July/August 2020

ORDINATION

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Father Michael Cassar and Father John Vinton ordained for the Diocese of Lansing

INSIDE JULY/AUGUST

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4 special report • R acism – What does the Church have to say?

• F AITH Interview – Father Norman Fischer • T he Venerable Father Augustus Tolton

YOUR FAITH

8 in the know with Father Joe What does a priest do all day?

YOUR STORIES

18 feature story Tammy provides faith-based counseling in this difficult time – ‘There is always hope, there is always help’ 2

2 0 sacramental life

• T he sacramental life – What

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SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS

are the seven sacraments?

• T ory has patiently waited to say ‘I do’ – at her baptism and her wedding • I n the midst of confusion, God is near

YOUR LIFE

26 marriage matters He says: ‘I think we should take the chance and visit our grandchildren.’ She says: ‘I’m not really willing to take a chance on COVID-19 to do it.’ What do they do?

27 parenting At-home Vacation Bible School

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work life

Working from home long-term?

Be effective

PLUS

28 grow+go • T he grace of confirmation empowers us • F or Ola, accompaniment is all about community

P. 26

FROM THE BISHOP

Open wide our hearts AS I WRITE THIS COLUMN, we are in the midst of another unjustified death of a black man at the hands of a law enforcement officer. This sad and demoralizing action has again raised before our eyes the specter of racism, an attitude that denies or ignores the fact that we are all brothers and sisters, made in the image of Almighty God. When this moves beyond unconscious attitudes to deliberate actions, then we have committed serious sin, as St. John tells us: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.” (1 Jn 3:15) Back in 2018, we bishops noted: “We read the icans has been much more complicated than headlines that report the killing of unarmed Afthese other behaviors as it was tied to slavery, rican Americans by law enforcement officials.” to Jim Crow laws, to separate but equal statutes (Open Wide Our Hearts, a pastoral letter against and other racist structures. Many of these racism) As long as human beings exist, we actions have endured into our own lifetimes. It know that such sin will continue. But we do not takes a more intentional, concerted effort on need to be part of it. The bishops’ letter urged all our parts to act against certain ingrained three actions: do justice, love goodness and instincts in ourselves and in our society. walk humbly with God. To love goodness (see Mi 6:8) is to carry out this inTo do justice requires tentional and concertBISHOP BOYEA that we recognize the ed effort every day. rights belonging to evThis means we daily DECLARES SIX ery human life because practice loving our DAYS OF PRAYER these rights flow from neighbor as ourselves.

God. We bishops have Love is at the core of AND FASTING FOR hammered away at what needs to take the right to life of the hold of our hearts. FaPEACE, JUSTICE AND unborn, and justifiably ther Augustus Tolton, RECONCILIATION so. But those rights an African-American do not end when a priest whom we are Bishop Boyea declared six Fridays human being is born. praying will soon be in June and the beginning of July as We must be pro-life named a saint, showed from conception to deep love in service days of prayer and fasting in order natural death for everyof others. We can do to seek peace, justice and reconciliaone. Justice requires no less. tion for all the people of the United that we be in a right Finally, to walk States. These six days lead up to the relationship with God, humbly with God, we anniversary of the death of Venerable with all our neighbors know that any change Augustus Tolton, on July 9. Venerand with creation itself. in us is a work of grace able Augustus Tolton was a former One major factor which for which we must pray slave who became the first black often prevents mainand to which we must priest in the United States in 1886. taining such a right be open. We need to relationship with others recognize our own is our lack of dialogue, sinfulness, repent of it of listening to each and seek God’s forgiveother’s stories and often the pain contained ness and healing, which is most generously in those stories. This lack has led through our offered us. Such walking is both with God and history to mistreatment of Native Americans, with others. We need to encounter those who Hispanics, other ethnic groups and religious are often out of our sight-lines and value them. groups – and we Catholics were often on the All this entails conversion, a change of heart. receiving end of such behavior.

So, let each of us do our best to open wide our But our historical treatment of African Amerhearts.

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SPECIAL REPORT:

RACISM what does the Church have to say?

Recent events have reignited national protests in the United States. The death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer has sparked a response in cities across the country; sadly, some of those protests have devolved into riots and lootings. George Floyd’s death follows several years of similar incidents – the deaths of other African-American people at Ohio, New York, Florida, Minnesota

VISIT THE USCCB WEBSITE: WWW.USCCB.ORG/ISSUES-AND-ACTION/CULTURAL-DIVERSITY/ AFRICAN-AMERICAN/RESOURCES/INDEX.CFM

and elsewhere.

STATEMENT OF THE U.S. BISHOPS ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD • U.S. Bishops Label Death of George Floyd an Atrocity and Antithetical to the Gospel of Life • Bishops Call Catholics to Stand for Just Action – Say Indifference Is Not an Option

Seven chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement May 29 in response to the death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests that have broken out in Minneapolis and other cities in the U.S. “We are broken-hearted, sickened and outraged to watch another video of an African-American man being killed before our very eyes. What’s more astounding is that this is happening within mere weeks of several other such occurrences. This is the latest wake-up call that needs to be answered by each of us in a spirit of determined conversion.

“Racism is not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied about when convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on. As members of the Church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference. We cannot turn a blind eye to 4

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK PHOTO: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRAM & SUN COLLECTION

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these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy and justice.

“While it is expected that we will plead for peaceful, nonviolent protests, and we certainly do, we also stand in passionate support of communities that are understandably outraged. Too many communities around this country feel their voices are not being heard, their complaints about racist treatment are unheeded and we are not doing enough to point out that this deadly treatment is antithetical to the Gospel of Life.

“As we said 18 months ago in our most recent pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts, for people of color, some interactions with police can be fraught with fear and even danger. People of good conscience must never turn a blind eye when citizens are being deprived of their human dignity and even their lives. Indifference is not an option. As bishops, we unequivocally state that racism is a life issue.

“We join Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis in praying for the repose of the soul of Mr. George Floyd and all others who have lost their lives in a similar manner. We plead for an end to the violence in the wake of this tragedy and for the victims of the rioting.

We pray for comfort for grieving families and friends.

We pray for peace across the United States, particularly in Minnesota, while the legal process moves forward. We also anticipate a full investigation that results in rightful accountability and actual justice.

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the hands of police – in Missouri,

FOR PRAYER RESOURCES AND STATEMENTS

BY ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL,

U.S. Bishops receive call of encouragement and assurances of prayer from Pope Francis On June 3, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”

president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, received a call from Pope Francis, where the Holy Father expressed his prayers and closeness to the Church and the people of the United States in this moment of unrest.

– Bishop Shelton Fabre, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism

– The statement was issued by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of HoumaThibodaux, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church; Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, chairman of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Bishop David G. O’Connell, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles and chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development; and Bishop Joseph N. Perry, auxiliary bishop of Chicago and chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs.

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“We join our brother bishops to challenge everyone to come together, particularly with those who are from different cultural backgrounds. In this encounter, let us all seek greater understanding amongst God’s people. So many people who historically have been disenfranchised continue to experience sadness and pain, yet they endeavor to persevere and remain people of great faith. We encourage our pastors to encounter and more authentically accompany them, listen to their stories, and learn from them, finding substantive ways to enact systemic change.

Such encounters will start to bring about the needed transformation of our understanding of true life, charity and justice in the United States. Hopefully, then there will be many voices speaking out and seeking healing against the evil of racism in our land.”

