Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are a few updates from our parish for the week of April 3, 2022.
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1) Additional Confession Opportunities for the Next Two Weeks: |
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For the next two weeks, we have scheduled some additional confession opportunities.
On Monday afternoons (April 4 and April 11), Father Andrew and I will be available from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m., and then on Tuesdays (April 5 and April 12) from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m.
Our regular Saturday confession schedule will remain the same at 11:00 a.m.
The Sacrament is celebrated in the Sr. Carol Center; signs are posted in the Gathering Place with further directions.
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From Ascension Presents: Confession is a place of never-ending mercy and forgiveness, and is one of the most beautiful parts of our Catholic faith. But for many, it can also be a very daunting experience, especially if it’s been a long time since your last confession. Whether it’s the first time you’ve gone in a year, or it’s the first time you’ve gone in your life, God is ready and willing to forgive your sins. All we have to do is let him into our hearts.
Today, Fr. Mike explains how to approach going to confession for the first time in a long time.
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2) Lenten Tea for Women and Teen Girls - April 5 at 7 PM |
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SJA's Faith and Family Formation Director, Kristine Hass, will give a talk "Living on a Prayer: The power of offering and receiving prayer whether warrior or wounded at our Lenten Tea on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, beginning at 7:00 pm (in person).
What to bring if attending in person:
- A teacup
- Lenten-Inspired Table Decorations
- A donation or Charitable gift to benefit Pregnancy Aid
- *We will provide some light snacks
Register below to attend in person or call the Parish Center at 586-777-3670.
The talk will be live-streamed at sjascs.org from 7:30-8:15 pm (no registration required to watch). The talk will be available on-demand on our video archives page for later viewing.
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3) Life in the Spirit Seminar Starting April 19 |
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4) Ukraine Relief Efforts |
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If you are interested in supporting the Catholic Church's relief efforts for the people of Ukraine, please click here to donate through our OSV Online Giving Platform. |
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5) The Ascension Lenten Companion |
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When You Don't Deserve God's Mercy | Fifth Week of Lent
The Ascension Lenten Companion
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God knows everything about us. He knows each and every one of our sins, but his love for us is so great that he wants to forgive us—even when we don’t deserve it.
This week, we place ourselves in the shoes of the woman caught in adultery, throw ourselves down at the feet of Jesus, and meditate on how it feels to be exposed and shamed, unable to escape or hide from our sin. And yet, Jesus looks at us with eyes full of love, ready to pour out God’s mercy upon us.
God wants to give you more. How will you respond this Lent?
Fr. Mark Toups, an experienced spiritual director, leads readers inward to invite the Lord to heal those areas where they need it most. He follows the same format that more than a hundred thousand people enjoyed in Advent with his popular Rejoice! journals. Readers will receive daily guidance as well as supplemental videos, to help enter more deeply into Lent and remain focused throughout the season.
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6) This Sunday's Readings - April 3, 2022 |
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The THIRD, FOURTH, and FIFTH Sundays of Lent offer an option of using the YEAR A readings for use with the RCIA Rituals. At SJA, we used the YEAR C Readings at all the masses, except at the 10 AM Mass. At the 10 AM Mass, because we were celebrating the scrutinies for the Elect who are part of the RCIA, we used the Year A Readings. The link below is for the Year C Readings. |
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7) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins |
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Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent:
First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Second Reading: Philippians 3:8-14
Gospel: John 8:1-11
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8) Bishop Barron's Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent |
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Friends, this Sunday, we hear the story of the woman caught in adultery from the eighth chapter of John. René Girard thought that this story was particularly clear in showing the dynamics of what he called the scapegoating mechanism. And in the response of Jesus to the violence of the mob, we see the glory of God, who does not sanction this scapegoating frenzy, but rather meets the misery of our sin with his mercy. |
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9) Grow+Go for the 5th Sunday of Lent |
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Grow+Go, content is designed to help you understand what it means to be an evangelizing disciple of Christ. Using the Sunday Scriptures as the basis for reflection, Grow+Go offers insight into how we can all more fully GROW as disciples and then GO evangelize, fulfilling Christ's Great Commission to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) The concept behind the weekly series is to make discipleship and evangelization simple, concrete, and relatable.
Click on the button or image below to download a PDF copy of this Sunday's Grow+Go.
