Parish Mission Statement

The Parish of St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy, inspired by Mary’s “Yes” and led by the Holy Spirit,

strives to be a faith-filled community, joyfully welcoming all to witness and to celebrate the Gospel.

JANUARY 7, 2018 • THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

CAUSE OF St. Mary, Our Joy

8200 N. Wayne Road • Westland, MI 48185 734-425-4421 • stmarycooj.org

Joyful News

Polish Dinner

Please join us for the

Polka Mass and Polish Dinner

St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Doors Open 5:30pm -

(right after the 4:30pm Mass)

Dinner will include: Stuffed Cabbage, Kielbasa & Sauerkraut, City Chicken, Red Skin Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad, Rolls, Dessert, Coffee, Tea and Soft Drinks. Cash Bar

Entertainment: Dance and sing along with the Polish Band

THE KIELBASA KINGS

50/50 drawing

Ticket Sales: Will be available after Masses beginning January 6/7 in the gathering space or at the parish office on weekdays.

All tickets must be paid for in advance. NO tickets will be sold at the door.

Ticket Price:

Adult- $18

Children 7-14 $7

6 and under free

Page 2 PARISH INFORMATION

Mass Schedule

MON, THURS & FRI

WED

SAT

SUN

8:30 am

12:00 Noon

4:30 pm

8:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 Noon

Baptisms Please call our Parish Office during regu-lar business hours. Parish membership and preparation class required.

Confession Saturdays: 3:30pm

Office Hours Monday to Thursday: 8:00am−4:00pm Friday: 8:00am-Noon

St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy

8200 N. Wayne Road, Westland, Michigan 48185 Phone: 734-425-4421 Email: office@stmarycooj.org Fax: 734-425-0650 Website: www.stmarycooj.org

St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy

Marriage Arrangements must be made by registered parishioner at least six months in advance to allow sufficient time for instructions and preparation.

Anointing of Sick and Ministry to Homebound Our pastor, deacon or lay ministers are available to visit upon request.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) For those interested in becoming a full member of the Catholic Church. Please call the office.

Parish Registration Please call the office at 734-425-4421 to register with our parish. Please notify our parish of any address or phone changes.

PASTOR

Fr. Ken Mazur, PIME Ext. 213 pastor@stmarycooj.org

PRIEST IN RESIDENCE

Fr. Joe Plawecki

DEACON John Burke deaconjohn@stmarycooj.org

DEACON Jim Hensel (Deacon Emeritus)

FAITH FORMATION (pre-K to year 8)

Sr. Gemma Legel, OSF Ext. 217 faithformation@stmarycooj.org

MUSIC AND WORSHIP

Steve Reyes Ext. 230 music@stmarycooj.org

PASTORAL ASSOCIATE/

CHRISTIAN SERVICE

Paul Zbytowski Ext. 221 paul@stmarycooj.org

YOUTH MINISTRY

Carol Nelius Ext. 215 youthministry@stmarycooj.org

SECRETARIES Peggy Fox Ext. 210 Sandy Young Ext. 211

office@stmarycooj.org

BULLETIN / MINISTRY SCHEDULING Jennifer Newman Ext. 218 joyfulnews@stmarycooj.org

BOOKKEEPER

Carol Pates Ext. 214 bookkeeper@stmarycooj.org MAINTENANCE Shannon Galoch Ext. 220 Matt Andresen KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Bob Schoenborn Grand Knight GK15204@mikofc.org 734-812-8734

DIRECTORY

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Jim Bonin Boyington Family

Randy & Kristy Bracket

Bob Cadotte Tina Ciepley Charlie & Donna Conatser

Jim DeVitis

Tom Dobrowolski Ron & Paul Dugas

Georgia Galeas

Alisa Gardner

Richard Gora Ray Grochowski

John Kaminsky

Marilyn Kashat Gloria Kenzie

Bob Kluba

Rita Kraft John Lardin

Jim Mata

Irene Melady MaryAnn Magon

Alice Milliken Kim Micallef

Michael Mize

Bernice Nowak Edward Parisien Sr.

