Detroit — What does it take to get parishioners of the Archdiocese of Detroit to say a kind word about their priest? Not much. For the past few weeks, we’ve asked you to tell us why your priest is special, and you’ve responded in record-breaking fashion. We’ve filled this section to the seams with your letters.
Here’s what you wrote: Remember the spring carnival on 8 Mile across from Eastland Shopping Center in Harper Woods, St. Peter the Apostle Parish? That was a beautiful thing. Still existing is the spring carnival in St. Clair Shores on Mack at St. Joan of Arc. I am sure Msgr. G. Michael Bugarin could have found substantial reasons to get rid of that headache, but he didn’t, and the quality of life in that area remains stabilized and inviting. I am proud to have a pastor with the credentials of Msgr. Bugarin. I am conscious of how he used to facilitate ceremonies for his archbishop. He went to school in Rome; he worked for the Church in Washington, D.C. Then he was given a large parish but still has diocesan administrative duties. Years ago, he began writing his column, “Taller Tales,” for the St. Joan of Arc News; his physical height adds emphasis to his words: “When you pray, listen!” He is always urging us to pray for vocations, and he is such a good advertisement because of his serious, friendly demeanor and weekly anecdotes that illustrate that one does not have to give up totally one’s family when one serves God. Cooperation with the archdiocese, evangelization, running a successful grade school: all in a day’s work for Msgr. G. Michael Bugarin.
Giles Wilborn Grosse Pointe•This is my fourth year writing about our priest, Fr. Bill Promesso. I have a lot to thank him for this year. I have a diagnosis of cancer. I went through months of tests. They knew I had cancer, but they couldn’t find it. Two weeks ago, they finally found it. During that time, Father has been there for me, communicating, and exercising extreme listening. At times listening more than talking. Listening between the lines about my diagnosis. But especially listening with an open heart and compassion.
I’m not surprised Father has gained so many followers, the likes of which want to trust him with their life stories and implore his advice, too.
I would like to mention our new pastoral associate, Sr. Anne. She came to us early September. She has already taken up residence in our hearts. She is an exceptional person always greeting us with a smile and a hug. Between Sr. Anne and Fr. Bill, I know we will have a wonderful, amazing year.
I will be back next year writing my fifth letter of appreciation. How blessed we are to be taught the visible and invisible mysteries of our faith from Fr. Bill.
Patti Stewart St. Cyprian, Riverview•Fr. David Lesniak, pastor of St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn, as a pastor of an older, large, and beautiful church which entails many problems and needs, handles them with much grace and servitude. Mass after Mass, his sermons leave us walking out of church renewed with faith to face the world and our personal problems by a God Who is always there for us. Father always stresses that we as Catholics have the greatest gift we could ever receive in our lifetime, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Father believes in what he teaches, and it shows by his example and love in what he is doing.
Matthew and Madeline Keller Dearborn•Known for his short but meaningful and penetrating homily, Fr. Richard Cavellier is a very humble and brilliant priest. A teacher to all, he loves nature, art, poetry and literature. Recently appointed as vicar on the Pontiac Area Vicariate, aside from being a pastor, his 24/7 jobs do not deter him from visiting the sick and the homebound. As a teacher, Fr. Richard explains those confusing proverbs and parables and he makes sure that all lectors pronounce and read the words clearly and correctly. I am a lector with a foreign accent, but much improved now because of him.
Galicia Hahne Rochester Hills•I have two priests that should be recognized by the archdiocese. First is my pastor, Fr. James Rafferty of St Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish. Fr. Jim is a wonderful shepherd. He is humble, kind and passionate about his faith. Since Fr. Jim has been assigned there, the population has grown by leaps and bounds. He will make himself available to whoever needs him. When my husband was very near death from pnuemonia, I called the rectory, and Fr. Jim was there with the sacrament of viaticum, along with the anointing of the sick. He saw my husband in the ER before a doctor did. He offered to stay with me, and that’s a kindness I will never be able to repay.
The second priest I would like to recognize is Fr. John Bustamante, from Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish. He too, is humble, kind, and passionate about his faith, and he (like Fr. Jim) knows the importance of confession and absolution. He would be in the confessional for up to 30 minutes before any Mass. This is not stressed enough in parishes who don’t want to “offend” anyone, at the risk of their own salvation.
My husband and I have known both Fr. Rafferty and Fr. Bustamante for more than 10 years. In addition to being good shepherds, we have the honor of calling these men our friends.
Susan Flores Wyandotte•I wish to recognize two special priests. Fr. Roman Pasieczny was my pastor for 13 years at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Warren, and now Fr. Nick Zukowski has been assigned to be our shepherd. I have chosen to recognize both because of their intense dedication to the people of God, their commitment to serve as Jesus did when He walked on this earth and for the compassion and love of their ministry. I am honored to have the task of assisting both at the many liturgies that have been celebrated at St. Martin de Porres. God bless them both. Bog Zaplac!Deacon Marion Jurewicz•We would like to recognize Fr. Arthur Baranowski, pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Marysville. Fr. Art is a hands-on pastor. He knows the names of either every, or almost every person in the parish. He is visible every weekend before and after Mass and greets people by name. He makes himself available to people. Through his dogged perseverance, the parishioners of St. Christopher have learned to recognize and share their faith with each other, thereby growing closer to one another and making new friends. Through the efforts of Fr. Baranowski, we know many of our fellow parishioners at a much deeper level than we did before. There is a friendly, welcoming attitude at St. Christopher Parish because of Fr. Art’s laser-like insistence on ordinary parishioners reading the Gospel and sharing their faith with each other at every parish meeting. Starting with a strong emphasis on relationship-building through coffee and donuts after Mass, to “Christ Renews His Parish,” to Christ
Life, Fr. Art has brought many programs to the parish to help the parishioners experience Christ and to deepen their faith together. Fr. Art does all of these things in addition to carrying out the normal responsibilities of a parish priest. We think that we speak for many people at St. Christopher when we thank and recognize Fr. Arthur Baranowski for his deep love, conviction, persistence, magnanimity, and passion for making Christ real to us and us, as the Body of Christ, real to one another.
Joe and Marilynn Pavlov•I would like to acknowledge Fr. Norm Thomas of Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit. Even though my husband and I are not members of Sacred Heart, we find a warm and welcoming spirit each time we attend Sunday Mass. Fr. Thomas provides hope and inspiration during his homilies. Thank you, Fr. Thomas, for all that you do.
Terry and Bob Barbieri•As Priesthood Sunday approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my love and gratitude for the amazing priests with whom God has blessed my parish, SS. Cyril and Methodius. Our pastor, Fr. Ben Kosnác,and our associate pastors, Fr. Luigi Gabriš and Fr. John Simoneau, LC, are some of the most awesome priests that I have ever known.
They are true spiritual fathers to us. In so many ways our priests imitate Christ who “did not come to be served, but to serve.
” They teach us, lead us, sacrifice themselves for us. They give generously of their time in order to provide us with the sacraments, and they are actively involved in every part of the life of our parish family. They have fun with us. They are there with us in happy moments as well as in sad moments. They genuinely care about each one of us and they are always available to help those in need.
