October 2018

Congratulations MOST REVEREND

GERALD VINCKE Priest from Diocese of Lansing

now bishop of Salina, Kansas

CONGRATULATIONS

Bishop Jerry Vincke The bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Lansing congratulate Bishop Gerald Vincke on his episcopal ordination

CON G R AT U L AT I O NS

Bishop Gerald Vincke THANK YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY TO THE DIOCESE OF LANSING AND FOR YOUR SERVICE ON OUR ADVISORY BOARD.

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INSIDE OCT. 2018

FROM THE EDITOR

A TIME OF GREAT JOY AND GREAT SORROW

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T WAS A DAY OF GREAT JOY for the people of our diocese when it was announced that then-Monsignor Jerry Vincke had been named by Pope Francis as the new bishop of Salina, Kan. At the time, he was pastor of Holy Family Parish in Grand Blanc. Now, he is Bishop Vincke following his episcopal ordination and installation in Salina’s Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Aug. 22. Although I was unable to be at Bishop Vincke’s ordination, I was able to watch the ordination Mass as it was live-streamed. It was a beautiful celebration, and the Mass reflected Bishop Vincke’s deep faith and the joy of the people of Salina as they welcomed a new shepherd in their new bishop.

T.Gennera

At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Vincke offered words of thanks and appreciation. With his customary humble demeanor, Bishop Vincke first gave thanks to God, who is rich in mercy and full of compassion. These also are the words FATHER of his episcopal motto, and are drawn from the DWIGHT EZOP numerous references to the Lord’s mercy that are is the editor of found in Scripture. Beautiful words summed up a FAITH Magazine day of celebration and joy. and pastor of Then there have been days of great sadness, St. Mary Parish, anger, frustration and bewilderment for all of Charlotte and us. The last month has seen the unfolding of St. Ann Church, a new chapter in the sexual abuse crisis in the Bellevue Church in the United States. All of us have been Email: editor@ affected by these stories that have come from a FAITHpub.com. variety of places. They point to the work that still must be done in order to create greater levels of accountability in those charged with the responsibility of leadership in the Church, all in an effort to make sure that people young and old, male and female, are treated with the dignity, respect and safety that are the right of all those created by God. In these days that have brought together such a mix of emotions, I think we all must keep in mind the power of Christ’s Paschal Mystery – namely, that the death of Christ on the cross for us and for our sins also led to something new and beautiful – the new life of the resurrection. Through these events, we, as a Church, have been experiencing the Paschal Mystery. We must trust that somehow, in ways we cannot fully understand, even in a time of great sorrow and anger, God is working to bring forth a renewed Church. Let us continue to pray for all those affected by these scandals and for the ongoing work to bring healing and renewed life to the Church.

And so, our journey in FAITH continues.

COVER STORY CONGRATULATIONS MOST REVEREND GERALD VINCKE P. 5

YOUR LIFE

YOUR FAITH

10 marriage matters

12 in the know with Father Joe

She says: ‘He is always taking his mother’s side’ He says: ‘She’s overreacting, but Mom is smart’ What do they do?

11 parenting journey My stepson won’t obey house rules

work life How to be happy at work? Do your job!

In the face of the abuse scandals, what can you say to restore my faith?

14 grow God gives us signs of his love every day

15 go ‘Walk with people and take it seriously’

16 theology 101 Can faith coexist with reason?

18 special report Clergy sex abuse scandal

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Bishop Earl Boyea’s statement on the current crisis facing the Church

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A beloved priest from the Diocese of Lansing is now the bishop of Salina, Kansas

M ost R everend J erry V incke The new bishop of the Diocese of Salina, Kansas is one of the Diocese of Lansing’s own priests – Msgr. Jerry Vincke, who was the pastor of Holy Family in Grand Blanc until he received the call telling him that Pope Francis was naming him as Salina’s new bishop.

I sat down with Msgr. Jerry in the teacher’s lounge at Holy Family’s school and talked with him about his new role.

What was your reaction to the call you received from Archbishop Pierre, the nuncio (papal envoy to the U.S.) appointing you as Bishop of Salina? Shock. That’s the

word – and maybe also “surreal.” I asked myself, “Is this really happening?” I was serving as spiritual director at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha for the week, and I got a call on Sunday evening. The nuncio asked if I was sitting down. I said, “No, but I will.”

And then he said the words that were such a surprise, “The Holy Father has selected you to be the bishop of Salina.” I was so stunned that, at first, I thought he said Cheyenne. He had to repeat himself so I understood we were talking about Kansas rather than Wyoming. And I was speechless – Archbishop Pierre laughed and said, “So, will you accept?” I said yes.

I couldn’t sleep that night. This is one of those moments when you know your whole world is being rocked – or changed forever. And I know what that feels like, because so much of my priesthood has been spent in special ministries.

I remember when we worked together at St. Thomas Parish in Ann Arbor, and you were appointed to be the director of Bethany House, the diocesan youth retreat center. Yes, I was in my second year at St. Thomas and I was

settled in and feeling comfortable. Bishop Mengeling came to a Mass we were having for young adults, and afterward, when I told him I was going to a Gabriel Richard High School football game, he said he’d go with me. That was one of those moments like the call from the nuncio, when you know your life is going to change.

When I started at Bethany House, I didn’t feel qualified, but I could feel the Lord working there. I had never done youth ministry, so I had to rely completely on the Lord’s grace, and of course, that was the only way. It was so beneficial.

And then you said “yes” again when you were asked to be the vocation director for the diocese. Being the vocation

director was a wonderful experience; I really enjoyed working

BY ELIZABETH SOLSBURG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN BONAR, EDITOR THE REGISTER CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SALINA

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with the seminarians and the seminaries. Meeting their families was great. Then I was appointed to serve as a spiritual director at the North American Seminary in Rome. Working at the seminary was a wonderful opportunity to see the universality of the Church. And Bishop Checchio, the rector, was a great leader and influence. He was a great shepherd. Both Bishop Boyea and Bishop Mengeling have been wonderful examples of shepherds, too, and have been incredibly helpful during this transition. I have experienced their love and fatherhood.

How do you feel about moving from parish life to being a bishop? I love my parish, and I loved it from day one. I

Bishop Boyea helps Bishop-elect Vincke with his vestments

had really enjoyed Rome, but I was happy to come home and become a pastor. The people here are great and down to earth – I felt very at home here. Leaving is not what I expected to happen, but God has his plan, and I am listening to him.

During my last retreat, the passage from the Gospel of John 15:16 kept recurring – I was just looking at it in my retreat journal. In it, Jesus says, “It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” Laughs. I guess the Lord was preparing me!

What are you most mindful of as you start your new ministry as bishop? Getting to know the people, and my

brother priests. It’s a big territory. (The Diocese of Salina is nearly six times the size of the Diocese of Lansing geographically.)

I want to listen to them and love them. I want to be there for them, and get to know their names. I’m a country boy at heart, so I think I’ll feel at home quickly. For the legalities and administration, I’ll be going to what’s fondly called “baby bishop school” at the Regina Apostolorum University in Rome, but the most important thing about being a bishop is to love the people.

When I met you, you had just been ordained. Tell me about that first vocational “yes” – how were you called to the priesthood? I had four aunts who were Benedictines

and I always noticed how very happy they seemed to be in their vocations. Then one day when I was a senior in high school, my girlfriend and I were walking out of Mass, and the pastor, Father John Ederer from the Diocese of Saginaw, asked if I’d ever thought of being a priest. I kind of laughed it off and said no.

After high school, I went to Ferris State University where I was the editor of the school paper. I interviewed a local priest, Father Joe Fix. In the middle of the interview, he just stopped and said, “Have you ever thought about being a priest?” It got me thinking.

However, I’d always thought I’d do something with sports as my career.

That’s not surprising – I remember how much of a baseball fan you were. Right – and still am! And for my

degree from Ferris State, I had to do an internship – and I got one with the St. Louis Cardinals. I drove an old car with no radio to St. Louis, and this was before the days of cell phones, so I had a lot of time to think and pray. And to listen. I thought the Lord might be calling me to something more than what I had in mind. I enjoyed being with the Cardinals, but I felt as if something was missing.

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Bishop Vincke greets his mother

During the internship, I became friends with the family in whose home I was staying, the Millbergs. Afterward, I called Mrs. Millberg, who worked for the Jesuits, and thanked her for her hospitality. Then I told her I thought God might be calling me to be a priest – it was the first time I’d said it out loud to anyone.

And she said, “I knew it!” Of course, given where she worked, I heard from the Jesuits right away. Laughs.

I moved to Ann Arbor for a while for work, but the sense of calling never went away. So I decided to give it a try – and got in touch with the director of vocations for the diocese. The rest is history. I knew by the end of my first semester in the seminary that it was the right thing for my life – this really was what the Lord was calling me to do. And I got a lot of support in my vocation from Father Charlie Irvin and Father Dave Speicher, who were the priests at St. Francis of Assisi at the time.

