Week of October 22, 2023

1) World Mission Sunday

World Mission Sunday: This Sunday is World Mission Sunday, a special day when we unite ourselves with Catholics throughout the world to pray and sacrifice for the missionary efforts of the Church.

Every year, the needs of the Catholic Church in the Missions grow – as new dioceses are formed, as new seminaries are opened because of the growing number of young men hearing Christ’s call to follow Him as priests, as areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and as other areas, long suppressed, are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church.

Mission dioceses – about 1,110 at this time – receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected this weekend. In addition, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Dicastery for the Evangelization of Peoples for assistance, among other needs, for catechetical programs, seminaries, the work of Religious Communities, for communication and transportation needs, and the building of chapels, churches, orphanages, and schools. These needs are matched with the funds gathered each year. The world’s national Propagation of the Faith directors vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest needs. These funds are then distributed, in their entirety, to mission dioceses throughout the world.

Our gifts go a LONG way in these mission dioceses. Special envelopes are available in the Church for our World Mission Sunday Collection. You can donate online too by going to mission.stjoan.church or by clicking the link found in my Sunday email or on the home page of our parish website.

Please keep the Church’s missionary efforts in your prayers so that the Gospel may continue to be heard even to the remotest parts of the earth!

2) The Rescue Project

3) SJA's Fall Fest - October 27, 2023

4) Celebrating Archbishop Vigneron's 75th Birthday

As he turns 75 years old, Detroit’s chief shepherd sat down to reflect upon the joys, blessings, and challenges of his priestly and episcopal ministry. From unexpectedly being called home from Oakland, California, in 2009 to calling for a historic synod of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron said he’s grateful for God’s surprises along the way.

As required by canon law of all bishops who reach age 75, Archbishop Vigneron submitted his resignation to the Holy Father on October 21. He will continue to serve as Detroit’s archbishop until Pope Francis accepts his retirement and appoints a new archbishop for Detroit, a process with no determined timeline.

Show your gratitude for Archbishop Vigneron on his 75th birthday

In honor of Archbishop Vigneron’s birthday and coinciding with Respect Life Month, we invite you to prayerfully consider making a gift in support of Walking with Moms in Need, a ministry in the Archdiocese of Detroit through which our parishes are equipped to accompany pregnant and parenting moms in need. All funds raised in honor of Archbishop Vigneron will directly support these efforts to build a culture of life throughout southeast Michigan.

We also invite you to share a personal prayer or well wishes for our Archbishop. The fruits of this effort – your gifts and your prayers – will be shared with Archbishop Vigneron.

5) Michigan March for Life

6) Pope confers title 'monsignor' on Detroit priest, retired Navy chaplain Fr. John Kaul

From Detroit Catholic: Msgr. Kaul, 76, who once served as an associate at SJA and served for a quarter-century in the U.S. Navy, says he's 'humbled and grateful' for the 'Lord's gracious goodness'

DETROIT — Pope Francis has named Detroit’s own Fr. John L. Kaul, a retired U.S. Navy chaplain, a “chaplain of his Holiness,” which carries the honorary title of “monsignor.”

The newly named Msgr. Kaul, 76, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit for 48 years, notably served for more than a quarter of a century with the U.S. Navy, including serving overseas as a chaplain with the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

"I am so very humbled and grateful for the generous kindness of Pope Francis, Archbishop (Allen H.) Vigneron, and Archbishop (Timothy P.) Broglio in recognizing my 48 years of ministry to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, the government and the Military Archdiocese, and the Archdiocese of Detroit,” Msgr. Kaul said in a statement. “The Lord’s gracious goodness has overwhelmed me yet again, and I am so very appreciative of those who encouraged and mentored me through those years — cardinals, archbishops, senior officers — in this wonderful vocation and ministry which has been the joy of my life.”

The Apostolic Nunciature of the United States gave notice of the honor last week to Msgr. Kaul’s current and past bishops, Archbishop Vigneron of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Archbishop Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, who surprised the Msgr. Kaul with the news.

“It brings me great joy to see Msgr. Kaul’s decades of ministry to the men and women of our armed services honored by our Holy Father,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “As we approach Veterans Day, a day when we honor all those who selflessly served to protect our country, it is a great blessing to have a military chaplain and son of the Archdiocese of Detroit recognized in such a special manner.”

Archbishop Broglio said he was "delighted" to see Msgr. Kaul honored, noting the priest also served as vocations director for the Archdiocese for the Military Services and worked on the canonization cause of Servant of God Fr. Vincent Capodanno, a Navy chaplain killed in Vietnam.

"He has always said 'yes' to the needs of this global 'local' Church," Archbishop Broglio said.

