Capital Campaign: The Diocese of Lansing is one of nine dioceses in the United States (195 total) that has never done a diocesan-wide capital campaign. Starting later this summer the diocese will begin an extensive capital campaign titled “Witness to Hope.” The campaign will be run by Greater Mission, a fundraising company dedicated to advancing the mission of the Catholic Church and its people. The campaign will support the following areas:
1) Strengthening our parishes
2) Forming our Youth and Families
3) Evangelizing and Living our Faith
4) Caring for our Priests, and
5) Supporting Ongoing Ministry
Our parish-wide goal is 1.86 million dollars, which was our total Sunday collection in 2014. Here is how it will work: if we reach our goal of 1.86 million, we will receive 35 percent of that back. If we reach 120% of our goal, we get back 65 percent of the monies received after the 1.86 million total. Anything above 120% of our goal will come directly back to us as a parish. Here comes the interesting and exciting part: The diocese asked us to be one of the pilot parishes beginning this summer. They alsoasked whether we have any capital improvements that we hope to have completed. Since I have been here, many people have offered suggestions on what we cando to improve our parish Church and property. If we do such capital improvements for our parish, our goal will be much higher. Some things to keep in mind: Parishioners will be able to contribute for up to a five-year period and there will be no Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA) in 2017. Additionally, we are having town hall meetings to explain all of this in greater detail and to receive feedback on May 17 and May 25 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the parish hall. We hope you can join us for one of those evenings. Also, there will be an online survey and in-pew survey the weekend of June 4-5. There will be more information in the weeks to come. Please pray for the success of this campaign. For 70 years Holy Family has been a beacon of our Catholic faith and heritage in Grand Blanc. We hope that we will continue to thrive and grow.
Healing Service: Monday evening, April 25, we welcome Fr. Richard McAlear and his healing ministry. We have received calls from people as far away as Ohio and Indiana who plan on attending. Please remember that the 5:30 p.m. Mass is cancelled that day; we have the healing Mass at 6:30 p.m.
Praying for America: I met with long-time parishioners Joe Dunn and Marje Mercier to discuss a group that has met for the past seven years every Friday at 3 p.m. in the Church to pray for America. It’s one of the many small groups that gather in our church to pray on a regular basis. Please join them.
Garage Sale: I am looking forward to experiencing my first Holy Family garage sale this Friday and Saturday (April 29/30) put on by our 55 and Over group.
First Communion: Next weekend we are having First Holy Communion Masses: Saturday, April 30, at the 5p.m. Mass and Sunday, May 1, at the Noon Mass. I’m so happy for the children and their parents!
Sunday doings: This afternoon, April 24, I will be gathering with my priest fraternity in Fenton. And then this evening I am meeting with the men who are living in the discernment house at St. Michael’s parish in Flint.
Funeral of priest: On Friday, April 22, I attended the funeral of one of our diocesan senior priests, Fr. Keith Ledwidge. He was 93 years old. I got to know Fr. Keith when he lived in the senior housing in DeWitt and I was stationed at the retreat center there. He was a kind, gentle man. Please continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood.
Msgr. Jerry
Saint quote of the week: “O You who are mad about Your creature! True God and true Man, You have left Yourself wholly to us, as food, so that we will not fall through weariness during our pilgrimage in this life, but will be fortified by You, celestial nourishment.”
St. Catherine of Siena