New bishops choose mottos for their episcopacy – what is your motto and why did you choose it? Rich in mercy. I was

very moved when Pope Francis chose me to be a missionary of mercy, and after much prayer, I resonated with the passage in Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great

Bishop Vincke’s episcopal ring.

Bishop Jerry Vincke

Bishop Vincke incenses the altar.

Bishop Vincke was ordained to the priesthood in 1999. He served as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor from 1999 to 2001 when he became chaplain at Bethany House, our retreat house for youth. He became the director of seminarians and vocation director in 2003, becoming full-time in these positions and relinquishing Bethany House in 2004. He was appointed to the North American College as a spiritual director in 2010, where he served until 2015. While in Rome, he completed the requirements for the S.T.L. (Licentiate in Sacred Theology), with a focus on spiritual theology, in 2015. In 2012 he was made a monsignor by Pope Benedict. In 2015, upon his return to the Diocese of Lansing, he was assigned as the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Grand Blanc before he was appointed bishop in 2018.

Bishop Vincke was born on July 9, 1964, in Saginaw, the ninth of 10 children of Henry and Fidelis Vincke. He attended New Lothrop High School and Ferris State University in Big Rapids, where he obtained a degree in public relations and marketing. He completed his philosophy studies at St. Thomas More College in Crestview, Ky., and his theology studies at Athenaeum Seminary in Cincinnati, and Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”

I am so aware of God’s incredible mercy in my life. I know that he loves me even as imperfect as I am. And because of that, I am called to show his mercy to others – to remember that God loves them in the same way he loves me. God desires to be in eternal communion with everyone – and what greater gift could there be?

My favorite book is Father Cantalamessa’s, The Gaze of Mercy. The book ends with, “The world will be saved

by God’s mercy.” And what else is there?

needing to be perfect for the Lord to love me. I know the Lord is full of love and mercy. People tell me that I smile all the time and I think it’s because I know the Lord loves me, despite all my faults.

I’ve always noticed your prayerfulness and gentleness. How has your relationship with Christ grown through the years of your priesthood?

excited. I’m not going to be able to be home for a lot of things, which will be sad for all of us. And my mom is in assisted living, and I couldn’t reach her on the phone to let her know. Someone had to walk into her room and tell her. Laughs. I was afraid I’d actually give her a heart attack! I really hope she’ll be able to be at the ordination and installation.

Prayer has always been something I enjoyed – I’ve always relied on the Lord. I know how weak I am – my relationship with Christ is my first priority. It has to be.

And prayer is how I begin my day. When I was at the North American Seminary, my time was pretty scheduled, which is very different from parish life, which is much more chaotic. It was a gift – the availability of time to deepen my prayer life.

And that is always growing; I have gotten past the feeling of

Tell us about your family and how they had an impact on your faith. I am the ninth of ten in my family. My parents

both grew up in Catholic families, and faith was an important part of growing up.

So how did they take the news that you were being made a bishop? I think they were both sad and

What have I not asked that you’d like to tell our readers?

Just that I really love the Diocese of Lansing. The people here have been so supportive, and I’ll miss them.

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1. Bishop Vincke celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist. | 2. Bishop Emeritus Carl Mengeling greets Bishop-elect Vincke’s mother. | 3. Vesper service for Bishop-elect Vincke. | 4. Bishop-elect Vincke processes in to Sacred Heart Cathedral. | 5. Bishop Edward Weisenburger, the 11th bishop of the Salina Diocese, lays hands and prays over the newlyordained Bishop Vincke. | 6. Archbishop Joseph Naumann and Bishop Emeritus Carl Mengeling present Bishop Vincke with the Book of the Gospels. | 7. Bishop Vincke elevates the Host and the Precious Blood. | 8. Priests and the faithful at Sacred Heart Cathedral. | 9. Bishop Vincke distributes holy Communion. | 10. Bishops with ties to the Diocese of Lansing. Left to right, Bishops Mengeling, Boyea, Vincke and Raica. | 11. The Book of Gospels is held over the head of the newly consecrated bishop. | 12. Bishop Vincke visits with members of his new diocese after the ordination. | 13. During the Litany of Saints, Bishop-elect Jerry Vincke lies prostrate. | 14. Archbishop Joseph Naumann places the miter on the head of Bishop Jerry Vincke. | 15. Bishop Boyea delivers the homily at the ordination.

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YOUR LIFE

MARRIAGE MATTERS

SHE SAYS:

He is always taking his mother’s side Alex always takes his mother's side, not mine. I think we should present a united front.

HE SAYS:

She’s overreacting, but Mom is smart Brittany is overreacting – I don't always take Mom's side. But she is super smart and knows a lot.

DO YOU EVER WONDER why there are more jokes about nagging mothers-in-law than WHAT DO fathers-in-law? To their credit, moms do tend THEY DO? to bond more closely to their children. But that bonding sometimes takes on unhealthy forms, which can fester over time and eventually become toxic. If a child with such a mom (or dad) eventually marries, problems are sure to arise.

When two people marry, they become “one” in a way entirely different from, and superior to, any other relationship, including those with their best friends and parents. In other words, Alex, it’s entirely beside the point whether your mother is “super smart.” You are, first and foremost, “one” with Brittany in a way that you are not, cannot be, and in fact never were with your mom.

This means, for all three of you, no longer framing your marriage in terms of Alex “taking sides” with anyone, even Brittany. The proper frame of mind for Alex is, “Brittany and I are one. If we need to, we (note: not “I”) might ask for advice from others, including my mom, but in the end Brittany and I will decide for ourselves. I want to have a happy and 10

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healthy relationship with my mom, but a harmonious relationship with Brittany will always be my priority. If that means telling Mom to back off, I will.”

STEVE AND Brittany’s corresponding BRIDGET PATTON mindset would be, “Alex and I hold master’s are one. I’m open to listening degrees in to his mom. After all, Proverbs theology and 19:20 says, ‘Listen to advice and counseling and accept instruction, that you may serve as family gain wisdom in the future.’ Still, life ministers for for the sake of my marriage, I’m the Diocese of not going to allow her to cause Sacramento. division between me and Alex.

If I think this is happening, I will bring it up with Alex, lovingly and privately. If it’s necessary I will also bring it up with her, but only if he won’t do it.”

Will Alex’s mom get it and back off? If she truly is “super smart,” she will. But if there’s an established sick pattern of relating, she may need to be corrected or ignored, even repeatedly, before everyone involved relearns a newer, healthier pattern.

YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY

My stepson won’t obey house rules stepson won't listen to me when I Q My try to enforce house rules – what can I do to make him behave?

A

Hesiod, an ancient Greek philosopher, noted that, “A day is sometimes our mother, sometimes our stepmother.” The implication seems to be that those days that go well are like a loving mother, but those that are filled with distress are more like stepmothers! These engrained cultural concepts don’t foster positive attitudes toward stepparents. But there are steps you can take to address the challenges.

Consider the circumstances of his family of origin.

If your spouse was widowed, then your stepson’s reactions may be intertwined with grief. Addressing issues of his bereavement may help. In the case of divorce, your stepson will have experienced the painful breakup and now will be experiencing different daily routines.

Acknowledge differences in rules between families.

Younger children often view rules in a concrete way.

YOUR LIFE WORK LIFE

How to be happy at work?

DO YOUR JOB! can I have Q How a higher level of

T. GENNARA

happiness at work?

JIM BERLUCCHI is the executive director of the Spitzer Center for Visionary Leadership.

In the last column, I cited three means to higher happiness at work – intimacy with God, self-possession (keeping control of your own happiness) and practicing virtue.

Let’s add one more: Sit down, shut up and do your job! Well, not exactly. Just the do your job part. I first heard the whole phrase when consulting for a company that was trying to improve its culture. The sit down, shut up part wasn’t working too well. But the do your job part is essential to happiness on lots of levels, and entirely in your control.

Plato famously defines the virtue of justice by likening it to the ideal or good city, the Kallipolis. The citizens make the city just or unjust. And guess how? By either doing or not doing their respective jobs. “Each person must practice one of

T. GENNARA

Establishing house rules. You and your spouse need to work together to determine ways to respond to specific situations. Plan a conversation with your stepson once both of you are on the same page.

Switching back and forth between mom’s/stepdad’s rules and dad’s/stepmom’s rules isn’t as intuitive as it would be for an older child capable of abstract thought. Acknowledge the differences, but be clear on your own house rules.

Transition time between households is challenging.

In general, the first two days after switching homes are more difficult for children. Be warm but firm with your stepson. Avoid harsh reactions, which are counterproductive. Find ways to enjoy your stepson; a positive relationship smooths over rough patches.