They challenge us by word and example to grow in our relationship with God and to become saints.
Truly, I feel like my words are inadequate to convey how I feel. For me, Fr. Ben, Fr. Luigi, and Fr. John are fathers, teachers, counselors, brothers, friends, role models, and superheroes.
Each day I am so grateful to God that He has brought these priests into my life. Each one of them is truly a blessing.
Emily Chudy•I would like to recognize Fr. Michael Quaine of St. Michael’s Catholic Community in Sterling Heights. Wow, 250 words or less, that will be tough. Fr. Mike is just amazing, he is so intelligent, so spiritual but yet so down to earth and so easily approachable. I can discuss anything from the most simple topic to the most complicated and he always provides a complete feeling of ease. He gives the most amazing homilies and every week I feel as if he is speaking directly to me and whatever circumstances might be going on in my life, and I leave feeling healed, renewed, inspired and revitalized. Fr. Mike has sadly done numerous funerals for family members of mine and again always with such delicate and profound grace and love. He baptized my adult daughter and myself when we went through RCIA in 2008, and recently baptized my grandson — what a tremendous honor that was to see that sacrament passed on with his guidance. I also have had the pleasure of working with Fr. Mike on a number of projects around the parish, and he is always such a pleasure to work with. I used to think, (pre-RCIA) that a priest was intimidating, unapproachable and I was afraid of them, but Fr. Mike squelched all those feelings and what he brings to St. Michael’s community is truly a gift from God that we all treasure very much!Karen Di
Noto•I am most grateful to my priest, Fr. John Byers of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lansing, for his compassion, particularly in the way he treats my severely disabled daughter.
Rita Walters•I would like to thank Fr. Daniel Complo, retired pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Harper Woods. He was pastor there for 40 years or more, and it was once referred to by Cardinal Maida as the “powerhouse of the east side.
”Father is a priest’s priest: strong, faithful, humble, calm, kind — very much like St. Joseph. He loved being the pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace and did a wonderful job there. Now that he is retired and has health troubles of his own, he never neglects to pray for his former parishioners, like myself, who write to him on occasion to ask for prayers. During my cancer and other illnesses, he has steadfastly prayed for my family and me, and offered Masses on my behalf, even calling once in a while to see how I am doing.
I am extremely grateful to him for his alms of the spirit, which have helped me tremendously, and this is my way of saying thanks. Thank you, Fr. Complo!Amanda King•I wish to honor our Archbishop, Allen Vigneron. I am grateful to him for the leadership he gives to all deacons, priests, and of course the laity of the archdiocese. As our chief shepherd, he guides us on the journey to our Heavenly Father as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus as servants of God’s people. We are blessed to have him as our shepherd. May God in His wisdom continue to give him the strength and wisdom to lead us all for many years.
Deacon Marion Jurewicz St. Martin de Porres Parish, Warren•I am a parishioner at St. Edward on-the-Lake in Lakeport, where Fr. Lee Acervo is our pastor. He is a very good speaker and his sermons are excellent. He is also great with our students at St. Edward School and even knows every student by name. We parents and grandparents are grateful for his spiritual guidance for the staff and students at the school. We know that with his spiritual guidance they will remain faithful to their faith. Fr. Acervo is also very approachable, friendly, and always there for his parishioners. We hope that he will be with us for many years to come.
Barbara A. Mc
Graw Fort Gratiot•On behalf of the entire staff and members of the Sacred Heart Catholic School and Parish in Dearborn, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and sincerely thank our pastor, Fr. Ken Chase. We are so blessed to have Fr. Ken share with us his wisdom, knowledge and leadership. We appreciate the many hats he wears, and the many countless hours Fr. Ken lovingly gives of himself, his dedication, and the love he has for Sacred Heart Parish and for God. With deep gratitude and love,The members of Sacred Heart Catholic School and Parish•One of the priests in our church (Mother of God Chaldean Church in Southfield), Fr. Pierre Konja, is such an inspiration. It’s so refreshing to see a young priest with such a great love for Jesus. His homilies are always insightful, engaging and very well thought out without being phony or theatrical. He speaks with the authority of a man with much life experience behind him, even though he is not yet 30. He is wise beyond his years, and he’s not afraid to tell it like it is. He is tough but loving when it comes to letting us know that God should be first in our lives. And he doesn’t mince words when he says there aren’t any excuses for not attending Sunday Mass, praising God and receiving the Eucharist. One thing that really touched me was his call to vocation. In this day and age where people are so influenced by a secular society that frowns on religion, it was so wonderful to hear him tell the story of the day he realized he was falling in love with Jesus. How many times in your life do you hear a man speak of falling in love with Jesus? And that this realization came to him when he was in his late teens makes it even more inspirational. Hearing that made me realize how important this priest and his love for Jesus are to our parish. I pray every day the Holy Spirit continues to guide him and fill his heart with love for our Lord.
Sandy Kathawa•Fr. Ludovit Luigi Gabris (known as Fr. Luigi) from SS. Cyril & Methodius Slovak Catholic Church deserves to be the priest of the year. Father before, during and after Holy Mass enlightens us and feeds us spiritually and guides us on our journey towards a deeper love of Our Lord and tells us how to live each day giving glory to God and speaks to us as a humble servant guiding us with love and devotion to Our Lady, intercession of the saints and walking with Our Lord to prepare our souls to be united as the Body of the Church and with our focus toward our reward in the kingdom of heaven. He makes each person in our large parish feel special and gives of his time to a point of loss of sleep every day to make sure he took care with guidance and love the entire flock (and also to those not in the parish). This holy man is truly an imitation of Christ doing the work of the Lord in His earthly vineyard. A great teacher and friend. Through his guidance, teaching and consultation, spiritual direction and words of Our Lord that stay deep in your heart and mind along with helping you work through your failures in reconciliation, he has sent myself and the others to be better children of God and disciples. We are sent off to toil in the vineyard of the Lord. I thank him for teaching me about Divine Mercy also.
Dianne Mitchell•With a smile on his face, Fr. Michael Savickas shepherds his flock at St. William Parish, Walled Lake. Our parish has come to life in so many ways. He tends to our wants, needs and goals in our religious life, with understanding, encouragement and motivation. His homilies always enlighten us, talk to us and relate to us, leaving us always with something to take home with us. What a gift and how grateful we are.
Parishioners of St. William of Walled Lake•I’d like to write a kind word about Fr. Clint Mc
Donell, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit currently in residence at my parish, St. Bernadette, in Silver Spring, Md. Since arriving two years ago to study at Catholic University, Fr. Clint has made his mark as one of the best preachers I have been blessed to experience. His homilies always offer a deep sense of almost spiritual meditation, and always encourage the people to seek holiness. I have often encouraged him to record his homilies as podcasts so more people can benefit from this gift he brings to God’s people. He offers the sacrifice of the Mass with the utmost reverence, especially while chanting the consecration. The Church of Detroit is blessed to have a priest like Fr. Clint, and I’m sure he’ll be a welcome addition once he completes his studies, though I wish he could stay in Maryland!Ken Stinson Washington, D.C.
