September 11, 2005 

Pastor’s Perspective 

*25th Anniversary Thoughts

  As I look back at these twenty five years of priesthood several thoughts come to mind. The first is gratitude that I could be and that I am still a Catholic priest.  Ordained priesthood is, of course, essential to the Catholic understanding of Church and Eucharist.  To be a priest is to experience again and again the amazing and humbling role of calling the community together in the name of the Lord, presiding as a distinct sacrament of the risen Jesus in a gathering of baptized followers of Christ who are all sacraments of Christ’s life in this world.  By and large people are so appreciative and affirming of those of us who have followed the path of ordained priesthood. You are so supportive. 

  But my gratitude for priesthood isn’t so much for what I do but for who I have become because of priesthood.  In the interactions of parish life, priesthood has drawn me out, invited me to risk more, extended my mind and heart in ways that have made me a better person.  [Thank goodness, you should say, because if this is what ‘better’ is for him, I would hate to see what he would be like if he wasn’t a priest!]  That is because parish priestly ministry involves you—people, of all walks of life, all mindsets, all ages, all ethnicities, all economic levels.  A parish priest lives a blessed life because he is immersed in the lives of so many thousands of people.  I cannot describe what awe I have for so many people who have come into my life through priestly ministry. I cannot imagine what I would be like, if not for those relationships.

  Secondly, priesthood has not at all been what I anticipated when I entered into the seminary.  Of course, life never is!  The battles over liturgical changes and internal Church matters of the 1960s and 1970s has given way to a concern that our Catholic heritage and identity not be lost in a world that increasingly likes to marginalize the impact of faith.  The way seminarians are trained now as opposed to twenty five years ago is so different.  I was trained in a way that emphasized the common mission we have whether ordained or lay; the fundamental significance of baptism; the possibility for all who are called to become priests (married men, women); the importance of viewing Catholics as adults who can make their own decisions of conscience; the thought that as long as the essential mission of Jesus Christ is preserved and the core of our Tradition is honored, all sorts of new forms of church structure and life could develop.  Today there is more emphasis on the unique status of the male, celibate priesthood; a greater focus on what is distinctively Catholic; an acceptance of the given ways of doing things rather than looking to change or experiment with them; and a development of a piety that focuses on Eucharistic devotion.

  Please note, one is not right and the other wrong. But they are different.  And I think both have strengths and weaknesses.  The strength of the current approach is a willingness to challenge young men to a life that involves sacrifice and dedication. Its weakness is the danger of an uncritical acceptance of the way things are and a divorcing of the priest from his real and imperfect humanity.  The strength of the formation I received was its focus on the shared mission of all the people of God and the willingness to re-think anything that wasn’t essential.  Its weaknesses included a lack of clarity as to what priesthood really was and with that a willingness to let every priest work out his own style of ministry.  But in spite of the changes in the Church and in priesthood, veteran priests and newer priests concur on the tremendous gift priesthood is to their life and that they would gladly do it all again.

  Thirdly, as I look at the future, I know that priesthood is shifting yet again.  With the diminished numbers and the re-configuring of parishes that will be happening, priests will be tested and challenged to define a new way of being priest.  More parishes will have pastors who are not priests (in this diocese it looks like the archbishop will appoint married deacons rather than lay pastoral ministers).  Many other parishes will have to share a pastor between two or more parishes.  Priests will still have to deal with the aftermath of humiliation and distrust from way too many fellow priests abusing minors.  People will not be passive as to how their money is spent and will demand even more accountability and transparency.  Growing up Catholic will translate even less into automatically being an adult Catholic.  And here in the Archdiocese of Detroit we will have to resist the real danger of becoming predominantly a suburban Church of the wealthier.  In all that happens my guess is that priests will continue to find their ministry extremely satisfying, even if difficult. Because at the core will be people like you in this parish, who make priesthood the gift it is.  

