Week of May 26, 2024

1) Memorial Day Masses: 7:00 AM at SJA and 9:00 AM at Star of the Sea

As announced at Masses this weekend, I encourage you to begin your Memorial Day festivities by participating at Mass. We will have our normal 7:00 AM Mass at SJA, but we also have the combined liturgy with parishioners from Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Lucy, St. Veronica, St. Basil, and our parish at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish at 9:00 AM. Please join us!

"On this Memorial Day, we pray for all members of the military, especially those who died in service to others. May we honor them by loving and caring for all those they have left behind. Give them strength and strengthen our commitment to caring for those who mourn their loss. Amen."

2) Eastside Eucharistic Procession - June 2, 2024

3) Annual Raffle Early Bird Drawing Winners

Last Wednesday, we held our Early Bird Drawing as part of our Annual Raffle.

Congratulations go to:

Josephine Gielniak

and

Tom and Jeanne VanEgmond

who were our Early Bird Drawing winners. Each family won $1,500!

You can watch the drawing by clicking the image below.

4) Annual Raffle Drawing and Kickoff to Summer Information

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.

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:

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.

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.

5) Five Young Men Ordained Pirests for the Archdiocese of Detroit

From Detroit Catholic: DETROIT — Ryan Asher, Nicholas Brown, Matthew Kurt, Stephen Moening and Tommy Ngo solemnly processed into the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament as deacons on May 18, and processed out as priests and spiritual fathers.

Detroit's cathedral was full as family, friends, fellow priests and faithful from across the Archdiocese of Detroit joined together to celebrate the presbyteral ordination of the five men through the invocation of the Holy Spirit on the Saturday before the feast of Pentecost.

Before the laying on of hands, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron addressed the five men — who have spent years in formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and, in the case of Fr. Asher, in Rome — in his homily, emphasizing their new role as spiritual fathers.

The five young priests, ranging in age from 27 to 31, have different vocation journeys and interests, from waiting tables to working as software engineers, but each now shares a common life in Christ as his priests, the archbishop said.

The archbishop recalled the scrutinies he presided over with the five men several weeks ago — a process he referred to as the presbyterial formation equivalent of “an exit interview.”

“I asked them their own sense about what the Holy Spirit would do for them today,” Archbishop Vigneron said in his homily. “And pretty much across the board, they responded to my question by thinking and talking about the priesthood they would receive as a way to become spiritual fathers — that by being made a priest, they understand that they are dedicated to generating and nurturing the life of grace in the people of God through the sacraments, through teaching the Gospel, and guiding the people in the way of holiness.”

To be a spiritual father in the Church is to be a mediator between the people of God and God the Father in the person of Jesus Christ, Archbishop Vigneron explained. The role of a priest is to facilitate a bond of communion between God’s people and the Father Himself, he said.

“To become a spiritual father in the Church is to be consecrated to that role, to be totally given over to it, to have every talent, every ambition, every hour made part to be dedicated to this work of being a spiritual father,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “It is not about a career plan. It is not about becoming an ecclesiastical civil servant making the ecclesiastical trains run on time. It is about oneself, and it is permanent.”

By presenting themselves for ordination, Frs. Asher, Brown, Kurt, Moening and Ngo have accepted their God-given mission, the archbishop added.

“It is a man’s destiny to receive this call … to be able to say, ‘I was born for this,'” Archbishop Vigneron said. “You have, by your discernment, discovered that this is why God made you — this is what he had in mind for you before you were even created in the wombs of your mothers.”

Continue Reading ...

6) 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!

7) Ascension's Bible and Catechism App

8) Holy Hour on Thursdays

9) This Sunday's Readings: May 26, 2024 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

10) Sunday Reflections by Jeff Cavins

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

In this week’s Encountering the Word reflection for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Jeff Cavins discusses how baptized Christians are children of the one true God, and he shares a little bit about the mystery of the Trinity.

The Sunday Readings are:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: Romans 8:14-17

Alleluia: Revelation 1:8

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

11) Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Three Ways of Approaching the Trinity



Friends, we come once again to Trinity Sunday. The Church has reflected very deeply on who God is, and this great doctrine of the Trinity has emerged from that speculation. What I want to do is give you, appropriately enough, three ways of approaching this profound mystery.

