April 2005

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THE MAGAZINE OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LANSING

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on vacation with God quiet time provides a wondrous opportunity to be with God f r o m

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spent a few days in sunny Florida at the end of January. It was a welcome respite from some of the bitter cold and snow we had been experiencing in mid-Michigan earlier that month. My last night there, I happened to be at one of the outdoor fireworks shows produced by the folks at Disney. Waiting for the show, I struck up a conversation with the couple seated behind me. It turned out that they also happened to be from Michigan. After comparing notes on the weather, length of stay, and the joys of Florida, the conversation eventually worked its way to that inevitable question, “So what sort of work do you do?” They were interested to discover that I am a priest and pastor. The wife then asked if I was traveling alone. I answered, “Yes,” and was greeted with her quizzical look. Her husband, a health-care professional, came to the rescue, noting that, because so much of my life as a priest is spent surrounded by people, it made sense to him that I should vacation alone. Alone. No ringing phone. No appointments to keep. No phone messages to return. No meetings. What a gift from God. Not only does a little alone-time provide the opportunity to recharge one’s physical, mental and spiritual batteries, it also provides a wondrous opportunity to be still and quiet in God’s presence. I look forward to that quiet time each week on my day off and enjoy larger doses every now and again on vacation. Quiet time provides an opportunity to be with God, not so much to speak, but simply to listen, to be sensitive to God’s gentle proddings in my heart. My weekly experience of quiet is the start of my preparation to break open God’s word in a gestating homily for the coming weekend, and a fitting end to the week just concluded. Fr. Richard Kropf, a priest of our diocese, has lived as a hermit in the woods of northern lower Michigan since 1981. He has both the courage and the inner disposition to live in solitude, alone with God. There, in prayer and study, he continues to learn from God in powerful ways, following a little-known and sometimes misunderstood way of life that has enriched Christianity since its very beginning. Being a hermit has provided him with a rich life and unanticipated ways to grow closer to God. The season of Lent, which seems so quickly concluded this year, is not unlike the solitude in which Fr. Kropf lives. We go to a place that is quiet, simple, less cluttered, less distracting. We spend less time speaking to God and more time listening. We grow, we change, we emerge as different people. It is Easter and our time of quiet has passed. We fill the air with exultant alleluias. Our appreciation for new life has deepened after a time of solitude with God. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

I look forward to that quiet time each week on my day off and enjoy larger doses every now and again on vacation. Quiet time provides an opportunity to be with God, not so much to speak, but simply to listen, to be sensitive to God’s gentle proddings in my heart.

– Fr. Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude.

FAITH recently sent questionnaires to a random sample of subscribers. If you received a questionnaire, please take the time to fill it out and return it to us. Your opinion counts!

Tom Gennara

Attention readers:

Liturgical Calendar: Divine Mercy Sunday April 3 | The Annunciation of the Lord April 4 | St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest April 5 | St. John Baptist de la Salle, Priest April 7 | St. Stanislaus, B

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f e a t u r e s

5 c o l u m n s

p r o f i l e When worlds collide – meet a scientist who relies on faith. Stephen Gruber is a cancer researcher who’s tracking down the roots of a deadly disease. His scientific quest around the world has intensified his faith. Find out why.

– Maragaret Ann Cross

o u r s t o r y A bundle of joy that came naturally – how NFP made a family dream come true. Terry and Andy Rabideau used natural family planning to help them conceive. Find out how NFP can help bring a bundle of joy into the world. – Marybeth Hicks

• Dear Fr. Joe: Can Catholics believe in evolution? 6 In the know with Fr. Joe – Fr. Joseph Krupp

what you’ll get out of this issue • Room with a view – my first experience of the miracle of nature. 10 From the Bishop – Bishop Carl F. Mengeling • In a rut? Try these 8 ways to revive a dull job. 17 Work life – Tim Ryan • 3 of the best reasons to go into debt. • 5 ways to balance time as a couple. • Romancing the years – part 2. Keeping the spark. • The benefits of walking away – together. 20 Your Marriage Matters • My teen is a vegetarian – hold the burger please. What to do when your child announces she won’t eat meat. 21 The Journey – Dr. Cathleen McGreal

c o v e r s t o r y Alone with God – Fr. Richard’s life as a hermit. Fr. Richard Kropf lives alone in the woods, in a cabin he built himself. He spends his days praying, writing and working. He spends his nights gazing at the stars. Find out how this diocesan priest serves God in solitude. – Bob Horning

c u l t u r e Garden for giving. Find out how to feed bodies – and souls – with this gardening project.

• Does prayer really work? The physical and spiritual benefits. 22 Spiritual Fitness – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh • Altar and sacrifice, table and meal – explore how these two concepts come together for the celebration of the Eucharist. 26 The Year of the Eucharist – Fr. Charles Irvin

• Update on diocesan planning – we heard the voices of the faithful and the voices are alive today. Find out how the VOICES process is being put into action with Sr. Rita Wenzlick. 30 VOICES alive • Natural law – is there such a thing? Find out how our laws are based on God’s. 31 The Last Word – Fr. Charles Irvin

aus, Bishop and Martyr April 11 | St. Martin I, Pope and Martyr April 13 | St. Anselm, Bishop and Doctor April 21 | St. George, Martyr April 23 | St. Adalbert, Bishop and Martyr April 23

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tell us what you think: letters to the editor editor@FAITHmag.com

The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing

Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER

Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR

300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933 l e t t e r s

April 2005 March 2005 •• Volume Volume 6 6 :: Issue Issue 3 2

Rev. Dwight Ezop MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Martin Solsburg ASSISTANT EDITOR/STAFF WRITER

Jillane Job SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY

Evelyn Weitzel SUBSCRIPTIONS

Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR/WEB MASTER

Enomhen Odigie GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER

Keith Anderson GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN

Sara Teller EDITORIAL INTERN

Rev. William Ashbaugh Margaret Ann Cross Tom and JoAnne Fogle Bob Horning Marybeth Hicks Elizabeth Johnson Rev. Joseph Krupp Cathleen McGreal John Morris Pat Nischan Rick and Diane Peiffer Tim Ryan Tony Sperendi

Dear Fr. Ezop: Thank you, thank, you, thank you for sharing the article, How to Raise an Uncool Kid by Marybeth Hicks ... It was very affirming to find that there are parents out there who care enough about their kids to actually let them be kids as long as possible! ...Kudos to the author for itemizing the steps to be taken in raising a very uncool, but completely delightful, kid. – Ginger Pearce

Dear Faith Magazine: Congratulations on your fifth anniversary. Fr. Irvin, in his column, The Last Word, said something very challenging, “... retirement, for me, means that I am able, for the first time since I was ordained, to be fully a priest and devote myself to the things I was ordained to do.” The shrinking number of vocations to the priesthood is often blamed on the materialism of secular culture or on families who are not doing enough to

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Melot Margaret Perrone

in the beginning

by Chris Sushynski

PROOFREADING

Tom Gennara Christine Jones James Luning (cover) Philip Shippert CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wayne Case Vicki Bedard Patricia Garcia Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone James Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez David Rosenberg Rev. James Swiat Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple

Jim Luning

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Patrick M. O’Brien

encourage vocations. We have been praying for years for more priests. It seems that God’s answer is, “not at this time.” Maybe the real problem is not secular culture or families, but an ecclesial culture in which one cannot be fully a priest until one retires. I think something is wrong with our system. Perhaps God is waiting for us to fix that and then he will send more priests. Just a thought. – Rev. Gary McInnis

To Bishop Mengeling, the editor and staff of FAITH, its readers, and the MCC: I would like to ask your forgiveness for my uncharitable, critcal expression of my anger that I put in a letter to the editor regarding the article by the Michigan Catholic Conference that was in the November 2004 issue of FAITH Magazine. What I did was wrong and evil in the manner I vilified FAITH Magazine and the clergy of the Diocese of Lansing and the staff of the Michigan Catholic Conference. – Terry Dishneau

ADVISORY BOARD

Rose Robertson FAITHhelps

InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT

Subscriptions: 1.888.FAITH.90 Diocese of Lansing Main Line: 517.342.2440

FAITHPublishingService.com FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. Published monthly except February and August. Subscription rates are $15 per year. Individual issues are $2.50. Send all subscription information and address changes to 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933; 517. 342.2595; fax 517.342.2537 or e-mail j job@dioceseoflansing.org. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: FAITHTM, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. ©Catholic Diocese of Lansing. FAITH is a trademark of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.

Other plagues of Egypt, not mentioned in the Bible.

To the Editor: [In] FAITH’s Ask Fr. Joe section ... he claims some young person asked him if it’s OK to steal from Bill Gates because he’s loaded. ... Unbelievable! ... a Catholic should be the last person to ask such an asinine question. – Mary Abbey

St. Mark, Evangelist April 25 | St. Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr April 28 | St. Louis Mary de Montfort, Priest April 28 | S

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instant messaging the bane of my parental existence o n l i n e

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Image Source

friend asked my advice a couple of weeks ago. Her son was getting instant messages from a classmate containing words usually found on the inside of bathroom stalls – vocabulary that will advance his career if he becomes a rap musician.

“How do kids learn these words?” she asked. Rap, for starters. “I don’t even know this boy – or his parents,” she lamented. “What do you think I should do?” Her dilemma illustrates one of the many reasons we don’t use instant messaging at our house – a policy my two older children regret, to put it mildly. “It’s pathetic – we’re the Youngsters say things online they only two people over the age would never say in person. of 10 without screen names,” they said. We were sitting around the table after dinner, so I told them about the conversation with my friend. I agree it’s pathetic, but my reasons are a little different. Instant messaging is the bane of my parenting existence because I’m among a small minority of people who think it’s bad for children. My objection is the combustive combination of anonymity, impulsivity and adolescent insecurity. Youngsters say things online they would never say in person or even over the phone. They hide behind a faceless screen that doesn’t reveal the hurt feelings of the receiver. They deceive schoolmates, spread rumors and gossip, even trash reputations beyond repair. At the very least, instant messages are the source of “major drama” – as if growing up doesn’t have enough already. This is what makes it fun, I guess. Back when she was in sixth grade, my eldest daughter lobbied to use instant messaging because “everyone is doing it.” Fulfilling a woman’s destiny to open her mouth and hear the voice of her mother, I answered, “If everyone put a pork chop around their neck and played with a pit bull, would you do that, too?” – Marybeth Hicks Find out how Marybeth Hicks handled the IM dilemma and read more exclusive essays, features and columns on FAITHmag.com.

