ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH UTICA, MICHIGAN 2nd Sunday of Lent March 16, 2014 Journey to Joy In the gospel reading for today, the Transfiguration of the Lord, Jesus meets with Moses and Elijah. Moses represented the Law; Elijah, the Prophets. They were the main figures in Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament. They met with Jesus to discuss how the Word of God was going to bring God's Word to its fulfillment. The disciples witnessed the glory of God. They were ecstatic. They were given a glimpse of their deepest hope, that Jesus was Lord. But then they were told that they need to be quiet about this until after the death of the Lord. Jesus’ glory cannot be understood apart from His sacrifice. The concept of only recognizing glory when it is a result of sacrifice is not that extraordinary. We do this all the time. No one honors someone who was just lucky, say in purchasing a winning lottery ticket. But a person is honored when his or her success is the result of hard work. His or her glory is due to his or her sacrifice. The athlete is honored not just for the event, but for the training and sacrifice that gave her or him the ability to perform. You reward your children not just for the good grades on their report cards, but also for the sacrifice and hard work that led to those grades. We honor people who have been married for many years not just because they hung in there for so long, but because they sacrificed for each other so well. Faith demands that we make that joyful journey from sacrifice to glory. It demands that we separate ourselves from our own selfish desires in order to give to others. This is the path to glory for a Christian. And it is a path full of joy. We Christians are happy because, like the disciples on the mountain of the transfiguration, we have experienced a touch of heaven, the joy of the Lord, the happiness that is to come. Faith is not just something we profess. Faith is a life that we lead. It is a life of joy, a life of sacrifice, and a life leading us to the Glory of God. St. Lawrence Catholic Community believes we are called by our Baptism to gather as a worshipping and prayerful people. As responsible disciples, of Jesus Christ, we are called to be faithful stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. We value and foster Catholic education and evangelization. With open hearts and hands, we reach out to all brothers and sisters, as together we strive to offer hope, act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God. PAGE 1 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 16, 2014 www.stlawrenceparish.com Parish Office 44633 Utica Road, Utica, Michigan 48317 School (586) 731-5347 (586) 731-0135 Rev. Robert Fisher, Pastor Rev. Salvatore Palazzolo, Assoc. Pastor Fax Rev. Mr. Anthony Morici, Deacon Religious Education (586) 731-5393 Pastoral Staff (586) 731-5072 Rev. Robert Fisher, Pastor Rev. Salvatore Palazzolo, Assoc. Pastor Peggy DeClercq, Pastoral Assoc. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Janet Sullivan, IHM, Pastoral Assoc. Lorrie Goetzinger, Business Manager Mary Kraus, Christian Service [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Lisa Rajnicek, Religious Education Deann Reusche, Youth Minister Mike Roth, Music Director [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cathy Ciolino, School Principal [email protected] Community Support Staff Sacraments Paul Rybicki, Cemetery Coordinator Baptisms are the 2nd Saturday of the month at 5:45 pm and the [email protected] 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays of the month at 1:15 pm. A Baptismal Stephen Ministry (586) 731-5347 Preparation Class is required for both parents and godparents and is Greg Mangold, Athletic Director (586) 978-3887 held on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Social Hall at 7:00 pm. The Church requires that at least one of the parents and one of the godparents be practicing Catholics, that is, they actively Parish Council participate in Mass each weekend. Please call the Parish Office to [email protected] register for classes or if you have any questions. Annmarie Iacona, Chairperson Marriage arrangements require a six-month parish registration and Brett Valentine, Vice Chairperson active Mass participation. Wedding dates are not given out over the phone or before you have been active parishioners for at least six Sherry Berry, Secretary months. Please call the Parish Office for details. Parish Council Members-At-Large Questions about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, First Eucharist Barbara Sabatini Annmarie Iacona Mike Coraci Sherry Berry and Confirmation will be answered by our Religious Education Office. Brett Valentine Cheryl Lloyd Lawrence Higgins Lorri DeAngelis Please call (586) 731-5072 for further information. Young Adult Rep. Amy Witulski Youth Group Rep. Hannah Gianfermi Senior Rep. Marion Lelito School Information Athletic President Greg Burnick Questions about tuition rates for parish members and