There’s Another General in the House: A few weeks ago, my parents started chatting about taking a quick trip to Chicago. They still have the “travel bug” in them and since they haven’t been able to travel to Arizona during the winter months for many years, we try to do what we can to come up with quick trips around here. Okay, here isn’t Arizona but we try. My parents are now happy even with a trip to the Detroit or Toledo Zoo, Great Lakes Crossing or Frankenmuth (I guess we’re not too adventurous). Half the time, I’m sure the “travel bug” hits them just so they can get out of the house and break the monotony of what seems like endless doctor’s visits during the week for both of them!
My sister Cindy and niece McKenzie volunteered to take Mom and Dad to Chicago during Holy Week. Almont Schools had that week off so a trip got planned for Monday through Thursday. Everyone was excited to go. As you can imagine, lots of planning took place to make it as comfortable as possible for everyone. They decided to take the train which my parents have done from time to time (and they’ll admit they’ve had mixed results going by train). This time it was a bit more challenging because, as my parents learned, traveling by train isn’t so senior or handicap friendly. It may be easy if you’re getting on at the first stop and getting off at the last stop because you’d have more time but climbing up to the train and getting situated proved to be a challenge with the few minutes the train was stopped in Troy to pick up people up.
Once they got going, things were fine. They had a great trip. They took their first Uber ride (which itself proved to be fascinating because the Uber driver showed up at the wrong hotel and then took a scenic tour or got lost going to the Museums) and they even tested my technology skills to see if I could figure out what restaurant they were dining at one night based on my ability to log into their medical alert devices. Yes, “Big Brother” knows all!
About a week after their trip, my mom made a veiled reference to the fact she was with “The General” most of the week. I was confused. I’m usually referred to as “The General.” But I knew she wasn’t talking about me because I wasn’t with her most of that week. “Who was she talking about,” I asked myself. I then wondered if she was talking about Jackie since she was with her part of Easter week. So, still not being able to figure out who my competition was, I finally asked: “So who’s the General you’re talking about? Did you mean Jackie because she’s next in line?” My mom laughed and was quick to reply, “No way. It’s Cindy. With Jackie and Sandy I can get away with things but with you and Cindy, forget it!”
Festival Countdown: By the time the last person leaves the building on Sunday, the first set of trucks will pull in as the 49th Annual SJA Spring Festival unfolds before our eyes. Please keep the festival in your prayers! May everyone be safe! May we have lots of people! May we have beautiful and warm weather (remember to keep those prayers going)! May the 49th Annual SJA Spring Festival be a GREAT success!
Please remember there are only two main entrances: one near the Family and Youth Center on St. Joan Street and another near the Gym on Overlake Street.
And, most importantly remember: 1) no one under the age of 18 will be allowed to enter the property after 6:00 p.m. unless they are accompanied
by a parent who will be required to show a valid driver’s license or state issued identification card; 2) no backpacks will be allowed anytime throughout the weekend (baby and/or diaper bags will be allowed but your normal backpacks will not); 3) there will be a $1 admissions charge per person per day for anyone over the age of 5. For the latest festival news visit www.sjascs.org/festival!
Festival Volunteers Still Needed: We still need plenty of volunteers to work the various areas of the festival. While all areas need help, the greatest number of openings still remains in the Food Tent, Admission and Bingo. If you are interested in helping in any area, please visit our festival volunteer homepage at http://www.sjascs.org/festivalvolunteering. Even if you only have an hour to spare during festival weekend, we could certainly use your help!
Helping Puerto Rico in Memory of Sr. Carol: I am happy to report that we’ve collected just over $19,000 so far to help those two families in Puerto Rico rebuild their homes and lives. I am grateful for your extraordinary generosity.
Happy Mother’s Day: “Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen (“Blessing of Mothers on Mother’s Day,”
Book of Blessings)!”
As we celebrate this special day dedicated to mothers, we take a moment to thank and pray for our own mother who gave us life and showed us love. We pray for mothers who lost a child through death that they may continually turn to their faith to find hope and assurance their child is in the loving arms of the eternal Father. We also pray for women, who for a variety of reasons and circumstances, are not granted the grace to be a mother but who show forth their mothering characteristics in the ways they care for the children they come in contact with.
Elsewhere in the bulletin, you’ll find the now famous
Beatitudes of a Mother by Fr. Rich. Consider sharing and/or reading Fr. Rich’s great work at your Mother’s Day gathering! A link to download a PDF copy of
Beatitudes of a Mother can also be found on the home page of our parish website.
Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers. Happy Mother’s Day!