June 2016

I N THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE:

hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the W point of small faith-sharing groups? THEOLOGY 101:

essons L in Mercy: The Lost Son

SPECIAL REPORT:

Amoris Laetitia

FROM THE BISHOP

BISHOP EARL BOYEA

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

WHAT DOES FLINT NEED? Flint needs the same thing that every community needs – love! What, though, does this mean? At the most basic level, of course, we care for those in need as we care for ourselves, and as we would want others to care for us if we were in need. For example, there is nothing more basic than water. Jesus even told us: “And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mt 10:42) The outpouring of support from all walks of life and faith, locally and nationally, to provide such a drink has been heart-warming. It is clearly an act of love. Yet, once the pipes are fixed and the water is clear, what will this love look like? It still will be responding to needs, since the needs are so great and so many. Our Catholic Charities and the New Life Center, as well as the many youth groups and others who have gone to Flint to assist the elderly, the poor, the homeless and the hungry, are clearly exercising the virtue of love. This charity will remain an important part of our duty as Christians. For what we do for the least of the brothers and sisters of the Lord, we do for him. (Mt 25) But even if all these physical needs were answered, Flint would still need another dose of love, the kind of love which we, as Church are best able to provide when we are at our best – the love of communion, of being sisters and brothers to one another. A year ago, we united five parishes in Flint (St. Michael, St. Matthew, St. Mary, All Saints and St. John Vianney) under the leadership of Father Tom Firestone, with three (and now four) associate priests. They live together, minister together, pray together and enjoy one another’s company as they serve the people of Flint. They are demonstrating unity as a mark of the Catholic Church. They are challenging those attending these five parishes to work together and to work and pray for the good of the city. There have been, and there still are, too many silos in Flint, silos built into the history of that great city. The Catholic Church in Flint cannot undo that history or fix it. We can only witness to how God wants us to be loving toward all through a genuine exchange of gifts, a sharing of equals from which we will all benefit. The other task of this pastoral mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ. There are many faith-filled people in Flint; they, too, are witnessing to Christ. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbors calls upon us to share our faith with all those we encounter – with black and white and Hispanic, with young and old, and with rich and poor. Jesus told us that this kind of love is a new commandment (Jn 13:34), because it is a love in which we give our all, a love to the end, as Jesus said. (Jn 13:1) This, then, is the great challenge before all of us – to love, even as we have first been loved by God. We are not slaves. We are not fearful. We are not mercenaries. We are sons and daughters of a loving God and we, in full freedom, want to respond in kind. St. Augustine summed it up so well: “Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest.” 2

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FAITH IN FLINT: IT’S MORE THAN WATER

INSIDE JUNE

CREDITS

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE:

What’s the point of small faith-sharing groups? THEOLOGY 101:

JUNE 2016 VOLUME 16: ISSUE 5

Lessons in Mercy: The Lost Son

SPECIAL REPORT:

Amoris Laetitia

www.FAITHpub.com Most Rev. Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

FIND US ONLINE AT FAITHPUB.COM

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH JESUS AND HIS CHURCH WWW.FAITHCATHOLIC.COM

Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Ann Jacob MANAGING EDITOR

Cynthia Vandecar DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

Marybeth Hicks MARKETING DIRECTOR

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR

Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Bob Patten CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

COVER STORY FINDING PURPOSE, ONE STITCH AT A TIME – OLIVIA SEWS FOR STORMY KROMER AT N.E.W. LIFE CENTER P. 18

YOUR LIFE

YOUR STORIES

6 work life

16 f eature story

Do I have to get all my retail staff together for meetings?

Lighting a fire in Flint – Father Tom leads the Catholic presence there

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR For advertising information: Call 517.853.7600 For subscription information: Call 1.866.76.FAITH

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2015 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

P. 8

parenting journey

Does our daughter really need tutoring for a ‘B’ in math?

7 marriage matters

She says: ‘I want to make sure we get to Mass every week.’ He says: ‘I think we can miss Mass occasionally.’ What do they do?

YOUR FAITH

8 in the know with Father Joe

What’s the point of

22 my story

‘God put that red house in front of me’ Denise and Flint’s St. Pius X parish adopt a house and help a family in need

small faith-sharing groups?

10 theology 101

Lessons in Mercy: The Lost Son

PLUS

29 culture

‘Get the lead out’ 3

FAITH HELPS

FROM THE EDITOR

Rays of hope in Flint

T.Gennera

UST A FEW WEEKS AGO, we celebrated the great feast of Pentecost, recalling the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. With the manifold gifts of the Spirit, the disciples, once filled with fear and huddled away behind locked doors, become the Apostles. They are sent, with the gifts of the Spirit, to share those gifts. The power of the Spirit literally blows the doors off the room where they were gathered. Emboldened by the Spirit, speaking many human languages, the Apostles move out on mission into a world that hungers for the Good News. They move out of fear and hiding, into the light of day. Their words, prompted by the Spirit, are the words of God's mercy and peace, words of healing and grace, words that God uses to turn the world upside down. With these words, the lowly are raised up, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the mute speak, and those who once dwelt in darkness receive the gift of God's own marvelous light. God uses the words and actions of the Apostles to transform the face of the earth. God uses the words and actions of the Apostles to change the hearts of women and men, one person at a time.

FATHER DWIGHT EZOP

is the editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Fenton. Email: editor@ FAITHpub.com.

The Church at its beginnings made use of the gifts and power of the Spirit to transform the world. The Church in our own time, and in our own place, in our own diocese, is in desperate need of those same Spirit-driven words and works that will continue to transform our world into God's kingdom. Last year at this time, we used the spotlight of FAITH magazine to shine a light on the problems faced by our sisters and brothers in Flint. Caught in so many currents, the people of Flint had been tossed about for years, trying to weather a storm beyond imagination. Soon, people from all around our diocese began to rally in so many varied ways to bring aid and comfort, healing and hope. Then the water crisis happened. For months, the plight of the people of Flint became a national story. Satellite trucks and correspondents roamed the city, seeking to bring to light the city's need for safe, drinkable water. As expected, that attention is beginning to quickly fade. The stories about Flint have receded from national and international headlines to occupy instead the headlines of a few statewide and local papers. Such is the reality of what's called the "news cycle": as we make our way deeper into the political season, the prominence of Flint's needs will fade from national awareness. But those needs will not go away. And so we begin another year of sharing stories of faith from Flint and the Faith in Flint initiative that Bishop Boyea has helped to lead. Take some time to read the stories of what has happened in just 365 days. Where once there may have been fear and uncertainty, there are now rays of hope. The Pentecost event of almost 2,000 years ago is a living reality as we seek to continue to assist the people of Flint. Let us pray that the Spirit will continue to embolden and empower, encourage and enlighten, so that the goodness of God may be seen and shared in all places, especially in Flint, where the needs are so great and the possibilities are even greater. And so, our journey in FAITH continues.

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DISCIPLESHIP

For personal reflection or small group discussion Special Report: Amoris Laetitia

1. How does Pope Francis’ exhortation to care for the spirituality of the family change your perspective on family life? 2. What are some ways you find joy in loving those around you, particularly your family?

Theology 101

1. When reading the parable of the Lost Son, do you identify with the younger or faithful son? 2. What different lessons do you learn by placing yourself in the shoes of each son?

Cover Story

1. What are some ways you can reach out to those in need, as Olivia’s friend from church did for her? 2. What are some ways you can fuse your passion with your purpose, outside of employment?

Feature Story (“God put that red house in front of me”)

1. Have there been moments when you’ve followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit like Denise, even when it’s uncomfortable? How might you do so in the future? 2. What are some ways you can see the face of Jesus in those around you?

FIND MORE ONLINE GO TO FAITHPUB.COM TO FIND ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND RESOURCES

SPECIAL REPORT: Amoris Laetitia O

n Friday, April 8, 2016, Pope Francis released his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, or “The Joy of Love.” Pope Francis issued Amoris Laetitia in response

to both the Third Extraordinary and the Fourteenth Ordinary General Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Specifically, the pope wanted to “gather the contributions of the two recent Synods on the family, while adding other considerations as an aid to reflection, dialogue and pastoral practice, and as a help

and encouragement to families in their daily commitments and challenges.”

DID YOU KNOW…

An Apostolic Exhortation does not define Church doctrine and is considered less authoritative than papal encyclicals. However, it is still more authoritative than other papal issuances such as audiences and homilies.

