Santo Domingo Savio - Diocese of Grand Rapids

Transcripción

2
St. Dominic Savio
Feast day:
March 9
Patron saint:
of boys,
children’s
choirs, choir
boys, choirs,
falsely accused
people, juvenile
delinquents
Canonized:
June 12, 1954
saint of the month
Meaning of name: Dominic, meaning
“belonging to God;” Savio, meaning “wise’
learned”
Claim to Fame: Dominic Savio was born
April 2, 1842, in Riva di Chieri, Turin, Italy. He
was one of 10 children to Carlo, a blacksmith,
and Birgitta, a seamstress. At the age of five,
he became an altar boy, which began his
preparation for the priesthood. By the age of
12, Dominic had entered the Oratory School
and became a protégé of St. John Bosco.
Dominic Savio was put in charge of organizing
those who were the center of Bosco’s order,
and he received the respect of many of the
older boys. St. Dominic regularly cared for
the boys who were forgotten and he was
often scolded by the teachers for his bursts of
laughter. Dominic died at the young age of 15
from tuberculosis. His dying words were “What
beautiful things I see.”
Why he is a saint: Dominic focused on
the little things in life, like helping others and
playing games. He offered everything he had
up for God and lived his life in holiness. It was
his dream to become a priest, and he lived the
motto of “death, but not sin!” Pope St. Pius
X said, “A teenager such as Dominic, who
bravely struggled to keep his innocence from
baptism to the end of his life, is really a saint.”
Best quote: “I can’t do big things, but I
want everything to be for the glory of God.”
How he died: At the age of 15, Dominic
Savio died of tuberculosis in Mondonio, Italy.
St. Dominic’s tomb is in the Basilica of Mary,
Help of Christians in Turin, Italy.
The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
September 2010
Volume 4: Issue 6
Bishop Walter A. Hurley
PUBLISHER
Mary Haarman
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Michael Zalewski
MANAGING EDITOR
JoAnn Fox
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Bishop Walter A. Hurley
Msgr. Gaspar F. Ancona
JoAnn Fox
Father Ron Hutchinson
Patricia Mish
AnnMarie Jakubowski
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kathy Denton
AnnMarie Jakubowski
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
FAITH Catholic
Rev. Dwight Ezop
CHAIRMAN
Patrick M. O’Brien
PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg
Director of Custom Publishing/
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Cynthia Vandecar
DIRECTOR OF Ministry Marketing
Patrick Dally
ART DIRECTOR
Lynne Ridenour
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEB MASTER
Santo Domingo Savio
Janna Stellwag
Abby Wieber
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Jillane Job
Día de fiesta: 9 de marzo
Santo Patrono: De niños, coros infantiles,
niños de coros, coros, personas acusadas
injustamente, delincuentes juveniles
Canonización: 12 de junio de 1954
Significado del nombre: Domingo significa
“pertenece a Dios”; Savio significa “sabioerudito”
Motivo de su fama: Domingo Savio nació el
2 de abril de 1842 en Riva di Chieri, Turín Italia;
fue uno de diez hijos de Carlo, herrero, y Brígida,
costurera. A la edad de 5 años, se convierte en
monaguillo, lo que inicia su preparación para el
sacerdocio y hacia los 12 años, Domingo entra
a formar parte de la Escuela de Oratoria, donde
es protégé de San Juan Bosco. Domingo Savio
quedó a cargo de organizar a quienes eran el
centro de la orden de Bosco, y recibió el respeto
de muchos niños mayores. Con regularidad,
San Domingo cuidaba de los niños que habían
sido olvidados y frecuentemente lo regañaban
los maestros por sus estallidos de risa. Domingo
murió a la temprana edad de 15 años de
tuberculosis. Sus palabras al morir fueron “Estoy
viendo cosas maravillosas”.
Por qué es un santo: Domingo se
enfocó en las pequeñas cosas de la vida,
como ayudar a otros y jugar; ofreció todo
lo que tenía para Dios y llevó una vida de
santidad. Su sueño era convertirse en
sacerdote y vivió el lema de “¡morir antes que
pecar!” El Papa Pío X dijo, “Un joven como
Domingo, que luchó valerosamente para
mantener la inocencia del Bautismo hasta el
final de su vida, es realmente un santo”.
Mejor cita: “No puedo hacer grandes cosas,
pero deseo que todo sea para la gloria de Dios”.
Su muerte: A la edad de 15 años,
Domingo Savio murió de tuberculosis en
Mondonio, Italia; su tumba yace en la Basílica
de María Auxiliadora en Turín, Italia.
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle
Paul Jarzembowski
Father Joseph Krupp
Douglas Culp
Dr. Gelasia Marquez
Dr. Cathleen McGreal
Michelle Sessions DiFranco
Sister Ann Shields
Rita Thiron
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Philip Shippert
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Derek Melot
PROOFREADING
InnerWorkings
PRINT MANAGEMENT
FAITHcatholic.com
FAITHTM Grand Rapids (USPS 023-851), the Magazine
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Liturgical Calendar: St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church Sept. 3 | Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sept. 8 | St. Peter Claver, priest Sept. 9 | St. John Chr
FAITH Grand Rapids / September 2010 / www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org | www.FAITHgrandrapids.org
3
Cover photo courtesy of Kathy Denton
what you’ll get
out of this issue
4from the bishop
Patrycia Gąsior:
Compassion in action
6
1
Gasior, a senior at Muskegon Catholic Central High School, is a typical
teen on many fronts; she played varsity softball last year, served on the
student council and was chosen by her peers to be in the
junior homecoming court. At the same time, she prays
often, does volunteer work in and out of school and is
active in the pro-life movement. What sets her apart, say
those who know her, is an unflinching commitment to her
Catholic faith and values. – Patricia Mish
22 Ciao Italia:
A faithbook view of
a teen’s trip to Italy
22
This summer, the choirs at Grand
Rapids Catholic Central High School
(CCHS) took a trip to Italy. AnnMarie
Jakubowski, choir member and a senior
at CCHS, shares a unique glimpse of the
trip and how it helped her to reflect on
her faith. – AnnMarie Jakubowski
– Dr. Cathleen McGreal
7marriage matters
He says: “I think she loves
the dogs more than she loves
me.” She says: “My dogs were
there first.” What do they do?
– Tom and JoAnne Fogle
8 culture Clean Energy
– Michelle Sessions DiFranco
10in the know with Fr. Joe
What does it mean to be
a practicing Catholic?
– Father Joseph Krupp
11 spiritual popcorn
O captain, my captain!
– Paul Jarzembowski
12 theology 101
The order of Mass
– Rita Thiron
14spiritual fitness How to pray
with the prodigal son
– Sister Ann Shields
30vocations Praise God!
– Father Ron Hutchinson
31last word Forever young
– Msgr. Gaspar F. Ancona
rysostom, martyr Sept. 13 | Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sept. 14 | Our Lady of Sorrows Sept. 15 | St. Cornelius, pope and martyr, and St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr Sept. 16
inside this issue
– Most Rev. Walter Hurley
6parenting journey
We have to move and my
daughter doesn’t want to.
4
M
is queridos amigos,
de parte del obispo
Con la estación de otoño empezamos un nuevo
año programático en nuestras parroquias. El
programa de educación religiosa se inicia de
nuevo, así como muchos otros programas y actividades que han
estado operando a un ritmo más lento durante los meses de verano.
Los niños empiezan la escuela y los jóvenes se van a la universidad
buscando futuros más brillantes. También contamos con 14
seminaristas que están estudiando para el sacerdocio en este año.
Se trata de un aumento sustancial en los últimos años. Es mi deseo
que este año sea un tiempo de nuevos y renovados inicios así como
de gracia y bendiciones para todos.
Nuestra fe, nuestro futuro: Un Plan
para la Diócesis de Grand Rapids
En los últimos meses, algunas
de nuestras parroquias han estado
participando en el proceso de
planificación Nuestra Fe, Nuestro
Futuro. Espero pueda compartir
los resultados de ese proceso en los
decanatos de Big Rapids, Northeast
Lakeshore y Grand Haven. Todavía hay
mucho por hacer mientras el proceso
continúa en los cuatro decanatos de
Grand Rapids y en el decanato de
Ionia. El proceso de planificación
seguirá luego en el decanato de
Muskegon.
Aunque nos enfrentamos al hecho
de contar con menos sacerdotes que en
el pasado, ésta no es la fuerza motriz
detrás del proceso de planificación.
La esperanza y la expectativa es que
podamos traer nueva vida y vitalidad
a nuestras parroquias. Esto no quiere
decir que las parroquias no estén
haciendo su trabajo, sino más bien es
tratar de mantener frente a nosotros
una visión de lo que una parroquia
vibrante debe ser. Hemos puesto a
disposición en nuestro sitio Web un
documento que describe la visión para
parroquias vibrantes que puede ser útil
para cada parroquia como un examen
de conciencia.
Nuevo Misal Romano, tercera
edición (en inglés): A partir del
primer domingo de Adviento de 2011,
las parroquias de nuestra diócesis, así
como todas aquellas en todo el mundo
de habla inglesa comenzarán a utilizar
los nuevos textos del Misal Romano
que han estado en preparación
durante muchos años. Ha sido más
de 40 años (en 1969) desde que la
primera traducción oficial de la Misa
en inglés fue publicada. Recuerdo
cuando era un recién ordenado
sacerdote en 1965 celebrar la Misa
en latín hasta el Adviento de 1965
y, luego, utilizar textos provisionales
(¡aprobados!) hasta la publicación de
la versión completa del Misal Romano.
En la más reciente traducción, habrá
algunos cambios que serán observados
en algunas partes de las respuestas y
en las oraciones de la Congregación.
Una explicación de las razones de
estos cambios sin lugar a dudas es
necesaria, y habrá oportunidades
en todas nuestras parroquias para
comprender la razón de ser y los
antecedentes de estos cambios.
