Two seminarians ordained as trasitional deacons

SAGINAW - Bishop Robert J. Carlson ordained two men as transitional deacons today during Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Transitional deacons are men who are in the final stages of their formation for the priesthood. They usually are ordained as a priest in the year following their diaconate ordination.

Those ordained today were Deacons David J. Jenuwine (pictured left) and Thai Hung Nguyen (pictured right).

Of the Diocese of Saginaw's 23 seminarians who will be enrolled this fall, five are transitional deacons. Others are Deacons José G. Parra, Christian Tabares, and Prentice A. Tipton. Parra and Tipton were ordained by Bishop Carlson in May.

Ten men also participated in the Rite of Candidacy today, publicly proclaiming their intentions to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders and publicly being accepted to their respective formation programs from their bishop.

Candidates for the priesthood included Gabriel Barrera, Thomas R. Held, Fabian F. Moncada, Robert T. Schikora, and Juan Ignacio Velasquez.

Candidates for the permanent diaconate included Daryll K. Atkinson, James W. Damitio, Stanislaw Kuczynski, Gary E. Patelski, and Michael C. Smith. The Diocese of Saginaw currently has six men enrolled in its permanent diaconate formation program.

Decades of Cathedral School alumni gathered in Saginaw during the weekend

SAGINAW - Close to 600 St. Mary Cathedral School Alumni gathered Saturday for an All-Class Reunion. Check out the the alumni blog at www.smcreunion.blogspot.com/ to see their fun and share their memories.

Second book of Pope's 'Spiritual Thoughts' series to honor St. Paul

WASHINGTON (USCCB) —Saint Paul, a new book featuring quotes and reflections of the Holy Father on the Apostle Paul will be published on August 29.

The publishing office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has reached an agreement with the Vatican’s publishing office to launch a series of books by Pope Benedict XVI called Spiritual Thoughts.

Paul Henderson, USCCB publishing director, views the release of the Pope’s book on St. Paul as "a timely opportunity for Catholics to join the Pope and return to the Bible as the source of parish and personal renewal." He added that the book series can also "help Catholics become better acquainted with their universal leader."

Benedict XVI opened the Jubilee Year of St. Paul on June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The Year of St. Paul includes a church-wide campaign to promote biblical literacy among Catholics.

"Americans experienced the Holy Father’s warm and humble demeanor for the first time last April," said Father David Toups of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, recalling the Pope’s visit to the United States.

"The book series is an opportunity for U.S. Catholics to gain access to the Pope’s personal thoughts and deep spiritual insights," said Father Toups. The books contain excerpts from a variety of Benedict XVI’s speeches and homilies.

Msgr. David Malloy, USCCB General Secretary, said the series "exemplifies our excellent relationship with the Vatican publishing office," noting that Libreria Editrice Vaticana frequently grants to the USCCB the rights to publish and distribute in the United States new and well-known titles already available in Italian.

The first book of the series featured reflections from the Holy Father during his first year as pope. After the work on Paul, the Spiritual Thoughts series will continue with other books on Mary, the Saints, and excerpts from the Pope’s second year of pontificate.

The Spiritual Thoughts book on Saint Paul will be available on August 29, and can be ordered online at http://www.usccbpublishing.org/.

August newsletter now online

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw Monthly Newsletter for August 2008 is now available online.

Click here to sign up to have a newsletter message sent each month to your e-mail.

USCCB launches new cultural diversity website

WASHINGTON (USCCB) — The Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church (SCDC) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is launching a new website.

The Secretariat wants to build a strong online presence through the use of innovative and effective communication resources to support the overall evangelization efforts of the Church.

The new website features links to the five ethnic offices in which the secretariat is organized. In the site information can be found about the Bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity and its subcommittees.

Features include resources such as articles, PowerPoint presentations, demographics, videos and more, which will be periodically updated.

"It is our hope that the site will be a place where anyone can go to learn about the various Catholic ethnic communities, the wonderful diversity present in our Church and the many resources the Secretariat has to offer," said Jesuit Father Allan Figueroa Deck, Executive Director of the Secretariat.

The Secretariat of Cultural Diversity was created in January of this year. It works in a collaborative spirit to promote the pastoral efforts and priorities of the Committee on Cultural Diversity and its subcommittees.

Its focus is to minister to culturally diverse Catholic communities including Hispanic, African American, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Native American. The Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers also serves numerous other communities of Catholics.

The Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church new website address is http://www.usccb.org/scdc/index.shtml

BXVI: World Youth Day a New Pentecost

VATICAN CITY (VIS) - On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI appeared at the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered there.

The Pope spoke of his recent trip to Australia to preside at the 23rd World Youth Day where, he said, he had had the opportunity "to encounter the youthful face of the Church."

He also recalled how people - using "a beautiful expression that encapsulates the essence of these international days established by John Paul II" - had described the participants as "young pilgrims of the world."

"These meetings," the Holy Father explained, "represent stages of a great pilgrimage across the planet to show how faith in Christ makes us all children of the one Father Who is in heaven, and builders of a civilisation of love."

What characterised the meeting in Sydney, he went on, "was an awareness of the central role of the Holy Spirit, a leading player in the life of the Church and of Christians."

The Pope went on to recall how, during the days leading up to the closing Mass, bishops from all over the world had presented catecheses in the churches of Sydney, "moments of reflection and of prayer, indispensable in order to ensure the event left not only outward traces but a profound interior impression on people's consciences.

"The evening vigil in the heart of the city, under the Southern Cross," the Pope added, "was a choral invocation of the Holy Spirit," while during the Eucharistic celebration of Sunday, July20 , he had "invited everyone present to renew their baptismal promises.

"Thus," he went on, "this World Day became a new Pentecost, from which the mission of young people started out afresh, called to be apostles of their peers like so many saints and blesseds" such as "Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati whose relics, placed in Sydney cathedral, were venerated by a constant pilgrimage of young people.

All young men and woman are called to follow their example and share the personal experience of Jesus which changes the lives of His 'friends' with the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God's love."

Registration now open for 2008 Charity Golf Classic

SAGINAW - Down-loadable registration and sponsorship information for the 2008 Bishop's Charity Golf Classic is now available at Saginaw.org.

This year's third annual event to benefit seminarian education will take place Sept. 17 and 18.

The Banquet & Silent Action is set for Sept. 17 at the Bay City Country Club, 7244 3 Mile Rd. in Bay City. The Golf Outing will tee off Sept. 18 on two courses: Swan Valley Golf Club, 9521 Highland Green Dr., and Crooked Creek Golf Course, 9387 Gratiot Rd., both in Saginaw.

The event's goal is to raise funds for three seminarian scholarships and provide a gift to local Catholic radio, which supports vocations daily through programs such as the Rosary for Vocations.

It is anticipated that he Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is anticipated to have as many as 25 seminarians enrolled this fall, according to Bishop Robert J. Carlson.

For more information about the event, registration information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Colleen Rabine, director of community relations.