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woman I know recently had her first baby – at age 44. It was an unexpected blessing, for which she and her husband give thanks daily. But, as the parents among you know, they are also exhausted daily. What might be a challenging routine for a 30-year-old sometimes seems absolutely daunting to these middle-aged first-time parents. Their energy isn’t quite what it was, and their day-to-day tasks also include taking care of her aging parents. Like many baby boomers, this couple is part of the “sandwich” generation, caught in the middle of two very demanding slices of bread. Perhaps it would be more accurate to compare them to the rope in a tug-of-war – much of the time, they feel as if they’re being stretched to the point of fraying. But like Sharon Byers, they have not frayed; they have grown stronger as the demands on them have grown greater. How do they do it? How has Sharon done it? The answer is as simple as the title of the magazine you hold in your hands: faith. My friends and Sharon have learned that faith can mean letting go – letting go of expectations, letting go of past hurts, letting go of any sense that we own our time. Faith means giving all of that to the care of God. Through faith, Sharon has learned to let go of the relationship she always wanted to have with her mother, and to treasure instead the relationship she has with the woman her mother is now. She has learned to pray in a way that does not ask God to change circumstances, but to change her. And God has changed her – giving her the gifts of patience, strength and a sense of his presence. Through faith, Sharon has come to value time as the gift it is – not something over which we have many rights or much control. She is living each moment of each day being open to God’s presence in her life. As many of us enter into the tug-of-war years of our lives, we can learn from the example of Sharon and the other quiet “saints” around us, who simply do what God is asking of them and do it with love. Through faith, another baby-boomer has answered “yes” to God’s call: Bishop Boyea is the first member of that generation to lead us as our shepherd. As priest and bishop, he models Christ’s mandate to the first disciples to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Through his wise leadership, we in the Diocese of Lansing pray that the next line of Matthew’s Gospel passage will be made manifest to all of us: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” And so, our journey in FAITH continues.
Caught in the middle
– Fr. Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude. FAITH Magazine
2 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
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the life of a baby boomer
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Stop telling me I’m a saint – I’m just taking care of Mom 2008 themes: Stages of Life/ Generations Last month: The Greatest Generation
what you’ll get out of this issue
Sharon Byers gets annoyed when people call her a saint. But if you see her with her mother, you get the idea why they do. Find out how Sharon follows Jesus every single day – by taking care of Mom.
in the know with Fr. Joe
8 I s it a sin to join the military if the war is unjust? – Father Joseph Krupp
– Nancy Schertzing
work life
This month: Baby Boomers
11 How do I deal with a cranky customer? – Tim Ryan
marriage matters
12 He says: She’s married to her job. She says: I’m just dedicated. What do they do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle
parenting journey
Upcoming months:
13 Boomerang baby – when your young adult comes home again
Gen X Gen Y Teens Tweens
– Dr. Cathleen McGreal
Childhood Conception/Birth
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w h a t d o I k n o w ? Has therapy replaced religion? James Loree is a social worker who helps people with addictive behavior; he talks to FAITH about mental health and spirituality in the baby-boom generation. – Kimberly Laux
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w e l c o m e B i s h o p B o y e a ! On April 29, Bishop Earl Boyea will be installed as Lansing’s fifth bishop. Preview next month’s special issue of FAITH as we welcome our new shepherd.
will my parish close? The diocesan coordinating commission is making final recommendations to Bishop Boyea in June. Read more about the process here. – JoAnne Eason
theology 101
14 Is it God’s fault? – Elizabeth Solsburg
spiritual fitness 22 I t sure is dark! Where’s God?
– Father Bill Ashbaugh
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what makes an excellent school? A major component of the diocesan pastoral plan involved reviewing our Catholic schools. What makes a great school? find out in this special report. – JoAnne Eason
last word
31 Will the real baby boomer please stand up? – Father Charles Irvin
Liturgical Calendar: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord May 1 | St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor May 2 | Sts. Philip and James, Apostles May 3
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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing
Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER
Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR
May 2008 • Volume 9: Issue 4
St. Joseph Parish, Dexter dedicates its new church
Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR IN CHIEF
Patrick M. O’Brien
MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Patrick Dally
ART DIRECTOR/WEB DESIGNER
Jillane Job
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Rev. William Ashbaugh Michelle Sessions DiFranco JoAnne Eason Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle Shannon Hoffman Rev. Joseph Krupp Kimberly Laux Cathleen McGreal Tim Ryan Jan Rynearson Nancy Schertzing CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Derek Melot Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING
Tom Gennara James Luning (cover) Philip Shippert
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Wayne Case Michael Eichhorn Mary Jo Gillilland Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone Joseph Reid Rev. Bernard Reilly James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez Dcn. David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Rev. Jerry Vincke Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple
On March 15, St. Joseph Parish in Dexter dedicated its new church facility on North Territorial Road. The parish’s first church was built in 1840 at the corner of Dexter Townhall and Quigley Roads. That building burned down in 1854, and a new church was constructed in the village of Dexter. The third church was built in 1872; the new church is the parish’s fourth.The first pastor of Dexter was Father James L. Pulsers; the current pastor is Father Brendan Walsh. Bishop Mengeling and many of the diocese’s priests concelebrated the Mass dedicating the new buiding. This was Bishop Mengeling’s final church dedication as our bishop; on April 29, Bishop Boyea will become the new bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. – Photography by Christopher Burke
ADVISORY BOARD
FA I T H P u b l i s h i n g S e rvice Rev. Dwight Ezop CHAIRMAN
Patrick M. O’Brien
PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Vicki Wells-Bedard
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DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING
F A I T H m a g . c o m
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GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Patricia Oliver SECRETARY
InnerWorkings
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FAITHPublishingService.com FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Publishing Service, Catholic Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. 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 onto FAITHmag. com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 ©FAITH Publishing Service. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service.
View a slideshow of the dedication of St. Joseph Parish, Dexter.
2008||www.FAITHmag.com www.FAITHmag.com 4 May 2008
View a slideshow of the Vesper Service in thanksgiving for Bishop Mengeling’s tenure.
Blessed Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka’i, Priest May 10 | Solemnity of Pentecost May 11 | Sts. Nereus, Achilleu
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ope Benedict XVI has appointed Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Earl Boyea as the fifth bishop of the 10-county Catholic Diocese of Lansing. Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Carl F. Mengeling. On Feb. 27, 2008, Pope Ben-
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The Diocese of Lansing’s Fifth Bishop will be installed April 29, 2008
edict XVI appointed Archdiocese of Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Earl Boyea as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. Bishop Boyea succeeds Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, who has led the diocese since Jan. 25, 1996. Bishop Boyea was born April 10, 1951. His home parish was Our Lady of the Lakes in Waterford and he attended the parish school. After eighth grade, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary High School and then attended its college, where he earned a B.A. in history. From there, he went to the North American College in Rome and studied at the Gregorian University, where he received an S.T.B in 1976 and an S.T.L. in biblical theology in 1980. Next month in FAITH Magazine: Next month’s FAITH Magazine will be a special edition welcoming Bishop Boyea as the fifth bishop of Lansing.
us and Pancras, Martyrs May 12 | Our Lady of Fatima May 13 | St. Isidore the Farmer May 15 | St. Bernadine of Siena, Priest May 20 | St. Christopher Magallanes and his companions, Martyrs May 21
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In February 2000, Msgr. Boyea became rector/president of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He served there until he was named auxiliary bishop of Detroit and titular bishop of Siccenna. He was ordained a bishop Sept. 13, 2002.
Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit
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How a bishop is appointed Stage 1: Bishops’ recommendations Every bishop may submit to the archbishop of his province the names of priests he thinks would make good bishops. Prior to the regular province meeting (usually annually), the archbishop distributes to all the bishops of the province the names of priests who have been submitted to him and their curricula vitae. Following a discussion among the bishops at the province meeting, a vote is taken on which names to recommend. The number of names on this provincial list may vary. The vote tally, together with the minutes of the meeting, is then forwarded by the archbishop to the apostolic nuncio in Washington. The list is also submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). FAITH Magazine
6 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
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e was ordained a priest on May 20, 1978. After ordination, he served as associate pastor at St. Michael Parish, Monroe, and then at St. Timothy Parish, Trenton. After a brief stint as the temporary administrator at St. Christine Parish, Detroit, he returned to Sacred Heart Seminary as professor of church history and scripture. In addition to assisting with Masses on weekends, Father Boyea earned an M.A. in American history from Wayne State University in 1984. In 1987, he received his Ph.D. in church history from the Catholic University of America. From 1990 through 2000, he served as dean of studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and in 2000, was named a prelate of honor.
His motto, in manus tuas (into your hands), is taken from the final words of Jesus on the cross, according to the Gospel of Luke. As auxiliary bishop of Detroit, Bishop Boyea was given responsibility for the northeast region of the Archdiocese of Detroit, which includes the following vicariates: Blue Water, Central Macomb, Genesis, North Macomb and SERF. Bishop Boyea is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Priestly Formation. He is also a member of the following societies: Catholic Biblical Association, Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, American Historical Association and the U.S. Catholic Historical Society. His writings
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
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Stage 2: The apostolic nuncio By overseeing the final list of names forwarded to Rome, the apostolic nuncio plays a decisive role in the selection process. He not only gathers facts and information about potential candidates, but also interprets that information for the congregation. Great weight is given to the nuncio’s recommendations, but it is important to remember that his “gatekeeper” role does not mean his recommendations are always followed.
