Bishop Carl F. Mengeling
the son of German immigrants
becomes the bishop of Lansing
Carl
F. Mengeling was born Oct. 22, 1930, in Hammond, Ind., the son of Carl
H. and Augusta Huke Mengeling, who were both German immigrants. He was
the second of four children. At the age of 9, Bishop Mengeling was
baptized a Catholic. Up to that time, he had been raised in the
Lutheran tradition. He attended St. Mary Elementary School in Griffith,
Ind.; graduated from Griffith High School in 1948; and attended St.
Meinrad College and Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind., which was staffed by
the Benedictines.
He was ordained a priest by Bishop
Andrew G. Grutka on May 25, 1957, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels
in Gary, Ind. This was the first ordination class of the newly formed
Diocese of Gary. He served as the associate pastor of St. Mark Parish,
Gary from 1957-1961, then the largest parish in the diocese. He was
then sent to Rome for advanced studies. Father Mengeling received a
license in sacred theology at the Angelicum University and a doctorate
in sacred theology at Alfonsianum Academy. He was in Rome for the
opening of the Second Vatican Council and served as a page during some
council sessions.
Upon his return to the United
States in 1964, Bishop Mengeling was assigned to teach at Bishop Noll
High School in Hammond, St. Joseph Calumet College in East Chicago,
Ind., and St. Procopius Seminary in Lisle, Ill.
He
returned to full-time parish minsitry, serving as pastor of All Saints
Parish in Hammond from 1968-1970, Holy Name Parish in Cedar Lake from
1970-1971, Nativity of Our Savior in Portage from 1971-1985, and St.
Thomas More Parish in Munster from 1985-1995. He was named monsignor in
June 1984. His involvement in the Diocese of Gary included chairing the
diocesan worship commission and the vocations committee. He founded the
diocesan institute of religion and chaired it for 14 years. He also
served on the presbyteral council, the ecumenical commission and the
permanent diaconate formation team.
On Nov. 7, 1995,
Msgr. Carl Mengeling was appointed to succeed Kenneth J. Povish as
bishop of Lansing. He was the first priest of the Diocese of Gary to be
elevated to the episcopacy. He was ordained a bishop on Jan. 25, 1996
at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing by Cardinal Adam Maida. The
co-consecrators were Kenneth J. Povish, retired bishop of Lansing, and
Dale J. Melczek, coadjutor bishop of Gary.
Bishop
Mengeling chose the words of St. John the Baptist as his episcopal
motto: “He must increase!” (John 3:30) During his years as bishop of
Lansing, he has sought to increase his flock’s awareness of Jesus
Christ. A repeated theme of his preaching is that we must be “on fire”
with love for God and our neighbor.
During his
first years in Lansing, Bishop Mengleing focused on the implementation
of Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente,
to prepare the entire diocese for the third millennium of Christianity.
A Jubilee 2000 Commission was established to coordinate four years of
activities. Bishop Mengeling presided at regional Celebrations of God’s
Forgiveness in 1999 and was part of the preaching team for the regional
missions in 2000. He led pilgrimages to the Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception in Washington, D.C., and to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico
City.
An outgrowth of the millennium preparations
was the creation of the Office of Pastoral Planning in October 1999.
The diocesan strategic planning process, VOICES, was conducted in 2000
and 2001, and the resulting goals were announced at the Common
Conference in November 2001. A pastoral plan was promulgated at the
Chrism Mass in March 2002. The reorganization of diocesan central
services also resulted from this process.
FAITH, the
magazine of the diocese, and winner of multiple national awards, was
established in January 2000. FAITH was designed as an evangelical tool
to help people deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and to build his
body, the church. As a Jubilee 2000 gift from the diocese, each
Catholic household in the diocese received a one-year subscription.
More than 80,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Lansing continue to
receive the magazine and its circulation has spread to sister
publications in eight other dioceses, with two more starting in the
fall, as well as several national magazines for Catholic institutions.
Bishop Mengeling has been a regular contributor to FAITH.
Convinced
of the importance of ministry to youth, Bishop Mengeling met in 1999
with the Knights of Columbus leadership in the diocese and shared his
vision for a special center for youth on the campus of St. Francis
Retreat Center in DeWitt. Bishop Mengeling presided at the blessing of
Bethany House on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2001,
the diocesan feast day.
