May the pursuit of excellence mark the future for all graduates, as it has their high school years.

Academy of the Sacred Heart

Valedictorian: Telissa Portis
Parents: Marvin Robinson and Nicolette Robinson
College: Undecided

Bishop Foley Catholic High School

Valedictorian: Olivia Tuck
Parents: Matthew and Mary Tuck
Parish: Our Lady of La Salette, Berkley
College: University of Notre Dame

Salutatorian: Nicole Murley
Parents: James and Mary Murley
Parish: Our Lady of La Salette, Berkley
College: University of Pittsburgh

Salutatorian: Brandon Ko
Parents: Alan and Marinela Ko
Parish: Guardian Angels,Clawson
College: Northwestern University

Brother Rice High School

Valedictorian: Maxwell Q. Odena
Parents: Thomas and Jaye Odena
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Christopher A. Sesi
Parents: Steve and Eman Sesi
Parish: St. Thomas(Chaldean), West Bloomfield
College University of Michigan

Cabrini

Valedictorian: Steven Sikora
Parents: Steven and Jill Sikora
Parish: St. Constance,Taylor
College: University of Michigan

Cabrini

Valedictorian: Brendan Wilson
Parents: Melvin and Abigail Wilson
Parish: St. Constance,Taylor
College: Wayne State University

Salutatorian: Mary Lennon
Parents: Michael and Katherine Lennon
Parish: St. Sebastian, Dearborn Heights
College: Northwestern University

Cardinal Mooney Catholic Prep High School

Valedictorian: Rachael Torey
Parents: Michael and Kathleen Torey
Parish: St. Anne, Warren
College: Undecided

Salutatorian: Kathryn Shepherd
Parents: James and Christine Shepherd
Parish: Our Lady on the River, Marine City
College: University of Michigan

Detroit Cristo Rey School

Valedictorian: Anti’Shay L.Taylor
Parents: Anthony and Esther Taylor
College: University of Michigan

Salutatorian: Mia M. Madison
Parents: Jeff Madison
College: Wayne State University

De La Salle Collegiate High School

Valedictorian: Adam D. Farchone
Parents: Daniel and Ann Marie Farchone
Parish: St. Mary Queen of Creation, New Baltimore
College: University of Notre Dame

Salutatorian: Alexander J. Swantek
Parents: Roger and Donna Swantek
Parish: St. Peter, Mount Clemens
College: University of Michigan

Detroit Catholic Central

Valedictorian: James Haubert
Parents: Daniel Haubert and Mari-Kay Haubert
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College: University of Notre Dame

Salutatorian: Hunter McDaniel
Parents: Robert McDaniel and Lori McDaniel
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College: University of Notre Dame

Divine Child High School

Valedictorian: Louise Sawaya
Parents: Parish: St. Raphael, Garden City
College: Centra lMichigan University

Salutatorian: Michelle Kerr
Parents: Timothy and Denise Kerr
Parish: Divine Child, Dearborn
College: Hope College

Everest Academy

Valedictorian: Miranda Ferguson
Parents: Paul and Marietta Ferguson
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College: Madonna University

Valedictorian: Sam Bellestri
Parents: Sam and Julie Bellestri
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College: University of Alabama

Salutatorian: Alexandra Lis-Planells
Parents: Miguel and Irene Lis-Planells
Parish: St. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion
College: Ave Maria University

Salutatorian: Patrick Nalepa
Parents: Michael and Kathie Nalepa
Parish: St. Daniel, Clarkston
College: Hillsdale College

Gabriel Richard High School

Valedictorian: Samantha Lyons
Parents: Steve and Alisa Lyons
Parish: St. Joseph, Trenton
College: University of Michigan

Salutatorian: Adam Baginski
Parents: Richard and Karen Baginski
Parish: St. Pius X, Southgate
College: University of Michigan

Ladywood High School

Valedictorian: Claire McCarthy
Parents: Jeff and Christine McCarthy
Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth
College: University of Notre Dame

Valedictorian: Bridget Murphy
Parents: John and Susan Murphy
Parish: Our Lady of Victory, Northville
College: Purdue University

