Week of June 12, 2022 Update |
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1) Corpus Christi Procession at the Cathedral next Weekend |
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Click on the image to learn more! |
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Dear Friends in Christ,
This year’s Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) theme comes from the First Letter of Peter: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10). It’s a call for hospitality and service, and to “let love for one another be intense.”
The Catholic Services Appeal is an opportunity to celebrate the ways our Church in Detroit responds to the material and spiritual needs of individuals and families. Our parish alone could not meet these many needs. It is through the sharing of our gifts and our service that we, together, can be the Church Christ wants us to be.
Would you consider making a gift to this year’s CSA?
Your generosity makes it possible for more than 170 ministries, services, and programs to love intensely and to bring the indescribable joy found in Christ to our communities.
Our CSA goal this year is $211,447. Anything raised above the goal will return to the parish, while any shortfalls must be covered by the parish. Thus, your support is greatly needed and appreciated.
You may have already received a mailing from the Archdiocese of Detroit. If you did so, please make a contribution to the CSA as indicated in that mailing.
You can also easily give by visiting: sja.aodcsa.org or by clicking on the button below.
Also available at the Church exists, in the bins outside the Sr. Carol Center, and at the Parish Center are general CSA brochures and envelopes that can be used to make a contribution to the CSA.
Assuring you of my prayers, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
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3) CSA Update as of June 12, 2022 |
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I am grateful to those who have already contributed to CSA 2022. As of today, we have $59,365 in pledges and gifts toward our $211,447 goal ($47,293 has been paid thus far toward our total pledged amount). This amount represents gifts from 209 families (we have 3,317 families registered). We have thus achieved 28% of our goal!
Here is a breakdown by gift range:
$2,500+ (2)
$1,000+ (14)
$500+ (14)
$250+ (27)
$100+ (88)
$75+ (4)
$50+ (28)
$25+ (27)
$10+ (5)
$0+ (0)
As stated above, the easiest way to give is electronically by clicking on the button above. If you wish to give by check, feel free to contact the Parish Center and we will mail out an envelope and related material.
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4) SJA's Family Faith Camp: July 26-28, 2022 |
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5) Preschool and Elementary Summer Storybook Hour Starting in July |
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Our parish will soon join the other half of the dioceses in being formed into a Family of Parishes.
Our family consists of St. Joan of Arc, Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Basil the Great, St. Lucy, and St. Veronica Parishes.
To learn more about Families of Parishes please watch the two short videos below or click on the link below to check out a FAQ site the Archdiocese of Detroit has developed to answer questions about Families of Parishes.
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How Will Families of Parishes Work? |
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Introducing Families of Parishes |
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Click on the image below to visit the FAQ Site about Families of Parishes |
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7) Local News: On the Rise Bakery moves to newly opened Solanus Casey Center expansion |
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On the Rise Bakery has found a new location, one familiar to most Detroit-area Catholic pilgrims.
The Solanus Casey Center on Mount Elliott Street in Detroit announced the relocation of the Capuchin-run bakery on June 9, conveniently placed in the newly opened expansion of the center, giving pilgrims a chance to grab a cup of coffee or a pastry after visiting the tomb of Blessed Solanus Casey.
On the Rise joins the Solanus Casey Center Gift Shop in the new location, all part of a redesign that’s meant to enhance the spiritual experience one receives on a visit to the Solanus Casey Center.
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8) 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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9) This Sunday's Readings - June 12, 2022, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity |
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10) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins |
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Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel: John 16:12-15
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11) Bishop Barron's Reflection for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity |
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Friends, Trinity Sunday has been called “the preacher’s nightmare.” But while the Trinity remains a supreme mystery, Thomas Aquinas used a basic principle that helps us to get at it: beings, at all levels, tend to make images of themselves. The higher you go in the hierarchy of being, the more interior and the more perfect this principle becomes. |
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12) Grow+Go for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity |
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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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13) 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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14) This Week's Edition of TALLer Tales |
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The IT Guy: We often joke around SJA that we ought to “fire” the “IT Guy.” He claims his list is always way too long, and that’s why he doesn’t get things done. He also claims he has too many other jobs to be able to attack all the items on the SJA IT list. His response when we joke around about firing the “IT Guy” is simple: “Go ahead, make my day! Let’s see where THAT gets you!”
