Wednesday Update, June 3, 2020

DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE PROTESTS

Here in our diocese, across our country and even throughout the world. Racism is not a mindset of the past or simply a political issue. The outrage from within our communities who have not been heard, and whose complaints have not been acknowledged is understandable. Racism is a life issue and as Catholics we are called to stand with and for the vulnerable and outcast in our society. I pray for peaceful protests that bring about authentic and lasting transformation of our public and private institutions and all of God’s people.

My good friend, Bishop Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Lousiana, and chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Ad-Hoc Committee against Racism has shared a video which can be found on our diocesan webpage. Also posted are two statements from the USCCB- one a joint statement of the chairs of seven conference committees and the other a statement from the President of the USCCB, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles.

CHRISM MASS

Our annual Chrism Mass at which we bless the Holy Oils for the sacraments would usually be celebrated during Holy Week. This year we will have the celebration later this week with only the priests in attendance. They will bring the newly blessed Oil of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism (used for Confiramtion, Church dedications and Priesthood Ordination) back to their parishes. The priests will also renew their priestly promises of service and commitment to their
call of servant leadership. We will honor our priest jubilarians at this Mass and thank them for their faithful years of service.

PRIESTHOOD ORDINATION MASS

Deacon Peter John Pedrasa will be ordained a priest for service in the Diocese of Tucson this week. The ordination ceremony will be attended by our diocesan priests and by some invited guests. Deacon Peter’s parents and other family and friends are not able to come from the Philippines due to COVID-19. We will be following the same protocols as our parishes for this Mass. Very different for a priest ordination! While it is not what Deacon Peter was planning for this special day in his life, we are grateful that God has given him the call to service and that he has generously responded. Welcome to the Priesthood! Please hold Deacon Peter and all our priests in your prayers this week.

PUBLIC MASSES

Some of our parishes have started opening for public Masses. I thank those of you who have had the opportuntiy to attend for your patience as we work through these new protocols to ensure the health and safety of all - our priests, lay ministers and the attending public. Please seek the health of the common good and continue wear masks, wash your hands and use hand santizer. Please also remember that I have lifted the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice. Many of our parishes are continuing to offer online Masses for you to be able to join in Spiritual Communion.

HOPE (Helping Our Parishes Endure) FUND

Our Catholic Foundation still has its online giving site that allows all of us to support our parishes – all of which have suffered loss of weekly offertories to keep them in operation. As this pandemic continues, the loss of your weekly or monthly support to your parishes is reaching critical levels.

If you would like to give to your parish online, visit our HOPE FUND WEBSITE.
In addition, the Foundation has been providing COVID-19 emergency grants to parishes. My thanks for any support you are able to give!

PLEASE PRAY FOR...

Sister Barbara Rose Donahue, SFCC

Following a brief stay at Peppi’s House Hospice, Sister Barbara Donahue, SFCC, completed her earthly journey on May 18, 2020 in Tucson, AZ. She was 90.

Barbara was born in Highland Park, MI on September 14, 1929, the tenth child of Emmett and Ella Donahue. The large and loving Catholic family acquired musical talent from their mother, a former concert pianist and music teacher. As the family expanded, Ella developed a vaudeville family stage act, the “Nine Dancing Donahues.” In their performance each of the multiple-costumed siblings had their own signature singing or tap soft-shoe dance routine. Barbara’s signature piece was singing “Alice Blue Gown.”

The act grew from singing and dance practice on the improvised stage of the family dining room,
to become a well-known, unique and popular traveling troupe. They performed at Catholic church fundraisers and for diverse events at various venues in the Detroit area, and even in surrounding states and nearby Canada. For fourteen years the “infectious cheer” of their performances brought joy to
the delight of thousands in Depression-bound audiences. The troupe disbanded in 1945 and Barbara entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Kalamazoo, MI.

As a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Mary Leah, SSJ (Barbara) earned her A.B. degree from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, and her M.A. degree in Theology from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. Barbara’s twenty-six years of ministry as an SSJ were devoted to elementary school teaching, Directress of Postulants (1965 -1971), and active involvement in the Sister Formation Movement.

In 1971 Sister Barbara transferred to a different religious community, the Sisters for Christian Community (SFCC). After serving as principal of St. Francis School, Ann Arbor, MI, Barbara ventured

west to Arizona. Here she taught at several locations, including St. Anthony School, Casa Grande and the San Solanas Missions on the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Barbara then moved to Tucson where she taught for thirteen years in the Sunnyside Unified School District. In 1995 she completed a near half-century as a much loved and energizing teacher. At retirement the Sunnyside District cited her as “Teacher Extraordinaire.” In retirement Sister Barbara directed her energies to volunteer ministries at St. Pius X Parish, Tucson. For more than twenty years she served as planner and leader of song for daily morning Mass liturgies as well as working with small group communities and Seniors.

Barbara is predeceased by her nine siblings -- brothers Emmett, Jack, Denny, Tom, and Dick and sisters Betty, Kaye, Nancy, and Rita. She is survived by her close friend, Sister Mary Therese Martin, SFCC. Both entered the convent in 1945 and remained companions throughout seventy-five years of ministry as religious sisters.

Barbara is also survived by a host of Donahue Family members throughout the United States. These include 83 nieces, nephews and great-nieces/nephews, together with more than 60 of their children in a third generation. In 2019 families of Barbara’s siblings traveled to Tucson to join with parishioners of St. Pius X for a grand Irish celebration of “Aunt Barb’s” 90th birthday.

Barbara is remembered as outgoing with a welcoming smile; responsive to the needs of others;
an active listener; caring, fun-loving, joyful, prayerful, and selfless. She experienced the greatest happiness when participating in Mass, receiving Holy Communion, helping others, being in the company of friends, and participating in music. Barbara expressed her parting gift to us with these words: “I leave you faith, hope, love and a spirit of joy displayed with a sense of humor.”

Barbara’s family and friends hope to gather in September of 2020 at St. Pius X Church, Tucson, for a funeral Mass, followed by a reception in celebration of her life. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Owosso, MI. May she rest in peace.