AA PentecostalPentecostal mommom bringsbrings herher childrenchildren “home”to“home”to St.St. PiusPius SchoolSchool inin FlintFlint 2 T. Gennara T. A time of change a time of renewal @ Father Dwight Ezop is editor of FAITH Magazine and pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude. E-mail: [email protected]. wice a year, usually during autumn and again during know well and experience often, I Lent, I have been offering six-week-long Bible studies for suspect that all of us can fall into a adults in the parish. Over the last several years, we have sort of “auto pilot” mode from time studied each of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, to time when we come to Mass. The current words, actions and and the book of the prophet Isaiah. On average, each of gestures have become so familiar theseT series has had about 50 people in attendance. That changed to us that we can forget the much this fall when I led a study of the book of Revelation. Suddenly, there deeper realities that they help us to were nearly 80 folks in attendance. The interest was high and our dis- celebrate. Taking time to help folks cussions were even more lively and insightful than usual. From these to understand the mystery of the experiences, I have learned that, contrary to the opinions of some, Eucharist more deeply will pro- vide all of us with an opportunity adult Catholics are indeed interested in learning more about their faith. for deepened knowledge of and editor Providing opportunities that are convenient, engaging, and which re- appreciation for that which is both quire a limited time commitment all seem to make this an appealing the source and summit of our faith. combination for parishioners whose lives are busier than ever. As the old saying goes, change is not easy. It can either be a Like all priests in the United States, I’m bit different, while others will remain in the source of angst or we can see it in the process of preparing for a key eccle- form we now use. There will be new music as a time for renewed understand- from the from sial event that will occur later this year. On to be learned and a number of other riches ing and growth. I choose to see the First Sunday of Advent 2011, we will to be mined from the implementation of the this as an opportunity for a deeper welcome the newly-translated Roman Mis- new translation. appreciation of the central myster- sal, which will guide our prayer at Mass for The implementation of the newly-trans- ies of our faith. I’m hoping that all many years to come. The new translation lated Roman Missal provides a wonder- of us will do likewise and take full is the result of many years of work, ren- ful opportunity to delve deeply into the advantage of the many opportuni- dering the Latin original into English. When celebration that is at the very heart of our ties that will be available to us in we begin to pray using this new translation, faith. Beginning in Lent and continuing into parishes around our diocese in the many prayers that we have known in Eng- the Easter season, I will be leading a parish coming months. And so our jour- lish for more than 40 years will sound a study of the Mass. As with anything that we ney in FAITH continues. Haiti – one year later Catholic Relief Services helped … January marks the first • 900,000 People provided anniversary of the earthquake food in the early months that devastated Haiti, one of following the earthquake the world’s poorest countries. • 100,000 Children in Recovery has been slow, and the more than 370 schools, situation was exacerbated by orphanages and child-care this year’s hurricane and subse- centers received food quent cholera outbreak. • 215,000 People received Much remains to be done to emergency shelter • 64,000 outpatient victims of the earthquake help the people of Haiti, many materials consultations in Haiti. one year later of whom are still living in tent • 400 Transitional shelters cities and scraping by to get constructed immediately The Diocese of Lansing For more about Haiti, the necessities of life. However, • 100 Additional shelters helped … read FAITH’s bonus Haiti Catholics from the U.S. and built per week • The people of the Diocese digital content: Haiti – around the world have stepped • 947 Emergency medical of Lansing donated one year later, only on up to provide aid. operations $559,667 to assist the www.FAITHmag.com Liturgical Calendar: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Jan. 1 | The Epiphany of the Lord Jan. 2 | Most Holy Name of Jesus Jan. 3 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious FAITH Magazine / January/February 2011 / www.FAITHmag.com 3 The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing Most Reverend Earl Boyea PUBLISHER Rev. Dwight Ezop EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN Jan./Feb. 2011 • Volume 12: Issue 1 20 22 24 Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 20 Teaching in a Catholic school inspired Sheila to become Catholic | 22 Belonging is