Blessed Trinity Catholic Church 958 E. Tuscola St., Frankenmuth, Michigan 989-652-3259 Fifth Sunday of Easter ~ April 29, 2018 Parish Mission Statement We, the members of Blessed Trinity Parish, share a common bond of love given to us through the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity. As the loving Father does, we welcome and support everyone who enters our faith community. As His Son exemplifies, we humbly strive to be a learning, giving, caring, and teaching parish eager to serve, evangelize, and give generously of ourselves to others. As the Holy Spirit inspires and leads us, we are a faithful, prayer family that worships God through the many gifts and ministries with which the Lord has blessed us.
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church Page 2 Frankenmuth MI Worship in Our Parish Liturgical Calendar Monday, April 30 Memorial of St. Pius V Tuesday, May 1 Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker 8:30 a.m. Mass Wednesday, May 2 Memorial of St. Athanasius 8:30 a.m. Mass Thursday, May 3 Feast of Ss. Philip and James 8:30 a.m. Mass 9:00 a.m. Rosary Friday, May 4 10:30 a.m. Mass at Wellspring Saturday, May 5 4:00 p.m. Individual Reconciliation Until 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Mass with First Eucharist Sunday, May 6 Sixth Sunday of Easter 9:00 a.m. Mass 11:00 a.m. Mass with First Eucharist Scripture Readings for April 29, 2018 Act 9:26-31 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8 Event Schedule Saturday, May 5 10:00 a.m. First Eucharist Rehearsal Sunday, May 6 12:00 noon First Eucharist Group Picture and Social A Prayer For Today Calm me, quiet me, settle me. Steady me, balance me, ground me. Plant me, root me, embed me. Support me, sustain me, protect me. Forgive me, pardon me, free me. Refresh me, restore me, heal me. Enfold me, embrace me, hold me. Lord, hear my prayer today! General Information Sacrament of Reconciliation ~ offered on Saturdays at 4:00-4:30 p.m. A special schedule of opportunities is available during Advent and Lent, or by appointment. Sacrament of Baptism ~ Baptisms are celebrated regularly, except during Lent. Call the parish office for pre-baptism class information. To Become a Catholic ~ Adults interested in learning about the Catholic faith are invited to call the parish office for more information. Sacrament of Marriage ~ Please contact the pastor before setting a wedding date. Six months are required for preparation. Anointing of the Sick ~ A communal celebration is celebrated in October. Individual anointing is available whenever requested. Ministry to the Sick and Elderly ~ When entering a hospital, please register as a member of Blessed Trinity Parish. When confined at home, please contact our parish office. New Parishioners ~ We welcome you to Blessed Trinity. If you wish to join our community, please contact the parish office for an appointment to register. Bulletin Submission Deadline ~ Text and pictures for the bulletin should be emailed by 12:00 noon on Monday each week to Parish Secretary Lori Snyder at: lsnyder@blessedtrinityfrankenmuth.org. Need Prayers? Call the Parish Prayer Network with your prayer needs and concerns: Ginger Hall at 652-9519 or Nanci Lyon at 652-6532. You can also submit prayer requests on our parish website. When you visit Blessed Trinity during the week or when you come to Mass on the weekend, be sure to write your prayer intentions in the Book of Life in the back of church. Our sponsor of the week is: Frankenmuth Florist To view this ad, see the back of the bulletin. Please patronize our sponsors. They make the bulletin possible.
Fifth Sunday of Easter Page 3 April 29, 2018 Notes From Our Pastor It has been a busy week at Blessed Trinity! On Wednesday we celebrated the funeral Mass for Erwin Russell Proctor. Erwin died on April 20 at the age of 82. Our prayers and condolences go out to Pat and all of his family and friends. We celebrated a funeral Mass on Friday for Carol Christine Mroz, mother of parishioner Kathy Haney. Carol died in Las Vegas on January 11 of this year at the age of 79. Our prayers and condolences go out to Kathy, to her father, and all of the family. On Saturday we celebrated a funeral liturgy for Helen Juanita Hansen, mother of parishioner Juanita Dupuie and grandmother of Kirk Dupuie. Helen was 99 at the time of her death. She was an active member of the Methodist Church in Fife Lake for many years. Our prayers and condolences go out to Nita and Kirk and all of the family. I want to note that we are allowed to celebrate funeral rites in church for those who are not Catholics if this is requested by Catholic family members. May Erwin, Carol, Helen, and all of our departed family members rejoice in God s eternal peace. In the past week we celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism for Isik Scott Charles Forbes, son of Jeff and Marissa (Genow) Forbes. Congratulations to the family of this beautiful little child of God. Last Sunday we welcomed Amy DuRussel into full communion with the Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Confirmation and reception of Holy Communion with our community. Amy was supported in making this step by husband Keith and children Sydney, Wade, and Bree. Congratulations to Amy and all of the family. Finally, thanks to John Pollick for providing the little trees last weekend in recognition of Earth Day and Arbor Day and in memory of his friend Alan Boelter. The trees came from the tree and blueberry farm that Alan had developed in Bridgeport. There were 142 white pine and white spruce trees and all of them were taken home after the Masses. Fr. Bob Byrne What do you expect? The disciples walking the road to Emmaus after Jesus death were disappointed - they had expected from him something other than what they saw, and they assumed his mission had failed with his death. There is a lesson in that, taught by Jesus later in the same story when he breaks the bread and opens their eyes: our expectations can blind us to the blessings right in front of us. Keep your expectations in check and you might find all you could ever hope for, and much more, right in front of your eyes. We Are Stewards On-line Giving ~ April 15-21, 2018 Parish Adult Contributions... $4,060.00 Parish Debt Retirement... 70.00 Catholic Relief Services... 320.00 Total... $4,450.00 Weekend ~ April 21 & 22, 2018 our sanctuary candle will burn this week in loving memory of Anne Carroll by Mary Carroll Parish Adult Contributions (222 envelopes)... $10,943.00 Weekend Loose... 753.00 Parish Debt Retirement (2 envelopes)... 55.00 Weekend Total... $11,751.00
