Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are a few updates from the parish for the week of Sunday, January 31, 2021.
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1) Catholic Schools Week 2021: This week, we celebrate Catholic School’s Week. As a parish, we recognize the value of Catholic education and support our families and school in educating our young people so they can reach their full potential. We acknowledge the vital role of the school faculty, staff, and volunteers in this effort. And we celebrate our students as they learn about their faith and the skills they need in the 21st century.
The week’s theme—”Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”—focuses on the core of Catholic education. Schools are not only communities themselves, they are also part of larger communities, including our parish in Saint Clair Shores, and our nation.
As a parish, we support our school through prayer and resources, and the school, in turn, collaborates with families to develop our children into future model leaders and citizens. The theme also highlights key elements of Catholic education: academic excellence, leadership and dedication to service. These elements are what set Catholic schools apart from other educational options.
Our Catholic schools are part of our future as a Church and a nation. May God bless them and all who contribute to the important work they do on behalf of the children of our parish and parishes across the country.
Click on the graphic below to download a PDF of the infographic.
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2) A Pastoral Note from Archbishop Vigneron on the Word of God Sunday:
A Church alive in Christ is a Church whose members love the Scriptures, study them, pray them, and live by them. As the Archdiocese of Detroit continues to undergo its “missionary conversion,” so that every Catholic may be formed and sent forth as a joyful missionary disciple, I would like to highlight the necessity of turning to the Word of God to equip and inspire us for this task. In doing so, I am taking up the charge Pope Francis gave to the whole Church when he established the Sunday of the Word of God, celebrated annually on the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time: to encourage the prayerful reading of the Bible and greater familiarity with God’s word. READ MORE
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3) New Podcast From Fr. Mike Schmitz, featuring Jeff Cavins: The Bible In A Year:
If you’ve struggled to read the Bible, this podcast is for you.
Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins, guides Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes starting January 1st, 2021.
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
- two to three scripture readings
- a reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
- and guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word.
Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast for Catholics follows a reading plan inspired by the Great Adventure Bible Timeline® learning system, a groundbreaking approach to understanding Salvation History developed by renowned Catholic Bible teacher Jeff Cavins.
Tune in and live your daily life through the lens of God’s word!
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4) The Chosen: The Chosen is the first-ever-multi-season TV show about the life of Jesus. Created outside of the Hollywood system, The Chosen allows us to see Him through the eyes of those who knew him.
The series is incredibly done and I have been mesmerized by each episode I have watched.
Below is the series official trailer. If you are interested in being part of the watch party and discussion group, please click on the watch party flyer below.
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5) Holy Hour This Week: Please consider joining us for Holy Hour this Thursday (also live-streamed) at 7 PM. This week's Holy Hour will feature Praise and Worship music.
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6) This Sunday's Readings - Sunday, January 31, 2021
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7) Grow+Go for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time:
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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. Look for Grow+Go in our weekly emails. |
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8) Sunday Reflection by Jeff Cavins: |
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In this week’s Encountering the Word video for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jeff Cavins shares how the book of Deuteronomy foretold the coming of Christ. |
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9) Giving to SJA: I'm truly grateful for all of your support of SJA during this pandemic. 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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10) This week's edition of TALLer Tales:
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A Typical Family Gathering: As we always do, our family gathered last Sunday for dinner. We were at my sister’s house in Allenton. As our dinner was cooking in the oven (two scrumptious Costco chicken pot pies), most were in the family room watching football while others gathered around the kitchen table. Mom and one of my sisters were in my mom’s room, putting the finishing touches on thank you cards from the funeral. It was a typical Sunday afternoon. The smell of dinner filled the air, and the snack table was full. I’m not sure why we have as many snacks as we do because we all complain we spend too much time grazing through the snacks, resulting in us not always being hungry for dinner.
