You make me feel alive. 4: He always positive and smiling. Dealing with Rejection Next, comes acceptance. Once I made a presentation seeking help from the Downtown Businessmens Association, and he was a member of the board. They celebrate Mass so devoutly and beautifully proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ by their words and actions every day. Seldom do we find someone who so wonderfully and lovingly embraces and lives his vocation. If you are forcing yourself into a love relationship with a priest, it means that you are pushing him into a situation where his f. Although I dont get to my parish every week for Mass due to my work schedule, on the Sundays that I do get there, I feel so blessed and filled with the Holy Spirit that I just feel wonderful all day! By remembering and calling us by our names when we interact with him, he makes us feel loved and part of the parish family. Before the end of the day, they had to face a minor revolution from all of us there. Leo. They have deeply impacted our children, from an excellent education to teaching them high moral standards. Leo Sabourin has been a blessing to us at St. Constance Parish in Taylor. God knows what he is doing and we thank Him every day for Fr. Darrell has wonderfully inspirational homilies. 6: He makes everyone feel good about themselves. Thank you, Fr. He is a loving and caring priest with a heart of gold. Answer (1 of 8): Priests are not 'available' for you to fall in love with. Tom stresses that we must put Jesus words into action that can be seen in the tremendous Christian outreach practiced at St. Kens: the Sunday food drives, the giving tree at Christmas, prayer ministry for the sick and so much more. Youve worked far beyond retirement age and done so with a cheerful heart because of your great love for God and His people. Fr. Mark, we still say the stations Marys Ways and many people come during Lent. Now more than ever, evil is lurking around every corner, but with devoted men of Christ like Fr. G.M. He understood all the questions and concerns that arose along the way and ensured that there were opportunities and forums to address them. At Easter Vigil 2015, my sister became Catholic; it was Fr. Joe takes the time to recognize our parish volunteers, whether its during a Mass or in person, even though he is the one who deserves our thanks. Hes back! Stanley, for everything you are and do. He stresses the importance of reconciliation and reception of the Eucharist. Ryan was ordained in 2014 and was a little nervous at first preaching to the congregation in our octagonal church. We are thankful to have Fr. He knows all our names. A modest person, he never touts this as his social action: Learn from me, for I am humble of heart., Once I arrived at a crowded Christmas Mass and found strangers occupying my pew. Love your priests and bishops, just as they love you. The year was 1984, while Fr. He is not afraid to give hugs. One thing he introduced was to have benches placed around the outside of the church building to encourage people to linger before and after Mass and get to know each other better. You may now kiss the bride! I know that sometimes he is lucky to get four hours of sleep. Brian Chabala, has been pastor of many parishes throughout his 38 years of priesthood. He even blessed our RV a few years back before we took it on the road. Its hard to believe another year has come and gone; Father still shows his wisdom and compassion. Our newest priest here at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak is Fr. At the core of my being, I want you to have joy, a relationship with God and his Church, and you to know your incredible worth. Zbigniew, from the bottom of our hearts for all that you are and do for us. Jim is administrator at St. Damian Parish, but the seven combined years I worked side-by-side with them have enriched my faith in all matters related to Church and family. Besides his physical energy, Fr. It is with great pleasure and honor that I write this correspondence on behalf of St. Mark Parish and Fr. Weve only been members of our parish for three years, but weve noticed a vibrancy that I havent seen for a while in churches in this area. bless your people in every time and season and. In serving God, the parish family comes first. Lisa HecmanczukSt. Frances Cabrini, Allen Park. Fr. Darrell is a very holy priest, a perfect homilist, has a beautiful singing voice and is very much a people-person. Mark Borkowski, who was our pastor and loved by our parish. John exhibits leadership skills that allow him to collaborate with parishioners along an unbelievable range of competencies. He stressed the importance of families holding on to their traditions and values. In short, the priest falls in love. He goes to the hospital when one of his parishioners is ill. With each assignment he brings a sense of joy, delight, compassion, faith-filled preaching and a welcome sense of humor to his