Resurrection Magazine Fall 2022 Vol 3:2

| LANSING, MICHIGAN THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION

RE SU RRE C TI O N MA G AZINE FALL 2022, VOL 3:2

IN THIS ISSUE

OF THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION We rem ber the histor y of the parish a n d r e f l c t o n t h e s o u r ec o f i t s g r o w t h

AN UNEXPECTED TESTIMONY One arishonep eshar who she edxprinc Gos d’

alinghe oughtr an edtxpcun ecsour

A WHITSUN CELEBRATION Retionecsur estalbrc the tasef of

Petosecn in a new and old ayw

RESURRECTION MAGAZINE FALL 2022 VOL 3:2 PASTOR FR. STEVE MATTSON EDITOR SEAN O'NEILL MANAGING EDITOR BEN POHL ART DIRECTOR SARAH FINK

Located in the heart of the city of Lansing, the Church of the Resurrection exists to help everyone in our parish family live in the light and hope of the resurrection.

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IN THIS

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ISSUE

A LONG LEGACY OF FAITH FR. STEVE MATTSON

PREPARING TO LIVE IN LOVE JOE & SARA DEWITT

A WHITSUN CELEBRATION LIZ O'NEILL

FEATURED ARTICLE

100 YEARS OF THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION JUST A SMALL BIBLE STUDY LOU ANN DOWSETT

AN UNEXPECTED TESTIMONY AMANDA VENEMA

A BAND OF BROTHERS ED RIVET

THE SAME SPIRIT | AN ART MEDITATION MARY GATES

HE RISES ON MICHIGAN AVE | A POEM FR. PAUL ERICKSON

Welcome to Resurrection Magazine!

We have created this magazine to bear witness to what the Lord is doing in our midst. Our Risen Lord is blessing us richly, and we want to take this opportunity to share some of those blessings with you. Read and learn more about our parish and our rich Catholic faith! Please visit our website to read our past issues.

ON THE COVER El Greco's Pentecostés, The Pentecost (1597), oil on canvas. For a meditation on the painting, see page 15.

FROM THE

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EDITOR

his signal year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Church of the Resurrection. In this issue of the magazine we celebrate the history of the parish in Fr. Steve’s article on page 4 and in a four-page spread, beginning on page 8, which includes historic photographs from key events in the life of the parish.

The image on the front cover is from the painting “Pentecost” by El Greco. So here we are celebrating, not just the founding of the parish but the founding of the Church herself, made manifest by the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.

(On page 15, Mary Gates gives her accustomed thoughtful meditation on the cover art.)

Speaking of Pentecost, this year, for the first time, we marked that feast with a Whitsun Celebration (“Whitsun” being the old name for Pentecost) on June 10. The event, like the Twelfth Night Celebration in January, included performances of songs, music and poetry from our very own parishioners.

You’ll find an entertaining account of that evening of festivity in Liz O’Neill’s article on page 6.

Sarah and Joe Dewitt describe the less-wellknown but crucial ministry of marriage prep, on page 5, as they outline how men and women are guided towards the sacrament of matrimony by mentor couples who generously share their wisdom with those on the journey.

On page 12, Lou Ann Dowsett relates her experience of running a Bible study group and how the

richness of scripture has enhanced the group’s spiritual life and equipped them for the daily life of a Christian.

Ed Rivet explains, on page 14, how the men of the parish got together over beer and popcorn to watch and discuss the groundbreaking series “Band of Brothers.” These presentations, which took place on successive Wednesday nights, may seem like an unlikely topic for a Catholic parish to explore, but with the attack on the nature of manhood and masculinity that we experience from the world, nothing could be more apt for exemplifying such manly qualities as courage, responsibility and camaraderie.

Amanda Venema shares how health challenges that had dogged her for years and the resultant opinions of others negatively affected her view of her own identity. And yet, in her testimony on page 13 we read how God intervened, surprisingly through the halting words of an acupuncturist, to affirm her status as a beloved daughter of God the Father. It’s a message that we could all benefit from hearing again and again: “You are good!”

