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March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday

PARISH DIRECTORY Bishop Francis Kalabat Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit

Fr. Pierre Konja Administrator

Fr. Patrick Setto Associate Pastor

Fr. Emanuel Rayes Retired in residence

Linda Arabo Office Administrator

Nancy Beba Pastoral Associate

Office Hours Monday - Friday

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tel: 248-356-0565 Fax: 248-356-5235

E-mail:

Ourladyofchaldeans@gmail.com

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Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church

ONLINE GIVING

Mother of God Parish offers online giving a web based electronic contribution application that is safe and secure. you can manage contributions online or continue having your offering envelopes mailed to you. To sign up for online giving please visit our website at

www.OurLadyOfChaldeans.Com

Mother of God Church | 25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033 |

FR. PIERRE’S PALM

SUNDAY MESSAGE TO

THE PARISH

Palm Sunday opens Holy Week for us. As we pray with all the graces of Holy Week: the Last Supper, the death of Jesus, and the glorious resurrection, it is also the busiest time for the Church. As I have been praying with the long hours preparing for the week, one prayer and song that I have been praying with a lot has been how Jesus suffered for our salvation, but he also suffers with us in our lives, not just this week. Rend Collective is a Christian band that has a song called "Weep with Me." I would encourage you all to listen to it and pray with it.

(Continued on page 2)

سر األفخارستيا

وفي األستعمال األول، يدل هذا المفهوم . كلمة يونانية تعني الشكر في المعنى الحصري والحرفي

أما في المعنى الحديث، فإنها . على فعل الشكر، والتعبير عن عرفان الجميل عند من قبل عطية ثمينة

بصفته تحت الشكل المنظور للخبز والخمر، إذن هو سر يحضر فيه المسيح ” جسد السيد“تعني

حقيقة بجسده ودمه، تحت شكلي الخبز والخمر، ليقرب نفسه لآلب السماوي، بصورة غير دموية،

.ويهب المؤمنين نفسه قوتا لنفوسهم

(. 22/11، مر22/11، اكو 11/22لو)إن الحقيقة التي ندعوها أفخارستيا تتأصل في العشاء السري

هنا وبكلمات المسيح بالذات، يعطي يسوع جسده مأكال، ودمه مشربا تحت أشكال الخبز والخمر

. إن الجسد، حسب األستعمال السامي، يعني الحقيقة الجسدية الملموسة في شخص يسوع. الملموسين

ومعنى الدم (. 21-2//1أش )وانطالقا من الكلمة عن الخبز، إن يسوع يدعى عبد يهوة األسمى

(. 22/4؛21/4أش )يعطى بصورة أدق، هو الدم الذي اراقه يسوع، ليؤسس عهدا جديدا مع هللا

.ويسوع هو في آن واحد معتبر كمستوجب الموت، موت الدم

تعمل حقا افخارستيا، أي أنها تقدم فعل ( وكل المؤمنين)عندما نعمل األفخارستيا ونقبلها، فإن الكنيسة

عرفان جميل وشكر، كنسيا مميزا وأعلى ما يكون من األفعال، بمعنى أنه ال يمكن ذلك إال بالكنيسة،

فإذا كان المسيح حقا يقربها وبقبولها له حتما . إنما هو مفروض عليها أساسا كشريعتها األساسية

كطعام، فإنها تعطي وتكمل جوابا شكريا لتقدمة النعمة اإللهية التي هي أقوى ما يكون، ألن حياة

.يسوع المحبوب منذ األبد والمقبول نهائيا في الجسد والدم تعبر عنها التعبير الصادق

(1التتمة في الصفحة )

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THE GOOD NEWS

(Continued from page 1)

We are constantly called to renew our dedication to Jesus. To constantly enter into the mystery of the passion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Throughout our lives, even each day, we can relate to different parts of that Pascal mystery. That is the incredible beautify of Jesus and the Church, we can continually relate to the living God. What passion do you need to unite to Jesus? What death or mourning do you need to unite to Jesus? What glory and resurrection do you need to unite to Jesus? Where does Jesus want to weep and rise with you? Have a blessed Holy Week. Be transformed by the living God. Fr. Pierre Konja

Hosanna to the Son of David!