Many variables influence relationships with stepchildren. Dynamics are different for stepmothers and stepfathers. The age and gender of the child has an impact. There won’t be a quick solution to “make your stepson behave.” Instead, the process will be gradual as your family adjusts over time. Pray James 5:7-8.

DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL

is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

the pursuits in the city, the one for which he is naturally best suited … Justice is doing one’s own work and not meddling with what is not one’s own.” (Book Four, The Republic) Plato says: Do your job!

One of the biggest aggravations in the workplace is people not doing their own jobs, as well as meddling in other people’s work. Both are violations of justice and injustice, and instigators of unhappiness.

One company I work with insists on each employee “staying in your own lane.”

Makes sense.

So our fourth key to happiness at work is to consistently, competently and conscientiously do your job. Drive well in your own lane. That will not only increase your happiness, but others as well.

Happiness says: Do your job!

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YOUR FAITH

IN THE FACE OF THE

abuse scandals, WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO RESTORE MY FAITH?

Q

DEAR FATHER JOE: I am sickened by the news reports I’ve been reading about the clergy abuse scandals. It makes me ashamed to be Catholic – what can you say to restore my faith?

T. Gennara

A FATHER JOE KRUPP

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

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Your question seems to summarize the innumerable other questions I have received on the topic of the recently revealed scandals in the Church. To be clear, by “scandals,” I mean the crimes and sins committed by some priests and covered up by some bishops. Person after person has written me, sat down with me, called me and asked what to do in the face of such abject evil. They are dismayed and disillusioned that some of our leaders not only

don’t seem to “get it,” but worse, may have actively covered up illegal and immoral behavior.

As a priest, I find myself unable to communicate my anger and my sorrow about this. I’m sick of it. I’m weary. I’m heartbroken.

And if you are someone who has been abused by a member of the clergy, then I am so sorry that happened to you, and I share your pain. I have been filled with doubt in the people God has appointed to lead us, guide us and show us by word and example what is right. As a priest, I am not perfect, but dear God, I haven’t committed any crimes – and the fact that I even have to type that sentence shows how far we have fallen. I’m sick of it.

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I love children. I love their smiles and their joys and here I am, hesitating to type that for fear that it will be misinterpreted.

I have no power to change the system. No pope or bishop has ever asked me for my ideas, and I can’t imagine one who would. But I can share with you what I am doing to work through it all: First, I’m praying and I encourage you to do the same.

Pray for the victims of abusive priests.

Pray for the victims of neglectful shepherds more interested in climbing a ladder than being holy.

Pray for the clericalism in some of our clergy that seems to be at the root of a lot of it.

Pray for the people who want to take this evil and use it as an opportunity to advance their own agenda.

Pray, fast, call out to God, ask St. Michael to help, do whatever the Lord calls you to do in order to purge from our Church the abusers and the protectors of abusers.

Pray that our bishops listen to the voice of the Shepherd over that of the attorneys.

Second, reach out to help the abused.

If someone comes to you with their story, pray with them. Take them to the appropriate civil authorities and walk with them as much as you can.

Encourage victims to contact the victim assistance coordinator in their diocese. Every diocese has one, and they are there to make sure victims get the assistance and counseling they need.

Finally, do not let this go.

We’ve done enough of that.

Don’t accept “rules” as the newest answer to this crisis. Hammer at this until it is addressed in a real way that focuses on the major problem here – the priests and bishops.

Don’t tell people this is all in the past because it’s not. The report may be detailing old information, but people are just finding out the depth of the cover-up now – and that is a new hurt.

Don’t tell people “this isn’t the Church” because it is and it will be until we do something to clean this up.

Don’t ignore a priest’s actions if you know they are not keeping their vows or are being abusive.

Do not tolerate in a priest behavior that is abusive on any level. You have the right to push us to be saints.

Most of all, do not give up.

Jesus has already won this fight and I am proud of how many

people have affirmed their love of and commitment to him, and not any specific person. This is a Church by, for and about Jesus and he will guide us, protect us and help us be the people God made us to be.

We currently live in dark times, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Church has weathered other dark times. For this generation of Catholics, a lot has been and is being asked of us. I urge each of us in our heart to ask ourselves this question: Why Am I Catholic?

If, like me, you discover that the answer is "because it is true," then we have nothing to fear. No lies, no cover-ups, no darkness can obscure the Truth.

I conclude by assuring you all that I love you, that I am committed to you and that I will continue to pursue holiness with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

This is a Church by, for and about Jesus and he will guide us, protect us and help us be the people God made us to be.”

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GROW

as a disciple of Jesus

GETTY IMAGES

God gives us signs of his love every day Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." (Mk 10:27)

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HEN MY HEART IS TROUBLED I tell myself, “It’s okay, God can do anything he wants!” As I watch the events of the world un-

fold around me and I look at the number of folks hurting and suffering, I find myself repeating that line often. One quick look at the news and it’s easy to see why folks are discouraged. No matter how much I’d like to make things better for everyone, I am not a wise or powerful woman who can change any of it. But I can, and will, pray about it and do my best to share God’s hope and love and joy in an attempt to keep those in my corner of the world grounded in this important truth that with God all things are possible. God is calling each of us to remember in times of trouble that if we look carefully, he gives us signs of his love and encouragement every day.

As long as God is in charge, the news will never be all bad, so powered by the hope in this verse, I set out to see what good things God was doing, and I was able to fill my eyes, ears and heart with so much “good stuff.” All around me I noticed God’s signals that assured me it’s going to be okay because of his infinite possibilities!

At Mass, I saw the adorable chubby cheeks of a little girl who found her voice. With each happy squeal, I was reminded that babies are God’s sign of life. At a restaurant, I saw a family with five little ones who screeched, giggled and wiggled and I smiled because their parents chose life. At the Secretary of 14

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State office, I watched as a very patient, kind- hearted three-year-old feed her baby sister dry cereal one piece at a time.

When I stopped for coffee, I noticed a table of men loud with laughter and energy sitting before their open Bibles discussing God’s word. At the market, I watched a young man present an elderly lady he didn’t know a bouquet of flowers to make her day. In the airport, I saw executives with laptops and spreadsheets begin an important meeting with prayer.

As I looked with eyes wide open, I saw God’s goodness and possibilities again and again – sights and sounds that give witness to the“good” in this world.

The happy giggles and delightful squeals, and those I witnessed who gathered to pray, visit, laugh and share in each other’s lives, that’s my signal that as long as we remember the words from Mark’s Gospel – we’ll be okay. We aren’t promised perfection, we are promised hope, mercy and love from the Father who created us.

We have to remember that with God, all things won’t be perfect but they are most certainly possible!

PRAY: Take some time to sit in prayer and make a list off all the things that trouble you. One-by-one, ask God to handle each item and bring your heart hope and peace, knowing he will take care of them.

STUDY: Read a book, blog or article about the power of God. It’s easy to see what’s wrong with the world but we need to train our minds and hearts to focus on the amazing power of God’s love. Beautiful Hope by Matthew Kelly is a great suggestion if you need a place to begin.

ENGAGE: In your parish and in your community, begin to actively watch for signals of the “good stuff” God is showing you. His signs are simple and they are abundant. Keep your eyes wide open and see what he’s doing around you.

SERVE: Make a choice to serve others “good stuff.”

We need more reminders and actions that mimic the love of Jesus. Hold the door open, give someone the better parking spot, make faces to distract a fussy toddler – just do something good for another person.

SHERI WOHLFERT

is a Catholic school teacher, speaker, writer and founder of Joyful Words Ministries.

Sheri blogs at www.joyfulwords.org

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evangelize

For Arie, it’s important to ‘walk with people and take it seriously’

Arie Reath is an engineer in Ann Arbor and a parishioner at Saint Thomas the Apostle. After some time away from the Church, Alpha helped Arie rediscover the beauty of the Catholic faith which she now shares with others. Arie writes for the Be Love Revolution blog, leads Bible study and Alpha sessions, and sees herself as God’s undercover agent.

WITNESS: My first real memory of witness was in college when I was trying to get back to the Church.

During Mass, I saw people who I could tell were just super happy; there was something about them that I couldn’t put my finger on, a certain radiance in their smiles. Secretly, I wanted what they had. It was a simple witness to the faith, one that I try to keep in mind. My fiancé says he was drawn into the faith by something similar in me. To me, witness is so powerful – and I think it’s important to recognize that no one is looking for perfection – they’re looking for authenticity.

You can be human and draw people in. Just be real about it!

INVITATION: I’m not afraid to talk about God. I think on my second date with my fiancé, I started the conversation with “let me tell you about Jesus.” I was straightforward because I figured he needed to know what is important to me. For our third date, he invited me to Mass at my own church. After Mass, someone shared their experience at Alpha, and I felt compelled to invite him to Alpha. I had completed Alpha myself, and it was a big part of me coming back to the Church.