And lastly, on the back page we read an excellent and thought-provoking poem by Fr. Paul Erickson, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen parish in Brighton and former chaplain of Lansing Catholic High School.

We hope you enjoy this issue and that this fall the Lord blesses you abundantly with his grace and his love. Happy Centennial!

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FR. STEVE MATTSON

A LONG LEGACY OF FAITH

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FR. STEVE REFLECTS ON THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION’S LEGACY OF FAITH

n June 15, 1922, Michael James Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit, sent Father John A. Gabriels to Lansing to establish a new Catholic parish. Fr. Gabriels requested that the church be named “The Church of the Resurrection” because the Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of all Christianity. For a hundred years now, we have been proclaiming and celebrating the Resurrection. And we rejoice in God’s goodness to us and to our community through us.

grateful for the many marriages and baptisms that have occurred here, including my own maternal grandparents, who were married by Fr. Gabriels on April 28, 1937. May we continue to be a parish that is open to the call to serve the Lord and the Church as priests or religious, as well, of course, to foster strong marriages in Christ. Whether as priests, religious, married, or single, we are all called to bear fruit. And there has been a LOT of fruit here. Thanks be to God.

As we have spent time reflecting on what the Lord has done in and through our parish, it has been a great joy to see God’s goodness to us.

Soon, if not already, our Centennial Directory will be available. It includes, along with recent photos, a small survey of the many good things the Lord has done in and through our parish and school. It has been a joy to review myriad archival documents, thanks in particular to Kathryn Reed, our parish archivist. It would be impossible to mention all the men and women who have served our parish and school as staff members, teachers, administrators, members of commissions and councils, and volunteers, but we are grateful for each and every one of them.

"As we celebrate our hundredth, let us prayerfully imagine what the next hundred years could bring."

As pastor, I’m particularly grateful to my four predecessors, Monsignor John A. Gabriels, Fr. Francis Martin, Fr. William Koenigsknecht, and Fr. John Fain for the legacy of faith they left behind. Many priests (and a bishop) have spent time in service and residence here, along with a few temporary administrators, and they are surely all the better for having spent time serving you and your forebears.

In a particular way, I want to express my gratitude to God for the priestly and religious vocations that have been fostered in our midst. I’m also

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As we celebrate our hundredth, let us prayerfully imagine what the next hundred years could bring. My prayer is that it will be a seedbed for abiding renewal within the Church of Lansing, guided by the Spirit and ordered to the good, the true, and the beautiful. And, as we have often prayed, I look forward to the time when it will be true of us that every person in our parish will come to know and love our Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way, grow in maturity as a disciple of Christ, become actively engaged in the full life of the Church, and joyfully utilize his or her gifts for the building up of the Kingdom of God and the salvation of souls. Come, Holy Spirit!

With deep gratitude, Fr. Steve Mattson

Fritz Von Uhde |

Road to Emmaus | 1891 | eltasp on aper

JOE & SARA DEWITT

PREPARING TO LIVE IN LOVE

JOE & SARA SHARE THE IMPACT OF RESURRECTION’S MARRIAGE PREPARATION PROGRAM ON PARTICIPANTS & OUR PARISH

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e were first introduced to the Preparing to Live in Love (PLL) program when we attended a Living in Love marriage retreat several years ago. We’ve always had a good marriage, but this program showed us a depth and potential beyond what we had envisioned. God had a deeper intimacy in mind for us, with each other and with Him. The impact of the retreat was so meaningful that we wanted to share it with others. At the end of the weekend, we accepted an invitation to attend a training course to become mentors for engaged couples in the parish.

expressed as individuals and as a couple. Diving deep into this concept helps couples understand themselves and each other better. This God-given and unique complementarity plays out in every aspect of marriage; from the most exciting of times to the mundane and ordinary tasks of daily life. When couples know themselves and their gifts, inherent to their respective masculinity and femininity, they can better live out their mission: to make this specific man know he is lovable and loved; and to make this specific woman know she is lovable and loved. This mission manifests itself uniquely for every couple.

