October 2000

hat makes a person a woman, and what makes a woman significant? My recent Internet query brought in many thoughtful and heartening reflections from cyberspace. "Significant" was apparently a better chosen word than "important" or "outstanding." A significant woman has the ability to nurture, to support and empower others. Significant women call others to be what God has created them to be. Women stand for what is right, for what is caring, for what is supportive - particularly in the face of opposition. They possess quiet strength. Innately they seek to expand connectedness, to develop relationships through compassion and awareness. They call upon themselves and others to excel in all human endeavors. Significant women have no need to compete with men. They are comfortable with themselves. They are comfortable with their feminine nature. They are not afraid of their inner powers. A significant woman has an inner peace that flows forth from strength; she knows her mission and her purpose, precisely in her nurturing femininity. She is "other directed" - she sees others not simply for what they are, but rather what they can be. Significant women take failures in stride because they recognize the truth that success is not measured solely by achievement or by being "number one." They know that being a person is more important than dqing things. Significant women usually look for "win-win" solutions, not "win-lose" victories. Being better than men is irrelevant to significant women. Being all that you can be is what really makes a difference. A number of respondents to my query cited Mary, the Mother oÂŁ jesus, for her qualities. And these qualities were not of the holy card variety but rather qualities that denoted strength, courage, and trust in God. Openness to the actions of God in our lives has something of a feminine aspect to it. Perhaps this is why we speak of "Our Holy Mother the Church." Early Christian writers depicted Mary and the Church with shared qualities and attributes. What Mary is the Church should be. Both share the mission of offering Christ to us. Note, too, that the best artistic works depicting Mary paint her with her Son in her arms. The unspoken truth is that she is nurturing Him in order to give Him to us. This reveals a constitutive femininity in the deepest areas of our hearts and souls. lt is something that no man can adequately understand or fully comprehend. So, with this issue of FAITH, we present (however inadequately) Woman to you. We do this with the hope and prayer that you will examine the topic with your faith. Blaise Pascal once wrote: "The heart has its reasons the mind knows not of." An appropriate quote, we think, with which to begin this issue of FAITH. (D

Most Reverend Cart F. Mengeling PUBUSHER

Rev. Fr. Charles Irvin

Send your letters to: Editor, FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ollawa Lansing, Ml48933 or via a-mall frdrvln@rc.net

EDfl'OtiiiN CHIEI'

Patrick M. 0 1Brien MANIGING EDITOR

CRIUTIVE DlttECI'OR

Kathy Funk

lL was with great interest that l began reading the article on the newly ordained priests and how they came to answer God's call on their lives to the priesthood C'The First Pliests of the New Millennium," july/August 2000)_ However, l was disappointed that the priesthood was repeatedly refemd to as a "second career. " The priesthood, as with any vocation, is so much more than a job that can be swapped for a new one when we tire of ihe old.

AUIRANT I!DITOR STAI'I' WRnU

jillane j ob atllliCRIPTIONSIH:CRI!TAIIY

Mollie Lauffer CR£A11VE A EDt'IORIAL AUmANT

Rev. Fr. DWight Ezop Margaret Perrone PROOI'READING

Rev. fir. W11liam Ashbaugh Evelyn Barella Elizabeth Johnson Rev. Fr. Joseph Krupp Robin Lynch Dr, Cathleen McGreal Jennifer Niester Most Rev. Kenneth J. Povish

Ann Merle Slevansan

CONTRIBunNG WRITOS

just whatl was loohingfor. ~What Happens at an Ordination?" Ouly/August 2000) was wonderful. Most of

Christine jones james Luning CONTRIBunNG PHOTOGRAPHEltS

us will never witness the cele,

bration of the rites of Holy Orders which make men Catholic priests_ How this Sacrament is administered is often difficult to explain to fifty sixth graders. I consider these step,by,step pictures and explanations the perfect teaching tool. Thanh you.

nanotechnology will have on our lives. Tlhemer Tolh•Fe)el

lsn't it about time that lawyers concerned with women's health issues filed a class action law, suit on behalf of women injured by the contraceptive pill? Through the discovery process, women could learn if the pill's Jane Waldo manufacturers and marketers Natura/law may have been are just as liable for breast can, developed by the Catholic cer and other serious illnesses Church, but it was really as the cigarette manufacturers invented by the ancient Greehs. are responsible for lung cancer. .,. My second quibble concerns It's not the billions of dollars in the "Top 10 Rights issues of the compensation that matter, its Next Century." Ouly/August the many millions of women 2000) .. . Mostly, you missed the who matter. George A. Morton huge impact that molecular

James Luning, Photography ON THE COVER

Spiritual Reading for Busy Women:

Wayne Case Mary Delano David Fenech Patricia Garcia Rev. Fir. J, Thomas Munley Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone James Rhadigan Michael Rizik Riclrdo Rodriguez Rev Fr james Swiat

Can You Find God in Your Laundry Basket? By Elizabeth Johnson

One more load of laundry to wash, one more meal to put on the table, one more runny nose to wipe. Does it ever end? And how do l find the time to be with God in the midst of all this? For any woman whosever felt defeated by the daily glind, a little book by best-selling poet and author Kathleen Norris provides a spilituallift and casts new insight into the holi· ness of daily life.

Sharon Wimple ADVISOR'r IIOARD

Rev. Fr. Karl Pung WEa MINISTRY

Parish Systems ~SITE DUIGN, MANIGEMEHT

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Norri!>) is a slim book compared to Norris' benerknown works, which include Dalwta: A Spilitual]ourney, The Cloister Wallz and Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith.

Originally delivered as the 1998 Madaleva Lecture in Spirituality at St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind., The Quotidian Mysteries packs a lot of spiritual truth into

1 ' •

St. Hedwig, I , !1 ;tn:t'

t ·, 1

I: .

St. Margaret Ma ry Alacoque, \

88 pages. The fancy word ·•quotidian a means "daily" and refers to the day·to,day, repetitious activities that humans must perform to meet their bodily needs. Often these activities - cooking, cleaning, child care - are considered Uwomen's work,Dand treated as menial and unimportant. But Norris points out that even the priest at Mass engages in the routine activity of dishwashing after cefe, brating Communion. The first time Norris (who is not Catholic) attended a Mass, she was struck by this act of housekeeping. ~Homage was being paid to~ the lowly truth that we ~ human beings must wash the dishes after we eat and

11 \Ill 1 ' · 1 : I•

1 St. Ignatius of Anlioc

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drink. The chalice, which had held the very blood of Christ. was no exception .~ Through many examples Biblical references, stories from her own life, and poetryNorris reveals the power of God to transform everyday experiences into occasions of grace. She makes the connection between daily chores and the repetition of the liturgy. which is literally "the work of the peo· pie." How often have you heard your children (or perhaps even thought to yourseiO, "Why do we have to go to Mass every week? Its just the same old thing over and over again.~ She writes: "It is a paradox human life that in worship, in human love, it is in the routine and the everyday that we find the possibilities for the

greatest transformation. Both worship and housework often seem perfunctory. And bOLh, by the grace of God, may be anything but." Reading and praying with The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Lilu'&}'. and "Womens Work," can help busy women (and men) become more attuned to the sacramental possibilities m their daily lives. Realizing that "it is in the realm of the daily and the mundane that we must find our way to God" can go a long way toward easing the daily grind.

faith·

~ ihi. book and more onlne from the st. Franc:ls Retrnt Center Book Store

on www.FAITHmag.com

in the know Fr. joe Wl â&#x20AC;˘

Not too long ago, my nephew came home from school with a

out, the problem was concerning an assignÂˇ ment the kids had

their aunts and uncles and what they did. Well, my nephew did fine until he got to me, "Uncle JoJo!' When It came time to write what I did for a living, he wrote that he couldn't remember the name of what I did - but he knew that when I did It, I wore a dress! Sigh. As a woman, how can I serve the Church?

