Holy Family Catholic Parish Newsletter Rev. Loc Q. Trinh, Pastor 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org February 2016 Blessed Mother Teresa Exhibit of Love & Mercy Schedule: Sunday, January 31: After 9am Mass: Soft Opening until 10:45 am After 11am Mass: Parish Lunch Approximately 1pm: Special Presentation on the Life of Blessed Teresa Exhibit opens following the speaker until 4:00pm Monday, February 1: Exhibit & Veneration: 10am-3:30pm; 6:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday, February 2: Exhibit & Veneration: 10am-6pm; 6:30-8:30pm (closed for 6pm Mass) Wednesday, February 3: Exhibit & Veneration: 10am-5:30pm (9am Mass) Lenten Soup Suppers and STATIONS OF THE CROSS every Friday during Lent beginning February 12, 2016 6pm Soup Suppers 7pm STATIONS
Holy Family Mass/Weekly Schedule Saturday: 5:00pm Sunday: 9:00 & 11:00am Tuesday: 6:00pm Wed.-Fri. 9:00am Adoration: Thurs: 9:30am-7pm Coffee and Donuts Sundays after 9am and 11am Mass Liturgy of Word for Children: Sundays during Masses Sacraments Baptism & Sacrament of Matrimony: (616) 891-8867 Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00-4:30pm Office Hours: 8:30-4:30 M-Th, Fri 8:30-12:00 Phone: 616-891-9259 Fax: 616-891-1346 Website: www.holyfamilycaledonia.org Pastor: Fr. Loc Trinh pastor@holyfamilycaledonia.org Cancellations It s that time of year again when inclement Winter weather conditions make it necessary to cancel some scheduled activities at Holy Family. If Caledonia Schools close or are dismissed early, all Holy Family ministries are cancelled for the remainder of the day. You may sign up to receive a text message from www.woodtv.com. Click the drop down box more at the top right hand corner of the page. Select text alerts and this will take you to the page you need. Enter your contact information and check the boxes that apply. Under the Organization, type in Holy Family Parish Caledonia. This will enable you to receive Text Messages on your phone, should there be cancellations. You may also check online at the local media, such as WOOD, WZZM, and Fox 17. What s happening at Holy Family... February 2016 2/1 Mother Teresa Exhibit 10am-3:30pm, 6:30-8:30pm 2/2 Mother Teresa Exhibit 10am-6pm, 6:30-8:30pm 2/3 Mother Teresa Exhibit 10am-5:30pm EL Choir Practice 5:30pm 2/4 Order of the Secular Franciscans 7pm 2/6 Parish Appreciation Celebration 6-10pm 2/7 No CFF MS/HS Classes 2/9 St. Anne s Moms Group Mtg. 7pm 2/10 Ash Wednesday Ashes only at 7am. Mass at 12:15 and 7pm CFF No Classes or Gym 2/12 Soup Supper 6-7pm Stations of the Cross 7pm 2/14 K of C Pancake Breakfast 10am Catholic Schools Admissions Advocates between Masses MS Choir Practice 4pm 2/17 CCW General Membership Mtg 1pm El Choir Practice 5:30pm 2/18 All Councils Meeting 6:30pm 2/19 Soup Supper 6-7pm Stations of the Cross 7pm Speaker Series: Visit the Sick 7:30pm High School 24 Hour Fast Retreat 2/20 High School 24 Hour Fast Retreat 2/21 K-1(2) Choir Practice 10:15am Top of the Hill Gang 12:30pm MS Choir Practice 4pm 2/24 EL Choir Practice 5:30pm 2/25 K of C General Membership Mtg. 7:30pm Sacrament of Penance available 5-8pm 2/26 Soup Supper 6-7pm Stations of the Cross 7pm 2/28 K-1(2) Choir Practice 10:15am MS Choir Practice 4pm Holy Family Parish has a Continued Need for Adorers Thank you to all who have already said Yes to Adoration. You are filling a world need for prayer, as well as a parish need for prayer and for adorers. God will richly bless you in return. We are asking a small time commitment of only one hour, one day a week. Adoration takes place in the chapel on Thursdays, between 9:30am and 7 pm. It is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with Our Lord. If you have you been considering a ministry to serve in at Holy Family Parish, please consider Weekly Adoration. You will find much needed peace, and a richness of blessings that come in return for your quiet time with Jesus. For more information or to sign up, call Nancy Jacobs at 616-275-1393 2
