Nouvel Catholic Central High School Student’s ‘Spirit’ Inspired Artwork Featured on Seminarian Prayer Card for the Diocese
SAGINAW — A colorful depiction of the Holy Spirit on a stained glass window created by Walker Wenzel, a senior at Nouvel Catholic Central High School, is featured on a special prayer card for seminarians. The prayer card is being unveiled at the Bishop’s Charity Golf Classic and Dinner for Seminarian Education this week. The prayer card will then be distributed in parishes throughout the Diocese of Saginaw. It will encourage the faithful to pray for vocations to the priesthood, and the diocese’s eight seminarians.
“I was inspired to draw the Holy Spirit in this way after attending a youth conference at Franciscan University of Steubenville in June,” Wenzel said.
Two years ago, the event planning committee — which includes Rev. Andrew Booms, director of Priesthood Vocations — gave all high school students the opportunity to submit original artwork. The hope was to introduce young people to the history of iconic art by challenging them to research its history and become familiar with its unique tradition.
“It’s very exciting to see our young people discovering religious iconic art,” Father Booms said. “By inviting youth to participate in this event we want them to deepen their spirituality and engage their religious imagination.”
In addition to having his artwork featured on the prayer card, Wenzel will receive a $300 tuition scholarship from the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan (CCFMM). The scholarship will be applied to his tuition at Nouvel. In addition to sponsoring this scholarship, CCFMM administers endowments which fund programs and initiatives throughout the diocese that support the evangelizing mission of the Church.
Wenzel is the son of Keith and Kristen Wenzel and a member of St. Dominic Parish where he is an altar server and projectionist.
The Dinner Banquet and Silent Auction to support Seminarian Education begins at 5:30 p.m. this evening at Curtiss Hall on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University. The Bishop’s Charity Golf Classic took place yesterday at Swan Valley Golf Club & Banquet Center in Saginaw.
In union with Pope Francis and Catholics around the globe, the Church of Saginaw is celebrating a Jubilee of Mercy. Pope Francis announced the extraordinary jubilee dedicated to Divine Mercy earlier this year, and desires all members of the church to participate. It began on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8, 2015) and will end on the feast of Christ the King, on Nov. 20, 2016. On Tuesday, Dec.8, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, inaugurating the Jubilee of Mercy. Holy Doors were opened in dioceses around the world in December including in the Diocese of Saginaw. Pilgrims now have an opportunity to pass through the Holy Door, thus expressing their willingness to “enter” into the mercy and love of God. There is a Holy Door at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption and at seven designated Sacred Heart Church locations throughout the diocese. All are invited to make a pilgrimage to these locations.
Jubilee Year
The practice of a jubilee year has ancient roots in the Jewish tradition and evidence for it can be found in the Old Testament (for example, see Leviticus 25). The jubilee year was called every fifty years and was a time for forgiveness. It stood as a reminder of God's providence and mercy. The dedication of a year for this emphasis provided the community with a time to come back into right relationship with one another and with God. As the practice of the jubilee year was adopted into the Catholic Church, these themes of mercy, forgiveness, and solidarity continued.
