July/August 2013

in the know with Father Joe

from the bishop

theology 101

How can I tell what my vocation is?

Why aren’t we listening to God’s call?

Sacraments – the way God is really present to us

contents 6 yourlife The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

July/Aug. 2013 • Volume 14: Issue 6

Patrick M. O’Brien

PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Cynthia Vandecar

MARKETING MANAGER

Patrick Dally

ART DIRECTOR

Michelle Hildebrandt WEBMASTER

Jillane Job

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

InnerWorkings

PRINT MANAGEMENT

Jim Berlucchi | Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Kevin Duffy | Doug Culp | Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle | Bob Horning |Rev. Charles Irvin | Paul Jarzembowski | Rev. Joseph Krupp | Dr. Gelasia Marquez | Dr. Cathleen McGreal | Nancy Schertzing | Sister Ann Shields

table of contents

6 work life How can I get my boss to stop looking over my shoulder?

8 parenting journey Is it time for the talk?

8 conflict resolution My ex-boyfriend won’t leave me alone.

What do I do?

9 marriage matters He says: “Getting a tattoo is immoral.” She says: “It’s my body. I can do to it what I want.”

What do they do?

10 culture A display of support

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12 yourfaith

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot

PROOFREADING

Carlson Productions | Tom Gennara (cover) | James Luning | Philip Shippert | Don Quillan CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bob Patten | Chris Sushynski CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

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.

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12 in the know with Father Joe How can I tell what my vocation is?

14 spiritual fitness How to find a moment of silence in your hectic life 16 theology 101 Sacraments – the way God is really present to us 18 from the bishop Why aren’t we listening to God’s call?

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19 yourstories

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19 ordination 2013 Meet the two newest priests ordained in the Diocese of Lansing 24 cover story Rick and Susan helped their son answer the call to priesthood 31 last word How I became a priest

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Liturgical Calendar: Blessed Junipero Serra, priest July 1 | Saint Thomas, apostle July 3 | Saint Elizabeth of Portugal July 5 | Saint Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr July 6

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special report

New York Cardinal, Timothy M. Dolan, is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

U.S. bishops’ statement on Supreme Court decisions on marriage

T

he U.S. Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 mark a “tragic day for marriage and our nation,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. The statement follows: “Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice

saint of the month

The missionary of the Rosary Saint Dominic Feast Day: August 8

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requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage. It also is unfortunate that the Court did not take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8 but instead decided not to rule on the matter. The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth. These decisions are part of a public debate of great consequence. The future of marriage and the wellbeing of our society hang in the balance.

“Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation of a mother and a father.

“Our culture has taken for granted for far too long what human nature, experience, common sense and God’s wise design all confirm: the difference between a man and a woman matters, and the difference between a mom and a dad matters. While the culture has failed in many ways to be marriage-strengthening, this is no reason to give up. Now is the time to strengthen marriage, not redefine it.

“When Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage – the lifelong, exclusive union of husband and wife – he pointed back to “the beginning” of God’s creation of the human person as male and female. (see Matthew 19) In the face of the customs and laws of his time, Jesus taught an unpopular truth that everyone could understand. The truth of marriage endures, and we will continue to boldly proclaim it with confidence and charity.

“Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decisions, with renewed purpose we call upon all of our leaders and the people of this good nation to stand steadfastly together in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for life. We also ask for prayers as the Court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.”

Background information can be found at tinyurl.com/USCCB-DOMA

In 1208, Pope Innocent III began a seven year crusade against the Albigensians in response to the heretical movement’s murder of a papal legate. The Albigensians, who had grown very popular by this time, had a dualistic worldview wherein two, equal forces (God, the force of good, and Satan, the force of evil) battled for dominance. Moreover, they held the Gnostic belief that the physical world itself was evil because it had been

FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

For continuing coverage, visit www.FAITHpub.com

created by the evil Satan.

Saint Dominic (1170-1221), who had already been preaching against the heresy, followed the crusading army in order to continue to preach to the heretics. However, he had very little success in converting the Albigensians.

Frustrated, Saint Dominic entered in the chapel of Notre Dame at Prouille and began to prayer. He soon found himself complaining to Mary, the Mother of God.

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and companions, martyrs July 9 | Saint Benedict, abbot July 11 | Saint Henry July 13 | Sa

75th CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LANSING

Anniversar y

of

the

Diocese

of

Lansing

The Diocese of Lansing celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Throughout the year, we’ll be presenting pieces of our history, thanks to our diocesan historian, Msgr. George Michalek.

The Diocese of Lansing and the U.S. Church

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number of people in the Diocese of Lansing have contributed to the national Church. We profile a few of them here.

Pat Rinker is director of the Offices of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry in the Diocese of Lansing. He and his wife, Karen, live in Lansing.

Currently, Pat is chair of the NCCYM 2014 Workshop Subtask Group and a member of the Youth Ministry Development Committee. Both committees are part of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.

He is also liaison to the Evangelization Task Group for the Youth Ministry Development Committee.

“What I love about my work, whether it’s local or regional is this: It’s Church,” he says. “It’s the Body of Christ.”

Laure Krupp, a Montrose, Mich., native, works now in Portland for the

However, Our Lady responded to his complaints by appearing to him with a rosary in her hand. She said, “Wonder not that you have obtained so little fruit by your labors, you have spent them on barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of divine grace. When God willed to renew the face of the earth, he began by sending down on it the fertilizing rain of the angelic salutation (or what we now know as the Hail Mary prayer). Therefore preach my Psalter composed of 150 angelic salutations and 15 Our Fathers, and you will obtain an abundant harvest.”

Oregon Catholic Press. In her work, she oversees a team of people working with more than 400 conventions, concerts, retreats and workshops a year.

“I am in the fortunate situation of hearing the hopes and dreams of people who plan events for their parishes and dioceses. It’s a rare day that I’m not wiping tears from my eyes because I am so moved by the passion the people in the American Catholic Church have to respond to the challenge of the New Evangelization from Blessed John Paul II.” Dr. Eileen Jaramillo is a judge in the Tribunal for the Diocese of Lansing.

She also teaches a course in canon law in the Siena Heights University Theology Program. Originally from Belen, N.M., Eileen has advanced degrees in theology and canon law.

At the national level, she is a member of the Canon Law Society of America; has served as chair of the Nominations and the Appellate Review Board; and was elected consultor on the CLSA Board of Governors in 2006.

As the future founder of the Dominicans began praying the rosary, the conversions of the Albigensians increased precipitously.

In fact, Saint Dominic’s devotion to the rosary led to over 100,000 conversions.

Devotion to the rosary continued to spread across Christendom well past Saint Dominic’s death. Our Blessed Lady had made known to Saint Dominic in the rosary a kind of preaching then unknown.

She promised him that the rosary would be one of the most powerful antidotes to heresy and sin, as well as an aid in future difficulties.

Pat Rinker

Laure Krupp

Dr. Eileen Jaramillo

Rita Thiron

“In February, I was nominated for the position of vice-president/president elect … I am only the seventh woman [in CLSA’s 75-year history] to ever be nominated for that position. It is quite an honor regardless of the outcome.”

Rita Thiron, of Grand Blanc, is the Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Lansing. She and husband Mark have two grown children.

Rita has served the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, in roles ranging from vice chair of the Board of Directors, to facilitator for national study days, member of the certification committee, and on the planning team for national meetings.

She has also served on the core committee for the National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministers; as a member of the Board of Directors for the North American Forum on the Catechumenate; and as a member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Education Committee.

“I am a teacher at heart,” Rita says.

“I love anything to do with liturgical formation, especially liturgical history.”

aint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church July 15 | Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 16 | Saint Camillus de Lellis, priest July 18 | Saint Apollinaris, bishop and martyr July 20 | Saint Mary Magdalene July 22

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yourlife Q

My boss is a complete micromanager – I feel as if I might as well not even be there, since she rewrites all my letters, and is constantly looking over my shoulder. Is there any way to get her to stop?

work life

a

Don’t count on it.

When subordinates feel harassed and diminished, they get defensive – either passively or aggressively. The boss becomes a fixation, a target. You can’t change her. But you can shrewdly manage yourself in a bad situation.

Since St. Augustine reminds us that “nothing in the world happens by chance” you have a God-given opportunity to help yourself and your boss.

