THE ENEMY AT THE GATES:  We watched in horror at the spray of gunfire and the blazing inferno that brought down the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc a week ago.  These attacks are becoming more frequent and they are getting closer to home. 

To keep us safe I feel I have no choice but to resort to locking the doors of the church during the weekend Masses to prevent something like that from ever happening here. 

The locking of all church exterior doors during weekend Masses is starting this weekend:

• We will wait until 5 minutes after Mass begins before locking and then keep an usher at the doors for another ten minutes to let in latecomers. 
• If you can’t get in one door, try another and someone will admit you.
• Please note – you can always get out when the doors are locked, just push the panic bar in the middle.
• For those who are chronically late, please try to be prompt for Mass to make less work for our ushers and ministers of hospitality.  More measures are under review.  We will keep you updated as information becomes available.  
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It pains me to my core to have to do this as it stands in the way of the welcoming community we aspire to be, but there is no other reasonable way to secure the premises or to guarantee the safety of the people inside the Church during Mass.  Several other parishes across the Diocese were already locking their doors during Masses and many more are starting to do so this weekend.  Perhaps we can go back to the way things were some day, but many things need to change in our society in order for that to happen.  Please be patient and cooperative as we work out the wrinkles in this plan.

‘YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL BECAUSE OF MY NAME’:  That’s Jesus speaking at the Last Supper (Matthew 24:9).  Each time he predicted his own passion, Jesus told his disciples that they too had crosses to bear.  In a world more hostile to the Gospel than ever before, attacks on Christians are rising exponentially across the world.  We are used to these atrocities happening in far off places. Now it is here.  There is a battle between good and evil going on all around us.  Fortunately, Jesus has already won the war.  It is time for us to hold fast to our faith and to be courageous in expressing it.  Prayer is the best weapon we have.  Please continue to come to Mass and carry on with your everyday activities.  Terrorists only succeed when they can convince us to give up our freedoms and hide in the shadows. 

LIFE CHAIN OCTOBER 5^th:  The Annual Life Chain is at 2:30pm this Sunday afternoon.  Queens parishioners will be on the north sidewalk of Michigan Avenue from the downtown side of Wisner St. (east) going up to West Avenue.  Signs will be provided.  This is not a protect. It is a prayer vigil to bring public awareness that the plight of the unborn at risk of abortion continues. Queens is the only church that covers a whole block by ourselves, or in this case three whole blocks!  We can only do it if you show up as consistently as you have in the past.  I have spoken with the Jackson Police and they will be providing extra patrols at the Life Chain and the Public Rosary in the wake of the recent acts of political and religious violence happening across the country. 

50 YEARS OF PRO-LIFE ACTIVITY IN JACKSON will be celebrated in the Queens parking lot after the Life Chain.  After you stand your post on Michigan Avenue until 3:30m come join us here for a free picnic sponsored by Jackson Right to Life marking the golden jubilee of pro-life events in Jackson.  On behalf of everyone, I congratulate Kathy Potts and Beth Thorrez and their board for all the fine work they do! 

THE PUBLIC ROSARY will take place at 2:00pm next Sunday October 12^th at the Horace Blackman Park next to the old Hayes Hotel in downtown Jackson.  There will be the patriotic rosary, the sung chaplet of Divine Mercy and a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of downtown.  There is limited seating, you might bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.   If recent events teach us anything, this country needs God and we need to pray.  

6 open portrait appointments remain for this Monday afternoon and evening October 6th.  After that, you can submit your own family photo and it will be included in the directory for a $25 fee.  Call or stop by the parish office, or  you can book your own appointment online:

www.ucdir.com

Church code:  mi1901

Password photos

Join Catholic women from all over the state for inspiring speakers, confession, adoration, food and shopping, and Mass with the Bishop.  As an added bonus, Fr. Mathias Thelen will be there!  If you would like to ride a Lumen bus instead of driving, one will depart from the rear of Queens School at 7:45am on Saturday October 11th.  Contact the QMM parish office at 517.783.2748 or email ecrosby@queenschurch.com to reserve a spot. 

If you want a fun and easy way to learn more about the scriptures, consider taking part in the Bible Timeline:  the Story of Salvation, a new 24-week scripture series from Ascension Press.  The class is forming now.  The Timeline Bible Study will begin on October 21st in Vincentian Hall at 6:30pm.

The class will be broken up into three 8-week sessions lasting until Spring of 2026.  This is a low-cost, easy way to learn more about the Bible using a mix of video learning, lecture and table discussion. 

Come make friends.  Come make a difference in your faith.  Use the link below to register as so many others already have:

Your $150 ticket gets you dinner for 2 and many chances to win great prizes including the grand prize of $10,000!  Tickets will be on sale by the elevator after some Masses and at the parish or school office during the week. 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching” (Heb 13:8-9).

Fr. Tim MacDonald

Pastor