Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are a few updates from the parish for the week of June 13, 2021.
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1) Congratulations to Mrs. Kathy Kalich and Ms. Mary Pat Brennan! This past week, we concluded the 2020-2021 School Year. It was quite an extraordinary year. While many aspects made it extraordinary, the fact that Mrs. Kalich and Ms. Brennan are officially retiring makes this a MOST extraordinary year!
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Mrs. Kalich began teaching at St. Jude in 1978, where she taught 2nd grade and then computers. She then moved her computer teaching career to SJA in 1987. In 1990 she moved over to her role as Assistant Principal, where she remained until she became SJA’s 9th principal in 2015. Mrs. Kalich is also an extraordinary person who loves to work behind the scenes. She also puts her ALL into everything she does. Mrs. Kalich is a great example of a servant leader! Not only did she have all the academic qualifications and certifications, but she had the faith and the lived leadership skills to be the very leader we needed during the most extraordinary time of the pandemic. God always puts in place those whom we need the most to lead at the appointed time, and I’m grateful to God for Mrs. Kalich’s leadership. Her leadership skills were not only lived at school, but she was also part of my leadership team at the parish. Her advice and opinions were always profoundly appreciated (and she always took my phone calls even at the crazy hours I would sometimes call). Her compassion and love for the school and parish are unwavering. While there are many aspects to remember about Mrs. Kalich, her leadership during the pandemic where you had to think fast and furious on your feet with the sudden twists and turns the pandemic created, to what she did for the school in establishing and leading the Annual School Gala are at the top of the list. With all the stress and complexities these two aspects alone brought, Mrs. Kalich always accomplished all that she did with great love and compassion … being a true servant leader modeled after the greatest servant leader Jesus Christ. CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS Mrs. Kalich!
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Ms. Brennan’s teaching career started at St. Mary’s of Redford in 1972, where she taught 1st grade. She then moved over to St. Pius School in Southgate in 1974, where she continued teaching 1st grade for 16 years. She finally graduated to 2nd grade when she began her teaching career at SJA in 1990. While most of her time was spent teaching second grade, she spent the last 6 years as our Assistant Principal. Ms. Brennan is an extraordinary person who loves to work behind the scenes. She puts her all into EVERYTHING she does. Whether it was putting out the cones in the morning to taking pictures for the annual yearbook or the end of the year video, to handling lunchtime disciplinary issues, she did it all with ease, great skill, and love. You never had to ask Ms. Brennan if she could help with a project. She has this uncanny ability to anticipate EVERY need at the school, and just do it. No task is too large or too menial. Her great love for the school, the parish, and our mission are unwavering. Her very presence always brought calm. Her sage wisdom and advice were always appreciated. While there is much for which to be thankful for Ms. Brennan’s presence at SJA, her preparing 2nd graders for First Holy Communion to me stands out at the top of the list. I can think of no better person to prepare children to receive First Holy Communion than her. Ms. Brennan exemplifies what it means to be a disciple of Christ; you can have no better teacher than her to lead children to a deeper relationship with Christ. She walks the talk and lives the faith! CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS Ms. Brennan!
So, on behalf of thousands of current students and alumni, parents, and fellow parishioners, I thank you both for the countless ways you witnessed your faith in words and deeds! I’m grateful to God that you both were here during my time at SJA. What awesome servant leaders, co-workers, and disciples of Christ!
If you would like to send a congratulatory card to either Mrs. Kalich or Ms. Brennan, please do so by sending it in care of the Parish Center:
22412 Overlake Street
Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080
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2) SJA School Year 2020-2021: |
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WHAT a school year! As noted above, the last day of school for this extraordinary year was last Wednesday (June 9). I'm grateful to all of our faculty, staff, and administration for the extraordinary ways EVERYONE helped make it such a successful school year.
It was mentioned that SJA not only had the most in-person school days but we were one of only a few schools in the AOD that never closed once. That took a bunch of work, patience, and everyone working together.
Given the extraordinary nature of the school year, it's amazing to see all that we accomplished. Below is the end of the school year video. In it, you will see all that we accomplished in spite of all the restrictions and challenges the pandemic brought! Congratulations to our faculty, staff, parents, and students for making the 2020-2021 such a successful school year! It will certainly be one school year to remember.
And, thanks to Ms. Brennan for all of her hard work in taking the many pictures seen in the video and for editing and producing the video!
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3) Ascension Presents: Fr. Mike Smitz: “Why does God let bad things happen?”
If God is all-good and all-powerful … why does he let suffering exist? Couldn’t he just stop it? If he wanted, couldn’t God just make things perfect?
This is a question that comes up all the time. And here’s the thing: It’s a very good question.
