Newsletter for Friday, May 1, 2020
April showers bring May flowers. This simple proverb is easily recited by all ages, yet the concept it suggests is much more complex: a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness. May the sunshine and the dawning of a new month fill your heart and mind with renewed Easter blessings.
Springtime traditions include many celebrations, and among those is the graduation of the University of Michigan Class of 2020. Daniel Stanton, who technically graduated in December 2019 but has remained in Ann Arbor working at our parish, shares a reflection with us:
“When I came to Michigan, I knew almost no one and had a lot of fear and uncertainty of what lay ahead. As I progressed through college, and faced the struggles and joys of my time here, I began to find a home in the community of St Mary. This community has encouraged me to dig deeper into what brings me joy and where God is calling me in life.
As I graduate this school year with a bachelors in chemical engineering, I have decided to make the surprising decision to pursue a masters in theology through the Echo program at Notre Dame next year. This change in my life has been confusing to many but the community at St. Mary has supported me throughout my discernment and has helped give me the courage to follow this passion.
Moving on to the next phase of my life in these uncertain times, unsure of what lies ahead with my future classes and community going forward, has definitely been hard. However, because of my experience at St. Mary, I can’t help but be filled with hope. A hope that God will be with me in what is ahead just as He has been with me in the past, and a hope that I will always have a family of other students and the community at St. Mary supporting me.
I know that my feelings of this community are not uncommon among the students and so I really want to thank the parish on behalf of all the graduates. The support of all the parishioners and staff in creating an environment that aids students in becoming young men and women for others has been life-changing for me and so many other students.”
Governor Whitmer extended the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order through May 15 and directed all Michiganders to wear masks in enclosed public spaces. A parishioner received hundreds of masks from their employer to distribute to the community and has generously offered them to St. Mary. If you or somebody in your household are in need of masks, please scroll to the Faith Doing Justice section of this email for dates and times masks will be available to be picked up next week at St. Mary.
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 George Lowrie, Tom Bissonnette, Kim Milles, and Michael McElvain. May they all be comforted and cared for in their suffering, we pray to the Lord.
For those who knew they lacked nothing following the example of the suffering Christ during life, and who now have recently died, especially: Ron Dawson, Ivan Thomas Herko, and Dorothy Marsik. We rejoice for now God has called them home, 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 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 4/26/2020
Annual Budget Goal $1,020,000
Year-to-Date (YTD) Goal $863,000
Amount Collected $847,586
Above (below) YTD Goal: ($15,414)
SUNDAY OFFERING REPORT AS OF 4/26/2020
April Sunday Budget Goal: $25,000
Sunday 4/26/2020 (Week 43): $11,935
Above (below) YTD Goal: ($13,065)
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.
FACE MASKS
If you or your household are in need of masks, they will be available outside the main entrance on Thompson Street per the schedule below:
Monday, May 4: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Wednesday, May 6: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
When picking up masks, please adhere to social distancing guidelines: if somebody is picking up masks ahead of you, wait at the bottom of the stairs or at a distance of at least 6 feet at all times. Take care to only touch the masks you are taking with you; do not touch any other masks. Lastly, please do not take more masks than you need; we are all in this together.
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.
Thank you for your prayers and advocacy!