July/August 2009

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LANSING

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There may not always be curing

but there is always healing @

T

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

E-mail: editor@FAITHmag.com.

local news

from the editor

he other day, it dawned on me that in another year, I’ll have the opportunity to be a teenager all over again. Hopefully, this time around it will be filled with less angst and drama and just a bit more holiness.

I’m speaking, of course, about anticipating the 13th anniversary of my priestly ordination.

Each year, as this sacramental milepost passes, I find myself spending a little time musing about my five years in seminary.

They were great years, filled with good and holy people, good and holy experiences, and were a wonderful gift to me as an opportunity to spend a good deal of that time allowing my faith to be formed and shaped for the priestly tasks that would be ahead.

This year, my thoughts turned to our sacramental theology professor, an interesting fellow who took us on a year-long exploration of the history and theology of each of the seven sacraments. I remember most clearly a lesson he offered one day as we were studying the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. He said, “In celebrating the anointing of the sick, there may not always be curing – but there is always healing.”

Looking back across hundreds of celebrations of the anointing of the sick in a dozen years, I now see the truth of this. There have been times when a cure was granted. There was the inflamed appendix that suddenly was no longer so. There was the toddler who was in such inconsolable pain, yet whose pain mysteriously and suddenly vanished the instant the oil of the sick was traced cruciform upon his forehead. All these, and the cures that came from skilled doctors and nurses, are signs of God’s grace and goodness at work in our world. Sometimes, though, for mysterious reasons beyond our ability to comprehend, the longed-for cure is not given on the terms we expect.

Yet there is still healing. In gathering with families around the bed of a sick or dying loved one to celebrate the anointing of the

Homeless project at Lumen Christi High School

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish hires music director and school principal

On April 18, Lumen Christi High School’s buildOn Club held its 18th Homeless Night Project. Twenty-five students slept in cardboard boxes on the back patio of the school in an effort to feel, for a brief time, the discomfort that thousands of homeless people experience each night. The students were not allowed to eat or use any electronics during the project.

Each participant was asked to raise a minimum of $25 for charity.

St. Thomas Aquinas has hired Dr. Clinton J. Desmond II as director of music for St. John Student Center and St. Thomas Desmond Aquinas Parish. Dr. Desmond brings with him considerable experience with sacred music.

St. Thomas Aquinas School has appointed Rod Murphy Murphy as principal. Mr. Murphy’s many qualifications include four years of teaching in the lower elementary grades and three years teaching in the middle school grades at St. Thomas Aquinas.

sick, I have seen grudges melt away. I have watched as “black sheep” were welcomed back into the family. I have seen the choice to let go of past hurts and anger. I have heard the words, “I love you” repeated over and over again between family members who doubted their love for one another. In a most profound experience of the healing made possible in this sacrament, I witnessed an elderly gentleman, a veteran of the Pacific islandhopping campaign of World War II, as he found peace after having been plagued his entire adult lifetime by the memory of the horrible and unspeakable things that were a part of his wartime experience. Later that afternoon, he went home to God, peacefully and without fear.

Jesus promised to never leave us alone to be tossed by the tempests of life. He is always present with us, especially in our most challenging and difficult experiences.

He also calls upon us to carry his presence into situations when our boats may seem to be swamped and sinking. He calms the storm that there might be healing. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

Correction In our May issue, the e-mail address for Holy Spirit Catholic School was incorrect. The correct address is holyspiritschool@chartermi.net.

Also, the school is located at 9565 Musch Road in Brighton, not in Hamburg. The school’s telephone number is 810.231.9199, ext. 214. Tuition ranges from $900 for pre-K to a maximum of $7,550 for a family of four or more children.

In our June issue’s Things to do column – St. Vincent Catholic Charities is not having a celebration on Aug. 1, 2009.

FAITH regrets the errors.

Liturgical Calendar: Blessed Junipero Serra, priest July 1 • Feast of St. Thomas, apostle July 3 • St. Elizabeth of Portugal July 4 • St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr July 6 • St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and m

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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl A. Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

July/August 2009 • Volume 10: Issue 5

FAITH Ca t h o l i c Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Joanne Eason DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY MARKETING

ART DIRECTOR

Lynne Ridenour

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

Janna Stellwag Abby Wieber

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Patricia Oliver SECRETARY

InnerWorkings

PRINT MANAGEMENT

Cari Ann DeLamielleure Andrew Peltcs EDITORIAL INTERNS

Doug Culp Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle Rev. Joseph Krupp Dr. Gelasia Marquez Dr. Cathleen McGreal Nancy Schertzing Sister Ann Shields Susie Skowronek Michelle Sessions DiFranco CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot

PROOFREADING

Carlson Productions Tom Gennara Sheri Kendrick James Luning (cover) Scott Solsburg

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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What if you were dying and had nowhere to turn, no one to care for you? At Mother Teresa House, Karen Bussey extends the loving hand of Jesus to those who are completing life’s journey. Karen and a group of volunteer caregivers nurture those who are dying, and help their families. Read about Karen and the gift that is Mother Teresa House here.

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Father Mark Rutherford is the newest priest in the Diocese of Lansing. Find out how Father Mark Rutherford hopes to lay down his life for the priesthood of Christ.

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Pope Benedict has declared the next 12 months to be The Year for Priests. Read the first part of FAITH’s continuing series about the priesthood.

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You are a priest forever! The ordination of Father Mark Rutherford

Ordained to serve The newest permanent and transitional deacons in the Diocese of Lansing.

what you’ll get out of this issue

ADVISORY BOARD

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2009 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

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5 money tip Don’t. Stop. Thinking about tomorrow. – Ted Zale 5 work life My job or my daughter’s soccer game? How do I choose? – Joanne Eason 6 parenting journey Two ways to protect your child – vaccines and driver’s tips – Dr. Cathleen McGreal 7 marriage matters She says: His big mouth embarrasses me.

He says: Get over it. What do they do? – Tom and JoAnne Fogle 8 in the know with Fr. Joe Does God know what we are going to do before we do it? – Father Joseph Krupp 9 fact or fiction The Inquisition, especially in Spain, tortured and killed hundreds of thousands of people. – Doug Culp 10 theology 101 What was the Second Vatican Council really like? – Cardinal Justin Rigali 12 spiritual fitness “Do not be afraid.” How Jesus can banish your fear. – Sister Ann Shields

columnists

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

In their last moments, Karen is there.

inside this issue

Patrick Dally

faithcatholic.com

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin

FOUNDING EDITOR

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what gets my goat What’s wrong with being single? – Dr. Gelasia Marquez

ao Rong, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs July 9 • St. Benedict, abbot July 11 • St. Henry July 13 • Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin July 14 • St. Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the church July 15

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María of Ágreda: Mystical Lady in Blue is available at local bookstores and Amazon.com

book review

dent visionary experiences, she chronicled the life of the mother of God – a book temporarily condemned by the Inquisition. She successfully testified to the Inquisitors and was vindicated. In America, she is said to have miraculously appeared many times to Jumano Native Americans – which was corroborated by witnesses in Spain, Texas and New Mexico, where she is honored as the legendary “Lady in Blue.”

In addition to her impressive accomplishments, the way she lived her life offers timeless and universal messages. She was a talented and courageous woman who still struggled with selfdoubt and depression. She battled the Inquisition and advised royalty. But she was devoted to Mary and to Christ. She always came back to that devotion and her practice of meditative prayer. These facilitated her spiritual insights and visionary life, and helped her to persist in her vocation.

She coined the saying, “He who conquers himself, conquers all.” So when she had periods of self-doubt, she turned to God in prayer and lived out that quote.

The Lady in Blue

A new book about María of Ágreda

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arilyn Fedewa has spent more than five years researching the life and spirituality of Sor María of Ágreda.

What compelled you to write this biography? About 10 years ago, I found books written by Sor (Spanish for “Sister”) María in my in-laws’ library. My mother-in-law, Agnes, had passed away a couple of years earlier and I still missed her. So, I explored some of her favorite books as a way to reconnect with her thinking. There was a well-worn leathery book set called Mystical City of God that had been given to the family by Father Solanus Casey in 1952 when they visited him in Indiana. It is the story of our Blessed Mother Mary and Sor María’s relationship with her through private revelation and visions. I was absolutely taken with María’s insights and struggle and spirituality.

What inspires you about Sor María that you would like others to know? Sor María was a cloistered abbess in 17th century Ágreda, Spain. Yet she influenced missions and politics around the world – without leaving her cloister. For 22 years, she advised the Spanish King Felipe IV. Based on her transcen-

How has this had an impact on your own faith life? This has affected me deeply. The way she devoted herself to quiet prayer really resonated with me. She often talked about dilating your heart and soul to God, and credited this concept to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I really appreciated this, and I have come to re-own a relationship with Mary, which has been an incredible force in my life.

My own prayer life deepened, as did my appreciation of Mary’s role as exemplar. In my recent paper to the Mariological Society of America, I focused on that and Mary’s guidance to Sor María about spiritual practices. Although Christ was the center of her life, she had a special relationship – including dialogues – with Mary. Her writings enliven my own spiritual relationship with Mary.

What was the journey to publication like? Very challenging! Initially, I started writing a novel about her because I thought people might relate better to a fictional account. But as I researched, I realized there was no authoritative biography on her.

I decided to write that biography myself. Before pitching it directly to publishers, I thought I’d practice my proposal on literary agents. I picked five whose work seemed compatible with mine.

The first two said ‘no’ right away; the second two asked to see more. I never even got to the fifth agent, because the third one really clicked. She wanted a marketing platform with advance commitments for blurbs, before we even signed a contract. That took months, but, ultimately, we connected with the University of New Mexico Press. Having a scholarly peer review from them, and an imprimatur from Bishop Boyea, is a great combination.

A really fun aspect of this process has been the reaction of “first readers.” Msgr. Robert Lunsford read my manuscript in 24 hours and said that he liked the writing and the research, but especially that there was “no pious piffle.”

