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December 17, 2021
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
www.upcatholic.org
For great stories from around the diocese, visit www.yoopercatholic.org Prayer in Times of Seeking God's Will
Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14
Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me... O Lord, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off; forsake me not, O God my savior. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.
Bishop Doerfler provides framework for pastoral accompaniment
STAFF REPORT
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
An instruction focusing on accompanying people with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria was released by Bishop John Doerfler on July 29 this year. Providing a framework in the Diocese of Marquette for pastoral accompa- niment, Bishop Doerfler's instruction focuses on accompaniment with dignity and respect for the person. Created in the Image and Likeness of God: An Instruction on Some Aspects of the Pastoral Care of Persons with Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Dysphoria was sent at the time to clergy, pas- toral coordinators, schools and those involved in faith formation. On Dec. 8 the instruction was highlighted on a high-profile social media account, which resulted in media attention. Bishop Doerfler likens accompaniment to the hikes he enjoys making in the U.P. Accompa- niment goes step-by-step. When hiking with another we meet each other where we are, and walk together to meet our destination, he said. In the case of this instruction, it is for us to reach everlasting love and happiness with God. A passage from the instruction reads: To accompanyothers,itisinsicientmerelyto state the Church's teaching. In addition, we must strive to meet people and lead them, step-by- step, as we all walk toward the fullness of truth Accompaniment does not dilute the teachings of the Church, but rather, animated by charity, we are to proclaim the Gospel in its fullness. The Church teaches that experiencing feelings of same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria is not sinful, but freely acting upon those feelings is. The instruction reads, Experiencing feelings and desires that are not in accord with the true meaning and purpose of sexuality is not sinful. To commit a sin, we must know that something is wrong and freely choose to do it. To be properly disposed to receive the sacra- ments, we all need to repent of our sins. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1427-1428) states: Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essen- tial part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." [Mark 1:15] In the Church's preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the prin- cipal place for the first and fundamental conver- sion. It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life. Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, (is) at once holy and always in need of purification, (and) follows constantly the path of penance and re- newal." This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart," drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first. As a part of this ongoing conversion, we are to receive the sacrament of penance before receiving any of the other sacraments if we have committed any serious (mortal) sins after we have been baptized. Bishop Doerfler noted that in previous minis- try he served as a Courage chaplain. He found working for several years as a priest with the Catholic apostolate to persons who have same- sex attraction to be a privilege and he remains inspired by the members' faith and desire to live chastely. To read the instruction in full, visit www.dio- ceseofmarquette.org/createdintheimage.
The US archdiocese with a relic of the original Guadalupe image
(CNA) - Millions of pilgrims travel each year to see the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. In one U.S. diocese, how- ever, pilgrims can see a relic of the original image that has been outside Mexico for nearly 80 years. The relic, a small half-inch cutting taken from the tilma, is kept in a chapel in the Los Angeles cathedral which was dedicated by Arch- bishop Jos Gomez in 2012. The fragment of the tilma is preserved in a gold reliquary embedded into the midsection of a sculpture of Saint Juan Diego, giving the effect of the tilma the saint wore. The relic was given in 1941 by then-Archbishop of Mexico, Luis Mara Martnez y Rodrguez, to his counterpart in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, John Joseph Cantwell, after he led a large pilgrimage to the Guadalupe Basilica in the Mexican capital. Archbishop Cantwell provided significant help to Mexican Cath- olics during the Cristero War and the religious persecution by the Mexican government during the first decades of 20th century. The priest welcomed to his archdiocese priests fleeing from Mexico to survive. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531, and requested that he ask the first bishop of Mexico, Francis- can Friar Juan de Zumrraga, to have him build a church at the foot of Tepeyec Hill. As proof of the authenticity of the apparition, the Virgin Mary asked the saint to bring flowers from a rosebush that miraculously appeared on arid Tepeyec Hill as a sign to the bishop. When he presented the flowers to the bishop, his tilma, the garment in which he was carrying them, was imprinted with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image of the Virgin, full of symbolism which could be read by the indigenous Mexicans, gave rise to the evangelization of Mexico, leading to millions of conversions in the following years. Saint Juan Diego was canonized in July 2002 by Saint John Paul II.
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