News from Diocese of Saginaw, MI

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frommi said:
Pure speculation on my part would say it has something to do with the placement of the tabernacle.
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That makes sense. The last time I was there (last year, I think) the tabernacle was stuck in a side room where hardly anybody noticed it. People just kept walking by it like it was nothing.

The tabernacle itself looked like a reject from a birdhouse factory.
 
piejesu said:
The way it is looking, the change(s) will be made at or by the time of the delivery of the third part of the catechesis, but that is only an assumption on my part and based on the timing previously discussed. A side note is, that this is a change that was mandated by the Bishop sometime ago, and it is only the many difficulties, challenges (some health related), and other time consuming diocesan duties of the rector that have held up the project. Please pray for the rector; one priest among few, who have given full allegiance to the bishop. He has taken many “bullets”, both from the laity and from holy orders in seeking to follow the orders of the bishop in the obedience of faith.
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How many priests are at the cathedral these days? Just the rector? If so, that would definitely be overwhelming even with 100% health.
 
Lepanto said:
How many priests are at the cathedral these days? Just the rector? If so, that would definitely be overwhelming even with 100% health.
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There are two priests living at the Cathedral. The Rector, who is also the Liturgy Director for the diocese (which is a full time job on its own-particularly in these parts), and the chaplain for St. Mary’s Medical Center-which is now across the street from the cathedral (I can remember when the hospital was a block away).

As far as the rector’s health issues, just like the rest of us, he isn’t getting any younger, but as far as I knew, the extremely serious issue he had many years ago is cleared up.

St Mary’s is clustered with two nearby parishes, Holy Family and St. Andrew. The St Andrew pastor and Holy Family deacon help with daily and Sunday night Mass at the cathedral.
 
frommi said:
Pure speculation on my part would say it has something to do with the placement of the tabernacle.
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Well frommi wins the prize. The tabernacle indeed has been moved to a more immediate place of visibility in the Cathedral. The former Marian shrine area has now become the place of residence for the tabernacle and the Lord Jesus when He may reside therein. The statue of Mary and painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe have taken up residence in the former Blessed Sacrament.

Per the rector,

“It is important for me to note that by no means is this new configuration of spaces for the tabernacle and Marian images permanent. This is a temporary rearrangement to provide a more dignified location of the reserved Blessed Sacrament.We will continue to study, plan and vision for the future renovation and the more permanent location for both the tabernacle and shrine for our Blessed Mother.”

Many are hoping the “vision” for the permanent Marian shrine will include a more traditional statue of Our Lady.
 
saggal said:
Not so happy with Ballerina Mary, eh? 😉
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Ballerina May is one of the more charitable things she has been referred to as.

I believe the statue is depicting the Assumption of our Blessed Mother into heaven. If you know that is what you are looking at, the whole concept and image go together well. If you don’t know what the statue is portraying, then, well, Ballerina Dancer is as good as it gets.
 
piejesu said:
Well frommi wins the prize. The tabernacle indeed has been moved to a more immediate place of visibility in the Cathedral. The former Marian shrine area has now become the place of residence for the tabernacle and the Lord Jesus when He may reside therein. The statue of Mary and painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe have taken up residence in the former Blessed Sacrament.

Per the rector,

“It is important for me to note that by no means is this new configuration of spaces for the tabernacle and Marian images permanent. This is a temporary rearrangement to provide a more dignified location of the reserved Blessed Sacrament.We will continue to study, plan and vision for the future renovation and the more permanent location for both the tabernacle and shrine for our Blessed Mother.”

Many are hoping the “vision” for the permanent Marian shrine will include a more traditional statue of Our Lady.
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Ever so slowly, the tabernacle inches out of the shadows…maybe one day making it back into the center of the sanctuary where it belongs. 👍

So now will other parishes follow the cathedral’s lead? :confused:
 
Did your parish priest offer General Absolution as part of the Communal Penance Service???

I wish some priest would realize in deep fullness and convey this to their Flock, their parish community, the healing power, the divine grace of Reconciliation. Allowing those thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, that dictate and control us to be freed up, to be released from the chains that hold us down, that keep us restrained, the power of healing that comes is mystical, Divine Intervention. It is the Gift of Mercy and Kindness. It is in the Ordination that Christ so enrichly endowed the Priest for this humble office, IT HEALS.

People are afraid to go to confession, they are ashamed and embarrassed by their sins. IF ONLY the priest, (pastor, leader, guide, instructor, lover of Christ’s people) would convey to the faithful the beauty, the transformation of private reconciliation. I feel that it is the greatest kept secret. The Divine love, the unconditional acceptance, is so personal. The realization must be this: it is so very necessary to regularly offer to your faithful this loving gift. To remind them of the loving grace offered to them.

The priest who regularly offer this Sacrament and constantly encourage their faith community to partake in this beauty of the gift is following GOD"S WILL. The priest is the vehicle by which healing takes place. Yes, we all can be penitent no matter where but the priest has been ordained to be Christ’s Holy love, it is in this sharing with those so tormented, it helps them, it transforms them as intended. It reminds them that God loves them.

Priests Love your people, love God’s people. It is selfish to offer General Absolution where there is not a case of emergency, necessity. I keep searching for other words: but I can only come up with God is mad. Sin and immorality in the world, darkness all increased, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Holy priests: remind, offer, and remind again,the healing power of private Reconciliation.

God Bless, Lisa
 
In years past, my parish has offered the “General Absolution” during Communal Penance services. It is always advertised as being valid and personal confessions are dismissed from the pulpit as “Well, if you murdered someone or something like that,” although most of the parishes do offer extra individual confession times.