The Preparing to Live in Love engagement program is different from many pre-cana programs, and certainly different from the one we attended 19 years ago when we were engaged. For several years while we were living in Pennsylvania, we served on the diocesan pre-cana team. Many very good marriage prep programs cover topics like effective communication, managing finances well, learning to disagree well, and family of origin considerations among other things. The PLL program covers all of these topics and more, while being built upon a foundation of Catholic anthropology.

"Participating... showed us that we can be 'in love' with each other throughout our marriage."

St John Paul II’s work “The Theology of the Body” informs every session. He asserts that masculinity is only fully realized in relationship to femininity, and vice versa. This concept allows us to see the unique ways in which our masculinity and femininity are

We both had a notion that being “in love” with our spouse and having passion for each other and for our marriage would eventually fade, but that by God’s grace we would be able to live out our marriage commitment to the end. Participating in the Living in Love program showed us that we can be “in love” with each other throughout our marriage. We can keep the passion and excitement for each other and our marriage to the very end. Life is still messy and complicated. It is difficult and carries with it a hefty dose of suffering. Despite all the ups and downs we still live a passionate marriage. Our favorite part of mentoring couples is to help them know that having a life-long passionate marriage is possible! We are so grateful for the Living in Love program, which has made St. John Paul II’s message of Theology of the Body accessible to married and engaged couples alike.

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LIZ O'NEILL

A WHITSUN CELEBRATION RESURRECTION CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF PENTECOST IN A NEW & OLD WAY

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s many of you know, Whitsun is an old name for Pentecost. We used the term because we wanted to tap into the lost traditions of this wonderful feast. The themes of new life and the descent of the Holy Spirit were seen in the greenery and the candles and lights festooning the hall.

Our menu was planned with an English ‘early Summer picnic’ theme. Sausage rolls, sandwiches and pastry cheese twists, amongst other dainties, provided the perfect foil to the free flowing beer and wine, along with a strawberry rum punch bowl which proved to be a popular tipple as well!

We began the evening’s entertainment with some charming flute playing by Kristie Gulock, accompanied on the piano by Stephanie Gewirtz.

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A slight change of tempo, and Craig Galer delighted the company with his lively guitar playing. Craig tells us that he developed his musical talents serving as musical director for a children’s summer camp. So, before we knew it we were singing like kids at a campfire along with Craig. There may even have been some dancing!

Next up was Luke Hansen, back by popular demand from our Twelfth Night evening in January. Luke explained how he was inspired to write his first poem “Present Witness for a Fleeting Moment,” a thoughtprovoking reflection on the apostle Thomas. His second poem “Lest Also My Name Sinks Beneath the Depth” dealt with the legacy of poetry to our families.

We then welcomed an unexpected combination

of musical talents to the stage. First, the chaplain to our high school, Fr. Joe Campbell, performed an excellent rendition of an ancient prayer of praise, the “Sequence for Pentecost.” He was then joined by Jim Owens, Adam and Ben Pohl. What a treat to hear them exercise their gifts, as they played and sang together!

Their songs were chosen for their ‘summertime feel’ and taken from Amos Lee, Embrace and Patrick James. A short break allowed most of us to fill up some corners, or to be honest, to start another full plate.

Arnold and Santiago welcomed us back with an oboe fanfare. Arnold explained that he had learnt the oboe as a way of supporting Santiago as he mastered this rather tricky new instrument. We all enjoyed listening to this very accomplished father-son duo.

The marvelous and multi-talented Brian Fink took the stage and told how had hoped that poetry-writing might endear him to the ladies… Joking aside, Brian proceeded to share two recent poems. “Whit,” his first poem, dealt with life on the Fink farm seen through the light of a Pentecost reflection. The second poem “Sunday Obligation” was about bringing your children to Mass expressing both the frustration and the moments of holy insight that occur in the midst of the wrangling. These poems and their extremely effective rendition charmed the company.

