02/10/2026
READ: "WHY I LOVE SAINT SCHOLASTICA" by HEIDI GONZALES: What a great photograph! That's Heidi Gonzales, Moderator of the Diocese of Lansing’s Tribunal Chancery, pictured with her brother, Father Joe Krupp, pastor of Holy Family, Grand Blanc, and Saint Mark in Goodrich. Today the Church celebrates the feast of a very saintly sibling, Saint Scholastica, the 5-6th century twin sister of Saint Benedict. Heidi has always had a particular devotion to Saint Scholastica. But why? Here's her explanation:
I’ve always loved Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict, writes Heidi, and felt a connection with them. I love that their sibling relationship was faith based. I am one of six siblings, and I’m blessed to have sibling relationships that are faith based.
Growing up, my siblings tried to encourage each other in our faith. Our family had prayer together each night, but as siblings, we decided have our own prayer together. Each week we prayed, shared and encouraged each other. One of my favorite memories from those years is a time when we talked together about a homily that touched us all. A priest spoke about anonymously helping others; he called it “storing up treasures in heaven”. We decided to make that our mission. When we were able to help someone without their knowledge, we quietly said “treasures in heaven” to one another. We didn’t ask questions; we just smiled and said “way to go!” It was our way of keeping it anonymous while sharing the joy of our “mission” and keep the mission going.
We’re older now and have our own households. Faith support comes in different forms, but we still pray for each other and support each other. When one of us wants prayers for a medical procedure, or tough meeting or task, we put it in our family text. Someone will ask “what time?” and we all pray for that sibling at that time. When I was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, I walked into my appointments knowing that I was being lifted up even at that moment by my brothers and sisters. And each time I went into radiation, I held a piece of paper with the names of those I was praying for, including my family, and I prayed during radiation. It was a blessing to have my brother, a priest, anoint me. It was also a blessing when my sisters called me and prayed with me before surgery, siblings who checked in with my husband “What does Heidi need?” and siblings who reminded me how fortunate I was that my cancer was treatable. They all rejoiced with me when I was able to say, “I am cancer free.”
I’m grateful to have these people in my life. I can be real with them and admit that at least one or two of the fears of my childhood remain. One of my favorite stories about Saint Scholastica is the time she prayed for a storm to keep her brother from leaving. It makes me laugh because storms have always frightened me. It’s not unusual to get a call saying “Are you okay? That was a bad storm last night. I was praying.”
