Bulletin Announcements

The Secretariat for Communications provides monthly announcements and educational messages for use in parish bulletins to assist in keeping parishioners informed. Announcements for upcoming weeks appear below. Instructions for placing text into your document are noted below. Further information on upcoming events happening around the diocese may also be found by clicking the "Diocesan Calendars" button on the navigation bar to your left.

These announcements may be cut and pasted into parish bulletins or other materials. If you need instructions or assistance, please contact us.

For Use February 11 & 12 – 6th Sunday Ordinary Time - B

STEWARDSHIP BY THE BOOK

In today=s second reading , St. Paul urges the Corinthians to Ado all for the glory of God.@ If we follow that advice in everything we do, we cannot help but be good stewards.

FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

Family life is about decisions. The leper in today’s Gospel knew this when he said to Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus knew this when he said, “I do will it.” Love is not an emotion. It is a decision to be with and for another person in “good times and bad,” even when we don’t feel like it.

VOCATION VIEW

Today’s Gospel says that: “Jesus was moved with pity,” when He saw a leper. Are you moved with love and compassion when you see the outcast of today’s society? Who will come forward to minister as Christ did today?

WORD OF LIFE

“God loves us. This is the great truth of our life; it is what makes everything else meaningful. We are not the product of blind chance or absurdity; instead our life originates as part of a loving plan of God.”
~ Pope Benedict XVI, Prayer Vigil with Young People at Cuatro Vientos Airport, August 20, 2011

TAKE ACTION NOW!

On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. The rule is set to take effect August 1, 2012. Non-profit religious employers that do not now provide such coverage, and are not exempt under the rule's extremely narrow definition of religious employer, will be given one year — until August 1, 2013 — to comply.

To correct the threats to religious liberty and rights of conscience posed by this ruling, the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act” has been introduced in Congress (H.R. 1179, S. 1467). This measure will ensure that those who participate in the health care system "retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions." It is more important than ever that Members of Congress be urged to co-sponsor this measure.

Please contact your U.S. Representative and urge his or her co-sponsorship for H.R. 1179. Visit www.dioceseofgaylord.org for more information and to send an e-mail to your legislator via the Catholic Legislative Advocacy Network of the Michigan Catholic Conference.

A CONFERENCE TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE MEN

A day of fellowship and growth for Catholic men will be held Saturday, March 3 at St. Francis High School in Traverse City. The keynote speaker will be Fr. Paul O’Brien. Fr. O’Brien is a Harvard graduate who then attended North American College in Rome before being ordained in 1991. He worked in Calcutta with Mother Teresa which he says helped him see people the way Christ sees them. Since 2001, he has served as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts where part of his mission includes working with teenagers struggling to grow up in one of the Northeast’s poorest cities. He remains a close friend with his college roommate comedian Conan O’Brien with whom he established the “Labels are for Jars” organization.

Fr. O'Brien will offer two presentations at the Men’s Conference: The first will focus on “Growing Your Relationship with Christ Through Service” and the second will help men explore “Practical, Everyday Things to Ground Yourself as a Catholic.”

Men attending the conference will join in prayer, have the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the day, grow in their faith and have a great time. The conference begins at 9:00 a.m. and will end with a Eucharistic Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Bernard Hebda at 4:00 p.m.

Cost is $25.00 per person which includes lunch and a gift bag. Fathers are encouraged to bring their sons who are in high school (age 16 and up) free of charge. Space is limited; registration deadline is February 28 with forms available at parishes and online at www.dioceseofgaylord.org. For more information, contact Kevin at 231.534.5225.

This year's conference is being hosted by AbsoluteCatholic.com, a newly-formed group in Traverse City.
File: Registration Form

THE REVISED MISSAL AND S.C.A.P WORKSHOP

This workshop will be offered in several areas of the diocese over the next few weeks and is an update for those already commissioned as leaders for Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest, whether a deacon or lay minister. Attendance is required for SCAP leaders to update certification for another three years. These first two workshops will be offered February 28 at Cross in the Woods, Indian River. Participants may select from sessions offered 1:00-3:00 p.m. or 6:00-8:00 p.m. Cost is $5.00 per person. Registration forms are available at your parish or on the diocesan website (www.dioceseofgaylord.org) or through the diocesan Secretariat for Worship and Liturgical Formation at 989.732.5147. Registration deadline is February 18.