BY DOUG CULP

THE EXHORTATION IN BRIEF

Pope Francis relies heavily on the final documents of the two aforementioned synods. In fact, the exhortation can be considered to be a strong affirmation of their conclusions. Throughout the work, he incorporates substantial sections of the two synods on the family. He begins “The Joy of Love” with an examination of Scripture with its stories of families, births, love, and family crises. A substantial portion of this first chapter is devoted to a reflection on the first six verses of Psalm 128. He moves on to a consideration of the concrete realities that threaten and challenge the family in today’s world in chapter two: less support from social structures, extreme individualism, the speed and organization of life, migration, drug

use, and pornography to name just a few. In the face of these, Pope Francis encourages the faithful to both set forth Jesus’ demanding ideal, and yet never fail “to show compassion and closeness to the frailty of individuals like the Samaritan woman or the woman caught in adultery.” The next chapter summarizes the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family. He also re-emphasizes the need to love those who participate in the life of the Church in an imperfect manner. This sets the stage for two chapters on love. Chapter four contains a beautiful reflection on 1 Corinthians 13:2-7. Pope Francis as pastor is in full relief here. In it, he demonstrates a deep understanding and sensitivity to the life of love as expressed in marriage and family. Chapter five then challenges the reader to look at his or her own attitudes on pregnancy, children, parents and

the elderly. Pope Francis follows his expositions on love with some pastoral perspectives. In chapter six, he puts forth general recommendations for the formation of priests, religious, laity and seminarians in matters of family. He also affirms the Church’s teaching on same-sex attraction: calling for respect for the dignity of those who have this attraction, condemning any unjust discrimination against these persons, and that same-sex unions do not qualify to be considered marriage. He next turns his attention to the education of children, including sex education, in chapter seven. In particular, he points out that the moral formation of children can never completely be delegated to others. It always remains primarily the duty of the parents. Chapter eight outlines the Church’s approach to those who participate in her life in an incomplete manner: accompanying, discerning, and integrating weakness. Pope Francis rejects the “casting off” of those in “irregular” situations. Instead, he opts always for “reinstatement.” Throughout the chapter, he echoes the pastoral recommendations put forth by the synods in terms of, for example, the separated and divorced and the divorced and civilly remarried. He says of these people, “Hence it is can no longer simply be said that all those in any ‘irregular’ situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace” (301). Could the Church’s minister, therefore, not help such people, in the privacy of the rectory parlor or the confessional, to discern their degree of moral responsibility?” The exhortation closes with a consideration of the spirituality of marriage and family. Pope Francis grounds this spirituality in the communion of the Holy Trinity; Easter; and freedom, care, consolation and incentive. He leaves us with this reminder, “no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love.” 5

YOUR LIFE YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY WORK LIFE

DO I HAVE TO GET ALL MY RETAIL STAFF TOGETHER FOR MEETINGS?

Q retail store. Our staff of six needs to be I’m the owner/manager of a franchise

T. Gennara

There is a phrase called “death by meetings,” but there’s also a kind of “death by no meetings.” The biggest challenge in every organization JIM BERLUCCHI is communication. The best is the executive companies do it well. director of the For starters, I recommend Spitzer Center. a 30-minute weekly meeting, same time and place. Focus on the operations and tactics, with a look-back at last week, and look-forward to the next. 1. G et clear in your own mind. What are the top three things you and they need to know? What are the success indicators? What’s bugging you? What’s bugging them? At a minimum, meetings should solve problems. And if problems actually get solved, even anti-social folks will get converted. 2. H ave the meeting when most are scheduled to work. If they’re absent, get their input offline. 3. K eep the meeting short and sweet. Start and end on time. Pass out a simple agenda, along with something tasty to eat. Your naysayers need immediate gratification. Then short-term gratification should come once practical decisions make a positive impact. 4. Lead with values. Make it a habit to include one habit that’s important to your business – great service, friendliness, resilience – tie in how someone demonstrated it last week. 5. Ask questions. You are curious to know what they think. Questions keep people involved and make meetings go faster. 6. Record decisions. Pass them out next week. It shows the meeting produced something and puts our feet to the fire. 6

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My ex-husband was not satisfied with our 8th-grade daughter’s B in math, and wants to enroll her in a summer-school program for tutoring. This will chew up most mornings for six weeks, and my daughter is really upset, because she thinks it will ruin her summer. I tend to agree, but I don’t know how to handle this with him. What do you think?

In Garrison Keillor’s town of Lake Wobegon, women are strong, men are good-looking and, of course, their children are all above average! Your daughter’s “B” in math allows her to be one of these above-average children! “A” grades represent exemplary/outstanding progress. Students with a “B” are demonstrating proficient/above-average progress. Gifts and talents vary; we can’t be exemplary in every skill.

T. Gennara

in good communication as a team, but I don’t know what kind of meetings would be most helpful. Also, some of the staff think meetings should be optional. What do you advise?

DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL

is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

What specific areas need improvement? Since your daughter is proficient overall, why not ask her math teacher to identify gaps in her knowledge? Perhaps she was ill and needs to review specific concepts. For example, missing days when students constructed scatter plots could impact her ability to interpret the linear correlations from these plots. Check out out online programs, such as the Khan Academy, searching for 8th grade math skills.

Would lifestyle changes improve her academic performance? Adolescents have a shift in their circadian rhythms at puberty. Changes in the endocrine system, including melatonin production, cause significant changes in the sleep-wake cycle. A child who used to get sleepy at 8:30 now doesn’t start feeling sleepy until 10:30. As children get older, their schools often start earlier, which is inconsistent with their physiological needs. You can’t change this internal clock, but you can make sure that her room doesn’t have electronic devices or other sources of light which exacerbate this problem. Parental decisions are challenging for many couples. Your ex-husband may be concerned that math will be an obstacle to an interest she has shown in science. Or he may have unrealistic expectations for grades. Whatever his motivation, the key concern is your daughter’s academic and personal well-being. Her needs can be met through avenues other than summer school. Pray Psalm 32:8.

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/STEVE DEBENPORT

DOES OUR DAUGHTER REALLY NEED TUTORING FOR A ‘B’ IN MATH?

SHE SAYS:

I want to make sure we get to Mass every week

YOUR LIFE MARRIAGE MATTERS

Jack wants to take the summers “off” from Mass now that religious ed for the kids is finished for the school year. I think Mass needs to be a priority for us on Sundays – every Sunday.

HE SAYS:

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES

I think we can miss Mass occasionally OK, I admit, I feel a little lazy on Sunday mornings. I’m not saying we should never go to Mass, but Kim wants us to drive out of our way, even when we’re on vacation, just to make Mass at a strange parish. I think that’s carrying it too far.

BECAUSE WE CATHOLICS ARE REQUIRED to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of WHAT DO Obligation (yes, Jack, that’s every), we may fall THEY DO? into the trap of viewing it as some sort of chore that needs to be checked off a list before the “fun” part of Sunday can begin. It sounds as if that is where Jack is coming from, so perhaps it would help him to adjust his thought process a little and see if that helps him change his attitude toward summer Sundays. The Church calls the Eucharist the “source and summit of the Church’s life.” It is our privilege to be able to gather to thank God (perhaps for that beautiful summer day, our spouse, our children), and to receive Christ in the reality of his body and blood. What better way to start a day! Also, we have a tendency to think of our salvation as something that’s between us and God – that’s why you sometimes hear people saying that they can pray just as well in the woods or by the lake as in a church building. But the reality is that each individual is part of the body of Christ – we are saved as a whole, not in parts. We are in this together.

If Jack comes to appreciate the beauty of the Mass, I think he’ll be happy to attend with his family. In order to do that, and also enjoy the beauty of the day, Jack and Kim may want to talk about whether a different Mass may work for them in the summers than during the school year. Perhaps the Saturday evening liturgy? Or early on Sunday if they are morning people (and their kids are early risers). When it comes to vacation, we don’t take a vacation from God. Most places we travel are reasonably close to a Catholic Church, and it’s not too burdensome to work it into the schedule. You can visit www.masstimes.org to find a church near where you are traveling. If you are genuinely vacationing somewhere so far from a Catholic church that you honestly don’t believe you can make it to Mass on a Sunday, speak to your parish priest before you leave and ask for a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass that weekend. He’ll be able to help you if it’s really not possible to get to church. If that’s the case, remember to take some time on Sunday to thank God for his blessings, including the ability to travel as a family and to enjoy God’s wonderful creation. 7

