From the Pastor's Desk | May 11, 2025

Sacraments 

When seeking the Sacraments, particularly Baptism or Holy Matrimony, I ask that you please start by contacting the parish office first either via phone or email. By making your first contact with the office and speaking with Claire, she can take your information and answer any questions you might have about the process. Most of the time she can get the process started and provide any forms that need to be filled out before speaking or meeting with me.  The reason I bring this up is that I receive a lot of emails and I fear that I will (or already have) missed inquiries regarding sacramental preparation because I did not see an email. I just want to make sure I don’t miss anything in my inbox or otherwise. If I have missed your email with particular questions about the Sacraments, please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies. 

40 Days of Adoration 

Leading up to the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ) celebrated on June 22, Bishop Boyea has asked that each parish pray 40 hours of Eucharistic adoration. Beginning on Wednesday, June 11, at 6:30 pm (following the 6:00 pm evening Mass) these 40 hours will begin at St. Martha Parish and last through adoration at 9:00 pm on Friday, June 13. There will be no benediction on Wednesday, June 11, and, after confessions, the monstrance and Blessed Sacrament will be moved to the Creation Chapel through Friday at 9:00 pm. 

We will need many people to sign up for times of adoration in addition to our committed adorers. You can sign up online here or on the sheets located at the south entrance (Door 6 nearest Grand River) of the church. Please, please sign up so that we can fulfill the Bishop’s request and keep vigil with our Lord as we celebrate the gift of the Eucharist! 

Save the Date! Saturday, June 21, 2025 

You and your family are invited to join Bishop Earl Boyea for Holy Mass at the Lugnuts Baseball Stadium in Lansing followed by a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of the state capital on Saturday, June 21, the eve of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Ave verum corpus!

“Bringing the real presence of Christ out into the community is a perfect exclamation point for us as we seek to open ourselves to the graces of the Eucharistic Revival,” says Jeremy Priest, Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Lansing, April 1, the beginning of the Month of the Holy Eucharist. 

Holy Mass at the Lugnuts Baseball Stadium will begin at 10am. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Bishop Earl Boyea. The Mass will then be followed by a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Lansing, concluding at Saint Mary Cathedral whereupon pilgrims have the opportunity to procure a Holy Year plenary indulgence.

“Nourished by the Eucharist, we are called to become disciples who evangelize and bring God’s love to the streets in service to our neighbor. What better way to move into this phase of mission than by literally bringing the Body of Christ, the Word made flesh, to be adored in the public square?”⁣

⁣Originating in the 13th century, the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (Corpus Christi) was instituted by Pope Urban IV to honor the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist: body, blood, soul and divinity.

⁣⁣“Eucharistic processions can be powerful experiences of discovery,” suggests Jeremy. ⁣“They have an immense impact not just on those taking part but also on those observing the witness of the faithful for the first time. This tradition especially offers the curious a glimpse into something sacred as they observe the reverence and joy we exude around the Blessed Sacrament.”⁣

Soon to be Deacon Ryan Ferrigan

I encourage everyone to attend the ordination of Ryan Ferrigan to the diaconate. He will be ordained a deacon on May 17, 2025 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (East Lansing) at 10:30 am. Please attend to pray and support Ryan in his new ministry. Dcn. Ferrigan will preach the 8 am and 10 am Masses on Sunday, May 18, 2025. A light reception will follow the 10 am Mass to congratulate him. See more on page 15. 

Gospel Reflection

In our Gospel today, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice…” To pose the obvious question for our reflection, do we? Do we hear the Lord’s voice? Can we distinguish the Lord’s voice from our own voice or from the voice of the Evil One? A few thoughts about this…

First, whenever we hear the accusatory you we can be confident this is not God’s voice. The accusatory you quietly says things to us like, you suck; you’re no good; you’re dirty; you’re all alone; nobody understands you; look at what you did; and the list can go on and on. It has been revealed to us through Scripture that the Evil One is an accuser and a liar. Whenever we hear the accusatory you we should get in the habit of quietly rejecting and dismissing this voice. God created us out of love for love. He created us in His image and likeness. He created us as good.  

Second, regarding the voice we are hearing either in prayer or in our hearts or heads we should ask ourselves does this contradict anything in Scripture or Tradition? Jesus speaks nothing but Truth when He speaks to us in Scripture. Jesus gives us the gift of the Church as the legitimate interpreter of Scripture. Are we hearing anything that contradicts what Jesus teaches through His Word or through His Church? If what we hear contradicts Scripture or Tradition, we can be pretty certain the voice we are hearing is not of God and, again, we can quietly reject and dismiss whatever it is we are hearing. 

Third, Jesus tells us, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-16). St. Paul also teaches, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22). Sometimes we have to test what we are hearing. If the voice we are hearing is asking us to do something, sometimes we should pursue the endeavor placed on our hearts and evaluate the fruit. In discernment, sometimes we must pursue an endeavor having tested it against both Scripture and Tradition until God clearly shows us or tells us that the pursued endeavor is actually not God’s will for our lives. 

Finally, we have to give God the gift or sacrifice of our time spent in silent prayer to give Him the space and capacity to speak. God doesn’t speak with thunderous words but rather speaks with a whisper in the quiet of our hearts. The culture would have us believe that silence is an absence. We know, however, that silence is actually a fullness when we spend that time in silent prayer, reflection, and meditation. The more habitual our silence becomes, the easier it becomes for us to distinguish between God’s voice and other noise that we hear in our hearts and heads. 

Know of my prayers for you all! 

Fr. Ryan