November 2010

i n s i d e :

Sister Monica Kostielney is retiring from the MCC after 27 years p l u s :

The Tridentine Mass in the Diocese of Lansing

T. Gennara

2 What I learned from

the ‘man who spoke in pictures’ @

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Father Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude. E-mail: editor@FAITHmag.com.

from the editor

uring my first two years in seminary I had the opportunity to get to know a truly unique man. His name was Richard, and I will always think of him as “The man who spoke in pictures.”

Like any seminarian, I was required to spend time in what is called field education – practical, real-world experience in putting to good use the pastoral and theological skills learned in the classroom.

I spent my first two years of field education working at the county-run nursing home near the seminary. At its beginning, the nursing home was originally known as the county “poor farm.” This was the place where the poor or indigent, many of them elderly, lived out their last years. Slowly, the facility grew and was transformed into what we would now call a nursing home.

It was a place that had both long- and short-term residents. The short-term residents were often receiving valuable physical and occupational rehabilitation following a stroke, an accident or other life-threatening illness or injury. The longterm residents were the elderly poor or people with a variety of physical or mental difficulties who either had no family to care for them or who were unable to care for themselves. Richard fell into this latter category. At the time I met him, he was in his early 50s and had profound cerebral palsy from birth.

Richard spent his days in a specially-built wheelchair that gave him the ability to rest near the expansive windows adjacent to his room. This was Richard’s favorite place in the house and he loved to spend hours there soaking up the gentle sunlight and watching the beauty of nature. Because of the severity of his cerebral palsy, the only sounds Richard could make were loud “ooohs” and “aaaahs.” When something was funny, Richard’s loud, childlike laugh

would resound in the hallway. Although his ability to verbalize was very limited, Richard had no difficulty communicating with visitors and caretakers.

Someone had discovered that Richard could point to simple pictures, which he understood, and using them, he could slowly construct sentences that evolved into very long and beautiful conversations. Using a picture board that rested in his lap, Richard slowly and reliably pointed to pictures that represented feelings like “happy” or “sad” and items like “food” and “water.” Richard used about 50 different pictures to conduct his conversations. As a visitor, I watched Richard point to pictures one at a time.

As Richard pointed, I sounded each one out, offering different options based on the context of our conversation. In time, and with some practice on my part, Richard and I could have long “talks” about almost anything. Richard would end each visit with the same declaration: “God loves Richard, and Richard loves God.” I will always treasure those weekly visits with Richard. He taught me that all of us have beautiful things to say; some of us just take a little longer to do so than others. He also taught me the value of patience and careful listening. Richard taught me about the dignity and beauty of human life and God’s profound love, using pictures rather than spoken words.

And so, our journey in FAITH continues.

Because of the severity of his cerebral palsy, the only sounds Richard could make were loud “ooohs” and “aaaahs.” When something was funny, Richard’s loud, childlike laugh would resound in the hallway.”

Liturgical Calendar: Solemnity All Saints Nov.1 | All Souls Day Nov. 2 | St. Martin de Porres, religious Nov. 3 | St. Charles Borromeo, bishop Nov. 4 | Feast of the Dedication

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FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER

Rev. Dwight Ezop

EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

November 2010 • Volume 11: Issue 9

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PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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MARKETING MANAGER

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ART DIRECTOR

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FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2010 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.

Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling FOUNDING PUBLISHER

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Vicki Wells Bedard spent her life as a communicator for the Catholic Church. Now, she is being robbed of her voice--and her life--by frontotemporal dementia. Find out how her faith keeps her going and where she finds hope.

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

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What’s special T. Gennara

about your parish?

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@

Elizabeth Solsburg is editorial director of FAITH Magazine. She can be reached at esolsburg@FAITHcatholic.com

belong to a great parish, one that feeds my soul. The first time I walked into St. Mary in Adrian, I was welcomed warmly. By people at the door, by the people next to me in the pew and by the pastor, who treated me as if I were a gift to be treasured.

And the novelty has not worn off. Every Sunday, Father Bob acts as if he is thrilled that I am there – tells me how much it

means to him to see me smiling in the fifth pew on the left. He greets everyone by name – makes them all know how happy he is

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4 parenting journey 5 marriage matters 6 in the know with Fr. Joe 8 theology 101 10 spiritual fitness 12 from the bishop 31 last word

to see them. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries – and mourn with those who have lost a loved one.

Other parishioners do the same – they make the effort to remember names, exchange greetings, invite each other to coffee in the parish hall after Mass.

And speaking of the Mass, it is prayerful and filled with energy. People participate, pray the prayers, sing loudly. There is a bilingual Mass every Sunday – in Spanish and English.

I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful parish family, and grateful to have found them. You can hear my story on our FAITH Story Line at www.faithmag.com.

How about you? What makes your parish special? Call the story line at 517.853.7676 and let us know. We’ll share your story on www.FAITHmag.com.

of the Lateran Basilica in Rome Nov. 9 | St. Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the church Nov. 10 | St. Martin of Tours, bishop Nov. 11 | St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr Nov. 12

inside this issue

Lynne Ridenour

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER

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Sibling jealousy:

T. Gennara

What is a parent to do?

Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual advisor.

Q parenting journey

Our two daughters are driving us crazy. The younger one is so jealous of the older one that she has a tantrum whenever she cannot do whatever her sister is allowed to do. There is a four-year age difference between them; so, obviously, there is a different set of privileges for each. How can we get some peace back?

The sibling relationship is the longest-lasting relationship that your daughters will have. But it is filled with many emotions! When our oldest daughter was wearing a retainer, often she was absent-minded and would leave it in the oddest places. When it just couldn’t be found, we would ask all four children to help us do an extensive search. Once it was found in a bottle of mouthwash. Later, our younger daughter confessed to hiding it there.

How do we as parents turn these moments around so that family life stays on an even keel?

A

hasn’t been an emotional encounter about her big sister. It can be set up in a casual way. For example, take her to a craft store to buy some items so that later her friends can come over to make a Thanksgiving or Christmas decoration. Is she upset because her 15-year-old sister is learning to drive? You might remark that when you were 11, you never thought you would make it to 15 either because it seemed so far away! But if she is upset because her sister gets to select her own clothes, then maybe you can work out a plan for a bit more supervised autonomy in purchases.

Get down to the specifics. Talk to your younger daughter one-onone during a neutral time when there

Focus on the positives of this age period. Our culture is in a big hurry to grow up! Once we get there,

what gets my goat

Q

There is a church in our area that encourages its members to evangelize door to door. They seem to show up every Saturday at 8:30 in the morning. I’ve told them I’m happy as a Catholic, but they won’t let up. Is there a good way to handle the preacher at the door?

A

It is a difficult task because you don’t want to be rude, but you don’t want to be bothered again and again. Some suggestions include: don’t answer the door; interrupt the preacher’s presentation with “no thank you, I am not interested;” tell them that you have different beliefs; and so on.

I think it is good to know that there are people who are so committed to spreading their faith. I am pretty sure that you respect them for their commitment.

we are eager to stay at exactly the same youthful age for the rest of our lives! Help your daughter recognize the privileges and responsibilities that match her age. Grade-school children take pride in learning skills – and it’s even better if you invite some friends over to join in. For example, learning the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon in a recipe is a valuable life skill! Try a cookie-baking party; your older children may decide they’d like to join.

Remember to pray for wisdom in your decisions about your children: “Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.”

(Proverb 3:17-18)

How can I handle

the preacher at my door?

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

The advice that you follow in this case must be what fits best with your values and sense of respect for others – especially when those others think and behave differently than you.

One possible solution: You can approach the pastor of the church and share with him your respect for him, for his beliefs and for his followers and humbly request as a sign of respect to your beliefs that your name and address be removed from the list of “visits.”

Hope it works and good luck!

St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, virgin Nov. 13 | St. Albert the Great, bishop and doctor of the church Nov. 15 | St. Margaret of Scotland Nov. 16 | St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious Nov. 17 |

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He said She said

T. Gennara

what do they do?

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

“I caught him ‘chatting’ online to another woman” Cheryl says: I walked into Jim’s home office in the middle of the night, when I heard him talking to someone on Skype.

He quickly shut down the computer, but not before I caught a glimpse of a woman in a negligee on the screen. He says this is “nothing,” but I feel betrayed.

“What’s the big deal?”

Cheryl has a legitimate reason for concern because (1) she is being betrayed and (2) one of the major causes of marriage failure today is due in large part to the Internet and the proliferation of social websites. We are reminded of the scripture passage from Matthew 5:28 that says, “… but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Any person appearing on a social network site in clothing that is revealing (a negligee would fit that category) is probably not looking for simple friendship or just to chat!

We are surprised that Jim is unable to see why Cheryl is upset! Let me see; at home in the middle of the night, Skyping with someone of the

suggest some simple ways to start after Jim terminates his online relationship with the other woman. First, begin to rebuild trust by sharing with each other how thankful you are that your spouse said “yes” to your marriage, how grateful you are to God for allowing your spouse to be part of your life and what specialness attracted you to your spouse in the first place. Follow that with a discussion about the impact this online relationship has had on your relationship.

Cheryl might share how it feels to be second best to a chat-room friend and Jim may wish to share why he felt it necessary to have a female chat-room friend. The discussions should take place over several sessions lasting no longer than about 15 minutes at the beginning.

Because these discussions will need to come from the heart, we recommend each session begin with verbal prayer asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, patience and strength, followed by a closing prayer of thanksgiving.

With prayer, the time to rebuild your marriage relationship will be shorter and the work will become more solid.

| St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin Nov. 18 | Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Nov. 21 | St. Cecilia, martyr Nov. 22 | Blessed Miguel Austin Pro, priest and martyr Nov. 23

your marriage matters

here. Cheryl could rightly judge that Jim was doing something inappropriately if he does not wish Cheryl to see. Jim’s actions remind us of when children do “damage control” by lashing out at the parent for violating their privacy by walking into their opposite gender who is wearroom. Most of the time, this is ing a revealing negligee, and transference – trying to pass the then you try to hide it from guilt along. That appears to be your spouse when she walks in the approach Jim is taking. on you – of course she is upset. When one partner disregards Jim’s actions certainly sound to the impact his actions have on us like the behis spouse, When one there is a deepginning of an affair outside er problem and partner his marriage partner is disregards that relationship venturing into which will end the impact his acdangerous terin disaster if ritory. Their retions have on his Jim and Cheryl lationship is in spouse, there is a do not start need of repair deeper problem communicatand rebuilding ing with each Venturing and that partner is other immedioutside of venturing into dan- marriage can ately. gerous territory.”