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10) Giving to SJA:
I'm truly grateful for all of your support of SJA during this pandemic. Your support means so much. The increase in electronic giving has been tremendous. Giving electronically, whether on a one-time or recurring basis is pretty simple. For more information on online giving, please click on the following button.
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11) This Week's Edition of TALLer Tales |
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Getting Old(er): Okay, the signs are all around me. The simple fact is that I’m getting old(er). Here’s another example.
At the start of the pandemic, maybe around May of 2020, I went for a regular eye exam. With a new prescription in hand, I went and picked out some new glasses. Within minutes of putting on my new glasses, I knew something wasn’t right. I could see clearly out of my left eye, but something wasn’t right with the right eye. The right eye wasn’t as clear and crisp as I anticipated it should have been. I dealt with it for a few days and returned to the place where I had my glasses made. I told them I thought the prescription was wrong. They did several tests, and much to my chagrin, they confirmed the glasses matched the prescription. So I then went back for a “re-check” with the optometrist.
I went through another battery of eye checks and had to sit behind the phoropter (I had to look this one up … boy are they expensive), the instrument used to test individual lenses on each eye (you know, the big machine with all the lenses where they say 1 or 2, 2 or 3, 3 or 4). Everything matched. So I had the correct prescription and the right glasses. But something was still amiss. So, I made an appointment across the street at Metropolitan Eye Center and met and saw the infamous Dr. James Klein. He was very kind and listened to my plight. He confirmed the prescription and the glasses were correct. But he also said something that I glossed over until a recent visit with him. I was bummed and just decided to deal with it. But I knew something wasn’t right.
Fast forward to this year. In February, I noticed that my right eye was getting progressively worse. If I closed my left eye, things were blurry even through my glasses. It was starting to get rather annoying. I could tell things were getting worse when I was driving but especially at the altar because I was having some difficulty, depending on the light, seeing clearly the words in the Roman Missal or the Lectionary. I could close my right eye, and all was fine. But things were blurry with both. If I only used my right eye, I would have a hard time reading something clearly even a foot or more in front of me. It felt like my left eye was doing all the work, and my right eye was on somewhat of a vacation. It was getting REALLY annoying. SO I decided to go and see Dr. Klein again.
I went through the usual battery of tests. I was hoping it was going to be a simple change in prescription, but then Dr. Klein delivered the news. “We talked briefly about this two years ago, but it is pretty clear to me that you need cataract surgery. It’s time!” Suddenly bells and alarms went off in my mind. “WHAT … cataract surgery … that’s for OLD PEOPLE … I’m only 57,” I remember shouting to the rooftops in my mind. Then Dr. Klein continued, “People your age don’t often need cataract surgery, but the issue can accelerate because of computer usage.” UGH. We’ll blame my computer usage then. So, he asked someone to check Dr. Malach’s schedule to see if he could see me right away; Dr. Klein mentioned that he had entrusted all of his cataract surgeries to Dr. Malach. So, I was then ushered to another room to wait for Dr. Malach. After a few minutes with him, he gently confirmed the prognosis of Dr. Klein. “YOU’RE OLD. You need cataract surgery.” Of course, that’s not what he said, but what I heard! I then went and scheduled the surgery for the end of May. At least I had an answer for my eye issues! Now I couldn’t wait for it to happen because I wanted to start seeing clearly again.
On my way home, I called my mom and delivered the news. Our conversation paused as she tried to calculate when she and my dad had their cataract surgeries. “Yea, you’re kind of young to have cataract surgery. Dad and I were well into our sixties when we had ours.” Thanks Mom! “Remember, we’re going to blame my computer usage,”: I said in reply.
But I couldn’t wait to announce the news on our family Zoom call that night. There’s nothing like your siblings laughing at you from the peanut gallery!
We tend to do a “round-robin” on our Zoom calls to see what people did during the day. So when it was my turn, I announced that I got the news that I was officially old. One sister piped up instantly, “I KNOW. I KNOW. You’ve discovered you’ve got more ear hair … I’ve seen it before.” I could only roll my eyes! “Yes, but that’s not it!” I gave them a few other guesses, but they weren’t even in the right ballpark. I then announced I needed cataract surgery and that it’s been scheduled for late May. They laughed! “Boy, you’re old. But isn’t 57 somewhat young for cataract surgery,” one asked. “YES, but that’s what happens when you spend so much time on a computer.” “Well, Mike, it’s just the beginning. First, it will be cataract surgery, then it will be the knees, and then something will be wrong with your hip.” Yes, it’s just the beginning!
