Unleash the Gospel

Kathy Archdiocese

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Praise be to Jesus Christ, now and forever! At the first Pentecost, Christ came to his apostles and breathed onto them the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He breathes on us today, his faithful in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

We find ourselves very much like the apostles who were gathered in a room. Like them, our hearts rejoice when we encounter Jesus. Like them, he sends us on a mission and gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may go out and Unleash the Gospel.

God is pouring out his Spirit so we can continue the work of the apostles. The Spirit enables us to proclaim the Good News to those in our families, workplaces and communities. The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, gives us the courage to continue our missionary journey.

And on this day, I would like to announce the next phase of our movement to Unleash the Gospel: the renewal of our parishes. For the Gospel to truly be unleashed, we must re-found our parishes so that everything we do — how we pray, how we minister, how we serve — leads us to be more effective witnesses to the Gospel.

This next phase of our missionary journey will require prayer, innovation, and hard work so that our parish communities become what God made them to be: places where individuals and families encounter Jesus anew, grow as his disciples, and are equipped to be witnesses of the Risen Christ.

To spark this transformation, each parish in the Archdiocese will create a plan to realign all its activity and ministry to our shared mission to Unleash the Gospel. These missionary strategic plans will provide the direction and focus for each parish’s missionary transformation.

Today, ten parishes in the Archdiocese will begin the process of creating these plans. I am grateful for the apostolic courage of these first pastors and their parishes. Other parishes will follow early next year and more will continue after.

This is nothing short of a complete overhaul of our Church in Detroit — a task too great to do on our own. But we are not alone. Christ is with us. We cannot fail, because we are in communion with the risen Jesus and we act in the power of his Spirit.

So, I ask you to join me in prayer. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to come and transform our hearts and our parishes. Let us pray for boldness in our plans and efforts. Let us pray that each one of our parishes may discern how it is called to Unleash the Gospel with its unique set of gifts and circumstances.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

“My Sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

Kathy Weekly message

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about His relationship with us through the metaphor of the Shepherd and the sheep. The thought of Jesus as the Shepherd has comforted many a million souls. Children retiring to bed have often said the prayer: “Jesus tender Shepherd, hear me; bless thy little lamb tonight.” And even old men, lying on their death beds have silently whispered to themselves. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

 

The risen Christ is our Good Shepherd. He continues to be with us shepherding us and feeding us with His Body and Blood and leads us to our heavenly Father. The risen Lord tells us in today’s Gospel that we need to listen to His voice. And those who listen and believe in Him, He gives eternal life.

As we continue to enjoy in this Easter season let us pray that we may be filled with the grace of God so that we can listen to Jesus’ voice and follow him.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today has been designated as “World Day of Prayer for Vocations”. Today, in a special way, we must pray for priestly and religious and married vocations. The world needs Jesus and His message. One of the renowned poets says, “As wounds always require medicine, so Christ is always necessary as long as sin resides in this world.” We need young men and women to take the Good News of Christ to the nook and corner of the world. Let us pray for all shepherds, starting from the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to all priests to strengthen them with His grace, to be good shepherds who are really concerned with their flock’s safety, wellbeing and salvation.

Mother’s Day

Today we celebrate Mother’sDay (Happy Mother’s Day to our beautiful mothers). Mother’s Day is in May because May is the month of the Blessed Mother. Mother Mary is the model for all mothers, it is said that there is no love like a mother’s love. A mother loves her child simply because the child is. There is no question of the child earning his mother’s love. He can do nothing for his mother, or even acknowledge her love. A mother’s love for her child is unconditional. That’s why a Mother’s love is compared with God’s love. In the book of Sirach we read, “Whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure. When he prays, he will be heard.” (Sirach3:3). To our mothers we cannot give back what they give us sufficiently and equally. The best gift we can give to our mothers today is to pray a rosary for them, if possible, even better, with them. I wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day.

God bless you all.
Fr. Kishore Battu SACCSA

Catholic Services Appeal

Kathy From the Archbishop

I am heartened at how the faithful of the Archdiocese embrace the spirit of unleashing the Gospel. Through our annual Catholic Services Appeal, we have opened doors to encounter Jesus as well as to grow with him. This year, our theme emboldens us to witness Christ through the ministries, programs, and services the CSA funds.

Fully living as a disciple of Jesus Christ requires following his commission to make disciples — Opening Doors to Witness Christ to others. We accomplish this when we allow his Good News to inspire joyful words and deeds each day. As we become conscious witnesses to God’s everlasting mercy, we unleash the Gospel to everyone we meet.

