St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing at 219 Seymour, Lansing, MI 48933 US - Fr. Jeffrey Njus

Fr. Jeffrey Njus

I grew up in the Lansing area so coming to Lansing does feel like coming home.  After college in Minnesota, at St. Olaf College, I attended seminary in Chicago, Mundelein Seminary.  My two previous assignments as a priest have been at St. Patrick's in Brighton and St. Thomas Parish in Ann Arbor.

In the months before coming to the Cathedral I was given the opportunity to complete some studies in Spiritual Theology at Mundelein Seminary.  But after researching and writing for a while I am glad to be back to parish ministry.

On my first Sunday here at the Cathedral, I shared that since I learned that I would be coming here I have been praying for the parish.  Especially after hearing about the merger with Holy Cross Parish I have been praying for all of you.

The image of that merger has been very significant in my prayer.  It calls to mind a powerful moment in our life of faith - the moment when St. Mary and the Holy Cross come together.  When Jesus was dying for us, Mother Mary was there beneath the Holy Cross.  Our Lord looked at her with the beloved disciple next to her and said to him, "Behold, your mother."  In that moment, Mary became the mother of St. John, the beloved disciple, and of you and me as well.  That's the powerful thing that happens when St. Mary and the Holy Cross come together.  My prayer for our parish in the midst of the merger is that this will be a time for all of us to draw closer to Mother Mary especially at the foot of the Holy Cross.

While I look forward to being involved in every aspect of parish life, my ministry will be particularly focused on the young adult community.  The bishop has asked me to work with the St. Thomas More Society at Cooley Law School as well as the students at Lansing Community College.  In my ministry so far as a priest I have seen how God can work wonderfully in young people whose hearts are open to him.  I am excited to see what he might have in store for us here.

As a parish, what we will do most of all together is pray together.  We will pray together at Holy Mass on Sundays and at Daily Mass.  We will pray the rosary and adore Our Lord Jesus together in the Eucharist.  These are the moments I cherish as a priest, praying together with God's people.  But I definitely need your prayer.  Please pray for me that God will direct me in the ways he wishes to use this weak instrument here.  I will be praying for you as well that God will draw us deeper and deeper into the mystery of his love.

God bless you !
Fr. Jeffrey Njus

Fr. Jeffrey Njus was ordained in 2003.
Written by Fr. Njus for July 19, 2009 Bulletin

(Back)