April 2001

n His secret nighttime discussion with Nicodemus, one of the leading Pharisees and a man endowed with an inquiring intellectual curiosity, jesus tells him, uGod sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through Him the world might be saved." Oohn 3:17) ln others words, the damned can be saved. But whether or not they are saved depends entirely upon their response to God's offer. God offers, we respond ... and the entirety of the Bible is an account of our human response to God's many offerings of His love.

Can Catholics be saved? Some say "no." Can jews be saved? Some say uno." Can Muslims be saved? Some say uno."

But what does God say? 1know what the Bible says ... it speaks of our response to Gods love, a response that all too often can be elitist and exclusive.

But, 1 ask again, what does God say? Who is "in the club" and who is a non-member? That question occupies the attention of many people, as we all know so very well. ln our early teens we're taught to determine who is "in" and who is "uncool." The ancient game of winners and losers still occupies our minds and hearts, even in our so-called enlightened society.

This issue of FAITH Magazine presents two Catholics who share our common union of faith and yet who belong to two political parties that stand for quite divergent public policies. Are either of these two saved or damned because of their views? Both have entered into our shared Catholic conversations with jesus. Both share our Communion. And both have strong commitments and a shared compassion for those among us who have no fortunes when it comes to accessing power.

The truly poor are those who are denied access to power. Ever notice how jesus went about bringing Divine Power to those who were outcast and lacked access to power? God, we must remember, has a preferential option for the poor. jesus was willing to leave the "ins," the other 99, and go after the "outs," the lost sheep.

And jesus' very own mother is known among us as the "Refuge of Sinners." Is it not worthy of remarking that throughout history notorious sinners and people with little hope are found at the feet of Mary, asking for her motherly love? Mothers, you see, never give up on their children, no matter how condemned they may be.

Nor should we, particularly as Catholics. For the Catholic Church - a sinner's Church. These are the ones who are quite shocked at how forgiving we are oÂŁ human beings who are broken and mortally wounded and come to their priest to seek absolution. Who but God can lift their sins from them?

Which is why 1 am glad that 1 can worship among all of those sinners who come to Mass on Sunday and begin our worship by confessing our sins. ED

I

VDIIIIM ll l ltwe 4 April 8001

Most Reverend Carl E Mengeling PUILISHER

Rev. Fr. Charles Irvin

Send your letters to: Edllar, FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottawa Lansing, Ml48933 or via ..mall frclrvln@n:.net

EDnOR IN CHIEf'

Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop ASSOCIATE EDn'OR IN CHIEP

Patrick M. O'Brien MANIGING EOmJfi/CRUTWE MECTOR

Kathy Funk AUISllUIT EIKTDR

Mollie Lauffer

CRI!.&11VE a EDfTORW. AUtSTANT WUMASTD

jillanejob SUUCRIPTIONSIKCRETAR't

Evelyn Weitzel SUUCRIPTIONS

Rev. Fr. William Ashbaugh Den. Warren Hecht Dean Hedglen Elizabeth johnson Dottie King Rev. Fr. joseph Krupp Dr. Cathleen McGreal Sr. Carla Moeggenborg jennifer Niester Most Rev Kenneth]. Povish Maljory Raymer Michael Sullivan Rita Thiron cotmtiiUTING WRmRS

Margaret Perrone lltiOOI"'I!ADING

Ghristine jones james Luning Philip Shippen CONTitllunNG '"oroGIWIHI!RS

james Luning, Photography ON THE COYER

Wayne Case Mary Delano David Fenech Patricia Garda Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone james Rhadigan Michael Rizik Ricardo Rodriguez David Rosenberg Rev Fr. james Swiat Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple ADVISOR'( IIOo\RO

Rev. Fr. Karl Pung WI!IMINisntY

RC.net and Parish Systems Wl!l SlftSUPPOin'

CPI Graphics, unsing

.. ....

10.._.,_.........., __ .,11 ........ ... ....... m l'fllfmNG

- -

~-

~-..._... _........., .... a... .. ~~

_ _ _ $UCL_ ...... . . . . . ,

--

~ .._.._aoow.~~·Cllt'r)~:llllll; ... .,,.,~,.

--~··

~

~~· s;; ..~

1would lihe to thank you (Bishop Carl Mengeling) for your recent article, "Seeing is Believing but Faith is Believing In~ (lanuary 2001). ... Your article was a reminder to me to focus on what:S really important: the people who God has placed in my life. I need to truly listen to them, to tahe time for them, to encourage them, to give them my full attention and even challenge them. ... Thanh you for being the catalyst to get me to reflect on the beauty, mystery, and grace in each human being.

Anne Jackovatz

Mr. Glenn]. Simon ... said he

the priests hand facing the con- DuKette School stands for gregation when he blessed, so it along its singular accomplishturned out backwards. ments. DuKette school has a Ft. Devld Hennes unique record of success, one St. MlchHI Byzantine C:.thollc: that we want to support ...

Church, Flushing never tear down.

The Editors While I appreciate respect for others' beliefs, where was the Join Local Educators discourse touting the benefits and Subscribe to of Catholic conversion to FAITHhelps those couples contemplating A leeching compenlon for FAITH interfaith maniage ("How Magazine. It's free to religious eduQitors and youth ministers. By Does Their Maniage Work?" the way, this el10 lndudea perenlL February 2001)? If our faith is Hdo you get FAITHhelpa? to be the most important aspect Download It from our Web lite: of our existence, where is there FAITHmeg.c:om or, we Qln ..m•ll H to you each month. Cont•c:t Patrtck room for compromise when it O'Bitlnat poblte§~ comes to the sacrament of marriage? A Catholic who is willing MARCH 2001 to marry someone of another faith suggests to me a Catholic in dire need of afaith reassessment.

was appalled to learn that 50 percent of "so called" Catholics voted for Vice President Al Paul Upseomb Gore for president (letters, The February issue of FAITH February 2001) . ... I was taught by my Catholic parents is the best one so far. Reading and in the Catholic schools that about our relationship to other faiths was fascinating, and l attended for 12 years that I learned much. Bishop when we exercise our right to Mengelings story of his father vote we should consider all of resonated with memories of the issues and then vote our my own Lutheran forebears. conscience. When all of the Larry Doyle issues were considered, AI Gore won my vote.

In our january 2001 issue, an Mike Niemiec article reporting on DuKette just so you hnow ... the threeSchool contained phrases bar cross was backwards on implying that to be Catholic page 15 (March issue, FAITH one must be white. Nothing Magazine). (The slant is) on could be further from the truth the right ofjesus on the cross, and we regret the oversight. not our right. lt:S ironic because Certainly we did not intend to thats one of the reasons why it hurt or demean anyone at is said Roman Catholics make DuKette School. Our regret is the sign of the cross opposite of deepened by the fact that we Eastern Orthodox Catholics. published the article intending They followed the movement of to support and laud all that

Top10 Books

Silence, Slmplk:lty 4 Solitude: A Complete Guide to Spiritual Retreat

By David A. Cooper

From the best-selling author of God is a Verb, this classic spiritual retreat guide enables anyone to create their own self-guided spiritual retreat.

The ancient mystics looked to spiritual retreat as a way of cleansing the body and healing the soul. In Silence, Simplidty & Solitude, Cooper traces the path of the mystics and the practice of spiritual retreat in all the major faith traditions, sharing the common techniques and practices of the retreat experience for beginner and

.,...................................,......

... ..._, ................ _........... _., .. .....,a-.1

------·-----------------..-..-------------------.------- ~ ............ c:onnnlan ........... ........ ....... . . ., ... out to do .......... 11om In 1103111 a

Join FAITH's Online Discussion Forums

...... mountain . . . . ... rr.nc:.. ha ....... allandlng lila paltlh IChool ......... local ...... noUcad ......... sllepltarcl bar'• ...... ..nc:a ..... platy.

www.FAITHmeg.com or CathollcWEB.com

.............................

Fr. Kllrt Puna moderatu thla month's dlacuulon on s.MIIIon:

...,, .... ........ and c:lau.......... ..... lohlaalnlpla fallh. After ................ Pr• ....... ..,.. In. rundown CGIIfto byparllhthatha......._.

1 Can the saved lose their souls and can the damned be saved?

2 Is there something we have to do to get into heaven or does jesus save us no matter what?

3 Is there really a heaven, hell and purgatory?

............... ,..,. ... worked ......

But ...... Chane~ Mel . . . . . . ofbalnga ...I IO."WY. In 1831, lila age of 28, ha joined a new mlulonaty a.... the Soc:laty of Mary (Marllts), which Mel been founcMd In Lvona, France. But ......... of baing ..... to ........ Ianda to preiiCh ... Gatpll, Fr........ wu ......... to teach at ... leal Hmlnary

.a

~vanced meditators alike.

Cooper shows the way to the self-discovery and discipline of the spiritual retreat experience and clearly instructs how to create an effective, self-guided spiritual retreat in your home.

Silence, Simplicity 6- Solttude teaches that not only is silence a great healer, but that an inner splrirual retRat can provide life-chanP1g insight into deeper spiritual nuths.

........-and ...... o.,.

A PromiM of PNHnc:a Btf Bridget Mary ........

:n.. ......... oflheCrou By~

Barry lmY\h

Slapping Stonat

8tf Caclla ........

Aafles. Glory, aiidlSplrlt

By Petar A.. Chiara

In his home cloCIII of....,. He taallht far . . ,..,. ......... chalen to )aln a band .. mll.. ... bound far ................... alf'OUP af ........... lhaiGidh Pllcllc (ac.nla). Tha trip to ......... look 10 monlha. Pelar and OM oilier mlatiD. . If,.... _ .,..to lhelellnd of Futuna, ruled blf King NluiHcL Allhouah ,..... ..., have lo ..... wllh c:anniMIIIsm - King . . . . .... llapped ... pradlce lhortllf ......................... .,.._..on lhelaland- lhe wade of c:a~M~illlt lhe people was tlow ........... ............ native .... . . . . ......... tolhellclc, and llowfr ..._ to win lhe people's con11c1ence. 1llelr ...... far him ...... Man wlllllhe Kind ........ But not mtlllf ...... ,.., ......nd ........... of P'utLIIa embrac:ad ~ ....... ...,.

Aa lima weftl on, a t.w people came farwwcl to ba baptlzad. lila kina .,... lftiiiY with Petar and tried to stop lila work. IIIII lhaldng's . . . , turnac1 to,......_ lila own son, Mella~ converted to ChiWianlttf. King Nlulld ordered his prima mhtllllr and oUter men to stop this mlltiOMry- OIIC8 and for all.

Earltf on lhe morning of April 28, 1841, lila ,.....,. wounded andldlad ...,.,.. af lila.......-.. Christiana. a... advanced on ...... a.n.l't hut. 1helf clubbed him to .......... cut ....... to plecet. Bullhe ..... Icing". plan bacldlled.

