July/August 2007

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MEET THE NEWEST PRIEST TO SERVE THE DIOCESE OF LANSING

www.FAITHmag.com 1 www.FAITHteen.com

Dear Fr. joe: What's with the Gospel of judas? work

life

Are you a workaholic? Separating ourselves from the workplace culture

Good-cheer smoothie a refreshing way to be neighborly

SPECIAL SECTION for grandparents

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t was Saturday, June 14, 1997. Bishop Mengeling ordained four new priests for service to the people of God in the Diocese of Lansing. I am one of them. Several months earlier, as we put the final touches on the plans for our ordination Mass, my three classmates suggested that I be the one to offer words of thanks on our behalf at the conclusion of Mass. I accepted their invitation. I took some time to think about what I would say and came up with the usual expressions of gratitude to God, family, Bishop Mengeling and the people of the diocese. At least, that was what I had planned to say.

Everyone at FAITH wishes our editor-in-chief, Father Dwight, many blessings on the occasion of his tenth anniversary to the priesthood. He has led us wisely and inspired us often. Thank you, Father At the conclusion of the ordination Mass, I approached the cathedral’s ambo. As I stood Dwight, and may before a cathedral full of people, I was suddenly overcome by a wave of emotion as I began we just say, “Wow!”

to understand what we had just celebrated together. Suddenly, all my well-planned words of thanks evaporated. The only thing I could think to say in the moment was, “Wow!” As I begin my second decade of priesthood, I look back over my first 10 years as a priest and can see how that exclamation, uttered on the day of ordination, has been a kind of watchword for me. The first year after ordination was filled with so many new experiences, ranging from the first-time celebration of the sacraments to coming to understand more fully the broad range of demands that would be an ongoing part of priestly life. There was my first Christmas and Easter as a priest. Those were followed by first Eucharist, parish grade-school graduation and so much more. Each first was accompanied by a sense of deep wonder and gratitude for God’s gift of priesthood in my life. More than once, I found myself exclaiming, “Wow!” as I came to appreciate ever more deeply the profound beauty of the ministry to which God has called me. “Wow” continues to be part of my priestly experience. Now in my eighth year as pastor of a wonderfully loving and faith-filled parish community, I feel as though I am just about ready to take off the training wheels. At the same time, I know that my formation as priest and pastor will continue for a lifetime. Part of my current wonderment relates not so much to that which is entirely new, but more to my growing appreciation for the faith that we share and seek to live together. Each of the preceding 10 years of priestly ministry has been a wondrous gift. I can only begin to imagine what the next 10 years will hold. As this second decade of priesthood opens before me, I look back at the lessons of the first decade. Some of those lessons have been challenging and difficult, while many more have been awe-inspiring, filled with God’s grace and tender mercy. As I look forward to the years ahead, I pray that my priestly ministry might be filled with many more moments of grace-filled discovery, instances when all I can say in thankfulness to God is, “Wow!” And so our journey in FAITH continues.

Wow!

My first decade as a priest

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

FAITH Liturgical Magazine Calendar: July/August 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com St. Thomas, Apostle July 3 | St. Elizabeth of Portugal

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| St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest July 5 | St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr

| St. Augustine Zhao Rong

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God and the gridiron – faith is more important than winning to Michigan State University’s head coach As Michigan State University’s new head football coach, Mark Dantonio promises toughness, pledges to land top highschool recruits and casts a vision of winning championships. But he surprised everyone when he stared into the cameras and, without prompting, declared his relationship with God was more important to him than winning games. Find out why this Big Ten coach is big on faith. – Todd Schulz

inside

what you’ll get out of this issue in the know with Fr. Joe 6 Dear Fr. Joe: What’s with the Gospel of Judas? – Father Joseph Krupp

work life 9 Are you a workaholic? Separating ourselves from the workplace – Tim Ryan

For Grandparents: w o r d s o f w i s d o m What do I know? John Linden is the newest priest of the Diocese of Lansing Father John Linden said God knocked on the door for a long time – find out how answering that knock led to the priesthood.

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Where does your parish stand? As the Diocese of Lansing continues to engage in the Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes process, we present some parish statistics – find out where your parish stands on page

10 She says: Finally, a grandchild! I can’t wait to baby-sit. He says: We’ve already raised our children – it’s not our turn. What do they do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle

the parenting journey 11 A role we don’t control becoming a grandparent

– Marybeth Hicks

– Dr. Cathleen McGreal

O R D I N AT I O N 2 0 07

theology 101

s p e c i a l r e p o r t Father Tim MacDonald – how the Bishop Albers Trust helped me become a priest The cost of a seminary education can be a real hurdle. In the Diocese of Lansing, the Bishop Albers Trust Fund helps defray some of those costs. Find out more and discover how you can help support vocations.

12 What’s the difference between Jesus and Christ? How is he human; how is he divine? – Elizabeth Solsburg

culture 25 Good-cheer smoothie – a refreshing way to be neighborly. – Michele DiFranco

the last word 27 “Love one another as I have loved you.” Why is this the greatest command?

– Bob Horning

o Rong, Priest and Martyr and his Companions, Martyrs

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your marriage matters

– Father Charles Irvin

| St. Benedict, Abbot

| St. Henry

| Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

| Our Lady of Mount Carmel

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Send letters to:

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER

Migrant ministry

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

July/August 2007 • Volume 8: Issue 6

Or send us an e-mail:

A farmer’s response

Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR IN CHIEF

Patrick M. O’Brien MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg ASSISTANT EDITOR

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR/WEB DESIGNER

Jillane Job SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY

Rev. William Ashbaugh Michelle Sessions DiFranco Elizabeth Grodi Marybeth Hicks Shanon Hoffman Rev. Joseph Krupp Tom and JoAnne Fogle Bob Horning Cathleen McGreal Rick and Diane Peiffer Tim Ryan Jan Rynearson Todd Schulz Lindsey Walter Theresa McWilliams-Wessels CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING

Tom Gennara James Luning (cover) Phillip Shippert CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wayne Case Michael Eichhorn Mary Jo Gillilland Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone Rev. Bernard Reilly James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez Dcn. David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple

Dear Editor: Thank you for the interesting article on the migrant ministry in our diocese. Paco and Millie, combined with volunteers from other Washtenaw County Catholic churches, do a wonderful job of ministering to our workers. There are so many evangelists swaying our workers from the faith that it is important to us to have the church present on our farm. We have had to ask many evangelists to leave our property. And some we have asked to join us at Mass – they’ve yet to attend. We wish to give a little background information to clarify your article. Du Russels’ first employed migrants in 1970; at that time and since we have never had any housing with dirt

floors. Currently, all of our housing is licensed and inspected by the state. There are no licensed camps in the state of Michigan that have dirt floors. The area where Mass is held on the farm is outside under a canopy. This is

where our workers have to kneel in the dirt, if they do not bring something to kneel on. There has been discussion of erecting a chapel on our farm and we have had an architect draw up plans. But due to funding, that plan has been put on hold. During the harvest season, our workers do work long hours – it is the nature of farming. When they return to Texas they are able to rest and collect unemployment. Thank you again for supporting the Migrant Ministry in our diocese. – Diane Du Russel

Paco Lopez responded to the letter above: That is exactly right. Nicely put and clarified.

ADVISORY BOARD

FAITH Publishing Ser vice Rev. Dwight Ezop CHAIRMAN

Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Enomhen Odigie Abby Wieber

A sweet reward for Linda Hundt

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Patricia Oliver SECRETARY

InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT FAITHPublishingService.com FAITHTM (USPS 01993) is a publication of FAITH Publishing Service, Catholic Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. The Diocese of Lansing edition is published monthly except for February and August. National and parish editions are published bimonthly. To purchase a subscription for the Diocese of Lansing edition, log onto FAITHmag.com or to purchase a subscription for the national/parish edition, log onto FAITHcatholic.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: FAITHTM, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. © FAITH Publishing Service. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service.

St. Camillus de Lellis, Priest

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Bishop Mengeling’s recovery from cancer Bishop Mengeling continues to recover from his cancer surgery and thanks everyone for their prayers during his illness. His physicians are pleased at the rate of his recovery, and his prognosis is good. Although the bishop has not returned to full-time active ministry yet, he was well enough to ordain John Linden to the priesthood on June 9 at St. Mary Cathedral.

| St. Apollinarius, Bishop, Martyr

| St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor

Linda Hundt, who was featured on the cover of the April issue of FAITH, won first prize in the Crisco American Pie Council National Pie Championship (commercial division for independent bakers). Linda owns Sweetielicious Pie Pantry (formerly Sweetie Pie Pantry) in DeWitt. The winning pie was blueberry/raspberry.

| St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious

| St. Sharbel Makhluf, Priest

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Why did this beautiful woman rub pepper on her face? Saint Rose of Lima Birthplace: Lima, Peru Feast Day: August 30 Claim to Fame: Named Isabel when born in 1586, her impoverished family considered her their treasure and called her Rose. They dedicated her life to God. Rose was deeply devoted to her parents and obeyed them in everything they asked of her, except one thing. She refused to marry, because she wanted to give herself to God. She was so concerned that everyone was only interested in her lovely appearance that she rubbed pepper on her face until her skin blistered, dressed in rough clothing and cut off her hair. She wanted to ensure that no one would be tempted by her and that she would not succumb to vanity.

A diocesan Chautauqua – unity in diversity

hautauqua is a Native American word that means “a meeting or gathering of peoples.” In the late 19th century, traveling educational meetings and summer camps called Chautauquas became popular. These were often organized by the Methodist Church – Chautauqua in New York and the Bayview Association in Petoskey are famous examples. Here in the Diocese of Lansing, staff members participated in their own Chautauqua on May 9. Entitled “Unity in Diversity,” the gathering provided opportunities for presenters to speak to the social, cultural, ethnic and theological perspectives of various communities – giving the audience a lens into the issues of diversity, inclusiveness, invitation and participation. Panels included representatives of the white community, the community of persons with disAbilities and the Hispanic, black and Vietnamese communities. There were also representatives from the deaf, immigrant and young adult communities. The Chautauqua offered members of the various diocesan ministries the opportunity to engage in dialogue with some of the people to whom they minister. It also gave them the chance to study and discuss the statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, Welcoming the Stranger Among Us – Unity in Diversity.

