| SS. John
& Paul
October 2, 2005 |
A community of believers united and growing in Christ to serve as generous and loving stewards of God's love. | ||
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Pastor’s
Perspective *October: Respect Life Month
The U.S. Catholic Bishops have for many
years designated the month of October as a month to take a more
concentrated focus on something that should be core to all we
do—respecting the gift of every human life, from the first moment to its
natural end. We are in a world
that too often takes human life for granted, discards human life, views
human life as an enemy, or ignores the many basic needs that every human
on this planet needs to live a full life.
The core of Catholic moral teaching and all of Catholic social
ethics is the inviolable dignity of every human being, for we are made in
the image and likeness of God. In other words, the core of our teaching is
not based on something specific to Catholics or Christians but to all
human beings. When we stress
our “respect for life” or state our Catholic opposition to things like
abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, the injustices of war,
exploitation of child labor, and so on, we are motivated by our deepest
Christian faith but we do not believe it is something God is asking only
of Christians. Respect for
human life is core to being a truly ethical, moral human being.
At the same time, it is not enough to frame our core Catholic
sensibilities in negative language only.
We can say “No, this is not to be done; this procedure violates
human dignity; this attempt to create life is wrong.”
But our public moral discourse can’t simply be “No.”
Rather, what we want to stress are the positive values that need to
underlie all decisions. We
want to stress a view of the human person that is full and
integrated—the human person as intrinsically social, unique, basic
equality, spiritual and therefore always open to transcendence, embodied
and therefore always limited and incomplete, dynamically changing and
growing, but always within a limited life span.
Nearly every debate that occurs in bio-medical ethics comes down to
a debate about whether this is truly a human person or what is essential
to being a human person. If
someone is loved by others but is in a vegetative state and had given
prior expression to not being sustained by medically assisted nutrition
and hydration—what action most respects who this person is?
If we desire a child to nurture and raise as a gift to the world
but need technological assistance such as in vitro fertilization or,
perhaps some day soon, cloning, do these actions embrace a full view of
the human person? If we are
caught off guard by a pregnancy and fear our ability to raise the child to
be born, doesn’t adoption honor our dignity and the unborn child’s
much more fully than abortion? If
we are caring for someone who is in the dying process, do aggressive
treatment interventions honor the reality that death is part of the human
journey?
One of the best practices we can nurture and integrate within our
lives is the practice of respecting the human dignity of all others.
We especially have to strive to do so in thought, word and action
with those we pay no attention to, or dislike, disapprove of, and perhaps
even hate. Let’s take a step
back and re-think an attitude, a bitterness or coldness, or an ignorance
and pray for each and every person who crosses our path.
If we truly believe each of us is made in the image and likeness of
God, let’ work on viewing one another through that image, rather than
through our own prejudices, fears, or anxieties. *Liturgical Ministries of Minister of
Communion, Lector and Greeter
October is the month we take time to do
some formation and updating in our liturgical ministries.
Of immediate concern are all our communion ministers.
Once a year we ask you to gather and review all the procedures, as
well as deepen our understanding of what it means to be a minister of
communion. This
Monday (October 3rd) after the 7 p.m. Mass we will take an hour
or so to meet, review, ask questions, offer suggestions, and re-focus this
necessary ministry.
If for some reason you cannot make it on Monday, there will be a make-up
session on Sunday, October 9th,
after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Please
bring the renewal commitment forms (green sheets) with you, if you
haven’t dropped it off already. We
need to know your preferred schedule and update our records. Thank you.
Lectors will be doing something similar on Monday, October 17th
with a make-up session scheduled for Sunday October 23rd.
Greeters will hold a review after the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday
October 30th.
We continue to need more communion ministers and greeters and can
always use more lectors as well. One
of the goals given to the Worship Commission this year is to keep working
on all the liturgical ministries so that no one needs to be assigned more
than once a month. That is an ambitious goal, but it is possible, if each
of us realizes that we probably can do one of these ministries—lector,
communion minister, or greeter. In
addition, we can use some more ushers to fill out their various teams as
well.
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*Striving for Excellence in Marriage Preparation Ministry
That is the title of a two day seminar
coming up on November 8th
and 9th at St. John’s
Center in Plymouth. The
sessions go from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It
looks like an excellent seminar. The schedule means that someone would
have to be free during the day to attend.
I am looking for one or two “young at heart” but mature couples
who could make excellent marriage preparation partners.
I would like to see that portion of parish ministry expand to
include some of you who have experienced solid, loving marriages.
