Solemnity of Corpus Christi 6 June 2021
O Salutaris, Hostia
St. Michael Catholic Church & School 708 St. Michael’s Lane Gastonia, NC 28052
This Week at St. Michael’
Sacred Liturgy Sunday, June 6 7:30 AM Holy Mass—For the People 8:00 AM Adult Choir Practice: G-Hall
Corpus Christi 9:00 AM Spanish FF: All buildings 9:00 AM Holy Mass—† Remy Weber Jordan 10:30 AM St. Joseph Consecration
11:00 AM Holy Mass (Spanish)—Priest Intention Class: HFR
12:30 PM Spanish Dance Practice: Gym
Monday, June 7 8:30 AM Holy Mass—† Albert & Pauline Monda 6:00 PM Confirmation Rehearsal: Ch 6:30 PM Legion of Mary: HFR 6:30 PM Regnum Christi: G-Hall 7: 00 PM K/C: PCH/K
Tuesday, June 8 6:00 PM Holy Mass (Spanish)— Priest Intention 1:00 PM Cursillo
7:00 PM Spanish Emaús Group: PCH/ G-Hall
Wednesday, June 9 4:45 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 6:30 PM TSG: Gym 5:45 PM Benediction 7:30 PM Spanish Choir Practice: Ch
6:00 PM Holy Mass—† James Hodgkiss St. Ephrem
6:45 PM—7:30 PM Confessions
Thursday, June 10 8:30 AM Holy Mass—SMCS Graduating Class 7:00 PM Spanish Catechists Mtg: of 2021 G-Hall
Friday, June 11 6 AM—6 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 7:00 PM Spanish Youth Group: G-Hall
8:30 AM Holy Mass—Richard Evarts
The Most Sacred Heart 9:15 AM —10:15 AM Confessions
of Jesus 5:00 PM—Spanish Confessions (Cry Room)
Saturday, June 12 8:30 AM Holy Mass—Lay Dominicans 9:00 AM Spanish 1st Communion Set-Up: Gym
9:15 AM—11:00 AM Confessions 12:30 PM Spanish 1st Communion Reception: Gym The Immaculate Heart 11:00 AM Spanish 1st Communion Mass— of the Blessed Virgin Mary Priest Intention
4:30 PM Holy Mass—Rick & Igaitte Schilke
Sunday, June 13 7:30 AM Holy Mass—† William & Rosemary 8:00 AM Adult Choir Practice: G-Hall 11th Sunday in Level 10:30 AM St. Joseph Consecration
Ordinary Time Class: HFR 9:00 AM Holy Mass—For the People 12:30 PM Spanish Dance Practice: Gym
11:00 AM Holy Mass (Spanish)—Priest Intention
Please Remember in your Prayers
Fr. James Ebright, Sister Mary Olivia Shirley, Amy and We warmly children, Baria Estella Alvarado, Anna Ashworth, Joe welcome Bell, Joseph Berta, A. Bevendez, Marilyn Bickham, Tim Matthew Biddix, J Black, Beth Bradley, Jeffrey Brown, Kristy Brown, Mark Buettner, Jerry Carpenter, Eneida Dimock, Jr. Ceballos, Steven Cherry, Peggy Clark, Dakota, Hutch who has been Dow, Betty Dow, Gail Driscoll, Glenda Downey, Michael assigned for Durkee, Betsy Durkee, Elizabeth Eddie, Greg Edel, Nicholas Escandón, Jill Faille, Frances Ficke, Pete & summer ministry Rebecca Files, Shannon Frazer, Charlie Gallagher, Steve at our parish! Gnandt, Kathy Geoffroy, Penny Godwin, Aleyda Gómez, Shirley Hachey, Harold Harrison, Gwen Hart, Calvin Hebert, Dorothy Henley, Judy Horton, Jacob Huffman, Eric Hunter, Connie Hutter, Peggy Jacobs, Linda Johnson, Robin Johnson, Glenda and Brenda Jolly, Briceida Juya, Mary Kay, Holly Koloziejski, Dick & Kay Landry, Joann & Norman Loughmiller, Lucas Lowe, Stephanie Lowry, Jeff Lugo, Kent Lupton, Maureen Lupton, Doris McFee, Margaret Virginia McCoig, Tere Manjarrez, Rita Mascarenhas, Micheli Family, Milewski Family, Heather Monteleagre, Marion Moore, Wayne & Gloria Moore, John Moore, Linda Morlocci, Caleb Munson, Maile Munson, Lydia Munson, Myshkin Munson, Beckett Munson, MaryAnn For the whole parish! Murray, Kathy Olijnyk, Gerald Orazem, Mary Packard, Charles Pasour, David Peace, H. Pichardo, Ms. Paulie, CONSECRATION TO Amelia Parkes, Gretchen Prendeville, Finley Price, SAINT JOSEPH Patsy & Allen Queen, Ivo Raimundo, Maryely Rebolledo, Sue Ruocco, Bill & Jim Saluke, Gemma Sunday, June 20, 2021 Servin Vega, Maureen Setlock , Bette Shirley, Jim Sneska, at the 9 AM Mass Pat Splawn, Bob Stauss, James Michael Stoute, Cheryl (Father’s Day) Street, McKenzie Tapper, Julie Teague, Maerene
Thomas, Tinsdale Family, Orlando Torres, Carolyn Webster, Liliana Wenger, Lisa Wilber, Willis Family, Altar Flowers Joyce Ziolkowski
