April 2016

GOODLIFE:

ways 5 to be a faithful Catholic consumer THEOLOGY 101:

The Good Samaritan – a lesson in mercy SPIRITUAL FITNESS:

Easter grace continues

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FAITH INTERVIEW:

‘I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB.’

Dr. Mona, the hero of the Flint water crisis

FROM THE BISHOP

BISHOP EARL BOYEA

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

A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL OF YOU! At Easter Sunday Mass we all heard these words spoken by Peter in the Acts of the Apostles: “You know…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil …

We are witnesses of all that he did ... This man God raised on the third day ... He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed

by God.” (36-42) OK, witnesses, let’s go out there and testify!

Two years ago, our diocese held an assembly of some 850 leaders from all of our parishes to find ways to build up our believing communities into disciples of Jesus Christ. While we are clearly only scratching the surface in these activities, we are ready to take on another challenge, which, in fact, will strengthen our discipleship. We are ready to reach out to those who have wandered from the flock of Jesus Christ.

On Holy Thursday last month, our parish representatives at the Cathedral Mass for the blessings of the sacred oils received a letter from me announcing the next diocesan assembly this fall. We expect some 3,000 participants from our parishes to learn how to be missionary disciples, how to reach out to the Lost Sheep and call them by name back home to the Church. I hope to welcome many of you to that gathering.

The building up of our faith communities must continue, but now this will be an added mission of Christ which we will embrace.

We will become witnesses. What we will learn this fall builds on what we have been practicing these past two years. It is all the work of the Holy Spirit.

Where we have encouraged prayer groups to be formed, we are now adding to the task of intercession for those who have fallen away. Where we have been developing more opportunities for encounters with Christ in our parishes, we are now asking you to witness to these encounters to the Lost Sheep. Where we have formed small discipleship groups in our parishes, we are now seeking to accompany those whose ties to the Church have been frayed. And finally, where we have been creating a welcoming environment in our parishes, we are now forming our disciples so that they are able to invite others to return to Mother Church.

My sisters and brothers, the risen Jesus has given us this mission. The Holy Spirit has empowered us for this mission. Please pray that we may be worthy of this great trust, and that all of us will be better equipped to get out there and testify that indeed Jesus is Lord!

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YOUR LIFE

5 goodlife

5 ways to be a faithful Catholic consumer

6 marriage matters

She says: ‘I want to join a faith-sharing group.’ He says: ‘I don’t want to sit around talking about my feelings.’ What do they do?

7 work life

YOUR FAITH

YOUR STORIES

8 in the know

SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS

18 m y story

with Father Joe

hat are our obligations W to Planet Earth?

10 theology 101

‘Overwhelmed by the value’ of her Catholic education – Trudy’s convictions never waver

20 feature story

The Good Samaritan – A lesson in mercy

Deacon Tom’s hospital

ministry is a ‘Liturgy of the bedside’

12 spiritual fitness

Easter grace continues

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PLUS

Do I have to invite the whole office to my wedding?

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A family festival of faith

parenting journey If we’re paying for the wedding, shouldn’t we get to plan it?

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Keep the Easter flame alive in your home

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FAITH HELPS

FROM THE EDITOR

Do we take water for granted?

How about the water of life?

H

T.Gennera

OW EASY IT IS TO TAKE WATER FOR GRANTED. For so many of us, all we have to do is go to the kitchen sink, the bathroom faucet or the dispenser in the door of the fridge, and we have available a seemingly endless stream of cool, clear, drinkable water. As can be the case with so many basic services – power, water, even wireless internet – we can easily find ourselves taking them for granted. It is only when the storm hits and the power goes out or water goes off that we realize, even for a brief time, how easy it is for us to take these basics for granted

FATHER DWIGHT EZOP

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

Email: editor@ FAITHpub.com.

How easily do we take another sort of water for granted – specifically, the water of baptism?”

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The current water crisis in Flint and the ongoing efforts to bring safe water to that city have been in the minds and on the hearts of so many recently.

It has been amazing to witness the generosity of communities within and outside of Michigan responding to Flint’s water crisis. As solutions to the problem continue to formulate, Flint’s need is still great. It is thanks to the diligence of people like Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a Flint-area pediatrician, that the world is now aware of the plight of the people of Flint. It has served as a kind of wake-up-call, and made us realize it is all too easy to take safe, drinkable water for granted.

All of this has made me stop and think. How easily do we take another sort of water for granted – specifically, the water of baptism? This water – which can be found in our parish baptismal fonts and in the holy water stoops at most church doors – is the most vital water we have been given.

Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the scrutinies with our Elect – the adults and older children who were making the journey to baptism at the Easter Vigil. The very first of those scrutinies is built around the quest for life-giving water, as Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well.

Initially, she is looking for water to drink. Following her encounter with the Lord, she leaves seeking the Water of Life. Jesus has stirred up in her the thirst for faith and for baptism.

So many of us were baptized as infants and have no recollection of our baptism beyond a few photos, and perhaps notes that might have been written to us at the time by our parents and godparents. The presence of our Elect and their quest for the waters of baptism are a powerful reminder that we should never take for granted the gift of life-giving water we were given in baptism.

So what are we to do? Here are some thoughts. First, take the time to look up the date of your baptism. You can find this on your baptismal certificate.

If you don’t have your baptismal certificate, ask mom or dad – it could be in your baby book. Can’t find it? Call the parish of your baptism and have them send you a fresh copy. Don’t worry, this kind of request is something parish secretaries handle all the time. Once you know your baptismal date (mine is February 14), make sure to mark it on your calendar as a kind of “second birthday.” Then, make sure to celebrate it with family and friends. Go to Mass that day. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for your family’s faith, and the faith of your godparents and others who have helped you on your journey. Most of all, make sure to thank God for the gift of this life-giving water, and promise never to take it for granted. And so, our journey in FAITH continues.

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DISCIPLESHIP

For personal reflection or small group discussion Marriage Matters

1. What are some ways couples can support one another in their prayer lives?

What has worked for you?

2.

Discuss the value you have found in faith-sharing groups, by yourself or with another.

Parenting Journey

1. How can understanding marriage as a sacrament between the couple change the way parents approach the wedding plans?

Theology 101

1.

Discuss a time when you have experienced God’s mercy through someone else’s actions.

2.

How can you apply Father Howard’s four steps toward mercy to specific daily actions?

Cover Story

1. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are ethically obliged to speak up for someone whose voice is not being heard?

2.

Has there been a time in your life when your faith has sustained you and kept you going in a situation that seemed hopeless?

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YOUR LIFE GOODLIFE

WAYS TO BE A FAITHFUL CATHOLIC CONSUMER

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BY EMMA VINTON

T IS HARD NOT TO BE CAUGHT UP in today’s consumerist culture that glorifies buying and selling. As Christians, we are called to make

proper use of the gifts we have received, to have solidarity with all people and to store up treasure in heaven, rather than on earth. Catholic social teaching informs believers to uphold the dignity of human life and work, even in our attitude toward material goods. Here are five ways to be a faithful Catholic consumer:

1 EXERCISE VIRTUE –

Practice integrity, especially with relation to material goods: prudence, selfcontrol and temperance.

2 BE AWARE –

Take note of advertising that fails to uphold human dignity, life and work. Try to avoid clothing companies that degrade women, falsely advertise, treat laborers unfairly or openly boast of beliefs that are contrary to Church teaching.

3 DO YOUR RESEARCH –

Be aware of large and popular corporations that support principles contrary to the Christian life. Know what your money is going to support.

4 LOOK FOR HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES –

Try to seek out Christian companies that offer services – from cell phone service to mutual funds – that uphold life and family. Look for items certified as fair trade.

5 BE GENEROUS –

Give away as often as you buy.

Make a commitment to donate one article of clothing for each new article you get, or to support a local food bank.

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YOUR LIFE MARRIAGE MATTERS

JACK SHOWS A REFRESHING HONESTY and sense of WHAT DO humor about an issue that’s THEY DO? awkward for many couples.

Since men and women are different, they often take a different approach to spirituality.

Men may be inspired by images of spiritual combat, viewing spiritual growth as a deeply private struggle. Women may prefer to see prayer as establishing a relationship, as a vulnerable sharing of the heart.

SHE SAYS:

HE SAYS:

I don’t want to sit around talking about my feelings

I want to join a small group at church that is for couples, but Jack is refusing to even give it a try. I think this would help us grow in our faith together.

