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St. Jude Catholic Church

Grand Rapids, MI

From the Director of Faith Formation

May 17, 2018 Vol. 5 Issue 20

Get this FREE newsletter e-mailed to

you...contact Mary Ellen at the Parish

Office by calling (616) 363-6897 or by

email to mboruta@stjudes.net

At the end of this week’s newsletter is

another full episode of Bishop

Barron’s Catholicism DVD Series. It

is the outline for Episode 2: Happy Are

We The Teachings of Jesus. Here is the

YouTube link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx

Afr62e1Dk (52.53)

Click on the link for a short video clip

from catholic.org about Pentecost. It

says it quite well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv

LFQhQplKs

Don't Miss

Matthew Kelly

May 19 - DeltaPlex

... from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Matthew

Kelly " will speak on "Living Every

Day with Passion & Purpose." Tickets

are $39 and can be purchased at

http://bit.ly/DOGRmatthewkelly

Email comments and suggestions to

cschwartz@stjudes.net

Help Needed for VBS June 18 - June 22

Adult Supervisors and Coordinators are still needed

for St. Jude’s Vacation Bible School to be held

June 18 – 22 in the Brophy Center at St. Jude.

Anyone interested in becoming an adult supervisors or coordinator is welcome

to attend a meeting for all on Sunday May 20 in the Brophy Center after the

10:30 am Mass.

Please contact Janet DeBoe at jdeboe@stjudes.net with any questions or for

more information.

Vacation Bible School Family Registration and Helper Forms are found in

this newsletter on pages 11 and 12. Added to this week’s newsletter is a list of

items that are needed for the Summer Vacation Bible School. You help is

most appreciated. Grandparents, make sure your register your grandchildren,

they are most welcome to come, too!

Watch Mother Teresa and Brother Francis DVD's FREE at...

https://formed.org/custom-register?url=stjudes ** no parish code needed **

You can get movies like Mother Teresa, short videos for the kids, a reflection

on the Sunday Gospel reading and so much more by just clicking on the link

above. When you click on that link, you will immediately open up to the home

page which lists many options for you to choose from. No password needed.

At the top of the home page is a reflection on the Sunday’s Gospel. Go to the

Content link at the bottom of the home page to find

a directory of what you can watch or listen to on

this website. For younger children in the home, why

not choose one of the Brother Francis Videos for

your pre-school to grade 4 children. We recommend the

Brother Francis DVD on the Rosary. Go to the

Content link at the bottom of the home page. Click

on Brother Francis: The Rosary. Run time: 30 min.

Table of Contents Formed.org 1

Living the Word 3

Vatican News 4

Gospel Summaries 5

Weekly Lesson Plans 6

Parish Calendar 10

VBS Info 11

Catholicism Episode 2 14

Anyone interested in joining this group is welcome to attend. Join us in the Brophy Center

If you prefer, you can pick up a copy of the Mother Teresa DVD or Mary of Nazareth DVD in the Kelly Conference

Room. We also have many children’s videos to show the family on those rainy days. Please sign whatever DVD’s you

are using and ideally return them the following week so others can use them.

Volunteers Needed for the 2018-19 Religious Education School Year

We are currently searching for energetic spirits to work with the Pre-school through

grade 8 during our Sunday Faith Formation Programs.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word meets for 15 to 20 minutes during the scripture and homily at the 10:30 am Mass.

Volunteers commit to one Sunday per month.

The Lord’s Lambs program provides a unique learning experience for children in Pre-school, kindergarten, and

first grade. These students meet in the lower church level of church during the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Volunteers

commit to one Sunday per month.

Faith Formation Elementary Catechists are needed for St. Jude’s Sunday evening program. Classes meet on

Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. from September through March.

All leaders manuals, materials and lesson plans are provided along with guidance and peer support. Contact the Parish

Office (363-6897) and Mary Ellen at mboruta@stjudes.net or Janet DeBoe at jdeboe@stjudes.net or Clem Schwartz at

cschwartz@stjudes.net for more information.