Wlhln a,_,., ....... on lhelllllnd had ......_. to CltiWIIMfty. people .. Fuluna ........ Calholc: to thla . , - a lfvlnl a........ to .... holr work of .... ......

SL .....,. ct....e was IMatlllecl ln 1888 and canonized In 18M. He Ia cahd lhe prolo>IMI'tlfr or flrlt naarltfr of lila Sacfelr of Mary, and of Ocau&

n.

•

Wl I heard a great story the other day about two Judges who were In an accident.

They were both speeding and the arriving pollee officer Informed them that they had to go to court. So, they decided, why not try each other? They qulddy found an empty courtroom and started. The first judge got up and said. "Well, I have reviewed the facts of the case and fine you $1:' The second Judge nod· ded, took his seat and

All will b.: juJ.~,·d. <Tllllnl:jul/v 1101 by Fr. .Joe.)

said, "I have reviewed the facts of this case and fine you $750:' The first Judge was flabbergasted! "I fined you a dollar and you do this? What's going on?"

The second Judge said, "You don't understand; this Is becoming quite a problem. Why, this Is the second case of speeding we've heard of today!"

Sorry about that one.

Judging. It's a big one and It ties Into this month's question about salvation.

Fr. Joe, I have a friend who Is Protestant and who Is constandy telling me that our beliefs about heaven, hell and especially purgatory ar. not biblical. I looked, and she Is right. It's not In the Scrlptur.s. Why do we believe that If It's not In the Bible?

Great question! This really taps into two areas of our difference with our Protestant brothers and sis-ters, so we will take it one at a time. 1 need to point out that I have a limited amoun of space here, and am not going to be able to cover this adequately enough for some.

Please consult your catechisms for the full blown discussion, particularly sections 80-87.

First, the "non-Biblical" issue. As Catholics, we do not believe that Scripture alone covers everything; we also believe that we need something we call "Sacred Tradition." Now, this tradition is not like "let's have turkey at Thanksgiving!" Its more than that. Sacred Tradition is, in the words of the CCC (# 81) "lthe transmission! in its entirety lof) the Word of God which has been entrusted to the Apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit." Where do we get this authority?

From the handing on by theY Apostles of teachings that are

a

..................... _ .................... ........................

No ...... how mucla . . .

noUtlnl could ... - -

. . . . . . . . ., .... would

,.. find ...., 'IW• ....

................... fronl

....... 11Pir8Uon from

lhethlnlroufwr~~~ost­

......,.

the IMicl people of the world

vou ...,. .. live with It for

. . . . llrownlng, 13

10 . . . . . . . . tor ...........

............. 13 711'1 .......

... .....

purgatory. First of all, we believe that heaven, hell and purgatory all start here on earth. All three are natural consequences of our choices.

Catholics believe that God always respects the consequences of our choices, and the three of these bear out those choices for eternity ... kind of. Read on.

Heaven: Heaven is being with God and all that this entails. Perfect love, joy and peace.

No more pain, sorrow, rejection, anger- only perfection with Christ. It is ..._... the place where we become what we

have been created to be: one with God. Heaven is the fire of God's presence. We are used to hell being described as a burning place, but in actuality, the best description of heaven is that of fire. God IS love and God's presence is a burning, consuming fire.

As we draw closer to that fire, that which is not authentic, that which is not a part of what we were created to be, gets burned up, and that can be painful. Thus, we have purgatory.

Purgatory is God's severe mercy. Despite the fact that we may. while on earth, desire to be with God, we still make terrible mistakes.

We sin, hun others and neglect God and our faith. When we do this, we accumulate .,.

.........

not in Scripture. This also covers those teachings that come about as a result of modem issues. look at it this way: where do Scriptures get their authority? Who decided what books "made the cut" into the Bible? Paul wrote other letters. Other Gospels were written. Who decided which ones were authentically from the Apostles and which ones were written by others? Sacred Tradition did.

Sacred Scripture is a collection of books that the Apostles and their successors said were consistent with what jesus said and taught. These books have o authority if they are not ecognized by the Apostles and their successors. So, we

.....................

God.

used Sacred Tradition to tell us which books were divine· ly inspired and which books were not. Because of this, we cannot disregard Sacred Tradition without disregarding the authority of Scripture. As Catholics we embrace them both. lets look at what we believe

C1C====:I

..... Kllwn, 13

Htavcn. hell and J1urg<rtory,

cur they ro:ul Jcs!inationsi

Fr. Joe Con't on our souls the consequences (the din) of sin. As we draw closer to God, those things need to bum up so that we can be the pure gold, without stain or defect.

This process is called purgation-purgatory. We believe it can happen on eanh and definitely happens at our death. Once in purgatory, we are going to heaven, because while our "yes" to God may be imperfect, it is a "yes," and He'll take it!

Hell. Yikes! This begins on eanh with the pain we feel when we neglect our relationship with God. It is the consequence of a life spent seeking our own way and the pleasures of the world as opposed to God's way.

When we spend our lifetime ignoring or hating God, we have chosen to be separated from Him. At our death, God respects that choice and does not make us live with Him. Thus, we have hell. The pain in hell is not so much physical as it is spiritual. Our souls are made to be with God and in hell, we are separate. That'S what makes hell so bad.

Whew! That was a lot of information. Be sure and check your catechisms on these. There is so much more to say. Here are the sections: heaven (1729, 1821, 2796), hell (1034 -1037), purgatory (1030-1032).

Enjoy another day in God•s presence! $ Send your Questions to:

•Jn the Know with Fr. Joe• FArnt Magazine 300 W, Ottawa, Lanting, Ml 48933

or E·Mall JoelnBiack@prteslcom ES. Grtetings to my Lansing Catholic Cmlral Students. Hang in thert, people, tht: tnd is comin~l

Hungarian Catholics

0 s a young child, 1 remember listening to my grandlszopvan and Rosa welcomed five father, Henry Moeggenborg, and his cousins, more children to their family including Barney and August, talldng on Sunday afternoons their daughter, Marge Klute. Marge is a as they sat under a tree in the backyard or on the porch. 1 long-time volunteer for the Diocese of couldn't understand what they were saying. They talked in a lansings Archives. "They (my parents) strange language that my mother said was German. She told were so frightened but knew this was me they were from the "old country" and they spoke the only chanoe for their children; German because they were more familiar with that language says Marge of her parents' difficult while they were trying to master English. They would talk decision to journey to the United the afternoons away as they retold stories of their lives in StateS. "They were so happy to have the freedom to do what they wanted Germany and how they settled first in Ohio, and finally in and to worship when they wanted. ~ Shepherd, Mich.

1 was intrigued by the stories even though 1 wasn't able to Magdolina Horvath, along with Including ..... acllement .... Joy her family. came to the states in completely understand them. I was, however, able to sense .......... from lbelrdedlleMio many emotions including fear, excitement and joy stemming 1957. The family actually left leave .............. country, from their decisions to leave their families and country to Hungary in 1956 due to the revolubegin an adventure to the unknown. The long ride to tion taking place and had to stay in America as they traversed rough seas to the sighting of the Austria until pennission was granted ~big statue" in New York Harbor. And the challenges of to immigrate to the U.S. During the trip to the U.S., the building not only new homes but new lives. They were Horvaths suffered a tragedy - their 3-week-old infant died. This adventurous immigrants -coming to America for the brought sorrow to their hope-filled journey.

The family settled in South Bend, Ind., for a short time. The (d}romise of freedom and opportUnity.

Many immigrants settled into the counties comprising pastor of their parish, who was also of Hungarian descent, was a friend of Msgr. jerome McEachin (Fr. Mac), pastor of St. the Diocese of Lansing. The Irish settled in the Ann ArbOr/Brighton area; the Italians, Lansing; Hispanics, Thomas Aquinas Parish, East lansing. Through the friendship Flint and Lansing; and the Hungarians, Burton and Flint. of the two priests, the monsignor met the Horvath family and The settlers built homes, worked the land and found jobs in ultimately persuaded his priest friend to encourage the factories. Many opened their own businesses. They built Horvaths to relocate in East lansing so that Mr. Horvath, a Catholic parishes - often stone by stone. Most importantly, physician, could practice medicine.

"We were and continue to be delighted to call America our they centered their lives and the lives of their families home," says Magdolina today. "During our time in Austria we around a common faith - a faith many were forbidden to express in their native lands. were the 'Hungarians.' In America people opened their The stories surrounding these people tell a tale of courage. hearts to us. We felt very welcomed in our new country."

Iszopvan and Rosa joo left Hungary in the early years of the 20th Keeping in touch with remaining family members in cennuy. Iszopvan was the first to make the Hungary is important to Magdolina.

Frequent letters and telephone calls are journey as a stowaway. He had served in the Hungarian anned services and knew that as exchanged. Family is important even if sepwar escalated, he would surely be called arated by miles of ocean and countryside.

Faith is important even if one is refused the once again into servitt. He courageously left behind his wife and children and made his opportUnity to express it. way to Bloomington, Ind. There he worked Stories of people like my grandparents, hard and eventually sent for his family. Rosa the joos and Horvaths, neighbors, and feland three of their five children joined The Hungarian Catholic tradition low parishioners who carne to settle in this Iszopvan in America. The family everuually is still alive and well at Blessed land of opportUnity are truly stories oÂŁ settled in Flint and lszopvan began working Sacrament Parish. Burton. faith, The stories are an inspiration and for Buick. They joined St. joseph Parish See for yourself at the continue to be part of our journey of faith. .J Hungarian Festival August 3-5. ~Hungarian parish.

_

,_............ ............ .., .............. _,_ .â&#x20AC;˘...

~ L---------~----------------~------------------------

I

Apri1 200J

9

FAITH Magazine

•

I was awakened to the Easter Mystery In

aster, the resurrection o[Jesus from the dead and His ascension to the right hand o£ the Father, is the heart or our £aith. As a seminarian for nine years, my classmates and I studied these central truths in depth.

Yes, I truly believed, but l did not really understand until later. By God's grace, I discovered shortly after my ordination how little l understood. l knew about jesus' death and resurrection and how it is a reality in each of us. Learning about the drama or death to lire £rom Good Friday to Easter is one thing.

Experiencing it is another.

After I became a priest, it quickly began to dawn on me that 1 was a panner in a mysterious encounter with each person to whom the Lord sent me. l learned that the unique mystery and complex history of each person was fully known only to the Lord. The lord let me know that He was in charge and 1, His priest, was His voice and presence in proclaiming His word and celebrating His sacraments.

Often unwittingly, in surprising words and actions prompted by the Spirit, 1 was involved in the great divine-human drama of redemption and resurrection. . 1 was ordained in May Jesus Risen from the Cross is 1957. An event happened several months later that from hnnwculale Hearl of happily forced me to son out ~:1ary Parish, Lcrnsing the Lord's way and my way.

