Our Lady On The River Parish 	Holy Cross, Marine City; St. Catherine, Algonac; St. Mark, Harsens Island
Sponsor of the Week	Don's Handyman Service
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 19, 2009

PASTOR'S MESSAGE

     	As the Summer Days continue to bring sunshine and blue skies, I hope that each of you takes the time for a little rest and relaxation. Jesus reminds us today in Mark's Gospel that we all need to rest a while. The Apostles were just returning from their missionary work and giving their stories to Jesus and one another, probably with some excitement and joy; but probably with some struggles and sadness. Jesus listened to their messages and reminded them that ministry has moments that will be difficult as well as easy. However, one must take the time to rest and reflect when the mission is over or complete. The same can be said for us today. Jesus wants us to take some time for ourselves and rest from our jobs, our work around the home and maybe even a little time away from family and friends. The reason is simple because Jesus knows that we need to recharge our energy levels so that we can be refreshed and rejuvenated in tackling the work that lay ahead of us. If we do not take the time to rest the body, mind and spirit we will not give our best work to the people who depend on us. So take a moment during the week and allow yourself to rest, reflect and give thanks.
	Speaking of thanks, I would like to thank each of you for all the prayers that you have showered upon me and my family during my Dad's fight with cancer. Dad continues his battle and we are seeing some improvements in his demeanor. However, the doctors do not have a diagnosis yet. It is interesting how we have all this technology but do not have an explanation for his illness. We are hoping that my Dad will be released from the rehabilitation center by the end of July and back home with my Mom. We shall practice the virtue of patience and hope for some answers soon. Until then, please keep on praying!
	On a closing note, apparently there was some mischief that took place at Holy Cross recently. Someone or maybe a group of people, I do not know, came and removed the clappers from our Eucharistic bells. Maybe it was done as a dare or even a practical joke but the result is not very funny. I am looking into having them replaced and maybe even cleaned up a bit because they were looking a little dull. If you have any information regarding this matter please let me know at the parish office. It is unfortunate that I have to report this type of news because it means that someone did something deliberately to take away from our liturgy. I did not remove the bells nor do I want to have the bells removed from our liturgy sites because they are an important part of our Church and parish histories.
    Enjoy the week and remember Jesus' words “rest a while.”
	Fr. Jim

Parish Directory
www.OurLadyontheRiver.net

Fr. James Lopez, Pastor
Fr. Matt Ellis, Associate Pastor
Sr. Mary Ann Ankoviak, csj
Pastoral Associate

Fr. Sig Kowalczyk, Fr. Ron Kurzawa,
Fr. Fred Bodde, Fr. Leo Broderick & Msgr. George Browne, Senior Priests

Gary Krueger, Bob McLeod, Deacons

Bulletin Info
bulletin e-mail:
bulletin@OurLadyontheRiver.net
(deadline 12 noon Monday)

Marriages:
Membership & six month preparation
period required.

Sacrament of Reconciliation  3:00 p.m.

Holy Cross  	1st & 3rd Saturdays
St. Catherine  2nd & 4th Saturdays
St. Mark	1st Fridays before Mass

Sacrament of Baptism  12:45 p.m.

Holy Cross 	3rd Sunday
St. Catherine 	last Sunday
St. Mark 	by appointment

Membership & preparation required
Please call your Church Office to
register & verify dates.

***Holy Cross
Catholic School***
(810) 765-3591 FAX:  (810) 765-9074
www.HolyCrossOnline.net
e-mail  school@holycrossonline.net
Amanda Lund, Principal

Please pray for our sick and suffering
If you would like your name or a loved ones name on the prayer list, please call the parish office or drop a note in the collection, names will remain on the list for four weeks, unless other arrangements are made.  Please be sure the person you are requesting to be put on the prayer list is aware and agrees to be added.


