CK Detroit 4-26-2020
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APRIL 26, 2020 20800 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48219 PARISH MISSION We are Christ the King Parish, a richly diverse Christian Community in Northwest Detroit. We are on a journey of Discipleship with Jesus, seeking conversion, reconciliation and renewal. We reach out in welcome to all the people within our neighborhood, proclaiming the good News of Christ the King, building community, celebrating together, serving one another’s needs and the needs of all our neighbors. From the Mind and Heart of we think that just because a man, of guy who played hard every day. Deacon Chris… or woman, is given a God given ex- He would come into the ball park, Last week we ceptional athletic talent that those not feeling that well for whatever all read that Al same genes spread throughout their reason, but Norm would get into Kaline died. personal qualities. I recall from the game and just play hard.’ Al- Al Kaline was the Old Testament where King bert William Kaline, may your soul my childhood Saul became such a victim of his and the souls of all the faithful de- sports hero. I own successes, that eventually it parted, through the mercy of God, was born in ruined his life, his rule of Israel and rest in peace. Amen. 1947. Al Ka- changed the course of the Jewish Na- The Virus…. line signed tion. It’s a humbling fact that viruses with the De- Along with many of you I are the smallest of all microorganisms. troit Tigers, was here in Detroit during the 1967 Virus are so simple they can’t reproduce straight out of Uprising; it was a difficult time. on their own. A virus has to penetrate his high school in Baltimore, MD; Growing up in old Queen of Hope into a host cell and there it replicates. As and broke into the American League Parish, I can still remember looking the host cell bursts apart spreading new in 1953. I use to ride my bike down down Grand River Ave and seeing viruses it dies. This coronavirus, so to the corner store and buy packs of smoke. The next year, 1968, there small that roughly a thousand could fit Topp’s baseball cards. I remember was still tension in the city; but the into a dot that’s on this paper, is essen- the thrill when I finally got an Al Detroit Tigers were hot. The De- tially wreaking havoc across the whole Kaline card. Al Kaline was a Detroit troit Tigers were an integrated planet. Life has changed, not for just a Tiger for his entire 21 year baseball team. I recall Gates Brown, “The few, but all of us. career. In my view, Al Kaline was Gator”, an Afro-American, who I’m reminded of the story of the one of the greatest players in base- some say was the best pitch hitter Israelites, when crossing the desert dur- ball history; he was an 18 time All- in baseball. The “Gator” had the ing their exodus from Egypt; they were Star, a 10 time golden glove winner, ability to put the ball in play and bitten by poisonous serpents. (Numbers and a member of the 3,000 hit club. I get things started. He was also a 21:4 - 9) God commanded Moses to lift a was silenced when I was able to see good interview for the sportscast- serpent of bronze on a pole and whom- Al Kaline’s plaque hang at Coopers- ers. He spoke from his heart, en- ever looked at it would be saved. (This town’s National Baseball Hall of Fame. couraged the people and the fans. image continues with the symbol of Ca- What I later came to realize Gates Brown helped bring the team duceus; a sign of medical healing.) In His that what I admired about Al Kaline and fans together and in a small conversations with Nicodemus Jesus was more than just his athletic abil- way that helped the city to heal. utilized that symbol – ‘And just as Moses ity; it was his grace, the way he When the Detroit Tigers lifted up the serpent in the desert, so spoke, his quiet leadership, what he won the World Series in 1968, Al must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that did. His stately presence and gentle Kaline was integral part of that everyone who believes in him may have manner provided an example for pro- Tiger’s team. One characteristic I eternal life.’ (Jn 3:14-15) We have been fessional baseball, athletes, the De- admired about Al was that he was bitten by ‘an invisible serpent’ – the coro- troit Tiger organization and all of us. always charitable in his speech. navirus. In this Easter Season let us Sadly, we don’t always see a lot of Norm Cash was the first baseman gaze upon the cross and on the one who that today with professional athletics for the Tigers and Norm liked to arose from the tomb and gives us life! where, in some cases, ego and self- party (i.e. drink). I remember Al Stay safe and take care of promotion can become the desirable saying later about Norm and I’m one another…. qualities. I feel it’s a mistake when paraphrasing. ‘Norm was the type Christ the King Parish ~ Grand River at Burt Road Rectory REFLECTION 16805 Pierson…………………………313-532-1211 School 16800 Trinity…………………………..313-532-1213 Flying back home from Colorado on New Year’s Day, I remember thinking how blessed we are. Parish website It was a great season to celebrate the gift of “God with us” through the birth of Jesus; family Www.ChristTheKingCatholicDetroit.org time to reconnect and to remember the love we all share; and a time of rest after a very busy 2019. Probably like so many of you, I started this year off with a sense of optimism and great St. Christine Christian Services 15317 Dacosta at Fenkell………………313-535-7272 hope… a vision of great promise and fulfillment. Www.SCCSdetroit.org As church, we had just embarked on this journey to “re-found” the parish as a band of mission- Siena Literacy…………………….…...313-532-8404 ary disciples… letting go of whatever in the past was holding us down, and trusting in the Spirit Mrs. Jackie Jones- Love……...jjones–[email protected] to open new doors and new ways to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel. There was this St. Vincent & Sarah Fisher new energy and sense of urgency to build the Kingdom of God with power and purpose that we Ms. Diane Renaud……………………..313-535-9200 were still just imagining. [email protected] 2020 was going to be a year like no other! And, as we all now know, it certainly has lived up to Pastoral Staff that… only not in the ways we had been hoping for. Rev. Victor Clore, Pastor…...…[email protected] Deacon Joe Urbiel………[email protected] Put yourself in the shoes of one of these two disciples on their way to Emmaus. They went to 248-910-0490 Jerusalem the week before to celebrate the most holy feast of Passover, perhaps arriving in the Deacon Chris Remus…[email protected] city as crowds of people were shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of 313-717-5672 the Lord!” Mrs. Maureen Northrup...…Christian Service Outreach [email protected] Ms Nicole Evans………………….…..Office Manager In Matthew’s gospel, we read they, like others in Jerusalem, were asking, “Who is this?” And, [email protected] or [email protected] they were told, “Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” So, these two disciples followed Mrs. Andi Kovach ………………………Bookkeeping him. They saw Jesus cleanse the temple of the money-changers; heard Jesus preach of the [email protected] reign of God; and witnessed miracles he performed. Their hope grew that Jesus “would be the Mrs. Amanda Lund………………………...Principal [email protected] one to redeem Israel!” Ms. Bethanne McCall………………….Choir Director Yes! Finally, here is the savior who would overthrow Rome and bring freedom from oppression. [email protected] You can only imagine the disappointment they must have experienced as they watched the authorities arrest Jesus and “handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.” This is Little Scholars - Christ the King Campus Cora Rodgers, Director 313-693-4260 where Luke picks up their story… discouraged; theirs hopes dashed, and on their way back home to Emmaus. Parish Council Elected Members: Joe Fitzgerald..……...……………..…Council Chair And, here we are… 2020! We have all just experienced a Lent like no other… yet, despite Rachel Conner, Stacie Harris, Mark Barkey, Suzie COVID-19, I have faith that all of us still believe in the Resurrection… that new life is ahead. Groenenboom, Jerry Randall, Sheila Fenbert,Nicky Marcot, Gary Beaman New life, in the Spirit, that will be better than we could have ever imagined! As the stranger opened up the Scripture to the two walking to Emmaus, “beginning with Moses Commissions and all the prophets,” everything points to the Christ… the Anointed One who “should suffer all Maureen Northrup………..………..Christian Service Carole Ann Beaman…………………...……Worship things and enter into his glory.” This is the same Scripture, the same Good News that we pro- Ron Hildebrandt……………………...…Stewardship claim today! Brought into the Life of Christ through our baptism, we too should and will suffer… Michelle Lewis……………………...Faith Formation and, we too will enter into the glory of God! Dcn. Joe Urbiel….……………….....Finance Council Lois Phillips……………………….….Evangelization Notice how the two disciples could never have recognized the stranger for who he was until Bob Bruttell & Ron Eady…………………..Inclusion they invited him in… to share a meal and share their shelter as night drew close.