April 2011

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LANSING

Easter 2011

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

contents: cover story

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

April 2011 • Volume 12: Issue 3

Patrick M. O’Brien

PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Cynthia Vandecar

MARKETING MANAGER

Patrick Dally

ART DIRECTOR

Lynne Hsu

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

Jillane Job

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

InnerWorkings

PRINT MANAGEMENT

Derek Melot

Sister Edith Mary and Sister Mary Rebecca Koterba didn’t know what to expect when they headed to Haiti to help victims of the devastating earthquake there. Read about their experiences, and find out how you can help those still in need.

PROOFREADING

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

your stories

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.

19 profile Behind the scenes at your parish 21 best homily What would you say to God’s people?

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

For advertising information: Call 517.853.7600

work life Q: How can I stop crying in front of my boss?

22 cover story From the motherhouse to the quake zone

your life 6 living a joyful life Who do I forgive? 8 parenting journey Discipline my children my way? 10 culture A Polish Easter

your faith 12 in the know with Father Joe Is adoration idolatry?

13 spiritual popcorn Let us pray, now pass the popcorn 13 spiritual fitness The touch of the Master’s hand

Liturgical Calendar: St. Francis of Paola, hermit April 2 | St. Isidore, bishop and doctor of the Church April 4 | St. Vincent Ferrer, priest April 5

from the editors

The people behind the scenes make our parish run

ike any walk of life, we priests meet our fair share of interesting characters along the way. One of the most interesting I have had the pleasure of knowing is a fellow by the name of John Attarian. I met John during my first priestly assignment, as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Ann Arbor. my alb was at the ready. The ribbons of the Sacramentary were all at the correct pages and all the vessels, as well as the bread and wine, were in their proper places. Candles had been lit, the church sound system was powered on, and the lights in the church were at their proper setting. That was John’s routine before every Mass for which he was the scheduled sacristan. It was equally amazing to observe John’s disciplined ways after Mass. As he was putting things away, John would make sure that they were “just so.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone take

saint of the month St. Crescentia Hoess

‘finding yourself’ by finding God

Born Anna Hoess in 1682, she was raised devoutly by her parents Matthias and Lucia in Bavaria . From an early age, Anna wanted to become a nun at the local Franciscan convent.

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

daily bread. In John’s world, his facility with economics paled in comparison to the importance that he placed on making sure that everything was ready for the noon Mass at St. Thomas. There are lots of people just like John in every parish. They tend to shy away from the spotlight and use their gifts in many ways that benefit all the people of God. Perhaps the prayerful days of Lent have helped you to perceive a particular gift or talent that you would like to put to good use for the benefit of your parish community. If so, talk to your pastor or any member of your parish staff. They can help you to find a way to put that gift to use, building up the body of Christ. It may be just one way that all of us can experience the new life of Easter. And so, our journey in FAITH continues. T. Gennara

My first Mass at St. Thomas was celebrated on a Wednesday afternoon – my first official day in the parish. Knowing me, I probably walked into the sacristy at about 11:30 that Wednesday morning, so that I would have plenty of time to make final preparations before the noon-time Mass. Entering the sacristy, I was greeted by a cheerful, bespectacled, handlebarmustachioed gentleman in his late 40s. That was John. He had been hard at work in the sacristy for some time already and had everything set out and ready for Mass. Vestments had been selected and

so much joy and pride in polishing brass or gold until it gleamed. There was a place for each item and each item was safe and secure in its place when John was finished. John’s work and dedication as a sacristan were a wonder to behold. He certainly made the lives of the priests at St. Thomas much easier, giving us the time we needed to prepare spiritually for the celebration of the Eucharist. I should mention one other interesting detail about John. He was a Ph. D. economist who was widely published in scholarly journals and had written several well-respected textbooks. The only way I knew this was that it had come up in a passing conversation with another parishioner. John himself never once mentioned his level of education or how he earned his

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

She was denied admittance, as her family did not have the customary dowry. Her plight was heard by the Mayor of Kaufbeuren, who arranged for her acceptance. She took the name, Maria Crescentia. At first she was treated poorly by the sisters, who assigned her menial tasks. Despite this, Maria always kept her cheerful spirit. Eventually the sisters saw her leadership and wisdom and elected her Mother Superior. Maria died even after disease and paralysis could not take away her joyful spirit.

At an early age, Anna wanted to become a nun.

– Chris Sushynski

St. John Baptist de la Salle, priest April 7 | St. Stanislaus, bishop and martyr April 11 | St. Martin I, pope and m

A new look

FAITH by the numbers

ne of the most fun, and creatively challenging, things we get to do at FAITH is redesign the magazine. Every year or so, we take a close look at our current design, and think about how we can make it even better – and more useful for you. read our most popular column – In the know with Father Joe, as well as columns about work, marriage, the challenges of parenting and much more. In addition, you’ll notice links to additional content that is only available on our website or in our digital edition – check out www.FAITHmag.com. We think the new design is even more attractive and engaging than before, and we hope you’ll agree. I’d love to hear your comments – just e-mail me at esolsburg@ FAITHcatholic.com or post on our faithmag facebook wall. Happy reading!

42%

of Catholics can name the first book of the Bible

33%

87% of Catholics know that Mother Teresa was Catholic

of Catholics can name the four Gospels

55% of Catholics know that Catholicism teaches that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ during Mass

T. Gennara

We take your comments into consideration, so in this redesigned issue, you’ll notice that the pages are a little cleaner, with more white space. We’ve also added section headings like “your faith,” “your life” and “your stories” to make it easier for you to find the great stories and columns you’re looking for. There’s also some new content – like David Eich’s column on living a joyful life and the first of a series of homilies our priests would give if they could only preach one more time. I think you’ll find our first one, by Father Mark Inglot, to be really inspiring. And of course, you’ll want to

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

She is denied admittance to the convent.

Maria is elected as Mother Superior.

Sister Maria is treated poorly by the sisters.

martyr April 13 | Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion April 17 | Holy Thursday April 21 | Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion April 22 | Vigil of the Solemnity of Easter April 23

yourlife work life

How can I stop crying in front of my boss?

Whenever my boss criticizes me, no matter how well worded his comments, I start to cry. I have tried everything I can think of to stop this embarrassing behavior, but I can’t seem to control the tears. I feel as if this makes me appear childish – how can I stop?

Your tears are the result of your emotions unexpectedly overwhelming you; therefore, the key to controlling your tears is to ensure you are not caught off guard. In this workplace situation, the way to overcome your tearful reaction is to understand what is expected so you can self-monitor your performance and reduce the discomfort of these conversations. Let’s begin by being proactive and clarifying the rules and objectives of your work and, consequently, your boss’ expecta-

tions. If you don’t already have them, ask for a copy of your job description, your departmental goals, your annual performance appraisal criteria and any other specific performance objectives

Who do I forgive? How many times have you whispered the Lord’s Prayer? What you probably remember best is the line, “and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Let’s put this philosophy to the test. Could you forgive a colleague who threw

you under the bus; a person whose overtures made you uncomfortable; the brother whose desire for alcohol is an embarrassment to the family; the stranger whose anger is out of control; the ‘friend” who talks out of two sides of her mouth; the

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

inside:

8 parenting journey

important to your boss. Some or all of this information may be readily available. If not, do your best to submit a draft of what you believe your job description to be, what you believe is important to the department’s performance and even a list of performance factors that you believe are important in your work and to your customers. You need to understand these expectations in some detail in order to improve your performance and to anticipate your boss’ potential feedback. Then inquire if your boss will briefly meet with you each week to discuss your accomplishments and opportunities for improvement until both you and he/ she are more comfortable with discussing your overall performance. Having routine feedback sessions is likely to be a performanceenhancing and an emotioncontrolling step.

9 marriage matters

10 culture

Nick Synko is a professional career and workplace issues coach. For more information, visit SynkoAssociates.com and CareersThroughFaith.org. If this approach does not help, you may be dealing with deeper emotional issues or stress that may benefit from a therapeutic professional approach. Hiding tears or any facial expression of emotion, especially anger or embarrassment, when confronted with a challenging situation is a skill only actors do well. Take solace in that crying is the appropriate human reaction to overwhelming situations. Remember, “Jesus wept” is reported to be the shortest phrase in the Bible. (John 11:35) He cared enough to be openly emotional. Thank God for people, like you, who demonstrate they very much care about the work they do.

living a joyful life person whose personal gain comes at your personal loss; or the relative who sows seeds of hatred? Remember, if happiness is your destination, then forgive-

ness is your passport. Or as an English poet wrote: “He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach Heaven.

