Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church at 4865 11 Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341 US - Home
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SUNDAY 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
The Flu and Mass:
What should we do?
Whenever two or more people gather, some sharing of germs is inevitable. However, when we gather in Jesus’ name for Mass, our first concern is the sharing of our gratitude, our trust, our belief in Christ who is with us.The Fall Flu Season is underway. The virus that is getting the most attention this year is the H1N1 (“swine flu”), for nearly all of us may be at risk for catching it.
Here are some things to keep in mind.
Sunday Obligation: The Obligation to attend Mass on Sunday other Holy Days of Obligation, (Canon 1247) is the ordinary expectation for Roman Catholics. Obviously, extraordinary circumstances such as sickness or severe weather excuse the faithful from this obligation. If you suspect you have the flu, please stay at home and do not risk spreading infection to others.
Holding Hands during the Lord’s Prayer: This custom was introduced into many local parishes in the 1980s. While it is ideal for us/all worshippers to be uniform in our postures and gestures at Mass (as a sign of our unity as members of Christ’s body) holding hands has never been a requirement. It is very fitting to pray the “Our Father” in the orans position with the palms of your hands lifted upward, or with hands folded together.
Sign of Peace: Please don’t be offended if someone chooses not to shake hands with you during the Sign of Peace. An appropriate gesture for those who are concerned about spreading the flu virus might be to strive for eye contact rather than physical contact. You could clasp your hands together and bow gently to those around you, and with a smile say “Peace be with you,” or “Peace of Christ.”
Reception of Holy Communion: Roman Catholics believe that both the Body and the Blood of Christ are contained in the Holy Eucharist under the form of the consecrated host. But the Church also encourages reception of the cup at Mass as a fuller expression of the Last Supper and Christ’s blood poured out for us in sacrifice. If you are feeling sick, please receive communion in the hand, and refrain from receiving communion from the cup.
Pregnant Women and Persons with Compromised Immune Systems: If you’ve been told by your medical advisor that you are particularly susceptible to infection or to complications due to flu in particular, please refrain from practices that might make you sick, including shaking hands, receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, drinking the Precious Blood from the Chalice, etc.
For more information, visit: www.usccb.org/liturgy/swineflu.shtml
Flu and Mass 10-22-09
All Saints, All Souls – all gathered by God
When you think about all the people you’ve ever known, some are incredibly kind and generous– while others seem not so holy.Today’s celebration of All Saints and tomorrow’s remembrance of All Souls voice that reality in a celestial expression of petition and praise.
All Saints – fixed on Nov. 1 since the eighth century – is when we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. Some were famous and have a capital “S” on the title “Saint.” Others lived smaller lives, unnoticed or simply forgotten by everyone on earth.
At Mass on All Saints, we praise and thank God for their example, their selflessness, and their holiness. We express our faith that they are now around God’s throne, where they “sing his praise forever.” And we ask them to give us “inspiration and strength,” so that one day we will meet them.
(All Saints is such an important feast that in the United States it is a Holy Day of Obligation. This year, because Nov. 1 fell on a Sunday, All Saints took precedence over the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time.)
All Souls is officially known as “The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed.” This is when we remember people who were more like us – needing further purification to be ready to enter into God’s unconditional love. A traditional way of phrasing that is they’re “in purgatory” – in process.
And so at Mass on All Souls, we pray that through Christ’s loving mercy, “our departed brothers and sisters” will be granted “pardon and peace,” and be brought to the peace of God’s eternal home.
The Catholic observance of All Saints and All Souls launches a month-long commemoration of the dead. As the crop harvest concludes, Catholics anticipate the harvest of souls by prayerfully visiting their loved one’s graves to prepare for winter. All Souls is an especially rich cultural experience for Hispanic Catholics, who call it “The Day of the Dead” and picnic at the cemetery with the departed.
These November traditions express our belief in the “communion of saints” –which we are already part of. As one of our prayers at Mass says, “with death, life is changed not ended.” Whether someone we know was particularly holy—or not—our Masses and prayers this month voice our hope that Christ will eventually bring all of us home, together.
© 2009 Office for Worship, Diocese of Grand Rapids
crouech@dioceseofgrandrapids.org
From Deacon Jim Hessler's bulletin articles on annulments:
Annulments - Part 1 (8-30-09)
Matthew 19:6 reads: “Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” So how is it that the Catholic Church allows annulments? The annulment process is an investigation into whether or not a marriage union is one that God has joined. In other words, when we seek an annulment, we are asking the Church to determine whether our previous marriage was the one marriage that Jesus said we can have one of.
Christ left His Church as His earthly agency to monitor, regulate, and administer His sacraments. Just as the Church ensures that Baptisms, Confirmations and Holy Orders (ordinations) are properly and validly carried out, she regulates Holy Matrimony, as well. The Church takes this responsibility very seriously.
The annulment process investigates the validity and sacramentality of a marriage. If a decree of nullity is granted, the Church is not denying that a civil marriage took place, or that the couple did not have good intentions or that they didn’t love each other. The Church determines through an investigation of the facts whether a valid, sacramental marriage occurred. If the evidence is conclusive that a marriage was not sacramental, a decree of nullity is issued.