Priest

| St. James, Apostle

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| Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

What made her a saint: She worked at embroidery and needlework to help sustain her family, even when she would rather have been praying. Rose sold her delicate creations and gave her family all the money. Eventually, she moved from her parents’ house to a hermitage, where she fasted and prayed. Although Rose spent hours in prayer each day, she was plagued by sinful thoughts and had a natural tendency toward loneliness and sadness. But she cheerfully offered her suffering to the Lord and was rewarded with ecstasies of peace and joy. She often cared for the sick, even though she was frequently ill and weak herself – partly because of the fasting she felt brought her closer to God. Even when she was in pain, she didn’t let her anguish overcome her love for God. Best Quote: During her last agonizing illness, she prayed, “Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase your love in my heart.” How she died: She died following a long, painful sickness. She was beatified in 1667 and canonized by Clement X in 1671. Prayer: Help me to remember what is really important: that I am your child. You are my Father. You love me for who I am and how I live, not for what I look like or what I own. Let me praise you who see into my heart, who is always with me and who eases my suffering. Amen. – Jan Rynearson

| St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor

| St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest July 31

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Dear Fr. Joe

What’s with the Gospel of Judas?

‘ve been asked this one a lot – tons of stuff is floating around about it. Let’s start with what we know.

At some point in the 1970s, a document was discovered in a cave in Egypt that was called the Gospel of Judas. Now, because the people who found it were demanding incredible amounts of money for it, and their explanations about how they found it were considered a bit ... ambiguous, nobody bought it. It floated around for a while, until it was purchased by a group in Europe. Before this, the only evidence we had of its existence was from a second century saint named Irenaeus. Irenaeus wrote a condemnation of this “invented history” found in the Gospel of Judas and stated that people who hated God and Christianity wrote it. Where did it come from? Obviously, its age precludes the possibility of it having been written by Judas himself. Irenaeus said it was written by a group of Gnostics who were of the Cainite sect. The Cainites worshiped Cain (from the Cain/Abel story) and believed that the “God of the Old Testament” was evil. They taught that a lesser god sent Jesus to earth. The appeal of What does the Gospel of Judas this “gospel” is say? Its main contention is that in its age (probably written in the Judas was Jesus’ chief disciple and that Jesus arranged for Judas second or third century) and the to betray him. This gospel is not fact that it offers a narrative like the other Gospels, a new idea. There but simply a series of conversations between Jesus and Judas. is no theologiWhat do the other Gospels say? cal value to this document and its The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, credentials aren’t Luke and John, which are much older than that of Judas, are unitoo strong. form in their portrayal of the role of Judas. In Matthew, Jesus states that it would have been better if Judas had never been born. (Mt 26:24) In John, Jesus refers to Judas as “the son of destruction.” (John 17:12) In Matthew, Judas is said to have hanged himself. In Acts, it indicates that Judas bought land with his silver, tripped in the field and was gutted by a rock (yikes). Either way, the appeal of this “gospel” is in its age (probably written in the second or third century) and

1. You are in a race, you overtake the second person. What position are you in? 2. You can only do this one in your head; no paper and pencil or calculator. Ready? OK, now take 1,000 and add 40. Now add another 1,000. Now add 30. Add another 1,000. Now add 20. Now, add another 1,000, then 10. What is the total? 3. Mary’s father has five daughters: 1. Nana 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?

the fact that it offers an unfamiliar idea. There is no theological value to this document and its credentials aren’t too strong. There are not many legitimate scholars who believe it should be placed in the Bible, nor that it is an authentic document in its revelations of any truth about Jesus. In April 2006, the Vatican released this statement about the Gospel of Judas: “The Vatican, by word of Pope Benedict XVI, grants the recently surfaced Judas’ Gospel no credit

with regards to its apocryphal claims that Judas betrayed Jesus in compliance with the latter’s own requests…” Why, then, all the hype? I think Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, summed it up best in his 2006 Easter address: “We are instantly fascinated by the suggestion of conspiracies and cover-ups; this has become so much the stuff of our imagination these days that it is only natural, it seems, to expect it

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 Transfiguration of the Lor

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On May 19, Father Bill Koenigsknecht, pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Lansing, led his congregation in a prayer service that began their participation in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Celebration for World Peace. The Glorious Mysteries were led by the Knights of Columbus, students from the parish school, members of the youth group and members of the living rosary group.

What to do if you have been abused If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church, please believe in the possibility for hope and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every arch/diocese/eparchy in the United States now has a victim assistance coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help you make a formal complaint of abuse to the arch/diocese/eparchy and to arrange a personal meetings with the bishop, or his representative, if you desire. The victim assistance coordinators for the Diocese of Lansing are: Msgr. Michael D. Murphy, moderator of the curia, 517.342.2450 and Msgr. Steven J. Raica, chancellor, 517.342.2454.

Si has sido victima de abuso por alguien que representa la Iglesia Catolica, por favor, cree en la possibilidad de esperanza, y de ayuda y sanacion. Te exhortamos a presentar y declarer. Cada (arqui) dioceses/eparquia en Estados Unidos tiene ahora un coordinator o coordinadora de asistencia a las victimas a quien puedes acudir para que te apoye en tus necesedades, te ayunde a hacer una denuncia formal de abuso anta la (arqui) dioceses/eparquia, y a solicitar una reunion personal con el obispo o su representente, si asi lo deseas. El coordinador o coordinadora de asistencia a las victimas en la Diocesis de Lansing: Msgr. Michael J. Murphy, al Moderador de la Curia, 517.342.2450 o Msgr. Steven J. Raica, al Capellan, 517.342.2454.

So, there it is – a brief review of what the Gospel of Judas is, where it came from and what it means. Now, if you really want to know the truth about Jesus’ life on earth, crack open Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are the oldest texts we have about Jesus. Enjoy another day in

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Famous for its cover art by Norman Rockwell, which began in 1916, The Saturday Evening Post was published for the first time on Aug. 4, WHAT YEAR? Detroit, also known as the Motor City, was founded by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (who landed on the shore of what is now the Detroit River) on July 24, WHAT YEAR? William Booth founded the Christian Mission, an establishment that would later come to be known as the Salvation Army, to help London’s poor and unchurched, on July 5, WHAT YEAR? “Whether I was in the body or out of the body when I wrote it, I know not,” said George Frederic Handel, after completing his composition in a mere 23 days. Handel shut himself away within his own home to begin work on what would become The Messiah on Aug. 21, WHAT YEAR?

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of diocesan school superintendents are laypersons. (CARA Fall 2006)

FAITH asks 8th-graders at St. Martha School in Okemos: Why do you do works of charity?

God’s presence! Now, the answers to the puzzle: 1.You are in second place. If you overtake the second person and take his place, you are in second. 2. Did you get 5,000? That’s wrong. Use your calculator and you’ll get 4,100. 3. It’s not Nunu! Her name is Mary. Look at the question again.

Ben

Anjelica

Bianca

Bianca, 14 I help in the cafeteria with the younger kids, walking around opening their milk or something like that. It seems like a small thing, but it really helps make the world a better place.

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine 209 Seymour Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

Ben, 13 The main reason I want to be involved would be to help make the world a better place. That’s why I’m chasing my goal to be a robotic scientist to help people around the house, but also with space exploration and surgical robots. Anjelica, 14 I really believe in how people’s energies effect people. When we do stuff like this it gives you a sense of humility. It makes you feel good when you help other people and it makes them feel good, too.

– Father Joseph Krupp

the Lord August 6 | St. Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr and his companions, martyrs

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What year did the Saturday Evening Post debut?

Resurrection Parish joins the Pasadena “Rosary Bowl” for World Peace

when we turn to ancient texts, especially biblical texts. We treat them as if they were unconvincing press releases from some official source, whose intention is to conceal the real story; and that real story waits for the intrepid investigator to uncover it and share it with the waiting world. Anything that looks like the official version is automatically suspect.”

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Answers: 1875, 1777, 1914, 1863

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| St. Cajetan, Priest August 7 | St. Dominic, Priest

| St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

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what in the world? the top-10 Catholic News events this month

Bishop Pierre Duprey dies The former secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity died Sunday, May 13. He was 84.

Bishops of India welcome U.S. resolution The motion placed before the U.S. Congress by Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona asked the lawmaking body to encourage an end to India’s caste system.

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A very special Mother’s Day gift Arlene Woelfel, who has worked in the Diocese of Lansing for 23 years, seven of them in the Office of Deacons, received the gift of a Arlene Woelfel deacon’s chair from her children this Mother’s Day. Arlene’s children, Paulette and Tim Stump of Holt and Scott and Tracy Woelfel of Dexter, donated a deacon’s chair to the new church being built by St. Joseph Parish in Dexter. Arlene says that she is humbled and grateful for this unique gift, so often given as a memoriam for someone who is deceased, because she will have the chance to see it in use.

Sharing the Wealth – Dresser Ministry

The Pastoral Planning Office has seen a wealth of good ideas come to life as the work of pastoral planning goes on in our parishes. We feature a new idea each month on www.dioceseoflansing.org – Sharing the Wealth. Check it out to see if there is an idea your parish can adopt and adapt.

The World Congress of Families has an international representation More than 3,300 delegates assembled in Warsaw’s historic Palace of Culture and Science for the event May 11-13. The real challenge of World Youth Day It isn’t in the logistics, but rather in integrating the event into the life of the church, said Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli, the apostolic nuncio to Australia.

A plenary assembly of the superiors-general of women religious communities The meeting in Rome May 6-10 about the role of consecrated religious women in the life of the church resulted in the statement, “Like Mary, we will become weavers of the reign of God.”

A new Canadian archbishop Benedict XVI named Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Halifax to lead the Archdiocese of Ottawa. He succeeds Archbishop Marcel Gervais, 75.

Pope Benedict puts the world’s drug dealers on notice On a recent visit to Brazil, the pope said that, “God will call you to account for your deeds.”

The church and the environment Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, told the United Nations that present models of consumption must be changed to address the double challenge of climate change and the ever greater energy demands.

Brazilian bishops affirm a pro-life stance At the conclusion of their 45th general assembly, they said that the belittling of human life “ … is fermenting the growth of violence in our country.”

Continue abstinence education

funding That’s the message from Cardinal Justin Rigali to the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

Leveraging an organization’s strengths and assets has long been a successful business formula. For a pair of mothers at the Catholic Community of St. Jude in DeWitt, leveraging parish strengths has been working wonders in their very successful “Dresser Ministry” – a program to help area women and couples cope with the burdens of unexpected pregnancies without resorting to abortion. Karen Popwitz and Karen Jonas have collected more than 50 dressers filled with baby clothes, cribs and related items for needy mothers and infants. To read more, and to find out how you can start a Dresser Ministry in your parish, visit the Web site at www.dioceseoflansing.org.

