October 2006

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THE MAGAZINE OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LANSING

he says: I want more romance

He says: I'm too tired work l i f e

Do the clothes make the man or woman? parenting

journey

Avoid the trap of keeping up with the Joneses.

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usually don’t pay much attention to bumper stickers, but one caught my eye a few years ago with its blend of wit and good advice. It said, “Let go and let God.” I needed that little reminder that day, caught up in the hustle and bustle that can be part of everyday life. I was worried that I wasn’t going to get where I needed to be on time. I was concerned that, once I did arrive at my destination, I wouldn’t be able to spend the time I thought was necessary before having to excuse myself so that I could move on to the next item on my agenda. In fact, I was feeling pretty resentful that a number of situations had cropped up that day which, until they were dealt with, would continue to interfere with the other things I felt certain I had to get done that day.

Letting go and letting God is also about trust – trusting that God will continue to guide and sustain us in those times when we’re tired or frustrated or at our wit’s end. If we let go and let God, perhaps we will discover that we were It was in the midst of my frustration that I happened to notice the bumper sticker that never truly alone.

helped me to put things in a better perspective. I was letting my agenda drive my life, and I had started to allow my perceived needs to interfere with where God needed me to be.

Perhaps even worse, I had allowed my list of tasks to interfere with how God needed me to be, and for whom he needed me to be.

Each day, I look at my calendar for that day. Each week, I look at the week ahead. Yes, there are things for which I am responsible. There are places I need to be. That’s part of my priestly life. What I see more clearly now, thanks to that bumper sticker, is that it’s not only necessary, but also good, to make sure that I acknowledge, be open to, and respond to what is on God’s agenda for me that day or that week. I don’t need to be in control of each minute, and I don’t need to allow myself to become wrapped up in minutiae, as can sometimes be my nature. Instead, I can let go and let God guide me to where I need to be.

I can let go and let God support me in the unplanned or the unanticipated. I can let go and let God show me how I need to be or where I need to be, even if that wasn’t necessarily on my list of things for that day.

In time, frustration gave way to a renewed sense of anticipation. What does God have planned for this week? What does God have in store for today? Where does God need me to be? I don’t know entirely, but I do know that surrendering my agenda and my desire to be in control to God’s desire for good for me inevitably leads me not only to where he needs me to be, but allows me to arrive there in a much better frame of mind.

Letting go and letting God guide us requires giving up a measure of our control. That can be a bit frightening, but it is also freeing. Letting go and letting God is also about trust – trusting that God will continue to guide and sustain us in those times when we’re tired or frustrated or at our wit’s end. If we let go and let God, perhaps we will discover that we were never truly alone. God is always there, willing to shoulder our burdens, listening to our prayers, and guiding our steps. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

Let go and let God

advice for living a more stress-free life

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

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FAITH Magazine October 2006 Oct. 2 | St. Francis of Assisi, Religious Oct. 4 | St. Bruno, Priest Oct. 6 | Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin Oct. 6 | Our Lady of the Rosary Oct. 7 | St. Denis Liturgical Calendar: The Guardian Angels

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c o v e r s t o r y love on wheels Gregg Berent’s gift to children in pain

what you’ll get out of this issue

Gregg Berent drives children who are very ill from Flint to hospital appointments in Ann Arbor and Detroit. Find out more about his amazing St. Christopher ministry.

in the know with Fr. Joe 6 Dear Fr. Joe: do I give to the panhandler? – Fr. Joseph Krupp

– Marybeth Hicks

work life 9 Do the clothes make the man or woman? How important is it to ‘dress for success’? – Tim Ryan

Your marriage matters – p 10

your marriage matters 10 She says: I want more romance. He says: I’m too tired.

What do they do? – Cheval Breggins p r o f i l e knitting into the mystery – how God is present in a ball of yarn and a pair of needles.

Sister Elaine and her group of knitters find healing, hope and God while knitting shawls for those in need. Read about this experience you can start in your own parish.

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Giving thanks – make these special thank-you notes.

When someone gives us a gift or does something kind for us, do we remember to say ‘thank-you’?

These handmade notes are a gracious way to express your gratitude.

– Nancy Schertzing

p r o f i l e the oldest active priest in the Diocese of Lansing – meet Father Anthony Majchrowski. Father Anthony was ordained in 1944 and sent to his home parish of All Saints in Flint. He’s never left. Read about his remarkable and happy life as the oldest “on duty” priest in the diocese. – Bob Horning

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11 “I want that!” How parents can avoid the trap of keeping up with the Joneses. – Dr. Cathleen McGreal

theology 101 12 A step-by-step guide through the church’s liturgies. – Elizabeth Solsburg

from the bishop 14 Go! Make a difference – stories of sacrifice. – Carl F. Mengeling

Anxious and afraid?

p 26

spiritual fitness 26 Anxious and afraid?

Let God clothe you with truth.

– Michele DiFranco

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the parenting journey

– Fr. Bill Ashbaugh

the last word How God is present in a ball of yarn and a pair of needles – p 20

Meet Father Anthony Majchrowski – p 22

31 Don’t worry, be happy – what God has planned for us – Fr. Charles Irving

Denis, Bishop and his companions, Martyrs Oct. 9 | St. John Leonardi, Priest Oct. 9 | St. Callistus, Pope and Martyr Oct. 14 | St. Hedwig, Religious Oct. 16 | St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin Oct. 16

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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

October 2006 • Volume 7: Issue 8

Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR IN CHIEF

Patrick M. O’Brien MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg ASSISTANT EDITOR/STAFF WRITER

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR/WEB DESIGNER

Jillane Job SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY

Rev. William Ashbaugh Cheval Breggins Margaret Ann Cross Michelle Sessions DiFranco Marybeth Hicks Elizabeth Johnson Rev. Joseph Krupp Tom and JoAnne Fogle Bob Horning Cathleen McGreal John Morris Rick and Diane Peiffer Tim Ryan Nancy Schertzing Allena Tapia Sara Teller Theresa McWilliams-Wessels

Dear Editor: I usually enjoy reading [FAITH], although I was really disappointed after reading the article … about The DaVinci Code. The author that you interviewed for the article has written several books disputing the evidence in [the book]. I have not read any of her books and after reading the article, I am glad that I did not waste my time. I couldn’t believe how hostile she sounded. ... I read The DaVinci Code and liked it. I saw it for what it was, a romance novel, a work of fiction. ... Nothing ... changed the relationship I have with Jesus ... I would have liked your magazine to encourage its readers to focus on their relationship with God ...

– Jaminda Springer, St. Mary Student Parish, Ann Arbor

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING

Tom Gennara Christine Jones James Luning (cover) Joe Vaughan

To the Editor: In the July/August issue ..., [Fr. Joe] answered a mother’s question about sending her

Dear editor: your thoughts on The DaVinci Code and Catholic schools

child to a Catholic school ...

As a Catholic and an administrator in the public schools, I was very disappointed to see that you never even considered public school as an option for this mom. ... While many Catholic schools provide an excellent education, many families may not have the means to provide for the tuition. ...

I was also dismayed at your strong encouragement of home schooling. I live in an area that does have a strong home-school support network but I do feel that these children are still missing out on many opportunities, not only educationally, but socially. Many times when these students enter the public schools,

usually at the high-school level, consistently they come to us without the necessary skills that should have learned at an early age. ...

– Liz Margolis, Ann Arbor

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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

FAITH Publishing Ser vice Rev. Dwight Ezop CHAIRMAN

Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Beverly Sherman SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

To the Editor: ... Our school has been blessed with a substantial balance in its tuition assistance program through memorial contributions and fundraising ... I am afraid that some of your readers ... will immediately cross Catholic schools off as an option.

Finances should not be a reason to decide against sending your child to a Catholic school. ... I was disappointed with your article.

– Karen Messer, Sacred Heart School, Hudson

Enomhen Odigie GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN

Abby Wieber GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Patricia Oliver SECRETARY

Elizabeth Grodi Shannon Hoffman EDITORIAL INTERNS

InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT FAITHPublishingService.com FAITH™ (USPS 019993) is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. Published monthly except February and August.

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To the Editor: ... I was especially surprised and pleased that your first alternative suggested was homeschooling. I can attest to the great spiritual closeness a family can achieve only through homeschooling …

– Janice Kielb, Ann Arbor

St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Oct. 17 | St. Luke, Evangelist Oct. 18 | St. John de Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, Priests and their co

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St. Philip of Moscow engineer and monk St. Philip of Moscow Feast Day: October 5

Was this rudeness?

Maybe it’s just me

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y daughter stands in the second row on the end. She’s wearing blue sweat pants and a pink shirt.

Her hair is swept up into the ponytail that looked neater this morning. Her hands have streaks of magic marker on them.

Her face is not quite clean.

T. Gennara

Still, back there in the second row, she looks perfectly put together as the teacher calls out “afive-six-seven-eight” to signal the start of the dance combination.

It’s parent observation day in the studio. The dozen girls in Amy’s musical theater class show off their newfound skills, acting out emotions and belting show tunes at the top of their little lungs.

It’s too cute.

Unfortunately, I can’t really concentrate on Amy and her fellow thespians in training. All I can focus on are the two children behind me whose

abominable behavior is multiplied by the fact that they are reflected in the mirror on the opposite wall.

There’s just enough space between the last row of chairs and the wall behind us for them to run back and forth from one end of the room to the other. The 5year-old sister of one of the girls in the class has engaged the interest of someone else’s 9-year-old brother, and together they’re entertaining each other until their designated time as “tagalongs” is up.

The problem is, the entertainment is supposed to be out on the dance floor.

– Marybeth Hicks

Find out how Marybeth dealt with rude children – and read other essays and daily changing news stories – only on FAITHmag.com.

Claim to fame: St. Philip of Moscow, born in 1507 as Theodore Kolyshov, is remembered for standing up to Tsar Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible. St. Philip used his role as bishop of Moscow to protect the people of Russia from Ivan’s abuses, even though he knew that he would most likely end up as one of Ivan’s victims.