Salutatorian: Sarah Langford
Parents: Dan and Ann Langford
Parish: St. Mary, Pinckney
College: University of Kentucky

Loyola High School

Valedictorian: Kwaishon Bell
Parents: Amanda R.BellLucas
College: Dartmouth College

Salutatorian: Devonte Jones
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. James W. Jones
College: Wayne State University

Marian High School

Valedictorian: Alyssa Anne Kulesza
Parents: Greg and Lisa Kulesza
Parish: St. Martin de Porres, Warren
College: Grand Valley State University

Valedictorian: Grace Elizabeth Lutfy
Parents: Michelle Lutfy and Paul Lutfy
Parish: Holy Name, Birmingham
College: University of Michigan

Salutatorian: Shae MaryRose Boguslawski
Parents: Mitchell and Kathleen Boguslawski
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College: Undecided

Mercy High School

Valedictorian: Kelly Redmond
Parents: Steven and Patricia Redmond
Parish: St. Patrick, Brighton and St. John, Howell
College: United States Military Academy at West Point

Salutatorian: Lilliana Haddad
Parents: Shaker and Juliet Haddad
Parish: Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington
College: University of Michigan

Salutatorian: Elaina Jacqulene Wiljanen Weber
Parents: Michael Weber and Kari Wiljanen-Weber
Parish: St. James, Novi
College: Fordham University

Notre Dame Preparatory

Valedictorian: Robert J. Boniface
Parents: Robert and Amy Boniface
Parish: St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College: Vanderbilt University

Valedictorian: Jaclyn C. Borgiel
Parents: William and Gail Borgiel
Parish: SS. John andPaul, Washington Township
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Brian P. Cain
Parents: Walter and Sheila Cain
Parish: St. Joseph, Lake Orion
College: University of Dayton

Valedictorian: Christina E. Casali
Parents: Frank and Lisa Casali
Parish: St. John Vianney, Shelby Township
College: Michigan State University

Valedictorian: Palmer J. D’Orazio
Parents: Robert and Linda D’Orazio
College: Hope College

Valedictorian: Michael W. Fakhoury
Parents: Walid and Rita Fakhoury
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Michael H. Guerra
Parents: Michael and Natalie Guerra
Parish: St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Lisa R. Savagian
Parents: Peter and Josie Savagian
Parish: St. Thomas More,Troy
College: Hope College

Valedictorian: Matthew P. Siatczynsk
Parents: Paul and Jill Siatczynski
Parish: St. Andrew, Rochester
College: University of Notre Dame

Valedictorian: Maxwell T. Spadafore
Parents: Michael and Sue Spadafore
Parish: St. Andrew, Rochester
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Nicholas R. Watson
Parents: Robert and Mary Watson
Parish: St. Andrew,Rochester
College: University of Chicago

Valedictorian: Kevin W. Ziegler
Parents: William and Paula Ziegler
Parish: Sacred Heart of the Hills, Auburn Hills
College: University of Michigan

Our Lady of the Lakes High School

Valedictorian: Samantha Campbell
Parents: Richard and Nichole Campbell
Parish: Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College: Aquinas College

Valedictorian: Patrick Coyle
Parents: Larry and Mary Coyle
Parish: Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Lauren Juliano
Parents: Lawrence and Barbara Juliano
Parish: Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Amanda Wolanin
Parents: Dave and Sue Wolanin
Parish: Our Lady of the Lakes, Waterford
College: Michigan State University (James Madison College)

Regina High School

Valedictorian: Abigail Basirico
Parents: David and Jennie Basirico
Parish: St. Therese of Lisieux, Shelby Township
College: University of Michigan

Valedictorian: Sarah Cornwell
Parents: Peter and Janis Cornwell
Parish: Immaculate Conception, Anchorville
College: John Carroll University

Valedictorian: Tory Harris
Parents: John and Jan Harris
Parish: St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores
College: Hillsdale College

Valedictorian: Allison Pellerito
Parents: Joseph and Leslie Pellerito
Parish: St. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores
College: University of Michigan

