The SPA Weekly
Your Latest News From St. Paul the Apostle Parish
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 30, 2022
Links to: YouTube Channel / Bulletin / Previous newsletters
What's Happening in the Parish
Parish Farewell to Michael Miller
Parish Mission Night - Sign up Here for Wednesday Night Only
Women's Advent Gathering - Sign up Here
Safety Updates
All Souls' Mass
Baptism Prep
Ukraine Families in Need
Mom's Night Out
JESUS, SAVIOR OF ALL NATIONS
Earlier this month we began singing a new hymn, written for the three-year reflection on the Eucharist being observed in the U.S. The text, penned by Doug Taylor-Weiss, takes its imagery from three liturgical traditions.
Jesus, Savior of all nations, Lord and Healer of our souls,
make our mouths thy silent stations trembling at thy burning coals.
When we receive thou takest us to greet thee face to face,
not as Judas kissed but as the thief thou gavest paradise and grace.
The first stanza recalls the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom used in Eastern Catholic churches. It prepares communicants to receive the sacred mysteries by contrasting the treacherous kiss of Judas to the humble plea of the thief on the cross who says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Both figures speak intimately with Jesus, but only the thief has that contrition and humility that properly recognizes the Lord. He receives the gift of paradise. This stanza also uses another image dear to Eastern Christians, comparing the reception of Holy Communion to the burning coals that were touched to the Prophet Isaiah’s lips. Our mouths, so quick to utter complaints and curses, might fast not only from food but from extraneous chatter as we reverently silence ourselves before this cleansing fire.
We weigh not our merits for thee; our poor roof cannot contain
all the love thou grantest sorely flowing from thy wounded vein.
Yet say the word and bid us take then wash us through thy Blood;
clean our bodies by thy Body from which rushed that sweet and precious flood.
The Roman Canon concludes with the plea that God not “weigh our merits” but rather pardon our sins. The second stanza proceeds to the confession used in the Latin rite of that official who was not worthy that Jesus should come under his roof. “Only say the word,” he asks. Thomas Aquinas notes that the Body and Blood of Christ have the power not just to wash our souls but even to cleanse our bodies.
Not presuming what thou must do at thy table, gracious Lord,
we come with the woman shunned who begged for crumbs and left restored.
This food true Flesh, this drink true Blood, we long to truly live;
risen and ascended Victor, in thy Body thou all life dost give.
Early English Protestants separated from Rome without altering much Catholic doctrine. Thus, Ordinariate churches have been able to retain a “Prayer of Humble Access” to Holy Communion from the English prayer-book tradition. As in the first two stanzas, a story from the Gospels complements our approach to the Eucharist. Here it is the woman who, after being turned back by Jesus, cries, “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Christ said, “My flesh is true food and my blood true drink.” Here, in light of the recent loss of faith in the Eucharistic presence of Christ, the hymn rephrases his saying: “This food is true Flesh; this drink is true Blood.”
The hymn’s opening line reflects the fact that two and perhaps three of these Gospel models of humility are Gentiles. Christ truly gives his flesh, not just for insiders, but for the life of the world.
Door Knocking for Proposal 3
By Rummana Ryan
Many of you have heard about Proposal Three and the dangers if it passes, so I want to challenge you all to come door knocking to stop this proposal from passing. My name is Rummana Ryan, and I have been doing door knocking for Proposal 3 with Protect Life Michigan (which is part of Citizens to Protect Michigan Women and Children) for a while now. At first, as some of you may be, I was terrified. The thought of going up to strangers’ doors and talking to them about Proposal Three was daunting. However, with God’s help and the encouragement of other door knockers I was able to do it. I signed up online for my first shift. I was then contacted by one of the neighborhood team leaders about the details for the shift and how to prepare for it. On the day of my shift, I was trained and then I shadowed a more experienced person for a few doors prior to door knocking on my own. Most of the people I encountered as I door knocked were friendly and courteous, even those that disagreed with me about the proposal. Some people I encountered, especially in the early days of door knocking, knew nothing about the proposal and all the ways it would harm women and the unborn. Many people have thanked me for educating them on the amendment and either agreed to vote no or said they would look into it more.
Safety is also a big concern I had with door knocking, but I assure you Protect Life has measures in place to ensure you do not get hurt. We avoid houses with no trespassing signs, gated houses and houses that are far back from the road. We walk away if someone refuses to talk to us. Furthermore, we use an app called i360 which contains the script we use to talk to the targeted voters for that household. This app is only sending us to voters who are more likely to be persuadable, so we are not talking to those who are adamant supporters of Proposal 3. Finally, we stay in groups of two to three (we knock doors alone once you are trained, but you are close to others). All these measures have made me feel incredibly comfortable with door knocking.