Bishop Barron's Weekly Homily

Today's readings recount the unforgettable events of Pentecost. Language is our primary mode

of communication. How wonderful, therefore, that the principle gift of the Holy Spirit at

Pentecost is tongues - speech, language - enabling the first disciples to establish heart-to-heart

communication with the peoples of the world. The Holy Spirit himself is nothing but

communication for the Spirit is nothing other than the love that connects the Father and the Son.

When the disciples, filled with Holy Spirit, go out to communicate on Pentecost, they effectively unite the world by

gathering what sin has scattered.

https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/pentecost-and-the-gift-of-language/4764/

Bishop Barron speaks about the second reading in this homily reflection. St. Paul illuminates what it means to live in the

Holy Spirit, acting and living out of love, and what it means to live outside of it, acting and living out of selfishness,

hatred, immorality and impurity. Every step we take to deny the forces outside of the Spirit affirms our home inside of it.

And the more we live inside the Spirit, the closer we are to the Kingdom of God.

https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/living-the-flesh-living-the-spirit/963/

Here are some video clips by Bishop Barron on the Holy Spirit:

Bishop Barron on The Holy Spirit (the Fruits of the Holy Spirit)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1INut0Gi09Q

Bishop Barron on The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH3tF7abpts

Additional commentary from Fr. Barron on the Holy Spirit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YGWB0oLkNs

Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron

We will continue with our study of the Catholicism DVD series by Bishop Robert Barron.

If you have not watched Episode 1: Amazed and Afraid The Revelation of God Become

Login to FORMED for FREE Catholic-related movies, books and

special programs. It's FREE....Register NOW at formed.org using

this St. Jude Parish link - no parish code needed...

https://formed.org/custom-register?url=stjudes

LIVING THE WORD: May 20, 2018 Pentecost

Read the Sunday Gospel from John 20:19-23

Pray with the Word (Pray with this text before and after attending Mass.)

Wondrous God, you send your Holy Spirit into the world to renew the face of the earth,

and open our hearts to action in that Spirit, and open our minds to the truth of that Spirit.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prepare for the Word (Before attending Mass, reflect on these questions to help prepare to hear the readings.)

What are some of the ways we can “go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” March 15:15)?

What gift does the Holy Spirit want to give to the world through you?

Reflect on the Word (After attending Mass, reflect on these questions.)

What do you need to let go of so, you can recognize the Holy Spirit in your life?

Name some gifts God has given you. Are you using them to build the body of Christ?

Act on the Word (Use these ideas to act on the readings during the week.)

This week prepare yourself for a birthday party. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and to have the fruits of the Spirit

become more evident in your thoughts and actions. Work on using those gifts in your life with friends and family. In your

prayer time, make sure to share your hopes and aspirations, your struggles and fears. Place all that you are going through

personally and in the relationships of your life before the Holy Spirit. If you work on this, your heart will be wide open to

celebrate the Holy Spirit. If you work on this, your heart will be wide open to celebrate the Holy Spirit and the birthday of

the Church. The present you bought in prayer time is you !

Many thanks for giving us permission to use this copy of The Living Word 2017-2018 Copyright 2017 Archdiocese of Chicago:

Liturgy Training Publications. All rights reserved.

Coming May 19 to the DeltaPlex from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Acclaimed Catholic Author and Speaker

MATTHEW KELLY

" Living Every Day with Passion & Purpose"

Matthew Kelly is founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute and author of

several bestselling books including Rediscovering Catholicism. Tickets are

$39 and can be purchased by visiting: http://bit.ly/DOGRmatthewkelly

Pope tells lay movements to be bold, persevere

in living the Gospel

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-tells-

lay-movements-to-be-bold-persevere-in-living-the-gospel-

96007

Vatican City, May 10, 2018 / 05:17 am (CNA/EWTN

News).- Pope Francis Thursday paid a visit to two small

Catholic communities in central Italy dedicated to living

solidarity and promoting ecumenical unity, telling

members that their “prophetic” way of living the Gospel

must continue with boldness and perseverance.