Bishop Mengeling has had to
face some difficult times as bishop. In 2000, a revised sexual abuse
policy was put in place by the diocese well ahead of the national
sexual abuse scandal of 2002. In response to this tragedy, in 2003, the
bishop instituted the Virtus program as part of an effort to create a
safe environment for the protection of our children and young people.
Bishop Mengeling also has been part of the healing retreats offered at
St. Francis Retreat Center for victims of sexual abuse.
Vocations
always have been a priority for Bishop Mengeling. He encouraged the
development of the Catholic Identity and Mission Campaign in 2005. He
has commissioned 96 lay ecclesial ministers and ordained 32 priests.
During his tenure in Lansing, 43 permanent deacons were ordained.
Bishop Mengeling has presided at the first final profession ceremonies
for communities of women religious of the Servants of God’s Love and
Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Each year, the bishop has met
with the prioress of the Adrian Dominicans and her council. At the
national level, he served for a number of years in the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees on the permanent diaconate
and priestly formation and the subcommittee on campus ministry.
As
an educator and a pastor, Bishop Mengeling always has been a strong
supporter of Catholic schools. When he was pastor of Nativity of Our
Savior Parish in Portage, Ind., he had the school building constructed
prior to building the church. Bishop Mengeling brought this enthusiasm
for Catholic schools to Lansing. As a result of the VOICES process, he
has worked with pastors, staffs, and education commissions to make
Catholic schools more accessible, available and affordable. During his
episcopacy, the new Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor was
built. Bishop Mengeling has appointed priest chaplains to all four
diocesan high schools to ensure a solid Catholic identity and a
deepened spiritual life.
Believing that building projects give
people a sense of ownership and responsibility for the church, he
encouraged pastors to build new churches. Bishop Mengeling dedicated
churches at St. Catherine Laboure, Concord; St. Agnes, Fowlerville; St.
Andrew Dung Lac, Lansing; St. Jude, DeWitt; St. Mary Magdalen,
Brighton; Cristo Rey, Lansing; Christ the King, Ann Arbor; Christ the
King, Flint; Ss. Charles and Helena, Clio; St. Mary, Pinckney; St. John
the Baptist, Hartland; St. Joseph, Dexter; St. Ann, Bellevue and St.
Gerard, Lansing. New altars were consecrated at Most Holy Trinity,
Fowler; Immaculate Conception, Milan; Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor; and
at St. Mary, Westphalia. He broke ground for a new church at St. Joseph
Parish, Dexter. He blessed chapels at Bethany House, DeWitt; St.
Vincent Catholic Charities, Lansing; Father Gabriel Richard High
School, Ann Arbor; Lumen Christi High School, Jackson; St. Patrick
School, Brighton; Ave Maria Law School; a perpetual adoration chapel in
Lansing; and new mausoleums at New Calvary Cemetery, Flint and St.
John, Davison. More recently, a new building was purchased to allow for
the expansion of St. Patrick School in Brighton and a new parish center
was opened at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Flint. The Pope John XXIII
student center was blessed at Holy Trinity Student Parish in Ypsilanti.
A
renovated church was blessed at St. Peter, Blissfield. At the Dominican
motherhouse in Adrian, the historic Holy Rosary Chapel was renovated
and blessed. The new St. Catherine Chapel at the Dominican Life Center
was blessed in 2004. Education centers were blessed at St. John,
Fenton; Holy Family, Grand Blanc; St. Mary, Pinckney; and a family
center was blessed at St. John, Davison.
When the
Hispanic parishes in Lansing and Flint opened their facilities, Bishop
Mengeling joined in their celebrations. The Vietnamese community was
excited when Bishop Mengeling created their parish in 1998. He joined
the black Catholic community in rejoicing at the opening of their new
church in Flint in 2002. That same year, diocesan staff helped
coordinate the hosting of the Tekakwitha Conference, a nationwide
gathering of Native American Catholics at Michigan State University;
Bishop Mengeling presided at one of the liturgies.
Bishop
Mengeling has reached out to minorities and groups often forgotten in
our society. He has celebrated Mass for inmates in county, state and
federal facilities. He frequently has gone to migrant camps to
celebrate the Liturgy with farm laborers.
Bishop Mengeling celebrated his 40th anniversary with the priests of the diocese in 1997 with evening prayer and a dinner.
