March 2011

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LANSING

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FAITH Magazine / March/Lent2011 / www.FAITHmag.com The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

March 2011 • Volume 12: Issue 2

19 Patrick M. O’Brien

PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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19 How to build a spiritual space in your garden | 20 Building on a solid foundation – Why baptism is important to the Wendts | 30 Special Report: The Beatification of John Paul II

Cynthia Vandecar

MARKETING MANAGER

Patrick Dally

ART DIRECTOR

Lynne Hsu

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

Jillane Job

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

InnerWorkings

PRINT MANAGEMENT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot

PROOFREADING

Carlson Productions | Tom Gennara | James Luning (cover) | Don Quillan CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bob Patten | Chris Sushynski CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2011 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

For advertising information: Call 517.853.7600

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Sarah’s mother was Jewish and her father was Muslim, but Sarah’s childhood was mostly unreligious. After her mother converted to Islam, the family practiced what Sarah calls “cafeteria Islam.”

Everything changed when Sarah fell in love with Jim Ashman, a Catholic.

As they planned a Church wedding, Sarah also found herself falling in love with Catholicism. Read more about her faith journey.

4 from the editors How will we be remembered? – Father Dwight Ezop Jack Armstrong – may a kind man rest in peace – Elizabeth Solsburg 6 work life I’m afraid my boss has dementia – Nick Synko 6 happiness Happiness is... Quality time or quantity time with God? – David Paul Eich 8 parenting journey We are having a baby, but all of our friends’ kids are grown

what you’ll get out of this issue

– Dr. Cathleen McGreal

8 what gets my goat How can I get my parents to pay for my wedding?

– Dr. Gelasia Marquez

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10

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9 marriage matters She says: “I dread family holidays – I do all the work.” He says: “I set the table – isn’t that enough?” What do they do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle 10 culture Remembering a shepherd – Michelle Sessions DiFranco 12 in the know with Fr. Joe I can’t carry a tune – why do we have to sing everything at Mass? – Father Joseph Krupp 13 spiritual popcorn Embarking on a Lenten journey – Paul Jarzembowski 14 theology 101 What will we be saying differently at Mass? The translation of the Roman Missal – Greetings and Dialogues – Rita Thiron 16 spiritual fitness Don’t let your emotions rule you! – Sister Ann Shields 18 from the bishop Is the devil real?– Bishop Earl Boyea 31 last word How do we encourage each other to participate in the Church? – Father Charles Irvin

Liturgical Calendar: St. Katharine Drexel, virgin March 3 | St. Casimir March 4 | Ss. Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs March 7 | St. John of God, religious March 8

table of contents

Cari Ann DeLamielleure | Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Doug Culp | Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle | Marybeth Hicks | Rev. Charles Irvin | Paul Jarzembowski | Rev. Joseph Krupp | Dr. Gelasia Marquez | Dr. Cathleen McGreal | Andrew Peltcs | Sister Ann Shields | Todd Schulz

From Muslim to Catholic The journey of a lifetime

4 T. Gennara

How will we be remembered?

O

@

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

from the editors

ccasionally I would find an abandoned insulated coffee mug in a very unlikely place – perhaps in the sacristy at church or in one of the classrooms in the parish hall. Looking at it, I would think to myself, “Jack was here.” Sometimes, while walking through the conference room in the parish offices, I might spot a pile of papers or a jumble of file folders. Once, I even spotted his characteristic floppy gray hat. All telltale signs that Jack was here.

My friend and colleague, Jack Armstrong, died at the end of January after an almost year-long struggle with leukemia. Many of you had the opportunity to meet Jack in the January 2009 issue of FAITH. You may recall that after graduating from college, Jack worked his entire adult life for parishes in the Diocese of Lansing. In a life of ministerial service that spanned more than 40 years, Jack spent 32 of them at the Catholic Community of St. Jude in DeWitt. Jack’s funeral was a celebration of his faith in God and of his faithful service to God’s people of all ages.

As I looked around the

church during the funeral Mass, I saw all sorts of reminders that Jack had been an important part of life in both our parish community and in our diocese. Jack was perhaps most known for his many years as a dedicated youth minister and leader within the youth ministry community in our diocese and in the United States. Many of those who were present for the funeral had been members of Jack’s youth groups through the years. There were also a number of parents who had worked as volunteers in youth ministry.

Fred Carmean, one of Jack’s close friends, reminded the assembly that Jack’s life always

had a soundtrack. Jack’s love for music was a key aspect of his life, and music was one of Jack’s favorite ways of giving praise to God. Jack could often be found with guitar in hand, ready to provide or coordinate the music. The presence of a very large number of musicians, young and old, who provided the music for Jack’s funeral was a reminder that his love for music enabled Jack to help so many people to praise God in song.

Perhaps the most subtle but powerful reminder of Jack’s dedicated ministry could be found in the faces of people like Hans, Craig, Todd, Dana,

Kindness can you accept it as well as give it?

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

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F

ather Dwight has told you about Jack Armstrong, our cover story in January 2009. Jack was a man whose life had been filled with hardship and sorrow. Like Job, he remained faithful to the God he loved – through the losses of his wife, his daughter-in-law, his son. And then through his own struggle with cancer.

Jack had the gift of kindness – you could always count on him for a supportive

shoulder. And he had another gift – he accepted kindness from others with grace and

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Terri, Kathy and so many others who found their way to full membership in the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults – the RCIA. While Jack was perhaps better-known for his many years in youth ministry, he was also equally gifted in helping adults respond to God’s promptings in their hearts as they sought to become Catholic Christians.

The Saturday that we gathered to celebrate Jack’s funeral Mass saw plenty of reminders that Jack had indeed been here – and had used his God-given gifts to help others to seek, find and respond to God’s goodness. I pray that the same may be said of each one of us.

And so our journey in FAITH continues.

appreciation.

In a world that prizes self-sufficiency, we often find it uncomfortable to admit that we need each other. I am all for performing those random acts of kindness we hear about in media stories – but when I’m the recipient, it makes me feel a little helpless – a little dependent. But isn’t that what we are –dependent on God and on each other?

We’d like to hear about the kindness you’ve experienced – either as the giver or the recipient. E-mail your stories to editor@faithmag.com and we’ll consider them for a new section we’re introducing on our website. Please make sure to give us permission to print.

When Jack died, the world lost a kind man and the Church lost a fine minister.

FAITH extends our condolences to his family and everyone whose life he touched.

Ash Wednesday March 9 | St. Patrick, bishop March 17 | St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the Church March 18 | St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary March 19 | Blesse

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FAITH Magazine / March/Lent2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

St. Patrick

the cross-cultural saint Patron of Ireland, Engineers, and Paralegals.

Patrick is captured by Irish raiders.

He escapes back to England.

saint of the month

Patrick was born in Britain, but at 16, was captured by Irish raiders and enslaved.

For six years, he tended the flocks of his owner. During this time, he gained knowledge of Irish language and customs.

He escaped, returned to England and became a priest. He later returned to Ireland as a bishop. He used the clover leaf to explain the Trinity, and legend has it that there are no snakes in Ireland because he banished them

Patrick compensates his former owner.

Evangelizing can happen through other’s cultural customs.

Patrick visited his former owner and compensated him for the loss of a slave. (It was Irish custom to compensate someone if you were responsible for the loss of his slave.) Patrick shows us that evangelization can happen through other’s cultural traditions. He died around 460 A.D. – Chris Sushynski

25%

say they are Catholic

26%

said the same in 1990.

Nearly

75%

of Catholics are optimistic about the Church.

sed Clemens August von Galen, bishop March 22 | St. Toribio de Mogrovejo, bishop March 23 | Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord March 25 | St. Margaret Clitherow, martyr March 26

Source: CARA Summer 2009

1 Amer 5% of have ican adu identi no religio lts u fi from cation, ups 8.2 1990% in

FAITH by the numbers

76% of American adults now identify themselves as Christian, down from 86% in 1990

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I’m afraid my boss has dementia Nick Synko is a professional career and workplace issues coach.

For more information, visit SynkoAssociates.com and CareersThroughFaith.org.

Q

work life

My supervisor always has been a bright and talented guy. But lately, he’s been getting forgetful – to the point that I believe he may have a form of dementia. I don’t know where to turn – he is the head of our corporation and doesn’t have a supervisor. Should I call his wife?

A

As many of us continue to work into our senior years, due to economic challenges or with a sense of service or mission, your question will become a more frequent concern. Essentially, whether it is a question of your boss’ forgetfulness because of too many responsibilities or is truly a deterioration of his faculties is a diagnosis to be made by a medical professional.

From what I have read and experienced as a caregiver to my aging and now deceased parents, a person is highly

likely to overlook associated symptoms and to be defensive about such comments. My father was very defensive about his memory loss; yet, for years, he confided in me about my mother’s forgetfulness and likely dementia. My mother, whose memory was actually intact, never once said anything about my father’s failing memory, even after he was no longer able to play the card games that had been so much a part of his life. She continued always to be devoted to his care.

Following her example, what can be done in your workplace

situation? Mom began by talking with her doctor about Dad’s situation. Similarly, you could make a general inquiry call to an Alzheimer’s association.

Then, if your boss’ symptoms align themselves with possible dementia, I’d begin by making a few confidential notes as you observe memory failure incidents, so that, if and when you are asked for specific examples, you are able to pull together facts, not just a sketchy recall of recent events. As you record these observations, consider

if what you are noticing is a result of a man with too many responsibilities. Perhaps he is very capable of running a corporation, but just needs assistance with managing the many tasks on his desk. Helping him maintain an “Action Register” might be the solution.

