| SS. John
& Paul
August 28, 2005 |
A community of believers united and growing in Christ to serve as generous and loving stewards of God's love. | ||
|
|
|||
|
Pastor’s
Perspective *Religious Education
Due to increased enrollment we opened up a Monday afternoon time slot for
grades 1-6, in addition to the Tuesday afternoon slot and the Tuesday evening
slot. Even with that some classes,
especially on Tuesday afternoon, are nearly filled. If you have not yet
registered your child there are plenty of openings on Tuesday evening and Monday
afternoon and a few left in certain grades on Tuesday afternoon. Please do not
delay in getting your registration form in, or stop by the office and fill one
out or talk to our Coordinator of Christian Formation, Linda Bauer. *Parish Website Meeting
This Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. we will review our website and begin talking
about how to increase its effectiveness and use.
I would love to see a few web-savvy people help on this committee. Join
us Wednesday in the Activities Center. *World Youth Day Weekend
A number of our high schoolers spent last weekend together with other
teens from around the diocese, camping, walking, doing a service project,
praying, and celebrating World Youth Day. They
were not in Germany with the Pope but they were able to capture some of the
meaning of that experience together. Karen
Peters, our Youth Ministry leader, along with Nicole Peters, Kathy Franks, and
Laura Hester chaperoned our teens the entire weekend.
At Focus:HOPE in Detroit the group had a chance to see some of the
diversity of the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholics.
Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Polish, and other ethnic parishes were on
hand to talk about some of their Catholic ethnic customs.
At the SS. Andrew and Kim Korean Martyrs display a prayer card was handed
out with the following prayer from Marie Scott, C.S.A.
I think it would be a good one for any of us to pray as we think about
the need for vocations to work within the Church’s public ministry: “Loving God, You gift us with life. Through
baptism you have called
us to new life. May
we be a sign of your love
in the world. We
pray that you will continue to
fill women and men with an abundance of courage to follow the
path you set before them today. May those who feel the desire and call to serve as lay ministers, brothers, sisters and priests, be blessed with passion and vision to make the world a better place.” Amen
Experiences like this World Youth Day weekend are all part of the youth
ministry of this parish. I strongly
encourage all high schoolers to connect to it whenever you can.
Give Mrs. Peters a call at 586-781-9488. *Music
Each new music director adds something to the parish’s experience of
liturgical music. I want to
compliment our new director of liturgical music, Al Eppens, on his expectations
of us as a community. He rightly
points out that the music we sing is “our” music, not somebody else’s. For
example, although we get a little weak on the singing when the cantor takes time
to receive communion, it helps us remember that we are not simply listening to
music as we process. We are singing that music.
|
MiHe has been choosing hymns with refrains whose words are easier to remember. I noticed last weekend that we did pretty well with “One Bread, One Body” during that time. My hope is that we continue to grow in our willingness to sing at that time. There will come a day, with certain hymns, that the cantor will not have to keep us on track, because we are doing that together, for one another, as part of our communion in the Lord. I
alI I also want to compliment our cantors. He
has high expectations of them as well and they have done superbly.
At times the responsorial psalm is more hymn-like and the tune is a bit
easier to sing solo, accompanied on piano or organ by the melody line. But at
other times, like this past week, it is more of a chant, and the cantors have to
risk singing out, with a helpful note underneath but not a full melody line.
They did wonderfully. Since the
psalm is part of God’s Word to us, this style of chant allows the actual psalm
words to stand out and for us to listen to them. If you have any interest in music—vocal, handbells, instruments—even if you cannot commit to a weekly commitment, please let Al know. He is eager to connect you in some way to the parish’s liturgical music. We all benefit when your gifts are shared in that way. *C.C.Y.O Basketball
Mr. Bob Jiannuzzi has come forward and offered to organize a parish C.Y.O.
basketball program for any of our 5th
and 6th graders, boys and girls.
Bob has a long history of coaching and working both with parishes and the
public schools. Currently a few of
our children play on the C.Y.O. team with St. Clement’s.
If there is enough interest, he will organize teams, coaches and gym time
to field our own teams.
We will start with the 5th-6th grade teams in basketball.
The season runs from November through early March.
To play on the team the family has to be a registered member of this
parish or another parish that does not have a team.