YOUR FAITH

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/STEVE DEBENPORT

person in the parish, there are topics that are of more interest than others. Some people like to study the Bible, others like to look at sacramental theology. Some want to study the Mass, others would pick work-related topics or a book group. Whatever your primary interest, you can either join a group that focuses on it or start one. Beyond the practical reasons we’ve hit, there are also the incredible spiritual reasons – we need to CHECK OUT commit to something spiritual. It’s PAGE 4 FOR a core component of who we are DISCIPLESHIP as Christians. And we do that with QUESTIONS TO others – every time Jesus sent out BE USED FOR disciples or apostles on a mission, PERSONAL REFLECTION OR he did so in groups. Even the great SMALL GROUP St. Paul of Tarsus made sure he was DISCUSSION always with someone: first Barnabas and then Silas. We are communal creatures: we were made by a community of love called the Trinity and because community is our origin, we’ll always find life and direction within a community better than we will on our own. Here are a few ways that being faithful to a small Dear Father Joe: My parish is starting some small faith group can help us: groups and really pushing everyone to sign up. What’s Participation in small groups can help us tell our the point of joining a small faith-sharing group? own story and learn from it. St. Pope John Paul II wrote a bit about this in the late 80s and early 90s. He talked All over the country, a movement is really taking about how we, as followers of Jesus, need to tell our IN THE shape in the form of small faith-sharing groups. stories to each other. We hear each other’s stories and KNOW WITH We’ve been getting a lot of questions about the value of help each other refine them. I remember when I was FATHER JOE and need for this practice, so we’re going to talk about chaplain at Lansing Catholic High School (Go Couit here and now. gars!), we had a young man who was preSmall faith-sharing groups meet a very paring to give a witness to other students practical and human need: the need to on retreat and, in order to get ready, he belong. In a large parish, there is always shared his testimony with some teachers the danger of getting “lost in the shuffle.” Small faithand students in a small group. It was FATHER In a small parish, there is always the amazing. However, at one point, he talked sharing groups JOE KRUPP challenge of being the “new person” or about believing that, “Even though I don’t meet a very is a former outsider. really have any gifts to offer people, God comedy writer practical and For both of these and for most situstill loves me.” who is now a ations in between, there is the blessed human need: When he finished his talk, the Catholic priest. opportunity of small faith-sharing groups. group gently (or at least as gently as the need to @Joeinblack This concept puts you in touch with a high-schoolers can be) guided him into belong.” manageable number of people who will seeing that he had part of the truth, but help you grow in knowing and loving not the whole thing. Through sharing God and each other. There’s nothing like what they saw in him, he was able to looking around a congregation and seeing people who see that God not only loved him, but that he also had know you and whom you know will support you. many gifts to offer, as do we all. There is also the bond of shared interests. For every Participation in small groups can keep us from self-de-

What's the point of

SMALL FAITH-SHARING GROUPS?

T. Gennara

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A Family Festival of Faith

saturday, June 25, 2016 St. Francis Retreat Center DeWitt, Michigan

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit

www.faithfest16.com

Gates open at 10 a.m. Tickets: $30 each

Hosted by the Diocese of Lansing and St. Francis Retreat Center

somewhat. We grow weary of our internal struggles and, if we aren’t careful, we will begin to limit and define ourselves in ways that aren’t healthy. A small faith-sharing group can help us see the truth of ourselves and can help us grow in seeing how invaluable we are to Christ and his bride, the Church. I want to close by offering what I feel is one of the most important reasons to join a small group: time. Time is a limited commodity and, frankly, most of us use it badly. We commit to things that are temporal and will pass away, and waste so much of our precious energy growing in everything except love and knowledge of Christ. We unintentionally teach our kids that Church comes after sports and social obligations, and then we are surprised when they grow up and live the lesson we taught. By committing to a small group and being faithful to that obligation, you are declaring to yourself, your schedule and all who know you that you have faith as a priority in your life. A declaration like that will always bear good fruit. Enjoy another day in God’s presence! B. PATTEN

ception. The fact is, you and I have this amazing flaw: we love to be right, more than we love to be made right. Because of that, we find that we can justify just about any given choice or thought, given a long enough time line. A small group can help us break through the walls of what we want to be true so that we can lovingly walk in the land of truth itself. It is often in sharing our thoughts and ideas that we see the truth affirmed or falsity challenged and we are always better for that. Participation in small groups can help us realize gifts and talents we didn’t know we had. When I was younger, I had a fish tank in my bedroom. I fed the fish every day and cleaned the tank every week. It was the darndest thing, but I swear, those fish never seemed to grow: they were always the same size. However, I went away for a week on retreat and when I came back, I couldn’t believe how big they had gotten. I was shocked to see how much they had grown, but here’s the obvious truth: they hadn’t grown much in one week. Because I saw them every day, I never noticed how much they were growing. It’s the same with you and me. We know ourselves,

Q: WHAT DID THE DINOSAUR SAY WHEN HE BOUGHT A NEW BOOK? A: I CAN REALLY SINK MY TEETH IN THIS.

YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101

LESSONS IN MERCY:

THE LOST SON THE MOTTO FOR THE YEAR OF MERCY IS “MERCIFUL LIKE THE FATHER.” PERHAPS NO PARABLE IS BETTER SUITED TO TEACH US WHAT THIS MOTTO ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE THAN THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON. THE PARABLE In the Gospel of Luke (15:11Jesus follows his parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin with a story about a father and his two sons. The parable begins with the younger of the sons asking and receiving from his father his share of his inheritance. This younger son then

32),

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leaves his father’s home, squanders his money and eventually finds himself tending swine on a farm. Dying from hunger, he finally resolves to return to his father’s house, beg his father’s forgiveness and seek employment as a servant. However, when the father sees his son approaching, he runs to him, embraces and kisses him, and orders that his

son be given “the finest robe,” a ring, sandals and a feast. When the eldest son, who had been out in the field, returns to the estate and hears music and dancing, he is confused and asks a servant what is happening. Upon hearing that a feast is under way to celebrate the return of his brother, the eldest son grows angry and refuses to enter the house. When the father goes out to his eldest son, the son complains that it is unfair for his brother to receive such a feast. After all, his younger brother had abandoned them and spent his money in dissolute living. Meanwhile, he points out that he has always been faithful to his father, but has never been treated to such a celebration. To this, the father replies, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

THE LESSON OF THE YOUNGER SON We do not know what motivated the younger son to ask for his inheritance. Perhaps, he wanted his freedom: from his father’s rules, from financial dependence, from work, duty and responsibility. Whatever the reason, he was unwilling to wait until his father passed away to receive his portion of the estate. Instead, he sought, in effect, to declare that his father was already dead to him. The younger son chose to reject his father. He chose to live as though his father did not exist. He lived only to satisfy his every desire for self-gratification. His decision led him to eventually lose his money, selfworth and that very freedom he

THE LESSON OF THE FAITHFUL SON Now the faithful son had to deal with his younger brother running off with a large portion of his father’s wealth in order to live a life of debauchery. He also had to manage the increased responsibility for the family business he inherited. It is not difficult to imagine the seeds of resentment taking root in the faithful brother’s heart.

reading is SPIRITUAL READING not“Spiritual only reading about spiritual people or spiritual things. It is also reading spiritually, that is, in a spiritual way! Reading in a spiritual way is reading with a desire to let God come closer to us.”

When he returned from the field one day to learn of his brother’s return and of his father’s reaction, there were no tears of joy. On the contrary, a tremendous sense of injustice overcame the faithful son. He had been the good son. He had stayed and fulfilled his duties to his father. How could his father be so unfair, so unjust? The father now bears the older son’s anger over the reception. He first assured his son that everything he had was the son’s as well; that his mercifulness to his younger son did nothing to

diminish his older son’s position. Then, he invited his older son to enter into his joy over the return of his younger son, to be merciful like the father. This invitation was an invitation into a deeper participation in the life of the father. Certainly, the eldest son had remained faithful and obedient, but his path to growth in spiritual perfection lay in the direction of taking on the mind, love, heart, and thought of the father – to see through the father’s eyes. It is an invitation that our heavenly Father extends to each of us today.

THEOLOGY 101 QUIZ Test your knowledge of what the Bible has to say about mercy … “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to ______, abounding in ________.” A. see; distraction B. rebuke; gentleness

S. Olson

These words of Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) invite us to continue our spiritual reading during this Year of Mercy with the renewed intention to listen for the voice of God in the pages. This month, consider reading Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian, wrote the book in response to a viewing of Rembrandt’s painting of the same name – first as a poster in France, then the original in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the book, Nouwen describes his own spiritual journey, identifying personally with the prodigal younger son, the resentful elder son and the merciful father each in turn.

DOUG CULP

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

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

C. anger; kindness D. forget; forgiveness

Answer: (C) – anger; kindness (Ps 103:8)

so much wanted. In the depths of despair and regret, he decided to return repentant to his father as a servant, rather than as a son. He found the immediate forgiveness of his father and the restoration of his familial status. In a word, he experienced the unconditional mercy of his father. The father had not wanted his younger son to leave, but he would not force the younger son to stay. Instead, the father decided to respect his son’s choice, even when the choice meant he would lose his son. Our heavenly Father, likewise, does not force us to love him or remain in communion with him. He respects our free will and honors our choices, even when the choice is to reject him. At the same time, the father’s desire for communion with his son explains his immediate and unconditional welcoming of the son back into the family. Nothing the son had done could exclude him from receiving the father’s forgiveness once he made the decision to turn back and repent. Further, the father, like our heavenly Father, not only offered forgiveness, but was also filled with joy because the finding of his son anew restored the order of his relationship with his son. It made communion possible again.

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Faith in Flint one year later A YEAR AGO, WE USED THIS MAGAZINE to shine a spotlight on the needs of our brothers and sisters in Flint. You responded to Bishop Boyeaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call and our Faith in Flint initiative with donations of time, talent and treasure. Even before the devastating water crisis, Catholics in the Diocese of Lansing gave to Catholic Charities, donated their time to serve in soup kitchens, sent their youth groups to volunteer. In the following pages, read about the outstanding results that happened when the Diocese of Lansing came together to have Faith in Flint.

