A Michigan Saint? Diocese of Marquette opens investigation into alleged miracle attributed to pioneer bishop

MARQUETTE - The cause for sainthood of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette’s first bishop will take a major step forward this week when the diocese opens an official inquiry into an alleged miracle being attributed to the Servant of God, Bishop Frederic Baraga. 

The Most Rev. Alexander K. Sample, Bishop of Marquette, announced the development in the nearly 60-year old cause during a news conference held on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Marquette.

“Since my first days as a seminarian studying for the priesthood, I have had a great devotion to Bishop Baraga,” Bishop Sample said.  “As his eleventh successor, I am thrilled at the prospect of a miracle that will advance his cause.   With all the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful of the diocese, I give thanks to God for his holy, priestly example.”

The diocese will form a canonical tribunal that will investigate the potential miracle, which took place in the U.P.

“We have a case involving what was thought to be a tumor on a patient’s liver that showed up on various tests, including a CT scan and an ultrasound.  However, when exploratory surgery was done, there was no tumor to be found,” explained Father Ronald Browne, diocesan moderator of the curia.

In this instance, the patient, the patient’s family and their parish priest had prayed for healing by invoking the intercession of Bishop Baraga.  In addition, Bishop Baraga’s stole had been placed on the patient’s abdomen, after which the patient reported that the pain went away.

In order to be affirmed as a miracle, the event being investigated must be one that science cannot explain and be attributable to the intercession of the person whose sainthood is being sought.

Bishop Sample has appointed Fr. Browne as episcopal delegate to lead the work of the canonical tribunal.  Other members of the team will include Father Ben Paris as promoter of justice, Elizabeth Delene as notary, Judy Jason as copyist (transcriptionist) and Dr. John G. Kublin, M.D. as the medical expert.

The bishop has also appointed Father Michael Steber, pastor of St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, to serve as chancellor in this case, but he is not part of the team.  Father Steber will open the inquiry process, obtain the signatures of the tribunal members on the key documents that need to be signed and close the process when it is finished.  The opening session is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 12, at 2 p.m. EST at the Diocesan Office Building.

In investigating the alleged miracle, the tribunal will determine whether an event has occurred that cannot be explained by science and whether it can be attributed to the intercession of Bishop Baraga.  After a complete investigation into the potential miracle, two independent physicians must testify as to the physical condition of the person who was the beneficiary of the alleged miracle.

The cause for Bishop Baraga’s sainthood was opened in 1952.  Since that time, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has reviewed documentation, called a positio, (pronounced peh-ZEET-see-oh) that detailed Bishop Baraga’s life and virtues, as well as documents written by or about him.  Bishop Baraga carries the title, “Servant of God,” since the congregation has formally admitted his cause for consideration.

The diocese is currently at the next step in the sainthood process, which is to determine whether any miracles have been attributed to Bishop Baraga’s intercession.  The congregation informed the postulator of the Baraga Cause, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi (pronounced Ahn-DRAY-a Ahm-BROH-zee) of Rome, that the alleged miracle soon to be looked into had the semblance of being a miracle attributable to Bishop Baraga and that it merited further investigation.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints will again review the positio and make a recommendation to Pope Benedict XVI regarding Bishop Baraga’s heroic virtue.  The Holy Father will then decide whether the title of “Venerable” can be bestowed on Bishop Baraga.

Once a miracle attributable to Baraga has been verified and the proper documentation submitted to the pontiff, Pope Benedict will decide whether Bishop Baraga is to be beatified, which would give him the title of “Blessed.”  This would allow him to be publicly venerated in a limited sense.

In order for Bishop Baraga to be canonized, that is, declared a saint, the diocese would need to verify another miracle attributable to his intercession that occurred after his beatification.  Pending a positive result, Bishop Baraga would be known as Saint Frederic Baraga and be subject to public veneration throughout the worldwide Church.

Bishop Baraga was born in Slovenia in 1797.  He came to the United States to be a missionary to the Odawa and Ojibwa of the upper Great Lakes region in 1830.  Bishop Baraga traveled throughout the 80,000 square mile territory by canoe, boat, horse, snowshoes and even dog sled.

Records indicate that Bishop Baraga once stopped along the Lake Huron shoreline, in present-day Sanilac County (now part of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw) in route to the U.P. The modern parish communities of St. Denis in Lexington and St. Mary - Our Lady of Sorrows in Port Sanilac can trace their roots, in part, to his missionary activities.