As parents, be remedied if if we walk into Jim and Cheryl a room and one of our children would talk to each other about quickly shuts down the comtheir specialness, by compliputer, it does not take a rocket menting each other frequently, scientist to figure out they were and by focusing on building doing something inapproprithe best marriage relationship ately; there is no difference they can with each other. We

Jim says: I don’t know what the big deal is – it’s not as if I’m having an affair. Cheryl is blowing this all out of proportion – the woman on the computer screen is just a friend I met in an online chat room.

We’ve never even met in real life, so what’s the big deal?

6 Dear Fr. Joe:

Why won’t our pastor bless children?

T. Gennara

Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine,

@ 1500 E. Saginaw, Lansing, MI 48906 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

Q

Our new pastor announced that he would no longer bless children in the Communion line because he might have “crumbs of Jesus” on his hands and that would make it improper. Is this really true? I saw a young boy looking very confused when Father ignored him on Sunday.

This has been coming up more and more in discussions – let’s take a look at it.

It starts with a custom that has evolved in Catholicism.

I’ve seen it here in the United States, Mexico, Poland, Italy, France – every country I’ve been to. The custom is that, when a child is in the Communion line but hasn’t yet received his first Communion, the priest offers a blessing.

Recently, it seems that a growing number of priests are refusing to do so. To be clear, most of those priests

in the know with Fr. Joe

A

Why was the fly dancing on the jam jar?

Because on the lid it said, “Twist to open”

are more than happy to bless a child, but they don’t feel comfortable blessing them in the Communion line since that specific practice is not in the Roman Ritual. As priests, we are not allowed to simply “add things” to the ritual.

That’s a brief summary of the idea, and I think it important to add something here: Be loving in how you interpret why your priest is or isn’t blessing children in the Communion line. I think it’s safe to say that priests who aren’t blessing children at that time are not doing it because they hate children or anything like

it. They are doing it out of obedience to their consciences. I have received word from some folks that their new priest here or there isn’t blessing the children in the Communion line and they are drawing all sorts of horrid messages from that. Please don’t do that, I’m begging you. Don’t draw a horrible conclusion from a priest who is probably just following his conscience. Ask him about it, talk through it with him and please be respectful of his answer.

Now, anyone who has celebrated Mass with me knows I not only bless

any children in the Communion line, I take my time doing it. I’m a huge fan of this practice. This next part is my “why” and I need to be really clear here that what you are reading is my own opinion/ interpretation.

My reasoning on this is practical and spiritual. The practical reasoning is that they are there. Most of the kids who come forward are too young to be in their seats alone and unattended, so their parents bring them forward. In my mind, why not bless them? This is a time that young people can see that the big man in strange clothes is a gentle soul. It’s a time when children get used to coming forward to Communion in a respectful and sacred manner. I’ve seen firsthand how it can increase in the young person a desire to receive the Eucharist and what better thing is there than that?

On the spiritual side of things, take a look at this from the Gospel of Mark: And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Mark 10:13-14) To me, the amazing word there is “indignant.” Jesus became indignant when people tried to stop him from

B. Patten

St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs Nov. 24 | St. Ca

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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The Tridentine Mass

in the Diocese of Lansing

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n July 2007, Pope Benedict issued a motu proprio entitled Summorum Pontificum. A motu proprio (“on his own initiative”) is a letter of instruction that might address one or more practical matters. This letter gave broader permission to priests to use the form of the Mass that had been developed at the Council of Trent, commonly known as the “Tridentine Mass.”

Pope Benedict emphasized that the form and texts of the Mass that were developed at Vatican II were still to be the norm for the universal Roman Catholic Church, or the “ordinary form.” The Tridentine Mass, as found in its most recent version, the 1962 Missal, would hence be known as the “extraordinary form” (EF).

Among other things, the pope said that if a group of parishioners ask to have the EF regularly, the pastor could accept their request. He stressed that the presider of those liturgies must be fluent in Latin and trained in the rubrics of the Tridentine liturgy.

At present, the EF is celebrated weekly in Flint, Jackson, and Ann Arbor. Effective Sept. 1, Bishop Boyea established the Blessed John XXIII Community in Lansing, a public association of the faithful

atherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr Nov. 25 | Feast of St. Andrew, apostle Nov. 30

that will meet in the crypt of St. Mary Cathedral. It currentlyconsists of about 70 families.

The new community will be celebrating all of the sacraments according to the EF of the liturgy. Chaplain Father Jeffrey Robideau, who had celebrated the traditional form at St. Joseph Parish in Jackson for two years, says that he is aware of only one parish in the country that is adhering completely to the EF in all of its sacraments.

Father John Bosco, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Morrice, has been celebrating the EF frequently for more than five years at All Saints Catholic Church in Flint. He notes that youth are attracted to that form of the Mass because they are looking for something beautiful, profound, mysterious. “It also gives them a sense of silence in a noisy world,” he says.

Something else that people like about the EF, Father John says, is that “it retains the sense of the sacrifice of the Mass. Though I love celebrating both forms of the Mass, what I appreciate about the EF is that it creates a sense of the sublime.”

Father Gerald Gawronski, pastor of Old St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, recently began celebrating the EF there at the request of Bishop Boyea. “I’m excited about the spiritual power of the EF and its potential to enrich the ordinary form of the liturgy as the pope envisioned in Summorum Pontificum.”

Father John said that “in Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict reminds us that both forms are Masses of the church, and that we should be open to seeing the splendor and beauty of what has been for centuries the prayer of the church. The pope says that the EF is our heritage, and that we have a right to our heritage.”

What Father Robideau likes about it is that “this is the form that so many saints grew up with and which helped them become saints. It gives me a connection to them.

“There is beauty and dignity in both forms of the Mass. Some people prefer one form, some the other. Since the church is trying to meet the spiritual needs of everyone, why wouldn’t she offer both forms? It is an honor for me to found this new association of the faithful; I’m excited about it.”

By Bob Horning | Photography by Don Quillan

Tridentine Mass

blessing the children. To be blunt, the children could not have come forward at a worse time: Jesus was in an intense discussion, one of those discussions that pushed people to kill him. Right smack in the middle of it, children came in and wanted him to touch them.

When people said, “This isn’t the time!” Jesus got indignant.

Remember, Jesus didn’t get indignant when we accused him falsely. He didn’t get indignant when people lied about him and handed him over to pagan authorities. He didn’t get indignant when he was tortured to death and his mother had to watch. He got indignant when people told children who wanted to be close to him that “this isn’t the time.”

So, I guess if you look at what I said in the beginning of the article, the same principle applies. If you are not comfortable with your priest blessing the children in the Communion line, then I would encourage you to either not bring them forward or kindly explain to your priest that you’d rather he didn’t bless your children then. Don’t assume Father “doesn’t care what the rules say” – you can generally assume that every priest you meet is fairly concerned with the life of the church, seeing how he dedicated his life to serving it.

Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

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D. Quillan

The history of ligurgical books T. Gennara

part 1

Rita Thiron is director of the Office of Worship for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and a member of the board of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

W

e reverently carry in the Book of Gospels in the opening procession of Mass. The server brings the sacramentary to the priest so that he might recite the opening prayer. The reader approaches the ambo and reads from the lectionary.

But what is the history of these sacred books and why are they so important to how we worship?

Our liturgical texts bear witness to an “unbroken tradition” (GIRM 6) of how the church has worshipped for 2,000 years. The third edition of the Roman Missal, which we will

use in November 2011, is the latest step in this tradition.

In the early church, worship was conducted by improvisation, with

the presider “giving thanks to the best of his ability.” (Justin Martyr, c. 160) Rituals and texts were influenced by Jewish synagogue practices. This was an oral culture and only gradually did presiders start to write things down, often on scrolls made of animal skins, then in a “codex” (similar to a book as we now know it). These small liturgical books, libelli, were often only a few pages long and contained prayers for one or more celebrations. The earliest standardized eucharistic prayers seem to date from the third century.

By the fourth century, as worship became more formalized and with growing concern for orthodoxy, there was a trend toward standardization of the prayers and readings that would be used at various rituals and on various days of the year. Yet, there was still a variety of expressions in multiple liturgical centers, from Rome to Jerusalem,

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(cf. From Age to Age by Edward Foley, The Liturgical Press, 2008)

Partly in reaction to the Reformation, the Council of Trent (1548-1563) called for uniformity in the liturgical books, using Latin, the language of scholarship. Soon after, the church received a breviary (1568), the Missal of Pius V (1570) and the Roman Ritual

Who said that? “ The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others.”

A:

St. John Chrysostom (345407). St. John Chrysostom is the Doctor of Preachers. Known for his eloquence in preaching, this Patriarch of Constantinople was given the Greek surname chrysostomos, which means “golden mouthed.” As perhaps the best preacher in the early church, his sermons continue to be his most lasting legacy.

St. John Chrysostom is also remembered for his denunciation of all abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders. This denunciation, combined with his efforts to reform his clergy, who were often criticized for their high lifestyle in Constantinople, created many enemies for him. He was condemned by at least two emperors and many bishops who resented his popularity among the people. He was exiled several times and eventually died while being forced to travel on foot into a final exile during the fall rainy season to a fortress on the Black Sea. His influence is best felt today in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which cites him in 18 sections.

He is the patron saint of orators.

His feast day is Sept. 13.

(1614). Using the recently-invented printing press (c.1440), the church decreed that all dioceses and religious communities whose liturgical traditions were less than 200 years old would use these books. Though they underwent some changes in the next 400 years, they remained relatively unchanged until the Second Vatican Council (19611965).

In our next installment, we’ll trace the history of our liturgical books since the council. In the meantime, listen carefully to the beautiful texts of our Mass and appreciate that as you pray, you are echoing the prayers of Christians long before us.

Pilgrimage destination of the month Every year, Catholics from around the globe travel to religiously significant locations in order to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the Catholic faith, to venerate Mary and the saints, to ask for intercessory prayers and to express gratitude. Here is just one of the many places you might want to make a pilgrimage.

