As Jesus taught us, the best leaders are those who serve and lead by example. Ryan Adams. I attended his funeral. In serving God, the parish family comes first. Joe, it gives my family and me the strength to live the words of Joshua 24:15: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And may God continue to richly bless Archbishop Allen Vigneron for assigning these fine men to our parish, and for the wonderful leadership of his flock, the AOD. It was more important than preparing for just the wedding day. Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous: teach me to serve You as You deserve: to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward save that of knowing I am doing your will. The past year was a difficult one for our family. Parker, for everything you do. Paul Chateau, pastor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Oak Park, is an attentive shepherd to his flock. It was an honor to work with both priests and to reinforce their values to each and every couple who wanted to participate in the sacrament of marriage at Holy Cross, St. Catherine and St. Mark churches. Joe Mallia is not only the pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park, but he is also its visionary, spiritual compass, servant and teacher. Father made the Mass so memorable for all of us. Aaron does this in the Holy Mass, when he re-presents the sacrifice of Calvary to the Father. He has headaches and still comes to church for us. Thus a man who wants to be a priest must love Jesus Christ above all else. The following prayer sums up what Fr. He always takes time to listen to grownups and kids, he treats us all the same. Larry Siroskey, was forced to take a medical leave. We had been without a full-time pastor since his predecessor, Fr. We're glad this was helpful. He is always available to anyone who needs him and he greets everyone, personally, before each Mass. This year, 2015, was the 110th anniversary of the founding of our parish and the 90th anniversary of the building our beautiful church. He went off the highway to avoid fallen trash and debris; hitting something off the highway killed him. Sister Anne Mamienski, our pastoral associate, has been with us for one year. He is the most approachable priest I have met in my 50 years of being Catholic, from explaining Scripture or practices of the Catholic Church that are not understood to taking time to talk one-to-one with parishioners who have suggestions or concerns about our church. He was supportive of all my efforts, and was always positive. There are many things about this very humble man that I am appreciative of. Stanley will occupy a place in my heart forever and I am so thankful for his presence and guidance, which has strengthened my spiritual journey. Barbara BechardSt. Alphonsus Church, Dearborn. He is the epitome of faithful servant and of the existence of angels and Christ among us. Tom Sutherland was pastor at St. Matthias Parish in Sterling Heights, that I noticed how he was dedicated to the Beatitudes of the Catholic faith. Richard Perfetto for his service as parish administrator and for the calming influence he brought during our period of turmoil. This is my fifth year at St. Cyprian Parish in Riverview, and also my fifth year writing about Fr. He has brought much joy and understanding by the Gospel and by his interpretation of the Gospel in his homilies. Johns fidelity to the Church and his reverent celebration of the sacraments and the Eucharist that he demonstrates to the parishioners by his love for the Church and Jesus Christ. Thank you, Fr. James has demonstrated by his attitude and actions that he is a priest dedicated to the Church and to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Zbigniew as my priest, my guide and my spiritual father, Irma Veronica PinaSt. Barbara and St. Cunegunda parishes, Dearborn and Detroit. Let's be clear: To leave in the middle of a confession is. He is a warm and friendly person with a deep love of God. Thomas has been and always will be a special blessing to me. Thanks be to God for giving us the gift of Fr. Last year, Fr. A Wedding Ceremony without Mass may have either a priest or deacon as celebrant. We have shared faith. 7. Jillian Rae G.Second gradeOur Lady of Victory School, Northville. Robert Slaton, associate pastor, are two amazing priests, each special in their own way. He really is the ultimate epitome of what a priest should be a true representative of Christ. Fr. Lesniak was being assigned to another parish, his parishioners were, and still are, very upset. Leo. He knows all our names. Brian kindly lent me his ear when I sought his advice. Pauls amazing costumes! I'd be an ingrate if I fail to appreciate every bit of the roles you played in my life. Rene Van ZaelenSt. Charles Borromeo, Detroit. And I forgot for a moment you should never turn your back on your enemy. May he be with us for a very long time, and may God continue to bless him. They are special men, both caretakers of this church and of the people who belong here. Bobs pastoral care and guidance have been invaluable. Whatever needs to be done for the greater good, he does with humility, dedication and love. Zbigniew Grankowski is so special for my family. I have lost track of all the wonderful ways he has given to the archdiocese, but in all those places, I know that he has touched many hearts! If you're non-Orthodox, though, the priest probably won't