Week of January 19, 2025

1) Day of Prayer and Penance for LIFE

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court legalized abortion throughout the United States in its companion decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Since that time, millions of children have lost their lives, and millions of women and families have been wounded by abortion. 


On June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, and we praise God for the great opportunity state and federal legislators now have to protect preborn children. While God, in His mercy, ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand, right now, state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to preborn children. So, great prayer and advocacy is very needed.


The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” The Church directs:


In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.


As individuals, we are called to observe this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and/or almsgiving. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops provides resources to help parishes, schools, families, ministries, and individual Catholics participate in this important day of prayer and penance. 


In addition, the USCCB also sponsors an annual, nationwide novena called 9 Days for Life, which encompasses the liturgical observance of the Day of Prayer. Each day for nine days, a different intention is featured, accompanied by a short reflection, suggested actions, and related information as we pray for the respect and protection of every human life. Visit respectlife.org/9-days-for-life for more information on the annual campaign. 


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2) Rosary in a Year Podcast

If you've ever struggled to build a habit of prayer, this podcast is for you.


In Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, guides listeners in a step-by-step journey that will change the way you pray – no matter where you are in your spiritual life. 


By starting small and adding on over time, listeners will find themselves falling more in love with this powerful Marian devotion, becoming a source of grace for the whole world. 


Listen to discover….


How to build a daily habit of prayer


How to form a relationship with Jesus and Mary


The Biblical foundations of the Rosary


How to meditate with sacred art (visio divina), saint writings, and scripture (lectio divina)


The power of Mary’s influence in your life


…and more.

Learn More or Sign Up Today

3) The Forgotten Faith of Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Preacher Who Put Christianity First

"Before I was a civil rights leader, I was a preacher of the Gospel. This was my first calling and it still remains my greatest commitment."

Every third Monday of January, we remember the great civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. Nearly universally respected, King is particularly commended by secular liberals.


This is highly ironic because King, a Baptist minister, embodied many of the things that secular liberals today dislike the most about “conservative” Christians.


If you actually read what King wrote and said, you might be surprised (or not surprised) to find that he regularly appeals to God, the Bible, and even the natural law. Put any of these words in the mouth of a conservative Christian today and liberals would probably label the person a “fundamentalist,” sound the alarm of a coming theocracy, and silence the person with appeals to an extreme form of “separation of church and state.”


Here are a few examples of what I’m talking about:


1) God’s Word, God’s Will


If you’re not supposed to quote the Bible or reference God in public discourse, King didn’t get the memo.


As a Baptist preacher, the Word of God was one of King’s primary texts. He quotes the Bible in his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” and repeatedly calls for peace between all of “God’s children.” And in his final public speech, amidst copious references to Scripture, he was clear: “I just want to do God’s will.”


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4) New Walking with Purpose Women's Bible Study Series

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5) Operation REACH OUT

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6) Want to become Catholic? Want to be baptized? Do you need to be Confirmed? Learn More about the Catholic Church

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7) High School Youth Group

8) School Open House

9) Blood Drive

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10) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

It's Here: The Bible & Catechism App!


The word of God and the complete teachings of the Catholic Church. Answers and commentary by Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and other experts. Video, audio, and textual commentary. Right on your phone.

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The Ascension App Includes:

The full text of the Great Adventure Catholic Bible with color coding interwoven throughout so you can immediately recognize where you are in the story of salvation history.

The full text of the Catechism of the Catholic Church with The Foundations of Faith color-coding built in.

Every episode of Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz for easy access and cross-referencing with your reading plan and Scripture.

Every released episode of the Catechism in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz so you can easily stay on top of your daily readings.

Summaries, the exact wording of Fr. Mike’s daily prayers, and extra content for every single episode of Bible in a Year.

Over 1,000 commonly asked questions about the Bible with answers right in the text from experts like Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and others.

An interactive reading plan for both podcasts that tracks your progress.

