Dear parishioners,

I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July holiday! ... even though it hasn't been that great of weather yet. O well! I want to share some of the good things God has been doing these past number of weeks.

We began a National Eucharistic Revival the weekend of June 18-19 with the Feast of Corpus Christi. This grass-roots effort seeks to re-ignite belief in and devotion to Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist. Please read and share this letter from Bishop John about it. Here's a picture from our Eucharistic Procession from St. John's to St. Joe's on June 19th:

The first year of revival culminates in a Diocesan Eucharistic Congress next June 9-10, 2023 at the Superior Dome. This will be a large gathering for all the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Upper Peninsula to express and enkindle our love for our Eucharistic Lord. It will include Masses, talks, Eucharistic Adoration, exhibits, and devotions Friday evening and all day Saturday. Visit revival.yoopercatholic.org to see our plans. It will be a family-friendly event with tracks for adults, teens, and children. Mark your calendars!

Thanks to Mike Schneck and the Knights of Columbus for directing our Community Bike Sale on June 18th. We found new homes for many bikes, and some people who never owned a bike were able to purchase one! Proceeds will support the charitable works of our Knights of Columbus council.

The week of June 20th we had another successful Totus Tuus and Give, Serve, Love mission week with our students! About 20 K-6 students came each day and were taught Scripture stories, Lives of the Saints, Rosary mysteries, and prayers by our missionaries Ethan, Lauren, Daniel, and Elena. And our 21 teens and chaperones completed 18 projects for people in need in our community. Teen participants were Zoe and Annabelle Stakvel, Ella and Aspen Brand, Patrick and Olivia Klumpp, Jake Johnson, Caleb Christesen, William Niemi, Johnny Erkilla, Iliana Gayan, Joey Lundholm, Ayden Valeski, Taylor and Madison Longtine. Chaperones were Art Gischia, Daniel and Nicole Knutson, Angela Johnson, Lisa Niemi, Mary Jo Connors, and Fr. Ryan. Thanks to Ali Prekker, Grace Theoret, Olivia Theut, and the Ladies of the Parish and Guild members who provided meals for the students each day. It was a great week!

We had the joy of celebrating two weddings the past two weekends. Congratulations to Teresa Pillifant and Matthew Handley who were married at St. Joseph parish on June 25th! They will be living around the Detroit area where both work. And congratulations to our Faith Formation coordinator Ali Prekker and Gabriel Ogle who were married at St. John's July 3rd! They will continue to be here in Ishpeming while Gabriel completes his degree at NMU. God’s blessings on them and their families as they've joined their lives in Christ!

Please pray for St. John’s parishioners Mary Kay Labo and Patricia Garrett, who died last week. Mary’s funeral was yesterday at St. John’s, and Patricia’s will be Friday at St. John’s at 11:00am. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them!

Newly-ordained Fr. Christian Flagstadt has begun his assignment here this past week as associate pastor. He and I have also now begun pastoral care of St. Augustine parish in Republic and Sacred Heart parish in Champion. Fr. Christian is from Flat Rock and grew up in Holy Family parish. I know you’ll appreciate his ministry. He’ll be in Republic and Champion for this coming weekend’s Masses, and will be in Ishpeming the following weekend. I look forward to his contribution to evangelization here in Western Marquette County. He can be reached at [email protected] or 906-486-6212 x.5.

We completed the fiscal year 2021-2022 at the end of June. Thank you for your continued financial support of the parishes! We’ll prepare and mail an annual report in August, to communicate the wonderful things the Lord has done for us and through us as the Church this past year!

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the coalition Reproductive Freedom for All is seeking signatures to put an amendment to the Michigan Constitution on the November ballot that would allow unlimited abortions. It’s important for everyone to know what this broad amendment would do, because it goes far beyond abortion. The proposed amendment is poorly worded. It sets no limits of age, and could apply to children as well as adults. I encourage you all to read an analysis at https://supportmiwomenandchildren.org/analysis-of-the-abortion-amendment.

The eleven Catholic Bishops in Michigan released the following statement: “We must remember life is and always will be a gift from our Creator; it cannot be given or taken by governmental structures, judges, or elected officials. We wish to make clear no woman should face pregnancy alone. With safe-delivery laws, adoption, pregnancy resource centers, and assistance from Catholic and other agencies, every pregnant woman should know there is a community of compassion and support waiting to help her and her unborn or infant child. We empathize with women who struggle with daily challenges that may affect their decision to carry their baby to term. The pro-life movement must redouble its efforts to ensure every woman has the support she needs throughout her pregnancy and beyond. We affirm the Church must prioritize this work, to meet the needs of mothers and children as well as offer the emotional support and love new mothers need. We also implore men to be respectful of women and responsible when they father a child. We are all called to walk with moms in need. We must remain vigilant against attempts to promote abortion as help for women, which in reality are attacks on human life itself. Let us pray for all pregnant women and continue to proclaim that human life is sacred from conception to natural death and at every point in between, and to commit ourselves to building a society grounded in that essential God-given right.”

We will continue to prioritize this work in Ishpeming. One excellent work is our local Care Clinic at St. John’s convent, which has seen an increase in clients and recently added a new mentor and receptionist. With more moms and dads utilizing our services, we are in need of baby wipes and diapers (sizes 2, 3, 4, and 5). These can be dropped off at either church, or at the Center (325 S. Pine St) during hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Noon-3:00pm and Wednesday 10:00am-Noon). The Center is also looking for a volunteer to clean the Center two hours/week. If interested in sharing this talent, please contact Wendy Pelto at 906-228-2273. Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

Now would be an excellent time for everyone to read or re-read Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical letter The Gospel of Life, which is still the definitive Magisterium document about our duty to promote the dignity and right to life of each person.

We’ve begun plans for our K-12 Faith Formation year starting in September. Our plan is to have K-6 grade sessions on Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00pm at St. John’s, and have 7-8 and 9-12 grade sessions on Sunday evenings from 7:00pm-8:30pm at St. Joe’s. If you want to serve as a catechist or team member, please contact Ali Ogle at [email protected] or 906-468-6212 x.4.

Bishop John Doerfler will be celebrating the Candidacy Mass for seminarians Mark Beukema and Drew Langton on Tuesday, August 9th at 3:00pm at St. John’s. All are welcome to attend this Mass, where the Bishop officially receives their intention to persevere with God’s grace to priestly ordination in four years. Thanks for your continued prayers for them!

Finally, here's a great teaching from Msgr. Charles Pope about practical principles for proclaiming the Kingdom of God from last Sunday's Gospel from Luke 10.

Peace,

Fr. Ryan