Parish aids search for missing woman
CARLETON — Divine Grace Parish in Carleton will host a fundraiser Dec. 13 for the family of a Downriver woman who went missing after a Halloween party in late October. The 4-7:30 p.m. spaghetti dinner will aid rescue efforts as authorities continue an expansive search for 22-year-old Chelsea Bruck, who was last seen Oct. 23. Bruck’s parents, Matt and Leannda Bruck, are parishioners of Divine Grace, and Chelsea Bruck is a graduate of the parish’s St. Patrick School. The parish is also selling “Light of Hope” luminaries for $10, which will be displayed during the fundraiser. Dinner tickets cost $10 for adults and children 10 and up, $5 for children ages 6-10, and free for children under 5. Checks may be made payable to Benefit for Chelsea Bruck, and sent to St. Patrick School, 2970 West Labo Road, Carleton, MI 48117. Call (734) 654-2522 for tickets or for more information.
St. Joseph made an oratory ahead of sale
PONTIAC — Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron issued a decree Nov. 4 assigning St. Joseph Church in Pontiac the status of an oratory in preparation for its sale to a local Catholic pilgrimage group, Terra Sancta Pilgrimages. The group earlier this year agreed to purchase the property on which sits the church and the adjacent Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The designation of St. Joseph as an oratory restricts the use of the building to a narrower scope; for example, weddings may not take place there without the bishop’s approval. St. Joseph Church is owned by St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Pontiac.
Divine Child, Kenny Rogers to join voices
DEARBORN — Nearly 40 students from the music program at Divine Child High School and Elementary School will perform Christmas tunes with country music legend Kenny Rogers at Detroit’s Fox Theatre. The 36 high school choir members and five elementary students will join Rogers for the second half of his Dec. 6 show, which will feature classic Christmas hits such as “Mary, Did You Know,” and “White Christmas.” The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Mass Mob draws 1,100 to Queen of Apostles
HAMTRAMCK — The Detroit Mass Mob brought nearly 1,100 people to Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church on Nov. 16, the eighth area stop for the burgeoning movement since it began this spring. The overflow Mass was celebrated by Fr. Janusz Iwan, the parish’s pastor. According to archdiocesan records, the 97-year-old Hamtramck parish with Polish roots currently has 295 registered parishioner families. The next Mass Mob will be 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at Nativity of Our Lord Church, 5900 McClellan St., Detroit.
Archbishop to celebrate ecumenical vespers
ANN ARBOR — Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron will speak Dec. 5 at a Greek Orthodox church in Ann Arbor as part of an ecumenical Vespers service with Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Nicholas. Metropolitan Nicholas had invited the archbishop to give a guest homily during the evening service, which marks the feast of St. Nicholas in both churches.
Dissident group barred from parish
DETROIT — A decision by the Archdiocese of Detroit to prohibit a speaker representing an organization opposed to Church teaching resulted in the event’s being moved from Christ the King Parish in Detroit on Nov. 21. The speaker, Francis DeBernardo, represented Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, a group known for its dissident views on Catholic teaching regarding homosexuality and which has been the subject of multiple censures by the Vatican and U.S. bishops. Notably, in 2002, the secretary for the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, wrote that New Ways Ministry “does not promote the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church” regarding homosexuality, and in 2010, Cardinal Francis George, then-president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote that the organization was “in no manner … authorized to speak on behalf of the Catholic Church or to identify itself as a Catholic organization.” DeBernardo was scheduled to address a support group for families with loved ones who have same-sex attraction.