There are a number of ways to become involved. Please contact Rebecca Punches, the leader in the Grand Rapids by phone (989) 370-4735. You may also sign up here. There are people going out every day of the week in three hour shifts until November 5th, so there are lots of different times available. On November 6th-8th, we will be calling voters to encourage them to go out to vote, so you can also get involved with this effort. Saturdays and Sundays will be our biggest days to canvas as we approach the election. Breakfast and lunch is provided on Saturdays. Please pray about how you can get involved. With God’s help and our efforts, we will be able to defeat this proposal, but we need all the volunteers we can get! Thank you for taking the time to consider.
Safety Updates
Thank you to all who have attended our two-part Safety Training, led by Kent County Sheriff’s Department! Both sessions were very informative and well attended, and we appreciate your commitment to helping to ensure a continued safe environment for our parish. Using information from that training, we will be creating and then implementing updated safety and security procedures.
Initially, we will be creating a Safety and Security Committee. We are looking for parishioners to lead and serve on this committee. Please contact Meghan Brennan at the parish office if you are interested.
Please stay tuned for future information!
Thanksgiving Food Baskets
The Thanksgiving Food Basket drive has been a tradition at our church for many years with parishioners generously remembering those in need during the holiday season. Plans are now getting underway for this year’s drive! Paper grocery bags, with a list of needed items attached to it, will be distributed in the narthex after all Masses on the weekend of November 5/6. Please fill a bag with some, or all, of the suggested items and return the filled bag to church on the weekend of November 12/13 or bring it to the Parish Office during the week.
To help deliver the “baskets” on Sunday, November 20 after 9 am Mass, please email Mary Brady at marybrady13@gmail.com.
Ukrainian Families in Need
We are partnering with Fr. Roman at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church to provide items to help furnish housing for Ukrainian families coming to the Grand Rapids area. View the wish list they have provided below. Please select to have it shipped to St. Paul and we will arrange to deliver the items to Fr. Roman.
Click here for the Amazon Wish List.
Items can be shipped directly to the parish at
2750 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
More information on their fundraising efforts can be found here.
If you have questions, please contact the parish office for assistance.
All Souls Mass with Candlelight Memorial
Wednesday, November 2 at 6:30 pm
November is the month the Church asks us to remember, in a special way, those who have died believing in Jesus Christ. On November 2 we will celebrate the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls).
During Mass we will remember all parishioners who have entered eternal life with a candlelight memorial. Family members and friends will be invited to bring up a candle that will be placed near the altar as a memorial as their loved one’s name is read. If you would like a loved one remembered, please click here or email the Parish Office at parish office@spagr.org
Baptism Preparation
Monday November 14 from 6-7 pm
The next baptism preparation will take place on Monday November 14 from 6-7 pm. The gathering will be held virtually to accommodate parents with young families. The discussion will center around the REBORN series by the Augustine Institute. The videos are to be video prior to the gathering. Reborn– is a three-part series created by the Augustine Institute – explores the deeply personal power of Baptism, bringing to light the spiritual reality for parents and godparents and, most importantly, the child being baptized.
A child’s Baptism presents parishes with a holy opportunity to evangelize families, parents, and godparents on the joyful occasion of welcoming a little one into the Church.
More information on the Sacrament of Baptism or the form to request the Sacrament of Baptism for your child here at St. Paul the Apostle can be found on the parish website:
spagr.org/church/sacraments/baptism-information/
To register for the upcoming session or to find out more about mentoring couples preparing to celebrate the sacrament please contact Jeanne Winkelmann by email at jwinkelmann@spagr.org
Resources on How to Pray
- Raoul Plus S.J., "How to Pray Always"
- Monthly Magnificat
- Monthly Liturgy of the Hours (from Word on Fire Institute)
- "Sing the Hours" with Paul Rose podcast
Warm Hands, Warm Hearts K of C Coat Drive
Saturday, October 29 - Monday, November 28
The Knights of Columbus are collecting clean coats, hats, gloves, and mittens in good condition (no footwear, please) for their annual Coat, Hat & Glove Drive.
In 2021, we collected over 725 items. This year, we hope to match or exceed that amount!
We are accepting all men’s, women’s, and children’s winter items. Please winter items only.
Items will be given to In The Image, an organization that provides winter clothing to those in need at no cost. Please place items in the donation boxes in the Narthex.
Community Bulletin Board
Our Community Boards are located in the Narthex. We invite you to take a look at what is going on in the community or to place your own ad. If you’d like to place an ad, take a blank sheet and write your need or service and hang it up or email mkreuger@spagr.org for the template.
Register Today to Become a St. Paul Parishioner!
To become a registered member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, fill out the form on our website.
Please contact us if you have questions.
Bulletin Deadlines & Contact
If your group has information or an event for the bulletin, please submit Friday by
5:00 PM to Merribeth at mkreuger@spagr.org. The article will go in the following
week’s bulletin. Submissions may be edited for content or space considerations.
Parish office hours
Please note that the Parish Office will be open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
The church will be available for private prayer by way of the Parish Office from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday - Friday.
Thank you to our premier event sponsors
Contact Us!
Email: parishoffice@spagr.org
Website: spagr.org/church
Location: 2750 Burton Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Phone: 616-949-4170
Facebook: facebook.com/stpaulapostlecatholic