parishioners. David Cybulski is to his parish (St. Joseph in Erie). His participation in the Mass is one that is dedicated to that moment. Fr. Of course, the kids love the candy, but the real draw is Fr. Cornelius Okeke from St. Andre Bessette in Ecorse. As a teenager, he connected with us in ways that you didnt see back then. Bryan has only been a priest a little over a year and is the second-youngest priest in the archdiocese, I am always so impressed with his knowledge of Church history. Richard Perfetto for his service as parish administrator and for the calming influence he brought during our period of turmoil. Fr. David Lesniak is leaving St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn as of Oct. 1, we would like to let him know how much he will be missed as our pastor after all these years. He could have retired, but we still have him. He asked me to take Communion to a woman who couldnt get to Mass, and it was such a moving experience for me. Thank you Fr. We just want to let you know what a blessing Fr. He demonstrates these characteristics himself, but admits to not being perfect. I am so grateful and thankful to God for this very special priest, and we are so blessed to have him as our pastor!Irene Nowak St. Sebastian, Dearborn Heights. Our parish, led by our pastor, welcomes each and every new person who walks through our doors and helps make them feel at home. He keeps our hearts on fire for God!We deeply cherish having Fr. Barbara BechardSt. Alphonsus Church, Dearborn. 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. Zbigniew! Im going to tell you about my favorite priest. Hilarious, Lists, Priesthood Shaun McAfee Barnabs G. Kiss and Fr. In addition to his formal commitments, Fr. Greg with this challenge, and Father said he would go to the hospital the next and not only give the rite of anointing of the sick, but also a special blessing! My husband recovered fully and Fr. He cares for everybody even if theyre sick and wounded, poor or rich, tomboy or princess, or loved or hated. Brian on a golf course (admittedly, he dislikes the sport), but youll always spot him walking the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day. I personally am very much at peace in his class. Amen! Surely part of the solution has to involve more realistic expectations and a greater appreciation for the priesthood, the fallibility of the men who serve as priests, and the love these men have (and sacrifices they make) for the people they serve. Lesniak taught us, to continue to grow as a people of faith, and we are so much better as a parish because of his leadership, guidance and friendship. We are truly blessed to have him as our pastor. Norman Paul Thomas. Confession is available six days a week for forgiveness and counsel; and when we have events to help others at our church, the people of St Johns always respond in very generous ways which is a direct reflection on Fr. Stanley to our parish. We have been very fortunate at St. Valentine Parish and Our Lady of Loretto Parish, both in Redford Township, to have wonderful Pallottine priests from India leading our parishes in recent years. What makes Fr. St. John Vianney describes a priest as He who is not for himself, he is for you. Thats our pastor, Fr. Lifes leaders like him provide us with the purpose and motivation that we need to be better followers of Christ, neighbors and citizens. Ray Stadmeyer, OFM Cap., is the priest of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Detroit. I cant imagine being able to have gone through these tragedies without him. He is a blessing to me and everyone he comes in contact with. He is not afraid to give hugs. Have Realistic Expectations and Be Helpful I am a member of St. Cunegunda in Detroit and St. Barbara in Dearborn, and I will love to share with all of you why Fr. We tell them that Fr. It is said that people get feelings about other people. John Kopson (who interned with us), the words that come immediately to mind are good sports., Their insight in the confessional has been a great blessing to our family as well. Grateful parishionerSt. Sabina Parish, Dearborn Heights. "When you witness a situation when someone is being rude to a priest, let him know that you noticed and express compassion." 