In Loving Memory of For all in service to our country: Matthew Barker, Michael P. Bernard, Jr., Derrick Remy Weber Jordan Dobbins, Andrew and Joseph Chase, Jeffrey Kaldah, Zach Kiefaber, Thomas Terrio, Stefan Zapata by Teresa Weber Sacrament of Reconciliation Schedule
Wednesdays 6:45 PM—7:30 PM
Fridays 9:15 AM—10:15 AM
Saturdays 9:15 AM—11 AM
Dear St. Michael Families,
It is with the greatest of joy that I introduce myself as the Director of Evangeliza on of St. Michael Catholic Church! That I will have the privilege of advancing the mission of this great parish overwhelms me with gra tude. Although a new beginning for me, it is in many ways the culmina on of a personal adventure that began almost 18 years ago.
Raised in Gastonia, NC in a home located in the St. Michael neighborhood (just off Hillcrest Avenue), I grew up in the United Methodist tradi on of my family. Confirmed a United Methodist in my youth at First UMC, Gastonia, I lapsed in my religious devo on for several years un l a new zeal for the Lord struck me in my early twen es. I became ac ve again in the only community and Chris an tradi on I knew and soon therea er discerned a call to teach the Chris an faith as a United Methodist pastor.
A er gradua ng from UNC-Chapel Hill (2000) and upon matricula ng at Duke Divinity School (M. Div, 2003), I Encountered, for the first me in my studies, the treasuries of the Catholic tradi on, an experience that sowed in me the seeds of a new desire that would develop and mature over me.
Two years before taking my first appointment as pastor to a small Methodist community, a pivotal moment for me occurred. I came across The Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux. One Saturday a ernoon, while s ll a seminary student, I decided to pick it up and to read. As I turned each page, I slowly exposed the spiritual dynamite laden therein. Thérèse’s words detonated in my hands and set me on fire.
St. Thérèse made me realize, for the first me, that I too should desire to become a saint, unthinkable for me beforehand, and she introduced me to the Mother I never knew I had: the Blessed Virgin Mary. I became enamored of Our Lady from that point forward, so much so that I, a United Methodist, began praying the rosary (in secret!) almost daily.
In 2004 and while a new pastor, two years married to my wife Chris e, also a seminary graduate from Duke Divinity, I began exploring the possibility of becoming a Catholic in full communion. I consulted area priests about my dilemma. Roadblocks confronted me in every direc on.
A er my wife became pregnant with our first child in early 2005, I commi ed to be the Methodist pastor I believed God called me to be. Nevertheless, I plunged myself deeper into the Catholic intellectual tradi on. The saints were my constant companions: John of the Cross, Catherine of Sienna, Thomas Aquinas, Augus ne, and, of course, the Li le Flower. I prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, went to Adora on and, despite one period of lapse, maintained my devo on to the Rosary. I was a Catholic in mind and desire. I wondered how I could also become Catholic in body and soul.
Space here prohibits me from outlining all the details, but in 2019 the Catholic wave that started rising in me years before began cres ng in April of that year. I consecrated myself to Our Lady according to the methods of St. Louis De Mon ort; my wife and two children converted to Catholicism soon therea er; and through the encouragement of the priests of St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville, and in view of the divisions embroiling the Methodist denomina on, I knew the me was upon me. Yet, I loved my work. I loved the people I served; but my inner theological conflicts, which I had reconciled before, became impossible to ignore. A ending Mass with my new Catholic family strengthened my resolve. I needed to come home.
