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Pastor's Pen

2/26/2017

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It was an honor to be able to preside at Miriam Moses’ Memorial Mass and Pat Couture’s Funeral Mass this past week.  It truly was an inspiring experience between the wonderful music and the powerful spirit among the congregations all coming out to pray for their dear relative and friend.  I left thinking, “Boy, they were good liturgies!”  In the Christian tradition, liturgy means the participation of the People of God in “the work of God.”  As I read this I realize that liturgy is the work of God preparing our souls to do the heroic acts of love we are called to throughout our lives.    Good liturgy and compassion for our brothers and sisters go hand in hand.  It’s like we can’t have one without the other.  We can’t have beautiful liturgies without allowing ourselves to be broken and poured out for our brothers and sisters in need.  The other side of the coin is that we can’t run around busy with works of charity without being spiritually fed.  The good work will become a bitterness in our soul.  I say this because it’s easy for all of us (myself included) to go through the actions at liturgies without engaging our hearts.  We know all the parts of the Mass and we can glide through without even realizing the power of the Eucharist.  Each Eucharist should change us and call us to a deeper commitment to Christ and to one another but we have to be open to that reality.  We have to consciously allow Christ to work on our hearts.
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I write this because I’m pretty sure I had people upset at Parish Council this past week.  I asked that we have one Easter Vigil between the two Churches this year.  I realize any talk of sharing anything between the two parishes brings instant fear of a cluster or merger.  The only reason I asked for one Vigil this year was to highlight the power of this most important liturgy.  The meaning of the Easter Vigil is about the brightness of the resurrection breaking through the darkness of sin and death.  The church asks us to vigil after sunset and it makes great sense.  It is a powerful symbol as we see the light of the Easter candle in the darkness of the church and then witness that same light being shared by the whole congregation.  The tradition of Nativity has been to have it a 4 pm.  The reason being that people don’t want to be our so late after dark.  I understand that but it really doesn’t make for good liturgy.  The difficulty I’ve had celebrating this liturgy while it’s till light is that it goes against all the symbolic imagery of the beautiful Easter Vigil service.  My proposal is that we have Easter Vigil this year at St. Charles because we have two baptisms there and then have the Vigil at Nativity next year.  I think it can be a powerful way for both congregations to come together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  I ask that you please try and trust me and give it a try this year.

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Council Coments

2/21/2017

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Our Church Steps Up

Unfortunately, there have been occasions in the history of the Catholic Church when the hierarchy has been silent on issues that cried out for the Church’s voice and moral leadership.  Two of those occasions that seem most relevant for the purpose of today’s column were the Church’s silence and on behalf of the Jews during the Holocaust and the detention of Japanese Americans during World War II.  The Church has since acknowledged its failure in both of these cases (as well as others) and has pledged to take seriously its responsibility to provide leadership and guidance in the face of injustice.

On January 27, 2017, President Trump issued an executive order which suspends the entry of refugees into the United States for 120 days.  The order also indefinitely stops the admission of Syrian refugees and, for 90 days, bands individuals from several predominantly Muslim countries.  True to its pledge, on January 28th, Archbishop Vigneron responded on behalf of the diocese with a letter to the Imams Council of Michigan.  You can read it at aodonline.org.  On January 30th, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its own statement.  Here are highlights form the statement:

“Over the past several days, many brother bishops have spoken out in defense of God’s people.  We are grateful for their witness.  Now, we call upon all the Catholic faithful to join us as we unite our voices with all who speak in defense of human dignity.  The bond between Christians and Muslims is founded on the unbreakable strength of charity and justice.  The Church will not waiver in her defense of our sisters and brothers for all faiths who suffer at the hands of merciless persecutors.

The refugees fleeing from ISIS and other extremists are sacrificing all they have in the name of peace and freedom.  Often, they could have been spared if only they had surrendered to the violent vision of their tormentors.  They stand firm in their faith.  Many are families, not different from yours or mine, seeking safety and security for their children.  Our nation should welcome them as allies in a common fight against evil.  We must screen vigilantly for infiltrators who would do us harm, but we must always be equally vigilant in our welcome of friends.

The Lord Jesus fled the tyranny of Herod, was falsely accused and then deserted by his friends.  He had nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58).  Welcoming the stranger and those in flight is not one option among many in the Christian life.  It is the very form of Christianity itself.  Our actions must remind people of Jesus.  The actions our government must remind people of basic humanity.  Where our brothers and sisters suffer rejection and abandonment we will lift our voice on their behalf.  We will welcome them and receive them.  They are Jesus, and the Church will not run away from him.

Our desire is not to enter the political arena, but, rather, to proclaim Christ alive in the world today.  In the very moment a family abandons their home under the threat of death, Jesus is present.  And he says to each of us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

(Matthew 25: 40 NIV)

​
Fran, Pastoral Minister
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Joni's Reflection

2/19/2017

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My Command to you is: Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.

The last two readings taken from the Sermon on the Mount deal with love of enemies.  We should not look at “an eye for an eye” as an inordinately strict punishment.  It actually meant to limit acts of revenge by making sure the punishment is not excessive but fits the crime.  However, Jesus asks his followers to take a different approach by resisting retaliation altogether.  If we are honest this is very difficult at times to do, and that is why it is so important to reconcile with one another.  Take a moment to think about times when you have said some things that you really wished had not come out of your mouth, or even been part of your thoughts.  At times, it is quite obvious that decisions are motivated by greed or fear.  Racism, ageism, sexism, and those other attitudes of intolerance towards immigrants may by subtle or blatant.  Whether in our own homes or across the globe, we have many opportunities each day to forget who we are.  In this world of mass media, we are consumed daily with news reports that keep putting one human being against another.  If we are not mindful we can develop an attitude of “forgetting” who God is and our knowledge of how God acts in our world.