That is a beautiful question, because it gets to the heart of our faith. At our baptism, all of us were called

to be three things;

priest, prophet and king. Lets take that apart piece by piece, shall we? First of all, priest. I am not talking at this point about what the Church calls the ~sacramental Priesthood," I am talking about the priesthood we all share in common because of our baptism. The primary role of any priest is to be the one who offers sacrifices for the people. Secondly, prophet. A

prophet is one who speaks the truth. A prophet has to be open to Gods word, con~ victed by it and ready to share it through the witness of his or her life. Finally, we are called to live as a king {I could dig that!). We get this one mixed up a lot, but a king is - by Gods design - one whose primary role is to serve, not be served. Serving the Church in a specific ministry is as easy as contacting your parish. Every parish has a need for lay

ministers to visit the sick. teach and help the poor. Full and pan-time professional lay ministers are needed as well. (For more information, contact Mary Tardif at the Diocese of Lansing (517) 342-2512)

there is no place for the difference between the sexes. But the respective 'perfections' of man and woman reflect something of the infinite perfection of God: those of a mother and those of a father and husband. ecce• 370). As Catholics, we refer to Why do we refer to God as a God in the masculine during male during Mass? I have public, communal worship heard some people change because that is how our trathe prayers and simply say dition has evolved. jesus "God!' Is God male? addressed God as Father, and I tried checking, but God's not because of cultural conexistence transcends gender. ditioning (this is the guy who God is no more or less male broke every cultural rule of or female. God simply is. The the time). In our private "Catechism of the Catholic prayer, it is perfectly accept· ~hurch" says this: In no way able to call and recognize ~ God in man's image. He is God as "Our Mother." neither man nor woman. In terms of changing the God is pure spirit in which words during Mass, I am not

a fan of the practice. Regardless of our private spirituality, our tradition has given us these communal prayers and we should be respectful of that tradition. On the flip side, we should never use the way we pray to reenforce any ideas we have about women and/or God that are contrary to the inherent dignity of each human ! being. All of us, whether ••liM male or female, are created in God's image and likeness! . Enjoy another day in God's presence! EB Send your Questions to: "In the Know with Fr. Joe" FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, Ml 48933

or E·Mall JoelnBiack@prleslcom

Are Sch ool Vouch ers th e Answer to · svs t ems, \'Xvv~rO es7. 0 ur Educa t lOll

adds one more option - a nonpublic school. First of all, it is silly to assume, as some critics would suggest, that students will leave in droves or that the top percentile students will vacate their classrooms. Stop. Think for a moment. Many public schools are doing an excellent job and parents choose them for a myriad of reasons. Public schools serve an honorable purpose and we support that. Critics also like to point out that we (Catholic Schools) don't have to take students but forget the second part of the sentence. Public schools don't have to keep them. I would suggest a comparative study o expulsion and drop-out rates between public and non-public schools. The example begs the question: Are you talking about five students or 25? The money is not leaving the school. The state would allow the money to follow a child to a school of his orherchoice.

-----••••••••-••••••••-----------' ·-•••--••••••••w•--••••••••--•••••••-•••Fr. Chert. . Irvin lnlervle- Sr. Monica KosHelney, RSM, of the Mlcblgan Catholic Conference

FAITH: If you claim that vouchers will force the public schools to more effectively compete with private and parochial schools, aren't you thereby saying that those chll· dren remaining In our public schools should suffer so that the entire educational system can benefit? Are these kids simply pawns In a huge political chess game?

his November; we will have the chance to affect our children!; futures in a very big way. How to fiX our education system promises to be one of the most debated issues of tlte upcoming election. Are sclwol vouchers the rigltt solution? Michigans bisltops thinlz so. Yet, many voters are not convinced. FAITH Magazine asks Sr. Monica Kostielney, RSM, of the Michigan Catholic Conference, tlte tough questions about the proposal. FAITH: Let's take for an example the children In Flint public schools In the northwestern part of that city and ask: "What Is going to happen to the kids who remain In the public schools after the vouchers are cashed In for those who choose to opt out?" Sr. Monica: To answer the question from a financial perspec-

tive, the same thing that happens today when a child moves, transfers to another school within the district, or a public school Out or the district, or a charter school. The proposal

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Sr. Monica: No, by no means. Let's examine the different

parts of this question. First, competition in education generally means a striving for excellence in different ways - by offerings, by size, by speciality teaching style, and an array of special programs. Second, to suggest that public schools would suffer in .,_ competition is false and misleading. There are many good

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The Future of Education

i1lenniurn wa t

public schools. Parents select them. They are successful, producing scholars, athletes, and good citizens. Over 80 percent of Catholic school students enter them. No one would want these schools to fail. Third, do not confuse students with systems. Systems succeed or fail, benefit or lose, for a variety of reasons. The depanure of students is not a cause of failure - it may be symptomatic of it. A study entitled A Survey of Results from Voucher Experiments: Where We Are and What We Know by jay P. Greene, senior fellow, The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, concludes that: Choice does not appear to 'cream' the best students. In all studies of existing choice programs, the evidence shows that participants have very low family incomes, predominantly come from single-mother households, and have a prior record of low academic perfonnance.

the contention that every dime of assistance to children in non-public schools is, of necessity, a dime less for children in public schools. This needlessly pits public school children against children in non-public schools. Real education refonn must be child-centered. It must focus on how we, as a society. can provide the best education possible for our children. There are many systems in the diocese. Probably somewhere in the area of 50. Again, the money is not being drained away from it. There simply will not be money going to a school for someone who is not there. The public school is not the source of public funds. It is in receipt of them. And it is not public school money. It is the tax money of the citizens of Michigan. It does not become public school money until the legislature authorizes it for educational purposes. FAITH: Is It not aid to parochial schools In disguise?

