By Lon Medd
The Catholic Weekly

SAGINAW — The neighbors living near Nouvel Catholic Central High School may notice an increase in air traffic this spring.

With a $625 grant from the Saginaw Community Foundation, NCC physics teacher Lisa Moore is purchasing a classroom set of air-powered rockets to run projectile motion experiments.

“In physics, it is important to not only learn about the principles of motion and energy in the classroom but experience the concepts first hand,” said the third-year teacher. (more…)

By Martha Goode
Special to The Catholic Times

At its root, peace is full of confidence and hope even in the midst of struggle, mystery, challenge and pain.

For Kati Garrison, the way of peace is her path and the adventure of being a disciple has been a constant part of her quest. She wrote for the front cover of Brighton St. Patrick Church’s weekly bulletin, “…my life has been forever directed on the path toward becoming the woman I hope to be.” (more…)

BRIGHTON — Pax Christi Michigan will host its 30th annual state conference, “Behold I Make All Things New: Building the New in the Shell of the Old,” from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, 2201 Old U.S. 23.

Registration begins at 7:45 a.m.

The keynote speaker will be Fr. C. Peter Dougherty, a retired priest of the Diocese of Lansing Diocese who is a member of the Michigan Peace Team. (more…)

KALAMAZOO — Portage author Jane Knuth spoke with students at St. Monica Catholic School on Monday, Jan. 31, and signed copies of her book titled “Thrift Store Saints,” which has been published by Loyola Press.
Knuth told students that she learned the importance of volunteering during her days in Catholic schools. She is a graduate of the former St. Joseph Elementary School and Msgr. John Hackett Catholic Central High School. She has spent the last 15 years as a volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, in downtown Kalamazoo and her book chronicles the spiritual lessons she learned while doing this important work.
Knuth received the Bishops’ Award for Volunteer Service in a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 8, in the auditorium at Hackett Catholic Central. The ceremony originally was planned for Thursday, Feb. 3, but had to be rescheduled, due to the inclement weather that closed schools.
Knuth’s visit was part of “Catholic Schools Week” activities at St. Monica Catholic School.†

Lining up to get books signed by Portage author Jane Knuth are Olivia Ballentine, a sixth grader at St. Monica School, and Lauren Kiesling, an eighth grader at the school. Katherine Doud/courtesy of St. Monica School

Teresa Tomeo

GAYLORD — Teresa Tomeo will be the featured speaker at Baraga Broadcasting’s third annual spring fundraiser, on Friday, May 6, at Treetops Resort Conference Center.
Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host and speaker with nearly 30 years of experience in TV, radio and newspaper.
In 2000, she left the secular media — she spent many years on WXYZ-TV — to start her own speaking and communications company. Her daily morning radio program, “Catholic Connection,” is produced by Ave Maria Radio in Ann Arbor and heard on more than 150 Catholic stations nationwide, including from 8-10 a.m. daily on Baraga Broadcasting in the Gaylord Diocese. Her show also is carried on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.
She is a columnist and special correspondent for Our Sunday Visitor. She appears frequently on EWTN Catholic television and also has been featured on “The O’Reilly Factor” and Fox News.
In 2008 she was one of 250 delegates from around the world to attend the Vatican Women’s Congress in Rome marking the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s letter, “On the Dignity and Vocation of Women.”
Her first book, “Noise — How Our Media Saturated Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families” was published by Ascension Press and now is in its second printing. Her other books include, “Newsflash! My Surprising Journey from Secular Anchor to Media Evangelist” as well as “All Things Girl” and  “All Things Guy” for “tween” girls and boys focusing on modesty and chastity.
For more information about the event, call (231) 238-0811.†

MIDLAND — Saginaw Bishop Joseph R. Cistone marked the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 30-Feb. 5, with the dedication of a $2.8-million school and parish center expansion at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish,207 Ashman St.

The 12,700-square-foot addition includes a gymnasium and locker rooms, kitchen, classrooms and offices.

More than 500 people attended the ceremony. The dedication followed the Sunday Mass. (more…)

Jada Learman stocks shelves at the Harbor Beach Food Pantry. The 11-year-old has been working an average of two days a week at the food pantry for the past two years. Debbie Oglenski/Catholic Weekly

Eleven-year-old Harbor Beach girl donates time, money to help at food pantry

By Debbie Oglenski
The Catholic Weekly

HARBOR BEACH — While most 11-year-olds are busy playing in their leisure time, Jada Learman focuses on feeding the hungry.

The oldest daughter of Paul and Christina Learman has been working at the local food pantry, administered by the Harbor Beach Ministerial Association, for the past two years. There isn’t a responsibility she hasn’t mastered, from entering names into the computer, to filling the food orders, checking expiration dates on donated food, stocking shelves and filling out a form on those who donate food so a thank you can be sent.

“I’m still learning stuff,” Jada said. “There’s always more to learn.” (more…)

By Joseph Yekulis
The Catholic Times

CHELSEA — Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 3092 from Chelsea and Dexter Council 2959 joined together with the Polly’s Country Markets to conduct a grocery raffle to benefit St. Louis Center, Faith-in-Action and local families in need.

Tickets were sold during October, November and December and the drawing was Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Polly’s store in Chelsea. Store Manager Corey Kennedy drew the winning tickets and the prizes were awarded on Wednesday, Jan. 5. (more…)

Ann Arbor singer/songwriter finds her debut CD’s songs in prayer

By Mark Haney
The Catholic Times

ANN ARBOR — To know the inspiration for “ Songs for the Journey,” Kristie Gulock’s first CD, just listen to how she came to write “In Your Presence,” the fourth of 11 tunes on her debut album.

“I was at the Bread of Life Retreat Residence in Ann Arbor on a personal retreat and was in the chapel praying when this song, ‘In Your Presence,’ came to me,” said the 38-year-old Ann Arbor Christ the King parishioner. “I was kind of singing it out loud there by myself. I looked around and there was a piece of cardboard in a drawer and a pencil, so I grabbed them and just began scrawling down the words. I looked to the corner and there was a guitar. I picked it up and I strummed out the chords so I knew which I was singing along with it, so I could remember this melody. Then I wrote it on this piece of cardboard.”

More — harmonies, an arrangement — came during the recording session. “But the essence of the song, pretty much from beginning to end, was there on that piece of cardboard.”

The song just happened to come to her alone, in a chapel where there just happened to be a guitar and a piece of cardboard accompanied by a pencil. (more…)