Newsletter for Friday, April 24, 2020
Together, we’ve made it to the last Friday in April! The days are growing longer, and we’re seeing positive results from social distancing. As anxiety and anticipation grow within all of us, we must stay the course. Keep doing what you’re doing: stay home unless absolutely necessary, check on one another, and look forward with hope.
Though many college students left Ann Arbor weeks ago, they carry our mission home with them. Freshman Thomas Crowley was recently featured in a short diocesan video delivering food to those in need in greater Lansing:
Read below for our regular weekly updates and two great additions: a new online giving portal (we promise this one is easier to use) and new opportunities in advocacy inviting us live out our faith that does justice.
And lastly, for families with young children: Are you missing our Children’s Worship Bulletins on Sundays? You can download free church lessons, bulletins, and activity pages on their website HERE. There are also more ideas for family fun at home, like uplifting Bible verses perfect for writing on your sidewalks with chalk!
SUNDAY MASS, DAILY REFLECTIONS, 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/category/live-mass/
Scheduled mass intentions will be offered by the Jesuit Community, but not necessarily on the scheduled date.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love You above all things, and desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen
DAILY REFLECTIONS
Our quick reflections on the daily readings continue with many wonderful contributions from campus ministers and Jesuits. With most reflections under 2 minutes, we invite you to watch these as a great way to start your day or to take a quick break during your day. All reflections can be found on our website here: https://michigancatholics.org/category/daily-video-reflections/
SPECIAL INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray for the sick who have been entrusted to our prayers especially Jane Monahan, Karen Brown Arini, Joseph D. Schwartz, Annie & Justin Siciliano, Bryan Tucker, Fred Gibby, Cynthia Lear, and Barb Garren-Stratman. May they all be comforted and cared for in their suffering, we pray to the Lord.
For those who chose to keep our Lord at their right hand during life, and who have recently died, especially: Eve Fortson, Marilyn Moore, and Ron Karczewski. We rejoice for now they see God before them always, 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:
ParishSoft Giving Introducing our new online portal!
Many of you have signed up for online giving, which is a great help to us. Thank you. Some of you may be open to doing so. We are introducing today a new “online giving portal” through ParishSoft. This will eventually be the only online giving program that we will use. You can sign up (and allocate gifts to particular causes) HERE. Contact Kristen Gowman with any questions about this new online portal.
Legacy Online Giving Our original online portal
Legacy online giving is what we are calling the program we have been using prior to today. If you wish to change your allocations, you can do so using this LINK. (It would be ideal if you would establish an account using ParishSoft and then eliminate your one-time, weekly, monthly, etc., giving in the Legacy system.)
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 4/19/2020
Annual Budget Goal $1,020,000
Year-to-Date (YTD) Goal $838,000
Amount Collected $835,651
Above (below) YTD Goal: ($2,349)
SUNDAY OFFERING REPORT AS OF 4/19/2020
April Sunday Budget Goal: $25,000
Sunday 4/19/2020 (Week 42): $27,149
Above (below) YTD Goal: $2,149
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.
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
Support Vulnerable Communities Amid COVID-19
The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) has cultivated a fantastic resource for opportunities in advocacy. Use this link for information and language around environmental justice, immigration, economic justice, international assistance, and criminal justice. You can use these resources to call or write your Representative or Senator.
Don’t forget about the Census!
Our faith calls us to be responsible citizens. Please make sure to complete your census. Visit the Michigan Catholic Conference webpage to learn more about the Census and social justice.
SCOTUS DACA Decision
A long-awaited Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision regarding President Trump’s elimination of DACA will be coming soon. Whenever the Court’s decision is released, please visit the Ignatian Solidarity Network for resources that will include a statement by the Office for Justice and Ecology, an advocacy alert calling for immediate Congressional Action on the Dream Act, as well as an online press conference that same day.
Thank you for your prayers and advocacy!