September 2005
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Our search for understanding life lived in relationship f r o m
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was on a very important quest a few weeks ago. My search took me to a favorite bookstore, where I spent considerable time browsing the shelves. I was looking for a resource that might be helpful in assisting some of the married couples with whom I visit who have encountered difficulties in their marriages. Over the course of about two hours, I spent time skimming through what seemed to be a nearly endless supply of books that reflect on marriages – both good and bad. The marriage section of the shelves was but a small portion of a much larger array of books that all focused on relationships of one form or another. The amount of ink and paper in that one section of one bookstore was a good reminder of just how important relationships are to each of us.
T E E N
Relationships can be pretty amazing, and we are fooling ourselves if we think we can somehow avoid them. From the moment of our conception until the time we die, we live an interconnected web of relationships. We are born into the relationships we have with our parents, siblings and extended families. We are baptized into relationship with God and the whole Christian community. In time, we have the opportunity to choose certain relationships – be they friends or spouses, while we learn to leave others behind. We learn to navigate the waters of the relationships in which we have little or no choice – especially those that come through associations at work and other circumstances. With each of our relationships comes the responsibility, the joy and the pain of learning Each of our huto understand and live them more deeply. The skills we learn in one relationship – perhaps man relationships with our parents – help us in the relationships we have with extended family, friends, cois an opportunity workers – even God. The reverse is also true – living in right relationship with God helps to be led into a us to live in better relationship with the people who surround us. In time, we learn deeper relationwhat works well and nurtures our relationships. Conversely, we also learn what can ship with God, be damaging, limiting and even death-dealing. Relationships, human and divine, and in seeking a require trial and error and no small amount of on-the-job training. deeper relationWhile many seem content (and rightly so) to turn to older relationship gurus ship with God, for advice and insight, I think we are missing a wonderful opportunity to learn we are given the from those who are younger in years but no less filled with relationship wisdom. grace to grow in Tara Devereaux is a good example. At the urging of her mother, Tara attended relationship with a week-long retreat. Tara’s retreat experience positively impacted each of her one another. relationships. In strengthening her relationship with God, the rest of her relationships have benefited. Neil Atzinger used the wisdom he learned in the relationship with his parents as a way of entering into a deeper relationship with God. Jarrett Patterson, relying on strong relationships with family, friends, teachers and God, has begun a community clothing outreach that is changing the lives of many young people in his hometown. The wisdom offered by so many young people and their relationship experience is this: Each of our human relationships is an opportunity to be led into a deeper relationship with God, and in seeking a deeper relationship with God, we are given the grace to grow in relationship with one another. Growing in relationship with God and one another is a beautiful upward spiral, leading us from this world to the next. And so our journey in FAITH continues. – Fr. Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude.
T. Gennara
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Liturgical Calendar: St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor September 3 | The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8 | St. Peter Claver, Priest September 9 | The Most Holy Name
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t e e n e s s a y s What is the role of religion in contemporary society? Our two winners of the Fr. Charles Irvin Scholarship Essay Contest have answers that will inspire you.
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-- Shannon Cregeur and Stephen DeWitt
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s t o r y : Running for God Neil Atzinger gave up a track scholarship to college in order to attend a seminary. Find out why he made such a major decision at such a young age.
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-- Bob Horning
p r o f i l e : The Kids’ Closet – how Jarrett Patterson clothes the needy Jarrett Patterson won a major award for his initiative. Read about his project to make sure kids in Hudson have decent clothes to wear.
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-- Bob Horning
what you’ll get out of this issue c o v e r
Tara Devereaux’s Journey to Faith Even though she was raised as a Catholic, Tara Devereaux didn’t believe in God. Then she attended a retreat that completely changed her life. Find out why this teen left her home in Canada to spread the Gospel here in Michigan. -- Bob Horning
• Dear Fr. Joe: How do I deal with jealousy? 6 In the know with Fr. Joe – Fr. Joseph Krupp
• From the first time I fell in love – in elementary school – to my relationship with God. 12 From the bishop – Bishop Carl F. Mengeling
• How to talk to your teen about rules. 21 The Journey – Dr. Cathleen McGreal
• 10 tips to survive your first job. 19 Work life – Tim Ryan
• Sex or love? There is a difference. 22 Spiritual Fitness – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh
• Top ten reasons to join a youth group. 31 The Last Word – Patrick Rinker
Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 12 | St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor September 13 | Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14 | Our Lady of Sorrows September 15
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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing
Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling PUBLISHER
Rev. Charles Irvin FOUNDING EDITOR
September 2005 • Volume 6 : Issue 7
mis playing for God
your thoughts 209 Seymour Ave. Lansing, MI 48933
Ryan Dettbarn’s musical gift
l e t t e r s
Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR IN CHIEF
Patrick M. O’Brien MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR/WEB DESIGNER
Jillane Job SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY
Evelyn Weitzel SUBSCRIPTIONS
Rev. William Ashbaugh Michelle DiFranco Tom and JoAnne Fogle Marybeth Hicks Bob Horning Elizabeth Johnson Rev. Joseph Krupp Cathleen McGreal John Morris Theresa McWilliams-Wessels Pat Nischan Rick and Diane Peiffer Patrick Rinker Tim Ryan Sara Teller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Derek Melot Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING
Tom Gennara Christine Jones James Luning (cover) Scott Solsburg 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
Dear Fr. Ezop: You are editor of FAITH magazine – a copy of which official commemorative issue was sent to me by our children Anthony and Kathryn. It is a magnificent issue Father – the many photos so
delicately placed. I am blessed to have it. Each photo is like a prayer. Please accept congratulations and a prayer on your magnificent achievement. – Mrs. Christine Greco Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia
in the beginning
by Chris Sushynski
ADVISORY BOARD
FAITH Publishing Ser vice Rev. Dwight Ezop CHAIRMAN
Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Beverly Sherman SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Amy Odigie GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN
InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT
FAITHPublishingService.com FAITH™ (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 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933; 517. 342.2595; fax 517.342.2537 or e-mail jjob@dioceseoflansing.org. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lansing, MI or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: FAITH™, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. ©FAITH Publishing Service. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service.
Subscriptions: 1.888.FAITH.90
Scandalous at first, bell-bottomed robes proved to be ahead of their time.
But Ryan is also growing taller in the Holy Spirit, fueled by the sacraments and the gift of his extraordinary musical talent. He uses those gifts to feed the souls – and the stomachs – of hundreds of people in his community. An accomplished flute player, Ryan attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in the summer of 2004, where he auditioned for the camp’s International Youth Symphony Orchestra Summer 2005 tour. Ryan was chosen from nearly 1,200 musicians. He was one of only three flutes in the performance orchestra – and the only highschool flute player. When he learned last fall that he’d been selected for the orchestra, Ryan set out to raise the $4,400 needed for his participation in the tour, which took him to France for four weeks and concluded with a concert tour in the Midwest. Ryan chose to use his musical talent to raise the necessary funds and to benefit others. “I did a series of concerts at churches around my hometown of Adrian,” Ryan explained. “I also made a CD of flute music and sold those at the concerts. The concerts were free but I
S. Solsburg
ike all teenagers, Ryan Dettbarn seems to grow taller every day. His fuel of choice is the average teen’s staple diet of cheeseburgers and pizza.
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg ASSISTANT EDITOR/STAFF WRITER
St. Cornelius, Pope and St. Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs September 16 | St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor September 17 | St. Januarius, Bishop and Martyr September 19 | St. Andrew Ki
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St. Peter Claver a minister to slaves f o c u s
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St. Peter Claver born:1580 died:1654 Feast Day: September 9
Ryan Dettbarn plays music from A Season of Joy.