Here are four possible steps: • Docility. It is a mark of docility to be ready to be taught (St.Thomas). Though it seems counter-intuitive, ask your boss for specific training. “My letters obviously aren’t up to par. I’d like to do better. Can you train me in better composition?

Or will you approve some outside training?” If she agrees, you both win. If she doesn’t, try a second tactic at a later date.

• Diplomacy. “Ma’am, do you think I have the skills for every aspect of my job? Some of your oversight makes me wonder if I should handle different tasks.” The ball is in her court to give critical feedback that should help you navigate or negotiate your future.

• Directing. Aristotle observed that “no man can be a long time in company with what is painful and unpleasant.” St. Thomas agrees and cites two responses to pain: either “shun whatever

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

melaniereyesphotography

How can I get my boss to stop looking over my shoulder?

Jim Berlucchi is the executive director of the Spitzer Center, whose mission is to build cultures of evangelization (www.spitzercenter.org). causes sorrow” or “pass to other things that give pleasure.” Given that formula, try focusing on the enjoyable aspects of your job. What things about your work, the environment and colleagues do you find pleasant and satisfying? Really focus.

Because aggravations and frustrations powerfully attract our attention, we must deliberately and frequently direct our thoughts to the good.

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) • Departure. If all else fails and you have options, actively seek another job.

I know how it feels to be on both the giving and receiving ends of micromanagement.

Cool-headed, rational action beats defensiveness. “Prudence is love choosing wisely between the things that help and those that hinder. The worth of prudence consists not in thought merely, but in its application to action.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica)

Saint Bridget of Sweden, religious July 23 | Saint Sharbel Makhluf, priest July 24

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Don Quillan

W

ould you like to grow in your relationship with Christ and learn more about Catholic teaching?

Has your Catholic faith ever been challenged in our “culture of disbelief”? This happens all the time: in the workplace, in the media and even at family gatherings.

Consider taking Intro to Theology at Holy Trinity Student Center on the campus of Eastern Michigan University

Hurry! New student admission ends August 15.

Classes start September 9.

Friday, Aug. 9

Apply online at www.shms.edu or call 313-883-8520

For ticket reservations with the Diocese, please call Bill Adler, Lansing Lugnuts at 517.485.4500 ext. 256.

Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013 (3 p.m. – 6 p.m.)

Any single man interested in learning more about priesthood, and who will be going into at least his junior year of high school, or is older, is invited to spend an afternoon with Bishop Boyea at the Bethany House in DeWitt (703 E. Main Street DeWitt, MI 48820) for discussion, prayer and dinner.

Several priests, as well as most of the Lansing seminarians, will be on hand, along with many men who are just like you – wondering about the priesthood.

Pastors often accompany men for this event, so it is encouraged that you ask your pastor about it if you

are interested.

Please contact your pastor or Father John Linden, vocation director for the Diocese of Lansing, at 517.342.2507 or jlinden@dioceseoflansing. org to RSVP for this opportunity to learn more about the awesome call to priesthood.

Also check out our website at www.dioceseoflansing.org/vocations

Carlson Productions

Bishop’s Prospective Seminarian Dinner

Y O U R

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develops in a child about family life, about marriage, about babies, about other boys and girls, about the way love is expressed, and about one’s own body. This kind of learning extends over a period of years. If a child fails to get a fact, it will not be nearly so serious as if he gets a wrong attitude about sex.”

From this, it is apparent that you and My child recently your child have been having “the talk” for a decade. The tenderness between you and turned 10 years old. your spouse demonstrates the loving relaIs that too young to tionship that led to your child’s conception. have the talk?

The attentive care given to your child helps develop an attitude of respect Parents in the toward others. The facts that 1950s make up the talk can be were conveyed over time, “Many Children are curious about themasking too, based on the authorities selves and others. Think of how many this question, child’s questions would go so far to times your child has asked you how too, leading the and concerns. say that sex education something works or why things happen. It is National EducaOur Catholic is only as good as the natural to have a curiosity about male and tion Association, faith has much to attitudes it develops in a female bodies, especially their differences. in collaboration say about the glory When children notice that a woman is pregchild about family life, about with the American and gift that we are. nant, this leads to questions about the unborn marriage, ... about the way Medical AssoWhen talking with love is expressed, and baby. Children learn through observations ciation, to prepare a your children, draw about one’s own of our behaviors and through our answers book to provide some on the wisdom of body.” to their questions. Your attitude will let answers. The questions Scripture: “Do you them know whether it is alright to that were addressed in that not know that your seek answers for the questions that book are relevant today, as are body is a temple of the arise. Respond naturally the responses.

Holy Spirit within you, to them and remember whom you have from that you don’t need to Going beyond just the facts. Mario God, and that you are explain everything at one Lerrigo and his co-author, Helen Southard, not your own? Therefore, time. Instead the child’s stressed the fact that sex education isn’t an glorify God in your body.” understanding will unfold event, but a series of interactions: “Many (1Cor 6:19a, 20) over time. authorities would go so far to say that sex education is only as good as the attitudes it Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

parenting journey

Is it time for the talk?

Q

a

T. Gennara

My ex-boyfriend won’t leave me alone. What do I do?

My ex-boyfriend won’t stop calling me or sending me cards. We go to the same school, and he keeps leaving notes in my locker. How can I get him to stop?

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bothering you. Next, talk to your ex-boyfriend. It is best that the talk takes place in the presence of a third person. Spell out clearly that what he is doing makes you uncomfortable and you want him to stop. In Scrip-

FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

S. Kendrick

Legally, harassment is an intentional behavior that is found threatening or disturbing. Your ex-boyfriend is harassing you.

Let your parents know that your ex-boyfriend will not stop

ture, we are reminded, “Give honor to all … (1Pt 2:17) That means honoring yourself and expecting others to do the same.

Document all episodes of harassment. Be as exact as possible with dates, times and people who know what is happening.

Most schools have harassment policies in place. You have the right to present your complaint.

conflict resolution

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

Saint James, apostle July 25 | Ss. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary July 26 | Saint Martha July 29

He

says:

She

“ Getting a tattoo is immoral.”

“It’s my body. I can do to it what I want.”

Mike says: Jenny wants to get a tattoo – I am really opposed to this and think it is immoral to “deface” our bodies that way. We are fighting about this all the time.

M

says:

Jenny says: It’s my body – not Mike’s. I don’t think it’s any of his business if I get a tattoo.

I don’t tell him to shave his beard.

What

do they do?

ike and Jenny’s disagreement sounds more like two children fighting over the last piece of candy and only thinking of themselves. As a married couple, there is no place for what is right for “me” – it is what is right for “us.” When Scripture calls for “two shall become one,” that is not a suggestion – that is what God is asking of us.

relationship will be wounded.

Two shall become one is about mutual Our experience is that there are at least ity, respect and self-less giving for the other. two levels in every disagreement – the topic Squabbling and continual fighting over an or object of the disagreement and each issue are not God’s plan for marriage. spouse’s feelings. Feelings are often diffi Instead of fighting over the issue, cult to articulate precisely and are, we would recommend Jenny and Mike dialogue; not therefore, seldom discussed. about getting a tattoo It would do Mike and Instead of or shaving of a Jenny well if they could fighting over beard, but about the focus on the feelings, the issue, we would feelings. Discussing such as, how does recommend Jenny and Mike feel when Jenny the “topics” without Mike dialog; not about cannot understand his discussing feelings getting a tattoo or shaving position and equally seldom builds of a beard, but dialog how does Jenny feel a relationship. about the feelings. when Mike cannot Discussing the understand her position? For starters, review and discuss, “How does it make me feel when you do not try to understand me?”

Likewise, “How does it make me feel when you ignore my position and my feelings?”

Making time in your busy schedules to work on the issues and talk about feelings can have a positive effect on the respect and honesty in your commitment to each other; thereby making your marriage stronger.

Once feelings are discussed, Mike and Jenny would be ready to discuss the issue of a tattoo. For Mike, it could be a history of negative connotations associated with tattoos; for Jenny, it may be a sign of belonging to a particular group, particularly if her friends, co-workers, and/or extended family members support a tattoo. To discuss the “tattoo” pros and cons without first discussing the feelings would be counterproductive, though.