I actually think I’d prefer a root canal to sitting around and talking about my feelings. Can’t Amy think of a different way for us to grow in faith?

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I want to join a faith-sharing group

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Individual people have different spiritualities. A small group meeting doesn’t have to feel as bad to a man as a root canal, however. Pope Francis recently praised prayer groups as “not only meeting centers to be at ease with friends and to be consoled somewhat, but hotbeds of divine love.” (Pope Francis address, Feb. 8, 2016) Faith-sharing groups for couples also offer a chance to form close friendships with other people who share a vocation to Catholic marriage. Having like-minded couple friends provides immense support for a marriage.

A faith-sharing group is not the same as group therapy or a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Participants can approach the experience more casually. No one will force Jack to talk about his feelings! Many small groups follow a structure based on a book or workbook, so people can discuss the written materials, instead of their personal experiences. Some small groups are more free-form and resemble prayer circles. In either case, speaking up usually isn’t required. Even if everyone is expected to pray out loud, Jack can ask the group to pray for a “private intention,” without saying anything more explicit.

Additionally, if Jack wants to share his spiritual life with his wife in greater depth, they could choose a spiritual book to read together and discuss. They could also pray a rosary together at home, assigning a prayer intention for each decade, or even attempt to pray out loud more spontaneously. Listening as Jack reveals his personal prayer intentions may create the spiritually intimate relationship Amy craves, all while maintaining the privacy Jack needs.

Note: Nothing in this column is meant to provide psychological or medical diagnosis, treatment or opinion.

DR. MANUEL P. SANTOS AND KAREE SANTOS

are co-authors of The Four Keys to Everlasting Love: How Your Catholic Marriage Can Bring You Joy for a Lifetime (Ave Maria Press, 2016).

YOUR LIFE WORK LIFE

YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY

Do I have to invite the whole office to my wedding?

Q

I am getting married soon. Do if I have to invite the entire office to my wedding?

How about their spouses and significant others? ers, but if I invite the entire staff, the cost of the

IF WE’RE PAYING FOR THE WEDDING,

reception will skyrocket.

A

SHOULDN’T WE GET TO PLAN IT?

T. Gennara

JIM BERLUCCHI

is the executive director of the Spitzer Center.

Q

Our daughter is getting married next year, and we offered to pay for the wedding. Shouldn’t that mean we have some

say in the guest list and the plans? I feel as if our daughter is just treating us as a checkbook!

CHECK OUT PAGE 4 FOR DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION OR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

As a reader at the wedding of my daughter, it was a special moment to look out over the assembly and see the faces of those sharing in our family’s joy. Friends of mine who had held Erin as an infant sat beside young adults who were close to Erin and Eric. But as much as parents may long to plan the wedding, this sacred celebration is up to the couple.

Pick something you really care about and offer to help with a specific task.

A

T. Gennara

With the average cost of a wedding now exceeding $31,000, it’s a wonder that celibacy hasn’t skyrocketed.

Besides eloping or charging per head, you probably have only three options: invite all, some or none. An open invite is clearly too expensive. And it sounds like it would be unnatural to not invite some co-workers with whom you’re closer. So, the best course is selective invitation.

While it might cause a little temporary unease in the office (depending on its size), most people understand that, while all people are created equal, not all office relationships are equal.

Selective socializing among colleagues, whether it’s going out after work, sharing lunch or enjoying some other activity of shared interest, is normal.

So this is one case where discrimination in the workplace is OK. Most people understand a blanket invitation to a co-worker’s special event is not a norm.

As with so many workplace-related decisions, the norm comes first. What’s the normal practice? So operating within normal boundaries is – how can I put this – very normal.

The only scriptural story you’d be violating is the wedding feast for the king’s son. (Lk 14:1524) That king searched the highways and byways to fill the hall.

But the point of that parable is different. And besides, kings have lavish budgets.

©DOLLARPHOTOCLUB/MNSTUDIO

I’d really like to include a couple of my co-work-

DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL

is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

A sacrament, not a social event. The sacramental nature of the wedding is evident in the fact that your daughter and future son-in-law will actually be the ministers of the sacrament. The wedding liturgy isn’t a financial transaction in which each party weighs whether or not there has been an even exchange. Read Luke 6:38 and reflect on your gift.

“Filial respect promotes harmony in all of family life.” (CCC 2219) Even if wedding expenses are offered with no strings attached, one would hope that the couple would invite those who have shared long-term friendships with their parents. These individuals have experienced many of the joys and concerns of child-rearing and their presence adds meaning.

Offer assistance to enhance the liturgy. Ask your daughter if there are ways you can assist with the plans, not make them! For example, create a wedding program that allows the assembly to participate in a meaningful way. What Scriptures have been chosen? What songs? This encourages active participation rather than observation. Think of your creation as a rough draft that the couple will modify.

Enter into the wedding preparations with a generous heart: Pray 2 Corinthians 9:7 and remember that “... God loves a cheerful giver.”

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YOUR FAITH

What are our obligations to

PLANET EARTH?

IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE

Q

DEAR FATHER JOE: If God created us to be caretakers of the earth and its creatures, shouldn’t we all be vegetarians?

T. Gennara

A

FATHER JOE KRUPP

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

We begin by looking at animals and how our faith teaches us to treat them.

In my lifetime, I remember three popes. All three have made some pretty strong statements inviting us to consider our treatment of animals when it comes to our food.

In 1990, Pope St. John Paul II stated that “the animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.” He described animals as the “fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit” and said they deserve our respect; that they are “as near to God as men are.”

In 2002, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict responded to a question about animal rights, and stated that the issue was very serious. This is his quote from that interview: “That is a very serious question. At any rate, we can see that they are given into our care, that we cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God’s creatures ... Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds, this degrading of living creatures to a commodity seems to

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OUR QUESTIONS THIS ISSUE are all centered around the environment and our response to it. I confess some sense of dread, as I suspect I’m going to have to do something that we as Americans don’t handle well at all right now: dive into an issue we perceive as having an effect on our politics. Ugh. I definitely worry that, at times, the right and the left in our country are working really hard to pull us toward an allegiance to political parties that transcends anything our Church would ever ask of us. With that, I’m asking, for the sake of our souls and my sanity, that we pause before we read this and ask God to help us put aside our politics and simply see if God is calling us to change our actions in some way. This is not me being a Democrat, this is not me being a Republican. This is sinful, broken me trying my best to be Catholic. So, let’s dive in! me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible.”

Pope Francis has said similar things, and these are exceedingly well-publicized.

Beyond that, our catechism is pretty clear in making two points for us. The first is in section 2417, where it reads “It is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing.” The second is from section 2418, which states that it is “contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly.”

It seems to me that, when it comes to Catholics being vegetarians, we are free to make our own choice. It’s also clear to me that some people are called to be vegetarians and some are not. For those called to be vegetarians, I think a challenge could be to avoid making your individual call everyone’s call. For us meat eaters, the challenge is to be conscious of the meat we eat and where it comes from. It is our moral duty to avoid participation in a system where animals are treated with needless suffering or lack of care.

Q

Is it immoral not to recycle? What do I have to do to protect the environment?

one is a bit tougher, because, as far as I could A This find, the catechism is not explicit in addressing recy-

“Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace – pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity – but the human framework is no longer under man’s control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.”

– Pope Paul, Octogesima Adveniens, 1971

“In our day, there is a growing awareness that world peace is threatened not only by the arms race, regional conflicts, and continued injustices among peoples and nations, but also by a lack of due respect for nature, by the plundering of natural resources, and by a progressive decline in the quality of life. The sense of precariousness and insecurity that such a situation engenders is a seedbed for collective selfishness, disregard for others and dishonesty.

Faced with the widespread destruction of the environment, people everywhere are coming to understand that we cannot continue to use the goods of the earth as we have in the past. ... [A] new ecological awareness is beginning to emerge which, rather than being downplayed, ought to be encouraged to develop into concrete programs and initiatives.”

B. Patten

cling. To further complicate the issue, you have environmental activists who warn that there can be too much recycling and that some recycling consumes too much energy – what do we do?

I think the smart thing to do is to remember a simple statement: God made us caretakers of this place and all that is in it. This is a great and noble task about which we need to be conscious.

