Week of October 8, 2023

1) From Fr. Rich

So many times, I have stood with families at the time of their parents' death and said “This is the worst tug of war your heart will ever go through. You don’t want to let them go, but you don’t want them to suffer either.” I thought about those words on the afternoon of September 12 as I tried the best I could to let my Mom go HOME TO HEAVEN. 

I sat there remembering all that we had talked about prior to her time of dementia, when she would say how blessed we were, and how grateful she was to God and to us her children. Those conversations ring through my head like it was yesterday. Leaving home (Manistee), the day after the funeral was challenging as I stopped by her grave before leaving town and had a good cry and a prayer of Thanksgiving to God for all he gave to us through her. 

My sister Mary Lou and I are so very grateful, and I know no words can ever appropriately express our gratitude, for all the ways in which the people of my St. Joan family reached out to us. I can never thank Monsignor Mike enough, for all he did to make it possible for the livestream to happen, in order that so many could join us in prayer both Sunday evening and Monday morning. Our church is all wired for this, but my home parish of Divine Mercy…. not so much! 

I do not know how he made the miracle happen to get it all working so beautifully. A big Thank You to Dina Ciaffone, who assisted him as his right-hand camera associate. On Sunday John and Colleen Schulte worked so hard to help get all the equipment in the church and cables taped down, Thank You John and Colleen for all you did.

Before traveling to Manistee, Monsignor and the staff worked to put together the beautiful program and prayer cards for the funeral. A special Thanks to the Parish Center team who showed such hospitality and love to all who joined us in church at St. Joan. You made it so special. 

For all who were at St. Joan joining us in prayer – Thank You; we were amazed to see how many took the time to come to St. Joan to join us for the funeral, thank you so much to each of you. 

I want to Thank, Fr. Adam who went out of his way to come to Manistee on Sunday on his way to the priest’s convocation in Boyne. I know it added extra time and miles to an already long journey.

So many of you traveled to Manistee to join us for the funeral, and now you know where I grew up. I know your efforts and journey had my Mom shedding lots of tears watching this from Heaven. Seeing all of you in that church was such a comfort - you will never know the way it touched our hearts.

We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness, compassion, and generosity that has been shown to us during this time of our grief. The masses and prayers are indeed a comfort beyond measure. So many of you have just stopped to give me your sympathy, which is such a great comfort. We know our Mom has gone HOME and we will see her again. My sister and I want all of you to know that your kindness will be treasured in our hearts forever. 

God Bless You, Fr Rich and Mary Lou Racine. 

2) Major relic of St. Jude, the 'apostle of the impossible,' to visit Detroit Oct. 13-17

Five-day stop is part of nationwide tour of major relic — a large arm bone — of first-century saint who walked with Jesus Christ

From Detroit Catholic: DETROIT — A major relic of one of Jesus’ twelve apostles will stop in the Archdiocese of Detroit for five days of public veneration next month.

The relic of St. Jude Thaddeus — a large piece of an arm bone believed to be the apostle’s — will be available for Catholics to visit, pray with and venerate Oct. 13-17, hosted by five different southeast Michigan parishes, one per day over that span.

The relic is visiting the United States for the first time ever as part of a nationwide pilgrimage sponsored by Treasures of the Church, an apostolate that brings relics to parishes and dioceses all over the world. The nine-month tour, which is scheduled into 2024, will visit dioceses in Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, with further stops to be announced.

Treasures of the Church is run by Fr. Carlos Martins, a Companions of the Cross priest based in Detroit.

During the Michigan visit, the relic will be available for veneration at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak (Oct. 13), Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer (Oct. 14), St. Andrew Parish in Rochester (Oct. 15), the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit (Oct. 16), and Divine Child Parish in Dearborn (Oct. 17).

Each parish will host veneration and a special Mass. More details are available here.

In a video announcing the pilgrimage, Fr. Martins said the Holy See asked the apostolate to sponsor the relic, which has been venerated in Rome “since ancient times,” Fr. Martins said.

St. Jude has been known for centuries as the “patron of hopeless causes,” a powerful intercessor whose favors are well documented. One notable example is the favor granted to Danny Thomas, a down-on-his-luck actor who founded St. Jude Children’s Hospital in thanksgiving after praying before a relic of St. Jude in Detroit.

