April 24, 2005 

Pastor’s Perspective   

*Mass for the Anointing of the Sick Monday

  We will celebrate our quarterly Mass for the Anointing of the Sick this Monday, April 25, at the regular 7:00 p.m. Mass. We especially invite anyone who is going through serious health issues, those who will be facing upcoming surgery, those with long term or chronic health situations, and any elderly who find themselves feeling a bit weak at this time. Join us for this Mass. Let us pray with you and anoint you, even as you witness to us of the need for faith in the midst of all those realities of suffering in life. 

*Catholic Services Appeal Begins

  Please return your CSA contribution envelope to the parish beginning next weekend. It can be sent directly to the parish, placed in the regular collection, or given to one of the CSA workers in the hallway after Mass. I sent a letter to you this week with the CSA envelope included. If you did not get one, please stop by the office or the CSA workers’ table next weekend.

  The theme this year is, “Together on the Way”, and captures well, I think, the importance of seeing ourselves as part of that larger, bigger, diocesan and universal Church. The money that goes to the diocese from the CSA is already budgeted and goes to specific programs and offices, not to the general fund. These obligations are important ones, not frivolous. And the archbishop must use the money for those budgeted purposes only.

  In addition, even as the parish helps the diocese through this appeal, it can help itself immensely. The CSA donation is the most effective and beneficial way to give money to the parish, better even than the Christmas collection. The reason for this is the fact that the money donated to the CSA either helps the parish reach its mandatory target (otherwise we have to use our Sunday contributions to make up the difference) or if over the target, comes back to the parish for its own use 100% without any “tax” attached. No matter how much we raise in the CSA, our future CSA targets are not affected. If we raised $150,000 for example, our CSA next year is unaffected by that.

  I am asking everyone to consider a generous gift, minimum of $300 if at all possible, but the CSA is the best way to give even more significant gifts to the parish. If anyone wishes to give such a gift during the year, now is the time to do it through the Catholic Services Appeal. You can spread your gift out over a monthly or quarterly payment plan, if that helps. Thank you. 

*New Parish Council Members Needed

  Nominations for new Parish Council members are now open. Please see the form elsewhere in the bulletin to nominate yourself or fellow parish member. We will have 5 or 6 openings and so need a number of nominations this year. A Parish Council member has to be registered in the parish, at least 18 years old, willing to serve a three year term, and has the ability and desire to work collegiality and by consensus with other Council members to envision the direction for the parish.

  Remember, we do not elect members. Rather, we draw their name from a basket in a selection process. For those of high school age as of next year: we would also like to have representation from the youth on the Council. If several high school youth are nominated, we will have a separate selection of names for them.

  Please consider yourself or your fellow parish members and put the name and phone number, if known, on the form and turn it in on Sunday or at the office. Thank you. 

  *Parish Goal Setting

  Thank you to all who attended the town hall type meetings last weekend and provided input into the goal setting process. The Council will now take all that information and refine the draft of the existing goals. Those goals then need to be attached to more specific objectives and time lines which will be worked on by the various parish commissions and committees. When that is completed, I will send to each parish member the complete set of goals. These will provide a guide for future energy and budget. No goal planning can cover everything. But it can show priorities and where we need to spend some time, energy and money.   

*Easter Egg Hunt Picture Last Week

  We neglected to identify the children in the photo of the Easter Egg Hunt in last week’s bulletin. They are: Brandon Apley, Enzo Palombo, Samantha Gray, and Emily Arnold. Each found the special egg in their age category.  

*Talks on Social Security Thursday

  I will be joining a panel of speakers on the topic “Keeping Faith: Social Security, Catholic Tradition and the Common Good” this coming Thursday. It will be repeated: once at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Detroit (3451 Rivard, 313.831.1356) from 1:00-3:30 p.m. and then a second time at St. Mary’s Church in Royal Oak (740 S. Lafayette at Lincoln, 248.547.1818) from 6:45-9:15 p.m.

  I will be providing a theological analysis of social security reform, looking at principles of Catholic social teaching and asking how various reform proposals match up with the heart of that teaching. A second speaker, Sr. Amata Miller, will analyze the specifics of President Bush’s proposed reform and the overall purpose of the social security system in this country. And the third speaker, Mr. Michael Hovey, will review the resources available to parishes and groups for further pursuing these ideas.   