He was consecrated a bishop and appointed vicar apostolic of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1853. When the vicariate apostolic was established as the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie (now called the Diocese of Marquette) in 1857, Baraga served as its first bishop until his death in 1868.  His work includes an Ojibwa English dictionary, which is still in use today.

The Bishop Baraga Association was established in 1930 to promote the cause for sainthood of the “Snowshoe Priest,” as Bishop Baraga is called.  For more information regarding the Bishop Baraga Association, contact Elizabeth Delene at (906) 227-9117 or 1-800-562-9745, ext. 117.

Diocesan Collection for Haiti tops $300,000

SAGINAW - Generous members of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw have contributed more than $300,000 to support Catholic Relief Services efforts in Haiti, according to Terri Grierson, director for the Office of Christian Service.

“The response from our parishes and other local organizations has been overwhelming,” Grierson said. “I am continuously amazed by the generosity of the faithful people of our Diocese. It is humbling to know that there are so many people here, who, despite their own economic problems, are willing to give of themselves for their brothers and sisters in Haiti.”

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake leveled the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in January. Haiti is considered to be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

The Haitian government reports more than 200,000 people were killed in the earthquake, 300,000 were treated for injuries, and 250,000 homes were destroyed.

In Port-au-Prince, approximately 20 million cubic yards of rubble need to be removed. Seven organized settlements have been established for 42,000 homeless people; around 460,000 people remain in 315 makeshift camps. Despite this, the resilience of the Haitian people is heard in a popular saying on the streets and in the camps, “Nou bite men nou pap tonbe: We may stumble, but we will not fall.”

By working with Caritas Haiti, the Church’s charitable agency there, CRS has focused on the distribution of food and emergency shelter kits, and on coordination with partners on water, sanitation, health and security issues.  CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Grierson said local donations continue to come into the diocesan offices to be forwarded to CRS.

 For more information on the CRS relief efforts, prayer and educational resources, and information on how you can help with the long-term rebuilding process, go online to www.crs.org or call 1-877-HELP-CRS.

Obituary for Fr. Floyd J. Welna

SAGINAW - Father Floyd J. Welna, 93, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at the St. Francis Home in Shields.

He was born on June 21, 1916, in Opole, Minn., one of 18 children of John and Mary (Deja) Welna. He attended public grade school and high school in Holdingford, Minn., before pursuing higher education at St. John University in Collegeville, Minn., and the University of Okalahoma in Norman, Okla., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s degree in chemistry, respectively.

                                  

It was while working for The Dow Chemical Company in Detroit during World War II that Father Welna heard and responded to God’s call to the priesthood. He went on to receive his priestly formation at St. John University in Collegeville, Minn., Ss. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Mich., and the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Saginaw on June 3, 1950 by Archbishop James J. Byrne at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minn.

During his priesthood, Father Welna served as assistant pastor at Queen of the Holy Rosary and St. Stephen parishes in Saginaw. In 1954, he was appointed as pastor at St. Michael Parish in Wilmot, where he served until 1960. From 1960 to 1967 he served as a professor and spiritual director at the former St. Paul Seminary in Saginaw. He was later pastor at St. Josaphat Parish in Carrollton from 1967 to 1975, Ss. Peter & Paul Parish in Saginaw from 1975 to 1984 and Sacred Heart Parish in Kawkawlin from 1984 until his retirement in 1986.  He also was temporary Administrator at St. Patrick Parish in Ryan in 1988.

In addition to his parish and seminary assignments, Father Welna also served as director of diocesan sodalities, president of the Priests’ Senate, director of the transitional diaconate program, member of the diocesan finance board, chairman of the diocesan commission on liturgy, member of the diocesan building commission, and member of the Clergy Benefit Society board of directors. He was granted senior priest status (retirement) on July 14, 1986. For most of his retirement – up until he was 90 years old – Father Welna continued his priestly ministry by offering parish support and celebrating Mass most weekends of the year both in the Diocese of Saginaw during summers and in the Diocese of Venice, Fla. He thoroughly embraced Vatican II and the renewal of the liturgy, which was his great love.

He is preceded in death by his parents and 16 of his 17 brothers and sisters: Christopher, Anna (Albert) Theile, Theodore (Catherine), Alphonse (Anne), Agnes (Joseph) Bias, Louis (Frieda), Cecelia (Michael) Sherman, Edward (Matilda), Leone (Sid) Johnstone, Tecla, infant boy, Valeria, Theresa (Philip) Rask, Ambrose, Lauretta (Charles) Fritz, and Fidelis (Elizabeth).  He is survived by his sister Frances (Morris) Jacobson, who will celebrate her 100^th birthday on March 9, and his brother-in-law, Charles Fritz, as well as many nieces and nephews.