In
2007, the bishop’s 50th anniversary celebration was delayed due to his
illness, but in October, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing, he
celebrated with priests, cardinals, bishops, sisters, brothers, lay
people of the diocese and his friends and family.
All
his efforts have come from a heart full of love for God and a desire
that others come to love the Lord. Since his ordination as our bishop
in 1996, Bishop Carl F. Mengeling has lived the exhortation spoken to
him by Cardinal Maida when the crosier was presented:
“Keep watch over the whole flock
in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you
to shepherd the Church of God.”
Father Charlie Irvin
talks to Bishop Mengeling
about his time in Lansing
Father Charlie: Prior to your retirement, you were a pastor in a number
of large parishes. What’s different about being a bishop?
Bishop Mengeling: It’s bigger. Much bigger. It’s
very different. Although it’s on a different level, the
responsibilities are enormous. Just on the level of caring for the
priests alone, it’s a huge responsibility.
Father Charlie: And it’s not just about making them happy – there’s a spiritual component as well, isn’t there?
Bishop
Mengeling: Yes, yes, there is. The bishop is responsible for every
aspect of his priests’ lives and all that entails. It’s massive, and I
will admit that I have not been perfect; sometimes things fall through
the cracks for various reasons that I don’t always know. There are
priests who are sick, retired priests, young priests. The documents
about priestly life give us a marvelous program of what should happen
with priestly formation.
Father Charlie: And now there are developing programs for permanent deacons and lay people?
Bishop Mengeling: Yes. So when you look at personnel, it’s huge.
Father
Charlie: What about your vision of the church? As bishop, you are our
connection with the universal church; that’s got to be different from
being a pastor.
Bishop Mengeling: Absolutely. And I
have a relationship with a parish church in Rome, in a canonical sense,
which is honorary. Then there is the relationship with the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which was a new experience for
me. I had no idea what that was. I went to a meeting before I was even
installed in Lansing. My designation had been announced Nov. 7, but I
became a bishop of the conference on Oct. 30, when they called me and I
said, “Yes.” It was the day before Halloween when I was told I was
going to be a bishop. Trick or treat! That relationship with your
brother bishops is so important – there is a constant dialogue and
seeking of advice.
Father Charlie: So you get to see the Diocese of Lansing in a larger context?
Bishop
Mengeling: Yes. And another aspect of that is the relationship with the
seven dioceses in Michigan, the Michigan province. And the wonderful
thing about this province is that Cardinal Maida is a great leader of
our province. He allows the bishops the freedom to exert their own
style and influence. And he provides the avenues by which we come
together on business, and come together spiritually every year on
retreat. We come together socially, plus lots of other ways. So the
bishops of Michigan all know each other and we collaborate. What
happens in other provinces I don’t know, but I think we’re unique
because of that leadership.
So you see what a big network all of this is, and they all connect. It’s marvelous.
Father Charlie: Some pastors get a glimpse of that if they serve on national boards, but not too much.
Bishop
Mengeling: Right. And what reaches into a diocese is some of the most
practical efforts that come out of these conferences and so forth. An
example is the response to the Gulf Coast disaster and the unity that
came from it – the tremendous unity. And our own Catholic Charities USA
was so effective. I’ll just give you an example: The people of our
diocese gave over half a million dollars to the tsunami and hurricane
relief. The church does so much for people, but no one knows about it.
And that’s our own fault. We need to get the word out.
Father Charlie: What’s the best thing about being a bishop and what’s the most challenging?
Bishop
Mengeling: As bishop, I deal with offices and structural institutions
and don’t get as much direct personal, pastoral contact with people as
I did as a pastor.I miss that. So, probably the best thing for me is
celebrating the sacrament of confirmation and other liturgies with the
youth throughout the diocese.
Also, I was privileged to receive the
first professions of final vows from the women who have formed the
religious community of the Servants of God’s Love in Ann Arbor. They do
wonderful work there. And I also received the final vows of the first
group of women who were professed in the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the
Eucharist.
And those are the kinds of rewarding things I did as a pastor.
Nothing’s really changed except that it’s bigger – broader. Not just
broader geographically or in numbers, but in the differences from one
place to the next. This is a fascinating diocese. There are a variety
of ministries – campus ministries, prison ministries, rural parishes,
urban parishes. I’m fascinated by the multiple roles we have in this
diocese. We have six colleges and universities and two major
correctional institutions, and a number of community colleges.
