Upcoming Events Includes Shroud of Turin Exhibit and Ash Wednesday Mass

WHAT: Catholic Women’s Fellowship- “A Woman's Faith: Practical Witness of the Art of Femininity”
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1 from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw
Women from around the diocese are invited to gather at the Center for Ministry for prayer, faith formation, discussion, and fellowship. The talk during this meeting will be given by Dawn Hausmann. She will discuss “A Woman's Faith: Practical Witness of the Art of Femininity.” For more information, visit: www.womensfellowship.org.
 
WHAT: Information Meeting about the Diocesan Lay Ministry Program
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to Noon
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw
Kellie Deming, coordinator of Lay Ministry for the Diocese of Saginaw, will hold an informational session for all those interested in learning more about the Diocesan Lay Ministry Program. The Lay Ministry Program offers deep spiritual, theological, human and pastoral formation for lay people so that they may be even more effective in carrying out the lay apostolate and evangelization. Lay ministry formation involves four years of learning, spiritual formation and pastoral practice before each candidate is commissioned by the bishop for parish-based ministry or missioned by him as a “Christian in the World”. To register, contact Pat Preston at ppreston@dioceseofsaginaw.org or call 989.797.6654. To learn more about the Lay Ministry Program call Kellie Deming at 989.797.6609.
 
WHAT: Feed the Fire Mass with Bishop Cistone
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
WHERE: St. John  Vianney  Church, 6400 McCarty Rd., Saginaw
Bishop Cistone celebrates “Feed the Fire” Masses to bring together youth from around the diocese. These Masses are planned for youth and their families and include upbeat praise and worship music. While these Masses focus on bringing young people together for Eucharist with our Bishop, families and people of all ages are very welcome to enjoy these evenings. Mass is followed by dinner, and then Bishop Cistone leads those attending in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
WHAT: Holy Hour with Bishop Cistone in Saginaw
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 8 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE: St. Joseph Church, 910 6th Ave., Saginaw
Since January 2012, the Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, has traveled to different churches throughout the diocese to lead Holy Hours before the Blessed Sacrament. The faithful are invited to join him in praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we strive to do God’s will in our local Church.
 
WHAT: Mary in the New Testament: Pre-Lenten Retreat with Father Bill Taylor
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 9 to Sunday, Feb. 11 
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw
All are invited to join Father Bill Taylor for a pre-Lenten retreat looking at the figure of Mary in the New Testament. This silent retreat will offer participants a beautiful opportunity to grow in their own discipleship by meditating on Jesus’ first and holiest disciple – his mother, Mary. Father Taylor is a senior priest of the Diocese of Saginaw and a long-time instructor in the diocesan Lay Ministry Program. Registration and social begin Friday at 6 p.m. with first session at 7:30 p.m.; concludes Sunday at 11 a.m.  Cost is $165 for a semi-private room; $180 for a private room (includes four meals and two receptions); $95 for commuters (includes lunch and dinner on Saturday). For more information, or to register, please call  989.797.6607.
 
WHAT: Ash Wednesday Mass with Bishop Cistone
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 14, the First day of Lent, at Noon
WHERE:  Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hovt Ave., Saginaw
The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will celebrate Mass during which he will bless the ashes and sprinkle them with holy water before the faithful come forward to receive the ashes on their foreheads. All are welcome to receive the ashes. During the Mass, all are welcome to come forward to receive the ashes as a sign of repentance and mortality.

WHAT: National Shroud of Turin Replica Exhibit
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17 to Sunday, Feb. 25
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw and also At St. Paul the Apostle Church, Ithaca from Tuesday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 4 (See Details below)

Just in time for the beginning of Lent…the Diocese of Saginaw is honored to host the Shroud of Turin Replica Exhibit, which is on loan from the Marytown Franciscan community in Illinois. After 36 years of exhaustive and medical, historical and scientific research, the Center for the Study
of the Passion of the Christ and the Holy Shroud has developed a moving and informative
exhibit. The centerpiece is a full length photographic image of the Shroud made by the Eastman Kodak Co. In addition, the mobile exhibit contains a large crucified corpus showing the wounds of Christ corresponding to the passion narrative in the Gospel accounts and the wounds shown on the Shroud. The exhibit contains 92 panels detailing the history and science of the Shroud.

The exhibit will be open to the public in Saginaw during these times:

Saturday, Feb. 17: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 18: Noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 19: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 20: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 21: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 22: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 23: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 25: Noon to 5 p.m.

Ithaca

The exhibit will be open to the public at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 121 N. Union St., Ithaca from Tuesday, Feb. 27 to Saturday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also open on Sunday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
 
WHAT: Exploration of the Shroud of Turin by Father José Maria Cabrera
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw
Father José Maria will give an overview of the history and meaning of the Shroud of Turin. Those attending his seminar will then have the first opportunity to view the Shroud of Turin Replica exhibit before the doors open to the general public at 10:30 a.m. Father José lived in Rome for three years while earning his Licentiate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He currently serves as the pastor of All Saints Parish in Bay City.
 
WHAT: Rite of Election with Bishop Cistone
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. 
WHERE: Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hoyt Ave., Saginaw
All are welcome to attend one of the two Rites of Election which take place each year during Lent. The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will lead each Rite. This ceremony is a combined ritual from the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults which incorporates "The Celebration of the Rite of Election of Catechumens" and "The Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates Who are Preparing for Confirmation and/or Eucharist or Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church."

WHAT: Marriage Preparation Workshop
WHEN: Saturday, March 3 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw
A Marriage Preparation Workshop offered by the Diocese of Saginaw is coming up soon! Among the topics discussed are: communication and conflict resolution, forgiveness, money matters, sex and sexuality, natural family planning and the Sacrament of Marriage. All presentations are led by married couples, professionals or trained individuals. Call Linda Milco, Office of Christian Service at  989.797.6660 to register or contact her via email at  lmilco@dioceseofsaginaw.org. The next Marriage Preparation Weekend will take place on Aug. 25, 2018.

  WHAT: Lenten Retreat with Internationally Renowned Retreat Leader and Author Father Jacques Philippe Exploring the Spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
WHEN: Friday, March 16 to Sunday, March 18 
WHERE: Diocesan Center For Ministry, 5802 Weiss St., Saginaw
Internationally renowned spiritual author and retreat leader Father Jacques Philippe will lead a three-day Lenten retreat exploring the spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. With over one million copies sold in 24 languages, Jacques Philippe’s writings on themes such as prayer, interior freedom, and peace of heart have become classics of modern Catholic spirituality.  Learn more about Father Philippe here.  Note: this retreat is expected to fill up quickly, so please register early to reserve your space. Registration and social begin Friday at 6 p.m. with first session at 7:30 p.m.; concludes Sunday at 11 a.m. Cost is $170 for a semi-private room; $185 for a private room (includes four meals and two receptions); $95 for commuters (includes lunch and dinner on Saturday). For more information, or to register, please call  989.797.6607

WHAT: Men's Mini Conference with Author and Musician Sean Forrest
WHEN: Saturday, March 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (St. Patrick's Day)  
WHERE: St. Hyacinth Church, 1515 Cass Ave., Bay City
All men are invited to a mini conference presented by the Catholic Men's Fellowship of the Diocese of Saginaw, featuring Sean Forrest, an international speaker, performing artist, author, radio host, and retreat leader who speaks to over 30,000 youth and families annually. Sean has been a guest on multiple programs on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and has been featured in nationally recognized magazines and newspapers. Admission for the event is $30 and includes a Beer (or soda) & Brat lunch included. Questions may be directed to  thecatholicmensaginaw@gmail.com. Admission is free for priests and religious.