March 2016

PARENTING JOURNEY:

Can we have Easter fun without the Easter Bunny?

IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE:

Why should I go to Holy Week services?

FAITH INTERVIEW:

FAITH talks to Christopher West, noted expert on Theology of the Body

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INSIDE MARCH

YOUR LIFE

4 from the bishop News I want to share with you

7 profile of a disciple

Mary Jo’s response to

FAITH magazine – ‘I knew God was telling me to go to Flint’

8 marriage matters

He says: ‘I’m not sure I can trust my son again.’ She says: ‘How can we have a relationship without trust?’

What do they do?

9 parenting journey

Can we have Easter fun without the Easter Bunny?

work life My employer won’t let me take Good Friday off

FOLLOW

COVER STORY

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‘I FELT AT HOME ...

AT MASS’ – PAUL’S CONVERSION LED HIM TO BECOME AN RCIA SPONSOR P.16

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SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS

YOUR FAITH

10 in the know

with Father Joe

Why should I go to Holy Week services?

12 theology 101

WATER

Mercy is love transformed

14 spiritual fitness

The power of praying for others

YOUR STORIES

20 my story

From health crisis to classroom – Kathy brings her faith to teaching

22 FAITH interview

FAITH talks to Christopher West, noted expert on Theology of the Body

PLUS

30 pope watch

What Pope Francis has been saying and doing recently

31 last word

Human rights come from God

CRISIS

FLINT P. 25

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FROM THE BISHOP

BISHOP EARL BOYEA

is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing @BishopBoyea

Carlson Productions

NEWS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU

WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN THE DIOCESE OF LANSING as well as in your parishes! In 2012 we began, as a diocese, to reflect on the Church’s call to us to Go and Announce the Gospel of the Lord. We are currently in the second year of building up the Household of Faith as a way to get us ready to announce that Gospel. We first need to encounter Christ, to engage our practicing Catholic sisters and brothers in prayer and faith-sharing and thus become more welcoming parishes. We need to become better disciples of the Lord. Obviously, this holy work is not completed in two years or a hundred.

Nonetheless, this fall we will also focus on how to bring back our lost sheep, our loved ones who have wandered from the fold, that is, how do we become missionary disciples. So, we are getting ready for a great assembly to develop some skills to bring back those whom God has called by name in their baptism. Please keep these efforts in your prayers.

Last year, we began a Faith in Flint initiative with the naming of Father Tom Firestone as the pastor-leader of four of our youngest clergy, who invite all in the city of Flint to a deepening of faith, hope and love. This sign of unity, seen in the working together of four of the city parishes, is what we do best as Catholics – we look at the wider situation and are not limited to our own parishes. There is also the cooperation with our Catholic High School (Powers) and our Catholic hospital and Catholic Charities and the N.E.W. Life Center, all of which are additionally caught up now in addressing the water situation in Flint. Our first response, rooted in prayer and faith, is to be agents of mercy as we seek to give drink to the thirsty.

A third initiative is conducting the first Capital Campaign ever held in the Diocese of Lansing. Apparently, there are only 10 dioceses in the United States that have never had such a major fundraiser, and we are one of them. Now I know many may not think of the diocese very often, but this is an opportunity for all of us to grow in stewardship, especially since the largest component will help each of our parishes, and also will grow us in our Catholic vision, reminding us that we belong to a wider Church and that we can do things together that we cannot do apart. We are still working on the case statement for the campaign and plan to have three parish waves taking us through to the end of 2017.

Of course, we will continue with this year’s DSA appeal, to which many of you have already contributed, to fund the regular ongoing ministries of the diocese. Thanks so much for your generous hearts!

In addition, we are now in the Year of Mercy. We have a portal of mercy in our cathedral in Lansing, where we invite you to make a pilgrimage so as to leave a record of your acts of mercy, and to seek the plenary indulgence made available to us in the Holy Father’s proclamation of this Year of Mercy. Lent is a wonderful occasion for us to seek what the Heavenly Father is intensely eager to give us – his mercy, especially in the sacrament of reconciliation. If it has been a while, come back home – the light is on for you.

This all reminds me that the final words of the Code of Canon Law (#1752) are these: “the salvation of souls, which in the Church must always be the supreme law.” All that we do is to cooperate with God to bring us and all our sisters and brothers to heaven.

Let that, my sisters and brothers, be our prayer during this Lenten season both for ourselves and for one another.

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Lent is a wonderful occasion for us to seek what the Heavenly Father is intensely eager to give us – his mercy, especially in the sacrament of reconciliation.

If it has been a while, come back home – the light is on for you.”

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FAITH HELPS

FROM THE EDITOR

How you can become more engaged with the Mass

F

T.Gennera

ROM TIME TO TIME, I hear it said that Sunday Mass can be a little boring. After all, it follows more or less the same outline week after week and not much changes. The music at Mass, it is said, can be repetitive and does not really change all that often. The readings at Mass can also be so familiar to the ear that perhaps one might not be as fully engaged as possible. Is there anything one might do to make Sunday Mass more interesting? I think there is, but it is going to require some time on the part of each of us.

FATHER DWIGHT EZOP

is the editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Fenton.

Email: editor@ FAITHpub.com.

The days of Holy Week are unlike any other days of the year, and the liturgies which mark those days are unlike any liturgy at other times of the year.”

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In just a few weeks time, we will enter into the holiest week of the year, a week which begins with Palm Sunday and which reaches its highlight on Easter Sunday. The days of Holy Week are unlike any other days of the year, and the liturgies which mark those days are unlike any liturgy at other times of the year. At the same time, I believe these days and these liturgies provide us with new ways of understanding and participating in Sunday Mass at any other time of the year. The great mysteries of salvation celebrated during Holy Week will provide us with a means to enter into Sunday Mass in a different way. The challenge with all of this comes in ensuring that we make the time and take advantage of the opportunity to take part in all of the liturgies of Holy Week – Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.

If you have never participated in all the liturgies of Holy Week, make a plan to do so now. A good first step would be to locate your parish’s Holy Week schedule. A visit to the parish website or a glance at the weekly bulletin should provide the necessary information. Make sure to mark the days and times on your calendar. At the same time, make sure to set aside the additional time necessary for these liturgies.

In his column this month, Father Joe does a good job of helping us understand these liturgies in greater detail. One of the highlights is the celebration of the sacraments of initiation with our catechumens and candidates at the Easter Vigil. As the catechumens are baptized and confirmed together with the candidates, they also become one with us in the sharing of the Eucharist for the very first time. The great joy of the Easter Vigil gives way to the weeks of mystagogy for the newly-initiated. Mystagogy – an “unpacking” of the meaning of the Easter sacraments – is also a reality for all of us. This is also the core of why it is so important for all of us to take part in the liturgies of Holy Week.

During the course of Holy Week, we recall the washing of feet, gather to receive the gift of the Last Supper, encounter the power of the Cross, hear once again the many ways that God has sought, summoned and saved a chosen and beloved people, and witness to the joy and excitement of our neophytes and our shared belief that Christ is truly risen.

All of this and more will be in our hearts and minds as we enter into the celebration of Mass on Easter Sunday and each Sunday that follows.

Making the time to enter into Holy Week will help to bring more depth and meaning to each celebration of the Eucharist that follows. And so, our journey in FAITH continues.

FAITH Magazine | MARCH 2016 | WWW.FAITHPUB.COM

DISCIPLESHIP

For personal reflection or small group discussion Profile of a Disciple

1. What are some ways in which God might be calling you to serve?

Work Life

1. How might taking the opportunity to explain what Good Friday means to you help your boss understand the importance of having that day off work?

Theology 101

1.

God’s unconditional love for us caused him to sacrifice his only son for our salvation. What are some ways we can sacrifice out of love for God? 2.

What are some practical ways you can turn love into action at home? Are there different ways you can show Christ’s love at work or school?

Spiritual Fitness

1. Going slowly, step by step, can have many benefits in daily prayer. What is one small step you could take to draw closer to God this Lent?

