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June 2008
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A brief history of the
Diocese of Lansing
The Diocese of Lansing was established by Pope Pius XI on
May 22, 1937. It originally comprised 15 counties that had been
part of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
In May 1938, when the Diocese of Saginaw was formed, the counties
of Allegan, Barry and Ionia were transferred from the Diocese of
Lansing to the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the counties of Genesee,
Livingtson and Shiawassee were annexed from the Archdiocese of Detroit
to the Diocese of Lansing. In July 1971, the Dioceses of
Kalamazoo and Gaylord were formed, and the Diocese of Lansing gained
Washtenaw and Livingston counties from the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The Diocese of Lansing currently comprises 10 counties: Clinton,
Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston,
Shiawassee and Washtenaw. The major cities in the diocese are Adrian,
Ann Arbor, Flint, Jackson, Lansing, Owosso and Ypsilanti. There
are about 1.8 million people in the diocese and the Catholic population
is approximately 222,519.
The Catholic dioceses of Michigan and their
bishops
Archdiocese of Detroit Cardinal
Adam Maida
Diocese of Gaylord Bishop Patrick Cooney
Diocese of Grand Rapids Bishop Walter Hurley
Diocese of Kalamazoo Bishop James Murray
Diocese of Lansing Bishop Earl A. Boyea
Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander Sample
Diocese of Saginaw Bishop Robert Carlson
Diocese of Lansing facts
6,218 square miles – includes 10
counties in southeastern and mid-Michigan: Clinton, Eaton,
Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee
and Washtenaw.
The past four bishops
of Lansing
Since becoming a diocese
in 1937, Lansing has had five bishops.
Joseph Albers was born in Cincinnati
in 1891 and ordained a priest there in 1916. As a chaplain in World
War I, he was wounded three times and received the Silver Star for
bravery. At 38, he was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati,
making him one of the youngest bishops in the country. He was assigned
to establish the new Diocese of Lansing in 1937.
In January 1938, there was a serious fire in the rectory of St.
Mary Cathedral. Bishop Albers, his lungs weakened from being gassed
in World War I, collapsed and was rescued by local firemen.
During his episcopacy, the diocese built 38 parishes, 42 elementary
schools and two high schools, earning Bishop Albers the appellation,
“the builder.”
 On
Oct. 7, 1964, the Most Rev. Bishop Alexander M. Zaleski
was sent from the Archdiocese of Detroit to new duties in Lansing,
and as eventual successor to the ailing Bishop Albers, who died
on Dec. 1, 1965.
One of seven children, Zaleski was born in Laurel, N.Y., in 1906.
He was ordained in 1931 in Louvain, Belgium. He had attended St.
Mary College in Orchard Lake and returned there to be a Scripture
professor. In 1950, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Detroit,
serving there until coming to Lansing. Bishop Zaleski had many responsibilities
in the church hierarchy nationally. He died in 1975.
Succeeding Bishop Zaleski was Kenneth Povish, the
first of our bishops to be a Michigan  native.
Born in 1924 in Alpena, he was ordained a priest in 1950 for the
Diocese of Saginaw.
He was in that diocese until appointed as bishop of Crookston, Minn.
On Dec. 11, 1975, he was installed as Lansing’s third bishop.
For a number of years, while a parish priest in the Saginaw Diocese,
Bishop Povish wrote a column for the Catholic Weekly newspaper.
Then, as bishop of Lansing, he was again a columnist for the newspaper,
and appeared on a regular television program called Real to Reel.
After a long battle with cancer, Bishop Povish died on Sept. 5,
2003.
 Our
fourth bishop, Carl F. Mengeling, was born Oct.22,
1930, in Hammond, Ind. He was ordained in 1957. In 1964, he earned
a doctorate in sacred theology in Rome. He taught for four years,
then was a pastor at different parishes until coming to Lansing
as bishop on Jan. 25, 1996. He initiated the publication of FAITH
magazine, which has won numerous Catholic Press Association awards.
An interesting footnote is that three of our first four
bishops (all except Bishop Povish) were present at the opening session
of the Second Vatican Council. Bishops Albers and Zaleski were attending,
and Father Mengeling was a page.
Priests from Michigan who became bishops elsewhere
Bishop Joseph Rademacher
Though he never was a priest in the Lansing Diocese, Joseph Rademacher
was born in the parish of St. Peter in Westphalia in 1840. He was
consecrated bishop of Nashville in 1883.
