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FROM THE BISHOP
BISHOP EARL BOYEA
is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing @BishopBoyea
Carlson Productions
WE ARE NEVER FINISHED WITH MERCY
IT SEEMS WE ARE NOT DONE WITH MERCY! Pope Francis has decided to continue the fruits of the Year of Mercy even as he concluded the formal jubilee: “The Jubilee now ends and the Holy Door is closed. But the door of mercy of our heart continues to remain open.”
The Holy Father wants us to be a part of the culture of mercy and to realize that our efforts will be unique to each one of us: ‘The works of mercy are handcrafted, in the sense that none of them is alike.’”
(Misericordia et Misera, #16)
He wants us to continue to celebrate mercy.
The pope finds that the Church is already celebrating mercy throughout the Mass, as well as in the sacraments. But all of us, especially the laity, can find additional ways to be agents of this ongoing mercy. Pope Francis starts by urging us to be the face of consolation: “A reassuring word, an embrace that makes us feel understood, a caress that makes us experience love, a prayer that makes us stronger… all these things express God’s closeness through the consolation offered by our brothers and sisters.” (#13) Sometimes, he adds, it is in just being with others in silence that we show great consolation. However, for all of us, the real path that has been, and remains, open is that of charity, the path of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: “Mercy impels us to roll up our sleeves and set about restoring dignity to millions of people.” (#18) The Holy Father wants us to be a part of the culture of mercy and to realize that our efforts will be unique to each one of us: “The works of mercy are handcrafted, in the sense that none of them is alike.” (#20) So, my sisters and brothers, perhaps this is an opportune time to reflect on how each of us might be uniquely called to continue the work of creating such a culture through prayer and good works. Pope Francis also spent a good amount of time in this document on the sacrament of reconciliation, where “we feel the embrace of the Father, who comes forth to meet us and grant us grace.” We know we are sinners and “we bear the burden of the contradiction between what we wish to do and what we do in fact.” But the amazing thing is that “God makes us understand his great love for us precisely when we recognize that we are sinners.” (#8) After this, Pope Francis gives some directions to priests and then he states: “The sacrament of reconciliation must regain its central place in the Christian life. This requires priests capable of putting their lives at the service of the ‘ministry of reconciliation,’ (2 Cor 5:18) in such a way that, while no sincerely repentant sinner is prevented from drawing near to the love of the Father who awaits his return, everyone is afforded the opportunity of experiencing the liberating power of forgiveness.” (#11) We are entering the season of Lent, the great time for us to draw back from our own desires and seek the will of God, the time to draw back from our own needs and focus on those of others, the time to draw back from sin and seek out the mercy of God. Sisters and brothers, I invite you to the sacrament of reconciliation. If it has been a long time, do not worry. Your priest will be most helpful and patient in assisting this holy moment for you. Remember, in the sacrament you encounter not the priest, but Jesus Christ, who reaches into our hearts, forgives us, pours the Holy Spirit into us and draws us to the Heavenly Father. From this sacrament, may all of us, then, be ambassadors of mercy to all we meet. 3
FAITH HELPS
FROM THE EDITOR
Engage in some LENTEN HOUSEKEEPING
I
N JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS, we will mark the start of spring. As the days continue to grow warmer and longer, our thoughts will turn to getting gardens cleaned up and ready for planting, lawns will be raked and readied for their first spring haircut, and grills will be cleaned and prepared for the cookouts that will follow. As a child growing up in my parents' home, there was another ritual that accompanied the approach of the first day of spring: spring cleaning in the house.
T.Gennera
After the long days of winter, the arrival of spring marked the opportunity to open up the windows, and get down to the serious work of cleaning up the inside of the house after a long winter. Curtains were taken down and washed, the linens used for winter were exchanged for the those of spring and summer, the wood floors would be polished until FATHER they gleamed, the garage was opened up and thoroughly swept clean, DWIGHT EZOP and the windows would get their spring washing, inside and out. Spring is the editor of cleaning was a big deal when I was a kid, and my brother and I would FAITH Magazine both be expected to lend a hand, helping mom and dad to get the house and pastor of ready for the warmer months ahead. St. Mary Parish, This issue of FAITH should be arriving very close to March 1, which Charlotte and is Ash Wednesday for 2017. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the St. Ann Church, Church's journey through Lent, a time when we can all ask for the gift of Bellevue God's grace and engage in some Lenten housekeeping in preparation for Email: editor@ the great feast of Easter. FAITHpub.com. As Lent begins, we are encouraged to make more time to pray. For some, this may require cleaning out a special spot for prayer in the place where we live. Making a special space for prayer – marking it with a candle, a Bible, a rosary, a religious image or statue – is an outward way of preparing for an inward transformation. A comfortable and prayerful space for Lent might mean that the same space will continue to be used as a place for daily prayer throughout the year to follow. Making daily effort to spend time in prayerful conversation with God is a fundamental way to make sure our spiritual house is in order. Fasting is another powerful Lenten opportunity. In asking for God's grace to assist us in mastering our physical appetites, we have the opportunity to once again clearly understand the difference between what we think we want and what we truly need. Fasting challenges us to make use of that which we thought we wanted in order to benefit those around us. As St. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us, we can live simply so that others might simply live. Giving alms – the regular practice of charity – encourages us to clean up our relationships with others. We can become easily mired in our own selfish desires. Lent encourages us to shift our gaze from the needs of self to focus more intently on the needs of others. This kind of charity is not just about our checkbooks. It is also about our hearts and our hands. Is there an elderly neighbor who could use a little assistance with weekly grocery shopping or spring chores? Is there someone we know who has been going through a challenging time who could benefit from a visit or a shared meal? Is there someone we have not spoken with in some time who would love a card, a call or a visit? Lent is here and spring will follow soon. As Lent arrives, we have the opportunity to get some spring cleaning done in our physical and our spiritual homes. These days of Lent are a good opportunity to open ourselves more fully to God's grace, so that we can be truly prepared for the Easter spring which is ahead. And so our journey in FAITH continues. 4
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DISCIPLESHIP
For personal reflection or small group discussion Parenting
1. How can you express the reasons you love your faith to your children? In what ways can you affirm your children’s commitment to their faith?
Spiritual Fitness
1. Sr. Ann suggests making only one or two sacrifices during Lent. What sacrifice will you choose this Lent? What can you do to help you stay true to your penance throughout the Lenten season?
Cover (Ryan Adelman)
1. The cover story about Ryan describes several events where he was invited to “step out” of his comfort zone to grow in his faith. How can you invite others to discover or experience God’s love for them? 2. In what ways can you accompany someone searching for a greater sense of belonging to God?
Feature (Jose Gallo)
1. Jose discovered that “walking in Jesus’ steps” made his faith more real. What activities or programs could you participate in this Lenten Season to help you deepen your relationship with Jesus?
FIND MORE ONLINE GO TO FAITHPUB.COM TO FIND ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND RESOURCES
INSIDE MARCH 2017 COVER STORY ‘IF YOU GIVE JESUS A CHANCE, YOU WON’T REGRET IT – RYAN WITNESSES TO EIGHTHGRADERS AS A CATECHIST P. 16
YOUR LIFE
6 marriage matters
He says: ‘She posts too many photos of our kids on Facebook.’ She says: ‘He is overreacting, I get tons of ‘likes’.’ What do they do?
7 parenting journey
M y daughter, a practicing Catholic, is dating a Muslim man
work life
How can I avoid forced overtime?
8 goodlife
How to manage loan debt
YOUR FAITH
9 spiritual fitness
Lectio Divina – Praying through the year with Scripture
10 in the know with Father Joe Is religion really the cause of all the world’s problems?
12 theology 101
What do you say when … A co-worker asks why we worship Mary and the saints?
YOUR FAITH
P. 26
P. 31
SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS
20 my story
‘Stepping into his shoes … it changed me’ – Jose stands in as Jesus in live Stations of the Cross
FOLLOW FAITH PUB
SPECIAL REPORT: immigration and refugee crisis
FAITH INTERVIEW: Finding Jesus – a CNN series
22 my story
Now feeling ‘loved and accepted’ – Barb has found healing through Courage ministry
LENT SPECIAL REPORT: … he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.” (Mk 1:13)
P. 29
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YOUR LIFE MARRIAGE MATTERS
HE SAYS:
She posts too many photos of our kids on Facebook Every time I open Facebook, I see pictures of our kids. I get that Michelle wants to share their cute antics, but I feel as if it’s inappropriate to post pictures the kids may find embarrassing later.
SHE SAYS:
He is overreacting, I get tons of “likes”
WE CONSULTED TWO EXPERTS, our 15and 16-year-old daughters. Their consensus: WHAT DO yes, childhood pictures can be embarrassing, THEY DO? no matter who sees them, or how or when. But they’re completely innocent. It’s normal and cool for parents to show off their children, whether in real life or in pictures.
STEVE AND BRIDGET PATTON
hold master’s degrees in theology and counseling and serve as family life ministers for the Diocese of Sacramento.
