The Blessed Virgin

This evening in my Intro to the Catholic Church class we were reviewing the section of Lumen Gentium covering Mary.  Class was moving along at a regular pace, with a bit of dialog between the six students and  our professor.  After our break we started reviewing paragraph 60.  The section addresses Mary's role as a mediator while stating unequivocally that Jesus is the one mediator of God.  "In the words of the apostle there is but one mediator; 'for there is but one God and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a redemption for all' (1 Tim. 2:5-6)" (LG 60).

Stepping into the shoes of one of my Protestant friends with whom I've enjoyed thought-provoking conversations over our respective Christian faiths, I asked "Why?" with regard to the last part of the paragraph, which reads:

But the Blessed Virgin's salutary influence on men originates not in any inner necessity but in the disposition of God.  It flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it.  It does not hinder in any way the immediate union of the faithful with Christ but on the contrary fosters it (emphasis added).

There are many reasons to venerate Mary, the Mother of God, but I was just not getting why she would or could foster my union with Christ if I already believed in her son.  What is the point? 

I don't have the memory to be able to quote my classmates verbatim, but suffice it to say, what resonated with me was, just as God may use any believer in his plans to "mediate" between Him and other believers or non-believers, God also uses Mary.  In other words, by my living out my faith in even the most seemingly mundane aspect of my life, I may knowingly, or unknowingly, help someone in their relationship with the Lord.  It may be their initial exposure to someone following the will of God, or it may be just the something they needed to return to God after a loss of faith, or maybe something that further solidifies their faith.

Consider Mary's response to being told by an angle of the Lord that she was full of grace and would bear the Son of God, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to thy word" (Lk 1:38).  If knowing of someone who surrendered themselves to the will of God helps foster, or mediates, a relationship with Christ for another, there isn't a greater example than Mary.

Peace,

Application Process Update

We received a letter today from the Archdiocese of Detroit.  After reviewing our application into the Formation Program for the Permanent Diaconate for Canonical issues, the Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life has informed us we are authorized to proceed with the next step of the application process, psychological exams for both Juanita and I.  We are also to expect an in-house interview from a Diaconate Couple. 

The letter closes by asking us to schedule the exams as soon as possible because they hope to notify everyone of their decision by the end of May or early June.

Peace,

The Only Constant is Change

Time certainly does not stand still, and change is really one of the few constants in our lives.  So much has happened since my last entry, it is difficult to find a starting point with which to begin.

St. Colman / St. Fabian Cluster

The prospects for St. Colman returning to being an independent parish were not good considering the its small size and the acute shortage of priests.  The prospects of a sustainable long-term cluster arrangement with St. Fabian was tenuous at best because of the demands on the pastor / administrator in running two parishes, one of which included a school.  A financial situation within St. Colman raised concerns with some, but I and others were confident that it could be resolved.  In the end, what could not be resolved was the lack of priests and the inability of the Archdiocese of Detroit to assign St. Colman a new pastor.  So with the interest in the long-term pastoral care of the parishioners of St. Colman in mind, the decision was made to close St. Colman and merge into St. Fabian.  On November 11, 2012 I made the announcement at the conclusion of the 11:00 am Mass.

Fr. Norbert Kendzierski Social Hall

On December 2, 2012, as a gesture of unity following the announcement of the merger, and because Fr. Norbert had been pastor at St. Fabian before moving to St. Colman, St. Fabian name and rededicated its social hall in memory of Fr. Norbert.   

St. Colman Closing Mass

On February 3, 2013, at 11:00 a.m, with the Most Reverend Bishop Jose Arturo Cepeda presiding, Fr. Jeffrey Day and Fr. Craig Geira concelebrating, and Deacon Jene Baughman assisting, St. Colman parishioners celebrated their Closing Mass.  While there were several parts of the Mass that were emotional, several moments moistened the eyes of even the most hard-hearted.  First was after Communion when the altar was stripped and the Sanctuary Lamp was extinguished after all of the Eucharist was consumed, signaling that the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, was no long with us.  Second was during the Rite of Leave Taking, during which the sacramental books, Holy Oils, and Holy Water were ceremoniously removed and parishioners were invited to kiss the altar upon leaving one last time.  The final step, and most heat-wrenching was when Bishop Cepeda sealed the doors of the church with a purple sash while declaring St. Colman closed.

