Sunday, May 7, 2023. 2:00 PM, Lecture on JL Hudson Stores
121 E. Boston Blvd
Join us at 2:00 pm on May 7 for tea social and a lecture by Bruce Allen Kopytek at Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary convent, 121 E. Boston Blvd, the former home of Joseph L Hudson. Secure parking in Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament parking lot behind the convent. OK to use convent back door. Donations to Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary are welcomed.
Discover the rags-to-riches story of Joseph L. Hudson, the culinary delights of Hudson’s restaurants, and the stories of people that made it all happen – right here in Detroit. This is the story of The J. L. Hudson Company.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead
Click hereto view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website. If you wish to not receive future notices from Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary send email request to shvmblog@yahoo.com
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead
Click hereto view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website. If you wish to not receive future notices from Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary send email request to shvmblog@yahoo.com
Join us if you can! Share tea and Detroit Memories with renowned speaker John Thorne, director of Detroit Pastoral Alliance. Come and bring a friend.
Sunday. February 19, 2023. 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary convent. 121 E. Boston, Detroit. Secure parking in Blessed Sacrament Cathedral lot.
Over the years the work of the Pastoral Alliance has grown to include affordable housing, economic and commercial development, and Anti-racist trainings as well as programs for seniors and youth. Also meet Sr. Clare Emeroum, recently arrived from Nigeria.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead.
Click here to view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website . If you wish to not receive future notices from Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary send email request to shvmblog@yahoo.com
Reflection led by Joyce Sheldon-Watkins and Sr. Rosemarie Abate, HVM. Very highly recommended.
Join us for these popular Saturday reflections. No cost. A simple lunch will follow.
RSVP Appreciated at email homevisitors@att.net or phone 313-869-2160
May God’s blessing provide you with strength, peace and purpose every day.
In the love of Christ.
Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary
This our 1st attempt to notify friends and supporters of Sisters, Home Visitors when new posts are added to the SHVM website. If you wish to be change the email address or be removed from these notices, send email request to shvmblog@yahoo.com.
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
“The Catholic Church intends to intervene in every phase of the trafficking of human beings; she wants to protect them from deception and solicitation; she wants to find them and free them when they are transported and reduced to slavery; she wants to assist them once they are freed.”
Human Traffickingis a form of modern-day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some labor or commercial sex act. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is always considered human trafficking, regardless of the presence of force, fraud, or coercion. Itis a crime under U.S. federal and international law and is also illegal in all 50 states in the United States. Click here for excellent “Blue Campaign” websiteon human trafficking.
Due to the clandestine nature of this crime, human trafficking is difficult to quantify and an under-reported problem. The estimated number of victims actively trapped in a human trafficking situation worldwide is uncertain, as is the number of people involved in perpetrating this crime. Estimates vary widely, recognizing that perpetrators of this crime often find new tactics, methods, and means to exploit individuals; there is still much unknown about the crime.
Human trafficking can take a variety of forms. Some people are trafficked for prostitution, pornography, and other sexual exploitation. Some are trafficked for forced labor in agriculture, sweatshops, and domestic servitude. Some are trafficked for both. Through sexual slavery, the body becomes little more than an object to be exploited. For victims of forced labor, the body is made into a disposable machine, made to work long hours for little or no pay and the profit of others. In both cases, the enslaved person is treated as an object for another’s benefit. The person’s God-given human dignity is either ignored or forgotten.
Saint Josephine Bakhita was a model standing against the scourge of slavery and human trafficking. She was born in the Darfur region of Sudan in 1869 and was kidnapped by slave traders and enslaved as a child. She was forced to walk barefoot over 600 miles and was sold multiple times to different owners. She valiantly asserted her freedom with the help of the Cannossian Sisters of Venice, Italy. She lived out the rest of her life as a Cannossian sister, sharing her empowering testimony of human freedom and dignity.
Upcoming Zoom Webinar: St. Josephine Bakhita. A Saint for Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking.
ZOOM Meeting. Tuesday. 02/07/23. 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm US Eastern Time.
Click here to register for Sr. Josephine Bakhita zoom webinar on Feb 7.
SHVM fundraising Gala Celebration was held at beautifulSt. John Armenian Churchbanquet hall on October 9, 2022, honoring Fr. Norman Thomas for his life of dedication making known the message of love and peace that Jesus proclaimed.
