The two major fundraising events of the year to support seminarian education and vocation awareness were a resounding success. The Diocese of Saginaw is pleased to announce this year’s Bishop’s Golf Classic for Seminarian Education was the most successful golf outing to date, with 48 teams of 192 golfers in two flights at the Currie Municipal Golf Course in Midland on July 23.

Winners for both the morning and afternoon flights were:

Morning Flight

Knights of the Day: Council 8808 team of Jim Gerding, Mitch Lenczewski, Larry Wade and Mike Rangitsch

Mixed team: Mail Room Services Center Team of Dick Blazejewski, Catherine Thompson, John Blehm and Louie McKalg

Flight team: Mike Grzegorczyk, Mark Zolinski, Tim Cichowski and Father Marc Hopps, all of whom registered individually and never golfed together before.  

Afternoon Flight

Knights of the Day: Council 1546 team of Ken Rutkowski, Bill Bond, Dan Guza and Mayt Knarian

Mixed team: St. Mark Parish Women’s Team of Colleen Snyder, Sheree Wiltse, Allison Wiltse, and Colleen Smolen

Flight team: Bob Sonntag, Father Steve Gavit, Jim Ward and Randy Armstrong

The Banquet and Silent Auction on July 24 brought together 365 registered guests and volunteers at the Great Hall in Midland. Keynote speakers Father Matthew Gembrowski and Father Daniel Christe, the Diocese’s youngest and newest priests, respectively, shared their paths to the priesthood. Seminarian Charles Warner also spoke about his experiences while in seminary in Rome during Pope Francis' death, the conclave and installation of Pope Leo XIV.  The auction was a huge success with many people bidding on 37 items and experiences.

Funds raised will support the education of our seminarians, the ongoing 20 By 30 campaign and related efforts.