5 years later: Bishop Ken remembered

SAGINAW - Bishop Robert J. Carlson and more than 200 diocesan priests and lay men and women gathered with members of Bishop Kenneth E. Untener's family to honor the diocese's former chief shepherd and celebrate the fifth anniversary of his funeral with a special noon Mass at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption.

"We read in Pastores Gregis that the bishop is compelled to live like Christ. It is a complete giving of self for the flock committed to his care and it is an expression of pastoral charity: It is a 'being with Christ' in the daily gift of self exercised in his ministry of evangelization, liturgical presidency and leadership in the community," Bishop Carlson said during his homily.

"Today, we give thanks for Bishop Ken and the way he taught us how to live like Christ."

Bishop Untener served as the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw from November 1980 until his death on March 27, 2004. He was born in Detroit on August 3, 1937 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1963 by Cardinal John Dearden for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He later served as rector of St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth from 1977 until he was appointed, ordained and installed as bishop of Saginaw.

Bishop Carlson publishes Pastoral Letter on Peace

SAGINAW - Focusing on prayer and the Eucharist, the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson, Bishop of Saginaw, has published "Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace," a pastoral letter about peace.

In the letter's introduction, Bishop Carlson wrote:

In 2002, the Lord spoke to my heart: “So many desire peace, but few are willing to pray for peace.” In giving me this word, the Lord gave me a vision and a goal: to help the world come to peace through the power of prayer.

I believe that the only way we are going to get peace is if we turn to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and ask him for it. That is why, along with Fr. Luis Mesa, I founded the Messengers of Peace — a religious order in Colombia dedicated to 1) praying for peace, in Colombia and in the World, before Christ in the Blessed Sacra­ment and 2) working to serve the poor.

If we desire peace we must be willing to work for it. And if we are willing to work for peace that means we must be willing, first and foremost, to pray for peace. In the words of Pope John Paul II, “To pray is to enter into the action of God upon history: he, the sovereign actor of history, has wished to make people his col­laborators.”

The Pax Christi (Peace of Christ) movement was established in Europe when the world was at war, to gather people together to pray for peace. Today Pax Christi has the same goal. But many of its members, in my limited experience, are more action oriented. There needs to be both prayer and service because, as Pope Bene­dict XVI noted, “The effectiveness of pastoral action depends, ulti­mately, upon prayer; otherwise service becomes empty activism.”

Accordingly, the Messengers of Peace begin and end the day in prayer for peace. During the day a handful of brothers (and soon sisters) serve the poor — children, adults and the elderly.

I invite you to join the Messengers of Peace as a “living Gospel” — a person of the Beatitudes. As we hear in the words of Pope Paul VI: “‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.’ (Mt. 5:9) We believe that, without the direction and assistance of Christ, true, permanent and worldwide peace is impossible.” (Pope Paul VI, Message for the World Day of Peace, 1978.)

The letter on peace is Bishop Carlson's fifth published teaching since January 2008. Other writings include, "Preparing for the Nov. 4 General Election: On Abortion, Catholic Voters , and Proposal 2" (October 2008), "Body and Soul: A reflection for couples called to the vocation of marriage on the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae" (July 2008), "Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician: Pastoral Letter on Penance" (January 2008), and his"Pastoral Letter on Evangelization" (January 2008).

To obtain copies of "Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace" or other publications by Bishop Carlson, contact the Communications Office of the Diocese of Saginaw at (989) 797-6637.

Catholic Conference to Legislators: 'Stand With the Working Poor by Protecting Earned Income Tax Credit'

LANSING -- Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long released the following statement today concerning the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit:

"In 2006 the Michigan Legislature passed with bipartisan support an Earned Income Tax Credit, which the Conference hailed as 'the best piece of legislation passed this year'. For two years low-income Michigan workers have been told by the State that tax relief is on its way, but now some elected officials are calling for this tax relief to be halted. At both the federal and state levels the Earned Income Tax Credit has proven time and again to be the most effective tax policy that moves people out of poverty. Freezing the implementation of the EITC while Michigan workers are struggling at alarming rates is both disingenuous and poor policy, considering over 700,000 working families would stand to benefit from the credit. Michigan Catholic Conference calls on all elected officials to support the EITC and help those who are working from falling below the poverty line."

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

Bishop Carlson celebrates 25th anniversary

BAY CITY - Around 800 people packed inside St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on Sunday to celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving in honor the 25th anniversary of Bishop Robert J. Carlson's Episcopal ordination.

