Week of August 11, 2024

1) The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - A Holy Day of Obligation

This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Our Mass schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, August 14: 7 PM (There is no 6 PM Mass this night. Confessions will be from 5 - 7 PM)

Thursday, August 15: 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM

What exactly are we celebrating with the Assumption of Mary?

First, let’s look at the word assumption. The word assumption comes from the Latin word assumere, meaning to take to oneself. Thus, with the Assumption of Mary, we celebrate that moment when Christ took the Blessed Virgin Mary home to himself when the course of her earthly life had finished. Over time and in other rites or Orthodox traditions, the Assumption of Mary is called the Dormition of Mary or the Glorification of Mary. As stated by Pope Saint John Paul II in his general audience on July 2, 1997, “The dogma of the assumption affirms that Mary’s body was glorified after her death. While for other human beings the resurrection of the body will take place at the end of the world, for Mary, the glorification of her body was anticipated by a special privilege.”

Belief in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back to the earliest days of Christianity. The most substantial evidence we have comes not from scripture but the ancient liturgical texts, iconography, and poems honoring the mother of Jesus Christ.

Mary’s assumption into heaven was well established theologically and was part of the devotional life of the Church by the Middle Ages. While the concept of the Assumption of Mary was undoubtedly part of the life of the Church, it wasn’t proclaimed as dogma until 1951 by Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus.

Pope Saint Paul VI, in his Apostolic Constitution Marialis Cultus (For the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary), offered a beautiful reflection on Mary’s role in our life (#57): “Contemplated in the episodes of the Gospels and in the reality which she already possesses in the City of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary offers a calm vision and a reassuring word to modern man, torn as he often is between anguish and hope, defeated by the sense of his own limitations and assailed by limitless aspirations, troubled in his mind and divided in his heart, uncertain before the riddle of death, oppressed by loneliness while yearning for fellowship, a prey to boredom and disgust. She shows forth the victory of hope over anguish, of fellowship over solitude, of peace over anxiety, of joy and beauty over boredom and disgust, of eternal visions over earthly ones, of life over death.”

The University of Dayton has an excellent website dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There you will find a ton of information about the Church’s teaching and writings about the Blessed Mother. I strongly encourage you to glance through the vast resources available at udayton.edu/imri/mary/.

Mother of the Church. Pray for us! Queen assumed into Heaven. Pray for us!

2) CSA Update

If you have not yet given to this year's CSA, please do so soon. We still need to raise $28,269 to reach our goal.

You can give online by clicking on the link below, by calling in your pledge/gift, or by picking up a CSA packet in the Parish Center or in the Gathering Space of Church. Your gift is important and enables us, the Church in Detroit, to carry out Christ's ministry of mercy and love throughout southeast Michigan and beyond — works no one individual or parish could possibly do alone!

3) Bringing Kids to Mass is Hard. Here's a Few Ways to Make it Easier

If you’re able to, bringing your kids to Mass is a beautiful way to instill the love of God and a heart of worship within your children at a young age. But if you’ve done it… you know it’s quite the rodeo.

Jackie and Bobby Angel have been there (and they are still there), and Jackie has a few basic tips today to make the transition into the pews a little easier—and maybe even help your kids get more out of the liturgy.

And while you’re at it, put a book in their hands so that they can follow along.

4) Assumption Greek Orthodox Church's GREEKFEST Starts on Thursday

5) The Violinist - A Documentary about Blessed Father Solanus Casey

From Detroit Catholic

DETROIT — Most Detroit-area Catholics are familiar with the story of Blessed Solanus Casey.

The famed “porter of St. Bonaventure” was a struggling seminary student who, under the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, went to Detroit and found a vocation as a simplex priest and humble doorman who gave spiritual counsel to hundreds upon hundreds of people.

But a new documentary is taking a fresh look at Blessed Solanus, through the eyes of the people who knew him best.

“The Violinist: Stories of Solanus Casey,” an Augustine Institute film that premiered July 27 at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit, tells the story of the holy man — and alleged mediocre violin player — through the perspective of people who knew him best.

“The Violinist” is less a straightforward narrative about Solanus Casey’s life, and more an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Fr. Solanus’ real impact on people’s lives, explained Emily Mentock, executive producer of “The Violinist” and co-founder of Digital Continent.

