Week of February 11, 2024

1) Ash Wednesday

As we start the great season of Lent on Wednesday, consider joining us at one of our three masses scheduled for Ash Wednesday. While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, many like to attend mass on this day as a great way to jumpstart their Lenten journey.

Our Mass schedule for Ash Wednesday is as follows:

Masses:

7 AM

12 PM

7 PM

Please note that there will NOT be a 6:00 PM mass on Ash Wednesday. The only evening mass will be at 7:00 PM.

The Church will be open for private prayer and reflection beginning at 10 AM until the start of the 7 PM Mass. Handouts with the readings of the day and for private reflection will be available. Visitors will then be able to receive ashes from one of the priests or deacons who will be present.

We will also be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 4:30 PM until 6:50 PM.

2) Ash Wednesday Fasting and Abstinence Obligation:

Please remember that Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence. Those who are 14 years old and older are obliged to abstain. The fasting obligation is obligatory for persons age 18 until and including their 59th birthday

3) A Reflection on Lenten Fasting:

By Rev. Daniel Merz

In the early Church and, to a lesser extent still today, there were two fasts. There was the “total fast” that preceded all major feasts or sacramental events. The ancient name for this fast was “statio” from the verb “sto, stare” to stand watch, on guard or in vigil. The second fast was a fast of abstinence from certain foods, e.g., meats or fats. This was more an act of self-discipline and self-control. The statio fast was total and a means of watching and waiting…i.e. for something. The fast of abstinence was more general and personal, to help oneself be more disciplined or self-controlled. The total fast is still kept today prior to reception of Holy Communion. Following Holy Communion, the total fast ceases because Jesus had explicitly stated that we don’t fast when the bridegroom is here, in other words, what we’re keeping vigil for has arrived, the wait is over. On the other hand, the fast of abstinence was allowed on Sundays because the continuity of abstinence can be important for it to be effective.

These initial observations, then, teach us that the Eucharist is always the end of a preparation. It is always the fulfillment of an expectation. In the Orthodox Church during Lent, they have Eucharist only on Saturday and Sunday. But because Wednesdays and Fridays are total fast days, those two days are also days for the Communion service (Liturgy of the PreSanctified) which are held in the evening, i.e., after the day of preparation. Fasting is always preparatory.

But how did fasting become such an important means of preparing for the Eucharist and of learning virtue through self-discipline? Christian fasting is revealed in an interdependence between two events in the Bible: the “breaking of the fast” by Adam and Eve; and the “keeping of the fast” by Christ at the beginning of his ministry.

Humanity’s “Fall” away from God and into sin began with eating. God had proclaimed a fast from the fruit of only one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17), and Adam and Eve broke it. Fasting is here connected with the very mystery of life and death, of salvation and damnation. Food perpetuates life in this physical world, which is subject to decay and death. But God “created no death.” (Wis. 1:13) Humanity, in Adam and Eve, rejected a life dependent on God alone for one that was dependent rather on “bread alone.” (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:4) The whole world was given to man as a kind of food, as a means to life, but “life” is meant as communion with God, not as food. (“Their god is their belly.” Phil. 3:19) The tragedy is not so much that Adam ate food, but that he ate the food for its own sake, “apart” from God and to be independent of Him. Believing that food had life in itself and thus he could be “like God.” And he put his faith in food. This kind of existence seems to be built on the principle that man does indeed live “by bread alone.”

Christ, however, is the new Adam. At the beginning of his ministry in the Gospel of Matthew, we read, “When He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He became hungry.” Hunger is that state in which we realize our dependence on something else—when we face the ultimate question: “on what does my life depend?” Satan tempted both Adam and Christ, saying: Eat, for your hunger is proof that you depend entirely on food, that your life is in food. Adam believed and ate. Christ said, “Man does NOT live by bread alone.” (Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:4) This liberates us from total dependence on food, on matter, on the world. Thus, for the Christian, fasting is the only means by which man recovers his true spiritual nature.

