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in the witness of the meek er name was Bertha. She was 92. I was 16. Bertha lived in a residential care factlny that spectahzed in caring for the indigent elderly. I met Bertha as part of the volunteer work I was performing in preparation for the sacrament of confirmation. like so many of he r fellow residents, Bertha had few family members living nearby, and seldom got visits from anyone other than staff and volunteers. Each week , I would make a poim to spend a little extra time visiting with Bertha, who had a wealth of stories to share and the heart of a servant. Bertha spent much of her free time knitting afghans for other residents, friends, and even for the facility's little gift shop. Intngued by the large number of afghans Bertha had knitted, 1 asked her how many skeins of yam were needed to kmt the average afghan. From that, 1 calculated that during her time there, Berthas beautiful hand·made afghans had consumed well over 10 miles of yam! Quite a feat- even more so, considering that Berthas hands were severely deformed by arthritis. The same arthritis also kept her confined to an electric wheelchair as her pnmary means of mobtlity when she was not in bed. 1 learned a great deal from Bertha during the two years 1 visited with her. She taught me about love and respect for those on the margins of society. 1 learned about being effic tent m my daily work - since, as Bertha often reminded me, ''If In a society that you can't take many steps, you'd better make the ones you can take seems ever more coum for the most.n consumed by the There are others in my life who have followed in Bertha's foot· bold, garish and steps. They have names like Ruth, Richard, Mamie, Clara, Bea, downright odd, it john, Maurice, Tillie, Mary, Betty, Virginia and Irene. Their names seems to me that may not mean much to others, but they mean a great deal to me, we can learn a since each has taught me more than 1 can put into words. They great deal from never lived m fancy homes, rubbed elbows with the high and the meek of the mighty or exercised influence m lofty circles of world power. They world, if we are were and are the meek of the world. Yet their God-given gifts and mindful of their personal example are mighty indeed. presence and willIn a society that seems ever more consumed by the bold, garish ingness to quietly and downright odd, it seems to me that we can learn a great deal ha th . ·~ 5 from the Berthas of the world, if we are mindful of their presence rc etr gt IS. and willingness to quietly share their gifts. The challenge is finding these outstanding individuals, because they rarely feel comfortable with the spotlight pointed at them. When asked, they are usually quite self-effacing, just domg with what God gives them to do. That's what makes them all the more remarkable. Pattie Scherer, Keith Mixer, and Mother Teresa all fit into this category. Extraordinary people, each of them, they would also be the first to tell us they are just ordinary people, invited by God to be part of something extraordinary. As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of our lord's resurrection, we also celebrate the quiet gift of new life that God shares with us in the steadfast and faith-filled witness of the meek. And so our journey in FAITH continues. - Fr. Dwight &op 1.5 Editor In Chief or FAITH Mag:ulnc: and p:1Sior or Ihe Cacholic Community of St. jude. De:Will
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contents
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From the Bishop Our society
Humble servants of God
is obsessed with who's in and who's out. Jesus was the ultimate social outcast. The meek are despised as soft and weak. A bishop I knew said it well: "Lord, keep me humble, spare me a tumble~ 10
Pattie Scherer has a gift of making people feel welcome. See how she makes a difference at Ann Arbor's St. Francis 16 Fr. Tim MacDonald learned from the best - remembering 18 Mother Teresa
In the know with Fr. Joe Why is pride a sin - what about pride in your work or family? Is there a good kind of pride? If so, what kind of pride is sinful? 6
Work life 3 ways to counter a cut-throat workplace 17 eJoumey ways to be humble yet strong with those you love 19
Spiritual F'ltness How can an all-powerful God be humble? Why is the Eucharist an act of humility? And, how does humility help us spiritually? 22
Last Word Meekness doesn't mean weakness
31 Cover
Keith Mixer was crippled then recovered, then cripplea again. Meet a very strong person who stands by his determination to not let life knock him down.
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FAITH follow-up story lhe priest aboard the doomed USS Indianapolis ministered to the men in the water for three days. Learn about this heroic priest who was mentioned in FAITH's cover 20 story last December
Culture Hot cross buns: these cakes have evolved into a sacred symbol of Christ's Passion and promise 24 World
War wHh Iraq: the Vatican's effort to avert war
30
faith Most Reverend Carl F Mengeling PUBUSHIR
Rev Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDn'OR
Vofume 4 : 111ue 3 Aprtl2003
your~hls:
on dealing with grief and sorrow
[ -Mail: letters@raithmag.com Or Mail lctlcr to the Editor, fAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottawa, lansing, Ml 48933
·e
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l e t t ers
to
the
ed i t o r
Rev. Dwight Ezop EDn'OR IN CHIEf'
Patrick M O'Brien MANAGING EDn'OR/CREATM DIRECTOR
SUIISc:RIPTIONS
just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your stories in FAITH. They all touch my heart and I just Jlnislted reading the story about Amanda (Cover st01y, Marcft
Patrick Dally
2003). How beautiful!!
Alton Pelowski ASSISTANT EDn'ORIWEBMAmR
jillanejob SUBSCRIP110NSISECRETARY
Evelyn Weitzel GRAPHIC/WEB DUIGNU
Rev William Ashbaugh Elizabeth Johnson Rev Joseph Krupp Patricia Majher William Mtlhomme Cathleen McGreal Enn Oakley Most Rev Kenneth J Povish Ttm Ryan Duane Ramsey Sr janet Schaeffier, OP Carolyn Smith COHTRIBunNG WRITERS
Margaret Perrone PROOI'READING
Christine Jones james Luning (cover) Philip Shtppen CONTRIBUTING PHOJ'OGRAPHERS
Wayne Case David Fenech Rev Matthew Fedewa Patricia Garcia Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone james Rhadrgan Ricardo Rodriguez David Rosenberg Rev. james Swiat Peter Wagner c;haron Wimple ADVISORY BOARD
Rev Cecilio Reyna WEB MINISTRY'
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- .,.tty Grtndel 111>111> My granddaughter is seven years old. As we were sitting and talking together she said to me, "Otances arc you are going to get old and die a long time before 1get old and lvrinklcd and die. Wlten you get to
heaven would you send me a note telling me wltat you look lr1le? Because you /mow we are both going to have new bodies wltcn we get to lteaven and 1 want to /mow what you'll looll lille. 1want to be able to find you up tltere. Ifyou ltave a room number or address send dtat, too, so I can Jlnd you.~ I told her that/ wouldn't be able to c/o that because there is no way tltat we can send notes from heaven. But 1assured her
that the love tlwt we sltare will malle it possible to lmow who each otltcr is. And that we will recognize each other even tlwugh we have new bodies. - Beverly Spurgls, Gnuld Bllnc
... I received the copies in the mail this evening. I had never read FAITH Magazine berore. I was taised Catholic ancl now in my senior years with vety grey hair have the ptivilege of working wi!h people who are faced wi!lt the ultimate crisis- an incurablefatal iliA ness. As lwor/1 witlt these people ancl their families all sorts
of questions arise. Questions may be medical, legal, moral 01· spititual in nature. We sed1 answers together and benefit from the experience. Interestingly, on TI111rsday one patients family member saicl something about them being able to ash forgi veness directly from God rather titan going through a priest or a saint. I countered with, "You have as/lee/ me to pray for you. How is tltat different than me asl1ing a priest, Mary or one of tlte saints to pray for me?" She said, "I never tltougltt of it tltat way- tltat mal1es sense.~ Naturally I read widt great interest Fr: joe's resportse to t same question (December 2002). Tite person as/1ing tlte question saicl, •My non-Catlwltc f riencls say fmtlt s/wulc/n't be so complicated. • Titc simple tmtlt is that it is not complicated we simply ash others we respect to pray for us. l will be sending in my subscription. Blessings, - WallyGuay
aunching this month in Laredo, Texas, is LaFe, a ver~ sion of FAITH Magazine for the Diocese of Laredo. Many of you may not appreciate that FAITH Magazine is the exclusive product of time, talent and resources of our own Diocese of Lansing. All the writing, photos, design and production is by and for Catholics in our own diocese. That is, until now. The Diocese of Laredo will now be getting much of the same columnists and features that you as FAITH readers have come to expect and enjoy. Bishop Mengeling is excited to share FAITH with Laredo, which is a new diocese trying to create all the services we can take for granted. Diocesan services can be expensive. So, we are glad to help. LaFe will will have its own editor and unique stories. Another big difference from FAITH is that it's bilingual - English and Spanish side by side. So, congratula· lions to our friends in Laredo - may God bless you with success.
discuss war and~
Gafnlirie this month
W
e hear leaders say war is always the last resort. But, how can we know when armed conflict is justified and when it is not? The Church teaches that connict is sometimes necessary and gives leaders a framework to make a moral decision about defense. It is called the "just War" doctrine. How is the United States rollowing the ·~ust War" doctrine in the case or Iraq, North Korea and in the Middle East? Docs the existence of global terrorism change the way we need to defend ourselves by striking first, or does the "just War" doctrine require us to find another way? Discuss the issues of war and peace in our online discussion forums- now easier to use. Or, vote in our weekly online polls. join moderator Fr. Cecilia Reyna: ...,. Only on FAITHmag.com then click FAITHforums
TEEN Online Quiz: April
ou're at a pany you heard about at school. Parents aren't home and the alcohol is nowing. Everyone is drinking, up to this point, except you. Someone sees no beer in your hand and comes up to you and says "Hey, whats up? You're the only one not drinking,'' and thrusts a beer into your hand. So, you:
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Take the beer, take a gulp and say, "Thanks, I was just about to grab one," hoping you'll blend in. Take the beer and hang onto it, hoping no one notices that you're not drinking. Say ~No thanks. Beer's not my thing," and stay, hoping everything's cool. Say "No thanks- got to go," and leave before something embarrassing happens.
''"'of S11':lJ VlfU .. ~.-d Docter nf th• Chua'> Apr I 29
advice about c lothes and friends, shutting herself in her room and refusing to eat with the family? Well, if your daughter was St Catherine of Siena, you'd let her have her way, even though that way was far cfrfferent from the expected way of life for the child of a prosperous wool dyer in 14th cen1ury Italy. Catherine's mother, Monna Always a straight Lapa, didn't understand her youngest daughter, but talker, Catherine she allowed her 16-year-old to become a member told the pope of the Third Order of Sl Dominic. She wore the what he needed habit of a Dominican nun while sbllliving at home. to do to restore For three years, Catherine left her room only to order to the go to Mass and confession, ate only a spoonful of Church, and he herbs each day, and slept only two hours a night agreed to return After that time of asceticism, she rejoined her fam- to Rome ily and left her horne to help the sick and the poor. She became extremely popular with people of all ages and walks of life who sought out her advice and wanted to follow her religious practices. The people of Siena were confused that the former hennlt had become such a popular ftgure with people coming to see her day
what would you do in this Silualion?