Issued as the Church prepared to celebrate Pentecost, the U.S. Bishops called upon “all Catholics to pray and work toward a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for a supernatural desire to rid ourselves of the harm that bias and prejudice cause. We call upon Catholics to pray to the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of Truth to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our criminal justice and law enforcement systems. Finally, let each and every Catholic, regardless of their ethnicity, beg God to heal our deeply broken view of each other, as well as our deeply broken society.”

Archbishop Gomez shared this news with the U.S. Bishops in the hope that they could take comfort and gain strength in the Holy Father’s encouragement. Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the bishops for their pastoral tone in the Church’s response to the demonstrations across the country in their statements and actions since the death of George Floyd, and assured the bishops of his continued prayers and closeness in the days and weeks ahead. He expressed special prayers for Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda and the local Church of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Archbishop Gomez, on behalf of the bishops’ conference, conveyed gratitude to the Holy Father for his strong words of support and, in turn, assured the Holy Father of their prayers.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TRADITION Here are a few relevant themes at the heart of our Catholic social tradition: •L ife and Dignity of the Human Person – Human life is sacred and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.

We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

•O ption for the Poor and Vulnerable – A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

•S olidarity – We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace.

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FAITH INTERVIEW:

FATHER NORMAN FISCHER FAITH talked with Father Norman Fischer, the first black/ Filipino priest in the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., after incidents in Ferguson, Mo., and New York. He spoke of the issues of racism that have now led to the killing of George Floyd, and the subsequent protests against brutality.

WES BROWN

Father Fischer, as you reflect on recent events, what do you think is at the heart of the problem? We have lost sight of the basics.

Each one of us, regardless of race, gender, country of origin or age, is created in the image and likeness of God; is created for eternal life in communion with God. This means that every human being has an infinite value and dignity. Every human life is indeed sacred.

Unfortunately, the roots of the problem go back to the beginning. After the fall of our first parents, we read how their son Cain murdered his brother Abel in a fit of rage and jealousy. Cain, in effect, introduced another rupture in the human family through his actions. Since then, violence has been largely accepted as a part of human nature.

Then, as today, we do not seem to want to deal with each other. We do not want to take the time or the energy to enter into the other’s experience. We do not have the patience necessary for the fruit of compassion to be borne in our hearts. Instead, we are tempted to take the path of least resistance in dealing with others, that is, all too often we choose to eliminate or disregard the other altogether.

Of course, Jesus Christ came precisely to undo all of this by submitting himself to the senseless violence of the cross. And Christ continues to offer us a way out of violence through love of God and neighbor.

What about the current cultural climate of mistrust that seems to dominate the media relationship between local authorities and the African-American community? The distrust that exists between members of the African-American community and many others and the police is very real. The incidences and outcomes in Ferguson, Cleveland and Staten Island, for example, clearly are triggers that bring this distrust out into the open.

From the perspective of the black community, in such cases, the police are experienced as an aggressor to, rather than as the defender of, the community. Likewise, the failure to indict the police officers in Ferguson and Staten Island is interpreted as evidence that the justice system just doesn’t seem to care. The subsequent protests are the crying out of a humanity who is asking, “Who is my brother’s keeper?” As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. noted, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” At the same time, from the perspective of law enforcement, I am sure they suffer from this same cycle of distrust and fear that we are now seeing spiraling onto the streets of cities throughout the U.S. 6

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What can be done to begin the hard work of overcoming these perceptions and of restoring these broken relationships?

First, I think it is imperative that we name any fears with those among us. After all, Jesus has told us to “be not afraid.” By acknowledging what these fears may be, we can perhaps disarm our knee-jerk reactions and the behaviors that flow from fear.

Only by being aware of our fears and preconceived notions about each other can we hope to choose the life of the other, instead of falling victim to the automatic response of destroying the other in the name of self-defense. In other words, we need to ask ourselves how we can serve the situation, rather that adding fuel to it. We do this by focusing on the other, who is just as important and precious as we are.

Next, we have to be honest and act with integrity in both our lives and professions. For example, “to protect and to serve” looks like something. If the police can be more intentional in fostering community and strive to unlearn racial profiling, whether conscious or subconscious, in the communities they serve, that would be a start. Police can also search for ways to contribute positively to the life of the community and the culture of mistrust can slowly be transformed.

Third, we have to acknowledge the wounds of all involved. Compassion and empathy are due to all, for all are broken.

And, at the same time, we must firmly declare without rest that no one life is more valuable than another life.

Finally, I believe we must repent as a human family for the sins committed against the human family. We must not forget that it is sinful to be violent, to judge others based on color or on where they are from, to resist rightful authority, and to live in fear and isolation by building up walls of separation rather than building up the Kingdom of God. What role does the Church have to play in the drama that is unfolding before us?

First and foremost, we must not forget that the body of Christ must witness to the aforementioned repentance in the life of the Church. We have to own our own susceptibility to being both victims of violence and perpetrators of senseless violence.

The People of God are also called to be peacemakers; to be part of the solution. As Catholic Christians, we have to have greater passion for peacemaking because everyone’s life is at stake.

Again, as Dr. King stated so eloquently, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

As Christians, we must stand for Christ who displayed our broken human tendency to shed innocent blood in his very body on Calvary. We crucified life, innocent life, and we continue to crucify each other due to our unwillingness to acknowledge our true relatedness. This means we must not only name the shameful hurts, but we must be held accountable to those who we seek to serve as peacemakers. We must be instruments for the restoration of order to situations of personal and societal disorder. We do this only by inviting Christ into the heart of these conflicts, for he alone is the salve that can bind our wounds, heal our brokenness and initiate new ways of seeing and listening to one another.

PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF VENERABLE FATHER AUGUSTUS TOLTON (For private use only) O God, we give you thanks for your servant and priest, Father Augustus Tolton, who labored among us in times of contradiction, times that were both beautiful and paradoxical.

His ministry helped lay the foundation for a truly Catholic gathering in faith in our time. We stand in the shadow of his ministry. May his life continue to inspire us and imbue us with that confidence and hope that will forge a new evangelization for the Church we love.

The Venerable Augustus

TOLTON

Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant, Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved.

Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever.

Amen.

Venerable Father Augustus Tolton 1854-1897

F

ATHER AUGUSTUS TOLTON was the first black priest in the United States. Born in 1854 in Missouri, he was a former slave who was baptized as an infant and raised Catholic.

After studying at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Father Tolton was ordained to the holy priesthood in the Basilica of St. John Lateran upon the Easter Vigil of 1886. He offered his first public Mass a day later in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Upon returning to the United States, Father Tolton was assigned to the Diocese of Alton in Illinois, and first ministered to his home parish in the City of Quincy.

Eventually he was sent to Chicago, where he was charged with establishing St. Monica’s Church on the city’s South Side as a “national parish” for black Catholics.

Father Tolton’s success at ministering to black Catholics quickly earned him national attention within the Catholic hierarchy.

“Good Father Gus,” as he was called by many, was known for his “eloquent sermons, his beautiful singing voice, and his talent for playing the accordion.”

On July 9, 1897, Father Tolton died in hospital after having collapsed the day previous due to the summer heat wave in Chicago. He was 43 years old.

Father Tolton’s cause of canonization was initiated in 2010 by Archbishop Francis Cardinal George of Chicago. In 2019, Pope Francis granted Father Tolton the title of “Venerable.”

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IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE

What does a priest

do all day?

Q Dear Father Joe, what does a priest’s day or week look like? What does a priest do? My priest always seems busy, and I’m not quite sure why.

Thank you for your question. I’ll try to give you some ideas of what priests do – and keep in mind that some of this looks a bit different during a pandemic!.

