This weekend, we welcomed to our parish seminarians from Sacred Heart Major Seminary to talk about the Desert Formation Experience.

The Desert Formation Experience is the thirty-day spiritual pilgrimage first-year graduate seminarians make each year to the Holy Land. There they experience firsthand the places Christ walked and taught, suffered and died, while seeking his guidance in their own walk toward the priesthood.

The ultimate goal of the Desert Formation Experience and all of the summer programs is to ensure the priest-graduate of the seminary is a man of strong character and deep spirituality; a man you can be proud to call your spiritual “Father.”

To watch a 3-minute video about the experience, click on the image below. To donate to the Desert experience, click on the following button:

I am happy to announce that Archbishop Vigneron has appointed Father Adam Nowak to the in-solidum team of priests ministering to St. Joan of Arc, Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Lucy, St. Veronica, and St. Basil the Great Parishes. Father Adam’s primary responsibility will be at SJA, and he will reside at the house now occupied by Father Andrew.

Father Adam was born in 1991. I had to do a double-take when I typed that! Good heavens, he was born 5 days before I was ordained a priest! That means I’m getting old!!!

Father Adam was ordained by Archbishop Vigneron in 2019 and has served at St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Allen Park and, most recently, at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills. His two siblings, their families, and his dad still reside in the Downriver area where he grew up; his mother passed away in November 2020 after battling cancer.

Prior to entering the seminary, Father Adam attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he graduated with a degree in psychology and religious studies. While he was on track to become a clinical psychologist, God had different plans for him. While at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Father Adam earned a Bachelor of Philosophy Degree, a Master of Divinity Degree, and a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. Rumor has it he likes kayaking, biking, and reading!

Father Adam will officially join us on July 1, 2023.

Please keep Father Andrew, Father Adam, and all those making a transition to a new assignment in your prayers.

During the season of Lent, we have scheduled the following confession opportunities:

The Sacrament is celebrated in the Sr. Carol Center; signs are posted in the Gathering Place with further directions.

There will also be two communal penance services in the SERF Vicariate. These are communal penance services with individual confession. These have been scheduled for:

As we have mentioned at the weekend masses, don't worry if you've forgotten the prayers or how to go to confession because we will guide you through it. And, it doesn't matter how long it has been since you've last gone to confession. Just come and experience the Lord's awesome gift of mercy!

From Ascension Presents: Confession is a place of never-ending mercy and forgiveness, and is one of the most beautiful parts of our Catholic faith. But for many, it can also be a very daunting experience, especially if it’s been a long time since your last confession. Whether it’s the first time you’ve gone in a year, or it’s the first time you’ve gone in your life, God is ready and willing to forgive your sins. All we have to do is let him into our hearts.

In the following video, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how to approach going to confession for the first time in a long time.

This is an oldie but a goodie! The message is simple: If you're having a bad lent, then just start over!

Next weekend is already Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week. As we prepare for Holy Week, it's good to look at the various liturgies that mark this most significant week of the Church's liturgical year. In the following video, I walk through each of the Holy Week liturgies and offer a brief explanation of each of them.

Below is our schedule of liturgies and Masses for Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter Sunday. All of our liturgies and Masses will also be live-streamed at livestream.stjoan.church.

7:00 AM - Mass

1:00 - 2:00 PM - Confessions

7:00 AM - Mass

7:00 AM - Mass

5:00 PM - Confessions

6:00 PM - Mass

7:00 PM - Mass of the Lord's Supper

12:00 PM - Stations of the Cross

12:30 PM - Divine Mercy Chaplet

1:00 PM - Liturgy of the Lord's Passion

11:00 AM - Confessions

12:00 PM - Blessing of Food

8:00 PM - Easter Vigil

6:00 AM - Mass

8:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Mass

12:00 PM - Mass

In an online article by Caroline Harvey entitled, "Stations of the Cross: A Lenten Tradition of Love," she writes, "There are certain Lenten practices that are so customary or traditional that without them Lent would not be Lent. This is the same for most holidays and celebrations—what is Christmas without a Christmas tree or Nativity scene, or a birthday with a cake, candles and singing? With Lent, Catholics are used to the announcements after Mass about Friday fish fries, reconciliation services, and the praying of the Stations of the Cross.

Traditions can become so commonplace, so normal, that we may not even know why we are doing them. Why do we have a Christmas tree? Why do we use candles to show how old someone is on their birthday? Or, why do we watch the priest or deacon walk around the church as we kneel and stand during the Stations of the Cross? There is nothing wrong with upholding traditions for the sake of tradition; there is something dignified about respecting the actions and words that have been handed down to the current generations from generations past. However, with every tradition, there comes a moment when the person partaking in it recognizes the importance of the actions and the words, more than just for the sake of ancient repetition. This “coming of age”, so to speak, allows the person to enter into the mystery of the tradition and participate in it in a way that transcends time and space."

