Special edition The Diocese of Lansing's fourth bishop retires Thank You Bishop Mengeling 1 Carl Mengeling's early years
	2 Father Charlie Irvin talks to Bishop Mengeling – a conversation about the bishop's time in Lansing
	3 We remember – we celebrate – reflections on the ministry of Bishop Mengeling
	4 His legacy – Why the Catholic Church will never be the same A tribute to FAITH's publisher

Bishop Carl F. Mengeling
the son of German immigrants
becomes the bishop of Lansing

Carl F. Mengeling was born Oct. 22, 1930, in Hammond, Ind., the son of Carl H. and Augusta Huke Mengeling, who were both German immigrants. He was the second of four children. At the age of 9, Bishop Mengeling was baptized a Catholic. Up to that time, he had been raised in the Lutheran tradition. He attended St. Mary Elementary School in Griffith, Ind.; graduated from Griffith High School in 1948; and attended St. Meinrad College and Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind., which was staffed by the Benedictines.

He was ordained a priest by Bishop Andrew G. Grutka on May 25, 1957, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, Ind. This was the first ordination class of the newly formed Diocese of Gary. He served as the associate pastor of St. Mark Parish, Gary from 1957-1961, then the largest parish in the diocese. He was then sent to Rome for advanced studies. Father Mengeling received a license in sacred theology at the Angelicum University and a doctorate in sacred theology at Alfonsianum Academy. He was in Rome for the opening of the Second Vatican Council and served as a page during some council sessions.

Upon his return to the United States in 1964, Bishop Mengeling was assigned to teach at Bishop Noll High School in Hammond, St. Joseph Calumet College in East Chicago, Ind., and St. Procopius Seminary in Lisle, Ill.

He returned to full-time parish minsitry, serving as pastor of All Saints Parish in Hammond from 1968-1970, Holy Name Parish in Cedar Lake from 1970-1971, Nativity of Our Savior in Portage from 1971-1985, and St. Thomas More Parish in Munster from 1985-1995. He was named monsignor in June 1984. His involvement in the Diocese of Gary included chairing the diocesan worship commission and the vocations committee. He founded the diocesan institute of religion and chaired it for 14 years. He also served on the presbyteral council, the ecumenical commission and the permanent diaconate formation team.

On Nov. 7, 1995, Msgr. Carl Mengeling was appointed to succeed Kenneth J. Povish as bishop of Lansing. He was the first priest of the Diocese of Gary to be elevated to the episcopacy. He was ordained a bishop on Jan. 25, 1996 at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing by Cardinal Adam Maida. The co-consecrators were Kenneth J. Povish, retired bishop of Lansing, and Dale J. Melczek, coadjutor bishop of Gary.

Bishop Mengeling chose the words of St. John the Baptist as his episcopal motto: “He must increase!” (John 3:30) During his years as bishop of Lansing, he has sought to increase his flock’s awareness of Jesus Christ. A repeated theme of his preaching is that we must be “on fire” with love for God and our neighbor.

During his first years in Lansing, Bishop Mengleing focused on the implementation of Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, to prepare the entire diocese for the third millennium of Christianity. A Jubilee 2000 Commission was established to coordinate four years of activities. Bishop Mengeling presided at regional Celebrations of God’s Forgiveness in 1999 and was part of the preaching team for the regional missions in 2000. He led pilgrimages to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

An outgrowth of the millennium preparations was the creation of the Office of Pastoral Planning in October 1999. The diocesan strategic planning process, VOICES, was conducted in 2000 and 2001, and the resulting goals were announced at the Common Conference in November 2001. A pastoral plan was promulgated at the Chrism Mass in March 2002. The reorganization of diocesan central services also resulted from this process.

FAITH, the magazine of the diocese, and winner of multiple national awards, was established in January 2000. FAITH was designed as an evangelical tool to help people deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and to build his body, the church. As a Jubilee 2000 gift from the diocese, each Catholic household in the diocese received a one-year subscription. More than 80,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Lansing continue to receive the magazine and its circulation has spread to sister publications in eight other dioceses, with two more starting in the fall, as well as several national magazines for Catholic institutions. Bishop Mengeling has been a regular contributor to FAITH.