Mass Intentions
Monday, July 20	  	7:30 a.m. 	          St. Catherine	9:00 a.m.	       Holy Cross
		V Ted & Mary Bieszczad by Family
		V Chester Orzechowski by Daughter, Carolyn & Family
			(Birthday Remembrance)
Tuesday, July 21
	7:30 a.m. 	     St. Catherine
	9:00 a.m. 	St. Mark
	9:00 a.m. 	        Holy Cross
		? Mass of Thanksgiving from Doreatha Markel
Wednesday, July 22
	7:30 a.m. 	     St. Catherine
	9:00 a.m. 	St. Mark
	9:00 a.m. 	         Holy Cross
		V LeRoy Zweng by Mary Gillman & Family
Thursday, July 23
	7:30 a.m.	St. Catherine
	9:00 a.m. 	St. Mark
	9:00 a.m.	         Holy Cross
		V Michael Gillman  by Wayne & Mary Lou Huffman
Friday, July 24
	7:30 a.m.	     St. Catherine
	9:00 a.m.   	St. Mark
	9:00 a.m. 	Holy Cross
Saturday, July 25
	4:00 p.m.	St. Catherine
		V Jim Kuptz by Wife
		V Joseph Check by Family
		V Victor Plummer by Bethany Sargh
		V James O'Driscoll by Matt & Arlene Moody
		V Alfred Holzhauer by Doris Byers
	4:30 p.m.	           St. Mark
		V Gary Olowniuk by Mary Lou Smith
			(20th Anniversary Remembrance)
	5:30 p.m. 	        Holy Cross
		V Veronica Melkert by Jacquelyn Sharrow
		V Angeline Kloka by Family & Friends
		V Gregory Zebrowski by Family
			(Anniversary Remembrance)
		? Lorena Sadler by Family
			(100th Birthday Celebration)
Sunday, July 26
	7:30 a.m.	Holy Cross
		V Michael Gillman by Earl & Carol Fortner
	8:00 a.m. 	    St. Catherine
		? 	Rosemarie Dinehart by Cheryl & Tom
			(Birthday Celebration)
	9:30 a.m. 	Holy Cross
		V LeRoy Zweng by Bob & Joyce Thompson and
				Elaine Schweihofer
		V Grace Filion by Vergil & Marie McTevia
		V Robert Beckman by Mabel Pelath & Family
10:00 a.m.  	        St. Catherine
		V Joann Shano by Joan Brown


 10:30 a.m. 	              St. Mark
	V Dolores Lanagan by Sister Barbara Ann Borkowski
 11:30 a.m.    	     Holy Cross
	V Joe Eichhorn by Grace & Chuck Wiseman
	V Ralph Roda by Carol Irwin
7:00 p.m. 	  St. Catherine
	   All Parishioners of Our Lady on the River


Thoughts from your Pastoral Associate
Christ, our Shepherd, is full of compassion;
let us give thanks!
	Stogdills' Handbook of Leadership lists traits associated with leadership effectiveness:  judgment, decisiveness, knowledge, fluency of speech, adaptability, alertness, creativity, integrity, self-confidence and emotional maturity.  It is interesting that one of the things which powerfully attracted people to Jesus was not one of those qualities, but something which is rarely associated with leadership -COMPASSION!
	Jesus, deep within His heart, was moved with compassion when he saw the needs of the disciples and the crowd of ordinary people like us standing before Him in today's Gospel. They truly were a lot like us.
	In our ever-accelerating, fast, hurry-up world where we're always either coming or going, perhaps wandering through life like sheep without a shepherd, with no chance to stop, sit back for awhile to relax, have peace and a time of prayer with Our Lord, today we can find an important lesson Jesus gives us.  Jesus Himself is the Good Shepherd with a heart of compassion, urging us to take time away from the ever waiting demands before us.
	Resting a while is not simply a 21st century lifestyle option - it is essential.  Our society pushes us to work nonstop - yet we need to realize that we are valuable simply because we exist - we are who we are - our value comes from beyond our contributions day in and day out.  The demands will always be waiting - Caregivers, disciples of the Lord, must take care of themselves.  There is a tendency on the part of people who help others to neglect their own needs.  The needs of others are sometimes overwhelming.  All of us at times have experienced this.
	Eventually, we come to recognize that the best way to help others is to live a healthy, balanced life where one's own spirit is fed and physical and emotional needs are met - by taking time to relax, to pray, to have peace of mind, to be refreshed in spirit.  We'll not find time for this.  We either take time for this, or we won't have it.  We live in difficult times for sure.  Unemployment, sickness, anxiety, and financial insecurity affect most all of our lives. God's word to us this day reminds us that Jesus offers us consolation, hope and peace.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will guide and protect us when we place our trust in Him and in His healing, faithful, personal love and compassionate care for each and every one of us and our needs.  Perhaps a good psalm prayer for this week is Psalm 23:  God my Shepherd, True to Your word, You let me catch my breath, and send me in the right direction…(from the Message translation)
Saints in every vocation quest continues…..with Mary Minnich, John & Joann Vance, Regina Lomasney and Mary Margaret & Spencer Adkins discovering St. Mary Magdalene, whose feast is July 22nd.  Nice going!  Now try this: Who was the first of the apostles to be martyred for the faith?
	Hope you take time to relax and enjoy God's love this week!
Sister Mary Ann Ankoviak, csj
pastoralassociate@ourladyontheriver.net


