The Parishes of Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 7, 2021 Lenten Retreat Conference Ember Days is to render thanks to God for the gifts of While the details are still being worked out, I will be Creation and to ask His help in using them well. Since offering a retreat style conference every week during 1966, the fasting and abstinence are no longer Lent. These were presentations made last year at my prescribed but still encouraged. previous parish family of St. Michael the Archangel [Ember Days] originate in Rome within the first centuries during the same season. They took place during Holy of the Church. Pope St. Leo the Great (mid 5th century) Mass in lieu of the homily. Due to the amount of time has left a series of beautiful sermons for these days and that is required to present the material and the reality thought they had been instituted by the Apostles that our scheduled times for Holy Mass are somewhat themselves. The Liber pontificalis dates their institution bunched up against another, offering that in the same to Pope St. Calixtus (218-225), though they were more way is just not feasible. At this point, I don’t know if this probably instituted by Pope Siricius (384-399). will be provided on campus, completely virtual, or a mixture of both. My hope is to offer it live first and In her early days, the Church in Rome was confronted foremost. It gives us a chance to not only get out of the with a number of pagan religious nature festivals. house but then to be with other people, pray with other Outstanding among them was the threefold seasonal people during this holy season. The downside to observance of prayer and sacrifices to obtain the favor simply recording the live session is that the ensuing of the gods upon sowing and harvest. The first of quality of what I present via slides will be degraded. these seasonal celebrations occurred at various dates But I digress: I don’t intend to drag you further into the between the middle of November and the winter weeds of what we will try or not try. Just know I’ll be solstice. It was a time of prayer for successful sowing praying about it. It will begin on the week of the 15th so (Feriae sementivae: Feast of Sowing). The second hopefully by next weekend, all the information will be festival was held in June for the grain harvest (Feriae ironed out. messis: Harvest Feast). The third one came before the autumnal equinox (September) and was motivated by Families of Parishes Update the grapes harvest (Feriae vindimiales: Feast of Wine). I have recently received the Parish Culture Report for As the empire became officially Christian, the Church both St. Augustine and Holy Family which captures an tried to sanctify these seasonal festivals. The first overview of each parish as well as information regulations mention only “Three Seasons.” Eventually, discussed through our SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, the Church added a fourth prayer period (in March). opportunities, threats) analysis along with the results This change seems to have been motivated by the fact from the parish leadership survey. What does this that the year contains four natural seasons, and also mean? It means they’ve compiled the information just by the mention of four fasting periods in the Book of as they said they would and soon we will be taking part Zechariah (8:19). At about the same time, each period in the next steps of Families of Parishes. Not too long was extended over the three traditional Station days ago, I had the opportunity to join St. Mary Mystical (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday). While the Station fast Rose as they worked with diocesan missionaries, Wade at other times was expected but not strictly prescribed, and Mary, to undergo the SWOT analysis for their this seasonal observance imposed fasting by community. Please continue to keep our parishes in obligation. The Eucharistic Sacrifice was offered after prayer as we continue this journey together. having fasted the whole of Saturday and having performed a long vigil service of prayers and readings, Ember Days lasting the greater part of the night. Speaking of Lent, now may be a good time to revive the In 494, Pope Gelasius I prescribed that the sacrament beautiful practice of observing Ember Days (if one isn’t of Holy Orders be conferred on Ember Saturdays. familiar with them already). I found a rather extensive Thus the prayer and fasting of Ember week acquired article concerning them and have included some of that added importance, for apostolic tradition demanded here (source: https://fssp.com/ember-days-of-lent/). It is that ordinations be preceded by fast and prayer (Acts by Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP: 13:3). Not only did the candidates themselves fast and Ember Days are three days (Wednesday, Friday and pray for a few