Notes and bookmarks so you can quickly pick up where you left off and write down your reflections and prayers along the way.

…And we're just getting started. More to be announced soon!
Download the App or Learn More

11) Holy Hour on Thursdays

12) This Sunday's Readings: January 19, 2025 - the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

13) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time


Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time:


First Reading – Isaiah 62:1-5

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Gospel – John 2:1-11

14) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

The Marriage of Divinity and Humanity


Friends, we return now to Ordinary Time, and this Sunday, we hear the marvelous story of the wedding feast at Cana from the Gospel of John. It’s as though, as we commence the ordinary liturgical year, we’re meant to see everything through the lens of this reading. The Church sets it up with our first reading from the prophet Isaiah, who speaks of God’s desire to marry his people. Jesus, in his own person, is the marriage of divinity and humanity, and therefore it’s appropriate symbolically that the first of his signs would take place at a wedding.

15) 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.

Grow+Go PDF for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

16) 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.

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17) TALLer Tales

Traveling with Daisy Lou to the Hospital: On New Year’s Day, I needed to visit the “new” Henry Ford Warren Hospital (formerly the old Ascension Macomb) to anoint and pray the Church’s final prayers for Charlotte Power, who was critically ill. Charlotte is the mother of Kathy Kalich, Mary Power, Sue Mackowski, Bev Schiller, and Chris Toporek. The Lord called Charlotte to the eternal kingdom on January 11, and her funeral was celebrated this past Thursday. May she rest forever in God’s gentle and loving hands!


After our 10 AM Mass on New Year’s Day, I helped Father Bob close up the church and then I gathered everything I needed for our family’s New Year’s Day Mass and gathering. Our New Year’s Day celebration is as big as Christmas in our family. We come together for Mass and another great meal, always featuring Chop Suey, to cap off a week of family Christmas celebrations. I really should write about this in a future TALLer Tales, but our New Year’s Day gatherings have been happening longer than I’ve been alive! And, since World War II, the main dish of the day has always been Chop Suey. It’s amazing how this tradition has endured, continuing to bring immediate and extended family together. I can’t imagine celebrating New Year’s Day any other way!


I was scheduled to celebrate Mass for our family at 3:00 PM for the Holy Day. I figured I could manage to swing by the hospital, anoint Charlotte, then continue to pick up my mom in Shelby Township before heading to Allenton. Easy peasy … or so I thought. And since I was traveling with my mom, Daisy Lou was the vehicle of choice!


When I reached the hospital, I was surprised by how packed the ER parking lot was. After circling a few times, I decided to park in an adjoining lot that was “somewhat” marked “Associate Parking.” The sign was faded, the gate was open, and honestly, I assumed it might no longer be associate-only parking. I wasn’t going to be there long anyway, so I pulled in. Out of courtesy, I parked way in the back so as not to bother anyone. Daisy Lou typically takes up two spots lengthwise, but occasionally, I use four spots just to give myself room. This time, I parked along the edge of the lot, trying to be as unobtrusive as a van her size allows.


Once inside the ER, I learned that the trauma area was chaotic, and I’d have to wait. After finding the Power daughters, I sat and prayed with them for a while. Eventually, I returned to the security desk to see if I was cleared to enter. The officers informed me that the charge nurse wanted me to keep waiting. Patiently watching the ER’s organized chaos that day, I stood at the security desk for about 45 minutes. Then, over the security radios, I heard an announcement that made me chuckle. “Does anyone know ANYTHING about THAT Sprinter van parked in the lot? It’s taking up FIVE parking spaces!”


Without missing a beat, I spoke up. “That’s mine!”


The security officer behind the desk immediately radioed back, “That’s the priest. He won’t be here long. He’s just waiting to get back into the ER.” I couldn’t help but hope that Daisy Lou’s notoriety might speed things up and get me back to see Charlotte sooner. It didn’t help right away, but eventually, I was allowed in to say all my prayers.