Speaking to members of the Nomadelfia community and

commune, the pope said theirs is “a prophetic reality that

proposes the creation of a new civilization, implementing

the Gospel as a form of a good and beautiful life.”

Similarly, he told members of the Focolare Movement,

which has a Marian spirituality and places an emphasis on

ecumenism, that their community is “an illustration of the

mission of the Church today, as traced by the Second

Vatican Council.”

He told members they should not stay locked inside, but

must “go out, to encounter, to take care of, to throw the

leaven of the Gospel in the pasta of society, above all

where there is most need, where the Gospel is awaited and

invoked: in poverty, in suffering, in trials, in the search

and in doubt.” He said “frankness” and “perseverance” –

in Greek “parresia” and “hypomone” – were two

keywords members should to keep in mind going forward.

Parresia, or frankness, he said, speaks of the “courage and

sincerity in bearing witness to the truth” that a disciple of

Jesus needs to have, even in prayer. “Prayer must have

frankness, to say things face-to-face,” he said, and,

pointing to how Abraham bartered with God to continue

lowering the number of righteous people needed to save

Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction, told members to

“fight with God in prayer.” Perseverance, he said, means

learning to move beyond the difficult situations that life

presents and not get bogged down by challenges.

New US immigration policy violates 'sanctity of

the family,' critic says https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-us-

immigration-policy-violates-sanctity-of-the-family-critic-

says-23759

Washington D.C., May 11, 2018 / 03:03 am (CNA/EWTN

News).- The Trump administration’s new “zero tolerance”

policy for illegal entry into the U.S. is inhumane and will

split up families seeking safety, a Catholic analyst of

migration policy warned.

“If implemented this will lead to a drastic increase in

forcible family separation at the border,” Ashley Feasley,

director of policy for Migration and Refugee Services at the

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told CNA May 10.

“Most importantly it is inhumane and goes against our

Catholic values and the sanctity of the family,” she said.

The policy change means prosecution of people who

illegally cross the southwest border and the separation of

many children from their parents. Feasley stressed that

entering the border with one’s child is not automatically an

instance of child smuggling.

“Many of these families are willingly turning themselves

over to Border Patrol. They are not hiding. They are asking

for protection, they are vulnerable and looking for safety,”

she said.

“[The policy change] will also erode judicial efficiency,

taking away resources to prosecute the most dangerous, in

favor of prosecuting every parent,” she said. The new policy

could cost up to $620 per night to detain a family of one

parent and two children.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed law

enforcement officials in Arizona and California in two May

7 speeches. “If you cross this border unlawfully, then we

will prosecute you. It’s that simple,” Sessions said,

according to National Public Radio. “If you smuggle illegal

aliens across our border, then we will prosecute you. If you

are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that

child will be separated from you as required by law. If you

don't like that, then don't smuggle children over our border.”

Pentecost Sunday

May 20 https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-

faith/liturgical-year/sunday-

connection/pentecost-sunday-cycle-b-sunday-connection

The season of Easter concludes with today’s

celebration, the feast of Pentecost. On

Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the

Holy Spirit upon the apostles gathered in the

upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks

the beginning of the Church. The story of

Pentecost is found in the Acts of the

Apostles, today’s first reading. The account

in today’s Gospel, John 20:19-23, also

recounts how Jesus gave the gift of the Holy

Spirit to his disciples. Yet the event in

John’s Gospel takes place on Easter Sunday.

There is no need to try to reconcile these

two accounts. We know that after his death,

Jesus fulfilled his promise to send to his

disciples a helper, an Advocate, who would

enable them to be his witnesses throughout

the world.