For diocesan bishops •A fter receiving the list of candidates forwarded by a province, the apostolic nuncio conducts his own investigation into the suitability of the candidates. • A report is requested from the current bishop or the administrator of a diocese
on the conditions and needs of the diocese. If the appointment is a replacement for a diocesan bishop or archbishop about to retire, consideration will be given to the incumbent’s recommendations. Broad consultation within the diocese is encouraged with regard to the needs of the diocese, but not for the names of candidates. The report is to include the names of individuals in the diocese with whom the nuncio might consult and how to contact them. • Previous bishops of the diocese are consulted. • Bishops of the province are consulted. • The president and vice president of the USCCB are consulted. • If the vacancy to be filled is an archdiocese, other archbishops in the United States may be consulted. • At this point, the nuncio narrows his list and a questionnaire is sent to 20 or 30 people who know each of the candidates for their input. • All material is collected and reviewed by the nuncio, and a report (approximately 20 pages) is prepared. Three candidates are listed alphabetically – the terna – with the nuncio’s preference noted. All materials are then forwarded to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. On average, this part of the process may take two to six months.
St. Rita of Cascia, Religious May 22 | St Philip Neri, Priest May 26
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Stage 3: Congregation for Bishops Once all the documentation from the nuncio is complete and in order, and the prefect approves, the process moves forward. If the appointment involves a bishop who is being promoted or transferred, the matter may be handled by the prefect and the staff. If, however, the appointment is of a priest to the episcopacy, the full congregation is ordinarily involved. A cardinal relator is chosen to summarize the documentation and make a report to the full congregation, which generally meets twice a month on Thursdays. After hearing the cardinal relator’s report, the congregation
Key Terms Apostolic nuncio • The pope’s representative to both the government and to the hierarchy of a given nation; a key person in deciding what names are recommended to the Congregation for Bishops for possible episcopal appointment. Congregation for Bishops • A department of the Roman Curia, headed by a cardinal. The head of the congregation
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have appeared in a variety of publications, including the Catholic Historical Review and Michigan Historical Review. Bishop Boyea will be installed as the bishop of Lansing April 29 at 2 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing. On April 28, a vesper service will be held at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing at 7 p.m. Bishop Boyea will succeed Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, now age 77. As is customary, Bishop Mengeling submitted his letter of resignation upon his 75th birthday. Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Mengeling’s resignation Feb. 27, 2008. Until Bishop Boyea’s installation, governance of the diocese rests with its college of
consultors or with an administrator appointed by them or the Vatican. Carl F. Mengeling was born Oct. 22, 1930 in Hammond Ind., the second son of Carl H. and Augusta Huke Mengeling. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1957 in Gary, Ind. Father Mengeling earned a doctorate in sacred theology in Rome. Father Mengeling became a monsignor in June 1984 and on Nov. 7, 1995, was named the fourth bishop of Lansing, succeeding Bishop Kenneth Povish. He was ordained a bishop Jan. 25, 1996 at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing. He has served the Diocese of Lansing as its bishop for 12 years. Bishop Boyea will become the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, which was created out of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1937. It comprises Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw Counties. The Diocese of Lansing’s 97 parishes and pastoral centers serve 222,519 Catholics.
discusses the appointment and then votes. The congregation may follow the recommendation of the nuncio, chose another of the candidates on the terna, or even ask that another terna be prepared.
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Stage 4: The pope decides At a private audience with the pope, usually on a Saturday, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops presents the recommendations of the congregation to the Holy Father. A few days later, the pope informs the congregation of his decision. The congregation then notifies the nuncio, who in turn contacts the candi-
is called the “prefect.” Among the congregation’s responsibilities are moderating all aspects of episcopal appointments; assisting bishops in the correct exercise of their pastoral functions; handling ad limina visits (regular visits to Rome by bishops every five years); and establishing episcopal conferences and reviewing their decrees as required by canon law. Its membership consists of approximately 35 cardinals and archbishops from around the world.
date and asks if he will accept. If the answer is “yes,” the Vatican is notified and a date is set for the announcement. It often takes six to eight months – and sometimes longer – from the time a diocese becomes vacant until a new bishop is appointed.
33 ecclesiastical provinces. The Diocese of Lansing is located in the Detroit Province, which includes the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette and Saginaw.
Diocesan bishop • Pastoral and legal head and representative of a diocese. Province • A territory comprising one archdiocese, called the metropolitan see, and one or more dioceses, called suffragan sees. The Code of Canon Law spells out certain limited obligations and authority that the metropolitan archbishop has with respect to the dioceses within his province. The United States is divided into
Pope Benedict XVI
Terna • A list of three candidates for a vacant office, including the office of bishop. – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
6 | St Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop May 27 | Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus May 30 | Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary May 31
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Dear Fr. Joe Is it a sin to join the military if the war is unjust?
Papa Bear tossed and turned, but could not fall asleep. When his restlessness woke Mama Bear, she cried in exasperation: “How many times do I have to tell you? No coffee after September.”
Q:
A: Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 Or: JoeInBlack@ priest.com FAITH Magazine
Is it a sin to join the military if the war is unjust? This is a tough one and a bit nuanced. Let’s see what we can do with it. Often, in these musings of mine, I will point out how we need to form our consciences in union with the church and its teachings. In this case, as polarized as we are politically, it is particularly important that we look to the church for guidance in order to keep from “baptizing our politics.” When you speak of an unjust war, then, let’s look at the church’s standard for what is a just war. Our wisdom on this comes primarily from St. Thomas Aquinas. You can find it in your catechism in section 2309, which states this: The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:
8 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
• The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave and certain; • All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; • There must be serious prospects of success; • The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition. The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good. What we are to do with this information, then, is place it in our hearts, listen for the church to make a declaration about whether the war is just or not, and then pray for the wisdom to follow it. If the church has not spoken, you will need to follow your own conscience about whether or not you believe the war in question to be unjust or not. People who join the military do so for numerous reasons: some require the vast financial assistance available to them if they join; others seek training in fields that will provide them with a lifetime of skills which will feed them and their families. Other people join to grow in discipline and or “team concept.” There will also be those noble persons who join the military out of a sense of duty and gratitude. Whatever the reasons, if someone joins the military during a time of
“unjust war” in order to provide assistance in a non-killing manner, I believe that to be morally acceptable. For instance, priests who serve as chaplains in the military do not necessarily need to agree with the war to believe that their help is desperately needed. Medical doctors, or those in training to be doctors, may feel that they are called to offer their skills to soldiers in a war that they believe to be unjust or that the church has deemed unjust.
Can I be a conscientious objector? Not until there is a draft ... OK, bad joke, sorry. Absolutely. I can find no teaching from the church that says you have to join or accept draft into the military, even if the church declares a war just. In section 2311, the catechism states: Public authorities should make equitable provision for those who for reasons of conscience refuse to bear arms; these are nonetheless obliged to serve the human community in some other way. So, that much is clear. We know that if an individual feels called to be a conscientious objector, he or she is not just allowed to follow that prompting but is actually required to do so. Let’s pray and work for peace. Enjoy another day in God’s presence! – Father Joseph Krupp
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Online at FAITHmag.com, we asked what you thought about medical testing on animals.
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% It is never acceptable to use animals for medical testing.
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% The medical testing is OK, but not the cosmetics.
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% Animals have no rights – it’s OK to do whatever testing will help humans – medical or cosmetic.
% of Americans think medical testing on animals is morally wrong. % of Americans think it depends on the situation. You had this to say We asked parishioners at St. Mary Cathedral whether it is OK to do medical tests on animals for medical purposes and for cosmetics:
“I think it is OK for medical testing since it helps to save people’s lives, but for cosmetic research it is wrong to use animals.” – Richard “No, I think it is wrong to use animals for medical or cosmetic testing. I know it is supposed to help in cancer reseach and other diseases, but I think it is just inhumane.” – Debbie
“I have a hard time with this issue. I am definitely against cosmetic testing, but am on the fence when it comes to the medical testing.” – Anonymous
Tell us what YOU would do – log on to FAITHmag.com to vote My fiance makes more money than I do, and he stands to inherit some from his family. Even though the Catholic Church disapproves, his mother wants me to sign a prenuptial agreement that will prevent me from getting any of the family money if we divorce. Should I do this?
you said...
How did our readers vote?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.
% of Americans think medical testing on animals is morally acceptable.
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what in the world? the top-10 Catholic News events this month
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Pope Benedict visits U.S. The U.S. bishops created a blog for the pope’s visit in April, www.usccb.wordpress.com.
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Bishops express sorrow at death of Iraqi archbishop Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed “profound shock and sorrow” on behalf of the U.S. bishops following the death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho at the hands of his kidnappers.
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Poor as priority No. 1 The U.S. bishops asked President Bush and Congress to make the needs of the poor their No. 1 priority as they debated an economic stimulus package.
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Euthanasia’s spread Luxembourg, whose population is 85 percent Catholic, will be the third country of the European Union to legalize euthanasia. Holland was the first and Belgium the second.
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Promoting dignity despite obstacles The Colombian bishops’ conference wants to promote the dignity of the woman. The obstacles they see are the “feminization of poverty” and the promotion of abortion.
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Qatar gets first Catholic church After 14 centuries of prohibitions, the nation’s first Catholic church was built in the capital city of Doha. “It is an event of historical importance,” said Vatican Radio.
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Ministry without boundaries A Catholic priest was sentenced by the tribunal of Oran, a city in Algeria, to a year in prison for directing a religious ceremony in a location not sanctioned by the government.
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Vatican art from past centuries to be displayed in Rome The display will feature never before seen Vatican artworks from the 14th to 20th centuries. It will be open until May 25.