Photography by Patrick M. O'Brien

l}

0 discerned that redemption and resurrection in my priestly ministry were not as easy and simple as I thought.

In this event, the power of the Risen Lord was stamped on me like a seal. I became a believer who knew the Lord was in control and nothing was impossible with God. My awakening to the Easter reality carne in the summer of 1957. My first assignment was to a large urban parish of 3,000 families served by three priests. It was a Sunday in August.

After celebrating the last Mass at 12:30 p.m., 1 returned to the rectory. It was my tum to stay horne A hat Sunday and answer the ~oor and phone.

The pastor usually communicated with the associates through notes. That day I found a note for me. It contained a mans name followed by "Methodist Hospital" and the man's hospital room number. Next to the mans name was "not registered." So I drove to Methodist Hospital to visit him. At the nurses station, I learned he was 51 years old and suffering with terminal cancer. He had been at the hospital for several days without any visitors.

Full of confidence and enthusiasm, this "know-itall" young priest went to the fourth floor room to visit him. After knocking. I entered the room. As soon as f )he recognized me as a priest,

he became enraged and shouted, "Who sent you here? I never asked for a priest! I don't want a priest.

Get out! Don't come back!"

His shouts were interspersed with a torrent of cursing- the vilest of language and sheer rage. Of course, I, who was going to bring him the forgiveness, healing and peace of the Risen Lord, was paralyzed by shock. I didn't know what to do. I recall mumbling that I would pray for him. The man raged all the more.

Since it was my Sunday to stay horne, there was no one at the rectory with whom I could speak. One of our nearby parishes was an old Polish Catholic Church. The elderly pastor, who had been there for over 30 years, was usually at horne. He was a good-heaned priest from the old country. So I went to visit him and told him the whole story. 1 asked him, "Do I have to take such abuse? Do I have to go back? What should I do?"

In kind and finn words, the priest replied, "Yes, you must go back - every day if you can. The lord, in His way, will bring this man to eternal life." I asked him, "How do I reach him? I don't know what to say." He assured me, "Don't worry about what to say. The Lord will take care of it. just be a priest."

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week were a horrible repeat of

Remember, you belong to â&#x20AC;˘omethlng - your loml Plrfâ&#x20AC;˘h

the first visit. Alii could do was give the man a blessing

and the promise of prayers. I begged our Lord to help me say and do the right things.

The following days, the man became more quiet, ignoring me. I stayed longer trying to relate with him about all sorts of things. Then I began asking about his family, horne and work. Responses were rare.

There were long pauses and much silence. The old Polish priest spurred me on.

The divine breakthrough came on the ninth day.

Without my knowing it, the Lord unwittingly gave me the "key" that opened all the doors to divine mercy and resurrection. It was a miracle of grace! I discerned the man was an embittered, angry Catholic who had not practiced his faith most of his life. On our ninth visit, I asked him about his parish as a child, about school and the like. He didn't say much.

But then, out of the clear blue, I asked, "Were you an altar boy?" He began to cry.

With that, everything changed. The doors were all opened to the lord.

What an awakening this was for me as a new "baby priest!" A simple questionwere you an altar boy? -was the Lord's way to reach this man. His fond memory of being an altar boy was the fragile thread linking him to jesus and His family - the Church. I didn't know this, but jesus did. Later,

- .FAITHmeg.com

a...niiiiMOIII

the...._ of

.............

IEMter I a - lhlng.IExpeMilclng

I realized how sensitive and gentle we must be with others who are mysteries to us but not to the lord. It reminded me of Isaiah 42:3 who speaks of the ministry of the Servant of the Lord: "A bruised reed He shall not break. A smoldering wick He shall not quench."

With renewed faith and deep joy, the man received all the sacraments and rose with jesus to a new life. He lived another three weeks, receiving the Eucharist daily and died in the peace of Christ. 1 celebrated his funeral Mass.

The wonderful divine accomplishment of the Risen Lord in this human drama was that this man rose from the dead. And so did this priest. .l

I Aprtl 2001 11

FAITH Maga: lnc

''

Lul~t: De\\'ct:~. 1 arrenlh

in e1 high -~' l•m•l .~rminal), mspin·1l ltis.fatht:r lc> wnsidc1 hnmning

Curlw/ic

The "~-~~ 1ifthr Dd\·e's'' familv in tllt'ir Willwmston llo111e

he way various Christians respond to pain and suf~ fering has been one of the driving themes in my life." ~ He is a man who since his youth has been dealing 16, with pain and suffering. How various Christians and non~ ' Christians deal with pain is the key to the odyssey of Paul DeWeese, state representative and physician. It was a signifi~ cant issue in his adult conversion to the Catholic faith. "The Catholic notion is that pain and suffering can be converted from being a senseless waste into something of enormous value. It can be joined into Christ's, made a pan of His redemptive work for our salvation. That is a fantastic grace,~ DeWeese says, citing St. Paul's famous quote in his Letter to the Colossians: It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering no~v, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be under;gone by Christ for the sake of his own body, the Church. (Colossians 1:24·25) A parallel theme in DeWeese's life has been his reaction to the abuse of authority, particularly by those claiming Christian authority. Yet another has been the value of human work in revealing God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. And another is his admiration of the Church's consistent ethic in favor of human life. "All these, for me, are summed up in the question: What Would jesus Do?" Imagine that! A state representative who is a Christian, a physician and a lawmaker asking himself that question throughout his day whenever a decision is to be made.

Imbued with the impulse to be a healer, this doctor with a :'II varied Christian faith journey now cares for the body politic inspired by the spirit of the Divine Physician.

Paul N. DeWeese was born in May 1955, as one of six children in a Grand Haven family. He was raised in a religious pilgrimage that took him through quite a number of Christian traditions. Graduating from Hope College in 1977, and imbued with orthodox Calvinism, he went on to Wayne State University's School of Medicine. Graduating from Wayne State in 1981, he was licensed to practice med· icine in the state of Michigan. He married Mary Grace Finn and together they have three children.

Calvinism led the young doctor into the idea of being a Christian physician, to be a healer, to express his faith in the work exemplified by St. luke, the first Christian/physician! evangelist. Doctors following in Luke's footsteps feel impelled to help those who are hurting, burdened and oppressed to overcome their ills and live better lives. They objectively examine their patients, enter into the subjective condition of their patients, discern the full range of their problems, gather information and data, assess and diagnose the nature of the ills, and then.embark upon a planned pattern of recovery. This particular doctor, Paul DeWeese, goes one step further and regards the body politic with the same perspective. As a legislator he deliberately follows the same route.

But DeWeeses Calvinism also came with some tough

E

A

S

T

E

R

2

0

0

1

â&#x20AC;˘

questions. "1 had major questions about predestination and the value of human work in its light, questions about the exercise of religious authority, and a burning question about the wooden literalism of Biblical interpretation that urged my mother to suffer abuse from the hands of her husband.

Wives, she was instructed, must always and in all things be submissive to their husbands."

"1 had great problems with a fundamentalist preacher, a wooden Biblical literalist, who entered a dying patient's room, ordered everyone out, prayed over the dying man, and then emerged from the room to announce to his family that the lord had healed their father and husband. Shortly thereafter the patient died and the family's anguish and pain was compounded by the idea that they were not sufficiently 'in the lord' for believing in the preacher's pronouncement that their loved one had been healed."

DeWeese is a Catholic today because his son, Luke, inspired his dad to make the journey together - as father and son - into Catholicism. The adventure began when luke, at age 13, asked his dad for a rosary. His Calvinist father wondered about that - as you might imagine! But the wonderment turned into questions -and the questions led them both, under the guidance of Fr. Robert Sirico, into the Catholic Church.

As Paul and his son, Luke, studied Catholic doctrine, tra¡ ditions and pastoral practices, Paul DeWeese began to feel that he was finding his spiritual home. "Catholicism offers," DeWeese explains, "a living 2,000-year tradition of biblical interpretation and pastoral practices against which we can measure what is being claimed by church leaders in the name of Christ. Catholic preachers do not offer their own interpretation of the Bible, they offer the Church's, something that is enriched by centuries of our human response to God's loving offer to share our lives with us.

"But in talking about my spiritual journey, 1 must tell you of the joy that came to me in my discovering the Eucharist.

The sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel comes leaping off the pages of the Bible when I think about its meaning and then actually receive the Eucharist. I know that many Protestants regard it as a symbol, a sort of nostalgic memorial of what jesus did 2,000 years ago in a Passover celebration held long ago. But precisely as a Protestant I was taught that when a man genuinely repents and accepts jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior he is totally changed . We were taught that his inner nature, his substance, was changed and he became a saved man. He didn't just act as a saved person - in his being he became a saved person! Well, why can't God likewise change common bread and ordinary wine in their substance to become the Body and Blood of Christ?"

Imbued with the impulse to be a healer, and with the community as the patient, the healing principles of the Divine Physician, jesus Christ, are the treatments of choice for DeWeese. As a Catholic lawmaker, DeWeese asks in each instance: What Would jesus Do? The preceding article waa a faith story. It waa not written in support of any political candidate or political party. FAITH Magazine and the Catholic Dioeeee of Lansing do not support politcal partie& or individual candidatea.

C

H

R

S

T

s

R

S

"We've got to pay closer attention to the meeting between jesus and the blind man called Banimeus," DeWeese says in reference to Mark 10:46-52 . "Our societal illness is one of blindness - not seeing the poor, the marginalized and those 'below the radar screen' who are suffering and hurting because of our oversight."

"Notice," he says, "the great campaign issues of our recent presidential election. They were concerned with how we shall spend the huge surplus of money that will allegedly be piled up over the coming years. lt wasn't an election over how we will care for those among us who need care - it was over how we will take care of those already well-off!

"Twelve percent," DeWeese declares, "twelve percent of our population have no health care coverage at all. They go to hospital emergency rooms for every ailment! Our ERs are overflowing for a reason. We have created vulnerability.

Moving folks off of welfare and into work is a wonderful thing, but it's not so wonderful to have only a minimum wage job that will not permit you to keep your family together. The Internal Revenue Code is loaded with income tax exemptions and tax deductions that are of benefit to those who pay taxes. But what about those who don't have enough income to pay income taxes at all? They're being overlooked. Like blind Banimeus in the Gospel, they're being told to hush up, keep quiet and not bother us.

"Would jesus support a minimum wage law? You may think that's a silly question ... or even a trick question.

It's not," states DeWeese. "It's right at the core of what I'm about. The question, the central question, is always - what would jesus do?" Does He want those who have plenty to share their surplus with those who have nothing?

This isn't taxing the rich to give money to those who don't want to work. This isn't confiscatory redistribution of the wealth via government power! This is something quite profoundly Christian."