To what parish do you belong? Why is that important to you? I belong to St. John Student Parish, where my husband and I were married, although I also love going to Mass at Cristo Rey Parish because of the Spanish connection. There is a community of the faithful that transcends geography. It offers a spiritual connection, a lifetime anchor.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 16 • St.María Camillus of de Lellis, priest July 18 • St. Apollinarius, bishop and is martyr July 20 •at St.local Lawrence of Brindisi, priest doctor of the church July 21 • St. Mary Magdalene July 22 • St. Ágreda: Mystical Lady in Blue available bookstores andand Amazon.

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

My job or my daughter’s soccer game?

How do I choose?

Joanne Eason is a public relations and organizational expert.

Q

I often have to work late to catch up and lately that means I’ve missed a lot of my daughter’s soccer games. I’m afraid if I don’t stay late, I’ll lose my job. But I’m also afraid I’m missing the most important parts of my child’s life. What do I do?

Don’t. Stop.

Thinking about tomorrow.

Ted Zale is a veteran financial counselor.

Sorry, we know you’ll be humming the Fleetwood Mac song for hours. Still, tough financial times shouldn’t keep us from pursuing future

plans such as college savings.

If today’s sluggish economy proves anything, it’s that you need to arm your little cherub with a college education to

survive when the time comes.

There are two basic options in Michigan. The first is the Michigan Education Trust, a prepaid tuition plan that essentially functions like an insurance policy.

Pay up front (learn more about the taxdeductible contracts at http://www.michigan. gov/setwithmet) and you’re covered for the

future, regardless of how much tuition rates soar. The only catch is your child must attend a public university, college or community college in Michigan.

Another option is a 529 plan such as the Michigan Education Savings Plan (http://www. misaves.com), which functions much like a mutual fund. You contribute, the money is invested and grows tax-deferred over time to cover the costs when the time comes. When should you start saving? “As soon as your child has a Social Security number,” Zale said.

money tip

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minous headlines about layoffs. “For sale” signs and plummeting stock markets. Everywhere you turn lately, you see a test of your financial faith.

Never fear. Here are common-sense tips to survive the current money crunch:

work life

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Ah, as Catholics we joke so much about “guilt.” But that is what you may have. The “Sports-Parent, Super-Parent” syndrome leaves women and men dogtired at the end of each day – and wondering if all the hustle and bustle is worth it. If you’ve done your due diligence with God and prayed through your decisions to know you’re on the right path, then perhaps what you need to do is some time-management. Here are some suggestions: • Task overload: It’s time to take charge of your workflow, calendar and to-do lists. If you don’t already have a system in place that helps you manage your professional and personal whereabouts, then that explains why you feel over extended. For some quick tips on efficiency, check out produc-

tivity guru David Allen and his Web site, davidco.com.

• Get a coach: If you don’t think you can tackle getting your work life in order on your own, get in touch with a coach. Make sure the professional you hire is certified – many people are claiming to be coaches without credentials. Here is a Web site that may help locate the needed resource: www.coachfederation.org/ICF. • Sit down with your supervisor: Candor is important in all relationships. He may not even realize that you are staying late. If you continue to feel tension, it may be causing you to build resentment toward your supervisor, coworkers and employer that may be misplaced. A discussion to clear the air may make your problems dissolve.

• Reality check: Sit down with the person who really matters: your daughter. Let her know that you love her and value her more than your job.

Be sure to let her know that you need to work to ensure that the family has an income, and that your job is calling for long hours that are pulling you away from time spent with her and the family. Perhaps you could mention that you would like to plan a special time during the weekend that the two of you could share one-on-one time doing an activity.

Prayer, planning and purposeful communication should help see you though this hectic time.

May your job bring you joy.

Magdalene July 22 • St. Bridget of Sweden, religious July 23 • St. Sharbel Makhluf, priest July 24 • Feast of St. James, apostle July 25 • St. Martha July 29 • St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop and doctor of the church July 30

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Two ways to protect your child

vaccines and driver’s tips Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual adviser.

Q

Should my 12-year old get the Gardasil® vaccine? Isn’t that just encouraging promiscuity?

parenting journey

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At the turn of the 20th century, parents worried every Fourth of July about the behaviors of their offspring.

Making small firecrackers by packing explosives with soil was dangerous because if there was an accident the teens could get “lockjaw.”

Once the Tetanus vaccination became available, parents still expected responsible behavior, but the cold fear associated with puncture wounds was reduced.

Now, in the 21st century, millions of youth have genital warts. Gardasil® protects against some but not all of the

Q:

My 16-year-old just got a driver’s license. What are some tips to keep her safe on the road?

A:

If she will be driving to school, have her leave home early so that she is parked at the high school well ahead of the crowd. Encourage her to “linger at the lockers” after school. Avoid distractions in the car: human and electronic!

It might be tempting to use her as a chauffeur

Q

I am in my mid-30s, and the biological clock is ticking. Or so my friends and family keep telling me. I am actually really happy being single, but I feel as if it is not an acceptable life choice. Is there something wrong with me, or the people who keep telling me to get married?

Although romantic movies and television shows imply that everyone is in a relationship – or should be – at least 62,500,000 citations and articles appear when you Google “being single.”

If you are happy being

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single, have you prayed about it and have made this choice without regrets nor resentments?

Many singles –both men and women – skip this discernment step. They are the ones whose goal is always marriage, and they accept the label of being single reluctantly.

service for younger siblings but first let her “fly solo” for a while. Siblings don’t respect the complexity of her task. She is fine for routine driving situations, but she doesn’t have the experience to manage a boisterous 13-year-old and an irresponsible driver appearing out of the blue. Let her gain experience before she transports friends, too. Texting and phone calls have led to tragedies; make sure she knows that electronic devices aren’t allowed. When in doubt, pull over - whether to swat a mosquito or grab a pack of gum that slid across the seat!

what’s wrong with

being single?

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

Instead of feeling hurt, upset or annoyed with the comments of your friends and family, you could see this as an opportunity to share what’s important in your life.

You can ask, for example, “Would you like to know what are my thoughts and feelings regarding my state of life?”

Explain that there are differ-

S. Kendrick

what gets my goat

HPV viruses associated with cervical and other genital cancers. In the United States, 4,000 women die each year of cervical cancer. The explanation to young adolescents can be simple: “This shot can keep you from getting some kinds of human papillomavirus. HPV causes warts on genitals and can cause cancer, too.”

Follow up on her questions. Three doses of a vaccine doesn’t override years of your family’s moral messages!

ent expressions of love other than marital love, and all of them can fulfill you emotionally and gives you social and psychological gratifications.

This dialogue will allow you to define yourself to them as a human being with intrinsic values and ideas, which are not in dependence to old social prejudices.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest July 31 • St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the church August 1 • St. John Mary Vianney, priest August 4 • Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord August 6 • St. S

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

His big mouth embarrasses me

Get over it

your marriage matters

Jody says: Jake has a big mouth – there’s no nice way to say it.

Whenever we go out, he gets into arguments with our friends about politics, religion, environmental issues, you name it.

His tactic is to treat those who disagree with him as if they are completely stupid. I see what Jake apparently cannot – that he is offending almost everyone we know.

Jake says: Hey, what you see is what you get. People bring up a topic – I give them my opinion. Sometimes my opinion is that they are really uninformed. And anyway, it’s just a discussion – we’re not trading personal insults. I think Jody is making a mountain out of a molehill. She should either join the discussion or just sit back and listen. Either way, Jody needs to accept me for who I am.

He said | She said what do they do?

Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage.

Tom’s comment to Jake is, “Wake up guy! Jody And certainly Jake’s rhetoric is not indicative of the way has accepted you for who you are; she Christians are called to act. The virtue of charity includes did that on your wedding day! However, that doesn’t give being charitable in words and deeds. Charity on Jody’s part you the right to sow the seeds of discontent by your verbal involves making sure Jake understands what impact his acobnoxiousness.” Speaking one’s mind is legit and fair, as tions and words are having on those around him; including long as it isn’t offensive to other parties herself. Charity on Jake’s part involves more around you – particularly Jody. Jo believes, listening and less talking. This includes beWhat a “What a person says in the presence of his ing kind and considerate of others’ opinions spouse reflects on both of them, not just the and not always correcting others based on person speaker! It appears that Jake is aware that his perception that they are wrong. If Jake says in the preshis language and comments are offensive. were to try being Jesus to others, includence of his spouse ing Jody, there would be more compasYet he appears to have a lack of consideration for anyone except himself.” reflects on both of sion and consideration of others and less So, now that you see where Jo and I stand consideration of his own positions. Asking them, not just the on this type of behavior, let’s get to the root for guidance from the Holy Spirit is a good speaker!” of the dynamic being exhibited. The issue place for Jake and Jody to start. Should Jake as we see it is not that Jake has a big mouth really desire to demonstrate Christian char[Jody’s assessment – not ours], but that he appears to take ity, he could start by being more considerate of his spouse pride in it regardless of how it may affect others. Our belief and truly examine the feelings Jody has concerning this bad is Jody may be receiving similar responses when trying to habit. There are several good programs available to help discuss topics with Jake. If she isn’t already receiving comcouples learn communications techniques; Jake and Jody ments in that tone, she soon will. Jake’s bad behavior needs could go together. Effective communications has as much to be checked right away, because it will get easier for him to do with attitude as with technique. For married couples, to extend it to those closest to him. It appears to Jo and effective communications is not an option – it is a mandame that Jake has had very little communications training. tory survival skill.

Lord August 6 • St. Sixtus II, pope and martyr, and his companions, martyrs August 7 • St. Dominic, priest August 8 • Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr August 10 • St. Clare, virgin August 11

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Dear Fr. Joe:

T. Gennara

Does God know what we are going to do before we do it? @

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

in the know with Fr. Joe

In the last issue, we looked at free will and how God’s knowing everything doesn’t mean we have no freedom to choose. A classroom at Flint Powers High School sent me a dynamite followup question when I worked through this with them.

