Fourth Sunday of Lent

We are constantly hearing about the coronavirus in the news and none of us knows what the future holds. As I write this bulletin article, our Diocese continues to instruct us to use common sense – avoid receiving Communion from the Cup if you do not feel well, if you are uncomfortable in shaking hands during the sign of peace, a slight nod of the head is sufficient. I am sure as time progresses there will be additional communication put out by the Diocese.

We continue our Vicarate Lenten Pilgrimage series. This week we are hosting with a soup supper at 5:30 PM in the Gym with Stations of the Cross at 6:30 PM in Church. Please join us!

Also, this Lenten season our Vicarate is hosting Communal Penance Services with Individual Reconciliation. Services will be held on Sunday, March 29 at 2:30 PM at Cathedral of Mary the Assumption and on Thursday, April 2 at 7 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Third Sunday of Lent

     On this third Sunday of Lent, we hear two questions.  In the reading from Exodus, the question is, “Is the Lord in our midst or not?” Sometimes our fears and worries blind us to God’s presence in our life. 

Then we hear in our gospel, the question, “What are you looking for?” The Samaritan woman is looking for the water of life that Jesus has to offer.  As we ask these questions ourselves, we are encouraged to see the Lord in our midst and bring others to him.    

     We continue our Lenten Pilgrimage as we travel to St. Mary Cathedral for a soup supper in the lower level of the Church at 5:30 PM and join in the Stations of the Cross in the Church at 6:30 PM.  We are nearing the halfway point on our journey.  I hope the chance to visit with and pray with different parishes has enhanced your experience of Lent.

                                                           Peace,

                                                              Fr. Ron

Second Sunday of Lent

Do you find yourself sometimes getting down on the human race – all the problems in our world, the things that some people do? Do you find yourself sometimes getting down on yourself? How have these first couple of weeks of Lent been for you?

Take heart. God’s grace is at work in our world and in you. Each of us has the Lord’s own life within us. Right now, each of us is surrounded by God’s love.

Our parish is starting a prayer line. You can call the Parish Office with your prayer requests and they will be passed on to individuals who will pray for the person or intention. When submitting prayer requests for individual people, we ask that you only mention the person’s first name due to privacy laws.

With our joint bulletin and coordinated daily Mass schedules, we continue to build the linkage of St. John Paul II Parish and Christ the Good Shepherd Parish. Did you know that if you drop your envelope at either parish or at any parish within the Diocese, it will be routed to the proper parish for credit? Contrary to many rumors out there, NEITHER St. John Paul II Parish nor Christ the Good Shepherd Parish is closing.

Again, if anyone has any questions, please reach out to Fr. Ron or me.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus challenges us to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies. These are not our instincts. It is not easy. We get angry, we become upset, and we want to do or say something to express that pain and rage. As we approach the season of Lent, let the example of our Lord inspire us to respond to hurt and conflict with mercy and forgiveness.

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which begins the Season of Lent. Masses with the Distribution of Ashes will be offered at St. John Paul II Parish at Noon and at 7 PM at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish.

Also beginning this week, Christ the Good Shepherd Parish will be having Mass on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM. The Word and Communion Service that has been offered here at St. John Paul II Parish on Thursday morning has been discontinued. We thank Ruth Gomez for leading these services.

We continue to build the linkage between St. John Paul II Parish and Christ the Good Shepherd Parish with our joint bulletin and now our coordinated daily Mass schedules. Please let me reiterate that NEITHER St. John Paul II Parish nor Christ the Good Shepherd Parish is closing.

Again, if anyone has any questions, please reach out to Fr. Ron or me.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

During these days in the middle of winter, when nights are long and sunshine can be scarce, we realize the value of the sun. It can brighten our day and our mood. It gives life, warmth, and light. The light of Christ can do the same. With the light of Christ, we can bring light to the darkness in our world: injustice, violence, conflict, fear, poverty, and countless other shadows. Let us resolve to let the light of Christ shine forth wherever we go and whatever we do.