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Knights of Columbus founder declared venerable The founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michael McGivney, was declared venerable by Benedict XVI, furthering his process toward becoming the first American-born priest to be canonized.
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Many feel they have found a home Tens of thousands of Americans joined the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
FAITH Magazine
10 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
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FAITH goes to New York to see the pope
AITH’s editor in chief, Father Dwight Ezop, is leading a tour of travellers from the Diocese of Lansing to be part of Pope Benedict’s first U.S. visit. The group will be at the papal Mass at Yankee stadium on April 20. Visit www.FAITHmag.com for photos and updates as they happen! The pope is coming to the U.S. Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church to the United States this April. The six-day trip will begin in Washington, D.C., and continue to New York City. The trip is historic, especially since the Holy Father will address the United Nations General Assembly, meet with President George Bush and visit Ground Zero.
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with a cranky customer
Debbie has been a cashier at the local grocery store for more than 30 years.
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My favorite part of my job had always been the interaction with people. But, beginning last year, I began to find it more difficult. For example, last Fourth of July was quite busy and the lines were longer than usual. A young man came through my line who was just plain rude, complaining about what a hurry he was in and how slow I was. I was very upset by this, because similar situations were becoming more and more common. People can be downright disrespectful! What bothered me even more was the fact that I began to let some of these customers get to me, and I’d begun to make rude comments right back. I had never been like that before! I was almost depressed coming home after my shift each day. Then, one day, I was listening to a radio talk show that was focused on the same topic. One person called in to describe almost exactly the same problem I was having, and the caller mentioned that she decided to turn it into a challenge. Not only was she not going to take the customer’s attitude personally, she would take her response one step further – for every cranky customer with whom she came in contact, she would try to somehow get a smile out of that person before he or she left the store. – Debbie
A:
This approach in dealing with people is, at its root, an act of love. This was the foundational premise of Mother Teresa’s life. In one of the books written about her, A Simple Path, Lucinda Vardey summarizes Mother Teresa’s advice to all of us, regardless of our individual beliefs or religious practices: “If we find silence or
When Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his first papal Mass in the United States, it will be a “familial” gathering at the apostolic nunciature in Washington, said the Vatican ambassador to the United States, Italian Archbishop Pietro Sambi. The pontiff also will celebrate his 81st birthday that day, April 16. Archbishop Sambi said the approximately 30 staff members at the nunciature are “all excited to have this morning” with the pope. He also said he hopes the message U.S. Catholics get from the papal visit is “one of the things that the pope pronounced the first
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Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!
prayer unfamiliar
and we are not sure if we believe in anything very much, then Mother Teresa suggests we try offering small acts of love to others – and we will find our hearts will open. The important thing is that, having read [the book], we should do something, anything, and by that act of love we (and others) will be enriched.” Debbie decided to challenge herself in the same way as the caller on the radio show. It was difficult at first, but she kept working at it. It wasn’t about how she felt anymore; it was about the positive impact she could have on other people in her small corner of the world. Debbie discovered that she had a gift for making people smile, and thus felt very satisfied that she was enriching
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aura is a vice president of an insurance firm who has had to work long hours lately. Jim’s job is less demanding – and pays a lot less. Laura’s work schedule is causing some friction in the cou-
He said She said
She’s married to her job Jim says: Laura has a great career, and I’m really proud of her. But lately, she seems to be spending all of her time at work. Sometimes she doesn’t get home until 9 p.m. or later. And even then, she often spends hours on the computer at home. I feel as if she’s married to her job, not to me.
I’m just dedicated Laura says: I don’t understand why Jim is so upset – if I were a man, nobody would think it was a problem for me to work hard. I love my job and I’m good at it – that’s why I was recently promoted. And it’s my salary that pays the bills – we can’t afford a change of job for me. The first thing we noticed here is that in today’s working environment – where employees often have to do more work with fewer FAITH Magazine
12 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
couples closer together. Having experienced a similar situation, we know how easy it is to fall into the trap where work takes over: We become slaves to the never-ending demands of the work place, and our marriage and family relationships become lower priorities. Doing more with fewer resources seems to be the rule rather than the exception in the work place today; usually at the expense of relationships. Granted, just like in family-life, work-life tasks sometimes must take priority; short-term projects, budget changes just before a deadline, learning a new job, a presentation to a client who just dropped into town – the list goes on and on. Most spouses understand and can accept these short-term diversions. But when they become the norm, changes are needed. When temporary needs require some “homework”, discuss it with your spouse, limit the work time so as not to impact family time together and stick to the limit. This situation, if persistent, needs to be the subject of discernment. Ask
what do they do?
resources – either gender could be saying these words about his or her working spouse. Some 30-40 years ago, it would have been the wife saying these words about her husband’s job: “He seems to be married to his work and not to me!“ Now both spouses share equally in experiencing this phenomenon. Jo Anne and I spend considerable time mentoring engaged couples through our parish marriage preparation process. When we get couples discussing this situation under the category of dual-career plans, most often they do not initially recognize the significance of this scenario or the impact this situation will have on their marriage relationship. Our Western worldview often still has the man as principal wage earner and the woman as principal support – “helpmate,” to borrow a biblical expression from Genesis. Percentage-wise, this may accurately depict the situation, but more and more couples are facing tough career-altering decisions. This is a typical situation and one that, if not properly handled, can detract from a marriage, instead of pulling
Deacon Tom Fogle is director of family life ministry, a m
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Boomerang baby!
Are credit cards evil?
When your young adult child comes home
pay off the plastic
W
M
hether it’s in your wallet, it’s nearly always on your mind. Money – and how to manage it – is a topic many of us wrestle with daily. FAITH turned to St. Gerard parishioner Ted Zale, a veteran financial adviser, for some practical advice. Here’s a tip that can help you today: How do relationships change when emptying nests get “refeathered”?
their job. They want to make as much money off the use of your credit as they possibly can.” Alternatively, don’t be afraid to call your credit card provider and request a lower interest rate. If you’ve paid faithfully and in full, your chances of getting some relief are good, Zale says.
ministry supported by the DSA.
DIOCESAN
SERVICES
APPEAL
T. Gennara
T. Gennara
– Tom and JoAnne Fogle
Setting out the welcome mat
Family life in the household
The best part: You usually don’t even need to ask to speak to a supervisor.
the tough question: “Where is God’s hand at work in this situation?” Ask: “What does God wish for our marriage and for our family?” And ask: “How best can we navigate this situation so that both of our needs and that of our family can be met – given the circumstance we are currently experiencing?” If Jim and Laura would sit together, asking the Holy Spirit to guide their thoughts and minds to discern what the Father’s will is for them as a couple and as a family, a solution can be achieved they both can live with.
y daughter, Kaiti, attended a college that was an “intimate distance” from our home. We visited on special occasions and she returned home for weekends now and then, but it was too far for a surprise drop-in visit. As parents, we learned quickly that the college years were a time of letting go, especially when she spent her sophomore year at the Universidad de Alicante in Spain! Now that she has graduated and is continuing her education nearby, we are joining the ranks of parents welcoming home a “boomerang” child. How do relationships change when emptying nests get “re-feathered”? Census figures show that many parents put out the welcome mat for adult children and greet them with open arms. It is important to identify mutual goals and an estimated date of departure. What is the reason for the return home? If the young adult is saving for a down payment on a home, for example, then how will the parents feel if significant amounts of money are spent on vacations or trendy clothes? A 20-something individual might see that great online travel deal as a much-needed break from routine, whereas the parents see it as a distraction from the immediate goal – getting into the housing market. Talk about issues like this before you take the plunge! Establish ground rules; be clear about activities that conflict with parental values or lifestyle.
iStockphoto.com
Pay off the plastic: Credit cards aren’t evil as long as they’re managed correctly, Zale says. The key is to swipe only for purchases you can afford to settle up on at the end of the month. Don’t whip out that Visa for random, impulsive or convenient purchases. “If you use credit cards and pay them right away, they can push your credit ranking up,” Zale says. “It’s a good way to build your credit. It’s also a good way to destroy your credit.” Don’t get suckered by introductory interest rates that can later soar higher than 20 percent. “They really make it easy,” Zale says. “That’s
j o u r n e y
Incorporating another adult into the family routine, especially when there are still younger siblings at home, is another area of adjustment. The young adult is used to a life without curfews, but it may be that “house” hours are necessary just to keep a good sleeping pattern for those who need to get up early for work or for school. These aren’t based on age or a desire to impose discipline, but just to keep the household running smoothly. Division of labor should reflect everyone’s needs, so be clear on chores such as cooking, shopping and laundry. Our catechism says, “Respect toward parents fills the home with light and warmth.” (CCC #2219) The importance of respect is mutual. Parents should be mindful that their offspring are autonomous adults rather than children to be monitored. These are the key years for parents to be adding to their own retirement savings and to be making decisions about increasing discretionary time. Make sure the desires of each generation match so that living together enhances the parent-child relationship, rather than producing conflict. Our family is poised for our “boomerang” experience – I’ll give you a follow-up based on the voice of experience once we’ve completed it! – Dr. Cathleen McGreal
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G o d and the arts
Many philosophers and theologians, such as Hans Urs von Balthasar, believe the human creative drive is a reflection of the divine creator. Throughout history, artists of all kinds – from poets and painters to sculptors and songwriters – have attempted to express their understanding of God. Each month, FAITH presents a sample:
how does God influence?
