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THE MAGAZINE

July/August 2019

Grand Rapids

OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF GRAND RAPIDS DALE LA VUELTA PARA

ESPAÃ&#x2018;OL

GRdiocese.org

FATHERS ROB MULDERINK AND ANDREW AYERS SHARE THEIR STORIES from the bishop

SUPPORTING OUR NEW AND FUTURE PRIESTS pg. 2

photo story

PRIEST AND DEACON ORDINATIONS 2019 pgs. 16-19

T. Gennara

FROM THE BISHOP

MOST REVEREND DAVID WALKOWIAK

is the 12th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

READ MORE > OUR NEWEST PRIESTS SHARE THEIR VOCATION STORIES. PG. 12. > PARENTS OF A SEMINARIAN REFLECT ON THE OUR SHEPHERDS – OUR FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. PG. 20.

SUPPORTING OUR NEW and

FUTURE PRIESTS

rdination season has come and gone in Grand Rapids, but it was short and sweet. Last month, we celebrated the ordination of two men into the ranks of the priesthood. Father Andrew Ayers and Father Rob Mulderink are a blessing to the Catholic Church in West Michigan. They are filled with energy and enthusiasm as they start their priestly ministry. Please keep them in your prayers! In May, we celebrated the ordination of two seminarians to the transitional diaconate – Dominic Couturier and Daniel Orris Jr. They have one more year of formation at Mundelein Seminary before they are ordained priests next June. Let’s pray for them, too. Not only are our newly ordained priests and deacons welcome, they are needed. This year, three fine pastors of this diocese have retired, unfortunately due to health reasons. We will experience a “crunch” with a shortage of priestly personnel for the next few years, but the future is most promising. This fall, four men will enter the seminary: three at St. John Vianney College Seminary and one at Mundelein Seminary. They will join the brotherhood of Grand Rapids seminarians already engaged in priestly formation. I see this brotherhood in action when I visit the two seminaries during the year. I have an opportunity to learn how they are doing, pray with them, update them on current affairs in the diocese and, of course, go out to eat. There is nothing wrong with their appetites! In fact, there is a lot “right” about these men. First of all, God matters to them. God is an important part of their lives. The Holy Spirit has led them to explore the possibility of a

priestly vocation. Of course, not everyone who enters the seminary will be ordained. A good discernment can lead a seminarian to stay or to leave the formation program. Another factor that enters into this discernment is the Church. The late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago once remarked that he did not know he had a priestly vocation until the Church called him to holy orders. That’s true. A mutual discernment takes place throughout the years of a seminarian’s formation. He gets evaluated to death! But the stakes are high. The Church wants the best for God’s people. Many people in the Diocese of Grand Rapids pray for vocations each day. A good number of parishes also remind their parishioners to pray for the men Jesus invites to test out a call to follow Him in this way. These prayers have been working: We have 25 seminarians at present. Another compelling way to support priestly vocations is through the diocesan-wide Our Shepherds – Our Future Capital Campaign. Eight of our parishes began the campaign in May. All 80 parishes in the diocese will participate at some point over the next two years. Supporting this campaign enables us to fulfill our baptismal vocation, which is to “go out to all the world and tell the Good News!” The Church is missionary and we who are its members are missionaries, too. We can support men who want to be priests and be heralds of the Gospel and shepherds for God’s people. Without priests, there is no Eucharist. Without the Eucharist, there is no Church.

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

We can be part of something bigger than our parish experience of Church. We can contribute to the vitality of the Catholic Church throughout the roughly 7,000 square miles that make up the Diocese of Grand Rapids. St. Thomas Aquinas said that love is wanting the best for the other. Our contribution to the Our Shepherds – Our Future campaign is truly a gift of love, for it enables us to want the best for our brothers and sisters by providing priests for all of our parishes for years to come. There is a poem about the priesthood entitled “Thou Art a Priest Forever.” Father Henri Lacordaire, OP, composed this poem before his death in 1861 in the romantic style of his times. But it still speaks of the ideals and the reality of the priestly vocation.

THE CHURCH WANTS THE BEST FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.”

To live in the midst of the world with no desire for its pleasure ... To be a member of every family yet belonging to none ... To share all sufferings; to penetrate all secrets; to heal all wounds ... To daily go from men to God to offer Him their petitions ... To return from God to men to offer them His hope ... To have a heart of fire for charity and a heart of bronze for chastity ... To bless and be blest forever. O God, what a life, and it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ! The harvest is great, but we have men who aspire to bring in an abundant harvest for the Lord. Let us support them in every way that we can!

CONTENTS THE MAGAZINE

July/August 2019

Grand Rapids

OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF GRAND RAPIDS DALE LA VUELTA PARA

ESPAÑOL

GRdiocese.org

FATHERS ROB MULDERINK AND ANDREW AYERS SHARE THEIR STORIES from the bishop

SUPPORTING OUR NEW AND FUTURE PRIESTS pg. 2 photo story

PRIEST AND DEACON ORDINATIONS 2019 pg. 16-19

FIND US ONLINE AT GRDIOCESE.ORG

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids July/August 2019 | Volume 13: Issue 6 Bishop David J. Walkowiak PUBLISHER

Annalise Laumeyer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Patricia Mish MANAGING EDITOR Msgr. Gaspar Ancona, Father Stephen Durkee, Father Luis Garcia, Paul Kopenkoskey, Cami Mann, Zulema Moret, Amy Oatley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eric Tank CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

COVER STORY Meet Father Andrew Ayers (left) and Father Rob Mulderink

Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Eric Fuentes GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Philip Shippert CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Pete Burek, Douglas Culp, Michelle DiFranco, Father Joseph Krupp, Steve and Bridget Patton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT FAITHcatholic.com

FAITHTM Grand Rapids (USPS 023-851), the magazine for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, is a publication of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, 360 Division Ave. S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4501. Published monthly except for February and August. For address and subscription changes, please contact subscriptions@faithgrandrapids.org. Periodicals postage paid at Grand Rapids, MI and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM Grand Rapids, 360 Division Ave. S, Grand Rapids, MI 495034501. ©FAITH Catholic and Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.

YOUR LIFE

YOUR FAITH

YOUR STORIES

4 on the road to Sunday “Peace I leave you”

8 in the spirit Where will you allow God to take you this summer?

16 photo stories Priests and transitional deacons ordained

5 marriage matters He says: “I'm tired of entertaining people who don't reciprocate.” She says: “It's fine, I just like having people around.” 6

in the know with Father Joe How do we teach our children about purity? saint of the month St. John Vianney

spiritual fitness A training plan for the race to heaven

10 special report Faith-based adoption services under pressure 11

culture The spice of life

20 Our Shepherds – Our Future A Q&A with parents of a seminarian 24 vocations Whether permanent or transitional, deacons are servants of all 25 last word Shouting from the rooftops

FACEBOOK.COM/ DIOCESEOFGRANDRAPIDS @GRDIOCESE ON TWITTER @GRDIOCESE ON INSTAGRAM

CORRECTION The May issue of FAITH Grand Rapids should have included St. Patrick, Parnell, in the list of parishes participating in the pilot wave of the Our Shepherds – Our Future Capital Campaign. To learn more about the campaign, see pg. 20.

