Newsletter for Friday, April 10, 2020
“By His wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
On this Good Friday, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we are more acutely aware that our world is in need of healing: spiritually, mentally, and physically. And we remember why Jesus gave up his life – to save us and to reveal God’s love and mercy.
Easter is coming; Jesus will rise. There will be no lines down William Street. Our seats will be empty. But we will celebrate in our homes and look toward the future with hope that only the risen Christ can bring.
The Diocese of Lansing has extended the suspension of public masses through April 30 and explains that our annual and Easter duties to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist can be fulfilled at another time this year. Together, we can protect “the health and well-being of the most vulnerable in a time of global pandemic.”
Our weekly updates continue below with the addition of a Faith Doing Justice section at the bottom of the email. As we continue to pray together, let us remember those who are in need of our support during this time.
Haga clic aquí para ver las noticias parroquiales en español.
SUNDAY MASS, EASTER TRIDUUM, 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 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.
EASTER TRIDUUM
The Easter Triduum continues:
April 10, Good Friday: 3:00 PM (with bi-lingual stations of the cross at 1:30 PM on Facebook Live)
April 11, Easter Vigil: 8:30 PM
April 12, Easter Sunday: 9:00 AM English, 10:00 AM Spanish (see Sunday Mass above)
All Easter Triduum services will be live-streamed on our website https://michigancatholics.org/smsp-news/. Recordings will be available immediately following the services at the same location.
SPECIAL INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray for all the sick who have been entrusted to our prayers. We pray especially for Margie Warrick, David Armstrong, and Will Hutchens. May they all be comforted and cared for in their suffering.
For those who believed their life was hidden with Christ in God during life, and who now have recently died, especially: Marcos Cristobal Barba Andrade, Mark Kolevar, Marion Wissman, Thomas Van Meter and Ron Karczewski. We rejoice for they peacefully await resurrection, 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.
MARCH MATCH MADNESS
We are excited to announce that we’ve reached our goal! A total of $101,538 was raised for campus ministry through March Match. Our deepest gratitude to those who donated and to this year’s match by the Ann Arbor Jesuit Community and an anonymous local donor. We are truly humbled by your continued love and support during this challenging time.
YEAR TO DATE OFFERING REPORT AS OF 4/05/2020
Annual Budget Goal $1,020,000
Year-to-Date (YTD) Goal $788,000
Amount Collected $797,090
Above (below) YTD Goal: $9,090
SUNDAY OFFERING REPORT AS OF 4/05/2020
April Sunday Budget Goal: $25,000
Sunday 4/05/2020 (Week 40): $29,628
Above (below) YTD Goal: $4,628
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
COVID-19 poses danger to the immigrant detainees in ICE detention centers. An open letter signed by over 3,000 medical professionals has been addressed to ICE to express their grave concern about a COVID-19 outbreak in its facilities, an eventuality that will create a health crisis for the detainees, staff, and surrounding communities. Efforts have recently been galvanized across the country to seek the release of immigrant detainees.
A St. Mary parishioner, currently detained, told his wife that a man in his facility was recently removed due to heavy coughing. We have no further information and worry for the health of everyone in the facility.
Please call your US Senators and congressperson and ask them to press local ICE officials to release immigrant detainees in Calhoun, Monroe, St. Claire, and Chippewa County detention centers. Leave a message if you cannot talk directly to a staff person. One of our immigration team volunteers drafted this letter. Use it to help guide your message, and if you want to do more, send them your own version through the mail!
Your congressperson’s contact information can be found here: https://www.house.gov (for most of us, this is Debbie Dingell)
US Senator Gary Peters: 313-226-6020
US Senator Debbie Stabenaw: 313-961-4330