The relic Thomas venerated is now believed to be housed at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer, one of the host sites for the Michigan pilgrimage.

“St. Jude is one of the Church’s most beloved saints,” Fr. Martins said. “His intercessory power with God and his uncanny ability to come through with a happy resolution to the petitions presented to him has earned him the nickname ‘the apostle of the impossible.’ More than any other saint, St. Jude is the saint to whom people turn when they are hopeless and have tried everything else to obtain a heavenly favor. St. Jude is one to whom people turn for hope.”

St. Jude Thaddeus is one of the original twelve apostles of Christ, and some Catholic tradition identifies him as a cousin of Jesus (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3). After Jesus’ ascension, traditions holds that St. Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Syria, Mesopotamia and Libya, suffering martyrdom in 65 A.D. while preaching near modern-day Beirut, Lebanon. He is often depicted in art with another apostle, St. Simon the Zealot, with whom he is believed to have been killed.

The Church’s tradition of venerating relics goes back to ancient times, when the early Christians would gather the bones of apostles and martyrs, many of whom were known in life to perform miracles and heal the sick through God’s power (Acts 5:15).

The visit of St. Jude’s arm to the Archdiocese of Detroit is an extraordinary opportunity to receive grace through the intercession of a man who literally walked with Jesus, said Fr. Mario Amore, director of the archdiocese’s Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship.

“We are grateful for Fr. Martins’ initiative to bring the extraordinary pilgrimage of the major relic of St. Jude to the Archdiocese of Detroit. It is a wonderful opportunity for the faithful to encounter the ‘Apostle of the Impossible,’” Fr. Amore said. “While this relic physically puts us in contact with the person of St. Jude, one of the Twelve, the Church venerates relics to connect us to the person of Christ, whose companion Jude was in every sense of the word.”

Read More ...

Tour of the Relics of St. Jude the Apostle

Friday, Oct. 13

National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica

2100 W. 12 Mile Road, Royal Oak

Veneration begins at 1 p.m.

Mass in honor of St. Jude at 7 p.m.

Veneration continues after Mass until 10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 14

Immaculate Conception Parish

814 West Nepessing St., Lapeer

Mass in honor of St. Jude at 11 a.m.

Veneration following Mass until 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 15

St. Andrew Parish

1400 Inglewood Ave., Rochester

Veneration begins at 2 p.m.

Mass in honor of St. Jude at 5 p.m.

Veneration continues after Mass until 10 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 16

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

9844 Woodward Ave., Detroit

Veneration begins at 1 p.m.

Mass in honor of St. Jude at 6 p.m.

Veneration continues after Mass until 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Church of the Divine Child

1055 North Silvery Lane, Dearborn

Veneration begins at 2 p.m.

Mass in honor of St. Jude at 7 p.m.

Veneration continues after Mass until 10 p.m.

Watch the Video Announcement of the Tour by Clicking the Image Below

3) The Rescue Project

4) Caregiver Survival Presentation

5) Gala 2023: October 21, 2023

6) Soup Kitchen News

7) Center for Exceptional Children

8) Interested in becoming Catholic? Do you need to complete your sacraments of initiation? Join the next OCIA class!

9) Wednesday Evening Confessions and Mass

10) Holy Hours on Thursdays

11) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

12) This Sunday's Readings: October 8, 2023, 2023 - The Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

13) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

“Humility and Thanksgiving” + The Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this week's Encountering the Word video, Jeff Cavins offers a solution to anxiety as he reflects on the readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Sunday Readings are:

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

Second Reading: Philippians 4:6-9

Alleluia: cf. John 15:16

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43

14) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Classic Sunday Sermon: The Key to Human Flourishing

Friends, in biblical imagery, the vineyard symbolizes the people of God. The Lord nourishes us as our caretaker, but he desires (even demands) that we bear good fruit. The Mass, the Eucharist, the teaching office of the Church, priests and bishops—through these means and through the Church, God cultivates his vineyard.

15) Grow+Go

16) Giving to SJA:

I'm truly grateful for all of your support of SJA. 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.

17) This Week's Edition of TALLER Tales

Cruisin’ with Mom (Part ELEVEN): For the last several weeks, I have been sharing about my trip with my mom on board the Viking Octantis for a Great Lakes Cruise. Our journey began in Toronto, and from there, we traversed the Welland Canal Locks and made stops in Port Colborne, Point Pelee, Detroit, Alpena, Mackinac Island, and finally, Milwaukee.

