Year of Prayer

Father,

You invite each of us to share in the life and ministry of your Son, Jesus. Send your Holy Spirit to form our parish as a community of missionary disciples. Teach us how to hear Jesus, to love Jesus, and to share your gift of salvation with everyone we meet.

Through the witness and intercession of Mary, guide me to deepen my commitment as a disciple of Jesus. Lead our parish to grow as an intentional community, committed to go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. We ask these blessings in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Dear Sacred Heart Family,

I had my meeting in Lansing this past Tuesday for new parish ministers.  It was a quick overview of all that goes into parish ministry.  It made me especially grateful for our great staff and our many volunteers we have that help our parishes run so well!

As a follow-up to our latest Assembly Bishop Boyea has announced a year of prayer for us as a Diocese to implore God’s guidance for forming missionary disciples in our parishes.  The Bishop has offered the following suggestions to help us engage in this year of prayer.

 Each Person is asked:

To Pray the Rosary or another devotion to the Blessed Mother once a week as a family or household for the Holy Spirit to guide our parishes in how to form missionary disciples.

Every Parish is asked:

To offer quarterly a prayer service to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide our parishes in how to form missionary disciples.

To offer a prayer experience for the children of the parish in asking for the Holy Spirit to guide our parishes.

To increase opportunities for Confession

Challenges/Suggestions for the Diocese:

Priests: Two hours of Daily prayer in addition to celebrating Mass

Deacons: One hour of Daily Prayer

Laity:

*  Married with Children at Home- 10 minutes of Daily Prayer

*  Married Empty Nesters- 30 minutes of Daily Prayer

*  Married Retired- One hour of Daily Prayer

*  Single- One hour of Daily Prayer

Make a weekly sacrifice (Fasting, almsgiving, service) for the Holy Spirit to guide our parishes in how to form missionary disciples.

Make a Holy Hour each week praying for the Holy Spirit to guide our parishes in how to form missionary disciples.

Make a pilgrimage to a holy shrine or Eucharistic Chapel to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide our parishes in how to form missionary disciples.

Over the course of this year we will work on implementing what we can of these suggestions on a parish level.  On the individual level we are each challenged to incorporate prayer more deeply into our daily lives.  This will not only be a tremendous blessing for us as a Diocese as we all pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance but it is also a blessing for us.  Anytime we can develop a greater habit of prayer we will see the difference.  Fr. Tomy, Dcn. John and I are not left out of the challenge!

God Bless,

Fr. Todd

Dear Sacred Heart Family,

This past week I went on a field trip with 5^th and 6^th graders to Notre Dame. It is a beautiful campus with a great connection to our Irish heritage.  Just so you know this is not in conflict with being a Spartan fan.  As Fr. Joe helped us learn, MSU is where Jesus went to school so we know His mother would have cheered them on as well!

This coming Tuesday I will be in Lansing for the day for Orientation of New Parish Ministry Leaders.  When a priest is made a bishop, he goes to what is called “Baby Bishop School”.  I imagine this is the equivalent for pastors- “Baby Pastor School”.

We have a great opportunity in our local area available to us through Catholic Charities and St. Anthony’s in Hillsdale.  Antonia Busch now works at St. Anthony’s and offers counseling and therapy.  Any parishioner from Sacred Heart or St. Mary’s that would like to receive counseling can do so.  This counseling is free of charge.  Catholic Charities may ask if they can bill insurance but no one will be asked to pay.

Antonia graduated this past spring from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  She has clinical experience with treatment for substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.  She also has preparation for dealing with problems that may be unique to Catholics, such as NFP, marriage, divorce, annulments, as well as more general problems with parenting or within families.

Antonia has begun the process to become both a Nationally certified Trauma Therapist and a Nationally Certified Play therapist for children and adolescents.  Given those trainings along with generous support from Fr. David and the parishioners at St. Anthony’s they have almost finished creating a Play Therapy Room in Hillsdale so that children can find healing from traumatic experiences.

Antonia is available in Hillsdale on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  On Wednesdays she is in Adrian.  You can contact Catholic Charities’ Adrian office at 517-263-2191.