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hat's a mother to do when her teenage daughter goes through one of those "difficult" phases - ignoring
S: P.:.c; V. P r·~e Apn' 30
and night, but their negative comments didn't stop Catherine from encouraging her new friends, who became known as the "caterinati, • and later, the School of Mystics. Catherine lived during a turbulent time in Church history, when Italian and French cardinals were practically at war with each other because the pope had left Rome for the city of Avignon, in France. Catherine was enlisted by the rulers of Aorence to by to talk some sense into Pope Gregory XI and get him to return to Rome. Always a strsight talker, Catherine told the pope what he needed to do to restore order to the Church, and he agreed to return to Rome. However, he died within a year, and the new pope, Urban VI, an Italian, soon upset the French cardinals who elected a rival pope. Once again, Catherine was asked to by and resolve the problem. Before Catherine left for Rome, she dictated a book that became known as The Dialogue of St. Catherine. That book, and her collected letters more than 400 in al- are a great treasuly of spiritual writing that led to Catherine's designation as a Doctor of the Church, one of only ttvee women to have that title. Catherine spent the lnal year of her life In Rome, trying to reunite the Church. Resuming the practices she had begun as a teenager, she slept only an hour each night and lived only on the Blessed Sacrament as she wrote letters to people all ~ Europe to try to bring the various factions of the Church together. After suffering two strokes in 1380, Catherine died at the age of 33. Catherine of Siena was canonized only 81 years after her death. Her feast day is April 29. - Elizabeth Johnson
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=r Dear Fr. joe: Why is pride a sin what about pride in your work or family? Is there a good kind of pride? If so, what kind of pride is sinful? reat question! l am glad someone finally asked me about pride because, frankly, 1 am the master of humility. l am the most humble man I know; a virtual standard for humility. So much so that I am currently working on a book called Humility and How It Made Me Great. 1 am sure it will be a best-seller. Then, l will write a sequel called Tl11:
Tiu-ee Most Humble People In the World ancl Hotv I Tr¡aincd tl1c Other Tivo. I could keep going you know ... Back to the question, the glossary of the Catechism describes pride as "One of the seven capital sins. Pride is undue self-esteem or selflove, which seeks attention and honor and sets oneself in competition with God." Lets break that down ... In order to grow in holiness, we need to grow in self-knowledge. The Holy Father wrote about this in his book The Acting Human, and he has spoken about it in numerous addresses. Selfknowledge is when we have
important point. 1 think one of the reasons that we all have trouble accepting compliments IS that we don't have any practice. Think about how hard it is for us . - - - - -... his cell to compliment and receive compliments. and I firmly believe that one of .....-....-'- - ' told the greatest weaknesses him among the Catholic famtly is he needed that we arc so very specific to be careful with our cnticisms and so because very general with our praise. a car was 1 challenge myself and every¡ heading one reading this column today to take this Easter in the season and dedicate ourwrong direcselves to studying people, tion ncar him. He laughed and said, "It's looking at their lives and not just one car, man. They're all going the wrong way seeing where they are strong. but me!" Ah, the wonders of pride ... We do the opposite naturally and easily- ever notice that? weaknesses as well as our a realistic view of ourselves When we then sec someone$ and an idea of what our strengths." gifts, we must take that truth On the other hand, if we weaknesses and strengths to them and honor them for know we are good at someare. We need both of these it. Think of how far a very things to have a healthy con- thing and then say we aren't generous compliment will cept of ourselves. Now, the good at it, that is lying. This take you and then share that opposite of that healthy self- is called false humility. This joy with someone else. knowledge is found in pride. is when we refuse compliBelieve it or not, this will So, to figure out what is ments and deny our goodhelp us all be more humble. good and what is sinful, lets ness at certain things. We With all this in mind, 1 may even claim that God look at some specific examhope we see that it is a good ples and see what we learn. cannot love us and that " thing to take pride in our Okay, first, lets say that sets oneself in competition work if we are good workwe arc good at something. If with God." ers. It is a good thing to take If it is hard for you to take pride in our family if we love we are good at something, and we are aware that we compliments, then try this: and honor them and are are good at it, it is not the next time people compli- encouraging them to be prideful to acknowledge that ment you, lets consider it a faithful to the mission of prayer. That person making jesus and the Church. fact. That is speaking the truth. St. Francis of Assisi is the compliment is thanking I think that in the end, th(Ž God through you for the gift key to a healthy balance quoted as saying, "True you manifest. humility begins with our between too much pride and That does bring up an ability to recognize our false humility is to recognize ..,_~
1 had a buddy coming to see me at St. Thomas the other day. On the radio 1 heard an update that there was a car driving in the wrong direction on the 1-69. Realizing my friend was probably on that highway in the area of the problem, I called
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what makes you feel humble? • ..,. St. Bernard tells us that we cannot be humble unless we are humbled - and we may be humbled either by ourselves or by others. Contemplating the perfection of God, remembering our faults and avoiding criticism of others are some of the ways in which we may humble ourselves. Often, however, humtliation must come from another source. We asked the members of Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization at Mt Zion Pastoral Center, Montrose, •What makes you feel humbler
"Knowing that I am only one small person playing a role in God's great plan~ Tlu:rcsa Schmit, 20
where our gifts came from and be grateful to God for giving us them. Another key is to make sure and observe our brothers' and sisters' strengths and share them in a specific way. The final point is to then take the strengths we see in ourselves or that others have seen in us and dedicate them to working for jesus and His Bride, the Church.
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Heart Major Seminary. 1love reading, movies and Detroit lions football. I come from a large, loving family and a small, loving church called Mt. Zion in Montrose. On and off through my life, I felt a call to the priesthood. Sometimes 1 nurtured it, other times, I buried it. The idea scared me to be sure, but l have to say that the desire never went away. There were, in retrospect, four key events that eventuDear Fr. joe: ally brought me to the semiTell us about yournary in August of 1993. First, 1 had two long talks self. Why did you with a priest named Fr. John decide to become Bertalucci. He spoke with me and prayed with me, helping a priest? me to see not only what God mmm ... 1 am 33 wanted, but helping me find years old, a graduate the strength to do it. of UM-Flint and Sacred Second, at a conference in
Pittsburgh a Bishop named Sam jacobs from louisiana sat down and spoke to me in a way I have never forgotten. Third, my family and friends supported me as best they could: prayed with me, encouraged me, challenged me, etc. This helped me not only to see what God wanted, but also to have the courage to follow through wilh it. Finally, people were patient with me and forgiving. Feeling called to the priesthood can be a confusing thing, and I had difficulty locating a priest who was willing and able to help me. 1 found myself unable to express what I was feeling to anyone l thought would understand. As a result, I found myself frustrated and
"When I help someone - who then unexpectedly says or does something that blesses me~
"Knowing that the God who created
jacob Shorcz, 20
Mary Sushynslli, 18
me still loves me even when I am at
my worst"
made some mistakes along the way and hurt people. People were (and are!) very merciful and supportive. What a great thing that is. Once in the seminary, the teachers and staff were amazing. They showed me how to love the Church and serve her as a priest. I met other young men (and some not so young!) who wanted to be priests also. Sacred Heart Seminary was one of God's greatest gifts to me and l am proud to have gone there and learned all that I did. Enjoy another day in God's presence! &)
•••••••••••••••••••• Send your Questions to: "In the Know with Fr. Joe" FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottaw•, unalng, Ml 48933
Or: JoelnBfack@priesLcom
.,. Interested in priesthood? Contact the Diocese of Lansing Office of Seminarians: Fr. Karl Pung (517) 342·2507. I
I
This section of the Creed, which begins our beliefs about jesus, is packed with mystery, awe and many ramifications for our lives.
Christians define the lncamation as the union of divinity with humanity in jesus Christ. It is the mystery of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity becoming one of us, the mystery of jesus Chnst being God and Man, jesus is truly divine and truly human. He is not God disguised as a human or God wearing a human mask. jesus is one of us, with a human soul and body like ours. The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that jesus was like us in all things except sin. (Hcbrcws4 IS) He got hungry and thirsty; He grew tired. Nevertheless, in assuming a human nature, He did not stop being God. The perfect union of humanity and divinity in jesus raises almost endless questions. The Catechism of tlte Catholic dmrch summarizes the Churchs belief~ j esus ChriSt possesses two natures, one divine and the other human, not con -~ fused, but united in the one person of Gods Son. Christ, beint\V true God and true man, has a human intellect and will, perfectly attuned and subject to his divine intellect and divine Ea1tar prayer
Llany dlhe Holv
Jesus, Son of the living God,
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Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Jesus, Good Shepherd, By Your childhood, By Your hidden life, Jesus, the true Lig~ By Your public ministry, Jesus, eternal WISdom, r h~ 19 ~~ The name orjesus is at the By Your agony and crucifixion, Jesus, infinite Goodness, heart or Christian prayer. jesus Jesus, king of glory, By Your abandonment, Jesus, our Way and our Ufe, Jesus, dawn of justice, united Himself to all men throug/1 By Your grief and sorrow, Jesus, Son of the VlrQin Mary, Jesus, joy of angels, His Incarnation, so that 'there is no Jesus, king of patriarchs, By Your death and burial, Jesus, worthy of our love, other name under heaven given By Your rising lo new life, Jesus, worthy of our wonder, Jesus, teacher of aposlles, among men by which we must be By Your relllm in glory k) the Father, Jesus, mighty God, Jesus, master of evangelists, saved.'" (CCC m. Acts +J2) Jesus, courage of martyrs, By Your gift of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus, father of the world to come, Ascribed to Sts. Bernardine of By Your joy and glory, Jesus, light of confessors, Jesus, prince of peace, Siena and john Capistran, this litany Jesus, purity of virgins, •••••••••••••••••••• was given papal attention as early as Jesus, all-pao.wrful, Jesus, crtJ\1\111 of all saints, Christ, hear us. Christ hear us. 1588 and universal recommendation Jesus, pattern of patience, Lord Jesus, hear our prayer . Response: jesus, save Your people Jesus, model of obedience, by Pope Leo Xlll in 1886. Lord jesus, hear our prayer. Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, Lord, be merciful, Lord, have mercy. From all evil, Lamb of God, Who takes away Jesus, lover of chastity, Christ, have mercy. the sins of the world, have mercy Jesus, lover of us all, From every sin, Lord, have mercy . on us (x3) Jesus, God of peace, From the snares of the devil, Response: Have mercy on us. From Your anger, Let us pray: Lord, may we who Jesus, author of life, God the Father of heaven, honor the holy name of Jesus From the spirit of infidelity, Jesus, model of goodness, God the Son, Redeemer of the Jesus, seeker fur souls, From everlasting death, enjoy His friendship in this lifa ~ world, Jesus, our God, From 1he neglect of Your Hoo/ Spirit, be filled ...mh eternal joy in the God the Holy Spirit, By the mystery of Your lncamalion, kingdom where He lives and Jesus, our refuge, Holy Trinity, one God, reigns for ever end ever. Amen. Jesus, father of the poor, By Your birth,
Jesus, splendor of the Father, Named Jesus •••••••••••••••••••• Jesus, brightness of ewriasting
-Sr. Janet Schaclllcr, OP, nn Adrian Dominican sister, is Associate Dim:tor or the OffiCe lOr Cated!ctic:Y' Religious Edue~lion or thc An:hdiocrse or Detroit
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will, whtch he h::tS in common with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Incarnation is therefore the mystery of the wonderful umon of the divine and human natures in the one person of the Word.~ (~8t --18J) The human nature of jesus opens up a wide range of considerations about H1s life and the personal struggles He endured. For many people, this gives the opportunity to identify more closely \vith jesu5, since He was one of us and knows experientially the joys and sorrows of a human life. In the Creed we pray, "His only Son, our Lord. ~ This phrase stgnaled to the world - accustomed to using "son of Godn to assert for the1r king a claim to divine origin - that here is a relationship more kingly and vastly different than the kings of the world. The angel's announcement in Luke 2' 10-11 calls jesus Messiah, Lord, and Savior. The word Messiah is a Hebrew word meaning "anointed one .~ When it was translated into Greek by the early Church, the word became Cluistos or Christ. Messiah was a very important word for the jewish people in Old Testament times. It reminded them that kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil. wjesus fulfilled the meS·
sianic hope of Israel in His threefold off1ce of pnest, prophet, and kmg." (CCCH61
just like the word Lord, the word Savior was used in the Old Testament to describe God. jesus, whose very name means "God saves," is announced to all as the Savior of the world. "Since God alone can forgtve sins, it is God who, in jesus His eternal Son made man, 'will save His people from their sins."' (CCC 430) "who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the VIrgin Mary" ~~ ~The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates 'the fullness of time,' the time of fulfillment of God's promises and preparations." <CCC -IS~) Here is the fulfillment given through the prophet Isaiah: W Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." Os:>i~h 7 H ) "The Gospel accounts understand the virginal conception of jesus as a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and possibility." cccc 497) jesus is Mary's only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom indeed He came to save. (d . John 19:26-27, Rom:ms s 29, Rcvcl:uiun 12 17) .JJ
7 feelings ·J esus had .... God revealed divine love to us in the Jl8I1IOrl of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Jesus ahared aD our human characteristics and feefmgs. In the Goepela W8 find a description of the human experiences of Jesus. Select from the list below a story that describes a feeling or human charaderistic of
Jesus. Reflect on the meaning of this story. You may wish to record yot.r insights in a prayer journal.
Jesus was compassion·
ate: Matthew 9:36 Jesus was angry: Matthew 21 :12· 13, Mark 3:5
Jesus was trou· bled: John 11 :33
........ tampted: Matthew 4: 1· 11 Jesus WIS cryIng: John 11 : 35-36 Jesus was lov· lng: Mark 10 :21 Jesus was emo-
tionally upset: Mark 14:32-42 With what human feelings or j~us do you identify? How did j~us handle th~e feelings?
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For the egotists who love power and control, popularity and success, 'meelmess' and the meek arc despised as soft and weak ron Wayncs Bishop Pursley prayed: "Lord, keep me humble, spare me a tumble."
Theres an intense curiosity nowadays about 'ins' and 'outs.' Popularity is linked with the fast pace and constant changes of our times. This kind of 'mania' about who and wl1at are 'in' or 'out' is regularly fed by the buzz and hoopla of the media. Curiosity about 'ins' and 'outs' is not new, but it is widespread and global today because of instant communication. Does this preoccupation with others' opinions affect our culture, society and economy? Does it control us? Does it relate to our happiness? The solutions call for intelligence, right judgement and tough choices - which my father used to refer to as "brains, horse sense and guts." Matthew and Luke say nothing about the crowds reaction to the beatitudes. Within two years Jesus will be rejected and crucified, but the Lord and His teaching continue unabated and fruitful. Both then and now Jesus' words that happiness is possible only to the 'poor in spirit' and the 'meek' is outrageous and impossible for many.