be expecting you to ask for a blessing so he might try to shake your hand. Bugarin came to St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores, he had a business to learn and great number of parishioners and staff demanding his attention. His caring nature is evident in the homilies he so painstakingly prepares both for routine liturgies and special occasions like funerals and baptisms. We are also grateful to Fr. Managing a lifetime together trumps one special day getting married. Because he is so down-to-earth, he makes the parishioners feel at ease. Fr. But we would still see each other thru this process which probably was not helpful cause during this time he has been in three differ orders. We love you so much! If someone dies, he has the funeral Mass and goes to the cemetery for the burial. Every time I am in the hospital, this holy priest comes in to anoint me and listen to pains of my life journey. Thank you! Zbigniew is a gifted speaker and his homilies are very inspirational for us. Joe Esper:No. Fr. The way that he personalizes his homilies is a very special gift to all of us. We truly appreciate you. I would like to mention my teacher, Fr. Then He grows in us and reveals to us all the secrets of His heart. Rooney is a caring priest and it is apparent to me that he cares so much about people. He honors Catholic tradition and saints and makes this a part of his example and preaching to us. He is the priest who Pope Francis said, Go among the parishioners and seek the wounded, make everyone feel welcome, and be a tireless servant, and Fr. Patrick F. Halfpenny celebrates the 40th anniversary of his ordination. I am here to tell that Fr. Joe is a compassionate, kind and caring person. He shows patience by not rushing Mass. Darrell Roman as pastor of our parish. bless your people in every time and season and. Stanley for all of the blessings you bring to our parish and to our family. This new ministry, Gianna House, would initially open as an outreach, then become a residence for pregnant teens in need of housing, sustenance, education and support. Paul Snyder came to St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak this past year. Amen! O loving and gracious God, Father of all, you. They have deeply impacted our children, from an excellent education to teaching them high moral standards. Your giving reveals who has your heart.". He cares for everybody even if theyre sick and wounded, poor or rich, tomboy or princess, or loved or hated. There is no one like him that can manage and maintain two churches and be involved in many organizations. He has been and continues to be a beautiful guiding light for our lifes journey. Barnabs G. Kiss and Fr. What more could I ask from a loving God as I navigate through lifes complexities? Through his whole life he has remained faithful to God and waited patiently to become a bishop. Parishioners of St. Sebastian ParishDearborn Heights. Sometimes I just cant see the way, but Father never wavered. Father is also seen sporting his Red Hawk gear at many of our students sporting events. Fr. Jim Moloney! Hes back! "God doesn't need us to give Him our money. Fr. Because for many decades Ive heard Gospel 101 preached in so many homilies. Fr. Zbigniew Grankowski? Our friars are a blessing to so many. On any given weekday, he enters the lunchroom carrying his Phineas and Ferb lunchbox to applause and cheers usually reserved for concerts or sporting events. His outlook on life brings joy to ours. His homilies are fabulous; his dedication to his vocation is evident in every celebration of the Mass. Stan not only welcomed the idea but has offered assistance in so many ways as Sr. Diane Massons dream of ministering to pregnant teens began to take shape. Moloney also oversees the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, yet he always has time to care for his flock. He stretches himself to be able to include all who call upon him for help spiritually or physically. Greg Rozborski of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish in Roseville. Its been a difficult year. He kept us interested in our faith. Our priest is Fr. Mike has not only been able manage the responsibilities of the parish but has developed a personal relationship with the parishioners. Leo. He was an accomplished painter and . 11K views, 428 likes, 445 loves, 3.6K comments, 188 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. Debbie SomandSt. Hugo of the Hills Parish, Bloomfield Hills. As parishioners of St. Kenneth in Plymouth, we are blessed by the return of Fr. Edwin W. Balazy appeared on their doorstep, introduced himself and thus began a relationship that has lasted 36 years. It can get tense when a priest's expectations don't align with those of the lay leadership and parishioners. 