Currently, I do most of the marriage preparation with each couple
myself and then ask them to attend a follow-up program led by married
couples, held in various parishes of the diocese.
The ideal would be to be able to send the engaged couple to one of
our own married couples. If
you are interested and have the time to give, contact me.
We’ll have a conversation to see if that is the ministry for you.
Thanks. *Mass of Anointing of the Sick
On Saturday October 22nd
at the 5 p.m. Mass we will have a Mass which will include the Anointing of
the Sick. Once a year we take
one of the weekend Masses and celebrate this sacrament within the
Eucharist. We especially try
at least this one time a year to get the homebound and those who might
otherwise have a very difficult time getting to church to be here. If you
know of someone who needs a ride or other help to get here, please let us
know.
The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament for those in situations of
serious illness, physical or emotional.
It is a sacrament that is meant to accompanying us in the midst of
our suffering, not as a last sacrament that will be administered only near
death. The Church strongly
encourages all who are very elderly and find themselves frail to receive
this sacrament periodically. All
who have serious chronic conditions are asked to receive.
All who have had serious surgery and are not yet fully recovered.
All those who know they will be facing surgery in the months ahead.
Let people in your family know about this Mass.
If you have neighbors who might fit the description of who should
be receiving, let them know.
It is designed to be a sacrament that people participate in with
full and conscious participation. That
is why we ordinarily do not wait until a person is unconscious, although,
of course, the Church will anoint such a person.
Children are welcome, though, again, it needs to be a serious
situation of illness, and usually a child will be old enough to understand
what is happening to him or her. Of
course, again, exceptions can be made.
Our Hospitality Committee will have some refreshments for us
immediately following the Mass. *Little Rock Scripture Study
One of the adult formation offerings this
fall is another of the Little Rock Scripture Studies.
This one will focus on the Acts of the Apostles and all the things
we can learn about being Church by reading, reflecting on, and sharing
about this book of the New Testament.
The sessions are on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and repeated
Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and every participant receives a booklet to
help guide their reading and reflections.
You don’t have to be an expert in Scripture or know anything
about this particular book of the Bible to find this a very worthwhile and
enriching experience. Join us. *
* * * * * *
May the God of Life make us all ambassadors of the Gospel of Life,
which finds it core in God’s love for every human being. Fr. Buersmeyer Little Rock Scripture Study “The
Acts of the Apostles”
TEN
WEEK SERIES…
The
excitement of Pentecost enlivens the early believers in their struggles to
establish communities of faith…struggles surprisingly like those of today.
You will meet 2 of the early church’s
most significant leaders in the persons of Peter and Paul. FIRST
5 SESSIONS OF THE SERIES … OCTOBER 4 – 11 – 18- 25, NOVEMBER 1,
Tuesday
mornings at 9:30 a.m.
or Tuesday evenings
at 6:30
p.m.
AND
LAST 5 SESSIONS CONTINUE ON… JANUARY
17 – 24 - 31, MARCH 7 - 14, Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m.
OR Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Registration needed: Call the parish office at 586-781-9010 or sign up on the poster at the back of Church. The cost for the book is $10.00. | ||
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From
the Music Desk… Mass Appeal
This month, I am introducing parts of a new Mass setting, entitled
“Jubilation Mass.” Since
its release in 1999, it has been used by hundreds of parishes in the
United States, setting a high standard for both accessibility and
favorable acceptance. This is
because this setting is extremely flexible, capable of being used for
small assemblies in simple settings, as well as for grand cathedral
festivals, and everything in between.
Some ten years in the making, the “Jubilation Mass” is the work
of Fr. James Chepponis, a priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Ordained in 1985, he received a Master of Divinity and Master of
Arts in Systematic Theology from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg,
Maryland. Fr. Chepponis was
appointed Music Director at Pittsburgh’s St. Paul Cathedral, where he
directs the choirs, as well as being diocesan Director of the Office of
Music Ministries. He has
published many articles, as well as some sixty musical compositions.
We had already begun to use the Gospel Acclamation from
“Jubilation Mass” in September, and everyone seems to be singing it
confidently. In October, the
Music Supplement will include music for the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy), as
well as the Memorial Acclamation and the Great Amen.
The melodies are lively and easy to learn, and can later be
supplemented by choral parts, handbells and other instruments.
