COVER STORY An interview with Bishop Povish In His Own Words By Fr. Charles Irvin
	Feature A Letter From Bishop Carl F. Mengeling Letter By Bishop Carl F. Mengeling
	Feature Members of the Diocese of Lansing reflect on Bishop Povish Remembering Bishop Povish Interviews By Patricia Majher
	Feature Barbara Calhoun and Ione Fernung - Bishop Povish’s sisters - remember their brother Our Brother, The Bishop By Barbara Calhoun and Ione Fernung
	Web Exclusive A few personal impressions about the death of Bishop Povish. Reflections About Bishop By Ron Landfair
	Web Exclusive A historical look at Bishop Povish's episcopate adapted from the program for the celebration of his 50th anniversary to the priesthood and 30th anniversary as a bishop To Accomplish His Work compiled by Fr. George C. Michalek, Archivist

in his own words:
Bishop Povish talks about life, death and priesthood
Interview by Fr. Charles Irvin

Tell me about your faith life as a boy.

Bishop Povish: It was as a boy in a Polish-American household and ethnic parish. All my grandparents and most of my uncles and aunts lived in Alpena. The men had to go to Detroit to get work. My dad had to work there in Detroit in order to get the money to marry my mom. All my family lived in Alpena and they had a strong faith life.

When did you start thinking that you might
want to do something special with your life?

Bishop Povish: I didn’t have a good grasp on anything like that until I went to parochial school, because my parents attended a Polish school. They prayed in Polish. Their entire religious vocabulary was in Polish. But they were rebels who didn’t want me to know Polish because they wanted me to be thoroughly “Americanized” – which hurt my grandparents, who wanted me to be at least bilingual. They couldn’t converse with me about religion, and they taught me Polish prayers that I couldn’t understand.

My faith life was steeped in Polish traditions. My whole family observed Christmas and Easter and the Holy Days in the Polish tradition. They were steeped in religion but I didn’t know what these traditions meant. It was when I started attending parochial school and learning the prayers in English that I began to understand our religion. That was in the second grade.

When did you start praying?

Bishop Povish: My dad had a picture of Jesus and the rich young man. I didn’t know it depicted Jesus and the rich young man walking away from Him. That picture made a deep impression on me. My mother would point out to me “that was Jesus.” Then, when I entered the Grand Rapids seminary, there was a stained glass window of the rich young man walking away and Jesus with a sad expression “because he had many possessions.” The coincidence made an impression on me.

That picture that was my father’s gave me some idea that Jesus was a man. God, however, was somebody else. We went to church faithfully. My mother would exhort me to “behave in church.” We had to behave in church “because Jesus was there on the altar. He was there in that little house on the altar.”

We had an old-fashioned church with the tabernacle on the altar, made of wood. It had a gable on it, with a cross on top. It had a wooden door – not a grand door made out of brass or bronze. I could see the priest open the door. That was where Jesus lived and we didn’t want to engage in any disruptive behavior because Jesus lived in that little house.

I grew up thinking that God didn’t speak English. All I heard was Latin and Polish. Jesus lived in that little house. But Jesus was an adult man who was in that picture. And Jesus was on the cross.

When did God become personal for you?
When did you develop a personal relationship with God?

Bishop Povish: In the fourth grade one of my grandmothers was insisting that I become an altar boy. In the parish I then attended, St. Anne’s, you started to serve in the fourth grade. You found a partner. You learned the Latin prayers. We served in teams of four.

When I started serving Mass, particularly getting up in the early hours of the morning on cold winter days, God became quite real for me. When I started serving, this particular grandmother began asking me, “Do you want to be what Father is?” So, it was in the fourth grade that I began thinking about being a priest.

Was that something that you wanted to do because your heart was
in it, or you wanted to do it because somebody said you should?

Bishop Povish: Well, I had a great respect for my grandmother, because she was a very holy woman – a valiant woman. She was a widow. My grandfather died in February of 1929. She had five kids at home and she took in washing, sewed clothes for wealthy people, etc. She supported her kids. She was a holy woman.

She influenced your decision to become a priest?

Bishop Povish: Very much so. She prayed for it anyway, and frequently talked about it.

Why did you become a priest?

