SS. John & Paul

July 3, 2005 

A community of believers united and growing in Christ to serve as generous and loving stewards of God's love.

Pastor’s Perspective
*Parish Picnic Follow-Up

  What a wonderful picnic—even the weather cooperated!  We had over 500 people attend this year’s picnic on our parish grounds surrounding the pavilion. It proved a perfect setting for a picnic.  I enjoyed how people mingled and lingered, pitched in to help, were patient with glitches, and seemed to be enjoying themselves. 

  Thank you to all the ushers who helped once again to set up and organize the picnic this year.  I want to mention in particular Bob Burcar and Mike Bytner who took the lead.  But to all the many ushers who helped get things ready, thank you.  Thank you to the hospitality committee who jumped right in to make sure things went smoothly.  Thank you to JoAnne Owens who was all over the place, making sure all needs were covered.  Thank you to Karen Peters and Laura Hester who oversaw the children’s games.  Thank you to Rick Giffin who had a hand in so many aspects of the picnic.  Thank you to all who helped with the children’s games, face painting, balloon animals, welcoming tent, cooking, serving, 50-50 tickets, and cleaning up.  Once again, a wonderful afternoon! 

  As we evaluate this year’s picnic and look to next year, I would like to see a committee established to do the lead planning for the picnic.  In that way it can become a real parish-wide involvement in the yearly picnic, building on what the ushers have spearheaded for many years.  A few of you signed up already.  Thank you.  This committee will not “put on” the picnic. But plan for it, recruit subcommittees for the different areas and provide overall coordination.  In that way, individuals, families and parish groups (like the ushers) can all have a hand in making it happen, but not feel it falls on only one set of people each year to prepare and oversee.

   Remember, it is a picnic, not a festival. That is why we try to keep it pretty simple: some food and other refreshments, simple games and fun, music and a relaxed atmosphere.  As with our other socials, we do not try to make any money on the picnic. It is for fun, not funds! My own goal for next year is to get even more people to bring the lawn chairs and really create a picnic-park atmosphere.  

*Upcoming Parish Hospitality Events

  One arm of the parish Hospitality Committee is directed toward planning parish socials. They do such a great job of spreading them out over the year, nearly one per month.

  Coming up in July is our Ice Cream Social on Sunday July 24th after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. The ice cream social in July requires no RSVP.  Just come to Mass and linger a bit afterward and enjoy the ice cream treat, along with a couple of little things for the younger children. 

  Then in August we have our parish Golf Outing on Sunday August 28th.  We do need foursomes, threesomes, twosomes or individual to pre-register since we have a limit on numbers.  Even if you have never played in the outing before or are a singleton, don’t hesitate to register.  We will group you with a great group of people to fill out all foursomes.  Once again the outing and dinner afterward will be at the Bruce Hills Golf Course.  Shotgun start, some simple prizes for winning foursomes, longest drive, closest to the pin and so on.  It is a fun day (this year my foursome has agreed we will break par!).

*Fourth of July

  Join us for our Monday morning Mass at 9 a.m.  We want to keep in prayer, especially all who serve this country in any way: elected officials, federal judges, government workers, members of the armed services. 

  We can argue over who is elected or what policies need to change, on whether the war in Iraq is justified and moral or the size and shape of our military budget, on how activist or strict constructionist justices should be.  But at the core of our experience as citizens of this nation is a desire for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for each person.  That foundational belief has led us as a nation to embrace immigrants in every generation and from every part of the globe, even as we celebrate its American roots.  

  There are so many blessings as a nation to be thankful to God for, as we celebrate this Independence Day.  Let’s take time to reflect on them, thank God for them, and continue to seek God’s way for the future.   

*The Eucharist and Catholic Vocabulary

  One of the side benefits about growing up around the Catholic Church is the way one’s vocabulary grows.  I always tell the altar servers that if they learn all the proper names for things pertaining to the Mass they might have that million dollar answer to some obscure question on a game show some day!  Our Latin and at times Greek roots in the Mass provide all sorts of examples.  I thought it would be fun to name a few as a way to continue some teaching on the Eucharist and Eucharist-related Catholic practice. 