I hope that you will enjoy singing this setting of the Mass, and
that it will become a part of the worshipping tradition here at SS. John
and Paul, so familiar that you will be whistling it as you leave the
parking lot. “TRUNK AND TREAT” Saturday — October 29, 2005 A Halloween event for kids of
all ages, including you! Beginning
immediately after the 5:00 p.m. mass. Anointing of the Sick
We will celebrate the 5:00 p.m. Mass on October 22 with the
sacrament of the anointing of the sick. We encourage families with
relatives who are homebound to make an effort to join us. Who is to be
anointed? Please call the parish office (586) 781-9010 if you or a friend or relative are interested in attending. |
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CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION |
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2005-2006 Religious Formation Program Early Childhood (ages 3-4-5
years) Sunday: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Grades 1-6 Monday: 4:45-6:00 p.m. Tuesday:
4:45-6:00 p.m. & 6:30-7:45
p.m. Grades 7-8 Sunday: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Preparation for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation Parent / Child Session #1 Wed.,
Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Sun.,
Oct. 23 at 10:45 p.m. For
families of 4th, 5th and 6th graders who have not received the Sacrament
of First Reconciliation. These
families will receive a letter in the next week with more information. This opportunity is also offered to families of 2nd and 3rd graders who show
a desire and readiness for
this sacrament. If you believe
your 2nd or 3rd grade child is ready, please call Linda Bauer 586-781-9488
for more information. PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN WORKSHOP Thurs. Oct. 13 & 27 6:00-9:30 p.m. (Choose one
evening.) A light supper will be served. For all parents, catechists and
anyone who works with children.
Learn the signs of child abuse and how to prevent this abuse. For more information about
registering for this program call Linda Bauer 586-781-9488. |
Ingratitude
After our children are raised and gone, parents can often find
ourselves feeling disappointed and sad. As a parent you might have done
everything you could for your
children, by working hard and struggling so that they
never lacked for anything. Spent
many sleepless nights because of illnesses, stayed home rather than go out
and passed up expensive vacations.
You gladly sacrificed these things for the sake of the children,
sending them to good schools, teaching them values and trying to give them
a good example. And
then, when all grown up and on their own they repay you.
Or, maybe they don’t! The
children may become successful and get caught up in their own lives,
rarely see their parents, or
choosing lifestyles against the morals they’ve been taught and
abandoning their faith. You
shake your head and say ‘I didn’t raise them to turn out like this.’ It
is frustrating and painful to give life to something and then give up
control of it.
Today’s readings seem to suggest that even God sometimes feels
like this. Word’s from the
First Reading, ‘What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have
not done?’ is a cry from the heart.
In spite of all the love he showed his people, all he got in return
was utter ingratitude.
The people of Israel had been treated in a privileged manner by
God. But privilege brings
responsibility. They failed
God. Yet God is not
disappointed for his own sake. Rather
he is disappointed because his people have squandered the blessings he
wanted them to enjoy. Sadly,
the vineyard is destined to become a wilderness.
What sort of fruits did God expect from his people?
God looked for peace from his people and got war; for true worship,
and got idolatry; for justice in their dealing with one another, and got
injustice; for goodness, and got evil; for caring and sharing and got
greed; for humility and got pride; for wise and godly living, and got a
pagan lifestyle.
This to some extent is our story too.
God wants us to make use of the gifts and opportunities he has
given us so that we can grow as his children.
But often we fail to respond to his love.
And yet, God doesn’t write us off, but gives us chance after
chance.
The Christian community is the vineyard Christ planted and tended
with such care that he gave his life for it.
He looks to us his followers, the tenants of his vineyard, to
produce the fruits of justice, love and peace.
It’s a great privilege and a great challenge too. ~
~ ~ ~ Lord, you planted me on this earth. You fenced me around with the love of family and friends. Their care towered over me. In the shelter of this tower I grew in safety and peace. People had great hopes for me. You had great hopes for me. But now the year of my life is passing. The harvest is approaching. What fruit have I to show? What if, after all this care, I had nothing to offer but sour grapes? May you, Lord, have mercy on me, and with your patient urging help me to produce the fruits of love. |
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ThanThanks
for Lunch!
We would like to thank all those volunteers who put together such
great lunches for the volunteers and clients at A Friend’s House in
Romeo for the month of September. Providing
lunches for these clients has made it possible to extend the hours of A
Friend’s House, enabling clients’ caregivers more time to attend to
their own needs. Our wonderful lunch makers were: Barbara Quayhackx, Melanie Krieg, Anne Todhunter, Geri Dale, Judy Giffin, Marge Beaudin, Marcia Capp, Kim Sebastian, Mary Adkins, Bridget, Fiona and Henry Theodoroff, Pat Bendzinski and Ruth Hunsucker. Thanks one and all. Soup Kitchen News
Thanks to everyone who participated and
donated food for August.
Our next meal served will be October 18.