Father Charlie: What’s been the most challenging thing?
Bishop
Mengeling: It was very challenging to live alone for the first time. I
hadn’t done it before I came here, and I don’t like it. I’d always had
associates and then I had to be all alone. I had to get used to that.
During my tenure here, I had to deal with the one of the saddest events
in our church history, the clergy sex abuse crisis. It was very
difficult, but I was grateful that our diocese had fewer instances of
those cases than some other dioceses.
The changing demographics in the Diocese of Lansing have caused us to
re-examine where our resources should be allocated. I am grateful that
the pastoral plan has gone as well as it has, because it will give us
the basis for making some difficult decisions in the future about how
we distribute our resources, especially our priests.
Father
Charlie: It’s sometimes been said that Bishop Albers was the builder,
Bishop Zaleski was the theologian, Bishop Povish was the pastor and
Bishop Mengeling is the evangelizer. Do you think that’s true?
Bishop
Mengeling: Yes, it is true. Evangelization has very much been a focus
of my priesthood and episcopacy. That’s one of the reasons we started
FAITH Magazine – to reach out to our brothers and sisters, some of whom
have been away from the church for a while. And FAITH is not only in
our diocese; it has grown tremendously and serves the national church
as well. Whenever I meet with my brother bishops, they compliment me on
it.
Father Charlie: What are your other accomplishments as bishop that make you proud?
Bishop
Mengeling: I’m very proud of our diocesan pastoral plan, which
promulgated seven goals and 68 strategies that are moving us forward in
a spirit of unity and collaboration. I’m also proud of the new Father
Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, the wonderful Mother Teresa
House for the dying here in Lansing, the new St. Andrew Dung-Lac Parish
that serves our Vietnamese community and Bethany House, the spiritual
life center for youth at the St. Francis Retreat Center. I was also
very moved by our intense preparation for Jubilee 2000, which made a
great impression on faith and holiness throughout our diocese and our
entire universal church.
Father Charlie: What are your plans after retirement? What would you like to do?
Bishop
Mengeling: Well, I’ve always been a teacher and I’d like to continue to
teach somewhere. That would be a real blessing for me. And I have been
very happy here in the Diocese of Lansing, so I’m hoping to be able to
stay here.
Father Charlie: Thank you, Bishop
Mengeling. I speak for all of us when I say that we have appreciated
your leadership, your spiritual guidance and your vision. Our prayers
go with you as you enter into this new phase of your life journey. God
bless you.
We remember – we celebrate
reflections on the ministry
of Bishop Mengeling
We celebrate 12 years of Bishop Mengeling’s leadership and thank him
for being such a wise and gentle shepherd. FAITH asked some members of
the diocese who know the bishop, and who have served with him, to share
their memories.
On March 19, 2005, Bishop Mengeling presided at
the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church at St. Joseph Parish in
Dexter. During the ceremony, Bishop Mengeling quoted an old Irish
saying, “We warm ourselves by fires we did not build. We drink from
wells we did not dig.”
Bishop Mengeling has inspired the priests,
lay ministers and people of the Diocese of Lansing with his energy and
fire of love for Jesus. He has called us to drink from the waters of
our baptism and then to evangelize our Catholic brothers and sisters to
live our faith with passion and enthusiasm.
– Father Brendan Walsh, St. Joseph Parish, Dexter
From the first moment that the four founders of the new Dominican
community of Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist stepped inside
the Diocese of Lansing, we knew we had a friend in Bishop Carl
Mengeling. Whether it was his wit or faith-filled, amazingly positive
attitude, his surprise greetings would be heard outside our windows and
we would all instantly laugh in response! Showing him into the convent,
his warm personality encompassed each sister with the best of the
shepherd’s care that he radiates!
As tradition runs deeply in our
800-year-old order, we certainly hope that future Septembers will
always find our jolly Bishop Mengeling shouting from his arriving car,
“Hello, holy ones!”
– Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, Ann Arbor
Bishop Mengeling is gifted with the ability to share the three great
theological gifts: faith, hope and charity. Bishop Mengeling has a
special way of expressing God’s love for everyone, whether by visiting
with migrant farm workers in one of the many camps in our diocese,
sharing lunch with our senior parishioners during Senior Appreciation
Week, meeting with those with disabilities, or talking about the
blessings of natural family planning with young couples.
