All Saints Catholic Parish

817 Sable Street

Alpena, MI 49707

alpenacatholics.org

Phone: (989) 354-3019

August 9, 2020

From Fr. Joe On this 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 1st Reading and the

Gospel highlight experiencing God’s presence in our lives in two

different ways. In 1 Kings (19:9a, 11-13a), the prophet Elijah is

told by God to go stand on the mountain of God (i.e. Mt. Horeb),

and the Lord will pass by. There were strong and heavy winds,

then an earthquake, then fire, but God was not in those

spectacular things. “After the fire there was a tiny whispering

sound” (1 Kings 19:12) – and in that Elijah recognized God’s

presence.

In the Gospel (Matthew14:22-33), the disciples follow Jesus’

directions and get in a boat to proceed him to the other side of

the Sea of Galilee, while he stayed on the mountain and prayed.

[Remember in last Sunday’s Gospel – Matthew 14:13-21 – Jesus had tried to get away and be alone and pray after hearing of John the Baptist’s death, however the crowds followed him and interrupted his plan, but which resulted in the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 men, not counting women and children.] Meanwhile, that night the winds get pretty rough on the Sea of

Galilee and the boat, with the disciples in it, is getting tossed

about by the waves. (Anyone who has been on a body of water in rough weather, and especially in darkness, knows how frightening that can be!) Then during the fourth watch of the

night (between 3-6 am) they see someone [i.e. Jesus] walking on

the water and in their fear think they are seeing a ghost! (Hey, have you seen anyone walk on water?) Jesus, knows their fear

and says, ”Take courage, it is I: do not be afraid.” Peter said to him

in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the

water.” He said, “Come.” (Matthew 14:27-29) Jesus allows Peter

to walk on the water toward him. When Peter becomes

distracted by the strong wind and his faith falters and he begins

to sink and panic, he cries out for help – and Jesus saves him.

What am I getting at in recounting these two events? Yes, God

is present in those spectacular moments of life, but also in the

apparently more mundane. It is relatively easy to be awed by

what is spectacular and to experience God’s presence in those

“special” moments, and to want more of those kinds of events in

our lives. However, most lives take place in what is ordinary –

but that is not a bad thing; nor is it getting or settling for what is

“second best”. If you look up the word “ordinary” you will find

descriptive terms like: usual, everyday, normal, regular, familiar,

average. These all sound so … well … ordinary. But something

else to consider is that what is ordinary for you might not be

someone else’s experience of ordinary. (Please don’t take this as a form of “relativism”, which is a term used to communicate the mistaken notion that there is no objective morality, but that each person decides his/her own morality according to their own limited life experience. That kind of thinking leads to anarchy and, while it sure seems like our current society is heading in that direction, we don’t want to get there.)

The wonderful thing in all this is that God loves us all; not just

humanity as a whole (which, of course, God does), but also each

individual person, and reaches into each of our distinct lives, no

matter how spectacular or ordinary or different our lives are – if

we but let God in. (I saw the following in a Jewish prayer book: “Where is God? Wherever you let God in.”) And just like Peter

frantically asking Jesus to save him from sinking and possibly

drowning, when we are frightened and desperate and ask Jesus

to save us, he is always willing to do so. But we don’t have to –

and shouldn’t – wait for a frightful moment to ask. The problem

in our world today is that many people don’t “feel” they need to

be saved by God. Whether we “feel” the need or not, let God in

your life – let Jesus Christ save you.

The following poem (author unknown) speaks to the

ordinariness of life, and God’s presence in it:

WHISPERS

The man whispered, “God, speak to me” and a meadowlark sang. But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled, “God, speak to me” and thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, “God, let me see you.” And a star shined brightly. But the man did not see. And, the man shouted, “God, show me a miracle.” And, a life was born. But, the man did not notice. So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God, and let me know you are here.” God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away….. …..and walked on.

Don’t dismiss the many varied ways God makes himself

present for us, whether in the ordinary things and events of daily

life, or the Eucharistic Presence in the form of what appears to be

just an ordinary wafer of bread or sip of wine.

Have a blessed week of being “awed” by the extraordinarily

ordinary.