Cover Story

1. What are some ways you can encourage those around you to become a part of your parish community?

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YOUR LIFE

PROFILE OF A DISCIPLE

MARY JO’S RESPONSE TO FAITH MAGAZINE

‘I knew God was telling me to go to Flint’ M

ary Jo Ervin expected her prayers to be answered, but even she was surprised that God’s words came via her mailbox: “I retired from teaching Spanish at Notre Dame Marist Academy, and I asked God to put something in front of me.

I asked him to show me what to do with my retirement.”

And he did. The day when she pulled the FAITH Magazine Flint issue out of her mailbox last June and read that Bishop Boyea was asking the people of the diocese to help, Mary Jo says, “I knew God was telling me to go.”

It only took one visit to the St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center in Flint for Mary Jo to get an idea of what God had in mind. She says, “Within two weeks, you see someone’s life change – they can go from despair to hope. By the grace of God, they come through the doors of St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center and, in a short amount of time, they have a whole new lease on life.”

READ MORE LEARN MORE ST. LUKE N.E.W. LIFE CENTER IN FLINT OFFERS TUTORING, GED COMPLETION, WORKPLACE TRAINING, RESUME BUILDING, COUNSELING, CHILD CARE AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SISTER JANICE, SISTER CAROL AND SISTER JUDY, AND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF VOLUNTEERS, ST. LUKE N.E.W. LIFE CENTER CARES FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. FOR INFORMATION ON VOLUNTEERING, VISIT WWW.STLUKENEWLIFECENTER.COM.

BY MARY GATES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

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7

HE SAYS:

I’M NOT SURE I CAN TRUST MY SON AGAIN

YOUR LIFE MARRIAGE MATTERS

Jim says: Our 16-year-old son, Kevin, sneaked out in our car and wrecked it.

Maybe it’s easy for Sue, but I’m not sure I’ll ever trust him again.

SHE SAYS:

©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB/MONKEY BUSINESS

HOW CAN WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT TRUST? Sue says: Jim doesn’t get it. How will we ever have a relationship with him if we can’t trust him?

SOME PEOPLE ARE GREAT about relating to those they don’t trust. They’re called parole officers. But it’s the smart parole officer – and WHAT DO THEY DO? parent – who realizes his job is not to trust his ex con, but to help him redeem his relationship with society, and his own trust in himself. Here’s an example.

STEVE AND BRIDGET PATTON

hold master’s degrees in theology and counseling and serve as family life ministers for the Diocese of Sacramento.

8

The teenage son of a couple we know once did something really bad. To help him redeem himself, they decided he would redo their kitchen, a project which took him a full summer to complete.

This wasn’t just a punishment. It was a pathway to reconciliation. It was win-win: their son could look back on the project with pride, they got a new kitchen and trust was restored all around.

So Jim and Sue, how about putting off the trust question and see first if you can figure out for Kevin some pathway to reconciliation?

And keep in mind that there are lessons here about how God relates to all of us when we sin.

Even after we go to confession, he knows we’ll probably sin again. But the important thing is:

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Does he ever give up on us, even when we blow it big time? No. He’s always there to forgive us, freely. But just because his forgiveness is free doesn’t mean it’s cheap.

While our sins are forgiven – at no cost – at the moment of absolution, this “does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.” We also have to do our part “to make satisfaction” for our sins through the penance imposed by the confessor.

Moreover, this penance “must correspond as far as possible with the gravity and nature of the sins committed.” (CCC 1459, 60) In other words, Jim and Sue, whether it’s you or Kevin standing penitently before a parent, God (via a confessor) or a parole officer, part of your job going forward is to do whatever you can to make up for what you have done. And sometimes this can be huge.

But whatever penance you impose upon Kevin shouldn’t amount to a horse-whipping. It should be something constructive that will help him take more responsibility for his life. You can hope in time that you will both come to trust him again. But in the meantime, he can at least begin to better trust himself.

Can we have Easter fun without the Easter Bunny?

Q

I LOVE THE TRADITION of the Easter Bunny, but don’t want to take away from

the real meaning of Easter. How do I incorporate the fun without losing sight of the Resurrection?

DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL

is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

A ma taught me how to honor

Mary by making flower bouquets to leave on the doorsteps of our neighbors on May Day. Years later I discovered that the tradition originated in pre-Christian Ireland. An ancient Gaelic tradition had been integrated with Christianity by focusing on Mary. Many cultural traditions have been associated with Catholicism.

EGGS AND THE EASTER BUNNY. Catholicculture.org describes Easter symbols. Eggs symbolized spring in pre-Christian times, but they became symbols of the resurrection. Eggs were forbidden during Lent for many centuries, and were associated with breaking the Lenten fast. Easter egg hunts were common; in France it was said that the eggs were dropped

MY EMPLOYER WON’T LET ME TAKE GOOD FRIDAY OFF Q

I want to take time off for Good Friday, and my employer won’t let me. Don’t I have the

right to do this under my freedom to practice my religion?

Only if your company has more than 15 employees. If so, you’re in luck (or rather in Providence). By law, companies must make reasonable accommodation for employees’ observance of religious holidays. If your company grants a certain number of paid personal days, you might choose that option for your Good Friday observance. If it doesn’t, your sole payback will be eternal. Not a bad deal.

While the law protects your right, it can be

A

©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB/FAMVELDMAN

When I was a child, my grand-

into yards by flying church bells. In Germany, the eggs were delivered by the Easter Bunny.

MAKE LENT AND EASTER MEANINGFUL. Build family traditions during Lent. Read books about saints sharing the names of your children.

Make a calendar listing the dates of each family member’s baptism anniversary, and decide how to celebrate these special dates. Sort through toy boxes to find items that can be donated. Check out the family Lenten programs sponsored by your parish. Be flexible so that as your children grow older, age-

appropriate changes can be made.

EMPHASIZE THE EASTER TRIDUUM. Rather than focusing on the coming of the Easter Bunny, emphasize the triduum. Read Bible verses, and ask your children to draw pictures illustrating them.

Decorate your home with these drawings rather than bunnies!

Color eggs on Holy Saturday and explain why the egg is an Easter symbol. Your children can enjoy the momentary fun of the Easter Bunny in the context of a meaningful journey through Lent leading to the joy of the resurrection.

challenged. Would your absence on Good Friday cause an undue or severe hardship for your employer? For instance, might it have a damaging impact on the operation of the business, cause significant stress for other employees or create a safety hazard? Negative impacts of that nature could be a basis upon which your employer could deny your request.

Beyond the legal issue, it would seem in the best interest of your employer to honor your request.

You’re not requesting time off for something ilicit. Religiously devout employees often hold to high moral standards that pay ethical dividends in the workplace. Employees with strong internal compasses can require less external monitoring.

You might want to take the opportunity to explain to your boss what Good Friday means to you, and how your Christian faith has an impact on your work performance. You’re obviously a valued employee and your faith is a big part of that package.

YOUR LIFE WORK LIFE

T. Gennara

T. Gennara

YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY

JIM BERLUCCHI

is the executive director of the Spitzer Center.

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YOUR FAITH

WHY SHOULD I GO TO

CNS/CHRIS SHERIDAN

HOLY WEEK SERVICES? IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE

Q

DEAR FATHER JOE: Why should I go to the Holy Week services at my parish?

They seem so long to me.

T. Gennara

A

FATHER JOE KRUPP

is a former comedy writer who is now a Catholic priest. @Joeinblack

I’m glad you asked that question: I know that, at first glance, the Holy Week schedule at church can seem quite intimidating and, because we aren’t sure what is happening there anyway, we may be tempted simply to skip it.

I hope that, as I share with you each step of Holy Week, you see that these services are nothing short of an invitation into the heart of our Christian faith.

There really is no way that we can get after the richness and depth of all the services for Holy Week, so I’ll do my best here to give you a snapshot.

PALM SUNDAY On this day, the Church celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery. Most parishes celebrate with a procession at their Masses, in which we commit ourselves to “walking with Christ” through his passion, death and resurrection.