Who is that philosopher? Prior to studying theology, seminarians study philosophy, which is defined as “the love of wisdom.” Many great theologians have thoughts rooted in pre-Christian philosophers. And we are going to profile some of them in this series. Plato (428-348 BC approx.) Who was he? Plato was a Greek philosopher and mathematician who is believed to have been a student of Socrates. He was the son of Ariston and of Perictione, who was a relative of the famous poet Solon. Plato’s original name was
FAITH Magazine
Aristocles, but he got the nickname Platon, or broad, from his wrestling coach. What did he do? Plato wrote a number of philosophical dialogues and founded the Academy of Athens, which was the earliest organized school in the West. He presented his philosophy in a series of dialogues between other characters, as if Plato overheard a conversation in the marketplace. Some of the more famous dialogues tell the story of Socrates’ philosophy and death, and much of Plato’s philosophy is conveyed through the words attributed to Socrates. The best known dialogue is probably the Republic. One of the most common attributes of platonic thought is that the material world represents a shadow of the true world, and that few are able to climb out of the cave of ignorance that surrounds the world of the senses.
14 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
Meet the theologians:
Father Stevens
Father Schoenstene
FAITH interviewed Father Gladstone Stevens, who is vice-rector of St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore and Father Robert Schoenstene, who is a Scripture professor at Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Q
How does God influence events in human history? If we credit him when things go well, shouldn’t we also blame him when they go wrong? Father Stevens: This brings up a whole host of questions. When things go wrong in our lives, who’s
Nearer to Thee by Sarah Flower Adams Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee! E’en though it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee! Though like the wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I’d be Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
are you a heretic? What do you believe about original sin? Do you believe: a. t hat humanity is implicated by the personal sin of Adam, which was transmitted to all mankind? b. t hat Adam condemned humankind by his bad example, and that we can save ourselves by our good actions, assisted by the grace of God? If you answered b, you may have fallen into the heresy of Pelagianism, which teaches that there is no such thing as original sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Adam had received original holiness and justice not for himself alone, but for all human nature. By yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice.” (CCC404) to blame? For the most part, Scripture just doesn’t deal with these questions. In a sense, that is one of the messages of Jesus: Assigning blame is not a huge priority of his. He just doesn’t speak about this. I think it’s interesting that when he answers the question about the people who were killed by the falling tower at Siloam, he makes it clear that they were no more guilty than any others. (Lk 13:4) There’s a certain kind of humility we have to attend to this – that we are dealing with a great mystery, the mystery of suffering. It’s not just that we can’t answer this question; it’s that it’s almost offensive that we even attempt to try. Father Schoenstene: God is
involved in human life to such a degree that he became one of us. He is obviously interested in who we are and what happens to us. There are a number of causes – he can directly cause as he does in creation. There are also big things like the law of gravity and small things like today’s weather that are indirect causes. Sometimes there is a direct intervention by God and we call that a miracle. Sometimes life just takes its course and we take it as it comes.
Q
Then how does God influence our daily lives? Father Stevens: Through every aspect that he made.
Number 7 The number 7 is a symbol of all association with God in Judaism: The candlestick had seven lamps, the Sabbath is the seventh day, and the Sabbatical year is the seventh year, and the Jubilee is based on the number 7. Thus, Jesus’ command to forgive 70 times seven is an allusion to holy Jewish numbers.
Bible Quiz
Where in the world … These five towns were destroyed by God for their wickedness. They were called “cities of the plain” because they were located on a plain of the Jordan River, near the border of Canaan. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, made his home in the most famous of these towns, Sodom. When Lot and his family escaped the destruction being wrought by God, Lot’s wife looked back at their former home and was turned into a pillar of salt.
What are these five towns named? Turn to page 30 for the answer
He influences the course of events; we believe in the Lord of history. We do believe time is ultimately under the influence of God. Time is not merely a random series of events, but it is providential. It is a drama that is unfolding to us that he has established. He works and influences through the creative things that he has made – through matter. He also endowed us with spirit, with souls, with the depths of our hearts. He gave us minds. All these things which come from God – everything – are also means by which God acts. They are also the means by which God reaches out from his world and draws us into his world. That’s part of being Catholic – we believe that matter matters! Father Schoenstene: We can choose or reject God. But in a strange way, God uses what people choose to do for his own purposes. This is a paradox. Although God respects our free will, he is working everything toward a purpose. Christians believe in eternal life – and everything is working toward that. A lot of daily events are sort of bland, but sometimes accident and illness occurs and we say it’s bad. Sometimes, however, we may look back later and see God opened many doors out of something that seemed bad at first. – Elizabeth Solsburg
By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Jim Luning
FAITH Magazine
16 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
by Todd Schulz | Photography by Jim Luning
The
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The times of their lives 1953
Marion and Robert Byers welcome their seventh child to the family. They name her Sharon. Marion, the first licensed female pilot in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, married at age 30 and has eight children in her first decade of marriage.
1968
Fifteen-year-old Sharon Byers is losing her beloved father to cancer. Her mother, Marion, nurses him while keeping the family running and maintaining her job as St. Mary Cathedral parish secretary.
1970
Distraught over her father’s death, Sharon has spent the last two years giving her mother a run for her money. Now, at 17, she’s pregnant. Her mother supports her, but asks Sharon to get married at her fiancé’s home parish rather than at the cathedral where she works. In the following year, Marion brings her elderly cousin to Lansing to live in her home.
1978
Sharon and her husband welcome their fourth child into the family. In six years they will divorce. In coming years, Marion will place her cousin in a nursing home after 13 years of caring for her, most recently in her newly purchased two-bedroom ranch. She continues to serve as parish secretary at the cathedral, attends Mass every day and remains a guiding force in her grown children’s lives.
2001
Single for many years, Sharon has raised her kids and wants to downsize to a condo. Now retired after 16 years, but fiercely independent at 89, Marion continues to take the bus to Mass every noon. Her children, however, notice she isn’t eating or taking her pills as needed.
2002
Marion surprises Sharon one day asking, “Why don’t you buy my house?” Sharon hesitates. This would require massive changes in her lifestyle and independence, but she can see some benefits to living with her mother, who has always been self-sufficient and strong. She agrees to buy the house and promises her mother she can always live in it. Less than one month after Sharon moves in, Marion suffers a series of mini-strokes and undergoes surgery. She rallies, only to face a series of health incidents – from dementia to a broken back and additional vision loss. Eventually, her health problems require that Marion have companionship 24 hours a day.
2008
Sharon Byers, director of technology for the Diocese of Lansing, talks with FAITH magazine.
Baby Boomers
If anyone had told my brothers and sisters I would be the one to care for Mom, they would have laughed out loud! I gave her a real run for her money after Dad died. I adored my dad! He was handsome and charming and fun. He always told us we could do anything we wanted to do and encouraged all of us – girls included – to go to college. He pushed us to think without color barriers. We put him on a pedestal. When he died, I was devastated. Now I can see we were pretty oblivious to how hard it must have been for Mom, raising eight kids, nursing my dad through his illness, and caring for Aunt Loretta for 10plus years. As long as I could remember, Mom was always in the background taking care of us and keeping things running. She wasn’t your typical mother or grandmother. She taught us to be very independent, yet she set an example that in our family we take care of each other. When people find out I’m caring for my mom, I always hate it when someone tells me I’m a saint. I’m no more a saint than Mom was when she was raising us kids. It’s my mother who needs caring for; why wouldn’t I? When the time came, I was single. My kids were grown and independent. I think it was providence. Now, to be honest, if in 2002 someone had laid out the next five years and said, “OK, Sharon, this is how it’s gonna be,” I’m afraid I might have said “no.” I have had to mourn the loss of my independence and my house. I have had to do things I never thought I could do for another person. I have seen 23 care-givers come and go because I had to What do you think about the baby boomers?
We asked participants at Catechetical Days what they thought of each generation:
1961
What was it like when the baby boomers were the young generation?
John F. Kennedy is sworn in as president of the U.S. – the youngest presi-
work, but Mom didn’t like strangers in her house. And I had to let go of my hope that by living with my mom I’d have time to build a closer relationship with her – maybe feel like she loved me. With her stroke and the dementia that followed, I spent the first year realizing I would never get the relationship I wanted, because the woman with me now isn’t my mom. One of my biggest challenges centered on going to church. I knew if I lived with her, I’d have to take Mom to church every Sunday. It was almost a deal-breaker. I couldn’t lie anymore and tell her I was going when I really wasn’t. And I couldn’t just go out of obligation. I was too old for that. I would have to learn to pray again. After that very tough first year, I didn’t know if I could live with and care for my mother anymore. Yet I obviously had to keep doing it. I remembered that same terror I felt in the final month of my first pregnancy. I was 17, scared to death, and I knew there was nothing I could do about it. I had felt trapped back then, and I was feeling trapped again 30 years later. I remember sitting in church, praying with all my might, “Please help me find an answer for how I’m going to keep doing this, Lord. It’s just too hard and I’m not getting anything out of this.” I was begging. Then, suddenly, a message came clearly to my mind. “You are not taking care of your mother. You are taking care of me.” I had my answer. I love that thought! Before I went to live with my mom, my recent lifestyle wasn’t in line with my faith. I didn’t realize what a useless, unimportant life I was living before moving in with her. Now I’m doing something important and so worthwhile!
More faithful?
Things have never been better. All eight of us kids are speaking to each other and doing something different to help with Mom’s care. One of my daughters and my retired brotherin-law come in to care for her during the day. While I never got a deep relationship
80
% of teens think baby boomers are more faithful than other generations.