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

Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of the Lord April 24

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Y O U R

L I F E

parenting journey

How can I get my parents

to discipline my children my way?

Q a

My parents always have been great about baby-sitting our children. I am really grateful. However, now that the kids are getting older, discipline is becoming an issue. My dad is a believer in spanking – we definitely are not! The other day, he swatted our son for a rules infraction at their house. Is there a way to address this short of not allowing my parents to baby-sit?

I’ve dealt with this myself: My mom and I have similar views toward discipline – but my in-laws had a different view. Neither was wrong – just different.

Most European countries have banned the use of corporal punishment in schools and at home. Methods that teach children what they are supposed to be doing are advocated instead. Psychologists have studied spanking for decades, but their findings are complex. The American Psychological Association task force recommends avoiding corporal punishment – but there isn’t complete agreement. And defining spanking is important: Is it a mild, infrequent Your family issues mirror global concerns.

swat given under clear conditions? Or is it a series of strong wallops given in anger? It makes a difference. As parents, major decisions belong to you. For example, if your family doesn’t allow sweets between meals, then grandparents need to keep the cookies under wraps! Meet with your dad and find out what rules the kids are violating. Brainstorm ways to make baby-sitting as pleasant as it used to be. Acknowledge your dad’s view, then start brainstorming.

On the drive over, remind your kids that Set the stage for a good visit.

different families have different rules. If it is difficult keeping them away from fragile knick-knacks, then allow time to help put things up. We learned this after my daughter tried to smell the china corsage on a figurine! Give your dad a break if the kids do something that could endanger their lives, such as running away from him into the street. Under intense stress, he will probably go back to the disciplinary method he used for years and pull your son back to safety with a swat. In fact, if a swat from Grandpa is a rare occurrence, then your son will likely heed the warnings against running wildly into a street. Grandparents are a rich source of resources! “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” (Psalm

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

How can we keep people from bringing kids to our wedding?

We are getting married soon, and are having a small wedding. That means no “plus-ones” or children on the invitations. We’ve already heard that some friends are going to ignore our wishes, and invite dates or bring their children. How can we deal with this?

As they prepare for their wedding, all couples want everyone to be happy and don’t want to upset anyone. But at the same time, every couple has the right to peace themselves on this important day. Even if you have already

sent your wedding invitations, I suggest you send your guests a personal letter telling them how you count on them to be part of the intimate group you have invited to your wedding. Talk about how important this sacrament is to you, and how you

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

145:4)

what gets my goat wish to be accompanied only by those who are truly close to you. I like to use the word “private” to describe this kind of wedding. The wording used in this letter is crucial: You must sound appropriate, but not intimidating; you need to transmit to them how much you anticipate their company, but at the same time you need to use unequivocal words such as “limited personal friends” attending an “adult ceremony and celebration.”

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

She says:

your marriage matters

“It’s my turn to be Mommy.” Cathy says: I am so frustrated. I know Steve has had the bulk of childrearing responsibility for our family while I was on active duty, but I am home now and eager to be Mommy. I wish Steve would just back off a little and tell the children to see me when they need something.”

What do they do? Cathy and Steve have certainly been through a tremendous experience. Single parenting and separation from spouse and family can be difficult enough without including a war. Praise the Lord that Cathy has come home safe and sound; what a blessing to be reunited! Having Cathy going off to war is quite a role reversal from days and wars gone by, when it was usually the male member who fought and was away from home. Integrating back into a family unit will be an adjustment for everybody in the family – not just for Cathy and Steve. In particular, it will require extensive communication between Cathy and Steve for every aspect of daily life, just as they did when Cathy was deployed overseas. Even

He says:

“ The kids just need time.” Steve says: Cathy is right – the kids are still young, and their relationship with her has been mostly through video calls and short leaves. They are not used to thinking of her as a parent, and it confuses them when she gets irritated with them for coming to me the way they always have. I just feel as if she needs to back off a little and give them, and all of us, some time to readjust to family life.”

with the technology that allows us to stay connected while living in a remote location, there is no substitution for actual face-to-face interactions between spouses and between parent and child. Cathy and Steve should realize and accept the fact that family-life responsibilities have shifted and have been reversed for several months; consequently, it will take time to re-establish a new normal. Long separations within a family unit dictate the establishment of new norms for all; it is not a simple matter of “returning” to what used to be the norm. This is a critical juncture for Cathy and Steve, who now need to re-invent their relationship by discussing the transition into a normal family routine. Many of their discussions should be held in private, away from the children. However, do not forget this is as much about the children integrating back into the family unit as it is for Cathy and Steve, so they’ll need to talk with the children about how they can help with the transition by taking turns going to Mommy and Daddy for their questions and problems throughout the day. Includ-

ing the children is a great way of getting the children used to going to both parents again and not just to Daddy. Because Steve has been both mother and father during Cathy’s deployment, he could help by encouraging the children to seek Cathy’s advice in different situations. When they do come to Cathy (and they will when they feel comfortable and assured that Mommy is not going to leave them again), she could show them her joy at being home and available to assist. With two parents being supportive of each other, the children will get the message real quick; soon Steve, Cathy and the children will all find what works to become that loving supportive family unit again. All of this takes time and, as St. Paul reminds us in Col 3:12-15, we should, “put on ... kindness, humility, gentleness ... bearing with one another and over all of these put on love and let the peace of Christ control your hearts.” Family life can be difficult because it involves the constant building and maintaining of relationships; family separation compounds it – but does not need to destroy it.

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

A Polish Easter Cinnamon Easter babka Bread: ½ cup butter ½ cup sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ cup warm water (not above 110 degrees)

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

1 packet active dry yeast 1 cup warm milk 4 cups flour 1 cup raisins Topping: ½ cup brown sugar ¼ cup flour ¼ cup butter (room temp) 1½ teaspoons cinnamon

L I F E

culture

laugh when I think back to the times my neighbor and I would take long walks together and, in passing, make a pit-stop at the local Polish bakery for a few of their delicious treats. I mean, after all, there’s nothing like rewarding ourselves with the sweet, buttery goodness of a few pastries after a vigorous calorie-burning walk.

Although the mom-and-pop bakery is known for making some of the best cakes, breads and pastries in the area, it is nothing fancy to look at inside. That is, except at Easter. At that time, its spartan, drab interior becomes transformed. The dark wood-paneling and gray cinderblock walls are festooned with pastel blue, green and yellow decorations and flags, and the countertops are lined with Easter baskets filled with beautifully painted eggs. The place truly becomes vibrant and alive at Easter. This should come as no surprise. The Polish rightfully make Easter the most important holiday of the year. Even over Christmas. After almost 40 days of prayer and intense fasting, folks get even more serious as the day draws near. On Palm

Sunday, worshipers carry pussy willows or dried sticks decorated with boxwood or wildflowers. Palm is a bit scarce and expensive, so the Poles have their own tradition, which they refer to as Willow Sunday (or Branch Sunday). The churches really start filling up during Holy Week, with Easter Thursday and Good Friday being the most solemn and revered days, as the faithful reflect on Christ’s crucifixion. On Holy Saturday, families bring baskets of food to their church to be blessed, a tradition many Poles hold dear to their hearts. And at last, the big day arrives … The foods blessed the day before are part of a huge spread on top of a white tablecloth

Michelle DiFranco is a designer and the busy mom of two children.