St. Fabian Unity Mass

Today, on the day when Fr. Norbert would have celebrated his 75th birthday, many of us from St. Colman joined with parishioners of St. Fabian and celebrated a Unity Mass, signifying the merger of the two parishes.  The Mass began with several members of both parishes processing in with their respective sacramental books and bowls of Holy Water.  Additional St. Colman parishioners processed in with the Holy Oils from St. Colman.  The Holy Water and Holy Oils from the two parishes were combined.  The old sacramental books of both parishes will be replaced with a new set of books for the new St. Fabian.  

Members from both parishes participated throughout the celebration of the Mass, including the Readings, the Setting of the Altar, the Presentation of the Gifts, and as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. 

Future of the former St. Colman

There is still a great deal of work to be done with the former St. Colman.  The Archdiocese of Detroit is in negotiations with a potential buyer.  If the sale is finalized, it would mean the property would continue to be used as a church.  Even so, there is the matter of making certain all sacred items are handled properly, either being moved and used at St. Fabian or within another parish in the area.  I will post updates as the transition team completes its work.

On a Personal Note

As my bio had noted, I had taken some time off of my studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.  I knew my workload last January (2012) was going to make it impossible to meet class obligations.  I also was still dealing with the questions of, did I want to be come a deacon in response to being called by God, or did I want to become a deacon because I wanted to.  As such, I did not finish submitting my application for Diaconate Formation last year.

Following a change in jobs last summer, I applied to and was accepted into the MBA program at the University of Detroit Mercy.  In mid-December as I was about to register for Winter semester classes, Juanita unexpectedly asked me if I really wanted to return to school for the MBA.  I said I did.  She then asked me if that was really where my heart was.  After a brief pause I said honestly, it was not.  Funny thing is, she already knew it.  I said I really wanted to return to the Seminary because something inside of me was drawing me in that direction.  With a loving smile and supportive hug, Juanita said I should follow my heart.  So with that, I am following my heart, which I believe with more certainty, is responding to a calling by God.  Juanita and I completed and submitted the application for Diaconate Formation, and I have resumed taking classes at Sacred Heart.  I will post more frequently on this restarted journey.

Peace,

Fear and Uncertainty

It has been a month and a half since the passing of Fr. Norbert.  The Archdiocese of Detroit immediately clustered St. Colman with St. Fabian, a parish which is less than 3 miles away.  Fr. Jeffrey Day, the pastor at St. Fabian, was named the Administrator at St. Colman.  Fr. Craig Giera was named Associate Pastor at both St. Fabian and St. Colman to help with the workload.  Also supporting Fr. Jeff and Fr. Craig is Deacon Jene Baughman.

Seeing someone preside at Mass other than Fr. Norbert isn't unusual, as we frequently had other priests to give Fr. Norbert a little break now and then.  However, there is something different seeing Fr. Craig and Fr. Jeff presiding, knowing Fr. Norbert is not coming back.  That isn't to say the difference is bad, quite the contrary.  There have been many positives in my humble opinion.  It is to say that St. Colman isn't quite the same.

There is an air of concern among parishioners as to the future of St. Colman.  One would have to have their head buried in the sand not to, at the very least, ponder for a moment that the AoD might close our parish.  Yet, to a large degree, the future is in (and isn't) in our hands.  Ultimately, it is God's will as to what happens, but it may be God's will that the parishioners of St. Colman put forth an effort to demonstrate the viability of our parish.  In seeking out the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, maybe the parishioners and the Parish Pastoral Council devise and implement a plan that makes the cluster arrangement with St. Fabian viable on a long-term basis.

