THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
The 4oth day of CHRISTMAS

PLEASE TAKE A CANDLE WHEN YOU ENTER CHURCH THIS WEEKEND. 

 

This Sunday is the 40th Day of Christmas.  It is called the Presentation of the Lord and it is the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.  This Mass recalls the mystery recorded in Luke 2:22-40 where Mary and Joseph bring the Christ Child into the Jerusalem Temple – the Son of God coming into the Father’s House for the first time.  This is a festival of light, as Jesus is revealed as the true Lumen Christi, the Light of Christ.  This Mass features a candlelight procession and the blessing of candles.

 

 

Due to the lack of a proper gathering space for the whole congregation to fit into, and the inability to gather outdoors for a procession due to the cold temperatures, we are going to exercise Rubric #9 for the Presentation of the Lord, ‘the Second Option, the Solemn Entrance.’  This means you will pick up a small candle when you arrive for Mass.  They will be available at all the doors.  These candles will be blessed and lit at the start of Mass and will remain lit through the singing of the Gloria.  If you use candles in home devotions or give them as gifts to others, please bring them with you to Mass, keep them with you in your pew, and they will be blessed as part of the ceremony.    

 

 

THE BLESSING OF THROATS
THE FEAST OF ST. BLAISE
MONDAY FEBRUARY 3rd, 9AM

Join us at the 9am Mass this Monday February 3rd for the traditional throat blessing through the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr.  The blessing will occur after the homily.

 

St. Blaise, pray for us!  

 

S3 COMMITMENT WEEKEND
PLEDGE UPDATE TOTAL

I am so grateful that we attracted 70 new donors to the Saints and Scholars Campaign at Queens during S3 Commitment Weekend.  They brought us to 535 gifts representing 35% of registered parishioners and a new pledge total of $2,500,429, or 94% of goal.  $164,571 stand between us and our goal of $2,665,000.  We have 182 fewer givers than we did to Witness to Hope in 2016.  If you gave to that campaign but not this one, might you reconsider? 

 

Two and a half million dollars to strengthen Catholic schools is nothing to shake a stick at and I am so grateful to the many sacrificial givers and gifts that have gotten us to this point!  The Diocesan Wave 1 total is over $32,000,000.  56 of the 72 parishes across the Diocese have yet to kick off their campaigns in waves two and three.  Please pray for the ongoing success of this effort. 

 

‘THANK YOU’ to the Queens S3 Campaign Committee who worked so diligently over the last four months to secure pledges for the campaign:  to our campaign director Felix Carbullido, co-chair Elaine Crosby, and Bob Lefere, Ted Lefere, Spencer and Rita Swank, Joe Ritter, Phil and Mary Berkemeier, Ben Dandrow, Lynn Miller, Tim and Melissa Crowley, Jim and Sharon Jansen, Jerry Jarzynka, Ron and Eileen Page, Stephen Artz, Margie Acker, Joe and Candy Dunigan, Tim Kelly, Jackie Lincoln, Andy and Lynn Fries and Dan Simmons.  We could never have made it this far without the vital help and support provided by all these volunteers.  Special thanks to every single person who has made a gift to S3.  You aren’t just making a difference, you are the difference! 

 

 

While we will still make quiet efforts behind the scenes to go over our S3 goal, you will hear a lot less about it at Mass, in the bulletin and in this email.  I am sure many of you will breathe a sigh of relief!  There is no rest for the weary.  Due to the campaign, the diocese is moving up this year’s Diocesan Services Appeal.  It usually begins after the 1st Sunday of Lent, but with a late Easter and Wave 2 of S3 waiting in the wings, it has been decided to start the DSA in Mid-February.  I will say more about it next week.

 

 

THE WARMING PROJECT

It is not too late to donate to the Social Justice Commission’s annual Warming Project.  The bins are still at the doors and envelopes can be found in the ends of the pews for those wishing to donate monetary funds to support the effort.  

 

Please bring new and gently used winter/outdoor apparel and place them in the large bins at the doors of the Church. These donations help keep our fellow Jacksonians warm during the coldest days of winter.   

 

Thank you for the help!

 

SUPER BOWL WEEKEND
FEBRUARY 8 – 9

As you shop for your Super Bowl LIX party, whether you’re rooting for the Chiefs or the Eagles, don’t forget about those who go without.  The Soup-er Bowl of Caring is our way of remembering the less fortunate even as we celebrate the greatest night in sports.

 

Please bring cans of soup to the Masses NEXT weekend and you can leave them inside the doors.  These cans will be distributed to those most in need all around us in the coming weeks.  

 

Save all your returnable bottles and cans and bring them to Mass the weekend of February 15-16 to be collected by the Scouts.  

 

 

MASS FOR THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 9AM

The World Day of Prayer for the Sick is coming up on Tuesday February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  I have been using that occasion to have a Mass to anoint the sick and anyone in need of healing. However, since our Mass that day is at 6:45am, and sensing that not everyone is an early riser, especially those who are unwell, I am going to move the Anointing Mass to the 9:00am Mass on Monday the 10th.  This is not the Last Rites, but rather an opportunity to receive sacramental graces as we seek healing, hope and help from on high. 

 

 

Truth, beauty and goodness are found in God, in His mercy, and in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church founded by His son.  

“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