Father Michael's Column
Pastor’s Column for September 14th, 2025
Last Thursday we marked the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attack of “9-11” that tragically took so many lives. Often at Mass here at St. William, some of the petitions during the General Intercessions are “for an end to terrorism”, and also for “an end to the culture of violence in our country”. We see violence everywhere we look: in our News, in the movies we watch, in the video games we play, and in the violence we inflict on others by our intolerance of any viewpoint but our own. We pray for a change in the hearts not only of terrorists, but of all others who have violence in mind. But while we pray for others, we must remain peaceful ourselves, else we will have succumbed to those who would inflict evil on us. While anguished over injustice and intolerance, we must always remember what the Scriptures teach us, that vengeance, wrath, and unforgiveness are ultimately self-defeating attitudes, which bind us in sin and keep us from real freedom. May God bless America, and all people throughout the world who seek freedom and justice.
Even though summer doesn’t officially end for another week, in most people’s minds the “summer months” are over with the celebration of Labor Day weekend. This is certainly true for families with school-age children as they return to classes, and it is also true for many of the other rhythms of parish life as well.
We are ready to launch our after-school religious education program. It begins the last weekend in September! If you have school-age children, you, of course, have the primary responsibility to nurture them in the Faith. Our school program or our after-school program can be a big help to you. If your child is not already registered in one or the other program please give us a call this week (248-624-1371) to our Faith Formation Office (kid’s after school catechism). Even if you are choosing to home-school, give us a call and we can help you.
We are only offering two class times for the after-school program. There are sessions after the 10AM Mass for K through 2nd grade, and sessions on Mondays at 6:30 PM for grades 3 and up. There is good reason for choosing these times: Younger children have a shorter attention span, and that works better for the limited Sunday time. Older children need a bit more time, including enough time at each session to dialogue, share, and reflect—so their classes will be extended to a full hour-and-15 minutes.
Our religious education program has been restructured so that it will more closely align with the curriculum guidelines and outcomes that have been put together by the Archdiocese. These are designed not just to provide information, but to form disciples. Even little children need to become disciples! It’s also becoming evident that the new direction is much more engaging for our children. Our catechists receive training and are given ongoing support to help them with their preparation for the classes. Please call as soon as possible to get your child registered. Don’t wait, and then find that a particular class is already full!
We also have many faith-sharing groups for adults. I encourage you to contact us and we’ll get you aligned with other people to whom you have an affinity. I have come to realize that such groups are a huge support to anyone who wants to grow as a disciple. Plan on joining one! We continuously have new study groups forming.
In Jesus,
Fr. Michael
P.S. Next weekend is “Catechetical Sunday”. At the 10:00 A.M. Mass we take a moment to “commission” and pray for our school teachers and afterschool catechists. But most especially, the first ones I invite to stand for the blessing are all the parents—who are the primary catechists of their own children. Catechetical programs or Catholic Schools help parents provide their children with information and encounters with Christ. But ultimately, what parents provide their kids are not only “facts that should be learned”, but rather, they share their Faith. Catholicism is not primarily a “head-trip”; it’s a “heart-trip”, and faith is “caught, not taught”. The job of parents is to help their children become disciples. In the process of encountering Christ and becoming better disciples themselves, the parents help their kids grow as disciples and reinforce what kids learn in formal sessions. I expect that as parents, more and more, take an active role in sharing their own faith with their children. The kids are also going to learn better in classes, because what they are taught will make more sense to them, and it will be exciting rather than boring. God bless our parents, our catechists, and our teachers!