Formerly of St. Cyprian Parish, Riverview•There’s one priest whom I can honestly say changed my life: Fr. Anthony Kathawa, not only a priest who brings me closer to Christ, but a good friend who helps me anytime I’m in need. Such a dedicated person who truly loves doing God’s work. Many have been through low points in their lives; it’s people like him who make a difference and help people to become the best version of themselves and make them focus on their relationship with God. He is truly inspirational, someone who needs to be recognized throughout all of Michigan. A young priest who has already made such a difference, not to mention the amazing, life-changing homilies every single Sunday. You are appreciated more than you know, FA!Joanna Kenaya•Dear Fr. Ben Kosnac of SS. Cyril Methodius Slovak Catholic Church: Eight years ago I was blessed enough to have walked into SS. Cyril and Methodius for Sunday Holy Mass. As a cradle Catholic, I had been away from the church for some time, following the faith the way I wanted to and not the way God intended me to. My life has been forever changed. Not only has my faith and prayer life evolved, but the love and passion I have now for my parish and Catholic faith has grown to heights I never would’ve foreseen. Fr. Ben, you and the associate priests are so giving, loving and inspirational to myself and my family. There have been countless moments during Mass where I have been brought to tears or have enlightened me in such a way that I know the Lord’s presence is right there. You are always there whenever needed. You are honest, straightforward, yet so humble. My family and I love you and love our home in your parish. We always pray for you, Fr. Luigi Gabris and Fr. John Simoneau, LC. Thank you for helping all of us at SS. Cyril and Methodius and teaching us of God’s passion, forgiveness and grace. God bless you always.
The Burkes•Msgr. Patrick Halfpenny of St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms, continues to be a special blessing in our lives. He has a gentle spirit and has taught us to see God as loving and forgiving. Monsignor gives relatable homilies every week and challenges us to deepen our relationship with the Lord. He invites the Holy Spirit to be a part of our conversations and listens with great understanding. Msgr. Halfpenny gently guides us down the right path to walk with Jesus by our side.
Jon and Katy Klimczuk•I would like to recognize Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM, the weekend associate pastor at St. Colette in Livonia. I have never had the pleasure of personally interacting with Fr. Alex save for Mass, but somehow that is enough. Fr. Alex truly transforms the experience of Mass. His homily, peppered with just the right amount of explanation, personal anecdotes and humor, leave me wishing that Mass was longer. His careful manner and his obvious reverence and attention to detail at the altar make it a joy to have him preside. During the liturgy of the Eucharist in particular, Fr. Alex is so deliberate in his movements and actions and his devotion is so evident, that I can’t help but be drawn into the solemnity of what is taking place. He approaches everything with the ardor of a new priest and in turn, I am filled with that same intensity of feelings and emotion I experienced at the beginning of my spiritual journey with the RCIA. God bless you Fr. Alex.P.S. Livonia•I would like to honor Msgr. Robert Mc
Clory and thank him for his many years of friendship and service to the Church. We have been friends for almost 30 years and have supported one another throughout the years. Although Msgr. Bob has many responsibilities within the Archdiocese of Detroit, he makes time for my husband, Steve, and me as well as our children. He shares his time and talents with many of our friends and has blessed us with saying special Masses with us throughout the years. It is not unlike Msgr. Bob to include all our children in the Mass parts or focus his homily toward their interests and needs. What a blessing! So, thank you Msgr. Bob for all that you are to the Whitmore family and all who know and love you!Julie Whitmore•Fr. John Dumas is a wonderful priest. He should definitely be recognized for Priesthood Sunday. I have put all of the great things he does in three paragraphs!One of the great things he should be recognized for is that he sets a very good example for us at Mass, during prayer, and every day of the week. Every time at church when we kneel down to say prayers, Fr. John is very reverent. I chose this because I see it every Tuesday when we go to Church.
Another reason is his love for God. Fr. John Dumas loves God so much he became a priest. He says Masses pretty much every day, and all holy days. Fr. John is the holiest person I know. He says, “Pray to God and you will become a better Christian.
”The last reason is Fr. John Dumas never likes to turn his back to God. This means during homilies, he does not like to walk down the aisle because then he’ll have has his back to Jesus in the tabernacle. If Fr. John does walk down the aisle, he first says a prayer to his guardian angel.
Those are the reasons why I like Fr. John Dumas as our priest!Alaina J. Sixth grade
St. Patrick School, Carleton•I think Fr. John Dumas should get recognized because he is a great priest. I will tell some reasons why I think he should.
Fr. John Dumas is a very holy priest because he prays a lot. Fr. John is a nice and faithful Christian. Fr. John Dumas loves the Holy Family and that could be one reason why he is so holy.
Fr. John Dumas teaches people about God and Jesus’ life. When people learn about God and Jesus, they get to know more if they didn’t know anything about them. When people learn more about God and Jesus, they start to believe in God and Jesus.
Fr. John is a believer in God. A believer in God does good things that God wants them to do for Him.
When people believe in God, they pray a lot and get a lot of graces.
That is why I think Fr. John Dumas should get recognized.
Laila M. Fifth grade
St. Patrick School, Carleton•I think Fr. John Dumas should be recognized for Priesthood Sunday because when he has a lot of stuff to do, he always stays calm. I think this because he is in his office a lot and he has to say Mass at least once a day.
Fr. John is a good role model, too. I think he is a good role model because when he is praying, he does not goof around. When he does not goof around during prayer, he becomes closer to Jesus and Mary.
Fr. John also makes sure we pray at home at least once every day because he asks us almost once a month if we pray at home.
These are the three things that I think Fr. John Dumas should be recognized for in my school.
Clayton Roof Fifth grade
St. Patrick School, Carleton•Dear Fr. John Dumas,We love you. You are a good priest. Thank you for working so hard. We like when you tell us Bible stories. Thank you for blessing us. Thank you for being at our parish.
Love,The Scholars (Primary Students at Divine Grace Parish)•We appreciate Fr. John Dumas, the pastor of the Divine Grace Parish, because of his wonderful personality, ability to keep the parish strong in our faith, and activeness in the community.
Fr. John is very accomplished in keeping us faithful. He shows us how we can live holy lives through his example. His homilies are very in-depth and relatable, and he is always reverent. He also gives us many opportunities to keep involved.
Fr. John’s personality is exactly what a priest’s should be. He is intelligent, as can be seen through his teachings of the word of God. He is a kind, faithful leader who sets a good example for us, and he is extremely dedicated to his work.
He is also extremely involved in our parish community. He is very dedicated to the safety of our youth. He has altered our parish to more closely follow Vatican II. He cares about the opinions and views of the parishioners and he makes sure we are active in our parish community, too.
“The Elders who do their work well while they are in charge earn double reward, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). Well, Fr. John will most definitely earn double reward, as he is the best priest we could have hoped for.
The seventh and eighth graders of St. Patrick School, Carleton•Thank you Fr. Bob Mc
Cabe, for your support and dedication to St. Pius X Catholic School and Saint Pius X Parish.
