A call to the new evangelization manifests in solidarity for local and global Church

As 2012 draws to a close, Catholics everywhere can look back on a year filled with challenges, blessings and hope. Events on the local and global scale helped change our perspective and brought Catholics closer to one another. The Year of Faith, which continues into 2013, calls us to emphasize the truths of our Catholic faith in a new way, and battles over religious liberty here and abroad have taught us an important lesson about vigilance. In any case, 2012 was a year marked by a growing awareness of the need for solidarity and witness to our most deeply held beliefs. Here’s a look back on some of the most significant events of the year:

‘Ad limina’ visits

Once every half-decade, our locals bishops make an “ad limina” visit to Rome and the Holy Father to give a report on the happenings in our archdiocese and receive his blessing. Archbishop Allen Vigneron and our four auxiliary bishops made their visit in February, blogging about their experience and presenting a “spiritual bouquet” to Pope Benedict XVI filled with all of our local prayers for his intentions.

Religious freedom

Religious freedom marked 2012 in a big way for the U.S. Church. News of the controversial HHS mandate for birth control, sterilization and abortion services broke in early February, prompting dozens of federal lawsuits by religious institutions and businesses — including the Michigan Catholic Conference and a local employer, Weingartz Supply Co. — over the new law. The mandate also prompted the first-ever “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign in July, as well as three nationwide “Stand Up For Religious Freedom” rallies.

Together in Faith

In February, Archbishop Vigneron announced the second phase of an archdiocesan-wide parish restructuring plan that called for closer collaboration among virtually all parishes. At the same time, he released his pastoral letter, “Forward in Hope to Share Christ,” to address his goals for the future. The archbishop stressed that the changes — which included painful mergers, clusters or closures for some parishes — were necessary to prepare the local Church for a coming focus on the new evangelization.

Changing Lives Together

At year’s end, the archdiocesan campaign to raise money for Catholic parishes, education, seminarians and inner-city ministries had garnered more than $70 million in pledges towards its $135 million goal, now involving every parish in the archdiocese. Many parishes have already reached their targets and are seeing the benefits of the extra money raised going directly to helping build their own ministries and special projects.

LCWR assessment

A Vatican-initiated review of the largest body of U.S. nuns sparked nationwide attention from the secular media as the bishops began a doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Concerns regarding what some bishops called the group’s silence or opposition to Church teaching on some social issues prompted ongoing talks between the bishops and sisters over measures of reform that — despite the media attention — have been cordial and cooperative.

Vatican II at 50

The 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council was a cause for celebration and reflection worldwide and at home. The Archdiocese of Detroit held a conference in September devoted to unpacking the council’s meaning for today, and the pope urged a greater reflection on its teachings from the view of all of Catholic history — what he calls the “hermeneutic of unity.”

Year of Faith

In conjunction with Vatican II’s golden jubilee, Pope Benedict XVI also opened the Year of Faith, which continues into 2013, to focus on its teachings and the broader goals of the new evangelization. To that effect, the pope also hosted the world Synod of Bishops to sharpen the Church’s focus toward the ends of reaching out to lapsed and former Catholics.

2012 election

Another election year saw the U.S. bishops heighten their focus on Catholic civic responsibility, re-releasing their 2008 document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” The highly charged election focused especially on threats to life, marriage and religious liberty, as well as immigration and other concerns.

Local clergy’s new roles

The year 2012 also saw several priests and bishops with local ties take on new roles here and elsewhere. St. Andrew Parish’s pastor, then-Msgr. Jeffrey Monforton, became the bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, and Detroit native Archbishop Joseph Tobin was named by the Holy Father to head the Indianapolis archdiocese. Locally, Msgr. Todd Lajiness became rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Msgr. Thomas Machalski was installed as chancellor of Orchard Lake Schools, and Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda was named by Archbishop Vigneron to head the AOD’s Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools. Lastly, the archbishop ordained four new priests for the archdiocese: Frs. Salvatore Palazzolo, Paul Snyder, Steve Mateja and Robert Slaton.