Christ the King Catholic Church

Due to the current health circumstances, we are all facing, public services are now open with limited seating and health and safety precautions and protocols in place.  Thank you so much for your individual and group cooperation and patience.   
Public Mass:  Limited and Live Streamed.     Welcome!

Fr. Philip Schmitter will be celebrating (Live Streaming) all Masses on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/philip.schmitter.3
Facebook link on header-top of our website ~ right edge

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BISHOP BOYEA'S FRIDAY MEMO

Keep in touch with Bishop Boyea and the Diocese of Lansing at:
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Bishop Boyea's Year of the Bible | Diocese of Lansing

Friday, January 22, 2021
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

“A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer,”  
Pope Saint John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, March 25, 1995

Dear Friend,

It was Monday, January 22, 1973. I was in my senior year at college seminary in Detroit. I was beginning to prepare for my departure to Rome in the coming months to study at the Pontifical North American College. That was the day the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decisions on Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. 

48-years-on and more and more of us realize that we have all suffered as a result of those baleful decisions. The babies who have been killed. The mothers who have been left grieving. The families who have struggled to recover from their loss. The society that is divided and demoralized by a heavy burden of guilt. When it comes to abortion, nobody wins. In fact, we all lose. There has to be a better way. There is a better way. Hence today we turn to Almighty God in prayer.

 The Visitation (Hand) (bcartfarm.com)



Prayer, including penance, is the starting point of any apostolic endeavor or work of mercy to which we aspire in the name of Jesus Christ, he who is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). 

Thus, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children”. It reads: 

“In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.” We are a praying today for a change in the law. We are praying today for a conversion of the heart. 

We pray for a conversion of heart to recognize the human dignity of each and every human being from the moment of conception to natural death. We pray for a conversion of heart to help any woman who finds herself in a situation in which abortion seems to be the only alternative. We pray for a conversion of heart to encourage men to be fully supportive of women and the children they help to conceive. We pray for a conversion of heart to believe that we can be better citizens if we do not take life but rather support life.

Assuring you of my prayers, I am sincerely yours in Christ,

+ Earl
Bishop of Lansing
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Watch: Meet Diocese of Lansing seminarian Daniel LaCroix. 24-year-old Daniel grew up in Ypsilanti with his parents and two sisters. His home parish is Christ the King in Ann Arbor. After going to Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, Daniel went to Michigan Tech to pursue engineering. During his time at Michigan Tech, he became very involved at the student parish. 

“There were many opportunities at the parish to make friends and grow in my faith,” explains Daniel,  “I especially enjoyed all the time I was able to spend in Adoration; being in the quiet presence of the Lord allowed me to hear his voice asking me to consider the priesthood. I enjoyed my engineering classes and internships, but I believe God may be calling me to serve him as a priest.” 

Hence, after graduating from Michigan Tech in 2018, Daniel decided to enter seminary. He is now studying at entering Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit on his path to the sacred priesthood. Deo volente.

“There are times when I'm uncertain where God is leading me, but I know that he has a great plan for my life and by following it I will be able to be truly happy.” 

Please keep Daniel in your prayers in the months and years to come. Saint Charles Borromeo, patron of seminarians, pray for him.
Flocknote

Read: How is this for a question: "Dear Father Joe, things are so much better than they were; I don’t understand all the talk about racism. My priest said that everyone is racist, and I think that’s nuts. What am I supposed to do about it anyway?" 

That's the very question that Father Joe Krupp attempts to answer in this month's edition of FAITH Magazine, the official publication of the Diocese of Lansing. What is his answer? Click here to find out. 
Dear Fr. Joe: Is Everyone a Racist? | Faith Magazine











Watch: Over the past two months over 3000 parishioners from across the Diocese of Lansing have part in nearly 70 parish meetings in order to help shape the Realign Resources for Mission process which was launched by Bishop Earl Boyea in 2019. 

The purpose of the process is to advise Bishop Boyea on how the diocese can best realign its present resources to better form communities of missionary disciples who go and announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The 14-member Realign Resources for Mission steering is chaired by Father Mathias Thelen, Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Brighton. 

In this podcast, Father Mathias given his reaction to the parish meeting; what, he believes, has been gained from them; and what are the main hopes and fears parishioners express in their verbal and written feedback. He also explains how that feedback will now be used; the next steps for the process; and discusses the four principles that were put before each parish meeting, each outlining the hallmarks of what a healthy parish in the Diocese of Lansing should look like in the future. 

This podcast was recorded on Friday, January 15. It is hosted by the Diocese of Lansing's Director of Communications, David Kerr. Diocese of Lansing Podcast #21
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Watch: Beginning in Advent 2020, Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing is leading people on a day-by-day journey through the Holy Bible. There are now over 11,000 people taking part every day. To join click here. 

On Monday of this week, the Bishop's Year of the Bible reached Chapter 8 of Saint Paul's First Letter to the the Church in Corinth. To read click here. 

So what is God saying to us in this passage? To help prayerfully ponder that question, those participating in the Year of the Bible were graced on Monday with this short reflection by Father Gordon Reigle, Pastor of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and Saint John Church & Student Center in East Lansing.
Flocknote

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