If you are caring for a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and need respite care, call your local Catholic Charities agency. They can help you or direct you to someone who can help. • Catholic Charities of Lenawee 517.263.2191 • Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County 734.971.9781 • Catholic Charities of Shiawasee and Genesee Counties 810.232.9950 • Catholic Social Services of Livingston County 517.545.5944 • Catholic Charities of Jackson 517.782.2551 • St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Lansing 517.323.4734 with the mother I grew up with, I now have someone who has come to appreciate hugs and saying “love you.” In the last five years, she has come a long way in accepting our care. I can’t tell you how moving it was when I walked up to her bed during a hospital stay and she reached out her arms and said, “Will you give me a hug?” I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.
In 1960, what was the price of …? •b read was 20.3 cents per pound • r ound steak was $1.05 per pound • c huck roast was 62 cents per pound •b acon was 65 cents per pound •b utter was 75 cents per pound • eggs were 57 cents a dozen •m ilk (delivered to your door) was $1.04 per gallon
I don’t know how we got to the point in our society where if we don’t know what to do with our elderly we just get rid of them. I know my mom didn’t always love taking care of me for the 17 years she did. But she was always there for me and my brothers and sisters. She also always set an example of caring for family, and she has always expected that her children would take care of her when the time came. I think she asked me because she knew I would do it. Every day, I worry I’m not doing a good enough job. I guess we’re always hardest on ourselves. But I love my mom! Looking back, I think she’s the one I should have had on that pedestal all along. Catholic Charities is a ministry supported by the DSA.
DIOCESAN
SERVICES
64
% of the baby boomers think baby boomers are more faithful than other generations.
25
APPEAL
% of the greatest generation think baby boomers are more faithful than other generations.
The
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Baby Boomers
Has therapy replaced religion? An interview with psychotherapist James Loree
Less Tollerant
By Kimberly Laux | Photography by Tom Gennara
20
% of teens think baby boomers are less tolerant than other generations.
50
% of the greatest generation think baby boomers are less tolerant than other generations.
23
% of the baby boomers think baby boomers are less tolerant than other generations.
p r o f i l e
1963
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his I Have a Dream
J
1962
Pope John XXIII opens the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council.
ames Loree, a graduate of Michigan State University, is a licensed master clinical social worker serving patients from his private practice in Okemos. He treats clients recovering from addictive behaviors. He is also a member of St. John Student Parish in East Lansing.
FAITH: What are some of the most common mental health issues that you’ve come across while working with patients of the baby boomer generation? I primarily work with patients dealing with depression; most have experienced moderate to severe trauma in their lives. Often it is exacerbated by addiction (alcohol, substance abuse or compulsive gambling) and family issues. I find that many people often turn to external sources for comfort I see spirituality as the “big picture” or distraction from their that answers some of life’s most pain, instead challenging questions: of God, even if they claim to believe and have faith.
Why am I here? What is my purpose?
In a nutshell, how has mental health evolved over the last 60 years? The mental health field has experienced changes ranging from scientific theories and approaches to administration of insurance benefits. New theories and approaches that address issues such as trauma and relationships have been developed and mainstreamed into normative psychological practice. Perhaps the greatest change has been the administration of insurance benefits. A few years ago, clients could seek services with minimal challenges. Today both clients and therapists must deal with the red tape to authorize, reauthorize and demonstrate clinical necessity just to prove to insurance companies that every
1965 Better Catholics?
Pope Paul VI closes the Second Vatican
50
dollar spent on therapy has yielded goal-directed results. Do you think therapy is replacing faith and spirituality? I do not believe therapy is replacing spirituality. In fact, they often complement one another. I see spirituality as the “big picture” that answers some of life’s most challenging questions: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Therapy attempts to increase one’s awareness, understanding and skills to manage thoughts, emotions and actions in order to decrease negative consequences or increase positive outcomes. Some clients may exhaust therapy only to find spirituality through acceptance that they do not have ultimate control over their lives. Through this realization, clients can begin to take ownership over their actions and respond in ways that benefit themselves and others. In your opinion, what is the most appropriate way to approach therapy? Patients need to approach therapy with realistic expectations. Frequently, clients assume that a therapist is going to fix them. This is far from the truth! Therapists help clients acknowledge what they already know on a deeper level – to confront the pain and accept the facts about themselves and others so they can make conscious decisions in their lives. This process is often long and difficult, but highly worthwhile and rewarding. People must take responsibility for their lives as a prerequisite to improving it.
Jan. 20, 1973
Roe v. Wade legalizes abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.
% of the greatest generation think baby boomers are better Catholics than other generations.
60
% of teens think baby boomers are better Catholics than other generations.
s p i r i t u a l
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Don’t be afraid of the dark
‘‘I
t sure is dark!” A group of us had descended into the caves and caverns Seeing the light of in Pennsylvania and had gone past where lights could be found. For fun, at one point we decided to turn out our flashlights. The darkness was incredible and unnerving for those of us afraid of the dark or who were a bit claustrophobic. Closing your eyes brings you one kind of darkness. You are not trying to see and do not expect to see. But if your eyes are wide open, and you are trying to see – trying to make out some small glimmer of light – and you cannot see the hand in front of your face, it is unnerving. It did not take us very long before we turned the lights back on. That initial burst of light was blinding! It was like God, who enters our lives as true light. The greatness of his light is so powerful, it can overwhelm and go beyond the senses. We have to grow accustomed to his radiance so we can take some of it in. We may experience a feeling of love and inner joy and consolation. We have a felt FAITH Magazine
distant. The truth was that it was I who was distant! But God helped me to know that he was in my life and I found it an incredible experience. I felt as if the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit had been poured out on me. I started to love the church. I started to appreciate the gift of faith. It was a time of great hunger for God and consolation for my soul. It lasted for a while, but then a funny thing happened. I was cut off from many things in a short period of time. I left my home, my familiar work, my students, my close friends, the beautiful East Coast and Baltimore that I enjoyed and moved out to Michigan, where I knew no one. All the things that my life had focused on were gone! As good as some of them were, there was need for a reordering and even a removal of many things from my heart. There was also a repentance of sin and evil habits. I was forced by the move to let go of many things and confront things. I was, at the same time, being drawn more to God. God was saying, “What do you really want? Those things or me?” Those other things were good, but were not God. God’s consolations would come at various times – to help with the walk of faith to let go, to repent, to convert. At times prayer was full of consolation, but other times dry and difficult. That period of time for me was a time of intense purification. It continues. God is always refining us; each day, the Lord calls us to grow in deeper faith, trust, hope, and the love of God and neighbor. Sometimes, a person might be tempted to think that he has blown it somehow. It is true that sin and lukewarmness can bring about spiritual darkness. One loses a sense of God in one’s life. But usually when that happens, there is a dullness in desire for God. There is a real regression in the journey to God. Sickness or emotional depression or other kinds of anxiety also can affect a person’s spiritual life. Those are trials over which we have
22 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
sense of God’s presence. There are other times however, where we may experience the lights going out. God hides himself, so we may seek him more. Both are times of purification and growth, and yet the greater measure comes to us underneath the shadow of the cross. Many years ago, I found myself in a dark place. I was not sure exactly what was going on, but I had a sense that it was important. On the bright side, I had recently experienced an awakening of my faith. God became very real for me. It is not that prior to this I did not believe in God, rather I experienced God as more
Christ
no control, so it is important to be patient and do the best one can to pray and remain faithful to God. There are other times, however, that something more seems to be going on. God has led us to a place that seems dark. The shadow of the cross looms ahead of us and has blotted out consolation. We have lost a feeling of inner comfort and a sense of his presence. Prayer can be dry. Fortunately, God has given us many great saints who have gone up the mountain and have thrown us some ropes! St. John of the Cross is one of the best in describing this ascent to God. St. John was a doctor of the church, and wrote brilliantly about the spiritual journey. He talked about something that upon first hearing was a bit intimidating – “the dark night.” Now, if you are like me, there is tendency to run away from things that seem “dark”
God is always refining us;
each day, the Lord calls us to grow in deeper faith, trust, hope and love of God and neighbor. or difficult. But St. John in coining that phrase was simply putting into words what believers in Jesus Christ have experienced during their journey to God. It is what we all go through. It is the paradox of the Gospel. It is the paschal mystery. “Whoever desires to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.” (Mk 8:34-35)
St. John wrote from experience. He had begun a reform of the Carmelite Order along with St. Teresa of Avila. There was resistance to this reform and, on one occasion, John was taken into custody by some of his fellow monks, who did not approve of his ideas. He was put into a very small room with only one small slit for a window and lived in that darkness during the freezing cold of winter or stifling heat of summer. His brothers would
make him kneel down for his meals in the refectory and afterward would give him “the discipline,” which amounted to hitting him with a whip while he prayed Psalm 51. These beatings were at times severe enough to cause wounds and scars. While in this state of desolation, removed from all that could give him comfort and support, John was given the gift to describe his inner life with God in the form of a poem, The Spiritual Canticle. He described the incredible purifying love of God and the painful purification that he called “the dark night.” John distinguished two kinds of dark nights. One was of the senses, and the other of the soul. The dark nights are a gift meant to purify us of all attachments that are not of God. God loves us too much to keep us where sin will afflict us. God is a jealous lover, and wants us for himself. Our sense attachments – feeling, tasting, smelling, seeing, hearing, and even the internal ones of imagination, memory and desire or will – all get purified through the dark nights. For a simple example: Sometimes we pray because we like the feelings we get in prayer more than praying for the sake of meeting God. God is not our feelings! You can see this happen when people keep looking for religious experiences and go from one prayer meeting or group to another, or one retreat to another looking for the spiritual high. In the dark night, God withdraws those sensible feelings in order to help the person grow in faith and love. We can cooperate with God’s help. We can identify sin and pray for conversion of heart. We can practice all the virtues – especially faith, hope and love. Because of the deep nature of this subject, it really is impossible to go any further in a short article. I would encourage all the readers to pick up a copy of the works of St. John of the Cross or St. Teresa of Avila. They are readily available at
spiritual exercise Exercises for this month
1
Dark Night of Elijah. Read and mediate on Elijah’s story. 1 Kings 18, 19 and 2 Kings 2:1-12. Ask yourself how God revealed his presence to him, and how did God lead him to a deeper faith and trust? What happened in the end to Elijah?