Works of Mercy for the month of February Visiting the Sick For some of us, this Works of Mercy may be a hard thing to do. For instance, I know my sister does not like to visit hospitals. She does not like the smell of a hospital, or the thought of how sick people are to be in the hospital. But she has a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. She just does not do it at the hospital. When I think of how Jesus healed the sick in his love and mercy, those who were physically, mentally and emotionally sick, I know that he expects me to help those who are in need too. I try to do this by visiting the sick and taking them the Eucharist. Being a homebound minister, and taking the Eucharist to our friends who are sick, or physically unable to attend Mass, has turned out to be one of the biggest blessings in my life. But it was not just something I decided to do one day. I had been an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for several years, but it wasn t until I had taken communion to a friend of mine, who was dying of cancer, that God delivered to me a gift I was not expecting. I had visited Jim one Sunday after Mass to take him communion. We said our greetings and discussed how he was feeling. Since Jim was very sick with his cancer he had a hospital bed in his living room which allowed him to look out his window at the beautiful lake he lived on. I asked him if he was ready for his communion and he said, Sure. I was not sure what I was doing; I only knew I was going to share Christ with him through the Eucharist. We prayed the Lord s Prayer together and then I gave him the host. After a few moments of silence, Jim looked up at me with a smile on his face and I asked him how I did. He shrugged his shoulders and said, You did okay. You see, Jim was a homebound minister himself and had been doing this ministry for several years. But his cancer had gotten the best of him and he was unable to get out and visit the sick any longer. He smiled at me and asked me if I would like him to teach me how he did his ministry. For the next hour and a half Jim shared with me stories of his homebound friends, how blest he felt being able to take Christ to the sick and the process he followed when ministering to the sick. His gentleness and friendly delivery was a blessing and a memory I still hold dear in my heart today. Instead of me ministering to Jim, I was the one who received the ministering that day. Jim died a couple of weeks later and I was so grateful for that Sunday I spent with him and I knew that God was calling me to follow in his path. I now minster to the same Assisted Living home in Middleville as Jim did and to others as well. I look forward to visiting my home bound friends and even though I am ministering to them, the gifts I receive in return are much more abundant. Visiting the sick is a simple and easy way to show God s mercy on those who are in need. Whether it s a sick child, an ailing parent, someone whose heart is broken, don t worry about how to do it, God will send the Holy Spirit to lead you and hold your hand. I know this by experience, God sent me Jim! Pete Murray, Parishioner Jubilee of Mercy Speaker Series February: Visit the Sick Our February speaker series will feature Mary Evett. Mary has been in a number of ministry positions and volunteer roles where she can speak to us about this important corporal work of mercy of visiting the sick. Mary will share about visiting the hospitalized; the homebound; those in hospice; those in long term care facilities; those struggling with mental health or chronic pain; and those with emotional, cognitive and developmental disabilities. We will hear how the act of mercy of caring for the vulnerable among us lends mercy to our lives. With most people having experienced illness themselves or have a family or friend who has been sick and needed visits, this talk is sure to be a good reflection of the command from Jesus to visit the sick. Friday, Feb. 19 following Soup & Stations! Come for Soup at 6, Stations at 7, and Mary Evett at about 7:30-8:30pm. 3
Enrich LENTEN YOUR IN THIS YEAR OF MERCY WITH A SMALL GROUP STUDY ON MEDITATION SEVEN DEADLY SINS & SEVEN LIVELY VIRTUES Pride, envy, anger, sloth, glu ony, avarice, and lust are all pa erns of dysfunc on within us that lead to unhappiness. Bishop Barron looks at Dante s wri ngs and explains the nature of these sins and offers a corresponding virtue for each one, giving prac cal advice on how to ins ll this virtue in your own life. We are shown how to counteract the seven pa erns through a conscious process of opposi on. This Lent, begin the journey from sin to holiness with Bishop Robert Barron s study: Seven Deadly Sins & Seven Lively Virtues. Bishop Barron is an acclaimed author and theologian, podcaster, now Bishop, and one of the world s great and most innova ve teachers of the Catholic faith. He is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. Presenter: Bishop Robert Barron Format: DVD/study guide/small group Who: all adults When: First week of Lent (Feb. 14) end of April Duration: eight 90 minute sessions Location: Holy Family Parish Time: see registration Homework: none Childcare: possibly available for low cost and preregistration