127 N. Monroe St., Monroe, MI 48162 | 734R241R1644 www.stmarymonroe.org
March 22, 2020 Founded in 1788 4th Sunday of Lent
Vision Statement: To Welcome. To Inspire. To Transform. To Serve. A LENTEN NOTE FROM FR. DAVID parish office reopens. As our pandemic crisis continues to unfold, we During this time of physical separation, I feel for everyone who must bring our faith to bear on everything. feels disconnected to the Church. We love you, need, you and Ultimately, we walk by faith in our merciful and pray with and for you. If needed, the priests can be contacted at generous God who can work through anything. the parish office urgent line and we will respond as best we can, Yet we also responsible to use our human honoring the restrictions of any health care institution that we sensibilities prudently to keep informed and be enter. charitable in making the sacrifices and good Please use the resources that you have, and check out what we choices for our own safety and the well being of others. have on the parish website. Use www.formed.org, and go to the As of this writing, we now know that public masses and archdiocesan website, www.aod.org, to keep up with the local liturgies are suspended through Easter Sunday. This is hard to Church happenings and communications. Please reach out to accept, and humbles us deeply, since Holy Week and Easter are neighbors, family, and friends who are not able to get out. It can at the center of the whole year. As of this writing, we are working be as simple as a phone call; maybe you could pray with them on taping and livestreaming Sunday masses here at St. Mary and and offer your prayers throughout this time. Read and pray with St. John, as well as the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. There the Sunday Scriptures, which are so rich at this time of year. should be more information on the parish website and facebook “HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE” to help you to tune in and keep in touch with your family of faith, With this extreme situation, we know that our loving God has even though we are not physically gathering. The schedule of the final say, and works in all things. We are being stripped of so livestreamed masses for Holy Week should be in next weekend’s much that we take for granted, even the norms of human bulletin, as well as on the website. For Palm Sunday next relationships. Can we come to a greater appreciation of the weekend, palms will not be distributed, but will be made people in our life? Can we recognize more deeply our common available at a later date. humanity in this time in which we see how vulnerable we all are? As for the mass intentions for masses during this time, the Can we touch the core of our being where our incarnate God priests of the parish are including them in our private masses. If resides and guides? anyone wants to reschedule an intention at a later public mass so Peace and health to you as we continue this Lenten journey that family can attend, this will be able to be arranged once the together.
We are encouraged to participate in mass with electronic means These and other mass times can be found ataod.org. that we have available to us. Weekend livestreamed mass times: Masses available online and on TV are listed in the next column. Online 8 am & 11:30 amstjascs.org In the Archbishop's letter, he says "as you temporarily participate 10 amsthugo.org/live at mass in this different way, you and your families are NOONaod.orgor AOD Facebook page encouraged to make a daily spiritual communion by praying: TV My Jesus, 6 am Fox 2 I believe that you are present 8 am & Noon EWTN in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. 8 am, 2 pm, & 10 pm in Spanish CTND I love You above all things, 10, 2:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6, 7, and 11 30pm CTND and I desire to receive You in my soul. Since I cannot at this time receive You sacramentally, Weekday Mass schedule I invite You spiritually into my soul. Online I embrace You as if You were already there, 7 am stjascs.org and unite myself wholly to You. Never allow me to be separated from You. TV 8 am, NOON, 7 pm EWTN Keep my eyes fixed in joyful hope 9 30, NOON, 7 pm CTND to the coming of Your Kingdom. Amen. DIRECTORY HOW TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS THE WEEK AT ST. MARY PARISH CONTACT US AT 734R241R1644 PASTOR Rev. David Burgard ASSOCIATE PASTORS Please contact the parish office or Fr. David Rev. Giancarlo Ghezzi with inquiries about the Sacraments at: Rev. Kevin Roelant 241R1644 or parishoffi[email protected] [email protected] SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (734) 241R8910 x115 Saturday, 3:00 R 4:00 p.m. Reconciliaon room IN RESIDENCE is in the le sacristy door behind the altar. The Due to the coronavirus, Rev.Bob Singelyn sacrament is available upon request from one DEACONS of the priests. all events scheduled for Dcn. Mike Stewart MARRIAGE March 23 R April 6th [email protected] At least one individual must be a member of Dcn. Michael Ingels Deacon Emeritus St. Mary Church. A minimum of six months have been cancelled. PASTORAL MINISTER AND previous noce is required before the wedding CHRISTIAN SERVICE date. Please phone the parish office for more Lorie Bronson informaon. 