13. Okeke has helped me actually connect what the Scriptures are saying and see the connection in my daily life. He deserves recognition for his sense of humor, and the ability to make his students relax because of his humor. I feel happy when I'm with you 2. He is patient with people, watches out for us, and teaches us to pray for protection from evil. Stanley Obloj came to St. Mark Parish in Warren in 2012, we immediately knew we were receiving a wonderful blessing. We are truly blessed to have him at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital. I remember the first time he said, Our faith teaches us I knew I belonged. They run the St. John Capistrano Youth Foundation in New York City, and the newly dedicated Our Lady of Hungary Chapel in Washington, D.C., was Fr. Despite his incredibly busy schedule as pastor and vicar, he clears time to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation on a request basis. He helped us to heal our wounds and to gather together as a new community of love and faith. Your time and dedication is greatly appreciated! When someone needs a clergy person, the hospitals call on Fr. He feels for his people. Because he is so down-to-earth, he makes the parishioners feel at ease. We had been without a full-time pastor since his predecessor, Fr. Larry Siroskey, was forced to take a medical leave. I got full support. When youre in his class at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, you want to learn. The priest who inspired my husband and I is Fr. I can now think of certain people whom I have known, heroes in my life who fit this definition in a special way. Tom. Rosemary BouttNational Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak. Marriage is a sacrament, and deciding to receive this sacrament comes with responsibilities. I also think he is a pretty good one because he gives hugs to everyone no matter if its a boy or girl or if its the sick or healthy. We are like one big family. That statement was proven to be true when we were informed that our much-loved pastor, Fr. Our shepherd, Fr. He has his face painted at our festival, keeping the children enthralled, and dances the polka with the grandmas. Thirty-six years of guidance, friendship, time and love. We are thankful that he has now been made our pastor for six years. Joe also challenges us to follow Church teaching including weekly attendance at Sunday Mass, respecting life, and supporting social justice. Thank you, Msgr. Fr. He loves everyone no matter who it is. No carnivals, just our big family getting together for hot dogs and fun. Aaron does this in the Holy Mass, when he re-presents the sacrifice of Calvary to the Father. For this and for a lot more reasons, I love Fr. His life choices exemplified tolerance, patience, forgiveness and acceptance. I am so proud to have him in my life. He cares deeply about his parishioners, which is evident from the amount of time he spends getting to know each one. There were two dominant responses, each at about 40 percent of the total. "Tithing isn't really giving - It's returning.". He borrowed the words of one of the most loved and cherished priests of our archdiocese (the late Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw): Hi, my name is George. St. Anastasia has always been blessed with outstanding pastors, and I have no doubt that Fr. Denis. Fr. In fact, he seems to take great delight in eating lunch with the students. Fr. Father has helped us to recognize the need to reach out and meet the needs of our multicultural and multilingual community. His theological conversations have deepened the faith of his family. Mary TriggsOur Mother of Perpetual Help, Oak Park. He has a gift of conveying what the Gospel is saying and explaining it and connecting it to us. Thomas is greatly loved and respected by parishioners and the community. As parishioners of St. Kenneth in Plymouth, we are blessed by the return of Fr. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me.". He is there whenever we need him, and is such an excellent guardian of our parish resources. Fr. Over 35 years ago at a small parish in Clinton Township named St. Valerie of Ravena, we received a new priest who was energetic, kind, loving and passionate about his faith. To honor this occasion, I embrace the opportunity to explain why I love my priest. He is the epitome of faithful servant and of the existence of angels and Christ among us. He was pastor of our church, St. Alfred in Taylor, for just four years. In general, if you explain to the priest the situation you are in, he will be able to adjust his guidance. Our priest, Fr. We still miss Fr. He will go wherever he is needed, without question. As Clem Kern joined in, he was choked with emotion and actually shed tears in voicing his disappointment another side of a great man and a great little saint. 23. Fr. Then theres our pastor, Fr. Edwin W. Balazy appeared on their doorstep, introduced himself and thus began a relationship that has lasted 36 years. You're in love with him because he's somewhat "ordered" and a decent human being! Both friars are stewards of our church and its surrounding grounds; the church was built 90 years ago by faithful Hungarian families, many newly arriving from the old country with a shared goal of building a place of worship for Hungarian Catholics. Noel is compassionate, gentle and generous. And the number one reason we love Fr. Thank you for the opportunity to sing his praises, because you would never learn any of this from him. When I was a kid, sacramentals were thought of as things just beneath sacraments; they were holy objects that had been blessed, like rosaries and altar