Little-known fact: Philip of Moscow was a skilled engineer who created a new system of irrigation for his monastery, set up windmills for power and built two cathedrals. He also introduced reindeer herding to the monks and taught them how to use reindeer hides to make clothing and shoes.

What made him a saint: Philip of Moscow willingly gave up his position as a member of a wealthy, noble family to pursue a life of prayer and service. He hid his background from the abbot at the monastery in Solovetsk and humbly accepted positions as wood cutter and baker for his monastic house. He also spent several years as a hermit, praying and studying Scripture. Because of his holiness, he was elected abbot of his monastery in 1547. He rebuilt the monastery, added improvements, and worked to provide respectful treatment of the peasants in the region around the monastery, including the right of grievance against the ruling aristocracy.

Ivan the Terrible considered Philip’s actions to be meddling in political affairs. But that didn’t cause Philip to back down. In fact, it made him a stronger voice for the people, even though that meant privately and publicly chastising the tsar for his actions.

Best quote: “If I do not bear witness to the truth, I render myself unworthy of my office as a bishop. If I bow to men’s will, what shall I find to answer Christ on the day of the Judgment?”

How he died: Philip found out that Tsar Ivan IV did not take kindly to correction by religious authorities. When Philip, as leader of the Russian church, spoke out against Ivan’s policies of murdering political opponents and others who disagreed with the political regime, the tsar had Philip removed from office. He was arrested, chained and moved from one prison to another for many months.

On Dec. 23, 1569, an agent of the tsar murdered Philip by suffocating him with a cushion.

Prayer: God, you gave Philip of Moscow great courage to speak out for what was right. Teach us to see the injustices in our world and to speak and act with courage to right the wrongs that harm your children. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen. – Elizabeth Johnson

their companions, Martyrs Oct. 19 | St. Paul of the Cross, Priest Oct. 20 | St. John of Capistrano, Priest Oct. 23 | St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop Oct. 24 | Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles Oct 28

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Dear Fr. Joe: Do you give to the panhandler?

I feel guilty walking by someone, but I’m afraid giving money just perpetuates the problem.

G

reat question! Let’s get right to it.

There are, in my mind, a few ways people respond to beggars. One school of thought says that if you give them anything, you are participating in sin, because they may be taking that money and doing something evil or unhealthy with it.

I’m not a big fan of this school of thought. The people who say it probably pay taxes – and you know that not all the money our government collects is used for life-giving, wholesome things. Not giving people money because they might do something evil with it is – in my mind – usually a justification for a lack of charity, or revelatory of an unhealthy distrust of people.

The second school of thought starts off on a similar vein, but ends with a holy twist: Don’t give beggars money when they ask, but be sure and buy them something to eat. I like this idea, I think. Ignoring a beggar or instructing him about getting his life together does not work and is not helpful. However, choosing to feed a hungry person or get her a place for the night? Wow – that is good stuff!

In fact, it is one of the reasons you and I are put on the earth. (One of the other reasons is tied intricately to Double Stuf Oreo consumpIgnoring a beggar tion, but I won’t go into that or instructing him here). The great thing about this response is that it offers help, about getting his life together does reminds the beggar of his value not work and is not and worth, and reminds the helpful. However, giver of what she is called to do, all while minimizing the risk of choosing to feed your help being misused. a hungry person The third school of thought or get her a place says that whenever you are apfor the night? Wow proached, you help in any way – that is good stuff! you can. I like this as well. I have given money to panhandlers with a strong sense that they were going to use it to buy alcohol, but I didn’t have the time or resources to go buy them

Dear Fr. Joe do I give to the panhandler?

FAITH Magazine

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My sister Edie is a mother of three, and these three are a source in my life of unending joy and humor. Recently, she has begun compiling a list of things she hears herself saying to her children that she never thought she would say. The best one in my mind? It has to be the one she directed at 5-year-old Christopher: “Christopher, put the iguana down during family prayer time.” food. I guess that, in the end, I would rather be burned for being naive than for being cynical.

The key is to respond! Homeless people often speak of being perceived as “invisible”; they see the folks walking by pretending they are not there. We can never allow this to happen in our hearts.

We are ignoring Jesus when we ignore the poorest members of society. We are neglecting an opportunity to take the faith in our hearts and translate it to action.

Check out these words from the

Book of James: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in Peace, keep warm and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17) There are numerous other Scripture passages for us to look at here. The most brutally challenging comes from Matthew in

October 2006

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this month in history:

FAITH asks:

What year was Henry Ford’s assembly line developed?

why do people dress up for church?

Innovative automotive pioneer Henry Ford developed a moving assembly line that would speed up the vehicle production process on Oct. 7, WHAT YEAR? His Ford Motor Company remains one of the top international automotive competitors of today.

How important is our choice of clothing? Decisions about what to wear aren’t just confined to work or school We asked children at St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish, Swartz Creek, “What do you wear to church and why do people dress up for church?”

Shakespeare’s idol? Spanish novelist, playwright and poet Miguel de Cervantes was baptized on Oct. 9, WHAT YEAR? Though it is unlikely that the two ever met, historians believe that Shakespeare took an interest in Cervantes’ famous Don Quixote.

Pioneers of Christianity, Spain’s Catholic sovereigns King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella married on Oct. 18, WHAT YEAR? After seven years of pleading, the two decided to fund Columbus’ mission to spread his faith, which serendipitously led to the discovery of America.

Miles (age 8): What we wear to church are nice clothes; people dress up so we can look nice for Christ.

William (age 8): People dress up so they can look good.

Carolyn (age 8): I wear dresses to church.

People dress up for church because church is God’s house.

Imagine all the people who are grateful for the birth of rock superstar John Lennon on Oct. 9, WHAT YEAR? Formerly a Beatles artist, Lennon released his first solo album, Imagine, in 1971.

Answers: 1913, 1547, 1469, 1940

chapter 25, where Jesus informs us that whatever we do to or for the least members of society, we do to him. Jesus literally makes our response to the poor salvific! So, our response to the poor is not just a nice bonus, but essential to our place in heaven someday.

I wanted to include a section from the catechism here, but had trouble picking one. The problem is that there are more than 50 listings in the catechism referring to our need to be charitable people.

That in itself is a message. More than a message; that is a challenge.

Be generous today. Give to the beggar. Volunteer at the soup kitchen. Work at your local shelter.

Take your faith and put it into action.

Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

– Father Joseph Krupp

Hurricane Katrina still causing pain For New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina elicits tears and emotionally charged flashbacks.

When Archbishop Hughes walked into a Red Cross shelter two days after Katrina inundated 80 percent of the city of New Orleans, a representative asked him to speak to an inconsolable Lower 9th Ward resident.

The man told the archbishop about rushing to his attic with his wife after the levee burst and hacking a hole in the roof to escape the surging tide.

When the man tried to lift his wife, she became paralyzed with fear and slipped from his grasp into the water. “I dove down and grabbed onto her shirt, and she slipped out of her shirt.”

A year later, the archbishop said he is aware of the high level of frustration, anger and depression many survivors are experiencing because of the slow pace of recovery.

67% of Catholics believe the church should be more accountable about church financial issues.

(CARA, Spring 2006)

What do you think?

Log on to FAITHmag.com then click FAITH forums to discuss this and other interesting topics.

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

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

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Victory of Peace Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the “victory of peace” in the Middle East and urged peoples of all religions to pray for peace.

Mistaken ‘Bandit’ priest dies Father Bernard Pagano, who was once the prime suspect in the ‘gentleman bandit’ case in the 1970s, passed away Aug. 1 at age 81. The rebellious priest had once upset church authorities by entering a charity wrestling event as the Mad Monk. The case was later dropped.

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Cardinal survives cancer The Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, is recovering at home after complications arose in an operation to remove a cancerous bladder and prostate. c New World

Historic discovery leads to altar restoration The discovery of 100-yearold original church plans in Manchester, United Kingdom, has sparked an ambitious attempt to rebuild the largest Catholic altar since the Reformation.

Displaced by hurricanes: Known numbers sizable, but much unknowable

CNS/David V. Kamba, Catholi

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Poor Clares launch website Poor Clare Sisters in Dublin, Ireland, in a bid to boost vocations, launched a Web site to draw young women to the order.

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New 9/11 film highlights survivor’s faith Will Jimeno, whose story of survival in the 9/11 attacks is retold in the movie World Trade Center, said his Catholic faith kept him alive during the long hours in which he was trapped under the rubble of the twin towers.

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Catholic TV station celebrates Catholic TV station EWTN is celebrating 25 years of broadcasting in the United States.

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Christians flee Iraq Half of all Iraqi Christians have fled their country since the 2003 US-led invasion, said the auxiliary bishop of Baghdad.

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Women risk excommunication Fifteen female participants in an illicit ordination near Pittsburgh on July 31 will face excommunication if they refuse to stop saying Mass, diocese officials warn.

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Qatar offers grant Qatar will donate $17.5 million to Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically black Catholic university in the United States.

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CNS/Paul Finch, Catholic Sun

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obody, even nearly a year after hurricanes Katrina and Rita battered the Gulf Coast, knows exactly how many people were displaced by the storms.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans, which was hit hard by Katrina, does not know how many of its Catholics are still outside the archdiocese.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has processed more than 2.56 million requests for aid.

FEMA limits aid requests to one for each household. A FEMA spokeswoman said the agency has no way of knowing how many people are in each household asking for help; further, the numbers include people who still live on their property, albeit in FEMA-supplied trailers.

An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau information by the Brookings Institution shows that in the New Orleans metropolitan area, the population dropped more than 29 percent overall, though in St. Bernard Parish, a civil entity, the decrease was about 95 percent. In the Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., area the population decreased by almost 17 percent.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the hurricanes

dispersed more than 200,000 students in Louisiana alone to 49 states and the District of Columbia.

As time goes on, the people who fled may choose to put down roots elsewhere. And “elsewhere” may be very far away.

“We’ve worked with 79, almost 80, individuals since September (2005). ... Nobody really knows the figures because we’ve found that hurricane survivors tend to move,” said Amy Isaacson, disaster response and relief coordinator for the Diocese of Spokane, Wash.

