MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN 48043 March 28, 2021
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ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH 95 MARKET STREET MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN 48043 March 28, 2021 Phone: (586)468-4578 Website: www.stpetermtclemens.com Dear Parish Family, BigNews…. By Fr. Douglas Bignall= The following prayer was found in Fr. Mike’s Bible. It is especially appropriate for this last week of Lent and with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection and with the beginning of Spring. Reflections on Families of Parishes == A Prayer for the World Part 4: I Don’t Want to Get Out of the Boat Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations. Through the sea was your way; your path, Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, through the mighty waters, the neglect. though your footsteps were unseen. Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows. Let the warmth of the sun heal us Psalm 77:20 wherever we are broken. We have all heard the Archbishop telling us that to Let it burn away the fog so that we can see each other make so bold a move as we are making will require us to clearly. So that we can see beyond labels, get out of the boat, a reference to Peter having the beyond accents, gender or skin color. courage to step out of the boat and come to Jesus by Let the warmth and brightness of the sun walking on the tumultuous Sea of Galilee during a storm. melt our selfishness. Everyone in the presbyterate has stepped out of the So that we can share the joys and boat at one time or another in their life. Indeed, the feel the sorrows of our neighbors. reception of Holy Orders itself requires one to do so. And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see There is no reason to question if we priests of the all people as our neighbors. Archdiocese of Detroit are willing to step out of the boat; Let the earth, nourished by rain bring forth clearly, we are willing to do so when it is required of us. flowers to surround us with beauty. But we also have the freedom to choose when we are And let the mountains teach our hearts willing to step out of the boat do we not? After all, there to reach upward to heaven. were 11 apostles who never left the boat despite what Amen. Peter felt called to do. At some point, they would be called Rabbi Harold S. Kushner to their own "stepping out of the boat" moments in their ministry. Most would even give their lives for the faith. But During this week we find Jesus suffering to death on the they didn't feel inclined to join Peter on this one. cross. The week begins with Jesus’ entry into Some will say that Families of Parishes is not some- Jerusalem. There are many of His faithful followers in thing that merits stepping out of the boat for, so why don't Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover. They I just stay put and let Peter do what Peter feels called to greet Him with the word from Psalm 118, “Hosanna”. do? This is a position that has some merit. All of us are The joyful preparation is marred by the chief priests and connected to the Holy Spirit in our prayer lives are we scribes plotting to put Jesus to Death. They accuse Him not? Perhaps we don't feel his promptings in the same of perverting the nation by attracting large crowds. They way as others. claim He was forbidding people Continued on the next page. So, let us dig a little bit deeper into Mathew's account of Peter stepping out of the boat, much like we are all called to do every time we preach. First, notice that in Matthew 14:22 we read that Jesus made all the disciples get into the boat. In fact, Mark uses the same expression in his telling of the story of Jesus walking on water. Jesus knew that this was something that they all needed to Continued on the next page. Page 2 St. Peter Parish, Mount Clemens experience, as there was a lesson to be learned and to to pay tribute to Caesar in order to get the attention of the be handed on for all of time. And so, he made them get Romans who had the power to put Him to death Jesus is into the boat. accused of blasphemy because He said He was the Son Next, notice that Jesus did not come to them until the of God. fourth watch. He had sent them out in the evening but did not come to them until sometime between 3 AM and 6 The Gospel of Mark tells the story. On Good Friday, the AM. How long were they in this storm? It must have been day of our salvation, we hear the story from the Gospel of quite scary for all of the apostles. Perhaps they John Let us spend this Holy Week in prayer as we unite questioned to themselves or perhaps even openly to with those who are suffering in our world today, and each other, "Why did he do this to us? Why did he send reflect on the suffering of Jesus which leads to His us into this storm but stay safe and sound on land Resurrection. himself?" Notice as well that the storm only ended when Jesus Have a truly blessed week, brought Peter back to the boat and they both got into it. Sheila Roy Were the other apostles then grateful to Peter for doing Pastoral Associate what he did? The reality of this great Gospel passage is that it was Holy Thursday: No 8:00 AM Mass. Jesus who pushed them into this most difficult circumstance, not Peter, because there was something Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 PM with more important at play that only Jesus understood. And it Adoration following until 10:00 PM was Peter's willingness to step out of the boat that ended Good Friday: No 8:00 AM Mass. up bringing calm and relief to everyone else. 12:00 PM Stations of the Cross, The Archbishop has stepped out of the boat for us. We 1:00 PM Meditation, 1:30 PM* Liturgy of the will all benefit from his doing so, whether we understand Lord’s Passion it or not. In the same way, we must be willing to step out of the boat for the lay faithful. Holy Saturday: 2:00 PM Blessing of Food, 8:00 PM Vigil Mass Easter Sunday: Mass at 7:30 AM, 10:00 Reflection: Mahew 14:22833 AM*, 12:00 Noon Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by *1:30 Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Friday and Easter Sunday 10:00 Mass will be Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was live-streamed on our You Tube Channel. being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water As the general dispensation ends and we toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind welcome people back to church, please keep was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he in mind that we are still doing our best to cried out, "Lord, save me!" keep everyone safe. Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. If the ushers see that the church is getting too full, Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, they will have the option of seating overflow in the "Truly, you are the Son of God." Parish Hall for Mass. If we need to use the Hall for this, Mass will be live-streamed into the Hall Have a prayerfilled week and a gracefilled Lent, and an SME will bring Communion there at Communion time. YÜA WÉâzÄtá U|zÇtÄÄ Please give everyone a lot of grace and patience and remember that a smiling face shows even with a mask on! (Please see page 4 for a list of the Specific Dispensations that are still in effect). St. Peter Parish, Mount Clemens Page 3 Mass Intentions for March 29-April 4, 2021 We know that we all miss our Hymnals! Here are some alternatives that you Monday, March 29 8:00a.m. can use to follow along with the Fr. Michael Cooney (dec) Bishop Patrick Cooney (dec) readings. Tuesday, March 30 8:00a.m. Maureen Cooney (dec) • The readings can be found at Sr. Leontia Cooney, OP (dec) https://bible.usccb.org/ Wednesday, March 31 8:00a.m.