I could tell he was curious, so I asked if he wanted to sign up. I thought I’d go with him once and then just drop him off, but he wanted me to go through it with him. His invitation to go to Mass together turned into my invitation to go through Alpha. Last year he entered RCIA, and this past Easter he came into the Church.

ACCOMPANIMENT: In the midst of wedding planning and a busy summer, I wanted to cut back on my weekly commitments, and drop the Bible study I was helping with. I asked one of the girls who I’d invited there how it had gone without me at a session.

She was honest and said it was a bummer that I wasn’t there because we really connected. Right then, I made a point to clear my schedule and rejoin. God is doing the work of conversion, but it is important to walk with people and take it seriously. It can be risky because you’re representing the Church, and if you flake out, it may damage their budding interest in the faith. So many people are looking for a reason to dismiss faith – don’t be the reason! We are human and make mistakes, but try your best to honor the commitments you make

to people. Your undivided attention will stand out in a noncommittal culture.

PRAYER: Prayer is the source of everything. My life changed when I started having a daily prayer life. It wasn’t an easy habit to form, but after Alpha, I became interested in reading the Bible. Out of daily Scripture reading came conversations with God. And then I started to see God working things out. While witness, invitation, and accompaniment are very important pillars of evangelization, we cannot forget the most important: prayer. God is the one who changes hearts, and I believe our intercessory prayers for others have more effect than we know.

BY MARY GATES PHOTOGRAPHY

BY TOM GENNARA

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FAITH coexist with REASON? Can

S. OLSON

YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101

DOUG CULP

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

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in that idea and commits the time and effort necessary to bring the idea to fruition, the invisible will become visible. Along the way, the person’s understanding of the idea grows as he or she becomes intimately acquainted with its every detail. So we might say that faith is that faculty that allows us to see into the invisible in order to make the invisible visible.

‘YOU GOTTA HAVE FAITH’

‘LIVING IN A MYSTERY’

The Letter to the Hebrews (11:1) describes faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” A couple of verses later, the author argues that it is faith that enables us to understand that “what is visible came into being through the invisible.”

This is a critical point, that faith enables understanding, because it suggests that faith is intrinsic to and makes possible the use of reason and to the study of science. To engage in science at all suggests a faith in the intelligibility of the natural world and in our ability to understand it. If we do not believe that nature is understandable, then why seek to understand it. And this stance, obviously, guarantees we shall never understand it.

Further, the truth of the aforementioned verses should be clear to anyone who has ever had an idea.

An idea cannot be seen by anyone else. It exists only in the mind of the person. It is invisible to the rest of the world. It is precisely the person’s faith that is the evidence of the idea’s existence. If the person has faith

Belief is not exclusively religious. Faith is not necessarily faith in God. So while faith may be integral to the exercise of reason and the practice of science, does it follow that faith in God is essential?

In approaching this question, we first need to consider the nature of truth. Truth, it seems, always presents itself as universal, even if it is not the whole truth. So we might say universality is an essential characteristic of truth. At the same time, it seems reasonable that there must be a ground for all truth, or the absolute truth. It is the possibility of the existence of absolute truth that drives the human desire to seek and know truth.

Consider, for example, the question, who am I, both as an individual and as a human being? Science employs reason relentlessly to answer this fundamental question by studying the created order and drawing inferences from it. Yet, can we ever truly know ourselves ultimately? Do we ever reach a stopping point in terms of our knowledge and understanding of our identity, the meaning and the significance of our lives?

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SCRIPTURE INSTRUCTS US AS FOLLOWS:

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. (1 Jn 3:2) At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. (1 Cor 13:12) These passages (there are several others) point to the reality that questions of our identity lay beyond the direct grasp of reason; and, thus, beyond the explorations of science. This is because our identity ultimately rests with God, in God. We are a mystery to ourselves because our identity rests with the God who is a mystery.

And yet, God wishes to be known. It was for this reason that Jesus Christ entered the world: to reveal the mind, love, heart and thought of the Father so that we might know the Father and enter into communion with the Triune God. Reason alone is incapable of such knowledge. It had to be revealed.

Catholics believe what was revealed, not because we can perceive the truth of revelation by the natural light of reason alone, but because of the authority of God, who makes the revelation. Any lack of material evidence is overcome by confidence in the one who speaks.

So it is, by the way, with any act of faith, i.e. beliefs are always based on some authority whether it be a scientist, a politician, a teacher, or even one’s own personal experience or thought. There is simply no avoiding this reality.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION Consider prayerfully reading the following Scripture passage: Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, and reflects on knowledge; who ponders her ways in his heart, and understands her paths; who pursues her like a scout, and lies in wait at her entry way; who peeps through her windows, and listens at her doors; who encamps near her house, and fastens his tent pegs next to her walls; who pitches his tent beside her, and lives as her welcome neighbor; who builds his nest in her leafage, and lodges in her branches; who takes shelter with her from the heat, and dwells in her home. (Sirach 14:20-27) REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What does this passage say about the indissoluble unity between the knowledge of reason and the knowledge of faith?

2. What does this passage suggest as the role of faith in relation to reason? Is it to abolish reason’s autonomy or reduce its scope of action? Is it to sharpen the “inner eye” so that one can understand it is God who acts in history and thereby understand the depth of history? Why or why not?

IN CLOSING

Evangelization QUIZ Who said the following?

The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason.

A. St. Lawrence B. Blaise Pascal C. G.K. Chesterton D. St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic theologian mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Answer: (B) Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) French

For the Catholic, then, reason and faith cannot be separated without diminishing the capacity to know oneself, the world and God. There is no competition between the two. Each contains the other, and each has its own scope for action.

Reason begins with the created order in order to come to a certain knowledge of the created order. Reason is also able to infer certain transcendental truths from this knowledge.

Faith is also a way of knowing. It is not merely a feeling or an opinion. Faith enables the intellect to know non-evident realities with certainty. Faith in God allows us to participate in God’s knowledge, a participation made possible only through revelation.

Deprived of revelation, reason (and, therefore, science) risks losing sight of its final goal: the absolute truth. Deprived of reason, faith in God is easily reduced to a feeling or a personal experience and thereby risks losing its claim to universality and to accessibility to the intellect.

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SPECIAL REPORT:

O

VER THE COURSE of the last few weeks, the Church has been

in the news for sex abuse scandals

CLERGY SEX ABUSE SCANDAL

that have shaken many of the faithful and have resulted in an increased scrutiny of how allegations of abuse are handled. Both the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican have responded, as have many bishops throughout the U.S.

ARCHBISHOP THEODORE MCCARRICK On June 20, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York announced that then-Cardinal McCarrick had been removed from ministry at the direction of the Vatican after an investigation by the Archdiocese of New York found credible a charge that he sexually abused a teenager. On the same day, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, issued a statement that the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Metuchen "received three allegations of sexual misconduct with adults decades ago� about McCarrick and that two of those resulted in settlements.

On July 19, the New York Times ran a story about a man who alleges that Cardinal McCarrick sexually abused him for nearly 20 years, starting when the victim was 11. On July 28, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal McCarrick’s resignation from the College of Cardinals and suspended him from public ministry.

He is now to be known as Archbishop McCarrick and is to spend his life in prayer and penance until the results of a canonical trial.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement about this situation, stating, "The accusations against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick reveal a grievous moral failure within the Church. They cause bishops anger, sadness and shame; I know they do in me. They compel bishops to ask, as I do, what more could have been done to protect the people of

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For more information on the upcoming meeting in Ro

God. Both the abuses themselves, and the fact that they have remained undisclosed for decades, have caused great harm to people's lives and represent grave moral failures of judgment on the part of Church leaders.” (The full text of the USCCB statement can be found at http:// usccb.org/news/2018/18-136.cfm)

PENNSYLVANIA GRAND JURY REPORT – SIX DIOCESES On Aug. 14, a grand jury in Pennsylvania released a report about its investigation of allegations of sexual abuse of children occurring in all Pennsylvania dioceses except Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown, which had had earlier individual grand jury investigations.

The grand jury looked at cases of more than 300 priests who were credibly accused of sexually abusing minors since 1947. Disturbing information was disclosed about the abuse, as well as the actions of some bishops to transfer abusive priests to other parishes after accusations.

Cardinal DiNardo, the president of the USCCB, issued this statement in response to the grand jury findings: "The report of the Pennsylvania grand jury again illustrates the pain of those who have been victims of the crime of sexual abuse by individual members of our clergy, and by those who shielded abusers and so facilitated an evil that continued for years or even decades. We are grateful for the courage of the people who aided the investigation by sharing their personal stories of abuse. As a body of bishops, we are shamed by and sorry for the sins and omissions by Catholic priests and Catholic bishops.

“We are profoundly saddened each time we hear about the harm caused as a result of abuse, at the hands of a clergyman of any rank. The USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People and the office of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection will continue to offer avenues to healing for those who have been abused. We are committed to work in determined ways so that such abuse cannot happen.