mark on registration Registration: use sign up form below More information & Preview Video: youtube/ Z40VgWjOscI Cost: $17.00 Materials: participant book, Bible Encouraged Materials: NAB Bible, Catechism of the Catholic Church Adult Faith Forma on Small Group Registra on LENT 2016 SEVEN DEADLY SINS & SEVEN LIVELY VIRTUES Name Phone Email Please include payment with registration. Use Lent Small Group on memo line of checks or on PayPal payment on the parish website. No one will be turned away if financial need would keep you away. I may need childcare. Please contact me. I would be willing to host a group and/or serve as a small group facilitator. (Training and support provided) Availability*: (circle all that apply, as groups must have 4+ people) 6:30 or 7am: Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri 10am: Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri 7pm: Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Saturdays: 8am ~ 10am ~ a er 5pm Mass Sundays: a er 9am Mass ~ a er 11am Mass ~ 5pm ~ 7pm You will receive an email the week before program begins with your group assignment, location and leader. Questions? Contact Christine Shafer: 616-891-8867 x224, cshafer@holyfamilycaledonia.org 4
Thank you to all who braved the weather and gave the gift of life by donating blood at the Caledonia Community Churches drive on January 12. 53 donors attempted to donate, with a total of 46 (4 under goal) pints of blood collected and one first time donor. Fabulous results considering the weather. We are blessed to have such dedicated blood donors. A special thank you to all volunteers who support this lifesaving ministry: Shirley Campbell, Jim Shoaf and Deb Hazelbach. Congratulations to those who earned their respective blood donation gallon levels: Dan Casey (26 gallons), Lou Cizauskas (14 gallons), Todd Quigley (5 gallons) and Dennis Field (1 gallon). Eight donations = one gallon. By sharing 45 min. of time you could save someone s life. You only need to be at least 16 years old (with parental permission), weigh 110 pounds and healthy. The next blood drive at Holy Family is March 15 Did you know that by signing up for the blood drive a month before will assist the blood center in assigning the correct number of staff to support the blood drive as well as reduce recruitment calls to you. If interested in donating blood you may sign up in the ministry hall, online at https://donate.miblood.org/ or call Char Mello, chairperson 616-901-2803. Please join us for good fellowship, trail mix and a surprise snack. Volunteers are needed to help with childcare sign up also in the ministry hall or call Char. Childcare is available (by appointment) during the blood drive. Ash Wednesday February 10, 2016 Lent is the time before Easter during which the faithful abstain and fast in remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary. It is a 40-day time of preparation before Easter, the memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus. There are two main ways that Catholics use to focus on growing closer to God during the Lenten season: abstinence and fasting. Who should be fasting? Those ages 18-59 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (Canon 97). On such days, those fasting may eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals, sufficient to maintain strength. However, together, the smaller meals should not equal a full meal. Eating between meals is not encouraged, but liquids are allowed. What is Abstinence? During Lent, we encouraged to undertake some sort of personal penance or abstinence. Examples include giving up sweets, a favorite TV show or not listening to the radio in the car on the way to work. Giving up these things isn't some sort of endurance test, but these acts are done to draw the faithful closer to Christ. Ash Wednesday liturgies: 7am Ash Service with No Eucharist 12:15pm Mass and Ashes, 7pm Mass and Ashes Continue to pray for.. Lent begins the Period of Purification and Enlightenment for our RCIA Catechuemns and Candidates. This period ends with the Easter Vigil. Lent is a time to prepare ourselves spiritually through repentance to celebrate the paschal mystery. During Lent, our RCIA Candidates and Catechumen will spiritually center and prepare to share in the Eucharist and receive the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil. The Catechumen will become the Elect at the Rite of Election at the Cathedral, proceeded by the Rite of Sending at Holy Family. Please continue to pray for our people preparing to enter the Catholic Church, and those discerning their path to the Church as