Eventually, my mom and sister returned to the family room and declared they had finished the thank you cards. While all of this was happening, a conversation ensued about what we were going to do on Friday, January 29 (meaning this past Friday), which marked my Dad’s 85th birthday. We knew we would get together, but what that gathering would look like still hadn’t taken shape. Despite the lack of a formal plan as of that moment, we knew we were going to do a bunch of stuff Dad always loved to do. Now you have to picture a bunch of people in a family room watching football. Some were paying attention to the game; some were not. Some were gathered around the kitchen table while ONE was “grazing” through all the snacks (guess who)! Everyone had their rightful place, but we were certain everyone could multi-task as they participated in the conversation.
After acknowledging we would be doing all things Dad enjoyed, we started tossing out ideas. We knew we would begin our gathering at the cemetery. As we started talking about the cemetery, someone piped up, “But Dad never liked going to the cemetery!” Laughter filled the air. Okay, they had a point. He went to the cemetery when he had to, for example, to help with the annual laying of the grave blankets or to go to a funeral or burial. But it wasn’t his custom to simply stop by a cemetery. Okay, we thought, we’ll stop by the cemetery AND THEN fill the rest of the day with Dad stuff. We all agreed the evening would include some gathering at the condo and food from Leo’s Coney Island. Leo’s was my Dad’s default and absolute favorite restaurant. He loved going to Leo’s or getting takeout from there. It didn’t matter if all he wanted was a plain hot dog or his infamous fish and chips dinner, Leo’s was HIS place, and all food tasted better if it came from Leo’s. Mom decided she would order fish and chips just like Dad would usually do. We knew the evening would also include some cake and ice cream or, even better, the small single serving $1 apple pies he would often get from Kroger. Now, my Dad was a diabetic, but he always knew how to work around his blood sugar readings to sneak in his desserts. And carrying out the long tradition, I’m sure someone will shout out at our gathering what we often heard before dinner, “It’s time to take my BS” (meaning blood sugar reading). If it wasn’t the single-serving apple pies he would be sneaking, it would be a bunch of Timbits from Tim Horton’s. We agreed that the single apple pies and a cake would be on the docket for sure. We also decided we needed to bring a blanket and sneak in a nap at some point in the afternoon. Our Dad was famous for his afternoon naps. SO, to honor Dad, taking a brief nap sounded like the perfect “toast” to him. The afternoon plans were taking shape, and everyone was buying into the great day to “toast” and celebrate Dad and Grandpa on his 85th birthday.
Now that the plans were in place, there was a bit of silence in the room from the gathered crowd (albeit the football game’s noise still filled the air). All appeared to return their full attention to whatever they were doing. In the midst of the silence, one of my sisters (let’s just say for the sake of this article, she was the youngest) who was on the couch and in full ear range of the entire conversation for the last twenty minutes or so, piped up in a loud voice, “What are we doing for Dad’s birthday on Friday?” Instantaneously, complete and utter silence filled the room. Heads spun toward her as if we were a room filled with owls. If the TV could have automatically silenced itself from the roars coming from the football game, it would have. “Are YOU SERIOUS,” many said in unison. “We just spent the last twenty minutes talking about what we were doing for Dad’s birthday,” one of the siblings responded. “What were you doing? How could you have missed that ENTIRE conversation sitting right here in the midst of it all?” She shrugged her shoulders but was still utterly perplexed. “Seriously,” she started to say with a tinge of laughter, “what are we going to do on Dad’s birthday?” We just rolled our eyes and re-hashed the entire game plan for the day. Obviously, someone can’t multi-task! Ah, the joys of family gatherings; some things never change. It’s probably a good thing though she asked, because come Friday, we would have been making phone calls to figure out why she didn’t show up at the cemetery. And she would have been insistent we never talked about the plans. That would have been more embarrassing. Lucky for her, the smell of the chicken pot pie filled the air, and our attention quickly turned from her to dinner. It was time to pray and eat! But I’m sure many of us were still scratching our heads trying to figure out out how in the world she missed that entire conversation!