Convinced of the importance of ministry to youth, Bishop Mengeling met in 1999 with the Knights of Columbus leadership in the diocese and shared his vision for a special center for youth on the campus of St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Bishop Mengeling presided at the blessing of Bethany House on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2001, the diocesan feast day.

Bishop Mengeling has had to face some difficult times as bishop. In 2000, a revised sexual abuse policy was put in place by the diocese well ahead of the national sexual abuse scandal of 2002. In response to this tragedy, in 2003, the bishop instituted the Virtus program as part of an effort to create a safe environment for the protection of our children and young people. Bishop Mengeling also has been part of the healing retreats offered at St. Francis Retreat Center for victims of sexual abuse.

Vocations always have been a priority for Bishop Mengeling. He encouraged the development of the Catholic Identity and Mission Campaign in 2005. He has commissioned 96 lay ecclesial ministers and ordained 32 priests. During his tenure in Lansing, 43 permanent deacons were ordained. Bishop Mengeling has presided at the first final profession ceremonies for communities of women religious of the Servants of God’s Love and Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Each year, the bishop has met with the prioress of the Adrian Dominicans and her council. At the national level, he served for a number of years in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees on the permanent diaconate and priestly formation and the subcommittee on campus ministry.

As an educator and a pastor, Bishop Mengeling always has been a strong supporter of Catholic schools. When he was pastor of Nativity of Our Savior Parish in Portage, Ind., he had the school building constructed prior to building the church. Bishop Mengeling brought this enthusiasm for Catholic schools to Lansing. As a result of the VOICES process, he has worked with pastors, staffs, and education commissions to make Catholic schools more accessible, available and affordable. During his episcopacy, the new Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor was built. Bishop Mengeling has appointed priest chaplains to all four diocesan high schools to ensure a solid Catholic identity and a deepened spiritual life.
Believing that building projects give people a sense of ownership and responsibility for the church, he encouraged pastors to build new churches. Bishop Mengeling dedicated churches at St. Catherine Laboure, Concord; St. Agnes, Fowlerville; St. Andrew Dung Lac, Lansing; St. Jude, DeWitt; St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton; Cristo Rey, Lansing; Christ the King, Ann Arbor; Christ the King, Flint; Ss. Charles and Helena, Clio; St. Mary, Pinckney; St. John the Baptist, Hartland; St. Joseph, Dexter; St. Ann, Bellevue and St. Gerard, Lansing. New altars were consecrated at Most Holy Trinity, Fowler; Immaculate Conception, Milan; Old St. Patrick, Ann Arbor; and at St. Mary, Westphalia. He broke ground for a new church at St. Joseph Parish, Dexter. He blessed chapels at Bethany House, DeWitt; St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Lansing; Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor; Lumen Christi High School, Jackson; St. Patrick School, Brighton; Ave Maria Law School; a perpetual adoration chapel in Lansing; and new mausoleums at New Calvary Cemetery, Flint and St. John, Davison. More recently, a new building was purchased to allow for the expansion of St. Patrick School in Brighton and a new parish center was opened at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Flint. The Pope John XXIII student center was blessed at Holy Trinity Student Parish in Ypsilanti.

A renovated church was blessed at St. Peter, Blissfield. At the Dominican motherhouse in Adrian, the historic Holy Rosary Chapel was renovated and blessed. The new St. Catherine Chapel at the Dominican Life Center was blessed in 2004. Education centers were blessed at St. John, Fenton; Holy Family, Grand Blanc; St. Mary, Pinckney; and a family center was blessed at St. John, Davison.

When the Hispanic parishes in Lansing and Flint opened their facilities, Bishop Mengeling joined in their celebrations. The Vietnamese community was excited when Bishop Mengeling created their parish in 1998. He joined the black Catholic community in rejoicing at the opening of their new church in Flint in 2002. That same year, diocesan staff helped coordinate the hosting of the Tekakwitha Conference, a nationwide gathering of Native American Catholics at Michigan State University; Bishop Mengeling presided at one of the liturgies.

Bishop Mengeling has reached out to minorities and groups often forgotten in our society. He has celebrated Mass for inmates in county, state and federal facilities. He frequently has gone to migrant camps to celebrate the Liturgy with farm laborers.

