Fourth Sunday of Lent

Transcription

1 Most Holy Trinity March 31, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Lent Coming to his senses he thought, How many of my father s hired workers have more than enough to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my Father Luke 15:17-18 From The Pastor s Desk This week I have asked Paul Fahey to share with us. God Bless, Fr. Dennis Thirty-two young adults from our parish will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this Monday, April 1st, from Bishop Boyea. So I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about Confirmation and encourage you to pray for them in a way perhaps you haven t before. First, it s good to step back and look at what sacraments are and their role in our life. I think we are so used to the sacraments that we forget how essential they are to our Christian faith. The Catechism says that sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us (Catechism 1131). Without all the big words, this is saying that the sacraments are the primary ways that Jesus set up for us to encounter Him and be transformed into His likeness. Catholics often speak of grace as sort of a spiritual vitamin or a divine energy boost. That is, we speak of grace as something added to our efforts that makes them holy or fruitful. But this isn t true. Rather, grace is the very life of God within us, transforming us into God. Next time you go to Mass pay attention to the words the priest says at the altar as he mixes the water and wine, May we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Jesus instituted Confirmation then, together with all the other Sacraments, so that we might participate in His Divine Life. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers of the divine nature by uniting them in a living union with the Son of God (Catechism 1129). Thus, in Confirmation, The Holy Spirit anoints the candidate with Himself, thus bringing the candidate into a more profound union with God. In other words, Confirmation is not merely something we do, or even something we receive. Rather, it is a necessary moment in God's plan, God's unwavering desire, to draw each one of us deeper into the Life of the Blessed Trinity. Further, to understand Confirmation we need to look to Pentecost. The Catechism says that the effect of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost (1302). The second reading for the Confirmation Mass describes what that outpouring of the Spirit looked like at Pentecost: And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

2 Fourth Sunday of Lent Page 2 March 31, 2019 From Paul, Continued... which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim (Acts 2:2.4). The book of Acts goes on to say that three thousand people were baptized that day and that the Apostles went on to perform many signs, wonders, and miraculous healings. This is the kind of life that was normal for the first few centuries of the Church. This is the kind of life available to all who are baptized and confirmed. The sacraments fill us with the divine life of God so that all who receive them are able, in Jesus name, to do the things Jesus did. With all that in mind, I want to ask each of you to pray for our Confirmation candidates. Please pray specifically that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit as the Apostles were. Pray that the Spirit will reveal Himself personally to them. Pray that they will be empowered to perform signs and wonders. Pray that they will have a renewed relationship with the Holy Spirit and, like Mary, hear His voice and respond to His promptings throughout their entire life. God Bless, Paul Opportunities to grow in holiness: Lent 2019 The Sacrament of Reconciliation Celebrated at MHT every Saturday During Lent from 3:00 till 4:00 pm. Sunday, March 31 st Regional Penance Service St. Gerard Parish, Lansing St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing Service begins at 2:00 pm. Thursday, April 4 th 6:30-8pm. Confession, Adoration and prayer teams. Braeden Andros Sadie Armbrustmacher Tyler Bauer Kiley Bengel Lydia Carbone Brooke Epkey Kara Esch Amy Feldpausch Collin Feldpausch Felicia Feldpausch Siera Feldpausch Aubrey Goerge Benjamin Hamilton Dominic Horak Adysen Koenigsknecht Ethan McCarty Sacrament of Confirmation Monday, April 1 st 2018 Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness We adore You and worship You. We pray for our Confirmation candidates. Place a thirst in their hearts for You, Lord. Teach them to seek Your will in all things, and give them the courage to do it. Make them true disciples of Jesus Christ and His Church. Grant them, Giver of all good things, the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord, and most of all, the grace to love You and their neighbor. Amen Jordan Myers Makayla Piggott Brady Schmitz Shannon Schmitz Alexa Simmon Lauren Speers Macy Spicer Christi Spitzley Adalee Thelen Bleys Thelen Travis Thelen Austin Vandegriff Sarah Veale Hunter Ward Rachel Warnke Leah Wieber Special Lenten Events and Liturgies On all the Tuesdays &Thursdays of Lent we will have a half hour of adoration immediately after the morning Mass. Stations of the Cross Every Wednesday beginning at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Confirmation Monday, April 1 st at 7:00 pm. with Bishop Boyea Lenten Fish dinner April 5 th 4-6:30 p.m. Encounter with the Holy Spirit Evening Sunday, April 7th, 7:00 p.m. Spring Church Cleaning Spring cleaning of the church will take place on Thursday, April 11th (note change in date) from 9 am to noon. Bring your cleaning cloths and buckets. Cleaning products will be provided. There are many areas of the church that need our TLC that weren t accessed last December. So, please consider of giving your time and talent for the greater honor and glory of God!! One could consider this a Lenten offering of service. We also need the assistance of the men of the parish to help with ladders, etc. If you have any questions, please call Susie at Thank you so much and may your Lenten journey bring you closer to the glories of the Resurrection.