HOLY THURSDAY Today, we focus on the gift of the Eucharist. We have only one Mass this day at our local churches; 10

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often, today is the day when a special Mass called the Chrism Mass is celebrated at the cathedral.

At the Chrism Mass, the bishop blesses the oils that every church in the diocese will use over the next year for the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, and for the anointing of the sick. Also at that Mass, all priests renew their vows.

In local parish churches on Holy Thursday evening, we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Here, we remember the last meal Jesus celebrated with his disciples as he anticipated his passion and death. The Blessed Sacrament is removed from the main sanctuary and taken to a place of repose for adoration.

GOOD FRIDAY On Good Friday, we focus on the suffering and death of Jesus. We recognize that our sins come with a terrible price and that Jesus paid that price willingly out of love for us.

As part of this focus, we observe Good Friday as a day of fasting and abstinence.

There is no Mass on Good Friday; we have a Service of the Passion of the Lord, often at 3 p.m., which is traditionally held to be the moment of Jesus’ last breath.

This service begins in silence, with the priest laying prostrate before the cross. It continues with readings from Scripture, a homily and prayers for God’s blessings and mercy. Next, we adore the cross with a

sign of reverence: often a kiss or a touch. The key is for us to show our gratitude for the means that God used to save us.

Finally, we bring the Blessed Sacrament out from the place of repose and receive Communion. The service ends in silence.

the sign of our movement from the darkness of the tomb into the glory of the resurrection. We haven’t sung or said the Gloria in more than six weeks, and we rejoice at this time. Often, you can bring bells to this service and ring them as we sing. We read from the New Testament and Gospel and have a homily.

We then bring into the Church those who have been preparing to do so for many months. We remember our own baptism, and thank God that we are a part of the long chain of salvation history through our membership in the Church, and we rejoice with those who are joining us in the family of faith.

Continuing our walk with Christ, we will have spent Friday and Saturday “in the tomb” with Jesus.

With our service on Holy Saturday, we move from the tomb to the glory of the resurrection.

The service contains four parts: the service of light, Liturgy of the Word, Christian initiation and renewal and holy Eucharist.

The service of light begins outside where we bless our Easter fire and Paschal candle. The Mass begins inside in darkness to remind us of Jesus in the tomb.

The darkness in church continues as we move into the Liturgy of the Word, where we read multiple readings from the Old Testament that tell the story of salvation history through the ages. Then, the lights come on as we sing the Gloria together.

The lights coming on and the Gloria being sung are

B. Patten

EASTER VIGIL

Q: WHAT DO YOU CALL A DINOSAUR WITH AN EXTENSIVE VOCABULARY? A: A THESAURUS

EASTER MORNING We rejoice with great joy at Jesus’ victory over sin and death: his victory is our victory. We have hope and joy in our lives because of the wonder of Christ’s love conquering our sin and his life overcoming our death.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Enjoy another day in God’s presence.

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The Samaritan Woman at the Well

by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609)

MERCY IS LOVE TRANSFORMED S. Olson

A

DOUG CULP

is the CAO and secretary for pastoral life for the Diocese of Lexington, Ky. He holds an MA in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

S WE CONTINUE OUR YEAR-LONG REFLECTION on the nature of mercy in honor of the official Jubilee Year of Mercy (Dec. 8, 2015–Nov. 20, 2016), let us recall from last time that, according to Pope St. John Paul II, mercy “signifies a special power of love.” In other words, mercy is really love transformed, so we need to understand what love is if we are to penetrate more deeply into what it means to be merciful.

WHAT IS LOVE?

We are all probably familiar with St. Paul’s famous lines in his First Letter to the Corinthians in which he tells us what love is and what it is not: Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices

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with truth. It bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. (13:4-7) In other places, St. Paul refers to divine love as agape. Agape is a proactive searching out for opportunities to love, rather than a mere passive reaction to particular situations with love. Jesus Christ makes it even clearer for us. Throughout the Gospels, we find that whenever someone asks Jesus what love is, they immediately get a task.

What is love? Feed the hungry;

clothe the naked; visit the prisoner.

What is love? Forgive your brother seven times 70 times. What is love?

Go and sell all that you have and come follow me. What is love? Pray for your enemies. What is love? Lay down your life for your friend.

In other words, love requires us to act, for agape is pure action. Love also requires us to die to the self; to deny our very self. Love is other-centered by its very nature. Love is self-giving and self-sacrificing.

And God has loved us first.

YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101

“Throughout the Gospels, we find that whenever someone asks Jesus what love is, they immediately get a task.”

Throughout our tradition, one of the attributes that has been assigned to God the Father is that of omnipotence (all-powerful). We read in the Old Testament how the prophets often approached the Divine with fear and trembling in deference to this power.

In fact, so great is the power of the Father that when Moses asked to see the Lord’s glory, God answered, "I will make all my beauty pass before you. ... But my face you cannot see, for no one sees me and still lives." (Ex 33:19-20).

An implication would be that in order for us to exist, then, the Father must withhold or protect us from the sheer power of his being – otherwise, we would be completely consumed.

In this way, the Father lovingly exercises this power by constraining rather than asserting it. We might even say that the Father emptied himself out of love, as he is the very nature of Being, so that we might have being. This self-emptying, after all, is intrinsic to any act of creation, whereas self-absorption is the hallmark of acts of destruction. And the Father’s self-giving gift of love was life itself.

becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Phil 2:6-8) Love alone can account for this sacrifice of God. Jesus died so that we might be brought to “life with Christ” (Eph 2:5), and share in the divine life of the triune God. Whereas, the Father gave us life, the Son submitted to death so that we might have live more fully with God. OUR RESPONSE

None of this was for God’s own benefit, as God lacks nothing. Life itself, the possibility of eternal life in communion with God and our ability to live into this communion all flow from the very nature of God who is Love. Love is self-diffusive.

That is, it is overflowing and seeks expression in the good of the other.

And God, fully in the three persons of the Trinity, faithfully continues to love us first through an ongoing self-emptying.

Now, we, too, are called to do the same; to imitate God’s self-giving love. It is the only proper response, but it is a response that demands everything from us. And yet, it offers eternity in return.

FROM THE INCARNATION TO THE CROSS

Jesus Christ, of course, was and is the Incarnation of God’s love for humanity. The Word of God, the Logos, the Second Person of the Trinity entered into human experience in order to save humanity from sin.

And, as we have stated often in these pages, Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself,

SPIRITUAL READING

MAKE AN IMPACT TO PERFORM PRACTICAL ACTS OF MERCY, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

THEOLOGY 101 QUIZ Test your knowledge of what the Bible has to say about mercy …

“For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy ______ over judgment.”

A. lords B. sits

C. triumphs D. hovers Answer: (C) – triumphs (James 2:13)

THE LOVING ACT OF CREATION

In Misericordiae Vultus, the papal bull establishing the Extraordinary Jubilee, Pope Francis reminds us that we “are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action our lives” during this Year of Mercy.

One way we can do this is through spiritual reading – especially the classics of the Catholic spiritual life.

Consider a prayerful reading of this book during the Year of Mercy: Confessions by St. Augustine.

Confessions (a.k.a. The Confessions of St. Augustine) is autobiographical and traces St. Augustine’s journey to Christianity. Because of its treatment of St. Augustine’s struggle with immorality, along with his intellectual search for the truth, Confessions is an excellent choice for the Lenten season.

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YOUR FAITH SPIRITUAL FITNESS

The power of praying

FOR OTHERS I

N THE LAST COLUMN, I spoke about the

need for, and the power of, intercession. Let

me now say some things that are important for each of you who wish to become an intercessor.

In order for intercession to be truly effective, each person needs to make some specific decisions in order to be fruitful in prayer. These principles apply whether you are praying for an individual, a group or a specific cause.

Make sure your own life – as far as possible – is submitted to God’s will. Day by day, offer your life to him – your relationships, responsibilities, desires, hopes and fears. We won’t be completely obedient this side of heaven, but we should be “on the way.”

