Week of August 18, 2024

1) Scriptural Foundations for Catholic Leadership

2) CSA Update

If you have not yet given to this year's CSA, please do so soon. We still need to raise $20,064 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) GALA Save the Date - Saturday, November 2, 2024

5) Celebrating Marriage with the Saints of Umbria with Deacon Dom and Teresa

Get a $250 Discount Through August 31

6) 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).

7) Faith Formation Registration

8) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

9) Holy Hour on Thursdays

10) This Sunday's Readings: August 18, 2024 - the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

11) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

“3 Secrets for a Happy Life” + 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this week’s Encountering the Word video, Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary time.

First Reading – Proverbs 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Second Reading – Ephesians 5:15-20

Alleluia – John 6:56

Gospel – John 6:51-58

12) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Really, Truly, and Substantially Present



Friends, we continue reading from the sixth chapter of John, this pivotal section of the New Testament where John lays out his Eucharistic theology. And we come today to the rhetorical high point of this discourse, where things really come to a head. It is the ground of the doctrine of the Real Presence: Jesus is not simply symbolically present in the Eucharist; he’s really, truly, and substantially present under the signs of bread and wine.

13) 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.

14) Giving to SJA:

I'm truly grateful for 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) TALLer Tales

Drivin’ Ms. Daisy to the UP (Part 4: Google Maps Isn’t Always Right): This week’s article continues my “travelogue” of my journey to the Upper Peninsula with my mom in mid-July.

Long before Google Maps was a reality, we bought my mom and Dad a Tom Tom (remember that GPS) for Christmas one year. At first, my dad was skeptical that Tom Tom would get him anywhere, but he grew to like it UNTIL one day when my parents were in Arizona, and Tom Tom wanted them to drive down a set of railroad tracks to get to their next destination!

It’s incredible to think how far GPS systems have come. Even though GPS technology has improved tremendously, you can’t always trust the suggested route.

While traveling through the great Upper Peninsula, my mom and I decided to see Alger Falls after reading rave reviews about it. The description we read was that Alger Falls was located 1.2 miles south of Munising, right along M-28, on the east side of the highway where M-28 and M-94 intersect. So I plugged Alger Falls into Google Maps, and off we went!

As we approached the M-28 and M-94 intersection, Google Maps wanted me to turn left and go up this little hill. Being the dutiful driver, I did as Google wanted. Right away, my mom was suspect about the announced direction to turn left. We ended up turning into a little circle of vacation cottages. The place was new, and each cottage had its own firepit. It was cute. But the cuteness ended when we landed back onto the highway with NO indication that Alger Falls was even remotely nearby. I left the place and continued down the road. Google Maps was relentless and kept wanting me to make a U-turn. I eventually made my U-turn and headed back. Again, Google Maps wanted me to turn into this little vacation enclave. I was getting a bit frustrated but wasn’t willing to give up seeing what was supposed to be a beautiful roadside waterfall.

After a few trips up and down M-28, I finally learned that Alger Falls was literally a roadside waterfall. There was a turnout where only a car or two could park. I only clued into its exact location after seeing a vehicle parked in this turnout that looked like nothing more than a right-passing lane for cars not turning left onto M-94. We stopped and grabbed our pictures.

As I started to drive away, my phone pinged with a push notification from Google that got me chuckling. It read something like, “Did we get something wrong in trying to get you to Alger Falls? Help us get it right.” “YES, you got it wrong,” I wanted to say to my phone or text back in all caps as if Google cared about my response. But then I wondered how Google “knew” it messed up. I guess going in circles several times and going back and forth up and down the same road like a lost delivery truck driver tipped it off. Google may not have been right, but it was smart enough to know it got it wrong!

Getting to Know Bishop Baraga (Part 4): In the past few weeks, I covered Bishop Baraga’s life before entering the seminary and into his early days as a parish priest. As I stated last week, the young Father Baraga was already considered by many as a living saint shortly after he was ordained. His popularity kept gaining momentum because of his holiness and zeal. Father Baraga was also trying to combat the secular and civil interferences in church matters at the time. The government’s restrictions made the reception of the sacraments difficult and infrequent. They banned religious societies and pilgrimages and even interfered with the frequency of the exposition and veneration of the Blessed Sacrament. Those restrictions didn’t stop the young Father Baraga.

After four years at St. Martin Parish, Father Baraga was transferred to a neglected parish along the border of Croatia. Once again, Father Baraga’s determination and love for the Lord allowed him to build up his new parish community. The young Father Baraga was never idle. When not engaged in pastoral work, he occupied himself with reading and translating books into Slovene. One of his greatest works was a prayer book entitled “Pasture for the Soul,” a devotional collection of prayers.

In 1829, Baraga learned of the Leopoldine Society, an organization dedicated to supporting Catholic missions in America. This revelation ignited a spark within Baraga, compelling him to follow a calling that would uproot him from his familiar surroundings and set him on a new course.

