DETROIT, Michigan, MAY 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As the Church in Detroit celebrated its 175th anniversary, its archbishop recalled how missionaries brought the faith to the area and how its faithful must be missionaries for the coming generations.
Cardinal Adam Maida reflected on the foundation and development of the local Church in Detroit during his homily Sunday at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.
"Every anniversary affords us an opportunity to pause and remember, to consider with joy and gratitude, the blessings we have received," he said. "With the serenity of time, we can put into perspective the events, people, and experiences that have made us who we are today. Even now, 175 years later, many of the things that have happened, and the way they have happened, have no obvious human logic or clear explanation; ultimately, our personal and communal history is always something of a mystery."
Cardinal Maida affirmed that God is always at work, "even through tragedies and sufferings and the apparent 'accidents' of history."
"For example," he said, "Detroit might well have been established as a diocese in 1827 instead of 1833, and Gabriel Richard might well have been our first bishop instead of Frederic Résé. But God had other plans."
The cardinal noted some of the salient events in the Church's 175-year history, including the great fire of 1801, the beginning of the construction of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary during the Great Depression, the establishment of the provincial seminary after World War II, and the synod in 1969 to incorporate the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
The unsung
"Certainly, over the years, some names of lay leaders stand out with special prominence," he said, mentioning a few of them. But, the cardinal added, "Perhaps the most significant people of our faith heritage are names known only to God, unsung heroes of the laity, who raised their families, shared the faith with their children, and put their faith into concrete action through works of justice and peace in the marketplace, offices, factories, or the world of the professions."
Cardinal Maida noted some of the causes for rejoicing on the anniversary celebration.
"Among other things today, we can rightly rejoice and celebrate the way our strong presence and united voice have affirmed the dignity of all persons --the rights of the unborn, workers, and immigrants, as well as the psychologically and mentally challenged," he said. "Our belief in the mysteries of faith does not pull us away from social concerns but, rather, makes us all the more sensitive to all human needs, gifts and possibilities.
"As the gifts and needs of the metro area Church have evolved over the decades, the Church has always been ready with a response of hope and a new vision for society."
Cardinal Maida referred to the teaching of Benedict XVI to say that the faithful should be grateful for the gifts of God.
"Throughout his long career as a scholar, and now as our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has consistently emphasized that a critical starting point for all Christian theology is recognizing that, as human beings, we are basically receivers," the cardinal said. "Everything that we are and everything that we have is a gift of God … and God would never give us anything or allow anything unless there was in it the potential for us to share more deeply in his goodness."
Mystery and gift
He continued, "One of the challenges of our lives -- individually and communally -- is learning to appreciate the extraordinary gifts of God which surround us on all sides. Every gift is indeed a mystery, something that needs to be unpacked or opened."
Finally, the cardinal looked toward the future: "I must admit I feel a bit like Moses on Mount Nebo looking toward the Promised Land, knowing that someone else would be leading God's people on the next stage of their journey. Having served as your archbishop for these 18 years, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the life of the Church on every level.
"As we learn from the Holy Trinity, our attention must always be directed outward; if God is 'missionary' in his love and energy, as his Church, we must do the same.
"Missionaries brought us the faith and we must be missionaries to the next generation and the generations to come as our children and grandchildren call forth from us ever-new responses of faith, hope and love."
ZE08052009 - 2008-05-20
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-22641?l=english
Church in Detroit Marks 175th Birthday
Cardinal Calls Faithful to Gratitude for God's Gifts
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