I Will Miss You, Bishop Povish
By Fr. Cecilio Reyna

I was deeply moved with the news of Bishop Povish's passing. I first met him as an 18 years old seminarian. He welcomed me with open arms and was very supportive of me throughout my years as a seminarian and after I was ordained. In June of 1994, the month and year I was ordained, Bishop Povish fell ill with cancer. He invited Bishop Schoenherr of Detroit to be present at the Ordination in the event that he was unable to confer the sacrament. Bishop Povish was frail that morning, but he nevertheless mustered the strength to ordain me, and he did so with distinction. During his homily, he said how glad he was to be able to ordain the Diocese's of Lansing first Mexican-American priest, and he was especially glad because I was a native of the Diocese, a "home-grown Son," as he put it. I visited with Bishop Povish in his home a few months ago. I will always treasure that visit. The last time I saw him was on the day he died. He was in a coma that morning. I gave him a blessing and kissed his forehead. Two days after his passing, as I stood near the water's edge on Lake Huron, the lake the Bishop grew up with, I wrote in the sand: "Thank You Bishop Povish. Rest in Peace!" The waters soon erased the words signifying to me that he had received my words and that he was now home with his heavenly Father. I will miss you Bishop Povish. Thank you for your sacrifice to God's people, and know that I will always love you and that I will never forget you.