If you work with him to review these items on a routine basis, this may be all that’s necessary to keep things from slipping through the cracks.

On the other hand, if his episodes of forgetfulness seriously threaten his ability to do his job and put the company, as well as the jobs of others who work there, at jeopardy, it is time to take a further step. Whom to talk with is more than I can address without further information – it may be his wife or another family member, a member of the Board of Directors or another senior manager. What to say, when and to whom are worthy of prayer.

1 Corinthians 13:1 is an outstanding reminder that no matter what you do, my mother’s example of “love first” is the way to proceed. Love is patient, love is kind… It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Happiness is...

happiness

Quality time or quantity time with God? So which would you rather experience with God:, quality time or quantity time? And if this same God gave you one week to live, what would you do with that gift? Would you run to your TV to make sure you didn’t miss any good movies? Would you block out time to meet with your financial advisor? Would you arrange that last round of golf, throw a party for friends or take that promised vacation? Or would

you do something else? If you have trouble imagining how you would spend your final 168 hours, put yourself in the mindset of the prisoner on death row, the grandparent who lives alone, the child with no parent to play with, or the spouse with no one to love. As you pursue happiness, be sure that you can account for the choices you make with your time – “For you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25: 13)

David Eich’s new book, Happiness: Only in the Next, is Available now at www.FAITHmag.com

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We are having a baby,

T. Gennara

but all of our friends’ kids are grown Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual advisor.

parenting journey

Q

Just after my wife’s 42nd birthday, we were blessed with a daughter. We are thrilled – we’d given up any hope of getting pregnant. Our problem is that all of our friends’ children are much older – and our friends are no longer in “baby mode” when it comes to entertaining or spending time together. What’s our best option for enjoying our own parenthood, while keeping our friends in our lives?

A

One of my vivid memories from adolescence is helping my mother decorate our dining room for a baby shower for one of her good friends.

Elsie and her husband had sons in their late teens when she visited a physician with concerns about her health. As it turned out, she didn’t have an illness. Instead, she was a pregnant empty-nester! What options do you have when you are at a different stage in the family life cycle than your friends?

What time is it on your social clock? We hear so much about our biological clocks, but little about our social clocks. Every culture runs on

a social clock that determines when life events are “supposed” to occur.

In the early 1900s, people tended to get married at later ages than in the 1950s. Now the pendulum is swinging toward marrying at later ages again. Social clocks tell us whether we are in synch with our peers.

Make it win-win when it comes to entertaining. Since your friends are out of “baby mode,” it feels as if you are out-of-synch. Actually this can work to your benefit. Can you hire their preteen to watch over your baby when you entertain them at your home?

Their child earns money and gains valuable child-care experience under your supervision; your friends will have

what gets my goat

Q

I’m getting married next year, and I was planning a big wedding. But my parents have decided they don’t like my fiancé, so they won’t contribute financially. Is there a way to get them to pay their share?

A

Regretfully, both families’ likes and dislikes are an issue that cannot be avoided when a couple decides to get married. And when you marry, you start a family that cannot and will not exist in a vacuum. Your wedding will establish a mutual link between you two, but this link also joins your families. These links also are part of the chain of the community where you live.

Regarding the finances, the social etiquette regarding who pays for what has become more fluid. You shouldn’t expect your parents to pay for your wedding. If your parents are willing to help foot the bill, appreciate their generosity and say thank you. Adjust the elaborateness of

a relaxing evening without the need to worry about supervising their “tween.”

Open yourselves to new friendships. I have friends that first met me as “Kaiti’s mom” or as “Erin’s mom.”

God has blessed your daughter with talents that you haven’t yet discovered and you will be sitting side-by-side at events with parents of children with similar talents. Reach out and make friends when that happens. Whatever the ages of the other parents, you will find that you will have quite a bit in common.

The Jan/Feb Parenting Journey column contained an error regarding Dr. McGreal’s family story. Her grandmother was not adopted and raised by her mother’s best friend, but was informally cared for by her. That friend eventually placed her in an orphanage. The “right family” where she acquired “just the right name” was the Allen family.

FAITH regrets the error.

How can I get my parents to pay for my wedding?

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

your wedding plans to the scope of your budget – not the other way around.

Most of all, it’s important to remember the purpose of a wedding – it’s really not about being a princess for a day.

This is the moment when you and your fiancé will stand before your family, friends and the Church to become one – and to begin a family that is modeled on Christ’s love for the Church. Focus on that, and you will have a beautiful wedding, regardless of who pays for it.

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He said She said

T. Gennara

what do they do?

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

“I dread family holidays – I do all the work.”

Kimberly says: It’s almost Easter again. And again, I’m dreading Easter dinner. Tim’s huge family will be here, just like every holiday, and I’ll be stuck in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, just like every holiday. I love Tim’s family, but holidays with them are wearing me out.

“I set the table – isn’t that enough?”

Tim says: Kimberly always said she loved the energy and fun of my large family. It’s important to me that we see them at the holidays, and we have the biggest house, so we’re the logical place. I do help – I set the table and keep the drinks filled.

Isn’t this what family is all about – spending time together and extending hospitality? too, have extended family in the local area. However, each family offers to assist in various ways, and it lightens the burden on all – especially on the host family. Holiday gatherings can strain a marriage relationship unless both spouses are committed to sharing the load. We have some friends who divide household chores into “pink jobs” and “blue jobs”; pink jobs assigned to the wife, and blue jobs are assigned to the husband. Of course, this means there is an effort, long before the event, when jobs are discussed and each spouse agrees to handle the specific tasks. That way, when the event begins, each spouse knows what is expected and the stress and strain on

table assignment of pink and blue jobs. We are reminded of Proverbs 21:3: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Helping each other out is not a sacrifice if Tim and Kimberly remember that, in a sacramental marriage, a prime goal of each spouse is to get the other one into heaven by lifting them up – being a servant to them – before thinking about their own salvation. Tim might also wish to show a little more compassion and consideration for the effort Kimberly is expending to serve the needs of his family. We suggest, as part of their preparation for the Easter gathering, they to set aside time to communicate about this special occasion and what expectations they desire from each other. Kimberly should share with Tim the feelings she experiences when her hospitality is taken advantage of by some family members.

your marriage matters

Isn’t this the way it usually goes?

Last year, when the Easter get-together was scheduled for this year, the enthusiasm was there. Now that we’re mid-Lent, the weight of the responsibility is getting heavier, life is getting busier, and there are more demands on your time than previously experienced. The idea doesn’t look as attractive as it once did. We believe there is a relatively simple solution to this issue, if Kimberly and Tim put each other as their first priority – and their marriage relationship a priority before extended family relationships.

Jo and I can relate as we,

the marriage relationship are minimized.

It is not a fair distribution of the jobs if the only things on Tim’s list are to set the table and keep the drinks filled; particularly if none of the extended family is helping. It would only be fair if Tim would help in the kitchen and with the cleaning (before, during and after the gathering). A plus is that his actions might be just the incentive and model needed for other family members to assist.

Tim might want to consider how much more Kimberly would enjoy the gatherings if she was not so worn out by doing all the work. A positive measure for Kimberly and Tim would be to give consideration to what is just and what brings about peace; peace within your marriage relationship that comes from putting your spouse’s welfare in front of other family members and justice in the equi-

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remembering a shepherd

I

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FAITH Magazine / March/Lent2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

magine entering a hostile land filled with savage people. You know but a few words of the local tongue, and the natives want you dead or gone, or both.

Now imagine you aren’t just passing through, but you are here to stay, and you have a mission.

Your mission is to convince them that their pagan beliefs are false and that it would be in their best interest to adopt your Catholic faith, which, before your arrival, they had never heard of.

And now imagine that this goal makes them want to kill you even more.

That was what St. Patrick faced centuries ago when, as an evangelist and shepherd of the people, he traveled to the remote fringe of civilization to win Ireland for Christ. It is remarkable what the Church fathers and early Christian evangelists faced. When I think about it, I find that it both motivates and shames me, given how much they risked and suffered compared to what I do all day.

Well, that’s why he’s Saint Patrick and I am just Michelle. I am not about to go traipsing off to the nearest violent, pagan country I can find and set up shop. But there is one thing I can do, and you can as well. With the feast of St. Patrick coming up, we could spend some of the day honoring him, asking him to pray for us and recalling what he did to promote our faith. I have a recipe that fits the theme and honors this man who, in addition to being a shepherd in his youth, blossomed as a true shepherd of the people in his adulthood.

I first tasted this one cold Saturday evening. After sifting through the fridge earlier, trying to figure out what to make for dinner, I came across a package of ground turkey that was about to expire. Feeling uninterested in cooking that afternoon with all that had to be done, I turned to my husband for ideas. “Honey, what should I do with this?” I asked. He replied, “I could make a shepherd’s pie with that.” My eyes grew wide and my ears suddenly perked up. Had he just said that he would do the cooking? With resounding approval, I complimented his brilliant idea!

When I returned home from running errands in the bitter cold, I was greeted with a fire in the fireplace and the wonderful aroma of David’s cooking. The very first bite of his shepherd’s pie was far beyond what I had expected. That incredible recipe is shared below.

Served with a Guinness, I think this recipe rivals anything we might find in Ireland itself, where this dish has its roots. Accompanied by a brief reading about St. Patrick and a prayer for his intervention in our lives, I think my family will enjoy and benefit from a feast day that celebrates a brave and holy man.

Shepherd’s pie

Directions

T. Gennara

Prepare both the boiled and mashed potatoes and set aside. In a large saute pan, cook onions in butter or olive oil for 5-6 minutes or until slightly transparent.

