Baoutha Prayer & Fasting Schedules
2022/2023 Christmas & New Year Masses
View the 2021 Christmas Mass times for Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle parishes.
Meditation on Yesterday’s Election Results From 1 Peter 2:9-17
1 Peter 2:9-17
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I beg you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the emperor.
Bishop Message Regarding Proposal 3
Today, we are saddened by the passing of Proposal 3. My heart mourns for the families, and in particular, the children that will be affected by this new constitutional amendment. While this new amendment brings many doubts and uncertainties, the church remains a home. It is a home for the most vulnerable. For any woman or man who feels they have nowhere to go. The doors of the Church are open to all. As your Shepherd I am here with a compassionate heart, and so are the priests at your various parishes. We are Fathers who want to bring the love of the Father and Jesus into the most difficult situations. As a Church we must never tire of being there for the most vulnerable, so let us continue to work as one church and one community. Finally, many may question if their prayers were heard. God hears us and does not abandon us, but he also allows free will to remain. God is still guiding us and gracing us to help us fight against this culture of death. Our hope is in the Lord! May God bless you. May he bless this entire state.
54-Day Rosary Novena
Prayer to End Abortion
With election season right around the corner, we are Fighting Like Heaven with our brothers and sisters in Christ at the Diocese of Lansing to overcome a challenging new hurdle in our community – also known as The Reproductive Freedom for All Initiative. This Initiative will appear on our November ballot paper as Proposition 3 (Proposal 3). This initiative seeks to enshrine abortion up to, and including, the day of birth in our state constitution. It also seeks to put an end to dozens of laws that currently regulate abortion in the State of Michigan. Some of these laws include getting rid of parental consent, notification laws, and laws that prohibit partial-birth abortion.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Should this proposal prevail, it would make void the existing abortion regulations, which includes a parental consent for minors who want to get an abortion, among many other regulations. This would mean that all individuals, including minors, will have the right to make decisions about prenatal care, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, etc., without parental consent or the consent of anyone else. Additionally, should this proposal go into effect, it would essentially prohibit the state from charging an individual based on “actual, potential, perceived or alleged pregnancy outcomes,” which falls under the categories of abortion, miscarriages, and stillbirths.
What Can We Do?
As faithful, we need to “Fight Like Heaven” and pray as hard as we can to make sure this proposal does not prevail, pray for those in our community considering abortion and most importantly, pray for the unborn children at risk of abortion. If we each do our part in this, we can overcome this attack on life. With the Blessed Virgin Mary and our steadfastness in the Lord, nothing is impossible, not even this.
Sign up for daily text reminders providing information and inspiration across each of the 54 days by texting “FIGHTLIKEHEAVEN” to 84576 to join in the 54-day Rosary Novena that will run up to polling day, which is November 8, 2022. Also, do not forget to vote – your voice matters and can help save lives!
For more information on how to receive alerts for the Novena, please visit https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/.
Lenten Hiking Trip 2022
On Saturday, April 2, Fr. Marcus Shammami and Fr. John Jaddou led a group of hikers to Saugatuck, Michigan for the annual lenten hike.