(2التتمة من الصفحة (

نعمة ال إن نتيجة األفخارستيا ليس لنا أن نصورها كنتيجة مجرد فردية تتأتى في كل مؤمن وبها كل واحد يشترك شخصيا في حياة يسوع المسيح ويقبل

أي محورها المسيح في المعنى الحصري، حياة تمثل حياة المسيح بالمحبة والطاعة والعرفان تجاه اآلب بالغفران )لتحقيق هذه الشركة في حياة مسيحية

في األفخارستيا إن نعمة اإلرادة اإللهية الخالصية الشاملة والتي ال يعود عنها هللا، هي حاضرة (: اجتماعية)هذه النتيجة هي قبل كل شيء كنسية (. والصبر

عالمة ال تعني النعمة واإلرادة اإللهية ( الكنيسة)في هذا العالم، ملموسة ومنظورة، فإن األفخارستيا هي التي تجعل من جماعة المؤمنين المنظورة

.إن سر األفخارستيا وسرية الكنيسة هما في ارتباط وثيق جدا . الخالصية الممكنة فحسب، بل هي الحقيقة الملموسة والدائمة لهذه النعمة ولهذا الخالص

في الليلة التي أسلم فيها، ليلة : )يقول المجمع الفاتيكاني الثاني. األفخارستيا في قلب الكنيسة والمسيحية، بها يحضر المسيح شخصيا لشعبه في السر الفصحي

ته العشاء األخير، وضع مخلصنا ذبيحة جسده ودمه األفخارستيا، كي تستمر ذبيحة الصليب عبر األجيال حتى مجيئه، وكي يستودع كنيسته ذكرى مو

.47.ل( وقيامته سر الحب وعالمة الوحدة، ورباط المحبة بوليمة فصحية حيث يؤكل المسيح فتمتلئ النفس نعمة وتعطى عربون المجد اآلتي

نا ببعضن كأبناء بعضفلما كان المسيح هو قلب الحياة الكنسية والمسيحية، إذ إنه، بتجسده وعمله الفدائي شفانا ودعنا إلى األشتراك في حياة جديدة، تربطنا

لهذا السبب، فإن . هللا معدين لألشتراك في حياة الثالوث، أصبحت األفخارستيا هي محور الحياة المسيحية، فيها يعطينا ذاته شخصيا، ونستولي عليه شخصيا

فالقربان المقدس يحوي كل خير الكنيسة الروحي، . ما تبقى من األسرار وكل الخدم الكنيسة وأعمال الرسالة، له صلة وثيقة مع القربان المقدس، وإليه يتجه“

أن يقربوا لى أي إن المسيح هو فصحنا، وهو الخبز الحي، وهو الذي يهب الحياة للبشر بواسطة جسده الحي والمحي بالروح القدس، داعيا وحامال إياهم إ

”. باالتحاد معه ذواتهم وأعمالهم والخليقة كلها

ستيا كما يقول خارإن النعمة التي وهبت في العماد، وتقوت في التثبيت، موجهة إلى االتحاد بالمسيح القرباني واالشتراك في القداس، ذبيحة الخالص، واألف

أما سر الكهنوت، فهو موجه إلى تقدمة . فهي تكمل مفاعيل الشفاء الكائنة في سري التوبة ومسحة المرضى”. دواء الخلود: “القديس أغناطيوس األنطاكي

..الذبيحة القربانية، وأما سر الزواج فإنه يرمز إلى األتحاد القائم بين المسيح والكنيسة بفضل األفخارستيا

فإنها تدخلنا في سر الفداء كله، وتسلمنا كافة كنوزه، إذ هي تحقق حضور المسيح المائت، والقائم . ”سر األسرار“من هنا يصح القول إن األفخارستيا هي