L EA R N , VOLU N T EER, DO N ATE , P R AY

FAITH Magazine | JUNE 2016 | WWW.FAITHPUB.COM

FAITH IN FL INT.COM

Thank You!

Results of Faith in Flint initiative for Catholic Charities in Flint

824 MORE agency volunteers

7,067 MORE agency volunteer hours

1,337 MORE gift-in-kind donations

â&#x20AC;˘ More than 200 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES have driven long distances to drop off food, clothing, and personal care products. Most Diocese of Lansing parishes have participated in some way

COMMUNITY CLOSET 2015: 399,515 clothing items 139,460 household items 113,436 personal needs items

â&#x20AC;˘

The Work Ready Room provides interview and work apparel, along with resource information for individuals who are job searching. A referral from a partner agency is required.

In 2015 344 clients were served: 262 CLOTHING, 56 WORK BOOTS, 117 RESUME/JOB HELP

2,149

prayer requests have been sent out to parishes requesting them 13

6 signs of hope in Flint CATHOLIC WORKER COMES TO FLINT

In the 1930s, Dorothy Day opened the first House of Hospitality in New York City as part of the Catholic Worker Movement. She offered a bowl of soup or cup of coffee to the homeless. In the same way, Mary Dillon feels she was called to Flint to live out her vocation of starting a Catholic Worker House there. While 2016 Flint looks different than 1930s New York City, the needs are

not so different. In a short time, Mary has learned that Flint has many people and organizations offering food, shelter, clothes, literacy programs, GED classes, computer classes and much more. And yet, she sees a void in many lives not sustained by material goods. What was Dorothy Day getting at? What are those on the front lines really trying to offer through their programs? When asked what she has been called to, Mary says, “Creating community – what it means to be a neighbor. Providing a space for people where their dignity and worth is not only recognized, but celebrated. My vocation is to do as Jesus taught: love one another. And don’t be fooled by what you hear or initially see upon arriving in Flint. Flint is a place of hope. God is living and breathing and working in Flint.”

‘PACK AND PURGE’ AT CENTER FOR HOPE

On April 9, 2016, the Center for Hope Community Closet was moved from the mail floor of the Center for Hope to its transitional home in the gymnasium, where it will reside until construction is completed and the closet is able to return to the renovated space. This involved a great deal of physical sorting and moving items. More than 60 Central Michigan University students and approximately 40 Faith in Flint volunteers spent their Saturday packing, sorting and purging in order to minimize the downtime of the closet. Everyone was fed, with dozens of pizzas donated by Dominos. Not a crumb was left! Thanks to the help of these amazing volunteers, the Community Closet was able to re-open the personal needs room on Monday, April 11 and the full closet (including clothing and household) on Tuesday, April 12.

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FAITH IN FLINT

DOOR-TO-DOOR MINISTRY Each weekend around St. Michael Parish, the priests and deacons serving Flint canvass the neighborhood in an outreach of prayer and concern. As Father Tom Firestone says, “We need to let the rest of the community know Catholics aren’t insular, nor are we a silo Church, but a Church that gets out there and walks the streets.”

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“ Pray for Flint, and especially pray for the Spanish people. We are God’s children, and we need a lot of help.”

CHRIST THE KING PARISH GETTING IDEAS FOR HONORING FATHER DUKETTE

–E frain Palacios is a member of St. Mary Parish J. LUNING

Christ the King church members recently made a pilgrimage to the Solanus Casey Center. The purpose of the visit was to see the center, but to also get some ideas they could use when they design a center to showcase Father Norman DuKette’s memorabilla at the parish location. FAITH IN FLINT FESTIVAL

An-interfaith festival, sponsored by the Catholic community of Flint, will take place on Friday, June 24 on the grounds of Powers Catholic High School. The goal of the event is to offer the people of Flint an opportunity to gather and pray together as one family. It’s a neighborhood event filled with music, activities for the whole family, a keynote speaker and a prayer service with Bishop Earl Boyea. L EA R N , VOLU N T EE R , D O N ATE , P R AY

FAITH IN FL INT.COM

YOUR STORIES

Lighting a fire in Flint

Father Tom leads the Catholic presence there F

unny how names can reveal who we are and what we are meant to do. Take the name Fire-

stone. A firestone, also known as a flint, is a strong rock used to generate a spark. That’s exactly what Father Tom Firestone is doing with the Catholic Church in Flint (a name coincidence?) – creating a FAITH IN FLINT

spark to fuel a fire of energy, unity and rebuilding.

In May 2015, Bishop Boyea asked Father Tom to pastor four churches – St. John Vianney, St, Michael, St. Matthew and St. Mary – in an effort to strengthen the Catholic presence in Flint. As a critical player in FIF (Faith in Flint), Father Tom was given carte blanche to design how the collective parishioners would work in partnership as missionary disciples. He says: “This is 16

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quite a change from how I used to work. Now I collaborate with three priests, one deacon who’ll be ordained in June and two permanent deacons – each assigned to one of the parishes I’m responsible for. They’re younger, they’re my energy and we work as a team. Before we could begin any planning of offering something different to these people, I knew we needed to spend some time in prayer together. We asked the Holy Spirit to lead us step by step, knowing if we plan too far ahead, it becomes our plans and not the Spirit’s innovations. Our parish reconfiguration started as a blank canvas, and it’s amazing how the Spirit has led us to fill things in. “I’m trying to get these four parishes (with Christ the King) to understand we are really just one Catholic Church in Flint. We’re slowly accomplishing this. For the past year, we’ve been sharing prayer experiences to better utilize our resources. This offers us a different way to work together as priests, and helps our parishes understand ‘church’ can take place beyond the building they ascribe to. “Another thing I’m trying to do is get all four parishes to look at the whole city as our parish, which means getting out there, meeting other religions and communities and working with them. To spur this, we are planning an ecumenical Tent Revival for the entire city of Flint on June 24 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. This will include music, children’s activities, a prayer service, a guest speaker, etc. Catholics will do the planning. We BY ROSE ROBERTSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM LUNING

need to let the rest of the community know Catholics aren’t insular, nor are we a silo Church, but a Church that gets out there and walks the streets.” And walk the streets they do, when time allows, in door-to-door ministry where two clerics, a priest and a deacon, visit individual residences. The east side, rife with drugs, gangs, unemployment, and safety issues, is where they began. Father Tom continues: “People are surprised that two guys with collars are at their door, but they have been very cordial, telling us they want something on that side of town. People are looking for someone to center them and give them a place to have a sense of that. We were able to offer such an experience to them last November. During a snowstorm, we put the word out we’d provide a day with food, games for the kids, and a little prayer. Over 200 people showed up for this impromptu gathering. That’s telling us there’s a desire for more.” Not everything enjoys forward momentum. Frustrated, Father Tom shares the incredible challenges inflicted by the water crisis. “We were just beginning to do basic evangelization when the water emergency erupted last fall. All three of our schools have been affected. We notice a lot of issues with our younger children’s inability to pay attention and settle down. Addressing this catastrophe has sidelined much of our work.” Father Tom’s parish office, peppered with organized chaos, reveals the myriad demands of attending to multiple parishes and FIF initiatives encumbered by the strain of the water crisis. How does he keep pace? Father Tom’s wise smile tugs at the corners of his mouth: “I’ve been forced to completely rethink how I do ministry and give up parts of parish life. Mostly, I take it one day at a time. I want the diocese to be patient with us … I’m hoping to get the people of the diocese to understand that Flint, immersed in daily poverty, is mission country. The problem will not go away quickly. Flint has been dysfunctional for a long time, and the Catholic Church has to be a hopeful message of community based on Christ. The Catholic Church has always been in this city, will continue to be in this city, and is for this city.”

Father Tom on Michigan Faith in Action (MFIA) MFIA began as FACT, Flint Area Congregations Together, as an ecumenical gathering to improve Flint. This was something new for the Catholic initiative to get involved in, but we have to walk a fine line to not get caught up in the politics of endorsing candidates. This organization is modeled on People In Community Organizing (PICO) begun by Father John Baumann, a Jesuit priest, in 1972. As the Catholic Church, we felt we were safe to work with them and we have been working together in terms of the water crisis.

