Dear friends in Christ, This month, we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus to Heaven and the Feast of Pentecost. Forty days after His resurrection, on the day of the Ascension, Jesus advised his apostles to stay in Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Risen Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to give them the strength, faith, knowledge and wisdom to proclaim the good news and to establish and build His Church. He had commanded them to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptize and teach them to obey His commandments. Yet, Jesus didn’t send them alone; He sent the Holy Spirit to work within and through them. Beginning on the day of Pentecost, the apostles spoke different languages and were able to heal the sick and resurrect the dead. They went out and proclaim the good news. All in the name of Jesus. As Jesus’ apostles, we are called to bring Jesus to others. We might not be able to speak foreign languages or do miracles, but we can all bring the Spirit of God to those around us. How can we do that? First, we must remember that we have received the Holy Spirit through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. We often forget that we, too, have been clothed by the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear (reverence) of God. Secondly, we must pray to the Holy Spirit. He can equip us to do the job we are called to do and help us use our spiritual gifts to be good examples of our faith. He can remove all the barriers that cause us to doubt. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are evidence of one’s deep relationship with Him. These “fruits” or products of one’s walk with God include “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Genesis 5:22-23). Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us make God our priority, to help us walk in light and truth, to utilize the gifts we have received to evangelize and to bring others to Jesus through our Christ, for example. Come Holy Spirit, be present in our hearts and fill us with your gits! Blessings, Veronica

Dear friends in Christ, Alleluia!! He has Risen! His Resurrection destroyed death and opened the gates of Heaven for all who believe! Throughout Lent, we have walked with Jesus on His journey into his Passion and Death on the Cross. Now, we celebrate His Resurrection and His gift of Hope. Our life in Christ is a journey of hope. Andy Dufresne, in the movie “The Shawshank Redemption,” wrote, “[in a letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” Jesus is Hope. He is the best thing that could happen to us. And Jesus is with us! Yesterday, today and forever. Our Easter Vigil is a perfect reminder of this Hope Jesus brings to our lives. Light. Jesus is the light of the world. We have hope that even in the most challenging and darkest days of our lives, Jesus will transform our suffering into a joyful dance. Psalm 23:3-4 reminds us, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake”. Jesus is our Hope for better days to come. Water. Jesus, just like the water, is the font of life. Through the Waters of Baptism, we have been cleansed from our original sins and have become children of God. On our Baptismal day, we also received the Holy Spirit. Jesus has given us hope that we can be made new in Him and through Him. Life. Alleluia, He is risen!! Jesus has conquered death. Easter Season is the time to see the Risen Jesus and understand His profound love for us. He has not abandoned us. He is alive and with us. “I am with you until the end of times” Mt. 28,20. Attending Mass and receiving Him in the Eucharist is the best way to remain in Christ and to be filled with His life. Happy Easter, and remember, Jesus lives! Jesus is our source of hope. Jesus is with us yesterday, today and forever. Alleluia! May Jesus, the Light of the world, bring life and hope to each of us. Blessings, Veronica