Here’s what they asked:

For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy…and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt.

Q

Jesus told Peter he would deny him three times, so didn’t he know already what Peter would choose?

Was Peter free to not deny Jesus? Does God know which options we are going to pick before we do?

Such a good question deserves an absolutely crazy answer. To that end, I’m starting right off with the crazy: Peter didn’t deny Jesus because God said he would; God said Peter would deny Jesus because he already had.

OUCH! I know, I know… here’s how I explain that.

As we discussed in the last issue, you and I are in linear time, but God is not: God sees all of time and history as one moment. But, in that moment, God doesn’t just see “what happens,” He sees every possibility that could happen. In the words of C.S. Lewis, God sees eternity as an everlasting “now.” So, Peter was free to not deny Jesus

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world, to be holy and blameless before him in love”. (CCC 492) The emphasis in bold is mine. The key is this: God kept Mary from any stain of sin from the very moment of her conception in order to prepare her to give birth to Christ. How did God do this? Through the merits of Christ! Our God sees and acts in linear time, but is never enslaved to it.

Finally, the last example I’ll use is Christ’s death on the cross. Look at Hebrews 6:4-6:

Jim and Jake were rabid baseball fans who never missed a game. They promised whoever died first would come back and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven. Jim died first, and one day appeared to Jake, “I have good news and bad news.

The good news: There is baseball in heaven.” The bad news:”You’re pitching tomorrow night.” in the future, but Jesus, who was already in the future, saw that he wouldn’t! Wow – it’s mind-blowing, isn’t it?

It happens numerous times in Scripture that God prophesies something that doesn’t happen: Heck, the whole book of Jonah is predicated on a prophesy that never comes to fruition – Nineveh didn’t get destroyed and Jonah, of all things, knew that that is what would happen.

One of the best examples of this idea can be found in looking at Our Blessed Mother

(never a bad idea, right?).

Check out this passage from the catechism: The “splendor of an entirely unique holiness” by which Mary is “enriched from the first instant of her conception” comes wholly from Christ: She is “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son.” The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the

This one may be the easiest to understand as we embrace it every day. You and I are saved by an act that happened 2,000 years ago. Not only that, but our sins, committed today, drive the nails that killed him 2,000 years ago. This is why we should never choose to sin “knowing God will forgive us”: Each sin drives the nails again.

So, hopefully, I’m helping us see that when God “predicts the future,” he is seeing all possibilities for our future. He sees them, but never “enslaves” himself or us to those choices because that would violate free will.

So does God see the specific options we choose? A few months ago, a former teacher of mine died. His funeral was the same day that I was supposed to say Mass for the seniors at our high school. I called my teacher’s brother and told him why I’d be late to the funeral, but that I’d be there.

When he realized I was not going to teach that day because of the funeral, he convinced

St. Jane Frances de Chantel, religious August 12 • St. Pontian, pope and martyr and St. Hippolytus, priest and martyr August 13 • St. Maximillian Mary Kolbe, priest and martyr August 14 • Solemnity o

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Here are the facts: The claim that the Inquisition tortured and killed an almost unspeakable number of people has long been used to minimize and silence the Catholic Church’s voice on any public issue. However, scholarly research continues to shed light on the reality of the two pre-eminent Inquisitions: the Medieval Inquisition (roughly 1231-1400) and the Spanish Inquisition (roughly 1478 - 1700).

fact or fiction?

because that is not all he saw: he saw each possibility and saw it to its logical conclusion.

Frankly, brothers and sisters, this is just one of the reasons we are in awe of God. What a mighty, awesome Lord we serve!

In the words of the psalmist: LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

A Decade of FAITH FAITH Magazine will be 10 in 2009! As we gear up for this important anniversary, we are going to be looking back at some of the great stories from the past decade, and finding out, “And then what happened?”

June 2003

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing FAITHmag.com | FAITHteen.com

Bishop Mengeling on mercy: my dad’s shift from strict justice to justice with mercy

$2.50

John Paul II on the Eucharist: why it’s Christ’s greatest gift to us a preview: JPII’s 100th trip

In June 2003, FAITH introduced you to Doug Simon, a young man living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne MD patients rarely live past 20; at the time of the story, Doug was 24. His courage and faith inspired all of us.

And then what happened? On Feb. 21, 2007, Doug died. He was a month short of his 28th birthday. Doug followed the biblical philosophy, “Don’t worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.”

10 10 years years of of FAITH FAITH

me to miss the funeral and teach – that would be the best way I could honor his brother.

I wasn’t convinced, but I went into the senior philosophy class.

One of my students, who has really struggled with believing God loves him, decided that he believed that day – based on something I taught.

Now, what if I hadn’t called my friend’s brother?

What if I did call him and he didn’t answer the phone?

What if he did answer the phone and told me to come?

We could do this all day, right? And, the morning that I made the call, did God see which one I would choose?

Here’s the yes: Yes, because God was already in what we call the future. He had already seen the day I taught. Here’s the no: No,

fact or fiction?

The Inquisition, especially in Spain, tortured and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

Regarding torture, it should be noted that it was authorized in 1252 when Innocent IV issued Ad exstirpanda – though it was infrequently applied.

Further, there were limits placed on torture. For example, it could not cause the loss of life or limb and it could not endanger life. It could be applied only once and only in cases to elicit truth – not to punish – where the truthfulness of the testimony offered by the accused was in question. The most frequently applied punishments were pilgrimages and community service, while the harshest penalties included imprisonment, excommunication and surrender to civil power.

Since the exact number of total deaths that resulted from the Inquisition is not known, any account is based solely on best estimates. Scholars have used existing data to conclude that approximately 2,000 people died in the Medieval Inquisition. During the high point of the Spanish Inquisition, estimates are that between 1,500 and 2,000 people were found guilty. The exact number of these verdicts that resulted in execution is 775. All together, the complete 500-year history of the Inquisition resulted in approximately 6,000 deaths – a number to be mourned and lamented indeed, but not even close to some of the inflated and unsubstantiated numbers offered by popular media. – Doug Culp

ugust 14 • Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 15 • St. John Eudes, priest August 19 • St. Bernard, abbot and doctor of the church August 20 • St. Pius X, pope August 21

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10

What was the Second Vatican Council

really like?

Cardinal Justin Rigali is the archbishop of Philadelphia. He serves on many committees at the Vatican, and attended the Second Vatican Council. FAITH is honored to ask this eminent Catholic churchman and scholar some questions about the Catholic Church in the new millennium.

Q

You were at the Second Vatican Council. What do you see as its greatest impact on the church?

A

Well, there have been a number of things. But I can zero in on a couple of extremely important contributions that have come about through the emphasis of Vatican II. One has been a greater understanding of the laity, of their role, and a greater participation of the laity in the life of the church. That’s been an extraordinary blessing. Secondly, there has been a greater participation in and understanding of the liturgy. As the prayer of Christ, the prayer of the church, people must actively participate. And by “actively,” we do not simply mean

Church of the month The power and vitality of the Christian Faith have long inspired tremendous works of art on the part of believers.

One has only to consider the beauty of many of our principal churches to realize the transcendent beauty of our faith. For example, consider:

anta Maria S degli Angeli The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Saint Mary of the Angels) is situated in the plain at the foot of the hill of Assisi, Italy. The basilica was constructed between 1569 and 1679 enclosing the 9th century little church, the Porziuncola, the most sacred

place for the Franciscans. It was here that the young Francis of Assisi understood his vocation and renounced the world in order to live in poverty among the poor and thus started the Franciscan movement.

This church is the seventhlargest Christian church and was designed in a Mannerist

Santa Maria degli Angeli

style prefiguring the baroque.

The church is 126 meters long, 65 meters large and the dome is 75 meters high. On

April 11, 1909, the church was raised by Pope Pius X to the status of patriarchal basilica and papal chapel.

Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 22 • Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle August 24 • St Joseph Calasanz, priest August 25 • St. Mo

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A theology professor once remarked that there were no new heresies, just old ones repackaged.

To test the truth of this statement, consider this recent real-life scenario and see if you can name the error involved:

externally. We mean internally and externally, because you can participate externally and not be active. You must have a strong internal participation as well. So, these two things – laity and liturgy – are wonderful things. Not that everything is perfect in either of those, but this has been an extraordinary step forward in the life of the church. There has been a wonderful emphasis, wonderful blessings.

Those two topics, in turn, were linked in a very big way with two of the documents of Vatican II. Those documents were responsible for the wonderful promotion of the laity

entering the church building, she heard the people present singing and worshipping Mary. Immediately a voice inside her tells her to leave “this place of idolators” worshipping Mary as the Mother of God.

What is at stake?

Jesus as one person with two natures What is the truth?

The woman in the story makes the mistake of dividing Jesus into two people: the human being and the deity. The Nestorians commitand the liturgy. One of them was the Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium. And in this document, the fathers of the council explained so beautifully the meaning and makeup of the church and how everybody, by reason of baptism, is involved. So out of this beautiful document on the church came the emphasis for the laity to participate ever more fully and find their fulfillment and satisfaction and great dignity in being an active and essential part of the church.

Then there was another document, among the most important of Vatican II. That was the Consitution on the

Origin:

Notable Features:

After the death of Saint Francis in 1226, the friars built several small huts around the Porziuncola. In 1230, a refectory and some adjacent buildings were added. In the course of time, little porticoes and accommodations for the friars were added around the Porziuncola.

As vast numbers of pilgrims came flocking to Assisi, the small space of the Porziuncola became inadequate to house all these pilgrims. The necessity grew to build a church incorporating the Porziuncola.

Construction of the basilica started on March 25, 1569.

•T he Chapel of the Transito – the cell in which St. Francis died is situated under the bay of the choir, against the right columns of the dome.