  For example, look at where the names for the priest’s vestments come from.  The long, white garment worn by priests, deacons, acolytes and at times other liturgical ministers is called the alb, which comes from the Latin word for white (albus).  An alb-like tunic was an everyday garment in Greco-Roman society, worn by most people.  The custom of wearing an alb for liturgy doesn’t get established until the 5th and 6th centuries.  Some albs are very loose fitting and so it became customary to tie a rope-like cord around the waist to hold the alb in place.  Our altar servers use such a cord with their albs, following the liturgical color of the day. It is called a cincture (from the Latin cingulum which means ‘girdle’). 

  The priest also puts on a stole, a long narrow cloth, typically worn over the alb but in recent years sometimes on the outside of all the garments.  Its color corresponds to the liturgical color of the season (white, purple, red, green) and is worn differently by priests and bishops (around both shoulders) than deacons (over only one shoulder).  In fact, this differentiation in usage harkens back to an older custom among Roman officials, who used different types of scarves to signify their respective rank.  The word comes from the Greek word stole for clothing. 

  Finally (or with some vestment sets just before putting on the stole) the priest puts on the chasuble, the cape-like outer garment with a hole for the head, again in the liturgical color of the season.  Again, this was a common piece of clothing for all men in the Greco-Roman world, which falls into disuse in society in the 5th and 6th centuries, but is retained by the clergy for liturgical use.  By the 9th century it was so completely associated with priesthood that the clothing of the newly ordained priest with the chasuble was put into the ordination ritual.  In the Greco-Roman world the chasuble was often a hooded cloak and could completely cover the person for protection against the elements. Thus the name comes from the Latin casula for ‘little house’. 

  Why does a priest vest, other than there is a rule to follow, a rather ancient but by no means necessary custom?  The main reason is to allow the role of presider or priest-celebrant at liturgy to be less centered on the personality of the priest and more centered on being a sacrament of Christ’s presiding.  As one of the newer Eucharistic prayers says “Christ now opens the Scriptures for us and Christ breaks the bread.” A priest is not to be unemotional or mechanical or without affect—that would mean he was not being himself. Our Catholic sacramental sense believes that in and through the ordinary the reality of God’s saving presence in Christ can be experienced.  But the point is to experience that presence of Christ, not have it all end focused on the personality of the particular priest.  Thus the human reality of the priest is to be a sign pointing to and making present a deeper reality of Christ’s mediation. 

Whether wearing vestments truly helps or hinders that in today’s world can be debated.  Some believe that all liturgical ministers should at least wear an alb (readers, ministers of communion, choir and cantor, etc.), so that they, too, would have a sense of entering into a role of service rather than simply doing it for themselves.  But where does that stop? Aren’t we all active liturgical ministers by praying, singing, participating?  To be honest, I like our practice here, where people who serve in any capacity are asked to dress for Sunday, exercise their ministry well and then sit with family and friends when not exercising their ministry.  For obvious reasons the choir needs to sit together, but I do like the fact that they aren’t in choir robes, but again in Sunday dress—one with us, not separated unnecessarily from the rest of the assembly.  And, it would not bother me, if the priest celebrant were asked to dress and do the same. 

 May our thanksgiving for freedom lead each of us to exercise that freedom with a deeper responsibility for the common good.  

  Fr. Buersmeyer 



Here’s what’s
happening!!
       

Monday, July 4:

*Mass at 9:00 a.m.

  Note: NO Mass at 7:00 p.m.

*Parish offices closed   

Tuesday, July 5:

*Mass at 9:00 a.m.  

Wednesday, July 6:

*Mass at  9:00 a.m. 

*************************** 

Parish office hours   

Sun.— 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mon.-Wed.—9:00
a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Thurs.—9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Friday — 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Saturday—12:00 to 3:00 p.m.


2005 CSA 

  Thank you for your gifts and pledges to the 2005 Catholic Services Appeal. As of June 26, the breakdown is as follows: 

  Total gifts/pledges:  $150,791.00 

  Diocesan obligation:  $73,681.00 

  Return to parish:  $77,110.00 

  Participating families:  489 

  Gifts:  453 

  Percent participation:  48.42% 

  Average gift:  $332.87 

  If you would still like to make a gift or pledge to this year’s appeal, it’s not too late. You can drop your gift into the regular offertory collection clearly marked CSA, or mail it to the parish office. 

