D S A 2 0 0 7 ope can be a difficult y dear friends in Jesus Christ, concept to define. Blessings to you and your family However, like love, during this joyous Easter season! hope is something that Each spring, the faithful of our Hwe can recognize when we see it. Mdiocese unite to support the many ministries and So it is with the hope sustained agencies of the Diocese of Lansing by giving gen- through the ministries that are erously to our Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA). made possible through our annual Your gifts witness to your loving commitment for Diocesan Services Appeal. the life and mission of our church. Our DSA theme, “Rejoice in Hope,” reminds Our annual DSA makes hope real and visible servants of hope that all we do as a faith family for many thousands of people across the ten counties of our diocese. By sharing our resourc- serves others. Together, by responding to the es, we are able to accomplish together what no word we hear and rejoicing in the hope Christ single individual or parish could do alone. The gives, we can develop a network of vital sup- hope offered by the ministries supported by DSA takes many forms–from the education and forma- port that oftentimes a parish cannot do alone. tion of our clergy and lay ministers to programs that support those with physical and mental Our Lord blesses us with many gifts. The Diocesan Services disabilities. Those struggling with Appeal is one time during the year that Catholics poverty are given a hand up. Those are asked to offer a hope- who were incarcerated are assisted filled pledge to our church The Diocesan in making the transition back – serving the needs of Services Ap- into mainstream society. Chil- parishes, schools and peal is one time dren, youth and young adults are the people throughout during the year formed in faith. our diocese. that Catholics These are a few examples The over- are asked to of- of the kinds of min- whelming fer a hope-filled istries that response pledge to our daily seek to from our church – serv- bring the parishio- ing the needs of kind of ners in parishes, schools hope to many and the people which Je- past throughout our sus calls cam- diocese. us. In paigns this Eas- inspires me to “Rejoice ter season in Hope” for a blessed of new life outcome of our 2007 DSA. and hope, Please reflect on our Lord’s our com- generosity in your life and bined gener- respond generously to the osity can be Diocesan Services Appeal, by a source of which the church shares your real hope for gifts with many. many. And so Our Lord promised: “Ask our journey in and you shall receive!” The FAITH continues. more we turn to the Lord and ask, the more we can “Rejoice – Father Dwight Ezop is editor in Hope.” of FAITH Magazine and pas- tor of the Catholic Community – Bishop Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth of St. Jude bishop of Lansing. i n s i d e Diocese of Lansing facts: Diocese of Lansing Size: 6,218 square miles – includes ministry directors 10 counties in southeastern mid-Michi- gan: Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, share their DSA success stories Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw. Major cities: Lansing, Adrian, Ann Arbor, Flint, Vocations Jackson, Owosso and Ypsilanti. Another reason to give 1.8 million 3,830 baptisms Father Jerry’s total population last year 4 DSA success story: One 222,519 4,350 first seminarian’s journey Diocesan Catholics Communions (approx.) last year Services Appeal Data 95 parishes 3,379 confirma- Catholic Schools tions last year A time to learn 189 diocesan Superintendent Sister The Diocesan priests 979 marriages Services Appeal last year Dorita’s DSA success 91 deacons 6 is our major fund- story: St. Martha School 1,993 deaths raising campaign 28 seminarians last year conducted every Catholic Charities year in all 95 par- ishes of the Dio- What you do for the cese of Lansing. The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing least of my children, More than 100 Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling you do for me programs, servic- PUBLISHER 8 Chris’ DSA success story: Big es and ministries Rev. Charles Irvin Brothers/Big Sisters are supported FOUNDING EDITOR by the Diocesan Extra Edition • DSA 2007 Services Appeal Pastoral Planning The 2006 ap- Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR IN CHIEF Planning tomor- peal provided the Patrick M. O’Brien row’s churches resources for ap- MANAGING EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR proximately 60% Elizabeth Martin Solsburg Sister Rita’s DSA of the diocesan EDITORIAL DIRECTOR 10 success story: Parish planning central services Patrick Dally ART DIRECTOR/WEB DESIGNER for Cristo Rey budget. Jillane Job Less than five SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY cents of every dol- Restorative Justice Patricia Oliver lar pledged is used