كذلك هي أيضا ينبوع وقمة ومحور سائر ( 1//1، م أ ر 22ك)” ينبوع كل حياة مسيحية وقمتها ومحورها“وكما أن األفخارستيا هي . من الموت ألجلنا

التسبيح، الشكر، : االحتفاالت السرية والطقسية، بحيث إن هذه تفصل كنوز القربان الالمتناهية وتجزؤها، كما وهي تمديد لغايات الذبيحة وتوسع فيها

.التقدمة، الذبيحة، المطلب، الغفران

المطران شليمون وردوني

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THE GOOD NEWS

Pastoral Associate Job Opening at Mother of God Church

The pastoral associate will have a strong focus on parish operations, fundraising, ministries and

parish public relations. This person will collaborate closely with the pastor, under his supervision

and with other members of parish staff. This is an ideal position for a professional who wants to

serve Jesus and the parish, and is looking to make a positive impact. This person must be highly

organized, self-motivated, willing to work in a fast-paced environment, and comfortable

communicating with various groups and organizations.

Areas of Focus

Operations:

Build and maintain relationships with members of other parishes within the Eparchy.

Coordinate and manage all daily parish activities and programs.

Organize, coordinate, and manage all major parish fundraisers including: Golf Outing, Mother/Daughter

fashion show, Christmas dinner/concert. Christmas and Palm Sunday breakfasts, Halloween party.

Responsible for weekly parish bulletin, advertisement, updating parish website, and all social media.

Assist and attend to the needs of other parish ministries and projects.

Candidate Requirements:

Disciple of Jesus.

Proficient in English and Arabic (Chaldean is a plus).

Possess great people skills and ability to work with others.

Flexible hours (evenings and weekends)

Organized and detail oriented.

Have project management skills, and is able to make decisions and assume responsibility.

Proficient in Microsoft office.

Familiar with social media outlets.

Exercise confidentiality.

Able to think creatively about a variety of challenges and apply his/her organizational skills accordingly.

If interested please send your resume to ourladyofchaldeans@gmail.com or contact the church office and

speak to Fr. Pierre Konja.

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THE GOOD NEWS

Why Do We Complicate Things? Sixth Week of Lent

- Matthew Kelly

So if one of the great obstacles of living an authentic life—of becoming more perfectly yourself—is

just the sheer way we complicate things, I do think it's important for us to ask ourselves, why do we

complicate things? Why do we complicate our lives? Why do we complicate situations? Why do we

complicate projects at work? Why do we complicate things?

The answer is because we lack clarity. We lack clarity of purpose.

If you ask most people, “What is the meaning of life? What are you here for?” most people don't

know. They can't articulate it, or they're not clear about it, or whatever else. But I think the central

concept that God has this incredible dream, he wants you to become the-best-version-of-yourself, and

he wants you to do that by growing in virtue and living a holy life . . . Once you have that central

theme, a lot of other things fall into place because it gives purpose. It gives purpose. And from pur-

pose, comes clarity. And clarity is a very unique form of liberation.

And so, why do we complicate stuff? We complicate stuff because we're not clear about who we are,

and what we're here for, and what matters most, and what matters least. God wants to give you that

clarity, because that's what love does. Love rearranges our priorities. God wants to rearrange our pri-

orities because he loves us more than we can even begin to fathom. God wants to put our lives in or-

der because he wants us to experience that lasting happiness in a changing world that we all yearn for

even more than we can fathom.

When's the last time you really took making daily prayer a priority in your life? When's the last time

you really decided to make spiritual growth the number one priority of your life? And, what do you

think would happen if you did? Because, I tell you, you give that a try, and you're going to have joy

far beyond you ever thought was imaginable.

FOCUS: Getting clear about what we want is critical to simplifying our lives.

ACT: Get clear about who you are and who you are not, about what you do and what you don’t do. Ask the

question, “What am I here for?”

PRAY: God, grant me courage and clarity as I take on the challenges of the inner life.