Bishop Michael Joseph Green
Born in 1917 in St. Joseph, M. Joseph Green was ordained a priest
on July 14, 1946. Msgr. Green was consecrated as the first auxiliary
bishop of the diocese at St. Mary Cathedral on August 28, 1962.
He was the bishop of Reno, Nev., from 1967-74. After resigning there,
he was pastor of St. Joseph in Adrian until his retirement in 1979.
He died Aug. 30, 1982.
Bishop James Sullivan
James Sullivan was born in Kalamazoo and was ordained in 1955 in
the Lansing diocese. He founded Liturgical Commission Publishings,
which offers priests daily commentaries for the Mass and homilies.
He was named auxiliary bishop in 1972 when Bishop Zaleski’s
health was failing. He was appointed as Bishop of Fargo, N.D., in
May 1985.
Bishop Paul Donovan
Paul Donovan was born in Iowa, but attended St. Mary Cathedral High
School in Lansing. He was pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, Michigan
Center, and at St. Agnes in Flint, also serving as the head of the
priests’ council, which advises the bishop. When Kalamazoo
was created as a diocese in 1971, Father Donovan became its bishop,
until he retired in 1994.
Bishop James Murray
James Murray was born in Jackson in 1932 and ordained a priest in
1958. He was rector at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing for 25 years
and chancellor for the diocese from 1968-98, when he was named the
third bishop of Kalamazoo.
Monsignor Albert Koenigsknecht, M.M.
A native of Most Holy Trinity Parish, Fowler, Albert Koenigsknecht
was ordained in 1945. In 1973, Msgr. Koenigsknecht was appointed
apostolic administrator of the Juli Prelature in Peru. An apostolic
administrator has the rank of a bishop without the privilege to
ordain. He died in an automobile accident in February 1986 in Peru.
Welcome Bishop Boyea – the fifth bishop
of Lansing
On the day of the press conference
announcing his appointment to the Diocese of Lansing, Bishop Boyea
sat down with FAITH for a conversation about himself, the diocese
and his episcopacy.
What was your reaction when you got the call from the nuncio?
Well, I’ll give you the full story: On Feb. 12, I was in South
Bend for the bishops’ meeting on the Word of God. Just before
supper, I was in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and I remember that
I knelt down at about 6:10 p.m. and prayed. After supper, we went
back to our hotel and I called to see if I had any messages. There
was a message from the nuncio to please call him. So, just before
9 that night, I called. The nuncio said I had been named to Lansing
and he asked, “Do you accept?” I said, “Oh yes,
I am very happy about this.” Then he told me we needed to
figure a date for the announcement in three to four weeks. I thought
to myself, “Three to four weeks? I am not going to be able
to wait three or four weeks.” When I called the next morning,
he asked for my first choice and told me to pick a significant date.
I chose Feb. 22, which was a Friday, the Feast of the Chair of St.
Peter. The nuncio said, “That is a wonderful day, a very good
day! However, that is a feast in Rome. They don’t do anything
in Rome on a feast day.” So I told him my second choice: Feb.
27, my sisters’ birthday. He said, “Good, you will remember
it then.”
Then we chose April 29 as the date of my installation, because it
is the anniversary of my ordination to the diaconate.
 What
is your impression so far of the diocese? I really believe
this is the best diocese in the state! It’s a great diocese
– largely because of your clergy and your bishop. Bishop Mengeling
has done a great job. He really has. As I say, he will be a tough
act to follow.
Speaking of Bishop Mengeling, you have worked with him before. Is
there a memory that you can share about him? Just a general memory;
his sense of humor, his warmth, his charm and obviously he is clearly
a man of faith. There is just no doubt about that.
How were you called to the priesthood? Oh, I have known since I
was 7 years old. I think God wanted me to be a priest. I just never
had any serious doubts about it. I had other things that interested
me, that pulled me away, but they were never as strong as the call
to priesthood.
What is the most rewarding part of your priesthood so far?
Seminary work. I absolutely love seminary work. The seminarians
constantly challenge me to be more zealous, more faithful and more
generous, because they are that way. I think almost any group of
priests can tell you that after a time you can get in a rut; you
get settled, and if there is nobody there that will really perk
you up a little bit, it is hard to do that on your own. The seminarians
have always been able to challenge me that way.
You have been a teacher, a rector and a historian; how do
you anticipate those roles affecting your new role as the ordinary?
Well, I have administered the seminary and I think that being the
rector of a seminary is unlike any other role you play in the church.
