Holy Family Catholic Parish Newsletter Rev. Loc Q. Trinh, Pastor 616-891-9259 www.holyfamilycaledonia.org July, 2016

Wow! What an exciting year of VBS fun!

Our students made concrete stepping stones that will be

used outside around the church. Each stone has hand

prints showing how each of us can use our “hands and

feet” to do God’s work. The attendees did a great job

bringing in a variety of things such as non-perishable food

and basic health care items for the Pail Project which will

be sent to Haiti through the Rays of Hope organization.

Thank you for all the donations that will help the people of

Haiti.

We want to extend a special “Thank You” to the nearly

100 volunteers that we had helping for the week. We are

blessed to have such a wonderful community here at Holy

Family!

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What’s happening at Holy Family…... Holy Family Mass/Weekly Schedule

Saturday: 5:00pm

Sunday: 9:00 & 11:00am

Tuesday: 6:00pm

Wed.-Fri. 9:00am

Adoration: Thurs: 9:30am-7pm

Coffee and Donuts Sundays after 9am and 11am Mass

Liturgy of Word for Children: Sundays during Masses

Sacraments Baptism & Sacrament of Matrimony: (616) 891-8867

Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 - 4:30pm

Office Hours: 8:30-4:30 M-Th, Fri 8:30-12:00

Phone: 616-891-9259 Fax: 616-891-1346

Website: www.holyfamilycaledonia.org

Pastor: Fr. Loc Trinh pastor@holyfamilycaledonia.org

July 2016

7/1 Fortnight for Freedom 7pm

7/2 Knights of Columbus 4th of July Food Drive

6:00pm

7/2 Fortnight for Freedom 7pm

7/3 Fortnight for Freedom 7pm

7/7 Order of the Secular Franciscans 7pm

7/12 Blood Drive 2pm

7/16 Mass/Baptism 5pm

7/17 Top of the Hill Gang Potluck 12:30pm

7/20 CCW General Membership Mtg. 1pm

7/28 K of C General Membership Mtg. 7:30pm

5th Sunday Rosary, our Knights will lead a

Rosary service prior to all Masses on the

weekend of July 30/31. This is part of a

national Knights Initiative. Please join them, 30

minutes before ALL Masses, to honor

our Mother.

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy we are called to trust in God’s love and mercy and to be Missionaries of that

mercy. Pope Francis tells us:

“Each individual Christian and every community is missionary to the extent that they . . .

live the Gospel, and testify to God’s love for all, especially those experiencing

difficulties. Be missionaries of God’s love and tenderness! Be missionaries of God’s

mercy, which always forgives us, always awaits us and loves us dearly.”

Pope Francis

Homily, May 5, 2013

When we are struggling with addiction, or depression, or a disease there are few things that are more uplifting

than to have someone come up to you and say “I am praying for you.” This is particularly powerful if you know

this person is not of the Catholic faith or if you did not realize they were Catholic. It is like this person has lit a

candle in your darkness and the warmth and love of God surrounds you and lights your way. While many of us

would rather be the giver of the light, rather than the person in the darkness, it is important that we open our

hearts at these times to not only experience it for ourselves but to allow these people to be Missionaries and

give this gift of mercy.

Missionary gifts of mercy, like acts of stewardship, do not always have to be huge life changing events, or in

some third world country, they can be the simple everyday things that everyone can do right here in our

community.

A smile, a simple hello, allowing someone room to merge in front of you in traffic, asking forgiveness for what

you called them when they sped by you moments before, telling someone you are praying for them, these are

the times we can be Missionaries sharing God’s love and mercy with others everyday.

May God Bless,

The Members of the

Combined Pastoral & Stewardship Councils

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Works of Mercy for the month of July: Give Drink to the Thirsty

I was ... thirsty, and you gave Me drink. — Matthew 25:35

The second corporal work of mercy is to give drink to the thirsty. These days we do not meet many

thirsty people by the roadside, as the early Christians did. So what does this look like today?

Nearly 1-billion people lack access to a supply of safe water. More than 3.4 million people a year

die from water-related diseases. Every 21 seconds a child in the world dies of such diseases. Nearly

one-fifth of all childhood deaths are caused by diarrhea, which kills more young children than

AIDS, TB, and malaria combined. (Source: water.org.) This year we saw the situation in Flint

unfold where clean and healthy water was unavailable to people so close by, and children were

getting damaged from it.