Lo que es quizás aún más importante
para nosotros es que estos nuevos
textos ofrecen una oportunidad para
despertar nuevamente el amor por la
Eucaristía en nuestras propias vidas y
en la vida de nuestras parroquias. Es
bueno a veces volver a lo básico; para
asegurarse que estamos celebrando
el gran don que Dios nos ha dado en
la Eucaristía de una manera digna y
apropiada. Esto también proporciona
a todas las parroquias la oportunidad
de examinar algunas prácticas que
deben ser cambiadas para reflejar
mejor las enseñanzas y las normas
litúrgicas de la Iglesia. A veces se puede
desarrollar una cierta informalidad
en nuestra relación con Dios. Puede
ser la forma en que nos vestimos; los
vasos sagrados que usamos en misa; los
rituales que llevamos a cabo; la música
que cantamos. Hacemos muchas cosas en
nuestras parroquias, pero que podría ser
más importante que una celebración digna
y llena de fe de la Eucaristía en la que
alabamos a nuestro Dios y compartimos en
el regalo de su vida. Para nosotros como
pueblo creyente, todo fluye de la Eucaristía
y nos lleva a ella.
Gracias. Agradezco a todos aquellos que
han sido tan generosos en la Apelación
para los Servicios Católicos de 2010. La
Apelación para los Servicios Católicos
ayuda a las parroquias a cumplir con sus
responsabilidades, a la Iglesia diocesana y
apoya la labor de la iglesia a nivel nacional
e internacional. No somos un conjunto de
Iglesias congregacionales, sino católicos y
por lo tanto, tenemos responsabilidades
más allá de nuestras parroquias locales. Ser
católico significa estar conectado con los
obispos, como sucesores de los Apóstoles
y el Santo Padre. En nuestra conectividad,
se conserva la Fe Apostólica. Gracias
por su fidelidad no sólo por su apoyo
financiero, sino muy especialmente por
estar conectados a la Fe Apostólica.
Estoy deseoso de continuar visitando
nuestras parroquias este año. Estoy
agradecido por la oportunidad de ver la
fe que se vive día a día en la vida de la
parroquia. Ha sido una alegría especial
haber acogido con beneplácito tantas
personas en la Catedral de San Andrés en
estos años. En la Catedral, continuaremos
dando la bienvenida a los jóvenes de
toda la diócesis para el Sacramento de la
confirmación, así como a los candidatos
para ser recibidos en la iglesia; para
celebrar aniversarios especiales de boda;
y observar todos los otros eventos y
celebraciones que forman parte de nuestra
Iglesia diocesana. Recientemente, como
ustedes ya sabrán, el padre John Geaney,
CSP, fue recibido como el nuevo rector/
párroco de la catedral durante una misa
de instalación. ¡Bienvenido Padre Geaney!
Bendiciones de Dios a todos ustedes en
esta tiempo de gracia.
Sinceramente en el Señor,
Obispo Hurley
St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the church Sept. 17 | St. Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr, Paul Chong Hasang and companions, martyrs Sept. 20
y dear friends,
With the fall season we begin a new program year in our parishes. Religious education starts
up again as well as many other programs and activities that have been operating at a slower pace
during the summer months. Children begin school and young people go off to college seeking
brighter futures. We also have 14 seminarians that are studying for the priesthood this year. This is a substantial
increase over past years. May this year be a season of new and renewed beginnings and grace and blessings for all.
New Roman Missal, Third Edition: Beginning the first
Sunday of Advent 2011, parishes in our diocese as well as those
throughout the English speaking world will begin to use the
new texts of the Roman Missal which have been in preparation
over many years. It has been over 40 years (in 1969) since the
first official translation of the Mass in English was issued. I can
recall as a newly ordained priest in 1965 celebrating Mass in
Latin until Advent of 1965 and then using (approved!) interim
texts until the issuance of the completed version of the Roman
Missal. In the newest translation, there will be a few changes
that will be noticed in some parts of the responses and prayers
Father John Geaney, CSP, (center) the new rector/pastor of the
Cathedral of Saint Andrew signs the Oath of Office during a Mass of
installation celebrated by Bishop Hurley (left) on August 16, 2010.
Father Geaney is assisted by Father Tom Tavella, CSP, (right) an
associate pastor at the cathedral. The cathedral’s newest associate pastor,
Father Marcos Zamora, CSP, was also welcomed during this Mass.
of the congregation. Explanation of the reasons for these
changes is certainly in order and there will be opportunities in
all of our parishes to understand the background and rationale.
What is perhaps even more important for us is that these
new texts provide an opportunity to awaken anew the love of
the Eucharist in our own lives and in the life of our parishes.
It is good at times to return to basics; to make sure that we are
celebrating the great gift that God has given us in the Eucharist
in a worthy and fitting way. This also provides all parishes with
the opportunity to consider parish practices that may need to
be changed to better reflect the teachings and liturgical norms
of the church. At times a certain casualness can develop in our
relationship with God. It may be the way we dress; the vessels
we use at Mass; the rituals that we perform; the music we sing.
While we do many things in our parishes, what could be more
important than a worthy and faith-filled celebration of the
Eucharist in which we worship our God and share in the gift of
his life. For us as a believing people, everything flows from the
Eucharist and brings us back to the Eucharist.
Thank you: I extend a special word of thanks to all who have
been so generous to the Catholic Services Appeal (CSA). The
CSA helps parishes meet their responsibilities to the diocesan
church and supports the work of the church at national and
international levels. We are not a collection of congregational
churches but are Catholic and therefore have responsibilities
beyond those of our local parishes. To be Catholic means to
be connected with the bishops as successors of the apostles
and the Holy Father. In our connectedness, apostolic faith is
preserved. Thank you for your faithfulness not only in your
financial support but even more in being connected to the
apostolic faith.
I look forward to continuing to visit our parishes this year.
I am grateful for the opportunity to see faith being lived out
on a day-to-day basis in parish life. It has been a special joy
to have welcomed so many at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew
over these years. At the cathedral, we will continue to welcome
young people from all over the diocese for the sacrament of
confirmation as well as candidates for reception into the church;
to celebrate special wedding anniversaries; and to observe all
the other events and celebrations that are part of our diocesan
church. Most recently, as you may know, Father John Geaney,
CSP, was welcomed as the new cathedral rector/pastor during a
Mass of installation there. Welcome Father Geaney!
God’s blessings to all of you in this season of grace.
Sincerely yours in the Lord,
Bishop Hurley
| Feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist Sept. 21 | St. Pio of Pietrelcina, priest Sept. 23 | St. Vincent de Paul, martyr Sept. 27 | St. Wenceslaus, martyr Sept. 28
from the bishop
Our Faith, Our Future: A Plan for the Diocese of Grand Rapids
Over the past months some of our parishes have been participating
in the Our Faith, Our Future planning process. I hope to be able to
share soon the results of that process for the Big Rapids, Northwest
Lakeshore and Grand Haven Deaneries. More work still needs
to be done as the process continues in the four Grand Rapids
Deaneries and the Ionia Deanery. The planning process for the
Muskegon Deanery will follow.
While we are faced with fewer clergy than in the past, this is
not intended to be the driving force behind the planning process.
The hope and the expectation is that we can bring new life and
vitality to our parishes. That is not to say that parishes are not
doing their jobs, but is rather to keep before us a vision of what a
vibrant parish should be. We have made available on our Web site
a document outlining the vision for vibrant parishes that can be
useful to every parish as an examination of conscience.
from the bishop
M
5
6
We have to move
T. Gennara
and my daughter doesn’t want to
Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual advisor.
Q
parenting journey
Because of my husband’s job, we have to move this
year. Our high-school daughter is really having a hard
time with this. She is really social at her current school,
and doesn’t want to give up junior and senior year with
all her friends. How can we make the move easier on her?
Your daughter’s reaction is
normal. She had expected
to share experiences with
her friends for two more
years and now her peers will be
finishing high school without her. As
parents, we hear the words, “It isn’t
fair!” and our response is, “No, life
isn’t fair.” By now, she might have had
her share of injuries that kept her out
of sports events. Beloved grandparents may have died. Chronic illnesses
may have changed the lives of friends.
Each time there probably has been
the same disappointment that life has
taken an unjust pathway.
Your question is a good one, because
it focuses on the most effective way to
cope with this unexpected turn of events,
rather than raging against the inevitable.
A
• Remind your daughter to be
herself. If a subject was challenging
before, she might have asked friends
if they wanted to form a study group.
That can be an effective approach in
making new friends, too. Ask other
students about high school and town
traditions. Be friendly, but don’t try too
hard! Keep in touch with old friends
and stay open to new experiences!
• Can friends help out? Perhaps a
friend or two could be invited to help
decorate the new room and check
out the new town. It might seem less
threatening given the secure base of
her friendship network. They can set up
Remind your daughter that all her
worries and concerns can be shared
in her prayers:
“I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You
are my God’. My times are in your
hands…” (Psalm 31: 14-15)
what gets my goat
Q
A
• Make school connections as
early as possible. What activities
does your daughter enjoy? Choir?
Band? Yearbook? Golf? Tennis?
Contact her future school and see
how she can become a part of these
groups once you move. Find out the
names of the teachers who act as
advisors and coaches. How can she
become involved once you arrive?
Ask the principal if it would be possible to hold a new student orientation. Perhaps there are several other
new students; they have no way of
identifying one another!
• Is choice possible in the new location? When one of my colleagues
planned his work-related move, he
and his wife found three communities within easy commuting distance
to his job. They had their teenage
daughter spend an entire day in each
of the three possible schools that
they selected. She chose the school
in which she felt most comfortable,
giving her some decision-making in
the move. Then her parents found a
home near that school.
I just bought a house and, in the
course of the survey, found out that
the next door neighbor’s fence is
several feet over the property line
into my yard. I don’t want to give up any of my
land rights. How can I approach the neighbor
about having the fence moved?
Did you know
about the fence
crossing the property line before or
after the closing? If you knew
it before and still bought the
house, it looks as if you were
accepting the situation.
If not, you do have property
rights and there are things
you can do to protect them.
Skype on a computer and tell friends
back home about their experiences!
As a first step, pay a visit
to your neighbor and, after
a friendly introduction that
includes your excitement
about moving into the neighborhood, tell him what you
have found in your deed or
property title. In a gentle way,
you can request a solution.
If he disputes the boundary, you should be prepared
Their fence
is in my yard
Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist
and family counselor.
to show him surveys or other
legal documentation that
establish your property lines.
If you resolve the actual
property lines, maybe you
can discuss the possibility of sharing the cost of
removing the fence and
planting it again.
However, if your neighbor
still does not change his
mind, you have the option of
a property dispute.