Some might say this sort of thinking is risky - not the best politics. But being a Christian requires tough choices.

Through his conversion, Paul DeWeese has found a home for his faith - the Catholic Church. He knows that many will question whose side is he on, the liberal side? The conservative side? But those categories won't fit for a man who simply asks wltat would jesus do?

What Would Jesus Do? That can be a hard question to answer personally as well as professionally As Christians, we are called to follow jesus. But, how do we really know what jesus would do?

discuss just that.

Thursdayr Aprll26

noon-1 p.m. and again from

8-9 p.m. only on

www.FAITHmag.com

E

N

By Fr. Charles E. Irvin Photography by Christine JoA., , er eyes capture youV..Jl in their strong and steady gaze. She openly speaks of her faith, her husband, her children ... and her priorities. Her name is Jennifer, a mother and general- Attorney General, that is.

Jennifer Granholm says her husband, Daniel Mulhern, is the chief reason why she has had the opportunity to become Attorney General for the State of Michigan. She met Dan while the two of them were undergraduates at Yale University. Subsequently, they attended Harvard law School together. Dan was such an example of what it meant to be a Catholic that Jennifer herself decided to convert. A year later, Jennifer Granholm and Dan ~1 Mulhern married. 'l.J During my interview, Granholm wanted me to clearly understand that Dan is her inspiration and her source of great strength.

Daniel, she told me, is just the right faith-filled and spiritual mate for her.

Together they are totally devoted to their children Kathryn, Cecilia and Jack.

Public service is one of the principal results of Granholm's religious commitment. Pope John Paulll's exhortations to Catholics calling for public service have motivated her, along with her own deep religious principles and ideals. Very active in her parish's ministries, she helps organize her neighborhood to develop communal support for

H

Ot

of the children involved - particularly her own.

How does this wife, mother, lawyer, and professional, who occupies high public oiTice - maintain balance? And maintain a spiritual life?

To begin with, she is disciplined in how she spends her time, allowing only one night a week for public speakmg and civic activities. This regimen requires that scheduling must be done a year or more in advance. The other nights of the week she devotes to her children. Dan and her parish.

She is active - very active, in fact - at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth. Fr. john Sullivan, Granholms pastor, emphatilly says, "Shes remarkable! People don't know that shes a wonderful mother, a devoted wife and a faithful Catholic, as well as being a professional woman serving in high public oiTice."

Granholm has a powerful faith and she has a mission.

It has been said "true poverty is the inability to access power." In the clarity of that insight, the attorney general has a centrality of purpose, to be "the voice of the voiceless, and the advocate for those rendered powerless by forces beyond their control."

She deeply holds to the Churchs "preferential option for the poor," believing that government must give voice to the voiceless.

She backs up her beliefs vith her time and her

energy She is working hard for the 2000 for 2000 program which helps at-risk children by providing them \vith tutors and mentors.

She herself is a tutor/mentor to 9-year-old girl in Wayne County. The success of this program, one that seeks to find 2,000 mentors for 2,000 children can be seen in the reduction of truancies among this programs children. jennifer:S little friend has been absent from school only one day during the past year. In some considerable measure that is due to jennifer:S involvement in this girls life.

The state of Michigan's Attorney General insists that her faith is her moral compass in her dectsion making.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta inspires her. Christ's teaching that ".. . whatever you do for the least you do for me" is very much a part of her policy and decisionmaking activities as one of our most important state officers. "God has empowered us,n she reminded me, "to act upon and change the world around us."

Her greatest challenge?

Facing down the apathy, the indifference and passivity that she finds so present in the hearts and souls of too many of our fellow citizens.

It heartened me to hear Jennifer Granholm saying these things. Said Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women!) to do nothing." jennifer Granholm, however. is doing something!

e

Tho procading article was a faith atory. It was not written in aupport of any political candidate or political party. FAITH Magazine and the Catholic Dioceaa of Lanaing do not aupport pol~cal partiea or individual candidates.

re you the owner or senior manager in a business or organtzation? Then please allow me to share a few ideas with you.

As we end the Lenten season, 1 was reflecting on the hundreds of people 1 have known personally in businesses. 1 prayed for them with the hope that each person would find God a little more each day through his or her work.

But sometimes it is the workplace itself that can make that difficult to do.

Here is where you come in! A steward is a person who acknowledges and cherishes their gifts, and uses them for the common good of others. We are told that Adam and Eve were placed in the garden to "cultivate and care for it." That was their work. So let us imagine that your business or organization is your garden. Does your garden mostly benefit you? Or is it beneficial to others, especially the poorest and most vulnerable in your workplace? If organizational success is defined by how well the workplace enriches and develops the full potential and dignity of each person, then the role of a successful organizational leader is to assure a workplace where that can occur, Here ts a brief survey that will help you reflect on your workplace. Think about your business/organization from the viewpoint of all the members. Put yourself in their shoes. This includes employees and their families, customers, suppliers, competitors, etc.

Answer 1hle or FeiM to nc:h of the following st8tements.

TheJpnldlces, policies, INKI attitudes of my workplace: 1 Reflect. high ~rd for the dlgnHy of ~ 2 Demonstnd:e that people have a voice In all decisions which affect their work and dally life.

3 Support the rights of people to have decent and productive work, fair wages and ful u.. of their gifts and talents.

4 Demonstntte a commitment to protect people and the environment.

5 Aa&n that the most wlnerable, powerless members of the worlcplace .,. not systematically lgnoNd or made to suffer. Otlnt: Do tfie AIM people or groups Cllny the bwden whenever !!hard decisions" . . made?)

I Emphasize the high value we place on how our work lmpiiCls famll~

What......,. do vau ...? Where 1s Mtldent? allo to

the......-~ 1ar

You may want Include olhels In ...... tng u... questions and cllsc&8 your . . . . . . . . . a group. chMge

Michael Sullivan, SFO, is founder and presidmt of the Corporate Stewardship Society, a mtmbmhip orxanization that provides leadership formation and helps owners and executives build vaJue~based orxanizations. For more infonnation, please contact Sullivan at michaelwsullivan@earthlink.net

~--~-~·-•_•_oi_'I'AITHIIMII.com ___

I,Yril2001

17

FAITH Magaulnc

0)

â&#x20AC;¢

E A S

T

E

R

2

0

0

1

•

C

H

R

S

s

T

R

S

E

By Deacon Warren Hecht Photography by Christine Jones

is name is Ken. We first met in 1982 at a self-help the police sketch. And I know Ken. When he went on a bad program for recovering alcoholics. We couldn't be bender, which for him was two or three weeks, he often turned himself over to the police because he knew they more different. I'm from New York City; Ken was would get him detoxed - especially if he confessed to a born in Kentucky and grew up in Detroit. I was jewish (I didn't convert to Catholicism untill984); Ken is the son of a minor crime. But this is another story. self-styled fundamentalist preacher. I lived in a comfortable Ken was convicted and began an ongoing tour of the house in Ann Arbor; Ken was living in a boxcar on a railroad prisons in southern Michigan - jackson (and its various siding near the University of Michigan Golf Course. I was 34; units inside and outside the walls), Huron Valley, Western Ken was somewhere in his 20s. He'd already done one bit in Wayne and Adrian. Although 1 was actively involved as a state prison and could barely read or write; I was a teacher of registered volunteer for the Church at the federal prison at creative writing. Kens tattoos had been done with a needle Milan, I never registered at any prison where Ken was or is an wrapped in thread and dipped in ink by a fellow prisoner; inmate because 1 wanted to be able to accept calls from him I'd paid big bucks for mine. We began talking at a chicken which registered volunteers - for very sound reasons of safety fry at the Washtenaw Alano Club and he agreed to call me - are not permitted to do. I have remained in touch with Ken later that week. When he did he was quite intoxicated and as a friend. I speak with him by phone two to four times each hallucinating. So a friend of mine, who is week and try to visit at least once a month. also a member of the self-help group, and We have stayed close.

The Holy Spirit works in mysterjous I took him to detox at Beyer Hospital in ways.

Ken thrives in the structure of Ypsilanti. That was the first of many times prison, and the prison system treats him I drove him either to detox or to a hospivery well. He receives good medical and tal because his mental disease was acting p. Over the course of the next few psychiatric care and is properly medicatonths we became close friends and have ed so that he is able to function. And, he remained so until this day. has not had a drink since he entered the Ken could never put together more than prison system. Unfortunately, he can't a week or two of sobriety because, besides have a job because prisoners need a GED in order to work and although Ken being a self-admitted alcoholic, he used his Ken ashtdfora rosary which I sent has been attending classes and studying drinking to self-medicate because of his with Instructions that ht couldn'trtad ·· for years, he seems to lack the ability to mental illness. No matter how many times pass the GED tests. About a year and a half we took him to doctors or to Community Mental Health and got him psychotropic medicine, Ken ago, Ken told me that he realized that all his life, the people who had offered the most effective ministry for who claimed to hate drugs -would throw them away and never take any. him were Roman Catholics. Believe me, Ken has had a chance to test the pastoral skills of many denominations.

One day in july 1986, I got a collect call from Patti, a He mentioned several rectories where he could always get parishioner at the parish where I was worshiping. At that a meal, Patti, a group of our self-help friends (all of whom time, Patti offered a wonderful spirit-filled ministry to inmates of the Washtenaw County jail where I was helping happen to be Catholic) who send him a small amount of to conduct weekly meetings for the self-help group. It money each month, several Catholic people who work in seems Ken had confessed to a murder and was now an the prison system, and me. inmate awaiting trial and was asking to see me. 1 should Ken asked for a rosary which I sent with instructions that say right now that I am 100 percent certain that Ken did not he couldn't read and 1 was unable to explain how to pray commit that murder. His whereabouts were testified to by a the rosary over the phone. I suggested that he begin to group of professional persons who were assisting him at the attend Mass, which he did. There was a deacon from the time the murder took place. Additionally, he had his blood Detroit Archdiocese who really responded to Ken - and to toxicology done at an Ann Arbor hospital a day after the whom Ken really responded. It was my hope that this deamurder - which was, according to the police, committed for con would help Ken receive the sacraments of confirmation rugs - and, true to form, the only substance in Kens blood and Eucharist. In my opinion, Ken would need a special as alcohol. He was never a suspect and looks nothing like dispensation because 1 don't believe he can manage RCIA ..,.

Remember, you belong to -•thing - your lo~:~~l ,.rtah

www.FAITHmag.com

I

Aprll2001

19

FAITH Mag;utne

N

E

A

S

T

E

2

R

0

0

•

1

C

classes- if they are even available in prison. From what Ken told me, l think this deacon was about to pursue this course of action when Ken was transferred to another prison. We still talk and visit often. He has just resumed attending Mass, (it took several months for his new institution to grant permission) and still expresses a lively interest in joining the Church and receiving the Eucharist. He has given away several rosaries and Bibles to other inmates he perceives to have spiritual need. He is confident that his conviction will be ovenumed and talks about attending Mass with me and joining the Church when -and if- he is released.

