Meet Heidi Gonzales who is the Diocese of Lansing’s new Moderator of the Tribunal Chancery. That means Heidi is the senior canon lawyer in charge of day-to-day operations of the Diocese of Lansing Tribunal, the diocesan department that deals with all matters relating to canon law, the internal law of the Church.
“The Code of Canon Law contains over 1700 laws covering all aspects of the life of the Church but with one clear purpose as articulated in the very last canon: the ‘salvation of souls’,” says Lisa Kutas, Chief of Staff of the Diocese of Lansing, March 17.
“Heidi Gonzales is a first-rate canon lawyer who is as pastorally motivated and she is professionally excellent and, hence, we’re delighted to welcome her to the Diocese of Lansing where she will help lead our talented team at the diocesan tribunal.”
Heidi comes to the Diocese of Lansing with an impressive litany of qualifications coupled with many years of experience as a canon lawyer. She has a License in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America. She has served as a Judge with the Archdiocese of Detroit since 2014 and as Defender of the Bond for the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend since 2013. She was also the Ecclesiastical Notary for the Exhumation of Blessed Solanus Casey.
In her new post, Heidi will work in close collaboration with Monsignor George Michalek who, as the new Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Lansing, is in overall charge of the Tribunal.
The reorganization of staffing at the diocesan curia follows the tragic death of Father David Hudgins who served as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Lansing until his untimely death in a car accident in January of this year. May he rest in peace.
"I'm grateful for the collegial relationship I share with Monsignor Michalek and for the collegial relationship I had with Father David Hudgins," says Heidi, "It is my hope to live up to the high standards Father David set."
Heidi and her husband Joshua live in Flushing where they are members of the Mt Zion Catholic Community. Hence, she likes to refer to the Diocese of Lansing as "the Home Team".
Heidi is also the sister of Father Joe Krupp, the Pastor of Holy Family in Grand Blanc and Saint Mark in Goodrich. Both Heidi and her brother share a purgative passion for the Detroit Tigers.
Please do keep Heidi in your prayers in the days and weeks to come. Saint Raymond of Peñafort, Patron of Canon Lawyers, pray for her!