Welcome to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
We are a Catholic community of welcome and warmth sharing growth as we seek to develop as disciples of Jesus using the four pillars of Christian discipleship: Community, Message, Worship, and Service.
Community - Created for and called to spreading God's love and mercy throughout parish family and surrounding community through spiritual and social opportunities,
Message - Sharing the Good News of God's Love, mercy and redemption to all through Faith Adult, Faith Youth Ministry, Faith Children, and Sacramental Preparation,
Worship - Gathering to gratefully share prayer as we participate in the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist,
Christian Service - Using the gifts God has entrusted to us to serve God by helping those in need.
Our next parking lot Mass will be celebrated Sunday, september 27th at 9:30 a.m. - Weather permitting through October
We will have PARKING LOT MASS Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (weather permitting).
This Mass will be in the NORTHSIDE parking lot area. Our Sunday Mass will continue outside through October.
--Bring a chair: there will be a designated area for setting up your lawn chairs with appropriate distancing and masks;
OR
--Stay at your car: stay in the car or sit by it with appropriate distancing and masks;
The Worship Aid for this celebration can be printed out for you to bring with you, or access via your phone. In case of rain, the mass will be shifted inside and notice of the change will be sent out as early as possible.
Peace, Fr. Joe
Mass and Rosary Schedules
Please note that if the Midland Public Schools are closed or on delay, weekday Mass is cancelled!
Weekday Mass:
Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 am - follow restrictive guidelines please. For weekday Masses, please use the South entrance.
Weekend Mass:
Saturday Mass at 4:30 pm - follow restrictive guidelines please.
Sunday Mass at 9:30 am - follow restrictive guidelines please.
Please know that the church doors will be opened from 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m., Mon thru Thurs, if anyone is in need of a quiet place to pray and/or meditate.
Reconciliation by appointment only.
Scheduled Ministries - to be updated
Daily Reflections:
Saginaw Diocese - Practicing your faith at home
Today's Scripture: Text Video and Podcast (click on the Day to view video and podcast)
A Second's Thought by Fr Joe
Directions, Church/Office Hours
Get Directions 3516 E. Monroe Rd. Midland, Mi 48642 1-(989)-631-4447
Office Hours: Our office is NOW OPEN from 8:30a-4p Monday-Friday
Calendar seasonal hours
Fr Joe's Thoughts, "Larkin Update" More Here
...and Jesus said, "Come."'
Here's a look at the precautions and procedures in place at Assumption to keep us all safe and healthy while we attend Mass.
For about 8 weeks we've been gathering in response to Christ's invitation for Eucharist. Many have understandably opted to not come, but we've done quite a bit so we can both worship and stay healthy. Check out the changes at our shared Assumption church home.
Gratitude is the root and heart of faithful stewardship
Gratefully responding to God’s overwhelming generosity and abundant gifts. Our FAITH is one such gift, a gift to be shared. And we can all be grateful to SANDY ZONDLAK for the service of SHARING our FAITH as our Sacramental Catechist.
For four years Sandy has guided our 2nd graders and their families as they prepared to celebrate several of the Sacraments of our family of faith. She helped them all in readying to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time and then to complete their initiation by being Confirmed and making their First Holy Communion. Sandy served as guide for the parents as families participated together in the preparing. And this year presented unique challenges as Covid forced adopting new strategies to prepare our parish children for Confirmation and First Eucharist. As you saw, those Sacraments were (finally) celebrated a couple of weeks ago and we are grateful to Sandy and to the parents who will continue to guide our youth as they grow in wisdom, age and grace. Thanks for modeling good stewardship for our whole family of faith.
Our Parish is blessed with loving, compassionate people. Thank you for sharing your time and talents.
You have the option to use Online Giving for contributions to our parish!
Your gift will be transferred from your preferred method of payment directly to our parish.
If you have any questions: email Sandy or call the parish office at 989-631-4447.
PARISH GARDEN UPDATE
Our garden is flourishing. Food is being donated three times a week because of our wonderful Garden Crew volunteers—thank you. Thank you also to Bernie and Michele Link for heading up this group and spending their free time to help those in need.
We invite you to bring in vegetables and/or fruit on: Tuesday or Thursday morning before 9:30 am leave outside by the office doors
open dour Soup Kitchen -We need you!
With the continued uncertainty of the coronavirus , many of our volunteers are unable to return to serving in our soup kitchen yet. In addition, the grab-and-go style service and extended serving hours require more hands.
If you are healthy and feel comfortable serving, would you consider giving some of your time to serve our homeless and hungry friends at our soup kitchen?
To sign up or to learn more, please call Vicki at 989-835-2291.
Food Pantry This Month
We are also collecting paper products in addition to food for the month of September (collection dates Sept 26/27).
The donations will be given to the Shelter House and North Midland Family Ctr.
So please bring in your donations and put them in the bin provided in the gathering space that weekend. Thank you!
cancellation of the Fall rummage
The Fall Rummage sale scheduled in October will be cancelled due to the current virus evolving public health threat. Thank you for your under-standing and we look forward to your continued support when we hope to return next year.
An UPDATE from the Guatemalan Stove Team 2020
“He chooses them, inspires them, motivates them to act”… We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus!
