Today we celebrate the first ever Sunday of the Word of God. Today we let Jesus open our minds to the beauty of the Scriptures, so we can proclaim the truth of the Good News that they contain. The Scriptures are not dead letters on a page, but living words that have been given life by the Holy Spirit, who also gives light to our minds when we read them. Nor is the Word of God a list of rules, but an invitation to share the life of the living God, their author.

 In his letter establishing today’s celebration, Pope Francis shares, “It is fitting, then, that the life of our people be constantly marked by this decisive relationship with the living word that the Lord never tires of speaking to his Bride, that she may grow in love and faithful witness” (Aperuit illis, 2). Every story told in the Scriptures, even the most challenging, reminds us that God loves his people and will always be faithful to the covenant he has made with us. God sent us his Son, the Word Incarnate, not only to speak these words of faithful love, but also to show us the depths of faithful love by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Every word of Scripture points to this message of love enacted in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Word himself.

 In honor of today’s celebration, thank the lectors at your parish who proclaim the Word of God and the priests and deacons who preach it. With your family or other parishioners, find a time today to re-read today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) and plan a time this week to read next Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 2:22-40). What does God need to teach you and cure within you so you can proclaim the Good News of his kingdom to others?

 Reverend Brian Meldrum

St. Valentine Catholic School Open House

St. Valentine Catholic School welcomes all families to our Open House on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 5:00-7:00pm. Please join us to find out the many benefits our school can provide for your child. Our school offers faith based educational excellence for Preschool through Grade Eight. At our open house you will have the opportunity to tour the school, meet the teachers, and gain valuable information about how our school can help your child. Our school is located in Redford on Hope St. just off of Beech Daly between Schoolcraft and Five Mile.  If you would like more information please call 313 533-7149 or visit our website @

www.stvalentineschool.com

 On October 13^th after our Sunday duties, most of the priests of the Archdiocese of Detroit will be heading towards Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan to take part in the Convocation which will be from Sunday, October 13 through Thursday, October 17.

The theme for this Convocation will be Unleash the Gospel: Sent on Mission. Cardinal Joseph Tobin will be the main presenter and Archbishop Michael Byrnes will be the spiritual director for this year’s convocation.

 Fr. Kishore and I will be attending the Convocation as well. There will be changes in the daily Mass schedule as I am not able to get help to fill in. There is no Mass at Val’s or OLL on Monday, October 14. On Tuesday, October 15, there is no Mass at St. Val’s but a Communion Service will be held at OLL  at 8:30 a.m. followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction at 6.45 p.m. There will be Mass on Thursday, October 17 at St. Val’s School Chapel. Fr. John Wheeler will be the celebrant, but there is no Mass at OLL. On Friday, October 18 we will have Mass at both parishes, 8.30 a.m. at OLL and 8.15 a.m. an All School Mass at St. Val’s.

 Thursday October 17 through Sunday October 20 all the Deacons will be attending the Convocation at the same place. Please remember to keep us in your prayers and be assured of our prayers for you.

 Kindly take note of the changes in the Mass schedule for that week.

 Thank you and God bless you.

Fr. Socorro

Diaconate Program Information Night:

Are you being called to the Diaconate Program? An information night will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak.

Rosary Coast to Coast: October 13th 4 p.m.
Join your fellow “prayer warriors” from around the nation as we pray for peace in our nation and our world at the Detroit Renaissance Center on the Riverwalk.

This weekend the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This feast reminds us especially of the role of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph in God’s plan of salvation for us. These principal figures, the Holy Family, continue to inspire us and guide us in their faithfulness to the will of God and their loving fidelity to our New Born Savior. Let us ask the Holy Family to pray for all families, especially those most in need.

Here’s a beautiful prayer I found which can be said as a family on this feast day.

 Good and Gracious God, from the very beginning of time you made man and woman to live in loving relationship with you and one another. The family, created to be a reflection of your fruitful love, is meant to continue your mission of love in the world. Be with us today as we reflect on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, who are models of faith for each of us. Help our families to be holy, even in the midst of struggles and challenges, knowing wherever two or three are gathered in your name, you are present. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Happy New Year!