*Talks on End of Life Decisions and Health Care

  The Terry Schiavo case has prompted a lot of concern about just what is Catholic teaching in the area of end of life decisions and health care. I will be giving a talk on this issue at St. Owen’s Church in Birmingham on Wednesday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m.  Many of the ideas I will present were included in my columns over the past few weeks. But I would like to repeat that session here for the benefit of this parish on Monday, May 23, after the 7:00 p.m. Mass. That date is tentative. I will confirm it next week. I envision it as an open discussion, not just on the Schiavo case, but on any and all concerns people have on how to integrate our Catholic teaching with end of life decisions.   

*Fr. John West

  Life can change in an instant, can’t it? Our ordination class of 1980 was just beginning preparations for celebrating our 25th anniversary. Now it will have to include a memorial to, rather than celebration with John. How unbelievable.

  John went to both the high school and college seminary. I met him at St. John’s Provincial Seminary where we received our graduate degree and final preparation for diaconate and priesthood. He was a year ahead of me but due to how ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood were handled at the time, we were ordained in the same year. More importantly, he was part of the same support fraternity of priests as I was for the last 25 years. The five of us have been meeting about every six weeks for over 25 years. I will miss him personally and we will miss him collectively.

  John was one of the “good guys”. I don’t use that phrase to set up a dichotomy between good and bad, just that John was always so supportive of all his brother priests, his fellow pastoral ministers, the Church as a whole. He had a keen mind, was a voracious reader and absorber of knowledge, but had the gift of turning that into concrete, understandable preaching and teaching. The diocese used him in so many capacities—theologian, pastor, ecumenical affairs officer, at one time the vocation director and then in charge of religious education, consultant, giver of talks and retreats, writer for the Michigan Catholic—and he still found time to teach and preach in neighboring dioceses when he was asked. There is no way to calculate the huge hole that is left in the life of the Church of Detroit with John’s sudden death.

  To Ed and Maxine, his parents, to his family and friends from this area: know that the prayers of this parish as well as my own personally will continue for John. May God bring him into the kingdom. May his thirst for knowledge, for justice, for the Lord now be fulfilled. 

  We will miss him.

  Fr. David Buersmeyer 

Mass with anointing of the sick 

  We will celebrate the 7:00 p.m. Monday evening Mass on April 25th with an anointing of the sick.  This sacrament is for: 

¨         anyone who has an ongoing serious health situation

¨         anyone facing surgery in the next few months

¨         anyone who has had surgery or hospital care and still recuperating

¨         anyone suffering from depression or mental illness 

  We encourage families with relatives who are homebound to make an effort to join us as we celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

Taizé prayer continues 

We are going to continue to gather for Taizé Prayer once a week.  You are all invited to join us in this unique prayer style.  Hope to see you there. The schedule for the Easter season is as follows: ¨        

¨         Wednesday, April 27th, 6:30 p.m.

¨         Monday, May 2nd, 11:00 a.m.

¨         Thursday, May 12th, 6:30 p.m.

Parish Pastoral Council

Member Nomination Form  

I would like to nominate the following person (s) to serve as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. You may nominate yourself.  

Name: _______________________________________  

Phone: ___________ 

Name: _______________________________________  

Phone: ___________ 

Name: _______________________________________ 

 Phone: ___________ 

Catholic Services Appeal 2005

  As in the years past, we will be needing a number of volunteers to work on the CSA appeal. If you would like to help, please fill out the form below and return it before next week. You will be contacted by phone to confirm when and how you can help. 

I am able to help with the C.S.A.

in the following way: 

April 30 — 5 p.m. Mass o (before and after Mass)

May 1 —  8 a.m. Mass o   9:30 a.m.o   11:30 a.m.o  

May 1 — 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. help open and audit C.S.A. gifts/pledges o 

May 7 —  5 p.m. Mass o  (before and after Mass)

May 8 —  8 a.m. Mass o   9:30 a.m.o   11:30 a.m.o 

May 8 — 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. help open and audit C.S.A. gifts/pledges o 

 Name: _____________________________________________ 

 Phone: ______________________________________ 

CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION

2004-2005

Religious Formation

Program 

Early Childhood — Sunday

(ages 3-4-5 years)

During 9:30 a.m. Mass

Sessions: May 1, 8 

Grades 1-6 — Tuesday

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

Sessions: April 26

May 3, 10 

MAY CROWNING

Honoring the Blessed Mother 

Tuesday,  May 10   6:30 p.m. 

This session is for all families in the Religious Formation program. There will be no afternoon session on this day.  All families are expected to attend this evening session.  Please bring your rosaries with you. 

Celebration

of First Eucharist  

This weekend the following children received their First Eucharist. We ask that you keep them and their families in prayer as they continue on their faith journey with the Lord. 

