Week of May 19, 2024

1) Annual Raffle Drawing and Kickoff to Summer Information

By now, I hope you received your packet of raffle tickets; they were dropped in the mail last week. As I mentioned at the masses, our Kickoff to Summer event will occur on Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 1 until 5 PM. It will include family-friendly activities, food trucks, and the annual raffle. More details about the day will be forthcoming soon.

I hope and pray you will consider buying or selling $100 worth of tickets! Your generosity will go a long way to help our amazing Parish to continue doing everything it does. PLUS, you might be lucky enough to win one of the raffle prizes!

Last year, we netted $93,830 from the raffle and proceeds from the food trucks. I am grateful for your extraordinary generosity in what you did to make last year’s event a fantastic success!

Here are the details you need to know about the 100% Drawings:

To qualify for the Early Bird Drawing, tickets are due by 5 PM on Monday, May 20, 2024.

If you are under 65, for every $100 worth of tickets you return, you earn ONE chance at the Annual Raffle 100% Drawing. If you are 65 or older, you earn ONE chance for every $50 worth of tickets you return. Thus, if you are under 65 and return $100 worth of raffle tickets, you can turn in 1 - 100% tickets. If you are 65 or older, turning in $100 worth of raffle tickets allows you to turn in 2 – 100% tickets. The 100% tickets are PRE-PRINTED on the YELLOW sheet mailed to you. If you need more 100% tickets, please contact the Parish Center.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:30 PM (after the 6:00 PM Mass) (watch it live at Livestream.stjoan.church), we will conduct our Early Bird Drawing. We will draw two (2) tickets from the pool of 100% tickets and each will win $1,500!

You can continue to turn in your raffle and applicable 100% tickets until the drawing on June 9, 2024. At that time, we will draw five (5) of the 100% tickets from the entire pool of tickets, and each will win $500.

I also wanted to explain that the senior designation is based on the date of birth we have in our database for the oldest member of your household. So, if the oldest person in your home is 65 or older, you qualify for the senior designation, and the word “SENIOR” will be printed at the top of each sheet of raffle tickets sent to you.

Raffle tickets can be dropped off at the Parish Center (through the mail slot in the door), in the Sunday collection boxes, or mailed to the Parish Center (although please be aware that if you MAIL your tickets you run the risk of your tickets not arriving in time for the drawing). Please read through the checklist to help make sure your tickets can be processed quickly and accurately. Please contact the Parish Center (586.777.3670) or visit tickets.stjoan.church if you need additional tickets.  

Please know of my gratitude for your generosity! Let’s make our Kickoff to Summer Event and Annual Raffle a great success.

2) Eastside Eucharistic Procession - June 2, 2024

3) Family Formation Sunday: Celebrating Three Years of Growth

As we conclude the third year of our Family Formation Sunday program, we rejoice in the journey we have taken together as a parish community. This year, our families have focused on Catholic prayer and living a liturgical life, coming together each month to deepen their faith and strengthen their bonds.

Throughout the year, families gathered for Mass at 10 am on the first Sunday of each month, setting the tone for a morning of spiritual enrichment and communal joy. Following Mass, parents were engaged in insightful talks by Fr. Adam, while children embarked on adventures in their respective classrooms with skilled Catechists.

Guided by the resources provided by Sophia Institute Press, “A Family of Faith,” at home, our families delved into lessons, table talk and activities designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our Catholic faith.

As we look forward to the next year, we are excited to continue to make further enhancements to better support our families on their faith journey. Our commitment to bringing the faith into our parish family homes remains steadfast, as we recognize the invaluable role of parents as the first teachers of the faith to their children.

As we reflect on the past year, we extend our gratitude to all families who participated, Fr. Adam, our Catechists and student helpers who made our Sunday experiences possible. 

May we all continue to grow together as we build a vibrant and faith-filled community.

Learn more about Faith Formation at St. Joan of Arc by calling our Director of Faith and Family Formation, Mrs. Kristine Hass at 586-772-1282 or emailing her at khass@sjascs.org.

4) Congratulations to the youth of our parish and school in receiving Sacraments of Initiation

It’s been an exciting few weeks at St. Joan of Arc!

