Dear Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s,
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! On top of a very fun and food-filled few days, my family was especially blessed with the birth of the 10th grandchild, Owen, on last Saturday. I was happy to be able to visit him in the hospital a few hours after he was born while on my way back to Hudson. He was a very healthy 9 pounds!
This coming week, we will have an Advent night of reflection on Thursday, December 12th, at 6pm at St. Mary on the Lake. (I hope to have a similar night of prayer during Lent at Sacred Heart).
Advent is one of those seasons that is an incredibly busy time with all of the Christmas parties. Amidst all of this craziness (as good and enjoyable as the parties are), we can struggle to find time to really pray and prepare for Christmas. This night of reflection is meant to be an hour we simply spend with Jesus and He spends with us.
While praying about what Jesus wants this time to be focused on, He has been bringing up this verse from Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” That is what this night is meant to be: a time to come before Jesus and let Him take what is burdening us. Advent celebrates Jesus coming into the world to bring us to Himself. A great way to prepare for Christmas is give Him what He came for: our hearts, and especially those things that might be weighing us down. Christmas is a celebration of God doing something miraculous to set the world and our lives free. For us then, this hour is a time to be in and experience that rest Jesus has come to give us.
The night of reflection will be an hour of time spent in Adoration before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It is simply a time to sit in the presence of Jesus. I will offer a short reflection/meditation to help guide us into the hour of prayer. We will have music in the background to help pray. Fr. Tomy will be there to offer the opportunity for confession. If anyone has a particular need that they would like prayer for, I will be offering the opportunity to pray with them on an individual basis.
What do we bring to this night? All those needs that sometimes go unspoken in our lives. The older I get, the more I realize that this Christmas season is one that can be very difficult for people who have one struggle or another. It can be a time that highlights old wounds, grief over a lost loved one, divisions in families, and the list can go on. Sometimes there are things we stop hoping for, things we stop even praying for. Christmas is a special time of the year to bring them before the Lord. All these are things Jesus wants us to bring to Him so He can draw us right to His Heart.
I hope to see you there!
God Bless,
Fr. Todd
During Advent, reflection and prayer help us to maintain awareness of God’s mercy towards us. In this time of Advent, let us remember that mercy comes with love and solidarity. Prayer helps us to remember to spread God’s love as we wait for the birth of Jesus.
Prayer for the Advent Wreath God the Father, who sheds light on the world, Give us strength in this season of Advent. Prepare us to be better Christians. Let the Holy Spirit give us courage and guide us in our actions and our prayers. Lord, we ask you to make your son Jesus our example and inspiration. Let the Virgin Mary accompany us and carry us in her arms. And let the saints be our fellow travelers on the way to your mercy. We ask you for all of this with open and willing hearts. Amen
The liturgical year begins with Advent, the four weeks prior to Christmas. It is a season of preparation, waiting, and anticipation. Christmas is both a feast and a liturgical season. Each day of the Christmas season renews the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
WEEK 1: Light one candle and sit for a moment in silence. Christ our Light, Shine in our lives with hope and promise. Give us right vision so that we remain attentive to this holy season. Remind us to look for you in small acts of kindness and love. We await your coming with wonder. Amen.
WEEK 2: Light two candles and sit for a moment in silence. Christ our Hope, Illuminate our hearts with your grace. Enlarge our vision so that we recognize our kinship with all of the people of the world. Help us to give to others in ways that meet their deepest needs. We await your coming with gratitude. Amen.
WEEK 3: Light three candles and sit for a moment in silence. Christ our Joy, Brighten our homes with your presence. Clarify our vision so that we might see you in the people we cherish. Make every holiday activity an opportunity to spread your light and love. We await your coming with delight. Amen
WEEK 4: Light four candles and sit for a moment in silence. Christ our Peace, Glow brightly in each moment. Enlighten our vision so that we see beyond the trappings of the holidays. Relieve us, if just for a moment, of our worries and stress. We await your coming with serenity.