Top: Third in a st=rit=s or glass mosaic panels on display at the new Michigan Catholic Conrerence headquarters, Lansing I Photography by Christine jones
The very people the world proclaims to be unhappy and miserable jesus proclaims to be supremely happy now and forever. Many are initially pm ofT and confused, but still attracted by the beatitudes. They are at the heart of our Christian life and its supreme agenda for identification with jesus and His mission. The beatitudes take us out of the 'usual' and prevent us from making a petty religion for ourselves based on our petty roportions. This calls for felong choices because the ¡6eatitudes and the entire Gospel can be a 'wine too strong' and we close our ears to the lords liberating call. Purely human ideas about meekness make it very auraetive: Webster defines it as ~enduring injury with patience and without resentment" The meek dish out the honey that sweetens human relationships on all levels. For the egotists who love power and control, popularity and success, 'meekness' and the meek are despised as soft and weak. For the ''I'm number one," "Whats in it for me" and "Taker" crowd, meekness and humility arc 'out.' The Old Testament paves the way to "blessed are the meek.'' These are the anawim - those who realize their t verty and lean entirely on .. od. They live in the presence of God and are totally com-
mined, fully surrendered and blindly confident They detach themselves from their egos and learn to listen to and count on God, knowing they can't manage alone. The meek humble them& selves before God, and they walk with confidence with the knowledge that God is their Father. The anawim arc child-like, self-efTacing and reverent. With others they arc honest, patient and gentle. Such power does not have to throw its weight around. It gently transforms and inherits the earth and the Kingdom. In jesus we get the whole picture of the meaning and power of meekness. Remember, jesus is and lives the beatitudes. They reveal the inner core ofjesus. In jesus, 'poor in spirit' and meekness are inseparable. Being poor in spirit is expressed in meekness. jesus is poor Himself. He exists exclusively in relation to the Father. Everything comes from the Father who rules. jesus' humanity was an act of meekness and obedience. He is a living prayer and parable of the Eternal Word. The Gospels are dominated by the 'meekness' of the poor jesus who declares Himself one with the anawim and the outcasts. To the weary and those who find life burdensome he beckons: "Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am meek and humble
of heart." (Matthew II :29) After 73 years, 1know that I'm still not done with becom& ing meek. Its been a tough and long education by a host of educators. Uke most, 1 too was put ofT by the beatitudes, but still found them appealing at a d1stance. Only later in life did I truly begin to understand and appreciate them. Experiencing the courage and faith of so many meek people, 1 saw meekness as a strength and power for good to others and personal happiness. Meekness is the virtue that turns all our energies away from deadly egotism to service of God and others in union with Gods will. From many 'meek' who witnessed this truth, heres a ringer. It took me about 30 years to learn the how "man proposes and God disposes" with the poor in spirit and the meek. In the seminary there were 'ins' and 'outs.' Once a person is labeled in any way, it usually sticks. Of course this is unfair and often cruel, but it still goes on. There was one guy who was a 'loser' in all the popular ways. We thought he didn't have what it takes to be a priest. This sincere student plugged on with average grades. When the decision came about ordination, his bishop trumped everyone and ordained him. Of course, all the smarties wondered where
Find Web video excerpts of Bishop Mengellng'l homlllel end press c:onferenc:ea only on FAITHmag .com
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the loser would be assigned and were sure that he would be a disaster. After about 20 years 1 was blessed to find out how wrong 1 was. The bishop was truly guided by the Holy Spirit. Hearing confessions at a numher of penance services during Lent, a large number of penitents lamented about how much they missed the priest who had been given another assignment They praised him as a "Physician of Souls" in the sacrament of penance. They sorely missed his kindness, gentleness and mercy and most of all, his firm and practical guidance for a good moral and spiritual life. To my surprise the priest they were speaking of was the 'loser'. one of the 'outs.' One of the poor and meek of jesus is St. Therese of lisieux who writes: "Holiness does not consist of this or that practice but of disposition of heart that places us, humble and little in Gods arms, conscious of our weakness, confident to the point of blindness in Gods fatherly goodness. What makes me pleasing to God is the way I love my littleness and my poverty and the way 1 trust blindly in His mercy." Fort Waynes Bishop Pursley prayed: "Lord, keep me humble, spare me a tumble." ..u - Most Rev. C:trl F. Mongding Is tho rounh bishop or 4nslng.
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The most perfect example we have of what it means to be meek is the example we see in Jesus, the Son of God, standing in silence before the craven Roman magistrate Pontius Pilate. judas lscariot, one of jesus' chosen Twelve Apostles, had betrayed Him. And yet jesus was clearly more powerful than all of the forces of evil arrayed against Him, even the worst that Satan could throw at Him. It was in His meekness that He faced them all down. He stood before the worst in silence, not lifting so much as a finger. There was no anger or fury in His soul. His fists were not clenched. He didn't call down damnation and destruction upon them. He was totally and completely meek; He was totally and completely in charge. He stood there in unimaginable power - meek and mild. Only the strongest can do that. .,_ www.FAITHmag.com
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I've never liked the idea of being meek too wimpy, too weak, in my way of thinking. Who would ever want to be admired for being meek? Well, I've changed my mind now that I've met Keith. Keith Mixer has every reason to rage against life. He knows life is unfair - in fact he knows it too well. Life has dealt him some terrible blows. And still he is meek. I wish I could be like him. Ufe has its crossroads ... and life has its crosses. W! often intersect with life:S unfairness and get nailed, Keith has. He has been paralyzed not once, but t\vice! Keith Edward Mixer was born in Southfield, Mich., on March 29, 1968, to William and judy Ann Mixer. He has an older
brother, Kevin, and a younger siste Anne Marie. He went to Groves High School in Birmingham and lived a very typical lire in a very typical American family. When he was 12 and in the sev¡ enth grade, he had an adverse reaction to a polio vaccine that resulted in paralysis from the neck down. He nearly died. A very painful emergency tracheotomy and an alert hospital orderly saved him. He went through the eighth grade in a wheelchair and on crutches. Keith began to use a cane in the ninth grade - and was still aided by it as he finished high school. Along the way he had surgery to release the constricted tendons in his leg muscles. That forced h1m to live in a body cast from his waist down for many months. During high school he lived a good, clean life: free of drugs and alcohol; free of being defiant or rebellious. He and his family regularly attended Mass although they weren't particularly involved in the life of their parish. Keith followed all of the rules, did what was expected of him, and was a good son and brother. Keith graduated from high school in 1986 with a 3.4 GPA and then enrolled at the University of MichiganwDearborn. In 1987, he transferred to UM-Ann Arbor and lived with a roommate he knew from junior high school. Pope john Paul II came to visit Detroit Sept. 18 and 19, 1987. Keith \viii never forget Saturday, September 19, 1987the date on which life in all of its cruel unfairness nailed him to his cross. That morning Keith and his brother, Kevin, were om shopping. While driving through an intersection, a speeding van broadsided their car. Keith, wearing his seatbclt, was riding in the passenger seat. It was the passenger side of their car that took the brunt of the impact. In an instant, Keiths world turned black. The next thing Keith remembers is the "beep, beep, beep" of life support equipment in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICV). He had initially been taken to the emergency room of St. joseph Hospital, Pontiac, the same facility reserved for the pope in case it was needed that Saturday. The ER was fully staffed with doctors and support persons solely to take care the pope. They had nothing else to do now but care for a very battered Keith.
..... !'fllnlstry with Persons with disAbilities: For Information on outreach, resoun:ee, advocacy and educallonal opportunities: call Joann Davie at (517) 342¡2500.
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"I put a little more thought Into why I don't take antidepressants or drink. Those only create an Illusion of things being OK - When the effect of whatever I took wears off, the problem Is stiR there!'
"After surgery in the emergency room, while I was still unconscious, I was placed in the PICU because the adult intensive care unit was reserved for the pope," Keith recalls. "The following Monday, when the hospital offered to move me, my parents resisted because by then they had become acclimated to the staff. During those two long weeks, I was unable to talk and communicated by squeezing someone's hand in response to questions." Immediately after his treatment began in the PICU, two strong-willed women intervened in a very important way. This was very significant for Keith. One was an intensive care physician. the other, a physical therapist who was currently working with infants. Both absolutely insisted that doctors place Keith in the rehabilitation ward immediately after he was medically stabilized. This was significant in that it allowed Keith to recover movements in his body that he might not otherwise have regained. He is, to ,.{his day, very gratcfu.l to them for their ~len and forceful acuons. On <mother front, Keith's parents had the nuns at the Sacred Heart Monastery in Detroit praying for him during his recovery. Given the nature of his head injury, the skills of the medical professionals and the prayers of the religious sisters had a profoundly positive effect. Keith soon began to realize that he had a significant injury - only his left arm was not affected. His right arm and both legs had been significantly impaired and will remain so, unless God works a miracle in Keith. Years of physical therapy followed both the polio vaccination incident and the September crash. Keith can now bathe and dress himself, drive a van and live by himself. He only needs a bit of help from others when it comes to house cleaning. He is grateful to others for offering rides and very much likes to get out of his apartment and enjoy the world. Yet, Keith's life has been anything but Jmalyzed. His gentle, loving soul has flourished. In spite of all of his sufferings and troubles he is sensitive to the
moods and feelings of those around him and shows remarkable concern for them. His sense of humor buoys everyone, including himself. It's all because he is a powerful human being ... his soul is filled \vith the power of God. His body, like Christ's battered body, is a temple of the Holy Spirit. When we face life's crossroads we are confronted with choosing the road less traveled ... the harder one. Could Keith have taken to drugs and alcohol? Certainly! Could he have played on the sympathies of doctors and collected prescriptions for drugs? Certainly, as many others have. But Keith drdn 't. Even though his days are filled \vith a sense of loss and his nights with foreboding over his future, Keith has not turned to alcohol or drugs. "1 put a little more thought into why 1 don't take antidepressants or drink. Those only create an tllusion of things being OK and keep me from dealing with the prccipitatmg cause of my distress. When the effect of whatever I took wears off, the problem is still there." Meekness is not passive resignation; it is acceptance of life as it comes to us, acceptance as a beginning point, not as an ending. The meek do not lash out at God or others. They take life and others as they come to them and then begin working from there, just as Jesus did. It would be good for us to meditate frequently on Christ standing before Pontius Pilate. Standing there, He was anything but passive, resigned and defeated. I think of Keith in that picture. Academic achievements have resulted from Keith's determination. He has attended Schoolcraft Community College, Eastern Michigan University, Cooley Law School, and the University of Michigan's School of Urban Planning. He has a bachelor's degree in social work from Eastern Michigan and a master's in urban planning from the University of Michigan. When he received his master's degree Keith realized "that something incredible had happened to me. I was one of the fortunate people who had suffered a head injury and was then able to go on and
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earn a master's degree. I started going back to Church again ~ Determining a career is hard enough for anyone. Finding a job has been, as one might imagine, tougher yet for Keith. "My doctor," Keith explains, "suggested the Urban Planning School because all the changes that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was mandating would call for planners with these sensitivities. 1specialized in transportation, specifically transit. I even wrote my final project on getting more persons with disabilities to use the ftxcd-route buses in lieu of the little buses because of the skyrocketing costs." Its hard for me to fathom how Keith Edward Mixer has come through two such terrible adversities and emerged with a soul that is so faithfull, a hean that is so kind, considerate and sensitive toward others, so solicitous, so gentle. He remarked to me once, "As bad as things have been for me. when 1saw what happened on 9/11 in New York City, I began to see my own life differcmly. Considering the fact that I've been knocked down twice in my life and I'm still here, I believe God must have something in mind for me." Yes, Keith, I'm sure He does. I know that He brought this old Ann Arbor priest to meet you and find in you something I hope He will one day give me. "Blessed arc the meek ... "Jesus declared. Perhaps one day, if I am lucky enough to be like Keith, I will find what power and beauty there is in being meek ... and come to experience the blessedness and happiness it brings.