P.S. For information regarding Perpetual Adoration, which will

resume the night of Saturday, August 15th, please visit our parish

website at www.alpenacatholics.org.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit • 2

Scripture Readings Sunday Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Ps 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14;

Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33

Monday Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9;

Jn 12:24-26

Tuesday Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

Ez 2:8—3:4; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131;

Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Wednesday Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious

Ez 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6;

Mt 18:15-20

Thursday Saint Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest,

Martyrs

Ez 12:1-12; Ps 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62;

Mt 18:21—19:1

Friday Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest

and Martyr

Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63 or Ez 16:59-63; Is 12:2-3,

4bcd, 5-6; Mt 19:3-12

Saturday Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed

Virgin Mary

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10, 11,

12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56

Sunday Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 56:1, 6-7; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rom 11:13-15,

29-32; Mt 15:21-28

Mass Intentions Fr. Joe & Fr. Scott will be celebrating Mass daily at

9:00 am (livestreamed, without a congregation). The

following are the scheduled intentions for this week.

Monday, August 10

† Margaret Benedict

Tuesday, August 11

For Peace

Wednesday, August 12

† Dolores S. Jasman

Thursday, August 13

In thanksgiving for all of the volunteers who

help make Parish Masses possible

Friday, August 14

† David J. Kieliszewski

August 15/16 Weekend Masses

Sat. 9:00 am • For Success in Resuming

Perpetual Adoration in Alpena

*(This 9:00 Mass will be livestream only)

Sat. 4:00 pm • For Donald & Blanche MacNall

on their 60th Wedding Anniversary

Sun. 9:00 am • Living & Deceased of the

Parish (Livestreamed)

Sun. 12:00 pm † Virginia Gapske

Sun. 6:00 pm † Deceased Members of the

Sammanasu Family

*There will be a livestream only Mass on Saturday,

August 15 at 9:00 am for the Feast of the Assumption

**Weekday Masses are celebrated and honored

privately, but are now livestreamed via our YouTube

channel and on Facebook.

***Our weekend Mass schedule is subject to change

weekly based on the availability of volunteers.

To check available Mass times visit

www.alpenacatholics.org

**** For Confession times, see page 8.

United in Vibrant Service • 3

August Prayer Intentions All Saints Parish: For the safety of all.

Rosary Society: For Governmental Leadership that

will follow the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to provide

Justice for Everyone.

Pope Francis: We pray for all those who work and

live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen,

and their families.

LARCC Prayer Intention We join our brothers and sisters in the LARCC community (Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Congregational)

in praying for this weekend’s intention: St. Paul Lutheran Church: Christian Education Program

Blessed Mother Shrine Votive Lamp

In Memory of

Marie Jaskolski

requested by: her daughters, Susie & Marcia

(14 day candle at St. Mary Church)

August Contact Confidential Prayer Group

Linda Wallen | phone: 354-5720

Embraced by God’s Love • 4

Pray for the Departed Mary Klimczak

Marie Bauer

May they rest in peace.

Pray for Success in Resuming Perpetual Adoration

Heavenly Father, increase our faith in the Real Presence of your Son, Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We are obliged to adore Him, to give Him thanks, and to make reparation for sin. We need your peace in our hearts, in our families, in our communities, and among nations. We need conversion from our sins and the mercy of your forgiveness. May we obtain this through prayer in our union with our Eucharistic Lord. Please send down your Holy Spirit upon the people of All Saints Parish to give them the love, courage, strength and willingness to respond to the invitation to Eucharistic Adoration. We beseech you to bless us in our efforts to resume Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alpena. We ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

“Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer

each day, except when he is busy, then he

needs an hour.”