Well, as I’m sure you can surmise, the “IT Guy” is me! While we have a couple of companies that help me when it’s above my pay grade, I try to deal with the simple items myself. But sometimes staff are looking for help at the most INTERESTING times. Having issues at SJA seems to be the SJA way of life when it comes to technology. For example, our phone system crashes on the 8th day of the month; it has done this for years. We’ve had top-level engineers and technicians far and near try to solve the problem. No solution has ever been found. When I look at the countless hours we’ve spent on diagnosing and trying to solve the issue, it’s become far simpler for me to hit the reset button on the system at 3:15 PM on the 8th day of every month. We know it happens, and we know how to fix it relatively quickly. It’s funny because when the phones go down, someone will inevitably call another person on staff with their cell phone to report the phones are down, and our response is always, “OH, yea, it’s the 8th … MONSIGNOR!” Our issues never seem to happen when I have downtime. They always seem to happen when I’m racing off to a funeral or a series of meetings. A few weeks ago, you may recall that our video streaming system went wacko while I was on a plane heading down to Naples. You may remember me writing how I spent the whole flight trying to help diagnose and solve the problem while 35,000 feet in the air. But this next experience will undoubtedly go down in the books and was guaranteed to be memorialized in TALLer Tales.
It was the Tuesday after Memorial Day. I walked over to Lakeshore Eye Surgery Center (located within Metropolitan Eye Center across the street) during the 7 AM Mass for my cataract surgery (the walk over there is another story). I was due over there at 7:30 AM and diligently followed all of my instructions, including wearing only a loose-fitting polo shirt (so I was in casual clothes). I was SO IMPRESSED with the entire experience at the surgery center. From the moment I walked through the door to the time I walked out, everything went like clockwork, and EVERYONE was super nice. Everyone seemed to know who I was. Everywhere I walked I was greeted with, “Monsignor, nice to see you!” The staff over there couldn’t have been any more accommodating and professional. I think everyone got an email or a memo I would be there that morning!
The surgery went well. The surgery was over before I knew it. Shortly after they wheeled me back to the recovery area, Dr. Malach appeared to let me know that everything went well. A clear eye shield was taped to my right eye, and after getting a series of instructions and being told I had to wear what I call the “Old People’s Over Your Glasses Sunglasses,” I was wheeled out to the parking lot where my sister was waiting for me. Once my sister Jackie and the staff helped the poor old feeble Monsignor (who was still waiting for the anesthesia to wear off) into the car, I was sent off with, “Great having you, Monsignor. Let us know if we can do anything for you.”
Once I got settled in the car and put my seatbelt on for the 32-second drive home, my sister said, “I hate to do this to you, but we have problems.” “Okay,” I thought to myself, “I’m gone for two hours, and we have problems already? Can we not wait until at least the anesthesia wears off? Maybe I’m dreaming.” Jackie then proceeded to tell me that the 8th graders were in the Emmaus Hall for their end-of-the-year breakfast, and Mrs. Pattie, our school principal, was trying to do a presentation, but she was unable to get her laptop connected to the big screen. Mrs. Pattie is very tech-savvy, so I knew there were problems if she couldn’t get it going. I had Jackie call from the car to see exactly what was going on. After hearing all they tried to do to get it going and all the people involved, I said that I’d go over and fix it even in my weakened state! I was going to use this one to my advantage! So Jackie drove me across the street to the Sr. Carol Center.
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After pulling into the spot next to the handicap areas, Jackie helped me out of the car and held my arm as I walked into the Sr. Carol Center. I was in a polo shirt, with a clear shield taped to my eye and was now donning those big “Old People Over Your Glasses Sunglasses.” Even worse, not being allowed to take a shower that morning because of surgery, I had bed-head and looked a mess. So, I’m sure I looked like some ancient long-retired IT Guy they had to drag out of some corner shop because no one else responded to the “mayday” call to solve the problem.
Even though I still couldn’t see clearly yet, I was able to squint and focus enough to make some changes on the computer and hit the right buttons to make it all work. I’m not really sure what I did, but it worked. After all, I was still coming out of the light anesthesia, so I could have just been doing a bunch of nothing, and luckily it worked.
Once I got it going, Mrs. Pattie looked at me and said, “This will land in the bulletin, won’t it?” “YOU BET YA,” I said with a smile! “The poor guy listed at the top left corner of page two of the bulletin can’t even disappear for surgery for a couple of hours without something happening at the parish.” Jackie then helped guide me back into her car for the now 10-second drive over to my house.
Once I got back in the car, I had this little revelation. While at the Lakeshore Eye Surgery Center, EVERYONE seemed to know who I was. I was in the Emmaus Hall some 10 minutes or so, and not a single 8th grader, not a one, said “HI” or “HELLO” or “HEY, MONSIGNOR.” But then again, in their defense, they probably had no clue it was me. After all, my sister was helping me around, I had a clear plastic shield taped to my eye, was wearing those “Old People Over Your Glasses Sunglasses,” was probably stumbling a bit, had bed head, and was wearing “normal” clothes. OF COURSE, they had no clue it was me! I’m sure they just dismissed me as an ancient long-retired IT Guy they had to drag out of some corner shop because no one else responded to the “mayday” call to help solve Mrs. Pattie’s tech problem. But then again, maybe this was all a dream; after all, I just got out of surgery. I should probably ask someone!