Online calendars are on the parish and location websites.
Catholic Services Appeal 2009
"One Sows, Another Reaps"

CSA REPORT NUMBER 10
 
Parish Target for 2009	   	   $110,000
Amount Pledged for 2009 	    $ 74,603
 % of Target   			       67.8 %
Average Amount of Gift   	    $ 136.87
 Number of Potential Donors 	          1702
Number of Replies (including “zeros”)        595
 % of Participation                                  35%
	We continue to show a large deficit with respect to our target.  While our donors have been most generous, our shortfall is due to the total lack of response from over 65% of our registered parishioners.  We need everyone's help if we are to avoid a large expenditure of our regular parish funds.  Please support your parish.  If you have misplaced your pledge card, just put your gift in an envelope marked “CSA” and we will insure it is properly credited.
	Father Jim has asked each parish family to consider a contribution of at least $100.  Using the Pledge Method, this requires only a $10 initial contribution and nine monthly pledge payments of $10 each.  With this method, the Archdiocese will send you a monthly reminder with a return envelope to make it as easy as possible.  Of course, you can always make your contribution in one lump sum if you wish!  May God bless you for your generosity!

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
StC 7:30a Mass
StC 7:30a Mass
StC 7:30a Mass
StC 7:30a Mass
StC 7:30a Mass
StC 3:00p Reconciliation
Sunday Masses
HC 7:30 a; 9:30a;
11:30 a
StC 8:00 a; 10:00 a;
7:00 p
StM 10:30 a

StM 11:45 Fellowship Brunch
StM 9:00a Mass
StM 9:00a Mass
StM 9:00a Mass
StM 9:00a Mass
StM 9:00a Mass
StC 4:00p Mass
HC 9:00a Mass
HC 9:00a Mass
HC 9:00a Mass
HC 9:00a Mass
HC 9:00a Mass
StM 4:30p Mass
StC 8:15a St. Vincent de Paul
Marysville 10a Bingo
StC 9-3 Garage Sale drop off
StC 9-3 Garage Sale drop off
StC 9-5 Garage Sale
HC 5:30p Mass
StC 9-1 Garage Sale
Offsite 6 p   DofI Picnic





StC 7:00p Mass
StC 12:45p Baptisms
StC 6:45 p Prayer Group
KC MC 7p Bingo


StC 9-5 Garage Sale
StC 6:00p Exposition and Adoration
MC KofC   9-12 Breakfast






Died in Christ

Please remember in your prayers:

	V Joann Shano
	V Douglas Rietzler

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
Let the Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.           Amen.
Day/Time


Liturgical Schedule
Lectors
Altar Servers
Saturday
4:00 p.m.
St. Catherine
Kim Busittil
Maria Winquest
Rachael Winquest
5:30 p.m.
Holy Cross
Shelee Schweihofer
Gabby Alarie
Brandon Downey
Rachelle LaFontaine
Sunday
7:30 a.m.
Holy Cross
Bill Zweng
Brad Butros
Mitchell Hurttgam
Brendon Hurttgam
8:00 a.m.
St. Catherine
Judy Wallis
Danielle Banky
Skye Jarskey
9:30 a.m.
Holy Cross
Fred & Mary Ann
Osterbeck
Zachery Cadena
Joshua Zichi
Jason Zichi
10:00 a.m.
St. Catherine
Nick Licari
Jacob Nutter
Abigail Nutter
10:30 a.m.
St. Mark

