In 2019, Pope Francis marked the 1600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome by instituting the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as the Sunday of the Word of God.  Why?  In the 4th century, scholarly St. Jerome was tasked by Pope Damasus I with translating the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament into Latin.  This became the Vulgate which for centuries has been the gold standard for Catholic Biblical Scholarship. 

Pope Francis hoped that this Word of God Sunday might help Catholics all across the world to “grow in religious and intimate familiarity with the sacred Scriptures,” for as St. Jerome once famously said, ‘Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.’

It would be good to make sure that you and your family know where your Bible is and that there is no dust on its cover.  The Bible has been called an acronym:  B.I.B.L.E. – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.   To understand our destiny we must first understand our origin.  This world and everything in it is passing away.  Reading and praying with the Scriptures makes us aware that there is a life that begins when this one ends.  It goes on to instruct us on how we might live for heaven here on earth so that one day we will see the face of God.  

Come to Mass at Queens this weekend and learn more.  In the meantime, consider reading the Pope’s letter for the Word of God Sunday, first published in 2019.  The link is below.  

The Queens Social Justice Commission’s Annual Warming Project is THIS weekend, January 20-21. With the sub zero polar vortex we endured this week, all of us can certainly sympathize who lack sufficient winter clothing to shield them from the elements. 

Please bring new and gently used winter weather apparel with you to Mass.  This will be used to help the needy of Jackson keep warm this winter.  There are envelopes in the pews at Mass for those willing to donate cash or write a check.  

Our next charitable collection will be Super Bowl Sunday, February 11th, with the Souper Bowl of Caring.  Plan ahead when you do your shopping and start stocking up on canned soup to feed Jackson’s hungry.   

Before there were 800 tv channels and our lives were dictated by technology, families sat together for meals and entertainment, often in the form of board games.  Queens Knights of Columbus Council 609 invites you to a Game Night in Vincentian Hall this Saturday evening the 20th from 6-10pm.  It is free with snacks and beverages provided.  There will be prizes for the winners of more than 60 games to choose from!   

This has been declared a day of prayer and fasting by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  This particular date was selected because it marks the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision legalizing abortion in America.  Unless or until every human life is protected, every human life remains threatened.  Please set aside some time to pray this Monday January 22^nd.  Pray for the changing of minds, hearts and laws to protect unborn children and all children.  Pray for the children lost to abortion and mothers in crisis pregnancies.  Pray that the culture of darkness and death may be overpowered by a new birth of the culture of light.

You might consider attending the 9am Queens daily Mass or the 12:05pm at St. Mary that day. The Church will be open for prayer from 7:30am – 5:30pm or you could stop by the Divine Mercy Chapel any hour of the day or night.  As far as fasting goes, you could give up a meal or a dessert or some of your ‘screen time’ spent on technology.   Jesus, protect and save the unborn.  

On Saturday February 10th, Queens will host a Called & Gifted Workshop.  The cost is $40 per person.  Those who enroll will be e-mailed in early February.  The e-mail will include a link to a spiritual gifts survey to be completed online before the event, and instructions on how to watch an online video about the Called & Gifted process before February 10th.  The day starts at 9:00am and includes lunch before parting ways at 3:30pm.  

God has called each of us by name and He has blessed all of us with gifts that are unique to us.  If we don’t discern what those gifts are, we may have trouble fulfilling God’s will in our lives.  The gifts God has given us are meant to be shared and to help us be of service to others.  Some of us may not be doing much because we don’t know precisely what it is God has equipped us to do.

“The Called & Gifted™ Discernment Process has been used since 1993 by over 200,000 lay, ordained, and religious Catholics and other Christians around the world. It is designed to help Christians discern the presence of charisms in their lives. Charisms, or spiritual gifts, are special abilities given to all Christians by the Holy Spirit to give them power both to represent Christ and to be a channel of God’s goodness for people. Whether extraordinary or ordinary, all charisms ought to be exercised in the service of God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2003).  All three parts of the process are necessary for discovering where you are gifted” (source:  www.siena.org/called-gifted).

I hope we can fill this event.  I especially want those who participated in last fall’s Rescue Project to consider attending.  This date is coming up fast so please do not wait to register.  Use the link below:  

If you did not have a chance yet, please read this brief letter from Bishop Boyea about the importance of Christian stewardship.  This is to prepare the faithful of the diocese to participate in the upcoming Stewardship for Saints and Scholars Capital Campaign for the benefit of Catholic schools and faith formation all across the Diocese of Lansing.  

This campaign will be a $70,000,000 effort to keep Catholic schools accessible, affordable and ‘On Mission’ while improving faith formation programs and support for homeschool families – all the ways in which we raise future generations in the faith.   

THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT. THAT’S ALL THAT’S LEFT TO GET YOUR 50/50 JCS RAFFLE TICKETS AT WEEKEND MASSES.  

Cash, check, credit and debit card accepted.  Each ticket is $100 and enrolls you in 10 drawings in 2024.  There are two winners per month who each stand to walk away with more than $2,000!  You can get them during the week from any local parish or Catholic school office. 

You can’t win if you don’t play!   

“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