12) Grow+Go

13) 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.

14) TALLer Tales

You’re just like your Mother: For about 18 months, my mom’s mom had to go into a nursing home to help regulate her blood sugar and blood pressure. She was out at MediLodge in Richmond. The staff there took great care of her and treated her like the Queen of the facility. The staff loved the fact my mom was there every day and that many of us were in and out of the nursing home throughout the week. It was always party time in my grandma’s room; her roommates loved the activity, too. I remember the elderly lady near the door in my grandmother’s room. She was bedridden, and she was lucky to have a visitor maybe every couple of months. Seeing how many residents didn’t have regular visitors was rather sad. We ended up adopting this one lady, and it was fun watching her light up when we would visit with her or bring her shakes and things from the outside (all stuff my grandmother and her were not supposed to have).

“Kidnapping” my grandmother for a day’s excursion was always a fascinating experience. They had strict rules that the residents couldn’t be gone long, but we didn’t know the exact details. On the night of my mom’s sister’s funeral (my Aunt Karen, my grandmother’s daughter; she was only 51 and died from scleroderma), there was a bad snowstorm. It was blizzard-like, and we must have had over a foot of snow. The roads were impassable, but we thought we had to get Grandma back that night, otherwise she would lose her bed. So, we treacherously drove out to Richmond and, with snow shovels in hand, shoveled a path to get the car into the driveway with all the drifts and close enough so we could safely get Grandma into the front door. When we finally got to the door and got my grandmother settled in her room, they told us, “Oh, you should have called. She could have spent the night at your house!” UGH! At least we got some exercise!

My sister Cindy and my brother-in-law Jay decided shortly after that experience to take my grandmother into their home in Allenton. My mom and dad’s house was a quad-level, so there were too many floors, and my mom had hurt her back caring for my grandfather. God bless Cindy and Jay because they took care of Grandmother from June 1999 until she died in March 2003. Their living room eventually became my Grandma’s bedroom when we had to move in a hospital bed and oxygen and all that stuff. Now, the living room had a huge window and a door that went out onto the front porch (this is important to know for later).

One night in the middle of February, long after my sister, brother-in-law, and kids went to bed, a strong west winter wind blew open the front door (few lock their doors out in the country). My sister remembers hearing some noise at 2:00 AM, but she just went back to sleep since it quieted down right after that. But poor Grandma couldn’t get out of bed and couldn’t reach for a blanket, so she just sat there as the temperatures plummeted in the house. She was freezing cold by the time my sister woke up in the morning and found the front door wide open. Cindy and Jay felt so bad Grandma froze most of the night. When Cindy asked why she didn’t call out for help, my grandma answered, “I didn’t want to bother anyone!” “Grandma!”

For a few days last week, my mom and I traveled up to Niagra Falls, Niagra on the Lake, and St. Catherine’s in Ontario. We had a great time and returned to SJA late on Friday night. When we returned that Friday night, it was rather hot outside, and my house was stiffling hot inside. It would take several hours before my house cooled down, so I just cranked the thermostat down, and we both went to bed. I think I set it to 69; it was close to 80 in the house at the time.

In the middle of the night, I got up because I was freezing cold and had to go to the bathroom. As I passed my mom’s room, I noticed she was bundled up in a sweatshirt and the best of my winter blankets. I knew it was cold, but good heavens, I wish she would have said something! I was freezing, but that wasn’t anything new (ask the Parish Center Staff). For her to be that cold, it had to have gotten pretty cold in the house. She heard me hobbling around and eventually asked if I could turn up the air. “I’m freezing,” she said. “No kidding,” I said. “Just look at all those blankets piled on top of you! Why didn’t you say something, Mom,” I asked. “I didn’t want to bother you,” she said. I rolled my eyes and thought, “You’re JUST like your mother!” And, at that moment, I couldn’t help but remember the incident with Grandma from many years ago.

Memorial Day: It’s hard to believe that Monday is Memorial Day already. When I lived in Washington, DC., I often commented that there was no better place to be on Memorial Day than in our nation’s capital, especially to visit Arlington Cemetery. The crowds and the people on motorcycles took over the capital and surrounding area. Arlington Cemetery was so spectacular, especially seeing all those flags adorning every grave. And you couldn’t help but think about all the sacrifices all those men and women took to help protect us and our nation.