The next act was one that I had particularly been

looking forward to, as David Kerr is a countryman of mine and he is known for his humo(u)r. His performance was a cappella, which added a little drama and dignity to the call to arms of his first song, “Scots Wha Hae.” His second song repeats the heartfelt refrain, “Campbeltown Loch I Wish You Were Whisky.” David’s hilarious repartee had many people requesting a future performance.

It was left to our own Master of the Bar, Joel Stanewich, to complete the musical offering for the evening by performing with J.P. Cherniawski on violin and accompanying Bob Murrell on vocals. Joel also performed a piece of music he had written himself which we highly enjoyed.

A number of people planned and worked tirelessly to make this event such a success.

We thank them all! Our particular thanks goes to Teresa Spalding and her team who provided such wonderful food; Joel Stanewich and his team who set up and manned the bar; Susanna Wagner and friends for decorating Mercy Hall and most especially Piper Fountain and all those who helped her transform the hall into a Summer wonderland. For all those who worked as helpers, suppliers, cleaners or tree-cutters, you have our deepest gratitude. To our wonderful performers - thank you. And finally… Deo Gratias!

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years 100 100 YEARS OF THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION WE REMEMBER THE HISTORY OF THE PARISH & REFLECT ON THE SOURCE OF ITS GROWTH

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arly in St. Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth, he reflects on how he began his work in the city and the role he played in building its Christian community. Paul is at pains to point out the absolute necessity of God’s grace: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth” (3:6). What a mystery! Through the eyes of the world, the existence and flourishing of the Catholic Church is merely the result of a series of material and human factors. At its best, the Church is viewed as a sociological marvel or a well-oiled political machine. So too with the Church of the Resurrection.

But St. Paul, seeing so clearly that our finest efforts come to nothing without the power of God (Ps 146:34), says to the Church in Corinth, and indeed today to the Church of the Resurrection: “No one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ” (3:11). As we look back over the last 100 years, we are filled with gratitude for those who planted and watered, and filled with praise for the God who is our foundation and the cause of all our growth.

The history of The Church of the Resurrection: On June 15, 1922 Michael James Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit, sent Father John A. Gabriels to Lansing to establish a new Catholic parish. The boundaries of the new parish would be from Michigan Central and Pere Marquette railroad tracks, running east to include East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett and Bath. 120 families of the neighborhood formed the nucleus of the new parish.

Fr. Gabriels requested that the church be named "The Church of the Resurrection" since the Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of all Christianity.

On July 7, the property at the corner of Michigan and Rumsey Avenues was purchased and over the next few years seven additional pieces of adjacent property were added.

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On Christmas Day, 1922, the people of the Church of the Resurrection celebrated their first Mass together in their new church which could accommodate over 700 people.

The need for a school was apparent and in 1926, within a short period of time, the money had been raised for the building project. The Sisters of St. Dominic of Adrian, Michigan agreed to staff Resurrection School.

The school opened its doors to 350 students in the fall of 1926. As the parish grew, so did the school. By 1936, the parish had to rent two stores across the street so that the high school students would have room for their classes.

In September, 1938, the school had a total enrollment of 750 students in 12 grades. Because of these increased numbers a new high-school building, with an auditorium and 10 classrooms, was built and was dedicated by Bishop Albers in May 1940.

Parishioners responded to the need for a larger convent for the sisters by starting a fundraising campaign. The 30-room facility was ready for occupancy in 1949. The old convent was then converted for more classrooms.

By 1951, 4,500 people were attending Sunday Masses and as a result of these crowded conditions, a capital campaign for a new church was begun. The new church was dedicated by Bishop Albers on October 3, 1952.

On New Year's Day 1960, parishioners waiting for Mass received the devastating news that Monsignor Gabriels had died in his sleep. The Bishop's funeral eulogy related how he had dedicated himself entirely to his work of laying the foundations of Catholic faith in the parish and how he had left his devoted people a legacy of faith.