April 23

5:00 p.m. — Gabrielle Anderman,

Anna Cumming 

April 24

 9:30 a.m. —  Christopher Adsit

Kelsey Krawiecki 

11:30 a.m. —  Alexis Jandreski

Fiona Theodoroff 

Going Home

  John 14:1-12 

 When things fail, when we feel tired and lonely, there is always home to go to.  ‘Let’s go home.’  ‘I want to go home.’  How many times and in how many different circumstances have we heard ourselves say those words.  Home is where we are safe.  Home is a place of communion.  If we know we’re going home, the trip is never too long or too difficult.  To know how wonderful our home is, we must go out into the world.  Imagine if we had no home to go to. 

      To have a home is to have close ties with people who accept us for what we are and give us a feeling of belonging.  We put up buildings and put down roots, but here on earth we do not have a lasting home.  All we have, as Paul says, is a kind of tent.  At death the tent is folded up.

      We not only need a home here, but we also need a home to go to when death brings down the curtain on the day of our life. Without such a home, life would be a journey to nowhere.

      For a child, home is not so much a place as a relationship of love and trust.  A child can move around a lot and not feel homeless, as long as its parents are there.  It is the same for those who have a close relationship with God.

      We spend our lives searching for God, and groping our way towards him.  To die is to find God, to meet God, and to see God.  To die is to go to God, and to go to God is to go home.  

Upcoming celebrations 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 30 — 5:00 p.m.

Brendan Adams, Karley Quenneville, Sherry  Wagner, Alexandra Page 

May 1 — 8:00 a.m.

Aaron Bawol 

May 1 — 9:30 a.m.

Lauren Dix,  Christopher Prohaszka,   Ann Kaniuk 

May 1 — 11:30 a.m.

Charles Barr, Josephine Parrinello, Erin Barg,

Antonio Angeli, Olivia Becker, Shane Gardner, Jasper Gardner

 M ay 7 — 5:00 p.m.

Kaitlin Luttig,  Alexandria Covins, Nickolas Rossol

 May 8 — 9:30 a.m.

Bradley Sorenson,  Breanna Sorenson 

May 8 — 11:30 a.m.

Tommy Schneider, Abigail Clements,

Joshua Marinkovski, Amanda Zepp,  Christian Konieczki 

Adopt-a-County Road 

   Spring is finally here!  Along with the spring flowers poking their heads out of the ground, the birds singing and the warmer, longer days, most likely you’ve also noticed quite a bit of debris piled up along side our roadways.  This is the time of year when SS. John & Paul’s road crew puts on our bright orange vests and swings into action!  Do you need super powers to help?  No, just be in reasonably good physical condition.  Don’t have your own attractive orange vest?  No problem, we’ve got boxes full!  Wondering what could possibly go with a bright orange anything?  Members of our clean up crew find that long pants, a long sleeve shirt, work boots, baseball cap and gardening gloves complete their ensemble quite nicely.  Don’t be shy about accessorizing with bug spray and a water bottle.  Some things just never go out of style! 

  If you would like to join our team, please meet us in the parking lot of SS. John & Paul on Saturday, May 7th at 8:00 AM.  We will view a short safety video and begin our work.  We usually finish up by 10:00 AM. Our stretch of road is 28 Mile between Mound and Campground.  Please leave your name with the parish office by Thursday, May 5th so we will know to expect you.    

Monthly food drive 

  SS. John & Paul will be implementing a once a month food drive beginning on the first weekend of every month to benefit our local food pantries. Monthly food drives can help alleviate the food shortage so many food banks are experiencing due to loss of funding and a drastic reduction in donations. 

  The first monthly food drive will be the weekend of May 7 & 8 at all the masses.  Donated food should be taken into church, kept at your seat, and presented at the altar during the offertory.  After this initial “kick-off” food drive, on the first weekend of each month there will be large baskets placed in both vestibules of the church.  Donated food should be deposited in these baskets.  Thank you for your generosity and your willingness to ensure the success of these food drives.  

Mother’s Day Flowers 

   Carnations will be available for sale the weekend of May 7 & 8 at all masses at the church doors.  Suggested donation is $1.00 each.  All proceeds will benefit Birthright of Macomb, a non-profit agency helping moms and families in need. 

TEEN NEWS¨         

¨         Attention Grade 8-12 teens

You are welcome to join in the World Youth Weekend Event here in Michigan. We will enjoy a night under the stars in North Branch, then travel by bus downtown to do some type of Habitat for Humanity, take a Focus Hope walk, Mass at the Cathedral, and then back to spend the night at the Focus Hope building. This adventure will take place on August 19-21 and we will need your commitment for this adventure immediately. For more information and to reserve your spot, please call Mrs. Peters at 781-9488. 