The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership honors a man called Peter On April 25, at the annual awards banquet of the National Conference for Catechetical Peter Ries (right) Leadership (NCCL), Peter Ries, the diocesan director of evangelization, RCIA and adult faith formation, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award to recognize the catechetical ministry he has provided for more than 38 years. Peter was the diocesan director of catechesis in the Diocese of Lansing from 1988 to 2004, when he took on the evangelization directorship. He has authored numerous handbooks and articles and collaborated with FAITH Magazine to introduce Café, an initiative for adult faith formation, in the diocese. Each year, the NCCL honors a member who has labored steadily for the advancement of catechesis over a number of years; nominations come from across the country.

FAITH Magazine 200710 | www.FAITHmag.com St. Lawrence, Deacon and July/August Martyr August | St. Clare, Virgin August 11 | St. Pontian, Pope and Martyr and St. Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr August 13 | St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Mart

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Pope Benedict proclaims a Brazilian saint Pope Benedict XVI presented Brazilian Saint Antônio de Santa’Ana Galvão as an example for all to follow in a “hedonistic age.” The pope arrived via “popemobile” at the canonization Mass on May 11 at the airfield of Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo. Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, presented the petition of canonization of Blessed Galvão, accompanied by the postulator of the cause, Sister Célia Cadorim. The cardinal briefly summarized the life of the Franciscan friar: “Until the end of his days, he was for all a man of peace and charity.” After the canonization, Benedict XVI received some relics of the newly proclaimed saint, one of which was presented by a religious of the Monastery of Light, constructed and founded by the Franciscan. – ZENIT

The theory of limbo is not ruled out, says a member of the International Theological Commission Sister Sara Butler, a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity, has served on the commission since 2004. The commission is an advisory body comprising 30 theologians chosen by the pope. Its documents are not considered official expressions of the magisterium, but the commission does help the Holy See to examine important doctrinal issues. On April 20, the commission released a document, commissioned under Pope John Paul II, called The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized. Benedict XVI approved it for publication. In an interview with Inside the Vatican magazine, Sister Butler, who teaches dogmatic theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., says, “The report concludes that limbo remains a ‘possible theological opinion.’ Anyone who wants to defend it is free to do so. This document, however, tries to give a theological rationale for hoping that unbaptized infants may be saved.” – ZENIT

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Are you a workaholic? Separating ourselves from the workplace

arol says: I like my job, I’ve been doing it for a long time and people respect my work. I’m productive and focused. My husband has been getting upset, though, because many nights I don’t get home until 8 p.m. or later. But we don’t have any children, so it’s not really a big deal, is it? I feel good at work and I’m in control. My boss likes my dedication; she says I’m her top performer. That makes me feel good, like I’m “somebody.” However, I have been feeling a bit stressed lately. I find it difficult to leave anything unfinished at the end of the day and I feel better when everything is done.

Carol is a mid-level manager in a large company.

The expert says: While there is nothing wrong with wanting to do a good job, it is possible to go overboard. We’ve heard the term “workaholic,” but what does that really mean? In their book, O Blessed Night, Francis Kelly Nemeck and Marie Theresa Coombs write, “The intent of the addict is to eliminate pain and to secure pleasure.” (p. 5) How would that apply to work? Maybe there are problems at home that we’re trying to avoid, and work helps us escape. Or it might simply be that rush we get when we check something off our to-do list. After a while, we get nervous about leaving anything hanging, we want to get more things done, and it’s hard to go home when we feel as if something isn’t complete. That’s when we stay late, pick up the cell phone or break out the notebook computer. We’re not satisfied until

we’ve gotten our fix. Is this really a problem? We tend to take it as a compliment when someone calls us a workaholic. What can be so bad about it? Nemeck and Coombs further describe an addiction as “the provider of ultimate meaning, but one which produces life-damaging effects.” (p. 5) When our work becomes our sole obsession – to the point that we sacrifice our health, our relationships, or our trust in God – we really need to re-assess. Nemeck and Coombs write that recovery is dependent upon first hitting rock bottom and coming to our senses (as did the prodigal son in Luke 15:13-17). They describe recovery as a process of dying, “Yet, in the dying process, a renewed self slowly emerges.” (p. 5) Refer to John’s words: “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it bears fruit abundantly.” (Jn 12:24) – Tim Ryan

nd Martyr August 14 | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( a holy day of obligation in US) August 15 | St. Stephen of Hungary August 16 | St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious August 18

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y o u r

r o m ance

Surprise! Don’t underestimate simple gestures of gratitude like sending a flower to your spouse. Surprise him/her by delivering it in person. The day needs no other significance than to say, “Thanks! I love you!” You might even make your spouse blush with pleasure.

money

Pay it off faster! If you’re looking for a way to quickly pay off the credit card, stop charging and pay biweekly. The sooner you get the payment to the company, the less interest you will pay. The company is obligated to process your payment the day it arrives.

m a r r i a g e

m a t t e r s

atrick and Eileen have been married for 30 years. Their daughter recently had a baby girl – Patrick’s and Eileen’s first grandchild. But now they have to decide what being a grandparent really means.

Finally, a grandchild! I can’t wait to baby-sit. Eileen says: I was absolutely thrilled when our daughter, Karen, had a baby. Finally, we get the chance to be grandparents – and to have a baby in the house again. Karen is going back to work in three months and asked me if I could provide child care. I’d love to, but Patrick acts as if I’ve lost my mind.

We’ve already raised our children – it’s not our turn Patrick says: Sometimes, I do think Eileen has lost her mind. I love my children and I love my new granddaughter. But we are finished with child-rearing – it’s not our turn anymore. Doesn’t Eileen remember how exhausting it is to answer an infant’s every demand, to chase after a toddler? I do not want a house full of playpens and high chairs – no day-care! Having experienced a similar situation with our grandchildren, we can “expertly” say there is no easy solution! It is solvable, but it takes considerable discussion and communication between Patrick and Eileen first – and then with Karen and her husband. Patrick and Eileen need to share their feelings about parenthood, remembering back to when Karen and her siblings were small and needing constant care. Then

He said She said what do they do?

they need to evaluate their current health and capabilities (mental and physical) and the circumstance at this time in their lives. Are they retired or soon to retire, or do they live a very active lifestyle where added child care would be disruptive and become counterproductive to their marriage relationship? Being a grandparent is wonderful and a blessing. You have all the pleasures of being around small children again – playing childhood games, reading children’s stories, watching them grow and expand their horizons and being a “wisdom” person to them. You have greater patience with grandchildren and, in some cases, you have the luxury of handing them back over to their parents when you get tired. But not always! Patrick has a point; he and Eileen have finished their primary child-rearing. However, it is also

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p a r e n t i n g

– Tom and JoAnne Fogle

com m uni ca ti o n

A role we don’t control becoming a grandparent Talking when the sun come up Take the time when the kids are still in bed to have a quiet breakfast with your spouse. It will give you a chance to talk about what’s important when you are at your peak – instead of at the end of the day, when you’re both exhausted from work and kids’ activities. time

I iStockphoto.com

true that grandparents have additional responsibilities and the opportunity to participate in childrearing in a way that is different from being a parent. Grandparents are an integral component of a child’s sphere of influence. Grandparents are in a unique position to offer advice, provide wisdom and become a safe haven for their grandchildren. They can be sources of inspiration, encouragement, stability and holiness for grandchildren who may not experience it from their parents. Applied broadly, child-rearing is never complete as long as there is still one child on this earth. God has blessed society with children, and it is up to each human adult to help these young children grow into maturity and become good citiGod has blessed zens in the society with kingdom children and it is of God. up to each human Prior to adult to help these commityoung children ting to grow into maturity full-time and become good child care citizens in the king- for their dom of God. grandchildren, Patrick and Eileen would be wise to establish specific boundaries. Parents should recognize and respect that “grandparent” is not synonymous with “free baby-sitter.” We recommend that Patrick and Eileen start out as part-time, temporary, “emergency” care providers. This will give them the time to determine if this is a good fit for their marriage relationship. Even after 30 years, their marriage relationship comes first – first before parenthood and first before grandparenthood. Patrick’s and Eileen’s love for each other and their commitment to each other is the very thing they need to pass on to their own children and grandchildren.

j o u r n e y

As grandparents, let your love of God be obvious.

was sitting on a poolside chair, enjoying the busy antics of a toddler splashing by his father on the pool steps. The mother was tossing a baseball cap toward the deep end so that an older child could swim and retrieve it. The middle-aged grandmother and grandfather were relaxing on lounge chairs when he turned to her with a warm smile and said, “Remember when ours were that age?” She nodded and replied, “Yes, and aren’t you glad they aren’t now!” Later, the parents took the toddler up to their room and the grandparents played pool games with the older grandchild. The scene was a snapshot of grandparenthood: the shared vacation showing a desire for intergenerational intimacy; the older couple recalling their own child-rearing days with fondness, but without the desire to return to those day-to-day tasks; grandma and grandpa moving from the sidelines to center stage when asked to help out; grandchildren expressing loving attachment toward grandparents.

A life transition we don’t schedule!

It’s about time ... Break bread together. Establish a tradition that at least one meal a day will be eaten together – without the interference of the TV news, interruptions for telephone conversations or the need to rush. Plan for a one-hour window of time to just sit at the dining table, eat a meal and discuss the future. The slower you eat, the less heartburn you will have and the greater love you will have for your spouse.

Becoming a grandparent is out of our control. It might occur much earlier or much later than we expect, which will influence our role. Some couples become first-time parents in their 40s – while their friends are becoming first-time grandparents at the same age!

A role mediated through adult children. There is no clear-cut “job description” for being an involved grandparent. Respect the desires of the parents, knowing that they will make decisions differently than you did. And activities change over time, based on the developmental level of the grandchild. Grandparents, like parents, can expect adolescents to give a high priority to time spent with peers.

Support parents as needed. Parents want grandparents to be supportive, but not to interfere – it is a fine line to walk, indeed! Allow the younger generation to explore the parental role. Be ready to listen and provide emotional support. Offer advice when asked. Follow parental guidelines when it comes to gift-giving.