Fr. Francis Martin was installed as the second pastor of Resurrection on March 15, 1960 and immediately turned

(1) First School & Church Building, Circa 1922; (2) Ok Roast, Circa 1945; (3) The First Church with Bishop Gallager & Fr. Gabriels; (4) Fr. Francis Martin, Fr. John Gabriels, & Fr. James Lee, Circa 1953; (5) Ox Roast on Grounds of Lansing Catholic High School, 1980s.

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his attention to the crowded conditions at Resurrection School and St. Mary Cathedral School. By 1963, two new high schools were completed. Fr. Martin retired in 1986.

He was succeeded by Fr. William Koenigsknecht in the summer of 1986. Under his leadership in 1990, a new parish pastoral council was formed to represent the various groups and ministries. In 1991, The Church of the Resurrection was recognized by the State of Michigan as a historical site. A marker was erected which highlights the role that Resurrection has played in our community, and pays tribute to Monsignor John A. Gabriels, the founding pastor. In 2011, Fr. Koenigsknecht retired and was succeeded

by Fr. John Fain who served at the parish for one year.

Fr. Steve Mattson was named the fifth pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in 2012. Fr. Steve had served as Superintendent of Schools and Chair of the Department of Education and Catechesis for the Diocese of Lansing from 2009 to 2015.

In 2014, two sisters from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, were assigned to teach in our school. The Lansing Mission assigned two sisters to teach at Resurrection School and two at Lansing Catholic High School.

In the summer of 2014, Fr. Steve negotiated with the owners of 1601 E. Grand River to allow us to take over the space that was being rented by WomanCare, an abortion clinic. On October 1, 2014, we took over that property and Bishop Boyea, accompanied by the diocesan exorcist, Fr. Steve, and others, prayed exorcism prayers over the building.

The south suite of 1601 E. Grand River became our parish office, and the north suite became home to the New Life Center, a place of hope and healing for those who have experienced or been harmed by abortion. In April 2017, the parish offices moved to their current location at 1514 E. Michigan Ave, across the road from the church.

In 2012-2013, along with the entire Diocese of Lansing, the parish prayed to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to "Come!” In the decade since the Church of the Resurrection has sought to live as a parish that is mission-focused, authentically Catholic, and supportive of families. Just as the Holy Spirit sparked the mission of the Church at Pentecost, and inspired Bishop Gallagher and Fr. Gabriels in 1922 to found our parish, now we ask the Holy Spirit once again to “Come!"

Come and make us a Church after the heart of God in the heart of the city of Lansing.

(1) Ox Roast, 1946; (2) Parish Year Book, 1927; (3) Parish Report, 1931; (4) Our First Altar, 1922; (5) Choir Members, 1962; (6) Dedication of the Historical Marker, 1989 with Fr. Bill Koenigsknecht; (7-8) Parish Raffle Ticket & Prize, 1922.

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MORE PICTURES & DOCUMENTS ONLINE Our 100 year history is so much more than words. We invite you to visit our new online photo gallery for dozens of important photographs, documents, and surprises!

CORLANSING.ORG/POSTS/TIMECAPSULE 11

LOU ANN DOWSETT

JUST A SMALL BIBLE STUDY

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LOU ANN SHARES GRACES RECEIVED FROM AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION TO JOIN A BIBLE STUDY

hen our older kids started hitting college age and making their own choices, I was often disappointed and wondered how our influence could count so little in their decisions. Had we been strict enough? Had we been vocal enough about our faith? Were we below average parents?

Sharing my angst with my mom, she suggested I join her and a few of her friends who had recently decided to meet once a week during Lent to read and discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings.

The warm welcome from my saintly, elder sistersin-faith encouraged me to keep talking to and praying for my children. The women had many years of combined wisdom about faith and family life and comforted me during this low point.

"The women had many years of combined wisdom...and comforted me during this low point."

For twenty-five years that small Bible study has continued, adding a member here and there. Three original members have passed away, but new women have joined, bringing us to a dozen today. Most have been members for ten years or more. We meet every other week in one of our homes for about two hours.

The first half hour we spend catching up. Coffee is served and we take turns bringing snacks. We open with a series of prayers and then begin reading the readings. An explanation of the context and historical

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setting of the passage is given, followed discussion.