Whatever comes out of this
situation, always remember
that he is, and will be, your
next-door neighbor. And we
are called by Jesus to treat
our neighbors as ourselves.
Try to keep that in mind as
you work toward a resolution.
Don’t forget to pray!
Feast of St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, archangels Sept. 29 | St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the church Sept. 30
7
I think she loves the
dogs more than she
loves me.
Dave says: Karen is a major
animal-lover, and I mean major.
We have three dogs who are
the center of her life. She talks to them in babytalk, feeds them from the table and generally
treats them as if they’re human. I draw the line
at them sleeping in our bed, though – and that’s
causing a nightly argument.
My dogs were
there first.
T. Gennara
Karen says: Dave knew how
important my dogs were when we
started dating. They are my family – I
can always count on them to
listen without being judgmental and to make me feel better
when I am sad. They slept in
the bed with me before I married Dave – he needs to understand they were there first.
He said | She said
what do they do?
Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage.
man should put asunder.” Yet, that is exactly the case that Karen
is suggesting; that her pets come before her husband, and that
is wrong no matter how you slice it. Dogs are delightful (when
well mannered, that is) and can be a source of real companionship. Jo (who really wanted a puppy for Christmas this past year)
reminds us, however, that dogs are not human (notice the four
legs!) even though they do have a unique quality of wanting to
please their masters unconditionally.
It appears that Dave accepts/tolerates many of the practices
that were already in place when they first met and eventually
married, but we must agree with him that the bedroom should
be off limits to the dogs; especially the bed! It might do both
Karen and Dave well to revisit what marriage is all about; turn
to Scripture for guidance and direction, consult the Catechism
of the Catholic Church, and finally check out the canon law of
the Catholic Church. You’ll find that marriage is a sacrament in
which we encounter God’s love manifested through the exchange
of the most intimate love between husband and wife; and the
sacred space where that is most often shared is the bedroom and
the marital bed. To frustrate that exchange of love, no matter how
well-established through past practices as a single person, is a sin
against God and his intentions that “two shall become one.” Karen
and Dave may also wish to have a discussion on what the marital
bond means to each of them and the extent of intimacy each
desires from their relationship as God has called them to be.
your marriage matters
There is so much than can be said here, hopefully without offending any animal-rights readers. Karen, we are sorry to say, but you have
a misunderstanding of what the marital bed
should be within the context of your relationship between you
and your spouse. Marriage is a union between a man, a woman
and God; there is no more important relationship than that! To
give a pet importance over a spouse is not only misguided, but
is simply wrong; regardless of how they make you feel when you
are sad. The situation of putting the dogs before your spouse
is not a good idea if you expect to have a loving and fulfilling
marriage relationship. The greatest calling in life for a man and a
woman in love with each other is to be joined in holy matrimony,
the fruits of which will be the procreation of children and unity
of the spouses. To place a pet, or any material thing, in a position
that would frustrate that calling is morally wrong and an insult
to the integrity of the sacrament of matrimony. That may sound
rather strong, but we are talking about an important element of a
sacrament – a place where husband and wife exchange their most
intimate feelings and actions.
When Karen said about the dogs, “They are my family,” that
does not make it right for them to come between her and Dave.
Tom would like to remind Karen that your mother and father
are also family and I rather doubt you would be inviting them
to share a bed with you at night! In the Gospel of Matthew, we
read, “Two shall become one. What God has joined together, no
8
T. Gennara
Clean Energy
Y
By Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Photography by Philip Shippert
culture
ou’re a student. It’s only September and you’re already
busy – classes, sports, band, endless homework, choir,
theater – the list goes on. Having been there (almost 20
years ago), I remember days when my over-involvement
in extra-curriculars left me feeling exhausted. The
solution? Going for the sugary sweet caffeine boost of a ‘Big Gulp’ at
the 7-Eleven just few blocks from my high school.
Today it’s quite different. You probably
know (and are laughing at the fact) that
the “boost” from a mere 32-ounce paper
tub of soda is pretty meek compared to
the standard of today: the sleek bulletshaped can of the ubiquitous, high-octane energy drink. There are dozens out
there to choose from. As the market continues to grow, some brands are pushing
caffeine levels to new limits. Yeah, it’s
true that these drinks can deliver a quick
adrenaline rush. But like most instantly
gratifying quick fixes, they aren’t, in the
long run, really good for you. They also
what really matters, which is our spiritual well-being.
Now, there is no sin in looking for a
boost of nutrition (and yes, sometimes
caffeine) to help you through a busy
week of exams. But consider this all-natural energy drink that gives you a boost
without the crazy amounts of caffeine
and sugar you might find in an off-theshelf energy drink. And since prayers often accompany the energy drink when a
Catholic student enters the classroom for
an exam, here is something to consider
about the recipe – not only is it completely natural and healthy, but it also
happens to include ingredients replete
with Christian symbolism.
end up leaving you more exhausted as
they wear off. Bottom line: they don’t
deliver a real (and healthy) solution for a
lack of energy. Only sleep, nutrition and
exercise can do that.
But so it is with many of the quick
fixes we look to when we try to ‘shortcut’ to results, reduce work or purge
discomfort from our lives. They leave us
wanting. Don’t get me wrong. Modern
medicine and the entertainments that
technology has brought us are really
great. But even those, with all their
earthly benefits, can distract us from
The energy booster
• 1 kiwi fruit and 1 banana, peeled and cut up (Those
who live their life for Christ bear fruit, an allegory that is
consistent throughout the Scriptures)
•½ cup vanilla yogurt or whole milk (Milk and honey are
considered both rich and pure. In the Judeo tradition, they are
symbols of God’s abundance. The Bible often refers to the
Promised Land as a “land flowing with milk and honey.”)
• 1-2 tablespoons honey (Honey was – along with locusts,
which were conveniently excluded from this recipe – one
of the only two sources of sustenance consumed by John
the Baptist during his time in the desert.)
• 1 tablespoon finely crushed almonds (Many do not
know that almonds are a symbol of the Virgin Birth of
Jesus. Classic Christian paintings often include almond
branches encircling the baby Jesus.)
• 1 teaspoon wheat germ (Used in many breads, the allusion to the Eucharist should be obvious.)
• ½ cup white grape or apple juice
• 2-3 ice cubes
Throw all ingredients into a blender and mix at a high
speed for 15-20 seconds.
Enjoy!
9
10
Dear Fr. Joe:
T. Gennara
What does it mean to be
a practicing Catholic?
@
Q
in the know with Fr. Joe
A
Send your questions to: [email protected]
What does it mean to be a practicing Catholic? Do I have to believe
everything the church teaches, or just most of it? And if I don’t go to Mass
every single Sunday, am I still Catholic?
It’s wild, but
as much as we
throw around
the phrase
“practicing Catholic,”
it’s a hard concept to nail
down... so, great question! Let’s get
right to it.
First of all, many times, in
questions like this, the easiest thing
to do is slap down some guidelines
and say “Stick with these and you’ll
be fine.” That’s the temptation,
because it’s so easy to track.
The problem is, when we talk
about faith, we are talking about
relationship. When we talk about
relationship, we lose something very
special when we start explaining it as
a list of what we must do and what
we shouldn’t do.
Think of it this way: Imagine your
best friend approached you with
a pad of paper and a pencil. Then
she asked you to sit down and says,
“Listen. I want to be your friend.
I know I should. Tell me, what is
the minimum I can do and still be
considered your friend?”
If that sounds crazy, that’s because
it is. In the same way, when we look
at our relationship with God, if our
question is “What is the minimum I
can do and still be Catholic?”, then
we’ve got to stop and look at the core
of the question.
God wants a relationship with you.
How intense is that? All our theology,
all our sacraments, everything we do
is all rooted in our belief that what
God desires is a personal relationship
with us, lived out in a community of
believers. Take some time and ponder
that, because it’s pretty intense and
perhaps takes us out of minimalist
thinking.
Yet, even with all this, we do need
a list, don’t we? Part of the role of the
church is to show us precisely what
is needed. If we don’t hold ourselves
to the standard that the Catholic faith
gives us, it is way too easy to fall
into self-deception. Ultimately, then,
after a lot of looking around, I have
a list that I’ll share with you. While
researching this, I read a letter that
Bishop George Wiesner wrote for the
Diocese of Prince George. It was a
great source of information.
Anyway – here’s what we’ve got.
Please don’t see this list as infallible
or perfectly extensive. There’s really
no way to cover it all.
In terms of the sacraments, a
practicing Catholic has an active
sacramental life. He or she goes to
Mass a minimum of once a week and
lives the Communion they receive by
being in union with the church and
her teachings. Since we are talking
Communion, we need to remember
that the sacrament of reconciliation
is a huge part of this. Anytime we
have committed a mortal sin, we
have to get to confession as soon as
possible before we attempt to receive
Communion. We also need to hit our
holy days of obligation.
Besides public prayer, a practicing
Catholic prays every day in private.
Each day, a Catholic responds to
God’s call to personal communion
through quiet time and reflection.
A practicing Catholic prays with
his family everyday and never lets a
schedule get in the way of that.
The personal and communal
prayer of a practicing Catholic
compels her to go into the world and
spread the Gospel of Jesus in the way
she lives and loves. In terms of the
social issues of our day, a practicing
Catholic dedicates his financial,
emotional and physical resources to
those things that reflect the Kingdom
of God on earth: We help our parish
continue to function and minister
effectively. A practicing Catholic votes
and lives pro-life – we do not support
abortion under any circumstances
or in any form. We oppose capital
punishment and unjust wars. We
support initiatives that help the poor
and downtrodden and give our time
and treasure to helping the “least
among us.”
In short, her every action, political
or social demonstrates a firm
conviction that every person is a gift
from God and must be treated in the
same way that we would treat Jesus.
Well, I’m out of space, but not
ideas! Perhaps you can use this article
as a jump off point for a discussion
among your family and friends. See
where God wants to challenge us
to redefine what it means to be a
practicing Catholic.
Enjoy another day in God’s
presence.
11
O captain,
my captain!
Read more of Paul Jarzembowski’s thoughts on www.spiritualpopcorn.blogspot.com.
E
ach September,
when students are
back in school, I
like to watch one of my favorite
movies, Dead Poets Society.
