Genesis 1:28: “Be fertile and multiply…”
We have been blessed with a rapid rise in the number of young children in our parish. What a wonderful sign of new life and promise – and as I said in my homily on the Feast of the Holy Family, what a sign of the courage and generous love that our young couples are willing to undertake the challenges of raising children… including the challenges today of raising them in a religious practice and bringing them into the church community. Two challenges that come with this growth:
1) We are moving forward with our long-discussed hopes to establish the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd here in our parish – a process that began in 2019 but was disrupted by the pandemic. It is a prominent, highly-regarded program for the religious development of children that aims to foster each child’s inherent religious experience, using a Montessori-style approach. We hope to have this up and running next fall.
2) The “Pray-ground” area on the east side of the nave has served well our youngest members and their parents during our Sunday liturgies… but it has become apparent that we have outgrown it! Our growing little parishioners (in size and number) deserve a space that can grow with them. As we consider alternatives for spaces to incorporate the little ones into the liturgy, I would ask everyone to keep a few things in mind. Parents of little ones: please monitor your children during the mass, and if their noise and energy escalate to the level of distracting others, please take them out for a respite, to the “bride’s room” section of the Jefferson lobby or some other place. We understand that you don’t want to miss any of the liturgy as well! If you do need to step out, we have audio devices available that allow you to hear the mass outside of the nave. They will be on the side table at the entrance of the church. Everyone else: I encourage your patience as we search out better ways to accommodate our children. Please remember how important their presence is, even with its inevitable noise and motion. They are the future of our Church and we adults come with our own noises and distractions during Mass! If you are having trouble hearing, you too can use the audio devices just described.
New Parishioners
If you are relatively new here, and have not yet registered or signed up for one of our new parishioner gatherings to meet the pastor, you can register online HERE. We still have a few openings for the March 13 New Parishioner Gathering; email me HERE to reserve your spot.
Lenten Options
Our various Lenten programs are described elsewhere in this eNewsletter. Please take the opportunity to seek out those that will support you in your own spiritual growth in this season. We will have simple soup suppers and Stations of the Cross with a different theme each Friday of Lent, beginning this evening, March 1. Next Thursday, March 7, Fr. Patrick Kelly, SJ, will be featured at the Jesuit Friends and Alumni luncheon, addressing Sports and Spirituality. But his message goes beyond sports to point out how, in Ignatian fashion, we can “find God” in many aspects of our lives that may not at first glance seem very spiritual. And please come to our parish retreat on Saturday afternoon, March 26; info and sign-up HERE.
Archdiocesan News
On February 26, the Archdiocese of Detroit published a Pastoral Letter and policies on gender-identity issues for all its parishes and schools. Because, as the Archdiocese acknowledges, “some members of our communities may welcome these developments while others may object to them,” I want to assure you that everyone is still welcome at Ss. Peter and Paul. We welcome everyone who is sincerely seeking God, or who is exploring questions of religion, spirituality, and belonging in a community of faith.
Let us continue to welcome all God’s children into the warmth of our community, into the way of Ignatian spirituality, and into the life in the Spirit of Jesus that has been given to us to share.