Christmas Message – 2018

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On behalf of Fr. Kishore and our parish staff I wish you a Christmas full of peace, gratitude, joy and love. May Jesus hold you close to His heart during this Blessed Christmas Season and throughout the New Year- 2019. And may the blessings of this holy season descend on all of you in abundance. “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” (Lk.2:11) With these words an angel of the Lord announced to the shepherds the good news of the arrival of the long awaited Messiah. Christmas is a time to reflect upon the great love of our heavenly Father and His great gift to all.  There is no greater gift that anyone could give than the gift of one’s only child. The celebration of the birth of Jesus is therefore a celebration of the infinite love of our heavenly Father. As we experience this love let us pray that we may have love for one another, be reconciled with each other and accept one another. Let this Christmas be special – let us try to experience deep within us that the Love our Heavenly Father has for us and try to share it with others.

Welcome

Christmas has a way of bringing to Church individuals and families who, for various reasons, have not been to Mass or the Sacraments for months or years. What a wonderful and grace-filled opportunity to put aside past differences and old habits and begin anew that prayerful relationship with the Lord and His Church community. Together, may we grow in strength and grace to know and celebrate God’s presence in our lives and His dominion over all things of this world.

As our Archbishop mentions in his letter “Unleash the Gospel” – “For evangelization to have its effect we must ensure that our communities extend a warm welcome to everyone who walks through the door.”

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all those who will be returning back to St. Valentine Parish even though you have not been here regularly – you have 2019 to look ahead and to make new decisions. 

 We also remember those who may be sick, lonely or bereaved and we pray for those who have died. May we share in the Peace and Joy of God’s presence.

Christmas Blessings to all,
Fr. Socorro Fernandes SAC.

 


Lessons & Carols 2019

As a way to close out the Christmas season in January, our parish Worship Commission has scheduled a “Festival Of Lessons & Carols” – on Sunday, January 6, at 7pm in the church.  For more information on this special program, please see this flyer.

 

 

 

St. Valentine Catholic School Open House

St. Valentine Catholic School welcomes all families to our Open House on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 5:00-7:00pm. Please join us to find out the many benefits our school can provide for your child. Our school offers faith based educational excellence for Preschool through Grade Eight. At our open house you will have the opportunity to tour the school, meet the teachers, and gain valuable information about how our school can help your child. Our school is located in Redford on Hope St. just off of Beech Daly between Schoolcraft and Five Mile. If you would like more information please call 313 533-7149 or visit our website @ www.stvalentineschool.com

Christmas – New Year’s Schedule 2018-2019

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Communal Penance Service with individual confessions at St. Valentine:
Wednesday, December 12th at 7 pm.
We encourage all parishioners to attend.  Private confessions on Saturdays 3:30 – 4:15 pm in church.

Christmas Eve Masses – Monday December 24th:
4:00 p.m. (children’s Mass), 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 pm

Christmas Day Mass, Tuesday, December 25th:
10:00 a.m.

New Year’s Eve Masses – Monday, December 31st:
8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day Mass – Tuesday, January 1st:
9:00 a.m.

We invite you to take part in our Christmas and New Year’s liturgies.  Your presence will be our joy!

Penance Service

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This coming week we have a wonderful opportunity to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as we will have the Advent Penance Service on December 12th at St. Valentine Church. This service will begin at 7 p.m. with a little preparation followed by individual confession.

Besides Fr. Kishore and myself there will be Fr. Rick Hartmann and Fr. Sal Briffa from the Clergy Village and Fr. Pat Brennan from St. Paul of the Cross. Advent is a good time to heal all that keeps us from experiencing the divine love and mercy.

 

A Christmas Gift for Your Parish

 I have mentioned it several times how I love being a priest and as a priest I have also mentioned how I dislike asking for money. While I firmly believe in the priority of spirituality over materialism, every year before Christmas I have to ask this of you because it’s something necessary for the parish. So here I come to remind you how important it is to make a generous gift to the parish at Christmas. The Archdiocese gives all parishes a special exemption from the 7% diocese assessment for the Christmas collection, so your Christmas contribution stays right here. And I assure you that every dollar you contribute will be used for the good and betterment of St Valentine  parish community. Thank you for your generosity this Christmas as well as throughout the year.

Fr. Socorro

For Families and Individuals

Prayer is the most powerful way each of us can prepare our hearts and minds to recognize Jesus in each of the people we will encounter at Christmas, and to extend his love and mercy to them. The following are suggestions for ways to pray as families and as individuals during Advent and beyond.

· Read and pray with Luke 2 and discuss how Mary and Joseph went from place to place in hope of being welcomed in Bethlehem, but could not find a room. Pray for the grace to welcome those they do not know, share their seats, smile, and encourage conversation.

· Pray for God’s grace to connect with a family who comes at Christmas, and to welcome them with radical hospitality.

· Pray for the courage to invite another family (or individual) to a Christmas liturgy.

· Pray intentionally for those who wills serve as liturgical ministers at the Christmas liturgies, for those who will assume particular hospitality roles, and for those who will attend the Christmas liturgies.

· For all Saturday/Sunday liturgies during Advent, invite parishioners to pray and fast for the guests who will attend the Christmas liturgies.

· Pray for protection for the parish during the Christmas liturgies. Ask the Lord to place a “hedge of protection” around the parish grounds, the building, all staff, parishioners, and guests: “Lord, place a hedge of protection around our parish grounds, the church building, all of our parishioners, and those who will join us for Christmas. Keep in what is holy and is of you, and cast out what is not. We ask this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.”

Taken from The AOD Radically Mission-Oriented Christmas Playbook