Shrine Catholic High School

Summa Cum Laude: William Bolton
Parents: Wyman and Maureen Bolton
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower,Royal Oak
College: Boston College

Summa Cum Laude: Alyssa Cramer
Parents: Dale and Renee Cramer
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak
College: University of Michigan

Summa Cum Laude: Theresa Dierker
Parents: Joseph and Julia Dierker
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower,Royal Oak
College: University of Detroit- Mercy

Summa Cum Laude: Kent Peaslee
Parents: Brian and Chestra Peaslee
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower,Royal Oak
College:Duke University

Summa Cum Laude: Mallory Uchalik
Parents: David and Gail Uchalik
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower,Royal Oak
College: University of Michigan

Summa Cum Laude: Donald York
Parents: Matthew and Joanne York
Parish: National Shrine of the Little Flower,Royal Oak
College: University of Michigan

St. Mary Catholic Central High School

Valedictorian: Lauren Coseo
Parents: David and Susan Coseo
Parish: St. John the Baptist, Monroe
College: University of Michigan
 
Salutatorian: Kelsy Dimeff
Parents: Ty and Kirsten Dimeff
College: University of Toledo

St. Mary’s Preparatory

Valedictorian: Kyle Christopher Anderson
Parents: Bob and Teresa Anderson
Parish: St. Mary of the Snows, Milford
College: University of Michigan

Salutatorian: Mavis Musib Gappy
Parents: Musib and Ban Gappy
Parish: St. Thomas (Chaldean),West Bloomfield
College: University of Michigan

University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy

Valedictorian: Ryan J. Furdock
Parents: Douglas and Sandra Furdock
Parish: Our Lady of Refuge, Orchard Lake
College: Michigan State University

Valedictorian: Sean P. O’Leary
Parents: Paul and Suzanne O’Leary
Parish: Holy Name, Birmingham
College: Undecided

According to the website, nine Michigan cities, including Detroit, will participate in another round of demonstrations, which will begin at noon on June 8.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron is scheduled to address the Detroit rally, as well as popular Ave Maria Radio host Teresa Tomeo and others, including some Protestant clergy.

The Detroit rally will again take place at the McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Ave., in downtown Detroit. Other rally sites include Howell, Flint, Saginaw, Midland, Lansing and Ann Arbor.
The rallies will be held in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling — expected in June — of the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

“The rally is intended as a clear message to the federal government, that it has no business defining the scope of religious ministry and that faith-based institutions and even private businesses affected by the mandate will simply not comply with the government’s unjust intrusion into the affairs of religion and freedom of conscience,” said Monica Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and a co-organizer of the national rallies, in a statement.

“Even should Obamacare be ruled unconstitutional, these rallies are necessary to ensure that freedom of religion will be protected in any possible subsequent health care legislation,” Miller said.

The court is expected to rule on the legality of the entire legislation, not just the HHS mandate, but several groups have filed lawsuits challenging the contraception mandate in case the law — or parts of it — are upheld.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” including prayer, fasting and action, from June 21 to July 4.

The first religious freedom rallies March 23 drew more than 63,000 protesters across the country, including about 1,000 in Detroit. The rallies are organized by the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.

From left, deacons Steven Mateja, Paul Snyder and Salvatore Palazzolo shared their thoughts on their upcoming priestly ordinations with The Michigan Catholic.

The three transitional deacons — the Rev. Messrs. Steven Mateja, Salvatore Palazzolo and Paul Snyder — all grew up in Metro Detroit and are all graduates of Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Their post-ordination assignments will be announced at the Mass.

The three ordinandi responded to questions put to them by Michigan Catholic reporter Robert Delaney. Read their answers.

DETROIT — Hearing-impaired Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit have one of the rarest things in the world — a deaf priest to minister to them.

Fr. Michael Depcik signs to the congregation at St. John’s Deaf Center in Warren as three new members are welcomed at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Fr. Michel Depcik, OSFS, one of only 10 deaf Catholic priests on the planet, celebrates Mass at the St. John’s Deaf Center in Warren and at Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Redford Township in American Sign Language, which he described as “the native language of deaf people.”