with a lamb made of sugar (or cake) as the centerpiece. Although the menu varies depending on the region and family, Polish sausage, ham, soup, hard-boiled eggs, fruits, yeast cakes and other desserts are among the several delicacies enjoyed at an Easter Sunday gathering. A more common, sweet treat, next to the lamb cake, is babka, a rich, bread-like cake. Its name means grandmother, as its fluted, Bundt-pan shape is reminiscent of a woman’s skirt. This leavened cake, which is traditionally made of sweet dough flavored with dried fruits and citrus zest, is widely popular and has taken on several different variations. Well, being impatient and compulsive, I decided long ago not to wait until Easter every year for the local Polish bakery to make the babka. I came home after one of those walks with my friend and endeavored to make my own. Although I added a cinnamon-sugar twist to the traditional version, it was every bit as pleasing as the one in the bakery. I strongly encourage you to try it. The recipe is below and Easter is upon us. Bake away! T. Gennara

Y O U R

Directions: In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Set aside. Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup warm water and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, salt and cinnamon until thick and smooth. With a rubber spatula, scrape all of the butter/ sugar mixture into the egg mixture and beat until well combined. Don’t over-mix – it’s OK if it appears to have a slightly curdled appearance. Add the yeast mixture and then add the milk. Slowly stir in the flour. Add the raisins and vigorously mix until a smooth, sticky, wet dough is achieved. Cover and let rise for an hour or more (or until doubled in size). Give the dough a stir (scraping down sides of bowl) and let rise again for an hour or more (until doubled in size). Meanwhile, make the cinnamonsugar topping. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, butter

and cinnamon; blend with a fork until crumbly. Set aside. Note, this can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. Coat a bundt or tube pan with butter or cooking spray. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar topping evenly into the pan. With a spatula, carefully spread the dough

mixture over the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean). Carefully remove from pan and allow cake to cool for 15-20 minutes on a wire rack. Top off with a light dusting of powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy!

Photography by Philip Shippert

yourfaith

inside: Theology 101: The Penitential 14 Act

in the know with Father Joe

Dear Fr. Joe:

Q a

My Protestant friends tell me that the Catholic practice of adoration is idolatry – we are worshipping the host and not God. How do I respond to them?

You know, I hear this one a lot. Basically, it stems from some misunderstandings about the Catholic Church’s teaching on the Eucharist. Sometimes, even Catholics don’t quite know what it is we believe about the real presence of Jesus in the consecrated host. So let’s begin with that, because it is the central teaching of the Church. We believe that, during the consecration at Mass, the

bread and wine change their very essence – their substance – and actually become the body and blood of Christ. Isn’t that an amazing gift Jesus gave us at the Last Supper? He didn’t just give us the command to remember him, he gave us the ability to receive him in our remembrance … he is really present to us whenever we receive Communion. It’s the ultimate in cool. Of course, since we believe that Jesus is actually

T. Gennara

Is adoration idolatry? present in the Eucharist, what could be more natural than wanting to spend some quiet time alone with him? I know that if Jesus appeared before me this afternoon and said, “Hey, Joe – I’d just like to hang out with you,” I would drop all my other appointments for that one. Since that isn’t likely to happen, the closest I can come is adoration. When we talk about adoration, we are talking about spending some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Although we may be referring to praying in front of the tabernacle in church, usually we mean that the consecrated host is exposed – visible to worshippers. The host is placed in a small glass disk, called a luna, and that is inserted in a gold vessel called a monstrance. The monstrance has rays coming from the center, so that it resembles the sun. Or, more accurately, the Son. Get it? Let’s get a little histori-

A guy shows up late for work. The boss yells, “You should’ve been here at 8:30!” The guy replies, “Why? What happened at 8:30?” 12

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com cal perspective on this. First of all, the practice of reserving the consecrated host outside of Mass has been around since the earliest days of the Church. You can read about it in the writings of such early Church fathers as Tertullian and Justin Martyr. In the Middle Ages, St. Francis had a deep devotion to the Eucharist and often became ecstatic after receiving Communion. He believed that being in the presence of the consecrated elements was “seeing Christ.” And although Francis, like all of us, saw God in creation, in other people, and in the Scriptures, he recognized that Christ was present in a special way in the Eucharist. In 1226, King Louis VII of France requested a public display of the Eucharist to give thanks for a victory in battle. So many people showed up at the chapel that the bishop got permission to have the exposition of the sacrament continue – which it did, until the French Revolution. Eucharistic adoration has been a focal point of meditation for many saints, including Cardinal Newman and Mother Seton – both of them decided to convert Illustration by Bob Patten

EVERETT

spiritual popcorn

Let us pray,

now pass the popcorn

rom time to time, something special happens in the movies: the action pauses ever so briefly for a moment of prayer. Today’s film characters, on the whole, pray less often than the audiences sitting in the theaters. According to a recent national study of the Pew Research Center, more than 58 percent of Americans pray daily. Sadly, only a small fraction of the movies released this year featured someone conversing with the Almighty. But this slim number allows us to look a little closer at a few secular films (ones without an overt religious message) that featured a character in prayer. Sometimes prayer comes when a character is facing a crisis, like George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) on a snowy bridge on Christmas Eve in It’s a Wonderful Life (1947), or Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) in a state of utter humiliation in Bruce Almighty

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

most important one we could tion anyway? One approach to with the day-to-day parts of ever have? I mean, this is the this meditation is to compare our lives to do that. God who made us, who died it to the disciples spending the Think about this: We know for us, who rose from the dead night with Jesus in the Garden how important it is to our relaand loves us eternally. So we of Gethsemane. Jesus asked tionships to invest time in them need to spend a little quality them, and by extension us, – you talk to your husband or time with him. You could invite to stay awake and pray with wife, spend time with the kids, him for a while. When we hang out with friends. Isn’t your Protestant friend to join our relationship you, and enjoy another day in spend time in adoration, with God the God’s presence. we are “staying awake with Jesus” for a time. It’s a time to sit quietly with the Lord Father Joe’s book, Smart Answers and and really allow yourself Bad Jokes, is available now at time to feel his love – so www.FAITHmag.com. Also available often, we are too busy for your Kindle at www.amazon.com smart answers Draft

DO NOT PRINT

fr. Joe Krupp

was born in

a priest who proves

God has a sense

of humor

as director of Campus ministry. a regular on Catholic tv and in FAITH magazine, fr. Joe loves to read and teach, as well as watch football. he prays for the Lions regularly.

& bad jokes from

raised in the north flint area, juggler in a wee town as a circus called His brief career montrose. father to an unly short due Joe traveled with lines, cut tragical Youth to Youth involving power Catholic pleasant incident prominence for 10 years, evangeliz evangelization to national Fr. Joe rose ing Catholic as the Fifth youth with skits, 80’s, serving in the mid music and personal of five den“four out testimonies. after to rest dentist in the graduating from . Not content years surveys UM-Flin six tist” t, Fr. Joe went Fr. Joe took on on his laurels, sacred heart seminary to on his lauto not rest his in in detroit, off in order period michigan. ordaine after this d in 1998 what he rels. Shortly for the diocese currently writting of Lansing, he life, he is seller” named to be best served at numerou calls a “sure s parishes on Made Me Great”, and How it the weekends “Humility d by a second while working be followe as chaplain at Lansing which will Humble Men Three Most Catholic volume “The Trained The high school in and How I Lansing, healing in the World michigan. as Fr. Joe enjoys of July 2009, s brought Other Two.” problem fr. Joe, a former solving all wolverine, has the world, h and writing swift dispatc embraced his of books to him with inner backs spartan the on when the bishop If you his own blurbs assigned is not looking. him full time when the editor Fr. Joe, you can’t. to michigan wish to contact state universi unreachable. ty to serve He’s simply

smart answers

fr. Joe Krupp

after spending time in adoration of the sacrament. Pope John Paul II said in a Eucharistic Congress in 1993, “The ... surest and the most effective way of establishing peace on the face of the earth is through the great power of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.” And Mother Teresa encouraged the sisters of her order to spend a holy hour in adoration every day – a practice that is common in many churches. So, what do you do in adora-

(2003). In The Blues Brothers (1980), an inspiring and prayerful worship experience in a Chicago Baptist church motivates Jake and Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) to get their band back together in an effort to save a Catholic orphanage from foreclosure. A number of films give us a humorous take on grace before meals, including

the awkward prayers of Aunt Bethany (“I pledge allegiance …”) in Christmas Vacation (1989) or Greg Focker (“Day by day …”) in Meet the Parents (2000). All laughing aside, these movies remind us that we are called to help each other pray and find the face of God. Perhaps one of my favorite moments of prayer in movies is a rather unconventional choice: Talladega Nights (2006) with Will Ferrell as NASCAR champion Ricky Bobby. At a dinner of fried chicken, tacos and pizza, Ricky leads his family in a meal prayer addressed to “sweet baby Jesus” (since he loves the image of Christ in the manger). Despite some crude humor, Ricky’s prayer is one of genuine thanksgiving for blessings received – and it leads to an impromptu family discussion on favorite images of Jesus. Prayer like this reminds us that our conversations with God don’t always have to be about needing or wanting something (or seeking God when life is most desperate). Prayer can be fun and full of laughter. It can be an occasion of gratitude and praise. It can even be an opportunity to dialogue with others about faith and spirituality. In that spirit, let us hope that all our prayers continue to be heartfelt, grateful and full of a joy and happiness that emanates from a Spirit-led life.