Add mushrooms and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and half of the juice from the can. Add bag of frozen vegetables, and continue to cook on low to medium heat until much of the liquid has reduced.

By Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Photography by Philip Shippert

Meanwhile, in a separate pan, brown the ground turkey or beef and drain the liquid/fat. Add the browned meat to the tomato/vegetable mixture. Add the beef broth, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, dried thyme and dried rosemary. Reduce heat and continue to simmer until mixture thickens.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place the mixture into one 9” x 13” non-stick pan (or two smaller casserole dishes). Remove the bay leaves and gently fold-in cubed potatoes. Spread a 1½- to 2-inch layer of mashed potatoes over the meat mixture, and place a few thin pats of butter on top. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown in areas on top.

culture

• 2-3 medium potatoes (peeled, boiled and cubed) • 1 medium onion chopped • 2 cups chopped white mushrooms • 1 bag frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, corn and green beans) • 3-4 tablespoons butter or olive oil • 1 pound of ground turkey or beef • 1 large (28oz.) can of diced tomatoes (including ½ of the liquid) • 1 small (14.5oz.) can of beef broth • 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce • ½ teaspoon soy sauce

• 2-3 bay leaves • 2 teaspoons dried thyme • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary • 5-6 cups mashed potatoes (instant will work) • salt and pepper to taste

With the feast of St. Patrick coming up, we could spend some of the day honoring him, asking him to pray for us and recalling what he did to promote our faith.

12 Dear Fr. Joe:

I can’t carry a tune – why do we have to sing everything at Mass?

T. Gennara

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 1500 E. Saginaw, Lansing, MI

@ 48906 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

Q

My pastor is apparently a major music fan. It seems as if we sing the entire Mass. I find it very distracting – shouldn’t some parts of the Mass, such as the Our Father, be said?

A in the know with Fr. Joe

I’ve gotten a few of these types of questions. It seems that more and more of the men coming out of seminary are singing the Mass more often.

I know for some it’s incredibly distracting while, for others, it’s incredibly uplifting. I don’t know what to say, except that if it is difficult for you, please take some time to see if you can’t get used to it.

So, why are some priests

now doing this? I’m learning that it’s not coming out of nowhere, but from our tradition.

We need liturgy to be holy, meaning “set apart.”

The liturgy should look and feel like something unique to our experience, all the while incorporating elements of the daily lives we live.

Singing is a good example of that: it’s a part of our daily lives, but also it’s a different enough thing that,

when we hear it in Mass, for example, we pause and recognize its “differentness” (I just made that word up, I think).

There is a document called Sing to the Lord that gives preferences for singing the Mass parts.

Essentially, it says that singing by the gathered assembly and ministers is important at all celebrations. Not every part that can be sung should necessarily be sung at every celebration; rather, “preference should be given to those [parts] that are of greater importance.” So, if you are going to sing parts of the Mass, you have to sing those things that

are most important – you shouldn’t sing the less important parts unless you’re also singing the most important. Hope that makes sense.

So, what are the parts that are most important?

1. The Dialogues and Acclamations 2. Antiphons and Psalms 3. Refrains and repeated responses 4. Hymns So, there we have the beginning of the discussion – let’s always remember to pray that God continues to guide us and that we continue to follow.

I think in the end, we can all agree that the most important thing is our liturgy. This is what defines us as Catholics and, as a result of that, we simply must “get it right.”

Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

15

$

Joe: No sir, I don’t have to, my mom is a good cook.

B. Patten

B. Patten

Teacher : Now, Joe, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?

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FAITH Magazine / March/Lent2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

Embarking on a Lenten journey

Catholic Charities Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, www.csswashtenaw.org – CSSW offers We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes throughout the year. Co-sponsored

by Family Ministry Program of Catholic Charities, classes will be offered March 25-26 at St. Mary, Chelsea; April 29-30 at Holy Trinity, Ypsilanti and May 6-7at Catholic Social Services. To register, please call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit the CSSW website. Classes fill up quickly, so please register early.

E

ach year, Lent gives us an opportunity to take a 40-day journey to go deeper with our faith by strengthening our disciplines of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

It’s a chance to renew our souls and reexamine our lives in light of the Gospel.

The image of journeying is a popular one in movies and television, especially epic tales such as Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars and serialized shows like LOST, Doctor Who and 24. In each, the audience follows a character or a group of people as they embark on a quest, solve a major dilemma or experience personal formation and self-discovery.

One particular story that really echoes the paschal journey of Lent is The Lord of the Rings, originally a trilogy of books written by J.R.R. Tolkein in the 1950s and recently made into three Oscar-winning movies directed by Peter Jackson (released in 2001, 2002 and 2003).

In them, Frodo Baggins, a simple hobbit who courageously takes upon himself the burden of carrying and destroying the dark ring, reminds us of the Lenten directive Jesus offers each of us: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny

himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24). And like Jesus making his journey toward Jerusalem in the New Testament, Frodo sets off toward certain pain and suffering in Mordor with his companions – including one who would ultimately betray him.

These companions engage in their own forms of fasting (relying only on lembas bread and foods from the fields), prayer (taking time for contemplation in Rivendell and Lothlorien), and almsgiving (showing compassion to Gollum) – to prepare them for the larger task of vanquishing evil and bringing peace to Middle Earth. The road on which these fictional travelers walk is not easy – just as our own journeys of faith face challenges from the turmoil, tragedy, and temptations of life.

The Lord of the Rings also reminds us that the journey is never made alone. We go through Lent as a community of faith, with Catholics and Christians around the world – just as Frodo had Sam, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli to accompany him at various stages along his way. Even when it was most difficult for Frodo, it was Sam who lifted him on his shoulders in an act reminiscent of Simon of Cyrene on the way to Calvary. And so we, like this fellowship of the ring, must travel through Lent in fellowship with one another in our shared journey toward the joy of Easter.

spiritual popcorn

Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties, www.ccjax.org – Parents with adolescents who are struggling with a variety of behavioral and social issues now have a local resource. Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties is now offering the Why Try Program at our agency.

The program helps children increase academic success, prevent violence, decrease truancy and dropout rates, and avoid drugs and alcohol. It takes place in a group setting with their peers and is a fun, effective way to re-engage them in life. For more information or to enroll, please call 517.263.2191.

Read more of Paul Jarzembowski’s thoughts on www.spiritualpopcorn.blogspot.com.

Everett

Livingston County Catholic Charities, www. livingstoncatholiccharities.org – March 19, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., the 7th annual Salute to the Stars hosted by Livingston County Catholic Charities at St. Mary Magdalen, 2201 S. Old U.S. 23, Brighton. Cost: $50 per ticket. Join us to celebrate and honor several community stars. Mardi Gras theme – costumes, prizes awarded. Music, silent auction and hors d’ouvres.

For information, contact Julie at 517.545.5944.

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What will we be saying differently at Mass?

Photography by Don Quillan

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these dialogues. (Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine

The translation of the Roman Missal – Greetings and Dialogues

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n the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2011, all Catholic churches in the United States will begin using a revised translation of the book of prayers for Mass (formerly referred to as the Sacramentary). This new Roman Missal will be the third edition since Vatican II. It was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 2000. A year later, a new set of guidelines on how texts were to be translated was issued – Liturgiam Authenticam.

The introductory rites: the Greeting “The rites that precede the Liturgy

of the Word, namely, the Entrance, the Greeting, the Penitential Act, the Kyrie, the Gloria…and the Collect, have the character of a beginning, an introduction, and a preparation. Their purpose is to ensure that the faithful who come together as one, establish communion and dispose themselves properly to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.” (GIRM 46) The introductory rites begin with a few simple words of dialogue between the priest and the people. By their nature, dialogues foster and bring about communion between the priest and all the members of the assembly. They are an outward sign that this is a communal celebration and that we, priest and people, are about to enter into an important liturgical act. It should be the normative practice to sing

Greeting OLD words

NEW words

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

OR

OR

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

OR

OR

The Lord be with you.

The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

People: And with your spirit.

We begin our communal prayer the same way we begin all prayer, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The ancient words and gesture of the Sign of the Cross are not changing.

What follows will change a bit. The priest will say “The Lord be with you.” This line is often used as a greeting or as words of encouragement in Scripture. (cf. Judges 6:12; Ruth 2:4; Luke 1:28) A bishop says, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19, 26; Lk 24:11) The people will respond, “And with your spirit.” This response is a more literal translation of et cum spiritu tuo. It can be found in several places in Scripture, especially in the writings of St. Paul – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” (Gal 6:18; see also 2 Tim 4:22, Philippians 4:23, and Philemon 25)

The new language not only better harmonizes with the Scriptures, but more directly reflects the theology that, through baptism, the Spirit of God dwells in all of us and unites us as one body in Christ. In addition, this will be more in harmony with what other language groups – such as the Spanish, French, German and Italians – have been using for more than 40 years.

This same exchange is repeated elsewhere in Mass – before the Gospel, before the eucharistic prayer and in the concluding rite.

There are two other options for this greeting during the introductory rites: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” which can be found in the conclusion of St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (13.13) or “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7, etc.). To both, we will respond, “And with your spirit.”

With these few words of reverence and mutual respect, we acknowledge the Trinity and embark upon our celebration of the Paschal Mystery – that Christ lived, died and rose for our salvation. It is a journey we began at baptism and a mystery we enter into most fully at each celebration of the Eucharist.

T.T.Gennara Gennara

Rita Thiron is director of the Office of Worship for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and a member of the board of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

theology 101

With a new book and a new set of translation rules, conferences of bishops around the world have been busy for more than a decade, translating the editio typica from the Latin into the language(s) of their people.