The conferral of the title of "monsignor" has become notably rarer under Pope Francis, who revised the norms governing the practice in 2014. Not all priests are eligible for the honor; priests must either have worked closely with the Holy Father in the Vatican or have otherwise reached the age of 65 and are recommended by their bishops. The title confers no additional theological significance, but is given in appreciation of a priest's service.

Born March 26, 1947, Msgr. Kaul grew up in Wyandotte and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on May 24, 1975.

Following his ordination, his aunt offered to pay for a trip to Rome. He visited the nearby city of Naples, which also happened to be the anchorage for the U.S. Sixth Fleet. In a 2018 Michigan Catholic article, then-Fr. Kaul said he ran into the Catholic chaplain of the fleet. When he returned to Detroit from Italy, he knew he was called to join the Navy.

“I was hooked, and I went back to Cardinal (John) Dearden (archbishop of Detroit at the time) and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to let me join the Navy.' He just looked at me and said, ‘Calm down, son,’” Msgr. Kaul said in 2018. “He said he would let me go if I did two parish assignments. So I spent two years at Sacred Heart (in Dearborn) and then five years at St. Joan of Arc (in St. Clair Shores), and joined the Navy in 1982.”

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7) Wednesday Evening Confessions and Mass

8) Holy Hours on Thursdays

9) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

10) This Sunday's Readings: October 22, 2023, 2023 - The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

11) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

"Worshipping One God" + The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this week's Encountering the Word video for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jeff Cavins challenges us to identify the "gods" in our lives. The readings are:

irst Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5B

Alleluia: Philippians 2:15D, 16A

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

12) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Classic Sunday Sermon: Does It Matter What You Believe?

Friends, a great theme of the Bible is that of God’s chosen people. At the same time, we also see that God’s salvific plan has to do with all of humanity—and indeed with all of creation. God chooses Israel—and the New Israel, the Church—precisely for the sake of the whole world. Remembering this helps us keep the delicate balance between bland spiritual relativism and a dangerous religious tribalism.

13) Grow+Go

14) 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.

15) This Week's Edition of TALLER Tales

Cruisin’ with Mom Epilogue: Last week, I concluded the travelogue of my Great Lakes Cruise journey with my mom. But the cruisin’ “bug” is still very much alive with my mom as she has been on the lookout for other cruises. In her pursuit of another cruise, my mom had this grand idea of seeing if my Aunt Pauline (my dad’s sister) was open to joining her for a Viking Cruise.

My Aunt Pauline is my dad’s only sibling. My dad is about 17 months older than my aunt. I know we’re not supposed to disclose ages, but let’s say my dad would have been 87 right now. So, it gives you a general idea of my Aunt Pauline’s age. My Aunt Pauline is a recent widow; my Uncle Tom died in June. My Uncle Tom suffered a series of major strokes many years ago that greatly affected his speech and mobility, necessitating the need for greater care than most people. But those strokes never stopped him from living life. He was a trooper, as was my Aunt Pauline, who stood by his side through thick and thin. Being a new widow, my aunt is now navigating how to fill all the new free time she never had before.

My mom talked to my Aunt Pauline, and she was all game for a cruise. Of course, I inserted myself and ensured my schedule was free because I couldn’t see them navigating this cruise alone. But then again, with my current status of being first on crutches and now a cane, I don’t know who needs more help! I told my mom I could join them because there was no way in the world I would let the two of them go on this alone. There is just too much to navigate. Thankfully, my calendar was free of weddings and other major commitments the week they chose. I was the likely person to go as my sisters would never want to be on a Viking Cruise because there is no life on the ship after 5:00 p.m.! They all would want warmth, pools, activity, and endless entertainment. As for me, I’ll take the sedate cruise life any day!

Well, my mom then broke the news to my Aunt Pauline that I would be going along with them to help with “things.” My mom explained they would have their own cabin, and I would have my own. My Aunt Pauline immediately answered my mom (with her usual tinge of laughter), “Chris, we don’t need a babysitter. We can do this all by ourselves.” The two were like teenagers planning this trip. I rolled my eyes and thought, “Wait ‘til Donna and Tom hear about this.” Donna and Tom are my cousins, my Aunt Pauline’s two children.

I somewhat backed off just seeing their excitement. Well, my mom happened to call my Aunt Pauline about some cruise details because they had to make a commitment on this particular day to lock in some exceptional summer rates. It just so happened that Donna and her husband were with my Aunt Pauline as my mom was trying to finalize some details. Donna was curious and cautious. “Wait a minute, Mom. You and Aunt Chris aren’t doing this alone!” Some discussions continued, and I just sat, watched, and “ate my popcorn” as the show unraveled. I didn’t even have to talk to Donna to know the outcome!