“The story isn’t about all the incredible things he’s done or a complete biography detailing his life, but insights from people he knew,” Mentock told Detroit Catholic. “It features his friends, family, and people he lived with speaking about what his everyday holiness looked like, and the impact he had on people he met personally, which led to, eventually, so many people wanting to attend his funeral and mourn his passing that the city of Detroit had to declare a day of mourning to celebrate him.”

Read More

Watch the Trailer BELOW

Our parish has a subscription to FORMED.ORG. Sign up today for free to watch the 30-minute documentary and other resources available on FORMED.ORG. Click on the image below to watch the documentary (if you don't have an account on FORMED.ORG, search for our parish to sign up).

6) Faith Formation Registration

7) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

8) Holy Hour on Thursdays

9) This Sunday's Readings: August 11, 2024 - the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

10) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

The Catholic Eucharist in the Bible Part 2

This week’s Encountering the Word video for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on the Bread of Life discourse found in John 6. What if Jesus’ words and the Church teaching on the Eucharist are true? What if that really is God? Jeff Cavins encourages us to reflect on the simplicity of Christ’s words in this week’s Gospel.

The readings are:

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4-8

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:30—5:2

Alleluia: John 6:5

Gospel: John 6:41-51

11) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Strength for the Journey



Friends, we’re continuing our reading of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, which is all about the Eucharist. And here’s my take on our reading for today: A long trip by car or plane can be uncomfortable, even overwhelming. But we’re heading somewhere else; we’re on a journey. And on a long journey, you have to find sustenance to keep going.

12) Grow+Go

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 the button or image below to download a PDF copy of this Sunday's Grow+Go.

13) 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.

14) TALLer Tales

Drivin’ Ms. Daisy to the UP (Part 3): This week’s article continues my “travelogue” of my journey to the Upper Peninsula with my mom in mid-July. 

As I mentioned last week, the drive along US 2 from the moment you get off the bridge in St. Ignace all along the 40-mile span up to the Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park is stunning and picturesque. There is not a single roadside scenic turnout that would disappoint you. For the first few scenic turnouts, I would ask my mom if she wanted to stop, and the answer was always the same, “We’re in no hurry, so sure, let’s stop.” I then decided to pull Daisy Loo over at most of the turnouts we encountered. We would open our doors or windows and snap our pictures.

On our way back home, there was one turnout that required me to turn Daisy Loo around and face her the other way so we could open the RV’s door to make it easier for my mom to snap her pictures. This one particular turnout was more sandy than the others. And the road was also narrower than the others we encountered. When I got to a spot where I thought I had enough room to turn Daisy Loo around, I stopped, put her in reverse, and started to make the needed maneuver to get her turned around. I was watching my camera, but I was not careful enough because I ran into some sand. “What’s a little sand?” I thought to myself. I opened the RV’s door, and my mom got her prized pictures. But then, as we were still in this scenic turnout, I put my turn signal on at some point, and the turn signal light started to flash rapidly. UGH! Some panic set in because I knew I had done something wrong. I told my mom I needed to go out and “check on things.” I wasn’t sure what I did, but I knew something was a miss. I didn’t want her to become concerned because we were in the middle of nowhere. When I walked to the back of the RV, I noted that my electrical connection to the hitch storage unit we have mounted to the RV’s hitch was disconnected, and the connectors were bent and now filled with sand. UGH. Thankfully, the van knew something was wrong and gave a warning sign before I drove away. You need to remember I’m a newbie at all this RV stuff and somewhat panic when things go wrong. I’m learning quickly but haven’t figured out yet all the “essential” tools I need to carry for these road trips. The matter was further complicated because the connectors were all close to the ground, so I had to figure out how to get down on the ground and back up again, given all my knee and foot issues. And then, to do all of this without my mom worrying or wanting to get on the ground to help me added to the complexities of the moment.