• The Porziuncola – the chiesetta (little church) of Porziuncola (“little portion”) is the most sacred place for Franciscans.

Francis was given this little church, dating from the 9th century, by the Benedictine monks.

• Paintings – the side chapels were decorated by great artists from several

ted the same error when they declared that Mary was only the mother of Jesus the man and therefore should not be addressed as the Mother of God. This heresy was addressed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 and the church affirmed that since Jesus was in fact only one person, it was entirely appropriate to refer to Mary as the Theotokos (God bearer).

theology 101

A woman is conveying a story about her experience of a Catholic church in a local bookstore. She explains that upon

11

FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

Word of God. This emphasized the great heritage of the church in the Bible. The Bible is brought to the people in a very real way through the liturgy. This is what Christians have been doing for 2,000 years – they gather on Sunday precisely to read, and to listen to the Word of God. And to accept it. This beautiful Constitution on the Word of God was another thing that helped bring about these two wonderful results of Vatican II: the emphasis on the laity and a greater realization of the importance and understanding of the liturgy.

– Elizabeth Solsburg and Douglas Culp

Words of wisdom – can you complete the proverb?

The Sacred Scriptures teach us “to get wisdom, to get understanding!” (Proverbs 4:5) Now it is time to put yourself to the test to see how far along you are in this quest by completing this proverb. Remember, no peeking into your Bible!

The beginning of his (the fool’s) words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness, _________ The Porziuncola

periods, including Antonio Circignani, Francesco Appiani, Ventura Salimbeni and Giorgetti di Assisi.

a. but the fool’s lips consume him. b. yet the fool multiplies words. c. For discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.

(Answer: b – Eccl 10:13)

Are you a heretic?

est August 25 • St. Monica August 27 • St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the church August 28 • Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist August 29

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12 sick. He gets into a boat with some of his disciples and crosses to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. I’m sure he was exhausted at this point. But a clamoring crowd is waiting at the far shore.

In this crowd is a Jewish synagogue official who had probably heard a lot of stories about Jesus. I can guess that, normally, he wouldn’t have wanted to be seen in Jesus’ company. But in this moment, he is a desperate father. His daughter is dying. He falls at Jesus’ feet and begs repeatedly – you can almost hear the desperation – “Come and lay your hands on her that she may be made well and live.” He has faith. He as, at least, heard of the miracles Jesus had performed. And Jesus agrees to go with him.

In the same passage, we meet a woman who has been hemorrhaging for 12 years. She has spent all her money on doctors and has not gotten better. In fact, her health has gotten worse.

This is a woman who has exhausted all of her resources and the only change is for the worse. Have you ever found yourself in these circumstances – all human help has been tried and there is nowhere else to turn? Can you imagine the exhaustion, the fear, the despair?

But instead of hiding, she very timidly reaches out and touches Jesus’ garment. She is afraid, because, under Jewish law, she is unclean. She should not even be out in public. But she has faith! “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Ask your-

“ Do not be afraid”

spiritual fitness

T. Gennara

how Jesus can banish your fear

T

Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. Questions can be addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

his month, I want to take another look at the issue of faith in Christ.

Times are difficult – even very difficult – in our country right now.

People are losing homes and jobs – fear is rampant. When everything seems to be out of control, what can you do?

First, open your Bible to the Gospel of Mark and read chapter 5, verses 21-43 out loud. Do this now, before you continue reading this article. Keep the Bible right beside you. Remember that the word inside it is living and active, sharper than any twoedged sword – it has the power to separate bone from marrow. (cf. Heb 4:12) In other words, it has the power to reach right inside you, touch your spirit and help you see truth more clearly than you ever have before. God’s word has the power to change your life. Because it is so easy to become distracted, I want your eyes and your ears to take in these words, so that the life-giving power of it can penetrate beyond a superficial understanding.

Approach this passage with as much faith as you have – no matter how little that may be.

You’ll notice that this passage contains two stories – both teach us a lot about faith and perseverance.

Let’s take a look at the first story. Jesus has been ministering to great crowds of people – casting out demons and healing the

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self here: “What would I have done under similar circumstances?

Then ask the Lord to increase your faith in him.

Pay attention here – note that the Scripture says that Jesus immediately knew power had gone out from him. And the woman was immediately healed. Jesus says to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” Jesus listens to us the same way – God is never put off by our sins and failings if we are repentant. Never let anything hold you back from bringing your needs to him.

As the woman is being healed, imagine the anxiety of the synagogue official. His daughter is dying and all these people keep stopping Jesus to ask for healing. The official must be more and more frantic – perhaps even angry at all the delays. And then someone comes to tell him his daughter has died. Jesus hears the news and says, “Do not fear; only believe.”

What would you do at that moment? Slip away, hopeless and inconsolable? The official chooses to believe Jesus and keep his eyes fixed on him. Jesus goes to the little girl’s house, takes her hand and tells her to get up. And she does! He tells everyone to give her something to eat. How practical; how fatherly.

As you think about these two stories of healing and resurrection, think about what lessons they have for you. Where are you weak? Can you humbly and honestly place those weaknesses before Jesus and ask him to increase your faith? Ask for a faith that can burn steadily no matter the seemingly insurmountable obstacles: finances, work, family, health crises. Trust in his love for you – “do not fear; only believe.”

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

13

GM is bankrupt?

how do we cope with change?

M

y great-grandfather, grandfather and father worked for General Motors. Those three generations of men have gone to heaven. I wonder what their perspective on the changes in this industry would have been. All the corporations and institutions in our lives (business, finance, education, health care, government, communications, technology, as well as religion) have initiated monumental changes and transitions. It seems everything is in flux and we are uncertain. I read an article from The Reid Group, Moving Through Times of Change, Part I: Dealing With Endings that I found quite helpful. I hope you will too!

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commentary

Change is an inevitable part of life. Learning to manage change on a personal, interpersonal and organizational level can lead to meaningful transitions. Understanding the overall process of change can prevent individuals and organizations from getting lost in the process or giving up when some resistance is experienced. Knowing the various factors that affect change and transitions, and understanding the implications of change in personal lives, in relationships and in structures builds capacity to manage and lead change. Learning how to connect people in the change process brings meaning and purpose to the transition. It helps people grow stronger in the change process.

Change is about endings and new beginnings. Endings point to loss and often the loss of something of great value to a person, to a relationship or to an organization. Perhaps a job is gone, a relationship jeopardized, a building not used, a comfort zone not avail-

able. Possibly it is loss of confidence, health, marketable skills and potential earning power.

When organizations merge or consolidate, there are many endings. Offices may relocate; buildings may not be used; procedures may not be the same; roles and responsibilities may change; ways of doing things may not continue. Things will not be the same or feel the same. “Endings “ are very public. They are visible. Headquarters may move to a different city. The CEOs may change. Churches used for worship for more than 100 years may not be used in the future. Schools may combine to use one building instead of three. Names of organizations may not be the same.

While endings are very public, losses are private. Losses result from something ending. They are often hidden, but poignantly felt. In the change process one might experience a loss of security – Where will I sit? Park? Who will I know? The pride in belonging to a certain group in a parish may be lost. The satisfaction of knowing your efforts counted and you made a difference may no longer be felt. A sense of joy and contentment may be difficult to achieve. The identity that was unique to your organization or parish may have disappeared with the merged organization. Understanding the process of dealing with grief and loss, and dealing with it in a healthy way, will empower newly formed organizations to begin their new existence on healthy ground.

Struggle, endings, loss – these are all part of dealing with change and transition. If acknowledged and cared for, they can lead to new hopes, new dreams, new life. Margaret Wheatley notes that work done for the common good does not take away our energy; it pours energy into our bodies through our open hearts and generous spirits. Prophetic planning assumes that while there is pain and loss when something that is cherished is ending, there is also good will; there is a concern for the common good. Therefore, from the ashes of the old, the phoenix will rise and new energy will be available for creating the future.

T. Gennara

Father Mark Inglot is pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and St. John Student Chapel, East Lansing

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cover story

M

other Teresa House welcomes and cherishes people from all walks of life as they enter the final stage of life’s journey. Its modest guest rooms have cradled more than 100 dying men and women, nurtured by volunteer caregivers under the gentle guidance and peaceful presence of Karen Bussey, director and founder.

In a recent newsletter, Karen summed up the Mother Teresa House mission. When we are in the womb, many prepare for and anticipate our arrival.

We then live our lives within a communion of many people. And so, is this not how we are supposed to leave this life?, she reasons. And if the person was not loved at birth or throughout life, [at Mother Teresa House], they are at last surrounded with the love of many in these final hours, until he or she is received by those “on the other side” – and by the God of Love himself.

Karen Bussey talks with FAITH about the history and purpose of Mother Teresa House.

By Nancy Schertzing | photography by Jim Luning

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

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16 Compassion literally means ‘to suffer with.’ We call ourselves to deeper compassion because we know God comes to us in our suffering.

And when we meet suffering with love, we find even greater joy.” pacity. But when I went home that night, the Lord said, “You wouldn’t take care of my people?”

I responded, “Yes, Lord, I will.” But I knew God would have to create some new part of me if I was going to care for his people this way. And he did.

As a hospice social worker and counselor for older adults, I saw the need for a home for the dying.

I envisioned a place where people who had no family or hospital care could go to be cherished and treasured.

There was no such place at the time and no movement toward creating one, though I had advocated for it.

So I continued to serve and pray and live my vocation. Yet the vision of this home for the dying wouldn’t go away. Eventually, the Lord said to me, “You do it.”

Well, I wasn’t capable of such a thing. I didn’t have the training, the money, the influence – any of the things you need to accomplish something like this. I didn”t even have a house for myself, much less the money or knowledge to obtain one for the dying! I had always served God in much simpler ways.

Every person is the beloved of the Lord. God loves every soul and calls each to complete oneness with himself.