Additional Confession Opportunities: We have one more week of additional confession opportunities at our parish. On Monday afternoons, Father Andrew and I will be available from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m., and then on Tuesdays from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. Our regular Saturday confession schedule will remain the same at 11:00 a.m. The Sacrament is celebrated in the Sr. Carol Center; signs are posted in the Gathering Place with further directions. And, I would like to add that even if you cannot come to one of the scheduled confession times, you can always call the Parish Center and schedule a time with either Father Andrew or me. It couldn’t be any easier.
You would be amazed how many times I welcome people back who haven’t celebrated the Sacrament in years or even decades. Don’t be afraid if you’re one of these people and are worried about going to confession. Tell the confessor it’s been a while since you’ve gone to confession; he will walk you through the ritual. Don’t worry if you can’t remember the Act of Contrition; we have cards in the confessionals with the prayers. Your act of contrition could be as simple as: “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Another excuse I often hear about why people don’t go to confession is: “Father, you don’t have the time to hear all that I need to confess.” Nice try, we’ll make the time! Another excuse: “Father, I wouldn’t have the time to do the penance you would give me. By the way, what kinds of penances do they give out these days?” The penances given out these days are often in the form of a prayer or some act of kindness. It’s not difficult, people! I encourage you to give it a try.
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Enjoy the week.
Know of my prayers.
In Christ,
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12) Tire Tracks in the d’Arc |
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Giving Second Chances: In today’s Gospel, (except at the 10am mass, when the Year A Gospel in used) Jesus is dealing with the scribes and the Pharisees. These Jewish religious leaders claimed that every letter of the law was important. And the Jewish law said that a person caught in adultery should be stoned to death. It was a horrible punishment.
The scribes and the Pharisees are trying to show that Jesus doesn’t respect the law. They know what he teaches and expect him to show mercy and say that the woman should be released. But instead, Jesus points-out their hypocrisy and uses it against them. They are quick to condemn this woman for her sins and to call for a most painful and shameful death. But Jesus identifies, in a very clever way that they are sinners too. Their accusations, even if true are hypocritical. They find her sin intolerable, but they seem perfectly content to live with their own sins. They are holding her to a higher standard than they have set for themselves.
Interestingly, the man she was caught with is not being stoned. This is another level of hypocrisy. Women had very little influence and standing in the society of the time. So these religious leaders are eager to punish this defenseless woman. But the man she was with, who should have also been stoned according to the law, is not brought forward for punishment.
It is also important to note that Jesus does not tell the woman that the adultery was not a sin. In fact, he tells her to sin no more. But he does not condemn her as the scribes and Pharisees did. Instead he encourages her to be more holy in way which is merciful and compassionate. And Jesus refuses to even discuss her sin until the scribes and Pharisees leave. He will not discuss her sin in public. Jesus will only talk to her about it privately.
How would we feel if our sin was aired publicly rather that kept within the seal of confession?
Unfortunately, we can see similar hypocrisy even among Christians today. People will condemn those they deem as “not holy”. It is important to remember that the Church is made of people, and all people are sinners, even those doing the condemning. Yes, we are to call each other to a higher standard, but not one higher that we are prepared to hold ourselves to.
In our day, we are probably so used to hearing criticism of others, among our own families and friends, coworkers, on TV, everywhere we go, that we are desensitized to it, even take delight in it. In our culture, sadly, “public shaming” has become a spectator sport and a billion dollar magazine and social media industry. As Catholics, we ought to refuse to buy into this… for our own sake as much as those being “shamed.”
“Let those of [us] who are without sin be the first to throw a stone,” Jesus reminds us in the Gospel.
Yet the Catechism of the Catholic Church is quite clear that talking about each other in this way is not only sinful, but gossip can even reach the level of mortal sin as a sin against the 5th Commandment — “You shall not kill.” Gossip can “kill” the reputation of another person and can destroy lives and livelihoods. Gossip affects how people see others and can lead the listener into sin, the responsibility for which lies partly with the one who passed on the information and led another into sin.