734R241R6088 THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) [email protected] Anyone interested in inquiring about our faith, or anyone interested in becoming a Roman DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION Catholic Chrisan please contact the parish Mary Quick office. The Lent 4.2 series will be 734R241R6097 rescheduled for a later date. BAPTISM OF INFANTS faithforma[email protected] Please contact the parish office for bapsm MCES dates at least one month in advance. Arrangements for individual Kyle Kubik, Execuve Principal SACRAMENT OF THE SICK confession can be made by 734R241R3923 The Sacrament is available upon request for calling the parish office. MUSIC DIRECTOR & ORGANIST persons who are seriously ill, scheduled for a John Raymond medical procedure, or with a chronic Regarding offertory envelopes. . . 734R242R6253 condion. A person can be anointed as o en as their condion warrants. FINANCE DIRECTOR During this uncertain time for our human Julie Dull POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTIONS family and the family of the Church, 734R241R8910 RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHT OF THE including the suspension of public masses, CYO SPORTS CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES please remember that in addition to daily Cliff Jackson That Chrisan Communies, especially prayer, we need the support of God’s those that are persecuted, feel that they [email protected] people that comes in the weekly Sunday are close to Christ and have their rights PARISH OFFICE MANAGER offertory. I realize that some of us are respected. personally impacted by the financial Karen Beaudrie implications of the virus. For those who parishoffi[email protected] are able, please continue to offer your P JG P Y C `-JY financial support to the parish according Roger Kidd, Chair (at large) to your situation. We must continue to pay Elliot Alfredson , Vice Chair (at large) our bills and compensate our hard Hugh Acosta (Stewardship) Donna Banker (Recording Sec) working staff. Your support may be sent Sal Benisatto (at large) to the parish through the mail, through Fred Fedorowicz (Christian Service) automatic giving, or brought directly to Al Gallan (at large) We're glad you came to join with us in our the office when the office is open. For David Heilman (at large) worship me today. security sake, please don’t leave offerings Rick Kidd (at large) Maria Liparoto (at large) We hope that you have felt God's love in in the church mailbox or drop box. Gus Martyres (at large) a new, refreshing way. Bob McMillan (at large) We look forward to seeing you again next Thank you so much! week!
Page 2 f 7342411644 ■ www.stmarymonroe.org ■ FAX 7342413077 ■ Celebrating 225 Years 17882013 MINISTRY SCHEDULE March 28th & 29th 4:30 Mass 7:30 Mass 9:30 Mass 11:30 Mass
ALTAR SERVERS All masses are cancelled CANTORS until April 13th. EME Please see an online or TV GREETERS: MAIN EAST mass schedule on page 1 or WEST visit aod.org for LECTORS additional MEDICAL resources LINENS: Cleaning: LAY LEANINGS By Deacon Mike Stewart © 2020 Mike Stewart Email: [email protected] Used with permission “Get off me, I can’t breathe!” If you’ve ever had someone sit on you, you can relate, right? But I’ll bet many of us can also relate to the weight we’re feeling right now, as we sit isolated, seemingly helpless in the midst of all this. As I reflected on the weight many of us are feeling, I was drawn to the story of Jesus carrying his cross on the way to Calvary. A number of years ago, I aended a workshop which described, in gruesome detail I might add, the horrors of crucifixion. We were even afforded the ‘opportunity’ to li … or at least try to, an authencally weighted crossbeam, as historians tell us that Jesus likely carried. I could barely li it, let alone drag it, and it was pointed out to me that Jesus did so weakened, having lost a significant amount of blood. Okay, enough detail … but I recall walking away from that workshop wondering … how? How in the world did Jesus, as fully human as you and me, carry that heavy cross in such a weakened state? How? And then it came to me; three of the four Gospels tell us that God called on a bystander to help Jesus. This man, Simon from Cyrene, located in northern Africa; was essenally a gawker, much like you and I are drawn in curiosity to emergency vehicles. Think about it … God used a bystander, and if it weren’t for that bystander, the mission of Jesus’ death on the cross, and his eventual resurrecon could not be possible. So what’s the message here for you and me? Well, I think this story has much to both encourage and challenge us in this current crisis. First, consider that the enre story of salvaon in scripture points to one truth … that no maer how