Author: Kathy

Blanket Drive for the Salvation Army

Kathy Parish Activities

blanketAs in years past the St. Valentine Christian Service Commission will be conducting a blanket drive during the month of October. The blankets will go to the Salvation Army Dearborn Division. They have been very grateful in the past, and are eagerly awaiting our donations this fall.  Here is an excerpt from a past  thank you letter from the Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army in  Dearborn Heights was the recipient of over 40 new blankets. Because of your thoughtfulness we are able to provide a warm blanket to the many homeless persons that are in need.”
You can drop off  your contributions in the baskets provided at all Church entrances. Please help if you can.

Your  Christian Service Commission

Fun Run Walk Thank You

Kathy Parish Activities

Fun and Sun were in the air as we began the race with  262   participants at 3.00 pm on Sunday the 18th of September.  You never know what the weather is going to be when one plans well in advance, but we were blessed. We need to thank the Lord for blessing us with a perfect day.

Hats Off to the Organizers of the 11th Annual Fun Run/Walk and Spaghetti Dinner, Bonnie Danic and Jim Soter along with their spouses John and Patty have been organizing this Fun Run for the past 11 years and we had 11 consecutive years of great attendance and participation. I could see the joy in every one from the littlest to the young at heart,  be it runners, walkers, course marshals, those who prepared and served the meals – and even those who just came to be part of the Fun by joining us for the Spaghetti Dinner, everyone  was just happy to be part of the Fun Run. It was also great to see the community coming together. The specially designed T-Shirts were very much recognized by all who drove by or passed by. Thanks to each and everyone who has been part of this great parish event.

 Without the generous contributions and co-operation of a number of organizations, neighborhood businesses and the volunteers, the Fun Run would not be possible. Thank you again to everyone who contributed to make the 2016 Fun Run such a successful evening and, of course, to all who participated in the race.

 Congratulations to the following winners: We send our congratulations to the following winners. Male Overall Results:1st place Samuel Tapia 19:06, 2nd place Dylan Misenheimer 19:43 3rd place Michael Cushman 21:38. Female Overall Results:1st Patricia Murray 21:16, 2nd place, Deb Deren 21:54 and 3rd place Adeline Meyers 21:56. Family & Friends Overall Results: Over all Winners: 1st Place U, Me & E, 1:06:13 Adeline Meyers, Adam Potakowski, Erin Hegerty & Mike Hegerty 2nd place C.M. Munchkins 1:13:43 Christopher Parsell, Addison Parsell, Lindsay Parsell, Meghan Ford, Cadie Surato, Gracie Surato & Keegan Parsell 3rd place Borgus-Hall 1:25:59 Anthony Hall, Christina Hall, Sheena Hatcher, Rebekah Coleman & Bryce Borgas Senior Shuffle Division: 1st place Leo St. Amour 31:36, 2nd place Raymond Mote 36:35 and 3rd place Jerry Lenius 40:53.

Fr. Socorro

 

Participant Race Results

We will have a few packets at the doors of the church with the results of the race. If we happen to run out of packets, please give the parish office a call and I will send you one. You may also go on line to view the results. Please visit Everal Race management at

http://www.everalracemgt.com/results/full.php/st-valentine-5k-run-walk-7.html.

In closing we want to thank John and Patty for their encouragement, Fr. Socorro and Fr. Henry for their support and all the parishioners for their willingness to participate. We hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as we did!

Jim Soter

Bonnie Danic

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Kathy Upcoming Event, Weekly message

The message that the readings share for this weekend is that the Good News confronts us with the need to make a decision. We are either for Jesus or we are against Him. Simply going to church on Holy Days of Obligations is not enough. If our decision to be FOR Jesus makes no difference in how we live our lives, then all the Masses, prayers and almsgiving is in vain. It is all a mockery that cries out to heaven for vengeance. Jesus wants our undivided hearts.

Are we convinced that following Jesus, living according to His will, is the right thing? If so, we should live our Christian Faith 24×7. Jesus wants us to have an undivided heart so that we too can have strength of soul and peace of mind. He tells us that we can only serve one master, and we must decide who it will be, God or man.

It is difficult to make a total decision for Jesus Christ. Often it is difficult to know what He is asking us to do, and often it is even harder to do it. That is why Jesus gives us himself through the Eucharist – enlightening and strengthening us before sending us back to our everyday lives. It is outside the church walls that our decision to live completely for Jesus Christ is put to the test. It is in our everyday life that we encounter Jesus afresh; in the people and circumstances of our lives. It is there, in those everyday moments and circumstances that we are called to live with undivided hearts. Let us do the best we can and that’s all is asked of us.

 

Final Reminder—Sacrament of Anointinganointing

If you wish to receive the Sacrament of Anointing during the 5 pm Mass on Saturday, September 24, you are asked to call the rectory office 313-532-4394 by Wednesday, September 21; and register your name.

 

Congratulations to Jim Nicola

On October 1, 2016 our own parish member, Jim Nicola will be ordained a deacon at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. St. Valentine Parish can be proud of sharing one priest and two deacons (so far) to minister in this Archdiocese. As for Jim, it will be a new ministry and a new responsibility besides all his family responsibilities.

Join us on October 8 as he will be assisting for the first time as Deacon Jim at the 5:00 pm Mass at St. Valentine. It will be a good opportunity to participate in the Mass and to congratulate him. Let us offer a prayer for him and his family as he takes up this new task. As we congratulate him we also ask the Lord to be with him in his journey and guide him.