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But our 16-year-old found it jarring that Michelle, in discussing whether posting these pictures is right, would care at all about the “likes” or comments. If it’s wrong to post them – and our daughter is not saying it is – then it’s irrelevant whether they’re popular. We agree with the experts. Since popularity is a notoriously unreliable guide to morality (Gal 1:10: “Am I now currying favor with human beings, or God?”), we urge Michelle to put the “likes” in proper perspective. We also agree that showing off pictures of your children is, in general, not inappropriate. In fact it can be wonderful. But Josh doesn’t seem to disagree with this. He has deeper concerns. These days, the moment we send any picture anywhere over the internet, we have to expect it could
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I think Josh is overreacting. The kids are too young to care about what’s on Facebook, and my friends and family love seeing their pictures – I get tons of “likes” and comments!
end up in anyone’s hands, at any time. And they could do anything with it. While some parents might think “So what?” and upload pictures anyway, others might be horrified and never upload a thing. There is no absolute right or wrong on this. It’s a matter of Josh and Michelle having differing comfort zones, and needing to find a common ground. Here’s a suggestion: For the moment, set aside your respective “positions” and focus only on thoroughly understanding and appreciating each other’s underlying desires. Make no corrections or critical comments. Your goal is not to win the other over, but only to sincerely and lovingly reflect back what is heartfelt by the other. Examples: “It’s wonderful that you want the whole world to enjoy our children.” “Thank you for really wanting to protect our children.” The more you are able to genuinely appreciate one another’s innermost desires and concerns, the more willing you will be to grow and bend, together, toward a place within both of your comfort zones. God wants you to get there, so pray that he will help you find the way.
YOUR LIFE PARENTING JOURNEY
A marriage in his culture was changing. Young adults attending univerDuring a tour of Ketchikan, Alaska, a Tlingit elder explained how
sity often fell in love with non-Tlingit partners. Given the fluid nature of our global village, many parents are asking themselves: How do we react?
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Remember that “patience gains all things.” When children are young, parents make decisions about education, leisure time and religion. It can be challenging when young adults make their own life choices. St. Teresa of Avila’s prayer emphasizes patience: “Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing; God only is changeless. Patience gains all things. Who has God wants nothing. God alone suffices.”
Q
My adult daughter, who’s always been a practicing Catholic, is dating a Muslim man. I just don’t see how this can work – how do I react?
T. GENNARA
My daughter, a practicing Catholic, is dating a Muslim man
DR. CATHLEEN MCGREAL
is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.
Encourage your daughter to discern God’s will. As a practicing Catholic, your daughter is nourished by the word and Eucharist each week. Dialogue with a member of her parish staff, such as the pastor or spiritual director, can help her discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “Differences about faith and the very notion of marriage, but also different religious mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the education of children.” (CCC #1634)
Explore resources about interfaith relationships. Thoughtful engagement with your daughter and her boyfriend regarding religion needs to be based on knowledge rather than suppositions. What do Islam and Christianity have in common as “Children of Abraham”? What are the key distinctions? You can help your daughter reflect on these topics if you have a basic understanding of his faith. When pondering how to react, turn to Scripture before an impulsive response slips out. Pray Proverbs 3:5-6.
HOW CAN I AVOID FORCED OVERTIME?
Q
I am regularly working more than 50 hours per week, even though I’m only supposed to be working 40. I don’t really
care about the extra money – I’d rather have the time. Is there a way for me to avoid this forced overtime without losing my job?
T. Gennara
YOUR LIFE WORK LIFE
JIM BERLUCCHI
is the executive director of the Spitzer Center for Ethical Leadership.
A
Well, it’s nice to be wanted. And overtime is much better than undertime or no time at all. Because there are so many variables in every particular workplace, it’s hard to answer your question. But you imply that your job is at risk if you don’t take the hours. Which implies that overtime is mandatory. In that case, what does “supposed to be working 40” mean? Is that in your employment contract, if you have one? Is there an expectation that overtime will be required? If so, is it just occasional or long-term? Is it just expected in your work culture that everyone works overtime, whether they want to or not?
Make sure you are clear on the ground rules and expectations. On that basis you can weigh your options, which include: • The safest step – just keep working the overtime. • The reasonable step – politely raise the issue with your supervisor. • The riskiest step – inform your employer that you do not want to work overtime. • The ultimate step – pursue another job that fits your desired lifestyle. You seem pretty clear on your priority of time over money. So, it’s really a matter of wisely discerning how to achieve your goal. Here’s some slam-dunk advice I’ve followed scores of times: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and he will be given it.” (James 1:5) 7
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GOODLIFE
I
F YOU ARE LIKE MOST MILLENNIALS, you probably have student loan debt. In fact, the average 2016 college graduate was given a parting gift of more than $37,000 in debt. (studentloanhero.com) How are you supposed to be a card-carrying member of the adult world – meaning decent furniture, your own apartment, real dishes instead of paper – when you have this monstrosity of debt hanging over your head? Here are a few tips to get you started.
HOW TO MANAGE
LOAN DEBT Have your payment taken directly from your bank account. This may sound painful, but it’s not as bad as feeling that money in your hands for a few seconds before watching it slip through your fingers once you realize it’s not actually disposable income.
1
Work for a not-forprofit or government employer to potentially qualify for public service loan forgiveness. If you choose to work for either of these employers, you could have the balance of your student loans forgiven. Serving in a fulltime AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position could qualify as well. As Christians, we are called to live out our faith – that extends to our chosen professions as well.
2
Go through studentloans.gov to research loan consolidation. Be careful about consolidating your loans through someone who offers to do so for a fee. The U.S. Department of Education does not charge for loan consolidation.
3
Remember that regardless of where we are in life, we are called to charitable giving. This does not have to be solely monetary – it can be donating clothing and goods that you are no longer using. Look for ways to glorify God in giving with a happy heart as you work on repayment, and your efforts will be blessed. – CYNTHIA KAAN
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SPIRITUAL FITNESS
YOUR FAITH
After you have read these verses, pause and ask God to show you what he wants you to see, to understand, to imitate. Then read the passage again, slowly, out loud. Then read my commentary below, slowly.
LECTIO DIVINA Praying through the year with Scripture
Are we doing good deeds for the right reasons? Gospel for March 1, 2017, Ash Wednesday
Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”(Mt 6:1-6, 16-18)
T. Gennara
SISTER ANN SHIELDS
is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. @srannshieldssgl
In this Gospel passage, Jesus is showing us that doing the good deed (s) is not enough. Our motive is essential. Why do I pray? Why do I do good deeds on behalf of the needs of others? Some people might say, “Well, helping others is an essential part of being a good Christian, a Catholic,” and they would be right. But, if I am completely honest with myself, do I perform good deeds partly because I want to be recognized? Motive is absolutely essential for our sacrifices during Lent. If I take on various small penances in prayer and fasting, I need to ask myself: “Why am I doing that?” We can be tempted to be somewhat self-focused, self-centered. Read the passage again; get it first into your mind and your heart. God never asks the impossible. He wants to bring us in love to union with him forever. Self-denial is an essential piece of the process. Jesus is asking us to do penance and, second, to do it for the right reasons. The motives that led the If I am completely honest with Pharisees to blow trumpets are deadly because they focus on myself, do I perform good deeds self and exclude God’s essential partly because I want to be action, which has the power to recognized? Motive is absolutely transform us if we allow it. essential for our sacrifices It doesn’t mean you have to hide so that no one sees during Lent. If I take on various your good works. The most small penances in prayer and important thing is to pay fasting, I need to ask myself: attention to your motives and ‘Why am I doing that?’” give yourself a “good talkingto” when you realize that a real part of your motivation is to somehow show others how good you are and to receive praise. During Lent, the most important thing we can do is make an honest examination of conscience. Ask yourself point-blank: Why am I choosing to make this sacrifice during Lent? Choose to do it to grow in closeness to God; to contribute your part in making your life more a reflection of his presence than your own; to make the lives of others better. Make only one or two sacrifices during Lent. Every day, ask yourself, “Why am I offering this sacrifice today?” Self-will may try to insert itself and turn your focus to your own satisfaction rather than God’s. If you realize this has happened in the course of the day, take your “double motive” and ask God to purify it. Don’t be discouraged by your selfishness. Lenten sacrifices should help us to see how to turn ourselves more to the Lord and purify our motives. At Easter, we can more fully enter into his glory and the unfathomable joy of the resurrection because we have decreased in selfishness, and God will have increased his presence in us. Remember the last verse of this Scripture passage: “Your Father, who sees what is hidden, will repay you.” 9
IS RELIGION REALLY THE CAUSE OF ALL THE WORLD’S PROBLEMS? Q
DEAR FATHER JOE: My friends say religion is the cause of all the world’s problems. What do I say to them?