We recommend Mike and Jenny discuss feelings, then motivations and then come up with a solution that does not detract from building up their marriage relationship.

T. Gennara

feelings behind the topic most often will lead to a solution.

Most often, disagreements stem from one spouse disregarding or ignoring the other spouse’s feelings; they may even agree with the other spouse’s position, but if their feelings are discounted and not discussed, the

your marriage matters

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

Pass along FAITH Magazine to a friend. Visit www.FAITHpub.com to purchase a gift subscription

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Y O U R

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culture

Philip Shippert

Read more culture at:

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop and doctor of the Church July 30 | Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest July 31 | Saint A

A display of support

“B

T. Gennara

ehind and prior to every vocation to the priesthood or the consecrated life there is always someone’s powerful and intense prayer: a grandmother’s, a grandfather’s, a mother’s, a father’s, a community’s; This is why Jesus said: ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest,’ that is, God the Father, ‘that he might send workers for the harvest!’ (Matthew 9:38) Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.” – Pope Francis

Michelle DiFranco is a designer and the busy mom of two children.

Pope Francis eloquently calls us to pray for vocations. And, in addition to prayer, we should examine the many ways in which the faithful can support those who have answered the profound call to give their lives to the ordained or consecrated life. It is humbling to meet people who have sponsored, counseled or even taken in those who are committing their life to Christ. The men and women who work or volunteer

for the Church throughout the What we later learned is that world are giving aid to those they were all made and donated who will give aid to all. by a local florist who, as a faith Each year, my husband and I ful Catholic, saw an opportunity attend a fundraiser dinner that to contribute to the cause. Did supports the seminary in our the presence of these centerdiocese. It is a wonderful and pieces directly save souls? Of well-produced event that we course not. Did they add beauty look forward to every summer. and culture to an event that is It’s great to see the generous intended to support the advance support of so many contributing of God’s kingdom here on earth? sponsors and the handiAbsolutely. And did they work of those please those who who, in large gathered that ways and night in the Did the small, lend name of presence of their talour wonthese centerpieces ents and derful directly save souls? Of gifts to seminarcourse not. Did they add beauty make ians? and culture to an event that the Indeed! is intended to support the event so At the advance of God’s kingdom special. end of here on earth?

One the night, Absolutely. year in the ladies particular were clamoreveryone was baning to take the tering about the unique donated pieces home. My and beautiful centerpieces on sister-in-law still displays one in the tables that complimented the family room of her cottage. the “Tuscan” theme of the night.

I consider them a great example Empty Italian wine bottles were and inspiration of how we can bound together with raffia, and all share our gifts to enhance a bouquet of sunflowers was the work of the Church and to artfully placed atop to make an support religious vocations. I arrangement that was both rustic also think they make a beautiful and elegant. decorative accent in any home!

Tuscan wine bottle centerpiece (Original design by floral designer David Calcaterra of Thrifty Florist)

Philip Shippert

This arrangement was originally designed using real, fresh cut flowers. But for this project, we are using artificial ones, so you can create an arrangement that will last for years. Should you choose real ones, substitute wet floral foam for dry and place in a small plastic bag. Also fill wine bottles with 2-3 inches of water.

Start by gluing the three bottles together (if you are using epoxy

Philip Shippert

• 3 empty wine bottles (with original labels) • Small dry foam floral cone • One bag of raffia • Small bag of Spanish moss • 3 medium to large sunflowers • 3-4 red gerbera daisies • 3-4 orange gerbera daisies • Extra filler flowers and greenery • Hot glue gun • Epoxy or glass cement (optional for adhering bottles)

for this, you will have to allow 24 hours for bonding). Make sure floral foam cone fits between the necks of the bottles. You may have to trim it, so that the wider diameter of the cone just crests the openings of the wine bottles. Using a hot glue gun, quickly add a few dots of glue all over the floral foam cone. Wrap the entire cone with a layer of Spanish moss and gently place in between the necks of the wine bottles. Using more hot glue, reinforce the areas where the moss-covered foam and glass meet. Trim and place a sunflower in each wine bottle. Carefully place the red and orange gerbera daisies into the floral foam, followed by any additional flowers and greenery.

Finish off by tying a bunch of raffia around the three bottles.

Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church Aug. 1 | Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop and martyr Aug. 2 | Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major Aug. 5 | Transfiguration of the Lord Aug. 6

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yourfaith in the know with Father Joe

Q

Dear Fr. Joe: How do you really know what your vocation is – is it just a feeling you have?

a

Wow – what a great question!

Thank you for sending this in; I pray this answer helps guide you.

I can’t believe I’m about to type this, but I’ve been a priest 15 years. Time and space constraints prevent me from going into too much detail, but I want to tell you something important: I’m a happy priest. I love serving God and his people this way and can’t imagine what my life would be like had I not accepted

God’s unbelievably generous and merciful invitation to be a priest. The funny thing is, I was so scared when I first sensed this call. There were many obstacles and situations that God had to overcome in and about me to get me here, but he sure did it.

What I’m going to offer you now is a small roadmap – a walk through what I discovered was important in hearing God’s call and living it in love. This walk brought me to the priesthood but, obviously, it won’t take

How much does a pirate pay for corn?

A buccaneer!

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

T. Gennara

How can I tell what my vocation is? everyone there. This may take you to married life, consecrated virginity, the religious life, missions – who knows?

I think the first thing I can offer you is a comfort. Your very question hints at the possibility that you want to know and obey God’s will for your life. If that is the case, then I tell you be at peace. You can be sure that, if you want God’s will done in your life, it will be. It is a great gift from God to know that if we give him permission, he will guide us along the right

If you’d like to submit a question for Father Joe to consider in a future column, please send it to: joeinblack@ priest.com. Father Joe is unable to personally answer questions. path. However, we must give him permission.

God is all-powerful, God is allknowing. He conquered sin and death for all time: dying for our sins and rising from the dead.

Yet, even with that, he waits for our permission before he acts in our lives. Because of how free will works, any pursuit of your vocation must begin with your surrender to God. The first step to surrendering to God is doing it through prayer. For me, the prayer was simple: “Lord, I give you permission to take control of my life. Show me what you want me to do and help me to do it.”

I prayed that prayer each day in college and through some of high school.

Once you give God your daily surrender, you can be confident that you will find and live your vocation in loving and joyful obedience to God. This leads us into the next step: Relax! I know it sounds crazy to type that, but to me, it’s so important. When we speak our daily (and sometimes hourly) surrender to God, we can know with confidence that we are not powerful enough to Illustration by Bob Patten

confound or confuse God. Make no mistake; your sin can slow the plan down, but when you take your daily surrender and repentance and offer them to God’s love and power, you can be at peace knowing God’s will has won.

So, you’ve surrendered to God and placed your trust in his guidance. How do you continue?

Through daily personal prayer and an active sacramental life.

We simply must spend time each day sitting with the Lord, reading and reflecting on his word and looking for ways to live those words in our daily lives. Make sure you talk to a person you look up to spiritually and find the way to pray that resonates with you. With that, be sure and immerse yourself in the life of your church. Find out who to talk to in order to get involved with the Mass in the way that matches your skills: reader, Mass set-up and/or serving, anything like that. Get close to

the liturgy through your prayer Beyond this, make sure that ful and active participation. Read you are talking to people about about the Mass in your spare their vocations. Ask that happy time and learn the rhythm and and holy married couple how heart of our sacred celebration. they met. Talk to priests who To me, reconciliation wasn’t love what they do and ask a big part of the path until them how they got there. Find seminary and that is people who clearly are one significant doing what God gap I noticed made them to Because in retrospect: do. Listen of how free will a gap that and ask works, any pursuit caused questions. of your vocation must a lot of Finally, begin with your surrender problems. be attento God. The first step to Because tive to surrendering to God of that, I the gifts is doing it through and talents urge you prayer.

God has to make sure given you. Look that the sacraat what people ment of reconcilicompliment you on or ation is a staple of your about and see where that fits into spiritual life. Be sure and go to the world around you. Whatever this sacrament at least once a life God is calling you to, he has month. Learning to be alert to given you all you need to be sin and the damage it does to faithful in it. The hints of that life us bears incredible fruit, as it can be found in your personality teaches us about the wonder of God’s unending mercy and love. and life skills.