asked for a free-will donation, feel very happy to help others and people were very genersince so many people were helpous.” Ryan’s CD, A Season of Joy, ing me.” featured his flute performances Throughout the time Ryan of Christmas carols. He was raised money for the Blue Lake accompanied by his parents, concert tour, he also prepared to organist Dr. Thomas Dettbarn, receive the sacrament of confirmusic director for the Adrian mation. The bishop confirmed Dominican Sisters, Ryan, his classmates and pianist Dr. Vivian All powerful God, from St. Joseph Robles Dettbarn, a Father of our Lord Parish and others member of the music Jesus Christ, by from the Adrian area faculty at the Union April 18 at the water and the versity of Findlay in Holy Spirit you Lumen Chapel at Findlay, Ohio. In ad- freed your sons Siena Heights Unidition to his concerts, and daughters versity. Ryan and his Ryan sold his CD from sin and gave parents believe the at Guided by Grace preparation process them new life. Bookstore in Adrian. Send your Holy influenced Ryan and Not only did Ryan Spirit upon them helped him discover raise money for to be their helper the gifts of the Spirit his own cause, he that inspired him to and guide. tithed his proceeds serve his commu(Rite of Confirmation) to benefit the St. nity in a special way. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and Now entering his junior year at the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen of Adrian High School, Ryan conAdrian. The money he donated tinues his musical journey and was enough for four meal sittings hopes to be accepted to a college at the soup kitchen and a gener- music program. His resumé of ous supply of food for those who music honors and awards grows come into St. Vincent’s for help. as quickly as his teenage frame Ryan’s eyes light up when he – fed by the fire of faith he finds remembers delivering the checks when he plays the flute. – Marybeth Hicks to both charities. “It made me
Claim to fame: St. Peter Claver was born in Spain and entered the Jesuit order in 1602, when he was just 22. St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, the “holy porter of Majorca,” prophesied that the young man would go to the Indies and save “millions of perishing souls.” So Peter Claver headed for Colombia, home to the largest slave market in the New World. After his priestly ordination in 1616, he made a vow to dedicate his life to ministering to the thousands of African slaves who arrived every month at the port of Cartagena. He always kept that vow, bringing an estimated 300,000 slaves into the Catholic faith, training African catechists to bring the Good News to the slaves in their own languages, and ministering to the slaves after they left the ships and began their lives on the Colombian plantations. Little-known fact: In addition to caring for individual slaves’ physical and spiritual needs, St. Peter Claver worked to change the laws that governed their lives. While he was not able to abolish slavery, he did fight for laws that allowed for Christian marriage for slaves and that forbade the separation of families. What made him a saint: St. Peter Claver willingly chose to spend his days entering the dismal, fetid holds of slave ships, caring for terrified, sick and dying slaves rather than accepting more comfortable ministries among Cartagena’s well-to-do Catholics. He personally begged from house to house to collect food to bring to the slaves. He used his own cloak as a covering for naked bodies, as a pillow for weary heads, and as a bandage for wounded flesh. Not forgetting about the slaves after he ministered to them at the slave market, he traveled out to the countryside every spring to conduct missions at the plantations. He also ministered to others besides slaves, preaching and converting sailors and political prisoners in the city. Pope Leo XIII said, “No life, except the life of Christ, has moved me so much as that of Peter Claver.” Best quote: St. Peter Claver summarized his ministry to the slaves in this way – “We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips.” How did he die: After ministering to the slaves in Cartagena for nearly 40 years, St. Peter Claver fell ill from the plague and was partially paralyzed. For the final four years of his life, he was bedridden and nearly forgotten. However, upon his death at age 74 on Sept. 8, 1597, the governor of Cartegena ordered a public funeral for the saint, which was attended by thousands of people. Prayer: St. Peter Claver, you showed Christ’s love to the slaves, going where no one else would go, and doing what no one else would do. Give us the courage to put aside our fears and prejudices and give wholly of ourselves to minister to those enslaved by poverty, hunger, fear, and ignorance. Help us to demonstrate Christ’s love by our actions as well as our words, so that others may come to believe in his saving power. Amen. – Elizabeth Johnson
rew Kim Tae-gon, Priest, St. Paul Chong Ha-sang and their companions, Martyrs September 20 | St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist September 21 | St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Priest September 23
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fr.r. jo fr joe dear Fr. Joe: how do I deal with jealousy?
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o, that’s not normal, or healthy. Here is the deal: Each and every one of us is a treasure. We are created in the image and likeness of God. That makes each of us special, unique – a treasure. Your gifts, your talents, your personality – the whole you is created as God’s gift to the world. But we are treasures meant to be shared. Now, seeing what is great about you is easy, because you are amazing. But we have to take the next step: Anyone who truly loves you does not only see and love what is beautiful about you, but they want others to see and honor that beauty. Here is another thing to think about: Pope John Paul II said that we were created because of love and we are created for love. He was not speaking of an emotion – he was speaking of love as a state of being. You see, love is a concept that takes us an eternity to learn; that is why heaven is forever. As you travel on in life, you will learn more and more about love, and hopefully, this young man will as well. But, what you and he must learn is that some key components of love are freedom and trust. We will explore trust in the next question, so I am going to focus on freedom. What does freedom mean in regard to love? Well, quite simply, that true love sets us free. Do you feel free in this relationship? Does thinking about it elevate you and encourage you to grow? I can’t imagine that is the case. So what does that mean?
Photo: T. Gennara
My boyfriend is really jealous of me. He won’t let me talk to my friends anymore and wants me to quit activities he’s not in. Is this normal?
My nephew is either an optimist or a saint. I am not sure which yet; I will have to let you know. The reason I type this is because of something that happened at church the other day. The Mass was just beginning and the priest invited the congregation to take a moment and call upon their sins. As soon as the priest finished speaking, my nephew piped up and in a loud voice said, “I’m done!” In terms of your boyfriend, I will be blunt – you need to get out and get out quick. The actions you describe are not the actions of a healthy person, nor are they the actions of someone who loves you. Pray for God to give you the strength to do the right thing, make absolutely sure you talk to your folks about this and get their input and support. I will pray for you as well. Speaking of prayer, check out the next question.
I caught my boyfriend talking to his old girlfriend. I’m really jealous. I know this isn’t a good thing, but how do I handle it? t’s funny, but on this one, I gotta start with the key I always start with – prayer. See, as I write this article, I am on my laptop in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I am asking Jesus to help me communicate his love and truth to you through me. This is a big
St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Martyrs September 26 | St. Vincent de Paul, Priest September 27 | St. Wenceslaus, Martyr September 28 | St. Lawrence Ruiz and
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this month in history
FAITH asks:
September of what year?
what is the most important relationship in your life and why?
h i s t o r y
q u i z
p a r i s h
The world became a sweeter place when chocolatier and philanthropist Milton Hershey was born on Sept. 13, WHAT YEAR? U.S. Sen. Richard Nixon, a candidate for vice president, answered charges that he improperly used an expense fund. The nationally televised “Checkers” speech, named for his reference to his family’s pet pooch, aired on Sept. 23, WHAT YEAR? Britain finally shifted from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, already in use through most of Europe since 1582, on Sept. 14, WHAT YEAR? The British had been reluctant to make the change, suspicious as they were of anything coming from Rome, as Pope Gregory’s calendar did. “All the news that’s fit to print.” The first issue of The New York Times appeared on Sept. 18, WHAT YEAR? Originally called The New York Daily Times, the “daily” was dropped from the name six years later.
n u m b e r s
We asked teens at the St. Joseph Parish Summer Fun Festival in Dexter the following question: What is the most important relationship in your life and why?
Leah (age 11): My most important relationship is with my family because they are always there to help and support me.
1857, 1952 1752, 1851
task; by asking this question you are putting a lot of trust in me and I have the responsibility to lead you the right way as best as I can. So, what do I do? I pray. So should you. All of us, because of our past, because of our experiences of living in a fallen world, have different things that we struggle with.
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These struggles are opportunities for us to call on God and ask for divine assistance. We all hit roadblocks in life; some of them are because of our sins, some of them are because of others. I can’t speak as to whether or not you should trust your boyfriend. I do not know him or you well enough. But here is what I do know: You can only control
Online Discussion Forums: This month’s topics on FAITHmag.com • What do you do if your boyfriend or girlfriend is really jealous and doesn’t want you to do anything by yourself or with other friends? • How do you handle it when you’re really jealous of your boyfriend or girlfriend’s past relationships? • Are we responsible for stopping gossip, even if we didn’t repeat it? Why? How? Visit FAITHmag.com, then click FAITH forums to discuss these and other interesting topics.
Anders (age 17): The most important relationship in my life is with my youth program, because my youth leader, Don ... makes being in the youth group a great experience.
what teens say...
Maria (age 15): My most important relationship is with my mom; she is my best friend and generally awesome.
FAITH asked teens who attended the last Jamboree some questions about relationships. Here are their answers.
The top 10 reasons I go to youth ministry group events are:
26% said, it’s fun and interesting.
21% said, to meet others.
14% said,
you, and the best way for you to do that is to pray for God to give you wisdom in this situation and to help you see if he is worthy of trust. If he is worthy of trust, then ask God to help you grow here. Make sure and ask your parents to pray with you and challenge you to be more trusting. If he is not, then for the sake of your own dignity, you need to walk away. You are worth the best God has to offer; accept nothing less. – Fr. Joseph Krupp
Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine 209 Seymour Lansing, MI 48933 Or: JoeInBlack@priest.com
to grow in my faith.
What I need most spiritually and emotionally as I look to graduation is:
25%
said, God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
20%
said, faith, patience, guidance and strength.
13%
said, someone to turn to – friends and family.
uiz and companions, Martyrs September 28 | St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, Archangels September 29 | St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor September 30
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scholarsh religion is a diamond in society and we are its facets F r .
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ver since I was a little girl, every Sunday was reserved for Mass and family time. I noticed that the people who gathered in church with me and my family were all there for one reason or another. We were people from different walks of life, each with our own story to tell and hardships to manage. Even so, we still gathered together to pray to the one Lord in whom we had all placed our faith.
