W MI Catholics remember Pope Francis for ‘care of creation'
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — People in West Michigan are remembering Pope Francis and the legacy he leaves behind on Monday. He was 88.
Mass attendees at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel on Aquinas College's campus were reflecting on the life and legacy of Pope Francis.
What was Pope Francis' Easter message?
'What a great blessing for him to be willing, to be able to be with his people on Easter to give an Easter blessing and then to pass away on the Monday after. To be taken to his heavenly home,' Helen Milanowski, a Catholic attending mass at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel on Monday, said.
While she says she didn't agree with every decision the pope made, she appreciated his service to Christ.
'I know he was always very concerned about marginalized people, poor people, and certainly I admire him for bringing that to our attention,' she said.
West Michigan reacts to death of Pope Francis
The Diocese of Grand Rapids says Pope Francis connected with people in West Michigan despite the physical distance to Vatican City.
'His emphasis on ministry to the margins, his emphasis on care for the immigrant, the poor, the marginalized. His focus on care of creation,' Rev. Colin Mulhall, vicar general of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, said.
His appeal went beyond Catholics and was respected by religious and world leaders.
'Pope Francis in particular, but sort of the papacy in general, is not just for Catholics. I think Pope Francis, in a particular way, sort of exemplifies that just the way in which he appeals not just to Catholics but to other Christians of other denominations and even non-Christian people of goodwill. People of good faith,' Mulhall said.
Vatican releases cause of death for Pope Francis
While many saw the pope on television, parishioners at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Byron Center went on a trip to Italy in October of 2024 and saw the pope with their own eyes.
'He went by the first time, and he just kind of gave a smile and a blessing. Thought it was over and someone near me said, 'No, he's coming back again,'' Daniel Allan, parishioner and staff member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church, said.
Pope Francis blessed a Zucchetto — a type of hat worn by clergy. It now sits next to a picture of the pope in the church, along with a candle lit in his honor.
'They stopped the car, and he smiled, and his aide (put) the Zucchetto on his hat, on his head, smiled and gave it right back. It was just really beautiful,' Allan said.
Parishioners say they will continue to pray for the church during this period of mourning.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Operation Gratitude to assemble care packages for SC veterans and first responders
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A nationwide nonprofit organization is working with the Charleston community to assemble thousands of care packages for veterans and first responders across the state. Operation Gratitude works to lift spirits and say 'thank you' to military and first responder communities and their service by creating opportunities for all Americans to express their gratitude through volunteering. The group will host an inaugural 'Community Cares' event at Johnson Hagood Stadium, where 5,000 care packages will be assembled and later delivered to veterans and first responders to provide them with comfort, encouragement, and offer a tangible connection between local communities and those who serve. 'This is what our mission is all about. Empowering Americans to take action and show their gratitude,' said Meg Barron, Executive Director of Operation Gratitude. 'We heard loud and clear from our supporters that they wanted opportunities to participate in local assembly events like those we host in Los Angeles and San Antonio. Through Community Cares, we're making that vision a reality, one community at a time. We are honored to join with the Charleston community to say thank you to South Carolina's Veterans and First Responders.' Charleston volunteers will also have an opportunity to write letters of appreciation to accompany each care package. The assembly is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Johnson Hagood Stadium (68 Hagood Ave.) Click here to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Group to place 1,000 American flags in Daniel Island field
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – The Daniel Island Exchange Club will pay special tribute to those who served through its 10th annual 'Field of Honor' event this weekend. The club and volunteers on Saturday will transform a lawn into a sea of red, white, and blue as they place 1,000 American flags along River Landing Drive. Organizers say the flags are sponsored to pay tribute to heroes who have earned our gratitude. The flags will remain on display through July 6. 'Those who have experienced a Field of Honor display know to expect a touching scene of flags flying to celebrate our heroes. Those who are first time visitors will find that the display must be experienced to be fully appreciated,' said event organizers. It is free to visit the Field of Honor display, and people are encouraged to bring their family and friends to pay tribute. You can dedicate a flag or learn more about the event by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nun's family ask visitors to be respectful of grave
The sister of a nun, who has taken the first step towards sainthood, has appealed for people to be respectful when visiting her gravestone and her family home. Sister Clare Crockett, 33, died after the school she was teaching music at in Playa Prieta, Ecuador, collapsed during a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April 2016. In November, Sr Clare was declared a Servant of God by the Catholic Church - the first step towards being canonised. Shauna Gill said: "There are days you come to that grave and you would have to queue and we love that people come to the grave, but they are disrupting other graves around it." The council, which owns the City Cemetery in Londonderry, is to consider installing paths and railings around the grave of Sr Clare to accommodate an influx of visitors to the site. "There are just so many people that come from everywhere, they are not just from Derry, they travel from afar," Shauna Gill told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today. "I totally understand other families' disappointment when they see other people are standing on graves. "They are touching Clare's gravestone and posing for photos with the headstone, so some people are just not thinking about their surroundings. "A lot of people are respectful, but there are some graves that are being damaged around it." Ms Gill said the narrow path makes it difficult for people to navigate the grave and believes removing hedging at the back of the grave and installing railings could help with access. "This could take all that congestion away from the front of the grave," she said. Ms Gill said she understands why people come to pray to Sr Clare, but they must understand their parents are also buried there. She said it can be hard for her family to visit the grave for a quiet moment of reflection knowing "you might not get near the grave". Sr Clare Theresa Crockett, from Brandywell in Derry, was previously an actor but turned down the chance to present on children's TV channel Nickelodeon to become a nun. Friends were said to be in disbelief after she announced her decision while holding a "beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other". She then took a vow with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother order. Her motto in life was "all or nothing" and has previously been associated with fertility miracles. Sr Clare and another Irish nun injured in the quake, Sr Thérèse Ryan from County Limerick, had been teaching guitar and singing with five young women postulants - who were entering the religious order - when the earthquake struck. It is believed they became trapped on a stairwell as they ran out of the building. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed at least 480 people, injured more than 4,000 and left 231 missing. How does someone become a saint? Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has said every grave is sacred and every family should have the right to pay their respects. He said the grave was "a major attraction" at the cemetery and a number of signposts had been erected to guide visitors to it. "Many people who have even come to visit me in Derry and have asked specifically to visit the grave," he said. "I just hope something can be done for all the family involved." He said long-term plans are being considered to manage the sheer volume of people arriving into the cemetery and sites linked to Sr Clare. Shauna Gill said they are also dealing with people arriving at Sr Clare's old house, which is currently occupied by a family member. "They can show up at any time of the day and can knock at the door," she said. "We have had people come and touch the walls or stand outside the house. "They have even asked for clothes or anything that Clare had, they just want a bit of Clare. "This is all new for everybody, so we are all trying to come to terms with it both as a town and as a family and we are just trying to find out what we can do about it." Ms Gill said it was difficult to navigate the many complexities associated with being the sister of a nun who is in the process of becoming a saint. Derry nun's family 'proud' as sainthood journey begins Funeral for nun killed in earthquake Sister Clare takes first step towards sainthood
