May is the month in which we especially celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary. All the blooming flowers and fauna point to the great beauty which Our Lady possesses. I hope you all are able to grow ever closer to her, who always leads us to her Son. We will finish looking at Eucharistic Prayer III this week. Once again, the following comes directly from the Magnificat Roman Missal Companion, edited by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., with the commentary written by Professor Anthony Esolen, 2011. (if you desire to order this companion or subscribe to Magnificat, which is a great Catholic publication that contains the daily readings from Mass for each day along with meditations from Saints and Catholic   writers visit: http://www.magnificat.com/romanmissal/roman_missal_companion.asp )

“…scattered throughout the world:  When the Jews has sinned against the Law of God, believing that the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem would safeguard them from their enemies, the Lord gave them up to conquest, and they were dispersed throughout the world. In Christ, the command is now to preach the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. That is no punishment, but the wondrous fulfillment of the words of the prophet. The new Zion, the Church, draws all people to her: “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance” (Is 60: 3).”

“…at their passing from this life:  Literally, this age or generation. We leave the world of time, wherein things age and decay, and hope to enter the kingdom beyond all time, where we may enjoy forever the fullness of the glory of God, as those who feast their fill, yet at a feast for ever fresh and new.”

“…when from the earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died:  When Saint Paul preached to the men of Athens, they were ready to believe what he said about Christ, until he came to the truth that we, like Christ, will be raised up in the flesh. The body is no mere shell for the soul, to be cast aside.  It is itself holy, and the grace of God sanctifies all of our works performed through the body. Our resurrection in the flesh is but a part of the promise of God, to create a new heaven and a new earth.”

“…when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes:  Echoing the words of Christ, in the revelation to John: “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death of mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away” (Rv 21: 3-4). We are meant not simply to think of sadness, but of a real person, in the flesh, shedding real tears; and to imagine the very hand of Jesus, brushing away the tear, and welcoming us into joy.”

“…we shall be like you:  This affirmation is restored to its context. We cannot, as we are now, see God, for as the Apostle John says in his Gospel, “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has     revealed him” (Jn 1: 18). But we are promised more. “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:2).”

In Christ through Mary,
Fr. Eric Fedewa

Offer assistance to the needy of our community by purchasing your garden plants from the Society.  These home grown seedlings will be offered for a minimum donation of $1 each.  Among the plants are burpee tomatoes (including heirloom), a variety of peppers, summer squash and zucchini. Vincentians will be outside the church or in the narthex depending on weather and will stay until the plants are gone.

All profits from this sale stay with our chapter and go toward housing, and utility costs for members the community living within St. Anastasia’s parish boundaries.

For more information on St. Anastasia’s Chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or for assistance contact Becky in the Parish Office at 248.689.8380 or Email her. Bi-monthly meetings are held the first & the third Wednesday of each month. Everyone is invited to attend.

In the first quarter we were able to deliver 448 blankets to the following organizations:

• Problem Pregnancy Center - 20
•  Beaumont Hospital-Troy – 12
• Vista Maria – 26
• Project Night Night – 181
• Haven – 111
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society  – 20
• Capuchin Soup Kitchen – 20
• R.O. Beaumont Pediatric Oncology Dept. – 36
•  Children’s Home & Pregnancy Center – 22

In addition to these programs later this summer we will be sending blankets to Camp Quality in Traverse City, this is a program for kids with cancer.  I am grateful for all of your support and if you ever need information about making blankets or wish to make a donation of yarn, material or cash you can reach me at 248-828-7511 or use email.  You can also drop your donations off to the parish office Attn: Kim Houseman.  Please visit the national web site at projectlinus.org.  Our next blanket party will be in November.  See the Good News for details.

May God Bless Your Day

Allyson Wyckhuyse

Chapter Coordinator

A Beautiful Death
It was exactly a week ago that I sat at this very same keyboard, on this very same weeknight, at this very same late hour (it just so happens to be the result of a procrastinating pastor who is waiting to the last minute to write his article for the bulletin deadline). If you are not aware, I wrote a pretty heavy article about death last week. This week, I want to discuss this same topic, but with a very different focus. As you are probably well aware, we have 1001 different folks, doing 1001 different jobs, in a 1001 different ministries. One of those very fulfilling ministries involves death; rather sitting with those who are dying so that someone is with them to pray, comfort, and celebrate as they journey to the other side. This beautiful ministry, called “No One Dies Alone”, has had a rather large impact on many folks. I am proud to say that we have recently added 16 new people to the 74 volunteers already trained for this important task. Since the ministry began, 88 patients have left this world experiencing love from a Christian, only to open their eyes to the love of Christ himself. That is a powerful example of Discipleship. Good job.

Stephen Ministers
Stephens Ministry is a ministry in our parish in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers; provide one to one Christian care to individuals  facing life challenges and difficulties. Our Christian service leaders match each Stephen Minister to a person in need of care. Each Stephen Minister meets with his or her care receiver for about an hour a week to provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care and support.

Stephen Ministers care for people who may be experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, terminal illness, loneliness, spiritual crisis, hospitalization, relocation, and other life difficulties. Men are matched with men, women with women. We are in need of more male Stephen Ministers. In other word, there are men out there who have called us and need someone to assist them, but we do not have a man ready to step up. I would like to invite you, if you are male, or invite those who may know a man who demonstrates the qualities for this ministry (in other words, any baptized male) to step up and answer the call of our Lord. Pray about it, and give a call to the Christian Service   office here at St. Anastasia (Ext. 112). Not only can you change a life, but your life can be changed for the better as well.

Volunteers Everywhere, Lend Me Your Ears… and Your Appetite
As you can surmise from the last two paragraphs, we would not be able to accomplish what we do here at St. Anastasia without our many volunteers. We as a staff want to express our gratitude with an Ice Cream Social (filled with a few surprise happenings, and I’m not talking rainbow sprinkles). So if you’ve stuffed an envelope, set up a folding chair, counted a collection, taught a class, or done any of the numerous things that make St. Anastasia what it is, mark your calendars for May 20^th following the 12:15 liturgy. We want to say “Thank You”.

God bless,
Fr. J.J.

Many people have responded to fill the additional hours but more are needed. 

If you wish to commit to a standing time to spend an hour in the chapel, a sign up board is available in the hallway outside the chapel or you may contact Dominic Bologna at (586) 731-8192 or by email.  If you are unable to commit to a standing time, please feel free to spend time with the Lord at your convenience.

If you are reading this and do not have faith-full friends, I strongly suggest that it is time to find them.  Pray for some – God will answer with joy and abundance.  Come serve and/or socialize here at St.  Anastasia and meet them.  Seek them out at work or in your neighborhood.  Look closely at your extended family to see who has a prophet’s backbone.  Join or create a Bible study or book group.  If you already have faith-full friends, this is a good time to make some more.

If you are a parent – especially a dad – there is nothing better you can do for your spouse, your children, and yourself.  Give your family the gift of seeing that they are not alone in this world… that others make good and holy choices… that truly strong and virtuous leaders do exist… and that though we are sinners we have great hope for full communion with God.

Your Faithful Pickle,

Marian Bart