First, a priest prays. This has to be an absolutely non-negotiable part of his day. Prayer is oxygen for the soul. And when you get a priest who isn’t praying, it’s going to have negative effects all through the Church.

So a priest prays privately. He also prays publicly. The priest prays Mass every day. That’s the reason we’re

A

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priests. Everything else is secondary to the Eucharist.

When you think about Sunday Mass, you may not realize how much preparation goes into it. For example, I spend between three to five hours a week on my Sunday homily. That’s really important. And if you’ve sat through bad homilies or incredibly long ones, you know exactly why I think it’s so critical to put in the time. The more preparation a priest puts into his homily, the less tempted he’ll be to get up and simply talk for 20 or 30 minutes. When we work on our homilies,

T. Gennara

the various councils: finance council, pastoral counwe need to remember that we’re talking to a group cil, liturgy commission, etc. Whenever a council has of people who range in age from infants to 100-yeara meeting, it’s more than likely that your priest has to olds. We’re talking to people who are rich and people be there. If they meet without him, he usually ends up who are poor, people who are sick and people who are with a to-do list. If the priest has more than one parish, healthy. This is why homily prep takes so long, because you double or triple that. you want to make sure you’re speaking to as many Does the parish have a school? If so, there will alpeople as you can. ways be a parent who is upset or hurt about something, And then there are the sacraments. Every time and we need to talk to them. We go into classes and you see a marriage, the priest has done about six to teach kids or walk through the 10 hours of work with that halls. And then, of course, we couple to prepare them for have more meetings about the the sacrament of matrimony. school – such as finance and Whenever you see a funeral, tuition. a priest has spent time with I spend between Also, your priest is probably the family to console them, to three to five hours serving on at least one (possiplan the funeral and to work a week on my Sunday bly as many as three) diocesan on the homily for the Mass of committees. There aren’t a lot of Christian Burial. Whenever you homily. That’s really us to go around, so everybody see a baptism – you see someimportant. And if gets tapped at some point. one who needed instruction you’ve sat through Somewhere in there, a priest before receiving it or needed has to make time for his family. preparation to have their child bad homilies or He has friends. And theoretibaptized. For every sacrament, incredibly long ones, cally, he’s going to get to spend you see hours of time spent by you know exactly some time with his friends. a priest.

Because time with the people Of course, hours of time why I think it’s so whom we love is as important each week are also spent on the critical to put in the to us as to any person – we sacrament of reconciliation – time. need that to keep us better able hearing confessions and praying to serve our parishes. for those penitents.

Then there are the pop-ins.

A priest also does emergency I don’t know what else to call calls, hospital visits and nursing them; they are all those parish home visits. We try to make sure events that we need to pop into. There might be a Bible we’re there when people are dying. We try to make sure study, which involves prep work. And then there’s the that people who are alone get visits. This is a meaningactual Bible study itself. ful part of a priest’s life.

Once a year, there’s the convocation! That’s fun!

Priests also help people in crises besides illnesses.

That’s a great blessing to get together with your brother Someone going through a divorce often needs spiritual priests and pray. counsel, and sometimes assistance filing paperwork for Of course, in the midst of a pandemic, there are a a decree of nullity. A big part of a priest’s life is meeting whole host of other things – meetings again about with people who are hurting, meeting with people who how to handle social distancing and still have Mass. need wisdom and comfort and prayer.

Facebook catechesis. Eucharistic processions through There are also a lot of administrative duties. There the neighborhoods. And figuring out how to sanitize a are usually staff members at a parish, and it can be church between every Mass. We’re just figuring all of tough sometimes to get everybody on the same page that stuff out as we go. and pointed in the same direction. We’re meeting with After all that, we do get, theoretically, vacation. That’s employees and giving them guidance or comforting time to recharge the batteries and get ready to plunge them or listening to them or listening to their ideas. We into all of it again! also have meetings – many, many meetings. There are

FATHER JOE KRUPP

is a former comedy writer who is now a Catholic priest. @Joeinblack

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FROM THE EDITOR

Never a dull moment – my life as a diocesan priest EARLY IN MY DISCERNMENT of God’s calling me to priesthood, I sat down with my parents to discuss what I had been sensing in my life and through my prayer for a number of years.

The discussion went well, and my parents were very supportive of my discernment and my thoughts of priesthood. At the same time, they were also honest with me – they knew that it would not always be an easy path to follow. They also knew me and my own personal qualities. My mother, who was blessed with a strong faith and penetrating insight, raised her only real question and concern those many years ago. She shared, “Dwight, the only thing I’m afraid of for you is that you will be bored. There’s so much in a priest’s life that is the same every day, and I don’t know how you will adjust to that. You’re the kind of person who likes variety and change. I just don’t want you to be bored or find life as a priest uninteresting.”

I think Mom must have turned that into a prayer. In turn, I sense that God clearly heard her

T.Gennera

prayer and has answered it in so many ways over the years. Thanks, Mom!

FATHER DWIGHT EZOP

is the editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of St. Mary Parish, Charlotte and St. Ann Church, Bellevue Email: editor@ FAITHpub.com.

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Through the years I have learned that while the preparation that is their due. There’s I may wake up each day with my own agenda always my column for the weekly bulletin and of things to do, usually, before lunchtime, the work of helping to guide FAITH magazine God has laughed at me, shredded my agenand FAITH Catholic, its parent company. Mix da and sent me a completely new “to-do” in time for rest, family and friends, and each list. Certainly there are some anchor points day can be full from sunrise to sunset – and, through the course of the day – personal as I have found through the years, that’s good prayer, the celebration of daily Mass, confesfor me. As a fellow parish priest regularly resions scheduled three times a week, work on minds me, we weren’t ordained to be monks. weekday and Sunday homilies, visiting with As diocesan priests, our lives and our ministry parishioners and parish are meant to meet people staff and checking in with where they are at in all staff and students in our the beauty and messiness Through the years I have parish grade school. Beof life. No two days are yond those regular parts ever the same, and by learned that while I may of each day, there are so and large they are never wake up each day with my many other variables. Is boring. Thanks, Mom! own agenda of things to do, someone hospitalized

On June 13, Bishop and in need of a visit? A Boyea ordained Father usually, before lunchtime, God trip to the hospital may Michael Cassar and Father has laughed at me, shredded well be in order. Has John Vinton to serve as my agenda and sent me a there been a death in priests in the Diocese of the parish? A visit to the Lansing. As they will soon completely new ‘to-do’ list.” funeral home, meeting discover, there is nothing with a family to comfort quite like the first year of and console them and planning and preparing priesthood. It will be a year full of firsts and the funeral liturgy will need to happen. Has new experiences. I know they have been well someone stopped into the parish office with a prepared through their seminary studies and question or needing the sacrament of reconpractical preparation for priesthood. I also ciliation? Office work can wait if someone is in pray they soon discover the joy and exciteneed. Don’t forget to make the time to schedment that come from living the life of dioceule and prepare couples for marriage and san priesthood. May they never be bored and families for baptism. Pastoral council, finance may they grow in their love for God and the council, worship commission and education people whom they serve. And so, our journey commission all require regular meetings and in FAITH continues.

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ORDINATION

2020

THE DIOCESE OF LANSING was blessed with two new priests and two new transitional deacons on June 13. Bishop Earl Boyea ordained John Vinton and Michael Cassar to the priesthood and Miguel Colunga-Santoyo and Mark Martin II to the transitional diaconate at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing. In the following pages, meet our newest priests and deacons for the Diocese of Lansing and enjoy photos of their ordination. You can view more photos at WWW.FAITHMAG.COM.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

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Q. What led you to answer God’s call to become a priest?

