Services

How long will it take to rebuild? The situation is changing slightly as camps are becoming organized. The Haitian government has started busing people out of Port au Prince into rural areas that were not so devastated. The next stage will be forming around the camps, and taking care of the people in them. Then the nations of the world will discuss the rebuilding of the cities. I believe the goal is to get people back into neighborhoods that will be hopefully in better shape than they were before.

One example of locals lifting themselves up and working on the rebuilding effort is that of the CRS AIDS relief leader – a Haitian doctor, Dr. Herby Derenoncourt. They have retooled their cinic and shifted to basic medical care for earthquake victims. Aid has also been distributed through the Catholic Medical Mission Board. Largely, it was this team and Haitian volunteers who got the St. Francois hospital up and running when it had been badly damaged.

What are some challenges facing workers?

Lane Hartill/Catholic Relief Services

What about the orphaned children? There is a lot of movement to help the orphans through the U.S. government and Catholic Charities, our domestic arm. One strategy is opening the borders and easing the adoption process. The goal is to cut out red tape, but we urge people not to be jumping on the adoption bandwagon just yet.

People should remember that in a country like Haiti the extended family is very alive – an orphan is likely to have family or friends or neighbors who may care for them. For the present, the Haitian government and Save the Children will help the orphans, and CRS will get food in to them.

Lane Hartill/Catholic Relief Services

What are CRS strategies to help those in need? We have two major strategies – the first is to distribute food, water and basic medical supplies through smaller church sites, such as parishes. Some are very active, registering people for the lists. Some have trucks. Our target is to provide aid for 150,000 people through these sites.

Our two much larger distribution sites are the P’etionville Golf Course, which has already helped more than 35,000, and Leogane, which is helping 50,000.

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What’s happening with priestly vocations?

By Doug Culp | Photography by Tom Gennara

Mark Rutherford spends a quiet moment with the Lord in the seminary chapel at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Since 1965, what has been the trend What has been Q: in the number of vocations to the Q: the trend across the globe? priesthood in the United States?

A:

According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., there were about 36,000 diocesan priests and 22,700 religious priests in the 195 dioceses or eparchies that belonged to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1965. By 2008, the number of diocesan priests had declined to approximately 27,600, while religious priests were down to just under 13,000.

The number of priestly ordinations also declined from 994 in 1965 to 480 in 2008 and the total number of graduate-level seminarians fell from about 8,300 in 1965 to just below 3,300 in 2008. Not surprisingly, the number of parishes without a resident priest/pastor increased from 549 in 1965 to 3,141 in 2008.

A:

CARA states that, worldwide, there were 270,924 diocesan priests and 148,804 religious priests in 1970. By 2005, these numbers had declined slightly to 269,762 diocesan priests and 136,649 religious priests. At the same time, the number of priestly ordinations increased from just above 4,600 in 1970 to more than 6,600 in 2005, as did the number of graduate-level seminarians (from 33,731 in 1980 to 58,538 in 2005).

these trends amount Q: Do to a crisis in vocations?

A:

The drastic decline in the numbers of priests and seminarians in the United States since 1965 certainly suggests that there is cause for great concern.

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B. Patten

there any positive developments in Q: Are the area of vocations?

A:

Miter: The miter is the tall peaked hat that bishops wear. Its two shield-shaped halves are said to represent the Old and New Testaments. Two strips of fabric called lappets hang down the back. Originally, the lappets could be tied around the chin to prevent the miter from falling off while the bishop was on horseback. The miter is laid aside while the bishop prays. Underneath the miter, the bishop wears a zucchetto, a skullcap which was originally devised to keep hair oil off the miter.

How has Hollywood depicted Catholic priests?

We often hear complaints about how priests and the church are portrayed in the movies. Have things really changed? Take a look back at some priestly depictions from the 1930s and ’40s – an era some call the ‘golden age’ of filmed priest-heroes.