Catholic Schools Week: This week, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week throughout the United States. This weeklong celebration is an opportunity to highlight the great work and ministry being accomplished in our Catholic Schools. Catholic Schools integrate faith and values into every part of the educational experience. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or in church, Catholic School students learn to think and act according to the mind and heart of Christ. Giving students the resources they need to accomplish the task of thinking and acting according to the mind and heart of Christ is so vital in our complex world.
After my Dad’s death, I was touched by HOW many kids went out of their way in the morning to let me know they were praying for my family and me. I was also touched by the beautiful words shared in the many cards I received from them. As I read those cards and reflected on the kind words the kids shared with me, I remember telling Mrs. Kalich and Ms. Brennan that these small gestures show me how much the kids really get it. It shows me the importance of a Catholic education in today’s world. Catholic schools make a HUGE difference in the faith formation and education of our young people. Thanks for all YOU do to support our great school and Catholic schools in general.
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Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers.
In Christ,
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11) Tire Tracks in the d’Arc |
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Apologies to the Groundhog: This Tuesday, February 2 is Groundhog Day. Every year when Groundhog Day comes around, I start to feel sorry for the Groundhog. I feel like there’s an injustice being done. The whole nation is watching and like the weatherman, he really can’t be wrong, but maybe he isn’t even being given a fair chance to get it right. And even a groundhog might start to feel bad about himself after a while if he keeps getting it wrong.
Maybe the tradition of Groundhog Day is putting an undue burden on the poor sleepy rodent. If I’d been asleep for 4 months and you all gathered outside the rectory and started yelling my name (please don’t do that!) at silly o’clock in the morning, I don’t think I’d be on best form. And yes there is that big crowd of people, waking him up and expecting him to make an accurate weather prediction.
I think the odds are stacked against him even if he had a good nap. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, we are to expect 6 more weeks of winter. But they put him on stage with floodlights all around him! What chance does poor Puxy have with all those lights trained on him, as though he’s an escaping convict?! Of course he’s going to see his shadow! The poor little mite doesn’t stand a chance.
And we live in Michigan – of course winter isn’t done with us yet! I recall one Groundhog Day in the seminary when we had about 10 inches of snow that day. Classes were cancelled, mass was moved from 7am to 11am, we played football in the snow and my formation meeting with Bishop Battersby was cancelled. I ran into the Bishop in the breakfast-line and remarked to him that I liked our new “forever schedule” - that since this had happened on Groundhog Day, I was guessing that this would now and forever more repeat as our new daily schedule and that all this surely meant that I was officially done with formation now? He stared at me for a moment, said nothing, and turned to grab a tray.
Anyway, Groundhog Day is a fun tradition; but since the 4th century, Catholics have placed a deeper meaning on the day that marks 40 days since we celebrated the birth of the Messiah.
Actually, the Groundhog owes his traditional wake-up to Tuesday’s Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, thanks to German immigrants who wanted to keep alive the celebration of Candlemas. Traditionally, Candlemas celebrations would begin in a darkened church with people lighting candles from a single flame – God coming into the world. Around the same date, pagans across northern Europe celebrated midwinter, and the gradual turn towards spring. These celebrations varied widely in their rites, but many of them had a common feature—weather would be predicted based on whether or not the sun was out. When these pagans adopted Christianity, they kept the holiday on their schedule.
Tuesday’s feast marks the moment Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Law, each firstborn male, in pre-exile Israel was to be offered to the Lord in service as His priest. That role had now been given to the Levites. The Law now only required each firstborn to be either be given to God in sacrifice or “redeemed” - bought back from Him. Since human sacrifice was illegal and immoral, all firstborn boys had to be redeemed, which was done by their father paying a priest five shekels.
It’s significant that in today’s Gospel passage, Luke makes no mention of Jesus’ parents paying the priest. Whether or not the redemption rite took place is somewhat irrelevant. The implication would be that Jesus was considered as still being consecrated to the Lord.