The Diocese of Spokane got a grant from Catholic Charities USA to perform the case management work to resettle those displaced by the hurricanes.

Director Greg Cunningham said, “Our program is called refugee and immigration services. I just never thought our next population would be the southeastern United States – not Bosnia, the former Soviet republics or Southeast Asia.”

– Mark Pattison/CNS

October 2006

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CNS/Frank J. Methe, Clarion Herald

Vox Clara reviews U.S. bishops’ proposals for wording in Mass prayers A Vatican-appointed committee of English-speaking bishops has reviewed the amendments and adaptations approved by the U.S. bishops in a new translation of the main prayers for Mass.

Archbishop Archbishop Alfred Hughes C. Hughes of New Orleans, a member of the Vox Clara Committee, said members reviewed and discussed each of the U.S.-proposed changes to the text prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy.

The Vox Clara Committee, which met July 17-21 at the Vatican, advises the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments on English-language translations.

The congregation must approve translations adopted by a national bishops’ conference before they can be used in parishes. – Cindy Wooden/CNS

CNS/Bob Roller

Vatican says assets of suppressed parish must go to receiving parish When a bishop suppresses a parish, its assets and liabilities must go to the parish or parishes that receive the parishioners, not to the diocese, a top Vatican official said in a letter to U.S. bishops.

The letter from Bishop Skylstad Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy to Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, could have significant implications for many U.S. dioceses that are closing parishes because of a shortage of priests or a declining Catholic population. Cardinal Castrillon asked the USCCB head to notify the nation’s bishops about the congregation’s position.

Last year, the clergy congregation ruled that assets and liabilities of several parishes closed in the Boston Archdiocese belonged to the parishes that received the members of the closed parishes, not to the archdiocese.

– Jerry Filteau/CNS

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do the clothes make the man or woman? how important is it to ‘dress for success’?

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’ve been in my job for more than five years; everyone says that’s too long and that I should be pushing for a promotion or changing companies. I’ve been trying to get myself noticed for internal promotions, and I’ve been interviewing outside the company, but nothing is happening. One thing the “experts” advise is that you need to look the part, so I’ve spent quite a bit of time and money improving my wardrobe and appearance. The right clothes are supposed to get you noticed and give you confidence, but it doesn’t seem to be helping me much.

Dan has been trying to get to the next step on the career ladder.

The expert says: Stephen Covey, in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, reflects on the tendency in our society today to rely on superficial quick fixes to improve our social interactions. Clothing often becomes an easy way to define our identity.

There’s nothing wrong with dressing well to convey a professional or social image.

The problem arises when we rely on clothes to camouflage character flaws or shortcomings that result from denying our true identity. Bill George is a former chairman and CEO of Medtronic Corporation. When asked what the most important characteristic of leadership is, he replies, “I believe that leadership begins and ends with authenticity. It’s being yourself; being the person you were created to be.” (Authentic Leadership, 11)

Since God created us, we can conclude that authenticity means becoming what God calls us to be.

Clothes and personal improvement techniques mean

nothing if we ignore God’s call. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus points out that the Pharisees and scribes were good at appearing to be holy, but they did not live the law of love. Jesus, therefore, admonishes them for not being authentic – “Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside may also be clean.”

(Matt 23:26) With this in mind, we might be well advised to examine our own motives and priorities: • Am I wasting time cleaning the outside while the inside erodes away?

• Do I spend as much time in prayer, reflection, and service as I do in enhancing my physical appearance?

• Just because I improve my outward appearance, am I really improving myself as a person?

Stained-glass windows on their own can look impressive, but it’s only when light shines through them that their true beauty is unveiled. Our outward appearance is like that stained glass – only when we allow God’s light to shine through it will our true and beautiful self be exposed.

– Tim Ryan

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Grab eight sticky notes or small pieces of paper and two pens. Sit down with your spouse and ask him to list four things that would brighten his day (within reason). Better yet, identify four things you will do for her that would really be appreciated.

S

He said She said

andi and William have been married for 20 years and have one child, Brooke.

Brooke recently moved what do they do? away from home for the first time to attend college, leaving Sandi and William alone for the first time in years.

m oney

Savings basics.

• Long Term, retirement: IRA, 401k.

• Save for emergency: short term emergency cash fund, your safety net.

• Save for a purpose: down payment on something, a trip, a project or to move into an investment.

• Save to spend: Yeah! Save, but don’t hoard.

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I want more romance Sandi says: William and I married when I was 22 and he was 29. I had just finished college and William was on the corporate track at the bank. I had our daughter when I had just turned 23. Brooke is wonderful; however, becoming parents early in our marriage meant that William and I had very little time for romance – all of our energy was focused on our daughter. Now that she’s moved out, I had hoped we could renew the spark of intimacy. But William is always too busy or tired. He says he loves me, but never wants to express that physically. I love him, but his lack of interest hurts my feelings and makes me feel undesirable and unattractive.

I’m too tired William says: I love Sandi, but she needs to understand that I am completely exhausted at the end of the day. Most of the time, after we’ve eaten dinner and watched a little television, all I want to do is fall into bed and fall asleep. I was recently promoted to regional vice president of my bank and it’s demanding all my physical and mental energy. I know Sandi would like to make love more often, but frankly, I’m just not as interested as I used to be. It’s wonderful when we are together, but Sandi’s constant requests are beginning to make me feel pressured and resentful. I want to be a good husband, but I don’t know how right now.

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p a r e n t i n g

The counselor says: This is a very common mid-life occurrence.

Some of it is biological – a man’s libido decreases as he moves through his middle years and a woman’s increases as she approaches menopause. Sandi and William need to talk openly about these physical changes.

William may want to consult his physician to make sure there are no health issues causing his decreased desire and then begin a regime of healthy diet and exercise, both of which contribute to a healthy sex life. Sandi could join him in an exercise program such as walking, during which they would have time to talk in a relaxed setting.

Sexual intimacy is a form of communication, in which the partners express their love and commitment to each other. Sandi is interpreting William’s lack of interest in physical intimacy as a lack of interest in her. William may want to reassure Sandi verbally that he finds her beautiful and desirable and that she is his beloved. Thus reassured, Sandi may be able to better work with William in establishing a pattern for their sexual relationship that satisfies both of them.

Most importantly, Sandi and William should remember that marriage is a sacramental gift from God, reflecting God’s passionate love for his people.

As parents, they have joined themselves to God’s act of creation and as spouses, they reflect God’s love to each other and to those they meet. There are many ways for Sandi and William to express that love – sexually and otherwise. In their prayer lives, they should continue to ask for God’s grace in helping them love each other as God loves them.

– Cheval Breggins

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com m uni ca ti o n

j o u r n e y

“I want that!” how parents can avoid the trap of keeping up with the Joneses

Rekindle the fire of love. Watch a movie and munch some popcorn in the same theater you saw your first “date” movie.

time

No time to talk? Try doing the grocery shopping together, or taking the laundry to the Laundromat.

You can get chores done and have time to communicate while you’re waiting for the dryer to buzz or the checkout line to move.

If you have to choose between setting aside money for college or purchasing an iPod, then you are being presented with a “teachable moment” regarding financial decisions.

A

s parents of young children in 1913, you and your spouse are wondering just what is going on in this new century.

The commercialism in the latest issue of St. Nicholas Magazine is rampant. What child doesn’t pretend to gallop on a horse? Imagination and childhood go together like bread and butter! But this ad says it’s more fun to own a real Shetland pony! Western Electric proclaims that girls need tiny working stoves. During your childhood, there were only two department store chains; now there are more than 150! Stores have Children’s Days! Do they think children are going to buy ponies, toy stoves and go on shopping outings?

Children aren’t customers! Where is the world heading?

Spiritual values are counter-cultural.

Generations of parents have struggled with how to respond to marketing that is directed toward children.

There was a time when a parent could avoid stores and limit the advertisements coming into the home. Now, awareness of all there is to covet permeates society. I remember an advertisement geared toward loans for big-ticket items that said, “You can never have enough toys.” Of course, you can! In principle, most of us agree that children’s possessions must be limited.

Actually doing it, however, isn’t easy.

Don’t be pestered into purchases!

As a toddler, my daughter Erin liked to wear a microwave popper as a space helmet and sit in an empty cupboard after clearing out all the pots and pans. As most parents discover, toddlers often enjoy boxes more than the presents within! Simplicity is appreciated. Before long, however, children’s eyes light up at every stuffed animal that resembles a favorite TV character. Soon, parents hear, “Everyone but me has a _______!” Pestering a parent should not increase the chances of a purchase. Ask children to contribute time in extra household chores to help make up the difference between a reasonable shoe price and the shoes they want. Or explain why a purchase doesn’t fit in with the value system of the family. If you have to choose between setting aside money for college or purchasing an iPod, then you are being presented with a “teachable moment” regarding financial decisions.

On a family camping trip, our cousin Steve opened a book and began reading by the firelight. Our ages spanned decades, but all were caught up in his voice, the smell of the wood and the night sky. We had all that we wanted. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps 37:4) – Dr. Cathleen McGreal

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t h e o l o g y

1 0 1

Funeral liturgies

a step-by-step guide through the church’s liturgies

T

he death of someone we love is one of life’s most heart-rending moments. We are often numb with shock and filled with grief. The Catholic Church’s funeral liturgies offer mourners consolation, hope and faith in the resurrection. They usually occur in three parts: the vigil, the Mass of Christian Burial, and the rite of committal or graveside service.

Singing: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!” You’ll notice that the Scripture mentions joy, not pitch or key. Singing is an important part of worship and some elements of the Mass are specifically designed to be sung. Examples are the Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy” prayer) and the great Amen. Singing is a wonderful way for a congregation to express unity, since they are singing the same words at the same time and in approximately the same tone. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) extols the importance of congregational singing and stresses its necessity at Sunday and holy day Masses. Everyone present is urged to sing out with great joy, not just those who can carry a tune!