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY

Celebrated the Second Sunday of February each year (February 12, 2012), World Marriage Day honors husband and wife as head of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in married life. The permanent theme “Love One Another” is the commandment given us by Jesus (John 15:12) and speaks of the simple but challenging way that the Father wants us to live. Pray today that all married couples everywhere may fully live out this message of God.

RITE OF ELECTION and CALL TO CONTINUING CONVERSION

This year the diocese will celebrate a combined rite for those who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil as well as those seeking full communion in the Roman Catholic Church and/or Confirmation with a ceremony to be held at St. Mary Cathedral, Gaylord on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. There will be a reception beforehand at 3:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Bishop Hebda cordially invites the faithful of the Diocese of Gaylord to witness and welcome the men and women who have celebrated the combined rite.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER RETREAT

Fr. Matthew Wigton, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Charlevoix will be leading “The Mystical Rose” Mother & Daughter Retreat on Saturday, March 24 – Sunday, March 25th, 2012 also at the Augustine Retreat Center. High School aged young women and their mothers will reflect on the theme of “The Heart of the Mother”, which will give insight into the heart of Mary, her constancy, and how living the virtues impacts relationships.

This retreat is hosted by the Diocese of Gaylord and the JP II Youth Ministry of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Petoskey. Cost for overnight retreat is $60 per individual (which includes meals). Cost for Saturday ONLY is $15 per individual. To register for this retreat or for more information, contact Liz Gengle at 231-347-4133 ext. 27 or at jp2youth@gmail.com.

CURSILLO WEEKENDS

Cursillo Weekends are planned at the Augustine Center in February and March. The Men=s Cursillo will be held February 23-26, and the Women=s Cursillo on March 8-11. The weekends begin at 7:00 p.m. Thursday and end approximately 5:00 p.m. Sunday. The purpose of the Cursillo Movement is to make Christian community possible in family, social and work situations. The Cursillo method takes a Christian beyond a passive belief in God to a daily interaction with God and His people. It helps one become more committed to Christ and provides a simple means to persevere and grow in holiness while building God’s kingdom on earth. If you would like more information or to register, contact Jim Cesario at 231.922.7396 for the Men’s Cursillo or Sindy Marie at 231.675.2792 for the Women’s Cursillo. For more information, log on to www.dioceseofgaylord.org and type “Cursillo” in the search box.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH RALLY

The 2012 Diocesan High School Youth Rally presents Sal Solo as our featured presenter. Sal is bringing with him the 2012 NCYC talent winner, Mathias Michael. Youth in grades 9-12 are encouraged to gather at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Gaylord on Saturday, March 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Sal and Michael as they lift our faith with fantastic music, lead us in prayer and challenge us to profess our faith using their dynamic approach to bring to life every word of the Creed and explains the basics of our Faith. Cost is $30 per participant. Registrations are due no later than March 9 and forms are available from youth ministers and on the diocesan website (www.dioceseofgaylord.org).

NORTHERN MICHIGAN CATHOLIC FOUNDATION

Sharing our gifts with those around us is truly a testament of our faith. Through the Northern Michigan Catholic Foundation (NMCF) you can leave a legacy gift that provides for the parish, school, Diocese of Gaylord, or particular diocesan ministry you designate - for perpetuity. Through the NMCF your gifts will help: educate future seminarians, provide for retired priests, feed the poor, educate our youth, and share our faith. Your gift to the NMCF is your legacy put into action for generations to come.

If you would like more information on the NMCF, or how to remember your parish, school, the Diocese of Gaylord or particular diocesan ministry in your estate plans through the NMCF, please contact Danielle Parish, NMCF executive director at 989-732-5147 or dparish@dioceseofgaylord.org.

For Use February 18 & 19 - 7th Sunday Ordinary Time - B
For Use February 25 & 26 – First Sunday of Lent - B