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.,..,. Do you or someone you know have an alcohol or drug problem? A helping hand and a listening ear Is available. Contact Bob LaPrad, Bishop's Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs (877) 342·2513•
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Pattie says she learns something neVI
Patterson, Pattie is also not afraid to say "I
Its an hour before the Tuesday night RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) session begins at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor, and Pattie Scherer is already there: setting up tables and chairs, arranging cookies on a plate, making coffee, laying out the handouts for the night. Just bdore the candidates and catechumens arrive, she takes a deep breath, says a quick prayer for guidance and grace, and lights three tapered candles. But its her smile wide and welcoming- that really illuminates the room, as people trickle in from the churchs parking lot. As fresh in her approach as a first-year teacher, Pattie is (amazingly) in her 18th year of presenting St. Francis' RCIA program. She also serves as the dioceses RCJA coordinator for Washtenaw County, encompassing 14 parishes. And she is St. Francis' director of worship. Thats an awful lot of responsibility to rest on one set of shoulders. In a very real sense, Patties work impacts every parishioner at her church and anyone who wants to join that church. When asked how she docs it all, she offers this self-e!Tacing obscrva-
By Patricia Majl!cr I Pl10tograplty by Christine jones
lion: "When you love what you do, you "j don't mind taking on more." Pattie Scherer has always been an active member of the community of Catholics. After high school, she attended Marquette University, majoring in history and education with a healthy dose of theology. A short teaching career in Milwaukee followed that. Then, in 1970, she moved with her husband, Richard, to Ann Arbor so he could take a job there. Once settled in the city, the young couple joined St. Francis, where Pattie immersed herself in the volunteer activities of the parish. Early on, that meant the altar society and religious education; later, she gravitated toward the worship ministry. Then, as the first of her four children prepared to enter college, she approached Fr. Charlie Irvin, who was serving as pastor, with the news that she had to find a paying job to help her husband pay for tuition. "Fr. Charlie created the director of worship position for me, and that enabled me to stay on," she explains. In 1985, s joyfully accepted responsibility for the RCIA program as well: ~I thought, finally, I can usc all of my education!" "Pattie ts just the kind of person you want to sec in the ministerial life.~ confirms her current pastor, Fr. Jim McDougall. "Shes very caring and has a great sense of the mission of the Church: to bring people to the grace of Christ." And, he adds, she does that on a one-to-one basis. ~some people feel overwhelmed m a btg parish like ours. Pattie has a way of connecung with our parishioners as individuals and really getting to know thetr stories.'' Donna Rose knows what Fr. Jim is talking about. She met Pattie on a casual basis at a church picnic, then decided to talk to her about the idea of converting to the Cathohc faith. ~Pattie answered all my questions and really put me at ease,Mexplains Donna. "Then she asked me if I was serious about joining or just exploring. I told her, 'Unless theres something really weird about Catholicism, I want to belong ' And she said, 'Donna, if there was something weird about it, I wouldn't belong:~ Donna, who is visually impaired, also had concerns about her ability to fully participate in the RCIA program. But Pattie put those fears to rest. First, she secured a Bible on audiotape for Donna, as well as audio copies of FAITH Magazine. Then Pattie took the time to put masking tape over all the graphics on her handouts, so that Donnas scm ning software - which converts printed material into the sp ken word - would function properly. Pattie also adjusted the way she taught Donnas class, mvolv~
most every group or people. And, according to Lois now" and promises to find the answer ror next time.
f more of the senses in her lessons. For example, during a tour rr the church and its contents, Pattie held up each object used in :1e sanctuary, then passed them around to let the group fully xperience them. When the Book of Gospels was handed to her, >onna called the ornate, raised surface of the cover "amazing" and 1arvelcd at its heft and temperature (made of gold and silver, it 1as cool to the touch). Another person commented on the granu~ 1r quality of the incense. And everyone was surprised to fmd a int of balsam in the chrism. "!think the whole group benefited from Donnas presence among tern,» Pattie commented. "I know I did." Pattie says she learns Jmething new from almost every class she teaches. And, according > Lois Patterson, her RCIA teacher is also not afraid to say "I don't now" when faced with a question that stumps her: "She promises > find the answer by the next week, and she always docs." Lois and Donna arc among the 60 to 75 people who enthuslasti~ tlly enroll in St. Francis' RCIA - offered days and evenings tery year. And, while it would be easy for Pattie to take credit for 1is success, she demurs at the suggestion and points instead to :r team of facilitators, "any of whom could take over for me at moments notice." One of those facilitators is Finlay Beaton, who first met Pattie ,rough his volunteer efforts with the churchs ushering corps. )ne day, she spotted me at the back of the church and asked me I'd sponsor a gentleman in her RCIA class. I remember thinkmg, IJ1 not qualified for that,' but she has a way about her. You just h say no," he said with a smile. Finlay joined the RCIA group in progress to refresh his memory 10ut the Churchs teachings Then, the next year, he got talked to attending a "Beginnings and Beyond" course for RCIA facilita~ rs. "The course was a week-long. out-of-town commitment, right the middle of my busy time at work. At first, I told Pattie, heres no way I can go.' But that sweet smile and unassummg anner eventually convinced me to say yes." Finlay attended the course as scheduled and, upon his return, forlily joined the RCIA facilitators at St. Francis; hes also sponsored meonc every year since. In explaining his dedication to the pro1m and to Pattie, Finlay says simply, "She has a way of bringing out : best in people. She sees the spark, the potential in everyone." After Easter Vigil, when newly~initiated have been welcomed into : Church, it would seem that Patties work with them is done. .t, in reality, its only beginning. "One of the most rewarding pans my other job (as director of worship),'' she explains, "is watching ople continue to grow in their faith even after they've moved on.M Pauie is witness to that growth when the newly-initiated oose to participate in the daily life of the parish as lectors, hers, even Eucharistic ministers: "When I sec Christ working their lives like that, I call that 'pure gift."' 'Pure gift" may be the best way to describe Gods special vant, Pauie Scherer, as well . :D I
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t Do you have a talent for making people feel welcome? ntact your parish to find out how you can welcome Catholics o the Church. Or for more on lay ministry contact Mary Tardif mtardl@dloceseoffansing.org or call (517) 342·2512.
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henever It came Ume for a perfonnance review during the earty part of my career, I could pretty much predict what my manager was going to tell me. Inevitably, I would be told that I was a good, solid perfonner, but I lacked a degree of confidence or
enthusiasm. More than one manager suggested that I take a Dale Carnegie course to help build my leadership skils. My apparent lack of boldness was considered a detriment to my career. I considered this advice but concluded that I was not going to change my personality just to get ahead in my career. Radler than forcing an arbitrary career path, I decided that I would focus first on trying to discem God's wiU for me; and if I was successful in this task, then confidence ~•• and enthusiasm would evolve more naturally.
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Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable with what you do at work? Do you see yourself In any of these situations? • If you are a leader, are you expected to be domineering in order to control your subordinates? • Do you feel a need to constantly compete with co-workers in order to advance? • Do you feel forced into a career path that doesn't suit you but you keep plugging away because it's expected?
We are conditioned in the worf<place to be tough and sometimes unfeeling - in order to be successful But Christ teaches us anolher path, "BJcsscd are the mcclt, for tlu:y wiU inl1crit tJ1e JaneL" (Malthew 5 :5). Does this beatitude imply that we just be a doormat for evesyone at wori<? Not at al. As l'w mentioned in previous columns, the purpose of our work is to help build God's kingdom on earth. I lhnc: that it is our dLiy to aggressively ptnue that mission.
ourselves to be submissive to Gods will in our work, this is when we receive Gods kingdom
Being meek at work means that we need to establish a disposition of humility not weakness:
1 As leaders, we must seek to serve rather than dominate and control. 2 As co-workers, we should look to collabonde for everyone's success rather than compete for individual success. 3 As individuals, we must submit ourselves to God's plan for us rather than a selfish desire for material success. In the logic of our temporal culture this may sound like weakness, but as Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians (12 :9): "God's power is made perfect in weakness. When we aUow ourselves to be submissive (meek) to God's will in our work, this is when we receive our true inheritance ... God's kingdom~ - Tim Ryan is an inronnation technology prorcsslon:~l in Fowlerville and has tamed a master's dc:gn:e in p:tstoral studic:.s rrom Loyola University New Orleans. He is a member of St. Joseph Parish, Gaines
April 2003
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.,..,. By meeting and working with humbl met the challenges of growing up anc
Fr. Tim MacDonald, pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Fowler, clearly recalls the summer of 1997. He was a second-year seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He had gone to Calcutta to witness the work of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. Though the water supply made him ill with hepatitis for two of his six weeks there, he remains eternally grateful for the experience. Fr. Tim remembers: "Mother Teresas was the first home for the dying, right next to a huge Indian temple. We saw the Book of Registration, which Mother had kept since 1947. In her own handwriting she recorded where each person was found , the condition and the date of death of
By Carolyn Smidt
Pltotogral'lay by Claristine]ones
each person. Mother and her sisters gave such dignity to poor people. While others chose to look away and judge them as inconsequential, the sisters saw them as Christ, disguised as the poor and suffering." Because Mother Teresa was in Rome at the time he arrived, Fr. Tim saw her for only a week- merely five weeks before her death. He served Mass and shared holy Communion and Holy Hour with her. He spoke with her in the sacristy. "She made a definite effort to find Christ in all people. As Americans, we can be quick to judge and feel superior. She instilled in us a respect for all of Gods creatures and that Christ encourages us to find Him in all people," reflects Fr. Tim. Back in Rome and around Christmas, Fr. Tim contracted pneumonia resulting from the hepatitis. He was hospitalized for two weeks and recovered, thanks to good care from nuns. A product of Flint Community Schools and religious education from St Michael Parish in downtown Flint, Fr. Tim, 28, IS the youngest of six children, five boys and a girl. He was ordained with his brother, Adam, 32, on june 10, 2000, along with two other men. ¡ My brother and I credit Fr. Matthew ,\sa scmm.lrian., I r Tim MacDonald Fedewa, pastor at Sl. Michael's from \isltcd Mother l975 to 1990, for his spiritual guid Tercsa. While oth- ance. He truly had a 'shepherd's heart' crs chose to look and was personally involved in our lives a''¡lY and judge and the lives of our family. That kind of them as mconscspirit is contag10us,~ he says. qucntial; Fr. Tim Also influential in Fr. Tims decision says. 'the siSters to become a priest was Fr. John Klem, saw them as Chnst, associate pastor at Sl. Michael at the disguised as the time. ''Whats interesting is that Fr. john poor and suffcnng." became the first pastor I was assigned to as a priest at St. Gerard in Lansing. A little later, Fr. Matt (Fedewa) moved to St. Gerard. So I had the priest who gave me my f1rst Communion and the priest who heard my first confession working right along w1th me. I had my heroes right there!" Fr. Tim knew he would become a priest by the age of 1 But unlike most other boys his age, he was struggling wiL ' weight problem. He weighed 300 pounds when he graduated from high school. By the time he was a junior in
a-.a-. Interested In the priesthood? Contact the Diocese of Lans
ts and nuns, lndudlng Mother Teresa, Fr. llmothy MacDonald ne a priest by learning from the best mentors near and far.
:ollege, he decided that fighting for breath after walking up ;tairs and looking poor physically just weren't wonh it. So i1et, exercise, and prayer helped him drop 75 pounds In four nomhs. wlt was my will in cooperation with Gods grace," 1e recalls. After high school, Fr. Tim attended a program at St. j ohn Jianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, vlinn. Before entering the Pontifical College in Rome, he attended mensive Italian classes in New York for six weeks. That helped 1im understand his professors, who taught only in Italian. like other folks, Fr. Tim has faced his share of challenges. 3ut spiritually he seems to have drawn strength from his >redecessor, Fr. Ray Rademacher, who died of blood diseases md diabetes at the age of 67. In tri bute, Fr. Tim says, "Fr. Ray ;ave excellent witness to the sick people of Most Holy Trinity larish. Often, he would go out on sick calls when he was sick·r than the people he was visiting. "Fr. Ray was a very spiritual man - a plain talker and a deep hinkcr. Through his integrity, honesty and perseverance, he ;ave witness to the faith. Though I'm much younger and have 1r less experience, I feel inspired by that example." :oincidentally, Fr. Tims first day on the job took place Sept. 9, .002. on what would have been Fr. Rademachers birthday. ) \ the fast track o sainthood: Mother eresa will be Beatified )ct. 19, 2003
••••••••••••••••••••••••• • After studies by more than a ozen Indian and Vatican-appointed hysicians, Pope John Paul II fonnal' recognized the miracle needed for 1e beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Dec. 20, 2002. The beatification ceremony will take place at the Vatican )ct. 19, Mission Sunday, "the closest Sunday to the 25th nniversary of the Holy Father's pontificate and the end of the ear of the Rosary." The process leading up to Mother Teresa's beatification was 1e shortest in modem history. In fact, the usual fonnal first :ep in the process, a •decree of heroic virtues," which recogizes a person lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way, was sued only minutes before the decree recognizing the miracle. The sari-clad nun, known for her care of the sick and dying, ied in September 1997. In early 1999, Pope John Paul aived the normal five-year waiting period and allowed the 1mediate opening of her canonization cause. The promoter of Mother Teresa's canonization cause, tissionaries of Charity Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, posted )uled information about the medical condition of Monika Basra 1d about her cure on the cause's Web site in early January. For ore log onto: motherteresacause.info - Cindy Wooden (CNS)
I out more: Fr. Karl Pung (517) 342-2507.
lessed ere the meek? What words spring to mind when you think about e "meek" person? I've written many letters of recommendation, but as I pondered this beatitude, it occuned to me that I had never described a student as "meekl" Mer all, some words that are considered its synooyms aren't ftallering tenns: spineless, fainthearted, Jacking spirit. weak-kneed. Meekness and humility aren't valued in our culture. 'We don't often hear the words Shakespeare wrote in Richard Ill: "I thank my God for my humility:' lli>Jio Blessed are meek spouses. Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote, "Meekness is not cowartftee; meekness is not an easy-going temperament, sluggish, and hard to arouse: meekness is not a spineless passivity that allows everyone to walk (Mil" us. Nol Maei~MSS Is self-possession. 1hat Is why the reward of meekness Is possession (of the earth). A weak person can never be meek, , because he is never self-possessed~ Mary was meek in her acoeptance of God's Ml; ~ was an active choice, not passive compliance. Joseph was meek, having the self·poseession to ignore what others might think of his pregnant betrothed.
