Week of January 26, 2025

1) School Open House

2) Support Wildfire Relief in California

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As wildfires continue to devastate communities across California, we are called to respond with the compassion and generosity that defines our Catholic faith. Families have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their sense of stability. In these moments of great need, Catholic Charities USA is providing lifesaving resources to those directly impacted by these tragic events.

The Archdiocese of Detroit has made a contribution to aid in this effort, and now we humbly ask you to join us in supporting our brothers and sisters in need.

100% of your donation will go directly toward wildfire relief efforts. Your gift will help provide essential resources such as food, water, shelter, and long-term recovery assistance for those most affected by this disaster.

Please consider making an emergency donation today by clicking the link below.

Together, as a community of faith here in southeast Michigan, we can make a meaningful difference. Let us unite in prayer and action to bring hope and healing to those who are suffering.

Thank you for your generosity and care for those in need.

3) World Marriage Day Dinner

4) 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.

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

6) March for Life

From Church Pop:

This is why we march for life!

This year's 52nd annual National March for Life occurred on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Thousands of pro-life advocates attended the historic rally to defend unborn children in the womb.

March for Life attendees shared their experiences on social media and with EWTN. Many shared videos and pictures, expressing their passion for the pro-life cause.

Here's what some people said about the 2025 National March for Life:

A Catholic family from Birmingham, Alabama, tells EWTN how passionate they are about the pro-life movement in an interview at the office in Washington, D.C. The couple first attended the March for Life in 2006 and has attended every in-person March since. They also pray for the unborn after every meal.

Read More

7) Operation REACH OUT

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

9) High School Youth Group

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.

11) Holy Hour on Thursdays

12) This Sunday's Readings: January 26, 2025 - The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

13) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

First Reading – Nehemiah 8:1-18

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 19:8-10, 15

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Gospel – Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

14) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

Friends, on this Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, I want to talk to you about walls and bridges. There is a tendency today to be simplistic and one-sided about walls and bridges: walls are bad and keep people out, while bridges are great and establish connection. But you need both walls and bridges—both identity and relevance, both the Word and the Word proclaimed—to live the Christian thing correctly.

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.

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.

17) TALLer Tales

Reconstruction Update #3: The surgery is complete, and now the recovery begins. I’ve never undergone major surgery like this before, especially one that required so many modifications to my house. I was amazed by all that had to be done beforehand. Unlike packing for a vacation, which I usually leave until the last minute, this experience required much more thought and planning. I’m glad I listened to the advice not to procrastinate!

By last Thursday afternoon, I was pleased with how everything was falling into place. Thankfully, I followed the advice to avoid people as much as possible, allowing me to reach the surgical center on Friday without catching a cold or any of the viruses going around. The last thing I wanted was to delay the surgery due to illness!

My surgery took place at UnaSource Surgical Center on Crooks Road in Troy. I was incredibly impressed from the moment I walked in. People had told me I would be impressed, and they were right.

I was scheduled to arrive at 9:00 a.m., and they took me in right away. I was brought to a room that would be mine for the duration of my stay, both before and after surgery. All the pre-operative tasks were completed quickly because Dr. Fortin was ahead of schedule. When I arrived, my nurse, Linda, introduced herself and mentioned she knew me from my time at St. Blasé Parish. She had also been following our parish’s live-stream and bulletin since COVID, so she was ready for me when I walked in. She also knew my sister Jackie and was eager to greet her and my mom in the waiting room.

Dr. Fortin and the anesthesiologist both visited my room. The anesthesiologist had some trouble with my nerve block, which was unusual. He was kind and patient, but he expressed his frustration with a phrase I often hear at SJA: “It NEVER happens like this. This should be easy.” We shared a laugh over it.

I then said goodbye to my mom, and they whisked me into the operating room. I remember telling the team that I and many others were praying for them. As they positioned me on the surgical table, one of them joked, “Thanks for the prayers, Father, but now we need you to do the ‘Jesus thing:’ stretch out your arms so we can strap you down.” As I breathed into the mask, I heard someone say, “WOW, I’ve never seen levels like that. That’s awesome.” And with that, I was out.

The surgery was more complicated than Dr. Fortin initially thought it would be. He inserted one plate at the top of my foot, eight pins, and fused my ankle to prevent side-to-side movement. I’m currently in a soft cast and will be fitted with a hard cast during my first post-op visit this week. I’ll need to stay off my foot and keep it elevated as much as possible for 8-10 weeks.

Getting home was an adventure in itself, requiring a team effort to get me upstairs to my bedroom. With the help of my mom, Jackie, Lonnie, Father Bob, and Kevin Hendrick, they managed to get me, groggy and drugged, into bed. I don’t remember much of that afternoon, except feeling relieved that it was over, and I was home. Now begins the long recovery and the challenge of managing daily routines with limited mobility for the next ten weeks. This will certainly be a learning experience!