In the context of the feast of Pentecost, John

20:19-23 reminds us about the integral

connection between the gifts of peace and

forgiveness and the action of the Holy

Spirit. Jesus greets his disciples with the gift

of peace. Jesus then commissions his

disciples to continue the work that he has

begun: “As the Father has sent me, so I send

you.” He breathes the Holy Spirit upon the

disciples and sends them to continue his

work of reconciliation through the

forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ act of breathing

the Holy Spirit upon the apostles mirrors

God’s act of breathing life into Adam. In

fact, both the Greek and Hebrew words for

“spirit” can also be translated as “breath.”

This Gospel reminds us that the Church is

called to be a reconciling presence in the

world. The reconciling presence of Christ is

celebrated in the Church’s sacramental life.

In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are

cleansed of sin and become a new creation

in Christ. In the Sacrament of Penance, the

Church celebrates the mercy of God through

the forgiveness of sins. This reconciling

presence is also to be a way of life for

Christians. In situations of conflict, we are

to be agents of peace and harmony among

people.

Read the Sunday Gospel…

Read the Gospel from your Bible, or go to USCCB.org for the readings:

John 20:19-23 http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052018.cfm

Read the Gospel

Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What is the message and how can you respond to it?

Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Church. The Gospel

for Pentecost reminds us that the Church begins with the command to

forgive. Within the family, the domestic church, we learn how to

forgive and how to accept forgiveness. The gift of the Holy Spirit

enables us to do both. Today is a fitting time to share a family

celebration of reconciliation.

Apply that message to change your attitude or behavior.

As you gather together as a family, sit quietly for a few minutes,

inviting everyone to reflect upon their need to forgive and to receive

forgiveness. If there is a situation or issue within the family that needs

attention, spend some time reflecting on how your family might address

it. Read together today’s Gospel, John 20:19-23. Talk together about

how Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us in the work of

forgiveness and to bring us peace. Pray together today’s psalm or the

Prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking that the Holy Spirit help your family.

Share with one another the Sign of Peace.

Taken from: https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-

year/sunday-connection/pentecost-sunday-cycle-b-sunday-connection

Did You Know…

... Pentecost was a Jewish feast that was

celebrated 50 days after the Passover?

It was also known as the Feast of Weeks.

This feast was a harvest festival and also

celebrated the giving of the Ten

Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

Examination of Conscience…

How does the Holy Spirit act in my life?

What am I doing to have a closer relationship with God and all his people?

Are there times when I don't feel very loving?

When do I find it difficult to forgive?

How can I pray to the Holy Spirit to make me more loving and forgiving?

We would like to acknowledge the following publisher we have used with permission sections from its publication:

Celebrating the Liturgy for Junior High Copyright, 2017 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. All

rights reserved. Orders 1-800-933-1800. Permission to publish granted by the Most Reverend Francis J. Kane, DD,

Vicar General Archdiocese of Chicago, on February 6, 2017

Weekly Lesson Plans for May 20 - Pentecost Sunday

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Begin with song: Holy Spirit, grow your Fruit in me - Children's song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Zn_YH9UNk

Young children are beginning to be aware that there are times when they do not do the things that they should. They can

be sensitive to the frustration and anger of those around them when they do something wrong. Today’s Gospel offers

them the reassurance that God has sent us his forgiving mercy.

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

Say: After Jesus was killed, his friends were afraid they would be punished as well. They hid in a room and hoped they

would not be discovered.

Say: Jesus did not want his friends to hide in fear. He wanted them to be brave and show people the love and forgiveness

of God. He could see that his friends needed help to do this. Today’s Gospel tells us about what Jesus did to help his

disciples. Let’s listen carefully as we read today’s Gospel.

Read aloud John 20:19-23. And show this video clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2szkCm0ulY

Say: Jesus knew that his disciples would need the courage of the Holy Spirit—the same courage that Jesus had when he

died so that our sins would be forgiven. Jesus released the disciples from fear by breathing the Holy Spirit on them.