When all was done, I returned to the parking lot, curious to see how many spaces I had actually taken up. Were they exaggerating? I counted carefully … it was only 3.5 spots, not five! Take that, security team. They’re lucky I didn’t arrive in a semi, or the story would’ve been titled, “The Priest and the Parking Lot Takeover.”


Somehow, I think Daisy Lou might still be a source of conversation at that hospital. Next time, I’ll aim for just three spaces … but that’s as low as I’ll go!

Reconstruction Update #2: By the time you read this, I will be at home starting the recovery process from my foot reconstruction surgery. As I stated at Masses last weekend and as I wrote in my bulletin article last week, I will be “physically absent” for a few weeks; but be guaranteed I’ll be making some “virtual appearances” from time to time.


Most of this week, I’ve been practicing how to get around with my new iWalk device. It will take some getting used to, but it’s going to work. It hasn’t failed me yet, and I’ve tried walking around the house a bit. It does take some work and thought power to make it happen. Besides practicing how to walk with the iWalk, I’ve been prepping my house with all the stuff I need to get around for the next 10 weeks. From knee scooters (I have two), to crutches, to grab bars, to walkers, to raised toiled seats, to a bedside table, to an extra laptop, to foam wedges, to ice packs, I think I have it almost ready. I’ve been worried about getting up from my recliner, but Mary Pat gave me an awesome idea this morning to have someone build a small platform for the chair to sit on! That was easy. I’ve also watched a bunch of videos on walking with the iWalk and learning how to be non-weight bearing for 10 weeks. I still have the shower transfer to figure out because of how small my bathroom is, but I’m up for the challenge.


I have a few days to finish my prep work and then I’ll be well on my way to recovery. Thanks for all the prayers and best wishes. I’m sure I’ll have PLENTY to write about from this experience!


A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life: On Wednesday, Catholics in the United States are asked to observe the day as a day of prayer and penance for life. While the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization returned the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives at federal and state levels, continuing efforts are needed to protect children and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion. It’s mindboggling to think of how many abortions are done each day in our country!


We must continue to pray for a greater respect for human life in all stages, not just during the March for Life but throughout the year. Visit usccb.org/prolife for a wide range of pro-life resources.

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!


In Christ,

Msgr Mike Simple Signature 2

gmb@sjascs.org

18) Voiland's View

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to die to save us? Why would God himself have to take on nasty human flesh, then suffer the horrific death of crucifixion to get us to heaven? Why couldn’t he just wave a magic wand and make everything right? He is God, after all. It’s a great question – one worth pondering at length. I continue to spend much time considering this question.


Church Fathers, and many subsequent theologians, have commented extensively on the need for the Son of God to assume a human body. Their thoughts run wide and deep – far more thoroughly than my limited mind is capable of grasping to any appreciable degree. But one aspect of the explanations that these gifted and wise Church men and women have offered for the necessity of Christ’s incarnation captures me: Jesus came to be one of us because we needed him – not because he was feeling innovative one day and decided that incarnation was worth a shot. He came because he saw us floundering at life and came out of love for us to save us.


We needed Jesus to come as a human, not only to sacrifice himself for our sins, but to demonstrate for us what it means to be human. He literally had to show us how to live because, prior to his coming, no one, from the time of Adam and Eve, had “lived right.” We were permanently broken once Adam and Eve had turned their backs on God. We had fallen from grace. And, without grace, we are without hope.


So, two things were going on after the Fall of our original parents: first, we were stuck with a sinful nature that we could not adequately repair, because of our very fallenness. (We were in a “Catch 22”: we couldn’t fix ourselves because we had forfeited what we needed to possess in order to be fixed: communion with God.) Secondly, we didn’t even know how to be humans with each other anymore. We had rejected true love in exchange for self-love. We had thrown charity to the back of the bus and put egoism in the driver’s seat of our lives.


