St. Ephrem Catholic Church

July 28, 2019

The Chronicles of Fr. Craig

Lord open my lips + and my mouth will proclaim your praise! This weekend,
we welcome our Be Our Guest! missionary priest, Last week I shared a memory of a dinner party hosted by a person who grew up in an era and class that knew how Rev. Evanson Njogu, to truly throw one. Back in the day, she would have as he makes his appeal multiple courses of delicious food, paired with all the right for the Diocese of wines, served in the best china and crystal, put up elaborate decorations, had party favors for guests, and gave gifts to Nakuru in Kenya. everyone to take home. Guests would come dressed up and ready for an experience like no other. I wanted to
relate this party to last weekend’s Gospel passage of
Martha, Mary, and the one thing necessary.

As I switched things up, I was not comparing this woman
and her parties to Martha, worried about so many things,
but rather compared her to Mary who understood what was most important: the guest! These parties were all
about the guests. Jesus, who tells of the one thing
necessary, is saying to Martha, Mary, and to us that the
guest is most important. When we invite Jesus into our Thank you to all of the hearts, he is our guest. Jesus wants us to be attentive to volunteers that helped what he has to say. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to during the blood drive, the Word speak truth. Martha, if actively serving Jesus and yard sale, and not her worries, could have held on to the Word as well, while busy about serving the needs of the body of Jesus Sterlingfest! All of our before he went to suffer. This is an example for us to marry events cannot be the contemplative and active life together and to be about successful without
serving the eternal guest, who is Jesus. When we do this, it your help!
is then Jesus himself who turns the table and serves us with
the Eucharist. (Continued on page 2…)
(Continued on page 2…)
Page 2, July 28, 2019N 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Harp of the Holy Spirit
St. Ephrem Catholic Church

How we come prepared to Mass is like Baptism hosting a dinner party and having everything in its right place. The hour fast before On Sunday, July 21, 2019, Fr. Craig baptized receiving Communion is like dusting and Vivienne Reese after the 11:00am Mass. getting rid of the clutter around the house. We warmly welcome Vivienne into our Our genuflection, or profound bow, to Jesus in community of faith! We pray for her parents and the tabernacle is like the greeting before the sponsors as they continue their journeys of meal. Our examination to see if we need imparting & sharing the Catholic faith. confession is like checking to see if we are

prepared. Our prayer before Mass is like the decorations that help welcome the guest. Our attention at Mass is like sitting at the feet of Vivienne Reese Jesus. Parents: Anthony & Jessica Coletti Fr. Charlie Fox wrote a wonderful article in the Detroit Catholic Digest about this, going Christian Witness: into much more depth about preparing Nick Coletti

ourselves to receive Jesus. I recommend Godmother: checking it out at detroitcatholic.com, along Meggen Amormino with all of his other articles that are written well.

Let us never forget the guest of our heart: Goodfellow Dolls due
Jesus! By focusing all our attention on him, next weekend!
whether in contemplation or through the daily
work we have, Jesus will make sense of what Thank you to all who took dolls home to dress we do and why. Jesus, come be our guest! for this important service project. Dressed dolls are due back by next weekend!

Please remember to pin a tag to your doll In Christ, with your name so we know who have returned their dolls.
Fr. Craig
Dolls may be returned to the parish office or at coffee and donuts on Sunday.

  
Thank you again for your assistance in making
Christmas special for a little girl in need.
The Religious Education office is closed for
the summer and will re-open on If you have any questions, please contact
Arlene Lickey at (586) 2681838. Monday, August 12.

Catechist Meeting:
There is an important meeting for all
Catechists this Monday, July 29 at 6:30pm in the activity center.

