ASSUMPTION GROTTO NEWS ASSUMPTION GROTTO CHURCH NOVEMBER 23, 2014 Assumption Grotto Parish - 1832 - Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine - 1881 - A Pastor’s Descant '"When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Mt 25:38-40 H ard to believe it. I drove past a Catholic Church last week and Behold! there on the front lawn were life -size plastic nativity figures set in place. While I annually rail against preempting Christmas in the commercial world, this act, by a church no less, arouses wonderment that can’t be matched by the secularists. Has the whole world gone mad? Our thoughts at this time of the end of the Church Year ought to be on the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven and hell. Advent opens next Sunday, but it is not the Christmas season. I find myself becoming ever more upset over the loss of souls in the deluge of impurity that’s squeezing the spiritual life out of more and more people. I’m beginning to wonder whether chastity even has a chance in our world. The media, the entertainments, the internet abuse, the conversations of people, their immodest manner of dress and filthy speech–these are becoming suffused with sex to the point that its normal and only permissible expression, in valid marriage, is almost not even referenced. The relentless push of the gay agenda (as it’s been called) makes me believe that perversion is becoming the accepted norm in the USA. I wonder how this could possibly be so since human nature itself is so obstinate in asserting normality and since conscience is an inescapable reality for everybody. The idea then hit me that there must be a line, a trajectory of sexual expression which begins with normalcy but which moves downward, from lesser sins of impurity (though all of them are mortal sins) to the stranger ones, and then on to the Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD. perverse, and finally to violence and even murder, perhaps with demonic worship (and possession) being the end of the line. All along the way there would be as a result, a progressive madness–literally speaking, that would begin to take over the person. This hunch –too primitive to call a theory–is that anyone is potentially capable of moving along this line of sin, from normalcy to beastly brutality and to ultimate irrationality. According to this view, it would not then be a question of whatever tendencies one claims to have gotten from birth which determine his life’s direction, but rather of the degree of willful daring that one has to venture down this ‘road’ away from uprightness. In other words, I challenge the claims that are often made about abnormal tendencies as inherited from birth. I’m proposing rather that everyone’s nature can incline him to venture away from the norms of goodness towards sin, more and more, depending on his boldness to transgress the just limits imposed by nature. This is another way of asserting the condition of fallen human nature due to original sin. Anyone could be a potential pervert if he would only let himself go far down enough, that is, to abandon right reason to be bold and wicked enough to experiment with evils’ fascination. If I am right about this, there would be no such thing as a sexual compulsion or a proclivity to sinful activity but only the absence of the moderating and restricting regulation of one’s will to develop virtue. This hypothesis takes away the call for us to pity those whose proclivities are wayward and the demand for us to be accepting of any forms of deviancy as permissible, and even legally protected. No one has the right to transgress the laws of nature that God implanted in our souls, and therefore no one should cultivate a false compassion for those who choose to sin. The only right attitude towards sinners is regret over their deliberate sinfulness and the hope that God may give them the actual grace to see the error of their ways and to reform their thinking and their conduct. Without the development of the virtues from our youthful years which curb sinful tendencies of all kinds, we are all prone to be sinners–prone, I say, not destined by an irresistible force. But because family life is fast eroding and because Catholic teaching and practice is dwindling away, and because education in morals is not well imparted, the result is that more and more people will be traveling down this ‘line’ ASSUMPTION GROTTO NEWS ASSUMPTION GROTTO NEWS COPY DEADLINE MONDAY, 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 24, 2014 7:30 a.m. - Jon Williams (L) 7:00 p.m. - Broughton Family (L) Tuesday, November 25, 2014 7:30 a.m. - Martin Williams (L) 7:00 p.m. - Christina Williams (L) Wednesday, November 26, 2014 7:30 a.m. - Charles Van Overbeke (D) 7:00 p.m. - Daniel Peper (D) Thursday, November 