&bad jokes Collected column s from faith

from a priest who proves God has a sense of humor

magazine

Y O U R

F A I T H

theology 101

The Penitential Act

n ancient document called the Didache (c.60) noted that the people came together on the Lord’s Day and gave thanks “after first confessing their sins.” For many centuries, the Mass had no penitential rite. The Confiteor was part of the private prayers said by the priest and the ministers at the foot of the altar. After Vatican II, a brief penitential rite was added that had its source in both Scripture (Matthew 5:23-25) and tradition. (cf. The Mystery of Faith by Lawrence Johnson, page 13) Now the act of penitence has several options. Each begins with an invitation by the priest to recall our sins and a pause for silent reflection. We may all respond by praying the confiteor, a prayer that acknowledges the social dimension of sin. The new translation of this prayer restores the “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.” T. Gennara

Alternately, we may respond to a series of invocations addressed to Christ. What was once a long litany was shortened in the sixth century and now consists of three verses (tropes) that conclude with the ancient Greek response – Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. St. Paul used the word kyrios to acknowledge Christ and his divinity. We

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.

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

Catholic News Service

The Roman Missal:

The confiteor formula of general confession OLD words

NEW words

Priest: As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength. or

Coming together as God’s family, with confidence let us ask the Father’s forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion.

Priest: Brethren [brothers and sisters], let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause)

My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins. All: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

All: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

All: Amen. OR

Priest: Lord, we have sinned against you: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause) Have mercy on us, O Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

All: For we have sinned against you.

Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

All: And grant us your salvation.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

All: Amen. For other options and the new texts of the Kyrie, visit www.FAITHmag.com

may also respond in English –“ Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.” Another option uses Scripture. (Baruch 3:2 and Psalm 85:8) This is followed by the “Lord, have mercy” in Greek or English. The final option may be used on Sundays, especially during the Easter season. Water is blessed and sprinkled

on the people as a reminder of their baptism and the reconciliation brought about by Christ. The Asperges rite comes from Psalm 51:9 “Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified.” During Eastertide, this verse is replaced by the Vidi Aquam, a text about the water flowing from the temple. (Ezekiel 47:1, 8, 9) Each of these rites concludes with

the priest’s absolution – “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.” Though these words lack the efficacy of the sacrament of penance (GIRM 51), they are a fitting reminder that we all seek God’s mercy, especially as we come together to celebrate his sacred mysteries.

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spiritual fitness

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

The touch of the

Master’s hand

hen I was about 9 or 10, I was asked to memorize the poem “Touch of the Master’s Hand.” It tells the tale of a battered old violin being auctioned – the auctioneer originally asks for $3, but ups the price to $1,000 after an old man steps forward to play beautiful music on it. When the crowd asks, “‘What changed its worth?’ Swift came the reply. ‘The touch of the master’s hand!’”

We can harbor the wrong done to us that causes us to become hard and sour and bitter. Either serious guilt and/or hardened hearts and bitter spirits can destroy us! Many of you reading this article have known the terrible mistakes we can make – and deeply regret. We can harbor the wrong done to us that causes us to become hard and sour and bitter. Either serious guilt and/or hardened hearts

How do you receive such grace and freedom?

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elieve in faith that Christ’s death on the B cross broke the power of sin in your own life. Therefore, you can conquer the sin patterns and habits in your life, but not by your own strength or determination. Instead, you must decide daily – sometimes hourly – whenever you are tempted to sin, that you will ask God’s grace to assist you, right now, to overcome the temptation. Humble yourself before God frequently. “Lord, help me. Without you I perish!” That’s not drama – that is the reality of our situation on this earth. We have been given many gifts which can be used to better everything around us. But no matter how great or impressive those gifts might be, they cannot save us eternally. Only God can do that, and he will for all those who put their trust and faith in him daily.

and bitter spirits can destroy us! Jesus Christ died upon the cross to break the bonds of sin and death. We can be released from the agony of our own sinfulness and we can be set free from the effects of injustice committed against us.

T. Gennara

I have never had any occasion to use that poem formally. But, recently, I received a letter from a woman in prison. She had received from a friend a copy of my article on forgiveness and wrote to me about her life and her difficult circumstances … I began to pray for her. This morning, when I awoke, that poem, dormant in my brain for 60 years, came to life. I realized that God was inspiring me and urging me to speak to her and to all of you who read this column of the immense love God has for us – even when we have been guilty of serious sin.

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

Jesus Christ wants to be the savior of each one of us. But he never violates our free will. He waits to hear from us. He waits to hear us say, “Lord, save me or I will perish.” Remember the apostles in the storm who cried out to God to save them? They were professional fisherman. They had lived through lots of storms. They had the wisdom that comes from experience. But here they were confronted with a storm much too big for them to handle. When they cried out to God to save them, he heard, and answered. So will God do for you in the internal and external storms of life that threaten to “capsize” us. When the master touches our lives, he doesn’t just free us, but he heals and restores and makes whole. That is what we are preparing to celebrate. Easter! When Jesus rose from the dead and showed us the power he had, not only over the storms of this life but the power to conquer eternal death. The master wishes to touch your soul with a healing love that brings hope and peace and new life! May you know a most blessed Easter this year. May you know the touch of the master’s hand!

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F A I T H

from the bishop

In thanksgiving for those in consecrated life

onsecrated women and men are a tremendous blessing to our Diocese of Lansing. This is because each one of them has made a radical gift of self for the love of Jesus, for the love of the Church and for the love of the world. We need those who are willing to go the full length of giving themselves to Christ.

J. Luning

Seven virgins have been consecrated in our diocese who continue to live their lives in the world while being brides of Jesus Christ in our midst. Brothers who belong to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the Congregation of the Holy Cross (think Notre Dame), and the institute of Alma Redemptoris Mater (ARM) live and serve within our diocesan boundaries. The ARM is a home-grown community in Genesee County. A number of the priests serving in our parishes belong to religious communities, such as the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the Order of St. Maron, the Jesuits, the Servants of Charity, the Order of St. Augustine, the Order of St. Dominic, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (from India), the Sulpicians, the PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) missionaries and the Congregation of the Holy Cross. In addition to their services as ordained priests, these men also have made vows of poverty, chastity and obedience – and often other vows specific to their own communities. Our diocese could not minister to all of our people without their service. In addition, the very consecration of their lives

Father Ken McKenna and Father Tom Helfrich

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J. Luning

Theresa Marshall

enriches us with their radical dedication to Christ. Women religious have made countless contributions to our Church and our world for centuries. Not only have they provided educational, pastoral, spiritual and basic human ministries within our diocese, but the very consecration of their lives in imitation of Jesus Christ is profound. In a world that is so consumeristic, so overly sexualized and so lacking in respect for authority, these women, along with the consecrated men mentioned above, have vowed to try to be as poor as Jesus, as chaste as Jesus and as obedient to the will of the Father as Jesus. We are grateful. The Sister of St. Dominic, Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary in Adrian have been, and remain, an incredible blessing for us. A more recent addition to our diocese has been the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, another Dominican community, located in Ann Arbor. The

Sister Marilyn Barnett, OP

Servants of God’s Love, in Ann Arbor, grew out of the charismatic movement in that city. The Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, in Chelsea, are especially devoted to ecumenical outreach. The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, located in Grass Lake, assist at the Pious Union of St. Joseph. The Passionist Sisters, in Lansing, provide wonderful ministries in our Spanish-speaking parishes. The Religious Sisters of Mercy, whose mother-house is in Alma, have a house in DeWitt, as well. In addition to these principal communities, many members of other communities also serve the people of our diocese. Pope John Paul II wrote a letter on consecrated life, Vita Consecrata, in 1996. He noted that the basis of consecrated life is that Jesus “called them not only to welcome the kingdom of God into their lives, but also to put their lives at its service, leaving everything behind and closely imitating his own way of life.” (#14.1) To do this is to receive a special gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus, these sisters and brothers of ours “make visible the marvels wrought by God in the frail humanity” that is theirs and ours. (#20.1) It is therefore appropriate for us to give thanks to God for this blessing to our humanity and thanks to our consecrated sisters and brothers for allowing themselves to be the instruments of God’s action in our midst.

