December 22, 2006
Share the good news of Christmas
Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit
As we celebrate Christmas 2006, I greet you with the words the angel spoke to the shepherds that first Christmas: "Do not be afraid; for behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord." More than ever, the angel's greeting is something we need to hear.
Victory, at last!: After 14-year struggle, new school opens in Northville
Joe Kohn
Northville - While the season of Advent is still going on, a 14-year Advent-of-sorts ended last weekend for the community of Our Lady of Victory. After well over a decade of planning, toils and conflicts with city residents and board members, Cardinal Adam Maida finally was able to walk through the halls of and bless a newly-built, 77,000-square-foot facility now known as Our Lady of Victory School.
Church joins in condemning Holocaust denial
Robert Delaney
Detroit The Archdiocese of Detroit added its voice Monday to the condemnation of Holocaust denial efforts orchestrated by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Those who would attempt to ignore or erase the horrors of the Holocaust do a terrible disservice to the family of man," Cardinal Adam Maida said in a statement read by Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills.
Life and Struggles in the Holy Land
'Sacrament of hope' helps the only priest in the Gaza Strip cope & Young adults speak out
Marylynn G. Hewitt, SFO
Two thousand years after the birth of Jesus, heralded as the Prince of Peace, the place of his birth still struggles for peace. Michigan Catholic managing editor Marylynn G. Hewitt, SFO, visited the Holy Land last month with Catholic Relief Services as a winner of the Egan Award for Journalistic Excellence. She and the three other journalists were able to visit with teens and young adults involved in programs that benefit from the work of CRS, the U.S. bishops international relief and development agency.
December 15, 2006
Guadalupe Mass draws from across archdiocese
Robert Delaney
Detroit Growing up in southwest Detroit, Dolores Alcala-Herrera learned about Our Lady of Guadalupe from her mother, an immigrant from Mexico. "My mother, who died last year at 110, very diligently and very piously taught us our faith from the time we could speak. And without my faith, I couldn't have made it all these years," she said.
New books explore two historic Catholic cemeteries
Kristin Lukowski
Detroit For Cecile Wendt Jensen, researching genealogy is more than just plotting out a family tree. It's a way to reconnect with ancestors and better understand their hardships, and it's something of a spiritual journey, too. And recently, her love for her family history spawned three books the two most recent of which, "Detroit's Mount Elliott Cemetery and "Detroit's Mount Olivet Cemetery," were released last month.
TIF, clusters prompt parish council guideline changes
Robert Delaney
Detroit Because of the Together in Faith process and situations such as parish clusters, guidelines for how parish pastoral councils operate are being revised so lay people can better fulfill their role in parish leadership.
People fill trucks to help St. Vincent de Paul after fire
Kristin Lukowski
Southfield There was a line of cars and trucks stretching around a parking lot at Lawrence Technological University Dec. 6, but there was no horn-honking. They came from all over the area to drop off no-longer-needed toys, clothes and household items to the St. Vincent de Paul Society during a special drive to replace items lost in the Dec. 1 fire at the Flat Rock location, which gutted the building. The cause of the fire was still under investigation as of early this week.
River Rouge parish marks 100 years
Robert Delaney
River Rouge In looking for the real story of Our Lady of Lourdes' 100 years as a parish, pastor Fr. James Wieging said he found it not in the remarkable fact it has had only three pastors in all that time or in its buildings, but in the lives of the people who have made it their church home.
December 8, 2006
Fire guts St. Vincent de Paul store
Kristin Lukowski
Flat Rock "Thank you for helping us help others" reads the button on Leah Cooley's coat. The message is much more poignant after a fire gutted the Flat Rock St. Vincent de Paul thrift store weeks before Christmas, causing the organization to turn for others to help with donations of clothing and household items things destroyed in the Dec. 1 fire.
Parish dedication: St. Gertrude celebrates renovation and improvements
Robert Delaney
Detroit The new interior of St. Gertrude Church in St. Clair Shores has a "much warmer feel" and lighting that is "ethereal," in the view of parishioner Mary Michielutti. "It is a great change from what it was. I love it, but then I'm biased I'm on the renovation committee," she says.
Tree-trimming treasures: Parish organist's firm creates custom glass ornaments in Poland
Robert Delaney
Bloomfield Twp. When parishioners of St. John Cantius Parish in Detroit's Delray area gathered last weekend for their final traditional Polish Wigilia celebration, they all received Christmas ornaments with a picture of their beloved church, which is set to close next year.
Beloved Ven. Solanus Casey is subject of documentary
Marylynn G. Hewitt, SFO
Detroit One of the most beloved figures of the modern Church, the humble porter of the Capuchin Monastery on Mount Elliott, is the subject of an hour-long documentary "The Healing Prophet: Solanus Casey."
Faith Formation Article: 'Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store ...'
Sr. Janet Scheffler, Associate Director for Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit
And he puzzled three hours, 'til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! 'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas
perhaps
means a little bit more!' " Our Christmas season is the greatest cultural paradox. Faith, family and tradition have been replaced by consumerism.
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A special supplement of
The Michigan Catholic
was published on Dec. 8, 2006
To order call (313) 224-8005
Un suplemento especial de
The Michigan Catholic
se publicσ el viernes 8 de diciembre. Para ordenar favor de llamar al
(313) 224-8002. |
Bishop Daniel Flores - ' ... it all seems to be such a privilege to assist in the work of grace ...'
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Bishop Daniel E. Flores, the Archdiocese of Detroit's newest auxiliary bishop, brings experience as a pastor, seminary professor and diocesan official from his work as a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. Named to serve the Archdiocese of Detroit in his new position Oct. 29, Bishop Flores was ordained to the episcopate by Cardinal Adam Maida Nov. 29 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Detroit.
