WELCOME TO ST. ELIZABETH CATHOLIC CHURCH
Our mission is to connect
our brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ
and to each other. To grow in faith
and bring a ministry of hope, love and charity to those who have been alienated
socially, economically and spiritually.
All of our efforts to serve are united by a single theme, “I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper.”
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A Pastoral Note to Migrants from the Catholic Bishops in Michigan
February 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We, the Roman Catholic Bishops in Michigan, write to offer our continued pastoral and prayerful support for migrant individuals and families who over the course of time have entered the country and today are making a living in this state. Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find “I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me… Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35,40).
We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters. As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst.
We urge our elected officials to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children. We call on the Michigan congressional delegation to work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs.
Mindful of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lord’s words “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). Never fail to keep your faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who promises a divine kingdom that we strive to inherit and together call our true home.
With abundant love and trust, we ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to hear the cries of the suffering and offer to her maternal compassion and protection all who seek her heavenly intercession.
In Christ, Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron Archbishop of Detroit Most Rev. Earl Boyea Bishop of Lansing Most Rev. Arturo Cepeda Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Most Rev. John F. Doerfler Bishop of Marquette Most Rev. Robert Fisher Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss Bishop of Saginaw Most Rev. Edward M. Lohse Bishop of Kalamazoo Most Rev. Jeffrey Monforton Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Most Rev. David J. Walkowiak Bishop of Grand Rapids Most Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh
Dear Family,
We would like you to consider joining us the first and third Saturday mornings of the month for a one hour prayer group. The time is 8:30a.m and the place is the Nativity parish house living room. We have found it is worth it and we still have time to do our Saturday tasks.! We usually read and discuss the gospel for the upcoming Sunday. It is a great group of people and it allows us to get to know each other on another level other than just saying "Hi" at Church on Sundays. Please consider joining us. There is no obligation to be there every time, if something comes up. We will just appreciate your presence. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Deacon John Wright and Mary Ellen White
“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
You ought to wash one another’s feet.” (Jn 13:14)
April 16, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Lord has Risen, Alleluia!! As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord these fifty days of
Easter, we need to also remember the cross of our salvation. The two are united together as the essential
elements of the paschal mystery of our faith. During the forty days of lent we recalled that there can be no
resurrection without the sacrifice of the cross. Now we celebrate the true meaning of the cross that can
only be seen in the saving power of Christ’s resurrection. We come to a deeper appreciation that there
cannot be salvation in the suffering of the cross without the resurrection. Cross and Resurrection are like
two sides to the same coin. One necessarily embraces the other. One always leads us to the other and
back again.
Therefore, as we celebrate the resurrection that brings us new life, we have to also prepare
ourselves once again to make the cross of Christ’s love our own. Receiving the reality of the resurrection
instills in our hearts a deep longing to share the glory of the resurrection with the whole world. Jesus
models how to share that glory by his humble action of washing feet. We need not do grandiose things to
share Christ’s sacrificial love that brings resurrection. As St. Therese of Lisieux suggests, we just need to
focus on doing the little things we do for others each day with great love and humility. In other words, we
“ought to wash one another’s feet”.
In order to live this simple message of love we need to both continue to pray, reflect and grow as
we journey this road together. I am grateful to God for sending me here to the lower eastside of Detroit to
walk alongside all of you. In the short time I have been with you, you have truly inspired me by the ways in
which you lift one another up and challenge each other to be the best you can be. I look forward to many
more years together journeying to become more and more like Christ in his washing of feet. May God
abundantly bless your Easter and the rest of your year.
Peace and Love in Christ,
Fr. Chris
NO SECOND TUNIC
A Plan for Mission-Ready Families of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Click the link to read Archbishop-Emeritus Allen Vigneron's Pastoral Note, No Second Tunic
https://www.unleashthegospel.org/pastoral-notes/no-second-tunic/
UPCOMING EVENTS
Youth Ministry
Weekly Spotlights
The Youth Ministry Team presents you with the following information to help you unleash the Gospel with young people. Do you have questions or good resources to share? Contact us at youthministry@aod.org.
Tomorrow!
The USCCB Office Hours
All are welcome to join Mr. Wyatt Olivas from SPICY Catholics and Dr. Julia McStravog from the USCCB during June office hours tomorrow, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Wyatt Olivas, the youngest delegate to the Synod on Synodality, is now a member of the International Youth Advisory Body (IYAB) with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, and is a Youth Minister. He is passionate about intentionally including Catholic youth in the life of the Church, and this is what has inspired him to start SPICY (So Please Include Catholic Youth) Catholics. Register online here for dynamic dialogue with Wyatt and Julia on how to include and empower the youth in your dioceses, parishes, and schools.
