July/August 2005

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the selflessness of true freedom f r o m

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ach year our nation pauses on the Fourth of July to celebrate freedom. As we gather around picnic tables and barbecues, swimming pools and patios, we bring family and friends together to share meals and stories joyfully, capping things off with the traditional fireworks late in the evening. I wonder, though, how most people would define freedom. If asked, I suspect the average person might say that “freedom is the ability to do what I want, when I want to do it.” Spin that out to its logical conclusion and that kind of unchecked freedom leads to chaos – or worse.

Freedom – taken to an extreme – leads to selfishness, which is the polar opposite of the kind of freedom to which Jesus calls us in the Gospels. The true, transforming, Christ-like freedom we are called to live is not the freedom of selfishness or self-centeredness, but is the freedom of selflessness. That kind of true freedom, challenging as it is to live, invites us to place the needs of others ahead of our own. It encourages us to do with less so that others might have some of what we take for granted. Freedom of that sort seeks reconciliation, aware that we must seek to free one another from the bonds of our unforgiveness. To live in that kind of freedom is to be transformed more and more each day into the likeness of Christ.

Like many Japanese Americans, Cora Uno Fujiwara spent the years of the Second World War in an internment camp. Although she had been born in the United States and was an American citizen, her ancestry – so it was said at the time – was not to be trusted. Her freedom was taken away for reasons beyond her control. Like other interned Japanese Americans I have known, Cora did not let the experience embitter her.

Instead, in the midst of captivity, she found freedom in the person of her late husband, Eddie, and in the church she now calls home.

Imagine being held prisoner in your own body as a disease slowly robs you of the freedom to move. Not only does the disease steal away your mobility, it forces you to leave behind the job you love, trading independence for a form of disease-imposed captivity. Jean Haines knows that path too well. Yet as a Victorious Missionary, Jean is able to focus on the many positives that are part of her life. Jean has found freedom where most could never glimpse it.

Maria and Martin Espino work with the people of St. Mary Parish in Adrian to see to the temporal and spiritual needs of the migrant workers who live in area camps from May to November, tending the crops that become the food on our tables. Maria came from Mexico to the United States as a child, working in the fields with her family. As an adult, Maria now helps to create a Christ-centered community in the fields around Adrian.

Christ-like freedom transforms us. It moves us from sadness to joy, from captivity to release, from selfishness to selflessness. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

The true, transforming, Christlike freedom we are called to live is not the freedom of selfishness or self-centeredness, but is the freedom of selflessness.

That kind of true freedom, challenging as it is to live, invites us to place the needs of others ahead of our own.

Tom Gennara

– Fr. Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude.

Liturgical Calendar: Blessed Junipero Serra, Priest July 1 | St. Elizabeth of Portugal July 4 | St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest July 5 | St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr July 6 | St. Augustine Zhao Ro

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f e a t u r e s

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p r o f i l e Victorious Missionaries – meet Jean Haines.

Jean Haines devoted her career to helping disabled children. Then she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Find out how she devoted the rest of her life to the Victorious Missionaries, people who focus on abilities – especially the ability to pray. – Elizabeth Solsburg

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• Dear Fr. Joe: Why do some prayers get answered and others appear not to be?

6 in the know with Fr. Joe – Fr. Joseph Krupp

• God’s quiet call to the consecrated life – how Sr. Carla responded.

8 theology 101

m y s t o r y Señora and sister Two women who care for migrant workers in Lenawee County.

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– Patricia Majher

o r d i n a t i o n Meet the new priests of the Diocese of Lansing.

The five new priests of our diocese tell their stories and share their faith. – Bob Horning PLUS: Seven deacons ordained to serve.

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• 5 examples of God sightings at work.

15 work life – Tim Ryan • 4 signs you have too much debt.

• 3 ways to spend time together – in the car.

• Is it time for a D-A-T-E? • How do we talk about raising our kids when we disagree?

18 your marriage matters • How do we explain the mystery of life and death to our children?

19 the journey

c o v e r s t o r y Prisoner in her own land – Cora Fujiwara found God in an internment camp for Japanese Americans.

– Dr. Cathleen McGreal

Along with thousands of Japanese Americans, Cora Fujiwara was sent to an internment camp during World War II. Read how she found a new freedom there when she found the Catholic Church.

– Bob Horning

what you’ll get out of this issue

• Life’s ordinary miracles. Where do we find God in everyday experiences?

20 spiritual fitness – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh

• A miracle at Lourdes.

31 the last word – Fr. Charles Irvin

10 31

hao Rong, Priest and his companions, Martyrs July 9 | St. Benedict, Abbot July 11 | St. Henry July 13 | Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin July 14 | St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor July 15

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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

July/August 2005 • Volume 6 : Issue 7

Tony Randall’s faith illuminated his life and inspires ours i n

m e m o r y

EDITOR IN CHIEF

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

Evelyn Weitzel SUBSCRIPTIONS

Rev. William Ashbaugh Tom and JoAnne Fogle Bob Horning Rev. Joseph Krupp Patricia Majher Cathleen McGreal John Morris Pat Nischan Rick and Diane Peiffer Tim Ryan Nancy Schertzing Sara Teller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING

Tom Gennara Christine Jones James Luning (cover) CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wayne Case Vicki Bedard Patricia Garcia Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple

Dear Friends in FAITH: You met Tony Randall last month through an article I wrote as he was dying of cancer. We talked at my dining room table as friends, and Tony kindly allowed me to write the story based on our discussion.

In writing about our visit, I wanted to make sure you could see that Tony never feared death, though he knew it could come at any time. He had regrets about dying – losing his ability to eat, never getting to meet the people his children would marry, never holding his grandchildren. But to Tony, dying was just a part of life’s path, like a bend in the road.

He looked forward to experiencing what was around that bend.

On May 9, Tony died. He

fought his cancer longer than anyone expected, and he truly lived every minute of his last days. Tony’s wife, Ellen, has told the story of Tony’s dying moments hundreds of times since then.

“As Tony lay in his bed at the end,” Ellen explains, “he reached out his arms as if he were hugging someone. We knew then that he was going, and we gathered around him.”

“Tony reached out four more times – smiling, but not at us.

He seemed to be greeting people only he could see. Then he raised his arms a fifth time and a new smile lit up his face. I have been married to that man

in the beginning

by Chris Sushynski

ADVISORY BOARD

FAITH Publishing Service

Rev. Dwight Ezop CHAIRMAN

Patrick M. O’Brien

T. Gennara

Rev. Dwight Ezop

for 26 years, and I never saw him smile like that,” Ellen marvels. “He had a look of pure rapture, as if he were thinking, ‘Oh! I had no idea!’

“I know he crossed over happy. There’s no doubt.”

Tony’s and Ellen’s son, Ian, agrees. He chose to end his father’s eulogy with a passage from Kahlil Gibran’s masterpiece, The Prophet. His words sum up Tony’s death experience so elegantly, I wanted to share them with you here. I hope they give you the sense of hope and joy that Tony’s life and death have inspired in those who knew him.

PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Beverly Sherman SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Amy Odigie GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN

InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT

FAITHPublishingService.com FAITHTM (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 j job@dioceseoflansing.org. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: FAITHTM, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. ©FAITH Publishing Service. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service.

Subscriptions: 1.888.FAITH.90 Diocese of Lansing Info: 517.342.2575

“Belshazar! Your brights are on! Your brights are on!

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountaintop, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. – Nancy Schertzing

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel July 16 | St. Camillus de Lellis, Priest July 18 | St. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr July 20 | St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor July 21 | St. Mary Magdalene July 22 | St. B

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FAITH is growing the FAITH Magazine format is in many parts of the U.S.

St. Edmund why his ministry was secret

www.faithpublishingservice.com

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E. Solsburg

St. Edmund Arrowsmith born:1585 died: 1628 feast day: August 28

Goyo Lopez is editor of La Fe, Anne-Marie Welsh is editor of FAITH in Erie, Rich Reece is editor of NC Catholics, and Fr. Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH.

I

n January 2000, the first issue of FAITH Magazine made its way into the mailboxes of Catholic parishioners across the Diocese of Lansing. Bishop Carl Mengeling had a heart for evangelization and wanted to do that in a new and effective way.

In the last two years, FAITH has also been making its way to mailboxes across the country. FAITH’s success engendered a new company, FAITH Publishing Service, which has published magazines in six dioceses. Proceeds from this effort help defray the cost of producing the magazine for Diocese of Lansing readers. This year, FAITH hired Beverly Sherman as senior account manager to work with dioceses interested in bringing the successful FAITH format to their people. The current combined circulation of all the magazines that publish with FAITH now exceeds 300,000. You can find out more about FAITH Publishing Service at www.FAITHpublishingservice.com.

Where can you find versions of FAITH? • The Desert Clarion, Las Vegas • La Fe, Laredo, Texas • Harvest Magazine, Portland, Maine (fall 2005) • FAITH Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania • NC Catholics, Raleigh, North Carolina • FAITH Lansing, Lansing, Michigan FAITH’s award-winning combination of inspiring features, useful columns and exciting graphics has been praised by readers from all over the country. FAITH is a magazine that everybody in the house reads, from adults to teens. One mother of a teen wrote, “I really hope you are happy now! I can barely have a dinner conversation with my 15-year-old daughter on the day FAITH arrives because her head is buried in it.”

FAITH wins 13 national awards: This year, the Catholic Press Association recognized FAITH for feature writing, cover design, photography, special issues and general excellence.

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Edmund was betrayed and arrested for being a Catholic priest.

Claim to fame: Brian Arrowsmith, who preferred to use his confirmation name, Edmund, was the son of Catholics during a time when the Catholic Church was persecuted in England. He went to France to be ordained a priest in 1611, then returned home to England to minister in secret to the Catholics in his home region of Lancashire. He was arrested for practicing his faith in 1622, then surprisingly freed by a pardon issued

by King James I. He entered the Jesuit order in 1623 and once more returned to England, where he ministered until his martyrdom in 1628.

Little-known fact: The “Holy Hand” of St. Edmund is still preserved as a relic at St. Oswald’s Church in Ashton, England, near the saint’s birthplace. The hand was cut from St. Edmund’s body after his death by a fellow Catholic, and many miracles have been attributed to it.

What made him a saint: St. Edmund was known for his “fervor, zeal and ready wit,” and for his energy and pleasant disposition, even in times of great trial. He persisted in the practice of his faith in the midst of persecution, working to make sure that the spiritual needs of the Catholics in his care were met.

Lowest/scariest moment: When he was a child, Edmund’s parents were arrested and dragged off to jail because of their Catholic faith. The little boy was left home alone and frightened, wondering whether he would ever see his mother and father again.

Best quote: At his execution, St. Edmund urged his fellow Catholics to remain true, saying, “Be witnesses with me that I die a constant Roman Catholic and for Christ’s sake; let my death be an encouragement to your going forward in the Catholic religion.”