Psalm 85 is one of my favorite psalms as it gives you’re the blue print for forgiveness, peace, and justice.  A dear friend of mine used to end each of his letters and documents with a paraphrase of the psalm, “Kindness and truth shall meet, and justice and peace shall embrace.”  Take some time this week to reflect on this psalm or even the psalm in today’s readying.  Psalm 103: 1-4, 8,10, 12-13 “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and bounding in kindness.” Then ask yourself these two questions: “Who have you show kindness and mercy to?  Who has been kind and merciful to you?  There is the kingdom of God.

​February is Black History Month, and in honor of the hundreds of African Americans who have contributed to making our country a better place, I would like to offer words of love from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his reflection, I Have Decided to Stick With Love. “I’m concerned about a better world.  I’m concerned about justice; I’m concerned about brotherhood and sisterhood; I’m concerned about truth.  And when one is concerned about that, he can never advocate violence.  For through violence, you may murder a murderer, but you can’t murder murder.  Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can’t murder hate through violence.  Darkness cannot put our darkness; only light can do that.”

“And I say to you, I have also decided to stick with love, for I know that love is ultimately the only answer to humankind’s problems.  And I’m going to talk about it everywhere I go.  I know it isn’t popular to talk about it in some circles today.  And I’m not talking about emotional bosh when I talk about love; I’m talking about a strong demanding love.  For I have seen too much hate […] and I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear.  I have decided to love.  If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love.  And the beautiful thing is that we aren’t moving wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love.  He who hates does not know God, but he who loves has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.”  The entire document can be found on the awakin.org website.  Ask yourself this question, how can I show love for someone who is opposed to me in some way?

Amazing Peace,
​Joni, DREthjr

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Pastor's Pen

2/12/2017

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The Gospel today is filled with ways we are called to be disciples.  Jesus truly “raises the bar” as he takes the commandment “thou shall not kill” and warns that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be called to judgment.  I guess what Jesus is saying is just because we haven’t physically murdered anyone, we shouldn’t think we are home free.  We can still hurt and slowly “kill” people with our attitudes, actions and our words.  How many times has a child been hurt by the criticism of a parent or a spouse been crushed by a stinging remark from their beloved?  How often have we hurt one another with self-righteous attitudes or our judgments?  We have all fallen short in our relationships but in a few weeks (March 1st) we will begin the season of Lent and have time to go deeper into our hearts for the grace to do better with our lives.  It can be a time to dig deeper into our faith, to heal some struggles from our past and to reconcile ourselves with one another.

My hope is to set up faith sharing groups that will meet weekly during Lent.  You can either meet at Nativity or you and your group can meet at someone’s house.  I know we’ve done this with the RENEW experience and I hear it was a great success.  So, my hope is that during these weeks of Lent, we will be renewed and come closer together.  The most important thing is that the group be consistent and all members must remain faithful to their commitment to meet.  Another hope would be that is would stretch us so that we open ourselves to people in the parish whom we may not know very well.  Lastly, my hope is that welcome to this group allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to one another.  We have all been on a faith journey.  The twists and turns, ups and downs, joys and sorrows have been our sacred scripture.  God has been walking with us through all of the moments and the fact that we’ve made it to this point is all about God’s grace.  Each of our stories is sacred and will inspire others in our group if we have the courage to share them.

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Our faith sharing could just be something we tried during Lent 2017 or this can be a powerful encounter with God and one another.  We have no idea what God a can do if we’re open to His grace.  Let’s allow God to work on all of us this Lenten season!
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Member's Minutes

2/3/2017

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Dear Friends:

Have you ever heard about the proverbial “ELEPHANT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM”?  Everybody pretends it isn’t there so we talk around it and ignore it!  Well, this saying refers to a condition, an event, a situation or a task which we do not want to face or even admit that it’s there!  But pretty soon the elephant (that situation we don’t address) comes crashing through the door; and the what??  We are forced to look at it head on.  Pretty hard to ignore an approaching elephant for very long!

ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS WE CAN LEAVE OUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES WHEN WE DIE IS OUR PLANNED FUNERAL.  Now how about THAT for an elephant?  Several years ago Fr. Jerry asked a few parishioners to form a committee to assist people to do this with the aid of a form to fill out and use of a book which has suggested reading and hymns.  (This book is left in the church) The idea is that your celebration will fit who you are, what your legacy is, and YOU’D like to have read and sung at your liturgical celebration.  As we all know and have experienced, the time immediately surrounding the death of a loved one, whether expected or nor, is a highly stressful time.  But if the family and priest know what you have requested and relief of having this already in place is almost palpable; it is such a relief to all involved AND they will also be so happy that all of this is in writing; no guessing what hymns were your favorite or what readings would be appropriate for you.  It is a well known fact that people just cannot make good judgments and/or decisions at this time of grieving and loss.  Having done Hospice Nursing for many years and gave me and others great insight into the beauty and necessity of this arrangement.

​Many of our Hospice patients had already don this even before they came into the program.  It has been a few years since the committee urged all of us to plan our funerals; make a copy for your loved ones and give one to the rectory, if Nativity is where you will have having your funeral.  Those of you who have already done this may want to update your copy.  And congratulations to you for taking that step!  It is so important.  Forms will be available in Church; take one or two home and if you have not already thought about this important step in your ”journey,” I urge you to make this a commitment and follow through!  In other words, don’t take it home and put it on the dining room table never to be seen again!  It might be easier to carry this out if you think of it as a GIFT!! And it truly will be. God bless you!
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