A Legacy of Faith

March 16, 2025

As we continue the Jubilee Year of Hope, last weekend we celebrated the Jubilee of Volunteers. In the midst of taking joy in the generous gifts of time and talents shared by our volunteers, God called home one of our most vital volunteers. As I write this, I’m still kind of numb from the death of our fellow parishioner Anne Marie Graham. Anne Marie was such a life-giving presence in the Midland Area Catholic Community. You would see her at the greeting table of the St. Brigid fish fry, and the next evening she would
be proclaiming the Word of God at Saturday Mass at Assumption, with her distinctive arm sling and English accent. She would be back at Assumption on Sunday morning, taking pictures for our directory, website, and social media and Breaking Open the Word with our catechumens preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation. She loved her Catholic faith. She read the Bible and all kinds of books on Catholic subjects and was a regular participant in adult faith formation classes (both as participant and catechist), small group discussions, and formation for Christian Initiation (OCIA), a ministry that was especially dear to her heart. She was one of our volunteers who compose the Universal Prayer for our weekend Masses. She was also a member of our Christian Service Commission, looking for ways to connect parishioners with each other and with the ministries our parish and the other local churches. She would attend an ecumenical meeting of Midland area churches each month to keep Assumption Parish informed and connected to the charitable work of all Midland churches and non-profits. As you can see, Anne Marie’s loss leaves a big hole in our parish community. This is the multiplying power that Jesus can do when we offer our humble gifts and place them in his hands. And Anne Marie’s story is repeated in many of you, volunteers sharing your gifts throughout our parish and community.

In my prayer and discernment recently, I have been sensing that God is asking me to shift my duties somewhat here at Assumption, to focus more on long-range planning and to focus a little less personally on catechesis, to empower more of you for the ministry
of teaching and faith formation. I would still be doing some of that evangelization and formation ministry. I find it energizing and meaningful, but I think that the Lord is calling me now to invite, raise up, and form new catechetical leaders in our parish. So I am asking you to prayerfully consider volunteering for one of the following roles. You do not need to be a “Catholic expert.” Training and formation will be provided for you. All that you need is a willing heart:

1 or 2 volunteers who have the gifts of prayer and writing to help compose the Universal Prayer for the weekend Masses. Volunteers usually compose the prayers for an entire month then have a month or two off. Training will be provided.
A volunteer to attend the local meeting of churches on the second Thursday morning of each month at Trinity Lutheran Church. The meeting concerns the charitable work of Midland churches and non-profits. This volunteer would then report back to the Christian Service Commission on the second Tuesday evening of each month.
A few volunteers to create an OCIA team to aid in the formation of adults seeking the baptism or full communion in the Catholic Church. The formation protocols are set. You will be trained over a period of time.
1 or 2 volunteers to help lead baptism formation sessions for parents seeking baptism for their young children. We will provide the format and background education needed to lead the sessions.
2 or 3 married couples to create a team to help lead pre-Cana sessions for our engaged couples. The format and lesson plans are set. After a period of formation, you can lead the sessions yourself or as teams.
1 or 2 volunteers to be trained as catechists for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our formation program for children age 3-5th grade. This is an amazing catechetical methodology. You are guaranteed to grow in your understanding of the Catholic faith and
how to form young people in it.
A few volunteers to serve as small group facilitators for our youth, 6th grade-12th grade. Our youth ministry meets on Sunday evenings, September-March. Our new Confirmation preparation program for Jr. High schoolers will be beginning next school year. All class plans and training will be provided.
A few volunteers to assist with Communion and prayer visits to our homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes and rehab facilities. Training will be provided.

Please call 989-631-4447 or email John for more information on these volunteer opportunities.

Anne Marie and I were both participants in this winter’s Monday night book discussion group, led by parishioner Mary Smith, on the book everyone received this Christmas, Behold, Believe, Become by Timothy O’Malley. In our last session, less than a week before Anne Marie’s death, we discussed the following passage from the book, “Now we probably don’t want to think about it, but it may be beneficial to recognize upon our leaving the church building that this could be our last Mass. It could be the final time we celebrate the Eucharist. Before we come back next Sunday, we may embark upon our final leave . . . as you’re leaving Mass, the task at hand is to wonder how you’re going to live differently.” This could be our last Mass, our last Lent, our last Easter, or our last Christmas. What will we do with this opportunity? Anne Marie left a legacy of faith here at Assumption Parish, as did Camille VanSickle, whose funeral we celebrated in January and who left a legacy on our parish music ministry. Many of you are leaving a legacy of faith here at Assumption Parish as well. But as time moves on and God calls his faithful ones to receive their reward, a new generation is called upon to create a legacy of their own. How will we “make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12)