 

 India Catholic Association (ICA)

icaI also want to give you a heads up that on October 1, 2016 the 5.00 pm Mass will be for the India Catholic Association (ICA) with Archbishop Vigneron being the main celebrant.  Anyone can be part of this celebration in Church as the Mass itself will not take any extra time. The ICA is not that big of a community so everyone can be accommodated in the Church. They will take care of the music and the liturgy including Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers.  And then we will have the second part of celebration in the School Gym where if you want to be part of it then you will have to pay so I won’t encourage you to be there since everything has been already preplanned, but it will be great to see many of you in Church on Saturday, October 1 for the 5.00 pm Mass so that we can have a wonderful celebration with The Most Rev. Allen Vigneron.

 

God Bless you.

Fr. Socorro

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Kathy Upcoming Event, Weekly message

Someone once asked Charles Dickens what the best story in the English Language was, and his reply was ‘The Prodigal Son’. Today’s gospel has a message for all of us.

prodigalsonMan cannot live without forgiveness. We all have sometimes or the other “gone astray” and disobeyed God’s commandments. Though we are sinners we hope in the great mercy of God. That is the lesson of today’s Gospel.

We are surrounded by the evils that threatened our very existence. We are also a part of the evil that surrounds us. We multiply our sufferings through indifference and selfishness. At times we feel afraid and we realize our own helplessness. But Jesus says: “have no fear, I have overcome this world.” Thank God, the world is not lacking in people who sow peace, love and goodness; there are people who help us carry the cross, who accept us, who make us realize forgiveness. This gives us hope to begin anew.

 In contrast to the pagan gods our God is full of mercy and compassion. God’s mercy is sung 25 times in the Psalm 196: “The mercy of God is everlasting.” More than all the others, Luke’s gospel stresses mercy. Luke’s gospel can be called as ‘the Gospel of joyful mercy.’ The three parables illustrate it very clearly. – The Lost sheep (Lk 15: 4-7), The Lost coin (Lk 15: 8-10), The Prodigal Son (Lk 15 11:32).  These passages of mercy are highly recommended to us by the Church as resources for the Year of Mercy.

 The lesson we have to learn is simple: God loves us, we is precious to Him. By all means God wants to save man. “Found”, “returned”, “forgiven”, reconciled”: these are catch words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Picnic – Thank You!

 thankyouMy gratitude to God for experiencing such a fantastic mass and picnic two weeks ago. We really enjoyed the wonderful, worship, food, and fellowship.  Thank you to everyone who helped make the Parish Picnic a success. Thank you to our parish community for your time, attendance and prayers. Without each and every one of you, our picnic would not be the success as it is each year.

 A special thank you to all who donated items to the food table: salads, fruit, baked pies, and desserts.  To those who donated kid’s prizes and music, thank you. Those who arranged the gym – tables and chairs, those who put in time behind the scenes and to the kitchen crew, to ALL who gave time, treasures and prayers especially our Parish Council and all the volunteers who worked so hard to make the day a success.

Thank you!
Fr. Henry

Fun Run/Walk and Spaghetti Dinner – September 18th

  • Reminder to Runners/Walkers – Please note the new packet pick up times
    Runners and Walkers don’t forget to pick up your “packet” on Friday, September 16th  3:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 17th 9:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. or Sunday,  September 18th from 10:00 a.m.  – 1:00 p.m. in the School Meeting Room.  At these time we are accepting walk-ins for the race. 
  • Spaghetti Dinner -If you are interested in attending the dinner only, We would appreciate it if you please submit a registration form. However, walk-ins will be Welcome. 
  • Honor Guard Needed – We are looking for active servicemen and women who are serving in the armed forces, reserves or any veterans to participate in the Honor Guard at the Fun Run. Please call Bonnie at 313-532-4394 to participate.
  • Bake Sale – Our 8th graders are sponsoring a bake sale at the Fun Run dinner. If you would like to donate a baked good, they would appreciate it! The monies raised will help with their graduation expenses. You may drop off your goodies at the Gym on Saturday or Sunday morning.

Thank you.

Mercy, Poor at Center of Blessed Teresa’s Canonization—September 4, 2016

Kathy Weekly message
 Mother Teresa  Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 to an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in what is now part of Macedonia, Mother Teresa went to India as a Sister of Loreto in 1929. Receiving what she described as a “call within a call,” she began her missionary work with the poor and laid the foundation for what would become the Missionaries of Charity.

Known as the “saint of the gutters,” Mother Teresa was revered for ministering to the sick and the dying in some of the world’s poorest neighborhoods.  Following her death in 1997, St. John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period and allowed the opening of the process to declare her sainthood. She was beatified in 2003.

 The date of Mother Teresa’s canonization will coincide with the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage for workers and ministers engaged in works of mercy.

Copyright (c) 2016 Catholic News Service.
Reprinted with permission from CNS.
www.catholicnews.com

 Archbishop Vigneron will say Mass for the Canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta today, September 4th at 11 am at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.

 Mass of Anointing—September 24th

St. Valentine parish is offering an opportunity to receive the “Sacrament of Anointing” during our regular 5:00pm Mass on Saturday – September 24th.

 This is a sacrament appropriate for anyone whose health is seriously impaired by sickness, advanced age, or the danger of death. It should be considered by people who are seriously ill, whether at home, in hospitals or in nursing homes; seriously sick children who are old enough to experience the sacramental benefits; individuals about to undergo surgery when a serious illness is the reason for the having the surgery; elderly people, suffering the maladies of old age; and all individuals who are chronically ill or permanently disabled.

 So, if you see yourself, or a family member, in any of the descriptions above, we encourage you to attend this Mass. All you need do is:

CALL THE PARISH OFFICE AT (313) 532-4394 TO REGISTER YOUR NAME NO LATER THEN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st.

 Remember, part of God’s plan for each of us is that we should fight strenuously against all sickness and carefully seek the blessings of good health. This special Mass, with the Sacrament of Anointing, provides an opportunity to do just that.

St. Valentine Worship Commission