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.

 

Weekly Message for July 7th

Kathy Weekly message

Vincent Bocher a Jesuit Brother use to organize social projects helping mission places in India. In 2012, he inspired some  youth in France to raise some funds and come to do mission projects in India. These were students from France pursuing medicine. We were fortunate to have them come down to our Parish for their field mission experience. They spent a month helping the poorest of the poor in missions constructing fresh rooms for families. 

 

They had themselves trained in the most effective way of communicating the Gospel message. Taking time off from their studies, they travelled to the area chosen and spent a month giving themselves completely to this work. Things like this are happening all over the world. There are indications that we are now in the age of laity. Throughout the church today our lay people are feeling the stirring of the spirit. They are no longer content to be passive members of the church. They want to play an active role in the church. They play a large role in having an effective say in the running of the church affairs. For instance, taking part in decision making, knowing what money is received and how it is spent, having a greater part to play in liturgy, etc.

  In today’s Gospel passage we find Jesus sending out seventy-two of his disciples on a missionary journey. These seventy-two are distinct from the 12 Apostles who had already been sent out on a similar journey (Lk.9). They are committed followers of Jesus but do not appear to have held any position of authority. They belong to the body of Jesus’ followers that today we would call the laity. Later, in the Acts of the Apostles, we find these followers of Jesus leaving Jerusalem during the persecution that broke out after the martyrdom of Stephen. They travel north to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, “Preaching the Lord Jesus”, and a great number believed and are received into the church. 

Friends, this is not surprising for the whole Church is missionary, as we have been reminded so strongly by Vatican II.  Today’s Gospel reminds each one of us that every Catholic is called and commissioned by his baptism and confirmation to be sent forth to spread everywhere the Good News proclaimed by Jesus. As we understand more clearly this truth and respond to it, we can see a glorious period of evangelization opening up for the Church.

 The question for us today: Do I volunteer and participate in Parish apostolate?  

 Fr. Kishore Battu SAC

Sudden Cardiac Arrest /AED Awareness Presentation

Combat Sudden Cardiac Arrest— Help Save a Life!

All are invited to an Awareness Presentation for the AED’s located in the Church and 2 in the School. The presentation will take place on Thursday, July 18th at 7 p.m. in the School Gym.

This presentation provides general knowledge of the lifesaving capabilities of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use.

Please contact Bonnie at 313-532-4394 x201 if you will be attending.