– Chris Root, Dept. of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lansing
Bishop Mengeling always has great respect for the church’s liturgy. He
knows its texts, its rubrics, its options, and its ancient ritual. He
seldom will deviate from a text, because he appreciates the rich
traditions behind it and the noble simplicity of its language.
We
have seen him anoint an altar with great dignity, ordain a priest with
powerful silence and ancient words, offer a eucharistic prayer always
as if it were his first time, and weep while reciting a preface about
the priesthood.
– Rita Thiron, Office of Worship, Diocese of Lansing
When Bishop Mengeling came to this diocese, he was very supportive of
the formation program that was under way here in Lansing. Bishop
Mengeling had established a similar academic program when he was in the
Diocese of Gary, Ind. As the bishop came to know the diocese better, he
was delighted to see and support the wholistic formation program that
we had developed here with Siena Heights University and gave it his
full support.
It is with pride that the bishop has empowered lay ministers to respond to their baptismal call.
– Mary Tardif, Sustaining Pastoral Excellence, St. Francis Retreat Center
It is difficult to share one brief memory – there are so many great
memories. As the saying goes, first impressions are lasting. It was
Wednesday evening, Jan. 24, 1996, St. Mary Cathedral, vesper service
the eve before Bishop Mengeling’s ordination to the episcopate and
installation as the fourth bishop of the diocese. Here was a man – a
stranger among us – whose eyes were full of life, whose smile was warm,
who was a holy man and yet down-to-the earth, who had vision, who was
“in-spiring” – who was “in-Spirit.” His wisdom, his teaching, his
humanity, his example of a life of spirituality and holiness will
always “in-spire” me.
– Sally Ellis, safe environment coordinator, Diocese of Lansing
Perhaps one of my favorite, ongoing recollections, of the bishop is his
use of the “red pen.” Shades of his former position in Indiana, that of
classroom teacher. Today, whenever a paper is sent to him for review,
he gets the red pen working, just like the good old days. Like Bishop
Povish, Bishop Mengeling is wonderful with young people. They enjoy
listening to him and being with him. He is truly their shepherd and
will be remembered as such. We have enjoyed working with Bishop
Mengeling and will miss his guidance and leadership. My wish is that
God will bless him with many happy and healthy days of retirement.
– Sister Dorita Wotiska, Dept. of Education
Bishop Mengeling always reminded me of the Holy Spirit. His visits to
the parish have been like “the breath of God.” He always talked about
“being on fire!” and he certainly is. Jesus said “the Spirit blows
where it wills, you know not where it comes from or where it goes ...”
That, too, reminds me of Bishop Mengeling, for with me, he was always
full of surprises. Thank you, Bishop Mengeling, for being the fire and
breath of God for us.
– Father William Ashbaugh, St. Joseph Parish, Howell and FAITH Magazine
I first “met” Bishop Mengeling from the choir loft of St. Mary
Cathedral on the day of his ordination. I was impressed with his energy
as he addressed the people. In the years following, this energy poured
out to all of God’s people. He is a very pastoral and spiritual person,
and I will remember him for this.
– Sister Marlene Taylor, disAbilities Ministry, Diocese of Lansing
I will always remember Bishop Mengeling as The Great Evangelizer, both
in his preaching style as well as in his accomplishments. Foremost in
my mind are the discussions we had in bringing FAITH magazine into
being. He was courageous and bold in establishing FAITH, a magazine
that is now national in scope. May God bless him and reward him for his
faith and his courage.
– Father Charles Irvin, FAITH Magazine
The day I will remember Bishop Carl the most was the day of my
profession into the Servants of God’s Love. There was only one thing
missing for me that day – my father. Dad had been diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s and traveling was out of the question. Lovingly, one of my
sisters stayed home with Dad while my other sister came with Mom. It
wasn’t exactly the way I had imagined, but I was so grateful my mother
and sister were there.
We were all at the church early, including
Bishop Carl. Immediately, his attention went to my mother. His warmth
and solicitude toward her were very touching. She had never traveled
without Dad and she was feeling his absence. Bishop Carl was very
gentle, spoke a few words to her and assured her of his prayers.