At any rate, last year was a bit different, they had a small army of priests who heard confessions at different stations throughout the church and the communal penance followed. I didn’t go, so I can’t say what that part consisted of, but I’m glad they’re doing at least that now.
 
Karl_M said:
In years past, my parish has offered the “General Absolution” during Communal Penance services. It is always advertised as being valid and personal confessions are dismissed from the pulpit as “Well, if you murdered someone or something like that,” although most of the parishes do offer extra individual confession times.

At any rate, last year was a bit different, they had a small army of priests who heard confessions at different stations throughout the church and the communal penance followed. I didn’t go, so I can’t say what that part consisted of, but I’m glad they’re doing at least that now.
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What you are describing is a very valid form of the sacrament…individual confession of sins with general absolution and penance.
 
This is taken from “Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician, Pastoral Letter on Penance” written by Most Rev Robert J. Carlson, Bishop of Saginaw (2008) Printed and Published by the Diocese of Saginaw:
P. 31, par 2
Therefore, along with the Holy Father, I ask the faithful ‘to be vigilant with regard to the sacrament of Reconciliation, and to limit the practice of general absolution exclusively to the cases permitted’, namely : when there is danger of death through an imminent life-threatening situation, or when penitents would be without sacramental grace or unable to receive Holy Communion for the significant time of at least one month".

(Bishop Carlson referenced Sacramentum Caritatis, #21 and USCCB, complementary norm to Canon 961, par 2, 1988)

Unfortunately, this diocese was known as one of the last one’s in this country to allow or permit or encourage General Absolution. People with an earnest heart, gathering together, in Communal Penance is not the same as receiving absolution for your sins.
 
lrs said:
This is taken from “Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician, Pastoral Letter on Penance” written by Most Rev Robert J. Carlson, Bishop of Saginaw (2008) Printed and Published by the Diocese of Saginaw:
P. 31, par 2
Therefore, along with the Holy Father, I ask the faithful ‘to be vigilant with regard to the sacrament of Reconciliation, and to limit the practice of general absolution exclusively to the cases permitted’, namely : when there is danger of death through an imminent life-threatening situation, or when penitents would be without sacramental grace or unable to receive Holy Communion for the significant time of at least one month".

(Bishop Carlson referenced Sacramentum Caritatis, #21 and USCCB, complementary norm to Canon 961, par 2, 1988)

Unfortunately, this diocese was known as one of the last one’s in this country to allow or permit or encourage General Absolution. People with an earnest heart, gathering together, in Communal Penance is not the same as receiving absolution for your sins.
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Whoa…the people at the services with general absolution WERE receiving absolution…it was a valid conferral of the sacrament.
 
frommi said:
Whoa…the people at the services with general absolution WERE receiving absolution…it was a valid conferral of the sacrament.
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Maybe so, but was there “…danger of death through an imminent life-threatening situation, or when penitents would be without sacramental grace or unable to receive Holy Communion for the significant time of at least one month…” ???
 
frommi said:
Whoa…the people at the services with general absolution WERE receiving absolution…it was a valid conferral of the sacrament.
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There was at least one parish (the parish doesn’t do this anymore) in the diocese where there was communal penance scheduled once a month. In that case, the only people who were receiving the sacrament validly were those in danger of death. Except this place had a lot of young, healthy people among its parishoners. So for them, it wasn’t valid unless they intended on going to individual confession at the next available opportunity. They weren’t told that was a condition for communal penance, so they didn’t do it.
 
Did anyone have the opportunity to attend the Bishop’s 25th celebration today? Any pictures that could be posted?
 
Over 400 youth, men and women attended the March for Life in Washington, D. C with Bishop Carlson. Many parishes were represented there.

Over 20,000 people celebrated Mass and life at the Verizon Center. It grabbed your heart, it shook you from hopelessness. WE GOT IT, it was understood that we can not accept this culture of death one minute more. We were immersed in love, compassion, and gratitude. Christ wants to use our hands, our heart, our mouths. We must speak the truth, we can not waver.

Bishop Carlson arranged for us to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine. We celebrated in the crypt church of the Basilica, the same placed that Pope Benedict celebrated Mass with the Bishops the year before.

We were on Sacred Ground.

Bishop spoke of how the real work begins now. We are Disciples, we must say yes, in order to unleash the rush of the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, and I say this with a heavy heart, as we may have touched the life of one or many, we did not touch Obama’s heart as he reinstated 100’s of million to be granted to planned parenthood today, to encourage women internationally to be victimized by the lie of abortion. My heart weeps. We can not be deterred. We must continue to pray.

I never ever understood this concept of choice. I would say to the pro-choice people-the freedom to choose was the point prior to conception. The choice of the man and woman to come together, the choice to be a partner in creation. (99.9 % of the time, this decision was not made by coersion) This is freedom of choice.

I am moved to believe that Obama, who speaks so eloquently of; respect for life, respect all people of different color, creeds, and religion, but so vehemently supports abortion, is being driven by an interior motivation to which is not apparent.There is something there, I do not understand. To be commited to LIFE and not understand. Only God knows why this discrepancy in thought, only God knows the truth. We must pray, we must pray the Rosary, and pray that we are healed as a nation, we must pray for a change of heart. How can there be any fruit otherwise???

You all would have been so very proud of people in the Dioceses, as well as stand in awe for all the lives touched by the people who attended. This extension of hope radiates to all we reach out to as well as to all who the Lord places in our path. May all of us in this dioceses reach out to women, men, and families, as we support life at every level.

God Bless, Lisa)
 
We need to take heart and draw inspiration from today’s feast, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, and know that even the worst persecutors can have a change of heart, and not only stop the evil they were doing, but become one of the best supporters the Church will ever know.
 
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