With a short Advent this year, I need to start earlier than usual recruiting volunteers for the Queens Community-Wide Christmas Dinner, now celebrating its 25th year!  This meal doesn’t happen without the involvement of dozens of business sponsors and church groups, and hundreds of volunteers.  

Christmas is the season of giving, and it especially blesses the Lord and others when we can make a merrier Christmas for those who are struggling.  This dinner brings together those who have no one to celebrate with and those who lack the resources to celebrate with food and gifts.  

Please consider signing up to help.  We need on average 150 people to make each community dinner happen.  There are shifts for set up, serving  and clean up.  You can make it easy to sign up by using the link below:

Those who ordered wreaths from the Mother Teresa Circles of the Ladies Guild should remember to stop by the rectory garage after Mass this weekend to pick it up.  For those who miss the chance to pick theirs up this weekend, the ladies will also be giving them out this Monday the 20th from 4 – 6 pm.  

You are welcome to join us for Thanksgiving Masses at Queens:  6:00pm on Wednesday November 22nd and 9:00am on Thanksgiving Day Thursday November 23rd.  At each of these Masses you will be invited during the offertory to bring up to the altar steps bags of non perishable food items to fill local pantries and feed hungry families.  

Every Mass is a Thanksgiving and the Eucharist is the perfect way for us to begin celebrating this day of gratitude to God for His many blessings to us.  

Next weekend is the annual collection for Catholic Social Teaching.  This replaces the Bishops’ national collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  The monies raised are used to support local diocesan initiatives that revolve around social justice.  You can give online through our website or make a check payable to Queens that has Catholic Social Teaching written on the memo line of the envelope.

The Diocese distanced itself from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development when it was discovered that some of the groups it was funding were not faithful to church teaching.  The grants made by this diocesan collection are thoroughly vetted and support nothing that is controversial or contrary to the faith.

At all the Masses next weekend we will be encouraged to support the Annual Advent Appeal for Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties.  Catholic Charities is an extension of the parishes, providing services that parishes cannot – foster care and adoption, healing from childhood trauma, neglect and sexual exploitation, counseling for individuals, marriages, substance abuse and those grieving the loss of a loved one. 

Catholic Charities does so much for so many, often free of charge.  They can’t do it without the funds necessary to pay their staff and keep the lights on at their various facilities.  In the coming weeks you will receive a mailing at your home from me and Sue Lewis, the Director of Catholic Charities, inviting your support.  Please be generous in providing help and creating hope.  Learn more about what they do here:   

The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a speed dating event for Catholic singles ages 21-35 in the Queens School Social Center on the evening of Saturday December 9^th.  These events are becoming more and more popular all across the country.  Why?  With fewer people marrying and many more inter-faith marriages, it is so hard for people of faith to connect with other young Catholics who are looking for someone who shares their values.  If you have a single child in this age group at home encourage them to attend.  This is a worry free, no strings attached event allowing young people who are unattached to meet other young people in the same situation.  If nothing else, it builds community among an often overlooked age group in the church.

For $10, you get substantial appetizers and two tickets for drinks (beer, seltzer, soft drinks).  There will be ice breaker questions to get the conversation going.  Even if you don’t make a connection, you might make a new friend at Church.   

For those who want to get into the Christmas spirit, Beer & Hymns might be just the thing for you.  Get your $12 ticket from Carol Hatch or using the QR code (found above, on posters at church and in the bulletin) and head over to the Roadhouse on Lansing Avenue at 7pm on Saturday December 9th.  Come early as tables fill up fast.  

I wish all of you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving, and safe passage to all who will be traveling.  

‘PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM’ (Ps. 122:6).

Fr. Tim MacDonald

Pastor

Queen of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church

606 S. Wisner St.  Jackson, Michigan 49203

(517) 783-2748  www.queenschurch.com