April 3, 2005 

Pastor’s Perspective 

*Easter

  Thank you, thank you to all who contributed to the Holy Week and Easter liturgies: those involved in cleaning and setting up the environment, all the music preparation and choirs, the pastoral staff working hard behind the scenes, the servers and lectors preparing for the special liturgies, all the liturgical ministers involved in each Mass.  These days are the cornerstone of all the liturgies we do.  The point isn’t to just celebrate them well—I think we do that well here—but to integrate the meaning of them; in a real way, if we “get” what is at stake in the meaning of these liturgies as applied to our lives, we “get” what it means to be the community of disciples of Jesus Christ, the body of Christ with a mission and ministry in this world. 

*The Octave of Easter

  Because Jesus’ resurrection breaks open all time and space, the Church celebrates the eight days from Easter Sunday to this Sunday as though it were still Easter day.  The presider’s prayers include “on this Easter day”, even though it is now the Sunday after.  This helps us experience Easter not as a commemoration of a past event but a living event, which is to mark our lives each day.  The whole season of Easter is a fifty day celebration through Pentecost. As we continue our Easter environment, our Easter ‘Alleluias”, our Easter focus on baptism, let’s continue to reflect what it means to share, daily, in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

  A side note: Pope John Paul II has also designated this Sunday as “Divine Mercy Sunday.”  He has a personal devotion to Sr. Faustina and has encouraged that particular devotion based on her work.  A number of parishes start a Devine Mercy novena on Good Friday and culminate in a big celebration today.  That is obviously allowed, but it is problematic. It divides the Holy Triduum and focuses on a private devotion rather than the central feasts of the Church’s year.  Such private devotions, even when done in community, are not to usurp the importance of the feasts we are celebrating.  This is Easter, first and foremost. 

*Little White Booklets

  We once again have the ‘little white books” available for personal prayer and reflection throughout the season of Easter. Please take one and keep it handy and use it each day of the Easter season.  These booklets are just one way that we can build into our schedule a daily rhythm of prayer and reflection. 

*The Terry Schiavo Situation (continued)

  I am writing this before knowing whether or when Terry Schiavo has died.  I have a number of suggestions on how to approach making decisions in cases such as this, but at this point I think it best to simply pray for her and all the parties involved. 

I do hope that the outside agitators and the rancor will finally go away, so that if she died, she did so with some people around her who cared for her, prayed with her, held her and let her go.  That was the hope of the Florida bishops who, I thought, did a pretty good job articulating the Church’s teaching about why basic assisted nourishment in such cases is considered the norm, yet recognizing the legal right and the moral complexity of the situation that might lead to a different conclusion.  I have been extremely disappointed with a number of other Catholic spokespersons, especially the priest most closely associated with the parents, who have implied that it is a simple decision—just take her away, keep her alive and anything else is against God.  That does an injustice to our Catholic understanding. But more specifics on that next week.

*Catechist Formation and Adult Education

  I will be teaching two catechist formation topics on Wednesday, April 6 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at St. John Vianney.  The first is on “What is Theology?” which tries to help catechists and adults approach issues in a way that does justice to our Catholic theology.  Is theology mere speculation?  Is theology simply looking up in the catechism what the Catholic Catechism says and repeating it?  How does theology integrate biblical understanding with church doctrines with people’s experience?  The second topic is “What is Church?” and will give a brief overview of the Catholic understanding of and importance of Church as the people of God, the body of Christ, and the community of disciples of Jesus.  If interested, please call and let our parish office know so we can make arrangements with St. John Vianney.  A light dinner is being served beforehand. 

*Taize Style Prayer

  The response to our Lenten Taize prayer was very positive.  Many who attended asked that we continue it.  We discussed it as a staff and decided to continue a weekly prayer throughout Easter, varying the times so that we can hopefully match all schedules at least once.  Then, beginning in June, we will have a monthly Taize prayer at a regular time.  Please look elsewhere in this bulletin for the upcoming Easter-time Taize services. 

