Letting Our Light Shine
September 28, 2025
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:14,16
Think of the last time that you saw a movie that really moved you or a television program that had you so engrossed that you had to “binge” it straight through, or perhaps the last time that you attended a really great concert or read a great book that you found helpful or very entertaining, or maybe you tried a new restaurant or tried a new recipe that was so delicious that the taste and/or presentation experience was “next level.” What was your first impulse afterward? If you are like me, you couldn’t wait to share your experience with friends, co-workers, and family and recommend it to them, encouraging them to experience it for themselves.
This is how I have felt since becoming part of the Assumption Parish community. This community of faith in Larkin Township is like a precious jewel at the crossroads of the city of Midland and its rural and suburban environs. We definitely “punch above our weight” as the smallest of the three Catholic parishes in Midland! We offer Mass and spiritual enrichment/prayer opportunities every day except Mon day. Our music ministry adds beauty and spiritual depth through our liturgical choir/musicians and periodic sacred music concerts. We offer unique faith formation opportunities for every age; from our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for child- ren, to collaborative youth ministry that addresses the goals, themes, and components of comprehensive adolescent outreach, to adult bible study and catechetical screenings of The Chosen. We meet the material needs of our Midland County neighbors through our parish tithe which assists those in need of financial assistance for housing, electricity, or gas; through annual Food Truck, our parish garden, monthly food collection, and supplying of volunteers at Open Door; through our various clothing collections (such as our upcoming children’s winter boot collection); and much more (check out our Christian Service Commission minutes)!
Those who are involved and invested in our parish life know how vibrant a parish we have; how we are all blessed by our connection to Assumption Parish and how we pass those blessings to others! If you, like me, feel blessed by your connection to Assumption Parish, I would like to encourage you to share that good news the same way that you would about a movie, concert, or restaurant, by inviting someone you know to experience for themselves the riches to be discovered here. Here are some suggestions for you:
First and foremost, attending Mass every weekend is the source and summit of our parish vitality.
This is especially important during the month of October, when our Mass attendance is reported to the diocese. Folks at the diocese aren’t here every day or week. They don’t see all the good work done here. Often, our October Mass attendance is one of the only numbers seen at the diocese that gives them insight into the health of our parish life. Our October Mass attendance numbers were down last year. I’m hoping that this October will reverse that trend.
Second, strongly consider attending and inviting someone to join you at our three Awakened events this October.
We will have a good meal together, hear spiritually enriching reflections, and discuss where faith meets real life in an atmosphere of hospitality and friendship. This is a unique opportunity for you to share with someone about what God is doing in the lives of the people of Assumption Parish and letting them experience it for themselves.
Third, please support our parish “Big Raffle” by sharing it with friends, family, neighbors, etc.
The good work that is being done at this parish and the dream of what we can do together in the Grace of God takes an investment. This raffle is a way to raise the funds that will allow us to continue to generously respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to spread the Kingdom of God in our area.
Finally, please support, attend, and invite others to experience the unique community spirit of Assumption Parish.
We will be hosting our PolishFest dinner in October, the 54th annual Fall Bazaar in November, our Handel’s Messiah Christmas Concert in December, and other social/community events. One of the hall marks of this parish community is hospitality. These kinds of social events give us an opportunity to let our light shine to our neighbors, in an atmosphere of fun and inclusion.
October 7 will mark Assumption Parish’s 109th anniversary. From the founding generation of Polish and Slovak farmers through over a century of faith and service in Larkin Township which now includes parishioners of diverse nationalities, backgrounds, and occupations, we recognize our heritage of grateful acceptance of God’s gifts, stewarding them to increase, and blessing the lives of our neighbors. This is our hour on the stage, calling us to be thankful for what we have received in this parish and to lay the groundwork for the continuation of its unique mission in our time and place. We stand on the shoulders of giants. May future generations of Assumption parishioners see in us what we thank God for in the faith, hospitality, and stewardship of those who have gone before us!