Last week, I shared how when we arrived at the Grand Hotel, I was convinced I had horse manure on my scooter wheels and unknowingly left marks on the carpet of the main lobby. Needless to say, I was mortified and couldn’t wait to get out of there. My mom and I did our little tour and sat on the porch briefly. Since my life is all about snacks, I wandered down to one of the coffee shops and grabbed a cappuccino and some pastries. My mom and I enjoyed our snacks as we people-watched. After a tour of the Grand Hotel and a visit to a few of the gift shops to buy some items for a Michigan Basket my mom is creating as an auction item for the Gala, we decided it was time to leave, pick up our scooters and hope no one noticed what I did to the front lobby carpet!

After leaving the Grand Hotel, our next stop was the Catholic Church on Mackinac Island, St. Anne. Sainte Anne’s is a beautiful church that has a long history on the Island. The presence of the Roman Catholic Church in Mackinac dates back to the 1670s! “Mackinac has a long, rich and fascinating history. This strategic cross roads of the upper Great Lakes has been home to Native Americans, European fur traders, soldiers of three nations, commercial fishermen and summer vacationers. Mackinac’s importance has ebbed and flowed over time. It has been a bustling, international port and an obscure, nearly deserted and very lonely northern Michigan outpost. As nations have come and gone, soldiers marched in and out, industries flourished and failed, there has been one constant since the 1670s — the presence of Roman Catholicism (steannechurch.org/history).”

It was through the sacrifices of the Jesuit priests and brothers, including Jean de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, Charles Raymbault, Claude Allouez, Gabriel Druilletes, Rene Goupil, and Claude Dablon, that brought the Gospel to this upper region of the Great Lakes. If you have the time, you will find it fascinating to learn more about Mackinac Island’s rich history and the Catholic Community’s history there. You can read more at the St. Anne Church site: stannechurch.org/history.

We happened to be on Mackinac Island on July 26th. I wasn’t paying too much attention to the date and the feast day the Church was celebrating this particular day. As my mom and I worked our way to the other side of the Island and St. Anne Church, I saw many people hanging out in front of the Church and around the parish grounds. It was midweek and crowded on the Island, but I was surprised how many people were hanging out around the Church. As we got closer, I heard music and saw signs telling people they were giving out free ice cream on this, the parish’s patronal feast day, Ste. Anne. I wanted to face-palm myself. Of course, it’s July 26th, the feast day of Ste. Anne. What a joy to be at the parish on its feast day! My mom and I parked our scooters in front of the Church as if we tied up our horses after a long journey. We then walked around and joined in on the celebrations. It was fun introducing myself and interacting with people celebrating this great day on the Island.

My mom and I ascended the stairs, went inside the Church, said some prayers, and lit some candles. I haven’t been inside Ste. Anne’s in some time, and I had forgotten how beautiful and peaceful it was inside there. We took some pictures and then went back to find our scooters. I took a brief look at the Church sign and was amazed by how many masses were said in this tiny little Church on the weekends. I found it so inspirational that so many masses and other devotions were celebrated at Ste. Anne Church during the busy season on the Island.

My mom and I then began our way back to the dock to take the next tender back to the Octantis. But, before I got too far on the journey, I decided to take my phone out and do a time-lapse of me on the scooter wandering down Main Street. I’ll post the video in my Sunday email. 

Watching me dodge the pedestrian traffic and the horse-drawn carriages was rather funny. But I got so wrapped up in my video that I lost sight of my mom! I eventually found her, but it required a phone call to figure out where she landed.

After we turned in our scooters, I wandered over to a couple of the stores, not to get some souvenirs but some additional snacks for the journey … remember I’m all about the snacks!

We then found our way back to the dock and chatted with some Viking staff as we waited in line and proudly shared that we were Michiganians and thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Island. Once on the tender, we overheard one of the passengers bemoaning his visit to the Island. We were both stunned to hear him share how disappointed he was with the visit and how disappointed he was with the Island. I wanted to shout, “ARE. YOU. KIDDING. This Island is beautiful and a major focal point for us Michiganders!” While I wanted to engage with him, I didn’t have the energy and figured from the tone of his voice that there was nothing I was going to say that would dissuade this grumpy old man! I couldn’t wait to get off the tender!

