The students at St. Mary School in Alma visited the Impressions 5 Museum in Lansing during Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4) Courtesy photo

ALMA — The students at St. Mary School thought about what makes their school special during Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4) and about what makes that single week unique. Here is what some of them wrote:

Sr. Yvonne Mary Loucks, R.S.M., visits with the grade 1-2 students at St. Mary School in Alma as part of a Thursday, Feb. 2, trip to the school during Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4). Mark Haney/Catholic Weekly

The first day of Catholic Schools Week we went to Impressions 5 Museum in Lansing. It was really fun and I learned a lot. My favorite workshop was probably circuits. I also had fun walking around and checking out the other things. Our first workshop was light.

In the light workshop, we got these cool diffraction glasses. The glasses made the light appear in rainbow colors. The woman there also taught us a trick to remember the colors of the rainbow: ROY G. BIV. The letters stand for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

On the way back I got to play with my slime. All in all the whole day was really fun!
Noah Ragsdale
Grade 6

During the Catholic Schools Week we had Superhero Day on Tuesday. A lot of students wore superhero costumes. There were boys dressed as Spider Man and Batman. There were girls dressed as Wonder Woman and other superheroes. Some students even had homemade capes which they just used as blankets. While others decided to be the superheroes of our community and dressed as people such as firefighters.

At the beginning of the day, Mrs. (Sally) Johnston had a Superhero prayer service. At this prayer service we recognized the greatest superhero of all who gave His life for us: Jesus Christ. Then we recognized the superheroes around us. Mrs. Johnston called out all the teachers and the principal and we all cheered for them.

After the prayer service, Mrs. Johnston gave all the students and teachers a rubber bracelet with the theme of Catholic Schools Week on it.

At the end of the day, we had sundaes and recognized the people who make our Sundays very special: Fr. Thai (Hung Nguyen), Deacon Al (Oliver) and Deacon John (Cremin). They told us about their earlier lives before they became priest and deacons. Each of their stories was different. Fr. Thai talked about how he came from Vietnam and how hard and dangerous it was. Deacon John talked about when he was in a war and came back to be a deacon. Deacon Al talked about how difficult it was to become a deacon. Overall, it was very enjoyable.
Elizabeth Gotaas
Grade 6

By Brandi Schueller
Special to The Catholic Times

OWOSSO — The majority of students who attend St. Paul School are from the surrounding area.

This year, however, the fourth grade has an international flavor, thanks to three new boys from South Korea.

Ben Park Won-Woong, Andy Lee Hyung-Woo and Charlie Lee Ji-Hoon, all from Ulsan, South Korea, will spend the year in the U.S. thanks to Scott and Stephanie Lahmann of Owosso. The Lahmanns spent the past year teaching English at Boston Prep, an after-school academy in Ulsan.

Enjoying their time in Owosso at St. Paul School are (front row, from left) Charlie Lee Ji-Hoon, Andy Lee Hyung-Woo and Ben Park Won-Woong, who are living with Stephanie and Scott Lahmann (second row). Brandi Schueller/Catholic Times

Korea has several programs that allow Korean children the opportunity to study English in a foreign country. Most often the children go to either Canada or New Zealand. They live with people they have never met, usually Korean citizens, and go to school to learn English. The downside of these programs is that the students’ practice of English is limited to just school.

That will not be the case for these three. By living with the Lahmanns in Owosso, they will be immersed in the English language and American culture for the entire year. And even though they knew the Lahmanns back in Korea, there has been some adjusting.

The boys are not related, but they live in the same apartment complex back in South Korea. They were homesick at first, but after a few weeks they were able to adjust.  They have scheduled Skype calls to their parents, which has helped with the homesickness. They also rely on each other a lot.

Trying new foods was a little hard at the start, but now they really enjoy them.

Education, too, is different.

Schooling in Korea is strict and regimented. Students are expected to show perfection in a Korean classroom. That need for perfection creates a lot of stress. There is little free time for students in Korea. When they are not in school, they attend after-school academics in areas such as English, math and science and participate in other extracurricular activities, such as tae kwon do and piano.

