Each sacrament helps open a door to God
I have been teaching as part of the ministry formation program of our diocese fo...
A time of great joy and great sorrow
It was a day of great joy for the people of our diocese when it was announced th...
Evangelization looks like many things
Not everyone likes standing in the city square - ways to evangelize effectively with simple actions and prayer
If you want to learn something, teach it
Father Dwight Ezop prompts us to grow and deepen our relationship with God throughout the course of our lives.
Dads can surprise us
Father Dwight Ezop shares his surprise at his father's ability to assist others with their grief
Our faith is meant to be dynamic
Teacher and student, young and old, can inspire each other to continue developing their faith
Thank you, Deacons, for your ministry
Fr. Dwight Ezop shares his thankfulness for all the deacons with whom he has collaborated, including one special person who shaped his priestly ministry.
Experience God’s mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation
Experience mercy and forgiveness during Lent
Amazing things happen in our parish schools
Our parish schools touch lives, foster faith
One Big, Happy Family
A number of years ago, I had a young parent stop by my office and ask, “How...
Enrich your parish by sharing your gifts and talents
How is it possible that it’s already September? It seems to me that just a few d...
Thank you, Father Charlie
On Sunday, June 4, the Solemnity of Pentecost, people from around our diocese ga...
Faith and Science work hand in hand
There I was, all fresh-faced and eager, sitting in the second row of desks, near...
Deacons have a call of their own
After prayer and worship, the first concern of the Apostles was for the poor and...
The anointing of the sick: God's sacramental medicine at work
The conversation usually begins something like this: “Father Dwight, would you p...
The Liturgies of Holy Week lead us into Easter
You may recall that in last month's column, I encouraged all of us to enter into...
Engage in some Lenten Housekeeping
In just a few short weeks, we will mark the start of spring. As the days continu...
How our parish school led a student to conversion
In July of this past year, I became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Charlotte. Like...
I love Advent
Advent is my favorite of all the Church’s seasons. Its four weeks are a breath o...
Transform your life with 'Thanksliving'
As an editor, I see (and hopefully correct) the occasional spelling error before...
Does growth have to be painful?
Through the course of the summer months just passed, we have been journeying wit...
The importance of being called by name
During the first week of July, I began my ministry as pastor of the Catholic Com...
Rays of Hope in Flint
Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the great feast of Pentecost, recalling the ...
Welcoming the stranger
During my second year in seminary in Chicago, my class welcomed two new seminari...
Do we take water for granted?
How about the water of life?
How easy it is to take water for granted. For so...
How you can become more engaged with the Mass
From time to time, I hear it said that Sunday Mass can be a little boring. After...
Invest time and energy in your marriage
Later this year, my brother and sister-in-law will celebrate their 10th wedding ...
God's gentle invitation called me home
There is a chapter of my life that I want to share with you, but I'm not very pr...
Growing as Disciples
As Jesus begins his ministry in St. Luke’s Gospel, he starts by teaching an...
In gratitude for Father Larry Delaney
I first met Father Larry Delaney in 1988 while I was a parishioner at St. Franci...
It's time we rally
When you drive along the brick pavement of Flint’s Saginaw Street, you may be le...
Where is home?
It happened a number of years ago at Easter-time, before I had entered seminary....
Overcoming limitations, bringing comfort to others
During the summer between my freshman and sophomore years in high school, I met ...
A Cold Can of Corn
Although it was just a cold can of corn, it might just as well have been the fin...
Where your treasure is, your heart will be
Some years ago, I happened to be passing through the church late one evening. As...
The Power of Truth
Some years ago, I heard a beautiful legend from Africa that has stuck with me. T...
Rightside up or upside down, it's all about faith
Before anyone calls, writes or sends e-mail, let me answer the following very im...
My grandfather, the good steward
My grandpa Leo, my dad’s father, lived most of his life in what is now the tough...
My glasses help my eyes see, the commandments help our souls see
On the ride home from the ophthalmologist’s office, I noticed something rather s...
I am my parents’ son
Every now and then I will say something in a certain way or act in a certain fas...
Sunday is one of God's great gifts to us
Just the other day, I was visiting with a parishioner who was reminiscing about ...
Lent challenges us IN A GOOD WAY
I like Lent. I like the ways that Lent can challenge me to be quiet by spending ...
Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans
When I was a student in college, Fr. Charlie Irvin, who was my pastor at the tim...
A warm welcome for Christ, A warm welcome for us
During these weeks of Advent and the days of Christmas that follow, we will be s...
