Message From Our Archbishop

Kathy From the Archbishop

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

   As we continue to receive reports about the spread of the Coronavirus in our communities, I write to you today with some news that may be difficult to hear. After consultation with health care professionals and government officials, I am temporarily suspending all public Masses in the Archdiocese of Detroit until Monday, April 6.

   The celebration of Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith, through which we encounter and enter into sacred Communion with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The decision to temporarily suspend this practice was not and must never be taken lightly. As Mass is a commemoration of Christ’s great act of love for us, we take this unprecedented measure with eyes fixed on him and his greatest commandment to love one another, which in this difficult time means that we ensure the health and safety of our community by following the wise counsel of local, state, and federal government and health officials.

  During this growing spread of COVID-19, we must redouble these efforts, particularly of prayer and fasting. We should pray and fast for God’s mercy on our local community and the whole world to end the Coronavirus pandemic. We should pray for medical professionals, researchers, and government leaders that the Lord would give them wisdom in their work and that we would heed their advice and directions for the good of society, especially for the least among us, those who are most susceptible of contracting this virus and other illnesses. You can find prayer resources here. More resources will be forthcoming

   The decision to temporarily suspend public Masses has been communicated to your pastors in a separate correspondence with more details. Effective Saturday, March 14, all Sunday and weekday public Masses, faith formation courses, communal Penance services, and all other parish events will be suspended in the Archdiocese of Detroit until Monday of Holy Week, April 6. Mass will be available to you each day via live-stream and other media channels. You can find these on our website www.aod.org. Be assured that our priests will be offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day in private so as to harness and direct the great spiritual grace and power contained therein.


   As you temporarily participate at Mass in this different way, you and your families are encouraged to make a daily Spiritual Communion by praying:


   My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you.
Amen.

   At the discretion of pastors, churches may be open for private prayer so that you can approach Our Lord who is fully present in the Tabernacle. Whenever the church remains open, it is the responsibility of the pastor (or the one whom he designates) to ensure that no more than 100 people are present at one time. This directive is given by local government so that the number of cases of those infected with COVID-19 does not spike. Therefore, so as to refrain from large gatherings, there will be no posted times for collective prayers, recitation of the Rosary, or other set times for gathering.


 Funerals, weddings, and baptisms are at the discretion of the pastor but are not to exceed 100 people in attendance. Holy Communion, except as Viaticum, will not be distributed to the faithful at any liturgy during this time.

Individual confessions, anointings, and other forms of pastoral care can be offered in a case-by-case basis. Consult your local parish for any of these needs during this time.

As I mentioned in my letter yesterday, let us entrust ourselves to Our Lady of Lourdes, patron for those who suffer illness. Through her intercession, may God grant healing and protection to the people of southeast Michigan and beyond. And let us, by the courageous hope with which we face the challenge of the virus’ spread, give witness to our confidence in the good news of the Lord’s victory over suffering.


Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

Archbishop of Detroit.

 

Urgent – Please Read!

Kathy Uncategorized

The Archdiocese of Detroit has suspended all public Masses until April 6, 2020 due to Coronavirus Outbreak.

For a complete statement, please see https://www.aod.org/announcements-newsroom/newsroom/2020/march/updated-march-13-archbishop-vigneron-temporarily-suspends-masses-in-the-archdiocese-of-detroit

St Valentine School is closed and Faith Formation classes are cancelled until April 6th. 

Stations of the Cross, Soup Suppers and Sunday Evening Prayers are also cancelled until April 6th.

The Friday Fish Fry programs have been cancelled.

3rd Sunday of Lent

Kathy Weekly message

Journeying through Lent is a beautiful experience and this third week of Lent urges us to journey more deeply into the movement of Lent. Our pilgrimage should be taking us closer and closer to God, so it is no surprise that this Sunday, and throughout this third week, we are brought face to face with Gospels that challenge and puzzle us, almosAt as though God is giving a little push to keep us on the move. Thus today’s readings are directing us to take a good look into ourselves and experience the divine insight. 

It is a time when we are challenged to look at what needs to be changed in our lives. Even when our answer involves doing things for other people, the focus is still on what we are doing for God to save our souls. St. Paul drives home to us that it is God who tried to show us how much he loved us by giving his only Son to die on the cross for us. Was there anything else God could have done to better prove his love for us? Was there a greater sacrifice that he could make for us? God himself initiates the move in every person to bring them closer to Him through the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

 One of the repeated themes throughout the Lenten season is the compassion and mercy of our God that conveys His love. This requires a spirit of sincerity and a sense of honesty to self and recognition of our nothingness before God. Once a person has accepted this change, God has a ready mission prepared for us to continue to spread his love.

Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well and gives her the living water. Receiving the living water the woman goes to the town and shares with others all that has taken place and invites them to experience Jesus. Like the woman at the well, may we come to understand better and more clearly this Lent, that in thirsting for God, above all else, we will be receiving the fulfillment of all life’s longing. Let us then in this third week of Lent experience more deeply the depth of God’s love for us and respond to him positively.

Blessing for a Holy Season

 I would like to thank you for holding me in your prayers as I thanked God for the gift of life he has blessed me with. 52 years of His kindness and love has given me the opportunity to share the same with others. Thank you also for accepting me and giving me the opportunity to serve you. May the Good Lord continue to walk with each one of us and bless us and our loved ones. 

Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.  

 

Fr. Socorro