A. The whole process is so gradual that I find it difficult

to put it into any sort of structured narrative. At the root of it, the idea of becoming a priest just kept coming back to me, with more and more plausibility the more I thought about it (or perhaps it is more accurate to say “with less and less absurdity”). Eventually, I took more formal steps, contacting a local priest and Lansing’s vocation director, who both helped me pray through the process. Along the way, friends encouraged me through their examples of faithful lives. Ultimately, if there was any one thing that convinced me that I was called to the priesthood, it was a summer in seminary where we went to the Holy Land and then returned to the United States to do a 30-day silent retreat. The experience of being that close to Jesus – of walking where he walked, taught, healed, died and resurrected – and then spending a month praying, more or less full-time, showed me that a life with Christ in the priesthood was where I could be truly fulfilled.

Q. What message would you pass along to those who want to serve God, but do not know how?

A. Get involved in your parish! This is not profound, but

FATHER MICHAEL CASSAR was raised Lutheran. After becoming Catholic while attending Eastern Michigan University, he began to worship at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor. He is assigned to ST. THOMAS AQUINAS PARISH IN EAST LANSING.

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I’ve found the easiest way to love God and neighbor is to be an active part of a community centered around God. Q. What has seminarian life been like for you?

A. Once I got used to the degree to which daily life is

structured, and living in an environment where we were constantly being evaluated, I got along well in seminary.

I enjoy studying, and having such access to the sacraments and consistent spiritual direction was enormously helpful in my own spiritual development. Also, one of the great blessings is having classmates going through the same things at the same time. I am grateful for the close friendships I was able to form at seminary.

The sacrificial love of Christ has been the primary influence of my desire to become a priest. I have been inspired by that love as it is manifested in the lives of saints, other priests, religious women, as well as in the lives of my parents and grandparents.”

Q. How did you know you were called to the priesthood?

A. Apart from the call of the Church during the ordi-

nation rite, I cannot point to a specific instance when I knew with total certainty that I was called to be a priest.

There were countless times when the thought of becoming a priest would enter my mind or someone would ask if I had considered it. I think the Lord used many little encounters and circumstances to invite me to respond to his love by becoming a priest. I have decided to respond “yes” to his invitation.

Q. Who influenced your decision to become a priest?

A. The sacrificial love of Christ has been the primary

FATHER JOHN VINTON was raised attending Holy Spirit Parish in Brighton.

He is assigned to ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH IN ANN ARBOR.

influence of my desire to become a priest. I have been inspired by that love as it is manifested in the lives of saints, other priests, religious women, as well as in the lives of my parents and grandparents. I am also inspired by the lives of very old priests who have lived holy and faithful lives.

Q. What message would you pass along to those who want to serve God, but do not know how?

A. God doesn’t dictate every little action we should take.

If you think God is inspiring you to serve him in some way, don’t miss the opportunity to do so by overanalyzing and worrying about the future. Rather, have faith, pray to the Holy Spirit and take a step forward.

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DIACONAL ORDINATION

SAINT OF THE MONTH

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati FEAST DAY: July 4

B

MIGUEL COLUNGA-SANTOYO I was born and raised in East Lansing, and have been a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas/St. John Student Center ever since I could remember. I am currently a seminarian at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and am an intern this summer at Cristo Rey Parish in Lansing.

MARK MARTIN II I converted to Catholicism toward the end of high school, and have been a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua in Hillsdale since. I am a seminarian at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and I am interning this summer at St. Mary Parish in Pinckney.

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lessed Pier Giorgio Frassati has been described as an ordinary young man with an extraordinary faith. However, biographies depict the avid mountain climber, athlete and socially active youth as one of those extraordinary people whose passionate love of life attracts and inspires others. The love of God was the force that magnified these charismatic qualities in Pier Giorgio. In the words of St. John Paul II: “Faith and charity … transformed him into a joyful, enthusiastic apostle of Christ, a passionate follower of His message and charity.”

Pier Giorgio, who was born in Turin, Italy, in 1901, expressed concern for the poor from an early age.

He often gave his coats to the homeless and bought clothing at pawn shops to return to families forced to pawn it. His compassion grew as his love for God deepened – nourished by prayer, studying Scripture and the writings of St. Catherine of Siena, and, especially, by attending daily Mass. As he once said: “Jesus pays me a visit every morning in holy Communion, and I return the visit in the meager way I know how, visiting the poor.”

Pier Giorgio believed helping the poor required reform based on the Church’s social teaching. He became a social and political activist and joined Catholic student organizations. He helped organize the first convention of Pax Romana in 1921, an association whose goal was to unite Catholic students around the world to work for peace. His passion and sincerity inspired other young people to join him in promoting reform and opposing fascism.

Pier Giorgio died on July 4, 1925, after contracting polio just weeks earlier. His final act was scribbling a note to a friend to ensure that medicine would be taken to someone he had been helping. Thousands of the poor of Turin lined the streets to mourn him and petitioned for his canonization in 1932, just seven years after his death.

In 1989, St. John Paul II visited his tomb in Italy and said: “I wanted to pay homage to a young man who was able to witness to Christ with singular effectiveness in this century of ours.” Pier Giorgio was beatified in St. Peter’s Square in Rome in 1990.

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YOUR STORIES

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FEATURE STORY

Tammy provides faith-based counseling in this difficult time

‘THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE, THERE IS ALWAYS HELP’ Eight years ago, Tammy Render-Morris felt led by God to make a dramatic change in her life. After being a business owner for 18 years, “I made the decision that my life was no longer mine. It was God’s.

“St. Catherine of Siena has always been a hero of mine. Her focus was love and freedom from the bondage of sin and fear. She said, ‘Freedom to think and freedom to act: these are the two forms of freedom that mark our dignity as human beings. Any loss of that dignity is an unspeakable tragedy.’

“Her words inspired me to go back to college for a master’s in counseling. I also earned a license in Christian counseling. It was a process of letting go and letting God. Taking classes, closing out my business and raising kids wasn’t easy.

“I just knew God would lead me. One of my guiding Scripture readings, 2 Timothy 1:7, says, ‘For God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a strong mind.’ It has been the greatest choice because it has empowered me to help others in ways I never could as a business owner.

“This has been especially true in this time of COVID-19.

Isolation is tough. It’s the worst thing for people struggling with addiction because they don’t have the personal contact they need. Being separated from our families, and our faith families, people are really struggling. Depression is rampant.

Suicides are up. Addictions are out of control. And our mental health system in this country is absolutely broken.

“Yet, overall, there is always hope. There is always healing.

There is always help!

For anyone struggling, I invite them to look at what they can really control, and let go of what they can’t. It is definitely a process to release through faith, but we have God and the Holy Spirit to help us.

“If someone is thinking about ending their life or seriously harming someone else, they should call 911 or go immediately to the nearest hospital.

“Those experiencing depression or just needing to talk with a professional, can call their local Catholic Charities agency.

“For anyone struggling, I invite them to look at what they can really control, and let go of what they can’t. It is definitely a process to release through faith, but we have God and the Holy Spirit to help us.

“Making a gratitude list every day helps focus on the good things we have in life rather than worrying about the negative.

“And each of us should be taking really good care of ourselves, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Attending Mass online or periodically as our parishes reopen should help a lot. But don’t forget to get exercise, eat healthy foods and get outside regularly. These simple steps can fall by the wayside, but they make a difference in helping us cope with whatever life sends us.

“On the upside, those who have social anxiety are loving this time! They are developing new hobbies and appreciating that everyone is staying home now. And many of us are recognizing what is truly important. Some are making plans to reorganize their lives around their families and do things that have deeper meaning and purpose.

