Friday, January 9, 2026
Feast of Blessed Pauline-Marie Jaricot

"When human strength can no longer do anything,

prayer — sustained by faith — can do everything,"

Blessed Pauline-Marie Jaricot (1799 – 1862)
 

My sisters and brothers in the Lord,
 

Welcome to this second episode in our exploration of Saint Paul’s mission in Corinth. I hope you enjoyed our first installment last week. Today Paul arrives in Corinth. 

Episode #2: Paul arrives in Corinth

There are two sources for our knowledge of Paul’s ministry in Corinth: the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 18, and his own letters. According to the Acts, Paul left Athens after a so-so ministry there and then traveled south by means of the isthmus arriving in Corinth.  He met Aquila and his wife, Priscilla (Paul calls her Prisca), who had fled Rome at the ousting of the Jews by the Emperor Claudius in 49 AD.  

Paul seems to have supported himself by joining this couple in their work as tentmakers.  On Sabbaths, he sought to convince Jews and God-fearers about Jesus.   We are then told that Silas and Timothy finally made their way down from Philippi and Thessalonica, from whence Paul had been expelled. They brought significant financial support from that area such that Paul was now freer to exercise his ministry. 

Rejected then by the Jews, Paul moved his ministry to the home of a God-fearer, Titus Justus, who happened to live next door to the Synagogue.  He was even able to bring over the Synagogue official Crispus and his family as well a number of new converts, whom he baptized (Acts 18:8).  Acts notes: “One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, ‘Do not be afraid.  Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you, no one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.’  He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them” (18:10-11).  It is possible that this vibrant Christian community never exceeded 200 people during Paul’s time.

The Jewish community was not content with him causing discord next door and so brought him up on charges before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, in about 51 AD, who dismissed the case as a matter of purely internal Jewish concern.  We hear little more about his stay in Corinth until he leaves for Ephesus with Prisca and Aquila, departing from the port of Cenchrae, where Paul made some kind of vow and cut his hair.  He then left his friends in Ephesus and made his way to Syria, from whence his various missionary journeys had always begun.

It is at this point that we can take a very large-picture view of the Corinthian correspondence. While we have only two letters, Paul makes mention of more than two. It is possible that they have all been melded together in the current documents. Obviously, this is a process of educated guessing, but some scholars have come up with the following arrangement:

A first letter was described by Paul: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral people….” (I Cor 5:9).  Paul’s letter must have been received as too absolute a statement, since Paul later noticed that the recipients were taking it to mean that the Christians “would then have to leave the world” (5:10).  Paul rather meant that the Christians were to preserve their own community from immorality, not to separate from the larger Corinthian community, which, in fact, they should be evangelizing.  It is possible that II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 could be that first letter. Now, just to be clear, there are not many scholars who will maintain this position, but I like to think that it fits the bill.

After this, Chloe’s house sent further news: “For it has been reported to me, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you” (I Cor 1:11).  In addition, at some point in Paul’s process of writing, delegates arrived from Corinth: Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus with added information (I Cor 16:17).  As a result, Paul sent Timothy from Ephesus with his second correspondence which we today call First Corinthians (I Cor 4:17).

Saint Paul by El Greco, 1541–1614, Saint Louis Art Museum

Then Paul seems to have made a “painful” visit to Corinth (cf., II Cor 2:1).   The result of this “second visit” led to a “severe letter,” (see II Cor 2:4; 7:8), Paul’s third correspondence with Corinth.  This is most likely our current II Corinthians 10-13.  This seemingly was carried to Corinth by Titus (II Cor 2:13; 7:13).  Paul seems to have been worried about how this letter was received and so made his way to Macedonia and there received good news from Titus about the Church in Corinth (II Cor 2:13; 7:5, 13).

Paul then talks about a third visit to Corinth (II Cor 12:14; 13:1, 2). As a result, Paul then sent his fourth correspondence which was very positive, promoting reconciliation and which we find generally at II Corinthians 1-9. 

So, over the next weeks, allow me to present these “four” pieces of correspondence.

Until next week, may God bless you. 

+ Earl Boyea

Bishop of Lansing

P.S. Here is a video version of this week's talk. Please do share with friends and family. Thank you. 