The rector is responsible for everything in the seminary. Absolutely
everything, which means having your hand in everything. I had about
30 bishops, vocation directors, and the board of trustees to whom
I was responsible. I think that has really prepared me to be a bishop.
What is your favorite period of history? My specialty
is the area in which I did my doctoral work – American church
history. That is what I am teaching this semester at the seminary.
Apart from that, I really like medieval history.
Anything specific? The era of Charlemagne because
it’s about beginnings. I love beginnings. I like to see where
things started, and it is always very difficult to determine the
beginning of things. It is always tough because there usually are
only traces. So it is hard to see how things begin. Most historians
will say that medieval history began earlier than Charlemagne –
and that is true, but with Charlemagne so many things began in church
history and our ecclesial reality. I could go on and on about Charlemagne
because I love that period of history.
All bishops choose a motto: Why did you choose your particular motto,
in manus tuas? It is Jesus on the cross reciting Psalm
32. We say it every night in night prayer. It is a constant, and
I think I should put something on my coat of arms that is part of
my daily prayer life. And so it is that.
What is your favorite Scripture passage – is it that
same psalm? No, I don’t know that I have a favorite.
I guess the one that I go back to a lot, not so much just for myself,
but for didactic purposes, is John 6, where Jesus is challenging
everyone on the reality of the Eucharist and people walk away. And
Jesus doesn’t say, “Wait, I was just kidding –
come on back here,” or “I was speaking symbolically.”
Instead, he makes it even stronger. This was hard for people to
hear and they walked away.
I think that we have lost sight in some ways of the difficulty –
not the pain – but the difficulty of really being Christian
and how important it is to give ourselves to that. And with God’s
grace, we can do anything.
What do you think makes it difficult for so many people?
I think that, in many ways, it is the reality of the Incarnation,
the reality of the Eucharist, which are all of one piece. That God
would actually become man is so utterly incredible, in the truest
sense of that word – it is unbelievable. And yet, with God’s
grace, we are called to believe that. If you don’t have that,
if you don’t have the truth that God became man, nothing else
makes any sense. I suppose that in some ways I am venturing here
down the road of Dostoevsky and Bonaventure. They tend to emphasize
the role of the Incarnation of Christ. This is really important
– and it manifests itself through our sacramental reality.
Who has been a role model for you personally? First
was my pastor when I was a boy, Father Frederick Delaney of Our
Lady of the Lakes Parish in Waterford. And too, the associate priests
there, Father Larry Kaiser and Father Philip Bailiff, were both
wonderful. After that would be my spiritual directors, one of whom
is Father Douglas Osborne of the Diocese of Lansing. I just asked
him if he would again be my confessor.
Who is your favorite saint? I think it would be
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was absolutely remarkable, just remarkable.
Having kids and trying to raise them and also founding a religious
community. And boy, did she have difficulties. She struggled with
the faith and came to it happily. She really embraced the faith,
even though it meant cutting so many ties and so many people. It
was all worth it to her – that was the point. It was all worth
it.
 Could
you give us an idea of what your leadership style is? (Laughs)
You should probably ask others. I don’t think anyone can describe
their own leadership style. They might think they know their own
leadership style. I like to think I am a good delegator, whether
I am or not. Yet I am also concerned that I make sure I oversee
everything. It’s a balance. A balance between being responsible
and yet also letting others exercise their responsibilities.
How would you characterize your spirituality? I
suppose the best way to describe it is that I very much like Lectio
Divina – probably more the Carmelite spiritualities. Although
I hate to put myself in a box, because I’m kind of an eclectic
when it comes down to that. But I do like the Carmelites very much,
and I think that their spirituality is less programmed than some
others, which I like. I have read a lot of Carmelite spiritual writers
and they have been my favorites.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment
as a bishop? I oversaw the northeast region of the Archdiocese
of Detroit, which included Macomb and St. Claire counties, and I
think my greatest accomplishment there has been helping the parishes
merge. In most of the circumstances they have been mergers that
involved keeping several worship sites, so that it hasn’t
led to the closure of a lot. I think we have only closed about two
church buildings or so. The thing that has been very helpful about
this process is that it eases the load of the priests. Priests don’t
mind saying Mass, in my experience. It is having two parish council
meetings and two worship meetings. If you can ease priests’
administrative loads by having one bookkeeper and one set of books,
they don’t mind and most people are content. They know the
office isn’t there anymore, but if they can have one Mass
in their building, as long as the whole new parish can pay for that,
it is fine. Then it is the parishioners’ decision to see how
they use the buildings and what happens to them. And I think largely
that has gone well in my region.