I returned to Daisy Loo and told my mom I needed to work on something. I found some toothpicks, which I decided would work to get the sand out of the connectors. So, with a handful of toothpicks, I found myself digging out sand from each connector. I could then straighten each contact so they would align properly when I plugged them back in. By this point, I was sweating bullets, thinking the lights on the hitch storage unit wouldn’t work. People could see the van’s lights, but I was too overly concerned about the lights on the storage unit not working. While I was able to get on the ground, it took a bit of time to get back up again, but I did it. I returned to the van and told my mom what was happening. At this point, I was hopeful my fix would work. I had my mom get into the driver’s seat, pump the brakes, and turn the turn signal both ways. Thankfully, the sound and flashing were normal. I then went to the back of Daisy Loo and confirmed everything was working properly. Thank the Lord, it was all working! This one didn’t need roadside assistance; it just needed a few toothpicks. Who would have thought that my arsenal of needed tools would now include toothpicks?

Getting to Know Bishop Baraga (Part 3): You might remember that the whole point of my mom and I traveling to the UP was to travel in the footsteps of and explore the various churches and shrines dedicated to Bishop Baraga. Since few people “downstate” know about this most popular “snowshoe” priest from the UP, I wanted to dedicate some space to “introducing” him to you.

In Parts 1 and 2, I covered Bishop Baraga’s life before entering the seminary. He entered the seminary in 1821 after graduating from law school. On September 21, 1823, the young Frederick Baraga was ordained a priest and consecrated his life to the service of Christ. 

Father Baraga was first assigned to St. Martin Parish in Upper Carniolia, a traditional and mountainous region of Slovenia. From the very beginning, Baraga was considered a zealous priest. “He applied himself so unceasingly and with such unremitting energy that his sister felt obliged to warn him not to undermine his health. For him, nevertheless, his work was nourishment in itself, for he thrived physically in spite of the exhausting pace he was setting for himself (The Apostle of the Chippewas: The Life Story of The Most Rev. Frederick Baraga, DD, by Joseph Gregorich, pub. 1932, p. 18).”

Father Baraga would often fast and often be found sleeping on boards covered with only a bit of straw. His meals regularly consisted of only bread and water; he seldom ate meat or drank liquor. His daily habits were already getting him prepared for the missionary life he would eventually embark upon in northern Michigan.

Father Baraga became a popular and well-loved confessor, knowing his job was not only to bring mercy to the penitent but to help the penitent walk the road to Salvation. “His sermons attracted hosts of people, since few could preach with his sincerity and depth of feeling … The parishioners loved and revered Father Baraga for his many acts of kindness and charity. He was known to have given his shoes to a poor, barefoot traveler whom he had met while on an errand of mercy. He had sheltered and had nursed back to health a stranger whom he found lying, sick and helpless beside a road. Even in these early years, this kind, pious, and zealous priest was regarded as a living saint (The Apostle of the Chippewas, p. 18).

More to come.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: This Thursday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. We will have a Vigil Mass on Wednesday at 7 PM (no 6 PM Mass this day), and then Masses on Thursday at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM. Confessions on Wednesday evening will start at their usual time of 5 PM, and we will be available until the start of the 7 PM Mass.

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

In Christ,

gmb@sjascs.org

15) Voiland's View

With last Tuesday’s primary election behind us, we now begin a roughly three-month period of Americans basically screaming at each other in favor of one partisan political ideology over another. It is incredibly difficult to keep from getting pulled into the fray. We are bombarded continuously with media outlets telling us what to think – not what to think about – but what to think. There’s a difference. We live in a world of talking heads who “know better” than us. So, rather than present us with facts upon which we can form our own reasoned conclusions, the “enlightened ones” simply tell us what we must conclude to spare us from all that risky thinking stuff.

Pretty much everyone with a pulpit from which to preach does political commentary. Entertainers and athletes seem to have lost the ability to sing, play, or act without baring their political souls. It seems impossible to just have fun, to be with people, to laugh, to enjoy the gaiety of life. This is problematic. We were not created to be angry, whiny, argumentative, meanies. We are human beings. We are Catholics. We are adopted daughters and sons of God himself. As Catholic Christians, we possess the most exalted human calling this side of heaven. Forfeiting this glory of being members of the Kingdom of God in exchange for being a player in the worldly game of partisan politics is not only sad – it’s dumb. Who would make such a trade?

We do. We walk away from participation in the divine life, in exchange for fleeting worldly thrills. I’ve seen it in my own lifetime. I realize that sixty-four years is just a tiny snippet of history, but things have declined in that time. I’ve even noticed the decline by reading a bit about the past. [Note: If you happen to think that people are currently more intelligent, successful, enlightened, civilized, benevolent, progressive, etc. than they ever were, don’t waste your time reading the rest of this article. I’ve got nothing for you here.] 

