As we face so many challenges in 2021, we are reminded of our call as missionary disciples to act out of the heart that God has formed in us. The CSA raises funds that make our work possible, including supporting more than 100 ministries, programs, and services. This includes helping the hungry and homeless, support for our parishes, priests and seminarians, and promoting the work of the Catholic schools, and so much more.

May 19, 2021
NEW COVID-19 LITURGICAL PROTOCOLS:
  1. Those who are fully vaccinated may wear a face-covering and social distance but are no longer required to do so in churches.
  2. Those who have not been fully vaccinated are to continue wearing face-coverings and to practice social distancing to protect themselves and others in churches. Because a parish community – and our society – requires mutual trust and a commitment to the common good, each individual is asked to make the best decisions for himself as well as for others. Parishes do not have the responsibility to verify who is and who is not vaccinated.
  3. Each parish is to provide a portion of the church – with a size to be determined by the pastor – where social distancing and face-coverings are consistently maintained.
  4. The Sign of Peace may resume with the normal wording, “Offerte vobis pacem / Let us offer each other the sign of peace,” allowing parishioners and families to make their own determinations about how widely to share some sign of peace.
COVID LITURGICAL PROTOCOLS WHICH REMAIN IN PLACE:
  1. Parishes should continue to provide signage about current COVID protocols.
  2. Parishes should keep doors open to ventilate churches as they are able.
  3. Parishes are encouraged to continue the COVID arrangement of vessels for bread/wine on the altar.
  4. Clergy and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should continue to wear masks while distributing Holy Communion.
  5. Parishes are encouraged to maintain sanitization stations at the locations of the distribution of Holy Communion.
  6. Parishes are to continue to refrain from the distribution of the Chalice to the faithful (except for a Bride and Groom on their wedding day).
PARTICULAR DISPENSATION INFORMATION

Archbishop Vigneron announced that the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days expired on Saturday, March 13, 2021. In its place, he has granted a number of particular dispensations for the faithful who may find themselves in specific circumstances.

Please read below for information about these specific dispensations and visit aod.org/comehometohope to learn more about how our parishes are working to keep everyone safe at Mass as well as tips and advice for inviting friends and family to attend Mass with you.

Considering the grave obligation we have of being physically present with our brothers and sisters at Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation for the Eucharist, each of us is asked to make a good and sincere judgement as to whether these circumstances apply or not. Where doubt or confusion persists, consult any priest for clarity.

While the general dispensation is removed, there are specific instances where the dispensation will continue, as well as those circumstances where there is no obligation in the first place. One does not have an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday in the following circumstances:

  1. You are ill or your health condition would be significantly compromised if you were to contract a communicable illness (i.e., you have underlying conditions or are in a high-risk category). Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
  2. You exhibit flu-like symptoms. Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
  3. You have good reason to think you might be asymptomatic of a contagious illness (e.g., you were in recent contact with someone who tested positive for a contagious illness such as COVID or influenza). Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
  4. You care for the sick, homebound, or infirmed.
  5. You are pregnant.
  6. Those 65 years of age or older (per the CDC’s recommendation of high-risk individuals).
  7. You cannot attend Mass through no fault of your own (e.g., no Mass is offered, you are infirmed, or, while wanting to go, you are prevented for some reason you cannot control (e.g., your ride did not show up, the church was at capacity).
  8. If you have significant fear or anxiety of becoming ill by being at Mass.

For questions about the application of any of these, please contact your pastor.

These categories will be reviewed in due course and revised as needed.

Those within categories #1-8 above must still observe the Lord’s Day and are encouraged to spend time in prayer on Sunday, meditating on the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection; an excellent way to do this is through participating in a broadcast of the Sunday Mass.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The capital campaign parish fundraiser which began in July of 2016 for the renovation and repair of our parish Churches has concluded. I am truly amazed at the generosity of our members!

1,635 families donated a total of $2,468,596.42 — which consisted of 12,342 separate donations of varying amounts.

There are a few remaining pledges for the Stained Glass windows in St. Joseph Church, allowing the donation total to reach $2.5m – $1.3m in excess of our original target.

The total expenditure on building repair works was $2,470,356. Additional expenditure of $354,340 is due to be paid out as we complete the approved stained glass window replacement project in St Joseph Church.

Currently our Parish has $1,784,415 in savings. The recent sale of St Patrick’s rectory for $125,000 will increase our parish Endowment Funds to $817,850. The earnings from these funds will be used for continued support to Catholic Education Tuition Assistance for our active parish members who meet the specified criteria.