Moscow, Russia Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia and one of the largest cities in the world. It is famous for its architecture and artwork and it is also the religious center of Russia.

Notables: The Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius is the center of the Russian Orthodox Church and holds such treasures as white stone Trinity Cathedral (1423) and the famous icon The Trinity by Andrei Rublev.

The Novodevichy Convent, founded in 1524, was built as a fortress. It was closed down in 1922 by the Bolsheviks and was made into the Museum of Women’s Emancipation. Josef Stalin then sanctioned the Moscow Theological Courses at the convent in 1943, which later became the Moscow Theological Institute. In 1994, nuns returned and the convent is currently under the authority of the metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna.

theology 101

from Antioch to Egypt.

In the next few centuries, more extensive books appeared, such as the Leonine Sacramentary – a rather disorganized collection of libelli that appeared at the end of the sixth century and was erroneously attributed to Pope Leo I (440-461). The Old Gelasian Sacramentary (seventh-eighth century) had three sections organized according to the liturgical year. Roman in origin, it was later enlarged by Frankish practitioners. The Gregorian Sacramentary (late eighth century) was a book intended for the exclusive use of the pope and eventually developed into three different products. In 785, Pope Hadrian gave one of these to Charlemagne (d. 814), who extended its use throughout his empire. Extensive additions gradually were made for local use.

Other liturgical books, too, were developing in the first nine centuries.

Where once a Bible had simply been marked with marginal notes, it became a more practical matter to organize the readings into epistle books (epistolaries) or gospel books (evangeliaries). As early as the fifth century, lectionaries organized selected passages (pericopes) according to the liturgical year.

Early church ordos (plural – ordines) contained rubrics, or instructions, for how the Mass, sacramental rites and other ceremonies were to be performed. A series of famous Roman Ordines became the norm for papal, episcopal, monastic and parochial practices. All these now provide fascinating glimpses into how early worshippers celebrated initiation, ordinations, Masses, funerals and even coronations.

By the end of the first millennium, the church was using full missals, with everything one would need for Mass – chant texts from the antiphonary, readings from the epistle book and the gospel book, prayers from sacramentaries, and instructions from the ordines.

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Above: Call of the Sons of Zebedee, by Marco Basaiti (1510)

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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If you want to be great

you must be a servant

J

Let’s walk through this passage together verse by verse, because Jesus is saying several things here that are very important for our daily lives.

Here are two close followers of Jesus. They have walked with him for some time. Yet, their request is a selfish one. They want an assurance of position and power when Jesus enters his kingdom.

They are obviously still thinking in a human, self-centered manner, and they are bold to so directly ask for themselves.

Notice next that Jesus doesn’t respond to their request, but asks them another question. I am sure he looked at them intently because he was always trying to help them penetrate the superficial.

But, somehow, they didn’t see. Why do I surmise this? Because Jesus could read their thoughts. He knew what they were going to ask. I am sure he was praying that they could receive the powerful truths he was about to convey. (Whenever you read a Gospel passage where Jesus is asking people questions, put yourself in their place and answer the question as honestly as you can before you go on to Jesus’ answer. It will tell you a great deal about yourself.)

Spiritual exercises:

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If Jesus asked you the question: “What do you wish me to do for you?” What would you say? Would it be a selfish request? Would it be something to meet a personal need or of someone you love? The first things we ought to be asking for are those things that can best help us to grow in a personal relationship with Jesus – overcoming sin and growing in virtue.

So, stop here for a bit and think: If Jesus asked me today what he could do for me, how would I respond?

Now, we look at the disciples’ request – their question shows they really don’t yet understand who Jesus is and what he is asking of his followers. Their thinking is earthbound.

What about yours? Are all your goals for this life only?

How are you preparing for the life you will live forever?

Jesus’ answer to their question – “You do not know what you are asking” – shows how far they yet have to go in the conversion of their minds and hearts. His next question reveals how far they – and we – have to go. Can you drink the cup? In other words, can you fully share in my life and drink to the bottom the suffering and ridicule and mockery and hatred you will encounter? Can you drink the cup by fully laying down your life?

2 3

Notice that, very glibly, they say, “We can.” How quick sometimes we are to promise God or others great deeds!

Jesus tells the disciples, “You will drink my cup.” He knows that with all their frailty and self-centeredness, their hearts do desire to love him and be with him. He knows they will follow him to the end and will sacrifice all eventually. God can work with good desires – as long as we clearly see our weaknesses and rely on him, not self, for the wisdom and strength to carry out what we promise.

Note, too, that the other disciples were indignant: How could James and John make such a request? Probably, one or two wondered that, but I wonder if their indignation didn’t stem from a secret desire to ask the same. James and John had beat them to it.

Think about that!

But, Jesus also makes clear, “I cannot promise what you ask.

All of that is the decision of my Father.”

One more huge lesson remains in this passage: If you want to be my disciple, you need to serve humbly. You need to learn how to put the needs of others before your own. You need to be willing to give whatever service is needed – not just how you want to serve.

Even, and perhaps especially, in positions of authority, we need to see that role as one of service – real service, however it is needed.

We need to become more like our master, who did not come to be served, but to serve.

James and John both learned their lessons very well. Can we?

spiritual fitness

ames and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them. “The cup that I drink, you will drink and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give, but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the 10 heard this, they became indignant at James and John.

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)

T. Gennara

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

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H H H VOTE

2010 H H H

J. Carlson

Six thoughts before voting A message from Bishop Boyea

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

o be a bishop is to be a teacher, offering principles to help Catholics form their consciences as they fulfill their duty as citizens to vote. The following guidelines are intended for educational purposes only.

This is not intended to endorse or oppose any particular candidate or political party. It is my hope these principles will show how human reason and our Catholic faith shape our thinking, choosing and acting in daily life.

THE DUTY TO VOTE • Catholics have the same rights and duties as other citizens, but are called to carry them out not according to worldly standards, but in the light of the truth of faith and human reason. • In a democratic society, citizens vote on proposals and elect candidates for the common good. These choices can significantly affect many lives, especially the lives of the most vulnerable persons in society, such as human embryos, children in the womb and those who are terminally ill. Therefore, Catholic citizens have a serious moral obligation to exercise their right to vote. What is more, we have a duty to vote guided by a well-formed conscience.

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

AREAS OF PRUDENTIAL JUDGMENT • In some moral matters, the use of reason allows for legitimate diversity in our individual prudential judgments.

Within certain parameters, Catholic voters may differ, for example, on what constitutes the best immigration or health care or housing policies. Catholics may even have differing judgments on the decision to wage a just war.

Therefore, because these prudential judgments do not involve the direct choice of something evil and take into consideration various goods, it is possible for Catholic voters to arrive at different, even opposing, views.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES • Notwithstanding a possible diversity of prudential judgments, each of us should guide our decision-making on all issues with a fundamental respect for the dignity of every human being from the moment of conception to natural death. This is a non-negotiable principle. It is the foundation for a just society and of Catholic social teaching. Respect for human dignity is the basis for the fundamental right to life. It is also the basis for all those things needed to live with dignity – for example, work, fair wages, food, shelter, education, health care, security and migration. But these other basic human needs lose all meaning and purpose if the fundamental right to life

from the bishop

FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE • Conscience is the means by which we discern the law “written” by God on our hearts that disposes us to love and to do good and avoid evil (cf. Romans 2:12-16). We have a serious duty to follow our consciences. To act against the judgment of conscience when it is certain about what is good and evil has the same seriousness as disobeying God. However, it is important to remember that it is possible for our conscience to be wrongly formed regarding what is good and evil.

• For this reason, we have an equally serious duty to form or teach our consciences properly so that we can judge what is good and evil accurately. We are obliged to seek the truth and then to abide by it. Catholics receive direction in this life-long process from the teachings of the church on matters pertaining to faith and morals. We rely on the help of the Holy Spirit to apply these teachings to particular issues.

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H H H VOTE

2010 H H H

from the bishop

– the right to exist – is denied. Because of respect for the dignity of the human person, Catholics are obliged to come to the aid and defense of the defenseless, especially the poor. Another guiding principle is the defense and promotion of marriage as the lifelong bond between one man and one woman for the building up of family life.

SOME THINGS ARE ALWAYS EVIL • A correct conscience recognizes that there are some choices that always involve doing evil and that can never be done, even as a means to achieve a good end.

These choices include elective abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, destruction of human embryos, human cloning and same-sex “marriage.” Such acts are judged to be intrinsically evil; that is, evil in and of themselves, regardless of the motives of those who promote these ideas. They constitute an attack against innocent human life, as well as against the very nature of marriage and family.

• Other examples of choices that always involve doing evil would be racial discrimination and the production and use of pornography. These actions offend the fundamental dignity of the human person.

• Concerning choices that are intrinsically evil, no one with a well-formed conscience, especially a Catholic, may promote or even remain indifferent to them.

VOTING FOR CANDIDATES • We would commit moral evil if we were to vote for a candidate who takes a permissive stand on those actions that are intrinsically evil when there is a morally acceptable alternative. What are we to do, though, when there is no such alternative?

• Because we have a moral obligation to vote, deciding not to vote at all is not ordinarily an acceptable solution to this di-

lemma. So, when there is no choice of a candidate that avoids supporting intrinsically evil actions, especially elective abortion or embryonic stem-cell research, we should vote in such a way as to allow the least harm to innocent human life and dignity. We would not be acting immorally, therefore, if we were to vote for a candidate whose positions on these issues are not totally acceptable in order to defeat one who poses an even greater threat to human life and dignity.

VOTING IS A MORAL ACT • Our duty is to vote in keeping with a conscience properly formed by fundamental moral principles. As your bishop, I am not telling you to vote for or against any candidate.

Rather, I wish to assist in the forming of correct consciences and to invite a consideration of the issues in the light of these fundamental moral principles.

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FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

An election year statement from the Roman Catholic bishops of Michigan

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overnment is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men,” wrote John Adams in Thoughts on Government in 1776. Later that year, the Declaration of Independence announced to the world “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The nation’s Founding Fathers created a government where all who reside in these United States are free to pursue the common good – they are free to speak, free to assemble peacefully and free to worship God and practice their faith.

Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron Archbishop of Detroit Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda Bishop of Gaylord

Most Reverend Paul J. Bradley Bishop of Kalamazoo

Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample Bishop of Marquette

Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley Bishop of Grand Rapids

Most Reverend Earl A. Boyea Bishop of Lansing

Most Reverend Joseph R. Cistone Bishop of Saginaw

election year statement

With these freedoms comes responsibility. Catholics are called to evaluate all matters, including politics, through the lens of faith, to participate in the public square, to engage the political process, and to allow Gospel values to transform our society into a more just and better world for all. In other words, Catholics are called to be “Faithful Citizens.”

Practicing Faithful Citizenship flows from a well-formed conscience. What do we mean when we refer to “conscience?” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1777, “Moral conscience, present at the heart of the person, enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil. It also judges particular choices, approving those that are good and denouncing those that are evil. It bears witness to the authority of truth in reference to the supreme Good to which the human person is drawn, and it welcomes the commandments. When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking.”

When we act in harmony with our conscience, shunning evil for that which is good, we are bringing Gospel values to the public square. Our pluralistic nation has a rich history of welcoming various ideas and proposals from all sectors of society, including, and especially, religious groups. In this tradition, the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, brought to the public square by faith-filled Catholics, help to embolden our communities and to advance the common good.

Those primarily responsible for implementing the common good are the public officials we elect at the ballot box every two and four years. Public officials hold tremendous influence over public policies that affect us not only as citizens of this great state, but, more importantly, as Catholics and people of faith. Issues of religious freedom, the right to life, protection of marriage and the family, the education of children and how the poor, the vulnerable and immigrants are served confront elected officials at the State Capitol each day. These are the issues that we, too, as Catholics, must seriously evaluate when

deciding for whom to vote this November.

We recognize that Catholics seek guidance from their church on matters of conscience. As teachers of the faith, we do not endorse candidates or political parties. However, as bishops of the church, we have a duty to help the Catholic faithful form their consciences based on Gospel values and the teachings of Jesus Christ. As Catholics, we must evaluate candidates’ positions based on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in order to determine who best will guide our communities.

Yet not all issues carry equal moral weight. Catholics may disagree on practical policies that call for prudential judgment, such as how best to care for the poor, how to welcome the immigrant, or how to eradicate racism. There are other policies, however, that are intrinsically evil and can never be supported.

The right to life is a commandment of God, an inherent and a fundamental moral principle. It is indeed the first of the unalienable God-given rights recognized by our Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence. It is the primary right through which all other rights flow. The willful destruction of human life through abortion, human embryo experimentation, and assisted suicide represent intrinsically evil policies. A Catholic with a well-formed conscience would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil if they were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stance on these policies. On the difficult occasion where both candidates support an intrinsic evil, the conscientious voter may consider each candidates’ integrity and commitments, and determine which would be less likely to advance such a morally flawed position and more likely to promote other authentic human goods.

By forming our consciences based on Gospel values and the teachings of Jesus Christ, we can bring to the public square our commitment to the common good. Elected officials in Lansing expect nothing less from us. As Catholics, we are urged to vote, to take part in conversations about political matters, to join political parties and to use the Internet to learn more about candidates and their positions.

Most importantly, all of us, as faithful citizens, are called to cast our vote through the lens of faith.

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance as we prepare to elect our political leaders this year.

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I guarantee you, when you spend time with Vicki Wells Bedard, you are going to end up in tears. When you read this story, you may think that’s because of the tragedies that have beset her, but really – it’s because she will make you laugh until you cry. Vicki has a sense of humor that refuses to die – although her body and brain are not following suit.

Last year, Vicki was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, generally referred to as FTD. It will eventually rob Vicki of her ability to process, to speak, to communicate. There is no treatment, and it is terminal. For someone who spent her life as a communicator for the Catholic Church, it is one of the cruelest illnesses imaginable.

Vicki began working for the church when she was only 11. The sacristan at her parish in Grayling was entering a religious order, and Vicki had hung around the church so often, helping out, that they offered her the job. She did all the things a sacristan usually does – washing linens, cleaning altar vessels and setting things in place for Mass. She also counted the Sunday collection in the rectory on Sunday afternoons.

By the time she was 12, Vicki had her first paying job – as housekeeper in the rectory and convent. “I made lunch at the convent and dinner at the rectory – got paid 50 cents from the nuns and a dollar from Father. The pastor also loved stuffed cheeseburgers – this was the beginning of my culinary and accounting career in the church.”

In ninth grade, she was a catechist. During high school, she was also Miss Grayling, Miss Congeniality Cherry Festival, Miss Michigan Winter Sports and – her favorite –

runner-up for Miss Brown Trout. “As the person who would serve if Miss Brown Trout was unable to do so, I was assigned the very prestigious role of walking through the Brown Trout festival clutching a fish fin. I think the reason I actually won Miss Grayling was because I fell into the judging stand during the promenade.”

During her childhood, Vicki says, “There were always priests and sisters around, since my mom was the parish secretary. I spent so much time with them, I thought about becoming a contemplative nun. But, after one retreat with a contemplative order, I couldn’t take the silence. There is no way I could keep my mouth shut for that long!”

She got married instead, and had four children. One of the first, and most painful tragedies of her life, is when her disabled son died just before his 6th birthday.

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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cover story

Another trauma was her divorce – alone with three children, she moved back to Grayling and took over her mother’s many parish roles, nursing her mother through brain and lung cancer. She juggled many jobs, and recalls a favorite memory from her stint as school crossing guard: nearly being run over by the mayor – often.

The closest she came to convent life was when she took a job at St. Anne in Alpena, as the business manager. It was supposed to last two weeks, but stretched into three years. Since it was so far from home, and her children were teens by then, she spent four days per week working and sleeping in the empty convent.

When the empty building began getting on her nerves, she went back to Gaylord, working as the chancellor’s administrative assistant. Eventually, her role expanded to communications director, including technology – and working on the diocesan paper.

In the early ’80s, Bishop Rose volunteered Vicki for computer training. “I didn’t know anything about technology – and then two years later, I was the diocesan technology advisor,” she said.

Most of the software she dealt with was related to accounting and keeping track of diocesan and parish membership. Vicki remembers a moment that was a turning point in her understanding of how technology could affect the lives of everyday parishioners: “Parishes had always ‘trimmed the deadwood’ from the membership lists. For a lot of ‘good’ reasons, including the tax from the diocese,” she laughs. Using the software, I sent letters to inactive (non-contributing) parishioners to let them know that the parish was assuming they were no longer in their parish. Late one night, I got a call from a woman who had been ‘trimmed’ because she hadn’t given to her parish in a long time. She was in a nursing home, and hadn’t been able to receive the sacraments for years. She was ‘lost between the cracks…’ She and her husband had helped build the parish school. Her father had helped build the church; her grandfather had given the land on which it was built. Weeping, she asked me, ‘If I give $5, can I be buried from there?’ After I finished crying, I decided we needed to develop two

During high school, Vicki lists – one for communicating was Miss Grayling, Miss Conwith our parishioners and one geniality Cherry Festival, Miss for the church tax. I made sure Michigan Winter Sports, and that woman – and all on the list – her favorite – runner-up for – were contacted in person.”

Miss Brown Trout.

Her technology skills, combined with her understanding of church, soon had the phone ringing. And she created the first of 32 “user groups.”

“Church secretaries were beginning to deal not only with computers, but the same challenging questions of how information could be used efAccording to Vicki, FTD is “the heart attack of the mind.” The people who have it are often fectively, not only calling the those who are creative multi-taskers, in the prime of their lives. They just don’t slow down – until Diocese of Gaylord, but getthe disease does it for them. Vicki says “I got to the point where I worked 24 hours straight and ting in touch with me weekthen needed two days to recover. And still couldn’t finish the task.” FTD affects the ability to ends and evenings. Soon, the process – Vicki had trouble packing for trips, negotiating airports and navigating for years before major portion of my job was she was diagnosed. And it typically takes years for a diagnosis – if FTD is not mistakenly pegged in supporting them.” Taking a as Alzheimer’s, ALS or Parkinson’s. FTD affects the executive functions – patients can become leap of faith, she resigned as apathetic and aggressive, and lose the ability to distinguish right from wrong. communications director, to Vicki suffered from sweating, shaking, dystonia (involuntary muscle movements) and multiple start her own parish consulturinary tract infections (common to FTD) before being accurately diagnosed. Her IQ has slipped ing service, NetWorks. Within 50 points and she’s lost 86 percent of her executive functioning. Her creative right brain is maka few months, she had 14 dioing up some of the slack. But the decline is inevitable, and so is her death as her brain shuts down ceses as clients. But income her body’s controls. was hard to stabilize, and she She is hopeful that by sharing her story, more people will have an awareness of FTD. Then was caring for her father and scientists can work toward a cure.

What is frontotemporal dementia?

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

“Once, I was driving with someone when I saw a pedestrian about to step off the curb. I couldn’t remember the word for ‘stop,’ so I yelled, ‘Halt! A pedestrian cometh!’” teenage son. “Like the size 2 Ford Fiesta I’d squeeze my size 22 body into for training trips,” she knew she had outgrown NetWorks and needed a better answer for carrying out her ministry.

“One day, doing training for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, I got a call from Parish Data System, Inc., asking me to go to Phoenix to be in charge of training there. I was in Phoenix for five years – supporting 50-100 parish staff members per day, training thousands over time, including clergy and bishops. I began to feel as if I was in a confessional with all the chat,” she said Diocesan Publications, out of Grand Rapids, then offered her a job, and from that offer she created Church Management Resources, a full consulting service for dioceses and parishes. She stayed with them for six years. She helped develop the popular CatholicWeb.com – providing free parish and diocesan websites.

From there, she became a vice president for ParishSOFT of Ann Arbor, helping change the face of church software. But travel was demanding. Again, she prayed.

She was offered a track back “inside” the church, and accepted the role of director of community relations / communications for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Fla.. Her first task began the day the courts removed the feeding tube from Terri Schindler Schiavo, and she was swamped with 20 hour days, every day of the week. It was in St. Petersburg that some of the symptoms of

her disease began to surface. “I could only get to the office one way – if I was coming from the other direction, I had to go around so that I was heading in from the same way. Once, I got lost for four hours during a 15-minute trip home. And I began to have some language difficulties – forgetting simple words. Once, I was driving Vicki accepts the with someone when I saw a President’s Medallion from pedestrian about to step off Frank Morock, president the curb. I couldn’t remember of the Catholic Academy the word for ‘stop,’ so I yelled, of Communication Arts Professionals.