Read: Attendance at Sunday Mass across the Diocese of Lansing is up 6.5% over the past year with 52 out of 72 parishes recording increased numbers of people attending Holy Mass upon the Lord’s Day.“These latest census figures are certainly heartening,” said Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, “and, upon reviewing them, I can’t help but give thanks for the goodness of God’s grace at work in our diocese, and the responsiveness to so many clergy and lay faithful to that divine grace, both presently and in years prior. Thanks be to God.”The census of Sunday Mass attendance occurs each October in parishes across the Diocese of Lansing. Every parish submits an average of their weekly attendance across the Sundays of that month.

The annual snapshot charted a precipitous decline in Sunday Mass attendance in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by year-on-year growth in attendance for the following five years. Thus, the figures are:

• 2019: 58,090 attending Sunday Mass• 2020: 27,501 attending Sunday Mass• 2021: 42,559 attending Sunday Mass• 2022: 44,416 attending Sunday Mass• 2023: 48,528 attending Sunday Mass• 2024: 50,035 attending Sunday Mass• 2025: 53,290 attending Sunday Mass

These statistics suggest an increase of 10,731 in Sunday Mass attendance over the past five years. That’s a leap of just over 25%. In total, parishes across the Diocese of Lansing have recovered 92% of the pew counts prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lisa Kutas, Chief of Staff, Diocese of Lansing 

“The widespread anecdotal evidence from across our parishes is that while, sadly, we lost a significant number of church-going Catholics during the COVID year, there’s also been a big increase in Catholics who have become far more fervent in the practice of the faith,” said Lisa Kutas, Diocese of Lansing Chief of Staff pictured above, “plus a continued and startling uptick in the number of converts to Catholicism.”

“Increasingly," added Kutas, "people are either ‘all-in’ or ‘all-out’ when it comes to being serious-minded and intentional as disciples of Jesus Christ and his Holy Church.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Sunday Eucharist “is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice,” adding that “for this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”

Read: Weekly Update | Stewardship for Saints & Scholars Campaign | The Magi's gifts inspire final push for campaign:  

In the immediate wake of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign enters the final weeks of its active appeal phase, diocesan leaders are encouraging the faithful to look to the Magi, writes Sara Saenz, pictured below, of the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign team. 

The Magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were given out of love and devotion, not duty — an excellent example of stewardship we all can follow. Their generosity to a baby of unassuming parents may have seemed puzzling to bystanders, but in their hearts, the Magi understood who this child really was.

Launched in 2023, the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign is helping Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lansing become more mission-driven, affordable and accessible, while also supporting parish faith formation and other local needs.  

Sara Saenz of the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign 

The campaign is already shaping classrooms and parish halls across the diocese: funds are supporting teachers with new training programs, expanding tuition assistance for families, creating more resources for students and enabling parishes to invest in local ministries and projects.

The fact that the active appeal phase ends around Christmas is a natural reminder that our faith is rooted in giving. At Christmas, we celebrate God’s greatest gift, his Son. The Magi responded to this gift by presenting their treasures. In the same way, the diocese invites gifts to the campaign as acts of gratitude and faith, not obligation.

“Just as the Magi brought treasures to proclaim the mystery of Christ’s coming, so too must we bring our gifts — not out of obligation but out of love, so that Catholic education may flourish and future generations may meet him,” Bishop Earl Boyea said.

The bishop’s words remind us that the campaign is about more than financial goals. It’s about forming hearts and ensuring our faith is passed on.

Our Catholic Schools are already strong, thanks be to God, but continuing to support on-mission teachers is a top priority. Recruiting and retaining quality educators is challenging everywhere, and Catholic schools face that same challenge while asking teachers to embrace a deeper mission. The campaign is helping lighten that load.

With funds raised, the diocese has introduced signing bonuses and invested in professional development so schools can continue offering strong academics rooted in faith. Teachers remain at the center of Catholic education, and their example shapes students long after they leave the classroom.

Affordability also is a priority. By expanding tuition assistance and increasing endowment funds, the diocese is helping make Catholic education more affordable to families. Already, the campaign is opening doors for more children to learn where faith and academics come together.