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Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers.
In Christ,
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15) Tire Tracks in the d’Arc |
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One In Three And So Much More: With the Feast of Pentecost which we celebrated last week, the fifty days of Easter came to an end and the church began the long “green” trek through the weeks of “Ordinary Time.” And while it is true, liturgically, that the Easter Season ended with Pentecost and Ordinary Time has begun, it is also true that the Church ends the great event of the Resurrection of Jesus with three great Solemnities on the Sundays following the Easter Season.
They are like three giant exclamation points. The Easter Season ends with the Feast of PENTECOST!; the Feast of the HOLY TRINITY!; and the Feast of the BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS!
So, this weekend we celebrate the great theological Mystery of the Trinitarian Nature of our God. God is Three Persons, One God; God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Since the time of Jesus, theologians have tried to explain this Dogma. Indeed, the greatest minds that have blessed our world have grappled with how to understand this great Mystery.
As with everything between us humans and God, at best we are able to grasp some small aspect of God’s nature, and feel good about ourselves for the effort. Yet, in truth, there is so much to the depth and meaning of our God, the reality is that we have to be satisfied with our inabilities to grasp it all.
Differences in opinion about how the dynamic of the Triune God “works” has been the center of the rift between the Eastern and Western Church since the Council of Nicea in the year 325. Yet, no matter how complicated this dogma is, it is a cornerstone to our faith, and we are celebrating this great Revelation this weekend.
There is something poignant about the timing of this celebration; something very Providential about this Feast coming right now in our lives. One aspect of the Trinity that we can understand is that, at the very core of the nature of God is—that He is relational: God is a perfect union of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
When we look for a perfect image of love it is found in God, and when we look to understand what perfect love in the world looks like, it looks like God, who is a God of relationships. Love is not found in division, but in unity. Love is not found in isolation, but in togetherness.
This is providential because between the isolations caused by the pandemic and the painful divisions being experienced in our country, this is a time when being united or in any kind of meaningful union with one another feels very far away.
Perhaps a grace for us this weekend is the opportunity to recall and to pray about the reality that as we believe that we are created in God’s image, then that means that in God’s image we are called to mirror the loving union of our triune God. And to mirror that union necessarily means that we strive to bring healing, reconciliation, peace, unity, and love in ALL the relationships we are blessed to be in.
The relationships found in God show us that diversity—difference—does not imply disunity. But in order to love, there must be distinctions between us. You are not me and I am not you. The Father is a different person to the Son and the Son has a different role to His Father. The Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son, continuing the presence of the Son in the world, who in turn points us to His Father. They are unique persons, whose identities are all found in God.
Each one of us in a distinct and different person, made to love another, distinct from ourselves, made to be in relationships with each other. And each one of us ultimately finds our identity in God.
When Jesus says in today’s Gospel that the Spirit “will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears,” He shows us that the Holy Spirit is not some independent force, a hired hand that God called in at the appropriate time. He speaks as He hears and as He knows because He speaks the voice and the love of God into our lives. And when Jesus says, “Everything the Father has is mine,” He shows us that He too, is completely one with His Father.
The first reading today from the Book of Proverbs is a beautiful and fruitful reflection of this—that the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit were always One, long before Jesus was born into our world and long before the Spirit was sent to be among us:
Thus says the wisdom of God:
"The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; from of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water; before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet the earth and fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world.”
"When the Lord established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep; when he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth; when he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command; then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race."
Nobody ever said that the theology of the Holy Trinity was easy to understand. Even the great theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, who helped develop much of the Church’s understanding of the Trinity said that when you reach the end of your life and finally think you understand who God is, take all those ideas and throw them away, because if you think you understand Him, that’s not God at all. An infinite God cannot be contained by our finite brains.
But the night before my final exam on the Theology of the Trinity in seminary, I kneeled before the tabernacle in the chapel, with no idea how I would pass that exam. Praise God, I passed (and thank you Fr. McDermott!). But in that moment on my knees in the chapel, I gained maybe the most valuable lesson of that entire semester—God is so much bigger and greater than I had ever realized or would ever understand.
And if it was to be my only take-away from that class, it was worth taking.
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You are in my prayers this week.
Fr. Andrew
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16) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz |
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Is Judas in Hell?
The overwhelming consensus over time is that he must be. But has the Church proclaimed that he definitely is? Surprisingly… no. Why?