28 | St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor April 29 | St. Pius V, Pope April 30

St. Gemma Galgani received the stigmata s a i n t

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St. Gemma Galgani born: 1878 died: April 1903 feast day: April 11 Claim to fame: Gemma Galgani, a young Italian laywoman, is one of a select group of saints known as stigmatists. From 1899 until her death in 1903, Gemma physically experienced the wounds of Christ – the stigmata. Every Thursday evening, Gemma’s hands, feet and side began to bleed. The bleeding stopped on Friday afternoon, leaving only white marks as a reminder. Gemma experienced visions, raptures, ecstasies and other mystical graces, but she also had to deal with great temptations from the devil. Little-known fact: St. Gemma believed she saw and talked with her guardian angel every day, and often sent him on errands for her, usually to deliver a message to her confessor in Rome. What made her a saint: Even though Gemma had miraculous visions, she lived a quiet, simple life of prayer and service. When her father died, 19-year-old Gemma took care of her seven brothers and sisters. When she was not spending time in silence and prayer, she went about the typical daily chores of taking care of a household. As her brothers and sisters became old enough to take care of themselves, she moved in with a family who enabled her to spend more time in spiritual activities. Lowest/scariest moment: Gemma suffered many setbacks in her life. She loved school, but had to drop out because of her poor health. When she fell ill and had to move in with relatives, she was distressed at the trouble she caused them because of her illness. Worst of all, her sickness kept her from entering a religious order and becoming a nun, even after she had received a miraculous healing. But she offered up her disappointments to God and accepted the life he had planned for her. Best quote: “If I saw the gates of hell open and I stood on the brink of the abyss, I should not despair, I should not lose hope of mercy, because I should trust in you, my God.” How did she die: St. Gemma suffered from many illnesses during her short life. Although she was healed of some of them, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis in January 1903. She died in April of that year, at the age of 25. She was beatified in 1933 and canonized in 1940. Prayer: “O my soul, bless Jesus. Never forget the many graces he has given thee. Love that God who so loves thee. Lift thyself up to him, who has lowered himself for thee; show thyself as he shows himself with thee; be clean of heart, be pure. Love thy Jesus, who has lifted thee out of so much misery.” – Elizabeth Johnson

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Fr. Joe: can Catholics believe in evolution? i n

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Dear Fr. Joe: Tell me about evolution. Some people say that Catholics can’t believe in evolution and that creation happened exactly as it says in Genesis. I have a teacher who says that evolution is a scientific fact. What do Catholics believe?

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In terms of the origins of the human race, Darwin’s theory of evolution is just that – a theory, not a scientific fact – and one that is under fairly serious attack from both Christian and non-Christian scientists. There are way too many gaps in the theory for it to be called “accepted fact.” I do not have the time or space to describe the problems on a scientific level, and I invite you to check out the book The Case for Creation, by Lee Strobel. This book makes a complicated argument understandable. A little research will show that believing the origin of all creation came about as a result of random genetic mutation requires just as great a leap of faith as a literal intrerpretation of Genesis. Now, to be clear, the catechism gives us some “wiggle room” when it comes to what we believe about “how it all began.” We are able to believe what we wish to believe, as long as we acknowledge the following: • God intended the world and all that is in it • God created out of nothing and • God created out of love. Instead of focusing on the scientific theories and arguments, I want to point out some of the implications of believing that the origin of the human race is not God. Look at it this way – if we take God out of the equation, then we are random, and that goes right to the heart of the question, “Why am I here?” If you believe that God created

Photo: Tom Gennara/Photoillustration: P. Dally

his is an extremely relevant question. There are so many mistaken ideas out there about what Catholics can and cannot believe. This article has taken a lot of sorting and reading, but I think I have some information that will help us all. First, let’s deal with your teacher. What he or she said was somewhat right and somewhat wrong. Your teacher was right that evolution is a scientific fact, but not regarding the origins of the human race, as described by Darwin. The fact is, creation is constantly evolving. A country lady, who has been taken to her first show Particularly when you view at an art gallery in the big city, is staring curiously at sevthe smaller, simpler species eral of the paintings. One is a huge canvas that is black, among us; they constantly with yellow blobs of paint splattered all over it. The next change the way they relate to painting is a murky gray color that has drips of purple their environment and adapt to paint streaked across it. circumstances around them. The country lady, filled with curiosity over the unusual We even do this; our bodies works of art, walks over to the artist and says, “I don’t have changed and will change understand your paintings. Could you tell me about them?” in relation to our environment. “I paint what I feel inside me,” shrugs the artist. Have you stayed for a long “Have you ever tried Alka-Seltzer?” time in a warm environment and then found, when you the world, and you have Now, contrast that with returned to Michigan, it was accepted Jesus, then you this – if we accept Darwin’s colder? Our bodies adapt by have a mission and purpose. hypothesis that we are ranthinning our blood in warmer You are to live to glorify God. domly generated and a temperatures and thickening it You were created to receive product of his particular thein colder ones. In that regard, and give his love. ory of evolution, then our evolution is a scientific fact. Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933

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in what year was St. Peter’s Basilica built? h i s t o r y

q u i z

19%

of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. – Gallup 11/30/04

p o l l

Science vs. Faith

We asked science teachers at St. Thomas Grade School in Ann Arbor, “How do you reconcile creation and evolution in the classroom?”

CNS

Julius II laid the foundation stone of the second building of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on April 18, WHAT YEAR? St. Peter’s is the largest church in the Christian world, with a length of 619 feet – longer than two football fields.

The world became a little sweeter when the biggest child star of all time, Shirley Temple, was born on April 23, WHAT YEAR? As an adult, she served as U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Years after IBM president Thomas Watson had declared that “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers,” IBM introduced its first personal computer, the IBM PC, on April 24, WHAT YEAR? Answers: 1606, 1910, 1928, 1981

purpose is tied to the credo, “survival of the fittest.” Check out the World War II section in your history books to see how that philosophy of life works out in practice. Darwin himself felt that evolution brought about the superiority of men and dominance over women: The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two sexes is shown by man’s attaining to a higher eminence, in whatever he takes up, than can woman whether requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, or merely the use of the senses and hands ... the average of mental power in man must be above that of woman. (Descent of Man by Charles Darwin p.586)

There is much more to say, but I have run out of room. I do want to end with an important Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com

point: parents, if your kids are going to school, I recommend strongly that you evaluate the books your kids are using in their science class. I get a lot of letters from young people whose teachers openly mock Christian beliefs about creation. Make no mistake, teaching Darwin’s brand of evolution as the origin of the human race is a religious belief; it has a creed, it has a belief structure, and it requires a tremendous amount of faith. It also asks its followers to evangelize and to spread its beliefs. As Christians, we must learn what we can about creation and know what we believe, so that we can effectively spread the truth. Enjoy another day in God’s presence! – Fr. Joseph Krupp

Patti Christmas (grade 6) Creation and evolution are not incompatible. Knowing that God is the creator of all things, he can equally be the creator of the Big Bang and the evolutionary process that follows.

Jennifer Croze (grades 7 & 8) I read from the Catechism of the Catholic Church each year as I begin discussions of evolution in science class.

Christie McGuire (grade 2) In second grade, we marvel at the wonders of God’s creation and how God put the process of evolution into his plan.

What does Pope John Paul II say about evolution? In 1996, Pope John Paul II addressed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, saying that “...new knowledge has led to the recognition of the theory of evolution as more than a hypothesis.” The pope began by saying that, “truth cannot contradict truth.” In other words, the truths that science uncovers must be reconcilable with the truths of revelation. The pope cited Pope Pius XII’s 1950 encyclical, Humani Generis, which states that there is “...no opposition between evolution, correctly understood, and Catholic doctrine about humanity.” The critical phrase here is “correctly understood.” The pope was not advocating an acceptance of a materialist or reductionist version of the theory. He is not a Darwinist. He specifically insists that the human person is created in the image and likeness of God, is unique, and is the only creature God wanted for its own sake. As the church takes no position on the scientific assertion that our physical bodies are a product of evolution, neither does science take a position on our creation as images of God. CNS

Play ball! President William Taft started an American tradition when he threw out the first ball on opening day of the major league baseball season on April 14, WHAT YEAR?

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Heart and Soul Tim Nelson gave up a career as a cardiologist to become a priest Celebrating in 2005:

Call of the baptized Jan. 9

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Consecrated Life Feb. 6

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Ordained Priesthood April 17

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Permanent Diaconate A

hen I was around six years old, I remember seeing a priest at the altar and thinking, “Gee, he gets to be with God all day long!” That thought got the ball rolling. I felt sure I wanted to be a priest until I got to college and started dating seriously. I was majoring in math and physics and wanted to do something really important with my life – like work for NASA. Whenever I thought about the priesthood, I just couldn’t get a clear mental picture of what a priest does all day long. To help resolve the vocational impasse, I decided April 2005

FAITH Magazine

to take a year off and teach math to high-school students in Bolivia. There I met a medical missionary and became fascinated with the idea of becoming a doctor. I could easily see and understand how a doctor can profoundly help people’s lives. So I returned to the United States with little

From the start, this needs to be said – discovering one’s calling, one’s vocation, is very different from finding a career. We may choose our careers, but when it comes to a vocation, our feeling is, “It chose me more than I chose it.” When we’re discerning a vocation in the church, the body of Christ, we know, in faith, that When it comes to a vocation, our feeling is, “it” is actually a per“It chose me more than I chose it.” son, Christ himself. That's what we notice in the vocation stories in the Gospels. While ancient philosophers and Jewish rabbis attracted disciples, their calling was very different from the calling of Christ’s disciples, as recorded in the Gospels. Disciples of philosophers and rabbis were seeking truth, wisdom and the meaning of life. But John the Baptist pointed to Jesus passing by and said to two of his followers, “Look! There is the Lamb of God.” The two followed Jesus. Jesus noticed them following him and asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi, where do you stay?” “Come and see,” he answered. (cf John 1: 35 ff) Becoming a disciple of Jesus means being with him where he lives, seeing how he lives, eventually joining him in his life and work of redeeming. “If you wish to come after me, take up your cross daily and follow me ... I will make you fishers of men,” he tells them. CNS

C. Jones

vocation: more than a career it’s a way of life

– Fr. Matt Fedewa

thought of the priesthood. I graduated with an M.D. in 1979 and set up a cardiology practice in Grand Rapids. I became engaged. Eventually, [however], a variety of issues made it clear we

were not meant to get married. As time went on, I realized I could live a happy and fulfilled life as a celibate. As a cardiologist, I felt immensely privileged to care for the health of my

To find out more about Lansing priesthood, log on to www.LansingPriesthood.org or call F

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E ate April 24

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Marriage and Family Life May 22

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Dedicated Single Life July 10

bible quiz famous threes? Match these famous ‘threes’ in Scripture and John 6 Mary Magdalen, Mary Mother of James the younger and Salome 7 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

A We were thrown into a fiery furnace, but survived. B Peter offered to set up three tents for these people during a moment of glory. C We are the three sons of Saul, killed by the Philistines (in the book of Samuel). D At transfiguration and during

the agony in the garden, we accompanied Jesus. E The three major prophets. F The first three patriarchs of the Jewish people. G In Mark’s Gospel, these are the women named who go to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.