hopeless things have ever seemed to become, God never, ever abandons his people. It’s not that God doesn’t have every reason to … but God doesn’t, God never has abandoned his people. On the contrary, God loved us so much that he sent his Son into this broken world to defeat both sin and death. Yes, you and I might be terrified right now of geng sick and, GodRforbid, losing our life, but if we believe … really believe in the power of the Resurrecon, even death holds no power over us, because God promised us eternal life. Secondly, the story of Simon should encourage us that when the weight of the world is choking us, it’s then that God does his best work. Think about your own life … how many mes has God sent an ‘angel’ into your life at just the right me. God always sends rich blessings into the mess … even this mess. My wife is at the sewing machine right now, with an army of others, making masks for our local hospital who is in short supply. Our daughter and sonRinRlaw made signs and stood outside the care center window where grandma is secluded from us for her own safety, just so that she knew she was sll cared for. Angels all around us … Simons that God has pulled from the crowd to send blessings into the mess. Friends, when this is over … and it will be, over … in God’s me and in God’s own way … God is challenging us to never again find ourselves as bystanders to the faith, as those who stand on the sidelines not wanng to get involved. No, God is challenging you and I to a full, acve parcipaon in our faith, to make God our highest priority, to take up our crosses and follow him, to trust him, wherever he leads us. No more bystanders, that’s the challenge. Are you ready … to get off the sidelines? If so, God is calling you beyond your fear, to be an angel for someone out there right now who needs you, and then, in turn, ask God to help you find your blessings in this mess. All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well. Julian of Norwich
f 7342411644 ■ www.stmarymonroe.org ■ FAX 7342413077 ■ Celebrating 225 Years 17882013 Page 3 The church will remain closed until April 13th. The parish office will also be closed but staff will be able to FOR THE SICK AND Joann Mehki Elderly Solutions process telephone calls and UNEMPLOYED Richard Metric Nancy Hochradel emails. Danny Adams Linda Nash Miller Susan Weaver Donna Ahlgram Bill Minney Nancy Reaume Antonio, Jaclyn & Baby Aleman Roger Minney Fountain View Nina Arcabascio Karen O’Brien Arrangements for individual Tom Pilon B.J.T.W. Tom Opperman Lorraine Young confession and anointing of the B.L. Darlene Parran sick can be made by calling the Joe Balk Tom Parsons IHM Care Center parish office. Eva Barno Zayden & Zander Perry Joyce Eby Donald Barton Beverly Preston Mary Foshag Ron Bentley William & Cecile Mary Gallagher Edward Bitz Prusais Donna Haley Please be assured of our prayers Rose Mary Kennedy for you. Please pray for our Amanda (Ghigo) Mae Pucke Blanche Martha Rais Jean Waybright priests as we go through this Addi Bressler Jim Raymo Lutheran Home challenging time. Larry Bross Andrea Redich Dolores Bodine Ryan Bruck Rachelle Reed Barbara Matthews Jacob Bullard Linda Roberts Donna Ryder A Prayer for Protection Jeff Clark Dennis Rowan Joyce Stein in time of Pandemic Larry Cornell Joan Schmitz Don Toeppe Ruben Cortez Vivian Schwartz O Mary, you always brighten our path as a OUR MEN & WOMEN Sam & Jane Cusumano Cynthia Smith sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust Andrew Deszell Eric Sole IN THE MILITARY ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, Sr A Bri Ayers at the Cross, took part in Jesus’ pain while Tom Dusseau Krystal Space remaining steadfast in faith. O loving William Eby Don Toeppe Capt Adam M. Gagnon Mother, you know what we need, and we Shirley Edmonds Dorothy & Larry Tomasik Pfc Joshua Gusten are confident you will provide for us as at Steve Elder Mark & Theresa Tom LCpl Richard Hall Cana in Galilee. Intercede for us with your Pascal Flameygh Dan Trouse Ssg Nathan Ihrig Son Jesus, the Divine Physician, for those Ssgt Dakota Klocek who have fallen ill, for those who are Ken Fleming Sophie & Bekka Turner Racheal Frederick Deana Vanderpool Seaman Robert Kull vulnerable, and for those who have died. A1C Hunter Larnhart, USAF Intercede also for those charged with George Charlie VanWashehnova Alexander Lehr protecting the health and safety of others Joyce & Gerry Gallagher Wendy Willis Lt Zachary Manor and for those who are tending to the sick Diane Gress Bernice Windels Ssgt Mahew Marshall and seeking a cure. Help us, O Mother of Alicia Hall Randy Wylie Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Ssgt Jonathan R. Marn Fox Handler Michael Yensch Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, PV2 Bailey Mehki Connie Janus THOSE IN NURSING who took upon himself our sufferings and Sgt Jason Mell Margaret Kull HOMES OR carried our sorrows, so as to lead us, M/Sgt Tim Okkerse, through the Cross, to the glory of the Kate HerrRMalech ASSISTED LIVING Air Force Resurrection. Amen. Rob Milosch Alice Lorraine Care Center PVT Alex Sanders Ashleigh Motoligan John Kuras Lt Hunter A. Smith Under thy protection we seek refuge, David Huntley O Holy Mother of God. In our needs, Brookdale Jami Tatro W2 Dave Jondro despise not our petitions, but deliver us Joanne Bondy LCpl Nicholas Tipper Richard Kirby always from all dangers, O glorious Ed Manor Cpl Trevor A. Tipper Frank Kolakowski and blessed Virgin. Amen. Mae Puckett Pvt Trevor Tomkinson Linda Krueger BrookdaleRAnn Arbor Sr A Brennen Werr Debbie Lancaster Beulah May Lawson Lindner Karl Mathe Cambrian, Tecumseh Kit Maxwell Melvin Jasper Pray for us. . .