I want to end this with a great prayer for discerning God’s will for your life that I got from the USCCB website.

Lord, my God and my loving Father, you have made me to know you, to love you, to serve you, and thereby to find and to fulfill my deepest longings. I know that you are in all things, and that every path can lead me to you.

But of them all, there is one especially by which you want me to come to you. Since I will do what you want of me, I pray you, send your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind, to show me what you want of me; into my heart, to give me the determination to do it, and to do it with all my love, with all my mind, and with all of my strength right to the end. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen I pray that God continues to bless and guide you all the days of your life!

Enjoy another day in God’s presence…

Join Us for Golf Wednesday, August 28, 2013 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

Individual Golfer Golfer Foursome

$175 $700

Tee Sponsorship

Golfer/Tee Sign Package

$300 $900

Not a golfer? Come join us for dinner $50 per person - Please RSVP! For registration and sponsorship, contact Lisa Weber at 517.342.2535 or e-mail Development@DioceseofLansing.org Golf brochure and registration form available online at www.DioceseofLansing.org www.dioceseoflansing.org

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spiritual fitness

How to find a moment of silence in your hectic life

Read more spiritual fitness at:

Don Quillan

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Saint Sixtus II, pope and Companions, martyrs Aug. 7 | Saint Dominic, priest Aug. 8 | Saint Teresa Be

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n our society today, we are inundated with so many material things and desires. We are surrounded by so many voices coming at us from all forms of the media. Our five senses are bewildered. The mind finds its receptors jammed: where to go, what to do next or at all. To make it all worse, we have lost our moorings.

We have lost the foundational principles of who we are, why we are and where we are going.

T. Gennara

charistic adoration, go there for a short time. Ask God to increase your faith. He knows you and wants to draw you into a relationship with him. His Holy Spirit, dwelling in you, will draw you to him.

But contrary to the world’s way, his voice is a “small, still” one. He does not choose to compete with all the loud voices around you.

His presence will bring peace and hope and insight into your daily activities and concerns if you give him time. This is Jesus, your beloved Lord and savior. He wants a relationship with you. Pope John Paul II called this “radiation therapy” for our lives.

Let his truth, his love become the bedrock of your daily life.

In a sense, go out from him to your work, your other responsibilities, and then return to him in your heart. Share with him The world cannot supply the answers, but God can. “Come what troubles you, what frightens you, what you hope for. Ask aside. Rest awhile. Come to me all you who labor and are heavily him to show you over the coming months, what he wants of burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 and Mark 6:31) you and desires for you.

I want to urge you to respond to the Lord’s invitation. It is a Your values, your priorities 9 things to do during call from the Lord, himself. “He knows how we are formed; he may change as God speaks eucharistic adoration remembers that we are but dust.” (Psalm 103:14) to your heart through his He understands our challenges, our trials and crosses, our diffi- Word and through your 1. Find a church that offers a cult relationships, our physical suffering, our losses and our needs time spent before his face time of prayer before the and he says, “Come to me …” in the Eucharist. When exposed Blessed Sacra Unfortunately, that is often the last place we turn. The world you truly let the Lord ment. says: Try this. Do this. Turn here. Go there. Buy this and your reveal himself to you and 2. Take your Bible with you difficulties will disappear. We’ve bought that, haven’t we? We’ve you to him through adorawhen you visit. tried this and that to reduce our stress and the challenges we face tion, your life will take on 3. Genuflect before the and nothing really works long term, does it? We can be tempted new dimensions and new exposed Blessed Sacrato cynicism, even despair. purpose. ment upon entering.

God will not lead us down false paths. He knows our need – Once your relationship is 4. Kneel in opening prayer. personally and completely. He formed us in our mother’s womb. He established and your faith 5. You may choose to reknows what we need and when and how and through whom. We begins to grow, priorities and main kneeling or to sit. turn to God and ask him to get into the driver’s seat of our lives values will become clearer 6. Read the psalms, slowly and direct us toward the goal for which he created us. We and clearer still, then you read the beginning of one try and seek to cooperate with his grace, his inspiration. begin to know the rest of the Gospels.

So how do we begin to live our daily lives, trusting for which 7. Don’t be discouraged in God? Find the Church nearest to you which you long if you fall asleep or are has eucharistic adoration. A few parishes have and the distracted. Just return to perpetual adoration. Some have it a day a week; peace that acknowledging his pressome have weekly benediction with a time of no one will ence and asking his help. adoration. take from 8. Kneel in closing prayer.

When you have found a church that has euyou.

9. Genuflect before the exposed Blessed SacraSister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. ment before departing.

Questions can be addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Year of FAITH – Year of PRAYER The Apostle Paul reminds us to “pray unceasingly.” (1 Thess 5:17) Certainly, we all have concerns we bring to God in prayer. But during our diocesan Year of Prayer, we invite everyone in the diocese to focus on a particular intention for an entire month.

Remember it in your private prayer. Ask the intercession of Mary and the saints when you participate in devotional prayer. Offer your daily labor or a day of fasting. Add an intercession to those you offer in your liturgical celebrations. Use these prayers to begin a parish meeting, class or the school day. Or simply take the time each day to recite the prayer, perhaps adding an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

July – for those who are ill and for medical professionals Just imagine, the power of all of us praying for the same intention. Just imagine,

when God’s grace inspires us to act on those prayers – to reach out to someone who has “fallen away,” to protect and educate children, or to stand up for the rights of migrants and refugees, etc.

And each day, our prayers will form each of us into a closer personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In turn, this will inspire and strengthen us to share Christ with others

enedicta of the Cross, virgin and martyr Aug. 9 | Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr Aug. 10 | Saint Clare, virgin Aug. 11 | Saint Jane Frances de Chantel, religious Aug. 12

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Read more theology 101 at:

Reuters

The Eucharist is Christ’s real presence with us.

Sacraments the way God is really present to us

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he story of God and humanity is a story of God’s invitation for us to enter into the relationship with the divine. All we profess, celebrate, live and pray constitutes the response to the invitation to communion.

This naturally and especially applies to our celebration of the sacraments for the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around them.

S. Olson

What is a sacrament?

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

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Specifically, a sacrament is an efficacious sign of grace. This is to say that a sacrament is capable of producing and conferring the grace that is promised.

This is accomplished through the rite by which the Church celebrates a sacrament, which both signifies and makes present the graces proper to that sacrament.

The efficacy of each sacrament finds its source in Christ himself because it is actually Christ who baptizes, “who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies.”

This is also why the Church teaches that the sacraments act “ex opere operato” (literally: ‘by the very fact of the action’s being performed’). For this reason, the

FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

sacrament is efficacious regardless of the personal holiness of either the celebrant or the recipient. However, the fruits of the sacraments do depend on the disposition of the one who receives them.

The seven sacraments The Church, by the “power of the Holy Spirit who guides her ‘into all truth’” has discerned over time that there are seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ. The seven sacraments are baptism, confirmation or chrismation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders and matrimony.

The three sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy orders, in particular, confer not only grace, but a “sacramental

Saint Pontian, pope and martyr and Saint Hippolytus, priest and martyr Aug. 13 | Saint Maximilian Kolbe, priest a

Year of FAITH – Year of PRAYER

theology 101 character or ‘seal’ by which the Christian shares in Christ’s priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions.” This means that these three sacraments configure the one who receives them to Christ and to the Church in a manner that is “indelible.” The indelible nature of the configuration “remains forever in the Christian as a positive disposition for grace, a promise and guarantee of divine protection, and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church.” Thus, these three sacraments can never be repeated.

How important are the sacraments?

We have previously seen that the Father’s plan for the salvation of all humanity is accomplished through the paschal mystery of the Son and the subsequent gift of the Holy Spirit present and active in the Church, which is the “means and the goal of God’s plan” of communion.

Likewise, we have noted that through the liturgy “Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church, ‘until he comes.’’’ However, it is through the sacraments that the divine life is dispensed to us – hence its importance and centrality to the life of the Church.

Further, the Church holds that the sacraments are necessary for the salvation of believers. Each sacrament confers the grace of the Holy Spirit who “heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.” This fruit is both personal and ecclesial. For the individual, it is life for God in Christ Jesus. For the Church, it is “an increase in charity and in her mission of witness.”