Fr. Thomas graciously acknowledged the appreciation of the assembled attendees and parishioners.
Fr. Norman Thomas, MC John Thorne, Sister Barbara
Sr. Rosemarie with table of parishioner guests
Attendees enjoyed a night sharing in the warm love and lasting purpose of Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary, guided by presence of the Holy Spirit both in Detroit and in Nigeria. Good friends, good food, good company, good dancing!
One of the highlights of the Gala was a video presentation from Sr. Clare Emeroum in Nigeria concerning the Day Care/Nursery School the sisters hope to build. The facility will greatly benefit the children and their hard-working parents who rely on SHVM.
Click here to watch Sr. Clare’s presentation > YouTubeVideo.
Sr. Clare’s brother, Joseph , with able assistance from his two children, amplified Sr. Clare’s video with his event-ending personal appeal for generosity to support the Sisters’ planned day care nursery in Nigeria.
Sr. Mary Elise Chapman passed to her eternal reward on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. Sr. Elise joined Sister, Home Visitors of Mary in 1964. Her SHVM ministries over nearly 60 years of service carried her to numerous Detroit-area parishes and institutions that were blessed by her enduring grace and generosity, marked by her bright and frequent smile.
“I, by the power of the Spirit, become a co-worker with God …”
Funeral services for Sr. Elise were held on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at Cathedral Of The Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit, with Frs. J.J. Mech and Fr. Tyrone Robinson co-celebrating. Fr. Robinson shared with the congregation his fond memories of Sr. Elise in their youth as their families lived in the same neighborhood.
Sr. Elise long resided at the IHM mother house in Monroe, MI, prior to her passing.
Sr. Mary Elise Chapman (Ludie Elise) was born 5/19/28 in Quittman, Mississippito Alphonso and Estelle (Bentley) Chapman the fourth of five children. In 1929, the family moved to Detroit. Sr. Mary Elise attended Detroit public schools graduating from the High School of Commerce in 1946. During her high school she worked at Barthwell’s Drugs. After graduating, her first job was as a cashier and bookkeeper for Wright Mutual Insurance Co. In 1951, because there were no further opportunities for advancement, she left and took a job at the Army Tank-Automotive Center. She was always taking classes: business, statistics and even sewing and Latin American dancing.
Elise, following her sister Geraldine’s example, became Catholic at St. George in February, 1958. Their mother followed her daughters into the Catholic church in 1960.
Elise says that she became very active at her parish because it was small and needed members in all the organizations. She became president of the Sodality which she had joined because of her devotion toward the Blessed Mother and became a member of the third Order of St. Francis. Elise wrote that her attraction to being a religious sister began early as she watched the Sisters in her parish and read books on different orders, picturing herself being there with them. Her experience in the Legion of Mary and in teaching religion classes drew her to enter the Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary Sept. 24, 1964.
Sr. Mary Elise ministered at Catholic Information Center as bookkeeper. In 1979, Sr. Elise asked to change her ministry to parish faith formation. As catechist and pastoral staff, sister ministered at St. Bernard, St. Luke, Patronage of St. Joseph and Madonna parishes. She served at St. Francis Home for Boys, St. Mary of Redford and Bishop Borgess high schools as well as Madonna University. She volunteered in the Dominican and Sienaliteracy centers. She served on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Sr. Mary Elise was a founding member of the National Black Sisters Conference in 1968 and served on its board of directors.
Sr. Mary Elise wrote: Knowledge frees people. It is light in the darkness. Education can help to cultivate in people a sense of discovery, awakening them to search for truth … I see that the giving of myself in my ministry can be a way for new life to emerge. Words are limited but the Spirit goes beyond words. The Holy Spirit is a force showing warmth, concern, and giving motivation which is the source of creativity. I, by the power of the Spirit, become a co-worker with God developing people through instructions and formation….”
Sr. Mary Elise Chapman, HVM. Born 5/19/1928. Entered HVM 9/24/64. Passed to The Lord 8/31/22
Sr. Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, visited us in Michigan from June 24th through June 26, 2022. Sr. Norma has been praised byPope Francis and others for her work with refugees and immigrants to the United States. In 2020, she was included on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her schedule included stops in Grand Rapids, Romeo, Detroit, and Ann Arbor. At every stop Sr. Norma energized and challenged us to continue to be present for the most marginalized among us — especially the immigrants from Mexico and Central America who have sacrificed everything to find better lives for themselves and their families. Sr. Norma quoted this from Pope Francis at every talk she gave over the three days: “Go to bed at night tired from doing good.”