Amen.
Anne Atkin, Principal
TEENS in grades 9-12 –
There are a limited number of seats available to join the youth in the Diocese in the March for Life – January 23 – 25, 2020. We will be leaving Early Thursday, January 23, 2020 and arrive Back Early Morning Hours Saturday, January 25, 2020. Mrs. Loar is chaperoning this pilgrimage and it is a wonderful way to show your support for ALL life. For more info, please call Jen ASAP 517-673-1185 to reserve your spot on this trip.
December 6,7,8 ~ Community Cantata
We are in need of fingers foods and snacks for the Community Cantata on December 6,7,8. We also need 3-4 people to help with set up, clean up and kitchen duty. Please call Linda Borck at 448-8776 if you are able to help!
Sunday, December 8 ~ Baby Shower for Jesus during Religious Ed classes
The Religious Ed students will be participating in a baby shower for the less fortunate mothers of Hillsdale and Lenawee Counties. The shower will be on Sunday, December 8 during their class time. We will also have boxes at both entrances of the Church for the parishioners to participate in this worthy project. Please bring an unwrapped baby gift.
Wednesday, December 11 ~ Bible Study
Thursday, December 12 ~ Advent Night of Reflection, 6pm at St. Mary on the Lake
Saturday, December 14, 2019 ~ Sacred Heart School Christmas Program, 3:00 pm in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall
Wednesday, December 18 ~ Advent Penance Service 7:00pm at Sacred Heart
Vicariate Advent Penance Services
St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh ~ Sunday, December 8th at 7:00pm
Light of Christ, Blissfield ~ Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30pm
St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn ~ Wednesday, December 11th at 7:00pm
Over the past three months, our Confirmation students have been working hard preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in May. As you may remember, our two parishes joined together again this year with a combined class of young adults to learn about their Catholic faith and how the Holy Spirit works within them to fulfill the plan God has for their lives.
This year’s class has 14 students: 10 from Sacred Heart and 4 from St Mary on the Lake. Back on October 19, they attended a one-day retreat at the Judson Collins Retreat Center in the Irish Hills. The Confirmation classes from St. Joseph Shrine, Holy Family (Adrian), and Light of Christ parishes also joined in. Fr. Todd and I spent the day with the group, prayed Mass with them, and finished the evening with Eucharistic Adoration. I am always so impressed by how much the kids enjoy these retreats every year, especially spending quiet time with the Lord during Adoration.
Jen Loar, a catechist from St. Mary on the Lake, has graciously volunteered to lead our combined program this year. The following is an update from Jen on what the class has been doing…..The Confirmation students have been busy with their service and mercy work! We had lots of fun helping at the Sacred Heart Gala and bowling and social time afterwards was really good time together. We also spent a few hours at the Catherine Cobb Shelter organizing boxes and PILES of donations. The kids worked SO hard and we all wished we could have done more, but they really appreciated our many hands of mercy!
Keep these students in your prayers as they discern their Confirmation Sponsor. If you are asked, please keep your heart open to saying YES! It means they look up to you as a person of faith in their lives. They are also choosing a Patron Saint name.
On Sunday, December 15, we will Christmas Carol to a few of our parish shut-ins after we help prepare cookies for the Kiwanis food baskets. If your family would like to join in the caroling as well, please meet us at St. Mary on the Lake at 5 p.m. I am also in need of a few helpers to get some hot cocoa and food ready for us when we return at approx. 6 p.m.
Please contact me if you would like to help in this night of caroling around the lakes! God bless you for your prayers and support of our youth! Jen Loar – 517-673-1185 or email me: jenloar@yahoo.com.
Thank you, Jen, for all that you are doing to serve our parishes. Please keep our young adults in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please also consider joining us to celebrate their Confirmation Mass with Bishop Boyea on the evening of May 28th in St. Dominic Chapel at Siena Heights University. Thank you!
Deacon John
