The Calling: This weekend we once again hear Jesus calling his disciples, this time from the Gospel of Mark. Jesus invites fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John to abandon their nets and follow him. Pope Francis commented on this text: “God in his love prepares the way, and he prepares our lives for each of us. He does not make us Christians through spontaneous generation. He prepares our path, he prepares our lives over time. It seems that Simon, Andrew, James and John were definitively chosen, but that does not mean that from that moment on they were definitively faithful. In reality, he said, they made mistakes; they made non-Christian suggestions to the Lord and in fact they denied him. And Peter more than the others. They became frightened and they left, they abandoned the Lord. And yet, when things do not go well, he sets things aright. The Lord knows. When the Lord tells us, with eternal love I have loved you, he is referring to this. Such is the Lord’s eternal love. His love is an art, he goes along making history and preparing the way for each one of us. And this is God’s love.”
Life: This Monday, January 22, hundreds of thousands of people—many of them young people—will attend the Washington D.C. Pro-Life March. Although many of us can’t attend the March for Life, we can pray for the end of abortions and the respect for all human life from the moment of conception to natural death. We will have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 8:30 am – 5:15 pm that day.
The Twins: This Sunday, January 21, I will be leaving for my annual retreat (all priests are required to make at least a five-day retreat each year). I am going with Fr. Gary and Fr. Todd Koenigsknecht. We are going to the Bethany Center in Tampa, Florida. It’s a silent retreat. I am looking forward to the quiet, although it’s always hard to get used to no phones and computers for eight days. I’ll see Fr. Gary and Fr. Todd, but I won’t be able to talk with them. I return on Monday, January 29. Please pray for me—and know of my prayers for you.
Free Throw: Hope to see many young people ages 9 -14 for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw competition today at 12 pm in the gym.
Winterfest: This Saturday, Jan. 27, Flint Powers Catholic High School is having its annual Winterfest at the high school. It’s a lot of fun and anyone can attend. Please contact the Powers Advancement Office for more information.
A Loss: Last Sunday Fr. Dan received a phone call from a priest friend from Minnesota. He told Fr. Dan that Fr. Bill Baer had died. We were both shocked. He was 60 years old. Fr. Baer was the rector at St. John Vianney Seminary where many of the young priests attended—including Fr. Dan and Fr. Gary. I remember him well from my visits to the seminary as the vocation director for the diocese. He was a remarkable priest and a tremendous leader who inspired the men in so many ways.
Visits: Speaking of the seminary, if you know of any young men discerning the priesthood, there are a couple of seminary visits coming up. If you are in high school and want to visit St. John Vianney College seminary, the visit is Feb. 8 – 10. If you are out of high school, there is a visit for men at Sacred Heart Major Seminary from Feb. 15 -18. Please let either Fr. Dan or me know.
Coming Attractions: Many of you commented on how much you enjoyed the four-part series on the Sunday experience of the Mass. Starting the weekend of February 10-11, we are doing a three-part series on God’s mercy and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Press Conference: So I ran into Coach Beilein after Michigan defeated MSU in basketball. The parishioners that I was with mentioned to him that we prayed for his team. Afterward Coach Beilein mentioned my name in his press conference that we were praying for his team. He also said that this probably won’t make some parishioners happy. Sorry to any MSU fans!
Be assured of my thoughts and prayers,
Msgr. Jerry
A few quotes from St. Francis DeSales, whose feast day is Jan. 24
Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved.
We must never undervalue any person. The workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence. Now God is present everywhere, and every person is His work.
Have patience with all things,
But first of all with yourself.
A quarrel between friends, when made up,
adds a new tie to friendship.