May 27, 2010

Winner’s Circle Celebration







The Winner’s Circle Celebration was held this week at the Center for Ministry. The evening serves as an opportunity to congratulate this year’s Bishop’s Charity Ball prize winners, as well as event sponsors and volunteers. Since its debut in 2007, the annual Bishop’s Charity Ball has raised more than $1 million for Catholic schools and parish religious education and formation programs.

This year’s grand prize winner was Mary Dymek, of Bay City, who won $15,000. Second prize, a trip for two to Rome, Italy was won by Andy Foster of Blanchard, and the winner of a $5,000 home improvement project is Roberta Smith of Fairgrove. The winner of the fourth prize, a laptop computer was Maureen Becker. In addition, there were drawings for five $1,000 cash prizes.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, sponsors and volunteers!


(Pictured from top, grand prize winner, Mary Dymek, receives her check from Bishop Cistone. Tom and Nancy Klopp, of A-M Church Supply, to present second prize, the trip for two to Rome, Italy. Chip Hendrick presents third prize, a $5,000 home improvement project and Jeanne Murphy of Yeo and Yeo presents fourth prize, a laptop computer.)

May 21, 2010

Ordination to the Priesthood

The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw ordained two men as priests on May 21 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption: Father Rick M. Varner (left) and Father Christian F. Tabares (right).


Watch video clips from today's ordination below:
















May 20, 2010

On this day, 1 year ago ...

Pope Benedict XVI announced he had selected Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Cistone to become sixth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.



May 19, 2010

Migration Chairs of Mexican and U.S. Bishops’ Conferences Issue Join Statement on President Calderon’s Visit to the United States

WASHINGTON — Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, and Archbishop Rafael Romo Muñoz of Tijuana, Mexico, head of the Mexican Episcopal Conference Migration Commission, issued May 19, a joint statement on the occasion of President Felipe Caderón of Mexico visit to the United States.

In the statement, the bishops urged Presidents Obama and Calderón to focus their conversation on the need for reform of their respective immigration systems; the need to uphold the respect for human rights and dignity of migrants and citizens alike while protecting their nation’s borders; and the implementation of fair trade and development policies that would stem the need for people to migrate, while making sure the immigration system provides sufficient legal visas or legal status for immigrants to work in jobs that are important to the U.S. economy.

The statement was released in bilingual form. (Read it here).

Theology 101 Extra: Preparing for Pentecost




FAITH Saginaw magazine's Dr. Ed Hogan helps us prepare feast of Pentecost (May 23, 2010) with a reflection on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans: 


"In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will." (Romans 8:26-27)

Friday’s Ordinations will be 1st for Bishop Cistone

SAGINAW – The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone has baptized. He has heard confessions. He has celebrated the Eucharist. He has anointed the sick. He has presided at marriages. He has confirmed. And he has ordained deacons. But he has never ordained a priest.

That will change on Friday when he ordains two men to the priesthood for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.

The Rev. Mr. Christian F. Tabares (pictured above) and Rev. Mr. Rick M. Varner (pictured below) will be ordained to the priesthood during a Mass that will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hoyt Ave., in Saginaw.

The ordinations will be Bishop Cistone’s first priestly ordinations for the Diocese of Saginaw since he was installed as its sixth bishop in July 2009. It also is his first priestly ordinations since he was consecrated as a bishop in 2004. 

In the Catholic Church, there are three “degrees” of the sacrament of Holy Orders: episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests) and diaconate (deacons). Bishops, who are successors of the Apostles, are ordained to teach, sanctify and govern; bishops may confer all seven sacraments of the Church. Priests, who are ordained to be co-workers with the Bishop in his ministry, cannot ordain and may only confirm under specific circumstances or special permission from their bishop. Deacons, who are ordained to assist the bishop and the priests, may baptize and witness marriages.

Tabares, 33, is a native of Medellin, Colombia. He received his priestly formation from the Minor Seminary of Medellin and St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Santa Rosa de Osos, Colombia. He came to the Diocese of Saginaw as a deacon in June 2008 and has served at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw. He has completed pastoral ministry courses offered through the St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa., and English courses at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw. Following his priestly ordination, he will serve as the assistant pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Bay City.

