Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are a few updates from our parish for the week of January 9, 2022.
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With the many changes to the tax laws, itemizing deductions will not benefit as many people as in the past. As a result, many people will not need or benefit from the usual end-of-the-year tax statements normally generated this time of year. Please consult with your tax preparer to determine if you still need a contribution statement from us.
If you need a statement of your offertory, capital campaign, and sponsorship appeal contributions for your 2021 income taxes, please click on the link below to fill out a form. We will then generate a statement for you toward the end of January.
Statements for the CSA will be generated by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
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2) Walking with Purpose Starting Monday, January 10, 2022 |
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Click on the image below for more information or to register. |
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3) The Chosen Season TWO Watch Party Starting Jan 11, 2022 |
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Click on the image below for more information or to register. |
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4) Ascension Presents: Jackie Angel |
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Do You Struggle with Always Being Late?
It’s a new year and maybe you’ve told yourself that you’re not going to be late anymore. 2022 is the year you’re going to be on time…Right?
Today Jackie discusses why being timely is a virtue and how we can combat the temptation to make excuses for being bad with timeliness.
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5) SJA's CSA Update as of January 9, 2022 |
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WE MADE OUR GOAL!
THANK YOU!
I am grateful to those who have already contributed to CSA 2021. As of today, we have $218,603 in pledges and gifts toward our $217,002 goal ($211,983 has already been paid thus far toward our total pledged amount). This amount represents gifts from 592 families (we have 3,285 families registered). We have thus achieved 100% of our goal!
Here is a breakdown by gift range:
$2,500+ (10)
$1,000+ (34)
$500+ (51)
$250+ (111)
$100+ (223)
$75+ (16)
$50+ (78)
$25+ (40)
$10+ (26)
$0+ (2)
As stated above, the easiest way to give is electronically by clicking on the button above. If you wish to give by check, feel free to contact the Parish Center and we will mail out an envelope and related material.
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6) This Sunday's Readings - January 9, 2022 |
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7) Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word - Reflections on the Sunday Readings |
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Jeff Cavins offers his insights on the readings for this Sunday, The Baptism of the Lord:
First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 9-10
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
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8) Grow+Go for the Baptism of the Lord |
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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.
Click on the button or image below to download a PDF copy of this Sunday's Grow+Go.
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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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What Happens in Church, Stays in Church: Whenever I write an edition of TALLer Tales, I often go back and read what I wrote the last few years. It’s fun going back and reading my previous articles. It’s usually a walk down memory lane for that particular time of year.
As I was reading previous articles that I penned shortly after Christmas over the years, I came across the article I wrote following a now-infamous Christmas Eve 4 PM mass experience in 2015. This was pre-COVID, so the place was packed; we probably had 1,400 in Church and another 600 in the Emmaus Hall and Gathering Space. Just as communion was about to start, the fire alarms went off. I froze. I was worried the automatic sprinklers would start drenching everyone on this cold wintery Christmas Eve. I was also worried about the logistics of a fire alarm going off with some 2,000 people on site. There wasn’t a fire, but one of our little 3-year-old “elves” decided he wanted some excitement and walked over and pulled the shiny red handle sitting on the wall. I’ll have to reprint that edition of Taller Tales in my Sunday email because it’s funny to re-read it. The funniest part was hearing the reaction of poor Dave Kesner. Dave was handling the iPad for that Mass. The iPad controlled the HVAC and sound settings. Dave thought he accidentally touched something on the iPad to make the fire alarm go off!
As I read that article, I thought to myself, “Boy, we haven’t had any such excitement at a Christmas liturgy in some time!” Well … let’s jump to Christmas Eve 10 PM mass (or as some say: the Midnight minus two Mass).