I could have written this article about more overtly Catholic experiences I have had in prison ministry.

H

R

S

s

T

S

R

E

N

For instance, at Milan, Fr. Claire Dinger, before he passed on, actually had a group of men (mostly drug smugglers and a murderer or two) who took the promises and were admitted to the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. Fr. Dinger offered Mass in prison several times a week and these Carmelites worshipped before our Lord in His Eucharistic presence and prayed the Liturgy of the Hours daily. Visiting with them was like visiting a monastery. The Catholic spirituality at Milan was beyond remarkable - it was miraculous. But 1 chose to write this piece about my friend Ken because I sense the Holy Spirit at work in his life in a way 1 have found the Holy Spirit at work in the life of no other person 1 lmow. '3)

Bishop In Prison

The voluniMr a..n stood In thelobbr of the prteon ...tr momlng. We were there for the annual c.thollc: ,....... for the ............ lltoocl and looked out the rro.ted windows. It w. 7:30 un. and 14 ...,._ outside. The bishop w. the only........, of ,.a. Would he get up this early to come to a prison? Would he be .... to lind us from .... IUp? Then I AW him coming out of the derkneu.

"Good IIIOI'1IInl. Bishop. .,.... the Holy Spirit keep you w.nn?" 1 HkecL "'t's ,..~~y cold," he MSWel"ed.

We took C8l'e of .. the~ 8nd bepn our long W8lk 8CNM .... prison prd to .... ch8peL There . . . a concern that with 811 the confeulons that .......- to be ....,. .._.might be time for Mau. The word came down that the..,... Md ghMn . . M extn Mlf hour.

WINd a mlnlc:le for this to lwppen In a facUlty where everything .. doc:umented to .... minute. We had negotiated for months on the amount of time that would be allowed. Now the......_ were able to celebraa. two sac:ranaents In the same day. A feat for anyone - let alone In a prison. We kMw the poww of .... Holy Splrtt . . . tndr at wortc.

After hearing confeulons, .... bishop d....ud hlmMif In his priestly . . . . . It . . . frigidly caklln .... chapeL The "-' hacl just been turned on upon our antviiL The old ...., .a...n t...t raglsWs ..,. banging and popping so loud that .... bishop hacl to shout to be heard while c:elebntlng Mau. The old prtson amplftw and microphone had a short and kept c:utllng In and out. .Amazingly, none of this mattered to the 1......._ longing for the word and pteMnce of God In their lives. They listened tnt.nt1v to the ........... and .... honly aslf they ..... llttlng In .... quietest. mo.t pMcelul chapel In the world.

One of .... most moving parts of .... Mus ....... sign of ......, The bishop took special caN In orr.rtng his hand to ..c:h Inmate. "'Man, he sur. hu a strong grip for an old guy," I heard one lnmat. MY behind me. Because of the

one.........,

our....,_.

-...not._.

not

FAITH Mapzinc

20

Aprll200l

~

-----~----··---·-------------.-----·· bllbop.. piiiD.... ....... and the d lllftlll tile ........ ... to hllll aftw ........ . many of them ........ to ..... l*n. As the........, put hll ann 111'0111111 ._ .. would pul their heed awr and lily I an hll lhoulder, touching .... ..... ...... theirs In a ....ullful llgn of love andaklion.

The ...... of Goer. .......... ..... ~........ Dwlllg COIIIIDUIIIon, the guard, who ..... ................ .. .U.dlon~ with 111'1111 Cl'llled In frant of him . . . . . . .... . . . door, ........ .... .... to....,. c:ammunlon.lhls . . . .... a powerful upn11lon of~ and love. 1* WM not an .uy thing to portray In frant of .... Inmates he ...........

.......,he

. . . . . long .... candudld and . .. . . ........

Alnlmg Gnlce • the bllhap pra CIII.S out. ..... nl»> the

and .................

bllhop-- around up .... ....

He ...... at the top of his ................ IDward ........... men lhaldng thalr ._..and ~- lhoR wlh good ....... volciS while jaldng wllh .... he could not'-'· 11ie bishop took ...... a... to talk ......... wlh V'OUIIIIIII ..._.. of the group.

As I walked bade out of the prison across the c:old, Imposing prison prd, I thought llbout how I hacl truly ..... the love of Christ for the fallen and forgotten. I prayed that I could love them • He does.

. .

...... well ....... to .......... - your locll ~

He !ntered Into the Battle for His Own Soul

ss

~-----~::-~~~~:~::;;:::::;~~-~~-~:-~~:----~;:~:;;:~~~~:~:;~~:::~:~~--------------------------bell I am not judging him - those were his own lives. We all can feel damned and, in words! He said it was not always that way. He grew honesty, have freely chosen the path of up in a Catholic home and went to Catholic school. He darkness. Yet God wants us all to expe· learned to pray when he was young and did pray on occarience very deeply the gift of His love sian. He went to Mass and even confession in his younger that saves us. He wants us to remember years But then a wave of worldliness washed against him as that we are saved and are being saved! he entered adult life. He began giving himself to that worldAt Easter, we celebrate the truth that liness. We made one selfish choice after another, and slowly God loves us even in our darkness. the worldlinttss wasned him in an unholy baptism. He was Jesus took upon Himself our sin and using people to gain what he wanted in life, and did not darkness and entered the tomb of care what happened to them. With every selftsh choice he despair and death. He cried out Psalm could feel the goodness of heaven leaving him. He became 22 from the cross which begins: ~My more and more used to the new emptiness and restlessness God, my God, why have thou forsaken that had entered his soul. His soul was dying and he lmew me ... far from my prayer, far from my it. The emptiness gnawed at him. It is the experience of the cry." Those are the words of someone damned, where "their worm dies not, and the fire is not struggling with despair, They are the words our own souls quenched." (Mark 9:48) utter to God when we are in darlmess. Yet the Psalm ends At mght when he was by himself, he let in the distressing with great hope, ~You who fear the lord, give .Him praise; aU thougllt that his life was headed toward hell. He had read sons of Jacob, give Him glory. Revere Him, lsraels sons for the Scriptures and listened to the words of Jesus. His parGod has never despised nor scorned the poverty of the poor.

From the poor God has not hidden His face, but has heard ents and grandparents and other family members had given him a good example. He lmew his choices were destroying the poor man when he cried ... They shall praise the lord, him and others. Why wouldn~t he change? He tried to pray, those who seek Him. May their hearts live forever and ever!" but when he did, he was assaulted with thoughts of worldliNope springs eternal in Christ! ess and other distractions that kept his heart far from God. jesus suffered and died to take on Himself the punishe was trapped in the darkness of a self-made tomb, and ment of our sins. He entered into the tomb, but on the third was feeling despair; It was the worst time in his life He day rose from the dead. He revealed to us our future full of wanted to gtve up. hope as adopted sons and daughters of God. That would ~ve been the worst thing he could have The above story of the young man struggling with sin and done. Despair leads a person to believe tliey are beyond despair had a good ending. The young man did not give up.

He was helped to go to Church by some people who loved God's help. That is not true.

All through sacred Scripture God shows us what is imposhim and eventually made his way to the Sacrament of sible for us ts not impossible for God God gave Abraham a Reconciliation. He had enough faith and hope to recognize child m his old age when it seemed impossible. God led the it as the hand of God! He entered into the batde for his people out of slavery from Egypt when 'it seemed impossible. own soul and cooperated with the grace of jesus. This In the Gospel jesus healed lifelong blindness and palsied and young man experienced the return of hope to His soul. paralyzed limbs. lffe restored speech and hearing and fed It is the experience of "being saved!" as our Protestant thousands with just a few loaves and fish. jesus gave hope to brothers and sisters name it. those who had none In the struggle of light and darkness within the soul, it is One of the greatest Gospel stories of this ts the raising of very helpful to name the darkness so that it can be brought Lazarus from the dead. This was the ultimate of impossible into the light. Name it as well as you can. Here is a prayer situations. Surly despair would have been lingering around that can help. licking its chops for a victim. When Martha approached Jesus Spiritual Exefdse of the Month: and told Him that if He only would have been there, her Jesus, •l am stiuggHng·wlth the darkness of brother Lazarus would not have died, jesus said to her, " Your <name the sin or: darkness). ·Lord, brother wiD rise." Martha assumed that He meant on the last can me out of this tomb. In my unbelief; grant me day wben all the dead will rise, but jesus wanted Martha and faHh. In my despair, grant me hope. In my selfishwants all of us to believe that l!le can do the impossible. Pie nan, grant me love for others. In my l!naer, grant raises the dead to life for ..1 am the resurrection and life," says me a heart softened tiy your mercy. In my anxieties, he lord! jesus went on to have the stone roUed back - even be my roCk. In my fears, may I see your face, and hen there would have been a stench - and called Lazarus hear your volce.so that I may never lose heart. out of the tomb. He does the same for you and me.

Amen. Pray every day during the month of ApriL

Ifyou struggle with a darkness or sin, consider talklng,to a priest. Confession times a~ available at your local parish. You'll be glad you went.

Tip of the "1onth

By Fr. Dwight Ezop Photography courtesy of Joan Overway and the catholic Community of Sl Jude Illustrations by Patrick M. O'Brien

he Easter Vigil liturgy s truly the highlight of our year-long liturgical life. Each year we gather around fire, font and table, to celebrate God's work in our history, both distant and present. We recall the great events in the history of the People of God and witness firsthand the mighty deeds of God that are pan of our collective Easter joy. We listen, we sing, we pray, we go to the Font of Life and share our most perfect meal at the Lord's Table, all in a wondrous interplay of darkness and light, silence and joyous acclamation. The great Vigil of Easter begins with the:

T: Pfwws 11rc (mm the [,tsw· \ 'tgil of 2000 Ft: Dwiglu [zap pres~tbl 111 rhr teldmuion ul thr

C••tholic Community of St.)11dr m Dr\\'itt.

II Service of Light

ln darkness, the new fire is blessed and the Christ-light is borne into the presence of the gathered~\\\) assembly. We VIP thank God for "Christ our Light," and in the presence of the Light of the World we proclaim the glory of the resurrection in the verses of the ancient Exultet. The Service of Light invites us into the:

fJ LHurgy of the Word

By the light of the paschal candle, we hear once again of the mighty deeds of God, active throughout history.

By the light of our new fire, we hear our story proclaimed in the wondrous words of Sacred Scripture.

The Gloria breaks forth and is soon joined by our re-awakened ~ alleluias that greet the words of the Gospel. Then ~ those who are to be hap-

t)zed are invited to come to the Font of Life for: EJ Baptlsm

Catholic Church.

