Diocese of Grand Rapids

During their Fall General Assembly the U.S. Bishops approved “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love” – A pastoral letter against racism. The letter asks us to recall that we are all brothers and sisters, all equally made in the image of God. Because we all bear the image of God, racism is, above all, a moral and…

What is #GivingTuesday? What does it have to do with us at St. Luke University Parish? It is a global day dedicated to giving back, especially after the commercialism and consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is a time to think about giving rather than receiving. And giving back is what we do every day as Catholic Christians. So…

Amid the clergy sexual abuse scandal, Bishop Walkowiak has received letters from the faithful asking about the welfare of our diocesan seminarians and whether the men currently in formation for the Diocese of Grand Rapids are safe. Bishop Walkowiak has full confidence in our two seminaries: Saint John Vianney College Seminary at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and…

Registration is now open for the annual Cherish Marriage event! It will take place on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 at Frederik Meijer Gardens from 6 – 11 p.m. Couples will enjoy an evening of dinner, inspiration, and dancing to strengthen their marriage. The keynote speakers for the evening are Damon and Melanie Owens from joytob. Register at cherishmarriage.net.  Register now,…

The Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Office of Communications issues the following statement from Bishop Walkowiak in response to the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   I stand in solidarity with my brother bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in condemning all acts of violence and hate, and yet again calling on…

The Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids has a policy regarding reporting and dealing with sexual abuse. Any person having reasonable cause to suspect past or present sexual abuse by a religious member (bishop, priest, deacon, nun, brother, etc.) or by any person acting under the authority or apparent authority of the church, is urged to contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator:…

Over the weekend Pope Francis responded to former Cardinal McCarrick’s case (Statement) Cardinal DiNardo, president of the USCCB, responded to the Holy See’s statement (English | Español) And finally, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, has responded in a public letter to the claims made by Archbishop Viganò in his previous testimonies.

Tips for talking to children about difficult subjects/news reports The topic of sex abuse, particularly child sex abuse, is a daunting one for parents. Every parent must consider many factors including the best age-appropriate way to discuss the topic. Below are some points to consider adapted from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network,…

Michigan Department of the Attorney General announced an investigation into the seven Catholic dioceses of Michigan. At this time, the investigation dates back to 1950 and looks solely at priests, both diocesan and religious order. The investigation pertains solely to the abuse and sexual assault of children. The internal investigation is being conducted by the AG’s office and is expected to take…

Background information on safe environments in the Diocese of Grand Rapids We deeply apologize to anyone who has been a victim of abuse by a member of clergy. We acknowledge the awful, lifetime physical, mental, and spiritual effects of abuse. Public attention on this issue will likely evoke traumatic memories for people, who may then choose to come forward. As…