The decision to send the boys to St. Paul School was made for several reasons. Since the boys’ parents do not live in the U.S. and do not pay taxes, the boys had to attend a private or parochial school. A public school was not an option. The Lahmanns had to choose between Salem Lutheran and St. Paul schools. The parents wanted the boys to be in a school that did not have mixed grades in a classroom. Unlike Salem Lutheran, St. Paul has only one grade per classroom, so St. Paul was chosen.

When they first came, the three were shy, afraid to speak in class and would only say a few words. The shyness came from a fear of making a mistake in front of authority figures, a fear that is common in Korea.

However, the students and teachers at St. Paul have made it more comfortable for the boys to speak in class. The boys now fit right in with the students in their classes. The Lahmanns said they are pleased with how the boys are doing in school.

Though the staff at St. Paul has high expectations for the students, adjusting to an American education came easily for the boys. They said they enjoy their teachers and friends at St. Paul School and their favorite subjects are math and physical education.

When they are not in school, the three enjoy playing outside with one another, especially soccer, which is huge in Korea. They played soccer for the YMCA and will play again this spring. They recently signed up to play basketball at the YMCA. In addition to soccer and basketball, the boys also enjoy computer games and reading books.

The boys will be at St. Paul through the end of the school year. They will head back to South Korea at the end of June.

After the boys return home, however, more students may come to St. Paul to study English in a natural setting and experience an American education.

The following are what some of the St. Cecilia youth had to say about their experiences:

The March for life was nothing like I imagined it would be. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I learned so much about how every choice we make directly effects so many people. I also learned many facts about abortion that I never knew and there are always people who are willing to help you and love you, no matter what has happened. Everyone needs to remember that doing the right thing may not always be the popular or cool thing to do, but when you do the right thing, you probably won’t need to tell God, “I’m sorry.”

I loved the rally and music before the Mass at the D.C. Armory. It was a great feeling to praise God with so many other kids my age. Next year, I look forward to going again and taking a bigger group from St. Cecilia’s. The March for Life has changed my life and I thank St. Cecilia Parish for making the trip possible.
Samantha Gray

The trip we took to Washington D.C., for the March for Life was a wonderful opportunity. Not only were we there to help be a voice for the unborn, but also we were there to explore and be a part of something bigger than any of us had known.

Thousands of people went to D.C. from all over the United States to stand up for life. The number of people is just amazing. There were about 21,000 people at Mass at the Verizon Center and about 6,000 people at the D.C. Armory Mass on the day of the March. That’s 27,000 people already. Many other people who didn’t attend the Mass also joined in the march. The streets were packed with people and it was difficult just to get on the street to start the march.

Each day of our trip, something helped me to grow in my faith and taught me more on how to share it. There were several videos we watched on our bus ride that helped to open my eyes. Also, as a whole group our bus recited the rosary together.

To me, hearing so many people praying together at once is very moving. On Sunday, we attended Mass at the basilica with 6,000 other people. I have been there once before, but it still puts me in a state of awe. It was beautiful and inspiring. Each Mass we attended was geared toward our age group, which helped me to renew my faith and learn how to share it with others. The entire trip was inspirational and an amazing opportunity for me.
Brittany Fields

The March for Life was an amazing learning experience for me. I’d like to thank St. Cecilia Parish for giving me the opportunity to attend this event. I never expected to learn as much as I did. We attended Mass every day of the trip. Sunday Mass at the basilica was exceptional. There were about 6,000 people gathered for Mass. Many had to stand. Bishop Cistone said Mass and was with the Saginaw Diocese group all through the trip, including the bus ride. It was nice that the bishop made time for us.

Among the things I learned was that when a choice is made, it affects more than just the person making that choice. For example, when a woman chooses abortion, her choice affects the woman, the unborn baby and the father of the unborn baby, it also affects the families, friends and God. The act of abortion is so much like the Holocaust; innocent people are losing their lives, because of a choice.

The day of the march was rainy but that didn’t dampen people’s spirits. People sang, chanted, prayed and joined together to show the people of the United States that we care about the unborn and every living person.

We need this nation to become a pro-life nation.
Vincent Gray

The trip to Washington, D.C., was a memorable experience.

All of my life I’ve been pro-life. I was raised that way and was taught why I should be, but going to the March for Life helped me find my own reasons to be pro-life.

The night before the actual March was an unforgettable time and it was that time that had the most impact on me. A woman came and gave her testimony of how and why she chose life through a very difficult situation. Her testimony was the big thing that helped me become more pro-life on my own.