In 1938’s Angels with Dirty Faces, we meet two tough guys who grew up in a tough neighborhood – Hell’s Kitchen in New York City. Jimmy Cagney’s character, Rocky Sullivan, becomes a top-notch criminal.

Jerry Connolly, played by Pat O’Brien, becomes a Catholic priest who returns to the old neighborhood to help kids who are at risk of ending up in reform school themselves. Rocky and Jerry are still friends, but the plot hinges on their opposing views – Rocky has become the idol of neighborhood gangster wannabes. As was typical of movies in the 30s featuring priests, good wins in the end.

DIOCESAN

Thinking about the priesthood? Contact Father Jerry Vincke, jvincke@dioceseoflansing.org. Another ministry supported by the DSA. SERVICES APPEAL

father on film

Yes. For example, CARA indicates the number of vocations to the permanent diaconate in the United States has dramatically increased, from 898 in 1975 to 15,893 in 2008. Globally, the number of permanent deacons increased from just 309 in 1970 to 33,391 in 2005. While this increase can be attributed in part to the response of the church in renewing the role of the diaconate in the face of the shortage of priests, it does offer hopeful signs that the spirit of vocations to the ordained life is alive.

In addition, the Catholic Religious Vocation Nework reported a 62 percent jump in inquiries into Catholic religious life and a 32 percent increase in the number of people in the first stages of formation in 2008 in the Vision VocationMatch.com Second Annual Survey on Trends in Religious Vocation – a positive trend detected in the 2007 survey. The majority of those considering religious life were under 30 years of age and quite serious about their life choice. About one in five plan on entering a religious community in the next year, while another 64 percent are “seriously considering it.”

In a Catholic World Report special report on priestly vocations in December 2007, Jeff Ziegler points to the worldwide growth in the number of seminarians, especially during the pontificate of John Paul II, and explores what several U.S. dioceses that have the highest ratio of diocesan seminarians to Catholics in 2006 are doing amid a declining seminary population. The hope is to glean best practices that can then be employed nationwide to increase the number of vocations.

The fact that many new U.S. priests are in their 30s may be a reason for optimism. According to a report from Catholic News Service and the USCCB, the average age for the class of 2008 was 36 for diocesan priests and 39 for religious priests. Citing another CARA survey, the report indicated that approximately 30 percent of the new priests were between 25 and 29 years of age and 39 percent were in their 30s.

The ordination class of 2008 also was made up of about 33 percent foreign-born ordinands, an indication that the U.S. Catholic Church may be benefiting from the worldwide increase in the number of seminarians.

what is he wearing?

Compounding this decline is the fact that the Catholic population in the U.S. has been increasing. CARA indicates the Catholic population in 1965 was 45.6 million. In 2008, this number had increased to 64.1 million.

Although the overall number of priests has remained somewhat stable globally, the number of parishes without a resident priest/pastor grew from 39,431 in 1970 to 52,509 in 2005. The Catholic population worldwide increased from 653.6 million in 1970 to 1.115 billion in 2005.

In short, the data paint a grim picture of an expanding Catholic Church with an ever-increasing shortage of priests.

It is even more troubling when one considers that the source and summit of the Catholic life is the Eucharist, and it is only the priest who can consecrate the bread and wine.

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things to do:

community

Witnesses to Hope will be March 15, 7:30 p.m., in the sanctuary at Christ the King.

Dorcee Clarey will be the speaker. Sister Ann Shields’ talk from the last Witnesses to Hope is now available to listen to or download on Dorcee’s blog, www.witnessestohope. wordpress.com Go to the Talks tab and click on Witnesses to Hope talks. You can then follow the directions on that page.

Anglican Bishop Sean Larkin from the United Kingdom will be presenting a conference, “Teach and Equip for/in the Healing Ministry” at Mt. Zion, 8228 N. McKinley Rd., Flushing on April 24.

Early registration is $25; at the door is $30 (lunch included). Registration is at 8:15 a.m. Conference runs 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

St. Joseph, Ypsilanti will have Lenten Fish Fry – dates are 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19 and 3/26. The time is 5:30 p.m-7 p.m.