YOUR LIFE

‘ P eace I leave you’ When a handshake is more than just a gesture

PHOTO BY ERIC TANK

YOUR LIFE ON THE ROAD TO SUNDAY

CAMI MANN

is a spiritual director, writer and public speaker. She and her husband, Mark, are Secular Franciscans. Contact her at cmann1897@ gmail.com.

y husband and I love to backpack in the witness that, while we may live in a complex and perwilderness. One of my favorite aspects plexing time, love is the mortar in a house built on rock. of walking along the trail is noticing the Maintaining a community built on love relies on God’s grace to affect our human shortcomings. St. John Paul II spurs (side trails) that merge with the main stated, “The divine ‘We’ is the eternal pattern of the hutrail. I delight in meeting up with others as man ‘we’ …” At times, the pattern for parish community may seem to be more human “me” than eternal “we.” they enter the main trail with us or on those I have to admit, there are times when I am occasions when we emerge from a present within the gathered community and I spur. Often, we share a bit of news harbor pain and resentment in my heart, esabout the leg of the trail we each just This rite for pecially when I have been hurt by the clergy or members of my parish. This pain hinders me is not walked. This “connecting” reminds my sense of being in full communion with my an empty me that we all come from different brothers and sisters in Christ. I find the rite of peace before Communion gesture or vantage points but often meet up and offers healing to my wounded heart. Humbly, habitual journey together. I prayerfully listen and actively seek God’s

action; it is a moment of deep, sacred communion.”

This past weekend, as we hiked, I couldn’t help but reflect on how our roads to Sunday are like the main trail and its spurs. We each walk six days a week on our spurs, experiencing what our journey offers. Then our spurs merge as we hike with hundreds of others onto the main trail that winds its way to our parish community. We each bring our hopes, dreams, expectations, desires and experiences as we enter into shared, sacred space. I have always had a reverence and deep love for parish community. It is the place where we witness and experience firsthand what it means to be a member of the community – the body of Christ. Parish community is our faithful witness to Jesus’ command, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:34-35) Our parish communities are salt and light to the wider world. They are a living

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

grace, “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.” I am then given the opportunity to turn to my neighbor and offer and receive the sign of peace, the type of peace that surpasses all understanding; peace that is rooted in Christ. This rite for me is not an empty gesture or habitual action; it is a moment of deep, sacred communion. It deserves my open heart and my full, active participation. The grace of the sacrament draws me deeper into my community with each hand I shake, each set of eyes I look into, each blessing I offer and receive “peace be with you.” This rite of peace prepares me to process forward to receive Communion. Emboldened by “say your word and my soul shall be healed,” I become an instrument of communion as I seek out those with whom I need to make peace.

MARRIAGE MATTERS

HE SAYS:

I'm tired of entertaining people who don't reciprocate. I'm tired of entertaining people who don't invite us to their house. We have hosted several barbecues and no one has reciprocated.

STEVE AND BRIDGET PATTON

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

SHE SAYS:

I don't care if people pay us back. I think it’s fun to entertain, and I enjoy having people around.

GETTY IMAGES/CHRISTOPHER ROBBINS

It’s fine; I just like having people around.

INVITING PEOPLE OVER is one of those things

WHAT DO THEY DO?

that can appear good but sometimes be done for less than perfect motives. An honest conversation about their respective motives could help this

couple not only get on the same page with their social planning, but also improve their marriage. After you’ve repeatedly entertained someone, it's only natural to wonder if they’re ever going to return the favor. But is this imbalance necessarily a cause to be irritated? Maybe the person is clueless about social norms. Maybe she doesn’t think she can reciprocate at the same entertainment level. Or maybe he really is a shameless mooch. But whatever the non-reciprocating guests’ reasons might be, what’s more important is understanding your own reasons for inviting them. Was it just to get invited back? Jesus actually said to do exactly the opposite: “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For

you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Lk 14:13-14) By the way, he told this to a prominent Pharisee who had invited him over for dinner for apparently less than perfect motives! This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about being taken advantage of. This would not be the loving thing to do either for them or us. The point is that we should give to others as God has given to us: “expecting nothing back.” (Lk 6:35) But just “wanting to have people around” isn’t necessarily a perfect motive either. If it’s only about wanting to bring family and friends together to make them feel welcome, that’s great. But if it’s even partly about wanting them around as a balm to a lonely marriage, that’s not great. In fact, it would be using them as a bandage for your marriage. Try this: At least talk about – and maybe even take the time beforehand to write about – the heart that each of you has for welcoming others into your home and into your shared life as a couple. What do you each most deeply wish to offer your guests? And what do you each most deeply wish them to offer you? 5

How do we teach our children about purity? Q

DEAR FATHER JOE: My wife and I have children approaching “that age,” and we wondered if you had any tips on how to teach our children about purity.

T. Gennara

YOUR FAITH IN THE KNOW WITH FATHER JOE

FATHER JOE KRUPP

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

Absolutely. Praise God for the gift of life that you and your wife have been given and praise God for your hunger to teach them. I pray I serve you well here … I’m going to begin by giving a sort of quick summary on what we are talking about when we talk about our sexual desires: Where did they come from and what do we do with them? We’ll start with the truth that you and I were created by a community of persons called the Trinity. This community of persons is a community of love, constantly pouring out the entirety of themselves into each other. The Father emptying all of himself into the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit constantly emptying himself into the Father and the Son, and the Son constantly emptying himself into the Father and the Holy Spirit. This dynamic of love and community, this reality of total self-giving, is what created us. Because of this, a hunger for community, a need to give of ourselves completely, the desire to create are all encoded into our spiritual DNA. We long to be a part of something more than ourselves, and we hunger to give ourselves up completely to something that is not us. In the deepest part of us, we crave to consume and be consumed, to be lost totally in unity. We want to create. This desire is holy.

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

GETTY IMAGES/MARTIN-DM

At the same time, we are immersed in a world of sin. We recognize that we often take what is lovely and corrupt it into something selfish, something less, something easier. I hold to a simple premise that the greater something can be for a good, the more powerful the temptation to corrupt it for self-gain. I think it is fair to say that nowhere is this principle clearer than in our sexuality. You and I were born with a craving, a hunger to connect, to create, to give of ourselves. That hunger is most clearly expressed in our human sexuality. When a man and a woman join their bodies together, they are imitating the triune God and the wonder and culmination of that is in the creation of an immortal soul. This is the reason that God gave you this fire: because one day you and your spouse will join together in a covenant relationship of body and soul. You will join your bodies and become one and create an immortal soul. That is why that fire lives in you and that is why it is beautiful. This creating fire of the triune God was given to you for so much more than self-gratification: It was given to you so that you can imitate its source. To the young people with whom we share this mystery, we express it knowing that they are in a stage of their life where they are to channel that energy, to practice using that fire to serve and to give, to grow

YOUR FAITH SAINT OF THE MONTH and to create. By prayer and discipline, by striving and failing, by receiving God’s mercy and strength, young people can learn self-giving, discipline, tenacity and mercy. I think it is key that they not feel “dirty” or ashamed of these desires, but instead recognize their power and respond to God’s call to channel that fire away from self-gratification and into self-giving. I have seen over and over that responding to this fire with shame only intensifies the struggle. Give your children a safe place to talk to you about what they feel and how to deal with it prayerfully. Make sure they understand that this fire is a gift, but a gift that is given for marriage. Teach them that their goal is not to try to put the fire out and not to act on every impulse, but instead to channel it toward service and a deeper understanding of their dependence on God. When the fire within us goes sideways, we fall into sinful and often addictive behavior and I will now offer some tips for that particular struggle: First, do not give up. Ever. The fight to use the gift of our sexuality in the way we are called to is a struggle. It’s completely normal that purity is difficult and the key is to never give up. If we are dealing with a pornography addiction, for example, then we commit to going to confession as often as we need, finding a person to help us be accountable, and proceed to let God’s mercy and strength wear down our sin. Second, use the tools God offers to help us in our struggle. Beyond the sacramental gift of reconciliation, there are some practical means out there to assist us. I’ve had a lot of people tell me about different apps on the iPhone that can help someone struggling with addictive behavior. Third, let each sexual temptation serve as an opportunity to pray. Pray for the person you feel tempted toward, pray for yourself, pray for opportunities to point the fire that lives inside of us toward service, growth and self-giving. Fourth, be careful of social media. I’m simply shocked that parents allow their kids to have any social media accounts before 16. Every day, I see the devastating effects of the things they are exposed to in this manner. Parents, be gentle with your kids, but be clear as well. Let them know that if they come to you, they will find a refuge from the storm within. Don’t shame them for their struggles, but don’t justify sin either. Balance out the recognition that this is a normal struggle with the reality that God has high expectations of them and has given them the power to meet those expectations. I pray for all reading this, that we commit to purity in our bodies and in our souls: May the struggle for purity drive us to be saints. Enjoy another day in God’s presence.

