Gratitude is the memory of the heart

Kathy From our Pastor July 23, 2020

On November 15^th, 2012, I landed on American soil and St. Valentine Parish welcomed me that night (Thanks to Fr. Suresh for his willingness to accommodate me) and I remember very well that first night I spent here at St. Valentine. I was invited to the Entrée with Padre dinner with men of the parish. It was an enjoyable evening with foods I had never eaten before! I stayed at St. Valentine until June 2013. Ever since, St. Valentine Parish has been a home away from home for me. I will always feel at home here at St. Valentine. My initial stay here with you was a great learning experience. You were amazing and very welcoming. When I received a call from the Archdiocese to move to St. Valentine, I was so happy to come here and spread the love of God.

It has been a wonderful experience to be with you, learning and growing in the Lord. These few lines of mine come to you in a special way to express my heart felt gratitude and thanks for all that you have been to me, during my stay here. What a blessing and honor to minister here at this amazing parish. I am so grateful to Fr. Socorro for accepting me to do my ministry here at St. Valentine. It is great to be with you. As you know, Fr. Socorro is a great shepherd. I have learned many great things from his way of leading a parish. You are an awesome priest. You are humble, simple, and down to earth. Your way of keeping in touch with parishioners and your availability to them is inspiring. I thank you for the freedom, support, encouragement, love, and concern. I always felt at home with you. My two years of stay with you gathered a lot of experiences for my ministry. I am grateful for your generosity of time and sharing of your experiences.

Special thanks to Sue Daly and Bonnie Danic for your friendly atmosphere. Thanks for understanding me and supporting me in learning things here. You are an amazing staff and I am humbled to work with you all. You are spirited, efficient, capable, people oriented, and friendly nature is greatly appreciated. I felt at home and had good company with you all. Thanks a lot for encouraging and supporting me in my priestly ministry.

My sincere gratitude to Bonnie for your great help to me especially running the Faith Formation program. Thanks to all the teachers and volunteers in Faith Formation for your generosity of time and talent.

Dear parishioners, it is great to know you. I am blessed and honored to be with you at St. Valentine. It has always been my joy and happiness to celebrate mass with all of you. You are all amazing and faithful, loving and caring. I am sure; I am enriched by being here with you. Your openness, community spirit, simplicity and generosity are exemplary. Thank you so much for making it possible for me. Forgive me for my long homilies and my crazy English accent. St. Valentine Parish remains always a home away from home. You are affectionate, open, and hospitable.

And finally, but not least, I had a fabulous time with the children at our school. I greatly appreciate Principal, Rachel Damuth and all the staff. I will miss seeing the children’s smiles and energy. Thanks a lot for everything. I will be ministering at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Monroe. Kindly continue to pray for me that the Holy Spirit may guide me in my new ministry. I will miss St. Valentine Parish. You are amazing. I assure you my prayers. God bless you all.

My new address:

Fr. Kishore Babu Battu SAC
St. Michael The Archangel Parish
502 W Front,
Monroe, MI 48161

With love and prayers,

Fr. Kishore Babu Battu SAC

Change in Mass Times & Confession Times

At St. Valentine beginning Saturday, August 1st Mass will change from 5 pm to 5:30 pm. On Sunday, August 2nd Mass times will be changed to 8:30 am and 12 noon. Daily Mass at St. Valentine will be on Thursday and Friday’s at 8:30 am in the Church.

At this time confessions will be held ONLY at OLL on Saturday from 3:15 pm—3:45 pm.

At OLL Mass times on Saturday will be at 4 pm and Sunday Mass at 10 am. Daily Mass will be on Monday and Tuesday’s at 8:30 am.

Farewell Wishes to Fr. Kishore

Kathy Archdiocese, From our Pastor July 17, 2020

I want to thank Fr. Kishore for his assistance and for his ministry with us for the past two years. We were privileged to have him at least for two years. His presence helped me in various ways, although being a pastor for two parishes I did not have to worry about too many things. He took care of most of the things including the Sacraments at St. Valentine. Being the Director of Religious Education program at St. Valentine he truly took his responsibilities seriously and did whatever was entrusted to his care. He met with parents whose children were preparing to receive the Sacraments, he met with children of those receiving Sacraments, and helped with the confessions at the School and the Religious Ed Students.

With his presence with us I could enjoy my vacation without worrying about both the parishes knowing for sure that things will be taken care of, and he did. He did so many baptisms, visited the sick, helped me with taking care of funerals, helped with the Sacrament of Penance and the list could go on. Knowing of the things that he has done here I am confident that he will be able to handle his big responsibility as Administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish and later on as its pastor. He is going to Monroe with rich experiences of ministering in three different parishes. Let us assist him with our prayers.