All was going well until my homily. In the middle of my homily, this loud alarm went off. There was no way in the world I could overtalk the alarm. At first, I thought it was some alarm in Church, but my mind couldn’t process the sound, so I was coming up with blanks as to what the sound might be. Then I thought maybe it was one of those national or local emergency alerts going off, and soon we would hear many other phones chiming in. When that didn’t happen, and as the noise continued, I looked up to the choir loft and asked if it was the sound system or maybe the organ. Everyone upstairs looked at me with blank stares and bewilderment, which let me know it wasn’t coming from upstairs. People were scrambling, but we couldn’t identify the source. I then looked out into the congregation to see if anyone was scrambling there. Eventually, one BRAVE couple in the middle of the Church raised their hands and signaled they were the culprits. The loud noise stopped, and I was able to get back on track with the homily.
As we greeted people at the end of Mass, the couple approached me and apologized profusely. It turns out she was carrying a personal emergency alert device on her purse that, when separated from the main unit, emits a piercing alarm to draw attention! Well, it worked. The husband told me that he accidentally sat on it when he sat down for the homily. When he did so, the unit separated from the main unit. It took him a bit of time to figure out what had happened and a bit of time to put it back together in order to disarm it. Then they added with some laughter and relief, “We’re just GRATEFUL our grandkids, who go to school here, weren’t with us at Mass. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORTIFIED it was THEIR grandparents who caused the big stir at Mass.” Oh, don’t worry. What happens in Church, stays in Church … unless it becomes a topic for TALLer Tales!
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Remembering: This past New Year’s Day marked the first anniversary of my Dad’s death. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since his death. We gathered as a family at the 10 AM mass on New Year’s Day, then went off to the cemetery to say some prayers at my Dad’s grave. Then my Mom, siblings, and a niece and nephew gathered at 3:33 PM (which was the time of his death) to remember his final journey on earth. We then gathered with our extended family for Mass and our typical New Year’s Day gathering.
It certainly was a day of remembering. As I told my Mom shortly after 3:33 PM, she could rest a bit more easily now that the “year of firsts” was officially over. While you will always remember, that year of firsts is always challenging. It may not get any easier in the following years, but the anticipation of the first birthday, the first anniversary, the first Thanksgiving, or the first Christmas without a loved one can often lead to almost crippling anxiety, which in subsequent years can give way to that attitude that, “Yes, I can do this.”
One thing I enjoyed doing over the last few weeks was re-reading my bulletin articles for the weeks surrounding my family’s battle with COVID and my Dad’s eventual death. There were so many details that I may not have remembered had I not written them down. Yes, the pictures on my phone tell one story, but my columns helped me recall so many other details.
For example, I had forgotten that right after my Dad died, I removed his wedding ring and placed it on my finger. I also had forgotten that my Mom and sisters knew something was wrong because I stopped texting and calling for about an hour and a half. They were trying to get updates on Dad, but I ignored the calls and texts because I wanted us to be together with Mom when I broke the news. After handling all the details at the hospital and signing all the paperwork that needed attention after my Dad’s death, I returned to Regency on Mack. Before leaving the hospital, I called my siblings and asked them to gather at the window of my parents’ room (we were still in the height of COVID and not allowed inside). When I walked into the room (they let me in) to tell my Mom that my Dad had died, my Mom and one of my sisters immediately caught that I was wearing my Dad’s wedding ring. They didn’t need to hear the news. The fact I was wearing his wedding ring told the story of what happened at the hospital.
I always encourage families when I walk with them through a funeral or tragic event that they need to sit down shortly after the experience and put into writing some of the details of the days and the events leading up to the funeral or tragic event. There’s something therapeutic about writing. It’s one thing to type it up; it’s another to put the words on paper in your own handwriting. Recalling the vivid events and memories shortly after they happen memorialize those details in such a way that those details (which otherwise would get forgotten over the years) help retell the story with greater crispness for years to come.
As we begin this New Year, what events or memories do you have of the past year that should be committed to paper? Please do yourself a favor and take the time to recall those events or memories and write them down. You’ll be grateful you did because those memories will remain crisp and vivid for decades to come because of those saved details!