Bishop Mengeling celebrated his 40th anniversary with the priests of the diocese in 1997 with evening prayer and a dinner.

In 2007, the bishop’s 50th anniversary celebration was delayed due to his illness, but in October, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing, he celebrated with priests, cardinals, bishops, sisters, brothers, lay people of the diocese and his friends and family.

All his efforts have come from a heart full of love for God and a desire that others come to love the Lord. Since his ordination as our bishop in 1996, Bishop Carl F. Mengeling has lived the exhortation spoken to him by Cardinal Maida when the crosier was presented:

“Keep watch over the whole flock
in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you
to shepherd the Church of God.”

Father Charlie Irvin
talks to Bishop Mengeling
about his time in Lansing

Father Charlie: Prior to your retirement, you were a pastor in a number of large parishes. What’s different about being a bishop?

Bishop Mengeling: It’s bigger. Much bigger. It’s very different. Although it’s on a different level, the responsibilities are enormous. Just on the level of caring for the priests alone, it’s a huge responsibility.

Father Charlie: And it’s not just about making them happy – there’s a spiritual component as well, isn’t there?

Bishop Mengeling: Yes, yes, there is. The bishop is responsible for every aspect of his priests’ lives and all that entails. It’s massive, and I will admit that I have not been perfect; sometimes things fall through the cracks for various reasons that I don’t always know. There are priests who are sick, retired priests, young priests. The documents about priestly life give us a marvelous program of what should happen with priestly formation.
Father Charlie: And now there are developing programs for permanent deacons and lay people?

Bishop Mengeling: Yes. So when you look at personnel, it’s huge.

Father Charlie: What about your vision of the church? As bishop, you are our connection with the universal church; that’s got to be different from being a pastor.

Bishop Mengeling: Absolutely. And I have a relationship with a parish church in Rome, in a canonical sense, which is honorary. Then there is the relationship with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which was a new experience for me. I had no idea what that was. I went to a meeting before I was even installed in Lansing. My designation had been announced Nov. 7, but I became a bishop of the conference on Oct. 30, when they called me and I said, “Yes.” It was the day before Halloween when I was told I was going to be a bishop. Trick or treat! That relationship with your brother bishops is so important – there is a constant dialogue and seeking of advice.

Father Charlie: So you get to see the Diocese of Lansing in a larger context?

Bishop Mengeling: Yes. And another aspect of that is the relationship with the seven dioceses in Michigan, the Michigan province. And the wonderful thing about this province is that Cardinal Maida is a great leader of our province. He allows the bishops the freedom to exert their own style and influence. And he provides the avenues by which we come together on business, and come together spiritually every year on retreat. We come together socially, plus lots of other ways. So the bishops of Michigan all know each other and we collaborate. What happens in other provinces I don’t know, but I think we’re unique because of that leadership.
So you see what a big network all of this is, and they all connect. It’s marvelous.

Father Charlie: Some pastors get a glimpse of that if they serve on national boards, but not too much.

Bishop Mengeling: Right. And what reaches into a diocese is some of the most practical efforts that come out of these conferences and so forth. An example is the response to the Gulf Coast disaster and the unity that came from it – the tremendous unity. And our own Catholic Charities USA was so effective. I’ll just give you an example: The people of our diocese gave over half a million dollars to the tsunami and hurricane relief. The church does so much for people, but no one knows about it. And that’s our own fault. We need to get the word out.

Father Charlie: What’s the best thing about being a bishop and what’s the most challenging?

Bishop Mengeling: As bishop, I deal with offices and structural institutions and don’t get as much direct personal, pastoral contact with people as I did as a pastor.I miss that. So, probably the best thing for me is celebrating the sacrament of confirmation and other liturgies with the youth throughout the diocese.
Also, I was privileged to receive the first professions of final vows from the women who have formed the religious community of the Servants of God’s Love in Ann Arbor. They do wonderful work there. And I also received the final vows of the first group of women who were professed in the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.
And those are the kinds of rewarding things I did as a pastor. Nothing’s really changed except that it’s bigger – broader. Not just broader geographically or in numbers, but in the differences from one place to the next. This is a fascinating diocese. There are a variety of ministries – campus ministries, prison ministries, rural parishes, urban parishes. I’m fascinated by the multiple roles we have in this diocese. We have six colleges and universities and two major correctional institutions, and a number of community colleges.