VATICAN RESPONSE The Vatican released a letter to the people of God from Pope Francis regarding the scandals that have occurred in the Church: “The heart-wrenching pain of these victims, which cries out to heaven, was long ignored, kept quiet or silenced. But their outcry was more powerful than all the measures meant to silence it, or sought even to resolve it by decisions that increased its gravity by falling into complicity. The Lord heard that cry and once again showed us on which side he stands. … With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.”

He goes on to address clericalism as a factor in abuse and enabling abuse, “Clericalism, whether fostered by priests themselves or by lay persons, leads to an excision in the ecclesial body that supports and helps to perpetuate many of the evils that we are condemning today. To say ‘no’ to abuse is to say an emphatic ‘no’ to all forms of clericalism.”

Finally, the pope calls on all the Church to join in prayer and fasting in reparation for the sins of abuse within Christ’s body on earth, “The penitential dimension of fasting and prayer will help us as God’s people to come before the Lord and our wounded brothers and sisters as sinners imploring forgiveness and the grace of shame and conversion. In this way, we will come up with actions that can generate resources attuned to the Gospel.”

The full statement can be found at: TINYURL.COM/FM1018STATEMENT

“The Pennsylvania grand jury report covers a span of more than 70 years.

In 2002, the U.S. Bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which commits us to respond promptly and compassionately to victims, report the abuse of minors, remove offenders and take ongoing action to prevent abuse. This charter was revised and updated in 2011 and again in 2018.

We pledge to maintain transparency and to provide for the permanent removal of offenders from ministry and to maintain safe environments for everyone. All policies and procedures regarding training and background check requirements are made publicly available by dioceses and eparchies.

“We pray that all survivors of sexual abuse find healing, comfort and strength in God's loving presence as the Church pledges to continue to restore trust through accompaniment, communion, accountability and justice."

On Aug. 18, Cardinal DiNardo issued a statement about the USCCB’s plan to involve laity to address the “moral catastrophe” that the Church is facing: “We are faced with a spiritual crisis that requires not only spiritual conversion, but practical changes to avoid repeating the sins and failures of the past that are so evident in the recent report. Earlier this week, the USCCB Executive Committee met again and established an outline of these necessary changes.

Rome to address prevention of abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, and other news regarding the crisis, visit DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG.

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The Executive Committee has established three goals: (1) an investigation into the questions surrounding Archbishop McCarrick; (2) an opening of new and confidential channels for reporting complaints against bishops; and (3) advocacy for more effective resolution of future complaints. These goals will be pursued according to three criteria: proper independence, sufficient authority and substantial leadership by laity.

“We have already begun to develop a concrete plan for accomplishing these goals, relying upon consultation with experts, laity and clergy, as well as the Vatican.”

The three goals outlined by Cardinal DiNardo include: • Investigation of questions surrounding Archbishop McCarrick in order to prevent a recurrence – and protect minors, seminarians and others who are vulnerable in the future.

• Making reporting of abuse and misconduct by bishops easier.

The 2002 Statement of Episcopal Commitment does not make clear what avenue victims should follow to report abuse or other sexual misconduct by a bishop. That is being addressed.

• Better procedures to resolve complaints against bishops. For example, the canonical procedures that follow a complaint will be studied with an eye toward concrete proposals to make them more prompt, fair and transparent – and to specify what constraints may be imposed on bishops at each stage of that process.

Cardinal DiNardo expressed the sorrow of the U.S. Bishops, saying, “I apologize and humbly ask your forgiveness for what my brother bishops and I have done and failed to do. Whatever the details may turn out to be regarding Archbishop McCarrick or the many abuses in Pennsylvania (or anywhere else), we already know that one root cause is the failure of episcopal leadership.”

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ARCHBISHOP VIGANÒ Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who was the apostolic nuncio to the United States from 2011 to 2016, wrote an open letter accusing Church officials, including Pope Francis, of failing to act on accusations of abuse by now-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick.

According to the letter, "Corruption has reached the very top of the church's hierarchy."

The USCCB has issued a statement responding to Archbishop Viganò’s letter. Speaking on behalf of the bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said, “On Aug. 16th, I called for an apostolic visitation, working in concert with a national lay commission granted independent authority, to seek the truth.

Yesterday, I convened our Executive Committee once again, and it reaffirmed the call for a prompt and thorough examination into how the grave moral failings of a brother bishop could have been tolerated for so long and proven Cardinal Daniel DiNardo no impediment to his advancement.

“The recent letter of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò brings particular focus and urgency to this examination. The questions raised deserve answers that are conclusive and based on evidence. Without those answers, innocent men may be tainted by false accusation and the guilty may be left to repeat sins of the past.”

IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR VICTIMIZED

BY SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ...

Please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every diocese in the United States now has a victim assistance coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help make a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese, and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative if you desire.

The victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Lansing is: Cheryl Williams-Hecksel, LMSW 1-888-308-6252 cwilliamshecksel@dioceseoflansing.org

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BISHOP EARL BOYEA’S STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CRISIS FACING THE CHURCH Bishop Boyea is making plans to conduct an external audit to verify that the Diocese of Lansing handled allegations of sexual abuse of minors appropriately and will publish the names of clerics who sexually abused children

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST,

People, which included several measures. We encourage victims Recently, we have been horrified by more revelations of predatory of abuse to come forward, to sexual conduct by Catholic clergy as well as by the abuse of power and be heard, and to seek healing.

We employ a victim assistance sexual sin by a cardinal. The horrid behavior described in a grand jury coordinator to assist victims. report from Pennsylvania is shocking. Not only are these acts deeply We hold accountable any sinful, they are criminal. Anyone guilty of causing such pain to victims, as perpetrators who have harmed well as those at any level within the Church’s leadership who protected minors and vulnerable adults.

They have no place in Church sexual predators, must be held accountable. Justice demands it. ministry and are removed from I’ve heard from many Catholics in our own diocese who are saddened ministry. We encourage anyone and angered. They wonder if such things happened here in our diocese with an allegation of such crimes and what was done about it. What follows is a report to you, the faithful, to contact the civil authorities.

If a suspected crime has not of how this kind of behavior was addressed in the Diocese of Lansing. already been reported to the civil authorities, we report the allegation and cooperate fully with law enforcement.

A REPORT TO THE FAITHFUL We engage a Review Board, composed of mostly lay professionals, to assess credibility of claims.

The purpose of this report is to update the faithful We conduct background checks on all clergy once again on how the Diocese of Lansing addresses members, seminarians, and lay workers, including allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clerics. We any volunteer who has access to children in our have issued periodic reports on this since 2002. parishes or schools. We train anyone who has To view those previous reports, please visit the contact with children in our churches, schools and diocesan website at DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG. agencies how to spot and report possible abuse.

We are audited annually on our compliance with What has the Diocese of Lansing done these measures, which are found in the Charter for to address abuse? the Protection of Children and Young People.

Over the years, I have personally met with many First of all, we have a zero-tolerance policy, victims and listened to their hurt and anguish. Our which means that no one from Church ministry retreat center has held healing retreats for them. who is found to have sexually abused a minor or We help victims in whatever way they need to heal, vulnerable adult is allowed to remain in ministry in including counseling. the Diocese of Lansing.

In light of these recent revelations, I asked all In 2002, the Diocese of Lansing adopted the parishes in the Diocese of Lansing to join me in Charter for the Protection of Children and Young

BISHOP EARL BOYEA

is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing @BishopBoyea

To victims of abuse, this is not in the past. It is something they live with every day. One can never apologize enough for these sins and crimes.

These were acts of pure evil.”

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The most recent incident of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy from the Diocese of Lansing occurred years ago, in 2002.�

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celebrating a Mass on Sept. 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, followed by a holy hour in reparation, especially for the sins of bishops.

I wish I could promise that sin will not ever again enter the heart of someone in Church leadership, causing pain for others. I can, and do, recommit to these measures to create the safest possible environment for everyone in our parishes, schools and agencies.

Diocese of Lansing is making plans to invite an external agency to review how allegations were handled and will publish the names of clerics who sexually abused children In addition to our Review Board, I am planning to invite an external agency of lay professionals to audit our files and verify that we have handled allegations appropriately. Their report will be made public on the diocesan website dioceseoflansing. org. Along with that report, we will include names of those clerics who sexually abused children in the Diocese of Lansing. Some names have already been made public or have been widely reported in the media. It is important for victims to see the

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names of their abusers made public, and it helps victims who have yet to come forward see that they are not alone. It is vital that victims are heard and that they come forward in order to begin the process of healing.

What is the status of allegations of clergy sexual abuse in our diocese?

It is little comfort to report that the most recent incident of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy from the Diocese of Lansing occurred years ago, before the Charter was adopted in 2002.

