Dinner WITH Msgr. Mike:  At the School Gala last Saturday, at one point as our awesome host Tom Mazawey was getting bids for the “Dinner with Msgr. Mike” live auction item, he handed me the microphone and asked that I tell people about the “Dinner with Msgr. Mike” experience.  I talked about the fabulous meal, the fabulous environment, and most importantly, the fabulous cooks who put on these dinners for me.  In the middle of my description, I made the point that it was important to realize this was “Dinner WITH Msgr. Mike” and not “Dinner BY Msgr. Mike.” The crowd chuckled and we went on with the evening.  But I was being serious!  Dinner BY Msgr. Mike can get complicated.  I don’t mind “experimenting” in the kitchen, but as I’ve noted before, rarely do any of my creations ever look like the pictures in the recipe books, nor do they ever taste spectacular.  One person recently suggested that I needed to stop buying recipe books with pictures!  I have to admit the thought never crossed my mind, but it’s something I should consider.  I have a checkered “history” with cooking.  Talk to any of my sisters; they LOVE to share stories of when we were growing up and what it was like when I was tasked with fixing a family meal. I’m a typical guy in this respect as I use EVERY pot and pan in sight and make a complete mess of the kitchen.  They didn’t like my methodology simply because the rule in the Bugarin household was that whoever cooked was exempt from cleaning!  I wasn’t making a mess by design; it’s just the way it works with me.
 
On the day following the Gala (last Sunday), I went over to my parents’ house for a bit.  We declared a “day off” from our Sunday family meal because of the Gala and the fact some in the family were recovering from various illnesses.  I went over to the condo after doing some grocery shopping.
 
When I arrived at the condo, my mom shared that for lunch they had some of the turkey soup I recently made for them.  I was expecting my mom to say it needed some garlic salt or some other spice because I knew it was pretty bland.  My mom will often remind me that I need to make Italian spices, garlic and/or garlic salt my friends.  Instead of mentioning what the soup needed, she went in another unexpected direction altogether.
 
After telling me the soup was good, she moved to the kitchen table where she proceeded to pick up a small white object on the table. “You must have used a spatula when you were cooking the soup,” she stated.  She was correct, but I was wondering how she knew this fact “Yea, I used a spatula to scoop out every last speck of the condensed cream of chicken soup that was in those cans.  I wanted to make sure those cans were completely clean.”  “Well, you must have lost a piece of the spatula as you did your magic.  I found this in my soup today.”  She then handed me the little white object that was in her hand.  Sure enough, she was holding about an inch and a half by a half-inch part of a spatula.  Good heavens!  I couldn’t believe it!  Thankfully she found it before it landed on her spoon.  When I went home that night, I searched for the defective spatula.  Sure enough, the whole top portion of the spatula was sheared off.  It must have been cut as I was cleaning the can of the condensed cream of chicken soup.  This is why you should always bid on “Dinner WITH Msgr. Mike,” but run the other way if you’re ever offered “Dinner BY Msgr. Mike.” 
 
Congratulations Father John:  This is one of those very bittersweet announcements! Father John will soon conclude his assignment with our parish. It’s hard to believe he has been with us for almost three years already.
 
It’s our custom in the Archdiocese of Detroit that Associate Pastors are assigned to a three year term for their first assignment. So, as much as I am saddened to see him leave our parish, I’m delighted to announce that Father John has been appointed administrator of St. Daniel Parish in Clarkston. He will begin his assignment there on July 1, 2020.
 
We have been SO BLESSED with the ministry of Father John at SJA! He is gifted in so many ways, and he beautifully brings those gifts and talents to the people he serves. He has been an absolute blessing around the altar of the Lord as well as an absolute blessing around the Parish Center. I know you will join me in thanking God that Father John was called, and then answered the invitation of the Lord to serve him and his Church as a priest. Father John has been the BEST!
 
As much as we will be sad to see him leave, we are grateful for the three years that God graced us with this awesome priest and servant. Father John has made an impact in so many lives and has led so many to Christ!
 
We will have a farewell for Father John later in June.
 
Join me then this weekend in thanking God for the ministry of Father John, for how he has blessed St. Joan of Arc Parish, and how he will soon bless the people of St. Daniel Parish in Clarkston. They are one lucky parish to be getting Father John as their next shepherd! Blessed be God in all of his designs!
 
GALA THANKS!  Once again, the school threw a huge, successful, and fabulous party!  By all accounts, the 2020 SJA School Gala was indeed a phenomenal success!  While there are many people to thank, I would like to single out Emily Berschback, Pam Graskewicz, and Matt Wyszczelski, as well as Kathy Kalich, our principal, for their extraordinary leadership in putting this wonderful event together.  My thanks also go to our entire Gala committee and to the staff, teachers, parents, and parishioners who had a hand in this great event.
 
I’m grateful to our sponsors and to all who donated items for the auction.  The number of items presented for the auction was outstanding; we had some unique and special items once again this year!  THANKS for your remarkable generosity.
 
To all who bought raffle tickets, bid on items, attended the Gala, or volunteered in one capacity or another, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your generous support of SJA School!
 
Please mark your calendars for next year’s Gala … the 15 ^th annual SJA School Gala … which will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
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