Dear Friends,

 

I’ve touched on this before, but back in Northern California I worked two careers. I was an attorney, which certainly helped pay the bills and bring a bit of order to a part of the country that to this day feels like the wild west. But I was also an educator – a teacher at my town’s local Catholic high school. A place called Mercy High School.  

 

While at Mercy, I taught Precalculus, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Statistics, Economics, AP Government, AP US History, and an elective course of my design where I shared with students the basics of trial procedure, contracts, torts, and property law. I also coached the school’s track and cross-country teams, and I led their student council.  My students today can be found at West Point, the US Air Force Academy, serving in nearly all branches of the armed forces, and otherwise studying at top tier universities and polytechnic schools throughout the country. They have enjoyed internships at the NSA, under congressmen at Washington D.C., and at various science and ag institutes. One of my students surprised me recently to let me know that she is currently in the process of applying to law school.  Writing her letter of recommendation having known her for so long as her former teacher (and as an attorney myself) brought a lot of joy to my heart. Yes, teaching was a full schedule, but the career was a labor of love and one that I think back upon fondly.

 

As adults, we tend not to reflect enough on the powerful impact that teachers can have on the trajectory of a young man or woman’s life. We sadly reflect even less on the powerful impact that a Catholic education can have on that trajectory, or how the opportunity to receive a Catholic education is currently diminishing throughout our broader society. Which is why my most recent travel to Escanaba was so satisfying.  Because Escanaba is fighting the trend of Catholic schools that are closing. Instead, they just opened a Catholic school, and you know what? It’s already growing in numbers.

For those of you who may not know, Holy Name High School is currently the only Catholic high school within our Diocese, and it just officially re-opened its doors in Fall 2021.  For this reason, they do not even yet have a senior class.  But what they do have is a rigorous curriculum, a rich sharing of our Catholic faith, a dedicated faculty, several sports teams, and their Crusaders mascot. Our U.P. Catholic Foundation President, Laurie Stupak, and I toured their campus this month as part of my work trip to the Escanaba-region, and while there I found a place reminiscent of the school where I once taught – a place of warm community, smiles, smaller class sizes, and well-dressed, refined students. For those who have not stepped foot in a public or Catholic high school in recent years – I can tell you that the differences between the two environments are night and day.  

 

Because as a former high school teacher myself I have a strong interest in seeing this brand new high school continue to grow and flourish, I ask you to take some time to explore their website here. And if it is in your heart to show a bit of love and charity, please feel free to donate to their endowment or any of our endowments here (their endowment’s official name is Holy Name Catholic School Crusader Loyalty Fund).

The rest of my time on the Lake Michigan side of our Upper Peninsula was spent much like my previous trips around the UP over the past few months – meeting priests and parishioners, paying respect to the area’s parishes, and visiting some of the area’s local attractions. The meeting list especially seems to grow with each vicariate visit! This time around I visited St. Anne’s, St. Joseph & St. Patrick’s, All Saints, and St. Charles Borromeo and met with their respective pastors – Fr. Fran DeGroot; Fr. Tim Ferguson; Fr. Jamie Ziminsky, and Fr. William Ssozi. When I arrived at All Saints, Fr. Jamie and his volunteers were even setting up for a community Block Party and Religious Education Kick Off. I hear that the event was a monumental success, with hundreds of people showing up.  

 

Ultimately each parish proved to have its own unique, but equally warm-and-inviting character, and each parish was led by its own unique, but equally warm-and-inviting priest. The churches in the St. Joseph & St. Patrick Vicariate are beautiful, and their history runs deep. I invite you to attend mass at one next time you are in the region.

Finally, while in the area I was able to make time for meals at Swedish Pantry and Stonehouse Restaurant (thank you to those who broke bread and enjoyed conversation with me at these fine establishments), and I explored Ludington Park and Fayette Historic State Park. And during that time conversing with others and exploring the apparent contradiction of a well-kept city park and the ruins of a former village, I noticed a continuing theme of death and rebirth within Escanaba, Garden, and the surrounding communities – of institutions and eras that are now finished and in the past, and of institutions and eras that are coming into being and that offer hope and promise for the future. 

Cling to any one institution or past era, and you might fall into despair or nostalgia, fretting on what could have been rather than seeing the good and beauty still occurring all around you each-and-every day. Cling to God, and you will see that potential for good and beauty around you well-up and sprout, even following the pain of loss. For when we cling to God and live in spirit, we see that God is good and that He indeed offers both plan and opportunity to each of our lives. His offering almost always comes in the form of an invitation to continue to serve and do good for those around us, even as institutions and eras come and go.  And when you really think about it, that continued repeated offering from the Lord, giving us the opportunity to engage in hope over despair, in love over callousness, in education and wisdom over ignorance, well it’s nothing short of a miracle.

 

Thank you for reading, friends.

 

In Christ,

 

Executive Director, Stewardship & Development

& UP Catholic Foundation, Inc

1004 Harbor Hills Dr, Marquette, MI 49855

Direct 906/227-9108  |  Toll Free 800/562-9745 #108

The Bishop’s Upper Peninsula Catholic Service Appeal (UPCSA) is underway. In the spirit of the National Eucharistic Revival, this year’s UPCSA theme explores the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist. This allows us to reflect upon the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and inspires us toward our own offerings of time, talent, and treasure back to God’s holy Catholic Church.

You should’ve received a letter and pledge card in your mail. Please give to support our seminarians, Catholic Social Services, faith formation, and many other U.P.-wide Catholic ministries. To make your donation online now, please click here.

Click here to read their stories in The U.P. Catholic Newspaper.

YOUTH ENCOUNTER REGISTRATION
Registration is now open for the Youth Encounter weekend being held November 4-6, 2022 at Fortune Lake Camp in Crystal Falls. Youth Encounter is a Catholic retreat for students ages 16-20. The retreat is led by a student team, supported by adults.  The weekend is filled with fun, music, talks, Scripture meditations, small group discussion, prayer, Confession, and Mass. Talks focus on preparing for, receiving, and responding to Christ's call to be His disciple. Registration is limited to the first 30 students and can be found online at youthencounter906.com. Questions? Call Fr. Ryan Ford at 906-399-0553.

Marcus Freeman, the new head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, has converted to the Catholic faith, a process he began since his arrival in South Bend, Indiana. Freeman is also resurrecting a former Notre Dame game day tradition of having his team attend Mass the day of games. Read the full story in the National Catholic Register here.

Do you want to support your parish, but feel overwhelmed by everyday living costs, such as home repair, rising food expenses, and higher gas prices? There’s a solution that doesn’t involve writing a check - just click here.