The weakening of faith in the real presence of the Risen Christ in the Eucharist is one of the most significant aspects of the current spiritual crisis. Jesus wants to strengthen our faith in His Eucharistic presence. That is why from time to time in the history of the Catholic Church He gives us signs–Eucharistic miracles that clearly underscore the fact that He, the Risen Lord Himself in the mystery of His Divinity and glorified humanity, is truly present in the Eucharist. The most recent Eucharistic miracle recognized by the Church authorities occurred in 1996 in the capital of Argentina–Buenos Aires.

A Consecrated Host Becomes Flesh and Blood

At seven o’clock in the evening on August 18, 1996, Fr. Alejandro Pezet was saying Holy Mass at a Catholic church in the commercial center of Buenos Aires. As he was finishing distributing Holy Communion, a woman came up to tell him that she had found a discarded host on a candleholder at the back of the church. On going to the spot indicated, Fr. Alejandro saw the defiled Host. Since he was unable to consume it, he placed it in a container of water and put it away in the tabernacle of the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.

On Monday, August 26, upon opening the tabernacle, he saw to his amazement that the Host had turned into a bloody substance. He informed Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who gave instructions that the Host be professionally photographed. The photos were taken on September 6. They clearly show that the Host, which had become a fragment of bloodied flesh, had grown significantly in size. For several years the Host remained in the tabernacle, the whole affair being kept a strict secret. Since the Host suffered no visible decomposition, Cardinal Bergoglio decided to have it scientifically analyzed.

On October 5, 1999, in the presence of the Cardinal’s representatives, Dr. Castanon took a sample of the bloody fragment and sent it to New York for analysis. Since he did not wish to prejudice the study, he purposely did not inform the team of scientists of its provenance. One of these scientists was Dr. Frederic Zugiba, the well-known cardiologist and forensic pathologist. He determined that the analyzed substance was real flesh and blood containing human DNA. Zugiba testified that, “the analyzed material is a fragment of the heart muscle found in the wall of the left ventricle close to the valves. This muscle is responsible for the contraction of the heart. It should be borne in mind that the left cardiac ventricle pumps blood to all parts of the body. The heart muscle is in an inflammatory condition and contains a large number of white blood cells. This indicates that the heart was alive at the time the sample was taken. It is my contention that the heart was alive, since white blood cells die outside a living organism. They require a living organism to sustain them. Thus, their presence indicates that the heart was alive when the sample was taken. What is more, these white blood cells had penetrated the tissue, which further indicates that the heart had been under severe stress, as if the owner had been beaten severely about the chest.”

Two Australians, journalist Mike Willesee and lawyer Ron Tesoriero, witnessed these tests. Knowing where the sample had come from, they were dumbfounded by Dr. Zugiba’s testimony. Mike Willesee asked the scientist how long the white blood cells would have remained alive if they had come from a piece of human tissue, which had been kept in water. They would have ceased to exist in a matter of minutes, Dr. Zugiba replied. The journalist then told the doctor that the source of the sample had first been kept in ordinary water for a month and then for another three years in a container of distilled water; only then had the sample been taken for analysis. Dr. Zugiba’s was at a loss to account for this fact. There was no way of explaining it scientifically, he stated. Only then did Mike Willesee inform Dr. Zugiba that the analyzed sample came from a consecrated Host (white, unleavened bread) that had mysteriously turned into bloody human flesh. Amazed by this information, Dr. Zugiba replied, “How and why a consecrated Host would change its character and become living human flesh and blood will remain an inexplicable mystery to science—a mystery totally beyond her competence.”

In Attendance: Fr Henry, Fr Socorro, Lisa Alexander, Mary Anthony, Walt Bankowski, Dan Benard, Ron Fron, Beth Jachman, Anthony Janisse, Joe Kelly, Jeff Kramer, Suzanne Mote, Mike Nowak, Alan Pawlik, Frank Zbikowski.

 New Business

· Fund Raiser – Looking for new fund raisers to replace Irish Fest.  Silent Auction to coincide with the Parish anniversary May 2017.  Auction items could include baskets put together by school classrooms, time with Fr. Socorro (cooking) and Fr. Henry (soccer).    Committee to be formed by Frank Zbikowski and Lisa Alexander.  Raffle for $10K cash or a car?

· Church Picnic –Men’s Club will sponsor the meat.  David Prowse & Ted Kozlowski have volunteered to cook.  Request to change the alphabetical designation for donations – people would like to bring different dishes.

 Commissions

Pastoral update:

· Thanks to Mike Nowak for facilitating and Deacon Lawrence for being scribe for the Church Dialogue.

· Amazing conference attendees of OLL + St. Val meeting to discuss the effect.  They are e-mailing each other daily prayers.

· Fr. Socorro is going on vacation from 10-AUG to 06-SEP.

· Amazing Parish Conference: 207 parishes attended; 1,300+ people.  “Form a Leadership Team” people willing to serve the church and evangelize.  Team has been formed.  All in preparation for Synod.  More importance should be placed on getting the youth involved.

· Fr. Henry is getting a new kitchen because of a water leak—insurance to cover all costs.  Work starts Monday, May 23^rd.

· Works of Mercy – need representative to attend meetings & organize doing works of mercy.  Suggestion to reach out to St. Vincent De Paul.