For this Fifth Week of Lent, Fr. Mark Toups talks about Lazarus, who could not be unbound and reborn until Jesus did it for him; Fr. Mark uses this story to demonstrate how we all can find our way back to God. He encourages you to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation this Lent. He also talks about making a general confession, a practice popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola. This is where you confess all of the sins of your life surrounding a certain bad habit and ask God to unbind you from it. Fr. Toups admits giving into a lie that led him to believe that God only loved him when he was doing the right thing. A general confession helped him abandon that lie. 

Don’t be afraid to tell a priest who you know about your sins. Don’t worry about whether a priest remembers the sins you tell him. A priest is given a special grace to forget the sins he heard in confession. Even if you don’t know how to confess, just let the priest know and he will guide you through it. 

Jesus brought freedom to Lazarus. He wants to bring freedom to you. 

SJA is moderating a Facebook group for our parishioners and friends embarking on the Catechism in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Ascension Press.

You can find the link to join on the SJA Facebook page or click the button below. We already have 90+ participants!

In this week’s Encountering the Word video, Jeff Cavins reflects on the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent:

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11

Verse Before the Gospel: John 11:25A, 26

Gospel: John 11:1-45 or John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33B-45

Friends, on this Fifth Sunday of Lent, our Gospel is John’s story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Let’s face it: we are all haunted by death. No matter what we accomplish in this life, we know that it will all be swallowed up in the end. The fear of death broods over the whole of life. But does death have the final say?

Unwritten Protocols: Protocols, protocols, protocols. There are written protocols and unwritten protocols. The written protocols are easy to follow if you know and understand them. The unwritten protocols are another story, and they can get you in trouble. Half the time, you have no clue about these unwritten protocols, but they may be known to a family or maybe to the residents of a particular locale. Let me explain.

For example, up in Allenton, when you’re in any of the homes of our family or extended family, and I dare say for most homes in the country, there is the unwritten protocol of taking your shoes off when you enter a home. It’s just the thing you do. When we have big family gatherings, seeing the sea of shoes piled up in mud rooms and up and down the entry hallway is funny. Sometimes, people even have to reorganize all the shoes because they can get in the way of trying to get in or out of a house. It’s just a way of life and an unwritten protocol.

The same is true when entering a Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa nuns) chapel. You ditch your shoes as soon as you enter because you’re on sacred ground. There isn’t a sign; people just seem to know they’re expected to remove their shoes when entering one of their chapels.  

There is the unwritten protocol that you don’t bother the Monsignor on Tuesdays for several hours after lunch because he has to finish (or, more likely, begin) writing his bulletin article. The pressure is on at that point because of the absolute drop-dead deadline of 3:00 p.m. (yes, he operates by deadlines and then drop-dead deadlines).

While talking about Monsignor, there is the unwritten protocol that it’s best not to interrupt him when he’s frantically trying to fix some technology issue. He may multi-task well throughout the day with many things, but when his technology goes awry, he gets in his “zone” and develops tunnel vision with concrete thick tunnel walls. Family, co-workers, and friends will say, “Didn’t you know it’s best to stay out of his way?”

Well, I recently discovered the hard way that there is an unwritten protocol about waiting to go through the drive-thru at Wally’s Frozen Custard on Harper. I didn’t know. Seriously, this protocol isn’t in the “manual.”

The incident at Wally’s happened a couple of weeks ago when my mom was still staying with me while recovering from her hospital stay in Beaumont. We had just finished dinner that night, and my mom wanted some ice cream or frozen custard. Of course, I was all in; you don’t need to ask me a second time if I want to go out and get some food!