Once back on the Octantis, my mom and I had lunch, took a quick nap, and prepared for our late afternoon departure, which would bring us under the Mackinac Bridge and then on to our final destination, Milwaukee.

Traveling under the Mackinac Bridge was fascinating, and I got quite a few pictures and videos of the experience. It’s one thing to travel on or see this majestic bridge from a distance, but seeing it from this perspective was an equal joy!

With the Mackinac Bridge in the distance, my mom and I got ready for our scheduled evening dinner in one of the ship’s two formal restaurants. When we got to our table, the sun began to pierce the clouds, providing us with a beautiful landscape for our evening dinner. We had an absolutely delightful dinner and settled in for one of our last nights on the Octantis. The once-in-a-lifetime number one on my mom’s bucket list of items was coming to a close. And she was delighted I was having such a great time. I’ve never been on a cruise before and never thought I would enjoy one, but I was!

Next week, I’ll conclude this little travel log and share some final thoughts about this remarkable journey on the Great Lakes

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

In Christ,

18) Along the Way

St. Francis of Assisi

My sincerest apologies… it’s been two weeks since I’ve written. Things kind of got away from me between the Archdiocesan priest convocation and the busyness of parish life. I know that I promised to write about purgatory – and I’ll get to that eventually. But I could not help writing about one of my favorite saints, one whose feast day we celebrated this past week – St. Francis of Assisi, the saint whom I chose for my Confirmation.

I have always loved St. Francis, because I’ve always loved animals. Readers of a certain generation would understand that I changed my AIM username frequently in my youth to reflect my love for animals. (Awkward….)

We had many pets growing up. In fact, at one point we had 4 dogs, 2 birds, and a chinchilla. Dogs we had through the years include Peanut, Spanky, Paco, Patches, Chico, Bella, Spike, and Penny. 

Our neighbor had two horses and I cleaned the stables in exchange for free horseback riding lessons. It was a dirty job, to say the least, but it was worth it. Since then, I’ve ridden many horses and even a camel and an elephant. And I have even been known to befriend a llama or two.

Naturally, I wanted to be a veterinarian, so much so that I interviewed vets for my 5th grade project. 

Eventually I realized how much science is required to be a vet. Science isn’t my forte, so I decided I would be a marine biologist. As it turns out, biologists also have to study science. So, I had my mind set on being a dolphin trainer at Sea World. As you can tell… that didn’t work out either.

But St. Francis is about more than just pets and animals. On Oct. 4, Roman Catholics celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Italian deacon who brought renewal to the Church through his decision to follow Jesus' words as literally as possible.

In a January 2010 general audience, Pope Benedict XVI recalled this “giant of holiness” as a “great saint and a joyful man,” who taught the Church that “the secret of true happiness” is “to become saints, close to God.”

The future Saint Francis was born on an uncertain date in the early 1180’s, one of the several children born to the wealthy merchant Pietro Bernardone and his wife Pica. He originally received the name Giovanni (or John), but became known as Francesco (or Francis) by his father's choice.

Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi’s youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. 

It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer:

“Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy.”

From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, “Francis, go out and build up my church, for it is nearly falling down.” Francis became the totally poor and humble workman. 

(This is a picture of that chapel in Assisi.)

He must have suspected a deeper meaning to “build up my house.” But he would have been content to be for the rest of his life the poor “nothing” man actually putting brick on brick in abandoned chapels. He gave up all his possessions, piling even his clothes before his earthly father—who was demanding restitution for Francis’ “gifts” to the poor.

He was, for a time, considered to be a religious fanatic, begging from door to door when he could not get money for his work.

Francis was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented by shipwreck and illness in both cases. But he did try to convert the sultan during the Fifth Crusade.

During the last years of his relatively short life, he died at 44, Francis was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death he received the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet, and side.

On his deathbed, Francis said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun, “Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death.”

St. Francis, pray for us.

Blessings,

Fr. Adam

anowak@sjascs.org

19) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

When You’re Distracted in Prayer

When you’re first growing in prayer and developing your relationship with Jesus, it is worth the effort to fight distractions in prayer. The more you can focus on our Lord, the more fruit you can see from prayer, and the deeper a bond you can experience with Jesus.