As we move forward into Family of Parishes; I wish to reassure you that our resources will remain 100% within our parish, and expended solely upon the needs of our parish. St Vincent Pallotti Parish Finance Council will maintain their governance and oversight of our finances into the future.

 

Fr. Brendan McCarrick SAC — Parish Administrator

Register for our upcoming Family Gatherings — centered on the themes of Encounter, Grow, and Witness — to engage with other parishes in our Family, and discover how we will make our new Family a center for evangelization.

The general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (including the anticipatory Mass at 4:00pm or later on the previous day) is to be reinstated in the Archdiocese of Detroit effective Saturday, March 13, 2021.

Considering the grave obligation we have of being physically present with our brothers and sisters at Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation for the Eucharist, each of us is asked to make a good and sincere judgement as to whether these circumstances apply or not. Where doubt or confusion persists, consult any priest for clarity.

While the general dispensation is removed, there are specific instances where the dispensation will continue, as well as those circumstances where there is no obligation in the first place.

One does not have an obligation to attend Mass on Sunday in the following circumstances:

  1. You are ill or your health condition would be significantly compromised if you were to contract a communicable illness (i.e., you have underlying conditions or are in a high-risk category). Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
  2. You exhibit flu-like symptoms. Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
  3. You have good reason to think you might be asymptomatic of a contagious illness (e.g., you were in recent contact with someone who tested positive for a contagious illness such as COVID or influenza). Please use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
  4. You care for the sick, homebound, or infirmed.
  5. You are pregnant.
  6. Those 65 years of age or older (per the CDC’s recommendation of high-risk individuals).
  7. You cannot attend Mass through no fault of your own (e.g., no Mass is offered, you are infirmed, or, while wanting to go, you are prevented for some reason you cannot control (e.g., your ride did not show up, the church was at capacity).
  8. If you have significant fear or anxiety of becoming ill by being at Mass.

For questions about the application of any of these, please contact your pastor.

These categories will be reviewed in due course and revised as needed.

Those within categories #1-8 above must still observe the Lord’s Day and are encouraged to spend time in prayer on Sunday, meditating on the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection; an excellent way to do this is through participating in a broadcast of the Sunday Mass.

 

F.A.Q – Click Here

Updated March4, 2021

The following guidance for Holy Week 2021 is being offered to address questions related to the reverent and safe celebration of Holy Week this year in the current circumstances of the pandemic.

As a Reminder:

– It is not possible to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful under both kinds at this time.
– Masks continue to be required as is social distancing and hand sanitizer
– The exchange of peace is omitted
– Holy Water stoups and fonts are left empty until Easter Vigil
– Hymnals and pew cards remain out of the pews
– Do not re-use booklets or worship aids
– One cantor or choir size limited according to social distancing
– Maintain social distancing of six feet between families as church architecture allows

Alterations:

Click to Download the full release from the Archdiocese of Detroit in PDF.

– Parishes are no longer required to maintain the maximum 50% capacity. The wearing of masks and
maintaining social distancing for all remain paramount.
– Because of the minimal contagion on the surface of furniture, disinfecting between celebrations of
Mass is no longer necessary, however good cleaning daily after Mass continues to be recommended.
[https://www.cmmonline.com/news/surface-transmission-of-coronavirus-not-as-prevalent-asairborne-transmission]
– Because of the complexity of the rites of Holy Week, it is recommended that parishes use altar servers
for these liturgies, provided they are able to do this safely. Servers should maintain social distancing
except for short periods of time to assist as needed.
– Singing is permitted and encouraged during these most solemn sacred liturgies and especially at the
Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, and throughout the Easter Season. Keep in mind that masks need to be
worn by those in the pews while singing due to COVID contagion spread by aerosol particles.
– Fresh water may be blessed and used for the baptismal font as well as the sprinkling rite. However,
water is not to be used for more than one individual at this time and the baptismal fonts are to be
drained and cleaned after use. From CDC COVID website: “CDC is not aware of any scientific
reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in pools, hot tubs,
water playgrounds, or other treated aquatic venues.”