T E E N
I would sit there, looking around, wondering what had drawn these people out of their beds early
SP ECI A L I S S U E
FAITH Magazine
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Special Teen Issue
on a Sunday morning, when it was acceptable in our society just to hit the snooze button and
By Shannon Cregeur | Photography by Christine Jones
8/2/05 3:01:55 PM
hip snuggle back under the covers, forgetting to thank God for the day he blessed us with. What was the driving force that called these people up from idleness and brought them together to join hands as we all said, Our Father, who art in heaven... For some, I suppose it was the comfort they felt from the scent of burning incense and the hum of the pipe organ. Or It is the peace of the feeling mind that comes with knowing that, of sitting among however terribly you may blunder, believers whose faith God will always take you back with was similar open arms and a to their own, knowloving smile. ing they were not alone. To these people, religion is more than loving one God with your whole heart and mind and soul. Religion is also about having a support system, no matter how unbearable life becomes. It is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that, however terribly you may blunder, God will always take you
Shannon Cregeur, from St. Patrick Parish, Ann Arbor, wrote the winning parish teen essay for FAITH.
back with open arms and a loving smile. To those people in the pews, the support and comfort of religion is much more precious that a few more hours of sleep on Sunday morning. Yet, to the person who listens with a diligent ear, religion means something even more. It is here that we find the answer to the questions of life. It is here that we learn how to live. We live in a society where integrity and morals are thrown out the window in order to indulge in alcohol or drugs, or to engage in onenight stands. Although we are a nation founded “under God,” we have become a country where such activities take place without dishonor. A person can live by the laws of our government, never breaking one, and be seen as a good person. But perhaps it
The annual Fr. Charles Irvin Scholarship essay contest was established to honor Fr. Charlie, our founding editor. FAITH has given yearly scholarships to seniors in our Catholic high schools to promote Catholic education and foster careers in Catholic journalism. This year, for the first time, FAITH also offered a scholarship to a student who was an active member of a parish youth group or religious education program. This year’s winner from a Catholic high school was Stephen DeWitt from Lansing Catholic Central; the parish winner was Shannon Cregeur from St. Patrick Parish in Ann Arbor. On the following pages, we present their essays on the topic, What is the role of religion in contemporary society? We hope our readers join us in congratulating these young writers on their thoughtful reflections and we invite those interested in supporting the Fr. Charles Irvin Scholarship to send donations to FAITH Magazine, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933.
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is more accurate to say that such a person is not necessarily good, but only obedient. On the other hand, a person who lives by the word of the Lord and reads Scripture as life’s instruction manual will be filled with dignity, virtue and uprightness. Religion can guide such a person in the ways of the Holy Spirit. Sir Thomas Browne wrote, “The religion of one seems madness unto another.” In contemporary society, religion does not have one role, but many – like the facets of a diamond. Religion has many different meanings and manifests its influence in different ways. For some, it is the family of God gathered together that fills the hunger for love and the thirst for belonging. For others, it is the road map to life. A diamond is revered for the way it breaks into a flood of beautiful color when light passes through its many facets. Each color, like those of stained glass windows, represents a different facet of the role of religion. Blue’s calm calls to mind feelings of support and comfort. The glitter of white is like the stars at night that guide a sailor through dark waters – advice and wise counsel. The warmth of orange is the color of a setting sun at a parish picnic, the joy of family gathered together. Religion is a diamond in our society, and people are its facets.
what teens say... n u m b e r s
When in a relationship, how far is ‘too far?’
26% said, sex.
13%
said, more than kissing.
6%
said, going beyond your standards.
The number of my friends who are sexually active is:
37% said, none.
19% said, 1-3.
10% said, 4-7.
24%
said, more than 10.
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scholarsh religion or New Paganism
what holds society together? F r .
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ver the centuries, religion has had a changing role throughout society. In our earliest histories, religion and culture were nearly synonymous. Christianity itself began as an underground revolution that eventually held a dominant role in Western society in the Middle Ages. It was the practice of religion that held a society together; there were no differences between God’s law and civil law. The United States is now in the The role of religion in today’s post-modern era, and society is much more one of the tenets of complex in many Today’s society post-modernism is ways. Today’s society downplays and, subjective truth. The downplays and, in in many cases, idea of subjectivity many cases, condemns condemns relireligious thought. Yet, gious thought. Yet, undermines traditional the framework of our the framework of religious concepts of social order is based on our social order is absolutes. Traditionally, a system made by reli- based on a system religion has been the gious men and women. made by religious force that determines And exploration of this men and women. right and wrong; with undercurrent of religion a subjective mind-set, reveals a more complete vision of each person decides what is right the role of religion in contemporary for himself. In this construct, it society. is possible to have contradictory
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FAITH Magazine
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Special Teen Issue
By Stephen DeWitt | Photography by Tom Gennara
8/2/05 3:02:55 PM
hip Stephen DeWitt attends Lansing Catholic Central and wrote the winning essay from a Catholic High School for FAITH.
organized religion. Yet, even as we views of truth. Writer Peter Kreeft seem to be purging ourselves of calls this New Paganism, because religion, America’s past ensures that it resembles ancient religions in religion continues to affect social which worshippers can pick and choose from a set of gods with con- norms and expectations. Recently, tradictory attributes. For example, the First Amendment has been used Romans could choose to follow the to stamp out religion in the public warlike path of Mars or the sensual eye. But what some detractors of path of Venus. organized religion Yet, even as we New Paganism is forget is that the prinpromoted throughout seem to be purg- ciple of the separation Hollywood’s entertain- ing ourselves of of church and state religion, America’s was meant to protect ment, largely because past ensures that religious freedom and subjective truth religion continues the state, not to banish fosters consumerism. If a person believes in to affect social religion. In saying that norms and whatever she feels at the government could any given moment, she expectations. not declare an official is more likely to make religion or interfere in the free exercise of religion, the decisions about spending time and Constitution clearly says that the money on that whim. This type government should stay out of of thinking encourages self-indulreligious affairs. Yet, courts and gence and self-gratification. Selflegislatures around the country have gratification has, in turn, become repeatedly diminished the ability of its own religion – New Paganism. people to promote religion publicly. Due to the personal nature of This change from the original intent New Paganism, post-modernism to modern interpretation of the has lessened the visible role of
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First Amendment is a shift in the understanding of freedom: People want to be free to act as they wish rather than be free from interference. This is a subtle, but important, difference. Aside from the First Amendment, America has many other religious roots that are evident in everyday life. Western society is rooted in a Judeo-Christian ethos. Law is a fundamental precept in Jewish culture, with a strong role in daily life. In modern culture, law still has a strong role. Look at contemporary law – it defines some actions as right and some as wrong. When a wrong is committed, there is a penalty. This is a reflection of religious morality. In fact, many laws have been based almost entirely on religious precepts, such as prohibitions against polygamy, abortion, euthanasia, homosexual activity, contraceptives and underage sexual activity. Some of these laws have been repealed over recent decades. Even a law like the speed limit can be seen to have religious roots, because its primary purpose is the protection of life from reckless endangerment. Organized religion and the law both rely on people accepting some actions as wrong and others as right. Even as American society gradually separates itself from organized religion, religion stays with society. Religion brings hope for the downtrodden, because nearly all forms of religion – from Hinduism to Christianity – foster a better world for the faithful. Religion fights subjectivism with objective truth and provides the standard for people to make just decisions. In the face of persecution from New Paganism, organized religion still has a vibrant role in contemporary society.
what teens say... n u m b e r s
I most often sense the presence of God when:
30%
said, I’m at church.
25%
said, I’m praying or at prayer meetings.
5%
said, I’m alone.
5%
said, at Eucharistic Adoration.
On a scale of 1-10, my relationship with God is a:
19% said, 6.
23% said, 7.
23% said, 8.
6% said, 10.
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bishop my relationships
from the first time I fell in love – in elementary school – to my relationship with God f r o m
Fr. Charlie Irvin talks with Bishop Mengeling about his personal relationships – with God and with others. Sometimes people have a major faith episode and some come to it gradually – how was it for you? It wasn’t like Paul on the road to Damascus. As far as a personal relationship, I remember my first Communion. It builds from there.
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When did you first start talking to Jesus, conversing with him in a personal way, not just reciting prayers? When you think of the capacity of a child, there are some who are unique and precocious in their faith. But I wasn’t. I think I was just run-of-the-mill like the rest of the kids and I’m sure there was devotion there to whatever extent I was capable at that time. But I think when this first really hit me in a personal sense, when the relationship began, when I began talking with Jesus – I would say that began rather powerfully with my first experience of death. My favorite aunt FAITH Magazine
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died very young, in 1944. My aunt sort of stood in as a grandmother in many ways, and I was her favorite nephew. She was only 46 when she died, and that’s when my personal relationship with Jesus began. So how did you pray to Jesus? Did you ask him to bring her into heaven, to save her, to have mercy on her? All of the above? I remember going to Mass. We had to take a bus because my dad wouldn’t take us. And I remember the bus – a beaten-up, horrendous old thing, but it worked. At that Mass, something happened. I think I wept a lot but I also prayed to the Lord – for my aunt, of course, but mainly for a sense of peace and acceptance. And that’s when my personal relation-
ship with Jesus began. Are there times when your relationship with God is more of duty than of love? This must have been such a time, when it shifted. I don’t think I was conscious of it or planning anything, but I think it was beginning to happen. And what maintained this was the close relationship I had with the pastor of my parish. That connection was important. He was a close friend of the family. He was the one who brought my mother and her brother and her two sisters back into the church. Calling that priest “father” – did that make any connection with “Our father,” God?
Special Teen Issue
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Did the two fatherhoods connect in your head at all? No, that was not the relationship. The relationship was with Jesus. My father and I had our first real in-depth conversation when I was 18. So what was it that you and your father talked about? My going to the seminary. He had already arranged for me to go to Purdue. He had everything planned. He wanted me to be an engineer. I was working that summer, not knowing what I was going to do. I worked in an A&P supermarket in Hammond, Ind., and All Saints Parish was about half a block from there. I used to go over to the church at lunch hour. Later, I became pastor there. The Lord was at work. I had thought of priesthood in seventh and eighth grades, mostly because of a sister who was so fantastic in promoting vocations. In those visits, my focus was on the Blessed Sacrament.