But, let’s be real—distraction is inevitable. It’s human. And our brains are hardwired, in some ways, to move on to “the next thing”.

The Saints knew this, and there is an “advanced solution” to distraction in prayer—use it in prayer. Today, Fr. Mike tells us how.

20) Words on the Word: October 8, 2023 - Natural Beauty

A popular television commercial from the 1970s used to warn, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” It was somewhat cute then, but in light of the changes that have taken place in the decades since, it’s arguably not quite as cute a notion now.

There is certainly a need to be mindful of the ways in which human beings interact with our home planet. After all, the aspirations of certain well-known entrepreneurs aside, it’s the only planet we’ll ever have to call home. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that our planet – as glorious as it is – is not a god or the god, or in any way god-like. It is, rather, one of God’s innumerable creations, and deserves to be treated with respect precisely because it is of God.

With such realities of right-order established, then, it’s heartening to read about efforts to help sustain and beautify our environment. Stories in The Detroit News a few weeks ago, for example, highlighted two such efforts.  

One report detailed a grant provided to a local nonprofit to plant thousands of trees in Detroit as part of a larger initiative to expand its so-called tree canopy, which has numerous environmental benefits. Other grants were provided to Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Kalamazoo and others. A second story detailed a soon-to-begin effort to replace rocks and concrete with a more natural habitat along the shoreline of the nearby Ford House in Grosse Pointe. The project is intended to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability. 

Again, taken in the context of the right order under God, such efforts are not simply nice, but beautiful and commendable.

“If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” St. Paul writes in today’s second reading to the Philippians. “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

© 2023, Words on the Word

21) This WEEK on FORMED:

22) St. Margaret of Scotland Christmas Resale Event

23) Hallow App:

24) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, October 9, 2023, Weekday, Saint Denis, Bishop and Companions, Martyrs; Saint John Leonardi, Priest (Green/Red/White) 

7:00 a.m., Mary A. Champine 

Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Weekday (Green)

7:00 a.m., A Special Intention for Fred & Lois Mecha on their Wedding Anniversary

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Weekday; Saint John XXIII, Pope (Green/White)

7:00 a.m., Donald & Tracy Kowalewski

6:00 p.m., Josephine Zogby

Thursday, October 12, 2023, Weekday (Green)

7:00 a.m., Lawrence & Rosemary Schenden

Friday, October 13, 2023, Weekday (Green)

7:00 a.m., Special Intention for the Tina Calisi Family

Saturday, October 14, 2023, Vigil of the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

4:00 p.m., Helen Blind, Bonnie Batche, the deceased members of the Haberek Family, Virginia Shamo, Amelia Shamo, Charlotte Miller, George J. Bugarin, Joel Vandenbussche, Edward Elsesser, Astrid McLaughlin, Donald Strobbe, Mary Bucca and special intentions for the Ziolkowski Family, the Thomas Family, the J. Champine Family, for Alison Reslow, Pam Haisenleder, Lorraine Jonas and Ray DeFrates 

6:00 p.m., Dr. Edmund Aubrey

Sunday, October 15, 2023, Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

8:00 a.m., For the Intentions for St. Joan of Arc Parishioners

10:00 a.m., Joseph Paluzzi Jr.

12:00 p.m., Elise Maes, Joan Hardy, Feliciana King, Robert & Barbara Zaliwski and Special Intentions for Alison Reslow, Lorraine Jonas, Ray DeFrates and Pam Haisenleder

25) This Week on St. Joan of Arc LIVE:

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (October 9)

7:00 AM - Mass

Tuesday (October 10):

7:00 AM - Mass

8:30 AM - School Mass

Wednesday (October 11):

7:00 AM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (October 12):

7:00 AM- Mass

7:00 PM - Holy Hour

Friday (October 13):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Sr. Colleen Hickey, SSJ (Read Obituary HERE)

Saturday (October 14):

10:00 AM - Funeral for Janice Burns

12:30 PM - Baptism of Connor Michael Campbell

2:30 PM - Baptism of Angelina Marie Latte

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (October 15):

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 cannot 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.

26) SJA's Latest Parish Bulletin

Click on the image below

to download a copy of the bulletin

for October 8, 2023

27) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

28) Detroit Catholic