Through my discernment and after I accepted my call to become a consecrated virgin, I would marvel that God chose me to be consecrated to him. I was espoused to the Lord! I”d often ask him, “Of all the people in the world, why did you choose me?” One day, he answered, “Because you represent every person.”

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I knew then that God loves every person to this depth. He desires to bring each of us into the fullest union imaginable with him. My consecration, or belonging exclusively to him in the world, was meant to be a billboard about this love God has for each of us.

I had been offered a position as a hospice social worker, but I turned it down. I didn’t have the emotional ca-

Now he was asking me to open this home for the dying. I said, “Lord, you know I don’t know how to even begin! So if this home is going to happen, it will be because you make it happen. If you want me to do this, you’ll have to help me.”

It took some growing and stretching. I committed myself to this journey in January 1997, and the Lord expanded my heart and made the connections fall into place. I developed my plan, which focuses both on loving the dying and nur-

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17 turing the volunteers who care for them.

I presented it, and the diocese offered to renovate this house and provide it rent-free for our use. When Mother Teresa died on Sept.10, I knew we would name our home after her.

There were tears, pain and tremendous joy, like the gestation and birth of a child.

In nine months, we had come from nothing to the birth and naming of this vision. We are not part of the Missionaries of Charity, or any other organization. But Mother Teresa inspires our ministry by her humble example of loving the dying. She challenged us to touch our neighbor, calling on the rich to know the poor, the healthy to touch the sick.

We invite people from all professions, backgrounds, abilities and faiths to service. We ask them to take shifts lasting three to six hours so they can feel effective as part of the 24-hour care-giving cycle. We also offer threeto six-month internships, either living on-site in our little upstairs apartment or off-site.

The main thing we look for in someone considering serving here is a willingness to be with a sick person, to learn to sit with suffering face-to-face, knowing the person you’re caring for is dying and you can’t take that away. We orient people to selfless service, challenging them to set their daily cares aside so they can focus on the guest they’ve come to serve.

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People might not expect it, but this is a joyful place. We’re out-loud about our love of Christ – we have the crucifix on a wall in every room. But just as God gives freedom to believe or not, we welcome people here whatever they believe (or don’t) about God. We strive to love all our guests unconditionally because we want to prepare them. They’re going to be with God, so they’d better get used to being loved overwhelmingly!

Mother Teresa House welcomes all forms of service to support its mission of loving the dying Want to give?

Any donation level is appreciated!

• $ 100 provides one day’s care for one guest.

•$ 1,000 will cover one guest’s entire stay at Mother Teresa House.

Mail checks to Mother Teresa House P.O. Box 13004 Lansing MI 48901

Want to serve?

•C are-givers are needed for shifts all hours of the day and night!

• I nternships are available either living on-site or off.

•N ew quilts and comforters for guests are always welcome.

For more information or support opportunities visit their Web site at www. mothertheresahouse.org, or contact Karen or her staff at 517.484.5494 Compassion literally means “to suffer with.” We call ourselves to deeper compassion because we know God comes to us in our suffering. And when

Most of our guests have family who can’t care for them at home.

We ask family members to take a turn caring for their loved one here. We have had beautiful families gathering here for their last moments with the one they have loved. And after their family member has passed, survivors are always welcome to come back for a cup of coffee and to attend the memorial service we host each November at the cathedral.

We have a preference, though, for those who don’t have the resources for other care options. Our focus is giving care and deeply loving people who have no one. For example, one of our earliest guests was a man who had served many years in prison and was released just after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. He was estranged from his family and had no friends outside prison – nowhere to go to die.

cover story

We try to fulfill that challenge one person at a time. Our volunteer caregivers provide around the clock care for our dying guests, doing what they would do for a sick family member at home. We sit with them, answer the phone, get the door, remember when the medicines are due and administer them. Each guest must have Hospice medical care as a condition of coming here. Hospice nurses visit, but cannot stay in the home for basic, ongoing care. So we fill that role of providing the simple, round-the-clock care that our guests require.

we meet suffering with love, we find even greater joy.

He and our other guests have helped us understand that death is part of the human experience.

In fact, it’s the culmination of it! It is our doorway to new life with God, and our Catholic faith equips us like nothing else to face it.

Our purpose here at Mother Teresa House is to love our guests to that doorway. No matter how broken his children are or how many years we’ve wasted, we can turn to the Lord for forgiveness and love without condition.

When we step through that doorway, God, our prodigal father, folds us in his arms in unbounded love.

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from the bishop

18 uring the middle of June, the bishops of the United States gathered in San Antonio for our annual spring meeting. Most of the agenda was the approval of more segments of the English translation of the Roman Missal. The Holy See would like all the English-speaking countries of the world (England, Australia, India, Nigeria, etc.) to have the same translation of the Mass.

This has caused a lot of concern on the part of many people. Some do not like the new translations as they find them a bit more elevated in tone – and perhaps more dif-

English translation on the other, came out about every few months with a different section of the Roman Missal. I read all these green books as they came out and sent in my suggestions. ICEL

A new translation of the Mass – J. Carlson

a call a renewed commitment to worship

Bishop Earl A. Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing.

ficult to understand. A key to understanding this was brought home to me more than a year ago with a reinforcement of the understanding that we are celebrating the Latin Rite.

Unfortunately, since around 1970 when our current translations came into effect, there arose a sense that we now had an English Rite of the Mass.

That was a mistake. It was and is the Latin Rite. By the early 1990s, it was clear a new translation, one closer to the Latin original, was needed to reinforce this reality.

So, this is the process that occurred. A small committee of writers assembled to propose a translation, which was then sent to ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy). ICEL approved a text, called a green book, which was sent to the various English-speaking bishop’s conferences in the world for feedback.

These texts, Latin on one page and the

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determination of what the English text will be. We will implement the new translation of the Mass either in the fall of 2010 (if they are ready) or, more likely, the fall of 2011. One of the timing issues is music – with new texts, new musical settings are required, and that takes additional time.

When we begin to use the new Mass translation, all of us will have to learn some new responses in the Mass, including a slightly different version of the Gloria, for instance The priests will have the most to learn, since we priests recite much of the Mass by heart.

This reminds me of the late ’60s and early ’70s, when we first celebrated the Mass in English. We all had to use cards until we had memorized our responses. We may well have to do this again.

What strikes me most about this whole process is it affords all of us an opportunity to re-appreciate the Mass. It should be an opportunity for all of us to spend some time studying the Mass and its various movements.

This sacred act of worshipping God, by offering yet again Christ’s own sacrifice of himself, is the very heart of our lives as Catholics. It seems to me this new translation really calls each of us to an inner renewal in our commitment to worship God and to affirm one another in the body of Christ.

Since the Mass is so central to our lives, we need to continue to pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood so we can have the Mass

reviewed all these comments from around the world and made changes.

They then issued a gray book, or final version, for voting by each bishop’s conference. Thus, in the past, the bishops of the U.S. approved This sacred act of worshipsome sections of ping God, by offering yet again the text. In June, we began the vote Christ’s own sacrifice of himself, is the on four more sections, and this very heart of our lives as Catholics. It seems to me that this new translation reNovember we will vote on the ally calls each of us to an inner renewal in final sections. our commitment to worship God and to All the other English-speaking affirm one another in the body of Christ.” conferences have already approved the texts. celebrated in our midst. For priests, After this is completed, the whole the connection between this Year for process will be turned over to the Priests and the anticipation of the new Vatican, where a consultation with Mass translation affords a challenge to experts on English translations will oc- greater holiness, by imitating all that cur. At that point, there will be a final we celebrate.

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Ordination

2009

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Father Mark Rutherford hopes

to lay down his life for the priesthood of Christ

F

ather Mark Rutherford, ordained in June, hopes “to be a man in Christ.” He tells you why this is so important, and why the Holy Spirit is essential to the survival of our faith.

6th and 8th grade, I abandoned internally the faith my parents generously gave me. Externally I performed the motions, went to church, tried to behave, etc.

My experience of priests was minimal, mostly seeing them at Mass and then seeing them disappear. That changed the summer after 8th grade, when my parents signed me up with Christ the King Catholic Church for a I didn’t always hear Jesus calling me to the priesthood. youth conference at Franciscan University of When I was growing up, I attended Catholic Steubenville, in Ohio. This is a conference schools with my three brothers. Finally, in Most that facilitates a real living encounter with Je6th grade, my family couldn’t afford Catholic eagerly, I sus. When I played hockey, I loved expressschool anymore, so I went to Forsythe Middle ing my strength and power by knocking School in Ann Arbor. I made new friends. To anticipate my ordithe daylights out of the other team, making win favor with the new crowd of guys, I gave nation so I can celothers cry – but not me. So, naturally, at the myself to much the world had to offer. Rebelebrate the Euchaprocession of the Eucharist, I didn’t get why ling against my parents. Cheating. Stealing, and other immoral choices. While I was playrist. I have a hunger people were crying or smiling. I was a totem pole and 3,000 teens praising and worshiping hockey and wrestling, I was a jock with an for ministering to the ing Jesus seemed strange. The worship attitude – to me my opponent was a bug and people of God.” band was playing Mercy is Falling and the I was a big shoe. I wasn’t entirely happy with priest was nearing my row, monstrance in my life; I had the ‘I steal these smokes for you, hand.

I can only describe it like Christ and I were having eye you get those smokes for me’ kind of friendships. Between the

By Andrew Peltcs | Photography by Tom Gennara

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2009 / www.FAITHmag.com

contact for the first time. It felt as if the floodgates had been opened, and his love and mercy were pouring into my heart.

The reality of his love was overwhelming to me; my heart just melted before his eucharistic presence. In this moment, with people praying over and around me, I was crying like a newborn baby, when a girl leaned over and whispered “Jesus loves you” in my ear. I decisively gave him my heart and life at that moment. At Mass the next day, the bishop invited men to consider the call to priesthood, and it was at this time that I first heard Jesus say “priesthood.” Father Ed Fride has been an amazing model of joy-filled priesthood for me.