1

Make sure you have a daily prayer time – time alone with God when you read his word and give him time to speak to your heart, showing you the truths by which he wants you to live.

2

When you see a need for which you feel called to pray, or someone brings you a need, go to the Lord first! Ask, “Lord, what is your will for this person? How can I pray according to your will?” Sometimes, I pray for a week or more before I get a sense of why this particular person needs prayer. What does God want to accomplish?

3

If you can, make eucharistic adoration in a nearby church or chapel a frequent part of intercessory prayer. God extends much grace – that is, he shares himself with us – when we fix our gaze on him. Don’t look for some

FOR MORE ON PRAYER

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SISTER ANN SHIELDS

T. Gennara

YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT MY BOOKS: FIRE IN MY HEART (PERSONAL PRAYER) AND PRAY AND NEVER LOSE HEART (INTERCESSION).

4

is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. @srannshieldssgl

Learn more at www.dolcatholicschools.com kind of spiritual experience. Just know that, as ing on the very familiar words of the rosary or St. John Paul II told us, adoration of the Blessed the chaplet. You will get distracted, but, as soon Sacrament can be likened to radiation as you realize it, just bring your mind therapy. As we look at him, and back to the intention and the words he at us, we receive power to see you are praying. ourselves and/or the situation for If we which we pray in a new light. We gain Think about joining an 7 intercessory prayer group in genuinely wisdom, insight, hope and courage – step by step. As I have told many readers before, don’t look at God as some kind of fast-food server or slot machine. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps 46:10) The Mass is the highest form of 5 worship and intercession you can give to God. Offering Mass for your particular intention is the most powerful way to pray for those for whom you have called to pray.

seek God’s will, pray that God reveal it and help each person to grow in love for God, you will be

your parish.

If we genuinely seek God’s will, pray that God reveal it and help each person to grow in love for God, you will be amazed at what will happen.

It may take two or three years before you begin to see real change. Just be faithful and keep praying.

“If my people, who are called by my Name humble themselves and pray what will and seek my face, and turn from their happen.”

The rosary and the Divine Merwicked ways, then I will hear from 6 cy Chaplet are excellent ways heaven and will forgive their sin and to intercede. Remember, it is not the heal their land. Now my eyes will be number of rosaries you pray, it is how attentive open and my ears will be attentive to the prayer you are in fighting distractions and really focusthat is made in this place …” (2 Chron 7:14-15) amazed at

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO SISTER ANN SHIELDS: RENEWAL MINISTRIES, 230 COLLINGWOOD, SUITE 240, ANN ARBOR, MI 48103.

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YOUR STORIES

PAUL PARKER HAD SPENT WEEKS imagining how the Easter Vigil would unfold. With family and friends in attendance at St. Mary Church in Ann Arbor, Parker was overcome with emotion as he prepared to receive confirmation, becoming a full-fledged member of the Catholic Church.

But the night didn’t go as planned for the 23-year-old from Dexter.

Parker found himself battling the stomach flu. He laughs now about his indoctrination to the Catholic family, feeling the ceremony’s powerful impact months after the April 4 evening.

“For myself and all of the candidates, there was a lot of anticipation leading up to that night,” says Paul. “Lent felt like one long reflection, and then, of course, I was sick, but I got through it. Even though I was really ill, it was just such an incredible experience to be a part of.

“When they did the readings, it felt different, I connected with them more, and then some of the candidates in the RCIA program were being baptized, too, and so that was really great to watch.

“That was the cool thing about the RCIA program, you’re together for the whole year, learning about the Church, its history, discovering your faith together, and so to be there for the vigil together and to see the smiles and how happy everyone was when it was their turn to be confirmed, I’ll just never forget what it felt like that night.”

An engineering student at the University of Michigan, on his way to medical school next year, Paul was born and baptized Episcopalian. His family attended church, but left the Episcopal faith before he had a chance to fully develop a personal connection to God, though he acknowledges there was always something unexplainable pulling at him. He just wasn’t sure what it was.

“It wasn’t that big a part of my life,” he says. “I was public-school-educated, so there was no religion in school. When I got to the University of Michigan, I was sort of asking myself, ‘Is this really something I want to make part of my life?’

“I liked the morals and sense of values that Christianity provided, and I hopped around some Protestant churches, but found nothing that stuck. No one in my family is Catholic, so that world was scary to me. And whether it was because of stereotypes that I had or what I had heard, Catholicism seemed so high and mighty and not something I wanted to be a part of.”

A college girlfriend introduced Paul to St. Mary’s, easing him in. They attended Mass not out of obligation, but when he desired to be there.

Soon, though, he found himself drawn to the Church consistently.

Though their relationship eventually ended, Paul wanted to keep his relationship with Christ and the Catholic Church alive, and he

made the decision to continue a personal one that would not be disrupted by the comings and goings of friends, girls or family.

“I felt at home and a sense of a peace during Mass that I had never experienced before,” Paul says. “That was powerful when I realized I could see myself in this faith.

“I really liked the community and the sense of togetherness. When someone is hurting, everyone collectively prays for you, so there’s just this great sense that we’re all in this together and you never feel alone; I was really missing that through a lot of my high school years and in early college years.

“I liked that I can go anywhere in the world and the Catholic Church would be there. There might be different languages and cultures, but the Mass would be the same – the message, the traditions are all there. We’re all Catholic,” he explains.

One of the priests at St. Mary encouraged Paul to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. Praying on the opportunity presented, Paul was quickly granted an answer.

“I was confident, but then about a month into taking classes and meeting with the other candidates, I felt this sense of calmness and peace – I knew I was on the right path,” he says.

Paul began the process in the fall of 2014, and was confirmed in April 2015. Throughout the process, one of the most important lessons he learned was that his confirmation ceremony was only the beginning of his Catholic journey.

Parker has heeded that message, volunteering to serve as an RCIA sponsor for a freshman engineering student candidate this year. And Paul’s journey has inspired his parents to become RCIA candidates.

“I thought it might be repetitive, but when I started going to some classes, I realized I was really missing that consistent discussion about your faith. Of course now, I’m more in a supportive role, helping to

“I liked the morals and sense of values that Christianity provided, and I hopped around some Protestant churches, but found nothing that stuck.”

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facilitate discussion and let them explore the topics, but it’s been rewarding for me, too, and I can only imagine what it will be like to watch my candidate get confirmed this year.”

At medical school next year, Parker isn’t sure if he will have time to be an RCIA sponsor again – he loves being part of the program that welcomes new Catholics into the Church – but he understands it is part of his responsibility to serve as Jesus did.

“I know my faith is going to continue to keep growing and be of the utmost importance for me to get through medical school and all the challenges I will face,” he says. “How I have responded to my current stresses after going through this compared to before the RCIA program is night and day. I just feel this tremendous support and sense of God’s presence.

“I think my faith was always there, but it was on the back burner, and now it’s just become such a huge part of my life. I don’t know what role God will ask me to do next, but I look forward to encouraging the classmates I have now and in the future to become a part of this community,” he says.

LEARN MORE DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT BECOMING CATHOLIC, OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES? CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PARISH TO LEARN ABOUT THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) PROGRAM, OR CONTACT PAT RINKER IN THE OFFICE OF ADULT FAITH FORMATION AT PRINKER@ DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG

YOUR STORIES MY STORY

FROM HEALTH CRISIS TO CLASSROOM

Kathy brings her faith to teaching

KATHY FERGUSON’S FACE GLOWS

as she recounts 3-year-

old Eleanor’s story about adoration of the Eucharist.

“She told her mom she visited Jesus in the chapel. She couldn’t see him, but she explained, ‘He’s behind the door, but he’s not hiding. He’s there, silly Jesus!’

The teacher at St. John School in Fenton shakes her head as Eleanor did and laughs with delight. “I take my pre-kindergarten class to Mass and adoration. We’re not quiet, I’ll be the first to admit it! We sing to Jesus and talk to him about what we’re thankful for. Before we enter the chapel, we ask ourselves, ‘Is there something I could change?’ If so, we ask Jesus and our Blessed Mother to come into our hearts to help.

