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February 21, 2019 The Department of Communications shares with you the Archdiocese of Detroit's statement regarding the Michigan Attorney General's update on the investigation into Michigan's Catholic dioceses: The Archdiocese of Detroit appreciates the Attorney General’s Office for providing an update today regarding its investigation. We also would like to add a few points of clarification. • Since 2002, the Archdiocese of Detroit has not entered into any non-disclosure agreements, unless specifically requested by a survivor of abuse, as required by the Catholic Church in the United States. In addition, the archdiocese does not enforce any non-disclosure agreements signed prior to 2002. We encourage all abuse survivors to share their stories. • The Archdiocese of Detroit does not self-police. We encourage all victims to report abuse directly to law enforcement. When we learn of an allegation of sexual abuse of minors, we immediately notify law enforcement authorities, in accordance with the agreements we have had in place with them since 2002, when we shared past case files involving clergy misconduct and committed to turning over all new allegations regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. We then follow law enforcement’s lead to step aside and assist, when requested, during any criminal investigation. • The Archdiocese of Detroit has not been asked by the Attorney General’s Office to stop its internal review process. These internal investigations are required under Church law, and their purpose is to restrict or remove from ministry anyone who has committed sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult. The Archdiocese of Detroit places no deadlines or time limits on those who wish to report the sexual abuse of minors by priests, deacons and other personnel. Be it five, 15, or 50 years later, our diocese accepts and responds to all reports – and immediately shares them with law enforcement. • Clergy with credible accusations against them do not belong in ministry. Since the Attorney General’s investigation began, the Archdiocese of Detroit has not received notification from that office regarding credible accusations against any of our priests. Should we become aware of such a complaint, we will act immediately. • The State of Michigan’s mandated reporting laws have been in place for decades. Through the years, we have strongly supported expansions to the list, including the addition of clergy. The Archdiocese of Detroit regularly educates all mandated reporters of their duties to report sexual abuse or neglect of minors. • When the Archdiocese of Detroit became aware of the Attorney General’s request for parishes to publicize the state’s tip-line, we immediately offered to help our parishes facilitate the publication of that material. • The Archdiocese of Detroit looks forward to working with the Attorney General’s Office to clarify some of the broad generalizations made during today’s press conference. The Archdiocese of Detroit offers continued prayers and sorrow for all victim-survivors and their families. One sinful, criminal act, especially against God’s most vulnerable and trusting children, is unacceptable and one suffering soul too many. We remain committed to preventing sexual abuse against anyone - especially children and vulnerable adults. Editor’s Note: For additional information about how the Archdiocese of Detroit works to prevent and respond to sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults, please visit protect.aod.org.

OUR DEVOTION TO SEAS: January 4th is St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's Feast Day. Since it is so close to the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations we always move our celebration of our patron to a later date. This year we will honor our patron on Sunday, January 13th at 5:00 p.m. with the usual informal Pot Luck Dinner. The parish will supply the main course, a famous lasagna pasta from an Italian restaurant known for its lasagna and delicious fried chicken. We invite our parish family to supply the complements to our main course. This celebration is like a family get-together, we enjoy each other’s company, share stories about our parish past and build relationships for our ministerial future. Please sign-up on line (Sign-Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4faca629aafd0-stliz) or on the sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall and join us honoring the legacy that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton left to the Catholic Church in the United States.

An invitation for you to join us! You are Part of the Family!

Archbishop Vigneron has released a letter to the faithful, which will be read at weekend Masses September 22-23, affirming his support of the Attorney General’s investigation and sharing prayers for the healing of victim-survivors. Read Archbishop Vigneron's letter to the faithful (English) Read Archbishop Vigneron's letter to the faithful (Spanish) The Archdiocese of Detroit welcomes the Attorney General's investigation into the handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations in the seven Michigan Catholic dioceses. Read the full statement Response to USCCB statement on actions addressing clergy sexual abuse,

August 20, 2018 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Pope Francis on Monday, August 20 issued a frank, forceful and forward-looking letter confronting the crimes and sins of the sexual abuse of minors in the Church. It should be read by everyone–survivors, church leaders, and the faithful here in the Archdiocese of Detroit and beyond. As the Successor of St. Peter, our Holy Father provides us with a clearly stated, vocative “call to action.” “Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated.” Pope Francis’ letter renews our pledge to confront this evil, and to do so with all the resources at our disposal–especially the grace of God and the light of the Gospel. Archbishop Vigneron Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the People of God “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.

