In September 2020, I received a random phone call from a special acquaintance, Kay. I was surprised to hear from Kay as we did not have regular contact. Plus, Kay works during the day, so I knew it was important. Kay had a request. A concern and difficulty had arisen in her life, and she asked me to pray. Of course, I said yes. She then went on in an apologetic tone indicating that she knew I was busy and for me to please not make a special trip but could I, if possible, light a candle the next time I was at my church for this special request? [Click the title to read what happened next.]

Saturday, June 5, the 530 Mass will begin with a Eucharistic Procession, led by Bishop Boyea. The new stained glass windows will be blessed during Mass. And after Mass, we'll have a dinner party in the parking lot. [Click title for full details.]

Approximately four years ago with the help of a spiritual advisor, I began to become aware of Mary and her gentle motherly presence in my life, as I was at that time experiencing trials in my personal life which pushed the cracks in my spiritual life up to the surface creating havoc. [Read Carol's full story by clicking the title.]

My Father’s name was Joseph and I attended St. Joseph elementary school, but it wasn’t until I experienced a “reversion” in the early 1990s that I developed a devotion to St. Joseph. I believe that I began receiving graces from Jesus and Mary that was awakening my dormant faith. [Read Tim's full story by clicking the title.]

March is Developmental Disabilities Month. St. Joseph of Cupertino was born in 1603, in the shed behind his house at Cupertino, a small town in southeast Italy. He grew up poor and did not have enough to eat.  He was sick quite often and all of his odd behavior made things worse. Joseph knew he was different.  He was absentminded, forgetful and supposedly a slow learner. He was said to frequently wander aimlessly, with his mouth gaping open. [Click the title to learn more about this amazing Saint.]

My name is Markus Martin, I am new to Catholic faith. [Markus is a Catechumen who will receive Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil] I was drawn to the Catholic religion for the understanding of strong faith and living life through God's Word and teachings. I am looking forward to being baptized and becoming a member of Saint Andrew's church. Some of my hobbies are art, spending time with my kids and family. I also enjoy going to the gym and traveling. I am looking forward to meeting more people from the church.

I’m Andrea Parunak, a homeschooling mom of eight (soon to be nine!) children, who loves reading, ballet, and gluten-free dessert. I was a life-long, committed evangelical, who studied linguistics and Hebrew in college with a special interest in Bible translation work. But as I went on in my faith, I struggled with an uneasy hunger to go deeper with God. I wanted to know God intimately and be transformed by him. [Click the title to read more.]

It took a long time but with His grace I acquired a rhythm of prayer, sacraments, and scripture reading that brought me closer to Jesus and His Church.  I began spending an hour in Adoration each week.  During a recent Thursday Adoration time I was praying to see Jesus in others and hoping they also saw Him in me.  My eyes drifted down to a mother with several little ones a couple of pews in front of me.  An older brother was holding the newest member of the family on his shoulder. [Click the title to read more.]

My name is Emily Armentrout. I am currently a Physical Education Teacher at Merrill Community Schools, teaching grades K-12. I have a passion for inclusion and work with children who are blind/visually impaired as well as children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. [Click picture to read more.]

After being a non-practicing Catholic for many years I responded to God’s grace as He drew me back to Himself. By His grace I became closely connected to Him and to the Church. I made friends who helped me grow in my faith. I was introduced to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and in 2016 I attended an abbreviated but intense three-day silent retreat.  Two days into almost total silence, continual prayer, spiritual talks, and meditation, I came face to face with my weakness and complete inability to help myself. [Click the title to read more.]

Hi, my name is Colton Mallouk. I’m currently a medical school applicant and am working at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. I’m a pilot, scuba diver, hiker, and I pretty much love doing anything outdoors.  Religious studies has always been a huge interest to me. I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Presbyterian church on Sundays and went to a Baptist elementary school. [Click picture to read more.]

Hey there! My name is Michael Paruank and I am so thankful to become a part of the St. Andrew family. This past year has been a time of learning and growing for me. I went from believing Catholicism was a false religion to being received into the church this week. In October of 2019, my dad went to our local library and picked up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. [Click picture to read more.]

After being raised in a devout Catholic family, receiving the sacraments and a Catholic education, I quit. I still called myself Catholic but only practiced my faith occasionally. Over many years the Lord drew me back to His Church. But one thing I struggled with was the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.... In the fall of 2015, two years after joining St Andrew Parish, I sincerely brought this question to God during Sunday Mass. [Click the title to read the full story.]

Hi! My name is Carissa, and I am so, SO excited to be entering the Church! About a year and a half ago now, I started to feel like God wanted His Church to be unified, not only in heart but also in mind, in belief (Philippians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 1:10). But, I told Him that because we all have to read the Bible for ourselves, that was impossible, and I dared Him to show me how we were supposed to be one if that’s what He really wanted. [Click picture to read more.]

I had never sung for a funeral before. My Grandma B, whom I loved dearly, had died and her Catholic funeral was being planned. I was already singing in church choir and wanted to sing for her funeral. [Click the title to read the full story.]

At the cemetery, after the funeral, I was standing in the snow, shivering and crying. When was this nightmare going to end? [Click to read full story.]

The Advent Giving Tree is ready for you! Please return all gifts to the Narthex by December 13, UNWRAPPED. Please use SOCIAL DISTANCING when selecting a gift tag. There are tags strung near the St. Andrew Glass Etching. If shopping is not something you are able to do at this time, please consider a monetary contribution to our online giving page. May you & yours have a blessed & holy Advent.

A recipient of your generosity at Thanksgiving responds. "Being surprised in this awkward time of pandemic isolation by a small envelope on the floor just inside my apartment door was joyful, uplifting, and humbling. Being thought of and gifted with time, care, prayer, and a Buschs card lifts my spirit in a week when holiday of Thanksgiving will be observed alone" [Click to read her full letter]

Alec Clark, a young man from our community, recently made his first vows, officially becoming a Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate. [Click to read an excerpt from his recent letter]

A Letter from Fr. John Linden, updating the parish on our coronavirus response and Mass attendance.