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ReleUonshlps Involve self-control: 1 Ustening to an entire thought- no interrupting! 2 Evaluating how choices affect both of you. 3 Voice strong opinions, but express them gently, with a sincere intention to work together Ill>~ Blessed are meek parents. Meekness involves "bearing difliculties with patience and humility:' This fits the vocation of parenthood; raising children is not for the weak·kneedl Patience requires strength and selkontrol. If a rule is violated then it means enforcing the consequences. living with a teen who has been grounded is pun· ishment for the parent as well as for the child. But effective discipline is fair and firm, not unpredictable Raising chiidn-n and based on a parent's mood. Sometimes parents ts not for the make mistakes, too. When I'm tired and worried weak-kneed! about a child, I tend to overtlo the consequences, tak- Patience requires ing away a week's car privileges over a minor issue. slt"tngth and When we are alone, my husband will say, "Isn't that a self-control. If a bit extreme?" Sometimes 1end up telling the teen, "I rule i_s violated overreaded. You are only grounded from the car for then n. means a daY: As she wah off mtilering, "No kidding, you cnforcmg the . ba kl consequences. overreacted," I want to change it ck to a wee ~~ Grapevines twist around wires next to the parking lot at our diocesan retreat center. As spring flows into summer, the vines grow lush. Eventually the sweet smell of grapes will greet each visitor and the vines will sag toward the earth, heavy with fruit. The meek are like these vines. Over time, with the wannth of the Son's love, they become stronger and more fruitful. The meek have not been trampled into the ground by advemity. Instead, they are laden with the fruits of the Spiril - Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a prorcssor or psychology at Michigan Stlltc University and a certified spiritu:ll dircclor.
April 2003
19
FAITH t.bg:~zine
c=================~~~~~~====~--~·--
..... Fr. Conway was bobbing among mates, reassuring the increasingly
issue
or FAITil
Lt. (Rev.) Thomas M. Conwav, reatured Dick J' Thelen, a man a 37 -year-old Navy Chaplain whoswvived the from Buffalo, New York, was sinking orthe uss sleeping soundly on july 31 , Indianapolis. He mentioned a priest 1945, on board the uss who ministered to Indianapolis, a heavy cruiser. him while stranded At 12:14 a.m. the first torpedo in the water. from the japanese submarine, l-58, blew away the bow of the ship. An instant later the second struck near midship on the starboard side, the resulting explosion split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power. Within 12 minutes the unescorted cruiser slipped beneath the surface of the Philippine Sea, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf. By William Milhomme
Of 1,196 men on board, approximately 900 men made it into the water. Few life rafiS were released; the majority of the survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket and life bellS. The ship was never missed, and by the time the survivors were spotted by accident four days later, only 316 men were still alive. Over the past 51 years there have been many books and anicles published about the greatest naval disaster after Pearl Harbor. Among the survivors several men were awarded commendations for their heroic actions. Among those lost at sea, a few tales of
herotsm remain to be told. For three nights Fr. Conway, a Catholic priest, swam to the md of his shipmates, reassuring the increasingly dehydrated and delirious men with prayers until he himself expired, the last Catholic chaplain to die in WWIJ. Like many stories of heroism, Fr. Conway was commemorated in simple ways among his friends and shipmates. As time moves on, and generations pass away, many stories of history are lost, and someumcs they arc rediscovered. Conway was born on April 5, 1908, in Waterbury, Conn. He was the oldest of three children born to Irish immigrants, Thomas E and Margaret (Meade). Fr. Conway attended Lasalene jumor Seminary, in Hartford, Conn. In 1928, h enrolled at N1agara University {New York) and received an A. B. degree in 1930. On june 8, 1931. Conway enrolled in Our Lady of Angels Seminary, on the campus of Niagara University. May 26, 1934, he was ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Buffalo, N.Y., in St. Michaels Cathedral, Springfield, Mass. For the next eight years Fr. Conway served as a curate m the parishes of St. Rose of Ltma, All Saints, St. Teresa, St. Nicholas and finally St. Brigid. Former parishioners recall that Fr. Conways favorite pastime was to navigate Lake Ene in hts little sailboat, a common sight parked along side the rectory during the week. He is remembered as a "mans man~ - a priest in touch with and sympathetic to the blue-collar
Pltotograplty courtesy of tlte Diocese of Buffalo ancl dte U.S. Navy Ardtivcs
JTning oil, debris, chaos and voices of the 900 survivors. For three nights, he swam to the aid of his ship· lrated and delirious men with prayers until he himself expired, the last Catholic chaplain to die in WWII.
~.,. talitics of his parishioners liv· ing among the Eric Canal neighborhoods. On Sepl.l7, 1942, Fr. Conway enlisted in U.S Navy, commissioned a chaplain. A few days before leaving on active duty, Fr. Conway recorded a voice message on a 78 rpm recorder to a dear friend, Mary Noe. He called her 'mom.' She had eight children, one also a Buffalo priest. The Noes were family and home to Fr. Conway. The record, though scratched and distoned, preserves most of the farewell message. He prefaces the message \vith these words: "Well, Ma, your Sailor Boy is going to dedicate a very special number to you, a very. very special mom. I'd li11e you to excuse the sinbring. It s not so l10t. ¥member, it is always tl1e thougl11 behind it that counts ... " Fr. Conway sings two verses of the song I11m:w a Kiss into ti!C Ocean. The song was written a few months earlier by Irving Berlin for the U.S. Navy Relief; made popular by Benny Goodman accompanied by Peggy lee. He sings, "I spoke last nigl1t to the ocean spol1e last nigl1t to tl1c sea And from the ocean a voice came bach '7ivas my Blue jacl1ct answering me Sl1ip Ahoy, ship ahoy I can hear you, Sailor Boy I spol1c last night to the ocean I spolle last niglll 10 ti!C sea And from the ocean a voice came bach 'Twas my soul love answering me" • • The true words to the secf.d verse should have repeat· .i:l Bluejacllet, but Conway .nserts 'soul love.'
Conway asks, "Well Ma, how'd you lihc it? I've wrote that I've missed you wl1en I'm gone and now I'm going to miss you. " The rest of the record is difficult to transcribe, but his message can be gleaned. Fr. Conway fondly talks about " ... All the Friday evenings after corifcssion ... the many b'lrests and ... supper ... you were never conccmed with l11at ... llihed it ... Its a great place to come into ... Wlwt have you got to cal?" His last audible words: "Sa, don't miss me. I'll be back Remember me in your prayers ancll'll remember you ... So goodbye mom."
Fr. Conway served at Naval stations along the East Coast and in 1943 was transferred to the Pacific. For several months he served on the USS Medusa, and on Aug. 25, 1944, Fr. Conway was assigned to the USS Indianapolis. july 30, 1945, was a typical Sunday for Fr. Conway. He celebrated the Catholic Mass and later conducted a Protestant service. It was known that Fr. Conway could usually be found in the ships library or his room for confession or just someone to talk to. A few minutes past mid-
night Fr. Conway was bobbing among the burning oil, debris, chaos and voices of the 900 survivors. Fr. Conway's actions arc vividly recalled by several of the survivors. Frankj. Ccmazzo recently wrote, "Father Conway was in every way a messenger of our lord. He loved his work no matter what the challenge. He was respected and loved by all his shipmates. I was in the group with Father Conway.... I saw him go from one small group to another. Getting the shipmates to join in prayer and asking them not to give up hope of being rescued. He kept working until he was exhausted. I remember on the third day late in the afternoon when he approached me and Paul McGiness. He was thrashing the water and Paul and I held him so he could rest a few hours. Later, he managed to get away from us and we never saw him again. Father Conway was successful in his mission to provide spiritual strength to all of us. He made us believe that we would be rescued. He gave us hope and the will to endure. His work was exhausting and he finally succumbed in the evening of the third day. He will be remembered by all of the survivors for all of his work while on board the 'Indy' and especially three days in the ocean."
•AITHhelps Is • free online Ieeming companion lo FAITH. Only on U-rTK!nl !ii-C:Om
Lewis L Haynes, Captain, Medical Corps, USN, recalled in an anicle for the Satwtlay Evening Post (Aug. 6, 1955), " ... All thoughts of rescue arc gone, and our twisted reasoning has come to accept this as our life until the end is reached. A life with nothing but the sky, a shimmering horizon and endless wastes of water. Beyond this we dare not imagine. "But we have not lost everything. To the contrary, we have found one comfon - a strong belief to which we cling. God seems very close. Much of our feeling is strengthened by the chaplain, who moves from one group to another to pray with the men. The chaplain, a priest, is not a strong man physically, yet his courage and goodness seem to have no limit. I wonder about him, for the night is panicularly difficult and most of us suffer from chills, fever and delirium. "The moon has been up for some time when I hear a cry for help. It is Mac, the sailor who has given so much to so many. When I swim to him, Mac is supponing the chap· lain, who is delinous. 'Doctor - you'll just have to relieve me for awhile!' Mac gasps. 'I - I can't hold him any longer!' I take the chaplain from him; thrust my arm through the chaplains life jacket so that I may hold h1m securely through his wild thrashing. Then I look around for Mac, for 1 know he needs help. He is completely exhausted, his head forward . his nose in the water. Mac! Mac! I call. There is no answer - and the last I sec of Mac is his head sinking lower and lower as he drifts away in the moonlight. .,
t\prl/2003
21
FAITII M•g•:inc
"The chaplains delirium mounts; his struggles almost too much for me. He cries a strange gibberish - some of the words are Ul.tin - but in a little while he sinks into a coma. The only sound is the Fr. Conway swam crowd at general slap of water against back and forth services; that he us as I wait for the among the tenified spoke on the end. When it comes, crew members, parable of the the moon is high, hearing their Pharisee and pub\ican, likening golden overhead. I oonfessions and say a prayer and let administering them to two him drift away, last rites. sailors appearing along the path to follow before the captain of the ship, Mac .... " that, while in the water he Fr. William F. Frawley, was went about from group to a chaplain at Base Hospital group organizing prayer #20, Peleliu Island where the groups ... Fr. Conway spent majority of survivors were his leave flying to the homes taken for medical attention. of nine boys who had been Though there was a governkilled by a suicide plane ment news blackout about which struck the ship near the incident, Fr. Frawley Okinawa (that is the reason writes a letter to Archdiocese the ship was on its way from of Military Services, dated the States. It had been reconAugust 5, one day after the ditioned and left the States on rescue. He writes, "The true 16 july and was hit somefacts concerning the death of where between Guam and Fr. Thomas Conway ... He Leyte on 30 july at 0010.) ... " along with about eight hunSeveral books have been dred others, got off the ship written about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, includinto the water when the explosions occurred. On the ing In Harms Way (2001) by evening of the third day in Doug Stanton and Ordeal by the water, completely Sea (1963) by Thomas exhausted, he drowned. All Helms. Fr. Conways presence the survivors who were as a priest on the ship and brought to our Base Hospital among the survivors in the have the highest praise for water is gleaned. him. They repon that he had Stanton writes, "The boys been aboard the cruiser for usually confided in Father the past year; that he had Conway. During the battles of done much to improve the Iwo Jima and Okinawa, most ships facilities; that he treated of them had been scared out the personnel indiscriminate- of their wits.... As the ly, devoting as much attenkamikazes dove at the ships, the boys cried out from their tion as possible to the nonCatholics; that on the Sunday battle stations for the kind preceding the disaster two priest. ... Fr. Conway, in his mess halls were needed to early thinies, was relentless take care of the overflow and fearless in his duty. Once,
while saying Mass, battle stations had been called suddenly. and the astute Father shouted out, 'Bless us all, boys! And give them hell!' The boys loved him for this. He was a priest, it was true, but he was a priest with grit. ... (Conway) spent the bleak early morning hours swimming back and fonh among these terrified crew members, sometimes dragging loners back to the growing mass ... the priest also never stopped swimming among the boys, hearing their confessions and administering Ul.st Rites." Helms writes, "Father Thomas Michael Conway swam from group to group, never stopping to rest, praying with the men, encouraging those who were frightened, trying to reason with the maddened. His faith and his prayers gave solace to many ... Father Conway. like Ensign Park, Seaman Rich and many others, burned himself out keeping up a constant patrol among the men, ministering to the dying, talking reason into others who had become momentarily deranged and calming the frightened with prayers until all at once he reached the limit of his endurance, and his life drained away." Fr. Thomas Michael Conways story is only one example of the untold and unrecorded lives of compassion and heroism sewn into the fabric of our nations collective memory. How many more are there among our men and women serving then and now in our anned forces? ;
..,.._ Interested In the priesthood? Contact the Diocese of Lansing (517) 342¡2507.