The Guyette Family•What makes Fr. Robert Shafer of Trenton’s St Timothy Church special is that he is a priest who enjoys life, enjoys people, and enjoys sharing the Gospels’ messages. He has a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh. His homilies are well prepared, with messages taken from the readings made relevant to life in the real world. He makes everyone feel welcome, especially many special-needs adults who attend and participate in the Masses, an example of inclusion sometimes absent in the Church. It is a pleasure to attend St. Timothy Church.
Kathleen and Albert White•I’m thankful for Fr. Jim Smalarz, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Monroe. When I met Fr. Jim, he seemed somewhat shy. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do any and all for his church or that he is humorless. He recently blessed the stuffed animals for many of the children at MCES for the feast day of St. Francis, and he baked a pie for the parish Oktoberfest. His smile seems endless and his warm and welcoming demeanor at Mass is refreshing. Fr. Jim brings thoughtfulness rooted in his deep Catholic faith, a fiscal discipline, a deep appreciation for people, and a genuine kindness when he was given the responsibility of closing St. Joseph Church in Monroe. It is sad to see a parish close, but Fr. Jim did this with the deep sense of community he fostered as the pastor. Fr. Jim tapped into the richness of the Catholic community and never took his heart and mind off the parishioners affected by this closing.
Fr. Jim nourishes vocations in the Church. Transitional Deacon Brian Meldrum is under his guidance as well as one of the best permanent deacons in the archdiocese, Deacon Michael Stewart, who works alongside Fr. Jim. As my husband, Tracy, journeys through diaconal formation (with me at his side), we are grateful for Father’s support and prayers for all vocations.
I am thankful for Fr. Jim and want him to know how valuable he is to me and Tracy. I want him to know that my faith is richer because of him and he is always in my prayers.
Crysti Esper•Last year, we were directed by the archdiocese to merge the parishes of St. Justin and St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park. Fr. Robert Hayes Williams not only willingly took on the challenge to pastor the merger, but he has been a key driving force in the successful blending of our two long-standing congregations. He has taken great care to assure that the needs of both our communities are met. He has been supportive and encouraging of new ideas for our continued parish growth. He approaches all aspects of his priestly assignments with passion, compassion, commitment and respect. He leads by example, “loving and serving God by loving and serving one another.
” He can be always found lending a hand in whatever project we have going, whether it be serving food, selling raffle tickets, or cleaning up the parish grounds. We need to mention, too, that he does all this while still maintaining his duties at the Tribunal, and serving as chaplain for the Hazel Park Police Department.
Truly, we know that where we are today is in such a large part due to his dedication and commitment to his vocation. We are all very aware of just how fortunate we are to have been given the chance to remain with our faith community. We are the grateful parishioners of St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen Parish, and we are most appreciative of our pastor, Fr. Bob Williams. May God continue to bless him!St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen Parish•The PIME order of priests is known for its work in the missions. We were very blessed when Fr. Giancarlo Ghezzi, a PIME priest, decided to do his missionary work at our church in southwest Detroit. All Saints Parish has a large Mexican membership. Father, who was born in Italy and is familiar with the Romance languages, brushed up on his Spanish so he could minister to our Mexican parishioners. This past May, we had 105 boys and girls make their first Holy Communion. Also, it’s not unusual to see Father roll up his sleeves and help unload trucks delivering food for our soup kitchen and food pantry. He is a wonderful priest and his sense of humor is unmatched.
Betty Hegedus Detroit•The prodigal son returned home! The difference is that while he was away, he led a life directed by the Spirit and dedicated to his vocation and ministry as a priest.
Fr. Mike Verschaeve spent his youth on the family farm in Oxford. As a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Lake Orion, he served as an altar boy and had his first job cutting grass on the parish property. Whether he was influenced by his experience as an altar boy or grass cutting, he entered the seminary to pursue his vocation and call to the priesthood. He is an expert gardener and could have been a farmer or landscaper! But, Fr. Mike chose the better part!After his ordination to the priesthood, he began his ministry at several different parishes in the archdiocese. He was serving, teaching, administering, organizing, sharing, shepherding. A few years back, he returned to be our pastor at St. Joe’s. And how we have been blessed by his experience away! He is a devout liturgist, a gifted homilist and teacher, a wise administrator, a gentle confessor, an expert communicator, a compassionate and loving shepherd. He celebrates with us, mourns with us, shares with us, is one with us! We know we are loved by him — and, in return, we love him. God is so good! Thank you, Fr. Mike!Jerry and Ann Sulisz Lake Orion•Thank you for the opportunity to commend our pastor, Fr. Ron Essman, and our weekend associate, Fr. John Kiselica. Both of these gentlemen bring joy and dedication to their priesthoods and relevance, humor, and inspiration to their homiletics. We are grateful to them for carrying on the tradition of an excellent pastoral staff here at St. Paul of Tarsus Parish in Clinton Township.
John Hickey Clinton Township•Fr. Tony Sulkowski of St. Basil the Great Parish in Eastpointe has the peace, sense of humor, wisdom and positive attitude of someone far beyond his years. I believe that this is in part due to his life experiences. He understands, firsthand, the frustrations and blessings of health challenges from the perspective of care receiver as well as caregiver. He knows that life is short, and each day, each hour, each minute brings us gifts and blessings if we are open and willing to recognize and receive them. He lives simply. No parish cook or housekeeper. He accepts people, and life, as they are — not as who or what he wishes they could be. In addition to ministering to the spiritual needs of his parishioners, hospital patients and caregiving families, he can also be found cleaning toilets, emptying trash cans, replacing paper towels and toilet paper. Whatever needs to be done for the greater good, he does — with humility, dedication and love. He is the epitome of “faithful servant” and of the existence of angels — and Christ — among us.
Suzanne Szczepanski-White Grosse Pointe Woods•I am submitting this testimonial on behalf of our associate pastor at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland, Fr. Jim Lopez. Fr. Lopez is a representative of Jesus Christ in innumerable ways. He is a person of great humility evidenced in his inspirational homilies. His words are truly comforting, and he always has time for someone in need of his advice and counseling. He is amiable with a sense of humor that radiates in his homilies as well as his personality. He makes one feel comfortable and is most understanding and caring. In my lifetime I’ve made acquaintances with several priests, but have known just a couple who have made such a spiritual impression on me as Fr. Lopez has. To summarize, Fr. Lopez is a tremendous asset to the priesthood! He has been my friend and my mentor. He is truly a reflection of God on earth; and for him to remain in our parish indefinitely would surely be a blessing to his parish family. Thank you!Connie Grzybek Our priest, Fr. Leo Sabourin, who serves St. Constance Parish in Taylor, deserves to be recognized for so many reasons. His homilies are always put in layman’s terms. He sets us up and explains the readings and the times before his homily so we are involved and understand. Speaking of involved, he also on occasion gives us a few lines to read aloud to play the part, which in turn helps us to better understand.
He is the true meaning of a father; he always goes over and above his priestly duties. He will try to pick a couple of people or families to sit with before Mass to learn about them, then he will introduce them to people in the pew ahead; next thing you know everyone is shaking hands and has met somebody new.