After Mass, it was again Bishop Carl who made sure my mother had a
picture taken with him and me. She has said, time and again, she’s
never met a bishop like ours. I don’t believe many people have. We have
been very blessed.
– Sister Mary Ann Foggin, Dept. of Vocations, Diocese of Lansing
I first recall hearing of Bishop Mengeling on the day his appointment
as bishop of Lansing was announced. That evening, a number of friends
from Indiana and Illinois contacted me to say how fortunate the Diocese
of Lansing would be to have this holy priest as our shepherd. One after
another, their words about him formed a picture – the new bishop was an
excellent pastor, filled with apostolic zeal, and he would be a
tremendous blessing for our diocese.
Little did I know then what
an understatement their words would prove! Through Bishop Mengeling,
the Lord Jesus continues to touch countless souls powerfully with the
fire of divine love.
– Michael Andrews, Dept. of Education and Catechesis, Diocese of Lansing
From the first moment I met Bishop Mengeling, I was impressed by his
boundless energy and charm. His warm smile and spontaneous laugh
manifest the joyful gifts of the Holy Spirit that flow upon him and
through him. And yet, over the past decade, I have had the privilege of
being at many meetings with him discussing serious issues; and he
brings to these situations a quiet intensity and much pastoral wisdom.
Bishop Mengeling clearly loves the priesthood and has found great joy
in serving the Lord and the church over the decades. The Diocese of
Lansing has been truly blessed with such a loving, compassionate and
open-minded shepherd.
Bishop Mengeling has a wonderful way of integrating the world of
culture with the challenges of faith; for this reason, he is a very
effective preacher. In a well-deserved retirement, I am sure Bishop
Mengeling will find more opportunities to read, travel and continue to
grow in holiness and grace. We shall miss his presence and strong voice
on behalf of the dignity of life and the gifts and needs of all God’s
little ones.
– Cardinal Adam Maida, Archdiocese of Detroit
Bishop Mengeling is a man of deep faith in our Lord. One of the ways
his faith is manifested is by his generosity. I have seen him totally
exhausted and at the same time accepting additional commitments to
participate in this or that program or liturgical service. He literally
expends his time, talent and energy on behalf of the people of our
diocese.
Another way his spirit of generosity manifests itself is
through personal acts of charity toward individuals and organizations.
You would never know about it because he never talks about it. He has a
keen eye for other people and their needs. He does what he can to
respond to those needs.
He has a spirit of detachment from material possessions. He gives away
everything he can, and when he gives something away it is in pristine
condition. Outside of his clothes, files, papers and books, he has very
few personal possessions. He does not want to be weighed down with
worry and concern about personal possessions as he journeys through
this life.
This generosity and detachment reflects in a very eloquent way his
motto, “He (Christ) must increase and we must decrease.”
– Monsignor Michael Murphy, Moderator of the Curia, Diocese of Lansing
I have always appreciated my interactions with Bishop Mengeling.
I found him a man willing to listen and to take the advice of others to whom he gave responsibility.
Because of his great passion for education, he was wholeheartedly
supportive and enthusiastic that Siena Heights University was involved
in the education and formation of the laity of the Diocese of Lansing.
He truly gave his life as a teacher, using every opportunity available
to enliven the faith of the people of the diocese.
I will miss working with him on both the diocesan pastoral council and
through the program in theological studies at Siena Heights University.
– Sister Marilyn Barnett, Program in Theological Studies, Siena Heights University
On April 29, 2005, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Bishop
Mengeling celebrated the rite of blessing and the dedication of the
altar for the Adrian Dominican Sisters in the newly renovated chapel.
Msgr. George Michalek approached me and asked if I would hold Bishop
Mengeling’s staff. Since this had not been planned, I was surprised and
deeply honored. As I was holding it throughout this lengthy
celebration, I prayed in thanksgiving for the way in which he had
chosen to shepherd the people of the Diocese of Lansing. I also asked
that we might be given another bishop who would continue his ministry
of being our Good Shepherd.
– Eileen Jaramillo, The Tribunal, Diocese of Lansing
I remember going to France with the bishop and some other seminarians
for World Youth Day in 1997. For the closing Mass, the bishop could
have received a special ride. Instead, he chose to walk many miles with
the seminarians and other pilgrims.