Registration for the 2019-2020 school year: The 2019 CSA is still on
going and we’re not far Registration for the fall is on-going! from our target! Our target set for us by the For new families, registration forms are Archdiocese this year is $65,129. Please prayerfully consider making the most generous gift possible.  available in the Gathering Space or the Parish
office. For returning families, pre-populated
Save postage and make your donation easily and securely online at stephrem.aodcsa.org

registration forms are available in the Parish
office. Classes begin on Monday, September 9. Thank you to all who have made their 2019 pledge!
The Harp of the Holy Spirit
St. Ephrem Catholic Church Page 3, July 28, 2019N 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
TROOPS NEED LOVE

TOO!
Saintly St. Ephrem parish will be Thoughts
parcipang in a very
important Mercy In “He who desires Acon Day project with anything but God our sister parish, St. Jane deceives himself, Frances de Chantal. We’re joining forces once again and he who loves with Troops Need Love Too, a local program based anything but God in Drayton Plains, Michigan to send packages to errs miserably.”
United States military personnel currently serving
St. Philip Neri
overseas. Our goal is to send as many Christmas

packages as possible containing sweet and salty
treats, personal hygiene items, puzzle books and St. Philip Neri (15151595) was born in Florence, Italy. He was known as a dutiful games, as well as Christmas cards and notes of child with a cheerful disposition, which made greeng from our parishes. Each box contains $23 him popular with all who knew him. Philip had worth of items and costs $17 in postage (which is made arrangements to start apprenticeship as the military, mailing discount). TOTAL COST PER a merchant; however, after having a mystical BOX = $40 Would you or your family like to experience, Philip was no longer interested in purchase a box in memory or in honor of a becoming a merchant. Rather, he believed he should enter the religious life.
veteran or loved one, or in honor of someone
currently serving in the military? The process is St. Philip traveled to Rome and found lodging easy. Complete the form below and drop it off at the in the attic of a fellow Florentine’s home. parish office with your $40 check made payable to St. During this time, Philip lived in extreme Ephrem before July 31st. A personalized card will be poverty with his only income from tutoring the placed in the box with your intenon. Thank you for landlord’s sons. In Rome, he enrolled in a local your support of our troops and please connue to pray monastery to become a priest, but he suddenly for our service men and women and for their families quit his studies so he could spiritually serve who sacrifice so much for our freedom. If you have any the people of Rome. With his characteristic goodnaturedness, Philip spent the majority of quesons, please contact our parish office at
his time with the young Florentine men who (586) 264R1230 or offi[email protected].
worked in banks and shops. He began an TROOPS NEED LOVE TOO FORM
oratory for these laymen to practice greater (complete, cut
out and include with your paymentM due by July 31, 2019) spiritual discipline and serve the sick and poor.

FAMILY NAME: ______ In 1551, in obedience to his spiritual director,

PHONE NUMBER:______
Philip finally became a priest at the age of 34. He lived as a diocesan priest and spent many
In MEMORY of: hours each day in the confessional. Later on, ______ Philip also started a religious order known as (Name of Deceased Veteran or Loved One) the Oratorians. Philip and the Oratorians lived  a life of devout faith integrated with pastoral In HONOR of: service and ministry to the less fortunate. In ______ the words of one of his biographers, Philip (Name of Living Veteran…Active Service Person or Loved One) was “all things to all men… When he was called
Personal Intention Card: Include a message/details about the upon to be merry, he was so; if there was a person being honored; include words of encouragement that will demand upon his sympathy, he was equally be added to your personal intention card:
ready…”

______
In 1595, Philip suffered a hemorrhage and died at the age of 80. He is the Patron Saint of ______Rome, the US Special Forces, and of humor and joy.
______
Page 4, July 28, 2019N 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Harp of the Holy Spirit
St. Ephrem Catholic Church

On the Road to Damascus with Rob Leonardi


For the next few weeks, I want my articles to reflect taking a literary Church tour of sorts. We will be discovering different aspects around the Church, what they are, what symbolism they have, and why we have them. This week and next, we will dive into what we might see our clergy wear, both inside and outside of the liturgy.





Liturgical vestments have grown and changed in various ways throughout the centuries, but since the beginning of the 4th century, clergy were making a distinction in what they normally wore every day and vestments in which they performed liturgical functions. In 1998, the USCCB stated a complementary norm to Canon Law, “In liturgical rites, clerics shall wear the vesture prescribed in the proper liturgical books. Outside liturgical functions, a black suit and Roman collar are the usual attire for priests. The use of the cassock is at the discretion of the cleric” (USCCB Complementary Norm on Canon 284). So, during a normal day, a diocesan clergyman can wear whatever he would like as he does not have an official habit (religious garb) that is always required to be worn.



