If you are looking for some good, holy men, we have them here at St. Thomas a'Becket in Canton. Thank you Fr. Pat Casey, Fr. James Arwady and Fr. William Murphy! Thank you for being our shepherds!
Kathy Belisle
Parishioner
Fr. Mike Gawlowski of St. Clement/St. Teresa of Avila parishes has been the priest our family has been looking to find for many years. He has a special way of teaching the Word and brings the youth closer to God. We have become stronger Catholics because of him. Father Mike has an innate ability to relate to the parishioners while educating us with scholarly meanings of the readings with a sincerity no other priest ever has. He has created a feeling of belonging and our children really walk away with a peaceful feeling when they leave church for the day. And to me as a parent, that’s a big deal. You can’t always get thru to teenagers, but Father Mike did.
Many people dropped everything to follow Jesus because they believed in him, and we believe in Father Mike.
A Parishioner of St. Clement/St. Theresa
After a long career teaching college at Mount St. Mary's University in Maryland, Fr. Daniel Nusbaum, age 71, thought that he was ready to retire. Instead of resting in retirement, though, Fr. Dan was asked to serve as the new pastor of Temperance's Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, a thriving Catholic Community in a suburban setting. Fr. Dan answered the call in the same way he does everything, with enthusiasm. OLMC had recently experienced some hard, painful days and was in need of healing. The Holy Spirit brought that healing through Fr. Dan. Instead of resting, he threw himself into the challenge of leading the parish to new spiritual ventures, including a summer tent revival, outdoor Mass in the church cemetery for Memorial Day, Sunday morning Sunday school Bible studies, a book club, and many other activities too numerous to mention. He instituted many new worship events while carrying out the administrative duties necessary to run a parish of this size. He moved the parish into hosting a weekly GodWorks! program to feed the area's needy people. Fr. Dan also answered pastoral needs in time of several extraordinary community tragedies: the funeral of a Toledo policeman, funerals for several local women who died in a boating accident in New York, and a that of a parishioner who was killed in an iron-working accident. While he was at the parish, Fr. Dan gave our parish a new vibrant Catholic community life, restored trust, and spread joy through his hearty "AMEN!" and "ALLELUIA" said at the end of each of his homilies.
But Fr. Dan's greatest gift to those at Mount Carmel was his ability to serve his parishioners with a personal touch. Fr. Dan is a master at being present one-on-one with the people who come to him. He makes it seem as if each person he is with is the only important person, and that person's need gets his full attention, though in reality Fr. Dan had to juggle many duties and responsibilities every day. Fr. Dan is a dynamic speaker, great listener, advisor, and friend. Fr. Dan lifted us up as a parish, stood us back on our feet, and pointed us in the right direction during the time he was at OLMC. Now 77, Fr. Dan serves as a professor and spiritual advisor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Though he had a recent battle with cancer, Fr. Dan hurried back to his faculty duties as soon as possible. He is not one given to a rest. His "retirement" does not seem to stop him from continuing his lifetime mission of leading others to follow their call to God.
I am so grateful to God for allowing me to get to know Fr. Dan Nusbaum and I am proud to have been a parishioner at OLMC during Father Dan's time there. I know many others have also been touched by this vibrant, hard-working man of God. Thank you, God, for sending us Fr. Dan Nusbaum!
Bonnie Berry
As a sacristan, I have met and served with many priests over the years and in my line of work with the church here in the Archdiocese of Detroit. While many of them have heard my confessions and given advice, there is one who is most outstanding and awesome.
A few years ago, my brother in law was killed in a car accident. The family was stunned at this sudden tragedy which left my sister and her young daughter devastated. I had to travel to Mt. Pleasant to make all the funeral arrangements for my sister. At the time I was working in a parish in Clinton Township and called the pastor to let him know what happened and that I would be gone for a few days.
On the day of the funeral most of the town showed up. The church was full and we were standing at the entrance greeting people as they came in. When I turned to greet the next person, there standing there was my pastor Fr. Gary Smetanka. He had taken time out of his busy schedule to come and concelebrate my brother-n-law's funeral Mass. This selfless act of kindness and sympathy deeply touched all of us. His kind words of comfort and support had given us all strength and courage to look forward to the challenges that still faced us. Two of my sisters and a brother came back to the church as a direct result of Fr. Gary's act of care and kindness. He is a compassionate, kind, spiritual and thought provoking man. A couple of years later, when my mother was in hospice dying from the effects of ahlzymers disease, Fr. Gary was there when I had to make agonizing decisions at the end stages of her life. There were many other challenges and decisions to make and when I sought advice he was there to give it. He is a faith filled Shepherd who is servant, to his people, giving his all to leading them forward toward the kingdom of God. Much gratitude and thanks to you Fr. Gary for your efforts of guidance, support and true act of kindness. May our Lord continue to bless you in your priestly ministry.