Remember this for life have an attitude of gratitude
During my years as pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Jude in DeWitt, Fathe...
The Risk of Living
This may come as something of a surprise, but I am not a risk-taker by nature. H...
What I've seen in happy marriages
My brother and sister-in-law were married in 2006. Since that time, they have we...
A summer of changes
Usually, the summer months have a different feel than the months of the school y...
The Holy Spirit's quiet gifts
As a teenager preparing for the sacrament of confirmation, I often wondered when...
Pope Francis, bridge builder
I’m not sure anyone could have predicted that Cardinal Jose Mario Bergoglio woul...
Bless me Father, for I have sinned...
Father, it’s been 20 years.” “Father, it’s been 35 years.” “Father, it’s been a ...
My biological mother's greatest gift to me
Near the end of January each year, I find myself reflecting with gratitude on th...
Passing on the faith
Teaching and learning faith
Spring cleaning for the soul
Spring cleaning and sacrament of reconciliation
Never too young to care
Youth organized ministry
We stand on the shoulders of giants
Influential priests
Summer a time to reflect, a time to plan
Summer reflection ideas
Editing in the age of technology
Advances in magazine editing
The people behind the scenes make our parish run
Spotlight on parish volunteers
How will we be remembered?
Remembering Jack Armstrong
A time of change – a time of renewal
Changes in season and changes in the church
Faith can make your marriage stronger
Faith and marriage
What I learned from the ‘man who spoke in pictures’
God's love and the dignity of creation
A personal thanks for the gift of life and the gift of family
Gift of life and family
We can learn a lot from teens!
Young people guided by faith
We all have one thing in common: God calls
God calls us in different ways
Rest, relaxation and time to spend with God
Rest and recreation
Teaching in the lay ministry formation program
Learning from theological studies students
A gift brought back to life
God-given talents and the resurrection
Is it Lent again already?
God's grace during lent
… our journey in FAITH continues
10 years of FAITH magazine
Finding faith in unexpected places
Meeting people of faith
A fresh start in times of darkness
Fresh starts
What’s really in the news – teens who give back
Youth volunteers
There may not always be curing but there is always healing
Anointing of the sick
Lives full of joy Theresa, Virginia and Paul
Being open to vocations
What can we learn about ourselves from the current financial crisis?
Reevaluating priorities
Strangers in a strange land
Trusting God
‘And the greatest of these is love.’
St. Paul's description of love
Dear Mom and Dad, thank you for the gift of my vocation
Inspiration in the lessons of vocation
Dear Fathers ...
Inspirational priests
Change can be exciting
Changes in the diocese
Forgiving but not forgetting
Forgiveness and anger
Caught in the middle
Baby boomers and faith
Being Catholic in Michigan
Strength and the gift of faith
“Have a good Advent”
The celebration of advent
How do we change?
The cycle of death, life, and change
The long climb out of hell
Rebuilding Burundi
If you don’t want to know the answer ...
Learning from young people growing in faith
Wow! My first decade as a priest
First 10 years as a priest
The love of Christ urges us on
Christ's love compels us
Called to commit
Vocation, commitments, and love
“I know where she is”
Hope and lent
Healing a marriage
Marriage and reconciliation
My very quiet neighbors
A few years ago, our parish community purchased a small home apart from the pari...
Let go and let God
I usually don’t pay much attention to bumper stickers, but one caught my eye a f...
Faith hope and love
This may come as something of a surprise, but I am not a risk-taker by nature. H...
My parents' rocking chair
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time being sick. Spring and summer allergies ...
Zapped by God?
I received the sacrament of confirmation during my sophomore year in high school...
A teacher’s lessons
I have benefited from the gifts of many teachers during my lifetime. Some of the...
“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives ... ”
The first time I celebrated Mass in a prison took place shortly after I was orda...
Bertha’s gentle soul
During the summer between my freshman and sophomore years in high school, I met ...
Meeting Jesus in our neighbors
Each year, beginning in early September and continuing through mid-October, I en...
God’s gentle invitation called me home
There is a chapter of my life that I want to share with you, but I’m not very pr...
God's promise of wholeness
One of the blessings of my ministry is the chance to walk awhile with people on ...
For all our many blessings let us give thanks
I take so much for granted in my daily life. I walk to the door, flip a switch; ...
Our search for understanding
I was on a very important quest a few weeks ago. My search took me to a favorite...
The selflessness of true freedom
Each year our nation pauses on the Fourth of July to celebrate freedom. As we ga...