*Catholic Services Appeal 2005

  It is that time of year to once again plan for the upcoming 2005 Catholic Services Appeal.  You will receive a letter from me at the end of the month with a return form and envelope.  Beginning April 30/May 1 we will collect those returns on Sunday, either by putting them in with the regular collection, making your donation in person at one of the CSA tables in the Activities Center, or dropping it off at the office.

  We will need a number of volunteers, as in years past. Please fill out the form below and return it in the next couple of weeks. You will be contacted by phone to confirm when and how you can help. 

  May the Easter season be one of renewed trust in the abiding presence and goodness of God.

  Fr. Buersmeyer 

The Eucharist calms our fears and redirects all our doubts

Every eight days, we echo the original Lord’s Day pattern of the earliest disciples, gathering at table in the upper room (John 20: 19-31). Jesus is able to pierce through the locked doors, to calm all our fears, and, especially with Thomas, to redirect all our doubts, making them gateways to renewed belief. The Eucharist, celebrated “on the first day of the week,” (John 20:1) can orient our whole life, and all our activities, to Christ’s redeeming love. 

Taize prayer continues

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

  Thursday, April 7th, 6:30 p.m.

  Wednesday, April 13th, 6:30 p.m.

  Tuesday, April 19th, 6:30 p.m.

  Wednesday, April 27th, 6:30 p.m.

  Monday, May 2nd, 11:00 a.m.

  Thursday, May 12th, 6:30 p.m. 

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. 

Little White Books

  We continue our seasonal prayer books with the “Little White Book” which takes us through the Easter season to Pentecost. Please take one and use it for personal reflection. They are a great way to do a little Scripture reflection and prayer on a daily basis, fitting it in a few minutes here and there. The books are available at each entrance.

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.  

CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION

2004-2005

Religious Formation

Program 

Early Childhood — Sunday

(ages 3-4-5 years)

During 9:30 a.m. Mass

Sessions: April 3, 10, 17

No Session: April 24

Sessions: May 1, 8  

Grades 1-6 — Tuesday

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

Sessions: April 5, 12, 26

No Session: April 19

Sessions: May 3, 10 

Catechists Gathering

Tuesday, April 19

6:30 p.m. 

For all Catechists and Assistants. Join us for our last session where we will be brainstorming, planning, and evaluating for next year.

Upcoming

First Eucharist    

April 9  

5:00 p.m. - Michael Miglilore

April 10

8:00 a.m. — Maranda Smith

11:30 a.m. — Tyler Sinicki

 Scotty Smith 

April 16 

5:00 p.m.  - Joshua Fabian 

April 17

9:30 a.m. — Micayla Compeau

11:30 a.m.— Logan Arnold

Andrew Behring

Jonathon DiLorenzo

Jacob Kaczor

Kristi Raffa  

The need to touch 

  The story of doubting Thomas brings home to us just how frail is the human container in which the gift of faith is carried. And it also shows us that Christian faith is essentially faith in a person who loves us—and has the wounds to prove it. That person is Jesus. At the heart of biblical faith is not only the faith we have in God, but the faith God has in us. Jesus said to Thomas, “Thomas, you believe in me because you have seen me and touched me. But blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Jesus was pointing out Thomas’ stubbornness, but it was also meant as an encouragement to us who are asked to believe without being able to see or touch Jesus.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

What faith does… 

Some people think that if they have enough faith, life will be plain sailing for them. But this is not so. The fact that we can swim doesn’t prevent us from being knocked about by the waves. In the same way, faith doesn’t shield us from the hard knocks of life or death. What then does faith do? It gives us bearings and thus, enables us to live in a topsy-turvy world without getting lost or giving in to despair. Just as swimmers trust that if they don’t panic, and if they do a few simple things, then the power of the sea will uphold them. So, believers entrust their lives to a power greater than themselves, a power greater than us all. This power is the power of God, who brought his son, Jesus, back from the dead. 