It’s a question that shows us that this person sees all is not right in the world.
You don’t need to be afraid of this question coming up. (In fact, you can look forward to it!)
In this short video, Fr. Mike offers a simple, clear way to answer it.
Watch it now.
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4) Catholic Services Appeal 2021 |
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Dear Friends in Christ,
In St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians, he urges them, "Whatever you do, do from the heart (Col. 3:23)." These words are particularly meaningful since he wrote them from prison, facing persecution and hardship. The faith community at Colossae was facing its own hardships as they strove to live the life Christ called them to whatever the circumstances. Being rooted in the Lord would serve them well as they continued to grow as a faith community, and as the Church continued to grow throughout the world.
The theme of the 2021 CSA is FUEL THE MISSION. The mission is simple, to make Christ's kingdom present in our day to the many people of Southeast Michigan. That mission cannot be fully accomplished unless it is fueled with human and materially resources.
Our CSA goal this year is just slightly more than $217,000. Anything raised above the goal will return to the parish, while any shortfalls must be covered by the parish. Thus, your support is greatly needed and appreciated.
Your gift helps support men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood. It impacts youth, family, and young adult ministries to help people at all stages of life grow in faith. It helps Catholic schools continue to form the next generation of leaders and disciples. It helps our food pantries and soup kitchens feed and clothe the poor. Your gift brings Jesus to Southeast Michigan in a very real and tangible way.
You may have already received a mailing from the Archdiocese of Detroit. If you did so, please make a contribution to the CSA as indicated in that mailing. You can also easily give by visiting: csa.stjoan.church or by clicking on the button below.
Also available at the Church exists, in the bins outside the Sr. Carol Center, and at the Parish Center are general CSA brochures and envelopes that can be used to make a contribution to the CSA.
I'm grateful to those who have already contributed to the CSA. We have raised a little more than $41,575 toward our $217,000 goal. I hope I can count on you to help FUEL the MISSION of all that the Archdiocese of Detroit is trying to accomplish in the name of Christ in Southeast Michigan.
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Archbishop Vigneron's 2021 CSA Message |
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5) SJA's CSA Update as of June 13, 2021 |
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I am grateful to those who have already contributed to CSA 2021. As of today, we have $51,865 in pledges and gifts toward our $217,002 goal. This amount represents gifts from 236 families (we have 3,227 families registered). We have thus achieved 24% of our goal!
Here is a breakdown by gift range:
$2,500+ (1)
$1,000+ (7)
$500+ (21)
$250+ (33)
$100+ (91)
$75+ (6)
$50+ (25)
$25+ (19)
$0+ (27)
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) Save a Life - Contact Congress to SAVE the Hyde Amendment |
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WHAT
Congress is trying to force Americans to pay for abortion.
HOW
The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century.
WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIONS?
Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion.
TAKE ACTION
Sign the petition to Congress!
PETITION
Save Hyde. Save lives.
Taxpayer dollars should NOT pay for abortion.
The majority of Americans agree with this - both Democrats and Republicans.
For 45 years, the Hyde amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from being forced to pay for elective abortion.
The Hyde amendment has been signed into law every year since 1976, whether the Congress and the White House were led by Republicans or Democrats.
The Hyde Amendment has saved nearly 2.5 million babies and mothers in difficult circumstances from the tragedy of abortion.
An overwhelming majority of Americans, including low-income women and women of color who are most impacted by it, support the Hyde Amendment and laws that prevent government-funded abortion.
We urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to ensure that the Hyde Amendment and all similar life-saving appropriations riders remain in place during the 117th Congress and beyond.
Do not force Americans to subsidize the taking of innocent life. Oppose any bill, including any appropriations bill, that expands taxpayer funding of abortion.
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7) This Sunday's Readings - June 13, 2021 |
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8) Grow+Go for the 11th 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.
Click on the button or image below to download a PDF copy of this Sunday's Grow+Go.
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9) Sunday Reflection by Jeff Cavins: |
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Reflecting on the Scripture Readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jeff Cavins encourages us to not be afraid or ashamed of small beginnings, because the kingdom of God itself is like a mustard seed. |
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10) 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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11) This Week's Edition of TALLer Tales |
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Sticking to the Day Job: As I wrote last week, my mom and I have been on a mission to plant flowers at our family graves at Resurrection Cemetery. Last week’s task of doing just the planter at my dad’s grave almost did me in. One grave was done; I had four to go.