Father Charlie: What’s been the most challenging thing?

Bishop Mengeling: It was very challenging to live alone for the first time. I hadn’t done it before I came here, and I don’t like it. I’d always had associates and then I had to be all alone. I had to get used to that.
During my tenure here, I had to deal with the one of the saddest events in our church history, the clergy sex abuse crisis. It was very difficult, but I was grateful that our diocese had fewer instances of those cases than some other dioceses.
The changing demographics in the Diocese of Lansing have caused us to re-examine where our resources should be allocated. I am grateful that the pastoral plan has gone as well as it has, because it will give us the basis for making some difficult decisions in the future about how we distribute our resources, especially our priests.

Father Charlie: It’s sometimes been said that Bishop Albers was the builder, Bishop Zaleski was the theologian, Bishop Povish was the pastor and Bishop Mengeling is the evangelizer. Do you think that’s true?

Bishop Mengeling: Yes, it is true. Evangelization has very much been a focus of my priesthood and episcopacy. That’s one of the reasons we started FAITH Magazine – to reach out to our brothers and sisters, some of whom have been away from the church for a while. And FAITH is not only in our diocese; it has grown tremendously and serves the national church as well. Whenever I meet with my brother bishops, they compliment me on it.

Father Charlie: What are your other accomplishments as bishop that make you proud?

Bishop Mengeling: I’m very proud of our diocesan pastoral plan, which promulgated seven goals and 68 strategies that are moving us forward in a spirit of unity and collaboration. I’m also proud of the new Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, the wonderful Mother Teresa House for the dying here in Lansing, the new St. Andrew Dung-Lac Parish that serves our Vietnamese community and Bethany House, the spiritual life center for youth at the St. Francis Retreat Center. I was also very moved by our intense preparation for Jubilee 2000, which made a great impression on faith and holiness throughout our diocese and our entire universal church.

Father Charlie: What are your plans after retirement? What would you like to do?

Bishop Mengeling: Well, I’ve always been a teacher and I’d like to continue to teach somewhere. That would be a real blessing for me. And I have been very happy here in the Diocese of Lansing, so I’m hoping to be able to stay here.

Father Charlie: Thank you, Bishop Mengeling. I speak for all of us when I say that we have appreciated your leadership, your spiritual guidance and your vision. Our prayers go with you as you enter into this new phase of your life journey. God bless you.

We remember – we celebrate
reflections on the ministry
of Bishop Mengeling

We celebrate 12 years of Bishop Mengeling’s leadership and thank him for being such a wise and gentle shepherd. FAITH asked some members of the diocese who know the bishop, and who have served with him, to share their memories.

On March 19, 2005, Bishop Mengeling presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church at St. Joseph Parish in Dexter. During the ceremony, Bishop Mengeling quoted an old Irish saying, “We warm ourselves by fires we did not build. We drink from wells we did not dig.”
Bishop Mengeling has inspired the priests, lay ministers and people of the Diocese of Lansing with his energy and fire of love for Jesus. He has called us to drink from the waters of our baptism and then to evangelize our Catholic brothers and sisters to live our faith with passion and enthusiasm.
– Father Brendan Walsh, St. Joseph Parish, Dexter

From the first moment that the four founders of the new Dominican community of Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist stepped inside the Diocese of Lansing, we knew we had a friend in Bishop Carl Mengeling. Whether it was his wit or faith-filled, amazingly positive attitude, his surprise greetings would be heard outside our windows and we would all instantly laugh in response! Showing him into the convent, his warm personality encompassed each sister with the best of the shepherd’s care that he radiates!
As tradition runs deeply in our 800-year-old order, we certainly hope that future Septembers will always find our jolly Bishop Mengeling shouting from his arriving car, “Hello, holy ones!”
– Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, Ann Arbor