Thank you for all the prayers and best wishes. I truly appreciate them!

Catholic Schools Week: This week, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week across the United States, highlighting the great work and ministry in our Catholic Schools.

Catholic Schools integrate faith and values into every aspect of education. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or in Church, students learn to think and act according to the mind and heart of Christ. Providing students with the resources to achieve this is vital in our complex world.

SJA’s celebration begins on Monday, January 27th, with a mass at 8:30 a.m. I encourage you to join us or watch online as we thank God for the ways St. Joan of Arc School prepares students to think and act according to Christ’s teachings. This week is also an opportunity to thank the outstanding teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents who contribute to SJA School’s excellence.

Please note that our school Open House is on Thursday, January 30th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The event will be held in the school and parking lot between the Church and School. Attendees can meet our teachers and administrators, enjoy food from National Coney Island Food Truck, roast marshmallows, make s’mores, and light a candle in Church during our regular Holy Hour. The Open House is a great opportunity to see the wonderful things happening at SJA and to invite prospective families to experience our school community. Mark your calendars and consider joining us on January 30th. More details are available in the bulletin flyer.

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

In Christ,

gmb@sjascs.org

18) Voiland's View

All of us, at one time or another, feel a touch of nostalgia. We yearn for the way things used to be. “Back in the day, when I was growing up,” we say, “things were ‘better’. Why can’t they be that way now?” Although I have my own moments of wistful memory, I try to snap back to reality as quickly as possible. I always remember how my Mom usually reacted to sentimental memories of childhood: she grew up on a farm not that far from here, in New Baltimore, with an outhouse for sanitary plumbing. Try that one on when it’s ten degrees outside and there’s a foot of snow on the ground. It’s enough to make one think that maybe there is something to be said for modern times.

Beyond the physical considerations, though, our warm memories of the past often come from a sense that things were morally more stable. We feel that we didn’t have to engage in a battle with everyone we encountered. We didn’t have to gear up for confrontation regarding the ethical aspects of every move we’d make. There seemed to be commonly accepted, mostly unspoken rules about how we should conduct ourselves in society: respect the elderly; get a job and earn your own way; wear some clothes in public (even dress up for church!); don’t cuss in front of everyone; don’t tell everyone all of your business; keep your weirdness to yourself; guys are guys and girls are girls; and other, seemingly obvious guidelines.

Yet, even this warm, fuzzy feeling that everything used to be delightfully ordered, moral, and righteous “in the good ol’ days” is a fantasy. In fact, human history rides an endless rollercoaster of moral peaks and valleys. We have nations, societies, organizations, communities, and grassroots groups that have swung dramatically over time (sometimes over centuries-long periods) from being sterling examples of wholesome goodness to only then become corrupted promoters of gross depravity. The best of people, it seems, as the years pass, tend to slide down from shining goodness into the mud of sin.

We presently find ourselves in the midst of yet another fall from grace. God and religion don’t seem to pull much weight right now. Sure, there are pockets of religious vitality evident in our world. But many of us are all too aware of religious gains being overshadowed by a religious exodus. Family members who have maintained a traditional commitment to religion have become disappointed at the exit of beloved family members from the Faith. The genuine power of true faith to make our lives better is being ignored.

To use an automotive analogy, religion used to be the engine that ran our lives, now it is a hood ornament. In recent “good ol’ days” (starting several decades ago), religious practice, particularly in the Catholic Church, was intertwined with everything we did. The Church was always considered in how we raised our families. Child-rearing, education, career choices, family spending, social activities, spiritual growth and sustenance, marriage, athletics, health care, death and dying – were all linked to religious practice. Now? Meh . . .

Nowadays, these major life concerns are commonly managed without any consideration for religious practice – in our case, membership in the Catholic Church. Yes, to include Catholic sensibilities in our decision-making remains an option . . . but just an option. A hood ornament. And if religion is simply an option among options, it doesn’t really matter at all. Options are just that – unnecessary. So, if we can put a smile on Grandma’s face by getting Junior or Juniorette baptized – and it doesn’t take too long – we’ll do it. Or we can let the little one decide for herself or himself if Jesus’ command to “baptize all nations” was actually serious. No need to rush anyone into a relationship with God! The value of religious faith is left for the created, not the Creator, to decide.

Value is a big factor in worldly decision-making. “What am I going to get out of this? If I’m not getting something out of this, I’m not doing it!” There is certainly some sensibility in this attitude. Afterall, there should be purpose behind what we spend our lives doing. So, why “do religion?” What’s the benefit? In the early years of the United States, Catholicism brought Catholics tangible benefits in all of the areas of life mentioned above, like education, socialization, finance, spiritual development, and family support in general. Today, most of these Church-related benefits have been minimized or eliminated due to Catholic women and men turning to American culture for their needs. The only monopoly that the Catholic Church seems to hold anymore is getting people into heaven. Yet, getting to heaven apparently has lost its appeal.

