From the Pastor’s Desk by Fr. Terry Kerner,
Now that our prayers have led to the Wolverines becoming National Champions, we should focus on our Detroit Lions! What a great time for football fans! I am sure your prayers made the difference.
The Holidays are behind us, and we are gradually putting away decorations. The Santa Bears will remain out for another week allowing for family pictures. With the calendar being what it was this year and its blending of weekends, Holiday feasts and celebrations all seemed to go so quickly. I want to thank everyone for your greetings and gifts this year. I am trying to get “thank you” notes to everyone amidst all our parish activities. Hopefully things will slow down for a few weeks.
While we hope for quiet days, we can’t help but notice that Lent begins in four weeks. This is about as early as Lent and ultimately Easter (March 31) happens. Ash Wednesday falls on February 14 — one month from this Sunday, January fourteenth. We will be ready.
The Church celebrates specific seasons of the year which include Advent and Christmas and Lent and Easter seasons. When not observing these distinctive aspects in the life of Christ we honor the mystery of His life in our world His presence for us. This is called “Ordinary Time” —a thirty-week period when the readings point to the salvation wrought by Christ for us. Some of the most colorful and memorable miracles are portrayed in the gospels in Ordinary Time.
January for many years has allowed for a time to support the Pro-Life efforts of the Church in the United States. Annually thousands gather in Washington D.C. for the Pro-Life march and peaceful demonstration. Thousands of high school students and young adults participate giving witness to their faith and values. We should pray in thanksgiving for their courage and commitment. We will have that opportunity to do just that this Wednesday, January 17 for a special holy hour and benediction after the 9:00 mass. All are encouraged to attend, or while at home, to observe some quiet and prayerful time for the Pro-Life movement across our land. May God bless all who work for Life!
Have a warm week.
T h e D e a c o n i s “ S p e a k i n ” .
Please join along with parishioners from St. Alphonsus – St. Clement, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Barbara ’s, Maria Goretti and Catholics across the nation for: The 2024 National Prayer Vigil for Life, Holy Hour and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament January 17th at 9:45am, following the (9:00am Mass) At St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish
Join us as we ask our Lord to inspire a culture of life in the hearts and minds of all people. A culture that values and cares for the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death
“A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God , the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer”. —Pope Saint John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae n.100