As we have evolved we now take on community service projects at Christmas and try to meet the needs of others as they arise. We do meal trains if someone is sick or has surgery, and celebrate birthdays and other important occasions, supporting each other in all the vagaries of life. During the week we have an active text message thread where we share news, funny grandkid stories, and request prayers. Basically, we try to live like the early Christians did: we pray, we worship, we study, and we take care of each other and our community.

I encourage anyone interested in belonging to a Bible study to consider starting your own. Resources are available on-line or through Catholic bookstores.

Start with a handful of friends; small, intimate groups make people more comfortable sharing. I am so grateful for the friends I have made, the growth in faith I have experienced, and the encouragement I have received in difficult times, which drew me into this Bible study so many years ago. And thank you to all of my Bible study sisters who helped me compose this article. You are the best!

AMANDA VENEMA

AN UNEXPECTED TESTIMONY

AMANDA SHARES HOW SHE EXPERIENCED GOD’S HEALING THROUGH AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE

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ver the past 10 years, the Lord has allowed difficult health challenges to be my road to sanctification, from myriad fertility and genetic issues to nervous system dysfunction. Added to these issues, I was working with a doctor who liked to remind me that I was a challenging patient. He is a “fixer,” and in his experience I wasn’t “fixable.” His words attacked the essence of my personhood as defined in Genesis when God proclaimed that His creation was not just good but very good. This began to distort my view of the goodness of my personhood.

Mercifully, the Lord was at work and through attending healing sessions with Liz and Sean, as well as retreats with the JPII Healing Center, a number of these layers were peeled back, prayed through, and healed.

But the Lord wanted more. And so did I. Eventually I visited an acupuncturist, which I never imagined myself doing. Yet the Lord kept whispering in my ear, “Listen to her!” In God’s irony, there was a language barrier between us, and I could make out exactly 1% of what she said. I had a lot of questions and anxiety as I wrestled with why God wanted me to work with this practitioner. I offered a prayer as I walked into her office: “Lord, help me to hear what I need to hear and not worry about the rest.”

Treatment began and as she spoke her words became crystal clear to me: “You good. You get better! You heal. You love God. You need to love yourself. Your body is gift. You spend too much time being angry with body. You need to love body. It is good. You…GOOD!” Woah. Talk about speaking truth! All I could mutter was a “thank you” as she left

me to lie still with multiple needles placed strategically over my body. I closed my eyes and began to pray; instantly the Lord placed an incredible image in my mind. I saw myself standing before our Lord who took me in His tender embrace, stared me in the eyes and declared: “You are good!”

He walked me towards the Blessed Mother and then to St. Joseph who each embraced me and proclaimed, “You are good!” From them, I was led to God the Father while the Holy Spirit hovered above us. I knelt before the Father. He reached down and lifted me into what can only be described as a Refiner’s fire. Darkness turned into light and my body was healed. He lowered me down to my family and holy joy consumed us. There was singing and dancing as my children exclaimed, “Mom is healed!”

"I saw myself standing before our Lord...and [He] declared: 'You are good!'"

After that appointment, I went to Adoration to make a holy hour of thanksgiving. It was as if Jesus was hollering from the monstrance, “You prayed that you would hear what you needed to hear—did you hear her tell you that you were good? I created you and my creation is GOOD. You couldn’t fully heal until you believed this truth.”

Now I believe the truth of my personhood—precious, honored, loved and good—that is the core of all of our healing.

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ED RIVET

A BAND OF BROTHERS

ED SHARES HOW A GROUP OF MEN IN THE PARISH WERE INSPIRED BY WATCHING & REFLECTING ON THE FAMOUS SERIES

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ur Mission: explore masculine virtue by watching and reflecting on a dramatization of one of the 20th century’s most significant events. Fr. Steve invited men of the parish to watch the 10-episode docu-drama Band of Brothers, which followed “Easy Company” of the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. These first U.S. paratroopers parachuted behind enemy lines during the D-Day invasion, held a critical battle line during the Battle of the Bulge, and liberated captives of a Nazi concentration camp.