I think many people were
skeptical about the diocese starting FAITH, as well as building Bethany
House. The bishop is a person of deep faith, and clearly has a vision,
not just for the next few years, but for 10 to 20 years down the road.
One of the bishop’s most-used lines is to “dive in.” He refers to a
person sitting by a pool. Some people just put their feet in, and
dabble in the water. The bishop has always encouraged us instead to
“dive in,” to trust and to put everything we are into what we are
doing. He could say it because he was doing it.
– Father Jerry Vincke, Office of Seminarians, Diocese of Lansing
My memories of Bishop Mengeling are as vast as his spirit. Beauty,
truth and goodness are hallmarks of his actions. Whether it was
watching high-school quizbusters, distributing tomatoes from his
garden, discussing icons, or teaching profound theological truths,
every act was pure “Mengelian,” that is – intense, witty and melodic.
In every encounter, his deep awareness of the holy invited those he met
into the power and beauty of simplicity and fidelity (sometimes with a
song).
– Sister Monica Kostielney, Michigan Catholic Conference
Bishop Mengeling is a down-to-earth person, outgoing, gregarious and a
born teacher. Once, he conducted a day retreat for all LCCHS employees:
principals, teachers, office staff, building and groundskeepers and
kitchen workers.
All were impressed by his genuineness, optimism
and candor. He told stories of his personal experiences as student,
teacher, priest and bishop, and he easily shared his hope and faith
with his listeners.
– Margaret Perrone, Lansing Catholic Central High School,
St. Mary Cathedral parishioner
We’ve been blessed with outstanding bishops for the Diocese of Lansing
since its inception. Bishop Mengeling is no exception. He has extended
himself way beyond expectations to be everywhere in the diocese. For 10
years, his enthusiasm for preaching and teaching the good news has been
an inspiration to me. When I asked him how he maintained such a high
level of enthusiasm and excitement whenever he visits a parish, his
response was basically, “Why shouldn’t I be? The Gospel and our faith
are always sources of enthusiasm and excitement.” His attitude hasn’t
changed since he came to us! What marvelous leadership!
– Monsignor Richard J. Groshek, vicar general
In private conversation, Bishop Mengeling remarked that he felt a
kinship and bond with the mostly black community of Gary, Ind. – that
he understood their problems and the challenges they faced living out
their faith. A rather fond memory is watching him preach. I remarked to
him at one point that I noticed that rather than just “giving a
homily,” he seemed to “preach” in a decidedly African-American style,
often bouncing on the balls of his feet.
– Ron Landfair, Office of Black Catholic and Multicultural Ministry,
Diocese of Lansing
I was blessed to be with Bishop Mengeling when he met Pope John Paul
II. When he received the formal invitation for a private audience with
the pope, I was among the diocesan representatives permitted to
accompany him. I remember approaching the huge bronze door to the right
of St. Peter’s Basilica. With the formal invitation in hand, the Swiss
Guards waved us through and we were led to special elevators that
brought us to the floor of the Holy Father’s office. There were a
number of rooms to pass through, each exquisitely decorated; each with
its own history. The various Swiss Guards we met typically move
visitors right along. Bishop Mengeling, however, was not going to miss
the chance to look around the rooms and absorb their beauty and
history. He stopped the Swiss Guards in their tracks when he asked in
German, “Guten Morgen! Wie geht es Ihnen heute?” “Good morning! How are
you today?” Then he carried on a conversation with each of them: “How
long have you been here? Do you like working here? How is your family?
What’s the history of this room?” I don’t think they ever imagined that
an American bishop would be able to converse in German and be
interested in them as persons. It was an extraordinary moment in the
course of their typical day.
– Msgr. Steven J. Raica, Chancellor
The future bishop’s “leadership qualities” were obvious at an early
age. He was blessed with an active imagination, which led us kids on
many great adventures.
I remember one adventure, after one too many
French Foreign Legion movies, that we (he) thought it would be great to
have an Arabian adventure. After “borrowing” the necessary apparel from
Mom’s stuff, we dressed ourselves as desert Arabs, complete with
burnoose, head-dress and our wood-sword version of a scimitar. Properly
attired, we then proceeded to rampage through the neighborhood with
robes flying and swords waving as we chased the innocent kids.
All was well until the town marshal was alerted and put an end to our “adventure.”
