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the map reader Mary Tardif helps others find the road to God m y
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spirituality. We’re so busy and pulled in all directions, and some women feel they can’t take the time for spirituality. But those who do often discover they can be comfortable doing less and being more available to God. For men, midlife is a time when spiritual direction can be very powerful. We know that life is profound. It’s filled with sacred moments that need to be captured and savored. The Spirit is working mightily in our lives, and God calls us to operate from a different platform. Those in spiritual direction learn to view themselves differently – from a “God perspective” – and in doing this, God changes their view of the world.
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s a spiritual director, Mary Tardif’s faith is richer for her personal commitment to sharing her spiritual journey with others. It’s easy to understand why anyone would want Mary as a spiritual director – her easy laugh and open heart offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere in which to open up about issues of spirituality. A member of St. Michael’s Parish in Grand Ledge, Mary worked for 17 years as director of lay ecclesial ministry for the Diocese of Lansing. She now works in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program at St. Francis Retreat Center and is a spiritual director.
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I tell people that spiritual direction is a gift you give yourself. It’s the opportunity to grow in faith and become more centered, more able to weather the storms in life because you know you have an anchor. My own spiritual director is wonderful. FAITH sat down with Mary to learn more about her role as a “map reader” in the spiritual lives of those she directs. A spiritual director is a person to share your faith journey. It’s someone who helps you reflect on how God is working in your life and helps you to discern his purpose for your life. I like to say spiritual direction helps find “God sightings” in your daily experiences – those experiences that some people think are coincidence and others know are “God-incidence.” Anyone who is seeking God can benefit from spiritual direction. I find women are very eager for someone to help them focus on
St. Therese said something I often think of regarding God’s call to us, when we’re discerning whether it’s really God who’s calling us. She said we often are “doing the good we’re not called to do.” We have to be careful because our lifestyle of overextending and seeking perfectionism in ourselves is actually a kind of violence against ourselves. God never calls us to violence; he calls us to life. So anything that isn’t life-giving probably isn’t from God. Often, the yearning for spiritual direction is identified on a retreat. For some, meeting with a spiritual director while on a retreat weekend is a new experience, and
By Marybeth Hicks | Photography by Tom Gennara
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my ys story ry y they discover it’s something they want to explore. Sometimes, a personal crisis or a major decision will cause people to look for direction in faith – perhaps the death of a loved one or a life change such as divorce or job loss. Those events sometimes make the need for spiritual direction more obvious, though anyone can benefit if it’s a deeper faith they’re seeking. First, you have to choose a spiritual director with whom you feel comfortable. You might meet two or three directors to gauge how your personalities mesh – this is important because it’s a very personal friendship. The conversations between you and your director are completely confidential, so you need never worry that your thoughts or feelings or your personal circumstances will be revealed to anyone. And spiritual directors must always work with a supervisor, so that if you present an issue that concerns your director, he or she can get input from someone more experienced – while never compromising your privacy, of course.
There’s an important difference between spiritual direction and counseling or therapy – spiritual direction is not for mental health, it’s for spiritual health. A spiritual director isn’t there to solve a problem or offer advice. Instead, we meet people at a particular crossroad or juncture in life who are seeking a deeper faith and a more vibrant experience of God in daily living. Generally, I find people focus too much on their own faults and flaws – we’re all too aware of our weaknesses. God wants us to build on our strengths, and that’s the focus I try to have in spiritual direction. It’s an incredible gift to me to be able to share the spiritual journey of others. It’s humbling, and my own faith is enhanced because there is always mutual sharing with those I direct. It’s not a one-sided relationship. Being a spiritual director has enhanced my prayer life immensely. And they keep coming back! Those who are serious about their spiritual lives grow in faith, and
Spirituality is an area where we all can work together and enhance the faith lives of one another.
St. Francis Retreat Center is 50! On June 25, Bishop Carl Mengeling will lead the golden jubilee celebration for St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m., followed by a buffet lunch and an open house. The diocesan retreat center was originally owned by the Franciscans and was called Portiuncula in the Pines. After the Diocese of Lansing acquired the center, Father Larry Delaney was assigned as its director. In addition to weekend retreats, the center offers internships in spiritual direction; specialized retreats for various groups, including Retrouvaille and Alcoholics Anonymous; the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program and conference facilities. Five years ago, Bethany House, a retreat center for teens, was built on the grounds. For more information, visit www.stfrancis.ws.
that’s evident over time. It’s very gratifying to feel I’ve been helpful by listening and leading conversations that help discern God’s purpose for the people I work with. A good spiritual director is someone whose gifts from God include empathy, an openness to others, a sensitivity to God’s presence around them. It used to be that spiritual directors were “the holy people” that you knew – but this is a ministry that is open to anyone who has a heart for the Holy Spirit. Each year, the St. Francis Retreat Center has 12 openings to begin the two-year spiritual direction training program. Our grant funds an ecumenical program, which means we welcome Catholics and Christians of other faiths who want to become spiritual directors. Christian faiths may differ on matters of doctrine, but spirituality is an area where we all can work together and enhance the faith life of one another. St. Francis Retreat Center’s lay pastoral education program for spiritual directors was begun in 1992 by Sister Suzanne Eichhorn, OP. The twoyear training for lay ministers and clergy is an ecumenical ministry open to Christians of all traditions. For information on finding a spiritual director or if you think you might be called to this ministry, call St. Francis Retreat Center at 517.669.8321 or e-mail Mary Tardif at mtardif@stfrancis.ws.
For more information on spiritual direction, visit www.stfrancis.ws.
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social justice: conservative? liberal? or just what Jesus would do? meet Father Fred Thelen, Judy Zabik and Father Pete Dougherty p r o f i l e
Father Fred Thelen Immigration About 95 percent of Lansing’s Cristo Rey Catholic Church parishioners are Hispanic, many of them immigrants. Their pastor of 13 years, Father Fred Thelen, recognizes the need of immigration law reform.
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he Catholic bishops of Mexico and the United States issued a document called Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope. They want legislation passed that will respect the dignity of immigrants and that will allow families to be reunited across borders. This document, and more information about the issue, is at www.justiceforimmigrants.org, the Web site for the U.S. bishops’ campaign. There are millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who came with the hope of providing for their families, since they couldn’t in their homeland. Many are abused at work, or not given full pay. If they complain about it, they fear being reported and deported. The bishops want to see legislation that is not punitive to immigrants or employers, but that is a compassionate and comprehensive reform of current law. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that we should welcome and help the stranger and the poor, and, as we do, that we will encounter Jesus himself. Our rich Catholic social teaching advocating this is too littleknown and too often superseded by
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our fears, racism and prejudice. Many who come to our parish faced poverty at home, obstacles in coming to the States, then oppression and prejudice once they get here. They have been through a lot of pain. Their plight calls me to reach out with the compassion of Christ. We welcome immigrants at Cristo Rey. Their papers aren’t checked at the door. They trust us because we care. Through informal networks, we often help them get jobs and get connected with social agencies that can help them. We also foster an environment where they can feel at home and continue their native customs and culture. Hispanics have much to offer spiritually to America, a country of immigrants. Their deep Catholic faith is part of who they are. Prayer is a natural part of their life. Family ties are a priority. It is the work of the Spirit that they are bringing new life and renewal into the U.S. church. Judy Zabik Livingston County Lifespan Judy Zabik is the director of Lifespan for Livingston County, and treasurer of the state organization. One of nine children, she says she inherited her mother’s passion for pro-life issues.
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bortion is the greatest social injustice today. We actually kill babies in this day and age. The deliberate taking of an innocent life is the greatest child abuse imaginable.
By Bob Horning | Photography by Tom Gennara
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profile p e At Lifespan (which covers most of southeast Michigan), our main focus is on educational, legislative and public awareness programs. Our belief is that as the lies about issues such as abortion, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research are uncovered, that hearts and minds and legislation will change. Let me give you a personal example of that. A reporter from Channel 66 in Flint came to my home to interview me about the Live Birth Definition Act. I asked her if she knew what partial-birth abortion was. She had no idea. I was able to explain it to her, and by the time she left, she had decided to do a TV series positively portraying people involved in pro-life. And she did. Throughout the year, we have a number of activities to fit any desired level of involvement. In the area of education, we provide speakers to churches and organizations on topics such as chastity, euthanasia, abortion and embryonic stem-cell research; we offer a seminar entitled Making Abortion Unthinkable; we sponsor student essay and art contests on life issues; we staff booths at state, county and local fairs; we publish a newsletter eight times a year, and a resource book with educational information as well as a list of pro-life legislators and business people in the greater Detroit area. Three of our programs – a baby shower, dresser ministry and Wee Care – are for collecting baby items and furniture, and distributing them to our local crisis pregnancy centers and to needy mothers. Also, in May is our Mother’s Day dinner, featuring the Mother of the Year award; in
The U.S. Catholic Bishops have identified seven principles of Catholic social teaching: 1. life and dignity of the human person 2. call to family, community and participation 3. rights and responsibilities 4. options for the poor and vulnerable 5. the dignity of work and the rights of the worker 6. solidarity 7. care for God’s creation The bishops’ document, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, states “The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.” Without this principle, the other six have no meaning – that’s why it is the foundation for a moral vision of society.
December we sell Christmas cards to raise funds; and in January there is a rally for youth for those who can’t attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
love. We try to always remember that both sides are our brothers and sisters. God doesn’t give us swords and nuclear arms to fight with, but the power of his Holy Spirit to love.
Father Pete Dougherty Michigan Peace Team
Nonetheless, we aren’t passive. We actively confront violence. It takes guts. Just as Jesus had to confront evil in Jerusalem, we need to combat it in Washington, D.C. or wherever we see it. Justice and peace are not options. But, again like Jesus, there is no place for hatred, judgment or arrogance in combating violence. We want to get free of that personally so that we are more able to act with love and forgiveness.
In 1993, Father Peter Dougherty, along with a handful of others, started Michigan Peace Team. Now they work throughout the U.S. and internationally to attempt to defuse violent situations.