Then there are times he sits quietly with an individual or family who has had problems out of true concern. He loves baptisms and babies in the pews; to him it is a great sign that these children will attend Church as they grow. No cry room for this Church. Every Mass he rounds all the children by the altar to hold hands for the Our Father. He also makes sure he keeps us up to date with the youths, which he is so proud of.
We do not know how he is able to do so many things in a 24-hour period, between hospitals, funerals and going to people’s homes who are ill. If a parishioner has been told they have cancer or a life-threatening disease, you can be sure he takes the journey with them. He also tries to show his face when there are activities going on around the church grounds. This man is so full of love; how could it not rub off on his parishioners. When you walk out of his Mass, you have the most wonderful feeling in your heart. Fr. Leo is truly a gift from God!Holly•Fr. Richard Bartoszek, chaplain for Beaumont Hospital, is a blessing on so many fronts. We first met him when he said Mass at a nursing care facility where my father-in-law was being cared for a few years ago. His kindness to the senior residents and his genuine pleasure in saying Mass for all the folks in attendance was evidence of his care and compassion for the elderly. He was kind and gentle in his interactions with everyone. He is sincere in his interactions with staff and family members as well. He was a wonderful help to us on the passing of my husband’s father and provided support and spiritual guidance. In addition, we have been fortunate to be able to regularly attend Mass at the Beaumont Chapel on Sunday mornings. It is evident by the “full house” in attendance at every Mass that he is well-respected. Many Masses are standing-room only! He has a wonderful sense of humor and uses stories about his life to connect his listeners with his message. He is a very engaging celebrant and homilist. His sermons are wonderful and provide you with inspiration and often a specific message to think about or act upon “for the next week.
” We also know he assists at St. Joan of Arc Parish as well. We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize Fr. Rich as part of Priesthood Sunday.
Pamela Zarkowski and Daniel J. Pierce•I attend St. Mary Catholic Church in Royal Oak, and I want to commend Fr. Steve Wertanen for his fine leadership and empathetic perspective on Catholic teaching and thought. His sermons are clearly meant to elicit in the listener a response of understanding of the concerns someone may be trying to express to us … and how we can give them the most Christ-like response to those concerns.
Lisa Gnas•I love my priest, Fr. Greg Rozborski of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish in Roseville. Fr. Greg came to our newly formed parish July 1 of this year … we were formed out of three parishes, with much negativity and criticism, (but) Fr. Greg assured his love and support for us! He encourages an end to negative thoughts and depression and tells us to “keep smiling!” Every week at our Masses, Fr. Greg gives us food for thought and is so vibrant and alive, and very animated! I am so proud and happy to have Fr. Greg as our pastor and hope he continues to stay with us for a long time!Margie Lyle•I imagine the life of Fr. Joe Esper if he had not become a priest. He has a rare intelligence, so it’s easy to picture him as an astronaut or physicist. He is a natural teacher, and all the children flock to him, so it’s easy to imagine him as a dad, surrounded by an adoring wife and gaggle of children. It is easy to see him as a CEO of a large, successful company, because he consistently makes sound, logical choices, and he leads with grace, dignity, and a quiet, prayerful power that makes people feel comfortable and safe following him. This is all easy for me to imagine. Fr. Joe could be leading a wildly successful commercial life with all its posh benefits. Instead, Fr. Joe chose to lead us. He takes all those gifts God blessed him with and he uses them to try to guide us to the ultimate goal: eternal life with our heavenly Father. I’m inspired after every homily, reconciliation, and class he gives to follow Jesus. It just makes sense. I’ll forever be thankful for Fr. Joe for his decision to become a priest, and our parish, Immaculate Conception in Ira Township, is so blessed to have him.
Amber Arnold Casco•I have been blessed throughout my life, from a wonderful family to great schooling to good employment and best of all, to a compassionate, supportive pastor, Fr. Chris Talbot of St. Francis of Assisi/St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Ray Township. Through his spirituality, he has set an example for his flock; through his ability to laugh at himself, he has taught all of us to laugh at ourselves rather than at others; through his leadership, he has taught us to be leaders — not only in our Church but in all aspects of our lives. Fr. Chris is a mentor, a leader, a “shepherd,” a friend. Fr. Chris is my pastor!Sharon Dillaway•Thank you, Fr. Stanley Obloj, for the insight to the infinite that you provide for us. In your words and through your eyes I have seen God. Your faith in the viability of our parish is inspiring and motivating for myself and my family. Thank you Father Stanley.
Alan Ayoub•I would like to thank Fr. Stanley Obloj for the deep sincerity he brings to his praying of the Mass. Each Mass he leads sounds as though it was the first time those words had been said and the first time I’ve heard them. He acts as a clear spiritual channel between the congregants and Christ and brings prayer alive.
Susan Ayoub•Dear Fr. Stanley Obloj, you are a blessing to me. Your inspiring homilies keep me riveted to my seat; when the celebration of Mass is ended, I feel better prepared to go out and live the Gospel. Thank you for shepherding our family to a holier place. You truly are the face of Jesus.
Janis Ayoub•Fr. Bob Mc
Cabe is the heart of St. Pius X Parish in Southgate. The blessings he shares reach far beyond the parish doors. His smile welcomes the children and parents each morning as they arrive for school. He can be found in the parish office hard at work, or off to one of the many meetings that keeps our community involved and vibrant. You will often find him on the sidelines with his camera cheering on our sports teams or popping in to the Sunday night youth group. On a recent morning on my way to work I spotted him ministering to the homeless on the streets of Detroit. His photography of the homeless has brought new awareness of how we are called to serve and makes me want to be a better person. He is always available for a warm hug and somehow knows exactly what to say when you need that extra prayer. Fr. Bob is a man who truly lives his faith and shares it with all he comes into contact with. He inspires me continually to pray, read the Bible and share my faith. We are so blessed to have Fr. Bob at our parish.
Deanna Cortese•In my opinion, the people of St. Frances Cabrini Parish are very fortunate to have Fr. Joe Mallia as our priest. He works tirelessly to promote our parish, its schools, and the city of Allen Park. His liturgical services are reverent and meaningful. The homilies he delivers always address a modern day tie-in with the Scripture messages. He challenges us to live the Gospel each day. He makes me think and question, and for that I am very grateful. I must also mention his efforts with parish schools, religious education, and youth groups. Our enrollment has increased due to his efforts. He has a strong belief in Catholic education and the importance of sending out educated youth with strong convictions and a real sense of their importance and necessity in today’s world and Church. He has instituted or begun other programs/services to benefit the different members of our parish family and community. Thank you, Fr. Joe, for all that you have done with and for each of us at Cabrini and in Allen Park.
Sue Pretty•We just wanted to thank our wonderful priests at National Shrine of the Little Flower for all they do. We are so blessed. They give so much and do it with care, concern and joy. They are good role models for those who are discerning to be a priest. We feel so honored and thank God for our pastor, Fr. Robert Fisher, and the associate pastors, Fr. Joseph Lang, Fr. Ryan Adams and Fr. Patrick Gonyeau. They are really good with the children also and always make their presence at Shrine schools. They are friendly and easy to approach. All of them work so well together. We feel honored that the boys have altar served with them too.