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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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Encounter With God’s Grace:
My friends and I truly believe in the importance of sharing our moments of grace—the times when we clearly recognize that we have been gifted with the consolation of knowing that the Holy Spirit has acted and been present to us. We share these with each other, even if it’s just in a text at the end of the day, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share one here too.
It occurred shortly before Christmas. I had been thinking to myself for a few weeks already that I needed to get out to see an elderly priest I had not seen for a while. With one thing and another, it hadn’t happened. Then one day, I was in the office in the middle of the afternoon, his face came to mind and like a voice saying, “Call him now!” I’m not too quick on the uptake at times, but I’m getting better at learning to hear these promptings as purposeful. I’m learning to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. On this occasion, I did not question or second-guess His prompt. I immediately picked-up the phone and called Father. He’s in his mid-90s and lives in an assisted living facility and I did not necessarily expect him to answer. But answer, he did.
“How are you, Father?” I asked. “Confused,” he said. I recalled that he’s not a young man… (no offense to anyone with a similar degree of wisdom and experience as him. I fully expect myself to be confused if I make my mid-90s. It happens often enough now!)
“You’re confused?!” I said, “What are you confused about?” “I’m moving!” Father said. “You’re moving? Oh, I was going to come and see you. Maybe I could wait until you settle in and then come visit. When are you moving?”
“Now!!” Father said, “This afternoon!” “Okay, well maybe after Christmas then?”
“You can come right now!” “Oh… okay, Father, I’ll be right there.”
So I headed out to see him and when I arrived, found this elderly man sitting by the window in his room, hidden behind a 5ft high pile of boxes and with 5 moving people milling around.
I greeted him with a smile and almost immediately he said, “Father, would you hear my confession. It’s been about two years.” “Absolutely, Father!” I said and I kneeled down beside his chair to get on eye-level and within earshot.
Here is this elderly priest, ordained almost 70 years ago, confessing to this 4-year baby priest. Although he is a priest with far more work and ministry under his belt than me, it was a very humbling moment for me; still, he was just another Christian disciple recognizing his need for God’s mercy and grace. Being a priest certainly does not take away even one ounce of our need for the Lord’s grace.
After confession, Father explained to me that he’d been at the same residence for six years now, but it was too expensive to stay so he was moving a little further away. He smiled and said, “Six years… and I’ve never used the pool. I don’t even own a bathing suit!”
He told me of his sadness that so many of the priests he knew had now passed away.
I had brought the Eucharist to him and so we prayed and he received Jesus. Then we talked a little more and I promised I’d come and see him at his new home. As I was about to leave, I went to shake his hand and Father took my hand and squeezed it tight. As he did, he began to say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His mercy is everlasting.” I recognized that he was reciting Psalm 107. Then Father began to sing this psalm refrain as he smiled at me, so I joined in singing as I held his hand, still kneeling beside him. It was such a joy to see his joy. He knew he had received the grace and mercy of God in the sacraments, and I knew it had been the Holy Spirt that had prompted me to visit that day.
I got to my feet, said goodbye and left the room, shaking a little because I’d been kneeling awkwardly for a quite a while. I took the elevator to the main floor and reached the door of the building, where I met a couple who are St. Joan parishioners. They’ve moved away, but had come to visit a friend at the home. I mentioned that I’d seen Father and that he was moving today. They know him, so before leaving, they headed up to see him too. A second visit today!
That night at the Faith Formation confirmation class, we were watching a video presentation by a Dominican nun who was talking about the sacraments and specifically about the sacrament of Holy Orders, telling the kids that “priests, deacons, bishops are these amazing people called by God to serve Him.” I told the kids that I didn’t recognize myself in that description. The truth is that we are no more “amazing” than you. We are simply ordinary Christian sinners like anyone else, trying to live the life of a disciple within a specific call to service, and very much in need of God’s grace and mercy to do so. And I told them about my visit that day to see Father—that we recognize our need for the sacraments and for God’s healing like anyone else, whether a teenager 14-years old, or a 90-something year old priest.