candles and holy water. A few weeks later at a vicariate meeting, he gave a report and told everyone that I did a great job getting support, (that was probably due to him and his presence!). He was supportive of all my efforts, and was always positive. In observing him over the years, I am consistently inspired and impressed by his service and connection to people of all backgrounds. We love him because he loves our children and knows how to reach out to the young. Our pastor is a vocal supporter of Catholic education and furthers our mission daily. Edward J. Prus was really important in Recife communitys life. Everyone has their own expectations for their parish. Noel follows up with some patients after theyre discharged making visits to their homes or visiting families after a patient has died. It might even bring you back to church as it did for me three and a half years ago. Ron Babich for the 20 years of his dedication and service to the parishioners of Our Lady Queen of All Saints, Fraser. Mike Verschaeve is a wonderful parish priest. His passion for learning and gift for teaching are well received by our youth, with teenaged graduates of I.C. Clem Kern, later dignified as Msgr. Noels light is his willingness to share of himself. He accepts people, and life, as they are not as who or what he wishes they could be. Fr. If we want to slide into our pew and be passively entertained for an hour then we do not understand the reality of the Mass. Fr. Aaron and pray God will give you the help you need. My children have gotten to know and love him over the years, and he looks forward to our visits. Ray served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and upon his return was assigned to train chaplains across the country in Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome for returning soldiers and their families. This extraordinary priest is Msgr. He greets everyone outside of Mass. Noel has changed the lives of many here at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital. Fr. You're always comfortable here. James Arwady has taken on his first pastorate as the pastor of St. Christopher Parish, Marysville. He kept us interested in our faith. Please never lose that special attention that you give to all of us. Father prayed with us, encouraged us, and loved us. "You see a lot of familiar faces that you've known a long time. Fr. During the past 11 years, Msgr. He says Mass there once a week. Oh, what a blessing! Having a brother in the seminary, we learned not as much about theology as about living life as good followers of Christ. Grzegorz (Greg) Rozborski. Ed., Hes there when you need him humble, selfless. Ignatius of Loyola, The parishioners of St. Joseph Parish, Erie, We at St. Benedict Parish in Waterford are truly blessed to have Fr. Noel OConnor, SAC, has been a chaplain at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital for the past year. Father is also seen sporting his Red Hawk gear at many of our students sporting events. Fr. But a Samaritan stops and cares for him, taking him to an inn where the Samaritan pays for his care. Maurice Henry Sands. How lucky can one guy be? Grankowski officiating. Because for many decades Ive heard Gospel 101 preached in so many homilies. They also celebrate the Hungarian culture, enjoyed by the many Hungarian Catholics and those of us of Hungarian descent, who attend Holy Cross. He cuts off all contact with the woman. So far its working out pretty good; I love working there. You're my moon, stars, and the whole galaxy. Stanley for bringing the Holy Spirit into our lives and in our parishioners. One was a Japanese family. We love him because he loves our children and knows how to reach out to the young. Joe when he enters any of their classrooms. I deeply appreciate the servant leadership of Fr. They have more projects not mentioned here, and they are young senior citizens. He changed our life and many others in that short time to be better people and to love one another and most of all trust Him and make Him your personnel friend and your life will be fuller. 6 Ways To Support Your Parish Priest 1. Our first meeting was about my baptism and becoming Catholic. Norman Paul Thomas is recognized in The Michigan Catholic Priesthood Sunday edition because he deserves it. Excitement and smiles from our students always greet Fr. Denis Theroux from Our Lady of Victory Parish in Northville, is the most nicest priest in the world. Tom Belczak as our pastor and spiritual guide. Father always makes our Mass so meaningful and we are blessed to have him in our lives and our parish. #6 As we recognize pastor appreciation month, Thank you for your service to the church throughout the year. Brian extending sincere and heartfelt handshakes to strangers: All who welcome me, welcome my Father., Also a caring listener with a delightful sense of humor, Fr. Zbigniew as our pastor. I am writing this letter to tell you about my parish priest. There are only three Hungarian-speaking priests in the U.S. right now, so these two are called upon frequently to preach and give retreats elsewhere in the country. He is inspiring and gets our attention during the homilies. 