Dear friends in Christ, Last month, I was blessed to spend time with my family and friends in Guatemala. While there, I visited a few churches and prayed for our community and needs. A candle was lit for our intentions, especially for those who need healing, whether it is physical, mental or spiritual health. I appreciate your prayers that kept me and brought me safe home. Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent. The Lenten Season is an opportunity to get to know Jesus better and to walk with Him during His last days on earth. Matthew Kelly poses to the readers in his book Rediscover Jesus the question: “How well do we know Jesus?” We might think we know Jesus well, but is this true? How do we get to know a friend better? We make time for them; we talk and share our feelings, thoughts, fears, successes, and more. We call them, we visit them, we might write a letter or send a gift. The more time we dedicate to our friendship the stronger it could become. So, how can we strengthen our friendship with Jesus? We need to spend more time with Him. Watching a movie about His life or the Saints can help us learn more about His love, His care and His Divine nature. Reading the Bible or a religious book can help us deepen our faith. Visiting Him more often in the Eucharist or in Adoration and spending quiet time with Him. It will require for us to set time aside for Him, and away from the noise of our work, our home, our TVs, our computers and social media. Just like Jesus went into the desert to be away from the noise, we need to need to quiet down our minds to be able to hear His voice. To help us prepare for this “quiet time” and to spend more time with Jesus, we are offering Adoration at 11 am on the following Fridays: March 1, March 15 and March 22 at St. John’s Deaf Center. Friday, March 8 adoration will be from 3:30-4:30pm before the Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner. Day of reflection with Fr. Mike on March 9 from 9:30 am -4:30 pm (see flyer for registration information). Please see the Holy Week Schedule announcement and plan on join us, and Jesus, for these events. Stay blessed, and let us “be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am Holy." (Leviticus 19:2) , Veronica

Dear Detroit, Catholic Deaf Community, It has been just a few weeks since we celebrated Christmas and the New Year, and this month, we are starting the Lenten Season. Can you believe it? Ash Wednesday, February 14, marks the beginning of Lent. Fr. Ken will celebrate three different Masses: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. at St. John’s Deaf Center and 4 p.m. at St. Valentine’s School Chapel. This day and every Friday of Lent are days of Fasting. Please refer to the chart included in this newsletter for more information about fasting and abstinence. During Lent, we are called to make concrete adjustments to our lives, to focus on more simplicity and less reliance on worldly goods in our lives, to become representatives of Christ to those around us, and to strengthen our faith through prayer, fasting and acts of charity. Pope Francis has designated 2024 as the year of Prayer, and we are still commemorating the Eucharistic Revival until 2025. I invite you to join us at St. John’s Deaf Center at 11 a.m. every Friday during Lent for Adoration and Prayer. Lastly, Pope Francis reminds us that acts of charity include taking care of our environment. He calls us to examine our lifestyle: how we use natural resources and minimize our carbon footprint. During this Lenten season, consider creating healthy habits to protect our planet, like sharing a ride, taking shorter showers, buying fewer packaged goods, recycling, and reusing more. Our actions today are already affecting future generations. “Inasmuch as we all generate small ecological damage”, we are called to acknowledge “our contribution, smaller or greater, to the disfigurement and destruction of creation”.… For “to commit a crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God.” (Laudato Si' Note 8) Please pray for me and my family while celebrating my nephew’s wedding in Guatemala. In my absence, please contact Paul Kuplicki (sjdc.kuplicki@gmail.com) for any emergency. Stay blessed, and let us be “…the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14) , Veronica

From Veronica's Desk: "Dear Detroit, Catholic Deaf Community, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024! I pray that we continue to be the joy and the light of Jesus for those around us. And just like three Wise men brought Jesus the gifts of myrrh, gold, and frankincense, we can share the gifts of forgiveness, hope, justice, and charity with our loved ones and those in most need of these.."

From Veronica's Desk: Dear Detroit, Catholic Deaf Community, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful time with family and friends! We are starting the last month of the year and, with it, celebrating the Advent Season. Advent is a time to prepare our minds and hearts for the coming of our Savior, not just on Christmas day, but...

From Veronica's Desk: Dear Detroit, Catholic Deaf Community, November is the month of Thanksgiving! This is one of my favorite holidays. Although I try to be thankful every day for the blessings I receive from God, it comforts me that on Thanksgiving weekend (or any other weekend this month), we come together as a family and friends to celebrate and count our blessings...

From Veronica's Desk: October is an extraordinary month for me! This is the month of Our Lady of the Rosary. I grew up near the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, and while in high school, I stopped by this church for my morning prayers. During this month, there are street vendors, music, prayer groups, and ..