This task challenges us to change our behaviors and habits to embrace the duty to be responsible stewards of God’s creation. I’m going to close with a couple of quotes from some of our popes that help us see this reality.

Q: WHAT DOES A NOSEY PEPPER DO? A: GETS JALAPEÑO BUSINESS!

– Pope St. John Paul II, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, 1990

May God bless our efforts to be good stewards of his creation!

Enjoy another day in God’s presence.

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YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101

We are the tree that will be judged by its fruits, so we are to be the neighbor to all those we encounter.”

THE GOOD SAMARITAN A LESSON IN MERCY THE PARABLE IN BRIEF

In order to understand the full context of the parable, we must first consider the Gospel passage directly preceding it – Luke 10:2528. In these verses, a scholar of the law had asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life.

In the end, the scholar provided his own answer by citing the two great commandments: to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.

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When Jesus confirmed his answer, the scholar asked a follow-up question, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus offered this parable as his response.

Jesus told the story of a man who was robbed, beaten, stripped and left for dead on the side of a road. A priest and a Levite each, in turn, saw the man and responded to him by moving to the opposite side of the road and continuing on their respective travels. Then, a Samaritan happened upon the man

and had a very different response. He was “moved with compassion.”

DOUG CULP This led him to is the CAO and dress the man’s secretary for wounds, put pastoral life for him on his anthe Diocese of imal, take him Lexington, Ky. to an inn and He holds an care for him.

MA in theology The next day, from Catholic he even gave Theological some money Union in Chicago. to the innkeeper (with the promise of more on his return trip), and charged him with the care of the man.

After this, Jesus asked the S. Olson

COMPASSION IS OFTEN TREATED AS A SYNONYM FOR MERCY. GIVEN THIS, THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN FOUND IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (10:29-37) SHOULD CERTAINLY HAVE SOMETHING TO TEACH US ABOUT MERCY.

scholar which of the three travelers in the story “was neighbor to the robber’s victim?” The scholar answered that it was the “one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus then instructed the scholar: “Go and do likewise.”

is eternal life alone. It is this communion that allows the neighbor to fulfill the second of the great commandments, i.e., we can only love our neighbor by being neighbor.

A BONUS LESSON: BECOMING MERCIFUL

What a powerful turn of events for the scholar! He began by asking, “And who is my neighbor?” This was such a reasonable question. After all, if inheriting eternal life rested on his successfully loving his neighbor, he had best find out who this neighbor was. This neighbor needed to be identified so that he or she might be loved. In other words, this neighbor needed to be made known.

And yet, by the end of the parable, Jesus is asking who in the story “was neighbor to the robber’s victim?” In other words, Jesus reveals that the scholar is asking the wrong question. We are not to be busying ourselves with evaluating who qualifies as our neighbor – who is worthy or deserving of our love. Rather, Jesus makes it clear that eternal life is not “out there” dependent on a successful search to identify our neighbor. Eternal life is to be encountered in the conversion of our hearts. That is, we are the tree that will be judged by its fruits, so we are to be the neighbor to all those we encounter. It is each one of us who will be made known to others by our love. And so we must ask ourselves, are we “moved with compassion,” and do we act with mercy when we see the wounded, the ignored and the excluded?

Ultimately, it is mercy that makes the neighbor in the parable recognizable. It is mercy, or being moved with compassion, that reveals the neighbor. That the neighbor is known through his or her mercy is an indication that to be “neighbor” is to be in communion with God, who is merciful and in whom there

Father Howard Gray, SJ, of Georgetown University asserts that

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

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the _______ he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”

A. deep pity B. tremendous despair C. great love D. wondrous hope Answer: (C) – great love (Eph. 2:4-5)

LEARNING THE ‘WHO’S WHO’ OF MERCY

the parable of the good samaritan actually provides us with a process for becoming merciful. In a lecture to seminarians several years ago, he explained that the parable teaches us that the first lesson of compassion is to look beyond ourselves toward others. This involves developing a contemplative way of seeing. This type of seeing leads to a “suffering with” the other, which is the very meaning of compassion.

However, this “seeing” also elicits a response “from the gut” that moves us to action on behalf of the other in a way that naturally seeks to involve others. In fact, Father Howard argues that all acts of compassion have in them the grace to build “networks of compassion.”

The Samaritan illustrates this process, Father Howard says, by doing four things: 1) he sees the victim, 2) draws close to him, 3) allows his heart to be moved with compassion, and 4) acts. In other words, he was moved beyond the act of seeing and feeling for the victim to actually give up time, money and priorities in order to care for him. In addition, he begins to build a network of compassion by involving the innkeeper and adding a promise to follow-up on his return trip.

SPIRITUAL READING St. Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) and is a doctor of the Church. He once said that without good books and spiritual reading, it would be morally impossible to save our souls. In this spirit, consider a prayerful reading of The Art of Loving God by St. Francis de Sales during this Year of Mercy.

St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622) was a bishop of Geneva in Switzerland. He was known for his faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions that arose in Switzerland after the Protestant Reformation. In The Art of Loving God, St. Francis explains how each one of us can practice the art of loving God through the simple things in life. Along the way, he teaches the reader how to develop patience, courage, selflessness and many other virtues of the Christian life.

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EASTER GRACE

SISTER ANN SHIELDS

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

CONTINUES A

FTER THE EASTER EGGS are found and the chocolate is gone, we need to ask ourselves some serious questions during this

Easter season, which does not end until Pentecost on May 15.

Do I realize Jesus died for me so I might have eternal life with him?

Do I realize he bore all that sin and horror and torture for me? He paid the debt for our sin – a debt we could never pay if there were not a merciful God; a merciful Father who received his Son’s life on our behalf; a merciful Savior who took all our sins upon the cross. Ponder this throughout the Easter season, and may it lead to thanksgiving as you slowly comprehend more and more what Jesus did for you – not for millions and billions of people, but one by one for you and for me. You were known when Jesus was falsely accused, then tortured and condemned – he did it for you so you might have eternal life.

REFLECT ON THESE WORDS FROM SCRIPTURE

CHECK OUT PAGE 4 FOR DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION OR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

In these 50 days of the Easter season between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, spend some time with Scripture: 1. Read carefully from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24.

Pay special attention to verses 13-35. This is the story of the discouraged friends of Jesus who thought he was dead. They were leaving the other followers, leaving the city – discouraged, downcast, frightened. Read carefully. Look what God did for them. We, too, may be going through circumstances that are very hard, even frightening. After we read what Jesus did for those

early disciples, is it not clear he will care for us? Of course he will. Put your faith in Jesus, in his love for you. If Jesus opened the gates of heaven for you, so that you might have eternal life, do you not think he will care for you right now in whatever difficulties you are experiencing?

2. Read two or three of the psalms listed every day. Thank God with the living words of Scripture. As you do, God will fill your soul with hope in him and, over the coming weeks, the grace of Easter will begin to pour into your soul.

The feast of Easter and all its graces continue to the feast of Pentecost each year.

YOUR FAITH SPIRITUAL FITNESS

EASTER SEASON PSALMS AND READINGS PRAY THESE PSALMS DAILY: 65: 9-13, 95:17, 100, 106, 118, 136:1-9, 147:7-12 AND 1 CHR 16:7-36.

Rejoice and be glad! He is risen! Alleluia!

Luke 24: 28-35 As they approached the village to which they were going, [Jesus] gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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

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‘ I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB.’

Dr. Mona, the hero of the Flint water crisis

BY NANCY ROSEBUSH SCHERTZING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

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FAITH IN FLINT – IT’S MORE THAN WATER THE CHILDREN OF FLINT NEED MORE THAN WATER. IN ORDER TO HELP THEM BUILD A STRONG FUTURE. IF YOU WANT TO HELP, PLEASE VISIT WWW.FAITHINFLINT.COM TO DONATE TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES OR THE N.E.W. LIFE CENTER.

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YOUR STORIES DR. MONA IS INSTRUMENTAL WITH THE FLINT CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND, WWW.FLINTKIDS.ORG.

DR. MONA HANNA-ATTISHA, the hero of the Flint water crisis, has carved out 30 minutes from

VISIT WWW.FAITHINFLINT.COM TO SIGN UP FOR THE FAITH IN FLINT NEWSLETTER WHICH PROVIDES UPDATES, NEWS AND PRAYER REQUESTS FROM FLINT.

the onslaught of press events and public hearings. Stolen from her duties as Director of Hurley Medical Center’s Pediatric Residency

Program

and

Associate

Professor

at Michigan State University’s Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, this interview time is precious.