J. Lunning
And your prayer must have been personal and conversational rather than memorized and rote. Oh, yes. Much of it was probably just me sitting there and keeping my mouth shut and letting the Lord speak to me quietly. I remember Msgr. Hildebrandt, who was a great figure in my life. He often said, “Sometimes the best prayer is to just shut up, to say nothing and let God speak to you.” Maybe that’s what all that was; I don’t remember. But
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then, some time around July, I surrendered. This was when you were visiting All Saints Parish, one of these visits? Yes, I surrendered. And knew that I had to go to the seminary and become a priest. And I went to Msgr. Hildebrandt. This was 1948 and the seminaries were packed to the gills. There were no openings anywhere. The Diocese of Ft. Wayne sent half its seminarians to St. Meinrad and half to Mt. St. Mary in Cincinnati. Meinrad had 800 seminarians at that time and was completely full. Then, I got the call from Meinrad’s that there was an opening. And I got that opening. Isn’t that amazing? There are no coincidences. Coincidences are God’s vain attempts at remaining anonymous. Yes, it’s all so amazing. What would you say to a young person in order to help him or her relate to God in a more personal way? First of all, I think there must be some desire to do that. To want to. I had that. It was based on need. I needed that connection. It flowed from the death of my aunt. In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis says that every human is one immense need. And young people need to recognize that need. I used to read a
lot. I still do. When I was 12 or 13 years old, the parish had a book fair. There was a book there that I wanted, and it was one of the most expensive books. I had the money, because I was working. It was called The Pageant of the Popes. I remember it had a beautiful purple cover. I devoured that book and got that sense of the 2,000-year history of the church. What should a young person do to recognize this need for God? This is between them and God. Just spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. What a miracle that works! And of course, the Scriptures are important. I got into that very much – and the Psalms. It’s all there. OK, now I want to know something about your relationship with others – when is the first time you fell in love? I fell in love in the second or third grade with Jean. It was first Communion year, I remember. I sent her a very expensive Valentine, which at that time would be maybe 25 cents – with a wedding scene on the front. That was the first time I fell in love. I always liked her. And I remember in high school, they had these dance contests. The big thing was the jitterbug. I was good at it. There was a girl named Theresa and we were friends, but in those days it wasn’t like it is now. We were in a dream world, in a good sense. It was innocent and a lot of fun. We won a number of contests, Theresa and I. Theresa got married to a wonderful fellow. And the first parish I was assigned to, St. Mark’s – they were parishioners. Isn’t it amazing how God works in our lives?
what teens say... n u m b e r s
Can teens experience ‘true love?’
56% said, yes.
26% said, no.
One thing I’d like to see my youth ministry program do that it is not currently doing is:
12%
said, more games and activities.
8% said, more trips.
5%
said, more praise and worship to grow in my faith.
– Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth bishop of Lansing
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S PECIAL IS SUE
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Photography by James Luning
By Bob Horning
ven though her parents took her to Mass, and she attended Catholic elementary school, Tara Devereaux didn’t believe in God. That left an emptiness in her life that she tried to fill with other things. Two years ago, through the urging of her mother, Tara attended a week-long evangelization training in Flushing, Mich., three-and-half hours from her home in Kitchener, Ontario. The retreat, put on by Youth to Youth, an outreach of Mt. Zion Catholic Pastoral Center, changed the almost-16year-old Tara’s life so much that she now lives in Flushing.
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God. Then, out of the blue, it was as if Someone [Jesus] gave me a big hug and said, “Welcome to my kingdom.” I had a warm feeling of being very loved. It was life-changing, the most profound experience I have ever had. I was aware at that moment that God loved me and that I wanted to know him. I never imagined that love could be this powerful, that God could give me so much joy. Needless to say, during the remainder of the retreat, I was more open to what God had for me. I was never so happy.
I was very confused. I didn’t know who I was or who I wanted to be. As a result, I decided to be the person my friends wanted me to be. Popularity, sports and friends became my priorities. I only cared about what I wanted, not what God wanted. I didn’t think I needed him.
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The high standards I once had for myself, which my parents had instilled in me, lowered dramatically. It started with not doing homework and having a bad attitude toward people. But it turned into sins that I will regret for the rest of my life. I didn’t know or care who I was affecting with my sins. I lost any closeness that I had with my parents. There was a big lack of communication with them, and I had no desire to fix it. But there was always an emptiness. I was continually looking for the next new thing that came along to fill the void. Though I was with “friends,” I always felt alone. I wantFAITH Magazine
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Now I know I will never be alone or empty. God is always with me. My confidence is in him. When I returned home, I decided I should go to confession. For the first time in my life, I went truly wanting to be forgiven. Not like before when I didn’t think I had done anything wrong. After confession, all the guilt that had built up inside me was suddenly gone.
ed to change because of the growing emptiness. But every time I tried, there was a better reason just to give up. I wasn’t strong enough to change by myself. When I went on the retreat in the summer of 2003, my attitude was, “Hey, a week away from life.” I figured I would just go and make fun of the other kids. When I arrived, I thought those people were freaks with their Christian music and praising God. Why were they so happy? I felt awkward to be around so many teens who were trying to learn more about God when I had denied my faith so often. I hid my face. One part of the retreat was attending the Wednesday night prayer meeting at Mt. Zion. There were about 180 people there. Again I wondered why these people were raising their hands and praising
When I arrived, I thought those people were freaks with their Christian music and praising God. Why were they so happy?
Shortly afterward, I moved to Flushing to be a part of Youth to Youth Catholic Evangelization. We go to parishes in Michigan, surrounding states and Canada to put on retreats for other young people, at which we share the love of God we have experienced. My parents are at peace with me living here, knowing it is where God wants me now. They support what I am doing. My parents are great people and I love them so much. Even when I didn’t believe in God, they taught me how to pray anyway. They showed me how to be a good person, to be polite, even if I wasn’t always. One great memory about my dad’s love for me is that until about age 10, I would “help” him while he was playing cards,
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mostly euchre. He would tickle me until I thought I would suffocate and die from laughing so hard. And my mom is willing to go to great lengths to sacrifice for me. We had considered having me live at home, but that would mean my mom driving me back and forth to Flushing three weekends every month so I could help on the retreats. She offered to do that, but I couldn’t let her. That would be too much. I do still go home often, though. And, in fact, I need to in order to fulfill Cana-
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dian residency requirements. I live with Chris and Mary Poletti, who are part of Mt. Zion, and who help coordinate Youth to Youth. They have 4-year-old twins and a 3-year-old. They are cool people, and I enjoy playing with their kids. Another girl, Juliana Babetski, who is 17 and from Pennsylvania, lives with us and is also here to be part of Youth to Youth. We do everything together and, of course, talk and pray together. She is there for me. We are both here for God. It’s nice to have someone who understands how I feel, since we have had similar experiences. My old friends influenced me into a partying lifestyle; now I am surrounded by a community that influences me toward God. I like being a part of that. Mary Poletti says it is great to have Tara and Julianne live with the Poletti family. “They listen to me when I ask them to do something, and they are extra hands with the kids and other things,” she says. “They are awesome.”
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The Diocese of Lansing has a wonderful retreat center for teens. Bethany House is located at the St. Francis Retreat Center and is directed by Fr. James Conlon, 866.669.8321.
My old friends influenced me into a partying lifestyle; now I am surrounded by a community that influences me toward God. I like being a part of that.
Since I was little, I have been involved in sports, especially gymnastics, and dancing – jazz, ballet, and tap. During my free time, I like to hang out with friends. That is usually in the evenings since I do home schooling online. I would rather be in a classroom setting, but it’s worth it if it means that I can be here. As part of Youth to Youth, I sing at Mass and on retreats. During the retreats for the young people at the different parishes, I give one of the presentations, among other things. It is eight to 10 minutes long, and covers God’s plan of salvation and how to choose his path by letting the Holy Spirit guide us. I also include my personal story. I know what it’s like not to have God, so it’s cool to be able to tell others. Jesus felt I was worth giving his life for; so he is worth my life. I have learned how to have a personal relationship with God, and have grown in that area through the formation classes at church. I feel completely changed. I am stronger in faith. I know I can depend on God because he is in control of everything. When I pray, I like to do it in a tree in the back yard when I can. I am easily distracted, so that gets me away from everything. At present, I don’t have any longterm goals for my life. I will have to see what God has for me. I want to help people in some way, which is why I am loving what I do here. From my experience, I know that teenagers who feel empty are impressed when they see someone who is truly happy. My advice to them is to surrender to God and ask him into their lives. Choose a path that leads to him. Find others who can help you. It’s a simple thing to say “yes” to God.