We live in a world that's thirsty. What can we do?

Giving drink to the thirsty can be in the form of making monetary or food donations to the local

food bank, soup kitchen, and other initiatives that bring food and drink to the poor. The United States Conference of

Catholic Bishops partners with Catholic Relief Services on several clean water initiatives around the world.

Moreover, giving drink to the thirsty can also be accomplished through our role as voters and through our lifestyle

choices, says Dr. Robert Stackpole, STD, director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy. "For example, we can

support clean water policies to ensure that there will be clean water for future generations to drink. Meanwhile, right in

our own homes we can make our contributions to the effort to preserve clean, fresh water: for example, by using

environmentally friendly laundry detergents or by trying to be moderate in the amount of water we put on our lawns or

use in showers."

Here's an example of a group dedicated to providing drink for the thirsty:

The Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM), an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate

Conception, have done remarkable work in bringing fresh water to areas of the world suffering without it. The founder

of EADM, Dr. Bryan Thatcher, tells the following story of how some students at his local Catholic high school in

Florida made a big difference to people on the other side of the world who lack fresh, clean water:

I knew that typhoid and other diseases were rampant in part related to a lack of fresh drinking water in

developing countries. A seminarian from Nigeria told me once during a visit there that I had saved his life. I

looked at him in surprise and asked why. He said the antibiotics we had sent over had treated his typhoid,

and without them he would have died.

Sometime later I coordinated efforts with Bishop Martin Uzuokwu of the Diocese of Minna, Nigeria, and

Tampa Catholic High School to raise monies for a well in Nigeria. At that time, a well could be dug and

provide fresh water for an entire village for $3,000. The students raised monies in a variety of ways, and I

was amazed that when it was all done we had $9,000 — enough for three wells. So, through these efforts,

men, women, and children of three separate villages were able to get fresh drinking water!

It was a small effort, and the students may never meet the people that benefited. But it was a work of mercy

that will bear good fruit for many years to come.

Here is another way. In some countries, and in some states in the U.S., it is now legal to stop providing food and

water to a patient who is terminally ill, or in a seemingly irreversible comatose or vegetative state. This is a

serious moral evil that the Church has repeatedly condemned. It is one thing to cease painful or expensive

medical treatment that has little chance of significantly improving a patient's condition. But food and water does

not constitute medical "treatment": It is basic human care, providing essentials that we all need, at every stage

of life. A person's life has certainly not reached its natural end, its natural time to die, in God's plan, if that

person can still survive with the basic care of adequate food and water. If we want to give food to the hungry

and drink to the thirsty, therefore, let's be aware of the distinction between "treatment" and "care" of the

seriously ill, and the importance of the natural end of life, and the process of dying, which is a natural part of

every human life, and must not be hastened through lack of "care."

The right to life, according to the Church, extends from conception to its natural end. As Jesus would say, the

right to life extends even to "the least of my brethren" (Mt 25:40), whether these helpless ones are unborn

children in the womb or the terminally ill or comatose, nearing their journey's end. On these important Pro-Life

issues, we can be witnesses to our family and friends.

Excerpts from: www.thedivinemercy.org/news/How-Can-We-Practice-the-Corporal-Works-of-Mercy-Today;

www.thedivinemercy.org/news/Give-Drink-to-the-Thirsty

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Dear Parishioners,

I am writing to inform you of a beneficial addition to

our parish Music Ministry:

To enable me to more effectively focus on and develop

areas of parish liturgy and worship, I have enlisted

some help for the music area of my position. Joe

Herdegen, who has been directing the Contemporary

Choir these past months, has accepted a temporary part-

time position as Assistant Coordinator for parish Music

Ministry. This means that Joe is now also directing the

Traditional Choir, the Resurrection Choir, and the

developing Bell Choir. He is also arranging hymn

selections, choirs, cantors and accompanists for

Masses. Take a moment to stop by the music area after

Mass to introduce yourself, to welcome Joe, and to

offer your musical talents! Welcome aboard, Joe!

Also, to enable me to be more present for other

liturgical ministers and details during weekend Masses,

you will not hear me accompanying cantors and choirs

as often as in the past.

