Christ’s Mission Appeal supports essential ministries

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When looking back on the past fiscal year, it seems it has gone by quickly—yet we have accomplished so much. Every week, we are doing more and serving more people within the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. When I say “we,” it refers to all of us. From the ministries taking place in our 56 parishes to the programs developed or administered by diocesan team members, we are all working together as co-partners in carrying on the mission of Jesus Christ.

In the following pages, you will find our annual Impact Report highlighting a few of the many ministries that Christ’s Mission Appeal supports. These ministries focus on programs, projects and enrichment opportunities that no one parish would likely have the resources to administer effectively. My chancery team is committed to being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.

I am deeply grateful for your generous support of Christ’s Mission Appeal and am pleased to share this overview of how you have impacted our ministries. Yes, together we are doing exciting things in the Diocese of Saginaw.

 Sincerely in Christ,

+RDG

Bishop Robert D. Gruss

Christ’s Mission Appeal…Supports vocations outreach to future priests and religious

Father Andy LaFramboise will not settle for good. He’s focusing on great.

But Father Andy, the Diocese of Saginaw vocations director, says he cannot reach the “great” alone. He needs the help of all Catholics in the Diocese of Saginaw.

The recently introduced “Beg! Form! Call!” initiative is a three-part project which involves prayer and personal invitations to men and women who might consider a call to the priesthood or religious life.

Christ’s Mission Appeal supports this vocations effort and others that take place annually throughout the Diocese.

“We have four seminarians now,” Father Andy said. “The goal is 20 seminarians by 2030.”

The “Beg” portion of the program calls each parish to develop a specific effort to pray for vocations, such as a regular holy hour for vocations. In addition, all parishioners are asked to pray the Memorare for an increase of vocations at least weekly before or after Mass.

The “Form” portion includes developing “vocation teams” either from individual parishes or groupings of parishes to “create a culture of vocations” in their areas. Materials are available to assist in the formation and development of these teams.

“The local Church flourishes when all vocations in the Church are encouraged. It should be a normal question for each person to ask the Lord, ‘What is your plan for my life?’” said Father Andy, who is also pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Beal City.

The diocesan office of vocations also will provide lesson plans for schools and religious education programs to teach about vocations.

The “Call” portion encourages parishioners to submit the names of those who they think may have interest in discerning a religious vocation. Bishop Robert Gruss will then send personal invitations to those whose names are submitted to attend a special vocations day.

“Be open to the Lord’s plan in your life,” Father Andy said. Don’t be afraid to surrender your life to Jesus. He is the answer to the question of the human heart.”

Christ’s Mission Appeal…Supports permanent deacon formation

Permanent deacons play important roles in parishes throughout the Diocese, serving God’s people in a variety of ministries. From ministering to the sick and homebound to administrating parishes lacking a full-time pastor, permanent deacons serve as living icons of Christ the Servant.

Jesus instituted the diaconate (along with the priesthood) at the Last Supper, and the Apostles later ordained the first seven deacons. (See Acts 6:1-7) It is anticipated that seven candidates will be ordained as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Saginaw in the spring of 2025. This will be the culmination of a five-year journey in the Permanent Deacon Formation Program.

The newly ordained will join 17 other active permanent deacons serving the Diocese.

While deacon candidates pay a certain amount towards their formation costs, the majority of the programming, faculty and administration is funded by the Diocese through Christ’s Mission Appeal.

“In the past, a deacon candidate’s home parish would contribute to the cost of his formation,” noted Dr. Dan Osborn, coordinator of permanent diaconate formation and ministry. “However, that is no longer the case since our bishop may need the deacon to meet a need in the diocese not based in his home parish.”

“As ordained ministers who often have full-time jobs, deacons have one foot in the secular world and one foot in the life of the Church. They can therefore serve as ‘bridges’ and be tremendous assets for the Church,” he said. “Many people don’t realize that the ministries deacons carry out are completely on a volunteer basis – they do not get paid for their service.”

“As dioceses struggle with a lack of priests, the need for permanent deacons becomes more urgent,” Dan noted.

Supporting Christ’s Mission Appeal helps fill that need.

Did you know?

• Deacon candidates can be married or single.
• Permanent deacons may continue working a secular career.
•  Men can start diaconal formation as young as 30.

For more information about the diaconate, please visit saginaw.org/deacons or call 989-797-6662.

Christ’s Mission Appeal…Supports faith enrichment opportunities

In the past year, more than 750 participants from nearly every parish in the Diocese of Saginaw have learned practical ways to personally encounter Jesus and how to spread Christ’s love and mission to others. Those opportunities have come from Days of Enrichment, which are organized and hosted by the diocesan Office of Parish Life and Evangelization.

These full-day sessions feature national and local keynote speakers and smaller talks focused on subjects geared toward those in parish ministry. Recent enrichment days have centered on encountering Jesus through praise and worship, the forming of intentional disciples and practical ways to share the Catholic faith and the love of Christ.

While participants often pay registration fees or free will donations for the enrichment days, those monies cover things like speaker fees, food and beverages for attendees and facility usage. The time that parish life and evangelization department team members dedicate to planning and hosting the events is funded by Christ’s Mission Appeal, notes Don Buchalski, coordinator of evangelization for the Diocese.

“Enrichment is to give the people in the diocese a chance to form people who are speakers at national events here locally without the travel expenses,” said Don Buchalski, coordinator of evangelization.

More enrichment opportunities are on the horizon and will focus on other topics and ministries.

“Our next event will feature Julianne Stanz, Director of Outreach and Evangelization for Loyola Press, and she will be speaking on discipleship,” Don said. “In the spring Father John Riccardo will return to host Michigan Rescue Live, a revival.”