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
10
A tion. It pops up a lot in various forms and has often It’s great to get an opportunity to answer this ques-
become a throw-away response, given without thought as to whether or not it’s true. With that in mind, I want to offer a brief look at some statistics (stick with me!) on war, and then dive right into what I feel may very well be the problem. Why are we starting with war? Because, in my opinion, it’s the best example of why the statement, “Religion is the cause of all the world’s problems” doesn’t hold up when we take a deeper look. War is the biggest scourge on our planet, and it’s often what I find people are talking about when they make the statement that religion is the world’s biggest problem. With that in mind, let’s look to The Encyclopedia of Wars, a massive set of reference books concerning war throughout human history. According to this source, there have been 1,763 wars on record. Of them, 123 are classified as having a religious cause. This accounts for a touch less than 7 percent of all wars in our history being religious in nature. So, how does it happen that “Religion is the cause” becomes such an acceptable lie to propagate? Because it’s simple and quick. We are too concerned with quick
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summaries than actual knowledge. It’s a sweeping and fast statement that most don’t know how to argue. If you have the opportunity, go to your local church and ask what they are doing to help people and I think you’ll be shocked. You’ll probably find that your church feeds a lot of people, helps folks who stop in and need things, takes care of children in trouble, visits folks in prison or the hospital – all sorts of things that are simply good. Now, consider the fact that, in most towns, villages and cities, this is happening all because of religion. This isn’t to state that religion and religious institutes aren’t, at times, a problem or downright sinful in their decisions: not at all. I write these things to offer a perspective that you may not often hear outside of religion. I’d suggest that the biggest blessing of religion is also its biggest problem: humans. I have shared many times with many people, “If you want a perfect Church, you have to leave it.” You and I are flawed. We are sinful. We drop the ball. Put enough of us together in a pack and you’ve got a real problem sometimes. In my opinion, that means the root of the problems in the perception of religion is us. Changing our thought process from blaming religion to blaming ourselves can be painful and challenging, but it is vital to helping us move beyond “Those people need to change” into actually solving the problem. So, what can we do? How can we as religious people
be instruments of positive change? How can we offer unbelievers a chance to re-evaluate the value of religion? No surprise, I’m sure, but I’ve got a few ideas. We need to slow down. As soon as anyone makes a move or any event of significance unfolds in our society, the “agenda people” jump on us and tell us to be afraid or be angry. We quickly run about our social circle or social media and tell people why we were right, how they were wrong, why we should be afraid, why we should be angry – ugh. What if we paused? What if, before we condemn that person or use that situation as a prop, we paused and prayed? What if we responded instead of reacted? I think that would help us gain credibility. We need to prayerfully give our anger or fear to God. The more we give in to our anger and fear, the stronger they become – until they consume us. I have observed first-hand the tragedy of pointing anger and/ or fear in a spiritual direction and calling it “conversion,” and there are few things more dangerous than that. Each day, each moment, we should be giving our anger and fear over to the Lord and not allow those emotions to feed anger and fear. We need to speak and share words of love and peace. Remember Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the meek”?
To be meek means to refuse to do harm to others. We need to embrace meekness and very carefully monitor and measure our words so that we bring the light and life of Jesus to others. Where appropriate, we need to enter the worlds that we are afraid of or angry at. Are you a Republican who is angry at your Democrat friends? Are you a Democrat who is angry at your Republican friends? Engage them, not in order to change them, but to understand where they are coming from. Sit with them, eat with them, see how they love their families, their friends. See how they want what is best for our country. In the end, you may or may not agree with them about how to get there, but I think you’ll see that they want to get to the same space you do. It’s hard to hate people you know. These are obviously just a few ideas, not a complete list of them. Pray and see where God wants you to go in order to be an effective witness to the goodness of religion. God wants us to shine. He wants us to bring his love and joy everywhere we go. We need to work hard and cooperate with his grace so as to drive out the fear and anger in our hearts and show the world through our love, sacrifice and kindness the power of a life given to God. Enjoy another day in God’s presence.
Changing our thought process from blaming religion to blaming ourselves can be painful and challenging, but it is vital to helping us move beyond ‘Those people need to change’ into actually solving the problem.”
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YOUR FAITH THEOLOGY 101
What do you say when … A CO-WORKER ASKS WHY WE WORSHIP MARY AND THE SAINTS? In 2017, Theology 101 is focusing on the topic of evangelization. Specifically, the task is to offer some ways of approaching various questions Catholics may encounter from co-workers, family and friends regarding the practice of the faith. Of course, we must remember that nothing can replace the power of witnessing to the Good News through our own actions and words combined with our willingness to accompany others on their faith journey. THE QUESTION: What do I say to my Protestant co-worker who asks why we worship Mary and the saints?
S. OLSON
SEEK COMMON GROUND
DOUG CULP
is the CAO and secretary for pastoral life for the Diocese of Lexington, Ky. He holds an MA in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
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In approaching an answer to this question, it would be helpful if you could first find common ground, that is, something about which you and the co-worker can agree. So let’s begin there. Now we know Catholics do not worship Mary and the saints. Catholics worship God alone. So what is the nature of our relationship to Mary and the saints that could give a Protestant co-worker the impression that we do worship them? Well, we pray to them. However, more specifically, we pray to them in order to ask for their intercession, and it is precisely the notion of intercession where we find common ground with our Protestant sisters and brothers. Intercessory prayer, or prayer that asks on the behalf of another, is a common practice for all Christians. We
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pray for each other – for all kinds of reasons. When one of our loved ones is sick, we ask those around us to pray for the person’s recovery, whether they personally know our loved one or not. When we are about to face a major challenge or when we are dealing with any kind of adversity, we ask others to pray for us. It is simply a natural part of our shared faith. Catholic Christians do it, Protestant Christians do it – and for good reason. The practice of intercessory prayer is affirmed and encouraged by the sacred Scriptures. The Bible contains many passages that either provide us with examples of intercessory prayer (Gn 17:18, Gn 24:1214, Nm 12:13, 1 Sm 7:5-9), of its effectiveness (Mt 5:44, 8:13, 15:28, 17:15-18, Mk 9:17-29, Lk 8:4955) and of our need to directly engage in intercessory prayer for others (1 Tim 2:1-4, Rom 15:30-32, Col 4:3, 1 Thes 5:25, Jas 5:14). BUILD UPON THE FOUNDATION
With intercessory prayer as a point of agreement, you can now begin to elaborate upon the Catholic understanding of the expansiveness of the prayer “network” accessible to us. For the Catholic Christian, the boundary between this earthly existence and a heavenly existence is death, but this does not mean that heaven is a place for the dead. The saints in heaven are very much alive. Therefore, this boundary loses its power and its “sting.” We could say that it does not exist
at all for the Catholic Christian, just as the boundary for who we should pray for (a president, a pauper, an enemy, or a soul in purgatory – a topic for another day) does not exist. In other words, the prayer circle for a Catholic extends beyond earth to heaven. Consequently, we can just as readily ask for the prayers of Mary and the saints as we can ask our next-door neighbor, or as a Protestant Christian can ask his or her pastor to pray for them. WHY ASK FOR THE PRAYERS OF MARY AND THE SAINTS?
Faith and devotion of Mary and the saints can support our own weaknesses and supply what might be lacking in our own faith and devotion. The Gospels witness to the fact that Jesus often healed Intercessory prayer, or prayer someone based that asks on the behalf of on the faith of another. another, is a common practice Perhaps the for all Christians. We pray for most striking each other – for all kinds of example of this reasons. is the story of the healing of the centurion’s servant in the Gospel of Matthew. (8:5-13) Also look at the Letter of James (5:16): “The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.” If this is
the case, then the prayers of Mary and the saints must be particularly powerful as they have truly been made perfect in heaven. (see Heb 12:22-23) Now, this does not mean that Catholics should not pray directly to Jesus, the one mediator between God and humanity. In fact, Catholics do exactly this, especially in the prayers of the Mass. However, this does not mean we should not also ask our fellow Catholics and Christians, both on earth and in heaven, to pray for us as Christ has allowed us all the privilege of sharing in his one mediation.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VENERATION AND WORSHIP? It might be further help to make some important distinctions in terms of the way Catholics speak about Mary and the saints. For example, we have already made a distinction between prayer to Mary and the saints and worship of Mary and the saints, that is, the prayer we offer to Mary and the saints is prayer in the sense of a request for prayers from Mary and the saints, and not worship. In addition, there is a difference between worship of God, veneration of Mary and honoring of the saints. Worship, or adoration, is reserved for the triune God alone. Veneration is an act of great respect or reverence that is offered to Mary as the mother of God. The honoring of the saints consists in holding them in high esteem due to the heroic virtue they exhibited during their earthly life and their place among the heavenly hosts.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION Consider prayerfully reading the following passage from the Gospel of John (2:1-10): On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (And) Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What does this passage teach you about the relationship between Mary and Jesus? 2. What does this passage say about the nature of Mary’s intercessory prayer? 3. How might this passage help you explain to a Protestant brother or sister why Catholics pray to Mary?
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INTRODUCING THE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF THE DIOCESE OF LANSING T
HE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF THE DIOCESE OF LANSING was established in 2016 as an important step in planning and providing for the future needs of the Catholic Church in our diocese. Initially, the Catholic Foundation will receive, administer and distribute funds raised through Witness to Hope. The mission of the Catholic Foundation is as big as the diocese itself. The Diocese of Lansing extends from Hillsdale and Lenawee counties in the south, to Clinton and Shiawassee counties in the north – and includes Ann Arbor, Jackson, Flint and Lansing. Through Witness to Hope, the Catholic Foundation will raise and distribute tens of millions of dollars to each of our parishes; millions more will be dedicated to start endowed funds at the Catholic Foundation in support of core functions, including the faith formation of our children, the John Madigan education of our seminarians, the support of our retired priests and the countless charitable works performed by Catholic organizations, especially through our five Catholic Charities agencies. The Catholic Foundation occupies a small farmhouse located between St. Mary’s Cathedral and the State Capitol. It is a separate and distinct nonprofit organization under the guidance and care of Bishop Boyea. The Catholic Foundation’s Board of Directors – appointed by Bishop Boyea – is charged with assuring the foundation’s transparency in operations and accountability to the people of the diocese. Bishop Boyea has appointed three diocesan officials as its initial directors: Deacon John Cameron, chancellor; George Landolt, chief financial officer; and Father Mike Murray, moderator of the curia. In addition, a Witness to Hope Accountability Oversight Committee will publish reports in FAITH Magazine concerning the receipt and disbursement of funds raised in the capital campaign. The Catholic Foundation’s Board of Directors will be expanded to include individuals from across the diocese with practical experience and professional expertise relevant to its operations and management. Its day-to-day activities are led by John Madigan, executive director. John is an Illinois attorney with extensive experience in the growth and operations of Catholic organizations. He is joined by Pat O’Hearn and Lisa Weber, formerly of the diocese’s Development Department, and Colleen Andrews, who oversees data entry processes and donor services. The Catholic Foundation will promote the Church’s spiritual, educational and charitable mission by helping to secure the future financial needs of our parishes, schools and Catholic organizations. In so doing, it will work with the people of the diocese to address their financial and charitable planning goals, especially via the identification and development of gift and estate-planning opportunities. The Catholic Foundation will utilize endowed funds and other vehicles – such as reserve funds and capital campaigns – in its efforts to advance the long-term financial well-being of our Catholic ministries. CONTACT JOHN MADIGAN WITH ANY THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT OUR NEW CATHOLIC FOUNDATION: 517.342.2450; JMADIGAN@DIOCESEOFLANSING.ORG.