On behalf of St. Valentine Parish I want to thank you Fr. Kishore for your presence amidst us and for all the help you gave me in my ministry.

I was blessed to have the assistance of both Fr. Henry and Fr. Kishore for 7 years. And now the real fun begins, if I think of all the things that I have to do by looking at the whole year it could be overwhelming so I will just take one day at a time and help minister to people of both the parishes as best as I can. I will need your help through prayers.

CSA 2020: Theme: “Rise, Be Not Afraid”

CSA SUNDAY AT PARISHES – the weekend of September 12/13 Weekend after Labor Day.

This year the Archdiocese is going to handle all the mailings so you should be receiving your CSA letters during the fourth week of August. The CSA goal has been reduced by 15% of its original goal, so the goal for St. Valentine is $39,100.00

With all that said what is also important is that you take care of yourself. So continue following the rules that we are all called to follow, social distancing, wearing masks, staying healthy. Let’s continue holding one another in our prayers.

Blessings on all,

Fr. Socorro

It is Hard to Say Good-bye

We really DO NOT want to see Father Kishore leave. And, we wish to let him know how much we care and will miss him! So, please join us on Sunday, July 26^th after the 9:00 a.m. Mass in front of St. Valentine to say good-bye and enjoy a DONUT with him.

Wanted: Football Heroes

St. Michael in Livonia is calling all 3rd – 8th grade student athletes from surrounding parishes. To register for the Fall 2020 season follow this link:

https://church.livoniastmichael.org/apps/form/Sports-Registration-Fall2020

Registration is open from July 1 to July 31. We offer 3 football teams:

Freshman (Grades 3-4) Head Coach: Steve Goward

Junior Varsity (Grades 5-6) Head Coach: Brandon McCormick

Varsity (Grades 7-8) Head Coach: Mark Pelton

In order to proceed with having a team, a minimum roster size is required by the July 31 deadline.

For questions, contact Bob Rowland, A.D. at 313-598-5350 or email

browland@stmichael.org

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Kathy From our Pastor June 29, 2020

Today, we celebrate the 13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our gospel Jesus describes the cost of discipleship. He describes the cost of discipleship by using three illustrations.

Family—Division: The first illustration Jesus used is that of a person’s family. He says, “Whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Mt 10:37) My dear friends, a person’s family is to be the strongest and most precious relationship among human beings. A person is to love his family as much as he loves any others on earth. However, there is one relationship that is to supersede his relationship with his family: that is his relationship to Jesus Christ. He is to love Christ Supremely, counting Him more worthy than all, even more worthy than his own family. There are at least three reasons why Christ is to be counted more worthy.

1. Christ is the Supreme Being of the universe. He is the Creator, Sustainer and Protector of life throughout the course of our walk on earth.

2. Christ is the Supreme Savior. He is the Giver and Provider of life, both abundant and eternal life. Our families can bring some happiness and pleasure to our lives, and they can protect us to some degree in this life- but not ultimately.

3. With Christ we have the supreme relationship. Christ is totally unselfish, and He loves perfectly.

The 2^nd illustration Christ used is that of the cross. Christ again made a strong demand. “whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Mt 10:38) Every man has his cross. The cross is the symbol of death and of execution. Every man must die to self – day by day. He must count himself dead to sin and follow Christ.

The 3^rd illustration Jesus used is that of a person’s life. He says, “Whoever finds his life will lose it.” The phrase “finds his life” means that a person seeks his own pleasure and passions in life. It is a selfish life, finding out what pleases self and going after it. It is heaping and hoarding and doing as self wills. We live in a sinful and evil world: a world of pain and hurt, of starvation and disease, of crime and injury, greed and selfishness, of war and death. The one thing that is needed by all is to deny self: to commit and to lose our lives in Christ. “Whoever loses his life… will find it.” The phrase “loses his life” means that a person seeks to lose his life on this earth to find God. It means that a person gives up the right to order his own life, and he lets Christ control his life.

Questions to reflect on this beautiful Sunday: Is God the center of my life? Do I take up my cross and follow Christ? Do I empty myself to be filled by Christ?

Have a good week,

Fr. Kishore Babu Battu, SAC

Pentecost Sunday

Kathy From our Pastor June 2, 2020

Today we celebrate ‘the Feast of the Pentecost,” with this Feast we come to the end of the Easter celebration. Now, the Feast of Pentecost was one of the most phenomenal and important events in all of history. There are several reasons why this event was so important.