How did he die: After working as a Jesuit for four years, Edmund was betrayed and arrested for being a Catholic priest. He was sentenced to death; and was hanged, drawn and quartered on August 28. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, who represent more than 300 lay and religious men and women who died for their faith and loyalty to the church between 1535 and 1679.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you gave St. Edmund Arrowsmith the courage to be steadfast in his faith during a time of persecution.

Help us to boldly proclaim and practice our faith, especially during times and situations when it would be easier to remain silent. Amen.

– Elizabeth Johnson

| St. Bridget of Sweden July 23 | St. James, Apostle July 25 | Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary July 26 | St. Martha July 29 | St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor July 30

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Fr. Joe: why doesn’t God answer my prayer? about God is that there are some things God cannot do.

Yes, you read right: There are things that God cannot do.

One of them is that God cannot remove from us the “aftershocks” of sin. When we choose to sin, we must embrace the consequences. hat is a great question; it’s going to take We can pray for God to walk with us through the difficula “process” to answer it, so ties and he will, but God canplease stick with me as we not or will not remove the get there.

First of all, we have to rec- consequences of our bad choices. Now, this is not to ognize that our faith in God say that all bad is supposed to be things that hapa result of a rela- When we pray, pen to us are our tionship. Through our souls are fault – that would our daily prayers entering the and contact with presence of God be ludicrous.

So, what hapGod, we come to and basking in his divine presence. pens when we understand that pray? When we As we stand in our loving, allthe light of God’s pray, our souls are powerful God entering the presglory, we are wants what is transformed and ence of God and best for us. The basking in his changed, even words of the divine presence. prophet Jeremiah when we don’t As we stand in become our lived feel anything the light of God’s experience, “For I happening. glory, we are know well the plans I have in mind for you, transformed and changed, even when we don’t feel anyplans for your welfare, not thing happening. It’s like ridyour woe. Plans for a future ing an exercise bike; it’s not full of hope.” like we are getting anywhere Just as our experiences geographically, but we do it with people can lead us to because we know there are trust them, so our lived and growing experience with God things going on inside us that we cannot see. Our hearts can lead us to trust him.

As we grow in our relation- and bodies are growing stronger; muscles are tearing ship, we naturally grow in trust. One of the most impor- and rebuilding, the heart’s capacity to handle stress is tant things we can learn

Photo by Tom Gennara

Dear Fr. Joe: Why do some prayers get answered in the way the person wants them to, and others don’t?

T

I read a great story from Billy Graham. He tells of a time early in his ministry when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, “If you’ll come to the church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.”

“I don’t think I’ll be there,” the boy said. “You don’t even know your way to the post office.” increasing, our lungs are growing stronger, etc. All these things are happening, even though we don’t feel it.

Prayer works the same way.

When we pray for a specific situation, we are being changed – our souls are being strengthened to handle the coming grief or our capacity for joy is being increased.

As we approach the wrapup to this question, the element of mystery needs to be addressed. Whenever we talk about God, we are almost always giving our “best guess.” God is not us. The

Scriptures put it this way, “For my ways are not your ways, says the Lord.” Think of it this way – the way you and I experience life is limited by two things. First, we are only able to understand our lives in the context of our life and experience. We don’t know how different actions and inactions on our part affect people all around us.

Second, we are limited by how we view time. We see our lives like a scroll unfolding; God sees the whole of our lives, from beginning to end, in an eternal “now.”

St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor August 1 | St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop August 2 | St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest August 2 | St. John Mary Vianney, Priest August 4 | The Dedicati

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54%

in what year did Disneyland open? h i s t o r y

q u i z

of practicing Catholics say their commitment to the church is greatly to moderately affected by who the pope is.

p o l l

magic or faith?

Welcome to the house of mouse. Walt Disney introduced the first theme park in the world when Disneyland opened in Anaheim, Calif., on July 17, WHAT YEAR?

We asked members of the Daughters of Isabella at St. Paul Parish, Owosso, the following: What is the difference between believing in magic and having faith? And can we change how God acts in our lives? – Sara Teller

Louis Pasteur used his newly developed rabies vaccine to save the life of a boy bitten by a rabid dog on July 6, WHAT YEAR? French Ursuline nuns arrived in New Orleans and set up the first Catholic charitable institution in America on Aug. 6, WHAT YEAR? The complex consisted of an orphanage, a girls’ school, and a hospital.

Parents could sleep in a little later on the weekends as ABC began broadcasting Saturday morning children’s shows on Aug. 19, WHAT YEAR? 1955, 1885, 1727, 1950

With these ideas in our hearts and minds, we can see there are certain elements of our lives that we will not understand until we see God face to face. I remember working with a family whose mother was very sick.

In my discussions with her, I discovered that her greatest pain in life was not her sickness, but the fact that her children did not celebrate their faith. They didn’t go to church or teach their children the importance of faith. During her sickness, her kids prayed daily for her recovery, but in the end, she succumbed to her illness and died. I worked with the family as they struggled with the pain of loss, and over the course of the next year, they rediscovered their faith and began to come to Mass and

bring their children. God did not answer their prayers, but he sure answered the prayers of the mother. I have heard this referred to as A Severe Mercy, and I recommend the book by that title to all readers. Its author is Sheldon Vanauken.

In the end, we see that our prayers are a loving dialogue between God and us. He listens in love and, if we respond with an open heart, we may hear him speaking to us in the silence.

– 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

Judy Weber: We all know magic is a trick.

My faith is believing in something that exists. We don’t change how God acts – good or bad, God is in our lives always!

Donna Stechschulte: Magic is an illusion; faith is real.

We have to do the best we can [in our lives] and hope and pray that God understands.

Patricia Elliott: Magic is an illusion that makes you see something not real, while faith is divine grace given to all who believe in God.

FAITHmag.com Your source for daily changing Catholic world news, diocesan news and events, weekly articles, essays, discussion forums and free e-mail subscriptions to Fr. Charlie’s Monday Morning AlkaSeltzer, FAITHhelps and FAITHteen.

Online Discussion Forums: This month’s topics on FAITHmag.com • What is the difference between believing in magic and faith?

• Can what we do change how God acts in our lives?

• Why does God seem to answer some prayers and not others?

Visit FAITHmag.com, then click FAITH forums to discuss these and other interesting topics.

edication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome August 5 | The Transfiguration of the Lord August 6 | St. Dominic, Priest August 8 | St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) August 9

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St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr August 10 | St. Clare, Virgin August 11 | St. Pontian, Pope and St. Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs August 13 | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin M

God’s quiet call to the consecrated life how Sr. Carla responded Celebrating in 2005:

Call of the baptized Jan. 9

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Consecrated Life Feb. 6

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Ordained Priesthood April 17

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Permanent Diaconate A

how does God call us? let us count the ways.

There is an all-or-nothing feeling about a religious call that can be confusing. A religious sister I know experienced that with her vocation to the religious life.

Remembering when and where the “call” came, Sr. Joanne says today, is as clear as remembering where you were when you first heard of 9/11. It was the library on the second floor at CMU. It was January, and her friends were reminding her it was time to pay a deposit and sign up for next year. Out of thin air, the words she spoke seemed to come from someone else, “I will not be here next year. I will be going to Aquinas College and to the convent.”

• Do you hide vocation literature under your bed or away in a closet?

CNS

Sister Kathleen Bryant, RSC has devised a Vocations Anonymous Test. An inquirer is asked these questions:

• Does the idea of becoming a sister, priest or brother keep

I

knew nothing about religious life while growing up in rural central Michigan. Our family was faith-filled; on Sunday mornings we went to early Mass so we could get home to tend the livestock. We attended catechism classes and were present at some of the devotions offered in our parish. We gathered after each evening’s meal to recite the rosary together. We learned to help – our parents, our siblings, our neighbors.

My dream was to become a teacher. I worked hard and was awarded a college scholarship. I was thrilled to think my childhood dream was coming true.

Then, during my freshman year at Central

Michigan University, I heard that quiet inner voice I came to know as God’s. I tried without success to quiet that subtle stirring. Finally, I decided to investigate.

My first question was “Why me?” Then, “Where

T. Gennara

Sr. Carla Moeggenborg answered God’s call.

• • • • • • •

coming back time and time again, even though you thought you had moved on in your life and forgotten about it?

Do you feel called to give more, to be more?

Does your relationship with God sustain you, enliven you and invigorate you in such a way that you want to share the Good News with others?

Do you find a ministry you are doing at church more lifegiving and energizing than your 40-hour-a-week job, or your major at college?

Do you long for more?

Do your have a sneaking suspicion that you are on the brink of a major life decision?

Are you afraid to tell your friends and family that you are thinking about a church vocation?

Does the idea of becoming a priest or religious excite you, even while it frightens you, because you feel unworthy or unprepared? – Fr. Matt Fedewa

do I look?” I had never even met a sister before. Slowly I made plans – to get information, tell my mother, let my friends know what I was thinking.

On Sept. 8, 1962, my family drove to Marywood,

the home of the Grand Rapids Dominicans. I stepped across the threshold into a life of blessings.

This has been the adventure of a lifetime! With my community, I stand alongside women who seek to

St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor August 20 | The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 22 | St. Rose of Lima, Virgin August 23 | St. Bartholomew, Apostle Au

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Virgin Mary (not a holy day of obligation in US) August 15 | St. Stephen of Hungary August 16 | St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious August 18 | St. John Eudes, Priest August 19

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Marriage and Family Life May 22

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Dedicated Single Life July 10

bible quiz who’s in the bible?

Seth

Mary

a nephew of Abraham b grandson of Sarah c mother of James and John d first-born son of Jacob e third son of Adam and Eve Answers to June’s quiz: 1-e, 2-b, 3-d, 4-a, 5-c.

Jacob

Lot

Reuben

Congratulations to Irma Cayao of DeWitt, winner of our June quiz. For a chance to win a copy of Blessed Among Women: the Book of Mary, by Peter de Rosa, send your answers to esolsburg@dioceseoflansing.org or mail to 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. preach God’s word in their daily work – in classrooms, hospitals, prisons, parishes and a myriad of other settings. I have supported and been supported by these faith-filled women. I have taught in schools throughout the state of Michigan, worked with the poor, the rural, the suburban, the affluent. I have listened to, prayed with and ministered to many. I have been sustained in ministry by my sisters; from them I have received life. I have seen the face of God. In my community, I have been challenged to journey with God. I have proudly worked to help provide for those women who came before me and who now spend their retirement preparing for their

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Ecclesial Lay Ministry Oct. 9

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Missionaries Oct. 23

consecrated life

final call. I have offered and been offered prayers, love and support in difficult times and in times of celebration. I cannot imagine my life being anything but what it is and what it will be.

If you feel that nudge, that quiet inner voice, listen intently. It may be overwhelming but it is worth exploration.

There are frontiers within each of us – reach beyond them and become all God wants you to be.