Bishop Povish: I went to our Catholic school in the elementary grades. In the seventh grade I started attending public schools. I traveled with a bunch of guys who were not the most wholesome of young men. I had several girlfriends. I went to Mass and received the sacraments, but wasn’t thinking about the priesthood.

I was shocked into reality when in the 11th grade I had to go to the academic counselor in order to make plans for college. He asked, “What are you going to do with your life, Povish?” He wanted me to go to the University of Michigan. My math teacher wanted me to go to Hillsdale. My English teacher wanted me to go to Northern Michigan University at Marquette. My History teacher wanted me to go to the University of North Dakota, in Grand Forks, ND. And I had to ask myself, “What do I want to do with my life?”

At that time I had to reform, change my ways, cut out the dating, etc. More and more I realized that I wanted to be a priest. All this came to a head during Lent in my Junior year. In 1942 during Lent I realized, “I’ve got to talk with Father.” Graduation was coming up in June and I had to make a decision.

So, on a Wednesday night after Lenten devotions, an amazing thing happened. I went to the rectory to speak with Father and told him, “I think I want to go to the seminary, and I’ve got to have some advice.” He responded, “I was wondering when you were going to come and talk with me about this!” You see, I was a server at Mass and he sort of kept track of me.

We settled it that night. He pulled out a catalogue from the seminary in Grand Rapids, told me that he would go ahead and write the required letter of endorsement, and said, “You go home and tell your parents.” I ran home through the ice and snow and breathtakingly told them I had talked with Father, and now wanted to enter the seminary in the fall. My dad said one word. “You?!” I’ll never forget it. He didn’t know what had been going on, and thought I was still hanging around with those guys. My younger sister was always yapping about which girl was after me, etc. Actually, I had cut that stuff out and didn’t even go to the Junior Prom because I had stopped dating.

What did you love about being a priest before you were a bishop?

Bishop Povish: I loved parish life and being pastor. I liked to teach, and so I liked teaching Catechism.

When you learned you were going to be a bishop,
were you a member of the seminary’s faculty?

Bishop Povish: No. I had been a seminary professor for six years. I had promised the bishop I’d be a seminary professor for 10 years. After six years an important pastorate had opened up. The bishop promised that he “would speak to the seminary rector” (Fr. James Hickey). I was glad. I had enjoyed the six years as a seminary professor, but I really wanted to be a pastor. It was an honor, because St. Stan’s was at that time the largest parish in the Diocese of Saginaw.

So you were pastor of St. Stanislaus in Bay City when you
received the news that you were called to be a bishop?

Bishop Povish: Yes. It was a surprise. I was in Europe at the time. I was in Poland with Fr. Gaj, a native of Poland and former inmate at Dachau. The letter from the apostolic delegate in Washington, D.C., had come while I was there and was in a pile of other mail through which I was working. While I was (finally) reading that letter, I got a telephone call from Bishop Reh saying, “I’ve got to see you right away!”

The letter gave me three weeks to respond. I went to see the bishop. I was allowed to consult with my confessor and one other person. So my confessor said, “Take it!” The other person was Fr. Hart, God love him, and he also said, “Take it.” So, I sent the coded message back to the apostolic delegate accepting the appointment.

Bishop Albers has been called “The Builder,” Bishop Zaleski “The Theologian” and Bishop Povish “The Pastor.” How would you describe yourself?

Bishop Povish: Well, I was complimented when you said that. I never heard that before, but it seems to be quite accurate. I was very conscious through the years that almost everything we did was built on the shoulders of Bishop Albers. He was a genius at organization. He had a vision for the Church here. He bought up property. He was loyal to the Cincinnati seminary and the seminarians there.

Of course, I knew Bishop Zaleski personally and what a scholar he was. I would love to be called a pastor, for that is how I pictured myself.

You don’t have to answer this question if you don’t want to, but if you were asked, what words of advice would you give to your successor?

Bishop Povish: He’s got an almost innate sense of what this diocese needs along with what he’s got to do. He’s very good at doing what he’s doing. He’s doing a great job. He’s got a vision. He’s bold. He doesn’t hesitate to reach out, branch out. He’s very enthusiastic. He’s an evangelizer.

How would you describe your present relationship with God?
Have you ever been “mad” at God?

Bishop Povish: I’ve never been mad at God. I’ve never been disappointed. I often think of the serenity prayer and of Pope John XXIII’s words, “Lord, it’s your Church. Take care of it. I’ve got to go to bed!”