God Bless,

Fr. Todd

Priest Convocation

The week of October 1st, Fr Todd and Fr Tomy will be attending the annual priest convocation.  During this time, you are invited to come, pray and spend time before the Blessed Sacrament.

Monday, Oct 1 ~ Daily Mass at 8am

Tuesday, Oct 2 ~ Exposition at 4:45pm, Benediction and Repose at 6pm

Wednesday, Oct 3 ~ Exposition at 8 am, Benediction and Repose at 9am

Thursday, Oct 4 ~ Exposition at 8 am, Benediction and Repose at 9am

Friday, Oct 5 ~ Children’s Mass at 9:00am

Dear Sacred Heart Family

We had a very blessed day at the Diocesan Assembly last weekend.  It was great to see so many parishioners there.  I heard that many had the occasion to meet my twin brother as well!  All of the talks were recorded and will be made available on the Diocesan website.  I strongly encourage you to listen to them when you have the chance.

This week Fr. Tomy and I will be gone for our annual priest Convocation.  It is the one week of the year when all of the priests of the Diocese gather together with Bishop Boyea for time together.

One evening we will take time to celebrate important anniversaries of ordination- 25, 40, and 50 years.  Another day we celebrate a Mass for all of the deceased priests and deacons who have served in Diocese of Lansing since its founding in 1937.  One of the most profound moments of that Mass is when all of their names are read aloud.  It is powerful to pray for all those who have served before us and to pray that I might be able to serve as faithfully and with the same perseverance and dedication.

Each year we have a speaker offer a series of talks on one aspect of faith or ministry.  This year we will be discussing strategic planning for the coming years in the Diocese.

This coming week we will only have Mass on Monday and Friday at Sacred Heart.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there will be Eucharistic Adoration offered during the usual Mass time if you would like to come and pray during that time.  Please keep all of us in your prayer this week.

Regarding the new floor layout, I have heard from a few different people, questions and concerns about the center aisle width in the Church.  An important part of the restoration was a redesign of the pew layout to accommodate wheel chairs and walkers.  That included making the side aisles wider, which simultaneously reduced the width of then center aisle.  Now that we’ve had two funerals in the church, we have discovered the pall bearers are no longer able to walk alongside the casket as it is brought down the center aisle, as has been our tradition.

I came at the tail end of the planning for this project, but I know Fr. Joe, the flooring committee, Diocesan Liturgical Review Committee and the Historical Architect worked hard on this plan to make our parish accessible for everyone.  Every change, even a good change like making Sacred Heart handicap accessible, has consequences.  I think this was an unforeseen one.

I have been asked why we can’t move the pews back to where they were.  There are two reasons.  The first and most important is that we cannot sacrifice handicap accessibility.  The second is that when the pews where fastened down every place a screw was put in a hole was burned into the carpet so the screw wouldn’t unravel the new carpet.  If they were moved we would see every hole.

I know this has been a beautiful tradition we have had here at Sacred Heart.  To be a pallbearer for a loved one is an honor that I don’t want anyone to lose in all of this.  We will be talking about alternate ways for the pall bearers to process into the Church with the casket so that their role is still acknowledged.

God Bless,

Fr. Todd

Dear Sacred Heart Family,

Fr. Tomy and I went out fishing last Saturday with some parishioners.  I have to be honest and say that Fr. Tomy out fished me.  It made me feel better that he also out fished everyone else on the boat!

There have been some questions about the placement of the statues at Sacred Heart.  There have been a few different iterations so I had to make the call on who goes where when we moved everything back upstairs from the basement.  We have Mary and Joseph on their own respective side altars in the Sanctuary with the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the side shrine.  I wanted the Sacred Heart statue in the Votive Candle area for two reasons.  Firstly, the Sacred Heart is front and center in the middle window in the Sanctuary.  Secondly, with the Sacred Heart being our Patron I wanted him to be in the side shrine so people can stop and pray and, if they want, light a candle for a particular intention.

This past week we had the parking lot resealed at St. Mary’s, much like it was done at Sacred Heart.  It is part of the regular maintenance required to keep a parking lot in good shape.  That is not a bad analogy for our souls- we also require regular maintenance to keep us healthy and in good working order.  So, I want to mention briefly some good Catholic Maintenance that should be a consistent part of our lives.