27, 2014 Thanksgiving Day 7:30 a.m. - Kamal Paulis (D) 9:00 a.m. - Grotto Ushers No Evening Mass Friday, November 28, 2014 7:30 a.m. - Mafalda R. Valisi (D) 7:00 p.m. - Boyle/Brannigan Family (L&D) Saturday, November 29, 2014 7:30 a.m. - Eric H. Berger (L) 1:30 p.m. - Nuptial: Haapala/Brown 4:00 p.m. - People of the Parish Sunday, November 30, 2014 6:30, 9:30 a.m. and Noon - People of the Parish Graves For information on graves or our cremation burial site, call the Rectory, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. DETROIT, MI Saturday, November 29, 2014 4:00 p.m. D. Bastuba, , R & J. Praet, J. & J. Williams, R. Grado Sunday, November 30, 2014 6:30 a.m. R. Jacek, C. Kolomjec, M Pomeroy 9:30 a.m. K. Garavaglia, D. Schuster, K., D. Dux, J. & E. Lang, J. Prevo, G. Heffernan, R.& A. Santine, A., J. & S Coates, J. & J Simpson, H. Wisniewski, B. & J. Newby, 12:00 p.m. B. & S. Sharp, J., P. I. & M. Doyle, C. & M. Chambers, G & J. Venditti, A. & M. Arrigoni, A. & J. Kopke, F. & W. Remske, J. Gallagher, P. Cooper, C. G. & J. Rochon, D & L Steinhaus Gethsemane Eucharistic Adoration Chapel The Chapel, located in the Convent, is open 9 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Monday-Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We need more people to be adorers. If you can commit to one hour, or be a sub when someone is absent, please call the Convent at 313-527-4416. Open Hours: Open Hours: Monday, 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, 1:00 pm, Thursday, 11:00 am. Assumption Grotto Gift Shop 313-332-4432 Email:[email protected] Parish Council President Anna Graziosi ..................................586-775-3228 Organist, Ray Long ........................313-372-0762 Email: [email protected] SUNDAY MASSES: Saturdays at 4:00; Sundays at 6:30, 9:30 (Tridentine), & Noon HOLY DAY MASSES: 6:30, 9:30 (Tridentine), Noon & evening at 7:00 p.m. WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. (Tridentine), . & 7:00 p.m. , Saturday. 7:30 a.m (Tridentine) CONFESSIONS: Saturday 2:30-3:30 ., Sunday 9:00 & 11:30 a.m. BAPTISMS: Every Saturday after the 4:00 p.m. Mass or Sunday after the Noon Mass. Arrange at the Rectory Office. BLESSING FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS: After the Noon Mass on the first Sunday of the month. REGISTRATION: Come to Rectory 9-5 p.m., Mon-Fri. If not possible, call for a registration form to be sent out to you. ORDER OF CANONS REGULAR OF THE HOLY CROSS - 313-884-1121 Join us for refreshments in the vestibule of the gym after Mass on Sunday Baptism Jordan Alexis Durso, daughter of Aaron C. Durso & Christina L. Robins RECTORY BUSINESS HOURS Monday-Friday ............................. 9:00am-5:00pm Saturday-Sunday........................... 9:00am-2:00pm Evening hours ............................... by appointment Rectory 313-372-0762, FAX 372-2064 Website: www.assumptiongrotto.com e-mail: [email protected] SISTERS OF THE HOLY CROSS CONVENT 313– 527-1739 Office 313-527-4416 Sisters Wedding Banns III Philip Haapala & Jennifer Brown, Grotto ASSUMPTION (GROTTO) PARISH DIRECTORY 13770 Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI 48205 Pastor, Rev. Eduard Perrone Associate Pastor, Rev. John Bustamante Deacon James Wilder Weekly Holy Hours Wednesday: after the 7:00 p.m. Mass, “for all our Priests Thursday: after the 7:00 p.m. Mass, in commemoration of the Passio Domini Friday: after 7:00 p.m. Mass - for the souls in Purgatory Saturday: after the 4:00 p.m. Mass - for all our Military First Sunday of the Month: K of C Holy Hour after the Noon Mass, Benediction, prayers, Holy Rosary for vocations Readings for the Week of November 23, 2014 Sunday: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17/1 Cor 15: 20 -26, 28/Mt 25:31-46 Monday: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5/Lk 21:1-4 Tuesday: Rv 14:14-19/Lk 21:5-11 Wednesday: Rv 15:1-4/Lk 21:12-19 Thursday: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a /Lk 21:20-28 Friday: Rv 20:1-4, 11--21:2/Lk 21:29-3 Saturday: Rv 22:1-7/Lk 21:34-36 Next Sunday: Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:27/1 Cor 1:3-9/Mk 13:33-37 ©Liturgical Publications Inc CHRIST THE KING NOVEMBER 23, 2014 Pastor’s Descant (Continued) from normality to depravity, coming to a stop at whatever place he would dare not venture further. Surely, I hope this will not happen to everybody, but I see that it’s happening more and more–the ever increasing usage of pornography propelling the movement along. We must make up our minds to be very good Catholic people–with the help of God. Fr. Perrone The Assumption Grotto St. Vincent de Paul Helpers will be hosting their first Cookie Sale & Christmas Bazaar TODAY in the gym after all the Masses. -----------------*************-----------Solemn Novena