– Quotes from the Catechism (1113-1134, and 1210)

Bishop B.C. Butler on Vatican II Bishop Basil Christopher Butler, OSB (1902-1986) was a convert from the Church of England. He was a respected Scripture scholar and some would argue he was the pre-eminent English-speaking council father at the Second Vatican Council.

On the relationship between Aggiornamento and Ressourcement at Vatican II “The pastoral aim, the instinct of a charity that goes beyond all boundaries, the sense of mission not so much to human nature or the abstract human species, but to human persons and the actually existing human family, demanded that our aggiornamento should be conceived of in depth. The consequent need to discriminate between what the Church must always be, what the Gospel forever is, and the contingent elements in which, at any given moment, the Church presents herself in history, was driving the council to some criterion. And this drive took her gaze ever backwards, behind the counterrevolutionary Church, behind the Counter-Reformation, behind the medieval synthesis, back to the Church before the estrangement of East and West, to the Church before the confrontation with Greek culture and philosophy, to the primal source: to Christ in Palestine … Christ himself is the fullness of the divine revelation, and the content of the sacred tradition is just revelation, the word of God made flesh.

Thus the very need for accommodating the Church to the world of today and tomorrow, if it was not to lead to compromise with the world, must throw us back to our source.”

On the significance of Vatican II “If I look back upon the Council, it is not in order to contemplate it as an end achieved, but to understand it as a step toward the future. The great Council of Trent dominated the centuries that followed it, not merely by what it did but by the application made of its work by St Charles Borromeo and those who, like him, were determined that it should not remain a dead letter. Vatican II is at once a first step and, I venture to suggest, a new orientation…” – The Aggiornamento of Vatican II by B.C. Butler, OSB

Catechism Quiz The seven sacraments are categorized into three groups: those of initiation, of healing and…?

A. at the service of communion B. of return C. of annunciation D. none of the above Answer: A. Sacraments at the service of communion (Holy Orders and Matrimony). CCC 1534

unless otherwise noted.

and martyr Aug. 14 | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Aug. 15 | Saint Stephen of Hungary, Aug. 16 | Saint Bernard, abbot and doctor of the Church Aug. 20 | Saint Pius X, pope Aug. 21

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from the bishop

Why aren’t we listening to God’s call?

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Carlson Productions

hy aren’t there more priests? Ah, this is not really the question we should be asking ourselves. After all, Jesus promised not to leave us as orphans. He loves us and cares for his Church. So we can be fully assured that Jesus is calling men to the priesthood. The issue is that those being called are not hearing that call. So that is the question we should be asking, “Why are young men not hearing this call?” Yet, the real question is much broader, “Why are any of us not hearing God’s call in our lives?”

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

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In our diocese, Fr. John Linden, the Chair of our Department of Formation and our vocation director, along with Dawn Hausmann, the director of consecrated vocations, as well as Deacon Gerry Brennan, the director of the permanent diaconate and chair of a committee on strengthening marriage, have all been working to help create a culture of vocations.

A culture of vocations! What is that? It is an environment in which any one of us yearns to know what God is calling me to be in my life and then our generous response to God’s call. A vocation is not just what God is calling me to do for a career or a job or for a set time in my life. Rather, a vocation refers to the state of life to which God is calling me to give my whole life. The gift of my whole life

FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

can be made in marriage, in consecrated life, in the priesthood and the diaconate, in a state of permanent and dedicated single living for the Lord.

The first vocation to all of us was to baptism, that is, to be united to Christ and to become a dwelling place of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yet, truth be told, the vast majority of us had this decision made for us by our parents. The gift of baptism and the indwelling of God in our lives is such a great gift from God that our parents, quite rightly, did not want to deny us the grace and the strength of that gift. Too many of us, however, don’t see living our lives as living out our baptism, as being anointed disciples of Jesus Christ. A greater awareness of our being baptized would go a long way toward establishing a culture of vocations in our homes.

Unfortunately, we, as children, were not taught from our youth to ask God to guide our life choice.

Instead we spent a lot of our time figuring out what we would be “doing” during our life—doctor, teacher, lawyer, etc. Did we spend as much time figuring out whether we were being called to marriage? That, of course, is the state of life to which most people are being called by God. Marriage is not something we do, but something we are, much more important than a job or a career.

The same would be said for a religious vocation.

Now, obviously, we cannot create or contribute to a culture of vocations unless we are praying. It is only in our relationship with God that we can hope to hear God’s will in our hearts. When we pray with our kids at home, a part of that prayer should always be, “Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life you have given me; even more thank you for the give of my baptism. How do you want me to give my life back to you? Help me to be generous in doing this.”

Some might think that this column is trying to address primarily the need for priests, but that would miss the point. With great hope, the fruit of a culture of vocations will be many heavenly blessed marriages. That will be a tremendous good for our society as well as our Church. Vocations to holy orders and the consecrated Life will follow.

So, parents, have you asked your kids today, “What does God want you to be?” That is the real question we should be posing.

Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Aug. 22 | Saint Rose of Lima, virgin Aug. 23 | Saint Bartholomew, apos

The two newest priests ordained in the Diocese of Lansing, Father Paul Erickson (left) and Father John James Whitlock (right).

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Father Erickson’s first assignment is as parochial vicar at St. Gerard Parish in Lansing; Father Whitlock will be the parochial vicar at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Jackson and Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Michigan Center.

stle Aug. 24 Saint Monica Aug. 27 | Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church Aug. 28 | Passion of Saint John the Baptist Aug. 29

Photography by Tom Gennara

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ather John Whitlock is the son of Dennis and Mary Whitlock.

He graduated from St. Johns High School in St. Johns, and is a graduate of Grand Valley State University. His home parish is St. Joseph, Adrian. Father Whitlock graduated from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Father John James Whitlock

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I didn’t enter the Church until the end of my undergraduate studies, and so I entered seminary later than some of my classmates. My discernment of the call to the priesthood was a gradual process. It began as I became more and more involved in the Church, and was strengthened in prayer and by the encouragement of friends and my pastor.

Discernment continues even when a man enters the seminary; in fact, it becomes even more intense. The seminary is designed to help you come to know and be at peace with God’s perfect will for your life.

Today, there is not always a lot of support for men who feel called to the priesthood. And yet a man cannot pursue a vocation on his own. He really needs priests to mentor him. He needs parishioners to encourage him. Personally, I always will be grateful for the prayers of many religious sisters on my behalf. Besides these external supports, the seminarian must have a strong faith. What many call a “vocations crisis” in the Church is really a crisis of faith. When young people learn to love the Lord Jesus with their heart, mind and strength, and to seek his will alone as the first priority in their lives, we will again have all types of vocations in abundance.

One of the greatest gifts of diocesan priesthood is that you are able to meet wonderful people of faith everywhere you go. Just knowing this reality has changed how I view the world and gives me much hope. Furthermore, it is almost unfathomable to think that I am going to be able to offer Mass and to grant absolution in the sacrament of penance. It is at this point that a man really has to rely on the grace of being called by Jesus, because no one could ever dare take this upon himself any other way. I do not really have any expectations, except that I know God always will be faithful, come what may.

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ather Paul Erickson, the son of Brian and Arlene Erickson, was

born in Ann Arbor and grew up in Saline. His home parish is St. Andrew in Saline. Father Erickson is a graduate of Saline High School and the University of St. Thomas.

He is a graduate of Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

I first felt called to the priesthood after my freshman year in college (Eastern Michigan University). I took a second year at EMU as a kind of discernment year. In a nice stroke of providence, the on-campus parish, Holy Trinity, was offering housing to Catholic men eager to get out of the dorms.

Sixteen men moved in to the old frat house that the parish had leased. The men I lived with that year were extremely valuable in my discernment process. In fact, three of us entered seminary that next year. Talking and praying with those guys really watered the seed that the Lord had planted within me.

Overall, my family has been supportive. I don’t come from a particularly “religious” family, so I don’t think many of them really understand some of the decisions I’ve made, especially some of my extended family. However, they all have seen how much I have thrived in the seminary and how much I look forward to the ministry.