Daily Prayer time– this should be a measurable time that we plan into our day everyday no matter what. Usually we don’t have an issue praying to much so I always encourage people to find their minimum.  What is the minimum amount of time I am called to give to Jesus each day?  Once we know that we can plan it in and also hold ourselves accountable to it.

Reading the Bible– This can easily be a part of our regular daily prayer time.  But in some way scripture should be a part of our lives.  When is the last time the bible at home as been cracked?  Pope Francis once asked “Do you read the Bible as often as you check your phone?”  The only caveat I would put on that is if you have a Bible App on your phone- which is something I would highly recommend!

Confession– This is a great sacrament that cleans us up.  For healing things need to be named, claimed, and then tamed by God’s grace. Confessions are available at Sacred Heart Tuesday’s 4:45-5:45pm and Saturday’s from 3:45-4:15pm.  At St. Mary’s they are available Thursday’s and Sunday’s from 8:30am-9:15am.  Never be afraid of not knowing the right words- either Fr. Tomy and I are happy to walk through this sacrament with you.  The whole point is to give Jesus our hearts and whatever is in them for His healing.

Acts of service– We heard last weekend the reading from James where he tells us faith with out works is dead.  It is the that any claim to faith that doesn’t reach outside of ourselves isn’t real.  One way to measure that is acts of love for the people around us.  Is there someone I keep an eye on and watch out for?  We are our brother’s keeper.  Look for someone to help and if there is someone you haven’t seen in a while consider reaching out.

God Bless!

Fr. Todd

Dear Sacred Heart Families,

One of the hard realities of life is suffering.  Suffering often can feel like being abandoned and we can ask God where He is, why did He allow this or that to happen.  Jesus didn’t promise that he would remove all suffering and hurt but He did promise that no matter what happened He would be with us.  It is part of our life of Faith to continue walking and trusting in times of trial and hardship.  Usually this is much easier said than done.  To that end I am grateful for the feast we celebrated on September 15^th, Our Lady of Sorrows.  Mary experienced great suffering and still remained with the Lord throughout it. She can help show us the way and we can lean on her intercession for us.

I have included a brief explanation and reflection on this feast day (https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-feast-of-our-lady-of-sorrows.html) .

The title, Our Lady of Sorrows, given to our Blessed Mother focuses on her intense suffering and grief during the passion and death of our Lord. Traditionally, this suffering was not limited to the passion and death event; rather, it comprised the seven dolors or seven sorrows of Mary, which were foretold by the Priest Simeon who proclaimed to Mary, This child [Jesus] is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare (Luke 2:34-35). These seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother included the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt; the loss and finding of the child Jesus in the Temple; Mary’s meeting of Jesus on His way to Calvary; Mary’s standing at the foot of the cross when our Lord was crucified; her holding of Jesus when He was taken down from the cross; and then our Lord’s burial. In all, the prophesy of Simeon that a sword would pierce our Blessed Mother’s heart was fulfilled in these events. For this reason, Mary is sometimes depicted with her heart exposed and with seven swords piercing it. More importantly, each new suffering was received with the courage, love, and trust that echoed her fiat, let it be done unto me according to Thy word, first uttered at the Annunciation.  …

Focusing on the compassion of our Blessed Mother, our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, reminded the faithful, Mary Most Holy goes on being the loving consoler of those touched by the many physical and moral sorrows which afflict and torment humanity. She knows our sorrows and our pains, because she too suffered, from Bethlehem to Calvary. ‘And thy soul too a sword shall pierce.’ Mary is our Spiritual Mother, and the mother always understands her children and consoles them in their troubles. Then, she has that specific mission to love us, received from Jesus on the Cross, to love us only and always, so as to save us! Mary consoles us above all by pointing out the Crucified One and Paradise to us! (1980).

Therefore, as we honor our Blessed Mother, our Lady of Sorrows, we honor her as the faithful disciple and exemplar of faith. Let us pray as we do in the opening prayer of the Mass for this feast day: Father, as your Son was raised on the cross, His Mother Mary stood by Him, sharing His sufferings. May your Church be united with Christ in His suffering and death and so come to share in His rising to new life. Looking to the example of Mary, may we too unite our sufferings to our Lord, facing them with courage, love, and trust.