Jesus teaches us that, while we can evaluate “a tree by its fruits,” it is left to God alone to make a final judgment upon someone’s heart and determine their destination. Everyone has the grace and the opportunity to say “yes” to God. The sobering flipside to this reality is that hell is real—and it’s not something that only really, really bad people choose. “Wide is the road that leads to destruction.”
Today, Fr. Mike invites us to ponder our final destination, and whether or not we are truly doing God’s will.
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17) Words on the Word: June 12, 2022 - The Nose Knows
Anyone who suffers from seasonal allergies knows they, ahem… are nothing to sneeze at.
The pollen-based misery they cause is very real and, especially at this time of year, sometimes uncomfortable to the point of being almost debilitating. And so a report last week on how the problem is only getting worse, reportedly due to the effects of climate change, was one more piece of unwelcome news.
“Carbon dioxide in the air from burning fuels such as coal, gasoline and natural gas helps plants produce more pollen,” read a report in the Detroit Free Press. “Allergists say that pollen season in the U.S. used to start around St. Patrick’s Day and now often starts on Valentine’s Day.”
And, for many, the extended season is exacerbated by worse symptoms along the way. The point is not to engage in a debate about how mild or severe an individual’s allergy symptoms are, and it’s certainly not to argue about whether there’s a correlation to climate change.
Instead, looked at through a wider lens, the issue provides a chance to reflect on how each of us, in our own ways, has problems and concerns to deal with – perhaps physical, perhaps emotional, perhaps spiritual, perhaps a combination. And in making ourselves aware of the concerns of ourselves and others, it’s helpful to be reminded that something more uplifting awaits us.
“We even boast of our afflictions,” St. Paul writes to the Romans in today’s second reading, “knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
With this in mind, the next time someone sneezes, it may be more appropriate than ever to say, “God bless you.”
© 2022, Words on the Word
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18) 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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19) 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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21) Mass Intentions for the Week: |
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Monday, June 13, 2022, Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
7:00 a.m., Antonietta Mazzella and Antonio Calisi
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, Weekday
7:00 a.m., Lawrence Schenden and a Special Intention for the Family of Tina Calisi
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, Weekday
7:00 a.m., Veronica DiLaura and a Special Intention for Nick Grabowski
Thursday, June 16, 2022, Weekday
7:00 a.m., Art and Katherine Titus
Friday, June 17, 2022, Weekday
7:00 a.m., Richard Zanotti and James LeFevre
Saturday, June 18, 2022, Vigil of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
4:00 p.m., Joseph Gielniak, Thomas Lucchese, Elsie & Leonard Czarnecki, George Rupinski, Victor & Lucy Zelenek, Albert Czekaj, Bonnie Batche, George Van Becelaere, Edward & Henry Blind, Rita Snyder, Sharon Strus, Hans & Elisabeth Stahl, and Special Intentions for the J. Champine Family, for the Thomas Family and for the Family of John & Anne Herbertson
6:00 p.m., Michael Forrester
Sunday, June 19, 2022, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
8:00 a.m., For the Intentions of Saint Joan of Arc Parishioners
10:00 a.m., Kathleen H. Doak
12:00 p.m., Hugo Calisi, Aniello Mazzella, Raymond Johnson, Antonio Calisi, Jerome Rogier, Peter Sarra, Pat Antonelli, Robert Boesiger, George Petroff, Lewis McQuillan, Casey Zaranek, Pierre Zaranek, Joseph Semany, Manny Micallef, Fr. John Fiore, Frank Bradley, Roland Doak, John L. Joseph, Joseph Paluzzi Jr., Thomas Pillar, Dominic R. Ortisi, Thomas Weinbeck, Chuck McQuillan, Sam Ciaramitaro, Robert Pierce and Special Intentions for the Rogier & Dettloff Families
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22) This Week on St. Joan of Arc LIVE: |
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This week's LIVE Stream
Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:
Monday (June 13):
7:00 AM - Mass
Tuesday (June 14):
7:00 AM - Mass
Wednesday (June 15):
7:00 AM - Mass
Thursday (June 16):
7:00 AM - Mass
7:00 PM - Holy Hour
Friday (June 17):
7:00 AM - Mass
10:00 AM - Funeral of Gerald Dancey
Saturday (June 18):
10:00 AM - Funeral for Judy Stella
12:30 PM - Baptism of Own Jeffrey Blay
4:00 PM - Mass
6:00 PM - Mass
Sunday (June 19):
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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23) SJA's Bulletin for Sunday, June 12, 2022 |
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Click on the image below
to download a copy of the bulletin
for May June 12, 2022
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24) 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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