how can an all-powerful In Lent we remember the journey of our Lord jesus that led to His suffering and death on the Cross and ultimately to His resurrection from the dead. He did it all for us. The Almighty, Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing), Eternal God became human, not to be served but to not to be loved, but to love; not to be honored, but to give honor to His Heavenly Father and to reveal to us our true dignity as children of God. ...,. "Who, though He was in the fotm of God did not regard equaity with God something to be grasped, rather He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, He humbled Himself, becoming o~ client to death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8-8). How humble Jesus was and still is. On the night before He entered His suffering and passion, He was not thinking of Himself. He thought of His disciples. He washed their feet and even instituted a New Cownari \Wh them by the sacrifice of His own Body and Blood So great was the humil'lly of Jesus, that He found all ways possible to
serve us.
how is the Eucharist
an act of humility? 1!\, ne of the greatest gifts
V
that reveals the hum~ity of Jesus is the Eucharist Jesus lowers Himself to become our very food - our daily Bread for our journey to God. He is the Bread that has come down from heaven to give life to the world. He becomes so little in order that we can approach Him. Our God has become our heavenly manna. In the Eucharist, we know that the .1 ~ve He has for us is revealed in che sacrifice He made for us. It is hard for us to even begin to grasp this kind of hum~ity Jet alone imitate it. But we must if we ever hope to enter the presence of God. Jesus said, "Thus, the last wiH be first and the first be last," (Matthew 20:16) and • ... unless you tum and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven~ (Matthew 18:3) Arrogance and pride have no home in heaven.
how does
humility help us
spiritually? ur spiritual fitness this issue is to practice humili1· Humilty ca1s us to kna.N more ully who we are in and l:leftn 3od. We began Lert with Ash ~It is a holy day that
certainly marlcs us as Calhoi'ICS and calls us to repent and remember that we came from the dust and ashes on our foreheads. "' people can identify with this. I heard one pastor in New York SBJ how people of different faiths would approach priesls dislributing ashes in the eubWirjS and ask if they could receive ashes, tool '!Nrrfi Because - thank God -people kna.N inwardly that we need God's help and mercy fNety day. That is humiflly. For our spiritual fitness this month, here are some ways to practice humility. First, we need to have a clearer understanding of what humility is in our lives. Pride completely blinds us to hum~ity. and humiflty cloaks itself Jest pride rear its ugly head. So, to think about humility in our lives, we can meditate on:
• 1 Scripture that focuses on humility
Genesis Psalm WISdom luke Matthew john Mark Luke
2:5-7
131 15:7-17 1:38;46-56 20:18-27 6:32-71; 13:1-20; 19:10-30; 21:4-14 10:42-45; 14:22-26 10:21-37; 12:35-37; 17:7-10
2 Humlllty means we will be able to admit our sin to God and to others. Examine your life with brutal honesty in tenns of the Ten Commandments and teach· ings of Jesus. Admit your sin to God and to others. Go to the sacrament of reconciliation. If you are not used to going, that can be a truly humbling experience. Humility before God leads to repentance. Read Psalm 51 .
3 Go and spend some lime 'WIIh Jesus pNSent In the Blessed Saaament. Jesus was so humble that He loNered Himself to become Otl' Bread of Ufe. 4 Put together your last will and testament. Humility means we remember that we are dust, and unto dust we all must return. Read luke 2:16-21 .
5 Flnc:l some way to serw others. Go to the Joc:al nursing home or shelter and offer your services. Volunlaer to dean the churc:h Put on tle mod d Christ who came to serve, not to be served The word humiflly comes from the root word humus - it is the good stuff of the earth that allow.l plants to grow strong. Humus is organic matter that has decayed and broken down, and through the process has been transformed into something fife.givingl So, too, when the virtue of humility is famed in us. Humility means we die to our prideful self and put olherB people l:leftn OUI1Ielves. Humility with love moves us to serve othenl. 6 Humility means ac:ceptlng that God Is God and we are not. HumUHy Is the virtue of honest~~mentand
seff.emptylng. Pray the fol· lowing LHany of Hummty:
0 jesus, mceh and humble of lteart, Hear me. Fmm the desire ofbeing esteemed, Deliver me, 0 jesus. From tltc desire of being loved, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm rite desire of being extolled, Deliver me, 0 jesus. From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, 0 jesus. From lite desire of being praised,
Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm the desire of being preferred to others, Dclhocr me, 0 jesus. From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm the desire of being appmved, Deli\'er me, 0 jesus. From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm tltc fear of being despised, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm the fear of suffering 1tbul1es, Deliver me, 0 jesus. From tlte fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm the fear of beingforgotten, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm lite fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, 0 jesus. Fmm tlte fear of being suspected, Deliver me, 0 jesus. 11tat otlters may be loved mon: than 1, jesus, grant me tlte grace to desire it. 11tat 01hers may be esteemed mon: than I, jesus, grant me the grace 10 desi n: it. 11tat, in rite opinion of rite world, others may incn:ase and I may decrense, jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.. 11tat others may be chosen and 1 set aside, jesus, grant me the grace todesilt it. 11UJI others may be praised and I go unnoticed, jesus, grant me lite grace to desin: it. Tital others may be pn:fcrred to me in cverytlling.)esus, grant me the grace to desin: it. 11tat others may become ltolier than I, provided tiUJt I may become as holy as I should, jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. I.Jorrtc:IHiritt!Jt Meny Onfnoj dol ...... """'*Y c:l-10 FtJpe 9.
Piul X- ln:m lhe F'l8ylr Book lor Jodi, 1963
- Fr. Bill Ashbaugh is pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Howell April 2003
23
FAITH Magazine
ot crvss buns! Hot crvss buns! One a penny, 1ivo a penny, Hot crvss buns! Ifyou have no daughters, Pray give !lu~m to your sons! One a penny, 1ivo a penny, Hot cross buns! emember this nursery rhyme? Taught to countless generations of school chtldrcn in America and abroad, it celebrates one of the most anticipated foods of the Lenten
season. Hot cross buns, a tradlliOnal Good Friday favorite m England, arc thought to have originated there in preChristian times. Sacred cakes called "bouns" were baked m preparation for the fesuval honoring "Eostrc,'' the goddess rspnng. (Can you guess how c words "bun" and "Easter" evolved?) And the cross cut into the buns' tops represented the moon - the heavenly body associated wtth the goddessand its four quaners.
would bring good luck or protect a person against bemg shtpwrecked. Or that hang~ng a bun over the chtmneypiece ensured that all bread baked there would be perrect. To bake a perfect pan of hot cross buns all you need IS the rec1pe below. (By the way, the word "hot" refers to the ternperature of the buns, not the spiciness!) Followmg the hot cross buns, you wtll find another popular Easter treat bra1ded bread baked around five colored eggs. This dehcacy is made even more mouthwatering by the addmon of candied fruit, almonds and anise seed.
Hot Cross Bun Yeeld: 2 112 dozen 2 pacltagcs active dry yeast (' /~ oz. eadt)
1 'lz ClllJS wann sldm millt '!2 cup sugar 'lo~ cup softened butter or
marxarinc 1 Tsp vanilla 1 Ts1J salt '!2 Tsp ground nu tmeg
Heat the skim milk to 11 Q11 5°. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. Add the sugar, butter or margarine, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and 3 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well after each addition. Stir in the dried fruit and enough flour to make a soft dough. Tum out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl and tum over to grease the top. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour). Punch the dough down and shape into 30 balls. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled (about 30 minutes). Using a sharp knife, ru a cross on the top of each roll. Beat the water and egg yolk together and brush over rolls. (You'H probably have more than you need; you may discard the unused glaze.) Bake at 375° for 12 to 15 minutes. While the buns are baking, make the icing by combining its
•
1 fJacltagc active dry yeast 1 Tsp salt
2!J cup wann millt 2 Tblsp softened butter or
marxarinc 2 eggs (plus 5 eggs for gamisll) 112
cup cftapped candiedfnrit blanclted almonds '12 Tsp anise seed 'lo~ cup chopped
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Add the milk (wanned to 11 Q-11 5") and butter or mill'" garine and beat with an electric mixer on medium for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and a 1/2 cup of flour and beat on high for another 2 minutes. Stir in the fruit, nuts and anise seed, mixing wei. Stir in enough remanng flour to fonn a soft dough. Tum out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 6 to 8 minutes). Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour). About 30 minutes before the dough has finished rising, color the 5 eggs (leave them uncooked[) with nontoxic dyes. When dry, lightly rub them with vegetable oil. Punch down the risen dough. Divide in half. Roll each half irio a 24-inch rope. On a greased baking shee~ looeely twist the two ropes together. Form into a ring and pinch the ends together. Gently split the ropes and tuck the 5 colored, uncooked eggs into the openings. Cover and let rise again until doubled (about 30 minutes). Bake in a 350° oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet and cool on a wire rack before serving.
;ter avontes Its said that the first Chnstian miSSionaries tned to stop the people from consummg the buns because they were associated with pagan ntuals. Falling at that, the missionaries gave the sweet treats a Christian meaning by blessing them and likening the markings to the cross of Chnst. Over the centuries, many perstitions sprang up around the buns. Some said a hot cross bun kept from one Good Fnday to the next
6 '12 to 7 CUfJS all-l'urposc
.flour 4 eggs 1 cup dried currants (the
traditional Englislt cltaicc) or raisins
Glaze: 2 Tblsp water 1 cggyolll Icing: 1 cup confectioner's sugar 4 Tsp milk or cream Daslt of salt lfo~ Tsp vanilla
By Patricia Majlter I Pltotograplty by Pltilip Shippcrt
four ingredients. Stir until smooth, adjusting the sugar and milk to make a mixture that flows easily. When the rolls are done, remove from the oven and cool on wire racks. Drizzle icing over the top of each roll following the lines of the cut cross. Serve while the rolls are still warm.
Easter Egg Bread Yteld: 1 ring 3 to 3 112 cups all-purpose .flour ''"' alp granulated sugar
A(wtl 200}
25
FAITIJ t.bg;uinc
drings to do
•
Theology on Tap has returned to Lansing for a Lenten series. Sessions will take place at Tripper's Sports Bar in Frandor and begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. • "Men, Women and Relationships" presented by Jeanne Monahan, April 1 • "Responsible Cltristian Citizensltip" presented by Fr. lim MacDonald, April 8 Admission is free. All young adults, married and single, ages 18·40, are especially invited. Contact Angela Fowler at (517) 342-2494 for more information.
A three-part discussion on "C&thollc Faith and Issues of Death and Dying" will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Ann Arbor, Thursday, April 3, 7·9 p.m. Questions and answers will follow. Topics will include: • "Faitlt Response to Dcatlt and Dying" presented by Fr. Roger Prokop
for anyone who is thinking about submitting a case to the Tribunal. Eileen Jaramillo, JCL, a Tribunal Judge, will speak on marriage as a covenant, invalid marriages, and misinformstion about annulments. A second presentation will discuss the specifics of presenting a case. Group discussion, question-answer sessions, lunch, and a prayer service will round out the day. For more information, call Linda Kolanowski (51 7) 3422465 or Barb White (517) 589-8487. Spring Day, "Into the Light," will be held April 5 at Christ the King Church, Aint. The event is spansored by Lansing Diocese Council of Catholic Women. Speakers will be Bishop Mengeling and Rita Thiron. The cost is $1 0, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Send your reservation to Nancy Babin, 109 Hartwell Ter., Mason, Ml 48854.