Say: But Jesus did even more than that. The Gospel this week tells us that Jesus gave his friends the power to release

others from fear by forgiving their sins. When we do something that we know God would not like, we fear God’s

punishment. We forget how much God loves us, and we become trapped by sin. Jesus gave his apostles—and all the

priests of his Church—the power to forgive in God’s name when we are truly sorry for our sins. Then we are free to start

over and to live as God wants us to live.

Conclude by praying together that the Holy Spirit will help us be confident that God will always forgive our sins.

Pray together the Prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Conclude by listening to this song The Fruit of the Spirit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA-TMUDQ7us

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5 and 6)

Begin with song: Come Holy Spirit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WOFqap0oM

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

Ask your children to name some situations in which greater peace is needed. These examples could be taken from current

events, from history, or from school or family life. Ask questions such as these: What are some of the issues being

contested? Why is peace lacking in this situation? What would it take to restore peace in this situation?

Say: When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his Resurrection, his first words to them were a greeting of peace. This

was welcome news to the disciples. Let’s listen to today’s Gospel to find out why this was such welcome news.

Invite one of your children to read aloud today’s Gospel, John 20:19-23. And show this video clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDvK5gw_erY

Ask: Why might Jesus’ greeting of peace have been so welcome to his disciples? (They were gathered in the upper room

in fear; they had witnessed Jesus’ death on the cross).

Say: As witnesses to Jesus’ death, the disciples had been very much a part of a situation of conflict. They gathered

together in fear, perhaps because they thought that some people would seek their deaths as well. They needed to hear

Jesus’ words of peace and reassurance.

Say: The feast of Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ first disciples. This same Holy Spirit is

still with us. After breathing upon them and giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit, what does Jesus tell his disciples to

do? (to forgive sins)

Say: Just as Jesus sent his disciples to forgive the sins of others, so too are we sent to bring peace to the world. And we

also have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us with this task.

Say: Looking back at the situation of conflict we talked about at the beginning, what might the Holy Spirit lead us to do

to help bring peace to the situation?

Conclude by praying together that the Holy Spirit will continue to work through us to bring peace to the world.

Pray together the Prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Conclude by listening to this song Holy Spirit Come With Your Fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOIj242UxpM

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Begin with song: Come Holy Spirit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WOFqap0oM

Young people are familiar with breaking things. They know that some things that are broken can be repaired—put back

together again. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we might be reconciled—put back

together— through forgiveness of sins.

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

Point out that the word reconcile means to make compatible or to re-establish a close relationship between. In other

words, it means to put back together.

Tell your children that in this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we might be reconciled

with God and one another through the forgiveness of sins.

Invite one of your children to read this Sunday’s Gospel, John 20:19–23. And show this video clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDvK5gw_erY

Say: The Feast of Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ first disciples. This same Holy Spirit is

still with us. After breathing upon them and giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit, what does Jesus tell his disciples to

do? (to forgive sins)

Say: Just as Jesus sent his disciples to forgive the sins of others, so too we are sent to bring reconciliation to the world by

our willingness to forgive others and work to resolve conflicts. We have also been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to

help us with this task.

Conclude by praying together that the Holy Spirit will continue to work through us to bring peace to the world.

Pray together the Prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Conclude by listening to this song: My Peace - Maranatha Singers (With Lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls01XGV7oA0

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

for

May / June 2018 Located inside Cathedral Square – Suite 2A

360 Division Ave South, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

The following is a partial list of events scheduled at the Catholic Information Center located in Cathedral Square on

Division at Wealthy in downtown Grand Rapids.

For information, phone the CIC at (616) 459-7267. Register online: http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/course-

registration

"Blessed Stanley Rother"

Tuesday, May 22, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

With Fr. Steve Dudek

CIC| 360 Division S | Grand Rapids | |616-459-7267

Fr. Stanley Rother was an Oklahoma priest who was killed in Guatemala on July 28, 1981. Pope Francis officially

acknowledged Fr. Stanley’s martyrdom, making him the first recognized martyr to have been born on the US. Fr. Dudek

shares the story of a remarkable man’s selflessness and kindness in the mist of the violent Guatemalan civil war. $10

donation suggested.