Support for In-Country HELPS Teams.
This year we have a special need due to the impact of the pandemic on HELPS International. Outside volunteers have not been able to travel into Guatemala due to Covid-19. When volunteers stopped coming, the income that supports HELPS staff salaries stopped as well. We rely heavily on the HELPS team to guide us in country, select families in need, train new team members, ensure our safety, translate for us in the field, deliver materials to remote villages for us, etc… The special talents of these people are vital to our success. We respectfully ask for you to consider donating to help us support five HELPS team members during this time. The cost to support this team for the remainder of the year is $4000 each, or $20,000. To help with salary losses, send checks to: Tom Tolton payable to: Midland Area Community Foundation Memo: Midland-Based HELPS Fund—salaries
Support to purchase stoves and water filters for installation by Midland-Based HELPS Teams Since 2012
Since 2012, Midland parishes have responded to the needs of the rural poor in Guatemala by contributing time, talent and treasure to local teams that partner with HELPS International.
To date our parishes have assisted over 672 families and numerous schools, providing each with a safe smoke-free environment, clean water, and more income. The stoves reduce wood consumption by 70%, which represents a significant portion of income, and is equivalent to saving one tree per month.
Your Guatemala Mission Team is planning to serve 120 families again in 2021. We are looking for two more volunteers to reach our team size of 18. We also plan to raise $250 per Mayan family (for stoves and filters), or $30,000. Depending on the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine, we will either go to Guatemala, or have the local HELPS team complete the installations. To contribute to this effort, send checks to: checks to:
Tom Tolton 1101 Whispering Oak Dr, Midland 48642 payable to: Midland Area Community Foundation
We know it is currently difficult for many here in our own communities, and for our parishes. Thank you for allowing us to ask your assistance. For further information, contact: Tom Tolton 1101 Whispering Oak Dr, Midland, MI 48642 989-835-5828
Called to Love is the theme for our 2020-2021 Assumption BVM Faith Formation.
Our mission is to accompany your family to an encounter with Christ through faith formation. This year our encounter will focus on how we are all “Called to Love”- God and our neighbors. We are excited to help your family put that love into action within your homes, community and world.
This year, all faith formation levels will be structured in a “hybrid” model using different formats, depending on grade level. We will meet in person, when possible, conduct virtual sessions and provide packets for in home use. We will be updating you with more details as we get closer to our faith formation kickoff on September 27th. Save the date for this fun family event where we begin to answer our “Call to Love”.
As registered members of the parish, your child(ren) are called to be a part of our Children’s Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. Before we begin this year, we need ALL families to update their family information and medical treatment release forms. These two documents can be downloaded and fill out electronically in Adobe Reader. Please return to our parish office professional, Sharon Worthington (sharon@assumptionmidland.org), by Wednesday, September 16. If you have any problems or questions, please call the office at 631-4447.
It gives us great comfort that the Holy Spirit is guiding our planning! We ask for your prayers as the year enfolds. Yours in Christ, Kathy Russell, Director of Youth Ministry (6-12th grade) kathyr@assumptionmidland.org
Sarah Hocking, Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator (PreK-5th grade) sarah@assumptionmidland.org
Live Virtual MIDWEEK Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience
Work weekends? Retired? Know a priest or religious who would enjoy growing in their vocation? Worldwide Marriage Encounter is hosting a live virtual MIDWEEK experience Sept. 15-16. Apply today for only $19 (priests/religious are free) at esharing.org.
Need a weekend date? Check out wwme.org for a listing of all live virtual experiences being offered. Questions? Contact Andy & Jeanne Folfas at 937-886-5196.
Blessing of Animals In honor of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4)
We will have a Blessing of Animals on Sat., October 3rd at 9:30 am In the south parking lot, bring your pets!
K of C Homemade Pierogi Order Now
Catechetical Sunday 2020 Sept 20th
Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. It is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. We also honor parents and guardians on this day, since they are the true first catechists, sharing the Catholic faith with their families.
The word catechesis is from a Greek word meaning “to echo.” All those who teach in the Church’s name and about Jesus by the way they live are catechists (echoing the faith).
Our mission at Assumption is to accompany our parishioners of all ages on an encounter with Christ through faith formation. This year our encounter will focus on the theme "Called to Love" - how we are all called to love God and our neighbors.
This commandment is echoed in every major religion around the world whether you are Catholic, Jewish or Muslim. God’s love is what unites us. We are all children of God. We are all called to love.
SEASON OF CREATION
September 1 – October the Church celebrates the Season of Creation where we reflect on our care for creation and how blessed we are for the gift of God’s creation.
Our parish’s Prayer Committee from the Pastoral Council is offering daily reflections on the parish’s Facebook Page (Assumption Catholic Church). These reflections include a scripture verse and an associate picture of creation. If you would like to offer a picture of creation, accompanied by a scripter verse, please email it to Sr. Jeanne at jeanne@assumptionmidland.org.
September 12/13, 2020
Weekly Envelopes $7,250
Online Giving (9/7-9/13) $2,440
Weekend Total $9,690
Weekly Goal $7,700
Overage/(Shortfall) $1,990
“You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)