In the narrow, refurbished hospital room that is her office, the coat hooks behind the door are full of clinical jackets, starched to attention and ready for her to jump into action at a moment’s notice.

Yet where she sits, Dr. Mona surrounds herself in children’s artwork – some framed, but most simply taped to the walls, the file cabinet and her desk.

Behind her computer, photos of her children, family and medical school graduating classes smile back at her from the wall. Between the windows she has hung the Fr. Norman Dukette Award she received from Christ the King parish in Flint.

Suddenly she appears at her door. “Hi, I’m Mona,” she smiles as she comes in for the interview. “Do you think I could get an extra copy of the magazine? My grandma goes to Mass every day. I’d love to give her a copy of the story.”

“How does it feel to get all this attention? It’s like a dream. I come home and my husband asks ‘What did you do today?’ I say, ‘Just pinch me. I don’t know if it was real.’ The access, the ability to meet different people – I go to events and people want to take selfies with me! They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re a hero.’ But I’m not a hero. I was just doing my job.

This is my job.”

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She shifts in her seat. “I’m a pediatrician with a public health background. When I train future pediatricians and medical students I tell them, it is your job to be advocates.

It is your job to use science. It is your job to raise your voice when others can’t raise their voices. This is what I was trained to do.

“It’s also what I learned from my family and our Chaldean Community. From my earliest days at Guardian Angels elementary school, I learned the importance of the Golden Rule and giving voice to the voiceless.

“This story started when I called an old friend and asked her to come to our house for dinner. I’ve known her since we were 13, and now she’s a water expert – one of the few people who know the lead-and-copper rule.

Over a glass of wine, we were talking

about Flint’s recent switch to river water. She said, ‘Mona, you’re a doctor. You should look into this. There’s probably lead in the water. Can you get data?’ I said ‘Lead?! Yeah, I can get data.’ That night I couldn’t sleep.

“Ironically, the next day I had a meeting scheduled with a County Health Department representative about a grant to provide cleaning supplies to families exposed to lead in dust and paint. I asked him if he was looking into lead in the water, but he said the Health Department has no jurisdiction over water. So I started to dig.

“I’m stubborn and pleasantly persistent. ‘No’ is an impossible word for me. But I’ve also learned that you can’t move mountains without data and science behind you. So I knew I had to prove that lead was in the

bers don’t lie. Lead impacts cognition. It impacts behavior. It has a multi-generational effect, impacting the unborn and babies on formula.

There is no safe level of lead.

“And our research and the state’s data underestimated the exposure!

Lead only stays a short time in the blood, then it gets stored in the bones – especially for those whose nutrition was poor before exposure.

When you are stressed, or pregnant, it comes out of the bones and causes that neurotoxicity all over again. It’s the worst. That’s why it’s never supposed to be in a child.

“Knowing this, you fight for these

sit back and watch the consequences of lead poisoning. So we are flipping the story by building a model public health program, called the Pediatric Public Health Initiative, to help these kids. Michigan State University and Hurley Medical Center are wrapping the children of Flint in evidence-based interventions that promote child development such as early literacy programs, universal preschool, nutrition assistance, access to school and behavioral health services.

“There’s lots of things people can do. Red Cross is mobilizing volunteers to go door-to-door handing out water or educational materials.

The water is a lot better than it used to be, but it still is not safe.

It’s like drinking through a lead-painted straw. You never know when a chip of that lead is going to come off. But we have so much bottled water we need to store it at an Air Force base.

Instead of buying more water, see the sidebar for other ways you can help.

“Most importantly, people need to keep talking about Flint. It’s sad that it took non-government people to do something when, for 18 months, mothers, spiritual leaders, and others were publicly raising their voices and being silenced. Their concerns fell on deaf ears of public servants who refused to listen. This can’t happen again.

“We cannot sit silent when others are suffering. There are injustices everywhere. My parents always taught me to advocate for the underserved.

If I’m blessed enough to have the knowledge and capacity to help others, it’s my duty and my privilege to serve. Anybody who believes in the value of humanity would, I think, do the same.”

COVER STORY

“LEAD IMPACTS COGNITION. IT IMPACTS BEHAVIOR. IT HAS A MULTIGENERATIONAL EFFECT, IMPACTING THE UNBORN AND BABIES ON FORMULA. THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF LEAD.“ children’s blood. I tried to open every door I could to get the data.

“Through my network I was able to get the data within two hours. We got our research plan approved in a couple days, and in two weeks of working around the clock our team released its study. It showed that children in Flint were being poisoned by lead, that it had increased, and that it was probably the water.

“When we released our data on September 24, the State of Michigan attacked us. They called me an unfortunate researcher and accused us of causing hysteria. They said their data didn’t match up with our data.

“When the state attacked me, it was jarring. It made me nervous and led me to question my data.

For about two hours I felt ill. But we knew we were right. The num-

kids. I felt it was my professional responsibility. It was my responsibility as a human being who had a voice to use that voice. So we fought back through the media, answering their attacks, explaining why we were right. It wasn’t easy but it was my job. It was what I was supposed to do and what I was meant to do.

“After about two weeks, Dr. Eden Wells, the chief medical executive for the State of Michigan, called. She and I had done an immunization event together, so she knew me. She knew I had a public health background.

She knew I was credible. That was the game-changer for the state to take another look at their data. On October 2, they held a press conference and said we were right.

“Flint had this disaster, and it is a population-wide disaster. We cannot

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND WKAR-TV HAVE DEVELOPED AN APP TO HELP PEOPLE FIND WEATER AND NUTRITIONAL RESOURCES IN FLINT. FOR INFORMATION: WWW.TINYURL. COM/ZLSRNXO

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YOUR STORIES MY STORY

‘OVERWHELMED

BY THE VALUE’ OF HER CATHOLIC EDUCATION Trudy’s convictions never waver

BY MICHAEL SPATH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM LUNING

STEPPING INTO TRUDY RITTER’S ANN ARBOR HOME is stepping into history.

Born in 1929 in Reading, Pa., Trudy has seen the white smoke of eight newly elected popes, and lived through World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, 9/11, the first African-American president and more.

Through it all, she has remained devoted to the Catholic Church, its faith and its education.

“My parents loved the Lord and they passed that on to me and my sister. My husband, Frank, and I passed that on to our eight children and 17 grandchildren,” Trudy says.

Trudy attended Catholic grade school, high school and nursing school despite the financial strain it placed on her parents – her father lost his job as a newspaper reporter when she was in elementary school and passed suddenly, of a heart attack, when she was in ninth grade.

Trudy’s mother took on second jobs to pay for her daughter’s education, and Trudy absorbed those values of hard work at a young age.

She also absorbed her parents’ commitment to Catholic education, and sent all eight of her children through Catholic schools.

Trudy’s Catholic education, with its commitment to teaching right from wrong and morality, was one of the motivating factors in her lifelong commitment to civil rights.

“In third grade, a friend joined the Maryknoll missionaries and was sent to China; back then, the newborn females were thrown into the rice paddies, and our nuns needed funds to care for these babies, so they established a campaign called ‘Ransom the Pagan Babies,’” says Trudy, a natural storyteller.

“I was only 9 and asked neighbors if I could scrub their floors for 25 cents. I was determined to raise the most 18

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money, because the nuns would name these pagan babies after you.

“I have always thought, ‘There must be some Chinese women in their 70s wandering around wondering how they came to be known as Gertrude.’”

Decade by decade, she weaves through her life, regaling with memories of her husband and their budding romance at St. Louis University in the 1950s; accounts of Joseph Cardinal Ritter (her husband’s uncle), who became a prominent desegregationist, first in Indianapolis and then in St. Louis; her opportunity to attend Masses in Vatican City presided over by Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Francis; chronicles of her responsibilities at St. Thomas Catholic School and Father Gabriel Richard in Ann Arbor; and work with many other charitable organizations.

The time spent in her kitchen feels less like an interview and more like a fireside chat, relaxing over a cup of hot cocoa as Trudy fills in the pages of a history book with the perspective of a woman who, with her family and buoyed by her faith, thrived through the ups and downs of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Her hero is Cardinal Ritter, a man who faced down hate – and death threats – to truly preach the Golden Rule.