On April 23, the atmosphere was filled with joy and reverence as students received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Walter Hurley. This significant event marked the culmination of a two-year confirmation formation process, during which students not only deepened their understanding of the Catholic faith but also formed lasting bonds with one another.

Confirmation is a pivotal moment in the lives of Catholic youth, solidifying their commitment to the faith and their journey toward spiritual maturity. The effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace. Throughout the formation process, students had the opportunity to connect the faith to their daily lives and encounter Jesus in various ways, including through a retreat, prayer and service activities. Confirmation formation is more than just a class, it’s a journey of faith where students grow closer to God and to one another.

On May 4, students from our parish and school received Jesus for the first time in the Blessed Sacrament as we celebrated First Communion weekend. Parents played a central role in preparing their children for this sacrament, reaffirming the parish’s commitment to support and restore the role of parents as the primary teachers of the faith.

As we celebrate these milestones with our students, let’s keep cheering them on and praying for them and their families in their faith journey. 

5) Why Series: Why Register as a Parishioner?

Belonging to a parish is about much more than finding a place to attend Mass each Sunday. It’s about finding community, a place to plant spiritual roots, and to commit ourselves to being involved. Learn why belonging to your parish is so important in our current culture and choose to commit to your parish today!

6) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

7) Holy Hour on Thursdays

8) This Sunday's Readings: May 19, 2024 - Pentecost Sunday

9) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

Pentecost Sunday

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

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25

Gospel: John 20:19-23

10) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Fruits of the Spirit, Works of the Flesh



Friends, we come to the Feast of Pentecost, the great celebration of the Holy Spirit. I want to focus on our second reading from the fifth chapter of St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, which I’ve used for years in spiritual direction. What you find there are what Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit,” which he contrasts with “the works of the flesh.” Maybe you’re struggling and wondering, “What should I do? What path do I take?” Whatever is giving rise to the fruits of the Spirit in you is the path you want—and whatever is giving rise to the works of the flesh, stay away from.

11) Grow+Go

12) Giving to SJA:

I'm truly grateful for all of your support of SJA. Your support means so much. The increase in electronic giving has been tremendous. Giving electronically, whether on a one-time or recurring basis is pretty simple. For more information on online giving, please click on the following button.

13) TALLer Tales

Outsmarted by a 15-Month-Old: Last week, our family had lots of “together time” as one of my nephews, now Dr. Adam Finn, and his fiancé, Dr. Lauren Minnear, graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School. One of our parishioners and former SJA alums, Dr. Jordin Valenti, was also in the same dental class. Being with them at this significant milestone in their life was awesome.

The celebrations started on Thursday night a week ago at the Suburban Showcase in Novi. The dental school put on a rather large reception for all the doctoral candidates, the dental hygienists class, and their families. Right after the reception, we moved into one of the halls and watched as all the candidates were hooded or pinned. The doctoral candidates were hooded while the dental hygienists were pinned.

The Hooding Ceremony, where the doctoral hood is placed over the graduate’s head by a member of the school’s faculty or a member of their family who is a DDS, dates back many, many years. The doctoral hood, part of academic regalia which dates back to medieval times, is still part of graduation ceremonies today. Seeing other family members who were already dentists “hood” their relative was moving. Often, it was a parent, sibling, or another relative. Those who were graduating as dental hygienists each received a lapel pin signifying their entry into the dental hygiene profession.

Graduation day was on Friday at Calihan Hall on the main campus of the University of Detroit Mercy. It was a beautiful day, and it was so awesome to hear the Dean of the Dental School call each candidate with their new title of “Doctor.” After the graduation, the Dental School put on an incredible reception near the fountain area of UDM. The university grounds were just gorgeous. A big shout out to Dave Vandelinder, Director of Facility Operations and Construction Management at UDM, and his team for taking such great care of that beautiful campus. It is truly a gem!

After the festivities at UDM, we moved our family party up to Allenton for the rest of the day. We then had a “repeat” party for Mother’s Day on Sunday.