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church Page 4 Frankenmuth MI Youth Ministry News Our Cardboard City homelessness awareness event takes place this weekend from Saturday evening through Sunday morning. Coming events for our youth include: May 6 ~ celebration for our youth at 6:00-8:00 p.m. May 13 ~ celebrate Mother s Day with your family! May 20 ~ Baccalaureate Mass and Meet & Greet for our 2018 BT seniors (hosted by our Class of 2019 youth); all are welcome! June 3 ~ 6-8 grade event at 6:30-8:00 p.m. Sign up today and be part of the Mackinaw Island Retreat event. Space is limited. Our June 27 Cedar Point trip will only happen if we can fill the bus. Sign up in the youth room or text me if you are interested. This is the last call for pictures for our senior video. Don t be left out - get your pictures in today. Pictured at below right is our 6th grade Faith Formation Class modeling our youth sweatshirts. If you re interested in purchasing a shirt, please email or call me at the parish. Faith Formation News In this Sunday s Gospel, Jesus compares himself to a vine and his followers to the branches on that vine. We understand that we are all one family that needs and depends on one another. We the branches never want to be separated from the vine that is Jesus Christ. During the summer, pray the Lord s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be to the Father together as a family each day. Members of the Church throughout the world share these three prayers which connect us like branches to the vine. Students took home a Flat Pope Francis activity that can be used while traveling/vacationing this summer. Please email your pictures to the parish with your child and Flat Pope Francis and they will be displayed and published in the bulletin. Mark your calendars for Hero Central Vacation Bible School to be held at Blessed Trinity on July 23-26. All children and friends ages 4 - grade 6 are welcome. Registration forms were sent home and are available in the gathering area. You may also register online at: hc.cokesburyvbs.com/btccfumc. Faith Formation, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and Children s Liturgy of the Word sessions ended today/sunday. May everyone enjoy these warmer spring and summer months. All First Communicants and their parents will rehearsal for First Communion on Saturday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. in church. Please pray for these children as they receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time at the 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses on May 5 & 6. Carol Fox ~ Director of Faith Formation cfox@blessedtrinityfrankenmuth.org On a personal note: last Wednesday was the last Faith Formation gathering for our Class of 2024. Since there was no catechist for this group, I volunteered to teach them. I also encouraged some of our high school -aged leaders to step in and help lead, which was a great experience for our 6th graders. I enjoyed this group of young people and look forward to watching them grow in their faith. I hope they take advantage of our grades 7-12 events in the next few years. I also plan to continue teaching this grade level. Thank you, Class of 2024, for your energy, enthusiasm, and FAITH! Kathy Cramer ~ Director of Youth Ministry kcramer@blessedtrinityfrankenmuth.org
Fifth Sunday of Easter Page 5 April 29, 2018 Bavarian Parade Float Help Needed The Frankenmuth Bavarian Parade will be held on Sunday, June 10. Blessed Trinity will again have a float in the parade and needs you! If you have some time and would like to help build our parish float, please contact Paul Wojno at 989-751-2009 or email: pwojno55@gmail.com. We hope to begin planning and construction in mid-may. Habitat for Humanity Needs YOUI Help a neighbor in Buena Vista Township by getting involved with Habitat for Humanity. Can you spare a half-day or a full day helping to repair and paint homes during the week of May 17-23? Sign-up sheets will be available in the gathering area during the next two weekends - please consider helping out! Thank You, Blessed Trinity Your donation of $1,500 to help aid people in the community means that you understand and believe in the mission of the CAN Council. We are building communities where children are free from abuse and neglect. Thank you so much! Donors like you help make our evidencebased programs possible, ensure that our programs and services are available to the children and families that need them, and provide proper training to our staff and volunteers who work with our families daily. Suzanne Greenberg, President & CEO CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region Scrapbook Page Deadline If you are participating in the scrapbook project for Fr. Bob s retirement and have completed your page, you can drop it off in the parish office or in the green drop box in the gathering area. We hope to have all pages in by the first week of June. Thanks to all who attended the Scrapbook Workshop on April 23. From the smiles on these pictures, it looks like fun was had by all. We look forward to the finished product!