The Order of Mass is not changing, but you will notice changes to some of our now-familiar prayers and responses. Over the next several months we will examine those changes and appreciate why they were made. Not only will the new translation be closer to the original Latin in style and structure, but it will deepen our faith by using words that draw on the Church’s rich theological, liturgical, scriptural and patristic traditions.

Worship, 115)

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ur emotions, given us by the Lord, are intended to serve – to serve the truth in love. They are never to be our masters. The world, especially through the media, will try to tell you that you need to fully express all emotions whenever you feel them. They say, let them “rule” you and determine how you will think and act in every situation. The world defines that as an expression of “freedom.” Do you know that is a big lie? When God created us, he gave us an emotional package that – when used under the lordship of Christ – can fuel just anger, courage, hope, love, confidence, joy and peace. In short, we are given the means to serve the Lord and his people with true joy.

T. Gennara

and decisions. Little by little, they achieve full “authority.”

Reason is pushed into a very secondary place. Then we are “led” precisely where we do not want to go: broken relationships and marriages, mistrust and suspicion, loss and failure, “hating ourselves and hating one another,” as Scripture eloquently summarizes our predicament. See Titus 3:3-8 When emotions are rightly used – as servants of the truth – we will know true peace and freedom. It is a struggle; it is a battle; but if you are willing to fight it, God’s Holy Spirit will work a marvel in your personal life. Some emotions need to be banished – such as the hatred that fuels a desire to kill another. Yes, some emotional expressions need to be cut out of our lives. They don’t befit our dignity or the dignity of others. But most of our emotions don’t need to be repressed. They need discipline and redirection. The Holy Spirit will strengthen you in that process if you are willing to be “re-formed” according to God’s priorities as revealed in his word. Are you willing?

Reflect on this true story The main characters are a minister and an Orthodox priest. Our immediate inclination can be to say – “Oh, these are holy men – not like me!” In other words their example does not apply to my life. But it does! Priests and ministers have to fight all the same battles you do and, sometimes, they are even worse because their service, their ministry, attracts the work of the enemy to lie to them and seek to rob them of hope and confidence. So don’t use their vocations as an excuse not to heed what these men conquered and the victory they won.

In 1969, under Communist domination, Eastern Europe was in captivity: suppression of all religion, threats, fear, imprisonment, torture and death were the experience of many. In Romania, Pastor Richard Wurmbrandt, a Lutheran, was imprisoned for religious activities. In a very crowded cell with many men – a scene of hopelessness and despair – Pastor Wurmbrandt experienced a miracle. Near the pastor was an Orthodox priest who was dying from the torture he had undergone. Suddenly, that priest’s agony was interrupted by the cell door being thrown open and a man, bloody and beaten, was tossed in. (He was a prison guard who had been charged with a crime.) The prison guard began to cry out and it went on for a long time. “I have no hope, I am going to hell for my sins. There is no hope for me!”

In the midst of that noise and sobbing and despair, the Orthodox priest lifted his head from his cot and looked at the prison guard’s face. Then he turned to two other men and asked if they could drag him over to the prison guard – the priest could no longer walk because of his many broken bones. Pastor Wurmbrandt said he heard the interchange between the priest and the guard. The priest said, “Do you want me to hear your confession?” “Why”, said the guard. “No one can forgive me. I am damned.” The priest said “If I can forgive you, God will forgive you!” (The priest had recognized the guard as one of the men who had tortured him!) That night, in that prison cell, Pastor Wurmbrandt said he witnessed a miracle. The murdered man forgave his murderer. God’s forgiveness covered them both according to their needs. Both men died that night. It was Christmas Eve 1969.

God can work miracles, God can meet our everyday challenges – if we allow our emotions to be governed by the truth.

This month’s exercise:

• Reflect on the story: Have there been times in your life you haven’t been able to forgive yourself?

• Read Titus 3:3-8 and ask if your self-hatred leads you to treat others badly.

• See how men and women, just like you, allowed God to harness their unruly emotions and bring them to serve holiness of life and the building of his kingdom.

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

spiritual fitness

But we must decide to follow the priorities of the Gospel – not those that the world tries to sell us through the media. What are your priorities in life? Do they square with Scripture? If your priorities are based on God’s truth, then your emotions can “get in line.” Your emotions can become the servants of the truth.

It is a process. Most of us are formed more by the world’s values than we would like to admit.

So often, thoughts, born from temptations and other personal experiences that do not reflect God’s priorities can “lead” us down certain paths (with all the attendant emotions) – lust, greed, power, jealousy, envy and hatred, for example. When we allow all the emotions that accompany sinful thoughts and actions to dominate us, our emotions quickly become our masters.

Those “masters” – our feelings – promptly gain the first place in our thoughts

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Is exorcism real?

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Bishop Earl Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.

from the bishop

he devil and his evil spirits are those angels who were created as good beings, but who rebelled against God and who seek to enlist us in that rebellion. A possible new TV reality show, The Exorcist Files, and a new movie, The Rite, have been raising questions about evil spirits and the Church’s ritual to overcome them (called an exorcism).

Jesus acted very often to free people from possession and, we are told, “he called to him his 12 disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out ...” (Matthew 10:1) This reminds us that we, as Catholics, very much believe in the presence not only of evil in general, but of the evil one and his fallen colleagues.

The Church issued a revised ritual for exorcism in 1999 as a follow-up to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. This text was slightly altered in 2004. This builds on a long tradition of rituals for exorcism.

A first task in an exorcism is to discern whether the case is one of possession by an evil spirit or, more likely, a case of mental illness or whether, in fact, both situations are present. Usually a psychological or psychiatric examination – and often a physical one, as well – must be part of this process.

There also are some indications of a real possession. An evil spirit is quite opposed to anything holy, be it the exorcist in a state of grace or holy water or other blessed objects. The evil spirit will manifest this aversion. The evil spirit will also often manifest itself by acts of physical “Almighty and ever-living God, strength beyond the abilities of the one you sent your only Son into the possessed or by knowledge or speech world to cast out the power of unknown to the one possessed. The Satan, spirit of evil, to rescue man evil spirit also will often act aggressively from the kingdom of darkness, against the one possessed (even with atand bring him into the splendor of tempts at suicide) or against others. This your kingdom of light. We pray for last behavior, however, without the other these children: set them free from behaviors, also could be simply a sign original sin, make them temples of a serious mental illness rather than a of your glory, and send your Holy possession. It is important to realize that Spirit to dwell within them. We an actual possession is a rare condition. ask this through Christ our Lord.

Besides the possession of a person, Amen.” In the Rite of Christian there can be the activity of evil spirits in Initiation of Adults there are places and in things. Many of the blessseveral exorcisms prayed over the ings of the Church are designed to set Catechumen during Lent. aside material things for holy purposes and keep them from the use of these evil spirits. But if some object or place is being used by an evil spirit, the prayer of exorcism can be helpful.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1673) talks about exorcisms: “When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his

Prayer of Exorcism at Baptism of Children:

dominion, it is called exorcism.” In the sacrament of baptism, there is a simple exorcism rite. A “major exorcism” can be “performed only by a priest with the permission of the bishop.” The Catechism continues: “Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church.” In essence, an exorcism is a command to the demon to leave a person or cease influencing some place or item using the power of Jesus Christ and his name.

The current rite of exorcism is composed of introductory rites (sign of the cross, use of holy water and salt, litany of the saints); Gospel readings; imposition of the hands on the head; the profession of the faith; The Lord’s Prayer; blessing with the cross; prayers of exorcism; thanksgiving; and final blessing. Often this rite will be performed several times to achieve its purpose.

However, the best defense in all of our lives against the devil and the evil ones is to practice the virtues of faith, hope and love and to pray and celebrate the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist.

Paul tells the Ephesians: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (6:11); he also writes the Thessalonians in a similar vein: “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” (I Thess 5:8)

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winter always comes; and we hope for rebirth. Here there are many similarities between gardens and gardeners, God and his children. Gardens are places of growth, not only for plants, but for our souls as well.

in your garden

M

argaret Realy’s new book, A Garden of Visible Prayer, was recently published by FAITH Catholic and is available at www.FAITHcatholic.com. We asked Margaret some questions about integrating gardening and spirituality.

Why did you write this book? About five years ago, I saw a need for gardens at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt – specifically, prayer gardens where people could sit and draw closer to God who often speaks to us through nature. Retreatants would ask how I created these spaces and wanted to know if I could teach them to do the same in their own yards.

Through this book, I describe the step-by-step process of how to build personalized gardens that make prayer visible. In fact, that’s where the title comes from: A Garden of Visible Prayer.

When I wrote this book, I made an effort to keep it affordable and simple. My hope is that gardeners of every level of experience will use this book to create a personalized outdoor prayer space at home.

How does gardening integrate with our spiritual lives?

When working in a garden, you cannot help but recognize the presence of God. To not feel God would be like standing next to a fire without feeling the heat. I read somewhere that to touch the earth is to touch the skin of God. One cannot but hope in the garden: we plant seeds and hope they sprout; we water and prune and hope for proper growth; we learn that

What are one or two ideas from the book I can use in my own garden? The book doesn’t start by telling you how to build a garden. Instead it tells you how to focus on your own intentions and faith. Actually I break the process up into three parts – “discern, design and develop.” First you have to discern what type of garden is important to you by looking at your own spirituality and how you would translate your spirituality into an outdoor prayer space. For example, for some people, rocks or boulders are great elements to include in their garden because they are seen as solid or stable, and this is comforting to them. But because of those same qualities, others could see them as cold and hard, not necessarily a loving reflection of God. Next, you design what the garden will look like, while incorporating these spiritual elements. It’s helpful to flip through magazines or web images for ideas of how to arrange the things you want to include. The last step is developing or constructing your outdoor prayer space.

