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• of mind and heart

  My Dear People,
       National Catholic Schools Week begins today, January 29 and runs through February 4.  It is annually celebrated in the United States to promote the exceptional education that comes with a Catholic school. Education has always been a vital part of decision-making for every family and parent and with this week-long occasion, people can have a glimpse of the excellent standards, formation, programs, and teachings Catholic schools can offer.
       How blessed we are in Saginaw to have the Nouvel Catholic Schools.  Through the financial and physical support of the Catholic Parishes of Saginaw, Bishop Gruss, the Diocesan Offices, dedicated teachers, administrators, parents and staff, we are able to provide a Pre-School – High School Catholic Education for anyone in the area who desires it.  Steadily Nouvel Catholic Schools and Diocesan Leadership are looking for ways to increase the quality and availability of a Catholic School education.  Last July, a Diocesan Catholic School Council and related subcommittees have been formed. They identified ten goals of importance and are steadily working to address them.  A lot of people are working to strengthen our Catholic Schools. 
       The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2023 is 'The Many Names of God'.  At the Nouvel Catholic Schools each day will have a 'scripture theme' and the dress up day based on it; between classes, music based on the theme will be played and throughout the week the students and teachers will periodically experience 'DEAP' (Drop everything and pray) based upon the Scripture theme.  The daily Scriptures for the week will be: Monday: 'I have called you by name' Tuesday: 'Leave everything and follow me'; Wednesday: 'Clothed in the Spirit'; Thursday: ''Give with a joyful spirit'; Friday: 'Bring down the Holy Spirit'.
       This week rejoice and celebrate our Catholic Schools. Take an interest in them.  Pray for blessings upon them.  Promote them in your words and deeds.                                         
                                                                                     Fr. Bill 
  
  THIS WEEKEND, JANUARY 28-29: FAREWELL GATHERINGS FOR FR. RAJ after each of the January 28-29 weekend Masses.   We extend sincere thanks to Fr. Raj for the priestly ministry that he has provided to our parishes for the past 20 months.  His warm personality, eagerness to serve, and sincere spirituality is admired and appreciated.  God bless you, Fr. Raj, for all that have done for us!  May God bless and guide you as your minister to your new parishes.
  
  2022 CHURCH CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS will be mailed to the homes of every registered parishioner.  This mailing is scheduled to arrive to your home the first week of February. Please do not call the office and request a Contribution Statement.  This mailing will contain a letter from our pastor, Fr. Bill, your contribution statement and a mid-year parish financial report. We appreciate your patience as these materials are prepared and mailed out to your homes.
  
  THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, FEAST of the PRESENTATION of the LORD in the Temple recounts the encounters of Simeon and Anna with the Holy Family as they present the infant Jesus in the Temple.  (Luke 2:22-40).  Simeon speaks of Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.”  On this feast, it is a tradition in the Church to bless candles: the candles that the Church will use throughout the year, and candles that people would bring to use in their homes.  We will have a blessing of candles on this Feast at the celebration of the NOON Mass at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish.  You are invited to bring candles to this Mass for the blessing.  We will also be giving a blessed candle to those who attend this Mass to take home. People will use a blessed candle in their homes for when they are praying or to be lit during a storm or time of distress.  Everyone is invited to attend this Mass
  
  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, FEAST OF ST BLAISÉ.  It is a tradition to have one’s throat blessed on the Feast of St. Blaisé.  Blaise was a bishop of Sebaste (present day Sivas Turkey), who is believed to have been martyred during the Diocletian persecutions of the 4^th Century.  The faithful of the Middle Ages depicted Blaise in his bishop’s robe, carrying either the wax tapers associated with the blessing of throats or a paten and a chalice.  Tradition holds that on his way to die for Christ, he was stopped by a woman whose child was choking to death.  Blaise blessed the child and it recovered.  The custom of blessing throats on his feast arose from these accounts.  We will have a blessing of throats on Friday, February 3, after the scheduled 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. John Paul II Parish.  Everyone is invited to come for the Mass and/or Blessing of Throats.
  