Tom and Karen Hejka and family•I would like to thank Fr. Richard Leliaert of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Redford Township. Every time you give your homily, you teach me something new and make me want to understand the Scripture more fully. I pray for you every day. In many ways you have restored my zeal for the Church. God Bless you always!Tim Mirabitur•We would like to recognize Fr. Linus Kinyua for the priest honor. He is visiting and serving here in the U.S.A. on a visa after previously serving in Wyandotte. Today he is pastor/administrator at St. Clement Parish in Dearborn and at Henry Ford Village Chapel. He came to fill in and replace the late Fr. Charles Fontana. He has definitely added new spirit to the liturgy and loves to sing, including in his native language that he has taught both congregations to sing one hymn. Thank you and congratulations!The altar servers of Henry Ford Village Dearborn•I am extremely grateful for the priestly vocation of our pastor, Fr. John Currin of St. Aloysius Parish, Romulus. His passion for Truth is evident in his homilies when he tells us what we need to hear rather than what we might like to hear. His message is always full of Hope and understanding of the human condition. He is an invaluable asset to the parish and community. Thank you Fr. Currin and may God bless you!Sue•Last year, the students in the eighth-grade graduating class at Immaculate Conception School in Ira Township were asked what they would miss the most once they left our school. It wasn’t the wonderful teachers they had grown to love, or the great friends they had formed and bonded with for the past several years. What they were going to miss the most was our parish priest, Fr. Joseph Esper, coming into their classroom to play “Jeopardy” with them; a game with questions that Fr. Esper created personally for them. Our parish priest makes regular visits to all of our students in their classrooms, with the students taking great pleasure in his presence.
Have you ever laughed out loud during Christmas Eve Mass? Nor had I until I had the pleasure of attending one of the Christmas Eve Masses that Father specifically gears toward children. The time and talent he uses to prepare his homily, where he actually invites children up to the altar to interact with him as a means for children to have a very clear understanding of the true meaning of Christmas, is amazing. Watching Father’s young volunteers march up to the altar, unsuspecting yet trusting and willing to partake in Father’s plan, is such a joy to witness. Yes, we laugh during that homily, but the beauty of Father’s lesson is so powerful that it is still discussed amongst many in attendance, for months afterward.
The things I appreciate about Fr. Esper are too numerous to list, but what I appreciate about him the most is the wonderful role model he is to the children in our parish.
Pamela Mertes•Fr. Linus Kinyua was appointed administrator of St. Clement Parish in Dearborn on April 1 of this year. No fooling. Since then, he has become the much-loved shepherd of our flock. It is no wonder several of his former parishioners traveled to Dearborn to make sure he would be well taken care of and appreciated at his new assignment.
A joyful man who embraces his ministry, Fr. Kinyua delivers his homilies from the heart, sharing Christ’s mission with much enthusiasm. He has even been moved to sing and dance at the pulpit! Fr. Linus comes to us from Kenya, where our faith journey sometimes makes a detour, where he shares his special perspective on life. He brings the Gospel alive to the people. And then the safari continues.
We are very blessed to have such a bright and welcoming leader, eager to fulfill the spiritual needs of all the Christians at both St. Clement Church and Henry Ford Retirement Village. His vast knowledge — theological, financial and academic — contributes greatly to the St. Clement Parish family, enabling us to move forward. God bless Fr. Linus Kinyua!Bernadette Fraga St. Clement Parish family•A prayerful man ahead of his time, a man who adapts well to changes and never seems thrown by anything. A man who challenges his people to accept the shortage of priests as a call for them to be more actively involved in ministry with him, a man who welcomes all, loves the children and cherishes his priesthood. That begins to describe our pastor at St. Philomena Parish, Msgr. Peter S. Lentine — more commonly known as Fr. Pete. Fr. Pete came to St. Philomena’s in 1966, and he brought all the wonderment, changes and open-window atmosphere of Vatican II with him. How could this man be so joy-filled in his first assignment as pastor when the parish was in huge debt, there were factions in the parish and many things in need of repair? Under Fr. Pete’s leadership, the parish has, for some time now, been on solid financial footing. He was able to redesign the church and create a wonderful sense of leadership that he shares with the parish. At the same time, Fr. Pete was handling the parish debt, he also believed we needed to reach out to others. Thanks to his loving leadership, St. Philomena’s 230 families provide support to the neighboring community and beyond, while offering a religious education program second to none. Fr. Pete is 95 years old and has been pastor at St. Philomena’s for 48 years and wishes to continue. Fr. Pete, your parish family can’t wait to celebrate your 100th birthday with you!Joanna Saady St. Philomena Parish•Fr. James E. O’Reilly, SJ, (“Father O”) is our pastor and spiritual leader. This year, he celebrated his 70th anniversary as a Jesuit. His influence on our community stretches far beyond his words, whether they be in his homilies, meeting comments, or friendly conversation. He leads more by the way he lives his life — humbly, quietly, spiritually, and always available to anyone in need. At any event or activity, Father O is always first to serve; he does not look to be served. In his encounters with others, he sees a unique individual, but always a reflection of Christ. He accepts the person, warts and all, never in judgment, but as a deserving, loved child of God. His quiet demeanor in doing the Lord’s work serves as example and inspiration to all of us at St. Peter Claver Parish. Furthermore, he continues to serve as a counselor at Loyola High School, where he provides invaluable support for the development of young men. As we join in honoring all priests who selflessly serve in parishes, schools, and other ministries, we especially want to thank our own Father O for his love, his devotion, and his continued commitment to our parish community, to Loyola High School, to the city of Detroit, and to everyone who comes to him in need. May God continue to bless you, Father O.
Ed Shea St. Peter Claver Parish and Loyola High School•A heartfelt thank you to Msgr. Thomas Villerot and all the priests from Senior Clergy Village who celebrate Mass at Marywood Nursing Care Center. We greatly appreciate and love you. God’s blessings.
Residents of Marywood Nursing Care Center, Livonia•We have a thoughtful, caring pastor at our church, Christ, Our Light Parish in Troy. He gives short, insightful homilies. He also informs us of every detail that is happening at our church. This is much appreciated by the parishioners. We are blessed to have Fr. Don Demmer here. He is going forward on remodeling and improving the church building and outside gardens.
June Harding Royal Oak•I would like to honor Fr. Stan Pachla, pastor of St. Veronica Church in Eastpointe, for special recognition because of all he’s done to make our parish grounds a place of beauty in the community. My husband and I moved here the year the new church was dedicated (we’ve been members for 59 years). Fr. Stan puts all his efforts into keeping our entire grounds and buildings in excellent condition. He makes sure that everything is maintained, repaired or corrected when necessary. He is a quiet, laid-back person but friendly and available when needed. He has even done many things himself over the many years he’s been here. He has done an excellent job organizing and running many activities over the years. He did a great job running two churches at one time. When St. Peter’s had no priest available, Fr. Stan took over and eventually did a smooth merging with St. Veronica. He handled the situation well. He was a great support for me and my husband (14 years ago) when I faced mastectomy surgery. He officiated at our 50th, 60th and 65th anniversaries, and also said my husband’s funeral Mass on May 30, 2014. He came to our home before Don died to say prayers and absolution. Fr. Stan is just a great priest who cares for his people and St. Veronica’s.