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ur vision is to pursue peace through active nonviolence in places of conflict. You might say we act as a shield between the two sides. To that end, we have trained and placed peace teams in places such as Iraq, Bosnia, at Michigan State University during the riots in 1998, in the West Bank in Palestine, along the U.S.-Mexican border and at Ku Klux Klan demonstrations in Ann Arbor. We only go when invited by someone in the conflict area. Our aim is to prevent violence so that dialogue and transformation can take place. The impetus for my mission is Jesus’ call to nonviolence, and the example of his nonviolent
I became involved with nonviolence when I was pastor at Holy Trinity Chapel at Eastern Michigan University from 1970-75, where lots of students opposed the Vietnam War. As I began to understand the system of violence working in our world, it became clear to me that the war was evil, and that we are called to active nonviolence in transforming any violence. The MPT conducts training to provide knowledge and skill for the work. We also attempt to educate the public through presentations to groups and churches. The world has seen the results of peaceful revolution in recent years in the Philippines, Russia, the Ukraine, and Georgia, for example.
Want to find out how you can help promote social justice? visit www.dioceseoflansing.org and click on the “Catholic Charities” link. Contact: Cristo Rey Parish, www.cristoreylansing.catholicweb.com, 517.394.8090 Michigan Peace Team, www.michiganpeaceteam.org, 517.484.3178 Lifespan, www.rtl-lifespan.org, 810.220.LIFE
Find daily changing news and essays on FAITHmag.com.
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heads I go north, tails I go south
how spiritual direction can help us make choices s p i r i t u a l
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rusting the flip of a coin can be OK if you really do not have a particular destination in mind, or if two choices seem equally good. However, it is not a good idea to approach your spiritual life like this. Imagine a person flipping a coin to determine whether to get married, or enter religious life, or to change jobs. Life is too important and sacred to be resolved by the toss of a coin. Our choices place us on a certain spiritual road with a certain spiritual direction. Ultimately, it’s God’s choice that gets us to heaven, but our choices either assist or confound God’s choice to draw us near. We have freedom and need to use it wisely. It is easy to lose our way. We can become frustrated, confused and wonder which way to go. A coin toss is tempting! At least the answer is right there. Fortunately, God knows our the body of Christ. St Teresa of needs and provides for our direcAvila was asked whether it would tion in many ways. One classic be better to have a holy director or way is through spiritual direction, a wise director. She said, “Hopein which a fellow Christian offers fully both holy and wise, but better herself to listen and help a person wise if not holy!” identify how God is speaking to In some ways, the title “spiritual him. A spiritual director assists the director” is a misnomer, since the seeker to hear God’s Holy Spirit is the real word and to put it Spiritual directors director. People who into practice through expect spiritual direccan be bishops, encouragement priests, deacons, tors to give a quick and accountability. and easy answer to religious sisters Spiritual direction is their problems will or brothers and truly a gift from God. be disappointed. A lay people. In Not everyone can do spiritual director is other words, it. Those who discern spiritual direction not an all-knowing this gift in themselves is a charism of the guru, but will help and respond to God’s Holy Spirit that is the person listen to movement in their given to individu- God for the answer. own lives receive als throughout the A wise director may special training and are body of Christ. offer good insights and themselves walking as point out where God’s pilgrims along the road of personal wisdom is revealed in Scripture conversion to Jesus. Most retreat and church teaching, but ulticenters have experienced spiritual mately, it is the individual who directors available, or can help needs to wrestle with God, as did find one. Spiritual directors can be Jacob. (Gen 32) What is essential bishops, priests, deacons, religious is hearing the word of God and sisters or brothers and lay people. keeping it. Spiritual direction will In other words, spiritual direction assist in this endeavor and help a is a charism of the Holy Spirit that person reach the goal we all seek: is given to individuals throughout complete union with God. FAITH Magazine
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ual fitne fitness Spiritual Exercise
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his month I want you to take a retreat. Yes, for a whole month! St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, put together a one-month, directed prayer experience called Spiritual Exercises. Most of you probably cannot go away for a month to pray. If you can, do it! But St. Ignatius developed a similar directed prayer to do at home. (Visit the Manresa Center in Detroit at www.manresa-sj.org for more details.) It consists of similar mediations – just extended over a longer period of time. Now, if you are just not ready to take the deeper dive into the complete exercises of St. Ignatius, consider working through the following outline of prayer and meditations. They are based on the Spiritual Exercises and will help open your heart to the grace of the Lord. During this directed prayer, many people have found keeping a journal to be helpful. You may also want to consider finding a spiritual director to help you through the exercises on your own.
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Prayer of Week 1: The wonder of God, the purpose of creation and my purpose. During this week, prayer will focus on awareness of God’s creation and my place in it. The prayer time may deal with the following questions: Why did God create the universe and humanity? What is my purpose? How does sin thwart God’s plan for me? How much do I desire to be free of my sin? You can focus on one of these questions each day in your prayer time. God wants to heal the damage of sin within us. We begin a process of healing sin by becoming aware of it – naming it and confronting it within ourselves. Read Gen 1-2, Ps 8, Ps 139, John 1, Rom 1:18-32, Heb 1, Col 1, Rev 4, 21. End the week by celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation. Prayer of Week 2: The life of Jesus. During this week, pick stories about Jesus from the Gospels. Meditate on them and write down what Jesus says to you as you walk with him through his life. The joyful and luminous mysteries of the rosary could also be used.
Most of you probably cannot go away for a month to pray. If you can, do it!
T. Gennara
These exercises are divided over a four-week (more or less) period of time. God may want a person to spend a little more time focusing on the meditations of a particular week, so please do not approach this outline as though it must be strictly followed. Remember it is the Holy Spirit that dwells in our hearts who truly knows how we are to pray. Let the Holy Spirit be the real guide. This requires us to be attentive and listen to what God is saying to us within. One can usually discern this by what happens in prayer. If one is experiencing greater contrition, greater love for God and people, a greater desire to renounce self and live by the cross of Jesus, that is a good sign that prayer is going well. Keep at it. If those particular consolations are drying up, yet the fruit of the consolations – a greater desire to love God’s will – is present, the Holy Spirit usually prompts one to move on to the next period of prayer. To begin prayer during any of the weeks, make the sign of the cross and pray the Our Father slowly with love and devotion. Ask for the grace to meditate well and ask the Lord to be your teacher.
Prayer of Week 3: The death of Jesus. During this week, pray through any of the accounts of Jesus’ passion found in the Gospels. Meditating on the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary could also be helpful. The gift of this week is a greater love for Jesus and a greater resolve to conform one’s will to Jesus’. Prayer of Week 4: The Resurrection. Pray through the account of the Lord’s resurrection and ascension; and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. You can find these accounts in the Gospels and in Acts. Pray this prayer daily: Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty; my memory; my understanding; all that I have and possess; my entire will. You have given all these things to me, and to you, O Lord, I freely return them. All is yours now. Dispose of them wholly according to your will. Please, Lord, give me your love and grace. That is enough for me. – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh
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Happy Anniversary Priests of our diocese who are celebrating 25th and 50th anniversaries of ordination a n n i v e r s a r i e s
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Father Louis Komorowski, Ordained June 9, 1956
Priestly journey: A native of Temperance, Michigan, Father Louis has devoted 50 years in the service of the church as an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales. After receiving a degree in biology from Catholic University in 1957, he joined the faculty of St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo, where he taught until 1971. Throughout his priestly career, Father Louis maintained a close relationship with the parish of St. Mary of Good Counsel in Adrian, an association that began in 1958. Father Louis lives at the parish and continues to serve the families there.
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Times change: “The biggest change in the past 50 years is the way the people want and need priests,” Father Louis says. “Earlier, there was more of a sacramental approach – we were there to bring the sacraments to the people. But today people see me as a member of the community. We are more in touch with the people.” Summing up with Scripture: Father Louis says he can just hear Jesus saying the words from Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
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Father Stan Czarnota Ordained December 22, 1956
Priestly journey: A native of Poland, Father Stan was ordained at the age of 22 in Lublin in 1956. For nearly 20 years, he stayed in Poland, teaching full-time and also working as an assistant pastor and pastor in several parishes. “At that time, all priests were educators and we taught in the government schools,” he explains, “but when Communism took over, priests were no longer permitted to teach.” Immigrating to the United States in 1975, Father Stan first came to the Flint area at the invitation of a parish priest. In 1980, he became a U.S. citizen. To show his appreciation for his new country, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for eight years as a chaplain. From 1988 to 2003, Father Stan was chaplain for Sparrow Health System’s Dimondale Center nursing home.
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Life as a priest: “It is much more than I expected,” Father Stan says. “I never knew priests were so valuable to the people. Especially in the Navy and in the hospital, I was able to be with people who needed me. My door was always open. I never said ‘no.’” Summing up with Scripture: When Father Stan first heard the words in Matthew 16:24-25, he decided to follow Jesus: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me 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 will find it.”
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Father Tom Nenneau Ordained September 12, 1981
Priestly journey: “In high school, almost all of my teachers were priests or seminarians,” he says. “I respected them and thought it would be a good life.” Father Tom followed his yearning and moved to Lansing in 1969, entering the seminary through “In high school, the Diocese of Lansing. After his ordina- almost all of my tion in 1981, he began a priestly career teachers were that has called him to seven parishes, priests or seminarincluding St. Mary in Mt. Morris, where ians,” he says. “I rehe now serves as pastor, fulfilling his spected them and longtime wish. “As an associate pasthought it would be tor, my goal was to become pastor of a a good life.” small, rural parish,” he says. Along with his service to the church, Father Tom has served in the U.S. Naval Reserve since 1984, reaching the rank of commander. He calls his Navy service “a significant part of my priestly career,” enabling him to work with people of all faiths and in a variety of circumstances.
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Filling a need: Father Tom’s experiences as both a Navy chaplain and a parish priest have taught him that “people are people. As a priest, the expectations are not much different from place to place.” Summing up with Scripture: Father Tom’s favorite Scripture, John 14:2-3, is a reminder of the personal nature of our relationship with Jesus: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” By Marybeth Hicks
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Father Mark Inglot Ordained September 12, 1981
Priestly journey: Father Mark left his hometown of Flint at age 18 to attend Michigan State University. While a student at MSU, he joined St. John Student Parish, where he was encouraged to discern his priestly vocation. After graduating in 1977, Father Mark enrolled at St. John Major Seminary and the University of Detroit. He earned two graduate degrees and was ordained in 1981. “I decided to try the seminary for one year, but four years flew by before I knew it,” he recalls. His assignments in the Diocese of Lansing have included parishes in Brighton, Lansing and Ann Arbor (“The bishop sent me to St. Francis of Assisi as a Spartan missionary.”) before landing back where his vocation began: MSU and St. John Student Parish. He has served as pastor there for the past six years.