Fr. Depcik, who has been deaf since birth, responded to questions from The Michigan Catholic via email.

The St. John’s Deaf Center was founded in 1974 as an outreach ministry of the Archdiocese of Detroit. It is one of the ministries funded by the Catholic Services Appeal, the annual campaign now under way in parishes throughout the archdiocese.

Typically, about 120 people attend Sunday Mass at the center, and about 30 at Our Lady of Loretto, which was added in the early 1980s to serve deaf people on the west side of the Metro area. The local deaf Catholic community number about 300, but not all are able to make it to Mass every Sunday.

Having Mass available in ASL is essential if deaf people are going to fully participate, Fr. Depcik explained: “At hearing churches without interpreters, deaf people are lost — not able to follow Masses.”

He said there is usually no music at Mass, “although on occasion we do have had a group of people sign a song or two.”

“In place of music, we attempt to use visual enhancements to bring a sense of the sacred to the liturgy. This might include the use of incense, holy water, use of a projector and screen, environment, et cetera,” Fr. Depcik said.

Besides attending Mass in sign language, “people arrive early and stay several hours after Mass for a variety of programs and services, including parish council meetings, religious education, confession and spiritual direction, socializing and fellowship, committee meetings, et cetera,” he continued.

Because of the distance most of the people have to travel, as much as possible takes place on Sundays, but the community also offers programs and services at other times.

“We also provide various services such as Bible study classes, marriage preparation and other sacrament preparation classes, counseling, English/ASL classes for deaf adults who recently immigrated and need to learn English and ASL,” Fr. Depcik said.

Not all members of the worshipping community are deaf themselves, because there are also hearing parents of deaf children and hearing children of deaf adults, he said, adding that there are also several members who can hear but who, for various reasons, belong to the community.

Fr. Depcik came from a deaf family of seven. He drifted away from the Church in his teen years, but found his way back and felt the call to become priest at 21 years old. In response to that call, he joined the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

“Like many priests today, I am challenged to meet all the requests that come across my desk or that people ask of me in person. Many dioceses, due to shortage of priests and the bad economy, no longer are able to provide priests for deaf people,” he said.

“As I travel all over the United States and Canada, it pains me to see deaf Catholics without priests or adequate service to meet their spiritual needs,” he said.

Fr. Depcik spoke of the importance of CSA support to the Deaf Center.

“CSA is the lifeline of St. John’s Dear Center. Through CSA, the archdiocese is able to keep our deaf chaplaincy going, including my salary and funds to keep our center open. In this way, CSA helps every parish in the archdiocese by providing for them services that an individual parish would be challenged to provide.

“Without St. John’s, parishes would struggle to minister to deaf people — finding qualified interpreters for Mass and other sacraments and services, incorporating them into parish ministries, finding a teacher who knew sign language to do sacramental preparation class, and so forth,” he said.

While the deaf ministry has had a permanent home since Cardinal John Dearden established the St. John’s Deaf Center, the Archdiocese of Detroit has had priests ministering to deaf people since 1914. Before 1974, however, the deaf community had to relocate every time its chaplain was reassigned.

For more information about St. John’s Deaf Cehnter, email Fr. Depcik at depcik@oblates.us.

The legislation, House Bill 4769, is primarily aimed at prohibiting Muslim Sharia law in the state, but Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul Long said the bill also could have an adverse effect on canon law, which is the juridical structure that facilitates life and governance in the Catholic Church.

Canon law governs aspects of Catholic life such as church structure and authority, doctrine, the appointment of pastors, the care of objects used in sacred worship, and rules regulating Catholic parishes and schools. In a news release, the MCC said canon law in many cases predates and is even the basis of some civil laws in the western world.

“Any measure that could have the impact of interfering with the internal life of the Catholic Church shall be viewed as an attack on religious liberty itself and must be opposed,” Long said. “It is the hope of the Michigan Catholic Conference that discussions pertaining to this legislation will foster a deeper awareness of and appreciation for religious liberty and the contributions religious communities make to the common good of society.”

The Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in the state.