Prayer Ministries

Responding, in the name of the Church, to the emotional and spiritual needs of parishioners experiencing grief following the loss of a loved one. We do not take the place of family and friends but provide a different kind of safe listening place.

Are you interested in being a part of this bereavement ministry of caring and listening? Ongoing training is provided six times throughout the year. To learn more about this important ministry, please contact Jean Corpe at (989) 619-9014 (cell) or (989) 939-7562 (home) or by email at corpejb@yahoo.com

Children in Christ

This is for children of all ages, infants through high school age.  We will focus on faith formation, virtue and character education, crafts, community service, and fun for all children.

Gatherings are on the first and third Friday each month from 10am - 12noon at Holy Redeemer Church in Vanderbilt.  Each meeting will begin with children's Adoration.  We will celebrate the seasons of the church and the lives of the saints together.

Our schedule is as follows:

October - First Meeting - Let's learn about the Rosary (Virtue:  Hard Work)

October  - The Miracle of Life (Virtue:  Hard Work)

November- All Saints Day Party (Virtue:  Perseverance)

November- The Communion of Saints (Virtue:  Perseverance)

December- Advent Activities (Virtue:  Faith)

December- Christmas card making and gift wrapping for the nursing home residents (Virtue:  Trust)

January - Christmas Party (Virtue:  Compassion)

The purpose of the Cursillo Movement is to make Christian community possible

in family, social and work situations and in other natural environments of mankind.

The Cursillo hopes to make a natural Christian life possible for anyone.

Whether private prayer or shared with others, the practice of Eucharistic Adoration invites us to pray in the presence of Jesus Christ under the appearance of a consecrated host. During Adoration, you may wish to sit in silence, simply heightening your awareness of the presence of God around you; have a conversation with Jesus; pray the rosary; or reflect on Scripture or other spiritual reading.

While the Eucharist is exposed, someone must always keep vigil before Christ in the monstrance. We schedule at least two people for each time slot during our regular Adoration hours. You may sign up for 30 minute increments at any time. 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A LITURGICAL MINISTER?

Training for Liturgical Ministers is open to parishioners who have both an interest and are willing to dedicate the time needed to serve their parish. 

God bless the work of our hands.  May the shawls we make bring joy to the wearer and peace to each crafter.  May every person who receives a shawl feel Your loving embrace.  May the shawls be a tangible prayer and blessing.  Amen

Consider becoming involved in the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  You will be helping others through prayer and your pastime. 

We are a prayer group, a service group, and a social group! 

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month during the school year, usually in Cathedral Meeting Room A at 7:00pm. 

There are many reasons and causes for pain and suffering in society today. 

Could you or someone you know find comfort in receiving a prayer shawl?

Stop by the parish office to pick one up to give to someone in need.   

OUR WEEKLY GATHERING FOR PRAYER

The Rosary Hour of Prayer has been thriving since 1989. We are a very Marian centered group who take very seriously our Blessed Mother’s maternal role for the salvation of souls.  Our group has received many blessings through our dedicated prayers and have channeled many unknown graces in faithful service in the name of Christ.

PLEASE JOIN US! 

We gather together every Tuesday from 2-3 pm in the Cathedral Chapel

No membership is required 

No fundraisers to work 

Simply come and adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with open and loving hearts

HONORING MARY

Two months of the year we honor Mary in a very special way:

May is the month of Mary. We crown her as our heavenly mother, the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

On September 8th, the church celebrates Mary’s birth. As a group, we honor her in procession during our prayer time.  October is the month of the Holy Rosary with October 7th being the feast day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.  On these occasions we make special petition for her maternal intercession to her Son.

We have a special dedication to the Holy Rosary.  Our Blessed Mother has asked to continually pray the Rosary as a spiritual weapon to fight Satan and seek protection for a world torn by war and violence.

CONSECRATION TO JESUS THROUGH MARY      

St. John Paul II highly encouraged all Catholics to consecrate themselves to “Jesus through Mary”. The Total Consecration according to St. Louis de Montfort was his recommendation. Many of our group have done the preparation and consecration to Our Blessed Mother in the method of St. Louis de Montfort. 

In 2011, Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC wrote a simplified preparation based on De Montfort’s spirituality.  In 33 Days to Morning Glory, Fr. Gaitley incorporated the lives of St. John Paull II, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Maximilian Kolbe in showing the vast possibilities and blessings which one can receive through our trust and dependence on Mary for the graces of her Son.  Our group enthusiastically seeks to emulate this approach.