The catechism defines gossip as the sin of “Detraction.” Detraction is explained as, “Disclosure of another’s faults and sins, without an objectively valid reason, to persons who did not know about them, thus causing unjust injury to that person’s reputation.” (CCC 2477 and Glossary)
So confession that leads-up to telling the priest your sins, by telling him first what your spouse did, or how a coworker is behaving immorally, risks you committing the sin of detraction while in confession. That’s partly why we tell you that the story is not necessary, just your sin. It’s not only to keep the line moving (although that’s part of it!) but to keep you from harming yourself further. The other person’s behavior may have tempted you into sin, but the sin is yours, so that’s all that needs to be confessed.
The Catechism, quoting St. Ignatius of Loyola, goes on to remind us that:
“Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.”
In other words, we shouldn't assume that we know another’s mind, but if it’s clear someone is in the wrong, we should never correct them if it can’t be done so lovingly. And to point-out another’s faults to a 3rd party is rarely an effective or well-intentioned course of action.
The Pharisees and scribes have no interest in the conversion of the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel. They care nothing for her. They only want to use her to catch Jesus out and to re-state their own righteousness in the eyes of the law. They call Jesus “Teacher,” but it’s only another sign of their hypocrisy. They don’t view Jesus as someone they are looking to learn from.
Jesus does not brush aside her sin, but nor will he use it to condemn her. He simply calls her to repentance and conversion and a new start. The Pharisees wanted her life to end. Jesus wanted it restored.
How would Jesus want to give you restoration and new life? Are you willing to do that for another? Are you more willing to condemn or to call to conversion.
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You are in my prayers this week.
Fr. Andrew
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13) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz |
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Will Smith, Vladimir Putin, and When Rules Get Broken
Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. Vladimir Putin and Russia invading Ukraine. COVID ripping through the world. What do these all have in common? The rules get broken.
We all know the rules. The lights turn on. The toilet flushes. We all play nice. But that’s not “how things work”. That’s “how things have been working”.
Today, Fr. Mike tells you what to do when you get slapped in the face by a broken world.
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14) Words on the Word: April 3, 2022 - Change is Coming
Change can be very challenging.
Whether it’s a career change, a change in relationship status, a relocation, or a change in our routine, the sense of letting go of what we are familiar with can be difficult.
The same is true even with respect to our neighborhoods and communities.
The Detroit News reported a few weeks ago on the next steps in an ongoing process through which I-375 downtown will eventually be filled in and replaced with “a leafy boulevard flanked with shops, restaurants and residences.”
That sounds nice, as far as it goes, but the proposed project brings with it unpleasant memories of how things had been done in the past, and what it might mean for the future.
With respect to the past, government officials touted the project as a way to make amends for past changes … the people, homes, churches and businesses that were displaced in the 1950s and 1960s for construction of the freeway.
With respect to the future, some residents and others expressed misgivings about what the new plan might mean in terms of traffic, walkability, environment, and noise pollution.
The only thing of which anyone can be certain at this point, of course, is that there will be change.
Perhaps the lesson here is a metaphor, in a way, for the broader vision we should have about our lives. Trees, roads – even cities – rise and fall. But the prize on which we should focus most intently is in heaven.
“I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession,” St. Paul writes to the Philippians in one of the choices for today’s second reading. “Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.”
© 2022, Words on the Word
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15) Palm Weaving Workshops |
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16) The Bible in a Year Podcast by Father Mike Schmitz |
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If you’ve struggled to read the Bible, this podcast is for you.
Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins, guides Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes.
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
- two to three scripture readings
- a reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
- and guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word.
Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast for Catholics follows a reading plan inspired by the Great Adventure Bible Timeline® learning system, a groundbreaking approach to understanding Salvation History developed by renowned Catholic Bible teacher Jeff Cavins.
Tune in and live your daily life through the lens of God’s word!
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17) FORMED Pick of the Week: |
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Our parish has a subscription to FORMED, a premier online platform filled with over 4,000 Catholic studies, movies, audio dramas, talks, e-books, and even cartoons for our children. FORMED has content from over 60 apostolates, including Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, and the Knights of Columbus, with material that is professionally produced, engaging, and solid in its catechism. Best of all, this material is free to you because of our parish subscription.
You have easy access to all of the material on FORMED to support your own faith journey and that of your family members.