CNS

1 Jonathan, Abinadab, Malchishua 2 Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah 3 Jesus, Moses and Elijah 4 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 5 Peter, James

patients. I also became much more aware of the spiritual depth of people’s lives and the soul’s integration with the body. I finally came to understand what a priest “does.” A priest brings Christ to people – and brings people to Christ. That distant idea of becoming a priest started to return and didn’t seem so crazy after all. Finally, after 12 years of cardiology practice, I “hung up” my stethoscope and entered Sacred Heart Seminary. I was ordained by Bishop Carl F. Mengeling on June 10, 2000. Later, I mentioned to the bishop that I was interested in Hispanic ministry. When the pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish told me he was retiring soon, but didn’t know who would take his place, I said, “I will!” About a year later, Bishop Mengeling all Fr. Jerry Vincke at 517.342.2507

offered me the job. The Hispanic culture emphasizes strong family ties, and those ties extend to the parish priest. I feel as though I have been welcomed into a large, extended family. The priest holds a very important and meaningful responsibility as “Father” in the religious family of the parish. The people’s love, respect and support for me as a priest have been overwhelming. – Fr. Tim Nelson

T. Gennara

Answer to March’s Bible Quiz: a-2, b-4, c-1, d-5, e-3

e •

Ecclesial Lay Ministry Oct. 9

0 •

Missionaries Oct. 23

a call to sacramental ministry the priesthood

n the mystical body of Jesus, all the faithful are made a holy and kingly priesthood – offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ. Therefore, there is no such thing as a member who does not share in the mission of the whole body. (Presbyterorum Ordinis 2) However, even as the members of a physical body have different functions – the heart does not do the work of the hands, for example – so too do the members of the mystical body of Jesus Christ, the church. Jesus appointed some to exercise the priestly office publicly in his name. (PO 2) Thus, he sent the apostles, as he himself had been sent by the Father. Their successors, the bishops, are sharers in Christ’s consecration and mission. The function of the bishops’ ministry was shared with prebyteroi, or priests, that they might be co-workers with the episcopal (relating to the bishop) office. Priesthood is conferred by its own specific sacrament, holy orders. Priests are called particularly to be ministers of the Word of God. They share that Word by their exemplary behavior, their preaching and teaching, and treating contemporary problems in the light of Christ’s teaching. (PO 4) Their role is to issue a pressing invitation to conversion and holiness. Priests are also called in a special way to be ministers of the Eucharist and other sacraments. Priests share Christ’s priesthood and, by carrying out sacred functions, act as his ministers who exercise his priestly function for our benefit in the liturgy. (PO 5) By baptism, priests introduce us into the people of God. By penance, they help us reconcile with God and the church. By anointing of the sick, they relieve those of us who are ill. In the celebration of the Eucharist, especially, they offer Christ’s sacrifice sacramentally. Their leadership role is pastoral. In the name of the bishop, they gather the family of God and lead it – in Christ and through the Spirit – to God the Father. For the exercise of their ministries, a spiritual power is given to priests – a power whose purpose it is to build up. (PO 6) And in the building up of the church, priests are exhorted to “treat everybody with the greatest kindness after the model of our Lord.” (PO 6) – Elizabeth Solsburg

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April 2005

FAITH Magazine

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a room with a view my first experience of the miracle of nature f r o m

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When in your childhood did you first sense, with wonder whom the Lord entrusts creation. and awe, some thing or event in the immense reality of St. Gregory of Nazianz (d.390) writes eloquently, “After nature? Unlike others, I can only go back to when I was God finished the palace, he brought in the prince.” Truly a five. I can pinpoint a spectacular and unforgettable occasion sacred trust, creation has been given into the hands of a that fascinated me and awakened a sense of wonder and “princely” humanity. It is crucial for the good of creation awe. This happened in Minnesota. and for humanity that we recover this princely role. Our family was visiting relatives at their large farm near The privileged and surprising moments, our encounters Albert Lea. All I remember is a muchwith the beautiful miracles of nature, never What is Spring? talked-about outing to a wilderness area cease. Some are deeply etched in me. After by a river. I do recall the high lookout a retreat with the New Melleray Trappists and the seemingly endless view into the in Iowa, another priest and I were heading Growth in every thing. distance. From then on, everything home along the Mississippi. As we roundFlesh and fleece, fur and feather, became a source of wonder and awe. ed a bend, we saw hundreds of bald eagles Grass and greenworld all together; Like most families in the ‘30s, we had a perched in the trees. Several years ago, my Star-eyed strawberry-breasted hen house. There I experienced the mirabrother and I were driving in the immense Throstle above her nested cle of nature in the hens sitting on eggs, Waterloo forest and lakes in south-central the hatching and the baby chicks. It might Michigan. Unexpectedly, we came upon Cluster of bugle blue eggs thin seem silly, but all the hens had names. hundreds of sandhill cranes. We watched Forms and warms the life within; The Sisters of St. Francis brought for a long time as many of them danced. I And bird and blossom swell much together for me as they taught look back fondly to about God and creation – and all creathe change of seaIn sod or sheath or shell. tures as gifts. They taught us how to sons at Lake from The May Magnificat by Gerard Manley Hopkins cherish and care for creation. I recall Michigan with gloriSister Clarilla saying you “can’t beat Mother Nature.” ous sunsets, storms and the abundant The nine years with the Benedictines at St. Meinrad wildlife. Seminary expanded my sense of awe at the miracle of The late Vietnamese Cardinal God’s nature. The precious gift of the psalms came into my Van Thuan, in Prayers of Hope, life when, at 18, I entered the seminary. Since then, my reminds us, “There are so many favorite of the 150, Psalm 8, still amazes and inspires me. gifts that are freely received: the In my imagination, I picture the ancient biblical poet lying morning dew on the grass, the on the grass or sand on a warm, crystal-clear night, marlight of the sun, sparkling water veling at the awesome panorama above. Many of us also lie from a fountain, the freshness on grass or the sands near Lake Michigan, overwhelmed of the wind, the warbling of a and dazzled by the miracle of nature. Aware of the immenbird, the warmth of a friendly sity and mystery of the universe, the poet and we recognize hand, the familiar sound of a how small we are and how seemingly insignificant. We church bell. ... Have I ever wonder how God can be mindful of us. thought of giving thanks? I The psalmist already knows the account of creation in enjoy all these gifts without Genesis – that we are “the image and likeness of God.” He having paid a penny. I should writes, “You have made man little less than the angels and praise God my whole life long endowed man with glory and honor. You have given man for just one of these gifts.” rule over the works of your hands.” Psalm 8 shows the – Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth place of the Lord and the place of man, who is “little less than a god” in the universe. Man is the Lord’s partner, to bishop of Lansing. www.FAITHmag.com

J. Luning

eople are often asked, “When did you first sense or experience something?” Some have vivid memories from early childhood. When did I begin to sense the miracles of nature? That’s a good question, because we are born within the miracle of nature that surrounds us all our lives.

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By Bob Horning | Photography by James Luning

Since 1981, Fr. Richard Kropf has lived alone deep in the woods in Montmorency County, northeast of Gaylord, along Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cheboygan Black River. Born in Milwaukee in 1932, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lansing in 1958. After seven years of parish work, he returned to school to earn a doctorate in theology. Following a number of years teaching in colleges in the Lansing and Detroit areas, he sought permission to live as a hermit. He built his own cabin and took permanent vows under Bishop Povishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supervision for that state of life, according to the rules set by the Code of Canon Law. Now he prays, writes, does manual labor, helps the local bishop by serving in emergencies in parishes, and occasionally emerges to talk to the rest of us.

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to contemplative life. After some years of parish work, I made a private retreat at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, where Merton (the novice director) urged me to seek further education, but predicted I would eventually end up in contemplative life. Fifteen years later, after making an intensive Ignatian retreat, I took the final step. By then I was close to 50 years old and realized that life is too short to keep putting off what you feel ultimately called to do. I’m not completely isolated. I have good friends who live about a mile-and-a-half away. Once a week, I make a trip into town to pick up my mail, groceries and other necessities. I’m also in contact with others through e-mail. I even do a bit of spiritual direction through e-mail. I occasionally see other priests and the bishop, usually when I attend priests’ convocations or similar events. Every year or so, I try to attend the annual meeting of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

[I don’t] really [get lonely]. My upbringing as an only child, with frequent moves around the country (10 different schools by the end of 12th grade), probably helped prepare me for living in solitude. By the way, a hermit is one who lives in the desert or wilderness, and an anchorite is one who lives completely in solitude. I am both. I center my day around the Divine Office of the church and the Eucharist. I begin before dawn with matins, interspersed with periods of meditation after each reading, then morning prayer (lauds) and the celebration of the Eucharist in the chapel built into my cabin’s loft. I then try to divide the rest of the day equally April 2005

FAITH Magazine

between intellectual work and physical work or exercise. “In the evening, I recite vespers and spend at least a half an hour in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. One of the advantages of living alone is that if the Spirit is moving me to pray, rather than eat, I won’t upset someone else’s schedule. I keep my evening meals simple, often just a large salad, while I listen to the evening news. I try to do some more serious reading in the evenings. “Until my senior year in high school, I had expected to go into engineering like my father. However, reading Thomas Merton’s autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, began drawing me

The best thing I experience [about life alone] is a contentment that is so intense that I sometimes feel guilty about it, especially in comparison to all those parish priests whose life I consider to be just a little short of heroic – having known from firsthand experience how demanding it is. The hardest thing about my life is feeling misunderstood. Many Christians seem to have no use for solitaries in the body of Christ. Others, especially traditional Catholics, also have their stereotypes of what a hermit should be like, and are probably scandalized to find out I have indoor plumbing or a telephone or a car. On the other hand, I have no question about the rarity of my vocation. In fact, I thank God that only a few priests seem called in this direction. Otherwise, the church would be in bad shape. I find God most readily by trying to www.FAITHmag.com