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rom the church’s earliest days, men and women have followed unique paths in their response to God’s call. Many became hermits or founded religious communities, wonderful in their variety. The Second Vatican Council recognized the beauty of this diversity, stating, “This has considerably contributed toward enabling the church ... to manifest in herself the multiform wisdom of God.” (Perfectae Caritatis 1) At the same time, Vatican II called for a renewal of spirit in religious communities, asking them to re-examine their charters and determine if any changes were needed. All community members were encouraged to become involved in the renewal process, and the documents stated that, “The manner of life, of prayer and of work should be in harmony with the present-day physical and psychological condition of the members. It should also be in harmony with the needs of the apostolate, in the measure that the nature of each institute requires, with the requirements of culture and with social and economic circumstances.” (Perfectae Caritatis 3) Vatican II recognized the benefit of the two major forms of religious community: active and contemplative. The active orders were exhorted to “cultivate the spirit of prayer and prayer itself ... they should nourish their spiritual lives.”

Having done so, they are then ready to “dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to [the church’s] mission.” (Perfectae Caritatis 6)

Contemplatives were hailed as those who “lend luster to God’s people with abundant fruits of holiness, they ... enlarge the church by their hidden apostolic fruitfulness.” They were also encouraged to renew themselves, with “the greatest care being taken to preserve their withdrawal from the world and the exercises which belong to the contemplative life.” (Perfectae Caritatis 7)

– Sr. Carla

All are reminded that “in the church there are very many institutes ... engaged in different kinds of apostolic work and endowed with gifts which vary according to the grace that is given to them. ...‘There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.’”

Moeggenborg

(Perfectae Caritatis 8) – Elizabeth Solsburg

T. Gennara

ate April 24

ostle August 24 | St. Louis of France August 25 | St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest August 25 | St. Monica August 27 | The Martyrdom of John the Baptist August 29

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By Bob Horning Photography by James Luning

Cora Fujiwara found God in an internment camp for Japanese Americans.

On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the U.S. military to remove any or all persons it deemed necessary from the West Coast. For Cora Uno, that was bad news. Now, at 88 years old, she can look back and see the good that resulted for her in so many ways.

Though it didn’t say so, the order, coming just two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was obviously aimed at Japanese Americans and Japanese resident aliens.

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ora was one of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry forced to leave homes, jobs, and businesses behind.

They reported to designated military holding areas until permanent relocation centers were built and ready.

Until that time, Cora’s life had been had no difficulty with English. We always ordinary. Her parents owned a poultry spoke it amongst ourselves. My four farm near Foster, Wash., and they would brothers and two sisters and I played take eggs to sell into Seattle, sports and other activities at about 10 miles away. “There “My attitude was school and with the other was a bit of racial prejudice, that you have to kids in the neighborhood all but we always overcame these look ahead, not the time. We had fun. There situations easily,” she says. were no problems.” back, otherwise “The first thing my father Cora says the only signifiyou dig your own did when he came to the U.S. grave.” cant prejudice they encounwas learn English,” Cora says. tered was when her older sis“He always had good books and magater became a nurse. “One patient said she zines in English, and a set of encyclopedidn’t want a ‘Jap’ waiting on her. dias. Although we spoke Japanese half the However, my sister took the attitude that time with my parents, my siblings and I her job as a nurse was to take care of that July/August 2005

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lady. Before long, she wouldn’t allow anyone else but my sister to care for her.”

In her 20s, Cora worked at the Japanese American Courier, a weekly newspaper published in English. She wrote cooking and social columns, and did proofreading and some secretarial work.

Her life took a turn, however, when the U.S. entered World War II against Japan.

Though friends and neighbors didn’t change in relating to them, the U.S. government did. Cora said that all Japanese had to be registered and fingerprinted, and her father was made a POW because of his leadership role in the Japanese community. Her mother died of a heart attack in January 1942.

Cora was first sent to a temporary camp in Puyallup, Wash.; then in September 1942, she went to Minidoka Relocation Center in south-central Idaho. She remembers, “The first group of Japanese was allowed only one suitcase, a duffel bag and a pillow. Those coming later were allowed a little more. We slept on army cots, and were supplied wool blankets.”

The 950 acres that comprised the residential and administrative areas of Minidoka were surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by soldiers in watchtowers. When the first internees arrived, there was no hot running water, and the sewage system hadn’t been constructed.

“The area was very dusty, with little grass,” Cora says. “Then when it rained, everything became muddy. In the winter, it would get bitter cold outside, and the wind cut right through you. Inside, the air was dry, though, so we would set out pans of water and hang wet shirts to increase the humidity.” The barracks, because they were hastily built, were little more than wooden frames covered with tarpaper, and had no insulation. During the winter, temperatures outside often went below zero, and some days it required more than 100 tons of coal to heat the buildings. Pot-bellied stoves were used, and the coal had to be hand-carried in. Light was provided by a single hanging bulb.

Though life wasn’t easy, Cora said that most of the Japanese took it in stride because they understood why the government had decided to send them to the camp, and because they knew they had no other choice. “My attitude was that

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you have to look ahead, not back, otherwise you dig your own grave,” she said.

Despite their internment, the Japanese remained loyal to the U.S. Cora’s youngest brother was already serving in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. About 1,000 internees from Minidoka, nearly 10 percent of the population, volunteered for military service and fought in Italy and France. Seventythree were killed and two received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The best part of the camp for Cora, then in her mid-20s, was meeting new friends. “On summer evenings, we would go to the canal, where there was more grass, and talk.”

One special person she met was Eddie Fujiwara, who was from Seattle and had been schooled by the Maryknoll Order as a child. Eddie was a chemist, working in a laboratory in the hospital. Cora worked in the office section of the hospital, and they got to know each other when the workers would take their breaks and talk around the stove.

“Eddie was not shy about being Catholic,” Cora says. “In fact, he wasn’t shy about anything. I had been baptized in the Methodist Church, but began going to the Catholic church on Sunday mornings in the camp before going to the Methodist service. I was impressed because even the children listened and were well-behaved. The priest there didn’t

People of Japanese descent, relocated from the Seattle area, load their belongings as they arrive at an internment camp in Puyallup, Wash. in April, 1942.

have time to teach me the faith, but I promised him I would take instructions when I got out of the camp.”

Because college students were allowed to leave the camp to go to school, Eddie went to the University of Detroit to earn his master’s degree in chemistry. “Before he left, he gave me an engagement ring – a pipe cleaner twisted into a circle,” she said. She laughs, remembering how tight finances were. During Christmas break of 1943, he returned and married Cora in the camp. They moved to Detroit.

True to her word, Cora took instruction in Catholicism and entered the church in 1951. The Fujiwara family, now including a son and daughter, moved to Adrian and became members at St. Joseph Parish.

Eddie died in 1997, but Cora remains active around the church. She sings in the choir, is a member of the Council of Catholic Women of St. Joseph, has

helped make food for Habitat for Humanity volunteers, works in the St. Vincent de Paul pantry, helps with Meals on Wheels, is part of a Bible study group, and answers the phone at the parish office one afternoon a week.

One thing Cora says about Catholicism is that “it has meat. We have all these wonderful prayers that we can heed, and if we heed them, can love one another as a result. To my mind, there is no use going to church if we don’t listen to the prayers and take them to heart. The idea is to give yourself to God. Then, every time we are able to help humanity, especially the less fortunate, we are doing his wishes.

“I like Catholic people,” she says. “They are so nice. Since becoming Catholic, I find myself thanking God more often for both big and little things. Especially now that I am older and forget things more easily, I thank him when I find something.

And I am thankful that I can still help others.”

President Roosevelt’s order changed Cora’s life, but she doesn’t look back with regret. Out of a difficult situation in the relocation camp, she met a husband and The Manzanar internment camp in the desert found the Catholic near Independence, Calif.

Church.

AP Photo/National Park Service

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victorious missionaries Jean Haines

“I try to make whatever I do into a prayer.”

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hen Jean Haines was a children’s physical therapist in the 1960s, her young clients would ask, “Why did God make me this way? When is this going to go away? Will I be like this forever?” Many of them were learning to cope with severe disabilities that were not going to go away, and were going to last “forever,” such as spina bifida and polio.

Accessibility in our churches

The Victorious Missionaries have a special passion for accessibility. Accessibility can mean the difference between full parish particiJean Haines and Lee Wittbrodt pation and simply sitting in advocate for accessibility. a pew. By allowing the disabled to serve as readers and extrordinary ministers of Communion, accessibility can alter perceptions. Lee Wittbrodt, the current president of the Flint Chapter of the VMs, says it helps people understand that, “Just because we’re handicapped, it doesn’t mean we don’t have brains.” Along with JoAnn Davis from the diocesan Office of Persons with disAbilities, Lee and Jean have advocated accessibility in churches for more than 20 years.

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Jean didn’t have the answers. Although she had converted to Catholicism in college, she felt her own spirituality wasn’t up to the challenges of the children’s questions. What could she possibly say to someone who would never walk when she was standing on two strong legs?

She’d heard about a program at a nearby Catholic shrine – Our Lady of Snows.

The Victorious Missionaries’ (VMs) goal was to enable the

disabled to serve God. Being able to walk was not on God’s list of requirements. Jean called the VM founder, Fr. John Maronic, and offered to loan him some wheelchairs from work for an upcoming day of reflection.

She was impressed with the Victorious Missionaries – their focus on developing positive attitudes and finding God was uplifting. Jean says, “This is the only organization I found where religion could be talked about along with disabilities.”

She thought her students would gain a lot from this group. In a short while, she would, too.

At age 30, Jean was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that all parishes in the United States make their worship spaces accessible to persons with disabilities. This includes: • ramps into the church, • sanctuaries that can allow all persons to serve as liturgiliturgical cal ministers, ministers, • reconciliation rooms that can accommodate wheelchairs, • and fonts that allow for the full celebration of the sacrament.

But Lee and Jean are now concerned about parishes where those accommodations have been limited or removed over the years.

They remind all of us that our parish church is our home; we should all be able to get to the table.

By Elizabeth Solsburg | Photography by Christine Jones

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5 examples of God sightings at work m i n i s t r y

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(MS). Her active, vigorous schedule was suddenly altered.

For a time, she continued work as a physical therapist in East St. Louis, Ill. and as an ethics consultant to local hospitals. Sometimes, she would be called when a child had been born with deformities or severe disabilities; her job was to answer the doctors’ question – should we let this child die? For Jean, the answer was always a vote for life – she saw in her students the beauty of humanity and the light of God’s love.

As Jean’s mobility decreased, she walked with a cane and then braces, and eventually had to give up her strenuous job. She moved home to Michigan to be near her family and to work at Mott Children’s Health Center, testing children for brain damage.

When she said she was moving, Fr. John had an idea – why not start branches of the Victorious Missionaries in other states? He wanted handicapped people to recognize their own potential, to have an organization where they were running things and making a mark in society. Jean responded enthusiastically, and with Fr. John’s support, she initiated the Flint, Mich. chapter of the Victorious Missionaries.