Volunteer opportunity – Loaves and Fishes Ministry, an overnight shelter, is in

March Café events Christ the King, Ann Arbor has a Catholic Literature Book Group, for readers of all ages, that meets the third Monday of every month from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. in the Mengeling Room. For more information, contact Jim Manney at 734.663.9422 or jmanney@ aol.com.

Adult Bible Study, Good Shepherd, Montrose has an Adult Bible Study each Wednesday from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. as part of their Religious Education - Bible Study - Family Night. Class will be led

by Father Steve. Please bring your Bible and join us

St. Pius X, Flint will have March 3 Family Catechesis: Family Faith, Food and Fun with Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.; and on March 7 a Sunday Study group on the Fathers of the Church facilitated by Paul DuBois, 9:30 a.m.-11:20 a.m. in the teachers’ lounge.

Lansing Region Catechist Formation Program, March 20 at St. James, Mason Classes will be: #3 Lesson Planning; #11 Church; #17 Key People of the Old Testament; #4 Catechetical Techniques; #12 Liturgy and Worship; and #18 Gospels.

For more information, contact Kathy Warriner at 517.321.4179 or kwarriner@stgerard.org.

need of volunteers to make dinner the first Wednesday of each month. If you would like to help, e-mail loavessandfishes@voyager.net or call 517.482.2099.

will host a parish mission March 6-10 at 7 p.m. at the church, at 230 E. Vienna St. It will be presented by the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales.

Everyone is welcome!

Burton. Our guest speaker is well-known author Susan Tassone. A continental breakfast and buffet lunch are included in the $10 cost. For details, call 810.962.5353.

Together with Jesus Couple Prayer series for engaged or married couples is six weeks, from Feb. 20-March 27, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at St. Joseph Shrine Family Center in Brooklyn. A $30 donation is requested from each couple. Registration is required. For more information, please call the parish office at 517.467.2106 or visit www.coupleprayer.org.

Upcoming Project 2o3 is March 21 at St. John Vianney in Flint. For more information, contact Amber Zelley, 810.694.9072 ext. 153, coordinator of high school ministry at Holy Family in Grand Blanc.

Lansing Catholic Singles – friends, fellowship, and fun for singles in their mid 30s-50s. Join us for upcoming events: March 19: fish fry dinner and movie night; April 9: outing to Connxtions Comedy Club in Lansing; April 18: Mass and munchies. Come prepared to meet new friends and have a great time!

For more details on these and other activities, call 517.321.7886 or e-mail

S.S. Charles and Helena, Clio

Catholic Charities Catholic Charities

for a night of prayer, worship and fellowship.

Catholic Charities of Jackson County, 407 W. Mechanic, will have Help and Hope Tours on March 1 and April 5 from noon to 1 p.m. This one-hour tour is designed to give you an overview of Catholic Charities of Jackson County. Come enjoy lunch and find out how your donation dollars help the community and find out how you can help. Please bring a friend! To RVSP, call Lisa Gross at 517.262.0466.

As of Jan. 1, 2010, Livingston County Catholic Social Services has changed its name to Livingston County Catholic Charities. The address, phone and all services will remain the same. Our Web address is www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org.

Please see our Web site for upcoming classes and activities.

On April 17, Livingston County Catholic Charities will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at their annual Salute to the Stars event. The event will be held at St. Agnes in Fowlerville and will

Holy Redeemer Council of Catholic Women will hold its Annual Lenten Retreat March 6 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the HR Family Life Center, 1227 E. Bristol Rd,

start with Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Boyea. A reception will follow with dinner, entertainment, the honoring of the Seeker of Justice recipient and several community Stars. For more information or to purchase event or raffle tickets, please contact Julie at 517.545.5944.

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County has an Emergency Food Program. It provides Washtenaw County residents with food on a monthly and/or emergency basis. Clients are also given referrals to other agencies for clothing and other critical services as needed. It is located at the Northside Community Center, 815 Taylor. Hours are: Tuesdays, 3 p.m-7 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Saturdays, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. If you would like to donate food items, call 734.662.4462.