 Roundtable:

· EM’s & lectors response to the dress code.

 · Next meeting August 2^nd, 2016 @ 7:30pm to discuss the Parish Picnic

Religious Education

Vacation Bible schools allow children to enjoy themselves while growing spiritually.

 Through the archdiocesan Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools, your gifts to the Catholic Services Appeal support the work of catechists, who plan vacation Bible schools in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit. These faith-filled weeks during the summer help children learn about Jesus in a relaxing and fun way.

Dedicated catechists also teach our faith in parishes and Catholic schools. Their mission includes helping others to reflect on their Catholic faith and understand its purpose in today’s world. For information about CSA-funded ministries, programs, and services, please go towww.AOD.org.

Single fathers usually sit in the back row of their children’s school performances. Fathers who are married usually sit as close to the front of the audiences, with their spouses. Why is this?

Well, we all know how important mothers are to the well-being of a family. However, we as a culture look at single fathers with a bit of suspicion. Fathers are as important as mothers are, but offer a different perspective on life and bring a much
needed role in bringing up children. Let us welcome all fathers today to the front row of our lives and acknowledge how important they have been, and continue to be in our lives.

Let us pray…
Gracious God and Father, our first father,
You are the One who has brought us to life in this world you created.
You created us and everything around us.
We turned away from you
and only after disappointing you did we return your love.

Look with favor on our earthly fathers.
They helped create us in your image.
We have disappointed them,
but have come to realize just how important they are to us.

Bless all our fathers, living and deceased, with comfort and health.
We bring all their needs to you
and ask for strength so they may live worthy lives.

We ask all this in the name of your Son,
our model of what it means to reverence our fathers.
In Christ’s name.
Amen.

St. Valentine Parish Council Meeting Minutes for April 19th, 2016

In Attendance: Lisa Alexander, Mary Anthony, Dan Benard, Beth Jachman, Anthony Janisse, Joe Kelly, Jeff Kramer, Mike Nowak, Alan Pawlik, Frank Zbikowski.

Absent: Fr Henry, Fr Socorro, Walt Bankowski, Patrick Fox, Ron Fron, Allison Wright, Bob Zimmerman.

Old Business

Donut Meet & Greet Sunday – April 10^th.  Poor turnout; likely due to Confirmation.  June 5^th is the next date.  High School & College graduates invited to attend.

Proper dress & attire for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers.  Worship commission working on a communication to lectors and EMs.

New Business

Fund Raiser – Looking for ideas.  Irish Fest no longer an option.  Suggestions included: school reunion, dinner/dance, silent auction & camel race.

Church Picnic – Will be held in the School Gym on Sunday, August 28^th, 2016.  Need to confirm whether the Men’s Club will sponsor the meat this year.  Jeff Kramer to contact David Prowse & Ted Kozlowski about cooking.  Suggestion to start cooking earlier & use the new warmer.  Need access to the soda machine.  Lisa Alexander volunteered to chair games for the children; bounce house & trampoline possible.

Commissions

Christian Service:

Still looking for a volunteer to attend PC meetings.  Rosemary Fox sent an e-mail outlining this year’s accomplishments:

November Blanket Drive
Giving Tree
Lunch for the homeless
Collecting pantry supplies for Angels’ Place
Soup Supper (cancelled due to weather)
Right to Life Baby Shower

Worship:

Final plans reviewed for HS & College graduations at the June 5^th noon mass.
Rosary will be prayed after weekend masses throughout May.
First Communion will be celebrated on May 1^st at the noon mass.
Pentecost Sunday celebrated on May 15^th.  Parishioners will be reminded to wear red at all masses.
Feast of Corpus Christi is Sunday, May 29^th.

Roundtable:

It always appears exciting when someone seems to be able to read minds. In today’s Gospel, Jesus, in addition to reading a mind, reads a heart. The mind belongs to Simon, a proud Pharisee who thinks he knows the heart of the woman who wipes the feet of Jesus with her tears. Simon, in fact, marvels that Jesus himself came to see this woman for who she obviously is. But Jesus has read the heart of the woman much better than the presumptuous Simon. So Jesus offers Simon and his guests a parable that bears directly on the scene unfolding before Simons own table. Of two debtors forgiven different amounts, he asks, who will love the creditor more? The one forgiven more, says Simon.

Now Jesus sets the spotlight on the woman, noting how she, a sinner and an outcast, has shown him all the expected gestures of hospitality that Simon failed to provide. Her many sins have been forgiven and in response, she shows Jesus such great love. Just like the debtors of Jesus parable, she is forgiven, and then shows through her act of washing Jesus feet, her great love. Jesus has not only seen her many sins, he has already forgiven them and the woman can’t help but weep and perfume his feet in gratitude. Jesus’ point is that those forgiven much will love much and those forgiven little will love but little. That’s not an invitation to sin mightily, but to realize that no matter what our sins or state of life, we all have been forgiven much!

We are good at enumerating our sinfulness; perhaps the challenge of today’s readings is to enumerate all the good in our lives. And then take some time to utter a prayer of loving thanks to God who is so merciful and gracious to us. To God who loves us even when we sin.

Fr. Henry SAC