In order for fasting to be effective, then, the spirit must be a part of it. Christian fasting is not concerned with losing weight. It is a matter of prayer and the spirit. And because of that, because it is truly a place of the spirit, true fasting may well lead to temptation, and weakness and doubt and irritation.

In other words, it will be a real fight between good and evil, and very likely we shall fail many times in these battles. But the very discovery of the Christian life as “fight” and “effort” is an essential aspect of fasting.

Christian tradition can name at least seven reasons for fasting:

1. From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.

2. For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.

3. Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.

4. Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the truest of foods.

5. Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)—for the reception of grace.

6. Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.

7. Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.

This article draws in part on the writings of Alexander Schmemann, “Notes in Liturgical Theology,” St. Vladimir’s Seminary Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 1, Winter 1959, pp. 2-9. 

Rev. Daniel Merz is a former Associate Director of the USCCB Divine Worship office. 

This article was originally published on usccb.org. 

4) Lenten Challenge

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AT MASS?

There are things the priest does, the things each one of us does, and the things we do as a community. 

And then, there is what God does, what he really does… 

Starting on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, join us for a daily trivia game to dive deeper into the Mass — turning learning into an adventure!

Join the challenge, play the daily trivia, and explore the Mass together!

5) Six Lenten Reads to Transform Your 40 Days

By Jane Scharl of Unleash the Gospel

The holy season of Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until Maundy Thursday—40 days, or approximately six weeks, of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Lent is a time to meditate on the frailty of the human condition, on our sin and our need for redemption and on the incredible love God showed in sending his son Jesus to die for us.

Even though Lent begins with the words “dust you are and to dust you shall return,” it is a season of transformation, one in which we contemplate our own death—both the spiritual death of bondage to sin and the physical death awaiting us all—in preparation for the stunning reversal coming on Easter, when the death of Christ becomes the instrument of our eternal salvation.

Here are six readings—ranging from poems to fairy tales to devotional literature—to help guide you through the season. They are organized here to build on each other, but of course, feel free to choose one or two instead of tackling all six.

Click HERE to Read More

6) World Marriage Day Dinner - Sunday, February 18, 2024

7) At His Feet: Women in Scripture - Monday, February 19

8) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

9) Holy Hour on Thursdays

10) This Sunday's Readings: February 11, 2024 - The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

In this week’s video for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jeff Cavins reflects on the Sunday Readings and makes a compelling case for walking in holiness:

First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 11

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1

Alleluia: Luke 7:16

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

12) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Reaching Out to the Lepers



Friends, this week, our Gospel is the marvelous passage from Mark about Jesus curing a leper. These moments of healing stayed so deeply in the imaginations of the first Christians. What do we make of this particular healing of a leper? Let’s look at it from three angles: life on the margins of society, the shame of our own sin, and the absence from right worship.

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

Bust that Balloon! A few weeks ago, my mom wanted me to install this lovely wall lamp she originally bought for the Great Room but decided to put it in the Guest Room. It’s been sitting in a box in a closet since she moved back into the condo. Thankfully, it could either be hard-wired into the wall or wired with a cord that went through a metal rod hanging down from the lamp. While I would have tackled the in-the-wall wiring, I was thankful my mom opted for the external through-the-rod cord option.

After working it out with my mom on where she wanted the lamp, I made my little pencil marks on the corners of the lamp’s base. While holding the lamp for my mom to approve of its location, it slipped a little from my hands and made these “lovely” and rather noticeable scratches and marks on the wall. My mom gasped somewhat, knowing I had now messed up the wall. I thought to myself, “This is what you get when you ‘hire’ me!” One of my sisters is fond of saying, “Yeah, Mike’s projects usually turn out great, but he creates some extra holes along the way.”

Once I secured the lamp to the wall, I turned my attention to the marks I left behind. I used to rely on those Mr. Clean sheets or sponges until those got me in trouble because they removed too much paint. Now, I rely on paper towels and hand soap. Thankfully, with my new emergency tools, I was able to clean up those marks without too much visible evidence they were there.