You’ve never been disappointed?

Bishop Povish: Only very briefly. Whenever I stop to think about what has happened and what is happening, I say, “Well, He knows what He’s doing.” No, I’ve never been angry with God, even with the cancer.

In facing his cancer, Cardinal Bernardin taught and inspired many people. What do you want to give to people in your own story, in your own battle?

Bishop Povish: Well, I really admired Joe Bernardin. I went to the seminary with Joe; counted him as a friend among the bishops of Region VI; kept in touch with him after he went to Chicago. But Joe had a touch, a gift that I don’t think I have, in that when he had his cancer – and he had the worst kind – he made an apostolate out of it. When you read all that he did – calling people, visiting people, counseling people and writing to people who had cancer – I haven’t got that. But one of the things that I pray for is that in this cancer that I have now, which is worse than what I had five years ago, that I will give people an example of accepting what God sends and living it in a redemptive way. I’m offering it all up. If this is going to be the end, I want to go out in a way that is a credit to God and something of an inspiration to other people.

Cardinal Bernardin talked about his fears. Do you have any?

Bishop Povish: I don’t have any fear exactly. I do have some wonder. My thinking is that I’ve really enjoyed these last four to five years. I know what I have here, and what I think I can do yet for a while. But I don’t know what’s ahead. It’s as Scripture said – full of wonder. And I haven’t had any experience of it. So I’m not afraid and would kind of like to have a few more years to continue doing what I’ve been doing in the last few.

Look at all of those prayer cards up there. I don’t save the letters because they come in all types of shapes and sizes. But I save the cards and the spiritual bouquets.

I feel good. I’m not afraid.

Any regrets?

Bishop Povish: (Thoughtful pause, and then) No, no regrets.

What else would you like to say?

Bishop Povish: Well, I just would like to say that these 25 years have been the longest that I’ve been able to stay in any one place. This has been really a great ride, I’ll tell ya. Terrific priests, wonderful people, great cooperation. I really couldn’t expect any more than I’ve had here. I just thank people who have worked with me, supported me. I think of this, Charlie. In the early ‘80s there was this economic downturn. One third of our parishes are in Genesee County, in the Flint region. One third of our population. Flint never flinched once! DSA goals were met every year. Everything that we asked, the people of Flint came through. That was just a great revelation and a great consolation to me. The loyalty of those people. Thanks to the clergy! Thanks to the laity! Thanks to all the benefactors. I say Mass for them every week.

And a special thanks to those housekeepers who have taken care of me. What life they’ve had to live though all of those years – some nuns, some laywomen. When I had to start keeping house here for myself, I found out how boring this is – the day in and day out cleaning and chores. You go through all of these household chores and then find that the next day you’ve got to do the same darn things all over again! I never appreciated until now what a life they’ve had.

It’s gratitude. That’s the big thing I want to tell people. I’m filled with gratitude for all that people have done for me.

a letter from Bishop Carl F. Mengeling

The death of Bishop Povish is a great loss for the Church of Lansing. He is beloved by so many in our diocese which he served so generously since 1975.
Even as we accept our loss, we thank God for the countless gifts given to our diocese through the episcopal ministry of Bishop Povish. We pray that he share fully in the Easter victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over suffering and death.

From the beginning of his episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Lansing, Bishop Povish was unfailing in his love for our Lord and His Church. His commitment to pastoral service never wavered. He never tired of the challenge and privilege of announcing and witnessing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

All who knew Bishop Povish came to appreciate his intellect, kindness and subtle humor. He was gifted with a questioning mind and an engaging personality that invited collaboration and enthusiasm. He was best known and appreciated for his effective preaching and writing. His words were well chosen and to the point.

In an admirable way, Bishop Povish’s life and ministry expressed the motto he chose when Pope Paul VI named him a bishop in 1970: “To accomplish His work.” All his pastoral initiatives served that end.

As we watched Bishop Povish in his final years it became clear that God called him to share intimately through Christian suffering in Christ’s passion and death. Often, the intensity of his suffering was unbearable. Yet always, Christ was present to Bishop Povish and said, “Come to me, you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” Bishop Povish was a brave Christian man, priest and bishop who made every effort to minister and speak truth even when weakened by sickness. No one can deny his courage.

