Lourdes Legacy. Assumption Grotto Church Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI (313) November VOLUME XXXI XXIX NUMBER 3 3

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1 Lourdes Legacy Assumption Grotto Church Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI (313) November VOLUME XXXI XXIX NUMBER 3 3 From the Pastor Ever since my boyhood I have said the Litany of the Blessed Mother, sometimes known as the Litany of Loretto. Some of the titles appealed to me by their mysteriousness, a fascination that remains to this day. As I mentioned a while back, it would be a wonderful boost to our Marian devotion if I would elaborate somewhat on a few of the wondrous titles of the Blessed Mother. There are some of them which require no explanation beyond their titles alone. Other invocations of Her, under strange but inviting titles, arouse our interest and beg for understanding. It is this class of names that I want to explain in pages of the Lourdes Legacy. And so, I here offer a word on the fascinating invocation of Holy Mary in the Litany as the Mirror of Justice. In the choir loft of Assumption Grotto Church there is a series of windows on the Blessed Virgin Mary. In one of them, entitled Speculum justitiæ (Mirror of Justice), an angel holds in his hands a mirror. This title is perplexing if we misunderstand the meaning of the word Justice as intended here. It does not bear the ordinary meaning of fairness but signifies the ensemble of all the virtues, what we would call moral perfection. This is the sense of justice indicated in the Old Testament of someone entirely observant of God s Law. In this vein, the New Testament refers to Saint Joseph as a just man, that is, as one who was blameless in the ways of God. What is said of the justice of others must be said of Mary in a superlative sense. This title then means that the Virgin Mary mirrors divine perfection. The question remains of what could be the meaning of the word Mirror in reference to Her? Mirrors reflect what is placed before them. Our Lady reflected our Lord s infinite sanctity, His holiness or His justice in the sense given above. Conceived full of grace She yet grew evermore in holiness during Her life on account of Her intimate association with Jesus for some thirty years of His earthly life. The radiance of holiness shining upon our Lord was reflected onto the face and into the very soul of Holy Mary who contemplated Him continually. Here there is a wondrous exchange of reflections. Jesus in His human body reflected something of His Mother just as any child bears a likeness to his parents. The face of Jesus and the face of Mary may be much alike owing to the fact that Our Lord had no human father. Mary in turn reflected Christ in a spiritual way so that His grace, beauty and holiness shone upon Her. This is indeed a unique relationship that was shared by Jesus and Mary! The reason why the Church so venerates the Holy Virgin is that the Church sees the divine glow on Her face. Where the feast of the Most Pure Heart of Mary is celebrated, the Gradual text for the Mass quotes words from the Book of Wisdom which are the biblical origin for this Marian title. It says in part, She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of His goodness (7:26). This goodness of God His love glows on Mary and from Her onto us. Mary is the reflection of the divine love that extends to the human race. When we look into the Mirror of Justice we are reminded of the utter holiness of God therein and we also behold the love God has for us who are also mirrors bearing the divine image so much less perfectly than She. On Christmas you will sing of the Infant Jesus, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, and you will see that glow shedding its holy light upon His adoring Virgin Mother, the Mirror of Justice. Fr. Perrone Post script. A special upcoming event at Assumption Grotto School will feature myself at the piano in a duel with Gerri Ball at a second piano. It s actually a dual of two pianos, rather than a duel of opponents, but we like capitalizing on the tantalizing expression. Keep the date and time: April 26, after the 12 Noon Mass.