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cultivate a sense of his presence in all things. I’m not a natural mystic, so this is not easy for me. My training as an academic gives me the tendency to “live in my head.” I have to counteract this by prayer that is as silent and wordless as possible, usually before the Blessed Sacrament – and by the silent contemplation of nature on its most vast scale. We need a balance of seeing God in everything and at the same time, seeing God as above everything. A verse I often find myself repeating is Acts 17:28, “In him we live and move and have our being.” To me, this truth could be the foundation of all spirituality and sanctity would be constantly acting in accord with it. Since I used to do a lot of hunting and fishing, I’ve always been keenly aware of wildlife. But as the years have passed, I have become more intent on photographing, rather than killing, animals – and have become more or less a vegetarian while at home. I am less inclined to want to eat animals that I see every day. This is especially true of the deer and elk. Besides, what would I do with a whole elk? I also occasionally see coyotes; foxes; bobcats; otters; beavers and even, but rarely, a bear. There also are, besides smaller birds, partridge, turkeys, ravens, hawks and an occasional eagle. m i n i s t r y

My study of nature has taught me that nothing in this world is permanent, and, according to the latest findings of science, not even the universe itself. For some people, the universe has become ultimate reality and ecology or environmentalism a substitute for religion. Seeing the universe as temporary protects against that view. On the other hand, we have reached a point where man has become capable of destroying our world. As Christians who see ourselves as being placed on earth for a distinct purpose, we have a special obligation to care for the earth. During my first 10 years in solitude, I resisted having a TV, but began to realize I was missing quite a bit that might be beneficial to my reflection and writing. I still will watch nothing that isn’t the quality of PBS (in fact, that is the only channel my set receives clearly). It was because of a PBS feature on amateur astronomy and telescope making that I decided to build an observatory.

f o c u s

Hermit? Anchorite? What’s that? Fr. Richard Kropf describes himself as a hermit and anchorite. Although the words are used virtually synonymously today, there are some slight differences. “Hermit” derives from the Greek word, eremite, meaning “living in the desert.” From the earliest days of Christianity, men and women have been called to live apart in contemplation, imitating Christ’s 40 days of solitude at the beginning of his public ministry. Originally, hermits withdrew to the desert, while anchorites lived in cells that were part of churches or near population centers. Julian of Norwich is an example of a famous anchorite. Although Fr. Kropf’s lifestyle is not typical of a diocesan priest’s vocation, it does demonstrate the rich diversity with which God calls each of us. For more information about this or other vocations, contact the Office of Vocation Services at 517.342.2506.

The telescopemaking adventure led to the study of cosmology – the science of the origin, characteristics and future of the universe. Cosmology, as they say, “blew my

mind.” I had long been a student of the writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the controversial Jesuit paleontologist who upset many Catholics with his speculations on the relationship between Christianity and evolutionary science. It was only after I began my own hands-on study of the universe that I began to understand some of the further-reaching concerns of Teilhard’s thought – particularly the relationship between Christ and the rest of the universe, and the still unclosed gap between religion and science. I want my theological activity to be an outgrowth of living a contemplative life, much as has been the pattern in Eastern Christianity. I’m convinced that my primary vocation must be first and foremost to seek and achieve union with God to the greatest extent possible in this life – not just for myself, but also for the sake of the church. I feel most a part of the church when I celebrate the Eucharist, which never can be just my Mass, but an offering made in union with the whole church. I pray mostly for priests and bishops and those who ask me to remember them in my prayer; but always for peace in the world, and for the effectiveness of the church as an instrument of peace and reconciliation. I’m open to sharing my insights through retreats or workshops, providing they don’t call me out of solitude too often or for too long. But other than that, I believe to be a true anchorite, one must stay “anchored.” That’s not hard to do when you live in a natural paradise.

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When worlds collide – meet a scientist who relies on faith just completed a five-year study of more than 4,000 people. Traveling to Israel every year for the past seven years has given me an extraordinary opportunity to understand this region as a scientist and as a Catholic. What was striking was how different things were from the way I had pictured them. The Sea of Galilee is a modest-sized lake. And the Jordan River is a simple creek. I had this imposing impression of the mighty Jordan, but the reality is quite different. Yet these places are profoundly meaningful in our faith. In some respects, it’s like science. Casual impressions don’t always capture the complexity of fundamental truths of nature.

Dr. Steven Gruber is inspired by both science and faith.

AITH spoke with Stephen Gruber, M.D., Ph.D. from his sabbatical in Barcelona, Spain, where he is tracking down ancient genes for colon cancer. Dr. Gruber is associate professor of internal medicine, epidemiology and human genetics at the University of Michigan. He is also the director of the university’s Cancer Genetics Clinic. His wife, Robin, and their three daughters are spending this year in Spain with him.

I am a physician-scientist at the University of Michigan. I am a medical oncologist as well as a cancer geneticist, so I divide my time between taking care of patients and cancer genetic research. In my line of research, what I try to understand is inherited susceptibility to cancer and ways in which cancer can be prevented. Specifically, I have been working on two cancers primarily: colorectal cancer and melanoma. One of the things that we are trying to do is to understand both genetic and environmental contributions to colon cancer. We discovered a gene for colorectal cancer among Ashkenazi Jews and a lot is already known about how screening, diet and medications can help prevent colon cancer. So I developed a study with collaborators in Israel to look at this particular gene, which is quite common among individuals of Jewish descent. In fact, 6 percent of all Jews from Eastern Europe carry this particular gene. This work led me to Israel, where we April 2005

FAITH Magazine

From a scientific perspective, one of the things we discovered about this particular gene is that a mutation arose somewhere between 900 B.C. and about 195 B.C. And we also found that the same mutation was identified in populations other than Jewish populations. For example, we found it in Arab and Hispanic populations. That led me to Spain, where there was formerly a very large Jewish population and now there is a very small Jewish population, following the Spanish Inquisition. But we are looking for the residual genetic signature to find out how much these particular mutations account for colorectal cancer in Spain. I am working with a research institute here, the Catalonian Institute of Oncology. Another line of research that I’m particularly proud of is work done by another one of my graduate students. Jen Poynter is a Ph.D. student, and a fellow parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor, who asked the question about whether a certain class of drugs commonly taken to lower cholesterol might also reduce the risk of cancer. We found these drugs were associated with a nearly 50-percent reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer. Jen presented this work at a meeting in June in front of more than 10,000 physicians and scientists. More work is required before we can move these results into clinical practice, but it’s a pretty exciting finding. I’m pleased with the work, but what I’m most proud of is helping nurture a superb scientist. My faith has grown while I have been [in Spain]. It has developed not only because I’ve had more time to think about things, but also because it has given us an opportunity to have more focused family time. And our faith is a very important part of our family. It has also been fulfilling because my wife joined the church last spring at Easter – after we had been

By Margaret Ann Cross

| Photography courtesy of Steven Gruber

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8 ways to revive a dull job Student parishes and campus ministries provide rich resources for your faith to inform your education. For more information, contact: St. Mary Student Parish (UofM) at 734.663.0557, St. John Student Parish (MSU) at 517.337.9778, St. Leo the Great Parish (Kettering University and Mott Community College) at 810.736.2150, St. Michael Parish (UofM Flint) at 810.238.2679, Siena Heights Campus Ministry at 517.264.7192,

St. Anthony Parish (Hillsdale College) at 517. 37.3305, St. Mary Cathedral (Lansing Community College/Cooley Law School) at 517.484.5531, St. Ann Parish (Olivet College) at 616.763.0067 and Holy Trinity Student Chapel (Eastern Michigan University) at 734.482.1400

attending Mass together for 25 years. So, to be able to celebrate the Eucharist, with her fully participating each week at Mass, has been a wonderful element of what we do here. As a physician, I rely on faith when I interact with patients, though it is rarely explicit. I pray for all of my patients, but I only tell some of them. When a patient shares their faith with me, I don’t hesitate to share mine as well. But it is only appropriate when a patient seeks that in the physician-patient relationship. As a medical oncologist, I have sadly seen many patients die of cancer. Death and dying are not easy things to deal with – for patients, families or physicians. Faith provides us with a way to help think those issues through that science and medicine can’t. I had a really good example in my father. He is a physician, and he didn’t hesitate to allow his faith to inform his practice.

w o r k

e all realize that God gave us a responsibility to care for the natural resources of the earth. But, what about the natural resources with which God has blessed you? In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells us that we have a responsibility to invest God’s gifts/talents for the purpose of growing his kingdom. (Mt 25:14) Often, we bury our talents by choosing to take the safe path, settle into a comfortable job and look out for number one. Sure, we may not be doing anything wrong, but are we really doing anything to grow God’s kingdom? This idea may be scary to some, because it implies that you need to do something bold – such as leaving the security of your current job to do something you feel called to. Then again, it simply may mean using your gifts more effectively where you are now. In either case, there is risk involved. You might have to step out of your comfort zone to invest and multiply your gifts. Don’t tell me you are not gifted. If we look to 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, we see the many different ways we may be called to serve the church. Remember, the church is more than just the four walls of a building, or an organization. It’s out there in the world, in our work places, because the church is the people of God.

Eight new job descriptions – Be... An apostle Do I feel compelled to share my faith publicly? A prophet Do I have the personality to stand up for what is right? A teacher Do I have a knack for helping others learn? A miracle worker We all do this every day – right? A healer Do I have a good sense of humor that can heal spirits? A helper I don’t have to be in charge, I’m content simply lending a hand. An administrator Am I a good organizer who keeps the company going? A good communicator Do I listen to others and do they listen to me?

Tom Gennara

I am fortunate that, in my role as a cancer geneticist, I help families try to understand how to minimize the risk of cancer when a gene is passed down through the family. Prenatal counseling rarely enters the discussion and when it does, it is important to provide advice that is consistent with the teachings of the church. We live in a rich and diverse culture that values and respects many traditions, so my faith is understood and respected by my colleagues. I am not put in a position where I would be asked to do something that would conflict with my faith. Science has an extraordinary capacity to advance human understanding. It’s a gift to mankind. But I’ve never seen a good scientific description of love and I know what love is. That is something I don’t think anyone could accomplish through science. That’s what faith does for me. I see true love every day when I look at my wife. I see true love every day when I hold my children. And I see true love every week at Mass.

l i f e

Brand X

m i nm i si tn ri ys t fr oy c uf os c u s

Often we think we don’t make a difference because we haven’t done something grand. We think we just have a humdrum job. But stop for a moment and consider the positive difference you can make in others’ lives each day simply by investing your gift. This is what gives you purpose. This is growing God’s kingdom. -Tim Ryan

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A bundle of joy that came naturally – how NFP made Terry and Andy’s dream of a family come true

oseph Andrew Rabideau cries softly as his mother settles in the chair to talk on the phone. His tiny voice and tender touch belie the enormous amount of time and attention he requires.

