Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Kathy Uncategorized, Weekly message

2015corpusChristieaToday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This solemnity – known in Latin as Corpus Christi — has its origins in the efforts of Saint Juliana of Liege, a medieval nun who had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Holy Thursday is certainly a day that celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, but St. Juliana argued that an additional day was needed to promote Eucharistic devotion with those unable to attend Holy Week services. Her bishop agreed, and so did Pope Urban IV, who promulgated Corpus Christi as a feast for the universal Church in the year 1264.

   Over the centuries, this feast has been celebrated in a number of different ways. It became quite popular for parishes to have a Corpus Christi procession after the Sunday liturgy, with the Blessed Sacrament reverently showcased in a monstrance held by the priest as servers and parishioners led the way through neighborhood streets while singing Eucharistic hymns.

   Nowadays, with the renewed interest in Eucharistic Adoration, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is an opportunity for Catholics to reflect on the meaning of the Eucharist in today’s fast-paced world.

 Today on this solemn feast we will be having a procession with the Eucharist after the 12:00 noon Mass. I would like to encourage as many as possible to take part in this celebration. This is a time when we as faithful Catholics can show our love for Christ in the Real Presence by honoring Him in a very public way. It is also a wonderful way in which we can show our love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord and Savior closer to them. So many conversions are a result of Eucharistic Adoration experienced from inside the Church. How many more there would be if we could reach those who only drive by the church by demonstrating our love for the Eucharist, by devoutly taking part in this procession. Children who have received their First Communion this year have been encouraged to attend in their suits and dresses. It will be even nice to have as many altar servers dress up in their altar servers robes. Please join me in making this solemn procession a very important occasion for our parish.

If you attended the Saturday 5:00 pm Mass or today’s 9:00 am Mass, please feel free to come join us in the procession.

Attention High School and College Graduates Class of 2016class 2016

 The St. Valentine community congratulates you on your graduation! We would like to recognize your accomplishments at the noon Mass on June 5, 2016. We are inviting you to attend Mass and join the community afterwards for coffee and doughnuts in the School Meeting Room. Please call the parish office (313.532.4394) if you will be attending and if you would like to participate in the Mass as a lector or Eucharistic Minister, let the office staff know when you call.   

 

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Kathy Weekly message

On May 28/29 weekend we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – This year on this solemn feast we will be having a procession with the Eucharist after the 12:00 noon Mass. I would like to encourage as many as possible to take part in this celebration. This is a time when we as faithful Catholics can show our love for Christ in the Real Presence by honoring Him in a very public way. It is also a wonderful way in which we can show our love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord and Savior closer to them. So many conversions are a result of Eucharistic Adoration experienced from inside the Church. How many more there would be if we could reach those who only drive by the church by demonstrating our love for the Eucharist, by devoutly taking part in this procession. Children who have received their First Communion this year are encouraged to attend in their suits and dresses. It will be even nice to have as many altar servers dress up in their altar servers robes. Please join me in making this solemn procession a very important occasion for our parish.

Ordination Congratulations

On May 14 ordination took place at a liturgy at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Those being ordained were greeted by family and friends following the ordination Mass. Following are details about the men ordained:

Deacon Paul Graney, 31, is the son of Paul and Judy Graney. He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary from his home parish of St. Joseph the Worker in Lake Orion. He will begin his priestly ministry at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington.

Deacon Dominic Macioce, 30, is the son of Ronald and Dina Macioce. He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary from his home parish of St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights. He will begin his priestly ministry at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park.

Deacon Kevin Roelant, 26, is the son of Paul and Amy Roelant. He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary from his home parish of St. Anne in Monroe. He will begin his priestly ministry at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica Parish in Royal Oak.

Deacon David Tomaszycki, 30, is the son of Art and Joan Tomaszycki. He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary from his home parish of Immaculate Conception in Anchorville, and has been in formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Following ordination he will continue his studies in Rome.

Deacon Timothy Wezner, 35, is the son of Diane and the late Christopher Wezner. He entered the seminary from his home parish of SS. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Parish in Sterling Heights. He will begin his priestly ministry at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills.

Pentecost Sunday

Kathy Weekly message

pentecostToday we are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, one of the ancient feasts. It is celebrated early enough to be mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles 20:16 and St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 16:8. If we count both Easter and Pentecost, it is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, and it succeeds the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which took place 50 days after the Passover.

 

History

 The Acts of the Apostles recounts the story of the original Pentecost (Acts 2). Jews from all over were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast. On that Sunday, ten days after the Ascension of Our Lord, the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary were gathered in the Upper Room, where they had seen Christ after His Resurrection: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

 The Birthday of the Church

That is why Pentecost is often called “the birthday of the Church.” On this day, with the descent of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s mission is completed, and the New Covenant is inaugurated. It’s interesting to note that St. Peter, the first pope, was already the leader and spokesman for the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday (see Acts 2:14ff).

In years past, Pentecost was celebrated with greater solemnity than it is today. In fact, the entire period between Easter and Pentecost Sunday was known as Pentecost (and it still is called Pentecost in the Eastern churches, both Catholic and Orthodox). During those 50 days, both fasting and kneeling were strictly forbidden, because this period was supposed to give us a foretaste of the life of Heaven. In more recent times, parishes celebrated the approach of Pentecost with the public recitation of the Novena to the Holy Ghost.

To end this, let us pause for a while and pray this prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ


2015corpusChristieaOn May 28/29 weekend we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – This year on this solemn feast we will be having a procession with the Eucharist after the 12:00 noon Mass. I would like to encourage as many as possible to take part in this celebration. This is a time when we as faithful Catholics can show our love for Christ in the Real Presence by honoring Him in a very public way. It is also a wonderful way in which we can show our love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord and Savior closer to them. So many conversions are a result of Eucharistic Adoration experienced from inside the Church. How many more there would be if we could reach those who only drive by the church by demonstrating our love for the Eucharist, by devoutly taking part in this procession. Children who have received their First Communion this year are encouraged to attend in their suits and dresses. It will be even nice to have as many altar servers dress up in their altar servers robes. Please join me in making this solemn procession a very important occasion for our parish.