Baptized in Christ

The following children were baptized last Sunday at the 10 a.m. Mass:
- Skylar Alyssa Heaney, daughter of Edward and Sheri (Matesa) Heaney

- Isabella Grace Champion, daughter of Branden Champion and Shelby Green

Congratulations and welcome into our community of faith.

Pastoral Council Update

Congratulations to the newest members of the parish pastoral council: Loretta Sovel, Nanette Fabrey, Carol Tjerlund, and youth representative, Nicole Marshall. Their names were drawn from a hat by Father Gerry on Pentecost Sunday. Thank you to everyone who accepted nomination for council, and a special thank you to outgoing council members Larry Fabrey and Mary Montgomery for their work and dedication.

Council is taking a break for the summer. Regular meetings will resume in September.

2013 Catholic Services Appeal

Our target goal for the Catholic Services Appeal, set by the Archdiocese of Detroit is $22,627. Please stop in the gathering area and pick up your pledge card for this year’s CSA. If you have already pledged, we thank you. If you still need to make a pledge or make a one-time donation, you may do so at the parish office or you can simply drop your donation in the collection basket. Please write CSA on the envelope.

Once our pledge obligations are paid up, any money collected over our target comes back to our parish and is not assessed by the Archdiocese. All contributions are needed and greatly appreciated.

May is the month of our Blessed Mother. Come pray the Rosary every Monday during May with the 39ers at 11 a.m. in the church. Everyone is welcome.

Attention Graduates!

High school and college graduates please put this date on your calendars- Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 10 a.m. Mass. This day you will be honored for your accomplishments and also your plans for your future. Please see Chris Frizzell after Mass or call 734-722-1343 to give her your information.

Spirituality Sharing

The Education Commission, along with the Book Discussion Group, will be sponsoring a Spirituality Sharing Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. Please join us for a spontaneous sharing of prayers, poems, stories or whatever you would like to share spiritually. You may even just sit and listen if you like. For more information, contact Kathy Lancaster at 734-722-1343. Hope to see you there. Everyone is welcome!

Did You Know?
We need your help! We are looking for your help on suggestions for generating income to sustain the parish. If you have any ideas, please drop them by the parish office or in the Finance Council drop box in the social hall adjacent to the St. Vincent de Paul office. The Finance Council members are Betty Booher, Charley Hallman, Kathy Hansen, Mickey Hansen, Tom Kyle and Judy Shackelford.

Thank you, Finance Council

Charity Poker Update

Our total earnings for the first half of this year are $23,051, plus $100+ in tips. Our hearts and prayers go out to Brian Woehlke’s family, and to George and Mary Marvaso’s family. We pray that God will give them strength and peace.

Our participation in Charity Poker will go on the second half of this year. I have been told the Electric Stick is going to rent a temporary facility; they hope to be up and running by July 4^th. We continue to be scheduled for sessions in August, September, October, and November. Sign-up sheets will be in the gathering area towards the end of June/beginning of July. We hope to earn as much as we did the first half.

Thank you so much for your help and support, and especially for your prayers. They are making a difference and are very much appreciated.

God Bless You!

Chris Dixon

Garden Club

We would like to start an “unofficial” Garden Club. There will be no regular meetings and no regular times for us to work together. We’re looking for volunteers who would be willing to come water and weed during the week at times that are convenient for them. Please call me if you are interested.
I will keep a schedule of who is volunteering and when so that we can spread the help out over the season. I’m thinking we won’t need more than one person on any given day.
You will not be asked to help with cleaning at the beginning or end of the season (unless you want to); we have a crew to handle the more time-consuming tasks.
Thank you,
Chris Dixon

More Testimonials Needed

Ss. Simon and Jude is important to us all. We’d like to hear what it means to you! Share your story with us. Please send it to stssimonandjude@gmail.com or drop it off in the parish office. Thank you!