*Ministries Weekend (September 17/18) and Commitment Sunday (September 24/25)

  Each fall we ask you to review the ways you are able to use your time, talent and treasure for the work of God through the Church. In addition to community groups and outreach, volunteering for schools and the many helping programs for children and adults in need, the parish needs your help as well.  We do not ask that the majority of your time and talent and money be given to the Church’s work, but we do need you to be generous with it.  Next weekend we will have representatives of the various groups available to answer questions on any area of parish ministry.  Take time to look the areas over.  Booklets describing the typical time commitment in any area will be passed out as well.

  In addition, you will be receiving a letter from me this week, along with a sheet that lists the various areas of church volunteer ministry.  It will be a reminder of last year’s Sunday Offering campaign and the amount you listed, if any, as to what you thought you would be able to commit to in terms of a typical weekly offering. Please review that information, fill out the “Time, Talent and Treasure” offering sheet and bring it with you on the “Commitment Weekend” of September 24-25. Part of the collection that weekend will include placing these sheets in the basket. 

*Parish Council and All Commissions

  On Wednesday, September 14th we have our first of three yearly meetings with all the leadership groups together.  As we did last year, we will begin with a brief prayer, give time for individual commission/committee meetings and then have time for brief feedback and shared discussion.  The parish council should plan on staying for a little longer afterward to formally meet our new members, set the date and agenda for the next meeting, and re-focus ourselves on the themes and goals that were developed last year. All are welcome on this evening 

*Vocations Committee

  We formed a committee last year who took on the task of encouraging vocations.  Not just vocations to priesthood and religious life, as important as these are to the Church. All vocations—all the ways we are called to live out our baptismal faith, married and single and single again, in all walks of life.  The committee meets Monday September 12th after the 7 p.m. Mass (around 7:45).  We are looking for a couple more members.  Join us.

 * * * * * 

   My prayer for you on my 25th anniversary is that your faith may continue to give you the courage to respond in love, not fear, in as wide an embrace as possible of all that life has to offer, knowing that you will never be abandoned, because you hold fast to the way given to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

  Fr. Buersmeyer 

  Taizé Prayer

Wednesday, September 14

6:30 p.m. 

Parish Council

and all Commissions

will meet on

Wednesday, September 14

At 7:00 p.m. 

You are invited to join us for

Taizé prayer at 6:30 p.m.  

Ushers meeting 

Thursday, September 15, at 7:00 p.m. 

All Ushers are requested to attend

  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… 

The Start of Something New 

   This month, I’ll begin the process of gradually compiling a hymnal supplement which will be unique to this parish.  We will be able to install pockets in the inside back cover of our hymnals, and these supplements will fit into those pockets.  These will not replace the individual worship aids, which contain psalm refrains and Mass settings, but will be a true addition to our hymnals.  The only music in the supplements will be songs which we have learned together and used repeatedly, so that they have become a part of our common repertoire.  Thus, over time, this parish will develop its own custom hymnal. 

   The first song which I propose for this supplement is the communion anthem “Come To the Feast” by James E. Moore.  Dr. Moore holds graduate degrees in piano and choral conducting, and for several years was Director of Music at St. Agnes Parish in Cincinnati, Ohio as well as being Assistant Professor of Music and Liturgy at a local seminary.  He currently lives in Vienna, Austria, where he teaches voice and conducts various choirs.  We are all familiar with Dr. Moore’s earlier composition, the popular “Taste and See.” 

   You may recognize “Come To the Feast,” since Louis Canter introduced it while he was here.  It is based on verses from Isaiah 25, and its strong and lively refrain is adaptable to bells, choirs, and contemporary ensembles.  I will probably write a descant for the refrain and some additional verses as we become accustomed to the melody.  As we sing this excellent song through the month of September, let it become a part of our eucharistic identity. 

Vocations Committee seeks ideas and members 

  Who has the responsibility to share in the mission of Jesus? We all do. Why? Because we are baptized.

  SS. John & Paul’s Vocation Committee hopes to encourage every parish member to become aware of and enthusiastic about their own unique calling. The committee plans to explore how the reality of God’s call can be accomplished across all age levels, gender, in the home, workplace and community. We are presently planning: (1) a fall program for the religious education students; (2) an early winter program highlighting the many different kinds of vocations; (3) a February Vocation of Marriage program; (4) a spring program emphasizing the unique vocations of seniors.