“Fear of the unknown For counseling inquiries, weighs heavily on our call your local Catholic society today, so I go back to St. Catherine of Siena Charities agency: for inspiration. She said, ‘With the love we have CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF drawn from the gentle, JACKSON, LENAWEE AND loving word, we will love HILLSDALE COUNTIES: our neighbors. Love them Jackson: 517.782.2551 purely, faithfully seeking Adrian: 517.263.2191 their salvation and helping them to the best of our CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ability with whatever God SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE has given us to administer.’

COUNTIES: “It gives me hope and Owosso: 989.723.8239 reminds me of what Jesus Flint: 810.232.9950 taught us. ‘For the whole law is fulfilled in one CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF word. You shall love your WASHTENAW COUNTY: neighbor as yourself.’ (Gal Ann Arbor: 734.971.9781 5:14) We will get through COVID-19 and through all LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC our challenges because CHARITIES God is always with us!

Howell: 517.545.5944 “There is always hope.

There is always healing.

ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES There is always help.”

Lansing: 517.323.4734

BY NANCY ROSEBUSH SCHERTZING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA

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THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE What are the seven sacraments?

Love is the fundamental need for all human beings. We want to be understood and accepted, to have our lives mean something, to know that we are being held close in someone’s heart. The most perfect experience of that kind of love can only be found in one place, and we are born with a desire for that – with a longing for God.

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For the first time in your life, it is actually a fresh start.

You’re completely purified of your sins.

We’re not Christians because of what we get out of it. We’re Christians because we love God. That should be our motivating principle. In this short year that I’ve been pursuing Catholicism, I’ve been more at peace than I ever have in my life.” – Morgan Morrison

CONFIRMATION The sacrament of confirmation is “necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.” In confirmation, the baptized is anointed with oil (a sign of abundance, joy, cleansing, healing and strength) and is thereby consecrated, or imprinted, with the seal of the Holy Spirit. As Christ was marked with his Father’s seal, Christians are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit, indicating “our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service forever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological [end times] trial.”

The primary effect of the sacrament is the “full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.” (CCC 1285, 1296, 1302)

FAITH Magazine | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM

JIM LUNING

While we can see God in his creation, and know through faith that he is with us, nothing compares with the reality of God’s presence in the sacraments. The sacraments are defined as “an outward sign instituted

by Christ to give grace.” Early Christians used the Greek word mysterion – “that to which signs referred; a reality laced with the unseen presence of God.” The sacraments act ex opere operato (literally, “by the very fact of the action being performed”), so they happen through the saving work of Christ, the power of God, and not through the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient. (CCC 1128) During these last few months of pandemic, many of us have not been able to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church, and that has been a source of grief. As we gradually reopen our church buildings, here is a reminder of how the sacraments are the cornerstone of our spiritual lives.

Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people. This first sacrament pardons all our sins, rescues us from the power of darkness and brings us to the dignity of adopted children – a new creation through water and the power of the Holy Spirit. Hence we are called, and indeed are, children of God. One of the two principal effects of baptism is the purification from sins: “By baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.” In baptism, the person truly is reborn with nothing remaining that could impede his or her entry into the kingdom of God. The other principal effect of baptism is new birth in the Holy Spirit. The baptized person becomes “a new creature, an adopted [child] of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 1263,1265)

The Holy Spirit put this huge call on my heart to go to confession. I did, with some fear and trembling. I walked out of the confessional 20 pounds lighter and a different person. I understood I had to do things different. This is probably when I opened myself to receive the grace I was given in confirmation years earlier.” – Paul Fahey

TOM GENNARA

GETTY IMAGES/PAOLOGAETANO

BAPTISM

EUCHARIST

HOLY ORDERS

One day my son, Joaquin, came home from second grade at St. Mary School [Charlotte] so excited to make his First Holy Communion and reconciliation. The books and stories he shared … I don’t know how to describe it. They just lit something inside me, something that helped me remember the joy I felt as a young boy in love with Jesus.

Attending classes and learning more about my faith, I realized I had been seeing in gray. Through RCIA, I gained clarity and could see things in color again. It felt really emotional, having the spirit of Christ with me along this path. When Joaquin made his first Communion and I was confirmed at Easter Vigil, it was one of the best things in my life.” – Gregorio Escutia

Holy orders, or the sacrament of apostolic ministry, is the sacramental act that incorporates a man into one of three recognized “orders”: bishop (ordo episcoporum), presbyter or priest (ordo presbyterorum) or deacon (ordo diaconorum). It is through this sacrament that the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church.

Like baptism and confirmation, ordination imprints an “indelible sacramental character” upon the ordained that cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily. Through his ordination, the recipient is configured to Christ so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for his Church.

TOM GENNARA

REY DEL RIO

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. Christ told us, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst … whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn: 35, 51) In this sacrament, bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ himself. The Eucharist is the food and drink that alone satisfies – it is a profoundly intimate moment when we receive Christ’s body and blood in holy Communion.

During Thanksgiving week in my junior year of school, I encountered God through the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the first time that I truly understood what I was consuming when I put the small, circular piece of bread into my mouth. I was in second grade when I received my first Communion, and it was not until I was in 11th grade that I realized that Jesus died for me and entered my body when I received the Eucharist.”

– Abigail Kazmierski

MARRIAGE

TOM GENNARA

JIM LUNING

Marriage is more than just a natural institution – God is its author and it has been elevated by Christ to the level of sacrament.

Marriage is a gift we receive rather than something we construct or change to fit our purposes.

The profound way the sacrament of marriage allows us to share in God’s own life is vividly illustrated in the Book of Genesis.

We are taught that at each phase of creation God issues a command to “Let there be …” and it comes to pass. Something new comes into being that did not exist a moment before.

This command is, in a sense, the verbal manifestation of God’s free consent to create.

The spouses participate in this same act of creation during the marriage ceremony where the two are required to consent before the community to the creation of the union. The catechism (1626-27) teaches that “the exchange of consent between the spouses,” their mutual “Let there be …”, is the “indispensable element that ‘makes the marriage’” and brings the marriage into being as a new creation.

Without God and the grace of the sacrament, struggles can seem insurmountable. But with God at the center, marriage is wonderful and joyful, even in the struggles.” – Aaron Decker

The day after my ordination, when I read the Gospel at Mass as a deacon for the first time, I nearly wept. In some ways, that has been a paradigm of my diaconal ministry – not the weeping part, of course, but the awareness of such a great gift received, which gave rise to those tears of gratitude.

I hope God will make me a priest who is always grateful.”

– Father Brian Lenz

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RECONCILIATION

REY DEL RIO

Sin is never simply personal in its impact. It always has a social consequence as well. It breaks our personal communion with God and, at the same time, it damages our communion with the Church, thereby having an impact on the body’s relationship with its head, Jesus Christ. Consequently, the healing of this rupture requires reconciliation with both God and Christ’s body, the Church.

The sacrament of reconciliation (or penance) liturgically expresses and accomplishes just this. The whole purpose and effect of this sacrament consists in “restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship.” It brings about the “restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God.” (CCC 1468) It is a great gift since the sacrament repairs that communion for which we are destined.

My teacher told me that there was a wall between Jesus and me. Every time you sin, rocks get added and the wall gets bigger. Then when you do reconciliation, the wall comes down and you can be with Jesus.” – Joaquin Escutia

ANOINTING OF THE SICK Recognizing the challenge of illness and the seriousness of the choice we face in responding to illness, the Church points to the sacrament called the anointing of the sick. The Church believes Christ instituted this sacrament

especially to strengthen us when we are being tried by illness.