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WITNESS TO HOPE W
ITNESS TO HOPE – the Diocese of Lansing’s first capital campaign – is in full-swing! As of early January, with several parishes still working, parishioners in the 16 “Pilot Wave” parishes have pledged more than $20 million – exceeding the Pilot Wave’s overall goal of $19.75 million. Twenty-four more parishes are just beginning Wave I of Witness to Hope. Wave II of the campaign will commence in July 2017, when 41 parishes begin their efforts. Altogether, Witness to Hope is committed to raising $65 million – or more – in financial support for our parishes, schools, charities, retired priests and seminarians. More than $30 million will be dedicated to special projects at each of our parishes. Endowments exceeding $20 million will be established at the new Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Lansing in witness to the tremendous hope we all have for the future of the Church in the Diocese of Lansing. For the latest information on Witness to Hope, you can check the weekly parish reports on the campaign website: WWW.WITNESSTOHOPE.NET
‘ EXTRAORDINARY
MOMENTS’ ALONGSIDE THE CHALLENGES A
S A CHILD, MSGR. MICHAEL D. MURPHY contemplated priesthood. The words of his mother
changed his life. While he paced the upstairs of his house, questioning if entering the seminary was the right move, he said his mother told him to simply check it out, and he could always return home. That advice, he said, was powerful enough that, if approached by someone discerning and looking for guidance, he tells them the same thing. “I can't imagine doing something different than what I have done. It’s been extremely fulfilling,” he says. Msgr. Murphy was ordained in 1966, and over his 51 years of service in the diocese, he has served at 11 different parishes, including St. Patrick’s in Brighton and St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing. In addition, he has served the Diocese of Lansing as vicar for religious, moderator of the curia and vicar general. Over the years, Msgr. Murphy has encountered many men and women who have impacted him in some way, and he remembers what he calls an “extraordinary moment” when he received a call from a parishioner who was a psychologist. The parishioner, he says, had been helping a woman who was experiencing issues with forgiveness, and he asked Msgr. Murphy if he would meet with the woman. “It turns out, the woman had been terribly abused,” he explains. She ended up working as a prostitute in Detroit, abused drugs and at one point had an abortion. “I told her, ‘In order to get over this stuff, you have to forgive those people,’” he says. “That stunned her.” He met with the woman a few times, guiding her to finding forgiveness. He then obtained her permission to share her story. About a year later, Msgr. Murphy closed a retreat by telling the “extraordinary moment,” but what he didn’t know is that the moment would continue. He recalls: “A woman came charging out after me ... and she takes a diamond ring off her hand, and she says, ‘I want you to give this to that lady.’” The ring was given to the woman at the retreat by her husband, and she asked Msgr. Murphy to also relay a message that not all men are abusive – that her husband loved and cared for her. He was eventually able to find the woman and give her
the ring. Msgr. Murphy says the woman told him she has experienced every type of drug, but the ring was a “much better high than anything.” Despite these “extraordinary moments,” Msgr. Murphy says his life has come with its challenges. But he knows he’s not alone. While reading daily meditations from the saints, he has realized that every saint faced constant difficulties and conflicts, and those struggles are important pieces of life. He stresses that we must remember to remain faithful and move forward. “It’s been a wonderful journey and I love it. I would tell a young man, ‘I loved what I've done and it’s good for me. Check it out’; or, as Jesus said, ‘Come and see,’” he says. Msgr. Murphy represents many men who have served the diocese with distinction. Part of the diocesan-wide Witness to Hope campaign is to honor their “extraordinary moments” and challenges by providing for them in their retirement. – Cari Ann DeLamielleure-Scott WITNESS TO HOPE SUPPORTS SEMINARIAN EDUCATION
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THE INVITATION WAS SIMPLE. Ryan Adelman was a freshman in high school, and one of the youth ministers at his parish, David McHugh, invited him to a youth group paintball event. Not one to typically be involved in faith-related activities, Ryan joined simply for the fun of it. Despite enjoying the evening, Ryan ignored David’s subsequent invitations to join the youth group for Sunday night gatherings – until the lure of pizza won him over. What teenage boy can refuse free pizza? That night, Ryan began to think membership wasn’t all that bad, and started attending regularly.
YOUR STORIES
“TO KNOW THAT JESUS IS REAL AND EXISTS IS A COMPLETE GAMECHANGER. I KNOW IT WAS FOR ME, AND THAT’S WHY I HAVE SHARED MY FAITH STORY”
I
T TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS before Ryan’s attendance morphed into personal investment in the group. The hook was playing his guitar in the newly formed youth worship band. “That was a huge outlet for me, because music has always been a big part of my life. To me, it wasn’t about the worship songs, but that I got to play. David knew that, but he also knew he could eventually wire my passion for music toward the Lord,” says Ryan. BY ROSE ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM LUNING
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And that is what Ryan admits he was lacking – passion for the Lord. Despite being raised in a faith-based home with two devout Catholic parents, faith hadn’t mattered to Ryan. “I wanted nothing to do with it. I acted out in middle school and was a troublesome kid who didn’t make the best choices. I didn’t take time to pray. I didn’t know if God existed and I didn’t care. I was living very selfishly for myself,” he says. That was pre-youth-group Ryan. The summer after joining, Ryan attended a youth retreat, and everything changed. He can pinpoint the
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change in him to a moment at eucharistic adoration. “I don’t, to this day, understand what was happening but it was suddenly clear God was real. Although I was in a room packed with people, God was saying, ‘Ryan I love you.’ God was reaching out to me. It was overwhelming and cool at the same time to know there is someone out there who cares about and loves me – that there is a higher purpose to this life.” It seems it wasn’t just God who became real that summer. Ryan did as well. Prior to this conversion experience, he would don a mask to please whatever group he was with, never being his true self. But that summer, Ryan realized God doesn’t care about masks, and he didn’t need to fit in with God. God loved him simply because he is. “I went home from retreat a different person than when I arrived. From then on, I was excited to attend youth group. I joined the leadership team, helped with planning and wherever else I could. We did a lot of mission trips and work camps. Those experiences of living faith – with hands-on experience – made a huge impact on me.” Now a student at Lansing Community College, Ryan
continues to witness for his faith. He is a catechist for eighth-graders and high-schoolers at his parish, St. Thomas/St. John Student Center in East Lansing. He says, “I hope the kids are hearing to follow the Lord. Even more basic, to know who Jesus is and what that means for them and their life. To know that Jesus is real and exists is a complete game-changer. I know it was for me, and that’s why I have shared my faith story with them.” In spite of regularly sharing his faith and love of the Lord with youth and through his music, Ryan doesn’t consider himself a witness or evangelist … yet. “I’m working on it. I’m in training. I still have a lot of work to do but I’ve realized I can make much more of an impact if I’m in a right relationship with the Lord. By praying every day and seeking the Lord, I’m able to love people better. We all need that.” Ryan tries to impart this to his eighth-graders by beginning each session with five minutes of quiet prayer in the church. Ryan also spent a year in Glasgow, Scotland, recently, volunteering with different charities and nonprofits for an international Christian organization, the Kairos Europe/Middle East program. Again, invitation – persistent invitation – was the impetus. Ryan says: “I had a strong personal conviction God was asking me to give him a year of my life. I was ignoring it because, to be honest, I really didn’t want to take a gap year. Then I heard a youth worker’s testimony, and it seemed his message was specific to me. I still tried to ignore it, but as the year went on, more people mentioned I should do this. I told God if he wanted me, I needed proof he was 100 percent behind this. The proof came through prayer and the quick attainment of funding I would need to support myself for the year. I wouldn’t
“WE CAN’T MAKE EVERYONE FOLLOW JESUS, BUT I CAN PERSONALLY GUARANTEE TO ANYONE WHO IS STRUGGLING OR DOUBTING, IF YOU GIVE JESUS A CHANCE, YOU WON’T REGRET IT.”