Storytelling and family rituals. Pass on the richness of your family’s heritage through storytelling and rituals. What were mom and dad like as little kids? What games did they play? Where did their explorations take them? Bring out old baptism and first Communion pictures to share. At my father-in-law’s wake, one of the most heart-rending moments was a “Grandpa Bud” story told by his grandson, Ryan. St. John of the Cross wrote, “At the evening of our life, we will be judged on love.” As grandparents, let your love of God be obvious. – Dr. Cathleen McGreal

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t h e o l o g y

1 0 1

What is the theo lo g ian o f the m o nth

Hans Urs von Balthasar

between Jesus and Christ?

How is he human? How is he divine?

his year, FAITH is exploring Christology – the study of Jesus Christ. We asked several eminent seminary professors some questions about Jesus. Their answers are enlightening and thought-provoking.

Meet the professors Father Acklin

Father Muller

Father Stevens

Father Thomas Acklin is a monk of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa. He is a graduate of Duqesne University, St. Vincent Seminary, The Catholic University of Louvain and Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Institute. Father Earl Muller is The Bishop Kevin M. Britt Professor of Theology/Christology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He formerly taught at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Father Gladstone Stevens is on the faculty of St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore.

FAITH: What is the difference between Jesus and Christ? Father Acklin: Jesus and Christ are one and the same. But what has caused a split between the two was the development of the historical sciences in the 17th19th centuries. The Catholic Church was rather wary of this approach; Pope Pius X was cautious because historical methods were used in a reductionist way. Pope Benedict has articulated cautions of the historical-critical method as presented in things like the Jesus Seminar. The assumptions of that seminar are very reductionist – they limit the Christ of faith. Another very strange phenomenon is exemplified in books like

(1905-1988)

One of the most noted theologians of the 20th century, Hans Urs von Balthasar never taught theology at a university. Instead, he opted to be a student chaplain at Basel. While there, he met Adrienne Von Speyr, a mystic, whose writings became inextricably linked with his own. In 1950, Balthasar left the Jesuit order to become a diocesan priest, having felt the call to begin the Community of St. John with Speyr. In 1988, two days before the ceremony that would have elevated him to a cardinal, Hans Urs von Balthasar died at his home in Basel. He wrote that Jesus’ death and resurrection reveal to us that God can endure and conquer godlessness, abandonment and death itself. Balthasar described his theology as a “kneeling theology”, connected to prayer, adoration and worship.

FAITH Magazine 12 July/August 2007 What is historical-critical method? A method of interpreting texts in which an attempt is made to reconstruct the original as much as possible an

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WHO

CHRIST?

A Y E A R - L O N G C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H T H E O L O G I A N S

Heresy! Appollinarianism: Jesus’ divine nature took the place of his humanity

Apollinaris

According to Appollinarists, Jesus was divine – but was so at the expense of his humanity. Apollinaris, a bishop, taught that the Logos, the “Word” of God, became the divine nature of Christ, overcoming and taking the place of his human soul. He and his followers believed that Jesus was the son of God, but that humanity and divinity couldn’t exist simultaneously in one person. The theological danger of this heresy is that it minimizes the value of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross – if he was not human, he did not really die. And therefore, didn’t rise. In 381, the Second Council at Constantinople condemned this heresy and affirmed the concept of the hypostatic union – Jesus is completely God and completely human.

The DaVinci Code. Those authors take Gnostic texts and then present them as having equal authority to canonical texts. I have talked to the late Ray Brown, an eminent Scripture scholar, who recognized that the historical sciences had overreached themselves – and created a distance between us and Christ. The Pontifical Biblical Commission wrote a document in the early ’80s insisting that the historicalcritical methods are indispensable, but only if they are not used in a reductionist way. There is a rediscovery of the canonical method, which uses the historical-critical approach, but lets the whole canon speak together. Father Muller: There is a distinc-

tion between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. The Jesus of history refers to this specific human who wandered around Judea and Galilee. The Christ of faith refers to that same individual as portrayed by the Gospels. In concrete reality, Jesus is Christ and Christ is Jesus. When this distinction evolved in the 19th century, there were some curious things going on. There was the rise of a Newtonian worldview that understood the world as a giant mechanism with a watchmaker God. If you have an exquisite mechanism, you cannot tolerate interference by God. This leads to trouble identifying the concrete Jesus as divine. And yet, Christianity has always depended on an affirmation of Christ’s divinity. Because our knowledge is limited, we

w h a t d o e s th a t symbol mean?

Paschal Lamb Jesus is often depicted as the lamb whose blood redeems us, an analogy to the Passover sacrificial lamb. The Book of Revelation describes Jesus as the “Lamb who was slain …”

Bible Quiz A faithful warrior, an eminent judge. Who am I? Turn to page 27 for the answer

I am a proud member of the Tribe of Manasseh, son of Gilead, and resident of Gilead. I was a judge of Israel for six years, during the time just before we had our first king. My brothers (well, my half-brothers, really) kicked me out and I moved to Tob. When Israel decided to go to war against the Ammonites, who did they turn to? Me! I have great faith in the Lord –I know he can do all things. That’s why I promised him, before I went to battle, that I would sacrifice the first person to come through my doors if I came home victorious. I thought it would be a servant – you can imagine my sadness and horror when my beloved daughter came running out to meet me after my victory in battle. Her lament in the Book of Judges still echoes in my heart. Who am I?

distinguish between a Jesus we can phenomenally experience – and God. This is, of necessity, limited. We cannot identify this experience of Jesus as exhaustive of an experience of God. Father Stevens: There cannot be a dichotomy between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. Our salvation did not happen in a galaxy far, far away. This is part of the incarnation, that the eternal took on the conditions of time – and time is thereby redeemed. We live in history and God entered into the historical flow and redeems it. We find this in the Gospels. Luke is anxious to situate everything within the course of history – that is what saves us from a sort of Gnosticism. We need to understand the limits of the texts we have – there is always more than what a historical text can convey. Truth always exceeds a text and methodology – there is not a one-toone correspondence between any text and the truth. The texts are not intended to be a photograph – if they were, why would we go to some texts over and over? Some texts speak to us. We get too caught up in minor textual discrepancies in the Scriptures. There is, rather, a sacramental quality to them – truth you don’t get on any one read. Substance is given to us in these texts – they convey a truth sufficient for our salvation. – Elizabeth Solsburg

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FAITH Magazine

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Michigan State Un vers ty's

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Coaching is my ministry. It can’t be just about w how we can get our players to move forw c o v e r

s t o r y

ark Dantonio said precisely what longsuffering Spartan fans wanted to hear when he was introduced in November 2006 as Michigan State University’s new head football coach.

Dantonio promised toughness, pledged to land top high-school recruits and cast a vision of winning championships. Steely and serious, he looked and sounded like the stereotypical Big Ten football coach. But Dantonio’s first press conference also strayed from the script long enough to provide a surprising peek into his soul. He stared into the cameras and, without prompting, declared his relationship with God was more important to him than winning games. “I’ll stand up here today and tell you that my faith is very, very important to me,” Dantonio said at the time. Today’s college football coaches live in a win-or-else world where the paychecks and the pressure to produce are astronomical. Rabid fans, influential boosters and cashstrapped school presidents all want FAITH Magazine

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Faith just always was there. It was there at a young age. During college, I strayed this way and that way. But whenever I went to church I always felt a sense of calmness that I’d be able to solve any problems.

victories – and they want them now. Dantonio, who earns $1.1 million annually at Michigan State, wants to win as badly as anyone. He knows the scoreboard on Saturday afternoon will ultimately determine his success with the Spartans But Dantonio also keeps the pigskin in perspective. His Catholic faith keeps him focused on Christ, his family and the long-term welfare of his players and assistant coaches. It’s those relationships – even more than the results on the field – that make Dantonio passionate about his high-profile profession. “Coaching is my ministry,” Dantonio said in February. “It can’t be just about wins and losses. The intense scrutiny that comes with this job – it’s going to be there. I understand that. At the same time, it’s got to be about how we can get our players to move forward with their lives and do things correctly off the field. You’re able to make a difference as a coach.” Dantonio, 51, was raised as a Catholic in Zanesville, Ohio, where he grew up attending weekly Mass with his parents, Justin and Maryann, and his three brothers. Faith was as much a part of life as football for Dantonio, who earned all-league

and all-state honors as a player at Zanesville High and went on to play at the University of South Carolina. “Faith just always was there,” says Dantonio, who earned three letters as a defensive back at South Carolina. “It was there at a young age. During college, I strayed this way and that way. But whenever I went to church, I always felt a sense of calmness that I’d be able to solve any problems.” Dantonio can’t pinpoint the moment he accepted Christ. But he knows his spiritual journey – and his life – took a key turn in 1985 while he was working as a secondary coach at Akron. That’s when he met

Becky and Mark Dantonio

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bout wins and losses. The intense scrutiny that comes with this job – it’s going to be there. I understand that. At the same time, it’s got to be about forward with their lives and do things correctly off the field. You’re able to make a difference as a coach.

his wife Becky, an Akron native who was home after attending Ohio State. “That’s when I started looking more at the big picture,” he says. “I started learning more about my walk.” The Dantonios have grown together in their faith through the birth of their daughters – Kristen, 14, and Lauren, 12 – and a long list of stops on the college coaching trail, including successful stints as an assistant at MSU and Ohio State and his first head coaching job at Cincinnati. Mark considers Becky – who converted to Catholicism during his six years as a Spartan assistant – his most influential spiritual mentor. Married in 1990, the couple prays together every morning and, win or lose on Saturday, worships at St. Martha Parish in Okemos on Sundays. “His faith was always important to him and a relationship (with God) was there,” says Becky, who introduced her husband at his first MSU press conference. “(But) it really took off after we got married. There’s a time in life where you decide what your faith is going to be and it’s no longer the faith of your parents.” College football is big business to universities and a religion to many fans. But does God really care who wins and loses these games? “I don’t think so,” Dantonio says, laughing. “But there’s probably people praying on both sides.” The Michigan State faithful have prayed for a savior for the better part of 40 years. The perennially mediocre Spartans haven’t won a national title since 1966 or a Big Ten Conference crown since 1990. They last reached the Rose Bowl in the 1987 season. Enter Dantonio, who was 18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati before landing the MSU job. Dantonio served as an assistant coach at Michigan State from 1995-2000 and was thrilled when offered the school’s top job. But before accepting, he gathered Becky, Kristen and

r e s o u r c e

Where to find spiritual support in college Most major universities have a Catholic presence on campus in the form of a Newman Center and/or a student parish. Often, even smaller schools have a campus minister. In the Diocese of Lansing, there are student parishes at: The University of Michigan – St. Mary Student Parish, 331 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, 734.663.0557, www.stmary studentparish.org Michigan State University – St. John Student Parish, 327 MAC Ave., East Lansing, 517.337.9778, www.stjohn msu.org