Celebration of First Eucharist 

This weekend the following children have 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. 

  5:00 p.m. — Gregory Antoine & Stephanie Peters

  8:00 a.m. — Emily Sova

  9:30 a.m. — Jennifer Pries

  11:30 a.m. — Deanna Krumholz & Felicia Vitale

 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 

Samaritan House Food Drive

April 9th and 10th     

Please bring your non-perishable food items

April 9th and 10th so we can help restock

 the shelves of the Samaritan House food pantry. 

Suggested items for the month of April are:

cooking oil, sugar, spaghetti sauce, jelly/jam,

pancake mix and syrup, boxed oatmeal,

shampoo, deodorant (men’s and women’s),

dish soap and laundry soap 

Thank you for your generosity! 

Soup kitchen news 

  Thanks to everyone who participated and donated food for February 15, 2005.  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.  

Dear SS. John & Paul Parish, 

  Birthright of Macomb Co. was delighted to share your soup supper and to give a presentation regarding our services, before and after delivery, to mothers in crisis.

  Your free will offering of $103 will be used to purchase baby toiletries such as wipes, powder, lotion and wash.

  We are also grateful for the sleeper, musical cassette, formula samples and tote bags which will be filled and given to the expectant moms to bring to the hospital for that memorable first trip home with the baby.

  Happy Easter to SS. John & Paul Parish for the many blessings you bestow on our Birthright mothers who have chosen life for their unborn children. 

  Gratefully,

  Isabel Johnson & Rosalie Imrick

In Sympathy

The faith community of SS. John & Paul extends sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of  Robert Leadley, father of Kathy Mollon, our Christian Service coordinator, whose funeral was

 March 29, 2005.  May he rest in the peace of the risen Lord.     

Dear SS. John & Paul Parish, 

  Thank you so much for your generous donation of 20 filled Easter baskets. We are so lucky to have such thoughtful and caring neighbors. 

  Samaritan House

 Attention all adult Confirmation Team members 

  There will be a brief meeting on Thursday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. for all the returning and new adult Confirmation Team. You will be given a calendar of the upcoming meeting dates and times, along with the retreat information.

  If you are an adult and would like to work with teens during this important preparation and would like to find out more information about what is involved, please call Karen Peters at 781-9488.

Ushers meeting 

  Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Ushers meeting on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m.

  We will be discussing the parish picnic to be held on June 26.

A family perspective

by Bud Ozar 

  In today’s Gospel, Jesus says,  “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I now send you.” Peace is not given to us, it is something we give to others. We’re not expected to bring peace to the whole world, only to create it within and around ourselves. World peace happens one person, one family at a time.

 “Peace be with you.” This is the Easter message which Jesus bore. He promised the peace that people seek everywhere in the world; peace that is social, personal, and interpersonal. It takes a remarkable person to really work to bring peace to the world, but that’s what brothers, sisters, and priests do every day for Christ. For more information, call the Vocation Office at 313-237-5875 or visit www.vocationsdetroit.org.

Response on school closings

Facts and figures

provide context 

Following the announcement of school closings in Wayne and Macomb Counties, the Detroit Free Press published a series of letters, along with a section-front column, critical of the decision and judgmental about the motivation. Director of Communications Ned McGrath sent the following response to the editors of the Free Press: 

  To suggest that the Detroit archdiocese has not been supportive of the schools that will close does not reflect the reality of the past 15 years. Over the past five years, for example, the archdiocese has been meeting and working with these schools—on and off—as their situations worsened. Some of them, quite candidly, declined or ignored our advice. Regardless, despite everyone’s best efforts, the demographics and economics kept heading in the wrong direction. 

  In recent times, the financial support has been substantial: to the schools affected by last week’s announcement, the archdiocese has provided over $18 million dollars in grants and scholarships; an additional $16 million to cover operational deficits, insurance premiums, and capital projects. 

