March 20, 2005

Pastor’s Perspective 

*The Great Easter Triduum

  The central celebrations of our entire liturgical year take place during Holy Week.  As we end Lent, we enter into a special three-day period called the Triduum, beginning with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, continuing with the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and culminating in the Easter Vigil celebration on Holy Saturday.  If you want to experience what it means to be part of the Catholic faith community, there is no better way to do it than to come to each of these three days and participate.  Keeping yourself open to the Scripture, the rituals, and all that happens during these days, allows you to connect more deeply to the heart of our Catholic Christian faith. 

  Most Catholics do not realize that the Church has established this three day period as its own short, separate season.  In a sense, it is one celebration, in three parts, spread over three days.  It even includes its own suggestions for fasting.  The Elect and candidates for full initiation are encouraged to keep Good Friday and Holy Saturday as a two day fast, as part of their final preparation for the sacraments of initiation.  Then, after the Easter Vigil the fast can be broken as the community celebrates its newest, initiated members.  But we do not ask the Elect to do anything without joining with them.  Thus the Church invites all Catholics to enter into this separate, two day fast in solidarity with those preparing for full initiation.  It is voluntary, but is a powerful way to be a community of faith together.  So, take Holy Thursday as the end of your Lenten fasting and penance.  Do something to mark that.  Then enter into this new two days of fasting, ending with the central celebration of the entire year: our Easter Vigil.

¨         Holy Saturday (March 26, 8 p.m.) Easter Vigil:

  We begin near sundown on this evening with the lighting of a new fire, the signing and welcoming of the Easter candle, which represents the light of Christ and leads us into a fifty day season (Easter) that ends at Pentecost.  We have an extended vigil, listening to the story of salvation through a series of Scripture readings, culminating with the Easter proclamation.  We invite new members into full initiation with the Church and renew our own baptismal promises and commitment to live out our Christian lives.  If you have never been part of this celebration, please come this year.  It captures the heart of all we are trying to be and do as a community of faith.

¨         Good Friday (March 25, 1 p.m.) Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

  There are several parts to this liturgy. No Eucharist is celebrated on this commemorative day of the Lord’s death, but we gather to listen to God’s Word, especially the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.  We respond to that Word through a symbolic and solemn prayer of intercession for all the needs of the Church and world, recognizing what we have in common with other Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even those that do not believe in God.  We then venerate the cross, using the cross we have been viewing throughout Lent.  Each person is invited to look on the cross and recognize what the Lord has done for us and how we are asked to share in that cross in our own lives.  Each person then comes forward and makes a personal sign through a touch, a kiss, a bow or genuflection.  We end with a sharing in the communion from Holy Thursday followed by silence.

¨         Holy Thursday (March 24, 7 p.m.) Mass of the Lord’s Supper

  There is no reserved Eucharist as we begin this celebration.  Unless we are willing to come together as a community of faith and do what Jesus asked us to do, there is no body of Christ, no communion, no Eucharist.  Are we willing?  Before we say yes, we must recognize that it is not simply a question of prayer and liturgy.  Through the ritual of the washing of the feet we are reminded that the meaning of Eucharist needs to be a willingness to serve others.  No service of others, no Eucharist, no body of Christ.  All will be invited to have one of their feet washed.

  We end the liturgy this evening with a procession to an “altar of repose” (we use the large room in the Activities building and set up the environment for that), where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved throughout the evening.  We are asked to “watch and pray” with the Lord.  The building remains open till midnight and we will have a brief prayer/reflection at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and then close with a service at 11:30 p.m.

  A long-standing custom on Holy Thursday is to visit neighboring Catholic churches and spend a few minutes in prayer at their altar of repose.  For those coming here, the Activities Building main entrance will be open (and there are a few parking spaces there as well).

*Young Adult Ministry Day

(Ages 18-40)

  There is often a gap in parish ministry. We do well or pretty well with children and high schoolers.  We do well with fully established adults and older adults.  But there are all those adult singles and young families that are vital to a parish such as ours.  One of my personal goals for the next two years is to work on ways we can identify the needs of this group and design some formation and fun around those needs.  Don’t be fooled by the term ‘young adult’.  I personally wish they would simply call it adult ministry for those in their 20s and 30s.  We have a number of single and married persons who fit that description here.  What can we do to shape some support and formation for you in your ongoing journey of faith?