Next comes:

mConfirmation

Together with the Communion of Saints, we pray over the waters of the baptismal font, that God might bless them and give to them life-giving power. Those to be baptized renounce sinful fonner ways of life and profess their faith in God and the Catholic Church.

Following baptism, they are clothed in white and given a share in the Light of Christ from the paschal candle. Then, those already baptized:

The newlybaptized and received are confinned.

With the laying on of hands and the sealing with the fragrant oil, chrism, the newly-baptized and received are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Together, the neophytes are welcomed to:

&I Eucharist

a

Renew Baptismal Promises

The gathered parishioners renounce sin and renew the promises of their own baptisms.

Following the profession of faith, all are given a share in the waters of baptism. After that:

I:J Candidates are Received

for the first time. The gifts of bread and wine, often presented by the newlyinitiated (the neophytes), become the Body and Blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer of the People of God. Together with the gathered assembly, the neophytes share in Holy Communion for the first time. Finally, everyone is:

B Sent forth Into the world.

Following the prayer after communion, all those who have gathered are blessed and sent forth to proclaim the Good News of Easter joy! The Mass is ended.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia! Ea

into the fullness of the Catholic faith . Individually or together, the candidates, those who have already been baptized in another . hristian tradition, make eir profession of faith and are received into the Remembet', vou belong to something - your ICiall perl-'t

tis human to react with strong emotions when our lives feel threatened, whether it is a physical or psychological threat. But God also gave us the cognitive ability to restrain those emotions, to gain control and step back. In times of conflict it is OK to say, "1 will talk to you about this but right now I need to step back." Then take a shower, take a walk. take time to pray.

Interpret the situation in a realistic way. There are moments in our lives that we remember forever.

Psychologists call such times "flashbull) memories." Some are shared in our national consciousness: do you remember where you were when you heard about Pearl Harbor, jFK's assassination, or the Oklahoma City bombing?

Other flashbulb memories are P-trsonal: the letter telling us that a spouse has left; the voice explaining that a loved.one has been killed in action, the papers scattered on a physician~ desk as you learn of a child~ terminal illness. In each case it is normal to think, "I can't go on. My life is over." But with time, a more realistic interpretation is possible: "My life has been changed forever ~ it wiD be diftlcult to move on. But step by step, I will."

"Be not hasty in your utterance" (Ecclesiastes .5:1) or you may create your own hell on eanh. john couldn't figure out why jane would leave him when only that morning "she came and called me her 'dearest dear,' and said I was makin' for her a regular paradise here." His hasty and angry response created his own hell because in lS minutes jane walked in saying, "Why. john what a Utter here! You've thrown things all around. Come, what~ the matter now? And what have you lost or found? And heres my father here, a' wait" ing for supper too. I've been a'riding with him -he~ that 'handsomer man than you."' john~ embarrassed conclusion is: "'!Jl never break sod, again, till I get the lay of the land." Talk to God to get the "lay of the land." join the Psalmist in crying, ·May God send help from heaven to save me." (Psalm 57:4) Scripture for the Journey And Klln:e do we gueu the things an eiwth, Md whllt .. within ow ........ find wllh ~ but when things ..... ~ who CM .-'Chlhem out?

Or who.,... kneW your~ aapt you heel alvWI Wisdom lind ..nt your holy spirit from an high?

And•thus were the INIIhl oiiiiCIH an Mrth made slnllghlf men lellrned·whllt WH yow..........., Mel ..... uved·by ......... (Wisdom 8:11-18)

*

Ah, Lard GOD, you haw made...._,. Md ...U.IiY your ~·mlglit, with yow oulstleldled ann; nolhlng lsllnpoalo ble to you. CJeNmlllh 82:17)

Celebrating a seder meal can really bring our Catholic celebration of the Eucharist mto focus. After all, this was the meal that jesus celebrated with His disciples on Holy Thursday. As we recite the blessings over the matzoh and the wine, we echo the words we hear during the consecration at Mass. So this is what jesus was doing whm He said those words, we realize.

The word "seder" means "order," and refers to the order in which the Passover meal is presented. The traditional foods, the retelling of the Exodus story, the actions. the prayers, even e songs and games con¡ ected wtth Passover are bursung wtth meamng The seder is a celebration of freedom from slavery. so the dmmg room and meal reflect the luxurious life of a free people Use your best chma, stlver. and table linens Your rnam course could be a beef bnsket, turkey, or roast chrcken But the centerpiece of the table will be the seder plate with items that represent the Passover story These include: Matzoh - Because the Israelites left Egypt m such haste, they did not have ume for their bread dough to nse. Unleavened bread, or matzoh, reminds us of this. (Eucharistic bread is also unleavened ) ~18mb bane - symD ohzes the lamb that was

sacrificed on the eve of the Exodus. Today, many families substitute a chicken or turkey neck for the lamb.

Roasted or hllrd-bolled egg -symbolizes the cycle of life. and renewal.

Bitter hertMa - fresh horseradish, symbolizes the bitterness of slavery.

GrHns - usually fresh parsley or celery tops, represent re-birth and spring.

S.lt wat8r - symbolizes the tears of the Hebrew slaves.

Charoset - represents the mortar the Hebrew salves used to make bricks for the Pharoah. The sweetness represents freedom . lts not that difficult to put together your own family seder. lihe dtrections for the Passover seder are found in a haggadah, a booklet that mcludes all the parLS and prayers of the seder. There are more than 2,700 different haggadahs, from very simple illustrated versions for children to elaborate presentations wtth annotated commentanes from rabbmtcalleaders There are even books for Christian seders available at religious bookstores And the Internet IS a treasure-trove of Passover recrpes, history, and stones

ratsms. dates. almonds. and pecans mtxed together with wtnt and spices.

Mix oil and eggs together in a bowl. Add matzah meal and salt. Mix well. Add water and mix again. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for half hour. Fill a large pot half full with water and bring to a boil. Wet your hands and take about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll into a ball. Repeat until all mixture has been formed into balls. Drop into boiling water. Reduce heat to a slow boil. Cook covered for 30-40 minutes. Remove from water and serve with chicken soup.

1 112 cups shredded apples 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts 2-3 T honey 112 tsp. cinnamon 2 T Kosher red wine l-inch piece of fresh ginger, grated

Easy Matzoh &.lis

2 Toil

2 eggs. shghtly beaten 112 cup matzah meal 1 tsp. salt 1 T water or chtcken soup

Mix all of the above together. Chill. Charoset is eaten at a specific time during the seder. It tastes great on matzoh. Other versions of charoset have apples,

Rich and sweet foods are an important pan of the seder.

113 cup Passover cake meal 112 cup potato starch Pinch of salt 10 eggs. separated 1 cup granulated sugar juice of one lemon Drop of vanilla extract Rind of one orange, grated Preheat oven to 350°. Into a bowl, sift together 3 times: cake meal, potato starch, and salt. Beat egg yolks until thick. Add 112 cup of the sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and orange rind. Continue beating until foamy. Fold in dry ingredients. ln a separate bowl, beat egg whites. Gradually add the remaining 112 cup of sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Using a spatula, fold egg yolk mixture into egg white mixture.

Pour into a lightly greased 9-inch springform tube pan.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick insened in the center comes out clean.

Turn pan upside down and cool. Serve the sponge cake with a fresh raspberry sauce.

community Aprl Ftfda SaJIIIGy of LtJU ...-43:16-21 Pulm 121 :1·8 Philippilnl3:8-14 John 8:1-11 April Palm Srtlllltly of the L~ Pcwfmt ~· Golpell.uke 19:28-40 lalilh 50:4-7 PNim 22:8·9, 17·18a. 19·20, 23-24 F'hiipsMne 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:58 or 23:1-49 Aprll11 Solenudty of Etutu Swultly Alb 10:S4a, 37-43 Paalm 118:1·2, 1e.b-17, 22·23 Colollianl 3:1-4 or 1 CorinlhiMe 5:e-Bb John 20:1·9 or Luke 24:1-12

Aptl 22 Stconcl SrtJIIIGy of Ecutu Alb!5:12· 16 Pulm 118:2-4, 13·15, 22·24 ReYIIation 1:9· 11a, 12· 13. 17· 19 John 20: 19·31 ApriiB TJrinJ Srtncltly of Ecuttr Ad!J 5~ 27b-32 , 40b-41 Pulm30:2, 4-6 RIM!Iation !5:1 H 4 Jolvr 21 :1-19 or 21 :1-14

APRIL EVENTS

-----------------------A labyrinth prayer expertence will taka place Monday, April 2, at St John Student Pariah, East L..anaing, from 6:30.9:30 p.m. All are weicome to experience this ancient prayer experience. For information, call the parish at (51 7) 337-9778.

Old St. Plltrkk Partsh, Ann Aabor, will host a fish fry Friday, April 6, from 4:30.7 p.m. For information, call (734) 662·8\41.

The Offices of Black Catholic Ministry and Hispanic/Migrant Ministry invite the People of the Pyramids (persons of African,.

Just when you thought It

wu .... to put your lAtin dlctlonlry beCk In stonge, FAITH Mqulne I'WirM with yet llnOiher quiz! 'hnsllte the following end send In your respon..., •Jonsl with your nlnlllnd ICichu, to: LIUn Oatfzt FAITH MISIIIZIM, 300 ottewa, Lensing, Ml 48833. The tltst live correct

w.

responses will receive • vldeotlpe copy of the ciiUlc African·American, Caribbean, Cuban, Hiepanic, Latino, Mexican, Mexican·American, Native American, and Puerto Rican deacent) to raise their VOICES with ~iahop Carl F. Mengeling and join in Building Bridges: "A Thruhold of Hope!'

The event will be held Saturday, April 7, from 12-7 p.m. at St. Mary Pariah, Morrice. Included will be lunch, the VOICES Project, Maaa and dinner. For information or to R.S.V.P., contact: (517) 342· 2494 or (517} 342·2499.

The annual Chrism Mass will be held Thursday, April 12, at 10:30 am. at St. Mary Cathedral, lansing. Representatives from each pariah of the Diocese of lansing will be in attendance aa Bishop Carl Mengeling blesses chrism, the holy o~ used in the seeramenta of baptisms, confirmations and Holy Orders. Chrism ia also used to bless tower bella, baptismal waters and for the consecration of church· ea, altara, chalices and patens.

The Neophyte Mass will be held Saturday, Apn1 21, at 5 p.m. at St. Mary Cathedral, lansing.

