May 6, 2022
Dear Friends,
In this month of Mary, and with Mother’s Day this Sunday, may our Blessed Mother intercede for you and for all your intentions. In turn, may you, like Jesus who perfectly honored His Mother, find ways to honor her too as is her due as the holy Mother of God.
Vanessa Denha’s (Epiphany) interview with Fr. Alex about the Blessed Mother & the shrine will air on Sunday, May 8 at 4:00 pm on Ave Maria Radio 990 AM.
As many of you know, our entire premises is CLOSED until further notice—perhaps until mid-August. During the closure First Saturdays from May to August will be held at the St. Hugo of the Hills Parish Stone Chapel (May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6) from 10:00 am-12:30 pm. We will also hold the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 25) there (same hours). The schedule is the following: 10:00 am Confessions; 11:00 am Mass, followed by the Rosary and 15 minutes reflection on the Mysteries of the Rosary (as Our Lady of Fatima requested). We will have a simple May Crowning at tomorrow’s Mass.
Marian Apologetics is understanding, explaining and even defending Catholic doctrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Investing is this effort helps us better understand our Faith as a coherent whole and Mary’s God-given role in salvation history and especially in our times. These sessions will be held in St. Hugo’s parish hall from 10:00 am-11:30 am on the following Saturdays: May 14, 21, June 18, 25. Our textbook will be Beginning Apologetics 6: How to Explain and Defend Mary by Father Frank Chacon & Jim Burnham. We will have 30 copies available for $10 each. For more information, contact Fr. Alex: (313) 727-9784 or [email protected].
We need your support more than ever during the construction closure since normal means of income like Mass collections and votive candle offerings will not be possible. Construction costs are already rising, so please keep us in mind in your charitable giving. ALL of your donations go to the shrine and ministry—there is no overhead or taxes from the Archdiocese. Mass Intentions are especially helpful. They can be mailed in (use our mail-in envelopes), put in our white Mass Intentions envelopes (in the pews at First Saturdays) or even placed in our rectory mailbox. Don’t hesitate to contact me about this or anything else.
Please pray for our renovation—especially to St. Joseph the Worker (our spiritual “Site Supervisor”). The shrine will look amazing when it is done, and it is in the good hands of Curb Appeal—our construction company. Thank you!
To communicate with me, email me directly at [email protected] or call/text me at (313) 727-9784. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us and especially for all our mothers—living and deceased.
In Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM
Spiritual Director of Terra Sancta Ministries