They fought ferocious battles, suffered devastating casualties, and the survivors were often maimed and never the same physically, emotionally, or psychologically.

After each episode the men, both young and old, gathered in small groups to reflect on the virtues and vices we saw portrayed.

It was often difficult to share because the unspeakable brutality of war had been so realistically presented. Watching it was jarring enough. Many of us had to admit that living through the actual experience while demonstrating the courage and fortitude of these men is more than we have within us.

It was a disturbing irony to discuss a parallel real-time war as Russia invaded Ukraine a few weeks into the series. Some Band of Brothers scenes looked nearly identical to TV news footage of bombed out Ukrainian cities. In our discussions, we were tempted by, and fell prey to, geopolitical scapegoating and equating the “villains” on the screen with people we want to judge today as “enemies,” whether foreign or domestic.

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The Brothers exhibited the ultimate Christlike quality in always being ready to lay down their lives for their friends. We were challenged to ask ourselves: “Could I really do that?” And what about smaller, daily challenges to take up our crosses – which are paltry by comparison? Will we model courage, loyalty, self-sacrifice, compassion, and even forgiveness when it is difficult to do?

"We were challenged to ask ourselves: 'Could I really do that?'"

As Christ’s disciples we are all called to model these virtues as men and women.

But undoubtedly a masculine modeling of these virtues can and should be expected to look different than a feminine version. Our culture today treats “male bonding” as trite or toxic. Band of Brothers, and our discussions, demonstrated that a bond forged among men of virtue is needed as a countervailing force to the cultural malaise and moral decline we face.

By the grace of God, the young men and boys watching Band of Brothers will likely be spared a war experience like we observed. But none of us men, youngest to oldest, get a pass on our call to masculine courage. Christ fulfilled his mission with unflinching resolve. May we men “fall in line” behind his leadership.

El Greco | Pentecostés, The Pentecost | 1597 | oil on canvas

MARY GATES

THE SAME SPIRIT A MEDITATION ON EL GRECO'S PENTECOSTÉS

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t Pentecost, they again see and believe. It was seeing and believing that Peter noted as reason they would not leave Jesus when others had—“Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:68-69)—and once more at Pentecost, they see and believe. They again encounter the God who does not leave them orphaned or abandon them to fear, but rather comes. They behold the God who makes Himself known—the spirit of truth and consolation, the spouse of Mary, the advocate who was promised.

And from the encounter, they set forth, having been strengthened, fortified, set afire.

And this, too, happens here. We at the Church of the Resurrection gather, encounter, and go forth. A century ago, men and women of faith envisioned this place, and their boldness and sacrifices made possible our reality. We stand on their shoulders, carry on their hopes, and rely on their vision. The same Spirit whom the disciples beheld at Pentecost stirred the hearts of the founding parishioners of the Church of the Resurrection, and makes Himself known here today.

The same Spirit is ever present now in our

sacramental life, the heartbeat of this parish.

Men and women, boys and girls are drawn into His presence during every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, come to know His mercy at each confession, are healed by His touch when anointed. And through each other, too, parishioners are strengthened to see and believe. Founding members of the church may not have envisioned the camaraderie at coffee and donuts, the meal-trains celebrating new babies, the community gathered at the Ox Roast. They may not have known how the parish would be blessed by a school so boldly on mission or by the presence of the Dominican Sisters. And yet, the Spirit moves. He moves in parish prayer ministry, in the formation courses, at Healing Encounter nights. For God does not abandon us but comes to reveal, to love, and to fortify.

We have much to be grateful for, those of us who come here to the Church of the Resurrection to behold Him, for we worship the God who comes. The same God who consoled and set afire the disciples as they gathered also inspired and guided founding members of this parish and faithfully makes Himself known to us here and now. May we encounter Him with hearts grateful for seeing and believing, and go forth proclaiming in word and deed that He alone has the words of eternal life.

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FR. PAUL ERICKSON

HE RISES ON MICHIGAN AV E

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