 

 

In a letter to the faithful, Archbishop Vigneron announced that the general dispensation from the Sunday obligation will expire on March 13

Catholics who engage in other activities that would present a similar or greater risk of contamination (eating out at restaurants, traveling, non-essential shopping, widening one’s circle of contacts, etc.) should begin to return to Sunday Mass as they are able. Particular dispensations remain for those at greater risk of illness. The health and safety of our communities is and always will be paramount as we continue to closely monitor local conditions. For that reason, our churches will remain limited to 50 percent of available capacity for the near future and many other existing protocols will remain in place.

For more information, please visit https://www.aod.org/comehometohope

Letter from Archbishop Vigneron:

Dear Brothers,

The Sacred Liturgy, and particularly the Holy Eucharist, is the very heart and foundation of our Catholic faith. It is during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that the saving death and resurrection of Jesus is made present to us, our covenant with Our Lord is renewed, and God, in the person of Jesus Christ, comes to us and makes himself truly present for us in his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is an irreplaceable gift; a foretaste of Heaven itself.

When the pandemic first began, in the midst of tremendous uncertainty, it was necessary to suspend all public liturgies. During this time, we assessed the situation in light of public health information and explored a safe way to bring Christ to the people, both through the Word of God and the Sacraments. Given the gravity of the Sunday obligation to attend Mass, this decision was not undertaken lightly. Then, we cautiously returned to Mass with prudent restrictions, such as capacity limits and rigorous cleaning protocols, to allow for the resumption of essential public worship without undue risk of accelerating the pandemic. During these difficult months of pandemic, you, your parish coworkers, and those to whom you minister have adapted in order to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in our local communities. I want to offer my sincere gratitude for the efforts that have been undertaken to implement and maintain the first-rate precautionary measures that have kept our parishes and schools safe.

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to read the letter Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Discipline of the Sacraments, sent to bishops in September of last year on the importance of public, communal worship in the life of the Church and the lives of the faithful. In particular, I wish to draw your attention to Cardinal Sarah’s reflection on the necessity of the celebration of the Eucharist — particularly in person.

As part of our adaptations, many of our parishes have broadcast Masses over the internet during these last several months. While this has been a means to help Catholics nourish their souls when they could not be present for Mass, we must remember that it cannot become the norm. As Cardinal Sarah reminds us, God did not come to us virtually. He came to us — and continues to come to us — in the flesh. As Catholics, unmediated contact with the Real Presence of the flesh and blood of Our Lord in offering this sacrifice to the Father is irreplaceable and essential. We recall Christ’s own words when he foretold the gift of the Holy Eucharist:

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (John 6: 54-56)

In recognition of the essential and central nature of the Eucharist Sacrifice in our lives as Catholics, and in acknowledgement of my duty as shepherd to care for the souls of everyone within our diocese, it is important that I lead more of the faithful back to Mass, when and where possible. That is why the general dispensation from the Sunday obligation will be extended only for one month, until March 13. With its expiration, I intend to grant numerous particular dispensations to those in need. It is time for us to welcome back more of the faithful “with a renewed amazement, with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with him, to receive him and to bring him to our brothers and sisters with the witness of a life full of faith, hope and love.” (Cdl. Sarah).

Active participation in Mass is an occasion for all of us to avail ourselves of the immeasurable spiritual graces Christ desires for his faithful through his Paschal Sacrifice. We know that there remains the concern for spread of infection, particularly among the winter months when we live indoors to a greater degree. All of us must remain vigilant to limit its spread, particularly among those most vulnerable. With this in mind, I am granting particular dispensations from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation for people in certain circumstances, including those who are ill and those who care for anyone who is at-risk of serious complications from COVID-19. I am making a particular request that those who are ill or think they might be ill to refrain for this in-person participation in the liturgy as an act of justice and charity to others. Those who would experience significant anxiety or fear of getting sick from being in a public setting are similarly dispensed from their obligation to attend. More information about the particular dispensations can be found here (a downloadable PDF is also available).

In allowing the general dispensation to expire, we must welcome back to Mass all Catholics who have been engaged in other activities that would present a similar or greater risk of exposure, such as eating out at restaurants, traveling, partaking in non-essential shopping, and widening one’s circle of contacts. These individuals should also prepare to return to Mass in recognition of its preeminence in our lives as Catholics.

The health and safety of our communities is and always will be paramount as we continue to closely monitor local conditions. For that reason, I am continuing the liturgical directive that all the faithful present at Mass, with the exception of small children, wear a mask or face-covering. Additionally, our churches will remain limited to no more than 50 percent of available capacity for the near future, and many other existing protocols will remain in place. I am asking you, brothers, insofar as it is possible, to adjust Mass schedules or offer additional public Masses if your “normal” Mass schedule is truncated, to make it easier for as many of the faithful as possible to attend Mass while still practicing social distancing during the approaching Lenten and Easter seasons.