of Masses Christmas Cards- A Solemn Novena of Masses will be offered from December 26th to January 3rd, nine consecutive days of Masses for your loved ones. Each keepsake card is a full color photograph of the church with matching lined envelope. Donation $10.00 per card. Come in or call the rectory to pick them up. -----------------*************-----------The Book of Life is set up on the podium in the middle of the church starting this weekend for the month of November. Register your deceased loved ones in the book to be remembered at all Masses during the month of November. -----------------*************-----------Assumption Grotto St. Vincent de Paul Helpers thank you for your generous donations. If you wish to earmark a donation for a particular individual or family, you may do so. St. Vincent de Paul Helpers will get your donation to that individual or family. Your donations are tax deductible. St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us. Thank You. -----------------*************------------. We are in need of Lectors for the 4:00 p.m. Mass and the Noon Mass. We would like to see some of the younger men of the parish volunteer. Normally we would have 4 men for these masses so that it would only be a once a month commitment. Call the rectory to volunteer. --------------------********----------------Parishioners are invited to have your home consecrated to Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and receive his special graces for this devotion and the twelve promises. Call Tom Ulrich at 586 -775-8138 or Deacon Jim Wilder at 586776-7774. Men of the Sacred Heart: --------------------********------------------“So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” Matt. 26:40: Here is another request that asks for an hour of prayer. Could you please come to a neighborhood abortion clinic and spend one hour with us? As we pray for pregnant mothers and their babies, we ask that Jesus will protect them. For more information, call Dan Goodnow, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, 313-530-4539. Assumption Grotto Gift Shop 313-332-4432 [email protected] Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 8:30-10:30am Sunday: after the 9:30 & Noon Mass The Gift Shop has many fine items to choose from if you are in need of a gift or are looking for something special for yourself. A good selection of books is also available . Come in and browse. Hours: MonFri. 8:30-10:30 a.m., Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 313-332-4432 Stop in after Mass and do your Christmas shopping. They have a fine selection of books, religious articles, tee shirts sweat shirts, coffee mugs, etc., something for everyone. Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me." Jesus insists that in ministering to others' physical needs, we are truly serving him. "Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me," he tells us. And in a similar way, what we fail to do for them, we fail to do for Christ: "What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me." This means that we have been given both a gift and a task. The gift is the chance to encounter Christ in our brothers and sisters. The task is to be sure we don't neglect the encounter. The corporal works of mercy provide us with a kind of guide for how to live out this important mission from Christ. These works include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and burying the dead. Based on the words of Jesus in today's Gospel, it's an important part of the Christian life to look for ways to engage in these kinds of bodily ministries. Traditionally, these "corporal" works are complemented by a set of "spiritual" works. The spiritual works of mercy ensure that we don't minister to the body at the expense of the soul. They include admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving all injuries, and praying for the living and the dead. By engaging in these diverse works of mercy, we serve others, love Jesus, and hope to "inherit the kingdom prepared for [us] from the foundation of the world." ©2014 Liturgical Publications Inc Thanksgiving Prayer Almighty God, You bring forth bountiful food from the earth that our loved ones may never grow hungry. For this, we give thanks. You give us families that meet at this time to reunite and be one with each other. For this, we give thanks. You have let us live in a land that has unbridled opportunity and unparalleled freedoms. For this, we give thanks. For those who are hungry today, we pray for their fulfillment. For families that are separated, we pray for their unity. And for people who live in the midst of persecution, we pray for their deliverance. We ask all these things through Christ, our ever-risen Lord. Amen
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