“But it’s all worth it,” says his mom, Terry. “He’s wonderful.” Terry and Andy Rabideau are adjusting to the sleepless life of first-time parents since Joseph arrived on the scene in October 2004. But their journey to parenthood included a rough patch – emotional highs and lows that made them wonder, for a time, if God planned a family for them. Fortunately, their longing for a child was fulfilled through Natural Family Planning (NFP). Terry was 27 and Andy 37 when they met and married in 2002. Their first date – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by dinner with family members and a card game – launched a brief and beautiful courtship. “We both knew right away we would get married,” Terry recalls. “I had been doing missionary The Rabideaus’ path to parenthood was a spiritual one. work in Mexico and Andy was livOctober at St. physical signals to achieve pregnancy. ing and working “I assumed I would get pregnant easily,” Augustine’s in in California, but she says. “My cycles were regular and I Howell. we each felt called They settled in thought we’d have no problems.” But to return to Howell where after six months, she began to worry Michigan for no they joined about infertility. particular reason,” “We were open to children right away,” Terry says. Holy Spirit According to Rita Michaels, R.N., direcTerry says. “After Parish in Hamburg. tor of the Lansing Diocese office for NFP, we had both moved back to town, a sis“We were open to children right away,” overcoming infertility is an important reater-in-law set us up on a date.” Terry says. Having taken the NFP course son to use the system. “NFP helps a couWithin a few weeks of their first meetprior to marrying, the couple incorporatple understand the woman’s monthly ing, Terry and Andy became engaged – ed the daily practice of tracking Terry’s cycle, and the system can be used to on Valentine’s Day. They were married in April 2005

FAITH Magazine

By Marybeth Hicks | Photography by Tom Gennara

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achieve or avoid pregnancy,” Rita says. Andy were eager to try to become preg“The majority of women in NFP classes nant again. But another six months have no idea of the normal cycle of symp- passed, prompting Terry to make a foltoms that signal fertility. They have a gen- low-up appointment with Dr. Cvetkovich. eral knowledge of menstruation, but not “We were just about to go in for a of the extraordinary way God created that series of tests ... but I had a sense I signals fertility.” might be pregnant,” Terry says. Terry Rita runs the NFP Ministry for the dioand Andy conducted two home pregcese, which now includes a nancy tests and discovered mandatory introduction to the “God really helped they were expecting. “It was me to understand Valentine’s Day again, only system for engaged couples. Most couples think of NFP as that it didn’t depend this time we were celebrata way to plan and space chil- on us, it depended ing the news that I was on him,” Terry says pregnant.” dren. Less obvious of her desire to is the system’s ability to “I was a nervous wreck up have children. “I help couples experiencing to a point,” Terry says, recallstruggled with saying her failed first pregnancy. infertility. ing ‘Your will be “Rather than race toward “I trusted God that it would invasive procedures and ther- done,’ because I be all right, but I was afraid.” apies, NFP offers a safe, natu- wanted his will to Morning sickness reassured be mine.” ral starting point to deterTerry that her pregnancy was mine if fertility is a problem,” going along normally. Rita says. The Rabideaus’ path to parenthood The Rabideaus did just that. After was a spiritual one. “God really helped tracking Terry’s cycles for several me to understand that it didn’t depend months, they determined a more thoron us, it depended on him,” Terry says ough medical check was necessary. Terry of her desire to have children. “I strugwas a patient of Caritas Center in Ann gled with saying ‘Your will be done,’ Arbor, an obstetric and gynecological because I wanted his will to be mine.” practice whose mission is to support the Gospel values of life. Terry’s physician, Dr. Lorna Cvetkovich, found that Terry suffered from mild endometriosis, a condition characterized by endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus. Dr. Cvetkovich removed the excess tissue and encouraged Terry and Andy to keep trying to conceive using NFP. “Sure enough, I was pregnant within six months, just as she predicted,” Terry says. Sadly, her first pregnancy ended at 11 weeks in a miscarriage, a devastating blow to the hopeful couple. After recovering for a month, Terry and For more information about Natural Family Planning, contact the Office of Catholic Charities at 517.342.2587 or visit the Web at www.ccli.org

Terry says her husband helped her grow in trust and faith as she waited for God to answer her prayer. As a husband, Andy spent many months watching as his wife worried and waited. “When you love someone, it hurts to watch her go through all of this and not be able to do anything directly – just pray.” Andy says he felt many emotions along the way, from frustration to confidence. Now that he’s a father, Andy is learning to adapt to the changes little Joseph has brought to their family. “I love fatherhood, but it’s a big change. Prior to being married, I traveled quite a bit. It’s different to get used to being at home more – and to operating on less sleep.” Rita Michaels believes NFP is a tool that gives couples not only an avenue to planning and achieving pregnancy, but also a way for greater intimacy and love in marriage. “Couples can go through so much stress on the road to having a child. NFP offers a way to understand God’s extraordinary gift of reproduction and the miracle of new life.” For the Rabideaus, that miracle is Joseph.

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your marriage matters m o n e y

3 best reasons to go into debt t i p :

d e b t

p a r t

Can you avoid debt completely? For a lifetime, in today’s world, I doubt it – unless you become so cash rich you have no need for it. In the meantime, and for us mere mortals, we need to deal with debt. Mortgages and car loans can be limited by the size of the loans, to a degree; but cars need replacing and mortgages require multiple years to pay off. Credit cards can be limited by agreeing – as a couple – to attempt to use them as short-term loans, to be paid off monthly. Not all debt is bad. Used properly, loans yield great benefits. What are some loan opportunities you may consider? 1. Student loans provide access to an education. Advanced degrees can result in higher job satisfaction as well as higher income. 2. Home improvement/equity loans increase the value of your primary long-term investment, your house. 3. Business loans enable entrepreneurs to begin ventures that can provide income for years to come. Next month, we will explore what’s necessary to obtain debt – your personal credit report.

the benefit of walking away – together t i m e

m a t t e r s

Take a walk together. Sometimes, the most difficult place to find peace and quiet is around the house – especially when children are still at home. One way to spend quality time together is to go for a walk. Walk around the block, walk to the store, or walk to church. Walking has a dual benefit when you are together. First, holding hands will make it easier to talk, which is good for your mental health; also, walking is good for your physical health when done on a regular basis. Walking hand-in-hand keeps you both on the same journey. Time Tip: Remember, a deadline is a tool to help you get things done. Don’t let it cause anxiety, but don’t let it be a dead letter either. If you miss deadlines often, start setting ones that are more realistic. Time Management for Catholics by Dave Durand April 2005

FAITH Magazine

Eye Wire

Digital Vision

an ongoing series to help you strengthen your marriage

5 ways to balance time as a couple c o n n e c t i n g

If marriage can be compared to making a loaf of bread, then communication would be likened to yeast. It’s a key ingredient that allows your marriage to “rise” and your love to be perfected. In our world today, there are many time-robbers of marriage. Whether it’s your boss, your parish, or the countless organizations to which you and your kids belong, you can unconsciously allow your time and energy to be zapped! Then you have no strength left over for the most important relationship in your life. You can be doing lots of good things while the best thing in your life – your marriage – suffers. Remember the comparison to the loaf of bread. Only certain amounts of specific ingredients make great bread. Too much flour makes the bread dry; too little yeast doesn’t allow the bread to rise. So what’s a couple to do? • Evaluate your schedules together to see where you’re too busy or over-committed. • Talk about your marital goals and reprioritize. • See if there are time-wasters in your lives, like too much TV, and turn that time into “couple time.” • Add a little fun into your marriage; it’s contagious and you’ll want to add more of it to your schedule. • God gives us all 24 hours each day. Pray for wisdom and strength to use them well! www.FAITHmag.com

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Is your marriage tearing you apart? Have you thought about separation or divorce? Retrouvaille is a program that may be able to help you re-focus your marriage. A Retrouvaille weekend is scheduled at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, Mich. on June 3, 2005. For more information, call 517.669.6631 or visit www.retrouvaille.org. p r a y e r

m o m e n t

We Don’t Have Two Nickels

She: You fed the multitudes on a few loaves of bread and five fish. Feed us, I ask you. He: You worked as a carpenter before you became an itinerant preacher. She: Find work for us, Lord, work that uses the talents you gave us and provides a just wage to feed, clothe and shelter our family. Together: We are without reserves. We trust in you, Jesus – we will do our best to find work. The rest is in your hands. Amen.

He: The linings of our pockets are turned out and empty. We’ve used the last few coins in the piggy bank to buy milk. She: I’ve racked my brain to come up with something to make for tonight’s meal. He: And so we cast ourselves upon your providence, Lord. We don’t know where to go but to you.

romancing the years: part 2 empty nest and older couples r o m a n c e

my teen is a vegetarian hold the burgers please

i n t i m a c y

In marriage, as with all things, change is a constant. Last month, we looked at the marital stages of newlywed and family-building couples. In part two, we observe the role of romance in the lives of empty-nest and older couples. “Empty-nest” couples find new excitement as they reconnect or enliven their romantic relationship now that they have more time alone. Their positive attitude enables them to shift their roles from parents to partners. Some discover that raising the children took much of their focus, and they are faced with the consequences of having neglected their relationship along the way. Many have turned to enrichments like Marriage Encounter to re-establish a deeper intimacy and rekindle passion. Older couples have what we usually want in the previous three stages – more time together. This can be a wonderful opportunity to relive a lifetime of experiences and memories, which can sustain them in the face of retirements, aging and a diminished interest in the physical aspects of intimacy. Some discover it’s a challenge being together all the time, so they adjust their roles and routines. Many older couples remain romantically active by taking on a youthful attitude, keeping a sense of humor and a sense of true perspective when it comes to facing problems at any stage. They know how to “pray for passion.”