The morning of the March we went to the D.C. Armory for Mass and were briefed of what we were going to do and were commended for it.

At the March, people were chanting and singing hymns, saying the rosary and some would make up their own pro-life rhymes. There were people from all over the country; even a bishop from Australia and a group from Mexico. The thing that really amazed me on the day of the march was how many people showed up there.

There were between 300,000 and 400,000 people who attended. Having people at my side that hold the same belief, helped me become stronger.
Ethan Hall

The Washington, D.C., trip was amazing. We started out with a long bus ride, which was half the fun. When we got to the 4H Youth Center where we stayed, we were assigned to rooms. I roomed with Samantha, Brittany and a new friend, Coralyn Harrison.

The next morning we had Mass at the basilica. I don’t think I have ever seen a bigger more beautiful place in my life! There was beautiful artwork on the ceiling, a huge organ about the size of a bus and every little thing had detail. After the Mass, we headed out for some sightseeing. We saw many of the memorials, monuments, the Capitol and the White House. We even saw the very spot where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. That was really awesome.

The last day we spent in Washington was, of course the day of the March for Life. We went to the D.C. Armory for Mass, which was packed! Then, not too far away was a packed Verizon Center where there was also Mass. I kept thinking that all of the people who wanted to come to the Mass, but couldn’t, would have probably filled another whole stadium. After church we headed for the March. I don’t think I’ve seen so many people in one place in my entire life. There were speakers at the rally before we began walking. The crowd went wild after each speech. When we started walking, there were people chanting, singing and doing whatever they could to make their belief known.

This trip gave me a bigger outlook on the world, let me make new friends, see amazing places and allowed me to stand up for what believe in!
Emily Yob

That is a question the Professional Pastoral Ministers Association faces in this, its 26th year.

When the organization was founded in the Diocese of Lansing in 1986, its goals were to establish a network for lay ministers; bring recognition to and promotion of lay ministry; establish ongoing education and spiritual formation; to encourage and promote diocesan activities that would integrate clergy and lay ministers; and establish a more standardized salary compensation package for lay ministers across the diocese or creation of personnel policies and compensation practices for lay ministers in the diocese.

“It appears to us, the board, that the above goals have been met,” Treasurer Samuel Lalomia wrote in a recent PPMA newsletter. “It is also our belief that the ongoing activities associated with maintaining the goals currently are being implemented by the several diocesan offices that have been created throughout the years, specifically the Office of Lay Ministry, Office of Catechesis and the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. The recent functions of PPMA have been centered on the planning and administering of two seminars each year. Our membership has decreased over the years and it has become increasingly difficult to recruit members and, more specifically, members who are interested in holding a board position. We currently have 11 open board positions and the four positions that are filled are with people who have held the positions for several years. Most of the functions related to the above foundational goals are being fulfilled through committees associated with one of the diocesan offices and positions on these committees are held by members of PPMA.

“Therefore, it is the opinion of the board that the Professional Pastoral Ministers Association and all related activities should be suspended. This action is not recommended easily but through your actions, and inactions, it has become apparent that the interest in having a group that crosses functional ministry lines just is not there at this time. Each of us seem to have too many meetings to go to, too many functions in our own parishes to plan and run and do not want to spend the time with others in similar positions or on ourselves.”

But the decision to suspend operations has not been made yet, Lalomia said in an e-mail. Instead, the group has been polling its membership for input on whether or not they can see a future and need for the PPMA.

“For the many months the PPMA board has been trying to determine where we are, where we are going and how to determine and express our foundational purpose,” Lalomia wrote. “Not just express our purpose, but how to express it well, and to consider how the PPMA wishes to relate to the diocesan Church, acting ‘in the name of the Church,’ and ‘together with the Church.’”

The executive committee, right now, is chaired by Scott Wright of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor. Paula Young of St. Casimir Parish in Lansing is the co-chair with Marie Sheridan of St. Agnes Parish in Fowlerville as secretary and Lalomia, of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Jackson as treasurer. The only regional representatives are Chris Maniaci, who represents Genesee County, Marcy Keefe-Slager of St. John the Evangelist Church in Jackson, who serves the Jackson area, and Young, who serves the Eaton/Ingham county area. There remains one empty seat in each of those areas (each area has two representatives) and none for the Clinton-Shiawassee, Lenawee-Hillsdale, Livingston or Washtenaw county regions.