– William Mengeling (Bishop Mengeling’s brother)
Bishop Mengeling and I had three wonderful years together in Casa
Sancta Maria. They were special years because two of them were years of
the second Vatican Council. Bishop Mengeling had a very great love for
Rome, which he shared with me. So as a young priest, as his friend, I
would join him in his visits to many places of interest – many of them
churches and other historical places. As a result of that, I was able
to see things that I wouldn’t have on my own.
– Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
His legacy
Why the Catholic Church
will never be the same 
I
can still picture it. With great enthusiasm, he raised the book over
his head so everyone could see and processed around the room. Was this
a priest preparing to proclaim the Gospel at Mass? No. It was Bishop
Mengeling in a room full of skeptical pastors holding up a prototype of
FAITH Magazine. Little did any of us know what he was starting.
It has been said that we’ve had the right bishops at the right time.
Bishop Albers, our diocese’s first, was “the builder.” Bishop Zaleski,
a participant in the Second Vatican Council, was “the theologian.”
Bishop Povish, a parish priest, was “the pastor.” So, was it because we
live in the Information Age that Bishop Mengeling became “the
evangelizer”? In other words, do the times we live in shape us, or do
we shape our times?
Carl Mengeling grew up in a much different
time. His mother was an immigrant. As with most Catholic immigrant
families, the Mengelings’ lives centered around the church. Catholic
schools, hospitals and newspapers fostered a strong Catholic identity.
Until the 1980s, 50 percent of registered Catholics attended weekly
Mass. Now, that number is lower than 25 percent. The dawn of the
Information Age meant that there have never been more ways to
communicate, but the church’s message has gotten lost in this 24-hour
cable, USA Today, Google world. Most bishops continued to communicate
as they did for the last 100 years – primarily with a diocesan
newspaper. When Carl Mengeling became a bishop, he realized times had
changed.
What Bishop Mengeling did was create a new model for the church to
evangelize in the Information Age – a reader-driven, multi-media
approach used by corporate America. The result is one of the largest
and fastest-growing Catholic media companies in the country – FAITH
Publishing Service. Should anyone think I am overstating Bishop
Mengeling’s significance, I’ll simply review the facts. In 2000, FAITH
consisted of one Web site and one magazine with a circulation of
80,000. In 2008, FAITH produces 15 magazines with a combined
circulation of over half a million, multiple Web sites, books,
television and more. Independent readership auditors said FAITH found
the “holy grail long sought by their colleagues in the Catholic press.”
Everywhere I go, I hear that Catholic media professionals are changing
what they do because of FAITH. A report to the U.S. bishops even coined
a phrase for this phenomenon: “the FAITH paradigm.”
FAITH’s approach is unique in the secular world because it focuses on
regular people instead of celebrities. It is unique in the Catholic
world because it focuses on practical ways to grow closer to Christ
instead of on church news or controversial ideologies. People have
responded. So have other bishops. After FAITH was launched, Bishop
Mengeling was at a gathering of bishops and was asked, “Carl, how are
you doing all this?” He responded, “I don’t know!” It’s funny, but
true. He doesn’t know how it’s done – just that it works. There is a
great photo, perhaps a little embarrassing, of Bishop Mengeling facing
a computer with a mouse in his hand. He’s pointing it at the monitor as
if it were a remote control. His monthly columns are thriftily
handwritten on the backs of old letterhead and memos. It’s amusing and
ironic that the man who is leading other bishops into the Information
Age refuses to learn how to use a computer.
Bishop Mengeling has changed the way the church evangelizes. Hopefully,
historians will remember his impact. Hopefully, we will remember the
impact he’s had on us. Most of us got to know Bishop Mengeling from his
column in this magazine. We saw God’s mercy when he wrote about his
father forgiving him after he dropped the boat motor – in the lake. We
saw repentance when he wrote about his first sin – stealing a comic
book. We saw the value of suffering when he wrote about his uncle who
fought in World War II – for the Germans. By sharing his faith, he
taught us something about our own. Our passing on of that faith will be
his greatest legacy.
For all he has given, we are grateful. What can we do to thank him now
that he is retiring? Maybe we can simply do for him what he once did
for this magazine – with great enthusiasm, hold him up.
– Patrick M. O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of FAITH Publishing Service