Bishop Earl Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

yourstories Behind the scenes at your parish

ne time, Joe Weibel took Communion to a dying friend who had been in a non-responsive state for several days.

When Joe told him that he had come to bring him the Eucharist, the man’s eyes popped open, he sat up straight, and received Communion. After a minute, he laid back down, and again was non-responsive. He died the next day. “The Lord was definitely present,” Joe says. “It brings tears to my eyes when I remember that.” Joe and another parishioner at St. Robert Bellarmine in Flushing bring Communion to the homebound. “I wanted to serve the Lord, but not in a remote way,” he says. “I wanted to be a doer, and I like meeting and helping people.” Contact your parish about becoming an Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion

More behind the scenes...

inside:

24 Sandy Foley, sacristan

J. Luning

Judy DeCaire, money counter

COVER STORY: From the motherhouse to the quake zone – Sister Edith Mary and Sister Mary Rebecca help victims of the Haiti earthquake.

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profile

or Judy DeCaire, being a money counter at SS. Charles and Helena Church in Clio is fun and a natural fit for her. She also knows it is important work for the Church.

She started in 1999, after retiring. “I had worked in an office environment for 31 years and even in a bank for six months,” Judy says, “so I was basically aligning myself with my experience.” At St. Charles, there are four teams of money counters, so each team of three counts once a month on Monday morning. The checks, cash, and envelopes from the three weekend Masses are in three separate bags when they begin counting. They each take a bag and count the contents, then their total is checked by the other two counters to insure accuracy and as a safeguard against stealing. Judy says that one of her fellow counters describes their job as “taking a mess and turning it into something organized.” She considers money counting a privilege. “Stewardship is a big part of parish life, and we are just doing our part of counting and recording the funds that parishioners give to keep the church running. Though the Church’s work is spiritual, we still need to pay for utilities, snow plows, salaries and all those things.”

Judy DeCaire – money counter

reparing St. John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton for the weekend Masses has become for Sandy Foley both a service that she loves and a great help to her spiritually.

It began 13 years ago when a friend talked to her about becoming a sacristan. “I had just retired, and though I didn’t know exactly what it was, I decided to do it, and so did my husband, Jack,” she says. “When I eventually became head sacristan, I realized I had a lot to learn. So I read whatever I could find, especially the diocesan handbook. And I asked Father (David) Harvey a lot of questions. I learned as I went.” A long list awaits the women (and the one man who recently joined the team) every Friday since the sacristan is charged with the care of the sacristy, the church and their contents. They do things like get the correct altar linens ready, polish the brass on the censer and the candles, polish the presider’s chair and the furniture in the gathering space, wipe down the ambry that holds the oils, refill the votive candles, prepare the altar vessels, wash the plastic liners in the holy water fonts and refill the fonts, get the lector, usher, and Eucharistic minister schedules set ... and more. Sandy washes and irons the altar cloths, corporals and purificators each week. “I never knew there was so much detail that goes on in the church,” she said. “I wish I had begun helping out sooner since I like being involved and have met wonderful people doing it. I’ve learned a lot more about the Mass and its meaning, too.” Sandy feels like she is doing God’s work by making the church

Though the Church’s work is spiritual, we still need to pay for utilities”

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

I never knew there was so much detail that goes on in the church” Sandy Foley – sacristan look good for the parishioners. “I try hard to do what God expects of me, and I want to please him and Father Harvey,” she said. “I take great pride in doing what we do.” By Bob Horning | Photography by Tom Gennara

my best homily

here are two Gospel stories that particularly resonate with me as a sailor in the only land-locked diocese in Michigan: the story of Jesus’ calming of the sea and the account of Peter walking on the water.

FAITH Magazine asked Fr. Mark Inglot, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish/St. John Catholic Student Center East Lansing, MI NEW COLUMN

If you could give only one more homily, what would you say to God’s people?

In both instances, the disciples find themselves on a boat in stormy waters and afraid, albeit for different reasons. In the first, the fear arises because Jesus is apparently asleep in the boat, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. In the second, the disciples are first scared because they think Jesus, who is approaching them on the water, is a ghost. Later, Peter, who is actually walking on the water toward Christ, becomes frightened by the strength of the wind and begins to sink. Jesus reacts to each occurrence of fear on the part of the disciples in these passages by commenting on their lack of faith, and for good reason. While we often treat doubt as being the opposite of faith, the reality is that fear is the opposite of faith. Fear causes us to call into question Christ’s concern for us. Fear distorts our perception and makes us believe that Christ is somehow present but unengaged in our lives especially during those times when we are buffeted about by the storms of life. Fear clouds our vision so that we are unable to recognize the Christ who is walking toward us through the storm. Fear distracts us and diverts our hearts and minds from focusing solely on Christ, who alone can empower us to rise above the tumultuous waters and walk into the wind. We all have moments where we are swamped by the waves of impending doom: the loss of a job, an illness in the family, accidents that leave lasting disabilities and expenses. During these times of upheaval, it can seem as though Jesus Christ is indeed asleep and unconcerned about the panic and despair that seeks to overtake us. It can even seem that the power of the storms is greater than God’s power to save us. However, these Gospel passages teach us that our “faith” in fear is unfounded. Jesus is indeed present in our lives through his Church and his sacraments just as he was present in the boat. Further, through our unwavering focus on Jesus, our seeking Jesus in the midst of the storms of our lives, we can successfully weather them. Our earthly pilgrimage truly is a question of faith. Will we believe in the Word, who alone gives life, or will we believe in the fear that contradicts the Word and that causes us to sink? Believe in the Word! Photography by Tom Gennara

Catholic News Service

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

A white cross, stark against a slightly larger black cross, symbolizes the Order of the Religious Sisters of Mercy (RSM). They wear this cross around their necks as a symbol of their charism to bring the mystery of Christ into the misery of mankind. Most days, Sister Edith Mary Hart, RSM and Sister Mary Rebecca Koterba*, RSM live their charism practicing medicine at the Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Clinic in Alma. But on Jan. 12, 2010, they took their calling to a whole new level. They accepted their call to serve in Haiti after the massive earthquake. * Sister Mary Rebecca Koterba was unavailable for photography

ister Edith Mary remembers the day. “When the quake hit Haiti, the cathedral and the major seminary were practically wiped out. Fifty seminarians and many church leaders – the future of the Church in Haiti – were killed. The Missionaries of Charity regional superiors were having a retreat in Port au Prince and experienced the devastation immediately. “The Religious Sisters of Mercy have been in longstanding relationship with the Missionaries

of Charity, so they turned to us in this time of misery, requesting doctors. That afternoon, our