After the lamp was up and functioning, I called my mom into the room. I was pretty happy with my work and wanted to know what she thought. “Looks great,” she said. Then, with a smile and some laughter, she said, “It only took TWO years.” UGH! Go ahead, pop my balloon. I rolled my eyes and said, “Two years isn’t all too bad for items on THE LIST.” And then I thought, “What do you want done next? I’m booking two years from now.”

The Spiritual Consequences of Living a Hurried, Busy Life (Part TWO): Last week, I began sharing some quotes and insights from an excellent article by Frank Powell several years ago entitled, “7 Spiritual Consequences of Living a Hurried, Busy Life.” The article was spot on regarding what happens to us when we live such busy lives. You will not be too surprised by his list.

1) A hurried life destroys your relationship with God. It’s no secret that building a relationship with God requires stillness, attentiveness, and what I consider to be the key to all prayer: silence. “Jesus frequently removed himself from the world. He spent time alone in prayer and solitude. And in these moments, Jesus received the strength to fulfill his mission, the confidence to continue his mission, and the wisdom to discern the ways of God from the ways of the world. Unless you spend extended periods of time alone with God through prayer, solitude and Sabbath, the speed of the world will skew your understanding of God. Anxiety, unrest and discontentment will hover over your life like a dark storm cloud. As Psalm 46:10 says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’”

Yes, when you look at the life of Jesus, no matter how busy he was, he ALWAYS took time for prayer and to build his relationship with the Father. Not only did he take time regularly to pray, but he also went off by himself to pray during all the critical times and actions in his life. We see examples of this from the very start of his public ministry. Following his baptism by John, Jesus went off into the desert to fast and pray and thus prepare himself for the temptations that the Evil one would start throwing at him. When he heard of the death of John the Baptist, he “withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself (Matt. 14:13).” After feeding the thousands, he dismissed them, sent the apostles off by boat, and then went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Saint Mark tells us (Mark 1:35), “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.”

Yes, prayer was an essential part of Jesus’ daily life. We need to follow his example. No matter how busy we are, how much is on our plate, or how many people are looking for us or have expectations for us, we need time to be still and sit in the quiet presence of God … even if it means rising very early before dawn and before the busyness of the day. It’s in that quietness that GOD speaks to US! Do you take time to be still with God? Do you take time to be in the presence of God in silence? Do you let God talk to you?

Ash Wednesday: Wait a minute! Ash Wednesday? Already? Yes, folks, this coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, we follow our holy day mass schedule (except for the vigil mass) because so many people like to begin their Lenten journey with the celebration of Mass. We will have Masses on Ash Wednesday at 7:00 a.m., 12 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Distribution of ashes will take place during each of these liturgies and throughout the day.

If you visit the Church during the day, you will be greeted by me, Fr. Adam, Fr. Rich, Deacon Tom, or Deacon Dom, who will be present for the distribution of ashes. In addition, we will have flyers with the readings of the day and material for further reflection to help you “kick start” your Lenten journey.

Please remember that Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence. Those who are 14 years old and older are obliged to abstain. The fasting obligation is obligatory for persons aged 18 until and including their 59th birthday.

Concerning fasting, here’s a blurb from one of my favorite Catholic websites, bustedhalo.com: “The Catholic Church, our Mother, His Body on earth, is a very wise mother. She knows we aren’t perfect. She knows we struggle. In her wisdom, she asks very little of us when it comes to fasting. The Church officially lays out for the rest of us mortals the minimum requirements that to fast one must be between the ages of 18 and 59 (inclusive) and that fasting involves taking only three meals a day. I guess Taco Bell’s ‘Fourth Meal’ is out. Those three, by the way, should include no meat and that two of the meals together not equal the size of one full meal. Oh the fun I’ve had with this one over the years. Apparently, it’s considered cheating when one’s full meal consists of seven courses. Oh, and the two, count ‘em, two days of fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

“Most of us skip meals all the time. I think it’s only when discipline is attached that we really feel the pinch. This is part of the big picture. We should feel a pinch. Remember, we’re giving of ourselves. The Church also asks those of us over the age of 14 to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (and to perform some penitential act of sacrifice on all other Fridays). God, when does it end?! Trust me, it’s not as hard as we make it to be.”

