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Jolene’s Jottings

4/3/2016

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As we move from Holy Week and Easter, we realize that Resurrection has just begun. I just finished reading the article in the Free Press yesterday about Msgr. Russ Kohler’s death. Msgr. Kohler was the pastor of Most Holy Trinity since 1991,or for 25 years, and St. Anne’s since 2012. All of us can identify with the parishioners of these two parishes as they suffer the loss of their pastor. But after more than a year since Father Singer began his new life, we are able to focus more on resurrection than loss.

Resurrection means new life and new life means change. Having just come through the beautiful celebrations of Holy Week we are aware there were changes but the changes were rich with meaning and new life. Without change, life can become dull and meaningless. But often we resist change. We do not give it a chance. We prefer to focus on our loss of the past and so lose out on the joy and richness of the new. Hopefully as we celebrate the Easter Season, we can keep this in mind. It is the season of new life. Look for it and enjoy it. It is God’s gift to us and if we fail to look for it we will miss much joy.

As I think about the past week, I came to realize something special. With Anne still in Florida, it left many things for me to take care of. Twenty or thirty years ago that was no challenge but this year I definitely realized that I can no longer do what I did then. As we talk about plans for Nativity’s future, I know there is much we need to do to maintain and grow our parish. Joni has begun some new and exciting things with the children and the sacramental preparation programs. That kind of thing needs to be done with other needs for Nativity to flourish. We need more programs or activities for young families, for our young adults, for our seniors and to continue helping our children and all adults grow in their faith.

I am more and more aware that I do not have the energy to do what needs to be done nor to rally the forces to do it. I realize that it is time for me to retire. Originally I thought I would do this when I turned 75 in 2013, but we all know what has happened since, so it was put on the back burner. But now I believe the time has come. My memory is not what it used to be so I forget what I was going to do as I am on the way to do it. (That was happening for a long time but now it happens much too often.) I run out of energy by noon and mid afternoon when there is still much that needs to be done to complete the day’s work. Even when I do get a good creative thought, I quickly dismiss it because I say, “I can’t do that anymore.” I do not have the stamina need to see it through. Therefore it is my hope that by the end of June we can find a new pastoral minister for Nativity.
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My time line is flexible and I am willing to stay round and help the new person until they are comfortable with their job if they want that, but I am also comfortable with moving on immediately. I would like to remain a member of the Nativity parish family so I can continue to enjoy the love and faith we share together, but not to feel the responsibility of making sure everything is take care of all the time. I want to be one of you, doing what I can with gifts I still have, but no longer one in charge. Meantime let’s enjoy the Easter Season and new life that awaits us.
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Jolene's Jottings

2/1/2016

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“They went their way, and the star which they had seen in the East went before them…” (Matthew 2:9)

Sister Jolene received this at Christmas time and we thought it would be good to share with all.

Dear Friends and Benefactors,

Being in the Middle East and seeing what is happening around us makes it hard to believe that our world is ready to welcome the Lord. The star of Christmas shines on us in our second year of exile to tell us how similar our world is now to the time when Jesus was born. The wandering magi who had lost their way are still there, but they are not only three—there are thousands of them. Herod who wanted to kill the innocents in still there, but he has become many. The Holy Family is still fleeing to escape with their lives, followed by many other families who are immigrating in all directions. And, Rachel is still weeping over here children who were stripped out of her arms, and she is accompanied by her neighbors whose grief just leaves us speechless.

Yet, it is still the star of Christmas that shines to show where the King of peace is born. It is in this world, and no other world where Jesus is born to be with us and for us.

The Lord comes unexpectedly, challenging our mentality and our expectations. He comes in our worn out world, even when the world is not ready for Him. He comes to our aid in times of weakness, pain, violence, and darkness in order to be close to us. He is always there, guiding the wandering people, accompanying those who flee, and wiping the tears of the weeping mothers.

Having confidence in Him and his powerful presence among us, we are to continue and journey with those who are left in Iraq, although nothing is clear about the future. News is not encouraging at all, and people do not have the capacity think anymore. We ask your prayers that God may strengthen our faith, enlighten us and grant us His wisdom to discern in our reality despite all the difficulties and pressures we are living. How much enlightened vision and courage we need!