“He was being sued by a group that didn’t want to see Catholic institutions desegregated, but the cardinal got wind of this and sent out an edict that said if you don’t treat everyone the way you want to be treated, you will be excommunicated,” Trudy says, delighting in the conviction of her uncle-in-law.

“One night, in a big auditorium, these people came together and the very first speaker was a lawyer and he said, ‘I’m not going to pursue this legal action. You do what you want to do, but I will not lose my faith.’ He got off the stage and no one said a thing. And that was that.

“That’s what we need more of today. God is constantly calling us to be his voice in this world. Why are we shunning that responsibility? Of whom are we afraid?”

All her life, Trudy has been conscious of heeding God’s call – even directly, sitting down to pen a prayer for the martyred men and women defending the Christian faith domestically and, especially, abroad.

“I had never done any writing, but something made me sit down and write it,” she said, adopting an orange ribbon as a symbol for the martyrs. “After I was done, I had no recollection of why I had sat down. I attribute the prayer to the Holy Spirit. He called to me and I listened.”

Trudy has been listening all her life, and hopes today’s children are listening also.

“I am so overwhelmed by the value of my Catholic education and I think it’s even more important today than when I was growing up, because there is so much hate and disrespect in our society,” she says.

“When you attend a Catholic school, you learn to respect authority, you learn morals, you learn to adore the Lord and you’re provided the tools to hear him calling for you.”

LEARN MORE TO INQUIRE ABOUT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN YOUR AREA, VISIT DOLCATHOLICSCHOOLS.COM AND WITNESS THE DIFFERENCE.

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“I AM HUMBLED BY SOME OF THE PATIENTS I MEET, AND THEIR DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHO GOD IS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO HIM. THEY GIVE JOY-FILLED WITNESS IN THE FACE OF SOME DAUNTING BURDENS THEY CARRY.”

DEACON TOM’S

HOSPITAL MINISTRY IS A ‘LITURGY OF THE BEDSIDE’

BY ROSE ROBERTSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM LUNING

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YOUR STORIES FEATURE STORY

“L

ITURGY OF THE BEDSIDE” is how Tom Franklin, deacon at St. Mary in Chelsea, refers to hospital ministry. For him, hospital ministry is a passionate symphony of the co-mingling of faith and life with sickness, and possibly death. “Hospital ministry is a relational ministry, a ministry of encounter. It is making present the love and care of Jesus, in whatever guise he would be recognized by the patient,” he says.

On the three days a week Deacon Tom volunteers, he carries a full pyx (the small receptacle to carry the consecrated hosts), along with his invisible patient care bag crammed with compassion, empathy, prayer, reverence, presence and even laughter. He will spend between two and six hours dispensing these charisms among the patients at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Chelsea. He explains, “Each day, I get a census listing each patient’s name and religious preference.

This gives me an assist before I walk into someone’s room.

Some who state they have no religious preference will often say, ‘Yeah, I once was a Catholic [or Lutheran or Baptist].’

They often have a story to go with that statement.”

After 20 years in this ministry, Deacon Tom is well aware that healing within a hospital setting is not just physical, although, he says, “Sometimes positive physiological changes are visible on the patient monitors after I have prayed with them.” For some, Deacon Tom says a visit with a hospital minister “may be a catalyst for change, an opportunity to unburden any faith baggage so they can begin the spiritual healing process. An important part of this ministry is to help people find a safe place to unpack their faith baggage. One of the most important things is for the prayer I pray with them to be in context with their life and their current hospitalization.” It can be paradoxical that treatment for a physical ailment is the vehicle to discovering a salve for the soul.

He recalls: “One person I visited made it clear he did not want anything to do with God. For weeks, he was in a coronary care unit that was unable to identify a source for his heart issues, and powerless to get him well or release him.

The patient was hostile at my initial visit, so I told him I would come back. Over a period of subsequent visits, his story came out: During a turbulent time in his life, he had done some things he deeply regretted, so he went to confession. The priest’s reaction was to tell him the Church had no place for someone like him. He carried that burden for 30+ years. After a time, I asked if I could bring a priest to

anoint him, and he agreed. He participated in the sacrament of reconciliation and the sacrament of the sick. Two days after receiving these sacraments, following weeks of mystifying the medical staff, this man was well enough to be discharged.”

Deacon Tom says, “It hurts to know that some cleric would do this. Often, we hear stories of people’s wounded encounters with a church. These stories occur in all denominations, not just Catholic. But I get to be on the other side and be part of the healing process. Sometimes, a breakthrough with a patient is tantamount to the veil in the Temple being rendered.

The whole episode is as if God is saying, ‘I can no longer tolerate separation. I will not take it anymore.’”

In general, Deacon Tom explains that most patients simply want affirmation that “God loves them – that God cares.

There are a lot of folks who believe God created their circumstances to punish them or shape up their family. A lot of this ministry is sharing that God does not sit up there and dole out infirmities. Rather, God is present in their situation. I refer to Jesus in Gethsemane, or on the cross crying out, ‘Why are you abandoning me?’ Some may say they prayed to Jesus and their prayer wasn’t answered. I remind them that Jesus also asked for his cup to be passed, and it wasn’t. I assure them that Jesus has been in their shoes, and is well aware of how they are feeling.

He continues, “I am humbled by some of the patients I meet, and their deep understanding of who God is and how they relate to him. They give joy-filled witness in the face of some daunting burdens they carry. They get the fact that, while this is a pretty crappy time in their life, in terms of eternity, it is just a passing moment.”

Hospital ministry can also affect and affirm a patient’s family. Conversations occurring during a liturgy of the bedside can bring comfort and clarity – and open a spiritual door previously closed – to all present. It can clear up religious misconceptions and give patients, as well as family members, an opportunity to discuss different aspects of their faith journey. In the event of impending death, “I think the family appreciates when we enter into a relationship with them and acknowledge the dying family member is a real person. We give honor, respect and care as we wait to hand them up to God,” he says.

Deacon Tom reflects, “This ministry has shaped me and formed me and caused me to see the beauty in the people of God, especially in those members who don’t realize they are the people of God. Outside of the hospital, it shapes my homilies and my marketplace ministry, and makes me more compassionate. It gives me a window into the heart of God.”

LEARN MORE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VISIT OR TAKE COMMUNION TO PATIENTS IN YOUR AREA, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PARISH OR THE PASTORAL CARE DEPARTMENT AT YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT THE LISTENING MINISTRY AT THE DIOCESE OF LANSING AT 517.342.2471.

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FaithFest16 A family festival of faith

BY CYNTHIA KAAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DON QUILLAN

CHECK OUT THE MAY ISSUE OF FAITH MAGAZINE IN WHICH FAITH TALKS WITH MATT MAHER ABOUT HIS MUSIC AND HIS UPCOMING APPEARANCE AT FAITHFEST.

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W

hat is FaithFest16? It is a celebration of faith and family that will take place on Saturday, June 25 on the grounds of the St.

Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. It is a day filled with faith sharing, live music, food, recreational activities and fireworks. And, of course, there will be opportunities for prayer and Mass with Bishop Boyea. FaithFest is part of Bishop Boyea’s effort to equip disciples in the diocese to reach out and evangelize the wider community.

Why FaithFest? Father David Rosenberg, director of the St. Francis Retreat Center, has made it a priority over the years to provide people with opportunities to encounter Christ. He sees this “family festival of faith” as: “A day of jubilee, a pilgrimage to a family festival of faith. The sort of festival that leaves you with the right kind of joy in your heart for why you are a community. And

when you add music to that …

Well, St. Augustine said, ‘To sing once is to pray twice.’”

If singing really is like doubling prayer efforts, FaithFest is going to expand the praying power of the Lansing Catholic community in a big way. The talented voices of Matt Maher, Jason Gray, Modern Day Cure, Melanie Rea and many others will be the center of the festival. There will be plenty

FAITHFEST16

more to enjoy on the expansive 95 acres of the retreat center beyond the incredible musical talent. Food vendors from 15 to 20 restaurants will be on hand. Numerous booths will be staffed by schools and organizations. A large area to play disc golf, soccer and other sports will be available.

Father David’s desire to bring others to encounter Christ began with his involvement in the Cursillo movement. Cursillo is a lay retreat movement that began in Spain, and dates back to the late 1940s.

The founders of the movement were dedicated to helping Catholics know Christ better. Father David recalls his first Cursillo in 1989 as life-changing, and credits that experience with the genesis of FaithFest16.