A Personal Testimony

"My spiritual life has thrived since I consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary, about 20 years ago. I made The Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort and I renew my consecration on that anniversary each year. Upon hearing about the 33 Days to Morning Glory consecration, I decided to follow that because the consecration included a group & meeting once a week for six weeks. Fr. Gaitley showed a video first and then we broke into groups with discussions following. I can truthfully say now, I live my life as Mary’s disciple. I have had many opportunities come into my life to help me spread devotion to Her, which has brought me so much closer to Jesus. When I experience 'the valleys' in my life, I try to remember to let go and let God direct my life. I just can’t go wrong."

Questions?

Contact Rosalie Makarewicz 989.732.5207

Interested in learning more about how to pray the rosary? Read more

Think there isn't anyone pulling for your marriage?  Think again!

Marriage is a challenge.  Whether a couple is newlywed, raising a family, or "empty nesting", the call to grow together in love is ever present.  Often couples find they are living in a social climate where forces and stresses are at work that can undermine both their marriage and their faith.

What is a Team of Our Lady?

A movement of "married spirituality" which brings together couples united by the Sacrament of marriage and who wish, together, to deepen the graces of their Sacrament of marriage. 

It is a way for married couples to grow in love a little more each day; to be aided by the mutual help and support of other couples that gather monthly to share a meal, pray and participate in a book study; and to thus better follow the One who assured us that "I am the way, the truth and the life" John 14:6

TOOL - FOR A BETTER MARRIAGE

All over the world, couples have found a way to meet their desire for growth in love and faith through the Teams of Our Lady (TOOL) movement.  A team is a group of four to seven couples who have freely decided to join together to find support in their efforts to lead Gospel lives.  We are open to new couples who will join an existing team and to those who want to start a new team. 

The team meets once a month in each other's homes for a simple meal and in a spirit of friendship share their experiences of the previous month.  After dinner, the mood shifts to the more obviously spiritual as the team reflects on scripture and prays.  Finally, they discuss study material on married life and faith.  The team meeting is truly a unique gathering - lively and enjoyable, yet structured and meaningful. 

GETTING STARTED IN TOOL

How does a team get started?  Local TOOL couples conduct information meetings to provide information, answer questions, and place interested couples in a team.

For more information, please contact:

St. Mary Cathedral local contact

Mindy LaPointe 989.619.1014 or the parish office.

LOCATION:  St. Mary Cathedral Parish Hall from 6:30am - 8:00am

For more information and to register you may go to www.thatmanisyou.org

Pre-registration is not required - drop-in's welcome!

An Invitation to You from Chad Fate, Core Team Leader:

I hope everyone is having a blessed summer!  I can't believe how fast it is flying by.  As the end of summer draws near we are looking forward to another great year for "That Man Is You."  We are kicking off the new TMIY year on September 9th at 6:30 am in the Parish hall.  I hope to see you there.  The great thing about the program is that even if you missed last year, you can still jump right into the program, and benefit.  

This year, "A Light To The Nations," considers man in his relationship to his spouse.  Heavily influenced by the thoughts of Saint Pope John Paul II, A Light to the Nations takes men on a journey into an important spiritual reality: "The family has been placed at the heart of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, and between love and all that is opposed to love."  It is modeled on the story of Job from the Old Testament.  

The Fall semester sets fourth the vision of the union of man and woman such that "there is none like it in all the earth."  Integrating the findings of modern medical science with the writings of Saint Pope John Paul II, A Light to the Nations discovers in the spousal union a unique reflection of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity that is much deeper than mere poetic words.  It does not shy from considering the challenges facing marriage and discovers a "culture of death" dangerously close to the edge.  

The spring semester will enter into the contemplative mystery of the family. It follows the mystery of the family from the Garden of Eden to Jewish culture to the Passion of Christ to Europe in the Middle Ages to the United States of today.  It discovers a hope that will not die and a very specific role for the men of the United States.

I look forward to seeing you in September.  If you have never been to a TMIY session or if you have only came a few times, I encourage you to give it a try, you won't regret it. Don't take my word for it, ask any of the men who've attended and they will tell you the same.  

This program is for EVERY MAN, no matter your situation, single, married, widowed, divorced, young, old, or wherever situation you find yourself in.  This program will help you grow in your faith, be more loving to your family and neighbors and be the Man that God intends you to be.

Please spread the word, invite and encourage others to check it out too (the program is FREE).

God Bless and see you in September as we learn how to be A Light to the Nations!