EVERETT
EVERETT
spiritual popcorn
In this 1989 film, Robin Williams plays
John Keating, an unorthodox English
teacher at Welton Academy, an all-boys
prep school. Beyond poetry and literature,
Keating teaches the boys in his class the
value of critical thinking.
The lessons he shared went beyond the
textbook. Consider the moment when
Keating crouches down in the middle of
the classroom, reading and speaking to the
students about the passion, the fire and the
energy that poetry can give someone. No
text or lesson plan could ever capture the
enthusiasm this teacher conveyed through
his actions, words and emotions.
Dead Poets Society reminds me of all the
teachers, professors and mentors who have
had an impact throughout my life and
education. Like Keating, those men and
women didn’t just teach me the subject –
they taught me how to use it and to love it
by their own passion and drive.
Think back to the teachers and guides
who have moved and motivated you.
Think about the instructors who made
their subjects come alive.
The Scriptures tell us about such
teachers. When passing on the Law to
Moses, God asked that all generations
teach it not only in their speech, but in
all that they say and do: “You shall teach
this Law to your students, speaking to
them when you sit in your house, and
when you walk by the way, and when you
lie down to sleep, and when you rise up
again.” (Deut. 11:19)
When I watch the ending of Dead Poets
Society, when Keating’s students proudly
stand on their desk as free thinkers to
honor their teacher and shout out, “O
captain, my captain!”, I can’t help but
think about mentors in my own life. It
makes me wonder if I showed them this
kind of appreciation when I was their
student. It causes me to thank God for
their presence in my life.
Who are the great teachers in your life?
For whom would you stand up?
As another school year begins, let
us take the time to thank God for
each and every one of the teachers
and mentors in our lives. If it is still
possible, seek them out, thank them
for all they have given you through
their words and actions, and
proudly stand up and say to them:
“O captain, my captain!”
12
T. Gennara
The order of Mass
Rita Thiron is director of the Office of Worship for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and a member of the board
of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.
The order of
Mass of Paul VI
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Opening Hymn
Greeting
Penitential Rite (or Sprinkling Rite)
Glory to God
Opening Prayer (or Collect)
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Homily
Profession of Faith
General Intercessions
I
Bishop Walter Hurley presides at the Mass of installation for
Father Mark Peacock (right) at St. Patrick Church, Parnell (Ada).
n the middle of the second century, St. Justin Martyr
wrote to Antonius Pius explaining what Christians do
when they gather for worship:
“ … And on the day called Sunday,
all who live in cities or in the country
gather together in one place, and
the memoirs of the apostles and the
writings of the prophets are read,
as long as time permits; then, when
the reader has ceased, the president
verbally instructs, and exhorts to the
imitation of these good things. Then
we all rise together and pray, and as
we before said, when our prayer is
ended, bread and wine are brought,
and the president in like manner
offers prayers and thanksgivings
according to his ability, and the
people assent, saying Amen; and
there is distribution to each, and a
participation of that over which thanks
have been given, and to those who
are absent a portion is sent by the
deacons …” (First Apology Chapter 67 nos.35, trans. Lawrence Johnson).
Those practices should sound very
familiar to us in the 21st century. For
what St. Justin is describing is very
similar to our present day Liturgy of
the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.
A witness to
unbroken tradition
Throughout church history, the
structure of the Mass has undergone
development from a variety of
liturgical families, cultures and
language groups, but we have
steadfastly borne witness to an
“unbroken tradition.” For example,
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts
Presentation Hymn
Prayer Over the Gifts
Eucharistic Prayer
Thanksgiving
Acclamation(s)
Epiclesis
Institution Narrative and
Consecration
Anamnesis
Offering
Intercessions
Final Doxology
Lord’s Prayer
Sign of Peace
Invitation to Communion
Communion Procession [and
Communion Hymn(s)]
Prayer after Communion
CONCLUDING RITE
[Announcements]
Greeting
Blessing
Dismissal
[Closing Hymn]
when St. Pius V promulgated the Missal
of the Council of Trent (1548-1563),
he ordered that some rites be restored
“to the original norm of the holy Fathers”
(Quo primum, 1570) referring to writers of the
Patristic Age.
Likewise, the bishops of the Second
Vatican Council (1961-1965) built
upon the Missal of Trent, this time
aided by amazing discoveries of
ancient church orders, fresh linguistic
scholarship and research in liturgical
history (cf. General Instruction of the Roman Missal
6-15). Among other things, they restored
the Prayers of the Faithful, embraced
a fuller treasury of Scripture readings,
added eucharistic prayers based on
ancient anaphoras and restored the
use of vernacular languages while
preserving the use of Latin.
In the next few years, we will see a
new English translation of some of the
texts we use at Mass, but the Order
of Mass will stay the same. In future
articles, we will examine each part of the
Mass and the upcoming changes in the
texts of prayers, but in this issue, we will
simply look at the current structure.
The Order of Mass – an
integrated whole
“The Mass is made up … of two parts:
the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy
of the Eucharist. These, however, are
so closely interconnected that they form
but one single act of worship. For in the
Mass, the table both of Christ’s word
and of Christ’s Body is prepared, from
which the faithful may be instructed
and refreshed. There also are certain
rites which open and conclude the
celebration” (GIRM 28).
The purpose of the Introductory
Rite “is to ensure that the faithful
who come together as one establish
communion and dispose themselves
properly to God’s word and to celebrate
the Eucharistic worthily” (GIRM 46). Even
the procession of the presider and other
ministers through the assembly, as we
sing the opening hymn, is an act of
gathering. We begin with the sign of the
Pilgrimage
destination of
the month
Every year, Catholics from around
the globe travel to religiously significant
locations in order to deepen their
understanding and appreciation for the
Catholic faith, to venerate Mary and the
saints, to ask for intercessory prayers
and to express gratitude. Here is just
one of the many places you might want
to make a pilgrimage.
gave thanks, broke the bread and gave
it to his disciples. In his memory, we
continue to take, bless, break and give
in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the
preparation of the gifts and the altar the
priest receives our gifts of bread and
wine. In our great prayer of thanksgiving
– the eucharistic prayer – we offer God
thanks and the simple gifts become
the body and blood of Christ. In the
fraction rite (while we chant the Lamb
of God) we break the bread. And in the
distribution of Communion, we receive
from the one bread and one cup.
Some of you may remember the old
formula of the Mass, ite missa est –
“Go, it is the sending.” From that word
“missa” we get dismissal and mission.
From that word missa we get Mass. In
our brief, yet profound, Concluding
Rite we are still blessed and dismissed
so that, nourished by word and
sacrament, we may go out and tell the
good news of our salvation.
Notables:
The Basilica of Our Lady of
Guadalupe houses the original
tilma of Juan Diego. It was built by
the same Mexican architect who
designed the Estadio Azteca. Because
of the number pilgrims that visit the
Basilica each year, it is considered
second only to Vatican City in
terms of sanctuaries important to
Catholicism. It can seat 10,000
people with temporary seating
available for up to 40,000.
Tepeyac, Mexico
Tepeyac, or the Hill of Tepeyac,
is located in Mexico City. It is the
site where the Virgin of Guadalupe
appeared to Saint Juan Diego in
1531. Believed to have been a preColumbian worship site for the
mother goddess, Tonantzin, it has
become one of the most popular
pilgrimage sites for Catholics as
millions visit each year to view the
tilma of Juan Diego that bears the
image of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
especially around her feast day of
December 12.
Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
in the New Basilica
pilgrimage destination
It helps now and then to step back
and see how the Mass flows from ritual
element to ritual element and how those
parts make up a cohesive whole.
cross, recall our sins or the waters of
baptism and sing the ancient hymn of
praise, the Glory to God. The opening
prayer (also called the collect since
it ‘collects” all our prayers) sets the
character for the whole celebration.
On Sundays and festive days, the
main parts of the Liturgy of the Word
are the three readings and the chants
between them – one from the Old
Testament (except during the Easter
season), one from the New Testament
and one from the Gospels. Next, the
homily explains the readings and relates
God’s living word to our daily lives.
We affirm our adherence to the Word
by means of the profession of faith (cf.
GIRM 55). Finally, we offer our petitions
in the prayers of the faithful, praying for
ourselves and the whole world.
At the Last Supper, Christ instituted
the Eucharist by which his sacrifice
on the cross is continuously made
present. He took the bread and wine,
13
14
Above: Return of the Prodigal Son, by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
15
How to pray
with the prodigal son
O
n Sept. 14, the church celebrates the feast of the Triumph
of the Cross. By his suffering and death on the cross, Jesus brought life for all men and women. Christ triumphed
over the power of sin and death. He conquered the greatest of our enemies so that we might never die. It is the
greatest of triumphs – and it is ours, if we put our faith in him and his love
for us. Christ suffered and died – for you and me.
Pause and reflect
Have I taken God the Father’s treasure, my genuine and
eternal inheritance and squandered it on pleasures that resulted in much long-term pain and suffering. Did I at the time
recognize I had deeply hurt those who love me – especially
my Father who is in heaven?
The son in the parable finally comes to his senses and realizes
that his father’s servants have more than he does. He begins the
long journey home to his father’s house practicing his repentance
speech all the way.
And the father is watching with his eyes but even more
with his heart and spirit – longing day in and day out for his
son’s return.
Pause and reflect
How many of us as
parents have waited up,
waited in our hearts for a
prodigal son or daughter?
You would not be able to do
that as parents if God your
Father was not sharing that
agony with you in his heart. You are never alone. God is
with you in your vigil.
God may be waiting – and has waited for years – for your
return to him. He loves you and desires that you come home
through repentance – just like the prodigal son did. The
Father longs for you to wake up, to see his love for you and to
come back to him.
Sometimes we are not the prodigal but we are the elder brother
– the one who is always faithful, who never strays but stands in
judgment against those who have; one who is loyal and steadfast
but has no room in his heart to receive back into the family the
one who has strayed.
Look at the father in his relationship to his elder son. “All I have
is yours!” The elder son loses nothing in the father’s abundant
mercy to the younger son – but in his pride, wants to see the one
who was disloyal punished.
Pause and reflect
If we are in this position, we need to beg God to give us
grace to enter into the mercy of God, to share in his willingness to forgive. (A secret: When we do this, we will lose
nothing and in fact our inheritance will increase – because we
become more like God … ) Remember always what John
Paul II taught: Forgiveness is not the opposite of justice but it
is the opposite of resentment and revenge.