My family is incredibly supportive of my decision.

They are very excited about my vocation. My grandparents consider it a great blessing to have a member of their family become a priest, and they’re grateful that I’m responding to the call of the Lord.

There are some big challenges facing the church today. Only 25 percent to 30 percent of Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. That calls for a massive re-evangelization. What I mean is, there are baptized Catholics who have received the sacraments, but are not evangelized.

Some who go to Mass are not “aware” of what or who is given in Mass. Many do not have an experiential knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Additionally, there are the unbaptized who still need to hear the Good News.

One of my professors said a relativistic culture is evangelizing people better than Catholicism right now. Materialism and radical skepticism are wedging themselves into the heads of people sitting in the pew, threatening to steal hearts from Jesus Christ.

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What is the game plan to fix this? The Holy Spirit.

He is the agent of all evangelization. People need to see Jesus in us. That’s how to build the church, by bringing the word of God to those who have not heard. Proclaiming the Gospel is my first duty as a priest.

The challenge for priests today is the new evangelization. Priests are faced with the domestic secularization of an ever-changing culture and seemingly insurmountable pastoral responsibilities. I cannot face this unless I allow myself to be re-evangelized. I can’t preach effectively without more of the Spirit filling me with his love. My life still includes being an athlete. At the seminary, I played football.

I love any kind of sport that I’m capable of doing – some boxing, baseball, rock-climbing, even weightlifting competitions. And I just love being outdoors whenever possible.

The risen Jesus has already won the victory over darkness.

A recent example of Christ’s justice comes to mind. A group of seminarians take the Gospel to the streets of downtown Detroit.

One day, a man prayed in an alley, “Lord, if you exist, send someone to tell me about you.”

That night he ran into six of us. We shared the Gospel with him, prayed with him and he gave his heart to the Lord. That’s what I call justice: giving to God what belongs to him, that is, our hearts.

my story

Most eagerly, I anticipate my ordination so I can celebrate the Eucharist. I have a hunger for ministering to the people of God. I look forward to being a spiritual father for them.

I desire that every member of Christ’s body has, and develops, an active relationship with Jesus; bring it into their day to day lives. Catholics are invited to rise and become courageous followers of Jesus. As priests, it is our mission to preach this.

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Even as I’m about to become a priest, I don’t always “feel” Jesus’ presence. Sure, there are seasons of the desert. When that happens, you’re operating on “raw faith,” sustained by the Holy Spirit. For me, it is a time to surrender. Jesus just invites me to give myself to him, relying only on His help.

There has been some hardship on the way to priesthood. Still, I am constantly strengthened at the cross, by the true love of Jesus Christ. Every time I go to Mass, the manifestation of true love is made available to me with such accessibility. What a great gift that is, which turns hardship into an opportunity to engage in yielding to God. And it’s just one of Jesus’ gifts I hope to share with all of you.

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alb: The alb is the first vestment the priest dons when getting ready for Mass. It is an ankle-length, white garment with long sleeves. The name originates from the word alba, meaning white. The alb is a symbol of our baptism and is not reserved for priests – it may be worn by anyone who is engaging in a liturgical role.

Year for Priests

What does it mean to be called to the priesthood? year for priests

By Doug Culp

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veryone has a vocation, or call, to a particular function or station in life. This call comes from God, who created each of us with a specific purpose in mind. Discovering, or discerning, our vocation then becomes the key to a purpose-filled life as we can only truly be fulfilled when we are in harmony with the purpose for which God made us.

Prayer devoted to listening to the stirring of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is the most crucial component in this discernment process. Interests, talents, ordinary experiences, family, friends

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and the church community also can all help us detect the voice of God and discover our true calling in life – if we are open to hearing it and responding to it.

In the process, some will discover that God is calling them to a special life of service to the church as a priest.

This call to priesthood is a call to a particular mission of preaching and living the Gospel message. It is an invitation to an imitation of Christ’s total self-giving for the benefit of his people.

The call to priesthood is continually unfolding and deepening. For the person who believes God is calling him to the priesthood, the discovery of what this truly means begins with the decision to enter a seminary.

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T. Gennara

Life in community best describes the seminary experience. Seminarians live together in dormitories that share much in common with the average university. Life also entails shared community tasks, such as kitchen duty and cleaning community areas.

However, community is most experienced during morning and evening prayers, daily Mass and mealtime.

Seminarians also engage the wider church community. Seminarians often will take an active role in a local parish on weekends and spend their summers assigned to a particular parish in their home diocese.

These experiences and relationships are important to the seminarians’ emerging priestly identities.

What is formation?

What does a seminarian study?

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Some seminarians need to complete the two-year “pre-theology” program to ensure they have a solid foundation in philosophy prior to beginning their studies for a master’s of divinity degree. The master’s of divinity degree combines four years of academic study, various practicum courses and “field” work.

Thematically, the seminarian will study systematic theology, scripture, worship, Christian life, church history and pastoral life in order to appropriate the faith of the church.

Seminarians will study everything from Christology (the study of who Christ is) and Ecclesiology (the study of who the church is) to canon law and homiletics (preaching) in the classroom.

Seminarians also will have many opportunities for ministry in the field.

For example, they will experience Clinical Pastoral Education, usually

The seminary is not just about academic study and job training, but the total formation of the seminarian. Once admitted to a seminary program, the seminarian will begin to be “formed” for the priesthood along four pillars: human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral.

The goal of formation is the development of not just “a well-rounded person, a prayerful person, or an experienced pastoral practitioner but rather [of] one who understands” his development within the full context of his vocation, i.e. his mission and role within Christ’s church (PPF, para 71).

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What is the seminary like?

3 degrees of Holy Orders

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Bishop In unbroken succession from the apostles, a bishop exercises a ministry of preaching and teaching, sanctifying, governing (CCC 1558). As Christ’s vicar, each bishop has the pastoral care of a particular church entrusted to him, but he also serves with all bishops in the Episcopal College, of which the pope is head. The “fullness of the sacrament” of Holy Orders resides in the episcopacy.

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Priest A minister of God’s word, a minister of the sacraments and a pastoral guide of the community. He exercises his role in communion with the bishop and in union with the presbyterate of the diocese.

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Deacon A minister of the liturgy, of the word, and of charity (diakonia).

He serves in conjunction with the bishop and priests. Two types of deacons exist: a transitional deacon will serve until he is ordained a priest and a permanent deacon is a married or unmarried man, who will remain a deacon. They may baptize, witness a marriage, preach and assist at liturgies and preside at funerals. at the end of their third year of study.

C.P.E. is an intensive period of training, typically in a hospital, where the seminarians learn to put their theological and pastoral skills into practice, while working in a team environment with other people who are engaged in ministry.

The seminary is not just about academic study and job training, but the total formation of the seminarian.”

This formation takes place at all times and on various levels. Community life, academic coursework and field education experiences have already been discussed and are all very important components of formation.

In addition, seminarians are assigned spiritual directors; attend special workshops, integrating seminars and conferences; and participate in prayerful evenings of reflection.

At every stage of his preparation, the seminarian explores his call to the priesthood and takes note of his deepening formation. He is assisted in this by annual evaluations by the faculty and administrators, peer reviews by his fellow seminarians and regular meetings with his diocese’s vocation director.

Put simply, the entirety of the seminary experience can be viewed as a process of forming a God-centered and other-centered priest via a continuing prayerful dialogue with God and the church.

For more information on the priesthood in the Diocese of Lansing, Contact Father Jerry Vincke at 517.342.2507

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“You are a priest forever” Father Mark Rutherford ordained June 13

ordination 2009

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6 On June 13, Mark Rutherford was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing. The ordination , Bishop Earl Boyea’s first as the Bishop of Lansing, took place at St. Mary Cathedral. Rev. Mark Joseph Rutherford was born Nov. 26, 1982, the fourth son of Brad and Karen Rutherford. His home parish is Christ the King, Ann Arbor. He attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and Seton Home High School.

He graduated from Ave Maria College, Holy Apostles College and Seminary and Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Captions: 1. Father Mark Rutherford is vested with the chasuble. 2. Father Mark Rutherford concelebrates at his ordination Mass. 3. Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, fourth

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11 bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. 4. Sister Ann Shields proclaims a Scripture reading. 5. Bishop Boyea gives Father Rutherford the chalice and paten. 6. Mark Rutherford lies prostrate during the ordination. 7. The ordination Mass at St. Mary Cathedral. 8. Bishop Boyea greets his newest priest. 9. Father Rutherford’s parents, Brad and Karen, and members of his family. 10. Father Jerry Vincke, Bishop Mengeling, Father Mark Rutherford, Bishop Earl Boyea, Father Ed Friede. 11. Father Rutherford surrounded by his family. 12. The newest priest for the Diocese of Lansing, Father Mark Rutherford.

Photography by Tom Gennara

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Ordained to serve 17 deacons for the Diocese of Lansing

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3 On May 16, Bishop Earl Boyea ordained 13 men to the permanent diaconate and four men to the transitional diaconate. Permanent deacons serve in parishes and ministries around our diocese. Transitional deacons are on the path to priestly ordination. Captions: 1. The Knights of Columbus honor guard. 2. Newly ordained deacons are greeted and welcomed by their brother deacons. 3. Deacon Tom Wasilewski is ordained by Bishop Boyea. 4.

Bishop Boyea incenses the altar. 5. Deacon Jerry Brennan, director of the Office of Deacons. 6. The deacons lie prostrate before the altar. 7. Sister Mary Ann Foggin proclaims a Scripture reading. 8. The procession begins. 9. Bishop Mengeling processes into St. Mary Cathedral.