The origins of Memorial Day dates back to the mid-1800s in our country’s cemeteries. It was initially called Decoration Day, a day many would visit and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers who lost their lives while fighting in the Civil War. I wasn’t aware of this fact until my mom brought it up the other day, but Memorial Day was observed on May 30 for decades. It wasn’t until 1968, when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, that Memorial Day was established as the last Monday in May.

While we certainly use the day to remember those who sacrificed their life in service to our nation, it has also become a day for many to visit the graves of relatives and friends. There is no more peaceful place to take a stroll or a bike ride than at a cemetery. So after starting the day with Mass at SJA at 7:00 AM or Star of the Sea at 9:00 AM, consider visiting the graves of family and friends, visiting Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, the military section of Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, or even catching some of the footage at Arlington National Cemetery as a way to honor and remember those who lost their life in service to our nation.

“God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears, that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Memorial Day. Source: usccb.org).

Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

gmb@sjascs.org

15) Along the Way with Father Adam

The Journey Continues… and Ends

Okay, so if you’re still following along and not yet bored of hearing about the adventures of my dad and I, I have for you today a conclusion. By way of reminder, we traveled to Bismarck, ND for my graduation and then stopped at Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial on our way to Cheyenne, WY. We then made our way to Denver, CO.

One of the very nice things about my dad is his generosity. When we go on vacation he calls me his travel agent. The deal is – I plan the trip and he pays for it. So, we splurged and stay at a nice hotel in the North Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver. However, we knew that we would arrive too early to check in, so we made a pit stop along the way to Mt. Galbraith.

It was an absolutely beautiful 4.5-mile hike, summitting at about 7,300 ft. above sea level. Many people have told me about instances of altitude sickness when you are not used to such heights. For reference, St. Clair Shores averages about 577 ft. above sea level, so it’s a big jump. However, I was confident. Afterall, I had hiked up to 15,300 ft. above sea level on Mt. Chimborazo in Ecuador. Nonetheless, the first 15 minutes of hiking and climbing were the most difficult as our bodies needed to adjust. But the weather was perfect, and the views were spectacular! 

We arrived in Denver on a Tuesday and just 3 days before it had snowed. 

Thankfully, though the big mountains were still snow covered, the smaller ones were in perfect condition.

After arriving at the hotel, we cleaned up, ate some delicious food, and explored the city of Denver. The next morning, we were back on the hiking trail again. This time, we decided to visit the Mother Cabrini Shrine on Mt. Vernon.

St. Frances Cabrini visited Denver many times in her travels across the United States. Mother Cabrini loved the mountains of Colorado. The foothills west of Denver held a special attraction for her. During her journeys in 1902 to visit the Italian workers and their families in the Clear Creek, Argentine, and South Park mining districts, Mother Cabrini discovered a property on the east slope of Lookout Mountain owned by the town of Golden.

No reliable source of water was known to exist on the property at that time, although there were two fine barns and a springhouse built in the 1890s. In 1909–1910, she negotiated the purchase of this property as a summer camp for her charges at the Queen of Heaven Orphanage in Denver, CO.

A farming operation, with poultry, other livestock and dairy cows, was established and maintained by three of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart who set up living quarters in the loft of the larger barn. During the summer months, groups of about twenty girls, according to age, would spend several weeks at the summer camp. They enjoyed the freedom of the outdoors and recreational activities in addition to tending the animals and performing farm chores. Mother even had built a giant statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the top of the mountain.

However, there was one major problem… all of the water needed for drinking and cooking had to be brought up to the summer camp from the stream at the bottom of Mt. Vernon Canyon. In September 1912, the sisters complained to Mother Cabrini that they were dying of thirst and there was no water to be had. She answered, “Lift that rock over there and start to dig. You will find water fresh enough to drink and clean enough to wash.” The spring, which is housed in an 8,000 gallon tank, has never stopped running. Many pilgrims, through their faith, believe the water has brought healing and peace to their lives.

After exploring the Shrine, drinking the healing water, and summiting the mountain, we then hiked the creek trail. (This is the same creek that the sisters had get their water from initially.) We also hiked a bit through the red rocks before returning to the hotel to rest.