Ruth Parisien

Jerry & Deb Pietszak Rita Polent

Lynn Rodriguez

Edward Rysztak Grace Rysztak

Emma Scaramella Tom Shafer

Dianne Shekell

David Taillard Roberta Troher

David Wasil

Cathy West Gary Woodruff

Tim Wycihowski

Nova Zboyan

PRAY FOR OUR SICK

1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

Resp. Psalm: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13C-15a, 17-20 Gospel: John 1:35-42

READINGS for January 14

Report Sexual Abuse for any child or adult: Call AOD victim assistance 1-866-343-8055 or

Call the Michigan Department of

Human Services at: 855-444-3911 any time

Hearing devices are available for

use during Mass. Please see our

music director in the choir area.

Bulletin Articles due by 9 am on Monday

(5 days prior to publication). Submitted

bulletin content is subject to approval.

OUR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS

CMDR Theron R. Korsak, U.S. Navy; CPT Joey Saunders, U.S. Marines; Joseph David Onadia, U.S. Navy; SMSGT Terence Zelek, U.S. Air Force

If there are any names that can be removed from our Prayer List, please let us know by calling 734-425-4421

Chair: Art Regner Vice Chair: Ann Schroeder Secretary: Mike Francis

At-Large Members

Julie Callahan Doug Cyr Michael Gluth Suzanne Price

Gary Pieknik Pat Slusarz Nancy Smith Chris VanHoet

Page 3

This Christmas Season

has been sooo different

this year. Today’s Feast of The

Epiphany of the Lord is back to back

with The Baptism of the Lord which

marks the end of the Christmas

Season. In some places I understand

they still continue it until Feb. 2. And

then we have most of the population

who were so sick of it they discarded

any remnant on Dec. 26. I felt a little

cheated myself and tried to savor

every moment. My decorations won’t

come down until later this week.

Eucharist Enrollment is tomorrow in

church at 6:00 pm for all those who

will be preparing over the next few

months. Their parents must attend

and extended family members are

also invited to be part of the process.

God Calling… Be Not Afraid…to find

JESUS, to be found by Jesus, to

receive the vocation He gives you.

The Bottom Line Bert and Ernie are

two Christians who have lived very

good and healthy lives. They die and

arrive in heaven. Walking along one of

the golden streets and marveling at

all the paradise around them, Ernie

turns to Bert and says, “Wow. I

never knew heaven was going to be as

good as this.” “Yeah,” says Bert.

“And just think, if we hadn’t eaten all

that oat bran, we could have gotten

here ten years earlier!”

Sr. Gemma Legel, OSF

IN FORMATION Our parish celebrations for Advent, Christmas and the New Year were amazing. Thank you to everyone who helped in the many ways to help our community rejoice at the birth of Emmanuel, God is with us. The liturgical volunteers, the choirs and

musicians, the young people who acted out the nativity, the ushers and greeters, all who created the Christmas environment inside and outside, and especially to Matt and those who helped him keep the sidewalks clear of the snow which gave us the “white Christmas” that we often sing about.

I’m sure you have all heard the African tribal proverb, “It takes a village to…(raise a child).” It takes the involvement of everyone to ensure that a child grows properly, or that a community moves forward. When I baptize infants, after asking the parents, I then ask the godparents if they are willing to help the parents in raising the child as a Christian. It is my custom that I then ask the community gathered at that Mass if they are willing, especially through our prayerful support, to help the parents in raising the child as a child of God. It is the responsibility of all us to accept those children, make they and their parents feel welcome, and to pray that they grow into mature faith-filled members.

In the same way, it takes the whole community to make our parish grow and thrive. We need the involvement of everyone, in some way or another. We can’t just sit back and let others put in the effort. Even with your busy daily schedules, there has to be some time you can find for the parish.

We are trying to get our commissions active. The Christian Service Commission is well on its way, we need some additional members for the worship commission. If you have some interest in liturgy, perhaps have experience from other parishes or cultures, please consider joining. We are close to getting ready to begin the Education/faith formation commission. And then we can begin forming a stewardship commission , which will help the parish in making sure that the funds are spent properly, with suggestions for projects, etc. I hope to hear from many of you soon, especially those who have transferred over from other parishes, like St. Mel’s. We need you!

