Catholic Services Appeal
Report as of June 12, 2005
Required goal…………..….$10,520.00
Amount Pledged……...……$14,931.00
Amount Paid………...…… $10,366.00
Number of donors…………………..73
If everyone completes their pledges, we will be $4,411.00 over our goal. We have now reached 33% participation in this year’s campaign. We still hope for 100% participation. Every penny donated now will be returned to St. Joseph Church.

WE STILL NEED USHERS!
Mike Singelyn is the interim captain of the ushers' club. Men and women who are able to usher at our regular Sunday Masses and the monthly German Mass are asked to call Mike at 313-885-5333 to volunteer their services.

Choral Mass schedule

The St. Joseph Cappella and the Schola Sancti Josephi are on their annual summer hiatus, but please keep an eye on the News and the Music Schedule pages for information on the coming musical season.

New choir members -- trained or not -- are very welcome!

News: June 26, 2005
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The Parish Council will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 30. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Last Chance to get your picture into the album/directory for our cluster. A photographer will be at Sweetest Heart of Mary rectory on Wednesday, July 13 from 2:40 until 8:45 p.m. Call the rectory for your appointment. 313 831-6659. You may also submit your own photograph.

FIREWORKS! Have you wished you could see the Freedom Festival fireworks in Detroit but hesitated because of parking problems and unruly crowds? Come to Sweetest Heart of Mary Church this Wednesday, June 29 and see a spectacular view of the festivities in fenced safety with your fellow cluster parishioners. There is an unobstructed view of the fireworks from the church grounds. From 7:00 p.m. the Knights of Columbus will sell grilled sausages, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, pop and chips. Sweetest Heart Ladies’ Guild will provide every type of ice cream treat. The freeway is two minutes away for a quick exit after the show. Beat the crowd and be home before anyone downtown has even reached their cars. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for your personal comfort. No alcoholic beverages will be sold.

Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, has left an amazing legacy for a priest who died at age 38. In the true spirit of their founder, the Knights have had a profound influence on American life. The words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance were adopted by both Houses of Congress on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, at the request of the Knights of Columbus. In a letter addressed to the Supreme Grand Knight, Luke E. Hart, August 17, 1954, President Eisenhower wrote:

"We are particularly thankful for your part in the movement to have the words “under God” added to our Pledge of Allegiance. These words will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded. For the contribution which your organization has made to this cause, we must be genuinely grateful."

Men in the parish who wish to join our cluster council of the Knights of Columbus can contact Patrick Degens to turn in their application for membership or to acquire an application form if they didn’t receive one during the recent membership drive.

News: June 19, 2005
TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Welcome to our new resident!
Judie Ann Ruggirello and her husband were both 28 years old when he passed away leaving Judie Ann a widow with 7 young children. In order to raise her young family she contracted to fabricate automotive wiring components in her home and taught herself typing to bring in other work. Once her children were raised, Judie Ann became a Felician Nun. After 11 years she was encouraged by two of Detroit’s auxiliary bishops to strike out anew and establish an order of sisters whose apostolate would be to families living in extreme poverty who have a child with cancer. These families often lose their jobs because of time lost at work while caring for their children and taking them for cancer treatments. Some end up in shelters, others homeless. Sadly, some of the children never go into remission and pass away. Sister Judie Ann now resides here at Saint Joseph Church where she hopes her fledgling order will grow and prosper. You might notice her in church in her blue and white habit with her red hair peaking out from under her veil. Make her feel at home!

World Mission Sunday
Today we welcome Sister Patricia Quigley of the Columban Sisters who is here to seek our help in spreading the Gospel Message to the ends of the earth. Envelopes for the missions can be placed in today’s collection or returned next week.

Last Chance to get your picture into the album/directory for our cluster. A photographer will be at Sweetest Heart of Mary rectory on Wednesday, July 13 from 2:40 until 8:45 pm. Call the rectory for your appointment. 313 831-6659. You may also submit your own photograph.

News: June 12, 2005
ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

UPDATE: ROOF REPAIRS!
One year ago Fr. Borkowski got a bid of $49,000 to repair our church roof. This same roofer had done work at St. Josaphat and Sweetest Heart of Mary with an excellent track record. The Diocese would not release our funds from their bank until we hired an engineering firm ($3,000) to get more bids for comparison. One year later, after receiving seven bids, the engineering firm has decided that our original bid is the best bid.

Next Sunday is Mission Sunday.
A nun from the Columban Sisters will be visiting to make an appeal for the missions. Envelopes will be available at all Masses and may be returned that day or the following Sunday, June 19th.

News: June 5, 2005
TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Adopt-a-Plot
Volunteers from the parish have planted well over 100 flowers on the parish grounds. Now we are looking for volunteers who will adopt a portion of the property to keep it free of weeds for the summer and perhaps add flowers to the ones already there. Sign-up sheets are in the vestibule of the church. This project might involve one hour of time once or twice a month. Areas have been broken up into parcels. Tom Crachiolo, our custodian, will keep the plants watered.

More Amazing Facts about the Knights of Columbus
The K of C was established in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney at St. Mary’s parish in New Haven, Ct., as an organization of Catholic men to aid one another in times of sickness or death by means of a simple insurance plan; to strengthen themselves and each other in the Faith; to strengthen families and family life; to be of service to Church and community by coming to the aid of those most in need in society. After 9/11, through its $1.3 million Heroes Fund, the Knights of Columbus granted $3,000 to the families of each of the fire fighters, law enforcement officers and emergency service personnel who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The aid was given immediately. The first check was hand-delivered just days after the tragedy regardless of faith or membership in the order. The Bishop Plagens Council of the Knights of Columbus is centered here in our three-parish cluster and exists to help our pastor in all the activities necessary for our cluster to survive. So far only two parishioners from Saint Joseph Church have joined this wonderful group of men and in the next few weeks we hope to expand on that number. Watch for upcoming membership recruitment.

In the charity of your prayers, remember the sick

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