Baraga’s missionary dream became tangible when the Bishop of Cincinnati accepted him into his diocese. The welcoming reception from Bishop Fenwick was a very significant milestone as it marked the beginning of Baraga’s formal commitment to missionary work.

On December 1, 1830, Baraga set sail from Havre, France, embarking on a month-long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. After weeks at sea, he landed in New York and then journeyed to Ohio. At first, Father Baraga wasn’t too impressed with what he saw because he encountered many who were lukewarm to the faith or simply people who didn’t want to believe. But he was assured by Bishop Fenwick that the prospect of fruitful work was better among the Indians and that the need for his priestly ministry was even greater there.

Bishop Fenwick traveled with Father Baraga to Mackinac, a place where Baraga encountered the native Indians for the first time. He was deeply moved by their piety, dignity, and devotion. This encounter was a turning point for him, solidifying his desire to serve these communities. In 1831, Father Baraga wrote to his sister, “Happy Day that placed me among the Indians, with whom I will now remain uninterruptedly to the last breath of my life.” And so in Mackinac, Bishop Baraga began his thirty-seven years of tireless priestly missionary work among the Chippewas. He was not just the “Snowshoe” priest but indeed the Apostle to the Chippewas.

More to come!

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

In Christ,

gmb@sjascs.org

16) Voiland's View

Are you happy being a Catholic? It is a question worth answering. It would be rather sad to reach the end of our earthly days without deciding. Certainly, there are those folks who would say, “I don’t know. I was born Catholic and just kind of stayed that way.” Wow. Exciting. It’s like being born in Michigan and never deciding if you like ice fishing or not. “Yeah, Dad took me out on the ice with him when I was ten-years-old, so I just keep doing it every winter. I practically freeze to death . . . and never catch anything. But I keep going.” There is something to be said for maturing and making something our own, or deciding to change course.

Without a doubt, many Catholics have left the practice of their faith. Meanwhile, other people have found a new home in the Catholic Church. The percentage of people in the United States who identify as Catholic has remained fairly constant over the last sixty or so years. Around one-fifth of the country’s population considers themselves Catholic. In the last three for four years, there appears to be a small, measurable decline in numbers, which could indicate a more worrisome trend. Yet, the overall number of U.S. Catholics remains mostly stable. (Pew Research Center) On the other hand, what has changed dramatically is the way Catholics practice the faith.

One glaring example of change in the Catholic way of life is weekly Mass attendance. In 1970, about 55% of Catholics showed up for Mass every week. In 2021, weekly attendance was just over 17% (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA)). Not showing up for an event, especially an obligatory one, is a solid indicator of how unimportant that event truly is in the life of an individual. Another Catholic faith tradition that has fallen away in popularity is marriage in the Church. The number of couples in the U.S. who give themselves to each other in sacramental marriage as Catholics has plummeted from about 425,000 per year in 1970 to roughly 111,000 in 2023 (CARA).

Lastly, religious vocations have dried up. The total number of priests (both religious and diocesan) in the U.S. has declined from over 59,000 in 1965 to barely over 34,000 in 2023. More shockingly, religious sisters have tanked in numbers from almost 179,000 in 1965 to 3409 in 2023! (CARA) Remember when Catholic schools used to be affordable? We can thank the sisters who gave their lives for us to make sure we received a Catholic education without having to mortgage the farm. [You can find interesting Catholic statistics at this website: faithsurvey.co.uk/American-catholic-statistics, which I used in this article. The website collects data from CARA, Gallup, and Pew Research.]

The point here is not to cry crocodile tears over the sorry state of the Catholic Church. In fact, it is not sorry at all. It simply “is what it is.” The point of focusing on the reality of present-day Catholicism is for us to get real ourselves. We need to figure out how we do or do not fit in. Then we need to make a personal, intentional commitment as disciples of Christ, in light of what we understand it means to be Catholic. If we are to continue to call ourselves “Catholic,” we must respond to the Church’s call to ‘get in the game’ and play. Showing up, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, whenever we happen to feel like it, doesn’t cut it. Such a strategy, at best, is largely a waste of time. At worst, it is a deception that risks our eternal destruction. Recall Jesus’ words in the book of Revelation: “I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth” (3: 15-16). Kinda strong, huh?

The hard part about following this train of thought is that you are reading this. You most likely came to Mass, picked up a bulletin, and took the time to read what the priest has to say. Or you might be diligent enough in your faith that you picked up an electronic feed of these words and stopped long enough to read and consider them. That said, a logical response might be, “Look pal, I come to Mass, I say the prayers, I drop my contribution in the basket, I don’t even feel all that good today, but I’m here. The clowns who really need to read your article will never see it. So, give me a break and back off!”

Understood. And well said. But weak. Such sentiments are ultimately a copout. Remember, “from the one to whom much has been given, much is expected.” That would be us. We are Catholic. We are Jesus Christ’s sisters and brothers, adopted daughters and sons of God himself. We don’t get to set back and coast. Rest? Yes. Eternally coast into the sunset? Not a chance.