HOW TWO PARISHES RESPONDED TO FAITH IN FLINT ST. JOSEPH PARISH RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN FLINT When an entire parish welcomes in the Year of Mercy, great things happen. St. Joseph Parish in St. Johns decided to work together in response to the Faith in Flint campaign, and reach Isabelle out to their Kosto (left) brothers and and Lydia Finn sisters in the made a poster diocese. From to support St. the oldest to Joseph’s Faith in Flint effort. the youngest, parishioners began to find ways to raise awareness of the need for mercy and service to neighbors. Parish involvement began during Lent with the community’s Lenten charity project. Rather than participating in the usual fundraising for Catholic Relief Services, parishioners were encouraged to raise funds for Flint. They took home food containers with the Faith in Flint logo and filled them with donations for the various Catholic entities serving the poorest of the poor in Flint. ARISE GROUP HELPS PROVIDE INTERVIEW-READY CLOTHING FOR JOB SEEKERS IN FLINT The ARISE faith-sharing group (a ministry of RENEW International) at St. Jude in DeWitt gets together regularly to discuss Scripture and share their insights into the readings. They also develop plans Left to right: Carolyn to put the word of God into action. And when they Drake, Cynthia learned of Bishop Boyea’s call to action for Faith Lenneman, in Flint – act they did. Denise Pratt and about nine Denise Pratt other members of the ARISE group turned their and Linda focus toward the Work Ready Room at the Holy Vermeersch. Angels Community Closet at the Center for Hope at Catholic Charities in Flint. This program provides interview and work apparel, along with resource information, for individuals who are searching for a job and don’t have the proper attire.

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FAITH IN FL INT.COM

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FINDING PURPOSE,

ONE STITCH

AT A TIME Olivia sews for Stormy Kromer at N.E.W. Life Center BY CYNTHIA KAAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM LUNING

OLIVIA YOUNG APPEARS a bit reserved upon first introduction. Then she begins to talk about sewing, and her job at the St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, and there is an undeniable shift in her demeanor. She brightens and becomes full of energy. She is certain the N.E.W. Life Center was the breath of fresh air that changed her life. “It feels good to have a job to go to everyday … It just feels good to be able to have a check to do the things that are needed and be able to do the things that we want,” she explains. The “we” she speaks of includes her husband, Phillip. They are newlyweds who just celebrated their first anniversary in February.

COVER STORY

ASKING OLIVIA WHAT HER LIFE WAS LIKE before she became involved with the center causes her to lower her gaze and shake her head, “I don’t even want to think about it. It was depressing and just boring. I was just sitting around and watching TV. I was doing little odds and ends jobs like house cleaning and running errands for people. Little things like that just to make ends meet. But when I got up here, boy I just started being creative.”

Sister Carol and Sister Judy and everyone at the N.E.W. Life Center would like to thank the Ruth Mott Foundation and others for their help in growing their partnership with Stormy Kromer.

Olivia is one of nearly 100 proud graduates of the Employment Prep Class that covers training in everything from computers and sewing, to work ethic and financial literacy. The N.E.W. Life Center website explains: “Our 16-week program includes 12 different skill components. A day would consist of an exercise class, computer class, lunch, skills class, GED preparation or sewing class, tutoring and proficiency testing. Participants are required to attend class one day a week and volunteer at the center one day a week.” Not long after Olivia graduated from the program and began working, financial trouble had an impact on the center. “The sisters said the foundation had to be restructured, and that’s when Stormy Kromer came in.” Stormy Kromer is a company based in Ironwood, Mich. that produces 100% American-made outdoor gear. It is because of a contract with Stormy Kromer that the seamstresses at the center were laid off for only three months. “We’re more of a professional group now, we have production to get out daily. It’s a challenge to see how much we can get out, you know, more and more each time. Before Stormy Kromer, I was sewing lab coats and scrub tops and uniforms. My favorite was the lab coats because of the collars and the pockets.

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Anything that is a little challenging, that’s what I enjoy doing.” Olivia has a fellow churchgoer to thank for giving her the push toward the center that ultimately changed her life. “Just one day I came up here for a food box and I ran into one of my fellow church members. She told me about the program up here. She said, ‘Olivia, you’re not doing anything. Why don’t you come

“THIS IS MY WORK AND

PLAYGROUND. I REALLY ENJOY

COMING TO WORK –

I LOVE MY JOB.” up here on Wednesdays and get into this women’s program’? I got a hold of Sister Carol and she did a little interview with me, and then I started the program and I’ve been here ever since. The program was wonderful. After I completed it, well, I wanted to work here. I happened to look in one of the sewing rooms one day and it just, all of the different fabrics and all of the machines ... It just got me excited and I said, I want to work here. This is my work and playground. I really enjoy coming to work – I

love my job. I already knew how to sew a little, so that’s what got me started.” Olivia fondly recalls learning to sew and how that gift became a passion she has enjoyed being able to utilize. “I learned in school in home economics and from my mother at home. I was always tall and it was hard to find clothes to fit me. Tall and thin, and so she would make my clothes for me until I started making them myself. I was in high school and she taught me a little bit of the basics. I just kept with it and did little odd jobs for people with hems and waist bands and zippers,” she says. Her mother’s love of sewing has passed to her, and a little bit of that love is sewn into every stitch. Olivia lights up with joy when asked about other positive influences currently in her life. She launches right into an animated account of what Sisters Judy and Carol mean to her. “You have to see the sisters in action, because you can just see God’s love in them – the way they speak to people and the way they just seem to work problems out with such kindness. They do anything for you. Whatever you ask, whatever they can do, they are there for you. And I love them. I don’t know where I would be without them really. They have been such good friends and support-

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FAITH IN FLIN T.COM

ers of everybody through any crisis that comes along.” Olivia feels a special connection with Sister Carol, who enjoys Olivia’s gentle nature. Sister Carol says: “She always had a smile, even when she was down. As I have grown to know Olivia even more to this day, I delight in her honesty and openness to new and challenging situations … One thing that she always says is, ‘I LOVE my job.’ She is not afraid to meet the challenge of a new sewing machine … When we went to Stormy Kromer for training, she was so animated as she learned each new machine.” It is clear that Olivia has gained more than expanded sewing skills since completing the program and becoming an employee of the N.E.W. Life Center. She has also spoken in front of large groups at the request of the sisters – something she never thought she’d do – and credits the center for giving her the courage. “It has built my self-esteem. I feel confident at my work and I feel confident of telling people about this place. Everybody enjoys being here.” Olivia has found what most people search their whole lives for – a way to fuse her passion with purpose. What was once, as she described, a depressing life situation has become a vibrant life of hope and excitement for the future. “Being here has definitely changed my life. I’m proud to have a job here and I intend on being here for a long time. It gives me courage and confidence to go and to just build more goals … We want to get a house of our own with a big yard because we have dogs and we want our dogs to be able to run around. You know, one step at a time. But, as long as we have a job, we have something to look forward to.”

LEARN MORE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE N.E.W. LIFE CENTER OR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT STLUKENEWLIFECENTER.COM.

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‘God put that red house in front of me’ Denise and Flint’s St. Pius X parish adopt a house and help a family in need BY NANCY ROSEBUSH SCHERTZING PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM LUNING

Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” – Jn 9:39

enise Williams drives the same stretch of Miller Road every weekday. Dropping off her

granddaughter at Flint Powers High School, she turns back on to Miller Road to go to work at St. Pius X Catholic School, and reverses the process at day’s end.

“I pass a lot of broken-down houses along the way,” she explains. “For some reason, one day I noticed this red house near St. Pius X with its windows broken and doors partially boarded up. It’s not much different from the other abandoned houses on that stretch, but something about it woke me up. “I inquired and found the house was abandoned – probably owned by the Genesee County Land Bank. Built close to the road with a garage full of junk, every day that house drew my attention as I drove by. “After about a month, when I saw children’s toys in that little front yard, I knew something had changed. I kept watch and saw toys moved around and a garbage can out at the street. I am not the kind of person who knocks on doors or walks up to strangers, so I decided to ask Father Robert [Copeland] to send someone over to check on whoever was there.

“Yet I felt like taking action was up to me. So I said ‘OK, God. If you want me to stop at this house, you’d better have those people outside. I’m not knocking on their door!’ A short time later, rushing to get to adoration, I saw a woman and little children playing in the front yard. They were so close to the road I couldn’t overlook them. “I said, ‘OK, God. This is what I asked for.’ I turned the car around and pulled into the driveway. I don’t know where I found the words, but as soon as I stepped out of my car, I looked at the woman and said, ‘You don’t know me. My name is Denise Williams, and I’ve been watching your house. What do you need?’ She answered immediately: ‘I need running water and a furnace.’ “It was October, and she had four children ages 5 and under. I knew we had to move quickly, so my family started hauling water to them. My daughter drove them to a grocery store, discount bread shop and laundromat. She bought bleach, house spray and even lice killer when the children needed it. “The mom had bought the house from the Land Bank as is. While it sat empty, thieves ripped out the electric wiring and pipes. The family had been using the sinks and toilets even though they didn’t work, because they couldn’t afford the improvements the house required. “I knew they needed more than my family could handle, so I reached out to the St. Pius X Parish community. My ARISE faith-sharing group contributed money and cleaning supplies. Someone donated a furnace, which volunteers installed, along with a water heater and washer and dryer. At Christmas, St. Pius X parishioners filled every need from the giving tree and donated money to fund further improvements. We found a handyman who fixed the water lines to the kitchen and bathrooms so the family could use the facilities “With the plumbing ready, it was time to get the running water they needed. But when the city reconnected the lines, water came flooding into the house! The water meter had been stripped with everything else, so there was no way to control the flow. A new water meter cost us $500 – almost exactly what I had left from the Christmas contributions. “Honestly, I have never been so frustrated going to agencies, following leads, jumping through hoops. Now I see what people in need have to go through just to get their basic needs met! It’s ridiculous. “I suspected the mother tried to handle things on her own because she was afraid of losing her children in the system. I talked to Father Robert, and he enrolled her oldest in St. Pius X School. The parish family is helping feed, bringing drinking water to and caring for all the children. Things are happening because St. Pius X Parish has adopted the Red House Project, and made it our own. “God put that red house in front of me like a blazing light so I had to see it and change course. Now the entire parish is seeing the face of Jesus in this family and responding in love.”