We will serve a spaghetti lunch with salad and fresh fruit. We are looking
for more people to donate food items for the Soup Kitchen. If interested,
please call Pat Sagert (586) 781-7035 or Barbara Jarzembski (586)
336-1450. Donated items should be delivered to the parish kitchen before
October 18 in a bag clearly marked SOUP KITCHEN.
The group meets the day of the luncheon
at SS. John & Paul at 8:30 a.m. and car pools at 8:45 for the
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Mt. Clemens. God bless you for being so generous and helping those less fortunate. English as a Second Language ESL
classes will begin on Tuesday, October 4th from 6:30 – 8:00
PM at St. Clement of Rome in Romeo. Classes
will be held every Tuesday and Thursday evening and will offer both
beginner and intermediate levels. Classes
are free of charge. There is
a need for child care providers. If
you would like to provide child care, or for more information, please call
Charlotte Ream at 781-5948. Women’s Retreat Jesus’ Mission — Our Mission
October 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Capuchin Retreat
House. Suggested donation is $25. For information or to register, call
Carol Benn at (586) 752-2134. Baptism Preparation
Our next baptism
preparation session will be on Wednesday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m.
Prior to attending the preparation class, you must call for an
appointment to come into the office to register your child. Gordon Foods Fun Funds
Last month the parish received a check
for $25.56 from Gordon Foods for rebates earned on Fun Funds purchases
made by parishioners during the summer. Since August 2004, we’ve earned
$69.71 which will be put toward the purchase of a new sign on 28 Mile. Fun Funds generates cash rebates through Fun Funds purchases made at GFS stores. To enroll all you have to do is fill out and return the postage paid self-addressed enrollment card. Applications are available in the parish office or at the store. The rest is easy—just present your Fun Funds card to the GFS cashier when you check out. Thanks for remembering the parish when you shop. Who Are the Capuchins?
The Capuchin Franciscan friars will be
holding a weekend in the Detroit area for men (ages 18-50) who are
interested in learning about religious life and seeing how Capuchins live
as Franciscans in our world and Church today.
The weekend is October 21-23, 2005. If
you would like to attend, have questions, or want to recommend someone for
the weekend, call (toll free) 1-888-297-2702 or email the Vocation Office
at cvo-cc@juno.com. Check
out the Capuchin website at www.capuchinfranciscans.org. October Taize Wednesday, October 12 6:30
p.m. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”
Jesus, rejected because of his faithfulness, is to be prized and
valued by all. Who is rejected
most often today? What is your role...are you one of the rejecters, or are
you one of the supporters?
At the end of today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the chief priests and
elders that the kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to
those who will yield a rich harvest. We are being told to tend the
Lord’s vineyard, respect His Son and other servants, and give to God,
the owner, a rightful portion of the fruits of our labors. Imagine
that you are a vine in God’s vineyard. What
has God expected from you? What
have you produced? Gordon Foods Fun Funds
Last month the parish received a check
for $25.56 from Gordon Foods for rebates earned on Fun Funds purchases
made by parishioners during the summer. Since August 2004, we’ve earned
$69.71 which will be put toward the purchase of a new sign on 28 Mile. Fun Funds generates cash rebates through Fun Funds purchases made at GFS stores. To enroll all you have to do is fill out and return the postage paid self-addressed enrollment card. Applications are available in the parish office or at the store. The rest is easy—just present your Fun Funds card to the GFS cashier when you check out. Thanks for remembering the parish when you shop. |
Flu
SFlu Shots
The Parish Nurse Ministry and Health Team of SS. John & Paul
will sponsor a flu shot clinic on Sunday, October 16th from
9:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Flu
shots are free of charge if you have Medicaid Part B or Care Choices.
You must bring your card as proof of insurance.
The cost for those not covered by these insurances is $25.00 for
the flu vaccine and $35.00 for the pneumonia vaccine, payable by check or
cash. If you will be paying
by cash, please try to bring exact change.
Please keep in mind that this clinic is being provided for the
convenience of the parishioners of SS. John & Paul.
If there is a flu vaccine shortage, clinics may be
restricted to High Priority only, meaning those over 65 years of
age or those with a chronic medical condition.
There is, at this time, no anticipated vaccine shortage.
File of Life” Card Distribution
Our Health Ministry Team, along with the Washington Fire
Department, will be distributing “File of Life” cards at all the
masses the weekend of October 15-16.
