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Jan/Feb 2008 Issue
Bishop's column
| My
dear friends, The current issue of FAITH Grand Rapids
marks the beginning of our second year of publication.
I am appreciative of the many kind comments on this
effort to better communicate the message of the Church
and to reach out to all the people in the diocese. |
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A number of people have told me of their practice
of passing their copy of FAITH GR along to others -family
and friends - who are interested in the Church. It is one
more way to get the word out about the Lord and His Church.
As we begin this New Year, I want to extend
to all, my prayers and good wishes for a new year of God's
grace and blessings. I continue to regard it a great personal
blessing and privilege to be able to serve as your bishop.
The New Year brings promises of new and often uncharted opportunities
and challenges that energize us and engender within us a sense
of hopefulness as well as uneasiness. Such conflicting emotions
are common when embarking upon new ventures...emotions that
were undoubtedly experienced by our ancestors who first settled
in this area creating homes, parishes and eventually our diocese.
Many emigrated, bringing their faith with them.
This year FAITH GR will recognize them and
the generations who have followed the legacy they have entrusted
to us. A legacy steeped in courage and rooted in a deep love
for their faith. The work on the Cathedral Square project
is moving along quickly and construction is well underway
on both, the Diocesan Center and the parking deck portion
of the project. I am most grateful for the generous support
for this project that should serve the diocese and community
for years to come. We anticipate the closing in the sale of
the Burton Street property in February, and we are planning
to move downtown in early summer.
This consolidation of our programs and activities
should enable us to function more efficiently and effectively,
by establishing a collaborative work environment in a more
convenient location to serve the whole diocese. Various opportunities
to provide financial support will be offered to the people
of the diocese. We are still working on the details.
This year, from April 15th to 20th, our Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting the United States,
making stops in Washington, D.C. and New York. Among other
events he will be meeting with the bishops of the United States
and celebrating Mass at the National Park in Washington, D.C,
and again in New York, a public Mass is tentatively scheduled
at Yankee Stadium. Other events will include a meeting with
Catholic college and university presidents and leadership
in Catholic education. This meeting will take place in Washington,
D.C. An interfaith meeting, one with children with disabilities,
a visit to "ground zero" and a session with seminarians and
young people in New York is also planned.
I expect to attend the meeting of the bishops
and be present for both the Mass in Washington, D.C and in
New York. Father R. Louis Stasker will represent the educational
leadership of the diocese, and Dr. C Edward Balog, President
of Aquinas College, has been invited to the meeting of the
college presidents with the Holy Father in Washington. The
seminarians of the diocese will be attending and participating
in the New York gathering of seminarians and young people
with the Holy Father. For the most part, the only events open
to the general public will be the Masses in Washington, D.C.
and in New York.
At the present time we have no information
on the availability of tickets since these matters are normally
handled by the host diocese. As information becomes available,
we will post it on the Web site and let our parishes know.
During his time in the United States, the Holy Father will
celebrate his 81st birthday and the 3rd anniversary of his
election as Pope. It is a great blessing to our country to
have the Holy Father visit this year. Please keep him in your
prayers. The Holy Father is also planning to attend World
Youth Day in Sydney, Australia in July. World Youth Day is
the largest youth event in the world, gathering young people
to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents,
peoples, and cultures. A recreation of this event will be
held July 19th and 20th in Sidney, Ohio for those unable to
travel to Australia.
Registrations for the Sidney, Ohio event will
be available at the end of January. We have 65 young people
from our diocese who will be attending World Youth Day in
Australia in July. In the current issue of FAITH GR you will
also find information regarding the 49th Annual International
Eucharistic Congress (IEC) which will take place in Quebec,
Canada from June 15th to the 22nd. This year's program is
centered on the theme "The Eucharist, Gift of God for the
Life of the World" and will include varied celebrations, catechisis,
and religious and artistic activities. A delegation from the
diocese will be participating in this pilgrimage and I expect
to join them for a major portion of the time in Quebec City.
It is a special time of celebration for the Church. It is
a time of prayer, of study of our faith in Christ; alive and
present in the Eucharist. You will find additional information
on this trip to Quebec City on the back cover of our current
magazine.
Lent is early this year with Ash Wednesday
on February 6 beginning our journey toward Holy Week and Easter
on March 23rd. Lent is a special time of grace for us. During
Lent we finalize the preparation of new members who will be
received into the Church at Easter. Lent also provides us
personally, through our prayer, penance, fasting and almsgiving
to enter into a deeper relationship with the Lord. Lent leads
us to Easter and our celebration of the resurrection of the
Lord and our sharing in His victory over sin, darkness and
death itself. In a separate location, you will find the regulations
for fast and abstinence during Lent. I encourage you during
this Lenten season, to invite back, those who may have wandered
away. Lent is also a good time to receive the Sacrament of
Penance. With my best wishes,
- Bishop Walter A. Hurley is the
11th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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