A week ago this past Friday, my mom thought that given the weather forecast for the day (it was to be in the 90s and sunny), we would get out to Resurrection very early in the morning to finish the remaining four graves. Being the dutiful son, I did as mom suggested. We got out to the cemetery early that day, armed with an arsenal of stuff. My mom pre-planted the four remaining flower boxes; all I had to do was dig the four holes, place the planter boxes, and fill in all the holes. Now, I’m not competitive or anything, but the plots just above our family area are like straight out of a magazine. They are perfectly edged, with the grass meticulously cut, complete with mulch and the most beautiful flowers. With a neighbor like that, I had NO chance of even placing in the top 20 of the “Better Homes and Gardens” most beautiful cemetery plots at Resurrection. But I was going to try! No, I’m not competitive.
Once we arrived at Resurrection, I plotted out my tasks and was prepared to use THE tool that would make my life super easy … the edger spade. With great confidence, I stomped on the spade to start the first hole. I almost fell over! Not only was the ground hard, but I hit a bunch of roots. I didn’t plan on roots! This was going to complicate my project and cause me to get frustrated.
Most know that when I’m focused on a project, I like to focus on that alone ... especially when I run into problems. As a result, I don’t do too well with people trying to engage with me in idle chatter. Unfortunately, not only was I dealing with hard ground and roots, but I was also dealing with temperatures soaring into the mid-90s. This was a recipe for a cranky Monsignor!
As I was digging away and trying to deal with the pouring sweat, my mom was trying to chat with me. She went from questions about the bible to stuff happening around the parish to the latest on her birdfeeders to family stuff. I was trying to keep up with it all, but my brain was overheating! At one point, she stopped and asked, “Am I starting to sound like one of your sisters who loves to talk and talk and talk?” I guess my look gave it away; I said nothing but was thinking, “YES, I want to push the BE QUIET … PLEASE app!” After trying to explain I was trying to focus, my mom countered, “You’re just digging dirt … why do you need to stay focused.” I quietly rolled my eyes and kept digging.
By the time I got to the last grave, I was soaking wet and tired. The roots and the hard ground did me in. We finally got everything in place and looking as best as it could. My mom was happy with how everything looked, but I was comparing it to the “Better Homes and Gardens” award winning section above us and wasn’t so happy. As we were wrapping things up and putting things away in my car, my mom said with a tinge of laughter, “You know, you’re better off sticking to the priest stuff and computers … this hard labor was a bit much for you!” I’m sure the excessive sweat and soaked clothes gave it away! But that wasn’t going to stop me from creating a show-stopping cemetery section. If Clark Griswald can build the ultimate Christmas light display, I’ll eventually create the ultimate cemetery plot. Just wait!
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Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!
In Christ,
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12) Tire Tracks in the d’Arc |
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The faith to choose God: I love today’s second reading, from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians:
“We are always courageous,
although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away.”
This reading would have been appropriate last Sunday for the Feast of Corpus Christi, as we celebrated the great mystery of Jesus’ Body and Blood given to us in the Eucharist.
St. Paul had an amazing sense of detachment from the comforts of life. “I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
Actually, St. Paul had learned to live in total detachment from even life itself: “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (Philippians 1:21-26)
He continued his mission, despite a longing to go home to the Lord, because he knew that he better served God that way and that was what God was calling him to do.
Having that sense of detachment is a tough, tough thing. We all have hopes for our life, even for our every day. When people ask in the morning “What does your day look like,” I usually don’t give much of a definitive answer. Sometimes it can only take one phone call to change whatever I thought the day would look like, so I prefer to wait and see. Rarely does the day look the same on reflection as it looked on preview.
One simple prayer I try to remember to start my day with is, “Lord, put me where you want me today.” It’s not “put me where you need me,” because He doesn't need me, but “put me where you want me.” They are simple words, but not always an easy prayer because if you open yourself up to being at God’s disposal, where He asks you to go may not be your preference. It probably wasn't for St. Paul. Sometimes it can be hard to play the long-game when you can’t see where the ball will land. Just to trust God that He sees it and that He has a plan He’s enacting through you. I’m not a fan of surprises. I want to see and understand what’s here and what’s ahead, which is why abandonment can be such a white-knuckle experience. I don’t think I’m alone in this… I know I’m not. It’s the reason I often give penitents a copy of Thomas Merton’s Prayer of Abandonment to pray as a Penance.
Thinking about this idea of “walking by faith, not by sight” reminded me of a short book I read a few years ago written by Venerable Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận, “Five Loaves and Two Fish.” The late Cardinal was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Saigon in 1975, six days before Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese army. He was arrested by the Communist government of Vietnam and imprisoned for 13 years, nine of them in solitary confinement. He was 48 years old. In the book, the Cardinal talks about how he came close to losing his mind. He was imprisoned on the same street as his rectory and night and day could hear the bells of the cathedral tolling a constant reminder of his call to serve the people he was separated from. It was agonizing for him to be unable to fulfill the work he thought God was asking him to do. Then he was placed in the hold of a ship with 1,500 other prisoners and sent a thousand miles away to a “re-education camp.”