Fr. Ken

From t

he

Desk o

f

Fr. K

en

THE HISTORY OF THE

CATHOLIC CHURCH JANUARY 9,16, 23, 30;

FEBRUARY 6, 13, 20 & 26;

MARCH 6 & 20

7:00-9:00pm

Room 106-107 in the Parish Center Building at

St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy

Facilitator: Frank Briggs

Questions? Call the office at 734-425-4421

No registration required and no fee for classes

Page 4

Forever Young Seniors…

Our next meeting will be tomorrow, January 8th, 2018. We will be watching a movie “The Shack”. If you want, you can bring a chair cushion to watch the movie. Our volunteer chef will be Roberta Piper. The 2018 Annual dues are $5.00 and should be paid to Dianne Lazar by the January meeting. Note: I will be leaving this week to play “snowbird” until the end of February. Marie DiDomizio will be handling the bus trips while I am gone.

Please keep all of our ill members in your prayers. We have some wonderful bus trips coming up:

Greektown Casino Wednesday, January 24th, 2018 9:15am – 3:45pm $26 due by Jan 10th

Meadowbrook Theatre “Tenderly” Sunday, Feb 25th 9:30am – 5:30pm $97 due by Jan 26th

Solanus Casey Pilgrimage Wednesday, Mar 28th 8:45am – 5:30pm $58

due by Mar 14th

The bus trips are open to everyone. Please call me 734-525-3737 for reservations and more details. Copies of the flyers can also be obtained at the Parish Office during regular business hours. Make checks payable to Bianco and

mail to me

at 8843 Linville, Livonia, MI 48150.

Maryann Sligay

Our next Baptism class is Monday, January 22 at 7pm

In the Parish Center Building.

Please make sure you register for one of our Baptism Classes by contacting our

Parish Office at 734 425 4421.

ALL YOU CAN EAT Pancake & French Toast

Breakfast

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 8:30am to NOON

Saint Mary, Cause of Our Joy

Social Hall

COST: $3 Adults

$1.50 Children ages 2 to 10 MENU: Pancakes, French Toast, Ham, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Applesauce,

Tea, Coffee, Milk, & Juice Sponsored by

HOLY NAME FRATERNITY

EPIPHANY PROCLAMATION 2018

While a day like Christmas is fixed in our minds and on the calendars

on December 25th, many of the important feasts of the Church year

move, based upon the date that Easter is set. Easter changes each

year moving to the Sunday after the “Paschal Full Moon,” and can fall

between March 22 and April 25.

In ancient times before calendars were common, most people did not

know the dates for the upcoming Liturgical year. On Epiphany

Sunday, the upcoming dates were “proclaimed” after the gospel in

this way:

Dear brothers and sisters, the glory of the Lord has shone upon us,

and shall ever be manifest among us, until the day of his return.

Through the rhythms of times and season let us celebrate the

mysteries of salvation.

Let us recall the year’s culmination, the Easter Triduum of the Lord:

his last supper, his crucifixion, his burial, and his rising celebrated

between the evening of the Twenty-ninth of March and the evening of the Thirty-first of March, Easter Sunday being on the First day

of April.

Each Easter-as on each Sunday-the Holy Church makes present the

great and saving deed by which Christ has for ever conquered sin and

death. From Easter are reckoned all the days we keep holy.

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will occur on the Fourteenth

day of February.

The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on Sunday, the

Thirteenth day of May.

Pentecost, joyful conclusion of the season of Easter, will be

celebrated on the Twentieth day of May.

And, this year the First Sunday of Advent will be on the Second day

of December, 2018

Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims the Passover of Christ in the

feasts of the holy Mother of God, in the feast of the Apostles and

Saints, and in the commemoration of the faithful departed.

To Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come, Lord of

time and history, be endless praise, for every and ever.

Amen.

Coffee Sunday

Meet and get to know more of your

parish family members in the Social

Hall after 10am Mass.

