Hello Corpus Christi Family, I pray this bulletin finds you staying safe, healthy and full of the love of Jesus on your Advent journey! I have an important update this week regarding the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Families of Parishes initiative.
Back in June when this initiative was first announced I sent a letter out to all registered households. For context I’d like to bring back a few paragraphs from that letter:
On Pentecost Sunday the Archbishop made an important announcement regarding a new direction he has discerned the Holy Spirit is leading the Archdiocese in the Unleash the Gospel Movement. This new step will involve parishes joining together to form families of parishes.
The Archbishop has explained that: "The current health and economic crises have disrupted our lives and the life of the Church. This new reality has exacerbated some of the challenges we were already facing. Even before the pandemic, we knew that the way we function in our parishes needed to change. In addition to the shortage of priests available to serve in our parishes and the shortage of vocations for future ordinations, the parish structures we inherited served our mission well in the past, but they needed to be renewed and aligned for mission."
In the letter I referenced a very helpful website, which is continually updated by the Archdiocese and has lots of information about Families of Parishes
Over the summer and fall, with the help of the parish council, leadership team, pastoral team and the assistance of responses received from a survey sent out to the parish via bulk email, I attended a series a meetings with Trinity Vicariate (the parishes around us) pastors and administrators to see which parishes might become a family. In the end, my thinking was that Corpus Christi could work well with any of the parishes in our vicariate.
The Vicariate submitted some recommendations to the Archdiocese. The official announcement of which parishes would be in which family was made on Wednesday, December 9th. You can find the comprehensive list at the families of parishes website in the other column. Corpus Christi has been assigned to Trinity Vicariate Family 1, which consists of: Corpus Christi, Presentation – Our Lady of Victory, SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), St. Juan Diego, St. Mary of Redford, and St. Scholastica.
Our family of parishes has been assigned to Wave 1 of the process and will begin a process of preparation in January that will help get the parishes ready to become a family beginning July 1. My sense is that this Families of Parishes initiative is about to become front and center in my ministry as parish administrator. I intend to work collaboratively with the Leadership Team, Pastoral Team, Parish Council and Finance Council in particular (while not excluding others) to help lead Corpus Christi into this new Family of Parishes. I expect to be updating you frequently via bulletin, bulk email, weekly announcement and any other necessary forms of communication on the progress of this initiative.
I highly encourage you to spend some time on the families of parishes website if you haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet. It’s important to note that this move is not a cluster or merger and that Corpus Christi still remains its own parish.
More to come…until then, Love you & Bless you! -- Fr. Patrick
2. This Weekend’s Livestreamed Mass This weekend our Corpus Christi 4pm Saturday Mass will be livestreamed and recorded. The Mass may be viewed at 4pm and the recording may be viewed any time after the Mass. Click on the button below to view the Mass.
3. Homily Handout from Last Weekend’s Masses We distributed homily handouts after Masses last weekend. They simply remind us of our Advent journeying closer to the Lord. We need to HEAR the Gospel message and GRASP the point of the reading. We then need to REMEMBER the message. Most importantly, we need to have the Lord’s message have an IMPACT on our lives. Below is a copy of those handouts. Blessings on YOUR Advent efforts. Dcn Paul
B. Reminders
4. Giving Tree: Version 2020 – Deadline: Give by Dec. 13th! Announcing a three weekend Advent Giving Tree event brought to you by Corpus Christi’s Social Justice Committee and Christian Service. The beneficiaries of this year’s collection will be members of Corpus Christi Parish and families in our Parish boundaries who find themselves unable to provide for their needs during this blessed Christmas season.
In the interest of keeping things simple and Covid safe here’s what you can do to help:
While you are out shopping anyway, PICK UP either a Kroger, Meijer or Target gift card—any denomination will be put to good use. DROP OFF your donation at the back of church at either the 4pm or 11 am Mass November 28, 29 or December 5, 6 or December 12, 13. If you’re not going out you can MAIL a check to Corpus Christi Parish at 19800 Pembroke, Detroit, MI 48219. Make checks payable to Corpus Christi Parish and write Giving Tree on the memo line. Donation envelopes will also be available at the back of church.
