Current Events!
August 29, 2010
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Life Issues Team: Normally meets the fourth Monday of every month, alternating meeting places between St. James and St. Mary. The September 27 has to be moved to another date due to calendar conflicts. The new meeting date for September (only) will be made known during the announcements made at Mass. They will meet October 25,at 6:45 p.m.
Prayer Vigil for Life! Will be held Saturday, September 11, 2010, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 11441 Hubbard Street, Livonia. Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m., Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron officiating. There will be a “Peaceful Rosary Pilgrimage” led by the Archbishop at 8:30 a.m. At 10:15 a.m. there will be Eucharistic Benediction. Refreshments will be served after benediction. For further information please call 313-530-4539. Please join the Life Issues Team for this important event. “How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love…And we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts…” Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Life Chain: The 21st annual LIFE CHAIN will be held SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., in conjunction with National Life Chain. Participants from Royal Oak will be on Woodward between 11 Mile and 12 Mile, and those in Ferndale will be on Woodward from St. James Church up to 9 Mile Road. Please consider being a part of the life Chain this year. Across the U.S. and in Canada, hundreds of thousands of participants silently stand, in peaceful, prayerful witness to their commitment to love and protect the unborn and their mothers, by holding up signs that state: “Abortion Hurts Women”; “Adoption: The Loving Option”; “Pray to End Abortion”.
Christian Service Commission Members: Reminder…St. James C.S.C. will meet Thursday, September 2, 6:30 p.m., at Lisa’s home. St. Mary C.S.C. will meet September 8, at 7:00 p.m., in St. Mary Parish Office Building, Conference Room (Lower Level).
Parish Nurse Team Meeting: Will be Tuesday, September 7, 7:00 p.m., St. Mary Parish Office Building, Conference Room.
“Blackthorn” Concert Update: Tickets for the concert will be $10.00 per person. The concert will be held at St. James Gym, October 23, 2010. Tickets must be purchased in advance, no tickets will be sold at the doors. Seating is limited so please purchase your tickets as soon as they go on sale!!! Refreshments will be available for a minimal cost. The people that attended last year, from near and far, had a wonderful time. This is a great family event…tell your friends, family, neighbors!!! Tickets will be available for purchase at both St. James and St. Mary Parish Office. Tickets will be available at the beginning of October.
Needle Works Ministry: Will meet (Saturday) September 11 & 25; October 9 & 23; November 6 & 20; December 4 & 18; January 8 & 22; February 5 & 19; March 5 & 19; April 2 & 16; May 7 & 21; June 4 & 18. All gatherings are held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., St. Mary Parish Office Building, Conference Room, Lower Level. Please feel free to join this friendly, lively group. Bring your coffee cup/tea cup, and a snack to share (if you wish), and help others in need, while have a great time being with some of your parish family.
Wish List for Clothes Closet/ Food Pantry: (Located at St. Mary Parish Office Building, Lower Level) Men’s shoes (sizes 11-13), Men’s belts, Men’s (new) socks & underwear (sizes medium, large, x-large), backpacks & duffle bags, sweatshirts and sweatpants (sizes medium, large, x-large). Also needed are women’s underwear sizes small, medium, large and x-large. The FOOD PANTRY is in need of canned fruit, canned meats/fish (tuna, chicken, etc.), canned soups/chili, bottled water, juice boxes, crackers, snack items (small bags crackers/cookies/pudding, etc.). PLEASE CHECK EXPIRATION DATES on all items that you donate. Thank you for your generosity.
Commodity Food Distribution: Will be Friday, September 3, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The distribution will be conducted at the Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center, located at 3500 Marais, Royal Oak. You do not need to be a resident of Royal Oak or a Senior Citizen to qualify for the program. To qualify you must be income eligible. To find out what those guidelines are please call Paige Gembarski, Coordinator of Senior Citizen Activities, at 248- 246-3912.
