Lansing Update: The Year in Review
Posted December 19, 2025
As 2025 nears its end, this final Lansing Update of the year will share how MCC carried out its mission to advocate for the common good at the state Capitol. Here are the highlights from 2025:
More State Support for Nonpublic Schools Secured in State Budget
Catholic and other nonpublic schools across Michigan will have more school safety resources this year after MCC’s advocacy resulted in a major funding increase in the state budget.
MCC’s advocacy also, for the first time, secured funding to extend the state’s expanded school meal program to qualifying nonpublic schools to ensure more children have access to healthy food at school.
The state budget for Fiscal Year 2026 included $14 million in security improvement grants for Michigan’s nonpublic schools, plus $3.5 million for school resource officers and $3.5 million for mental health support services.
Nonpublic schools received just $1.5 million in school safety grant funding in the previous budget year.
The increased funding came after months of sustained MCC advocacy. In addition to numerous meetings and contacts with key lawmakers, MCC produced videos featuring nonpublic school leader testimonies to promote an Action Alert that urged grassroots Catholics to message their lawmakers. Nearly 3,000 messages were sent to lawmakers representing almost every legislative district in Michigan.
The $1.6 million secured for expanding the school meal program to nonpublic schools was a significant achievement, as MCC has advocated over several years to have nonpublic students included.
To further encourage support among policymakers for nonpublic schools, and Catholic schools in particular, MCC published an edition of Focus demonstrating the public benefit that Catholic education provides to the state of Michigan.
Lawmakers Funded Programs to Help Mothers, Babies in Need
More mothers and their babies who need material assistance will benefit from state funding approved by the Legislature and supported by MCC.
The budget approved for this year made a $270 million investment into a cash assistance program known as RxKids, which provides a $1,500 payment to mothers in need during their pregnancy and $500 monthly for six months to one year after birth.
Lawmakers also maintained the MCC-supported diaper assistance grant program at $6.4 million, which provides diapering supplies for organizations that distribute diapers free of charge to mothers in need.
Michigan Bishops Speak Up for Immigrants
In a year marked by increased immigration enforcement, Catholic bishops across the country—including those in Michigan—have publicly spoken about the dignity that must be afforded to all people, particularly immigrants who may be undocumented.
All ten Catholic bishops who serve in Michigan signed a joint Pastoral Note to Migrants to express their “unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst.” MCC, working with each of the state’s dioceses, drafted and distributed the statement to parishes across Michigan.
In the Pastoral Note and accompanying materials, the bishops shared a Gospel-led Catholic perspective on immigration. MCC followed up the Pastoral Note with a print and digital edition of Focus providing an in-depth look at the Church’s perspective on immigration. Titled Seeing Christ in the Immigrant, it was distributed in both English and Spanish across the state.
Catholics Continue Marching for Protection of the Unborn in Michigan
Catholics from across Michigan prayed and marched for the protection of unborn human life at the state Capitol during the second-ever statewide Michigan March for Life on November 6.
MCC worked to publicize and promote the event to Catholics in Michigan. Groups of students from Catholic high schools were among the most prominent constituencies present at the March.
The day began with a Mass for Life at St. Mary Cathedral, which was packed to capacity. In addition to Bishop Earl Boyea of the Diocese of Lansing, bishops from five of the seven Michigan dioceses were present.
Later, Bishop Boyea was joined by his brother bishops on the Capitol steps to provide the opening invocation. To hear his prayer and view a video recap, click or tap below:
MCC Rallies Catholics to Oppose Gender Ideology in Health Standards
More than 1,000 Catholics and MCC testified to the truth of the biological differences between men and women in opposing new health education standards adopted by the state that promote gender ideology.
While a majority of the State Board of Education ultimately voted for controversial new standards that promote concepts like “gender expression” and “gender identity” to public school students as young as 11 or 12 years old, MCC helped spur more than 9,400 messages sent to the eight members of the board.
MCC also submitted formal public comments and encouraged the department of education to better clarify what topics would be presented in sex education classes, which are subject to laws requiring parental notification and the ability to opt their children out of objectionable content.
MCC Brings Bishops, Lawmakers Together
For the first time in seven years, MCC this year organized and hosted a legislative reception in Lansing to bring Michigan’s Catholic bishops together with state legislators.
With frequent turnover in the state Legislature due to term limits, and bishops being appointed to a new diocese from time to time, events such as these are helpful for both bishops and legislators to build relationships.
This year’s event drew dozens of current legislators and staff, as well as nearly every bishop in Michigan.
New Church Leadership, Both in Michigan and in Rome
This year was also a time of transition to new leadership in the Church, both for the global Church and here in Michigan.
Along with the rest of the world, MCC commemorated the life and ministry of Pope Francis upon his passing in April 2025 and celebrated the election of the new Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, rejoicing in the first American-born pope with multiple ties to Michigan.
Shortly before he passed, Pope Francis named Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger as the new leader of the Archdiocese of Detroit, following the retirement of Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron after his 23 years of service to MCC and the Archdiocese.
In addition to providing leadership for the largest diocese in Michigan, Archbishop Weisenburger also assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Directors for MCC.
Remembering Those Who Died: Sister Monica, Bishop Mengeling
MCC this past year commemorated two individuals who played significant leadership roles for the organization and the Church in Michigan.
On April 28, Sister Monica Kostielney, RSM, the former president and CEO of MCC, went home to the Lord. Sister Monica’s MCC career spanned four decades, beginning in 1972 as a volunteer and continued through to her appointment in 1994 as president and CEO, a position she held until her retirement in 2010.
MCC paid tribute to Sister Monica and her legacy with a special website that documented her life.
On July 1, Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Lansing, passed into eternal life. Bishop Mengeling also served on the MCC Board of Directors during his episcopacy, which lasted from 1995 to 2008. In a statement, MCC President and CEO Paul Long described Bishop Mengeling as “first and foremost a pastor.”
Merry Christmas From MCC
We wish each of you a blessed conclusion to the Advent season and a joyful celebration of Christmas and the coming of Emmanuel—God with us.