¨         Motorcycle Show at Stony Creek

Teens are needed to help with a motorcycle show at Stony Creek to benefit the Samaritan House, on Sunday, July 31. Teens will be asked to walk around and sell 50/50 tickets. If you are interested in helping, please give Dan Frechette a call at 248-576-1182 after 6:00 p.m. 

¨         Next teen meeting

Sure, you can bring a friend to our next teen meeting on April 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. You don’t want to miss this! 

Health notes 

April is National Occupational Therapy month, and I thought I would take this opportunity to inform you about occupational therapy, what it is and who benefits from it. Occupational therapy is different from physical therapy. Most often it is described as working with the upper body and physical therapy with the lower body. A more accurate description is that occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. It gives people the skills for the “job of living” necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Services typically include: 

¨         Treatment programs are customized to improve one’s ability to perform activities

¨         Comprehensive home and jobsite evaluations with adaptation recommendations as needed

¨         Performance skills assessments and treatment

¨         Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training

¨         Guidance to family members and caregivers  

Who benefits from occupational therapy? Persons who have:

¨         Suffered a stroke

¨         Suffered from learning problems or developmental disabilities

¨         Chronic conditions such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis

¨         Mental health or behavioral problems including Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and post traumatic stress

¨         Burn, spinal cord injuries, or amputations

¨         Broken bones or other injuries

¨         Vision or cognitive problems that threaten their ability to drive 

For more info please visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website at www.aota.org which is also the reference for this article. 

  Anne Petriches, RN, OTR

  Co-Lead Parish Nurse 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

“Serengeti Trek” 

Week of August 1–5     

We will be joining St. Clement of Rome this summer for VBS; however, we need many, many volunteers such as:  STATION LEADERS (adults),   CREW LEADERS (teens),  SNACK volunteers to bring a part of the snack for the week and  DECORATING / ARTIST for set-ups.  The program will be offered twice a  day….HOWEVER, you need only sign up for morning or evening, whichever fits  your schedule.  For more information please call Linda Bauer in the Religious Formation office at 586-781-9488 ext. 14. 

Name______________________________________ Phone ______________ 

  Volunteering for:  _____Station Leader      ____Crew Leader      ____Snack   ____Decorating/Artist 

Keeping Faith:  Social Security, Catholic Tradition and the Common Good — Thursday, April 28, 2005 

  Our very own Fr. David Buersmeyer will join a panel of presenters on the above topics. The program will be repeated: 

  1:00-3:30 p.m. — Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Detroit

  3451 Rivard, (S. of Mack, 1 block E. of I-75) 

  6:45-9:15 p.m. — St. Mary’s Church, Royal Oak

  740 S. Lafayette at Lincoln (10 –1/2 Mile Road) 

  Light refreshment will be served. A $10 donation is requested to offset expenses. For information call 248.477.7223 

In Sympathy

The faith community of SS. John & Paul extends sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Fr. John West whose funeral was held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Tuesday, April 19, 2005. May he rest in peace. 

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~ 

The faith community of SS. John & Paul extends sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Stanley Materka whose funeral was held at our parish on Saturday, April 16, 2005.  May he rest in peace. 

Prizes needed 

We are running out of BINGO prizes for the nursing home where we conduct BINGO for the residents. The following are some suggestions: 

¨         Sugar-free soft candy or snacks

¨         Sugar-free mix for juice

¨         Candy bars (plain)

¨         Jewelry (necklaces, clip-on earrings)

¨         Small jewelry boxes

¨         Cologne or perfume

¨         Kleenex tissues

¨         Small stuffed animals

¨         Small trinkets

¨         Scarves

¨         Hand or body cream/lotion

¨         Any items you feel someone at a nursing home would enjoy

¨         NO CANDLES OR SHAMPOO 

  Please mark your donations ‘BINGO PRIZES’ and leave them in the kitchen or bring them to the parish office. 

A family perspective

by Bud Ozar 

  The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel, “don’t be troubled,” seem impossible. The disciples Phillip and Thomas had difficulty understanding this, but Jesus did not back off. He said to them, and says to us today, to “have faith” because anxiety and worry are the enemies of peace. 

Vatican II continues..

Today’s Church: A Look in the Mirror 

When you hear the word “church”, what image comes to mind? Do you think of the Pope and his Vatican officials or the bishop and his staff? Or perhaps “church” brings to mind your pastor and the various ministers in our community.