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church Page 6 Frankenmuth MI Clergy Appreciation Dinner News On Saturday, April 21, the Knights of Columbus held their annual Clergy Appreciation Dinner where these folks were honored for all they do: Fr. Robert Byrne, Karen Smith, Sr. Patricia Warbritton, Fr. Eddie Dwyer, Fr. Randy Kelly, Fr. Thomas McNamara, and Sr. Elaine Raymond. Also at this event, several others were honored for their time and contributions to the Knights and their churches: Arthur Straw (Knight of the Year), Robert & Mary Frank (Family of the Year), Vana Haley (Special Lady Volunteer of the Year), and Robert Muehlfeld (Navigator s Award). If you see any of these honorees, please thank and congratulate them for their prestigious awards. If anyone is looking for a great opportunity to give back to your church and community, we are always looking for new members. Please call Council #7233 Grand Knight Kirk Dupuie at 989-280-2141. Sponsor Sanctuary Lamp Parishioners are invited to make an offering for the candles used in the sanctuary lamp (the lamp that burns 24/7 before the tabernacle) which reminds us of the presence of the Risen Lord in the Blessed Sacrament that is reserved in the tabernacle. The light comes from a large candle placed in a red glass container and burns for seven days. The candle is generally replaced on Friday or Saturday each week throughout the year. If you would like to make an offering of $50.00 for these candles in honor or in memory of a family member, friend, neighbor, etc. please call the parish office to find out which weeks are available (names will be printed in the bulletin for the designated week). Sponsor Altar Flowers Parishioners can sponsor weekend altar flowers for Masses in memory of a loved one, or in honor of a special occasion, birthday, anniversary, etc. Two arrangements are available each weekend at $50.00 each. Call the parish office for info. Fr. Bob and Youth Ministry Director Kathy Cramer try out the new air hockey table (donated by Randy & Sharon Kuzma-Smith). The big question is..who won the game? Welcome Breakfast News Last Sunday, new parishioners to Blessed Trinity (since November, 2017) were honored with a Welcome Breakfast. Thank you to Jim Haney for set-up and clean-up help, to Bill Dodson for serving and clean-up help, and to all Pastoral Council members who attended and helped out. It was nice to meet our new parish community members! Kathy Haney ~ Welcome Committee Bless This Threshold Think of everything that goes on in your home. Whether you live in a studio or on an estate, home is where the action is. Meals eaten, laundry folded, conversations shared, faults confessed, injuries forgiven, promises made, dreams spoken out loud, victories celebrated, defeat laid to rest, births welcomed, wanderers embraced, sickness tended, disappointments endured, deaths grieved - these are the many elements by which the vitality of our homes is measured. Doesn t a space this important deserve our blessing? Celebrate a ritual for these rooms where love puts down its roots.
Fifth Sunday of Easter Page 7 April 29, 2018 National Day of Prayer All are welcome to meet at the pole in front of Frankenmuth City Hall on Thursday, May 3 at 12:00 noon for a National Day of Prayer Celebration. Come early to enjoy special music by David Britton. Chairs will be available or bring your own chair. This year s theme is: UNITY - Pray for America. Plan to attend on May 3 and celebrate with thousands of individuals, churches, and communities from across the nation in prayer for our leaders and country. It is really beautiful when someone prays for you without you knowing. It s the highest form of respect and care. Knights of Columbus Supporting the formation of new priests and religious is very important to the Knights of Columbus. Michigan Councils and Assemblies have contributed over $212,000 so far this year to the program which contributes money directly to seminarians and postulates. Councils also recognize their pastors and chaplains through various events such as Clergy Appreciation Dinners and contributing to Pastor Project Funds. We need your help to provide our good works. If you d like to be part of a group that makes a difference in society, please email: k.krause@mikofc.org. Follow the Light ~ Impressionist painter Claude Monet, a master at capturing the effects of light on landscapes, often found the process harrowing. He would paint the same scene with a dozen canvases and still not be satisfied. While trying to capture the color of an Italian landscape, Monet wrote: I m afraid what I m doing is just dreadful and yet I really am understating it; the light is simply terrifying. Monet s Water Lilies, his final masterpiece in the study of light, was completed well after he had lost most of his sight. In the end, he had overcome his fears and learned to be the light. Our mission as Christians is similar: to painstakingly master our doubts and become one with the Light of Christ.