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An unexpected life: “I never knew what a wonderful life it would be as a priest,” Father Mark says. “I’ve never been bored or lonely. I’m with people at their most memorable and sacred moments. I can have a day that includes a baptism, a funeral and a wedding, sharing the whole spectrum of life.” Summing up with Scripture: Father Mark’s priestly vocation is captured in the words of John 21:17: “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ (Jesus) said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
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Father Gregg Pleiness Ordained September 12, 1981
Priestly journey: Twenty-five years ago, Father Gregg made two lifelong commitments – one to the priesthood, and another to the Army National Guard. His life and vocation have been defined by those commitments ever since. “I’ve spent most of my priestly career in parishes along the US-23 corridor,” Father Gregg says. His assignments have included parishes in Brooklyn and Jackson, and he is now the pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Howell, the “best kept secret” in Livingston County, where he has been since 1999. “I have every intention of dying here in 50 or 60 years,” Father Gregg says wryly. He still is active in the Guard, as well.
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Getting attached: Father Gregg says he wouldn’t change anything about his priestly journey, especially his propensity to get attached to the people he serves. While some might hold back their emotions to avoid the pain of leaving a parish community, Father Gregg decided long ago to embrace the heartache of moving from place to place. “I asked God to never let the hurt go away, because I want to love people enough to feel sorry when it’s time to move on.” Summing up with scripture: Father Greg calls John 17 “Jesus’ last will and testament – it’s what he wants from us.” John 17: 20-21: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”
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Father John Aduba Ordained October 31, 1981
Priestly journey: Father John became a priest in his hometown of Ubulu-Okiti, Nigeria and worked as a pastor in several parishes before coming to the United States to attend Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. After earning graduate degrees in theology and counseling, Father John came to the Diocese of Lansing and was assigned the chaplaincy for Flint area hospitals. His duties also grew to include pastoral work in several parishes, in addition to his role in multiple health-care institutions. Currently, he is chaplain in Jackson for two hospitals and eight nursing homes, as well as a regular assistant at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish.
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Every life is sacred: Father John’s vocation has called him to experience the moment of death with countless people, a time of intimacy he is grateful to share with families. “The experience of death is the same for every human person,” he says. “As a chaplain, God challenges me to think about my own mortality and my own life by sharing the sacred life of the people I serve.” His work is “exhausting, challenging, humbling,” he says. “But every life is unique and everyone has a story to tell.” Summing up with Scripture: “God always protects me in the midst of the unknown,” Father John says. He’s glad he answered the call. Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said; ‘send me!’”
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Fasting for those who are hungry
A different experience of Mardi Gras Volunteers from St. Mary Church in Chelsea and St. Mary Church in Manchester arrived in hurricane-ravaged Ocean Springs, Ala. just in time for Mardi Gras. They worked with residents and other volunteers to “muck out” houses – hauling household contents to the curb, and removing waterdamaged drywall, flooring and insulation. They also installed ceiling fans, toilets and sinks, repaired lights and wiring. After their hard work, they were invited to attend the Biloxi Mardi Gras Parade, an important community celebration. The volunteers were moved by the gratitude of area residents, and overwhelmed by the scope of destruction with which those residents are coping.
Shroud of Turin exhibit tours Lansing area The Knights of Columbus sponsored an area tour of the Shroud of Turin exhibit, which features a life-sized replica of the cloth believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus. The exhibit was at local parishes during Holy Week, including St. Casimir Parish in Lansing, where this photo was taken. The 14’3” long piece of fabric shows the front and back images of a man who appears to have been crucified. FAITH Magazine
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june readings Sunday, June 4 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104:1ab,24 ac,29 bc30,31,34 1 Cor 12:3b7,12-13 or Gal 5:16-25 John 20:19-23 or John 15:2627;16:12-15 Sunday, June 11 The Most Holy Trinity Deut 4:3234,39-40 Ps 33:46,9,18,20,22 Rom 8:14-17 Matt 28:16-20 Sunday, June 18 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Exod 24:3-8 Ps 116:1213,15-18 Heb 9:11-15 Mark 14:1216,22-26 Sunday, June 25 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Job 38:1,8-11 Ps 107:2326,28-31 2 Cor 5:14-17 Mark 4:35-41
On March 24 and 25, teens from St. John Catholic Church, Howell, participated in the World Vision 30-hour famine. The group raised more than $2,000 for World Vision, a charitable organization that aids those who are in poverty. Raising the money also met a challenge set for them by the youth minister, Jonathan Hill. As his part of the bargain, his head was shaved on March 29.
Sister President at Siena Heights University Sister Mary Margaret “Peg” Albert, OP, Ph.D., was named the 10th president of Siena Heights University on April 12. With her selection, she becomes the first Adrian Dominican sister to be appointed president of the university since 1969. Siena Heights is a co-educational Catholic university located in Adrian. Sister Albert holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology; and master’s and doctorate degrees in social work. She has served as executive vice-president of Barry University in Florida.
Holy Family School is 50! Holy Family School is celebrating 50 years of Catholic education in Grand Blanc. During Catholic Schools Week, students received gold coins to symbolize the golden anniversary. On March 16, Bishop Mengeling celebrated Mass with students, teachers and special guests who included four of the school’s past principals. A reception followed. On March 19, an open house was held for all Holy Family parishioners, and a Grandparents Day on May 12. Holy Family School strives to keep the faith by teaching the faith.
A hurricane of cleaning in New Orleans During February, a group of volunteers from the Diocese of Lansing spent a week cleaning up some of the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. They ripped out drywall to the wall studs and sprayed chemicals to kill black mold. By the end of a week, they were tired – but knew they had made a difference. If you wish to volunteer, contact Keith Phillips at 517.669.3097 for information.
June 2006
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c o m m u n i t y
It’s a mystery
things to do:
Mark Edwards, a Powers High School graduate, has published a young-adult mystery novel, The Saint’s Bones. The book is particularly targeted to readers age 10-15. The Saint’s Bones is the story of students at a Catholic school who are blessed with supernatural powers and are learning to us them to do good. One of FAITH’s teen readers pronounced this book, “awesome.”
Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary! The evangelization committee at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, recognizes parishioners by celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries. Each month, volunteers call on registered parishioners who are celebrating a birthday or anniversary during that month and invite them to a special celebration after Mass. The committee takes turns baking cakes, and also provides party hats and name tags. A happy result for everyone is that Mass attendance has increased and the afterMass party is packed.
Livingston County Catholic Social Services reaccredited Livingston County Catholic Social Services, Inc. has been reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation. COA accreditation attests that an organization meets the highest national standards and is delivering the best quality services to the community it serves.
Requiescat in pace Father Edward O’Grady passed into eternal life on April 25. Father O’Grady served in a variety of parishes in the Diocese of Lansing, including St. Alphonsus, Deerfield; St. Anthony, Hillsdale; St. Catherine Laboure, Concord and St. Joseph, Irish Hills.
Evangelization Minute Family can be a powerful influence for sharing faith, returning to the church, supporting a person’s search for meaning or discerning an important decision. Grandparents can read a Bible story to their grandchildren. One can listen with care and interest to an adult sibling who is struggling with an issue or discerning a major decision. Parents can bless their children and tell them of God’s love for them at the end of the day. Anyone can encourage nieces and nephews at family gatherings. Let the Holy Spirit work through you to share God’s word simply and eloquently in these special family moments. – Peter Ries
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flint, is hosting a Koinonia weekend retreat, June 2-4. Registration deadline is May 19. Call Father Nelson at 810.787.5701. Fiesta Mexicana, an annual celebration at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flint, is scheduled for June 15-18. Thurs. and Fri. events from 3-11 p.m.; Sat. from noon to 11 p.m.; Sun. from noon to 10 p.m. The church is located at G-2316 W. Coldwater Rd., Flint. Young Adult Picnic, for those 18-38 years old, will be held Sun., July 9 at Holy Redeemer Parish, Burton. Picnic from noon to 5 p.m. Outdoor parish Mass at 5 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m. featuring Steve Angrisano. $5 donation. R.S.V.P. by June 28 to Kimmel Burden, Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, Mich., 48933. Singer Steve Angrisano will perform at two concerts in July, both of which are open to the public. July 8, 4:30 Mass followed by concert, St. Mary Parish, Chelsea; July 9, 7 p.m., Holy Redeemer Parish, Burton. If it’s summertime and Wednesday, it’s time for Vacation Bible School at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn. June 7,14,21,28 and July 5. Call 517.467.2183 for more information. Rummage Sale, June 14-16, at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn. $1 per bag. Wed. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-noon. A Jubilee Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Mary on the Lake Parish, Manitou Beach, is scheduled for Sat., June 17 at 5 p.m. A reception follows. Bishop Carl Mengeling will preside, and Father Paul Grehl will concelebrate.
June Café events Approaches to Christian Prayer, including centering prayer, guided meditation and journaling prayer, will be offered at St. Francis Parish, Ann Arbor, June 21 and June 28, 7-9 p.m. Janene Ternes of Prayer in Motion is facilitating. Contact 734.429.7754. St. Patrick Parish, Brighton, is offering a six-week study of the sacraments. June 8-July 13 from 7-9 p.m. Register at the parish office, 810.229.9863.
What’s happening at the St. Francis Retreat Center? St. Francis Retreat Center celebrates 50 years of ministry in the Diocese of Lansing. A golden jubilee Mass and lunch are scheduled for Sun., June 25, beginning at 1 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Mengeling and the priests of the diocese; an open house and buffet lunch follow. All events are under cover. Divorced/Separated Retreat, for those who have experienced a divorce or are in the process of getting divorced. July 12. The retreat will focus on the fact that there are always new beginnings. In a religious sense, a Resurrection is possible for every loss or death. Call 866 669-8321.
In the photo on page 14, the bishop is on the far left in the second row.