St. John Vianney Feast Day: Aug. 4

ohn Vianney was a driving force for reviving the faith in Europe following the persecution of Catholics after the French Revolution. Known affectionately as the Curé d’Ars, he is the patron saint of parish priests because of his zealous call to Gospel values and his compassionate care of those who returned to God in the sacrament of reconciliation. Born Jean Baptiste-Marie Vianney in Dardilly in 1786, John joined his devout parents in worship at their local parish and in caring for the poor. When it became illegal and dangerous to be Catholic, his family traveled secretly to distant farms for Mass celebrated by priests hiding in fear for their lives. John prepared for receiving the sacraments by candlelight, covering the windows during lessons to avoid being discovered, jailed or even killed. John was drafted to serve in the military but, when separated from his unit, he deserted. When granted amnesty, he persevered in his quest to become a priest. Challenged by Latin and other academic courses, he was admitted to the seminary only when his local pastor convinced his superiors of John’s great love of God. He was finally ordained at age 30. Assigned to his home parish of Ars, word of his fervor for bringing the lost back home to the Church spread quickly. His insightful work as a confessor to people who had been denied the comfort of their faith soon drew people from neighboring villages, cities and, eventually, from throughout Europe. John heard up to 300 confessions daily, spending 11-12 hours helping people turn back to God. In the summer, the time stretched to 16 hours and penitents waited up to a week to receive forgiveness. Accounts report that by 1855, John was hearing 20,000 confessions a year, a number that reportedly grew to 75,000 in later years. John’s passion for reconciling people to God was also expressed in his care for the downtrodden. In 1824, he opened La Providence, a home and school for destitute girls and women forced into prostitution during the economic upheaval after the Napoleonic Era. John’s life is an important example of the value of both welcome and witness to those who have turned away from God and in the power that reconciliation has in healing and renewing their love for God. John served all who came to him at Ars selflessly until his death at age 73.

YOUR FAITH

Summer rest and refreshment

YOUR FAITH IN THE SPIRIT

WHERE WILL YOU ALLOW GOD TO TAKE YOU? AMY OATLEY

is a Secular Franciscan. She serves as RCIA and adult faith formation coordinator at Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church in Rockford, where she is a parishioner.

SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING, and for many of us that means taking time off from work or school to relax with family and friends, finish projects around the house, travel and get extra rest. As Michiganders, we know that summer flies by in the blink of an eye, so how can we make the most of our vacation time while staying close to our Lord?

GETTY IMAGES/SOLOVYOVA

“The Lord answered: I myself will go along, to give you rest.” (Ex 33:14) Certainly, God is with us always, though we may not hear him speak these words directly as he did to Moses. He does desire to give us rest, which ultimately can only be found through, with and in him, whatever the season. In prayer as I was writing, it came to me: What if we started planning our summer vacation by asking the Holy Spirit where he wants to take us, rather than telling him our plans and fitting him somewhere on the list? Being attentive to his guiding presence could make even the most ordinary days of summer extraordinary. Imagine heading out to the farmers market on your own or with the kids one Saturday morning. Instead of quickly finding what’s on your list so you can get back home and start on that yard project, slow down and allow everyone to move at their own pace, enjoying the colorful fruits, vegetables and flowers carefully displayed by the local hard-working farmers. Later on, as you sit down with family or friends for a meal prepared with your fresh produce, God may take you into a deeper prayer of praise for his bounty. Summer is a wonderful time to sleep in and ease into the morning. During our regular work week, we get up and get going with our routine, and we work until the sky grows dark. Allowing God to take 8

you where he leads may mean he wakes you early one morning to see his glorious sunrise or grabs your attention as the day winds down to drink in the splendor of the sunset. Maybe the forecast calls for thunderstorms one evening, so you allow God to take you and your kids to the picture window with a bowl of popcorn to watch his magnificent show. Vacation time may involve driving with family or friends to a lakeside cottage or campground. Perhaps you take God’s lead to enjoy the ride by turning off the technology and tuning in to one another with conversation or sharing favorite music while enjoying the view. Our Father can reinvigorate relationships when we allow him to take the wheel. How about allowing God to take you on a pilgrimage to a monastery or shrine in Michigan? Locally, we have the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Parnell where you can attend daily Mass and stay after to pray in the sacred silence of the chapel. Up north, stop in Indian River at the Cross in the Woods, home to the second-largest crucifix in the

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

world. If your travels bring you to the UP, visit the off-the-grid retreat center in Paradise run by Companions of Christ the Lamb, a public, clerical association of the Christian faithful under the auspices of the Catholic Church. No matter where we go this summer, our truest rest is found in the presence of our Lord. Staying close to him in the holy Eucharist at Mass will renew our strength and refresh our souls in every season.

No matter where we go this summer, our truest rest is found in the presence of our Lord.”

SUMMER STOPS TO RENEW YOUR SPIRIT THE DISCALCED CARMELITE NUNS OF THE MONASTERY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE IN PARNELL 4300 MT. CARMEL DRIVE NE ADA, MICHIGAN CARMELITENUNS.ORG CALL 616.691.7764 FOR DAILY MASS TIMES THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE CROSS IN THE WOODS 7078 M-68 INDIAN RIVER, MICHIGAN CROSSINTHEWOODS.COM COMPANIONS OF CHRIST THE LAMB RETREAT CENTER PARADISE, MICHIGAN FACEBOOK (SEARCH FOR COMPANIONS OF CHRIST THE LAMB) CALL AHEAD: 906.492.3647

YOUR FAITH SPIRITUAL FITNESS

HOLINESS AND GETTY IMAGES/CHATCHAI LIMJAREON

MISSION

A training plan for the FOOTRACE TO HEAVEN

NYONE WHO’S PLAYED SPORTS, pursued music or developed a new personal skill or trait has probably heard it said, “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse!” While overly simplistic, this motivational quote speaks to a human truth; stagnation or lethargy does not produce things that are new, better and transformed. Not surprisingly, this also applies to our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24, St. Paul compares our journey to heaven to a footrace, “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.” The takeaway here is not that only one of us is getting into heaven, but the same mentality and disciplines of training hard, moving quickly, and crossing the finish line apply to our Christian journey. We then are faced with the question, “How do we run?” The Church provides 2,000 years of insight, inspiration and teaching on what it looks like for us to “run,” but I want to boil it down to the two fundamental invitations given to all baptized Catholics: the universal call to holiness and the universal call to mission. Just as a healthy runner utilizes both legs, holiness and mission must be utilized in tandem to achieve maximum speed and ensure finishing the course. We are called to be holy because God is holy, and through the death and resurrection of his Son, we have access, through baptism, to God’s Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is poured into our hearts, we receive his power to transform us from broken, fearful and sinful