THANK YOU…to all those that helped “park” cars during the Woodward Cruise last weekend at St. James. Many thanks to Bob and Tom for purchasing the pop and water bottles, to Brenda for making one of the signs for the Woodward Cruise, to the donor that purchased the yellow sign and “racing” flags to help advertise that parking would be available at St. James during the Cruise, and to ALL those that volunteered their time to help in any capacity with the parking. Traffic was at an all time low this year due to poor weather throughout the day. However, there were many opportunities to “evangelize” to people that stopped by St. James to get pop or water. Some of those people were past parishioners and wanted a tour of the church for nostalgic purposes. Fun had by all that participated!!! Thank you everyone!!!
Blessings…to all those that are venturing off to college in the coming weeks,
we promise to hold you in prayer throughout the year, please do the same for your families and your parish family. Remember when you are home on break to come to Mass…we will miss you during the year. Visit your local parish church in whatever college town you are in. Many campuses have youth ministry offices affiliated with your college/university. To those that are going to elementary school, middle school, and/or high school… study hard and play hard! We will see you in church every weekend and wish you well in the coming year. Pray for all those who are on our parish prayer lists in the bulletin and remember to send them a card from time-to-time. Reaching out to others is a ministry for all of us to be involved in! Lastly, enjoy the beauty that each new day brings…make time to take-in the joy that God’s nature brings each one of us…the warmth of the sun, the colorful array of the flowers and plants of the season, the smells of fresh fruit and vegetables at the Farmer’s Market, the water, sand and surf…enjoy it all, and rejoice!!! “My cup runneth over”…as the Psalmist expressed.
Peace and Blessings,
Meg Eib
Christian Service Coordinator, St. James and St. Mary
August 22, 2010
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Thank You!!! I am writing this a few days before the Woodward Cruise. I want to express my thanks, in advance (!), to all the volunteers that helped with the parking at St. James. Proceeds from this project will benefit the Christian Service outreach endeavors for the coming year. My sincere appreciation goes out to all of you that helped in any capacity with the Woodward Cruise 2010 parking project, to the parishioners of St. James for your support, and to all that helped pass the word about parking being available at St. James for the Woodward Cruise.
Needle Works Ministry…Will meet Saturday, August 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., in St. Mary Parish Office Building, Conference Room (lower level). Please feel free to join this lively, fun group! They are willing to teach you how to knit or crochet. Again, thank you to Diane, from St. James, for hosting the two gatherings while I was away on vacation. Looking forward to seeing all of you on the 28th of August! Meeting dates for this ministry are as follows: September 11 & 25; October 9 & 23; November 6 & 20; December 4 & 18; January 8 & 22; February 5 & 19; March 5 & 19; April 2 & 16; May 7 & 21; June 4 & 18.
Parish Nurse Team…Reminder!!! Next Meeting is September 7, 7: 00 p.m., St. Mary Parish Office Building, Conference Room (lower level). If you are a nurse, or in the health ministry field, and desire to join this important and rewarding ministry, please call my office at: 248-547-1818 x238. We will be putting together packets for the Advent project for both St. James and St. Mary entitled: “Walk to Bethlehem”. This is a spiritual journey which will help assist people in their spiritual, intellectual, and physical development. Parishioners enjoyed “Walk to Jerusalem” during Lent, and have requested that we do “Walk to Bethlehem”. All can participate…this isn’t just about the physical aspect of literally “walking”. This program incorporates all ages, and is helpful to those with physical challenges as well. Those who cannot walk, fun, jump rope, etc., CAN pray, learn about the countries that we “journey” through, and be involved in gatherings during the duration for this project. More information to follow! (Beginning date/Finishing date, Packet availability, etc.).
Life Issues Team…are currently working on a calendar of events for the year. If you desire to be a part of this important and life-giving ministry please call my office. They will be posting a listing of events occurring diocesan wide, as well as educational opportunities for parishioners that will incorporate issues concerning womb- to- tomb topics.
October 23, 2010: The popular local Irish Band, BLACKTHORN, will be performing at St. James Gym. Tickets for this event will be sold at both parish offices. Watch this column for further information. Mark your calendars!!! Christian Service is looking forward to having BLACKTHORN return, by popular demand. Due to limited seating, we encourage you to purchase your tickets as soon as they go on sale!!!