In order to continue to build our linkage with Christ the Good Shepherd, beginning next weekend we will have a joint bulletin. It will be a way for all of us to see what is going on at each parish and also allow you to hear from both Fr. Ron and I every week. Contrary to rumors out there, the parish is NOT closing. If anyone has any questions regarding this, please let Fr. Ron or I know.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

     Every so often the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord falls on a Sunday.  The feast falls 40 days after the birth of Christ and celebrates the occasion of Mary and Joseph presenting their first born son in the temple in Jerusalem in fulfillment of the Law of Moses.  In the story, we meet Simeon and Anna who bless the child. For some cultures, this marks the end of the Christmas season.  It’s also a traditional day to bless candles.  Because it falls the day before the feast of St. Blaise, the newly blessed candles are often used in the blessing of throats.

    This Sunday is also observed as World Day for Consecrated Life.  Its purpose is to help the entire Church esteem even more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the evangelical counsels (chastity, poverty and obedience).  Many consecrated religious renew their vows this day.  I would suggest we offer a personal prayer of thanks for all the Religious who have formed and shaped our faith life over the years. 

                                                                     Peace,

                                                                       Fr. Ron

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel passage begins the story of the public ministry of Jesus. The Gospel summarizes the whole ministry of Jesus in one sentence: “From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’”.

What is this “kingdom of heaven”? It is the ultimate victory over evil – physical evil and moral evil. It is the elimination of all evil from this universe. Evil was all around people then and still is today. Sickness, death, storms that ruined crops surrounded everyone then and still does today. This is the kingdom that Jesus came to take on. What does this mean to all of us?

Through our baptism, Jesus has breathed his Spirit upon us. We are engaged every day to plant the seeds of goodness in our world, and gradually to overcome evil, and to help build the kingdom of God. The key to happiness and a sense of fulfillment, whatever the circumstances of our lives is this: know that we are part of this great enterprise of God and to enjoy being part of it.

As you know, the votive candles were moved from the front of the Church to the Cry Room/Reconciliation Room by the statue of Mary while the nativity scene was displayed. At the last meeting, the Worship Commission decided that the votive candles will not be moved back up front and will remain in the Cry Room/Reconciliation Room by the statue of Mary. If anyone has any questions regarding this, please contact myself or Fr. Ron.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

     We’re back to Ordinary Time in the Church year for a few weeks.  Again I want to thank those who decorated the Church and provided beautiful music for our liturgies during the Christmas season   This Sunday we hear once more from John the Baptist declaring who Jesus is.  You will recognize his words from the ones we use to proclaim the Eucharist, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” That’s the mission of Jesus.  Our mission is to do God’s work as we hear in our Responsorial Psalm, “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.”

                                                                                           Peace,

                                                                                              Fr. Ron

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Today as a Church, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Over the last month, we have heard the news of God’s most wonderful gift revealed to a larger and larger audience. First Mary was told of the role she was asked to play as the mother of God. When Joseph was planning to divorce her, he was told of how Mary came to be pregnant. When the child was born, the angels proclaimed the good news to the shepherds. Last week we heard of the epiphany the magi experienced. Now, as Jesus is baptized, God speaks from the heavens to reveal the Messiah as the Son of God. Are we open to seeing the Holy Spirit acting through unexpected people or guiding us in unexpected ways?

With early bulletin deadlines the last couple weeks, I was unable to thank everyone who made our Christmas liturgies so beautiful. From Jim Szynwelski and his crew in decorating the Church to Patrick Portner and the choir, everything was beautiful.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

The Epiphany of the Lord

     On this feast of Epiphany, we celebrate God bringing the Gentiles to meet the newborn king. Found not in a palace, but in humble lodgings, Jesus reveals something of God’s nature, humility.  This story reveals God’s desire to be known and worshipped by all.

