SAGINAW — Starting Friday, July 1, Daniel S. Osborn will become the director of the Center for Ministry, 5802 Weiss St.

As director, Osborn will be responsible for the oversight and development of theological curriculum and the teaching and programming for pastoral ministry, retreats and special events for the diocese. He will provide guidance to various programs, including the education and preparation of permanent deacons, commissioned lay ministers, youth ministry and religious education for adults and children.  He also will serve as a resource to Catholic school leaders and parish catechists. (more…)

By Jacqueline McKnight
The Catholic Times

FLINT — Thanks to Jim and Susan Hall, Mary’s Garden at the former St. Michael High School is blooming again after 55 years.

Originally, the garden was next to the convent of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the St. Michael High School campus in the heart of downtown Flint. It was a place the students, staff and faculty would go to pray.

But it fell into disuse and neglect, something that bothered the Halls, members of St. John Vianney Parish. (more…)

Students bow their heads in prayer before releasing balloons during the “Stand Up Against Cancer” fundraiser at Sacred Heart Academy in Mount Pleasant.

MOUNT PLEASANT —Led by the SHA Builders Club, along with junior high social studies teacher Lori Smith and club advisor Luanne Goffnett, Sacred Heart Academy junior high students participated in a “Stand Up Against Cancer” fundraiser on Friday, May 20.

The afternoon began with an opening prayer from Fr. Loren Kalinowski followed by a slide show that included some testimonials from cancer survivors and a scrolling of names of loved ones that had been entered into a memory notebook by the students, parents and staff at SHA. (more…)

Jackson parishioner’s first book tells how to create prayerful garden

By Mark Haney
The Catholic Times

PLEASANT LAKE — In her life, Margaret Rose Realy has been many things: an executive secretary, the head scheduler for a firm, a master gardener, a consultant, a columnist and a lecturer.

Now she’s an author.

“It is funny because people say, ‘Oh, you’ve reached your goal.’ I’m not so sure being an author was my goal,” said Realy, a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Jackson. “It may have been God’s, but I am not sure it was mine. It is just part of the very twisted path that this part of my life has taken.” (more…)

The newly redecorated narthex at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Saginaw has a reflected-source lightbox.

By Sandra Burch
The Catholic Weekly

SAGINAW — Bishop Joseph R. Cistone rededicated the newly renovated St. Thomas Aquinas Church during the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, June 4. Frs. Randy Kelly, pastor, and James Bessert concelebrated with the bishop. (more…)

The three newest priests of the Diocese of Lansing — (front row, from left) Frs. Daniel Kogut, Jonathan Perrotta and David Rosenberg — posed for photos with Bishops (lback row) Carl F. Mengeling and Earl Boyea after their ordination Mass on Saturday, June 11, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing.

By Mark Haney
The Catholic Times

LANSING — As they sat together on the altar at St. Mary Cathedral, the three newest priests of the Diocese of Lansing may have thought their formation was over.

Not so fast, warned Bishop Earl Boyea.

In fact, the bishop told Frs. David Rosenberg, 59; Jonathan Perotta, 38; and Daniel Kogut, 29; the formation of a priest never ends. In fact, the bishop said, citing Pope John Paul II, thinking formation ends when the priest leaves the seminary is dangerous.

“Back to work you guys,” he said. (more…)

