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WHAT ARE WE REALLY "WORTH"?
Every now and then we hear or read about someone who has lived to be a hundred years old. There is usually a lot of fuss about it. But does it mean so much in itself? Just to live an extended number of years may not be much credit to some. Whether a human being is worth the space he or she occupies on earth does not depend on the amount of years lived, but on the good the person does. Who could argue with this point? When you speak about a machine you probably will ask, "How long will it last?" But when you consider a person, you ask, "What is he good for?"
A poet once wrote: "The person who gets but never gives, may last for years, but never lives."
This may be one of the reasons why we so often find our world to be a cold place, lacking in the warmth of love. Too many people of the "Me Generation" take all they can, but are not very interested in giving. I once read that one day somebody remarked. See that man over there. He is worth a million dollars. Whereupon a listener replied, "You mean he has a million dollars. He is not worth thirty cents."
Food for thought, for all of us.
May you grow strong in God's love. In your kindness, please find a place in your prayers for me.
- Msgr. Tom Rice
TWO NEW BISHOPS FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DETROIT
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed two new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Detroit. The priests who were ordained bishops on May 5th 2011 are: Monsignor Donald Hanchon and Fr. Michael Brynes. Presently Msgr. Hancon is pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit and Fr. Brynes is the vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary and pastor of Presentation/Our Lady of Victory Parish in Detroit. My prediction is this: both priests will make wonderful bishops and the archdiocese is fortunate that they have said "yes" to the Holy father's appointment. Bishop elect Hanchon and I are 'contemporaries" and went to college and graduate school a few years apart. Bishop elect Brynes and I did not cross paths in our Seminary education , but everyone who knows him says he will be a good bishop too. So we are all blessed. Thanks be to God for this blessing and I look forward to working together with our new bishops in the years to come.
WHY WE NEED LENT Each year as Ash Wednesday approaches, I find myself pondering the words we use with the imposition of ashes . . . "Remember you are dust and to..." a good reminder of one of the basic realities of life. If you ever visit the cathedrals of Europe, or even our own Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, look up to the ceiling. That is where the deceased Cardinals hats hang, Those "red hats", the symbol of the highest honorary title (except pope) the Church gives, will hang there until they "turn to dust" to remind us that all earthly glory is passing. Lent is a time to put things in perspective. All those things which become important in our lives need to be looked at in the light of what and who is really important. Some would argue that a time of prayer and fasting is not as important as it used to be. I would suggest that if it was important for Jesus to go out into the desert and to pray and fast, it is certainly not a bad idea for us either. Furthermore, we need Lent. We are both physical and spiritual beings. The danger is that we can overstress the material and physical aspects of life and lose sight of the spiritual. In our Catholic tradition we do not deny ourselves because we think pleasure is bad. We deny ourselves because even good things can become "overly important." It is hard to spend time in prayer if every night needs to be spent eating junk food and drinking beer. It is hard to spend time with family if we are glued to the T.V. set. It is hard to share our time with those in need if we are totally focused only on ourselves and our needs.
To keep Lent faithfully, use it to recall what is really important in your life. Do the right thing. Instead of being served, serve. Have a wonderful week in Lent. In your kindness, please find a place for me in your prayers. - Msgr. Tom Rice
HOPE OF A NEW YEAR
At the beginning of a new year many people are looking to the future. Jobs, family, security, nation are all concerns. Added to that list should also be our parish. What are your hopes for the future of St. Louise? I have a few and I hope we will be able to realize them through this year. I would like to share them with you today.
1. I hope our parish will be known as a faith community that reaches out to others, especially those who for some reason have not been practicing Catholics or who have for some reason become alienated from the parish.
2. I hope our parish will be more effective in handing on the faith to our young people. I worry that many seem adrift and even ignorant of how much God loves them and how He is calling them to live out their faith as an essential part of their lives.
3. I hope our parish will become more committed to teaching one another to pray better. That at our Masses and other prayer activities we are faith-filled, warm and welcoming. That we recognize each other as fellow pilgrims and support each other's progress and forgive each others faults.
4. I hope our parish will be more effective in recognizing, encouraging and supporting all ministries. That we will find practical ways of translating our love into action especially through the ministry we undertake in the name of Christ and the church. That St. Louise will be filled with people with a deep commitment to the gospel and their participation in spreading the 'Good News".
5. I hope our parish will keep focused on the essential. That in a complex, fast paced society we will stand as authentic witnesses of the things that really matter- love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, equality, life, dialogue, family, and above all, God in all.
These are just a few 'hopes' for the future. I hope you could add to the list. but to realize them there must be that essential "working together". For what one person can never hope to achieve alone can be realized in unity with other, and with God's blessing.
Enjoy this day in a new year of grace and let us pray for each other
- Father Tom
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Welcome to our refurbished Church! I sincerely hope you like the changes made to our Church building. I want to thank you for your good natured cooperation when we moved our worship space to the "old Church", our present social hall. Everyone it seems enjoyed the experience of coming "closer together" as a community of faith. I know I enjoyed it and will cherish the memories. It was great! I hope you find the changes made to the Church a good improvement. I am happy it is now a more "worthy place" for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Let us be grateful to God for this gift to all of us.
RENOVATION PICTURES
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COMPLETED RENOVATION PICTURES
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Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Allen Vigneron the new Archbishop of Detroit. He succeeds Cardinal Adam Maida.This is a historic appointment because for the first time in its 175 year old history, the Archdiocese of Detroit will now be led by a native son. Archbishop Vigneron was born in Mt. Clemens and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1975. He and I were studying at the Sacred Heart Seminary College at the same time although he was two classes ahead of me. Most recently he had been serving as the Bishop of Oakland, California.
I have known our new Archbishop for many years and I know he is a very gifted and talented priest well suited for his new responsibilities. Archbishop Vigneron is taking on a very challenging ministry in difficult times. He needs the support and prayers of all the priests and people of the Archdiocese of Detroit. May God grant him many blessings and graces so that he may be a good and loving shepherd for all of us..