FAITH Saginaw Fall 2009 : Page 2
2 Plans change find comfort in the unchanging Matt Treadwell is editor in chief of FAITH Saginaw and communications director for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. I n this issue of FAITH, you will find special coverage of the installation of the Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone as the sixth bishop of Saginaw. It is the third of four 2009 issues featuring our bishop on the cover. In April, the spring issue commemorated the 25th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson, fifth bishop of Saginaw. After that ... our plans changed. That same month, the Holy Father appointed Saginaw’s bishop as archbishop of St. Louis, Mo. In May, Pope Benedict named our new shepherd in Bishop Cistone, formerly an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pa. The timing of these announcements made it possible to amend prior plans for the 2009 summer issue and, in July, FAITH introduced Saginaw’s new bishop prior to his formal installation to the office. Next, our fall issue plans changed so we could commemorate Bishop Cistone’s installation ceremonies, as you will find in the following pages. In short, the Holy Father’s appointments caused the theme of FAITH’s 2009 season to change to – well - “change.” I’ve heard many priests quote another wise priest (they must all know the same guy) saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans,” implying that we must always be ready and willing to have our ideas of what is to come amended. Change happens. Throughout each year, we gather together our parish communities to baptize our children and bury our dead. These experiences change lives. Within many of our homes, we have been touched by financial changes and challenges that have come with the poor state of our local economy during the most reform – their position and concerns The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops U.S. bishops host Web site on health-care (USCCB) has launched a Web page promoting its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.” The page, www.usccb.org/healthcare, includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions and links for contacting members of Congress. Letters to Congress include an Aug. 11 letter by Cardinal Justin Rigali, the bishops’ pro-life chairman, criticizing abortion provisions in the House version of health-care legislation; and a July 17 letter from Bishop William Murphy, the bishops’ domestic social justice chairman, outlining the bishops concerns and priorities for health-care reform as a whole. recent months and year. The examples are endless. Change is constant. All of these experiences and more call to mind the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant …” (3:1-2). Some of the changes we experience in our earthly lives are met with ease and are welcome, while others present challenges we may have never wanted. It is when the changes bring challenge that I take great comfort in knowing that while our earthy lives are constant change, our Father in heaven is unchanging. Our God is the same God he was when he made his covenant with Abraham; led Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt through the desert; walked on the stormy sea; was nailed upon a cross; and rose from the dead. He is the same God who knew my son before he formed him in his mother’s womb just as he has always known you and I. Our God always will rejoice in the return of his prodigal sons and daughters. He always will search for one lost sheep. He always will forgive those who sin against him “not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Enjoy each new day in God’s unchanging presence – he who was, who is and who is to come! The site will feature Web videos of USCCB policy staff discussing the bishops’ position on health care. Kathy Saile, director of domestic social development, outlines the general position and concerns. Richard Doerflinger, associate director of pro-life activities, describes how abortion relates to the health-care reform debate. The page also contains facts and statistics about Catholic health care in the United States, which includes 624 Catholic hospitals, 164 home health agencies, and 41 hospice organizations. On the Web: www.usccb.org/healthcare Liturgical Calendar: St. Thérése of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the churchOctober 1 | Guardian AngelsOctober 2 | Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, virginOctober 6 | Our Lady of the RosaryOctober 7 | St. Denis, bishop a news from the editor
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