Bishop Mengeling is gifted with the ability to share the three great theological gifts: faith, hope and charity. Bishop Mengeling has a special way of expressing God’s love for everyone, whether by visiting with migrant farm workers in one of the many camps in our diocese, sharing lunch with our senior parishioners during Senior Appreciation Week, meeting with those with disabilities, or talking about the blessings of natural family planning with young couples.
– Chris Root, Dept. of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lansing

Bishop Mengeling always has great respect for the church’s liturgy. He knows its texts, its rubrics, its options, and its ancient ritual. He seldom will deviate from a text, because he appreciates the rich traditions behind it and the noble simplicity of its language.
We have seen him anoint an altar with great dignity, ordain a priest with powerful silence and ancient words, offer a eucharistic prayer always as if it were his first time, and weep while reciting a preface about the priesthood.
– Rita Thiron, Office of Worship, Diocese of Lansing

When Bishop Mengeling came to this diocese, he was very supportive of the formation program that was under way here in Lansing. Bishop Mengeling had established a similar academic program when he was in the Diocese of Gary, Ind. As the bishop came to know the diocese better, he was delighted to see and support the wholistic formation program that we had developed here with Siena Heights University and gave it his full support.
It is with pride that the bishop has empowered lay ministers to respond to their baptismal call.
– Mary Tardif, Sustaining Pastoral Excellence, St. Francis Retreat Center

It is difficult to share one brief memory – there are so many great memories. As the saying goes, first impressions are lasting. It was Wednesday evening, Jan. 24, 1996, St. Mary Cathedral, vesper service the eve before Bishop Mengeling’s ordination to the episcopate and installation as the fourth bishop of the diocese. Here was a man – a stranger among us – whose eyes were full of life, whose smile was warm, who was a holy man and yet down-to-the earth, who had vision, who was “in-spiring” – who was “in-Spirit.” His wisdom, his teaching, his humanity, his example of a life of spirituality and holiness will always “in-spire” me.
– Sally Ellis, safe environment coordinator, Diocese of Lansing

Perhaps one of my favorite, ongoing recollections, of the bishop is his use of the “red pen.” Shades of his former position in Indiana, that of classroom teacher. Today, whenever a paper is sent to him for review, he gets the red pen working, just like the good old days. Like Bishop Povish, Bishop Mengeling is wonderful with young people. They enjoy listening to him and being with him. He is truly their shepherd and will be remembered as such. We have enjoyed working with Bishop Mengeling and will miss his guidance and leadership. My wish is that God will bless him with many happy and healthy days of retirement.
– Sister Dorita Wotiska, Dept. of Education

Bishop Mengeling always reminded me of the Holy Spirit. His visits to the parish have been like “the breath of God.” He always talked about “being on fire!” and he certainly is. Jesus said “the Spirit blows where it wills, you know not where it comes from or where it goes ...” That, too, reminds me of Bishop Mengeling, for with me, he was always full of surprises. Thank you, Bishop Mengeling, for being the fire and breath of God for us.
– Father William Ashbaugh, St. Joseph Parish, Howell and FAITH Magazine

I first “met” Bishop Mengeling from the choir loft of St. Mary Cathedral on the day of his ordination. I was impressed with his energy as he addressed the people. In the years following, this energy poured out to all of God’s people. He is a very pastoral and spiritual person, and I will remember him for this.
– Sister Marlene Taylor, disAbilities Ministry, Diocese of Lansing

I will always remember Bishop Mengeling as The Great Evangelizer, both in his preaching style as well as in his accomplishments. Foremost in my mind are the discussions we had in bringing FAITH magazine into being. He was courageous and bold in establishing FAITH, a magazine that is now national in scope. May God bless him and reward him for his faith and his courage.
– Father Charles Irvin, FAITH Magazine

The day I will remember Bishop Carl the most was the day of my profession into the Servants of God’s Love. There was only one thing missing for me that day – my father. Dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and traveling was out of the question. Lovingly, one of my sisters stayed home with Dad while my other sister came with Mom. It wasn’t exactly the way I had imagined, but I was so grateful my mother and sister were there.
We were all at the church early, including Bishop Carl. Immediately, his attention went to my mother. His warmth and solicitude toward her were very touching. She had never traveled without Dad and she was feeling his absence. Bishop Carl was very gentle, spoke a few words to her and assured her of his prayers.
After Mass, it was again Bishop Carl who made sure my mother had a picture taken with him and me. She has said, time and again, she’s never met a bishop like ours. I don’t believe many people have. We have been very blessed.
– Sister Mary Ann Foggin, Dept. of Vocations, Diocese of Lansing

