Friday, November 25, 2022
Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring”
Saint Catherine of Siena, 1347 - 1380
Dear Friend,
Welcome to Week 47 of Disciples Together on the Way! We’ve made it to week 47! Only four weeks left in our entire program. We’ve made it to the final stretch. So, for that, I say WELL DONE! God bless you.
If you’ve missed a week or two do not grow weary but start back up and pray that God give you the persistence to march on.
For inspiration, we can look towards our friends the saints as examples of perseverance. We’ve spoken about Saint Monica and how she persevered in prayer for 17 years for the conversion of her son, Saint Augustine of Hippo. Other great examples of persistence are Saint Rita of Cascia and Saint Joseph, foster-father of our Lord.
Saint Rita, who lived in 15th century Italy, showed heroic perseverance in her desire to enter the religious life despite being given in marriage to a very violent tempered man by her parents at the age of 12. After her husband died, she again took up her journey to enter the religious life and encountered many trials – yet she persevered and was ultimately allowed to enter the monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene in Cascia, Italy.
The Translation of Saint Rita of Cascia, Nicolas Poussin, 1594 - 1665
We also see a great example of persistence in the life of Saint Joseph. Despite the many hardships he endured protecting and guiding the Holy Family whether it was the journey to Bethlehem, the flight into Egypt, or the loss of the Child in the Temple, blessed Saint Joseph never lost trust in God. He always remained steadfast in his faith.
Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus, Guido Reni, 1575 - 1642
So, in these final four weeks I encourage you to continue your journey down the path of discipleship always turning to the Saints for strength and guidance.
For this week, our challenge will be to reflect on the previous eight weeks.
The focus of the last several weeks has been the Saints and Corporal Works of Mercy. As a good disciple always does, spend some time in prayer thinking about how those challenges have gone. Were there challenges that came easily? Were there some that seemed more difficult to stick with? Ask the Lord to show you where you need to spend time cultivating the habit of a good disciple by revisiting one of the practices mentioned in these past eight week. Then, repeat that challenge again to begin to develop the habits of a devout disciple.
Practice makes perfect! Let us continue on our path of discipleship with the encouraging words of Saint Catherine of Siena: “Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
I’ll be back with a new theme and a new challenge next week. Until then, may God bless you abundantly throughout this week, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Here's a video version of this week's challenge. Do share with family and friends. Thank you. God bless you.
Read: How would you react if your son or daughter informed you that Christ is calling them to cloistered religious life? Read this beautiful testimony as Ana Braga-Henebry, a parishioner at Saint Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing, explains her emotions upon being told just that by her beloved daughter, Maria, who is now a Norbertine sister in California. Deo gratias. Click here to read Ana's story.
Watch: New year, new start! This weekend, November 27, is the First Sunday of Advent. That's the beginning of the Church's new liturgical year. Happy new year!
As Pope Benedict XVI writes, “The first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a new journey of faith that on the one hand commemorates the event of Jesus Christ and, on the other, opens to its ultimate fulfillment.”
What better way to begin this new year than with a fresh start in our pursuit of personal holiness through encountering the mercy of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Penance a.k.a. Confession. A good Advent confession also prepares us to welcome Jesus Christ in a worthy fashion at Christmas.
Haven't been to Confession for a while? Here's a short video featuring Father Karl Pung, Pastor of Saint Mary Cathedral in Lansing, with five tips for a good confession this Advent.
Watch: Meanwhile, below, are some great images charting a century of the Church of the Resurrection parish in Lansing which will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Christmas Day this year. Ad multos annos.
On June 15 1922, the Most Reverend Michael J. Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit, sent Father John A. Gabriels to Lansing to establish a Catholic parish east of the Pere Marquette railroad tracks that would include East Lansing, Okemos and Haslett.
Father Gabriels named the parish Resurrection because he believed this was the most important event in Christian life and the cornerstone of Christianity. He celebrated the first Mass on Christmas morning 1922 in the basement church, which would become a school.
In 1926 two stories were added with classrooms for eight grades. Five Dominican sisters were the first teachers. Parishioners worshiped in the basement church until the present church was built in 1952.
This video was created by Jeremy Whiting for the parish centenary dinner which took place Saturday, November 19, 2023. Enjoy!
On June 15 1922, the Most Reverend Michael J. Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit, sent Father John A. Gabriels to Lansing to establish a Catholic parish east of the Pere Marquette railroad tracks that would include East Lansing, Okemos and Haslett.
Father Gabriels named the parish Resurrection because he believed this was the most important event in Christian life and the cornerstone of Christianity. He celebrated the first Mass on Christmas morning 1922 in the basement church, which would become a school.
In 1926 two stories were added with classrooms for eight grades. Five Dominican sisters were the first teachers. Parishioners worshiped in the basement church until the present church was built in 1952.
This video was created by Jeremy Whiting for the parish centenary dinner which took place Saturday, November 19, 2023. Enjoy!
Read: For over two decades, Father Joe Krupp has been answering readers' questions in Faith Magazine, the official publication of the Diocese of Lansing. Father Joe is the Pastor of Holy Family in Grand Blanc and Saint Mark in Goodrich. This month, here is the query posed to him:
"Dear Father Joe, I feel like a mom who is constantly failing. I don’t know how to deal with all the pressure I am feeling. I love my kids and husband so much but I am constantly tired trying to love them, care for them and get them to school and their practices on time." What does Father Joe have to say in response? Click here to find out.