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Sherri with LPi (our bulletin printer) will be here in March securing new Ads. Please consider an ad to promote your business. Your participa- tion makes our bulletin successful, you attract customers and your support for the church is so appreciated! Ad dollars go directly to offset bulletin cost.
Sherri Fischhaber
ST. VINCENT De PAUL PANTRY NEEDS ~Instant Potatoes ~ Soup ~ Canned Meats ~ ~ Pancake Mix & Syrup ~ The Gospel today, challenges us to see and believe the signs of grace in our lives: joy, peace, forgiveness, mercy and kind- ness. This month, through your gi s, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was able to assist families, providing food, ulity and rent bills, etc. Thank You! We pray in your names always. Visit our website at www.svdpstmarymonroe.org
Due to the coronavirus, all of these events have been cancelled.
Sunday, March 29, 2020 St. Mary Parish Life Cen- ter 5:00pm Pizza Supper 5:30pm M 3D Animation of the movie: The Miracle Maker; The Story of Jesus A family is seeking help for their daughter, when they cross paths with an extraordinary carpenter named Jesus who is walking the countryside sharing the wonders of God. The father is loyal to the king but torn by his need for this Miracle
f 7342411644 ■ www.stmarymonroe.org ■ FAX 7342413077 ■ Celebrating 225 Years 17882013 Page 5 In the Spirit of Giving Especially needed at this me are new or lightly used bath towel sets, twin, full, and queen sized sheets, blankets, beds, couches, upholstered chairs, pots and pans and silverware. Thanks you for what you can share with those most in need within our Monroe community!
Donaons can be brought to the old IHM Powerhouse; 610 West Elm Ave. on Wednesdays, 2pmR4pm or on Saturdays, 10am T noon. Pick up of items is available. Please contact Lorie Bronson; 734R241R6088 or [email protected] Thank you!
THE 6 CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP FOR LENT T COMMITTED I remember Jim Valvano, Jimmy V to many, saying the iconic words, “Don’t give up; you can never give up.” The former coach of the NC State men’s basketball team was dying of cancer, yet he refused to throw in the towel and give in to his disease. His words exemplified LIVE THE LITURGY INSPIRATION FOR THE the best of the human spirit we all share. Somemes, living out those WEEK words seem much more difficult than saying them. These words are also important for our faith life. The life Jesus calls us We face death every day. Whether it comes with the actual to is not easy. When working toward a life of greater generosity and death of someone we love (or someone we don’t even surrender of all to God, we are prone to fall flat on our face many know), a failed relaonship, the loss of a job, a broken mes. We are not called to this life only when we are strong. It is how dream, or pondering our own mortality, death is always we around us. What does death say to us? What we believe respond when mes are the most difficult that truly defines us as about our death experiences is going to say volumes about disciples and stewards. The world may think we are down for the how we live our lives. Jesus comes to us today just as he did count, but rising again gives tesmony that in Christ we are stronger. many years ago to people who were struggling with loss Commitment takes a willingness to do the things needed to get and death and wondering what to do. He calls us out of our stronger and build our spiritual muscles. We cannot expect to find tombs, where we have been closed up in fear and despair, success in the spiritual life unless we connue to work on our resolve and grow in our knowledge of the faith. A marathon runner would and shouts, “Come out!” Jesus leads us out of death and never be able to make it to the finish line unless they have trained gives us hope. There is always hope. There is always trans- and prepared in advance. We must work hard to stay the course and formaon. Although we may not always see where the road prepare for the race at hand. No maer what this life may have in of life is taking us or see God’s presence with us on our store for us, we are called to not give up. God will never give up on journey, we will be brought to a new place and be given us. new life. Walk with God and listen to Him call you. Tomor- VTracy Earl Welliver, MTS row, there awaits another surprise.