Deborah Amato of the Office of Lay Ecclesia Ministry remains the diocesan representative.

In the meantime, the PPMA has scheduled its annual spring conference for 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Friday, March 2, at St. Joseph Parish, 6805 Mast Road in Dexter.
Matthew Leonard will present “Why the Cross?”

Leonard is the executive director of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. The son of a Protestant pastor, he served as a missionary in Latin America before converting to Catholicism in 1998. After entering the Church, he obtained a master’s degree in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) and taught theology for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, in addition to lecturing in local parishes.

He is a former guest theology instructor and vice president of Ave Maria College who now travels the country giving lectures and leading Journey Through Scripture, the St. Paul Center’s parish-based Bible study program.
The father of four and his wife, Veronica, make their home in Steubenville.

Leonard’s presentation will be made in two parts.

Part I is “How the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Saves You.” Why it is that Jesus died on the Cross? Why did God become man to suffer, die, and rise again? How does that actually get us to heaven?

Participants will examine how it is that the sacrifice of Christ actually saves us and investigate the true meaning of all those seemingly strange animal sacrifices we read about in the Old Testament.

Part II  is “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” Participants will look at the new idea of love proclaimed by Christ and how it relates to, and gives meaning to human suffering, voluntary penance and, ultimately, death. This part also will examine the secret to how we can “rejoice in the Lord always” like St. Paul, no matter what happens. After all, Catholics should be the happiest people on earth.

To sign up, or for more information, contact Amato at (517) 342-2512 or at deamato@dioceseoflansing.org.

Hensinger, who has held the dual position for three years, made the announcement Monday, Feb. 13, to allow adequate time for a replacement to be found and to offer support for a smooth administrative transition.

“I will miss the daily interactions and will leave with many fond memories,” Hensinger said. “I will continue to be a strong advocate for quality Catholic schools in my retirement.”

With Hensinger at the helm, faith formation was strengthened across Saginaw Area Catholic Schools with more frequent Eucharistic celebrations and the dedication of the St. Paul Oratory inside Nouvel Catholic Central. She put a comprehensive curriculum into place, enhanced the art program with new offerings during and after school and expanded services to meet the needs of gifted students. This past summer, she oversaw the multi-million-dollar renovation of Nouvel Catholic Central and helped bring state-of-the-art technology into all Saginaw Area Catholic School classrooms.

“I am most grateful to Irene for her creativity and vision over the last three years,” said Mary Ann Deschaine, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese. “With her leadership, enrollment has increased at Nouvel and it is our hope to keep that momentum going as we search for her replacement.”

Hensinger, who is a licensed attorney, retired once before from her position as principal at Handley School in Saginaw. She said she is looking forward to spending more time with her children and grandchildren who live across the country.

The Saginaw Area Catholic School system, which includes two elementary/middle schools and Nouvel Catholic Central High School, is home to more than 1,100 students. School leaders, teachers and staff are committed to excellence in faith formation, academics, athletics, the arts and community service.

ADRIAN — The Adrian Dominican sisters announced Tuesday, Feb. 7, that St. Joseph Academy, founded in 1896 by the sisters on their home grounds in northeast Adrian, and the Montessori Children’s House, founded in 1971 at the academy, will close at the end of the 2011-12 academic year.

The congregation cited declining enrollment and multiple-year deficit budgeting as the reasons to close the institution after 115 years of educating tens of thousands of children — Catholic and non-Catholic, ages pre-school through high school, and from Lenawee County and beyond. The Adrian Dominican sisters are the corporate sponsors of the academy.

“As women who have dedicated much of our lives and invested significant resources over the decades in providing a quality, Catholic, values-centered education to children here in our hometown and in numerous other places around the country, we are naturally saddened by this decision,” said Sr. Attracta Kelly, O.P., the congregation’s prioress. “St. Joseph Academy was the first educational institution established by our founder, Mother Camilla Madden. It holds a very dear place in our hearts.”

Over the past 10 years, the academy’s declining student population at all levels not only has presented financial challenges but also begun to limit the school’s ability to support a healthy social and educational environment for children. Of the 108 students projected to enroll next year, only 24 would be in grades 1-4.