FAITH: Mrs. Smith Is a retired widow living In a modest Lansing home paying her taxes for the Lansing school dis· trlct. Please explain how It Is that her educational tax ollars spent on vouchers are not being diverted from - ere she lives. Sr. Monica: Education funding is no longer principally dependent on property tax: as the main source of revenue. The state education budget comes from a general fund. There is no designation for local areas. A property millage is generally specific for capital funding, not the per pupil expenditures that the state appropriates in the K-12 budget. This is the result of Proposal A. In your example, Mrs. Smith benefits as a property owner, as a member of her local community, and as a citizen of this state, when all children can be properly educated and gtven the necessary tools to succeed in the 21st century. The Kids First! Yes! Proposal gives those children most in need the opportunity to succeed throughout their lives because it allows parents of those children to realize what is a basic obligation under Catholic Social Teaching ... that is, to direct the education of their children in the manner that corresponds with their convictions. FAITH: How Is It that the public school system In our diocese will benefit from educational tax dollars being drained away from It? Sr. Monica: First of all. this proposal will cost less than of one percent of the total state K-12 elemen· budget. This question brings out the ~drain refrain" again. That IS

Sr. Monica: There is no disguise about it. Children in quali· fied school districts will be given the opportunity to auend a school of their choice. The state (not the public school) will transfer the money for educational purposes as it does currently for medical or other human service needs. This is aid to children and there is no disguise about it. Think for a moment. In not other analogous situation is a voucher described as a disguise. No one asks, ~oo food stamps benefit the grocer? Does the daycare provider benefit from the vouchcrr No one argues that a private grocer should get tax money. A voucher is only one kind of transaction. Tax abatements, tax credits and food stamps are only a few of the kinds of subsidization in practice today. 'l)

Tne

1'\IDS

r-1rs1: Yes! Proposal

• Amends the State Constitution - This proposal strikes the prohibition against indirect aid to non-government schools in the Michigan Constitution. • Guaranteed School Funding - Per·pupil spending can never fall below the amount guaranteed by the slate. • Teacher Testing - Regular testing of teachers would apply to all public school teachers and in non-government schools that accept children with opportunity scholarships. • Opportunity Scholarships for Children Living in Failing School Districts - Parents residing in any school district that does not graduate at least two-thirds of its student body are automatically eligible to receive an opportunity scholarship for their children to attend any non·government school. The opportunity scholarship is worth one·half of the state per•pupil expenditure, or roughly $3,3 00. In any other school district, citizens are able to establish opportunity scholarship programs by initiative petition. • Local Option - Parents residing in all other school districts are able to put the voucher program in place through citizen or school board initiative.

Bishop Mengeling on One of the Most

-~~P.~-~-~~~-~ -W<?_~-~-~ -~~--~~~--~!f~--=--~!~--M~-~h~-~-----------------------Pftoto ProvidH by B11hop Mengellng

ike most people, my life has been influenced and shaped by a goodly number of women. Two truly extraordinary women, however, made the difference for me. Of course, the first is my mother. Next is Franciscan Sister Fridian who was my seventh- and eighth-grade teacher at St. Mary Catholic School. I would like to tell you about my mother. She was born and grew up until the age of 18 in a part of Eastern Germany called Lower Saxony in the town of Hamersleben. At the end of the war in 1918, Germany was in economic, financial, social and political collapse. There were no jobs. The German mark was nearly worthless. A loaf of bread alone cost thousands of marks. The country was steadily sliding toward anarchy. In this climate of hopelessness, the only hope and future for young people was to emigrate. In 1923, my mom (pictured left),

at the age of 18, along with her sister, Maria, and two brothers, August and Robert, left their parents, siblings and home - all for America. The boarded the liner Manchen in Bremen and arrived in New York, via Ellis Island. Unknown to all, in the same year Mom's future husband - my dad - and his sister, Caroline, left Germany for the U.S. on the liner Seidlitz. My parents met a year later at a German dance and married in 1925. Soon after, plentiful jobs brought them all to the Chicago area. In Germany, Dad was Lutheran and Mom, Catholic. With the pressures of settling down, earning a living and overcoming language difficulties, religious practice was minimal. Besides, they were in the Roaring '20s! Yet, Mom insisted on a Catholic M , marriage. They were married by Fr. john Berg in the rectory of .- ~ St. joseph Parish, Hammond, in 1925.

the bÂˇs op The first baby, Elfriede, born in 1926, needed to be baptized. Following Gennan tradition, Dad insisted that all the children be Lutheran. Elfriede and me (born in 1930) were baptized Lutheran. l remember going to church a few times. Of course, Mom was unhappy. The Lord sent a marvelous priest filled with zeal for lost sheep to the immigrants. Fr. Leo Hildebrandt was the answer to Moms prayers. His parents came from Gennany during the 1890s and he spoke fluent Gennan. Like the Hound of Heaven, Fr. Hildebrandt sought out the lost sheep in the to\vns of Indiana and lllinois, south of Chicago. He met them at the Gennan picnics, dances and summer church festivals. He drank beer with the men and became known to everyone. Shortly after he found Mom and my aunt and uncles and their children, they joined St. Mary Church - all except my dad. My sister and I attended public school at the time. When Mom and the rest joined St. Marys, we suddenly found ourselves attt!nding Catholic school and we, too, became Catholics. Fr. Hildebrandt conditionally baptized my sister â&#x20AC;˘ d me. â&#x20AC;˘ First Communion with the little second-graders was awkward -but we weren't the only ones facing the same situation. Dad never shared in our Catholic events. I think he didn't want to hurt his mom and siblings still in Gennany. Living our faith was entirely up to Mom. There was no Catholic church in Highland and St. Mary was five miles away. Fr. Hildebrandt purchased a used bus to bring the Catholics in the outlying areas to Sunday Mass. The bus was it- because of gas shortages and rationing, we faithfully rode on that cold bus on its lengthy route every Sunday for at least seven years. The bus also took us to St. Mary School. One story about Mom during World War II still stands out in my memory. Fairness and honesty were tops with her. During the war, many items were rationed and scarce. When rumors of the availability of butter and soap were rampant, l made the round of stores. l had never seen Mom outraged and angry until 1942 during such a trip. 1 was 12. While we were shopping at the grocers, Mom noticed (she never missed much) the grocer reaching under the check-out counter and selling large boxes of American Family Flakes. We came to the counter with our groceries. Mom said, "l would like a box of soap flakes, please.~ He told her, "We don't have any." l never saw a man blanch and tum red as lectured him about lying and the importance of honesty. left the groceries behind. And she never set foot in that store again.

With Mom at the helm, the ship of our faith sailed forward with God's grace -she with Fr. Hildebrandt and St. Mary Parish, and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary School. This was the Lords gift to us. My sister, Elfriede, married in 1949. I entered the seminary in 1948 after high school. That left my brother, William, and sister, Carolyn, at home. In 1953, 30 years after coming to America, Mom and Aunt Mary visited their mother and family in Gennany. The following year, Mom became ill and was diagnosed with a dangerous condition. Doctors recommended she go to a famous clinic in Kansas City for treatment. While she was away, our prayers were answered and her greatest hope fulfilled. With the death of his own mother in 1953, Dad decided to become Catholic. While Mom was in Kansas City, he received private instructions. The priest was Fr. Charles Froelich, a member of the Precious Blood Community from Carthagena, Ohio. He and Dad hit it off great. Mom came home before Easter. To her surprise, Dad said he wanted to attend Easter Mass with her. She first assumed it was because of her serious illness but she soon discovered the happy truth. Dad became a good Catholic and a more loving husband and father. He died in 1962 at the age of 59. Mom devoted herself to her children and grandchildren. She served in parish activities and charities. Her spiritual life of prayer, devotions and reading intensified. Her years as a widow, until her death at the age of 74 in 1979, were a glowing, optimistic and loving gift to so many. Moms life is the experience of so many women who carry out their daily tasks mostly at home. Theirs is a humble, hidden and often repetitive gift taken for granted and not sufficiently appreciated. My mom had faith that gave her confidence and creative hope. Her love was a presence that quieted and yet energized. She was positive and upbeat - she was no quitter. She loved simplicity. The adventure of her life reveals nerves of steel, detennination and energy. Her hope in the Lord never disappointed. And neither has mine. d)