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

mother general called me, saying ‘Come to Alma for your shots. You leave for Haiti in two days.’ I joined Sister Mary Rebecca, Sister Marie Paul, RSM and Sister Mariana, RSM in Alma. We each then gathered gifts and supplies from our workplaces.” Sister Mary Rebecca smiles. “The generosity of our colleagues was overwhelming! They gave us bandages, suturing instruments, masks, gowns, sanitizing wipes, even tents. Many gave cash and said they wished they could go themselves. It was very touching. “Two days later, we flew from Detroit to Miami where American Airlines was providing medical mercy flights for aid workers. After a couple days’ wait, we caught the last flight – supplies and all.” One week after the quake hit, the Religious Sisters of Mercy stepped off the plane in Haiti, their blackand-white crosses resting over their hearts. Yet, even this reminder of their charism couldn’t prepare them for the devastation and misery that assaulted their senses. “I’ve traveled many places in my life, but never to underserved areas like Haiti,” Sister Mary Rebecca recalls. “It was 95 degrees and garbage was everywhere. People, with nothing and nowhere to go rushed up to offer help, then demanded money or walked off with whatever they could steal. The disarray and utter devastation on the streets were surreal, unbelievable. “A Missionaries of Charity volunteer met us at the airport. Once we could gather all our belongings, she took

us to the Missionaries of Charity compound in Port au Prince. The Haitians clearly needed help, but we didn’t speak Creole and didn’t have an interpreter, so we had no way to assist them. “Some suggested we split up so we could help at different locations, but we strongly resisted. The four of us needed to go together wherever we went. Union and charity are a legacy of our mother foundress, Venerable Catherine McAuley and how we live the charism of our community.” Sister Edith Mary agrees, “The documents of the Church regarding religious life state that Communion begets mission. We knew in that union would be our effectiveness for Christ. “Forty miles away at a place called Les Cayes, the Missionaries of Charity had a compound that had become a step down unit for the injured and sick. They asked us to help care for both the stepdown patients and patients the Missionaries of Charity regularly care for. “We journeyed those 40 miles over mountain roads ripped up and covered in debris. When we looked out the windows of our Land Rover, we saw the same devastation that had shocked us at the airport. Families were living under tarps in highway medians. No provisions for sanitation or fresh water were anywhere to be seen. Everywhere we saw chaos and misery. “Six hours later, we arrived at the Missionaries of Charity compound and stepped into a different world. The first thing we saw was a line of people quietly waiting for food or supplies.” “We felt God’s presence immediately in the sense of order and calm that prevailed,” agrees Sister Mary Rebecca. “With the government so corrupt and inept, the Church is providing the lion’s share of work and effective service. You have no idea how intimately the Catholic Church is involved in Haitian daily life

By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Jim Luning

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“Despite all the misery, the Haitians possess such dignity and joy, and an amazing capacity to persevere.”

Catholic News Service

for members from other orders who did. Our habits and crosses helped identify us as religious women and doctors. This meant we could dialogue with other physicians to get medical care for those in need while being in communion with other religious.” Sister Edith Mary nods and smiles. “For example, Sister Mary Rebecca taught them basic suturing skills and helped organize wound care. Once doctors left the Haitian hospitals to return home, the medicines and supplies they had brought would disappear if left in the hospitals. We helped the Missionaries of Charity set up a system for protecting those supplies and a dispensary for these and the U.N.-provided medicines and supplies. “Honestly, it was a real statement that people did not lose hope: amputees, orphans, countless homeless, families trying to feed one another, people of all ages trying to scrape out their own survival. I was shocked to think that just two hours from Miami in 2010, people lived that way. It was reprehensible, and it helped me realize how much we take for granted here in the United States. “Yet despite all the misery, the Haitians possess such dignity and joy, and an amazing capacity to persevere. Every Sunday, Haitian churches are filled with parishioners in their crisp white shirts and pressed dresses singing praise to God. It was so exciting to know the body of Catholic News Service

because the media give it little attention. Yet, the Missionaries of Charity and Catholic Relief Services have become sanctuaries to meet basic needs. They do so all the time – not just when disasters hit. “We started seeing patients as soon as possible. Initially we did a lot of wound care. Many were healing from amputations – as many as 40,000 Haitian children lost limbs. I comforted one 12-year-old amputee as other injured children lay in their beds, quiet and calm, though there were no pain medications to give them. “Even without disasters, inadequate or nonexistent medical services leave Haitians enduring chronic health conditions. Patients with cancer, cardiac problems and congestive heart failure came seeking help when they heard the Missionaries of Charity had doctors at the compound. We treated them as best we could. “We also served the M i s s i o n a ries of Charity. They had gone through this tragedy and suffered with their own illnesses and losses, too. I noticed one sister who held her left arm close to her body as she went about serving villagers and treating patients. When we were able to examine her, we found she had broken her arm, but never told anyone or stopped long enough to seek care. “Thanks be to God, the Missionaries of Charity didn’t lose one member in the earthquake, but we joined them in caring

S T O R I E S

What is happening in Haiti? How is the Church helping? Population: 9,035,536 (July 2009 est.) Size: 10,714 square miles; about the size of Maryland Beneficiaries: 830,204 Partners Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social-service organizations worldwide. Caritas Haiti was created in 1975 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti to build a more solid and just society in Haiti. CRS has worked closely with Caritas Haiti over the past 30 years in implementing numerous emergency response and development programs – notably in agriculture – that serve the poorest Haitians. History Catholic Relief Services began working in Haiti in 1954 after Hurricane Hazel devastated the country and killed about 1,000 people. High population density, severe deforestation and decaying infrastructure make Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, particularly vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. CRS Haiti is committed to helping the Haitian people in many aspects of their lives. In Haiti, CRS responds to emergencies, provides agriculture assistance, supports education and works to enhance the health-care system throughout the country.

Christ was so tangible and that the Lord had given them hope.” On Feb. 5, about three weeks after the disaster, the Religious Sisters of Mercy said goodbye to their hosts and returned to their normal lives. Looking back on their two weeks bringing Christ’s mystery into Haiti’s human misery, Sister Mary Rebecca reflects, “To experience this together, the four of us in our common apostolate,

gave us a tremendous sense of the body of Christ. It was a privilege to be sent and to go. We didn’t know what would happen, but God protected us keeping us safe and healthy.” Sister Edith Mary doesn’t hesitate, “We would go back to Haiti and the Missionaries of Charity . . . together, if they ever needed us again.” She smiles, touching the cross resting quietly over her heart.

community

things to do: Recruiting Prison Volunteers – Catholic volunteers are needed for Huron Valley Women’s Correctional Facility, Bemis Rd., Ypsilanti. If interested, contact the volunteer coordinator, Deacon Jim Ward, by cell phone, 734.276.7113. Lansing Catholic Singles, ages 30s-50s are invited to these April events: April 1, 5:30 p.m., Fish Fry at St. Casimir, Lansing; April 19, 4:30 p.m., Mass at Most Holy Trinity Church, Fowler, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. For information, call 517.321.7886 or e-mail lansingcatholicsingles@live.com. Saturdays until April 9, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tax Assistance Program is available at St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor. Volunteers will prepare a tax return for low-income individuals. For more information, contact the parish office 734.769.2550. Fridays, 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m., St. John Catholic Church at 2099 N. Hacker Rd., Howell will host an annual Lenten Fish Fry.

Retreat Centers St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, call 866.669.8321 or www.stfrancis.ws – April 29-May 1, Alcoholics Anonymous/Alanon women. For information call Ann Johnson, 231.832.2472. Weber Center, Adrian, call 517.266.400 or www.weber.adriandominicans.org – April 6, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., a Lenten Reflection – from Sackcloth and Ashes, Spittle and Mud to Resurrection; April 8, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Take Back the Light; and April 9-10, Creativity as Sacrament: The Mystery, Power and Grace of Self-Expression. Dominican Center Marywood, Grand Rapids, call 616.643.0371 or register online at www.dominicancenter.com – April 21, noon through Easter Sunday April 24, Holy Week directed retreat – Journey into Silence. April 29, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Cost $20 – Saved by Beauty – evening open to all; and April 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cost $75 – Creativity and the Role of the Spiritual Director. Participants will be invited to ponder and engage in a variety of creative expressions that may facilitate new self-awareness in God. Carryout orders are available, call 517.546.9154. All are welcome to attend. April 2, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Caregiver and Persons with disAbilities Retreat at the Diocesan Center, Madonna Hall, 228 N. Walnut St., Lansing. RSVP required to Joann Davis at jdavis@dioceseoflansing.org or 517.342.2497. April 1-3, Retrouvaille weekend designed to help heal troubled marriages at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt. For information, call 517.290.5596 or www.retrouvailleoflansing.catholicweb. com.

