Category: News & Events

Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. These are the gifts of the Advent season.

The gifts you help share here in our
community, throughout the year, with your thoughtful stewardship.
Advent is a meaningful time to reflect on your generosity. One special way to give
is eGiving.
It’s easy to get started. Here are the ways to sign up:

  • Visit faith.direct/MI974 St. Mary- St. Charles;
  • Visit faith.direct/MI975 Sacred Heart;
  • Visit faith.direct/MI976 St. Clement; or
  • Call Faith Direct Customer Service at 866-507-8757.
    Thank you and may God bless your generosity.

Church Census / Parish Picture Directory

“Christmas Packages”

     By now you should have received your Christmas envelope in the mail. In addition to the Christmas card and greetings from me and the staff, there is a letter and what we call a “census” form. The reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem was because there was a great census being taken by the emperor. He wanted to know who his subjects were and where they lived or were from. Joseph had to go there as his family was from Bethlehem. This census taking was done a regular basis as its real reason was so taxes could be assessed to all the inhabitants of the land.  (Everything boils down to money, even in those days!)

     It has been a long time since a census was taken for our parishes. Therefore, this is the reason we are sending out the papers you received…not just to figure out how to get money though! Over the years things change. People move away, get married, have children, or maybe even decide to join another church, Catholic or otherwise. It is time to update what we have in paper files and put the information in a more usable electronic format. This is also a way to help save money when mailing things when many people now use email instead of U.S. mail. We also get folks who come for Sacraments or funerals who presume they are listed as “members” because they were under their parent’s name…even if they are now in their 30’s or even 60’s.

     What the parish staff and volunteers have been doing for many months is updating all our paper records and entering the data into a “new” program. Much of this work was done by Erin, our new business manager, and her “crew.” Thanks to them we were now able to print out what we have on everyone who we have listed as parishioners. Nonetheless, when converting the data, we did have, it was noticeable how much information was missing. The Combined Parish Council, whose focus is on the future of the parishes, discussed having a new pictorial directory made since it has been a time since the last ones. This one will not be done by a “company” who was in it to sell portraits. Instead with today’s capabilities, we will be making our own and taking our own pictures for the book.

Please look over the forms you received and make changes, additions to missing data, or deleting what is no longer up to date. I apologize up front for any mistakes that you may find or even where we may have missed the death of someone, especially if there were no services in any of our churches. Starting in February and through the summer, there will be people at weekend Masses (on a rotating basis) to take photos. When you normally come to Mass you will either come a little early or stay after, turn in your form, and have a photo taken. No making appointments, no meeting with anyone to sell you anything, just turn in your updated form and be included in the new directory. Our goal of course is to have 100% participation and to reach that goal we will even be going to those who are homebound or in an institution and cannot come to the church.

     If it is easier, you may complete the form and turn it in at the office too and then not have to hang on to it until you have your picture taken. If at any time you have questions, please call the office and someone will try to assist you. (231) 627-2105. One important factor to keep in mind is that when anyone turns 18, they are technically responsible for joining the parish themselves, or at least as soon as they finish higher education and move out of their parents’ home. Everyone over the age of 25 should be on file as a member themselves. A blank registration form can be found at https://cprparishes.org/parish-registration-form/      Now you know the connection between our sending out these census forms during the Christmas season. We are doing the same thing that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The one main difference though is that I hope no one has a baby waiting in line to turn in their forms or to have their picture taken! Thank you for your participation and cooperation in this major project for our parishes.

How are you “Preparing” during Advent?

Advent is a time of “joyful” anticipation. What could be more joyful than approaching the altar of the Lord at Christmas Mass free from sin? It used to be common to have a Communal Penance Service during Advent and Lent, however, it is difficult to gather enough priests together to adequately meet the needs of a large group during Advent, another casualty of the priest shortage? But have no fear. More times for Penance have been added to the schedule these next few weeks, so please take part in the Sacrament of Penance at one of the following times:

Saturday, 12/16:                 3:00pm-4:15pm at Sacred Heart, before Mass

Sunday, 12/17:                   8:15am-8:45am before the 9am Mass at St. Mary/St. Charles &

                                           After the 11:00am Mass at St. Clement

Tuesday, 12/19:                 5:30pm before the 6:00pm Mass at St. Mary/St. Charles

Updated Mass Schedule for Christmas Weekend

4th Sunday of Advent =
Saturday, December 23 is Mass at Sacred Heart @ 4:30 p.m.
and Sunday, December 24 is Mass at St. Mary-St. Charles @ 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 24, 2023 – Nativity of the Lord =
Mass at St. Mary/St. Charles @ 4:00 p.m.
Mass at Sacred Heart @ 4:30 p.m.
Mass at St. Clement @ 6:00 p.m.
Mass at St. Mary/St. Charles @ 8:00 p.m.

Monday, December 25, Christmas Day is
Mass at St. Mary/St. Charles @ 9:00 a.m.

Upcoming Training / Refresher Workshops

UPCOMING TRAINING:

Altar Servers:    Friday, 9/15        After Mass for students at Bishop Baraga Catholic School

                                                Saturday, 9/30   10am at St. Mary/St. Charles church

                                                Saturday, 10/14 After the 4:30 Mass at Sacred Heart Church

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

                                                Saturday, 9/23   10am at St. Mary/St. Charles in Cheboygan

                                                Monday, 10/2    6pm at Sacred Heart Church

                                             Sunday, 10/15    After Mass at St. Clement in Pellston

Saturday, 10/28   6pm at Sacred Heart Church

Ushers:                           Saturday, 9/23   12 Noon at St. Mary/St. Charles in Cheboygan

                                                Sunday, 10/1      After Mass at St. Clement in Pellston

Tuesday, 10/3    10am at St. Mary/St. Charles Church

                                                Saturday, 10/14 2pm at Sacred Heart Church

Music Ministry:           Anytime by speaking with either Linda or David after any of the Masses

 Readers:                        Friday, 9/29        5pm at St. Mary/St. Charles Church

                                                Saturday, 9/30   3pm at Sacred Heart Church

                                                Sunday, 10/1      After Mass at St. Clement in Pellston

 Sacristans:                      Need to attend at the church you will be serving

                                                Sacred Heart Church – Saturday, 9/30 after the 4:30pm Mass

                                                St. Mary/St. Charles – Sunday, 10/1 at 8am, before the 9am Mass

                                                St. Clement – See Father Duane to set a time after a Sunday Mass

 Lay Leader of Prayer (A new ministry – see Fr. Duane if interested, otherwise, he has already talked to you.)

Training I – Tuesday, 10/17 at 6:30-8:30pm at St. Mary/St. Charles

 Session II – Saturday, 10/21 from 9:30am -approximately 3:30pm at St. Mary/St. Charles

All Ministers are invited then to attend the Liturgical Minister Day of Prayer at St. Mary Cathedral and the Pastoral Center on Saturday, November 4. See the diocesan website for more information or it will be also given out at the training session you attend.

Thank you for considering this call to serve God and his faithful through your ministry to the Church and our parishes.

If you have questions, please call the office at (231) 627-2105.