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FAITH Magazln~

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cove

Who's going to do the work at your parish? According to a recent survey, since 1982: Average number of par Average number of priests per parish has dropped from 2.5 to 1.8 The number of parishes w

joyce thought she had her life planned out. She would earn a bachelor's degree and teach math until she retired. "I thought that the field of education was where 1 would always be," she says as she reflects back over the past 30 years. She did fulfill her dream of teaching high school math for seven years but then her path diverged and she had several different careers over the years. While raising her son and daughter, joyce worked at many jobs. She assisted her husband in several small businesses - and still managed to find time to do the bookkeeping for his small fanning operation. She ran her own crafts business for eight years and then worked for a florist for three years. Although joyce participated in the diocesan ministry fonnation program, she feels her whole life has been a continuous growth of experiences and education that has directed her straight to her place at St. Catherine Labour~. "God has always had a plan for me and I didn't even realize ltl" joyce began to work in ministry when she volunteered to help out at her children:S school when they were going through religious education many years ago. Eventually, she became the Director of Religious Education (ORE) at St. Catherine and held that position for 14 years. She finds that her participation in religious education has been invaluable to her as a pastoral coordinator. "I have been wen received In my new position," she says. "Peopla have accepted my new role In their parish community!' Although It Is unusual for a pastoral coordlna· tor to be assigned to the parish he or she attends, It has worked out well In this case. "We're growing as a parish!' Pastoral coordinators, like joyce, are doing great jobs across the country. Bishops, ranging from progressive to traditional, have assigned lay people to these posts. In her role as pastoral coordinator, joyce oversees the day-to~day opera· lions of St. Catherine Labour~. While she works with three priests, joyce is the one who oversees the budget and works with the individuals who are repairing or renovating the buildings. She counsels engaged couples and parents of the babies who are baptized at the parish. It is also joyce:S responsibility to see that there are enough sacramental ministers for Mass on Sundays and throughout the week. The viewpoint joyce brings as a woman who has been married for 32 years and who has raised two children gives her an edge in certain counseling situations. "The priests

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that I work with are wonderful but they don't have the life ~ experiences that I bring to the job. And being a convert ~ myself helps when talking with the new converts I counsel." the best part of her job, she says, Is being with people and sharing her faith. "That means so much more to me than the business side of what I do. If I can enrich their lives In any way that I can, that's what's Important I meet with people and work out situations that will affect them. It's very rewarding. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to work with the people of the parish." However, coming from a background in math, joyce still finds it frustrating at times to encounter a problem that doesn't have a clear-cut answer. "I come from a background where there was a set routine and always a right answer. And now I don't have all the answers." Her strengths, joyce feels, are that she's not afraid to say that she doesn't have the answer and her ability to lead her parishioners to someone else who can help. Not only does joyce devote time to her parish duties but she is also a member of many diocesan committees as well. She serves on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Steering Committee, the Marriage and Family Life Commission and the Directors of Religious Education Advisory Board. While joyce feels comfortable as pastoral coordinator, it was only five or six years ago that she considered leaving the • ministry. "1 had a job opportunity and then, for some reason, it just fell apart. I could never figure out what it was and I talked with my husband about it." John's answer to joyce was very clear. He said to her, "I think God said, 'You're leaving ministry? 1 think not!"' joyce reconsidered. "I think john was right. So that's the way I live my life now. I think that with every goal, I'm doing it for God. This has always been my direction, even when I didn't realize it." She also feels that john plays a big part in her ability to do her job well. UHe is very self-sufftcient. He doesn't put a lot of demands on me." It was actually necessary for john to write a letter as part of joyce's application for her current position. "He told me afterward that H was the most difficult laHar he had ever had to write. Not because he didn't think I could do the job, but because he knew of the time constraints. And he didn't want that to affect the relationship that we have. Because he was willing to write that letter, he had to do a lot of soul searching as to what would be best for us. Because he made that commitment," she continues, "he has fulfilled that commitment within his own life. He realizes that ministering is important to me. "john is a very special guy." joyce's children are also supportive of their mother's choices. She still likes to make time for them when they come home. Her son is an engineer and her daughter is a veterinary intern at Michigan State University. "I try to rearrange my schedule but they realize that I'm busy a lot

• - ~ -·

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er priest has risen 72° o, from 920 to 1,572 Average parish growth: 23°.o Parish ministry staffing: 9% increase one lay minister on staff has more than doubled, from 30'l-o to 68qo source: c nthotic Trends - Mnv 1 3. 2ooo

•

weekends so we work it out," joyce says. "I have a lot of eas that I'm responsible for and I don't want to bum out. It's really important to me to do a good job at home and at the church. It's a blend of things. Sometimes I'm better at balancing than other times." When asked how she manages to have the energy to keep up with her busy schedule, Joyce just smiles. "[ try to exercise every day because that's really an important pan of my life something that I do for myself that makes me feel better." But what really feeds her spirit, she says, is attending meetings with other lay ministers. uaetng with people who are working In ministry helps me with my own spirituality because they know where I'm at, and that's an Important thing!'

joyce also gives credit to the formation classes required to become commissioned as an ecclesiallay minister. "They (the classes) have helped me, not only with my education, but to be able to say, 'Yes, this is what I believe.' To reinforce my faith." When asked what advice she would give to women looking to lay ministry as a career, Joyce says that bal· ance Is the key - giving your best to each area of IHe. And

being able to realize one's own strengths and weaknesses as well as paying attention to the feedback of others who may see you in a different way.

~when I applied for this job," she muses, "it was with the encouragement of others. It was other people who said I should consider it because they saw qualities in me that maybe were not clear to me." joyce doesn't have a vision of where she'll be in five years - mainly because hfe has been such a surprise for her. ~when I got married 32 years ago, no way did I think I'd be doing what I'm doing now. Its really amazing what life has in store for you and I've learned to put it in God's hands and follow His direction. It's not always easy to do ... but 1 have learned to be open to new experiences. That has always worked to my advantage in the past and I think it will work in the future.~

3 Women 3 Perspectives: How Thex Live a Balanced Life and How God Fits In By Kathy Funk

Photography by ctutstlne Jones

r. Dorita Wotlska, OP, Ph.D., Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lansing. In the world of public schools, a superintendent usually oversees a number of elementary schools, a middle or junior high and one high school. Sr. Dorita oversees 38 elementary schools - including one middle school - and four - yes, four - high schools scattered throughout lO counties! Thats enough to keep anyone busy! But how does this mild mannered Adrian Dominican sister manage to find balance in her life? She offers the following sage advice on just that subject: Finding balance: 1 do a lot of reading - especially to get ahead at work. l also do fun reading on vacations which are usually quiet and low-key somewhere by the water. I find strength in just sitting by and watching water. l also make sure that l get physical exercise on a regular basis which releases tension. I'm more relaxed and not as uptight when I'm physically fit . I enjoy visiting and talking with people about things that are not related to what 1 do. 1 have a tendency to listen

