Gaylord, MI 49735 
Why is astrology contrary to faith?
The Year of St. Paul
Mark your calendars now to attend a diocesan-wide conference on Saturday, December 6. The event commemorating the “Year of St. Paul” will be filled with interesting and informative speakers and will be held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Gaylord.
In commemoration of the 2000th anniversary of Apostle Paul’s birth, the church has set aside an entire year to encourage focus on this important aspect of our faith.
Pope Benedict XVI said in his announcement of this “Pauline” celebration, “Dear brothers and sisters, as in early times, today too Christ needs apostles ready to sacrifice themselves. He needs witnesses and martyrs like St Paul. Paul, a former violent persecutor of Christians, when he fell to the ground dazzled by the divine light on the road to Damascus, did not hesitate to change sides to the Crucified One and followed him without second thoughts. He lived and worked for Christ, for him he suffered and died. How timely his example is today!
“And for this very reason I am pleased to announce officially that we shall be dedicating a special Jubilee Year to the Apostle Paul from 28 June 2008 to 29 June 2009, on the occasion of the bi-millennium of his birth, which historians have placed between the years 7 and 10 A.D.”
The Diocese of Gaylord has secured several exceptional speakers for this event. The day will begin with registration at 8:30 AM with prayer officially opening the conference at 9:00 AM. The first speaker on the docket will be Fr. Donald Libby, Administrator of Holy Rosary Parish, Cedar and St. Rita-St. Joseph Parish in Maple City. Fr. Libby will speak to, “The Person of St. Paul.”
The second session will begin at 11:00 AM. Sr. Chris Herald, Pastoral Administrator of St. Anthony of Padua, Mackinaw City, will discuss “The Travels of St. Paul.”
The afternoon session, “Hollywood vs. Faith – St. Paul’s Letter to the Americans” will take place from 1:00 – 2:30 PM and will feature Frank Runyeon, who will speak from the unique perspective of a TV actor and comedian who is also an educated man of faith. He is a veteran of over 1,000 television shows, most notably opposite Meg Ryan on As the World Turns, and on the Emmy Award-winning Santa Barbara. He also starred in the film Sudden Death and appeared in recurring roles on LA LAW, Falcon Crest, General Hospital, and Melrose Place.
Runyeon is also a man of faith with impressive academic credentials. He graduated from Princeton University (where he completed his thesis on the Mass Media), continued his studies at Yale, and earned his Masters of Arts, with honors, from General Theological Seminary. Over the past few years, he has taken a sabbatical from Hollywood to translate Biblical texts and perform them for hundreds of thousands of people in virtually every state in America.
This event is funded in part by the Catholic Services Appeal. A per person registration cost of $15.00 ($12.50 per person if done through parish registration) is requested to help cover the cost of lunch and speakers. Registration deadline will be November 24.
A registration form may be downloaded below.
For more information, contact the diocese at 989.732.5147.
Statement from the MCC
(Lansing) – Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long made the following comments today after Proposal 08-2 passed by a vote of 52-48%."The margin of victory for Proposal 2 undoubtedly would have been much wider if it were not for the dedicated opposition of the Catholic Church in Michigan. Every priest, deacon, religious and layperson who helped spread the Church's teaching that all human life, no matter how small, must be protected and defended, is to be praised for their courageous witness and dedication to the Truth. Michigan Catholic Conference is honored to have served with several hundred individuals and prominent grassroots organizations, medical professionals and elected officials through the MiCAUSE coalition in an effort to protect and preserve life in this great state.
"Regrettably, we exist in a society that seeks immediate gratification and pleasure, with a damaging tendency to fall victim to emotional appeals that lack any notion of good public policy. Enshrining in the state constitution a measure that prohibits the legislature from enacting any oversight or accountability measures related to the destruction of human embryos has unsettling consequences for the future. Considering embryonic stem cell research was legal and ongoing in Michigan before the passage of Proposal 2, it is impossible not to view this measure as anything but the creation of a new industry structured around the unregulated destruction of human life.
"The Church’s teaching in support of stem cell research that does not destroy the human embryo is clearer today than it was before this campaign began. Despite the passage of Proposal 2, Michigan Catholic Conference will continue to advocate before our elected officials for the promotion of ethical and proven stem cell research that today is benefiting those who are ill and suffering. Yet any attempt within the Legislature, whether by statute or appropriation, to expand further the destruction of human life in the name of research will meet the immediate opposition of the Michigan Catholic Conference."
Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.
Call to Continuing Conversion
Bishop Patrick Cooney invites all of the faithful from the Diocese of Gaylord to celebrate The Call to Continuing Conversion on Sunday, November 16, at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord at 4:00 PM.
This liturgy is a tremendous way to support and encourage those individuals from northern Michigan who are ready to continue on their faith journey. These candidates have been baptized but have not yet fully initiated in the Catholic Church. Each will continue with their religious education and when they are ready, will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist.
A welcome gathering prior to the event will be held from 3:00 – 3:45 PM in the Cathedral’s Parish Hall. This is an opportunity for the faithful of the Diocese of Gaylord to meet, welcome and encourage the spiritual growth of the candidates, forming a prayer community prior to the Celebration.
The ceremony itself offers an opportunity for the entire congregation to join in prayer for the success of these individuals in their quest to be fully initiated in the Catholic faith. It will also include a special individual blessing of each candidate by the Bishop.
For more information or to RSVP for the welcome gathering, please contact Judy Abeel in the Worship office at jabeel@dioceseofgaylord.org