Dear Parish Family,
Happy Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe! In this last week of the church’s liturgical year, the Gospel directs our focus on the end times, when Christ the King will sit in judgment of all peoples, putting an end to the evil that has caused so much suffering and sadness and bringing his faithful ones to their final and highest end, the contemplation of God.
We all want our loved ones to be among the sheep and not among the goats. Who in your life is in danger of being a goat? Who in your life is rejecting or ignoring God and is blind to the needs of others? Bishop Boyea has asked all the faithful throughout the Diocese of Lansing to use this weekend as a time to recommit to the evangelization efforts we began this time last year to “seek out the lost sheep,” that is, to invite Catholics who have fallen away from the practice of the faith. Who in your life has lost their way?
This year, from now until the next Diocesan Assembly in September 2018 at the Breslin Center, is the time for us to reach out to those in our lives who have lost their way. And we do so by beginning with ourselves, by growing in our faith so that it has a transformative effect on our lives. After encountering Jesus in his Church, then we go and invite others to join us. So that’s the theme that we have throughout the entire diocese this next year, that we “Grow and Go.”
Eucharistic Adoration Changes Lives!
This is because Jesus changes lives, and in the Eucharist, we encounter him!
- On Friday, December 1, Fr. Brian will lead us in our semi-annual powerful evening of adoration, “O Come, Let Us Adore Him.” Prelude music begins at 7:00 p.m., and Eucharistic Adoration begins at 7:30 p.m. It is a great way to focus on the “reason for the season,” as next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. So block out Friday evening for a meeting with Jesus!
- Then, we will have a Eucharistic Adoration Mission led by Fr. Declan Gibson, a member of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist, who goes all over the world to preach Eucharistic missions and retreats! Join him for two holy hours on Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on both December 11 and 12! Save the dates!
Catholics Come Home!
Finally, be prepared to welcome new faces during the holiday season! The Diocese of Lansing will be airing television commercials during the Advent and Christmas seasons with the theme, “Catholics Come Home!” beginning December 6 on all the major networks, as well as some cable channels.
We want any new or returning folks to feel a warm welcome. That’s part of why we now have greeters. We could use more, so if you’re interested, please call our Coordinator of Parish Life, Shayne Slough at the parish office (or email shayne@saintjohnjackson.org).
Even if you’re not a greeter, if you see a new face, please greet and introduce yourself to them after Mass. Don’t be a scrooge! Jesus said in today’s Gospel, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.”
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Chas