The Diocese of Lansing and the U.S. Church

A number of people in the Diocese of Lansing have contributed to the national Church. We profile a few of them here.

Pat Rinker is director of the Offices of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry in the Diocese of Lansing. He and his wife, Karen, live in Lansing.

Currently, Pat is chair of the NCCYM 2014 Workshop Subtask Group and a member of the Youth Ministry Development Committee. Both committees are part of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. He is also liaison to the Evangelization Task Group for the Youth Ministry Development Committee.

“What I love about my work, whether it’s local or regional is this: It’s Church,” he says. “It’s the Body of Christ.”

Laure Krupp, a Montrose, Mich., native, works now in Portland for the Oregon Catholic Press. In her work, she oversees a team of people working with more than 400 conventions, concerts, retreats and workshops a year.

“I am in the fortunate situation of hearing the hopes and dreams of people who plan events for their parishes and dioceses. It’s a rare day that I’m not wiping tears from my eyes because I am so moved by the passion the people in the American Catholic Church have to respond to the challenge of the New Evangelization from Blessed John Paul II.”

Dr. Eileen Jaramillo is a judge in the Tribunal for the Diocese of Lansing. She also teaches a course in canon law in the Siena Heights University Theology Program. Originally from Belen, N.M., Eileen has advanced degrees in theology and canon law.

At the national level, she is a member of the Canon Law Society of America; has served as chair of the Nominations and the Appellate Review Board; and was elected consultor on the CLSA Board of Governors in 2006.

“In February, I was nominated for the position of vice-president/president elect … I am only the seventh woman [in CLSA’s 75-year history] to ever be nominated for that position. It is quite an honor regardless of the outcome.”

Rita Thiron, of Grand Blanc, is the Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Lansing. She and husband Mark have two grown children.

Rita has served the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, in roles ranging from vice chair of the Board of Directors, to facilitator for national study days, member of the certification committee, and on the planning team for national meetings. She has also served on the core committee for the National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministers; as a member of the Board of Directors for the North American Forum on the Catechumenate; and as a member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Education Committee.

“I am a teacher at heart,” Rita says. “I love anything to do with liturgical formation, especially liturgical history.”