Regarding the pastoral planning process, what are your thoughts
about coming into a diocese that is in the throes of that as well?
I know this is going to involve my going around and meeting at a
number of these parishes to talk with people and to hear from them.
And I am willing to do that. I think that is important. I think
decisions like these should not be fully implemented until the bishop
has been there to talk to the people. That’s vital. I’ll
do the best I can.
Overall, what are the blessings and burdens of being a bishop?
The burdens are easy to define: You don’t have a family, a
community that you know really well, because you are constantly
going around and meeting people. Being in seminary work has meant
a very close-knit community to me – a deep, deep friendship
with the staff, with faculty and with students. I loved that. That
was the glue of my life. So not having that by virtue of being a
bishop has been tough. Not having a tight community is the burden,
the cross that is given to bishops.
The blessing of being a bishop is that the church needs bishops,
and the amazing thing is that I hear that time and again from people,
from priests and from deacons. They want a bishop. We, as Catholics,
have that apostolic ministry. Somebody has to do this, and I guess
the blessing is that God has asked me to do that as part of his
will for me. So, I embrace that.
What would you say are the most important issues facing
the church today? I think the most important is vocation
– the call to holiness. We don’t hear enough of God’s
call because there are so many competing noises. And that manifests
itself in the crisis of the vocation for marriage as well in the
crisis of vocations for religious life, for the priesthood and for
the permanent diaconate. At heart, it is the issue of vocation.
I have no doubt at all that God is calling everyone to salvation
and calling in such a way that it can be heard. He is not playing
games with people. God calls us sufficiently. We are just not hearing
and we are not responding generously. I think that is the biggest
problem today. 
That leads to the Pew study that was recently released about
Americans’ decline in religious affiliation, particularly
Catholics. What do you think the church’s response needs to
be to that or can be? It can only be what Paul suggests,
that is to preach the Gospel both by our lives and by our words.
As it says in Romans, if the Word is not heard, who will believe?
If it is not preached, who will hear it? We need to preach the Gospel
in season and out, with our lives as well as our words. And we are
all sinners, so it can be very difficult to bring those together
in our lives.
How do you think the church has weathered the last 10 years?
It is hard to say because many have left. I think a lot
of people left a long time ago. I think they left in the ’70s
and ’80s. So who knows how far back that 10 percent of the
American population, who count themselves as former Catholics, goes?
But we continue to lose people, so that has not been good. On the
other hand, there are those Catholics who stuck with it. I was at
Rainbow with 3,000 young people recently – I had a couple
of talks and confessions. What enthusiasm! And every time I go to
confirmations, the incredible enthusiasm of the parents and the
young people! I don’t know how many of them are going to church
regularly, but it seems to me that there is great hope there. There
is a hunger and a yearning; I just think we must make sure we are
presenting the Word of Christ properly so that they will find satisfaction
in that.
Do you have any changes or projects you know you would like
to implement as you come in? (Laughs) No, I am really hoping
to coast for the next five years.
What are you planning to do in your first 100 days?
I do want to meet with all the priests. I am hoping that can be
arranged through the regions with groupings of priests.
What about opportunities to meet with the people of the
diocese? Well, I don’t know if I can do it in the
first 100 days. I know that sometimes a bishop will go to a region
and the priests and laity will be there; and that is a good thing.
But I want to make sure I meet with the priests in a way that they
don’t get swallowed up by a bigger thing. But yes, I want
to get around to as many of the parishes as I can.
Could you tell us a little bit about your family?
I am one of 10 children.
Are your siblings all still living? They are, all nine
of them. The youngest are twin girls. They are 19 years younger
than I and their birthdays are today. They are celebrating their
birthdays by going to Florida for a week. And their husbands take
care of the houses for them. They try to do this every year on their
birthdays. I am very close to them. One lives in Wisconsin, so I
don’t see her a whole lot, but the other lives in Ferndale.
She has three boys, ages 5, 8 and 10. I was baby-sitting there Monday
for her, and they conned me into letting them play their computer
game. They weren’t supposed to do that.
How many nieces and nephews do you have? I have
nine nephews and three nieces. My nephews I call my pall bearers.
They are all going to have to carry me. They can’t right now
because they are too weak; they’ll need to be strengthened
and built up. And hopefully much older.
What do you do for fun? Read.
I love to read and visit my family: Mom and Dad.