You can learn more about the ministry in which Tara is involved by visiting www.youthtoyouthcatholic.com. FM0905 layout-front.indd 17
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my s story running for God
why Neil Atzinger gave up a track scholarship to attend seminary
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s a senior at Saline High School, Nate Atzinger finished second in the state for the Class A 800-meter run (1:52). He was third in the 1600 meter, which is just under a mile (4:13). His 4 x 800 relay team set a state record (7:42). Neil received partial scholarship offers from the University of Michigan and the University of Kentucky, the top two middle-distance track schools in the country. He decided instead to attend St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He explains why, and also talks about the influence others have had in his life. FAITH Magazine
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Special Teen Issue
During my junior year, as I wanted my first time away I became more involved from home to be in a good with the youth group at St. environment. The best way to Andrew Catholic Church, withstand bad peer pressure and began to pray more, my is to have good friends, ones consideration of the priestwho support you and won’t hood increased. At the same pressure you to do wrong. I time, I was getting more knew the seminary would help obsessed with running, dome remain a man of God. The ing 70 miles a week by my school motto is “Men of Christ, senior year. men of the church, When I began Kids today don’t and men for others.” getting minor want wateredinjuries, I down truth. That I have had some regarded them drives us away. great influences in as a reminder my life. One is Mr. We want to be from God [Tom] Frederick. smacked in the to keep my He was my crossface sometimes running in per- with the truth. country coach and spective. Then, always brought when I started reading about a Catholic perspective to the saints, my desire and school. He was very devoted goal was to be like them and to building men of character to serve God no matter what on the team. He took the it meant, including becomsame approach in his role as ing a priest. leader of the youth group at St. Andrew. I decided to attend St. John Vianney Seminary. Some in Mr. Frederick was honest the running community were with us. Kids today don’t surprised and thought it was want watered-down truth. a mistake, but I received full That drives us away. We support from my family and want to be smacked in the church and youth group. In face sometimes with the fact, my extended family has truth. At first, the things he been praying a long time for said were challenging. For vocations from our family. I am instance, I resented that he still running in college. We are would want us to change an NCAA Division III school. friends. He would tell us not By Bob Horning | Photography by Tom Gennara
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If you are interested in learning more about seminaries, or life as a priest in the Diocese of Lansing, read Priest Vocation Stories, a publication of the Office of Seminarians and FAITH Magazine. Priest Vocation Stories is available at the Office of Seminarians. Call Fr. Jerry Vincke at 517.342.2507 to get your copy today.
I can’t stand my boss! 10 tips to survive your first job w o r k
Being older, and having grown in my faith, I am more open with my parents now and serve them more. I have great parents, and we talk a lot about faith. They have done a lot for me. I remember my mom rocking me [as a child], singing me songs as I looked up at her. She gave up a job to be home with the four of us, always running around, being busy for our sakes. I remember, as a kid, talking with my dad as he took me for walks by the creek. He would tell me stories about the church and the saints. That stuck with me, as did praying the rosary and going to church. Seeing my parents respect parish priests when I was 4 or 5 years old helped me admire priests, and gave me my first desire to be one. Our rector at the seminary, Fr. Bill Baer, is another person who has influenced me. He lives on our floor at the seminary, and it can take him a half-hour to go from one end of the hall to the other because so many guys want to talk with him. He is a real father for us. He also teaches our class in Catholic Doctrine and Sacraments. Between Fr. Baer, Mr. Freder-
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ick, and my dad, I have been in good hands. God is good. A friend on the high-school track team, Nick George, taught me a good lesson about sacrifice. I would always head home after practice right away, so I wouldn’t have to drive anyone else. One day, I needed a ride. A number of the guys had excuses why they didn’t have time. But Nick eagerly offered to take me, and joyously drove out of his way. My 12-year-old sister, Anna, has a developmental disability. She’s a cute kid, awesome. I am teaching her how to pray a little, though some things she knows better than me. Sometimes I need to sacrifice my time to be with her, but I love it when I do. I describe my relationship with God this way: Jesus is my running buddy, and the Father is someone I need to obey. The first thing for me in developing my relationship with God is to have a prayer routine, an hour a day when possible. I tell God whatever is on my mind – my worries, what I’m mad about, what I need help with, anything. Then I try to act on my prayer by serving others. I also read about the saints to get help from their stories and to ask them to pray for me. And I let the rosary and Mary lead me to Christ.
o, you’ve started your first job and you can’t stand your boss. Not a very encouraging introduction to the working world, is it? I would bet the problem is that you don’t like the way your boss treats you. There are two possible reasons why you’re being treated poorly: your boss is simply a jerk, or you are transmitting a poor attitude that your boss is reflecting right back to you. Regardless of which one is the problem, you cannot control your boss’ behavior. The only thing you can control is your own attitude. A good attitude and a strong work ethic go a long way toward helping you take a more positive approach to your job. A bonus is that it can also improve the relationship with your boss. Here are 10 suggestions for building a good work ethic and a positive attitude; they’ll reap big rewards for a small investment: 1 If possible, select a job you think you’ll enjoy. You’ll perform better when you like what you do. 2 Be at work a few minutes early each day. 3 Don’t watch the clock; stay a few minutes longer if necessary to make sure your work is done. 4 If you’re going to be late, call ahead and apologize. 5 Respond enthusiastically when asked to do something. 6 If you have spare time, look for things you can do before being asked. 7 Be up front about scheduling conflicts. Most employers of high-school students are flexible, as long as you share your personal schedule with them ahead of time. 8 Interact with customers with a smile. 9 Have fun with your co-workers while getting the job done. 10 None of us are perfect; take criticism humbly and make a noticeable effort to improve.
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to hang around with the wrong people under the pretense of trying to evangelize them. His goal was to wake us up, to get us out of our individual and cultural sin, and to help us grow in love for Christ. Eventually, I wanted nothing but to serve God.
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Bottom line – take on a spirit of service in whatever you do. It’s those simple things we do for others that make their day better, and help us feel better about ourselves. Mother Teresa taught us that the secret to finding peace is to focus first on serving others. By following this advice, your first job and all the jobs to follow will be much more rewarding. –Tim Ryan
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profi the kids’ closet
how Jarrett Patterson clothes the needy in Hudson
ike any 14-year-old, Jarrett Patterson enjoys being outside – being with friends; playing golf, basketball and baseball. He also cares about those around him, which is why he placed first in the state, out of 20,000 entrants, for the Spirit of Community Awards given by Prudential Financial. The award goes to middle- and highschool students who have demonstrated exemplary community service. Jarrett explains what his project has accomplished and what that has meant for him and his community in Hudson, Mich. One day, two years ago, my mother was taking clothes to Adrian to give away. I asked her why she would take them 25 miles away when there are kids right in my own school who are in need. She said that there was no place in Hudson to donate or receive free clothes. After discussing the situation with my parents, they asked me what I thought I could do about it.
I couldn’t have done this alone. My parents encouraged and helped me. My friend, Molly Johnston, helped me get started by folding clothes and helping with the containers. People in town donated the clothes, and my superintendent offered a room in the school board office when we moved out of the church. and how others could help.
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A number of kids at school are dressed poorly. Because of that, they are teased by classmates and left out. They look sad and alone. I figured that if they could get some nice clothes, they would have the chance to feel like everyone else. I went to a parish council meeting at our church, Sacred Heart, and asked for a space in the basement to open the Kids’ Closet. They said, “OK.” I spoke at the end of Mass one weekend to explain what I wanted to do FAITH Magazine
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Special Teen Issue
The way it works is that a teacher, counselor, principal or social worker contacts me when they see a student/family in need. I don’t know the students’ names, only their size and sex. They never know who went to the closet for them. Everything is
kept secret. That way the person isn’t embarrassed. They are just told that Kids’ Closet is a place where kids share clothes. They are given as many clothes as I have. They can try on and keep whatever they like. We only accept good, gently used clothes, for infants through high-school age.
My parents have always taken us to church. Our faith is at the center of all we do. My parents have always taught me that character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. I learn from them how to treat others kindly. They have big hearts. I think God inspired me
Many needy people in the Diocese of Lansing have their clothing, food and some financial needs met by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. For more information about St. Vincent de Paul societies in your area, contact: • Ann Arbor: Barb Norman, 520 Elizabeth St., Ann Arbor, 48104 • Flint: Gene Myers or Richard Twomley, 1912 N. Franklin, Flint, 48506 • Jackson: O.J. Pierce, 1509 E. Michigan Ave., Jackson 49202 • Lansing: Phillip Wippel or Karen Katko, 1020 S. Washington, Lansing, 48910 By Bob Horning | Photography by Christine Jones
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During the first weekend of May 2005, Jarrett traveled to Washington, D.C., where he won first place nationally among the middle-school finalists. He received $5,000 to donate to a non-profit organization of his choice, plus $5,000. He will donate the first $5,000 to Kids’ Closet. The other $5,000 he is giving as mini-grants to help schools start their own Kids’ Closets.