Father Paul Erickson

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What I hope to gain is a love for ministry. I have gotten tastes of it from other times in parishes, but to have the grace and responsibility of diaconal ministry is something altogether different from anything I have ever done before. Mainly, I hope, in a word, to learn how to love – to understand what it means to be the head of a parish community and pour myself out in service for them.

I am very eager to celebrate the sacraments. They were part of what drew me to the priesthood in the first place: to be the one who literally brings Jesus to people, to be the instrument of his mercy and healing, to re-offer his sacrifice for the nourishment of the faithful. It seems almost too good to be true.

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Jane Sessions from the Office of Formation in the entrance procession

Father Paul Erickson promises obedience to Bishop Boyea.

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Father John James Whitlock promises obedience to Bishop Boyea.

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Priests and ordinands vesting prior to Mass

Bishop Boyea blesses the congregation.

Fathers Paul Erickson and John James Whitlock at their ordination Mass

Fathers Erickson and Whitlock lie prostrate during ordination.

Bishop Boyea imposes hands on Father Erickson.

The parents of the newly ordained priests bring up the Offertory gifts.

Bishop Mengeling congratulates the new priests.

Father Erickson praying the words of the Consecration.

Bishop Boyea imposes hands on Father Whitlock.

Bishop Boyea anoints Father Erickson’s hands.

Father Whitlock concelebrating

Father Whitlock is vested in his priestly vestments.

Father Whitlock distributing Communion.

Father Erickson addresses the congregation.

Family, friends and members of the diocese fill the cathedral for the ordination Mass.

Ordination Mass, June 8, St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing

l-r Father John Linden (Diocese of Lansing director of formation), Father Paul Erickson, Bishop Earl Boyea, Father John James Whitlock, Bishop Carl Mengeling.

Photography by Tom Gennara

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W Walking into the Ann Arbor home of Susan and

Rick Mangan on a Saturday morning, you can al-

most hear the echoes of the busy, intergenerational family that once filled the comfortable space.

But on this day, with the smell of coffee brew-

ing in the kitchen, the only sound is the easy

exchanges of a couple whose familiarity has bred contentment.

Of course, the house isn’t always this quiet. The Mangans’ adult children and 12 grandchildren often gather there for holidays and celebrations – or just to hang out with their parents and each other. Four of their six children settled in or near Ann Arbor, while their youngest daughter, Rebecca, lives with her husband in Texas.

But last year, their son James made a new home for himself – in the priesthood. Ordained by Bishop Earl Boyea in June 2012, Father James’ first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s

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Church in God is calling.

Brighton. For How will you answer? now, at least, he God calls each of us to a life lived in is nearby. his love. Each call is unique and particu “I was quietly lar to each individual. pleased when The Diocese of Lansing’s Department Jim expressed of Formation is committed to accompathat he wanted nying all those who are discerning where to become a they are being called and the use of priest,” Rick their gifts – priesthood, consecrated life, says. “But we religious life, marriage and family, or lay never talked ecclesial ministry. about the Visit the Department of Formation website priesthood or for resources on discernment, upcomintroduced it. ing events, diocesan contacts for vocation We just wanted discernment and online resources. our children www.dicoeseoflansing.com/vocations to be strong Christians and Catholics with solid virtue. We focused on obedience and respect.”

In fact, though Rick and Susan never did anything to suggest to Father Jim that he might have a vocation, everything they did to establish a loving, faithful family created exactly the environment in which a call to God’s service might be heard.

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Of course, hearing God’s call to a vocation – whether to the games. Nothing violent. priesthood, religious life, single life, or marriage – isn’t as simple “We also put a high value on family meals. I was home full as, say, turning on the radio. But, for the Mangans, Catholic radio time. I didn’t work outside the home until Rebecca started played a significant role in helping them to revitalize their faith school, and then only part time. I was careful, when I was raisand create a home defined by their Catholic identity. ing my children, not to divide my time between my family and Susan and Rick met when they both lived in Ann Arbor. Susan other commitments.” was a student at the University of Michigan; Rick gravitated to It was this kind of atmosphere – and the leadership provided Ann Arbor because he heard there was a charismatic community by his parents – that Father James says allowed him to listen there and he was interested in joining it. They remained in the for God’s call to the priesthood. community for about 10 years.

“Reflecting on growing up with my parents, I would say “We realized our Catholic faith offered a lot and decided to take what they taught me most was faith and simplicity,” he says. greater advantage of that,” Rick says. “We’re both cradle Catholics, “With faith, they had the perspective that God is the most imbut at some point we decided to really believe it.”

Catholic schools supporting vocations “We were always prayerful as a family. We said the rosary and, The Catholic high schools of the Diocese of Lansing foster a supportive environment for voof course, we went to Mass,” cation discernment – whether it is to marriage, consecrated life, the priesthood or lay ecclesial Susan explains. “But we reached ministry. The four diocesan high schools are: the point where we wanted to • Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor www.edline.net/pages/Fr_Gabriel_Richard_HS learn more about the sacra• Powers Catholic High School, Flint www.powerscatholic.org ments and really focus on our • Lumen Christi High School, Jackson cslumenchristi.org Catholic faith.”

• Lansing Catholic Central High School, Lansing www.lansingcatholic.org Catholic radio helped them For more information, visit www.dioceseoflansing.org do that.

Susan began listening to Al Kresta and other Catholic radio personalities and sharing portant thing. God was always someone who was close. They with Rick her enthusiasm for what she heard. “We developed gave me that awareness of his presence. a stronger sense of ourselves as Catholics and realized that the “And by simplicity, I mean that they taught us that God is Catholic Church has it all.” love, and we didn’t need more than that. They weren’t ob Rick and Susan, members at St. John the Baptist Catholic sessed with material things.”

Church in Ypsilanti, also are now consecrated catechists with When the time came to respond to God’s invitation, Father the Marian Catechist Apostolate.

James says he never had to explain his vocation to his family.

As Rick and Susan “went deeper” into their faith, their “I suppose it was kind of a surprise to them,” he says. “But parenting decisions reflected their new way of understanding because of the faith and simplicity they taught me, I knew that themselves as a Catholic family.

God is the purpose in life.”

“Our four older children primarily went to public schools, but as we became more immersed in our faith, we chose Catholic schools. The public schools did a good job of educating them, but, for Jim and Rebecca in particular, attending Gabriel Richard High School definitely helped support their Catholic identity.”

In addition to being influenced in their parenting vocation by their faith, the Mangans also gave their children the gift of an intergenerational home by inviting Susan’s parents to live with them. “The kids had other older people that they could relate to besides their parents,” Rick says. “It was an environment that used to be more common, but in our culture is very rare.”

In fact, being a bit “counter-culture” was important to Susan.

“I was always suspicious of American culture,” she says. “We were infrequent TV viewers – we didn’t watch any regular programming – and we only had Mario Brothers types of video

By Marybeth Hicks | Photography by Tom Gennara

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yourcommun community

things to do: Lansing Catholic Singles invite all singles, mid 30s-60s, to its upcoming events: July 12, Lansing Lugnuts baseball game, $11, RSVP by July1; July 27, Mass, dinner and movie night in Williamston; Aug. 2, Happy Hour and Putt-Putt in Lansing; and Aug. 17, day at the beach and Lake Michigan. For information or to RSVP, call 517.321.7886 or email lansingcatholicsingles@ live.com. New members are always welcome.

July 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. John Catholic Church, 2099 N. Hacker Rd. in Howell will host its fourth annual Car Show. General admission is $2 per car and show car entry fee is $20 per car. Please contact the parish at 517.546.7200 for information or questions.

Aug. 1-2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-noon, St. John Parish in Howell will have a Treasure Sale. Donations for the sale can be dropped off at Thompson Hall after all Masses on July 28 and July 29-31, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Aug. 5-9, St. Mary, Chelsea will have Vacation Bible School, with a theme of Lava Island. Call the parish at 734.475.7561 to volunteer or register your child.

Aug. 9, Knights Family Night to Celebrate Vocations at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing. For information, contact Knight Rep. Cliff Farr at farrcd@ gmail.com.

Aug. 9-11, St. James Church in Mason will host its fourth annual Community Festival and Camino 8K/5K – festival highlights include hot-air balloons, great music, family fun and more.