Well, the “kids” put the brakes on the “teens” planning their cruise! Donna suggested if they wanted to go alone, they should wait for one of those AAA Senior Cruises. My aunt asked why a AAA Senior Cruise. Donna’s answer was simple, “Because you’d be with a ton of other seniors, and you all would be looking out for one another.” So now my mom and my Aunt Pauline are contemplating whether they want their babysitter instead! Cruisin’ with seniors can be a difficult planning experience … especially when the “kids” get involved!

SJA’s Mass Book Opens for 2024: For those who have been looking for this happy news, I am glad to report that the new Mass book for 2024, which starts with the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2023, will officially open on Monday. If you want to schedule any mass intentions for 2024, you can begin doing that on Monday. The suggested offering is $10 per mass.

It is important to note that we only accept ONE intention per mass, except for the Saturday 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. masses. The Church’s law is such that only ONE offering/intention can be made per mass with an exception that TWO masses per week can have multiple intentions as long as it is made public that these are multiple mass intention masses.

As space permits in the coming weeks, I will offer some teaching on mass intentions. While the concept is relatively well known to elderly generations, it is undoubtedly something younger generations know little about or even understand. Do you know why we have mass intentions?

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

In Christ,

16) Along the Way with Father Adam

I hope you didn’t miss me too much last weekend! I was away on pilgrimage to Italy with some friends. Thanks be to God it was a wonderful experience – and I even ran into a parishioner in Assisi.

It truly is a privilege to be able to go on pilgrimage to another country and to experience the Church in a new way. Rome is one of my favorite places and always feels, in a sense, like home. It is amazing just how normal the Catholic faith is in a place like Rome. There are always so many sisters and priests walking around and every corner you turn you stumble upon another Church with the relic of a Saint you may never have heard of before.

The part of the pilgrimage that I am always nervous about is the travel there. Thankfully, it was smooth travels the whole time! Upon arrival we were able to drop off our bags and begin to explore the city a little bit. (I was even able to grab lunch with a priest classmate of mine from Winona-Rochester who was also there. I joked that it shouldn’t take us being halfway around the world to be able to get together.) 

But why Rome? Why is the “headquarters” of the Catholic Church in Italy when Jesus lived in Israel? The Vatican is the burial place of St. Peter, the first pope. The altar of the Basilica of St. Peter is built over the tomb and bones of Peter.

Because the popes (the bishops of Rome) are the successors to St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, the only Apostle to whom Christ gave the keys to the Kingdom, promising to build upon Peter (whose name literally means “Rock”, Latin petra) His Church, against whom the gates even of hell would never triumph, and whom Christ gave special charge to “confirm his brothers [the other apostles] in the Faith.”

St. Peter was martyred in the early-mid 60's in Rome, crucified upside down in the Circus of Nero…then buried in the necropolis (cemetery) around the corner. His tomb quickly became a site of prayer and pilgrimage, the mausoleum top used as an altar for the celebration of Mass. A chapel was eventually built over it. Three centuries later the grand Basilica of St. Peter was built over his tomb, with the main altar positioned directly over his tomb. Old St. Peter was replaced by the new St. Peter Basilica in the 16th century. The main altar is still directly over Peter's tomb. Where is that tomb and where was that necropolis? On Vatican Hill.

Although I was able to make it happen this time, when I was in Rome in 2019 just after my ordination, I had the grace to celebrate Mass at the very tomb of St. Peter in the Clementine Chapel, the chapel that is under the main altar of the Basilica. Here is a picture of that graced moment. 

Catholic Christianity is a deeply incarnational Faith. The physical matters. We believe in Christ's incarnation, His becoming fully human. He truly is one of us. He was really tortured and killed. He truly died for us. And he rose bodily from His tomb. We believe in the resurrection of the body. We are all body and soul composites. While we are separated from our bodies at death, we will be reunited with them in the afterlife forever.

So, St. Peter matters. His body and remains matter. He sanctified the ground of Rome with his blood and martyrdom. His successors, the bishops of Rome (the popes) stay in communion with the physical body of Peter, the Apostle whom Christ chose to be His steward, the Rock of his Church.

Peter was the chief of the apostles with a unique ministry as their head, confirming them in the Faith. The bishops of Rome are his successors, an unbroken line of succession by the laying on of hands.

So, the Church did not “choose” Rome or the Vatican.