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. But then a thief stole my heart. We appreciate the many ways Archbishop Vigneron helps us to be better Catholics and grow closer to God. Reconciling earthly family matters with the teachings of Christ can be challenging. This not only demonstrates to the children how vital the sacraments are; it also demonstrates Fr. Lesniak. Ryan is in Mexico now for a six-week period of studying Spanish, one of my favorite memories of him was a funeral he celebrated here. He works lovingly with the highly educated to poorly educated and unskilled volunteers. I appreciate the fact that Fr. The pastor's singular desire, Lord, is to serve and please You. May God bless you in your new parish. You always know youve been to church when you leave with him. We love you so much! I recall my feelings of sadness a few years later, as I read of his death in an accident on the freeway. Our priest is Fr. This happened about a year and a half ago, and we were called Mission One, Two and Three. He listens to the other bishops, comforts them when needed, and shows joy instead of complaining. Thank you, Fr. You have a great smile and the parish is looking great. I first heard of him through my dad, a union-activist at Ford Motor, who used to also go to meetings at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Detroit; there Fr. Tom Belczak of St. Kenneth Catholic Community in Plymouth. He practices the spiritual works of mercy by making sure everyone in the clergy does their job, by giving advice to those who need it, and being merciful to others. When Msgr. If someone dies, he has the funeral Mass and goes to the cemetery for the burial. Fr. Pat SmithBirmingham, Ala. (formerly of Taylor, Mich.). Frequently he recalls childhood stories about antics with our oldest brother, Michael, and our sister Maureen whom he cherishes because he prayed for a sister. When you need help with bills, he is there to give a helping hand. He remains in our prayers as he continues his ministry. Father made sure that the building was in good repair, joined Gianna Houses board at the encouragement of Sr. Diane, and often spoke to parishioners of this developing ministry and placed articles in the bulletin, which in effect recruited parish support for the developing project. He has taught us not only to believe, but to practice our faith every day. I met Fr. But never forget that "yes he did use you."Emotionally, sexually, to meet his unmet needsand in doing so, the priest along with his "bride" Catholicism, has also damaged the woman spirituality to some extent. Parker, for everything you do. Zbigniew, besides being my pastor, is my spiritual father. Bob welcomed me into the Church. "When you witness a situation when someone is being rude to a priest, let him know that you noticed and express compassion." 13. Mary ShackettOur Lady on the River, Marine City. Everyday I see you I want to run into your arms and kiss you. Robert Bauer has made a difference with his pastoral care, insightful homilies and love of Jesus and his holy Catholic Church. He has a wonderful sense of humor. Father is also responsible for bringing the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist to our school. Tom, and for coming back to us! Sean Bonner, who arrived this summer, and Fr. It was comforting to us to have him there. John and he helps us understand the importance of our guardian angel. Gregs sermons are very inspirational and I am still learning about my faith after all these years. Thank you, Fr. A priest and a woman (who is not a family member) should avoid riding in cars together, just the two of them. We thank GOD for Fr. He has been at several parishes. He deserves it. He visits the sick and gives the anointing of the sick sacrament. I'd be an ingrate if I fail to appreciate every bit of the roles you played in my life. He remembers names and easily speaks with any and all patients and families, visitors in the hallway, volunteers, physicians, staff from all areas of the hospital, and our special needs students from Jo Brighton. He always takes notice of who is at Mass, and he has always managed to give me the exactly right word of encouragement at the right time. But, its worth noting. He is always striving to serve the Lord the best way he knows and he has many talents the Lord gave him to do just that! of the gospel by lives of dedicated love. He knows how to cultivate those traditions that are most meaningful to his people. Good Friday, Easter and Christmas Mass brought us closer to the life of Christ. My love and respect for Father continues to grow and I honor him and pray that he will continue his work as our parish pastor. Noel is so easy to speak with and makes one feel like he has all the time in the world for the person with whom he is speaking. 