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PART ONE THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

SECTION TWO THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

CHAPTER THREE I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

ARTICLE 9 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"

Paragraph 4. CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE

II. THE LAY FAITHFUL

I. COMMUNION IN SPIRITUAL GOODS

949 In the primitive community of Jerusalem, the

disciples "devoted themselves to the apostles'

teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the

bread and the prayers."480

Communion in the faith. the faith of the faithful

is the faith of the Church, received from the

apostles. Faith is a treasure of life which is

enriched by being shared.

950 Communion of the sacraments. "The fruit of

all the sacraments belongs to all the faithful. All

the sacraments are sacred links uniting the

faithful with one another and binding them to

Jesus Christ, and above all Baptism, the gate by

which we enter into the Church. the communion

of saints must be understood as the communion

of the sacraments.... the name 'communion' can

be applied to all of them, for they unite us to

God.... But this name is better suited to the

Eucharist than to any

other, because it is

primarily the Eucharist

that brings this

communion about."481

951 Communion of

charisms. Within the

communion of the

Church, the Holy Spirit

"distributes special

graces among the

faithful of every rank"

for the building up of

the Church.482 Now, "to each is given the

manifestation of the Spirit for the common

good."483

952 "They had everything in

common."484 "Everything the true Christian has is

to be regarded as a good possessed in common

with everyone else. All Christians should be

ready and eager to come to the help of the needy

. . . and of their neighbors in want."485 A Christian

is a steward of the Lord's goods.486

953 Communion in charity. In the sanctorum

communio, "None of us lives to himself, and

none of us dies to himself."487 "If one member

suffers, all suffer together; if one member is

honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the

body of Christ and individually members of

it."488 "Charity does not insist on its own

way."489 In this solidarity with all men, living or

dead, which is founded on the communion of

saints, the least of our acts done in charity

redounds to the profit of all. Every sin harms this

communion.

THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

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THE GOOD NEWS

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LITURGICAL SCHEDULE

Saturday Vigil Mass 4:00 PM English

Sunday Masses 8:30 AM Arabic/عربي

10:00 AM English 11:30 AM Morning Prayer

12:00 PM Chaldean/سورث

7:00 PM English

Weekday Masses 8:00 AM English at ECRC

9:30 AM Morning Prayer

10:00 AM Chaldean/سورث

Wednesday

5:00 PM Adoration 6:00 PM English Mass

Confession

5-6 pm Wednesday 6-7 pm Sunday

(or by appointment)

PARISH SCHEDULE AND WEEKLY INFORMATION

BAPTISM: We celebrate Baptism at 2:00 pm on

the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Please call the parish office at least two weeks in advance to see if a date is available.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Please call the parish office to make arrangements for Anointing or to receive the Eucharist.

MARRIAGE: Please schedule at least six months before you plan to be married and before you make arrangements for the reception, please call the parish office to make an appointment with the priest to begin the necessary preparations.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES First and third Wednesday of every even month from 7:30 - 9:30 pm.

MARRIAGE CLASSES First, second and third Thursday of every odd month from 8:00 - 10:00 pm.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR CHALDEAN PARISHES

SUNDAY HOMILIES BY DOWNLOADING PODCASTS

APP ON YOUR PHONES AND SUBSCRIBING TO

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN DIOCESE

FINANCIAL STATUS

Sunday Goal: $7,000

Sunday Collection (March 18): $5,536

Over/(Under): ($1,464)

Monthly Online Donation Goal: $4,000

Monthly Online Collection (January): $5,283

Over/Under: $1,283

*Sign up for online donation at

www.OurLadyOfChaldeans.Com

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Lent program Burning Hearts Lives of the Saints continues every Wednesday with

veneration of the saints relics, at 7pm at the church hall.

Blessing of the Holy Oils mass (Chrism Mass) with Bishop Francis and all priests will be on

Tuesday, March 27 at 11:00 am.

There will be a second collection for our Chaldean seminarians during all Easter masses.

There will be a special blessing for all the couples who got married in 2017 on Sunday,

April 8 during the 10:00am mass.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce” Proverbs 3:9

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