On formal occasions, when wearing a cassock, all clergy may also make use of the pellegrina (shoulder cape), fascia (wide belt), or at very formal occasions, a ferraiolo (fulllength cape M normally you will see Bishops in this attire). When proper, all clergy may also use the zucchetto (skullcap) or (except the Pope) a biretta (square cap with three or four peaks, sometimes with a tuft). The cassock, pellegrina, fascia, ferraiolo, zucchetto, and biretta are colorcoordinated accordingly to the rank in the Church. Typically, Deacons and Priests wear black of each (a cassock and pellegrina worn by a Bishop is black with amaranth red trim), Bishops wear amaranth red (very close to fuchsia), Cardinals wear scarlet, and white is the color for the Pope. Bishops can also be identified by their wearing of a pectoral cross.











Pope with Cardinal with Bishop with Priest with

zucchetto, cassock, zucchetto, cassock, zucchetto, cassock, cassock,

pellegrina, fascia, pellegrina, fascia, pellegrina, fascia, pellegrina,

and pectoral cross.
and pectoral cross
and pectoral cross.
and fascia.







Next week I will dive into the various
liturgical vestments of the clergy.

See you on the way,
God bless,
Mr. Rob Leonardi
A Bishop’s A priest’s biretta
ferraiolo

Conversion Point: Can others tell I am a Catholic by what I wear?
The Harp of the Holy Spirit
St. Ephrem Catholic Church Page 5, July 28, 2019N 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time FOOD PANTRY NEEDS The faith community of St. Ephrem is praying for these people in special need: While we continue to receive food from Macomb county; we also rely on the generosity of our If you are in need of any kind of prayer, please call the parishioners to maintain a sufficient supply of food in office to be placed on our prayer list. Names will stay our pantry to meet the needs of those we serve. We on the prayer list for three months. Please call the currently provide food to approximately 20 to 25 office if the name needs to stay on longer.
families per week, and this number has been steadily growing. Please check the list of current needs and Randy Clarke Sally Gray place your donations in the box in the church William C. Frey Cheryl Linder vestibule or in the lobby of the activity center. Thank Anna Masakowski Deborah Baranski Lois Epifanio Michael Gray you for your continued support of our St Ephrem Sonia DeChausse Food Pantry!
Helen Lotoczky Ben Pannecouck Kathleen Wojerski
William Brennan Glenda Lavigne Dollar Tree Gift Cards**
William Cloyd Nick Schwartz
Maryann Bourgeau Melissa Kashat TUNA, LAUNDRY PODS,
Paul Bourgeau Bill Sullivan RAMEN NOODLES, BOXED POTATOES, Jean Belan Ruth Sullivan Teresa Yester Michelle Trosper SPAGHETTIOS, BEEF STEW, CHILI, Mary Sutter Arleen Mieczkowski CANNED FRUIT, JELLY, CEREAL, Philip Mistretta David Rynski Lori Gee Maya Milovanovic SPAGHETTI SAUCE, RICE,
Gerry Miranti Gladys Mosey  Mary Jane Ziskie Susan Lill  Kent Culpert Phyllis Marek PORK & BEANS, JUICE, SPAGHETTI, JELLY, Pete Ishioka Krista Mertzer-Hafner TOILET PAPER, DISH SOAP, BAR SOAP Marcia Godawa Katherine Garza
Dorothy Drake Lee Nicolasopolus Salad Dressing, Peanut Butter, Chicken, Tomato, or Richard Jaye Bob Gryebet Vegetable Soups, Mini Toiletry Items
Elaine Jaye Rick Gryebet
Izabel Randazzo Christian Harting Please avoid bringing in items that are close to or past their Philip Kwiatkowski Nicholas Harting expiration date! (**Gift cards may be dropped in the Joan Bogel Robert Bryant collection basket or to the parish office. Gift cards are used Hailey Petty Patty Lulek Luciana & Marisa Purtill Sandra Moleski by our pantry to supplement from week
to
week, as Sophie Moreton needed, and not given to pantry clients.)
Caroline Juliana McBain Madeline Hafner Audrey Myny Tina Walker-Witulski Debbie Dombrowski Noreen Kuzner Louis Barnard Julie & Julian Elwart Neill Sladkin Renee Calado Phoebe Hough Debbie Vido Matthew Hafner Edgar Lee Buckner Jeanie Quinn Jacqueline Irene Homnstrieter Joseph Prill Tony Viviano Lori Cornelius Michigan’s Constitution allows the people to Dawn Moss Bruce Jones initiate legislation through a petition drive. Cheryl DeMoss Margo Coppens Kay Melnick Daniella Kashat Currently, the Catholic Church, Right to Life Sandy Sorentino Mary Prill of Michigan, and other pro-life individuals are Dorothy Welch Robert Hagedon collecting petition signatures for legislation to Anna Gleason Richard Janowski Bernice Rynski Steve Mosey amend the state’s partial-birth abortion ban to Joann Brennan Georgianne Forster include a ban on dismemberment abortion.