Lauren to pray – and to vote. “This was a family decision,” Dantonio said. “It was not a decision made by one person. Everybody had one vote and one vote could have canceled us.” In the end, the choice was unanimous. “The girls kept telling me it was my dream job,” Dantonio says with a chuckle. “I said, ‘Hey, it’s got to be your dream, too. You’re the ones who are living it.’” Dantonio’s dream is to restore gridiron glory in East Lansing. Winning championships is definitely on his to-do list. In fact, it’s No. 6. Dantonio says five other priorities come first for his players, his coaches and himself: 1. Making the right decisions as people 2. Family 3. Graduation 4. Giving back to the community 5. Getting bigger, faster and stronger “You can’t get to a championship without getting to the others first,” Dantonio says with a shrug. For Dantonio, faith is as fundamental to football success as blocking, tackling and toughness. He’s attended weekly Bible study at every stop. As the defensive coordinator at Ohio State (where he helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2002 national title), Dantonio even took breaks from the frenzied game

planning for arch-rival Michigan to meet with God. “I came out of there with a calmness and perspective that it’s not all about what happens in that stadium,” Dantonio recalls. “It has to go beyond that, otherwise you’re not going to be a very happy person because you can’t be on top forever.” When Dantonio formed his coaching staff at Cincinnati, he took a spiritual inventory of the assistants he was interviewing. “I asked them where they were at (in their relationships with God),” said Dantonio, who brought most of the same coaches to MSU. “The accountability (for coaches) has to go beyond the accountability to me. I want coaches to care about kids. That’s important to me.” So is caring for his coaches. Though they log long hours during the season, Dantonio encourages his assistants to make time to attend recitals, ballgames and other can’tmiss events for their children. Dantonio spent his spring driving to Cincinnati to see Becky and his daughters, who finished school before the family moved to East Lansing. The Dantonios will be together this fall when Mark leads Michigan State on to the field. They trust God to be with them. “He’s given us all the good things in our life,” Becky Dantonio said. “He’s guiding us. He brought us to MSU and I don’t think he brought us here to fail.”

Eastern Michigan University – Holy Trinity Student Parish, 511 W. Forest, Ypsilanti, 734.482.1400, www.catholics oncampus.org

Mark Dantonio and his daughters

Campus ministry is another way your DSA dollars help our diocese. For more information, visit www.dioceseoflansing.org.

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Meet Father John Linden

Meet Father John Linden, our newest priest

FAITH Magazine

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July/August 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com

By Marybeth Hicks | Photography by Tom Gennara

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n June 9, the Diocese of Lansing gained a new priest with the ordination of Father John Linden, 40. Father Linden will be assigned to St. Francis Parish, Ann Arbor. He will serve as parochial vicar, working with Father Jim McDougall, the pastor.

When I finally entered the seminary, I was 33 years old. I had to earn my bachelor’s degree as well as my master’s in theology, which is why it took me seven years to be ordained! What would you tell your younger self? I would tell my younger self not to be so fearful – to be a little more faithful and trust in the Lord. He has the plans that work and he has the ability to repair the plans we make for ourselves so that we can ultimately serve him as he wants us to.

How did you discern that When have you seen true wisdom? God was calling you to the priesthood? I’ve seen true wisdom in people who are willing to adLooking back, I realize the Lord had been knocking on the mit their faults and accept that they aren’t perfect. Perhaps door for quite some time, but it took me quite a while before Pope John Paul II exemplified this most beautifully. He I finally answered him! wasn’t afraid to show his weaknesses, especially at the end I grew up in the Irish Hills in Jackson County, where I of his life, so he was most inspiring when he was physigraduated from high school. I went off to college, but didn’t cally weakest. complete the first year. Instead, I came home and enrolled in community college while working on a farm. I spent about When have you seen true justice? 10 years not even practicing the rituals of my faith. I always I think justice is revealed in the mercy of God. True believed in God and I prayed, but the only way I actually justice isn’t the justice of this world – the idea that we must participated in my faith was to go on an annual men’s retreat, always pay every last penny for what we have done. God which I did primarily to be with my dad. was merciful enough to call me to the priesthood and in At one point, I decided that maybe God was this he shows that he calls sinners to help sincalling me to use my interest in music to touch My greatest joy is ners – this is what he sees as just. people’s hearts. seeing people at But slowly, the Lord showed me that music What have you learned about people? moments when wasn’t the way that I would be serving him and they are having How much they’re like me! We all struggle his people. I went on my annual retreat with with the same things. For so long, I thought I an experience my dad and this time I learned about the lives was so unique, but over the years I’ve learned of intimacy with of the saints. we all face similar issues in life even if our God; when they I began to wonder if I could make a total gift are obviously circumstances are different. Knowing this is of myself to God’s service and finally I pertouched by God’s helpful as I set about writing homilies. ceived that God was calling me. I started readlove expressed in ing the Scriptures and realized there were some others. What is your greatest joy? scary lines in the Bible! At least, they seemed My greatest joy is seeing people at moments scary to me because they seemed to be speaking to me. when they are having an experience of intimacy with God; Lines like, “Sell all that you possess and distribute it to the when they are obviously touched by God’s love expressed poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven” and “Come, in others. Those moments of relationship with God inspire follow me.”(Luke 18:22) me and I hope to have many, many more of them throughout my priesthood. Finding joy in God’s presence means How did you get from realizing that God was speaking to we can have it at happy times but also in times of heartache you through some scary verses of Scripture and deciding and sorrow. to make a total gift of yourself to God? You could say I “backed into” the priesthood – I discerned What question would you ask God if you could? my calling by process of elimination or via negativa. I just I’ve learned not to be so quick in asking questions of God. kept taking away the things that God was not calling me to I think oftentimes we’re not ready or able to hear the answers do until I finally realized the direction he was pointing. to our questions. It’s his mercy that keeps us from knowing I felt a commonality with St. Francis and, in fact, I first more than we need to know. God is Abba – our papa. He is discerned religious life at a Franciscan community. But, while the loving father who protects us from things we don’t need God was calling me to the priesthood, he was not calling me to know or that we may not yet be ready to handle. to that particular order. The questions, then, became how and where did God want When you get to heaven, me to pursue my vocation? what do you hope God will say to you? God put the idea of becoming a diocesan priest into my mind. I hope God says, “My son, how long we’ve awaited you.” The education of seminarians is supported by your DSA donation.

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he guidance counselor at Flint Central High School called Tim MacDonald into his office and asked, why, since he was sixth in his class, he hadn’t submitted any college applications. “I told him that none of them seemed to fit me,” Father Tim says now. “But just his pointing it out made me realize that if I was being called to the priesthood, I needed to do something about it.”

How the Bishop Albers Trust helped fund Father Tim’s seminary education

of priesthood Good News: Andrew Brinkman (Christ the King, Ann Arbor), Neil Atzinger (St. Andrews, Saline), and Ben Pohl (St. Mary, Westphalia) are three of the 21 college seminarians from the diocese who will be enrolled at the University of St. Thomas/St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., this fall. Just four years ago, those three would have equaled the total number from the diocese.

What’s the good news and bad news about the Albers Trust?

FAITH Magazine

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Bad News: The cost to Andrew, Neil, Ben, and the 18 others currently enrolled in undergraduate seminary will be approximately $25,000 per student per year. Good News: Back in 1962, Lansing’s first bishop, Joseph Albers, saw the need for supporting prospective priests and allocated a substantial amount of his estate toward that purpose. In 1972, Bishop Alexander Zaleski and Auxiliary Bishop James Sullivan established the Joseph H. Albers Trust Fund as an ongoing source of financial help. Bishop Zaleski was one of the first to make a significant contribution to it. The fund has helped

July/August 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com

MacDonald was halfway through his senior year in high school before he had even started thinking much about his faith, let alone the priesthood. “I began taking ownership of my spiritual life,” he says, “praying more and getting more involved in church activities.” It wasn’t long before thoughts of the priesthood entered his mind. He attributes that partly to the subtle influence of the joy and simplicity of Father Matt Fedewa, his pastor at St. Michael’s in Flint. And to his brother, Adam: “A guy I used to fight with over little things, now in seminary, and very happy being there.” Father Adam is a Divine Word missionary. So MacDonald talked to the diocesan vocations director, Father Mark Inglot. “That fall, I entered college seminary at Saint John Vianney (St. Paul, Minn.), to further discern my vocation,” he says. “After being there support most of the seminarians since. Bad News: Since the trust fund is a self-supported endowment, only the earned income in the form of interest and dividends are available as grants to seminarians. Mike Kelterborn, treasurer of the fund, says that legacy gifts have been a big part of building up the fund, but that none have been received in the past five years. Good News: Kelterborn, who is also a CPA, pointed out that there are numerous ways of giving large gifts, such as through a will, an estate gift, a life insurance policy, an IRA or other pre-tax retirement plans. In some cases, these may not only provide tax benefits, but also a steady stream of income to the donor while still living. Recent changes in the federal tax code now provide that the age 70 1/2-required-distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and other pre-tax retirement plans may now be satisfied by directing such distributions directly to charities. This direct donation method provides not only a convenient means of

For those who want to donate to the Albers Trust Fund, or to get more information, c

6/12/07 4:30:38 PM

“Fortunately, the diocese long ago had the foresight to anticipate and plan for the increasing cost of seminary education,” Father Tim says. “Had there not been an Albers Fund, I don’t know if I would be a priest today.”

