Bishop Boyea of Lansing Pays
Visit to Motherhouse Campus
October 12, Adrian, Michigan – Most Reverend Earl Boyea, Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, made a visit to the Motherhouse Campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters on October 6. During his visit, he celebrated daily Mass in St. Catherine Chapel and joined the General Council for lunch. The city of Adrian is in the Diocese of Lansing.
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| Bishop Boyea is welcomed to the Adrian Dominican Sister Motherhouse campus during mass at St Catherine Chapel |
Sister Donna Markham, OP, Prioress of the Congregation, formally welcomed Bishop Boyea, noting that he had recently celebrated the closing liturgy of the Adrian Dominicans’ 125th anniversary weekend last May. He is expected to return to Adrian to celebrate Mass during the 2010 General Chapter, which will be held February 18-27, 2010.
Bishop Boyea began his homily by expressing his own gratitude for the opportunity to meet with Sister Donna and the members of the General Council: Sisters Rosa Monique Peña, OP; Judy Rimbey, OP; Kathy Nolan, OP; and Mary Kay Homan, OP. Addressing the sisters in the assembly, he added, “I enjoy being here with you. You’re a blessing for me, and I know you’re praying for me.”
During the homily, Bishop Boyea reflected on the story of Jonah’s preaching to the people of Nineveh, and of the immediate conversion of the king and people of that large gentile city. He noted that Jonah was not pleased with his success, not believing that God should open salvation to the Ninevites or to anyone but the people of Israel.
As Christians, Bishop Boyea said, our lives should be wholly directed towards the mission of spreading the Good News. “Our aim really should be to bring many – to bring all – to share this wonderful treasure, this pearl of great price.” At the same time, we should stay close to Jesus, aware of our own constant need for conversion of heart.
Bishop Boyea concluded with a challenge: “Let us never cease to be missionaries, and let us never cease to pray for the grace of conversion.”
The fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, Bishop Boyea was born in Pontiac, Michigan and raised in Waterford, Michigan. After studying at Sacred Heart High School and Seminary in Detroit and the North American College and the Gregorian University in Rome, he was ordained a priest in 1978. He holds an M.A. in American History from Wayne State University in Detroit and a PhD in Church History from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was named an Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit in 2002, and has served as Bishop of Lansing since April, 2008. Bishop Boyea serves on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.