Christ chose Peter. And Peter founded the church in Rome and died there. We can even say that God chose Rome as the place of Peter’s final witness and martyrdom. The bishops there are his direct successors, carrying on his 

“Petrine Ministry”. In a very real sense, Christ chose Rome…by making it the place of Peter’s ultimate witness, his martyrdom. As the early Church Father Tertullian said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

The Church is rooted in a special way where Peter is. Just as the holiest site in Christendom is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Jesus was killed and where he rose.

Blessings!

Fr. Adam

anowak@sjascs.org

17) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

Your Pastor Needs Help. Here’s Where You Come In.

Today, Ascension is pulling one out of the vault, and Fr. Mike tells you why your parish priest needs you (and how you can help).

The value of a new parishioner introducing him or herself to the parish and just asking the priest, “How can I help?” is priceless.

When entering a new community, we may have all of these ideas about what we can do to help, but to listen and simply tell the leaders that you are available shows humility and understanding.

Fr. Mike knows firsthand about all of the different types of parishioners who are on fire for the Faith, and want to do something for their parish. The ones who end up helping the most are those who in essence say, “I am your servant. Tell me what I can do for you.”

18) Words on the Word: October 22, 2023 - Repay to Caesar

It’s a subject, like so many others, that has been fraught with political tension.

Student loan repayments – which had been paused during the pandemic to ease household budgets for thousands of people across the country – resumed a few weeks ago with much publicity and turbulence.

Media reported not only on the basic facts regarding resumption of the payments, but also on the confusion surrounding the agencies tasked with collecting the funds and consumers’ difficulties in getting answers to questions.

All of that followed the months of political wrangling over whether portions of these debts should be forgiven and, if so, how much, and at what cost to the overall national debt.

And, of course, everyone weighed in with their own opinions on the subject in conversations and on social media.

As the dust continues to settle on this return to reality, it seems straightforward to note that the debts were voluntarily incurred by those who took loans, and it’s the government that needs to be repaid.

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” Jesus says in today’s gospel from St. Matthew during a tense conversation with the Pharisees, “and to God what belongs to God.”

It may cause anxiety, to be sure, and it may be a hardship for many household budgets. But, as with all other hardships, it helps to keep in mind that God is God of all, and with him there is nothing that cannot be managed.

“I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not,” we hear in today’s first reading from Isaiah. “I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me.”

© 2023, Words on the Word

19) This WEEK on FORMED:

20) St. Margaret of Scotland Christmas Resale Event

21) Hallow App:

22) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, October 23, 2023, Weekday, Saint Joh of Capistrano, Priest (Green/White) 

7:00 a.m., Sr. Jane Maison, CSJ & Samson DeLeon 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023, Weekday; Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Green/White)

7:00 a.m., Richard & Virginia Robinette

Wednesday October 25, 2023, Weekday (Green)

7:00 a.m., A Special Intention for Rachel Allemon on her 100th Birthday, 

6:00 p.m., Sally Cabot

Thursday, October 26, 2023, Weekday (Green)

7:00 a.m., Joan Linden and a Special Intention for Marge Ficorelli on her 100th Birthday

Friday, October 27, 2023, Weekday (Green)

7:00 a.m., Pedro Silva

Saturday, October 28, 2023, Vigil of the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

4:00 p.m., Bonnie Batche, Sally Cabot, Jaclyn Maul, Mr. & Mrs. Victor Siegel, May Ferguson, Grace & Sam Valenti, Donald Strobbe, and special intentions for the Thomas Family, the J. Champine Family, for Dolores Acosta, for Alison Reslow, Pam Haisenleder, Lorraine Jonas and Ray DeFrates 

6:00 p.m., Hugo Calisi

Sunday, October 29, 2023, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

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

10:00 a.m., Kevin O’Connor

12:00 p.m., Julian Ross, George Lombardi, Maria Lombardi, Joan Hardy, Feliciana King, Rosa Vinosky, Carlos Mallare, Humberto Sandoval, Pamela Smith, and Special Intentions for Alison Reslow, Pam Haisenleder, Lorraine Jonas, and Ray DeFrates

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

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (October 23)

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Catherine DeRose (Read Obituary HERE)

Tuesday (October 24):

7:00 AM - Mass

8:30 AM - School Mass

Wednesday (October 25):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Sam Promesso (Read Obituary HERE)

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (October 26):

7:00 AM- Mass

7:00 PM - Holy Hour

Friday (October 27):

7:00 AM - Mass

Saturday (October 28):

10:00 AM - Funeral for Patricia Andre Williams

12:30 PM - Baptism of Ariella Rene Finn Kalec

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (October 29):

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.

24) SJA's Latest Parish Bulletin

Click on the image below

to download a copy of the bulletin

for October 22, 2023

25) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

26) Detroit Catholic