For even one incident of sexual abuse to have occurred within our diocese is a betrayal of the highest order.

To victims of abuse, this is not in the past. It is something they live with every day. One can never apologize enough for these sins and crimes. These were acts of pure evil. To anyone who has suffered abuse, I offer you my deepest apology. This should not have happened to you, certainly not from anyone from our Church. I’m heartbroken that you were abused by someone you should have been able to trust. I am sorry. I pray that God will bring you healing and that you may find the peace of Christ.

SUMMARY OF DIOCESE OF LANSING POLICY ON CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE • We have a zero-tolerance policy, which means that no one from the Church who is found to have sexually abused a minor or vulnerable adult is allowed to remain in ministry within the Diocese of Lansing.

• We hold accountable perpetrators who have harmed minors and vulnerable adults. They have no place in Church ministry. We encourage anyone with an allegation of such crimes to contact the civil authorities. If a suspected crime has not already been reported to the civil authorities, we report the allegation and cooperate fully with law enforcement.

• If anyone has reason to suspect physical, sexual or emotional abuse of any person of any age, please contact Protective Services or the police, as appropriate.

• If abuse by anyone connected to the Church is suspected, please also contact Victim Assistance Coordinator Cheryl Hecksel-Williams at (888) 308-6252 or email: cwilliamshecksel@dioceseoflansing.org.

• If the suspected abuse is by a bishop, please contact Protective Services or the police, as well as Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre at (202) 333-7121 and Archbishop Allen Vigneron at (313) 237-5800.

All clergy members who have been found to have abused minors are either deceased or permanently removed from ministry. If an allegation of sexual abuse against a minor has not already been reported to civil authorities, diocesan officials have and will continue to report an allegation. In addition to making sure allegations go to the civil authorities, the diocesan Review Board assesses whether an allegation is credible or not.

The Review Board comprises members of the clergy, and lay professionals from law enforcement and mental health fields. There has not been an instance when I have not followed the recommendation of the Review Board about the credibility of an allegation. That input, along with complete cooperation with civil authorities, is part of how we determine if a living or deceased clergyman has a credible allegation against him.

I thank all the victims who have come forward.

It takes courage to do so. I assure you that your experience is taken seriously. For healing to occur, it is necessary for anyone who has been subject to sexual abuse to come forward. The Church is committed to helping victims have access to the help they need to heal, both spiritually and mentally.

• We encourage victims of abuse to come forward, to be heard, and to seek healing.

• We employ a victim assistance coordinator to assist victims.

• We engage a Review Board, made up mostly of lay professionals, to assess the credibility of claims.

• We will engage an external agency to review how we have handled allegations and make that report public. Along with that report, we will include names of those clerics who sexually abused children in the Diocese of Lansing.

• We conduct background checks on all clergy members, seminarians, and lay workers, including any volunteer who has access to children in our parishes or schools.

• We train all ministers in our churches or schools how to spot and report possible abuse.

• We are audited annually on our compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

• All employees of the Diocese of Lansing, including members of the clergy, are expected to abide by the diocesan Code of Conduct, which can be found at DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG. 23

Homosexuality, chastity and the priesthood

I agree with and fully support the USCCB efforts to find out what happened in this current crisis, which allowed sexual predators to rise through the ranks of the hierarchy.”

Homosexuality is not the same as child sex abuse.

While the majority of child sex abuse cases in society involve girls, the same is not true of the clergy abuse scandal, in which most victims were boys and young men. This has raised the question of whether this is a homosexual problem.

The Church’s teaching on this matter is clear.

Sexual activity is reserved for marriage between one man and one woman. It is a sin for anyone to engage in sexual activity outside of marriage.

When clergy members are not chaste and break the promise of celibacy, whether with males or females, it is not only a sin, but a betrayal of promises made to God. When clergymen prey on those under their authority or who have turned to them for pastoral care, that is an abuse of power. It damages those involved and causes great harm to the Church. We are all sinners; however, we need to insist on holiness from our clergy. Clergymen who are not committed to living chaste and celibate lives are not allowed to serve in active ministry. We do not accept candidates into the seminary with deep-seated homosexual tendencies or who have demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to be chaste and celibate.

The accountability of bishops Finally, this report is an attempt for me to address the fact that we bishops have failed. It is an outrage for anyone, especially a bishop, to hide a crime and cover up an injustice. Bishops who did this need to

be held accountable. They add injury to victims and they harm the very priesthood that their office fulfills.

To the dedicated clergy members who serve so well, who are unfairly cast under a cloud of suspicion by these sins, I also apologize to you. Our priests and deacons offer their very lives as witnesses to the love of Christ. Bishops who did not hold the predators accountable hurt the entire clergy.

Along with our priests and deacons, I dedicate my life to know and love Christ and to serve you, the people of God. Just as I would encourage you to contact me if you have a concern about any of our clergy members, you should know where to turn if you ever have a concern about a bishop, including me. You should contact the papal nuncio, who is the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States, and also contact the Archbishop of Detroit.

Furthermore, I agree with and fully support the USCCB efforts to find out what happened in this current crisis, which allowed sexual predators to rise through the ranks of the hierarchy. I support the USCCB effort to involve lay people in a new process to hold bishops more accountable. I am accountable to you, and I welcome your input into how we can do better.

Hope The crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States and elsewhere is not over. It will never be over until the tears of victims are dried, and their healing is complete. Even then, the wound to the Body of Christ will remain. And yet, we are not Catholic because of a priest or a bishop. We are not Christian because of a policy or a promise. We are followers of Christ because he alone is the source of our happiness in this life and the next. He alone can heal the wounds of sin and make all things new. We are Catholic because we believe the Church to be the bride of Christ, the Body of Christ. We pray for Christ to heal these wounds to the victims and to his entire Church. We implore the Holy Spirit to be at work in each of us so that all souls can be one with our Father in heaven.

- MOST REV. EARL BOYEA, BISHOP OF LANSING 209 N. Walnut, Lansing, MI 48933 Email: eboyea@dioceseoflansing.org

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SPECIAL REPORT:

CANONIZATION OF POPE PAUL VI AND ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO T

HE CANONIZATION of both Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Oscar Romero, along with four others, will take place in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 14, 2018.

POPE PAUL VI: A MAN WHO LIVED FAITHFUL TO THE TRUTH Born Giovanni Montini in September 1897, Pope Paul VI’s life as bishop of Rome was marked by his faithfulness to Church teaching and carrying out of the work of his predecessors.

When he became pope in 1963, Paul VI continued the Second Vatican Council. He tied up the loose ends of the council and carried out its decisions. Pope Paul VI’s papacy was also marked by various reforms, partially because of Vatican II. He is known especially for the reform of the liturgy, which allowed for the Mass to be said in the vernacular or Latin.

Pope Paul VI was known for being the first pope to visit six continents. His work toward ecumenism, and his encyclical on the topic of birth control, Humanae Vitae, also marked his papacy.

Pope Paul VI died shortly after a Sunday Mass in 1978. The process of his sainthood started under Pope St. John Paul II on May 11, 1993. Paul VI’s life was one dedicated to the truth and the carrying on of the legacies of his predecessors.

ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO: DEDICATED TO THE POOR AND VULNERABLE NO MATTER THE COST Oscar Romero was born on Aug, 15, 1917, in El Salvador. At the age of 13, he entered a minor seminary to pursue the Catholic priesthood. In 1942, 26

“If only we can say Our Father and know what this means, then we would understand the Christian faith.”

– Paul VI

“Beautiful is the moment in which we understand that we are no more than an instrument of God; we live only as long as God wants us to live; we can only do as much as God makes us able to do; we are only as intelligent as God would have us be. ” – Oscar Romero from his

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last homily

a year after completing his studies in Rome, Romero was ordained.

Father Romero returned to El Salvador, where he served as a parish priest for more than 20 years.

During this time, he defended the magisterium against the more progressive clergy of the day.

After many years of service as a parish priest, Father Romero was made archbishop of San Salvador – where he remained for the rest of his life. His reputation preceded him, and many progressive priests feared he would not support the Marxist ideology and liberation theology’s concern for the poor. Though Archbishop Romero was far from ascribing to these ideologies that worked to divide the Church, he in no way could be accused of a lack of care for the poor and vulnerable.

Only a month after he was appointed archbishop, his dear friend and Jesuit priest Father Rutilio Grande was assassinated for his work with the poor. This greatly influenced the rest of Archbishop Romero’s life and time as archbishop. After this tragic event, Romero stated, “When I looked at Rutilio lying there dead I thought, ‘If they have killed him for doing what he did, then I too have to walk the same path.’” From then on, Romero’s life was dedicated largely to helping the poor and speaking out against the assassinations and torture that were rampant in his native country. On his weekly radio program, he passionately spoke out against the ways in which the Salvadoran government was exploiting people’s basic human rights and persecuting those who stood up for the poor.