FAITH Magazine

Ocro~r 2000

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more than 1 talk. Listenmg to music is something that 1 rind very rewarding. Quiet music helps me to reflect while faster music helps when I'm cleaning house! Fitting spirituality into the balance: I pray a lot. And its not always in a formal way. For example, if 1 receive a phone call about an unpleasant topic, 1 pray for guidance and patience. I would say that 1 pray for patience more than anything. The pages of Sue Strouse's day planner are enough to make even the weariest of working moms even wearier. Sue and her high-school-sweetheart-turnedhusband, Rob, are the proud parents of three very active teenagers, Anthony, Amanda and Allison. The family belongs to not one but two parishes - St. Mary in Williamston and St. Thomas Aquinas, East lansing. Sue and Rob are also active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter as presenters, recruiters, and coordinators of the adopt-a-seminariai'\ an program. The couple has just finished a three-year term ~ coordinating a five-state region for Marriage Encounter and

representing that region to a national board. On top of that, Sue has managed to find time to complete a master of science degree in nursing education. She commuted to Saginaw Valley State University one day a week for four years in order to accomplish her goal. In addition to family, parish activities and Marriage Encounter responsibilities, Sue works pan-time for Creative Home Care Inc., teaches pan-time for the College of Nursing at Michigan State University and conducts continuing education seminars for nurses through jackson Community College. How does this remarkable woman find time to balance faith, family and career? Heres how: Finding balance: To me there are some key elements that help me try to maintain balance. First and foremost is my faith - 1 pray, often! And not just for things - thanking God for all that He has blessed me with - but also for Gods will to be made known to me so that 1 can do what He needs of me. This is not easy, especially if what is happening doesn't seem to be what I want to be happening. And when things get out of balance, as they will no matter how hard you try, it helps to view it as an opportunity to grow in Gods graces. Laughing (and crying - sometimes at the same time!) and my family and friends also help get me through. I also think that communication is vital - to know what is expected of me by others and letting others know what my needs are. This involves being a good listener and a good J111iPeaker. Keeping the lines of communication open in our ~mily is the only way we can survive. My husband and children and I are all involved in many activities- .,. continued on next page

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1 communicating with each other is very important so that we can all be where we need to be and everything that needs to be done is accomplished. We are all very close and work as a team- helping each other, working together, sharing in the work and fun and involving each other in the decision making whenever necessary or possible. The ability to see the forest and the trees at the same time has also been helpful. Being able to look ahead as to what needs to happen in the next week and the next month helps to keep the surprises and last minute scrambling to a minimum. But also being able to say, "What do 1 need to do this day, this minute?" helps to keep me focused and moving forward. Fitting spirituality into the balance: To me there are so many little opponunities in our daily lives to get God into the mix and He is there -just waiting to be invited. Our Marriage Encounter weekend helped us to integrate God more into our marriage and into our daily lives. We pray before meals even in restaurants, daily as a couple, and we encourage daily prayer with our kids. When I fold laundry, its an opponunity to pray for whoevers laundry I'm folding. Letting the kids know that I'm praying for them during the school day helps them and me -its a reassurance that not only do I care about what happens to them, but that God also cares for them, and it helps us to stay connected. Attending weekday Mass as often as I can is imponant and serves as a good role model for our kids that our faith is not just a Sunday event, but is a pan of our everyday lives. And it also nourishes and replenishes me, helps the day get off to the right stan and gives me the strength to move forward, as does receiving the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis.

When I went back to grad school four years ago, we spoke with a good friend who had just finished his Ph.D. i science education. We asked him what his advice was. He said something that has always stuck with me. He said that often we try to juggle our many activities and responsibilities. But when you juggle, there is always the possibility that one or more of the balls you are juggling will fall and crash and those balls may represent something very imponant to you. But when you balance and hold all of the balls in a line, equal pressure is exerted against all of the balls and the balls help support each other. The chance of any of them falling and crashing greatly decreases. The trick is knowing what balls are most important to you, and then balancing them so no one ball puts too much pressure on another and all stay even and aligned. When life starts getting out of balance, I think of that analogy and it helps. We need to balance our lives and not juggle our responsibilities and activities. As long as God is one of those key balls, and we trust in His will for us, then we really can have a good balance. Brldglt Rutz is a college student on a mission God's mission, that is. Not only is she a fullÂˇlime music major at Eastern Michigan University, Bridgit finds time to be Involved with Campus Crusade for Christ as a member of the crusade's music and drama teams. She attends weekly Bible study and even finds time to work with Mustard Seed, the high school youth group at her home parish, St. joseph of Dexter. And how does she manage all of this? Bridgit has found that the following allows her time for college and her mission of spreading the good news of the Gospel:

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Finding balance: My first thought is Gods grace - that, along th time management and a lot of support from my family. • Practically speaking, being a music major helps me keep balance. Although it means I have to spend a lot of precious time practicing, it is also a time of creative and emotional release. Being at school can be challenging because there are so many amazing people that I would like to get to know better, as well as good friends that 1 don't see enough. With my schedule, it Is difficult to fit in exercise. So on the rare occasion that I do exercise, 1 follow my moms example -I exercise with a friend or, if I'm really backed up with work, I'll get on a stationary bike armed with a textbook and a highlighter to get things done that way. More than anything, I maintain balance with my attitude. It is so easy to look at the things l do as work, but when 1 focus on studying, working and practicing as opportunities and gifts, then balancing my life becomes (almost) effortless. Fitting spirituality into the balance: There was a time when being in school or working at a summer job frustrated me because I wanted to be out in the world and have a "ministry~ - l wanted to be sharing the Gospel. It was then that 1 began to understand the words of St. Francis: "We must preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." l realized l had totally missed the boat on what God was calling me to; I am called to minister to everyone l interact with. Slowly I have seen that, as a Christian, I am called to share His love in ery place and circumstance. It is a difficult realization and find myself failing every day- but 1 also see more successes each day. As I strive to make every word and action a witness to Christ, I find God gracing my life in new and unimaginable ways.

mom/wife/journalist! At the time, I wasn't sure if I was accomplish· ing my mission - de veloping Adam's spirituality. He was more enthused about the stickers each child received to go on his or her name tag for taking part in the games. His favorite? A shark I had given him. On Wednesday during VBS, I was in a real rush to get to lans ing fo r work. I gathered up

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Adam's craft projects and waited while the kids sang their closing songs. When his group came out, I took him by the hand and told him I had his projects. He said, "Do you have my snowman?" (The theme for the day had taken the kids to the snowy mountains of central Australia.) I had a piclure of a snowman in my hand but he kept insisting there was another. Kirk, Adam's teenage "guide," turned and handed me a marshmal· low snowman on a plate while saying, "This was

October Ia • month U.t .. eapecWiy dedladecl to the B...Md Mother. In hononng her, we also honor aU women. Mary 1S "woman" come to perfection. 1 think of all the wonderful women God has placed m my life - beginning Wlth my mother and grandmothers. They were matnarchs. They were strong m fauh, unafraid to accept the pam and hardships that came their way. They were women of virtue and strong character. They were women of love. All of theM vtrtuea .,. found In the Bleued Mother. She was full of grace - full of Gods perfection in such a way that brought out the full beauty of what 1t means to be a woman. Her faithful love teaches us all how we can love jesus, and put God first m our lives Mary held nothing biK:k from God. "let It be done unto me accordmg to your word " Her openness allowed God to become man within her. When jesus was born, Mary loved Htm with all her heart. She would be jesus' first teacher Mary loved jesus Wlth a steadfast and fatthful love as the mother of sorrows dunng HtS rejectton and murder on the cross. She stood at the foot of the cross and would not leave Him. Now she stands with us as our mother dunng our trials. M•ry Mel grut aplrltual atr.ngth. All the vtrtues and fruits of Gods Spint were ahve and at work in her. I would hke to offer a prayer asking Mary for her intercession for us, and especially all women, as we continue our journey into the new millenmum.