Proceeds from the race will help

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Catholic Charities Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties, 517.782.2551 or www. catholiccharitiesjacksonhlenaweehillsdale.org Aug. 9, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. and Aug. 10, 9 a.m.-noon, a WE C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class will be held at Queen of the Miraculous Medal in Jackson. Registration is four weeks prior to the class.

St. Vincent Catholic Charities, www.stvcc.org or 517.323.4734, ext. 1700 Two classes: July 13 and 20, 9 a.m.-noon, a WE C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class will be held at Cristo Rey Parish, Guadalupe Hall, 201 W. Miller Rd; and Aug. 17 and 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at Church of the Resurrection, rectory basement, on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Rumsey.

Registration is four weeks prior to the class.

Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties Volunteer opportunities are available for youth and families throughout the summer months. To see how your group can serve those in need at Catholic Charities, call 810.232.9950 ext.226/228.

Join us in prayer, on the third Thursday of each month, everyone is welcome to celebrate 8:45 a.m. Mass with us in the chapel of St. Michael Church, 609 E. Fifth Avenue in Flint, as we offer the prayer intentions of Catholic Charities’ clients and staff.

WE C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes will be held July 12-13 at St. Robert Bellarmine in Flushing and Aug. 10 and 17 at St. John the Evangelist in Fenton. Registration is $75. Call 810.232.9950 for information. support St. Vincent Catholic Charities. For more information, email festivalstjames@gmail.com or visit www.festivalstjames.com for a complete list of activities.

Aug. 17, St. Mary, Williamston, Knights of Columbus Council 7545 will have its 12th annual Charity Golf Outing in memory of Mike Pitlanish at Wheatfield Valley Golf Club in Williamston.

For information, contact William Pulling at 517.214.7570 or Lynn at 517.490.3242.

Aug. 24-25, St. Michael will have its Parish FunFest with games, delicious food, raffles and more. For information, call 517.627.8493 or visit stmichaelgl.org/.

Aug. 31, 9 a.m.-noon, a Tribunal Workshop for those who have questions about submitting annulment cases will be at Christ the King, 4000 Ave Maria Dr., Ann Arbor, Mengeling Room, accessible through the church.

Presenter Dr. Eileen Jaramillo; questions: 517.342.2560.

Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor Labor Day Weekend Festival – games for kids

FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

and teens include petting farm, bungee jump, rock climbing wall, and more. Also Vegas tent, bingo, grand prize raffle, plus live music and great food. For more information, call 734.662.8141 or visit stpatricka2.org.

Sept. 28, St. Michael Parish in Flint will celebrate its 170th anniversary, Mass at 5 p.m. celebrated by Bishop Earl Boyea followed by dinner, music and a silent/live auction. Tickets are $15 per person advance or $20 at the door. For information or tickets, contact Mary Beth at 810.238.2679.

Unbound: Freedom in Christ Conference – Find out how to change your prayer life and enter into a deeper and closer relationship with Christ. Unbound: Freedom in Christ conference will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, 1531 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, the evening of July 12 through July 13. Neal Lozano, the author of the book Unbound, and his wife Janet will be presenting at the conference. For more information, call the parish office a 517.482.4749 or email Ann Berger at liv4him2011@ hotmail.com.

Summer Scripture Days – Aug. 13-15, Summer Scripture Days at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. The First Evangelization will be studied. Join us as Kevin Perrotta opens our eyes and hearts to grasp the love of Christ in our everyday lives. Register prior to Aug. 2. Brochures are available in your church vestibule or contact Diane at 517.342.2465 or darzberger@dioceseoflansing.org St. Casimir Corn Roast Festival – August 16-18.

Great food, that famous corn on the cob, beer tent, dancing, raffles and children’s games.

Friday 6 p.m.-midnight (adult night & dancing to a live band, 9 p.m.-midnight). Saturday 8 a.m. 5K Run/Walk; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. blood drive, festival begins at 3:00 p.m-midnight with children’s area, 3-9 p.m. and dancing to live band 9-midnight, Pasta Dinner from 5-8 p.m.

Sunday 12:30 – 3 p.m. featuring a pulled pork dinner. Be sure to purchase your $20.00 raffle ticket for a chance to win $5,000. Don’t miss it! For more information, please call 482.1346.

nity

Office of Child and Youth Protection If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church: Please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every diocese in the United States now has a Victim Assistance Cordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help make a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative if you desire.

The victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Lansing is:

Retreats Weber Retreat Center, 1257 E. Siena Heights Dr., Adrian, 517.266.4000 or www.weber.adriandominicans.org July 8-12, Private directed retreats; July 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Meditation

by Design; July 19-20, Dimension of Earth-Keeping: Biblical, Legal and Practical; and July 21-27, “In the beginning was the WORD …”

Dominican Center at Marywood, 2025 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, 616.454.1241 or dominicancenter.com July 17, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., $15, Mary/Maryam: A Catholic/Muslim Conversation St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 E. Main St., DeWitt, 866.669.8321 or www.stfrancis.ws July 15-16, Directed Retreat: A quiet time with the availability of daily spiritual direction and liturgy.

Call the Dominican Center for information or to register 313.387.9574.

Adrienne Rowland, LMSW, ACSW 1.888.308.6252 arowlandvac@dioceseoflansing.org

Coordinador o coordinadora de asistencia a las víctimas Si has sido víctima de abuso por alguien que representa la Iglesia Católica: Por favor, cree en la posibilidad de esperanza, y de ayuda y sanación. Te exhortamos a presentarte y declarar. Cada (arqui)diócesis/eparquía en Estados Unidos tiene ahora un coordinador o coordinadora de asistencia a las víctimas a quien puedes acudir para que te apoye en tus necesidades, te ayude a hacer una denuncia formal de abuso ante la (arqui)diócesis/eparquía, y a solicitar una reunión personal con el obispo o su representante, si así lo deseas.

El coordinador o coordinadora de asistencia a las víctimas en tu (arqui)diócesis/eparquía es: Adrienne Rowland, LMSW, ACSW 1.888.308.6252 arowlandvac@dioceseoflansing.org

Pilgrimages 2013 National Shrine Pilgrimage – Aug. 29-Sept. 1, the diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry will host the “7th Woman of Hope Pilgrimage” to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. Cost of $140 per person provides transportation, housing at Trinity College, breakfast for three days, as well as a departure brunch on Sunday. For information, contact Ron Landfair, 517.342.2496 or

Deacon assignments for those ordained in May 2013: • Deacon Randal Philip Desrochers, St. Joseph, Dexter • Deacon David Alan Drayton, St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing, with an additional special assignment to the St.Vincent DePaul Center, Lansing • Deacon David Michael Jansen, St. Pius X, Flint • Deacon Joseph Yeong-Ming Jong, St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing, with an additional assignment to the Chinese community in the diocese, especially the Chinese students at Michigan State University • Deacon Thomas Edward Loewe, St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor • Deacon John Albert Marsh, St. Isidore, Laingsburg • Deacon Don Michael Martin, St. Mary, Chelsea

rlandfair@dioceseoflansing.org.

Year of Faith – Nov 12-21, Msgr. Steven Raica, chancellor of the Diocese of Lansing, invites you to join him for a pilgrimage to Italy for the Year of Faith. Places to visit will include Florence, Assisi, Orvieto and Rome. Participation in the general audience of Pope Francis is included. For more information, email Msgr.

Raica at sraica@dioceseoflansing. org. Details and complete itinerary are found at http://pilgrimagesbycts.com/upcoming-pilgrimages/ tour-details/50/Italy/Year-ofFaith-Pilgrimage/.

• Deacon Mark Eugene Millage Sr., St. John the Baptist, Ypsilanti • Deacon John Anthony Ozog, Christ the King, Ann Arbor • Deacon Kenneth Carl Preiss, Holy Redeemer, Burton • Deacon Richard Lawrence Rymar, St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing • Deacon Phillip Devon Wolfe, St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton

Holy Land Pilgrimage – Nov. 25-Dec. 4, Deacon Gene Hausmann, his wife Jean and Father Tom Wasilewski are hosting a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The 10 days will enable us to see all the major locations of key Gospel events as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and celebrate Mass at the holy sites daily. Cost: approximately $2,900, includes airfare departing from and returning to Metro Airport in Detroit, first class hotel accommodations in Jerusalem, breakfasts, dinners and deluxe motor coach. For information, contact Gene and Jean at 517.592.8602 or genehausmann@msn.com.

