Unleash the Gospel and the RCIA
 “….. we must ensure that our communities extend a warm welcome to everyone who walks through the door.” Do not think of the parish as “…the place for those who belong….but more as the place for those who do not belong but are taking their first steps on the journey toward God..”
“If a homeless person shows up at the parish, let us rejoice! If a teenager covered in tatoos and piercings walks in, let us be glad! Let us make our parishes places where everyone who attends Mass can also make friends, find mentors, and feel known, loved and supported.” Unleash the Gospel, Archbishop Vigneron.
There are all kinds of doors…
- doors of wood that lock out and need knocking on to gain entrance
- ears can be doors when we refuse to listen to another person, to hear their story
- our bodies can be doors that refuse others to pass us, keeping them behind, away from us
- our thoughts and feelings can be doors when we judge others by their appearance, their language, their skin and physical features
These doors can cause us not to recognize the Christ who walks among us…who presents himself in the person of the stranger, the one who is different.
As we continue to prepare those whom God is calling to initiation let us help them to open the doors of their hearts to Christ’s presence walking among us.
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RCIA
The Rite of Election
There is still space at all of the celebrations planned this year for the Rite of Election. If you have not registered yet this is the link to the form you need to use.
HOST PARISH
Each year I ask one of the parishes scheduled for a particular celebration to invite other members of their parish community to act as the Host Parish for that celebration. I ask the Host Parish to provide the following ministers:
- Lector
- Cross Bearer
- 2 Candle Bearers
- Incense Bearer
- 4 helpers to Set up the Cathedral and provide hospitality for arriving parish groups.
If your parish would be willing to be our Host Parish please let me know as soon as possible.
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For Pastors and Worship Commissions
Blessed Solanus Casey Relic
 Archbishop Vigneron invites each parish in the archdiocese to host the relic of Blessed Solanus Casey for veneration and prayer services with your parish community. The attached contains important information and a link to register to host the relic.
Also, a Blessing of the Sick service is celebrated every Sunday and Wednesday at 2 pm in the Saint Bonaventure Chapel of the Solanus Casey Center.
Mass Stipends
Particular law for Archdiocese of Detroit
- the offering for Mass intentions is $10
- a donor may give more than this amount, and, certainly, when someone cannot make the offering the priest should still accept the Mass intention (CIC, c. 945.2)
- a priest may offer multiple intention Masses, not more than twice a week, and only if the donor explicitly knows that his or her intention could be offered with others collectively
- when there are multiple intentions for a particular Mass, the priest may keep $10, and the remainder of the offering is given to the bishop.
- at any given time, a priest may only accept as many Mass intentions as he can satisfy in one year (CIC, c.534.2)
PRO-LIFE PRAYERS
On Tuesday, January 22, the dioceses of the USA will celebrate liturgies which commemorate the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.”
Mass texts may be chosen from:
- the Lectionary for Mass Supplement (nos. 947 A-947E)
- or from the Lectionary for Mass, Volume IV, the Mass “For Peace and Justice, “(nos. 887-891)
The Roman Missal provides orations in:
- Masses for Various Needs and Occasions “48.1 For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life”
- or “30. For the Preservation of Peace and Justice.”
9 Days for Life: Novena Prayers
From Monday, January 14th until Tuesday, January 22nd the faithful are invited to pray these novena prayers.
World Day for the Sick
February 11th, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, is also World Day for the Sick. When St. John Paul II instituted this day he said it was a: “…special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ who, by suffering , dying and rising achieved the salvation of humankind.” [Letter Instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May, 1992].
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Q&A
1. Is it proper for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to purify the Sacred Vessels?
NO. Purification of the Sacred Vessels is the responsibility of the priest and/or deacon. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may not assist in the purification of Sacred Vessels.
EMHC’s may consume any precious blood which remains in the cup after distribution of Holy Communion is over. Then they must place the cup on the altar or the credence table (covered with the purificator).
When EMHC’S who have distributed the precious body of Christ have completed their ministry they place the paten on the altar. They do not remove any of the precious body from the paten. That is the ministry of the priest and/or deacon.
The priest and/or the deacon purify the vessels at the altar before the silence after communion or at the credence table after people have left the church. This was clarified by Cardinal Arinze after he had consulted with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in 2006.
2. What does the Church require for the baptism of an adopted child?
The Archdiocesan policy is:
- The baptism should occur after the adoption is completed
- The parents should present the parish with a copy of the adoption papers
- After the adoption is completed the adopted parents have all of the rights and responsibilities of natural parents
- Baptism may be scheduled as soon as the adoption is complete
- When recording the baptism the following information should be recorded:
- Name of the adopted child
- Names of the adoptive parents
- Date and place of birth
- Godparents
- Place and date of baptism
- Name of the minister of baptism
Do not record the names of the birth parents. In the notation section write “adopted”.
Any certificate you issue for this person will not make mention of the fact of the adoption.
3. Are there particular guidelines for the celebration of multilingual Mass?
Yes. The USCCB and the FDLC collaborated to produce this set of guidelines. Click here for a copy.
4. When do we celebrate the Anointing of Catechumens?
Anointing of Catechumens with the oil of Catechumens that has been blessed by the Bishop is one of the Minor Rites. (See RCIA #79) The presider may be a priest or deacon. The anointing is done at a celebration of the Word during the period of the Catechumenate.
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Resources
 The Essentials of Christian Initiation: A six-week Virtual Training Course on the RCIA
Liturgy Training Publications is offering this course online for anyone interested in understanding the RCIA process of initiation. The course will provide a thorough introduction to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
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