  I would love to see a few of that group to come forward and brainstorm and plan.  There is an excellent workshop planned for April 16th (a Saturday) at St. Mary’s in Royal Oak, addressing this whole area.  If you have an interest in this area of parish life and would like to attend the day, please let me or JoAnne Owens know. Thank you.  

*The Terry Schiavo Situation

  As I write this, the feeding tube was supposed to be removed from Terry Schiavo down in Florida.  So I do not know the result or aftermath.  But this case has generated a lot of discussion and concern.  The Catholic sense that all life is sacred and must be protected leads many Catholics to believe that such feeding tubes can never be removed.  On the other hand, the fear that one can be at the mercy of courts and doctors and not be allowed to die drives talk of euthanasia and assisted suicide.  What is the Catholic teaching in this area?

  In many ways it is very straightforward.  Catholic wisdom focuses on the person and whether medical treatments are indicated for the health and life of the person.  ‘Ordinary’ means are to be extended to people. ‘Extraordinary’ means may be prudentially used, but may be rejected.  It makes a difference in the judgment of what is considered ‘ordinary’ treatment, whether the person is generally healthy, has a chance to recover or at least regain some quality of life, or is in the process of dying.  If a person is dying, there is no obligation to keep him or her alive through all means.  For someone who is dying, pain medication can be administered in proportion to the pain, so that no one needs to be in physical pain during the dying process, even if that medication contributes to the slowing down of the body’s organs. [Hospice care usually does a good job of understanding and administering this. For Catholics it fits under what is called the principle of double effect: the pain medication is the directly needed and medically indicated amount necessary to treat the pain; the effect on the body in other areas is a non-intended but indirect effect.]

  Thus in most cases, as the body begins to shut down in the dying process, it is not a difficult moral choice to withdraw treatment and to let the body’s natural processes shut down.  It can be a very difficult emotional experience to let a person go, because we so want our loved ones to live, but it is not a difficult moral question.  Ordinarily, no one should feel they need to resort to euthanasia or assisted suicide in order to guarantee that they won’t be kept alive artificially and indefinitely.   However, people like Terry Schiavo are in a more difficult category.  They are in what is termed a ‘persistent vegetative state’ (PVS).  They are in a type of coma that is not life-threatening, yet, especially if it continues for a year or more, has almost no hope of recovery.  Can someone in such a state through a pre-written directive or a guardian for them choose to withdraw nutrition and hydration, letting the body’s natural processes take over, so that death will occur (through the dehydration)?

  This is where the debate takes place: in the Schiavo family, in the courts, in the Church.  I will continue reflections on this issue next week, once I know the aftermath of what happens in Florida. 

  May this Holy Week enable us to experience our union with Jesus’ cross, death and resurrection more fully, so that we face with courage, faith and hope all that life sends our way.   

  Fr. Buersmeyer

Funeral Ministry Team 

We are looking to expand our funeral ministry team. Our needs vary depending on the number of funeral requests we receive.   

  We presently have a team of seven that take part in the vigil service, the funeral mass, or the cemetery committal service. A team member chooses to be part of one aspect or all three depending on the time frame. As a participant at the vigil service, a team member would assist the presider as reader. At the funeral mass, the team member would assist in set-up, as a Communion minister or lector, and possibly as an acolyte. At the cemetery, an assistant acts as reader.  

  Training is done by a present team member and/or Fr. Dave or JoAnne. If you are interested or need further explanation of the different roles, please call JoAnne at the parish office, (586) 781-9010. 

Vatican II 

  This month’s Vatican II insert is titled “Marriage and Family Life, The Domestic Church”. Its focus is on the family as the most intimate experience of Church, the place where love, forgiveness and trust should first be encountered. Domestic church refers to the family and the Council documents make it very clear that parents “are to be the first preachers of the faith for their children by word and example.” 