a couple of months, I felt the hand of the Lord upon me, kind of like someone knocking on my door. I had a growing sense that this was the path for me. The seminary rector and the brotherhood of the other guys, who were in the same situation as I was, were very influential.” Before entering seminary, Father Tim did have one dilemma – where the money would come from. Since his father is a teacher and his mother was a housewife, he had no way to pay for his education. He would receive scholarships from the university, along with government grants and loans, and planned on summer employment, but he still needed help. He learned from Father Inglot about the provision that the diocese had for helping – the Bishop Joseph H. Albers Trust Fund. “Fortunately, the diocese long ago had the foresight to anticipate and plan for the increas-

ing cost of seminary education,” Father Tim says. “Had there not been an Albers Fund, I don’t know if I would be a priest today. It was a great relief for me and my parents to know that a lack of finances wouldn’t keep me from God’s calling. I saw this as a confirmation of my vocation. “Looking back now, eight years into my priesthood, I am eternally grateful to the benefactors of the Albers Trust for their investment in my future. I owe my priesthood to their support, and I plan to repay that debt by serving the churches across the Diocese of Lansing. “One of my efforts is to let prospective seminarians know that the Albers Fund is available. After all, the initial expense of college seminary makes these men and their parents very nervous. I also try to inform people in the diocese that the fund needs more donations if it is going to be there far into the future to help young men. “I tell my parishioners that if you pray for vocations, you also need to be willing to pay for vocations. We can spend our money to build great, beautiful churches to worship in,

making such contributions, but can also provide the donor direct tax benefits. These benefits can include reducing the amount of their Social Security income subject to taxation, and may also lower taxes for taxpayers who are unable itemize deductions. Kelterborn suggested getting legal advice for the plan that best fits a donor’s needs and desires. Bad News: At present, because of the increase in college seminarians and the amount of principal in the Albers Fund, grants to Andrew, Neil, Ben and the others need to be capped at $5,000 per student per year. The Albers Fund is the main source of aid that college seminarians receive from the diocese. Tuition for students in major seminary at Sacred Heart in Detroit is covered by the Diocesan Services Appeal. Good News: Fr. Jerry Vincke, vocations director for Lansing, says that the students and the diocese regularly search all other possibilities for meeting the cost of education. That includes scholarships at the university, government grants and loans and contributions by parents. He said that many Knights of Columbus councils give $500 a year to each student to help cover the cost of books, transportation and personal items.

r e s o u r c e

In Sept. 2007, the Diocese of Lansing will have 32-35 men studying for the priesthood. Thirteen will be in major seminary, most of them at Sacred Heart in Detroit (pictured above). Twenty-one will be in minor seminary at St. John Vianney in St. Paul, Minn. If you or someone you know is interested in the priesthood, contact Fr. Jerry Vincke, Director of seminarians, at 517.342.2507

but without priests, come Sunday morning, we will just be sitting there twiddling our thumbs.” Father Tim is the pastor of Holy Redeemer in Burton. Prior to that, he served as pastor of Most Holy Trinity, Fowler. While in Fowler, he began a weekly eucharistic holy hour for vocations from the parish and the diocese. Four young men from the parish have joined the seminary since then, including identical twins. “The Albers Fund helps answer prayers for vocations.” Father Tim also notes that, “Although some parishes don’t have anyone in seminary, it is still important for them to contribute to the Albers Trust Fund if they can, because every parish needs a priest. “We are a universal church, so this is a shared commitment to our future.” The Albers Fund isn’t meant to be a way for the diocese to pay someone to become a priest. What it does is take some of the pressure off the undergraduate seminarian so that he is free to pray and study and discern without the worry of paying bills. “That’s what it did for me,” says Father Tim.

And college seminarians are able to work during their summers to make money. “One reason for the large expense is that they are paying outof-state tuition,” Fr. Vincke says, “but we believe they are getting the best education and formation possible at St. John Vianney. And the school does give them a 35 percent reduction in tuition. “When it comes to helping the seminarians financially, we are probably more generous than most dioceses. When parents and students find out about the Albers Fund, it gives them some relief.” More Good News: Kelterborn points out that the permanent corpus of the Albers Fund is invested in the Ave Maria Family of Mutual Funds, so the holdings are made with companies whose activities and policies are consistent with Catholic values (for example, companies with no ties to the abortion or pornography industries). Furthermore, he says that the legal, administrative and investment services necessary for managing the trust are volunteered. The trustees for the fund are always looking for anyone willing to promote the trust by organizing golf outings or other fundraising activities.

ion, contact Fr. Vincke or Jane Sessions, the trust’s secretary, at 517.342.2504. Or by email at jvincke@dioceseoflansing.org or jsessions@dioceseoflansing.org.

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o r d i n a t i o n

2 0 0 7

Nine men ordained to service as deacons

n May 19, Bishop James Murray of the Diocese of Kalamazoo ordained nine men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Lansing. Deacons are men, married or single, who are ordained to a three-fold ministry of Word, sacrament, and charity and justice.

Bishop Mengeling ordains John Linden to the priesthood.

The newest deacons for the Diocese of Lansing are: • Terry William Carsten, St. John Parish, Fenton. Terry is married to Mary Ann and has two children. He is employed as a skilled trades carpenter and locksmith. • Randy E. Coffelt, St. Mary Parish, Pinckney. Randy is married to Debra and has three children. He is employed as a database analyst. Father John Linden during the consecration

John Linden lies prostrate in prayer during his ordination.

Bishop Mengeling and Father John Linden

• Michael Robert Dear, Holy Rosary Parish, Flint. Michael is married to Cynthia Ann. He has two children and three stepchildren. Michael is retired from General Motors in Flint. Father John Linden and his family

ohn Andrew Linden was born November 20, 1966 inTecumseh. His parents, Donald, Sr. and Rosemary (Buku) Linden, moved to Onsted and John grew up there with his seven siblings. His home parish is Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson. John graduated from Onsted High School and attended Ferris State and Jackson Community College. He also attended Holy Apostles, Cromwell, Conn. and Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit where he received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees. As a seminarian, he interned at St. John, Davison. As a deacon, he interned at St. Patrick, Brighton. Prior to entering the seminary, John was a Franciscan brother. Father John will be assigned parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Ann Arbor. Read more about Father John on

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• Gerald Raymond Fust, St. Joseph Parish, St. Johns. Gerald is married to Alice Ann and has two children. He is employed by Michigan State University.

• Albert Anthony Turkovich, St. Casimir Parish, Lansing. Albert is married to Helen Ann and has eight children. He is a manufacturing engineer at Dart Container Corp. • Richard Dennis Walters, Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor. Richard is married to Susan Mary and they have four children. He is employed by SPX Valley Forge. • Douglas A. Cummings, St. Andrew Parish, Saline. Douglas is married to Maureen and they have two children. He is the director of client development at Harris Interactive. • Gideon James Marsal, St. Peter Parish, Eaton Rapids. Gideon is married to Rosemary and has three stepchildren. He is the director of religious education at St. Peter Parish and works with Homestead Realtors, Inc. • Charles Raymond Thelen, St. Mary Parish, Westphalia. Charles is married to Sue and they have five children. He is employed by St. Mary Parish. Photography by Tom Gennara

6/12/07 4:30:54 PM

Michael Dear receives the Book of the Gospels.

Deacon candidates lying prostrate during ordination

Bishop Murray blesses the deacon candidates.

The deacon candidates are presented to the people.

Deacons Carsten, Sirl, Turkovich, Dear, Coffelt, Thelen, Fust, Walters, Cummings and Marsal with Bishop Murray FM0707 layout-back.indd 23

Bishop Murray performs the sprinkling rite, assisted by Deacon Bill Sirl, director of the Office of Deacons. 6/12/07 4:31:59 PM

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FM0707 layout-back.indd 24

6/12/07 4:33:03 PM

c u l t u r e

ne hot summer day, my husband David came into the house with an ice-cold smoothie he had picked up on the way home. He placed it on the counter and went downstairs to find a tool. I gazed at the smoothie. It gazed back. It taunted me and tempted me. So I took a sip. In a word, it was perfect. And in a minute it was gone.

But as I set down the nowempty cup and gazed out our kitchen window, I noticed our elderly neighbor, Emily, sitting on her porch in the sweltering heat, fanning herself with a newspaper. It was common for her to sit and watch passersby and hope for a neighbor to strike up a conversation. She lived alone. However, I knew she wouldn’t be getting many passersby that day, thanks to the heat. I suddenly felt both pity and guilt. I bet she would have loved some of that smoothie. But then it hit me; I could make her one! I quickly gathered all the ingredients I could: a banana, frozen berries, yogurt and a bit of orange juice and honey. I threw all of the ingredients into the blender and pureed them. I removed the lid and filled a large glass with the pink concoction. I walked out the door and headed straight toward Emily. I truly felt I had made her day by such a simple gesture as giving her a smoothie and chatting for a little while. I can also honestly say that I think I got more out of making her happy than she got out of the friendly gesture and conversation. As I was happily returning to my house, my husband stepped outside with a perplexed look on his face and his empty smoothie cup. “What happened to my drink?” he asked. Before I could answer, Emily, from across the street, lifted her glass up in the air as if to make a toast and shouted, “Thank you for the smoothie, David.” I didn’t want to ruin the sense of contentment he must have felt at that moment for making Emily so happy, so I just stayed quiet. A little charity is good for him, too.

I truly felt I had made her day by such a simple gesture as giving her a smoothie and chatting e for a little while.

good-cheer

smoothie A refreshing neighborly gesture

The good-cheer smoothie: • 1 banana (cut up) • 2 cups frozen mixed berries • 1 cup vanilla or berry yogurt • 2-3 tablespoons orange juice (for slight tartness) • 1 teaspoon honey Directions: Throw wet ingredients into the blender first (OJ, yogurt and honey) and blend for 5 seconds. Add banana and half of the frozen mixed berries and blend for another 5 seconds. Add remaining frozen berries and blend until smooth. Give to an elderly or homebound neighbor who needs some cheering up on a hot summer day. Double the recipe so you can try it for yourself! By Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Photography by Phillip Shippert

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6/12/07 4:33:03 PM

l o c a l

n e w s

c o m m u n i t y

Congratulations!

things to do:

Opening ceremonies for the Dominican Symposium took place on Sunday, May 12, at Lumen Ecclesiae Chapel at Siena Heights University. University President Peg Albert, OP, and Adrian Dominican Prioress Donna Markham, OP, welcomed an audience of more than 500 attendees to the four-day event. The Dominican Symposium, co-hosted by Siena Heights University and the Adrian Dominican Sisters, marks the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Dominican Order – a celebration that will be commemorated by Dominicans internationally over the course of the next decade.

Salute to the Stars Livingston County Catholic Social Services held its Salute to the Stars on April 21. Honored were Patty Heaslip-Mortensen, Fish & Loaves Community Meal, Brighton; Deacon Endre Doran, God’s Kitchen, Howell; Judy Geiger, Community Kitchen for Christ, Pinckney; and Martha Goode, Seeker of Justice, St. Patrick Parish, Brighton.

Judy Geiger

Farewell Sister Claudia Sister Claudia Burke has retired as director of Catholic Outreach in Flint, after serving the poor of Genesee County for the last 30 years. Under Sister Claudia’s direction, the agency assisted hundreds of thousands of people who needed food, housing, utilities and other essenSister Claudia tial items. Sister Claudia has been a Franciscan Sister of the Poor for 62 years. Gregg Berent has been appointed acting director of the mission Sister Claudia founded.