Family life - "One of the marks of our family was that we always stayed close, even with my extended family,"
Joe Kohn of the Michigan Catholic and Paula Goldapp of The South Texas Catholic
When asked about who has influenced him most in life, the first names Bishop Flores mentions won't be those of great saints, popes or other bishops. For him, faith started in the family. "The first (influence) would have been my parents," he said. "And my maternal grandmother, because she lived with us and did a lot of praying."
Auxiliary bishops welcome new bishop - 'We're happy to have him. And he's so young ... he's good for another 40 years!'
Michelle Samartino Special to The Michigan Catholic
The auxiliary bishops rejoice and welcome Bishop Daniel Flores to the Archdiocese of Detroit, and share their words of wisdom and experience with him.
Generation gap - Cardinal Maida and Bishop Flores grew up in very different times, but a shared faith
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
You want to get a sense of diversity when it comes to bishops in the United States? Detroit's your town, then. Not only does the Archdiocese of Detroit have cultural diversity in its episcopal ranks including one of 14 black U.S. bishops (retired Auxiliary Bishop Moses Anderson), and Michigan's only Hispanic bishop it also now has the country's youngest bishop, Bishop Daniel Flores, and its oldest serving archbishop, Cardinal Adam Maida.
Cd. Maida: 'You will lead others to deeper holiness in the Lord ...'
The following homily was given by Cardinal Adam Maida at the Mass of the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Daniel Flores on Nov. 29.
Bishop Flores looks forward to learning about the Detroit area
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
People go to Corpus Christi, Texas for the water, the festivals, the sports and the warm weather. People come to southeast Michigan for the water, festivals and sports, too but not so much the warm weather. Luckily, Bishop Daniel Flores, Detroit's newest auxiliary bishop, has a winter coat.
Hispanic youths rejoice - 'I think he'll be a lot of help for us'
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Southeast Michigan's Hispanic youths are excited about the potential for Hispanic Bishop Daniel Flores to work with them and get more young people excited about and active in the Church.
'Praise and thanks to Almighty God' - Bishop Daniel Flores speaks of his grateful heart as he's ordained to serve in Detroit
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Flores professed "praise and thanks to Almighty God" in his first remarks as a bishop Nov. 29. "God, the Father of Lights, has given us the gift of his Eternal Son made flesh, and by the power of the Holy Spirit has engendered in us new life," he said after becoming the first Hispanic bishop to be ordained for any Michigan diocese and, at 45, the youngest bishop in the United States.
Ordination bittersweet for friends of Bishop Flores
Kristen Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
It was something of a bittersweet celebration at the ordination of Bishop Daniel Flores last Wednesday for the people who have been his friends they are happy for his elevation, but sad to see him go so far away.
Bp. Flores' coat of arms loaded with symbolism
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
The coat of arms of Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Flores combines elements that reflect the new bishop's own spirituality with traditional heraldic devices dating back centuries.
Archdiocese hosts many Spanish-language Masses
A number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit host Spanish-language Masses.
 Bp. Flores: 'I am grateful to serve'
The following speech was given by Bishop Daniel Flores at the conclusion of his Nov. 29 ordination Mass.
History of Detroit's auxiliary bishops
Msgr. Hanchon sings, Mariachi band plays at post-ordination reception
A reception following the episcopal ordination of Bishop Daniel Flores offered something for everyone food, a chance to meet the new bishop, and song.
December 1, 2006
December Prayer Theme - Awaiting the light of Jesus: We celebrate our vocation as Advent people
Adam Cardinal Maida
Throughout the calendar year 2006, I have been reflecting with you on ways to develop "a culture of vocation" within the archdiocese. As I was preparing my December column, it dawned on me that I usually offer some reflection for the season of Advent and the beginning of the new Church year, which this year happens the weekend of Dec. 2-3. Putting these two thoughts together, therefore, I thought I would write about "our vocation as Advent people."
Keep Christ in Christmas bustle
Joe Kohn
Detroit When out shopping for Halloween costumes for the kids this year, parents might have noticed a little "Jingle Bells" among their goblins and ghouls. You could call it an early jump on the holiday retail sales season. Or an attempt by marketers to exploit the good vibes surrounding the season of Christ's birth. Whatever the case, University of Detroit Mercy marketing professor Michael Bernacchi, Ph.D., is promising in the coming years a full-fledged, 92-day shopping season leading up until Christmas.
Faith 'fun'damentals: St. Theodore's catechism mixes laughter with personal responsibility for life with Jesus
Joe Kohn
Detroit - At St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland, the youth catechism classes are often a complete mess. And that's not an insult. Youth ministers are engaging catechism students at the parish with a new brand of ministry called STATIC Students Taking Action Together in Christ. Finding that it's difficult to reach grade school-aged students with normal school-style lessons, they've found ways to incorporate the unusual and exciting.
Teaching children remains a joy for older sister
Robert Delaney
Harrison Twp. Sr. Jane Przygocki, SJ, won't give her age, but it's safe to say it is beyond the age when most people retire after all, she has been a religious sister now for 63 years.
November 30, 2006 - Online Only Special Article
Ordination of Bishop Flores a 'historic moment'
Robert Delaney
Detroit Calling the occasion "historic," Cardinal Adam Maida ordained Bishop Daniel E. Flores as Detroit's newest auxiliary bishop Nov. 29. "This is a great and historic moment for our Church of Detroit, and especially for the ever-growing Hispanic population of Michigan," Cardinal Maida said in his homily. Bishop Flores, 45, became not only Michigan's first Hispanic bishop, but also the youngest bishop in the United States.
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