This approach is needed as the language Our Sister Parish:

cannot be vetoed by the governor. Learn how ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL you can get involved at www.micatholic.org/ 38750 Ryan Road, Sterling Heights MichiganValuesLife/ Fr. Tony Sulkowski, Pastor
St. Jane Frances Regular Mass Schedule: Are you expecting or does your child need to Tues: 7:00 p.m. Mass Wed. & Thurs.: 8:00 a.m. be Baptized? Contact Rob Leonardi
Saturday: 4:00 p.m. at 5862641230 or [email protected]
Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to schedule an appointment!
Confessions: Tuesdays, 5:30pm - 6:30pm Baptism classes are scheduled soon!
Phone: (586) 977-8080 • Website: sjfparish.org Page 6, July 28, 2019N 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Harp of the Holy Spirit
St. Ephrem Catholic Church Mass Intentions for the Week of July 28
Liturgical Ministry Schedule for August 3
4 Saturday, July 27
4:30pmN Special intention for Noreen Kuzner
4:30pm Mass:


by Dennis & Annette Fink
Lector: L. AmbrosioYlen

† Mary Haras by Marguerite Coppens
Altar Server: D. Erhard and M. Kurczak

† Irene & John Jankowski by daughter
EMHC: P. Allen, V. Calderero, R. Kraus, K. Kuzner,

Sunday, July 28
C. Ranger, M.E. Sanborn, and S. Smith
9:00amN Parishioners of St. Ephrem


9:00am Mass: 11:00amN † Joseph Cubba by family
Lector: C. Harrington

† Giacomo Pellerito by family
Altar Server: G. Havern and P. Havern

† Albert Tunesi by family
EMHC: J. Comfort, D. Hill, D. Laws, J. Swantek,

† Alfred G. Allen (10th anniversary) by family

R.A. Swantek, F. Vollmers, and Need 1 Monday, July 29

9:00amN Mass
11:00am Mass:
Tuesday, July 30
Lector: P. Little
9:00amN Mass
Altar Server: P. Ishioka, H. Kakoni, and H. Kakoni


Wednesday, July 31
EMHC: J. Korte, B. Kowalski, S. Kuzdal, A. Moratalla,
A. Pirela, L. Sheppard, and M. Sheppard
9:00amN Mass



Friday, August 2
Please have all requests for September (including 8/31 + 9:00amN Mass
9/1) emailed or called into the office by Monday, August 5:00pmN Nuptial Mass M Ryan Dombroski and Meghan Brown 12. Servers and EMHCs are still needed for the Holy
Saturday, August 3
Day (8/15). Please contact the parish office.