Marie Miller
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish
Wow! Newly ordained Fr. Stephen Pullis is a wonderful priest. He had big shoes to fill when our beloved associate was reassigned, but he has made a very smooth transition and we have come to love him already. Not only does he fit in at St. Joseph very well, but he is also a very gifted and capable priest!
Fr. Steve takes an interest in all those he meets, always striving to show Christ's love in how he ministers to others. He has already become involved in many areas of our parish ministries and is making a huge impact.
God has a special plan for you Fr. Steve, and we are blessed to be part or your journey!
Colleen & Tim
St. Joseph, Lake Orion
Fr. C. Michael Verschaeve may be the pastor of a parish with app. 10,000 members, but he seems more like a small parish, country priest. Besides seeing him fulfill his regular priestly duties . . .celebrate Mass, hear confessions, visit the sick, attend many, many parish meetings, meet with engaged couples and grieving families, meeting with parents of children receiving a sacrament, and many other duties I'm sure we're not aware of . . . I've also seen him chat with those he passes on his way out from Mass, though it's taking the little time he has to relax and have a bite to eat before he gets to his next appointment, I've seen him sweep the aisle way in church, enthusiastically join in our parish picnic entertainment, throw salt out on the church steps, and it is amazing how many people he knows by name! He is also involved with the Ecumenical Ministers association, helping to bring unity to our community.
Fr. Mike meets people where they're at, doesn't judge, listens and compassionately counsels. He has opened himself up to all those in need, in our parish, and even those who are not, including non-Catholics. He is truly an instrument of God's love and peace for others.
Personally, for our family he has been a tremendous source of comfort and strength during the stressful and the sad times over the years. We have also enjoyed him sharing in our good times, the celebrations.
You are the best Fr. Mike, we love you!
Colleen & Tim
St. Joseph Parish, Lake Orion
A blessing in my life. Yes!
I look forward to Mass each week as the words Fr. Tom Belczak uses to weave his message to his faith community come from his heart through God.
What a gift he shares with us. No written script in hand. He comes down from the alter and speaks to us with his life stories.
Looking at us through loving eyes and heart he is able to give us hope. How does all this happen? His humor. We smile, we laugh with him. He is human and so are we. He is serious in his faith as are we but he shows us, just as God did, joy with God.
Our faith community grows at a steady rate. When you embrace their needs they will come.
Fr. Tom, God bless you.
Chris Radzilowski
St. Kenneth Parish
It is a joy to be part of St. Matthew Church with Fr. Duane Novelly as our priest and pastor!
Our parish, a racially-mixed congregation, is united by the Holy Spirit and Fr. Novelly, into a vibrant community of faith-filled servants of the Catholic Church. Our Sunday, Wedding and Funeral Masses are an inspiration to all because of his extraordinary ability to convey his sincere devotionto the sacramental life of the parish. He has great personal contact with all the parishioners, recognizing them by name.
Fr. Duane' sermons are delivered extemporaneously with great impact! These sermons communicate his unique capacity for fraternal empathy.
Fr. Duane Novelly is our jewel! Everyone thinks of him as their friend. -- Indeed he is!
Vaughn Adams
Parishioner
I would just like to say a few words about a man who is such a spiritual, spirit-filled priest. He serves a small parish and is also a chaplain for the United States Army Reserve. Fr. Raymond Bucon has taken on the task of ministering to the people in his own parish of St. Sabina and the greater parish of the U.S. Army Reserve unit that he is assigned to. Fr. Bucon must divide his time between all of the normal tasks that a parish priest must do and he also must serve those young men and women he is called to be with as they fight for the freedom of each and every one of us. Father Bucon has been called to "war" in Iraq and Afghanistan three times as well as a tour to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has to leave sthe parish to counsel families of soldiers who have committed suicide and the soldiers who are threatening to do so and be back in time to say Mass each morning. I have worked for Father Bucon for over 7 years and have known him and called him friend for over 15 years and I really have to say that he is an example of what being called to the Priesthood really means. He is a great priest, a wonderful person and someone to be admired and looked up to. The people of St. Sabina and of his military unit should be very happy to have him to minister to them.
Cathy Ghrist, Ma. PM
D.R.E/CYM/Pastoral Minsiter
St. Sabina Parish
Dearborn Heights