St. Vincent Catholic Charities in Lansing help refugees gain the skills and obtain the tools to become self-sufficient. Rental assistance is provided through partnering with local landlords to obtain housing and casework support is provided in a number of areas to help refugees. For general resettlement and community networking questions, call 517. 323.4734 ext. 1402.

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lansingcatholicsingles@live. com.

Catholic Deaf/HH Ministry will sponsor a retreat for Deaf Community members of the Diocese of Lansing March 12-14 at the De Sales Center in Brooklyn. For more information, please contact Rose Smith at 517.342.2532 or rsmith@dioceseoflansing.org .

A Retrouvaille Alumni Mass with Bishop Boyea will be held March 14 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing.

A potluck meal will follow – desserts will be provided.

St. Pius X Choir, under the

A MOM2MOM resale event is March 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., hosted by the Holy Redeemer Council of Catholic Women in the HR Family Life Center, 1227 E. Bristol Rd, Burton. Great buys on good quality clothing.

Christians Concerned about Mental Illness meetings are held in the Diocesan Center the fourth Tuesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. Meetings are for persons with mental health issues, parents, siblings, friends and advocates to pray, share and have fellowship. Reservations are not required. For more information, contact Joann Davis, director, at

At our retreat centers Dominican Center at Marywood, Grand Rapids, to register or for information, call 616.458.3966 or www. grdominicans.org Mar. 6, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Sage-ing Fair Mar. 1-14, The Hiroshima Poster Display, on the ground floor of Dominican Center Mar. 10, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Ministry Renewal Days – Offer What you Have: Moving from the Paralysis of Scarcity to the Vitality of Abundance Mar. 11-14, Journey into Silence Retreat, Lial Renewal Center, Whitehouse, OH Mar. 25-28, Journey into Silence Retreat, Augustine Center, Conway, Mich.

8 week sessions, Mar. 4-Apr. 22, Yoga, continuing yoga, 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m. and beginning yoga, 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, to register or for information, call 866 669-8321 or www.stfrancis.ws.

Mar. 27, 9 a.m.-noon, Easiest Plants to Grow Weber Center, Adrian, to register for a program or for more information, call 517.266.4000 or www.adriandominicans. org.

Mar. 13, Religious as Edgewalker, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., for women and men religious.

Mar. 24, Up With Laughter, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Can laughter heal? Lunch included.

Mar. 29, Preparing for the Triduum: a Contemplative Experience, 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Free will offering.

Pilgrimage Join Father Bob Roggenbuck on an eight-day pilgrimage to Germany and Austria, May 15-22, 2010. It will feature the Oberammergau Passion Play, which is only put on once every 10 years. For information, contact Karem Saran at ksaran@parishmail.com or 734.482.6240.

Join us for a 9-day pilgrim517.342.2497 or jdavis@ dioceseoflansing.org Volunteers needed – McLaren Visiting Nurse and Hospice is looking for people 18 and older to join its hospice team. For information or to register for training, please call Rosita at 517.975.9915.

REFRESH Catholic Singles Retreat – Are you interested in making new Catholic friends? Renewing your relationship with God? Are you 21 to 35 years of age and single? If so, you may want to consider attending a REFRESH weekend encounter. The next weekend will be held in Howell, March 12-14.

Please contact Katherine at 313.204.7155 or Nick at 734.752.5480; or e-mail refreshlansing@gmail.com.

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held March 12-14 at the Carlton Lodge in Adrian.

For more information or to register for this Catholic marriage enrichment, contact Harry and Karen Porter at 888.628.7433 or go online at www.wwme.org.

April 9-11, a Retrouvaille Retreat will be held at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. For information, please

age to Poland, July 11-19.