As I was sitting in the garage eating away on Mother’s Day, little Ford Hunsucker was seated next to me. Now, Ford is only 15 months old. He was fascinated with my watch and kept “waking it up.” He then started just pushing the screen and icons, and suddenly, and without notice, I found my watch was about to make an emergency call (a feature the watch has in the event you are in some distress). I was able to cancel the call, but little Ford continued to push all kinds of buttons and things on my screen. After a while, I decided I would try to outsmart him by turning my watch off, but it took me some time to get to that screen to power it down, only because it was now a little game with the little chuckling Ford because he knew I was trying to thwart his efforts. Eventually, I got my watch to power down, and at this point, I didn’t care how much he tried to see what he could accomplish with my watch.

Later that evening, I powered my watch back on. But I had a problem. My watch was in a weird power-saving mode, and I had to do a Google search to figure out how to turn it off. Then, my notifications weren’t working. My watch would vibrate when a new text came in, but it no longer showed a preview of the message on the watch face. I suddenly had to push all kinds of things to see the text. I’ve hunted around for a solution, but nothing has worked yet. I realize Ford had no clue what he was doing … but maybe that’s not the case. He’s 15 months old already, and I think these kids are tech-savvy at birth! I find it ironic that I’m trying to Google solutions to undo what a 15-month-old did! There’s something wrong with this picture: the soon-to-be 60-year-old Tech Savy Priest, who thought he was on top of his technology game, has been outsmarted by a 15-month-old, and even as of this writing, he hasn’t found a solution to his “problem.”

SJA’s 55th Annual Raffle: By now, I hope you received your raffle ticket packet; it was dropped in the mail over a week ago. As I mentioned at the masses, our Kickoff to Summer event will occur on Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 1 until 5 PM. It will include family-friendly activities, food trucks, and the annual raffle. More details about the day will be provided soon.

I hope you will consider buying or selling $100 worth of tickets! Your generosity will go a long way in helping our amazing parish continue doing everything it does. PLUS, you might be lucky enough to win one of the raffle prizes!

Last year, we netted $93,830 from the raffle and proceeds from the food trucks. I am grateful for your extraordinary generosity in what you did to make last year’s event a fantastic success!

To qualify for the Early Bird Drawing, tickets are due by 5 PM on Monday, May 20, 2024. If you are under 65, for every $100 worth of tickets you return, you earn ONE chance at the Annual Raffle 100% Drawing. If you are 65 or older, you earn ONE chance for every $50 worth of tickets you return. Thus, if you are under 65 and return $100 worth of raffle tickets, you can turn in 1 - 100% tickets. If you are 65 or older, turning in $100 worth of raffle tickets allows you to turn in 2 – 100% tickets. The 100% tickets are PRE-PRINTED on the YELLOW sheet mailed to you. If you need more 100% tickets, please get in touch with the Parish Center.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:30 PM (after the 6:00 PM Mass) (watch it live at livestream.stjoan.church), we will conduct our Early Bird Drawing. We will draw two (2) tickets from the pool of 100% tickets, and each will win $1,500! You can continue turning in your raffle and applicable 100% tickets until the June 9, 2024 drawing. At that time, we will draw five (5) of the 100% tickets from the entire pool of tickets, and each will win $500.

Raffle tickets can be dropped off at the Parish Center (through the mail slot in the door), in the Sunday collection boxes, or mailed to the Parish Center (although please be aware that if you MAIL your tickets, you run the risk of your tickets not arriving in time for the drawing). Please read through the checklist to help make sure your tickets can be processed quickly and accurately. Please contact the Parish Center (586.777.3670) or visit tickets.stjoan.church if you need additional tickets.

Please know of my gratitude for your extraordinary generosity! Let’s make our Kickoff to Summer Event and Annual Raffle a huge success.

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers!

gmb@sjascs.org

14) Along the Way with Father Adam

The Adventure Continues…

Last week I started sharing about my recent vacation with my dad, starting out with graduation in Bismarck, ND. I left off with our visit of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. We ventured from there to Cheyenne, Wyoming, a four-hour drive. So, we started the day in Bismarck and ended the day in Cheyenne, spending about ten hours in the car. Furthermore, because it was a Sunday, there was not a single place open in all the small towns that we passed through.

We arrived at our hotel late in the evening and get up to the room, only to read a note that the hotel left on the desk. It said something like this, “Given that your room faces the trainyard, we understand that it might get noisy. We’ve provided you with a pair of earplugs. Should you need an additional pair, please see the front desk.” All I wanted to do was sleep, not listen to trains all night. Thankfully, it was not loud at all!