Regarding the report made public in Pennsylvania this week, there are two words that can express the feelings faced with these horrible crimes: shame and sorrow. The Holy See treats with great seriousness the work of the Investigating Grand Jury of Pennsylvania and the lengthy Interim Report it has produced. The Holy See condemns unequivocally the sexual abuse of minors. The abuses described in the report are criminal and morally reprehensible. Those acts were betrayals of trust that robbed survivors of their dignity and their faith. The Church must learn hard lessons from its past, and there should be accountability for both abusers and those who permitted abuse to occur. Most of the discussion in the report concerns abuses before the early 2000s. By finding almost no cases after 2002, the Grand Jury’s conclusions are consistent with previous studies showing that Catholic Church reforms in the United States drastically reduced the incidence of clergy child abuse. The Holy See encourages continued reform and vigilance at all levels of the Catholic Church, to help ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults from harm. The Holy See also wants to underscore the need to comply with the civil law, including mandatory child abuse reporting requirements. The Holy Father understands well how much these crimes can shake the faith and the spirit of believers and reiterates the call to make every effort to create a safe environment for minors and vulnerable adults in the Church and in all of society. Victims should know that the Pope is on their side. Those who have suffered are his priority, and the Church wants to listen to them to root out this tragic horror that destroys the lives of the innocent. Vatican City, 20 August 2018 http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2018/documents/papa-francesco_20180820_lettera-popolo-didio.html Vatican City, 20 August 2018

Condolences and prayers for the family of James Frenchi who passed away on September 12th. A Memorial Mass will held on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 280 E. Square Lake Rd in Troy, with visitation from 9 a.m. Click on title, "In Loving Memory", for further details.

Condolences and prayers for the family of James Kurz who passed away on August 4th. A Memorial Mass will held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 280 E. Square Lake Rd in Troy, with visitation from 9 a.m. Click on title, "In Loving Memory", for further details.

Be inspired by a new Catholic television program for every day living that will motivate you to achieve your hopes and dreams as you live a life of power, impact, freedom and purpose. It provides practical ways of living life to the fullest and helping you make faith a part of your daily life. DirectTv Ch 371, Dish Ch 258, AT&T Ch 565, Verizon Fios Ch 288: Every day 8:30 am (EST) | 7:30 am (CST) | 5:30 am (PST) For more information, go to BruceDownesTheCatholicGuy.com where you can watch the program daily or on click on the link above to view episodes on YouTube.

CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players is a multi-part film series through ‘Word on Fire’ Ministry that delves into the lives of figures who shaped the Church and changed the world. Courtesy of a partnership between eCatholic (our web provider) and Bishop Robert Barron's ‘Word on Fire’ ministry, we are able to view the free hour-long film on St. Francis of Assisi at our website, saintliz.org. The Pivotal Players module is available June 1 through August 31, 2017.

On June 3, 2017 at the Pentecost Vigil, Archbishop Vigneron released his fourth pastoral letter, Unleash the Gospel, as the Archbishop of Detroit. This letter is the result of Synod 16 and discusses the future of the Archdiocese of Detroit and how we can become joyful missionary disciples with evangelization as our focus.

Condolences and prayers for the family of Paula Kellett who passed away on July 15. Condolences and prayers for the family of Dolores Sitko who passed away on July 15. Condolences and prayers for the family of Eugene Zembrzuski who passed away on June 6th. Condolences and prayers for the family of Esther Pelliccia (mother of Rob Pelliccia), who passed away on May 18th. Condolences and prayers for the family of George Shay who passed away on May 9th.