Nowadays, we have pulled the gloves off. We don’t wear a “nice mask” anymore. We don’t hold back on anything. When I was a kid, no one would have thought to pull a gun and shoot someone on the highway because they were cut off. Another big change: not all that long ago, even supporters of abortion said it should be “rare and safe.” Now, people “shout their abortions.” Abortion is a constitutional right in the State of Michigan. Think about that! 

Regarding capital punishment, supporters say, “Kill the scumbags! Why should we use our hard-earned dollars to keep such lowlifes alive?” We kill our problems. It doesn’t matter if the “problem” is a baby in the womb, or a criminal offender, or someone’s reputation. We kill it. And, for the record, as Catholics, we are obligated to oppose both abortion and capital punishment.

These are indicators of how much we have changed. As much as we might be uncomfortable talking about violence, it has become commonplace. Road rage, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, insurrection, rioting, libel, slander, doxing, lawfare, racism, nationalism – all just words. Such numbness to all these evils in our world comes only from the loss of our souls. We have come to tolerate evil in the name of tolerance itself. We are expected to tolerate everything, to make no judgments. (Well . . . tolerate everything but Jesus and his Church.) We have given up our God-given identity, only to be assigned an identity by the world. Yet, we know who the master of the world is . . . Satan, in all his glory. We Christians must never allow such a take-over to happen.

What happens when we let the world dictate to us who we are, and what we are to think? We become more isolated, not more unified. Think about Catholicism itself. We have folks who insist that they are Catholic, while holding views that are diametrically opposed to Church teaching. Depending upon what one’s idea of “Catholic” is, is it safe to say we experience about a 50/50 split?  We are not very unified; and not very effective evangelizers for Christ. 

Fragmentation within any environment is counterproductive and ultimately destructive.

Regardless of the human system under consideration, be it a democracy, a constitutional republic, socialism, oligarchy, dictatorship, whatever, it won’t work when the people involved are divided from each other. Division among people was railed against by Jesus, Paul, the Apostles and disciples of Christ, and the prophets of old. Division is the primary work of the Devil, Diabolos, the Divider. Separating the members of the Body of Christ is a most effective way of killing them off. They end up stranded, without vital support.

Approaching another general election is not a time for Catholics to fall in line with partisan politics and to circle their political wagons. As far as I know, the last five elections were “the most important elections in the history of the country!” So, relax, this one probably won’t be. Yet, even at that, it is an opportune time for us to reassess our Catholic standing. The weight of our voting decisions is considerable. We are picking people to rule over us, whether we like to think in those terms or not. For professed Catholics, who commit to live as Jesus commands, who we choose to rule us makes a difference.

Society is only as good as the ability of the people within it to get along. Jesus has given us the definitive and exclusive way for people to live together successfully – himself. Jesus Christ must always come first. The political system, the party, the promises, the personalities cannot take precedence. When the system is king, it is guaranteed to fail – every time. Christ is King. We are his people, his Church. If we remember who we are, we will truly live.

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Bob

rvoiland@sjascs.org

16) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

Fr. Mike Reacts to Olympics “Last Supper”

Perhaps you’ve heard about the blasphemous debacle that occurred during the Olympics opening ceremonies, when a scandalous parody of the Last Supper was broadcast around the world. Christian media voices across the internet (and Catholic leaders around the world) have responded with the condemnation that the “performance” deserves.

But Fr. Mike has what he hopes is a bit of a fresh take on the situation, as well as something that you and I can do today in direct response to this—and all other—blasphemy.

I posted this video from Fr. Mike a few weeks ago, but I'll keep it here for a few more weeks because it gives a great introduction (only 10 minutes long) to understanding the WHOLE Bible so you can then understand its many parts.

17) Words on the Word: August 11, 2024 - Let There Be Peace

At first blush, it may seem like a political discussion, but it’s much more profound than that. The unfortunate events of a few weeks ago, in which a well-known politician was almost assassinated while giving a speech, certainly captured the attention of America. Regardless of where anyone stands on the political spectrum, everyone of goodwill can – or at least should be able to – agree that violence is never an answer for anything.