2
Meditate on the following passages from St. John of the Cross Reflection from The Ascent of Mount Carmel Book I, Ch. 13, No 11 and No 6. Think of where sacred Scripture teaches the same thing.
• To reach satisfaction in all, desire its possession in nothing. • To come to possess all, desire the possession of nothing. • To arrive at being all, desire to be nothing. • To come to the knowledge of all, desire the knowledge of nothing. • To come to the pleasure you have not, you must go by a way in which you enjoy not. • To come to the knowledge you have not, you must go by a way in which you know not. • To come to the possession you have not, you must go by a way in which you possess not. • To come to be what you are not, you must go by a way in which you are not.
3
Reflect on Jesus’ life and when Scriptures reveal a dark night for our Lord. Pray to desire God alone and the fulfillment of his will in your life. – Father Bill Ashbaugh
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who will run
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n the coming months, Bishop Boyea and the Diocesan Coordinating Commission will set forth the recommendations for parish improvements suggested in part by the regional review of parish and school assessments. Some pastoral position terms and their definitions are defined in the sidebar at right. According to the Diocese of Lansing’s Web site, there are 95 parishes within the diocese’s boundaries that provide spiritu-
ministers, 13 brothers and 410 religious sisters. When the numbers are broken down, that’s one priest for every 2,427 Catholics in the diocese. Or 1.08 priests per parish. Given that a few priests assist the bishop in running the diocese (administration, tribunal, financial management, and other areas), this leaves fewer than one priest per parish to serve the faithful. With an aging clergy base,
With an aging clergy base, how will our
parish sacramental, spiritual and administrative needs be met now and in the next 50 years? al and sacramental guidance to 250,000 parishioners. Serving these parishes are 103 priests, seven pastoral coordinators, 56 deacons, 154 lay ecclesial FAITH Magazine
24 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
how will our parishes’ sacramental, spiritual and administrative needs be met now and in the next 50 years? Some research by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) indicates that lay ministry programs are increasing. There are currently approximately 308 lay formation programs in the nation. There are 20,240 lay ecclesial minister candidates in these programs, of whom 13,523 (67 percent) are working toward a certificate in ministry (a minor which is approximately six courses in theology) and 6,717 (33 percent) are working toward
Where are we in the process? Parish/Faith community evaluation Regional Review Committee discernment and evaluation Regions formulate recommendations Parish assemblies Recommendations forwarded to the Diocesan Coordinating Committee (DCC) DCC reviews observations and prepares draft recommendations DCC sends draft to the regions for review Bishop’s consultative bodies review draft recommendations DCC forwards final recommendations to the bishop for his decision and actions. a graduate degree for ministry. The total number of enrollees represents a 26 percent increase from the 16,037 candidates enrolled in the programs last year. Additionally, the gender makeup of pastoral ministers continues to change. Almost two-thirds of those entering lay ministry formation certification programs are lay women; 33 percent are lay men. “The lay ecclesial minister model is one the church supports,” says Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP, director of the Diocese of Lansing Office of Pastoral Planning. “Because this model is working, this is something that needs to be reviewed more carefully.” Based on some of the work that is being done in our parishes, the traditional role of “priest as pastor” may not always be the rule. “We have several parishes in the diocese that have found a non-traditional, yet very effective, way to provide pastoral and administrative needs to the parish through lay ministry,” says Sister Rita. So, what might a parish look like without a resident priest? How would it work? How can parish priests handle the work load that traditionally was handled by four-times the clergy? The story on the following page can provide perspective on parish life in a changing demographic.
Terminology Pastor: An ordained priest authorized by canon law to administer to the sacramental, pastoral and administrative needs of a parish. Sacramental minister: A diocesan or religious priest who is appointed by the bishop to provide sacramental ministry for a parish in which day-to-day ministry and administration is being handled by a parish life coordinator. Parish life coordinator: In the absence of a resident priest, a parish leader with advanced academic preparation and ministry experience, appointed by the bishop to lead the pastoral, administrative and financial duties of a parish. Parish life coordinators lead approximately 4 percent of U.S. Catholic parishes. Pastoral associate: A professional minister who collaborates with the pastor or pastoral life coordinator to execute the mission of the parish. The pastoral associate assists in carrying out the parish goals and objectives through several areas of ministry, including liturgy and sacramental preparation; pastoral care to the sick and bereavement ministry; spiritual formation; and administrative assistance. Pastoral minister: A lay person who is a baptized member of the Catholic community, who, by baptismal commitment, prayerful discernment and expertise requests and accepts a call to serve. The minister assists in a specified area of pastoral duties defined by pastor, pastoral life coordinator, or pastoral associate. These duties may include: visitation of the sick, parish outreach, stewardship or other roles, depending on the needs of the parish community. Deacon: An ordained clergyman who assists the bishop and priests. A deacon is not ordained to the priesthood, but is ordained to service. He is able to preach the Gospel, offer homilies, preside at weddings and funerals that occur outside the context of Mass and baptize. Diocesan chancellor: A priest, religious or lay person who maintains the records and archives of the diocese. He or she may also serve as the secretary of the diocesan curia. Lay ecclesial ministers: Pastoral ministers in the Catholic Church who serve the church, but are not ordained. It is a broad group that includes pastoral associates, pastoral life coordinators, directors of religious education, directors of music, youth ministers, campus ministers, parish liturgy planners, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) directors, and hospital chaplains.
Are you called to be a lay minister? According to Nancy Joseph, director of lay ministry at the Diocese of Lansing, there are four criteria a person must meet in order to be certified as a lay minister as approved by the diocese. These criteria include:
•E xercising leadership within a specific area of ministry (education/formation; celebration/liturgy; service) • A uthorized to serve by the bishop or pastor in a public position • C ollaborating with other pastoral leaders • Education appropriate for the level of responsibility “Lay ministers are well-formed leaders in the church,” states Joseph. “They are
calling gifts out of the community, so they need to be well formed with a thorough education of doctrine, a strong peer network of collaboration, have the backing of their pastor and bishop to serve the faithful, and truly understand the role that they play in their community.” For more information about the Lay Ministry Program within the diocese, call Nancy Joseph at 517.342.2512.
Changing face of the Church Race and ethnicity of seminarians White:
64%
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11% Black: 4% Other: 6% Asian:
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There are 308 active lay ministry formation programs in the United States.
Jean Schaub is a pastoral coordinator at St. Mary on the Lake.
St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach At first glance, Jean Schaub looks like any other faithful Catholic. She is married and has two grown daughters. She has five grandchildren. Her husband is retired, and she holds a full-time job that she finds extremely fulfilling. We should all be so blessed. Look a little closer, though, and Jean is unique in the Diocese of Lansing and across the nation’s Catholic churches. She is a pastoral coordinator at St. Mary on the Lake, a parish of 150 families during the winter months and 350 families during the summer. As pastoral coordinator, she is the parish’s leader on a daily basis. She handles the day-to-day activities of fiscal responsibility, personnel, Liturgy of the Word, formation, outreach, stewardship and service. Father Paul Grehl, a retired priest, fills the sacramental needs of the parish and celebrates Mass on Sundays. Jean encourages all to be more involved in our home parishes. “As people take responsibility, they begin to take ownership,” she explains. “St. Mary on the Lake is similar to how the early Catholic Church was run in that we have a commitment to the Lord and to the community.” FAITH Magazine
26 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
• 64 percent lay women • 33 percent lay men • 2 percent religious women • 1 percent religious brothers • 13 percent of students are over 60 years old • 29 percent are 50 -59 • 31 percent are 40 –49
• 16 percent are 30-39 • 11 percent are under 30 • 71 percent are white • 18 percent are Hispanic/ Latino • 4 percent are black • 3 percent are Asian • 4 percent other
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Permanent deacons in the U.S. continue to grow since this ministry was restored after Vatican II. In 2007, there were 16,661 permanent deacons in the U.S., an increase of 1,866 from 2006. Of this total, 78 percent of the diaconate are still active. In the Diocese of Lansing, there are 56 active deacons serving 95 parishes.
According to data from CARA’s National Parish Inventory and Catholic Ministry Formation database as well as the Official Catholic Directory, in the U.S. church today, women are: • 25 percent of all diocesan chancellors • 80 percent of all parish lay ecclesial ministers • 40 percent of all parish liturgy planners • 65 percent of all parish music ministers • 88 percent of all parish religious educators • 54 percent of all parish RCIA directors
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atican II’s Declaration on Christian Education calls for Catholic schools to incorporate the faith into a child’s entire life – home, sports, friendships, music and video choices, among others. It also bids educators “to relate all human culture eventually to the news of salvation, so that the life of faith will illumine the knowledge which students gradually gain of the world, of life, and of humankind.” Therefore, students should be able to apply Christian principles beyond religion courses to all of their studies; from humanities to history; from geometry to geology, and beyond. While the Diocese of Lansing’s Catholic schools’ missions incorporate these ideals, the reality of funding and the ever-changing landscape in education guidelines keeps administrators, teachers and parents jostling to assure that resources are met while meeting rigorous standards. What are the 38 elementary and middle schools and four high schools within the diocese doing to ensure excellence? According to Sister Dorita Wotiska, OP, Ph.D., Diocese of Lansing superintendent of schools, the partnership between school staff and parents is providing an outstanding support network to make Catholic education viable, relevant and exceptional.