THE FOUR PILLARS OF EVANGELIZATION The four pillars of evangelization are: pray, witness, invite and accompany. Prayer forms the foundation of all our evangelization efforts. We witness by our words and by the way we live. We invite friends and family to come to Mass or to a prayer group or Bible study, and accompany people on their faith journeys. To learn more about the four pillars of evangelization, contact Craig Pohl, director of New Evangelization, at 517.342.2509.
have gone if I hadn’t persistently prayed about it and been answered. “I am so glad I went. I grew in a lot of ways and really matured in my relationship with the Lord. I learned so much from the leaders of the youth I was chaperoning. I even worked on music and had the chance to record a praise and worship album with some guys who worked there, including three tracks I wrote. I have continued to write/record more music since returning home, and plan to release all these songs under my own name on iTunes, Spotify or another music provider.” His face glows as he eagerly professes, “Jesus is the best! We can’t make everyone follow Jesus, but I can personally guarantee to anyone who is struggling or doubting, if you give Jesus a chance, you won’t regret it. Take a step in faith to do what you feel you are called to do. It’s an amazing adventure!”
COVER STORY
PRINT YOUR PLAN TO PRINT A COPY OF YOUR PERSONAL EVANGELIZATION PLAN, VISIT: TINYURL.COM/ DOLPEP
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YOUR STORIES MY STORY
‘STEPPING INTO HIS SHOES … IT CHANGED ME’ Jose stands in as Jesus in live Stations of the Cross T
HE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. Battling cancer. Mental illness. Self-doubt. A crisis of faith. Isolation. Loneliness.
Rich or poor. Young or old. Man or woman. Christian or Muslim. Each of us has a cross to bear. Some are heavier than others. Some stay with us longer than others. All of them require the strength of the Lord to help us carry our burden. BY MICHAEL SPATH PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA
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Jose Gallo’s cross is unique. Representing Jesus in the Cristo Rey Parish’s annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross march, Jose walks 13 miles, from the State Capitol in Lansing to his church, carrying a cross, enduring whips from soldiers and their ridicule, and, hopefully, receiving comfort from a gathering crowd.
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The cross and whips may be props, but they leave physical marks and take their toll on Jose as he strives to re-create the hardship Jesus faced on his journey to crucifixion. “It’s obviously a lighter cross than the one they would have used, but when you’re carrying it for a few hours, it gets heavy; and when the weather has been cold, and they hit you – not hard and not with the intention of hurting me – it can really sting,” says Jose, a junior at Michigan State University. “The goal is not to cause me the same injury to the extent that Jesus did, because this is obviously acting, but I’ve always wanted the audience to relate, to be able to feel the pain Jesus endured. So that requires me getting hit and carrying the
cross the whole way.” Born in Venezuela, Jose immigrated to the United States with his mother 15 years ago to join a brother and grandfather in the Lansing area. He was raised in the Cristo Rey family, and still attends Mass there. “It’s my place,” he says. “It’s where I feel at home.” Jose says he understood from a young age how important his relationship with God was – reading the Bible as a child and joining the youth group when he was in middle school. Jose could hear God’s call when he was quite young, asking him to set an example for his classmates and eventually for his larger community. It wasn’t long before God’s voice led Jose to the stage, and soon he was performing parish plays in front of 600 assembled congregants. In his freshman year at Eastern High School, Jose first picked up the mantle of playing Jesus in the live Stations of the Cross, and immediately he realized the experience was life-altering. “Playing Jesus sort of changed my faith – it made it more real,” he says. “I always felt I had a strong relationship with God and Jesus, but stepping into his shoes, it changed me. He continues, “The last few years, I’ve spent much more time meditating, about two to three hours before we begin, so that I prepare myself emotionally for carrying the cross, for doing my best to truly imitate the struggle that Jesus faced. It’s incredibly powerful.” During the three-hour walk, beginning at noon on Good Friday, Jose encounters many from his home parish, but also Catholics from the wider community. He can see the anguished look on their faces as he falls, as he is hit, as he cries. “Especially when I get whipped, you hear people gasp and react with surprise and then sadness, because I think it becomes much more real for them to see it in person,” Jose says. “It’s not a movie. It’s not reading about it in the Bible. They’re witnessing the cross with their own eyes, and you definitely see people who turn away. “Even though it’s not real, it’s realistic, and being there, it impacts you emotionally. I think it really makes everyone appreciate what Christ went through for us, and brings you closer to your faith at an important part of the Church calendar.” Going forward, Jose isn’t sure how long he will remain in the position of Christ. He has already offered the lead to a younger cohort of parish members that he feels must take up the cross to strengthen the Church. “One of my goals is to set an example for kids in grade school or middle school to help foster their faith and build the next generation of Cath-
One of my goals is to set an example for kids in grade school or middle school to help foster their faith and build the next generation of Catholic leaders.”
olic leaders,” says Jose, who is eager to embrace whatever God will ask of him post-college. “I’m part of the Knights of Columbus, and I will look to expand my presence there. Then after I graduate, wherever life takes me, I will always stay involved.” Whether this Easter season marks his final appearance or not, on April 14, you can find Gallo walking step by step with Christ, carrying the cross together. “This is something I love to do – it draws me closer to God, and Christ, and my faith is so much more powerful because of this experience,” he says. “I hope everyone who attends the march finds it equally rewarding.”
LIVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS CRISTO REY’S LIVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS THIS YEAR WILL BE HELD ON GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 14, BEGINNING AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN LANSING AT NOON.
ANOTHER WAY TO CELEBRATE LENT
St. Joseph Shrine, located on Iron Lake in Brooklyn, Mich., has outdoor Stations of the Cross down by the lake. The stations were completed in the 1930s with metallic colors on copper. Stones were gathered from all over the world and used in the construction of the scenes of several of the stations to represent that Christ died for the whole world. For more information on the shrine and the stations, vist STJOSEPHBROOKLYNMI.COM. 21
YOUR STORIES MY STORY
NOW FEELING
‘LOVED AND ACCEPTED’ Barb has found healing through Courage ministry
T
HE HARDEST JOURNEY IN LIFE can be the work to link one’s heart and soul. Just ask Barb Sierra, who has spent most of her life connecting these two. Raised in Connecticut, Barb did not feel secure or special growing up. These feelings were complicated when, at an early age, she began to recognize her same-sex attraction. Confused and insecure, Barb was drinking heavily by the age of 19, and entered her first same-sex relationship. The relationship ended abruptly after 18 months. In a desperate move to deny her sexual preference, she jumped into a heterosexual marriage, which turned physically, emotionally and verbally violent. Two children and five years later, she and her kids fled to Michigan, hauling luggage crammed with rejection, abandonment, self-doubt and negative self-identity.
In Michigan, Barb’s search continued through more liquor bottles, dope and multiple heterosexual relationships (in an attempt to prove she wasn’t gay). One night, hopeless and drunk, she cast a challenge to the empty space around her. “Jesus, if My Courage membership you’re real, let me know ‘cuz fosters my loving relationship I’m not gonna make it.” Barb with God. The power of this continues, “At that moment, I group is I’m accepted, not only just knew God was real, and I began my new life. I resumed because I am chaste, but simply attending church, quit because I belong. You don’t smoking dope, cut back on have to be perfect to come.” drinking and stopped going out all the time. I called out to God and God gave me the gift of faith. But I was still a homosexual.” Raised Catholic, Barb tried to deny her 22
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homosexual feelings. Periodically successful in her avoidance and denial, everything changed when Barb’s children were grown and she didn’t need to shield them anymore. By now, her drinking was a problem and she began to attend AA. “To stay sober, I had to get honest and so I ‘came out,’ admitting to God, myself and others I was gay. This was a great relief after denying and hiding it all my life; everyone’s sexuality is a major part of their identity. But then I took a wrong turn and chose to follow my desires, entering into another homosexual relationship.” Barb stopped attending the Catholic Church. For 15 years, the relationship sustained her. “Then I came to my senses and made the choice to place my trust in God,” she says. She began to seek support for chastity, and was directed to a Catholic group meeting at Holy Spirit Parish in Brighton. Barb met with Father John Rocus, who invited her to attend
MINISTRY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THOSE WITH SAME-SEX ATTRACTION
Courage is a support group that ministers to individuals with same-sex attraction. Encourage is a ministry dedicated to the spiritual needs of family members of those with same-sex attraction. For information on the women’s Courage group at Holy Spirit, contact Barb Sierra at bsierra48103@yahoo. com. For more information on other Courage or Encourage groups at Holy Spirit, contact the pastor, Father John Rocus, at FRJOHNROCUS@HOLYSPIRITBRIGHTON.COM.
Encourage, a support group for friends and family of individuals dealing with homosexuality. At the time, no female Courage groups (chastity support for gay women) existed in Michigan. “The Encourage parents gave me such a wonderful start. Those parents loved me; I can’t tell you how much love I received, and still do. It’s amazing.” At 60, Barb was beginning to find the acceptance she longed for her entire life. Attending the annual Courage Conference in Pennsylvania, Barb met a woman from Michigan, also looking for a female Courage support group, and together they began a group that meets monthly at Holy Spirit in Hamburg. Each meeting
begins with reading the five goals of Courage: to live chaste lives; to dedicate their lives to Christ through prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments; to share fellowship through thoughts and experiences; to support chaste friendships; and to live lives that set a good example for others. Barb continues: “My Courage membership fosters my loving relationship with God. The power of this group is I’m accepted, not only because I am chaste, but simply because I belong. You don’t have to be perfect to come. Women can sit with us, talk, share their experiences and what they are thinking. We don’t give advice; we listen. It’s a very nourishing environment. The Courage ministry is key to maintaining the precious God-given gift of chastity. I guard it carefully.” Barb’s relief is palpable as she shares that her inner wounds are healing. Those lifelong feelings of alienation, estrangement, rejection and abandonment have almost disappeared, thanks to Courage and her firm awareness of God’s love. She says: “Every morning, I take a walk-n-talk with God and feel him drawing me into personal connection with him. I have always wanted to be special, and one morning I told God I knew he loved everybody but I didn’t feel that included me. God told me, ‘I made you. I created you to fill a place in my heart that no one else can fill.’ With God, I now know I’m special. I’m his daughter, loved and accepted. “The lie I used to live was that God didn’t know me or love me so I had to get love from somewhere else. I’ve learned God does know me and loves me more than I can imagine,” she says. This deep certitude, coupled with her joyous return to Catholicism, has brought Barb, and her recently united heart and soul, home at last.