Easter flower memorials 

To celebrate the memory of a loved one, we are offering the opportunity to make a donation for the flowers and plants which will be used to decorate our church for Easter. CLEARLY PRINT the name of the person in whose name you are making the donation. If you are paying by check, please make it payable to SS. John & Paul Parish. Enclose this form and your donation in an envelope clearly marked “Easter Flower Memorials”. You may drop your envelope in the collection basket or mail, or bring it to the parish office. Names of those being remembered will be printed in our Easter bulletin. (The deadline for names to appear in the bulletin is March 21). Suggested donation is $10. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY. 

NAME(S) TO BE REMEMBERED: 

________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Your name:  ________________________________________________

CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION

2004-2005

Religious Formation

Program 

Early Childhood — Sunday

(ages 3-4-5 years)

During 9:30 a.m. Mass

No Session: March 27

Sessions: April 3, 10, 17  

Grades 1-6 — Tuesday

4:45-6:00 p.m. & 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Session:  March  22

No Session: March 29

Sessions: April 5, 12  

Grades 7-8 — Sunday

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Last session:  March 20 

CELEBRATION OF

FIRST EUCHARIST 

    Watch here weekly for the children who will receive their First Eucharist at the following Masses.  We ask that you keep the following children in prayer as they take another step in their journey continuing to grow in their faith and in relationship with our Lord.   

April 2  

5:00 p.m. - Gregory Antoine,

Stephanie Peters

 April 3

8:00 a.m.  -  Emily Sova

9:30 a.m. -  Jennifer Pries

11:30 a.m.  -  Felicia Vitale,

Deanna Krumholz,    

April 9 

5:00 p.m.  - Michael Migliore 

April 10

8:00 a.m. - Maranda Smith

11:30 a.m.—Tyler Sinicki

Scotty Smith  

The tracks we leave behind 

      It’s winter’s afternoon and the fields are covered with soft, clean snow.  It is full of tracks made by birds and animals.  Looking closely, it is possible to identify some of these birds and animals and even what they’re up to.  

      Most of it is harmless—the tracks of little creatures trying to stay alive in a hostile climate.  You see the scratching of sparrows looking for a worm, the rootings of rabbits looking for a blade of grass, and then you see a spatter of blood on the snow where a fox has made a kill.  On a normal day all this would be covered up, but there in the snow everything is written—innocence, fun, resourcefulness, pain, murder. 

      Something happens like this in the world of humans.  Something happens and we are forced to take a stand.  Our cover is blown and we appear in our true colors.  

      The trial and execution of Christ was an event which revealed the minds and the hearts of people.  Christ was such a transparently innocent person that when he was put on trial, the snow of his innocence fell from heaven and covered the earth.  All those who were there left clear tracks behind them.   

      Those who were on trial that day were his disciples, accusers and executioners.  They judged themselves by the tracks they left behind.  Looking at the tracks it could be seen who was for Christ and who was against him on that day. 

      We see the hatred and fanaticism of Caiphas and the religious leaders who plotted his death.  We see the cold, calculating evil of Judas who betrayed him.  We see the weakness of Peter who disowned him.  We see the cruelty of Herod who mocked him.  We see the cowardice of Pilate who, knowing his innocence, signed his death warrant.  We see the unthinking hostility of the mob who shouted:  ‘Crucify him!’ 

      We also see the compassion of Veronica who wiped his face.  The courage of Simon of Cyrene who helped him carry the cross.  The sympathy of the women of Jerusalem who wept for him.  And the steadfast loyalty of a little group of friends who stayed with him to the end.  

      All of us leave tracks behind us.  This week gives us an opportunity to put down our bags and look back at the tracks we are leaving.  Are they tracks of a coward, or a hypocrite, or someone who lives only for himself/herself?  Or are they the tracks of a courageous, generous person, who is not ashamed to call himself/herself a disciple of Jesus? 

      We will see whether or not we are on the side of Christ in so far as we are on the side of or against our brothers and sisters.   The extent of our virtue is determined, not by what we do in extraordinary circumstances, but by our normal behavior.  It is the small, everyday incidents that most reveal and shape who we are. 