“Because I said so!” how to talk to your teen about rules t h e
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y daughter Shannon taught me some funny new lyrics to a popular teen song. I was surprised that they had been made up by her friend’s mother as she chauffeured the girls. I remarked that it didn’t seem like something Shannon would want me to do. She told me, “Don’t even think about it. I would hate it. ” Then she paused and said, “I think she hated it, too.” The lyrics were humorous, but few teens perceive their own parents as cool. In many families it would have been a perfect opportunity for the screaming to begin, “How could you embarrass me like that?” Don’t accept teens’ critical remarks as accurate. When babies move into the toddler years, they need more autonomy and scream, “ I do it myself.” Parents decide on safe limits and smile at this growing desire for independence. Teens are moving into a different kind of independence as they prepare for the time they’ll be on their own. But when adolescents scream, the tendency as a parent is to engage in argument instead of seeing that teens are struggling to find their own values and identity. Try hard to be patient. Don’t give them the power to control your responses. Firm and reasonable limits are effective parenting practices. Listen to the message. Teens are self-conscious. In the example above, the mother may not realize that, although everyone else in the car was having fun, her daughter was not. Her daughter was embarrassed. Listen carefully to your teen. Try not to give advice. Teens know they always can ask, “What would you do?” They need eye contact and concentrated listening, not advice. Remember to catch your teen acting responsibly and remark on it. Arguing for the sake of arguing. With the approach of adolescence, individuals become capable of abstract thought. They can begin to use principles and logic to build a case to support their views. This ability helps them study difficult subjects in school. It means they can successfully compete on debate teams. It also means that a simple family rule becomes open to endless family debates! You may decide that some rules about curfews, increased responsibilities or privileges are flexible. Keeping the disagreement on a rational plane helps the teen understand why other rules are non-negotiable. Your underlying values become apparent in a rational discussion, but they are completely invisible when an argument deteriorates to “I’m the parent and I said so.” It may not be apparent now, but these are seeds falling on fertile soil. “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” (Luke 8:8) – Dr. Cathleen McGreal T. Gennara
I have seen from waste it on toys or to start the Kids’ this, that even video games anyway. Closet, and that though I was only it wouldn’t have succeeded without 12 when I started, Until February of this year, hardly him. He knows I am that anyone can make a difference. anyone knew that trying to be a good Christian by serving Just look around. I was in charge of Kids’ Closet. It was others. He has been nice to be anonymous. I didn’t right there for me all the time in want to apply for the Prudential this, and has helped me not to give up. For the first four months award because then everyone would find out I was doing it, I wasn’t getting many referrals; I especially if I won. But when I began to wonder if this was such heard that there was a $1,000 a good idea after all. But I kept prize, I knew that would buy a writing reminder letters to the staff at school on brightly colored lot of clothes. Since I won, I have been in newspapers and have paper, and when they realized I even given speeches at schools was serious, it took off. and other organizations about what I am doing. I felt awkward One reason I even thought of at first, but am getting more comdoing something like this was because of what I learned while fortable with it. There are three other schools seriously thinking attending Sacred Heart School, about duplicating what I am doespecially from the principal, Angela Johnston [Molly’s mom]. She ing. Donations and referrals have also increased. created a prayerful environment throughout the day, and stressed I have seen from this, that even the need to be kind, to serve and though I was only 12 when I to put others first. started, that anyone can make Doing this makes me feel really, a difference. Just look around. Do you see someone in need? If really great. One time a boy you have an idea that will help, came into a special needs class try it. And stick with it. In looking sad. He said that he was sorry that his clothes smelled, but my case, there was nowhere else in town that kids could that his grandma didn’t have four get clothes, so I needed to quarters for laundry. The social worker immediately went and got step up and do something. him four sets of new clothes to try But I haven’t done anything that on. When she asked if he wanted someone else to change back into his other clothes, he said, “No, I would like surrounded by the same to wear my new clothes.” influences – people like my If I don’t have the right clothes to fill a request, I buy something parents and Mrs. Johnston on clearance with my allowance – wouldn’t or yard money, or from cash donations. I don’t mind spending and couldn’t do. my own money – I would just
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spiritual fi sex or love?
there is a difference
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ex is a hot topic in our society. I went through a grocery store checkout line the other day, and was not surprised by the tabloids and magazines that were just plastered with sex talk. It sells magazines. However, few people are willing to talk about the real story of sexual relations and the many problems that occur when a person has sex outside of marriage. As a priest, I hear the “behind the scenes talk.” Many young people share that they feel bad, even spiritually ill, because they know they have made a mistake. “I’ve gone too far and now I regret it.” “I have gotten into something that I know is wrong.” “I have made a mistake I cannot take back.” Their peace is gone. Sexual activity before marriage is objectively a serious sin and it is a good thing if you are feeling bad about
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it. That actually shows some spiritual health! Sexual relationships are meant for marriage. God made the sexual
relationship of husband and wife to be a gift that simultaneously does two things. It joins the procreative powers of husband and wife so that, with God, new human beings can be created. It also renews the oneness of husband and wife – “the two shall become one flesh.” Both of these dimensions are united and must not be divided. What God has joined, man must not divide! When people have sex outside of marriage, they not only sin, but they hurt themselves on many levels. Our teens might be interested to know that I have heard many married adults say, “I regret having had sex before marriage. That is one thing I would change if I could.” They say this because they can see how the baggage of past sexual relationships has hurt their marital relationship. So – for those of you who are dabbling in sexual promiscuity – please take heed. You are messing with your future on earth and in heaven! OK, what to do? A person has lost his or her sexual innocence or virginity and wants it back. Is there such a thing as “secondary” virginity, or “recovered virginity?” The good news is YES! Our faith is clear. Jesus Christ forgives our sins. Our sins put him on the cross – and he willingly accepted it for us. He wants our sins removed. He wants to give us a new start. He died on the cross to make us clean and he rose from the dead to show us that in him we receive a new life. We can live a new life because of his power and presence within us. That power and presence is the Holy Spirit! So, our Lord holds out a lot of hope for anyone whose sexual innocence is lost but who wants to start again. You cannot change your past, but you can change your future.
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fitness ss Here is what to do: Ask Jesus to forgive your past sins. Make a good sacramental confession. Make a firm resolution not to have sexual relations of any kind before marriage. Pray this simple prayer:
“Dear God, I recommit myself to you. I pledge, with your grace, to seek purity and modesty in my relationships. I offer you the gift of my sexuality as a spiritual sacrifice. If you call me to marriage, I pledge to withhold having sexual relations until then. If you call me to the single life, I will do my best to live as Jesus lived – for the sake of God’s Kingdom – in purity and love for you. Amen.” Evaluate your current friendships. Be honest with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Tell him or her that you have made a decision to reserve sexual relations for
ne of the best remedies to fight temptation and to live a new life in Christ is to fortify your soul with God’s Word. Fill your heart with these passages. Read each one prayerfully at least three times. You will feel God’s strength come to you. “Do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.” (Rom 6:13)
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6: 19-20) “So, whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor 5:17) “...live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal 5:16) “Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.”
“If you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom 8:13)
(Gal 5:24)
“God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” (Gal 6:8)
“I urge you...by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom 12:1)
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal 6:14)
T. Gennara
“...it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves properly, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” (Rom 13:11-14)
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marriage because of your faith in Jesus. You are a Christian and that is what Christians are called upon by Christ to do. Avoid arousing sexual feelings through sensual touching or kissing. I always recommend carrying a water squirt gun to cool things off! Avoid photos, images, pornography and speech that are immodest, lewd or impure. Jesus said we can sin if “we look with lust” at another person. Develop a daily prayer life and read Scripture. By doing this you are putting on God’s armor. – Fr. Bill Ashbaugh
“All of us once lived among them [unbelievers] in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy because of the great love he had for us, even though we were dead in our sins, brought us to life with Christ.” (Eph 2: 3-5)
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Special Teen Issue
By Michelle DiFranco | Photography by Phillip Shippert
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t would appear as if the low-carb diet phenomenon has finally started to wane. All indications are that the “Atkins Diet” craze is beginning to taper off. Let us give thanks! As we celebrate the Year of the Eucharist, we’re especially aware of bread, a definite Atkins no-no. In Jesus’ time on earth, bread was a dietary staple, as it has been for millennia. And the bread he ate evolved into something almost all of us love today. Pizza! Remember that Jesus lived in Jerusalem during the Roman occupation. The entire province experienced the Hebrew tradition of eating unleavened wheat bread. The occupying Roman garrisons were not accustomed to the bland taste of this local style and made do by garnishing the bread with seasonings and spices. This tradition of placing various toppings on flat, coarse bread was carried back to Rome and eventually, the world. Today, we can sample pizza made with the kind of wholegrain bread that Jesus and his contemporaries ate. The health
world now claims that eating carbs isn’t so bad, but that eating carbs made with white, bleached flour can be. Grain-rich, coarse breads are the mandate of the day, and we are obliged to obey – at least until a few months go by and all the magazines, health police and fitness celebrities tell us otherwise. But for the time being, what a great opportunity to emulate Our Lord. If we are going to dine on coarse-grained bread, why not remind ourselves that if it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us. And besides, if you do a little research, you just might be able to find a whole-wheat bread recipe that is pleasing to the palate – and your health. Here is one that happens to be whole-wheat and lends itself to a delectable treat. Choose your own toppings and enjoy!
Whole-wheat pizza dough for two 12” pizzas 1 tablespoon sugar 1 1/4 cups warm water 1 package active dry yeast 1 1/4 cups unbleached flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup olive oil Dissolve sugar in water. Add yeast. Stir for 1 minute and let stand for 5. Combine flours. Combine 3 cups of the flour mixture and salt in a large bowl. Pour in yeast mixture and oil. Knead mixture, gradually adding enough of the remaining flour
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so dough is no longer sticky. Shape dough into a ball and put in an oiled bowl, turning the dough to coat it with the oil. Let rise until doubled in bulk, 45-55 minutes, in a warm (not hot) draft-free place. Punch down dough and divide into two pieces. Shape dough by hand or with rolling pin, stretching out to two thin 12” diameter circles. Add your favorite sauce, cheese and toppings. Bake 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees.
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e eucharist We remember, we celebrate a short guide to what’s happening at Mass
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y young friends, I’d like you to imagine you and me celebrating Mass together. Take a few minutes and really get the picture in your head. See the altar? Hear the music?