Announcing Austin Catholic Academy 

  The Archdiocese of Detroit, representatives from the Augustinian order, and local parish priests held a press conference at St. Isidore Catholic Church on Monday, June 13, 2005 to announce their commitment to building Austin Catholic Academy. 

  Austin Catholic Academy will be a four-year, co-educational high school for residents and non-residents of Macomb County, with a projected enrollment of 800-1,000 students. The school will be built in Macomb Township on 23 Mile Road between North Avenue and Card Road. The Archdiocese of Detroit donated the land, which many residents know as the Oliver Sod Farm. 

  The press conference marked the beginning of a $30 million private fundraising campaign to raise money for building the school, its initial operation and its initial endowment/scholarship. Once all of the funds are raised and the requirements as set forth by the Archdiocese of Detroit are met, construction will begin. 

  “This must be a community effort, with parents, teachers, parishioners and community members involved,” said Father Brecht, OSA, Prior Provincial, Augustinian Fathers. “It will take all of us sharing in the journey of God together, and sharing in the faith.” 

  Also present at the press conference were local parents and school children. The parents expressed their desire to send their children to a Catholic high school so that they will be given the tools to be good citizens. The children were given Austin Catholic Academy T-shirts to wear over their uniforms during the press conference. 

  “Our plans are to open the doors to the new high school within the next few years,” said Leonard Brillati, president of Austin Catholic Academy, “as soon as we reach our fundraising goals.” 

  Watch for an announcement of the Austin Catholic Academy website in mid to late July. The website will contain information about the school, as well as information on how to donate funds and volunteer your time.  


Summer Taize prayer — July 26 — 6:30 p.m. 

  This prayer evening will include Taize prayer, a time for conversation on the prayer reading, and also a time for refreshments.  Weather permitting, Taize prayer evenings will be held outside so that we can enjoy the beautiful summer weather.  If you would like to help with refreshments, please call JoAnne at the parish office.   


CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION


2004-2005

Religious Formation

Program 

Early Childhood — Sunday

(ages 3-4-5 years)

During 9:30 a.m. Mass 

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. 


“My yoke is easy,

 and my burden light” 

  Zechariah the Prophet in our first reading speaks of a meek savior riding on the foal of a donkey, not in a chariot and not with a warrior’s weapon.  He comes to proclaim peace to all nations, without the aid of any weapons of War. 

  Jesus is that gentle Savior who confuses the sophisticated and delights the children.  The yoke of Jesus is bearable to those who learn from his humble heart—those who live by the Spirit.  Even pain is easier to bear when we know the ways of Jesus.  Life is not easy.  Everyone suffers and has to deal with problems.  But we are here because those who came before us suffered through life, dealt with their problems, and did what they could to pass life on to the rest of us. Taking Jesus’ yoke upon your shoulders doesn’t mean the pain won’t exist; it just means that it will be bearable. 

  Children often don’t understand pain.  But they suffer through it, and those who are fortunate are comforted by caring adults who hold them, rock them, sing to them and love them. 

  What can we learn from children when it comes to dealing with pain? 


Blood drive thanks 

  On behalf of the patients in our area hospitals, we want to thank all of you for your support of our recent Red Cross blood drive.  Through the cooperation of many of our church members and neighbors we were able to surpass our goal of 35 pints and collected 38 pints of blood.  You have helped people you will never meet and who will not have the opportunity to express their thanks to you.  Your reward is in the knowledge that by giving blood, you gave life.

  Special thanks go to Mary Adkins who helped coordinate the blood drive and also provided a delicious meal for the Red Cross staff and our volunteers.  Mary’s helpers were Katie and Jeff Adkins,  Rosemarie and Giovan Vitale, Jennifer Krumholz and Pam Hester.  Thanks to Sue Keller, Kay Halsey, Kim Sebastian, Pat Dobbs, Jennifer Loebs, Jennifer Krumholz and Pat Padolski who supplied us with a wonderful assortment of homemade cookies.  Also on hand were members of our Health Ministry Team, Sharon Pospiech and Roslyn Misuraca and our own Red Cross volunteers, Monica Payne, Diane Sprengel and Eddie Ghidoli.  Thanks to one and all for whatever part you played in making the day a success!