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who ’s in the s anctuary?

Cantor: The cantor is the liturgy’s chief singer. In monastic choirs, this was an office of high honor and the cantor often carried a staff to indicate rank. The cantor leads the congregation in song, frequently proclaiming the verses of the responsorial psalm. You may see the cantor move to the ambo for the proclamation of this psalm.

The vigil takes place for one or more days prior to the funeral. It used to be the custom for the vigil, or wake, to be held in the home of the deceased. Now, it is more customarily held in a funeral home.

Recently, there has also been a growing trend to celebrate the vigil in the parish church or hall – it is very moving to receive the condolences of friends and family in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and in a place where the deceased person worshipped in community. It is common for the evenings of the wake to close with the recitation of the rosary or a Scripture service. The vigil is also the most appropriate place for eulogies, in which stories and memories of the dead person are shared.

The Mass of Christian Burial is the fulcrum of the funeral liturgies. At the beginning of the Mass, the priest welcomes the body at the entrance to the church.

Family members place a white pall over the casket, representing the white garment in which the person was clothed at his or her baptism. The body is carried to the front of the church, where members of the family place a

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b i b l e

q u i z

w h a t ’ s

h e

w e a r i n g ?

Bible Quiz Tell me a story! a parable quiz

2 Probably Jesus’ first parable and the central thought on which the Sermon on the Mount was based. Inflexibility of traditional systems can’t adapt to the freedom of Jesus’ new way.

3 Dangers of putting our trust in possessions, instead of recognizing our dependence on God. 4 Refers to the reception given to God’s revelation.

Some accept it; others do not.

5 Union with Jesus is necessary for fruitfulness.

a. The Rich Fool (Luke 12: 16-21)

b. Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20: 1-6)

c. The Sower and the Seed (Matt 13: 1-13)

d. I am the Vine (John: 15: 1-8)

e. New Wine in Old Wineskins (Mark 2: 21-22)

Answers: 1:b; 2:e; 3: a; 4:c; 5:d

crucifix and a Bible on it, symbolizing the person’s Christian faith.

Changes in the funeral rites since Vatican II mean that we focus on the joy of resurrection rather than the sorrow of loss. The vestments are white, symbolizing joy, rather than their former black. The emphasis is on eternity, not on our present grief.

The Liturgy of the Word comprises readings chosen by the family – they are selected for their consolation and hope of eternal life. The priest or deacon preaches on the readings – offering a homily, not a eulogy.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist follows, reminding us of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. We are offered the hope of eternal life – for our loved one and for ourselves. Members of the family may serve as extraordinary ministers of Communion, readers and altar servers. After Communion, a friend or family member may be invited to share a brief reflection on the life of the departed.

There is a final procession to the place of committal, the cemetery. At the graveside, the priest or deacon offers a final commendation and prayers of farewell are said.

If there has not been a eulogy, one may be offered at this point.

Occasionally, the family may have chosen to cremate the body. The Catholic Church permits cremation and, since 1997, it has been permissible in the United States to have the cremated remains present for a funeral liturgy. Afterward, the remains should be treated with the same respect as a body would be – not kept in the home, but interred in a cemetery or entombed in a columbarium.

The Catholic celebration of a person’s life, coupled with the community’s consolation to that person’s loved ones, is one of the most profound ways the church acts as Christ in the world.

w h a t ’ s t h e s e a s o n ?

Holy Days of Obligation: There are various feasts throughout the church year that are so important they have been designated as holy days of obligation, on which the faithful must attend Mass.

Each country has its own list of holy days – in most dioceses of the United States, they are Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary; Aug. 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption; Nov. 1, the Solemnity of All Saints; Dec. 8, the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception; and Dec. 25, the Solemnity of Christmas. If Jan. 1, Aug. 15, or Nov. 1 fall on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is normally dispensed.

Pectoral Cross: The bishop wears a cross called a pectoral cross. Its name derives from the Latin word pectus or “breast.” There are rules that dictate how the cross is worn depending on the bishop’s garments. If he’s in a suit and collar, the pectoral cross is usually placed in the vest pocket with the chain showing – that’s why you’ll often see the bishop with a gold chain across his chest.

w h a t ’ s

i n

t h e

c h u r c h ?

Sacred vessels:

T

he chalice is the cup in which the wine that becomes the blood of Christ is contained. The ciborium is the container for the hosts that will be consecrated at Mass and reserved in the tabernacle – it may be shaped somewhat like the chalice, but has a fitted lid. In medieval times, the word ciborium also referred to a canopy over the tabernacle, but that is no longer the case. The pyx is a small container that holds a few consecrated hosts – extraordinary ministers of holy Communion use a pyx to take Communion to the sick and homebound. All of these vessels are to be made of a material of value that is not easily broken. They should be treated with reverence due to their sacred functions.

Reuters/Erik de Castro

1 Upsets our expectations of strict fairness at the final judgment. All who respond to the call of Jesus, whether early in life or late, will inherit the kingdom. It is a pure gift and cannot be earned.

By Elizabeth Solsburg | Illustrations by Bob Patten

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f r o m

t h e

b i s h o p

I

t’s tough to keep up with the steady flow of new hymns.

There’s one that most young Catholics know. They think it’s cool – it’s called Go! Make a Difference and it’s been a hit since 1997.

More than 1,200 young people will sing it again at our annual Youth Jamboree in the Lansing Center on Nov. 5 and the refrain sums it up: “Go! Make a difference.

We can make a difference.

Go! Make a difference in the world.” Our good intentions are often derailed by thinking, “Oh, what kind of difference can I possibly make? I’m just one person. What do my actions mean to anyone?

What are they worth?

They’re like tiny grains of sand on the shorelines of the planet or in a vast desert. They’re like countless drops of water in the immense oceans.

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R

ecent events in our world tell us that we can make a difference. In the past couple of years, we have seen and experienced how the grains of sand or drops of water united our shared and generous response to vast needs. This made a monumental difference for victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and of Katrina on our Gulf Coast. Our attention was riveted to these catastrophes by media coverage, organized appeals, government coordination and personal contacts.

There was no doubt that each of us made a difference in the various united efforts of disaster relief. It was easy to see that difference. shelter the homeless, made her extraordinary.

During my first weekend at the parish, in the late ’60’s, I met this most remarkable Catholic lady, Martha. Before and after Masses, I was greeting parishioners for the first time. She was among those leaving after Sunday Mass.

As we met, I noticed someone else sort of hiding behind her.

She was peeking out from behind and looking over the new pastor with lively eyes. Martha then

‘‘

But response to massive tragedy is not the usual way we can make a difference. In disasters, we are given extraordinary ways to make a difference. The ordinary way is in the humdrum of daily life. It’s the very lifeblood of our life together. It’s an everyday gift.

The extraordinary is occasional and more dramatic, but the ordinary is greater: Fidelity to the ordinary is extraordinary.

This fidelity is often expressed through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. One of these flows from Jesus’ words, “I was naked and you clothed me.” We are all called to this “ordinary” task.

Clothing the naked involves more than just the basics of garments and blankets. Sometimes those who are naked require a lifetime of generosity and ongoing sacrifice. They are often in our family and sometimes they are ourselves.

We are called to respond by going beyond ourselves – “Do to others what I would like others to do to me.” I’m reminded of a wonderful lady whose fidelity to the ordinary, and whose willingness to clothe the naked and

‘‘

Clothing the naked involves more than just the basics of garments and blankets.

Go! Make a difference

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stories of sacrifice

introduced her niece, Marian. Marian was bashful and hesitant as I grasped her hand. I would later learn there was nothing shy about Marian when she knew you.

She was a special person with disabilities who was in her late 30s. Her aunt asked, “Is it true that you have a dog?” I noticed that Marian was all ears. “Yes,” I said, “I’m nuts about dogs.”

Marian excitedly told me her dog was Heidi, a dachshund.

I said “Oh, you have one that looks like a long sausage.” She pouted. I asked to come over and visit Heidi. Within a week, I was at their home. Dogs have a way of bringing dog lovers together!

They lived in a small house several blocks from the parish. It was a pleasant and happy place.

Marian had a way of touching people who knew her. Of course, she endured pain from stares and remarks of others.

Many stories could be told, but my focus is on Aunt Martha who lives now in Phoenix. Marian died in her early 50s. She lived that long because she was wanted and loved.

In due time, I learned why Marian came to live with Aunt Martha. Because of several complex situations, the burning question for family and relatives was, “What do we do with Marian?” She was a young girl then.

She could never make it on her own and be alone. Martha agreed to take Marian into her life and home for the rest of her life. It was a total change for Martha – but faith and love enabled her to become Marian’s guardian.

She gladly made the constant sacrifices this love demanded, yet Martha never thought of it as sacrifice. I never heard her bellyache or complain; she was no sourpuss. Truly, even now, she has no regrets.

Martha is good Catholic who acted as the presence of Jesus in our world.

Marian was blessed with the ongoing gift of Aunt Martha, who clothed her nakedness, her vunerability. Perhaps the greatest gift Martha gave Marian was to present her to our Lord, at church, to be clothed with divine grace and eternal life.

– Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth bishop of Lansing

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(

c o v e r

s t o r y

Even when my heart breaks, there’s

)

not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful I got to drive that van.

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By Marybeth Hicks Photography by Jim Luning

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L

acey was only 7 the first time Gregg Berent met her, but immediately, she captured his heart. “She climbed into the van and introduced herself to me,” he recalls, “and even then I could tell she was special.”

Despite a diagnosis of leukemia, Lacey was cheerful and charming. She chatted all the way to Ann Arbor for appointments with specialists at the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital. “You

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would never have known how sick she really was,” Gregg recalls. “She was always so positive.”

Along with her mother, Lacey spent hours with Gregg making the tedious trek for chemother-

apy treatments and follow-up visits with her oncologist. Yet mile after mile, hour after hour, Lacey never complained about the time she had to spend in the van or about the pain and discomfort she endured because of her disease.

“Lacey was such a trouper,” Gregg says, “But that’s what all our kids have in common.