‘Halt! A pedestrian cometh!’”

That creativity of expression masked Vicki’s disease for a long time. Her doctors have told her that, as her left brain started failing, her right brain took over in ways that often don’t happen for other patients. But still, her frontal and temporal lobes were shrinking and dying.

Vicki says that meeting FAITH’s founding editor, Father Charlie Irvin, and president, Patrick O’Brien, changed her life. “I could see in their vision my own communications dream for the church coming true.” She began helping FAITH wherever she could – convincing the dioceses of Laredo and Las Vegas that they needed this magazine.

And she kept telling Father Charlie and Patrick how much she wanted to work for FAITH. Finally, a job opened at FAITH for a director of sales and marketing – and Vicki’s dream came true.

Ironically, as she took the job at FAITH her disease kicked into higher gear. At the time, Vicki was vice-president of the Catholic Academy of Communication Arts Professionals. At the annual convention, she was asked to give the invocation. “I stood up in front of all these people I respected, including my new boss,

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and I had no idea what I was saying. It was like an out-of-body experience. I was watching myself stumble around up there and thinking, ‘Just shut up, Vic.’” But, as always, she was so funny and charming that most people chalked it up to “Just Vicki being Vicki.”

Finally, one of her colleagues called out, “Just say Amen, Vick!” And with a laugh, she did. But she was shaken. She knew something was going drastically wrong.

It began to show up at work. “Unlike Alzheimer’s, with frontotemporal dementia, you don’t forget family or friends. But you forget how to speak. And you forget how to process.” Some of her symptoms were seen as quirks or exaggerations – and some were misattributed to a closed-head injury from an earlier car accident.

Simple tasks and mathematical processes – vital for someone in sales – became overwhelming. Stimulus became increasingly difficult to handle. Vicki can no longer cope with the sound and crowds at Mass. She cannot go to the grocery store. She has trouble remembering how to change the bag in her kitchen trash can.

Her body continues to weaken.

Where does Vicki see God in all this? “Someone told my daughter, ‘Your mother has the worst luck of anyone.’ And she replied, ‘No, because she has the ability to rise above it and trust God will be there – and, of course, then hit her again.’”

But seriously, Vicki says that God tried to slow her down in the past, but she didn’t listen. “I dreamed of work. Until I couldn’t work anymore. At one point in my career, I made $100,000 per year – now I am on food stamps. I used to push myself too hard.

Now, I sometimes can’t get out of bed.” One difficult transition was the step from earning a salary and being independent, to receiving disability payments and having to rely on family, friends and parishioners. And God. It’s her faith that keeps her going now: “I don’t know how I’d get through all this without faith. God prepares me for what I’m to do next, and I learn by doing. One thing I really wanted was to meet someone else who was dealing with this. I posted requests online, and started a blog. But although I heard from caretakers, I never found anyone who was a patient. Then, thanks to Jim Coyle at Franciscan University, I was able to find a website and actually ‘met’ some other patients. It’s been a blessing and a Godsend.

Members of the homebound and “Helping Hands” ministry team at Vicki’s parish, St. Jude in DeWitt, visit, bring food, or the Eucharist and often just listen. The parish nurse has connected

her to their food pantry, to yard and house maintenance volunteers. Vicki says, “If you need help, put on your best ‘Christ’s mind’ and humble yourself to ask. That is still the hardest thing for me.

But Father Charlie said to me one day, ‘How dare you deny people the opportunity to become Christ to you?!’ How dare I, indeed?

My love and gratitude to Faith Catholic, St. Jude Catholic Community, Father Charlie Irvin, Deacon David Rosenberg and all the handsome and smarter-than-average people of DeWitt, who have showered me with care.”

In 2010, Vicki won the prestigious President’s Medallion from the Catholic Academy of Communication Arts Professionals. She is the only lay woman ever to have won. In her acknowledgment, she asked that we work to extend her voice, to let others know about this devastating disease. As Vicki faces a time when she may no longer have a voice, we hope we can fulfill her request.

To hear more about Vicki’s story in her own voice, visit www.FAITHmag.com

Ministry focus: Homebound Ministry People have fascinating stories, if you have the time to listen. Vicki has had an amazing life, and spending time with her is guaranteed to make you laugh and put your own problems in perspective. These days, many of the people who get to hear her stories are members of her parish, St. Jude in DeWitt. If you would like to visit the homebound in your area – and gain as much as you give from the experience – contact your parish’s homebound ministry coordinator or your pastor.

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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spent about three hours cleaning.

Charles: And then the next morning, we were there from 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. doing all the breakfast prep, serving and washing the dishes again. We left everything spotless.

Jay: We brought an alignment of values to the table. We brought people who need an organization that cares for them.

What is your advice for other individuals or groups: D. Quillan

Pfizer and Cristo Rey

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harles Blanchard is a therapeutic specialty representative for Pfizer and is an active member of St. John Student Parish in East Lansing. Jay Dooley is also employed by Pfizer and is a parishioner at St. James Church in Novi. After reading FAITH’s profile of the Cristo Rey Community Center in the 2010 DSA issue, they decided to see how Pfizer and Cristo Rey could work together.

Can you describe Pfizer’s partnership with the Cristo Rey Clinic?

intact with our group and the group that we served.

Charles: We worked at Cristo Rey Community Center, which is a place that provides outreach and services to the disenfranchised people of the community.

Pfizer’s values are respect for people and reinvestment, so this was an opportunity to serve the most needy of the community and respect those values. We cleaned their kitchens on Aug. 18 and, the next morning, we woke up early to make breakfast. A crew of us from Pfizer put on scrubs and cleaned all the dishes that are used to serve food for the people who rely on these services.

How did you hear about Cristo Rey’s prescription program?

Jay: We served more than 70 people and we did everything. We acted like a restaurant; we cooked all the food and washed all the dishes, and left a spotless kitchen and a lot of smiles on a lot of folks’ faces.

One of the things that was critical for us is that we wanted everyone to feel as important as possible. We used their first names and we used our first names. We took that circle of inclusion and kept it

Charles: I learned through an article that was in the DSA 2010 issue of FAITH magazine. When we were wondering where to do a volunteer program, this place immediately came to mind. Pfizer also provides sample medications to be distributed to the clients at Cristo Rey who are unable to afford their prescription medications.

What materials and/or services did Pfizer provide?

Jay: Mops and brooms and sweepers were all there, so we lent elbow grease and strong hands. We were able to scrub their kitchen and get the grime and grease off of their dishes and out of their stoves.

We washed every single dish and cleaned and reorganized the pantry. If we owned a restaurant, that restaurant would be spotless. About 25 people volunteered and

Charles: What I recommend to other organizations is to get out there and do it. It will definitely be worthwhile.

Jay: We already discussed it, one of the things we might bring to fruition. We would like to lend a hand to a skilled nursing facility with, again, the goal being to put a smile on the faces of those individuals. We will certainly follow up to do these types of community outreach services.

Any other pieces of information?

Jay: I want Charles to say it. You know the time I’m thinking of Charles? Where there was this beautiful ray of sunshine that came through the door in the late gold of the afternoon.

Charles: When all was done, that ray of sunshine was really a re-confirmation of our hope. We are participants to affecting positive change.

Jay: You know, I was thinking of Matthew, Chapter 5 – the ray of sunshine that rose upon the hill. When we were sitting there and we were done and we were saying that we really did something good today, that ray of sunshine that went through the kitchen – it was almost like God’s way of saying that we did something good there today. I encourage and hope that people who participated in this program will follow up, maybe say ‘Hi’ and continue to help out.

FAITH makes a difference

partners in FAITH

Jay: We felt a very strong bond with the group of people we did this service with. It was a really important bond to find after a transitional period for the people at Pfizer. I think everybody felt very enriched, emotionally and spiritually. We really formed a lasting and special bond with each other.

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Caring for Susan

How Joe gets help from Catholic Social Services

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oe first noticed it when his wife began having trouble ordering from the menu at a restaurant. Then, one day, her boss called and said, “Joe, I’m afraid there’s something wrong with Susan. She isn’t able to do her work anymore.”

CAT scans, X-rays, and other tests at the University of Michigan Neurology Department showed that Susan had frontotemporal dementia – a rapidly developing brain disorder that eventually interferes with the ability to do routine activities.

Susan was 51 at the time, in 2000. Her life expectancy: nine to 13 years.

Joe Luben and Susan have known each other since eighth grade, were high school sweethearts, married as seniors in college in 1973 and have two daughters. Both worked for the

Dept. of Veterans Affairs – Joe as chief of canteen services, and Susan as a purchasing agent.

The Lubens moved 18 times during their government careers. Joe remembers

that not once during those moves was there a whimper from Susan. “She is special. That had a good effect on the kids. I am lucky to have had her all these years.”

After diagnosis, Susan’s condition became progressively worse. It is now in stage three, the final stage of dementia. Examples of her symptoms are the inability to speak in clear sentences, frequent mood changes and not understanding logic and simple commands.

In 2006, Joe retired in order to care for her.“I feed her, brush her teeth, shower her, help her in the bathroom, everything,” Joe says. In May of this year, Susan became incontinent, an occasion that often makes home care-givers seriously consider the skilled nursing facility option. “I hope I don’t need to

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County – The Oaks The Oaks is an adult day center in Ann Arbor, administered by Washtenaw County Catholic Social Services. Half of the program’s 15 to 20 members have dementia, the others have physical disabilities or mental retardation. The goal is to maintain or improve skills, social interaction and quality of life through activities like games, music, cooking, and exercise. It also serves as an alternative to institutional care, so that members can be cared for at home.

Since the program runs all day Monday through Friday, and members can come and go at any time, it provides a break for care-givers or allows them to hold a job. All faiths and cultures are welcome.

The four paid staffers have a background in social work, psychology or human services. Greg Perkins, the site manager, says, “Our world revolves around the members. Our aim to have a therapeutic environment and for them to feel comfortable here at the same time.”

To learn more or to volunteer, visit www.csswashtenaw.org or call 734.662.4001.

my backpack. I don’t ask why this is happening to me, or to her. That’s going down the wrong road.”