days in preparation for Holy Orders, but Saturday) set apart in each of the four seasons for the whole clergy and people joined them to obtain fasting, abstinence and prayer. Tied to the seasonal God’s grace and blessing upon their calling. Thus cycles of farming and harvesting, the purpose of Embertides became like spiritual exercises for all, Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest Pastor: Reverend Philip Ching [email protected] Phone: (586) 646-8250 Associate Pastor: Reverend John Nedumcheril E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (586) 727-5215 Ext. 118 Deacon: Alan Gwozdz E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: (810) 392-2056 Ext. 222 Flock Notes: Text # 84567 and type SAHF in the text Screen for updates. Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1dwYNER Webmaster: [email protected] Holy Family Parish 68035 Main St., Richmond, MI 48062 79780 Main Street, Memphis, MI 48041 Website: http://www.staugustinecatholicparish.org Website: http://www.holyfamily-online.org Email - [email protected] Email - [email protected] Parish Office: (586) 727-5215 Fax (586) 727-3760 Parish Office: 810-392-2056 Office hours: Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed for lunch 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Bookkeeper/Parish Secretary - Barb Quigley Ext. 227 Faith Formation Director - Susan Finley Ext. 229 Director of Music Ministry Joe Agosta 810-305-1385 [email protected] Office Manager - Catherine Wullaert Ext. 237 Youth Ministry - Jennifer McClelland Ext. 228 [email protected] Director of Music Ministry - Joe Agosta 810-305-1385 [email protected] The Divine Mercy Missionary Center Ext. 246 All Saints Knights of Columbus # 10501 Grand Knight - Ken Litchfield 810-392-0002 [email protected] Sunday Masses: Saturday: 4:30 p.m. Sunday: 10:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Daily Masses: Office of Faith Formation: (586) 727-9290 Tuesday: 7:00 p.m. & Friday: 8:00 a.m. Email: [email protected] Hours: Monday - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Tuesday - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Please see the bulletin for the current Holy Day Mass schedule. Sacrament of Reconciliation: Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. Saturday: 3:30 p.m. Or by appointment. St. Augustine School Youth Ministry-Jennifer McClelland 810 392-2056 Ext. 228 67901 Howard St., Richmond MI 48062 Website: http://www.staugustinecatholicschool.com School Office: 586-727-9365 Principal - Emily Lenn Ext. 131 Secretary - Judy Rey Ext. 130 Secretary - Lisa Hunter Ext. 129 Bulletin Submissions Deadline: 12:00 p.m. on Holy Day Masses: Please see the bulletin for the current Friday for the following weekend; deadline changes Holy Day Mass schedule. near major holidays. Please submit electronically to: [email protected] or [email protected]. Announcement deadline: Thursday 5:00 p.m. Sacrament of Baptism: Sacrament of Marriage: Sacrament of the Sick: Please contact the parish office to In accordance with the guidelines of the Province Notify the Parish Office schedule a baptism. of Michigan, engaged couples must contact the of any need for hospital It is recommended that parents Parish Office six months prior to the desired date or home visits. seeking Baptism for their child attend of marriage and complete required preparation. two baptismal preparation classes. February 7, 2021 Page 3 similar in thought and purpose to our modern retreats Fasting days and Emberings be Lent, Whitsun, and missions. Ember Days have been used at times as Holyrood, and Lucie. Or even a shorter special prayers by the faithful for vocations to the mnemonic: Lenty, Penty, Crucy, Lucy. priesthood and for the sanctification of priests. Ember Days remind us of a time when society was The words have nothing to do with embers or ashes. It mostly rural. In our urban society, the connection may be from the Anglo-Saxon ymbren, a circle or between Ember Days and the cycle of sowing and revolution; or more likely it may be a corruption harvest does not speak to most of us any longer. of quatuor tempora through Dutch, Danish or German However, the association of Ember Days and (Quatember). ordinations could give a new purpose to Ember Days as voluntary days of penance by clergy and faithful Francis Mershman in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) together, to not only confess and atone for sins of the affirms: “They were definitely arranged and prescribed past but also to pray for more vocations to the for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) priesthood and the sanctification of clergy. for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after God bless your week! Whitsunday (Pentecost), and after 14 September In Jesus through Mary, (Exaltation of the Cross).” This was expressed in the old English rhyme: Fr.