Can you talk a little bit about the upcoming retreat based on this book? The retreat is this summer, July 1517, at St. Francis Retreat Center. What we’ll do is examine the different garden spaces across the 95-acre retreat center and address what touches each person the most. We’ll also work very hard to discern what people want most in their gardens.

Essentially, we’ll work the book. And each person will make two garden stepping stones; one to be left at the retreat center for use in a new garden called “Walk in Peace” and another to take home.

Order Margaret Realy’s new book, A Garden of Visible Prayer, at www.FAITHcatholic.com

By Andrew Peltcs | Photography by Tom Gennara

FAITH books

How to build a spiritual space

How is this book an expression of your own faith? There’s a quote – “Give me Lord what will rebound to your own profit” – that reflects my own faith in creating prayer gardens. What I do is done to promote his will, and to help other people quiet themselves enough so they, too, can find a way to communicate with God in his creation. There are so many ways to pray and each of us has our own. The question is, how do we find it? I want to help answer this question – and that’s part of why I wrote this book.

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Building on a solid foundation

our story

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Why baptism is important to the Wendts

n two months, Ben and Jessica Wendt of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, will hear the words that will welcome their new daughter, Lucyna Virginia, into the Christian life: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

If you think about “baptism,” you may think of these words, or the words of the renewal of your own baptismal promises.

While these words are significant, baptism is the initial building of a temple of God’s glory by taking our bodies, flooded with original sin, and purifying our cracks and weaknesses from the devil. We are anointed with oil and filled with the sanctifying grace of Christ that enables faith to become

“Before attending the classes, baptism was just something you do with your baby and was more of a tradition,” Jessica says. “I learned more about why we baptize.

a firm rock in our lives. Initiating this first moment with Christ, Ben and Jessica will place the next brick to build their Catholic family as they introduce their daughter to

the Catholic community.

In preparation for their daughter’s baptism, Ben and Jessica reflected on their own baptisms. Jessica and Ben were both raised by parents who built their lives around God, but as no two buildings are alike, their upbringing and baptisms were different.

Baptized Lutheran, Ben, along with his two brothers, was enrolled in Catholic schools and attended Mass with his mother.

His mother was Catholic and his father was Lutheran. “It was confusing, you might say,” Ben says. “The prayers and beliefs are different, and we never knew if we were going to a Lutheran or Catholic church on Sunday.”

Despite the different religions in the family, he was introduced to the core beliefs of God. Six years ago, Ben chose to become Catholic and provide a solid start for his future with Jessica and for their children.

“I felt that if we had the right foundation together, all our children would have a

By Cari Ann DeLamielleure | Photography by Tom Gennara

FAITH Magazine / March/Lent2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

good foundation to build on,” Ben says. “I truly believe that what we do as parents will cascade down to our children. It’s a lot easier to teach a child what we want them to learn, with the assistance of God, by doing the exact same thing.”

In his RCIA classes, Ben was asked to bring in an object that represented his passion to enter into the Catholic Church. Ben brought in a rock, which he found was a good representation of God as the foundation of a faith-filled family.

Jessica grew up in a traditional Polish Catholic family on the east side of Michigan.

“I don’t ever remember a Sunday we didn’t go to church as a family,” she says. She, too, attended Catholic school, and when it came to the morals her parents passed to her, honesty, respect and manners were at the top of her list. “No matter how bad someone treats you, there is something good about that person,” Jessica says. “You respect everybody, even if they disrespect you.”

Jessica has many stories about traditions in her family and how her family based life around religion. “My mom made my first Communion such a big deal that it became a big deal to me,” she says. “I remember being

so proud because my mom did such a great job to make it a proud moment for me.”

After Jessica met Ben, she attended every RCIA class with him, though she was not Ben’s sponsor. This increased her spirituality. “Before attending the classes, baptism was just something you do with your baby and was more of a tradition,” Jessica says.

“I learned more about why we baptize. Not only is it a tradition of purification, now I realize it’s an initiation into the Catholic

Church. It’s just an important thing I want to instill in my kids.”

“I’m still growing in my faith every day, as well. I know more than I did five years ago,” Ben says. Both Ben and Jessica make an effort to be involved in the parish and hope their children will, as well, especially since the parish has become part of their family. Ben, Jessica and their 3-year-old son, Lukasz, attend Mass every Sunday. “Lukasz already leads us in prayers at lunch, dinner

and breakfast. We pray before we go to bed,” Ben says. “Our baby daughter already is participating in prayers with us before we go to bed, though she may not realize it.”

When Lukasz asks questions such as “Why is it raining today?” Jessica and Ben find a way to introduce God by simply saying, “Because God wanted it to rain today.”

They agree that having a spiritual life early on is essential to remaining a temple of God. “If you instill a sense of God early on, it’s not a fearful thing to talk about as they grow up,” Jessica says.

As with every person in Jessica’s family, Lucyna will be baptized in the baptismal gown her great-grandmother bought. “It’s all yellowed and old now, but it means so much because every single person in our family has been baptized in it,” Jessica says. “I’m just bummed we have to wait two months to get her baptized.”

But in two months, Ben and Jessica will hear the words that will welcome Lucyna into the Christian life, the words that will continue to build their family focused entirely on God.

The best baby gift is baptism – start planning and contact your parish before your baby is born.

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By Marybeth Hicks | Photography by Jim Luning Technically speaking, you could say Sarah Ashman roamed through the world’s religions until she met up with Jesus in a chat room. But, of course, it’s not that simple, since matters of faith never are.

At only 28, Sarah’s faith journey reveals a wandering path from Judaism to Islam to Catholicism. The daughter of an American ethnically Jewish mother and an Egyptian Muslim father, Sarah’s early life was mostly unreligious.

“My mom was culturally Jewish, and my father was nominally Muslim, so as a child I had no faith.”

FAITH FAITH Magazine Magazine // March/Lent March/Lent2011 2011 // www.FAITHmag.com www.FAITHmag.com

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24 Sarah with her husband, Jim Ashman

loving man who Sarah refers to as “Dad.” Finally, the tension of an interfaith home was eased.

“My dad is Jewish, but I still wouldn’t describe them as particularly religious. They’re culturally Jewish.”

“I had grown up understanding religion as a label.

I didn’t have a relationship with God, but I always recognized his existence. So I guess I was always open to faith, but I didn’t have any, per se.”

Interfaith marriage, part II

F

ast forward to 2001: Sarah, a community college student in Connecticut, meets Jim Ashman, a Michigan State University student, in an online chat room.

“At first, the fact that we met in a chat room was a huge embarrassment to me,” Sarah confesses. “But we just became good friends online. We were pen pals for years before we even talked on the phone.”

That first phone call took place in n her early life, Sarah believes her father February 2004 and lasted for hours. “At that point, we decided appeased her mom by indicating that we would probably meet sometime in the future, but we didn’t their children could be raised as Jews. make any plans.”

But the trip to Egypt changed everyThe following January, Sarah flew to Detroit to meet Jim. “As soon thing. “I remember staying with my aunt as we met, there were fireworks. After that, we talked every day.”

Jim spoke enthusiastically about MSU, and Sarah was at the because my parents were going to the point in her education when she needed to transfer to a fourmosque. My mother ‘converted’ to Islam, year school to complete her degree in English and teaching. “I which meant I was technically a Muslim figured it was a low-risk plan to move to Michigan and go to because now both of my parents were Muslims.” MSU, because even if it didn’t work out with Jim, I would be going to a great school.”

Back at home in Connecticut, Sarah’s family Sarah moved to Michigan in August 2006. By practiced what she calls “cafeteria Islam. We November 2007, she and Jim were engaged. didn’t eat pork, but my father didn’t pray five “Jim was a cradle Catholic, and had been very Ministry focus: times a day and didn’t abstain from alcohol. active in the Church growing up. But, like a lot Questions about There was pressure to be more Arabic, though. of college students, his practice was spotty at RCIA? Talk to I took Arabic lessons. But there wasn’t any times. He didn’t always go to church and we your pastor or faith behind it.” didn’t talk about faith a lot, so I never expected RCIA coordinaBy the time she was 13, Sarah’s parents had religion to become an issue in our wedding tor. Or visit www. separated. They divorced a few years later, and plans. But it did.” dioceseoflansing.

Sarah hasn’t seen her father for about 12 years.

Sarah wanted to be married in an outdoor, org/evangelization Ten years ago, her mother married a warm and civil ceremony. Jim wanted a Catholic Church

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wedding. “I wanted a modern wedding, and I wanted to write ing. She restarted the classes in January 2009, but not with any my own vows. And since I didn’t see religion as part of our intention of converting for their upcoming wedding. relationship, I didn’t see why it would be a part of our marriage “It’s really common for people to start and stop RCIA, and ceremony.” there’s a reason it’s called a The issue became conclass for inquirers. It’s for tentious, but given Sarah’s people who have questions – upbringing in an interfaith and I had questions!”

“Who is Jesus to me? He’s my household, she came to an imIn May 2009, Deacon Jim hope, my faith. How can you portant realization. “I decided if Ward married Sarah and Jim it was so important to Jim, and Ashman at St. John’s Retreat know about him and not want because I love him, I should at Center in Plymouth. to walk in his path or develop least check it out.”

After their wedding, a relationship with him?”