The hour has come to see the full truth of God’s fidelity to his promise of eternal life fulfilled for Bishop Povish, faithful disciple of the risen Lord, generous priest and loving shepherd of Christ’s flock.

I will miss, but never forget, his priestly friendship, his sage counsel and his heroic witness. May the peace of Christ and faith in the certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life console the bishop’s family and all to whom he was so deeply devoted, especially the people of our diocese.

His voice is stilled, his pen laid down. Come, share your master’s joy!

– Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth bishop of Lansing

remembering
Bishop Povish
Interviews by Patricia Majher

What I remember most about Bishop Povish was his incredible sense of humor. One Sunday during Lent, I was waiting with him to begin the opening processional at the cathedral. He turned to me and asked, “What song are we supposed to sing?” I reminded him we’d picked Lord, Throughout These 40 Days. He laughed and said, “Sometimes I call that ‘Lord, Throw Out These 40 Days!’” That made me laugh out loud, right before we stepped down the aisle. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to serve him.
– Sandy Soltysiak, St. Mary Cathedral parishioner and lay minister

I’ve been a member of St. Mary Cathedral choir for 55 years, and sang at Bishop Povish’s installation and many of his Masses. He was a reverent man with a warm approach. So close to the people! During his homilies, he would share his personal experiences and show how the Gospel could be applied to our daily lives. He really connected with us.
– Margaret Perrone, St. Mary Cathedral parishioner and choir member

It’s because of Bishop Povish that we have a Hispanic ministry in this diocese. He was the first one to say, “We will have an office!” In fact, we founded our office three years before a national pastoral plan for Hispanic ministries was drafted.

Though the bishop didn’t speak Spanish per se, he learned to say the Mass in Spanish – even his homilies – so he could visit the migrant camps and bring God’s Word to them. He had a good grasp of the needs of our people. Always a kind word, making people feel at ease.
– Serapio Hernandez, director of the Hispanic/migrant ministry

The bishop had a gift for seeking advice, finding the best answer and moving forward. And he never backed away from anything that was difficult.

I remember when he came to the diocese and hosted an assembly of parish councils. They told him the diocese was getting too top-heavy. So he decided to restructure and downsize the administration. We had an in-service day to explain the changes to the staff, and everyone was invited to put their questions in a fishbowl. He didn’t leave until every question was answered and he never flinched, no matter how tough the topic.

Another tough time was when he had to suppress two parishes in Ypsilanti and create a new one. Some parishioners picketed his decision, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he assured the people that whatever help they needed in making the transition, he would be there for them.

He had a consultative style, but he wasn’t afraid to take action. I often heard him say, “I will do what needs to be done.”

On a lighter note, he hated green beans. We were under strict orders never to put them on the menu of an event he was attending.
– Sr. Rita Wenzlick, chair of the Dept. of Diocesan Ministries, Diocese of Lansing


I first met the bishop at our (Council of Catholic Women) national convention in Flint and found him to be very cooperative with the council. He always had time to listen to our needs and wants. In fact, he listened to us all day long at our conventions!

He served as our national episcopal moderator for 10 years and all the women loved him. He made friends all over the country. He also helped us on a diocesan level, meeting us for breakfast at the Flap Jack restaurant at Frandor to talk about our plans. We could throw out ideas to him and he’d always guide us to make better decisions.

When he retired, we raised money to send him on a trip to Europe. That’s how much we cared about him.
– Francis Michalek, volunteer, diocesan archives; former province director, Council of Catholic Women

He had an intense prayerfulness, a deep charitable concern for people – a burning charity, you might say. And, he could see the potential in each of us.

I first met him in the 1970s, when I was serving as a youth minister at St. John’s in Davison. After he was installed as bishop of the Lansing Diocese, he called me on the phone and invited me to head up the office of the permanent diaconate, despite the fact that I was not a deacon myself. Over time, he talked to me about the calling, asked me to consider becoming ordained. And, in 1990, with his blessing, I accepted God’s will for me. During his tenure, 66 men made the same decision I did.