· It was “the coming of the Holy Spirit.”

· It was the birth of the Church.

· It was the corporate filling of the Holy Spirit, of the body of believers with the promised

presence of Christ.

· It was the personal filling of the individual believer by the Holy Spirit.

· It was the Presence and Power of God coming upon the believers, gifting, and equipping them to proclaim the glorious message of salvation to men.

Above all the Feast of Pentecost was God’s providence. This Feast needs to be understood in order to see God’s providence at work. Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after the Passover. It was also known as the “Day of the First Fruits” (Num 28:26), or the “Feast of Weeks” (Ex 34:22), or the “Feast of Harvest.” Pentecost was a glorious day of celebration, a day when the people were to heap praise and thanksgiving upon God. There were three particular reasons for which they were to thank God.

1.The harvest of the fields. The very name of the Feast says it is a celebration of the “First Fruits.” It was celebrated when the first fruits of the harvest began to come in, which was around the first of June.

2.The Exodus, the deliverance of the nation Israel from Egyptian bondage (Dt.16:12). The people were to thank God for the day He delivered them out of slavery.

3. The giving of the law upon Mt. Sinai (Ex.19-20). This was the day the people were constituted as a nation, as the great nation of Israel. They were to live as God’s very own people upon earth. They were to thank God for Himself and for His law.

It is important for all of us to note that all three events were fulfilled in the coming of the Holy Spirit. When ‘the day of Pentecost came’ the first fruits were born- the church itself and the first harvest of souls. The new beginning that is, the filling of the Holy Spirit, began fifty days after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The coming of the Holy Spirit had a very specific purpose. The Holy Spirit was to live and work within the heart of man, to deliver and free him from the enslavements of this world- from sin, death, and hell. The coming of the Holy Spirit was the birth of the church, the new people of God.

New Assignment

Dear parishioners, I would like to inform, all of you that Our Archbishop Allen Vigneron has asked me to become the Administrator of St. Michael Parish, Monroe. I shall be moving to the new parish on August 1, 2020. It is not easy to leave all of you and move to a new place. I consider it as a plan of God. Let us continue to pray for each other during this pandemic. I shall thank all of you in my next article.

God’s blessings and a Happy Feast of Pentecost.

Stay safe.

Fr. Kishore Babu Battu SAC

Guidelines to be followed when you come to Church

Kathy Archdiocese, From our Pastor May 19, 2020

If you want to attend Mass Archdiocese of Detroit has set forth certain guidelines that must be followed. These requirements are for your protection, and for the safety of your fellow parishioners.

1. Those older than 65 years old, with a compromised health conditions or caring for the sick in any way, should be encouraged to stay home. Anyone who is ill, has a temperature, cough, should definitely stay home as an act of justice to the whole community.

2. The dispensation from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass is granted to all the faithful through Sunday, September 6, 2020. Although Sunday Mass participation may not be available, attending Mass on weekday should be good as well.

3. Under the AOD guidelines one needs to maintain social distancing of six feet or more. In order to follow that guideline seating will be limited in the Church. Family members may sit (or walk) together without any concern for the spacing.

4. Masks are to be worn by everyone approaching church and inside the Church- (except for those under 2 years old.) You will need to remove or lower your mask and remove gloves if you are wearing them before approaching to receive the Eucharist. After you consume the Body of Christ you need to put your mask back before you start the return trip to your seat.

5. If you desire to receive Holy Communion on your tongue, you will need to approach the EM’s last.

6. Offertory collections will be dropped in baskets placed near the church entrances.

7. When exiting the church after Mass, you will have to be patient in order to maintain the required spacing. Bulletins will not be handed out, but they will be made available at the entrances of the Church.

Clergy Assignment Announcements from Archbishop Vigneron

Reverend Kishore Battu, SAC, with the concurrence of his superior, Very Reverend Arogyadas Kottana, Regional Rector, appointed Administrator of St. Michael Parish, Monroe, effective August 1, 2020. Fr. Battu is currently serving as Associate Pastor of St. Valentine Parish, Redford and Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Redford.

The above announcement was made on Sunday, May 17, 2020. As Fr. Kishore’s new assignment begins on August 1^st he will continue to serve at both the Churches till then. We definitely want to thank him for his two years of ministry with us, including his responsibility as the Director of Religious Education. With the issue of social distancing being on our way, we may not be able to have a reception in his honor, but we can find ways to thank him personally as you come and go for the weekend liturgies.