Since Jim wasn’t active in Sarah kept up with her RCIA a parish, the couple began classes, but not to please visiting Catholic churches in her new husband. “Jim was the Detroit area and in East the hand that led me to the Lansing. “I felt most comfortable at St. John’s Student Center. church door, but he didn’t push me inside. He was adamant At other parishes, I was intimidated. I felt like an outsider.” that pursuing a faith was something I was doing for myself.

He assured me he wouldn’t love me any more or less if I became a Catholic.”

Sarah’s conversion ultimately was a matter of the heart.

“There wasn’t one day when it finally made sense to me that The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, is the Jesus died for my sins. It was process of learning about and becoming a part of the Catholic a slow process to realize that Church. The process is appropriate for those who were never he is my savior.” baptized, were baptized, but raised in another faith, or were bapFor Sarah, the biggest issue tized as Catholic but not raised within the faith. in becoming a Catholic ChrisRCIA lasts a year or more, beginning with a period of inquiry, tian was learning to simply when interested persons start to explore the faith. When a decisurrender herself to God. “I sion is made to pursue the process of Christian initiation, inquirers become catechumens, had always looked at people attending weekly meetings to study the tenets of the faith and begin participating with the who were strong in their faith larger community. During the next period, purification and enlightenment, catechumens with curiosity and even some seek out healing and grace. This period coincides with Lent leading up to the Easter Vigil. envy. But I realized that getting At the Easter Vigil all across the world, new Catholics receive the sacraments and to that point meant giving officially join the Church. Finally, a period of “mystagogy” follows initiation. This is the up control over my life and process of going deeper into the mysteries of the faith to discern how to live fully as a surrendering to God. When I Catholic Christian. Meetings with fellow new Catholics go on for a full year following pray, it’s not for myself. It’s a initiation into the Church. just a conversation with God that reflects my relationship with him.”

The process of looking for a parish created an interesting reThe journey continues sult that Sarah didn’t expect. “My view of the Catholic Church always was colored by the media and by cultural issues, and arah believes her story – unique as it is – simply it wasn’t always positive. But I realized I was looking forward proves that everyone’s path to God is different. to going to Mass each week and that I felt good leaving church Though some family members questioned her converevery Sunday.” sion, she never does.

The process also reignited Jim’s faith. “I think the fact that he “Who is Jesus to me? He’s my hope, my faith. How had to defend his desire to be married in the Church caused him can you know about him and not want to walk in his path or deto re-identify his faith.” velop a relationship with him?”

In the fall of 2008, Sarah “I believe my becoming a Catholic is part of God’s plan for me. began the class for inquirers My husband and his family got to play a role in that, and our at St. John’s Student Center marriage is blessed by our both being the same faith. But at the known as RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. same time, I don’t think it was my choice and it certainly wasn’t my husband’s.”

But the schedule of classes “Ultimately it was God’s choice,” Sarah smiles. “He chose me.” conflicted with her school-

25

The RCIA Journey

Sarah tells more of her story – only at www.FAITHmag.com

cover story

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26 Sperendi at 517.487.0478 or tony.sperendi@sbcglobal.net.

March Café events Catechist Formation Opportunities: Washtenaw Vicariate – hosted

by Christ the King, Ann Arbor, March 2, Topic #3 Lesson Planning and Using the Catechetical Text as a Tool. For registration information, contact Maureen Cousino at 734.929.0975 or mcousino@ctkcc.net.

Eaton/Ingham Vicariate – hosted by St. James, Mason, all on March 19 – Topic #1 Ministry of the Catechist; Topic #2 Learning Process and Faith Development; Topic #9 Jesus Christ; Topic #10 Mary and the Saints; Topic #17 Key People of the Old Testament; and Topic #18 New Testament: Gospels Enrichment: Women of the Old Testament. For registration information, contact Rose Robertson, StJamesRos@aol.com.

Clinton/Shiawassee Vicariate – hosted by St. Mary, Morrice, March 5, Topic #10 Mary and the Saints/Eternal Life; Topic #11 Church; and

things to do: Seven weeks of Lenten Bible Study at St. Mary, Mount Morris. The Little Rock Scriptures study, Introduction to the Bible, select either

Topic #20 How to use the Bible with Different Age Levels. For registration information, contact Rose Spencer, rspencer@catholicweb.com.

Lenawee/Hillsdale Vicariate – hosted by St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh, March 22 – Topic #22 Catechesis and Social Justice, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

For information, call 517.423.2447.

Lenten Series: Eastern Rites and Orthodoxy – Have you ever wondered about the different rites of the Catholic Church? St. John Vianney, Flint will have a 5-week series on the different rites of the Church, as well as a speaker from the Greek Orthodox Church. The series will be held from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the parish center: March 15, Father Angelo Maggos – Assumption Greek Orthodox Church March 22, Father Hanna Tayar – Our Lady of Lebanon, Flint – Maronite Rite March 29, Father Daniel Schaicoski – Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, Detroit April 5, Father David Hannes – St. Michael Byzantine, Flushing – Byzantine Rite April 12, Father Lawrence Gosselin – St. Joseph the Betrothed, Lansing – Melkite Rite Question can be directed to the parish office at 810.235.1812.

Wednesdays, starting March 2, 7 p.m.-8:30p.m. or Saturdays, starting March 5, noon-1:30 p.m. Call Virginia O’Brien at 810.640.1527 or e-mail obrienvm@comcast.net to sign up.

Saturdays, 5:45 p.m.-8 p.m.,

community

Retreat centers St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 E. Main St., DeWitt, to register, call 866.669.8321 or www.stfrancis.ws – March 12, Women Friends/Sister Friends Retreat Day; March 1820, REFLECT singles retreat for adults in their mid- 30s to 50s. For more information, call Libby Richart at 989.450.0993.

Weber Retreat Center, 1257 E. Siena Heights Dr., Adrian, to register, call 517.266.4000 or www.weber.adriandominicans.org – March 5, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., The Best is Yet to Be, cost is $35, includes lunch. Topic is medical issues and legal implications to consider when preparing a durable power of attorney.

Feb. 19-April 9, St. Therese, 102 W. Randolph, Lansing has a new evangelistic program – at no cost. It begins with dinner, followed by a DVD presentation and small group discussions. All are welcome to attend. If you have questions, please contact Tony

March 4, 8 p.m.-11 p.m., Mix and Mingle, a parish life series, at Father Bush Parish Hall, Holy Family Church, 110 Bush St., Grand Blanc. See cooking demonstrations, enjoy new wines and meet new people. Cost is $10. For registration information, visit our website, www.holyfamilygrandblanc.org.

Lansing Catholic Singles invites all singles aged mid 30s-50s to join us: March 12, bowling night. RSVP by March 5. For more information, call 517.321.7886 or e-mail lansingcatholicsingles@live.com. To find out about more winter events, visit our website, www.lansingcatholicsingles.com.

Feb. 26, 6:15 p.m.-8:30 p.m., St. Joseph School in Howell is celebrating its 70th year of providing Catholic education with an Open House. Alumni and their families are invited to attend Mass at 5 p.m. in the church and to the Open House afterward. Call the school office at 517.546.0090, x203 for more information.

St. Martha School, Okemos is now enrolling Preschool through 8th grade for the 2011-12 school year. For more information, please contact 517.349.3322.

Dominican Center Marywood, Grand Rapids, to register, call 616.643.0371 or online at www.dominicancenter.com – March 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Remember your loveliness – God does – a day retreat for women; Thurs., March 3-April 28, 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m., Beginning Yoga; and Thurs., March 3-April 28, 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m., Continuing Yoga.

March 3, Christ the King Parish, 1811 Seymour Ave. Flint will host a celebration for Catholic sisters on the Feast of St. Katherine Drexel. Mass at 6 p.m. followed by a potluck supper. All religious women are invited. Please call 810.233.0402 to register.

Bread of Life Retreat Residence, 4901 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, to register, call 630.417.1984 or http://www. eucharisticlife.org/retreat_residence. html – March 8-April 6, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, directing the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius for Women, 30-day and 8-day Lenten retreats, presenter Father Dennis Brown, OMV.

March 5, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Christ the King Parish, Flint will host a Mardi Gras celebration. Prizes for costumes, delicious food and lots of fun. All are invited.

March 9, Ash Wednesday through April 17, Palm Sunday, 40 Days for Life is a peaceful campaign to end abortion. A prayer vigil from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. will be held every day for 40 days in front of the WomansChoice abortion clinic, 6500 Centurion Dr., Lansing. For more information, call Chris at 517.694.9484 or visit www.40daysforlife.com/lansing

March 5, Super Draw 2011 at St. Robert School, Flushing. A total of 1,000 tickets will be sold for $100 each.

March 15, 6:30 p.m., Child and Youth Protection – Protecting God’s Children Awareness Session for adults will be at St. Mary, 201 N. Westphalia, Westphalia. For more information, contact Safe Environment Coordinator, Sally Ellis at 517.342.2551. Pre-register for a session at www.virtus.org.

Please do not call the hosting parish to pre-register.

Information regarding the Common Conference – Sept. 29-30 and Oct.1 – is available on the diocesan website at www.dioceseoflansing.or

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Pilgrimages: March 23-31, a Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Father Andrew Czajkowski, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Davison. Trip includes round trip air, hotel, bus, guide and 15 meals. Cost per person, $2,999 (Double), taxes, $150. For information, call St. John Church at 810.653.2377.

It’s a chance to win one of 20 cash prizes, including the grand prize of $20,000. Each ticket also admits two adults to the Super Draw Mardi Gras Party, during which the winners will be chosen.

March 10, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Transplant Support Group/ Lansing Area meeting at the Peoples Church, 300 W. Grand River, East Lansing in the Centennial Room. Group meets the second Thursday of each month. For more information, contact Joan Smith at 517.351.2174 or joansmith@ mindspring.com.

