This meeting is for those beginning the Confirmation process, NOT those who will be confirmed this October 25th at Fatima. Any parent of an 8th grader should plan on attending this Sunday to learn more.

Parents with children in public school need to enroll them in Sunday Faith Formation. This is mandatory for those seeking 1^st Communion and Confirmation next year.  Sunday School and attending 1 weekend Mass each week are two vital and necessary ways for parents to live out the promise they made when they had their children baptized – to raise them in the practice of the faith. 

There is a parents meeting on the first day of class on Sunday August 30^th.  To register, contact Betsy Koval at bkoval@queenschurch.com and will assist you. You can also use your smartphone to scan the QR code below. Classes meet on Sundays from 10:15 to 11:45 in the school. The cost is minimal and financial aid is available for those who demonstrate need.

Last year, the Diocese of Lansing joined dioceses all over America, France and Ireland in reporting record numbers of converts to the Catholic faith. Here at Queens we had the biggest OCIA class since I became pastor in 2010, and I am sure long before that also.

Studies show that young people are starting to come to church in larger numbers than we have seen for a generation, young men in particular. It is time for us to capitalize on this increased interest in Catholicism, while at the same time fulfilling the call of our baptism – to become a disciple of Jesus by making disciples for him. What does it mean to be a disciple? To follow Jesus and to lead other people to him.

Betsy Koval is in charge of all levels of faith formation here at Queens:  children, adults and converts.  That is why you should also reach out to her if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.  If you know someone who is searching and looking for more meaning and fulfillment in their life, send them to us.  You, the people in the pew, play an essential role in helping us connect with people that are Catholic and just don’t know it yet!  This could be a spouse who has attended Mass for years, a coworker, neighbor or friend.  They don’t have to know everything or have it all figured out yet.  OCIA is a chance to ask questions and find answers together.  No pressure.  No strings attached. 

Please come to an inquiry meeting and first class in Seton Hall (lower level) at the parish offices at 6:30pm this Wednesday August 19th to learn more or to get started.

Dear Queen’s Family – As many of you know I began formation for priesthood in the Jesuit Order a few years ago and discerned to take a pause and return to Jackson to be closer to family, especially my parents.

Over this time the call to priesthood and specifically the desire for religious life in the Jesuit Order has grown stronger and I am happy to share with you that I am resuming formation for the priesthood in the Jesuit Midwest Province.

I will also share with you a little of my vocation story as well. The desire for priesthood was first planted by our Lord through my experience at Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord, which showed me that living out your faith in daily life could be fun and life giving and continued to develop throughout high school at Lumen Christi. While at the University of Michigan, I was more concerned with experiencing the fun of college life, football games, and Greek life, and unfortunately let my faith life diminish.

It was in graduate school at Georgetown University that the Lord brought me back to him in a deep way. I was studying international relations and very focused on applying for a job at the US State Department. While waiting to hear from these job applications, I began to learn more about the Jesuits and was inspired by the lives of the many Jesuit saints like St. Francis Xavier, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the North American Martyrs, and many more. I read the Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola and returned to regular participation at mass, confession, adoration, and the rosary. 

Ultimately I did not get the job I was looking for, but the Lord gave me something better: the deepening of a relationship with Jesus that had waned in college and a desire to serve him in his Church. The Lord was patient in waiting for me to return to him and to recognize the greatness of his mercy and the many gifts he had bestowed on me. In gratitude, I want to offer myself generously to his service. 

As I resume my formation for the priesthood in the Society of Jesus, I humbly ask for your prayers. Queen’s has been such an important part of my faith life and I wouldn’t be where I am today without this parish. Please pray for my family, too. I will keep you all in my prayers!

If you would like to reach out my address with be the following: 

Mr. Brian Craft, nSJ

Jesuit Novitiate

1035 Summit Ave

St. Paul, MN 55105

You can also reach out to my mother, Debbie, for more details.

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Best wishes to you Brian!  Join us for the Eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations right here at Queens each Wednesday evening at 5:00pm and stick around for  Mass at 6.  

“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