  Another Red Cross blood drive will be held at St. Clement Sunday morning, August 28th.  The next blood drive to be held here at SS. John & Paul will be held on Thursday, November 17th.  Mark your calendars! 

 

 

REGISTER NOW for the  2005-2006 Religious Formation Program 

TWO REASONS TO REGISTER NOW: 

  Tuition goes up after JUNE 1  2) Class size is limited

  Tuition:           By 6/1      After 6/1  To be assured of the day and time of your choice, NOW

  1 child:              $65.00         $90.00  is the time to register. Classes are filling up. Once they

  2 or more:        $110.00      $135.00  are filled, second choice will be the option

  NON-Parishioners: $125      $150  

  (Each Child) 

Please help us out by telling  your extended family members who attend our

program as well as  your neighbors and friends who might miss this article. 


“SERENGETI TREK”

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Preschool thru Grade 5 

SS. John and Paul Church

St. Clement Church &

St. John Lutheran Church

 at St. Clement Church  -  August 1-5

9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.   &  6:00-9:15 p.m. 

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION:  JUNE 15th

 Due to limited space we will only be able to take the first

150  children on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

This is a weeklong faith formation experience that engages children, teens and adults in song, games, crafts and prayer.   

From my own personal experience of this program, I can tell you that it is an exciting, fun-filled time.  I took my granddaughter who was visiting from out-state to it and she could hardly wait for the next day to go back.  

You don’t have to be registered in the religious formation program to take advantage of this opportunity for the special children in your life.   Why not fill out the form below or pick up a registration form on your way out today.  These forms can be found on the tables in the back of the church or in the Parish Office.  If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call — Linda Bauer 586-781-9488. 

NAME  ________________________________________________________ 

PHONE  _______________________________________________________ 

GRADE COMPLETED IN JUNE  ___________ 

Please check time attending:    ______Morning  _____Evening

Please check days attending:    ___M  ___T  ___W  ___Th  ___F  

Cost is $5.00 a day…$25.00 per week.

Make check payable to:   SS. John and Paul Church 


“Thanks and Praise” summer program

 

   The North Macomb Vicariate will once again host the summer day care program, Thanks and Praise, (formerly known as Mundo Divertido) for Hispanic children in our area.  These are children of parents who both work outside the home, but are unable to pay for adequate child care during the day when they are at work.

  The program will be held at St. Clement of Rome in Romeo and begins on Monday, June 13th and ends on Friday, August 5th.   Currently, the program is in need of two adults to work alternating weeks to supervise the opening of the day from 6:00 – 9:30 AM.  Other needs are for volunteers from 9:00 AM – Noon or 1:00 – 4:30 PM.  Please write your name and indicate your availability on the poster on the bulletin board.

  Also, if you would like to help prepare and serve lunches to the children the week of August 1 – 5, please sign up on the poster as well.  Hours would include prep time (1/2 – 1 hour) and lunch time/clean up (1 hour).  We are looking for teens, retirees, vacationing teachers, families, students needing community service hours or anyone who has the time to give.  Come join us for this enriching experience!

 

 


HONORING OUR PARISH NAMESAKES

 JUNE 26

THE FEAST OF SAINTS JOHN AND PAUL

“Apart from their names and the fact that they are Christian martyrs there is little that is certain about these two saints.” [Butler’s Lives of the Saints. New Edition, 1997. June volume] 

  Not much to go on for our parish name, is it?  And yet, note the key words that they were ‘Christian martyrs’.  They were honored as martyrs, shortly after their deaths (late 4th c.), and the one who is said to have deposited their relics in the current Church of SS. John and Paul in Rome and established a Church over a home there was Pammachius, a well-known friend of St. Jerome and a Roman senator, who lived during the time indicated and certainly could have known of these two brothers. However, there is not enough independent historical testimony from the period to sort out the legends from the facts connected to these two saints, other than that they were martyrs honored for their faithful witness during a time of persecution. 