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FAITH talks to Amy Welborn, author of Decoding DaVinci F A I T H
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n May 19, The DaVinci Code film hits the big screen. The movie, based on Dan Brown’s controversial best-selling novel, has sparked debate about what’s real and what’s not in this popular story. FAITH talked with Amy Welborn, author of Decoding DaVinci: The facts behind the fiction of the DaVinci Code, The DaVinci Code Mysteries: What the Movie Doesn’t Tell You and De-coding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend, And Lies. She travels the country speaking about The DaVinci Code’s myths and misconceptions. FAITH: What sparked your interest in The DaVinci Code? Amy Welborn: I wasn’t interested in it at all. As far as I’m concerned, the book could exist and be a best-seller and that wouldn’t bother me at all. But the fact is that my experience has shown that a number of readers who are taking the historical assertions within The DaVinci Code seriously. They believe them for good or ill – it either disturbs them or pleases them. I prefer to characterize what I do not as a response to the book or movie, but a response to the questions people have. My e-mails and the calls I get during radio shows clearly indicate that many people believe The DaVinci Code represents serious history, and it doesn’t. The most common topic seems to be the purported marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalen. How do we know Jesus wasn’t married? The simplest answer is that there’s no evidence for it. The Gospels are very forthright about many aspects of Jesus’ personal life – perhaps not as many as we 21st century gossip mavens would like, but they present his family. They present very honestly his tensions with his family, who do not understand him. They present his contentious relationship with the people of his hometowns of Nazareth and Capernaum. They describe his circle – all the apostles are named. The women who follow him are named, including Mary Magdalen. And Mary Magdalen herself, aside from Mary the mother of FAITH Magazine
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June 2006
Jesus, is the most prominent female figure to appear in the Gospels. She’s there at very important points; if they’d been married, there’d have been no reason to conceal it. There are also lots of traditions and legends about the apostolic era, some of which are purely legendary and some of which are not. And there’s not a marriage of Jesus to anybody mentioned in any of them. It’s a 20th-century fantasy. And what would you say to people who cite the absence of a mention of marriage as evidence that Jesus would have been, as a normal Jewish man, married? For example, Paul specifically mentions and explains his own unmarried state. And although Peter’s wife is not mentioned either, we know Peter was married because Scripture says he had a mother-in-law. I think people are determined to find fire where there isn’t any. The evidence is not there from any perspective. I really emphasize the extra-biblical traditions. They’re not all accurate, but they do reflect things. For example, the extrabiblical tradition is where we get the names of Joachim and Anne
for Jesus’ grandparents. When you search that tradition, there’s nothing in it to suggest that Jesus was married. And there’s another thing that people who call themselves Christian need to think about. I hear people say, “Well, it wouldn’t bother me if Jesus was married.” When people say that, they’re revealing their lack of understanding of Christian theology. The fact is that Jesus is married. Jesus is married to the church. And to say that Jesus was married to a woman reveals an extraordinarily diminished sense of who Jesus is. To people like that, I guess he really is nothing more than a teacher. Because when you look at the Scriptures, both the Old Testament and the New, marriage is a fundamental metaphor of God’s relationship with his people. And this extends to Jesus. Christ is married to his church; we all have the “holy blood line” running through our veins. It diminishes cosmology and Christology to suggest that Jesus was married to By Elizabeth Solsburg
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faith or reason? do we have to choose or can we have both? l a s t
a woman, because it cuts us off from this transformative relationship between God and us, which is embodied in Christ. Even the most liberal scholars do not find any evidence that Jesus was married. What are some of the other significant errors in the book and movie to which you’d like to draw people’s attention? Well, I think it’s very important for people to understand that The DaVinci Code scenario in which Dan Brown says that early Christians did not believe Jesus was divine until Constantine forced it on them in 325 is just patently false. The idea that the establishment of what we would call Christian orthodoxy was politically motivated is the same. People say that one story “won” because the people involved wanted power, and so we don’t know what really happened. This kind of nihilism isn’t based on anything and is deeply illogical. If the people who won, the “Peter Party,” as Brown called it, were intent on promoting their story to get power, they must have been crazy. Because the power they got was martyrdom. And if the winners wanted to diminish, demean and hide the role of Mary Magdalen, as is claimed, they didn’t
do a very good job. As many people have observed, if you were going to make up a story that you were trying to get people to believe, in that culture you wouldn’t have the first witnesses of that story be women. It’s totally counterintuitive. You have to apply logic to many of these assertions – all I ask is that people think them through. For 30 or 40 years, we (Catholics and Protestants) have decided that the core of religious education needs to be, “Tell us how you feel about this Bible passage.” And that just doesn’t cut it – because when the first kind of intriguing, authoritative-sounding thing comes along, people buy it. Any thoughts on the movie, besides why Tom Hanks has such a bad haircut? As far as the film, I’m really not into boycotting, but I would tell people that if you want to use the opportunity of the The DaVinci Code to have dialogue and evangelize, that’s great. But don’t feel you have to give money to the project, especially the first weekend. Don’t go see the movie on opening weekend, because that’s what they’re looking for. You can dialogue on this without seeing it. There is life beyond The DaVinci Code.
w o r d
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hen do my doubts make me no longer a Catholic? To answer that question we must first set aside two things: 1 Our feelings. Feelings are simply feelings; they are not decisions. It requires a deliberate decision to leave the church, a decision that has been thought over and then manifested in an open, discernible action. 2 Our understanding of excommunication. Actual excommunication is a canonical procedure that is rarely used – not a simple, summary judgment, except in rare cases of open and blatant actions that attack the church or its people. Many officious meddlers (both Catholic and non-Catholic) fancy themselves as empowered to declare who is excommunicated and who is not. Ignore them. Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the greatest thinkers in modern times, once wrote, “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.” He was not speaking here of simple doubt, he was speaking about the sort of doubt that is an active denial of what the Catholic Church holds to be a constitutive belief, a belief that is an essential element of the Christian faith. One cannot make an “active denial” by simple mistake or through ignorance. To do so, one must have given thought and deliberation to the denial. What, then, are those beliefs of the church that are constitutive to our faith? They include those beliefs about God, the Trinity, Christ and his church that are set forth in the Apostles’ Creed. We also profess certain beliefs about Mary that flow from the nature of Christ and his redeeming work here among us, including Mary’s position as theotokos, “mother of God.” We believe she was conceived without the stain of original sin (the Immaculate Conception), that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Mary remained ever-virgin, and that she was assumed bodily into heaven. So, before you declare yourself to be no longer a Catholic, you need to realize that there are various levels of Catholic teachings – not all of which are fundamentally and constitutively determinative of whether or not you are a Catholic. A long talk with a knowledgeable priest will help you. Don’t leave us quickly and easily. There may be more to understanding the church’s positions than you think. – Fr. Charles Irvin
To read the rest of Amy Welborn’s comments, visit www.FAITHmag.com.
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Hundreds of ministries are supported by DSA Catholic Charities: Life Justice, Natural Family Planning, Restorative Justice, Black Catholic and Multicultural Ministry, Hispanic & Migrant Ministries, Catholic Deaf/ HH Ministry, Ministry with Persons with disAbiliies, Outreach Catholic Charities Agencies: Catholic Charities of Jackson, Catholic Charities of Shiawassee & Genesee Counties, St. Vincent Catholic Charities of Lansing, Catholic Charities of Lenawee, Catholic Social Services of Livingston, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw, Catholic Outreach, Cristo Rey Community Center Chancery Services: Bishop’s Office (The Curia), Diocesan Archives, Diocesan Legal Advisor, Diocesan Tribunal, Council of Vicars, Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, Vicar for Religious, Scholarships for Religious, Office of Missions Communications: Media
Contact, TV Outreach Mass, DioceseofLansing.org, video production, Voices Alive Newsletter, In-house Publishing Education and Catechesis: Catechesis, Evangelization, Family Life, Catholic Schools’ central administration and instructional programs, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry, Office of Worship FAITH Magazine: FAITH magazine, FAITHteen, FAITHhelps, FAITHmag.com, online Discussion Forums. Finance: Development, Building Commission, Real Estate, Diocesan Property Management, Environmental Issues, Information Technology Services, Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA), Central Services Accounting, Parish Audit Services, Stewardship Initiative, Copy/Mail Services, Parish Capital Campaign Council, Building Services
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Other: Hospital Ministry, Sacred Heart Chapel, Council of Catholic Women, Support of Infirm and Retired Priests, Presbyteral Council, St. Francis Retreat Center, Bethany House, Priests’ Special Ministry Assignments, Support of the USCCB and the Holy See
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On Radio: Mass, 11 a.m. on WJIM 1240 AM
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editor zapped by God?
is faith a bolt of lightning or a quiet whisper? f r o m
I
t fh r eo m e d ti ht o e r e d i t o r
received the sacrament of confirmation during my sophomore year in high school. I don’t know if that would have happened if not for some sage advice offered to me by my mother just a few weeks before confirmation.
Like most confirmation candidates, I had attended classes, done my homework, gone on retreat and had undertaken a couple of service projects – all as part of my preparation for confirmation. I was reluctant to schedule my final interview in advance of confirmation. Somehow, I had gotten it in my mind that, by that point, I should have had some sort of big “lightning bolt” experience of God’s presence in my life. In all honesty, up to that time in my life, nothing could have been further from the truth. Reflecting on my vast life history at the age of 14, my experience of God seemed pretty All of us have had mundane – no lightning bolts that I could recall. Instead, it seemed to me that God was being rather quiet in this whole ordeal of preparmoments when someone’s well- ing for confirmation. My sophomore logic told me that since there had been no bolts of lightning, there was little point in requesting timed words of the sacrament until such time that God zapped me, letting me know advice – often inspired by God the time was right. This whole state of affairs was brought to my mom’s attention – have helped us to overcome that when my small group leader for confirmation preparation called to doubt so that we make sure I scheduled my final interview. When asked why I had not yet taken the initiative to do so, I explained my reasoning to are able to continue growing more my mother. Instead of reading me the riot act, Mom reminded me deeply in relation- about what has since become one of my favorite passages in Scripship with God and ture: (“The angel of the Lord) said (to Elijah), ‘Go out and stand on with one another. the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” (1 Kings 19:11-13) I had allowed doubt to creep into my mind with regard to my readiness to be confirmed. My mom’s well-timed advice helped to dispel that doubt. There have been many times since when I have learned to listen for God’s still voice rather than allowing myself to be distracted by the wind, the earthquake or the fire. All of us have moments of doubt – is this what I’m truly meant to do with my life? Is this the choice that will be best for everyone involved? What if I don’t do or say anything? All of us have had moments when someone’s well-timed words of advice – often inspired by God – have helped us to overcome that doubt so that we are able to continue growing more deeply in relationship with God and with one another. And so our journey in FAITH continues.
T. Gennara
– Fr. Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude.