Family Prayer the Holy Spirit. The Angelus is a way for lay people to sancfy the hours of the Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou day that echoes the monasc praying of the Liturgy of the among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Hours. The pracce seems to have always been associated Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour with the ringing of a bell at 6 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m. Whole of our death. Amen. villages and towns would halt when the Angelus bell rang. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me accord- Laborers in the fields, workers in shops, and families at home ing to Thy word. Hail Mary … set aside what they were doing and prayed the Angelus And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. together. Hail Mary … Today, many churches and monasteriesVas well as a number Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made of radio and television staonsVring the Angelus bell at six worthy of the promises of Christ. o’clock in the morning, at noon, and at six o’clock in the Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace evening, inving the faithful to pause at what they are doing into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnaon of Christ, Thy and pray this prayer. Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Today, pray the Angelus at the noon or 6 p.m. hour: Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrecon, The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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PRAYER IN TIME OF EPIDEMIC To access the Monroe Lord Jesus, in the most troubled moments of your life you have placed your confidence in Vicariate newsletter on the Father. In these days of trial, grant us faith line, please visit: and hope in you, the source of abundant life. Small and fragile, we feel your presence in this hour of bewilderment, which in some countries, www.monroevicariate.com even prevents us from meeting you in our Venerable Angelo beloved churches. Ramazzotti, Founder of PIME Missionaries Help us with the strength of your patience and love, you who are faithful and do not abandon us. With Mary your Mother we turn our humble prayer to you: bless those who care generously for the sick, give eternal peace to those who have left us, wipe the tears of those who are in pain and teach our hearts to do your Father's will even at this hour. We ask this through the intercession of Venerable Angelo Ramazzotti, who worked hard to care for the sick in times of epidemic, we ask you to free us from this suffering. Amen. (March 11, 2020 M The General Directorate of the PIME) The Best Catholic Content … All in One Place. At Christmas, we were pleased to gift you with a subscription to formed.org. As an evangelization tool of the Augustine Institute, Formed offers entertaining Christian movies, enlightening programs, inspiring talks, and a great selection of popular ebooks M all just a click away! We would highly encourage you to take advantage of the formed.org tool, which offers you many great ways to enrich your own faith, or to bring Christ to your family. To create a FORMED account: Visit formed.org Click SignUp Select ‘I belong to a parish or organization.’ When prompted to ‘Find your parish,’ type ONLY the zip code 48161. St. John the Baptist Parish will appear (since the account was registered under that name). Choose ‘St. John the Baptist’ and click ‘Next’. Enter your name and email, and click ‘SignUp’, and you’re in! Be sure to bookmark the page for easy access in the future. Once you’ve signedin for the first time, simply go back to the formed.org homepage. In the top right corner, click SignIn rather than SignUp and you will have immediate access, and see the words ‘Start Watching’.
for adversing in our bullen!