They’re all incredibly courageous.

But Lacey – Lacey made a lasting impression with me.”

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or more than 10 years prior to taking on his current role as assistant director of Flint’s Catholic Outreach, Gregg served as the primary driver for the St. Christopher program, a ministry that provides free transportation to hospitals in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Lansing for critically ill children and their caregivers.

“There are some medical services, particularly dialysis and treatments for rare diseases, that aren’t available for pediatric patients in our community,” Gregg explains. “Without the St. Christopher program, many of these kids could not get the medical care they need.”

Yet the program didn’t emerge from a strategic plan or an assessment of community services. It started because one man decided to help some children.

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“The St. Christopher program began with a man named Roger Phillips,” Gregg recalls. “He called himself an advocate for sick kids. Roger noticed that people had transportation problems – they couldn’t get their children to medical appointments – so he offered free rides to people who needed them.

“Roger came to Catholic Outreach for gas money to offset the cost of his personal ministry. Sister Claudia, our founder, never turned anyone down, so of course she helped Roger to buy gas. That’s how it all began.”

Eventually, Roger left the Flint area, but by then, the need for such a service had been well-established.

Catholic Outreach purchased a minivan and Gregg began driving it, adding to his duties as coordinator of bingo for the ministry.

“When I took over as the driver, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Gregg recalls. “Over the years, I carted hundreds of children thousands of miles to receive medical care, mostly at Southeast Michigan’s two largest pediatric health-care facilities in Detroit and Ann Arbor.

“It’s easy to befriend the children served by the St. Christopher program. They’re some of the most courageous and caring kids you’ll ever meet.

“Some of these kids have to be in the van several times a week for dialysis,” Gregg says. “When you spend that much time on the road, you really get to know them and their families; you learn what they like and how to talk to them. When I started, I had kids who were in car seats and now they’re young adults. We spend a lot of time together.”

Not all of that time is comfortable or pleasant.

Most of the children needing transportation endure life-threatening illnesses – AIDS, cancer, kidney failure; some have survived tragedies such as a house fire, only to face seemingly endless treatments and surgeries.

Some don’t survive. That’s when the bonds of friendship mean the most.

“It’s extremely difficult to lose one of our kids,” Gregg says, emotion washing over his face. “Stephan was the first child I lost. He was the funniest kid I ever met – he had cystic fibrosis and even though he was severely disabled, when we piled into the van to go to the hospital, he would order his family around, telling everyone where to sit. I’d look back in the rearview mirror and he would make faces at me. He was hilarious.

“Just before he died, Stephan said to his mom, ‘Page Gregg and tell him I’m ready to go home.’ I realized that I was a huge part of his life, and that made me feel so good. I really miss him,” Gregg says. “His mom still calls me to say ‘hello,’ and recently she called to tell me it would have been Stephan’s 17th birthday.”

It’s not unusual for Gregg or the program’s two

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Over the years, I carted hundreds of children thousands of miles to receive medical care, mostly at Southeast Michigan’s two largest pediatric health-care facilities in Detroit and Ann Arbor.

r e s o u r c e

current drivers to grow close with the children, as well as with their mothers, grandmothers and families. “Most of these kids live in single-parent homes and there’s a lot of pressure on the moms to care for a very sick child, but also to take care of her other children and even to hold down a job.

There’s a lot of stress, so we try to support them by just being a friend.”

drivers use the van to preach to a captive audience. “We don’t evangelize while we’re driving people to their appointments. We let the work speak for itself. If the family asks us to pray with them, we do that. But mostly I’ve noticed that the Holy Spirit seems to just take over, especially with the parents.

“They have really sick kids and sometimes they feel angry and sad. They just want someone to listen, and God puts us there to ffering that be a strong shoulder to lean on. support means “Another way God is there is responding to in the fact that we’ve never had what each faman accident – and we have to ily needs. For drive in even the worst weather, example, most because if a child needs dialyof the time, St. sis you can’t just say, ‘Sorry, it’s Chrissnowy out.’ You have topher drivers wait in The program to go. And God also the van or the hospital didn’t emerge has provided funds lobby for patients to for this program, even from a strategic complete their visits. plan or an assess- when both of our vans But sometimes being ment of commu- broke down at the supportive means same time. Somehow, nity services. It sitting in on medical he assures that we’re started because appointments, picking one man decided able to keep going.” up prescriptions in God also seems to to help some the pharmacy, or even children. have blessed Gregg holding a child’s hand and the program’s othduring a difficult procedure. er drivers with a “Once I had a child who needed unique ability to a spinal tap and his mom just let their hearts couldn’t bear to watch it. So I stayed be broken. “I’ve with him,” Gregg recalls. “After a never felt hopewhile, you’re more than just the less, and I get driver. You’re a friend of the family.” that from the Just where is God in the St. Chris- kids.” topher van? “Everywhere,” Gregg Yet hope says. “He’s absolutely everywhere.” is found in Not that Gregg and the other poignant places.

Gregg is used to feeling good and feeling sad all at once. His hope comes in knowing that the courage and character of his young passengers inspires him to share his faith.

Catholic Outreach, under the direction of Sister Claudia Burke, is a Catholic Charities agency of the Diocese of Lansing. Catholic Outreach provides emergency assistance with housing, medical care, medical transportation for children, food and economic needs. Many of Sister Claudia’s employees at Catholic Outreach originally came to the agency for assistance and were later hired. The late Bishop Povish often called Sister Claudia “the Mother Teresa of Genesee County.”

acey, the lovely little girl who charmed Gregg from their first encounter, went home from the hospital for the last time when doctors told her they couldn’t help her any more. She died a week later.

“I needed to go to Lacey’s funeral because I needed closure.

Even though I sat there with tears running down my face, I was so glad I went,” Gregg says.

“The minister talked about how Lacey spent the last week of her life – she planned her own funeral – she picked the readings and songs – it was incredible.

She was only 9 years old and yet she did this for all of us.

“Even when my heart breaks, there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful I got to drive that van.”

Contact your local Catholic Charities agency if you need help, or can give someone else a helping hand by becoming a volunteer.

• Adrian: Catholic Charities of Lenawee, 517.263.2191 • Ann Arbor: Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, 734.971.9781 • Brighton/Howell: Catholic Social Services of Livingston County, 517.545.5944 • Flint: Catholic Outreach, 810.234.4693 • Flint: Catholic Charities of Genesee/Shiawasee Counties, 810.232.9950 and 989.727.8239 • Jackson: Catholic Charities of Jackson, 517.782.2551 • Lansing: St. Vincent Catholic Charities, 517.323.4734 Ext. 1202 • Lansing: Cristo Rey Community Center, 517.372.4700

To volunteer or get more information, click on www.catholiccharities.org.

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p r o f i l e

T

he Lord works in mysterious ways. When she first saw the book, Knitting into the Mystery, Sister Elaine LaBell didn’t understand its power to bring comfort, purpose and joy to peoples’ lives. Yet, since she began her Knitting Ministry group in January 2005, she has seen the mysteries of this ancient art form heal in surprising ways.

It’s a Tuesday morning at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Otisville. Sister Elaine LaBell, pastoral coordinator of this small, rural parish, welcomes 10 women to the basement of her home on the church grounds.

Different in age, background and ability, the women go through boxes of yarn donated from leftovers or unrealized projects. Cradling and fondling the yarn, each imagines the project she will create with it. Some speak of upcoming baby showers, anniversaries or funerals.

“The first mystery of this process,” explains Sister Elaine, “is the excitement that builds as participants use their creativity. They look ahead both to the beautiful items they will knit or crochet, but also to the joy those items will bring to the person who receives them. You can really feel the excitement!”

Eventually, Sister Elaine calls the women to the circle of chairs and asks them to put their completed work in the center. The Knitting Ministry meeting begins.

As Sister Elaine reads the opening prayer, heads bow in unison and hands fold into laps. Silently, their hearts echo her request for blessings on the minds, hands, souls, yarn and needles that will create the shawls and lap blankets.

She asks also for blessings on the people who passed on this ancient art and on those who will receive the fruit of their work.

“The second mystery of this process is that it connects people, especially women, with each other.

It centers them both in prayer and in an art form passed down over generations.” Sister Elaine says. “I come from a family of knitters. Many of these folks learned from loved ones now passed, and they share their memories openly with the group. For example, MaryAnn has shared with me that she and her mother used to sit side by side knitting for hours. Now that FAITH Magazine

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October 2006

how God is present in a ball of yarn and pair of needles

into the mystery her mother has died, this group allows her to connect with others in this powerful way.”

After the opening prayer, each woman shares the handiwork she’s completed since the previous meeting. In simple words and sincere modesty, each lifts her creation from the center table and talks about its stitches or its yarn

– the color, texture and loft making each a unique creation. Some have made their shawl or lap blanket for a specific person or purpose.

Others have stories about what happened in the course of creating their pieces. Laughter and conversation flow around the circle as the women take pride in their collective work, and joy in each others’ company.

After the sharing, Sister Elaine pulls out the list of candidates to receive the shawls or blankets. The discussion that ensues focuses on the needs of others and diverts at-

By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Christine Jones

9/5/06 2:30:06 PM

St. John Parish, Davidson, is celebrating a Shawl Ministry Mass on Oct. 26, 10 a.m. More than 300 shawl recipients are invited to lunch afterward.

tention from aches or pains within the circle. This day they agree that one blanket will go to a friend grieving her mother’s death, and two will go to an elderly couple separated when they were placed in different nursing homes. Two shawls are offered for friends from different communities battling cancer. Sister Elaine enters the recipients’ names in the group’s book of prayer and shares some stories of previous gifts.

“The third mystery is the powerful experience of giving the shawls or blankets to people in need.” Sister Elaine explains. “When we give our works away, we take the piece, place it around the person’s shoulders and read them the prayer on the card that goes with it. So from the first minute they have the shawl, the person is literally wrapped in warmth and prayer.”

“Last year at this time I had a funeral for a widowed mom who died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving her 11-year-old son alone.

wrapped in love Susan Moriarity lost her husband to cancer when their children were seven and five.