Varner, 43, is a native of Sanford, Mich., and grew up attending St. Agnes Parish there. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, a master’s degree in theology from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, and studied at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. He has served as a deacon for the past year at St. Agnes Parish in Freeland. Following his priestly ordination, he will be assigned to serve as the assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Mount Pleasant.

Tabares and Varner and will join the brotherhood of 92 diocesan priests (59 active and 33 retired) who minister to and pray for the people of the Diocese of Saginaw’s 105 parish communities located throughout 11 counties in mid-Michigan. Nine priests from other dioceses and five religious order priests also serve parishes in the Diocese of Saginaw.

On May 14, Bishop Cistone ordained four men to serve as transitional deacons as they complete the final stages of their priestly formation. Edwin C. Dwyer, Nathan E. Harburg, J. Marcel Portelli, and Robert P. Schikora were ordained as deacons at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption. Their priestly ordination is tentatively set to take place in the spring of 2011. 

May 18, 2010

Happy Birthday Bishop!

Ordained to the Priesthood on May 17, 1975 at age 25. Father Cistone celebrated his first Mass on his 26th birthday, May 18, 1975. Today, Bishop Cistone marks another year (his first birthday as Bishop of Saginaw). You've come a long way, baby ...

May 17, 2010

Happy Anniversary Bishop Cistone!

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Bishop Joseph R. Cistone's ordination to the priesthood. On May 17, 1975, he was ordained to serve as a priest by Cardinal John Krol  in his hometown Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The rest, is history!

Ordination to the Order of Deacons

SAGINAW - The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, ordained four men as transitional deacons on Friday at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption.

The new deacons (pictured with Bishop Cistone from left to right) are  the Rev. Mr. J. Marcel Portelli, the Rev. Mr. Robert P. Schikora, the Rev. Mr. Nathan E. Harburg, and the Rev. Mr. Edwin C. Dwyer.

May 10, 2010

New Pastoral Assignments Announced

Bishop Joseph R. Cistone has announced the following clerical and parish assignments, effective July 1, 2010:

Senior Priests
  • Father Paul W. Bala: from Pastor, St. John Chrysostom Parish, Forestville, and St. Mary – Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Port Sanilac, to Senior Priest.
Pastors
  • Father Richard M. Filary: from Pastor, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Midland, to Pastor, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Bay City.
  • Father William J. Rutkowski: from Pastor, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Bay City, to Pastor, St. Cecilia Parish, Clare.
  • Father Patrick M. Jankowiak: from Pastor, St. Cecilia Parish, Clare, to Pastor, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Beal City.
  • Father Kevin Maksym: from Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Alma and Mount St. Joseph Parish, St. Louis, to Pastor, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Midland.
  • Father James E. Falsey: Pastor of St. Mark Parish, AuGres, will also serve as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Alger.
  • Father Andrew D. Booms: from, Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Port Austin, the Interim Administrator and Sacramental Minister of St Mary/St Edward Parish in Kinde to Pastor, St. Michael Parish, Port Austin and St Mary/St Edward Parish, Kinde.
Parochial Administrators
  • Father David J. Jenuwine: from Parochial Administrator, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Beal City, to Parochial Administrator, St. Mary Parish, Alma and Mount St. Joseph Parish, St. Louis.
  • Father Nicholas F. Coffaro: from Associate Pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Midland, and Sacramental Minister, St. Brigid of Kildare, Midland, to Parochial Administrator, St. Anne Parish, Linwood. (Father Jerzy Dobosz will remain as Administrator of St. Valentine Parish, Beaver, and Sacred Heart Parish, Kawkawlin.)
Parochial Vicars
  • Father José G. Parra: from Associate Pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Saginaw, to Parochial Vicar, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Midland, and Sacramental Minister, St. Brigid of Kildare Parish, Midland.
  • Father Daniel E. Roa: from Associate Pastor, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Bay City, to Parochial Vicar, St. Michael Parish, Port Austin, and Sacramental Minister, St. Mary/St. Edward Parish, Kinde.
Newly Ordained
  • Father Christian F. Tabares: to Parochial Vicar, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Bay City. (Will be ordained on May 21, 2010 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, Saginaw.)
  • Father Rick M. Varner: to Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Pleasant. (Will be ordained on May 21, 2010 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, Saginaw.)
Sacramental Ministers
  • Father Paul W. Bala: from Pastor, St. John Chrysostom Parish, Forestville, and St. Mary – Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Port Sanilac, to Sacramental Minister, St. Pancratius Parish, Cass City and St. Agatha Parish, Gagetown.
  • Father Donald J. Eppenbrock: from Sacramental Minister, St. Pancratius Parish, Cass City and St. Agatha Parish, Gagetown, to Sacramental Minister, St. John Chrysostom Parish, Forestville, and St. Mary – Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Port Sanilac.
  • Father Thomas M. Kowalczyk: to Sacramental Minister, St. Mark Parish, AuGres, and St. Joseph Parish, Alger.
Retirements
  • Father Jerome G. Niedermier: Sacramental Minister, St. Joseph Parish, Alger.
  • Deacon Ralph Brisson: Pastoral Administrator, St. Michael Parish, Pinconning.
Pastoral Administrators
  • Gary Patelski: to Pastoral Administrator, St. Michael Parish, Pinconning.
  • Deacon Michael Arnold:  from Pastoral Administrator, St. Joseph Parish, Alger,  Pastoral Associate, Sacred Heart Parish, Kawkawlin, St. Anne Parish, Linwood, and St. Valentine, Beaver, to Pastoral Associate, Sacred Heart Parish, Kawkawlin, St. Anne Parish, Linwood, and St. Valentine, Beaver.
  • Lynn Trudell: re-appointed Pastoral Administrator, St. Henry/St. Charles Parish, Rosebush and Leaton.
  • Sister Riccardina Silvestri, MC:  re-appointed Pastoral Administrator, St. Michael Parish, Wilmot and St. Joseph Parish, Mayville.
  • Maria Cepeda: re-appointed Pastoral Administrator, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Bay City.
  • Sister Gail Addis, IHM:  re-appointed Pastoral Administrator, St. Joseph Parish, Bay City.
  • Sister Dorothy Ann Blasko, OP:  re-appointed Pastoral Administrator, St. Agatha Parish, Gagetown.
  • Sister Virginia Scally, SNDdeN: re-appointed Pastoral Administrator, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Bay City. 
Chaplains
  • Father James W. Bessert: from personal health leave to Chaplain, St. Francis Home, Shields, and part-time assistance to the Office for Liturgy (effective May 15, 2010).