Our eternal life came at a great price: the incarnation, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. We are the beneficiaries of his sacrifice, not him. Our gain of heaven demands a response. We respond as Church. We live our Faith. So, can we confidently embrace our Catholic identity? Can we invest as much energy in our Faith as we invest in, say, learning all the new useless features on the fifteenth phone we just got? Will we give God a bit more of our time, considering that he is the source of all of our time? Could we actually try to identify a few more things about our Catholic faith that we enjoy, rather than obsess over its human shortcomings? There is a lot to appreciate about the Catholic Church. Leaning into those things makes religion a lot more attractive to those who watch us practice it.

Always in Christ,

Fr. Bob

rvoiland@sjascs.org

17) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

St. Michael’s Lent Starts Tomorrow. Are You In?

Do you feel the call to engage more deeply in the spiritual battle raging around you? Do you want to deepen your prayer life? This might be precisely what you need.

St. Michael’s Lent is a 45-day journey of prayer and reflection inspired by St. Francis of Assisi that runs from August 15 through September 29. Men participating in this transformative practice experience a deepened faith in Jesus and serious growth in virtue.

Today, Fr. Mike explains the essence of St. Michael’s Lent, emphasizing how it helps men prepare for future challenges, experience personal growth, and impact their communities. He debunks the myth that these practices are extreme or unreasonable and highlights their role in balancing personal development and service to others.

Whether you join St. Michael’s Lent or support those who do through prayer, Fr. Mike encourages everyone to consider how these practices can enrich their lives.

Fr. Mike Schmitz invites men to embark on this spiritual journey. Discover more about Exodus 90, which shares similar principles, at https://www.Exodus90.com.

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.

18) Words on the Word: August 18, 2024 - Come to Order

Quite a bit of mischief, it would seem, takes place at public meetings these days, particularly municipal meetings.

Local headlines were made a few weeks ago when the City of Warren officially adopted some new rules by which its city council meetings would be conducted. Among the most prominent changes are prohibitions now on swearing and on personal attacks from the public.

According to a story in The Detroit News, the rule updates were made primarily in response to an incident in early July when a citizen addressing the board made comments related to the deceased father of one of the council members.

An official quoted in the story said that, overall, “the audience over the past two years has ‘continued to devolve’ into attacks of other community members and calling people names.” 

It seems absurd that such rules are being passed, but it seems even more absurd that interactions in the public square have gotten to the point where officials feel the rules are necessary in the first place.

What most people learned early in their childhoods – or at least should have learned – about common courtesy and manners, alas, seems to have been forgotten. City council meetings are only one example, of course, but we’ve all seen this play out.

Which is why the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians in today’s second reading resonate.

“Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord,” he writes. “And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”

© 2024 Words on the Word

19) 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.



20) 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!

Coaching for Christ

After 27 years as the head football coach at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, Bruce Scifres retired from coaching in the spring of 2017 to become the Executive Director of the Catholic Youth Organization of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Bruce believes that now more than ever, coaches are a huge key to youth development and, in turn, play a substantial role in the future of our country. Because of this, he is highly passionate about developing “transformational” coaches who will make a real impact in the lives of the young.

21) Hallow App:

22) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, August 19, 2024, Weekday, Saint John Eudes, Priest (Green/White)

7:00 am: Leonard Mastay

Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (White)

7:00 am: Special Intention for the deceased members of the Calisi Family who died in the month of August

Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Saint Pius X, Pope (White)

7:00 am: Thomas Gillette 

6:00 pm: Robert Bidigare

Thursday, August 22, 2024, The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (White) 

7:00 am: Allen Laturno

Friday, August 23, 2024, Weekday, Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin (Green/White)

7:00 am: Antonietta Mazzella

Saturday, August 24, 2024, Vigil for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

4:00 pm: Rita Pomante, Marion Malloy, Mr. & Mrs. Casimir Wojcik, Thomas Benoit, Eve & Frank McGee, Joann & James Immordino, Pio Alberti, Paul Daudlin, and Special Intentions for the J. Champine Family, the Thomas Family, Andrew Varrasse and Alison Reslow

6:00 pm: The deceased members of the Farley Family

Sunday, August 25, 2024, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

8:00 am: The Intentions of SJA Parishioners

10:00 am: Tina Roberts

12:00 pm Peter Sarra, Lucia & Ignazio Mule’, Katherine Mule’, Margaret & Frank McGee, and Special Intentions for Alison Reslow and William Rauch

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

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (August 19)

7:00 AM - Mass

6:30 PM - Baptism of Vivienne J. Eiswirth

Tuesday (August 20):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Dennis Lex (Read Obituary HERE)

Wednesday (August 21):

7:00 AM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (August 22):

7:00 AM- Mass

7:00 PM - Holy Hour



Friday (August 23):

7:00 AM - Mass

Saturday (August 24):

12:30 PM - Baptism of Lainey J. Johnston

1:30 PM - Baptism of Addison Rae Bonkowski

2:30 PM - Baptism of Giovanni Jesus Latte

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (August 25):

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 August 18, 2024

25) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

26) Detroit Catholic