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FAITH IN FL INT.COM

YOUR STORIES FEATURE STORY

LEARN MORE CONTACT YOUR PARISH FOR INFORMATION ON JOINING A FAITH-SHARING GROUP.

CHECK OUT TO READ MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF A FAITH-SHARING GROUP, SEE “IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE” ON PAGE 8

VICKY SCHULTZ, PRESIDENT/CEO OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES:

Vicky Schultz met with President Obama to discuss the work of Catholic Charities with the people of Flint.

Volunteers, donations and prayers are restoring hope in Flint Center for Hope grateful for Catholic response

CENTER FOR

HOPE

“A dream” is how Vicky Schultz, the CEO of Catholic Charities, sums up Faith in Flint (FIF). “We would’ve never imagined the response this has generated. Before the Faith in Flint magazine last June, no one knew us. This was truly a Godsend and opened the floodgates. “We began to get calls from churches, youth groups, and women’s guilds about fundraisers and donations. These were our first initial connections with churches outside of our county. When the issue was released, Bishop Boyea also sent a letter with a remittance envelope to every registered Catholic household in the diocese. Because of that, we’ve received thousands of dollars. Between monetary and tangible goods, almost every parish in our diocese has responded in some way. “The monetary donations from the Faith in Flint campaign have all been designated for renovating the 67,000 square feet of the Center for Hope, which has begun. Completion is expected in the summer of 2017. Once it’s finished, we’ll be a one-stop center with the addition of technical training, outreach workers, medical facilities, a transportation program, laundry facilities, showers and a water filling station. Our Warming Center, open from December through March, will continue to provide a safe place from the elements with three meals a day. The Warming Center typically serves 40-60 clients a night. Next door, at Catholic Charities, the 25 therapists will continue to be available for counseling. “While the majority of our volunteers continue to be local, we’ve enjoyed an increase of help from outside our county. Our average was 17,000 per year and, with FIF, we are at around 18,000 volunteers. Last summer, we had a steady stream of moms from Holt, Okemos and Charlotte, with cars filled with kids and donations. We had them make soap, sort things and work in the kitchen. Our situation’s unique because people can see where their help is going. Additionally, we’ve seen an increase in provided services simply because word’s gotten out about what we provide. We’ve easily picked up another 50 families a month who utilize our services. “This water crisis has impacted everything we do and pushed everyone to the limits. From the day it was announced, water began coming in, for which we are very grateful. But that also meant our small staff and volunteers spent hours unloading. Thankfully, most of those who brought water helped. And then there’s dispensing it. On the highest demand day, we gave out 4,000 cases. Absolutely everything’s had to slide to meet this need. Before this crisis, I didn’t think anything could be more basic than food, clothing and shelter and, by gosh, there’s one thing more basic, and that’s water. “Every meeting that I run begins with prayer. We have prayer boxes in all our buildings and we even hand them out with water. We never dispose of any prayer requests. I take them to staff and board meetings, handing one to each member. We begin with each person reading the prayer intention they hold; most of them take them home to continue to pray for that person. It’s very powerful because reading them grounds us and reminds us why we are here. Every single story keeps us going. At our monthly Mass open to all, (including clients, most of whom are non-Catholic, and attend with the promise of a bus ticket at the end), we bring the basket of prayers up to the altar and literally pray for the needs of our clients. For clients present, the staff embraces them, holds their hands and blesses them.

Restoring Community in the Heart of Flint 810.232.9950 x228 CatholicCharitiesFlintAndOwosso Online at www.CCSGC.org

“People come to aid us because they have faith. I think most people are searching for a way to connect their faith with real life. The original Faith in Flint issue planted the seed and included a challenge from the bishop. This is just amazing because our diocese is a 10-county area; now it feels like they are all part of us. God can make things happen.”

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FAITH IN FLINT

LEFT: Faith in Flint backpack, proudly worn by a visitor to the Center for Hope Soup Kitchen. CENTER: Guests are served meals each day at the Center for Hope BOTTOM: Catholic Charities has been one of the primary distribution centers throughout Flint’s water crisis.

MARY STEVENSON, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR HOPE:

“People became curious about our operations, so we held an open house last November. People learned about our Community Closet, Warming Center, Food Pantry, etc. We provide the better part of 100,000 points of service for physical needs each year. Because people could see what we do, it’s enabled us to connect to more areas of service, like the Backpack Program. We’d been able to identify with released prisoners who filter through here, but didn’t have the staff to enact any programs for them. Now we have parishioners from St. Mary Magdalen in Brighton who’ve made this a reality. In fact, the Michigan Department of Corrections is hoping to make this a statewide program. “We have also seen a boon to our Hope in a Box program (where personal needs items are donated in a box). A wonderful couple from Holy Spirit in Brighton has been dropping off items every weekend since last June. Neither of these would have happened without FIF, and they make a tremendous difference.” L EA R N , VOLU N T EE R , DO N ATE , P R AY

FAITH IN FL INT.COM

YOUR COMMUNITY THINGS TO DO

JUNE CAFÉ EVENTS

June 6-11, Byzantine icon workshop: During a six-day icon writing workshop, beginners will complete an icon of St. Mary Magdalen — intermediate students will have a choice of images. Cost of $775 includes all materials. For information/registration, contact Mary Helen at 810.227.9121 or 1buntin@comcast.net or visit www.iconclasses.org.

• Mondays, May 9-July 18, 7-8:30 p.m., Saying Yes – What is God's will for me? DVD study series led by Director of Adult Faith Al Weilbaecher at St. Thomas Aquinas’ Baraga Room, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing. For more information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@elcatholics.org. • Wednesdays, June 15-Aug. 17, 7-8:30 p.m., A Biblical Walk with Mary DVD study series led by parishioner Katrina Iamarino at St. Thomas Aquinas’ Fr. Mac Hall, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing. For more information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@elcatholics.org. • June 16, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., a retreat at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt: "Hungry for God? Feed the Hunger!" includes Mass, morning snacks and coffee, lunch and materials. Deepen your desire and fulfillment of your spiritual life in Christ and learn the steps to do this. Directed by Tony Sperendi. Cost is $65; $55 for seniors 60+. Register at www.stfrancis.ws or 517.669.8321. • Aug. 9-11, St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt will host Summer Scripture Days: “Diversity of Gifts.” Father David Rosenberg, the new director, will be the presenter. Registration is due by July 29. Space is limited. Brochures are available in churches’ welcoming area or by contacting Diane at 517.342.2465 or darzberger@dioceseoflansing.org

June 11-12, an Engaged Encounter weekend will be held in DeWitt, Mich. To register, visit www.lansing. cee.org. For information, contact Sue and Wayne Fransted at 810.588.4181 or info@lansingcee.org. June 16, noon-1:30 p.m., you are invited to the Catholic Lawyers Guild’s annual spring luncheon at St. Mary Cathedral’s parish hall. Paul Long, president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference, will speak on social justice. Cost: $15 per person; $5 for law students. RSVP Diane Arzberger at 517.402.2880 or lclguild@gmail.com. June 17, 10 a.m., shotgun start, Lansing Catholic High School’s 28th annual Cougar Classic will be at Forest Akers West-MSU in East Lansing. Player fee: $135. Register early for a terrific day of golf. For information, contact Colleen at

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE CATHOLIC LAWYERS GUILD’S ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON

ATTEND A VINTAGE CAR SHOW

GO TO A SUMMER FESTIVAL FOR FAMILY FUN, ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMES

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL •J une 20-24, 9 a.m.-noon, St. Joseph, Dexter’s parish center, 3430 Dover St. For information or to register, visit stjos.com. •J une 20-24, St. Michael Parish in Grand Ledge, for children age 4 to grade 5. Registration is available until June 10; call the parish office at 517.627.8493 and ask for Jennifer Nelson or visit stmichaelgl.org. •J une 27-30, 6-8 p.m., St. John the Baptist Parish, 2099 N. Hacker Rd., Howell. For information or to volunteer, call the parish at 517.546.7200. • July 11-15, 9 a.m.-noon, St. Casimir Parish, 815 Sparrow, Lansing. For information, visit www.stcas.org. To register, call Kim Kaye-Small at 517.482.1346. •J uly 11-14, mornings, St. John, Davison/Blessed Sacrament, Burton. For

