Lansing priest works with Hispanic congrgation, with great success:

Thelen estimated that the membership included about 300 families when he started in July 1993.

There are about 600 families now – a result of increased awareness of the church as well as the area’s growing Hispanic population, he said.

"It’s been a blessing to be here," he said.

Thelen came to the church after spending five years working as a missionary in the mountains of southern Peru. There, he became fluent in Spanish.

David Crumm writes a column on another Michigan priest who’s using his gifts to build up his parish.

What is this, Give Props to Michigan Priests Day? Anyone else heard about this? I knew it was Talk Like a Pirate Day, but this – this is news.