We are currently in urgent need of a volunteer to launder and iron the liturgical linens that are used at Mass for the month of September. This commitment involves washing the lavabo towels, purificators, corporals, palls, and the amice, and then ironing everything except the towels, once a week for one month out of the year. If you're interested in this ministry, please reach out to Marianne Verner in the Front Office (978-2340 or [email protected]). God Bless you as you contemplate this ministry.

Have you ever walked into the church and just smiled from the joy of your surroundings. Arlene Pyke, a member here since 1975, helps to put that smile on your face and God’s. She leads a small group of volunteers in taking care of the plants in our church. She organizes the group to meet to take care of changing the decorations in the parish as the liturgical year changes. One of Arlene’s bucket lists goals when she retired from Education was to become a Certified Master Gardner. Once retired she started taking classes and became certified in 2012 and our parish is enriched by this skill set. When the church was in the preparation stages for renovation she was on the committee to make banners. Arlene graduated from Western Michigan University with a Master’s degree in Speech & Language Therapy. Using her teaching experience here at the church, she taught religious education and was on the religious education committee in the ’70s and ’80s. Arlene is a mother of two sons and has two grandsons. At times you will see them in the church helping her do a joy job. Some of the other jobs she has volunteered for over the years are working in the Mary Garden, Recipes for Change, Marketplace, and sewing altar cloths, banners, and flags. If you see Arlene in the church, tell her "hi", give her a pat on the back, or better yet say a prayer that God continues to keep giving her the desire to help our beautiful church and the health to keep doing it. If you would like to hear more on the Arts and Environment ministry please call our office (327-5165 ) or email us ([email protected]) and we will connect you with Arlene. Thank you, Arlene, for your selfless dedication to our parish, and to keeping our church beautiful!

You’ve heard us ask before, but we still need parishioners willing to Usher on a regular schedule or step in on an occasional basis. You can volunteer as much or as little as you want. Please contact Alana at [email protected] for more information. Thank you for helping us with this important Ministry!

This Sunday, we celebrate the Assumption into heaven of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel reading, we hear that Mary journeyed to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also with child. We hear that Elizabeth’s infant, John the Baptist, “leaped in her womb” upon hearing Mary’s greeting. This foreshadows how John the prophet will recognize Jesus as the Messiah and direct others to Him. In the first reading today from Revelation, we hear that “God’s temple was opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen in the temple.” In the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant bore the presence of God. In today’s New Testament reading from Luke’s Gospel, there are many symbolic references helping us understand that Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant. She has become God’s dwelling place here on earth bearing the Lord Jesus. Ponder these things in your heart as Mary did. When she said “yes” to God and accepted her role as the Mother of God, she becomes an ideal role model for sustaining our trust and faith in God today.

Have you ever wondered what you're supposed to "do" during Adoration? This clip from Busted Halo talks about how to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Did you know tabernacle comes from Latin and Hebrew roots meaning “abode” or “tent?” The Jewish people did not have a permanent temple until c.957 BC, so the Ark of the Covenant was carried and temporarily placed in a Tent of Meeting. In Catholic Churches, the tabernacle is the literal dwelling place for the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Christ. The tabernacle has two main purposes: to house the Eucharist for adoration or later use outside of Mass and to protect and prevent profanation.

Did you know that a Sacristan is an important office that has existed for most of the history of the Church?  At cathedrals and collegiate churches (no association with educational institutions!), a sacristan must be part of the clergy, and normally a Sacristan is desired to be clergy by the Church.  Since the number of clergy is limited at many parishes, most Sacristans are laypersons. A Sacristan’s duty in preparation for the liturgy, which includes tasks such as: laying out vestments, lighting candles, setting out liturgical vessels, arranging books needed for the celebration and marking pages, and even maintaining a sacred silence in the sacristy prior to Mass.  A good Sacristan is well versed in liturgical norms, books, and the liturgical calendar to ensure great attention is given to preparation for the liturgy.  A Sacristan fulfills an important role in the liturgy, and according to the Ceremonial of Bishops (No.38), this individual should “make the church a visible sign of love and reverence toward God.” As we continue to welcome everyone back to in-person Masses, we need more Sacristans to help us with all Masses. We are so appreciative of all of the Sacristans who have continued to serve the parish week after week during these challenging times! We literally couldn't do it without you! If you are able to help on a weekend or two a month, please contact our Front Office at [email protected] or call 327-5165. Thank you for considering helping us!

As we continue to welcome everyone back to in-person Masses, we still need more Ushers and Sacristans to help us with Masses! If you are able to help on a weekend or two a month, please contact our Front Office at [email protected] or call 327-5165. Training is provided. Thank you for your consideration!

As we continue to welcome everyone back to in-person Masses and our numbers increase, we need more Ushers, Sacristans, and Lectors to help us with our weekend Masses. Sometimes our Sacristans are also serving as the Lector for the same Mass; sometimes, our priests are filling in as Sacristan, helping to greet and seat our parishioners and visitors as they arrive for Mass, and then distributing Communion at the same Mass; And often, our priests assist our Ushers prior to the Masses at which they also preside. Several very reliable volunteers have been serving as Sacristans, Lectors, and Ushers nearly every week for the last year, and we are so grateful for all that they do. But they need your help! With more volunteers, we would be able to rotate responsibilities more evenly and give all of our current volunteers some much-needed relief. Training is provided for all positions. If you are able to help out in any of the above ministries one or two weekends a month or even less frequently, please contact our Front Office at [email protected] or call 327-5165. Thank you for considering these important ministries!

We are currently in need of several volunteers to launder and iron the liturgical linens that are used at Mass. Volunteers commit to washing the lavabo towels, purificators, corporals, palls, and the amice, and then ironing everything except the towels, once a week for one month out of the year. We especially need volunteers for the months of April, June, and August. If you're interested in this ministry, please reach out to Marianne Verner (978-2340 or [email protected]). God Bless you as you contemplate this ministry.

“When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, the readings from the Word of God are to be listened to reverently by everyone, for they are an element of the greatest importance in the Liturgy. Although in the readings from Sacred Scripture the Word of God is addressed to all people of whatever era and is understandable to them, a fuller understanding and a greater efficaciousness of the word is nevertheless fostered by a living commentary on the word, that is, by the Homily, as part of the liturgical action. “ (General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], no. 29) Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass and other liturgical services. Lectors prepare by understanding what they will proclaim, by prayer, and by practicing. Please prayerfully consider joining our Lectors Ministry as your schedule allows. If you are interested in becoming a Lector, please contact Alana Murray at [email protected].

As we continue to welcome everyone back to in-person Masses, we need more Ushers and Sacristans to help us with all Masses. We are so appreciative of all of the Sacristans and Ushers who have continued to serve the parish week after week during these challenging times! We literally couldn't do it without you! (Our Priests have had to Usher or serve as Sacristan several Sundays to help out, often times before the Mass they are presiding!) If you are able to help on a weekend or two a month, please contact our Front Office at [email protected] or call 327-5165. Thank you for considering helping us!