Author Archives: Tammy Houser

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Gospel  LK 1:39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

Fr. Todd Bulletin, August 18 2019

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Dear Sacred Heart,

It is hard to believe that the summer has been going so quickly!  I want to say thank you to everyone who has been dropping off fresh fruits and vegetables over the course of the summer.  Starting with the asparagus in early summer they have been a great addition to our meals.  (While we have had seminarians to feed this summer, I must admit that sometimes whatever was dropped off didn’t make it past me!)

Last weekend was our mulching party working on beautifying our landscaping and preparing the playgrounds for the new school year.  Thank you again to Matt Shaffer who let us borrow his bobcat.  Plus, I do enjoy the tractor time.

Sacred Heart has a rich history of people who has helped build up and support our parish.  It has been a blessing to hear the stories and see what people are doing now to be a good steward of what was given to us.  This has particularly been on my mind since a meeting last week with Tom Meredith who has been working on a labor of love for our cemetery.

Part of the history of Calvary cemetery is that it is actually the third cemetery our Catholic Community has had.  It was preceded by a cemetery at Catholic Hill and on the East Side.  When Calvary Cemetery was dedicated buried parishioners were disinterred and moved from those to other sites to the current location.  Since our parish started with the purchase of one acre of land in 1847 you can imagine the variety and nature of records that have been kept through the different locations our Churches and cemeteries.

In 2012 Tom Meredith began the task of collecting all the pertinent records and maps of past and current cemeteries and assembling from them an accurate account of who is buried in our current cemetery and where.  As a part of this process he researched and helped Sacred Heart purchase a cemetery software program.  He input all of the past information so you can easily search for and find who is buried where.  New information can be easily added to the program so we will have a precise record going forward.

Tom’s work took place in the context of the cemetery committee that over the past few years has been caring for the cemetery with numerous repairs and improvements being made.  This is an important part of our parish that we need to continue building up and caring for.  I particularly think of the beautiful Mass we celebrated there this past Memorial Day.  It is a place of peace and rest.

Thank you, Tom, the cemetery committee, and all those who care for our cemetery!

God Bless,

Fr. Todd

 

Deacon’s Corner, August 18 2019

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Is God real?  So far, I’ve covered three of the five reasons from the book “The God Answers” providing some very compelling arguments that God is real:  the Universe, the Creator, and our Sense of Morality.  Reason No. 4 is “Jesus.”  There is so much to write about Reason No. 4 that I’m going to cover it in two parts.  This week:  Jesus, Part 1 – Did he really die?

Scripture, and official secular records at the time, tell us a man named Jesus from Nazareth was executed by crucifixion while Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea.  His crime was declaring himself the King of the Jews.  The Romans were masters at the art of crucifixion.  They perfected crucifixion as a brutal, humiliating, form of execution designed to discourage others from committing the same crime.  First, Jesus was flogged 39 times leaving him near death with his flesh in ribbons and internal organs exposed.  The executioners fashioned a crown from long, very sharp thorns and pressed into the top of his head.  They tied a 110-pound crossbar to his shoulders and forced him to walk through the streets of Jerusalem to the crucifixion site outside the city gates.  On the way, he was so weak that a man was forced to carry the crossbar for him.  Jesus was then nailed to a cross, stood upright, and left to die as people mocked and jeered him.  A Roman executioner declared Jesus dead after piercing his heart with a lance.  Roman executioners knew how to do their job very well.  If they didn’t, they would suffer the same fate.

Jesus’ mother and close friends watched him die.  His body was taken down and wrapped with over 100 pounds of cloth and placed in a burial chamber, a tomb, carved out of rock.  A stone weighing about two tons was rolled across the tomb opening.  Pilate ordered the tomb sealed, and stationed guards by it, to prevent anyone from stealing the body.  The seal was made from clay packs and stamped with Pilate’s official signet ring.  Anyone caught breaking this seal would have been sentenced to death.  Before the sealing the tomb, the guards would have checked to make sure the body of Jesus was in there.

Did Jesus of Nazareth really die?  He was killed by an elite Roman execution squad who were well trained in doing their job.  He was buried in accordance with Jewish custom.  The Roman governor took precautions to ensure no one disturbed his grave.  All of this happened in front of many witnesses.  Yes, we know that Jesus of Nazareth was, in fact, dead.

Is Jesus God?  Is God real?  More to follow next week with Reason No. 4 – Jesus, Part 2 – He is alive!