On this blessed occasion, and confidence that the word of the Lord will prevail, I extend my greetings to all sisters, brethren, friends, benefactors, and organizations who have been accompanying us in our dark night Thank you for being a guiding star that shows us God’s loving care. We believe that His light will tear through the darkness, and He will come down.
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O Come, Lord Jesus. You are our joy…our peace...and our life.
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Jolene’s Jottings

12/27/2015

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Anne is always looking for people to do the bulletin article and usually I get the second Sunday, but I made the mistake of telling her that I could do Holy Family Sunday if she needed, so here I am. I have always appreciated Holy Family Sunday because God has blest me with a wonderful family and for years I got to spend Holy Family Sunday with them. My Mom and Dad were both very loving parents, always there for us and always teaching us, especially by example, to be responsible loving persons. I had three brothers and three sisters who learned as I did to love one another and all others in our world. Mom and Dad and Judy are gone now, but the 70 of us still here, plus the in-laws, are still a close knit family and for that I thank God and celebrate this day with great gratitude and joy.

However, over the years, I have come to know may families who do not have the gift of a loving family. Today so many families are broken. Members are alone, not speaking to one another, sometimes not even knowing the rest of their own family. Single parents struggle to raise their children alone while trying to support them as well. Our society encourages us to have more material things so parents fell they have to work, often more than one job, to prove these material things that do onto give peace and joy and especially not love. Kids think they need more material things or be involved in more activities but do not even realize the value of being with family. Many families rarely have a sit down meal together. Each is attach to their electronic devices and speak little to one another.
Mary and Joseph went through many truing times during Jesus’ life. His birth is in a stable in a foreign town. They had to flee, as so many foreign families do today, to a foreign country just to be safe and protect Jesus. The when Jesus is about twelve, he disappears for three days. Imagine their fear and frustration. Though we think we live in a much more civilized society today, we do not have to look hard to see many families around us going through many of the same trials. What are we doing about it?

What are we doing in our own families to bring about more peace and love? I would like to suggest to each of you to ask yourself these questions and spend some time reflecting on what you can do to change things for yourself, your family, or some other family. Here are a few suggestions. For your family, schedule a period each day to turn off all electronic devices, including phones and TVs, just to spend time together with your family either eating, playing a fun game or learning what each did today. If you are not talking to a family member, call them and see if you can peacefully settle the problem that caused the disagreement or anger. Life is too short to waste another day not loving one another. If you cannot make the call, at least spent some time in prayer for the other and seeing if you can free yourself of the anger you feel.
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For those we know or see around us, can you offer to lend a helping hand to a single parent who is stressed with work and raising a family? For the many refugee families, or other needy people in our community, can we clean out our closets and give them things we really do not need? Imagine yourself walking in their shoes. What would you want to happen for you? Then just do what you can.
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Jolene's Jottings

12/6/2015

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Today there are two things about which I would like to share a few thoughts with you. The first is Advent. The first week of Advent is already over. What have you done so far to prepare for Christ’s coming? If you are like me, we are hanging our heads because we have been busy about many things. But did I pause a bit to thank God for the love I received as God’s gift each day or each time during the day that God showered me with another gift of love.
 
I was determined to make this Advent much more a time of prayer and reflection. Today is just Tuesday so it is only two days into Advent but I must confess that there were countless times that I was just “busy” and not reflective nor thankful until much later when I did take time to reflect. Then I realized God had given me a bit of sunshine, plenty of good food to eat, the energy to complete the tasks I need to do, three dogs who love me and just wanted a bit of my attention, parishioner friends who cheerfully gave of their time to do something for the parish, a repair man who fixed the steam leak in the Parish House basement, I could fill this whole page listing the gifts of just the past few days. So if you have not done so yet, take a moment to quietly list the good things you were gifted with just today. Then say a big thank you to God.
 
Besides being the second Sunday of Advent, today is the day set aside for the Retirement Fund for Religious collection. For those of us who are older, we are very aware of the Religious who worked tirelessly in Catholic Schools, hospitals and agencies, usually for little or no pay. As a result, many religious communities do not have adequate savings for retirement and eldercare. Many fewer young people are entering religious communities today so there are far too few able to bring in any income to support the older religious.
 
Very few communities were as blessed as we Racine Dominicans. We had Sister Joseph Ellen (she taught business classes at Nativity High School in the past) who was a genius with finances. Because of her expertise she got the Racine Dominicans into Social Security at a time when after just three years, we were getting more in benefits than it was costing us to be enrolled. She was also wise about investing and put together a plan by which we knew what we needed in savings to be sure that we had adequate to care for each sister until her expected death and what we could therefore spend for ministry needs.
 
