Poor St. Joseph:  I wish I had recorded the call with my parents the other night because my mom was on a roll.  I’m not sure what got her so wound up but I was laughing so hard my eyes were tearing up.  Our conversation spanned multiple topics and each one was funnier than the previous one.  She wasn’t even sure what got her so wound up.  But then she was worried it was going to take several hours for her to wind down so she could fall asleep  She even said at one point, “Boy, you can tell I’m getting old because the filter is definitely off.  I used to laugh at grandma who would say whatever she was thinking as she grew older.  I’m now there. Yes, 77 and the filter is definitely off!”  To which I said, “Yes, mom we’ve all noticed.”
 
At one point, our conversation turned to St. Joseph.  Considering all the other items we were talking about, I’m not really sure how St. Joseph got put into the mix.  My mom was lamenting how insignificant St. Joseph must have felt.  She was recounting what we know of St. Joseph from Sacred Scripture; which really isn’t that much.  We don’t know how long he lived.  We don’t know much about his life.  We know he was a fierce protector of Christ and obviously went to great lengths to protect him and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We know he was obedient to God and was willing to take great risks to help bring Christ into the world.  But then he disappears.  My mom said, “Yes, it’s just so sad.  He is never mentioned again.  Think about it.  Jesus and Mary have so much written about them and are rightly given places of honor in people’s homes.  Poor St. Joseph.  What does he get?  He gets to be buried … how … upside down in people’s yards and, to add insult to injury, only when people are trying to sell their homes.  Imagine how insignificant St. Joseph must feel. Poor St. Joseph.  We need to pray for him!”
 
Sunday Mass Counts:  On the last two weekends of October, we took our annual weekend mass attendance counts for 2018.  The Archdiocese of Detroit asks that we count at least once yearly the number of mass participants for two consecutive weekends.  It’s amazing how the actual numbers put things into perspective.  We all know and talk about the fact we’ve seen a dwindling number of people attending mass.  I have my own theories on this, namely that people have created such over-scheduled lives that faith and God often take a back seat in daily life.  The dwindling number of people attending mass is certainly not a problem isolated to SJA.  This is something we see across the whole Archdiocese, and indeed, throughout the world.  This year, our average between the two weekends was only 1,650.  In 2014, the average for the two weekends was 2,209!  That’s a drop of 559 people for the weekend in only four years!  The most attended mass is the 4:00 PM on Saturday (462 people) followed by the 10:00 AM on Sunday (399 people).  Four years ago, those two masses each had an attendance of slightly more than 600 people per mass.  Not surprisingly, the least attended mass is the 8:00 AM on Sunday (219 people).  Needless to say, we have lots of evangelization to do!
 
Advent Reconciliation Services:  On Tuesday, December 18, we will have our SERF Vicariate Advent Reconciliation Services.  The 1:00 p.m. service is at St. Barnabas Parish (24800 Phlox in Eastpointe … off 10 Mile Road west of Gratiot) and the 7:00 p.m. service is at our parish.  Please take a moment out of your busy Christmas preparations and receive the Lord’s gracious forgiveness.  There is certainly no better way to prepare for the coming of the Lord than by celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation!  Both services will consist of a brief liturgy of the word followed by individual confession and absolution.
 
You would be amazed how many times I welcome back people who haven’t celebrated the sacrament in years or even decades.  If you’re one of these people and/or are worried about how to go to confession, don’t be afraid.  Simply tell the confessor it’s been a while since you’ve gone to confession; he will walk you through the ritual.  Don’t worry if you can’t remember the Act of Contrition; we have cards in the confessionals with the prayers.  Your prayer could simply be: “Lord Jesus, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
 
Another excuse I often hear as to why people don’t go to confession is: “Father you don’t have the time to hear all that I need to confess.”  Nice try, we’ll make time!  Another excuse: “Father I wouldn’t have the time to do the penance you would give me.  By the way, what kinds of penances do they give out these days?”  The penances given out these days are often in the form of a prayer or some act of kindness.  It’s not difficult people!  I encourage you to give it a try.
 
Advent Pause:  As we enter into these waning days and hours of Advent and the pace of life gets rather hectic with the final preparations for Christmas, please remember to keep your priorities ever in mind.  It’s all too easy to lose sight of what’s important as we try to accomplish sometimes an unquestionable amount of activity.  As we prepare for the birthday of the Savior, may we keep him ever before our eyes.
 
Christmas Greetings:  Since next weekend’s bulletin will be our special Christmas edition, I want to take the opportunity now to extend my Christmas greetings and prayers to you, our faithful and regular parishioners.  I am truly grateful for the many ways you share your time, talent and treasure around the parish.  Through your extraordinary generosity, we are changing many lives and doing so much to deepen people’s relationship with the Lord! It’s awesome to sit back and realize all the great work and ministry that is being done at our parish.  Thank you for all that you do that makes us such an amazing parish!
 
May the Christ child, the Prince of Peace, enlighten your hearts and homes with the warmth of his light and love!  Know you will be remembered in my prayers and masses this Christmas
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.  Merry Christmas!
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
gmb@sjascs.org