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inside
30 what you’ll get out of this issue • Dear Fr. Joe: I know this couple is living in sin. Who should I tell? 6 in the know with Fr. Joe – Fr. Joseph Krupp
• He says “why should I work?” She says “he’s irresponsible.” What do they do? 8 your marriage matters – Deb McCormack
• Why don’t you trust me? How do parents respond when children lie? 9 the parenting journey
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– Dr. Cathleen McGreal
c o v e r
A voice crying in the wilderness – Sister Monica speaks out for a public policy of justice
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s t o r y the map reader Mary Tardif helps others find the road to God Mary Tardif is a spiritual director – a fellow traveler on the spiritual path to God. Read about Mary’s gentle gift of drawing people into the Spirit. – Marybeth Hicks
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p r o f i l e social justice: conservative? liberal? or just what Jesus would do? – meet Father Fred Thelen, Judy Zabik and Father Pete Dougherty Meet three activists who sound clarion calls for all of us to follow – peace, respect and a reverence for life. Find out how their response to God’s presence makes the world a better place for others.
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– Bob Horning
Sister Monica directs the Michigan Catholic Conference, the voice of the church in the halls of government. Learn more about how the MCC works and what effect the church can have on public policy in our state and in our nation. – Nancy Schertzing
• Do I need a personality transplant? My boss says my lack of enthusiasm is keeping me back. 11 work life – Tim Ryan • A step-by-step guide through the church’s liturgies. 12 theology 101 – Elizabeth Solsburg
• When in doubt seek wise counsel and trust in God. 14 from the bishop – Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling
• Heads I go north, tails I go south – how spiritual direction can help us make choices. 24 spiritual fitness – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh
• Priests of our diocese who are celebrating 25th and 50th anniversaries of ordination 26 priestly anniversaries • An interview with the author of Decoding DaVinci: The Facts behind the Fiction of the DaVinci Code 30 FAITH exclusive • Doubt or heresy? How much can I question and still be Catholic? 31 last word – Fr. Charles Irvin
Liturgical Calendar: St. Justin, Martyr June 1 | Ss. Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs June 2 | St. Charles Lwanga and his companions, Martyrs June 3 | Pentecost June 4
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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing
Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER
Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR
June 2006 • Volume 7 : Issue 4
Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR IN CHIEF
letters s l e t t e r s
Patrick M. O’Brien MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg ASSISTANT EDITOR/STAFF WRITER
Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR/WEB DESIGNER
Jillane Job SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY
Patricia Oliver SECRETARY
Rev. William Ashbaugh Tom and JoAnne Fogle Marybeth Hicks Bob Horning Elizabeth Johnson Rev. Joseph Krupp Deb McCormack Cathleen McGreal John Morris Rick and Diane Peiffer Tim Ryan Nancy Schertzing Allena Tapia Sara Teller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Derek Melot Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING
Tom Gennara James Luning (cover) CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Vicki Bedard Wayne Case Patricia Garcia Mary Jo Gillilland Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez Dcn. David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple
A note of gratitude Dear Father Joe: I am writing to let you know that [your March column] has saved my life and my spirit. ... God spoke the words I needed to hear through you and the knowledge you shared. I have been in a physically and mentally abusive marriage for the last two years and I believed I was living my faith by forgiving and reconciling. I understand we are to forgive but did not know “that if the person continues to live and act in a way that is harmful to our human dignity, we must forgive him but we cannot reconcile with him.” ... I now know that I
have to protect my God-given human dignity. To do otherwise would demean who God intended me to be. ... I obtained an emergency restraining order [and] ... I am now in the process of putting me and my life back together. I pray to God to “help me to hold on and to help me to let go.” I am starting over and will stay close to God and the church for guidance. Once again, I thank you for helping me realize what I have been doing and giving me the courage and insight to live up to what God expects of me. Please pray for me and others in my position.
And again, thank-you Dear Father Ashbaugh: I have never understood confession – until I read your article. Yes, I have had confession many times and do feel a sense of relief. Several times I have even cried. However, until I read this article, I had never truly understood why! Now, I see that it is really the freedom [described] in Psalm 32; also, the passage in Luke 1:68-69. ... I just wanted to thank you and let you know you’ve helped guide my life. I think we’re all looking for understanding, forgiveness and salvation. Thank you again for the wonderful article.
– Chris
– Linda Sims
We want to hear from you!
ADVISORY BOARD
FAITH Publishing Ser vice Rev. Dwight Ezop CHAIRMAN
Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Beverly Sherman SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Enomhen Odigie GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN
InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT
FAITHPublishingService.com FAITH™ (USPS 019993) is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. Published monthly except February and August. Subscription rates are $15 per year. Individual issues are $2.50. Send all subscription information and address changes to 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933; 517. 342.2595; fax 517.342.2537 or e-mail jjob@dioceseoflansing.org. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: FAITH™, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. ©FAITH Publishing Service. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service.
Subscriptions: 1.517.342.2595
Letters to the editor can be sent to: Editor FAITH Magazine 209 Seymour Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 Or send us an e-mail: esolsburg@ faithpublishingservice.com St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr June 5 | St. Norbert, Bishop June 6 | St. Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor June 9 | St. Anthony
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s web s saint ai Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad
I’m the computer geek
a pioneer for ecumenism
around my house o n l i n e
a t
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f a i t h m a g . c o m
T
T. Gennara
I can’t watch a movie on our DVD player because I’m the one person in the house who doesn’t know how it works. I can put a disc in it – I have a college degree, after all – but when I press “play” there’s never a picture on the TV screen, only a bright blue background. No matter how many buttons I press or how many remote-control pads I try, I can never get the movie to play without enlisting help. We have a PlayStation that I don’t know how to use, though the children can make their fingers fly when using the hand-held controls to play games. We also own a karaoke machine that is easy for the children to set up, but I’ve never even tried. There are way too many cable cords with colored tips, the ports for which remain a mystery to me. Game Boy? Forget it. I even had to ask my teenage daughters to teach me how to program my new cell phone and add numbers to my personal telephone directory. By the time
iStock Photo
he drawer in the table next to the command chair in our family room contains at least 107 remote-control devices. OK, maybe not 107. Maybe it’s more like eight, but whatever the exact number, when I open the drawer, it feels as if there are more than we need and certainly more than I know how to operate.
they finished with it, they had changed my ring tone, added photos to my caller I.D. feature and changed my “wallpaper.” Though my 8-year-old knows which buttons on the remote control will adjust the picture on our TV screen, and my teenage daughter instinctively knew how to use the digital camera she received for Christmas without ever reading the directions, I’ve decided I can live a long and happy life without mastering every gadget that comes in the door. Sounds like I’m a little slow when it comes to riding the technology wave, doesn’t it? Not entirely. I’m actually the computer expert in my house, and for good reason.
Why did Marybeth become the family computer geek? Read more on FAITHmag.com.
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Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad Born: June 4, 1870 Died: April 24, 1957 Memorial: June 4 Claim to fame: Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad, a Swedish convert to Catholicism, is credited with restoring the Catholic religious order of the Brigittines to Sweden. The order had been banished during the Protestant Reformation. She is also considered a pioneer in the ecumenical movement. Little-known fact: Mary Elizabeth came to America in the late 1800s, training as a nurse in New York City. She first came in contact with Catholics while caring for workers injured on the building site of the future St. Patrick’s Cathedral. When she was assigned to care for a nun in a convent, she became even more interested in Catholicism. After a powerful experience of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, she was received into the church on Aug. 15, 1902. What made her blessed: Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad worked throughout her life to bring others to Christ through the Catholic Church and through the Brigittine order, which had been established by Sweden’s St. Bridget centuries before. Pope Pius X permitted her to take Brigittine vows in 1906 and re-establish the Brigittine order in Rome, where St. Bridget had established her motherhouse. It was not until 1923 that she was able to open two convents in Sweden. All of her sisters worked and prayed “that all would be one.” During World War II, she sheltered Jews and anti-Fascist politicians in her convent in Rome. Lowest moment: Mary Elizabeth hoped to bring Catholicism back to Sweden, but first she had to convince her family. When she visited her home after her conversion, her parents were distressed by the announcement that she was now a Catholic. Her distraught mother begged her to tell no one about her shameful news. Best quote: “We must nourish a great love for God and our neighbors; a strong love, an ardent love, a love that burns away imperfections, a love that gently bears an act of impatience, or a bitter word; a love that lets an inadvertence or act of neglect pass without comment, a love that lends itself readily to an act of charity.” How she died: Blessed Mary Elizabeth was 86 years old when she died in 1957. Prayer: Dear Lord, I do not ask to see the path. In darkness, in anguish and in fear, I will hang on tightly to your hand, and I will close my eyes, so that you know how much trust I place in you, spouse of my soul. – Elizabeth Johnson
thony of Padua, Priest and Doctor June 13 | The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ June 18 | St. Romuald, Abbot June 19 | St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr June 19
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dear Fr. Joe:
fr. joe j
I know this couple is living in sin. Who should I tell? i n
t h e
k n o w
w i t h
F r .
J o e
Dear Fr. Joe: There’s a couple at church who are living together, even though they’re not married. Is it my responsibility to tell them they cannot receive Communion? Should I alert the pastor to this situation? What IS the difference between fraternal correction and the “speck in your own eye”?