Few other communities had this. Many chose not to get into Social Security or did not have the funds to do so. Few invested in any savings. So many religious communities today do not have adequate funds to exist and care for their elderly. Their years of sacrifice for others leave them today with nothing to draw from except your generosity. Many of us were educated by religious men or women. Most of our Catholic hospitals were directed by religious communities and provided great health care when we needed hospitalization. Religious orders of men staffed many parishes, schools and charitable organizations. Now many of these communities need our help to survive.
 
When I give to a charitable fund I like to know how much of the funds actually go for the cause instead of administrative costs. For this collection, 94.4% is distributed to religious communities and the funds collected are distributed according to need. So please do your best to give.
 
This Tuesday , December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass is here at 7:00PM in the Winter Chapel (aka Church basement.)
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What's Happening!

Christmas Schedule:  
December 12/13: Bring Gifts from house to church basement & If you took a tag
bring your gift to church.
December14-17: Wrapping, sorting, organizing
December18: Deliver Christmas to families
December19: Deliver Christmas to families and clean church
December 20: Decorate church after Mass
Sunday School Students to Senior Apartments to sing Christmas carols after Mass.
December 24th: Christmas Eve– 5:00PM
Children’s Christmas Mass and Jesus’ Birthday Party
Christmas Eve: 9:30 PM CHOIR CONCERT 10:00PM MASS
 
Christmas Day:  Mass at 9:45 AM
New Years Eve: 5:00PM at Nativity
11:00PM at St. Charles with a Pot Luck Dinner/Party afterwards
 
If you took a tag from the basket for a Christmas gift for a child in the Christmas Program, all gifts need to be brought back next weekend. Thank you! If your family needs assistance for Christmas, please call the Parish House, Monday through Wednesday this week.
 
The sign up is out for Crunch Time. If you can help out a couple hours that week it would be greatly appreciated. There are many jobs, just look over the lists to find one you can do.  Thank you!
 

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jolene's jottings

7/29/2015

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Anne, with her great planning ahead and assigning tasks, told me weeks ago that I had the bulletin article for this week but no great inspirations came for writing it. Since I leave for vacation tomorrow and do not get back until the day you read this, I need to write something today. The Social Committee members gave me an idea last night at their meeting to plan for our parish picnic.
 
The readings for this weekend are about feeding the crowds. Both Elisha and Jesus feed the crowds who are gathered with a small amount of food. I do not want to suggest that our Social Committee nor the group planning and organizing the August 2nd event will be preparing the food for the crowd but they will prepare the space and plans for the day. The role of the rest of us is to participate so we can make the event a relaxing and fun experience for all.
 
As Nativity Parishioners well know, the second Sunday of August is always our parish picnic at Metropolitan Beach. That is August 9th this year. What is different this year is we are inviting St. Charles to join us. Of importance for all of us to remember is that the Mass schedule for that weekend will be changed. Nativity will have just the 4:00 Mass on Saturday evening. St. Charles has the8:15 Mass on Sunday morning. And hopefully most of us will be attending the 1:00 Mass at Metropolitan Beach now known as Lake St. Clair Metro Park.
 
The committee is planning to get the same spot we had last year which is near the boat loading area and close enough to the bathrooms. We need you to check out the sign up posters to let us know what you will bring. We need a great variety of food; hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, salads, desserts, beverages, and snacks. We will bring a few chairs and tables but if you have them, we need you to bring your own lawn chairs, card tables, coolers, easy to set up canopies and anything else you think would be good for the day. Most of all, we need you to come and get to know a few new people just a bit better and enjoy the day.
 
The second event that should draw a large crowd, and that we should be participating in is another picnic Sunday, August 2nd, (that is next Sunday) at Belle Isle. It is the Interfaith Suburban-Urban Unity Annual Picnic. It is from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Central Avenue across from the Kids Playscape. There is dancing, singing, drumming, worship, games and fun for all ages. Meat is provided by the sponsoring group. Each family is asked to bring a side dish to share. The day is sponsored by a number of organizations who work to improve interreligious relationships and urban-suburban unity. The poster will be on the bulletin board on the door leading to the main parking lot if you want more information. It would be great if some of us were there to support the cause.
 
So enjoy the month of August, meet new friends, eat great food and share the memories and ideas together as we celebrate God’s great creation of new and different people and all in the setting of God’s beautiful nature in hopefully  wonderful, sunny, summer days.
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