      Let’s not lose sight of Jesus though.  He shows us that the only way to overcome evil is by good.  He forgave those who killed him. From the depths of his own pain he reached out to others.  He sympathized with the women of Jerusalem.  He brought hope to the repentant thief.  Some people are like sugar cane: even when crushed, squashed, reduced to pulp, all they yield is sweetness. 

‘Lord, remember not only people of good will, but also those of ill will.  Do not remember only the sufferings that have been inflicted on us, but also the fruit we have bought as a result:  the comradeship and loyalty, the humility and courage, the generosity and greatness of heart that has grown out of it.  When they come to judgment, let all the fruits that we have born be their forgiveness.’   

(Prayer found in Auschwitz)  

Rice bowls due March 22!! 

Please remember to bring your Rice Bowls to church no later than Tuesday, March 22.  It would be a great help if you could count the money and write a check for that amount payable to SS. John & Paul.  Every rice bowl should have come with an envelope for this purpose.  However, if writing a check is not possible, we will be glad to take your change!

Please look for the Operation Rice Bowl receptacle in the hallway to the Parish Center and deposit your rice bowls there.  Thank you for your cooperation and your generosity! 

Macomb County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers

The program

The SS. John & Paul community will soon be implementing a liaison program with Macomb County Interfaith Caregivers.  The IVC program is a network of congregations in Macomb County that have joined together to provide volunteer support for the older and disabled adults in our community who need just a little extra help to get by at home.

The last two weeks we have talked about the program model and well as its mission.  This week we will continue with more specific information on what the program is all about from a volunteer standpoint.

Volunteers for the program may drive people to doctor’s appointments and other essential errands, visit and call lonely and isolated individuals, stay with ill relatives so that their family caregivers can have a break, perform minor home repairs, yard work, and housekeeping and help our struggling neighbors with a variety of other tasks that enable them to stay at home longer.  Volunteers are also provided with training, education and support to ensure them success in their roles.  Insurance and other volunteer materials are offered to assist them in their work. 

Operation Rice Bowl

Passion Sunday 

  Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” helped us to focus on the suffering Jesus endured to show us the depths of God’s love for us.  As we continue our journey with Operation Rice Bowl this week, we need to pray that the Holy Spirit will give us the courage to recognize Christ’s Passion in the sufferings of the people around the world and even here in the United States who are poor.  Our pangs of hunger brought on by fasting help us identify with those who experience hunger in our cities and countryside, and throughout the world.  Our almsgiving assists people in need here in the United States as well as the poorest countries on this earth. 

Welcome home!

  Are you a Catholic who does not attend mass as often as you should? Do you know someone who has left the Church because they have been hurt or angered by the Church? Most of us do not have to look very far to find non-practicing Catholics in our circle of family and friends. Many of us are concerned about these loved ones, but we don’t know how to help them. Obviously, most of them are searching, but how can we help them find their way home?

  As baptized, practicing Catholics, we have a precious gift of faith and love from the Lord that needs to be shared with our non-practicing brothers and sisters. First, we need to pray for them. Next, we need to extend a personal invitation to them to come home to the Catholic Church. You can make a tremendous difference in someone’s life simply by reaching out to them to come back home to our Church family. St. Kieran’s has a special program to help those who have been away return home to the Church entitled, “Welcome Home”.

  April 7    Welcome and Orientation

  April 14   The Nicene Creed (What Catholics Believe)

  April 21   The Church Post Vatican II (Changes and Why)

  April 28   The Eucharist/Reconciliation

  May 5       The Mass “Slow Motion”

  May 12     “Social” Where do we go now?

  The series will begin at 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more information, call Deacon Steve at (586) 612-1530. St. Kieran is on Mound Road, north of 24 Mile in Shelby Township. 

Meijer community rewards

  Meijer’s is running a new promotion in March: for every new member that signs up for the Meijer Community Rewards program in March 2005, the parish will earn $3, in addition to our monthly earnings! Ten parishioners need to enroll and use their Community Rewards card by April 30 in order for us to earn this bonus. If you haven’t signed up yet for this free fundraising opportunity, please do so this month. There are two ways to register: 

¨         enroll online at Meijer.com/rewards, click “Join”, then “Meijer Guest Card”

¨         OR pick up an application at the parish office

¨         Our organization number is 617883 

  The rest is easy—just swipe your Rewards card before the last item is scanned. Meijer’s does the rest. There is no cost to you or the parish to join or use this program. Funds raised in 2004-05 are earmarked for the purchase of a new parish sign on 28 Mile Road. Thank you for supporting our parish. 