I first recall hearing of Bishop Mengeling on the day his appointment as bishop of Lansing was announced. That evening, a number of friends from Indiana and Illinois contacted me to say how fortunate the Diocese of Lansing would be to have this holy priest as our shepherd. One after another, their words about him formed a picture – the new bishop was an excellent pastor, filled with apostolic zeal, and he would be a tremendous blessing for our diocese.
Little did I know then what an understatement their words would prove! Through Bishop Mengeling, the Lord Jesus continues to touch countless souls powerfully with the fire of divine love.
– Michael Andrews, Dept. of Education and Catechesis, Diocese of Lansing

From the first moment I met Bishop Mengeling, I was impressed by his boundless energy and charm. His warm smile and spontaneous laugh manifest the joyful gifts of the Holy Spirit that flow upon him and through him. And yet, over the past decade, I have had the privilege of being at many meetings with him discussing serious issues; and he brings to these situations a quiet intensity and much pastoral wisdom.
Bishop Mengeling clearly loves the priesthood and has found great joy in serving the Lord and the church over the decades. The Diocese of Lansing has been truly blessed with such a loving, compassionate and open-minded shepherd.
Bishop Mengeling has a wonderful way of integrating the world of culture with the challenges of faith; for this reason, he is a very effective preacher. In a well-deserved retirement, I am sure Bishop Mengeling will find more opportunities to read, travel and continue to grow in holiness and grace. We shall miss his presence and strong voice on behalf of the dignity of life and the gifts and needs of all God’s little ones.
– Cardinal Adam Maida, Archdiocese of Detroit

Bishop Mengeling is a man of deep faith in our Lord. One of the ways his faith is manifested is by his generosity. I have seen him totally exhausted and at the same time accepting additional commitments to participate in this or that program or liturgical service. He literally expends his time, talent and energy on behalf of the people of our diocese.
Another way his spirit of generosity manifests itself is through personal acts of charity toward individuals and organizations. You would never know about it because he never talks about it. He has a keen eye for other people and their needs. He does what he can to respond to those needs.
He has a spirit of detachment from material possessions. He gives away everything he can, and when he gives something away it is in pristine condition. Outside of his clothes, files, papers and books, he has very few personal possessions. He does not want to be weighed down with worry and concern about personal possessions as he journeys through this life.
This generosity and detachment reflects in a very eloquent way his motto, “He (Christ) must increase and we must decrease.”
– Monsignor Michael Murphy, Moderator of the Curia, Diocese of Lansing

I have always appreciated my interactions with Bishop Mengeling.
I found him a man willing to listen and to take the advice of others to whom he gave responsibility.
Because of his great passion for education, he was wholeheartedly supportive and enthusiastic that Siena Heights University was involved in the education and formation of the laity of the Diocese of Lansing. He truly gave his life as a teacher, using every opportunity available to enliven the faith of the people of the diocese.
I will miss working with him on both the diocesan pastoral council and through the program in theological studies at Siena Heights University.
– Sister Marilyn Barnett, Program in Theological Studies, Siena Heights University

On April 29, 2005, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Bishop Mengeling celebrated the rite of blessing and the dedication of the altar for the Adrian Dominican Sisters in the newly renovated chapel. Msgr. George Michalek approached me and asked if I would hold Bishop Mengeling’s staff. Since this had not been planned, I was surprised and deeply honored. As I was holding it throughout this lengthy celebration, I prayed in thanksgiving for the way in which he had chosen to shepherd the people of the Diocese of Lansing. I also asked that we might be given another bishop who would continue his ministry of being our Good Shepherd.
– Eileen Jaramillo, The Tribunal, Diocese of Lansing