  The recorded acts of John and Paul are quite ancient but are of little historical value, since they contains many noticeable chronological errors.  But it will be these stories which pass into the “Golden Legends” of the Middle Ages and become the basis for the account that is usually given of their lives:  brothers who served in Emperor Constantine’s army, who refused to re-join the military when the later emperor Julian requested and were subsequently put to death at Julian’s command. 

  The whole story is as follows.  John and Paul were brothers and army officers whom the emperor Constantine held in high esteem and so were assigned to the household of his daughter Constantia.  Constantine recalled them to active military service against the Scythians and when the army was in danger of defeat they convinced the commander that victory would be assured if he became a Christian (in the medieval legend this was changed to a vow to live celibately).  He consented and, according to the story, a legion of angels appeared and victory followed.  But when Julian the Apostate became emperor (called such in Christian history because of his renunciation of Christian faith and his return to ancient Roman pagan worship), and they were called back to service, they refused to go to the court to take the oath to serve the Roman gods and offer sacrifice.  Julian gave them ten days to reconsider, after which he had them killed by a captain of the guard, Terentius, and buried on the spot.  During those ten days the brothers were said to have distributed all they possessed to the poor and thus ready to fully face their fate.  The place of martyrdom soon became a pilgrimage site and, according to legend, Terentius’ own son was cured by visiting the site, thus causing the conversion of the martyrs’ executioner to the Christian faith.  The date of their martyrdom is not known but 362 A.D. is the usual year given.  Their feast day is June 26th

  The devotion to SS. John and Paul grew and remained strong due to two primary reasons. First, because their names were eventually inserted into the Roman canon (what we today call Eucharistic Prayer I) and prayed at every Mass in the Catholic Church for centuries.   Secondly, The Church of SS. John and Paul in Rome is one of the ‘stational churches.’  These are churches visited by pilgrims and the bishop of Rome during the Lenten season (Friday after Ash Wednesday for the Church of SS. John and Paul)  and so receive significant attention each year.  In times past the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours used an image from the Book of Revelation, comparing them to the two olive trees and the two candlesticks or lampstands, which are said to “stand in the presence of the Lord” (Revelations 11:4). And the Magnificat antiphon added “these just men have stood before the Lord and have not been separated from one another,” referring to how they were not just brothers in life but became even deeper brothers by sharing the same faith and same martyrdom. 


"Thanks and Praise” summer program 

   The North Macomb Vicariate will once again host the summer day care program, Thanks and Praise, (formerly known as Mundo Divertido) for Hispanic children in our area.  These are children of parents who both work outside the home, but are unable to pay for adequate child care during the day when they are at work.

  The program will be held at St. Clement of Rome in Romeo and begins on Monday, June 13th and ends on Friday, August 5th.   Currently, the program is in need of two adults to work alternating weeks to supervise the opening of the day from 6:00 – 9:30 AM.  Other needs are for volunteers from 9:00 AM – Noon or 1:00 – 4:30 PM.  Please write your name and indicate your availability on the poster on the bulletin board.

  Also, if you would like to help prepare and serve lunches to the children the week of August 1 – 5, please sign up on the poster as well.  Hours would include prep time (1/2 – 1 hour) and lunch time/clean up (1 hour).  We are looking for teens, retirees, vacationing teachers, families, students needing community service hours or anyone who has the time to give.  Come join us for this enriching experience! 


Dear parishioners of SS. John & Paul, 

  I was placed on your prayer list in October 2004 when I had surgery. Gratefully, I was cancer free! Nevertheless, I developed an opening the size of a cantaloupe in my abdomen and a double bacterial infection of both staph and streptolococcus which caused a lengthy hospital stay.

  The treatment continued at home with nursing care, antibiotics, and an abdominal wound vacuum. While these were all essential in my medical treatment and aides to my recovery, I credit first and foremost GOD; secondly the power of prayer for my cure.

  So it is with deep appreciation I thank each and every one of you for those prayers during my illness and I can finally have my name removed from SS. John & Paul’s prayer list.

    Gratefully,

   Joanne Hebert 


Highlight of Parish Pastoral Council

Meeting of May 18, 2005 

SS. John & Paul Parish Pastoral Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 following the “all commissions” meeting. 