  Do you have any further ideas? If so, please contact Gloria Westrick at (586) 781-5370, Rose Marie Schultz at (586) 786-5433, Karen Brunner at (586) 781-6763, or Joyce Monte at (586) 781-4541.

  A meeting is planned for September 12 after the 7:00 p.m. We welcome your ideas as well as your membership on this committee.

CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMATION

2005-2006

Religious Formation

Program  

Early Childhood

(ages 3-4-5 years)

Sunday:  9:30-10:30 a.m.  

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. 

    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. 

First Session

Sunday, September 25

10:30 a.m. 

This program is for families with young children in grades 2-6 who have never had any kind of formal religious formation for any number of reasons. If you would like more information, please call Linda Bauer in the Religious Formation Office at 586.781.9488. 

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. 

Life Is Christ

Next Sunday—September 18

Catechetical Sunday 2005 

Commissioning of Catechists at the  9”30 & 11:30 a.m. Masses 

    Next week, parishes across the country will set aside time during the weekend liturgies to recognize those men and women who have accepted the Church’s call to serve it in varied ways as catechists.  As part of this annual ritual, they are asked to stand and come forward to the altar.   In front of the community they will be commissioned in the name of the Church to teach others what it means to follow Christ.  This public commissioning also reminds us of our responsibilities to be witnesses of Jesus’ Good News.  This is also a time when we recognize parents for their efforts to raise their children in the faith and ask God’s blessings upon them. 

Early Childhood Sunday Program:   October 2  -  9:30 a.m.

    For 3-4-5 year olds.  Held during the Sunday Mass.  Registration into this program is open year round.  

Children’s Liturgy of the Word:   October 2—9:30 & 11:30 a.m. Masses

    For all children in Grades 1 through 5 or ages 6 through 10.  Children are called forward before the readings and dismissed with a leader to hear  and discuss the  Sunday readings at their own level.  Children return during the   collection.

Forgiveness 

  When we forgive we free ourselves of the burden of bitterness, and we free the other person of the burden of guilt.  But our forgiveness must come from the heart, which means it must be true, sincere, and warm.  A cold forgiveness is not much use.  Forgiveness should start now.  Putting it off only deepens the wound, prolongs bitterness, and postpones happiness.  Life is short, time is fleeting.  Today is the day to forgive.  Lord, deliver us from the poison of bitterness, and give us the grace to forgive from the heart those who have offended us.  Then we will know the warmth of your forgiveness.  

CROP Walk Just Around the Corner 

   The CROP Walk for 2005 will be held on Sunday, October 2.  Registration will be at 1:00 PM at St. John Lutheran in Romeo and the walk will begin at 1:30 PM.  This will be the 23rd year of participation by the residents of Romeo, Washington and the surrounding areas in the CROP Walk. 

Over the past years, $209,816 has been raised locally.  Twenty-five percent of that money came directly back to our community through Samaritan House.  Once again, 25% of the collected pledges this year will be allocated to Samaritan House.  The balance of the money has been used by Church World Services to aid those in need around the world.  CWS is a cooperative ministry that provides sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance to people in more than 80 countries worldwide.  Within the United States, CSW assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, and provides educational resources to those in need.   

This year, we at SS. John & Paul would like to encourage the recruitment of more walkers from our parish.  If you are interested in participating, please pick up a pledge envelope in the parish office.  If you have any questions, please call Kathy at 781-9010. 

Help Build a Catholic

Grassroots Voice!

  Interested in working to bring social change through grassroots advocacy? The Bishops of Michigan have formed a web-based Catholic Legislative Advocacy Network for those interested in speaking out in support of the poor and vulnerable, the sick and elderly, the unborn and a just society for all. Log onto www.micatholicconcerence.org today!

Health Ministry Team Meeting

 Monday,

September 12, 2005

after the 7:00 p.m. Mass  

CYO 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. 

A Fall Event? 

  The Hospitality Committee is looking for a few adults who would be interested in helping to plan and implement a fall event.  It has been suggested that we try a road rally, but no one has come forward to help plan one. 