I remember going to France with the bishop and some other seminarians for World Youth Day in 1997. For the closing Mass, the bishop could have received a special ride. Instead, he chose to walk many miles with the seminarians and other pilgrims.
I think many people were skeptical about the diocese starting FAITH, as well as building Bethany House. The bishop is a person of deep faith, and clearly has a vision, not just for the next few years, but for 10 to 20 years down the road.
One of the bishop’s most-used lines is to “dive in.” He refers to a person sitting by a pool. Some people just put their feet in, and dabble in the water. The bishop has always encouraged us instead to “dive in,” to trust and to put everything we are into what we are doing. He could say it because he was doing it.
– Father Jerry Vincke, Office of Seminarians, Diocese of Lansing

My memories of Bishop Mengeling are as vast as his spirit. Beauty, truth and goodness are hallmarks of his actions. Whether it was watching high-school quizbusters, distributing tomatoes from his garden, discussing icons, or teaching profound theological truths, every act was pure “Mengelian,” that is – intense, witty and melodic.
In every encounter, his deep awareness of the holy invited those he met into the power and beauty of simplicity and fidelity (sometimes with a song).
– Sister Monica Kostielney, Michigan Catholic Conference

Bishop Mengeling is a down-to-earth person, outgoing, gregarious and a born teacher. Once, he conducted a day retreat for all LCCHS employees: principals, teachers, office staff, building and groundskeepers and kitchen workers.
All were impressed by his genuineness, optimism and candor. He told stories of his personal experiences as student, teacher, priest and bishop, and he easily shared his hope and faith with his listeners.
– Margaret Perrone, Lansing Catholic Central High School,
St. Mary Cathedral parishioner

We’ve been blessed with outstanding bishops for the Diocese of Lansing since its inception. Bishop Mengeling is no exception. He has extended himself way beyond expectations to be everywhere in the diocese. For 10 years, his enthusiasm for preaching and teaching the good news has been an inspiration to me. When I asked him how he maintained such a high level of enthusiasm and excitement whenever he visits a parish, his response was basically, “Why shouldn’t I be? The Gospel and our faith are always sources of enthusiasm and excitement.” His attitude hasn’t changed since he came to us! What marvelous leadership!
– Monsignor Richard J. Groshek, vicar general

In private conversation, Bishop Mengeling remarked that he felt a kinship and bond with the mostly black community of Gary, Ind. – that he understood their problems and the challenges they faced living out their faith. A rather fond memory is watching him preach. I remarked to him at one point that I noticed that rather than just “giving a homily,” he seemed to “preach” in a decidedly African-American style, often bouncing on the balls of his feet.
– Ron Landfair, Office of Black Catholic and Multicultural Ministry,
Diocese of Lansing

I was blessed to be with Bishop Mengeling when he met Pope John Paul II. When he received the formal invitation for a private audience with the pope, I was among the diocesan representatives permitted to accompany him. I remember approaching the huge bronze door to the right of St. Peter’s Basilica. With the formal invitation in hand, the Swiss Guards waved us through and we were led to special elevators that brought us to the floor of the Holy Father’s office. There were a number of rooms to pass through, each exquisitely decorated; each with its own history. The various Swiss Guards we met typically move visitors right along. Bishop Mengeling, however, was not going to miss the chance to look around the rooms and absorb their beauty and history. He stopped the Swiss Guards in their tracks when he asked in German, “Guten Morgen! Wie geht es Ihnen heute?” “Good morning! How are you today?” Then he carried on a conversation with each of them: “How long have you been here? Do you like working here? How is your family? What’s the history of this room?” I don’t think they ever imagined that an American bishop would be able to converse in German and be interested in them as persons. It was an extraordinary moment in the course of their typical day.
– Msgr. Steven J. Raica, Chancellor

The future bishop’s “leadership qualities” were obvious at an early age. He was blessed with an active imagination, which led us kids on many great adventures.
I remember one adventure, after one too many French Foreign Legion movies, that we (he) thought it would be great to have an Arabian adventure. After “borrowing” the necessary apparel from Mom’s stuff, we dressed ourselves as desert Arabs, complete with burnoose, head-dress and our wood-sword version of a scimitar. Properly attired, we then proceeded to rampage through the neighborhood with robes flying and swords waving as we chased the innocent kids.
All was well until the town marshal was alerted and put an end to our “adventure.”
– William Mengeling (Bishop Mengeling’s brother)