PETE BURAK

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

people to beloved, chosen and free sons and daughters of God. As stated in the Second Vatican Council document Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), “Indeed (Jesus) sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.” (40) The Great Commandment (you shall love God with all your heart …) is the root of our call to holiness. Simply put, we are called to grow. Grow in love, grow in power, grow in understanding, grow in freedom, and grow into the body of Christ. In our race toward heaven, our first leg is the “grow” leg. Our second and equally important leg is our “go” leg. When Jesus delivered the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," he wasn’t just talking to his disciples at the time, but to all who would follow him. Pope Benedict XVI confirms this in Verbum Domini (The Word of the Lord): “… the mission of proclaiming the word of God is the task of all of the disciples of Jesus Christ based on their baptism. No believer in Christ can feel dispensed from this responsibility …” Jesus understood that growing equips us to go, and once we go, we realize how much we still need to grow. Jesus challenges us to enter into his mission to work for the salvation of everyone around us. Going sharpens our own beliefs as we share the story of what Christ has done for us. What a wonderful joy it is to not only be brought into greater union with Jesus, but to enthusiastically share that relationship with others! 9

LOCAL NEWS

A LANDMARK RULING

Special Report: FAITH-BASED ADOPTION SERVICES UNDER PRESSURE

atholic Charities agencies have long provided adoption and foster care services. However, since the redefinition of legal marriage to include two people from the same sex, faith-based adoption agencies like Catholic Charities have faced increasing pressure to either place children with same-sex couples or lose their state licensing and/or state funding. Already, Catholic Charities agencies in several states have shut down their adoption services, as the only alternative offered to them was the violation of their conscience. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has asserted that these governmental actions have trampled on religious freedom: “Religious liberty is more than freedom of worship; it includes our ability to make our contribution to the common good of all Americans without having to compromise our faith.” CATHOLIC CHARITIES CHALLENGES MICHIGAN RULING

In March, the state of Michigan entered a settlement agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) regarding same-sex adoption. The state informed adoption agencies that they must place children with same-sex couples or LGBTQ individuals or lose their contracts.

On April 25, Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM) sued the state of Michigan in state court. On April 15, St. Vincent Catholic Charities, one of the Diocese of Lansing’s Catholic Charities agencies, sued the state in federal court. In these lawsuits, the Catholic Charities agencies are asserting their rights to free exercise of religion, free speech and equal protection under the state and federal constitutions. The lawsuits also seek protection under a 2015 state law that permitted state-contracted groups such as Catholic Charities to refuse to provide foster care or adoption services that conflict with their religious beliefs. In a March 28 statement regarding the settlement, CCWM asserted the agency would “defend its right, upheld by the state law passed in 2015, to provide care for children in Michigan according to our religious beliefs. Faith-based organizations provide crucial services that cannot be solely provided by government and private foster care and adoption agencies at the same level that CCWM can. CCWM has the right to operate according to the principles of religious freedom set by the United States and Michigan constitutions.”

The settlement ... does nothing to protect the thousands of children in foster care looking for loving homes. As such, it is highly unlikely this is the last chapter of the story.” - @MICATHOLICCONFERENCE,

MARCH 22

LEARN MORE: VISIT ADFLEGAL. ORG AND SEARCH CATHOLIC CHARITIES WEST MICHIGAN.

Catholic Charities agencies began to feel the pressure to place children in same-sex households or close as early as 2006. Perhaps in recognition of this, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy attempted to assuage any concern about a negative impact on religious liberty by citing the First Amendment’s protection of religious organizations and persons in the majority opinion of the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage the law of the land. However, in his dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts questioned what might happen when people of faith exercise religion in ways that may conflict with the right to same-sex marriage (for example, a religious adoption agency declining to place a child with same-sex couples). He concluded that “people of faith can take no comfort in the treatment they receive from the majority (opinion) today.” In response to the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, the then president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, suggested in an interview with Our Sunday Visitor that the Church “will face greater pressure now to mute our voices … [as] the freedom to run our ministries and participate in the public square while holding to the teachings of Jesus will likely be challenged.” He went on to note that “new legal requirements could threaten the life and work of the Church as well as other religious institutions and individuals of faith.” -D ouglas Culp contributed to this report

THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF MARRIAGE The decision of some Catholic Charities agencies to get out of adoption services rather than to place children with same-sex couples was informed by the Catholic view of marriage, i.e., that marriage is both a natural and a supernatural institution. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 10

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

(1601) states that the marriage covenant, a covenant between a man and a woman, “is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.” As such, it is a natural blessing arising from the natural order of creation for all humanity in all times and cultures.

Spice of A

Life

few years ago, my husband made a wonderful and exotic chicken

dish with the help of our “sous-chef” son, Joey. I recollect enjoying

it immensely, despite the fact it had a lot of spice. And I also remember how surprised I was that my then 8-year-old son could handle the peppery heat, since he devoured several pieces of the chicken in one sitting!

T. Gennara

YOUR LIFE CULTURE

MICHELLE DIFRANCO

is a designer and the busy mom of three children.

But if you know Joey, you might think it’s apropos, since a spicy dish kind of mirrors his spirited and passionate personality. As a toddler, my middle child’s passion would challenge us as parents. He was a loud, beautiful boy whose energy and enthusiasm would get him into trouble, and bring “spice” to our lives. It wasn’t just the “terrible twos,” but the terrible threes and fours as well! I remember during the antics, tantrums and shenanigans praying for the patience and grace to not lose my temper and lash out at him. I often think of St. Monica and how she held it all together. With a hot-headed husband, a difficult mother-in-law and wayward son, one would think her life might be complete chaos. But instead, she was a person of patience, perseverance and prayer. And it paid off for her, as her once-troublesome son, the man we call St. Augustine, mended his wayward behavior and channeled his passions into total holiness and obedience to God. I am proud and thankful to report that today, although he still has his moments, Joey has grown into a wonderful, obedient young man who runs deep and is very affectionate. It’s only so appropriate that he announced a few months ago he had chosen St. Augustine to be his saint for his recent sacrament of confirmation. Like the harissa chicken my husband prepared, St. Augustine also has roots in North Africa. I don’t know if the cuisine of his time included this recipe or anything like it, but I do like to imagine the people of that era spicing up their food to give it zest, energy and amazing flavor. In my son Joey, as in the life of St. Augustine and in Mediterranean cuisine, uncontrolled use of spice can be a problem, but when controlled, measured and applied correctly, it brings joy and adds flavor to our lives!

GRILLED HARISSA CHICKEN 2 red bell peppers 3-4 cloves garlic (minced) 1 small onion (roughly chopped) Juice of one lemon ¼ cup tomato paste 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon fennel seeds 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon coriander powder ½ teaspoon ground cloves ¼-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on desired heat) Kosher salt to taste 8 chicken thighs or legs (skin removed) Preheat broiler to high. Place red bell peppers on a baking sheet (6 inches from heat source) and broil for 10-15 minutes or until skin blackens and peppers are tender (rotating halfway for even doneness). Remove from the oven and place into a small paper bag. Close bag and allow to sweat for 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a sauté pan and toast the fennel seeds for 30-40 seconds (without burning). Using a mortar and pestle (or spice grinder), grind toasted seeds into a powder and set aside. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook 6-8 minutes until fragrant and slightly translucent. Remove most of the charred skin and all seeds from the bell peppers and throw in a blender or food processor. Add all spices, onion mixture, lemon juice, tomato paste and salt. Pulse until well combined. Place the chicken thighs/legs in a gallon zip-top bag and add ¾ of the harissa mixture (reserving the remaining for basting). Seal bag and work the mixture together until the chicken is completely coated. Refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. Preheat grill to medium/high heat. Place chicken on grill and cook on both sides until chicken is fully cooked through (basting occasionally with remaining harissa). Serve with couscous or rice.

o a web search to learn more D about these amazing saints, St. Monica and St. Augustine (feast days August 27 and 28) 11

YOUR STORIES

BY PAUL R. KOPENKOSKEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC TANK

THE WAYS MEN ARE GUIDED TO THE PRIESTHOOD COULD FILL A BOOK, YET SPRING FROM A SHARED LONGING TO SERVE GOD AND HIS CHURCH. For Fathers Andrew Ayers and Robert Mulderink, ordained June 1, the road signs along the way included the gentle mentoring of a parish priest; encouraging words from high school classmates; a love for preaching God’s word as a deacon; and an enduring aspiration to live for others and not themselves. Following eight years of seminary, late-night talks with fellow seminarians and an abundance of heartfelt prayers, our newest priests share the pathways God used to lead them to say “yes” to the priesthood. 12

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

TO READ BOTH COVER STORIES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, VISIT GRDIOCESE.ORG.