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he atmosphere in the community education building was warm and friendly as we waited for our class on “healthy vegetarian cooking” to begin. When our instructor began the class with the ice breaker, “Tell us your favorite food,” the first participants rattled off favorites such as faux-chicken-and-rice casserole and lentil loaf. It should have been my cue to profess my love for mashed potatoes. Instead I mentioned steak with whiskey-peppercorn sauce. A fellow student glared at me, “Then why are you here?” I explained that I had health concerns about my teenager’s vegetarian diet. How do we respond, as parents, when children announce that they are vegetarians? Image Source

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Have conversations with your child about vegetarianism. What is it about vegetarianism that appeals to you? What types of foods do you plan to avoid? What other foods will replace the nutrients you used to get from these foods? Try some of your child’s new favorites to add variety to your own diet! Is your child ready to assume more responsibility? It is our moral responsibility to work toward the common good to ensure that all are fed. (CCC #1908) In particular, parents provide nourishment for their children. But when an adolescent becomes a vegetarian, that doesn’t mean the parents become short-order cooks, preparing meals for multiple diets. Instead, adolescent vegetarians should expect to plan ahead so that ingredients may be purchased, to learn basic aspects of food preparation and to cook individual entrées if necessary. Each family negotiates the best fit for including a vegetarian in its lifestyle. “We also hear the call of Catholic youth and other young people to protect the environment.” (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 15, 2001, Global Climate Change)

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Your teen’s newfound vegetarianism could be a temporary dietary change her friends are trying. Or it may be he is beginning to incorporate moral issues as a part of identity development. Many Catholic teens are becoming adults in a world that must resolve issues of global climate change and enact just agricultural policies in order to be effective stewards of God’s creation. Grain in the U.S. is often produced for the feeding of livestock, an inefficient conversion of energy. Perhaps your child’s announcement is one way the Holy Spirit is working to bring food to the tables of those who hunger. – Dr. Cathleen McGreal

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does prayer really work? the personal and physical benefits of prayer f i t n e s s

Prayer can restore balance to those afflicted with conditions such as depression, hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder.

uring my college days, religion, faith and science were hot topics. Whatever could not be proved through science was not believed. One atheistic student commented on religion and prayer as “a waste of time!” Since there was no God in their view, prayer was futile.

Unfortunately, even as believers, I have to admit that sometimes we are tempted to think this way. It may not come out directly, but we can grow fidgety in prayer and think we would be better off doing something else. We can wonder if God is listening. In school, there was a person who talked a hundred miles an hour. I remember trying to have a conversation with this person, but it really was April 2005

FAITH Magazine

a one-way street. After experiencing this, I went into my room to pray like usual, but the thought of this fast talker made such an impression on me, I realized how God must feel listening to me. Then I read in Scripture that Jesus said, “in your prayers do not rattle on like the pagans. They think they will win a hearing through the sheer multiplication of words.” (Mt 6:7) I was so convicted about this that I

knelt down and prayed very slowly. It was hard at first, because my mind was drifting off to think of other things, like playing football and a multitude of other activities that I enjoyed. But I kept remembering that I was talking to God. I was talking to Jesus. I started to think more of the words I was saying. They were really beautiful. When I said the name of “Mary” or “Jesus,” their names gave me joy. They were not just words, but the names of real people who were alive. I was speaking to them! I tried to say their names with love again and again. I let them linger in my heart and on my lips. Before too long, I forgot about the time and stopped looking at my watch. I actually prayed a whole rosary slowly and it seemed to go by quickly, even though it took about 30 minutes. I felt very calm afterward. I had met the Lord during that time of prayer. Prayer became a very important part of my life. On a personal level, I could directly see its effects. Recently, science has decided to get involved in the quest for truth in this matter. Does prayer work? Science, like a hound dog sniffing at the evidence, says, “YES.” Prayer works! T. Gennara

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Prayer benefits the one who prays

lower death rate from cardiovascular disease and cancer. (Above statistics from Just say Om in Time Magazine, August 4, 2003 Vol. 162 No. 5.;

Spiritual Fitness this month: Practice meditative prayer for at least 15 minutes each day. It is hard to quiet the mind and body in less than this amount of time. Pray with Scripture, or the rosary, or any way you can. The following meditation might be helpful. Find a quiet place where you and God can be alone. Remove all distractions. No cell phones. Begin by making the sign of the cross and ask God to help you be with him during this time of prayer. God has no problem being with us. We have the problem of being distant from God. Be quiet for a few moments and listen and think about God. Think about whom you are addressing. Dwell on this thought for a www.FAITHmag.com

Is Religion Good for Your Health, Harold Koenig, 1997.; Can Prayer Heal? Jeanie Lerche Davis on WebMD.com; Observations on Prayer as a Viable Treatment Intervention: A Brief Review for Healthcare Providers by Matthew R. Kutz, PhD, M.Ed., ATC. Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL)

Prayer benefits those we Pray For!ItItheals! Heals! pray for! the personal personalbenefits benefitsofofprayer, prayer,prayer prayeralso alsoheals! heals! Besides the Jesus healed healed those thosewho whocame cametotohim. him.Faith Faithwas wasimportant importanttotohealhealing. Jesus often often said, said,“Your “Yourfaith faithhas hashealed healedyou! you!(Mk(Mk5:34; 5:34; 10:2). MkMk 10:52). Science and medicine support this. Larry Dossey, M.D. studied studthe of prayer andand found more thanthan 100100 experiments ied effectiveness the effectiveness of prayer found more experion prayer, exhibiting the criteria of goodofscience, conducted under ments on prayer, exhibiting the criteria good science, conductstringent conditions.conditions. Some of the results: ed underlaboratory stringent laboratory Some of the results: 1 Researchers found that intercessory prayer was effective even when the recipient did not know he or she was being prayed for. (Prayer is Good Medicine, HarperCollins. 1996, p. 129) 2 The faith of both the person who prays and those who are being prayed for make the prayer more effective. All of this comes as no surprise to those who have faith, but for those who do not have faith, such evidence can open them up to considering God, not as a word on a piece of paper, or a religious myth, but as real. When God becomes real for a person, life is never the same again and prayer is not a waste of time, but a fountain of new life.

Digital Vision

Research has shown that: 1 Many physicians recommend meditation to prevent and control pain in patients suffering from chronic illness, or conditions such as heart disease, AIDS, cancer and infertility. 2 Prayer can restore balance to those afflicted with conditions such as depression, hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder (ADD). 3 For 30 years, medical research has shown that prayer can reduce emotional stress. 4 Prayer can “reset” the brain to change behavior (road rage, for example). 5 Those who pray are generally healthier and live longer. They have lower blood pressure, incidence of stroke and heart disease. They are less likely to smoke or drink and tend to get sick less often. 6 The author of the Handbook of Religion and Health documents nearly 1,200 studies done on the effects of prayer on health. Some statistics from these studies: • Hospitalized people who never attended church have an average stay that is three times longer than people who attended regularly. • Heart patients were 14 times more likely to die following surgery if they did not participate in a religion. • Elderly people who never or rarely attended church had a stroke rate double that of people who attended regularly. • In Israel, religious people had a 40%

When God becomes real for a person, life is never the same again.

while. If you have a good imagination, think about being in the upper room with the apostles on Easter before Jesus appeared to them. What was the mood in the room? What were the apostles doing? Scripture says they were behind locked doors because of fear. Think about this for a while. Take a walk around the room. Think about what happened in the room just a few days earlier. Jesus gave the apostles the Eucharist in this room. This is the room Judas left to betray Jesus. This is where Peter had told Jesus he would die for Jesus. This is where Jesus had

washed their feet. Look at the apostles. What do you see? Suddenly, you see the Lord. He has appeared to the apostles. “Peace be with you,” Jesus says. What is happening in the upper room now? What is happening inside you? What are you going to say to Jesus? Pray for the healing of someone you know who is sick. Start by making the sign of the cross and then reading Mark 2:1-12. You are going to bring a person who is sick to Jesus. Think about who they are and recommend them to the Lord. Say an Our Father and Hail Mary. Then thank God for the healing we receive, by praying the Glory Be. Repeat as often as your faith and love suggest. – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh

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feed the soul as you feed the body with wholesome fruits and vegetables

he phrase “planting a seed” can have many meanings. There’s the literal one – the act of putting something in the soil. But there’s also a figurative meaning – that of introducing an idea.

suggested plants to reap and sow Below is a list of the fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs that the St. Francis group has successfully planted in its garden. This list may be adapted to various regions and climates:

C. Jones

Basil, Beans, The volunteers at the sustainable garden of St. Francis Parish in Beets, BlackAnn Arbor do a little bit of both. “Ever since we founded the garden [in eyed susans, 2000], we’ve had two purposes for it,” explains coordinator Tracy Blanket flowers, Nagy. “We wanted to show people that it’s possible to garden in an Cabbage, Celery, environmentally friendly way. And we wanted to give something to Chives, Collard those who are less fortunate.” greens, Cosmos, A local nursery school, established to provide day care and educational Cucumbers, Dill, services for the children of single parents, was chosen as the fortunate Garlic, Kale, recipient of the garden’s bounty. “The school staff uses the fruits and vegLeeks, Lettuce, etables to prepare meals and snacks for the kids,” says Nagy. “What’s left Marigolds, Volunteers work in the St. Francis over is set out for the parents to take, free of charge, as they need it.” Morning glories, sustainability garden. About 120 pounds of organically grown food were harvested and Nasturtiums, donated last year. And all that was needed to make this happen was a core group of three or four “regOnions, Peppers, Radishes, ulars,” joined by five or six others who helped on special work days in the spring, mid-summer and fall. Shasta daisies, Spaghetti “With each of us donating just one or two hours a week, we were able to accomplish a lot,” affirms squash, Spinach, Strawberries, Nagy. “And the school really appreciated our efforts.” Sunflowers, Swiss chard, “They call us their ‘vegetable ladies,’” she adds with a smile. Tomatoes and Zucchini

think you might want to set up a “garden for giving” at your parish? Here are a few suggestions to make the process easier. Start Small The first thing you should do, advises Nagy, is to start with a modest plot of land and see what your group of volunteers can handle. In St. Francis’ case, the garden – which was carved out of the side yard of the parish rectory – measures just 20 feet by 25 feet. Till the Soil Sensitively The next step is to prepare the soil for planting. If you want to follow St. Francis’ example, you’ll use spades and other human-powered tools and skip the gas-powered polluters.