C e l e b r at i n g 2 0 y e a r s

1993 – 2013

Find a catholic church anywhere in the world

Transitional deacon assignments: • Deacon Gary Kenneth Koenigsknecht, St. Agnes, Fowlerville • Deacon Todd Wayne Koenigsknecht, St. Mary, Williamston • Deacon William Vincent Richardson IV, St. Mary Student Parish, Ann Arbor • Deacon James Robert Rolph, St. John the Evangelist, Davison

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local news

No taxes for abortion insurance Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church, Jackson, hosted a “No Taxes for Abortion Insurance” training session. Pamela Sherstad, director of public information and David Malone, director of political action, from the Right to Life Grand Rapids State Central, explained to those attending what must be done to collect the 258,000 signatures needed to allow insurance companies to opt-out of abortion coverage.

Sherstad said, “We are lucky to be in a state where we can initiate legislation,” and added, “There are 21 states that have opted out of covering abortion. People who want that coverage will have to add a rider to their policy.” – Jan Hoffbauer

St. Martha announces 2013 scholarship winners

Powers High School’s last Mass Bishop Earl Boyea celebrated the last Mass at Luke Powers Catholic High School on Carpenter Road in Flint on June 7.

He thanked all the people who had a part in its 43-year tradition and to those who provided the resources for a new school.

Father Steve Mattson, superintendent of schools, Sally Bartos, acting principal, and Tom Furnas, principal on assignment,who received a standing ovation for their work in seeing the vision of the new school on Court Street.

The choir, students and others at Mass sang with joyfulness, under the leadership of Macy Forsleff, choir director at Powers for 16 years. After Mass, they sang the Powers fight song, “The Wildcat Victory” with enthusiasm.

Those attending took a quick tour of the new school, which is scheduled to open in September 2013. Almost 100 workers are busy preparing the former school for the deaf and the new annex, which will be able to accommodate 800 students.

Holy Spirit Catholic School raises $33,000 On May 4, Holy Spirit Catholic School in Brighton welcomed Father Steve Mattson, superintendent of Catholic schools, to their second annual Raffle Roast. The Raffle Roast is held every year to thank the many parishioners of Holy Spirit for their help with selling tickets. This is the school’s biggest fundraiser and parishioners raised almost $33,000, which goes directly toward supporting the school. Later this summer, they will begin a Capital Campaign fundraiser for a new school building.

Diocesan priests celebrating 25th anniversary Rev. Francis Mossholder, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle, Saline was ordained to the priesthood July 1, 1988; Rev. Terrence Dumas, senior priest, and Rev. James Eisele, pastor of St. Michael, Grand Ledge, were ordained to the priesthood Aug. 27, 1988.

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FAITH Magazine / July/August 2013 / www.FAITHpub.com

St. Martha, Okemos’ Knights of Columbus awarded three scholarships valued at $1,500 each to: Nate Eggleston, Emma Frost and J.P. Harron. The following also were awarded: Morgan Dahnke received the Lauren Thompson Scholarship and Clare VanSteel received the St. Therese Award. They are all pictured here with Father Jonathan Wehrle.

Eucharistic procession to respect life More than 100 faithful joined a procession of the Blessed Sacrament in honor of the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday, June 1. The procession began at Lansing’s Resurrection Parish, traveled through the campus of Lansing Catholic High School and stopped for prayer at WomenCare abortion clinic, just two blocks north of the high school. The procession, led by Fathers Mark Rutherford and Gordon Reigle, celebrated eucharistic adoration and incorporated prayers for respect for life.

St. Pius X School receives green school certification St. Pius X Catholic School has been awarded the state of Michigan’s Green School certification for the sixth year in a row. Between March 2012 and March 2013, students and staff accomplished 20 criteria necessary to be recognized by the state for motivating students and parents to become more environmentally friendly and making the earth a safer and healthier place to live. The school’s paper recycling efforts have collected more than 180 tons of newspaper. Other regularly recycled items include batteries, ink cartridges and toner, cell phones, old computer equipment and electronics, plastic aluminum and biodegradable milk cartons. Even its school uniforms are recycled as part of a used uniform sale each fall.

How I became a priest

D

o I have a vocation? Yes, we all do, and each of us has a particular story about our own calling. There are many unique accounts, many “ways” in which God has called us.

So I’ll simply tell you what happened to me.

My awareness of God’s call to the priesthood came late, as it was thought back in the 1960s, when I was a freshman in law school. I had experienced some huge losses and was asking myself fundamental questions about God. Just what kind of a God is God, I asked? I came to realize that if Jesus Christ was God the Son, and if he suffered and died for us and then rose from the dead, then what he had to share with us was of infinite importance – and I wanted to be a part of his caring for us.

The example of two wonderful priests at

St. Mary Student Chapel in Ann Arbor had a profound influence on my first thoughts about being a priest. I sought out some priests whom I very much admired and, through their advice, after a short time as a lawyer, I entered Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit in 1960 at age 27. The Second Vatican Council would not even begin for another two years. I was ordained in1967, when I was 34.

It is important to point out that discerning whether or not one has an authentic vocation takes place in a seminary.

Certainty eludes everyone until the day the bishop places his hands on your head and ordains you. It is the Church that authenticates your vocation. You don’t do that on your own.

But there are “signs” as you think about entering the seminary.

Is your perception of a call from God persistent?

last word Do people who really know you, your family in particular, think it’s a good idea?

Does your imagination cause you to see yourself celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and being at the disposal of people?

Are you happy when you serve others? Is your heart a compassionate heart? Do you realize that without God you are powerless and that without Christ’s love working through you, you will be useless?

If you think you have a vocation to be a priest, then seek out kind, loving and compassionate priests and talk to them about what you are experiencing. Always remember that your vocation is the Church’s, not your own. If you think it’s your own, you will drive people away and not attract them to the love of Jesus that should flow through you into the souls of God’s sons and daughters. It’s only then that you will deserve to be called “Father.”

Father Charles Irvin is the founding editor of FAITH Magazine and is retired.

Catholic Charities’ therapy dogs

Father Paul Grehl celebrates 25th anniversary

Takoda and Leo are two German shepherds that are Fleet Therapy dogs.

They are used in group therapy and allowed to wander through the building to welcome clients and help them to relax and de-stress.

Adrienne Rowland, clinical director at Catholic Charities of Jackson, was trained with them. She noted, “The kids who come here will tell the dogs things they won’t tell adults.”

Adrienne also said, “The dogs are good with the parolees who come for treatment. They often are ostracized, but the dogs love everyone and don’t care what someone has done.”

As part of the program, the dogs travel to the Catholic Charities’ Lenawee County site once a week for therapy sessions.

If you are interested in this program, please contact Catholic Charities Jackson office at 517.782.2551 or Lenawee/Hillsdale office at 517.263.2191. – Jan Hoffbauer

Father Paul Grehl concelebrated Mass with Father Joe Krupp at St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach to celebrate 25 years as a sacramental minster for the parish.

ArborVitae Women’s Center in Ann Arbor ArborVitae Women’s Center is a pregnancy counseling center in the heart of the University of Michigan Campus. The staff empowers women with the knowledge, tools and caring support needed to embrace a bright future and make healthy, life-affirming decisions, instead of an abortion.

Aug. 19, the second annual ArborVitae on Par for Life Golf Outing and Dinner will take place at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor. At noon, 150 golfers will take the course. Dinner, entertainment and silent and live auctions will follow.

The fundraiser helps support more than 60 percent of ArborVitae’s annual budget. You are invited to join ArborVitae when they come together to celebrate the gift of life – our lives, the lives of women lost and the lives of those yet unborn.

All programs are offered confidentially, respectfully and free of charge. For information, contact Iris Proctor, executive director at director@annarborvitae. com. – Jan Hoffbauer

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notes:

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Father James Kubicki, S.J. Teresa Tomeo Most Rev. Bishop Earl Boyea

Saturday, October 26, 2013 Best Western Plus - Lansing

General Admission

Students and Seniors 62+

$50 ($60 after 9/25)

$40 ($50 after 9/25) ··~

t

For more information, visit www.LansingDioceseCWC.com

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