SECRETARY When I was for campaign costs Nancy Schertzing in prison you and year-round CONTRIBUTING WRITER visited me administration Betsy Miner 11 of the DSA. The Tim’s DSA success story: One PROOFREADING remaining 95 Tom Gennara prisoner’s second chance CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER cents are used for the programs and F A I T H P u b l i s h i n g S e r v i c e Ministry with services operated Rev. Dwight Ezop by the Diocese of CHAIRMAN persons with disAbilities Lansing through Patrick M. O’Brien Caring for peo- PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER the Central Ser- Enomhen Odigie ple with brain vices Fund. GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN disorders Amy Wieber 12 Joann’s DSA success story: The campaign GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN goal for 2007 is Patricia Oliver Support group in Mason SECRETARY $4,950,000 InnerWorkings In 2006, donors PRINT MANAGEMENT Ministry to the deaf contributed FAITHPublishingService.com and hard of hearing $4,417,581 FAITH™ (USPS 019993) is a membership publication of the Catholic Number of donors Diocese of Lansing, 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, MI 48933. Published To listen to the monthly except February and August. Subscription rates are $15 25,334 per year. Individual issues are $2.50. Send all subscription infor- word of the Lord mation and address changes to 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI Average gift 48933; 517. 342.2595; fax 517.342.2537 or e-mail jjob@ Rose’s DSA $174.37 dioceseoflansing.org. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lansing, MI 13 or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: success stor y: Finding Bruce a FAITH™, 209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. ©FAITH Publish- ing Service. FAITH is a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service. spiritual home “Here at Sacred Heart, I am pursuing a Master’s of Divinity with about 100 fellow seminar we are engaged in a life of prayer formation to help us become holy men for God a v o c a t i o n s he diocese plays an integral role in the life of seminar- ians. Father Jerry Vincke, director of seminarians Tfor the Office of Vocations, and his secretary, Jane Sessions, oversee the seminarians’ educational and finan- cial needs – with money coming from the DSA and other sources. They set up events to gather the Diocese of Lansing seminarians as a group for spiritual and social purposes. They keep the men informed about dioc- esan events and news. Father Jerry also works closely with the seminary to oversee the seminarians’ formation. On occasion, Bishop Mengeling will join Father Jerry when visiting during the seminarians’ semester evaluations. “Every seminar- ian has a unique story about his discernment pro- cess,” Father Jerry explains. “I was in the seminary Seminarian Craig Pohl with Craig Pohl, Father Jerry’s while he was in minor seminary at St. John Vianney in Minnesota. I asked him to share his story to offer some DSA success insight into his life as a seminarian. story: One “Craig took a pretty diverse path to major seminary at Sacred Heart in Detroit – where he attends now. Grow- seminarian’s ing up in Westphalia, he attended Catholic school; after journey Another public high school and one year at Central Michigan University, he earned his bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and Catholic studies at St. John Vianney reason to Seminary. Following some prayer and reflection, Craig took five years off after leaving minor seminary.” Craig explains: “I loved every, every aspect of the priesthood except one: celibacy. I come from a strong, loving family that gives me so much joy! I wanted to get married and live that life that had been so rich and wonderful for me. “I feared life as a priest would be lonely without that loving family. So I took some time off to continue my discernment. I returned home to Westphalia and worked in youth ministry for a few years. I established the ARK Youth Cafe, offering Christ-centered activi- ties from Bible studies to dances. I taught at Lansing FAITH Magazine 4 DSA 2007 | www.FAITHmag.com By Nancy Schertzing | Photography by Tom Gennara inarians. Intertwined with our theology classes, d and his people.” – Seminarian Craig Pohl your gifts to DSA one person’s story support these vocations of being a lay minister • Office of Seminarians seeks to promote vo- he Office of Lay cations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Ministry provides In particular, this office oversees the promo- pastoral formation tion, discernment and formation of men who for ecclesial min- feel a call to serve as diocesan priests for the Tistry. Ecclesial ministry is the Diocese of Lansing. service of church leadership usu- • Office of Deacons provides the formation of ally exercised in a parish setting.