We will be visiting the sites of St. Faustina – John Paul II – St. Kolbe – Our Lady of Czestochowa –Auschwitz and more; with a two-night post trip option to Medjugorje. Contact Suzanne Krisak, group coordinator, at 734.944.1599 and 248.931.0194; e-mail skrisak@peoplepc.com or visit www.pilgrimages.com/krisak.

Sponsored by the Spiritual Development Commission St. Andrew Parish Saline.

contact Teresa and Allan Sonfilippo Wilcox, Retrouvaille of Lansing Coordinators at 3053@retrouvaille.org.

The Pregnancy Counseling Center is looking for experienced mothers to serve as mentors for their Stand By Me program. Mentors partner with an expectant or new mother for the first two years of her child’s life. Training is provided.

If you are interested, please call 734.434.3088, or contact Betsy Duncan Spong at bdspong@sbcglobal.net.

St. Mary, Pinckney has a BeFriender Ministry helps those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. It can seem that no one knows what you are going through.

If you would like someone to talk to, who will just listen, contact the parish office at 734.878.3161 for a referral.

Mother Teresa House needs volunteers to help care for terminally ill members of our community.

For more information, call 517.484.5494.

The state Young Adult Conference is March 19-20 at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Lansing. For more information, visit www. micyac.org.

pilgrimage

Good Shepherd Family Life Center in Montrose will have a Spaghetti Dinner on March 6 and a Sunday Breakfast on March 14. For more information, contact the parish at 810.639.7600.

direction of Diane Pierce, will present its 5th annual Lenten Cantata, Once Upon a Tree, March 26 at 7 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Everyone is welcome.

local news

28 Habitat for Humanity goes green

2009 National Catholic Youth Conference

The first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) house by Habitat for Humanity in Lenawee County is being built.

Board member Kay Barber is excited about the house: “Going green is not expensive. It will have a large impact on the homeowner as she has children with health issues. The house will be more efficient and it will be a healthy home for them.

With foam insulation it will be more energy efficient.”

Kevin Brown, instructor of the residential construction class at the Lenawee Intermediate School District said students are committed to the project and sometimes work outside school hours.

Two of the students on the project attend St. Peter Church in Blissfield. Eric Gniewkowski and Bill Becker both said they enjoy helping people.

The National Catholic Youth Conference, “Christ Reigns!”, was held in Kansas City, Mo., Nov 19-22, 2009. Along with Youth Minister Teresa Hurd, three young people from St. Mary, Charlotte attended: Catrina Misiewicz, Brandon Jones and Levi Misiewicz.

Catrina remarked that “The NCYC trip was a great experience for me. I learned a lot, for example: you need to depend on yourself, as well as others. I met many new people, some of whom are my friends now.”

Brandon said that “NCYC was a life-changing event. I like how there were so many kids there. The convention was so big, with more than 20,000 people.” And Levi stated, “My experience at NCYC was excellent! There were very good workshops, which was a great experience for me.”

The next NCYC will be in Indianapolis, Nov. 17-19, 2011.

For more information, contact your parish youth minister.

If you would like to become a volunteer, call 517.265.6157.

Livingston County Catholic Charities and the community – servicing others With the support of many individuals and numerous organizations, Livingston County Catholic Charities was able to provide Christmas gift boxes to approximately 60 Livingston County households. Of the households assisted, 56

were older adults, primarily individuals, and four were families with children. Each assisted individual or family also is served through one of LCCC’s service programs. According to Pam Bolam, director of older adult services, “We would not be able to respond to these needs without the generosity of time, talent and resources from our local community.”

A Cantata for Christmas Sacred Heart Church, Hudson, hosted the 11th annual Christmas Cantata in December. Musical Director Cyndi Wolf recalled that the first year they had four churches and 55 people involved. Now it has grown to represent 34 churches in the area and involve more than 100 singers and musicians.

The Advent season came alive with songs such as Love Came Down at

North End Soup Kitchen receives grant to expand services Catholic Charities’ North End Soup Kitchen is once again expanding its vital services to meet the needs of Flint and Genesee County. NESK will now serve dinner to its patrons for the first time in its 70-year history.