The Flint chapter includes an outreach to residents of nursing homes and a retreat program for those with mental disabilities. The latter effort began when Fr. Carevio asked their board to include that in their mission. Jean says, “We take the ‘missionary’ part of our name to heart ... I say ‘we’ www.FAITHmag.com

and I don’t mean you and me; I mean God and us.”

One of Jean’s primary missions is prayer. The life of a Victorious Missionary is a life of prayer, to whatever capacity possible. “I try to make whatever I do into a prayer. I no longer [pray] ‘why me?’ Now, I know everything is for a purpose. God doesn’t cause disabilities and we are all children of God. There are many forms of prayer – for example, when you’re hurting and have to respond [to another’s needs] or when you’re getting ready to present a retreat. I pray a lot before retreats.”

When planning retreats for the mentally disabled, Jean says, “I used to be so focused on control and planning every minute. Sometimes you have to let God take over. As I’ve become less [physically] able, other [members of the group] have pitched in.”

Jean’s whole being reflects the VMs’ focus on the positive. She knows that life is not about what you can’t do, but what you can do with God. Prayer is a way to have a dialogue with God, to be in a relationship with him. And to do that, it’s important to “... have some time to listen. We don’t do that enough.”

For Jean, and for all of us, “[Life] is a walk with Jesus – or a roll with him. Jesus lives in your heart.”

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S

r. Ann, our pastoral coordinator, begins weekly Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults sessions with the same question, “What were your God sightings during the past week?” When she first started asking this question, everyone’s eyes would begin to glaze over. But Sr. Ann’s purpose in asking this question week after week is to tune us in to the many ways God appears and works in our lives every day. As the participants got the hang of thinking this way, the reported sightings increased each week. We report events that range from simply experiencing a beautiful day to being present at the death of a loved one. These “God sightings” are miracles that we can witness every day, if only we are spiritually attuned to them.

Since we spend so much time at work, paying attention to God sightings in the workplace can add greater peace and satisfaction to our lives in general.

5 examples of “God sightings” at work: 1 You connect with another person who is anxious to share her faith.

2 Somebody offers you encouragement when things aren’t going well.

3 You’re nervous about finishing some task on time, and just when you’re about to panic, someone steps up to help and it all comes together.

4 A co-worker has wronged you and you’re feeling anger and resentment. God is present when you offer love and forgiveness in response.

5 You were passed over for a promotion and your ego took a beating. God is present when you respond with humility.

God sightings frequently occur in painful events. Those can be the most difficult times to recognize them.

Remember that God is with us as we endure our individual crosses; it’s up to us to trust that God’s guiding hand is in any situation. As Paul writes in his powerful letter to the Romans, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28) God is working miracles every day in our lives; if we pay attention, we can see them all around us.

– Tim Ryan

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Señora and Sister two women, joined by faith and fellowship, tend to the needs of area migrant workers

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t’s the height of the growing season in Lenawee County and Maria Espino has hurried in from the fields to make supper for her children.

Maria, a migrant worker, has been out picking vegetables since 7 a.m., but will probably go out again after eating to help load the day’s harvest onto a trailer.

Sr. Georgiana and Maria Espino stand in fields near Adrian, where many come to work each season.

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At this time of the year, 12-hour days are not uncommon for her. What’s more, because Maria is married to Martin – the supervisor of the migrant camp – her day may last even longer if other workers come to her for assistance and advice.

Still, as the sun goes down and everyone around her gives in to the fatigue that accompanies hard work, Maria still seems full of life. Where in God’s name does she get her strength, you wonder? The answer lies in the question; she gets it from God. As Maria explains it, “My grandmoth- Where in God’s er used to tell me, name does she ‘Never give up. get her strength, When times get you wonder? The tough, pray to him answer lies in the and he’ll find you. question; she gets Even in the middle it from God. of a field.’”

Maria Espino is a cradle Catholic – a point worth noting, because not all migrant workers share the same faith. A native of Mexico, she came to the U.S. with her parents from the border town of Tamaulipas in 1968. Four years later, at the age of 15, she worked her first harvest. And she’s still working in the fields today, with more than 30 years’ experience under her belt.

During Maria’s life as a migrant worker, many things changed. Early on, her mother died. Then Maria married and bore six

By Patricia Majher | Photography by Christine Jones

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children, including a set of twins. There were years when she was concerned about her aging father’s health. Then, in 1998, he remarried and Maria welcomed a stepmother into the fold.

Through it all, though, there has been one constant in her life: her steadfast belief in God and his goodness. A deeply religious woman, Maria has made sure that no matter where her family is, they maintain their connection to the Catholic Church and grow in their faith.

And that is quite a challenge, given that Maria’s family spends half the year in Florida and the other half – from May to November – in Michigan.

Maria and Martin are employed by Adrian farmer Ed Judson to work his fields and to oversee the 100-plus people living in his migrant camps. The accommodations are modest – more modest than most of us would find comfortable.

And the units are so close together that a sneeze in one can be heard in another.

But the closeness does create a sense of community in which neighbor helps neighbor without question. Children are babysat, rides to the dentist or doctor are arranged, and trips to the laundromat or store are all worked out – often with Martin or Maria’s guidance.

But who provides spiritual guidance for the migrant field workers?

That’s the mission of Adrian’s St. Mary of Good Counsel Parish. The parishioners and staff of St. Mary’s have ‘adopted’ the Judson camps and can be counted on to help the workers in any way possible, starting in the spring when the first carloads of people pull into the area.

“That’s when we begin to prepare our welcome baskets,” explains Sister Georgiana Stubner, O.P., coordinator of the parish-camp partnership. The baskets contain kitchen essentials like dish soap, towels and a scrubber, as well as paper products and personal care items.

“Enough to get everybody started with the basics,” she adds.

As she and volunteers deliver the bas-

kets, they also begin to forge friendships with the workers and to figure out what each adult or child may require in the way of services.

Some may want to participate in reconciliation or to attend Mass at the camp, requests that are honored by Father Tom Helfrich about every other week. “We’re too busy to go into town,” notes Maria. “So the people really appreciate having the priests come to them.

They don’t want to lose touch with the church while they’re up here.”

Mass nights are enhanced by St. Mary’s own Spanish-language choir, which leads the assembly in singing the praises of God. For young children, there’s a Bible story night. And for those who are old enough, there are preparation classes for the sacraments of first Communion and confirmation. Maria helps Sister Georgiana identify those who might be ready to receive instruction: “I’m thankful that all of my kids had their first Communion here.”

The sacrament of baptism is also extended to the children of workers by Deacon Cal Torres, but many parents decline the offer, preferring to wait until they return home where extended family members can act as godparents.

Occasionally, a couple marries while working in the area. “Some time ago, a woman who had no family and a man who had no family got married at St. Mary’s and we had a big party for them in camp. And my father and stepmother were married by the bishop five years ago.”

In fact, Bishop Carl Mengeling makes it

a point to visit the Judson camps every year. Weather permitting, he says an outdoor Mass; one year, in the middle of the liturgy, threatening skies forced everyone into a nearby pole barn, where he continued with hardly a pause. “Yes, I’ve met the bishop here a couple of times,” notes Maria, “and I’ve never met the one in Florida.”

Besides the religious significance, the bishop’s arrival is also a social event, with workers from around the county invited to participate. “We have a big dinner, too,” says Maria.

Members of St. Mary Parish provide the fixings for that feast. They’re also available at a moment’s notice to fill a worker’s empty cupboard with provisions from the parish pantry. Clothing needs are addressed in much the same way.

“Some people drive up here with just the clothes on their backs,” Maria says.

When that happens, Maria talks to Sister Georgiana and they make sure everybody gets outfitted.

In tending to the material and spiritual needs of the camp, Maria and Sister Georgiana make a pretty good team. But Sister Georgiana is quick to give credit where credit is due. She says simply, “It’s the gifts of many – both the migrant people and our parishioners – that help us see the face of Christ in this work.”

In 2005, Sr. Georgiana is moving on to parish work in Illinios. Migrant ministry is one of many supported by the DSA.

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your marriage matters a continuing series to help you strengthen your marriage

the power of gold how to make sure it isn’t running your life m o n e y

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Songwriter Dan Fogelberg wrote, “Balance the cost of the soul you lost with the dreams you lightly sold, then tell me you’re free, from the power of gold.” The power of gold can distort our priorities and focus too much of our attention on acquisition. This is what St. Paul meant by the “love of money” being at the root of all evil.

How much debt is too much?

• Do financial crises crop up in your lives, one after another?

• Do you have trouble living within your monthly budget?

• Have you applied for new credit cards because your old ones are maxed out?

• Have you fallen behind on rent, mortgage or car payments?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, you may be in too much debt. Take the time to make a plan to get out – paying off credit cards, setting up a workable budget, developing a savings plan, and cutting back on luxuries you can’t afford.

Make sure you’re controlling your finances, and they’re not controlling you! – John Morris

ride into the sunset share your daily commute t i m e

m a t t e r s

Need to find more time as a couple?

Ride to work together. This may take some rescheduling of work hours. It may mean a little longer trip or inconvenience, but it is time alone away from home.

• Don’t turn on the radio or talk on the cell phone; focus on each other and share your dreams and aspirations for your future together.

• Give yourself an extra 10 minutes of driving time, so you can slow down and enjoy each other’s company.

• Finally, give your spouse a kiss when you arrive at your destination.

Time Tip: If you resolve to pray once everything else is done, you’re putting God last in your priorities … pray first, do everything else later.

Time tip from Time Management for Catholics by Dave Durand July/August 2005

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how do we talk about raising our kids when we disagree? c o n n e c t i n g

What happens when you disagree with your spouse about how to raise the children? Be it something as simple as a decision about bedtimes or as complex as when it’s OK to date, this is bound to happen in your marriage.

What are the options when you disagree?

Talk about your discipline styles as early as possible, preferably before you have children. Try to develop a plan about which you both agree – and then stick to it!

Base discipline on behavior, not on emotions. If you can agree in advance about how to respond to certain child behaviors, you’ll be prepared when your child misbehaves.

Present a united front! Never have an argument about discipline in front of your child. If you can, wait until later to discuss how you would have handled it differently.

If you can’t wait, then take a parental time-out to discuss the situation. This has an added benefit of modeling good communication for your children.

Divide up areas of responsibility. If you absolutely can’t agree about how to discipline in certain areas, agree to divide them based on importance or parental experience. For example, if picked-up toys are more important to your spouse, he or she can take over that area of responsibility.

But once you’ve agreed, back off and let your spouse handle it. If your children see they can’t play you off against each other, they’ll be more likely to listen. – Elizabeth Solsburg

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Marriage Resources Getting married? Engaged couples should contact their local parish at least nine months before the planned wedding date. p r a y e r

m o m e n t

She: We’ve grown apart; we’ve replaced each other with a married-singles lifestyle.

