Newsletter for Friday, April 17, 2020

Our weekly newsletter opens with an Easter letter from Fr. Jim:

Happy Easter to all. May we see the risen Christ in the many small acts of love and kindness we experience each day. I pray for you and your family. May God hold you close and keep you safe and healthy.

We will continue to live stream Sunday Masses. So many of you have sent words of encouragement and appreciation. Thank you. It is amazing how many of us are praying together in these Masses, all over the country, and in several Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

In this crisis, you continue to love and to be generous. We are so happy that we met our March Match goal of $100,000. As you know, these funds go into our campus ministry programs. Thank you for your love and generosity.

Thank you for also participating with the Steier Group planning study. As you know, we contracted with the Steier Group before this terrible pandemic. It is hard to think of the future when the present is so challenging. The data we are collecting will serve us well in the future when life becomes a new normal. The participation rate in this study, given the circumstance, has been incredible. This is the last week to participate by returning the survey. We will receive a summary of their findings next week. Thank you for being so passionate about our mission here at St. Mary Student Parish, and if you haven’t taken the survey, you can click here to learn more and do so today.

Fr. Jim
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Read below for our weekly updates and scroll all the way to the bottom to read about an advocacy opportunity for those experiencing homelessness right here in Ann Arbor.

Haga clic aquí para ver las noticias parroquiales en español.

SUNDAY MASS AND SPECIAL INTERCESSIONS

We will continue to live-stream mass on Sundays. English mass at 9 a.m. will stream live on our website, followed immediately by Spanish mass at 10:10 a.m. Recordings will be available immediately following the masses at the same location: https://michigancatholics.org/smsp-news/

Scheduled mass intentions will be offered by the Jesuit Community, but not necessarily on the scheduled date.

SPECIAL INTERCESSIONS

For all those who are sick and suffering, especially Jane Monahan and Annie and Justin Siciliano. May they receive healing hope and tender love, we pray to the Lord.

That God may give eternal rest to all whom he has called from this life, especially Mark Kolevar, Thomas Van Meter, Marcos Cristobal Barba Andrade, Redencion Montalbo-Hernandez, Ron Karczewski, José Sebastián González Cervantes, Joy Ross, and Bernard H. Bichakjian we pray to the Lord.

If you would like a name added to either of these special intercessions, please email lmele@smspnewman.org.

ONGOING STEWARDSHIP

Thank you for your generous support of our work here at St. Mary Student Parish. We are only able to do the work of ministry because of your generosity. As we strive to meet the needs of our parish and ministries during this pandemic, we want to make it as easy as possible for parishioners and friends to continue to support our ministries, though we are not able to gather together for Sunday mass in person.

OPTIONS FOR GIVING

Personal Check: These can be sent in our offertory envelopes or in another envelope with a note for allocation, such as offertory, Sunday mass, etc. These can be sent to our mailing address:

St. Mary Student Parish
331 Thompson Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Please use precautions in the process to prevent the spread of viruses (washing hands, not licking to close the envelope, but using a sponge blotter or glue stick to seal the envelope, etc.). While our parish office is not open to the public, a few staff members are keeping up with essential administrative tasks.

Online Giving: Many of you have signed up for online giving, which is a great help to us. Thank you. Whether you would like to make a one-time gift or use/create an account to make recurring gifts, please use this link: https://www.myowngiving.com/Default.aspx?cid=583.

Venmo: St. Mary Student Parish is on Venmo @SMSPumich. Join many students and parishioners who use this payment app on their smartphone to send money from their bank account straight to the offertory each week.

YEAR TO DATE OFFERING REPORT AS OF 4/12/2020

Annual Budget Goal $1,020,000
Year-to-Date (YTD) Goal $813,000
Amount Collected $815,840
Above (below) YTD Goal: $2,840

SUNDAY OFFERING REPORT AS OF 4/12/2020

April Sunday Budget Goal: $25,000
Sunday 4/05/2020 (Week 40): $18,750
Above (below) YTD Goal: ($6,250)

UPDATES FROM FAITH DOING JUSTICE

“Inspired by Ignatian spirituality, we live a faith that does justice, reaching out to the marginalized.” Our parish mission remains at the heart of all we do. If you’d like to give directly to St. Mary parishioners affected by this pandemic through unemployment and other risk factors, please email Anna Boesch aboesch@smspnewman.org.

CROSSROADS EASTER MEAL

Due to the extension through the end of April of Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order, the Crossroads Easter Meal originally rescheduled for this Sunday, April 19, has once again been delayed. Funds raised for this event will be used to serve dinner with Crossroads in Detroit at a later date. We will keep you posted.

RESOURCES

SMSP COVID-19 Resources Webpage
Our new webpage features a local guide of organizations offering free food, healthcare support, and financial assistance, along with links to spiritual resources and updates from Governor Whitmer.

Huron Valley COVID-19 Mutual Aid Form
Whether you’re requesting a need or offering a service – this is the form for you.

Mental Health Care: Coping with COVID-19
The University of Michigan shared these ideas for caring for your mental health and your loved ones! Even if you’re feeling okay, you’ll find creative ideas on checking in on loved ones and neighbors.

ADVOCACY

Homelessness in Washtenaw County during COVID-19
Peace House (MISSION) and the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County have invited us to be advocates for our community members experiencing homelessness by writing emails and/or letters to public officials. Local shelters are crowded leaving guests unable to socially distance. Furthermore, there’s not enough space available for folks to shelter-in-place. The purpose of these letters are to make sure hotel rooms are accessible and to establish a moratorium on tent evictions during the pandemic. Below are sample letters to public officials in Washtenaw County:

Sample Letter to City Council and/or Mayor
Sample Letter to County Officials
Sample Letter to Sheriff’s Department

Thank you for your prayers and advocacy!