Most of the time, I can sneak into Wally’s when there isn’t a long line. While I have seen lines of cars stretch out toward Harper, I’ve never really paid attention to HOW the line snakes around! I initially approached Wally’s going north on Harper, but when I saw the long line, I decided to grab some groceries first, hoping the line would die down when I returned. I did my grocery shopping and then made the trek back towards Wally’s going south on Harper. The line was still long, but I pulled up behind the car just turning into the driveway off of Harper. I thought this was going to be easy. Suddenly, I heard a car horn, and the car behind me sped off lightning-fast as if they were mad at something I did. I was clueless about what had just happened, and I cowered in my seat, hoping they wouldn’t see it was me as I still had my collar on. I was still confused why they were mad at me … UNTIL I looked behind and saw a WHOLE line of cars on Elizabeth Street. HOLY TOLEDO, without knowing it, I cut into a whole stretch of cars lined up on Elizabeth Street waiting to turn into Wally’s so they wouldn’t block traffic on Harper. I felt like I had committed some mortal sin or something! I felt bad, but now I was blocked and couldn’t even work my way to the back of the line, so I stayed put and accidentally saved myself about twenty minutes of waiting in line. SORRY Folks! This is one time I was glad I didn’t have a personalized license plate that says “Fr. Mike” or “Monsignor!” Good heavens. These unwritten protocols need to be written down someplace!

Transitions: As Father Andrew mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and as he recently wrote, he was asked to assume the responsibility of being part of the in-solidum team of priests ministering to the people at Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Orchard Lake; Prince of Peace Parish, West Bloomfield; and St. Benedict Parish, Waterford with primary responsibility at Prince of Peace Parish. All of our new assignments begin on July 1. We will have an opportunity to thank Father Andrew for his extraordinary ministry at SJA toward the middle of June.

When a transition of assignments is announced in parishes, many will naturally ask, “Well, who’s coming here then?” I’m happy to announce that Archbishop Vigneron has appointed Father Adam Nowak to the in-solidum team of priests ministering to St. Joan of Arc, Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Lucy, St. Veronica, and St. Basil the Great Parishes. Father Adam’s primary responsibility will be at SJA, and he will reside at the house now occupied by Father Andrew.

Father Adam was born in 1991. I had to do a double-take when I typed that! Good heavens, he was born 5 days before I was ordained a priest! That means I’m getting old!!!

Father Adam was ordained by Archbishop Vigneron in 2019 and has served at St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Allen Park and, most recently, at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills. His two siblings, their families, and his dad still reside in the Downriver area where he grew up; his mother passed away in November 2020 after battling cancer.

Prior to entering the seminary, Father Adam attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he graduated with a degree in psychology and religious studies. While he was on track to become a clinical psychologist, God had different plans for him. While at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Father Adam earned a Bachelor of Philosophy Degree, a Master of Divinity Degree, and a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. Rumor has it he likes kayaking, biking, and reading!

Father Adam will officially join us on July 1, 2023.

Please keep Father Andrew, Father Adam, and all those making a transition to a new assignment in your prayers.

“If You Believe, You Will See the Glory of God”: “Lord, the one you love is ill,” said the message. Jesus’ friend Lazarus was clinging to life when the message came from Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha (John 11).

Jesus didn’t seem troubled by the news. As a matter of fact, He declared, “This illness will not end in death. No it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

And then Jesus did the unexpected — NOTHING! He stayed where He was for two more days and did absolutely nothing while Lazarus died. He had healed so many people before, so why didn’t He go to Lazarus immediately and make him well. How could He sit there and do nothing?

Don’t you hate it when God doesn’t do what you think He should? Probably most of us at one time in life have run into a situation and thought, “How could God have allowed that to happen?”

This is what Mary and Martha were thinking when Jesus finally arrived four days after Lazarus’ death. Both of the sisters questioned Jesus upon his arrival saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

In their hearts, they were full of disappointment with God. Jesus had healed so many others. Why now did He not heal His own friend? How could Jesus have let them down like this? The sisters loved Jesus and believed in Him, but were confused by his lack of action.

Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” 

None of this was helping the disappointment and confusion to fade away from these grief-stricken women though, because they did not yet understand what Jesus was doing. Jesus shows His compassion, joining His friends in their sorrow, weeping for Lazarus. But He is really weeping in anger that the devil has brought death to humanity. It is Jesus who will give life back to humanity.

Then Jesus, the resurrection and the life, went to the tomb and called Lazarus back from the of the dead. Jesus’ statement — “I am the resurrection and the life” — along with his power to raise Lazarus from the dead teach us that everything the Bible has to say about heaven, hell, and the promise of eternal life is wrapped up in Jesus. He holds eternity in his hands, so He alone should be trusted with our eternity.

The raising of Lazarus teaches us another lesson though. When God seems to be doing nothing, He may be doing more than you could ever imagine. Jesus had declared that Lazarus’ sickness was for the glory of God. Jesus knew God would be totally glorified in the situation at hand.

When Lazarus died, Jesus was just getting started. He used Lazarus’ situation to bring glory to His father. No he didn’t do what we were expecting (heal Lazarus) — He did something better.