  So...we are now looking at a possible Polaroid or digital camera scavenger hunt, but we need volunteers to come forward and help in the planning.  The committee will help with the hospitality afterwards. 

  If you are the person(s) we are looking for, please call JoAnne at the parish office. THANK YOU!

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. 

¨         Teen session

Please join us for the teen session on Sunday, September 11, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friends are welcomed! 

¨         Need Some Quiet Time?

Retreat at St. Benedicts for all teens in Grades 10-12. Leaving on Sept. 23 at approximately 7:00 p.m. and returning on September 25, approximately 1:30 p.m. Permission slips are available in the parish office. Any questions, please call Karen Peters at 781-9488.

Attention

Confirmation Candidates

 September 17 

Presentation of Candidates at the 5:00 Mass followed by the sponsor/candidate session. Candidates need to bring their red form to mass. 

All the sponsor invitations have been sent for the sponsor/candidate session on  September 17. If your sponsor did not receive an invitation, please call Mrs. Peters at 568-781-4988 as soon as possible. 

Retrouvaille

  Retrouvaille is a weekend designed to provide help and support to married couples who are undergoing difficulties in their relationship. The program is endorsed by the Catholic Church and open to couples of all faiths. For the next Retrouvaille weekend, and more details, call 313-237-6052.

A Family Perspective

By Bud Ozar

  Forgiveness is critical to a healthy life. By holding onto an injury, we are hoping for a better past, which will never happen. Forgiveness recognizes that we were unjustly treated and that it will not be corrected. Forgiveness does not condone the injustice. It is a decision to not let the injustice control one’s life any longer. 

Catholic Agencies Respond to Hurricane Katrina 

  Catholic Charities USA is responding to the disaster situation brought on by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. Donations will be used to fund local Catholic Charities agencies’ emergency and long-term assistance as needed. 

  Contributions can be sent care of the Detroit archdiocese. Make checks payable to the Archdiocese of Detroit and indicate “Katrina Relief Fund” on the memo line in the lower left corner. Send to: 

Archdiocese of Detroit

“Katrina Relief Fund”

1234 Washington Blvd. (C5)

Detroit, MI 48226 

UN Global Summit 

 In 2000, 149 countries signed on to the United Nations Millennium Goals, developed to halve world poverty by 2015. These goals are:   

¨         Reduce extreme poverty and limited access to food by half;

¨         Achieve primary education for every child around the world;

¨         Promote gender equality and empower women;

¨         Reduce children’s deaths by two-thirds;

¨         Reduce mothers’ deaths in childbirth by three-quarters;

¨         Reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB;

¨         Ensure environmentally safe development (cut in half the one billion people without access to safe drinking water; marked improvements in lives of 100 million slum dwellers around the world);

¨         Develop equitable global partnerships for development. 

On September 14 – 16, world leaders will arrive in historic numbers at the United Nations for a World Global Summit.  This will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reach major decisions on ending poverty, promoting human rights, fighting terrorism and helping countries recover from deadly conflict.   

Negotiators are asking to come to agreement on further actions required to defeat extreme poverty, reducing its extent by half by 2015.  Since approval at the Millennium Summit in 2000, nations have worked to meet the Millennium Development Goals on health, education, environment, water and women’s rights.  Major new pledges on aid, especially by European Union countries, and on writing off $40 billion in poor country debt, announced at the July G8 meeting leading up to the World Summit, have given an added lift to the anti-poverty effort.

As faith-based United States citizens, we can voice our hope that our leaders will do everything in their power to assure that the Millennium Development Goals are met.  If you would like to send a letter to President Bush encouraging him and his representatives to do what they can to promote care, concern and help to the poor and vulnerable here at home and around the world, the address is:   

    President Bush

              The White House

              1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,

               Washington, DC20500 

Sources    www.un.org;  www.efj.org     

“Forgive us as

we forgive others” 

  Forgiveness towards others is paramount in the Kingdom of God.  If we do not forgive, we become hateful and bitter, and our anger lasts and lasts.  

  There can be no question about the message in today’s readings.  If we want God to be forgiving toward us, then we must be forgiving toward others.  