Christ is the great physician whose compassion toward the sick is well documented in the Gospels. He even goes so far as to identify himself with the infirm in the Gospel of Matthew (25:36): “I was sick and you visited me.” He asks the

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(CCC 1520)

JIM LUNING

Anointing of the sick is for all Catholics. The complete ritual includes prayer, anointing with oil, confession, if the patient is able, the apostolic pardon and viaticum – Communion, literally food for the journey.

If the patient is not able to eat, I offer the Eucharist to their family. It takes about 30 or 40 minutes to go through the complete ceremony. Usually while I give this sacrament, I watch the patient’s vital signs on the monitor. It’s amazing how often I see their breathing slow down and heart rate smooth out. You can actually watch the calm and peace come over them.”

– Father Lew Eberhart

sick to believe, he lays his hands upon them and allows them to touch him.

When we receive the sacrament, we are given the grace “of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age.”

SACRAMENTAL LIFE

It was definitely sad to have to delay my baptism; my fiancé is from a big Catholic family, and everyone was very excited about the big event. But I realize there is a reason for this delay. I can trust God, and it brings me peace.”

T O R Y H A S PAT I E N T LY WA I T E D T O S AY ‘ I D O’ – at her baptism and her wedding C O P I N G W I T H C H A N G E D E X P E C TAT I O N S

Tory Schiller met Tyler Pierce eight years ago while in college. Tory grew up without a connection to any faith tradition, but as she got to know Tyler better, she felt a yearning to be a part of his strong Catholic faith. As she grew to love Tyler and accepted his marriage proposal, she knew she wanted to enter the Church before celebrating their wedding, planned for this summer.

Tory and Tyler were fortunate to move to a community with a friendly and welcoming parish, St. Mary in Charlotte, and Tory began attending RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) sessions.

“The parish has been so friendly, and it is such a strong community. Sometimes you worry when you are new that people aren’t going to accept you, but I felt so welcomed there,” she says.

Tory took the sudden announcement that her baptism — and her wedding — would be postponed in stride: “It was definitely sad to have to delay my

baptism; my fiancé is from a big Catholic family, and everyone was very excited about the big event.

But I realize there is a reason for this delay. I can trust God, and it brings me peace.

“What I have learned about prayer here has been really important to me. I had no experience of prayer and I have enjoyed learning about it. In our couples counseling, someone told me that you should pray when you don’t need to. Prayer builds a relationship with God, and learning to have a conversation with him helps you to trust him.”

Tory continued to feel the support of the parish while waiting for her baptism. The RCIA sessions continued with weekly online meetings, and parishioners shared her excitement.

Tory recalls, “Someone I met here told me she had planned to come to the Easter Vigil to see me baptized.

It’s just neat to know that other people in the parish think my baptism is a big deal.

“I actually met this woman while attending a Lenten Series Lecture that Father Dwight Ezop, our pastor, puts on. Father asked that we say ‘hi’ and introduce ourselves to others around us. I met her and that’s where it began!

Every time after that, she would always give me a hug and a smile.”

Tory and Tyler have rescheduled their wedding for later this summer, and plan to proceed with as many guests as can attend. It may not be the wedding they envisioned, but Tory says, “I have learned to trust God, and get a sense of calm from this. It has made the delays less stressful.”

Tory is looking forward to telling Tyler “I do” as a newly initiated Catholic, just as she hoped.

BY SUE PARKER

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SACRAMENTAL LIFE

BY ASHLYN ADAMS, RN, BSN

or the first time in my life, the Eucharist is inaccessible.

Parishes across the world have restricted Mass to just clergy, and even perpetual adoration chapels are on hold until the curve of this COVID-19 pandemic has flattened.

I grew up in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, which is where my faith was formed and my love for Jesus in the Eucharist was found. Throughout high school, I had a deep desire to serve those around me,

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and I knew that the Lord was calling me to a vocation that did just that. Here I am, years later, working as a pediatric nurse in a nation where almost everyone is restricted to work from home, except for me and my fellow health care professionals. Honestly, it’s a bit terrifying, but I know that I am where God wants me to be.

It’s unsettling to know that the one thing that gives me the energy to serve God’s people, the Eucharist, has been taken away for the time being. I try my best to make it to daily Mass before starting my night shifts at the hospital. The nights that I don’t go to Mass, before work, are typically the ones that I feel overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. Now that I’m unable to receive Jesus’ precious body and blood before caring for his little ones, I realize that God is calling all of us to press in even more to his

This article originally appeared in The Catholic Compass in May 2020.

" The Lord

is calling you to something greater, filled with personal growth.

"

heart and to be his body for the world around us. He is calling us to seek him in ways that we are not used to seeking. We must be his light and helping hand to those around us (or six feet away from us).

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, my soul was longing for a spiritual retreat to really dive into the movements of my heart. Before booking a little treehouse in the mountains, the thought of going on a trip by myself was exhilarating but also a bit uncomfortable.

As soon as I booked it, I knew the Lord had something special in mind for these few days away. I packed my bags, loaded up the car and took my dog to the mountains. Talk about social distancing! During my day hike, I was able to talk to God in a very real way. I didn’t have to make myself appear a certain way in prayer (which can be tempting at times in Mass). Rather, I could just be real with God, with no makeup on, mud all over my clothes, and no sense of being pressed for time. It was so good for the soul.

Even the thought of not going to Mass on Sundays during the next few weeks, or months, of this time of social distancing should make you feel uncomfortable, I want to encourage all the students and young adults not to be discouraged during this time of distancing.

The Lord is calling you to something greater, filled with personal growth. Don’t allow yourself to become so comfortable with not going to Mass that you stop going when the Church doors reopen. Approach the sacraments with a greater desire to receive Jesus and a sense of gratefulness for the gifts God has given us through the Church.

Ironically, this time of social distancing aligned perfectly during Lent. If this quarantine is still going on at the time that you are reading this, challenge yourself to use this time to not only physically cleanse your households but to cleanse your heart and soul. It's so important to get away and to let the Lord work on your heart in a way that might be uncomfortable at first, but the growth that comes with discomfort is like no other.

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YOUR LIFE

MARRIAGE MATTERS

HE SAYS:

I think we should take the chance and visit our grandchildren

SHE SAYS:

GETTY IMAGES/FIZKES

I’m not really willing to take a chance on COVID-19 to do it.

Is it worth risking death to visit your grandchildren? Look at it this way: every time you WHAT DO drive your car, you risk losing your life. LikeTHEY DO? wise with riding a motorcycle, sky-diving or swimming with sharks. The questions to ask before engaging in such activities are: What are the actual risks, how willing am I to take them on and, most importantly, how willing are we as a couple to take them on?

To determine the actual risks of visiting your grandchildren, the best place to start is your respective physicians. They will probably understand better not only the risks and related safety measures of the virus in general but also your own particular vulnerabilities.

Next, let’s assume there is indeed some added risk that, by visiting your grandchildren, one or both of you will contract the virus. Let’s also assume that one of you is comfortable with that added risk and the other is not. And so you ask: How 26

willing are we as a couple to take on that risk?

Dave, if this was only about you and your life, then go for it. But you are not just an “I,” you are also part of a “we.” You and Sue are joined in a “one flesh” (Mt 19:5-6) union, which means your life also belongs to her.

This likewise means that if there is some rational basis (i.e., it’s not just reflexive timidity) for her fears over you losing your life, and perhaps taking hers as well, then you must honor and adjust to them.