  Vatican II’s vision of church places the emphasis on the church as the people of God, you and me...all the baptized people of God...the Church. And all of us, together with the hierarchy, are called to build up the community of the church.

  Today’s insert of Vatican II will help us to understand this picture of church and will point out the important role we all have in moving forward the Vatican II vision of Church.

Climb the walls

  “Oh, I sure am happy to see you,” the little boy said to his grandmother on his mother’s side. “Now maybe daddy will do the trick he has been promising us.”

  The grandmother was curious. “What trick is that?” she asked. “I heard him tell mommy that he would climb the walls if you came to visit”, the little boy answered. 

Adult Confirmation preparation 

  Any adult interested in being confirmed at this year’s Confirmation Ceremony at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Sunday, May 15th at 10:00 a.m. is asked to contact JoAnne at the parish office.  Classes to prepare for this Sacrament will be scheduled in mid-April. 

Have you noticed...    

  Each week there are colorful little “Table Cards” on the tables in the Parish Center where coffee and donuts are held.  These cards  share thoughts on the weekly Gospel or scripture stories heard at mass.  Hopefully, you will take a moment and read the card either to a friend or family member and share your thoughts on the reading.  Or you can simply read it and think about it as the week goes on.  Whatever way you choose, we hope it will add a little insight or prayer to your weekly activities.

  This week’s focus is on the image of Jesus as a servant. Jesus’ whole life was about service. Since Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, service is the way to truth and to life. Service to others is often rejected as being demeaning and beneath dignity, yet a life of service has become the cornerstone of our faith.

  Christian Service is often talked about as having two “feet.” Each has to be used if we are to take any steps and walk forward successfully.  One “foot “ is direct services to people in need.  This includes anything done to get food to the hungry, to provide shelter to the homeless, to care for the sick, and so forth.  The other “foot “ is work aimed at changing the structures that cause the problems in the first place, such as writing letters, changing laws, educating and so forth.  In other works, the first foot is giving a hungry person a fish to eat; the second foot is teaching hungry people how to fish so they can get themselves something to eat.

The Vocation Office

for the Archdiocese of Detroit presents 

“AN HONEST LOOK

AT THE PRIESTHOOD”

An overnight retreat for men

16 years of age and older who are

discerning the priesthood  

MSGR. MICHAEL LeFEVRE

(Rector of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral)

Retreat Director  

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

MAY 6-7, 2005

Retreat begins at 7:00 p.m. Friday and ends after 4:00 p.m. liturgy and

dinner on Saturday  

SACRED HEART MAJOR SEMINARY

2701 Chicago Blvd.

Detroit, MI 48206 

Pre-registration is required

Please contact the Vocation Office

to register by Monday, May 1, 2005

313-237-5875

25 years ago in April

¨         Fr. Ronald Sayes was installed as Pastor of SS. John & Paul Parish on April 13 by Fr. Jasper Sirianni, Vicar for the North Macomb Vicariate

¨         Youth Group begins to form

A Friend’s House lunches 

   On behalf of the clients and volunteers at A Friend’s House, we would like to thank those from our parish who provided lunches during the month of March.   Thanks to Pat Fields, Geri Hammer, Mary Adkins, Anne Murray, the Malzahn Family, Lil Horn, Barbara Quayhackx and Melanie Krieg.  All the lunches were delicious and very much appreciated! 

  SS. John & Paul will once again be responsible for providing lunches to A Friend’s House during the month of September.   

Together In Ministry 

Kitchen Ministry Helpers 

  We have 2 little kitchen ‘elves’ that work hard to keep our kitchen clean and stocked with supplies.  They come in whenever needed to check our cupboards for hospitality needs like cups, glasses, etc, and also make a point to keep clutter and grime from accumulating on our counters and sink area.    

  Once a year we try to give the kitchen a ‘spring cleaning’ including wiping down cupboards and straightening the inside of the cupboards.  If you would like to help with this year’s project (it will be scheduled in May or June), please call the parish office and leave your name and someone will call you. 

  A BIG thank you to our kitchen helpers, Anna Lanni and Sandra Bollaert.  You are greatly appreciated by staff and parishioners alike!

Saturday and Sunday

April 23-24, 2005

Adolph Schmitt by Family

Rudi Dietrich by Family

Jerome Bultinck by Mollon Family

Dominic Tringali by J. Clancy Family

Luverne Hosking by Family

Edward & Bernice Bujak by Hosking Fam. 

Monday, April 25, 2005

Edmund Jarzembski by B. Jarzembski 

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Bob Henk by LaRaia Family 

Wednesd