Blessed Father Louis Guanella was elevated to sainthood on Sunday, Oct. 23.

We are proud to announce to our religious family in the Diocese of Lansing that our Founder, Blessed Fr. Louis Guanella, was elevated to the level of Sainthood by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday October 23, 2011. A delegation of 50 people from the United States were in attendance at St. Peter’s Square for the ceremonies, including 35 pilgrims from our Diocese.

Lansing Bishop Emeritus Carl F. Mengeling celebrated Mass at the Pious Union of St. Joseph on Sunday, October 23.

“In thanksgiving for nearly 51 years of ministry of the Servants of Charity in our diocese at Chelsea, as they celebrate in Rome this weekend, the canonization of their Founder, St. Louis Guanella, We pray to the Lord…”

For more information on the canonization of Blessed Fr. Louis Guanella click here.

Celebrate the Legacy, October 30, 2011

The 25th Diocese of Lansing High School Jamboree - Leaping and Dancing Before the Lord - will be held at the Lansing Center on Sunday, October 30. Chris Padgett, who has been spreading the gospel to teens in song, and inspirational message across the country for over a decade will keynote. He will be joined by Bishop Boyea, Bishop Cistone, Noelle Garcia McHugh and David McHugh, Fusion, 13 workshop presenters, Planet X Inflatables and much more.

Blessing of St. Mary Cemetery, Manchester

During November we are called in a special way to “remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest”. On Tuesday, November 2 - All Souls Day – all are invited to a Blessing of St. Mary Cemetery, Manchester. Mass for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed will begin at 8:30am, with the Blessing of the Cemetery immediately following. Please join in this traditional and beautiful prayer service to pray for and remember the souls of those who have gone before us. St. Mary Cemetery is located on West Austin Road in Manchester, adjacent to the city cemetery.

Lay Ecclesial Minister Commissioning

Saturday, November 5 · 10:30am - 1:30pm
St. Mary Cathedral Parish
219 Seymour Lansing, MI

The Bishop and the People of God of the Diocese of Lansing invite your presence and prayer as Our co-workers in Christ - Louanne Alber, Sandra Louise Corrion, Rebecca Ann Keiser, and Teresa Marie Hurd - are recognized and commissioned for our service by the Most Reverend Earl Boyea.

James Mangan ordained to the transitional diaconate at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome

On Thursday, 6 October 2011, 35 seminarians of the Pontifical North American College were ordained to the transitional diaconate during a celebration of the Eucharist. James V. Mangan of the Diocese of Lansing, was among those ordained. 

His Eminence, William Cardinal Levada, S.T.D., Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a 1962 alumnus of the Pontifical North American College, celebrated the Mass and was the ordaining prelate. Appointed Prefect of the CDF in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI, who preceded him as Prefect of that congregation, Cardinal Levada was elevated to the College of Cardinals the following year. He will celebrate 50 years of priesthood on December 20.   

In his homily, Cardinal Levada proclaimed to the congregation gathered for the ordination: “Dear friends, today is a day of great rejoicing for the whole Church!”  Explaining the significance of the diaconate, the Cardinal said, “In the diaconate the Church grounds all ordained ministry in the threefold structure of the ministry of the Word, of the liturgy, and of charity. These three ministries correspond to revelation and faith, by which the Word of God who is love is preached and handed on in the Church.”

During the ordination, the new deacons promised to live a life of prayer, celibacy and obedience to their diocesan bishop. The new deacons will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood.

As part of the ordination rite, His Eminence placed the Book of the Gospels in the hands of each candidate being ordained and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.  Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

Cardinal Levada concluded his homily by saying: “Let us pray for these men today, that God’s grace of Holy Orders may make them dedicated servants in ministry to the Church. May Mary, Mother of the Clergy, intercede for them so that—as future priests—they may show forth the face of Christ, the face of God’s own love, to a waiting world.”

The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome.  Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pius IX, the college has formed over 5000 priests near the heart of the Church for service in dioceses around the United States, Canada, and Australia.  The College strengthens the bonds between Rome and local Churches worldwide, and it allows its students to study the Church’s rich religious and cultural heritage at close range.

Photo Credit: Pontifical North American College

Father Francis T. Martin passed into eternal life on Friday, September 23, 2011 at the age of 95. He was born to John and Elizabeth (Metz) Martin on October 5, 1915 in Howell, Michigan. He was the eldest priest of the Diocese of Lansing.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated, Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 10:30AM at Church of the Resurrection, 1531 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing with Bishop Earl Boyea, Bishop Emeritus Carl F. Mengeling, Rev. Fr. John Fain, Rev. Fr. John Klein, Msgr. Sylvester Fedewa, Rev. Fr. William Koenigsknecht and numerous other Diocese of Lansing Priests presiding. Rite of committal will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday 2-4 & 6-8pm at St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow, Lansing, where the Scripture Service will be held at 7:00PM. Memorials can be made to the Fr. Martin Memorial Fund, c/o Church of the Resurrection, 1531 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI, 48912 or St. Vincent DePaul Society - St. Gerard, 4437 W. Willow, Lansing, MI, 48917.