After a Cursillo experience, participants gather together later to maintain the Cursillo spirit – this is known as an Ultreya, or a pilgrimage. Father David has yearned to provide people with just such an Ultreya experience. As pastor of the Catholic community of St. Mary and St. Ann, Charlotte, Father David worked to provide an annual Ultreya that moved between parishes in the diocese. But he always had something bigger on his heart – and FaithFest is the culmination of that yearning.

The festival begins at 10 a.m., with music starting at noon. Count on seven or eight sets of music, with Lansing’s

own Melanie Rea kicking it all off. Matt Maher, who was nominated for two Grammys this year, will perform and direct the music for the bishop’s Mass at twilight. After Mass, Matt and Jason Gray will perform once more, with Jason planning to invite children to the stage for his performance of “Glow in the Dark” before the fireworks begin. Out of the Box Ministries is taking care of all staging needs – including a 50-foothigh stage and two video walls.

There will not be a bad seat on the property!

One thing is certain, FaithFest16 promises to be an event unlike any other.

Anticipating FaithFest, Father David is most looking forward to seeing joy on the faces of those in attendance.

Joy that leads people to say proudly, “This is my faith.”

Father David says, “The Holy Spirit has been telling me that we can have a culture of life that restores the dignity of our church in our culture …

The Spirit is moving us to be able to bring joy to dark hearts through a joyful celebration.

Mix that with the message of the Catholic Church – that’s a powerful message.

GET INVOLVED FOR INDIVIDUAL, MINISTRY AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT FATHER DAVID ROSENBERG AT 517.669.8321.

T. GENNARA

“Impassion our youth and they will go running out into the world with our message of Christ.”

FaithFest is Father Larry’s legacy Those who knew Father Larry Delaney know that having 5,000 “family members” at the St. Francis Retreat Center would be right up his alley. Father Larry’s brother, Doug Delaney, fondly recalls that, as the eldest of 10 children, Father Larry was always very supportive of family: “From day one, we’ve encouraged this to be a family event. He would love that.”

Doug shared the motto that helps the Delaney family when facing heartache and trials, the motto they leaned on when Father Larry passed: “We can mourn but we have to move on.

We have to continue. FaithFest is the perfect example of fulfilling that.”

Father David also spoke of Father Larry’s influence on the event and shared, “He had a special quality of love in him.

The retreat center wouldn’t be where it is today and there would be no platform to have such an event. FaithFest really is Father Larry’s legacy.”

Doug Delaney is in charge of marketing, sponsorships and promotion for FaithFest16.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANE FOLKERTSMA

CULTURE

Keep the Easter flame alive in your home I

DIY PASCHAL CANDLE • 1 large, white pillar candle • Permanent markers • Letter and number stencils • Ruler • Tissue paper • Wax paper • Scissors • 5 metal brads (real cloves can be used, too) • Hair dryer • Oven mitt

LOVE CANDLES. They symbolize life, love and celebration.

And I love burning them in my home, but I’ve had to resort to

enjoying them only when the boys are out of the house. Between my husband being afraid of the house burning down, and my son playing with the wax like it is Silly Putty, the candles just don’t stay lit. So, their illumination is very short-lived in my house.

T. Gennara

Thankfully, I get plenty of candle in church. Faithful Catholics know that, like Christmas, Easter is not just a day, but an entire season that lasts 50 days until Pentecost. To visually mark this, a very large paschal candle (or Easter candle) sits near the altar (or ambo) for the season of Easter.

So what is a paschal candle?

In short, the paschal candle is lighted for the first time on the evening of the Easter Vigil, when people coming into the Church are baptized. The vigil begins in darkness; a fire, which has been blessed outside the church, is used to light the paschal candle. The candle, symbolizing the resurrection and light of Christ, is carried in procession into the church, dispelling the darkness. The candle is then blessed. The five grains of incense on the candle represent the five wounds of Jesus, and the alpha and the omega indicate Christ is the beginning and end. The numbers MICHELLE within each corner of the cross are for the current year.

DIFRANCO The candle is lit each day during Mass throughout the is a designer and paschal season until Ascension Thursday (before Pentethe busy mom of cost Sunday). After the Easter season ends, it is moved two children. from the sanctuary to the baptismal font, and is only lit at baptisms and funerals.

The meaning and symbolism are quite beautiful and have inspired me to make a smaller version for my home. The question is, will it stay lit? Well, I don’t think my “Smokey the Bear” husband would be as eager to extinguish a paschal candle since that would feel, well, sacrilegious to him. So I went ahead and bought the supplies and created a candle representative of what we would see in a church. I encourage you to make one, too. Whether you light it before prayer or at dinnertime, it’s a simple and beautiful way to enhance the celebration of the Easter season in your own home.

FOLLOW FAITH PUB FOR MORE RECIPES AND CRAFTS

Faithful Catholics know that, like Christmas, Easter is not just a day, but an entire season that lasts 50 days until Pentecost. To visually mark this, a very large paschal candle (or Easter candle) sits near the altar (or ambo) for the season of Easter.

Place a piece of paper underneath your design to prevent marker ink from bleeding onto the surface of your table. Using a ruler, draw a cross in the middle of the tissue paper.

Using the letter and number stencils, create the Alpha and Omega above and below the cross, leaving some space for the brads. For ‘Omega’, you can use part of the letter “O” stencil and add two dashes to the bottom (as shown). Add the numbers (for the current year) within the four corners of the cross (as shown).

You can also print your own letters and numbers and simply trace them.

Trim the excess paper.

Place the tissue paper design in the middle of the pillar candle.

Wrap the wax paper directly over the tissue paper design and hold it tightly in back. Make sure the wax paper is large enough to cover the candle. The heat from the hair dryer can get hot, so you may want to use an oven mitt while holding the candle. Using a hair dryer, heat the design until it appears to have transferred (it will look a bit darker). This takes about 30-60 seconds. Carefully remove the wax paper. Using the tip of an x-acto or nail, make a small slit/hole on each end of the cross and in the middle to mark where the brads will go. Carefully push brads into the candle.

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YOUR COMMUNITY THINGS TO DO April 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m., St. Paul Catholic School, Owosso will have its Kindergarten Round-up. Parents and children are invited to tour the school, meet the teachers and students and enjoy lunch. If you are interested, call the school at 989.723.7766 before March 29 to register.

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 The Catholic Community of St. Jude invites all women to join it for its inaugural one-day retreat, “Do Whatever He Tells You.” Cost is $25.

Registration deadline is April 13. To register, visit stjudedewitt.com or call Terry Humenik at 517.669.8335, ext. 18.

April 14, 6-8 p.m., Protecting God’s Children training for adults will be held at St. Gerard Parish Hall, 4437 W. Willow St., Lansing. To pre-register for training, visit virtus.org. For information, contact Reb Sommer at 517.342.2551.

April 14, 7 p.m., Respect Life Ministry of Livingston Vicariate will host Ellen Salter at St. Patrick in Brighton. She will share how to live with hope and joy, and encounter God’s blessings, through family suffering.

For information/questions, email respectlifelc@gmail.com.

April 15, 7 p.m., St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish, Swartz Creek will host a Euchre Tournament fundraiser sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. For more information, call 810.635.3684.

April 15-17, St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, a Worldwide Marriage Encounter to renew and enrich your marriage – and your faith, too! For more information please visit www.wwme.org or contact Harry & Karen Porter at (888) 628-7433.

April 16-17, Catholic Engage 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.

In conjunction with St. Mary Cathedral celebrating 150 years as a Catholic parish, an all-class reunion will take place April 16 — beginning with 4 p.m. Mass and followed by a celebration in the parish hall. All St. Mary High School and O’Rafferty High School alumni are invited to come and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cake. Have a yearbook, pictures or other memorabilia? Bring them.

Also, please let other alumni know who might be interested. RSVP is not required, but appreciated for planning. If you have questions or to RSVP, contact Chris Bourque at cnbourque@comcast.net or Katie Benghauser at katie.benghauser@ gmail.com.

April 16, 5-7 p.m., Steak and Song at St. Thomas Aquinas School’s gym in

RETREAT CENTERS ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER, DEWITT, WWW.STFRANCIS.WS or 866.669.8321 •A pril 8-10, Retrouvaille retreat for married couples experiencing problems in their marriage. Call Retrouvaille at 517.290.5596 to register; for information, visit retrouvaille.org.