He is sometimes asked why he doesn’t just put his wife in a nursing home. His answer is that doing what he is doing makes him feel good. “I know that not everyone is a care-giver, but I don’t mind what I’m doing. People grow apart, instead of together, because they don’t have love and grace. That would make it hard to care for your spouse. I’m blessed to have someone like Susan. She is part of me. She is mine and I’m going to do the best I can, and that makes me happy. The

Holy Spirit comes to me and takes care of me. That’s my reward. And, as my daughter says, ‘Dad, what would you do if Mom were in a nursing home?’”

Joe looks upon Susan’s disease as having the special benefit of bringing his spiritual life to the fore for the first time in his life. “I have learned to put God first, to read the Word, and ask for guidance,” he says. “The first thing I do in the morning is listen to a pastor on TV to help with my perspective.”

He also cites the weekly Bible study at his church for giving him strength, direction, answers, social connections, and a source of prayer. “When we studied Job, I could identify. It was clear that he went through a lot more than I have, yet stayed faithful to God, and received a reward in the end.

We continue to pray for a miracle for Susan. I can’t give up.”

Joe says that sometimes he gets lonely.

“Because of caring for Susan, I don’t have time for a lot of friends. The journey can be solitary. That’s when I pick up the Bible. The Spirit helps me. The nine years of Susan’s disease has gone fast.

“I was the chief canteen officer for many years. Now God has made me the chief care-giver. That’s fine. I don’t get much satisfaction out of serving myself, but I do when serving others.

It’s a good fit for me, and Susan needs me more now than she ever has.”

By Bob Horning | Photography by Tom Gennara

Catholic Charities

do that,” Joe says.

Though she is no longer aware of her surroundings, and can’t communicate, Susan still has feelings. “I can look in her eyes and see when she is depressed or having a bad day,” Joe says. “I give her a big hug.

“When I retired, I was going to be ‘macho man.’ I figured I would take care of her myself, that it was my job. I did for two years. About then, her doctor asked if I was ever getting a break. She said that the more time I had for myself, the better care-giver I would be. I was ready for that advice,” Joe said.

Joe now has someone from church come in on Monday night, a volunteer from the Area Agency on Aging for two hours on Tuesday, and Wednesday through Friday, he takes her to the Oaks in Ann Arbor (see sidebar) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

He says that the Oaks, run by Catholic Social Services, is one of the best things that happened to him. Not only is it much less expensive than the previous day care Susan was in, but “the workers there are beautiful people, and they are willing to deal with her occasional disruptive behavior.”

Is it tough caring for his wife? Usually not, he says, though there have been some days when he has to drink another cup of coffee to get psyched up for it. And now that she is incontinent, Susan may have three accidents before he is prepared.

“I know that God doesn’t give more than I can carry,” he says, “even if it feels like he is still putting things into

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Sister Monica Kostielney is retiring from the Michigan Catholic Conference after 27 years

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FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

ister Monica Kostielney, RSM, is retiring from her post as president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC). For more than 27 years, Sister Monica has led the Catholic Church’s public policy organization, influencing legislation on such issues as economic justice, life, physician-assisted suicide, welfare reform and education.

She also has been active in coalitions on matters pertaining to energy, finance and gender bias. In more than 35 years with the MCC, Sister Monica has become a legend in Michigan politics, earning the respect, admiration and fear of legislators and executives at the highest levels of state government.

FAITH talked with Sister Monica recently about insights she has gained in her personal journey with the MCC. She began her interview quoting a line from “The Last Station,” a movie about Russian novelist Dostoevsky’s end-of-life journey to the spot where the train tracks end. As she comes to the end of her career, Sister Monica shares her thoughts with FAITH readers.

On the Catholic Conference’s duty

The Well Spring

My years and experiences have helped me understand we are all alike. Underneath we all have the same hopes and desires.

Everyone has a basic goodness and wants the freedom to be his or her true self and choose the good. If we love others and they truly know they are loved, that forms the best foundation for any relationship.

When I retire, I will miss the people most, of course, and the joy of working with them at the heart of important issues. Working in the public square is very different from reading about it!

These days, though, I identify with former Justice Patricia Boyle when she retired from the Michigan Supreme Court.

She said, “I want to reclaim serenity from the uncomplicated joys of life.” I look forward to returning to an academic setting to study theology, making a long retreat and travelling for enjoyment.

On receiving a papal medal

P. Dally

Religion should express joy and hope, which become the wellspring for action. The Conference strives to ensure the dignity of each person by being faithful to our mission in the spirit of the Beatitudes. We work diligently with accuracy and justice to achieve this.

Foundation for relationship in love

Sister Monica Kostielney receives the papal medallion, the

On September 8, Archbishop Vigneron presented Sr. Monica with the Papal Award, The Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award – the Vatican equivalent of the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor. She earned this award for her lifetime of service to the church, especially her last 38 years leading the

Pro Ecclesia Pontifice Cross, on Sept. 8, from Archbishop of The Michigan Catholic ConDetroit, the Most Rev. Allen Vigneron. ference’s founding purpose is to work toward a more congenial society. UnfortuMichigan Catholic Conference. nately our society is struggling against growing polarity in politics, The medal features the images of Saints Peter and Paul on income disparity, access to technology, and in vital issues from eduone side and the Holy See’s Coat of Arms on the other. These cational parity to biomedical developments. Because our positions images are significant to Sr. Monica, who met Pope John Paul II are absolute, the Catholic Conference cannot compromise on many at the Vatican on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul. “When issues, but we can, and do, dialogue respectfully with all parties. the Holy Father asked what I did for the church, Cardinal Maida answered him in Polish!” she laughs. “I’m still not sure what he In the Image and Likeness of God told him!”

“Gratitude is a memory of the heart,” Sr. Monica said simply, I have had the privilege of working with many people “and this award captures a lot of memories! I am so grateful to throughout my years with the Catholic Conference. share this honor with the staff and leadership of the church in When you meet people of differing persuasions you realize Michigan.” the truth that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Republican or Democrat, governor or custodian – it Paul Long has been named the new director of the makes no difference. We get to know God through people, MCC. Read a profile of Paul in the December issue of FAITH.

By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Jim Luning

what do I know?

All I know, I know because I have loved,” Dostoevsky wrote in his last days. That quote was on the screen during The Last Station. His words remain with me because the Michigan Catholic Conference’s work has far reaching implications on people’s lives.

We have a direct impact on individuals, so it is essential that we see every issue and event in the light of justice and love. We must focus on the individual person and how policies impact him or her.

and people get to know God through us.

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things to do: Lansing Area Transplant Support Group – What we discuss is treated confidentially. We invite anyone interested in learning about organ donation and transplantation to join us. Meetings are at Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River, East Lansing in the Centennial Room the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Next meeting is Nov. 11. For more information, contact Joan C. Smith at 517. 351.2175 or joansmith@mindspring.com.

community

Nov. 6-7, St. Mary, Williamston will have its annual Craft Show, Luncheon and Swiss Steak Dinner.

Lunch Saturday from noon-2 p.m.; all profits from the luncheon will be donated to the church. Swiss steak dinner is Sunday from noon-3 p.m.

Nov. 7, the Diocese of Lansing’s Youth Jamboree will be at the Lansing Center.

Join high school youth from around the diocese for this daylong celebration of fun and faith. For information, contact your parish’s coordinator of youth ministry.

Volunteer opportunities at Mother Teresa House – Mother Teresa House is looking for experienced caregivers to help care for the terminally ill.

For more information, call

517.484.5494 weekdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor has Little Saints Preschool with part- and full-time, whole and half-days available – ages 3-5. For information, contact Kate Bockbrader at 734.769.0911 Nov. 5, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School presents the fourth annual Faith and Fundamentals Fundraiser at the Country Club of Lansing. Golf Ball Drop for a chance to win $5,000.

Raffle silent auction and live auction. For more information, please visit https://stas. ejoinme.org/Auction2010 or call Melissa Long at 517.927.2443.

There is a need for volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels in Delta Township. Can you volunteer once or twice a month?

If so, please call the TriCounty Council on Aging at 866.541-5444 or visit its website, www.TCOA.org.

St. Mary Catholic School, Pinckney Nov. events are: Nov. 3, PTC Meeting, 7 p.m., Multi-Use Room; Nov.18-19, Parent-teacher conferences, St. Mary School; and Nov. 24-26, no school, Thanksgiving Holiday.

Nov. 6, 6 p.m., St Louis Center, Chelsea will have its Fall

Retreat Centers St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, 866.669-8321 or www.stfrancis.ws.

Nov. 19-21, Contemplative Retreat for women.

Nov. 29-Dec. 1, Sustaining Pastoral Excellence – Sabbath Time Retreat. A retreat for those who minister. Nov. 5-7, Alcoholics Anonymous/Alanon Women. Call Ann Johnson, 231.832.2472.

Weber Retreat Center, Adrian, 517.266.4000 Nov. 5-6, The Gift and Wonder of Years. Nov. 7, 3 p.m., Holy Rosary Chapel, Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light.

Bethany House, DeWitt will host a Confirmation Retreat Nov. 5-7. The retreat begins at 7 p.m. Friday and ends with lunch on

Christmas bazaars Nov. 6-7, Holiday Happenings Craft Show will be held at St. John the Evangelist Family Center, 505 N. Dayton St., Davison; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sun., 9a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Sandy Versteeg at 810.240.7451.

Nov. 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Mary, Flint is having its Christmas Fair in the old school, which is now called St. Mary Center. Santa will be there around 1:30 p.m.

Refreshments and many items to purchase.

Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph, Ypsilanti’s Holiday Fest, 9425 Whittaker Rd. in the Holy Family Center – craft show, raffle and luncheon.

Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Gerard, 4437 W. Willow Hwy., Lansing is hosting its annual Craft Show. For information, contact the parish at 517.323.2379.

Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Robert, Flushing’s Catholic Council of Women will have its Christmas Craft Bazaar. More than 100 exhibitors; quality crafters invited.

For information, call 810.659.2501, 810.659.1722 or 810.639.3625.

Dec. 4 -5, St. Paul, Owosso’s 23rd annual Christmas Cookie Bake Sale in Father Kolenski Hall, 111 N. Howell St.; Dec. 4, noon-6 p.m. and after all Masses on Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. There will be many varieties of homemade cookies, bars and candies. Proceeds support the St. Paul Altar Society.

Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Mary, Pinckney will have a Christmas bazaar sponsored by the Rosary Altar Society. Free admission, more than 100 handmade crafts and vendors and lunch and refreshments available for purchase. For information, call Mary at 734.878.6563.

Auction and Dinner at the Chelsea Community Hospital. If you have questions, would like to donate auction

Sunday. To book this date, please call Sheila at 517.669.8321 ext 11.

Dominican Center Marywood, Grand Rapids, 616.643.0371 or register online at www.dominicancenter.com/default. aspx?menuitemid=74.

Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., The Holiness of Home: a Day Retreat for Women; Nov. 4, 11 18 and 23- Dec. 2, 9 and 16, Series II, Continuing Yoga, 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m. and Beginning Yoga, 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

Bread of Life Retreat Residence, 4901 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, 630.417.1984 or omvuxa.org Nov. 9-Dec. 8, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, directing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius – for Men, 30-day and eight-day retreats; presenter Father Dennis Brown, OMV.

items or help, please e-mail mail@stlouiscenter.org or call 734.475.8430.

Starting Nov. 7, 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., the Knights of Columbus, Council #1139, 1259 E. M-21 St. Owosso will have a roasted chicken dinner the first Sunday of every month until May. Cost: $9 for adults, $5 children 5-12 and $1 for ages 5 and under.

Nov. 11, Marriage Matters of Jackson will have a Date-Your-Mate-Event.

It will tackle the major stressors in marriage. Make plans to join us. Contact Marriage Matters of Jackson at 517.796.5116 or jmarken@uwjackson.org for information or to register.

Nov. 12-13, Holy Redeemer, Burton will have a Fall

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FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

Scrapbooking Crop. For information or to register, call Beth Clark at 810.250.6012 or e-mail theclarkconnection@yahoo.com.

Nov. 20. For more information, contact Amber Zelley, Holy Family coordinator of High School Ministry, 810.694.9072 ext. 153.

Lansing Catholic Singles, in your mid 30s-50s, join us for our November events: Nov. 7, attend 8:30 a.m.

Mass at St. Jude, DeWitt followed by fellowship at Bob Evans; Nov. 21, spend the day in Frankenmuth, including lunch at the Black Forest Brew Haus and Grill; RSVP by Nov. 5 to lansingcatholicsingles@live.com or 517.321-7886. New members are always welcome.

Christians Concerned about Mental illness meetings are at the diocesan center, 228 N. Walnut St., Lansing from noon-1 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month, Sept.-May. Reservations are not required.

St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, Inc., 3115 Lawndale Ave. in Flint, needs volunteers. The Women’s Center needs volunteers in these areas: seamstress, babysitter, tutor for adults/children, basic computer teacher, crafts, food pantry and more.

Please call 820.239.8710 for information.

Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Queen of Angels Circle is holding its annual Fall Craft Show at St. Gerard, 4437 W. Willow Hwy., Lansing in Father Weber Hall.

Nov. 20, 9 p.m., Project 2o3 will have a lock-in at Holy Family until 6 a.m.,

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Peerled Support Group meets

monthly on the first and third Thursday, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Holy Family Nazareth House in Grand Blanc. For information, contact Angela at 810.347.4706.

St. Paul, Owosso has a divorce support group that meets 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. For information, call 989.725.7980.

Knitting into the Mystery meets every other Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon. at St. John Family Center, 505 N. Dayton St., Davison. No cost.

Beginners welcome. For information, contact Elaine Ouellette 810.658.4776 ext. 272 or eouellette@ stjohndavison.org.

March 18-20, 2011 – REFLECT Catholic Singles Retreat. Singles ages mid30 to mid-50 are invited to register for a life-changing weekend at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt.

For rates and details, call 989.450.0993 or visit www. reflectretreat.com or e-mail us at reflect.retreat@gmail.com.

Catholic Charities St. Vincent Catholic Charities Adoption information meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at 2800 W. Willow, Lansing.

General information will be available on all types of adoption. Please RSVP to 517.323.4734 ext. 1619.

Catholic Charities of Washtenaw County Behavioral Health Counseling Services has licensed social workers and psychologists offer families, couples and individuals in-depth assessment and short-term, solution focused therapy designed for the specific needs of each client. For information, please call 734.926.0155 or go online at the Behavioral Health Counseling Services website.

Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties Please join us Nov. 1 for a one-hour tour and presentation to learn more about Catholic Charities of Jackson. Tours are held on the first Monday of each month at noon at our office, 407 Mechanic St. Lunch is provided. Please RSVP Lisa Gross at 517.262.0466 or lisamgross@ comcast.net.

Catholic Charities of Genesee and Shiawassee Counties Do you have room for one more? Catholic Charities is looking for foster and adoptive families. Attend an Adoption Information Meeting and find out how you can change the life of a child.

Meetings are held in Flint on the second Tuesday of the month, from 6 p.m.-7:30 pm.

For more information, call Sarah Rankin at 810.232.9950, ext 348.

November café events Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Praying with Body, Mind and Spirit: Embracing Change will be presented at Christ Church Spirituality Center, 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd, Grosse Pointe Farms. Cost is $45. To register, call 313.885.4841 ext. 113.

For more information, contact Janene Ternes of Prayer in Motion, LLC, 734.429.7754 or visit her website, www. prayer-in-motion.com.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor has American Sign Language interpreted Masses the first, second and third Sundays of each month at 9 a.m.

St. Mary Queen of Angels, Swartz Creek’s Bible Study Group meets Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. in the Library. For information, call the parish office 810.635.3240.

The ARK, 103 Main St. in Westphalia, has praise and worship every Sunday evening starting at 6 p.m., followed by Bible Study, except when there are youth Masses.

For information, call 989.587.4212 or visit its website www.arkyouth.net/.

St. Mary, Pinckney’s Men’s Bible Study meets Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Luke room. New members are welcome. For information, call the parish office 517.543.4319.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lansing has a Charismatic Prayer Group, Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the church; Bible Study on Tuesdays in the parish activity center at 7 p.m. and on Fridays at 9 a.m. in the parish office.

St. John the Evangelist, Fenton has Bible Study on Friday at 10 a.m. For information, call the parish office 810.629.2251.

St. Joseph, St. Johns has afternoon Bible Study every Thursday in the St. John meeting room from 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. All are invited. For information, please contact Jon Ferguson 989.784.9716.

St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor has a Tuesday morning Scripture Study Group at 10 a.m. in the Choir Room. All parishioners are welcome to join. If interested, contact Ann at 734.761.8851.

Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson has a Brown Bag Bible Brunch Thursdays, noon-1 p.m. at the parish office’s St. Catherine Room.

All young adults are invited for Christ and Coffee every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Starbucks for fellowship, worship and Scripture with other Catholic young adults from around the Lenawee community. For more information, contact Jessica Carson 517.442.2068 or jcarson@sienaheights.edu.

28 Augustine Center celebrates golden anniversary

local news local news

The Sacramentine Sisters at the Augustine Center celebrated the golden anniversary of their move to Conway, Mich. The retreat house started in Petoskey in 1951.

The center is nestled between a nature preserve, woodlands and Crooked Lake. You can walk the outdoor labyrinth and pray at the pillared Stations of the Cross.

At the end of June each year, Tatiana Berestova, formerly from Russia, presents an icon retreat. She is available for 12 hours daily to help the retreatants.

For more information about retreats, contact Karen Derris, director of Guest Services at 231.347.3657 or augustinecetner@gmail.com. – Jan Hoffbauer

Siena Heights University named a “military friendly school” by G.I. Jobs Magazine The 2011 list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students. Schools on the list range from state universities and private colleges to community colleges and trade schools. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting students with military experience.

Seminarians’ Canadian pilgrimage Deaf Christian youth leadership camp The14th annual Deaf/ Blind Workshop and Deaf Christian Youth Leadership camps were at Holley Family Village, on the grounds of Camp De Sales, Brooklyn.

The Deaf/Blind campers learned about being a community and about working with a service support provider and with leader dogs.

Father Mike Depcik signed, “The students learn how to love God and love each other. The deaf teenager doesn’t always understand the Catholic faith. This is a way for them to join with others to understand faith better.”

Teenager Paul Kozak signed, “I like everything here. I like the chapel and the prayer service.” – Jan Hoffbauer

Every couple of years, the seminarians of our diocese have the joy of going on pilgrimage with the bishop to the North American Martyr’s Shrine in Canada. The shrine is dedicated to a group of Jesuit missionaries who labored despite difficulty and danger to bring the faith to this land. Known as the North American Martyr’s, and canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930, they have been a strong source of devotion and inspiration for Catholics of North America for nearly 400 years.

Pine Hills Girls Camp Camp Storer YMCA directors welcomed 128 middle-school girls from Washtenaw County to the Pine Hills group camp recntly.

The theme for the week was “Amazing Grace.”

Director Debbie Herbeck said the girls are led by former campers who show them a deeper relationship with God. They start each morning with a prayer service.

The counselors performed a skit showing God’s love is stronger than the devil’s control.

For more information about the camp, check at www.ymcastorercamps.org. – Jan Hoffbauer

St. John, Fenton’s annual mission trip St. John Youth Group in Fenton went to Owensboro, Ky., July 11-17 for its annual mission trip. Forty-one youths and adults helped frame two houses with the Owensboro Habitat for Humanity Chapter.

Local woman joins Franciscan Cap Corps Chelsea resident Rachel Severin, daughter of Mary Lou and John, has been commissioned as a Cap Corps volunteer.

Cap Corps is a Franciscan Capuchin volunteer ministry, geared to college-age students and graduates who wish to emulate the example of St. Francis of Assisi and serve the poor and disenfranchised.

FAITH Magazine / November 2010 / www.FAITHmag.com

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St. Patrick, Brighton’s youth ministry helping others St. Patrick, Brighton’s Moments Around Teens Reflecting In Christ youth ministry’s service module known as Goode Neighbors sent eight disciple teams to Young Neighbors in Action (YNIA) Detroit and four disciple teams to Brighton Young Neighbors (BYN) Ashley Court. Seventy-five teens and 16 adult disciples served those who were in need, totaling more than 3,000 hours of service.