If you are the prodigal, look at the restoration that the Father
makes possible – the banquet with the best, the clothing befitting
the son of the house, the ring of authority, the sandals – and the
sign of the free-born, not the slave. Put this in spiritual terms. If
you have sinned, even greatly, the Father loves you so much that
when you repent you are fully restored. Your sin forgiven and forgotten; restored as a son or daughter of royalty with all privileges,
the clothing of salvation, the eternal banquet of the Eucharist and
a place forever as a son or daughter of the Father.
This is the good news of our salvation – this is the Triumph
of the Cross.
spiritual fitness
God desires to strengthen your faith so that you know in every
part of your being that you are loved and cherished and desired
for all eternity.
One of the ways God makes these truths clear to us is by the
powerful parable of the Prodigal Son, which is found only in
the Gospel of Luke and is read this year on Sunday, Sept.12;
particularly verses 11-32. [Read these verses. Now read them
again.]
The father in this story has a very young, self-centered son
whom he loves deeply. But that son can only see his own desires and asks his father for the inheritance he would normally
receive after his father’s death. In other words, the younger son
is saying he wishes his father were dead, so he could have what
he wants. Or he is saying, “I don’t care about you, Father. I
just want what is coming to me; give it to me now.” The father’s
heart could well have been broken by his son’s blindness – instead, he accedes to his son’s request. Wise fathers sometimes
give in to children’s selfish and shortsighted requests. They
know that sometimes this is the only way the adult child will
learn the truth – through pain and suffering.
The son, quite happy in his victory over his father, takes a carefully and lovingly stored treasure and squanders it completely in a
very short time.
T. Gennara
Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. Questions can be
addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
16
By Patricia Mish | Photos by Kathy Denton
FAITH Grand Rapids / July/August 2010 / www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org | www.FAITHgrandrapids.org
Y
You’ll find no images of Disney World or bright-blue
oceans in the snapshots from teenager Patrycia Gąsior’s
past three spring breaks. She has spent them with
other Muskegon Catholic Central High School (MCCHS)
students helping people in the Gulf of Mississippi, one
of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.
Patrycia Gasior
carries her sister Kasia,
10, along the beach.
Patrycia, Kasia and their two cousins (far left)
Victoria Gasior, 13, and (far right) Erika Piotrowski,
17, dip their feet in the waters of Lake Michigan.
17
18
A
cover story
As a freshman,
Patrycia befriended
a widow, providing a
listening ear as she
and others helped
the woman get back
on her feet. Her
sophomore year she
helped identify an
inspiring Bible verse
to have inscribed on
the chair of a man
with Parkinson’s
disease.
Most recently, Patrycia and her
peers spent a week tearing down a
hurricane-ravaged house no longer
safe for the family who had lived
there.
“Her compassion for those people
was just phenomenal,” recalls
school secretary Mellan Hansen,
who attended all three trips and
has watched the poised, energetic
young woman’s faith blossom.
Today at 17 as she enters her
senior year at MCCHS, Patrycia
continues to grow in a faith
strongly rooted in family, the
church and the Catholic traditions
of her parents’ homeland of
Poland.
A typical teen on many fronts,
Patrycia played varsity softball last
year, served on the student council,
and was chosen by her peers to be
in the junior homecoming court.
She frequents the mall with her
cousins and recently dyed her hair,
a look with which her father was
“not completely happy.”
At the same time, she prays often,
volunteers in and out of school and
is active in the pro-life movement.
What sets her apart, say those
who know her, is an unflinching
commitment to her Catholic faith
and values.
“She stands out as a moral leader
19
Patrycia, her sister and cousins talk with Sister
Agnes Mary Wojtkowiak on the steps of St. Michael
Church in Muskegon.
Patrycia is greeted by Father Thomas
Brown, pastor of St. Michael.
Most recently,
Patrycia and her
peers spent a week tearing
down a hurricane-ravaged
house no longer safe for
the family who had lived
there.
within the school,” says Michael Tober,
campus minister at MCCHS. “She strives
to make the right decisions. I think that’s
where the respect from her peers comes
from. She doesn’t waiver. She stands firm.
That’s one of the things I admire about
her the most.”
Faith founded in cultural
tradition
Patrycia, a first generation Polish
American, is the second of four children.
Her father, Jan, and mother, Stanislawa,
grew up in southern Poland near Krakow.
They became acquainted in Poland and
reconnected after both immigrated to
Chicago in the 1980s. They later married
and moved to Muskegon to join Polishborn relatives.
Patrycia, who is bilingual, speaks
with a slight Polish accent. Her family
home in Muskegon is spotless and
brightly decorated in modern colors. On
the walls are photos of Poland’s iconic
Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict
XVI, along with the image of Our Lady
of Czestochowa, much revered in her
family’s homeland.
For this young woman and her
siblings, the Catholic faith has its roots
here. “It’s always been something that
has been at the center of our family,” says
Patrycia.
The family begins and ends each day
with prayer, attends Sunday Mass and
prays the rosary together during October,
the month of Mary.
“My parents are good role models in
the Catholic faith,” says Patrycia. She
has grown up immersed in many of
the rich Catholic traditions from her
parents’ homeland. For example, Matka
Boska Czestochowska (Our Lady of
20
Patrycia (center front row) spent this past summer at Love Fellowship Baptist Church, in Muskegon, serving breakfast and leading
activities for local youngsters as part of Volunteer Michigan.
cover story
Patrycia (third from right) hangs with
friends during lunch break at Muskego
n
Catholic Central High School.
Czestochowa) “has always been dear to
the Polish people,” she said. The shrine to
Our Lady of Czestochowa is “the biggest
and most important place in Poland for
Catholics,” she added.
While Patrycia never saw Pope John
Paul II in person, she has seen the
biographies of his life that air frequently
on Polish television. The Catholic faith in
Poland “is definitely stronger and more
traditional,” she says.
Attending Catholic school also has
influenced Patrycia’s faith in a positive
way. She attended St. Michael Catholic
School until sixth grade, when she
transferred to the MCCHS campus,
which now serves children from K-12.
“You learn all about your faith,” she said.
“In public school you might not be able to
share your faith so much. Here, my peers
have the same beliefs and traditions.”
A strong moral compass
Yet, for teenagers today regardless of
where they attend school challenges to
faith abound. “It’s definitely hard,” says
Patrycia. “Anything on TV … is usually
not a good role model for younger teens.
Music you listen to is just so disrespectful
of people. It’s hard to stick with your
religion and be completely committed to
that. You have to stand up for yourself
and your religion.”
For teens, peer pressure can influence
some toward sex before marriage,
drinking or drugs. “Abstinence is important
to me,” she says. About alcohol and drugs:
“Your body is a temple of God and you
have to respect that.” Many teens rebel
against their parents. “I know of kids who
completely despise their parents,” she said.
“You have to respect your parents and be
proud of them. They gave you life.”
Even as she says these things, there
is not a hint of judgment in her voice.
For Patrycia, her actions and beliefs flow
naturally from her faith in God.
Friend Colleen Tejchma describes
Patrycia’s faith as “strong” but not
judgmental. “She bases her life (on her
faith), but she’s still outgoing and fun. She’s
friendly with everybody.”
Tober agrees. “She’s an incredibly joyful
person. She has a great exuberance about
her; she always has a smile on her face. She
carries herself really well,” he added.
At the same time, Patrycia has a strong
moral compass. “She knows what’s right
and what’s wrong,” says Tejchma. “She
chooses what she feels is right and doesn’t
care what people think.”
One example of that is Patrycia’s
commitment to the pro-life movement. Vice
president of the school pro-life group last
year, Patrycia often wakes early on Saturday
mornings to attend Mass then joins others
at an abortion clinic in Muskegon. Once
there, she takes out the rosary she carries
in her purse and joins with others praying
at the clinic. After the rosary, they join the
Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a prayer for
an end to abortion.
“So many people in Muskegon and at
school don’t know about abortion, the
death penalty, euthanasia,” says Patrycia.
“It’s something I’m passionate about. God
gave us life. We can’t decide who can or
can’t have life. We have to stand up for
life.”
Her faith
radiates out
of her. I don’t think
she knows it,” says
Tober."
Faith and service
Patrycia credits her faith with
propelling her toward service.
On the most recent mission trip,
she traveled to Lizana, Miss., with 30
classmates and 10 adult chaperones
to participate in Project Hope and
Compassion. The teens, based at a
church building where they slept on air
mattresses, began each day with Mass.
Their project this year was to
demolish a three-bedroom house that
could not be salvaged for a family who
had taken up residence in a small sugar
shack behind it. They used saws, sledge
hammers and crow bars, filling six large
dumpsters in one week. The group
also made the sugar shack more livable
for the family and ended the week by
sharing a Southern dinner with them.
“On those trips (Patrycia) led by
example; (it was) just the way she
carried herself, the way she spoke.
She respects other people,” Tober said.
“It’s evident she has a prayer life.” He
is impressed that Patrycia and her
classmates chose the service trip over
other spring break opportunities. “For
students to say, ‘I’m going to take my
spring break and get up early every
day to serve people.’ That’s (a) faith
statement right there,” he added.
In addition to the mission trips,
Patrycia belongs to a peer organization
called Remembering Our Call to
Kindness (ROCK). The peer ministry
group helps organize retreats and other
activities for younger students.
This summer, she and Tejchma
served breakfast and led fun activities
for local youngsters as part of Volunteer
Michigan. She enjoys the work and
says it flows naturally from her faith.
“Our faith calls us to reach out to other
people,” she simply says.
Not sure what her future will
hold, Patrycia envisions herself
possibly serving others in the
medical field or pursuing another
love, art. Regardless of what path
she takes, her faith will continue
to guide her, say those who
know her.
“Her faith radiates out of
her. I don’t think she knows
it,” says Tober, who adds that
Patrycia embodies the type
of Catholicism he works to
impress upon students.
“I tell them to be bold, to be
radical, to be Catholic, in a way that’s
humble, that’s full of charity,” says the
campus minister, who is heartened by
young people like Patrycia. “Our society
needs that: a humble, charitable but
bold Catholicism.”
