LEAVES Website for September-October 2025 Issue
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
Dear Readers,
As we begin the Fall season, I was wondering what my “Leaflets” would deal with at this time. An idea came to me as I was looking through my files. I asked the Holy Spirit to enlighten me concerning my “Leaflets” for September-October. Then, one thing came to mind: The Parish Bulletin, which many of you are familiar with in your parish. You probably even have a name for it.
At St. Sabina parish here in Dearborn Heights, it is called “The Catholic Voice.” You may have a different name for it in your parish, but when I come to think of it, if you don’t have one, the time might have come to give it a name. Why not ask your fellow parishioners to find a name and submit it to the parish council? It might be a way of getting the whole parish community involved with it.
To me, a parish bulletin is very useful. It gives information about what is happening in the parish, including Masses during the week, activities taking place, a little bit of catechesis according to the liturgical time of the year, such as Advent, Lent, Easter, Christmas, and so forth. It could be an opportunity to recruit new members for one or another activity that will take place in the parish, etc.
I also believe that a few good jokes could be added. They may help us realize that we are human beings and that a good joke can do a great deal to stimulate interest and be also a way to teach us something that deals with our daily lives. I look at the parish bulletin as a mirror of what our Catholic Community is. The community can be sad at times, and more uplifting at other times.
I was just looking recently at a picture in our parish bulletin. It had to do with a sign which went like this: “Never laugh at your wife’s choices. You’re one of them!’’ That is so true, when we think of it. Just a little joke like this can help us to treat in a better way those with whom we live, and love. It can also help us to straighten our lives, without building a grudge with anybody and be more effective and loving, without complicating things.
The bulletin can also be an opportunity to get more involved with our Faith and lead a more meaningful life. We need something that can help us reflect on our situation as human beings. Sometimes it is more serious, at other times, we need encouragement to make good use of the talents and gifts the Lord has given each one of us. It is an important part of our life with its ups and downs. And it can be important to share it with those around us. There are certainly some other positive reasons to have a parish bulletin. Just go ahead and think about it.
Before closing these “Leaflets,” I would like to thank you most sincerely for all your letters and the help that you give us. Many thanks also for your prayers that keep all of us going. Those prayers are very important and a way of keeping us in touch with one another as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Good health, peace, and joy to all of you and your loved ones. Bless you - Fr. Michael Sheehy, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
Successful Sale
I have read LEAVES magazine for many years and enjoy it very much. I am 85 years old now and am living at assisted living. I’m the mother of three children. My husband died in 2021, so I had to have a sale to sell my belongings and the house to which we had retired.
The sale was in June of 2023 so I would like to give my thanks to God and St. Jude through LEAVES. I asked for a beautiful day because everything for sale was placed outside my house. It turned out to be a beautiful day.
I was so worried about rain, wind, etc., but I had a better-than-expected sale. Enclosed is a donation thanking God, the Blessed Mother and St. Jude.
Please pray for me. Thank you! – Catherine B.
Thankful to Find Ring
I lost a pretty wedding band ring that had been given to me by my now-deceased sister-in-law, even though I already had others. I promised St. Anthony EVEN BEFORE I found it to send a contribution to Mariannhill.
I felt St. Anthony would find it, but still had doubts, especially considering all the stops I had made in the days before I lost it. Yet, there it was on my patio floor, next to my gardening tools.
I thank you, St. Anthony! Prayers to and for all! Just hope and keep the prayers going. Happy and thankful! – Terry F.
P.S. My deceased husband’s name was Anthony!
Honest Person
Returns Lost Items
I am sending a donation in honor of St. Anthony’s Bread. My son had an unusual incident where he and a friend were en route to a golf course. My son’s golf clubs, as well as his wallet, were in the trunk of the friend’s car.
When they arrived at the course, the trunk was empty. My son guessed that the car hit a bump in the road and the trunk was not securely locked, so the golf clubs toppled out. A search of their route found nothing.
I told my son that I would pray to St. Anthony, and they would be found. I was concerned about his credit cards, ID, insurance cards, and there was even a check I had sent him for his anniversary. A novena ensued!
A month passed and there was no answer. My son had to obtain all new cards and driver’s license. I cancelled payment on the check. I was still concerned about identity theft if some dishonest person had found his belongings.
After a month, I reminded St. Anthony that he usually didn’t take so long to find lost articles, and not to forget my son. The next day my son called. A young man came to his home with his golf clubs and wallet. Everything was intact and accounted for.