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Plant Something Easy At first, you should sow seeds for those things that are quick to sprout, like carrots and radishes. That way your volunteers can almost immediately see the fruit – or vegetable – of their labors. “Zucchini and tomatoes are rewarding, too,” says Nagy, “because they just keep on producing.” Invite the Bugs in Even if you’re not interested in taking the organic approach, you can still plant herbs and flowers that will attract the insects that eat “bad” insects or assist in pollinating the plants. “Fennel, chives, and basil are good for this,” Nagy recommends. April 2005

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Keep the Animals out After you’ve tilled the garden and planted your seeds, it’s a good idea to erect a pest-proof fence. Otherwise, Nagy warns, you’ll be sharing your produce with the local wildlife. “We fattened up quite a few rabbits the first year.” Chicken wire, supported by poles at the corners, is an inexpensive option. And a scarecrow never hurts. Amend the Soil Last, but not least, enrich the soil with fertilizer or compost to boost the producing power of each plant. And of course, pray for good weather. “We had to work hard to overcome last year’s wet spring,” Nagy says. Savor Your Successes The end of each growing season is a good time to review what worked and didn’t work and make notes for the coming year. In 2004, the St. Francis group learned a lesson about a certain slender green vegetable. “Watch out for celery. It’s selfseeding and aggressive. We spent most of our fall work session digging it back out of the soil.” St. Francis has also opted to make their garden financially self-sustaining. To this end, the volunteers conduct a seed sale every spring and fall. A stipend from the parish's Peace and Social Justice Committee helps cover additional expenses. “When it comes right down to it, all the garden really costs us is time,” Nagy explained, “and we willingly give that in service to others.” By Patricia Majher

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mong theologians, the phrase ecclesia orans, ecclesia docens is a shorthand way of saying “the way the church prays reveals what the church teaches.” The bishops of the Second Vatican Council emphasized that philosophy when they wrote “… the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the church is directed; at the same time, it is the font from which all her power flows.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 10) And so it is that we look closely at our worship practices to reveal our beliefs. Even the sacred furnishings in our churches have something to teach us. Look at the central focus of our sanctuary – do we worship on an altar or at a table? Do we offer Christ’s sacrifice, or dine at a sacred meal? Are these terms mutually exclusive, or are they all aspects of one and the same reality? They are, it seems to me, all aspects of one and the same reality, namely the way we enter into and celebrate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The altar of sacrifice When you get right down to it, the only real and true altar is the cross. When we celebrate Mass, we join in the sacrifice of Christ. His bloody sacrifice on the cross becomes the sacrifice that subsumes into itself all other sacrifices. There are no more lambs or goats slaughtered in expiation of human sins. Christ becomes the temple, the high priest and the victim. He is sacrificed once, for all. Salvation is accomplished.

of it as we gather around his table when we celebrate Mass. That supper was, and remains, a meal – a sacred meal in which God the Son takes us unto himself and thereby takes us home to our Father in heaven. Notice that Jesus integrates communion with his sacrifice – one does not exist apart from the other. The fruit of the sacrifice is unity. He is sacrificed for our holy Communion. We become one with him; and through him, we return to his Father and ours. Sacrifice and meal become one.

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The already and the not yet On the cross and at the Last Supper, 2000 years ago, Jesus reached out into all of human time – past, present and yet to come. He gathered all people – all of human history – into that one, supreme moment when he embraces us all, joins us to himself and lifts us up before his Father’s eyes. In his sacrificial meal, he also ushers into our human time the messianic banquet of eternity. We join in that sacrifice and meal – giving thanks The altar as table to almighty God for the An altar or a table? – Actually both. Notice, if you will, gift of his son and for that even prior to Vatican Council II, the Catholic altar was making present on our altar the sacrifice which won our salvation. designed to look like a table. Table legs were fashioned. A tableFinally, we need to remember always that the Mass is not somecloth and candles were placed upon it. The so-called “communthing we simply “do” as humans here on earth. Every liturgy is an ion rail” was designed with table legs in it. It, too, was covered action of Christ the high priest, and of his body, the church. (Constitution with tablecloths. It wasn’t a barrier rail – it was a table. on the Sacred Liturgy, 7) It is something “we” do through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ. The “we” – he and us – are joined as one communion. Why all of this? Because the Mass is our re-entrance into the Last This communion, this unity, overcomes the gulf our sins have creatSupper. At that sacred meal, Christ invited his disciples to join him ed between us and our Father. in giving thanks to God. But he changed the Passover rituals they And so it is that we live in the time that is “already,” but “not yet.” had known. He broke the bread and told them that it was his body, We worship our Father in Christ. We remember Christ’s death on the given up for them. He said that the cup they shared was his blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. He told them to con- altar of sacrifice and his victory over death. We are nourished at his table with the bread of life. And in so doing, we anticipate the heavtinue to do this and “remember (re-member yourselves into) me.” enly banquet. – Fr. Charles Irvin and Rita Thiron What Jesus did that night, he is still doing – only now we are a part April 2005

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things to do Experiencing the Power of the Holy Spirit, a one-day retreat for everyone who’s high-school age or older, will take place at Mt. Zion Pastoral Center, Flushing on March 19. The retreat begins with Mass at 8:30 a.m. Fee is $7 and includes lunch. Call 810.639.7175 for more information or to register. The Lansing Carmelite Seculars will sponsor a oneday retreat on Sat. April 23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. The scheduled speaker is Fr. Don Brick, O.C.D. and the theme is Eucharist. The cost is $40 and includes breakfast and lunch. For more information, call Deb at 517.887.6060 or e-mail debdeford@aol.com.

April Café events An overview of the Catholic Faith series will be held at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Jackson on Wednesdays in April. This session is designed especially for couples planning marriage. Call 517.784.0553 for more information or to register. Catholics Returning Home, a six-week series for returning Catholics, will be held at St. Mary Parish, Adrian. Sessions

Introduction to NFP classes are offered Wed., April 13 at 7 p.m., St. Mary Parish, Charlotte; Sat., April 23 at 10 a.m., St. Joseph Hospital, Ann Arbor; Sun., April 24 at 4:30 p.m., St. Joseph’s Center, Jackson. There is a $20 fee. Billings Ovulation Method classes will be offered Sat., April 9 at 10 a.m. at the Caritas Center, Ann Arbor. There is a $50 fee. Both classes require advance registration. Call 517.342.2587 with questions, or to register. Ordination to the permanent diaconate will take place May 14, at 10 a.m., in St. Mary Cathedral. Weber Center, Adrian, is sponsoring two overnight retreats, Sacred Quest and Growth Through Loss and Love. The former is for anyone seeking spiritual growth and will be held May 17-18. The latter is for are scheduled for Thurs. evenings, April 7,14,21,28 and May 5 and 12. All sessions are from 7-8:30 p.m. Call Robert at 517.265.2762 or Jackie at 517.436.6370 for more information. This program is also being offered at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, Mondays, from April 4 to May 9. Sessions will be held at 7 p.m. in the family center. For more information, call Sue Wilson at 517.467.6689. St. Joseph Shrine is sponsoring an evangelization training workshop for parish evangelization teams, leaders, staff and interested parishioners. Pete Ries, diocesan director of evangelization, will conduct the twopart training. Sessions will be held Wed., April 20 and 27,

people experiencing any kind of loss and will be held June 1415. Both retreats begin at 9 a.m. on the first day and end at 3 p.m. on the second day. Call 517.266.4000 or e-mail webercenter@adriansisters.org for more information.

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REFRESH is a retreat program for single young adults who want to know themselves better. For more information about upcoming events, contact Scott at 989.593.2850 or e-mail refreshteam@yahoo.com.

Sunday, April 10 Third Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14,22-33 Ps 16:1-2,5,7-11 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35

The Diocese of Lansing, in collaboration with other dioceses in Michigan and Indiana, will be offering a three-year lay ministry formation program especially for Hispanic Catholics. For information about the Instituto Cultural de Liderazgo en el Medio Oeste, call Nancy Joseph at 517.342.2512. 7-9 p.m. There is an optional light dinner at 6:30 p.m. A Catechist Formation Day will be held Sat., May 14, 8 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Lansing. Formation topics are scheduled on the Bible, church, liturgy, praying with children and adult group facilitation skills. The day is open to all. Call 517.321.4179 for more information and to register. Evangelization 101: Bringing Catechesis, Liturgy and Life Together will be presented at St. Mary, Chelsea, Wed., April 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The presenter will be Andrew Vitale from Silver Burdett Ginn Religion Co. It is open to anyone interested in this primary mission of the church. Lunch

Saturday, April 3 Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday Acts 2:42-47 Ps 118:2-4,13-15,22-24 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31

Sunday, April 17 Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a,36-41 Ps 123:1-6 1 Peter 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10 Sunday, April 24 Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-7 Ps 33:1-2,4-5,18-19 1 Peter 2:4-9 John 14:1-12

will be provided. Call 1-877886-8775 by Mon., April 4 to register. Prayer in Motion, a movement through the Scriptures workshop, will be held at the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills on Sat., April 23 from 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Fee is $45 and includes lunch. Contact facilitator Janene Ternes at 734.429.7753 for more information or to register. St. Therese Parish, Lansing, is hosting a parish mission, Called to Holiness, Called to Mission. Presentations by Sr. Ann Shields and Ralph Martin will occur April 17-20 at 7 p.m. Call Tony Sperendi at 517.487.3749 for more information.

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Who’s new in Diocese of Lansing ministry? Nancy Joseph is the new director of the Office of Lay Ministry. She facilitates the initial, intermediate and continuing formation of the lay ministers in our parishes. Nancy received a B.S. in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University. She also studied pastoral ministry in Marygrove University’s graduate school. Nancy is married and has three children. Little-known fact: Nancy and her husband, Stephan, chose the last name Joseph as their family’s name to honor St. Joseph. Vince Gale, the new director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services, will divide his time between Lansing and Jackson. In Jackson, he will direct outreach ministries for Catholic Charities, including Project Rachel, Divorced and Separated Catholics, beFrienders and Bishop’s Council for Alcohol and Other Drugs. Vince and his wife, Lisa, have three children. Little-known fact: Vince is a former golf pro. At one point, he was a “scratch” golfer, but now only has time to play about once a year. Tom Fogle joined the diocesan staff as the director of the Office of Family Ministry. Tom holds a B.S. in computer science from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, an M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University, and a B.A. in ministry from Siena Heights University. He is a retired Air Force officer. Tom and his wife, Jo Anne, write for the Marriage Matters section of FAITH. Little-known fact: Tom raises Rambouillet/Columbia sheep and is a member of the Michigan Sheep Breeders Association. Rory Hoipkemier directs the Life Justice office at the Diocese of Lansing. She earned B.A. degrees in education, special education and social studies from Michigan State University, and a master’s degree in extension education from MSU. Rory and her husband, David, have three children. For years, Rory was an abstinence and prolife speaker and is the creator of SMART, an abstinence program for schools. Little-known fact: Rory returned to the church after a long absence and her husband’s conversion. They had their 20-year marriage convalidated and for their 20th anniversary/honeymoon, Rory and David went to Nepal to hike in the Himalayan foothills. April 2005

FAITH Magazine

Fr. Dan McKean fights the KKK Fr. Dan McKean, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Brighton, made a stand for civil rights in January. A Howell auctioneer had a Ku Klux Klan robe on display in his window, and was planning to auction it on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Fr. Dan contacted the auction house and offered to buy the robe for $1500, in order to donate it to a museum. The auctioneer refused. He said he could get more money at auction. Finally, after pressure from a Detroit radio station, the auction was rescheduled to January 29. The robe sold for $1450. The foundational principle of the KKK is the purity of America; that is, keeping America white and Protestant. The KKK has frequently burned crosses and terrorized African-Americans, Jews, Catholics and other groups deemed by them as unacceptable.