¨         Members exchanged their thoughts and views on the North Macomb Vicariate’s “Together in Faith” draft prior to the “sign off” date of the May 24, 2005 Vicariate meeting.

¨         Council is now accepting nominations for the four, possibly five, openings that will be available during the coming year. Council would also like to make a commitment with one or two parish youth to be contact people.

¨         Questions that arose in regard to the 2005-06 parish budget were all answered to everyone’s satisfaction.

¨         The next regular meeting of Council will be held on June 8, 2005. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  

Christian Service Highlights

Meeting on May 18, 2005 

¨         Samaritan House - First monthly food drive for local food pantries went well.  This drive will be held the first weekend of each month.

¨         Parish Nurse Ministry - Emergency Action Plan recommendations are still under review by Parish Council.  Home visits continue.  Health Ministry team will have a booth set up at parish picnic.  Discussed “File of Life”- a way for first responders to obtain important medical information.  Possible presentation in October.

¨         Macomb County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers – had good response from surveys.  Still need more people in need of home help.  Additional surveys are in racks in back of church.

¨         Hispanic Day Care “Thanks and Praise” to run weekdays from June 13th through August 5th.

¨         Mother’s Day Flower Sale – We sent $293.00 to Birthright.  Will order more next year as we ran out.

Widow/Widowers’ Group – A discussion was held about the need for such a group at SS. John & Paul and how to determine interest in starting this group.  


Meet the nominees for our Parish Pastoral Council 

Barb Jarzembski

Barb is recently widowed, and has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. She has been a member at SS. John & Paul for almost 4 years. She is currently a member of the Christian Service Commission and Soup Kitchen Ministry. Barb also takes an interest in the adult formation at our parish and enjoys reading. 

Jim Reilly

Jim is married with 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. He and his wife have been members of SS. John & Paul for 3 years. They are very happy with the parish family environment here at our parish. Jim’s wife teaches religious formation classes, and Jim is currently active on the Worship Commission. Jim is also enjoying his retirement. 

Tom Fletcher

Tom has been a member of SS. John & Paul for 18 years. He has 4 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Tom stated that he enjoys the spirit of this parish and the people who formed the parish are very special. 

Dick Waligore

Dick and his wife Pat have 2 children (Patrick, age 16, and Katrina, age 13). Dick has been a member of SS. John & Paul for 5 years. Prior to joining our parish, the family attended St. Clement of Rome in Romeo. 

Mary Havener

Mary and her husband Jerry have 2 children and have been members of the parish for 4 years. Mary is active in the Choir and the Worship Commission and is also involved in the Arts and Environment Committee. The family enjoys the size and friendliness of the parish, and prior to SS. John & Paul, they attended St. Anastasia in Troy. 

Patricia (Pat) Dobbs

Pat has been married 37 years to Tom and they have 2 children, a son and a daughter who is expecting a new baby this month. Pat taught for Romeo schools as a substitute secondary teacher for 20 years. Her family was one of the founding families of the parish, and she served on the first SS. John & Paul Parish Council. She also previously served as a catechist for many years when her children were younger. Most recently, Pat had taken care of her frail mother in Port Huron and managed 2 homes, one in the U.P. After her mom passed away, Pat began spending most of her time in Washington and is looking forward to becoming increasingly involved in Parish events. 

 

July Happenings

Monthly Food Drive
Sat/Sun, July 2-3, at all masses. 

4th of July Mass at 9 a.m. 
(no 7 p.m. mass) 

All-choir picnic
Sun, July 10, away. 

Hospitality Committee meeting
Wed, July 13, 7 p.m. 

Vacation Bible School leader meeting
Thurs, July 14, 7 p.m., St. Clement  

Coffee/donuts after masses
Sun, July 17 

Senior cards
Mon, July 18, 11:30 a.m. 

Vacation Bible School crew meeting
Thurs, July 21, 6 p.m., St. Clement
 

Confirmation candidate interviews
Tues/Wed, July 19/20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Call for appointment. 

Ice Cream Social
Sun, July 24, 12:30-2 p.m. 