The grade K-8 school’s principal, Adrian Dominican Sister Pat Fischer, O.P., notified the academy’s faculty, staff and advisory council of the decision, with ensuing notice given to parents by letter. Praising the dedication of the school’s faculty and staff, Sr. Fischer said every effort has been made in recent years to keep the academy open.

“Despite the best efforts of the school staff and committed, generous parents and donors,” she wrote to parents, “we have been unable to balance the budget or stem the tide of decreasing enrollment.”

Sr. Kelly echoed the sentiment, expressing the congregation’s deep gratitude to Sr. Fischer and all members of the faculty, staff and advisory council for their leadership and dedication.

“Our educational mission clearly is calling us now to respond to a new need,” Sr. Kelly said. “While we do not yet know what shape that will take, we are open to the call of the Spirit and the needs of our Lenawee County community as we consider next steps.”

In establishing the academy, Mother Madden envisioned providing a first-rate education to girls from families of moderate and poor financial circumstances. She set board and tuition at $10 per month. The then-pastor of St. Mary Church said it could not be done, but Mother Madden insisted.

During its 115 years, the academy has undergone many changes from the day Mother Madden first opened its doors on Sept. 8, 1896, admitting six pupils to the new girls’ boarding school. Within two weeks, there were 15 pupils, with five more arriving later.

Over the years, enrollment grew, leading to the expansion of the motherhouse, which was the academy’s original home, and construction in 1948 of the existing 57,000-square-foot building. In 1951, boys were admitted as day students in the elementary school.

In 1971, Srs. Anthonita Porta, O.P., and Leonor Esnard, O.P., began the Montessori Children’s House of St. Joseph Academy with one room and 18 students. The pre-school program grew to an enrollment of 130 students. In 1975, the high school was closed, resulting in a total focus on the elementary program, which began in 1973. Two years ago, due to declining enrollment and the inability to match income with expenses, a 19-year satellite Montessori program in Tecumseh closed. The academy currently has 113 students, with just 26 children in grades 1-4 and the remaining toddlers and pre-schoolers in the Montessori Children’s House.

Though enrollment in the Montessori program also has dipped from that high of 130, it remains healthier than the school, which is why its closure surprised some of its staff members.

“I was very surprised. We were shocked about the Montessori,” said Pam Esterline, director of the Montessori program whose own children attended the academy in the early 1970s. “That had not been a possibility. We realized the school was declining and closing it was a possibility but we thought the Montessori program was healthy enough to survive.”

The academy is something of a rarity today – a Catholic school that is not affiliated with a specific parish and is not a diocesan school, but has been run by a religious order alone.

Sr. Corrine Sanders, O.P., the congregation’s liaison to the school’s advisory council, said the same forces that have caused diocesan and parish schools to close were felt at the academy.

“I think the signs of the time have played themselves out here,” she said. “I don’t believe whether it was affiliated or not affiliated with a parish mattered. I don’t believe that really had any a role in what happened here.”

The announcement, Sr. Fischer said, will make this year’s final months that much harder.

“My main concern right now is doing all that we need to do that we normally do for the end of the school year,” she said, “and then adding some additional pieces so the alumni, families and sisters can have some closure.”

That will be important, Esterline said, because of the role the school has played in the community for so long.

“Most of the people who attended here,” she said, “have said that this was their foundation, that they are who they are because they were here.”

So while a community task force has formed to consider reopening the Montessori program somewhere else, sadness abounds at the academy. The staff, which receives minimal pay for their extensive efforts and time, said Sr. Fischer, have had pay freezes and cuts, yet still remain committed to providing the best for the children.

“Most of the staff is sad. We are grieving,” Esterline said. “That is the kind of process we are going through. When you teach at a faith-based school is it more than a job, it is a mission and one we believe in. That makes something like this so much harder to take.

“It is sad. It is sad for the families who are losing someplace they really loved.”

Jessica Coffelt (left) joins Sr. Roselyn Nichols, S.S.M., and Dr. Angel Valdez of FUMSIL to examine an ambulance Coffelt acquired for the border region of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Courtesy photo

By Jeff Wack
The Catholic Times

PINCKNEY — St. Mary School graduate Jessica Coffelt embodies a life lived in service to others.