4:30pmN Parishioners of St. Ephrem


Sunday, August 4
Counters: R & M Kraus and G & M Micallef
9:00amN Blessings for Billy Muzzi
Altar Linens: O. Menrath

Special intention for Noreen Kuzner


Schoenherr Towers: J & RA Swantek


by Patrick & Carolyn Harrington
Altar Apostolates: J. Koury, C. Brownell,

† Mickey Trombley by family






and C.A. Cuncich (8/8/19)

† Ron May by Patrick & Carolyn Harrington

Coffee + Donuts: C. Brownell, D. Erhard, M. Mrenza
11:00amN † Ted Rost by Tom & Elaine Stewart

† Bienvenido Fajardo, Sr. by Kraus family
St. Ephrem Calendar for the Week

Mass Intention Policy: Sunday, July 28N Summer Mission Appeal All Mass intentions must be made 10 days prior to the Food and fellowship after Masses in activity center
date you would like the intention scheduled (pending 10:30amNK of C Memorial Rosary before Mass
availability). Thank you! 11:00amNK of C Corporate Communion at Mass

Please join us in praying for Monday, July 29M all newly married couples & 6:30pmNCatechist MeetingNGreat Room


those preparing for the Tuesday, July 30M  Sacrament of Matrimony: 10:00amN AlAnonNResource Room

Ryan Dombroski and Meghan Brown— Wednesday, July 31M
Nuptial Mass at 5pm on Friday, August 2, 2019 Eucharistic Adoration after Mass until Noon



Thursday, August 1M 
1:00pmNOANTeresa of Calcutta Room

6:00pmNWedding RehearsalNDombroski/BrownNChurch

August 15NThe Assumption of the Blessed
Friday, August 2M 


Virgin MaryNHoly day of Obligation
11:00amNNANJuan Diego
5:00pmNWeddingNDombroski/BrownNChurch

Parish Raffle Winners Saturday, August 3N  Draw Date: 07/17/19 10:00amNRosary Making GroupNGreat Room
Winning Number: 404 8:00pmNAA + AlAnonNDouble Room/Juan Diego
Lila Schneider $100.00 Sunday, August 4N
Gunter Reuss $25.00 Food and fellowship after Masses in activity center
Patrick Harrington $25.00 12:15pmNK of C Officer InstallationNChurch
The Harp of the Holy Spirit
St. Ephrem Catholic Church Page 7, July 28, 2019N 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Ephrem Parish Directory

PARISH STAFF: ST. EPHREM CATHOLIC CHURCH

38900 Dodge Park Road
Rev. Craig Giera, Pastor
Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Email: [email protected]
PARISH OFFICE:
5862641230

Fax: 5862642757
Rob Leonardi, Parish Catechetical Leader
Parish Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

Parish Website: www.saintephremchurch.org
Sarah Hunt, Parish Secretary
Office Hours: Monday through Wednesday: 8:30am M5:00pm
am pm
Email: [email protected]
Thursday: 8:45 M5:00 Arthur Rauh, Music Minister Closed daily for lunch: 1:30pm M2:00pm
am Theresa Brown, Religious Education Secretary Fridays: 8:30 M Noon
Mary Kay Reith, Special Needs Director
Jim Weller, Business Manager RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE:
Mark Sulewski, Maintenance Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: Closed for the SummerN
Knights of Columbus
please contact Rob Leonardi at the Parish office
Msgr. John T. Gordon Council #12102

Grand Knight: Mark Schneider 586
321
8410  REGULAR MASS SCHEDULE
or [email protected] 
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 9:00am
To join, visit www.kofc.orgN K of C Facebook Page:  (No Mass on Thursdays)
Knights of Columbus Council #12102
Saturday: 4:30pm M Sunday: 9:00am and 11:00am


Facebook: St. Ephrem Catholic Church
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:
St. Ephrem Bulletin Online: www.parishesonline.com 30 minutes before all Masses,
Fr. Craig’s Homilies: www.frcraiggiera.libsyn.com or
(no Confessions on Thursdays),
search the iTunes Podcast: Fr. Craig Giera/Homilies
Saturdays at 12:15pm& by appointment
Vicariate Website: www.cmvic.net



 

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