The Catholic Youth Organization has an excellent focus on teaching
skills, being competitive, but getting all team members to play.
Games would be once a week, on Saturdays. Practice would depend on
squeezing out some gym time from area gyms.
The cost will be minimal and no one would be turned away for lack of
money. The key is to see if there is enough interest out there to field a 5th-6th girls team and a 5th-6th boys team from this parish. If you are interested in having your child involved or are willing to help Bob with some of the organizing details, please give him a call at 586-781-0561. *
* * * * * * * *
In the gospel today Jesus asks “What profit is there to gain the whole
world but suffer the loss of one’s life?”
In that context, “life” means the animating force, the soul, the
heart of who we are. Let’s work on
deepening that heart, that soul. Let’s
take the time in prayer, reflective reading, thoughtful meditation, and
conscientious action to center our life on what is essential and let the
worrisome but really non-essential stuff take care of itself. May God give you
the courage to always pursue the truth in your own life. Fr. Buersmeyer Join us as we celebrate Fr. David A. Buersmeyer’s 25th Anniversary Of Ordination Saturday September 10, 2005 Our celebration will begin
with the 5:00 p.m. Mass followed
by a reception in the Activities
Center Hors d'oeurvres and beverages will be served |
||
|
|
Baptism Preparation
Preparation for baptisms taking place in September
or October will
be on Wednesday,
September 7, at 7:00 p.m. Prior to attending the preparation class you must call for an appointment to
come into the office to register your child. |
From
the Music Desk... Why Bother to Join a Choir?
Don’t You Have Anything Better to Do?
The second music-related sheet in your parish-wide mailing is an
announcement of the rehearsal times and start-up dates for the choirs of SS.
John and Paul. Before you toss this
sheet aside, thinking that it doesn’t concern you, let’s explore what it
means to be a member of a choir.
Obviously, the role of a choir in leading the people of God in the music
of worship is of vital importance. The
choirs exist to encourage and draw out the full musical participation of the
whole assembly. They do this by
developing their gifts to the point where they can
support or add new dimensions
to the music at Mass. “Well,”
you may say, “I have no musical gifts to offer.”
Let me respectfully disagree.
Thomas Edison once said that his success was due to 10% inspiration and
90% perspiration; this is true in the musical world as well.
I know people who have minimal musical gifts who have become superb
musicians by developing what they did have.
My point is that everyone has some musical ability; my goal is to build
on that foundation, and there is no better place for this than in a choir.
So choirs are places of musical growth, with the joy and satisfaction
which comes from that achievement. They
are also places of spiritual development, as singers and ringers become
intimate with our liturgies. In
addition, deep friendships and a strong sense of community form among those who
strive together toward a common goal. Lastly
and most importantly, the choirs are great fun, as choir members are
characteristically highly spirited people with overactive senses of humor.
How
can you resist this combination of fun and fellowship, achievement and spiritual
growth? What better use of your time
can you imagine? Please consider
joining one of our choirs this fall. There
are no auditions and you do not have to read music to participate. Be a part of
this vibrant and important ministry, while laughing along the way.
In the words of the Marty Haugen song, “All are welcome.” Meijer Community Rewards — $3 Bonus
Meijer’s is running a new promotion in September — for every new
member that signs up for the Meijer Community Rewards program in September 2005,
the parish will earn $3 in addition to our monthly earnings! Ten parishioners
need to enroll and use their Community Rewards card by Oct. 31, 2005 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: 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 use
this program. Funds raised in 2005-06 are earmarked for the purchase of a new
parish sign on 28 Mile Road. Thank you for supporting our parish. |
|
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. Catechist Gathering Thurs., Sept. 8
6:30 p.m. For all
catechists and assistants from Early Childhood through Grade 8.
Meet your catechetical partner and receive your information for the
program. Lesson Planning All Catechists
&
Assistants
Early Childhood,
Grades. 1-3:
Mon., Sept. 19
6:30 p.m. Grades 4-8:
Tues., Sept. 20
6:30 p.m. Catechetical Sunday September 18
9:30 & 11:30 a.m. Masses All
catechists and assistants will be acknowledged before the community and sent
forth to share the faith with our children.
|
PARENT / CHILD ORIENTATION Monday,
September 26 4:45
p.m. Tuesday,
September 27 4: 45 p.m.