Jubilee of Hope Overnight Event for High School Youth
All those who will have completed 8th grade through 2025's graduating seniors are invited to attend the 2025 Jubilee of Hope Overnight Event on August 2-3, 2025—Please mark your calendars for this event for high school youth to celebrate the Jubilee of Young People. We will begin at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, followed by a tour of the Solanus Casey Pilgrimage Center. See the flyer for more information, and register here. See an information packet here.
Engaging the Young Church Conference!
All who minister to younger and older adolescents are invited to attend the Engaging the Young Church Conference on Friday and Saturday, September 19-20, 2025, at St. Anastasia! This year's theme is Light the Lamps – Fostering Pilgrims of Hope. All new workshops are offered. Our keynote speaker will be Katherine Angulo. See the flyer here. For more information and to register, click here.
Jubilee of Hope for Liturgical Ministers
All clergy, staff, and volunteers who are dedicated to serving the Church through Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Music, and OCIA are invited to a day of renewal on Wednesday, August 20, at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Please plan to join the Office of Sacred Worship and Archdiocesan Worship Commission for this unique event for the Jubilee of Hope.
The day will include Holy Mass, a keynote address by Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron, and breakout sessions dedicated to Sacred Music, OCIA, and Liturgical Ministries.
The event will be free. Registration will be out soon.
Life Teen Kickstart
Life Teen Kickstart is a complete, ready-to-go youth ministry package built for parishes with 25 or fewer teens. It is a scalable, flexible, and faithful youth ministry solution built on the USCCB framework for catechesis. Whether you’re reigniting ministry or starting from scratch, Kickstart equips your team to lead teens toward an authentic encounter with Jesus and a lifelong relationship with His Church.
It includes:
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Access to a digital library for you and your adult core team
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Eight powerful Life Nights per semester
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Weekly Connect Small Group Guides
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Retreats and relational ministry tools
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Volunteer and leader training resources
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All content is aligned with the teachings of the Catholic Church
To see more information or download a free sample, see - https://lifeteen.com/cym/kickstart/
Join the NET Team - Dive Deeper. Grow Closer.
Every year, passionate Catholic young men and women who want to grow in their faith and become true disciples become NET Missionaries. Nine months with NET will provide you with discipleship training and an immersion in the Church that will give you the confidence to share Jesus Christ with the world. If you think one of your young people is ready for an adventure with a supportive community, and would like to see if God is calling them to be a NET Missionary, pass this information on - netusa.org/apply.
NFCYM’s Light of Hope Storytelling Project!
Help the NFCYM gather 50+ videos of young people sharing their faith stories for NFCYM’s Light of Hope Storytelling Project! This pilot invites young Catholics to record short, unscripted videos responding to simple prompts about their faith journey. Please share the link with your young people and communities and encourage young people to tell their faith story through video at this link!
Youth Spiritual Retreat
There is an opportunity for teens of your parish to step away, find God, and experience His peace at a retreat from June 30 to July 2, 2025, led by Sister Judy. All youth 14-18 years old are invited. The cost is $50 or a donation. Father Marko Djonovic will be in attendance. There will be classes and evening fun. It will be held at Maryville Retreat Center in Holly.
Questions may be directed to Father Marko at (313) 850-1728.
Blessed Carlo Acutis AOD Resources
Meeting Carlo Acutis: Resources for Young People to Know the Saint - This packet of resources has been produced for use with young people of all ages to explore the life of this extraordinary young man. We hope that young people will be inspired by his unwavering devotion and innovative spirit.
Discover the inspiring life of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a modern-day role model for youth and adults alike, with the various resources found in this document. Use the prayer reflections, resources for gathered events, Adoration guides, and more to help young people learn about Blessed Carlo Acutis' deep faith and passion for the Eucharist.
Blessed Carlo Acutis' inspiring graphics -Share with young people and across your parish's information-sharing/media platforms! With these graphics, you can help young people connect with his story and values in a way that resonates with their digital lives, inspires others, and creates a ripple effect of faith and kindness. We hope that young people will share these graphics as well.
We encourage you to continue praying for Blessed Carlo Acutis and to use the following sentence when posting the graphics, but you are welcome to write your own post message as well: "Blessed Carlo Acutis, soon to be canonized on September 7, 2025, Pray for us."
Save the dates -
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Jubilee of Hope Overnight Event for High School Youth – August 2-3, 2025
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YM Idea Sharing – August 13, 2025
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Engaging the Young Church – September 19-20, 2025
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RISE – February 1, 2026
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Discipleship Formation Retreat – March 20-21, 2026
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