                                      Peace,

                                          Fr. Ron

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Today as a Church, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. Sometimes we can forget that the Holy Family is just like any other family. They were real people, who had to negotiate their daily ups-and-downs, just like every other family. They had their problems, struggles, and challenges, just like every family on earth. But they stayed true to each other, because there was so much love, acceptance, and respect between them, and they trusted in God. The Holy Family can be much closer to us than we realize. Let each of us pray for their help in our own family life.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Fourth Sunday of Advent

     On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, our gospel sets the stage for the celebration of the birth of Christ.  The primary focus is on the child to be born and his true origin.  Twice we are told that Mary’s son has been conceived “through the Holy Spirit”.  As one commentator put it, “God is continually active in the world. We simply may not be aware of his presence.” And so a question for us, “How open are we to God’s presence in our lives?”

     As this is the last bulletin before Christmas, on behalf of Fr. Matt, our entire parish staff, and myself, I want to extend God’s blessings on you and your families at Christmas.  It is an honor to serve you. Merry Christmas!

                             Peace,

                               Fr. Ron

Third Sunday of Advent

John the Baptist did what God wanted him to do – he prepared the way for Jesus. But John never lived to see the results.

God’s plans for this world are greater than our minds can grasp. God’s dream is a big dream and it includes all of creation. There will come a time when there is peace, wholeness, truth and love. But I doubt any of us will live to see it. Do we throw our hands up in the air and give up? Do we just try to get what we can out of life what we can? Are we willing to invest ourselves in God’s work that we will never live to see finished? Are we willing to bring a tiny bit more peace, more love, more truth to this world?

This Advent season calls each of us to reflect on our own lives and times that we may have failed in following the Lord. As a reminder, the sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday at 11 AM here at Church. This upcoming week, the Saginaw area Catholic parishes will also come together and have communal penance services with individual reconciliation:

• Sunday, December 15 at 2:30 PM at St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua Church

• Tuesday, December 17 at 7 PM at Christ the Good Shepherd, St. Helen Church

• Thursday, December 19 at 7 PM at Holy Spirit in Shields

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Second Sunday of Advent

     On this second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist takes center stage as he calls people to “Repent”.   It will be the same message for Jesus as he begins his public ministry. There are similarities and stark differences between the two as we will see.  As we journey through Advent, we are invited to become more Christ-like and selfless.  St. John the Baptist says it best, “He must increase, I must decrease.”  Advent has also been described as a period of “devout and expectant delight”.  While we prepare for the Lord, it’s not a penitential time like Lent.  It’s more of a time for “nesting”, as the Church anticipates the birth of the Lord. 

     The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is normally celebrated on December 8th, but this year the feast has been transferred to Monday, December 9th.  While the feast is transferred, the obligation to attend mass is not.  With that said, we will offer a mass on the evening of December 9th at 7:00 PM at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish for those who wish to celebrate this feast of Mary. 

                                                         Peace,

                                                           Fr. Ron

First Sunday of Advent

Happy New Year! Today we start a new liturgical year, with the songs of Isaiah singing the praise of Advent. We begin this season of Advent with a spirit of expectation. We look forward not only to the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem but also for his second coming at the end of time.

Sometimes we can become so engrossed with preparations for Christmas – shopping, holiday get togethers, etc. that we forget the true reason for the season. As we enter the season of Advent, let us all reawaken with a new hope and a longing for a better future. A future of redemption for everyone.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

     Today (Tomorrow) if you are able to join us, I would encourage you to attend the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service being held at Christ the Good Shepherd at 3:30 p.m..    It’s a chance to experience and show respect for 8 different ways that religious faith is expressed in the Saginaw community.  There will be a couple songs done by the Saginaw Choral Society as well.  Please look for more details in the bulletin.

     This Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. we will have our Thanksgiving Mass.  You’re asked to bring a canned good item for the Food Pantry.  