“It’s ironic,” she smiles ruefully.

“He was a rocket scientist, but three years of cancer treatments destroyed his immune system. He developed encephalitis and his brain literally crumbled.”

Now, five years later, cancer stalks their household again. In the course of a normal mammogram last winter, Susan’s doctors discovered a spot on her breast that turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer. Almost through her chemotherapy regimen, Susan has lost her hair to cancer, but not her spirit.

Before her chemotherapy began, Susan received a prayer shawl from a friend. She wrapped herself in it then, and still turns to it for comfort and warmth at times of need.

In my reflection, I gave the boy our shawl and told him I handed it with the promise of prayer. Talk about tears! Later the funeral home director told me they transported the mom’s body way up north for burial, and at the cemetery site that young boy had the shawl.”

“The fourth mystery of this process is that it gives us opportunities to explore our faith and our role in living God’s love. We minister to those in need when we make our shawls and blankets and give them away. But we also heal each others’ “There are some days when the overall depression wells up – being a widow and a single mom and having cancer. It’s pretty overwhelming when I think about it,” Susan says. “I ask God, can I just be the wave instead of the thing that gets tossed about in the water?”

“But I feel the prayers flowing to me from the shawl and all my friends and family. They help me to focus and provide a kind of background for doing what I’ve got to do.”

“I’m too young to quit, and my kids need me to stay alive. I have to get up, pick up my mat and keep putting one foot in front of the other to get through this. That takes a lot of strength.”

“It’s easy to get depressed. But the prayers remind me and God reminds me I’m still alive. They pull me back around, and the option to slip away just doesn’t occur to me any more.”

r e s o u r c e

Knitters, crocheters and other crafters have many opportunities to use their gifts to help those in need.

Hospital neonatal units are happy to receive handmade hats for premature babies, who need to keep their heads warm.

Hats should be knit or crocheted of machine washable and dryable synthetic yarn that is smooth.

Free patterns are available on Web sites such as www.lionbrand. com. Remember that a premature baby is tiny – hats should be sized to fit an orange!

loneliness through our work and prayer.” Sister Elaine smiles, “It’s a way to connect and get meaning from life.”

She turns to the group. “Can we stop and pray?” They reach for their own handiwork and all rise. Standing with their shawls or blankets in the circle, the women read the blessing for the completed shawls. “May God’s grace be upon this shawl – warming, comforting, enfolding, embracing.

“May this mantle be a safe haven – a sacred place of security and well-being – sustaining and embracing in good times as well as in difficult ones.

“May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in hope, kept in joy, graced with peace and wrapped in love.”

Then, wordlessly, each hands her piece to the person next to her for a silent blessing. For the next moments, the shawls and blankets flow in a circular wave of benediction and love as each woman prays silently over the works. When each holds her own handiwork again, the circle disperses as the women enter into the fifth mystery of the process – contemplative prayer.

The talking dies away and a rhythmic silence fills the room: clicking needles knitting and purling. Side by side, they immerse themselves in this timeless process.

The women’s work becomes their mantra – a wordless prayer opening minds and hearts to the mysteries of creativity and the peace of sharing God’s love.

Visit www.FAITHmag.com for daily changing news and interesting essays.

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p r o f i l e

meet the oldest active priest in the Diocese of Lansing

why Father Tony thinks

is too young to retire

I

t’s five o’clock when Father Anthony Majchrowski awakens.

He walks over to unlock the church, and says his morning prayers. Then it’s time to hear confessions before 7 a.m. Mass.

Usually, 25 people show up, double that number during Lent.

Later in the day, he does his exercises – like knee bends, sit-ups and walking around the church parking lot six times, equaling one mile.

“As long as the Lord gives me good health, I’ll keep going,” he says. I won’t have to retire.

I do admit that I tire out more quickly now, and I do have a little arthritis and other aches and pains, but not enough that I need any medication. I was ordained to serve others as Christ served us, so I want to be active in the priesthood as long as possible.”

Father Majchrowski, 87, is the oldest working priest in the diocese.

The third of five children, Anthony was born in Flint on Christmas Eve, 1918. He attended All Saints Church and school. “At that time there were 700 students in the elementary grades,” he said. “Around World War II, Buick bought it, and now it is a magnificent parking lot.

“I wanted to become a priest ever since I was a little kid. Of course, at the time, I wanted to be a fireman and policeman, too, but my desire to be a priest outgrew and survived my other desires. By high school my mind was made up. My older sister had entered a convent, FAITH Magazine

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October 2006

so she was a good example for me.

My parents thought a vocation was fine, for her and me. They were excellent models of sincere faith. I still remember that during the month of Octo-

ber, we gathered as a family every evening and prayed the rosary, on our knees, with our mother leading us.

“As a youth, I was pretty active in outdoor activities. I earned my Eagle Scout badge in high school, and was a summer swimming instructor at Camp Sancta Maria near Gaylord during my seminary years. I also got my amateur radio license, W8QXL. I still have it, and every once in a while go on the air. For musical

Father Tony and his Honda motorcycle

By Bob Horning | Photography by Tom Gennara

9/5/06 2:30:52 PM

I wanted to become a priest ever since I was a little kid. Of course, at the time, I wanted to be a reman and policeman, too, but my desire to be a priest outgrew and survived my other desires. fire

entertainment, I enjoyed playing the concertina (a small instrument somewhat like an accordion).”

Anthony graduated from high school in 1937, then attended Sacred Heart in Detroit for minor seminary. He went to major seminary in Norwood, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati, at Mount St. Mary.

After being ordained June 3, 1944

by Bishop Joseph Albers, Father Tony was assigned to St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing; the next year he came back to his home parish of All Saints in Flint. “I never knew of anyone being assigned to his home parish before,” he said. “I think it was because it was a Polish community and I knew the language; that’s why I have been here ever since. I arrived as assistant pastor with some fears, but I was well-received.

“I taught at the high school until it was closed. In 1958, I became pastor. When the church was built in 1958, northeast Flint was a growing area, but it never developed as expected. The parish now has 375 families. Everyone has to travel to get here, which is why we have religious education from noon to one o’clock on Sundays.

“We still have a rosary devotion in Polish every Sunday at 3. But no more Polish Masses. That ended in 1998, though even by that time it was just the Gospel and a short homily that I did in Polish; the remainder was in English. Increasingly during the homily I would look out at the congregation, and their expression seemed to say, ‘What’s going on?’ So that was the end of Polish.

Not many of the second or third generation speak the language.”

Over the decades, Father Tony continued his interest in

outdoor sports and activities. For 10 years, on his summer vacation, he would sail on the Great Lakes with a friend who had a 36-foot sailboat.

When that arrangement ended, he continued his sailing with another priest on their days off, followed by lunch together.

“Then I got interested in motorcycling,” he says. “I enjoyed that because it enabled me to see much of the United States. I went to California, Washington, and Oregon one time, another time Alaska, and once to Nova Scotia. Usually three or four of us would go, and camp along the way. I took my portable Mass kit, so on Sundays we had Mass in camp if we weren’t near a church. My last trip was in 1987, when I was almost 70.

“My first bike was a 1968 Harley Davidson FLH. It was a wonderful vehicle, but on vacation trips the chain required lubrication about every 500 miles. In 1974, I purchased a BMW R90, then in 1994 a Honda Gold Wing SE. It weighed over 900 pounds, so it wasn’t long before I couldn’t get my left foot out fast enough to balance the bike when I needed to stop quickly. I was 77, after all. So I converted it to a tricycle.

I still ride a little, but probably less than 100 miles per year.”

Another activity Fr. Majchrowski has enjoyed for the past 53 years has been deer hunting while visiting at a friend’s home on Beaver Island in

r e s o u r c e

Father Anthony’s long and happy life as a priest is an inspiration to younger men who are considering traveling the same path.

If you have ever thought of becoming a priest, contact Father Jerry Vincke, director of seminarians at the Diocese of Lansing, at 517.342.2507 or e-mail him at jvincke@dioceseoflansing.org.

Father Jerry can provide you with a copy of Priest Vocation Stories, a compendium of the faith journeys of many of our diocesan priests.

Lake Michigan. “I enjoy the peace and quiet, and not having a phone ring,” he says. “And I have shot a deer the past six or seven years.”

Has Father Tony liked being a priest? “Absolutely,” he says, enthusiastically, unhesitatingly. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. To share in the priesthood of Christ, to be his delegate to his people – nothing is more rewarding. There is no greater privilege than offering the holy sacrifice of the Mass. It is a mindboggling privilege. I never tire of it.

Every day before celebrating Mass, I ask the Lord to help me say it with attention, with reflection, with sincerity, and devotion.

“Another thing I have always liked is giving instruction in the faith, especially one on one, because then the person is more free to ask questions.

“I feel as though I have successfully served the people in their needs.

Helping them has been a joy and satisfaction, being able to comfort them in sickness and death.”

Though Father Tony is still busy all day, he doesn’t put as much emphasis on church programs and activities as he once did. “Through the years, I have become more conscious of God’s presence and so as I age, I think more about seeing the Lord face to face. I’ve seen him in pictures and statues, but this will be the real thing. I’m going to stand in judgment before him. I haven’t been a saint, so I hope the pit stop of purgatory isn’t too long.”

Looking back on 62 years of priesthood, his advice to new priests is pretty simple: “Be faithful to your prayer life, be grateful to the Lord for your priesthood, and you will be rewarded a hundred-fold now and in eternity.

Be aware that he is with you to help in all circumstances.”

By 9 or 9:30, it’s time to get to bed.

For more information about priestly vocations, click on www.LansingPriesthood.org.

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FAITH Magazine

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October 2006

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c u l t u r e

n the last year and a half, I have received generous gifts for two wedding showers, my wedding, two baby showers and my daughter’s baptism – not to mention all the other gifts we were given when our first baby was born.

The outpouring of generosity was such an honor to my husband and me. It also amounted to writing a lot of thank-you notes!