April 2, 9, 16 and 30, Most Holy Trinity Parish, Fowler is hosting Encounter Series I after the 4:30 p.m. Mass from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. It is a great way to round out the end of Lent and begin the Easter season. Contact Craig Pohl for further information 989.640-5312 or call2holiness@gmail.com. St. Mary Parish, Westphalia will host Encounter Series I on April 2, 9, 16 and 30 after the 4:30 p.m. Mass from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. For information, contact

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

April 2, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Diocese of Lansing Men’s Conference, Lansing Center, 333 Michigan Ave. The goal of the conference is to encourage a more active participation in the community by men of faith. Cost is $45 per person and $30 for students. Lunch is included. Online registration at www.acceptthechallenge.org. April 9, 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Retreat Day: Praying with Body, Mind and Spirit – Finding Peace at Crazy Wisdom Book Store Community Room, 114 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Facilitator is Janene Ternes; cost is $45 and includes lunch. For information and to

Craig Pohl at 989.640.5312 or e-mail 2holiness@gmail.com. Feb. 19-April 9, Saturdays, 5:45 p.m.-8 p.m., 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 Sperendi at 517.487.0478 or tony.sperendi@sbcglobal.net.

register, call 734.429.7754. April 9, 8:30 a.m.-noon, St. John the Evangelist in Davison will present The Gift of Years: Graces and Challenges – A Women’s Morning Gathering Pondering the Second Half of Life. Cost: $10 registration includes continental breakfast and lunch. To register, call Elaine Ouellette at 810.658.776 ext. 272 or meolet2002@yahoo. com. Begins April 11, Liturgical Dance Class – learn how to integrate ballet and modern technique into liturgical dance, Saturdays, 3 p.m.-4 p.m., ages 10 through adult. No experience necessary. For information, contact Talia Carter, Flint School of Performing Arts dance instructor, 810.238.1350 ext. 259 or tcarter@thetim.org. April 11-13, 7 p.m., St. Paul Parish, 111 N. Howell St. in Owosso, will host a Parish Mission featuring Deacon Alex Jones. All are welcome to attend. April 13, 7p.m., Center Taizé Service at St. Joseph, 714 Ormsby St., Adrian. Questions? Contact the parish office at 517.265.8938.

April 13 deadline for registration and payment for Diocesan Youth Leadership Camp for June 1-24 at Bethany House in DeWitt. Registration form packet is online at the diocesan website under the Office of Youth Ministry. For information, contact Patrick Rinker at prinker@dioceseoflansing.org or 517.342.2485. April 14, 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. April 15, 9 a.m., at St. Patrick in Brighton – Enjoy the Manifestations of God with Sister Mary Finn. Join us as we explore significant events in our lives through theological reflection. For information and registration, contact Professional Pastoral Ministers Association or Deb Amato at 517.342.2512. April 16, 7 p.m., Roy Schoeman is coming to Holy Spirit Church, 9565 Musch Rd. at Winans Lake in Brighton for the presentation of The Passover Seder in the Light of Christ. It will include a full ritual meal in the Jewish tradition. Tickets are $10. Please call 810.231.9199 to make your reservation. April 17, 7 p.m., St. Peter Church, 515 E. Knight St., Eaton Rapids presents the living Last Supper titled, “Is it I?” Come and witness the struggle each Apostle may have had. For information, call 517.663.4735. Free will offering. Thinking about sending your child to Catholic School? You are invited to visit St. Robert School, 214 E. Henry, St.,

Catholic Charities Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee, www.ccsgc.org, Genesee 810.232.9950 and Shiawassee 989.723.8239 – May 21, will host come to the prom, A Night to Remember, at 609 E. Fifth Ave. in Flint. For more information, visit www.ccsgc.org St. Vincent Catholic Charities, 2800 W. Willow, Lansing, 517.323.4734 or www. stvcc.org – Apr. 16, Smart Steps for Stepfamilies is a Lansing Diocese marriage prep program for remarriage couples. For information and to register, call 517.323.4734. Livingston County Catholic Charities, 517.545.5944 or www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org – Be Our Guest Flushing, 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 28-29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and April 30, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Holy Spirit Church Women’s Guild Rummage Sale at the corner of Winans Lake and Musch roads, Brighton. Wheelchair accessible. For information, call 810.231.1418, ext. 200. April 29-30, Council of

Adult Day Service is open to all residents. The program offers specialized care for your loved ones who suffer from dementia such as Alzheimer’s. All guests receive a meal, medication reminders, daily supervision and activities to meet their needs. Caregivers receive a break from 24-hour care. We also offer a monthly support group. For information, please contact Pamela Bolam, 517.546.9910. Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties – The Parenting Wisely program is now offered and will run concurrently with the Why Try program for parents interested in working on their discipline skills, conflict resolution and overall communication skills. This program is a nationally recognized model prevention program. For more information or to register, call 517.263.2191.

Catholic Women Convention at the Doherty Hotel, Clare. For information, contact Kay Huggins, 810.859.8129. April 30, St. Francis of Assisi Parish will have home repair with Christmas in ACTION. This is a one-day program of home repair for a low-income elderly person in need. If you would like to volunteer, contact Scott Wright at 734.821.2121. May 5, 6 p.m., St. Casimir’s annual card party at 815 Sparrow Ave., Lansing. Tickets

are available at the door. Come play cards or board games or just visit with friends and enjoy desserts and beverages. Door prizes and raffles throughout the evening. Oct. 6-25, from Michigan to the Outback to the Glaciers: Discover Australia and New Zealand with Father Andrew Czajkowski and Father Denis Spitzley. Cost includes round-trip air, hotels, taxes, fees, 25 meals and more. For information, call 810.653.2377 or e-mail frandrew@stjohndavison.org.

Protecting God’s Children April 12, 6:30 p.m., Child and Youth Protection – Protecting God’s Children Awareness Session for Adults will be held at St. Gerard Church, Lansing. Facilitator is Lynn Fuller. 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 preregister.

local news

Father William Turner’s new book Father William Turner, pastor at St Mary, Chelsea, has written the second book in his series about fathers and sons, “In My Father’s Footprints.” Father Turner, a baby boomer, has 28 vignettes from other baby boomers about their fathers and about their own fatherhood. According to Father Turner, one excerpt from his book tells about a man and his brother praying when their father was on his deathbed. It

reinforced in the man’s mind the image he has of God as a father. “My father was an immigrant during the Depression. He was a disciplinarian who always provided for our family,” shared Father Turner, who developed early in life a love of family, ethnicity and cultural environment. The book is divided into three sections of baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1952. It reinforces that what happens in your life with your father will affect your life later. Father Turner plans this as a trilogy. His first book was “In my Father’s Steps.” His third will be titled “In My Father’s Paths” and will be about senior citizens reflecting upon their lives. The book will be available at religious good stores in Michigan or by contacting St. Mary Parish at 734.475.7561 or at the church website at www.stmarychelsea. org. – Jan Hoffbauer

Adrian Rea receives adult literacy accreditation Adrian Rea Literacy Center, located on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, received accreditation on Dec. 14, 2010, by ProLiteracy worldwide. Adrian Rea is one of only six adult literacy providers in Michigan to have that distinction. Adrian Rea offers both English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring and literacy tutoring to those whose first language is English. It is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursdays. Services are free and open to adults most in need of literacy, ages 18 and over, who wish to improve their reading and writing skills.

Local volunteers aid Dominican Republic poor More than 50 local volunteers came together on Jan. 8 at St. Mary Catholic Parish in Pinckney to support relief efforts for impoverished people in western Dominican Republic. Volunteers sewed more than 900 diapers and diaper covers out of donated T-shirts. Many other items were collected, including toys, beds, clothing, shoes and baby formula. The effort was jointly organized by St. Mary Parish and Fundación Mariana San Isidro Labrador (FUMSIL), a 14-year-old nonprofit humanitarian aid organization affiliated with St. Isidore the Laborer Catholic Parish in El Llano, Dominican Republic. If you are interested in donating items to the ongoing effort, contact Jessica Coffelt at 517.518.1800 or e-mail coffejes@gmail.com.