inquirers. If you or someone you know would like to know more about becoming Catholic, please contact Christine Shafer in the parish office or cshafer@holyfamilycaledonia.org. For Your Lenten Journey Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation On Ash Wednesday, every family will be given a free copy of Rediscover Jesus: An Invita on by Ma hew Kelly as a gi through the leadership of Shawn Collins Grand Rapids Marathon fundraiser and parishioners of Holy Family. Thank you to their generosity! This great Catholic book can be read by you and then shared with others, a $15 retail value! The book is a 40 day reflec on, and so can be used perfectly with Lent. Remaining books will be available in the Narthex to parishioner families who were unable to get one on Ash Wednesday; please, one per family. The Dynamic Catholic Book Program... Inspiring Catholics. Energizing Parishes. I would like to thank you for all the Christmas blessings of cards and treats. I was touched by your thoughtfulness. May God bless you for your kindness. Fr. Loc 5
March 6-8, 2016 March 6: THE HEART OF THE FATHER (youth talk: 5pm: God s dream for you!) March 7: THE GREATEST GIFT March 8: SHARING THE GIFT Holy Family Catholic Parish 9669 Kraft Ave. SE, Caledonia MI Everyone Welcome 7pm Each Night Childcare Available Free-Will Donations Needed for the Parish Mission.. Desserts/cookies for refreshments following each night of the mission. Childcare help each night of the mission. Greeters and ushers for each night of the mission. Book sales for each night of the mission. Contact cshafer@holyfamilycaledonia.org if you would like to help. 6
Middle School Faith Formation Elementary Faith Formation Happenings A big thank you to all of the volunteers who helped to make our Confirmation Retreat such a success! It was a beautiful and fun-filled retreat. We had the opportunity to gather our 8th graders together for a weekend of learning, skits, discussions, praise & worship, games, and Eucharistic Adoration. We also invited the students sponsors to attend the retreat for a couple of hours to pray, learn, and grow with their candidates. In January our H2O kids focused on the Corporal Works of Mercy Shelter the Homeless. According to the United Nations, there are at least 100 million homeless in the world today. Our hearts reach out to the needs of the hungry and thirsty strangers on the streets. Here are four effective ways to help the homeless in our community: volunteer, respect, pray, and give. We learned about Comfort Sock Organization for the Homeless and Degage Ministries here in Grand Rapids. Be sure to read more about these wonderful organizations. Our students filled boxes and tables with personal care items, blessing bags, and socks for the homeless. We are very proud of them for helping to shelter the homeless especially during these cold months. All donations will be distributed through our food pantry and through Degage here in Grand Rapids. Thank you to everyone who participated! Karen Polak Elementary CFF Coordinator Please keep the Confirmation candidates in your prayers as we continue to prepare them for the Sacrament at the end of March! Whitney Pastrano Coordinator of Middle/High School Youth Ministry Men s Prayer Group. There is a new Men s Prayer Group at Holy Family that meets from 6:00-8:00 a.m. every Saturday morning. The Men begin with Adoration in the Chapel, coupled with Morning Prayer and the Rosary. After a brief coffee and cookie break, the Men review the Sunday readings, listen to a homily from Bishop Barron, and have a discussion. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and to grow in your faith. Join us at 6:00 a.m. Saturday! Ministry Opportunities Hands & Feet 4th & 5th Gr. Retreat March 5, 2016 10am-5pm Mass Come be Fearless with your Friends! More details will follow Save the Date Cave Quest VBS 2016 June 20 24 9am - 12pm No matter your age, there is a liturgical ministry for you! Use your gifts to serve God and parish. Consider becoming: Altar Server, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Music Minister, Usher, Greeter All you need is an open heart, and a desire to serve! We ll provide the training. For more information, contact Barb: directorofworship@holyfamilycaledonia.org 616-891-9259 ext. 238 (or stop by the music area after Mass) Holy Family has a Facebook Page! Look us up at Holy Family Parish Caledonia, and Like us. Stay updated on events and activities at our parish. 7
Holy Family Catholic Parish 9669 Kraft Ave., SE Caledonia, MI 49316 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID CALEDONIA, MI Permit #28 8