While the passage focuses on food and clothing, I find the lesson from Matthew 6, verses 25 through 33 reassuring.  In it Jesus tells us, 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear...  ...Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?...   ...If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?...   ...Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.  Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself."

But to highlight our part in all this, Jesus also tells us in Matthew 7, 7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

I am confident that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the St. Colman parishioners, the Parish Pastoral Council, along with Fr. Jeff and Fr. Craig will seek, ask, and knock, rather than worry.

Peace,

God's Plan?

This came up during a conversation with a friend tonight.  We were debating the value of petition prayers in light of God having a plan for us all.  I mentioned that even Jesus petitioned his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.  "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will but as you will." Mt 26, 39.   To my friend's point, where is the value of Jesus' prayer here?  Wasn't God's plan already set in motion?

If God has good things planned for us, do we need to request them in prayer?  Can we sway God's mind with our petitions?  If so, does that mean God's original plan was flawed, or can God simply change his mind?  Toss a little "free will" into the mix and it really starts you thinking (though I'm certain all of this has been debated, dissected, and documented over the centuries and it is just a matter of me finally covering it in a future class - but in the meantime it sure is intriguing to think about on your own).  

Maybe God has a decision tree, or a risk mitigation plan, or a contingency plan, you know, for those times when I throw him a curve ball and exercise my free will in a way not consistent with his teachings.  Maybe it is a contingency plan that gets executed when we don't petition our Father as he wants us to do so.

My friend and I ended our call somewhat where we started, him still wondering the value, and me not having an answer - yet.

Peace,

God Bless You Father Norbert

Three weeks ago our pastor finally went to the hospital after feeling poorly for weeks (actually months, but we didn't know it).  All during Holy Week he looked and sounded awful, laboring to breath while reciting prayers.  He told us it was bronchitis.  During his two weeks in the hospital we were told he had pneumonia.  A week ago Friday we learned he had cancer.  This morning the parishioners of St. Colman of Cloyne in Farmington Hills, Michigan lost their shepherd when Fr. Norbert V. Kendzierski passed away in the arms of a close friend.

We celebrate the Ascension of the Lord this Sunday.  It is the second time we hear of Jesus physically leaving his disciples, the first being with his death and burial.  In a certain way, with the passing of Fr. Norbert, I think I have a better sense of what the apostles were feeling when Jesus left them. I was hit with a deep sense of loss, loss of a spiritual leader, loss of a friend, with the news this morning.

In 2001 when Fr. Norbert came to bless our house after we moved to the neighborhood from Atlanta, my wife wasn't Catholic and I was just another parishioner, attending Mass a little more frequently than just Christmas and Easter. Not long afterwards I started attending Mass regularly.  Over the years I began to humbly serve the parish through a variety of roles.  I got to know Fr. Norbert better as a result of this service.  Fr. Norbert also became my wife's first pastor when she joined the Church a few years ago.  In 2010 Fr. Norbert presented me with a prayer book with daily prayers similar to, but not as daunting as the Breviary.   The inscription reads, "Michael, Perhaps this will guide your way. With affection, Fr. Norb"

I open the church tomorrow.  Although it will be dark and empty when I first walk in, like all the other times over the years, tomorrow will be different.  In a way it will be like the apostles seeing the empty tomb of Jesus.  Our spiritual leader and a friend will be gone from our midst.

God bless you Fr. Norbert.  You will be missed.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Work Reflection

I'm not sure where I came across this, but I've since printed it out and have it posted at work.  From time to time during the day I'll read this to myself as a reminder.

When your ordinary work or business is not specially engrossing, let your heart be fixed more on God than on it: and if the work be such as to require your undivided attention, then pause from time to time and look to God... So doing, God will work with you, in you, and for you, and your work will be blessed.  S Francis de Sales

Each and everyone of us has a job to do, with the talents given to us by God, as part of God's plan. No matter how grand our work may be, or how menial it may seem, it is all part of God's plan.  We honor God by using his gifts wisely and to the best of our ability.

Peace,