ADRIAN — The Adrian Dominican Sisters marked Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, with a special ritual that reconnected the holiday to its original focus on peace. In a brief ceremony, they blessed a Peace Pole — a gift from the local chapter of Veterans for Peace — which had been planted on the grounds of Weber Retreat and Conference Center, on the motherhouse campus. In English, Spanish, Hebrew and Arabic, the Peace Pole proclaims the congregation’s heartfelt prayer: “May peace prevail on Earth.”
The Peace Pole at Weber Center is one of an estimated 200,000 planted as monuments to peace in nearly every country. A similar Peace Pole is planted in front of St. Joseph Academy, also on the motherhouse campus. The Peace Pole Project is a program of the World Peace Prayer Society, established in Japan in 1955 in an effort to spread the message and prayer for peace. (more…)
Some students at St. Cecilia School in Clare celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
CLARE — Students at St. Cecilia School took time between the celebrations of Easter and Mother’s Day to celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.
After learning about the historical importance of this date in their Spanish classes, students began preparing for the celebration. (more…)
Hundreds of motorcycles lined the parking lot at the St. Louis Center in Chelsea after their riders had disembarked. The cyclists came to the center on Sunday, May 1, for the annual Blessing of the Bikes event that included music, food and prizes. The event raises funds for the center, which serves as a home for developmentally disabled children and adults.
Motorcycle event draws hundreds, raises funds for Chelsea’s St. Louis Center
By Joseph Yekulis
The Catholic Times
CHELSEA — What does Michigan’s Massasagua rattler have in common with a Harley Hog? They both come out in the springtime and both were part of the fun that took place at the St. Louis Center on Sunday, May 1.
These were not really snakes and pigs, but, respectively, a classic rock band from Addison and a group of avid motorcycle riders who come out to support the St. Louis Center. (more…)
The Diocese of Saginaw’s newest priests — (from left) Frs. Robert P. Schikora Nathan E. Harburg, Edwin C. Dwyer and J. Marcel Portelli — prepare to join Bishop Joseph R. Cistone on the altar at St. Mary Cathedral during their ordination Mass on Friday, May 20.
By Mark Haney
The Catholic Weekly
SAGINAW — For four men about be ordained priests, Nathan Harburg, Marcel Portelli, Edwin Dwyer and Robert Schikora were surprisingly calm at they entered a packed St. Mary Cathedral on Friday, May 20.
“I was actually calm and peaceful the whole time,” said the new Fr. Dwyer. “I had enough people being nervous and excited for me. Last year, for the diaconate ordination, I was actually more anxious. But this time, this was a very calm, peaceful and graceful ceremony.” (more…)
Thomas Held (right) and Alberto Vargas Posada stand before the altar and Bishop Joseph R. Cistone during their Friday, May 13, ordination as transitional deacons at St. Mary Cathedral in Saginaw. Mark Haney/Catholic Weekly
By Mark Haney
The Catholic Weekly
SAGINAW — Two men took one big step toward the priesthood on Friday, May 13, when they were ordained transitional deacons by Saginaw Bishop Joseph R. Cistone at a special Mass at St. Mary Cathedral.
Thomas Held and Alberto Vargas Posada will spend the coming year as deacons with the plan to be ordained priests for the Diocese of Saginaw in 2012. (more…)
FLINT — In these challenging economic times, many have jumped on the coupon craze to cut grocery costs and further stretch household budgets. In addition to families saving money, Catholic Charities also is reaping the benefits, as savvy coupon shoppers donate excess items to the Community Closet, a Catholic Charities program that distributes toiletries, clothing and household goods to those in need in Genesee County.
Many coupon shoppers combine in-store coupons, double coupons as well as sales to get low cost and often free items, such as toothpaste, shampoo, laundry soap and deodorant. These shoppers will stockpile enough items for their families to use for months and will often donate extra items to charity. (more…)
EAST LANSING — Ten men will become permanent deacons in a special ordination Mass offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 955 Alton Road.
Bishop Earl Boyea will ordain the 10 men — John Carl Amthor, Richard Charles Badics, Leonard Charles Brown, Raymond Albert Ellingson, John Gale Fitch II, Michael Joseph McCormick, Michael Robert McCrandall, Chuong Thanh Nguyen, Omar Joseph Odette and Gregory Jacob VandeVoorde. (more…)
Team 2 from grades 1-2 enjoy their soup and sandwich luncheon at the end of the Lenten competition at St. Cecilia School in Clare. Courtesy photo
CLARE — Throughout Lent, St. Cecilia School students and staff participated in two projects— the Catholic Relief Services Solidarity Bowl (Rice Bowl) and the Amazing Label Race.
During this time students learned about the countries that benefit from Catholic Relief Services rice bowls. (more…)
Like priests and bishops, deacons receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. At the same time, the deacon is “one among us,” a man who has been called forth to live the Christian life visibly. He is an ordained person living in the 1ay world — a “marketplace minister.”
Deacons are first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (6:2-5). The Twelve Apostles called a meeting of all Jesus’ disciples and asked them to select seven “filled with the Spirit and wisdom” who would devote themselves to serving the poor in the community so the Apostles could focus their efforts on “prayer and the service of the word.” (more…)
SAGINAW — An estimated 280 people attended the inaugural Big Raffle Celebration on Tuesday, May 17, at Horizons Conference Center.
The event was open to the community. The centerpiece was the drawing, from more than 29,000 raffle tickets sold, the winners in the fundraiser for the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan. But the evening included an artists’ auction featuring benches, art cookies, door prizes, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. (more…)