 Each year when we support the CSA, we renew this opportunity to witness Jesus. The CSA fuels the engine of the Gospel mission of our Archdiocese. Supporting our annual appeal unites us as a faith community in all of the good works we are able to provide together. The spirit of joining together to witness Christ in carrying out these works of mercy is what Pope Francis envisioned when he encouraged us to become a “joyful band” of missionary disciples.

 As you prayerfully consider your pledge to the 2019 CSA, please take a moment to reflect on the many ways your friends and neighbors are able to witness Christ because of the many doors we have opened through the CSA. I am sure you will be inspired to once again make the most generous gift possible.

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit

“Everybody needs a little time away.”

 The above line is taken from the song Hard to Say I’m Sorry – Chicago. Keeping that song in your mind now you can read the rest. I will be taking a little time away, if you think one month is little. I will be leaving on April 29 and return on May 29.  Not going for any sightseeing but going home to spend time with my mother and to visit my family and friends. With that said you can guess what comes next, the change in the daily Mass schedule – Beginning April 29th we will have our daily mass on Monday and Tuesday at Our Lady of Loretto and Thursday and Friday at St. Valentine. This schedule will continue throughout the summer and end on August 23rd.

 As I spend some time away from the regular schedule, I ask you to keep me in your prayers as I assure you the same from my part.

 Blessings,

Fr. Socorro

Happy Easter

Kathy Weekly message

A very Happy Easter to each and every one of you! What a joy it is for every true Christian to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is not just the end of our period of penance and sacrifice, but the beginning of a new life in Christ the Risen Lord.

 Easter brings so many promises of God to us, life is stronger than death, love can overcome hate, goodness ultimately triumphs over evil and eternity and glory with God in Heaven are our destiny. May we continue to rejoice in this great mystery and allow Jesus to live in our hearts, and that we may always embrace Him with love and gratitude.  

 Our entire Parish Staff joins together in extending to you our best wishes and all of the joy of Easter. Since Easter is fifty days long, we will have many opportunities to greet you personally and to thank you for the life you bring to St. Valentine Parish.

 We extend a word of appreciation to all who made donations, or offerings toward our Easter flowers, to all those involved in our Triduum Liturgies, as well as those who helped with the changing of the environment in the church. Thanks to all who sacrificed to make our Holy Week as prayerful, enjoyable, and inviting as it has been.  

At the Easter Vigil we warmly welcomed 6 new Catholics into our parish family. We congratulate them and their sponsors who were willing to stand by them as they walked this journey. Let us remember to hold them in our prayers as they continue to deepen their faith.  

 We also extend a warm welcome to those who are visitors to our Parish. We are happy you chose to celebrate Easter with us. We extend an invitation to you to become a regular part of our Parish Life. Page 7 of our parish  bulletin  lists our Mass times, phone numbers and website address. Please visit our parish website and call us, if we can help.

I pray that you and your loved ones have a Blessed Easter!   We may not see each other each day but may we meet each day in our prayers!

Happy Easter!

Fr. Socorro 

 

Secrets of Spiritual Struggle Revealed to St. Faustina

Divine Mercy Sunday is in one week. Let us again reflect on some of the Secrets of Spiritual Struggle given to St. Faustina.

 ·  Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds.

Self-love is natural but it should be ordered, free of pride.  Humility defeats the devil who is pride.  Satan tempts us to disordered self-love to lead us into his pool of pride.

 ·  Do not pour out your feelings. 

A talkative soul will more easily be attacked by the devil.  Pour out your feelings to the Lord only.  Feelings are fleeting.  Truth is the compass.  Interior recollection is a spiritual armor.

 ·  Do not become discouraged by ingratitude.

No one likes to be taken for granted.  But when we are met with ingratitude or insensitivity, the spirit of discouragement can weigh us down.  Resist all discouragement for it is never of God.  It is one of the devil’s most effective temptations.  Gratitude in all things wins the day.

 

Paschal Triduum Schedule

Kathy Prayer Opportunities

Holy Thursday – April 18

Mass of the Lord’s Supper : 7 p.m.

Followed by Eucharistic Adoration until midnight in the School Chapel

Good Friday – April 19

A day of fast and abstinence

Stations of the Cross – 1:30 p.m.

Performance of Passion Play Presented by the 8th Grade Class
following the Stations of the Cross

Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion – 2:30 p.m.

Holy Saturday – April 20

Fasting and /or abstinence encouraged

Blessing of Food (Church) : 11 a.m.

Easter Vigil Mass – 8:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday – April 21

Mass – 9:00 a.m. and 12 Noon