There were exceptions to the Law. Not only priests and Levites, but also Israelites whose wives are the daughters of priests or Levites, need not redeem their first-born. Joseph, in this case, was the husband of Mary, and Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, who was "of the daughters of Aaron" (Luke 1:5), and Aaron was a Levite, so perhaps Mary's lineage didn't require her and Joseph to have their Son redeemed. In that case, Jesus was presented at the temple in acknowledgement of his consecration to God. But even if the redemption rite did take place, Jesus remained totally consecrated to God and instead, it’s you and I who are redeemed; not freed from God, but purchased back from a life of slavery to sin. Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives:
"Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being 'redeemed' and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. . . . Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of 'redemption' prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely."
As Malachi, the messenger of God prophesies in Tuesday’s first reading, the Lord has come to His Temple, the Lord whom we seek. And why has He come? The author of the Letter to the Hebrews replies in the 2nd reading: “that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.”
Maybe there will be 6 more weeks of winter, maybe there won’t. But one thing is assured, whatever the weather, the warmth of the embrace of the Lord is here, within His Church, for all those who confidently seek Him. Then like Simeon, may our eyes gaze upon the salvation prepared for us.
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Caught in my trap on Labor Day a couple of years ago and “re-located” away from the tomato and basil plants! He wasn’t as contented to be here as he looked. He had a lot of say about it. Sorry, Mr. Groundhog. It’s a rough life: getting woken-up, being denied your fresh vegetables, and still being expected to predict the weather. Be careful when you wake the sleeping groundhog. He’s hiding some pretty sharp teeth!
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You are in my prayers this week!
Fr. Andrew
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12) Words on the Word: January 31, 2021 – Take It To Heart:
Pop Quiz:
If you knew in advance – maybe even years in advance – that you were on track to suffer a severe heart attack, your likely course of action would be to: A) worry, or B) take action to better monitor your cardiac health and make whatever changes were necessary.
Alas, many folks, if they’re being honest, would probably answer “A,” and even if they answered “B,” would probably find themselves worrying about it to some extent anyway.
A story reported a few weeks ago out of Australia indicated that new studies are showing a simple type of aortic X-ray, supplemented by tools like CT scans, can help find calcification, especially in the abdomen, enabling medical experts to intervene with treatments.
“Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties,” St. Paul writes in today’s first reading to the Corinthians.
He goes on to discuss some of the spiritual mindset differences between single and married men and women, and the ways in which they can direct their energies.
The bottom line, he concludes, is that, armed with knowledge and a strategy, we can be free of anxiety.
“I am telling you this for your own benefit,” the reading concludes, “not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.”
The lesson then, would appear to be appliable to matters of physical and spiritual health, alike. Prudent people do what they can to be educated and armed with knowledge, data and truth, and then, based on what the reality shows, to take the actions warranted to bring about the right outcome.
In other words, to take the knowledge to heart, and to put their hearts behind doing the right thing.
© 2021, Words on the Word
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This week's LIVE Stream
Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:
Monday (February 1):
7 AM - Mass
Tuesday (February 2):
7 AM - Mass
8:30 AM - School Mass (Grades 5-8)
Wednesday (February 3):
7 AM - Mass
8:30 AM - School Mass (Grades 1-4)
Thursday (February 4):
7 AM - Mass
Friday (February 5):
7 AM - Mass
Saturday (February 6):
1:30 PM - Baptism of Christopher Cubba
4 PM - Mass
6 PM - Mass
Sunday (February 7):
8 AM - Mass
12 Noon - Mass
Please note that all of our masses and events can be accessed through the ARCHIVE section of our Live stream page if you are not able to 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.
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Click on the image below
to download a copy of our
Bulletin for Sunday, January 31, 2021
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Weekly bulletin: 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.
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Read the latest from the DETROIT CATHOLIC
Click on the image below.
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