We are allowed only one valid marriage at a time. Church law insists that before re-marrying, unless a former spouse is deceased, an annulment must take place. This is because the Church presumes that every marriage is valid and sacramental until proven otherwise. Therefore, if a person is formerly married and has not received an annulment, that person is still bound by Church law to that former bond and is not free to marry. Entering into a second marriage without a Church annulment may introduce spiritual concerns for a Catholic.
Of course, civil law is not concerned with these matters. To the government, a divorce is all that is necessary, but civil decisions about marriage are immaterial to the Church. The government does not regulate sacraments, even though it tries.
If you have questions about annulments, the process or the theology, please contact Fr. Tony or myself. We process about 10-15 annulment cases a year in the parish. There is no charge for annulments in the Diocese of Grand Rapids - CSA takes care of the costs. More on annulments next week. In the meantime, have a blessed week.
Deacon Jim Hessler
Annulments - Part 2 (9-6-09)
Continuing on last week’s topic of annulments…There are many kinds of annulments and these are determined by the grounds and the evidence in a particular situation. At the risk of oversimplifying, annulment cases can be grouped into two general types - long form or short form.
Long form cases require witnesses, submission of written testimonies and take approximately one year to investigate and complete. Again, there are no fees required of applicants (called petitioners). We will talk about long form cases more next time. This week we will touch on the easier, short form cases.
Short form cases, usually, are for situations where a baptized Catholic did not follow Church rules. For example, let’s say a couple elopes to Las Vegas and one or both of them are Catholic. They get married there without obtaining permission from their bishop. Such a marriage investigation would produce a short form case - a case requiring little paperwork. We would need to prove only that the marriage took place without permission. No testimonies or statements would be required. Such cases often are complete within two weeks.
Another kind of short form case would arise if a Catholic married a non-Catholic without Church permission, or if a Catholic married a divorced person whose previous marriage was still valid. An annulment is required of all former marriages, yes, even Protestant marriages, if former spouses are alive. These cases can be accommodated by the Church, but procedures need to be followed and permissions obtained. We often do Protestant annulments.
The annulment process exists to protect the sanctity of the Sacrament of Matrimony. It’s not here to be punitive, but to guide the faithful into proper, holy, marriage relationships as determined by God’s laws.
Most people who have been through an annulment tell me that they found the process therapeutic, that is, they grew and experienced healing. At first, understandably, many are intimidated by the procedures or are afraid to re-open wounds, but in reality the steps in the marriage review are what bring the closure and the renewal needed to go forward in a wholesome life of faith.
Deacon Jim Hessler
Annulments - Part 3 (9-13-09)
Concluding our three part series on the topic of annulments… Last week we discussed short form annulment cases—ones that involve, in general, Catholics who did not follow Church rules. This final column will be a brief look at long form annulments - cases in which people followed the rules but where other problems were present.
Long form cases usually involve questions surrounding the ability or fitness of one or both spouses to actually assume the responsibilities of the vows they have spoken. It is central to a sacramental marriage, that each spouse freely and willingly make their vows, without pressure, force, or psychological encumbrances. Merely speaking the vows without the capacity to freely mean them renders the vows invalid.
There are a multitude of situations that can cloud the validity of the vows. For example, a girl might be getting married to escape an abusive home. Leaving an abusive situation is not a bad thing, of course, but marriage is not a good way to do it. Escaping may not be a conscious motive, but a powerful one affecting her judgment all the same. We see many kinds of issues subtly but significantly distorting the thinking and reasons for deciding to marry. An annulment investigation attempts to identify these forces, and our Marriage Tribunal is quite good at doing so.
Part of the annulment process includes the need for witnesses. While we first take the testimony of the petitioner (the person asking for an annulment investigation), justice requires that the testimony is corroborated. Moreover, the other spouse has rights under Canon Law and is contacted for his/her testimony. With the additional paperwork and time needed to gather information, these long form annulments take about a year.
Other factors that can influence sacramentality:
- refusal to be open to having children;
- lack of commitment to be faithful; and
- lack of intention for a lifelong union.
Fortunately, the Church has these processes to restore the unfortunate circumstances in which people find themselves. The world is full of distractions, faulty standards and untruths, yet Jesus Christ, through the workings of His Church, stands strong to help us restore and resurrect ourselves. His Church is one of forgiveness and fresh starts. The annulment process can be part of a new beginning. Please contact Fr. Tony or myself if you have questions regarding a marriage situation.
Deacon Jim Hessler
Preparing for Sunday
To better prepare to hear God's Word and celebrate the Eucharist this week, take time to read and meditate on the readings which will be proclaimed at Mass.
Prayer Intentions
This week, please pray for these parish intentions.
Pilgrimages
Rome – Assisi – Turin – San Giovanni Rotondo – Italy in 2010! You’re invited to join us on a Catholic focused pilgrimage to Italy! Amy Launiere, parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church in Rockford, Michigan, is hosting this pilgrimage to Italy with ...