supposed to be his snack but he wanted you to have it because you were here working:' Kirk's words echoed through my mind. This was supposed to be his snack but he wanted you to have it because you were here working. Adam had sacrificed his indulgence in a sweet for me and I would have missed that snowman if I had been off at work just as I would have missed his squeeze hugs and "I love you's:· I found I wasn't in such a hurry to get to lansing any more - a marshmal·

low snowman had melted my heart! Maybe I hadn't acco m plished as much as I had hope d in developing Adam's spiritual life during VBS - he had gotten that through the skits, songs and crafts. But I had done something just as important - I was there for my boy. Adam, as it turned out, was on target all along I am just the right age for Vacation Bible School because I'll never be too old for a marshmallow snowman.~

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community Year of jubilee

Sacrament of the Eucltarist PARISH DAYS OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION IN OCTOBER Oct 2 St. Therese Lansing Oct 4 St. Francis of Assisi Ann Arbor Oct 7 Holy Rosary flinl Oct 10 St. Mary Manchester Oct 13 Our Lady of Fatima Michigan Ccnlcr Oct 18 Oct 20 Oct 25 Oct 28

St. Luke flinr St. Joseph Wlliuahcr St. Joseph Howell Catholic Community of St. Jude De Will Oct 31 St. Mary Charlotrc

OCTOBER EVENTS Respect Life Sunday, an annual observance since 1972, is the first Sunday of October - this year, Oct. 1.

Life Chain 2000, a prayerful, peaceful witness for the sancti· ty of life will be held Sunday,

Oct. 1, at the following sites within the Diocese of Lansing: Brighton: 2:30·3:30 p.m. at Main Street and Grand River I Pinckney: 1·3 p.m. at M·36 - - - - - - - - , and Town Square Ann Arbor: 2·3:30 p.m. at Eisenhower and State Street Jackson: 2·3 p.m. at West Avenue and Michigan. During Life Chain, participants pray for an end to abortion, change of heart of abortionists and that men and women who have experienced abortion in October&' their lives may find healing lWmty-sevmth Swulay In through Christ's forgiveness. Onflnaryn~ Ganeeis 2!1B-24 A homemade chicken dinner to PHim 128<1-8 Hebrawll 2:9-11 benefit St. joseph School, Mark 10:2-18 or 10:2-12 Owosso, will be held Sunday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m.-1 :30 October 15 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Twmi)..righth Swulay In The menu will feature baked Ordinary Time chicken, mashed potatoes and Wllldonl 7 :7- 11 gravy, sauerkraut and sausage, Paalm 90:12·17 vegetables, desserts and more. Hebnlws 4 : 12·13 Mark 10~ 17·30or 10:17-27 For information, contact Nancy DeFrenn at (517) 725·5215. october22 'IWmty.nlnth S11nday In The fifth of six scheduled Ordinary Time

Isaiah 53: 1o-11 Psalm.33:4-5, 18·20, 22 Hebrews 4 :14-18 Mlll'k 10 :35-45 or 10 :42-45

october29 Thirtieth S11nday In Onflnarynme

Jerami8h 31 :7·9 Paalm 126:1-6 Hebrews 5 : 1·6

Mlll'k 10:46-52

diocesan Regional Missions focusing on prayer and daily Christian life will be held in Brighton Oct. 15·1 B, from 7 8:30p.m., at St. Patrick Parish. Lord, Teach Us lo Pray, the theme of the mission, will be facilitated by the preaching team of Fr. Joseph Krupp, Chaplain, Lansing Catholic Central High School; Fr. Larry Delaney, Director, St. Francis

Retreat Center; Fr. J. Munley, Chairman, Department of Formation, Diocese of Lansing; and Adrian Dominican Sister Carol Weber. Services for youth and young adults will be held on the second and third evenings of the mission head· ed by Fr. Krupp's team. Bishop Carl Mengeling will celebrate Mass on the final evening, Oct. 18. No registration is neces· sary. For more information, call (517) 342·2502. A Marriage Encounter

Weekend will be held Oct. 2022 at Maryville Retreat Center of Holly. The weekend is open to all Catholic couples who would like to strengthen com· munication within their marriage. The weekend begins on Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. and ends Sunday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. For information, call Larry or Shelley Isaacson at (81 0) 695·2983. The seventh annual "An Evening With Friends" benefit for St. Joseph School, Owosso, will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, at Gi-Gi's House of Catering, 3144 E. M·21, Corunna, beginning at 6 p.m. A cash prize of $4,500 will be given away and live and silent auctions will also be featured. For information, contact Nancy DeFrenn at (517) 725·5215. A weekend for divorced or separated men and women entitled Moving FoiWard wilh Hope will be held Nov. 3·5 at the Clarion Hotel, Middleburg Heights, Ohio. The conference will include prominent speakers and workshops on personal growth, annulments and healthy relationships. The North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics (NACSDC) of

Michigan and Ohio is sponsoring the event. RegisJration is required by Friday, Oct. 13. For a brochure or registration form, contact the Office of Catholic Charities for the Lansing Diocese at (51 7) 342·2471.

Faithful Cili~cmship- Catholic Social Teaching and Elecdon 2000, a forum designed to help participants prepare for election day on Nov. 7, will be held on the following dates: Oct. 4 and 18, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Lansing, 7 p.m.; Oct. 9, St. Mary, Chelsea, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10, St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor, 7 p.m.; Oct. 1 1, St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor, 7 p.m. The ses· sions are sponsored and presented by the Office of Peac and Justice for the Lansing Diocese, and will feature guests from the Democratic and Republican parties.

Sharing the Faith: You and the RCIA The Pre-Catechumenale By Rrt1 Thrron

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a journey punctuated by ritual. It begins with you. Invite a friend to Mass or to a parish event. Through you, Jesus is calling someone to "come and see," to listen to the Gospel, to join a community of faith and to worship our God. The RCIA calls this the "pre·catechumenate:' In this period, inquirers' minds are "opened by the Holy Spiri~ so they may believe and b~ converted to the Lord:' (RCIA #36)

FAITH is available on audiotape by request. Call (517) 342·2500.

Places to Pray Fr. Denis Spitzley of St. Mary Parish, Charlotte, marked his sliver jubilee anniversary to the priesthood Aprll29. This joyous occasion was followed by the renewal of vows for Divine Word Missionary Brother Bemle Spitzley July 23. Br. Bemle was also marking his sliver jubilee anniversary. Shown are Fr. Denis Spitzley, their mother, Mary Spitzley, and Br. Bemle Spitzley at the renewal ceremony held at St. Mary, Westphalia. The parish Is also the sHe where the two Spitzley brothers were baptized.

Latin Quiz So, who wants to be a millionaire? Well, you'll have to get on Regis' show for 1

a!t:~::Âˇ~~~~:~eC::nL:::~~~~I:u:;~~~ ~==:~.:~':r~"b::~:::ave

to do Is translate the following Latin phrases and send In your (final) answers along wHh your name and address to: FAITH Magazine, Latin Quiz, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, Ml 48933. The first five totally correct responses will receive a copy of The Quotidian Mysteries. It's so simple even a guy could manage this one. But, sorTYI This contest Is only open to our female readers!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Denlque dlaetam efflcacem lnvenl Noll ludere aUmento Da mihi habenasl Nullo modol Modo cogHo quid proslt rebus tuus Mlhi crede, hoc mlhl magis quam tlblnoceL 7. Allquem de via consulamus 8. Curae mlhl non est quod alii par antes faclant 9. Uno vlso, omnia visa sunt 10. Radix lectll

Answers to last month's Latin Quiz: 1. There's no free lunch. 2. Beam me up, Scotty!