From Veronica's Desk: Dear Detroit, Catholic Deaf Community, September and a new school year is here! Soon, we will be seeing beautiful Fall colors all around us. The leaves' changing colors are a perfect reminder of the beauty of change. In a similar way, conversion, or personal change, requires us to let go of our old ways to give room to new life! Just like we enjoy the stunning Fall colors; we need to enjoy the conversion that being in communion with Christ brings to our lives. As we start this new school year together, let us pray ...

From Veronica's Desk: Dear Detroit Catholic Deaf Community, Last month was Fr. Mike’s last letter as the director of St. John’s Deaf Center and this is the first one from me. As you know, I will be taking over this role on August 16, when Fr. Mike officially moves to Maryland. First of all, I want to thank Fr. Mike for all his years of service for the Detroit Catholic Deaf Community. Although I was only able to collaborate with him the last three years of his thirteen years with our community,

From Fr. M.D.'s Desk: Dear Detroit Catholic Deaf Community, I realize that this will be my last letter after writing a letter every month for 13 years. The farewell party was amazing, and I was deeply touched by how many people came to the Mass. God is very good, and I am thankful to Him for sending me to Detroit 13 years ago. I want to give a big “thank you!!” to the committee who planned the party. And another big “thank you” to all who came to the Mass & party.

From Fr. M.D.'s Desk: Dear Friends, June is here already! I feel as if the month of May had lasted only two weeks! Among the highlights in the month of May one was definitely our recent pilgrimage to Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio. It was beautiful to hear the Franciscan brother, our tour guide at the basilica explaining various miracles which people had recently received after praying at that place. Needless to say, celebrating Mass in the original chapel was an inspiring experience for me. It was beautiful to see so many Deaf people from Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton together in one place.

From Fr. MD's Deask...Dear Friends, I hope this letter finds all of you doing well! Know that I am appreciative for all those people involved in making Holy Week and Easter Vigil celebrations very special. Many, many thanks!!! We had a good number of Deaf people from OLL and SJDC attending the Chrism Mass at the cathedral. For those went to the Mass, know that I am grateful for your presence. Without questions, many people noticed us at that Mass.

From Fr MD's Desk: Dear Friends, It is hard to believe that we are about to complete Lent next week. Needless to say, I look forward to celebrating Easter. As in the past, I encourage people from both OLL and SJDC to attend Chrism Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Thursday, April 6 at 10 AM. Veronica has reserved two pews for the Deaf Catholic community. Please come to the Chrism Mass! I can’t stress how important it is for the Archbishop, auxiliary bishops, and people working in the Curia to see Deaf people there.

Dear Detroit Deaf Catholic Community, From Fr. MD's Desk: By the time you read this letter, you might already know that I will move to Maryland in August. It was not an easy decision for I have grown attached to the Deaf Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Detroit and Deaf Catholics in the Dioceses of Toledo and Lansing. Many of you have a deep and beautiful faith...

From Fr. MD's Desk: Hello Friends, I hope all of you are doing well. I am very aware that many people do not like the month of February because the weather is often dreary,..

From Fr. MD's Desk: Dear Detroit Deaf Catholic Community, Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas too! Remember the Church continues to celebrate the Christmas season until January 9. I will be at NCOD Pastoral Week in Santa Fe, New Mexico in January. I will be there for only two nights on January 29 and 30...

From Fr. MD's Desk: Dear Detroit Deaf Catholic Community, I hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving. We are now in the season of Advent which means coming. Coming of who? Jesus Christ! Jesus is coming on December 25th - his birthday. The Church also uses Advent as a good reminder that Jesus will come...

From Fr. MD's Desk:Dear Friends, It is hard to believe that November is here already! The Church will begin the Advent season on Sunday, November 27. What is Advent? The word means “coming,” “Who is coming?” you may wonder....

From Fr. MD's Desk: Dear Friends, I hope you are enjoying this time of the year. People love the month of October because of the beautiful colors on the trees. Pope Francis, in one of his writings, teaches us that we need to pay close attention to the beauty of nature in order to understand ..