/ 6:30 p.m. PARENT
/ TEEN ORIENTATION Sunday,
October 2 6:30
p.m. To
be attended by all parents, children and teens. Your orientation day and time is determined by the day and time you chose for your child’s weekly formation session. All families will be receiving a letter in the next few weeks confirming the day and time of their orientation. VOLUNTEER Catechists and Assistants NEEDED: Early Childhood-Sun. Morning:
1
Catechist—3 & 4 yr. old Tuesday Afternoon:
1 Catechist & 1 Assistant— Gr. 6 Tuesday Evening:
1 Assistant - Gr. 4, 1 Catechist—Gr. 5, 1 Assistant—Gr. 6 “Get behind me, Satan!”
Mt. 16:21-27
...these are strong
words. What had Peter done to
deserve such a stern reprimand? Prior
to this Peter had recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
But by popular belief the Messiah would be a great military
leader—another King David. This
was probably what Peter had in mind too.
But this wasn’t Jesus’ idea of a Messiah.
He had told the disciples that the Messiah would suffer and be put to
death, that God wanted to show the depth of his love for us through the
faithfulness and love of his Son, which cost him his life.
This was completely unacceptable to Peter.
Out of concern for Jesus, he tried to stop him, and he probably was
thinking of himself too. Being a
disciple of a suffering Messiah was not a role to be relished.
Peter became a stumbling block to Jesus.
Peter had a very important role to play in the scheme of things, but
Jesus was prepared to lose his friendship rather than allow Peter to keep him
from his destiny.
When the hour came for Jesus to drink the cup of suffering and death, he
went through a terrible agony and asked his Father to remove the chalice from
him, yet he remained faithful.
We have all experienced struggles like this in some shape or form.
There are things we don’t like doing, but we know we have to do if we
want to be faithful to our responsibilities and obligations.
Sacrifice is not an easy thing, but it is in this way that our best self
takes shape; how we become a person of character and integrity.
And strangely enough this is also the road to happiness.
Our happiness does not lie in doing our own thing, or what we feel like
doing, but in doing what we have to do.
Love is what makes sacrifice easy. Loves
enables us to take up our cross and turn it from a stumbling block into a
stepping stone. What Jesus did was
an expression of his love for us and for his Father. What
is your stumbling block and how can you turn
it into a stepping stone? |
|
Health
Notes Stress Management With summer days winding down
and the kids getting ready to get back to school, I thought an article on
stress management would be helpful. First of all, let’s define what
stress is. Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we
adjust to our continually challenging environment; it has physical and
emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a
positive influence, stress can compel us into action and can result in new
awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can
result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression. These
negative influences can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset
stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and
stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job
promotion or job change, a new relationship or change in schedule, we
experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different
circumstances stress will help or hinder us depending on how we
react. You might think it might be
helpful to eliminate stress from your life but as we have said, some
stress is good. Positive stress adds anticipation and excitement to life,
and we all thrive under a certain amount of stress. Our goal is not to
eliminate stress, but to learn to manage it and how to use it to help us.
We need to find the optimal level of stress which will individually
motivate us, but not overwhelm us. However, there is no single level of
stress that is optimal for all people. As with everything else, we are all
individual creatures with unique requirements. What is distressing to one
individual may be joy to another. Even if we agree that a particular event
is distressing, we are likely to differ in our physiological and
psychological responses to it. So, again, our goal is not to eliminate
stress from our life, but to manage it. Here
are some helpful hints to manage stress: ¨ Become
aware of your stressors and your emotional and physical reactions.
Determine how your body responds to stress. Do you become nervous and
physically upset? If so, in what specific way? ¨ Recognize
what you can change. Can you change your stressors by avoiding or
eliminating them completely? Can you devote the time and energy necessary
to making a change such as goal setting or time management
techniques? ¨ Reduce
the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress. Are you expecting to
please everyone? Are you overreacting and viewing everything as critical
and urgent? Work at adopting more moderate views; try to see the stress as
something you can cope with rather than something that overpowers you. Try
to temper your excess emotions and put the situation in perspective. ¨ Learn
to moderate your physical reactions to stress. Slow, deep breathing will
bring your heart rate and respiration back to normal. Relaxation
techniques can reduce muscle tension. Medications, when prescribed by your
doctor, can help in the short term in moderating your physical reactions
to stress. However, they alone are not the answer. Learning to moderate
these reactions on your own is the preferable long-term solution. ¨ Build
your physical reserves. Exercise for cardiovascular fitness 3-4 times
weekly. Eat well balanced, nutritious meals. Maintain your ideal weight.
Avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine and other stimulants. Mix leisure with
work. Get enough sleep. Be as consistent with your sleep schedule as
possible. ¨ Develop
some mutually supportive friendships/relationships. Pursue realistic goals
meaningful to you. Expect some frustrations, failures, and sorrows. Always
be kind to yourself. Information
for this article taken from www.ivf.com/stress. Respectfull
submitted, Anne
Petriches, RN—Parish Nurse True Discipleship
In today’s first reading, Jeremiah is burdened by the hardships
of following God’s way so he complains of how difficult his life is.
Yet he admits that he cannot help but continue.
God’s love burns in him, and he must respond.
Paul reminds the disciples in Rome that they need to take a clear
look at how they live and not to let the influences of their culture stop
them from doing the right thing.
And in the Gospel, Peter does not want Jesus to go forward into
Jerusalem and suffer, but Jesus rebukes him and warns the disciples about
the difficulty of true discipleship.
Peer pressure is tough on any person, of any age and in any age.
It is tough on Jeremiah, he is mocked and humiliated.
It is tough on Paul and the early church.
It is tough on Peter and Jesus.
But the message is clear: To
be a disciple, we must pick up our cross and carry it. We must lose our
life if we wish to save it. Discipleship is not easy, but it is the only
way.
Being a disciple of Jesus is not easy, because the world is filled
with all kinds of temptations and negative messages, right alongside the
support and the positive messages.
What are some of the negative messages in today’s world
that you find hard to avoid? What’s your secret
to ignoring them?
What positive messages in today’s world do you find the most
helpful in helping you to be a follower of Jesus? Adults With Disabilities St. Rene Parish in Sterling Heights, St. Clement Parish in Romeo, and St. Paul of Tarsus in Clinton Township welcome all adults with mental or emotional impairments to evenings of fun, friends, and faith sharing. These evenings are open to persons of all denominations. Group home residents are welcome as well. For more information, contact Terry Cloyd at (586) 264-5469. |
Adopt-a-County Road
It’s hard to believe that summer is almost gone.
Along with summer’s end comes our last scheduled clean up of 28
Mile Road on Saturday, September 10th at 8:00 a.m. If you would like
to help, you should be in reasonably good physical condition.
It is recommended that you wear long sleeves and pants with work
boots or old shoes, a baseball cap and gardening gloves.
Water will be provided. If
you would like to join our team, please meet us in the parking lot of
SS. John & Paul on Saturday, September 10th at 8:00
a.m.
We will view a short safety video and begin our work.
We usually finish up by 10:00 a.m.
Please leave your name with the parish office by Thursday,
September 8th so we will know to expect you. Still looking for…
Have you ever put together a road rally or been on a committee
that planned one? If you have, you are just the person the Hospitality
Committee is looking for. We would like to offer a Parish Road Rally in October but need volunteers to come forward and put it together for us. The committee will help with planning and the hospitality afterwards. If you are the person(s) we are looking for, please call JoAnne at the parish office. Thank you! Caregiver Support Group to Meet
Caregivers of older adults are invited to attend the monthly
support group meeting sponsored by A Friend’s House Adult Day
Services-Romeo on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 from noon to 2:00 PM.
