Author: Kathy

Letter to Parish Members from Fr. Socorro

Kathy From our Pastor

St. Valentine Catholic Church

Dear parish member,

May the Lord be with you during this difficult time.

All of us are going through something no one has experienced before, and none of us know exactly how to handle the situation. I know there is lot of fear, anxiety. But that too shall pass. The best thing we can do now is pray a lot – several times in my homilies I have mentioned how as a family we need to spend time in prayer, how as a family we need to come together. And maybe that’s what the Lord is trying to tell us.

As I was praying, a thought came to me – now that we are not able to take part in Mass as a community, this will make us more aware of how important the Eucharist is to us. Missing this will make us more eager to come to Church and receive the Lord. So, as you spend more time at home, pray for a cure from this virus, remember those who are affected and those who lost their loved one to COVID-19, or any other issue. Let us also hold in our prayers those caring for the sick, for patience and for strong faith to move forward, placing our trust in the Lord.

If you wish, you can come to Church and pray – the Church will be kept open daily from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm as for now. This could change if there are further directives from the Archdiocese.

As we face the current crisis, please keep in mind that our parish has ongoing financial needs and responsibilities. Eliminating Masses until further notice will mean several Sundays without a collection. Please continue your regular financial support of your Parish as best you are able. Thank you in advance for this consideration. If your income has been adversely affected by the response to COVID-19, please contact our parish office to see if we can help you. We are here to serv e you. The parish office is open at regular hours if you need any further assistance.

In the words of Archbishop Allen H Vigneron, “Let us entrust ourselves to Our Lady of Lourdes, patron for those who suffer illness. Through her intercession, may God grant healing and protection to the people of southeast Michigan and beyond.” Here’s a prayer that was posted by the Archdiocese, as you and your families are encouraged to make a daily Spiritual Communion by praying:

“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”

Please know that you are continually in my prayers, and my blessings are upon you during this time. Let us walk this journey together holding one another in our prayers.

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy,

Fr Socorro Fernandes SAC

A paper copy of this letter was sent out in the mail on March 18 and you should all be receiving it shortly.

Requests from St. Valentine Worship Commission

Kathy From Pastoral Council

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

On Holy Thursday (April 9), during the “Mass Of The Lord’s Supper”, twelve volunteers are needed to re-enact the role of the apostles, in a celebration of the washing of feet. You are invited to become one of the volunteers. If you wish to help, please call the rectory office by April 6, to register your name.

ANNUAL, SPECIAL LENTEN COLLECTION

Our parish is holding its annual, special Lenten collection of paper products for the soup kitchen we help at each month – the Manna Community Meal soup kitchen. This special collection will conclude at the “Mass Of The Lord’s Supper”, on Thursday, April 6.

 

Please consider donating the following paper products – paper towels; napkins; or toilet paper. If you prefer making a monetary donation, place it in an envelope marked Manna Community Meal (checks should be made out to St. Valentine church).

 

Prior to the “Mass Of The Lord’s Supper”, donations of paper products can be placed near the purple bins located in each vestibule (whenever the church is open), or dropped off at the rectory office during regular business hours. Monetary donations should only be dropped off or sent to the rectory office.

Message From Our Archbishop

Kathy From the Archbishop

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

   As we continue to receive reports about the spread of the Coronavirus in our communities, I write to you today with some news that may be difficult to hear. After consultation with health care professionals and government officials, I am temporarily suspending all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Detroit until Monday, April 6.

   The celebration of Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith, through which we encounter and enter into sacred Communion with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The decision to temporarily suspend this practice was not and must never be taken lightly. As Mass is a commemoration of Christ’s great act of love for us, we take this unprecedented measure with eyes fixed on him and his greatest commandment to love one another, which in this difficult time means that we ensure the health and safety of our community by following the wise counsel of local, state, and federal government and health officials.

  During this growing spread of COVID-19, we must redouble these efforts, particularly of prayer and fasting. We should pray and fast for God’s mercy on our local community and the whole world to end the Coronavirus pandemic. We should pray for medical professionals, researchers, and government leaders that the Lord would give them wisdom in their work and that we would heed their advice and directions for the good of society, especially for the least among us, those who are most susceptible of contracting this virus and other illnesses. You can find prayer resources here. More resources will be forthcoming

   The decision to temporarily suspend public Masses has been communicated to your pastors in a separate correspondence with more details. Effective Saturday, March 14, all Sunday and weekday public Masses, faith formation courses, communal Penance services, and all other parish events will be suspended in the Archdiocese of Detroit until Monday of Holy Week, April 6. Mass will be available to you each day via live-stream and other media channels. You can find these on our website www.aod.org. Be assured that our priests will be offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day in private so as to harness and direct the great spiritual grace and power contained therein.


   As you temporarily participate at Mass in this different way, you and your families are encouraged to make a daily Spiritual Communion by praying:


   My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you.
Amen.

   At the discretion of pastors, churches may be open for private prayer so that you can approach Our Lord who is fully present in the Tabernacle. Whenever the church remains open, it is the responsibility of the pastor (or the one whom he designates) to ensure that no more than 100 people are present at one time. This directive is given by local government so that the number of cases of those infected with COVID-19 does not spike. Therefore, so as to refrain from large gatherings, there will be no posted times for collective prayers, recitation of the Rosary, or other set times for gathering.


 Funerals, weddings, and baptisms are at the discretion of the pastor but are not to exceed 100 people in attendance. Holy Communion, except as Viaticum, will not be distributed to the faithful at any liturgy during this time.

Individual confessions, anointings, and other forms of pastoral care can be offered in a case-by-case basis. Consult your local parish for any of these needs during this time.

As I mentioned in my letter yesterday, let us entrust ourselves to Our Lady of Lourdes, patron for those who suffer illness. Through her intercession, may God grant healing and protection to the people of southeast Michigan and beyond. And let us, by the courageous hope with which we face the challenge of the virus’ spread, give witness to our confidence in the good news of the Lord’s victory over suffering.


Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

Archbishop of Detroit.