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

In Christ,

16) Along the Way with Father Adam

Cruising Though Life

Often when things are going well, we might, without realizing it, cruise through life. We fail to live intentionally with and for God. What happens is that instead of cruising, we are afloat on a life raft in the middle of the sea. We have lost our way.

For a Christian, living intentionally begins with living a life submitted to Christ. In Christ we find our identity and purpose. Knowing our purpose is key because our purpose determines our priorities. As we seek God, He will reveal our specific calling and purpose to us. However, as followers of Jesus Christ our main purpose is to bring glory to God by loving and worshiping Him with our lives - all that we are and everything that we do.

That’s where we start. Before your career, financial, and relationship goals can fall into place, you must be intentional in your relationship with God. He will guide you and give you wisdom for your decisions. As we grow in our faith and work to achieve a variety of goals, God challenges us with three significant questions.

1. Are my goals in line with God’s will?

We think our plans should work out because we’re pursuing good things, but good doesn’t always equal God. What you want might not be a bad thing, but it might not be God’s best either. The only way to know is to seek Him. We must learn to lay down our to-do lists, goals, and timelines at the feet of Jesus and ask God to revise them as He sees fit. We ask God to remove what needs to be removed and add what needs to be added. We should no longer want to spend time pursuing anything that is outside of God’s will for our lives. God’s will is always better than anything I could imagine. If God’s will isn’t what you desire, then my advice is to fall in love with God again. Once you realize how perfect, good, and loving He is, you’ll begin to desire what He desires for you.

2. What do I gain from the way I spend my time?

Time. How we spend it matters because it’s the one thing we can never get back. You may think you don’t have enough time to work towards your goals, but often that’s not the case. Like money, we spend our time on what matters the most to us. Also, like money, some of us don’t pay attention to how we spend it. When you look at the time you’ve spent throughout the week, month, and year - how does it add up? Are you better for it? Have you used it to make progress toward your goals, draw closer to God, and love others? Our time can be used selfishly or given generously. An hour a day can greatly enhance your prayer life, and serving an hour a week can show God’s love to someone and change their eternity. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t have down time or relax, but realize that your time on earth has a purpose. Take a moment and consider how much time you spend doing things that aren’t making a difference in your life, the lives of others, or in eternity, and seek God for wisdom on what to change.

3. Have my goals become my god?

We must be careful not to idolize and worship what we’re pursuing. Don’t let the goal become your god. What does that mean? It means the goal should not take the place of God as your source of your joy, identity, worth, peace of mind, or fulfillment. Created things cannot compete with our Creator. They can be lost or destroyed in the blink an eye. Jesus is the only sure foundation; a rock for us to build our life upon (Matthew 7:24-27). If we put our hope in our achievements, we’ll crumble when we fall short. But if we are conscious to keep God in His rightful place as Lord, no failure or shortcoming will be able to shake us.

In a world that says our value is found in what we look like, what we have, and what we do, our faith reminds us that our worth is solely based on whose we are. No matter what you’ve accomplished or failed to accomplish, you are already more valued and loved by God than you can ever imagine.

The Bottom Line

To sum it up in one sentence: The key to an intentional living is living with the end in mind. Whatever you do, keep your eyes on the end goal - Heaven and Jesus Christ. What is seen and experienced here on earth is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). That’s where our hope is rooted, and that’s the source our strength. Life will throw plenty of distractions and temptations your way, but by God’s power you can overcome anything that tries to hold you back from living the intentional life for which you were created.

Blessings!

Fr. Adam

anowak@sjascs.org

17) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

How to Bring Order to Your Life

When you clean and organize a room, you have to ask one very important question first: what is this room for? Once you can answer that, everything begins falling into place.

In order to direct and order your own life, you must ask that same question. What is your life for? What is the primary purpose of the one life you’ve been given?

Fr. Mike proposes that, when you can answer that question, everything in your life will begin falling into place for you. And he might even take a crack at answering that question for you.