The 2001 St. Mary grad, while attending college, got involved with FUMSIL (the Fundación Mariana San Isidro Labrador), a nonprofit organization that operates along the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. FUMSIL is governed by the Catholic parish St. Isidore the Laborer in the province of Eli’as Pin’a and is a provider of health care, nutritional, religious and educational assistance to more than 25,000 people.

After experiencing firsthand the great need of the region’s poor during several college service-learning trips to the Dominican Republic, Coffelt knew she wanted to make a difference. She took a full-time job at FUMSIL after graduating college in 2010 and now serves as its international relations coordinator.

Although Coffelt calls Pinckney home, she spends much of the year living in the Haiti-Dominican Republic border area.

Coffelt has worked with St. Mary Parish, where her father serves as deacon, and other area churches and organizations to raise cash donations and supplies like diapers, vitamin supplements, and baby formula. Last year Coffelt found an ambulance that was being retired in North Adams, Mass. Because of her effort an ambulance service operates for the first time across 23 rural communities along the border area, which has saved lives.

Jessica Coffelt visits with a child named Muneco.

“Jessica’s selfless efforts to help desperately poor people provide inspiration to our school,” said St. Mary School principal Veronica Kinsey. “She has joyfully dedicated her life to helping others, epitomizing the Christian ideal of charity.”

Coffelt believes the seeds of her desire to serve others were planted while attending St. Mary School.

“I was involved in service projects at St. Mary and there was a big focus on helping people,” said Coffelt. “My ambition to help people only grew as I got older.”

Coffelt and other St. Mary alumni formally were recognized during Mass at St. Mary Parish on Sunday, Feb. 5.

To help the efforts of Coffelt and FUMSIL, write to coffejes@gmail.com or visit fumsil.org.

St. Mary School is fully accredited by the Michigan Non-public School Accrediting Association (MNSAA) and is a member of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). It is the mission of St. Mary School to be a partner with parents in the spiritual and academic education of their children. This takes place in a positive atmosphere where students are encouraged to reach their full potential, both in living out their faith and pursuing academic excellence.

Fr. Edward Konieczka gives the homily during the all-schools Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at St. Hyacinth Church in Bay City. Fr. Rick Varner and Fr. Rick Filary (background) listen. Sharon Pagryzinski/Catholic Weekly

BAY CITY —  The All-Schools Mass for the Bay Area Catholic Schools (BACS) was Wednesday, Feb. 1, at St. Hyacinth Church, 1515 Cass Ave.

Fr. Edward Konieczka was the celebrant with concelebrants Fr. Craig Albrecht from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Fr. Rick Filary from St. Stanislaus Parish, Fr. Dale Orlik from St. Boniface Parish and Fr. Ricky Varner from St. John the Evangelist Parish in Essexville. Pastoral administrators Sr. Virginia Scally, S.N.D.deN., from St. Maria Goretti Parish; Sr. Gail Addis, I.H.M., from St. Joseph Parish, and Sr. Joann Plumpe, O.P., from St. Hedwig Parish, also joined the worshippers in representing Vicariate IV in the celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

“What a joyous Eucharistic celebration this was,” said BACS Administrator Michael Knoff. “It is truly the highlight of all of the Catholic Schools Week activities.”

Bay Area Catholic Schools Administrator Michael Knoff (left) joins (from his left) pastoral administrators Sr. Joann Plumpe of St. Hedwig Parish, Sr. Gail Addis of St. Joseph Parish and Sr. Virginia Scally of St. Maria Goretti Parish in singing the closing hymn.

Students from All Saints music ministry led the congregation in song, accompanied by campus minister Maribeth Hopps on guitar and alternating on piano Terry Dewar, an All Saints teacher; eighth-grade student Andrew Ratajczak (St. John Parish) and St. Hyacinth director of music and retired All Saints secretary Joyce Lewandowski. The psalmist was All Saints senior Brittany Burns (St. James Parish).

Natasha Verhalen, a fifth grader at Holy Trinity School (St. Maria Goretti Parish), proclaimed the first reading from James 2: 14 – 18. The intercessions were offered by Decklyn Leahy, a fourth grader at St. James School (St. James Parish).  Gifts were brought forward by Noah Krause, a fourth grader, and Kelly Lore, a fifth grader at St. John School, (both St. John the Evangelist Parish).