Accessibility for all students is growing, too. The diocese is improving assistance for students with special needs and intends to provide funds for special projects identified at our four regional diocesan high schools.

Parishioners can see the fruits of stewardship close to home as each parish receives a share of the funds it raises for local initiatives. For some, this means supporting religious education. For others, it involves investing in facilities or outreach ministries.

Now, as the campaign’s active appeal phase nears its conclusion, diocesan leaders are inviting parishioners to finish strong. For those who haven’t yet pledged, this Christmas season is the perfect time. For those who have already given, a one-time gift in the spirit of the Magi carries meaning beyond its dollar amount. Each offering is a commitment to Catholic education and faith formation.

The Magi’s gifts may not seem practical for a newborn, yet they were deeply symbolic gifts to a king, offered in love and devotion. Likewise, gifts to the campaign are more than financial support. They are acts of faith in God’s work through the Church.

The campaign has already demonstrated what we can achieve when we come together for a worthy cause. The final weeks are critical in determining how fully we can realize Bishop Boyea’s vision for our Catholic schools.

As families gather this Christmas season, the image of the Magi kneeling before the Christ Child invites each of us to ask: What gift will we bring?

Click to visit Saints & Scholars campaign website

Watch: Nicholas Lammers, above, entered Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Minnesota last year. A son of Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor, Nicholas admits he had some nerves before embarking upon a path towards the sacred priesthood. So how did he overcome those fears? Watch and find out. 

Nicholas is one of the Diocese of Lansing's 29 seminarians. Please keep them all in your prayers in the months to come. Saint Charles Borromeo, patron of seminarians, pray for them! 

Do you feel called to the priesthood? Click here.

Read: Every now and again, I wonder, “How many times have I celebrated Mass?” Or I might wonder how many times I have helped to share God’s mercy and healing through the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick, writes Father Dwight Ezop, editor-in-chief of FAITH Magazine and pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Charlotte and Saint Ann Church, Bellevue. What about weddings, funerals or first communions? By now I have lost count, but each has been an opportunity for me to grow in God’s grace and to share God’s grace with those around me.

How many stories of God’s enduring presence have graced the pages of FAITH since its beginning 25 years ago? I suppose one could sit down and count them all, but other than providing an interesting piece of trivia, I’m not sure what that would show. Instead, I like to reflect on how, over these 25 years, we have sought to stay true to the original vision for FAITH that was articulated by the late Bishop Carl Mengeling, our founding publisher, and the late Fr. Charlie Irvin, our founding editor-in-chief.

Father Dwight Ezop, editor-in-chief, FAITH Magazine

FAITH began with a simple idea:  tell stories of faith using words and pictures. Jesus used stories and real human experiences to tell and teach about the goodness of God. Surely there are still many such stories that can be told. In telling these faith-stories, people have the opportunity to witness the presence and action of God in a deeply personal way, hopefully seeing our relationship with God as not one that is distant or impersonal, but rather, living, dynamic, and approachable.

Our goal has been not only to tell stories of faith, but also to build relationships that are centered around our faith. In telling these stories, we have said good-bye to old friends like Bishops Povish and Mengeling and welcomed new friends. We have come to understand God’s love for us in both challenging and everyday circumstances. Hopefully, we have also helped one another to understand that we belong not just to particular parishes, but to something much larger and very beautiful:  we are all members of the Body of Christ and we belong to Christ.

Thanks for being here for 25 years. Thanks for letting us drop by your home ten times a year for a visit. Thanks to all those who have so graciously shared their stories on these pages. Thanks to all those who continue to read and share these stories with family, friends, co-workers and total strangers. Thanks to Bishop Boyea for his support and guidance. Thanks to Bishop Mengeling and Fr. Charlie for getting this thing off the ground. Thanks to a very faith-filled and talented staff who keep writing, designing, crafting, sharing and trusting that we can tell these stories and help to bring about even deeper love for God.

25 years seems like a long time and a lot of stories, but we’re just getting started. And so, with thanks to God and to all of you, our journey in FAITH continues.

Want to read more from FAITH Magazine? Click here

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