St. Christopher, Marysville Page 1 ST. CHRISTOPHER CATHOLIC PARISH 1000 MICHIGAN AVE. 810-364-4100 WWW.STCHRISMI.ORG SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” ~Mt 13:44 Page 2 St. Christopher, Marysville Pope Francis’ Mission Statement: To Become a Band of Joyful Missionary Disciples. Archdiocese of Detroit’s Mission Statement: To Unleash the Gospel. Saint Christopher’s Parish Mission Statement: Transform Lives in Jesus Christ Through the Power and Freedom of the Gospel. Parish Vision Statement: Foster a Personal Encounter with Jesus. Pastor’s Point of Perspective. Hello my dear brothers and sisters of Saint Christopher’s Parish Family. Next Saturday, July 25 at 11:00 AM, we will celebrate a Solemnity Mass in honor of Saint Christopher, our parish patronal saint. We were planning to have a parish picnic afterwards, but due to our present circumstances regarding the response to the coronavirus, we cannot. We will have, however, a Mass and gather for it as we pray for God’s Will to be done throughout our Church, state, country and world. On a Musical Note. Every now and then, over the past approximately eighteen months or so, I will receive the occasional inquiry regarding the apparent perceived change in music that is being played or sung or selected at Saint Christopher’s. I hear from several people that we do not play “traditional” hymns anymore, or the music is sad, lacking energy, not uplifting, or no longer joyful, or et cetera. Our Music Director has been touching on this understanding of church music in several of her articles, and perhaps most notable was her last weekend’s article in which Deidre quoted Bishop Thomas Olmsted’s essay, Singing the Mass, that brought about a very edifying distinction between what is known as religious music and liturgical or sacred music. I would like to address these aforementioned inquiries on music in several ways. (1) First of all, at this time, our orders from the Archdiocese of Detroit and their Academy of Sacred Music requested all parishes to limit congregational singing and actually have the choir lead with antiphons. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term antiphon, they are the things you’re hearing at the beginning of the Mass and at communion; they are actually called “Entrance Antiphon” and “Communion Antiphon” in the Missal (the Missal is the book we follow to say the Mass). These antiphons are an integral part of the liturgy, which means they are supposed to be sung. Plus, the antiphons are universally directed throughout the Church, meaning, they are the same throughout the world. (2) Secondly, most parishes in this Archdiocese have adopted a culturally familiar category of song known as “religious music,” which is a popular expression of a particular culture’s faith, considered to be common, having its origin in human hearts yearning for God, is artistic or expressionistic from an individual singer, not directly suitable for the worship of God, and focused or centered on community emphasizing fellowship. Due to the Archdiocese’s missionary focus on evangelization these past decades, this religious music is very useful because it speaks to the culture by relating to it lyrically and emotively (that means it makes you feel good, and then by feeling good, you would then be open to hearing about Jesus – this is the very simplified version of what we as the Church of Detroit have been doing the last almost thirty years). In addition, there are vast resources that cater to religious music, which is why this musical category is so popular and so familiar to you. Most of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s parish churches have been using it for a very long time, I know because I grew up with it too. (3) It was not until I began my formal training in seminary where I began to encounter “liturgical music,” which is also referred to as “sacred music,” the music of the Church. Liturgical music is the music that accompanies liturgy, which is defined as the form or formulary according to which public religious worship, especially Christian/Catholic, is conducted. Often, liturgy is referred to as “the Sacred Liturgy,” and therefore, (Continued on page 3) St. Christopher, Marysville Page 3 (Continued from page 2) liturgical music is called “Sacred Music.” The definition of the term, “sacred,” means connected with God or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving of veneration; embodying the laws or doctrines of a religion; regarded with respect and reverence by a particular religion. Hence, this other musical category is “liturgical music” or “sacred music.” Liturgical or Sacred Music is the sacramental expression of Jesus Christ and the true nature of the Church. The purpose of liturgical or sacred music is to draw people into the sacred liturgy, who learn to sing in one voice through the often unfamiliar melody and rhythm of the Church’s sacred music, a oneness exemplified primarily in Gregorian Chant and polyphony, music that reflects the texts of the sacred liturgy. Liturgical or sacred music is universal, communal or collective, eternal, coming directly from the very heart of Jesus Christ, the heart of the Church, which longs and yearns for us (the thirst of Jesus Christ from the cross … I thirst). Liturgical or sacred music is meditative, prayerful, reflective, thought-provoking – especially in terms of our lives as reflected in the life of Jesus Christ. Liturgical or sacred music is meant to assist us to engage God, reveal our hearts and minds to ourselves, and allow God to reveal Himself to us. Liturgical or sacred, not religious, music is proper to Mass (a liturgy) – the right choice – since we are not in any worldly culture applying religious music focused on one another, but rather we are in Church culture at the Mass: we are in Christ Our King’s Heavenly Court at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb where all focus is on Him. Hopefully, this fine distinction between religious music and liturgical (sacred) music solves these musical inquiries and confusion. It is only recently that I myself learned the distinctive categories and how they applied. Clearly, liturgical (sacred) music is the right choice for the Holy Mass since it parallels the intended purpose and focus of the Mass – they match. Plus, the liturgical (sacred) music is what has been handed down to us in the Church. Music at Mass or Church music is not about what I like, or what you like, what entertains or bores, but rather about what is proper and right for the worship of God. The liturgy and her music belong to the Church – we do not own it, we do not control it, we serve it as Christ came to serve and not to be served. Catechism of the Catholic Church Preface for this Weekend’s Readings to Ponder. “We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere "to the end" and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. In hope, the Church prays for "all men to be saved." She longs to be united with Christ, her Bridegroom, in the glory of heaven ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1821). Peace, Fr. James The members of St. Christopher’s Parish 10th Anniversary Celebration for Fr. James! extend their prayers and sympathy to the family Friday, August 21, 2020 and friends of Please join us for Hor d’oeuvres and beverages during the Theodore Wessel open house between 6:00 p.m ~ 8:00p.m. Although you are welcome to stay the entire duration, in order to help us plan Holy Cross-Cardinal Mooney Alumni appropriately, please RSVP by calling the parish office or Association Breakfast Cancelled visiting www.stchrismi.org, for the 6:00pm ~ 7:00pm, or The Holy Cross-Cardinal Mooney Alumni Association 7:00pm ~ 8:00 time frame. Reservations are limited to the has cancelled the annual Alumni Breakfast scheduled for first 225 guests. September 13, 2020. Expect your annual Newsletter sometime in August. Marilynn Pavlov, President Page 4 St. Christopher, Marysville Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” ~1 Timothy 4:12 Kristi—Director of Religious Education Suzy—Youth Ministry Shelley—Faith Formation Secretary [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] connect my suffering to Jesus as a means for another’s sal- Suffering vation, then it has purpose. Knowing this, I don’t want to “waste” my suffering, but instead offer it to God to use for Have you ever used the term “offer it up” when someone good. Doing this can be easier said than done. It requires an tells you they are in pain or suffering? Whereas I won’t outward focus away from my own desire for comfort. My attempt to delve into the question of why there is suffering natural tendency when I’m suffering is to focus on myself in the world, I will pose a follow up question for us to pon- and complain about it. But, when I see my suffering as an der.