21
22
AnnMarie Jakubowski
This summer about 90 students, members of Grand
Rapids Catholic Central High School’s various choirs, went on a trip to Italy, including a
visit to Vatican City where they sang during the Papal Mass for the Feasts of Sts. Peter
and Paul, presided by Pope Benedict XVI, in the Basilica of Saint Peter.
The group also sang at a formal concert in Perugia, Italy (Grand Rapids’ sister city); at
a Sunday liturgy at the Chair of St. Peter in the Basilica of Saint Peter; and at a formal
concert in St. Ignatius in Rome.
Among the group of students who participated in the trip was AnnMarie Jakubowski,
a senior at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School. The following is a unique
perspective of the trip.
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AnnMarie Jakubowski The Atlantic Ocean is 30,300 feet below me and
we’re more than halfway to Italy. I can’t believe that I’m on a plane to
Italy. Although it will feel like 2 a.m. when we land in Rome, it will be 8
a.m.; the six hour time difference is a lot.
June 24 at 4 a.m. CEST · Comment · Like
AnnMarie Jakubowski The group celebrated Mass this morning in the
Basilica of St. Francis. It was such a beautiful place, dusted with holiness,
and we got to sing there as a choir. Our songs, “Cantante Domino” and
“Alleluia” sounded different in that church from any other place I’ve heard
them before. Either that or the Italian air does something good for our
voices.
AnnMarie Jakubowski It’s funny that this city, this tangle of ups and
downs, and fountains and light brick buildings was here before Christ
was born. There’s a temple to a Roman goddess in the piazza! We saw the
tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, the exact place where his remains are ... he
lived here, here in these winding roads overlooking a patchwork of gold
and green fields.
June 25 at 3 p.m. CEST · Comment · Like
AnnMarie Jakubowski We saw the incorruptible body of St. Clare at the
basilica named after her. Eight hundred years, eight centuries, and she’s
still in human form. The plaster covered figure was once a breathing,
living woman of the 1200s.
23
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AnnMarie Jakubowski Florence today, or Fiorenze in Italian. Another beautiful city with the same
gorgeous stone tiled streets, old buildings and street vendors. I wish we could walk down the street at
home and randomly pass a castle-like building or any of these buildings for that matter. We went through
Accademia di Belle Arti Fiorenze briefly; I could have spent twice the time looking at the statues.
AnnMarie Jakubowski We took a walking tour of Florence and saw the famous bronze doors that
lead to the baptistery. We walked to Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful old bridge over the Arno River and
saw the city all lit up over the water.
AnnMarie Jakubowski These days are so long and so full that it’s hard to scratch out a half hour to
write this down. I can’t remember being more exhausted in my life than I am after a day of walking
and touring and exploring nonstop. I’m in Rome now, and we’ll be here until we leave for the airport.
June 27 at midnight CEST · Comment · Like
AnnMarie Jakubowski The choir sang for the Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. I still can’t get over
the fact that we sang in the Vatican. I kept thinking “I don’t think you ever forget something like
this!” Singing the “Alleluia” and hearing our voices soar and ring beneath the impossibly high, ornate
ceiling. It’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this place.
AnnMarie Jakubowski Father Gross offered confession at the hotel earlier. I went; I felt like I should
before seeing the pope tomorrow. Just being in such holy places in the presence of such holy people
makes me want to make myself holy too.
June 28 at noon CEST · Comment · Like
AnnMarie Jakubowski We went to Basilica of St. Peter and I saw the very chains that were on St.
Peter when he was brought to Rome as a prisoner. St. Peter! I saw the chains that were on St. Peter’s
skin, the skin that touched the same Lord I pray to today; the chains that couldn’t bind his soul or
restrain his faith, the faith of the rock upon which God built his Church.
24
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AnnMarie Jakubowski During our walking tour of Rome, we saw the
Roman Forum, the Coliseum and the Pantheon. The Coliseum was
amazing. I touched the ancient wall that millions of Roman shoulders
must have brushed on their way in to see some spectacle or another.
AnnMarie Jakubowski The Roman Forum was unbelievable too, the
center of ancient government. It was the epicenter of the legendary
Roman Empire ... can you imagine the days of Caesar Augustus or Julius
Caesar? The clatter of chariots in stone streets and the energetic air of
any important place?
June 28 at 4:30 p.m. CEST · Comment · Like
AnnMarie Jakubowski This evening, we attended Papal Vespers at the
Basilica of St. Paul, which our guide referred to as St. Paul’s Outside the
Walls, meaning that it’s not technically located within the Vatican. I saw
Pope Benedict XVI; we had to get there really early to get seats, but I
ended up close to the aisle and got a picture of him. I can’t believe it – I
was blessed by the holiest man on earth, spokesman for God through
the church, successor of St. Peter.
June 28 at 7 p.m. a.m. CEST · Comment · Like
AnnMarie Jakubowski We had pizza (my first Italian pizza!) and gelato,
and walked around a bit. I feel like my most used words to describe this
place are “amazing,” “incredible,” “gorgeous,” or “unbelievable.” I guess
there just aren’t enough words to express wonder that can catch all of
this experience.
AnnMarie Jakubowski Today we woke up really early to get to St.
Peter’s for the Papal Mass to celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul,
Pietro e Paolo in Italian. It’s a holy day in Rome because those are
the patron saints, so the pope said Mass at the main altar. I received
Communion consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in the focal point of the
Catholic Church. I still feel lucky. It was incredible.
AnnMarie Jakubowski I bought a medal of St. Peter because after this
trip, I feel kind of drawn to him. He’s always been a biblical figure talking
to Jesus or showing up in stories now and then, but now he’s a real
person. I saw his chains, I saw his tomb ... he’s become real to me.
25
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AnnMarie Jakubowski We visited the catacombs. They were kind of eerie but really cool at the
same time. Our guide said that the first Christians didn’t necessarily go there to escape persecution,
but rather to bury their dead and keep the community together even after earthly life was over. That
is still such an amazing image because it puts so much perspective on our faith – ancient followers
of Jesus are still looking forward to the same second coming we await today, and when it comes
we’ll all be together.
AnnMarie Jakubowski We went back to the Basilica of St. Paul where we heard
Vespers yesterday and then to the Cathedral of St. John Lateran. So far we’ve
seen three of the four main basilicas of Rome; Father Gross told us that plenary
indulgences are available to pilgrims who go to one of the main basilicas and
pray the Our Father, the Nicene Creed, and pray for the intentions of the pope
while they’re there. I think I received one yesterday in St. Peter’s because we did all
those things at Mass and I went to confession within the week.
AnnMarie Jakubowski Our last evening in Roma. We saw the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican
Museums today. It was amazing. I couldn’t look long enough. I couldn’t tear my eyes away; the
figures looked 3D. The famous fingertip painting of God reaching to Adam was there and it was
beautiful. They say that the empty skin on the main panel was Michaelangelo’s self portrait, that
after nine years he was so exhausted and so drained that he felt like a skin of a man. I believe it.
AnnMarie Jakubowski The Vatican Museums were cool too; we didn’t have a ton of time, but the
walking tour was fascinating. There were ancient tapestries on the wall and pieces of furniture from
the Caesars’ palaces ... all kinds of historical treasures.
AnnMarie Jakubowski Headed over the Atlantic. This was an incredible trip, and I feel like my eyes
have been opened to a whole new world. I know I won’t forget this; it would be impossible, and I
am so lucky that I was able to share this with friends and family. I’m sure I want to come back here
someday. It’s an incredible country; everything is so rich and bright and full of people and color and
flavor.
July 1at 10 a.m. CEST · Comment · Like
26
Join us for
ArtPrize
artprize
cover story
2010
S
Courtesy of ArtPrize/Brian Kelly Photography.
tarting in September, Grand Rapids will become a mecca for local, national and
international artists as they prepare to exhibit and compete at exhibition centers and venues
throughout the city during ArtPrize 2010. The general public will join the mix from Sept. 22
through Oct. 10 viewing and voting for their favorite works of art.
Selected by ArtPrize as one of seven exhibition centers for 2010 and
sponsored by Meijer Inc., Cathedral Square Center and the outdoor
spaces of Cathedral Square will become the temporary home of the
works of art of more than 30 artists whose talents range from painting
and photography to sculpture and beyond. Curated by Ron Pederson,
Aquinas College’s art department chairperson, and a support team,
the exhibit at Cathedral Square is intended to be both cohesive and
thought provoking. To learn more about the 32 artists and their works,
visit dioceseofgrandrapids.org and click on the ArtPrize link or visit
artprize.org.
Along with the artwork, a number of activities and events are planned
during ArtPrize to engage the public. The ArtPrize Team at Cathedral
Square invites your participation in the following:
Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Cathedral
Square Opening Reception
Join us at Cathedral Square for an opening reception exhibiting the work of
32 talented 2D and 3D artists. Meet the artists, and enjoy exploring our indoor
collection on the second floor, as well as sculptures located throughout our
outdoor promenade.
Sept. 22, 6-10 p.m., Cathedral Square’s Wege Conference Center
The Public’s Poem
Come share your unique perspective in a continuous interactive collaboration
event! Everyone viewing the art at Cathedral Square is invited to submit a
short written response by either writing a word, series of words, or a short
phrase in response to any work that inspires you or to respond to the exhibit as
a whole. Responses will be gathered and composed into a poem or a series of
poems based on the public’s response. “The Public’s Poem” will be unveiled and
read during an event on artistic collaboration on October 3rd at 2:00 pm.
Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. – Sept. 26 at 5 p.m., Cathedral Square Center
Empower your Artistic Eye
Ever feel physically exhausted after walking around an art
museum? Or have you felt mentally drained struggling to
appreciate “a masterpiece” asking yourself “what makes this art?”
Let Cathedral Square’s guest speakers answer these questions and
help you energize, inform, and empower your unique artistic eye!
Sept. 26, 4-5:30 p.m., Cathedral Square’s Wege
Conference Center, Rooms D/E
Channel your Chalk Chi…or
Chuckle while you Chalk
There is still time to exhibit your own artwork in ArtPrize
2010! Come show off your artistic side for all to see at
Cathedral Square. Children and adults are invited to use
provided sidewalk chalk to fill our outdoor promenade with their
own colorful art. Chalk will also be provided on October 3rd
during Heartside Neighborhood Day.