YOUR STORIES COVER STORY

FATHER ROB'S FAVORITE ... BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 11:25-30

I see the priesthood as an incredible, life-giving thing to so many people and a beautiful way to give your whole self.”

– FATHER ROBERT MULDERINK

GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM A PARISH PRIEST FAT H E R R O B E R T MU LD E R I N K PAROCHIAL VICAR, BASILICA OF ST. ADALBERT-ST. JAMES PARISH AND ST. MARY PARISH, GRAND RAPIDS CO-CHAPLAIN, WEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

I was inspired by my own pastor and by the example of St. John Paul II. Through obedience and a willingness to take another look at seminary, I concluded yes, you are God, and you’re asking me to do this so I’ll go for it, but I’m afraid I’m not going to like it. The first years of seminary were kind of rough. But, through my time at St. John Vianney in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then Mundelein Seminary in the Chicago area, God very gradually and slowly worked over my heart to a point where I affirmed this is what I want, this is such a great gift. It’s all rooted in relationship and just trying to follow his calling. I credit my pastor, Father Don Lomasiewicz from St. Isidore Parish. He had a really good way of mentioning the priesthood, such as when I was prepping for Mass as an altar server. He would say things like, “Would you pick out the chasuble for Mass today? What would you want to wear?” Little things like that made me

SAINT: Joseph INFLUENCES: St. John Paul II, Bishop

Robert Barron, Brené Brown. HOBBIES: Playing violin, cooking, walking, hygge (defined as a feeling of contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life with others) SUMMER READS: The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola; In the Shadow of the Rock by Willa Cather; Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.

realize priesthood was a possibility for me. He never said I should become a priest. Rather, it would be things like going to confession and he insisting that I am a good man, or putting different responsibilities in my hands and expecting me to do a good job and trusting me. Recently, I gave a talk about eucharistic adoration to a group of high-schoolers. The reason I have an interest in adoration is because of Father Don. When he looks at the Eucharist, he’s not looking at a thing, he’s looking at a person. I see the priesthood as an incredible, life-giving thing to so many people and a beautiful way to give your whole self. And my parents had always been encouraging but careful not to put any pressure on me. They always took a step back because they wanted it to be as free a decision as possible. I also received a lot of encouragement later on from seminarians and the priests at the seminary because there are ups and downs, there are good times and bad times. I’ve been surrounded with people who are willing to hear out the difficulties that I was in and encourage me. I now try to abandon myself to God and have surrendered to the Holy Spirit, where I renounce myself and just say, “God lead me to serve; I’m willing to lay down my life.” Now, wherever there is a need, that’s where I want to be. I desire from God to do the beautiful things I’ve seen priests do in the past. I have a greater awareness of how God works and how he’s here with us and how he changes people’s lives and works through priests and all his servants. What I appreciate all the more is the great work God is doing to bring all of us to himself, to reconcile the world to himself. I’ve also grown to appreciate the role that priests play and that is exactly where I want to be. 13

I savor the priestly life of prayer, the sacramental work and ... I have really enjoyed and loved preaching.” – FATHER ANDREW AYERS

A SEVENTH-GRADE CLASSROOM BECAME HIS ‘FIRST PARISH’ FAT H E R A NDR E W AY E R S PAROCHIAL VICAR OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION PARISH, ROCKFORD CO-CHAPLAIN, WEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

My family originally was not Catholic, but when we moved to Grand Rapids from Chicago, I started going to Catholic school and then to Mass. My dad eventually became Catholic and the rest of us did the same shortly after that. 14

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

I was in second grade when I was baptized, confirmed and received Communion. I wanted to become a cardinal, but then I started to mature, as we all do. And so in middle school, I decided I wanted to become a priest in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, because that’s the place for me. It’s home and I also saw that there’s a need for priests. I went to Catholic Central and graduated in 2011. All the while, my classmates treated me with respect,

even though I hadn’t actually told anyone I wanted to be a priest. Yet, somehow, everyone knew within a couple of weeks. Other classmates from middle school must have told them. A trip to St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, really cemented it. There, I found a bunch of happy, happy men who were interested in the same things I was – but they weren’t all the same. I was impressed because I knew that one does not have to fit a particular mold to be a priest. I had meaningful conversations, and every man I talked to seemed very happy. I wanted to live in such a happy place. And so I enrolled at St. John Vianney College Seminary. That was a beautiful four years. I learned so much. I learned how to pray. But most of all, when it comes to my discernment, I learned it wasn’t just my idea of becoming a priest as when I was younger, because that was largely external. During my years in seminary, especially the first couple of years, I realized what the priesthood really is and I discerned this is the life that would give me the most peace and happiness, and would best use my talents given to me by the grace of God. My years in seminary definitely stretched me in appropriate and wonderful ways. I matured a lot during those years, in that I’ve learned to do the harder aspects of being a priest. During my sophomore year of college seminary, I taught seventh-graders in a parish faith-formation program. I saw them as my first parish, if you will, and sought to teach and guide them in the short time I had with them. They wanted me to be a priest, which was vocationally affirming. I savor the priestly life of prayer, the sacramental work and, since my ordination to the diaconate, I have really enjoyed and loved preaching. Now, I look forward to seeing how accompanying people will also help me grow. I’m looking forward to what it really means to be a priest after all these years of seminary.

PRAY FOR OUR NEW PRIESTS A novena for newly ordained priests has been organized by the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. Father Ayers and Father Mulderink are among 33 graduates being ordained this spring. TO PARTICIPATE, visit usml.edu/classof2019.

FATHER ANDREW'S FAVORITE ... BIBLE VERSE: Psalm 16 SPORTS TEAM: Chicago Cubs SAINT: Joan of Arc HOBBIES: Architecture, music and

fiction SUMMER READ: The World, the Flesh and Father Smith by Bruce Marshall

CONSIDERING THE PRIESTHOOD OR RELIGIOUS LIFE? CONTACT FATHER STEPHEN DURKEE, DIRECTOR OF PRIESTLY VOCATIONS, AT 616.475.1274 OR SDURKEE@GRDIOCESE.ORG.

ORDINATIONS

rdination 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC TANK

Bishop David Walkowiak ordained our two newest priests – Fathers Andrew Ayers and Rob Mulderink – on June 1 at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew at a Mass attended by family, friends, clergy and parishioners from around the diocese. “Among the ministry and its demands each day, make prayer your first priority,” Bishop Walkowiak said in his homily. “Pray first. You’ll find time for everything else later.”

BISHOP WALKOWIAK RECITES THE PRAYER OF ORDINATION AS CLERGY EXTEND THEIR HANDS IN BLESSING OVER FATHERS ANDREW AYERS AND ROB MULDERINK.

The congregation and concelebrants applaud as Deacons Andrew and Rob are presented as candidates for priestly ordination.

Father Rob promises respect and obedience to Bishop Walkowiak and his successors. 16

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

Father James Chelich, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Grand Rapids, vests Father Andrew with the stole and chasuble.

The bread and wine are placed into the hands of Father Rob, a symbol of his duty to preside at the celebration of the Eucharist.

The hands of the newly ordained are anointed with chrism oil.