As a result of his courage in speaking out against the injustices of the Salvadoran government and his striving to promote the peace and love which the Catholic Church upholds, Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980. The Church recognizes Romero as a martyr today, and will always remember him as a man deeply dedicated to the Church and the poor.

YOUNG PEOPLE CHURCH AND THE

DURING OCTOBER, A SYNOD OF BISHOPS dedicated to “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment” will take place in Rome.

Regarding the purpose of the synod, Pope Francis wrote this in a Vatican bulletin: The theme, an expression of the pastoral care of the Church for the young, is consistent with the results of the recent Synod assemblies on the family and with the content of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Its aim is to accompany the young on their existential journey to maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they discover their plan for life and realize it with joy, opening up to the encounter with God and with human beings and actively participating in the edification of the Church and of society.

In advance of the gathering, the Vatican asked each diocese around the world to conduct a survey of young people, ages 16-29. What follows are some responses from the young people in the Diocese of Lansing (750+ responses), most of whom are practicing Catholics.

What do the young people really ask of the Church today?

•T op answer: Support, love, guidance, acceptance: 33% In what manner does the Church listen to the lived situations of young people?

•M any indicated that the Church doesn’t listen to them. Many also said they have been heard by the Church through priests.

What kinds and places of group gatherings of youths, institutionalized or otherwise, have a major success outside the Church? Why? •G atherings that are social/communal in nature make for successful events. There was also a theme of informality.

IN ADDITION: • Many of the youths spoke of feeling isolated and lonely in their culture.

•T he youths struggle in not feeling equipped to address issues of the culture today and don’t know how to stand up for Church teachings, especially when it comes to moral issues (if they believe in the teachings at all).

•M any of the youth are looking to the Church not only for direction in faith and relationship with God, but for acceptance, belonging and love from a community of people with similar beliefs.

National statistics on young people and religion Of young people (15-25) who were raised Catholic but no longer self-identify as such: Typical age for their decision to leave was made at

13 39 63

% of young

%

said they stopped being Catholic between the ages of 10 and 17 (Our Sunday Visitor, CARA, Aug. 27, 2016)

adults

(18-29) are “none” (no religion)

Today’s young adults are

4X MORE LIKELY to be “none” than young adults in the previous generation

79% 50%

of former Catholics leave the Church before age 23 (Pew)

of millennials raised Catholic no longer identify as Catholic (Public Religion Research Institute, August 2016)

PERCENTAGE OF FORMER CATHOLICS WHO SAID REASON(S) BELOW PLAYED A ROLE IN THEIR DEPARTURE:

71%

Just gradually drifted away from the religion

65%

Stopped believing in the religion’s teachings

(Pew survey – “Faith in Flux,” 2009)

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YOUR COMMUNITY THINGS TO DO Oct. 7, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Lansing’s 27th annual Life Chain, a peaceful prayer chain witnessing to the sanctity of life, will gather along Grand River Ave., in East Lansing to Williamston – meeting at M.A.C. in downtown East Lansing, Brookfield Plaza, St. Martha Church or Main St., in Williamston near St. Mary Catholic Church. Please join us. For information, contact Ann Zygmontowicz at annzyg@gmail.com.

The annual Red Mass of the Catholic Lawyers Guild will be held on Oct. 9 at St. Mary Cathedral at 5:15. Dinner, featuring the St. Thomas More award, is at 6:15. Paul Brandenburg will receive the award.

Oct. 12, 2:30-7 p.m., St. John the Evangelist, 450 N. Dayton St., in Davison, will have its annual all-youcan-eat fish fry and Oktoberfest raffle. Please join us to dine in and for our raffle with prizes totaling $11,000.

Takeout is available. All are welcome.

For information, contact the parish office at 810.653.2377.

Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m., The Hands of Mary Rosary Makers, an affiliated ministry of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 3815 S. Cedar St. in Lansing, will host its annual fall gathering in the parish Family Center following the 11:30 a.m. Mass. All rosary makers and anyone interested in rosary ministry are invited. For information, contact the IHM office at 517.393.3030 or TheHandsofMaryRosaryMakers@ outlook.com.

Oct. 20, 8:30-10 a.m., join us for the next Women’s Breakfast at St. Michael Parish, Grand Ledge. The speaker will be Rosita Kintz. For more information, please contact the parish office at 517.627.8493.

OCTOBER CAFÉ EVENTS Mondays, Oct. 1, 22, 29; Nov. 12, 26; and Dec. 10, 7-8:30 p.m., The Wild Goose DVD series continues – discover a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit – at St. Thomas Aquinas, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, in the Baraga Room.

Attend one or all sessions. All are welcome.

For information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@elcatholics.org.

Oct. 18, 7 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Church and Student Center will have a Parish Mission. For information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or al@elcatholics.org.

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Oct. 20, 10 a.m., fourth semi-annual 40 Days for Life Ann Arbor prolife Mass, adoration and Marian procession. Father James Conlon, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor, will celebrate the Mass, which is followed by a rosary procession to Planned Parenthood. Everyone is welcome. For information, contact Sandie Weathers at 734.657.1936 or plan2pray@gmail.com; or visit 40daysforlife.com/annarbor or plan2pray.org.

Oct. 21, noon-4 p.m., St. Luke NEW Life Center Octoberfest – grilled dinner and fundraiser – at Luke M. Powers High School, 1505 W. Court St., Flint: dinner 12:30-1:30 p.m., silent and live auctions, as well as other games/prizes. Tickets: $35 per person at the door or online at stlukenewlife.com. All proceeds benefit St. Luke’s job training, literacy, social enterprise and community support programs for the under-served men, women and children of Flint.

Oct. 26, 4-7 p.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flint will have an All Hallows Eve party. For information, call the parish office at 810.787.5701.

Oct. 26, 4-7:30 p.m., St. John the Baptist, Howell’s Oktoberfest dinner in Thompson Hall. Menu includes: smoked pork chops, bratwurst, German potato salad, sweet/sour cabbage rolls and dessert. Cost: adult $10, senior $9, child (3 to 10) $5. Children’s alternative menu ($3): hamburger, chips and applesauce. If you have questions, please call the parish office at 517.546.7200.

Oct. 28, 2 p.m., All Faith Ministry for Disabilities, a nondenominational and ecumenical disability ministry, and the Diocese of Lansing’s Disabilities Ministry are hosting a special-needs Mass followed by refreshments at the St. Francis Retreat Center Chapel, located at 703 E. Main St. in DeWitt. Mass starts at 2 p.m. Please RSVP to Cathy Blatnik, coordinator of Disabilities Ministry, by Oct. 23 at 517.381.1410 or lcblatnik@juno.com.

Everyone is welcome.

Oct. 28, noon-4 p.m., St. Stanislaus Social Center, 608 S. Elm St., Jackson, will host a Swiss Steak and Golumbki Dinner. For more information, please contact Peggi Mroczka at peggimr@aol.com.

FAITH Magazine | OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.FAITHPUB.COM

Nov. 10, 6:15-10 p.m., St. Joseph, Howell will have a traditional Polish Dinner in the school gym and Emmaus Room. For information, call the parish office at 517.546.0090.

Nov. 13, 3 p.m., St Patrick, Ann Arbor, in cooperation with St. Augustine Homeschool Enrichment Program, will host a talk by Dr. Dale Ahlquist on G.K. Chesterton and Catholic social teaching in the church hall, 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd. For information, contact the parish office at 734.662.8141.

Nov. 16, 7 p.m., St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish in Swartz Creek will host a euchre tournament fundraiser sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. For more information, call 810.635.3684.

Nov. 16-18, Lansing Retrouvaille is a marriage help program for couples struggling in their marriage: Learn new tools of communication, while focusing on love, commitment, trust and forgiveness in your marriage relationship. For information or to register, contact Beth and Larry at 734.879.0427 or toheal4give@outlook.com Nov. 17, the Diocese of Lansing will have an all-day Nun Run. It includes visiting convents, meeting sisters, asking questions, celebrating Mass, praying and eating meals.

For information, contact Dawn Hausmann at 517.342.2506 or dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org.

Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Martha, 1100 W. Grand River, Okemos, will have Holiday Heaven – An Arts and Craft Collection featuring a large variety of vendors with artisan items perfect for your holiday shopping season. Please join us for a fun and relaxing time with lunch and snacks available. For more information, contact Margo Vuchetich at 517.881.7975.

Dec. 14-16, Ann Arbor Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat: Abortion hurts everyone impacted by it. The shame, guilt, anger, unforgiveness and intense grief haunt women and men. Anyone seeking hope and healing from an abortion experience is invited to attend.

For information or to register, contact Beth at 734.879.0427 or toheal4give@outlook.com.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, 517.886.1150 and 517.323.4734 or STVCC.ORG • Have you thought about becoming a foster parent? Foster parent orientations are hosted the first and third Tuesdays of every month 6-8:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend.

