At a Mass to reopen the Synod on Synodality at the Basilica of St. Peter on October 2nd, the Holy Father asked that the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Monday October 7th, be observed worldwide as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace, in the light of the prospect of an all out war breaking out between Israel and an alliance of Iran, Lebanon and Yemen.  

Pope Francis asks for these prayers “especially in his dramatic hour of our history, as the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to ravage entire peoples and nations.  I ask everyone to take part in a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world.  To invoke the gift of peace through the intercession of Most Holy Mary, on Sunday I will go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where I will pray the holy rosary and address a heartfelt plea to the Virgin.”

Perhaps you can fast from a meal on Monday for this intention and/or pray the rosary.  There will be Mass at 9am. The Church will be open until 5:30pm for private prayer and the Divine Mercy Chapel is 24/7.  Here is a link to some prayers for peace in the Middle East provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

This is Shop ‘n Share weekend at Queens, sponsored by the Social Justice Commission.  Please return your filled brown bags with groceries to feed Jackson’s hungry.  Donations of cash and check are also accepted.  Bags can be collected at the doors before Mass.  Cash and check donations should be placed in the collection clearly marked for this purpose.  Thank you to everyone who is stepping up to feed those who aren’t so sure where there next meal is coming from. 

The food and funds are split between local food pantries to feed the hungry all across Jackson.  

Our Queens goal is $2,600,000.  This is 1.25x our annual offertory, and part of a diocesan goal of $70,000,000.  $8,000,000 in leadership gifts have already been pledged toward the success of this campaign.  

I made my campaign pledge to Queens and St. Catherine Laboure in Concord some months ago.  Our parish leaders are being asked to make their commitment.  Next week you will receive your campaign packet in the mail.  PLEASE READ IT AND DO NOT ALLOW IT TO BE BURIED IN UNOPENED MAIL AS WEEKS PASS.  

There is a 20% parish share that remains at Queens.  Our Finance Council has agreed to use that to sustain the operations of the Jackson Catholic Schools Administration.  Anything over 100% stays completely at the parish.

The Diocese is footing the entire bill for this campaign, but they are keeping none of the money raised.  It either remains in the parishes or comes directly back to the schools, faculty and families.  

Our Catholic schools stand as a beacon of hope and truth during a confusing time in our country and in the culture.  Please pray for the success of this effort.  S3 will increase teacher pay and family financial assistance, making Catholic education more affordable, accessible and ‘on mission’!  

CAMPAIGN PRAYER

Lord, everything we have is a gift from you. 
You call us to receive your gifts with thanks,  
to develop these gifts fully, 
and to share them generously.
Through the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars campaign
help every young person in the Diocese of Lansing
see your truth, beauty, and goodness;
help families to raise their children in the Faith;
and help parishes make a truly Catholic education
available to all.
May the work of this campaign bear abundant fruit
in the Saints and Scholars you are raising up for the future.
We ask these blessings through Christ our Lord.
Amen.   

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us 

This public, silent hour of prayer is a powerful witness to the pro-life message, especially during an election year.  This is a unique event that is a joint effort of dozens of Jackson area churches.  Queens is the only church that covers three city blocks and that is because we can consistently count on you to show up. 

The southeast United States is in dire need of financial resources to provide immediate assistance to those most in need after Hurricane Helene’s Category-4 130mph winds, storm surge and flooding rains wreaked havoc all the way from north Florida into Tennessee.  

Helene is no longer front page news, but the depth and breadth of this catastrophe has yet to be determined.  It is now the third deadliest storm in U.S. history behind Katrina and Sandy.  Hundreds are still unaccounted for.  Too many people are now homeless, but not hopeless.  That is where you and I come in.  I made my gift.  Please make yours.  

Use the link below to make a monetary gift that could save a life: 

Now through November 26, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ever wonder what the best way to read the Bible is? Where to begin? How to avoid getting lost in Leviticus when trying to read the Bible cover to cover? The answer is coming! For eight Tuesdays beginning October 1 and continuing through November 26, we will present Ascension Press’ study Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Vincentian Hall (lower level of the church). This Bible study will show you the way to find the “narrative thread” of our salvation story and how all the books of the Bible fit together. (Please note that we will not meet Tuesday, November 5.)

Attention students in grades 6-12, join the Jackson Youth Group at the Life Chain this Sunday from 2:30 – 3:30pm. Members of the youth group will stand on W. Michigan Ave between S. Durand & S. Thompson St. There will be a game/pizza party afterwards in the St. Joe’s Youth Room from 4-7:30 with St. Rita’s youth group. 

NOTE TO 9TH GRADE FAMILIES:  YOUR STUDENT AND THEIR CONFIRMATION SPONSOR HAVE TO REPORT TO QUEENS VINCENTIAN HALL SUNDAY EVENING FOR A RETREAT AND REHEARSAL, 4:30 – 7:30PM.  

Use the link below to make a gift and help support this new program.  There is a growing list of wish list items that you can help fund with your generous support.  

The link below takes you to the online giving page of our Queens website.  There are so many worthy causes to support and some are hard to find.  Scroll down until you see ‘Youth Ministry Donation.’  Thank you for your support!  Our kids deserve it.  

For more information contact the Jackson Director of Youth Discipleship, Mr. Jake Gerber:

youth@queenschurch.com

This year’s rosary is moving from downtown out to Lumen Christi.  We will have adoration, the patriotic rosary, the sung chaplet and a brief Eucharistic procession.   During these most turbulent times in our country and our world, we need to pray and place our nation and our planet under the protection of Our Most Merciful God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  

“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

Queen of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church

606 S. Wisner St.  Jackson, Michigan 49203

(517) 783-2748  www.queenschurch.com