The young man had found the clubs in the street and looked up my son’s address in his wallet. My son gave him the cash he had in his wallet in gratitude for his honesty. I told my son that I would send a donation to Mariannhill in thanksgiving for this extraordinary answer to a prayer.
How blessed we are to have such heavenly helpers to respond to our pleas. Thank you, Mariannhill Missionaries, for your ministry – B.J.R.
Excerpted from Blessed Engelmar Testimonies:
A Life of
Blessed Engelmar
There is available a booklet of the life of Blessed Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
+ + +
Thanks to God, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Ss. Francis, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Philomena, Ann and Teresa, our guardian angels, Bl. Solanus, Bl. Engelmar, all the LEAVES people we pray for, priests, nuns, missionaries and our pope. Please pray for Carol, Rod, Lorie, Madison, Cole, Kayla and the Mulligan families. God bless America, Israel, Ukraine and all our elected officials – Carol W
.
+ + +
Bl. Engelmar has answered many of my intentions and prayers. I’ve known many Mariannhill Fathers since I was a member of Our Lady of Grace parish 30 years ago – Name Withheld.
+ + +
This donation is in thanks for many favors and miracles from Bl. Engelmar, Ss. Jude, Peregrine and Anthony of Padua, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Jesus Christ. I am very grateful for all the prayers of the LEAVES family, and I am asking for prayers that I need for the cure of my daughter’s alcoholism. I am grateful for your prayers. Blessings to all – L.H.
Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner
Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 100 years ago its monks became the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill. He was not only a great missionary, but also a holy man. The cause for his beatification has begun. We have available a novena in his honor and will send you a free copy of it when you send a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
Prayer in the Evening
Attributed to St. Augustine
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ;
Rest your weary ones;
Bless your dying ones;
Soothe your suffering ones;
Pity your afflicted ones;
Shield your joyous ones;
And all for your love’s sake. Amen.
[St. Augustine, 354-430, was Bishop of Hippo in North Africa; his writings in philosophy made lasting contributions to the Church. His feast day is Aug. 28.]
No Worries
By Margaret Peterson
We don’t have to know the mind of God
To know what we should do.
It happens as we ask His guidance,
As He wants us to.
Well, we should, for each day counts –
A gift for you and me.
And when it’s spent, it glides into
God’s vast eternity.
All our good turns into gold
That we can spend one day,
All because we chose to walk
Our Savior’s golden way.
Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:
Dear Readers,
As we begin the Fall season, I was wondering what my “Leaflets” would deal with at this time. An idea came to me as I was looking through my files. I asked the Holy Spirit to enlighten me concerning my “Leaflets” for September-October. Then, one thing came to mind: The Parish Bulletin, which many of you are familiar with in your parish. You probably even have a name for it.
At St. Sabina parish here in Dearborn Heights, it is called “The Catholic Voice.” You may have a different name for it in your parish, but when I come to think of it, if you don’t have one, the time might have come to give it a name. Why not ask your fellow parishioners to find a name and submit it to the parish council? It might be a way of getting the whole parish community involved with it.
To me, a parish bulletin is very useful. It gives information about what is happening in the parish, including Masses during the week, activities taking place, a little bit of catechesis according to the liturgical time of the year, such as Advent, Lent, Easter, Christmas, and so forth. It could be an opportunity to recruit new members for one or another activity that will take place in the parish, etc.
I also believe that a few good jokes could be added. They may help us realize that we are human beings and that a good joke can do a great deal to stimulate interest and be also a way to teach us something that deals with our daily lives. I look at the parish bulletin as a mirror of what our Catholic Community is. The community can be sad at times, and more uplifting at other times.
I was just looking recently at a picture in our parish bulletin. It had to do with a sign which went like this: “Never laugh at your wife’s choices. You’re one of them!’’ That is so true, when we think of it. Just a little joke like this can help us to treat in a better way those with whom we live, and love. It can also help us to straighten our lives, without building a grudge with anybody and be more effective and loving, without complicating things.
The bulletin can also be an opportunity to get more involved with our Faith and lead a more meaningful life. We need something that can help us reflect on our situation as human beings. Sometimes it is more serious, at other times, we need encouragement to make good use of the talents and gifts the Lord has given each one of us. It is an important part of our life with its ups and downs. And it can be important to share it with those around us. There are certainly some other positive reasons to have a parish bulletin. Just go ahead and think about it.
Before closing these “Leaflets,” I would like to thank you most sincerely for all your letters and the help that you give us. Many thanks also for your prayers that keep all of us going. Those prayers are very important and a way of keeping us in touch with one another as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Good health, peace, and joy to all of you and your loved ones. Bless you - Fr. Michael Sheehy, C.M.M.
Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:
Successful Sale
I have read LEAVES magazine for many years and enjoy it very much. I am 85 years old now and am living at assisted living. I’m the mother of three children. My husband died in 2021, so I had to have a sale to sell my belongings and the house to which we had retired.
The sale was in June of 2023 so I would like to give my thanks to God and St. Jude through LEAVES. I asked for a beautiful day because everything for sale was placed outside my house. It turned out to be a beautiful day.
I was so worried about rain, wind, etc., but I had a better-than-expected sale. Enclosed is a donation thanking God, the Blessed Mother and St. Jude.
Please pray for me. Thank you! – Catherine B.
Thankful to Find Ring
I lost a pretty wedding band ring that had been given to me by my now-deceased sister-in-law, even though I already had others. I promised St. Anthony EVEN BEFORE I found it to send a contribution to Mariannhill.
I felt St. Anthony would find it, but still had doubts, especially considering all the stops I had made in the days before I lost it. Yet, there it was on my patio floor, next to my gardening tools.
I thank you, St. Anthony! Prayers to and for all! Just hope and keep the prayers going. Happy and thankful! – Terry F.
P.S. My deceased husband’s name was Anthony!
Honest Person
Returns Lost Items
I am sending a donation in honor of St. Anthony’s Bread. My son had an unusual incident where he and a friend were en route to a golf course. My son’s golf clubs, as well as his wallet, were in the trunk of the friend’s car.
When they arrived at the course, the trunk was empty. My son guessed that the car hit a bump in the road and the trunk was not securely locked, so the golf clubs toppled out. A search of their route found nothing.
I told my son that I would pray to St. Anthony, and they would be found. I was concerned about his credit cards, ID, insurance cards, and there was even a check I had sent him for his anniversary. A novena ensued!
A month passed and there was no answer. My son had to obtain all new cards and driver’s license. I cancelled payment on the check. I was still concerned about identity theft if some dishonest person had found his belongings.
After a month, I reminded St. Anthony that he usually didn’t take so long to find lost articles, and not to forget my son. The next day my son called. A young man came to his home with his golf clubs and wallet. Everything was intact and accounted for.
The young man had found the clubs in the street and looked up my son’s address in his wallet. My son gave him the cash he had in his wallet in gratitude for his honesty. I told my son that I would send a donation to Mariannhill in thanksgiving for this extraordinary answer to a prayer.
How blessed we are to have such heavenly helpers to respond to our pleas. Thank you, Mariannhill Missionaries, for your ministry – B.J.R.
Excerpted from Blessed Engelmar Testimonies:
A Life of
Blessed Engelmar
There is available a booklet of the life of Blessed Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
+ + +
Thanks to God, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Ss. Francis, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Philomena, Ann and Teresa, our guardian angels, Bl. Solanus, Bl. Engelmar, all the LEAVES people we pray for, priests, nuns, missionaries and our pope. Please pray for Carol, Rod, Lorie, Madison, Cole, Kayla and the Mulligan families. God bless America, Israel, Ukraine and all our elected officials – Carol W
.
+ + +
Bl. Engelmar has answered many of my intentions and prayers. I’ve known many Mariannhill Fathers since I was a member of Our Lady of Grace parish 30 years ago – Name Withheld.
+ + +
This donation is in thanks for many favors and miracles from Bl. Engelmar, Ss. Jude, Peregrine and Anthony of Padua, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Jesus Christ. I am very grateful for all the prayers of the LEAVES family, and I am asking for prayers that I need for the cure of my daughter’s alcoholism. I am grateful for your prayers. Blessings to all – L.H.
Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner
Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 100 years ago its monks became the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill. He was not only a great missionary, but also a holy man. The cause for his beatification has begun. We have available a novena in his honor and will send you a free copy of it when you send a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.
Prayer in the Evening
Attributed to St. Augustine
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ;
Rest your weary ones;
Bless your dying ones;
Soothe your suffering ones;
Pity your afflicted ones;
Shield your joyous ones;
And all for your love’s sake. Amen.
[St. Augustine, 354-430, was Bishop of Hippo in North Africa; his writings in philosophy made lasting contributions to the Church. His feast day is Aug. 28.]
No Worries
By Margaret Peterson
We don’t have to know the mind of God
To know what we should do.
It happens as we ask His guidance,
As He wants us to.
Well, we should, for each day counts –
A gift for you and me.
And when it’s spent, it glides into
God’s vast eternity.
All our good turns into gold
That we can spend one day,
All because we chose to walk
Our Savior’s golden way.