Are your parents living in Cheboygan? Yes, in fact I am going up
there today to visit. They are in their late 70s.
What kind of music do you like? I don’t listen
to it any more, just because I don’t have the opportunity.
But I use to love WRIF. Now I listen to classical music, but I really
don’t listen much to radio. But if it is on in my car, which
is not often, I listen to news radio.
Is there anything else you would like the readers of the
magazine to know? Anything we haven’t asked you that you would
like to share? Just that I am very grateful to God, to
the pope and certainly to Bishop Mengeling for this assignment and
for this change of life now. I have a new family. I feel like St.
Joseph. St. Joseph was given a family that wasn’t his own
and he loved that family, cared for that family. I am hoping to
do as St. Joseph did.
What happens at an installation?
Bishop Boyea was installed as bishop
of the Diocese of Lansing on April 29, 2008
The installation begins with Solemn Vespers the previous evening:
• Representatives from the government, academia and religious
leaders are present to welcome the new bishop.
• Bishops, cardinals, chaplains and other ministers process
into the sacristy of the cathedral and are seated. The lights are
dimmed and there is no music.
• Msgr. Murphy, who is the moderator of the curia, carries
a crucifix to the main door of the cathedral. He is accompanied
by a deacon with the paschal candle and several servers.
• Bishop Boyea knocks on the door of the cathedral, and the
servers open the door. (image 1 above)
• Msgr. Murphy bows and gives the crucifix to Bishop Boyea,
who kisses it. (image 2 above)
 •
The crucifix is handed to one of the servers, while another gets
a bowl of holy water and a whisk from the baptismal font. Msgr.
Murphy hands the bowl to Bishop Boyea, who sprinkles himself and
those around him.
• They process to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for a brief
period of adoration. (image 3 above)
• Afterward, they move into the sanctuary and the service
of Solemn Vespers begins, led by Bishop Mengeling.
• The chalice and paten being used the following day at the
Installation Mass are blessed.
• There are welcoming remarks from the representatives of
government, academia and religious leaders, as well as remarks from
Cardinal Maida and Bishop Boyea.
• The service concludes.
The following day, there is a Mass of Installation:
• The thurifer, cross bearer, candle bearers, readers, deacon
of the Word, master of ceremonies, consultors, concelebrating bishops
and concelebrating archbishops process into the church and go to
their places.
• Two candle bearers, the crosier bearer, crucifix bearer,
Bishop Mengeling, another master of ceremonies, the papal nuncio
(who is holding the apostolic letter appointing Bishop Boyea to
the diocese), priest chaplains, Cardinal Maida, Cardinal Szoka and
monsignori process into the church and form a semi-circle behind
the last pew, facing the door.
• All is silent. Bishop Boyea, wearing a miter, knocks on
the door and it is opened. (image 3 above)
• Cardinal Maida presents a crucifix, which Bishop Boyea kisses.
(image 4 above)
 •
A bowl of holy water is presented to Bishop Boyea, who touches the
whisk and blesses himself. He then extends the whisk to Cardinal
Maida and the others. (image 5 above)
• They all process to the sanctuary, where Cardinal Maida
gives the greeting and bids that the apostolic letter be examined
and read.
• The papal nuncio, Archbishop Sambi, presents the letter
to the moderator of the curia, Msgr. Murphy, who takes it to the
consultors for their examination. The last consultor, the chancellor,
is Msgr. Steven Raica. He signs the document that bears witness
to the consultors’ examination and holds it up for the assembly
to see. (image 6 above)
• The nuncio reads the
letter in English to the assembly.
• Cardinal Maida presents Bishop Boyea with the crosier. (image
2 next page)
• Cardinal Maida and Archbishop Sambi lead Bishop Boyea to
the cathedra, where he is seated. (image 1 next page)
• Representatives of the clergy and faithful greet the bishop.
(image 3 next page)
• Mass continues.
Welcome messages from
the readers of FAITH Magazine
Welcome to the Diocese of Lansing,
Bishop Earl Boyea!
Here is a selection of welcome messages from the readers of FAITH
Magazine:
I’m very excited for our neighbors in the Diocese of Lansing.
They have been incredibly blessed by the leadership of Bishop (Carl
F.) Mengeling for the past 12 years and will certainly find a great
blessing in the guidance of Bishop Boyea. Bishop Boyea is very well
educated and has a wide range of experience in service to the church.
He is an excellent preacher and has a very generous heart. He is
a real pastor. In addition, I pray that Bishop Mengeling will find
abundant blessings of good health and happiness in his future.