2 ON THE SPIRITUAL SIDE Eucharist Adoration. We encourage everyone to make a commitment of one hour weekly before the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel of Adoration in the convent. Please consider this special invitation to come before the Lord with your intentions and your temporal and spiritual needs. In the presence of the Lord one will experience His divine peace, and the outpouring of His divine grace in abundance in His presence. The Lord is waiting for you. Come! Contact the rectory to find out hours that are open and need to be covered or find the listing of open hours in the Grotto News. Solemn Novena of Masses for Christmas and the annual Novena Christmas Cards. Masses for the intentions of those enrolled will be celebrated December 26th through January 3rd. Please use the order form in this issue of the Lourdes Legacy or call the rectory (313) for more information. Wedding Anniversary Mass & Reception February 14th The Assumption Grotto Knights of Columbus members will sponsor a reception after the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, February 14th to honor our parish couples who will celebrate 25 or more years of marriage. Those who wish to be part of this celebration should call the rectory to register during the month of January, The Solemn Advent Novena Prayers will be said daily, Sunday December 16 through the 24th. These prayers help to prepare the Church for a more spiritual reception of Christ on Christmas. ON THE TEMPORAL SIDE Pot Luck Social December 31st. Special New Year celebration of Holy Mass at 11:00 p.m. followed by an optional Pot Luck gathering in the gym to bring in the New Year. All are welcome to attend. The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast. The Knights of Columbus will host a Pancake Breakfast the first Sunday of each month in the gym from 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. Enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage prepared by our own Knights of Columbus. Cost is $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children under 12. The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry will be held on Fridays during Lent, February 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the gym, and on Good Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dueling Pianos! On April 26th, 2015 after the 12:00 noon Mass come and enjoy an afternoon of excellent piano entertainment in the gym. See the flier insert for more details. The Cotillion. Fat Tuesday is February 17, A Cotillion is an old fashioned dance that includes traditional reels, old dance tunes of the colonies and line dances from the late 1700 s to mid 1800 s. Music will be by the Olde Michigan Ruffwater Stringband. Instructions and prompting will be provided. Period costumes are preferred; modern dress is acceptable. Dancing is to commence at 7:00 p.m. with the Grand March in the gym. Refreshments begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring your favorite hors d euvres finger food or Pazcki to pass. Beverages will be provided. For costume or ticket information, call Mary McGuckin at the Gift Shop, (313) St. Joseph Dinner March 22, This festive dinner, presented by the Romano family and friends, honors St. Joseph. Come and enjoy an afternoon of traditional Italian food. Proceeds go to the church. The Christmas Orchestral Masses (all in the Tridentine Latin Mass form) will feature Nicolai Mass. His will be performed during the midnight Mass, Tuesday, December 24, again on Sunday, December 28th, for the 9:30 a.m. Mass and finally on Sunday, Jan 4th for the noon Mass. Please visit our parish web site, or call the parish office for current activities. (313)

3 Solemn Novena of Masses for Christmas Photos from the past- Assumption Grotto Church, Gratiot Ave. Detroit MI Give a thoughtful Christmas gift to those people in your life. A Solemn Novena of Masses will be offered from December 26th, to January 3rd. Nine consecutive days of Masses at Assumption Grotto Church. Each keepsake card is a full color photograph with matching lined envelope. The Text inside the Cards: Shrine in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes Assumption Grotto Church Gratiot Avenue Detroit, Michigan The suggested donation is $10.00 per card. Orders can be taken over the phone by calling the rectory or by completing the order form provided in this issue of the Lourdes Legacy. Please include your donation and postage cost with the remittance envelope. If you have any questions, please call the rectory at (313) May the Holy Infant Jesus together with His Blessed Mother and good Saint Joseph bring you all joy and gladness as you selebrate the festival of Christmas. For you and your intentions a novena of Masses will be offered from December 26th through January 3rd at Assumption Grotto Church, Detroit. This is the finest gift that can be given to you: the renewal of the Lord s sacrifice.

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5 Father Eduard Perrone Fr. Eduard Perrone, ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1978, has been the pastor of Assumption Grotto Church since A native of Detroit, Fr. Perrone majored in music, studying piano, organ and theory. He has a degree in music composition and a master s degree in theology. Besides his pastoral work, he often gives talks to special groups and directs the parish choir in some of the great choral and orchestral music of the Church s heritage. For the past two years, his parish has celebrated the Extraordinary (Tridentine) form of the Mass, alongside the Ordinary, which allows some of the vast musical legacy of the Church to be incorporated into the parish worship. He founded Grotto Productions, a recording company of classical music and has recently composed and recorded three musicals for vocal and orchestral forces. Father Perrone is founder of Grotto Press and co-founder and spiritual director of Call to Holiness, Inc. He is the spiritual director of a Discalsed Carmelite Community in Detroit; of Mary s Children (a facility for the care of brain-damaged children and adults); of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, as well as a chaplain for the Assumption Grotto Knights of Columbus Council Gerrie Ball Gerrie Ball is a talented pianist, accompanist, and organist. He received his Bachelor's of Music degree in piano performance from Wayne State University and a Master's of Music in vocal accompanying from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, also a performance degree. He started studying the organ when he was a junior in high school, and continued further studies in college and also through the Archdiocese. Gerrie s organ teachers were Paul J. Hotin, Ray Ferguson, Dale Kramer, Bert Lord Junior, and Ron Prowse. In his role as organist and Music Director he has served the Archdiocese of Detroit for over forty-five years before retiring from full time church work in Currently, he continues to use his talents in area churches as well as here at Assumption Grotto. Gerrie has also served at Wayne State University since 1976, accompanying students and faculty in major works and operas. As a member of the faculty at Wayne, he has taught piano since As an accompanist for the Detroit Concert Choir (winners of the "Choir of the World" competition in Llangollen, Wales, 1996) since 1986, Gerrie has been performing and competing, internationally and regionally. He also continues to perform on a regular basis with Vanguard Voices and Renaissance Voices. Over the years, he has performed on 14 European tours and has recorded on 12 CDs and 3 LPs.