You can enjoy FORMED on your computer or on your television with an inexpensive Roku device or Apple TV. You can even listen on your phone as you commute to work or do chores.
To gain access to all of FORMED’s content, follow these simple steps:
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Go to https://signup.formed.org/
- Enter our parish’s zip code 48080 or enter St. Joan of Arc
- Enter your name and your email address
That’s it! You’re in. Now you can get the free FORMED app for your phone by searching FORMED Catholic in your app store.
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Are you looking for a one-stop app for prayer and meditation? Look no further than Hallow. Hallow is an awesome prayer app. Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through audio-guided contemplative prayer sessions. The app launched 2 years ago and is already the #1 Catholic app in the world.
We have a number of parishioners who are already using the app and loving it (my mom being one of them and she is on the app most of the day). Great for praying alone or together with your spouse/family, Hallow truly has something for everyone, no matter what you are going through (see below for their different content categories).
Hallow is free to download and has tons of permanently free content, as well as a premium subscription, Hallow Plus.
To get started, simply click the button above/below to activate your free account on the Hallow website. Make sure to select “Sign Up with Email” when registering. For step-by-step instructions, you can visit this process guide. Enter the code stjoanofarcmi to obtain a discount on individual pro plans.
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19) Mass Intentions for the Week: |
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Monday, April 4, 2022, Lenten Weekday, Saint Isadore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
7:00 a.m., Louis Dansbury and a Special Intention for Father Andrew
Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Lenten Weekday, Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest
7:00 a.m., Antonio Calisi, and Mark Brys
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, Lenten Weekday
7:00 a.m., Richard M. Barno and a Special Intention for the Dobrzechowski Family
Thursday, April 7, 2022, Lenten Weekday, Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest
7:00 a.m., Jim Brenner
Friday, April 8, 2022, Lenten Weekday
7:00 a.m., Antonio Calisi and Clara M. Champine
Saturday, April 9, 2022, Palm Sunday Vigil
4:00 p.m., Larry Yandel, Jean Daudlin, Gaetano & Lucia Cottone, Bonnie Batche, Joel Vandenbussche, Nancy Kwatera, Pat Ireland, Ray Johnson, Frank Bradley, and Special Intentions for the Thomas Family and the J. Champine Family
6:00 p.m., Richard Robinette
Sunday, April 10, 2022, Palm Sunday
8:00 a.m., For the Intentions of Saint Joan of Arc Parishioners
10:00 a.m., George Petroff
12:00 p.m., Sophie & George Rupinski, John & Mary Lee George, Dr. Edward Mikula, Maria del Refugio, and Special Intentions for Ashley Steinhauser, and for Neal Stoneback
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20) This Week on St. Joan of Arc LIVE: |
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This week's LIVE Stream
Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:
Monday (April 4):
7:00 AM - Mass
Tuesday (April 5):
7:00 AM - Mass
Wednesday (April 6):
7:00 AM - Mass
Thursday (April 7):
7:00 AM - Mass
8:30 AM - All School Mass with Bishop Fisher
5:30 PM - Baptism of Magdalene M. Herman
7:00 PM - Holy Hour (Praise and Worship Music)
Friday (April 8):
7:00 AM - Mass
7:00 PM - Stations of the Cross
Saturday (April 9):
12:30 PM - Baptism of Kaya Aaron Uppal
4:00 PM - Mass
6:00 PM - Mass
Sunday (April 10):
8:00 AM - Mass
10:00 AM - Mass
12:00 PM - Mass
Please note that all of our masses and events can be accessed through the ARCHIVE section of our Live stream page if you are not able to watch it live!
We also have our own ROKU Channel. Search for "CATHOLIC" in the ROKU channel store, and you will find SJA's channel. A Fire TV Channel is also available.
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21) SJA's Bulletin for Sunday, April 3, 2022 |
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Click on the image below
to download a copy of the bulletin
for April 3, 2022
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22) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List |
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Sending the bulletin has been greatly received by so many people. If you are getting the bulletin online and would prefer that it not be mailed to your home, please click on the button below to be removed from the mailing list.
At the same time, if you are NOT getting the bulletin and would prefer to get it, click on the same button and ask to be ADDED to the list.
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Read the latest from the DETROIT CATHOLIC
Click on the image below.
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