"Parents, Kids and Porn: The Conversation"

Tuesday, May 22, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

With Mark Mann

CIC| 360 Division S | Grand Rapids | |616-459-7267

Conversing with our kids about sex shouldn’t be defined by a single, stammering, “talk” when our child hits puberty.

Communication with our kids is lifelong. The Conversation will address how to initiate age appropriate discussion free

of fear and shame, how to approach technology, social media and pornography. $10 donation is suggested.

"Sharing My Personal Story"

Tuesday, June 5, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

With Sr. Mary Kay Oosdyke, OP

CIC| 360 Division S | Grand Rapids | |616-459-7267

This series will help you share what is important to you in your life and in your faith. Through the use of questions you

select, your responses will help you share the bits of wisdom gleaned from your life. $10 donation is suggested.

"Divorce Recovery & Support Group"

Wednesday, June 6 7:30 pm-8:45pm

With Jim Kline

CIC| 360 Division S | Grand Rapids | |616-459-7267

For all those who are divorced or who are on the way to becoming divorced, this support group is led by those who have

been through divorce themselves and offers a pathway to personal growth. $15 cost for the series.

"70th Anniversary Family Festival"

Sunday, June 10, 12 Noon - 4:00 pm

On the Piazza at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew

CIC| 360 Division S | Grand Rapids | |616-459-7267

Kick off your summer fun and join us at the closing of our 70th Anniversary at Family Fest! This festival binds the

communities of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, the Catholic Information Center and Heartside Neighborhood residents

together for an afternoon of family friendly games/activities, delicious food, great music, and a special Bilingual Unity

Mass at 12:00pm.

The Senior Program at St. Alphonsus presents...

Hopefully, these sessions will bring us all

into a better understanding of the issues in

life, and encourage us to accept one

another, no matter how we view the world.

St. Alphonsus Parish 224 Carrier NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 616-451-3043 www.stalphonsusgr.org

Human Trafficking

Life on the Streets

Thursday May 17 at 6:30-8:00 pm

Women At Risk: Youth Ambassador Jenn Amo DeGage: Spencer Husch and Jennie Compagner

Sacred Beginnings: Leslie King

Tattoos / Piercings

LGBTQ

Tuesday May 22 at 10:00-11:30 am or

Thursday May 24 at 6:30-8:00 pm

Tattoos/Body Piercings: Dan Francis

Pride Center: Larry Deshane Jr, Thomas Pierce

Saint Alphonsus Offers On-going Programs & Activities for our Seniors St. Alphonsus at 224 Carrier NE provides activities on Mondays and Wednesdays each

week. All programs take place in the Parish Center. Everyone 55+ is welcome including

non-parishioners. For more information or to RSVP contact the Senior Program

Voicemail at 616-913-4419 Phone this number to obtain the Calendar of events or

e-mail vscholten18@gmail.com

Sue Wuorinen,

Evangelization & Youth

Coordinator

(616) 363-6885

Cell: (616) 560-8107

Email to:

swuorinen@stjudes.net

Go online to www.stjudes.net/thaddeus-society or contact Sue

Wuorinen at: (616) 363-6885, ext. 1166 or email

swuorinen@stjudes.net

Go online to www.stjudes.net/mothers-of-grace-calendar to

view the calendar of events or contact Sue Wuorinen at: (616)

363-6885, ext. 1166 or email swuorinen@stjudes.net

May 17th

Thursday

8:30 am School Mass in the church

6:00 to 8:00 pm ASA Science Fair - Brophy Ctr./Gym

May 18th

Friday

8:30 am Mass in the chapel

May 19th

Saturday 3:00 pm Confessions

4:00 pm Saturday Mass

May 20th

Sunday

8:30 and 10:30 am Masses

8:30 – 12:30 pm Blood Drive in the ASA gym

Lord’s Lambs and Children’s Liturgy of the Word during

the 10:30 am Mass

11:30 am VBS Meeting in the Brophy Center

2:00 to 4:00 pm Parish Planting Day on Church grounds

May 21st Monday

8:30 am Word & Communion Service

May 22nd

Tuesday

8:30 am Mass in the chapel

7:30 -8:45 pm Men of Emmaus - Millennium Conf. Rm.