6 Pilgrimage Tours Please contact the Rectory (313) or the Shrine Gift Shop (313) to make arrangements for booking a tour of the church. Weekly & Liturgical Schedule throughout the Year MASSES Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 7:30 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 6:30 a.m., 9:30 Tridentine, 12:00 noon Petition Masses: Living: The third Sunday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Deceased: The third Sunday of each month at 9:30 a.m. CONFESSION & OTHER DEVOTIONS Saturdays 2:30-3:30 Confessions are heard on Sundays 45 min. before all Masses until the Gospel. First Friday: Dec.5, Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3 First Saturday: Dec. 6, Jan. 3, Feb 7, March 7, April 4 Christmas Novena Intentions at 7:30 a.m. Mass & Sunday 12:00 noon Mass December 26th to January 3rd Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve Masses: 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 Midnight (Latin, Orchestral, Nicolai Mass Christmas Day Masses: 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., (Latin) and 12:00 noon New Year s Eve Masses: 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. New Year s Day: 6:30 a.m., 9:30 (Latin), 12:00 noon Masses Lenten & Holy Week Devotions Feb. 18 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 Ash Wednesday Holy Thursday: 7:00 p.m. Mass (No morning Mass) Good Friday: Services from Noon until 3:00 p.m. Confessions: 4:00 6:00 p.m. Holy Saturday: Blessing of food at 1:00 p.m. (No morning Mass) Confessions: 10:00 11:00, 3:00 4:00 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass: 8:00 p.m. (Note: there is no Mass at 4:00 p.m.) Easter Sunday Masses: 6:30, 9:30 a.m. Orchestral Mass, 12:00 noon (No confessions on Easter day). Stations of the Cross are said every Friday in church at 7:00 p.m. Remember your loved ones and friends this Easter with a Triduum (3) Masses offered at Assumption Grotto during the Easter season. Easter Cards will be available at the rectory in February.

7 Nov. 29-Dec. 7 Dec. 8 Dec Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 28 Dec. 31 Jan. 1, 2015 Jan. 4 Jan. 4 Feb Feb. 14 Feb. 17 Feb. 18 March 22 March 29 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 26 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Novena for the Immaculate Conception after all Masses Feast of the Immaculate Conception Holy Day Masses, 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., Tridentine 12:00 noon & 7:00 p.m. Advent Novena after all the Masses 12:00 Midnight Orchestral Mass by Nicolai Christmas Day - Masses are 6:30, 9:30 & 12:00 noon Mass by Nicolai at 9:30 a.m. Mass at 4:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. (followed with a Pot Luck in the gym to celebrate the New Year) Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, New Year s Day, Masses at 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. (Latin) and noon. Epiphany: Masses at 6:30 a.m., 9:30 and 12:00 noon Orchestral Mass by Nicolai. Knights of Columbus, pancake breakfast the first Sunday of each month Begin the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes Wedding Anniversary Mass (Valentines Day) at the 4:00 p.m. Mass sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Assumption Grotto Parish. Following Mass is a reception in the lounge for registered couples. Fat Tuesday Cotillion dance in the gym. Ash Wednesday Masses 7:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m., 12:00 noon, 7:00 p.m. (ashes are imposed at each Mass) St. Joseph Dinner following the 12:00 noon Mass, catered by the Romano Family. All are welcome to attend. Donations go to the church. Palm Sunday Holy Thursday. See the Lenten & Holy Week schedule in this issue of the Lourdes Legacy. Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Sunday Dueling Pianos special entertainment see flier in this issue March 31 Easter Sunday Please complete the order form below. Please print. Name Address City State Zip Telephone No. Suggested Donation Card Design Quantity Donation $10.00 per card Mother &Child Church Sanctuary Please include donation with your order. Order Form Solemn Novena of Masses for Christmas ASSUMPTION GROTTO CHURCH Please use the envelope provided and mail to Assumption Grotto Church Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI If you have any questions, call the rectory office (313)

8 NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage PAID PAID Permit Permit No. No Eastpointe, MI Plymouth, MI RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED IMPORTANT INFORMATION If you have a change of address, please let us know so we can keep in touch