2. He leads us in hymns at weekday Mass unaccompanied whether in English, Italian, Latin, or Polish and makes sure we are all in key. Thank you Fr. Second, this "retirement" is typically the last thing a priests ever wants. Aside from the label, vinyl records all look the same to the untrained eye. We have been abundantly blessed to have two amazing priests leading the flock at Holy Cross Hungarian Roman Catholic Church in Detroit, both are Franciscan Friars: our pastor, Fr. Establish a Relationship "Don't tell him what you don't like if that's the first time you've bothered to talk to him." "Say hello before telling him what's wrong." 14. I thank you, and we do miss you. You are my favorite person. He is a committed Catholic priest. I am in love with you. We are very blessed to have Fr. David Lesniak, has been at St. Alphonsus in Dearborn for more than 11 years. We'll walk you through some cute ways to tell him you love him! I attended his funeral. Bobs pastoral care and guidance have been invaluable. Debbie SomandSt. Hugo of the Hills Parish, Bloomfield Hills. Tim Birney and Fr. He takes to heart our joys, sorrows, hopes, fears, triumphs and defeats through prayer and blessings. Greg Tokarski, our pastor at Mother of Divine Mercy Parish in Detroit and Sweetest Heart of Mary Church: We are so blessed to have you at our church, and at St. Josaphat and St. Joseph Church. Managing a lifetime together trumps one special day getting married. Now, serve him. Establish a Relationship "Don't tell him what you don't like if that's the first time you've bothered to talk to him." "Say hello before telling him what's wrong." 14. He greets us all entering the Church and upon dismissal he addresses as many parishioners as he can on his way back down the aisle. I'll start off with some general ideas that can be used almost on any occasion: 1. We're glad this was helpful. 2: He is sweet, generous caring and comforting. Jim Mayworm as our pastor. Your support of our parish school is wonderful and you have given the young men in our parish who may be contemplating the priesthood a great role model to follow. Joe for talking to my family on my First Communion day. We do not have to feel the regret of prematurely ending Dads life. Mandatory celibacy defines a priest primarily by sex and places an inordinate amount of attention on his sex life. We appreciate the time he takes to visit our classrooms and when he talks to us we feel good about our faith and ourselves. It can get tense when a priest's expectations don't align with those of the lay leadership and parishioners. He is our priest, and we all love him. That's certainly what happened in my family's church. I feel so safe and peaceful in your arms. Joe!Thank you, Fr. No. Kern would hold meetings of A.C.T.U. It is truly humbling to say that Fr. You Gotta Have Heart, Miles and Miles of Heart? Well, I can tell you that Fr. Fr. A priest functions in persona Christi capitasin the person of Christ, head of the Church. 8: He writes interesting stories. care. He has been and continues to be a beautiful guiding light for our lifes journey. Brian has never actually been my pastor but I feel deeply blessed to call him friend since childhood. One word to describe her is energy. We all love her as well. It keeps you coming back." Choir member Bruce Goeser, an Epiphany member for 51 years thus far, added an appreciation of the ministry. Give me only Your love and grace. You reach out to every segment of your parish school, administration, parishioners, the elderly, the youth and youngsters. He started the community dinner to feed the homeless people on Sundays. Barnabas Kiss, OFM, and our associate pastor, Fr. Socorro Fernandes, SAC, pastor, and Fr. He goes whether they are Catholic or not. From the contemporaneous books of Ezra (9, 10) and Nehemiah (13:23-29) we learn that one of the ways the priests . See if these three simple prayers don't usher you into a more intimate, loving relationship with the Lord Jesus. He took interest in our youth group and came to our activities. Darrell Roman as our pastor. He is the most devoted, spiritual, humble, warm-hearted, hard-working and giving priest we have ever met. He helped us to look forward instead of backward, without losing our former identities but instead merging them into one family. Parishioners were asked recently to share some of their feelings for and opinions of Fr. Fr. Dianne ErhardSt. Ephrem, Sterling Heights. Always Pray for Your Priest We often ask our priests to pray for us, but don't forget how much they need our prayers too, regularly and unstintingly! Ll walk you through some cute ways to tell him you love him because he our. Asked me to take Communion to a woman who couldnt get to Mass, respecting,! Because of his humor and blessings his class friend since childhood day getting married smiles! 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