Jim Laethem

11:30 a.m.
Holy Cross
Ed Trudell
Katlyn Pokorny
Holly Redlawski
Natalie Sykes
7:00 p.m.
St. Catherine
Celebrant
Celebrant
4:30 p.m.
St. Mark
Mike Weber

Readings for the Week of July 19, 2009

Sunday:	Jer 23:1-6/Eph 2:13-18/Mk 6:30-34
Monday:	Ex 14:5-18/Mt 12:38-42
Tuesday:	Ex 14:21---15:1/Mt 12:46-50
Wednesday:	Ex 16:1-5, 9-15/Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
Thursday:	Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b/Mt 13:10-17
Friday:		Ex 20:1-17/Mt 13:18-23
Saturday:	2 Cor 4:7-15/Mt 20:20-28
Next Sunday:	2 Kgs 4:42-44/Eph 4:1-6/Jn 6:1-15

©Liturgical Publications Inc
Wedding Anniversaries

	If you would like your Wedding Anniversary published in the bulletin, please submit your Anniversary info to your parish office at least one month prior. Anniversaries will be published the last weekend of the month.

Family Name:   _______________________________

Husband: _______________ Wife: _______________

Date: ______________ Years Married: ____________

Mass Schedule

St. Mark, Harsens Island Site
Saturday: 4:30 p.m.
(Memorial Day - end of September)
Sunday: 10:30a.m.
Tuesday - Friday:  9:00 a.m.

Holy Cross, Marine City Site
	Saturday: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30; 9:30 & 11:30 	a.m.
Monday - Friday: 9:00 	a.m.

St. Catherine, Algonac Site
Saturday: 4:00 p.m.
Sunday:  8:00; 10:00 a.m.& 	7:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m.

Holy Days - as announced

Sacrament of Reconciliation  3:00 p.m.

Marine City Site 1st & 3rd Saturdays
Algonac Site 2nd & 4th Saturdays
Harsens Island Site 1st Fridays before Mass

Sacrament of Baptism  12:45 p.m.
Marine City Site:  3rd Sunday
Algonac Site:  last Sunday
Harsens Island Site:  	by appointment

Membership & preparation required
Please call Parish Office to
register & verify dates

Marriages:
Membership & six month preparation
period required.

Parish Directory
www.OurLadyontheRiver.net

Fr. James Lopez, Pastor
Fr. Matt Ellis, Associate Pastor
Sr. Mary Ann Ankoviak, csj
Pastoral Associate

Locations

Marine City Site
610 S. Water St. • Marine City, MI 48039
810-765-3568 • Fax: 810-765-2974
Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday
9:00 am-7:00 pm
Monday & Friday: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
(Closed 1:00 pm-2:00 pm); Saturday: 1:00 am-5:30 pm

Algonac Site
1103 Washington St. • Algonac, MI 48001
810-794-3301 • Fax: 810-794-1849
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am-1:00 pm

Harsens Island Site
4190 Green Drive • P.O. Box 70
Harsens Island, MI 48028
810-748-3828 • Fax: 810-748-9148
Office Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm
One Parish Family Prayer List


Mass Schedule

Holy Cross, Marine City Site
	Saturday: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30; 9:30 & 11:30 	a.m.
Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m.

St. Catherine, Algonac Site
Saturday: 4:00 p.m.
Sunday:  8:00; 10:00 a.m.& 	7:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m.

St. Mark, Harsens Island Site
Saturday: 4:30 p.m.
(Memorial Day - end of September)
Sunday: 10:30a.m.
Tuesday - Friday:  9:00 a.m.

Holy Days - as announced

Locations

Marine City Site
610 S. Water St. • Marine City, MI 48039
810-765-3568 • Fax: 810-765-2974
Office Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 am-7:00 pm
Monday & Friday: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
(Closed 1:00 -2:00 pm);
Saturday: 1:00 -5:30 pm

Algonac Site
1103 Washington St. • Algonac, MI 48001
810-794-3301 • Fax: 810-794-1849
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am-1:00 pm

Harsens Island Site
4190 Green Drive • P.O. Box 70
Harsens Island, MI 48028
810-748-3828 • Fax: 810-748-9148
Office Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm


www.OurLadyontheRiver.net
St. Mark Fellowship Lunch

July 19th -11:30 a.m.
Come with your family
Menu: Grilled Bratwurst,
Hot Dogs, Sauerkraut,
German Potato Salad
Watermelon
No tickets required
Donations appreciated
Dear Lord,
We pray that the Blessed Mother
wrap her mantle around your priests
and through her intercession
strengthen them for their ministry.
We pray that Mary will guide your priests
to follow her own words,
"Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).
May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph,
Mary's most chaste spouse.
May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart
inspire them to embrace
all who suffer at the foot of the cross.
May your priests be holy,
filled with the fire of your love
seeking nothing but your greater glory
and the salvation of souls.
Amen.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us.
©USCCB
“We're celebrating
		                ~come
Celebrate with us!”

