Mission Makeover: This coming week (July 11 –15) is Mission Makeover. About sixty of our youth will be serving in various capacities in Genesee County. A small group will also volunteer with some projects at our parish too. Both Fr. Gary and I might get our work clothes on and get our hands dirty too! Additionally, seven members of our youth group will do some mission work in Cincinnati. Let’s keep all the youth in our prayers. Thank you to all the volunteers who give of their time to make the week possible. On another note, I am very thankful to our custodial staff (Bobbi Leroy, Kathaleen Kammer and Byron Rhode) who are keeping very busy getting our school ready for the fall.
Terrorism: There certainly has been an increase in the number of terrorist attacks in the world from Orlando, Iraq, Turkey, Bangdalesh and beyond. Is it going to stop anytime soon? Obviously, the chances of negotiating with terrorists aren’t good since they don’t have any interest in that. And though military means might slow some vicious acts down, it seems like there is no end in sight to the threat and means of terrorism. Personally I am praying for the Blessed Mother’s intervention. There are many examples of our Blessed Mother’s intercession—especially at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571—but my favorite is when she appeared at Guadalupe, Mexico, in 1531. At that time, the people of that culture were sacrificing babies and children to the “gods.” Priests tried to convert the people with little success. But after Mary appeared to Juan Diego at Guadalupe, something like eight million people converted to the Catholic faith within a ten year period. I am praying for something similar!
Evangelion: This Tuesday, July 12, I will be speaking to the members of our young adult group, Evangelion, about a “current topic.” Still praying about what to talk about, but I might speak on terrorism or the upcoming election.
Rome: So sad to hear about another American college student who died in Rome recently. This particular person was a University of Wisconsin freshman who died on his first day in Rome after going out with his friends in the evening (there really isn’t an age limit for drinking in Rome) and walking home alone. This reminded me of another situation that I was personally involved with. A young man named Andrew from the University of Iowa, on his first day in Rome, went out with his friends to a bar. While walking alone at night, he somehow fell thirty plus yards onto the cement near the Tiber River. When I met his parents at a hospital in Rome to anoint him, they could barely recognize him. He lived in a coma state for a couple months before dying. Rome is absolutely beautiful and really quite safe—unless one drinks too much and walks alone after midnight. I only share this story in case there are college students who will study abroad in Rome.
Brother priests: This week could be called “getting together with priests” week. This Sunday I will be going to Lansing in the afternoon for a couple of hours to get together with my priestly fraternity (six of us). And then this Friday evening, July 15, I will be traveling to Detroit to get together with my classmates from Detroit whom I was ordained with in 1999. It’s always great to get together for friendship and support.
Running Club: Fr. Gary and I have been participating in the Holy Family School running club. This group meets every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. during the summer. Getting ready for the Crim (although I think Fr. Gary is already ready). Please contact the school office if you are interested in joining us.
School Auction Dinner: At our school auction one of the donations was dinner at our rectory. So this Saturday, July 16, Fr. Gary and I will be hosting the first of two dinners. We both look forward to it, but we are still not sure about the food since neither of us is good at cooking. That’s one thing they don’t teach us in the seminary!
Daily Mass: It’s nice to see so many parishioners attend daily Mass during the week. We have daily Mass at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. What a great blessing to be able to receive Jesus and His love for us through His Sacramental Presence. We also have confessions Monday through Friday at 5 p.m.
Great Book: Recently finished “Life’s Greatest Lesson: What I’ve Learned from the Happiest People I Know.” It’s a quick and easy read and highly recommended.
Have a blessed week, and I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather. Please be assured of my prayers and love.
Msgr. Jerry
Saint Quote of the Week: “I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus…If I should become sick and unable to work, then I shall be like the Lord on the cross. He will have mercy on me and help me, I am sure.”
— Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, whose feast day is July 14.