Respect life baby shower Huron Valley Catholic School helped support mission trip In January, Peter Burak, Rachel Wagner, and Adrianna and Natalia Collins visited each classroom of their alma mater to solicit support for their February Mexico City trip with Renewal Ministries. They will travel to the city dump, where hundreds of families live and work. They also will visit and serve in an orphanage and a home for the elderly. The students of Huron

Valley Catholic School in Ypsilanti helped support their upcoming trip by working hard over a two-week period to collect more than $800, as well as much needed toiletry items. When they return the four plan to share their mission experiences at an all school assembly.

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

To honor the gift of life, the Family Faith Formation group at St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach hosted a baby shower. Jen Loar and Angie Atkin were in charge. A playpen was filled to overflowing with donations of diapers, sleepers and other items needed for infants and toddlers. The items collected will be given to the Birthline Pregnancy and Parenting Center in Jackson and to the Spanish families in the Hudson area. Birthline is a Christian, life-affirming organization. They promote parenting classes called Earn While You Learn, where participants can earn dollars for each lesson completed to use toward baby items. – Jan Hoffbauer

29 Catholic Charities warming shelter provides for more than 1,300 individuals The Holy Angels Warming Center is in need of monetary contributions to help with the cost of building renovations. “We are trying to fulfill the most basic of people’s needs, including shelter, food, clothing and mental health services,” says Vicky L. Schultz, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “Our future plans for the Warming Center include showers and a laundry facility.” Thanks to collaboration with One-stop Housing Resource Center, grants recently received from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and gifts from the community, the Warming Center is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, December through March. Volunteers are welcome. For more information, please contact Catholic Charities at 810.785.6911 or e-mail givehope@ccsgc.org. If you would like to make a donation to the Warming Center, visit the Catholic Charities website, www.ccsgc.org. The building fund is tax deductible.

50th Christmas with developmentally disabled celebrated Roberta Schrock celebrated her 50th year of caring for persons with developmental disabilities by sponsoring a Christmas party at her parish St. Joseph in Whittaker. What’s just as remarkable is this also was the 50th year for this annual Christmas party that began in 1960 during her first year in the direct care business. Schrock says that, “The Knights of Columbus have

been fantastic partners in this project over the years … we’ve also gotten help from Boy Scout Troop 243, members of our local 4-H clubs, the Salvation Army… as well as many volunteers.”

Catholic House 2011 The Catholic House, located at 1383 Hull, is starting to get some real momentum. During demolition days, many volunteers came out and got some great work done. At present, $22,500 of the $35,000 goal has been committed from St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor; St. Mary in Manchester and Holy Trinity Student Parish in Ypsilanti. A remaining $12,500 is needed to complete this home for a family. To learn more about how your parish can get involved, please contact Maggie at mporter@h4h.org or 734.677.1558 ext. 119.

Knights raise $4,000 for St. Louis Center and other nonprofits Members of the Knights of Columbus from Chelsea Council #3092 and Dexter Council #2959 joined together with the Polly’s Country Market chain to conduct a grocery raffle to benefit St. Louis Center, Faith-in-Action and local families in need. The drawing was held Dec. 18, 2010, and prizes were awarded on Jan.5. About $4,000 in proceeds was raised. The Knights of Columbus in Chelsea and Dexter plan on conducting another grocery raffle through Polly’s Country Markets during the Lenten season. They will again designate the proceeds from the raffle to worthy nonprofit organizations.

Sister Corinne Florek awarded Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award Adrian Dominican Sister Corinne Florek, OP, received the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award from Opportunity Finance Network in recognition of her 30 years of dedication to community investment. The award was presented during the 2010 Opportunity Finance Network Conference in San Francisco. “I am deeply honored to be a recipient of this award,” said Sister Corinne, the director of Mercy Partnership Fund and the Religious Communities Investment Fund. She accepted the award on behalf of U.S. Catholic women religious, who were among the first to invest their money in nonprofit community organizations.

Log on to FAITHmag.com for extended local news coverage, including: • St. Mary Catholic School in Pinckney has presentation on bullying prevention • Life after 50 Bible tour • Mayan Indian Missions get support from parish And much more!

St. Robert School’s Therese Pelikan wins Golden Apple Award On Feb. 1, FOX 66 came to St. Robert School to surprise Mrs. Therese Pelikan and present her with a Golden Apple Award. Of the 82,000 votes cast, St. Robert kindergarten teacher Therese Pelikan received the most votes. She has taught kindergarten at St. Robert for 17 years. She has touched the hearts and minds of every student who walked through her door. She also was interviewed for a commercial that will appear periodically throughout the month of February on FOX 66, recognizing her as an excellent teacher at St. Robert School.

God gave you gifts –

last word

what are you going to do with them?

ay persons are vitally needed for the work of the Church, not out of pragmatic necessity but rather because the Church might more fully be revealed in its true nature. The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity from the Second Vatican Council put it this way:

The laity derive the right and duty with respect to the apostolate from their union with Christ their Head. Incorporated into Christ’s Mystical Body through baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through confirmation, they are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord himself. They should accustom themselves to working in the parish in close union with their priests, bringing to the Church community their own and the world’s problems as well as questions concerning human salvation, all of which should be examined and resolved by common deliberation. As far as possible, the laity ought to collaborate energetically in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by their local parish.

to realize that you have God-given talents, passions and interests. Do you think God gave you these gifts just for your own profit? If you do, then think again. Each one of you is a part of God’s plan; each one of you gives honor and glory to God and please his heart if you receive his gifts and then share them with others. What better place to share them than in your own parish, in your own local faith community? Hiding them under a bushel does not please their Giver, nor does it advance his purposes – purposes that require

Each of you reading these words needs

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

John Paul II beatification website launched – The Diocese of Rome launched a new website dedicated to the beatification and canonization of Pope John Paul II. The site – www.karol-wojtyla.org – offers updates and background information on his sainthood cause.

Vatican plans conference, pastoral guidelines on AIDS care – The Vatican will host international scientists at a conference on AIDS in late May and afterward plans to publish a handbook of pastoral guidelines for Catholic health care workers on AIDS care and prevention.

Religious coalition objects to upcoming hearings on Muslim extremism – A coalition of 51 religious and civil rights groups in the United States are urging congressional leaders to stop upcoming House hearings on Muslim extremism.

Pakistani archbishop calls for respect for Christian symbols – Sacred symbols, including those of the Catholic Church and Christianity, must be respected, said Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, after a rally in which effigies of Pope Benedict XVI and the cross were burned.

FAITH Magazine / April 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com

New Revised Bible for today’s Catholic – The New American Bible Revised Edition includes the first revised translation since 1970 of the Old Testament. The New Testament translation is the same as in 1986 and later editions of the New American Bible.

What in the world?

The top 10 Catholic news events this month

Slovak church defends health workers’ right to opt out of abortions – Slovakia’s Catholic Church will defend the right of medical staff to refuse to participate in abortions after the country’s largest state teaching hospital withdrew a decision to stop performing them.

your vitality, insights, and abilities. Please do not sit back and wait to be asked. False humility is a tool of the devil that leads us into passivity and inaction. Remember, too, that your calling comes from Christ himself. He has plans for you and plans for those will benefit from your efforts. Do not frustrate his plans! To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy’s famous challenge: “Ask not what your parish can do for you – ask what you can do for your parish.” Another quote from Vatican II: The laity, too, share in the priestly, prophetic and royal office of Christ and therefore have their own role to play in the mission of the whole People of God in the Church and in the world. If you do not play your part, then you are saying “no” to God. That will wound God’s heart and will certainly not help you.

Iraqi archdiocese plans construction of university, hospital – The Archdiocese of Arbil in northern Iraq announced plans to construct a university and hospital. They will be open to all people regardless of religion or politics.

Catholic Health Association president affirms bishop’s role – Sister Carol Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, affirmed that the local bishop is the “authoritative interpreter” of the ethical and religious directives that guide Catholic health care.

Women entering religious life are well-educated, active in parishes – The Georgetown University-based Center for the Applied Research in the Apostolate found that women entering religious orders today are highly educated and active in parish ministries.

Muslim-Christian dialogue will continue despite setback – The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue will move forward in its efforts to promote Christian-Muslim dialogue despite the fact that top Muslim academics in Egypt suspended talks with the Vatican.

A Garden of Visible Prayer CREATING A PERSONAL SACRED SPACE ONE STEP AT A TIME

Margaret Rose Realy

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