– Bishop Robert Carlson,
Diocese of Saginaw
Dear Bishop: Our family would like to thank you for consenting to
become the new bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. We have been praying
for you and will continue to do so as you lead our diocese into
his hands. In peace and prayer,
– Kwiecinski family, St.
Mary Church, Pinckney.
Dear Bishop Boyea: I want to take the opportunity to welcome you
to the Diocese of Lansing. Thank you for your dedication and willingness
to take on this assignment and for your ‘yes’ to doing
God’s will. May the Holy Spirit give you the wisdom and guidance
to lead the diocese as he desires. May God bless you richly in all
that you do.
Sincerely,
– Lisa Phillips AMDG
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ the people of Mt. Zion
Catholic Community, Flushing, welcome you with great joy. “The
kingdom that God has given you will last forever and ever. You rule
over your people with justice; you love what is right and hate what
is evil. That is why God, your God has chosen you and poured out
more happiness on you than any other king.” Ps 45:6-7
– Gordon and Martha Krupp
Ad Multos Annos – we are heaven-bound! Looking forward to
working with you and getting to know you. Thanks for your kind words
to Bishop Carl.
– Father Pat Egan, Ave
Maria Foundation, Ann Arbor
On behalf of the people of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian Parish in
Bunker Hill Township/Leslie, and on my own behalf, I’d like
to extend a warm and hearty welcome to our next bishop, Earl A.
Boyea. Be assured of our prayers and good wishes as you continue
to serve the people of God in the Diocese of Lansing. God bless
you!
– Father Mike Petroski,
pastor
Dear Bishop Boyea: I don’t believe you know me personally,
but I feel I know you and I’m sure we have been at the same
event some time over the past years.
I am the sister of the late Bishop Kevin M. Britt and I reside in
the Diocese of Gaylord. I heard of your appointment as Bishop of
the Lansing Diocese and wish to extend my best wishes to you in
your new assignment. My brother spoke highly of you and I’m
sure he’s up in heaven praising the choice the Detroit Archdiocese
and the pope have made in their choice for the Lansing Diocese.
I’ll keep you in my prayers!
– Virginia (Britt) Pitman
Welcome, Bishop Boyea, to the Diocese of Lansing! May the Lord’s
grace flood you and his purposes be accomplished through you in
your ministry to his people here. Be assured of the prayers of the
many Secular Discalced Carmelites throughout the Diocese of Lansing.
– Theresa Hofer, O.C.D.S.
President, St. John of the Cross Secular Discalced Carmelite Fraternity,
Ann Arbor
P.S. I love your episcopal crest and motto!
Welcome Bishop Boyea! We are happy to have you coming to the Diocese
of Lansing.
– Lee and Kathy Hirth,
St. Joseph Parish, Dexter
What does Bishop use?
During his installation, Bishop Boyea
used various items specific to the office of bishop. Many of them
were used by previous bishops of our diocese.
Cathedra: The bishop sits on a special chair called
a cathedra, which is the root word for cathedral, the principal
church of a diocese. The cathedra siginfies the bishop’s authority.
This wooden cathedra, with the diocesan shield on its back, was
used in St. Mary Cathedral from 1955-67 by Bishops Albers and Zaleski.
Crosier: The bishop carries a tall hooked staff
called a crosier. In the Western church, it is shaped like a shepherd’s
crook to symbolize the bishop’s role as the shepherd of his
flock. Its roots go back to the walking staffs of travelers at the
time of Christ, and crosiers dating from as early as the fourth
century have been found in the catacombs. By the Council of Toledo
in 633, the crosier was mentioned as a liturgical implement. Bishop
Albers brought this crosier with him when he came from Cincinnati
in 1937.
Miter: The miter is the tall peaked hat that bishops
wear. It has its origin in the cap with headbands worn by athletes
of ancient Greece. It took its current form in the 12th century.
The miter’s two shield-shaped halves are said to represent
the Old and New Testaments. Two strips of fabric called lappets
hang down the back. The lappets were originally designed to be tied
around the chin to prevent the miter from falling off while the
bishop rode on horseback. The miter is laid aside when the bishop
prays, and underneath it he wears a zuchetto, a skullcap originally
designed to keep hair oil off the miter. Bishop Boyea wore this
miter at his episcopal ordination in 2002.
Pectoral Cross: The bishop wears a cross called
a pectoral cross. Its name derives from the Latin word pectus or
“breast.” It is worn differently, depending on the bishop’s
garments. For example, if he is in a suit and collar, the pectoral
cross is usually placed in the vest pocket, with the chain showing.