•A pril 13, “Easter Reflections: The Joy of the Risen Lord,” directed by Tony Sperendi.

WEBER RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, ADRIAN, WEBER.ADRIANDOMINICANS.ORG/PROGRAMS or 517.266.4000 •M ay 21, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., May Day of contemplative prayer, meditation and mindfulness practice; cost of $35 includes lunch.

•J une 4, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sacred Senses, Sacred Spaces: Nurturing Our Sensitivity to Earth; cost of $35 includes lunch.

•J une 14-17, A New Way Through — Everything Changes is a participative retreat. Come — explore — create.

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ATTEND A WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

LEARN ABOUT THE VOTING PROCESS

East Lansing. Enjoy a steak dinner and musical entertainment from the music ministry. Tickets are $12 in advance for adults and $15 at the door. Children’s tickets are $7. To make reservations, call the parish at 517.351.7215.

April 19, 7 p.m., St. Casimir’s Social Ministry Commission is sponsoring a program about the voting process for the 2016 election. Guest speaker is Chris Swope, Lansing city clerk, who will present information on how to read the ballot and find where to vote, and answer any concerns about voting at the polls and by absentee. There will be no discussion of candidates or issues.

Everyone is welcome.

MARCH CAFÉ EVENTS 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.

April 5, 12, 19 and 26, St. Francis of Assisi School of Discipleship “Year of Mercy and How the Resurrection is Recalled in the Gospels” with Father James Conlon. To register or for information, contact Marty Lucas at 734.821.2125 or mlucas@ stfrancisa2.org.

April 7, 7 p.m., St. John, Howell will have Catholic Café in the parish’s Thompson Hall. For information, call the office at 517.546.7200.

April 10-13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Thérèse of Lisieux, 102 W. Randolph St., Lansing, will have a parish mission, “Jesus Christ Is Risen! Do You Believe?”

Presenter is Deacon Ralph Poyo, New Evangelization Ministries, Steubenville, Ohio. For information, call David Borzenski at 517.487.0478.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, CATHOLICCHARITIESJLHC.ORG or ADRIAN 517.263.2191; JACKSON 517.782.2551 or 517.782.4616 Personal Needs and Linen Closet items are supplied entirely by donations. Donations can be dropped off at 407 S. Mechanic St. in Jackson. If you would like to make a difference in your community, please call 517.782.4616.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, CCSGC.ORG or 810.232.9950 April 13, 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Juan Diego Hall, 3216 Coldwater Rd., Flint, Catholic Charities will honor hundreds of dedicated volunteers at its annual Awards Banquet. Volunteers who wish to attend, please RSVP the North End Soup Kitchen at 810.785. 6911.

As you do your spring cleaning, please remember Catholic Charities Center for Hope Community Closet needs new or gently used towels, sheets and comforters; and also accepts clothing, furniture, working appliances, household items and personal hygiene items. For information, call 810.265.7025.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW, CSSWASHTENAW.ORG or 734.971.9781 Three We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation workshops will be held April 15-16, May 6-7 and May 20-21. For registration or information, call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit csswashtenaw.org.

Interested in becoming a foster parent? CSSWC offers foster April 20, 6 p.m., St. Michael Parish School, Grand Ledge will hold a middle school information night.

Come and learn about its enrichment programs and state-of-theart technology. To register, call the school at 517.627.2167.

April 21, 9:30 a.m., Mass at Holy Family School in Grand Blanc with Bishop Earl Boyea, followed by a seventh grade Vocation Day, 10:1511:45 a.m., with separate presentations for girls and boys. All Catholic schools are welcome. Contact Dawn Hausmann at 517.342.2506 or dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org with the count of your seventh-grade girls and boys who will attend.

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. Items for sale: used clothing (infant to teen), books, toys, furniture and baked goods. Admission: $1. For table rental or information, contact Nance Schlanderer at 517.423.6003.

April 23, 8 a.m., St. Michael, Grand Ledge will have a women’s breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. Guest speaker is Melanie Reah. For infor-

care for children who have been separated from their birth families for reasons of abuse and/or neglect. The next two foster care orientations will be April 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m. and April 28, 9 a.m.-noon at 4925 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor. For information or to RSVP, call 734.971.9781, ext. 448. There are no fees associated with becoming a licensed foster parent.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG or 517.545.5944 Free presentations on/and caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and dementia: 4:30-6 p.m. at Be Our Guest Adult Day Services, 2020 E. Grand River, Ste. 103, Howell: April 5, “Effective communication strategies”; and May 11, “Understanding and responding to dementia-related behavior.” Advance registration requested; call 517.546.9910 to register.

ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LANSING, STVCC.ORG or 517.323.4734 Mid-March through April, St. Vincent Catholic Charities will have its annual Spring into Giving household needs drive. These donations will help children and families in need, especially refugees. Household items needed: pots and pans, dishes, sheets, towels, cleaning supplies and tools — new or gently used. Also, gift cards to local stores are appreciated. For more information, visit stvcc.org/spring-into-giving/.

Interested in learning how your parish can volunteer and assist refugees? St. Vincent Catholic Charities has created several refugee ministries that your parish, organization or group could adopt.

Examples: helping furnish their new homes by adopting a room or providing after-school tutoring. To learn more about the available ministries, visit stvcc.org/refugee-ministry/.

mation, contact the parish office at 517.627.8493.

April 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Shared Pregnancy Women 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, ice cream sundaes and a short awards ceremony. Proceeds from the silent auction will be used to help moms and babies in the Lansing area. For information, call 517.484.1882 or visit sharedpregnancy.org.

April 29-30, Marriage Matters of Jackson workshop “The Second Half Overnight Getaway” at the Holiday Inn for couples facing unique situations — make the second half the best part of your marriage. Cost: $189/couple. For information/registration, contact 517.796.5116 or marriagemattersjackson.com.

May 9, 6 p.m., Lansing Catholic High School will host its 32nd annual Fr. Mac Scholarship Dinner at MSU’s Kellogg Center in East Lansing.

Tickets: $125 per person. For information, contact Colleen Murray at 517.267.2109 or colleen.murray@ lansingcatholic.org.

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IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR VICTIMIZED BY SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every diocese in the United States now has a victim assistance coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help make a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative if you desire. The victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Lansing is: Adrienne Rowland, LMSW, ACSW; 1.888.308.6252; arowlandvac@dioceseoflansing.org.

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YOUR COMMUNITY LOCAL NEWS

GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC RADIO CELEBRATES SIXTH YEAR AS AN APOSTOLATE

Bishop Boyea celebrated a special Anniversary Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing on Feb. 13 for couples celebrating their first anniversary in 2016, as well as for all couples celebrating a significant anniversary. A reception was held following the Mass.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW COUNTY RECEIVES $24,000 GRANT Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW) was awarded a $24,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to implement an Electronic Health Record (EHR) System in its Behavioral Health Counseling Program. This grant is vital to providing continuous mental health services to those who are living below poverty level.

To learn more about CSSW, please visit csswashtenaw.org or call 734.971.9781.

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– Emily Pohl

SISTER MARY JEAN ROGOSZEWSKI, REQUIESCAT IN PACE Sister Mary Jean Rogoszewski, CSSF entered eternal life Feb. 18. Sister Jean was 85 years old, and spent 67 years in religious life.

From 1962 to 1971, Sister Jean was assigned to St. Joseph Home for Boys in Jackson, Mich., as care-giver, superior and administrative assistant to the director, and was instrumental in seeing the new building established in 1969 on Porter Street.

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ST. LOUIS CENTER’S SIXTH ANNUAL PASTA AND PRIESTS FUNDRAISER The sixth annual Pasta and Priests fundraising dinner took place Feb. 4 at St. Louis Center in Chelsea. The event, which began in 2010, evolved from the annual fall dinner auction held at St. Joseph Mercy-Chelsea Hospital. Those in attendance bid $25 each to return to St. Louis Center in February to enjoy this dinner prepared by Chef Melissa Beck.

T. GENNARA

DIOCESE OF LANSING CELEBRATES WORLD MARRIAGE DAY

According to Doug Shumard, president of Good Shepherd Catholic Radio, “My wife and I fell in love with Catholic Radio and knew we wanted to bring it to our hometown of Jackson.” As soon as he could, Doug gathered a small group of friends in April 2010 to hold the first meeting of the Jackson-Lansing Catholic Radio Station. Before leaving the meeting, they had formed a board of directors and begun the search for an available radio station.