He: I know that’s not what you intended for us. Call us back!

Wake us up! Turn us around!

She: I know that I can be more. I know the person I married can be more.

Together: Renew our love.

Ignite us with your Holy Spirit fire. Leave nothing unburned that you may accomplish in us what you intended for us as a couple. May it be so; may it be so. Amen.

Prayer for a renewed marriage She: Here I am before you, O God. Our marriage has seen some hard times.

He: The promises we made to each other – for better or worse, for richer or poorer, She: in sickness and in health until death do us part – have been overtaken by “stuff” – He: jobs, sports, housework, school activities, interests, and hobbies.

– Pat Nischan

is it time for a D-A-T-E? r o m a n c e

when a child grieves how to explain death to children

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Have you ever been in the presence of a married couple who seemed to have a special spark of first-date romance flowing between them? Perhaps this playful couple flirted or frequently laughed together as though they were somehow immune to the hardships of marriage. You can often sense their closeness or “coupleness.” It’s not by accident that these couples are able to succeed at keeping the romance alive. They face the same problems as anyone else, but they are also good at applying a few principles that enable their romantic energy to flourish. For the next few issues, we’ll be talking about these principles, the D-A-T-E principles. Start following them now for a more romantic marriage!

“D” is for demonstrating your affection. A show of affection is an important outward sign of your love, devotion and acceptance of each other. Try holding hands, giving a soft kiss, or simply exchanging a loving gaze. Flirt a little and be creative. Some people prefer expressing their affections by writing notes, giving flowers or through other surprises.

Whatever your style, the more often you practice this principle, the more natural and beneficial it will be.

“D” is also for discerning differences.

Those things that make us different are often what attract us to one another.

Along with the obvious differences between men and women, our differences as people add mystery and excitement to our relationship. We need to work at understanding and honoring those differences. – Rick and Diane Peiffer

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he family life of a third grader nicknamed “Lolek” Wojtyla changed forever when his mother, Emilia, died. His big brother, Mundek, was a victim of scarlet fever three years later. Despite these childhood losses, Karol Jósef Wojtyla became known as a pope who spread a message of hope. In Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Pope John Paul II wrote, “an indestructible life, revealed in the resurrection of Christ, ‘swallows,’ so to speak, death.” (p. 22) But this message also noted that our tasks can be “extraordinarily demanding.”

Even when we are in mourning ourselves, we need to address the questions of children and comfort them in their own grief. Children’s questions reflect the universal sorrow of those who have lost the ones they love: Why do people have to die? Is it my fault?

Everything that is alive will eventually die. Flowers die, pets die, and people die, too. Sometimes people have very serious illnesses, sometimes they get into dangerous situations, and sometimes they get very old and their bodies just wear out. But misbehaving or wishing that someone was dead can’t make a person die.

Why did my mother die? We prayed for her to get well.

Only God knows about the timing of each of our deaths and how prayers are answered. Keep talking about how you feel to your father and to other adults that you love. Keep praying, and remember that Jesus cried and was angry sometimes. You don’t have to wait until you are in a good mood to pray. If you are feeling angry at God because your mother died, then you can be honest and talk to God about those feelings, also.

Why do we visit my father at the cemetery if he is in heaven?

When a person’s body dies, it becomes separated from the soul. Souls who enter into life with God are said to be entering “heaven.” Heaven isn’t a place that we can travel to, or find on a map. We can’t send letters to people who are there or receive e-mail from them. But we know that those who are with God are happy. A trip to the cemetery is one way to remember loved ones who have died. You can pray for your father and ask him to pray for you. (CCC #958) Visiting the grave also reminds us of the words of our creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body …”

Visiting a grave can be like looking at a photograph; it is a way to remember the life of the person we loved so much and a way to remind ourselves that we will be reunited some day.

T. Gennara

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– Dr. Cathleen McGreal

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life’s ordinary miracles – where to find God in everyday experiences s p i r i t u a l

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he other Sunday, I baptized a little girl who was just three days old. As I held her in my arms, she fell asleep. Wow! I felt like melting. As I looked at this precious little treasure, I knew I was looking at a deep mystery – the image of God in a baby girl’s sleeping face. (Gen 1:27) The baby’s parents were watching their little one with love and awe in their eyes.

Mom said, “She is a miracle.” God had sent this child to them. They were right.

Miracles in the strictest sense go beyond the laws of nature and have God as their author. They help us see God. Yet our faith can allow us to see God in the ordinary, as well as in the extraordinary.

I know many people have experienced God in the beauty of a sunset, the passing fragrance of flowers, or the incredible animals God has made. How about just looking up into the stars at night – what a thing to ponder!

Miracles in the strictest sense go Scripture says that beyond the laws of all of creation points to Jesus, nature and have who is its center.

God as their author. They help “He is the firstborn of all creus see God. ation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth … all things were created through him and for him.” (Col 1:15-16) The ordinary world around us is not so ordinary. For our spiritual fitness this month, let’s consider some simple “miracles” in the obvious and ordinary.

These can help us get more in touch with God. July/August 2005

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Miracle of being I exist. What may seem to be the most simple and obvious condition we experience – our existence – is itself a first encounter with a miracle from God. It is a profound experience to realize that “I have been created by God.” Many holy men and women write about an “I am” experience where God gives them a profound awareness of their existence in relation to God’s own. Usually, when that happens, their “I am” experience is also an “I am – not.” experience in relationship to God. We are created and can say “I am” only because we have come from the great “I AM.” (Exod 3:14) To begin this mediation, find a quiet place where you can pray and

be with the Lord. Pray Psalm 139. Ask the Lord to help guide your thoughts.

Reflect on your life. God was with you every step. What is your earliest memory? Reflect on the phrase, “You knit me in my mother’s womb.” Now think about the time you did not exist. One year before your birth you were not. God knew you before you were in the womb. God willed you to be. God spoke your name and called you into being. You can say, “I am.”

You will exist forever. God loved you in creating you and loves you in willing you to be. Ponder the mystery.

Miracle of sense How incredible it is to see, to hear, to touch, to smell, to taste. Our www.FAITHmag.com

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smell and taste. How ordinary all these things seem to be, but hidden in them all is God who continues to draw us to himself. Now, as you are praying, focus again on each of your senses and pray:

I thank you, Lord, for my ears that I may hear your Word; my eyes that I may see your face; my hands that I may serve others with your loving touch; my taste that I can feast on your sacred words “sweeter than honey from the comb” and the gift to smell your fragrance in the people I meet. Amen.

Our senses are amazing. They connect us to our world and to God. They are meant to help us love God more.

However, remember one thing in this meditation: Our senses can deceive us.

Sometimes people get stuck along their spiritual way, because they get fixated or dazzled by something that wows the senses. God is beyond the senses. God, as we grow in our union with him, will purify us from all of our false gods and attachments gained through the senses.

St. John of the Cross calls this the “dark night of the senses.”

Miracle of God in the chaos of life senses bring us into relationship with the world around us and open the door for us to go beyond our senses to God. Some of you may have lost one of the senses.

Often those who have lost some sense have much to teach us all about gratitude.

To begin this mediation, go outside and focus on each sense for two or more minutes. What do you see, hear, taste, smell and touch? Ponder how amazing it all is.

Spend time in thanksgiving. In the second meditation, think about the sacraments, beginning with baptism. Think about when you received them. Pictures can help here. God chose to communicate himself to us in the simple elements of water, oil, bread and wine, and light. These are sacred signs that we see, hear, touch,

I can see beyond the senses, and even past the events and circumstances of my life, and know there is more. There is purpose and meaning in my life, even if it is chaotic.

Miracles can happen in the chaos.

Meaning can come out of madness.

Our lives have meaning because of Jesus Christ. He is my anchor in turbulent waters. He is my rock of refuge, my shelter, my deliverer. He is light shining in the darkness. He is my hope.

A few months back, I was involved with a family who had lost their daughter, Angie, to the tsunami. In the face of such a terrible loss, many wondered, “Where are you, God?” Many struggled with hope.

Angela’s family shared with me that, in

their search for Angie, they experienced God’s special help and providence in many ways. Angie had been with her boyfriend, Luke, when the tsunami hit.

They and thousands of others on the beach were killed by the wave. Families and friends tried desperately to find whatever information they could about their loved ones. Many computers were set up to help families identify the victims. Angie’s family was just about ready to take their turn on one when another person cut in front of them. They knew they shared the same urgency to get whatever information they could, so they simply asked if they could watch over the person’s shoulder as the images of the victims came across the screen. As they watched, they soon realized they were looking for the same people! The person who had cut in front of them was one of Luke and Angie’s friends, and was there on behalf of Luke’s family. Of all the thousands of people there in the chaos, somehow these two families were united.

God was there.

Only God could have brought them together in such a critical time so that they could support and comfort each other.

God is in the midst of life’s chaos, bringing us hope and love. In this meditation, think about the times in your life when things were dark; remember how God helped you to have hope. Experience his love. Read the story of Lazarus in the Gospel of John, chapter 11.

– Fr. Bill Ashbaugh

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“the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me” meet the newly ordained priests of the Diocese of Lansing o r d i n a t i o n

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Jeff Poll After sixand-a-half years of seminary, Jeff Poll says, “My head is full of stuff. I can’t wait to start using it and helping others. Like I’ve been told, ‘my vocation is not to the seminary; it’s to the priesthood.’”

Where did you grow up? In Deerfield, a farm community of 1,000, located about 35 miles south of Ann Arbor. My parents were both auto workers. I grew up Catholic, but went to public schools. I have a sister and twin brother. Around confirmation age, I thought both about law enforcement and the priesthood. I received an associate degree in criminal justice from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie.

Did you use your degree? Yes. I worked for almost five years for the state in the prison system – as a guard and in parole/probation. It was a good job with great benefits, but it always seemed like something was missing. I began to look back over my life as to what I wanted when I was younger, and that led me to start reflecting more on the priesthood. I talked with Fr. Dan Wheeler in Tecumseh, and he set up an appointment for me with Fr. J. Munley, then the vocation director.

After prayer and discernment, the scales were tipped toward becoming a priest. But it was good experience to be out working, to see people in their greatest and weakest moments. Plus, it helped me grow up. I was quite a procrastinator in college the first time.

How did you like seminary? I enjoyed my classes and professors. Mundelein has a strong academic program. It’s on a beautiful July/August 2005

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300-acre campus, with a man-made lake.

I feel well-prepared from the experience and opportunities there. I will be a little nervous at first as a priest, but I am basically comfortable.

One drawback is that we didn’t have much free time in school. I would have liked to exercise more. I had to put basketball and racquetball on hold. Same thing with deer (bow) and duck hunting, camping and fishing. I gained weight as a result, but that was partly because I am a food guy in general, especially a good hamburger or bratwurst.

Because Mundelein is more than four hours from our diocese, it was a strain to be involved in diocesan activities. But I did get to meet a lot of the priests at the annual convocation for diocesan priests in the fall, to which third- and fourth-year seminarians are invited.