Inhabiting a mansion in heaven is not a priority for lots of people. To non-religious people, heaven just doesn’t matter. Neither does hell. It’s not an issue. The consensus seems to be that if there really is a hell – which means there might really be a God – how could he possibly send us there just because we are idiots? An eternity of torture seems like a bit much for bunch of us clowns who just ‘wanna have fun’. To which the Devil says, “Perfect! Checkmate.”

It's all been said before. All the Devil wants us to believe is that he doesn’t exist. Then we can all simply be a bunch of good-time Charlies and Charlene's. We don’t have to think about the big, obvious questions like, “Why am I here? How did I get here? What does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to love? Who am I?”

“Ahh, who cares? It doesn’t matter anyway. It all makes my head hurt. Gimme another beer and let’s light up a joint. And turn the TV up! Everything will be alright”. . . until it’s not.

We’ve each been given a mind and a sacred spirit, dear friends. It would behoove us to use them.

In Jesus,

Fr. Bob

rvoiland@sjascs.org

19) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

How to See God in Everything, Every Day (and How to Respond)

“It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God, and with fitting honor to acknowledge him.” - Tobit 12:7 

20) Words on the Word: January 26, 2025 - Eat Up!

“Eat, drink and be merry…” the biblical expression goes.

Food and drink, to be sure, have a special place in our lives. It goes well beyond simple sustenance to include celebrations and other opportunities for social interaction.

The Detroit News recently listed a dozen new restaurants across the area anticipated to be opening during the first half of this year, from downtown and Eastern Market, out to Ann Arbor and up to parts of Oakland County and elsewhere. The story included another half dozen spots anticipated for the second half of the year.

Of course, that story, even in the electronic version of the paper, was also surrounded by the usual assortment of bad news. If the story placement could speak, it would probably note that reporting on food and drink in the midst of all the chaos hopefully has something of a calming and centering effect.

It’s an image we see in today’s first reading form the Book of Nehemiah. Ezra, the priest, stands in front of a large assembly of people, reading from and instructing on the book of God’s law. We’re told the words had an unsettling impact. 

But, wait!

“’Today is holy to the Lord your God,” we’re told Nehemiah and Ezra said. “Do not be sad, and do not weep’ – for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 

“’Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord.

“’Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength.’”

It’s a snapshot of the struggles and realities we face even today, and a reminder that God’s perfect plan proceeds through it all.

Our life is meant to be enjoyed, even as – or especially as – we stay focused on God.

© 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.



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!

Street Evangelization

In imitation of the earliest disciples, men in formation for the diaconate in the Diocese of Austin bring the gospel to the streets. In this video, their ministry of prayer, healing, and solidarity with those they encounter is told through interviews and footage of their work.

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.

24) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, January 27, 2025, Weekday; Saint Angela Merci, Virgin and Religious Founder (Green/White)

7:00 am: Special Intention for Dr. Keith Khalil

Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church (White)

7:00 am: Hugo Calisi 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Weekday (Green) 

7:00 am: George J. Bugarin

6:00 pm: Duane Gore

Thursday, January 30, 2025, Weekday (Green) 

7:00 am: Guido Regelbrugge

Friday, January 31, 2025, Saint John Bosco, Priest (White)

7:00 am: Tina Calisi

Saturday, February 1, 2025, Vigil for the Presentation Of the Lord (White)

4:00 pm: Deacon Gene DiCrese, Bonnie Batche, Anthony Marino, a Special Intention for the living and deceased members of the J. Champine Family, the Thomas Family, Prayerful appreciation for the work of the Priests and Staff of St. Joan of Arc

6:00 pm: A Special Intention for Monsignor Mike 

Sunday, February 2, 2025, The Presentation of the Lord (Green)

8:00 am: The Intentions of SJA Parishioners

10:00 am: Jack Accardo

12:00 pm: George J. Bugarin, Rachel Allemon, Tina Calisi

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

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (January 27)

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM: Funeral for Terri Smigels (Read Obituary HERE)

Tuesday (January 28):

7:00 AM - Mass

Wednesday (January 29):

7:00 AM - Mass

12:00 PM - Funeral for Judith Frontera

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (January 30):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Dalton Lingar (Read Obituary HERE)

7:00 PM - Holy Hour



Friday (January 31):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Mark Hawkins (Read Obituary HERE)

Saturday (February1):

10:00 AM - Funeral for Michelina Macioce (Read Obituary HERE)

12:30 PM - Baptism of Brielle Ann Rutkofske

1:30 PM - Baptism of Bennett Edward Haubert

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (February 2):

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 26, 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.



28) Detroit Catholic