“File of Life” cards are kept in a red plastic pocket labeled
FILE OF LIFE and list the patient name, emergency medical contact,
insurance policy, social security number, health problems, medications,
dosages, allergies, recent surgery, religion, and a health care proxy. The
entire packet is held with a magnet to the outside of the refrigerator. More than 90% of medical emergency calls are treated without knowledge of the patient’s medical history. The “File of Life” card enables Fire/Police/EMS personnel to obtain a quick and accurate medical history when a patient is unable to offer one. Washington, Ray and Bruce fire departments participate in this program. "Cry Out for Peace”
Once again, a nightly series will be offered at the Conner Capuchin
Soup Kitchen on Tuesdays, October 25 to November 15 from 7:00 PM – 9:00
PM. This is primarily a
discussion group that will be talking about issues around peace.
In a year that has known violence and war all too well, a theme has
been chosen: “Cry Out for
Peace”.
Speakers will include Bishop Tom Gumbleton, Jesse Cox and others
who will help those present to explore the Gospel imperatives for peace as
well as the global and local issues that block peace in our world.
Each night will consist of input from speakers, time for discussion
and communal prayer.
Come and be energized in your commitment to peace in our world, in
our city and in our hearts. The
sessions will be held at the Conner Soup Kitchen at 4390 Conner (on Conner
between Mack and Warren). Parking
is available in a fenced lot. Although
there is no fee for the series, we ask that you register by October 18th with Sr. Nancyann at 313.822.8606 x21 or Brother Ray at 313.822.8606 x15. TEEN NEWS ¨ Next youth group meeting for 9-12 grades will be October 9 from
6:30-8:30 p.m. Information about “Rainbow” will be given at this
meeting, so you won’t want to miss it!!! ¨ Get in the Halloween spirit all you 9-12 graders
and join us for a fun night of “Ghostbustering.” On
October 29, we will get to know some new friends from the St. Lawrence
youth group as we join them for mass, dinner and a night full of fun and
laughter. Permission slips are available in the parish office and all
friends are welcome. Please call Mrs. Peters at 781-9488 if you have any
questions. Parents:
I will need adult volunteers to drive for this event.
Please call ASAP if you can help! Thank you. You Are Invited We Come to Worship Him Celebration
of the Year
of the Eucharist Archdiocese of Detroit Sunday, October 9, 2005 Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Eucharistic Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Cardinal Maida invites all the neophytes of the
Archdiocese of Detroit to join him for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
will follow the Eucharistic celebration until Evening Prayer at 3 p.m. Solemn Liturgy of the
Hours 3:00-5:00 p.m. Cardinal Maida invites all liturgical ministers in the
Archdiocese of Detroit to join him for this time of prayer and praise in
the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Cardinal Maida will preside and
has invited Most Reverend Robert F Morneau, Auxiliary Bishop of Green
Bay, to be the homilist for this celebration. Evening for Youth and Young Adults 6:30-8:00 p.m. Cardinal Maida invites the youth and young adults of the
Archdiocese of Detroit to come together for an evening of Praise and
Worship recalling the most recent World Youth Day Celebration.
Bishop John Quinn will preside at this gathering. |
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Together In
Ministry Parish Stewardship
The title of this weekly column
helps us to focus on the importance of community. As a parish
family, our future visions, present plans, and success in outreach
to those beyond our church walls depends upon how ‘together’ we are in
being good stewards of our time, our talents, and our treasures.
Good ministry depends upon being good stewards.
Most people immediately react negatively to the word stewardship
because they think it only refers to how much money they give. What does
being good stewards actually mean?
The good steward is the person who takes care of whatever it is
that she or he has been entrusted. Uses
it well, and to good purpose. The
U.S. Catholic bishops said in Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response:
“A Christian steward is one who receives God’s gifts gratefully,
cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares
them in justice and love with others. and returns them with increase to
the Lord.”
Today’s gospel reminds us that the Kingdom of God will be given
to those who are willing to produce a rich harvest in his vineyard.
Being a good steward helps us to produce this rich harvest. Next
week: Secrets of being
successful stewards |
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| Eucharistic Prayer Requests Saturday and Sunday October 1-2, 2005 Giuseppe Pittiglio by Family Giuseppe DeCarolis by Family Rudi Dietrich by Family Flo Poli by Milbreath Family Monday, October 3,
2005 Virginia Gadzinski by Klakulak Family Tuesday, October 4, 2005 Charles Clarey by Haba Family Wednesday, October 5, 2005 Rev. John Menner, CSB by R. Pascoe Saturday and Sunday October 8-9, 2005 John Martino by J. Martino Family Tim & Dorothy Cronenwett by Family Pat Buckles by Family Mary Dubicki by Havener Family
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