You are cordially
invited to join


Sister Geraldine Arnold, csj

In a celebration of
Thanksgiving to God for
60 Years of
Religious Life as a
Sister of St. Joseph

On Sunday, August 9, 2009
Mass at 10:00 a.m.
St. Catherine Church, Algonac, MI

60th Jubilee Luncheon following Mass
St. Catherine Activity Center
1103 Washington Street
Algonac, MI  48001


Please RSVP-
Name and number of persons
     Attending _________
      By July 22, 2009 to Parish Office
Or Call 810-794-4965

Andrew Rutlowski, Hank Babisz, Betty Baker, Angela Bills, Fr. Leo Broderick, Jacob Bryson, Rosemarie Dinehart, Marge Hamlin, Nina Johnson, Mary Lorkowski, Pat Macy, Sally O'Neil, Thomas Ostin, Emma Oulette, Sophia Palmer, Theresa Pawlowski, Cora Plummer, Walter Sawkin, Helen Schweihofer, Tommy Skladerna, Evelyn Smith, Bob Soulliere, Stevens Family, Barbara Susan, Patrick Tierney, George and Tena Van Loon, Tracy Warner, Leona Weaver, JoAnn White, Paulette Wieczorek, Keith and Dolores Wright, Catherine Ziegler

D of I News

	Daughters of Isabella, St. Agatha Circle #419 will be having their summer picnic at the K of C hall on King Road Monday, July 20th at 6:00 p.m.  Bring a dish to pass and a friend to share.  Don't forget  food for SVdP.
St. Mark Men's Club

Meeting Monday, July 20
Activity Center
 7:30 p.m.
Our Lady On The River Parish Stewardship of Treasure Report
Weekend of July 11 & 12 2009
Amount in Sunday envelopes

 $  15,466.00

Families with envelopes
1702
Gifts from visitors (loose collection)
 $    1,242.50

Envelopes received this week
607
Children's envelopes

 $         14.37

(% of all stewards)
36%
Total Sunday Collection

 $  16,722.87



Weekly amount for parish operations

 $  17,720.00



over/under amount

 $     (997.13)



St. Catherine Altar Care Group

	The newly formed Altar Care Group extends an invitation to anyone who would like to provide fresh cut flowers for the altar.  Perhaps you are having a Mass said in memory of a loved one, celebrating an anniversary or other milestones in your life and would like to provide the floral arrangements, to do so please contact the Algonac office at 810-794-3301.  For more details please contact Linda Neumann at 810-794-4605.
	Thank you to everyone who took a dragon fly off our Bayou trees! Please remember to return items to the box provided by July 19th. A big thank you to everyone who has donated items so far. Your generosity has been overwhelming and this years vacation bible school is off to a great start!
Have you registered your child(ren) yet???

Only eight days left until VBS starts!~!~!~!

Volunteers are still needed!
Are your kids ready to sink
 their teeth into BIG fun?

	Register your kids today! Ages preschool (potty trained) through 5th grade are invited to join the fun. Register after Mass this weekend, at the parish office or on-line at www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/ourladyontheriver. 1st child $20; 2nd child $15; 3rd child $10.
For more information, contact Stacy at 810-765-0784 or Cathy at 810-794-4367


Vacation Bible School
July 27 - 31, 2009

One in The Spirit Prayer and Bible Study Group
Summer 2009

July 21st	Prayer Exercise

	Our meetings are held on Tuesday evenings @ 6:45 p.m. in the St. Catherine Chapel. All parishioners are welcome to join us to sing praises to the Lord, listen to His Word, pray and share fellowship. If you are in need of prayer for yourself or someone else, write your requests in the Prayer Petition Books located at the exits.
	To be placed on the prayer chain or for further information, please contact Eloise @ 810-794-9975.
	Join us for an evening of relaxing spirit filled praise and worship with Bill Richart.
	Bill is a Catholic Lay Evangelist who travels all over the United States.  As an accomplished musician he has produced several CD's.
	Come join us on Tuesday, August 4th at 6:45 in St. Catherine's Church.
	A free will offering will be collected.
Sharing the Gospel

