Welcome to Our Lady on the River Parish!
The people of Holy Cross, St. Catherine and St. Mark welcome you to our parish website! Use the links on the right to go to common areas of information, like the bulletin or the listing of Masses scheduled at any of our locations. Then choose a link to the church, chapel, or school to find information specific to that organization, like the Harvest Dinner at Holy Cross, the Fall Festival at St. Catherine, the Men's Club at St. Mark, or the classes at Holy Cross School.
Our three parishes of Holy Cross, St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Mark officially merged on March 6, 2007, to become Our Lady on the River Parish, with the three locations of Holy Cross Church, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church and St. Mark Chapel. Information and links on the process are provided on the "Together in Faith" page.
From the parish
Message from our Pastor, Fr. Jim Lopez, September 20, 2009
It is difficult to hear news from a person when they are informing you that they are about to go through a medical procedure or endure an illness that could lead to a long recuperation or possibly death. That moment when the news is revealed, one's hearing becomes strained. You are trying desperately to listen what the person is saying to you but you are still focusing on the bad news delivered. We are no different than Christ's disciples because who likes hearing bad news. Together, Christ's disciples and all of us today, do not understand why bad things happen to such good people. And as St. Mark writes, we are afraid to question why or when we do question why, we do not like the response given to us.
Jesus told his disciples that he was going to rise from the dead! They, however, still were concentrating on his suffering and impending death. They did not pay attention to the words of resurrection or did not understand what he meant by that and were afraid to ask. Are we not the same in our own lives? Think of how many times we have learned from the Church's teachings about the joy of the resurrection that is pending when Jesus himself will open the graves of all the fallen and awaken them with the sound of his voice. Yet, we are still focusing on the possibility of suffering or enduring pain; we are struggling with the impending death we must experience and ignoring eternal life with Christ.
Jesus tries to ease our fears and anxieties with his loving embrace. That is why it so important to pay attention to the closing of St. Mark's Gospel because Jesus is embracing all of us as his children and reminds us that as he embraces us so too does his Father in Heaven. A child's innocence is a key to the passage because only a child, pure and simple, accepts the embrace and hold of Jesus Christ without question and without fear. As adults, we question, we place conditions, and we lose our innocence because we know better than the parent. Maybe that is why Jesus teaches about humility while serving God's people.
In his love for us, Jesus is trying to tell us that with news, good or bad, we must place our trust in him and allow him to lead and guide us back to God. For if we receive Christ fully, we also receive the One who sent Christ.
UPDATE: I have been reminded by the maintenance staff that cement work on the steps in Marine City will be underway over the next few weeks. Please be aware of the some of the main entrance doors that will be blocked off, but there will be at least one entrance way available for use. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Finally, please remember to pray for all the priest of the Archdiocese as we meet with the Archbishop at Boyne for our convocation. Your prayers are what keep us strong and going as we learn to be shepherds for the Lord.
Have a blessed week,
Fr. JimAnnouncements
Our Lady on the River Parish Choir
Attention all singers and instrumentalists!! Rehearsals for the Our Lady on the River Parish Choir will begin on Thursday, September 10th at St. Catherine starting at 7:00 p.m. in the church. All former and new choir members from Holy Cross and St. Catherine are invited to join. We will alternate rehearsal and Mass locations on a weekly basis. Music is a vital part of our liturgies that needs many volunteers. Come use your musical talents to praise the Lord! For more information contact Bea Wassenberg at 810-794-0098.
From the Archdiocese
With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Cure d'Ars
Announcements
Announcements from the Archdiocese, Week of September 6
From the United States Council of Catholic Bishops
Readings and Psalms of the Month
Please go to this page for Daily Mass Readings, Palsms and much more, provided by the USCCB.
From the Vatican
BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR September
VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for September is: "That the word of God may be better known, welcomed and lived as the source of freedom and joy".
His mission intention is: "That Christians in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, who often meet with great difficulties, may not be discouraged from announcing the Gospel to their brothers, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit".
Please subscribe to the Vatican Information Service to receive messages from the Pope (free!) by going to this site: http://mlists.vatican.va/mailman/listinfo/visnews_en
Parish Mission Statement
We the people of Our Lady on the River Parish state in a common voice that we are a united Catholic community, bringing together three unique sites, each one being essential to the whole.
We welcome all people into our community. We support the human and spiritual needs of each person with dignity, which strengthens our bond as members of one Body sustained by the Eucharist.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to the formation in our Catholic faith at all ages. We will provide a deep and firm foundation for our youth through Catholic education and good example.
We reach out to the greater community through our acts of service and prayer through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother.
General Information
Guidelines for Reception of Holy Communion, from the USCCB
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops "What's New"
Links and Resources
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