T
his is one of those good, practical questions that is a result of living in community – so, let’s get right to it. Let’s be clear: By living together, this couple may be committing a mortal sin, which places their souls in danger. What you want to figure out is how to handle this in a way that will ultimately help them the most. Christians often tend to mess this up; we forget that it’s about presenting the truth and beauty of the Gospel in such a way that it helps the person. I’ve had complete strangers approach me as a priest and tell me of my sins, and I confess I didn’t sense they were correcting me out of love. This may or may not have been the case, but because we had no relationship, they had little credibility. I didn’t know how to read them, so their words were not helpful. So, the first thing to consider is your relationship with the person. In the end, the question about what to do becomes more about how well you know them. If you don’t know them well, then this is one of those situations where your job is to pray and leave the rest to God, unless they specifically ask you. However, if you know this couple well, this is a perfect opportunity to share with them, in love, your concerns. Start by asking questions; you and I are assuming that there is sexual activity in their relationship. There is a possibility (though I confess it is slim) that they are living as brother and sister after having discussed it with their spiritual leaders. If that is not the case, you can gently let them know how you feel they are damaging their souls. If it is a money issue, perhaps you can offer to help. Share your experience of marriage and commitment and how living together can undermine that. In terms of the pastor, he really can’t do much about the couple living together. Canon law is pretty strict concerning a person’s right to a good reputation, and if someone is denied Communion, a lot of folks will ask why. The guideline we were
A boy was overheard talking to himself as he strode through his back yard, baseball cap in place and toting ball and bat. “I’m the greatest baseball player in the world.” he said proudly. Then he tossed the ball in the air, swung and missed. Undaunted, he picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself, “I’m the greatest baseball player ever!” He swung at the ball again, and again he missed. He paused a moment to examine the bat and ball carefully. Then once again he threw the ball into the air and said, “I’m the greatest baseball player who ever lived.” He swung the bat hard and again missed the ball. “Wow!” he exclaimed. “What a pitcher!” given at seminary was that the sin must be public, persistent and grave in order for us to deny Communion. It is also extremely prudent for the priest to check with his bishop before doing such a thing. It is always going to be a balancing act for us Christians – keeping an eye on our own sinfulness is a substantial enough job; adding the weight of other people’s sins can be too much. We do run the risk of coming across as self-righteous, and in
fact, we run the risk of actually becoming self-righteous. It is important that we pray for God to guide us, and that we balance confrontation, encouragement and self-knowledge. – Fr. Joseph Krupp
Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine 209 Seymour Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com
St. Thomas More, Martyr June 19 | St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop June 22 | The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus June 23 | The Birth of John the Baptist June 24 | St. Cyril of Alexandri
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quiz poll a real knockout! when did Joe Louis become heavyweight champ? h i s t o r y
FAITH asks:
is it hard to believe in God?
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Joe Louis made boxing history as the first African-American heavyweight champ since Jack Johnson when he defeated Jim Braddock in Chicago’s Comiskey Park on June 22, WHAT YEAR? Ironically, Louis also made his mark in the hockey world when the Joe Louis Arena of Detroit was erected in his honor. Marking the first step in a long historical process toward constitutional law, King John of England put his royal seal on the Magna Carta on June 15, WHAT YEAR? The “Great Charter,” the result of a disagreement between the king and the pope concerning the extent of the king’s rule, limited the power of English monarchs. Officially declaring peace at the end of World War I, the ‘Big Three’ (and we’re not talking cars!) – David Lloyd George of Great Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson of America − signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 18, WHAT YEAR? Determined to correct certain abuses in the church, Pope Benedict XII issued the encyclical Summi Magistri on June 20, WHAT YEAR? The historical issuance required that each monastery provide teaching within its walls. It lasted until 1545.
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We asked first-grade students at St. John School in Fenton about their faith lives – Is it sometimes hard for you to believe in God? How can you help other people believe in God?
Emma, age 7: Sometimes it’s hard to believe in God. I can help other people believe by telling them that he’s serious!
Brenna, age 6: Sometimes it’s hard to believe. I can help others by talking to them and telling them, “Just try to believe in God.”
Noah, age 7: No it’s not hard to believe in God. I can help others believe by singing a song about God.
Answers: 1937, 1215, 1919, 1336
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More ways your DSA donation helps support the Diocese of Lansing
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ou’ve recently received a special issue of FAITH that describes some of the fine work supported by your donations to the DSA. Here is another important ministry you should know about; it is vital to our diocese, and depends on your generous gift to the Diocesan Services Appeal:
Office of Pastoral Planning The Office of Pastoral Planning implements the seven major goals that resulted from the
of Mass attendees in the United States are female. – CARA, Winter 2005
VOICES process. The pastoral plan, named VOICES Alive, is a direct response to the expressed needs of the people of the diocese. Sister Rita Wenzlick guided the diocese through the VOICES process, and continues to direct the Office of Pastoral Planning. The diocese has implemented the goals of VOICES in a variety of ways – by encouraging adult faith formation, promoting vocations and assisting parishes to work collaboratively, to name a very few.
What do you think? Log on to FAITHmag.com then click FAITH forums to discuss this and other interesting topics.
A complete list of diocesan ministries supported by the DSA is on the back cover of this issue xandria, Bishop and Doctor June 27 | St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr June 28 | Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles June 29 | The First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church June 30
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marriage
he says ... she says ...
what should they do?
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Agree on some ground rules when going out on dates, such as not talking about what’s happening at work or with the kids. Avoid areas of conflict unless you both agree it is a good time to discuss a problem. time
Sharing good fortune should be the first part of our family budget. We need to tithe with money and spirit – giving of ourselves in ways we never imagined. This is part of the joy of being a Christ follower!
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he’s irresponsible She says: I had no idea Tim was so lazy. He only works quarter time and refuses to do anything around the house. He expects me to do all of the chores, or “woman’s work,” as he calls it. I don’t care about a difference in salary between us, but I do think Tim should be working his fair share.
why should I work? He says: I’ve worked for a bunch of losers in my time and I’m not doing it again. Joyce seems to think I should just take any job, but most of what’s available is simply beneath me. I’ve talked to my parents and they agree – I wasn’t raised to dig ditches or work in a fast-food restaurant.
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Provide relief for your spouse. Relief in the form of assistance with household chores and normal tasks. This relief pays off in a spouse who’s rested enough to be attentive when you’re together.
im and Joyce have been married for 24 years. They have one child, who is 23 and living on her own. Tim has worked a series of jobs – after the last one, he is now willing to work only part-time. Joyce is working full time and is the primary breadwinner for the family.
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how do parents respond when children lie?
Does your marriage need a shot in the arm? Consider a Marriage Encounter weekend. Visit www.wwme.org for more information.
p a r e n t i n g
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The expert says: Tim’s unwillingness to accept a job that he feels is “beneath him,” and the fact that he is only working part-time when he has the capacity to contribute much more, needs to be examined. I would recommend that Joyce and Tim seek counseling from their pastor or a marriage counselor to have this discussion. Also, they both should seek individual counsel. While it is wonderful that Tim had a privileged childhood, he apparently had little instruction to enable him to become an independent and self-sufficient adult. He must address the unhealthy mentality that a job is “beneath him,” as it only results in unproductive behavior. As man thinks in his heart, so The disciples is he. The disciples questioned questioned which which of them was the greatest; of them was the the very simple reply from Jesus greatest; the very was that the greatest servant is simple reply from the greatest among us. Every Jesus was that the occupation should provide a sergreatest servant vice to someone and should not is the greatest be viewed as “beneath” anyone. among us. Every Tim was served by others as a occupation should child and into adulthood; now provide a service it is time for him to serve. God to someone and calls Tim to care for his famshould not be ily. This is not to say that Joyce viewed as “beshould not work nor make neath” anyone. more money than he does. One simple biblical lesson is this: If man does not work, he does not eat. Tim should remember that, through marriage, he gained a wife to build a life together, not a woman to serve him. Joyce needs to work to resolve the resentful feelings that she has toward Tim. She was aware of Tim’s privileged background and the lack of training in a work ethic, so she’ll need patience as Tim learns to change first his mind-set and then his behavior. I believe gaining a greater understanding of Tim’s thoughts and feelings, along with seeing Tim’s progress, will aid her in the resolution of her feelings. In conclusion, prayer is the most powerful intervention God has given us. Prayer will show Tim and Joyce where and how they can personally improve. Their prayer should focus on improving self and strengthening the marital union. Behavior changes begin with a change in the mind and heart. Prayer changes things! – Cheval Breggins
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In marriage, spouses talk with each other. In good marriages, spouses share feelings and discuss items of interest. In excellent marriages, spouses listen to each other with intensity and compassion. In superior marriages, spouses genuinely care for each other – and do all the above.
D
uring the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, all the lords in Ireland were required to turn over the deeds to their lands. Lord Cormac Teige McCarthy knew that direct defiance was not an option. But certainly there were tasks that needed to be accomplished before he could surrender Blarney Castle! Legend has it that the queen’s representative returned from Ireland several times with a promise of cooperation and a plausible excuse rather than the title to the castle. Finally the queen responded with the now-classic, “More Blarney!” Contemporary tourists flock to kiss the Blarney Stone and acquire the gift of eloquent speech. But every gift has its shadow side. The charm of storytelling is a delight, but deliberate deception hurts relationships.
Moral development is a process From the time a preschooler leaves chocolate-icing fingerprints on a kitchen counter and then claims not to have eaten a cupcake, to the time when a teen describes a trip to the library but the odometer registers five times that distance, parents need to help their children put the words of faith into action. The response to everyday events builds an attitude in the family; we love one another and want to live as followers of Jesus. This means that we need to be able to trust what we say to one another.
When trust is broken When a child lies and privileges are taken away, the response is often, “You don’t trust me!” as if this is outrageous behavior on the part of the parents. The goal, of course, is to get the parents on the defensive so that they will change the consequence for the behavior. However, instead of being cajoled into an argument with a teen, one can simply acknowledge the statement, “Yes, once trust is broken it takes a long time to rebuild.”
Be discreet when telling the truth
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why don’t you trust me?
Marriage Resources:
Our catechism notes that our communications must be based on fraternal love. There are times when it is appropriate to be silent because others don’t always have the right to know what we know. (CCC #2489) Make use of “teachable moments” as they occur in order to help your child understand this distinction. For example, children might accuse parents of lying because they won’t divulge the reasons for a friend’s divorce to an acquaintance who asks for details. Encourage young children as their imaginations create playful stories. Throughout childhood, listen carefully to their stories of friends and school, ask questions and enjoy the embellishments; eventually, in adulthood, they may want to hear the tales of your youth! – Dr. Cathleen McGreal
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top10 what in the world?
a year of blessings
the top-10 Catholic News events this month
the first anniversary of Pope Benedict’s papacy
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Trafficking stopper The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $500,000 contract to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to aid victims of human trafficking.
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Judas denied Santa Fe Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan has warned his people that the widely publicized gnostic Gospel of Judas is a heretical document that contradicts the teachings of the Bible.
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Deadly plunge An overcrowded bus carrying young pilgrims returning from an Easter celebration plunged off a mountain road in southeastern Mexico, killing more than 50 people.
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Bishops mediate Argentine and Uruguayan bishops will mediate a bitter dispute over the construction of two pulp mills in Uruguay that opponents say will cause severe environmental damage.
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Day of rest The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is opposing proposed changes to retailing regulations. Currently, stores have limited Sunday hours, cannot open on Christmas or Easter, and must give workers the right to refuse to work on Sunday.