	Have you ever just wanted to be alone for a while? Jesus and his disciples knew what that felt like. They wanted to be alone to talk and rest, but crowds of people were surrounding them. Even when Jesus and his disciples tried to slip away unnoticed, people followed them anyway. They arrived only to find more crowds of people. This was certainly not the quiet time they had planned on. Being patient and kind, Jesus gave up what he wanted, and he began to teach the crowds.

Prayer
Dear God, thank you that Jesus gave up what he wanted, just so he could help other people. Help me to follow his example. 					Amen.

Something to Draw
Draw a picture of Jesus surrounded by large crowds of people.

Mission for the Week
Spend some alone time with Jesus tonight. If you get interrupted because someone else needs help, that's okay. Go help, and then come back to your alone time with Jesus again.
- LPiResourceCenter.com
Proud To Be Crusaders
Why We Choose Holy Cross Catholic School As Our Partner to Educate Our Children

	Naturally parents want the best in every regard for their children, and we are no different when it comes to raising and educating ours.  We know that the education of our children is our responsibility and no one else's and we prioritize this responsibility with the utmost importance.  We are David and Melanie Heitz and we would like to share why we choose Holy Cross Catholic School to be our partner in the education and formation of our children.
	In life, tough choices must be made, but knowing your priorities can help to make them easier.  We think the most valuable aspect of a child's education is the moral formation including characteristics such as being humble, having respect, consideration, and discipline.  These intrinsic traits can be difficult to find in educational institutions, even those highly regarded.  The continual display and reinforcement of good Catholic values demonstrates to the child what is expected behavior.  To excel in society, we believe these values are differentiating factors.  So if two people with the same degree and seemingly equal in all technical and academic skills apply for the same position, we believe the moral foundation will prove to be the difference in the hiring decision.  Holy Cross develops this moral base on a daily basis and in our minds is indeed a highly regarded institution.
	Even more impressive is that Holy Cross has been able to focus on these values while maintaining a safe and comfortable setting.  Safe, not only in the physical sense but also from the warm and welcoming feeling you get from faculty and staff.  This type of environment provides for children to be accepted for who they are, very different individuals.  Also, at Holy Cross not only is it cool to play sports but it is cool to be smart, too.  So if you put the whole package together, you feel as though you have extended your home, a warm and happy place, to the classrooms on the banks of the Saint Clair River.
	Over the years many Holy Cross graduates have demonstrated what their upbringing has instilled in them.  They are first class, productive individuals and leaders in the communities in which they reside.  Today, Holy Cross Catholic School administrators, teachers and staff, continue to support this faith-first vision of child development.  As parents, we want this proven recipe of success for our children, so we continue to choose Holy Cross Catholic School as our partner in educating our children.
By David and Melanie Heitz

Request to Add Name to Prayer List

Name to add to list: _____________________________

Description of ailment: ___________________________

Name of person submitting:  ______________________

Phone of person submitting:  ______________________

____ Above person has agreed to have his/her name on the Prayer List of Our Lady on the River.
In Loving Memory of

	Thank you to all those who so generously made a donation in Memory of
V Anthony J. Pizzo, Sr.

Holy Cross Activity Center

St. John Health System	Wally & Joyce Street
Dorothy Stephenson		Mark & Diane Bowden
Patrick Currier		Jackie Sparks
Art & Val McHaney		Brenda & Dick Eifert
Donald & Noreen Eves	Paul & Holly Sabatos
Ralph & Madonna Knotts	Bill & Louise Streitz
Julie Wallace			Agnes Stein
Ed & Shirley Steinmetz	Robert Currier
Frank & Barbara Shonk	Semco Energy Co.