3 Office Phone: Page 3 Website: mhtparish.com Holy Week Liturgies Palm Sunday - April 14 th Holy Thursday - April 18 th 10:00 am. Mass of Chrism, St. Mary Cathedral 7:00 pm. Mass of the Lord s Supper Adoration in Fr. Ray Center till midnight Good Friday April 19 th 12:00 pm. Stations 3:00 pm. Solemn Good Friday Service 7:00 pm. Evening Service *a day of obligatory fasting and abstinence Flowers for Easter Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Diocesan Service Appeal 2019 Our Diocesan goal this year is $5,100, Our parish goal has been set at $64, Any pledge over and above our goal will be returned 50% to our parish. To donate flowers in memory of someone deceased or for the intentions of the living during the Easter season, please place your donation in an envelope and mark it Easter flowers. Please write down the names of those you wish to remember and indicate whether the person(s) are living or deceased. Drop your donation in the parish office drop box or place it in the collection basket. We will remember all the names during the Easter season at our daily Masses. A Time to Heal Retreat Friday, May 10 th - Saturday, May 11 th at St. Francis Retreat Center. The Diocese of Lansing is sponsoring a retreat designed for victims of clergy sex abuse. This retreat will address the impact of abuse on victims, their families and all those working in institutional settings. There will be mental health professionals helping facilitate the retreat. For more information call or information@stfrancis.ws Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! April 20 th and 21 st Easter Masses: Saturday - Vigil 8:45 pm. Easter Sunday 8:15 and 10:30 am. 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil Our local 40 Days for For Life Spring campaign is focused on filling each abortion day with prayer every hour 7AM to 5PM every Wednesday through April 17. Chemical abortions are performed on Wednesdays at Planned Parenthood located in Lansing s Frandor Shopping Center. Prayer location will be on the grassy area on the West side of Clippert North of Vine Street.

4 Fourth Sunday of Lent Page 4 March 31, 2019 Principal of Most Holy Trinity School Anne Hufnagel AnneH@mhtparish.com By connecting our Catholic faith to life, we at Most Holy Trinity School seek to fulfill Christ's mandate to proclaim the Gospel, restore all things in Him, strive to lead our students to the Truth for the betterment of this world and prepare them for the age to come. Important Dates: Monday, April 1 Classes resume Friday, April 5 8:15 a.m./first Friday Monday. April 8 No School for MHT Students Staff PD Tuesday, April 9 8:15 a.m. 2019/20 Registration: Registration for Most Holy Trinity School for the 2019/20 school year is now underway. You can register students in several different ways: Go to the School website and find the Registration & Admissions tab on the school page. There is a link to the online registration. 1. Call the school office at Go this website: VleOw8U2lwcJjAQg2 3. Use this QR code: Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles Happening now! A 10 week study on the Acts of the Apostles Fridays at 9 AM in the Youth Center. The study, "Lectio Evangelization" is taken from FORMED on our parish website (led by Dr. Mary Healy). The bible study is facilitated by Adam Halfman. Choir News! The adult choir is open to anyone interested in joining us for the season of Lent and Holy Week. If music is something that moves you during the Mass and helps you to pray, but you have a hard time making the commitment to the choir all year, this could be a great opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during Lent, offer your heart to God in a new way, and experience the wonderful community in the choir. Rehearsals: 7:30 p.m. on April 3 & 10, along with Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00pm. Kayla for more info. Extra binders will be ready for walk-ins! Lenten Fish Fry Regional Penance Service THIS WEEKEND Sunday, March 31 st St. Gerard Parish, Lansing St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing Service begins at 2:00 pm. Our next fish fry is this Friday, April 5 from 4:00pm to 6:30pm. Baked and fried fish, scalloped and baked potatoes, mac & cheese, salad, vegetables and dinner roll, beverage and dessert. Adults $10, children (age 6-10) $5, those 5 and under are free. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Christian Mothers. MARK YOUR CALENDARS The next Adult Social Gathering will be Wed. April 3rd in the K of C Hall at 7:30pm (note time change). We've had a good time at the previous gatherings with lots of smiles and laughter. We d love to share that with you! Contact Ann Schafer at for more info. Bring a friend. Christian Mother s Annual Breakfast (Open to all Women) Sunday April 7, 2019 Following 8:30 am. mass MHT Activity Center FEATURE SPEAKER: KENDRA VON ESH Please RSVP to Melissa Spitzley by Thursday April 4, so we have a count for food prep. Call or text or melissaspitzley@hotmail.com Easter Egg Hunt The annual K of C Easter Egg Hunt will be held 11am on Saturday April 20th at Waldron Elementary. All children 0-10 are welcome. Also, children of all ages are invited to come and watch Sponsor of the Week Our thanks to the many businesses that make it possible for the bulletin to be cost-free to our parish. Mathews Elevator April 4 6:30-8:00 pm In the church