January 1^st, The New Year begins with the observation of the Holy Day of Obligation of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This Holy Day brings to a close the eight day celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. On this eighth day the focus is on Mary, the Mother of the divine Savior. As we continue to celebrate Christmas, let us ask the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of all us, to pray for us that we may be increasingly more grateful for the salvation and redemption of her Son and to be faithful to His Gospel way of life. And May Mother Mary assist us to be joyful messengers of the Good news.

    Being a Holy Day of Obligation we have the Vigil Mass on December 31^st at 5.00 pm and on January 1^st at 9.00 am.

 On behalf of Fr. Kishore I wish you a Happy and Holy New Year. May the New Year find us all receiving the graces offered by God and may we be open to almighty God’s blessings and graces upon us; may our troubles be few; our challenges not overcome us; and our joy increase throughout 2019.

Vacation Time

Fr. Kishore will be going home for vacation and he will be leaving on January 11^th to be back on February 11^th. We wish him a safe journey and a relaxing time with his loved ones.  So with him gone we will have changes in our weekday Mass schedule as we have done it for the past several years. Monday’s and Tuesday’s 8.30 am Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Loretto Church and Thursday’s and Friday’s Mass at 8.30 will be at St. Valentine. This schedule will begin on Monday, January 14^th and end on Wednesday February 13^th, 2019.

Just want to let you know specially to those who are new to this schedule that Thursday’s Mass will be in the school chapel and Friday’s Mass will be in the Church on School days as it will be Mass with the school kids. Thanks for adjusting to these changes.

A special thanks:

At this time of the year along with Fr. Kishore we would like to thank everyone who has treated us so kindly with love, greetings, gifts, prayers and blessings. We also extend our thanks to all those who have contributed to make our Advent and Christmas liturgies so meaningful.

The simple beauty of our parish celebrations comes together because of the rich personal gifts, talents and dedication of many in our parish, including decorators, Musicians and Choir Members, Ushers and Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Sacristans. Thanks to the parents for encouraging their children to take part in the Nativity Play and the Children’s Choir. We are always so appreciative of the all those who attend our celebrations and make it so lively by active participation. Sincere thanks to all who have so generously contributed towards our 2018 Christmas offertory collection. May God bless each and every one of you, and may Christ’s peace reign in your hearts and in your homes.

God Bless you,

Fr. Socorro

One of the ways we as Catholics remember our dead is to pray for them.  The Bible offers several accounts of prayer for the dead, the earliest of which is seen in the Second Book of Maccabees.  Other early evidence of the Christian practice of praying for the dead can be found in the Roman catacombs, where inscriptions include both prayers for the dead and requests for prayers. Early Church Fathers such as Tertullian and Augustine also witness to the tradition of praying for departed family and friends.

Prayers for the dead begin as soon as the person dies.  Among its various rites, the Order of Christian Funerals includes “Prayers after Death” and “Gathering in the Presence of the Body.”  Both of these rites are to bring comfort to the mourners at the time of death or shortly thereafter.

 As the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) states, “At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life” (4)

The funeral liturgy, especially the celebration of the Mass, is the primary way the community offers prayers for their dead: The OCF states, “At the funeral rites, especially at the celebration of the       Eucharistic sacrifice, the Christian community affirms and expresses the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one great communion of saints”(6). 

 After the funeral liturgy, the community continues to remember and pray for the dead at “Masses for the Dead,” on special anniversaries and occasions, on solemnities such as All Saints and All Souls’ Day, and during the Eucharistic Prayer. 

 We offer our prayers for the dead to commend them to God’s   merciful love, to ease their transition from this life to the next, and to keep them close at heart. As the Order of Christian Funerals  states,” Though separated from the Living, the dead are still at one with the community of believers on earth and benefit from their prayers and intercession” (6).

www.PastoralLiturgy*magazine,November/December2018, Kathy Kuczka

First Annual St. Valentine Christmas Holiday Walk

Saturday, December 15^th

Dinner 4 pm—7 pm

The Holiday Walk Homes will be open at 5 pm until 8 pm

Come join us back at the gym for caroling, cookies and raffles

8 pm – 9:30 pm

Adults $15

Teens 13-17 – $10

Children 12 and under $5

Tickets may be purchased  in the back of Church after all the Masses.