However, Sue, just as Dave must

FAITH Magazine | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM

What are the actual risks, how willing am I to take them on, and, most importantly, how willing are we as a couple to take them on?”

be willing to adjust to your fearfulness, so must you be willing to adjust to his fearlessness. If there is some rational basis (i.e., it’s not just foolhardiness) supporting his willingness to go, then you, too, must consider this decision not just as an “I” but also as a “we.”

Look for a reasonable compromise that would call Sue to take on a bit more risk and Dave a bit less.

For example, maybe both of you make the visit, but you wear masks and social distance the entire time.

Or maybe Dave goes alone, but agrees not only to these same safety measures, but also to self-quarantine upon his return.

STEVE AND BRIDGET PATTON

hold master’s degrees in theology and counseling and serve as family life ministers in the Diocese of Sacramento.

PARENTING WORK LIFE

At-home Vacation

Bible

Hooray for summer!

GETTY IMAGES

School

Working from home long-term?

BE EFFECTIVE WHEN WE STARTED working from home during the pandemic, I thought it was going to be short-term.

Ice cream, swimming pools and

Now, it’s clear that I’m going to be working from home

bike rides are familiar things on the summer to-do list, but a few things

for quite a while, possibly permanently. What are

will look a little different this summer. And since there may be no Vaca-

some strategies I can employ to work effectively and

tion Bible School (VBS) at your parish, why not try an at-home VBS with

not feel completely isolated?

lics, we realize that the sacraments are the greatest source of all that is good. And during this crazy time, our children need truth, hope and grace more than ever. (If you want a refresher course on the sacraments before you begin, please visit faithmag.com/theology-101-0.)

Day 1. Baptism

– the grace and hope begin here! Baptism is about forgiveness, holy water, the light of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Kids need to know that Christ’s light dispels darkness and fear. Show your kids their baptism candle, outfit and photos, and talk about that special day. Have a family dinner with white cake for dessert to commemorate everyone’s baptismal date. Put these dates on the calendar so you can celebrate them throughout the year.

Then, make a trip to church, look at the baptismal font up close and renew your baptismal promises together. (You can find them here: tinyurl.com/baptismalpromises) Blessing ourselves and our children with holy water is a powerful practice. Decorate a clean glass or plastic container with baptism symbols, and fill it with holy water while you’re visiting the church.

SHERI WOHLFERT

is a Catholic school teacher, speaker, writer and founder of Joyful Words Ministries. Sheri blogs at www. joyfulwords.org

Day 2. Eucharist

– the source and summit of our faith.

Celebrate the true presence of Jesus. Go to Mass, eucharistic adoration or simply sit together in quiet prayer as a family before the tabernacle.

Before you go, read and talk about Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. Spread a tablecloth on the floor and have dinner together reading the story of the Last Supper from Matthew 26 or Luke 22. You might even want to add some of the foods Jesus and his disciples would have shared that night like lamb, bitter herbs (horseradish) and pita bread.

Day

3. Confirmation

– come Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit is fully manifested in this sacrament; what began at baptism is made complete. The fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit help us grow in holiness. Read about the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Have each child choose one fruit of the Spirit they think could help them grow in holiness and write a little prayer to the Holy Spirit asking for an outpouring of that Fruit of the Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is our advocate or helper, plan a project to help someone in your parish, neighborhood or family. It can be anything from lawn work to lemonade, or simply brightening up the day of a lonely neighbor.

Imitate the former. Seize the new.

Be realistic.

To be effective, imitate the most effective workplace habits. Stay on the same schedule. Set up a similar work JIM BERLUCCHI environment (as much as possible). is co-founder Dress the same (not pajamas and of the Spitzer sweats). In other words, to maintain your former effectiveness, stick to Center for your former patterns. We are creaVisionary tures of habit. So minimize energy Leadership. inventing new ones, unless they’re better or your former habits were ineffective! But that would be a different story.

Working at home is unexpected but not unprovidential. You didn’t ask for it, but it asks of you. Don’t lament it. Seize it. God introduces this new thing to bring forth a better you and untapped virtues. Amazingly, he works good in and for us through every circumstance – welcome or unwelcome. His orchestration is your motivation. Stir up your faith. Gird up your mind. Roll up your sleeves: “Here I am Lord. Use this to make me wiser, more diligent, more focused, more content, more productive.”

"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.” (1 Thes 5:24) Finally, Aristotle identifies three types of friendship – of utility, of enjoyment and of virtue. The friendship of employment is friendship of utility. We cooperate with one another for the success of our shared enterprise.

That’s not to say that it can’t go deeper, but the focus is mutual gain. So be realistic. Don’t try to squeeze too much out of your work relationships. You can enhance connection via video, phone, text and email. You might also pick a buddy to compare notes at the beginning or end of each day. Though physical proximity has passed away, behold, the new has come. You can reduce isolation by connecting more with those near at hand – family and neighbors.

Speaking of neighbors, G.K. Chesterton once said: “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.” Hopefully, that’s not the case for you.

T. GENNARA

your children on the all-important sacraments of initiation? As Catho-

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GROW

The grace of confirmation

T.Gennera

EMPOWERS US PETE BURAK

is the director of i.d.9:16. He has a master’s degree in theology, and is a frequent speaker at events for youth and young adults.

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Confirmation is not graduation. The indelible spiritual mark imprinted on the soul of the newly confirmed signifies so much more than a merit badge or certificate of completion. Through confirmation, the grace received at baptism is increased and deepened to empower us to actually do what this monthly article is all about: to Grow and Go! Don’t take my word for it; allow me to quote heavily from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: • [Confirmation] roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”

• It unites us more firmly to Christ.

• It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us • It renders our bond with the Church more perfect.

• It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the cross. (CCC 1303)

Two major things hold us back from experiencing what is described above: 1) We don’t know this power is accessible to us; and 2) We don’t say yes to it.

What if we spent time every day crying, “Abba! Father!”? What if we rejected sin and temptation and instead, consciously chose Jesus?

What if we intentionally asked for the gifts of the Spirit to be activated in our lives and, better yet, believed they’ve already been given? What if we chose to embrace the Church in all her glory and brokenness and fought to see her healthy and whole? What if we believed that

FAITH Magazine | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM

GROW

as a disciple of Jesus we had the power to bear witness to Christ’s love and to not blush at his name or teachings? Friends, confirmation, like baptism and the Eucharist, can change everything.

One final word from the catechism: “By confirmation, Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off ‘the aroma of Christ.’” (CCC 1294) The chrism oil used in confirmation emits a unique and delightful fragrance. May we Grow and Go through the grace of this sacrament, so even when the chrism wears off, people can smell us comin’ a mile away.

GO

evangelize

FOR OLA, ACCOMPANIMENT IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY Ola Hasso, a senior financial analyst at McLaren Health System and a parishioner at St. Matthew in Flint, volunteers at the Catholic Community of Flint College and Young Adult Ministries. She has found that during this time of uncertainty, opportunities for evangelization and outreach are present in every area of life.

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY MIKE FRIESEMAN

WITNESS: Especially right now, I think the key part of witnessing is reminding people that they are good, and that God is pleased with them. Many people are currently challenged with that because we don't always see ourselves as God sees us. With all that is going on, we need to be reminded of our inherent goodness and the peace and joy that God wants to bring us during this time.

INVITATION: Invitation is a challenging one right now because the dynamic has changed. We’re inviting people to participate virtually, through online worship and

Bible studies and things of that nature. For my co-workers and friends who are not active in their faith or are not Christian, my focus is inviting them to spend time contemplating God and pursuing the truth.

ACCOMPANIMENT: I think the key to accompanying others is allowing ourselves to be accompanied by them. This is what God is saying to me during this time.