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1 Ancient prayer: As we begin, I want you to know that I am selecting Eucharistic Prayer II for today’s liturgy. There are a number of eucharistic prayers a priest can choose from, and I am choosing this one because it has the same structure and uses the same words that were used by Christians in the city of Rome in the year 150 A.D. I know that to be true because I once held in my hand an ancient manuscript setting forth how Mass was celebrated in Rome in the year 150. Isn’t that totally awesome? 2 Scripture: The first section of our Mass has a series of readings from the Bible along with some verses from the Book of Psalms. Why do we begin with them? Well, because the first section of our Mass is virtually the same as a Jewish synagogue service. The first Christians were, for the most FAITH Magazine
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Special Teen Issue
part, Jewish and so they used the Jewish service to begin their worship. During a service in the synagogue, they read from Scripture, sang psalms, and listened to a teaching given by the rabbi. Today, in our Mass, we call that the Liturgy of the Word. Its readings, psalms and homily are an echo of the Jewish synagogue service. 3 We say what we believe: Before the second section of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we recite the Nicene Creed together. It comes from the Council of Nicaea, held in the year 325 A.D. It’s a statement of what Christians believed back then. We still hold to it today. 4 Eucharist: The second section of the Mass, as you know, is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It begins by reminding us of all that God has done for us throughout the centuries. Then comes the most sacred and holy part of the Mass, the words of institution. We go back to the upper room where Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Last Supper. We use the same words and gestures as he did when he gave them his body and blood. Just as he was wholly present with his disciples at that meal, he is completely present with us in the changed bread and wine. One of the fundamental things about being Catholic is this belief: that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. After that, we pray some important prayers with Jesus. We ask God our Father to accept us in his Son’s sacrificial offering – to bless us, forgive us and save us. We ask God to bring us all back home in Jesus, praying: “Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.” This is called the doxology, which is a word that means a short verse praising God. Then we celebrate holy Communion, receiving Jesus into our hearts and souls. His body and his blood become mingled with ours. He becomes one with us, we become one together in him, and he and all of us together become one with our Father in heaven. What could be more totally awesome than that? By Fr. Charles Irvin
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things to do Holy Cross Parish, Lansing is holding its annual parish festival on Fri., Sept. 23 from 6 p.m.-midnight and Sat. Sept. 24 from noon to midnight. Music both nights is provided by Smooth Daddy and the festival features blackjack tables, beer tent, Kiddie Land and the parish’s famous Ox Roast sandwiches. Holy Cross Parish is located at 1611 W. Oakland. Protecting God’s Children, a program to prevent child sexual abuse, has sessions scheduled this fall: Sept. 12, 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton; Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. at St. Jude, DeWitt; Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart, Hudson; Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist, Fenton; Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter, Eaton Rapids; Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph, Adrian; Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m. at St. Andrew, Saline and 12:30 p.m. at St. John, Hartland; Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m. at St. Gerard, Lansing; Oct 12, noon at Holy Family, Grand Blanc; Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh. This program is mandatory for all staff and for volunteers who work with children. It is open to parents, who are encouraged to attend and learn how to protect our children from the dangers of sexual abuse. The St. Joseph Parish Harvest Festival will be held Sept 11 from noon to 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish in Ypsilanti. One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 in the cash raffle, with a total of $25,000 to be given away. The festival will feature a chicken barbecue, games and entertainment. St. Joseph is
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located at 9425 Whittaker Rd.
september readings
Jamboree 2005, an exciting event for youth, will be held Sun., Nov. 13 at the Lansing Center. This year’s theme is SON-Day LIVE: Featuring Jesus Christ!, a take-off on the popular Saturday Night Live television show. The day begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m. Contact your parish youth minister or director of religious education for registration information.
Sunday, September 4 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Ez 33:7-9 Ps 95:1-2,6-9 Rom 13:8-10 Matt 18:15-20
Sunday, September 18 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 55:6-9 Ps 145:2-3,8-9,17-18 Phil 1:20c-24,27a Matt 20:1-16a
Sunday, September 11 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sir 27:30-28:9 Ps 103:1-4,9-12 Rom 14:7-9 Matt 18:21-35
Sunday, September 25 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ez 18:25-28 Ps 25:4-9 Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5 Matt 21:28-32
is being held Sat., Sept. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor. There is no fee. Contact Virginia Mikola at 734.994.9194 for more information.
on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fr. Hehir will speak about life issues as they relate to Catholic teaching.
Late Nite Catechism will be presented at Holy Redeemer Parish on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. A coffee and dessert reception follows. Call Margaret at 810.767.1209. Rainbows is a grief support group for children who have suffered significant loss through death, divorce or other painful transition. Sessions last 12 weeks and are conducted by trained facilitators. A new series in Washtenaw County begins Oct. 6 and runs on consecutive Thursdays through Jan. 26. Meetings will be held at St. Joseph Parish in Dexter. Contact Virginia Mikola for times and registration information at 734.994.9194.
september café events An annulment workshop for people considering submitting a case to the tribunal
St. Therese Parish, Lansing will host a Lansing region mystagogy program, on the last Sunday of each month from 2-4 p.m. A different theme will be discussed each month. Come to any or all of the sessions. The Sept. 25 session will feature Fr. Doug Osborn speaking about reconciliation and forgiveness. Call Tony Sperendi at 517.487.0478 for more information. Rachel’s Vineyard Clinical Training Day will be held Oct. 20 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Madonna Hall in Lansing. This is a clinical seminar on post-abortion trauma and healing. For details, contact Vince Gale at 517.342.3470 or vgale@dioceseoflansing.org. St. Agnes Parish, Fowlerville will host Fr. Brian Hehir
The Teaching of Jesus Christ, by Fr. John Corapi, a faith formation discussion series, will be held Sept. 8, 22; Oct. 6, 13, 27; Nov. 3, 10; Dec. 1, 8 at St. Joseph Parish, Adrian. These Thurs. evening sessions will take place in Fr. Williams Hall from 7-9 p.m. Catechetical Saturday 2005 is scheduled for Oct. 15 at the Lansing Center. This year’s theme is Christ is Life. Catechists, program leaders and pastoral ministers are encouraged to attend. Sessions run from 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 517.342.2486 for more information, or ask your parish’s director of religious education. Catholic Education Appeal Weekend is Sept. 17-18. Donations can be made online at www.glcef.org.
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Most Holy Trinity School students receive prestigious award Most Holy Trinity School in Fowler announced the recipients of the Msgr. Koenigsknecht Award and the Father Raymond Rademacher Award. Sharon Koenigsknecht and Rev. Ray Rademacher Ethan Thelen were the recipients of the Msgr. Albert Koenigsknecht Award. Brooke Simon received the Father Raymond Rademacher Award. Renowned for his work with the poor in Mexico and Peru, Msgr. Koenigsknecht was known as a bishop of the poor and outcast. Fr. Raymond M. Rademacher spent 40 years as a parish priest in the Diocese of Lansing; he served at Most Holy Trinity from 1997 until his death in 2002. The staff of MHT School determined the recipients of these awards based on the students’ positive attitudes, service to others and overall quality of life.
Practical advice for parents on preventing child sexual abuse
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The first step for protecting children from sexual abuse is educating parents about the nature of the problem. Awareness about child sexual abuse – where it comes from and who commits it – opens the door to some simple steps parents can take to protect children. Awareness, education and responsible parenting give a child the best tools for his or her defense, and the child may be more likely to tell an adult if something has happened. The Protecting God’s Children program is designed for adults in our faith community to raise their awareness of the nature of child sexual abuse, to educate them on how to recognize the warning signs and to train them how to react if they suspect a child is being victimized. The program includes awareness sessions, videos, web-based training modules, online training bulletins and other programs designed to assist parents and other adults. Interested parents can contact their parish for more information.
Lansing Catholic Central High School undergoing renovation Lansing Catholic Central is undergoing renovation, its first major overhaul in 43 years. Classrooms will have new ceilings, lighting and floors. Updated technology and fresh paint are scheduled, as well as a new boiler system. This work comprises phases 1 and 2 of a multi-phase construction project. FAITH Magazine
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Kerry Thompson wins Ambassador of Christ Award Richard Kerry Thompson, who attended St. Mary Queen of Angels School in Swartz Creek, is the 2005 recipient of the Ambassador of Christ Award, given by St. Mary Press. He studied at Trinity College in Dublin and is currently a youth minister in Norwood, Mass.
Sisters of the Living Word celebrate 30 years The Sisters of the Living Word celebrated 30 years as a religious order on June 20. The day included an outdoor liturgy followed by a picnic dinner. The Sisters of the Living Word, a community of 73 women religious, is headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. One member of the community, Sr. Joanne Fedewa, ministers at Christ the King Parish in Flint as the pastoral coordinator.
Pregnancy Helpline awarded grant The Pregnancy Helpline of Brighton recently was awarded a grant from Focus on the Family Operation Ultrasound for a new 2D ultrasound machine. The machine will enable clients to see their baby as early as seven weeks and will assist women in making a fully informed decision. The Pregnancy Helpline also offers limited medical assistance to pregnant women, as well as cribs, car seats, food, formula, baby clothes and more. For more information or to make a donation, please call 810.494.5433.
Catholic Order of Foresters awards scholarships The Catholic Order of Foresters, a fraternal benefit life insurance society, has awarded three $5,000 scholarships to Diocese of Lansing high school students who will attend fouryear colleges in the fall. This year’s awards went to Mallory Schueller of Fowler, who plans to major in mathematics and biology at the University of Michigan; Kelsie Thelen of Fowler, who plans to attend the University of Michigan; and Jessica Trierweiler of Portland, who plans to major in pre-med studies at Grand Valley State University. All three winners were graduates of Pewamo-Westphalia High School and were active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Special Teen Issue
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Farewell and welcome! Rev. Matthew Fedewa is retiring from his position as chair of the diocesan Department of Formation. He will be in residence at St. Gerard Parish in Lansing. Fr. Matt has been a priest of the diocese since 1958 and has started numerous youth programs, including the nationally recognized TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) program. Sr. Mary Ann Foggin, a member of the Servants of God’s Love in Ann Arbor, is the new director of vocation services for the diocese. Sr. Mary Ann has worked for Renewal Ministries, producing a weekly talk show. Prior to joining the Servants of God’s Love, Sr. Mary Ann spent 15 years in Atlanta as an advertising professional. Rev. Karl Pung will become the chair of the diocesan Department of Formation on Aug. 1. Fr. Karl has been studying at the North American College, Casa Santa Maria, Rome. He has served at St. Thomas Aquinas in E. Lansing and St. Agnes in Fowlerville; he has also been the assistant director for seminarians in the Dept. of Formation.