I am excited about the possibilities for music and

liturgy that these adjustments open up for all of us, and

I look forward to the opportunity to grow in my

capacity to serve our parish family!

We are very blessed to have such a wonderful parish!

Many Blessings on you and your families!

Barbara Dombroski

Director of Worship & Music Ministry

Kind Like Katie – Memorial Blood Drive A testimonial from Katie’s parents, Kristina & David Fairchild: “On May 3 2015 our 16 year old daughter Katherine Fairchild tragically died in a car accident while on her way to babysit. During her time in Girl Scouts Katie learned the value of blood donations. She provided years of childcare services during Holy Family blood drives so moms and dads could donate. She was looking forward to donating blood herself for the first time, unfortunately it was scheduled just 3 days after her death. She was given many pints of blood after the accident. We still had to say goodbye to her, but blood donations were essential to her final moments.”

Please donate in memory of Katie at the next Caledonia Community Church blood drive on Tuesday, July 12 from 2:00 to 7:00 pm hosted at Holy Family at 9669 Kraft Ave.

If interested in donating blood you may sign up at http:www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aa9a72ba3fb6-blood, in the narthex or call Char Mello,

chairperson 616-901-2803. Please join us for good fellowship and snacks. Childcare is available.

Prayer Shawls Care and the love of knitting (and crochet) have been

combined into a prayerful ministry that

reaches out to those in need of comfort

and solace. Many blessings are knitted

into each shawl, as the knitter prays for

the recipient throughout the creation of

the shawl. A Holy Family medal and prayer is attached to

each prayer shawl before being sent along the way to the

recipient. The prayer shawls wrap, envelope, warm,

shelter, comfort, hug, embrace, uplift and hold the person in

need. Some uses for the prayer shawl include: comfort

after a loss, during bereavement, undergoing serious

medical procedures, battling cancer or illness, during

separation and divorce, when fighting serious addictions,

and other times that we need to be covered and held in

prayer. Knitters/crocheters are needed as this ministry

expands further in our parish effort to continue to care for

one another and share the love embrace of Christ. Please

contact Christine Shafer in the parish office or Kira Block

at kirab7@yahoo.com if you would like to help out. A

pattern/directions and the prayer are provided.

Nametag Weekend

Help Wanted We’re looking for several people to be

responsible for hosting the nametag

tables on the first Saturday/Sunday of each month. This

would include arriving about 30 minutes before Mass,

setting the nametag supplies out, greeting people at the

tables and helping make out nametags when needed, and

then keeping things tidy and ready for the next Mass. It

would be ideal to have two or three people/families willing

to do this per Mass so they can either rotate months or host

the different tables each month. Please contact Christine

Shafer if you might be able to help out.

cshafer@holyfamilycaledonia.org. This is a great

opportunity to get to know people who attend Mass with

you, and to make our holy family a more welcoming

parish.

Our Pop Machine Returns The pop machine in the lower level has been

replaced with a newer model and is now working.

We have both Coke and Pepsi products available

for purchase at 50¢ per can.

Community Happenings

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2nd Annual Gun Lake Charity Chase

5K Run 5K Walk Fun Run

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Come out and run/walk to help support our food pantry.

Proceeds from this event will help Holy Family’s food

pantry as well as others in the area.

For registration information to go

www.gunlakecommunitychurch.org

Did you know...

… Holy Family has a library. You can find

books for youth through adult as well as CD’s,

DVD’s, and VHS Video’s. Check it out today! (located down the

hallway just past the Parish Office).

Village of Caledonia

Schedule of Events

Saturday, July 2

Independence Day Parade 11am

Tractor Pull Immediately following parade

Frog and Turtle Races Immediately following

parade (ATT Lawn area next to Frontier Heating

& Cooling)

Fireworks dusk CalPlex, Duncan Lake Middle,

Holy Family Parish

(note: Holy Family is hosting a community food

drive, please bring a canned good for prime, family-

friendly parking)

DIOCESE OF GRAND RAPIDS – OFFICE FOR WORSHIP NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PASTORAL MUSICIANS –

GRAND RAPIDS CHAPTER

Celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy

in a Festival of Congregational Song

Pope Francis has called upon everyone in the Church to take

an active part in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, by celebrating

and embracing the Father’s mercy for us, and by being

agents of that mercy to others. One way to take an active

part is to join with your brother and sister Christians in a

festival of hymns and songs centered on this theme,

interspersed with brief readings from the words of Pope

Francis on the many facets of God’s mercy..