OXFORD — Concerned about gun proliferation in the United States, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, which includes the former Oxford Dominican Sisters, have declared all their motherhouses, educational institutions, retreat centers, environmental centers and health care centers to be “weapon-free zones.” Signs are being posted to all building entrances that state, “Dominican Sisters of Peace are committed to the protection of all life. Weapons are not permitted in this building.”
“This is more than a safety issue,” said the congregation’s promoter of justice, Sr. Judy Morris, O.P. “It is a way to make our values more visible in all our buildings.”
This latest effort is among others the Dominican Sisters of Peace have taken to stand firm against gun violence. Members of the community have been actively supporting H.R. 308, a bill that would ban large-capacity ammunition magazines. And the congregation recently became an endorsing organization of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. Joining with the many other Christian denominations and other faiths represented in this group demonstrates the universal concern for protection of all life.
Sr. Morris said the Dominican Sisters of Peace recognize that making a difference in a violence-saturated culture requires personal and communal action in a variety of settings.
“To express regret at high numbers of gun deaths is not enough,” she said. “We must stand with others, consistently working for change.”
Sr. Morris cites eye-opening statistics that demonstrate the severity of the issue. The United States led the world in gun-related deaths in 2008 with 9,484 individuals killed, while Canada recorded 200, Germany 194 and England and Wales 39. Only seven states require background checks for gun purchases, no matter where a gun is purchased. Thirty-three states have done nothing to close the gun show loophole. Lax gun laws greatly increase the numbers of homicides and suicides. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun in the home is more likely to be used in a homicide, suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense. Every time a gun injures or kills in self-defense, it is used 11 times for completed and attempted suicides, seven times in criminal assaults and homicides and four times in unintentional shooting deaths or injuries.
The Dominican Sisters of Peace (www.oppeace.org) is a congregation of about 600 Dominican Sisters and 500 Dominican Associates who live and minister in 28 states and in Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru and Vietnam. The congregation is committed to greater involvement in the global community and simplicity of life, with diverse ministries that include education, health care, social work, spiritual direction and parish-based ministries, among others. Dominican Sisters of Peace work to create environments of peace by promoting non-violence, unity in diversity, reconciliation, and justice through solidarity, especially for women and children.
For more information, contact Sr. Morris at (859) 262-5668 or jmorris@oppeace.org.†

Girls from across the diocese gathered at the Pastoral Center for a day devoted to vocations for women. The event was hosted by the Vocations Advisory Committee and led by Marie Hahnenberg (right). Courtesy photos

GAYLORD — In order to nurture vocations in girls in grades 7-12, the Diocese of Gaylord hosted “Discovering True Womanhood: How is God Calling You?” on Saturday, May 7, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
Among the speakers were Sr. Rita Epple, R.S.M., and Sr. Catherine Anderson, O.P., who serve in the diocese, as well as Sr. Colleen Clair from the Salesian Sisters in New Jersey and Srs. Colleen Ann and Mary Colman from the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Lowell. Each woman spoke about how they discovered their call to religious life and provided information about their orders. Displays from other religious orders were set up for participants to view with materials that could be taken home as well.
The participants also heard from Elizabeth Gengle, who discovered her vocation was to be a wife and mother. She also serves as the youth minister at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Petoskey and Holy Childhood Parish in Harbor Springs. She shared stories and pictures of her family and explained how through living the sacrament of marriage and raising her children in the faith, she tries to live out her call. She encouraged the young women to look to Mary as the example of true faith and trust in God. She ended her talk by presenting each participant with a daisy which they were invited to place at the feet of Mary as they offered personal prayers.
The young women also spent time discussing what a new vocations group for them might encompass, what types of events they might hold and potential names. They were invited to send follow-up notes with additional ideas and suggestions so that another event might be planned.
“What I really see as the ultimate goal for this group for young women is to help them come closer to Christ and discern the vocation that Our Lord is calling them — whether it is to become a religious sister, to be a wife and a mother, or to live out the single life,” said organizer Marie Hahnenberg. “There are fruits and graces that come forth from all vocations.”
Hahnenberg drew the idea for a vocations group for young women from the St. Andrew Task Force, which was established for young men in 2006. Last year, she attended a Holy Hour for Vocations at Christ the King Acme and met Fr. Don Geyman, director of vocations.
“I asked him if anything was being done to help promote vocations for women,” said Hahnenberg. “Since then the Holy Spirit has been moving in my heart to serve the young women in our diocese through vocations.”
That conversation ultimately led to the first-ever vocations day.
“The excitement was just contagious,” said Hahnenberg. “There was so much joy and grace experienced. I believe Our Lady was truly present watching over us and continues to do so.”
For more information or to get added to the mailing list for future events, contact Hahnenberg at vocations4girls@gmail.com or visit www.dioceseofgaylord.org and click on “vocations.”†