“It’s not work! I get to go to school every day and see the miracle of life through the eyes of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. We talk about Jesus being alive in our hearts, and how they can develop a friendship with Christ. I don’t talk to them as if he is gone, because he’s not gone! He’s right there with us.”

Kathy Ferguson teaches what she truly believes. “I waited a long time to do this. I was a wife and mother first, but my vocation was always teaching. When our youngest was in middle school, I enrolled in an elementary education program at the University of Michigan-Flint.

“In 2006, I had appendicitis and my doctor found a growth on my pancreas. He recommended a procedure called a Whipple operation, which removes the tumor and adjacent parts of the pancreas, liver, small intestine, stomach and gall bladder.

“As soon as I came out of surgery, I felt something was wrong. I couldn’t eat anything and I was in pain that I can’t even describe. The surgeon said I’d be fine and sent me home. Even though we kept saying something must be wrong, my surgeon insisted it was in my head.

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“Then the bottom dropped out of the economy. [Kathy’s husband] Don lost his job and our health insurance with it.

He took a night cleaning job for cash and took care of me.

“Boy, it’s times like this when you certainly put into perspective what’s important! We lost our home, but that’s OK. We rented a house, and families from our parish, St. Joseph in Lake Orion, and our Everest Academy community made sure we had meals on the table and financial support to start over. These wonderful friends covered our children’s tuition so they could continue their Catholic education at Everest.

They even paid my health insurance premiums!

“At first, I said ‘No, no. We’ll figure this out.’ But as we went on, I came to understand that God puts people in our paths for a reason. The families obviously felt called to help out of love. I realized it was important for me to accept their help and love with gratitude.

“One November day, I was in really bad shape, and I ended up at the emergency room at Henry Ford hospital. The ER doctor asked if I was Christian. Irritated, I snapped that I was Catholic, but I didn’t see what that had to do with anything.

He left and came back in a few minutes with a little round relic from Father Solanus Casey and a novena. He told me to say the novena and hold onto the relic – a piece of thread from the Detroit It’s not work! friar’s robe. That night, I slept for the I get to go to first time in years.

“We scheduled another surgery school every to address whatever was causing the day and see pain. When the surgeons went back the miracle of into my abdomen, they found that life through during the Whipple operation my first doctor had cut the main nerve the eyes of 3-, to my stomach. For three years, my 4- and 5-yearstomach hadn’t worked right. olds.”

“With this operation, the doctors at Henry Ford gave me a new life in so many ways. Once I was strong enough, I went back to classes and earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with an early childhood endorsement. I started teaching at St. John School, Fenton in 2013. Don got another job in the mortgage field, and we now own a home in a lovely neighborhood in Flint.

“After it was over, I learned that my operation had fallen on Father Solanus Casey’s birthday. In hindsight, I can see that I am only here because of miracles. God put me in place for a reason. I used to lay awake at night believing God wasn’t there. But I know now he was with me, protecting me even though I couldn’t see it.

“I am thankful for every day. When little ones like Eleanor say, ‘Jesus is not hiding, he’s there,’ I know she’s right. It is a privilege to be with these little ones who share that knowing in the miracle of God’s love.”

BY NANCY ROSEBUSH SCHERTZING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

LEARN MORE TO FIND OUT ABOUT GREAT STARTS IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION, GO TO WWW.DOLCATHOLICSCHOOLS.COM.

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FAITH INTERVIEW

READ MORE READ AN EXTENDED FAITH INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTOPHER WEST AT WWW.FAITHPUB.COM, WHERE HE DISCUSSES GENDER AND SAME-SEX ATTRACTION ISSUES.

1993, and he has since spent his time studying and sharing St. John Paul II’s teachings across the globe.

What is Theology of the Body?

LEARN MORE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTOPHER WEST AND THE COR PROJECT, VISIT WWW.CORPROJECT.COM. VISIT HIS FACEBOOK PAGE: CWESTOFFICIAL AND TWITTER: @CWESTTOB.

FAITH talks to CHRISTOPHER WEST, noted expert on Theology of the Body

BY CARI ANN DELAMIELLEURESCOTT

A

FTER SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS to questions about the meaning of life, love and the purpose of sex, renowned speaker and author Christopher West found the answers he was looking for in the words of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (TOB).

West, who is also the founder and president of the Cor Project – a global outreach that encourages

people to learn, live and share the Theology of the Body – first learned of the Theology of the Body in

Theology of the Body is the title John Paul II gave to his first major teaching project as pope. It’s a bold, compelling, incredibly life-affirming response to the sexual revolution – the chaos of which is evident everywhere today as we are drowning in a sea of family breakdown and gender confusion. Theology of the Body is the lifeline!

The TOB itself is quite dense and scholarly in its language. My work seeks to translate it into language that average people can understand. The basic message is this: our bodies tell a story, an incredibly glorious story of God’s eternal, life-giving love. That’s who God is – a family of life-giving love: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We image that life-giving love as male and female. Think about it – a man’s body makes no sense by itself. Nor does a woman’s. But seen in light of each other, we see a call to holy Communion. And in the normal course of events, the union of the two leads to a third. And so we catch a glimpse here of the Trinity.

We catch a glimpse of the God who is life-giving communion. And we catch a glimpse of his eternal plan to marry us.

God wants to marry us! That’s the whole Bible in five words. And he wanted this eternal “marital plan” to be so plain to us, so obvious to us, that he stamped an image of it

On April 9, West will appear at Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, along with musical guests Mike Mangione and Jason Clark, to discuss human creation, the meaning of sex and gender, sexual desires and the healing and redemption of sexuality. Tickets cost $50 per person, $40 for students or $80 per couple, and are available by visiting www.tobthecorproject.eventbee.com 22

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LOCAL NEWS

right in our bodies by making us male and female and calling the two to become “one flesh.”

How does TOB connect with the Year of Mercy? I’d say there

is no better time to share Theology of the Body with others than during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

As Pope Francis stated in an interview early in his pontificate, “I see clearly that the thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds.” And this means that “ministers of the Church must be ministers of mercy above all.”

Pope Francis’ oft-quoted description of the Church as “a field hospital after battle” couldn’t be more fitting in our post-sexual revolution world.

When idealized and hyper-eroticized images of the human body have become the cultural wallpaper and hard-core pornography our main reference point for the “facts of life,” it’s no wonder we’re in such misery and confusion when it comes to questions about gender and sexuality.

John Paul II’s TOB is a healing balm of mercy on our misery. The Latin word for mercy, misericordia, actually means “a heart which gives itself to those in misery.” That’s how I have always experienced John Paul II’s TOB: as a healing balm on my misery.

Christ the King Church in Flint presented the Father Norman Dukette Award to Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Flint pediatrician and parishioner. She challenged the city of Flint, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by showing changes made to Flint’s water source were poisoning Flint and, especially, its children with lead. Ms. Patricia Stokes, who presented the award, said many champions have come from Flint, “but none can compare to Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the champion of Flint’s people and children. Without her determined protest, based on science and medicine in finding the dangerously high lead levels, the catastrophe would have continued.”

Why is your ministry called the Cor Project? Cor is Latin for heart.

CATHOLIC COLLEGE NIGHT TACKLES CONTINUING CATHOLIC EDUCATION

And questions about sexuality take us to the heart of what it means to be human. They also take us to the heart of culture and civilization. If society has a “cancer,” we need to treat that cancer at the cellular level.

And the fundamental cell of society is the family.

But at the heart (or “cor”) of the family is the union of man and woman in one flesh. The “Cor Project,” therefore, is to go back to those basics and bring hope, healing and redemption. In a word, we want to show men and women around the world how beautiful they truly are.

On Sept. 9, 2015, “Catholic College Night” was held at Cleary University’s Johnson Center in Howell. More than 20 Catholic universities and colleges were represented and more than 400 students and parents attended. The event included: opportunities for one-on-one meetings with college representatives; Q&A forums for students and parents; and financial aid and scholarship information. It was so successful that a second Catholic College Night is scheduled for 2016. For more information, contact gk7304@mikofc.org.