St. Francis de Sales

Perpetual Adoration - Open Times

Sunday Monday

7 am - 8 am 1 am - 2 am

8 am - 9 am

6 pm - 7 pm

Friday Saturday

Midnight - 1 am 4 am - 5 am

1 am - 2 am 5 am - 6 am

9 am - 10 am 5 pm - 6 pm

11 pm - Midnight 11 pm - Midnight

You do not need to be a parishioner to adore

Celebrating an Anniversary

Bill & Jen Hitzelberger

20 years—August 11th

Don & Blanche McNall

60 years—August 13th

Serve the Needs of Our Community • 5

Time to Help, Period. During the months of June and July, 1,298 individually wrapped

sanitary products along with monetary donations totaling $25 were

donated for “Time to Help, Period.” If you would like to make a do-

nation, please visit our website, www.alpenacatholics.org and click

on the “Online Giving” button, or drop your donation off at our

Parish Office.

Thank you for your continued support of the young ladies and

women in our community through this outreach!

_______________________________________________________

“The Time to Help Period Project was absolutely amazing for our students at Alpena High School! Our young women were both sur-prised and delighted to find necessary period products placed in the girls' restrooms this year. Thanks to Time to Help, girls spent more time in class learning, retained more personal dignity and felt more in control of taking care of their individual needs. Since our poverty rate was at 47% before COVID-19, the continuation of this project will be critical to the success of our young women as they return to school in the fall.

Time to Help was wonderful to partner with both during the school year and throughout the COVID-19 school closure. Time to Help provided period products promptly as needed and also worked with me to make sure our women received products at each of our school food distribution sites. They are outstanding!”

- Lisa Seigert, AHS School Success Liaison

Let’s Talk Catholic Live Thursday, August 27 • 6:00

Let’s Talk Catholic Live will be starting up again. If

you would like to join Fr. Scott for a season of live

programs, please sign up by phone or email.

All Saints Parish Office Phone: (989) 354-3019

Dawn Ringsmuth

Email: dringsmuth@alpenacatholics.org

*Due to the need for safety measures at this time,

there will be limited seating available.

Job Opportunities All Saints Parish in Alpena is seeking a

Business Manager. The successful candidate

must be a practicing Catholic in good

standing with the Church and have

knowledge of the Catholic faith. Additionally

this candidate must have at least 5 years of

accounting/business manager experience;

familiarity with accounting programs and MS

Excel; and the ability to work cooperatively

and communicate effectively. Experience

with human resources, employee benefits,

payroll, insurance, and facility management

is preferred.

The person in this position must be able to

prioritize and manage time effectively; and

oversees all business/administrative aspects

of a large, busy parish that includes a school,

cemetery and soup kitchen.

Please apply on the Diocese of Gaylord

website:

http://www.dioceseofgaylord.org/job-

openings-42/

No Confession Time There will be no confession on Tuesday, August 11th.

All Saints Parish Masses Livestreamed Weekend and now Weekdays too! By this time in the pandemic, you have already found your

preferred method of participating in Mass from home.

But may we suggest another option which is watching

weekend Mass livestreamed from All Saints Parish. If you

are unable to come to weekend Mass at All Saints (and we

do understand), this may be a way for you to still feel

connected to your home parish.

Visit our website, alpenacatholics.org, and click on the

YouTube button in the top right corner. Once you are on

our All Saints Parish YouTube homepage, click on the

videos tab and you should be able to find the recording.

• You can watch the 9:00 am Sunday Mass live as it is

happening or, if that time doesn’t work for you, check

back later and watch it when it is more convenient.

• Daily Mass (which is not a public Mass) is now being

livestreamed weekdays on Facebook and YouTube at

9:00 am. Because of this addition, there will no longer

be the 4 o'clock live feed.

United in Vibrant Service • 6

Stewardship of Treasure Week ending August 2, 2020

Offertory needed to sustain parish each week: $20,481

(7/27/20 - 8/2/20) Direct

Donations

Online

Giving

Regular Offertory—Weekend

Masses of August 1/2 and

donations that were mailed in or

dropped off.

$10,665.50

$3434.20

# of Donors/Envelopes Used 192 56

Loose $182.00 -

Combined Total Offertory $14,099.70

Budgeted Offertory Income $20,481.00

Difference - 6,381.30

Building Fund $145.00 $16.00

Capital Improvement $90.00 0

Utilities $150.00 $20.00

Livestream Fund (as of 8/5/20) $6,735.00

CSA—Week 6 Totals Pledged as of 8/4/20: 608 Pledges, totaling $168,363.25

(85% of our goal)

Remaining goal is $30,703.75

*When making a pledge, please keep separate from offertory if

possible, and remember to

make checks payable to All Saints Parish.