Ladies, Can We Please Have Your Attention?
Lipstick on your collar! OOPS! Lipstick on our purificators! Purificators are the small linen cloths that are used to wipe the wine cups after drinking of the blood of Christ. It is very difficult to remove lipstick from the purificators. So please, please, BLOT, BLOT your lips if wearing lipstick. This will help us save not only time, but also money on having to purchase new purificators. Thank you for your help!

Going on Vacation? Or a Stay-cation?

Wherever you go this Summer we (your Worship Commission) would like you to take our Vacation Prayer/Bookmark with you. Pick one up after church today. Pray for God’s protection and send your church family a picture postcard of your vacation—we provide the stamp! We will display the postcards for all to enjoy. It’s simple, it’s easy and it keeps us connected until you arrive back home.
Here’s the prayer—

May God in heaven protect you on the way…and may His angels accompany you.

Lord, be our guide and our protector on the journey we are about to take. Watch over us. Protect us. Keep us free from harm to body and soul. Lord, support us when we are tired. Help us be patient in any trouble. Keep us always mindful of Your presence and love. Amen.

Kroger Fundraiser Re-enrollment

As a reminder, anyone who has a Kroger Plus Card linked to our church organization MUST re-enroll every April to keep the funds coming to our church.
It’s easy to re-enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards—visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com, click on Michigan and click on “Enroll.” Ss. Simon and Jude’s reward number is 82957. If you don’t have an account you can create one in the new customer section. Follow the steps for setting up your e-mail account, include your Kroger Plus card and then enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Thank you for your participation.

Funeral Luncheon Help

Last fall at our “Get To Know Us Better” Fair, a sheet was available to sign up for funeral luncheon help. That sheet has been misplaced. Our apologies to those parishioners who offered their time and talents and have not as yet been contacted. We still need people to help set-up, serve, and clean up at the lunches. We have three separate committees, so you would not be needed at all funerals. We also need people who can bring cakes and Jell-O for the lunches. If you can be of any help, please contact Kathy Lancaster.

Eucharistic Ministers Needed

Are You A Registered Parishioner?
Registration is the official way we join a parish community. Many people think that because they attend a particular parish they automatically belong. At times young adults who have moved away for years think they are still signed up under their parents. But membership requires signing up—formally enrolling yourself in the parish. Registration is a commitment to a community, a way to be included in the religious, social, and ministerial activities of your parish. Your registration affects the parish in many ways.

Registration shows you belong. It is also necessary for certain benefits, like scheduling sacraments, obtaining sponsor certificates, and getting donation statements for taxes. Most importantly, it lets the parish count on you, to call on you to assist in its mission. Registering in your parish is a statement of faith and confidence in the life and work of your parish.

Registering is a simple process. Parish membership forms are available in the gathering area on the table or downloadable from our website. Click here to view the form. Return the completed form to the parish office during office hours or slide it in the window when you come to Mass on the weekend.

Already a parishioner?
It is important to keep our records current. If you have a change of address or phone number, please call the parish office with that information. If you will be moving from our parish, please let us know as well.

Say Cheese!

At Ss. Simon and Jude, we do many, many activities around the holidays. With this comes publicity. With our social media strategy and continued use of photos and videos to promote our parish, we will be heavily promoting again this year. This will include taking pictures and making videos and posting them on our website and social media sites to gain interest among our followers. The photos and videos will ONLY be used as promotional tools. Please note that if you wish NOT to appear in photos or videos, you must inform Kathy Hansen. Thank you.

Kroger and Meijer Rewards

It’s still not too late to renew or sign up for the Kroger and Meijer rewards programs to help our church. Joining is easy!

For Kroger, visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com and Ss. Simon and Jude’s reward number is 82957.

If you regularly shop at Meijer and have a Meijer credit card or a Meijer 1 card, you can add Meijer Community Rewards to your account. Visit www.meijer.com/rewards and Ss. Simon and Jude’s organization number is 455920. Use it for Meijer gas, food, clothing toys, housewares, jewelry, hardware, garden and more!

We have made money just from shopping that we would normally be doing. Thanks for your continued support.