Bishop Povish was a brilliant man, a learned man. But he could talk to anybody, children or adults. He truly was a man for others.
– Dcn. John Cameron, Diocese of Lansing Tribunal defender of the bond; former director of the permanent diaconate

Bishop Povish was a kind, thoughtful, generous person. He knew all the priests in the diocese on a first name basis. He even knew our families by name. He once called my brother in Denver when he found himself there on Church business. And that caring nature extended to his efforts to establish the Bishop’s Council on Alcoholism.

Building a coalition of volunteers from around the diocese, he made that council happen, was quick to act when any concern was expressed about a fellow priest. Not to criticize, but to help.

He was always there to help. Recently, when I celebrated my 40th anniversary as a priest, he came to show his support, even though he was obviously in pain.

The bishop was an inspiration to all priests. And a tough Scrabble player, too.
– Msgr. Richard Groshek, pastor, St. Pius X, Flint; former director of charities

He was a real, down-to-earth person, never putting on airs. He demonstrated that when he sold the episcopal mansion and moved into a regular house. And he was inclusive, always seeking the opinions of others and trying to build consensus. He used to say that his style took longer, but the result lasted longer, too.

When the lack of priests in the diocese forced us to close a parish in Flint, he agonized over the decision. Out of his grief came the idea of pastoral coordinators who could assume some of the duties of priests and keep our mission parishes alive. Our diocese was among the first in the country to do that. And it worked; we saw new churches built and parishes continued to grow.

I’ve heard it said that Bishop Albers was a builder, Bishop Zaleski was a theologian, and Bishop Povish was a pastor, in the fullest sense of the word.

And speaking of words, I’ve never seen anyone enjoy The New York Times crossword puzzle more than he. Of course, he did it in ink.
– Fr. Bob McGraw, pastor, St. Michael, Grand Ledge; former director of vocations and priestly formation

He was once a teacher himself, so he was very supportive of our efforts. Under his direction, we developed a policy book governing all aspects of Catholic education and established a more direct reporting structure between our high schools and his office. He also insisted on a formal program of formation for lay ministers – including those involved in religious education and youth activities – to make sure those people had the academic background to meet the challenges of their commitments.

He was very visible in the schools and at advisory board meetings. People always knew where he stood. As a boss, he was super – always accessible, easy to sit down and talk to, a good listener. And he supported our professional development, even allowing me to take a fellowship in Washington, D.C., because he knew it would benefit me.

He brought honor to the diocese.
– Bruce Fech, retired director of education and catechesis

Our brother,
the bishop

By Barbara Calhoun and Ione Fernung, Bishop Povish’s sisters

For the past 30-some years, Ken visited his family in Florida twice a year – at Easter and Thanksgiving. These were special times for all of us! We’d plan feverishly for his time here – making his favorite meals ahead of time and freezing them so that when he came, we’d have a lot of time to “goof off.” For me, it meant polishing the chandelier in the dining room and cleaning the china cabinet so everything would shine. Only did the chores twice a year – when he visited!

His trips here gave him the occasion to spoil his nieces and nephews. When they were young, it meant trips to 7-11 where they were able to get bags of sweets. When they grew older, it meant going to Pizza Hut. When our grandchildren came along, they were the ones who got “treated.” They affectionately referred to him as “Uncle Bishop.”

While in Sarasota, he stayed at the rectory of our parish, Church of the Incarnation, where the priests always made him feel welcome. During his last visit here (January 2001, for a nephew’s wedding) and while recovering from a recent round of chemo, he was asked about his health by one of the associates. His response was, “For 50 years I’ve been telling people about the wonders of God’s kingdom and now that it’s my turn to go, I’m ready to leave.” We all enjoyed that comment.

I remember especially how faithful he was to the Liturgy of the Hours. At Incarnation, the living quarters of the clergy were along the rear of the building – with a fenced-in grassy area and a sidewalk. Ken scared the daylights out of our priests on several occasions while they were still asleep, but awakened by someone outside their windows chanting Morning Prayer! I often wondered, too, what our neighbors thought of this person in shorts and Nikes, with his breviary in hand, walking around our house at twilight, singing during evening prayers. And even in DeWitt, he walked while praying the “office.” If weather permitted and he felt good, he prayed while walking the driveway. If it was too cold, or he didn’t feel good, he paced his small apartment and prayed. And we all know that God listened.

Micah 6:8 says, “You have been told O Man what is good and what the Lord requires of you: only to do the right, love goodness and to walk humbly with your God.”

I believe KJP did.