5 Office Phone: Page 5 Website: mhtparish.com Please pray for our friends and relatives who are sick or recovering, especially: Regina Martin, Sean Dush, Charlene Thelen, Davison Curtin, Jeffrey Lee Thelen, Luke Martin, Sara Sanchez, Melissa Schulte, Marie Hengesbach, Edward Wohlscheid, Linda Rogala, Sarah Weber, Julie Wieber Schafer, Bill Barns, Bob Marshall, Dennis Smith, Sandy Herta, Dick Rehmann, Janet Simmon, Scott Kus, Steve Thelen, Tracy Schmitt, Gregg Platte, Frank Hufnagel, Janet Armbrustmacher, Marie Weber, Jenine Kloeckner, Jennifer Ledger, Josiah Ledger, Jordy Wohlscheid, Jennifer Grace Schrauben, Janet Simon, Dale Young, Brent Baese, Shane Grinnell, Richard Bushamp, Alan & Therese Kramer, Christopher Martin, Theresa Heeg, Bev Nurenberg, Jeff Wadell, Charles Wadell, Chuck Welch, Jeanne Alaga, Milo Platte, Timothy D. Thelen, Marilyn Dixon, Richard Rodgers, Declan Schmidt, Carolee Smith, Charles Miller, Joyce Goerge, Father Den Morrow and a special intention. Please contact the office to add or remove a name from the list. Thank you. Let us also keep in our prayers all those from the Parish Community who are in the Armed Services. Our Parish Stewardship God s Treasure at Most Holy Trinity March 23 & 24 Collection $9, Special Collections Capital Improvement..... $45.00 Newspapers.. $25.00 Easter Flowers... $ Catholic Relief Services. $20.00 The Rosary is prayed before the 8:15 a.m. weekday Mass. The intention for this week is to pray for all those making their confirmation on Monday. May their commitment bring them a renewed relationship with the Holy Spirit. MHT SUB SALE MHT Sub Sale: April 1st, is the last day to order your delicious sub sandwiches. Subs will be assembled and available for delivery and/or pick-up on Tuesday, April 23 rd between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Activity Center. Ham/salami, ham, turkey and roast beef subs are available. Subs are $2.25 each or twelve for $ Please contact any MHT student or call the school office ( ) to place your order. MASSES FOR THE WEEK Monday - April 1 7:00 p.m. + Arlene & Lawrence Mueller Including John & Helen Kramer & Eunice Wirth Tuesday - April 2 8:15 a.m. + Isidore & Geneva Wohlscheid & Living & Deceased Family Members Wednesday - April 3 6:00 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration 7:00 p m. + Robert Armbrustmacher Including Alma Thursday - April 4 8:15 a.m. + Jim Koenigsknecht 6:30 p.m. Holy Hour with Confessions Friday - April 5 8:15 a.m. + Shirley Thelen, Including Mark & Living & Deceased Family Members Saturday - April 6 3:00 p.m. Confessions 4:30 p.m. + Ken A. Thelen & Living and Deceased Family Members Sunday - April 7 8:30 a.m. + Richard VanElls 10:30 a.m. People of the Parish Ushers for March April 6 & 7 4:30 p.m. - Larry Jandernoa, Gerry Arens, Craig Arens, Luke Thelen 8:30 a.m. - Dean Platte, Gregg Platte, Nick Platte, Adam Platte 10:30 a.m. Don Martin, Chris Conner, Steve Spitzley, John Rademacher Servers for this week Mon., 7:00 p.m. - Nate and Katie Spicer Tues., 8:15 a.m. - Adult Volunteer Weds., 7:00 p.m. - Olivia & Isaac Thelen Thurs., 8:15 a.m. - Adult Volunteer Fri., 8:15 a.m. - MHT School Volunteers Servers for April 6 & 7 4:30 p.m. - Chloe Hyland, Jonathan Koenigsknecht, Volunteers 8:30 a.m. - Paige & Carter Thelen, Alexander Warnke, Owen Simon 10:30 a.m. - Chad Klein, Hudson Phillips, Kiley Bengel, Volunteer Readings for the Week of March Monday Is 65:17-21; Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b; Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday Ez 47:1-9, 12; Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday Is 49:8-15; Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18;Jn 5:17-30 Thursday Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23; Jn 5:31-47 Friday Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23; Jn 7:1-2, 10, March 31, 2019 Pastor - Fr. Dennis Howard Parish Office Hours -- 8am-noon, 1-3pm Parish Office: office@mhtparish.com Website: mhtparish.com MHT School