What strengths do you bring to the priesthood? I get along well with others.

People have told me that I have a calm voice, calming presence, and that I put people at ease. I am patient and a good listener. I am good at de-escalating situations.

Some of that I learned working in the prison system.

Sometimes I tend to overextend myself, but I’m getting better at letting other people do things. I am eager to be in a parish so I can bring the sacraments to the people and help them.

What does the church need today? We need more vocations. We need to be talking to young men about that. Having a fulltime vocations director (Fr. Jerry Vincke) again helps, as does the yearly luncheon with the bishop for young men who are high-school age and up.

Another thing we need to do is bring fallen-away Catholics back. Creating FAITH Magazine has been a big help with that. We can also reach them at baptisms, weddings and funerals, since we don’t see them at Mass. That’s a good chance to let them see what the church is and welcome them back, even in the homily.

By Bob Horning | Photography by Christine Jones

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Gordon Reigle Gordon Reigle grew up in Jackson. His family attended Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church.

He went to school there through sixth grade, and was in the Jackson Lumen Christi High School class of 1990.

What led to your vocation? I graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, with a degree in industrial engineering, and then worked as a computer programmer for Electronic Data Systems. After a few years there, I began thinking more about my priorities and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Over time, I became more involved in church activities like prison ministry, daily Mass and music ministry. My discernment spanned a two-year period and was aided by frequent affirmations from people – friends and strangers alike – within the church community. By the time I got up the nerve to enter seminary, it seemed as if I was receiving weekly reminders about the priesthood.

You were at Mundelein Seminary during the sex abuse scandal. How was that? There was a lot of media scrutiny since Mundelein is so large, and it was a pleasure disproving to the media the stereotypes of what people think about us.

They saw a group of real guys, older and more mature than what they expected.

Men becoming priests in their late 20s and 30s, men who have worked for a number of years in the world, are normal now. We know what we are getting into and are probably more psychologically aware than in times past. The issues that led to the scandal are openly addressed and discussed in seminary.

What was the biggest change for you in seminary life? How I used my time, mainly in regard to prayer. We are expected to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, attend daily Mass, and spend an hour in private prayer – preferably before the Eucharist. That can add up to three hours in prayer a day. It becomes a fundamental part of the day, winding yourself around prayer and the Lord, so that you are able to take on the mind of Christ. I grew to love it, and missed it when for some reason I was unable to do it. But it requires using your time well, since we are very busy at seminary.

Any special experiences there? It was an experience of the universal church. We had men from about 45 dioceses and 14 countries. Some of our liturgical and feast-day celebrations would include the language, customs, cuisine or music of other cultures. The social formation was wonderful.

What are you looking forward to as a priest? The main things are celebrating Mass and preaching. How awesome it is to take on the persona of Christ, as someone who serves, guides and blesses the people.

The Church needs holy priests. People are attracted to holiness when they see the light of Christ in someone. I hope that I can get out of the way and let God work, because then he can do amazing things.

How did you spend your free time before entering seminary? I played in four or five bands in the Jackson and Lansing areas. I had taken private music lessons from the age of five through high school, and my main instruments were piano, organ and guitar. I have played for many years with Jackson’s Skyline Jazzband, which features big-band music, especially from the 1940s. But I play a mix of styles from Top 40 to Christian praise-and-worship music. I’m sure that I will be able to use that music background in my ministry.

Chas Canoy Chas Canoy was born in the Philippines, grew up in Missouri, studied in Indiana, Ohio, Austria and Rome. He has traveled all over Europe, but he is settled in the Diocese of Lansing.

You said that World Youth Day in Denver in 1993 was a turning point in your life. In what way? While studying at Indiana University, I had a crisis of faith. I was pursuing what the world told me would bring happiness and I questioned the faith in which I was brought up. In fact, back in high school, I took St. Thomas the Apostle as my confirmation name because of my doubts.

When I went to WYD, however, those doubts were erased. During a eucharistic procession, I felt Jesus’ presence in such a special way that I had to hide my face because of how holy I sensed the Eucharist was. I had an incredible awareness of God’s reality and his mercy and love for me, and a sense of inner peace that nothing in the world could give.

What did you do after college? I worked at General Mills for two years in business planning. It was rewarding, but it also made me realize that working with Wheaties was not my life’s ambition. I resigned, sensing God was calling me to work in some type of ministry. I considered the priesthood, and so I took two years of philosophy at Franciscan University in Ohio. After my first year, I had zero desire for the priesthood and my reaction was, “All right, God! I guess this means you’re calling me to marriage.”

I began dating a young lady from the Irish Hills, which is how I ended up in the Diocese of Lansing. Though we soon broke up, I stayed in Michigan to work for an

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organization of Catholic business leaders.

After a couple of years, that subtle voice urging me to consider the priesthood returned, and it wasn’t so subtle anymore.

What did you do then? During the Jubilee Year 2000, I went to Rome to study and figure out what to do, but with all of the activities going on there, that became difficult. So I went to a little village in Austria for Lent 2001, where I did a 30-day Ignatian retreat.

There I was able to overcome my resistance to God’s call and see what my heart truly desired. That fall I entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

How are you viewing being a priest? I am excited about helping people discover the person of Jesus and humbled at being one of God’s instruments to give his divine life to others, whether it’s through his word, the sacraments or simply through personal contact. I’ve never been accused of being shy.

Wherever I am, I try to reach out to others, so I hope God can use that to make me a channel of his mercy and compassion.

People long for authentic love and that is ultimately found in a love affair with God. Do you have a passion for any particular ministry? Reaching young adults.

When they leave home and family for college or work, they’re faced with those deep questions of life that they now have to answer for themselves. They have to do this in the context of a secular culture that often pushes values contrary to the dignity of the human person. Having had a crisis of faith myself at that age, I know the importance of the church being there to help and be Christ’s life-giving voice.

Does it seem to you that you have given up much in becoming a priest?

At one time, I just couldn’t picture life as a celibate. So I saw that as a huge sacrifice. But now that I’ve made that step of faith, I can’t picture myself as being anything other than a priest. God in his great love richly provides.

What are your hobbies? I love the great July/August 2005

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outdoors, especially the mountains and the sea, so God only knows why I’m here in Michigan. I also like golf, having played on my high-school team for all four years. Most of all, I just enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Seminary in Detroit in the fall of 1999, my initial thought was, “What have I done?”

My first year was tough, but during my second year I became more sure of my calling. After getting my degree in philosophy, I transferred to Mundelein.

Mike O’Brien

How did seminary prepare you? Other than academically, which was a struggle for me, I had a number of other experiences. I spent six weeks in Mexico to study Spanish.

Then I spent one summer at a parish in Brazil, which was the first time I was exposed to impoverished people. They had a great Marian devotion. It was incredible to see the spirit and happiness of these people who had nothing. And I was the chaplain at the fire department in the city of Mundelein for four years.

Mike O’Brien grew up in Saginaw. He moved to Ypsilanti in 1990 and began work as a prison guard at Milan Federal Correctional Institution. He was there for nine years before entering seminary.

Tell us a little about your growing-up days. I attended Catholic schools through high school, as did my brother and sister.

My father was a tool-and-die worker; my mother was a nurse. As a child, I wanted to be a priest and a missionary. I still have a missionary spirit. But I was also interested in crime and emergency situations. That’s why I attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette for my criminal justice degree.

How did you go from prison guard to seminary? Though I was making good money, my job was stressful and I was not fulfilled. In 1997, my dad died (my mother had died earlier), and that caused me to examine my life. I began going to Chi Rho meetings at St. Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor, which are for men thinking about the priesthood.

I was impressed with Fr. Roger Prokop’s gentle manner. I met many priests, as well as Bishops Povish and Mengeling. They all seemed happy, at peace and fulfilled in what they were doing. I looked forward to the meetings every two weeks.

I thought I might be too old – I’m 39 now – but everyone said, “No, you have something to offer.” They suggested going to seminary to find out for sure. When I got to Sacred Heart

How did you change while at Mundelein? They ask you to look at yourself and to improve your weaknesses, because you won’t have time to do that later, as a priest. As a result, I think I am more of a communal person now, less self-absorbed. I have set a goal to avoid being isolated, so that I don’t become a “weird” priest. Also, I am more aware of the need to say “no” sometimes in order to prevent burn-out. I don’t want to become so busy that I’m not effective.

What are you looking forward to as a parish priest? To becoming part of a parish and the relative permanence of that, to being looked to for leadership and support, to being involved in people’s lives. I learned during internship that I can do this work and am good at it.

What is one thing you would like to see change in the Catholic Church? I don’t like the polarization between liberal and conservative. We need to come more to the center. I feel I am moderate, and I can help bring us together through my preaching and my example. I want to welcome everyone.

What do you like to do with your free time? I like to cook. It’s relaxing to make a big meal. I look forward to being in a rectory

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with a big kitchen, being able to cook at times – like I did at the fire station. I like to read true crime stories and follow current events. I also enjoy movies, plays and conversation.

Steve Mattson When Steve Mattson was 19 years old, he left the Catholic Church, along with his parents and three brothers. It was 17 years before he returned in 1998. Soon afterward, he heard a call to the priesthood.

Why did you leave? Largely because the worship and preaching at the Evangelical Protestant church we joined in Lansing seemed more engaging and relevant than the Catholic Mass. Years later, while I was an elder, my brother and sister-in-law were on their own journey back to Rome, which piqued my interest. My parents had returned to the Catholic Church in 1994. I asked myself, “Why am I not Catholic?” I read the catechism and a host of books about Catholicism. I prayed. Six months later, I was reconciled with the church of my youth.

What were you doing before entering seminary? I worked as an actuary for a few years before enrolling in the College of Education at Michigan State University to get my doctorate. I was the principal at a charter school for part of a year and taught math at Lansing Community College.

Why the priesthood? When I was in high school, I thought about the monastic life – largely as a result of reading Thomas Merton and Thomas á Kempis, and listening to the music of John Michael Talbot. That stayed with me through the years. While Protestant, I thought about becoming a minister. When I returned to the Catholic Church, people suggested that I consider the priesthood.

Because I wanted a wife and children, I didn’t think that was God’s plan. But I prayed about it. One day, while in the adoration chapel, I realized that my thinking about becoming a priest was upside down. I had been focusing on what I would have to give up. I began to think about what I had received from priests in my life – like absolution and the body and blood of Christ. I realized that being a priest was a way to give myself for others as Christ had.

How did you like seminary? At Mundelein, the academic formation was strong. I developed good friendships; I grew in my faith through the coursework, field education, spiritual direction, prayer, the example of my professors and many conversations with brother seminarians. I enjoyed grappling with the challenges of figuring out how to live and spread the message of the Gospel in ways that will engage men and women today.