“Thanks to a generous year-end grant of $160,000 from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, we are not only able to extend our meal services, but our Outreach Center services as well,” said NESK Director Jon Manse. “Beginning today, Catholic Charities is pleased to provide a second meal at the Soup Kitchen Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the Outreach Center will be open daily, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

The North End Soup Kitchen is open 365 days a year and served more than 151,000 meals in 2009.

The Outreach Center, 719 E. Moore Ave., is located at the former Sacred Heart Church, directly across from the North End Soup Kitchen, 735 Stewart Ave. For information, contact Jon K. Manse at 810.785.6911.

Christmas and What Can I Give Him? Wolf commented, “They are more than a choir. They are busy dedicated Christians. It is wonderful that so many churches can come together to worship the same God. Their faith combines in song to enjoy the season.”

In addition to the music, the Sacred Heart Rosary Altar Society, with the help of the women’s groups from the other churches, provided a treat-filled reception after the performances.

– Jan Hoffbauer

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St. Louis Center’s 22nd annual fall auction enjoys success

Siena Heights’ Daily Bread Food Kitchen

In 2010, St. Louis Center will be celebrating its 50th anniversary of serving persons with developmental disabilities in Chelsea; for the last 22 of those 50 years, Chelsea Community Hospital has partnered with the local community to present the St. Louis Center Dinner Auction. The event was held on Nov.7, 2009.

The auction sold out once again, as more than 150 people were in attendance. Chair Kathi Neuman remarked, “I was very touched by everyone’s generosity. In these economic times, it was heartwarming to see people open their hearts and their wallets, especially during the special auction items for the residents.”

Along with the money raised from the auction that evening, State Secretary Thomas Marcetti of the Michigan Knights of Columbus presented a check for $20,000 to Father Enzo Addari on behalf of the statewide organization.

A night in Bethlehem

Pam Faust, a parishioner at St. Mary on the Lake in Manitou Beach, found a special way to let others know the parish is with them in prayer.

Five years ago, she started a prayer shawl ministry at St. Mary. Since then, 330 shawls have been crocheted, knitted and sewn. Shawls are different sizes and colors and are for men, women and children. They are a gift given to someone who is lonely, sick, anxious, grieving or in need of comfort. Pam makes a prayer card to accompany each shawl.

According to Jean Schaub, pastoral coordinator, the prayer shawl ministry is contagious: “Good news spreads. We receive thank you cards from people we don’t even know.”

St. Pius X in Flint had a Living Nativity re-enacted on Dec. 12 during its Night in Bethlehem Family Catechesis program.

Families visited baby Jesus in the manger, walked the streets of Bethlehem enjoying crafts, games and dancing, and refreshments.

2010 Right to Life March Spiritus Sanctus Academy in Ann Arbor sent its eighth-grade class to Washington, D.C., for the Right to Life March.

The students said it was an exciting and life-changing experience that their class would never forget.

One student, Josefa Cooper, said, “The March of Life was like a breath of fresh air. It reminded us of why we continue to fight the battles of everyday life. At the Youth Rally and Mass we realized just how many people support our cause and feel the same as we do. It was inspiring to see the faces of the next generation so enthusiastic and passionate about life.”

The students said that seeing more than 300,000 people united in Christ affirmed their optimism about the future.

St. Mary Student Parish Newman Choir’s new CD We Praise Him is a collection of contemporary praise and worship music from the St. Mary Student Parish Newman Choir in Ann Arbor. This collection of 10 songs captures the musical talents of the Newman Choir and band. The styles range from subtle acoustic instrumentation and solo vocals to full choir with praise band backing them up.

For information on purchasing and to preview the songs, please visit www.newmanchoirsmsp.com.

local news

Prayer Shawls

Last year, the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in Adrian served 118,000 meals.

Social worker Kathy PoissonDewitt, a Siena Heights University graduate, said “We always count on the yearly food drive ...”

Social Psychology Professor Jeff Lindstrom encourages his class to raise awareness of the homeless. This year 22 students gave presentations around campus to encourage students and faculty to donate food.