Rev. Matt Fedewa
Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ released on DVD
Sr. Mary Ann Foggin
Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent changes name and location
Rev. Karl Pung
Diocesan Youth Leadership Camp a success The 20th Annual Diocesan Youth Leadership Camp took place at Bethany House, DeWitt from June 19-24. Ninety-four youths from across the Diocese of Lansing gathered to learn more about their faith and their ministry. A symbol of faith marked each day of the camp while the campers worked on their listening and leadership skills. The youth focused on using respect and valuing others’ gifts as they worked in 12 small groups. By working together as a team and studying small group dynamics, the campers gained the skills necessary to work with youth ministry with their home parishes. From activities to hymns, the camp schedule is planned by both youth and adult coordinators. The camp features a Contact Day where a representative from each student’s home parish visits to discuss the future of their youth ministry and encourages the campers to use their newfound leadership skills to create a model of youth ministry. – Theresa McWilliams-Wessels
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Warner Home Video is releasing a four-disc collector’s edition DVD of the classic movie, Ben-Hur. The DVD will be accompanied by a Bible study guide authored by Rev. Robert Schuller and his son. The film has been remastered from the original and boasts more than 10 hours of bonus features, including scene-specific commentary by star Charlton Heston. The chariot scene in this exciting epic is renowned for its spectacular filming, even in an era in which there were no computerized special effects. The DVD compilation releases on Sept. 13.
Catholic Social Services of Lansing/ St. Vincent Home is proud to announce the organization is now called St. Vincent Catholic Charities. St. Vincent Catholic Charities’ administration, development, child welfare (adoption, foster care, intensive foster care and SHIELD) and family counseling center offices have relocated to 2800 West Willow Avenue, Lansing, Mich., 48917 and the new telephone number is 517.323.4734. The international and refugee, senior companion program, foster grandparent program and the capital area interfaith respite offices will also be relocating to the program services building.
New principal at Jackson Lumen Christi High School Bishop Carl Mengeling has appointed Patrick R. Kalahar as the principal-designate for Jackson Lumen Christi High School. A 1987 graduate of Lumen Christi, Mr. Kalahar has served on the faculty there for the past five years. He is a graduate of Albion College and St. Thomas University, Miami. Prior to teaching at Lumen Christi, he served as the athletics academics counselor and assistant director of marketing and promotions at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
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wo world Saint John Paul II? evidence in cause for sainthood sought w o r l d
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The Diocese of Rome formally opened the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul II, asking Catholics around the world to present evidence “for or against” his reputation for holiness. The edict signed by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal vicar of Rome, launched the information-gathering stage of the late pope’s cause. In mid-May, Pope Benedict XVI waived the normal fiveyear waiting period and said work on the sainthood cause of his predecessor could begin immediately. Cardinal Ruini’s announcement was published May 31 on the front page of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, and was ordered posted on the doors of church offices in Rome and in Pope John Paul’s native Poland. The request for information was expected to prompt an avalanche of testimonials from Catholics and could also bring to light unpublished letters and other writings of the late pope. The edict noted that Pope John Paul’s reputation for holiness “exploded in a
remarkable way at the moment of his death.” Now the faithful should communicate directly with the Rome diocesan offices to help document the sainthood cause, it said. It invited all Catholics to come forward with “any information that can in some way support arguments for or against the reputation for holiness” of Pope John Paul. The diocese was also to gather all the writings attributed to Pope John Paul throughout his life. The edict directed “whoever is in possession of such writings to forward them with due care” to officials working on the cause.
European religious leaders condemn use of faith to support terrorism
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European Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders have condemned the use of religion to support terrorism. “No reason, in particular not a religious one, can justify such acts against humanity,” the church leaders said in a July 13 statement, released after the group met with Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, in Brussels. Religious leaders reaffirmed their dedication to building “a free, united, prosperous and peaceful Europe characterized by solidarity, where all citizens and nations, regardless of their religion, convictions, language, culture, tradition and ethnic origin, may live together and feel at home united in diversity.” -- By Catholic News Service FAITH Magazine
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Of primary interest, it said, were unpublished manuscripts, diaries, letters and other private writings of the late pope. Those who want to keep the originals can send authenticated copies instead, it said. Even without the normal five-year waiting period, the work on Pope John Paul’s cause is expected to take several years. In addition to studying his writings and interviewing witnesses, the church officials must confirm that two miracles occurred after his death, as the result of prayers asking for his intercession with God. – John Thavis, Catholic News Service
Nominee would be fourth Catholic justice on current court Judge John G. Roberts would become the fourth Catholic member of the current Supreme Court if he is confirmed by the Senate for the opening created by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s retirement. Judge John G. Roberts Roberts, 50, was nominated July 19 by President George W. Bush, who called him “a man of extraordinary accomplishment and ability” who has “a good heart.” Roberts has been a judge of the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia for two years, after working in private practice in Washington and as a U.S. deputy solicitor general from 1989 to 1993. He also served as a clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist. – By Patricia Zapor/Catholic News Service
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top 10 reasons to join a youth group l a s t
Pope Benedict XVI has named a Detroit auxiliary bishop to head the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Mich. He also accepted the resignation of a Nevada bishop and appointed a new auxiliary bishop in Miami. The changes were announced June 21 in Washington by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The new head of the Grand Rapids Diocese is Canadian-born Bishop Walter A. Hurley, 68, an auxiliary in Detroit since 2003. Bishop Hurley succeeds Bishop Kevin M. Britt, who died unexpectedly of a rare disease in May 2004. Bishop Hurley is to be installed as 11th bishop of Grand Rapids at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on Aug. 4. -- By Catholic News Service
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is coming to theaters in December C.S. Lewis’ timeless classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first of his beloved series, The Chronicles of Narnia, is coming to theaters on Dec. 9. The film follows the exploits of Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund Pevensie, four children who enter the magical world of Narnia through a wardrobe door. Once there, they encounter dwarves, fauns, centaurs and a variety of talking beasts. The evil White Witch rules Narnia, but her dominion is being challenged by the mystical Aslan, who calls upon the children for help. Director Andrew Adamson is tackling his first live-action movie – he is best-known for Shrek and Shrek 2. Voices in the movie include Liam Neeson as Aslan and Rupert Everett as Fox. The movie is being released by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media.
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hy should you join a youth group? Why should anyone? Here are the top 10 reasons a youth group is a great place to be: C. Jones
Grand Rapids bishop named
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10. In any friendship, we make mistakes. Being part of a Christian group Patrick Rinker means we believe in forgiveness. 9. The negativity of others can bring us down. In a Christian group, we believe we are created in God’s image and we are good to the core. 8. We look around our world and wish we could make a difference. In a Christian group, we are called to work together to make this a better world to live in. 7. It seems like there’s no right or wrong in the world we live in. Being in a Christian group can give us direction and help us to choose what is right and provides friends who will support us. 6. By ourselves, we don’t always feel close to God. Jesus promised that where two or three gather in his name – he is with them. 5. Some of the other teens around me seem so lethargic. They don’t seem too excited about their faith. In a Christian youth group, most people are there because they want to be there. The enthusiasm is contagious. 4. In a Christian group, we have others with whom we can pray and share our concerns. 3. In a Christian group, Jesus is our role model and we have other leaders who strive to live like him. 2. In a Christian youth group, we can bring our friends who have the same needs we all have and who also need a supportive group of friends in their lives. 1. In a Christian youth group, we are connected to the larger church that Jesus established. It is a place where we can know our God, grow in love and faith, and change the world we live in. It’s can be tough out there on our own. In our hearts, we know we are called to love others and be faithful to God’s word – but it’s not easy. Not everyone defines love the same way. Jesus said, “Love consists in this – laying down one’s life for a friend.” Every day, there are caring adults and other teens who lay down their lives for us – by giving us their attention, time, prayers and friendship. Every day, we can go with a group of friends, a family of God, that will always care. No group is perfect, but our God is – and God is always there. God calls us to love, to forgive, to be patient and to make a difference. He calls us to do this together as his church. Friendships made in youth ministry groups can grow into lifetime friendships as we continue in this faith-filled community we call the Catholic Church. If you’re not part of a youth group, then please think about it. Contact your parish office to see when it meets and how you can join. Peace! – Pat Rinker is director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Lansing.
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really prepare them for their future Enroll your teen or child in
religious education
209 Seymour Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 Online:
www.DioceseofLansing.org www.FAITHmag.com
The Outreach Mass: Sundays On TV:
Flint: Lansing:
FOX 66 10 a.m. WHTV, UPN 18 10 a.m. WLAJ, ABC 53 at 6 a.m.
On Radio: Mass, 11 a.m. on WJIM 1240 AM
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8/2/05 3:16:11 PM