Newly ordained priests and deacons join Bishop Walkowiak and principal concelebrants after Mass. (From left) Father August Belauskas of Mundelein Seminary, Father Stephen Dudek, Deacon Daniel Orris Jr., Father Stephen Durkee, Father Rob Mulderink, Father Ron Hutchinson, Bishop Walkowiak, Msgr. William Duncan, Father Andrew Ayers, Msgr. Edward Hankiewicz, Deacon Rob Couturier, Father RenĂŠ Constanza, CSP, and Father Tom Page.

WATCH A VIDEO OF THE ORDINATION MASS AT GRDIOCESE.ORG.

Father Rob embraces his father after the ordination Mass.

As Father Andrew kneels before him, Bishop Walkowiak places his hands upon him in silent prayer during the ordination rite.

Father Andrew blesses his mother after Mass.

GET TO KNOW OUR TWO NEWEST PRIESTS. SEE PAGE 12.

ORDINATIONS

Two men become transitional deacons Daniel Orris Jr. (left) and Dominic Couturier were ordained to the order of deacons on May 18 by Bishop David Walkowiak at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. Deacons Daniel and Dominic will continue their theological studies as they prepare for ordination to the priesthood in the spring of 2020.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC TANK

COLUMNIST FATHER STEPHEN DURKEE REFLECTS ON THE MEANING OF THE TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE. SEE PAGE 24.

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

1. On the steps of the cathedral are (l-r) Father Stephen Durkee, Father Ron Hutchinson, Deacon Dominic Couturier, Bishop David Walkowiak, Deacon Daniel Orris Jr., Msgr. William Duncan, Father RenĂŠ Constanza, CSP, and Father Tom Page.

1 2. Through the laying on of hands by Bishop Walkowiak, the gift of the Holy Spirit is conferred upon Deacons Daniel Orris Jr. and (3.) Dominic Couturier. 4. Deacon Dominic greets family and friends. 5. Bishop Walkowiak chats with Mass-goers outside the cathedral.

6. Family, friends and parishioners from across the diocese join in prayer for the newly ordained. 7. Deacon Andrew greets friends and family before Mass.

8. Newly ordained Deacons Dominic and Andrew are vested with a stole, a sign of holy orders, and dalmatic, a special tunic worn primarily at Mass.

SEE MORE PHOTOS AND WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE ORDINATION MASS AT GRDIOCESE.ORG.

A Q&A with

PARENTS OF A SEMINARIAN Meet the parents of André Klaes, who recently completed his first year at St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. We asked Jim and Jeanne Klaes, members of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Grand Haven, to share their perspective as the parents of a seminarian. Their parish is part of the pilot wave of the Our Shepherds – Our Future Capital Campaign, which will help prepare our future priests by funding seminary education. Other parishes participating in the pilot wave this summer are Holy Spirit, Immaculate Heart of Mary, SS. Peter and Paul, St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids; St. Patrick, Parnell; Holy Family, Sparta; and St. Simon, Ludington.

How does it feel to be the parents of a seminarian for the Diocese of Grand Rapids? It is an exciting time for us as parents of a seminarian, as well as for our son André. Throughout André’s childhood, we have often discussed with him that to attain true happiness is to have his will and God’s will totally align. So, we pray that he is open to listening to where God is calling him during these formative years in the seminary. We knew when we dropped him off at St John Vianney Seminary that he was at the right place. We feel blessed with the support of the seminary as they provide We feel blessed solid Catholic teaching and formation during this time of discernment. with the support

of the seminary

he Catholic Church recognizes parents T as the primary educators of their children. How have you seen the Holy Spirit at work solid Catholic as you have raised your family? teaching and The Holy Spirit provides the gifts we need formation as parents to raise our children in the faith. The Holy Spirit gives us the inner peace and trust during this time to follow God’s will. Assuredly, we have missed of discernment.” many opportunities the Holy Spirit has placed in our lives to educate our children in the faith. Even so, we have responded to some along the way. For example, we made a simple wooden altar, which André used to practice “saying Mass” when he was about 8 years old. Family-based Catholic traditions have also played a large part in teaching our children about the faith.

as they provide

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

The Klaes family traveled to Rocky Mountain National Park in 2018. From left are Katrina, Ian, Dominic, Jim, André, Jeanne and Bridget.

hat wisdom would you share with parents who W wish to foster discernment of a religious vocation in their children? Although it is preferable to start right after the birth of your child to train them in the faith, the important thing is teaching our faith today and every day going forward. We recommend starting with faith-building items such as family prayers – the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. As our children have grown, we have used faith-based traditions such as Advent calendars, Jesse trees, rice bowl during Lent, and have celebrated the Easter season through Pentecost. Additionally, we have been blessed with abundant grace through frequent participation in the sacraments, by attending adoration and by praying the rosary. We have also found that books about the saints have had a tremendous influence on our children, as saints are the real-life superheroes!

hat message would you impart to Catholics W discerning a financial commitment to Our Shepherds – Our Future? Over the past couple of decades, a tremendous number of faith-filled people have been praying for an increase in the number of seminarians in our diocese. God is obviously listening to these prayers and increasing the desire of many amazing young men to discern the priesthood! I urge you to prayerfully consider how God may be asking each of you to support this campaign. Funding this campaign, which will partly be used to help offset the costs of seminary education, may allow seminarians to more completely focus on God’s plan for them and a possible calling to the priesthood.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OUR SHEPHERDS - OUR FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND WHEN YOUR PARISH IS PARTICIPATING, VISIT GRDIOCESE.ORG.

CONGRATULATIONS,

CLASS OF 2019!

PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS Bishop David Walkowiak announces the following pastoral appointments, effective July 1 unless otherwise noted. > FATHER THOMAS BOLSTER, pastor of St. Gregory-Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Hart, has resigned as pastor due to health issues, effective June 30. > FATHER DANIEL SCHUMAKER,

parochial vicar of the Basilica of St. Adalbert-St. James Parish and St. Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, is appointed administrator of St. Gregory-Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Hart, and co-chaplain, Muskegon Catholic Central High School.

Father Thomas Bolster

Father Daniel Schumaker

in accepted scholarships (student-reported totals)

Father Robert Mulderink

Father Stephen Durkee

Father Andrew Ayers

Father Steven Geerling

> FATHER STEPHEN DURKEE, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Rockford, and associate director of priestly vocations, is appointed director of priestly vocations and will reside at St. Robert of Newminister Parish, Ada. > FATHER ANDREW AYERS, ordained

June 1, is appointed parochial vicar of Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Rockford, and co-chaplain, West Catholic High School. > In addition to his assignment as

pastor of St. Mary-St. Jerome Parish in Custer, FATHER DANIEL DEPEW is appointed administrator of St. Bernard Parish (Irons) and St. John Cantius Parish (Free Soil), effective June 30.

Father Daniel Depew

Deacon Michael Goodwin

Father Peter 0. Damian

Father G. Fredrick Brucker

> FATHER STEVEN GEERLING, administrator of St. Bartholomew Parish, Newaygo, and St. Joseph Parish, White Cloud, is appointed pastor of the two parishes. > DEACON MICHAEL GOODWIN is as-

signed to St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids, with Father Peter Damian, pastor, effective June 3.

graduation rate

$9,833,422

> FATHER ROBERT MULDERINK, or-

dained June 1, is appointed parochial vicar of the Basilica of St. Adalbert-St. James Parish and St. Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, and co-chaplain, West Catholic High School.

99%

> FATHER PETER O. DAMIAN, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids, has been incardinated into the Diocese of Grand Rapids, effective June 7, 2019. > FATHER G. FREDRICK BRUCKER, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Wright, St.