“The students learn things from Jeff that they would never learn in a book,” said PoissonDeWitt, “We would not be able to serve the meals without the kindness of other people.”

Six years ago, when the program started, the students collected two tons of food. This year, they collected about five tons of food.

The students also are required to write about the problem of hunger. Lindstrom said, “Part of their assignment is on reflection and advocacy. I hope these students will be the next generation of food drive people.”

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What in the world?

The top 10 Catholic news events this month

Pro-lifers removed for protesting – Police removed a group of Spanish Right to Life advocates in Madrid outside the site where the European Human Rights Commission was conducting a meeting.

A new position in the Diocese of Lansing’s Safe Environment Office was established to provide greater assistance and access to professional services in cases of abuse. Adrienne Rowland, LMSW, was appointed by Bishop Earl Boyea to serve as the diocese’s first Victim Assistance Coordinator.

In her new role, Rowland will facilitate the procedures to report incidents of abuse by church-affiliated personnel, as well as coordinate treatment, counseling and follow-up care of victims.

Rowland remains in her position as Clinical Director of Catholic Charities of Jackson County, where she provides outpatient therapy, social work services, sex offender therapy, aggression intervention and various prevention programs for Jackson area residents. Her vast experience treating both victims of abuse and abusers, as well as previous experience as a paramedic, give Rowland the unique skill set to help those who initiate the reporting process.

“My job as Victim Assistance Coordinator is to serve as the entry point in the process of reporting any situation in which a church-affiliated employee or volunteer is alleged to have engaged in physical, sexual or emotional abuse,” Rowland explains.

The appointment of a lay member of the church is a key to of-

4

Bishops of Mexico defend true marriage – In defense of true marriage and the family, the Mexican bishops’ conference has called for more debate on the controversial Mexico City law making homosexual unions equal to marriage.

Knights of Columbus rally members to oppose funding of abortion – Following the U.S. bishops’ announcement of their campaign to encourage Catholics to speak out against federal funding of abortion, the Knights of Columbus are also calling upon their members to become active in voicing Catholic concerns.

More than half a million tickets reserved to see Shroud in 2010 – The Shroud will be on exposition at the Cathedral of Turin from April 10 to May 23, 2010. This exposition, which comes 10 years after it was last shown publicly, has already led hundreds of thousands of people to reserve tickets.

fering that support. “Previously, if someone called to allege abuse on the part of a church-affiliated person, the victim had to speak to a church official, typically a priest. The diocese wants to assure that people feel completely comfortable about calling if they feel they’ve been a victim of abuse, so now the first person they will encounter in that process is a lay member of the church who is also a medical and mental health professional.”

“It takes an enormous amount of courage to come forward in these situations, especially if the alleged abuser is someone in a position of authority. The Diocese wants to assure that we provide victims all the support they need if abuse has occurred.”

“Ultimately, the goal is to assure that every person is treated with dignity and respect,” Rowland says. “Talking to someone who is trained to deal with these issues means we’re better able to provide the avenue to healing and restoration.” Rowland says she may refer victims for a variety of programs, from private therapy to healing retreats.

For the most part, Rowland expects to be contacted by persons who have encountered sexually inappropriate behaviors, including sexually offensive comments and sexual harassment. The Safe Environment Office seeks to provide pastoral care for those who have been abused by priests, employees, volunteers or anyone working in their capacity as an affiliate of a parish, school or diocesan office.

Celebrating St. Joseph Day March 19

D. Quillan

local news

Diocese offers help for victims of abuse

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Although everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Italians and Italian-Americans are focused on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph. According to legend, during the Middle Ages, there was a severe drought in Sicily and the people prayed to St. Joseph for rain. In return, they

promised that if he answered their prayers, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a banquet for their patron saint. The fava bean was the crop that saved the population from starvation, and is a traditional part of St. Joseph’s Day altars and traditions.

