Contacts & Publisher

Subscription Form

Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  We proclaim God's Word and 'remember our future'

Published November 28, 2008

My brothers and sisters in the Lord:

Throughout the calendar year 2008, in conjunction with our 175th anniversary, I have devoted my monthly column to various aspects of the history of our local Church. With you, I have reflected on how we have proclaimed God's Word, the ways we have faithfully worshipped the Lord and how the Church has been a strong social presence and voice for life through our many programs of education and service. Over the course of this year, I have also highlighted the special contribution made by our religious, clergy and lay faithful. This month, I thought it appropriate to conclude my reflections by emphasizing the fact that anniversaries are not just about recalling happy memories of the past; every anniversary also challenges us to reassess how we are doing in the present moment and to make plans for the future.

One of the beautiful expressions of the Fathers of the Church is the phrase, "Remembering our future." Using this phrase, the Fathers were specifically referring to the way the Holy Eucharist points to the Last Supper and Christ's death-resurrection, but also makes present already here and now the banquet of eternal life. Every celebration of the Holy Eucharist has a forward-looking quality to it. I suggest we expand on their insight to say that as Christians we are always living – simultaneously in three "time zones" – appreciating our heritage, being attentive to the Lord in the present moment, and preparing for His second coming. Such thoughts tie in perfectly with this Advent season: we remember the Lord's first coming precisely so that we will be all the better disposed for His second coming.

As St. Paul concluded his great letter to the Romans, he penned the following words: "whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope…" (Romans 15:4-5). In other words, one of the reasons we study the past is precisely so we can learn from it, maintaining and building on the best of the past even as we accommodate new circumstances, challenges and opportunities.

Over the decades, our Church has certainly changed greatly. One small example would be the way we started with no Catholic schools and then gradually developed a very large system of parish grade schools and high schools. Now, many of those schools have closed or merged; but, at the same time, new ones with special missions have opened in Detroit and several have been built in the suburbs. Demographic circumstances constantly challenge us to reappraise our use of material and human resources. Many of the structures of our past no longer adequately respond to today's needs and the delivery systems are also very different today. And yet, the message of the Gospel remains constant with its ageless hope and its unchanging challenges.

What does the future hold? Many sociologists and theologians engage in the study of trends and try to identify patterns so that we might be well-prepared for the future. While such work has a certain value, in the end, the Church has never been about programs and we cannot presume to "out guess" the Holy Spirit. Numbers alone never tell the whole story; we must remember that the Church is a living and dynamic community of faith. We are pilgrims on a journey, open to the Spirit, ready to adapt to the ever changing gifts and needs of our Church and our society. In our case here in the archdiocese, I truly believe that vicariate pastoral planning provides an excellent structure to face the unknown challenges that will unfold in the coming years.

Just in my span of 18 years as your archbishop, we have witnessed enormous changes in our Church and in our metro area and we know we stand right now on the brink of many more changes necessitated by economic circumstances and the overhaul of the auto industry.

As I look to the future, one of my great sources of hope and joy is St. John Center; through their many programs for youth and families, as well as their workshops and retreats, St. John's provides an excellent setting for individuals and groups to learn and deepen their faith. We can take justifiable pride in the accomplishments of Sacred Heart Major Seminary and the fact that seminarian enrollment at the present time is almost at 100, while the commuter student programming remains strong at approximately 400 students. Continuing faith formation opportunities and the certification of all ministries in the Church assures a strong and well-informed lay leadership for the future. We can also rejoice in the strength of our permanent diaconate program, the formation of youth ministers and other forms of pastoral leadership through Mission: Possible and programs of spiritual renewal and faith formation at Orchard Lake Schools, Madonna, Marygrove, U-D Mercy and through many retreat houses in our archdiocese. Our Church of Detroit has established a strong track record for high quality liturgical celebrations in full conformity with the disciples of the Church; we enjoy active participation of the laity in our worship. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has been fully implemented and each year I rejoice in all the new "elect" I am privileged to welcome into our faith. We have also maintained a strong sense of "mission" – appreciating how our stewardship challenges and stretches us beyond maintenance and parochialism to recognize our responsibility for building up the faith throughout the world.

One feature of our Church throughout the decades, which continues to be true even today, is the fact that we truly represent a mosaic of many different ethnic and racial groups. We appreciate the diversity of our backgrounds and have learned to work well together in a way that complements and affirms the gifts of one another. This archdiocese can also take much satisfaction in knowing that we have had a good working relationship with individuals and groups responding to the many social needs of the metro area. From the beginning of this metropolitan area 300 years ago, the Catholic Church has always been a prominent voice and presence for the common good in southeast Michigan. As I look to the future, I focus my glance especially on our young people. I find so much joy and satisfaction when I am able to participate in the annual Rainbow Conference sponsored by CYO and World Youth Day events. From time to time, I have the opportunity to celebrate confirmation and witness the hope and energy of the next generation. I also rejoice in the many ways that young people find the call of ordained priesthood, religious life, or other forms of service in the Church to be appealing and attractive. It is my own firm conviction that we will experience a new enthusiasm for priestly vocations as our country goes "back to basics" facing the challenges of our current economic difficulties.

As I look to the future, I see many reasons for hope. Things will change, but we need not be afraid because the Holy Spirit has been with us in every time and place and the Lord has promised His Church will never fail. It is good we remember our past, celebrate the present moment, and also remember the future. As we look back on this anniversary year, let us give thanks for all that has been but as Ven. Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., used to say, let us also "thank God ahead of time" for all that will be!

Your brother in the Lord,

†Adam Cardinal Maida
Archbishop of Detroit

download image

During 2008, we have celebrated the 175th anniversary of the archdiocese. In this Advent season, we reflect on the end times and begin a new Church year; with this in mind, December seems an appropriate time for us to also look to the past with gratitude and to the future with hope and confidence. We stand on the shoulders of great clergy, religious, and lay faithful and we trust that others will build on the foundation that we are developing at this very time. It is all God's work!

Heavenly Father, during this season of Advent, as we prepare for the coming of your Son in glory, help us to be more aware of His abiding presence among us in the gifts and needs of our Church.

As we recall the coming of Christ your Son in history, strengthen our confidence that He is present even now among us in mystery and the He will come again in glory.

We thank you for the heritage of our 175 years and pray that under the inspiration of your grace we may build up the Body of Christ Your Son who is Lord and lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever, Amen.