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The death of Miss Jean Brodie Catholic novelist Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and more than 20 other books, died April 13 in a hospital in Florence, Italy. She was 88.
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A life given to God Sister Karen Klimczak, a Sister of St. Joseph who was murdered April 14 at the Buffalo home where she ministered to ex-convicts, “gave her life in service to her God, her church and the community she loved,” said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo.
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Archbishop knifed Archbishop Kelvin Felix Castries, 73, of St. Lucia, is doing well after being knifed outside his cathedral April 12.
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Corporate giant The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility in New York praised Wal-Mart for publishing detailed data on its minority hiring and promotion practices.
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Records subpoenaed The Supreme Court turned down an appeal by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles of a ruling that allows the Los Angeles district attorney to subpoena records from the archdiocese. FAITH Magazine
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n the first anniversary of his election, Pope Benedict XVI asked people for their continued prayers so that he might carry on his mission to do Christ’s work and be a “gentle and firm shepherd” in leading the universal church. “How time flies,” the pope exclaimed to the 50,000 faithful who packed St. Peter’s Square for his April 19 general audience as he recalled that exactly one year earlier the College of Cardinals elected him to succeed the muchloved and “the great pope, John Paul II.” He said he was still moved by the memory of appearing at the central window of St. Peter’s Basilica right after his election to the cheers of nearly 100,000 people jammed into the square. The pope said the huge outpouring of support displayed in
that and other gatherings “has stuck in my mind and heart.” He said the grace of God and the prayers and help of all people, near and far, have given him the strength to accomplish a mission that “alone I could never carry out.” The pope said seeing the large presence of pilgrims at his public appearances gives him the feeling that the faithful are there with him, helping him. Their presence shows “I am in great communion (with you), and together we can carry forward the Lord’s mission,” he said.
June 2006
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worldwork world w work do I need a personality transplant? my boss says my lack of enthusiasm is keeping me back w o r k
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Jim is a computer programmer in a large computer service company.
To boycott or not? Different approaches to immigration reform Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony asked people not to support a boycott of work, school and businesses planned for May 1 to draw attention to immigration issues. Some organizations that are working to bring attention to pending immigration legislation are following up several weeks’ worth of massive rallies and marches nationwide with a call for the boycott. Cardinal Mahony recommended instead that people mark May 1, the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, by devoting time to understanding “the dignity of work, the value of education and the important role immigrants play.”
A jury visited the site of the 1980 murder of a Catholic nun April 21 as the murder trial of Father Gerald Robinson, a suspended priest of the Toledo Diocese, ended its first week. Mercy Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, 71, was strangled and then stabbed 31 times in the chapel at Toledo Mercy Hospital, where she and Father Robinson both worked at the time. Father Robinson, now 68, was one of two hospital chaplains in 1980 at Toledo Mercy, which has since closed. – CNS
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Priest on trial for nun’s murder
im says: I came to work for this company right out of college eight years ago. I think I do a good job – I deliver projects on time, customers request me for certain jobs, and I stay on top of new technologies. I’d like to become a consultant, but my career seems to have stalled. In recent reviews, I’ve heard, “You are a very good, solid performer. However, you seem to lack the enthusiasm necessary to become a consultant. Have you ever considered taking a Dale Carnegie course?” While this makes sense at some level, I feel as if I’m being asked to alter my personality. But how am I ever going to get ahead if I don’t do something to improve my image? The expert says: In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey discusses his analysis of self-improvement literature from the past 200 years. He discovered that the writings from the first 150 years focused primarily on what he calls the Character Ethic, which says success is grounded in integrity, honesty, justice, simplicity and the Golden Rule. Over the last 50 years, on the other hand, the emphasis shifted to what he refers to as the Personality Ethic, which focuses on developing superficial techniques for improving our public image in areas such as speaking better or influencing people – basically working on the presentation rather than the substance. He says that there’s nothing inherently wrong with the Personality Ethic, but if your character is flawed, eventually the façade will crack. On the other hand, if you have a solid character, people will trust you. Isn’t this how we
know Jesus? He didn’t present himself like a tax collector or Pharisee. He was “just” a carpenter. But he glowed from within with the power of the Holy Spirit. His ability to speak and draw people’s attention didn’t come from self-improvement classes; it came from the mission for which his Father sent him into the world. Jesus said that all of us have this inner light, and that we shouldn’t hide it. (Luke 8:16) Our individual mission and success needs to be defined in God’s terms, not in terms of how this world defines success. Just because Jim is a very good programmer doesn’t automatically mean he would make a good consultant. People are drawn to Jim’s natural easy-going demeanor and his ability to translate their needs into an effective computer program – they trust him. If Jim tries to change the surface to become someone he isn’t, he may lose that trust. We need to ask ourselves if what we’re pursuing, and how we’re pursuing it, is what God is really asking of us. – Tim Ryan
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theolog g
the liturgy of the hours
a 9-part exploration of the church’s public prayer t h e o l o g y
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A By the Middle Ages, the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office had become fundamental activities of contemplative monasteries and convents, with each of the hours chanted by the choir. w h y
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sitting We sit at Mass during the reading of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, during the homily, and again after Communion for some meditative prayer. The relative comfort of sitting should allow us to concentrate fully. During the Scripture readings, we can focus on the way God has spoken to his people throughout history, and realize that we still encounter God in radical ways in our own lives. The homily is a chance for the priest to explain the readings and the Gospel, perhaps enabling us to see them in a way we’d never considered before. FAITH Magazine
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who ’s in the s anctuary?
Deacon The deacon, or diakonos, is ordained to service. The deacon may assist the priest during the Mass, but cannot say Mass himself. Deacons are able to proclaim the Gospel, preach, baptize, conduct funerals and weddings outside of Mass. Deacons are also the ordinary minister of the cup at Communion.
Christians borrowed the custom of reciting specific prayers at specific times from the Jews, who interspersed prayers and psalms throughout the hours of the day. The Apostles followed the Jewish prayer elements of psalms and readings from Scripture, to which, over time, were added readings from Christian Scripture. By the Middle Ages, the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office had become fundamental activities of contemplative monasteries and convents, with each of the hours chanted by the choir. There has been a growing interest in the Liturgy of the Hours among lay people recently. The 1971 reform of this prayer simplified its pattern – it now includes morning, midday, evening and night prayer, with a particular emphasis on morning and evening. A person who
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lthough, when we talk about liturgy, we generally think about the Mass, there are other beautiful liturgies. Liturgy is the public prayer of the church, and one of its expressions is in the Liturgy of the Hours. This ancient pattern of prayer is also called the Divine Office, or official prayer of the church, and was required to be said daily by those who were ordained or in religious orders. Vatican II restored this liturgy to the whole people of God, and it has become increasingly popular in recent years.
June 2006
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gy y 10 101 01 0
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bible quiz
books of the Old Testament b i b l e
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1. This book explains that our God is a universal God. The main character wants a city destroyed, but God is merciful.
w h a t ’ s t h e s e a s o n ?
2. The book named after the 12 Hebrew military leaders. 3. This book narrates the central event of the Torah. a. Proverbs b. Tobit c. Daniel d. Jonah e. Job f. Judges g. Amos h. Exodus
4. A collection of wise sayings supposedly written by Solomon. 5. The book of the prophet of social justice. 6. This book contains the stories of the writing on the wall, and the main character being thrown into a lion’s den. 7. In this book, a son’s faithfulness cures his father’s blindness. 8. This is the only book of the Bible in which the devil talks to God.
Answers: 1:d; 2:f; 3:h; 4:a; 5:g; 6:c; 7:b; 8:e
prays at those hours alone will read almost every psalm over the course of a month. Morning Prayer includes two psalms, an Old Testament canticle, a short reading and intercessory prayer. The Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79) is part of Morning Prayer. Evening Prayer includes two psalms and a New Testament canticle, a reading, an intercession and the Canticle of Mary. (Luke 1:46-55) If you are interested in this There has been a growing interest in prayer, you could begin with the Book of Christian Prayer, which the Liturgy of the Hours among lay is a brief version of the full fourpeople recently. A volume Liturgy of the Hours. To experience this beautiful person who prays and ancient just the morning and evening prayer prayer of the church portions will read in its virtually every fullness, psalm over the course of a month. consider a weekend retreat at a contemplative monastery, where the Office is chanted at each of the appointed hours of the day and night. It lends a profound rhythm to each day that will affect you for a long time afterward.
ordinary time: Ordinary time anything but ordinary. In addition to the seasons that celebrate a specific aspect of the mystery of Christ, there are 33 or 34 remaining weeks. In these weeks, we celebrate all aspects of Christ’s mystery. Ordinary Time begins the Monday after the Sunday following Jan. 6 and continues through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It begins again on the Monday after Pentecost and ends before the first evening prayer of the first Sunday of Advent. The liturgical color for ordinary time is green.
cope: The cope is a long mantle or cape, worn around the shoulders and fastened at the chest with an ornamental clasp. For years, it was used simply as a cloak for warmth and gradually came to be specialized as a vestment for the chant of the Divine Office. Copes were particularly associated with cantors. Today, the cope is worn by priests, bishops or deacons during ceremonial functions other than the Mass. w h a t ’ s
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statues:
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espite accusations to the contrary, Catholics do not pray to statues. Statues in churches are there to remind the faithful of certain aspects of God and the saints – and to facilitate spiritual emulation. From the church’s earliest days, tombs were decorated with representations of Jesus, saints and biblical scenes. As Christians built churches, statues of Jesus were common – depicting him as a shepherd, working miracles, or rising triumphantly from the dead. The cross was also a common icon, but the crucifix – depicting Christ’s agonizing death – did not arise until the sixth century.
By Elizabeth Solsburg | Illustrations by Bob Patten
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when in doubt – seek wise counsel and trust in God f r o m
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Carl F. Mengeling’s eighth-grade graduation. Can you idenify our bishop? (Answer on page 29)
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e’re all in the same boat in many ways when it comes to doubts, fears and anxieties. How blessed we are when wise, prudent and trustworthy persons walk with us like “good angels.” They are counselors who advise, guide, caution, inspire and even admonish us.