The meeting will take place in the conference room in the Agape
Center, at 347 S. Main, on the grounds of St. Clement of Rome church in
Romeo. The group is for anyone caring for or concerned about an older family member at home. On-site respite services are also available, for a small fee. Pre-registration is required. Sponsored by Catholic Services of Macomb, A Friend’s House-Romeo provides supervised, daytime care and activities for adults in the early stages of memory loss. For additional information or to register for on-site respite services, call Christy Adams at 586.336.6839. Adult Day Center Accepting Applications A Friend’s House Adult Day Services-Romeo has openings for memory-impaired adults who need support and care during the day. A Friend’s House provides supervised, daytime care and activities for persons in the early stages of dementia, as well as monthly support groups, individual counseling and referrals for caregiving families. Services are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sponsored by Catholic Services of Macomb, A Friend’s House-Romeo is located in the Agape Center, at 347 S. Main, on the grounds of St. Clement of Rome Church. For additional information, call Activities Coordinator Christy Adams, at 586.336.6839. The Priesthood—Try It On
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the son of
Man is?” Who taught you about Jesus? Probably your parents first, then
other relatives, teachers, religious sisters, and priests. How do you
teach others about Jesus? As a parent, relative, or teacher? How about
as a religious sister or brother, or a priest? For information, call the
Vocation Office at 313.237.5875 or visit www.vocationsdetroit.org. National Marriage Encounter
Is it time for you and your spouse to be alone together, away
from the distractions and tensions of everyday life? Consider a National
Marriage Encounter Weekend
and rediscover each other and God’s plan for your marriage. National
Marriage Encounter Weekends
are open to couples of all faiths. The next weekend will be held
September 23-25. Call 1-888-799-LOVE or visit www.national-marriage-encounter.org
for more information. Covenant Love Marriage Preparation
Weekend
The Covenant Love Marriage Preparation Weekend,
sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for Family and Life, offers engaged
couples an overnight weekend experience as a special preparation not
just for their wedding, but for their life-long marriage in Christ. The
next weekend is September 17-18. For more information and a brochure,
contact Janet Gruley at 734-414-1104 or gruley.janet@aod.org. Living with the Loss of a Spouse
Widowed men and women of all ages are encouraged to attend a
support series dealing with the loss of a spouse. This six-week program
covers the stages of grief, loneliness and ways to cope with loss.
Sponsored by Widowed Friends, a “peer” ministry of the Archdiocese of Detroit, the
series begins on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at St. Rene
Parish, located on Ryan Road just south of Metro Parkway in Sterling
Heights. Call Richard (586) 465-6308 or Lee (248) 548-0439 to register
before Sept. 6. For Young Widowed Under 55
Widowed under age 55 are invited to meet for dinner, conversation
and support in a safe, friendly setting. Join us on Sunday, Sept. 11, at
4:30 p.m. at Dave & Buster’s, 45511 Park Avenue in the Utica Park
Mall, north side of M-59 just east of M-53
in Utica. Hosted by Young Widowed Friends, a “peer” group of the Archdiocese of Detroit. RSVP one week prior to
event. Contact Betsy (313) 881-6373 or Rocco at roccoannette@yahoo.com.
|
|
Join
us as
we celebrate... Please
join the SS.
John & Paul Parish family
as we celebrate Fr.
David A. Buersmeyer’s 25th
Anniversary of Ordination on
Saturday, September 10, 2005 Our
celebration will begin with the
5:00 p.m. Mass followed by a reception
in the Activities Center
Hors d'oeurvres and beverages will be served |
|
Together
In Ministry New...Family Committee
Our first meeting in July proved to be one full of ideas and
possibilities about the future. But
our initial focus for our next meeting on August 30, at 7:00
p.m. will be: · planning
our October Halloween event which will
follow the Saturday evening mass on
October 29. · creating
a list of topics that would offer adults of the parish an
opportunity to gather and learn more about issues that are
important to them. These
topics would be offered at the same
time as the Religious Formation sessions on Monday and
Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.
Details about the
above events will be put into the bulletin after they are finalized.
If you are interested in joining this family committee, please
call JoAnne at the parish office. NEXT MEETING: AUGUST 30, 7:00 P.M. |
|
| Eucharistic Prayer Requests Saturday and Sunday August
27-28, 2005 Angela & Joseph Panfalone by Quayhackx Family Dorothy Cronenwett by Family Concetta Badalucco by Family John & Maxine Sobetski (50th Anniv.) Monday, August 29, 2005 Edward Woytalewicz by wife & family Tuesday, August 30, 2005 Maher Family by L. Horn Wednesday, August 31, 2005 Rita Kelly by Pospiech Family Saturday and Sunday September 3-4, 2005 Jack Shiffman by Witgen Family Flo Poli by Klakulak Family Ed Mazeika by M. McCann Aracele Clemente by Havener Family Rose & Adolph Schmitt by Family
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||