Taize prayer/Conversation/Refreshments
Tues, July 26, 6:30 p.m. 

Blood Pressure Check
Sat/Sun, July 30/31, after all masses. 

Vacation Bible School set-up
Sun. July 31, 1:30 p.m.
 


GOLF OUTING

SCHEDULED FOR

AUGUST 28TH   

MARK YOUR

CALENDARS NOW! 

Bruce Hills Golf Course

$55 cost includes 18 holes of golf, prizes, plus buffet dinner. 

Registration forms will be in the parish bulletin the weekend

of June 4-5 


Teen News         

¨         Cedar Point —Teens grade 8-12,please join us as we celebrate the youth of our parish with a day trip to Cedar Point on Wednesday, June 22. We will leave from the SSJP parking lot at 6:30 a.m. sharp and return at approximately 11:30 p.m. The cost is $30 which includes transportation and admission to the park. All participants must have a completed permission slip, (don’t forget the medical release part located on the back of the form). You can pick up a form in the office. You will also want to bring money for snacks, lunch, dinner, souvenirs, etc. We will provide a breakfast snack on the bus on the way there and a snack for on the way home.

  If you would like to bring a friend, they will be required to have a completed permission slip, and a check made out to SS. John & Paul for $47. All teens will be expected to stay in a buddy system and check in with the outing leader once during the day. Failure to do so will keep you from coming to future outings.

  Permission slips must be turned in by June 7. If you are including friends, please include a separate check and remember, they will go on a waiting list. After June 7, those on our waiting list will be put on the bus in order as they come into the office. This is on a first come, first served basis. If we cannot accommodate friends, their check will be returned to them. Call Mrs. Peters if you have any questions, 781-9488. 

¨     Honors night — I recently was invited to an honors night at one of our high schools. When I arrived, I found myself feeling especially proud that I knew so many of the teens being honored that night. A lot of the teens being honored were from our parish. These teens are hard working students that give it their all in everything they do. I feel so lucky to be able to work with all the teens of this parish. They’re just terrific! 

  Mrs. Peters 


      Trinity Sunday  

  The Trinity is a mystery...impossible to fully understand.  But God has opened up the mystery to us through revelation.  Through the revelation of God in scripture and through the  Church, we are invited to come to know the Father, through the Son in the power of the Spirit.

  We can come to know God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through prayer and through reading Sacred Scripture.  We also come to know God through showing our love for others. 

Glory Be to the Father 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end.

Amen


Baptism Preparation 

  Beginning in June, Baptism preparation will take place every other month, no longer every month.

This means that you must notify the office sooner so as not to miss the preparation session.   A schedule of meeting dates will be available if you call the parish office.  The session for June is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th, at 7:00 p.m. 

  Prior to the preparation session, you must call the office to set a time to register your child for the Sacrament.  This meeting takes only 15-20 minutes and can be done Monday through Thursday, morning or afternoon.


Vatican II

This week’s insert “Sharing Our Heritage of Faith.” 

  We encourage our parish community to provide resources, programs, small groups, and activities to nurture faith growth from birth through the later years of life.

  How can you become more of a lifelong learner in terms of your Catholic faith?   


Summer Taize prayer 

  We are planning special Taize prayer times for June, July, and August. Each of these prayer evenings will include Taize prayer, a time for conversation on the prayer reading, and also a time for refreshments. Weather permitting, these prayer evenings will be held outside so that we can enjoy the beautiful summer weather.

  Our June date is schedule for June 21 at 6:30 p.m. If you would like to help with refreshments, please call JoAnne at the parish office.       


Together In Ministry 

Parish Picnic Committee 

 

  What a blast this year’s parish picnic was celebrating 25 years of parish life for SS. John and Paul!  It took lots and lots of busy hands and feet to provide the fun, food and fellowship that was had by all who attended.  Over 500 people enjoyed one another’s company with the help of great music, singing, and warm, dry weather.

   But...it doesn’t stop here.  We are already gearing up to form a committee for next year’s event.  It doesn’t need to be quite as elaborate as this year’s (due to our celebration of our 25th anniversary), but that doesn’t mean it won’t be as much fun.  But then again that depends on you! 