• "Integrating Catl10lic Teadtiug and Personal Values" presented by Teri Turner • "Tltc Order of Catltolic Funerals" presented by Doreen Murphy For more information, contact Doreen Murphy at (734) 761 -8606 The Diocesan Tribunal and the Office of Family Ministry are sponsoring an annul· ment workshop on Saturday, April 5, 8:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. at St. James Parish in Mason. The workshop is intended
The Diocese of Lansing Ministry with Persons with disAbilities is sponsoring a C&reglver Retreat, April 12, at St. Martha Parish, Okemos, from 2-5 p.m. The topic is Community Conversation. The retreat is for parents, caregivers, sons and daughters with developmental disAbilities. All participants will have the opportunity to listen, create and enjoy time with friends and family. Contact Joann Davis or Sr. Marlene Taylor, AD at (517) 342-2500 for more information.
I
aundny readings
I
Apltl8
Fifth Swaday of Lent E'zekiel37:12·14 Paah1 130:1-8 Rcmans 8:8-11 John 11 ;1-45 or Jeremiah 31 :31-34 Psalm 51 :3-4, 12·15 Hebrews 5:7·9 John 12;20-33
Aprl13 Palm Sunday
of the lordS Passion Mark 11 :1-1 0 (Procession with Palms) Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalrn 22:8-9, 17·20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1 • 15:47 or 15:1·39
Aprl17 Holy Thur5day Mass of Chrism Isaiah 61 ; 1·3a, 6a, Sb-9 Psalrn 89:21·22, 25,27 Revelalion 1:5-6 I.JJka 4:16-21
Aprl17 Holy Thursday
Mass of the lordS Supper
Exodus 12:1-6, 11· 14 Paam 116;12·13, 15-16bc, 17-18 1 Corinf1iara 11 :23·26 John 13:1-15Jol1n 2:13·25
Aprtl18 Good Friday The Passion of lht lord Isaiah 52:13· 53:12
Lansing Squares 2003 will be held Saturday, April 12 at the Lansing Center, sponsored by the Greater Lansing Catholic Education Foundation. For more on this entertaining evening, call (51 7) 485·8333. All are invited to a Spring Music Concert at 8:00p.m. Friday, April 25th at St. John Student Parish, East Lansing. Join us for an evening of musical celebration and hear works ranging from 16th century hymns to some of the newest music written by
Paah131 :2, 6, 12·13, 15-17, 25 Hebrews4:1 4-16; 5:7·9 Jcm 18:1 · 19:42 Apltl19
The Easter Vigil The Rcsumctlon of the lord (1) Gena!ia 1:1 • 2:2 PBalm 104 or Psalm 33 (2} Gena!ia 22:1·18 Paalm 16:5, 8, 9-1 1 (3) Exodus 14:15-15:1 Exodus 15:1-6, 17·18 (4) Isaiah 54:5-14 Paah1 30:2, 4-6, 11·13 (5) lsaiah55:1· 11 Isaiah 12:2-6 (B) Band13: 9-15, 32-4:4 Paalm 19:8-11 (7) Ezalcial36:18-17 a, 18-28 Paalm 42:3, 5, 43:3, 4 (8) Romans 6:3·11 Paah1118 Mark 16:1·7 Aprl20 Easter Sunday The Rem medon of the lord The Mass of Easter Day Ada 10:34&, 37-43 Paalm 118:1·2, 16-17, 22·23 Coloaaians 3: 1-4 or 1 Corirtins 5:6b-8 Jcm 20:1-9 or Milk 16:1-7 Aprl27 Second Sunday ofEasrer Ada4:32-35 Psalm 118:2-4, 13·15, 22·24 1 Jcm5:1-6 Jcm 20:19·31
today's top contemporary Christian composers. The state-wide high school and young adult rally - Faith Explosion 2003: "Let the Ught of Christ Burst Forth" - wil be held April 26 at the Lansing Center. Bishops from throughout the state will attend. High school teens and young adults who have graduated from high school are welcome. "V\Iho Do You Say That I Am" and ( Chris Padgett, lead singer of Scarecrow & linman, are featured keynotes.
Resources help women struggling with add"Jdion
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St. John's Gospel:
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at your life? The fourth step of Alcoholics Anonymous requires members to make "a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." This is a tough step for anyone, but especially for those struggling with addictions. This step was the theme of a retreat that brought 60 women together at St. John the Evangelist Church, Fenton, last fall. The annual even~ serving women from three area counties, grows steadily each year. Women who participate are impressed by the recognition of the need to support the spiritual development of those seeking to fiVB a clean, sober rrte. This is especially important for women who may be mothers, work full-time and face special challenges that could impede their quest for healing. Participants gained a clearer understanding of what it means to take a look at their riVeS - the good, the bad and the ugly - in the light of God's desire for wholeness and healthy sobriety. hJ St Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "the Lord said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness!" Sometimes it's difficult to admit that we have or someone we love has a drinking or drug problem. The community of St. John's Church and other parishes in the Diocese of lansing ve resources to help both men and women. For more information, call Bob LaPrad, Director of Bishop's Coundl on Alcohol and Other Dnlgs toll free at (8n) 342·2513. Your prayers for those suffering as the result of addictions are greaUy appreciated.
A Bible Study Guide and Commentary By Stephen K Ray
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ST. JOHN'S
his book has been called •more than a study aid: it's a Scriptural commentary, study of Church teaching, handbook of Catholic apologetics, introduction to the Church Fathers, and a survey of history and culture at the time of Christ." It has also been described as the first extensive and easy-to-use Bible study guide for Catholics to help them understand the Gospel of St. john. Written by Stephen K RDy, the 461-page study guide features numerous ~text boxes~ with A I.W. 5<...r (;.lolt """t:.-...., ............. relevant cultural, religious, historical and other h ........ infonnation peninent to specific passages, as well as quotes from a wide range of scholars, historians and specialists to enhance students' understanding and insight. Ray, a conven to Catholicism, is the author of Crossing the Tiber and Upon This Rock and hosts the 10-pan film series, "Footprints of God," covering more than 2,000 years of jewish and Christian history. He is a parishioner of Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor Editors Note; St. john s Gospel costs $17.95 and is available at Catholic bookstores or online ae wwwignatius.com - CNS (Ignatius Press: Ottober 2002, ISBN 0898708214)
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The Power of Humility: Why Humility Must be the Heart of Your Spiritual Life- and How to Make It So By Fr. Canice Bourke, O.F.M. Cap.
Cursillo Movement enriches faith in Diocese of Lansing ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• he leaders of the Lansing Diocesan Cursillo Movement have scheduled two Cursillo Weekends for this spring. The Men's Weekend will take place April 24-27, and the Women's Weekend from May 1-4. Both weekends will take place at Camp Dainava, which is located about five miles west of Manchester. The fun name of the Cursillo movement is "Cursillos de Cristiandad," which means, "A Short Course in Christianity:' This movement began in Spain and was introduced in our country in the 1950s and 1960s. Its primary focus is to help practicing Catholics enrich their appreciation and understanding of our Catholic faith. Any one who wishes to learn more about the Cursillo movement in our diocese may visit the Web site lanslngcurslllo.org or contact one of the following people to register for one of the upcoming weekends listed above: int Gene Myers (81 0) 234-3693 ·an Maria Jaimeez (517) 265-2720 Jackson Sarah Emerson (517) 782-4280 Lansing Msgr. Sylvester Fedewa (989) 587-4379
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humble little book, each of its 126 pages is modest in size and content. Yet, the wisdom conU~ined within its six chapters is immense and powerful. In a thorough and convincing explanation, we are told why humility is the very foundation of all other vinues and absolutely essential to snlvation. Originally published as Humility: The Foundation of the Spiritual life in 1951, !his 2002 edition conFR. CAN ICE BOURKE wins minor revisions, such as the addition of subtitles nnd nn updated, more organized presenmtion. The author, Fr. Canice Bourke (1890-1969),joined the Capuchin Order liS a teenager in Ireland. His discussion of humility is finnly rooted in Scripture, as well as the timeless wisdom of many saints and doctors of the Churclt, such as St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure An entire chapter is devoted to defining what humility is (and isn't) and much of the book discusses !he imponance of authentic self.knowledge. Moreover, the author shares a striking renection on the humility of our Lord "in the crib, on the Cross, and in the tabernacle" nnd explores the magnitude of His words, "learn from me, for 1 am meek and humble of hean " (Matthew 11·29) The book concludes with six simple ways to grow in humility; making it a valuable resource and guide on the path toward holiness. - Alton Pelowski (Sophia Institute Press; February 2002, ISBN: 1928832458)
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ast year, the Christian Service Commision or St. John the Evangelist Parish,jackson, organized a unique Lenten service project called "Build a church in 40 days." lls goal was to raise $7,000 to help construct a church in southem India, which had been only partially funded by the Archdiocese of Madurai. IL was in this small farming village that Fr. Arockiyasamy Samhiyagu, MSFS, served for four years until coming to jackson in 2001. After years of gathering for Mass under a tree at the foot of a hill, the community slowly acquired the land for their pansh, with the help of the archdiocese. Then, for two years prior to moving to Michigan, Fr. Santhiyagu celebrated Mass every Sunday in
a thatched hut made of coconut leaves. With the help and overwhelming generosity of the parishioners, Knights of Columbus and local schoolchildren in jackson, more than $13,000 was raised during Lent last year - far surpassing their goal for the churchs completion. The success of last years project prompted the Christian Service Commission
to organize a sim1lar one this year. They are raising money for the much needed renovation of schools overseas. One of these schools, which is severely dilapidated and lacking proper lighting, IS in the home town of Fr. Samhiyagu, who says the school needs to be renovated for the safety of the ch1ldren. The Lenten project is also a unique way to evangelize, since India is less than two
Lansing catholic Central launches capital campaign
A·~·~·=~~ . . , the mlulon lo ..,.. children In eduadfon while faslerillll a • long l'8lallonlhlp wllh ...... Christ has not. Since 1983, l.anshl Celhalc: Cel*lll
has eciiiCaled ~ ol studenls. Now, according to Mary Frank, development director at Lansing Catholic Central, the aging building ia in dire need of major repaira. For the firat time in its hiatory, the school community is launching a $1 .5 mil· lion capital campaign. The "Lansing Catholic Central Heritage Campaign: Ensuring a Future of Excelence and Faith• ha8 been endoraed by the Dioceee of Lansing and aR area parishes served by the school. The campaign will fund most major capital improveinent projects including a $170,000
auditorium, to be named after Blsllop Kenneltl J. Povish. "Our auCiitorium seals second-hand when inatalled in the 19608 can fin!ly be replaced," aaid Frank. "Classrooms, locker rooms and athletic fields will raceiva much needed atleolion. TechnoiQgy upgrades ...nil provide 8hldents additional avenues for learning. Our athletes will have home fields on which to compete~ The major Improvement for the school wiR be an updated heating and cooling aya· tern. "During the winter months we have a terrible time with the heating system," said Eileen Gianiodia, communication director of Lansing Catholic Central. "In half of the school atudanta and staff are wearing sweatshirts to stay warm. In the other half attJdents want to wear short aleevea."
percent Catholic, and the Catholic school includes some Hindu students from surrounding villages. Fr. Santhiyagu, who is now serving as parochial vicar at St. Mary Cathedral, recently had the opportunity to return to India, where he visited the school and celebrated Mass in the completed church. If you would like to contribute to this service project or organize a similar one at your own parish, contact Barb Gamer at (517) 784-0553. - Alton Pdnwski
"Amazingly enough. ~ Catholic Central's 8ludenls have eccelled in limiled facities,.' Bishop Mengeling said. "The Lansing Catholic Central Heritage ~n deeefws your support. Through our prayers and financial support we 8USiain Calhoic edtJcalion in tile Lansing area through the continued formalion of our studenla in the failh!' "The neighboring 8Chool di8bicta are enhancing their programa to entice atuden4s to allend,w said Frank. "We hope this will promOte Lansing Catholic Central and the wonderful oppOrtunities we offer Here. Lansing Catholic Central haa an excellent education program that is welhespecled in the community~ For more information about the · ·~ Campaign, which got underway and is set to conclude in June, contacl Lanaing Catholic Central's Development Office at (517) 267·2114.