God Bless!

Fr. Todd

Dear Sacred Heart Family,

I hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day weekend.  I was able to go home and hang out with family – including my twin brother.  We celebrated by laboring – our project was putting tin on one of the old barns.

Thank you again for your generosity in supporting the Church renovation.  As you know several things fell beneath the budget line of what was possible.  I am very happy to say that through the very generous gift of several families (who want to remain anonymous) we are able to move forward on redoing the entrance to the Church Hall.  We will be able to install an automatic door and redo the floor.  In conjunction with the changes to our pew arrangements that was a part of our Church restoration this will make Sacred Heart fully handicap accessible.  We anticipate that this project will move quickly and can be completed this fall.  An additional gift was given to update the phone system at Sacred Heart.  Currently the three buildings – Church, Rectory, and School are not connected in a cohesive way.  This will tie all three together and also get wi-fi in the church basement to make that space more user friendly.  It is humbling to receive gifts like this- thank you for your care for this parish and each other.

As we enter into the school year one of the things that pick up is athletics.  It is an image used throughout scripture to describe our spiritual life.  Training for any sport requires consistent work, discipline, the humility to be able to be coached so we can grow, teamwork and time management to name a few. These are the attributes necessary for other relationships and should describe our walk with the Lord.  Here are a few instances where scripture uses athletics to call us on in our faith.

Psalm 119:32: I will run the way of your commandments, for you will broaden my heart.

1st Corinthians 9: 24; 27:  Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize?  Run so as to win. …..No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

2^nd Timothy 4:7: I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2a:  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

Philippians 3:13-14: Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

I want to thank John Zuelke and the many volunteers who helped make St. Mary’s Fish Fry such a great success.  We raised $4201.  Thank you to everyone from both parishes that came.  I was very happy to do my pastoral duty and taste test the fish numerous times throughout the evening!

Let us all compete well in the arena of faith!

God Bles,

Fr. Todd

Dear Sacred Heart Family,

What a blessing to be back in the newly renovated and restored church and sanctuary at Sacred Heart. Thank you again for your generosity in supporting the project through Witness to Hope and for the many, many volunteers who have given of their time to help it go so smoothly.

At St. Mary’s this is the official end of the summer season and a time when we say goodbye to our summer parishioners.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support and know of ours for you.  I have enjoyed getting to know you in my short time this past summer and I look forward to you return next year.  Thank you to our faithful fish fry crew- another delicious success.

The school year is off to a good start – it is great seeing the school full again.  For many of us the start of the academic year is a good time to take an intentional step to deepen our walk with the Lord.  That is the theme I started last week that I would like to continue.

Another great opportunity we have here at Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s is the biweekly Bible Study that has been going on for the last 5-6 years.  I will plan meeting for roughly an hour.  Previously Fr. Joe alternated the bible study with St. Mary’s – he was at one parish one week and at the other the next week.  I am going to sync them up so I will be at both parishes the same week.  Sacred Heart’s Bible Study meets on Wednesday’s at 6pm in the Parish Hall.  St. Mary’s meets on Thursday mornings at 10am.  Both will be covering the same chapter so if it works to go to one or the other parish, we will be covering the same material.

What a blessing these times are.  Scripture is transformed when we realize it is not just recounting a story but it is my story.  I have heard it said that the stories in the Bible never change – only the faces do.  We see ourselves in them and we meet Jesus reaching into our lives just as he reached into the lives of those we read about.  Please consider coming.  You will not only learn more about Jesus but you will come to know Him more fully.  Paul told Timothy that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2nd Timothy 3:16).  In any encounter with the Lord in the Bible we will experience at one time or another each of these elements.  And doing so we grow.

At our last meeting we picked up at the 3^rd Chapter of the Gospel according to John.  At our next meeting this coming week, we will jump into the 4^th Chapter of John.

¨ Wednesday, September 5 at Sacred Heart at 6pm

¨ Thursday, September 6 at St. Mary’s at 10am. 

God Bless!

Fr. Todd