Many think that the attraction to sin that we exhibit as humans is not that big of a deal. We look at ourselves, and many folks we know, and conclude that we are overall good people. We even hold up some folks who model great humility and sacrifice, and ask how God could ever reject them, if they came to him asking for heaven. “Good grief, how could God ever reject them?! They’re so darn nice!” Or what about little kids? All those little crumb-crunchers who are toddling along or rolling around on the floor laughing? Does God really have to come and die on a cross for them?


Well, think about that for a moment. What is one of the first words that little ones seem to master quite effectively once they start talking? How about, “NO!” And that ‘no’ usually comes at a time when a good thing is being asked of them, but which doesn’t fit well with what they want to do at the moment. Furthermore, concerning those genuinely wonderful, kind, patient, selfless people that we know, (I hate to be the one to break this to you) they sin, too. Sincerely good people have moments of weakness when they give into their worldly desires and think or do things that they should not. This is not good. And it is not something we can morally write off. When we sin, as rare as it hopefully is, we demonstrate that we cannot do this whole ‘life thing’ on our own. Being nice is not what gets us to heaven. Divine life requires divine intervention.


Which brings us back to where we started: Jesus’ coming to save us. Even though Jesus is fully divine – the Son of God – he is also fully human. He knows precisely what we go through as humans. He knows what it means to hurt; to mourn; to be exhausted; to be hungry, angry, stressed; and to be tempted. In fact, given his level of understanding, his temptations were probably far beyond anything we could fathom. But Jesus did not cave. He never fell and sinned. He lived ‘right’ – as a human!


We need Jesus. We needed him to pay the price we could not pay, by giving his life in sacrifice for us. He restored us to grace with his sacrifice. With grace restored, we are once again enabled to live in the way Jesus showed us how to live, with his own life as an example. He came for us – out of love for us. 


This cannot be overemphasized. Waving a magic wand would not have accomplished what Jesus did. Jesus Christ restored our communion with God without making us into “a different animal.” Jesus fixed what couldn’t be fixed by us. In Christ, we have been given back our freedom to choose God as Father. We have been given the ability to love again. To love in a way that only is possible with God’s grace.


Thank you, Father, for sending your Son, together with the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Bob

rvoiland@sjascs.org

19) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

What True Humility Really Looks Like


What does true humility really look like? Some may believe that a humble person must diminish themselves, becoming small or insignificant. But is that truly the essence of humility?


Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a deeper perspective on what it means to be truly humble. He explains that humility actually requires both confidence and honesty. When we speak the truth and live authentically in that truth, we embody the heart of true humility.

20) Words on the Word: January 19, 2025 - Baby Steps

“My baby is about to be born!”


There are probably few things in this world more exciting than that moment. But add a few more words of context, and the feeling might change a little bit: “My baby is about to be born; my wife’s contractions are about a minute apart; we’re nowhere near a hospital!”


That was the situation for a Clinton Township couple a few weeks ago, according to a story in The Detroit News.


Frantic, the husband called 911. The dispatcher notified emergency officials and proceeded to talk the father-to-be through the entire birth procedure. Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly afterward and continued care.


“We are incredibly proud of the composed and professional manner in which (the dispatcher) handled this call,” the Macomb County sheriff said in a statement. “Dispatchers like (her) prepare diligently for instances like this.”


Thank goodness that’s the case because, it’s probably safe to say, most people in that situation likely would be frozen with uncertainty and begin to panic.


Training is a wonderful thing. But it also takes a certain disposition and personality type to take the training in the first place; not just anyone could remain that cool under pressure, training or not. We’re reminded of how each of us has different talents and abilities in today’s second reading from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.


“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit,” he writes. “There are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”


Wisdom, faith, healing – St. Paul spoke of these gifts. Everyone is blessed differently. It takes a village.

© 2024 Words on the Word

21) 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.



Sign Up for FORMED.ORG TODAY ... it's FREE!

22) 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!