3 Whatever! 4. What part of "no" don't you understand? 5 . Buyer of souls 6. The more things change, the more they stay the same. 7. Who knows? I sure don't. 8 . Don't call me, I'll call you. 9 . Seen any good movies lately? 10. If it ain't broke, don't fix il

Subscription Notice Your Jubilee Gift of a one-year subscription to FAITH Magazine is ending soon. However, your local parish is committed to sending everyone in the parish FAITH Magazine next year. You can help by renewing your subscription for $15. Just return the envelope in the center of this magazine or call (517) 342Âˇ2595. You can even log on to www.FAITHmag.com - when you do, you are also helping your parish spread FAITH to others.

St. Martha was a true friend to jesus. Her home in Bethany became a place where jesus and His disciples could seek out food, friendship and hospitality. That tradition of friendship and hospitality is carried on within the Diocese of Lansing at SL Martha Parish of Okemos. Situated on a 20~ acre site that includes a man-made lake, St. Martha is one of the newer parishes within the diocese. The church, dedicated on july 28, 1991 , ofiers a unique blend of traditional features, including a Romanesque style exterior, while maintaining the amenities of a very modern facility. An example of the blending of old with the new can be found among the many stained glass windows. While some of the windows were created exclusively for St. Martha by Ommbus Glass Studio of Okemos, there are also windows in the chapel taken from the former chapel at St. Lawrence Hospital. But the true beauty of the parish is not found within the building or the grounds or among the many stained glass windows. It is found within the pews. ~The true beaUly of our parish is in the people we serve,.. notes Fr. Jonathan Wehrle.

D1ocesc of Lansing

English Professor Calls for Prison Reform We need rehabilitation not retribution in our prisons, said Sr. Patricia Schnapp, RSM, an assistant professor of English at Siena Heights University who has volunteered as a jail and prison chaplain for more than 25 years. In a recent article published in the St. Anthony Messenger, Sr. Schnapp promotes "restorative justice" as an effective approach that reinforces Catholic principles and teachings. "It's Time to Rethink Our Criminal justice System" describes the persistent problems Sr. Schnapp has encountered in three decades of prison work. For the past seven years, she has taught English as a volunteer at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian. Within society generally, "there is no single agreed upon sense of what we want prisons to do," Sr. Schnapp said. Many people view prisons as a place to punish. Others say prisons should be what they are often called - correctional facilities - helping to correct inmates' problems. Many incarcerated men (94 percent of the prison population is male) are young and serving lengthy sentences for nonviolent

drug offenses in a prison system that just warehouses them, Sr. Schnapp noted. Meanwhile, life "outside" continues. Nonviolent offenders may be released only to find themselves decades behind the rest of society, lacking meaningful job and technological skills. Often, the only jobs open to released prisoners pay minimum wage, making it difficult to earn a living. Those men are expected to abandon their addictions and former illegal activities but are deprived of the skills necessary to change their lives, Sr. Schnapp said. Prisoners are given little opportunity to grow spiritually or intellectually. They lose the right to any privacy and are immersed in a brutal subculture where their manhood is constantly tested. From these universities of crime, "they come out jaded, cynical and bitter, rather than rehabilitated," Sr. Schnapp said. But theres another approach to the issues of crime and punishment, she added. Restorative justice, a concept introduced about 20 years ago, focuses on restoring amity and justice to the community and to all those involved with the crime. Involving community members, the victim and

the perpetrator in a just resolution of the offense is a main focus of the process. This contrasts with the traditional approach to corrections, which often sidelines the victim completely. In restorative justice, the victim can ask questions such as, "Why me?" The perpetrator is forced to look at the victim, to see the victims anger and grief, and to respond. The process often generates remorse that is more genuine and sincere than with other approaches, Sr. Schnapp said. Finally, victim and perpetrator often agree on an appropriate form of restitution. "This is a reasonable way of dealing with justice issues," Sr. Schapp said. "It is good on both sides." Sr. Schnapp experienced the value of restorative justice firsthand. Two summers ago, she was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver. She was given the opportunity to tell her story in court and to let the driver know that she forgave him and hoped that he would get help. After seeing the permanent damage he had done to her, the driver apologized to her directly and changed his plea to guilty. Prisoners "are not used to being treated as humans," Sr. Schnapp said, and that's one reason she rinds prison teaching so satisfying. "I always leave the class feeling that good things have happened," she concluded. "As for teaching there- I'm hooked."

Powers Student Recelws Service Award

ocalnews Youthful Spirit Fills an Ancient City

-------------------------------------------------By Msgr. Steven Ralca Living in the heart of Rome, I have just gone through one of the most thrilling experiences of my life: World Youth Day 2000. Rome, ever ancient, has become the most youthful city of the world. At the Holy Fathers invitation, young people came from every comer of the globe to give witness to their faith in Christ and to carry the message of hope back to young people that 'fe is worth living. As Romans left for summer holiday, the city was filled with a youthful spirit. During these days, catechesis centers were standing room only as cardinals and bishops explained to young people how they heard the call of Christ and came to know jesus as their Lord and Savior. Afternoons and evenings were filled with prayer and music as every square had stages set up for concerts and other young

people testifying to the lifegiving forces of their faith in jesus Christ and the utter necessity of the Catholic Church. the Mass, and the Eucharist in their lives. These young people will be at the helm of guiding the world in a short time. There is much to be gained by bringing to the worlds attention the positive steps taken by young people who find life worthwhile and seek to live a life that is coherent and integral with their Christian values. No other person could bring together such a group of dynamic people as the pope has. Yet, thanks to the young people who have responded forthrightly to Pope john Paul invitation, my faith has been renewed. Moreover, my hope and optimism for a world where peace and justice reigns has been bolstered. The Church that speaks and proclaims the truth of Christ is not outdated but "in syncn with a new generation who are willing to carry the torch ... the light of Christ .. . to a hungry and waiting world. There were nearly 18,000 young people from the United States present. It is a small number with respect to the rest of the nations represented. Yet, I believe it underscores the fact that these young people had the occasion to rub elbows with

other cultures, other examples of faith. Our country is not the only filter through which one can have a ~happy and fulfilled'" life. We have to learn to get along with the rest of humanity to create a mosaic of various tiles expressive of our experiences and our ultimate destiny, union with Christ.

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Having seen their enthusiasm and what the Church can do for them and, correspondingly, what they bring to the Church and world, I am proud to be a Catholic.

Editor's Note: Msgr. Raica is the former chancellor for the Diocese of Lansing. He is currently superior of the Casa Santa Maria, the graduate house of the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

We Remember from the O.ffiGe of Cemetelies ,.. Muses wll be offerM by • ·miNioMry from the Diocese of unslng for thole ~·who were~ In~our: dloc:eun cemeteries In July.