The event was offered by the Knights of Columbus Council 7304 in Brighton.

FATHER NORMAN DUKETTE AWARD PRESENTED TO DR. MONA HANNA-ATTISHA

The council contacted Catholic colleges and universities within a 300-mile radius.

Each dean of admissions agreed to take part in the event and then Pat Rinker, director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Lansing, contacted the youth directors in the dioceses of Lansing and Saginaw and the Archdiocese of Detroit to encourage them to promote the event.

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LOCAL NEWS

DEATH NOTICE OF SISTER MARY IMMACULATE MENDOZA, SFP A wake and Mass of Christian Burial for Franciscan Sister of the Poor Mary Immaculate Mendoza (nee Phyllis Diaz) was celebrated Jan. 12 in St. Clare Convent Chapel in Cincinnati. Sister Mary Immaculate, 86, died on Jan. 9 in Cincinnati.

During her 57 years as a Franciscan Sister of the Poor, she served the poor in social services in Steubenville, Ohio, and in Flint, Mich. In Flint, she was named 1980 Woman of the Year by Beta Sigma Phi sorority for her outstanding contributions to the local immigrant community through her service at Holy Angels Convent and a local community garden.

SEND YOUR LOCAL NEWS STORIES TO EDITORIAL@ FAITHPUB.COM

NEW VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR Cheryl Williams-Hecksel, LMSW, steps into the job of diocesan victim assistance coordinator, where she will be able to provide support and help connect people to services available through the diocese. “A member of Saint Mary’s Cathedral parish, Cheryl says, “I think the most important thing is to provide a caring and supportive place for victims.”

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL CHOIR SINGS FOR POPE The choir from St. Francis of Assisi School in Ann Arbor traveled to Rome on Dec. 26 to participate in an international choir, Pueri Cantores, singing at many events, including, most importantly, Pope Francis’ New Year’s Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. The pastor, Father James Conlon, traveled with them and celebrated Masses – including one where two of its second-graders received their first Communion. The group saw many iconic and historical sites in Rome during their visit. They also had the opportunity to visit Assisi and see the tombs of St. Francis of Assisi, their patron saint, and St. Clare.

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LENTEN FISH FRIES • Fridays, 4:30-7 p.m., Lenten fish fries in St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd., Ann Arbor.

Cost: $9 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children 6-11, ages 5 and younger eat free. For information, call the parish at 734.662.8141. All are welcome.

•M arch 4, 11 and 19, 4-7 p.m., Lenten fish fries in St. Thomas Aquinas School gym in East Lansing. For information, contact the parish at 517.351.7215.

DAVID MALHALABMNS PHOTO/M NEWS SERVICE

SHARE YOUR NEWS

FISH FRY

COUPLE CELEBRATES 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Alfred and Barbara Steadman of Delta Township celebrated 60 years of marriage with family and friends at St. Gerard Church in Lansing. Married Dec. 27, 1955, they advise all married couples to live, love and celebrate life every day of their lives – and to be thankful for the times they share together.

•F ridays, 4-7 p.m., St. John the Evangelist, Fenton’s Knights of Columbus will have Lenten fish fries in the parish activity center.

•F ridays, 4-7:30 p.m., St. John, Howell Lenten fish fries. Takeout available 3:30-7:30 p.m. by calling 517.546.9154. For information, call 517.546.7200 or visit stjohnhowell. com for a complete menu.

•F ridays, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., St. Agnes, Fowlerville’s Knights of Columbus Lenten fish dinners at 855 Grand River Ave. Adults $10, seniors $8, children 10 and under $6. For information, call the parish at 517.223.8684.

FAITH IN FLINT

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE WATER CRISIS IN FLINT Catholic Charities on the front lines Following the discovery of lead in the city of Flint’s drinking water, relief organizations have been working day and night to provide safe water to those living and working in the community.

Standing at the front of the battle is Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, which provides assistance – including counseling, substance abuse treatment, foster care and adoption services – to people in need.

Vicky Schultz, CEO of Catholic Charities, said the health and safety issues continue to be a “major crisis,” and the organization is distributing bottled water and gallons of water, as supplies allow, to families and individuals in need.

Vicky says: “(Water) is a basic need we have as human beings. We’re already dealing with poverty (and) huge unemployment in the city of Flint, and now we have water that’s not suitable to drink.

“I think we’re just very disappointed that somebody really didn’t figure this out. It took a doctor having to do a blood test,” Vicky says. “We’re all children of God, and we’re supposed to look out for one another.”

St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center helps people understand the severity of the crisis Sister Carol Weber, of the N.E.W. Life Center in Flint, spoke to FAITH on Jan. 26 about how the center is working to meet the demands posed by the water crisis. She said the most important role the N.E.W. Life Center can fill is to “help people understand the severity of the problem and make sure they have water … We deal with the poorest of the poor, many of whom have no income.

How are they going to buy filters and buy water?”

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AFFECTED BY FLINT WATER CRISIS

8,657 (based on Census data)

Because of this, people choose to use the contaminated water despite the risks.

“Water is extremely important” said Sister Carol, “Once this whole thing dies down, I’m afraid we’ll be left with the problem.”

“Find strength in the love of God” Bishop Boyea The City of Flint has undergone many trials in recent years. Often, its people have faced the temptation to lose hope, to surrender to despair. The water crisis again presents that temptation, but again the answer must be to find strength in the love of God and the support of men and women of good will. The FAITH in Flint campaign, launched by the Diocese of Lansing in May of 2015, has been a source of hope and change for the people of Flint, generating donations, volunteerism and prayers. Long before the water crisis was known of, the Catholic presence in Flint has been strong.

In this Year of Mercy, I also urge Catholics, and all people of good will, to continue praying for the people of Flint. With prayer and fasting, let us call down the power of God on this city. We ask the Lord to grant wisdom and courage to civil leaders who are seeking solutions to the water issue. We pray for a season of peace – that crime and violence abate. We ask blessings on police officers, fire fighters and all first responders. We pray that mothers, fathers and educators will guide young people to reach their full potential as children of God. And we ask the Holy Spirit to come down on this city in a powerful way, casting out evil and fear. We ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the men and women of this city, filling their hearts with love and peace.

$5,600

WHY IS LEAD SO DANGEROUS? EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO LEAD:

Lower IQ

Decreased ability to pay attention

Decreased performance at school

Links to criminal behaviors Symptoms appear 3-5 years after exposure

Cost for medical and special education for each seriously lead-poisoned child

99,763: POPULATION OF FLINT (based on 2013 Census data)

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FAITH IN FLINT

‘WHENEVER I USE CITY WATER, I ALWAYS PRAY’

A DAY WITH FLINT MOM MAKIELAH T

HE ROUTINE OF RUNNING AN ENERGETIC HOME with two teenagers and a pre-teen

took on a whole new dimension for Makielah Conway when the Flint water crisis seeped into her residence. Raised in Mt. Morris, Makielah has been a Flint local since the age of 18. A full-time mom and part time volunteer at the Community Closet based out of Flint Catholic Charities, Makielah shares how she functions in a typical day.

I always start my day with coffee [1]. It takes three bottles of waters to get a full pot. I need my coffee to get my day going! We also cook with bottled water. We do have a Zero Water Jug Filter which does a good job, plus the city has given us two faucet filters [2] we use. Whenever I use city water, I always pray, “Jesus, be our shield.”

They say the water isn’t bad for us to bathe or shower in, but it’s rough and feels hard. You need to use lotion, which helps, but I’ve noticed we’re all starting to get more skin rashes and irritations. We get in and out of the shower as quickly as possible now, and I purchase more baby wipes to use. I’d feel worse if I had little babies or toddlers because I wouldn’t bathe a little one in this water.

The scariest part for me is wondering whether my kids will get sick. They’ve told us our water is safe to use with the filters they provided, so we cut back on bottled water, but do we really know if it is true or not?”

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We go through at least two cases of bottled water [3] every day, in addition to what we filter ourselves. There seems to be empty water bottles everywhere! I take mine to the Community Closet and they recycle them by filling them with laundry soap.