Deacon John

 

Parish News & Events

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Fr. Todd Installation Mass

Sacred Heart & St. Mary on the Lake parishes invite you to celebrate the Installation of our new Pastor, Fr. Todd Koenigsknecht by Most Reverend Bishop Earl Boyea during the 11am Mass on Sunday, August 25th at Sacred Heart Church.  Reception will be held immediately following Mass in the Church Hall. More details to follow.

 

RCIA ~ Sessions will begin Tuesday, September 10.  If you are planning to attend the sessions, please call Linda Higgins at 517-286-6426. I would like everyone registered by September 1 so I know what supplies are needed.

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION MEETING: 

Do you have a child interested in making the Sacrament of Confirmation next year?  There will be a pre-Confirmation meeting the weekend of Aug 17-18 after the 4:30pm Mass on Saturday and after the 11am Mass on Sunday.  Meetings will be held in Sacred Heart School.   For more information or questions, please contact the office at 448-3811.

 

 

ANNUAL SENIOR APPRECIATION MASS AND LUNCHEON

Catholic Charities invites all Lenawee/Hillsdale seniors to join us in celebrating Mass with Bishop Boyea on Friday, September 6, 2019, at 11:00AM at Sacred Heart Parish, Hudson.  Lunch will be served following Mass.  Call Catholic Charities at (517)263-2191 to reserve your seat for the luncheon by August 23rd

 

 

Attention Bicyclists…..

Steve Kope is planning a day biking trip on the Trail in Adrian.  If you have an interest in participating in this biking excursion, please call the parish office.  The date is to be determined and more info is to come.

 

 

As addressed in last week’s bulletin, Bishop Boyea has asked every parish to participate in collecting signatures for a citizen’s petition drive that will initiate legislation to prohibit the dismemberment abortion procedure. Please take a moment to sign the petition following all masses this weekend.

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

The 13th Annual St. Mary on the Lake Fish Fry  on  Friday, August 30, 2019 from 5:00-7:00 pm.  

$10.00 Adults, $5.00 Child 5-10, under 5 Free.

Menu: Blue Gill, Cod, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, macaroni & cheese, rolls, dessert, coffee, lemonade and tea.  Beer and wine available for donations.  We are still collecting fish!

 

 

Unbound Ministry

Live Free! Unbound Ministry.  Deliverance is a GOOD WORD! Many Christians think the ministry of deliverance is only for special cases, people with serious problems. The truth is that we ALL have a serious problem: SIN. Both our own sins and the sins of others keep us from living the life God always intended us to live.  Attend the Live Free! Conference on OCTOBER 26/27, 2019 at St. Mary’s in Williamston, MI (near Lansing) and unlock your life! Go to Live Free! Unbound Ministry on the web www.livefreeub.net or search Live Free, Lansing on Eventbrite www.livefreelansing_eventbrite.com for information, registration and e-announcements.

SAVE THE DATE:  LIVE FREE! is coming to St. Anthony of Padua in Hillsdale next year:  FEBRUARY 28-29, 2020.   Details available after Labor Day.

At St. Anthony: THURSDAYS beginning September 12 through October 17 from 6-8pm UNBOUND STUDY GROUP. Learn more about the Unbound Ministry Model from real live speakers from Live Free Unbound Ministry (Michigan).

 

WHAT IS UNBOUND? A 1 hour DVD Introduction to Unbound Prayer

At St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 Parish Hall 11am.

At Sacred Heart, Hudson SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 in the Parish Hall following the 11am Mass.  Pizza lunch provided.

OCTOBER 19, SATURDAY at St. Anthony, Hillsdale 8:30am-3:30 pm UNBOUND CONFERENCE DVD Series: The FIVE KEYS

Questions? Call or Text Nancy DeBacker at nancy4unbound@gmail.com or 517-262-4528

 

 

 

OUTSIDE OUR PARISH

 

How is God speaking to you through the Sacred Scriptures?

 Start your journey through the Bible with the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan (CBSM)’s new class on Tuesdays 7-9 pm at Holy Family Parish in Adrian, starting Sep 17th.

CBSM brings the Scriptures to life with in-depth study of the entire Bible led by seminary professors, so that our faith as Catholics is vibrant and more deeply rooted in Christ. Through donations, CBSM is open to all, regardless of ability to contribute financially.

Register by Sep 4th at cbsmich.org/register, or by calling Colleen Vermeulen at 586-438-3085.