It is time, brothers, for us to send a message to our faithful about the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of us and our Church. Throw open your doors. Personally invite parishioners to return to Mass — especially those who may be anxious, discouraged, or who have been absent for an extended period of time. Also, please give attention to reopening Eucharistic Adoration chapels and returning to generous confession schedules. Jesus came to us in the flesh and he continues to come to us at every Mass. It is time for Catholics to come to him, to experience the awesome grace that is the Real Presence of Our Lord and Savior in his Paschal Mystery.

At the beginning of this pandemic, I entrusted the Archdiocese of Detroit to Our Lady of Lourdes, patroness for those who suffer illness, asking that, through her intercession, God would grant healing and protection to the people of southeast Michigan and beyond. I ask you, my brothers, to join me in offering prayers of thanksgiving to Our Blessed Mother for her intercession so far and to pray for her continued accompaniment. With her help, let us persevere in hope to face the challenges of this virus and continue to give witness to our confidence in the good news of the Lord’s victory over suffering and death.

With assurances of my prayers for you, I remain,

Fraternally yours in Christ,

The Most Revered Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit

Most people are aware of phishing – or email scams – but they may not realize scammers can also target them with deceptive text messages sent to their smart devices. It’s called “smishing”: a mashup of SMS – for “short message service” – and phishing. Recently a decent number of our parishioners have been contacted by these scammers with the intent of obtaining Google Play Gift cards or iTunes cards. These messages or emails will often claim to be from Fr. Brendan or from someone working for Fr. Brendan.

The Department of Communications shares the following statements from U.S. bishops confirming the moral permissibility of two new COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a Detroit Catholic story about the statements and vaccines.

Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St. Joseph”

With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, December 8th, 2020 to December 8th, 2021

Click Here to read the full article from Vatican News!

 

APOSTOLIC LETTER

PATRIS CORDE

OF THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS

ON THE 150th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE PROCLAMATION OF SAINT JOSEPH
AS PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

 

WITH A FATHER’S HEART: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, whom all four Gospels refer to as “the son of Joseph”.[1]

Matthew and Luke, the two Evangelists who speak most of Joseph, tell us very little, yet enough for us to appreciate what sort of father he was, and the mission entrusted to him by God’s providence…

Click Here to read the full letter.

Church grants plenary indulgence for year of St. Joseph

The Apostolic Penitentiary issues a Decree granting plenary indulgences for the year of St. Joseph proclaimed by Pope Francis on Tuesday. The special year will last from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021.
Click Here for full information regarding plenary indulgence for year of St. Joseph!

 

Conditions for the plenary indulgence

The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions) to Christians who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph on these occasions and manners indicated by the Apostolic Penitentiary:

–       The plenary indulgence is granted to those who will meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, or take part in a Spiritual Retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. “St. Joseph, an authentic man of faith, invites us”, the decree reads, “to rediscover our filial relationship with the Father, to renew fidelity to prayer, to listen and correspond with profound discernment to God’s will.”

–       The indulgence can also be obtained by those who, following St. Joseph’s example, will perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy. St. Joseph “encourages us to rediscover the value of silence, prudence and loyalty in carrying out our duties,” the decree notes.

–       The recitation of the Holy Rosary in families and among engaged couples is another way of obtaining indulgences, in order that “all Christian families may be stimulated to recreate the same atmosphere of intimate communion, love and prayer that was in the Holy Family.”

–       Everyone who entrusts their daily activity to the protection of St. Joseph, and every faithful who invokes the intercession of St. Joseph so that those seeking work can find dignifying work can also obtain the plenary indulgence. On 1 May 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph “with the intent that the dignity of work be recognized by all, and that it inspires social life and laws, based on the fair distribution of rights and duties.”

–       The plenary indulgence is also granted to the faithful who will recite the Litany to St. Joseph (for the Latin tradition), or the Akathistos to St. Joseph (for the Byzantine tradition), or any other prayer to St. Joseph proper to the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church ad intra and ad extra, and for the relief of all Christians suffering all forms of persecution. Because, the decree notes, “the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt shows us that God is there where man is in danger, where man suffers, where he runs away, where he experiences rejection and abandonment.”