The last full day in Denver I was able to grab coffee with a priest friend with whom I studied at the University of Mary. In the evening my dad and I drove south of Denver to spend time with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. We had not seen them in several years, so it was great to catch up and share stories.

But alas, we had to return home. Grateful for time with my dad, it was wonderful to explore a bit more of our beautiful United States. And I must say, I’ll definitely return to Colorado for some more hiking.

Thanks for journeying with me! See you soon!

Fr. Adam

anowak@sjascs.org

16) Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz

Do You Go to Hell If You’ve Never Heard of Jesus?

When considering the people of the Old Testament before Jesus’s coming, we might ask ourselves: “Are those without the knowledge of Jesus destined for eternal damnation?”

And what about those who have never had an opportunity in our day and age to hear the name of Jesus and accept faith? “Where do they go when they die?”

Today, Fr. Mike explores these tough questions, drawing on the sacred scriptures and the church’s teachings on salvation.

17) Words on the Word: May 26, 2024 - Prayer by Accident

Two people. 

Two vastly different periods of their lives. 

Similar situation. 

Same outcome. 

And the same prayer for them and for all.

Local media reported a couple weeks ago – on the very same day – of two fatal accidents that took place that day on I-75 in Detroit. 

The two people: a 91-year-old man and a 4-year-old boy. The situations: both were passengers in cars that were involved in separate accidents on the freeway. The outcome: both died. 

In the case of the man, it was his wife driving the car. In the case of the boy, it was his mother.

The coincidences in the story are insignificant compared to the scope of such tragedies. Indeed, it’s hard to make sense of God’s plan in such circumstances, and how all of this can eventually conduce to something better.

But we know it will.

In the meantime, the families and loved ones of the people involved in these incidents – and of anyone involved in such tragedies – can take solace in the reassurance of knowing that the victims and the survivors are always under the watchful protection of God, the Father, who knows them by name and loves them.

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” St. Paul says in today’s second reading from the letter to the Romans. “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”

We all know accidents happen. And no one can be assured that they or a loved one won’t be impacted by one at some point.

But God is there. Now, then, and always. And that’s no accident at all.

© 2024 Words on the Word

18) This WEEK on FORMED:

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:

• 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.



19) 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!

Testimony of Fr. Donald Calloway

Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, recounts his remarkable journey from a youth filled with sex, drugs, and crime to a dramatic encounter with Our Lady and a life transformed through the grace of God’s mercy. 

20) Hallow App:

21) Mass Intentions for the Week:

Monday, May 27, 2024, Weekday (Green/White)

7:00 am, Sue Krolikowski,

Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Weekday (Green)

7:00 am, Hugo Calisi

Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Weekday, Saint Paul VI, Pope (Green/White)

7:00 am, Debbie Albrecht

6:00 pm, Mary Mastay

Thursday, May 30, 2024, Weekday (Green)

7:00 am, William R. Richer

Friday, May 31, 2024, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (White)

7:00 am, Anna Wilson

Saturday, June 1, 2024, Vigil for The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (White)

4:00 pm, Bonnie Batche, Virginia Vonderwerth, Aggie Butki, Mary Lou Racine, and Special Intentions for the J. Champine Family, the Thomas Family, Alison Reslow, Lorraine Jonas, Pam Haisenleder, Linda Frank

6:00 pm, John Armaly Sr.

Sunday, June 2, 2024, Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (White)

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

10:00 am, Wally Gray

12:00 pm, Evan Battani, the living and deceased members of the Rogier & Dettloff Families, Frank E. Adamcik, John Hayosh, Aggie Butki, Gil Bousho, Joan Figley, and Special Intentions for Mark & Regina Wickard, 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 27)

7:00 AM - Mass

Tuesday (May 28):

7:00 AM - Mass

8:30 AM - School Mass

Wednesday (May 29):

7:00 AM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Thursday (May 30):

7:00 AM- Mass

7:00 PM - Holy Hour

Friday (May 31):

7:00 AM - Mass

6:00 PM - 8th Grade Mass and Graduation

Saturday (June 1):

12:30 PM - Baptism of Cam Braden Michaels

2:30 PM - Baptism of Patrick J. Fleming

4:00 PM - Mass

6:00 PM - Mass

Sunday (June 2):

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 26, 2024

24) Weekly Bulletin Mailing List

25) Detroit Catholic