22. He leads by example just as Jesus did. How rude of these people who rarely come to church, I thought. He cares about everyone in our school and parish. Fr. At confession he forgives our sins. You've made me the happiest woman on Earth. Joe will become a lot taller. Mark, we still say the stations Marys Ways and many people come during Lent. Some skeptics suspect that many priests deal. Okeke can make you cry because hes helped you realize that in any type of situation we encounter ourselves we are not alone; we just need to open our hearts to God. Youd never find Fr. Dan also welcomes all visitors each week and makes them a part of the community by asking them to stand as we give them a round of applause. During his nine-month absence, he taught us how to remain strong and maintain faith in the power of prayer. Marriage is a sacrament, and deciding to receive this sacrament comes with responsibilities. Greg Rozborski!Margie Lyle St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Roseville. We are very blessed to have Fr. Joe isnt afraid to tell us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear. Without him there we would be without Jesus in our lives in the Holy Eucharist. Second, Jos was a true and sincere seeker of spiritual truth. You can't control your neighborhood, the traffic, the weather, or the economy. He continues to work effortlessly to unite us in our endeavors for the continuous building of our community, which has fallen upon hard times. Colonel Bucon demonstrated loyalty, unwavering professionalism, steadfast initiative, selfless service and unfailing devotion to duty, which earned him the supreme respect of the soldiers and families he served. Second, this "retirement" is typically the last thing a priests ever wants. We believe that if there were more priests like him, wed have more people (especially younger ones) in our churches today. Alex. I return it all to You and surrender it to the guidance of Your will. Our entire parish community has reaped so many benefits from having Fr. Seldom do we find someone who so wonderfully and lovingly embraces and lives his vocation. As Dr. Amy-Jill Levine discusses in a column in the January . We also need to remember Fr. Now he will encounter many more people and their lives will never be the same again. Let them know you care. Show them you care by sending them a little gift on their names day, or emailing them on occasion, letting them know you care about them. I enjoyed bugging him and he thoroughly enjoyed reciprocating. You will be long remembered and we thank you for all you have done. Thank you, Fr. John Hedges has been a priest for 25 years. Father has helped us to recognize the need to reach out and meet the needs of our multicultural and multilingual community. Thank you for letting me give thanks for a wonderful priest like Fr. You're my moon, stars, and the whole galaxy. Mary MinnichOur Lady on the River Parish, Marine City. of the gospel by lives of dedicated love. Joe also challenges us to follow Church teaching including weekly attendance at Sunday Mass, respecting life, and supporting social justice. Thank goodness that Fr. 8: He writes interesting stories. 4. He deserves it. At Easter Vigil 2015, my sister became Catholic; it was Fr. So, Father, show the pastor the way. The pastor is basically the CEO who has to be mindful of the business to ensure that the parish survives and thrives. Fr. Fr. 2. Fr. I am not a volunteer. These fine men have provided our family with countless, and I truly mean countless, selfless offerings of love, friendship, guidance and wisdom, all from their hearts, which are full of the Holy Spirit. I know that sometimes he is lucky to get four hours of sleep. He exemplifies the love and mercy of Jesus. Several grades contributed to this letter of gratitude. You reach out to every segment of your parish school, administration, parishioners, the elderly, the youth and youngsters. Clem Kern, later dignified as Msgr. Greg has told me how much he appreciates and loves the love that we share as a married couple in the church. Brother Ray not only serves as the pastor at St Charles Borromeo, he has the added responsibility of Nativity Parish and also runs the On The Rise Bakery, a Detroit-based ministry of the Capuchins. Fr. Thank you, Msgr. Ive been knowing Father since 1968 when he became the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Detroit. Fr. I seek to emulate his and the popes everyman approach to life. I can never have enough of you. Henry Sands. Steve will become one of them. When someone needs a clergy person, the hospitals call on Fr. Joe for all that you have done and all the sacrifices you have made for the IC community. 5: He has creative and interesting homilies. Nevertheless, our family is blessed to experience the gifts of his priesthood and faith shared so lovingly. Ed., Hes there when you need him humble, selfless. Fr. He understood all the questions and concerns that arose along the way and ensured that there were opportunities and forums to address them. We know he cares and loves each one of us as lambs given to him by God to shepherd. I always look forward to his homilies, which begin with a story, and always include a teaching that is worth reflecting upon throughout the week. In Fr. 2. Stanley Pachla pastor of St. Veronica Parish in Eastpointe, is a special blessing in our lives. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.". He always seems to have the right words when we face difficult times of illness or the death of a loved one. He made you feel he knew every person he buried. He is sincerely happy that we are there and glad to see us. Cornelius Okeke from St. Andre Bessette in Ecorse. I love my priest because he is so gentle and kind. Barnabas is normally the celebrant at the weekly Mass that we attend, and his insightful homilies focus on the Scripture and its place in our world today. He later retired but continued to celebrate Mass all around the archdiocese. He is a brilliant homilist. 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