  PLEASE BRING YOUR OLD PALM BRANCHES TO CHURCH and place them in the designated Palm Branch receptacles at the Church entrances.  We will be collecting them from now until February 15.  These will them be burned and the ashes used for Ash Wednesday Services on February 22.  
  
  “THE CHOSEN”, Season One.  There are two weekly viewings of each episode from now through February 16: This week will feature Episode Four, entitled “The Rock on Which it is Built”.  1) Wednesday, February 1, 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. and 2) Thursday, February 2, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.  Both showings take place at the St. John Paul II Office building meeting room. Popcorn and soft drinks are provided.  A period of discussion will follow each viewing. (Estimated time: 75 minutes each session) Everyone is welcome to attend.
  
  CHRIST MISSION APPEAL UPDATE (as of January 15, 2023):

  • St. John Paul II Parish has received 135 parishioner responses that have resulted in $34,861 in donations and pledges towards our $51,807 assessment.
  • Christ the Good Shepherd Parish has received 127 parishioner responses that has resulted in $55,303.51 in donations and pledges towards its $61,050 assessment.

  We have a ways to go so as to reach our goals, please be generous in supporting this Appeal.
  
  CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH:  LENT 2023 THEME AND WEEKLY SESSIONS - “Lord, I want to be healed!”  The goal of these Lenten Sessions will be for participants to identify areas of life in need of healing, explore means of healing, know God’s desire and work for our healing, and finally a Liturgical experience of blessing for healing.  These Lenten sessions will begin the first full week of Lent and run to Holy Week, March 2 – April 5.  To accommodate people’s lives and work schedules, there will be two sessions on the same topic each week: Wednesday evenings 6:15 – 8:00 p.m. and Thursday afternoons, 12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.  A different guest speaker will present each week’s topic.  Each session will entail a small social to begin, presentation of the topic, and conclude with prayer time.  Each entire session will take place in St. Helen Church.  Please begin to think about the areas of your life in need of healing and plan to join us in these life healing, life changing sessions.  It is a gift and blessing of Lent leading to a joyous Easter.
  
  ✠ THE NEXT FIRST FRIDAY WITH BISHOP GRUSS IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption.  All are invited to celebrate Mass with Bishop at 11:00 a.m.  Please register to join Bishop for an informal presentation and lunch following Mass in the Lower Level.  To register visit the Diocese of Saginaw website at https://saginaw.org/1stFridays or call 989-799-7910. 
  
  A PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY:  OCTOBER 24-NOVEMBER 2, 2023.  You are invited to join Fr. Bill Rutkowski and Fr. Francis George on an Italian Pilgrimage.  Highlights include San Giovanni Rotondo (St. Padre Pio), the Amalfi Coast, Montecassino & Subiaco (St. Benedict), the major Basilicas and sites in Rome, with an optional Pre-Tour Pilgrimage to Assisi (St. Francis) October 22-25, 2023.   For a Pilgrimage brochure, or for more information, please contact Fr. Bill at (517) 881-1132 or brutkowski@diosag.org .    
  
  WE CONTINUE OUR EUCHARISTIC RENEWAL/REVIVAL with the 25^th segment of the teachings of “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (CCC) on the Holy Eucharist.  
   

  6. The fruits of Holy Communion

  1395 – By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins.  The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin.  The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins – that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation.  The Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those who are in full communion with the Church.    
  
  1396 – The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church.  Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ.  Through it, Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body – the Church.  Communion renews, strengthens and deepens this incorporation into the Church, already achieved by Baptism.  In Baptism we have been called to form but one body.  The Eucharist fulfills this call: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of this one bread:”
  If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive.  To that which you are, you respond “Amen” (“yes, it is true!”) and by responding to it you assent to it.  For you hear the words, “the Body of Christ” and respond “Amen.”  Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true.