Grading the graders Ensuring that students receive the best education from faith formation through core curriculum is a dynamic process. “The diocesan curriculum guidelines are revised and updated constantly to guarantee that we meet statewide requirements and to ensure that students
are receiving the educational and faith requirements that the diocese believes are important,” says Sister Dorita. The stride toward achievement goes beyond curriculum development – it is a constant search for school improvement as each school in the diocese goes through a rigorous seven-year process of self-study within 12 areas. Experience has shown that the diocesan schools have surpassed the measure set by the state. Diocese of Lansing students who have taken the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) test administered to students at given times throughout their educational tenure have fared far better than their public school peers. However, the diocese is now looking to
change the standardized testing procedure and programs used to examine student progress. “After a number of years, it is human nature to become used to a certain formula, so it is time to switch and challenge our students, teachers, and entire system again to move the marker of excellence forward,” explained Sister Dorita.
Financing the future Students learn when the schools are open. And the doors open only when there are enough dollars to operate. This has been the struggle with Catholic education throughout the country since the 1970s. Archbishop John Foley, an American official in the Vatican, noted that too few Catholics who can afford to donate money to the schools do so. He also observed that as Catholics are becoming more affluent, they are becoming less generous. In order to educate our youth in the faith through Catholic schools, it is imperative to provide students adequate facilities, instruction and resources. The diocese has programs to help lower-income families with tuition assistance, but this support is not as widely available to middle-income families who are pinched by swelling expenses. Yet, schools cannot stand idly by and wait for donors and supporters to come knocking. The schools within the diocese are constantly developing innovative ways to secure the needed
dollars, as are their counterparts in public schools. Annual auctions, up-front tuition payment programs and developing relationships with major donors are key components in most schools’ fundraising playbooks.
Partnering with the public Collaboration is the hot topic in education today. Partnerships aren’t exclusive to raising funds. Some schools are finding unique ways to make their finances stretch while their instruction costs are covered. “Several of our schools are engaging with public schools to utilize their teachers in non-core subjects such as art, band, music
and foreign language,” says Sister Dorita. This relieves the diocesan school from hiring and incurring the cost of part-time faculty and the public school wins by receiving a portion of the tax dollar allocated to the hours spent teaching each student. At St. Martha School in Okemos, Williamston Public Schools have been providing art, music and foreign language to the students since 2006. The program has worked so well that band was added this year. “In essence, more collaboration means our schools get more service, the public schools get more funds, and the parents see some benefit for their taxes,” says Sister Dorita.
Walking the walk St. John Vianney Catholic School – Flint Core subjects are taught throughout the day to the 260 pre-K through eighth-grade students of St. John Vianney Catholic School in Flint, just as they are to all students who attend elementary and middle schools. One difference may be the emphasis of evangelization that is generated from the Catholic teachings throughout the curriculum. “We do all the normal things that any good Catholic school would do to bring our students into a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus,” says Elizabeth Petrides, St. John Vianney teacher and parent. “We wrap our day with prayer. Religion classes, of course, teach the faith, but more importantly, students learn the faith in all other classes, as well. Science classes bring discussions of God’s wonder in creation. Social studies classes explore ways that people have or have not followed God’s ways and the ensuing consequences. Music teachers instruct sacred and secular compositions side-by-side. Physical education teachers encourage good manners and hard work as part of Christian stewardship of our gifts. Jesus is the center of our entire curriculum.” St. John Vianney is different from most diocesan schools in that it is racially diverse and 45 percent of the student population is not Roman Catholic. These students and their families are fully immersed in the Catholic faith, with the exception of the reception of the sacraments. Students take notice, and nearly every year several will ask to be baptized and join the faith community. Last year, three second-graders were baptized at a school Mass. Sometimes whole families become part of the church as a result of the school is ministry. Through the school’s active evangelization efforts, it has encouraged vocations to priesthood and religious life, most recently by inviting the diocesan vocations directors to speak to the middle-school students. A vocations cross is a focal point in a different classroom each week. As the students prepare to lead weekly all-school Mass, they also pray in a special way for vocations. Also, teachers are very open about personally encouraging these vocations. FAITH Magazine
28 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
Group improvements Father Gabriel Richard High School – Ann Arbor A collaborative approach is key to making all teams work, especially the fund development team at Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor. Yet the collaboration goes beyond the walls of the high school to include community, diocesan, business and other nonprofit partners. The development team isn’t just the advancement department; it is the chaplain, administration, business manager, facilities director, athletic director. They gain input from the diocese, community members, parents, teachers and all of the stakeholders to develop plans and implementation steps that take into consideration more than just the culture of the school and the region which encompasses the student body. Gabriel Richard, established as St. Thomas School in 1867, moved into a new facility in 2003 after undertaking a $17 million capital campaign. “The school is very fortunate to have donors with a strong passion for Catholic education,” states Elizabeth Schoch, Gabriel Richard’s director of advancement. “Now that our new facility is at capacity, we are unveiling a plan of giving that will engage our feeder parishes to support the high school on an annual basis.” The current trend in philanthropic gifts is to designate funds to specific programs. Given the economy in the state of Michigan, corporations and private individuals must sift through many solicitations for their discretionary dollars. “As an institution, we must excite people with who we are and what we offer as a Catholic institution,” says Schoch. “And so the purpose of Catholic education is to communicate Christ to you, so that your attitude toward others will be that of Christ.” – John Paul II
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Matthias the Apostle
Matías el Apóstol
Feast day: May 14 Patron saint of alcoholism and carpenters Meaning of name: Gift of the Lord
Día festivo: 14 de mayo Santo patrono del alcoholismo y de los carpinteros No ha sido canonizado Significado del nombre: Don de Dios
Claim to fame: After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, the Apostles felt they needed to replace him. They chose two men, one of them Matthias, and cast lots to see who God would choose. Matthias won, and became one of the Twelve. He had been a follower of Jesus from the time of Jesus’ baptism. Beyond this, not much is known about Matthias, although he is briefly mentioned in Scriptures as going to Ethiopia to spread the Gospel to barbarians and cannibals. Many stories about Matthias exist, although none of them are authenticated. His life is often confused with the lives of other disciples, including Matthias, bishop of Jerusalem, and Matthew, the Gospel writer.
Hechos que lo hicieron famoso: Luego que Judas Iscariote traicionó a Jesús, los apóstoles pensaron que necesitaban sustituirlo. Escogieron a dos hombres, uno de ellos Matías y echaron a suertes para ver a quién escogería Dios. Matías ganó y se hizo uno de los Doce. Fue un seguidor de Jesús desde el tiempo del bautizo de Jesús. Más allá de esto, no se sabe mucho acerca de Matías después de esto, aunque brevemente se menciona su marcha a Etiopía a difundir el Evangelio a los bárbaros y caníbales. Existen muchas historias acerca de Matías, aunque ninguna de ellas tiene una base histórica y su vida a menudo se confunde con la vida de otros discípulos, Matías, obispo de Jerusalén, y Mateo, el escritor del Evangelio inclusive.
Best quote: Matthias often preached about how the body could lead to sin. A quote attributed him is, “We must combat our flesh, set no value upon it, and concede to it nothing that can flatter it, but rather increase the growth of our soul by faith and knowledge.” How he died: There are two variations of the story about Matthias’ death. One legend says he was crucified in Ethiopia. Another says Matthias was stoned to death in Judea, and that St. Helena brought his relics to Rome. Neither story is known to be true, although the second is more widely accepted. “Give life, donate!” The American Red Cross was founded in what year? As a 127-year-old organization, the American Red Cross was established on May 21, WHAT YEAR? At the time it was built, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was the largest suspension bridge in the world. It is now the world’s second
Por qué es un santo: Matías permaneció fiel a Jesús, aún cuando otros le abandonaron al final de su vida. A diferencia de muchos, él no se atemorizó cuando Jesús les dijo a sus discípulos que comieran su cuerpo. Los apóstoles vieron esto, y lo escogieron como un candidato a sustituir a Judas, porque pensaron que su corazón era lo suficientemente fuerte como para atestiguar la Resurrección de Cristo y enfrentar la persecución que vendría. Mejor cita: Matías a menudo predicaba acerca de cómo el cuerpo podría llevar al pecado. Hay una cita sobre esta materia que se le atribuye. «Debemos combatir nuestra carne, no poner ningún valor en ella, ni concederle nada que pueda halagarla, sino más bien aumentar el crecimiento de nuestra alma por medio de la fe y la sabiduría». Cómo murió: Hay dos versiones de la muerte de Matías. Una leyenda dice que fue crucificado en Etiopía. Otra dice que Matías fue apedreado a muerte en Judea, y que Santa Helena llevó sus reliquias a Roma. Ninguna de las dos historias se conoce como cierta, aunque la segunda generalmente es la más ampliamente aceptada. largest and channels up to six lanes of traffic. This California monument opened on May 27, WHAT YEAR? Poland native Karol Wojtyla, who took the name of John Paul II when elected pope, was born on May 18, WHAT YEAR? Pope John XXI died when his castle ceiling collapsed on him on May 20, WHAT YEAR? His name was a mistake though. There never was a “John XX.” Answers: 1881, 1937, 1920, 1277
Why he is a saint: Matthias stayed loyal to Jesus, even while others abandoned him at the end of his life. Unlike many, he was not scared off when Jesus told his disciples to eat his body as the Eucharist. The Apostles saw this, and chose him as a candidate to replace Judas because they felt his heart was strong enough to witness to the resurrection and face the persecution that would come.