What are you looking forward to as a priest? To being a representative of Christ for the people – in the Mass, in my preaching and in the confessional. And to living a life of holy witness. For four-and-a-half years, I have received so much support, prayer and encouragement from the people of God. Now it’s my chance to begin to give back.

What do you see as the church’s biggest need? We need to evangelize, beginning with ourselves. That means we need to know the faith. Catholics can’t be a light to the world if we don’t know the One who is the Light.

A lot of Catholics don’t know the richness of their Catholic faith. I know I didn’t.

I want to help adults learn more about their faith. But that’s difficult because adult catechesis isn’t part of the Catholic culture.

Pope John Paul II began to change that by showing us the beauty of being Catholic. I want to encourage us to grow closer to Christ and one another. That can happen through honest preaching and adult catechesis. We need to make ongoing formation a part of our culture, as it is in the Protestant churches.

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ordained to serve meet the 7 new deacons of the Diocese of Lansing

New deacons Stan Kukla, Tom Fogle, Dave Rosenberg, Mike Murray, Greg Poole, Ron Kenney and Michael Sullivan with Dcn. Bill Sirl and Bishop Mengeling.

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even men were ordained to the permanent diaconate on May 14 at St. Mary Cathedral. Bishop Mengeling, presiding at the ordination, compared the deacons to St. Stephen, the church’s first deacon and its first martyr. Like Stephen and his six companions, the seven new deacons are called to service and evangelization. After each man received the stole and dalmatic and placed his hands on the Book of Gospels, Bishop Mengeling charged them all to “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read. Teach what you believe.”

The new deacons will serve in parishes throughout our diocese, ministering wherever they are needed.

Tom Fogle is the director of Family Life Ministry for the Diocese of Lansing. He and his wife, JoAnne, have been married for 43 years and have four children and seven grandchildren. Together, they serve on the diocesan Family Life Ministry board and are hospice volunteers. They also write for the Marriage Matters section of FAITH Magazine.

Tom is assigned to St. Mary Parish, Charlotte, where he and JoAnne are involved extensively in the marriage preparation program.

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for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Lisa, are the parents of five children and a foster child. They are members of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton, and Ron will serve as deacon there. Ron and Lisa have also been very involved with leading Marriage Encounter.

Stan Kukla and his wife, Celeste, have taken an active role in campus ministry at Holy Trinity Student Parish in Ypsilanti, where Stan has been assigned as deacon. Stan is an engineering collaboration specialist and has served on the Worship Commission, worked with RCIA, Habitat for Humanity, jail ministry and the Ypsilanti Hunger Coalition.

Stan and Celeste have two adult children.

Mike Murray is the legal counsel for the Diocese of Lansing. He works with hospital and prison ministries at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing, his home parish. Mike and his wife, Dr. Linda Jackson, have two children.

Greg Poole is a member of St. Mary Parish in Charlotte, where he has worked with the RCIA program, been an extraordinary minister of Communion and a lector, and has conducted baptism preparation for parents. He and his wife, Liz, have two children.

Dave Rosenberg is the founder of ParishSOFT, which develops software and web solutions for parishes and dioceses. He is also a member of the FAITH Magazine Advisory Board and the Deacon Advisory Board. Dave will serve at St. Joseph Parish in Dexter, where

he leads the music ministry program. He has also ministered as a catechist, confirmation retreat team leader, lector, extraordinary minister of Communion and coordinator of the Christ Renews His Parish program. Dave has one son.

Michael Sullivan is a member of St. Francis Parish in Ann Arbor, where he will also be assigned while he is completing graduate theological studies. He is a staff member at St. Francis and also at St. Patrick Parish, Ann Arbor, where he coordinates spiritual direction ministry and programs for Catholics returning to the church. He is married to Patricia, who is a commissioned spiritual director and who established and directs the Counseling Assistance Program at St. Francis. – The Catholic Times contributed to this story.

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Sustaining pastoral excellence at the St. Francis Retreat Center In 2004, the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program (SPEx) was established at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Funded by a very generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, the program’s aim is to support ministers of all denominations in their vital work in our rapidly changing world. The program at St. Francis is part of a national initiative associated with Lilly, dedicated to supporting ministers who may feel deeply isolated in their vocations. Over time, this isolation can result

in a diminished capacity to serve their parishes or congregations.

The vision of the SPEx Program is to enable Christian ministers to gather around the practical issues and concerns of ministry, to join together in prayer, to grow through an engagement with a variety of fine resources and to find refreshment and renewal of life and ministry. There are several methods by which this can be accomplished. The grant made possible the construction of a regional pastoral resource center, staffed by skilled librarians, which makes available materials in theology, spirituality, pastoral skill devel-

opment and self-care.

Opportunities for reflection, rest and renewal are provided with Sabbath Time Retreats, marriage enrichment retreats and leadership seminars. Peer groups are formed around specific topics, such as ministry challenges, spiritual support or educational enrichment. Private consultation and spiritual direction are available to ministers, as well as group consultation with professional care-givers. This supports ministers in their daily ministry. Ministers may also avail

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themselves of scholarships to engage in spiritual director training, which equips them for the delicate and challenging task of guiding others through their spiritual joys and sorrows.

The SPEx Program at St. Francis Retreat Center provides ministers – ordained or lay – a way to refuel, recharge and achieve balance. In a vocation that can be demanding and draining, ministers find the time and space to do as Jesus did when he “went off by himself to a quiet place to pray.”

St. Francis Retreat Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Originally founded by the Franciscans in 1955, Portiuncula in the Pines, as it was called, was purchased by the Diocese of Lansing in 1988. Set on rolling hills among tall pines and fir trees, it provides a quiet setting for prayer, reflection and rest.

Bethany House, the diocesan youth retreat center, is also on the grounds; as well as housing for retired priests. Retreatants can walk the grounds; spend quiet time in the chapel; and visit the flock of peacocks, chickens and other animals kept by the director, Fr. Larry Delaney.

Council of Catholic Women Provincial Meeting

Father Pat Jackson House

The Diocese of Lansing council joined with Catholic women from the entire state of Michigan for the Detroit Province Council of Catholic Women Convention on April 8-9 in Clare. More than 158 attendees listened to speaker Tim Dewane talk about Trafficking of Women and Children.

Father Pat Jackson House, an affiliate of Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, is a nondenominational residential program for homeless, pregnant and adolescent mothers. The program’s commitment is to the health and well-being of teen families, assisting parents in becoming self-sufficient. Father Pat’s accommodates up to five mothers and their babies, offering onsite counseling and parenting education. Mothers do their own cooking, cleaning and shopping; they must also be enrolled in school. The Father Pat Jackson House also offers TeenLINK, an outreach service that provides health care and housing assistance to pregnant teens or adolescent mothers. – Sara Elizabeth Teller

Instituto Cultural de Liderazgo en el Medio Oeste A three-year lay formation program for those ministering within the Hispanic community will be offered by the Diocese of Lansing in collaboration with other Midwestern dioceses. The Instituto Cultural de Liderazgo en el Medio Oeste (ICLM) is a two-phase program that includes academic work, a leadership practicum and diocesan participation. For more information about ICLM in Lansing, contact Nancy Joseph at 517.342.2512.

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Michigan Teacher of the Year is former Lansing Catholic Central teacher

Annual retreat for persons who are sightimpaired or blind

Daniel Schab was named the 2005-2006 Michigan Teacher of the Year on May 17.

Schab is a mathematics teacher at Williamston High School, where he has taught for 11 years. He began his career teaching math to teens at Lansing Catholic Central High School. Gov. Jennifer Granholm said, “Dan’s passion for education runs deep. Michigan is fortunate to have him teach our children and impact the future of our state. He is an outstanding reflection of the sacrifice, the wisdom and the excellence that Michigan’s teachers bring to our schools every day.”

St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt was the setting for the annual retreat for persons who are sightimpaired or blind. Retreatants came to the Diocese of Lansing from all across the United States and participated in A Better You Inside and Out with Fr. Larry Delaney. The Wednesday morning prayer service included the renewal of promises of Dorothy Scott and Vicki Spear as associates to the Servants of the Lamb of God, a religious congregation that accepts women with or without disabilities. The retreat was facilitated by the diocesan Office of Ministry with Persons with disAbilities.

A playground at St. Vincent Home

Ground-breaking for San Juan Diego Activity Center

A number of community volunteers, including GM Pep employees and Lansing Catholic Central students, gathered to install playground equipment at St. Vincent Home in Lansing. The playground project was funded by donations from many community sources, including Lansing Catholic Central, which raised $7,000 for this project; GM Lansing; Okemos High School and the Michigan Dept. of Corrections. Area contractors also donated materials and labor. St. Vincent Home provides residential and crisis therapy services for youth. For more information, visit www.css-svh.org.

Ground-breaking for the new San Juan Diego Activity Center at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mt. Morris took place Sun., April 3.

Bishop Carl Mengeling presided at a bilingual Mass and participated in the ground-breaking. “It will be a combined social hall and gym,” said Fr. Tim Nelson, the pastor. “The carpet in the hall will be suitable for sports, but nice enough for wedding receptions.”

The $1.9 million construction project includes the renovation of the current social hall into religious education classrooms and meeting rooms. – Jan Rynearson

Lower Your Nets, the story of Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization

Local celebrities “square off” for Catholic education

Theresa Vandercar made a commitment to live for Jesus when she was 13.

She served on the ministry team, Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization. Now she tells the story of Youth to Youth from the inside, and weaves in the experiences of other members. Her book is offered by Infinity Publishing,www.buybooksontheweb.com or call 877.BUY.BOOK.

Catholics gather at St. Mary Cathedral for Legislative Day Several hundred Catholics from across the state participated FAITH’s Fr. Joe Krupp addressed in Catholic Legislative Day and students as part of the day.

Student Catholic Legislative Day at St. Mary Cathedral. Students listened to speeches and participated in small-group activities that conveyed how Catholic social teaching can help shape modern-day public policy issues.

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Local Lansing celebrities reenacted Hollywood Squares on April 15 to raise money for local Catholic education. TV personalities, politicians and FAITH’s own Fr. Joe Krupp participated in the game show. Proceeds went to the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundation, which has as its mission the assurance that all Catholics have the opportunity for quality Catholic education.

Youth to Youth at World Youth Day Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization, Montrose, Mich., will provide music and animators for two catechetical sessions at World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. YTY is scheduled to perform at sessions in nearby Bonn. Pope Benedict will attend the gathering, which is expected to draw more than 800,000 young people to his native Germany. World Youth Day is actually a multi-day festival that runs from Aug. 16-21.

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july/august readings

Sunday, July 3 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Zech 9:9-10 Ps 145:1-2,8-11 Rom 8:9,11-13 Matt 11:25-30 Sunday, July 10 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 55:10-11 Ps 65:10-14 Rom 8:18-23 Matt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9 Sunday, July 17 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 12:13,16-19 Ps 86:5-6,9-10,15-16 Rom 8:26-27 Matt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30 Sunday, July 24 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 3:5,7-12 Ps 119:57,72,76-77 Rom 8:28-30 Matt 13:44-52 or 13:44-46 Sunday, July 31 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 55:1-3

things to do: The Office of Black Catholic Ministry invites everyone to attend the fourth annual pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Sept. 14. Cost for the trip is $180.