Giving food to the needy is also a St. Joseph’s Day custom. In some communities, it is traditional to wear red clothing and eat a Sicilian

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Cardinal Bertone urges respect for Christians in Egypt – After recent anti-Christian attacks in Egypt, the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, called for the country to foster collaboration, dialogue and peaceful coexistence among peoples of different faiths in Egypt.

New Canadian bishop is descendant of martyr – Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Nguyen of Toronto is Canada’s first Asian-born bishop and the great-great-grandson of a Vietnamese martyr who suffered drowning rather than renounce his faith.

Caritas aid reaching Haiti – Caritas, the international consortium of Catholic relief agencies, offered first aid and distributed tents and blankets to the victims of the massive earthquake in Haiti.

Archdiocese of Hanoi condemns savage beating – The Archdiocese of Hanoi condemned local government attacks against Catholics at Dong Chiem Parish, including the savage beating of a Redemptorist brother by police.

10 million pilgrims expected at Compostela during holy year – Ten million pilgrims are expected to travel to the northwestern Spanish city to venerate the relics of St. James the Greater during the holy year, which is held whenever his feast day, July 25, falls on a Sunday.

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Vandalism at Fatima Shrine denounced by officials – The Church of the Most Holy Trinity at the Shrine of Fatima in Portugal was attacked in January by vandals who sprayed Islamic graffiti on several statues, including one of Venerable Pope John Paul II.

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What’s a steward?

T. Gennara

Are you one?

Father Charles Irvin is the founding editor of FAITH Magazine and is retired.

D. Quillan

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In reality, a steward is a person who manages another person’s property. We give them different titles, but they are stewards nevertheless. The trustee of a trust is a steward because he or she is entrusted with management and development of another’s property.

The president of a corporation is a steward.

The members of corporate boards of directors are stewards. Bishops are stewards of the resources of their dioceses. Likewise, pastors of parishes have the same function and responsibilities of stewardship.

When God blesses you with a child, is that child yours? Do you “own” that child? Does a baby in its mother’s womb “belong” to its mother, or is that child’s life God-given and belongs to God and not to its mother? And what about your own life? Is it yours or is your life “on loan” from God and to be lived in order to accomplish his purposes?

As Christians, we know deep down in our hearts what the answer is. We know that God has given us life not for our own private purposes but for his. In Genesis, verses 26-29 we read: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image,

after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

The truth is that we are stewards, stewards of the earth and its resources and stewards of our very own lives as well as the lives of those God has given into our care. Can you think of anything you have that you generated solely on your own power? Even artists who we think “created” their works of art in actuality used talents and resources with which they were gifted.

We rightfully speak of artists as “gifted” because we recognize the true source of their talents.

Whatever we accomplish we do so with talents on loan from God. All of this ought to cause us to ponder a bit – to ponder our purposes in making our choices to do whatever we do using the God-given talents and abilities we were given.

So the next time you sing these words, reflect on their meaning: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below …”

FAITH atlast 10 word

pastry known as zeppoli on St. Joseph’s Day. Zeppoli are fluffy cream puffs filled with sweetened ricotta cheese.

On a typical St. Joseph’s Day altar, people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and zeppoli. Foods are traditionally served with bread crumbs to represent sawdust, since St. Joseph was a carpenter.

Because the feast occurs during Lent, no meat is allowed on the celebration table. The altar usually has three tiers to represent the Trinity.

One of the only places to purchase zeppoli is at Roma Bakery in Lansing, which is owned by Sostine and Mena Castriciano, who are parishioners at St. Mary Cathedral.

For years, making zeppoli for St. Joseph Day has been their way of honoring their Sicilian and Calabrian heritage – and of thanking St. Joseph.

n times past, wealthy people employed household staffs of domestic servants to manage tasks in their manors.

Among them were stewards who supervised different operations in those homes. In our day, we hardly know of anyone who is a steward. Or maybe we do.

notes:

Application due date: March 8, 2010

For information or to get an application, contact the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundation at www.glcef.org or call 517.485.8333.

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