In truth, it sparks a question when I think of all the love I was shown and all the thank-you cards I had to write. Namely, why did I have to wait for tangible gifts before I took the time to formally thank those who have loved me? The people who gave gifts over these last two years have been loyal family members and friends long before the arrival of wedding bells and baby rattles. For years, they have given me gifts that far exceed any items purchased off a registry. How many of these people have been good listeners or have told me they were praying for me when I was going through a tough time?

When did I ever take the time to thank them for the important gifts, the intangible blessings that come only from those who love as deeply?

For the project shown, you will need the following: • One 8 1⁄2” x 11” piece of off-white card stock • One 8 1⁄2” x 11” piece of light green card stock • Decorative-edge scissors • One pack of adhesive letters (in the scrapbook supply section of an arts and crafts store) • Glue • One standard invitation size (4 3/8” x 5 3⁄4” ) envelope for sending

Perhaps you have been in a desperate situation and God has worked through a friend or loved one to help see you through it. How often have people you know lit your soul when it was captive to grief, anxiety, frustration or depression? Maybe now is the time to thank them. It is never too late to thank your neighbor who has gone out of her way to love you. By thanking her, you love back. And in turn, you love God. Creating and writing a handmade thank-you note is not only a great way to use your creative talents for someone you love, but to also show him just how much you appreciate what he’s done. So, why not go the extra mile and make them instead of buying them? After all, your loved one has gone the extra mile for you.

Fold and crease the 8 1⁄2” x 11” piece of offwhite paper in half. Gently tear along the line of the crease (if you wish to have a cleaner edge, cut 1/16” off of the torn edge with a utility knife and ruler). You will now have two 5 1⁄2” x 8 1⁄2” pieces of off-white paper. Take one of those and fold in half again with the ends aligned to form the card. Set aside. Use decorative-edge scissors to cut a light green piece of paper 1” smaller than the 5 1⁄2” x 8 1⁄2” piece you just folded in half. Fold that piece of paper in half until the ends are aligned. Glue the piece over the off-white card. Set aside. Using the decorative-edge scissors, cut a 1” x 3” piece from the remaining off-white paper and glue in the center of the light green part of the card. Adhere the letters on that piece of paper.

More ideas ...

• Spruce up handmade cards using different textures of paper.

• Glue on metal charms (found in the jewelry-making supply section of an arts and crafts store).

• Try using a rubber stamp or calligraphy pen for an alternate way to spell out the words, “thank you.”

By Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Photography by Joe Vaughan

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s p i r i t u a l

f i t n e s s

Anxious and afraid?

P

eople carry many anxieties: worries about the future; fears about family issues, health or finances; concerns about the past. In nearly every let God clothe you with truth facet of our lives, anxiety shows its frazzled face. Many of those conhis month’s exercise will cerns and worries may be realistic, but our problem have two parts. In the first, is that we do not deal very well with them. It’s a little we will focus on letting like the man who was out digging up his garden for anxiety “uncover” truth. In weeds – he hit a metallic cylinder he believed to be the second, we will pick up that garan unexploded World War I bomb. In his absolute panic, he picked up the bomb, called the 9-1-1 op- ment of truth and clothe ourselves in erator and told her what to say to his grieved family it as a protection against anxiety.

– that he loved them. She listened patiently and kept the man in the bomb story, we have anxiettrying to reassure him that everything would be OK. iesLike that often stem from a distorted perception of “Just put the cylinder down on the ground, let go reality. We are focused on whatever is creating fear and walk away!” He said to her, “That’s easy for you in us and we forget to see the bigger picture – and even more importantly we forget to see God. In to say – you’re not the one holding the bomb!” He John’s Gospel, Jesus was getting his apostles thought he could control it by holding on to it. ready for his departure. He could see they were

T

Eventually, the bomb squad arrived and identified the “bomb.” It was an old car part! The truth set the man free, and also showed him how unnecessary his worry had been.

Whether our anxieties are a result of real circumstances or imagined fears, they cause real problems in FAITH Magazine

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our spiritual lives. Anxiety distracts us from remembering the love, care and strength of our Protector.

We can feel so out of control that we clutch our fear all the tighter, instead of giving it to God. Let go. It’s not a bomb, and you’re going to be OK!

anxious. He said to them, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) Our Lord knows we struggle with anxiety. At Mass, we pray, “Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.”

October 2006

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Anxiety distracts us from remembering the love, care and strength of our Protector. We can feel so out of control that we clutch our fear all the tighter, instead of giving it to God.

Part 1 letting anxiety uncover truth To begin this exercise, go to a quiet place where there will be no distractions. Turn off the cell phone. Turn off the TV, radio and computer. Bring a pad and pen to jot down some reflections. Be still and listen to Jesus say to you, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.” Spend a few minutes until you feel this seep into your soul. Identify your anxieties – What makes you nervous?

What makes you afraid? What are you worried about? Name them.

Write them down. Pray, “Lord, protect me from these fears and worries.”

Choose the most troubling anxiety and go a little deeper.

Do you understand why you are afraid? Sometimes, we are afraid because of a good we believe we have is being threatened. Or, we are afraid of failure.

When I did this exercise, I wrote down “anxious about my messy desk.” It uncovered a few things in myself – self-image, how others view the mess, and even the gnawing thought that I may have forgotten someone in the pile who needs God’s help.

OK. Talk to Jesus about it.

Our anxieties can uncover truth and truth sets us free.

During this exercise, you may realize that you are standing in the highway with a Mack truck coming at you. Don’t just stand there – God is using your anxiety to tell you to get out of the way!

Write down what you have learned about yourself and write down any resolutions that come to you. In my case, the messy desk will have to go.

When we pray for protection against anxiety, we need to be willing to cooperate with means to gain that protection.

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‘‘

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During this exercise, you may realize that you are standing in the highway with a Mack truck coming at you.

Don’t just stand there – God is using your anxiety to tell you to get out of the way!

Part 2 clothing an anxious heart with truth In the second part of this exercise, the power of God’s word and love strengthens and heals us.

Pray, “Lord open my heart to your truth.” Now listen to God’s word.

• You are worth far more to God than you realize.

Read Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-34 – “I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? … Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

• You belong to God’s household and your sins are forgiven in Christ.

Read Ephesians 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the

world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.”

• God does not change his mind.

Read Romans 8:31-39 – “If God is for us, who can be against us? … What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• God wants you to give your cares to him.

Read Philippians 4:6-7 – “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

End the exercise by praying the Our Father. And may the peace of the Lord be with you.

– Father Bill Ashbaugh

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l o c a l

n e w s

Master of the Order celebrates Mass of Thanksgiving At the conclusion of the Dominican Jubilee retreat, a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Father Carlos Azpiroz on July 7 in St. Catherine Chapel, Adrian. It was part of worldwide celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the founding of the first Dominican monastery in Prouilhe, France.

Five women renew vows as Adrian Dominican Sisters

Youth to Youth training

Prioress Donna Markham received the vows of Basilia de la Cruz, Kyung-Ae Raphaela Lee, Heather Stiverson, Aman Miriam Monsoor and Diana Momeka during Mass in St. Catherine Chapel at the motherhouse of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Aug. 8.

Janice Brown celebrates first profession of vows as an Adrian Dominican Janice Brown celebrated her vows as an Adrian Dominican sister on Aug.6 at the Holy Rosary Chapel. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Siena Heights University and a MBA from Western Michigan University.

Priest transfers Rev. Karl Pung from diocesan director of formation to pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Brighton, effective Aug. 14.

Rev. Dan J. McKean from pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Brighton to leave of absence to pursue other opportunities in service.

Open house for Fr. Fedewa

Pung

Resurrection principal retires after 20 years Diana Repichowski has retired after 20 years as principal of Resurrection School in Lansing.

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50th Anniversary of Blessed Sacrament Church Blessed Sacrament Church in Burton celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 18 with an outdoor Mass and parish picnic.

The first mass was celebrated on Sept. 8, 1957, at “Saint Bentley’s,” as the parishioners joking referred to the gymnasium of Bentley Community School.

Blessed Sacrament will be ending its year-long celebration on June 10, 2007. They are trying to locate any past parishioners, students, teachers or religious members who have been a part of the 50 years. Please contact Amanda Matthews at the parish office at 810.742.3151.

McKean

An open house was held for Father Matthew Fedewa on July 30 at Cristo Rey Church in Lansing. Fr. Matt will teach Formation and Spiritual Direction at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

FAITH Magazine

During July, 65 young people and youth ministers from Michigan, Virginia, Canada, Germany and Brazil converged at Mt. Zion Catholic Pastoral Center in Flushing for their annual training for Youth to Youth, Duc in Altum, to learn how to spread Jesus’ truth to the world around them through retreats and outreaches put on by young people for young people. They were taught skills such as skit building, group leading, public speaking and music.

Father Joe Krupp, Father Geoff Rose and FAITH editor Patrick O’Brien lent encouragement and gave talks.

Knights donate flag

Weber Center available

The Knights of Columbus, Bishop Albers Assembly, has given an American flag to FAITH Magazine in honor of their “wonderful service to the diocese of Lansing.” FAITH received the flag with gratitude.

The Weber Center, a retreat and conference center in Adrian is available for retreats and meetings. The space was completely renovated and reopened in 2004. Please go to webercenter.org for more information.

October 2006

9/5/06 2:33:03 PM

This moment in time In 1853, Pope Pius IX separated the Upper Peninsula from the Diocese of Detroit and established a vicariate apostolic. Father Frederic Baraga from L’Anse, became the vicar apostolic. He established his diocesan headquarters in a little log cabin in Sault Ste. Marie, known as St. Mary Church. When the vicariate became a diocese in 1857, the little cabin became St. Mary Cathedral and Father Baraga became“Bishop of the Sault.”

Saline youth step up Sixteen middle-school students recently participated in a Mission Camp at St. Andrew Parish. The camp was based in the church and after Mass each day, the youth visited local communities and served in various ways; including working at a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Ypsilanti, rebuilding a play structure at Avalon Housing project in Ann Arbor and ministry at a migrant farm in Manchester.

