Catholic Schools Week: So happy to celebrate our school during Catholic Schools Week (January 29 – Feb. 3). We are having an open house on Sunday from 11 am – 2 pm in our school. The school enrollment has increased the last two years and we pray that keeps going. During Catholic Schools Week the school has many activities planned. I’m looking forward to the talent show on Friday, Feb. 3. I wonder what Fr. Gary will do for the talent show?
State of the Parish Address: My bulletin article is due by Tuesday mornings, so I can’t report on the January 25 state of the parish address. However, if you want to read or listen to the report, please go online.
Witness to Hope: This past week Fr. Gary and I sent letters to all parishioners who haven’t given to the Witness to Hope Campaign. I want to apologize if you’ve received numerous requests or if you have already given and you still receive mailings. We are hoping to reach the “700 parishioners giving” goal by the end of February. Thanks, as always, for those that have given to the campaign.
Diocesan News: On Monday, Jan. 30, Alan Olson, Director of Property Management for the Diocese of Lansing, will be visiting our parish to answer some questions about our property. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, I have to go back to Lansing for another Assignment Committee meeting. Our first meeting was on Jan. 26. There are usually three or four such meetings until the priests who will be placed in new parishes are assigned.
Please attend: In a couple of weeks (Feb. 13 – 15) Butch Murphy will be here for our Parish Mission. He has spoken all over the world. He is well known for his stories of faith. Hope you can attend and bring someone with you.
Men’s Conference: The diocese is hosting its annual men’s conference on Feb. 25 from 10 am – 5 pm at Our Lady of Fatima Center in Michigan Center (near Jackson). The speaker is Deacon James Keating. I’ve heard him speak many times; he is fantastic! I hope men of the parish will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to attend.
Heading to the Peach State: This Friday afternoon, February 3, I am going to Georgia to visit a priest friend of mine, Fr. Tim McKeown, from the Diocese of Savannah. I met Fr. Tim at the North American College in Rome. We were both on the faculty. Here is the funny thing: we look a lot a like—especially the hair, or lack thereof. People would always confuse us, but he is five inches taller than I am. We used to run a lot together in Rome. My most memorable run with him was when a priest dropped us off and we ran 13 miles back to the College along the Via Appia Antica (the old Appian Way). The Via Appia Antica was engineered in the 5th century B.C. It was the widest and largest road of its time, spanning some 330 miles from Rome to Brindisi in southern Italy. What’s most significant is that it was on this route that Jesus appeared to St. Peter when he wanted to flee Rome when the emperor was persecuting Christians. The road is made of flat paving stone. Flanking both sides of the road are ruins and other monuments of Roman history. The run was difficult but the surroundings were splendid.
Msgr. Jerry
Saint quote of the week:
This Thursday, February 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. It’s one of my favorite feast days. Mary and Joseph present the baby Jesus in the Temple (much like we do to have our babies baptized). When Simeon sees Jesus, he says the following words:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your Word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all peoples…”
I always find these words inspiring. It’s as though he is saying that whatever happens that day, we can be at peace because we have Jesus with us.