Lourdes Legacy Assumption Grotto Church 13770 Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI 48205 (313) 372-0762 November January 20162012 VOLUME XXXIII XXIX NUMBER 3 1 From the Pastor Who are you, O Immaculate One? TThat was (roughly) the question asked by Saint Maximilian Kolbe when he began to think deeply about the mysterious title Our Lady gave Herself at Lourdes. No one calls himself by such an abstract title except God who said, for example, I am Way, Truth and Life, or, I AM, etc. The Virgin Mary, however, said at Lourdes that She was a conception. This strange self appellation began a lifelong probing by Kolbe into the person of the Virgin who was not only conceived in an immaculate way (without original sin), but who Herself was a conception. We have in Her Litany, Queen conceived without original sin, one of Her honored titles. Kolbe s great mind and ardent heart arrived at the idea that Holy Mary must bear a special relationship to the Holy Spirit in a manner somewhat akin to Jesus as the incarnation of the Son of God. Although he cautioned that this parallel relationship of Jesus incarnation to Mary s conception was not a strict analogy, Kolbe nevertheless noted that the Holy Virgin in some unique and mysterious way represented the Holy Spirit. The complexity of Saint Maximilian s thought would exceed our purposes here in giving a simple exposition of the titles of Our Lady in the Litany of Loretto. On the other hand, we indeed ought to stretch our minds a bit to come to grips with the astounding reality of a human being (so eminently holy) who nevertheless was appointed by God to give Her flesh and Her blood so that God might join Himself to a human body. The Archangel Gabriel gave Her hint of the wonder that would take place upon Her consent at the Annunciation. The Holy Spirit will come upon You, he said, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. When that moment came to pass, it was a most momentous thing. Upon Mary the Spirit descended like a shadowing tent perhaps like a cloud, as God had often made His presence known in the Old Testament. She had already borne a special relationship to the Holy Spirit at the first moment of Her existence at Her immaculate conception when original sin was withheld from contaminating Her soul. Now, at this moment of the conception of Christ in Her womb, another ever more marvelous divine work took place. This was the moment of His of Christ s conception. While everyone can readily believe that no one can fully know, or understand God, yet not everyone reflects on the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary is likewise not fully comprehensible. There s more to fathom about Her than the human mind is capable of grasping. As I have often said in some sermons, we need to recover a sense of wonder over the things we say we believe in when we recite the Creed. If God becoming man confounds the mind, so too ought the mind marvel over the truth of Mary as Conception Immaculate. She is indeed a masterpiece of divine art, made perfectly beautiful, holy, full of grace, and filled with the Holy Spirit. God prepared Her at the first moment of Her coming into being to be the only person worthy of giving Him a human nature. Our parish is much blest in many ways. People come here to pray and find solace for their aching souls. They seek God and want to feel the tender power of the Virgin Mary s presence. She has had a special place in this parish since its founding and then again in the establishment of the outdoor Lourdes Grotto. I believe that this close relationship that has been established and strengthened here with the Mother of God is the key to the uniqueness of this place. It s clear to me that so many other factors (location, a closed school, the great driving distance, the hard economic times, etc) ought to argue in our disfavor. But this is not so. The only reason I can attribute to this success is the constant relationship Holy Mary has sustained with the people who frequent our parish and our shrine. I know that you are grateful to our good Lord and Lady for the graces you have been given. May you remain in fidelity and grow to resemble them more and more. Fr. Perrone
ON THE SPIRITUAL SIDE Adoration Chapel. The Influence of Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament - Our Pathway to Holiness. Did you know that our Eucharist Chapel here at Assumption Grotto, in the convent is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturdays? Day after day we pay reverence, adoring His divine presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Jesus applies grace to each of us and He causes it to increase and develop in us, so that we live continually under His influence. Just as the vine sends its sap through all its branches, so does Jesus nourish us by His holy presence in the Eucharist. O what riches we possess through Him in us! Christ is then in the fullest sense, in the most actual sense, the source of all our life. Christ in the Eucharist is our life. Come and spend one hour with Him. There are hours that yet need to be filled. Please call the rectory to sign up for an hour. Wedding Anniversary & Reception Saturday, February 13, 2016. The Assumption Grotto Knights of Columbus members will sponsor a reception after the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, February 13, 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, 2016. Holy Week. Be sure to view the Holy Week Calendar that will be available in the Grotto News, and on the Grotto website soon. It is listed with the calendar of events in this issue of the Lourdes Legacy. Be spiritually prepared this year to take part in the events of Holy Week. Their purpose is to better prepare you for the feast of the Resurrection and dispose you for a more fruitful reception of the graces that Christ merited by his passion and death. Mary s Month. The month of May is dedicated to honor our Blessed Mother. Each year we decorate the side altar of Mary with flowers. It is a beautiful time to spend in prayer; a few moments kneeling and praying to our Most Holy Mother. Please feel free to bring a bouquet of flowers to her, and to pray for your intentions. First Holy Communion - May Crowning On Sunday, May 8, 2016. The First Communicants will participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 12:00 noon. May Crowning will take place just before the noon Mass. The Sacrament Of Confirmation On Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Our young adults will participate in the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Most Reverend Donald Hanchon will be our celebrant. Triduum Of Masses For Easter Remember. Your loved ones and friends this year with the beautiful Easter Mass Cards. There will be a Mass offered on three consecutive Sundays: Divine Mercy Sunday, April 3rd, April 10th, and 17th. For information or to order these Mass cards call the rectory office. ON THE TEMPORAL SIDE The Cotillion. Fat Tuesday is Tuesday, February 9, 2016. 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 Old 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) 332-4432. Memorial Day. The Catholic War Veterans, Andrew R. Strable, Post No 318, invites everyone to attend a Mass for all veterans on Monday, May 30th at 9:15 a.m. The flag raising ceremony will precede the Mass. Following the Mass there will be a short service in the cemetery which will include taps and a gun salute. At the conclusion, the Post will provide refreshments in the Shrine Lounge. The Gift Shop now has a new phone number (313-332-4432). The new gift shop hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-10:30 and on Sunday after all the Masses. The e-mail address is shrinegiftshop@hotmail.com. You may place orders by phone, e-mail, or on line through the Assumption Grotto website. Extra charges may apply for shipping. 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. to 12:30 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 19, 26, March 4, 11, 18, and March 25th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the gym and on Good Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. St. Joseph Dinner March 20, 2016. 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. *Remember All Masses for Sunday April 3rd are of Divine Mercy. Confessions will be heard a half hour before the 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon Mass, and will resume after the 12:00 noon Mass until 3:00 p.m. Divine Mercy prayers will be said with the closing Benedition at 3:00 p.m.. Please visit our parish web site, www.assumptiongrotto.com or call the parish office for current activities. (313) 372-0762
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Shrine in Honor of Our Lady of Lourdes Patron Cards Give a thoughtful gift to those special people in your life. Our Patron Card enrollment for one year will remember your loved ones living and deceased with benefits of remembrance at daily and Sunday Masses, at the monthly Mass on the second Saturday of each month, in the intentions of the Rosary recited at the Grotto during May and October, and a special remembrance on August 15th, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Patron Cards are available at the Assumption Grotto Rectory. You may stop in and select what you need, mail in a request or call the rectory at (313-372-0762) to have them sent to you. Please include a donation for the mailing cost and the suggested cost for the card(s). They make a beautiful spiritual gift for any occasion, for family and friends, living and deceased. Suggested cost is $10.00 for the year enrollment.