Cunslllo Weekends are ac:heduled April 19·22 for men and April 26· 29 for women. Both weekends will take place at Camp Dainava, five miles weal of Manchester. For informalion and registration, please eontact: Maria Jaimez, Adrian, at (5 t 7) 265·2720; Gene Myers, Flint, at (810) 234·3693; Cathy Cummings, Jackson, at (51 7} 784·6957); or, Ray and Grace Pizana, Tecumseh, at (517) 467·

CALL TO COMMON CONFERENCE Remembering Jesus' call to the baptized to continue his miuion, Bishop LIMing.

Carl F. Mengeling invitee all Catholics to participate in a common OUI nan v.tlll sr.c:care cum conference that will enrich and celePoult, Jubet bnle faith, impart vision and &kills ,.... ,.. Llberltit for minielly, inspire and motivate.

• Qlllk:l. .

Uncle Common Conference 2001, a OV.Cipllt? biannual, three-day event, will be AMumadt lllcul Dbdl held Nov. 15·17 at the Radiaeon .... Dill Don*~&~~.

Hotel at Lansing Center. Featured Exsullmus. u.e.mur Inspeakers include Magr. Philip Mumion, of the National Paatonll 7621). Applicants muat be practicLife Center in New YOI'k, who will ing Catholice who are eligible to apeak on the theme of converaion receive the sacramenta of reeoncili· on Thursday, Nov. 15. Magr. ation and Eucharist.

Mumion will provide a vision about the pariah of the Third MHiennium.

Certificate of AdVIInced Studt• What do we need to do to make in Pastoral Life and Administration ourselves more effective ministers?

(CAS), Counre 2: Pastoral What ia the call to ministry and leadership and Organization, will what ia an effective way of doing it be offered at St. Francia Retreat in our communities? What are the Center April 26-27. This course paradigm ahifta needed for the min· foeueea on a practical application of iaters of !"a Third Millennium? ~} the theology of Church and ministry On Friday, Nov. 16, Dr. Caro · in the area of pastoral adminiatra· Eipers, director of the Office of lion. Participants will explore and Cateehesia for the Archdiocese of experiment with various leadership Chicago, will addreea the theme of and organizational development formation. Dr. Eipers will provide a paradigms in light of the mission of vision about how the formation of the Church and their own ecclesial adults (including teachers), teens vision. The course aaaiata partici· and children takes place and how pants in becoming effective agenta good, moral deeiaion·making flows within their own systems. John Reid from one's formation. How is this will be the instructor. In order to concept translated from teachers to obtain more information or a regis· teens and children? tralion packet, please call Mary Bishop James A. Murray of Tardif at (517} 342·2512 oreKalamazoo will apeak to the theme mail: mtardi@d'tOceseoftanaing.org of solidarity on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Bishop Murray will provide a vision Tho Blessing of Michigan State about how Catholics can be the University Graduates will take body of Christ in the marketplace. place at all Maaaes the weekend of What conversion must take place April 28·29 at St. John Student within ua and how can we form ourPariah, East lansing. selves responsibly so aa to be in solidarity with all Catholica in the Tho annual Retreet for Persona Diocese of Lansing aa we dare to who are VIsually Impaired will be the Body of Christ? be held May 8·1 0 at Sl Francia For more information, contact Retreat Center, DeWitt. Fr. larry Micheel Diebold, director of the Delaney and staff will apeak on the · department of Communications, at theme: Packing for the Journey. For (517) 342-2475 or Sr. Rita information, contact Richard Strife, Wenzlick, OP, director of the Director of the Catholic Inquiry for Office of Pastoral Planning, at the Blind at (517) 342·342·2500. (517) 342-2502.

Come to the S..ble, courtesy of FAITH Megazlne 1nd Rosary Book lnd Gift Shoppe,

PMchlllla.

CUm,..

FAITH is available on audiotape by request.

Call (517) 342·2500.

•D

Lansing Region Easter Schedule Blessing of Food Holy Saturday

Easter Vigil April 14

Easter Aprll15

11 :00am

9:00pm

8 :30pm 11:00pm

7:00pm (April 12)

8:00pm

8 :30am 11 :00am

8:00pm

8:00am I O:OOam Noon 7:00pm Vespers

Bellewe

~~· DeWIH Sl.)udc

East Lansing St.john Student Parish

51. Thomas Aquinas

11 :00am

8 :00pm

8:00am 9:30am 11:00am

Eaton Rapids St. Peter

10:00 am·Noon

8:00pm

8:00am 10:3.0 am

7 :00pm

8:30am 10:30 am

Fowler Most Holy Trinity G1111nd Ledge St. Michael

11 :00 am

Laingsburg St. Isidore Lansing Cristo Rey Holy Cross

8:00pm 10:00 am

aculate Heart ry rch of the Resurrection St. Andrew Dung-Lac St. Casimir

Noon

St. Gerard

51. Mary Cathedral

8:00pm

8:30pm

9:00am Noon 8:00am !O:OOam

8:3.0 pm

7:30am 9:30am 11:00am

8:30pm

8:00am 9:30am 11:30am 7:30am 9:00am 11:00am 12:45 pm 8:00am 10:00am Noon 8:30am 10.3011m

8:00pm

11 :30 am

8 :30am 10:45 am

7:00pm

St. The~

8:30pm

Mason St.Jamrs

8:50pm

7:15am 9:00am 11 :OOam

9:00pm

8:00am 10:00am Noon

Morrice 51. Mary Okemos St. Martha Ovid Holy Family SLJohns St. joseph

Williamston St. Mary * Call parish for times

St. Mary WIIS founded In 1836 by my greatlll'elll-greal-gl'8flt-gi1NII-gnutdfather, Eberhard Platte. and three others who came to Westphalia from Gerntany. In our church there is a large painting of these men. There is anoth-

er beautiful painting of some saints. We have a big statue of Mary that was carried from our old church that burned down in 1959. There are also beautiful marble statues and stained glass windows. On the altar there is a large crucifix to remind us that j esus died for all of us.

Our church was declared a pilgrimage site during the jubilee. By visiting our church, you received indulgences.

As you walk outside our church, you will see a beautiful rosary garden which has squares for each rosary bead and a beautiful statue of Our Lady. Our rosary garden also has a statue of Blessed Mother Pauline, the founder of the Sisters of Christian Charity. She came to visit Westphalia back in june 1880.

Most of my relatives were born, baptized and married in our church. It holds many memories for me and my family and will for anyone else who visits.

What makes your parish apec:lal?

4 :.00 pm

~!phalla .,..ary

By Marissa M. Thelen St. Mary Parish, Westphalia

7:30pm

8:00am 10:00am Noon

Send your response of 250 to 300 words to: PLACES TO PRAY, FAim Magazine, 300 W. Ottawa, Lanstng. MI 48933,

or e-mail: hfunh®d!oceseoflanstng.org.

If your response is chosen for future publication, you will receive a one-year FAITH gift subscription for the n:dptent of your choice.

Grandma's cookies and love helped nurture Bishop Povish's vocation

By Kathy Funk

"It was an altogether different world 60 years ago - wow," recalled the Diocese of Lansing:S retired Bishop Kenneth Povish during a recent meeting of the Flint Area Serra Club, a lay organ~ ization which promotes vocations within the Catholic Church.

Times certainly have changed since Bishop Povish was a little boy who raided his grandmothers cookie jar on a daily basis while growing up in Alpena. It was also a time when vocations to religious life were promoted at all levels - from the parish priest to a grandmother who did a lot more than keep the cookie jar filled. In fact, she started the journey which would lead to Bishop Povish's life devoted to the

Roman Catholic Church.

"I was the eldest grandson on one side and I was grandma's pride and joy," the bishop explained. His grandmother encouraged him to tell one of the reli~ gious sisters at his Catholic grade school that he wanted

pastor. He said to me, 'Oh, its you. I was wondering when you were going to come. Here's a seminary cat· alog. I'll write a letter of rec· ommendation. '" The decision to enter the priesthood is one that Bishop Povish has never regretted. "I thank God for it (my vocation) .... The people of the Diocese of Lansing have really been the cream of the whole thing.

Lansing has been the best thing in the world for me."

What began as a grand· mother praying for the best faith foundation for her "pride and joy" has led to more than 50 years of service to the Catholic Church as a shepherd of souls. Prayer is something Bishop Povish encourages everyone to do to further vocations within the Church. "Prayer is the essential thing; Bishop Povish concluded. "The constant effon of your personal witness is so that Gods call will be ready to be heard."

to be an altar boy when he ~!1111.!!'1!11!!1~!!~~~-~~·IIIIIJJPJIIIII!II"II•n entered the fourth grade.

Fr. Gabriel Richard Associates "As soon as I became an High School _ clesi(fled the MW 90~ altar boy, my grandma nd fo square-fOot faciJily in ~ began praying for me to ar.ldng grou r non wilh Mobbs and Black cl become a priest. She would a dream come true Ann Arbor. It will stand on a ask me, 'Do you want to do ··--·-··--------------·-· $4 million, 41-acre site at what Father does?'

Br Dottle Klnl Dominos Farms donated by "The parish issued black ANN ARBOR (Cmlo) • Thomas Monaghan, an alumcassocks for the weekdays, Bitter cold shortened the nus of the school. red for the weekends. The groundbreaking ceremontes Princtpal Richard Bayha families were responsible for m Ann Arbor Townsh1p Feb remimsced about the curdry cleaning the cassock 2 for a new area Catholic rent school building, but htgh school, but did not noted that the new facility and, once a month, the white surplice was to be mar the sweet feeling of will both allow the school to ironed. My mother put her haVlng a dream come true. incorporate all the new techfoot down to that. She said "The fact that dus dream nological advances people 'I don't do white shirts for of a new school is becommg expect in a quality school your father. I'm not going to a reahty 15 very exctung to program and ra1se the enrollment from 300 to do a surplice for the Church!' me," satd Richard Bayhan, "So I told my grand mothpnnctpal of FGRHS, one of 500 students in grades 9-12 er and she paid for the dry four ~area" high cleaning." The cost incurred schools run was 25 cents, a sacrifice by the Diocese of Lansing during the Depression.

As graduation approached, The new FGRHS Bishop Povish's high school facility will be the counselors began to quesfirst high school to tion what he was going to be built by the do with his life. "What came Diocese of back to me again and again l..ansmg in over 30 and again was my pastor years. It will replace and the inOuence he had; the current FGRHS the nuns; and my grandpar- Elizabeth Street ents who were still alive," building (formerly the bishop recalled. "During St. Thomas High Lent 1942, I stopped at the School) opened in rectory and talked to the 1928 TMP

If you are Interested In Priesthood call (517) 342·2507

local n ews On the Move

Assignments and Transfers Bishop Carl F. Mengellng, upon recommendation of the Priest Anlgnment Commission, hils announced the .followfng assignments and·transfers effective

June 27.

Ft. Matthew J. P'edewe To: Clillrm1n of the De~rtment of Formation, Dloc:eH of LIMing

From: Putor, SL Miry Parish, Morrice.