Baptism of the Lord: Today we hear in the Gospel of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Even Jesus allowed another to minister to Him. It was certainly not because He had any need for cleansing of sin. He was not in need of grace or mercy, but He showed us by His example how to seek Him. He took the ritual of John and turned it into a sacrament that would open for us our entry into God’s family, as adopted sons and daughters. Jesus was revealed to all in that moment as the anointed one, the chosen one of God and even more powerfully, the beloved son of God.
Do you remember this daily? That we have been adopted by God as His beloved sons and daughters. Do you truly see yourself that way…? You are a beloved son or daughter of God. He loves you! No matter what…. You are His beloved. Ponder that today.
Jesus, with no sin to wash away, climbed down into that river to be washed and to initiate His ministry, that would lead to the cross, as a means of paying about our sinful ways. Then He was resurrected, ascended into Heaven and He sent us the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, to stand in His place, ever-present to us to plead our cause to the Father and to defend and help us in this battle called “life.”
When the Holy Spirit is prompting you, listen to Him! Someone else may be waiting for the mercy and grace of God to become present to them through you. And by responding, have no doubt that your day will be blessed.
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You are in my prayers this week.
Fr. Andrew
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12) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz |
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Forgiveness is Not the Same as Reconciliation
Have you ever heard the expression, ‘To err is human; to forgive, divine?’ Surprisingly this well-known phrase does not come from the Bible but a poem by the English poet Alexander Pope.
Today, Fr. Mike shares some great insights into the process of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration and how God offers all three stages to us in the Sacrament of Confession.
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13) Words on the Word: January 9, 2022 - Sober Truth
The forecast for January is looking a little drier than December.
A movement called “Dry January” has grown in popularity over the last several years. Participants refrain from alcoholic beverages during the month immediately following the holidays, when it is recognized that so many overindulge.
One bit of publicity for the movement lists several benefits, including better sleep, less money spent, an ability to lose more weight, and even in some cases a propensity to drink less come February.
Those are all noble goals, to be sure.
Another might be reduced likelihood that one will drink and drive, which is beneficial to oneself and society.
Local media recently covered federal legislation that will require automakers over the next several years to begin implementing technology that will help to prevent drunken driving.
It’s an outgrowth, among other things, of an effort by a local woman who lost her sister and brother-in-law and their three kids when they were driving home from a trip to Florida. The tragedy took place in Kentucky where another driver, alleged to have been drinking, hit them head on. He also died.
All of these are terrific reasons to be reasonable in the amount of alcohol an adult chooses to enjoy. Being responsible is, after all, prudent and loving.
Here’s another reason. Doing so may clear our minds and help us to focus our heart even more on the saving message of Jesus.
“The grace of God has appeared,” we hear in one of the choices for today’s second reading from Timothy, “saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in the age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus.”
© 2022, Words on the Word
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14) The Bible in a Year Podcast by Father Mike Schmitz |
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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.
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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15) FORMED Pick of the Week: |
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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:
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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.
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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.
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17) RSV Study through Ascension Health |
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18) This Week on St. Joan of Arc LIVE: |
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This week's LIVE Stream
Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:
Monday (January 10):
7:00 AM - Mass
Tuesday (January 11):
7:00 AM - Mass
8:30 AM - School Mass
Wednesday (January 12):
7:00 AM - Mass
8:30 AM - School Mass
Thursday (January 13):
7:00 AM - Mass
7:00 PM - Holy Hour (Praise and Worship Music)
Friday (January 14):
7:00 AM - Mass
Saturday (January 15):
12:30 PM - Baptism of Grace Krall
1:30 PM - Baptism of Giacomo Van Joseph Dietz
4:00 PM - Mass
6:00 PM - Mass
Sunday (January 16):
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 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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19) SJA's Bulletin for Sunday, January 9, 2022 |
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Click on the image below
to download a copy of the bulletin
for January 9, 2022
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20) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List |
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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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