  Forgiving someone who commits a wrong seven times seems to be quite generous...but 70 times 7—four hundred and ninety times, if we took it literally—that is hard to imagine.   

  Forgiving another is about letting go of the hatred and anger associated with the wrong committed.  When we do this, we actually free up ourselves because anger and hatred are a heavy burden that can drain us and affect our whole life. 

  What wrongs committed against you are the hardest for you to forgive?  Why? 

  When you wrong another, do you say, “I’m sorry”?  Do you usually feel forgiven after you say that? 

  “Who has not forgiven an enemy has not yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life.” 

John Lavater, Vision 2000 

Divorce Recovery and Support

  A divorce recovery workshop for men and women of all ages and all faiths offers healing and support in dealing with the painful issues of divorce, while promoting recovery and healing. This group meets Thursday evenings, beginning September 8, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. for 11 weeks at St. Irenaeus Parish Center, located at 771 Old Perch Road in Rochester. The workshop is sponsored by the Bethany Peer Support Chapter of Rochester. For more information, call Mike at 248-652-3860 or visit the Bethany website at www.bethanyofsoutheasternmichigan.org.

World Wide Marriage Encounter

  A World Wide Marriage Encounter weekend is a time for married couples to focus on each other and develop greater intimacy and romance in their relationship. The upcoming weekend date is October 7-9. Weekends fill up quickly. For more information, contact Bill and Carol Higgins at 248-528-2512 or birdhaus@wideopenwest.com or Dan and Debbie Waring at 586-286-5524 or wufl@flc.org.

25 Years Ago in September

¨         Weekend masses moved from Washington Elementary School to Powell Jr. High

¨         Religious Education classes for Gr. 1-6 (1979-80) began on Tuesdays at Washington Elementary: Gr. 7-9 on Tuesdays in homes of parishioners; preschool on Sundays

¨         Tuition was $20 for one child, $25 for two children, $30 for three or more

¨         Catechists were:

Preschool Coordinators Barb Dery & Kathy Schneider; catechists Diane Pittiglio, Marlene Perna

Gr. 1-3 Coordinators Kathy Yazbeck & Mary Brown; catechists Helen Pusker, Kathleen Ottaviani, Pat Blonde, Rennie Zelensky, Kay Kersten, Charlene Rogers, Mary Ann Klakulak

Gr. 4-6 Coordinators Sharon Pospiech & Ann Anthonis; catechists Jeanette Drouillard, Kay Reynolds, Kathy Turko, Barb Giacherio, Carole Marquardt, Carol Shore, Pat Dobbs

Gr. 7-9 Coordinators Bernie Brunner & Ray Surgalski; catechists Kathy Schneider, Jerry and Cynthia Boeve, Joan Cnudde, Bernie and Karen Brunner, Wayne Miller, Ted Konieczny, Bobi Jablinskey, Mary Ann Zink

Gr. 10-12 Coordinator and catechist Fr. Ron Sayes  

Together In Ministry 

CLW

Children’s Liturgy of the Word   

  Liturgy of the Word with Children is a worship experience geared especially for children.  It mirrors the worship experience of the larger community, with a style that is engaging and interactive.  It is not intended to substitute for attendance at religious formation sessions but should be seen as a partner to the parish formation sessions. 

  The word of God given to us each week in our readings is as relevant and fitting for children as it is for adults.  The children often fail to hear the message simply because the adult vocabulary is beyond their comprehension. Liturgy of the Word with Children offers an experience for the children to hear the Scriptures in words they understand and to share their own understanding of God’s word. 

NEXT WEEK:  When and how do the children leave the assembly? 

Saturday and Sunday

September 10-11, 2005

Nick Pelino by R. Ginste Family

Giuseppe Martino by J. Martino

Dorothy Cronenwett by Family

Cynthia Krugzda by Family 

Monday, September 12, 2005

John Hackett by Family 

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Giuseppe Pittiglio by Family 

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Giulio Perazza by A. Perazza 

Saturday and Sunday

September 17-18, 2005

Joseph Williams by J. Martino

Giuseppe DeCarolis by Family

Don LaRose by C. LaRose

Carol Lize by Family