Anne Monfils Eastpointe•We are grateful for the opportunity to thank our pastor, Fr. Loren Connell, OFM, for his ministry to our parishioners at St. Aloysius Parish in downtown Detroit, St. Patrick in Midtown, and St. Dominic Outreach in Woodbridge. Fr. Loren came to Detroit two years ago in the most challenging of circumstances, to walk with our terminally ill pastor, Fr. Tod Laverty, OFM, as he journeyed toward death and to maintain the sacramental and spiritual life of our parishioners. In the first year, Fr. Loren was here to fill in when Fr. Tod was too ill to minister. Fr. Loren shared our grief at Fr. Tod’s passing. Now Fr. Loren has agreed to stay with us as pastor, to ensure the sacramental life that is so important to us, and to work with us as we in turn minister to our neighborhood. With growing appreciation for Fr. Loren’s strong scriptural background evident in his homilies, for his joy in celebrating the sacraments, for his leadership as we respond to the call to evangelize, for his gracious welcome to all who come to the church, and for his humor, we praise and thank God!Bob and Eileen Betley and extended family
Geraldine Biffle-Faulkner and extended family Detroit•Fr. Ron Victor of St. Isidore Parish in Macomb Township: F is for faithful and dedication
R is for reliable and devoted R is for remarkable and reserved
O is for observant and aware
N is for nurturing and supportive V is for venerable and versatile
I is for invaluable and ingenious
C is for confident and forever trusting
T is for trustworthy and patient
O is for original and considerate
R is for responsible and intelligent Just a few words to describe the dedicated individual Fr. Ron is both in personality and vocation and to the current and previous parishioners he served! Always the best to Fr. Ron. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful friend since 1980.
J&J Weingartz Chesterfield•When Fr. Theodore D’Cunha, SAC, became pastor of St. Priscilla Parish on Feb. 5, 2011, many of us had, as of yet, not fully settled completely within that worshipping community after the closing of our home parish of St. Agatha in 2005. Upon his arrival it was decision-making time and we decided to give Fr. Theo an entire liturgical year before making a choice between one parish or another. To our surprise, within less than two months we were very happy to admit that our doubts and questions were answered in a most positive fashion. Fr. Theo has helped us become better Catholics by his examples of humility and service, by making Scripture a more viable part of our lives, by encouraging us to become more active in parish life, by leading us in special birthday celebrations for Holy Mother Mary, by his participating more and more in parish events, by calling us by name, by urging parents to become more active in the faith lives of their children, and being always ready to help whenever the call comes his way. There have been moments throughout the past three years when we have personally witnessed his most extraordinary gift — an aura of holiness. He has made this parish a more united family of worshippers … and has made us realize that now St. Priscilla is truly home for us. Thank you, Fr. Theo, for all you have taught us to be and for enriching our faith lives by your deep spirituality, dedication and gentleness. We are truly blessed!Claudia Williams and John Schumont Southfield•Our pastor, Fr. Gregory Tokarski, is a very devoted father of his flock. We admire the way he is able to serve the people of Mother of Divine Mercy Parish in Detroit in all three of our churches. Fr. Greg is kind and gentle; a man of prayer who is devoted to the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady. Fr. Greg is a scholar, yet he is able to reach his parishioners in the pew in profound ways as he teaches the faith. We also really appreciate Fr. Greg making the sacrament of confession so readily available to us. Fr. Greg, thank you for serving the Church!Teresa and Jeremy Chisholm•We would like to recognize our pastor, Fr. Cornelius Okeke of St. Andre Bessette Parish in Ecorse. Fr. Okeke is a true shepherd in the model of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Fr. Okeke knows every parishioner and always greets each one individually before and after Mass. He knows who needs a hug, a joke, or a listening ear. The children of the parish flock to him as he takes the time to play with them and hear them sing, or accept all of their homemade cards and pictures. Our parish is diverse in culture, with our festival highlighting American, Polish and Hispanic foods. He took an intense course in Spanish to be better able to communicate and minister to those who speak Spanish, and has picked up some Polish in talking to some of our Polish senior citizens. He is always totally involved in EVERY parish activity and is sincerely thankful to all those who participate and assist in any parish functions. Prior to every Mass, he asks if we have visitors, and as a parish family, we sing a welcoming song to them. It is a song he taught us, where we welcome all, “in the name of the Lord.
” We drive from Warren to Ecorse every week for Mass, and though it sometimes takes an hour, we look forward to Mass each week. We searched for a parish home in our area and tried St. Andre Bessette on a recommendation from a family member. It took but a few Masses, and we knew we had found a home. We have been members since Fr. Okeke became pastor and feel so blessed to have him in our lives. We are active members both at events and as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. His love and care for all of his flock is truly a gift from God, for which we are so grateful. We are blessed to have this man as our pastor and light of God
Mary and Betty Moroz Warren•We would like to thank Fr. Zbigniew Grankowski for always being there for our family. We live in Orlando, Fla.
, but visit my wife’s family’s hometown of Dearborn often, and Fr. Zbigniew always makes time for our family and my wife’s parents Paul and Fran Kujda. Over the years our family has experienced both highs and lows, and Fr. Zbigniew has always been there for each of us to provide praise, encouragement, comfort and compassion as required by that particular situation. Father presided over our parents’ 50th wedding anniversary Mass back in 2009, and each time when we visit him at St. Barbara Parish in Dearborn, he asks our young son Joseph to assist him as an alter server. Joseph is honored each and every time Father asks him to help him during Mass. Father gives really amazing, insightful homilies, which show his passion and his heartfelt love of our Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings. His schedule is truly awe-inspiring, handling both St. Barbara and St. Cunegunda Parish in Detroit. May God bless you today on Priesthood Sunday and always, Fr. Zbigniew.
Brian and Frances Giessuebel•At St. Barbara and St. Cunegunda, we are greatly blessed by having the most awesome priest! Fr. Zbigniew Grankowski, thank you for loving our children so much, for letting them come to Jesus, for being always there for us, for your prayers and support when we most need it. Thank you for being with us in our suffering and for sharing the love of Christ in such a unique way. You make every celebration so special. You are a true father to all of us; the children love you, and we the parents love you because we know you love us, too.