NEXT Sunday, January 14, 2018

If you would like to donate homemade

cupcakes, cookies or other goodies for

the above date, please contact:

Don & Kathy Yokley at: 734-335-6670

Page 5

Tuesday, January 23 at 7:00pm

Our 4th Annual

Ecumenical Prayer Service

This year it is held at: Timothy Lutheran Church

This is a joint prayer service with St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy

Newburg United Methodist Church

Timothy Lutheran Church

The Saints Constantine and

Helen Greek Orthodox Church

CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

You still have time to send in your Christmas offering. Donations post-marked or received now will be recorded for the 2018 tax year. You can use your Christmas envelope included in your offertory package. Should you forget your envelope, you can write “ Christmas Collection” on your check or on the out-side of any envelope and your gift will be counted in the Christmas Collection. You have until January 14, 2018 to get your Christmas gift in.

Thank you for your continued support of our parish and its programs.

Help Feed the Homeless Breakfast and Dinner

This January we will be helping Newburg United Methodist Church host homeless families with Cass Rotating Shelter. Our parish has agreed to provide dinner at their church on Sunday, January 28, and breakfast on Wednesday, January 31. We are in need of parishioners that would be interested in helping with these events. Please call Paul at 425-4421 x 221 if you are interested in helping. Stay tuned for more information to come!

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins next week, on Wednesday, January 18, and continues through Wednesday, January 25. The theme for 2018 is “Your Right Hand, O Lord, Glorious in Power” (Exodus 15:6). Use the Daily Scripture and Prayer Guide to join with Christians around the world praying “that all may be one... that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Plan to join our parish and members of other Christian churches and communities in our area for the following special observances.

HOLY NAME

FRATERNITY

The Holy Name Fraternity of St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy parish extends thanks to all who supported our Pancake/French Toast breakfast on December 17. A record 373 of you attended. Even Santa Claus had a good time! We look forward to serving you again on Sun-day, January 21. Please come and bring a friend. Father Ken Mazur, Steve Reyes, and Paul Zbytowski will be present at our next Holy Name Fraternity meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 7 pm. Member-ship attendance is encouraged.

Paul Markus

Heavenly Father, welcome Home

those whom you have called from this

world especially

Betty Schroeder

Elaine Kushner

Frank Shelly

Joyce Miriani

Larry Kovaleski

and all the souls of our faithful departed.

May they rest in peace. Amen

Signing of the Door on Epiphany

A popular tradition celebrated on Epiphany is the mark-ing with chalk inside the main doorway of a house with the following: 20+C+M+B+18. The writing on the doorway signifies:

20 = the current century + = Jesus' Cross C = the initial of the Wiseman Casper M = the initial of the Wiseman Melchior B = the initial of the Wiseman Balthazar 18 = the current year

As a family writes these initials and numbers over the door, each member makes a promise to look for Jesus until he/she finds Him. They are challenged to look for Jesus in the lives of all people who visit their home. The family also promises all who enter may find Jesus in their home as the family practices virtues of consola-tion, understanding, hospitality, rest, forgiveness and love. It is most fitting that we should bless the doors of our home every year in January. The first month of the year gets its name from the Roman God Janus whose name means "gate" or "door" and the first month is the door to the New Year. May it be a happy and truly holy one!

Page 6

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE January 13/14

SATURDAY 4:30pm SUNDAY 8:00am SUNDAY 10:00am SUNDAY 12 Noon

Celebrant Fr. Ken Fr. Ken Fr. Joe Fr. Ken

Lector

Comm.

Jan Lauster Rose Rodriguez

Jerry Chwalek Kay Palmer

Diane Pietras Nancy Hahn

Evelyn Bledsoe Nancy Smith

Extraordinary

Ministers of

Holy

Communion

Deacon John Lou Stremich

Bob Chisholm Yvonne Chisholm

Flo Bozek Ralph Costyn

Julie Callahan

Deacon John Cheryl Paputa Olimpia DeToma

Diane Fredrickson

Carol Janowski Larry Janowski

Emmanuel Eze

Deacon John

Duane Harbowy

Patti Krcatovich

Rocky Krcatovich

Cathi Macko Nicole Macko

Kathy Andrus

Deacon John

Annmarie Konrad

Ken Konrad Scott Ozga

Jennifer Gonzalez

Joan Gebhardt

Volunteer Needed

Altar Server Matt Mazaitis Frank Criscenti Natalie Francis Joey Beahon Angel Kimfon Esmeralda Gonzalez Makenna Burden Celia Mercado