What turned the corner for the Cardinal was the voice he heard in his prayer one night. He writes: “One night I heard a voice encouraging me from the depths of my heart: ‘Why do you torment yourself so? You must learn to distinguish between God and the works of God. Everything you have done and desire to continue doing…. all of these are excellent works, they are God’s works, but they are not God. If God wants you to leave all of these works, place them in God’s hands immediately and have confidence in him. God will accomplish things infinitely better than you. He will entrust his works to others who are much more capable than you. You have chosen God alone, not his works!’ From these words, the Cardinal was able to find peace, despite his terrible circumstances, confined, alone in a cell without a window in stifling heat and humidity, where mushrooms grew on his sleeping mat. He didn’t have the strength to brush-off the insects that invaded his cell during the flooding rains. He concluded, “I might become upset and discouraged, but I must ask myself: has the Lord called me to follow Him, or to follow this project or that person? Let the Lord work. He will make everything turn out for the best.”
He was convicted of what following God meant for him; that he was right where God wanted him and he should set about serving the Lord in that place, in his prison, and leave his previous work to God.
The Cardinal was able to write to someone outside the prison to request a few basic items, which secretly included “stomach medicine.” His addressee understood that he meant a small bottle of wine to celebrate mass, and he was sent some hosts hidden in a flashlight. He learned to celebrate the Mass daily, from memory, using the palm of his hand as an altar, with a few drops of wine.
When not in solitary confinement, other prisoners would join him for Mass. He made a container out of a cigarette packet and carried the Blessed Sacrament around in his shirt pocket, the prisoners taking turns at night time adoration. Slowly, the Cardinal began to befriend, instruct and guide his prison guards in the Catholic faith. His patient influence was such that the guards were constantly rotated, to keep them away from him, but he persisted in showing them love. One guard asked how this was possible for him, considering how badly the guards had treated him. The Cardinal said, “Because Jesus has taught me to love you. If I do not, I am no longer worthy of being called a Christian.”
Faith over sight. Following God, and not our perception of what God wants of us. God wants our love first—He’s not looking for us to check items off a list of “things I want you to do for me.” Sometimes our circumstances are not what we hoped, but God is not blindsided.
It’s tough to abandon ourselves to God’s Will. But that's where we really find Him—in the abandonment.
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You are in my prayers this week!
Fr. Andrew
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13) Words on the Word: June 13, 2021 - Walk by Faith
One minute, a person might be walking along on a peaceful afternoon, saying the rosary. The next minute they might be face-to-face with their own mortality.
That was the case a few weeks ago, according to media reports, for the bishop of Oakland, California. He was on an afternoon rosary walk when he was suddenly confronted by a thief at gunpoint.
“I was terrified,” the bishop told a reporter. “I was afraid. Maybe this is it. I said … ‘I’m sorry for my sins Lord.’ I took out my wallet and was shaking and he said, ‘Give me the cash, give me the cash.’
“I gave him the money and then he saw my bishop’s ring. He said, ‘Give me that ring.’”
The story went on to explain the bishop did exactly that, and ultimately did not experience any physical harm. The story concluded by saying the bishop explained to his congregation that he forgives the gunman.
“The only way we defeat evil, and crime and hatred is to pour out the love of Jesus wherever we find evil and crime and hatred and things like that,” he said.
And that, of course, is the same Jesus would ask of you or me in such circumstances, difficult though that may be. In doing so, we demonstrate the most profound courage possible.
“We are always courageous,” we hear in today’s second reading from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
“Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away.”
© 2021, Words on the Word
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14) This Week on St. Joan of Arc LIVE: |
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This week's LIVE Stream
Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:
Monday (June 14):
7:00 AM - Mass
Tuesday (June 15):
7:00 AM - Mass
Wednesday (June 16):
7:00 AM - Mass
Thursday (June 17):
7:00 AM - Mass
7:00 PM - Holy Hour (Praise and Worship Music)
Friday (June 18):
7:00 AM - Mass
Saturday (June 19):
10:00 AM - Funeral for Valerie Stahl
2:30 PM - Baptism of Zander Starr
4:00 PM - Mass
6:00 PM - Mass
Sunday (June 20):
8:00 AM - Mass
10:00 AM - Mass
12:00 PM - Mass
1:30 PM - Baptism of Presley Craig
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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15) SJA's Bulletin for June 13, 2021 |
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Click on the image below
to download a copy of our
Bulletin for June 13, 2021
The 11th 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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