A combination of classic organ led hymns and

contemporary ensemble led songs will petition for God’s

mercy, charge us to be ministers of the corporal works of

mercy, lead us to address reconciliation between peoples

and nations, to give personal witness, and to sing songs of

praise for this gracious gift. This for everyone who has ever

sung a hymn or song in church. Check the schedule for the

dates and places nearest you. All events begin at 7pm.

Three dates and locations remain

• 9/16 Cathedral of Saint Andrew • 9/23 Holy Family,

Caledonia • 9/30 Saint Francis de Sales, Muskegon

Holy Family

Cemetery Update If you currently own a plot in one of

the three Holy Family cemeteries

we have updated our usage policy.

This information can be found on

the ministry cart in Ministry

Hallway. Please feel free to stop and pick up a

copy.

Also, if you have been thinking about purchasing a

plot at one of our Catholic cemeteries give the

parish office a call. We can give you more

information on the three cemeteries and available

plots.

St. Mary’s Cemetery located on Kraft Ave.

near the airport.

St. Patrick Cemetery located on 92nd St.

just east of Saskatoon Golf Course.

St. Joseph Cemetery located on the corner of

Patterson Ave. and 146th Ave.

Please contact Christine Shafer

cshafer@holyfamilycaledonia.org or 891-8867 x224 if you

would like to know more.

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Strengthened in Faith

On June 11, the diocese, by partnering with 4 parishes, held the first

conference for families with children/adults with disabilities and

special needs. The parents enjoyed a day of nourishment and support

from one another and our keynote speaker, Nancy. The children and

adults, both special needs and their siblings, were entertained with

many professional providers who provided various therapies and

activities, while volunteer faith buddies helped guide them around and

enjoy their day. Overall, it was an amazing day and we are looking

forward to next year. Please always hold the families with children

with special needs and disabilities in your prayers, and

when you see them, be sure to ask how they are doing. If

you notice a stressful moment, feel free to ask, “Do you

need anything?” God has blessed us with their lives, and

we pray their parents are

strengthened in faith

and love.

Special thanks to the

many Knights of

Columbus Councils,

including our local

Council 7341, who

donated toward this

conference to make this

free for parents, as well as

our own Holy Family

local Council of Catholic

Women for their

contribution!

Therapy Dog, Zora

Sibling Support

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Faith Formation

Volunteers Are Needed Can You Lend A Helping Hand?

Many volunteers are needed to make our

programs a success. Whether you are a

parent, grandparent, aunt or

uncle, older brother or sister,

neighbor or friend, WE NEED

YOUR HELP! There is always

a place where you can fit in.

Please contact the CFF office at

891-8867 TODAY to volunteer!

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your

lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and

running over. For by your standard of measure it will be

measured to you in return. Luke 6:38

Early Bird Registration due date is

August 15.

CFF registrations will be available in July.

To get a CFF Registration form, go to the Holy Family

website at www.holyfamilycaledonia.org and click on the

Faith Formation Registration. (If you don’t have internet

access you can pick up a form from the Ministry Cart)

To submit your registration you may choose one of the

following options:

mkrell@holyfamilycaledonia.org (If using the fillable pdf, be

sure to save it, attach the saved form and email)

-891-1346

reception area

You can make your tuition payment by check, cash or by

using the PayPal link on our website (choose CFF Tuition).

Don’t delay! Submit your

registration by August 15 and take

advantage of the reduced tuition fees.

During Cave Quest vacation Bible school, kids experience God’s

Word in surprising and unforgettable ways! Kids will spend time

spelunking through field-tested activity stations with their Cave

Crews. Every station is designed to reinforce the daily Bible Point

in a hands-on, interactive way that keeps everyone engaged.

Leaders reinforce one simple Bible truth—which makes it easy for

kids to remember and apply to real life!

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Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

CALEDONIA, MI Permit #28

Holy Family Catholic Parish

9669 Kraft Ave., SE

Caledonia, MI 49316

Watch the bulletin

for updates!

PARISH PICNIC POTLUCK

Save th

e Date

August 7

, 2016

(AFTER 1

1AM MASS)

Fun Activities for All Ages

Potluck with hamburgers

and hotdogs provided!