18) Words on the Word: February 11, 2024 - Super Sunday Perspective  

There has been incredible interest in the National Football League around here this season, for obvious reasons. It’s amazing the uniting effect a winning football team can have on a community.

But today, Super Bowl Sunday, one might pause and take note that there has been another narrative in the league this fall, a much more important one.

A couple very prominent players have gone on record with their love of God. And while one might say this shouldn’t be a surprise, it is. Especially in today’s environment.

It started with a rookie playoff quarterback mentioning in a television interview that he credits God for providing him strength. A controversy ensued when it was noted the network removed that part of his comments in editing for social media. The quarterback later said many teammates and other league players offered their support.

“I always tell people that it’s not me, it’s him,” the quarterback was later quoted as saying. “There’s nothing I can do to ever repay what the Lord has done in my life, and I don’t want to, I just want to act in what he’s calling me to do.”

That gave rise to another well-known player on another playoff team joining the effort.

“If a youngster flips on the TV and watches me and decides that maybe someday they want to be just like me; I hope that their dream also brings them closer to our lord and savior,” the player said. “We have imperfections. But we must keep the faith.”

And so, whatever happens in today’s big game, maybe it’s more exciting to think about the possibilities created when prominent players take the opportunity to evangelize.

“Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God,” St. Paul writes to the Corinthians in today’s second reading. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

© 2024 Words on the Word

19) This WEEK on FORMED:

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!

A Hero on the Hudson

This episode of Everyday Heroes recounts the heroic actions of the Knight of Columbus and NY Waterway Captain Vincent Lombardi and his crew on the ferry Thomas Jefferson. In January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River. Captain Lombardi and his crew immediately moved to the downed airplane and, in a race against time, worked to rescue the passengers stranded on the aircraft’s wings.

21) Hallow App:

22) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, February 12, 2024, Weekday (Green)

7:00 am, John G. Champine

Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Weekday (Green)

7:00 am, David Ruff

Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Ash Wednesday (Purple)

7:00 am, Hugo Calisi

12:00 pm, George J. Bugarin

7:00 pm, Sally Cabot

Thursday, February 15, 2024, Thursday after Ash Wednesday (Purple)

7:00 am, Gerald and Claire Hills

Friday, February 16, 2024, Weekday (Purple)

7:00 am Dennis Fleming

Saturday, February 17, 2024, Vigil for the First Sunday of Lent (Purple)

4:00 pm, Donald Kowalewski, Tracy Kowalewski, Bonnie Batche, Edward, Helen and Henry Blind, Paula Nagel, Lisa Fikany, Sally, Robert & Joseph Pierce, Frank Addotta, Stephanie Gryebet and Special Intentions for, the J. Champine Family, the Thomas Family, for Alison Reslow, Pam Haisenleder, Lorraine Jonas, and Linda Frank.

6:00 pm, Patricia Williams

Sunday, February 18, 2024, The First Sunday of Lent (Purple)

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

10:00 am Domenica & Serafina DiBerardino

12:00 pm, Joe Serventi, Paula Nagel, Michael & Ann Beaupre, Shirley Beaupre, Douglas Beaupre, Doris Beaupre and Special Intentions for Michael Urso, Alison Reslow, Pam Haisenleder, Lorraine Jonas, and Linda Frank.

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

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (February 12)

7:00 AM - Mass

Tuesday (February 13):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Joyce Baetens (Read Obituary HERE)

Wednesday (February 14):

7:00 AM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (February 15):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Betty Knapp (Read Obituary HERE)

7:00 PM - Holy Hour

Friday (February 16):

7:00 AM - Mass

7:00 PM - Stations of the Cross

Saturday (February 17):

10:00 AM - Funeral for Barbara Goulding (Read Obituary HERE)

12:30 PM - Baptism of Andrew Joseph Amori

1:30 PM - Baptism of Anthony and Gianna Bellestri

2:30 PM - Baptism of Maren A. Van Gorder

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (February 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.

24) SJA's Latest Parish Bulletin

Click on the image below

to download a copy of the bulletin

for February 11, 2024

25) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

26) Detroit Catholic