f 7342411644 ■ www.stmarymonroe.org ■ FAX 7342413077 ■ Celebrating 225 Years 17882013 Page 7 Sunday, Mar 29, 2020 Thursday, Apr 02, 2020 MEMORIAL OF FRANCIS OF PAOLA, HERMIT FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT; THIRD SCRUTINY OF THE ELECT Vegan before vegan was a thing Awakening The movement toward organic farming and more humane The moment of waking from a nightmare is suffused with relief. animal husbandry has raised our awareness of the impact of our Whoever was chasing you dissolves, and whatever threatened harm food producon on the vast chain of creaon. Saint has vanished. Grief and loss, however, can be living nightmares Francis of Paola intuited this more than 500 years ago, when he from which we’re unable to shake ourselves awake. Yet as the Scru- founded the religious order of Minims, “the least,” in the spirit of ny prayers for our Elect this Sunday affirm, the “horror of sin, the “Lesser Brothers” of Saint Francis of Assisi. In which distorts life” is indeed an evil from which we can escape. addion to the usual monasc vows, Minims take a fourth vow to Death has an end, and love will have its victory. We pray with our abstain from meat, eggs, and dairy products, not only to pracce a Elect for freedom from all paths that lead to death and a greater “Lenten way of life,” but also in an effort to “do no harm” to other aracon to the ways that restore life. living beings. Bring a bit of the spirit of the TODAY'S READINGS: Ezekiel 37:12R14; Romans 8:8R11; John 11:1R45 Minims to your dining table. TODAY'S READINGS: Genesis 17:3R9; John 8:51R (34). “Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” 59 (254). “They picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went Monday, Mar 30, 2020 LENTEN WEEKDAY Get into the Spirit out of the temple area.” On this day in 1990, Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A. died but the voice Friday, Apr 03, 2020 LENTEN WEEKDAY; DAY OF ABSTINENCE that nurtured countless thousands was not silenced. Before Sister Banish the bullying Thea, black Catholics were expected to give up their music, dance, Growing up, it seemed that every school, every playground had that and spiritual tesfying because these were suspiciously kidVyou know the one, the bully. That child taunted, picked on, “Protestant” customs. She restored their identy, shaped it through and terrorized others. Unfortunately, as adults, we see bullies too in the Instute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, and our workplaces, our relaonships, on social media, in polical life, shared it with those of other backgrounds. Shortly before her and so on. As Catholics, we have a religious duty to take a stand death, Thea spoke to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from against bullies. “Life, especially human life, belongs to God; whoev- her wheelchair. In the last five minutes of that talk, Thea led the er aacks human life aacks God’s very self” (Evangelium vitae §9). visibly moved bishops in singing “We Shall Overcome.” Thea called The church calls us to stop bullying in all its forms; that includes the spirituals she grew up with "bonfires to warm chilly nights." tweets and other social media. Pope Francis challenges us: “What is Such songs of hope warm a few hearts as well. Today, more than it within us that pushes us to mock and mistreat others weaker ever, we need a spiritRfilled song. than we are?” Be especially conscious today of the way you treat TODAY'S READINGS: Daniel 13:1R9, 15R17, 19R30, 33R62 or 13:41cR62; others. TODAY'S READINGS: Jeremiah 20:10R13; John 10:31R42 (255). “I have John 8:1R11 (251). “Neither do I condemn you.” shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you Tuesday, Mar 31, 2020 LENTEN WEEKDAY I am vs. I AM trying to stone me?” John’s gospel uses the term “I AM” to idenfy Jesus. That’s a refer- Saturday, Apr 04, 2020 ence to the Exodus story when God revealed the divine presence to MEMORIAL OF ISIDORE OF SEVILLE, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Moses using the name “I AM.” So the presence of Christ in us, in Go down in history our humanity, is the “I AM” who is with us. Of course there’s anoth- It is amazing the impact one learned person can have on the course er “I am” who is the self, our ego. That’s the conflict. Just as John of history. Because sixthRcentury Isidore of Seville was a dedicated the Bapst said, “He must increase and I must decrease,” the best scholar and shared his erudion with others in diconaries, ency- thing we can do is surrender the “I am” in us to the “I AM” who is clopedias, and great histories, much of the ancient world’s wisdom Christ. TODAY'S READINGS: Numbers 21:4R9; John 8:21R30 (252). “When you was preserved during the chaoc Middle Ages. He was somemes li up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM.” called the “Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages” because his wrings Wednesday, Apr 01, 2020 