Holy Cross Capital Campaign

Tom & Christina Babcock 	Loretta Zamborowski

St. Vincent de Paul

Sylvia Dietlin

May God bless each & everyone one of you
 for your generosity and compassionate caring.
St. Mark Men's Club
Annual Ferry Boat Ride

Friday, August 14th or
August 21st (if rained out)
Depart Harsens Island 7:00 p.m.
Tickets $35 a couple
$17.50 per person
See Jim Miller for tickets

St. Catherine Ladies Guild Garage Sale
St. Catherine Activity Center

	Friday, July 24th 	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
	Saturday, July 25th 	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
	Sunday, July 26th 	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
	Sunday is $1 bag day!

Drop-offs of your unwanted treasures will be gratefully accepted

	Wednesday, July 22nd	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
	Thursday, July 23rd	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

at the Activity Center
Fr. Matt's Matters
Recent Gains And Losses Of The Catholic Church

	I know this article for most readers may seem a 'writing to the choir', but please bear with me. Depending upon where you search Planet Earth, our “universal” Catholic Church could be shrinking or growing.
	Some of the following information comes from the Catholic Church research of Mr. John Allen (he is widely respected and is often commissioned by the bishops to do research). He recently pointed to “mega-trends” in Catholicism. One mega-trend: huge growth of the Church in large parts of what we call 'the third world', a.k.a. the Southern hemisphere and that which is close to the equator. So we see, for example, in much of Africa a doubling of the Catholic population over and again even in the face of wars and the spread of the AIDS virus. The cultures of these countries and thus their Catholics also, strongly tend to be morally 'conservative' and male dominant, yet the same Catholics and others are politically 'liberal' from the U.S. point of view. Large new numbers of Catholics tend also to be very involved in the Church's faith life, including weekend Mass every week.
	In juxtaposition is the United Kingdom (Britain, England, et. al.), starting at least 40-50 years ago, institutional religion has been dying at the rate of fifty (50) percent per generation. In other words, about every 25 years, half of any given church's membership is no longer in the membership! It's called secularization (or by some 'enlightenment'). “Roman” Catholicism, centered at the Vatican, is still very much a European institution, yet Catholic vitality is mostly found outside Europe (which is not to say, of course, that no sectors or countries in Europe have a thriving, growing Church life). Do you find it humbling that the Catholic faith came to most parts of Africa from the same continent which was responsible for the degrading and murderous slave trade in Africa, and now we find millions of people from Africa embracing the Catholic or other forms of the Christian faith? Yet again, a stupendous example of Christ winning and thriving despite human 'anti-Christ' behaviors.
	On the European continent the bottom line shows there is and has been a decline in the religious/spiritual vitality of Catholics, and in some countries, the decline of even the number of Catholic baptisms. When parents or guardians have children baptized, they are forever putting them in the statistical ranks of officially being Catholic Christians. The children brought for baptism mainly from a sense of Catholic family cultural tradition, and/or grandparent pressure, and/or from a very vague faith commitment to what they are undertaking, are perhaps being done a great disservice in the long run. Did you know that Catholic law insists that priests/pastors cannot lawfully baptize a child unless he has solidly founded reasons for hope that the child will be raised properly as a member of the Catholic faith? When this is lacking the pastor can delay the baptism for an indefinite period. Pope Benedict XVI has made it clear we are not to baptize unless the parent(s) make doing so a great hope for the full practice of the faith by the family in the future (that is, the fear about such concerns as dying infants ending in 'limbo' has been officially expunged by our current Pope).
More next time, Fr. Matt Ellis.

“Widowed Friends”
A “Peer” support group in the AOD

Dinner, Conversation & Games
Sunday, August 16th; 2:00 p.m.

Golden Hawk Golf Club Dining Room
9861 Meisner Lane

Includes:  Choice of  Queen Cut Prime Rib,
Smothered Chicken or Broiled Cod
$13.00 includes dinner, tax & gratuity
(pay at the door - cash only)

RSVP To: Marilyn at 586-727-6582 by Aug. 12th

 Come meet new friends in a safe and friendly setting!
Enjoy cards, games and conversation after dinner!

The Innocence of Children

	At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. 
	Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.' 
AYCE Breakfast
Marine City K of C

 6385 King Road
NEXT Sunday, July 26th

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Pancakes/sausage/eggs/potatoes/
juice/coffee/milk.
Adults $6.00
Kids ages 6 - 10 $3.00; Preschoolers free