In 2014, they finally began broadcasting. According to Doug, their programming is “designed to bring us closer to our faith and closer to God.” Programming includes the Diocese of Lansing Outreach Mass on Sundays and other local news, in addition to rebroadcasting programs from Ave Maria Radio, Ann Arbor, and EWTN Radio in Birmingham, Alabama. As the station grows, they hope to develop more local programming. “We plan on having a roundtable with either a priest or a deacon and local students about why their faith is important to them.” Plans to expand the station to the metro-Lansing area have already begun.

FAITH IN FLINT

FAITH IN FLINT: IT’S MORE THAN WATER Mercy Mondays On Mercy Mondays during Lent at St. Matthew Parish in Flint, people who have been away from the Church are being welcomed back to confession. Catholics are being welcomed back on the six Mondays in Lent to “Come experience forgiveness, healing, peace, hope, a new beginning in God’s grace.” Faithful parishioners, as well as those who have been away for a long time, are taking advantage of this outreach ministry.

Door-to-Door Ministry What do you need?

Is there something you would like to pray about today?

These are the questions Deacon Paul Donnelly and priests from Flint, or elsewhere in the diocese, have been asking Flint residents since mid-August in their door-to-door ministry. They want to get the message out to residents that “we are here for you.” When they ask “What do you need?” the answers vary tremendously, but one theme runs through the responses: We need something for our children to do after school and in the summer that is healthy and safe.

This outreach of prayer and concern has been a blessing for the deacon and priests who engage in it. Deacon Paul says: “People say that it means so much to them to find someone knocking at the door who simply wants to know how they are doing. This is the least that we as believers can do. Trust begins this way, relationships unfold this way. It all starts with a knock.”

Three generations volunteer for Faith in Flint. Cynthia Vandecar, FAITH Catholic’s director of production and customer service, at the North End Soup Kitchen with her mother, Arlene Platte and her son, Dawson.

Bishop Boyea Asks for Continued Prayers for Water Crisis in Flint As the water crisis continues in Flint, I invite all to redouble both their prayers and their generosity. It is gratifying to see that Catholic communities in Michigan and beyond have come forward to assist the remarkable efforts of Catholic Charities, both at the Sister Claudia Burke Center for Hope and the St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center. However, the roots of Flint’s difficulties are deep, and it will take years of courageous, difficult, loving effort to rebuild this community. During this holy season, please take time to ask the Lord, in a particular way, to guide those seeking to help and to protect the children and the vulnerable.

Safe drinking water in Flint Catholic schools FAITH spoke with Alan Olsen, Director of Properties for the Diocese of Lansing, which has been closely monitoring the water crisis in Flint.

Powers Catholic High School, St. John Vianney School and St. Pius X School are serviced by the Flint water system, and are currently either bringing in bottled water or using an approved water filtration system. Although the Flint water situation has prompted national attention and calls for short-term fixes, the diocese, under advisement from Bishop Boyea, has chosen to take a step back from the upheaval and look for a permanent solution. According to Alan, “It is not in the best interest of the schools to run out and try a quick fix. Rather, we want to provide a long-term solution that will benefit our school children today and in the years to come.”

All three schools are scheduled to have their water fixtures replaced by the State at no charge. This is scheduled to be completed in March. After this has occurred, the new water fixtures that are designated for human consumption will be fitted with an approved water filtration system, if necessary. Along with its schools, the diocese is evaluating the parishes and Catholic Charities serviced by the Flint water system. Alan concludes, “As the diocese works through the process in Flint, our goal is to extend the water testing and checking the water fixtures in all our diocesan schools by the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.”

MAKE A DIFFERENCE – THE FLINT COMMUNITY NEEDS DONATIONS OF MONEY, TIME AND FOOD, AS WELL AS WATER. TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP, CONTACT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE & GENESEE COUNTIES AT 810.232-9950, OR N.E.W. LIFE CENTER AT 810.239.8710

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Pope Francis gestures while wearing a Sombrero given to him by someone in the crowd on Zocalo Square in Mexico City

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LEARN MORE FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO POPE FRANCIS’ TRIP TO MEXICO, VISIT WWW.FAITHPUB.COM/ SPECIAL-REPORTS.

HISTORIC STOPOVER IN CUBA The pope’s flight from Rome to Mexico City made a stopover in Havana, where he met briefly with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. With an exclamation of "Finally," Pope Francis embraced Kirill during the Feb. 12 meeting, the first between a pontiff and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The meeting in Havana's airport was a significant event in the 1,000-year schism that has divided Christianity.

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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.

“Do not forget that the mercy of God is our shield and strength against injustice, destruction and oppression.”

Pope Francis visited Mexico from Feb. 12–17, during which he brought a message of solidarity with the victims of drug violence, human trafficking and discrimination to some of that country's most violent and poverty-stricken regions.

After a whirlwind few days filled with celebrating Masses and visiting with prisoners, children in the hospital, laborers and bishops, Pope Francis expressed his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the people of Mexico for hosting him. He concluded the brief farewell ceremony with a request: “May Mary, Mother of Guadalupe, continue to visit you, continue to walk on your lands, helping you to be missionaries and witnesses of mercy and reconciliation.”

LAST WORD

B E AN AMBASSADOR OF JESUS

A

CATHERINE OF SIENA – FEAST DAY: APRIL 29

DID YOU KNOW? Catherine wrote approximately 400 letters and literary works Catherine is one of only four female doctors of the Church Catherine’s talents as a writer caused her to be compared to her fellow Italians, Dante and Petrarch

FATHER CHARLES IRVIN

is the founding editor of FAITH Magazine and is retired.

RE YOU BEING CONFIRMED this spring? If you think that being confirmed isn’t a big deal, you are quite mistaken.

Being confirmed makes you an ambassador – an ambassador of Jesus Christ – a person who is sent with a commission, a mission to make Jesus and the Church present in your part of the world. Being confirmed makes you an important person, one who is deployed by God for the life of the world around you.

ADVOCATE OF PEACE ADVISOR TO POPES

On the feast of the Annunciation, 1347, Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa welcomed their 25th child into the world.

Saint Catherine of Siena lived in Siena, Italy, where she consecrated her life to God as a young girl. As she grew in devotion to the Church, Catherine became a Third Order Dominican, which allowed her to live in the world and serve the poor and hospitalized at the same time. She encouraged those around her to embrace God’s plan for their lives, saying, “If you are what you should be, you will set all of Italy ablaze!"

Later in life, Catherine received visions from God directing her to work for peace between the waring citystates of Italy and the papacy, which at that time operated out of Avignon, France.

Because of her writings and constant prayer, Pope Gregory XI decided to return the Papacy to Rome in 1377, and his successor, Urban VI, asked her to reside in Rome as an advisor. After months of illness, Catherine died in 1380 at the age of thirty-three.

Along with St. Francis of Assisi, she is one of the patron saints of Italy. – Emily Pohl

T. Gennara

SAINT OF THE MONTH

Jesus was raised from the dead ‘by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ Is there any reason to suspect that we, too, cannot be empowered by the Holy Spirit as we face today’s world?”

The sacrament of confirmation is intrinsically connected with the sacrament of baptism. The two go together. In earlier centuries, baptism and confirmation were administered together in the same ceremony. As soon as a person was baptized in water, he or she was anointed with chrism and thereby received the sacrament of confirmation.

By baptism, we were immersed into the Spirit-filled, resurrected Jesus Christ. Confirmation confirms that immersion by giving us the gifts of the Holy Spirit – gifts that strengthen and empower us to carry on the mission of Christ for the life of the world. Jesus was raised from the dead “by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Is there any reason to suspect that we, too, cannot be empowered by the Holy Spirit as we face today’s world?

Our faith and our life in Christ are not private matters. We see that when we reflect on what happened to the apostles on the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ’s resurrection from the dead. As they waited fear-filled and locked behind the closed doors of the Upper Room, where Christ gave us his body and blood at the Last Supper, the Holy Spirit came down on them in a mighty wind and tongues of fire. When that happened, the apostles burst out of that room into the public square, where they proclaimed the Good News. They proclaimed what had happened to Jesus Christ, and what he taught them about God our Father and the purpose and meaning of life.

Go forth and do the same.

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