Through the generosity of the people of Davidson United Methodist, the community of which I was the senior pastor, I took a paid leave in March of this year so that I might focus on the next chapter of my life. My conversion was no longer a ma er of if, but of when. The ques ons begged, however: Lord, what will I do? Lord, how will I provide for my family? Lord, I am afraid. The voice of the Lord only answered, “I’m calling you home.” Job or no job, I made a firm resolu on to take the step. My hunger and love for Jesus in the Eucharist exceeded my fears of the risks involved.
When I saw in April the opening for the Director of Evangeliza on at St. Michael, and knowing it was in the neighborhood of my childhood, I threw cau on into the wind and applied. The more Fr. Rossi described the role, and the more I got to know Fr. Rossi himself, the more excited I became. There was one glaring issue: I needed to be fully Catholic. A er consul ng my wife, I requested the date of my full conversion to be the Feast of the Visita on of Mary. A fi ng day, I thought. Mary rocked Elizabeth’s world with her presence, and she surely rocked mine. Thus, a er 18 years of wai ng, wondering, longing, and yes, even dodging, I am now in body and soul what I have been in mind: A Catholic in full communion.
I am a Catholic for one fundamental reason, a reason that will drive my work as the Director of Evangeliza on at St. Michael. I am a Catholic because Catholicism is true.
Now, with the opportunity to come back to the place of my roots, to serve the very parish on whose grounds I played as a child, I realize what the Lord meant when he whispered that he had called me home. He meant home to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and he meant home to the town and place of my most cherished memories.
Thank God I am home.
Shane Page
SMCS Class of 2017 returns to their roots to receive a blessing from Fr. Rossi, before they transition to their new phase in college life. We wish them success in all their future endeavors and pray that God always guide their way.
My Parish App: Download the app by texting the word “app” to 88202, or by clicking the QR Code (on the back cover of this bulletin—you have to have a QR scanner app on your smartphone in order to scan the QR Code), or you can also download the app to your phone by visiting the App Store or Google Play!
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St. Michael Catholic Church BUSINESS HOURS
Monday 1pm—4pm Tuesday through Friday 9am—4pm
ATTENTION NEWCOMERS
Stewardship of treasure is based on giving a Have you completed a parish registration form? percentage of our income. If we have little income, Do you have any questions?
we will give little. If we have greater income, we will give more. Whether we are poor or rich, we can each Please feel free to ask one of our greeters or call the give a percentage of our income to church parish office at 704.867.6212 and other charities.
PARISH INFORMATION
SACRAMENT S OF BAPTISM & HOLY MATRIMONY PARISH DIRECTORY 708 St. Michael’s Lane Gastonia, NC 28052 Please call the church office at 704.867.6212 704-867-6212 Pastor Rev. Fr. Lucas Rossi FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION CLASS (Ext. 105) [email protected] Please contact Mary Gomes at [email protected] Hispanic Ministry Rev. Fr. José Antonio Juya CONFIRMATION PREPARATION CLASS (Ext. 112) Please contact Ken Albert at kgalbert @stmccg.org [email protected]
RCIA / ADULT FORMATION Deacon Rev. Mr. Timothy Mueller Please contact Adam Kincaid at (Ext. 101) [email protected]
[email protected] Deacon Rev. Mr. John Weisenhorn (Ext. 101) [email protected] YOUTH GROUP & HIGH SCHOOL FAITH FORMATION Please Contact Matt Tortorich at [email protected] Administrative Assistant Lissette Westover
(Ext. 101) [email protected] FAITH FORMATION (A Family of Faith) Director of Sacred Music Toni Keating Please contact Alexis Ellis @ [email protected] (Ext. 101) [email protected]
SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK Director of Children’s Choir Kristen Levine (Ext 101) [email protected] Please call the church office (704- 867-6212) when seriously ill, for the elderly, before serious surgery or any Maintenance Technician Ken Albert time in an emergency. (Ext 104) [email protected]
HOLY COMMUNION AT HOME St Michael Thrift Store Please contact the church office at 704-867-6212 1111 S. York Street - Gastonia, NC 28052 Phone: 704-864-8646 Tuesday - Friday: 10-5:30 Saturday: 10-4
MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL ADVOCATE Please contact Kim Cobb at Thrift Store Manager Amy Pruitt [email protected] [email protected] St. Michael Catholic School 704 St Michael’s Lane - Gastonia, NC 28052 DEVOTIONS Phone: 704-865-4382
First Fridays 8:00 PM Thursday – 8:00 AM Friday: Principal Michelle Vollman Nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament [email protected]
Every Friday 6 AM - 6 PM: Administrative Assistant Jackie Childers All Day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament [email protected]
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.