Registration deadline is Aug.1.

For more information, call 517.342.2496.

A Young Adult Picnic, Youth Mass and Summer Concert is coming to Holy Redeemer Parish, Burton on July 10. the picnic will be held from noon to 5 p.m., followed by an outdoor Mass. A concert featuring Toe Jam and Tony Melendez will follow. Contact 810.743.4381 for more information.

Protecting God’s Children, a program to prevent child sexual abuse, has sessions scheduled in late summer and early fall: Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary, Williamston; Aug. 25, 6:30 p.m. at St. John, Jackson; Aug. 27, 1

Ps 145:8-9,15-18 Rom 8:35,37-39 Matt 14:13-21 Sunday, August 7 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 19:9a,11-13a Ps 85:9-14 Rom 9:1-5 Matt 14:22-33 Sunday, August 14 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 56:1,6-7 Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8 Rom 11:13-15,29-32 Matt 15:21-28 Sunday, August 21 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 22:19-23 Ps 138:1-3,6,8 Rom 11:33-36 Matt 16:13-20 Sunday, August 28 Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jer 20:7-9 Ps 63:2-6,8-9 Rom 12:1-2 Matt 16:21-27

p.m. at St. Joseph Academy, Adrian; Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m. at St. Pius X School, Flint; Sept. 12, 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton; Sept.

13, 6:30 p.m. at St. Jude, DeWitt; Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart, Hudson.

This program is mandatory for all staff and for volunteers who work with children. It is open to parents, who are encouraged to attend and learn how to protect our children from the dangers of sexual abuse.

A discernment retreat for all men considering the priesthood will be held Aug. 6 at Bethany House. Call 517.342.2504 to make reservations or for more information.

The Diocese of Lansing sponsors one of the nation’s largest prisoner pen pal programs. The Office of Restorative Justice is in serious need of volunteers willing to write to Michigan prisoners. All mail passes through the Restorative Justice office for complete confidentiality. Call

517.342.2469 or e-mail penpalmin@dioceseoflansing.org.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Catholic Family Week is scheduled for July 10-15 at the DeSales Center in Brooklyn.

Families with at least one deaf member are invited. Call 517.342.2532 or e-mail Rose Smith at rsmith@dioceseoflansing.org.

Save your old issues of FAITH for our jail ministry. Contact Fr. Gary McInnis at 810.239.5851.

An annulment workshop for people considering submitting a case to the tribunal is being held Sat., Sept. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor.

There is no fee. Contact Virginia Mikola at 734.994.9194 for more information.

Late Nite Catechism will be presented at Holy Redeemer Parish on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Call Margaret at 810.767.1209.

$7 per class. Call Mary Quick at 517.265.4160 for more information.

Catechist formation and Vacation Bible School will be offered at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn for five consecutive Thursdays, June 23-July 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Topics include Mystery of the Triune God; Mary, the Saints and Eternal Life; Church; Moral Development; Social Justice. For more information, contact Diane Dover at 517.467.2106.

Summer Evenings at the Lake, catechist formation and adult faith formation, will be offered July 11-15 at St. Mary on the Lake Church, Manitou Beach. Sessions are scheduled from 6-8 p.m., with an optional potluck at 5:30 p.m. Topics include Overview of the Bible, Old Testament Themes, Key People of the Old Testament, New Testament Gospels and New Testament Acts and Letters.

Call 517.547.7496 for more information.

Nuts and Bolts is a training conference for those who work with youth or young adults, or who would like to. This year’s theme is Let Jesus Grab You and will feature speakers Mike Patin and Joan Weber. The conference will be held at Weber’s Inn, Ann Arbor, Aug. 26-28.

Call Kimmel at 517.342.2484 for more information.

St. Therese Parish, Lansing will host a Lansing region mystagogy program, on the last Sunday of each month from 2-4 p.m. A different theme will be discussed each month. Come to any or all of the sessions. Call Tony Sperendi at 517.487.2650 for more information.

Catechetical Saturday 2005 is scheduled for Oct. 15 at the Lansing Center. This year’s theme is Christ is Life.

Catechists, program leaders and pastoral ministers are encouraged to attend. Sessions run from 8:45 a.m.- 4 p.m. Call 517.342.2484 for more information or check in your parish for registration materials.

St. Mary of Good Counsel Parish, Adrian is presenting Opportunities in the Sun, a three-day catechist formation experience. All 22 of the diocesan catechist topics will be offered from Tues.-Thurs., July 26-28, from 4-6 p.m. and 6:308:30 p.m. The sessions are open to all. Child care and dinner are offered every evening; the cost is

Summer Scripture Days, presented by Jean Schaub, will be held Aug. 9-11 at the Weber Center in Adrian. This is a chance for adults to increase their knowledge of Scripture, to reflect on their faith and to be empowered to pass on their faith. Contact 517.342.2458 or e-mail lrogge@dioceseoflansing.org.

july/august café events

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Senior Companion Program 20th Anniversary

In My Father’s Steps, a new book about the relationships between fathers and sons

On April 14, 65 senior volunteers from Eaton, Clinton and Ingham counties were honored at the annual Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home, Inc. Senior Companion Program Recognition Luncheon, held at the Michigan State University Club. In 2004, volunteers gave 53,000 hours to 489 clients at 30 sites, visiting the elderly and developmentally disabled and chronically mentally ill.

Fr. William Turner of St. Mary Parish, Chelsea, is one of three co-authors of In My Father’s Steps, a book that explores the bond between fathers and sons. Co-written with the father and son team of Donald and Mark Tapping, In My Father’s Steps provides insights into the relationship of men and their fathers, and shows how fathers pass on life lessons to their sons. It is the first book of a planned trilogy. Visit theleanstore.com for ordering information.

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Archbishop Levada, new head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

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rchbishop William J. Levada, the new head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said his U.S. pastoral experience makes him sympathetic to the doctrinal and teaching challenges faced by local bishops around the world.

In an interview with Catholic News Service on June 6, Archbishop Levada also said that while the congregation sometimes must discipline errant theologians, its primary work is positive – safeguarding sound doctrine so the faith can be shared with the world.

That task is something all theologians should share, he said.

Archbishop Levada was visiting the doctrinal congregation’s offices in early June. He plans to move to Rome at the end of the summer, after he wraps up affairs in his current archdiocese, San Francisco.

Archbishop Levada said the doctrinal congregation lost a great theologian when its head, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was elected Pope Benedict XVI. “What you get with me is someone who has pastoral experience of dealing with questions of faith as they are lived out in the local church,” he said.

“I think that’s an important thing for the bishops around the July/August 2005

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world, to have the sense that when they need to talk to me or to our congregation there is someone here who is sympathetic to their pastoral situation and experience,” he said.

Archbishop Levada, who as a bishop helped write the Catechism of the Catholic Church, said formation in the faith was one area where universal and local churches could cooperate.

In the congregation’s dealings with theologians, the archbishop said it was important for everyone to understand that theology, properly understood, is simply a way to help people learn who Christ is and what Christ did and said.

“I like to think that promoting a sound grasp of doctrine and helping the church see how beautiful and wonderful God’s love is, as it has been revealed to us, that’s what theology is about. So I think that’s the primary job of this congregation,” he said. – John Thavis/CNS

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Joseph’s miracle at Lourdes l a s t

Annual conference of pastoral administrators Many parishes in the Diocese of Lansing and in the United States are served by pastoral administrators. These dedicated men and women guide and nurture the members of the parishes in which they serve. For parishes whose only priestly contact is sacramental ministry, the pastoral administrator is the heart of the parish. Pastoral administrators from the Diocese of Lansing attended the national conference of pastoral administrators in Racine, Wis., April 25-28. They learned more about the roles of pastoral leaders and how best to serve their parishes.

Did Mary really appear?

What does the church teach?

Lourdes or to the children at Fatima, it is not incumbent on us to believe. Even authentic apparitions are private revelations, and no private revelaThe church tion is binding in moves slowly conscience on when it comes anyone except to apparitions the person to and miracles. whom it is There are only a given. If few times when your the church has neighsaid that an A painting depicts the appear- bor appearance of ance of Mary to Bernadette Mary was likely Soubirous at Lourdes, France. has a real to be authentic. apparition, and if The incidents at Lourdes, she’ s convinced it’s Fatima and Guadalupe are a authentic and from few of those times. The God, then in conscience authenticity of other apparishe’s bound to follow it – tions continues to be evaluatbut you aren’t. You can be ed, such as the one at a good Catholic and pay no Medjugorje. attention to apparitions.

If we look at the verified healAs Catholics, we are ings at Lourdes, it seems quite called to belief in general possible they are miracles. They revelation, which is defined give credence to the claim that by the church’ s magisterium.

Mary appeared. They are not General revelation, however, proof, but evidence. ended with the death of the But whether or not Mary last apostle. appeared to Bernadette at

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oseph was a command sergeant major in the U.S. Army, one of the highest ranks that can be achieved by an enlisted man. During Operation Desert Storm (the First Gulf War), he served in a very responsible and important position on Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf’s staff. Joe is not what one would describe as naïve, nor is he prone to pietistic religiosity.

Joe came back from the First Gulf War to his home in Bakersfield, Calif. He was suffering from the consequences of serving in the Middle East. He had to use a cane when he walked because he had periods of tremors and unsteadiness.

In March 2002, Joe’s pastor, Msgr. Stephen Frost, organized a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. The pilgrims came, for the most part, from Christ the King Parish in Oildale, the northern section of the city of Bakersfield. Joe decided to go along on the pilgrimage but was not thinking that the waters of Lourdes were for him. It did not even occur to him that he might be cured.

On March 22, 2002, following a Mass concelebrated

by Msgr. Frost and Bishop Zavala, Joe went to the baths area with other pilgrims. He decided to take one of the baths more because “it was the thing to do” than for any other reason. When in New York, you visit the Statue of Liberty, when in Lourdes you either drink the water or take one of the baths, or both. Joe did both. He found the water to be “cold and good to drink.” The water was “real cold” he says.

About a half-hour later, in a shop where he and Monsignor Frost were looking at some vestments, one of the ladies in their party asked Joe, “Where’s your cane?” Startled, he had to hunt for it, not remembering that he had hung his cane on his belt behind him. She then said, “Joe, you’ve been healed!”

It was then and there that Joe realized what had happened.

The events that followed, along with the entire story in Joe’s own words, can be found on www.FAITHmag.com.

I hope you’ll read Joe’s story of faith, trust, healing and hope. It’s not flashy – it’s not spectacular. It’s simply quiet and humble, much the same as the accounts of healing we read in the New Testament. Go and see!

– Fr. Charlie Irvin

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