  Perhaps the dire nature of the problem hasn’t been made clear enough. One high school has a debt of nearly $3 million. Another high school has an operating deficit and unpaid bills for this year alone of $800,000; a promised capital campaign to reduce its million dollar debt came up short. And, one elementary school routinely comes to the archdiocese at the last minute to cover its insurance and pension obligations; payroll checks to its teachers have bounced more than once this year. 

  Curiously, not one of the 14 letters chastising the archdiocese, or Susan Ager’s column waxing that Catholic schools should live forever, mention current enrollment figures at the affected schools. Those numbers, published earlier in the Free Press, and available on the archdiocesan web site aodonline.org, tell an essential component of this story. The number of students in our Detroit schools has dropped 47% in the last five years. Schools in the ring suburbs have seen declines as high as 37%. 

  Population shifts are not something Cardinal Maida or the archdiocese can control. Look at the mailing addresses of most of who wrote to the Free Press, many of them former students in these schools. Ms. Ager writes from northern Michigan. 

  Detroit’s Public Schools are obviously dealing with the very same challenges of people moving out, recently announcing the record closure of 33 schools. (An opinion piece in the March 20th Free Press documents the exodus of young people from our state.) 

  One can only speculate how this landscape would be different today if vouchers and/or tax credits had been accepted by the electorate. What if parents had been allowed to designate a portion of their education tax dollars towards tuition at a school of their choosing? Would the future of these faith-based schools, often hailed for their service and witness in their respective communities, been strengthened or secured? 

  It’s not as if we haven’t tried; 3200 grants and scholarships have been provided by the archdiocese to needy students this year. And yet parents—Catholic and non-Catholic alike—tell us that tuition costs are the primary reason why they leave or don’t attend parochial schools. 

  Again, referencing the information on our web site, the tuition in the schools to be closed covers only about 60% of what it actually costs to educate a student. In no small way, it’s the generosity of parishioners across the six counties of the archdiocese that facilitates such arrangements. 

  There will be 122 Catholic schools in the archdiocese next fall, 12 of them in the city of Detroit. These changes are about quality, not quantity. When a school is struggling with declining enrollment and a ballooning financial deficit, there’s no question that the capacity and capability of its academic program is—or will be—compromised. And as it relates specifically to our commitment to the core city, the urban poor deserve our best, not just our buildings. 

  For over 300 years, there has been a dedicated Catholic presence in southeast Michigan. Time and time again, we’ve had to rethink and adjust the way we deliver such things as social services, health care, and yes, education. Vita mutatur, non tollitur. Life is changed, not ended. 

Together In Ministry

Parish Cleaning Team

This month we would like to highlight all the people who take the time to help to keep the parish clean.  

Once a year we ask volunteers to come forward to help us do a thorough church cleaning on the Wednesday of Holy Week.  This year, as usual, a group of about 12-15 gathered to scrub the chair pads, polish the altar and ambo and other wood fixtures, wipe down all the wood and metal frames of the chairs and do whatever it took to make this building clean and refreshed.  It was a lot of work but it paid off in the fresh smell in the air and the shiny furniture.  We can’t thank the cleaning crew enough for all their hard work. 

Next time we do it, we will let you know so you can join in the fun (bruised knees and all).  We did take the time to gather at lunch to enjoy one another’s company and a spread of lunch meat and sandwich items.    

Thank you again to this great team of volunteers! 

Saturday and Sunday

April 2-3, 2005

Helen Guastini by Family & Friends

Giuseppe Martino by Martino Family

Bernard A. Gendreau by M. Gendreau

Anna Plotzke by Family 

Monday, April 4, 2005

Mary Rooney by Family 

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

Catherine Karl by Family 

Wednesday, April 6, 2005

Katherine Miracola by LaRose Family

Eleanor & Fred Horn by L. Horn 

Saturday and Sunday

April 9-10, 2005

Frank & Jean Quayhackx by Family

Rose Schmitt by Family

Julius Misuraca by Family

James Dushane by D. Guindon