He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, St. Marys of the West in Norwood, Ohio and the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he received his Masters Degree in Education. Father Martin was ordained for the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Joseph H. Albers on April 17, 1943.

Father Martin served the Diocesan parishes of St. Mary in Williamston, St. Joseph in Watervliet, St. John in Albion, St. Michael in Flint, St. Mary in Jackson and St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing. Father Martin served as Pastor of the Church of the Resurrection for 29 years, retiring in 1986. After retiring he volunteered at St. Lawrence Hospital and St. Gerard Church in Lansing.

Father Martin served the Diocese as Superintendent of Schools from 1954 - 1964, as President of the Diocesan Board of Education, Dean of the Lansing Deanery, Chairman of the Diocesan Priest Personnel Commission and as a member of the Diocesan Senate of Priests. He was a member of the Bishop Albers Assembly #496 - 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and the Richard Council #788 - Knights of Columbus.

A special thank you to Connie Gurrola and Comfort Keepers, for the loving care they gave to Father Martin.

He is preceded in death by his 3 siblings: Mildred Fitzsimmons, Mary Agnes Bush and Robert Martin. Surviving are his 2 nieces: Mary (Roger) Krum and Kathleen St. Onge and many loving great nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are entrusted to Palmer Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel, 520 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing, MI.

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Patriarch of Jerusalem visits Chelsea

His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, shared with the parishioners and guests at St. Mary in Chelsea, Hamdu Lil Lah. He said it meant thanks to God.

During Archbishop Twal’s homily at Mass he welcomed 650 of his family members, now America citizens, formerly from the Middle East, and the parishioners who gathered to celebrate his 12-day visit to the United States.

Dignitaries filled the gathering space prior to Mass and processed before the patriarch as he entered the church. Honoring him were the 4th Degree and other Knights of Columbus; knights and ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of the North Central Lieutenancy; Reverend Emil Salayta, judicial vicar, Latin patriarchate and Sir Rateb Rabie, president of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Archbishop Twal spoke about peace during his homily. He said, “I am grateful to be gathering in the best gathering – the Mass. We should pray for each other, for your peace, for our peace.”

He talked of preaching to the priests in the Holy Land, about their world-wide mission of the presence of Jesus and about Jews, Muslims and millions of tourists who come to the Holy Land.

The patriarch continued, “There are 100 religious congregations from all of the world and 14 contemplative congregations who pray day and night in front of the Blessed Sacrament for peace for the world.” He said that the people of the Holy Land don’t want violence but justice and a normal life for everyone.

The harmonious choir and church participants’ singing the Alleluia resounded through the church under the direction of B. J. Hohnke with organists Matthew Brower and Dr. Mark Cowan. Pastor William Turner and Kristyn Hohnke drew the rapt attention of everyone with their Communion mediation for the safety if the people of the Holy Land.

The Robert Khzouz’s family from Madaba, Jordan, carried the offertory gifts to the altar. They attend St. Edith in Livonia and have a business in Chelsea.

After Mass the patriarch told everyone “you are all welcome to come to Jerusalem.”

Terry Ahwal, Canton resident, formerly from Palestine, said that Patriarch Twal is the archbishop for Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Cyprus. He meets with the priests from these countries at least once a year.

Father Turner told how the parish supported the students from Palestine who came to St. Mary this summer. The students didn’t want people to forget the cause for peace.

At the elegant reception after Mass, Ghassan Shahina and Rana Imsech, parishioners at St. Mary in Livonia, talked of their faith and leaving Nazareth and Jerusalem to come to the United States 26 years ago.

Malik Haddad prepared the Lebanese cuisine for the reception. June Weiland was in charge of the more than two dozen women of the parish who prepared and served the food. The Knights of Columbus funded the wonderful event.

Long after Fouad Twal, patriarch archbishop of Jerusalem returns to the Holy Land everyone who shared the liturgy with him will remember his holy and gentle countenance. They will join all the people praying for peace in the world.

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Bishop Earl Boyea will be celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of Blessed John Paul II

Noon, October 22, 2011, St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, Michigan.
This date has been chosen by the Holy Father for the diocese of Rome and for the dioceses of Poland as an obligatory memorial. In all other dioceses worldwide, the date may be chosen by the diocesan bishop and observed as an optional memorial.

Blessed John Paul II was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on May 1, 2011 at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

All are cordially invited and encouraged to participate in this liturgy.

Blessed John Paul II click here to read more>

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How will the Missal be changing?

Pope John Paul II announced a revised version of the Missale Romanum during the Jubilee Year 2000. Among other things, the revised edition of the Missale Romanum contains prayers for the observances of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Votive Masses and Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass. The English translation of the Roman Missal will also include updated translations of existing prayers, including some of the well-known responses and acclamations of the people. read more>