Today is the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  They are the most notable but they are not alone.  They are joined by Archangels Uriel, Salathiel, Barachiel, Jeremiel and Jegudiel.  There are nine ranks of angels and you will notice that the archangels are second from the bottom, which is partly to explain how they can be closer to us, along with our guardian angels whom the church honors each year on October 2nd.

THE NINE RANKS OF ANGELS

Thrones

Dominions

Principalities

Seraphim

Cherubim

Powers

Sovereignties

Archangels 

Angels

Angels were never people and we will never be angels.  They are spiritual beings only, where we are mortal and sinful yet called to be saints.

The word Angel is Greek for ‘messenger.’ They help carry our prayers to God and help us to know of God’s love and blessing in our lives.  Though we can’t become angels, we can and should be messengers of God’s love and mercy following their example.  

We repeat the angels’ prayers at Mass when we sing the Gloria on Sundays and every time we sing or recite the ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ before the consecration of bread and wine that becomes the Eucharist.  These great hymns of praise were first sung by angels of God in the Old Testament.

The St. Michael Prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886.  He wished to confront the evils of his time in large part brought about by The Industrial Revolution.  This prayer was said at every Mass until 1964 during The Second Vatican Council.  It is being reintroduced in many churches as more and more Catholics realize that faith, Natural Law, Absolute Truth, traditional marriage, biblical truth and family values are all under attack.

Archangels, pray for us.  

Wednesday October 4th is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of pets and animals.  To honor the occasion, we will offer the Annual Pet Blessings in the Queens Memorial Garden this Saturday September 30 at 10am.  Bring them all. Bless them all. Love them all.  

Fr. Bob Pienta will be the celebrant of the 9am and 10:30am Masses at Queens this Sunday.  Welcome Fr. Bob!  I will be headed out to The Pious Union in Grass Lake to offer an outdoor Mass at 10:00am for the blessing of new outdoor stations of the cross. I will be doing the Saturday 5, Sunday 7:30 and noon Masses here. I was invited to The Pious Union to perform this blessing in my capacity as Dean of Jackson. 

If you have never been to the Pious Union on Old US-12, it is a beautiful chapel sitting on a large campus with lots to see and many places to pray.  Learn more at www.piousunionofstjoseph.org.  It is intended to be a place of prayer and pilgrimage for the sick and the dying who look to St. Joseph as the patron of a happy death.  

The Pious Union is run by The Servants of Charity from The St. Louis Center in Chelsea.  Without the help of those priests, many local pastors would never be able to be away for illness or vacation.  I want to support them in any way I can in thanks for the great deal of support they give to all the parishes across the southern tier of the Diocese.   If you would like to Support The Servants of Charity and The St. Louis Center, see the ad on page 13 in this weekend’s bulletin and consider buying tickets in support of their 36th Annual Fall Dinner Auction on Saturday October 28th.  Visit www.stlouiscenter.org. 

You can help support St. Louis Center and The Servants of Charity when you make a donation to The Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive after all the Masses on October 7-8.  A portion of the proceeds go to support those with special needs cared for at The St. Louis Center.  The Knights are also a big supporter of Special Olympics.   

Please set aside one hour this Sunday October 1st and join us for the Life Chain on Michigan Avenue and stand up for the unborn and pray to end abortion.  This is not a protest. It is a silent prayer vigil.  You can pick up signs prior to 1:30pm at the school end of the Queens parking lot.  Our parishioners will be lined up on the north side of Michigan Avenue from West Ave to Bowen St.

You might then also consider joining us for the Annual Public Rosary downtown at Blackman Park near the old Hayes Hotel at 2pm next Sunday October 8th.  This event features a Eucharistic procession, the patriotic rosary and the sung chaplet of Divine Mercy as we offer much needed prayer for the restoration of the moral fabric of our country.  

This is a reminder for 9th grade Confirmation students about to be Confirmed on October 15th, NOT for 8th graders who have only just begun the process.

There is a required Confirmation Retreat and Rehearsal at Queens this Sunday October 1st from 4:30 – 7:30pm. It starts in Vincentian Hall.  Sponsors are supposed to attend.  A parent or guardian may take their place if absolutely necessary.  

There are several candidates who are missing key components of the requirements for Confirmation:  paperwork, makeup work from missed retreat days, forms, service hours, letters to the Bishop, etc.  If all these things are not completed, turned in and accounted for, there may be some who will be getting a call from me about it to discuss options.  You can avoid that by finishing up.  

More than 180 people have signed up for The Rescue Project!  Even though we are only two weeks in it is obvious that this is having a very deep impact in the lives of many who are participating.  

Thank you to those who answered my call to help come and serve the meal.  We will need help for the next two Tuesdays also, but will be drawing from the list of those who volunteered.  You only come to help if we contact you and tell you we need you.

Those who are attending don’t have to cook as each week is catered and it is free!  But you can help bring homemade desserts.  Use the sign up genius link below if you can bring a dessert for any of the five remaining dinners.

The Friday Grief Support Group meeting at Queens Parish Office is moving their start time from 9:30 to 10am in hopes that widows and widowers and other grievers who attend the 9am school Mass might consider joining.  You can just show up if interested:  10am on Fridays.

Women of Queens, if you are not already part of the Parish Ladies Guild, please consider coming to their Meet and Greet on Wednesday October 11th at 7pm in Vincentian Hall. Contact Guild President Cammie Girodat at 517.474.1787, petersonlake@comcast.net.  

There is still time to sign up.  Sadly, Lisa Brenninkmeyer has withdrawn from speaking at the conference due to illness in her family.  Dr. Mary Healy, renowned Biblical scholar, will be speaking in her place.  The organizers still promise a great, faith-filled day for all those who attend.  

Get ready!  Next weekend, October 7-8, the Social Justice Commission will ask you to take brown bags home from Mass and fill them with non perishable food items to feed the hungry as part of their annual SHOP & SHARE.  You bring them back on October 14-15 and leave them at the doors of church where they will be collected.

Some people shop to live, others live to shop.  Whatever the case may be don’t miss this opportunity to come together as a parish to feed Jackson!  

MONDAYS AT 11AM

THURSDAYS 8AM

SATURDAYS 1PM AND 3PM

There are a variety of reasons why so much shifting around is happening on the Divine Mercy Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel schedule, but the need only increases for more new people who will commit to one hour a week with Our Lord.  I guarantee it will quickly become the best hour of your week.  

Please contact the office this week if you will make the long term commitment to cover one of these hours.  

Fr. Tim MacDonald

Pastor

Queen of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church

606 S. Wisner St.  Jackson, Michigan 49203

(517) 783-2748  www.queenschurch.com