That’s why you’ll often see the bishop with a gold chain
across his chest. The cross can hang from either a chain or silk
cord, and many of them held relics of the True Cross. The stone
assigned to bishops and archbishops is the amethyst, and many pectoral
crosses are adorned with one or more. Bishop Zaleski brought this
pectoral cross to the Diocese of Lansing in 1964. Bishop Povish
used it frequently, and Bishop Mengeling wore it at his episcopal
ordination in 1996.
Episcopal Ring: Bishops wear a ring that has multiple
layers of meaning. It has been a symbol of authority and jurisdiction
since the third century. The ring also symbolizes the bishop’s
marriage to the church, his spiritual parentage and the inviolable
faithfulness with which he will teach and protect his flock. This
onyx ring was used by Bishop Povish.
Bishop Boyea's installation
homily – some excerpts
The following are excerpts from Bishop
Boyea’s homily at his Mass of Installation, April 29, 2008.
We, in this Church of Lansing, need this divine link to
our foundations, to our roots, so that we might be joined, in the
Spirit, to Jesus Christ himself. Hence it is that Paul
tells us who we are. We are fellow citizens of the household of
God. This is because we are “built upon the foundation of
the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.”
The bishops hand on, generation after generation, the teachings
which were written and spoken by the Apostles. Their memory
of the words of Jesus and their interpretations of the message of
Jesus are what we hand on. Jesus did not write a book. He did not
leave notes. Instead, he instituted the college of the Apostles
and their successors, by the working of the Holy Spirit, to hand
on what was essential for the life of the church.
The bishop’s ring, however, is not a symbol of sterile unity.
Rather, like that ring worn by all you married folk, symbolizing
your oneness, the ring also symbolizes your life-giving love. This
reminds us that all communion is based on love, and especially the
love of Christ for his body, his bride, the church, of which the
bishop, spiritually married to the local church, is a sacramental
sign.
… this pectoral cross worn by the bishop, and especially
this particular one, worn by Bishops Zaleski, Povish, and Mengeling,
means that Christ is at the heart of the bishop’s apostolic
ministry. The Second Vatican Council, in Lumen Gentium,
calls the bishop the “steward of the grace of the high priesthood.”
Christ is that high priest and by his cross he has reconciled us
to the Father and poured out grace in abundance.
This crosier used by Bishop Albers, is a reminder of two
aspects of being such a shepherd. First of all, as Pope
John Paul reminded us bishops, our leadership not only carries on
the Apostle’s authority and sacred power, but it also continues
their form of life – one which is Apostolic suffering for
the Gospel, one which calls forth gentle and merciful care for the
people, one which directs our attention to the weak and poor.
What I have described here is both a wonderful gift and an awesome
duty. I know that I am unworthy of this duty and gift.
Yet we all have great confidence that what God calls us to do, He
provides the grace to accomplish it. Pray for me for an abundance
of that grace.
Praised be Jesus Christ – now and forever.
Bishop Boyea's coat of
arms
A bishop’s coat of arms typically
has three parts: the shield, the motto scroll, and the external
ornaments.
The Shield
On the left side of the shield, the arms of the bishop are joined
(impaled) with the arms of his diocese. Two lances cross in the
form of an X. These play on the name of the See City of Lansing.
Also, the city is located at the junction of the Grand and Red Cedar
Rivers. All the arms of the cross terminate in the form of an anchor;
such a cross is called a moline cross and it is found in the family
arms of the Inghams. The See City is located in Ingham County, Michigan.
The diocesan arms are blue and silver (white), the heraldic colors
of the Blessed Virgin, the patroness of our diocese and of the cathedral
church. The diocesan shield was developed in 1937 by Chaignon LaRose.
On the right side, for his personal arms, Bishop Boyea, has selected
a device drawn on the image of the arms of Pope John Paul II, for
whom the bishop has great respect and admiration.