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- Erin Oakley (The CatboUc Times)
hird Annual Blood Drive exceeds goal
••••••••••••••••••• Ill> 1be lbird Annual MLK, Jr. Blood of the Martyrs Blood Drive was
the most successful of the drives since their beginning in 2001 . Sponsored by the Diocese of lansing Office of Black Cathorrc Ministry, in partnership with the American Red Cross, the sixteen drives comprised a six-day event - beginning on the actual birthday of Dr. King and concluding on January 20th, the date of the federal holiday set aside for his recognition. This years efforts surpassed its original goal of 895 units. "The Blood of the Martyrs continues to gain momentum with each year," says Red Cross Donor Services Manager Taunia Oechslin. "It's a solid idea with a solid purpose of encouraging more people from more and diverse backgrounds to start a tra· dition of donating blood. Many people don't realize that a single blood donation can save up to three lives. VVhat else can you do in an hour that has such a frfetime of returns?" - Ron:1ld Landfair
Mt. Zion Pastoral or celebrates
•••••••••••••• •• .,_.., Mt. Zion Catholic Community first gathered on Feb. 13, 1980. It began simply, with Mass one evening followed by a prayer meeting led by Gordon and Martha Krupp. In July 1988, the community was canonically established by Bishop Kenneth Povish, and in 1990, a pastoral center was bui~. After 23 years, they have a lot to celebrate. Since 1985, teens and young adults of Mt Zion have com· prised "Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization," a retreat ministry which evangelizes young Cathofics. Youth to Youth has done retreats in 33 dioceses throughout the U.S. and Canada, as weU as in Mexico, Brazi~ Italy, and Iceland. They were even invited to provide talks, music and skits for six catechetical sessions during Worfd Youth Day 2002 in Toronto. Mt Zion is part of the Catholic Charismatic Fraternity of Covenant Communities (CCFCC), which is an international organization serving under the Pontifical Council for the Ulity. As part of their anniversary celebration, Mt Zion welcomed Herve-Marie Catta, whose wife helped to establish the ~manuel Community in Paris, France. Catta shared about the \Vginnings of Emmanuel, and explained that its focus is "adora· tion, compassion and evangelization~ "Because God is love," he said, "we have to receive from the heart of Jesus through Eucharistic adoration and contemplation before we can share His charity with others." For more: youthtoyouthcatholic.com
esus said, "The meek will inherit the earth." This is a bold statement, and at first glance, one that seems to run contrary to our experiences. Throughout history, we see examples of ruthless men and women. The meek seem to be overrun by more aggressive forces. We think of the word meek as meaning someone who is weak or timid. But in Hebre\V, the word meek comes from a root meaning •to be tamed." The tame horse still has plenty of energy, plenty of power, but someone other than the horse is directing that power and energy This is what jesus is referring to when he talks about being meek - bemg led by an outside influence - m this case, being led by God. Being led by God is what Mother Ten:sa House in downtown Lansing is all about. The volunteer staff at Mother Teresa House gives shelter, meals, personal care and round-the-dock physical, emotional and spmtwl suppon to people wah terminal Illness. Over 40 volunteer.; work a six-hour shift every other week at Mother Teresa House. Olre is PIU\~ded at no chmge to the guests. with prtortty giVen to helping those in the greatest need. ~ Many of our guests have no auegivers at home," says Karen Bussey. director and founder of Mother Teresa House. 'We also have guests whose family members have limi· tauons in p!U\'iding care, or need a break from providing full·time care We also have guests who simply don\ have an adequate place to stay. ~ Mother Ten:sa House is open to any person with a tenninal illness, particularly those in the last months of their illness. People of any religious. social, and financial background arc welcome. "We've had over 50 guests at the house since we opened in 1998,~ says Bussey. "Our philosophy is to can: for each guest as an individual," explains Bussey. "Modem social work stresses providing some minimal amount of care to the greatest number of people. I've learned a different son of math since opening the house. We follow Nicole, a Mother Mother Teresa!; example of caring for one person at a Teresa House time. Taking care of one person with great love affects volunteer and the whole community." Ann, a guest The ministry of Mother Teresa House is open to all. ''While we do have a number of nursing and pre-med students as volunteers, you certainly don't have to be a medical professional to volunteer at the house," notes Bussey. Prospective volunteers get an orientation to the operation of Mother Teresa House before they commit to serving. Then, they work alongside an e>.'j)Cri· enced volunteer for a training period. "We organize our volunteers like an extended family," explains Bussey. "No one serves alone- the res ahvays an experienced volunteer to act as a big brother or sister." To )Upplement their orientation and training, the volunteers at Mother Teresa House have quanerly in-service programs to keep their traimng up 10 date. · we also talk with our volunteers about grief and death," says Bussey. "Our staff often talks about love and suffering wnh our guests. Each of us, as volunteers, goes through the same process our guests do to some degree. We try to suppon each other through this journey."
_,_,Those interested in learning more about the volunteer opportunities at Mother Teresa House should contact Jim Convissor, Volunteer Coordinator, at (517) 48+5494 or jconvissor@juno.com. To learn about being a guest at the house, contact Karen Bussey, Care Coordinator at (517) 48+5494. - Jay johnson Is development dirc:clor for lhe Dioa:se of lansing
1).1). While opposing a pr&empllve alta•
cast as a foe of the United States and
He said the fact that Saddam had met him for an hour and a half was a measure of the respect the Iraqi leader holds for the moral authority of the pope. "It was a matter of seeing that everything was done to guarantee peace and reestablish a climate of trust that allows Iraq to take its place again in the international community," Cardinal Etchegaray said. ~Thats a big job and requires time. It beg\ns with small gestures. It is important, then, to have confidence in the work of the U.N. inspectors," he said.
Behind Vatican walls, officials have liHie sympathy for Saddam 1).1). In early February, an insert in the
uring their 90-minute encounter in Baghdad Feb. 15, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray gave the Iraqi leader a letter from Pope john Paul II. Vatican sources said the pope had emphasized the need for full cooperation from Baghdad to spare the country another devastating war. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• In official statements released after the meeting, Cardinal Etchegaray said the talks had touched upon "concrete questions" regarding the current crisis over U.N. weapons inspections. He said he would not divulge the specific points he raised out of respect for the pope and the Iraqi president. The cardinal, who had described his visit as a "mission to the extreme limits of hope," sounded cautiously optimistic after his encounter with Saddam. Speaking with reponers in the apostolic nunciature in Baghdad, he said he thought the meeting would "help disperse the dark clouds that are building up on the Iraqi horizon."
Italian Catholic magazine Famiglia Oistiana showed Pope john Paul II and President George W Bush sitting back-to· back. Under the heading: "Whose side are you on? With Bush or with the pope?" the magazine was asking reader vote in a referendum on a new war in Iraq. That kind of juxtaposition of Bush and the pope has made Vatican officials uncomfortable. While opposing a pre-emptive attack on Iraq, the Vatican is worried that it is being mistakenly cast as a foe of the United States and a friend of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Vatican officials credit his government with protecting the rights of Iraq's Christian minority, but they recognize that his overall human rights record is atrocious. Moreover, they tend to put most of the blame for the current crisis on Saddam, for failing to demonstrate unequivocally that his regime has stopped trying to develop weapons of mass destruction .
Pope urges sick people to turn suffering into prayers for peace ~).-•Amid
last-minute international efforts to aven war on Iraq, Pope john Paul II called on sick people around the world to transform their suffering into an ardent prnyer for peace. The pope made his appeal at his weekly genernl audience Feb. 12, one day after a cold forced him to limit an appearnnce at a World Day of the Sick commemorntion at the Vatican. Speaking to Polish · grirns at the audience, the pope said human suffering "always ties a challenge of love." Those who endure suffering with love for God and their fellow human beings "transform it into a great gift and become intercessors in many difficult situations," he said.
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Iraq, the Vatican Is worried that It Is being mistakenly
lend of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Pope's annual mission message urges praying rosary for peace .... Pope John Paul II issued an annual mission message that urged Christians to pray the rosary frequently and intensely for peace. "War ' ne of the most consoling and appreciated stateand injustice have their orig~ns in the 'divided' hean," he said in the ments of Jesus for people who struggle In this vale message for Octobers World Mission Sunday. The message was of tears Is the passage on his meekness and humility In released at the Vatican Feb. 21. "If the rosary keeps pace with the St. Matthew 11 :28¡30. He said, "Come to me all you who labor speed of our lives, it can become a privileged instrument for building and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you peace in the heans of persons, in families and among peoples," he and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you said. The pope noted that World Mission Sunday, celebrated Oct. 19 will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my in 2003, falls at the end of a special Year of the Rosary he launched at burden light." the stan of the 25th year of his pontificate. This is the passage I think of every time I see in one of our
Papal envoy meets Bush, reiterates Vatican opposition to Iraqi war .... A papal envoy met with President Bush and reiterated the Vaticans opposition to a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, saying a war without U.N. approval would be "immoral ... illegal, unjust." Italian Cardinal Pio Laghi, who delivered a personal message from Pope John Paul II to Bush during the March 5 meeting at the White House, said the Vatican believes that "peaceful avenues" still exist nd the Iraqi crisis. ddressing journalists at the National Press Club after the meeting, Cardinal Laghi said he could not discuss details, but he paraphrased the end of the popes letter to Bush: "I assure you, Mr. President, that I am praying for you and America, and I ask the Lord to inspire you to search for the way of a stable peace, the noblest of human endeavors." Cardinal Laghi, a fonner Vatican ambassador to the United States and a friend of Bush's father, fonner President George H.W Bush, said the atmosphere of the 40-minute meeting was good. The cardinal also said he objected to the statements that war would advance the cause of peace and freedom in Iraq. He said that before declaring war the international community must take into account "the grave consequences" of anned conflict, including the suffering of the Iraqi people and troops on both sides, increased instability in the Middle East and a new gulf between Islam and Christianity. In recent weeks, the pope and Vatican officials have met with world leaders, explaining Vatican 9position to an Iraqi war and ¡ng world leaders to do all they can to ensure a peaceful conclusion to the crisis. Among those who met with the pope at the Vatican were British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bushs biggest ally, and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
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churches the image of the Sacred Heart with the arms of Jesus outstretched in the gesture of invitation. This passage also relates to the Third Beatitude, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall Inherit the earth:' But being meek and cultivating meekness presents problems to Americans who grew up or are growing up in our secular society. Meekness has come to mean being a doormat. A cartoon character as wen known as Superman or Popeye the Sailor goes by the name of Caspar Milquetoast. He is picked Being meek on, ridiculed, henpecked, abused and humiliatand cultivating ed without any assertiveness on his part. meekness This is not the meekness of Jesus or the presents substance of the beatitude. The Greek word in problems to St. Matthew's gospel that we translate as Americans meek is praos. One of my Greek professors who grew up insisted this word is best translated "tamed" or or arc growing "trained." Jesus said he was meek and humble up in our secular of heart, but he could also be indignant. society. The meek Jesus entered the temple area during the week of his Passion, drove the merchants out and overturned the tables of the money changers. The meek Jesus denounced the scribes and Pharisees publicly. In his 23rd chapter St. Matthew lists seven indictments against them, each one beginning with these words, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites." He called them blind guides, whitewashed tombs, serpents, and a brood of vipers. All this means that true praos. being meek. Is not weakness. Meekness, as seen in Jesus, is strength held in reserve. - Most RC\~ Kenneth Povish was the third bishop orl:msing and Is now retired.
Pope opens Lenten season against backdrop of possible war on Iraq ._._ Beginning the Churchs penitential season of Lent against the backdrop of a possible new war on Iraq, Pope John Paul II urged Christians to pray and fast for peace in the world. "I believe that when peace is at stake it is never too late for dialogue," he said at his weekly general audience March 5, Ash Wednesday "Thus I ask from all of you this prayer and this fast. May these be the concrete gestures of involvement on the pan of those who believe in the mission of reminding the world that it is never too late for peace," he said. - CNS
When Enough is Enough Take Charge
And there Is something you can do -Me Charge! This kit tells you how to break lhe cycle of abuse. It has everything you need to help someone right now.
For more iftformatlon, make a confidential call to Bob LIIPrad at the Bishop's Coundl on Alcohol and Other Drugs, toll free D1ocesc o£ lansmg. C3thohc O...rn,..~
• faith
The M.ap:1nc ()(the Uahc:>hc Dkl("'tK ofl..olntlng
300 W Onawa Lansing, Ml 48933
Online:
www.Dioc;ea!K!flanaln!f.org www.FAITHmag.com
The Outreach Mesa. Sunday, 10 a.m. On TV:
Flint - FOX 66 lansing - FOX 47
On Radio: Ma•a. 11 a.m. on WJIM 1240 AM