Father Tom and Buster St. Mary Parish, Mt. Morris, supplies children with a special coloring/activity book featuring Father Tom Nenneau, the pastor, and his dog, Buster.

The books are a big hit with all the parish children.

New book, CD from Aunt Dee’s Attic Author Dianne Ahern has released a new book, Break-in at the Basilica.

It is the second on her series, Adventures with Sister Philomina, Special Agent to the Pope. Sister Wendy’s Sistine Chapel and Vatican Tour is now distributed in the USA by Aunt Dee’s Attic.

Sister Wendy narrates the 90-minute audio tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Please see www. auntdeesattic. com to order.

Hudson Parishioners volunteer Joshua Shepard, Colin Wollet, Patrick Wollet and Cathy Sliker, members of Sacred Heart Parish, traveled to Vanceburg, Kentucky, the week of July 8 to volunteer at the Glenmary Farm.

Glenmary is a Catholic society of priests and brothers who are dedicated to serving the spiritual and material needs of the people of Appalachia. The Hudson parishioners worked in home construction for low-income families and in other service to the poor.

Knights raise $3,400 On July 15th the Knights of Columbus, Msgr. Esper Council #3027 of Most Holy Trinity Parish of Fowler, held their first Returns for Vocations fundraiser for three local seminarians. It was a community effort with more than 40 participants and more than $3,400 was raised.

The Knights of Columbus hosted a vocations evening at the Lansing Lugnuts ball game on July 21. Members of the diocese set a stadium record for attendance at the ball game, with more than 2,234 in the crowd. Special guests included 30 seminarians from the Diocese of Lansing; and sisters from the Sisters of God’s Love and the Religious Sisters of Mercy. A Catholic Information Fair was held along the third-base line.

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Michael J. Schimpf

Take me out to the ball game

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c o m m u n i t y

Happenings at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt Call 866.669.8321 or visit www.stfrancis.ws Oct. 13: Building Fun, Friendship, and the Good Things of Marriage into your Relationship, 5:30-9 p.m. $49 per couple.

Oct. 14: Communication, Intimacy, and Commitment, a one-day retreat from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $99 per couple, includes breakfast, lunch and materials.

Spirituality at the Weber Center, Adrian Call 517.266.400 or visit www.adriandominicans.org.

Oct. 6-8: Holy Wisdom Workshop, led by Sister Mary Irving; Fri. 7:30 p.m.-Sun. 1 p.m. A time to reflect and pray about the unfolding revelation of God. Oct. 13-15: The Transforming Power of Contemplation, led by Donald Goergen, OP. Fri. 7:30 p.m.-Sun. 1 p.m. Contemplative practice interwoven with presentations on the theology of contemplation.

Oct. 20-22: Earth Spirituality: A Dominican Response, led by Sister Sharon Zayac. Fri. 7:30 p.m.Sun. 1 p.m. Exploring eco-justice themes.

Oct 27-29: Come and Paint, led

by Sister Mary Southard. Fri. 7:30 p.m.-Sun. 1 p.m. Awaken your creative urges through painting.

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How the Bible and history led me to the Catholic Church will be the topic of Steven Ray at St. John Parish, Davison on Sun., Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Steve will speak of his personal testimony and journey to the Catholic Church, linking it with Scripture and history. For more information, contact Elaine at eoulette@stjohndavison.org.

October Readings Sunday, October 1 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Num 11:25-29 Ps 19:8,10, 12-14 James 5:1-6 Mark 9:3943,45,47-48 Sunday, October 8 Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Gen 2:18-24 Ps 128:1-6 Heb 2:9-11 Mark 10:2-6 or 10:2-12 Sunday, October 15 Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 7:7-11 Ps 90:12-17 Heb 4:12-13 Mark 10:17-30 or 10:17-27 Sunday, October 22 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 53:10-11 Ps 33:4-5,1820,22 Heb 4:14-16 Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45 Sunday, October 29 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jer 31:7-9 Ps 126:1-6 Heb 5:1-6 Mark 10:46-52

October Café events Catechist Formation Classes will be sponsored by Our Lady of Guadalupe in Flint: Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24. For more information, contact Jan Smeltzer at 810.744.4241 or jansmeltzer@ msn.com.

St. Joseph Shrine in Brooklyn will host FOCUS classes Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 9:30-10:45 a.m., as well as study of the encyclical Veritatis Splendor at 2 and 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.

St. Mary Parish, Chelsea will host Parenting by Heart, a six-week series, beginning Oct. 8. Class will meet every other Sun. from 11:15-12:45 p.m.

Call 734.475.8164.

Dr. Diana Hayes, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Georgetown University, will be the inaugural speaker for the St. John Student Parish/MSU Endowed Lecture in American Catholic Thought and Culture.

This free lecture on The Changing Face of Faith in the U.S. will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Erickson Kiva on the Michigan State University campus. All are welcome.

Sister Luise Radlmeier will deliver the University of Michigan’s Wallenberg Lecture, Thurs., Oct. 5, 2006 7:30 p.m.

Rackham Auditorium, 915 East Washington, Ann Arbor, Michigan. A reception in the lobby immediately follows the lecture.

Lansing Diocesan Coordinating Commission: Visioning Faith Communities for Tomorrow What’s in a name?

Sometimes a lot! The Diocesan Coordinating Commission, which FAITH introduced in its Will My Parish Close? special report, is now the Lansing Diocesan Coordinating Commission: Visioning Faith Communities for Tomorrow. The commission has developed an evaluation tool to assist us all in reconfiguring our diocese’s parishes as we enter the future. It will be called Parish Evaluation Inventory and will include a component for parish schools where they exist. It is the commission’s intent to have the people of our diocese fully involved by the fall.

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l a s t

things to do: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Flint, is hosting its third annual College Awareness Night at the San Juan Diego Activity Center, Oct. 9, 6-8 p.m.

don’t worry – be happy

what God has planned for us

Old St. Patrick Parish in Ann Arbor, the oldest English-speaking church in Michigan, will celebrate its 175th anniversary this year on Oct. 21-22. All are welcome to attend commemorative Masses both days.

The Angelus Program, the focus of which is to provide low cost burial for miscarriages, has been introduced by Holy Spirit Church, Hamburg. They will build a mini mausoleum to be located in the center of their cemetery. The program will be funded by the sale of a name engraved memorial plaque built into the mausoleum. If you have lost a child before birth and would like to remember them this way, please contact the cemetery office at 810.231.9199 for more information.

Praying with Body, Mind and Spirit: Moving in God’s Love will be held Saturday, Oct. 28 at Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Come experience God’s healing and freeing love as you pray through movement. The cost is $45 (includes $10 registration fee and lunch). For more information, contact Janene at 734.429.7754 or visit her Web site, www.prayer-in-motion.com.

St. Patrick Catholic Men’s Spiritual movement will host Fr. Jeffrey Njus Oct. 19 from 7-9 p.m. at St. Patrick in Brighton. Call Mike for more information at 810.229.9863.

St. Gerard Parish, Lansing is hosting a Ministry Fair Oct. 7-8, followed by an ice cream social. St. Gerard will also host a Blessing of Pets on Oct. 8 from 2-4 p.m. All area residents (and their pets) are invited. Call 517.323.2379 for more information.

Youth Group Trunk and Treat will be sponsored by St. Agnes Parish, Fowlerville on Oct. 29 from 6-7 p.m. They ask participants to bring a paper product or personal hygiene item to fill car trunks for the Family Impact Center. For more details, call Audrey Burton 517.

223.8684, ext. 312.

Lansing’s 15th annual Life Chain is Oct. 1 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Williamston. For more information, contact Ann at dzygmontowicz1@comcast.net.

The Professional Pastoral Ministers’ Association (PPMA) will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, in conjunction with the Lay Ministers’ Convocation, Oct. 27, Diocesan Center, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., followed by an informal reception from 3-4:30 p.m.

On Thurs., Oct.26, 2006, the 8th annual event of the adoration chapel will take place at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Lansing. Mass concelebrated at 6:30 p.m., followed by Father Louis Guardiola’s talk. Refreshments.

Call 517.393.3030.

Annual Family Day with Bishop Mengeling – for persons with disAbilities or who are deaf/hard of hearing. Oct. 15, St. Mary Cathedral. Mass at noon with lunch following.

Call 517.3422.2497.

Healthy Minds – Yours, Mine and Ours. A resource day for the faith-based community on mental health issues.

Oct. 20 at the Diocesan Center. Call 517.342.2497.

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If we but take the time to look, there are people who have faced monumental troubles while remaining grounded on bedrock, living on foundational principles, souls filled with faith.

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orry besets us all – no matter how successful we are, no matter how much money we have. Those who have “made it” worry about those who are coming along behind to replace them. We are anxious and concerned about many things. This is particularly true here in Michigan with our faltering economy. And it’s not just here.

Many households require two incomes just to keep ahead of rising expenses. Additionally, there is the Iraq war, Internet predators on the hunt for sex with our children, worries over whether or not our kids will be successful in school, and other dark forces lurking just outside the walls of our homes.

To whom or what can we turn so that we can face all of these powerful forces arrayed against us?

Jesus has some advice for us. To be sure, he wants us to have faith in our loving and caring Father. But we must remember that faith without works is useless. St. James, the cousin of Jesus and the leader of the Judeo-Christian community in the earliest days of the church, wrote: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17) Being provident literally means, “looking ahead.”

God gave us brains with which to worship him, not just hearts with which to love him. Preparing for the contingencies of this world is an essential part of living out our faith. The command God gave to Adam and Eve is also his command to us. He told them (and us) to till the soil, care for the animals, and subdue the earth. He gave us work, not as a punishment – but as a gift – so that with him, we could bring the earth to its destiny, to accomplish his purposes, not ours.

Being provident, providing for our future and for the moral and material welfare of our children, is not an indication of a lack of faith on our part. It is an act of faith in obedience to the God who made us – so that we might plan for the future providentially, but let go of our worries and give them to him.

– Fr. Charles Irvin

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October 2006

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