 

 

 

Heart of Christ Spiritual Direction Training Program is now accepting applications for a new class beginning in September of 2019.  Classes are held weekly on Tuesday evenings at Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor.  If you are interested in becoming a spiritual director, visit our website for more information  www.heartofchristspiritualdirection.com or contact Jeannette Barbacane jbarbacane@gmail.com or Tesa Fleming tesafleming@gmail.com

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

**October 12**

HOPE RESTORES – Catholic Women’s Conference

 Deanna McCrate, Regional Core Captain for the Diocese of Lansing, is in need of someone to serve as Sacred Heart Parish Captain.  It’s a very simple, but very rewarding undertaking. The task simply requires promoting the Catholic women’s conference with in our parish.  You will receive a packet with posters and Parish Captains information to pass along to the ladies of our parish.  She is more than willing to meet with you or speak with you over the phone if you have questions.

The main goal is to make sure every that all women/ or young ladies in our diocese is made aware of the opportunity to attend the catholic women’s conference (CWC).

The CWC invites women throughout Michigan to refuel, reconnect, rejoice and restore their hope in the Lords grace to make them strong firm and steadfast. This year’s conference is called Hope Restores.  Women, especially in this time and age, trying to raise good and holy families need to open their hearts to our healing Lord so that he can Strengthen their reserve to in times of despair in their personal lives and in these sad times within mother church.

If you are interested, you may contact Deanna directly at 810-287-7272 or email to CaptainofCaptainsCWC@gmail.com OR you can call the parish office and we will relay the info to Deanna.

 

 

MADE FOR MORE

SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

7-9:30pm

St. Patrick’s Brighton

Christopher West (well-known Catholic speaker on Theology of the Body) and Mike Mangione. More information at corproject.com/brighton

The Foundation – Men’s Discernment Group

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Fr. Todd will lead a group of young men through the discernment process.

Who:  Any adult man over the age of 18 who has graduated from high school and desires to join a group of men who are not afraid to talk about priesthood and be open to God’s call – whatever it is.

What:  Peer support and prayer are the main focus of the group, along with diving into topics surrounding priestly discernment and Catholic identity.  All meetings are centered around a discussion about the chapter of the day from the book “To Save a Thousand Souls” (books will be provided).

Where & When:  Saturdays at St. Anthony Pauda, Hillsdale.  Click on the link below for dates!

 

VOC-Foundation-Hillsdale 2019_20

 

Deacon John Homily, August 11 2019

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Gospel LK 12:35-40

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”

Fr. Todd Homily, August 11 2019

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Gospel LK 12:35-40

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”

Fr. Todd Bulletin, August 11 2019

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Dear Sacred Heart and St. Mary on the Lake,

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, August 15, 2019. The Assumption honors the moment when Mary was taken body and soul into heaven. She is the model of the Church and a good example for every Christian. Let us join together in celebrating the Heavenly homecoming of the Blessed Mother!

Vigil Mass ~ Wednesday, August 14

6:00 pm at St. Mary on the Lake.

Holy Day Masses ~ Thursday, August 15

8:00 am at Sacred Heart

9:15 am at St. Mary on the Lake

6:00 pm at Sacred Heart

On a different note, Bishop Boyea has asked every parish to participate in collecting signatures for a citizen’s petition drive that will initiate legislation to prohibit the dismemberment abortion procedure.  Next weekend, August 17th and 18th there will be volunteers helping collect signatures after our Masses.

Below is part of an article from Faith Magazine describing the petition drive:

“A citizen’s initiative petition drive to prohibit the dismemberment abortion procedure in Michigan has now begun. Dismemberment abortion is a particularly gruesome procedure that deserves no place in civilized society. It involves tearing a live baby apart limb by limb inside the womb and individually removing each of its body parts. This petition drive, operating under a committee named Michigan Values Life, is organized by Right to Life of Michigan and is supported by Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC). We are presenting this information about the petition drive to encourage parishioners to coordinate petition drives, and to ask everyone to sign a petition.

In order to propose a ban on dismemberment abortion to the Michigan Legislature, the signatures of approximately 340,047 registered voters must be gathered within 180 days of July 26. The goal is to gather 400,000 signatures throughout the summer and early fall.”

You can access the full article from Faith Magazine here:  https://faithmag.com/michigan-catholic-conference-supports-end-dismemberment-abortion-petition-drive

Whenever we talk about abortion it is important to highlight the healing and forgiveness God longs to bring to those who have been a part of an abortion.  One of the great ministries available to help women and men experience this healing is Rachel’s Vineyard.  https://www.rachelsvineyard.org/  For both women and men that I have talked with the healing retreats offered by Rachel’s Vineyard was a pivotal experience.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Todd