BY ROSE ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GENNARA
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YOUR COMMUNITY THINGS TO DO
MARCH CAFÉ EVENTS
Every Monday and Tuesday night, Marriage Matters Jackson offers “Building Better Marriages” – free workshops led by a trained facilitator who covers a different topic each week for 14 weeks to help couples strengthen and restore their relationship. For more information, call 517.796.5116 or visit MarriageMattersJackson.com.
•M ondays, 6:30-8 p.m. and Fridays, 9-10:30 a.m., St. Agnes, Fowlerville, video series devoted to discovering a deeper relations with the Holy Spirit. No cost to attend. To reserve a seat, contact the parish office at 517.223.8684. •F eb. 21-23, 6-8:30 p.m., the Church of the Resurrection, Lansing will have a parish mission “We will be IGNITED.” Feb. 21 includes dinner at 5 p.m. For information, call the parish office at 517.482.4749. •S t. Pius X, Flint has formed a cenacle for eucharistic apostolate of Divine Mercy that will gather in the church at 6 p.m. on Mondays: Feb. 27, March 20, April 24, May 8 and 22 and June 5 and 19. For information, contact the parish office at 810.235.8574 •W ednesdays during Lent, 6-7:30 p.m., Lenten Soup and Substance Program, “Reflections on the Four Pillars of the New Evangelization,” at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing’s Fr. Mac Hall. Featuring Bishop Earl Boyea, Craig Pohl and others. For information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or elcatholics.org. •M arch 2-April 6, Thursdays during Lent, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing will have a couple prayer series in Fr. Mac Hall led by Deacons Jim (and Karen) Kasprzak and Dave (and Ann) Zygmontowicz. Child care is available. Register online at elcatholics.org. For information, contact Al Weilbaecher at 517.351.5460 or ak@ elcatholics.org. •M arch 25, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Gerard Parish, Lansing will have Mass with Bishop Boyea, followed by a presentation on Theology of the Body by Dr. John Grabowski: “What the Heck Is Going on?: Theology of the Body, Gender, Genesis,” a biblical and historical understanding of the origin, history and destiny of humanity. For details or to register, visit dioceseoflansing.org/theology-body.
Feb. 25, 7 p.m., St Agnes, Fowlerville’s Youth Group presents their annual Trivia Night at the parish center, 855 E. Grand River Ave. There will be cash prizes for winning teams. Cost: tables of eight are $80 or $10 per person. All are welcome to attend. For more information or to register, contact Liz Heslip, lheslip@sbcglobal.net, or call the parish office at 517.223.8684. Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing will have Lent Activity Morning for moms with preschool or homeschool children in Fr. Mac Hall. All are invited. For information, contact Annie Kitching at akitching@elcatholics.org. The rite of election by which the Church formally ratifies the catechumens’ readiness for the sacraments of Christian initiation will be celebrated on the following dates and times: SATURDAY, MARCH 4 • 9:30 a.m., St. Andrew, Saline • 2 p.m., St. John the Evangelist, Fenton SUNDAY, MARCH 5 • 3 p.m., St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing During Lent, St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton will have soup and bread suppers at 6 p.m. on Fridays, followed by Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. in the church. Mid-life singles (mid-30s to 50s): Register today for a life-changing REFLECT weekend retreat March 17-19 at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt. Take a chance and get involved ... you won't regret it. Cost is $175 for meals and a single room. For information or to register, 586.770.1772 or reflect.michigan@ gmail.com; or visit ReflectRetreat.com for details. March 18, Immaculate Conception, Milan will have a Lenten Retreat 24
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sponsored by the Catholic Women’s Circle. Mass is at 9 a.m., followed by “The Joy of the Gospel” presented by Rev. Victor Clore, pastor of Christ the King Parish, Detroit and and a staffer at the Dominican Retreat House. Light lunch following program. No fee for retreat. Please RSVP by calling 734.439.2030. St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton will offer Christ Renew His Parish, March 18-19 for women and March 25-26 for men. For information, contact Jody Kirkpatrick at 248.697.1074.
CCW annual Spring Scrapbook CROP at St. Mark the Evangelist in Goodrich: March 24, 6 p.m.-midnight, $12; and March 25, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., $35. On Friday, snacks will be provided; on Saturday, breakfast, lunch and dinner. To register, contact Cindy Bell at 248.660.4931 or cabsandkids@aol. com. All are welcome to attend. March 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 12th annual St. Thomas School Auction “Havana Nights” at Weber’s Inn, 3050 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor, will have a silent auction and open bar, dinner at 7:30 p.m. and a live auction. To RSVP,
PARISH FISH FRYS, FRIDAYS, MARCH 3 TO APRIL 7 – UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. • 4:30-7 p.m., Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson’s Knights of Columbus Council 609 fish frys in the school gym. Adults $10, seniors and students $9, and family $35. Credit cards accepted. For information, call 517.783.2748. • 4:30-7:15 p.m., St. Agnes, Fowlerville’s Knights of Columbus’ fish frys in the Lothamer Parish Center. Carry-out available. Also, Stations of the Cross at 6 p.m. in the church. • 4-7 p.m., Fridays, March 3 to April 7 and April 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Casimir, 800 W. Barnes Ave., Lansing will serve fish dinners. Adults $10, seniors $9, children 6-12 $6 and takeout $10. • St. John the Baptist in Howell will have fish dinners. For information, contact the parish office at 517.546.7200. • St. Mary, Charlotte’s Knights of Columbus will have fish dinners. Adults $10, seniors $9, children under age 12 $5 and immediate family only $35. Takeout available and credit cards accepted. For information, call the parish office at 517543.4391. • 5-7 p.m., St. Michael Parish, Grand Ledge’s Knights of Columbus Fish Fry's in Fellowship Hall. Adults $9, seniors 65+ $7, children 6-12 $6 and family $32. Take-out is available.
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make meal selections or a monetary donation, visit http://CBO.10/ stthomasaa/register. For questions, call the school office at 734.769.0911. Retrouvaille of Lansing is offering a weekend retreat March 31-April 2 at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt. Allow the Lord to be the center of your marriage and transform the decision to love, commit, trust and forgive in your relationship. For more information or to register, contact Larry and Beth Bauer at 734. 369.3470 or lpbbauer@yahoo.com or visit retrouvailleoflansing.com. April 1, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing’s Council of Catholic Women will hold their 40th Spring Craft Bazaar at 310 N. Cherry St. About 100 crafters will be offering homemade items for sale. All are welcome. Free admission. For information, contact the parish office at 810.659.8556. April 8-9, Women’s Discernment Retreat at St. Francis de Sales Center in Brooklyn will include Mass, an opportunity for confession, eucharistic adoration and talks and workshops given by religious and consecrated women. Registration must be received by April 3. For information and to register, contact Dawn Hausmann at 517.342.2506 or dhausmann@dioceseoflansing.org. April 20-21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and April 22, 9 a.m.-noon, Holy Spirit Church Women’s Guild will have a rummage sale on the corner of Winans Lake and Musch roads in Brighton. Wheelchair accessible. For information, call 810.231.9199, ext. 0. April 22, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh’s Rosary Altar Society will have its 11th annual Mom2Mom sale in the parish center at 506 N. Union St. Items include: baby to teen clothing, furniture, toys and more. Open to the public. Admission/ donation $1. To rent a table or for information, call Nance Schlanderer at 517.423.6003 or 517.281.1051. May 14-15, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden St., St. Johns, will host a parish retreat presented by Father Chris Altar with the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception and the director of the Association of the Marian Helpers. They have the mission of spreading the message of Divine Mercy.