My dad and I then had an entire day to explore Cheyenne and we began with a visit to the state capitol. Built in 1887, the capitol took 30 years to be completed, at a cost of $389,569.13.

When we arrived at the capitol building, we walked right in the front door. A lovely lady greeted us and gave us a brief history lesson, handed us a map, and said, “alright, enjoy your time. If the door is locked, don’t go in.” That was it. We went through no security, and we were given unfettered access to the four-story building. My dad and I could see the Attorney General working at his desk and walked right up to the Governor’s office. 

We did not see the Governor… until we walked outside. He was present at a tree planting ceremony for Wyoming State Arbor Day. It was a strange experience to have such freedom to walk around a state capitol and see the Governor. Surely this must be unique to the plain’s states.

Wyoming has a beautiful and long history. Of course, Native Americans have inhabited the territory for hundreds of years. It was not until the early 1800’s when Anglo explorers arrived. Gold in California and the lure of rich land in Oregon brought increasing numbers of pioneer wagon trains rolling over the Oregon Trails through Wyoming. Eventually a Cheyenne would become the mountain region headquarters for the Union Pacific Railroad.

Wyoming is also known as the "Equality State" because of the rights women have traditionally enjoyed here. Wyoming women were the first in the nation to vote, serve on juries and hold public office.

In 1869, Wyoming's territorial legislature became the first government in the world to grant "female suffrage" by enacting a bill granting Wyoming women the right to vote. The act was signed into law on December 10 of that year by Governor A.J. Campbell. This was 20 years before Wyoming was granted statehood, becoming the 44th state.

In 1924, Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross was the first elected woman governor to take office in the United States. She took office on January 5, 1925, 20 days before "Ma" Ferguson of Texas (elected on the same day) took office. Mrs. Ross went on to become the first woman to be appointed Director of the United States Mint-a position she held for 20 years, from 1933 to 1953. In 1991, women held three of the state's five top elective positions and a total of 23 women hold seats in the Wyoming Legislature, three in the Senate and 20 in the House.

After the state capitol we visited the beautiful Cathedral of St. Mary. Surprisingly, or not surprisingly given the population of the State of Wyoming, the Diocese of Cheyenne covers the entire state. To put it in perspective, there are seven dioceses in the state of Michigan.

Our next exploration was that of the historic 1880s Union Pacific Railroad depot, now a museum. Finally, we rounded out our Wyoming experience by trying ‘rocky mountain oysters’ as an appetizer with dinner. They were actually delicious, and I would definitely eat them again.

The next day we made our way to Denver and to our 4th state of the trip. More on that later…

Blessings,

Fr. Adam

anowak@sjascs.org

15) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

A Theology of Your Body

Pope John Paul II said that what modern man needs—and is missing—is an “adequate anthropology”, or, a full understanding of what it looks like to be human. Over the course of his pontificate, he gave it his best shot using the entirety of scripture, 2,000 years of church teaching, and the latest scientific understandings of the human person.

Today, we call it the Theology of the Body. And it will change the way you look at yourself and your purpose in life.

Fr. Mike Schmitz gives us an introduction to the Theology of the Body and invites us to his 4-part series diving deeper into these incredible mysteries.

Sign up for the whole series for FREE!

16) Words on the Word: May 19, 2024 - Catching the Draft

Several weeks later, there’s still a buzz and a glow around town as people celebrate the great success of Detroit’s hosting of the NFL Draft.

Not just the politicians are ecstatic, it seems. And not just the people who organized the event. But citizens from all walks of life, including those who don’t care anything about football.

By all accounts the event was safe. It was clean. It was organized. It was visually cool, especially the overhead shots on television. And even the weather was perfect.

At the event itself, according to news accounts and people who were there, pretty much everyone was friends. It didn’t matter what nationality people were, or what their political preferences were, or even, hard as it may be to believe, which team they were rooting for.

There was peace and harmony.

Contrast that, for a moment, with the regular headlines of the day, where political rivals are always clashing, protests turn violent, and even the most routine of issues sets people against each other on social media.