Registration is required. For information or to register, call Stephanie at 517.323.4734.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, 2020 E. GRAND RIVER, STE. 104, HOWELL, 48843 517.545.5944 or LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG • Tuesdays, Oct. 16 to Nov. 20, 4-5:30 p.m., Powerful Tools for Caregivers is for family care-givers. This program will help you take care of yourself while caring for a relative or friend.

Each class participant will receive a book to accompany the class content. It will be held at LCCC, 2020 E. Grand River Ave., Howell. For information or to register, call 833.262.2200 or wellnessprograms@aaa1b.com.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, 810.232.9950 FLINT or 989.723.8239 OWOSSO, WEBSITE CCSGC.ORG • Community Closet: We need donations of personal needs

items such as toothpaste, shampoo, diapers, formula and toilet paper, as well as clothing and household goods, for distribution to those in need. Open Monday through Friday; personal care items dropoff is 9:30 a.m.-noon; and clothing and household goods dropoff is 1-4 p.m. For information, call 810.265.7025.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW COUNTY, 734.971.9781 or CSSWASHTENAW.ORG • Oct. 19, 6:30-9 p.m., and Oct. 20, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation, communication and relationship enhancement program for engaged couples will be held at St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor. Both classes must be attended. Pre-registration with payment is required.

Cost: $95/couple. For more information, call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit csswashtenaw.org.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, JACKSON: 517.782.2551 or ADRIAN: 517.263.2191 or CATHOLICCHARITIESJLHC.ORG • Volunteer drivers are needed for the Senior Transportation Program to take seniors to and from their doctor or medical treatment appointments. The service is provided at no cost, but eligibility and scheduling requirements do apply. Adults 55 and older are invited to join and become part of something wonderful. To volunteer, contact Marilyn Smith at 517.783.6102

RETREAT CENTERS ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER, DEWITT, STFRANCIS.WS OR 866.669.8321 • Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., St. Thèrése of Lisieux: A Model of Faith, Prayer and Daily Living for Our Times – Begins at 8:30 a.m., check in, morning coffee and snack. At 9 a.m., the retreat begins and includes Mass, lunch and handouts. Bring your Bible. The cost is $65 or $55 for seniors 60+. Presenter: Tony Sperendi.

• Oct. 13, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., The Martha-Mary Balance of Daily Life – Join us as we utilize many forms of prayer, including Ignatian guided meditation, journaling and movement prayer to clarify God’s unique plan for our own balance between prayer, and service. Cost: $55, includes lunch and materials. For information, contact Janene of Prayer in Motion, LLC at 734.347.2422 or register online at www.form.jotform.com/81915906319968.

DOMINICAN CENTER AT MARYWOOD, DOMINICANCENTER.COM or 616.514.3325 • Mondays: Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Gospel Encounter with Jesus the Christ – Jesus waits for us to be our word, to become our friend, to share the journey of faith. The Gospels were written that we may become a believing disciple.

Come and journey with us. Please bring a Bible to class. Cost: $45.

• Oct. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Writing through Anger: With a focus on what has caused and keeps us in a state of anger, this contemplative program invites women writers to express and release toxic emotions that negatively affect our well-being.

Using stillness, writing prompts, sharing and non-judgmental feedback, this reflective writing experience is open for women writers of all levels. Space is limited to eight people. Cost: $35.

• Oct. 23, 6:30-8 p.m., Guided Meditation for Inner Peace: Directed positive imagery helps us reduce stress and pain, decrease anxiety and depression and increase energy and joy. This practice allows us to access the subconscious mind, tapping into the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Cost: 35.

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CREDITS

LOCAL NEWS

KNIGHTS OF PETER CLAVER AND LADIES AUXILIARY UNIT 90 CELEBRATE 76TH ANNIVERSARY The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Congratulations

MOST REVEREND GERALD VINCKE Priest from Diocese of Lansing now bishop of Salina, Kansas

OCTOBER 2018 VOLUME 18: ISSUE 8

www.FAITHpub.com Most Rev. Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

FIND US ONLINE AT FAITHPUB.COM

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH JESUS AND HIS CHURCH WWW.FAITHCATHOLIC.COM

Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Kayla Simon

On June 9, the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, Father Dukette Unit 90 in Flint, celebrated their 76th anniversary. The event began with Mass celebrated by Bishop emeritus Carl Mengeling. The councils, courts, assembly and chapter were thanked for their tremendous show of support.

The following day, Bishop Earl Boyea celebrated Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church in Flint.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ann Jacob MANAGING EDITOR

Cynthia Vandecar DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

NEWS FROM ADRIAN DOMINICANS: JUBILEE YEAR A total of 49 Adrian Dominican sisters returned to the motherhouse in Adrian this summer to celebrate Jubilees. The following sisters served in the Diocese of Lansing.

70 years Sister Patricia (Mary Cuthbert) DeMay, OP Sister Helen (Ingrid) Hankerd, OP Sister Marion (Ellen Michael) O’Connor, OP Sister Theresia Scheuer, OP Sister Dorothy (David Ann) Thielk, OP 60 years Sister Marilyn (Margaret Felice) Barnett, OP Sister Kathleen (Denis Ellen) Clausen, OP Sister Patricia Ann (Mary Corita) Dulka, OP Sister Attracta (Mary Attracta) Kelly, OP Sister Maria Oedlia Romero, OP Sister Annette (Mary Grace) Sinagra, OP Sister Patricia (Joseph Virginia) Stellmah, OP

Marybeth Hicks MARKETING DIRECTOR

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR

Mike Jones DIRECTOR OF TECH AND DIGITAL MEDIA

Michelle Hildebrandt

2018 K OF C FAMILY NIGHT TO CELEBRATE VOCATIONS

50 years Sister Leonor J. Esnard, OP Sister Sharon Kay Spanbauer, OP

CREATIVE DIRECTOR WEB

Lindsy Sambaer WEB AND DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Jim Berlucci | Doug Culp | Mary Gates | Rev. Joseph Krupp | Dr. Cathleen McGreal | Steve and Bridget Patton | Elizabeth Solsburg | Sheri Wohlfert CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Karen Bonar | Carlson Productions | Shane Folkertsma | Mike Frieseman | Tom Gennara | Sarah Moore Kuschell | James Luning | Gretchen Mathos | Don Quillan

Catholics from around the Diocese of Lansing joined with the Knights of Columbus for the annual Vocations Night at Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, on Aug. 10.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR For advertising information, contact Tom Gaskin Call 517.853.7648 or email tgaskin@faithcatholic.com For subscription information: Call 1.866.76.FAITH

FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHpub.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2017 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

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2018 BISHOP’S GOLF CLASSIC The 2018 Bishop's Golf Classic for Seminarian Education held on Aug. 20 was a great success!

A good time was had by golfers young and old, priests, deacons, seminarians and friends. Thank you to all who filled Hawk Hollow and Eagle Eye golf courses.

FAITH Magazine | OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.FAITHPUB.COM

SISTER KATHERINE FRAZIER, OP PROFESSES FIRST VOWS AS AN ADRIAN DOMINICAN In an atmosphere of great joy and celebration, Sister Katherine Frazier, OP made her first profession of vows Aug. 5 in St. Catherine Chapel, which was packed with Adrian Dominican Sisters and associates, Dominican Sisters from other congregations, family members and friends.

SISTER MARIA REGINA IMMACULATA, SV PROFESSES SOLEMN VOWS

T. GENNARA

MIKE FRIESEMAN

DEACON DAY OF HEALING IN FLINT REQUIESCAT IN PACE Sister Suzanne Eichhorn, OP of Grand Rapids completed her life’s journey on Aug. 6, 2018. She was 88 years old and a Dominican Sister for 64 years. She served at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, as associate director for 21 years.

Memorials in Sister Suzanne Eichhorn’s name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund.

On Aug. 25, the deacons of the diocese hosted a day of healing at St. Mary’s Parish in Flint. The day included Mass with the bishop at 8 a.m., healing prayers, eucharistic adoration and a picnic. Parishes throughout the diocese filled backpacks with school supplies, which were distributed to kids in attendance. All were excited for school to begin. Thank you to all who donated and delivered backpacks and supplies.

Sister Maria Regina Immaculata, SV professed her solemn vows as a Sister of Life on Aug. 6, 2018, in Stamford, Conn.

Sister Maria Regina Immaculata was raised in Ann Arbor, where she attended St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas the Apostle parishes. She graduated from Hillsdale College in 2010.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RAISE $7,600 FOR LOCAL SEMINARIANS On July 14, the Knights of Columbus Msgr. Esper Council 3027 held their 13th annual “Returns for Vocations” fundraiser. The council represents Most Holy Trinity Parish in Fowler. The group raised $7,600 to aid those pursuing vocations by collecting returnable bottles and cans (60,000+) and soliciting monetary donations from the community.

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