  Yes, I said you.  Up to now, our parish ushers have graciously planned and provided all the hands needed to pull off this special day.  But it is time that we share the load and thus…we are forming a new committee called the “Parish Picnic Committee.” 

  This committee will be a subcommittee of our parish Hospitality Committee.  We will begin to outline what this means as part of next week’s “Together in Ministry” article.   


 

Pray for those in the military

Noel & Greg Ales, Nick Bassett, Mike Boback, Damien Brunet, Tony Gentilia, Christian Honkanen,  Brett Kelsey, David Krzycki, Jonathon Krusinski, Chris Krusinski, Matthew MacLeod, Paul McGowan, Joe Perren, Thomas Schmidt, Jennifer Shepard,  Jason Stahl, Vincent Titeriga, Chris Urbanczyk 

Do you know someone who is serving in the military? We would like to place their name in the bulletin so that we can pray for them during this trying time. Also, continue to pray for peace and for a quick and peaceful solution to the world’s conflicts.


Pray for our sick  

If you would like to have someone added to the prayer list, please call the parish office (586) 781-9010.     

Marjorie & Bob Aiken, Mary Angelosante,  Ralph Cleary, Brian Connolly, Geraldine Dale, Arthur Donovan, John Dreffs, Alojzy Filipowicz, John Floreno, Jerry Ford, Ronnie Housewright, Anna Kaltz, Bob Mehlick, Henry Miciek, Doris Miciek, Deann Miller, Bernadine Pallas, Flo Poli, Dorothy Puffpaff, Helen Raad, Pasqua Rea, Hank Roman, Art Rose, Albert Sabbe, Barbara Supina, Lou Scarpaci, Karen Shea, Ladda Tan, Joseph Yoskovich 

  Please note that names will be left on the prayer list for four weeks and then removed. If you would like a name to remain on, please call and let us know. 

 

Stewardship Report

June 25-26, 2005  

Weekly budget. $11,600.00

Offertory. $9,644.17

No. Sunday envelopes used. 313

Electronic offerings. $1,844.50

No. electronic offerings. 24

Total offertory. $11,488.67 

Other Monies / (# Envelopes)

Debt Reduction / (6). $122.00

Children’s Env. / (3). $3.00

Peter’s Pence (65). $1,080.50  

The 2005-06 budget includes many capital improvements to the parish buildings. Some of the items planned for the year include: remodeling the bathrooms, patching the parking lot, and purchasing/installing a new sign on 28 Mile Road. Thanks to your weekly offertory support, our grounds and buildings will continue to sparkle. 


Readings for the Week of

July 3, 2005

Sunday, July 3:

Zec 9:9-10; Ps 145; Rom 8:9, 11-13;

Mt 11:25-30

Monday, July 4:

Gn 28:10-22a; Ps 91; Mt 9:18-26

Tuesday, July 5:

Gn 32:23-33; Ps 17; Mt 9:32-38

Wednesday, July 6:

Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a; Ps 33; Mt 10:1-7

Thursday, July 7:

Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5; Ps 105;

Mt 10:7-15

Friday, July 8:

Gn 46:1-7, 28-30; Ps 37; Mt 10:16-23

Saturday, July 9:

Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a; Ps 105;

Mt 10:24-33

Sunday, July 10:

Is 55:10-11; Ps 65; Rom 8:18-23;

Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9 


Eucharistic
Prayer Requests

Saturday and Sunday

July 2-3, 2005

James Rooney by Greenway Family

Giuseppe Pittiglio by Family

James Dushane by Family

Catherine Karl by Family

Frank & Laura Payne by Schnell Family 

Monday, July 4, 2005

Alex Bergeman by Greenway Family 

Tuesday,  July 5, 2005

James Dushane by Family 

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Katherine Miracola by LaRose Family 

Saturday and Sunday

July 9-10, 2005

Julie Radtke by Family

Louis Ranelli by Family

Robert Leadley by Greenway Family

Edward Woytalewicz by Wife & Family 

Liturgical appointments for July 9-10 2005  

  5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Celebrant
Lectors

Eucharistic

Ministers

 

*Captain 

Altar

Servers

Greeters
Ushers 

Money

Counters

 

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