 The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, 4735 W. Michigan Ave., in Saginaw. The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will preside. Father Patrick C. O’Connor will preach the homily. Burial will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Visitation will take place from 2:00  to 8:00 p.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Church on Friday, March 5, 2010, including a 7:00 p.m. vigil liturgy led by Father Phillip Rask, who is Father Welna’s nephew. There also will be an opportunity for visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday until the time of the funeral Mass.  

Abele Memorial Loan Scholarship Applications Now Available

SAGINAW COUNTY - Application forms are available for the Edward & Marie Abele Memorial Loan Scholarship. The loan provides partial financial assistance for continuing education through any public or private university, college or school.

Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, residents of Saginaw County, and practicing their Catholic faith.

To apply for the loan/scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year contact Amy Nietling at (989) 797-6683. Applications must be received by May 15.

Applications are available on the Finance Office page at www.saginaw.org.

Tomorrow is first day of school in newly consolidated Saginaw Area Catholic Schools

St. Helen and SS. Peter & Paul students will be welcomed into their new schools by principals, teachers, staff and students

SAGINAW — Saginaw Area Catholic Schools will begin the last quarter of the school year as a newly consolidated school system. Students from St. Helen and SS. Peter & Paul will begin their first day of class at either St. Stephen or St. Thomas Aquinas schools Tuesday morning, March 2. Parents are encouraged to walk their children to their new classrooms and then gather for coffee and fellowship.

It is estimated that approximately $750,000 will be saved annually, beginning in July 2010, through the school consolidation. Merging schools will position Saginaw Area Catholic Schools to be able to strengthen existing programs, maximize resources, expand academic offerings and secure the future of Catholic education in the Saginaw community.

Most of the students from St. Helen School will attend St. Stephen School and most of the students from SS. Peter & Paul will attend St. Thomas Aquinas School.

Principals, staff and parent volunteers have been working carefully to ensure a smooth transition for students. Staff resource and parent transition teams are meeting and will continue to meet throughout the school year. Open houses, school welcoming visits and orientations have all been held to familiarize families from St. Helen and SS. Peter & Paul with St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas schools. Some students even became pen pals in the weeks leading up to consolidation.

In January, Saginaw Area Catholic Schools announced it would consolidate its four elementary/middle schools—St. Helen, SS. Peter & Paul, St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas—into two buildings. The consolidation is part of an overall strategic plan to ensure the stability, excellence and future of Saginaw Area Catholic Schools. The last day of school at St. Helen and SS. Peter & Paul was Thursday, February 25. A scheduled winter break was held February 26 through March 1 for all Saginaw Area Catholic Schools students.

The Saginaw Area Catholic School system, which includes the elementary/middle schools and Nouvel Catholic Central High School, is home to nearly 1,300 students. School leaders, teachers and staff are committed to excellence in faith formation, academics, athletics, the arts and community service. The legacy of Catholic school education in Saginaw dates back to 1868.

Bishops Call for Bipartisan Action to Advance Health Care Reform That Protects Human Life and Dignity

WASHINGTON — On the eve of the White House Health Care Summit, the U.S. Bishops urged Congressional leaders “to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.” In their February 24 letter to Congressional leadership, the bishops also cited their longtime support of adequate and affordable health care for all, calling health care a basic human right.
           
The letter was signed by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chairs of the bishops’ committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Pro-Life Activities and Migration, respectively.
           
The bishops urged the House and Senate to adopt legislation that ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all; retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them; effectively protects conscience rights; and protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.
           
“We hope and pray that the Congress and the country will come together around genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all,” said the bishops.
           
For more information about the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ teaching on health care reform, visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.
           
Full text of the bishops’ letter follows.

February 24, 2010

The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader

Dear Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we strongly urge the congressional leaders from both parties meeting on February 25, 2010 to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.  It is time to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform. We encourage the Administration and Congress to work in a bipartisan manner marked by political courage, vision and leadership.

The Catholic bishops have long supported adequate and affordable health care for all, because health care is a basic human right. As pastors and teachers, we believe genuine health care reform must protect human life and dignity from conception to natural death, not threaten them, especially for the voiceless and vulnerable.

We believe health care legislation must respect the consciences of providers, taxpayers, purchasers of insurance and others, not violate them. We believe universal coverage should be truly universal and should not be denied to those in need because of their condition, age, where they come from or when they arrive here.