Fr. Tim Atkin ls1a Mlulonhunlt MIUionllry cawrenUy uslgiled to Port·au-Prlnce, HaltL Fr. Atkin was oidlim.d In May,1974, and hU SiiVid various fills. sloiis iUCh u three yqrs In Mexlcoi~ and two YHrs• In Sin Antonlo.'He was rac:eiitly appolntecf•P.rovlnCIIII on JUly 1, 2000. His horii'e partS~~ Is St. John tfte Evangelist Parlsht Jackson. H you would like to hllve memorial Masses offered by missionaries for your deceased loved ones, iiiil Stipends to: Diocese of Lansing, 300 West Ottawa StrHt, Lansing, Ml48833. Please make•the c:liec:k payable to "Miulonllry of the Month." H ~ luioW a son or daughter of the l:.anslnfl Diocese cui'NnlfY servIng In • mission, pteua forward their names to: Missionary of the·Month Program, 300 West Ottiwll StrHt, LansinG, Ml48833. w -.FAITHm8g.co111

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Ocrobcr 2000

FAITH Mag:ulnc

the world Lorena Young called essential part of catholic TV productions

C&rdlnal opens convention wHh call to protect the vulnerable

LOS ANGELES-

LOS ANGELES -

Movie and TV star Loretta Young, a lifelong Catholic who died of ovarian cancer Aug. 12 in Los Angeles, was an essential pan of Catholicsponsored Family Theater Productions for 53 years, said Holy Cross Father John P. Phalen. Young, 87, starred in Family Theater's first radio drama in 1947. The glamorous leading lady, the first actress to win both an Oscar and an Emmy, easily made the transition from big screen to small screen. Fr. Phalen said the influential Young befriended Fr. Peyton in the late 1940s and â&#x20AC;˘helped him create Family Theater Productions by introducing him to other celebrities to star in the nonsectanan radio dramas he was trying to produce." Family Theater Productions honored Young with its lifetime achievement award in 1997.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles opened the Democratic National Convention Aug. 14 with a prayer calling on delegates to be committed to protecting the life of all people, from unborn children and the elderly to those on skid row and death row. "God of life and love ... we pray that your spirit will inspire all candidates, regardless of party, to embody in their words, actions and policies values that protect all human life, establish peace, promote justice and uphold the common good," he said. He also prayed for "a new kind of politics, focused more on moral principles than on the latest polls, more on the needs of the poor and vulnerable than the contributions of the rich and powerful, more on the pursuit of the common good than the demands of special interests." As Cardinal Mahony we\corned convention delegates to Los Angeles and began his prayer, he said he came to the proceedings "out of respect for our nation's democratic traditions." "I come as a pastor, not a politician; an advocate of values, not candidates," he said. By Patricia Zapor and Nancy Frazf(r O'Brl(n (CNS)

Nobility and courtesans: Exhibit portrays women in past jubilees VATICAN CITY CCN)) -

As organized, co-ed Holy

Year pilgrimages gained in popularity in the 18th century, bishops warned of the dangers lurking behind new freedoms. Men and women were not to fraternize, and strict regulations dictated specific times when each sex could pass through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, with women most often being reiegated to mghuime shifts. More than two centuries later, the only lingering restrictions at the basilica's threshold are on dress. But unlike holy years past, in 2000, the cardinal Vatican virtue of modesty is imposed on men and women alike.

Female holy year pilgrims first cropped up in significant numbers in the mid16th century, but it wasn't until the advent of modem mass transportation in the early 1900s that they began to participate in jubilee celebrations en masse. "Women in the Times of the Jubilee," an exhibit at Rome's Museo Viuoriano illustrating the role of women in holy years, quotes one 18th-century writer as defending the then-prevalent opinion that women should stay at home while their husbands made the holy year hike. Included in the litany of reasons: Wives would be a great bore along the journey.

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~alntlng by Christopher W. ~ersberg tHied "Devotion at St. Peter's Holy Door," shows women and a child at the threshold. The work Is on display In the "Women In the nmes of the Jubilee" exhibit at Rome's Museo VIHorlano.

judging from a 1725 edict from the papal vicar of Rome, while men may have considered their beller halves a snooze, the Eternal City's women were anything but. In fact, they were seen as downright dangerous. Men were forbidden to visit courtesans in their "cafes," under penalty of 50 gold pieces and three lashes with a whip. Women caught flouting the law escaped corporal punishment, receiving only a monetary fine. A 1674 edict went so far as to ban prostitutes from pearing, presumably guilingly, at their windows. But even amid Rome'S "promiscuous environment," as the exhibit's text described it, many holy year observers were struck by the piety of the few female pilgrims who made the journey. A book recounting

impressions of the 1575 jubilee noted the Âˇ singular modesty and extraordinary devmion ... that one saw especially among women." Many female members of the aristocracy served in hospices, where they washed and treated the weary feet of pilgrims upon their arrival in Rome. "It is of great edification to see so many Roman and foreign noblewomen tie on their aprons to serve with such modesty, readiness and diligence," recorded one jubilee diarist. "Women in the Times of the j ubilee" is the only Holy Year 2000 initiative dedicated entirely to women.

The finishing touches are being put on the hlghÂˇtech, erective Pope John Paul ultural Center In Washington, as It gears up for Its first event Nov. 12. The four-story center

exploring the Interaction between faith and culture Is the brainchild of Detroit Cardinal Adam J. Maida, who launched the project In 1994 and continues to head lt. (CNS)

By Benedicta Cipolla (CNS)

elast ord .. Women in the Church Horwring a htstory of service Most Rev. Kenneth J. Povlsh

Bishop Stephen Womicki of Sagin;lw, who ordained me in 1950 and was my overseer for 18 years thereafter, was a hands-on, outspoken leader who brooked no opposition in the diocese. We priests were with him often because he attended every gathering to which he was invited and did most of the talking at them. We couldn't believe our ears when he told us how he went, hat in hand, to Adrian to Mother Gerald, prioress of the Dominican Sisters, or to livonia to Mother laudine, provincial of the Felician Sisters, to plead for teaahers for the new schools the diocese wanted to o~. That was the picture that came to mind when I contemplated thts essay on Women in the Church. Twelve generations of American Catholic children received their Christian formation from religious sisters in parochial schools and summer vacation schools. More tliah any other single factor, the works of the women religious made the Catholic Church in America the strong communion that it became in our time. The inspiration that drove these women had.a long history. It staned with the heroines of the faith whose names are listed in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1 in the Sacramentary): Felicity. Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia - martyrs all. It continued with women of the past who are now honored as Doctors (i.e., teachers) of the Church: Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Therese of Lisieux, and there will be more. Nor is it just a coincidence that women religious are now heavily engaged in pastoral ministry besides teaching, an~ that lay women have joined them in great numbers. The survey results published earlier this year on lay ministry reVealed that the vast majority of the trained and commissioned lay ministers in the United States are women. They stand in that long line of women of the Church that goes back to St. Scholastica and St. Glare and other foundresses who first orgamzed and trained women for full-time church service. No church, no government, no organization, no business in history has availed itself of the gifts and graces of wome.n as has ~e. Roman Catholic Church in its almost 2,000~year history. Mainline Protestantism has begun to ordain women to meet their clergy shortages, but they are johnnies come-lately in respect to women~ fulltime involvement in ministry. 'Fhis essay focused on consettated or commissioned women in the Church. But full recognition must go, in conclusion, to an even greater and more important number- those women who are mothers, bearing and nurturing children, the first teachers of children, and their indisJ?:ensable support for growth in wisdom, age and grace. FAITH Magazine salutes the women of the diocese, Women of the Church!

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