Bishop Mengeling and I had three wonderful years together in Casa Sancta Maria. They were special years because two of them were years of the second Vatican Council. Bishop Mengeling had a very great love for Rome, which he shared with me. So as a young priest, as his friend, I would join him in his visits to many places of interest – many of them churches and other historical places. As a result of that, I was able to see things that I wouldn’t have on my own.
– Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archdiocese of Philadelphia

His legacy
Why the Catholic Church
will never be the same

I can still picture it. With great enthusiasm, he raised the book over his head so everyone could see and processed around the room. Was this a priest preparing to proclaim the Gospel at Mass? No. It was Bishop Mengeling in a room full of skeptical pastors holding up a prototype of FAITH Magazine. Little did any of us know what he was starting.

It has been said that we’ve had the right bishops at the right time. Bishop Albers, our diocese’s first, was “the builder.” Bishop Zaleski, a participant in the Second Vatican Council, was “the theologian.” Bishop Povish, a parish priest, was “the pastor.” So, was it because we live in the Information Age that Bishop Mengeling became “the evangelizer”? In other words, do the times we live in shape us, or do we shape our times?
Carl Mengeling grew up in a much different time. His mother was an immigrant. As with most Catholic immigrant families, the Mengelings’ lives centered around the church. Catholic schools, hospitals and newspapers fostered a strong Catholic identity. Until the 1980s, 50 percent of registered Catholics attended weekly Mass. Now, that number is lower than 25 percent. The dawn of the Information Age meant that there have never been more ways to communicate, but the church’s message has gotten lost in this 24-hour cable, USA Today, Google world. Most bishops continued to communicate as they did for the last 100 years – primarily with a diocesan newspaper. When Carl Mengeling became a bishop, he realized times had changed.
What Bishop Mengeling did was create a new model for the church to evangelize in the Information Age – a reader-driven, multi-media approach used by corporate America. The result is one of the largest and fastest-growing Catholic media companies in the country – FAITH Publishing Service. Should anyone think I am overstating Bishop Mengeling’s significance, I’ll simply review the facts. In 2000, FAITH consisted of one Web site and one magazine with a circulation of 80,000. In 2008, FAITH produces 15 magazines with a combined circulation of over half a million, multiple Web sites, books, television and more. Independent readership auditors said FAITH found the “holy grail long sought by their colleagues in the Catholic press.” Everywhere I go, I hear that Catholic media professionals are changing what they do because of FAITH. A report to the U.S. bishops even coined a phrase for this phenomenon: “the FAITH paradigm.”
FAITH’s approach is unique in the secular world because it focuses on regular people instead of celebrities. It is unique in the Catholic world because it focuses on practical ways to grow closer to Christ instead of on church news or controversial ideologies. People have responded. So have other bishops. After FAITH was launched, Bishop Mengeling was at a gathering of bishops and was asked, “Carl, how are you doing all this?” He responded, “I don’t know!” It’s funny, but true. He doesn’t know how it’s done – just that it works. There is a great photo, perhaps a little embarrassing, of Bishop Mengeling facing a computer with a mouse in his hand. He’s pointing it at the monitor as if it were a remote control. His monthly columns are thriftily handwritten on the backs of old letterhead and memos. It’s amusing and ironic that the man who is leading other bishops into the Information Age refuses to learn how to use a computer.
Bishop Mengeling has changed the way the church evangelizes. Hopefully, historians will remember his impact. Hopefully, we will remember the impact he’s had on us. Most of us got to know Bishop Mengeling from his column in this magazine. We saw God’s mercy when he wrote about his father forgiving him after he dropped the boat motor – in the lake. We saw repentance when he wrote about his first sin – stealing a comic book. We saw the value of suffering when he wrote about his uncle who fought in World War II – for the Germans. By sharing his faith, he taught us something about our own. Our passing on of that faith will be his greatest legacy.
For all he has given, we are grateful. What can we do to thank him now that he is retiring? Maybe we can simply do for him what he once did for this magazine – with great enthusiasm, hold him up.

– Patrick M. O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of FAITH Publishing Service