     As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families this Thursday, we want to give thanks for the many blessings God has sent our way.  I feel blessed in becoming your pastor.   You have accepted Fr. Matt and I with open arms and hearts.  That means a lot.  We are doing our best to make our linked parishes work well together.  From my perspective, the two parishes have a lot in common and also have a generous spirit in service to the poor through the food pantries you support.  Thank you for showing how Christ works in you and through you.  May God bless you!

                                                            Peace,

                                                              Fr. Ron

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

As we come to the end of the liturgical year, these end-times readings invite us to sit and reflect on how we live our lives.

How can we cultivate a disposition from which we can meet God’s justice and feel healed rather than destroyed? We need to align our identity with God’s identity with God’s idea of justice, rather than our own. We need to practice mercy, forgive others, and ourselves. We need to practice love and choose the good of another. We need to practice service, to meet people who awaken our compassion and grow in kinship with them. As our own ability to empathize and feel compassion towards others grows, we will begin to see people as God does – as precious human beings.

This Saturday through the waters of baptism, we welcome Dalton James Beach to our faith community. Welcome Dalton!

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

     We have a couple of important events coming up this week.  First of all, we have a Mass of Remembrance Tuesday at 6:30 p.m..  We gather to remember those who have died in the last year and were buried from the parish.  May they enjoy eternal peace and may God’s grace be with those who are grieving their loss.  Come join us.

     Then next Saturday, there will be a Harvest Dinner after the 4:00 p.m. Mass.  It promises to be a good meal and a way to celebrate our community’s blessings.  A lot of good food will be brought to the table. You won’t want to miss it.

     Another event being held at the end of the month that you might be interested in is the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service being held Sunday, November 24th at 3:30 p.m. at Christ the Good Shepherd.  This is our third year of gathering the religious faiths of at least nine different religions being practiced in the Saginaw area, Christianity being one of the nine.  The last two years have seen overflow crowds of 500 to 600 people coming together to celebrate the rich diversity of faith in the area.  I always walk away feeling blessed and proud to be a part of something so positive in our community.  In this day and age where there are increased tensions between religions and a lot of misunderstanding, this event is an expression of hope, love and respect for those who worship differently than ourselves.  You’ll experience it yourself if you come.  

                                                       Peace,

                                                            Fr. Ron

P.S. I know some time has passed, but I did want to say how impressed I was with the Holiday Bazaar that was held on our campus.  A lot of good items were for sale that day and there was a good lunch as well.  The bonus was that it raised money for the parish too.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Zacchaeus went to great lengths to look for some contact with Jesus. He wanted to see what kind of man Jesus was. For this, he was prepared, quite literally, to go out on a limb, the leafy branch of a sycamore tree. He went to extravagant lengths to see Jesus, to really encounter him. In the process he found that the one he was searching for was also searching for him.

As in the case of Zacchaeus, our searching for God is preceded by God’s search for us. Whenever we seek the presence of Jesus, he is already there, willing to share and dine with us.

Isn’t it hard to believe that November is already here? We have many events coming up here at the parish such as the Mass of Remembrance, the Harvest Dinner, and the Thanksgiving Mass. Please be sure to check elsewhere in the bulletin for more details.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Matt

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

     This coming Tuesday, mass will be a half hour earlier at 6:00 p.m. because we are hosting the Youth Ministers of the Diocese for a conference that night and they wanted to begin the conference with Mass.  The conference is being given by the Diocesan Faith Formation team.  We are glad to be able to accommodate and serve them.

     This month has gone by quickly with a lot of activities such as the Rummage Sale, the Bazaar, the St. Cecelia Sing, Anointing of the Sick and lots of meetings.  It gets a little overwhelming at times, but that’s the nature of parish life this time of the year.

     In the Gospel of Luke today, we hear the parable about the prayers of the proud Pharisee and the humble tax collector.  As he often does, Jesus reverses the norms of the day and says, “…whoever exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Sometimes we can be so full of ourselves and tell others how great we are in comparison to others.  That’s not how God sees things.  God sees into the hearts of people and lifts the lowly to high places.

     Have a great week ahead! 

                                                             Peace,

                                                                Fr. Ron