97%

of graduates have college plans Additional notable achievements: • 1st graduating class from Sacred Heart Academy • 1 grad entering seminary • 1 grad entering Marines, 4 entering ROTC

OBITUARY FATHER THOMAS HACK Father Thomas Hack, who served in parishes in the dioceses of Cincinnati and Grand Rapids, died on June 4. He was 89. Father Hack was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Dec. 9, 1929. After attending St. Gregory’s Preparatory and Mount St. Mary’s seminaries, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Karl J. Alter on May 28, 1955. Father Hack was incardinated into the Diocese of Grand Rapids on July 22, 1968. He served at parishes in Muskegon, Manistee, Byron Center, Sand Lake, Free Soil, Scottville and Ludington. For a time, he was general manager of the West Michigan Catholic. After retiring in 2003, he continued to provide sacramental ministry in parishes. He resided at the St. John Paul II Clergy House at St. Isidore Parish until 2018, when he moved to St. Ann’s Home in Grand Rapids. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop David Walkowiak on June 8.

Catherine Parish, Ravenna, and St. Francis Xavier Parish, Conklin, is granted senior priest status, effective Jan. 31, 2020.

THINGS TO DO

CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER 360 DIVISION AVE. S GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 Register for CIC programs at 616.459.7267 or register@catholicinformationcenter. org. Unless specified, a $10 donation is requested for all sessions. For a full listing of classes, visit www.catholicinformationcenter.org.

FRANCISCAN LIFE PROCESS CENTER LOWELL CAMPUS: 11650 DOWNES ST. LOWELL, MI 49331 GRAND RAPIDS CAMPUS: 654 DAVIS ST. NW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49504 HOLY BREW

Tuesday, July 9, 5:30-7 p.m., Paperback Picnic at the CIC, presented by Father Joachim Lally, CSP. Discussion on Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe. Cost: $15 (includes dinner; the book will be available for purchase).

Wednesdays, July 3 through Aug. 28, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Franciscan Artists, Lowell campus. Kathy Bechtel, art director, brings in an artist once a month to demonstrate new techniques and/or to get the artists started on a new activity. Cost: $7.50. Fridays, July 5 through Aug. 30, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Franciscan Friends, Lowell campus. Are you good at sewing, quilting, knitting or crocheting? Join us for a time of friendship and creating beautiful things that benefit children and adults in need. Contact kbechtel@lifeprocesscenter.org for more information. Tuesday, July 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Men’s Summer Retreat, Lowell campus. All men are welcome to this diocesan-wide retreat led by Msgr. Gaspar (Gus) Ancona. The day will include presentations, quiet reflection time, the sacrament of reconciliation, Mass and lunch. Cost: $60.

Thursdays, July 11 & Aug. 15, 6:308:30 p.m., Holy Brew for Adults in their 20s & 30s: What’s Brewing in Your Life?, with Father Michael Hennessy, CSP. Meeting at Perrin Brewing Company, 5910 Comstock Park Drive, Comstock Park. Sunday, July 21, 3-5:15 p.m., Family Picnic and Presentation: Transformed by Grace – Pope Francis & Everyday Holiness, with Paul Fahey, director of religious education, Most Holy Trinity Parish in Fowler, Michigan. A picnic dinner will be served from 3-4 p.m., followed by a presentation for adults (child care available). Cost: $10 per individual $15 per household. The event will be held in the Parish Center at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. Preregistration required. Tuesday, July 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Encountering Christ in Our Daily Lives, presented by seminarian Eric Hernandez, CSP. Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m., Young Adults Catholic Pub Trivia, with Father Michael Hennessy, CSP. Meeting at Atwater Brewery, 201 Michigan St NW, Grand Rapids.

For more information or to register, call 616.897.7842 or www.lifeprocesscenter.org.

Thursday, July 25, 5:30-9 p.m., Bowl-a-Rama! at Northfield Lanes, 2222 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. Gather family, friends or office staff. Purchase a lane for a team of six people, and you’ll enjoy bowling, delicious food, a team photo and a T-shirt. Proceeds support center programs. Contact Sarah Kelly at skelly@lifeprocesscenter.org for more information.

COMMUNITY WORK DAY

Thursday, July 25, 6:30-8 p.m., Introduction to NFP/FABM, Grand Rapids campus. This one-time session provides basic information about natural family planning, also known as a Fertility Awareness Based Method (FABM) of family planning. Topics include how FABMs work, effectiveness, differences between the various methods and Church teachings. This class may also help fulfill marriage preparation requirements. Cost: $20 (individuals) or $30 (couples). Fee waived for clergy. To learn more, contact Laura Chapin at lchapin@ lifeprocesscenter.org. Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 7-9, Bugs, Bees & Creepy-Crawlies Day Camp (ages 6-9), Lowell campus, with Sister Mary Paul Moller, FSE. Cost: $100. For camp descriptions and to register, visit www.lifeprocesscenter.org. Saturday, Aug. 10, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Community Work Day, Lowell campus. An opportunity to work with the sisters, Franciscan apprentices and other volunteers on service projects, including land maintenance, harvesting, canning produce, farm chores and seasonal tasks. The day concludes with lunch. For more information, call 616.897.7842 or email registrar@lifeprocesscenter.org. Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 14-16, Where Did this Come From: Food from Seed to Table and Animal Cycles that Help the Process Along Day Camp (ages 10-15), Lowell campus, with Sister Mary Paul Moller, FSE. Cost: $100. For camp descriptions and to register, visit lifeprocesscenter.org.

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

DOMINICAN CENTER AT MARYWOOD 2025 FULTON ST. E GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49803

A RETURN TO CIVIL DISCOURSE

A ministry of the Dominican Sisters. For more information, call 616.514.3325 or visit dominicancenter.com/events. Tuesday, July 16, 9:30-11 a.m., Soothing Silence: A Gift to Our World. Jeanne Lound Schaller teaches that children are never too young to help build a better world and adults are never too old to live, daily, honoring their God-given-gifts, thus inspiring all generations. Cost: $15. Thursday, July 18, 6-8:30 p.m., A Return to Civil Discourse, presented by Sister Ann Walters, OP, spiritual director; Victoria Vuletich, Center for Civil Discourse; and special guest Gleaves Whitney, Hauenstein Center. Join us and discover ways to engage in civil discourse grounded in the belief that civility is not weakness and that compromise is not surrender. Cost: $25 (students, $10). Monday, July 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Celebrating St. Mary Magdalene, presented on her feast day by Diane Zerfas, OP, coordinator, Center for Spirituality. Pope Francis called St. Mary Magdalene a “paradigm of the ministry of women in the Church.” Who was this Mary, where did all the distortions of her life originate and why did the Dominicans choose her as the patron of their order? Please bring a Bible. Cost: $15. Tuesday, July 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Creative Transformation: Quieting the Voices in Your Head, presented by Leara Glinzak, art therapist. Challenge your inner critic with an art and writing process that focuses on self-love and empowerment. Cost: $35. Wednesday, July 31, 6-8:30 p.m., Voices of Change: Michigan and the World. A viewing of the film The Nuns, the Priests, and the Bombs, reflections by Ardeth Platte, OP, and Carol Gilbert, OP. Sisters Ardeth and Carol envision a world free from nuclear weapons. Sponsored by Pax Christi West Michigan. Cost: $15. Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Creative Transformation: Visual Journaling, presented by Leara Glinzak, art therapist. In this session, you will make and use a visual journal to gain a stronger awareness of the relationships with others and your relationship with yourself. All materials are provided. Cost: $35. ONGOING Wednesdays, noon to 1 p.m., Lectio Divina, a contemplative practice and a way of praying with the Scriptures that opens our hearts to the word of God. This prayerful practice is a blend of silence and slow prayerful reading of Scripture.