May 23rd

Wednesday

8:00 am Senior Men’s Group in the Thaddeus Center

8:30 am Mass in the chapel

12:00 to 12:30 pm Devour in the Youth Ministry Room

6:30 – 8:45 pm Support Group in the Thaddeus Center

DONATIONS TO VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL NEEDED....

St. Jude

Vacation Bible School Join us in Babylon, where we’ll explore what life was like for Daniel and

his friends, captives in a strange land.

You’ll craft cool projects in the Marketplace, laugh as you play Bible-

times games, visit with Daniel, and eat some interesting food.

Plus, you’ll meet lots of new friends!

It's all happening June 18 to June 22 - Be there!!

Catholicism Episode 2 - Happy Are We - The Teachings of Jesus

We would like to continue with the Episode 2 of the Catholicism Series: Happy Are We: The Teachings of Jesus this

week. Here is a link for Episode 2 of Bishop Barron’s Catholicism DVD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxAfr62e1Dk

Here below is a summary of some of the highlights from Episode 2.

“Christian faith centers on who Jesus is and not what he said. The great creeds, for example, never mention the words of

Jesus, but they are desperately interested in articulating his identity with exactness….Once they clearly understood that

Jesus was Yahweh moving among his people, that he was, in the language of St John, the very Word of God made flesh,

the first Christians were interested in remembering, understanding, and propagating Jesus’ teaching.” Thus Fr. Barron

begins both the DVD and chapter 2 about the teachings of Jesus.

Begin viewing the DVD or reading pages 36 and 37. Then read the summary below.

What were some of things that happened in the past that may not have happened without the words or teachings

of Jesus? (Pages 36-37)

1. Would the end of slavery have happened without Jesus’ command to love one’s neighbor as oneself?

2. Would the civil rights movement in the United States have gotten underway without Jesus’ teaching about loving one’s

enemy?

3. Would Gandhi’s liberation of India or the collapse of Communism have been possible without Jesus’ summons to

nonviolence?

4. How many prospective persecutors have been brought up short by Jesus’ word: “Let the one among you without sin be

the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7)?

5. How many, locked in a stance of resentment and wounded pride, have been changed by Jesus’ story of the prodigal

son?

6. How many social reforms have been prompted by Jesus’ devastating line, “whatever you did for one of these least

brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mathew 25:40)?

When some of Jesus’ disciples decided not to continue to follow Jesus, what was Peter’s reply to Jesus in John

6:68?

Peter speaking for the whole apostolic company replied, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal

life.” This is a witness to the power of Jesus’ speech.

Continue reading pages 43-45 in the book or view the DVD on the Beatitudes. Read the summary below to see it you

understood what Bishop Barron teaches about the Beatitudes.

Fr. Barron uses the Beatitudes to understand Jesus’ teachings as found in Matthew’s Gospel Chapters 5-7. He begins with

the more positive of the eight beatitudes.

1) “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Mt. 5:7)

What is another word for “mercy?”

“Mercy or tender compassion is God’s most distinctive characteristic.” In 1 John 4:16 this same idea is expressed in

saying “ God is love.”(Page 43)

2) “Blessed are the clean of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

How does Fr. Barron define “heart?” What makes it clean?

Your heart is the deepest center of yourself. What makes it clean is that your life, your heart is centered on pleasing God

alone. (Page 43)

3) “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” (Mt. 5:6)

What do we hunger for? What makes our hunger righteous?

Our ultimate concern or hunger should be the will and purpose of God and when we seek God we are righteous. (Page

43)

4) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be children of God.” (Mt. 5:9)

Who is a peacemaker? How will it make us children of God?