Anonymous•I would like to thank Msgr. Ronald Browne of the Archdiocese of Detroit; Fr. Marko Djonovic of St. Joseph Parish, Lake Orion; Fr. Patrick Gonyeau of National Shrine of the Little Flower; Msgr. John Kasza of St. James Parish, Novi; and Msgr. John Zenz of Holy Name Parish, Birmingham. Thanks for all you do. I am very grateful and blessed to have you as priests and to have known some of you for a long time. All of you have been there for me. Thanks again and keep up the good work!Christine Temple•I would like to send a special thank you to Fr. Edward Mitchell, who is now retired. In 1979, when he was pastor at St. Joan of Arc Parish in St. Clair Shores, I asked for a meeting with him as I had wanted to become a Catholic. I remember to this day talking with him in his office as he asked lots of questions of me, but the ones that stick with me most are “Do your parents know where you are and what you are asking?” I laugh about that now as I had set up the meeting, walked to church, waited patiently for my appointment and then met with him at the age of 9. Fr. Mitchell sent me home to think about it and if I was certain this is what I wanted, I would need to set up another meeting. I think I called the next day for the appointment but this time he required one of my parents to attend. At the end of the meeting he assigned me a weekly tutor for one year so I could catch up on all the religious education classes I had missed and I was not allowed to skip a week (even when I had eye surgery, I still had to meet with the tutor — the things you remember!). In September 1980, with my immediate family present, he welcomed me into the Catholic Church. I’m grateful to this day for him believing in me at a young age. Thank you!Caroline (Thomas) Krucker•Fr. Zbigniew Grankowski has a passionate love for the sick — both those suffering physically and spiritually. Regardless of his own pain or fatigue, he never slows down when it comes to visitation of the sick. It doesn’t matter what time of day or night. And when it comes to those of us with spiritual infirmities — well, there are no limits to the extremes Fr. Zbigniew will go to in order to provide the sacrament of reconciliation to everyone. If he isn’t sitting in the confessional himself, he will make sure another priest is — most especially during the Advent and Lenten seasons, but during the year as well. So many times he shares how in awe he is when he hears the words “Father, how did you know? It has been 40 years since my last confession, but today the Holy Spirit led me here!”Richard Thompson•What an honor it is to have the opportunity to acknowledge Fr. Joy Chakian.
He is associate pastor at St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights and also on the pastoral staff at Troy Beaumont and Crittenton Hospitals. In addition to his weekly Masses at St. Rene, he accommodates the hospitals staff, visitors and patients by having Mass available for them in the chapel every Saturday evening and on holy days. Like the doctors attending to their patients, Fr. Joy makes his own rounds by visiting and comforting the sick in their hospital rooms. I was able to witness his kindness firsthand. My own personal experience with Fr. Joy’s sincerity and compassion came when my son was a patient at Troy Beaumont Hospital. During this difficult time, Fr. Joy was able to bring comfort to myself and my family. I remember the care and love he showed by visiting my son daily and blessing him with prayers. He gave him Holy Communion, administered the last rites and officiated at his funeral Mass, along with Fr. Ed Prus. Even though his days are very busy and hectic you will always find him with a smile on his face, wanting to share a laugh or comforting others. Wow! How blessed we are to have Fr. Joy lead us on our earthly pilgrimage. Thank you for your dedication and service.
Bob and Vicky Bisaro•I would like to thank Fr. John Riccardo at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth for encouraging me to explore the Catholic Church. I was raised Presbyterian, and have been dismayed by their wandering away from the Word. This made me curious about Catholicism, since the Catholic Church does not stray from the Word. I sent Fr. Riccardo an email inquiring about the Catholic Church. I wasn’t expecting a reply — maybe a generic email back — but not a phone call! He called me back and I was floored. That one simple phone call of encouragement was the gentle push I needed to go to Mass and be exposed to it. Now I am enthusiastically enrolled in RCIA. I also want to honor Fr. Steve Mateja and Fr. Clement Suhy at OLGC. Fr. John went on sabbatical soon after his invitation to me to attend Mass, and Fr. Steve and Fr. Clement stepped in and kept me enraptured in the Mass. OLGC’s parish is so special and alive; I truly feel because of the leadership of these three wonderful priests. What an incredibly loving parish! Praise be to God and bless all of them!Kristen Studebaker•I met Fr. Lawrence Ventline on his rounds at Chene/Lafayette. He asked how he could pray for me. I needed a job. We prayed, and I got a job at Focus: HOPE. He sent me there. People count on him, and he’s ministered really well.
Sarah M. Evans•Our priest and pastor, Fr. John Wynnycky, of Holy Innocents in Eastpointe and St. Barnabas in Roseville, is a very devoted and heartfelt person. He is always ready to help and serve when a parish needs him. It is a pleasure to have him as our pastor and he has made us all appreciate our faith more. We hope to have him for many years to come because he would truly be missed. Our compliments and appreciation go out to him.L. Poulsen Roseville•Fr. Terence Treppa is our pastor at St. Richard Parish, Westland. I enjoy his sermons. He greets the people as they come in, and shakes hands as we leave, and enjoys the breakfast pancakes also. He’s there taking pictures with his camera. He also tells the people about his bike; he rides it all over and enjoys it.
Helen Kubitski Romulus•I would like to recognize Fr. Benjamín Kosnáč at SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights. Fr. Ben is not only our pastor, he is a friend to all who encounter him. In all the years I’ve been a parishioner, there was never a time I felt that Fr. Ben was too busy to talk, answer a phone call or email. To know him is to love him. His vocation as a priest is such a blessing to our parish and we are so grateful to have him!Julie Varchetti•God has blessed all of us with the priesthoods of Fr. Benjamín Kosnác, Fr. Luigi (Ludovit) Gabriš, Fr. John Simoneau, LC, the late Fr. Elimir Mikuš, Fr. Valerian Rykowski and Fr. Valentine Gattari, and all priests who have visited SS. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak) Parish in Sterling Heights. Each priest has special gifts and talents that God has given them, making them unique and complementary at the same time. We affectionately call SSCM the “priest retreat,” as Fr. Ben is most welcoming and treats all priests, cardinals, and bishops like they were from the Vatican. Consequently, we have many priests who share their God-given gifts and talents with us and we are grateful to all of them. The most important way we can thank our priests, though, is the same way children can honor their parents — pray for them and live the very best life you can, using the gifts and talents God gave you to help others come to know God.A.M.D.G. and J.M.J.
•Life at St. Lawrence Parish in Utica became a bigger blessing when Msgr. (then Fr.
) John Hall accepted an invitation to live in the parish rectory some 15 years ago. St. Lawrence has always been a great place for worship, friendship, religious education and social activities, to name a few. Msgr. John’s arrival was icing on the cake. He was an immediate crowd pleaser. Msgr. John is a very humble person, but he has a great outgoing personality. There doesn’t seem to be a soul he doesn’t know. His homilies are simple, but straightforward and from the heart. He is full of anecdotes and home-spun advice. He doesn’t try to hide his religion, and he often makes his points with humorous experiences. No one complained when Msgr. John was assigned to celebrate the Mass or hear confessions. After thoroughly enjoying Msgr. John for 10 years or so, his talents were requested elsewhere. Archbishop Vigneron called on him to become the spiritual director at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. This was definitely a blessing for the seminarians, but a big loss for the St. Lawrence faithful. We were sad to see him go, but we realized the positive influence he would have at Sacred Heart. Msgr. John has not forgotten us as he occasionally returns to help with penance services or special events. People flock to see him at first sight. The last time I saw the archbishop, I said that St. Lawrence would gladly take Msgr. John back when he ran out of duties at the archdiocesan level. My dad paid Msgr. John the supreme compliment during a brief visit: Dad was often critical of priests for their untimely requests for money or lackluster homilies. After Msgr. John’s Mass, Dad offered to take him back to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mike Butkiewicz Sterling Heights