Similar to the late Pontiff’s arms, Bishop Boyea’s device
contains a cross which is eschewed to the upper left. The wood of
the cross also figures as a reminder of the bishop’s family
name, Boyea, “a woodsman.” The color of the cross is
sable, just as the cross on the shield of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
This black cross forms four quadrants that alternate gold (yellow)
and silver (white), in the same manner as the quadrants of the Pontifical
College Josephinum, which are also the colors of the flag of the
Holy See. The gold quadrants also pick up the colors of the shield
of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
From the heart of the cross flow two wavy bars that are blue and
red, recalling the bishop’s long association with Sacred Heart
Seminary in Detroit. Scripture records that when the soldier pierced
Christ’s side with the lance “immediately there flowed
forth water and blood (John 19:34).” Christ poured out for
us the living waters of salvation which were co-mingled with the
blood of our redemption. This signifies the sacramental life of
the Church. Every deacon, priest, and bishop is dedicated to the
service of God’s Holy People by the faithful celebration of
this sacramental life and the bishop particularly is responsible
for that sacramental life. Bishop Boyea’s personal shield
was designed at the time of his episcopal ordination by Deacon Paul
J. Sullivan of Rhode Island.
The Motto Scroll
For his motto, Bishop Boyea uses the Latin phrase, in manus tuas.
This phrase, taken from St. Luke’s Gospel (23:46), comes from
the final words of Jesus recorded by St. Luke, “Father, into
your hands I commend my spirit.” “Into your hands”
expresses the belief that all Christians need to repeatedly entrust
their lives in the hands of their loving Father.
The External Ornaments
The crest is completed with the external ornaments. A gold processional
cross is placed behind the shield and extends above and below it.
The pontifical hat, called a gallero, is joined to six tassels,
in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. These
are the insignia of the rank of bishop following the instruction
of the Holy See of March 31, 1969.
Diocese of Lansing Directory
The offices of the Diocese of Lansing
are located at 300 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, Mich. The phone number
for the diocese is 517.342.2440.
CURIA
Office of the Bishop: 517.342.2452
Moderator of the Curia: 517.342.2450
Chancellor: 517.342.2454
Safe Environment Coordinator: 517.342.2551
Archives: 517.485.9902
Legal Advisor: 517.342.2456
Ecumenical Officer: 810.743.3050
Office of Missions: 517.342.2541
Vicar for Religious: 517.342.2450
Tribunal: 517.484.8870
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Finance Officer: 517.342.2442
Accounting: 517.342.2445
Information Technology: 517.342.2538
Development: 517.342.2503
Cemeteries and Property Management: 517.342.2534
DEPARTMENT OF
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Department Chair: 517.342.2462
Life Justice: 517.342.2469
Natural Family Planning: 517.342.2587
Restorative Justice: 517.342.2495
Black Catholic Ministry: 517.342.2496
Hispanic Ministry: 517.342.2498
Catholic Campaign for Human
Development: 517.342.2470
Catholic Relief Services: 517.342.2470
Catholic Deaf/HH Ministry:
517.342.2532
Ministry with Persons
with disAbilities: 517.342.2497
Bishop’s Council on Alcohol and
Other Drugs: 517.782.4430 (Catholic Charities of Jackson)
BeFriender Ministry: 517.782.4430 (Catholic Charities of Jackson)
Separated and Divorced Ministry: 517.782.4430 (Catholic Charities
of Jackson)
Project Rachel: 517.782.4430 (Catholic Charities of Jackson)
Catholic Charities of Lenawee: 517.263.2191
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County: 734.971.9781
Outreach East, Davison: 810.653.7711
Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties: 810.232.9950
Catholic Outreach: 810.234.4693
Livingston County Catholic Social Services: 517.545.5944
Catholic Charities of Jackson: 517.782.2551
St. Vincent Catholic Charities: 517.323.4734
Cristo Rey Community Center: 517.372.4700
ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER
AND BETHANY HOUSE
866.669.8321
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
Department Chair: 517.342.2475
DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND CATECHESIS
Department Chair and Superintendent
of Catholic Schools: 517.342.2481
Family Life: 517.342.2471
Evangelization: 517.342.2486
Catechesis: 517.342.2479
Catholic Schools: 517.342.2483
Youth Ministry/Young Adult Ministry: 517.342.2485
Worship: 517.342.2473
OFFICE OF
PASTORAL PLANNING
Director: 517.342.2502
DEPARTMENT OF FORMATION
Department Chair: 517.342.2507
Director of Seminarians: 517.342.2504
Lay Ecclesial Ministry: 517.342.2512
Diaconate: 517.342.2510
Priestly Life and Ministry:
810.229.9863
Vocation Services: 517.342.2506
Emmaus House: 517.351.1543
Joseph Albers Trust Fund for Diocesan Vocations: 517.342.2507
PUBLISHING HOUSES
Faith Publishing Service: 517.342.2595
Liturgical Commission Publishings: 517.484.4449
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