We’re warned against such negative behavior in today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. It specifically lists “works of the flesh” such as “hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissentions, factions, occasions of envy,” and so forth.

“In contrast,” we are reminded, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.” 

Not every day, not even every year or decade, to be sure, brings with it the kind of “everybody’s welcome to come and party” type of event that the draft brought to Detroit.

But perhaps, in some small way, starting with and led by the Spirit, we can continue to act towards others with the same mix of love, joy, peace, kindness and generosity.

© 2024 Words on the Word

17) This WEEK on FORMED:

18) 52 Stories: Good News from Spirit Juice Studios

Prepare to be Inspired

Spirit Juice Studios is blessed to work with countless Catholic organizations, dioceses, parishes, and schools. We get to help them tell their powerful stories about all the good stuff that is happening within the Church. Sign up for 52 Stories so we can share them with you! You’ll meet the unsung heroes of the Catholic Church, discover the stories of holy women and men around the world, and witness miraculous moments of God’s grace in everyday life.

In a world full of bad news, these stories will give you 52 reasons to believe that God is working through the Catholic faith to transform lives through His love and mercy. Sign up today!

Salve Regina - The Skateboarding Friar

In this highly cinematic and contemplative video, Friar Gabriel’s passion for skateboarding and love for the faith converge through stunning visuals and the meditative hymn “Salve Regina.” As a Friar of the Immaculate, Friar Gabriel has found a unique way to combine his talents and vocation into a harmonious expression of St. Francis of Assisi’s instruction to “preach the gospel at all times.”

19) Hallow App:

20) SJA's Garden Angels are looking for Volunteers

21) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, May 20, 2024, Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church (White) 

7:00 am, Catherine Braga

Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Weekday, Saint Christoper Magallens, Priest and Companions, Martyrs (Green/Red)

7:00 am, Deceased members of the Calisi family who died in the month of May 

Wednesday, May 22, 2024, Weekday, Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious (Green/White)

7:00 am, Elaine Hernwick

6:00 pm, Robbie Battani

Thursday, May 23, 2024, Weekday (Green) 

7:00 am, Kathleen Doak

Friday, May 24, 2024, Weekday (Green)

7:00 am, Erveill Mozingo

Saturday, May 25, 2024, Vigil for The Most Holy Trinity (White)

4:00 pm, William Heck, Patricia Golla, Sam Ciaramitaro, Michael Ciaramitaro, Bonnie Batche, George & Sophie Rupinski, Joe Basirico, Richard Fredette, Mary Lou Bartoszek Racine, and Special Intentions for the J. Champine Family, the Thomas Family, Alison Reslow, Lorraine Jonas, Pam Haisenleder, Linda Frank 

6:00 pm, A Special Intention for Curtis Ketelhut

Sunday, May 26, 2024, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (White)

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

10:00 am, Ivan DeClercq

12:00 pm, Barbara Gaines, Joseph Poirier, Dennis Venuto, Jeannie Richard and Special Intentions for Alison Reslow, Pam Haisenleder, Lorraine Jonas, and Linda Frank

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

This week's LIVE Stream

Schedule at St. Joan of Arc:

Monday (May 20)

7:00 AM - Mass

Tuesday (May 21):

7:00 AM - Mass

8:30 AM - School Mass

12:00 PM - Funeral for Mary O'Keefe (Read Obituary HERE)

Wednesday (May 22):

7:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Matthew Martin (Read Obituary HERE)

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (May 23):

7:00 AM- Mass

10:00 AM - Funeral for Lenore Hayes (Read Obituary HERE)

7:00 PM - Holy Hour

Friday (May 24):

7:00 AM - Mass

Saturday (May 25):

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (May 26):

8:00 AM - Mass

10:00 AM - Mass

12:00 PM - Mass

Please note that all of our masses and events can be accessed through the ARCHIVE section of our Live stream page if you cannot watch it live!

We also have our own ROKU Channel. Search for "CATHOLIC" in the ROKU channel store, and you will find SJA's channel. A Fire TV Channel is also available.

23) SJA's Latest Parish Bulletin

Click on the image below

to download a copy of the bulletin

for May 19, 2024

24) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

25) Detroit Catholic