St. Francis joins St. Robert School The Courtyard Garden at St. Robert School continued to transform this summer. St. Robert has been awarded two grants for art and nutrition directly related to the Courtyard Garden. Walkways and gardens were created and St. Francis joined our courtyard. Young people from around the Midwest participating in Catholic Heartbeat Work Camp at St. John in Davison moved mulch and limestone mix into the courtyard.

Vows professed as Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation Nine young women professed their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tenn. on Aug. 8. Among those who made their first profession was Sister Casey Marie Loyer, O.P., a former parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lansing and St. Anthony Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

St. Agnes Parish Cemetery – Mount Olivet

Protecting God’s Children Diane Dover, pastoral associate and director of religious education at St. Joseph Shrine in the Irish Hills, presented a VIRTUS program for the Lansing Diocese for those who interact with children. Among those in attendance were teachers, coaches, camp employees and other volunteers.

The program is called “Protecting God’s Children.” Participants had a class workbook and group discussion about the truths and myths of child abuse.

For more information or to attend a workshop or become a facilitator, contact Sally Ellis at 517.342.2551.

– Jan Hoffbauer

Twenty-two couples were honored at St. Mary on the Lake for significant anniversaries during 2010.

Father Paul Grehl blessed them with a special prayer about their hands. On their wedding day, from 25 to 60 years ago, they pledged their hands to each other. During the years, their hands have blessed each other by working, washing dishes, caring for each other and their children. – Jan Hoffbauer

Michael’s Wings Foundation Michael’s Wings Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation registered in Michigan. The purpose of the foundation is to give support to pregnant teenage girls in three general areas – financial, educational and faith.

The foundation will initially be linked with Schoolcraft College – located in Detroit. Its goal is to provide scholarships and daycare services for disadvantaged teenage girls to finish their education.

To learn more about the organization or to make a donation, visit ww.michaelswings.org.

Sister Grace Scola retiring Sister Grace entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph on July 1, 1946, as Sister M. Alphonsa. She made her final commitment of vows on Jan. 3, 1952, and celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1996.

In 1986, after teaching for nearly 40 years, Sister Grace began her second career as a pastoral minister at Holy Family, Grand Blanc.

St. John the Evangelist Elementary partners with the “LEAGUE” St. John the Evangelist Elementary School, which is involved with the LEAGUE, a service-learning program, placed third in the nation for elementary schools for the 2009/2010 school year. The LEAGUE is a national community service organization founded in 2004 to encourage volunteerism through a national competition among schools.

For the 2009/2010 school year, St. Johns had three individual classrooms that placed at the top in all of Jackson County.

local news

Burial of the dead always has been recognized by the church as a religious rite and corporal work of mercy. Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 4415 N. Cemetery Rd., Fowlerville, was established in 1901. Located just one mile northeast of St. Agnes Catholic Church, in a serene rural setting, the cemetery’s recent beautification includes two flowering pear trees and a new utility building.

Anniversary Celebration 2010

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What in the world?

The top 10 Catholic news events this month

National Council of Catholic Women convention set for Nov. 10-13 – More than 700 members and friends of the National Council of Catholic Women are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., to mark the organization’s 90th anniversary.

Meet the new director of lay ecclesial ministry for the Diocese of Lansing

local news

Deb Amato is the new director of lay ecclesial ministry for the Diocese of Lansing. If you are interested in lay ministry in the church, please contact Deb at damato@dioceseoflansing.org Parish: I am a member of St. Joseph Parish in Howell, where I taught middleschool religion, coordinated the RCIA team and worked with adult faith formation. I’ve been working in ministry there for about eight years.

Family: I am married and have four children – three sons, aged 16, 18 and 32; and a

St. Louis Center celebrates 50th anniversary Supporters of St. Louis Center in Chelsea experienced a wonderful day of thanksgiving Sept. 19 as three events made up the celebration of “50 Years of Service and Education.”

The day began with a groundbreaking ceremony at St. Louis Center, followed by a Celebration Mass at St. Mary Parish, Chelsea and concluded with dinner at the beautifully deco-

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New U.S. Catholic Missal to debut in 2011 – The third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the United States the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2011.

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church app – The Compendium app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is the newest in a series of offerings devoted to Catholic prayer and religious devotion. It is available in the App Store.

2 Pope beatifies Cardinal John Henry Newman – Blessed Newman, a 19thcentury theologian and a prolific writer on spiritual topics, left the Anglican Church and embraced Catholicism at the age of 44. The pope announced that his feast day would be Oct. 9, the day of his entry into the Catholic Church.

30-year-old daughter. I have 7 wonderful grandchildren and an eighth on the way.

Education and formation: I have a B.A. from Wayne State University and worked for 16 years in the computer industry, nine of them in my own company. When I retired the business in 2000, I felt called to something else – to work in the church. I am in the process of obtaining a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and will be commissioned this year as a lay ecclesial minister for the Diocese of Lansing.

Fun fact: When I retired my computer business in 2000, I took up ice hockey and played on a women’s league.

Now, I play in a co-ed league with my husband. My very first hockey experience was on the ice at Yost Ice Arena, home of the University of Michigan Wolverine hockey team. Despite that, I have to say that I am a Michigan State University fan. rated St. Mary Parish Hall. More than 300 people were in attendance at the event.

Members of the Servants of Charity Congregation came from Italy, India, the Philippines and Mexico to join with their local brothers in celebration of this event. Of special note was the presence of the father general of the Servants of Charity, Bishop Alphonse Crippa from Rome, who presided over the Celebration Mass with Bishop Emeritus Carl F. Mengeling of Lansing.

Vision for lay ecclesial ministry in the Diocese of Lansing: According to numerous church documents and quoted in Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord(USCCB, 2005), by virtue of their baptism the laity may be called to “cooperate with their pastors in the service of the ecclesial community, for the sake of its growth and life. This can be done through the exercise of different kinds of ministries according to the grace and charisms which the Lord has been pleased to bestow on them.” (pg 9) It is our job in the Office of Lay Ecclesial Ministry to provide ample opportunities for proper and effective formation of these God-given charisms based on the four pillars outlined in Co-Workers: intellectual, spiritual, human and pastoral.

Properly-formed lay ecclesial ministers are of vital importance to the mission of evangelization; so we will continue to provide many excellent programs that have already been developed and are currently in use as well as look for new ways and opportunities to serve the lay ministers of the diocese.

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New book about Pope Benedict XVI – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released Benedict XVI: Essays and Reflections on His Papacy. It covers the first five years of the pope’s reign.

Catholic Extension grants help rebuild churches and schools on Gulf Coast – The Catholic Church Extension Society has provided more than $14 million in grants to help Catholic communities recover from the devastation caused

by Hurricane Katrina five years ago.

Nuncio named for Jordan and Iraq – The pope named Msgr. Giorgio Lingua as apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop.

He holds a degree in Canon Law and speaks French, Spanish and English.

Poll show opposition to federal funds for stem-cell research – The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned an independent poll seeking public opinion on stem-cell research.

Forty-seven percent of adult respondents opposed the federal government funding it.

CSS Washtenaw and WITH Housing

More than 760 students submitted poems to the Jackson County District Library’s sixth annual Poetry Contest. Fortyseven winners included Julie Fitzgibbons, Our Lady of Fatima; Cody Kalahar, Jillian Navarre and Rachel Kosnik, Queen of the Miraculous Medal and Adriane Elinski, Justine Pulka and Trevor Norkey, Jackson Catholic Middle School.

Jean Dailey from the library said that pictures of the students reading their poems are podcast at their website, www.myjdl. com. Use node/6346 to locate poets.

– Jan Hoffbauer

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Martyred German priest who died at Dachau beatified – Blessed Gerhard Hirschfelder died at the Nazi concentration camp of Dachau, where he was imprisoned for fiercely criticizing Adolf Hitler in his homilies.

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

M

uch of life is spent dealing with loss, of many types and in many forms. How do we deal with them? Our Christian faith invites us to unite our sorrows and sufferings with those of Christ’s, to be the “person crucified with Christ on the other side of his cross,” joining our agony into his and so converting our loss into something of infinite value. Your pain and suffering can be transformed into the greatest prayer in the church’s repertoire of prayers, changed by being joined into the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ. Never let that opportunity go to waste.

The big challenge for us all is to unite our emotional, psychological, and spiritual sufferings with Christ’s own emotional and spiritual suffering. We don’t often consider that aspect of his suffering, but it’s true. How else can we explain Christ’s sense of total loss when he cried out: “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?” True, his body was wracked in pain, but that cry came from his soul, a soul held in the crushing grip of abandonment.

Our culture gives us a big lie, telling us that we are “entitled” to complete happiness, that every pain has a remedial pill, and that God is “unfair” for allowing suffering to happen to anyone.

Jesus, on the other hand, bids us to enter with him into evil’s maw and pass through it from Good Friday into Easter Sunday. This world’s “fight or flight”

battle cry just doesn’t work. In the end it causes futility.

Acceptance of loss and joining our pain and suffering into Christ’s is transformative. Our culture’s false expectation of this world’s “happiness” leads only to frustration, anger, self-destructive behaviors, and eventually rejection of God. Isn’t that what hell really is?

Jesus descended there to bring us out and takes us back home to our Father in heaven.

Here at FAITH, we have often shared stories of people who experience suffering and enter into it Christ, sharing his redemptive suffering. We will continue to do so. Christ on his cross isn’t just an event that happened 2,000 years ago – it is happening all of the time. That joins us all together in his love, compassion, and victory.

last word

Young poets contest

Personal trainer launches The Catholic Workout – Michael Carrera, personal trainer, has created an inspirational approach to building your body and building your faith. His latest book, The Catholic Workout, integrates praying the rosary with resistance training exercises.

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T. Gennara

In August, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW) assumed operation of the Ann Arbor nonprofit, WITH Housing. Established 45 years ago, WITH Housing provides housing opportunities to low-income individuals and families constrained in their ability to be economically competitive.

“The agency is honored to have the chance to continue WITH’s founding mission” said Lawrence Voight, CSSW president WITH operates seven houses in Ann Arbor. The CSSW Father Patrick Jackson House program is located in a WITH home, with the Washtenaw County Health Organization and the human service agency, Home of New Vision, renting the other WITH properties.

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notes:

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