Soup kitchen news 

  Thanks to everyone who participated and donated food for February 15, 2005.  Once again the soup kitchen volunteers outdid themselves.  We served a delicious spaghetti lunch.  Dan Frechette did a great job leading the group after a last minute call to fill in for Pat.  Thanks, Dan!   

  Our next meal served will be April 19, 2005.  We will serve a spaghetti lunch with salad and fresh fruit.  Donated items should be delivered to the parish kitchen before April 19th.  Please mark your bags SOUP KITCHEN.   

  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.  The group meets the day of the luncheon at SS. John & Paul at 8:30 AM and car pools at 8:45 AM to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. 

  God bless you for being so generous and helping those less fortunate. 

 Teen News¨         

¨         Meeting Sunday, March 20

6:30-8:30 p.m. Teens doing last hour of the session with 8th grade. 

¨         Tuesday, March 22

  Teens doing Stations of the Cross for grades 1-6. Please take the time to join us. 

¨         Good Friday, March 25:

  Teens doing Stations of the Cross

25 years ago in March… 

¨         Fr. Kurzawa, Pastor of St. Clement Church in Romeo, (our “mother” church), sends congratulatory letter 

¨         Parish Council members were: Michael Farella (President), Sharon Cole (Vice-President), Mitchell Chmielewski, John Decker, Jan Drouillard, John Kersten, Gloria Westsrick, Marcia Capp (Christian Service Rep.), Rose Binder (Worship Rep.), Bernie Brunner (Religious Ed Rep.), Robert Shore (Administration Rep.), and Diana Dery (Youth Rep.).

Almsgiving

  The third pillar of our Lenten journey 

   Jesus teaches us to look beyond ourselves and make the needs of others our own.  Through the Gospel, we are specifically called to take action on behalf of the most vulnerable members of society.  As a community of faith, we have the obligation to reach out to those most in need.  When we give alms, we give something of ourselves, whether it be material resources, time or talent, to help support the needs and rights of our brothers and sisters, without thought of recompense or recognition.   

  The Agape Center is located on the grounds of St. Clement of Rome in Romeo and is a collaborative effort created by Catholic Services of Macomb and the North Macomb Vicariate, of which SS. John & Paul is a member.  The center currently houses A Friend’s House (an adult day care service), behavioral health counseling for individuals, family, couples and groups, Hispanic Ministry, St. Clement of Rome food bank and Vicariate offices. 

Throughout the year, SS. John & Paul parishioners support this center by purchasing requested gifts from our Sharing Tree for A Friend’s House, providing lunch to A Friend’s House clients two months a year, biannually remitting donations which support the operation of Agape Center, donating food and commodities to the food bank, and helping to staff and feed the children during the summer day care program “Mundo Divertido”.  

The clients of The Salvation Army in Mount Clemens are recipients of a delicious lunch every other month which is prepared and served to them by the members of our wonderful Soup Kitchen Ministry.  Volunteers teams give of their time and culinary skills and other parishioners donate the many needed items that go into making our famous spaghetti lunch.  

Thanks to all who give monetarily and also of their time and  talent to these and the many other recipients of our almsgiving here at SS. John & Paul  

Saturday and Sunday

March 19-20, 2005

Isabelle Grajewski by Krieg Family

Frank & Jean Quayhackx by Family

Celestino & Paqsquale DePalma

By G. DePalma

Vito Nicola & Theresa Bavora & Family

By G. DePalma 

Monday, March 21, 2005

Thomas Pascoe by Family

Donald & Oreste Vazquez by Family 

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Alex Schrader by Family 

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Catherine Ertzbischoff by Havener Fam.

 Thursday, March 24, 2005

For the parishioners 

Saturday and Sunday

March 26-27, 2005

For all deceased members of SSJP and deceased relatives