Sign Up for 52 Stories

The Road To Sanctuary


In this film, Fr. Anthony Buś, C.R., pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago, recounts the incredible story of how his dream for a sanctuary dedicated to Divine Mercy became a reality through the intercession of Our Lady. Featuring a personal interview with Fr. Buś and beautiful imagery of the sanctuary, the film powerfully expresses the importance of this place of prayer in Chicago.

23) Hallow App:

Are you looking for a one-stop app for prayer and meditation? Look no further than Hallow. Hallow is an awesome prayer app. Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through audio-guided contemplative prayer sessions. The app launched 2 years ago and is already the #1 Catholic app in the world.

 

We have a number of parishioners who are already using the app and loving it (my mom being one of them and she is on the app most of the day). Great for praying alone or together with your spouse/family, Hallow truly has something for everyone, no matter what you are going through (see below for their different content categories).

 

Hallow is free to download and has tons of permanently free content, as well as a premium subscription, Hallow Plus.


To get started, simply click the button above/below to activate your free account on the Hallow website. Make sure to select “Sign Up with Email” when registering. For step-by-step instructions, you can visit this process guide. Enter the code stjoanofarcmi to obtain a discount on individual pro plans.

Activate your Free Hallow Subscription Today

24) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, January 20, 2025, Weekday; Saint Fabian, Pope & Martyr; Saint Sebastian, Martyr (Green/Red/Red)

7:00 am: Geraldine Rogier



Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (Red)

7:00 am: Special Intention for Monsignor Mike



Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children (White/Purple) 

7:00 am: Pedro Silva 


6:00 pm: George J. Bugarin



Thursday, January 23, 2025, Weekday; Saint Vincent. Deacon & Martyr (Green/White/Red) 

7:00 am: Lee Dunn



Friday, January 24, 2025, Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (White)

7:00 am: Catherine Braga



Saturday, January 25, 2025, Vigil for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (White)

4:00 pm: Zenaida DeLeon, Bonnie Batche, George J. Bugarin, Elizabeth Dresden, a Special Intention for the living and deceased members of the J. Champine Family, for the Thomas Family and for the Bommarito Family and Staff


6:00 pm: Joseph Calus



Sunday, January 26, 2025, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

8:00 am: The Intentions of SJA Parishioners


10:00 am: Jeanne Feskorn


12:00 pm Frances Cipriano, Ron Lagodna, a Special Intention for Christine Bugarin and Sr. Marie Delisi


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

SJA's LIVE Stream Page

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

 

Monday (January 20)

7:00 AM - Mass


Tuesday (January 21):

7:00 AM - Mass


Wednesday (January 22):

7:00 AM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass


Thursday (January 23):

7:00 AM- Mass

7:00 PM - Holy Hour



Friday (January 24):

7:00 AM - Mass


Saturday (January 25):

10:00 AM - Funeral for Jeffry Lewandowski

12:30 PM - Baptism of Lorelai Lee Heinemann

1:30 PM - Baptism of Godfrey Bruce McLaughlin

4:00 PM - Mass

5:00 PM - Baptism of Sofia Marie Forrest 

6:00 PM - Mass


Sunday (January 26):

8:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Mass

12:00 PM - Mass


Please note that all of our masses and events can be accessed through the ARCHIVE section of our Live stream page if you cannot watch it live!


We also have our own ROKU Channel. Search for "CATHOLIC" in the ROKU channel store, and you will find SJA's channel. A Fire TV Channel is also available.

26) SJA's Latest Parish Bulletin

Click on the image below

to download a copy of the bulletin

for January 1, 2025

27) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

Sending the bulletin has been greatly received by so many people. If you are getting the bulletin online and would prefer that it not be mailed to your home, please click on the button below to be removed from the mailing list.


At the same time, if you are NOT getting the bulletin and would prefer to get it, click on the same button and ask to be ADDED to the list.



Bulletin Mailing List Form - Requests to be ADDED or REMOVED

28) Detroit Catholic

Read the latest from the DETROIT CATHOLIC
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