Even though I'm helping others in their faith journey, it’s crazy how I grow even more as a disciple through the witnesses of others. This is what accompaniment means: community.

PRAYER: My husband and I have been able to start each day off with prayer and declarations. We invite God to work through us each day and declare the truth of God’s goodness and the ways he is working in our lives.

It has been especially nice to be able to do a walking rosary together. We’ll walk around and pray for all of our neighbors and the city of Flint.

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ORDINATION

2 02 0

Father Michael Cassar and Father John Vinton ordained for the Diocese of Lansing

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing JULY/AUGUST 2020 VOLUME 20: ISSUE 6

PUBLISHER

FIND US ONLINE AT

David Kerr

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Most Rev. Earl Boyea

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Dominic Iocco

LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL HIRES NEW PRESIDENT AND NEW PRINCIPAL

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Most Rev. Earl Boyea, Member | Rev. Dwight Ezop, Chair | Rev. Msgr. George Michalek, Vice Chair | Rev. Timothy MacDonald | Anne-Marie Welsh | Deborah Amato, Ex Officio | George Landolt, Ex Officio FAITH CATHOLIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR FAITHTM (USPS 019993) 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. ©2019 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

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Krystyn Schmerbeck

REQUIESCAT IN PACE The Most Reverend James A. Murray, Bishop Emeritus for the Diocese of Kalamazoo (19982009), died peacefully on the morning of June 5.

Ordained in 1958 as a priest for the Diocese of Lansing, Bishop Murray served the people of the diocese prior to becoming the third Bishop of Kalamazoo in 1998 after the death of Bishop Alfred J. Markiewicz. As Bishop of Kalamazoo, he presided over 15 ordinations to the priesthood, 28 ordinations to the permanent diaconate, and the confirmation of 14,394 young Catholics. He dedicated 11 new churches and welcomed more than 3,100 new Catholics into the Church. Bishop Murray retired in 2009.

As a priest in the Diocese of Lansing, Bishop Murray served as assistant pastor of St. Joseph Parish in St. Joseph, Mich., from 1958-61 before becoming assistant pastor of St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing from 1961-62.

Upon his return from a two-year sabbatical at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., he served as assistant pastor at two other parishes in Lansing: St. Therese (1964-68) and St. Gerard (1968-73) before returning to St. Mary Cathedral in September 1973 as rector.

He also served as chancellor for the Diocese of Lansing from 1968-97. In addition, he served as Chaplain of the Lansing Police Department from 1972-97.

Named an Honorary Prelate (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II in 1993, Msgr. Murray was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo on Nov. 18, 1997. Upon his installation in Jan. 1998, Bishop Murray chose “Rejoice in the Lord Always” (Phil. 4:4) as his motto.

Bishop Boyea offered his condolences for all who knew and loved Bishop Murray, and said, “The Diocese of Lansing has been incredibly blessed by the long priestly ministry of Bishop Emeritus James Murray of Kalamazoo.”

A funeral Mass was held at St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo, and a memorial Mass is planned for a later date.

FAITH Magazine | JULY/AUGUST 2020 | WWW.FAITHMAG.COM

Bishop Boyea has named a new president and a new principal for Lansing Catholic High School. In the announcement on May 21, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Lansing Tom Maloney said, “I am delighted to welcome both Dominic Iocco as the new president of Lansing Catholic High School and Krystyn Schmerbeck as the school’s new principal and can assure them of the support and, most importantly, the prayers of Bishop Boyea and all within the Diocese of Lansing in the months and years to come.”

Dominic Iocco most recently served as president of Jet-Hot Coatings in North Carolina for five years. He previously served John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego as provost and professor of business and new media. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. from Central Michigan University.

“I am honored to serve as the next president of Lansing Catholic,” said Dominic upon the announcement. “I'm very excited to help lead this faith-filled community and build upon such a strong tradition of forming young men and women spiritually, intellectually and socially into faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.”

New principal Krystyn Schmerbeck, has nine years of educational experience, most recently as a Latin teacher at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, Va. Krystyn has a master’s in public policy from George Washington University and a B.A. in philosophy and classical languages from Hamilton College in New York.

“I am excited to undertake the privilege of serving as the next principal of Lansing Catholic High School,” said Krystyn. “I firmly believe that all Catholic education involves teaching a way of life such that all members of the Lansing Catholic community – students, families, faculty and staff – grow into the men and women Christ calls them to become. I am eager to join this community and meet all of its beautiful members.”

Dominic and Krystyn begin serving at Lansing Catholic High School on July 1.

FATHER MARK RUTHERFORD APPOINTED JUDICIAL VICAR FOR ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, provided a statement on Archbishop José H. the decision issued on June 15 by Gomez the Supreme Court of the United States – ruling that the prohibition on “sex” discrimination in employment in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 now prohibits discrimination based on “sexual orientation” and “transgender” status. Archbishop Gomez’ statement said, in part: “I am deeply concerned that the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively redefined the legal meaning of ‘sex’ in our nation’s civil rights law. This is an injustice that will have implications in many areas of life. By erasing the beautiful differences and complementary relationship between man and woman, we ignore the glory of God’s creation and harm the human family, the first building block of society ... Every human person is made in the image and likeness of God and, without exception, must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect. Protecting our neighbors from unjust discrimination does not require redefining human nature.”

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., announced the appointment of Rev. Mark Rutherford, J.C.L., of Williamston, as judicial vicar of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. As judicial vicar, Father Rutherford will be responsible for overseeing the work of the archdiocesan tribunal, which handles matters of canon law including cases concerning the nullity of marriage. Father Rutherford was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Earl Boyea in 2009.

PRIEST ASSIGNMENTS Bishop Boyea announces the following priest assignments and transfers to take effect Wednesday, June 24, 2020: •R ev. David Speicher, from pastor of St. Joseph, Howell, to become pastor of St. Jude, DeWitt.

• Rev. Robert Irish, from pastor of St. Jude, DeWitt, to senior priest status.

• Rev. Robert Pienta, from pastor, St. Joseph Shrine in Brooklyn, to senior priest status.

Bishop Boyea announces the following priest assignment to take effect Wednesday, July 1, 2020:

DANIEL IBÁÑEZ/CNA

USCCB ISSUES STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT DECISION

MICHIGAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS POPE FRANCIS’ LAUDATO SI’ TEACHING The Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) has dedicated its latest FOCUS publication to encourage study and reflection of the encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, which adds to the Church’s rich body of teaching on caring for God’s creation. Dave Maluchnik, MCC vice president for communications, said: “Pope Francis’ message about individuals having a shared responsibility for one another and for God’s creation is particularly relevant during this time of global pandemic. It is the hope of this organization that our materials will help to support the message of the Holy Father and encourage Catholics to dive more deeply into his teachings.”

•R ev. Mark Rutherford, from pastor of St. Mary, Williamston, to judicial vicar, Archdiocese for the Military Services, Washington, D.C. Priest anniversaries 60 YEARS • Rev. Msgr. Robert Lunsford 25 YEARS • Rev. John Byers • Rev. Michael Williams

Blessings

upon you Fr. Mike on your Ordination! Thank you for heeding His call and embracing our community with Christ’s tender love!

– Your grateful East Lansing Catholic Community

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Membership Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906 Want to receive FAITH Magazine? Visit FAITHMAG.COM Follow FAITHMAG The Way to Happiness Is Jesus Find out more at DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG Find a Catholic Church at MASSTIMES.ORG Serving Ann Arbor, Flint, Jackson, Lansing And Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw counties

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