believing – Elizabeth Martin Solsburg Participation in faith increases knowledge | 24 Maintenance to mission: transforming our Catholic schools DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Cynthia Vandecar MARKETING MANAGER Patrick Dally what you’ll ART DIRECTOR Lynne Hsu get out of GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEBMASTER Jillane Job EDITORIAL ASSISTANT this issue InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT Michelle Sessions DiFranco | Doug 4 from the bishop table Culp | Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle | Bob Horning | Rev. Charles Irvin | Paul – Bishop Earl Boyea Jarzembowski | Rev. Joseph Krupp | Dr. Gelasia Marquez | Dr. Cathleen McGreal 5 work life – Nick Synko | Nancy Schertzing | Sister Ann Shields | parenting journey 6 of contents Todd Schulz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – Dr. Cathleen McGreal Derek Melot marriage matters PROOFREADING 7 Carlson Productions | Tom Gennara | – Tom and JoAnne Fogle James Luning (cover) | Don Quillan in the know CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 8 Bob Patten | Chris Sushynski with Fr. Joe CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS – Father Joseph Krupp FAITHTM (USPS 019993) is a publication of FAITH Catho- lic, Diocese of Lansing, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48906-5550. FAITHTM is a membership publication of the 9 spiritual popcorn Catholic Diocese of Lansing and is published monthly except for February and August. To purchase a subscription, log on A Pentecostal mom brings her children to FAITHmag.com. If you have a change of address, please – Paul Jarzembowski contact your parish. Periodicals postage paid in Lansing, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send ad- “home” to St. Pius School in Flint dress changes to FAITHTM, 1500 E. Saginaw St., Lansing MI 10 culture 48906-5550. ©2011 FAITH Catholic. FAITH is a trade- mark of FAITH Catholic. – Michelle Sessions DiFranco Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling Shawn Ochs is not Catholic, nor is her husband. 12 spiritual fitness FOUNDING PUBLISHER But when Shawn brought her children to St. Pius Rev. Charles Irvin 16 – Sister Ann Shields FOUNDING EDITOR School in Flint for the first time, she felt as if they had come 14 theology 101 – Rita Thiron For advertising information: home. Find out why this Pentecostal mom thinks a Catholic Call 517.853.7600 31 last word school is the best fit for her family. – Father Charles Irvin forget the books of the Pentateuch – ever. (For those of you unfortunate enough not Who was your best to have had a class with Sister Pat, those are the first five books of the Bible.) schoolteacher? But Sister Pat taught more than dry facts. She had a love for Scripture and theology @ Elizabeth Solsburg is editorial director of that was contagious – these words had FAITH Magazine. She can be reached at T. Gennara T. really shaped her life. When she left St. [email protected] Thomas, she went on to become a pastoral associate at St. Pat’s in Whitmore Lake. She ost of us have a favorite teacher. When we’re actual- modeled a life of ministry in the Church ly in school, it may be the teacher who is “easy” and that affected my decision to become a doesn’t demand a lot of work. Or the teacher who is director of religious education – at the same just plain fun. But, sometimes, with the perspective parish in which I’d attended high school. I had lost touch with Sister Pat until a of time and experience, we realize the fun teacher few years ago, when I was lucky enough to wasn’tM necessarily the one who taught us the most. visit her in the IHM motherhouse and get a chance to thank her for being the best I had many great teachers. But the one Pat taught freshman religion at St. Thomas teacher ever. If there’s a teacher like Sister who really had a huge influence on my life High School in Ann Arbor. When you got Pat in your past, you might want to look and career was Sister Patricia O’Toole. Sister out of that class, you were never going to him or her up and say, “Thanks!” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious Jan. 4 | St. John Neumann, bishop Jan. 5 | St. André Bessette, religious Jan. 6 | St. Raymond Peñafort, priest Jan. 7 | Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jan. 9 4 Why Catholic schools? Bishop Earl Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. hy Catholic schools? Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman, visited America in the 1830s and commented on practically everything. He said this about public schooling: “It cannot be doubted that in the United States the instruction of the people powerfully contributes to the support of the democratic republic; and such must always be the case, I believe, where the instruction which enlightens the understanding is not separated from the moral education which amends the heart …” There is the issue – the separation of the intellectual and moral formation of our young people.