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•

517.267.2109 or colleen.murray@ lansingcatholic.org. June 20, 9 a.m. shotgun start, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, in partnership with the Jim Harbaugh Foundation, will have “Teeing It Up for Tuition” golf outing at the Polo Fields Golf and Country Club, Ann Arbor. For more information, call 734.821.2208. Register online at

information or to registration, call 810.653.2377. Aug. 1-4, evenings, Immaculate Conception, Milan, open to kindergartengrade 5. To register, contact the parish at 734.439.2030 or valeriew@live.com. Aug. 1-4, 9-11:30 a.m., St. Paul Parish/St. Joseph Parish, Owosso at St. Joseph, 915 E. Oliver St. For information or to register, call Sharon Hardenberg at 989.723.4765. Aug. 1-5, 9 a.m.-noon, St. Anthony of Padua, 11 N. Broad St., Hillsdale, for children age 4 to grade 4 at no cost. For information, call the parish at 517.437.3305. Aug. 1-5 at St. Mary Parish, 14200 E. Old U.S. Hwy. 12, Chelsea. For information and to volunteer, call Beth at 734.475.7561. Aug. 1-5 at St. Mary Magdalen, 2201 Old U.S. Hwy. 23, Brighton. For information, visit www.saintmarymagdalen.org.

www.stfrancisa2.com/golf/. July 7-9, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., St. Joseph Parish, Dexter will host its annual Flea Market at 3430 Dover St. Donations will be accepted from June 26 to July 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For information, visit www.stjos.com or call 734.426.8483. July 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. John Parish, 2099 N. Hacker Rd., Howell will host its annual Vintage Car Show. For information, contact the parish at 517.546.7200. July 15-17, St. Joseph Parish, Dexter is hosting its annual Summer Festival at 6805 Mast Rd. July 15, 7 p.m., Friday Night Kickoff Concert “Measure for Measure” – free will donation; July 16, noon-10 p.m. and July 17, noon-6 p.m. Come and join us for family fun, entertainment and games. For more information: visit www.stjos.com or call 734.426.8483. July 26, 6:30 p.m., Catholic Divorce Survival Guide will be offered at St. Casimir Parish in Lansing. This professionally produced series will guide a person through the stages of healing. Cost is $35, which includes materials. For information, contact Kim Kaye-Small, director of religious education, at 517.482.1346, ext. 209 or small@stcas.org.

Aug. 8-10, a Retrouvaille Retreat will be held for couples experiencing problems in their marriage. To register, visit www. retro4lansing@comcast.net; for information, contact Larry and Beth Bauer at 734.369.3470 or lpbbauer@yahoo.com. Aug. 5-7, Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend at St. Mary, Westphalia: Learn to live the Year of Mercy in your marriage and make it even better. Renew and enrich your marriage and your faith, too! For information/ registration, visit wwme.org or call Harry and Karen Porter at 888.628.7433. Oct. 8, 6 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish presents its 15th annual Educational Trust Fund Benefit at Michigan Union Rogel Ballroom. For more information, contact Colleen Pierce at 734.821.2208. May 10-19, 2017, Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes and Barcelona — celebrating the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima — with Father Andrew Czajkowski, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Davison. Includes: roundtrip air from Detroit Metro, taxes, fees and hotel for $3,599 (early booking). For reservations, contact Father Andrew at 810.653.2377 or frandrew@stjohndavison.org. RETREAT CENTERS ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER, DEWITT, STFRANCIS.WS or 866.669.8321 July 18-25, an eight-day silent Ignatian retreat built around the elements of the Examen prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola will be held. July 29-31, Marriage in the Year of Mercy retreat for married couples will be held; discover what God is calling you to do. WEBER RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, ADRIAN, 517.266.4000 or WEBER.ADRIANDOMINICANS.ORG July 12-14, retreat: “Living long and well — it’s an inside job” workshop will provide opportunities to identify behavioral patterns and explore how they may be present or absent in our own lives, and how new patterns can be explored and learned.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES IF YOU HAVEN’T YET VOLUNTEERED during the Year of Mercy, please consider contacting your Catholic Charities office or visiting its website to see what you can do to make a difference in your community.

LEARN TO LIVE THE YEAR OF MERCY IN YOUR MARRIAGE AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

TAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA, LOURDES AND BARCELONA TO CELEBRATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

VOLUNTEER WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES THIS SUMMER

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, CATHOLICCHARITIESJACKSONLENAWEEHILLSDALE.ORG or 517.782.2551 Aug. 5, 6-9 p.m. and Aug. 6, 9 a.m.-noon, a We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class will be held at Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Seton Hall, 606 S. Wisner St. in Jackson. Fee is $75. Pre-registration and payment are required prior to class. To register or for information, call CCJLH at 517.782.2551. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, CATHOLICCHARITIESFLINT.ORG or 810.232.9950 FLINT and 989.723.8239 SHIAWASSEE Foster parents needed: children are abused and neglected in Genesee County each day and are in need of a foster home. Please consider opening your heart and home. For information on becoming a foster parent, call 810.232.3418 or visit www.givehope@ccsgc.org. Construction is under way at Catholic Charities’ Center for Hope. Thanks to all of you who continue to make this possible! For more information, please call 810.232.9950, ext. 228 or email givehope@ccsgc.org. Volunteer with Catholic Charities this summer. For information, call 810.232.9950, ext. 143 or email givehope@ccsgc.org. Are you raising a relative's child? The Kinship Caregivers Program offers individual support, as well as workshop opportunities, for grandparents or other family members who are raising a relative's child. This program is free and available to residents of Genesee County. Kinship groups are meeting now. Contact Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, 810.232.9950, ext. 377 or hgist@ccsgc.org. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW COUNTY, CSSWASHTENAW.ORG or 734.971.9781 Interested in becoming a foster parent? CSSW offers foster care for children who have been separated from their birth families for reasons of abuse and/ or neglect. CSSW licenses foster families to provide a safe, loving temporary home until the child is able to be reunified with their birth family. The next two foster care orientations will be held: June 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m. and June 23, 9 a.m.-noon at 4925 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor. For information or to RSVP, call 734.971.9781, ext.448. There are no fees associated with becoming a licensed foster parent. June 10-11 and July 15-16, two We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes for engaged couples sponsored by CSSW and the Family Ministry Program of Catholic Charities will be held. For information or registration, call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit its website. LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, 517.545.5944 or LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG June 25, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., a We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class will be held at LCCC, 2020 E. Grand River, Ste. 104 in Howell. Cost is $75. Registration and payment required prior to class. Register early. To register or for information, contact LCCC at 517.545.5944 or visit its website.

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ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LANSING, STVCC.ORG or 517.342.4734 June 18-24, St. Vincent Catholic Charities will be taking part in World Refugee Awareness Week. June 19, Refugee Sunday, is a day celebrated around the world to recognize refugees and an opportunity to join churches around the world in praying for refugees. For updates on activities and events hosted by area organizations during the week, visit stvcc.org/WorldRefugeeAwarenessWeek. June 18, 9 a.m., to kick off World Refugee Awareness Week, St. Vincent Catholic Charities will be hosting the third annual “Welcoming the Stranger 5K Family Fun” at Hawk Island Park in Lansing. The race is free to enter. Awards will be given. Charities also will collect new and gently used household items at the race — dishes, pots/pans, sheets, blankets, towels and pillows. To register, visit runsignup.com/WelcomingTheStranger5k. 27

YOUR COMMUNITY LOCAL NEWS

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS’ TOOTSIE ROLL DRIVE BENEFITS ST. LOUIS CENTER The annual Palm Sunday “Tootsie Roll” drive by the Michigan Knights of Columbus raises funds for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the state. The Chelsea Council dedicates its proceeds to St. Louis Center and Chelsea’s special education program. A total of $4,680 was raised this year, and 63 people came out to help with the collections from Friday through Sunday.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES’ GARDENING PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK YOUTH RECEIVES GRANT Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties is proud to announce its Mr. Gaines Gardening Program has received a $60,000 grant, with a $40,000 match possibility, from the Ruth Mott Foundation to expand its work in the North End of Flint. The program provides summer jobs and mentoring, and teaches agriculture to Flint’s at-risk youth. Participants learn job skills, teamwork and work ethic, while planting, growing, harvesting and selling produce grown in the Flint area. In addition, the youth gardeners make fresh produce available to area seniors, who are on a fixed budget and are often unable to afford fresh foods.

SISTER MARIE JOSEPHINE LICHOWICZ, REQUIESCAT IN PACE

D. MCAVOY

Sister Marie Josephine entered eternal life on April 11. She was 79 years old, with 62 years in religious life. She was a teacher/ principal in Michigan at: St. Andrew, Sacred Heart, St. Louis the King, St. Hyacinth and Ss. Christine and Gemma in Detroit; St. Francis, Flint; and St. Joseph, Jackson.