They’ve told us the water at school is safe, but I still pack water bottles for my kids [4] every day. It’s scary because we can’t trust if it’s true or not.

I have changed because everything takes longer to do, plus you need to plan your schedule around the water drops. Those can be chaotic and kind of sad because a lot of people don’t have their own transportation and have to

BY ROSE ROBERTSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6] walk to get water and then carry it home [5]. Many of the residents are elderly or sick and physically can’t do it.

I find every day is a constant tug of war on my emotions. I can’t believe how our government has disregarded the elderly, the children and the sick with this crisis. It’s so disheartening. I look at what’s happened with our water and it makes me lose faith in humanity. But on the flip side, I see all these volunteers and people donating and it fills me again with belief in people. I’d like to tell the world outside of Flint, ‘Thank you!” for your donations, love and support. It’s unbelievable!

I was shocked the situation had been downplayed so long. When the media caught wind, that’s when it really blew up. Many of us were unaware of how big the problem was until then. I’d noticed a difference in the water, but the

[7] city covered it by posting periodic boiling advisories [6] and things would settle down. When I learned the truth, I was terrified knowing how often we used the water [7].

This has definitely tested my faith, but in general, we are all getting stronger. We are not easily broken. In spite of this, we have to go on, and all the help we have gotten has been so encouraging and I ask that everyone keep praying with us. It will be greater later!

MAKE AN IMPACT CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS ASSISTING FLINT’S POOREST RESIDENTS WITH THEIR EMERGENCY WATER AND BASIC LIVING NEEDS DURING THIS CRISIS AND ALWAYS. TO DONATE, VISIT: WWW.CATHOLICCHARITIESFLINT.ORG/DONATE.

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YOUR COMMUNITY singles mid-30s and up to: March 11, 5:30 p.m., Happy Hour at Buddies Grill in Holt; and March 18, 5:30 p.m., fish fry at St. Martha in Okemos. For information, call 517.321.7886 or email lansingcatholicsingles@live.com. New members always welcome.

beverage, $10 per adult.

THINGS TO DO June 25, St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt will host FAITH FEST 2016, a contemporary Christian music festival with acclaimed artist Matt Maher and Vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Boyea. Tickets: $30 each.

For information and to purchase tickets, visit faithfest16.com.

Fridays, 6 p.m., during Lent, St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton will have soup and bread suppers, followed

by Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. in the church. For information, contact the parish office at 810.229.8624.

Jackson Catholic Singles monthly events: second Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., dinner at a local restaurant from 6-8 p.m. and Euchre every fourth Friday – Don't know how to play? We will teach you. For more information and additional events, contact Jennifer Lamp at 517.937.2444 or jennifer@jennifervlamp.com. Like us on Facebook at Jackson Catholic Singles.

March 1, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Paul, Owosso’s Knights of Columbus roasted chicken dinner, 1259 E. Main St., with potatoes, stuffing, hot vegetable, salad, roll, cake and

March 3, 10, 17 and 24, 7-9 p.m., Marriage Matters of Jackson will have “4 Great Dates” for seriously dating and engaged couples. Cost of $75 per couple includes four workshop sessions, beverages and dessert for two. For information/registration, call 517.796.5116 or visit marriagemattersjackson.com.

March 6, 12:30-2 p.m., All Faith Ministry for Disabilities/Our Lady of Grace Special Family Ministry are sponsoring an afternoon of bowling at City Limits East in East Lansing – pizza and pop provided and no charge for shoes. RSVP to Amy Schneider

by March 3 at amyschneider9698@ gmail.com.

St. Michael School, Grand Ledge will have: March 8, 6:30 p.m., kindergarten parent information night, call 517.627.2167 to register; March 9, 6:30 p.m., 3-year-old preschool roundup; and March 10, 4-year-old preschool roundup. To register for the roundup events, call Joanne Dugolpolski at 517.627.2167, ext. 43.

March 11, 6 p.m.-midnight, and March 12, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., St. Mark in Goodrich is sponsoring a Spring Scrapbook Crop. Cost is $12 for Friday, $35 for Saturday. For information, contact Cindy Bell at cabsandkids@aol.com or Sue Griffith at 248.627.3100.

Lansing Catholic Singles invite all

PLAY IN A EUCHRE TOURNAMENT

ATTEND A SPECIAL NEEDS MASS

March 15, 6-8 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas School, East Lansing will host its kindergarten roundup for children and families entering kindergarten. For more information, contact Meghan Loughlin-Krusky, principal, at mkrusky@elcatholics.org.

March 18, 7 p.m,. St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish, Swartz Creek will host a Euchre Tournament sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Cost is $5. For more information, call 810.635.3684.

March 18, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Project Rachel clinical training seminar for priests, religious, mental health professionals, lay persons, pastoral care workers and other interested volunteers. It will cover post-abortion trauma, pregnancy loss and unresolved grief. No cost. For information/registration, visit newlifecenterlansing.org.

March 20, 2 p.m., Special Needs Mass at St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 E. Main St., DeWitt, followed by light refreshments. All religions are welcome. Please RSVP by March 14 to Cathy Blatnik at 517.381.1410 or lcblatnik@juno.com.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, CATHOLICCHARITIESJLHC.ORG 517.782.2551 •M arch 17, St. Patrick’s Day box lunches are back and you can help us help others while enjoying this tasty treat. For just $7, you get a hearty corned beef and aged Swiss cheese on rye sandwich, coleslaw, pickle, chips and cookie. Delivery is free on March 17 for pre-paid orders of 10 or more. Call 517.262.0466, email kjansen@catholiccharitiesjlhc.org or visit CatholicCharitiesJLHC.org to reserve your lunches.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, CCSGC.ORG OR 810.232.9950 • Loving foster families are urgently needed. Please consider opening your heart and home to a child in need. For information, contact Catholic Charities Children’s Services Department at 810.232.3418.

• March 17, the St. Patrick’s Day box lunch sale is back. Enjoy a delicious corned beef and Swiss sandwich on rye, pickle, coleslaw, chips and dessert, all for only $7. The drive-thru will be open at 901 Chippewa St., Flint. Free delivery on March 17 for pre-paid orders of 10 or more in Genesee County. The order deadline is March 4. To reserve your box lunch, call 810.232.9950, ext. 325

LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES 517.545.5944 OR LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG •M arch 12, Livingston County Catholic Charities will have Salute to the Stars and Celebrity Dance Competition at the Crystal Gardens in Howell; event includes strolling food stations, mini auction with items such as tickets for U of M and Detroit Tigers games. Tickets: $60 per person; purchase them online at Eventbrite, through LCCC website at www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org or call Julie Amman at 517.545.5944. Deadline to purchase tickets is March 6.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW, CSSWASHTENAW.ORG OR 734.971.9781 • On March 18-19 and April 15-16, two We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes for engaged couples will be offered. Cost of $95 per couple must be paid prior to attending. For information/ registration, call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit csswashtenaw.org.

• If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, CSSW offers foster care orientation: March 10, 5:30-8 p.m., and March 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at 4925 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor. For information/ RSVP, call 734.971.9781, ext. 448. There are no fees associated with becoming a foster parent.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

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BOWL FOR A CAUSE

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RETREAT CENTERS WEBER RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, ADRIAN, WEBER.ADRIANDOMINICIANS.ORG OR 517.266.4000 •M arch 20-24, “Holy Week Retreat: Blessed, Broken, Given” invites participants to reflect on the meaning of the paschal mystery at this time in their lives. Cost: single occupancy $375; commuter $225.

•M arch 19, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., “A day of contemplative prayer, meditation and mindfulness practice” with mindful breathing and simple chants. Cost: $35 (includes lunch).

ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER, DEWITT, STFRANCIS.WS OR 517.669.8321 •M arch 14, “Holding on in the midst of suffering: finding hope and trust” directed by Tony Sperendi. For information/registration, contact Tony Sperendi at tonysperendi@gmail.com.