Scrip—Online Option Did you know All Saint School’s

Scrip program is also accessible

online and that many of the cards

are instantly available (ecards)?

And when ordering online, All

Saints School still gets the profit.

See below for the website address

and the All Saints School enrollment

code to get started.

Visit shopwithscrip.com

Or download the RaiseRight app

On your smartphone!

Enrollment Code: CA56343B6298L

Scrip Online Payment Options

• Credit Card

(2.6% fee/total order)

• Bank Account “Presto Pay”

($0.15/total order)

*You may also place your order and

pay at All Saints School or All Saints

Parish Office with a check or cash

Stewardship in Our Readings Elijah recognized the voice of God not in the strong and heavy wind, not

in the earthquake, and not in the fire, but in a tiny whispering sound.

May we find enough quiet in our clamorous world to hear His voice and

discern what He is calling us to do and be.

Value Each Other’s Gifts and Talents • 7

All Saints Catholic Parish Directory 817 Sable Street Alpena, MI 49707 Phone ........................................................(989) 354-3019

www.alpenacatholics.org Monday-Friday .................................. 10:00 am—2:00 pm Pastor .............................................. Rev. Joe Muszkiewicz Associate ................................................ Rev. Scott Lawler

slawler@alpenacatholics.org Business Manager ......................................... Kim Krajniak

kkrajniak@alpenacatholics.org Bookkeeper ............................................ Bette Tadajewski Business Office Assistant .................................. Angie King

aking@alpenaallsaints.org Parish Secretary ............................................ Penny Jones

pjones@alpenacatholics.org Office Assistant .................................................Judy Quast

jquast@alpenacatholics.org Office Assistant…………………………………….Dawn Ringsmuth

dringsmuth@alpenacatholics.org Parish Catechetical Leader .......................... Jackie Benson

jbenson@alpenacatholics.org Discipleship Coordinator ......................... Kristin Carriveau

kcarriveau@alpenacatholics.org

Music Ministers ............................................ Suelyn Bartz, John Luke Grabiel, Julie Wood Maintenance Supervisor .......................... Joe Pokorzynski Maintenance Staff .............................................Ken Smarr School Maintenance ................................... Chris Johnston Part-Time Maintenance............................... Jim Bouchard Finance Council Jenny Poli, Don Bartosh, Vaune Bieker, Dylan Wallace, Ralph Stepaniak

Pastoral Council Bob Mischloney, Ann-Marie Ruder, Mark Balko, Christopher Benedict, Deb Spleet, Bill Kuchnicki, Jane Hiske, Marty Gougeon Diocesan Pastoral Council ...................... Seth Wm. Peters Diocesan Finance Council .............................. Don Bartosh

All Saints Catholic School 500 N. Second Ave

www.alpenaallsaints.org Phone ....................................................... (989) 354-4911 Principal ........................................................ Nicole Hatch

nhatch@alpenaallsaints.org

Local Ministries Madonna House ....................................... (989) 354-4073 Catholic Human Services .......................... (989) 356-6385 Friendship Room ...................................... (989) 354-8018 St. Vincent dePaul Society ........................ (989) 354-3671 Options Pregnancy Center ........................ (989) 354-6089 Baby Pantry .............................................. (989) 356-9317 Children’s Closet ....................................... (989) 356-9545 Caring Place Adult Day Center .................. (989) 358-7928 Salvation Army (Call Us for Help) ............. (989) 358-2769 NEMCSA ................................................... (989) 356-3474 Holy Cross Cemetery ................................ (989) 354-3831

Confession Times

Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday:

11:00 am - 12 noon

Wednesday & Friday: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

An open-air confessional is located in the

vestibule area in the back of church near Ninth

Street. If needed, please wait in a pew near the

center aisle, keeping a distance of 2 EMPTY

PEWS between those waiting. There is no chair

upon which to sit since we expect confessions

to be brief to allow everyone a chance to speak

with one of our priests.