Remembering: This Sunday is September 11, one of those rare days in which people remember precisely where they were when the attacks happened that day in 2001. It’s amazing how much our world has changed because of the events of that day! We continue to pray for peace in the world and for the conversion of those who promote terrorism and violence.
In the pew: Speaking of peace, some of you may have noticed the new prayer card in our pews with a short selection of prayers. One of those prayers is a prayer for peace written by Saint John Paul II. Another prayer is the St. Michael prayer. This is a prayer that we say after our weekday Masses. A little history of the St. Michael prayer: After celebrating Mass one day, Pope Leo XIII was meeting with some Cardinals when he collapsed on the floor. After he regained his consciousness, he exclaimed, “Oh, what a horrible picture I have been permitted to see!” He had been shown a vision of evil spirits and their efforts to destroy the Church. But in the midst of the horror the archangel St. Michael appeared and cast Satan and the evil spirits into hell. Soon afterwards Pope Leo XIII composed a prayer to St. Michael, imploring his protection for the Church. The St. Michael prayer was commonly said after Mass before Vatican II. In 1994 Saint John Paul II asked everyone “not to forget (this prayer) and recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of the world.”
Praying/Fasting: Fr. Gary and I have both felt an urging to pray for our country more and more, especially as the election draws near. A priest acquaintance of ours once said, “The only hope for our country is God.” This is obvious, but we can all play a part. One of the things we discussed, based on what some other parish priests are doing, is to fast every Wednesday until dinner for the good of our country. So, we are starting to do that. Please join us if you are able. It doesn’t have to be food either. Fasting can come in the form of such things as electronics, etc.
Catholic Charities and the Beatles: Last week I received a phone call from Msgr. Dick Groshek. He sits on the board of Catholic Charities. He said he had a big favor. Catholic Charities in Flint is celebrating their 75th anniversary and they wanted to produce videos of people lip-syncing songs from each decade of their existence for their anniversary celebration on September 29. So, Msgr. Groshek asked if Fr. Gary and I could be part of the Beatles with two other priests, Fr. Paul Donnelly and Fr. Gordon Riegle, to perform the song Help. First I had to explain to Fr. Gary who the Beatles were. And then we reluctantly agreed to do it (for the cause). We even put on wigs so that we could have “Beatles-type” hair. It was kind of embarrassing and I’m not looking forward to watching the video. During our rehearsal, Fr. Gary mentioned that if anyone comes up to him and said they saw him on the Beatles video, he is going to say, “That wasn’t me – that was my brother Fr. Todd.” We priests got a chuckle out of that. We talked about how wonderful it would be to have a twin brother just in case we do something really embarrassing.
Religious Education: This Monday evening, September 12, we begin our Religious Education classes. We’ll begin with the opening Mass at 5:30 p.m. I am so grateful to Jan Gravel and all the teachers who give so much of their time to instruct our children.
Powers: I have been asked to serve on the Powers Catholic High School Board. Our first meeting is this Wednesday, September 14. I am looking forward to helping in any way possible. We had a preliminary gathering last week to get to know each other. Sean Costello, our Superintendent of Catholic Schools, was present. He shared the news that in our diocese enrollment has increased by more than 800 new students at our Catholic schools, the largest increase in the Midwest. In our school enrollment has increased with 30 plus more students than last year.
Capital Campaign: A little update. We are currently asking people to be prayer leaders for the campaign. We will announce the campaign at all the Masses the weekend of September 24-25.
It’s good to have the school children back again, both in our school and Religious Education courses. May the Lord bless us and protect us. Please be assured of my love and prayers.
Msgr. Jerry
Saint of the week: “Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.” – Saint John Chrysostom, whose feast day is September 13.