Sacristan Fran Gleason Alice André Theresa O’Bey Ann Schroeder

Ushers Tony Collins Peter Kowalski

Paul Markus

Tony Micallef

Don Niemiec

Steve Noonan

Frank Pelton

Emery Price

Jean Schmuck

Jack Rourke

Jim Devitis Jim Fredrickson

Don Koszegi

Ernie Lenard

Bill Lezotte

Paul Lukasik

Dan Stachow

Barb Burke

John Burke

Clare Masak Jim Sapierski

Yonnie Underwood

Andy Konstal

Annmarie Konrad

Ken Konrad

Robert Dropp Michael Gluth

Mark Goszinski Leslie Johnston

Kathy Sherry

Ron Sherry

Greeters Rose Rodriguez Keith Kudron

Julie Callahan Marlene & Roman Kotrys Sharon Edwards

Guldner Family Geralyn Pawlaczyk Doug Cyr Vinny Konstal

Darlene LaFave Mercado Family

Homebound Duane Harbowy Patti & Rocky Krcatovich

Altar Care January 19 Carol Kocan Brenda Peet

MASS INTENTIONS

Wed.

Jan. 10

12 Noon Prayers for Nikki Moore & family by the Mott family Prayers for Eric Rice Family by the Mott family Prayers for Nancy Sue Harrison by the Mott family

Thurs.

Jan. 11

8:30am

Sat.

Jan. 13

4:30pm

Joseph Magon by his daughter, MaryAnn Magon

William Fitzgerald by Patricia Coughlin

Stanley Cislo by his wife, Stephanie

Clyde West by Jean Schmuck

Sun.

Jan. 14

8:00am

10:00am

12 Noon

For our parish family

Phyllis McCann by Elizabeth Parent

Mon.

Jan. 8

8:30am Forever Young Seniors

Fri.

Jan. 12

8:30am Sue Weaver by her husband, Tom

7UPCOMING EVENTS Jan. 8—-Jan. 14

MON. Jan. 8 8:30am 9:30am

10:00am

12 Noon 6-7:15pm

7:00pm

7-9:00pm 7:15-8pm

Mass Christmas Decoration Take-Down

Forever Young Seniors

Margaret Mary Circle Meeting Faith Formation

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting

High School Youth Group Children’s Choir Rehearsal

TUE. Jan. 9 7:00-9pm Bible Study-History of the Catholic Church in room 107 in the parish center

WED. Jan. 10 10:30am 11:00am

12 Noon

7:00pm

Doors open for cards & coffee Cards & Coffee in social hall

Mass

Rosary

THURS. Jan. 11 8:30am 9:00am

7:00-9pm 7:00pm

Mass Mother of Perpetual Help Devotions &

Rosary

Adult choir rehearsal Knights of Columbus Mtg. Small hall

FRI. Jan. 12 8:30am 9am-Noon

Mass Eucharistic Exposition

SAT. Jan. 13 3:30pm 4:30pm

Reconciliation Mass

SUN. Jan. 14 8:00am 10:00am

11:00am

12 Noon

Mass Mass

Coffee & Goodies-small hall

Mass

If you are unable to walk up for Communion and you are not sitting in the handicap section, please notify an usher when you enter Church and a Priest will

come to you.

Many Hands Make For Less Work

It is hard to believe but it is time to take down our lovely Christmas decorations. Anyone available on Monday, January 8th at 9:30am is welcome to join us in the dismantling of our Christmas decorations.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who donated non-perishable food via our Red Wagon found in our Gathering Space. 422 pounds of non-perishable food items were taken to St. Mary Food Depot in Wayne for distribution to those in need in our Community on December 27. Also, thank you to Jim DeVitis & Dan Stachow for taking our donations there.