ST. LUKE’S N.E.W. LIFE CENTER RECEIVES DONATION FROM WEINGARTZ Weingartz Equipment Company donated several pieces of lawn equipment to St. Luke’s N.E.W Life Center in Flint on April 7. Sister Judy Blake of St. Luke’s was overjoyed to receive the new equipment. “This is a tremendous donation for us. We are really excited to get these new units,” she said, adding that this lawn maintenance program helped eliminate blight from the surrounding area. 28

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FATHER BRENDAN KEITH LEDWIDGE, REQUIESCAT IN PACE Rev. Brendan Keith Ledwidge, 93, entered eternal life on April 15. The Funeral Mass was held on April 22 at St. Mary Church, Pinckney, with Bishops Earl Boyea and Carl Mengeling concelebrating. Bishop James Murray preached.

‘GET THE LEAD OUT’

food to fight lead exposure

BLACK BEAN SALAD WITH MANGO, CILANTRO AND LIME • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice • 1 tablespoon honey • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1/3 cup canola oil • 1/2 small ripe mango, peeled and diced into 1/4-inch pieces • 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced small

• 1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed • 1 small jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed, minced (optional) • 1 small red onion, diced small • 1 /4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped •K osher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

SHANE FOLKERTSMA

In a small mixing bowl, combine the vinegar, lime juice, honey and cumin. Slowly whisk in the oil until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the mango, pepper, black beans, jalapeno and onion together in a large bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the ingredients and toss to combine. Season the salad with salt and pepper. Garnish with the cilantro.

OR A COMMUNITY that has already faced many challenges, Flint’s residents are now in dire need of life’s most basic necessity – clean water. When news of the water crisis broke, individuals, organizations and churches from all over took action to help. Truckloads and pallets of bottled water are being brought in and distributed to those most affected.

T. Gennara

CULTURE

MICHELLE DIFRANCO

is a designer and the busy mom of three children.

But right in the heart of downtown Flint, a different kind of response has taken place. An experienced chef is giving cooking demonstrations from a commercial kitchen tucked inside the Flint Farmers’ Market. And recently, his Chateaubriand and poached pears have been put on the back burner so he can focus on something even more important. Chef Sean Gartland, culinary director at both the Flint Farmers’ Market and Flint Food Works, has teamed up with his fellow market manager and other organizations to introduce cuisine to the public that combats lead in the bloodstream. “As culinary director, I have the opportunity to directly work with the public through cooking demonstrations. It’s the perfect setting to initiate crucial conversations about how people cook and eat, and how they can make changes in their diet to mitigate the effects of exposure to lead in the water,” says Sean. For Sean, getting involved was the right thing to do. “We are a hub of activity … a town square of sorts, for the entire city of Flint. It was only natural that we should step up and help in the crisis. We already had an ongoing relationship in programming healthy eating initiatives with the YMCA and Hurley Wellness Services. They should be credited, along with the folks at the MSU Extension offices, in putting together our L EA R N , VOLU N T EE R , DO N ATE , P R AY

Focus on Nutrition & Lead Program,” he says. But reaching out to others in his hometown has a deeper meaning. Actively involved in their Catholic schools and home parish, Sean and his family have planted strong Catholic roots in the city of Flint. And his faith has played a big role in helping those in his community. “My faith is directly tied to this city and is a deep part of my connection with the city. I moved away after high school, and it was my involvement with Flint Farmers' Market that firmly entrenched me in the community once again. Drawing on my faith plays a large part in driving me to be involved in community- focused initiatives. As a chef, it's only natural that healthy food access and nutrition are areas I'm most concerned with. Loaves and fishes, right?” says Sean. And for fighting lead, nutrition is key. Especially for children, who have been affected most. Sean says, “The real key factors in finding recipes for dishes that can help to fight the effects of lead exposure are ones that are high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C. The next, and perhaps most important, is finding a combination of those ingredients that will be a hit with kids. I find that almost any variation of Mexican food is a hit with my kids,” he says. Sean is passionate about helping his city to become a diverse and prosperous place to live. That, and applying his God-given talents and Catholic faith to help out in a crisis, should be an inspiration to us all. FAITH IN FL INT.COM

FAITH IN FLINT

Help the Catholic community in Flint serve their city: 609 East 5th Avenue Flint, MI 48503 810.238.2679

J. Luning J. Luning

3. ST. MARY CHURCH

Organization

GAINES

FENTON 26

L EA RN , VOLUNTEER , D ON AT E, P R AY

FAI THI N F L IN T. COM

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GOODRICH

GENESEE COUNTY

FLINT 475

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10. Genesys Downtown Flint Health Center 420 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502

GRAND BLANC

9. St. Francis Prayer Center G-2381 E. Carpenter Road, Flint, MI 48505

J. Luning

8. St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center 3115 Lawndale Avenue Flint, MI 48504

M. Frieseman

7. Catholic Charities Of Shiawassee And Genesee Counties 901 Chippewa Street Flint, MI 48503

BURTON

SWARTZ CREEK

4. ST. JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH AND SCHOOL

6. Father Luke M. Powers Catholic High School 1505 W. Court St | Flint, MI 48505

DAVISON

1811 Seymour Avenue Flint, MI 48503 810.233.0402

FLINT

W. Pierson Rd.

2500 North Franklin Avenue Flint, MI 48506 810.232.4012

5. CHRIST THE KING CHURCH

MT. MORRIS

Parish/ School

High School

OTISVILLE

KEY:

706 Beach Street Flint, MI 48502 810.232.0880

CLIO

FLUSHING

CITY OF FLINT

2. ST. MATTHEW CHURCH

2415 Bagley Street Flint, MI 48504 810.235.1812

MONTROSE

Saginaw St.

M. Frieseman

1. ST. MICHAEL CHURCH

E. Court St.

2 5

6 M

BURTON

CHURCH PRESENCE IN GENESEE COUNTY: 11. New Calvary Cemetery, Flint

21. S t. Robert Bellarmine Church and School, Flushing

12. St. Pius X Church and School, Flint

22. Mt. Zion Pastoral Center, Montrose

13. Holy Rosary Church and Elementary School, Flint

23. St. Mary Queen Of Angels Church, Swartz Creek

14. Our Lady Of Guadalupe Church, Flint

24. St. Francis Xavier Church, Otisville

15. All Saints Church, Flint

25. St. John the Evangelist Church, Davison

16. Good Shepherd Church, Montrose 17. Church of the Holy Family Parish and School, Grand Blanc

26. St. John the Evangelist Church and School, Fenton

18. Holy Redeemer Church, Burton

27. St. Mark the Evangelist Church, Goodrich

19. B lessed Sacrament Church, Burton

28. St. Mary Church and School, Mt. Morris

20. Ss. Charles & Helena Church, Clio

29. St. Joseph Church, Gaines

Here’s how you can help: VOLUNTEER Serve a meal or sort clothing donations at Catholic Charities Be a mentor for someone in an employment prep class

HE WORLD HAS DISCOVERED Flint, Mich. Often ignored, it has now become (to some) a symbol of failure. However, what is not a failure in Flint is the faith of its people. I am reminded of the picture of the young child wearing a T-shirt that says “God don’t make junk,” while standing amid mounds of trash and garbage. That child, the city of Flint and all of us are not junk – we are people who are loved by God.

And knowing that God loves us, we are called to respond in love – and become, in the words of St. Teresa of Avila, “Christ’s hands” in the world. RON LANDFAIR We see loving self-giving is the director in the many charitable acts in of Multicultural this Year of Mercy, undertaken Ministry for the by so many people and comDiocese of Lansing. munities throughout the world on behalf of Flint. Theirs is a selfless witness of generosity as they, too, mimic Christ’s selflessness. In many respects, “I am Flint.” And so are you! For at a root level, we are all exactly what Flint is. We are beings, we are communities, we are a city, we are a diocese and we are a people of hope. To have such hope, we must have faith. We must have faith that, beyond our own hands, there is something greater. A pearl beyond all price, a reason for such hope, a true faith in the hand that guides us. And it is with the spirit of that faith that we go forward, confident not in our own efforts, but in the love and certainty of Christ’s presence, and that of the Holy Spirit. But, it must be clear that it is through our hands and our efforts that Christ lives in us. It is through our heart that Christ loves. It is through our hands that Christ acts. If, in truth, “I am Flint,” then it is time for me to roll up my sleeves, to pick up my plow, to carry my cross and act! Thus, we demonstrate our true calling, our true nature, that we do, indeed, have Faith in Flint. C. Jones

Become a tutor for GED prep at St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center

WE ARE FLINT

DONATE Adopt-a-Student at St. John Vianney grade school Support Catholic Charities Center for Hope Support the N.E.W. Life Center in its life-changing ministries

PRAY For the faith-filled people who work tirelessly to help the people of Flint For our brothers and sisters in our diocese who are in great need As a faith community, adopt a parish in Flint

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE LOOK NO FURTHER.