What will he be like?
"What will he be like?” they wonder. It is a natural reaction. His predecessors ...
On vacation with God
I spent a few days in sunny Florida at the end of January. It was a welcome resp...
Where has the time gone?
Five years? Has it really been five years since we began publishing FAITH? ...
What seems to be ours
{ You shall not steal. } Deut. 5:19
My grandpa Leo, my dad’s father, lived mo...
One truth about teens remains:
"What could I possibly learn from them?”
I remember asking myself that questi...
Many blessings flow
During a recent weekend at my parish, the Catholic Community of St. Jude, DeWitt...
See all issues of life with new clarity
I was ten years old and a fifth grader when I first began to notice that I was h...
A beautiful dance
Celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation with youngsters is an interesting ex...
We are meant to be human be-ings
As the pastor of a parish community with a large number of young families, I can...
True to His name: God is with us
Sunday, July 13, 2003, was a beautiful day. Like many mid-summer Sundays in Mich...
Surrendering my will
A friend once told me, “Do you want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans!” Lit...
Making peace
Let me be honest: I don’t have much free time to watch television. There are a c...
We mourn a good priest, good bishop, good shepherd and a good friend
At Hospice House of Lansing, late in the evening of Sept. 5, 2003, Bishop Kennet...
What’s on the minds of teens?
How often has someone asked you, “A penny for your thoughts?” I ask my friends t...
Searching for God’s love?
I met Richard over ten years ago. He lives in a county nursing home. Richard has...
Unexpected events bring unanticipated blessings
The words of Psalm 103 remind us, “The Lord is kind and merciful.” True enough. ...
Hunger and thirst often exceeds the need for food and water
I got my first real job in 1988, working in the School of Education at the Unive...
The quiet gift of new life
Her name was Bertha. She was 92. I was 16. Bertha lived in a residential care fa...
Walking with someone who mourns can be the richest moment in life
"It must be hard to deal with sadness and grief so often,” she said. I had just ...
A spirit of poverty means remembering our dependence on God
For several years our parish community has collected nonperishable food each Sun...
Counting our blessings in the face of difficulty
Just a few days ago our nation took an entire day to pause and count its blessin...
Difficult times can open us up to beautiful moments
As a priest, I am invited to take part in people’s lives in some very special wa...
Every couple that gets married makes history
In Aug. 24 of this year, my parents marked 45 years of married life. I often won...
When a door closes, God opens a window
I thought I had the perfect career all picked out. I figured that if I became a ...
With all our heart
We use the word “heart” in so many different ways in our daily speech. If we are...
Our willingness to devote our lives
As you might suspect, catching spelling errors can be one of the big challenges ...
"I finally got Him!"
May 9, 1998 was a beautiful, memorable day. I was the parochial vicar at St. Tho...
Sharing God’s compassionate forgiveness
Father, it’s been 20 years.” “Father, it’s been 35 years.” “Father, it’s been a ...
Richly blessed by family and faith
It was Thanksgiving, 1965. A young couple, having worked with the adoption profe...
My favorite time of year
This is my favorite time of year. The days are cooler; the air is crisp as I mak...
You are the future and the present
"Our children and teens are the Church of the future.”
How many times have yo...
The Sundays of my childhood taught me something – how to be a child of God
Somehow I always knew that Sundays were special. From the earliest I can remembe...
I leave with a heart full of love
Back when FAITH was conceived, the vision I shared was to publish a magazine tha...
Who can be saved?
In His secret nighttime discussion with Nicodemus, one of the leading Pharisees ...
Unity with diversity
As Americans entering a new century, we have a problem. Actually it’s an old one...
We share a lot in faith
As Catholics, we generally share certain beliefs with most Protestants and Jews....
A theory about truth
Seek not to understand that you may believe, but to believe that you may underst...
Receiving God’s gift
Have you ever asked yourself why you give gifts at Christmas, for birthdays, and...
A Church of conflict and beauty
It is a paradox. Thanksgiving and Christmas can be times of conflict – times whe...
What growing up is all about
We are made to belong. Perversely, we want to belong to others and at the same t...
The source of our rights
Our American Fourth of July celebration gets us in touch with a belief that is a...
The adventure that is FAITH
Movements, journeys, changes … they fill the Gospels. The Bible opens with God c...
Loving with all your life
Totuus Tuus. Perhaps you’ve noticed that Latin phrase on Pope John Paul II’s ins...
We are people who belong
In FAITH we are following along in the way, in the truth, and in the life of Jes...