A national news website did a thoughtful analysis of the aftermath of the events, reviewing similar situations throughout our national history and concluding that the events in Pennsylvania last month were almost foreseeable.

“Political violence is rarely random,” the story suggested. “In fact, those who study the subject most assiduously have been warning Americans for years that threats of violence are escalating.”

That is a particularly sad state of affairs, to be sure. And the coming months and years – throughout election season and into the next presidential administration and beyond – will no doubt be tense for citizens of all political stripes. 

And we should pray for peace. 

Again, though, it’s not only in the political arena. It’s equally important to seek peace on our playgrounds and in our neighborhoods. In our workplaces and in public places. For people of all political backgrounds, all races, all creeds, all “everything.”

“All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice,” we hear in today’s second reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians. “And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.”

The prayer of St. Francis famously articulates the sentiment that peace needs to begin with each one of us, individually. May it be so, in America and beyond, now and in the future.

© 2024 Words on the Word

18) This WEEK on FORMED:

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:

• 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.



19) 52 Stories: Good News from Spirit Juice Studios

Prepare to be Inspired

Spirit Juice Studios is blessed to work with countless Catholic organizations, dioceses, parishes, and schools. We get to help them tell their powerful stories about all the good stuff that is happening within the Church. Sign up for 52 Stories so we can share them with you! You’ll meet the unsung heroes of the Catholic Church, discover the stories of holy women and men around the world, and witness miraculous moments of God’s grace in everyday life.

In a world full of bad news, these stories will give you 52 reasons to believe that God is working through the Catholic faith to transform lives through His love and mercy. Sign up today!

Soul Of A Champion

This powerful documentary tells the incredible career and inspiring life of Gil Hodges, a baseball legend who was one of the greatest first basemen to play the game. Although he helped win world championships as a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers and as manager of the 1969 New York "Miracle Mets," Hodges is still not enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

From his upbringing in rural Indiana to his WWII military service, from his illustrious baseball career on two coasts to his devoted family life as a husband and father, this documentary will introduce you to a true hero who deserves to be honored among baseball’s most significant.

20) Hallow App:

21) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, August 12, 2024, Weekday, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious (Green/White)

7:00 am: John G. Champine 

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Weekday, Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs (Green/Red)

7:00 am: Mary Lou Racine

Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Saint Maximillian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr; Vigil Mass the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (Red)

7:00 am: Barbara Grix

7:00 pm: For the Intentions of St. Joan of Arc Parishioners

Thursday, August 15, 2024, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (White) 

7:00 am: The living and deceased members of the Rogier and Dettloff Families

12:00 pm: Josephine Lucchese

7:00 pm: George J. Bugarin

Friday, August 16, 2024, Weekday, Saint Stephen of Hungry (Green/White)

7:00 am: Marie Champine

Saturday, August 17, 2024, Vigil for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

4:00 pm: Edward, Helen & Henry Blind, Bonnie Batche, the deceased members of the Hage Family, Eugene Dombrzalski, Joan Weber, Dr. Lori Karol, Martin Krall, Pat Boehm, Jack VandenBoom, and Special Intentions for the Thomas Family, the J. Champine Family, Alison Reslow and for Tom and Diana Ziolkowski

6:00 pm: Rosemary Schenden

Sunday, August 18, 2024, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

8:00 am: The Intentions of SJA Parishioners

10:00 am: Susan Olson & Russell Shortreed

12:00 pm Casey Zaranek, Lewis F. McQuillan, Dick Lightbody, Thomas Murray, Helen Haamen Special Intentions for Alison Reslow & Ray Dinser

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

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (August 12)

7:00 AM - Mass

Tuesday (August 13):

7:00 AM - Mass

Wednesday (August 14):

7:00 AM - Mass

7:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (August 15):

7:00 AM- Mass

12:00 PM - Mass

7:00 PM - Mass

Friday (August 16):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Jose Bernardo (Read Obituary HERE)

Saturday (August 17):

10:00 AM - Funeral for Laurice Elizabeth Azoury (Read Obituary HERE)

12:30 PM - Baptism of Charlotte and Louise Bush

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (August 18):

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.

23) SJA's Latest Parish Bulletin

Click on the image below

to download a copy of the bulletin

for August 11, 2024

24) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

25) Detroit Catholic