May 6, 2010

Morning Sun: St. Joseph the Worker School Student Wins Spelling Bee



MOUNT PLEASANT - Twelve-year-old Hannah Steffke of St. Joseph the Worker in Beal City is the winner of the annual Gratiot-Isabella and Clare-Gladwin RESD Regional Spelling Bee.

Steffke was calm and cool as a cucumber each time she stepped to the microphone on the stage at the Broadway Theater on Wednesday where her final two words, “wiseacre” and “origami” earned her the win.

“The only reason I was calm on stage is because I do plays,” said Steffke. “And that helps you get over stage fright.”

Steffke said that she had lots of help from her two sisters, Emily and Madeline, and from her father, Steve, with practicing spelling words.

“Not counting art, gym, recess and lunch, spelling is one of my favorite things at school,” said Steffke. “This is my dream.”


All Saints Junior Scores Perfect 36 on ACT

BAY CITY - All Saints Central High School junior Paul Kuczynski recently earned a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT, the standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States.

That achievement puts him in the top one tenth of 1 percent of test takers nationwide. Only 1 percent of students who have taken the ACT since 2007 have scored 32 or higher, according to ACT.org. Three other All Saints juniors also scored composite ACT scores of more than 30.

"This is just a glimpse of the great things accomplished within our Bay Area Catholic Schools, where our parishes, staff, students and parents provide an environment in which each student can excel and reach their potential, fully developing their God-given gifts and talents," said Sharon Pagryzinski, enrollment coordinator for Bay Area Catholic Schools.

Kuczynski also has been active in drama, been involved with student government and played on the tennis team during his time at All Saints. He is a member of Key Club, National Honor Society and Voices for Life.   He serves as a sacristan, lector and altar server at weekday school Masses and is an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and altar server at his parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka.  

Bay Area Catholic Schools continues the Catholic school tradition begun in Bay City-area in the 1850s, providing a solid faith-based education for students enrolled in 3-year-old preschool through 12th grade. Learn more at www.bacschools.org

May 5, 2010

Video: Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Saginaw


A video promoting the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Saginaw. It was debuted at the 2010 Bishop's Charity Ball on April 30 at the Horizons Conference Center.