Sacred Heart Major Seminary
2701 Chicago Boulevard · Detroit, Michigan 48206
313-883-8500 · Fax 313-868-6440 · www.shms.edu
News Release
Father Baranowski to receive outstanding clergy alumnus award
For Immediate Release
Detroit, Michigan, November 28, 2007—Fr. Arthur Baranowski, founder of the National Alliance of Parishes Restructuring into Communities (NAPRC), will be recognized as the 2008 Outstanding Clergy Alumnus by Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan. He will receive the award at Sacred Heart’s Alumni Day Celebration, Sunday, February 17, 2008.
Father Baranowski graduated with a BA in Philosophy from then-Sacred Heart College Seminary in 1964. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1968. He earned an M.A. in Theology from the University of Detroit in 1970.. He is currently pastor of St. Christopher Parish, Marysville, Michigan, since 1996.
Since his earliest days in parish life, particularly as founding pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Troy, Michigan (1975-1988), Father Baranowski has been intrigued with the concept of using small faith communities as a method of renewing parish life. This interest led to his speaking at conferences across the country on parish renewal and the authoring of Creating Small Faith Communities, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press.
In 1990, he founded NAPRC (http://naprc.faithweb.com/), an association of parishes and people with the mission of “Ordinary people helping each other to connect to life and faith regularly.” The National Alliance holds a national conference yearly, sponsors training for parish pastors/staffs, and publishes materials to help parishes structure into small church communities. NAPRC held its annual conference at St. Christopher Parish in 2006.
The public, especially NAPRC members, are invited to honor Father Barnanowski at the February 17 Alumni Day Celebration. Tickets are $45 per person, which includes Solemn Vespers at 5:15 pm, cocktails at 5:45 pm and a banquet at 6:30 pm. A table of eight group reservation is available.
Reservations can be made by contacting Kate Bua, director of marketing at Sacred Heart, 313-883-8533 or bua.kathryn@shms.edu. Log onto Sacred Heart’s website, www.shms.edu , for a map and directions to the seminary.
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