Fr. Karl L Puna To: Director of Seminarians; Diocese of Lansing FriKil: AuocJate Director of Seminarians, Diocese of Llnslng Fr. Pung contlnues.aS' INIItor of St. Asjiies Plirlsh, FoWiei'vlh.

Fr. Ge1111d L Vlndce <not pictured) To: DirectOr of Bethany House. tlieinew diocesan youth retreat

center, DeWitt.

From: Parochllil VIcar, SL Thomas the Apostle Parish. Ann Arbor Deecon WHIJam Slrl Dlrac:tor. of the Permanent Dlaconate, Diocese of Llnslng From: As.ac:late Director of the Permanent Dlaconate. Diocese of Llnslng

To:

Fr. H. Paul Ruddy, OSFS Senior Priest Status From: Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Hudson

To:

Fr. Donald P. Rusch To: Senior Priest Status From: Pastor, St. Dominic: Parish, Clnton.

Fr. Daniel ·F. Wheeler (not pictured) To: Pastor, St. Dominic: Parish, Clnton rile administration of St. Dominic: Parish will be from St. Ellubeth Parish, 'nlcumseh. Fr. Wheeler continua as pastor of St. Elizabeth.

Couples renew vows, love at World Marriage Day event

By Marjory Raymer FLINT (The Flint journal ) •

A kiss is still a kiss, a vow is still a vow, even when it comes after 57 years of marriage and is shared with 150 other couples.

More than 300 husbands and wives clasped hands and renewed their wedding vows Feb. 10 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church on Richfield Road in Genesee Twp. The en masse "I do's" were a local edition of World Marriage Day, a celebration sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church and other faiths. lt traditionally falls on the Saturday before

Valentine's Day. In the back row, john Vieu stood with one hand clutching his cane, the other clutching the hand of his wife, Lydia. They repeated the words they said back in 1943.

In sickness and in heath.

For richer, for poorer. In good times and in bad.

"We looked straight in each other's eyes when we said it," said Lydia Vieu. "It was nice."

World Marriage Day began as "I Believe in Marriage Day" at one church in Baton Rouge, La., in 1981. Today it is celebrated across the United States and at least a dozen other countries.

Reprinted with pcnnls>lon.

We Remember

~'!'--~~g.(f1~~!'L~:'!!.:~e_'!:s_ __ _

... .__.............. ..,......

........., of the Month

slllllery froin ... .,.... of .......... far

lhoM ......... who..,. burled In our ~ ~ during ........-y 2001. lllulon8ry of hllanlh: Fr. Robert Punt ... Mel • cllstlnpllhed CIII'MI' with ...

Society of Divine Word for 70 r-rsl Although Fr. Pung ta. not HIWCIIn • ....... m1u1on, U. naUw ofW.Iphelle dlstlngullhed hlmMif by finding wap to.,....... a. CMM of Clllhollc mlulonL for 42 ,....., Fr. Pung .... worked lit ...

VlltlcM ........ to ... spirituel end ............. of ...

Divine Word .......... lhraughoul ... world.

If you would like to..,. ......... ...... oBerecl by ...... slolwtea for your cMieMd loved on-. ..... stlpMds to: Dloc:eM of Lensing, 300 w..t Oltewa SINM, Lens1nt. Ml 48933. Pleue nwke Hie check PQ8ble to '"MIMfl••ry of the Month." If you know • son or deughter of 1M LeMing DIDc.se CllfNftllv ..-ving In • mluion, pleeM farward their MIMS to ... MluloMry of ... Month Prognm, 300 West Oltllwa street, .......... MI4U33.

The 11thlng Committee of st. .................... Deder wll be gifting • portion of IMir envelope proceeds MCh month to the "Miulonliry of Hie Month!'

www.FAITHmag.com

Aprll2001

29

FAITH Magazine

Papal Biography Being Made Into a TV Film WASHINGTON. DC (unu.orgl -

Russian Orthodox describes relaUona with Catholics 11 â&#x20AC;˘cold war' ROME (CNS} -

The head of ecumenical relations for the Russian Orthodox Church has described relations with the Roman Catholic Church as being in a state of Mcold war." A visit by Pope john Paul II to the "canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church," including Ukraine, would not be appropriate when relations are so strained, said Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and I<aliningrad, chairman of the churchs department for external church relations. Pope john Paul is scheduled to visit Ukraine june 23-27.

Officials of the Russian Orthodox Church and members of its hierarchy in Ukraine have asked the pope to postpone his visit.

Members of the two other Orthodox churches in Ukraine have not opposed the trip.

The papal biography Witness to Hope is headed to the TV screen.

Catherine Wyler, the daughter of William Wyler, director of the epic film Ben Hur , is planning to make a two-hour TV film about the life of john Paul 11 based on George Weigel's biography. judy Hallet, a director of documentaries, is working with Catherine Wyler to complete the project. Hallet said an hour-long documentary was initially planned, "but the material is too rich and we have decided it should last almost two hours."

The documentary portrays the life of Karol Wojtyla, from the time of the resistance against the Nazis, through the cultural resistance against Communism in the 1950s, and to the pontificate. "An analysis that goes from the interior to the exterior of the person, not the reverse," Hallet emphasized.

Not Even Catholic Schools are Immune From School Shooting Trend WIUIAMSPORT, Pa. (CNS) -

A Scranton diocesan spokeswoman called the March 7 student shooting at Bishop Neumann High School In Williamsport a "sad and shocking" reminder that violence can occur anywhere.

An eighth-grade girl suffered a bullet wound in the upper arm. The alleged shooter was also an eighthgrade girl.

Maria Orzel, diocesan communications director, told Catholic News Service that Bishop james C. Timlin of Scranton, who is a pilot, left Scranton immediately to fly out to Williamsport, about 75 miles west.

Bishop Neumann, one of nine Catholic high schools in the Scranton Diocese, has about 230 students in grades 7-12.

The shooting occurred in the cafeteria during the first lunch period, 11 :30-noon, when the seventh, eighth and ninth graders were at

lunch, Orzel said.

"The students fled the cafeteria. Some fled the building, others barricaded themselves in other rooms, she said.

She said the principal, Paul Ward, and assistant principal, judith Fulmer, went to the cafeteria right away "and talked the young lady into putting the gun down."

The victim was first taken to Williamsport Hospital and then flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Orzel said she was told by Fr. Andrew Kurovsky that police told him they had informed the victim's parents that their daughter had received only a surface wound in the arm. Fr. . Kurovsky, pastor of St. Ann Parish in Williamsport, is president of the school's board of pastors.

The attack in Williamspolh\-... occurred only two days afte~ a ninth-grader killed two

For more C.thollc news, subscribe to The Ouhollc nmes, an authorized news w..ldy of the Diocese of Lansing (517) 793¡7661 or subscribe by e-mail ctedltonor 1aol.com

Stuclc.'nLS at Bishop Neumann Catlt,)/ic High School in Williamsport. Pa., leave campus following a sh(lotirtg March 7.

Elizabeth Catherine Busl1, 14, is led Jmm police ht:,ulquattcrs in Williamsport, Pa. Sht: was tharged as ajuvenile.' in ~·omlt'C· Lion with the shooting at BL~hop Neumann Catholic High SthtlOI.

and injured 13 in a shooting spree in a high school in Santee, Calif.

Orzel said such violence . unfortunately a situation, I'm afraid, that every school - whether its a Catholic school, a private school or a public school - has to be

prepared for and deal with."

She said during the afternoon the students were being interviewed by police at the school and then sent next door to St. Boniface Church to be picked up by their parents.

Young Catholics say materialism not focus of all In age group

By Margaret Plevak MILWAUKEE (CNSl-

Todays younger generation has arguably been enjoying more disposable income than any past generation did at their ages.

A 1999 survey by the University of California-Los Angeles found that 74 percent of incoming freshmen had volunteered during their last year of high school. In 1989, only 62 ercent had done so.

Rachel Gerhartz, 17, a senior at Divine Savior Holy Angels who went on a mis-

sion trip to the island of St. Lucia last summer, said that she really noticed the materialism around her when she came back. ~since that experience, I'm not going to say I don't buy things that I want, but I try not to think that I need everything," she said.

"There's a point you need to step back and realize you don't really need this."

hen catechetical sermons were standard, before Vatican II ordered homilies on a wider variety of Sunday readings, people used to lmow the creed, the ro~tsmdmesamm~ts

better thail mey do today. An adult asked rec~dy. "Did jesus really 'descend into hell,' and if so why?"

Adults before 1965 would hardly ask that question because the creed used to be explained in detaU at least every three years.

Growing up in the Diocese of Saginaw, and as a priest of Saginaw before md during Vatican U, I was accustomed to a recurring three-year cycle of catechetical sermons on the 33 Sundays of the cllurch year when the vestments were green. Year One, me sermons were on me Creed, Year Two on me Commandments, Year Three on the Sacram~ts and Prayer, the same way the Baltimore Catechism was divided.

Yes, Vrrginia, jesus really did descend into hell; but it was not die liell of-the lost and condemned. It was ramer me abode of the dead who were just and were waiting for the promised Redeemer. That Latin wording of Article 5 of the Apostles' Creed is descendit ad inferos, "he descended into the lower pans of die earth." 1bis is me Uterallanguage St. Paul used in Ephesians 4:9-10. lihe Greek word is Hades and the Hebrew reads Sheol, bom translated as "hell" because those who are there are deprived of me vision of God (Philippians 2:10).

Jesus ~ve a less confusing name for this "hell" in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:22-26), when he said that the poor man was "carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham." 1t is precisely these holy souls, the Old Testament saints, who awaited their Savior in the bosom of Abraham, whom Ouist the Lord visited and delivered when he ..d.esce:naed into hell."

Why did jesus do thJs7 The new catechism gives two reasons.

First, it was to show mat he really did die on the cross and sojourned in me realm of the dead prior to his resurrection. His human body was in me tomb from Friday evening until Sunday morning. His human soul united to his divine person was in me meantime wim all me omer just humans who had died, waiting for salvation in the realm of the dead (1 Peter 3~ 18-19).

The second reason was to preach the Gospel evm to the dad (1 Peter 4:6). The visit to me abode of me just dead brought the Gospel~ message of salvation to complete fu1611ment. It was the last phase of jesus' messianic mission, a phase the catechism says was •cond~ in time but vast in its real significance."

That significance was nothing less than the spread of Christs redemptive work to all people of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in me redemption. All praise, glory, honor, blessing and thanksgiving to the Lord jesus!

faith

---

u.s. .......

Pllld

'-"'~UI

Pennit #782

300 W. Ottawa lansing, MJ 48933 Celebrating 2,000 years of Christ~ity

Remem~r. you bdong to something- your loc:~l parish See Pllge 27 for your a~a Enter 5dtedule