Eucharistic minister Stephanie Sutton, a senior at Bay City All Saints High School from St. James Parish, offers the Precious Blood to All Saints sophomore Nick Ratajczak from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish.

Grace Rochelle, a seventh grader (St. Hyacinth Parish) and Mary Grocholski, a freshman (St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish) were altar servers. Zack Ambroziak, an eighth grader, was cross bearer (St. James Parish).

Joining the priests and religious in distributing communion were All Saints students Katie Klapish, a junior from St. Joseph Parish; Stephanie Sutton, a senior from St. James Parish; Stephanie Case, a senior from St. Hyacinth Parish; and Ben Pijaszek, a senior from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish.†

Bay Area Catholic Schools (BACS) continue the Catholic school tradition begun in the 1850s, now providing 3-year-old preschool through 12th grade faith-based education. BACS employs more than 50 people and functions as a “system” of Catholic schools. BACS students provide thousands of hours of community service and outreach in the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond. Graduates of BACS consistently score well in standardized testing, surpassing all area public school averages. BACS is spiritually and financially supported by the 13 Vicariate IV parishes.

To learn more about BACS, visit www.bacschools.org.

The music ministry group from Bay City All Saints High School provided the music at the all-schools Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at St. Hyacinth Church in Bay City.

The opening rally will feature motivational talks by Christen Houck, president of Students for Life of Michigan; Deb Ives and women from Heartfelt Family Services; Deacon Larry Randolph of Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor and Fr. David Rosenberg of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Saline. The rally also will feature an informational fair of pro-life organizations. Light refreshments will be available.

For the first time, high school youth are invited to a pre-rally Youth Pizza Party at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 20. To RSVP, call (734) 973-2422 or e-mail prolifeactionnetwork@gmail.com.

Forty Days for Life is an intensive pro-life campaign that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting, 40 days of peaceful vigil at abortion facilities and 40 days of grassroots educational outreach. The 40-day time frame is drawn from examples throughout Biblical history where God brought about world-changing transformation in 40-day periods.

Ann Arbor is one of the many communities from coast to coast and around the world conducting simultaneous 40 Days for Life campaigns from Wednesday, Feb. 22, through Sunday, April 1, coinciding with the Christian season of Lent.

“We want to start this effort by drawing members of the community together to share the vision of 40 Days for Life and to pray for God’s blessings on this effort,”  said Paul Dobrowolski, spokesperson for the Ann Arbor 40 Days for Life campaign. “It is time to focus attention on the harm abortion has done to our city.”

The campaign in Ann Arbor will feature a peaceful prayer vigil 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local pro-life advocates are encouraged to visit the Ann Arbor campaign’s website, www.40daysforlife.com/annarbor, to sign up for an hour of prayer in front of the abortion facility at Planned Parenthood, 3100 Professional Drive, Ann Arbor.

National 40 Days for Life successes have included 5,045 lives spared from abortion; 61 abortion workers quitting their jobs and the closing of 20 abortion facilities. The Ann Arbor campaign has witnessed at least 10 lives spared.

To learn more about 40 Days for Life, visit www.40daysforlife.com.

The intention for the holy hour will be Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes, a strategic planning process designed to engage parishioners to assess the state of churches across the 11-county Diocese of Saginaw and develop recommendations to enhance the vibrancy of future parish life.

The second holy hour is 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at St. Elizabeth Church,12835 E. Washington Road in Reese.

In addition to daily prayer and the celebration of Mass daily and weekly, the holy hour devotional is an opportunity for the faithful to come together with the bishop for Eucharistic adoration.

“Planning tomorrow’s Parishes is an undertaking of such magnitude that we cannot succeed without God’s help and an abiding spirit of prayer,” Bishop Cistone said. “This process will require change, sacrifice, sadness and even loss. It will require patience and forgiveness, as well as boldness and creativity. It will certainly require prayer, openness to the Spirit and a willingness to yield our own will and desires to the will of God and the faith-needs of the generation to come. We know that God’s plans are plans for our welfare, not for woe. They are plans to provide us ‘a future full of hope.’”

The date and parish location for the third Holy Hour will be available soon on the diocesan website, www.saginaw.org, under the Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes link.