Congratulations!

On June 14th at the 9 am Mass three of our six Catechumens were brought into the Catholic Church. We congratulate Louis Martin, Jo’Van Martin and Jacob Frankmann. Louis and Jacob went thru the RCIA program held on Thursday evenings and Ja’von was instructed thru our School. We welcome these 3 fine gentlemen. Please be sure to send your congratulations to them when you see them in Church.

From the Archdiocese of Detroit;  Directives for Resumption of Public Masses: Phase II

I. Necessary conditions for public Masses in the Archdiocese of Detroit:

1.Face-coverings/masks are to be worn by the faithful in the church.

2.Cleaning and sanitizing of church facilities must be done using proper techniques before or after Masses.

3.Physical distancing is to be practiced in the church and on the church property.

4.Parish churches should not exceed 50% of total capacity for the church.

a. This limit should allow people to remain at least six feet apart.

b. Depending on church layout, this number may have to be less than 50% of the total capacity.

c. An additional location on the church property (e.g. social hall, parking lot) may be used as an “overflow” for additional people desiring to attend public Mass. Any such indoor area should not exceed the same 50% capacity for the space.

5.Outdoor Masses are permitted without a strict capacity limit provided physical distancing guidelines are maintained.

II. Funerals, Weddings, and Baptisms are permitted under the same conditions.

III. With the permission of the pastor, non-liturgical gatherings may take place indoors if they observe strict health and safety guidelines, face-coverings are worn, and the gathering not exceed 10 persons. Non- liturgical gatherings up to 100 people are permitted outdoors provided physical distancing is maintained.

IV. All the faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit are dispensed from their Sunday obligation to attend Mass through Sunday, September 6, 2020.

V. Pastors have been given directions about Confirmations for the remainder of the calendar year.

Now that we are all aware that Fr. Kishore’s new assignment as the Administrator of St. Michael Parish, Monroe, begins on August 1, 2020. We have to live with the reality knowing that there will be only one priest for both the parishes from August onwards. We may have to do a little adjustment with a slight change in our Mass schedule. After expressing my thoughts and plans with the Parish Council through email, they were in agreement with the new schedule. Our Saturday Mass which was at 5:00 pm will be moved to 5:30 pm and on Sunday our first Mass will have to be at 8:30 am instead of 9:00 am, the 12 noon Mass will be at the same time.  At Our Lady of Loretto the Mass schedule was changed last year, and that is the schedule that will be followed, Saturday Mass at 4:00 pm and Sunday only one Mass at 10:00 am.

 With one priest not being able to be in both churches our weekday Mass schedule will change as well  – it will be like the summer schedule – Monday’s and Tuesday’s 8:30 am Mass will be at OLL, Thursday’s and Friday’s 8:30 am Mass will be at St. Val’s. At both the places daily Mass will be celebrated in the Church. Sacrament of Penance as of now we will keep it on Saturday at OLL beginning at 2:45 instead of 3:15pm. We will see how the confession schedule will work for now. If we have to make some changes, we can work that out as well.  

 I know none of us like change but lately we have seen that many things have changed with the fear of Corona Virus and we have all learned to make those adjustments knowing that it’s for our good and for the good of others.  If we are able to make the above-mentioned changes with a mind of working together, we will be able to move ahead smoothly.

This weekend’s Gospel is part of the instructions Jesus gives to his disciples after he has commissioned them to preach about the kingdom of God – Matthew 10:26-33. IN this Gospel passage we hear Jesus say three times, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus encouraged the disciples not to be afraid, not to give up on their mission of sharing God’s Good News with others. And he promises that we will never be alone in our efforts to do what is right.

What a beautiful piece of advice for all of us as we move forward. Let us not give up in doing what is right. The Lord promises to be with us and with Him at our side we have no reason to fear.

We wish all Fathers, Happy Fathers day and we ask the Lord to bless each one of you in your  roles as dads, godfathers, grandfathers and guardians.

A Prayer of Blessing on Fathers

Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender. Amen.

 – Author Unknown

Blessings,
Fr. Socorro