Congratulations to Sisters Mary E. Jones and Jacqueline Stoll FAITH joins with the Diocese of Lansing to congratulate Sisters Mary Jones and Jackie Stoll, who celebrated their first profession of vows as Adrian Dominican Sisters on Saturday, May 12.

St. Mary School, Pinckney “goes green” St. Mary Catholic School in Pinckney has been certified as a “green school” by the state of Michigan for its environmental stewardship program. It is the only Catholic school in the state to be certified. For more information, visit www.stmarypinckney.org/school. FAITH Magazine

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July/August café events St. Mary of Good Counsel Parish in Adrian is offering Opportunities in the Sun 2007, catechist formation topics 1-22. Classes will be held Aug. 3-4 at the parish. Each class is $7, snacks and beverages are provided. For more information, please contact Mary Quick at 517.263.4682. Summer Scripture Days will be held Aug. 1416 at Bethany House at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Msgr. Robert Lunsford, former chancellor of the Diocese of Lansing, will be the presenter of Wisdom and Proverbs Lighting Our Path. Cost ranges from $90-$150 per person, depending on meal packages. Contact lkolanowski@ dioceseoflansing.org for more information, or call 51.342.2465.

The Jackson Family Fall Festival will be held Sept.7-9 at the St. John Elementary/Jackson Catholic Middle School grounds. Hours are Fri., 3 p.m.-midnight; Sat., noon-midnight; Sun., noon-6 p.m. There will be carnival rides, games, entertainment and much more. See the Web site at www.jacksonfamilyfallfestival.com for more maps, more information and details about the raffle for a Pontiac Solstice convertible. The Bread of Life Retreat Residence is hosting a Family Faith Day and Fundraiser on Aug. 11. The Apostolate for the Eucharistic Life hosts family retreats at the residence in Ann Arbor Township. A donation of $100 is suggested. For more information, contact Linda Tedrick at bltedrick@sbcglobal.net. Migrant camp volunteers needed to help with Bible study groups, prayer services and fun activities. Contact Colleen Andrews at 517.342.2560 or candrews@ dioceseoflansing.org if you are interested in volunteering. Holy Redeemer Parish’s Annual Garage Sale is being held Aug. 1719 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Fri-Sat) and noon-3 p.m. (Sun.) Shop for gently used treasures at the parish at Bristol Road and S. Grand Traverse in Burton. Journey with Jesus – Vacation Bible School will take place July 30-Aug. 3 at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Brighton. Contact pastmin1@saintmarymagdalen.org or call 810.229.8624 for more information. Divorced and Separated Weekend Retreat will be held Aug. 10-12 at the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills. Facilitator is Father Ed Flint, S.J. For more information, call 734.994.9194 or 248.644.4933.

July/August 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com

6/12/07 4:33:31 PM

l a s t

At the St. Francis Retreat Center Retrouvaille will be held Aug. 10-12. If your marriage is in trouble, please consider attending. Visit www.retrouvaille.org for more information. At the Weber Center The following programs will be hosted at the Weber Center in Adrian. Please contact 517.266.4000 for more information about any of them. Is Your Cup Half Full or Half Empty, a day of reflection, will be presented by Jean Schaub on July 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $50, includes lunch. Ever Ancient, Ever New: Luke/Acts as a Model for the contemporary Church, presented by Dr. Mary Dumm, Sept. 14-15. Single occupancy cost is $150; commuter cost is $75. The Spirituality of Thomas Merton, presented by Father Patrick Collins, Ph.D., Sept 21-23. Single occupancy cost is $200; commuter cost is $100. July/August Readings Sunday, July 1 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 19:16b,19-21 Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10,11 Gal 5:1,13-18 Lk 9:51-62 Sunday, July 8 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 66:10-14c Ps 66:1-3,4-5,67,16,20(1) Gal 6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12 or 10:1-9 Sunday, July 15 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Dt 30:10-14 Ps 69:14,17,3031,33-34,36,37 or 19:8,9,10,11(9a) Col 1:15-20 Lk 10:25-37 Sunday, July 22 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Gn 18:1-10a Ps 15:2-3,3-4,5(1a) Col 1:24-28 Lk 10:38-42 Sunday, July 29 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Gn 18:20-32 Ps 138: 1-2,2-3,6-7,78(3a) Col 2:12-14

Lk 11:1-13 Sunday, August 5 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Eccl 1:2;2:21-23 Ps 90:3-6,12-14,17 Col 3:1-5,9-11 Lk 12:13-21 Sunday, August 12 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 18:6-9 Ps 33:1,12,18-22 Heb 11:1-2,8-19 or Heb 11:1-2, 8-12 Lk 12:3248 or Lk 12:35-40 Sunday, August 19 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jer 38:4-6, 8-10 Ps 40:2-4,18 Heb 12:1-4 Lk 12:49-53 Sunday, August 26 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 66:18-21 Ps 117:1-2 Heb 12:5-7, 11-13 Lk 13:22-30

w o r d

“Love one another as I have loved you.”

Why is this the greatest commandment? We need to be clear about his point. The way we treat others is the way we treat Christ. For he dwells not in some remote and distant heaven, but rather in those around us. He is a lot closer to us than we think.

hrist’s great commandment to us to “love one another as I have loved you” contains the Old Testament Law, but the Old Testament Law does not contain Christ’s commandment of love. The Old Testament commands us not to kill. Christ’s commandment of love commands us not to get angry without reason. The root of our external actions is found in the human heart. Jesus is telling his listeners, “You have had plenty of time to spend on the Old Testament’s lessons, now it’s time to move to higher lessons.” Jesus does not disturb the authenticity or force of the Old Testament’s Ten Commandments. He asks us, rather, to move to a newer and higher standard. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17) In the account of the Last Judgment, we hear Christ telling us:

For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you? And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:35-40) We need to be clear about his point. The way we treat others is the way we treat Christ. For he dwells not in some remote and distant heaven, but rather in those around us. He is a lot closer to us than we think. When Christ was crucified and the veil in the Temple was tom in two, that opening of the Holy of Holies signaled that God was no longer to be found in a building, in Jerusalem’s Temple. He was rather now to be found in a new temple, the temple that is the body of Christ. We are, each of us, living stones that form God’s temple. Each of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit. How we treat each other is, therefore, of supreme importance. Christ’s law of love applies not just to the way we treat others, it now applies to the way we treat Christ himself. The Old Testament’s Ten Commandments dealt with our external actions; Christ’s new Commandment of Love deals with what is in our hearts. – Fr. Charles Irvin

Answer to Bible Quiz (p. 13) Jephtha FM0707 layout-back.indd 27

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s p e c i a l

r e p o r t

ince January 2006, we’ve been presenting special reports about the effect that priest shortages and shifting populations may have on your parish. Last month, we explained the ongoing process for parish improvement, mergers, clusters and closures and preliminary observations by regional review committees. This month, we take a look at a few of the numbers – comparing the sizes of parish churches with the numbers of people in the pews. These numbers are only some of the criteria being used for evaluating your parish. And we give you some of the definitions – what some of the terms you’ll be hearing over the months actually mean. Next month, and in the months to follow, you’ll read the recommendations for parish improvement, mergers, clusters and closures from our parishes, regions and the Diocesan Coordinating Commission. If you’ve missed a piece of this ongoing series, or would like to review it, please visit www.dioceseof lansing.org for more information.

Population Growth Forecast for the 10 counties of the Diocese of Lansing through 2020 Lansing Region 4.5%

Genessee/Shiawassee Region -0.8%

-4.3%

Shiawassee County

Genesee County

where does stand?

numbers

Priest to parishioner ratio in the Diocese of Lansing 1 priest to every

Clinton County

14.8%

registered parishioners.

-0.04% 40.6%

Eaton County

Jackson Region

Ingham County

4.2%

13.9%

Jackson County

Washtenaw County

10.7%

Hillsdale County

Livingston Region

Livingston County

Washtenaw Region

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1 parish staff member to every

Lenawee County

Lenawee Region Source: Office of State Demographer/U.S. Census Bureau

FAITH Magazine

Parish staff to parishioner ratio in the Diocese of Lansing

July/August 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com

registered parishioners.

Priest to Mass attendees by county Total priests

Weekend Mass attendance per priest

County

1,192

Clinton

900

Eaton

742

Genesee

877

Hillsdale

764

Ingham

718

Jackson

619

Lenawee

1,049

Livingston

714

Shiawassee

749

Washtenaw

For more, go to www.DioceseOfLansing.org, click on Pastoral Planning.

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Mass Attendance: Every other year, the average Mass attendance is computed by taking head counts of every weekend Mass for the month of October. The last count was in 2005.

Registered Families

Church Capacity

Weekend Masses

Priests*

1995

2005

Change ’95-’05

Percent change

Weekend Mass Attendance

St. Jude, DeWitt

1,236

500

871

1,378

507

58.2%

Most Holy Trinity, Fowler

1,070

500

1,181

1,267

7.3%

193

250

279

231

-48

-17.2%

terminology

Priest: A man who has been ordained to the order of the presbyterate. All pastors and parochial vicars are priests.