Sept. 26, 1-3 p.m., Cathedral Square
Talking Ideas: Artistic Collaborating
Much of the art we experience combines art forms or
results from two artists working together. Join Ron Pederson,
Aquinas College Sculpture Professor, Art Department
Chairperson, and sculptor, his wife Miriam Pederson,
Aquinas College English Professor and poet, and additional
collaborative duos for an afternoon discussion on why
artistic collaboration is so alluring to artists. And be here
for the unveiling of “The Public’s Poem”, a poem composed of
responses gathered from the ArtPrize community.
Oct. 3, 2-3:30 p.m., Cathedral Square’s Wege
Conference Center, Rooms D/E
CCHS graduate, John Capodilupo, top finisher in
2010 Intel Science Talent Search
John (center) with his family, (from left) his dad John, grandparents Vincenzo and Amedea
Nicolini; John’s brother Daniel, and his mom Mary Ann at the National Academy of Sciences
on Public Exhibition Day.
Eriks, encourages students and provides
them with the tools and support to pursue
science outside the normal boundaries of
high school. Students apply for the program
in their freshman year and, if accepted,
participate during their sophomore through
senior years.
In February, Capodilupo was selected
as one of 40 finalists in the Intel Science
Talent Search, America’s oldest and
most prestigious pre-college science
competition. The project he entered – one
that he’d been researching throughout his
high school years - used cluster analysis
of objects in the night sky to study the
structure and evolution of the early universe.
The 40 finalists, selected from among
1,736 high school seniors nationwide,
were invited in March to Washington, D.C.
where the top 10 awards were announced.
John’s name and photo are displayed on the
big screen as he is introduced during the Intel
awards ceremony held at the National Building
Museum in March.
By JoAnn Fox | Photos courtesy of John Capodilupo
local news
John Capodilupo’s journey into
science, specifically cosmology, began in
fifth grade when with the assistance of his
dad, he read Stephen Hawking’s A Brief
History of Time. Since then, Capodilupo,
18, has had a fascination with math
and science and has sought to better
understand the workings of the universe.
“I don’t know why I love math so
much,” said Capodilupo. “I just love
playing with numbers and discovering
pure mathematical truth.”
It doesn’t hurt that he comes from a
family with a history of practicing and
teaching medicine. His dad, John, is
an anatomy and physiology teacher at
Grand Valley State University and his
mom, Mary Ann, is an obstetric nurse.
Both encouraged in Capodilupo a love
of learning and a questioning mind,
even when they eventually began to
run out of answers. A 2010 graduate
of Grand Rapids Catholic Central High
School (CCHS), Capodilupo will attend
Boston’s prestigious Harvard University
this fall and plans to study math, physics
or computer science.
Capodilupo feels sure that without
Catholic Central’s Science Research
Seminar he likely would not be attending
Harvard nor would he have been provided
the opportunity this year to participate in
Intel’s 69th annual Science Talent Search.
Catholic Central’s Science Research
Seminar, founded by Andrew Moore
five years ago and headed now by Leigh
Capodilupo attended the ceremony
with his parents and learned he’d earned
a sixth place finish. Though his primary
motivation is the science he’s doing,
Capodilupo admits when he heard his
name announced “it was an exhilarating
feeling and confirmation that all the years
of hard work had paid off.” He’ll use the
$25,000 cash prize to help pay for his
studies at Harvard.
Capodilupo, his brother Daniel, a
CCHS freshman this year, and their
parents are members of the parish at
St. Jude in Grand Rapids and attend
Mass together each week. He values
the strong foundation of faith imparted
by his parents and through the Catholic
education he received at St. Jude
Elementary School (now All Saints
Academy) and CCHS.
“Catholic Central was very good at
teaching us how to balance everything,”
said Capodilupo. “Development of
positive character was stressed in
religion classes and the strict rules of the
school, though we may not have enjoyed
them at the time, helped build character
and provided me with a solid foundation.”
As Capodilupo continues on to college
and his ultimate goal of becoming a
research professor, he’ll take with him
that which his parents and teachers have
helped instill in him – the desire to ask
and attempt to answer difficult questions.
As we conclude the interview, Capodilupo
mentions Albert Einstein is one of his role
models and talks about his admiration
of Einstein’s curiosity about the way the
world worked as well as every day matters
such as religion, politics and nature. “I’ve
kind of imitated that and appreciate the
lifestyle it brings,” he said.
27
28
Parish contributions to 2009 Catholic Campaign for Human
Development (CCHD) appeal provide $26,300 in local grants
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is a national program of the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) funded almost entirely through annual parish collections. Contributions to the 2009
CCHD appeal within the Diocese of Grand Rapids totaled $105,235. Each year, 75% of the amount collected
is sent to the CCHD’s national office to support anti-poverty projects throughout the United States. Twenty-five
percent of the annual collection is kept by the diocese for distribution in the form of grants to fund self-help initiatives
benefitting local programs.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) recently presented five local grants and one national
grant to programs serving communities within the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Subsequent to the grant application
process, Bishop Walter A. Hurley approved nearly $64,000 to support the following programs:
Local grant recipients
local news
Community enCompass (Muskegon)
Youth Entrepreneurship/ Employment Program
(YEP!)
$7,000 local grant
The purpose of YEP! is to address disinvestment that
has occurred in the neighborhood for decades. It seeks to
employ youth in two types of jobs: construction/rehab and
lawn care for neighborhood seniors. YEP! will teach youth
new skills and get them ready for the workforce. CCHD
local funds will help secure a project coordinator and
provide start-up capital for tools and lawn care equipment.
WORD Project ESL (Dominican Sister)
Advancement of Citizenship
$2,000 local grant
The WORD Project ESL program aims to provide
students with a safe and welcoming environment where
classes will teach students basic English in order to
improve the quality of their lives and become active,
contributing members of society. The grant will support
the purchase of textbooks, instruction materials, teaching
supplies and copy materials needed to submit forms for
citizenship.
St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church (Muskegon)
ESL Program
$5,000 local grant
St. Jean Baptiste’s ESL program provides a largely
Hispanic community with the opportunity to learn English
to better advocate for themselves and more successfully
transition to the Muskegon community. The inability
to speak English is a major barrier for employment,
navigating the immigration system and participating
in community activities. CCHD local funding will help
compensate tutors and provide materials for 30 students.
St. Patrick Catholic Church (Grand Haven)
Job Seekers Program
$7,000 local grant
This non-denominational program serves
unemployed and underemployed individuals by
providing networking sessions, coaching and
mentoring, community resources, computer and
Internet access for Michigan unemployment resources
as well as resume and cover letter development
courses.
Cathedral of Saint Andrew (Grand Rapids)
ESL: Education Ministry
$3,000 local grant
The Cathedral’s ESL project is a series of classes
designed to meet the needs of the Spanish-speaking
community. Education in ESL helps immigrants
improve their lives by way of better communication in
the workplace, school and elsewhere. Funds will be
used for classroom supplies, instructional materials,
support ongoing training of tutors and teachers, and
provide child care for ESL participants.
Bethany Housing Ministries (Grand Rapids)
Healthy Neighborhood Project
$40,000 national grant
Funds will be utilized to hire a full time organizer
who will help streamline Healthy Neighborhood’s
efforts and focus on low-income people while
maintaining their already established neighborhood
programs. Funds also will be used to help implement
the program events.
Catechetical Sunday
The Diocese of Grand Rapids will join Catholic parishes
throughout the country in celebrating Catechetical Sunday on
Sept. 19. The annual event spotlights the importance of the
formal teaching ministry in the Catholic Church. The theme
this year is “Catechesis and the Proclamation of the Word.”
Many thanks to the nearly 1,700 catechists serving in
our diocese who through their commitment continue to
introduce and impart the teachings of the church to children,
youth and adults.
For those interested in learning more about religious
education – and how to get involved – please talk with your
parish catechetical leader, or go to dioceseofgrandrapids.
org/growing_faith/pages/growing_faith.aspx.
Save the date
Preparación Al Matrimonio
Oct.
3
Wedding Anniversary Mass
Our Lady Of Sorrows, 101 Hall St. SE in
Grand Rapids, is hosting a PreCana for Spanish
speaking couples from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 2. Registration fee is $60 per couple. For
more information contact Carola Carassa at 616.243.3927
or [email protected].
En la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los dolores,
101 Hall St. SE en Grand Rapids, habrá una sesión de
Preparación Matrimonial para las parejas que hablan
español de 9 a.m. hasta las 5 p.m. el sábado, 2 de octubre.
Cuota de inscripción es de 60 dólares por pareja. Para
obtener más información o para inscribirse, contacte
a Carola Carassa al 616.243.3927 o al ccarassa@
dioceseofgrandrapids.org.
In recognition of the faithful witness of married
couples, we will celebrate the annual Wedding
Anniversary Mass and blessing by Bishop
Walter A. Hurley at 10 a.m. Mass at Cathedral of Saint
Andrew, 265 Sheldon Blvd. SE, in Grand Rapids. An
invitation is extended to couples in our diocese who are
celebrating wedding anniversaries of twenty-five, forty, fifty,
sixty years and up. Family members and others are welcome
at this Mass as well.
A reception will immediately follow at Cathedral Square’s
Wege Conference Center.
Please RSVP through your parish office.
Oct.
9
Cana II
A marriage preparation program for couples
entering a second marriage; or who have
recently entered into a second marriage will be
held in the DeMazenod Room at Immaculate Heart of Mary,
1935 Plymouth Ave. SE, in Grand Rapids. Registration fee is
$60 per couple. For more information, contact Mark Mann at
616.475.1243 or [email protected].
Diócesis ahora ofrece la
inmigración servicios jurídicos
El Obispo Hurley recientemente anunció la incorporación
a los ministerios de la diócesis del programa de Servicios
Legales de Inmigración (ILS), ubicado en 213 Sheldon Blvd
en el centro de la ciudad de Grand Rapids.
ILS proporcionará representación legal, de bajo costo
en materia de inmigración a los miembros de nuestra
comunidad cuyos ingresos familiares estén por debajo
del 200 por ciento de la línea de pobreza. A través de
la representación legal, el personal de ILS ayudará a
sus clientes a reunificarse con familiares que viven en
el extranjero; a obtener la ciudadanía estadounidense; a
obtener la condición de residente permanente legal y a
ayudar a los inmigrantes que han sido víctimas de delitos.