It is a two-way street. From our many experiences, we appreciate being on the receiving and giving ends of this precious gift. In a special way, this gift is one of the seven spiritual gifts of mercy. It is called, “counseling the doubtful.” When we’re young, we are mostly on the receiving end. We go through lots of doubts, fears and anxieties as children and teens. In those years, I needed the receiving end of “counsel” in a big way. Put bluntly, my anxiety – and often humiliation and embarrassment – was due to not growing like the others of my age. It was a monFAITH Magazine
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key on my back. I was always the shortest boy in class, even in the eighth grade. There were three short boys, but I was definitely the smallest. We were called “squirt,” “twerp” and “shorty.” Among the 30 eight-grade graduates of the Class of 1944, I was the shortest. It got worse in high school. Ninth grade went by
– no growth! Thank God for the “good angels” who gave counsel in those years. They motivated me to channel my interests and energies in good ways. My teacher in seventh and eighth grade, Sister Fridian, exercised tough love. And two uncles, August and Paul, kept the fires of hope kindled. Then, I got a job after eighth grade at a large and busy open-air market, much like Horrocks’ in Lansing. My Dad always said, “When it takes longer, it turns out better.” That’s not always true, but I believed it then. The miracle finally happened in the summer after my freshman year in high school. I shot up quickly to six feet! Since then, as I’ve aged, I’ve lost an inch.
June 2006
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bishop
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J. Luning
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Pope John Paul II and our Pope Benedict XVI were keenly aware of the devitalizing power of doubt, fear and anxiety. At the inauguration of his papal ministry on Oct. 22, 1978, John Paul proclaimed, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid!” We hear those words countless times during his 27 years as the Vicar of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI spoke the same words three times during his inauguration homily on April 24, 2005. As he accepted the election, his first message was to the conclave: “ Grace and peace in abundance to all of you! In my soul there are two contrasting sentiments in these hours. On the one hand, a sense of inadequacy and human turmoil for the responsibil-
Jesus responded, “Fear is useless; what is needed is trust.” Doubts, fears and anxieties are as vast and unique as are people. They can relate to self, others and God. Some are complex and easily defined, with positive and negative sides. Others are a kind of angst, or unease, that we can’t quite put our finger on. They often concern our self-confidence, decision-making and our abilities. Problems with faith and hope are also at work. Hurts, real or imagined, breed mistrust. The best help for this is the gift of wise counsel – from priests, parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors, coaches, family and friends. In my ministry, I have seen many instances where wise counsel has made a dramatic difference in someone’s life: the high-school senior with cold feet who became a CYO president; the young man called to the priesthood, who was so plagued with doubts he was afraid to try, but who is now a happy and effective priest. The Lord works in wondrous ways. Recently, I discussed a beautiful and practical description of the way the Lord “teams up” with us. It is from The Way, written by St. Jose Escriva: Take pity on me, Lord. You see, I want to write a big page each day in the book of my life. But I’m so clumsy. If the Master doesn’t guide my hand, instead of graceful strokes, my pen leaves blots and scratches that can’t be shown to anyone. From now on, Jesus, the writing will always be done by both of us together.
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ity entrusted to me yesterday as the successor of the Apostle Peter. ... On the other hand, I sense within me profound gratitude to God, who ... does not abandon his flock, but leads it throughout time. ... Dear ones, this intimate recognition for a gift of divine mercy prevails in my heart in spite of everything. I consider this a grace obtained for me by my venerated predecessor, John Paul II. I can feel his strong hand squeezing mine; I seem to see his smiling eyes and listen to his words, addressed especially to me at this moment: ‘Do not be afraid!’” These popes of our time, Christians of the past two millennia and we treasure, trust and profess these words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid.” These words occur so often in the Bible that it is easy to skim over them and overlook their significance. They address a profound human need. In a variety of instances, the people were reassured and comforted. They are words of power to one called by God in the mysterious drama of vocation: Remember Abraham, Jeremiah and Ezekiel! In the New Testament, there are Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Peter and many more. Jesus often calmed people with those assuring and encouraging words. Even now, his words link us to him and to others with full trust and reliance. His encounter with Jairus, the chief of the synagogue, stands out. Jairus begged Jesus to come to his home, because his little daughter, who was only 12, was dying. After Jesus cured the hemorrhaging woman, and was going to Jairus’, a man came to say, “Your daughter is dead; do not bother the Teacher further.”
“Christians of the past two millennia and we treasure, trust and profess these words of Jesus: ‘Do not be afraid.’”
– Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth bishop of Lansing
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a voice crying in the wilderness c o v e r
s t o r y
Sister Monica speaks out for a public policy of justice by Nancy Schertzing Photography by Jim Luning
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“One day as the crowds were gathering Jesus went up on the hillside and taught them there. ‘You are the world’s seasoning to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. ‘You are the world’s light – a city on a hill glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see so that they will praise your heavenly Father.’”(Matt 5: 1; 13-16) Sister Monica Kostielney, RSM lives Jesus’ invitation and challenge every day. “As a baptized Christian, I am called to respect the dignity of each human person. As a Sister of Mercy, I am called to alleviate sickness, poverty and lack of education. Both callings come together very well in my work.” As president and chief executive officer of the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC), Sister Monica directs the Michigan Catholic Church’s official voice
in public policy matters. She gives voice to the bishops of Michigan in expressing their specific remedies for issues of concern in public policy. As the spiritual leaders of their dioceses, the bishops speak for Michigan’s 2.5 million Catholics. Sister Monica moves in the highest levels of state government and has a reputation as a real Lansing power-broker. This would have amazed the young nun who came to the Michigan Catholic Conference in 1972.
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was 35, teaching in Grand Rapids, and my order said I should go on to something new – probably another degree beyond my master’s in English. That summer I attended a meeting about a ballot proposal to legalize abortion in Michigan. I remember a priest involved in the opposition movement saying that if he saved even one life, he knew it would be worth it.
“When he said that, I experienced a moment of clarity as if Jesus had walked up and called me by name. I had never felt that before and never have since. I knew I was called to get involved, too. So I headed to Lansing and worked all summer on the campaign to defeat the proposal. When fall came, my superiors were calling for me to return to school, but the campaign leaders needed me to stay. My school got a substitute to teach my classes. By November, they hired her permanently when I joined the MCC staff.” Both Sister Monica and the Michigan Catholic Conference have changed significantly in the 34 years since she “While we as a arrived. In addition to lobbying, country adhere to a separation of for example, Sister Monica also church and state, oversees the benefits program for you cannot sepa- all Catholic lay employees and rate religion from clergy in the state. Those benefits politics. We work include medical, dental, disability and auto insurance – as well with the legislaas workers’ compensation and ture and courts special events insurance. Sister to help society Monica and her dedicated MCC recognize there are people with is- team also administer the statesues that demand wide Lay Employees Retirement Program and a similar program attention.” for retired clergy. The Michigan Catholic Conference operates from its magnificent new offices just blocks from the Michigan State Capitol building in downtown Lansing. Like a city on a hill, the MCC headquarters shine with stateof-the-art communications and meeting accommodations, graced by magnificent artwork celebrating faith. Here in this building, Sister Monica shares some of her thoughts about her work in shaping public policy. “While we as a country adhere to a separation of church and state, you cannot separate religion from politics. We work with the legislature and courts to help society recognize there are people with issues that demand attention – homelessness, poverty, racism and misuse of the earth’s resources. “There are many hopeful signs and much good being done in parishes and society. But we have such a need to recognize that spiritual, not material, values FAITH Magazine
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June 2006
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bring happiness. We need to put forth examples for our children to help them value what is really important. “The most critical issue looming on the horizon is the stem cell issue. Sometimes, people advocate embryonic stem-cell research by saying, ‘Look, they’re [the embryos] going to go down the drain. I’m going to be prolife – I’m going to save them!’ This represents a new paradigm for policy that we cannot accept – the end justifies the means. It’s very Machiavellian. Society has changed dramatically – there’s a real shift in thinking that we can call cultural relativism. That’s a
very dangerous philosophy. “We have to get across the message that we support stem-cell research, but we do not and cannot and will never support embryonic stem-cell research. That is a critical distinction.” Sometimes, Sister Monica and the MCC are put in the position of supporting an issue, but not the means to its accomplishment. Examples include putting the increase in the minimum wage, funding for public education and health-care costs into the state constitution. Although the MCC strongly encourages legislators to act positively on these issues, they cannot support putting them in the constitution, because they are not constitutional matters. “When I work with legislators and other people of power, I remember to deal with issues, and to respect people’s human dignity and their positions. It’s always important to keep the lines of communication open. You don’t want to burn any bridges – that’s the model set by Pope John Paul II – dialogue. We forge solid relationships to bring issues before the public – but on a given issue, our alliances may be with groups who disagree with us on other issues. We cross party lines because we address issues that no other organization in the state is
Sister Monica has a reputation as a real Lansing power broker.
The Michigan Catholic Conference The Michigan Catholic Conference was the brainchild of Cardinal John Deardon, the archbishop of Detroit. In the early 1960s, he envisioned a unified Catholic voice to bring the church’s economic and social justice message to all branches of the government. After consultation with Michigan’s diocesan bishops, including Bishop Babcock of Grand Rapids, Bishop Albers of Lansing, Bishop Woznicki of Saginaw and Bishop Noa of Marquette, Cardinal Deardon’s insight led to the creation in 1963 of the Michigan Catholic Conference – the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan.
able to address –we are the only organization that has an agenda covering the beginning of life to its end.” Sister Monica has had several successes: the defeat of Proposal B, which would have allowed physician-assisted suicide; the durable power of attorney law; the prohibition of surrogate parenting in Michigan. She has also had one overriding disappointment: “Educational justice for parents and children. I’m not just talking about vouchers. I’m talking about engaging in a civil dialogue with the citizenry about education. People are very entrenched.” As a woman who wields enormous influence, how has Sister Monica dealt with women’s issues? She says with a laugh, We are a light in “Cardinal the darkness to Szoka said ensure that the to me, ‘You poor, unborn and know, I nev- other vulnerable er hear you members of our talk about society have a the women’s voice in public issue.’ And policy. I said, ‘Cardinal, why be equal when you’ve always been better?’ Nobody’s ever mentioned it since. If there is an issue, it’s not a gender bias – it’s that I don’t play golf. I miss out on those relationships.” At 40, the Michigan Catholic Conference is one of the oldest and most highly respected Catholic Conferences in the U.S. “We have an excited and committed staff who labor daily to carry out the mission of justice with integrity and excellence. We are a light in the darkness to ensure that the poor, unborn and other vulnerable members of our society have a voice in public policy. My hope is that we are doing God’s will and helping build the kingdom of God along the way.”
For more information, visit www.micatholicconference.org.
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