Bishop Earl Boyea

Bishop of Lansing, Michigan

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

"Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the source and summit of the whole Christian life, they offer the divine victim to God, and offer themselves along with Him." Lumen Gentium, No. 11

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

School's out! To our approximately 600 teachers and administrators across our 36 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lansing: Thank you. God bless you. Enjoy a restful summer.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

For the past four years, Deacon Jacob Derry has studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Tomorrow morning he will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing. His chalice was purchased from a Roman jeweler. It is over 100 years old and originates from Lyon, France. In what way does this sacred vessel reflect the sacred priesthood? Watch as Deacon Jacob explains.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

"Let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, let us be careful shepherds, watching over Christ's flock." Saint Boniface (675 - 754)

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Next month we will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. While Catholics were very few in number in North America back then, they did have a presence. Today, in this fifth presentation, we reflect on one of the two members of the Carroll family who demonstrated great support for the American Revolution.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Magnifica humanitas (146): Without careful attention, an educational system lacking in a love for truth may emerge, in which an incessant flow of information replaces the essential exercise of research, reflection and discernment.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

"Do not be ashamed to confess the cross, for angels glory in it," Saint Charles Lwanga (1860 - 86)

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Twenty-six years ago, Father Dan Wheeler of Saint Elizabeth in Tecumseh purchased a chalice with the intention of giving it to the next son of the parish to be ordained to the sacred priesthood. Twenty-six years later, that sacred vessel has now been gifted to Deacon Joshua Bauer, who will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing this Saturday, June 6, 2026. Watch this short film as Deacon Bauer and Father Wheeler tell their chalice story.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Congratulations to Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Jackson who celebrated the centenary of their magnificent parish church on Sunday. The building, a gem in our diocesan architectural firmament, has been stirring souls toward the things of God for 100 years. Congratulations to Father Tim Nelson, his staff, and his parishioners upon this historic occasion. Ad multos annos. More:

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

The three hearts of Jesus | Dedicating our country to the Sacred Heart:

Lansing, Michigan
Monday, June 1, 2026
Month of the Sacred Heart

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

It may seem strange to honor a body part, that is, the heart of Jesus. Yet, for the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 12), the bishops of the United States will consecrate our country to that heart. Why do we Catholics do this? It was St. John Eudes in the 1600s who encouraged a devotion to the heart of Christ. In fact, he talked about Jesus having three hearts. Let’s look at what he meant.

There is, first of all, the divine heart of Christ. Now, of course, there is no such thing as a physical divine heart. God, as divine, has no body parts. However, it is a great symbol for the love that God has for us, as St. Paul states so clearly in his Letter to the Romans: “God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Rm 5:8) We often think about Jesus loving us because he died for us, but imagine offering up your only begotten son to death for someone else. But here the text says that God the Father proved his love in this way. We might be willing to die for someone, but would we be willing to give our child to die for someone? That is the divine love, the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for all of us. St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans further tells us that this “love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rm 5:5) Divine love is simply a free, generous, undeserved love. It makes no demands but does invite us to love in the same way.

There is a second heart in Jesus. It is his spiritual heart, that is, the heart of his will, both his divine will and his human will, deeply united to live out true charity. This is his own specific sacrifice for us, the sacrifice of his own will for us, and the sacrifice of his life for us. This love is obvious to us. We see it in the scriptures. We see it whenever we look at a crucifix. But even though we see it a lot, we really do not understand it. Why would someone, anyone, let alone the Son of God, go to such lengths for us — it is a love beyond our measures. We don’t deserve it. Our human love is always so conditioned; we are always looking for what is in it for me. His is a love that makes no sense. Why would you leave 99 sheep in the desert by themselves to go look for one lost sheep, for me? It makes no sense, but that is true love.

The third heart of Christ is his physical, fleshly heart, symbol of his human affection for us. This is an intense, passionate, fixed love, which is expressed in Jesus’ concern, in the compassion he felt in his guts, his tenderness, and tears. Jesus had passion. That passion was always focused on others, on that lost sheep, on that repentant sinner. Sometimes our passions lead us into places we know we should not go, places we perhaps regret having gone, places where we may have ruined our lives or other lives. Not Jesus’ passion. It is always pulsating for others, for their good, to gather them, “from every dark place where they are scattered when it was cloudy and dark.” (Ez 34:12) He really loves helping others. There is no other way to say it. He simply finds great joy, his life’s purpose, in being a man for others. He experiences a rapturous emotive love for us that we creatures will experience only in heaven.

We bishops want our country to be a school of love. On rare occasions we may actually achieve that. Often, as we know, because we are all sinners, we have fallen short. Let us pledge ourselves to the heart, that is, to the hearts of Christ. We can do this because the divine love has been planted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, because we see the Crucifix of Christ daily and thus, we know to what we are called, and because our own passions are wonderful things and we want to use them in a noble fashion. Jesus, give us a heart like your own.

Sincerely yours in Christ

+ Earl Boyea

Bishop of Lansing

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Last summer, Deacon Peter Randolph lost his dear younger brother, Xavier, in a drowning accident on Lake Michigan. May he rest in peace. On June 6, Deacon Peter will be ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Lansing. Watch this moving short film as he prayerfully ponders his impending priesthood through the story of his chalice — the sacred vessel he will use to offer the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

May is the month of Mary! Appropriately, Catholic Charities Washtenaw County chose this month to invite me to bless their new Mary Garden on the grounds of their Ann Arbor office. I was very happy to oblige. Ave Maria!

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Why would 18th century Catholics in these lands favor the mostly Protestant American colonists over Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War? That's the question I ask, and attempt to answer, in this fourth talk in my series "Catholicism & American Independence". Enjoy!

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Deacon Ryan Ferrigan is one of four young men whom I will ordain to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Lansing on June 6, 2026. A son of Saint Martha Parish in Okemos, Deacon Ryan prayerfully ponders his impending priesthood in this beautiful short film through the story of his chalice — the sacred vessel he will use to offer the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Of your charity, please join me in praying a Novena for the following men as they prepare to be ordained as priests and deacons for the Diocese of Lansing on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Saint Thomas Aquinas parish in East Lansing:

• Rev. Mr. Joshua Mark Bauer, St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh
• Rev. Mr. Jacob John Derry, St. John the Evangelist, Fenton
• Rev. Mr. Ryan Scott Ferrigan, St. Martha, Okemos
• Rev. Mr. Peter Casey Randolph, Christ the King, Ann Arbor
• James Burleson Bonar, Christ the King, Ann Arbor
• Paul Edward Keenan, St. John the Baptist, Ypsilanti

For details, go to: https://t.co/e6ocIs8rcN

[FAITH Magazine @FAITHmag]

“It’s like drinking from a holy firehose.” That’s how David Kerr, director of communications for the Diocese of Lansing, describes the deluge of inspiring stories that comes the way of his department every week.

Read more: https://t.co/ikNVaNR81C

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

Thank you to all those from across the Diocese of Lansing who attended Holy Mass upon Memorial Day to pray for the repose of the souls of those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. May they rest in peace. 🙏🇺🇸

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

"God never comes where there is no love for our neighbors." Saint Philip Neri (1515 – 1595)

[Vatican News @VaticanNews]

In his first #encyclical "#Magnificahumanitas", on the Church's social doctrine in the era of #ArtificialIntelligence, Pope Leo XIV appeals for the safeguarding of humanity, promotion of truth, dignity of work, social justice, and peace.

https://t.co/4Mev5jVPxD

[Bishop Earl Boyea @BishopBoyea]

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Laurence Binyon (1869 – 1943)