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MCC Stem Cell Educational Effort The Michigan Catholic Conference announced that it is distributing its periodic essay, FOCUS, in an effort to foster understanding of stem cell research, while conveying the Catholic Church’s support for ethically sound research using adult stem cells. On the Ethics of Stem Cell Research is intended to educate Michigan residents on the profound differences between adult and embryonic stem cell research.

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Sewing Bees at St. Pius School St. Pius X School in Flint recently hosted several after-school sewing bees. Participating students, comprising senior Girl Scouts and boys from the St. Pius eighth-grade football team, made 20 full-sized quilts. The finished quilts were donated to needy residents of the Flint area.

Courtesy St. Pius X School

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St. Mary Parish, Chelsea, reaches a milestone Parishioners at St. Mary of Chelsea celebrated a true coming of age in January, reaching a milestone membership of 1000 families. The parish joins five other Catholic communities in Washtenaw County with such large memberships. The parish was founded 160 years ago, and the current church building was constructed in 1965. Fr. William Turner is the pastor, and is shown in the accompanying photograph greeting new parishioners Don and Beth Kessler, whose registration marked the milestone event.

Courtesy St. Mary Parish

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Sister Lucia, last Fatima visionary, dies in Portugal at age 97

Bishop Carl Mengeling joined Fr. David Hannes and the parishioners of St. Michael Parish, Flushing, in the celebration of Forgiveness Vespers. This liturgy marks the beginning of Great Lent in the Byzantine Catholic Church, which commences the Sunday prior to the Roman Catholic Ash Wednesday. Fr. Hannes said that his parish embraced the opportunity to extend a warm welcome to the Roman Catholic clergy and laity to join in this celebration. He hopes to increase spiritual awareness of the various rites in communion with each other within the Catholic Church.

Carmelite Sister Lucia dos Santos, the last of three Fatima visionaries, died Feb. 13 in her cloistered convent in Coimbra at the age of 97. On May 13, 1917, when she was just 10 years old, Sister Lucia and her two younger cousins claimed to have seen the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, near their home. The apparitions continued once a month until Oct. 13, 1917. While her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto died at a young age – as Our Lady of Fatima apparently told them they would – it was left to Sister Lucia to transcribe the messages of Fatima, including the third section. Sister Lucia wrote down the third part of the message, sealed it in an envelope and gave it to her local bishop. The message was sent to the Vatican in 1957, where successive popes read it, but decided not to reveal its contents. CNS

Bishop Mengeling celebrates Byzantine Forgiveness Vespers

Courtesy J. Rynearson

Bob Clark, a parishioner of St. John Church in Fenton, left Michigan on Jan. 14 to begin his postulancy as an Alexian brother. Bob was a Franciscan for a brief period after high school. After leaving that order, he worked as a personnel manager for a number of years and taught. He said he learned about the Alexian brothers through a television advertisement. He was drawn to enter the order because, “The Alexians have a commitment to the elderly and direct care and that’s for me.” – Jan Rynearson

St. Thomas School, Ann Arbor, hosts successful open house More than 50 families braved driving rain to visit the renovated St. Thomas School in Ann Arbor. Teachers and parents acted as hosts and tour guides of the remodeled and expanded facilities, which now have enough space to accommodate 50 additional students for the 2005-2006 school year. There are openings at all grade levels. Call 734.769.0911 for more information.

Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home Inc. closes program Based on the past, current, and projected (no further increases through the end of the decade) appropriations from the State of Michigan, along with cuts to federal human services dollars, Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home Inc. must discontinue the Project CLAY Program. www.FAITHmag.com

– Catholic News Service

U.S. missionary nun, who defended peasants, killed in Brazil In a small community on the outskirts of the Amazon jungle, the death threats against U.S. Sister Dorothy Stang came true. The 73-year-old member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur was shot several times in the chest and head Feb. 12 in the Brazilian state of Para as she headed to meet officials from the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform to discuss the demarcation of land for peasants. Sister Dorothy defended land rights for rural peasants and warned against the ecological dangers of deforestation in the Amazon region. Her work often put her at odds with large landowners and logging interests. According to the Brazilian bishops’ land commission, Sister Dorothy had been receiving death threats for nearly four years due to her activities in favor of rural workers. Reuters, the British news agency, reported a Brazilian government official as saying Feb. 14 that police had identified the gunmen and suspect that a local rancher ordered the killing. CNS

A parishioner of St. John Church, Fenton, becomes a brother

– By Lise Alves/Catholic News Service

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t’s been five years since the Diocese of Lansing began the exciting VOICES process, the crafting of a pastoral plan to carry us into the new millennium. Meetings were held throughout the diocese, asking parishioners and church ministers to share their hopes, dreams and vision for the future of the church in Lansing. The culmination of that VOICES process was Bishop Mengeling’s promulgation of seven major goals during the Common Conference in 2001. These goals are a direct response to the voices of the faithful of our diocese. The bishop appointed Sr. Rita Wenzlick, O.P. to lead the Office of Pastoral Planning and many parish groups through the process of drafting a pastoral plan to achieve the seven goals. At the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, 2002, Bishop Mengeling announced that plan for our journey in faith. So what happened next and what’s happening now? A lot. The diocesan pastoral plan, renamed VOICES Alive, has prompted enthusiastic response from diocesan offices, parishes and other church organizations. April 2005

FAITH Magazine

Sr. Rita Wenzlick guided the development of VOICES Alive.

Here are a few ways the diocese is implementing the goals of VOICES Alive: One clearly felt need was for more collaboration and cooperation among parishes in a region. Bishop Mengeling recently said it best: “[Our goal is] mutually beneficial collaboration wherein individual parishes within a region share gifts of their personal, spiritual, material and financial resources to achieve the goals and strategies that unite us. This union is a spiritual communio enlivened by dynamic faith, mutual respect, and open and honest communication resulting in ecclesial agreement.” As never before, parishes are exploring ways they can benefit from their mutual strengths and common interests. For example, the Washtenaw County parishes joined together to introduce the Rainbows program for children experiencing grief. A new booklet highlighting the variety of priestly vocations is a direct response to Goal 4.4: “Promote and support vocations to priesthood, diaconate, consecrated life and the call to ecclesial lay ministry.” FAITH Magazine is featuring vocations and discernment in its Theology 101 department during 2005. This is also a response to Goal 4.4. VOICES Alive participants asked the diocese to promote Catholic school education that was accessible, available and affordable. The result has been widespread – in Lansing, a blue ribbon committee has compiled educational recommendations based on an intensive, detailed school study; in Lenawee County, a relationship has been established between area parishes and St. Joseph Academy in Adrian; in Jackson County, a study of the area Catholic schools is underway. Another diocesan committee was formed to study the feasibility of establishing an educational endowment for Catholic schools. A running theme of the VOICES process was a request for adult faith formation. The majority of the workshops at the 2004 Common Conference were a direct response. The track by Dr. Richard Galardi at the conference was specifically related to Goal 4. A variety of youth ministry and worship workshops related to Goal 7, and workshops related to deaf ministry and disAbilities were a response to Goal 1. For more information, see the VOICES Alive newsletter at www.dioceseoflansing.org.

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natural law is there any such thing?

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Pope John Paul II awarded science prize

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John Paul II received the Ettore Majorana Science for Peace prize from a group of scientists and Pope John Paul II looks at a solar eclipse used the occasion to advocate dialogue between science and faith. Attending the award ceremony in the Vatican were members of the World Federation of Scientists, led by their president, Italian physicist Antonino Zichichi. During the meeting, the pope said that the prize monies awarded will fund scholarships for needy students in the Third World. The prize was conferred by the International Center of Scientific Culture – founded by Zichichi over 40 years ago in Sicily – on John Paul II “for having given science the same pedestal as faith, thus creating in the world the basis for a great alliance between science and faith, an alliance of which there is great need.” – zenit.org

CNS

Pope back in hospital with relapse of flu symptoms Two weeks after being released from the hospital after suffering breathing difficulty related to the flu, Pope John Paul II apparently suffered a relapse and returned Feb. 24 to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said, “Yesterday afternoon, Feb. 23, the Holy Father had a relapse of the flu syndrome with which he had been affected in the preceding weeks. “For that reason, the pope was hospitalized this morning at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for the appropriate specialized care and further tests.” The spokesman said the 84-year-old pope left the Vatican at 11:25 and arrived at Gemelli at about 11:45 a.m. He did not provide further details. Police at the hospital said the pope arrived by ambulance at a side entrance to the hospital, not at the entrance to the emergency room. A source at the hospital said Pope John Paul was conscious when he arrived. – Cindy Wooten/Catholic News Service

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atural law is found in human reason. Human reason discovers natural law. Natural laws are those first principles, the self- evident principles that require no proof. They demand the assent of the human mind unless it wishes to risk insanity. The natural law theorist recognizes the rules of human conduct are based on the rule of reason and therefore are not arbitrary. They are immediately evident to the human intellect when it is acting rationally. Consequently, they are not invented by the human mind or posited – placed into being – by human will. They need no other authority other than the simple recognition of their truth. Our own American Revolution was based on the natural law. The first words of our Declaration of Independence are, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” We appealed to God, to “Nature’s God,” in order to free ourselves from English tyranny. Thirteen years later, the French Revolution appealed for its justification to Man – freed from God. Human rights were thought to be found in the human will alone. The result was the Jacobin reign of terror and the guillotine, to be followed later by nihilistic existentialism and impotency. Natural laws are immediately known by all; they are known not through revelation, but through reason unaided by faith. That which all men and women know to be wrong are such things as slavery, apartheid, rape, sexual abuse, larceny, murder, arson, abortion, infanticide, lying, cheating, stealing, fraud, burglary, robbery, child abuse, perjury and kidnapping, among other things. The first two chapters of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans present the case to us. I urge you to read them. St. Paul is telling us that God doesn’t play dirty tricks on those who have never heard of Jesus Christ or his teaching. Nor does God play dirty tricks on those who have never read the Bible. If we listen to that “still, small voice” within us, if we use our powers of reasoning, the natural law will reveal God’s law to us. T. Gennara

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– Fr. Charles Irvin

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Baptism:

January 9, 2005

Consecrated Life:

February 6, 2005

Ordained Priesthood:

April 17, 2005

Permanent Diaconate:

April 24, 2005

Marriage and Family Life:

May 22, 2005

Dedicated Single Life:

July 10, 2005

Ecclesial Lay Ministry:

October 9, 2005

Missionaries:

October 23, 2005

Vocation, Gift of God, Given for God’s People “... bring to maturity the seeds you have sown in the field of your church ...”

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