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The newest permanent deacons for the Diocese of Lansing are:

ordination 2009

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James Roger Cahaney, St. Agnes Parish, Fowlerville. He and his wife Rosemary have four children and 11 grandchildren. James is a retired systems analyst of the Ford Motor Co. Wayne Walter Corrion, St. Joseph Parish, Gaines. He and his wife Sandra have four children. Wayne has an associate’s degree in technical illustration from Ferris State University and a BA in Theology from Siena Heights University.

John Harrison Epley, St. John the Evangelist, Jackson. John and his wife Annie have one child. He is a retired service technician at Paramount Coffee.

John Xavier Flanagan, Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor. He and his wife Theresa have six children. John is retired from AT&T and currently teaches at Milan Federal Correctional Institute.

James Martin Kasprzak, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing. He and his wife Karen have four children. James is the chief financial officer for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

David Paul Lawrence, Christ the King Parish, Flint. He and his wife Janet have eight children. David is a teacher and coach at Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor.

Donald Allen Michael, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hillsdale. He and his wife Karen have two children. Donald is an occupational therapist with CHRC, Inc. in Coldwater.

Gregory Raymond Middleton, St. Mary Parish, Durand. He and his wife Carol have three children. Gregory works for General Motors.

Dennis Marvin Pennell, St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing. He and his wife Susan have four children. Dennis attained his bachelor’s degree from Ferris and Siena Heights.

Aaron Michael Petersen, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hillsdale. He and his wife Kathleen have eight children. Aaron is employed by Hillsdale College.

Gary William Prise, St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Brighton. He and his wife Yvonne have two daughters. Gary is a retired police lieutenant for the city of Southfield.

Larry Anthony Randolph, Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor. He and his wife Susan have three children and 17 grandchildren.

Thomas James Rea, St. Mary Parish, Pinckney. He and his wife Barbara have six children.

Thomas is employed at the University of Michigan.

The newest transitional deacons for the Diocese of Lansing are:

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Pieter Charles Van Rooyen (second from right), St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing. He attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit. Pieter will intern at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flint.

Anthony Strouse (second from left), St. Mary, Williamston. He attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit. Anthony will intern at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Jackson.

Mathias David Thelen (far left), Most Holy Trinity, Fowler. He attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit.

Mathias will intern at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Ann Arbor.

Tom Wasilewski (far right), St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing. He attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit. Tom will intern at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Davison.

9 Photography by Tom Gennara

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things to do:

community

Celebrate Father Andy Dunne’s 50th anniversary to the priesthood. A fourman Golf Scramble at the Grande Golf Club, July 11, 7 a.m. registration, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Proceeds will go to Catholic Charities and Our Lady of Fatima Building Fund. For information, contact Bob Fabian, 517.536.4134.

Tour of Hope, Aug. 11, 5:30 p.m., a guided behind-the-scenes tour of historic St. Vincent Catholic Charities that highlights various aspects of its rich history, services and vision for the future.

The tours are free and are scheduled around your availability. A tour also can be brought to your church, place of business or home. To schedule, call Rhonda Abood at 517.323.4734, ext.

1205 or send an e-mail to aboodr@stvcc.org.

Summer Scripture Days are Aug. 11-13 at Bethany House at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. This year, Father Dwight Ezop is the presenter.The theme for this year is “I Am the Bread of Life.” For more information, call Catholic Charities at 517.342.2465.

Christ the King in Flint’s annual

July/August Café events Adult Catechism is a study and discussion for everyone – cradle Catholics and converts. Sundays in the library of the Queen of the Miraculous Medal Religious Education Center, July 12-Aug 2 and Aug. 16-30, from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

St. Paul Scripture Study at Holy Family in Grand Blanc on Thursday evenings from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Adult Education Room. If you have any questions, please call Ellen Venos at 810.694.9072, ext. 152.

No Teacher left Behind Days of Prayer for Teachers, Aug. 20-22, presenter Craig Pohl of Renewal Ministries Ann Arbor. To register and for further details, call the St. Francis Retreat Center at 517.669.8321.

Religious ASL Week will be at the DeSales Center in Brooklyn, July 26-31. The program is designed for priests, deacons, qualified interpreters and lectors who minister to the deaf community.

golf tournament is July 18.

For more information, call Berlin Dobsson at 810.744.1581 Three Men and A Tenor concert July 17, at St. Joseph Church, 6805 Mast Rd, Dexter.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and children 12 and under.

St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor will host a High School Lock-In July 11-12 in conjunction with other local parishes.

All the information is posted

on its Web site, including the permission and health forms: http://hs.stfrancisa2.org/?page_ id=24. Or contact Jen at 734.821.2126.

Club 855 will be hosting their annual Car Show on July 26 starting at 2 p.m. at St. Agnes Church, 855 E Grand River Ave. in Fowlerville. All are invited to attend. Admission is free and all youngsters who attend will be entered in a drawing to win one of two free bicycles.

Call Barb at 517.984.6057

vacation bible school

Vacation Bible School St. Casimir, Lansing is July 13-16 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, please call Julie Smith at 517.482.1346 or e-mail smithj@stcas.org.

St. Isidore,Laingsburg is July 20-24 from 9 a.m.-12 noon. Children ages pre-K through grade 6. Registration forms are available on the bulletin board or at the parish Web site: www. stisidorelaingsburg.catholicweb.com.

St. Mary, Mt. Morris is Aug. 3-6 from 9 a.m.-12 noon. The theme is Power Lab-Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power. Children age pre-school to grade 6.

St. Joseph, Dexter is Aug. 3-7 each morning. Call Marinell at 734.426.2674 if you are interested in helping out.

Our Lady of Fatima, Michigan Center is Aug. 11-13, 9 a.m. to noon. The theme is Discovery Canyon. For information, call the Religious Education Office at 517.764.1321.

St. Mark the Evangelist, Goodrich is Aug. 3-5. For more information, contact the parish at 810.636.2216

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for more information.

Acoustic Music Jam: Spirit Jam will be the fourth Friday of every month, July 24-Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Brighton (Hamburg).

For more information, call Marie at 810.923.3179 or e-mail mschlep@charter.net.

A Retrouvaille weekend Aug. 7- 9, at St. Francis Retreat Center, Bethany House, DeWitt. For information, contact Allan & Teresa Wilcox at 517.290.5596 or e-mail retro4lansing@comcast.net.

Michigan Knights of Columbus will host their 11th annual baseball game July 31 at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing.

The event celebrates vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. For ticket information, contact your parish office.

10th Annual St. Mary on the Lake Church Community Benefit Fundraiser includes golf, picnic dinner, silent auction and quilt raffle. It is Aug. 23 at Devils Lake Golf Course. For more information, please call St. Mary at 517.547.7496 or email stmary@tc3net.com.

Holy Redeemer Annual Giant Garage Sale, Aug. 14-16.

The Men’s Club and Council of Catholic Women will hold their annual garage sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday

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Parish festivals

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Flint will have its Mid-East Festival July 10, 5 p.m.-midnight and July 11, 12 noon-midnight. Planned festival activities include cooking demonstrations, traditional dancing performances, beer tent, hookah lounge, a live band, kids’ activities and of course, lots of homemade Middle Eastern food. For information, visit www.mideastfestival.com.

St. Joseph in Dexter will have its

and Saturday, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Location: Holy Redeemer Pavilion, at Bristol Rd. and S. Grand Traverse in Burton. For details call 810.743.3328.

Diocesan Young Adult Picnic will be July 19 at Independence Lake, between Brighton and Ann Arbor. For information, visit the diocesan Web site: www.dioceseoflansing. org/youngadult/index.html.

The National Meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions Oct. 6-9, will be held at the St. John Retreat Center and Inn in Plymouth, Mich. Hosted by the Worship Offices of the Dioceses of Ohio and Michigan. For more information, contact the National FDLC Office (www. fdlc.org) or your local diocesan Office of Worship.

St. Agnes Church, 855 E Grand River, Fowlerville, will be hosting a blood drive on July 18, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Parish Life Center. This is a great opportunity for those who work during the week to give blood. Please call the parish office at 517.223.8684 to register or for more information.

Charity Classic Car Show, Aug. 23, 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. at St. Gerard Parish grounds.

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.stgerardcarshow.org.

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Christ the King Golf Tournament and Annual Festival is July 18, noon-8 p.m. at Genesee Valley Meadows, 5599 Miller Rd. in Swartz Creek. July 19 is the festival with family fun, food and entertainment. For more information, contact Berlin Dobson at 810.744.1581, or the church office at 810.233.0402.

Holy Family in Grand Blanc Summer Fest, July 31-Aug. 1 – tent party, which occurs on the weekend of the Buick Open Golf Tournament at Warwick Hills Country Club. An adult only event - all proceeds support Catholic education at the parish.

Join Youth to Youth, July 27 – Aug. 2, at Mt. Zion Pastoral Center in Flushing for Duc in Altum IV: Training in the New Evangelization. For information or to register, please call 810.639.7175 or e-mail mtzion@centurytel.net.

St. Louis Center’s Dad and Lad Golf Outing is Aug. 5 with a 12 noon tee time at Twin Lakes Gold-Club in Oakland. Everyone is invited to participate. The outing is followed by a silent auction, cocktails and dinner. To register, please fill out our registration form at www.stlouiscenter.org/ files/DadandLadRegistrationandGolfSponsorship. If you have questions, please e-mail mail@ stlouiscenter.org.

The International Catholic Deaf Association Conference will be July 17-21 in Cleveland, Ohio. For information or to register, visit www. clevelandcatholiccharities. org/disability/.

Register for the 2009 Asbestos Awareness, Operations and Maintenance Seminar, July 29, a required eight-hour asbestos awareness re-certification training for all school maintenance personnel. It will be at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Contact Paul Garriépy at 517.342.2534 or pgarriepy@dioceseoflansing. org to register.

If you or someone you know is suffering from post abortion

St. Casimir in Lansing Annual Corn Roast Festival, Aug. 7-9 - great food, including our famous corn-on-the-cob, raffles, games, beer tent, children games’ area, live band Friday and Saturday night and dancing. For more information, please call 517.482.1346.