•T wo Cursillo Weekends: April 7, 7 p.m., to April 10, 6 p.m., for women and April 14, 7 p.m., to April 17, 6 p.m., for men. For information, contact Father David Rosenberg at rosenbergdb@ gmail.com or www.lansingcursillo.org.

March 27, Easter Sunday, 12:30-2 p.m., Church of the Resurrection in Lansing is serving a complimentary Easter meal. For reservations, contact Judy Edwards at 517.336.1924.

March 31-April 1, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and April 2, 9 a.m.-noon, Holy Spirit Church’s Women’s Guild rummage sale at 9565 Musch Rd., Brighton.

For drop-off information, contact the parish office at 810.231.9199, ext. 200.

April 8-June 10, 7-8:30 p.m., Divorce and Beyond Support Group at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Brighton. Cost: $10 for program materials. For information/registration, contact Sister Maryetta Churches at 810.229.8624 April 9, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Christ the King, Ann Arbor will host the Cor seminar “Hungry Heart?” with speaker Christopher West. To register/purchase tickets, visit tobthecorproject.eventbee.com. For information, contact Dawn Hausmann at 517.342.2506 or dhausmann@ dioceseoflansing.org.

April 15-17, a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is an opportunity to make your good marriage even better at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt. For information/registration, contact Karen and Harry Porter at 888.628.7433 or apply online at wwme.org.

April 16, 5-7 p.m., Steak and Song at St. Thomas Aquinas School’s gym in East Lansing. Enjoy a steak dinner and musical entertainment.

Tickets: $12 adult in advance or $15 at the door; children’s tickets are $7.

For a reservation, call the parish at 517.351.7215.

April 16-17, Catholic Engaged Encounter of Mid-Michigan marriage preparation program based on Catholic teachings and values will be held at Maryville Center in Holly. For information/ registration, contact Wayne and Sue Fransted at 810.588.4181 or info@ lansingcee.org.

April 21, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., spring rummage and bake sale at St. Michael Church, 345 Edwards St., Grand Ledge. Please drop off donations on April 20, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at the Fellowship Hall. For information, call 517.626.2303.

April 23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Elizabeth Council of Catholic Women will have its 10th annual Mom-2-Mom Sale at the parish center, 506 N. Union St., Tecumseh. Admission: $1. For table rental or information, contact Nance Schlanderer at 517.423.6003.

April 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Shared Pregnancy Women's Center’s annual fundraiser open house at the Grand Ledge Opera House, 121 S. Bridge St. Admission is free and includes a silent auction, children's activities and more. Proceeds will be used to help moms and babies in the Lansing area. For information, call 517.484.1882 or visit www. sharedpregnancy.org.

On May 9, Lansing Catholic High School will host its 32nd annual Father Mac Scholarship Dinner at MSU’s Kellogg Center in East Lansing; reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner/program at 7 p.m.. Tickets: $125 per person. For information, contact Colleen Murray at 517.267.2109 or colleen.murray@lansingcatholic.org.

VISIT A RUMMAGE SALE

March Café Events St. Casimir, Lansing will host its simple supper series: supper 6 p.m. and presentation at 7 p.m.

Feb. 17, presenter Patty Merlo, topic: Intercessory Prayer; Feb. 24, presenter Patty Merlo, topic: Prayer of the Heart; March 2, presenter Sister Florence Pawlicki, topic: Forgiveness; and March 9, presenter Janene Ternes, topic: Draw Near. All are welcome to attend. For information, contact Kim Kaye-Small at 517.482.1346.

March 4, 7 p.m., St. John the Evangelist, Davison will have live Stations of the Cross in the Family Center’s gym, 505 N. Dayton St. For information, contact the parish at 810.653.2377.

ATTEND A SEMINAR

BY NOTED CATHOLIC SPEAKER CHRISTOPHER WEST

SUPPORT SHARED PREGNANCY WOMEN’S CENTER

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March 18, 7 p.m., St. Joseph, Howell will have a special Lenten “Stations Presentation” about Good Friday nearly 2,000 years ago. Presenter is Bill Richart, nationally known Catholic lay evangelist and director of music ministry at St. Joseph. The event will feature beautiful music and teaching on the crucifixion. For information, contact the parish at 517.546.0090.

March 31, 7 p.m., St. John Student Center, East Lansing will host Father Pierre Konja of the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle for a talk about Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church and the plight of Christians in the Middle East. A Chaldean Catholic Rite Mass open to all will follow at 9:15 p.m. To RSVP for the talk, call the parish office at 517.337.9778.

Thursdays, March 31-May 12, 7-8:30 p.m., Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor will have a seven-week Life in the Spirit Seminar that introduces participants to the Holy Spirit. To register, call 734.929.0982 or visit CTKUpperRoom.com.

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CREDITS

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing MARCH 2016 VOLUME 16: ISSUE 2

www.FAITHpub.com Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

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Pope Francis meets the members of aquatic circus at the end of his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican, January 27, 2016.

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Pope Francis plans full slate of events for Year of Mercy

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FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to 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. ©2015 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

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POPE WATCH WHAT POPE FRANCIS HAS BEEN SAYING AND DOING RECENTLY

“When the world slumbers in comfort and selfishness, our Christian mission is to help it rouse from sleep.”

–P ope Francis @Pontifex Jan. 8, 2016

Despite an already packed calendar, Pope Francis has planned a full schedule of events to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which began in December of 2015. Each month during the year, the pope will preside over a major public event or liturgy bearing witness to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. One such event is To Dry the Tears, a prayer vigil for those who are suffering and in need of consoling.

Special jubilees will occur for pilgrimage workers, deacons, priests, the sick and disabled, catechists and many other groups who are visiting Rome throughout the year.

VATICAN ISSUES DECREE ON FOOT-WASHING RITUAL

Following a request by Pope Francis, the Vatican issued a decree on Jan. 21 specifying that the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual can include "all members of the people of God," including women – a practice already observed by the pope and many priests around the world. The pope said the change would help express the full meaning of Jesus' gesture at the Last Supper, his "giving himself 'to the end' for the salvation of the world" and his endless charity.

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See your English or theology teacher or your parish director of religious education for more information.

ENTRIES DUE: APRIL 1

Diocesan Women’s Discernment Retreat March 19-20, 2016

Sponsored by the Diocese of Lansing for anyone who is open to exploring consecrated or religious life.

De Sales Center, Brooklyn, MI | Register by March 11, 2016 Contact Dawn Hausmann for more information or to register at 517.342.2506 or dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org WWW.DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG/VOCATIONS_EVENTS

H

AVE YOU EVER WONDERED why the Catholic Church is so strongly associated with the concept of “social justice”?

One reason is that the social and political FATHER movements of the late 19th and early 20th CHARLES IRVIN is the founding century, such as socialism, communism, editor of FAITH the Industrial Revolution and the rise of Magazine and is materialism, have in one way or another retired. neglected respect for the individual human life, and the Catholic Church felt called to respond. Catholic social teaching emerged in 1891with Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum (“On the Condition of the Working Classes”). Similar encyclicals by subsequent popes followed, most notably Quadragesimo Anno, written by Pope Pius XI, in which he urges a living wage for all workers.

T. Gennara

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A distinctive feature of Catholic social teaching is the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, a sanctity endowed upon us by God, not by the government or the business community in which we work. Another principle is that our social systems should not be built on class warfare and unbridled competition, but rather mutual cooperation, solidarity and care for the poor.

Where do our rights come from? They come from God. The role of government is to foster and protect them, not to endow them. The fruit of one’s labor belongs to the individual, not to the state or the corporation. In the Book of Genesis, God commanded Adam and Eve to cooperate with him and care for the world he gave us. That task gives men and women their dignity. Their worth is determined by God, not by the government. Nor is man’s labor valued as a “cost of doing business” in order to increase the bottom line of any enterprise.

The popes who have visited the United States have made a point to remind us that the moral test of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. Indeed, the poor ought to have an urgent claim on us because of what we know of the Day of Judgment from Matthew’s Gospel: Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ (Matt 25: 34-40) 31

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