GROW AS A DISCIPLE
Beginning with the original sin of Adam and Eve, humanity has lived in a way that has separated us from God’s perfect love. Despite the many ways we have tried to draw near to God, it is impossible for us to repair this relationship on our own. The ways we turn away from God, therefore, require an outpouring of mercy and forgiveness, which our loving Father is eager to offer. When speaking of the grace that defeated the power of death, St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Romans that “the gift is not like the transgression.” God’s love for us is overflowing, and his desire to be in relationship with us is manifest in his giving his life for our salvation. Christ longs to heal and free us from the hold of sin in our lives, and we can experience this grace when we encounter Christ as the Divine Physician in the sacrament of reconciliation.
GO EVANGELIZE
In witness to the promise of eternal life and joy, we are called to live in a countercultural way, adhering to the words of the Gospel and the Tradition of the Church. We know this is not always easy. Yet, the Lord – through the prophet Jeremiah – reassures us that God is with us, and that he will be our “mighty champion.” In the Gospel passage, Jesus speaks to the Apostles as they prepare to travel and preach the Good News. He warns them they will experience persecution, but he also reminds them that God is abundantly generous in his care for them. God cares for us in the same way as we continue our work of evangelization. He values us as precious children, and he promises that we will not be left alone in whatever challenges we may encounter while proclaiming the truth of his love.
PRAY
It can be difficult to rest in the promise of a love that exceeds our human faults and failings. It may seem impossible to be fully known and yet still exceedingly loved. The gift God offers us of being known, loved, and forgiven demonstrates a level of goodness that far exceeds any wrong we may have done. In your prayer this week, ask God for the grace to trust in this abundance of love that he desires to give to you.
By The Faithful Disciple
Dear Parishioners:
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
The last Sunday Jesus called his apostles to help him to carry out his mission and asked us to pray for more of those who would go and baptize, preach the Word of God and serve in the Catholic Church. Those who carry that mission today are the Pope, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. What is, Diaconate ordination about?
The Second Vatican Council defined the (Permanent) Diaconate as “a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy.” The Permanent Deacon is an ordained member of the Church who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders (as does a Bishop and Priest) and is deemed a cleric. As such, he is not a layman.
The Directory for … Permanent Deacons states, “The Sacrament of Holy Orders marks deacons “with an imprint (‘character’) which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the ‘deacon’ or servant of all.” Then it goes on, “For this level of Holy Orders, Christ calls and the Church asks the bishop to ordain deacons to be consecrated witnesses to service”. In his post-synodal exhortation, “The Church in America, Pope John Paul II makes his own the words of the bishops of that gathering: “We see with joy how deacons ‘sustained by the grace of the Sacrament, in the ministry (diakonia) of the liturgy, of the word and of charity are at the service of the People of God, in communion with the Bishop and his priests.’” Once again, the Directory envisions a three-fold mission, or ministry of the Deacon; 1) assistance at the liturgies 2) proclamation of the Gospel, including preaching when appropriate and 3) the ministry of charity (such as prison ministry, food pantries, pregnancy centers and the like.) The deacon is the ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Baptism and of Holy Communion, particularly of the Chalice of the Precious Blood, he can assist at Holy Matrimony, administer sacramentals, give certain blessings and viaticum to the dying.
It’s my joy and privilege to announce to you that one of our parishioners, Tom Danowski just entered the Discernment to become a Permanent Deacon. Together with his wife Joanna, they have been active parishioners of St. Genevieve – St. Maurice, serving as lectors and eucharistic Ministers.
I am so happy for Tom and Joanna, happy for our parish and ask all of you for your prayers for them. May they in the Light of The Holy Spirit discern if that is what God is calling them to be and do. May Tom one day serve our local Church with strong faith, joyful spirit and with patience love.
St. Stephen pray for them.
Fr. Tom Wilisowski
Dear Parish Family,
As was recently announced by Fr. Tom, I have entered Discernment to become a Permanent Deacon within the Archdiocese of Detroit; additionally, Joanna and I started classes at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. God willing, at the end of Discernment, I will be accepted to the Diaconate Formation Program.
We thank you all for your support, love and enthusiasm as we begin this process and look forward to sharing this journey with our parish family. Most of all, we ask for your prayers so the Holy Spirit may guide our hearts and minds while discerning God’s Will and His call to further serve His Church. With Thanks and Gratitude,
Tom & Joanna Danowski