Feast of the Holy Trinity

Dear Parishioners,

There are certain things in this world that defy description. There are physical and spiritual wonders that boggle the mind. They are truly impressive and life would never be the same without them. We can and do stand in wonder of them, often times going miles out of our way just to look in awe and amazement.

Sometimes, those wonders are miraculous and right in front of our faces, yet we don’t see them and if we do, certainly don’t understand them. This Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Trinity is one of those inexplicable wonders of our faith. Three distinct and equal persons, but one God. Each of the three connected in ways we will never understand but separate in ways they touch and love us as God, the Father/Creator; Son of God/Word made flesh; and Sanctifier/Unifier of love. We don’t understand but we believe. We believe and aspire to join them and live with them for all eternity.

This Monday we commemorate and remember all those who have given their lives in defense of and in service to our country. We thank them for responding to the call of military service and for making the supreme sacrifice. We honor them, remembering their dying in our prayers as we ask God to bless and hold them in His loving embrace forever.

What a wonderful weekend. We remember, we celebrate and we believe in a God who loves us without end, as we commemorate those who have given their all for their friends, family and country. As we ponder God’s Trinitarian presence and love, we thank God for giving us these brave men and women. It truly defies all description.

Love and Peace, Fr. Andy

Did You Know…

Dear Parishioners,

This came across my desk and I wanted to share it with you. Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman:

“Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?   Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%. The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people – not just Catholics – in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. 

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church.  You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.  Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States.  Then remember what Jeremiah said: ‘Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls’.  Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you’re a Catholic!!! 
 
God bless, Fr. Bernie Carlin

Fr. Ed – New Appointment

Dear St. Alphonsus family,

I wish to share some news.  Back in January, I started a process of personal spiritual discernment.  It included a heartfelt dialogue with my Redemptorist Provincial superiors regarding the possibility of ministry in the Archdiocese of Detroit.  The reason is to facilitate my presence and aid for my ailing parents. With the permission of our Redemptorist leadership, I began the months – long process of exploring possibilities with representatives of the Archdiocese.  As a result, if all goes as planned, Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit will appoint me associate pastor of two parishes: St. Joseph and St. Timothy, in Trenton, MI, effective July 1, 2010, for the period of one year.   I will be assisting Fr. Brad Forintos, who is pastor and administrator of both parishes. Our Redemptorist superiors are in the final negotiations with the Archdiocese.  I will continue to be a member of the Redemptorist community of St. Alphonsus in Grand Rapids, with residence in Trenton, MI.

It is good to know that I will not be the only Redemptorist in the Detroit area!  Deacon Fawaz Kako, CSsR, also of our Grand Rapids community, will be ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church on July 3, 2010.   It is the Eastern rite Church into which he was baptized in his native Iraq.  He will be associate pastor in residence in the vicinity of Warren, MI where a new parish, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, has been established by the Chaldean Eparchy (diocese) of St. Thomas the Apostle.  A third member of our Grand Rapids community, Fr. Rich Luberti, CSsR, is associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Maybee, MI and resides there.  He is very skilled in American Sign Language and works with the deaf in Atlanta, GA each month. So we will be three Redemptorists in the Detroit area, in special circumstances, and coming together fraternally from time to time.  The Redemptorists have been in Detroit and its environs since our arrival in the USA, in 1832.

All Redemptorists – brothers, deacons, and priests, are missionaries.  We all are sent forth in the name of the greater Redemptorist Congregation to live and minister in local Churches (dioceses).  Gratefully, I ask for your kind prayers for my new ministry. Please continue to pray for me and for my family.  Stay tuned for more information.

Many blessings, Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R

Fr. Ed’s mailing address as of June 24

St. Timothy Church, 2901 Manning Drive, Trenton, MI 48183-3498

Medical Response Team

Calling all interested medical professionals of St. Alphonsus! Please join us on May 20th at 6:00 pm in the Parish Center Lounge (enter through the doors closest to the Rectory). We will brainstorm on ways to develop a medical emergency response for parish events. Call Ann Lepech at 447-8159 with questions.

Nutrition Seminar – May 13

If you went to see a registered dietician about weight loss it would cost you $100 or more, but at St. Al’s it is FREE! Please join Melanie Ross, RD and your St. Al’s family on May 13th in the Parish Center at 6:30 pm. Enter through the doors closest to the Rectory and follow the signs. Come and learn how to care for your body-Christ’s temple.

Mother’s Day

Dear Parishioners,

“The world is alive with the grandeur of God.”  This line is from “God’s Grandeur” by Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.  Each time I hear or say this phrase it encourages in me so many possibilities. Hopkins writes about his poem, its words and thoughts, like this: “God is so deeply present to everything that it would be impossible for him but for his infinity not to be identified with them or, from the other side, impossible but for his infinity so to be present to them.”  (Hopkins POEMS, p57)

Being a photographer, I look at so many different things and see so much wonder that I can’t really help but think that my photography is prayer, direct communication with God.  At this time of the year, I don’t really need a camera as newness returns to us in the form of spring and the awakening of the earth from winter’s hibernation.  The most obvious is the return of flowers as they blossom and the earth’s grandeur shows forth.   

The earth spruces up for the changing season and beauty comes to us.  Today we celebrate this wonderful day of beauty in each of our lives, Mother’s Day.  I remember as a child that I always thought my mom was the most beautiful woman in the world and to me she is.  As I grow older, my idea of beauty changes and all of the interiority that my mother shared with me makes her more beautiful.  She shared the things that to her were important to pass on to me, one of her five children:  the Broadway Theater, walks in the rain, watching an angry sea, cooking and independence and so much more. Through her ways she taught me her own gateways to God and her world lives on in me.

I can’t say thank you enough to God for all of the grandeur of my Mom and all other women who live on and in my daily life. Thank you all so very, very much.

On this special day, open your hearts to these wonderful women who live in and live on in your lives. 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

 Blessings and love, Fr. Denis

First Communion

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday we celebrate First Communion for 23 children of our parish at the 11:00am Mass. They have been preparing for this day for several months and finally their Eucharistic day has come. Just a few short weeks ago we welcomed 17 adults into our parish family. At the Eucharistic banquet there is room for all and we gladly welcome these new participants to the table.

As we participate and pray with the new comers, maybe we could take a few moments to remember that day when we were welcomed to the table of the Lord. I was the age of these children today, that day many years ago in my home town parish of St. Colette, when I made my First Communion. I remember that there were close to fifty of us and we were all dressed in white – the girls in dresses and the boys with red ties. We were cleaned up and proud as we walked up the center aisle. I don’t recall now, much of what happened that day, but do remember how close I felt to God and how much Jesus loved me. I have felt that same way on a few occasions in my life: when I was confirmed; when I made my vows as a Redemptorist; and when I was ordained; and at my father’s funeral mass. On those special days, I felt alive in Christ love and protected in his embrace. I sensed that Jesus was with me in his totality and all things were possible. I felt special and I knew that I was loved by God.

Hopefully, all of you have similar remembrances and look back to your First Communion day as one of the greatest days of your lives. Hopefully, that same experience of God’s love and oneness in Christ still fills your heart every time you receive the Eucharist. And hopefully, for these children today the memory lingers forever and ever.

God loves us all and may all of us have a great Eucharistic Day!

Fr. Andy