We will distribute your donations to families on Saturday, December 19 so they will be able to shop for food or gifts prior to Christmas. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and understanding of the unique challenges of Christmas giving this year. Continuing thanks and wishes for blessings in abundance for remaining Christ’s Light in our little corner of the world.
5. News on our parish Virtual Christmas Party – Dec. 12th The Corpus Christi Hospitality Committee is excited to announce a virtual family Christmas Party on Saturday, December 12 from 7 pm to 8 pm.Attend on line from the comfort of your cozy home!
WIN GIFT CARD PRIZES playing games like: Name That Tune—Holiday Version, go on a Scavenger Hunt for items found at home.And, featuring the official fashion accessory of 2020—the face mask, we will be having an ugly Christmas face mask contest.Let your creativity shine!
We will also have our traditional Christmas Carol sing along and maybe a visit from a special guest.
Grab a cup of cheer and something to munch and join us!Here’s the link to the party.Log in anytime after 6:45 pm.The party will begin at 7 pm.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82050721358?pwd=N290clZpQW1FS2FkQlp5L0pZNElydz09 . If you don’t have internet access you can join by phone by calling 312 626 6799 and using Meeting ID: 820 5072 1358 and Passcode: 013933
6. Generations of Faith -- Adults – Who is Jesus? Renew Reflect Respond Generations of Faith 2020/21 What is your favorite name or title for Jesus? Explore what the Church and believers say about Jesus in the FORMED video titled: Who is Jesus? Just a Good Man or Lord of our Lives? (The third video in the Generations of Faith series.) Reflect on your beliefs about Jesus and your favorite name/title for Jesus by using the Reflection Questions on the Generations of Faith Handout. Listen to Christopher, Nneka, David, and Udoka (4 Corpus Christi young adults) share their thoughts about Jesus including their favorite names/titles for Him. Their discussion follows the video. Respond to help build a Word Cloud. Use the form at the bottom of the Generations of Faith page on the parish website or email Corpus Christi at [email protected] with your favorite name/title of Jesus. Click theButton below to go to the parish website
To print the handout: Click on Session 3 Handouts/Adults
To see the video: click on Generation of Faith Videos then on ADULTS 2020-2021SESSION THREE
Find out where Mary is in the Bible. Mary is the perfect example of a follower of Jesus. And by the way do you know the four reasons that Jesus became man? Be sure to watch the videos and reference the handouts.
8. Renewal of the Mind: Fr. Patrick’s 90-sec. daily video and a NEW 30-minute weekly audio broadcast Fr. Patrick’s daily video draws guidance for the day from the Mass Scriptures of the day. The message is there … 90 seconds …POW! The NEW item is the 30-minute weekly audio broadcast. It can be reached at any time of day or night, any day of the week.
9. AOD Advent On-Line Retreat The Mass: When Heaven Touches Earth Prepare for Christmas by rediscovering the beauty of the Mass. Several priests will explore four parts of the Mass with discussion led by Fr. Steve Pullis via livestream on Monday evenings at 7:30pm. Click on the button below to view the livestream.
Nov. 30th – Why the Mass? – Fr. Patrick Gonyeau Dec. 7th – Why the Incarnation? – Fr. Craig Giera Dec. 14th – Why the Eucharist? – Msgr. Charles Kosanke Dec. 21st – Why Worship? – Fr.Lee Acervo
10. FORMED Advent Program for you and your family Join FORMED for the Road to Bethlehem, a journey that includes daily Advent reflections and enrichment. FORMED will be sending you handpicked videos, talks, and texts every day throughout Advent to nourish your spiritual life. Sign up today to prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus at Christmas!
11. Liturgy schedule - weekdays Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30am Mass Saturdays: 1:00 – 3:00pm – Confessions in Reconciliation Rm in church
12. Links for viewing or registering for this weekend’s MassesOur Masses are: Saturday, 4pm; Sunday 11am. The 11am Mass is the Mass most often livestreamed. Click on the button below for viewing the Mass.
If you have not registered (by noon on Saturday) to attend Mass in person and you still wish to attend a Mass at church this weekend please: - park in the parking lot a little ahead of Mass time, - go to the parking lot side entrance, - and ask the staff at that doorway if there is still available room. If there is room in church they will do a check-in process for you.