Epiphany

Detroit Catholic: ‘Rising’ revival calls for Detroit faithful to be a people of hope rooted in Christ

On July 22nd, Vanessa sat down for interviews with Fr. John Riccardo and Detroit’s Archbishop Edward Weisenberger. We share those interviews with you today!

Fr. John Riccardo is the Founder and Executive Director of ACTS XXIX, a non-profit apostolate that exists to help get God’s world back by equipping clergy and lay leaders for the apostolic age in which we live. Fr. John served as a parish pastor for 15 years, most recently at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, Michigan where he was witness to the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that caught the attention of pastors around the country. Fr. is also the author of “Rescued: The Unexpected and Extraordinary News of the Gospel.”

Edward Joseph Weisenburger was born in Alton, Illinois, on December 23, 1960, to Edward John Weisenburger and Asella (Walters) Weisenburger, the third of their four surviving children. His father was a military officer, and his mother a homemaker. Weisenburger grew up primarily in Lawton, Oklahoma, but as necessitated by following his father’s career, his family also lived briefly in Kansas and Texas. Archbishop Weisenburger was appointed the tenth Bishop and sixth Archbishop of Detroit by His Holiness, Pope Francis, on February 11, 2025. He was installed on March 18, 2025, in Detroit’s Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Pope Leo XIV bestowed the archepiscopal pallium upon him at St. Peter’s Basilica on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, 2025.

Abouna Rodrigue Constantin was appointed pastor of St. Rafka Church by Bishop Elias Zaidan on July 1, 2020. He grew up in Beirut, Lebanon in a family of six and joined the seminary at age 18.

Upon completing his S.T.B. in theology at the Pontifical School of Theology at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in 2001, he joined the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon under Bishop Robert Shaheen. He was ordained a priest on July 20, 2003, and his first assignment was as the administrator, then pastor, of Holy Family Maronite Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 2003 to 2014. During his pastorate, Holy Family Church relocated from downtown St. Paul to a larger church and land in the suburban Mendota Heights, MN.

St. Rafka’s Festival is coming up August 7-9. Click here!

The FGR Dramalums are excited to present The Sound of Music!

Join us for this timeless classic musical!

Thursday, July 30th at 7:00 pmFriday, July 31st at 7:00 pmSaturday, August 1st at 7:00 pmSunday, August 2nd at 2:00 pm

All performances at Milan High School Auditorium, 200 Big Red Dr., Milan, MI

TICKETS:Adults: $15Children (18 and under): $7Families (all adults and children residing at the same address): $40Reserved Patron of the Arts Tickets: $25

Elizabeth Champion is beginning her 5th year as Drama teacher and director at Father Gabriel Richard High School where she produces four full-scale productions each year. She is a master at “telling stories for the God’s Glory,” which is the drama club’s mission.

Theresa DiFranco plays Maria in The Sound of Music. She is a 2019 graduate of FGR and a current Literature teacher at the school.

Detroit Catholic: ‘Rising’ revival calls for Detroit faithful to be a people of hope rooted in Christ

Natalia Gambin - Lay Ministry Development Coordinator at Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Sister Rose Elia - Chaldean Sister, Daughters of Mary Immaculate with Chaldean Seminarian

Aiden Kanno - 2nd Year Seminarian, Eparchy St. Thomas Apostle

Rio Sawa - Chaldean Seminarian

On Saturday, May 23, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger ordained four men to the sacred priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacons Lizandro Barba, Karl Finkbeiner, James Musgrave and Daniel Whalen became priests “now and forever, in the order of Melchizedek,” as it is worded in the Rite of Ordination.

Vanessa speaks with Fr. Finkbeiner today!

Fr. Karl Finkbeiner is an Associate Pastor at Holy Name Parish in Birmingham. He shares his journey to the priesthood with Vanessa today.

“The thought first came into my heart as a legitimate possibility that maybe God was calling me to be a priest when I was on a men’s retreat during a time of prayer after confession,” Deacon Finkbeiner told Detroit Catholic. “The thought welled up in my heart that this would be a beautiful life.”

In the Compendium of Eucharistic Miracles, author Shaun McAfee collects over 100 meticulously researched accounts to serve as powerful reminders of divine intervention and to stimulate serious inquiry in the realm of faith and science. Far from asking for blind belief, McAfee documents the precise, rigorous methods used by modern scientists to comprehend what is, in the vast majority of cases, physically incomprehensible. Beyond exploring these miraculous stories, this richly illustrated volume provides highly readable theological examinations of Eucharistic doctrine—including the exact rubrics governing the consecration, handling, and reception of the Host. It is an indispensable encyclopedia meant to draw your soul out of modern skepticism and into a profound, life-changing encounter with the living God.

Shaun McAfee is a convert to the Catholic Faith and a Lay Dominican with the Central Province of St. Albert the Great. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he holds a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University, and a Master of Dogmatic Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary.

John Paul II often said that the Church has two lungs—East and West—and it must learn to breathe using both of them. Remembering saints like Sharbel Makhlouf helps the Church to appreciate both the diversity and unity present in the Catholic Church. Like all the saints, Sharbel points us to God and invites us to cooperate generously with God’s grace, no matter what our situation in life may be. As our prayer life becomes deeper and more honest, we become more ready to make that generous response.

Fr. Chris Nahra serves as Associate Pastor at St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Clinton Township.

Can’t make it to Steubenville for the Defending the Faith Conference? Join us online for a special free livestream of Saturday evening’s featured session.

From wherever you are, join renowned Catholic theologians Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. Shane Owens for thought-provoking presentations, worship, and Eucharistic Adoration. Register today to receive livestream access and event updates.

Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 7:45 PM until 9:15 PM EASTERN TIME

Brian Kissinger is the Executive Director of Steubenville conferences at Franciscan University.

Detroit Catholic: ‘Rising’ revival calls for Detroit faithful to be a people of hope rooted in Christ

Bishop Francis Kalabat heads the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle in Detroit. The eparchy is comprised of 12 parishes, serving a Chaldean Catholic population of approximately 200,000 people. Bishop Kalabat is the founder of the Metro Detroit-based Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization Center. He was born in Kuwait and grew up in San Diego.