St. Andrew Dung-Lac in Lansing Festival, Aug. 15-16, will celebrate the cultural life of the Vietnamese Catholic with live music, traditional dance, fashion, food and family activities.

St. Michael in Grand Ledge Funfest, Aug. 28-29 – euchre tournament, karaoke, kid’s games, food and beer tent, live music and auction.

parish festivalsl

St. Mary in Westphalia 4th of July Parish Festival, July 3 at 6 p.m.; July 4 all day – parade, Vegas tent, beer tent, bingo, food, children’s games and prizes, 3-on-3 basketball and volleyball.

Summer Festival, July 18, noon to 10 p.m. and July 19, noon to 6 p.m. on the grounds of our new church at the corner of Mast and N. Territorial Roads. The Classic Car show will be July 18 on the festival grounds.

St. John the Evangelist in Fenton will have its 37th annual Applefest Sept. 17-20. For more information about each day’s activities, visit their Web site at www.stjohnapplefest.org/.

grief, addictions, separation or divorce, or just needs someone who will listen, please call Catholic Charities Outreach Ministries at 517.745.5579.

Call to Protect for Youth – Train the Trainers Workshops, Aug. 18-21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., for principals, directors of religious education, coordinators of youth ministry and staff who will be teaching the material. Attendance is required at one of the sessions. Locations: Aug. 18, Lansing Catholic Central High School; Aug. 19, Luke M. Powers High School; Aug. 20, Fr. Gabriel Richard High School; and Aug. 21, Queen of the Miraculous Medal School.

Registration form is available at www.dioceseoflansing.org/ safe_environment/index.html.

For information, contact Sally Ellis, 517.342.2551.

Father Mark Depcik is pleased to announce that there will be a special pilgrimage for deaf people to Medjugorje Oct. 817. For more information, visit Father Mark’s Web site www. frmd.org/category/news – to view his vlog.

The Dexter Community Employment Network meets at the St. Joseph Parish Center in Dexter on Tuesday mornings from 8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. If you or someone you know is looking for employment, please attend a meeting on Tuesday morning. Resume writing, elevating speeches, new leads, sharpening interviewing skills and supporting one another are the fare at these weekly sessions. For info, phone parishioner Chuck McGarigle at 901.734.2060 or e-mail him at cmcgonigle@colorbok.com.

Dominican Center at Marywood programs, 2025 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Web site: www.dominicancenter.com or call 616.454.2861.

July 15, Are you a Woman of Courage; July 17, Reiki 1/11; July 24 or July 25, Loving Touch Couples Massage; and Aug. 15, Karuna Reiki.

St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt programs, 866.669.8321: July 13-19, Directed Retreat – a special time to renew and restore yourself; July 24-26, Singles Retreat for Adults; and July 24-26, a Married Couples Retreat.

Weber Center, Adrian programs, call 517.266.4015: July 12-17, The Living Word: A preaching workshop; and July 20-24, Scripture Study Week, presenter: Sarah Sharkey, OP.

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local news

Chase Vear and Nicholas Payne from Hillsdale Boy Scout Troop 174 were among 200 Boy and Girl Scouts honored by the Diocese of Lansing at St. Mary Cathedral on April 19, Scout Recognition Sunday.

There are four Catholic awards available to be earned as a Cub Scout or Boy Scout: Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII.

St. Robert Bellarmine has a new religious formation program The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to religious formation in children, three to 12 years of age. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church and

the educational principles of Montessori.

St. Robert School in Flushing is one of only two schools in the Diocese of Lansing that use this program. In 2006, St. Robert set up a special levelone room for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for use by 3-6-year-olds. This room

is also called the “atrium.” The materials, furniture and manipulatives used by the children in this room were prepared by volunteers and teachers who were specially trained to present this new program. In 2008, a level-two atrium was added for 6-9-year-olds.

St. Louis Center’s 2009 recognition awards

Bishop Boyea thanks Bob Laprad for his service to the Bishop’s Council on Alchohol and other drugs On April 30, Bishop Earl Boyea met with Bob Laprad, director of the Bishop’s Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs. The bishop congratulated Bob on his award from the National Catholic Council on Alcohol and Related Drug Problems for his selfless dedication to individuals struggling with addiction.

Resquiat in pace

Reverend Roger Lee Prokop requiescat in pacem Father Roger Prokop, retired Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Lansing, died at his home in Anderson, S.C., May 22, following a long battle with brain cancer.

Father Prokop was an Episcopalian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986. He was ordained a Catholic priest on May 1, 1987. He served as an associate pastor at St. Casimir Catholic Parish in Lansing; and a pastor at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Saline and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Conrad Donakowski retires from St. Thomas Aquinas Church On May 31, Dr. Conrad Donakowski retired from his position as the director of music ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in East Lansing after serving 35 years. Following the Mass, a reception was held honoring Conrad and his wife, Judith, for their years of service and dedication to the music ministry program.

Healing and Developing our Multiculturalism – a new ministry for the church Bill Rademacher, formerly of the Diocese of Lansing, has written a new book. It is a theological/pastoral response to Vatican II’s call to develop our cultures as outlined in section 2 of De Ecclesia in Mundo Huius Temporis: The Pastoral Constitution in the Modern World.

Washtenaw County Catholics build homes for the homeless On Feb. 28, the Catholic community in Washtenaw County began refurbishing another Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley (HHHV) house in Ypsilanti. Volunteers from various parishes eagerly accomplish assigned duties each Saturday, making new friends and satisfying a willingness to serve.

Estimated finish is June or July.

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Retired Lansing Bishop Carl F. Mengeling delivered a homily to the faithful who gathered for Mass before St. Louis Center’s 26th Annual Recognition Dinner on April 19.

Bishop Mengeling received the Good Shepherd Award.

Tom Nowatzke of Saline received the Citizenship Award.

Doug and Mary Nadeau, longtime supporters of St. Louis Center, received the Friendship Award. Jacqueline and Matthew McGinn were recipients of the first annual Spirit of St. Joseph Award for their dedicated service to the Servants of Charity’s shrine mission.

St. Charles and Helena hold mortgage burning Not only did St. Charles and Helena Catholic Church in Clio hold a mortgage burning, they managed to have it four years early. Instead of retiring the debt in June of 2013, the culmination of that dream took place on April 25. – Jan Rynearson

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Young adults and a pastoral response to pornography FAITH has been presenting a series of articles from the Bishop’s Committee on a Pastoral Response to Pornography. This month’s segment deals with young adults.

Life coach mentoring Jim and Camille Stechschulte of St. Rita Parish, Clarklake enjoy involvement in projects for children.

Over a year ago, Jim became a life coach mentor for Holy Cross Children’s Services in Clinton. He was among the first group to become mentors for the boys, ages 1217, who are placed in the center through the court system.

Rebuilding together in Washtenaw On April 25, some 50 parish members from Ann Arbor’s St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mary Student and Ypsilanti’s St. John the Baptist and Transfiguration participated in the national day of rebuilding.

Rebuilding Together is a national nonprofit organization with the mission of preserving safe and affordable housing.

International Catholic recording artist John Angotti to perform at St. Gerard John Angotti, International Catholic recording artist with World Library Publications, will be coming to Lansing. He is going to do a concert Aug. 27 at St. Gerard Catholic Church at 7 p.m. A free will offering will be collected to cover his expenses. For more information, contact Noelle Garcia at ngarcia@stgerard.org.

Noelle Garcia, coordinator of youth ministry at St. Gerard Catholic Church, was recently interviewed by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien for the documentary Latino in America, which will air in October. Please visit www.noellegarciamusic.com.

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Want to see what there is to help? Check the diocesan Web site for the full resource list. Otherwise, you may want to see these:

hopeful not helpless

For more information about becoming a life coach mentor, contact Cathy Schmidt at 517.423.7668, or cschmidt@hccsnet.org You could help make the future better for a child today. – Jan Hoffbauer

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Whether through a stumble on the Internet, a dorm mate’s magazine, or a film from a friend, young adults are frequently exposed to pornographic material. Most will ignore it; some may glance in curiosity; others will begin an unfortunate journey towards addiction. At a time of life where young adults are seeking to form relationships that will last a lifetime, pornography becomes a dangerous and heartbreaking threat.

With the Bishop’s Committee on the Pastoral Response to Pornography, we are seeking to offer hope to those suffering from an addiction to pornography. If you or someone who know is struggling with this all too common affliction, there is hope.

We have resources, both for individuals and the faith community, for young adults and young adult ministry. Knowing that young adults in particular are connected to the Internet, we have the resources available on the diocesan Web site at www. dioceseoflansing.org.

These resources are to help individuals and parishes address some of the root causes and issues behind addiction to pornography. One major area is the role of media. Media play a significant role as they are the delivery mechanisms and advertisement means. Pornography becomes increasingly easy to access anonymously. Important issues are addressed, such as the need for relationships, individualism, self-identity, and the struggle between on-line relationships and real life.

• Bustedhalo.com – A great Web site for young adults that has interesting articles and discussions on relationships and sexuality.

• Retreats – here’s a way to form some healthy relationships, renew your spirit, and relax. Check the diocesan Web page for upcoming young adult retreats.

• Check your local parish for a young adult ministry group for support in living out the Christian life with a faith-filled community. If your parish does not have a group contact check out the young adult page with the Diocese of Lansing for programs and links to regional groups. http://www.dioceseoflansing.org/youngadult/index.html

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notes:

SAVE THE DATE! Tuesday, Sept 1 , 2009 Hawk Hollow and Eagle Eye 10 a.m. shotgun start on both courses

¡ .. Honorary Hosts Knights of Columbus Councils of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

For registration and sponsorship) call 517.342.2535 or e-mail lweber@Dioceseoflansing.org

p l e a s e

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r e c y c l e

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