Latest news with #AllenVigneron
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Detroit Christians take part in Ash Wednesday, with Lent 'a time of reflection, possibility'
The Brief Ash Wednesday services were held in Metro Detroit as the period of Lent officially began. Archbishop Allen Vigneron oversaw his last Ash Wednesday mass today with his retirement soon taking place. Rev. Chris Yaw of St. David's Episcopal Church said Lent is a time of hope, to start over and do better. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Today is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, and is a day of reflection for many Christians around the world. In Metro Detroit, many Christians celebrated at St. Aloysius Parish where the retiring Archbishop Allen Vigneron gave his final Ash Wednesday mass. "Ash Wednesday is something special to me so I can start all over," said Dee Dee Davis, parishioner at St. David's Episcopal Church. Parishioners took part in Ash Wednesday with getting drive-thru ashes at St. David's Episcopal Church. "Lent as you know is our annual time of renewal, reflection and possibility - that we can start over and do better," said Rev. Chris Yaw of St. David's. On Wednesday in the Detroit Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Allen Vigneron said goodbye as he prepares to retire. The archbishop delivered his final Ash Wednesday mass at St. Aloysius Parish in Detroit. "It's a great blessing. I thought about all the other Ash Wednesdays from the beginning of my time here," he said. Vigneron has been archbishop for nearly two decades and at the age of 76, he has decided to serve the faithful in another capacity. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to study more and be more engaged in teaching the faith," Vigneron said. And when it comes to faith, the archbishop wanted to share a message. "We need to be on this journey of hope together," he said. "There seems to be a sense of hopelessness abroad. The Pope has picked up on that, and he invites all of us to be apostles of hope." As Pope Francis remains hospitalized dealing with health complications the archbishop remains hopeful. "We have to sustain him with our prayers," he said. "People of good will are very much praying for him." Archbishop Vigneron's final mass on March 9th will bring out the faithful as he prays for his successor Bishop Edward Weisenburger to lead Catholics forward in faith. "I think he's going to find the people of God that are alive with the faith and ready to follow his lead in this new chapter in our life," Vigneron said. The Source Information for this story came from interviews with Rev. Chris Yaw, St. David's Episcopal Church, a parishioner at St. David's and Archbishop Allen Vigneron of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
CBS News
30-01-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan Catholic bishops urge support for immigrant families
(CBS DETROIT) — The Roman Catholic bishops who serve the dioceses in Michigan have issued a joint letter "to offer our continued pastoral and prayerful support for migrant individuals and families" who now are living in the state. The letter, published this week by the Michigan Catholic Conference, was presented on behalf of the leaders of the Archdiocese of Detroit including the archbishop, the Most Rev. Allen Vigneron; and the bishops for the dioceses in Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette and Saginaw. The conference serves as the official voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan on matters of public policy, and has issued advocacy statements on a variety of issues. "We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters," the bishops' letter said. "As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst." The bishops' letter urges elected officials "to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children." They specifically call on the Michigan Congressional delegation to "work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs." The letter includes wishes of peace, faith and hope for migrant individuals, and a petition to Our Lady of Guadalupe on behalf of all those who seek "heavenly intercession." Since President Trump took office, efforts to deport illegal immigrants have ramped up. On Wednesday, Metro Detroit politicians and advocates rallied together at Patton Park in Detroit to discuss the rights of local immigrants.