A person who orders himself toward God and draws things and people together is a peacemaker because that person

reflects God’s reconciling power and therefore is a child of God. (Page 43)

Bishop Barron next turns to the “negative” or “the beatitudes that can strike us initially as confounding and

counterintuitive. But before he goes to those beatitudes Bishop Barron quotes Thomas Aquinas’ four typical substitutes

for God that we seek to satisfy our hunger for God. They are: wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. Fr. Barron uses the

word “addiction” for “concupiscence,” the errant desire to fill our need for God with created things. (Page 43)

1) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:3)

What does Fr. Barron suggest as a variant rendition of this beatitude?

Blessed are you if you are not attached to material things, if you have not placed the goods that wealth can buy at the

center of your concern. (Page 43)

What should be the center of your concern?

The Kingdom of heaven (God) should be your ultimate concern. (Mt. 6:33)

2) “Blessed are they who mourn, for they would be comforted. (Mt. 5:4)

What does Fr. Barron suggest as a re-statement of this beatitude?

Blessed or “lucky” you are if you are not addicted to good feelings. (Page 44)

Why are pleasant sensations or feelings an addition?

Unless we are detached from our feelings, we will not be able to do the will of God when suffering is involved either

physical or psychological.

3) “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Mt. 5:5)

How does Fr. Barron restate this beatitude?

How lucky you are if you are not attached to the finite good of power. (Page 44)

What does the devil offer Jesus in Matthew’s temptation story?

After offering Jesus the temptation to sensual pleasure and pride, the devil offers Jesus the power of all of the kingdoms

of the world.

Then what does “meek” mean in this beatitude?

Meek means here freedom from the addition to ordinary power; the ability to follow the will of God even when that path

involves extreme powerlessness.

4) Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:10)

How does Fr. Barron restate this beatitude?

How lucky are you if you are not addicted to honor and hence are able to follow the will of God even when that path

involves being ignored, dishonored, and at the limit, persecuted. (Page 45)

Why does Fr. Barron say that the perfect exemplification of the beatitudes is the crucified Christ?

Jesus was utterly detached from the four classical additions of wealth and worldly goods, pleasure, power, and honor.

(Page 45)

Complete reading pages 48-50 or view the final section of the DVD on Nonviolence. Use the Summary below to

check how well you understood what Bishop Barron had to say.

Bishop Barron says the reason he spent so much time on the beatitudes is to point out the priority of joy in the teaching of

Jesus. Then states that the highpoint of Jesus; teaching is nonviolence and loving one’s enemies.

What does Matthew mean by love? (Mt. 5:43-44)

Matthew uses the Greek work, agape, for love. Love is not a sentiment or feeling, not merely a tribal loyalty or family

devotion. Love is actively willing the good of the other as other. (Page 48)

How can I make sure that I am willing the good of the other as other?

If I am generous to someone who is my enemy, who is not the least bit interested in responding to me in kind, then I can

be sure that I have truly willed his good and not my own. (Page 48) (See Mathew 5: 46-47)

Bishop Barron quotes Mt. 5:38-40 about “turning the other cheek” as a way of practicing nonviolence. He states

that there are two classical responses to evil: fight or flight. Why doesn’t either of these responses work out?

Violence usually leads to counter violence and running away justifies the aggressor and encourages even more injustice.

(Page 49)

What is Jesus recommending we do by “turning the other cheek?

By turning the other cheek, you are preventing him from hitting you the same way again.

You are not running or giving in, but rather refusing to accept the set of assumptions that have made his aggression

possible. You are occupying a different moral space. You are mirroring back to the violent person the deep injustice of

what he is doing. You many not only stop the violence but also transform the perpetrator of it. (Page 50)

Bishop Barron ends this topic with some examples of people who were non violent and concludes that we don’t live in a

perfect world. What do you think about being a nonviolent person? Is it possible?