Detroit — Pope Francis wants the Church to “smell like the sheep.”

From inviting the homeless to dine with him to impromptu trips to greet refugees fleeing violence, the pope has called on the Church to reach out to the “fringes” of society.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron pastoral letter Unleash the Gospel,  calls for the archdiocese to better accompany members of the community who have felt neglected or left behind, particularly the African-American and Hispanic communities, those with same-sex attraction, victims of abuse and the economically challenged.

The call to “break down barriers” is a combination of the Church acknowledging prior faults and resolving to better minister to the needs of all members of the archdiocese.

Msgr. G. Michael Bugarin, pastor at St. Joan of Arc Parish in St. Clair Shores, leads the archdiocese’s Courage Ministry for Catholics with same-sex attraction.

The group discusses the challenges in leading a chaste lifestyle and how to handle situations when those they encounter aren’t understanding or caring.

“Part of the reason why people don’t want to embrace Courage Ministry, I think, is there are several misconceptions that it is some sort of reparative ministry that leads to forced change,” Msgr. Bugarin said. “It’s not about forcing change; it’s about helping them understand the teachings of the Church and how to live, like everyone else, a chaste lifestyle rooted in God’s love for them.”
Msgr. Bugarin said Courage hasn’t formally unpacked Unleash the Gospel as a group, but he acknowledged the document is a call for all members to realize Jesus’ message is for everybody.

“We need to get people to understand Jesus’ love for them, which goes across the board,” Msgr. Bugarin said. “The question is, how do we get everyone to gain a better relationship with everyone? To make Unleash the Gospel a lived reality, not just something talked about?”

The call to a personal conversion, reaching people on a one-on-one level, is a common conclusion many have when it comes to breaking down cultural barriers.

Fr. Ray Stadmeyer, OFM Cap., is the pastor of St. Charles Borromeo and Nativity parishes in Detroit, two parishes with a significant African-American presence in the City of Detroit.

Being the pastor of two inner-city parishes has led to many interactions with the poor, offering him insights into how the Archdiocese of Detroit can better minister to people who often don’t have a seat at the table during archdiocesan meetings and symposiums.

“It’s about relationships first; we have to see the humanity in everybody,” Fr. Stadmeyer said. “We (the Catholic Church) do well with charity, especially during Christmas; we do all sorts of collections for people. But what we are missing are the relationships.”

Fr. Stadmeyer said there are many barriers in the local Church, between black and white Catholics, parishioners who live in the city of Detroit and those who live in the suburbs, and between the homeless and those who come from stable nuclear families.

“We need to learn there is much more than us doing a favor for the underprivileged, that we have something to learn from them,” Fr. Stadmeyer said. “The poor have some kind of secret, some graces we don’t have, a gift we don’t have. When you look at the poor in a different light, it becomes reciprocal.”

Fr. Stadmeyer said taking the time to learn the story of the person who wanders into church because the parish is offering a free meal after Mass is a good first step.

“A check doesn’t bring any conversion into our heart; it doesn’t change us, it doesn’t challenge us,” Fr. Stadmeyer said. “The only thing that changes us is building a relationship with someone else, which allows us to see God. At Nativity, we have a Christmas program where we invite 100 families to come and pick out the gifts they want to give their kids. Having them picking out the presents is a different experience, it invites a conversation, a chance to really see Christ in others, and it brings out Christ in us.”



The need to accompany one another was touched upon during the archdiocesan Encuentro at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on Dec. 9.

Antonio Guzman, a part-time coordinator for the Office of Hispanic Ministries in the Archdiocese of Detroit (a Dec. 15 story misidentified him as the associate director), spoke in a keynote address to the conference about the need for accompaniment in ministry.

“Jesus became a companion with the two disciples on the road; he shared with them, stayed with them and ate with them,” Guzman said.

“Without you, I wouldn’t be in the position I am,” Guzman told the leaders in Hispanic ministry across the archdiocese. “I feel hope for the Catholic Church when the youth have so much to give. Not just a chance to communicate what the youth can offer the Church, but what the Church can offer the youth.” Guzman said Jesus Christ has a mission for all members of the Church, and the Church needs to be ready to hear from all groups within it.

“To grow in our faith as Christians, the Church need to invite one another to share their stories,” Guzman said. “We (the youth) are the future leaders of the Church. The Church needs to be here for us, to support others like it has supported me. We need to go out, enjoy one another, discern and be serious in the work of accompanying one another on the Christian journey.”