Vicariate Rep. Catherine Karim non-members, applications to attend the school or any other school Worship Chair Lisa Ann Roth Christian Service Rep. Open related matters will be answered by the St. Lawrence School Office. PEPC Rep. Rosemary Reilly Please call (586) 731-0135 for further information. School/Comm. Rep./President Diana Ayer Evan./Comm. Rep. Fr. Sal Education Chair Scot Moceri Adult Formation Rep. Open Parish Office Hours Monday through Friday: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Liturgy Schedule Saturday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am Sunday: 9:00 am to 1:30 pm Friday (during school), 9:30 am Saturday, 4:30 pm School Office Hours (During School Year) Sunday, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon Monday through Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Reconciliation, Saturday, 3:30 pm Religious Education Office Hours (During School Year) Monday and Tuesday: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration nd nd Wednesday through Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 2 Tuesday 5-8 pm and 2 Wednesday 2-3 pm Perpetual Help Devotions, Tuesday morning after the 8:00 am Mass Religious Education Office Hours (Summer) Monday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Tuesday through Friday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm PAGE 2 ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH UTICA, MICHIGAN Mass Intentions Visit our website for up-to-date Saturday, March 15, 2014 parish information! 4:30 pm Elizabeth Przybylinski Marilyn McKinnon Agnes Herit Barbara Ballard www.stlawrenceparish.com Al Ludeman Marcia Majocha Mary Learnihan Bertoline Jareth Russell Sunday, March 16, 2014 Stewardship Sacrificial Giving 8:00 am People of St. Lawrence Sunday, March 9, 2014 .................................. $29,023.00 10:00 am Leo Lukaszewicz Raymond Kay Vocations ..................................................... $557.00 Sue Belcher Elizabeth Stahl Emergency Relief ......................................... $1,465.00 Jennie & Sylvester Persia Christopher Barczyk Ash Wednesday ............................................ $1,458.00 Rose, Clarence & Raymond Lafreniere Scheuerman & Belcher families Divine Mercy Prayer Line 12:00 pm Eleanor Ochylski Nancy Mazorowicz Maria Victoria Procopio Glenn P Harper As Jesus revealed to St. Faustina, “I have opened Josephine Tague Rhoda Simon My Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls Jonathan & Vanessa Soto-Chan draw life from it.” If you or others would like to Monday, March 17, 2014 receive prayer for your intentions, contact Eileen at the 8:00 am Angel Alpas Mary & Bill Seeler Divine Mercy Prayer line: (586) 725-0944. Ellen & Tom Sherred Kathy Murphy Holy Souls in Purgatory Jennifer Hagen Parnell & Valma Kelly Tiny & Marguerite McQuillan Tuesday, March 18, 2014 8:00 am Norbert Rybicki Juanita Selewski Andy & Mary Cole Albert Havrilla Sr. Barbara Brys Living & Deceased Members of Brys Family Wednesday, March 19, 2014 8:00 am Giuseppe DiRezze Frances Trainor Samuel Poma John Hall Caroline & Donna Bucciero Jenn Hagen Thursday, March 20, 2014 Readings For The Week Of 8:00 am Patricia Forcier Spangle March 16, 2014 Friday, March 21, 2014 Sunday: Gn 12:1-4a/2 Tm 1:8b-10/Mt 17:1-9 9:30 am Anthony Mazurco Joy Simon Monday: Dn 9:4b-10/Lk 6:36-38 Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20/Mt 23:1-12 Saturday, March 22, 2014 Wednesday: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16/Rom 4:13, 4:30 pm Thomas J Voytas Sophia Jakubik 16-18, 22/Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or William Bohlen Joseph Jakubik Lk 2:41-51a Robert Amyot Lilah Drapinski Thursday: Jer 17:5-10/Lk 16:19-31 Poor Souls in Purgatory Bermard Jakubik Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a/ Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 Sunday, March 23, 2014 Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 8:00 am Marie Jozefiak Timothy Judge Next Sunday: Ex 17:3-7/Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/Jn 4:5-42 or Dolores Brodziak Steven Krasnicki 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42 Murray Family Cyril Duyck Raymond & Selena Delmotte ©Liturgical Publications Inc Mary & August Duyck Forum Deadlines and Information 10:00 am People of St. Lawrence A reminder that all articles submitted for the Forum must be 12:00 pm James Warner Martha Vandermeij submitted by Monday, 8 am for the following week. You may Francesco Esposito Sue Tuzinsky bring a typed copy of your article to the parish office or email it to [email protected]. All requests for overhead projection are due Wednesday at noon. If you have any questions, please contact the parish office. PAGE 3 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 16, 2014 RCIA— Rite of Election Adult Volunteers Needed... Last Sunday, the members of our RCIA Process celebrat- Are you an adult who is looking for a good opportunity ed the Rite of Election at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.