were used as textbooks for nine centuries! Perhaps more remarka- LENTEN WEEKDAY Freedom’s not just another word ble, he combined this great learning with an equal sense of compas- “Truth will set you free” and other heady thoughts about sion and charity toward those less fortunate. We too face chaoc freedom are abundant in today’s gospel. Across the centuries, the mes that call for that compassion and charity from each of us. Catholic Church has had a lot to say about freedom (though, ad- TODAY'S READINGS: Ezekiel 37:21R28; John 11:45R56 (256). “What miedly, it also has remained silent at mes when it should have are we going to do? This man is performing many signs.” just spoken out). A foundaon for much of that thought springs from the concept that God has granted human beings freedom to choose between good and evil, and the “more one does what is good, the freer one becomes,” as the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it (1733). Though current condions require most of us to sacrifice some of our mobility and sociability for now, remember the real keys to freedom are truth and goodness. Have a lile faith and see where it gets you. TODAY'S READINGS: Daniel 3:14R20, 91R92, 95; John 8:31R42 (253). “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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Jesus wept. This is the shortest verse in the bible yet one of the most powerful. Think about it. Jesus wept when he heard Martha and Mary telling him that Lazarus had died. That would be a natural thing to do except he knew he came there to raise Lazarus from the dead! Again Jesus wept as he looked over the city of Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen to him once he entered the city. Did he weep because he knew the pain he would have to endure? I am not sure that is why because again, he knew the end of the story! The tears of Jesus gives us a glimpse of how God feels about us, his children. He grieves at our sinfulness and lack of trust of Him. We should all remember how much God really loves us; to die for us. As we enter closer to Holy Week, take some time and reflect on why Jesus weeps for you. Reflect on your sins and take them to Jesus through the holy sacrament of reconciliation. Look around you and see the tears of your brothers and sisters who are broken, lost, hurting and hungry. They need to know that Jesus loves them and knows the end of their story. You can be Jesus to others just by listening to their story, being present during a rough time and drying their tears away. We are entering into the holiest week of the year. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
f 7342411644 ■ www.stmarymonroe.org ■ FAX 7342413077 ■ Celebrating 225 Years 17882013 Page 9 Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools www.mcesmonroe.com (734)241R6335
Page 10 f 7342411644 ■ www.stmarymonroe.org ■ FAX 7342413077 ■ Celebrating 225 Years 17882013 Locally Owned & Operated by Brian & Dana Reicker Sheri’s www.timhortons.com Dog Grooming B ACARELLA 404 S Monroe St. • Monroe 675 Cooper St., Monroe FUNERAL HOME 734-457-0755 1448 N Telegraph Rd. • Monroe Owner/Manger 3309 Sterns Rd. • Lambertville www.sherisdoggrooming.com Wm. A. Bacarella, Justin D. Miller, CFSP, CCO TECH TROUBLESHOOTER Funeral Director “Watching over your computer” Jeffery C. Rupp, MARILYN WEBER A+ Certified Professional IT Technician - 30+ Years Experience 734-241-4600 • IT Solutions & Consulting Parish Member 1201 South Telegraph Rd. • Monroe, MI • IT Support - Windows & Apple Devices 734-242-4976 • IT Services - By Appointment [email protected] www.bacarellafuneralhome.com Allore Chapel - (734) 241-5225 A & M TRANSMISSIONS Celebrate the life Cherish the memories. 734-782-0575 Transmission & Drivetrain Specialists Front Wheel Drive • Allen Park • Trenton family owned and operated • Rockwood • Monroe 14020 Telegraph, Flat Rock martenson.com Across from Flat Rock Speedway Thoma Trucking & THE Bulldozing Inc. Auto Body DUFFEY Sand • Stone • Fill Dirt GROUP Bulldozing • Backhoe DUFFEY TOWING Plant 24 HOUR TOWING & ROAD SERVICE 734-242-3938 Family Owned Since 1950 Complete Collision Service 241-5400 1408 Custer Drive DT ELECTRONICS 33 E Front St 734-242-9393 AUTOMOTIVE SOUND, SECURITY, Monroe REMOTE START & MULTIMEDIA EXPERTS G.B. Construction 242-3818 457-4006 oofing iding Monroe, Michigan 48162 DUFFEY SERVICE CENTER R & S COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR Free Estimates / Lic & Ins. “Buckle up for safety! 633 SOUTH TELEGRAPH RD. Call Greg 734-242-9201 www.HassettTitle.com 241-5400 NEWPORT GIFTS & MORE 1140 S. Monroe St. Call 734-243-6690 Monroe, MI 48161 For Reservations ELECTRIC, INC. INSPIRATIONAL ITEMS Residential & Commercial Wiring SALE! 8150 N. Dixie Hwy. • Newport, MI www.newport-electric.com 734-243-0200 (734) 586-2208 1325 N. TELEGRAPH-MONROE PARTY ROOMS AVAILABLE Become A Fan Of Us On Facebook
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