Jesus’ delay in answering the call to come did not mean a denial of their call. God always has our best interests at heart, but He acts according to His own agenda and timetable, not ours. Jesus had a purpose in waiting to come to Bethany where Mary and Martha were.

His delaying was so that God would be honored and glorified through it. Mary and Martha kind of scolded Jesus when they saw him by saying, “Lord, if you had been here our brother would not have died.” 

Maybe there is something within us that wants to tell God what to do. Mary and Martha looked for a healing of their brother, but Jesus had in mind a resurrection of their brother. God would receive greater glory from a rising from the dead than by a healing of the sick. God acts from His own perspective and in most cases we don’t know the purpose of God.

And in most cases, in our lives, when Jesus seems to delay His coming to our rescue, we don’t know the reason for the delay. We get impatient and wonder why God doesn’t do something about our situation. Maybe we even allow the devil to come first, to try to convince us that Jesus doesn’t hear us or doesn’t care. But we must remind ourselves that a delay does not mean a denial. God gets to choose as and when He makes His move on our behalf. And it’s at always the right time. Whether we see and understand that is really the litmus test of our faith.

This story of Lazarus is not the only time in scripture we see Jesus untroubled by the calamity unfolding in front of Him, despite the protests of His disciples. Remember Jesus sleeping in the boat as His disciple battled the storm, fearing they would perish (Mark 4). When Jesus appears to be sleeping or silent in the midst of our storms, know that it is not because He is unaware, but rather that He is unconcerned—that He does not need to act because He has everything in hand, even if we don’t see how.

I know there will be times in the future when God doesn’t do what I expect, or think He should do. I know in every situation, however, He can and will bring greater glory to Himself. If He doesn’t do what I think He should, it is only because God has something better in mind.

Are you dealing with disappointment right now? Has God acted in a way that you would not have expected? Take heart, Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He can breathe life into any situation you are dealing with.

Entrust your situation to God. Then ask God to use your circumstances for His honor and glory. Ask Him to bring the greatest glory possible in your life and situation. And then watch and wait to see what God does. It may seem like He’s doing nothing at the moment, but maybe doing nothing yet is how He has chosen to act. He may be doing more than you could ever imagine. 

adawson@sjascs.org 

Sometimes when we look at the lives of the Saints we can be tempted to think that God singled them out to suffer more than most. But maybe that suffering is actually a gift.

Today Fr. Mike shares with us how we must orient out lives towards the cross and keep Christ’s passion and death always before us so that when we encounter suffering we will have God’s strength to sustain us.

22) Words on the Word: March 26, 2023 - Mirror, Mirror

At least to a certain extent, we are all concerned with our appearance. That’s probably a good thing, otherwise we wouldn’t know or care if we were walking around with food stuck in our teeth or a mustard stain on our shirt.

But some, apparently, are much more concerned than others.

According to a website that aggregates the latest research, one recent study found that the average person spends about four hours a day concerned with their physical appearance. 

It attributed this obsession not only to our natural propensity to look in the mirror, but also the increasing amount of time that many folks spend on social media and video calls, where we are often face to face with ourselves as well as others.

But four hours?

That seems excessive to the point of absurdity. But even if it’s, say, 25 percent of that, it’s still an awful lot of our lives lost to vanity.

The good news is that it really doesn’t have to be this way. It’s our spiritual selves that need the most – and the deepest – level of attention.

And Jesus’ death and resurrection make us free to pursue what’s most important.

To face up to the everlasting things, in other words.

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God,” St. Paul writes in today’s second reading to the Romans. “But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.

“If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.”

And that, brothers and sisters, is worth reflecting on.

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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7:00 a.m., Dorene Oster

7:00 a.m., Hugo Calisi

7:00 a.m., Howard & Lola LeFevre, James & Florence Gillette and Paul LeFevre

6:00 p.m., Stella & Tony Krzesowski

7:00 a.m., Charles M. McQuillan

7:00 a.m., Maura Marquez Mallare

4:00 p.m., Bonnie Batche, Joseph Drouin, Charles Semany, and a Special Intention for the J. Champine Family, for the Thomas Family and Prayerful appreciation for the work of the Priests and Staff of St. Joan of Arc.

6:00 p.m., James Forrester

8:00 a.m., For the Intentions for St. Joan of Arc Parishioners

10:00 a.m., Rob Finn, Evan Battani and Robbie Battani

12:00 p.m., Rose DiNoto, Deanna Leone, and a Special Intention for Alfred Sandoval

10:00 AM - Funeral for Irene Catalano (Read Obituary HERE)

Thursday (March 30):

Friday (March 31):