Among the event's highlights was Detroit Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida's reading of a congratulatory letter from Pope Benedict XVI. Also in attendance was Cardinal Edmund Szoka, president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State and six other bishops.

A priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since is ordination on May 1979, Carlson was consecrated as a bishop on January 11, 1984 by Archbishop John R. Roach, Bishop John F. Kinney, and Bishop Paul V. Dudley at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn., to serve as and auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese and Titular Bishop of Avioccala.

Bishop Carlson, 64, ministered in his home archdiocese until he was appointed as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D., in January 1994. He later succeeded Bishop Dudley as the seventh bishop of Sioux Falls in March 1995.

In December 2004, Bishop Carlson was re-appointed to the Diocese of Saginaw by Pope John Paul II. He has served as the fifth bishop of Saginaw since his installation at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw on February 24, 2005.

Read more about Bishop Carlson's 25th anniversary in the next issue of FAITH Saginaw.

Obituary for Fr. Charles L. Ganley

SAGINAW - Father Charles L. Ganley, 82, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the St. Francis Home in Shields.

Father Ganley was born on February 6. 1926 in Harbor Beach, son of Abigail E. (Wagner) and Charley H. Ganley. He was baptized at St. Patrick Parish in Croswell and attended Lexington public schools.

He studied for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Md., and St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth. He was ordained on June 7, 1952 by Bishop Stephen S. Woznicki at St. Denis Parish in Lexington.

During his priesthood, Father Ganley served as assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Alpena and St. Mary Parish in Alma; and as pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Ithaca, St. Martin de Porres Parish in Perrinton, Holy Family Parish in Saginaw, Sacred Heart Parish in Merrill, St. Patrick Parish in Ryan, and St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Bay City. He was granted senior priest status (retired) in 1996.

He is survived by two brothers and a sister: James Ganley, Thomas (Annie) Ganley, and Abbie (Mike) Newhouse; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are four very dear friends: Father Max Frego, Father William Rutkowski and Mike and Helen Woods. He preceded in death by three brothers and one sister: Gene Ganley, Frank Ganley, Bob Ganley, and Julie Suda.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Bay City with a private burial to follow at St. Denis Cemetery in Lexington.

Visitation will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Squires Funeral Home, 211 N. Henry St., in Bay City and from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. A vigil liturgy will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday at the church.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. Vincent de Paul Society – St. Mary.

Campbell named as All Saints interim-principal

BAY CITY – Bay Area Catholic Schools Administrator Michael J. Knoff on Thursday named Brian Campbell as interim-principal for All Saints Central High School for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year.

Campbell succeeds J. B. Watters, who resigned his position November 30 to become principal at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Fredericksburg, Va.

"It is a pleasure to be able to appoint Brian Campbell as interim principal at All Saints," Knoff said. "Brian exemplifies the qualities that we seek in a Catholic leader. Being a product of our schools has helped him to develop a great understanding of our charge to educate students in a Catholic faith based environment. His strong commitment to quality education will help All Saints to continue on its path of being the best. I look forward to working closely with him.”

Campbell is an All Saints alumnus, a 2003 graduate of the Univeristy of Michigan and a 2005 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University. Since 2005, he has served as a social studies teacher at All Saints, teaching such courses as U. S. history, global studies, world history, current events, government, and economics.

In addition to his classroom work, Campbell chaperoned and managed a All Saints student volunteers who spent their 2006 Christmas break in New Orleans, laboring for Hurricane Katrina recovery, and has been assistant varsity baseball coach for since 2004.

"Brian Campbell will provide strong leadership for All Saints,” said the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson, Bishop of Saginaw. “His commitment to the mission of Catholic schools is outstanding. Brian’s stepping forward at this time of transition will provide the school with great stability as it moves forward in its quest to become an exceptional Catholic school.”

To learn more about Bay Area Catholic Schools, visit http://www.bacschools.org/.

Our New Father:Tipton Ordained to the Priesthood

SAGINAW - Bishop Robert J. Carlson ordained Prentice A. Tipton Jr. to the priesthood on Dec. 5 at St. Mary Cathedral in Saginaw. Father Prentice, 55, has been assigned as assistant pastor at St. Hyacinth Parish in Bay City, where he previously served out is deacon internship. He is the eighth priest ordained for the Diocese of Saginaw by Bishop Carlson during the past two years.