RETREAT CENTERS ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER, DEWITT, STFRANCIS.WS or 866.669.8321 March 25, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Lenten retreat “Remain in Me” – gain wisdom, insight and peace as you pray with music, movement, Scripture, journaling and guided meditation. For further information, contact Janene Ternes of Prayer in Motion, LLC at 734.429.7754 or visit prayer-in-motion.com. March 4 and 14, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., a Lenten retreat offered twice: "Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You.” Contemplate Jesus in the Gospels and experience his presence more intimately as he draws near to you. Tony Sperendi will be your retreat director. March 30-April 2, Women’s Cursillo weekend; April 6-9, Men’s Cursillo weekend; cost is $150, with a $50 deposit. Registration is available on online WEBER RETREAT CENTER, ADRIAN, WEBERCENTER.ORG or 517.66.4000 March 16, 1:30-3 p.m., Women Reading the Scriptures series: Do women read the Scriptures any differently than men? How much do you know about the women who appear in the Bible? Attend this series and you will be able to answer these questions. Cost: free will offering.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF JACKSON, LENAWEE AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES, CATHOLICCHARITIESJLHC.ORG or 517.782.2551 JACKSON OR 517.263.2191 ADRIAN • Two We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation classes will be held at Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson: Jan. 20, 6-9 p.m., and Jan. 21, 9 a.m.-noon; and March 24, 6-9 p.m., and March 25, 9 a.m.-noon. Both Friday and Saturday of the same weekend must be attended to complete the class. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, 517.545.5944 or LIVINGSTONCATHOLICCHARITIES.ORG • Have you considered becoming a foster parent? Livingston County Catholic Charities seeks loving, stable county residents to become foster parents. Foster care informational meetings will be Jan. 16 and Feb. 20, 5-7 p.m., at 2020 E. Grand River, Ste. 104, Howell. To RSVP, contact Carrie at 517.545.5944 or fostering@ livingstoncatholiccharities.org. There is no cost to become a foster parent. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SHIAWASSEE AND GENESEE COUNTIES, 810.232.9950 FLINT or 989.723.8239 SHIAWASSEE • Feb. 3, 4-7 p.m., Soup Per Bowl 2017 is a fundraiser for Center for Hope warming center, North End Soup Kitchen and Flint Catholic Charities’ other meal programs. For more information or details about this event, please visit catholiccharitiesflint.org or call John Manse at 810.785.6911.
• March 24, 6-9 p.m., and March 25, 9 a.m.noon, a We C.A.R.E. marriage preparation class for engaged couples at St. Joseph, 9450 Duffield Rd., Gaines. To register, call 810.232.9950 for a registration form and mail it with a check for $75 made payable to Catholic Charities, 901 Chippewa St., Flint, MI, 48503. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OF WASHTENAW COUNTY, 734.971.9781 or CASSWASHTENAW.ORG • We C.A.R.E., a marriage preparation communication and relationship enhancement program for engaged couples, will be held: March 3, 6:30-9:30 p.m., and March 4, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor; and March 17, 6:30-9:30 p.m., and March 18, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at St. Mary, Chelsea. For information or to register, call 734.971.9781, ext. 421 or visit csswashtenaw.org. ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, 517.323.4734 OR STVCC.ORG • I f you want to help families in need this winter, organize a special collections drive through your church or business for blankets, twin sheets, linens, winter coats, boots, snow pants, laundry baskets and other household supplies. If you decide to have a drive, contact Outreach and Events Coordinator Rhonda Abood at 517.323.4734, ext. 1205 or aboodr@stvcc.org. • Looking for ways to express your faith? St. Vincent has six different programs that focus on assisting local children and families living in crisis and providing them help to transform their lives. To give back to those less fortunate, schedule a tour and take a Journey of Hope to learn more about Catholic Charities at stvcc.org/ journey-of-hope.
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SPECIAL REPORT:
IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE THE MIDDLE EAST
Conflict in the Middle East, in particular in Syria, has created a refugee crisis in Europe unparalleled since World War II. It is estimated that more than 6 million people have been displaced by the Syrian civil war. In 2016, more than 4,500 persons have died in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea, trying to escape the war. In 2015, more than 3,770 people similarly perished. Countries across Europe have struggled to find compassionate and equitable solutions for the huge influx of desperate humanity while still protecting their borders and citizens. On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States, which bans nationals of seven Muslim-majority nations from entry into the U.S. Ports rejected those arriving with entry visas, and visa issuance was suspended. People in the banned groups were barred from flights with U.S. destinations, others were detained on arrival. Plans for asylum for refugees already in the U.S. were cancelled. The order extended the ban to a 90-day period. Initially, even permanent residents of the U.S. (“green card” holders) were barred from re-entry. At the time of this writing, there is still conflicting information about the status of permanent residents who are returning to the U.S. after travel. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S RESPONSE
Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, stated, “We strongly disagree with the Executive Order’s halting refugee admissions. We believe that now more than ever, welcoming newcomers and refugees is an act of 26
FAITH Magazine | MARCH 2017 | WWW.FAITHPUB.COM
love and hope…. We need to protect all our brothers and sisters of all faiths, including Muslims, who have lost family, home, and country…. We believe that by helping to resettle the most vulnerable, we are living out our Christian faith as Jesus has challenged us to do.” A widely-reported quote from Pope Francis that “you cannot call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee” was part of a speech the pope gave in October 2016, in which he spoke about the general attitude toward immigrants and refugees: “The contradiction of those who want to defend Christianity in the West, and, on the other hand, are against refugees and other religions.” “You cannot be a Christian without practicing the Beatitudes. You cannot be a Christian without doing what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 25.” “It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help.”
REFUGEES IN THE DIOCESE OF LANSING
Andrea Seyka, CEO of St. Vincent Catholic Charities in Lansing, spoke about the refugee crisis: “The U.S. refugee resettlement program is a humanitarian and life-saving program for the world’s most vulnerable, regardless of their religion. ... [W]e resettle refugees because we adhere to the Catholic principle that every human life has value. We strive to assist those who have been exposed to atrocities that we as Americans cannot imagine.”
REUTERS
CRISIS
MEXICO AND THE WALL
The issue of immigration has also touched the southern border of the U.S. During the election campaign, President Trump promised to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. On Jan. 25, he signed an executive order to begin construction of the wall. Bishops from both Mexico and the Unites States have spoken in opposition to the construction of a wall: Bishop Joe Vasquez, chairman of the USCCB Committee of Migration, stated:
CNS
“I am disheartened that the President has prioritized building a wall on our border with Mexico. This action will put immigrant lives needlessly in harm’s way. Construction of such a wall will only make migrants, especially vulnerable women and children, more susceptible to traffickers and smugglers. Additionally, the construction of such a wall destabilizes the many vibrant and beautifully interconnected communities that live peacefully along the border. Instead of building walls, at this time, my brother bishops and I will continue to follow the example of Pope Francis. We will ‘look to build bridges between people, bridges that allow us to break down the walls of exclusion and exploitation.’” While the flow of undocumented immigrants from Mexico has slowed in recent years, the number of persons crossing the southwestern border of the U.S. from Central America is on the rise. Most are fleeing extreme poverty and rampant gang violence. The number of illegal immigrants resident in the U.S. has fallen below 11 million, its lowest number since 2003.
THE CATECHISM: “The Catholic Catechism instructs the faithful that good government has two duties, both of which must be carried out and neither of which can be ignored. The first duty is to welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for the human person. Persons have the right to immigrate and thus government must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.” – USCCB, Catholic Church’s Position on Immigration Reform;CCC, 2241.
THE U.S. BISHOPS OFFER THESE SUGGESTIONS TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS 1. Participate in opportunities for English-language learning. Advocate for opportunities with local educational entities. Volunteer with ESL classes in the community or in your parish. 2. Learn about the “brain waste” immigrants experience. Often college educated, professional people are denied opportunities to practice their professions once they arrive in the U.S. Educate yourself about these barriers and consider advocating with legislators and state professional boards to encourage licensing and certifications for qualified immigrants. 3. Partonize immigrant businesses. Shop and dine with local businesses operated by immigrants. Learn about the challenges immigrant business owners face with regulations, red tape and access to credit.
4. Work to help immigrants become naturalized. Learn about the resources in your community that help immigrants pursue citizenship. Help steer immigrants to those resources. 5. Help the children. Health care, education, child care and a myriad of other issues are challenges for immigrant families with children. Investigate what is being done and what you can do to help, in your parish and in your community. 6. Advocate for compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform with your legislators at the state and national levels. Do you know what the Catholic Church teaches about immigration reform? Here’s a link to the information you need: www.usccb.org/issuesand-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/ churchteachingonimmigrationreform.cfm
ENFORCEMENT
BY THE NUMBERS In 2015, the latest year for which complete data are available, the Border Patrol on our southwest border: apprehended
39,970 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN apprehended
39,838 FAMILY UNITS
For 2015 vs. 2014, this marked a:
41%
DECREASE in unaccompanied children
42%
DECREASE in family units
75 MILLION
people were reached by the Know the Facts campaign, which dispels misinformation about U.S. immigration policies and discourages illegal migration.
8,246
of those arrested at ports of entry were wanted for serious crimes.
225,342
individuals were stopped from entry at ports, a 14% increase over 2014.
YOUR COMMUNITY LOCAL NEWS
NAZARETH ASSOCIATION AWARDING $2,000 SCHOLARSHIPS The Nazareth Association is composed of alumni and friends who wish to honor and continue the legacy provided by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Mich. The association awards $2,000 scholarships to juniors or seniors at Catholic colleges or universities. Applications for the 2017-18 academic year are due June 1, 2017, and are available here: nazarethassociaton.org.
ST. VINCENT REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM IS A GREAT SUCCESS
UPDATE ON THE ONGOING WATER CRISIS IN FLINT J
St. Vincent Catholic Charities Refugee Services program learned recently that it has the highest refugee employment placement rate in the state of Michigan. The program’s rates are more than 13 percent higher than statewide averages, and even exceed the statewide goals established for 2017. The job placement rate is recorded tri-annually and is measured by the number of individuals who are receiving employment services and have either received a job during that time period or have maintained their existing job, divided by the total amount of clients receiving employment services. This good news comes during a tumultuous year when the refugee resettlement program received a record number of arrivals.
