Corpus Christi July 2 email

Dear Corpus Christi Family,

I pray this email update finds you well, staying safe and radiating the love of Jesus as best as you can where you can. There are a few things I'd like to share an update with you about

First and foremost, I ask for your prayers for our Christian Service Coordinator Curtis Simpson Jr. who has tested positive for the Coronavirus. We spoke at length yesterday and thankfully his symptoms are mild. He has communicated with those who he has had any in person contact with lately to inform them so that they can take proper precautions and keep an eye out for any symptoms. Thankfully, Curtis (as much as anybody I know) is always wearing a mask and gloves. At this point he is self-quarantining and doing everything he can to try to keep his children from contracting the virus. Curtis is an amazing man of God and an AWESOME father, let's keep him and the children in prayer. The Outreach Center was electrostatic disinfected yesterday and is completely closed and Christian Service activities ceased at this time as Curtis quarantines. At this time, as Curtis is resting and focusing on taking care of his children, he respectfully asks that you refrain from contacting him. A lot of communication could be exhausting at this important juncture. Thank you for your understanding.
Join one of Corpus Christi's beloved son's Fr. John McKenzie for a special celebration at St. Anne de Detroit on Saturday, July 18th at 7:00pm honoring the African-American, Benin, Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda Cultures and their rich history in the Archdiocese of Detroit. This special mass is part of a nine-day novena of masses leading up to the celebration of the feast day of The Archdiocese of Detroit's patron saint, St. Anne, the mother of Mary. You can attend the mass in person or you can watch a live stream of the mass
This weekend, our livestream guru (Jason from Alpha Z productions) will be on vacation and so the 12:00pm mass will be livestreamed on the Corpus Christi Facebook Page and also on my personal Facebook Page We'll be going back to the old cell phone livestream that we started with so please forgive a slight reduction in picture and sound quality, but we'll still be trucking along in the Holy Spirit!

God bless you,

Fr. Patrick

Weekend Mass Registration:
Registration for attending Mass in person for this weekend will close on Saturday at noon. If you cannot decide by then and you still wish to attend a Mass in person at church this weekend please park in the parking lot, 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.

Click Here to Register for Mass

Fr. Patrick’s Holy Homework: Pray each morning “God, help me to think of myself as dead to sin and alive for God in Christ Jesus.” Then at breakfast take out your Bible and open it up to the Gospels. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your reading. Read until a verse or two speaks to you and grabs your attention. Write it down and carry it with you all day in your purse or your pocket. Take it out during the day. Look at it and let it continue to feed you, because you have grown together. Just like the branch that feeds off those roots, we got to keep feeding on God’s Word so it keeps transforming our minds … so we can say we are the shining smile of his love … so we can think of ourselves as dead to sin and living in God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

New, improved parish website is up! Just came live on June 29^th! “Welcoming” is a hallmark of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and the new site promises to be especially welcoming. Yes, the same web address! There are some places in the new website that ask for your assessment of this new work. Please let us know what’s going great and what needs some help.

Racism – A Mary Davis 2019 bulletin article:
HATE SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME A WAY OF LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. HERE ARE 10 BASIC PRICIPALS TO FIGHT HATE. TO READ MORE GO TO THE SOUTHERN POVERY LAW CENTER SITE. [Click on button below.]

Do something. In the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance by the perpetrators, the public, and — worse — the victims. Community members must take action; if we don’t, hate persists.

JOIN FORCES

Reach out to allies from churches, schools, clubs, and other civic groups. Create a diverse coalition. Include children, police, and the media. Gather ideas from everyone, and get everyone involved.

SUPPORT THE VICTIMS

Hate crime victims are especially vulnerable. If you’re a victim, report every incident — in detail — and ask for help. If you learn about a hate crime victim in your community, show support. Let victims know you care. Surround them with comfort and protection.

SPEAK UP

Hate must be exposed and denounced. Help news organizations achieve balance and depth. Do not debate hate group members in conflict-driven forums. Instead, speak up in ways that draw attention away from hate, toward unity.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

An informed campaign improves its effectiveness. Determine if a hate group is involved, and research its symbols and agenda. Understand the difference between a hate crime and a bias incident.

CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE

Do not attend a hate rally. Find another outlet for anger and frustration and for people’s desire to do something. Hold a unity rally or parade to draw media attention away from hate.

PRESSURE LEADERS

Elected officials and other community leaders can be important allies. But some must overcome reluctance — and others, their own biases — before they’re able to take a stand.

STAY ENGAGED

Promote acceptance and address bias before another hate crime can occur. Expand your comfort zone by reaching out to people outside your own groups.

TEACH ACCEPTANCE

Bias is learned early, often at home. Schools can offer lessons of tolerance and acceptance. Host a diversity and inclusion day on campus. Reach out to young people who may be susceptible to hate group propaganda and prejudice.

DIG DEEPER

Look inside yourself for biases and stereotypes. Commit to disrupting hate and intolerance at home, at school, in the workplace and in faith communities

Southern Poverty Law Center

One Week Notice! Next Thursday evening, July 9^th, at 7pm we can view one of seven sessions of an AOD series called “Strong Faith – Vital Connections”, a panel discussion on racism. The panel includes our very own Vickie Figueroa, Fr. John McKenzie (he served here at Corpus Christi a few years ago while he was a transitional deacon), Fr. Vic Clore (pastor of Christ the King parish, our neighbor to the south), and Christina Hall (AOD staff). A recording of the first session (June 18^th) can be played by clicking the button below. That first session was entitled “Tough Talk on Race”.

Click Here to see First Session

To view a list of future topics and dates click on button below. The sessions are listed at the end of the article.

AOD Panel Discussions on Racism

New little free library! It is right in front of the Parish Outreach Center at 16000 Pembroke. It joins five other locations in providing books for children AND adults. Thanks to the team that supplies the books, builds and installs the library boxes, and makes our neighborhood an even better place to live! Thanks!!!! [click on image to get larger version]

“Considering the Catholic Faith?” What do Catholics believe? Why do Catholics call their services “Masses”? Do you believe in Jesus? Why do you go down on one knee in church? Why do your Bibles have those extra books? What would I have to do to join your church? Yes, those are just some of the many questions that persons of no faith or persons of another denomination often ask. Do you possibly have family members, friends, neighbors or co-workers who have shown some curiosity about your Catholic faith and its community? For more information about “Considering the Catholic Faith” see future issues of these e-mails and/or contact Dcn Paul at 248.891.9387 or [email protected].

Continuing news about parish offices and meeting rooms: Our offices and meeting rooms will continue to be closed until Labor Day in an effort to be cautious. You may continue to contact the parish staff through phone calls to 313.567.5770. Most of the staff is working from home and can be reached through their emails.

Looking for a parish bulletin? Simply click the button below for current or prior issues of the Corpus Christi parish bulletin. [Yes, new parish website but the same address link!]

Click here for bulletins

COrpus Christi Catholic Church

Building the Body of Christ

Corpus Christi July 2 email