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THE U.P. CATHOLIC
March 12, 2021
3
(USPS 916-360 ISSN 10634525)
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
The Newspaper of the Diocese of Marquette Publisher: Most Rev. John F. Doerfler Editor: John Fee Assistant Editor: Hattie Hanold Advertising Manager: Deacon Stephen Gretzinger Administrative Assistant: Sheila Wickenheiser
Direct all news, correspondence and changes of address to: 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855-8851. Postal authorities direct Form 3579 to: 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855. The U.P. CATHOLIC is the official publication of the Diocese of Marquette. All notices and regulations, appointments, assignments, etc., issued under the caption 'Official' are to be regarded as official communications of the Diocese of Marquette. Opinion columns, letters to the editor and advertisements that appear in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions held by The U.P. Catholic or the Diocese of Marquette. The diocese is prohibited from endorsing candidates for public office. Office of Publication: 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Marquette, Michigan, 49855 and at additional entry office. Published semimonthly except during January, March, May, June, July, August, September, November, & December. The U.P. Catholic is provided to all registered U.P. parishioners. The cost for subscribers who are not registered members of a parish in the Marquette Diocese is $25/year. Advertising is $16.28 col/inch unless specified otherwise.
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Drew Langton
Pre-Theology I Sts. John & Joseph, Ispeming
We invite you to pray for vocations. Loving Father, Master of the harvest; Please send more laborers to work in your vineyard. Amen.
www.dioceseofmarquette.org/vocations
One particular grace I have received this year is a greater trust in God's divine provi- dence. This year has been full of unexpected turns allowing me to let go of my own will and rely more deeply on the Lord."
Small steps of love in the state budget process
H
alfway through Lent, the celebration of Easter- and the hope it embodies-is drawing closer. It comes as many Michiganders are exhausted from the ongoing pandemic and social unrest. However, the Holy Father reminds believers that each small step towards love has meaning; each can contribute to a deeper relationship with God and the wider commu- nity. In his Lenten message, Pope Francis shared that Love rejoices in seeing others growit suf- fers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need. Love is a leap of the heart; it brings us out of ourselves and creates bonds of sharing and communion. Catholics are called to love. Reflecting on these words, how will people of faith act as Easter approaches? Will Catholics grow in love and charity towards oth- ers? Will they advocate for loving de- cision-making in society, considering justice and the needs of others? These questions are particularly relevant as the Legislature formulates the 2021-2022 state budget. Just as a family determines how income should be spent, the State also makes budget determinations for its people. If done well, the budget can act as a document of love and of care, recognizing all Michiganders have value and considering carefully the needs of the marginalized. In February, the state budget director shared Governor Gretchen Whitmers $67.1 billion executive proposal for the 2021-2022 state budget. Now lawmakers are discuss- ing their own recommendations. Creating a budget with concern for the needs of the vulnerable is a significant undertaking.Withlimitedresources,publicicialsmust makedicultchoices.MichiganCatholicConference,the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in this state, believes the budget provides a moral statement about the kind of society in which Michiganders want to live. In this spirit, MCC has noted the following regarding next years state budget: Comprehensive support for pregnant women, moth- ers, and their children. Past state budgets have helped women in crisis or unexpected pregnancies receive counseling, prenatal health information, parenting edu- cation, and material support. Sadly, Governor Whitmer vetoed funding for this program the last two budget cycles because it does not allow for the promotion of abortion. By reinstating funding for this policy, the Legislature can irmthatabortionshouldneverfeellikeawomen'sonly option and that women are never alone. Educational opportunities for students. MCC supports funding for low-income students to attend college through the Tuition Grant and Tuition Incentive Programs, for nonpublic school students to participate in the First Ro- botics Program, and for students to continue participating in shared time instruction. Safety for students and educational staff. As all chil- dren deserve to learn in healthy and safe environments, MCC supports helping public and nonpublic schools with COVID-related costs. The Conference has also champi- oned reimbursements for nonpublic schools for dozens of health and safety requirements from the state, such as conducting background checks on staff. Basic needs and support for individuals suffering hardships. Initiatives that provide clothing for low-income children, energy and food assistance for families in need, interventionservicesforhumantrickingvictims,and services for homeless and runaway youth are critical. Each of these efforts provide opportunities to walk alongside one another with love. Mental health services for Michiganders. While the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted rates of depression and anxiety, these and other mental health needs did not appear overnight. In recent years, MCC has advocated for increased mental health services that are available for public school students to also be available for students in nonpublic schools. MCC will remain engaged in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 state budget process until the governor signs the final version into law. It is the hope of the bishops conference that the final budget takes small steps of love and creates bonds of sharing and communion for Michiganders in thefaceofdiculties.Visitwww.micatholic.org/canfor more information and updates. The Word from Lansing is a regular column for Catholic news outlets and is written by Michigan Cath- olic Conference (MCC) President and CEO Paul A. Long. MichiganCatholicConferenceistheicialpublicpolicy voice of the Catholic Church in this state. j
THE WORD FROM LANSING Paul A. Long
Gaze into the Father's heart
I
t has been about a year now that we have been immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Though ithasbeenadicultyearforallofus,ithasnot been a bad year. Now you may wonder why I would say that. I know the challenges and uncer- tainties of the past year have invited me to trust in the Father even more, and have invited all of us to trust in the Father more. The more we abandon ourselves to him, the more we fall into his loving embrace. And falling into the loving embrace of Godinthemidstofdicultlymakes for a good year! Where do we go from here? This month I have a meeting with priests to discuss when and how we begin rolling back some of our pandemic protocols. I am hoping to begin this process sometime in the spring. I would like to thank you for embracing the safety precautions that I have put in place so that we may celebrate Mass and the other sacraments safely. I also wish to thank the Thomistic Institute, who convened a national working group of Catholic physicians and theologians to develop recommendations for protocols to celebrate the sacraments safely based on sound medicine and the principles of our Catholic faith. The protocols we have in place in our diocese are based on their recommendations and adapted to fit our situation, along with advice from the priests of our diocese and local Catholic physicians. They have all helped us to navigate waters that we have not sailed before. This month, via webinar, I am meeting with pastors and parish teams for us to plan and fully ramp up our efforts to invite people back to Mass and parish life. By the way, we resumed the public celebration of Mass last May across the diocese. If you have not come back to Mass yet, what are you waiting for? The doors are open and we would love to have you gather with us again to meet Jesus and receive him in the Eucharist! I ask your prayers for wisdom as we deliberate these matters. In this time of Lent, may you be able to peer into the heart of our loving Father and fall more deep- ly into his embrace.
JOY OF THE GOSPEL
Bishop John Doerfler
THE MORE WE ABANDON OURSELVES TO HIM, THE MORE WE FALL INTO HIS LOVING EMBRACE.
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