AN. 19, 2017 MARKED 1,000 DAYS since the city of Flint’s drinking water
was switched from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River. One Flint resident described the ongoing water crisis as “being a war, but without violence.” Asked about the current situation in Flint, Vickie Schultz, president/CEO of Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, commented, “We have been involved in water relief efforts since the very beginning. It is hard to imagine that 1,000 days have gone by and, by all reports, it will still be another five years or more before the water from the new pipeline will be useable. Our infrastructure is in bad shape. It looks like it will take a decade of repair and renewal before we can put his behind us. At Catholic Charities, we are still handing out water to the families of Flint. We rely on the generosity of individuals and organizations, young and old, from across the country, for help, but that won’t go on forever. We need a solution that offers a clear path to correcting the damage that has been done and restores faith in the system.”
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Please continue to pray for the city of Flint residents. To donate to Catholic Charities’ ongoing relief efforts, please visit: WWW.CATHOLICCHARITIESFLINT.ORG.
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES RECEIVES $4, 000 GIFT In Nov. 2016, the members of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), Sarah Regan Division, presented Livingston County Catholic Charities (LCCC) with a check for $4,000. This gift will be used to strengthen the LCCC Senior Outreach programs and the Be Our Guest Adult Day program. LAOH donated the funds raised from its annual golf outing held in May. The generous donation from LAOH allows Catholic Charities to help county seniors who struggle to meet their basic needs.
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SPECIAL REPORT
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RULES FOR LENT? All Catholics, ages 14 and older, are bound by the law of abstinence. Abstinence means refraining from the consumption of meat (land animals) on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. Why Friday? To unite ourselves with Jesus’ sacrifice, made for us on Good Friday. All Catholics, ages 18-59, are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is defined as eating one full, meatless meal on prescribed days. Bits of food can be taken at other traditional meal times though their combined total should not equal a full meal. Penitential practices, like fasting and abstinence, are intended to refocus our thoughts and intentions toward God. Lent’s 40 days include Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday (the Lenten fast continues until Holy Saturday), not including Sundays. Sundays are optional but encouraged. For health reasons, the infirm, ill, and pregnant or nursing mothers are exempt. Three other Lenten disciplines are prayer (daily conversation with the Lord), fasting (from behaviors which detract from our relationship with God), and almsgiving (sharing our resources, ensuring the basic needs of human dignity).
THE 40 DAYS OF LENT HISTORY OF LENT-WHAT DID FASTING USED TO LOOK LIKE? The Lenten season, preparation for Easter, has been observed from the onset of the Church, although there have been inconsistencies with duration and practices. The Council of Nicea, 325 A.D., established Easter’s fluid date as the Sunday following the first full moon of the vernal equinox. In 461 A.D., Pope St. Leo established the duration as 40 consecutive days before Easter. Pope Gregory the Great, in the sixth century, added the dispensing of ashes the preceding Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), making Lent 46 days. Sundays were considered feast days and not included in the count. Initially, all forms of meat, fish and animal products were excluded for the entirety of Lent. People were allowed one meal per day, after 3 p.m. In the 1400s, that time was revised to noon. Eventually, a small snack was included to sustain energy. Over time, fish, meat and eventually dairy products were allowed. However, fasting was required all 40 days. It wasn’t until 1966 that fast days were lessened to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday only.
WHY DO WE HAVE PENITENTIAL SEASONS? Jesus gave the example of a penitential retreat, spending prayerful time in the desert preparing for his ministry, reflecting on God’s will, and determining how he’d freely make that happen. Penitential seasons offer us this same opportunity: to withdraw from our routines and evaluate our spiritual progress or regression. We do this through reflection and repentance, which enable us to identify our weaknesses and make reparation to amend our sinful ways. Penitential seasons create time to reflect on our need to make God the focal point of our lives. The result can be spiritually rewarding.
WHY PURPLE? Colors powerfully convey unspoken messages and evoke emotions. Scriptural accounts share Jesus was robed in purple to mock his implied royalty as king of the Jews. The pain of his passion and crucifixion became associated with this color. Purple reminds us Lenten days are times of repentance and atonement, of acknowledging how our selfish desires continue to suppress and crucify the goodness of God today. SOMETHING TO DO SEE PAGES 20-21 FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE LIVE AND OUTDOOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS THIS LENTEN SEASON.
WHY DON’T WE SING THE GLORIA OR SAY ALLELUIA DURING LENT? The Gloria is a joyful hymn of praise thanking God and recognizing Jesus as the Lamb of God. The Alleluia is another exclamation of praise. While we literally know Jesus has risen and set us free, during Lent, we focus expectant anticipation of these events to come. Lent is a time to revisit Old Testament events leading to Christ’s mission and the salvation of humanity. It’s a time of facing the human struggles impeding our own resurrection. Refraining from joyous hymns of exultation maintains Lent’s penitential mood.
WHY 40 DAYS? The number 40 has ecclesial significance: Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai before receiving the 10 Commandments; Jesus spent 40 days in prayer and fasting prior to beginning his ministry. So, too, we spend 40 days preparing to do God’s work. 29
CREDITS
The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing MARCH 2017 VOLUME 17: ISSUE 2
www.FAITHpub.com Most Rev. Earl Boyea PUBLISHER
Rev. Dwight Ezop
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Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
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Pope Francis leads a Mass at the Roman Parish of Santa Maria a Setteville di Guidonia on the outskirts of Rome.
Ann Jacob MANAGING EDITOR
CALL TO PERSEVERE IN PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
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ON INSTAGRAM: Jan. 23: “Anyone who is Christian has a duty to bear this witness to the Gospel: to protect life courageously and lovingly in all phases.”
Initiating preparations for a meeting of the Synod of Bishops focused on youth, Pope Francis released a letter in January asking young people for their input. The Church, he says, wants “to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith, even your doubts and your criticism.” Pope Francis chose “Young people, faith and vocational discernment” as the theme for the synod gathering, which will be held in October 2018. “Make your voice heard,” the pope told young people. “Let it resonate in communities and let it be heard by your shepherds of souls.”
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FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catholic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 48906-5550. ©2017 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Catholic.
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in late January, Pope Francis called for continued prayer for unity. The theme of the week was “Reconciliation: The love of Christ compels us.” The week concluded with an ecumenical vespers service at a basilica in Rome. The Holy Father said, “I invite you to persevere in prayer so that the desire of Christ, ‘That they might be one,’ may be accomplished.”
forget where the events of 9/11 took place. We remember them, and we’ve built memorials. The same is true of the early Church – they would have remembered where Peter was interred, and the devotion would naturally have followed.
FAITH INTERVIEW
FINDING JESUS
Did St. Thomas, the doubting Apostle, bring Christianity to India? There is a very long
a CNN series
T
HIS SPRING, CNN PRESENTS the second season of Finding Jesus. This series delves into segments of Jesus’ life through archaeological discovery,
theology and reenactments from the life of Christ and his apostles. This season will explore six religious relics: •T he Bones of Saint Peter •T he Childhood Home of Jesus •T he Tomb of King Herod • Relics believed to shed truth about Doubting Thomas • The Pilate Stone • The Tomb of Lazarus FAITH talked to Father James Martin, SJ, editor at large of America magazine, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage and an expert interviewed in the program. What did you most enjoy about this project? It’s always interesting
for me to talk about Jesus. People are endlessly fascinated with the person of Jesus and it’s a way for God to draw us closer. One episode delves into the life
WANT TO LEARN MORE? IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS IN AN EXPERIENCE THAT COMBINES SCRIPTURE, PRAYER AND TRAVEL, HEAD TO YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER AND READ JESUS: A PILGRIMAGE, BY FATHER MARTIN.
of St. Peter and archaeologists talk about the bones kept at the Vatican that are reputedly St. Peter’s. Did Peter really go to Rome and are those his bones in the Vatican? Both of those facts are pretty well established. The older the continuous history of a devotion, the more likely it is to be rooted in reality. People would have venerated these sites throughout the centuries for a reason. It’s human nature to remember important sites and to pass that memory on to future generations – who often become pilgrims. For example, in the U.S., we’ll never
tradition of that. The Indians in Goa, particularly, trace their lineage back to St. Thomas. But it’s hard to prove – the farther you get from the Holy Land, the more difficult it is to verify stories, since the records aren’t as solid. But that said, if St. Paul went to Rome, why couldn’t Thomas go to India? As we think about this tradition, here’s a story to consider. For years, in studying the story of the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethsaida in the Gospel of John, scholars assumed the “five porticoes” mentioned by John were allegorical. There were some discussions about what the symbolism meant. Then, in the 19th century, archaeologists found the pool -- with its five porticoes. Although many of our traditions can’t be ‘proven,’ we really have to pay attention to them, because they are evidence of reality. What else do you want us to know about this series?
Catholics need to appreciate both the contributions and the limitations of historical finds. Archaeological finds can help us understand what life was like during Jesus’ time. But some things just don’t have physical proof – such as the Resurrection. The most important evidence for that is the testimony of the Apostles, whom we trust. Their experience of the Resurrection is visible in the dramatic changes in their lives. So, while historical finds are valuable, they can’t, for example, tell us what Jesus looked like. So much is present in the tension between the historical Jesus and the Christ of faith.
To watch Finding Jesus, check your CNN listings beginning March 17
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