Providing affordable and accessible health care that clearly reflects these fundamental principles is a public good, moral imperative and urgent national priority.

The U.S. Catholic bishops continue to urge the House and Senate to adopt legislation that:

• Ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all;
• Retains longstanding  requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights; and,
• Protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.

For details on the bishops’ positions on health care, please visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

We will continue to work vigorously to advance true health care reform that ensures affordability and access, keeps longstanding prohibitions on abortion funding, upholds conscience rights, and addresses the health needs of immigrants. Dialogue should continue and no legislation should be finalized until and unless these basic moral criteria are met. Without commenting on specific proposals that may be brought to the summit, we will work to ensure that legislation meets these criteria and will oppose legislation that does not meet them.

We hope and pray that the Congress and the country will come together around genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.

Sincerely,

Bishop William F. Murphy
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Chairman, Committee on Pro-life Activities

Bishop John Wester
Diocese of Salt Lake City
Chairman, Committee on Migration

USCCB Liturgist: Welcoming Catechumens into Church a Job for all Catholics

WASHINGTON — During Lent candidates for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) experience final preparation to become members of the Catholic Church.  The “Elect,” as they are called, rely on the whole Church to welcome them.Father Richard Hilgartner, assistant director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship at the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops offered ten things Catholics can do to welcome new members into the Church.

10 Things to Consider for the RCIA

1. Pray
   Parishes post the names, and often times photos, of those preparing for baptism and reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church, so that the community can offer support. Parishioners can commit to pray for a particular member of the elect and let them know of this gift of prayer as they prepare for Baptism.
   
   
2. Listen
   The journey of those in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) can be an example for all, as the Elect listen intently to the Word of God and take concrete steps to follow Him. Their steps can inspire, especially during Lent as Christians strive to follow the Lord more closely. Time spent hearing their stories and experiences can move listeners’ hearts. 
   
   
3. Participate
   The RCIA process includes a number of public rituals in Lent: the Rite of Election, the Scrutinies, and the Preparation Rites. Many of these take place at Sunday Masses in parishes. Attending those Masses is a way to show support for the Elect.
   
   
4. Attend the Easter Vigil
   The Great Vigil of Easter is the “night of nights,” the liturgy for Holy Saturday declares. It is the night during which the Church keeps vigil for the resurrection of Jesus.  It is during the Easter Vigil that the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are celebrated and new members are welcomed into the Church.  This “most blessed of all nights,” as the Exsultet on Holy Saturday proclaims, celebrates in ancient rituals the central mysteries of the faith. This celebration is long, but it is the heart of the Church’s worship and speaks clearly to fill participants with the joy of the Resurrection.
   
   
5. Have a welcoming spirit
   In the weeks after their initiation, the newly baptized, now called “neophytes,” look for their place in the Church community. Parishioners can make them feel welcome by encouraging them to be part of an activity, a group, or a ministry.
   
   
6. Witness
   The RCIA reminds people that God is present and active, that He continues to speak to all. It is a reminder that how you act, what you say, and what you do can reflect the presence of Christ. Being “witnesses” (see Acts of the Apostles 1:8) of what Christ is doing in one’s life speaks to others.
   
   
7. Invite
   As witnesses, Christians are called to share their faith in some way. Sometimes it means noticing others who are searching, who might benefit from encouragement or an invitation to learn more about the Catholic faith. Evangelization calls for a member of the Church to share one’s faith. Just inviting a friend or neighbor to Mass can be a powerful statement that allows the Lord to reach out through this gesture.
   
   
8. Get Involved
   The RCIA has many facets. Each depends on dedicated parishioners (along with the clergy, catechists, and other staff members) to facilitate, teach, lead, and serve as sponsors. There are many ways to shares one’s faith and gifts to become involved.
   
   
9. Ongoing Conversion
   In addition to those preparing for Baptism, the RCIA also includes those already baptized Christians who are preparing for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. This can be celebrated any time. Those preparing for reception (and Confirmation and first reception the Eucharist) remind Christians that all are called to follow the Lord, who is always speaking  and calling people to repentance— ongoing conversion and a change of heart— resulting in more authentic disciples.
   
   
10. Know Mystagogy is for all
    After celebrating the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, the newly initiated continue their formation in the faith in the period called Mystagogy (which means “interpretation of mystery”), when they reflect on their encounter with Christ in the sacraments and learn more about their faith. This period is ongoing and essentially what all members of the Church do throughout our lives: grow deeper in faith and relationship with Christ, constantly discerning his will.