March 12, Diocesan Middle School Rally at Lansing Catholic High School. The keynote is Steve Angrisano and Bishop Boyea will be celebrating Mass with us. Inspirational message, music, dance, great food and an awesome celebration of faith. For information, go to www. dioceseoflansing.org/ youthministry/index.html.

March 13, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Sex and the Internet: What Families Need to Know at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn’s Family Center. Presenter is Dr. Don McMillan, a clinical psychologist.

This presentation is not intended for children, but for parents and other adults concerned about this issue. To estimate materials need, please RSVP to the parish office, 467.2183 or 467.2106.

March 16, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., IHM-St. Casimir, 3830 Rosemont, Lansing will be hosting a School Open House/Student Career Demonstration Night. This is a great opportunity to bring your children and your teens to allow them to talk with professionals in all walks of life. Light snacks will be served. For information, call 517.882.6631.

Nov. 9-18, Pilgrimage to Poland and Rome – In the Footsteps of John Paul II – with Sister Ann Shields and Father Bob Roggenbuck. Pilgrimage includes roun-dtrip airfare from Detroit/Krakow/ Rome/Detroit. Catholic tour escorts and guides with daily Mass. Cost is $2,999 if you book by Feb. 15, 2011. Please call Corporate Travel Service at 313.565.888 ext. 121 for more details.

Parish Lenten Missions March 13-15, Building Solid Families in Shaky Times a Region Wide Mission: come to all three evenings. March 13, at St. Patrick, Brighton; March 14, at St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton; and Mar.15, at St. John the Baptist, Howell, concludes with Liturgy with Bishop Boyea.

March 20-22, 7 p.m., Parish Mission - Making Holy Choices – Discerning God’s Will in Your Life at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 6805 Mast Rd., Dexter. Presenters are Father Jim Sullivan and Christine Watkins.

March 27-30, 7 p.m., Lenten mission – God is calling us, at Most Holy Trinity Parish, 545 N. Maple St., Fowler. All are welcome. Call 989.593.-2162 for directions or information.

March 12-16, St. Mary Parish, Chelsea invites you to attend our parish mission – Finding God Wherever You Are. Father Tom Landgraff, OSFS is the facilitator and preacher. This is a major spiritual event in the life of St. Mary parish and promises to be moving, intriguing and a great opportunity for spiritual enrichment.

March 19, 6 p.m., St. Mary Catholic School in Pinckney will be holding its annual Auction themed Livin’ La Vida Loca – A Mexican Fiesta. For more information, call the school office, 734.878.5616.

March 18-20 – REFLECT Catholic Singles Retreat for Mid-Life Singles – ages mid-30s to mid-50s are invited to register. St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, cost covers meals, lodging and materials.

Call 989.450.0993, visit www. reflectretreat.com or e-mail us at reflect.retreat@gmail.com for rates and details.

March 26, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Mom-to-Mom Sale – Infant, child and maternity clothing, toys, furniture, gear and much more. St. Patrick’s School, 1001 Charles Orndorf Drive, Brighton is located behind the Meijer store. There is an early bird entrance fee of $2 from 8:30-9 a.m. The entrance fee is $1 from 9-noon.

Thinking about sending your child to Catholic school?

We invite you to visit St. Robert School and see for yourself: April 14, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., school open house; April 19, noon-7 p.m., Kindergarten Roundup; and April 20, 7 p.m., pre-k roundup.

For information, call the school 810.659.2503.

April 16, Anglican Archbishop Sean Larkin will present “The Empowerment of the Holy Spirit Conference at Mt. Zion Catholic Community, 8228 N. McKinley Rd. in Flushing.

Registration cost is $25. For information or to register, please call 810.639.7175.

April 28-29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and April 30, 9 a.m.-noon p.m., Holy Spirit Church Women’s Guild will have its annual rummage sale. Located at the corner of Winans Lake and Musch Roads, Brighton, it is wheelchair accessible. For information, call 810.231.1418, ext. 200.

Parish Lenten fish fries Beginning March 11, 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd. in Ann Arbor are Friday Lenten fish fries. For information, contact the parish at 734.662.8141.

Christ the King, 1811 Seymour Ave., Flint’s Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 90 will have fish fry dinners every Friday during Lent. For information, contact the parish office at 810.233.0402.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 400 N. Saginaw St., Montrose has fish fries every Friday from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Take-out – the cost is $8 for fish, chicken or shrimp. For information, contact the parish at 810.639.7600.

Feb. 4-April 15, Friday Fish Fries, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., St. James, 101 S. Lansing St., hosted by Mason’s Knights of Columbus Council # 9182 at 1010 S. Lansing in Mason.

For more information, visit their website at masonknights.com.

March 4-April 22, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., the Knights of Columbus Council #7545 of St. Mary Parish157 High St., Williamston invites you to its annual fish fry every Friday.

Carry-out is available. For information, contact the parish at 517.655.2620.

March 4-April 15, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Friday fish fries at St. Robert, 310 N. Cherry St., Flushing. Cost: two-piece dinners, $7.50 and four piece dinners, $8.50. Carry-out is available. For information, contact the parish at 810.659.2501.

March 11-April 15, 4 p.m.7:30p.m., St. John Catholic Church at 2099 N. Hacker Rd., Howell will host an annual Lenten fish fry. For current week’s menu, check the parish website, www.stjohnthebaptisthowell.catholicweb.com.

Carry-out orders also are available, call 517.546.9154.

All are welcome to attend.

rg/pastoralplanning/common_conf_2011/main_page.html or click on the Common Conference logo on the front page of the diocesan website.

28 St. Louis Center’s 23rd annual fall dinner auction The local community showed its strong support for St. Louis Center when a record crowd attended the annual fall dinner auction hosted by Chelsea Community Hospital.

A special presentation was made by the state deputy of the Michigan Knights of Columbus, Thomas A. Marcetti, Sr., who presented Father Enzo Addari with a check for $20,000 on behalf of the Knights of Michigan.

local news local news

Diocese of Lansing’s 2010 Youth Jamboree St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach parishioners Denise Sibrt and Mark Haag took six students to the diocesan youth jamboree in November.

The afternoon workshops were packed with people who wanted to hear the answers to life’s persistent questions, “Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?” Later Bishop Boyea celebrated Mass. The Lansing Center was filled with the spirit of the Lord. – Jan Hoffbauer

Catholic Charities’ North End Soup Kitchen provided Christmas gifts to 2,230 children On Dec. 15, Catholic Charities’ North End Soup Kitchen distributed gifts to 2,230 children in the Flint area. Gifts for the NESK Angel Tree Program were generously donated by area businesses and community members.

“The kitchen served more than 300 people on Christmas and ensured everyone in the community had something to eat,” said Jon Manse, Catholic Charities community service director.

Mission to Haiti Through International Samaritan, two parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor were part of a 16-member team traveling from Michigan, Ohio and Washington D.C. to assist in the rebuilding of Haiti for one week.

With Brother Jim Boyton of Port-auPrince, who is coordinating efforts, their work included assisting in building schools and teaching good hygiene and first aid to adults in tent camps and schools.

To learn more about International Samaritan, visit their website www.intsamaritan.org.

Rosary makers’ fall gathering In October 2010, the Mission Rosary Makers of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lansing enjoyed an afternoon of good food, fellowship and fun celebrating 30,100 rosaries made this last year and 45 years of making rosaries for the missions, with a grand total of 854,376 rosaries made.

The speaker was Steve Gauss, who is the main coordina-

Catholic Charities opens new Holy Angels Soup Kitchen Rather than standing in line out in the cold to receive a sack lunch, visitors to the new Holy Angels Soup Kitchen will be able to sit at a table and have a bowl of hot soup. Catholic Charities’ North End Soup Kitchen moved to a larger location and the building has become one of four locations where NESK provides sack lunches on a daily basis.

Holy Angels Soup Kitchen will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon. NESK will continue to serve hot meals from 11:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday.

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County receives donation The Emergency Food Program of Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County received a sizable donation of canned and nonperishable food collected by Cub Scout Pack 131 from Lawton Elementary School in Ann Arbor. The Scouts went door-to-door handing out fliers with a list of desired items, which they picked up at a designated later date.

Their hard work is especially appreciated as the program continues to see an upsurge in the number of families needing food assistance.

tor for the Knights of Columbus’ Pray It Forward program.

Steve explained how this program came about through the inspiration of a Cross International priest, Father Emilio, who encouraged everyone to pray the rosary for someone, give it to them, while asking them to pass it on.

For information about starting the Pray it Forward program in your parish, call Steve Gauss 517.393.3030.

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Lumen Christi High School Thanks-Living project

Hillsdale parish takes Jesus to the streets

St. Vincent de Paul Society Priceless Gift Toy Store/Northwest Northwest High School, Jackson, is one of the 150 schools, churches and civic organizations that have partnered with St. Vincent de Paul Society and Together We Can Make a Difference for the 6th annual St. Vincent de Paul Priceless Gift Toy Store.

Students donated and cleaned toys and assembled and decorated boxes for Christmas meals. A student and St. Mary parishioner, Courtney Plybon, said, “I have adopted a family. You actually know it will go to someone who needs it.”

– Jan Hoffbauer

Habitat for Humanity Jackson The Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity Director Kevin Dowd – a St. Mary, Pinckney parishioner – welcomed guests to the dedication of the new facility. Through generous donations from several foundations, they were able to increase their space to more than 10,000 square feet. The Restore and Habitat affiliate headquarters are now located at 251 W. Prospect St. Habitat for Humanity is in need of volunteers to help with building projects or at the restore and to donate new or used appliances and building or remodeling materials. Call 517.784.6620. You can make a difference. – Jan Hoffbauer

Lumen Christi Justin Marcero Practice, practice, practice! Sing, sing, sing! The high school chorale students at Lumen Christi Catholic High School in Jackson don’t give up and neither do their teachers, Roxanne Bruner or student teacher, Justin Marcero.