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program includes different types of religious music, as well as medieval chant.
Divorce & Beyond – Recovery & Healing is for people who are already divorced or have filed for divorce. It is Friday evenings, April 4-June 6, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Parish. To register, call Sister Maryetta Churches, 810.229.8624. There is a $10 fee for program materials. Childcare is not provided.
May 27 is Christians Concerned about Mental Illness (CCMI) monthly meeting from noon to 1 p.m. at the Diocesan Center, Lansing. Prayers, fellowship and book discussion on Hidden Victims ,Hidden Hearts. For information, contact Joann Davis, 517.342.2497 or jdavis@ dioceseoflansing.org.
The 16th Annual Mideast Food Fair is May 1-2, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at St. Joseph. Melkite GreekCatholic Church, Lansing. Food items include delicious Arabic food and homemade pastries.
There will be a Koinonia Retreat, June 6-8, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Lansing. The theme of this retreat is the paschal mystery – the death and resurrection of Jesus. The cost is $50 per person. It is for both men and women. For more information, call Becky McCarthy at 517.668.0315.
Beginning experience, May 2-4 at St. Joseph Retreat Center, Jackson, is a two-day retreat for couples thinking of remarriage. For information or to register, contact Margaret Grima, 517.342.2555 or mgrima@ dioceseoflansing.org. Ann Arbor Grail Singers will be presenting a concert at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing on Sunday, May 4. The concert theme is “Contemplating God: Images in the Liturgy.” The
Retrouvaille Weekend Retreat for troubled marriages is being offered June 6-8. For more information visit www.retrouvaille. info or contact Butch and Brenda Secord at 517.290.5596. Diocese of Lansing music group Psalm6Teen is having a concert, June 28 from noon-9 p.m. at the band shell in Flushing. They
have been invited to play at World Youth Day this summer. The concert is an effort to get sponsors to help make it possible for them to attend this event in Sydney, Australia. For information visit their Web site: www.psalm6teen.com.
At St. Francis Retreat Center May 9 -10, a Mother/ Daughter Retreat at St. Francis Retreat Center. This retreat is an invitation for the women of your family to pray, share, listen, rest and be together. Presenters are Father Larry Delaney and Mary Beth Hicks. For more information, call 866.669.8321. The annual Retreat Days for persons who are blind/ sight-impaired are May 13-15 at St. Francis Retreat Center. Fee and RSVP required. Contact Joann Davis, 517.342.2497 or jdavis@dioceseoflansing.org. June 7 – Building Your Own Small Memorial or Prayer Garden is a hands-on program. Time will be spent on identifying what enlivens your spirit, then step into actually creating a sacred space. Presenter: Margaret Realy. Call St. Francis Retreat Center at 866.669.8321.
Lansing Catholic wins state basketball championship
Deacon ordination at St. Joseph Parish
For the first time in memory, two Catholic schools faced off for the Class B boys’ basketball championship. Powers High School of Flint and Lansing Catholic High went down to the wire, and LCC pulled out a win to become state champs. For more information, visit www.lcchs.org/ or www.lsj.com.
Patrick McDaid of St. Joseph Parish in Adrian was ordained a deacon in formal ceremonies by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran at the Holy Name of Mary Parish in Rome. Patrick is in his third year at the Chaminade International Seminary of the Society of Mary and studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Deacon McDaid will be ordained a priest on Aug. 23.
New gathering space at St. John blessed by bishop On Dec. 2, a rite of blessing was celebrated in the new gathering space at St. John the Evangelist Church in Fenton by Bishop Carl F. Mengeling. “Gathering space is what it is, and that’s what we’re calling it,” said the pastor, Father David W. Harvey. Following the ceremony, clergy and parishioners processed into the church for the lighting of the first candle in the Advent wreath and the opening prayer. Mass was concelebrated by the bishop; Fr. Harvey; Fr. Padamattummal, the associate pastor; Deacon Ron Kenney; and Fr. Roy Horning, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine in Flushing. – Jan Rynearson FAITH Magazine
30 May 2008 | www.FAITHmag.com
May café events Theology on Tap is for young adults 18 – 39. The Ann Arbor group meets the second Tuesday of each month(Jan.-May,) at Arbor Brewing Company, 114 E. Washington, 7 p.m-9:00 p.m. For information contact Jen Delvaux, 734.821.2126 or jen@ stfrancias2.org. May 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Celebrate Prayer through Movement – Dance Your Praise and Petitions is offered at Weber Center. This is a visional way to pray psalms, hymns and scripture. No dance experience necessary. Dress comfortably. Presenter will be Kathleen Matz, CDP. Cost (including meals) is $45. The 2008 Summer Scripture Days are scheduled for Aug. 12 – 14 in Bethany House at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. The days are co-sponsored by the Department of Catholic Charities, Area Catholic Councils on Aging and St. Francis Retreat Center. This year we are honored to have Father John McDermott, S.J., from the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit as our presenter for the three-day program based on the theme “Getting to Know Jesus Through the Gospel According to Mark.” For more information, call Linda Kolanowski at Catholic Charities, 517.342.2465 or lklanowski@ dioceseoflansing.org.
Father Francis Martin celebrates his 65th anniversary Father Francis Martin, a retired pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, celebrated his 65th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on April 17.
Answer to Bible quiz (pg 15): Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Bela (Zoar)
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Adrian Dominican Sisters The weekend of March 13-16, the Adrian Dominican Sisters held their annual Sponsored Institution Conference at the ADS Motherhouse for 150 attendees from across the U.S. They asked their sponsored institutions to support ongoing efforts to promote the mission and vision of the congregation, to create a culture which respects human dignity, and to advocate for justice and peace locally, nationally and globally. The Adrian Dominican Sisters sponsor a variety of institutions in the U.S. In Michigan, they include St. Joseph Academy, Siena Heights University, and Weber Retreat and Conference Center. The specifics of sponsorship vary with each institution, and might include corporate membership, sisters working in administrative positions or on boards, or financial assistance. To learn more, please visit their Web site at www.adriandominicans.org.
Kiwanis Club of Lansing donates funds to Cristo Rey The Kiwanis Club of Lansing donated funds to Cristo Rey Community Center to upgrade its health clinic’s ultrasound machine. The ultrasound machine was damaged beyond repair by fire in Dec. 2006. The insurance proceeds only covered replacing the ultrasound with a black-and-white machine. But the generous donation from the Kiwanis Club allowed the clinic to upgrade to a color Doppler machine, which has a sharper resolution than a black-and-white model. Richard T. Skinner, Jr., representing the Kiwanis Club, stated, “The purpose of Kiwanis is to assist local charitable projects and it was a pleasure to help the individuals who are provided service by Cristo Rey Community Center.”
Author visits Most Holy Trinity School In celebration of “March is Reading Month,” author Lois Ann Snyder-Downing visited the students at Most Holy Trinity School in Fowler. She is the author of Grandpa’s Tooth – a True Michigan Mastodon Story. It is about how her father found a mastodon tooth in St. Johns in 1914. The fossil tooth is more than 50,000 years old. She brought the tooth to school to help the students connect with history by examining it. Ms. Snyder-Downing’s enthusiasm was contagious and the children gained a new appreciation for Michigan history.
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Will the real baby boomer please stand up? Boomers have been characterized as being self-centered, awash in individualism, free of restraints and unconcerned about their own futures or the futures of others. They are the “now” generation – or so we were told.
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on’t believe everything you see on TV or read in mainstream media articles about baby boomers; there are exceptional boomers. The accepted facts tell us that baby boomers are those who were born between the years 1946 and 1964. They were teens during the Vietnam War and were heavily influenced by it. It was the defining event of their generation. So was Woodstock and the hippies who made their dutiful pilgrimages to the Haight-Asbury district of San Francisco. These days, the boomers have aging parents who are living longer. Their children seek better, longer and more expensive college educations. Boomers feel sandwiched between having to care for their children and also for their parents, many of whom are in their “second childhood.” Boomers were entertained by Elvis Presley and the Beatles, watched the early development of television and were traumatized by the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boomers intitiated the environmental movement, the feminist movement and other social movements and causes. Boomers have been characterized as being self-centered, awash in individualism, free of restraints, and unconcerned about their own futures or the futures of others. They are the “now” generation – or so we were told. All of this provides a background that highlights people who are exceptions to this picture, allowing us to see, once again, the fallacies of generalizations and prejudgments. For the truth is, that among the baby boomers, we find people of extraordinary faith and holiness. I know this to be true. I was ordained in June 1967 and have spent my 41 years as a priest celebrating the presence of Christ in the lives of countless boomers, many of whom are people of deep holiness and spirituality; people who have never hesitated to reveal God’s presence here on earth, especially here in the U.S. Although we see Mass attendance slipping, it is higher here than in Europe. It was here that the Catholic Charismatic movement developed, the Cursillo movement flourished and where American RCIA programs brought thousands of adults to join us in the faith. Who is to judge baby boomers? Who is to say they are less holy and less “Catholic” than others? Perhaps we should leave all such judgments to God and simply be grateful that the baby boomers are among us and have much to offer us. After all, they brought us to where we are today. – Fr. Charles Irvin
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