Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Carrier Crest Building, 205 Carrier St. NE.  The next meeting is March 9 and the topic will be “Sadness through Cancer.” Contact Br. Andy Patin, C.Ss.R. at 616-913-4413.

I would like to explain to all of you how I came to understand the meaning of snowflakes and all that they bring into our lives.

Having my knee replaced was one thing, but then facing the surgeries related to my “compartment syndrome” crisis was another.  Something so inexplicable until one day I was looking out the window of my hospital room and I began to wonder about the role that snowflakes play in our lives: two different roles whether as grown-ups or in the purity of being a child.

It is much easier to look at a world decorated in white if one is a child.  Our hearts and mind’s eye come alive and we see a world that is oh so different.  We adults can see the pristine beauty of the Vancouver Mountains as NBC broadcasts the Winter Olympics, but as a child we see things innocently: angels, snowmen, castles and igloos, sleigh runs and maybe a snowball fight or two. 

When was the last time you stood upwind in a snow storm threw your arms out to your sides, opened your mouth and caught snowflakes on you?  Do you remember catching a snowflake on your finger and watching it change as the heat of your body turns it back into water?

One of the nurses came into my room one day, a day when many of you had come to visit and brought gifts.  She was standing at the table where many of the cards and gifts were assembled and she began to laugh.  I asked her, “What is so funny?” “Do you eat any regular food?”  The table was piled high in snacks, candies, cookies, nuts and the like.  I had to admit that I do not have the greatest diet in the world.

One morning, I awoke and opened the curtain in the room, it was snowing outside and the child in me came alive as I stared over the gift table to the falling snow outside. My imagination began to roll snowballs and make them bigger so that I could create a snowman and decorate it with my M&M’s for buttons, peppermints for eyes, and raisins for a mouth and pretzels for a nose.

Then I created another snowman, this one was a mailman whose sack, a pillowcase, was filled with cards and letters wishing me well.  Smaller this time, I built the children decorated in candies and goodies with their hands formed in prayers representing all of you who sent your love and your prayers…  I could have gone on and on as my gift table had an endlessupply of stuff.

Each of the snowmen is just like all of you.  You see one snowman, but how many snowflakes?  Like the gift table all of you have reached out to me caring for me, wishing me well, praying for me and calling allowing me to hear your voices.   Each visitor brought not only their well wishes, but the wishes of many others as well.

Recovery has not been easy, but the wonder of it all is it snowed and brought all of you with the gift of God’s healing and care.  My gratitude and blessings on all of you, snowflakes will have new meanings for me.

Love, Fr. Denis

Fr. Seelos was born on January 11, 1819 in Füssen, Bavaria, Germany.  After studying for the Priesthood in Germany, he asked to be admitted to the Congregation of the most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) for ministry to German-speaking immigrants in the United States.  In 1844, he was ordained a priest at the Redemptorist Church of Saint James in Baltimore.  His availability and innate kindness in understanding and responding to the needs of the faithful made him so renowned as an expert confessor and spiritual director that people came to him even from neighboring towns.  Seelos ministered for a time in Pittsburgh, Cumberland, and Annapolis.  From 1863 -1866  Seelos dedicated himself to the life of an itinerant missionary preacher in English and German in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

After a brief period of parish ministry in Detroit, Fr. Seelos was assigned in 1866 to the Redemptorist Church of St. Mary’s Assumption in New Orleans.  He was known to be joyfully available to his faithful and singularly concerned for the poorest and most abandoned.  In God’s plan, however, his ministry in New Orleans was destined to be brief.   By September 1867, exhausted from visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever, Seelos contracted the dreaded disease and entered into eternal life on October 4, 1867, at the age of forty-eight years and nine months.

The enduring renown for his holiness occasioned his Cause for Canonization to be introduced in 1900.  A century later, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II beatified Father Seelos on April 9 of the Solemn Jubilee Year 2000.  He awaits one more miracle for canonization!

Fr. Bernie Carlin, C.Ss.R.

Cost: $8.00 adults, $7.00 seniors, $4.00 children under 12, under 3 are free.

Come and enjoy all you can eat baked or fried Walleye, baked potato or French Fries, cole slaw, mac and cheese, sour dough rolls and delicious desserts. Grilled cheese is also available for non fish eaters. See you there!

This week’s dessert features your specialty dessert. Please help us out by bringing your specialty dessert to the Parish Center (use the service door off Leonard Street) anytime Friday or when you come to the fish fry.

Let’s reflect on a biblical perspective of Lent. Ash Wednesday and Lent began as a way for Catholics to remind themselves to repent of their sins in a similar manner to how people in the Old Testament repented in sackcloth, ashes, and fasting.

However, over the centuries Lent has developed a much more “sacramental” value. Many Catholics erroneously understand giving something up for Lent as a way to gain blessing from God. The Bible does not teach that such acts in themselves get us closer to God. In fact, the New Testament teaches us that our acts of fasting and repentance should be done in a manner that does not attract attention to ourselves: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Fasting is a good thing when it is done with a biblical perspective. If you feel led by the Lord to observe Lent, you are free to do so, not forced. Be sure to focus on repenting from your sins and consecrating yourself to God – not on trying to earn God’s favor or increase His love for you!

Fr. Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.

Join us as we journey through Lent. A Mission week presented by the Redemptorists of our Parish.

We will conclude our Mission with a Parish Penance Service on Monday, March 15 at 7:00 pm.

Volunteers are needed for the Mission as greeters, for childcare, bakers, phone callers, mailers, drivers and clean-up. Contact Marilyn Rupinski at 949-8926 if you can help.

Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by everyone 18 years of age and older, who has not yet celebrated their 59th birthday. On a fast day, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals—enough to maintain strength—may be taken, according to each one’s needs. But together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but consuming liquids, including milk and juices, is allowed.

Abstinence is observed on ALL Fridays of Lent by everyone 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence no meat is allowed.

Note that when health or the ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. If a person is unable to observe the above regulations due to ill health or other serious reasons, other suitable forms of self denial are encouraged.

St. Alphonsus Lent Calendar

St. Alphonsus Holy Week Schedule

Cost: $8.00 adults, $7.00 seniors, $4.00 children under 12, under 3 are free.

Come and enjoy all you can eat baked or fried Walleye, baked potato or French Fries, cole slaw, mac and cheese, sour dough rolls and delicious desserts. Grilled cheese is also available for non fish eaters. See you there!

This week’s dessert features your ‘favorite’ desserts. Please help us out by bringing your favorite dessert to the Parish Center (use the service door off Leonard Street) anytime Friday or when you come to the fish fry.