Justin will graduate from Michigan State University with a music major. He is a parishioner at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, where he coaches its choir.

A senior, Julianna Berkemeier, said she will continue with choir in college and added, “Justin makes me want to practice more.” – Jan Hoffbauer

Catholic Charities of Livingston and many volunteers helped seniors during Christmas For many weeks leading up to Dec. 10, 2010, the staff at Livingston County Catholic Charities and countless volunteers were busy securing donations of canned, dry and perishable food, personal hygiene products and Christmas gifts for their annual Blessings of Christmas to local homebound and low-income senior citizens. More than 75 seniors benefited, receiving food and personal goods.

Log on to www.FAITHmag.com for extended local news coverage, including: • St Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach’s children celebrated Jesus’ birthday with a Christmas play – Around the World.

• St. Pius X Parish in Flint’s Advent activities • Lumen Christi taking flight • St. Robert School, Flushing welcomes Christmas with music

VIDEO: Bishop Boyea celebrating Catholic Schools’ Week Mass

local news

On Oct. 10, St. Anthony Catholic Church put together Hillsdale’s first eucharistic procession in 40 years aided

by Knights of Columbus and seminarians from the Lansing Diocese, as well as dozens of college students and faculty.

Father Tom Butler, the pastor, said he was surprised by the turnout. “It was amazing. I figured we might have about 100 people.” Instead, the procession started with 100 people and grew to about 500 as the procession moved past the Hillsdale College campus to downtown. – Liz Essley

At Lumen Christi Catholic High School in Jackson, you will not be surprised to hear them say “Thanksgiving means service to others.” For the last four years, Lumen Christi students, faculty, staff and parents have taken part in the annual Thanksgiving All-School Service Project.

Four hundred and eight students performed two hours each of community service around the Jackson area. Services included: stocking pantries, signing a Mass, cleaning, visiting with the elderly, making blankets for local charities and Christmas cards for war veterans.

30 son’s disease after praying to John Paul II for his intercession.

After careful study and extensive consultations with physicians and theologians, three separate Vatican panels determined that her recovery was inexplicable and was the result of the intercession of the late pontiff, who also happened to suffer from Parkinson’s. Pope Benedict XVI then signed the official decree.

This first miracle clears the way for John Paul II’s beatification on May 1, 2011, by Pope Benedict XVI. A second miracle will be required for his canonization but his beatification will become the fastest on record, coming a little more than six years after his death and beating out Mother Teresa’s record beatification in 2003 by a few days.

Special Report:

special report

The Beatification of John Paul II

The Path to Sainthood at a Glance…

O

ne of the most influential leaders of the 20th century, Pope John Paul II was instrumental in bringing an end to Communist rule both in Poland and the whole of Europe. His pontificate was also marked by tremendous strides in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue as he was the first pope to visit both a mosque and a synagogue.

Under his watch, the Roman Catholic Church issued its first new catechism in almost 500 years and saw a record number of canonizations to sainthood. In 1981, his popularity grew after he survived an assassination attempt by Turkish gunman, Mehmet Ali Agca, whom he quickly forgave.

At his funeral in 2005, the faithful filled St. Peter’s Square with banners and shouts

of “santo subito,” or “sainthood now.” In response, Pope Benedict XVI waived the traditional five-year waiting period for the canonization process to begin thereby putting John Paul II on the fast track to sainthood.

After investigations concluded that he had indeed lived a life of heroic virtue, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed John Paul II to be “Venerable” on December 19, 2009. The next step toward sainthood for John Paul II is his beatification which has been scheduled for May 1, 2011.

The Miracle Before someone can be beatified, it must be proven that a miracle has taken place through his or her intercession. The belief is that such a miracle is evidence that the person is enjoying the Beatific Vision because God has performed the miracle in response to his or her prayers.

In the case of John Paul II, the required miracle occurred in France in June 2005 when a French nun, Sister Marie SimonPierre, was suddenly cured of her Parkin-

The Pontificate of John Paul II by the Numbers…

14 Encyclicals promulgated

26

Rank in terms of years as pope (Peter, the apostle, ranks 1st and Pope Pius IX is 2nd)

years

as pope of the Catholic Church.

(October 16, 1978April 2, 2005)

1342 People beatified 483 Saints canonized

3

104

Foreign trips made (Pope Paul VI [19631978] was previous record-holder with five)

The current procedure for causes of beatification and canonization can be found in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983. The various stages leading to canonization are as follows:

Servant of God The process begins at the diocesan level after at least five years have passed since the death of the candidate. Usually, the bishop of the diocese in which the candidate died is responsible for beginning the investigation after he receives a request from the faithful through the postulator, generally a priest who presents a plea for a beatification or canonization. In response, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose once the nihil obstat (a decree that no impediment exists that would prevent the investigation) of the Holy See is obtained.

The tribunal calls witnesses to recount concrete facts concerning the candidate’s exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, i.e. the theological virtues (faith, hope and charity), the cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude), and other

Years between John Paul II’s election and the last time a non-Italian served as pope:

455

14

languages spoken

17,647,800 People estimated to have taken part in his weekly general audiences

FAITH Magazine / March/Lent2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

Blessed (Martyrs)

Blessed (Confessors) If the candidate was not a martyr but rather a confessor who died peacefully after a life of heroic virtue, a miracle attributed to the Servant of God verified after his or her death is necessary. The miracle must be proven through another canonical investigation in a procedure that is comparable with that required for heroic virtues. If the investigation comes to a satisfactory conclusion, a second decree is promulgated that with the

to participate in the Church?

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

I

n our parish meetings, we should be asking ourselves some very important questions: What has happened to the RCIA people we received into the Church over the past few years?

Are they actively engaged in our parish life? Indeed, are they still with us? Over the course of their journey into the Catholic Church, the RCIA people received a lot of special attention and care.

Now that they are fellow Catholics, does anyone care?

The celebration of the Eucharist is the summit and source of our Catholic lives.

Full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy isn’t something that’s simply nice – it’s essential. During their entrance process, the catechumens and candidates learned more about the Mass than many of us who were baptized as infants. Has that made a difference? Are they more actively engaged in our parish life than others?

During my 44 years as a priest, I have been privileged to know a large number of RCIA candidates who have entered our faith family and then have gone on to be actively and vitally engaged in Catholic parish life. What a blessing they have been for us all. “Converts make the best Catholics” is a statement you have heard more than once, I am sure. But what about those converts who are no longer active in our Church? We are all diminished by their absence. So why did they drop away?

And that leads us to another question: Why have Catholics who were baptized as infants and who either attended religious education classes or Catholic parochial

schools also dropped away? The answers are varied and the solutions are not simple.

The quality of our parish’s liturgies needs to be examined. True, Mass is not an entertainment show, but it should engage people. People who watch the Super Bowl or any other sports event are being entertained. They are passive participants, not active participants. People who attend Mass are not there to watch the priest, observe the sacred rites and listen to the music. If that’s why they are at Mass, then they are selling the Mass short. Full, conscious and deliberate participation calls for us, with the priest, to join into Christ as he prays and offers his sacrifice to the Father.

From the Preface to Holy Communion, the words of the eucharistic prayer are our words addressed to the Father.

Participation and engagement are what we need to foster in all aspects of our parish life. Every parish organization, it seems to me, should be asking “What can we do to bring others into what we are doing?

How can we engage them in the life of our parish family?”

decree on heroic virtue grants the candidate the title of Blessed.

indicates that the person lived a holy life, is in heaven enjoying the Beatific Vision, and is to be honored by the universal Church. Saints may be publicly invoked and mentioned officially in the liturgy of the Church, especially in the Litany of the Saints. The Saint is assigned a feast day which may be celebrated anywhere within the Catholic Church, although it may or may not appear on the general calendar or local calendars as an obligatory feast.

Churches may also be built in his or her honor.

Saint In order for the Blessed to be canonized and acquire the title of Saint, another miracle is required. This miracle must be attributable to the intercession of the Blessed and must have occurred after his or her beatification. The miracle is verified according to the same methods used during the beatification stage.

Once conferred, the title of Saint

last word

The investigation is then passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. A summary report, or the Positio, is prepared that proves the heroic exercise of virtue. The report undergoes an examination by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favor, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the Congregation. If their judgment is favorable, the Prefect of the Congregation presents the results of the entire investigation to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the Congregation to draft the relative decree of beatification.

The public reading and promulgation of the decree of beatification grants the candidate the title of Blessed.

Beatification is the permission to venerate the candidate within a limited sphere.

Typically, it means that the person can be venerated by a particular region or group of people for whom the person holds special importance. In other words, it is not universally binding to the entire Church.

How do we encourage each other

T. Gennara

virtues specific to the candidate’s state in life. Additionally, all documents regarding the candidate must be gathered for review.

At this point the candidate is entitled to the title of Servant of God. When enough information has been gathered, the congregation will recommend to the pope that he make a proclamation of the Servant of God’s heroic virtue.

From this point the one is referred to by the title of Venerable. A Venerable is not given a feast day, no churches may be built in his or her honor, and the church has made no statement on the person’s probable or certain presence in heaven. With that said, prayer cards and other materials may be printed to encourage the faithful to pray for a miracle wrought by his or her intercession as a sign of God’s will that the person be canonized.

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notes:

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