GAYLORD — The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda, Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, announces the following appointments:

Effective June 25, 2011
Fr. Richard C. Schaeffer to Parochial Vicar for the parishes of St. Mary-St. Charles in Cheboygan, St. Clement in Pellston and Sacred Heart in Riggsville.
Fr. Robbie Deka will be released from his assignment as Parochial Vicar for the parishes of St. Mary-St. Charles in Cheboygan, St. Clement in Pellston and Sacred Heart in Riggsville to serve in the Diocese of Honolulu.

Effective July 1, 2011
Fr. Joseph A. Blasko from Sacramental Minister at St. Mary in Grayling to Administrator of Holy Cross Parish on Beaver Island. He will continue as Diocesan Archivist.
Fr. Matthew A. Wigton from Parochial Vicar to the parishes of St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord, St. Mary in Grayling, St. Thomas Aquinas in Elmira and Holy Redeemer in Vanderbilt to Administrator of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Charlevoix.

Effective July 8, 2011
Fr. Raymond C. Cotter from Pastor to the parishes of St. Mary in Mio, St. Francis in Lewiston, St. Augustine in Hillman and Jesus the Good Shepherd in Atlanta to Pastor for Christ the King Parish in Acme.
Fr. Gerald F. Micketti has been given permission to take a personal leave of absence.
Fr. Rubén Muñoz from Associate Pastor to Immaculate Conception in Traverse City to Pastor of the parishes of St. Joseph in Onekama and St. Raphael in Copemish.
Fr. Gerald C. Okoli from Parochial Vicar of the parishes of Sacred Heart in Oscoda and Holy Family in East Tawas to Parochial Vicar of the parishes of St. Bernard, St. Anne, St. John the Baptist and St. Mary in Alpena.
Fr. Lawrence J. Sergott from Pastor to the parishes of St. Joseph in Onekama and St. Raphael in Copemish to Pastor of the parishes of St. Mary in Mio and St. Francis of Assisi in Lewiston.
Fr. Rolando Silva from Associate Pastor to the parishes of St. Bernard, St. Anne, St. John the Baptist and St. Mary in Alpena to Pastor for the parishes of St. Augustine in Hillman and Jesus the Good Shepherd in Atlanta, and Sacramental Minister for St. Rose of Lima Parish in Herron.

Effective July 15, 2011
Fr. James P. Hayden to Vicar for Retired Priests and Sacramental Minister for Immaculate Conception Parish in Traverse City, with residence there.
Fr. Joseph Muszkiewicz from Parochial Vicar to the parishes of St. Michael in Roscommon and Our Lady of the Lake in Prudenville to canonical Pastor of the parishes of St. Michael in Roscommon, St. Helen in St. Helen, Our Lady of the Lake in Prudenville, St. Hubert in Higgins Lake and St. James in Houghton Lake. Rev. Bernard Tyler remains as Administrator of St. James Parish in Houghton Lake and St. Hubert in Higgins Lake. Sr. Barbara Matievich, O.P., remains as Parish Life Coordinator for St. Helen Parish in St. Helen.†

Noelle Garcia and her band will tour from Michigan to Memphis raising funds for those damaged by the spring's flooding and tornadoes. Lisa Briggs/Catholic Times

By Mark Haney
The Catholic Times

FOWLER — Noelle Garcia couldn’t stand idly by while fellow Americans suffered.
So she’s raising her voice.

The music and youth minister at Most Holy Trinity Parish in Fowler and her husband, David McHugh, youth minister at St. Patrick Parish in Portland, are taking to the road with their band to raise funds for all of those suffering from the effects of the rash of devastating spring storms.

This began when floodwaters flowed into Memphis, Tenn., where Garcia once lived. (more…)