Parish statistics CLINTON COUNTY

DIOCES E OF LANS I NG

Holy Family, Ovid St. Joseph, St. Johns

1,429

500

1,758

1,442

-316

-18.0%

St. Mary, Westphalia

1,090

800

1,531

1,645

114

7.4%

5,620

5,963

343

6.1%

EATON COUNTY

St. Ann, Bellevue

110

98#

-12

-10.9%

St. Mary, Charlotte

692

512

956

579

-377

-39.4%

645

600

459

563

104

22.7%

St. Michael, Grand Ledge

1,114

700

1,181

1,068

-113

-9.6%

St. Gerard, Lansing

2,600

1,000

3,026

3,194

168

5.6%

5,732

5,404

-328

-5.7%

St. Peter, Eaton Rapids

GENESEE COUNTY

Blessed Sacrament, Burton Holy Redeemer, Burton

350

300

2,137

309

-1,828

-85.5%

1,179

900

2,071

1,462

-609

-29.4%

SS. Charles & Helena, Clio

778

550

810

798

-12

-1.5%

St. John Evangelist, Davison

2,973

1,100

1,905

2,169

264

13.9%

St. John Evangelist, Fenton

3,061

1,000

2,350

2,222

-128

-5.4%

St. Robert, Flushing

1,481

800

2,025

1,607

-418

-20.6%

St. Agnes, Flint

277

350

403

164

-239

-59.3%

All Saints, Flint

380

792

752

366

-386

-51.3%

Christ the King, Flint

325

102

17.2%

St. John Vianney, Flint

632

600

1,011

688

-323

-31.9%

1,147

800

1,232

960#

-272

-22.1%

St. Leo, Flint

400

500

322

n/a

St. Luke, Flint

126

1,025

250

126

-124

-49.6%

St. Mary, Flint

287

600

339

336

-3

-0.9%

St. Matthew, Flint

468

626

647

618

-29

-4.5%

St. Michael, Flint

515

1,000

532

329

-203

-38.2%

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flint

500

350

564

487

-77

-13.7%

St. Pius X, Flint

970

625

1,242

902

-340

-27.4%

Holy Rosary, Flint

Sacred Heart, Flint

333

102

-28

-27.5%

St. Joseph, Gaines

276

140

256

307

19.9%

St. Mark, Goodrich

321

400

450

455

1.1%

Holy Family, Grand Blanc

2,179

900

2,359

2,404

1.9%

Good Shepherd, Montrose

315

350

364

288

-76

-20.9%

St. Mary, Mt. Morris

750

350

1,228

741

-487

-39.7%

St. Francis Xavier, Otisville

317

350

417

328

-89

-21.3%

St. Mary, Swartz Creek

788

582

881

544

-337

-38.3%

250

*** 24,736

17,826

-6,910

-27.9%

Mt Zion Pastoral Center, Flushing

* Pastors, parochial vicars, parish administrators, ** Sacramental minister, *** Chaplain, # 2003

FM0707 layout-back.indd 29

PLANNING tomorrow’s churches

Pastor: An ordained priest who exercises pastoral care in the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop. He has the duties of teaching, sanctifying and governing. Parochial vicar: A priest who is assigned to a parish or parishes to assist the pastor with his parochial duties.

Sacramental minister: A priest who does not reside in a parish that is being administered by a pastoral coordinator, but attends to the pastoral and sacramental needs of the parishioners. Sacramental ministers are needed to celebrate Mass.

6/12/07 4:34:25 PM

Where we are in the process: Parish/faith community evaluation

Regional Review Committee discernment and evaluation Regions formu DCC reviews regional preliminary observations and prepares draft recommendations DCC sends draft to the regions for review

Church Capacity

Weekday Masses

Priests*

1995

2005

Change â&#x20AC;&#x2122;95-â&#x20AC;&#x2122;05

Percent change

Weekend Mass Attendance

Registered Families

Commission (DCC)

1,006

500

989

877

-112

-11.3%

St. John Student, East Lansing

1,985

720

1,871

2,701

830

44.4%

St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing

Parish statistics HILLSDALE COUNTY

St. Anthony, Hillsdale INGHAM COUNTY

2,073

1,200

2,545

1,718

-827

-32.5%

St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing

790

900

1,444##

914

-530

-36.7%

St. Casimir, Lansing

834

600

1,031

767

-264

-25.6%

443

400

639

598

-41

-6.4%

1,481

575

1,817

1,342

-475

-26.1%

Resurrection, Lansing

765

450

1,229

784

-445

-36.2%

St. Therese, Lansing

669

565

1,160

650

-510

-44.0%

Cristo Rey, Lansing

532

500

474

579

105

22.2%

471

189

67.0%

Holy Cross, Lansing IHM, Lansing

St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Lansing

160

490

St. James, Mason

894

500

734

695

-39

-5.3%

St. Martha, Okemos

1,154

1,250

1,984

1,798

-186

-9.4%

St. Mary, Williamston

880

500

876

744

-132

-15.1%

15,804

13,761

-2,043

-10.0%

JACKSON COUNTY

1,000

800

1,230

963

-267

-21.7%

247

325

274

314

14.6%

2,331

600

2,063

1,832

-231

-11.2%

450

700

576

574

-2

-0.3%

1,871

700

2,951

1,912

-1,039

-35.2%

St. Stanislaus Kostka, Jackson

218

475

382

223

-156

-40.8%

St. Mary Star of Sea, Jackson

1,069

950

1,206

865

-341

-28.3%

SS. Cornelius & Cyprian, Leslie

215

300

368

384

4.3%

Our Lady of Fatima, Mich Center

860

600

926

835

-91

-9.8%

Sacred Heart Chapel, Jackson

150

175

*** 9,976

7,902

-2,074

-20.8%

St. Rita, Clarklake St. Catherine, Concord St. John Evangelist, Jackson St. Joseph, Jackson Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson

LENAWEE COUNTY

670

450

668

631

-37

-5.5%

1,061

470

957

840

-117

-12.2%

St. Peter, Blissfield

274

200

403

330

-73

-18.1%

St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn

590

200

333

407

22.2%

St. Dominic, Clinton

225

150

404

213

-191

-47.3%

St. Alphonsus, Deerfield

321

350

377

380

0.8%

Sacred Heart, Hudson

330

350

528

492

-36

-6.8%

St. Mary, Manitou Beach

130

200

154

227

47.4%

St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh

879

525

800

817

2.1%

4,624

4,337

-287

-6.2%

St. Joseph, Adrian St. Mary, Adrian

* Pastors, parochial vicars, parish administrators, ** Sacramental minister, *** Chaplain, 2003, Vietnamese parishioners from St. Mary Cathedral were given parish status, creating St. Andrew Dung-Lac in 1998

FAITH Magazine

FM0707 layout-back.indd 30

terminology

Pastoral coordinator: In the absence of a resident priest, a parish leader with advanced academic preparation and ministry experience, appointed by the bishop to administer the pastoral, administrative and financial duties of a parish. A pastoral coordinator cannot celebrate Mass. There are pastoral coordinators in approximately 4 percent of U.S. Catholic parishes.

Pastoral associate: A professional minister who collaborates with the pastor or pastoral coordinator to execute the mission of the parish. The pastoral associate assists in carrying out the parish goals and objectives through several areas of ministry, including liturgy and sacramental preparation; pastoral care to the sick and bereavement ministry; spiritual formation; and administrative assistance.

Deacon: A man who is ordained to the diaconate to serve the people of God. He is not a priest, but assists the bishop and pastors. He can baptize, witness weddings, proclaim the Gospel, preach and assist with funerals.

July/August 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com

6/12/07 4:34:31 PM

formulate preliminary observations Parish assemblies (town hall meetings) Regional preliminary observations forwarded to the Diocesan Coordinating view Bishop’s consultative bodies review recommendations DCC forwards final recommendations to the bishop for his decision and actions.

What other criteria will be used to evaluate my parish? Where are we in the process? Improving every parish – parish evaluation inventory (PEI) Section 1: Worship and sacraments – statistics about each faith community’s Mass attendance, congregation, sacraments celebrated, etc. Section 2: Staffing and ministry – parish staffing; programming for youth, young adults, adults and family life; Christian service; adult ministry. Section 3: Leadership – parish pastoral council, finance council, use of parish resources, stewardship, religious education, etc. Registered Families

Church Capacity

Weekend Masses

Priests*

1995

2005

Change ’95-’05

Percent change

Weekend Mass Attendance

St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton

1,115

800

1,019

1,585

566

55.5%

St. Patrick, Brighton

4,004

1,000

2,458

3,073

615

25.0%

Parish statistics

terminology

LIVINGSTON COUNTY

St. Agnes, Fowlerville

1,013

450

677

773

14.2%

Holy Spirit, Hamburg

410

450

712

856

144

20.2%

St. John the Baptist, Howell

1,693

958

1,297

1,588

291

22.4%

St. Joseph, Howell

1,771

600

1,351

1,645

294

21.8%

575

200

368

464

26.1%

1,773

640

1,013

1,288

275

27.1%

8,895

10,499

1,604

18.0%

St. Augustine, Howell St. Mary, Pinckney SHIAWASSEE COUNTY

St. Mary, Durand

599

450

607

791

184

30.3%

St. Isidore, Laingsburg

576

350

406

391

-15

-3.7%

St. Mary, Morrice

461

275

421

450

6.9%

St. Joseph, Owosso

724

480

1,030

764

-266

-25.8%

St. Paul, Owosso

960

750

1,299

1,174

-125

-9.6%

3,763

3,570

-193

-5.1%

WASHTENAW COUNTY

825

1,000

719

1,679

960

133.5%

St. Francis Assisi, Ann Arbor

3,101

1,100

2,789

3,356

567

20.3%

St. Mary Student, Ann Arbor

1,860

554

2,582

n/a

St. Thomas, Ann Arbor

1,843

700

1,798

1,737

-61

-3.39%

St. Mary, Chelsea

1,060

700

266

900

634

238.3%

St. Joseph, Dexter

1,327

350

1,011

1,275

264

26.1%

500

224

395

362

-33

-8.4%

Christ the King, Ann Arbor

St. Mary, Manchester Immaculate Conception, Milan St. Andrew, Saline St. Patrick, Ann Arbor

548

450

607

519

-88

-14.5%

2,100

800

1,248

2,245

997

79.9%

534

290

599

400

-199

-33.2%

St. Joseph, Ypsilanti

262

300

779

406

-373

-47.9%

St. John Baptist, Ypsilanti

651

450

758

521

-237

-31.3%

Holy Trinity Student, Ypsilanti

540

300

610

803

193

31.6%

Transfiguration, Ypsilanti

202

650

437

296

-141

-32.3%

14,598

15,088

490

3.4%

* Pastors, parochial vicars, parish administrators, ** Sacramental minister, *** Chaplain, 2003

Parish pastoral council: Representatives of a parish who – through prayer, study and discernment – provide advice for the pastor or pastoral coordinator. Additionally, the council promotes parish life and encourages the congregation to become involved in the parish community.

Diocesan pastoral planner: A person who helps the bishop and diocese develop strategies for the betterment of the faithful. The diocesan pastoral planner facilitates sound planning; support for the diocese and its parishes through a wellresearched and well-constructed plan. He or she also provides consistent communication to parishes regarding diocesan planning initiatives.

In upcoming reports: What are the qualities of an excellent parish or school?

FM0707 layout-back.indd 31

6/12/07 4:34:35 PM

How will my parish improve? How will parish

mergers closures clusters

affect my parish? $)/# %3 % /& ,!.3 ) .'

NG NI AN PL tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s churches

Sept. 2007

Regional preliminary observations announced

Sept./Oct. 2007

Your parish assembly

April 2008

Final recommendations announced

June 2008

Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final decision

See pages 28-31 for your parish statistics.

notes:

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