Para obtener más información, llame al 616.551.4746.
Diocese now offers
immigration legal services
Bishop Hurley recently announced the addition of the
Immigration Legal Services program (ILS), located at 213
Sheldon Blvd. in downtown Grand Rapids, to the ministries
of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
ILS will provide low-cost, legal representation in
immigration matters to those in our community whose
household income falls below 200 percent of the poverty
line. Through legal representation, the staff of ILS will help
its clients re-unite with family living abroad; obtain U.S.
citizenship; obtain legal permanent resident status and
assist immigrants who have been victims of crimes. For
more information, call 616.551.4746.
CIC summer programs for
spiritual growth
The Catholic Information Center (CIC) is offering a variety
programs for Catholics and others seeking to learn more about
Catholic belief, practice and other faith issues. All programs
are open to anyone wishing to attend. Free parking is available.
There is no registration fee, but donations are welcomed.
To register, or for more information, call 459.7267, ext.
1801 or go to catholicinformationcenter.org. Upcoming
programs include:
• Living Sacramentally
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
God graces our lives in many ways, especially through
the sacraments. As disciples of Jesus and members of
the church, we are called to share the gifts of that grace
with the world. In this workshop, attendees will delve
into the meaning of the sacraments and their symbols
– exploring creative and practical ways in which we can
make our lives a sign for all – of God’s wonderous love
and grace. This course will be especially meaningful to
those who attended Glimpses of Grace.
local news
Oct.
2
29
30
Praise God!
Father Ron Hutchinson is director of priestly vocations for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
T
vocations – open to God’s call
he carefree days of summer vacation have given way to the routine of textbooks and
tests for students throughout the state, and that isn’t any different for the men of our
diocese who are attending seminary. This year in addition to the 10 men returning
to studies at their respective seminaries we have five men joining them. Four of the
men will be attending the minor/college seminary (St. John Vianney Seminary, St.
Paul, Minn.) and one man will be attending the major/graduate seminary (University
of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill.). It is exciting to see more men from our
diocese answering God’s call to serve the church. The other day someone asked me why the number
of seminarians studying from our diocese was on the rise.
My answer begins with what I hear from the men who
are inquiring about priesthood. The individuals I have been
speaking with have chosen to be open to God and his plan
for their lives. They desire deeply to do God’s will for their
lives and if priesthood is God’s will for them they want to give
themselves fully to that possibility. These men believe in all
sincerity that God is calling them to the priesthood and they
can do nothing else but respond.
The second reason why more men are saying yes to
priesthood is that they love the church and want to serve
her with all their hearts and with all their lives. Many men I
meet today have tapped into the treasures of the church. They
have found wisdom for living and strength in the face of the
uncertainty of today’s world. Because they have experienced
these riches and found this truth (the pearl of great price)
they are willing to give up a great deal in order to share what
they have found. And what they have to share does not come
from anywhere but a place of joy. They do not want to be
seen as being filled with pride, but rather they want others to
experience what they have experienced. When I meet with
these men I am humbled by their lively faith and their sincere
desire to evangelize. I have witnessed their passion for serving
the church founded by the apostles.
Despite the sacrifices involved in committing their lives to
the priesthood, the men I meet want nothing more than to
be able to do something truly meaningful, and they see deep
meaning in the life of the priest. Those around them often
try to dissuade them because they see no value in celibacy,
but the men I meet recognize the depth of the sacrifice that
this discipline of the church entails and they are willing to
make that sacrifice. The men choosing to attend seminary to
study for the priesthood see the value inherent in the spiritual
fatherhood to which priests as celibates are devoted. They
know it will not be easy to live in such a counter-cultural
way, but they are dedicated to serving God’s people without
the support and challenges of being married and having a
family.
The third reason why these men want to be priests
today is because they desire to serve God’s people. They
understand that priesthood is a life of service and spiritual
fatherhood to the ever challenged lives of those who call
themselves Christians.
These men also have a deep love for the Eucharist and
have prayer lives rooted deeply in the mystery central to
our church. We need the precious body and blood and
our Savior present in the Eucharist. Without the greatest
gift Jesus left us, a great void will leave room for darkness
where once there was light. The men I meet feel strongly
that they are being called to the awesome responsibility
of presiding at the celebration of the Eucharist so the
real presence of Jesus Christ will not be lost to future
generations.
Praise God that more men are studying to be priests for
our diocese. It is a sure sign of hope for our diocese and
the church, and an answer to our prayers.
NEW priestly vocations
website
The Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
has launched a new Web site, grpriests.
org, that focuses on priestly vocations. The
site includes information about The Calling
(discernment), Education, Current Seminarians, The
Priesthood and Taking the First Step (in becoming a
priest). The Calling, Education and Priesthood sections
also feature a Q&A and links to other resources.
Save the date (continued)
Oct.
16
Oct.
17
White Mass
All medical professionals and health-care
workers are invited to attend the White Mass
and special blessing at 10 a.m. on Sun., Oct. 17
(Feast of Saint Luke, the physician) at the Cathedral of Saint
Andrew. Bishop Walter A. Hurley will preside. Immediately
following the Mass, a continental breakfast will be served at
Cathedral Square’s Wege Conference Center.
24
Social Ministry Family
Conference
Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM)
is hosting a Social Ministry Family Conference
on Sunday, Oct. 24 from 1-4 p.m. at Cathedral Square
in Grand Rapids. Participants are invited to attend noon
Mass at the cathedral before the conference. A series of
presenters including Rachel Lustig, Catholic Charities USA
Director of Parish Social Ministry, will address the nature,
concerns and benefits of social ministry in our parishes.
A family volunteer service project at God’s Kitchen will
be included in the afternoon. For more information,
or to reserve space for your family, contact Jean Katt,
616.551.5663 or [email protected].
Oct.
25
Catholic Lawyers
Association Red Mass
The Catholic Lawyers Association of Western
Michigan will hold its annual Red Mass, on
Monday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint
Andrew. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Walter A.
Hurley. A dinner featuring keynote speaker Professor John
Dolan of Wayne State University will follow at Cathedral
Square’s Wege Conference Center. The association extends
an invitation to all members of the legal profession to join
in prayer for guidance, strength and recommitment to the
highest principles of their profession. For more information,
contact Mark Spitzley at [email protected].
Msgr. Gaspar F. Ancona is a senior priest of the
Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
T
here are many sayings
or proverbs that ruefully
contrast the state of being
young versus that of being
old. “Youth is wasted on the young” is one
such saying. Then there is “Youth would
be ideal if it came later in life.” How about
“In youth we learn, in age we understand?”
The French wisely say, “Si jeunesse savait,
si viellesse pouvait” or “If youth only knew,
if old age only could.”
In the Bible there are frequent references to the
ages of the many different characters who populate
its stories. Yet there is often a wild indifference to the
boundaries and usual expectations of age. Sometimes
a character is inappropriately young and inexperienced
for the mission God intends, such as the shepherd
David for the role of a uniting warrior-king. Other
times God’s choice is impossibly old for what God has
in mind, such as Sarah and Abraham as progenitors
of many nations. What matters in the Bible is God’s
determination to share divine life and friendship with
us. Nothing, ultimately, can thwart this determination.
There may be delays. There may be many obstacles
in the way, even physical impossibilities. But God wills
on, often choosing seemingly ineffective people and
means to accomplish the divine purpose.
We might look at these ways in which God chooses
to act as the familiar signature of an ever youthful
God, a God full of passion and power, a God of
imagination and daring, even a God of impatience and
of surprise. Those who consent to do the bidding of
such a God, no matter their previous forebodings or
hesitations, at some point experience for themselves
an energizing of their own that comes from partnering
with God. Going to the altar of God, as Psalm 43
puts it in an old translation, gives joy to our youth. Or,
more simply put in a new translation, we go to God
who is our “exceeding joy.”
When we are with God, age doesn’t matter. We are
forever young.
last word
Oct.
Forever
young
Catholic Women’s Conference
Called to Lead, a Catholic Women’s Conference,
sponsored by the Catholic Information Center
of West Michigan and the Catholic Diocese
of Kalamazoo, will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at
Cathedral Square’s Wege Conference Center, 360 Division
S., in Grand Rapids. The conference will explore the unique
calling of women to do nothing less than transform our
culture and our world and draw on the profound and beautiful
messages contained in the Apostolic Exhortation Christifidelis
Laici (The Lay Members of Christ’s Faithful People). For
more information or to register, call 269.553.0482 or go to
authenticfeminism.com.
31
32
360 Division Avenue S.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4539
online: www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org
www.FAITHgrandrapids.org
October is Respect Life Month
Virgin of Guadalupe,
Virgen de Guadalupe,
Patroness of unborn children,
we implore your intercession
for every child at risk of abortion.
Help expectant parents to welcome from God
the priceless gift of their child’s life.
Patrona de los niños por nacer,
te imploramos tu intercesión
para cada niño en riesgo de ser abortado.
Ayuda a los padres que esperan un hijo para que acojan el
Invalorable don de Dios de la vida de su hijo.
Console parents who have lost that gift
through abortion,
and lead them to forgiveness and healing
through the Divine Mercy of your Son.
Consuela a los padres que han perdido ese don
a causa del abortado,
y guíalos hacia el perdón y la sanación
por intercesión de la Divina Misericordia de tu Hijo.
Teach us to cherish
and to care for family and friends
until God calls them home.
Help us never to see others as burdens
Ayúdanos a apreciar
y a cuidar a familiares y amigos
hasta que Dios llame a su casa.
Ayúdanos a nunca ver a los demás como una carga.
Guide our public officials
to defend each and every human life
through just laws.
Inspire us all to bring our faith into public life,
to speak for those who have no voice.
Guía a nuestros funcionarios públicos
a defender cada vida humana
con leyes justas.
Inspíranos a todos a llevar nuestra fe a la vida publica,
A defender a quienes no tienen un voz.
We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus
Christ who is Love and Mercy itself.
Amen.
Te lo pedimos en nombre de tu Hijo, Jesucristo, que es Amor
y Misericordia.
Amén.
p l e a s e
r e c y c l e

Santo Domingo Savio - Diocese of Grand Rapids

Transcripción

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