August 14, 2022

             As you read this I will be somewhere on my Catholic Pilgrimage in England. I, along with the other pilgrims, will be honored to celebrate Mass in ancient and holy Churches/Chapels to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. I am grateful to hold you and your intentions in prayer. I will return on Tuesday.
 
           Once a year the Archdiocese asks all parishes, through the Society for the Propagation to the Faith, to host a priest/brother/sister so that we can learn about the missionary efforts of the Catholic Church throughout the world. The Propagation of the Faith was established in Lyon, France in 1822 by Pauline Jaricot. Today, her vision and mission continues throughout the world!
 
            Because of the pandemic and the upheaval it caused, we have not had a missionary speak at St. Paul for the last two years. I didn’t think we were going to have an appeal this year, so I decided to help out the local missionary effort here in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Fr. Matthew Hood, a former Associate under my pastorate at Divine Child is the Campus Minister for Wayne State University and U of M Dearborn. His ministry services over 300,000 undergraduate students at four campuses. The work, entrusted to Fr. Hood, is extensive and I am sure overwhelming. He now has over 200 students involved in the Catholic community through campus ministry. That is wonderful but far from reaching the thousands of others who need to hear the Good News of Jesus!

            Just a reference point, the other major universities in our Archdiocese (Madonna, U of D/Mercy and Oakland) have chaplains. Other universities in the state are not in our Archdiocese.

            Fr. Hood desires to bring an awareness and a unique insight to a specialized ministry close to our home here in Grosse Pointe. Fr. Hood also yearns to expand their missionary efforts and is looking for additional financial support. He is going to be our guest “missionary” priest (though he is a Detroit priest) next weekend, August 20-21. He will preside at a couple of the Masses but will preach at all of them.  He will also have information in the Gathering Space if you have questions or would like to learn more about Campus Ministry that takes place in the Archdiocese.
Envelopes will be available for a second collection to help Fr. Hood’s Campus Ministry.
 
          I appreciate your care, kindness and support. I look forward to having Fr. Matthew Hood with us for the weekend.
 
In gratitude,
 
Fr. Jim Bilot