Fr. Kishore’s Weekly Message

Kathy Weekly message

Possessions are necessary for life. Money and possessions are very much needed to continue our life. Money or possessions play an important role in our lives. We need money to feed a family, we need money to clothe and educate children. We need a lot of money to go to college. We need money to live a healthy life. Therefore, we need to work hard and plan our future and educate our children. But possessions can assume such an importance in one’s life that they become obsessions. When one is so consumed with the things that one could have, so much so, that one no longer hears the urgent call of God, then one has indeed got one’s priorities all mixed up.

 The Word of God on this 18th Sunday in Ordinary time invites us to “look for the things that are in heaven”. It’s an invitation to focus on God rather than material things of this world. It invites us to look at life beyond all these material things which pass away, because everything and everyone is “here today and gone tomorrow” because, life does not consist in having possessions and increasing possession. Rather the purpose of life is to become rich in God’s sight.

 The first reading, taken from Ecclesiastes, reminds us that the greedy achievement of goods and the selfish hoarding of them are useless because when the hoarder dies, he goes to eternity empty-handed, and his heir gains, and perhaps squanders, his riches.

 Today’s Gospel warns us against any sort of excessive attachment to riches and worldly pleasures. The rich man’s land yields a great harvest. He takes pleasure in accumulation. The language he speaks is ‘I’ and ‘my,’ highly insulated with selfishness and ego. It is said, “Desire is the root cause of all evil.” Beyond the rich man’s will and wish there is a plan of God which he did not discern, and this failure makes him a ‘fool’. We are called to lay up treasures for God, not for ourselves.

In our second reading St. Paul tells us that one who is raised with Christ will seek the things that are above and not the things on earth. If we are living for sensual pleasures, enjoying every occasion of luxury and passion, then we are not of the new creation and we have not yet died to our old self. On this Sunday let us pray that we may put to death what is earthly in ourselves and raise our hearts to God.

 God bless you. Have a great summer.

Fr. Kishore Battu SAC

Archbishop Vigneron statement regarding pro-life petitions preparing to circulate in Michigan

Mary From the Archbishop, Parish Activities

     The Department of Communications of the Archdiocese of Detroit shares Archbishop Vigneron’s comments on two citizen initiative petition drives set to take place in Michigan that would have an impact on pro-life policy in the state. The drive announced Wednesday, June 26 in Lansing, organized by Right to Life of Michigan, would prohibit dilation and evacuation abortion procedures, also known as “dismemberment abortion.” A second proposal seeks to prohibit abortion after cardiac activity is detected in the developing child. The Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) Board of Directors, with Archbishop Vigneron as its chair, is in full support of the dismemberment abortion petition drive, and has expressed reservations about the heartbeat petition. Archbishop Vigneron’s comments are as follows:

“The Catholic Church in Michigan lends her support to sound and reasonable public policies, especially those which protect the most innocent among us. I invite all people of goodwill, regardless of religious or political affiliation, to join the citizen initiative effort to prohibit the heinous dilation and evacuation abortion procedure that requires the dismemberment of a human child in the womb. While the proposal advanced by the “heartbeat” coalition shares the goal of ending abortion, it appears to raise the possibility of negatively impacting existing law in Michigan that protects all unborn human life, which only lies dormant due to the Roe v. Wade decision. As these petition drives move forward, I applaud those who continue to change hearts and minds by invoking the humanity, dignity and rights of the unborn child while at the same time being close to and offering unyielding support for women who may find themselves in a challenging or crisis pregnancy.”

 

We Need Help with Baptism Prep

If you have been looking for a small but rewarding way to get involved in a ministry at St. Valentine, there are immediate openings on our Baptism prep team. The time commitment is not huge, about two hours once a month in the evening. Classes are held the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the rectory meeting room. If you prefer, you could approach this as a team of two persons leading the meeting. Depending on how many people volunteer to conduct these classes, you might be required to only volunteer every third or fourth month. You do not need any theology classes or special training. You will be given all the information you need and will observe some classes before you start. Most important, is a welcoming, friendly attitude and an ability to talk with the families. Basically, you will be informing the parents what to expect the day of Baptism, i.e. where to sit, what do godparents do, when to come up to the baptismal font, how long the celebration of this sacrament takes, prayers used during baptism, etc. In addition, a big part of your job is making the families feel welcome and comfortable at St. Valentine, and offering congratulations and encouragement to new parents!

 

If this sounds interesting to you, please call the Parish Office at 313-532-4394.

 

Fr. Socorro

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.”  (Luke 10: 41)

Mary Parish Activities, Weekly message

Summertime is marked by family reunions, barbecues, neighborhood parties and travel. It is a time for showing hospitality to family and friends and to be surprised by the welcome of others wherever we find ourselves. In the business of summer activities, God’s Word suggests another type of hospitality. We are encouraged to slow down, take time to smell the flowers and most especially, to pay attention to God.

 Today’s Gospel passage recounts the famous story of the hospitality of Jesus’ friends, the two sisters, Martha and Mary. Each sister offers hospitality in a different way. Martha serves and waits on the Lord while Mary welcomes Jesus by sitting at his feet and listening to him.

 The rivalry between the two sisters has often been cited as an example of the tension between active and contemplative life in the Church. However, each sister represents an important aspect of our calling as disciples. We are to serve and pray. We are to meet Jesus in the needy as well as to listen to his word. Each sister models the hospitality that we are to extend to others and to receive from those we welcome.

One commentary on this Gospel story offers these suggestions: “in our daily concerns we may sometimes lose sight of being attentive to God. Some people use simple reminders to help them not to forget God. A prayer taped to the bathroom mirror, a religious image on the desk, a screen-saver of a holy site or a CD with religious music in the car are all simple ways to remain attentive to the Lord in the busyness of the day.” Another way to be hospitable to God is to drop into church for a visit. Keep in mind our church is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Fr. Kishore Battu SAC

Parish Activities! – Save the Dates

August 25— Parish Picnic

St. Valentine Church picnic will be held on Sunday, August 25th. We will begin with an outdoor Mass under the tent at 12 noon followed by our picnic. This is a fun-filled day to share with your family and fellow parishioners. Volunteer to bring a dish to pass. Hotdogs and burgers provided by the Men’s Club.

 September 15—14th Annual Fun Run & Spaghetti Dinner

 Fun Run and Spaghetti Dinner – or all those trying for a personal best time on their 5 K Run—the date is set…September 15th!

Volunteers Needed!

As always, we need a lot of volunteers to help make this day run smoothly. We always need you …. Young or the Young at Heart all are needed!

Sponsors

In the past we have only solicited businesses to sponsor our Fun Run/Walk, BUT if a family/anyone would like to sponsor the Fun Run we would more than graciously accept your donation. A donation of $100 or more gets your name on the back of the shirt OR 225 of an item to put in the runners goodie bags. Please feel free to contact Bonnie at the parish office 313-532-4394 x201.