2019 PARISH MINISTRY & CATECHETICAL CONFERENCE Saturday, Sept. 28 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register now for the annual Parish Ministry & Catechetical Conference to be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 at West Catholic High School, 1801 Bristol Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. “Open Wide Our Hearts” is the theme of this year’s conference, which will feature a keynote address by Mike Patin, a “faith horticulturist” who uses energy, humor and stories to affirm God's goodness and presence while inviting others to take the "next step" in our journey with God. More than 30 workshops will be offered along with daylong institutes on Scripture and catechesis. An additional institute will be offered in Spanish. Bishop David Walkowiak will celebrate Mass at noon. To register or for more information, visit grdiocese.org/parish-ministry-conference. Fees are $35 (before Aug. 1); $40 (Aug. 1-Sept. 20); or $50 (after Sept. 20).

AROUND THE DIOCESE •S unday, July 14, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., St. Joseph and St. Vincent Ox Roast and Homecoming, at St. Joseph, 2349 W. Jackson Road, Hart (Weare Township). Enjoy a meal and family fun including a photo booth, kids games, bingo, baked goods and more. Tickets: $12 (adults), $5 (kids 5-12). For more information, visit www.stjosephweare.org. •F riday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m., Mass of Hope, Health and Healing with the Sacrament of the Sick, St. Mary Catholic Church, 15164 Juniper Drive, Marne. For those experiencing physical, emotional or spiritual pain. All are welcome. •S unday, Aug. 11, 1 p.m., St. Pius X Golf Outing at Gleneagle Golf Course in Hudsonville to benefit the parish mission in Haiti. Cost: $60 for 18 holes/$45 for 9 holes (covers round, cart and dinner). Contact Andy Rebollar at arebollar@spxcatholic.org or 616.532.9344 23

Transitional deacon Andrew Ayers (ordained a priest on June 1) and permanent deacons Dan Schneider and Greg Anderson congratulate Dominic Couturier and Daniel Orris Jr. at their May 18 ordination to the transitional diaconate.

Whether permanent or transitional, deacons are

SERVANTS OF ALL BISHOP WALKOWIAK ORDAINED SEMINARIANS DOMINIC COUTURIER AND DANIEL ORRIS JR. TO THE TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE IN MAY. THIS WAS AN EXCITING DAY! It reminded me of the excitement I felt when I was a ordained a deacon. After my internship and the many moments of confirmation in prayer, I was ready to give my life to the Lord with a complete “Yes” on ordination day.

Some may be wondering: How does the “transitional” diaconate differ from the “permanent” diaconate? Whenever we ask ourselves questions like this, we should immediately seek answers from three sources: 1) Scripture, to affirm that this belief comes from Christ; 2) the magisterial teaching promulgated and upheld by the Church (e.g., the Catechism of the Catholic Church, documents of Vatican II, etc.); and 3) sacred tradition, or teaching that has been lived out over time in the life of the Church. Scripture tells us how the order of the diaconate began: “At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom ... 24

so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit [and others]. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.” (Acts 6:1-6) As the early Church grew, the need for more ministers became apparent; specifically to pray with the widows and the sick. It’s that age-old problem, plenty of work and not enough people. (cf. Mt 9: 37-38) The apostles realized they needed help. So they found others who would help provide for the spiritual needs of the faithful, especially those unable to gather with the community for the liturgy. In the catechism, our Church clarifies for us the role of a deacon: “Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of holy orders ... configures them to Christ, who made himself the ‘deacon’ or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries ... and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity. (CCC 1570)

FAITH Grand Rapids | July/August 2019 | GRdiocese.org

VOCATIONS

FATHER STEPHEN DURKEE

is director of priestly vocations for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.

FOR PHOTOS OF THE RECENT ORDINATION OF DEACONS DOMINIC COUTURIER AND DANIEL ORRIS JR., SEE PAGE 18.

The tradition of the diaconate is that an ordained deacon assists the priests of the Church in the ministry of the word, ministry of the altar and, finally, ministry of charity. Functionally, there is no difference between a permanent deacon and a transitional deacon. Both make the same promise at their ordination to be men of prayer, essential for one who is called to proclaim the Good News of the one he knows personally. Both are called to assist the priest or bishop during the liturgy of the Eucharist. As we read in the Book of Acts, the deacons also assist priests by bringing the Eucharist we celebrate out to those in need from our community. Finally, deacons are called to be servants of all. They are to know intimately the needs of the community so that they can help priests meet the needs of those in their care. To put it simply, the difference between transitional and permanent deacons is not in their ministerial actions but rather in how they are called to serve going forward. Transitional deacons have eventual ordination to the priesthood as the end goal. They take on more responsibility in serving God and his people without losing their diaconal call to be the servant of all. Permanent deacons do not have another ordination they are preparing for but are no less important. They remain a vital part of the Church community, serving God and neighbor as a response to the one who taught us to serve.

LAST WORD

SAVE THE DATE

SEPTEMBER 7

SHOUTING SHOUTING

MASS FOR HOME-SCHOOL FAMILIES

FROM THE ROOFTOPS

LIFEFEST WHEN: 6-8 p.m. WHERE: Revel Center, 1535 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Enjoy the fruits of the local harvest and experience the tastings of four West Michigan chefs. LIFEfest is a fundraising event that celebrates and supports the counseling programs of the Franciscan Life Process Center.

OCTOBER 13

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS WHEN: 10 a.m. WHERE: Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 301 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids Couples celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary are invited to attend, along with family members and other guests. Register with your parish secretary. A light reception will follow at Cathedral Square Center, 360 Division Ave. S.

OCTOBER 19

80TH ANNUAL FALL SEMINAR: CATHOLIC STRONG Presented by: Grand Rapids Diocesan Council of Catholic Women When: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: St. Mary's Catholic Church, 15164 Juniper Drive, Marne Speakers Katie Mendenhall and Margaret M. McCarthy will share their experience of how the Catholic community comes together in difficult times to support one another. Colleen Mitchell will present UPRISE, a global social media movement of Catholic generosity. Join us for this inspirational day. For more information, email grdccw@grdiocese.org.

DO YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO HAS A GREAT FAITH STORY? LET US KNOW. SEND YOUR STORY SUGGESTIONS TO PATRICIA MISH AT PMISH@GRDIOCESE.ORG

any given weekend when Catholics participate in the liturgy, one or two members of the congregation will come forward to the sanctuary, step in front of a lectern or pulpit and proclaim the assigned Scripture readings for that day. We call them lectors, or simply readers. They are doing us all a great service. They are reading the holy Bible out loud for us. We believe this to be “the word of the Lord.” So, when they conclude their reading and announce it as God's word, we respond, “Thanks be to God.”

Most of our parish lectors are not professional readers or speakers. They don’t ordinarily stand in front of hundreds of people, let alone announce a script as coming from God. The thought of doing so can be rather intimidating. The only other time we usually experience people reading out loud to us is via television or radio. Those are usually trained voices, speaking in front of a microphone or camera. It's their job to be an announcer. One blessed exception: There are still many parents who read to their young children before bedtime.

The word of the Lord needs first to find a home in the reader’s heart and mind before it works its way into the reader’s voice ...” In the assembly of God's people, it is not a job to be a lector. It is a special service or ministry that we render to our community of fellow believers. The lector becomes a medium through whom God's word is transmitted to the community. If that service is to be effective, it needs practice. No one, no matter how experienced or “professional,” can simply stand in fronts of tens or hundreds of people and, at first sight, “read” the selected Bible passages out loud and expect to do justice to God’s word or God’s people. For the announced word to reach the human heart, the public reader needs to live with that selection of passages for a while. The word of the Lord needs first to find a home in the reader’s heart and mind before it works its way into the reader’s voice ... and before any worries about the microphone or shaky hands and wobbly knees.

MSGR. GASPAR F. ANCONA T. Gennara

SEPTEMBER 26

GETTY IMAGES/AARONAMAT

WHEN: 10 a.m. WHERE: Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 301 Sheldon Blvd. SE Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate a back-to-school Mass with home-school families. Families are invited to bring a lunch for a picnic afterward at John Ball Park (weather permitting).

is a senior priest of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. 25