Click herefor the article in Detroit Catholic on June 27th regarding Sr. Norma’s visit.
On Saturday evening, Sr. Norma made a presentation to over 200 people at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit. We were joined by Rev. Monsignor Charles Kosanke and Paul Propson, CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeastern Michigan.
Catholic High school students from Metro Detroit had formed “Circles of Support” in each of their schools. Their first project together was to collect supplies and money for Sr. Norma before she arrived. The student presented what they had collected (including $1000, and boxes of soap, underwear, socks and toothbrushes.) When Sr. Norma received the gifts, she explained to us why she requests socks and underwear. People, including children, arrive wearing their only pair of shoes which are dirty and wet. A dry pair of socks brings them some comfort. They may be wearing their only pair of pants. A change of underwear helps to make them more comfortable as well. We take for granted these small conveniences! We need to remember some people do no have that luxury.
Public domain photo: McCallen Immigrants
Sr. Norma was asked, “If you had all the money you needed, how would you use it?” She said she would give money–not to the governments–but to organizations and community agencies in Central America that could help the people directly so that they could stay in their home countries.
At the end of the presentation, the students placed their hands on her shoulders and blessed her saying:
May God, the companion be with you,behind you, above and below you.
May you be smothered by God’s presence as you walk the path of your day.
May God’s hands catch yours when you stumble and applaud when you reach your goals.
May God the companion bring you blessing.
Written by Sr. Maxine Shonk OP (Adrian Dominican) and adapted for Sr. Norma.
The following writing of Fr. Victor Clore, pastor of Christ the King Church, Detroit, on the timely topic of GUNS in the U.S. is copied from the parish bulletin THE BROADCASTof June 12, 2022.
I grew up in the country. We all hunted – pheasants, rabbits, raccoons – which was a sport, but it had the added purpose of adding protein to our diet. When we turned 12, every boy and some girls got our first gun. Usually it was a .410 caliber pump-action shotgun, which did not have such a hard kick-back that it would knock you on your butt. We all joined the NRA at that point, which was a gun safety organization. My father taught gun safety in the 4-H program.
Taking care of your gun, carrying your gun, cleaning your gun, all involved religious rituals, more exacting than serving Mass. You knew a gun was dangerous and accidents could happen. Once in a while you did hear about an accident. Usually when you asked about how it happened, it turned out to be a city-slicker who thought it would be fun to go hunting, without knowing how to be careful.
Guns for hunting, of course, are not automatic rifles, submachine guns or assault rifles. These guns are of no use for sport or even for self-defense. The current craziness over the “right” to possess any kind of gun is idolatry. As Jesus said, “You cannot worship two masters: God and Guns!” [OK, he said you cannot worship God and mammon, which is a unique word that implies grasping for wealth, or for your own pleasure rather than the good of others.]
The current cult of guns is clearly mammon worship. It may have its origin in affliction, and it may involve jealousy and anger, and judging by the perpetrators, it involves a deformed character seeking revenge and notoriety, which is why it leads to violence.
The psalm response in today’s Mass states: “You have made humans a little less than the angels.” Actually, we can degenerate into a lot less than angels. The solution is in John’s Gospel at the Last Supper. “I have much more to tell you.” “The Spirit of Truth will guide you to all truth.” The Spirit will glorify Christ. Everything the Creator has belongs to Christ, and the Spirit is taking what is of Christ and endowing us with Christ’s truth and love.
This is a much more profound entitlement than the Second Amendment.God is not finished with us yet. Holy Wisdom is still delightfully playing in God’s presence all the while and finding special delight in the human family. Despite this affliction of gun worship that is contaminating us, we are called to be people of good character, and people of hope. And hope in Christ will not disappoint.
Fr. Victor Clore
Christ the King Parish: We are Christ the King Parish, a richly diverse Christian Community in Northwest Detroit. We are on a journey of Discipleship with Jesus, seeking conversion, reconciliation and renewal. We reach out in welcome to all the people within our neighborhood, proclaiming the good News of Christ the King, building community, celebrating together, serving one another’s needs and the needs of all our neighbors.
Rev. Victor Clore – Pastor
Fr. Clore has been a parish priest in Detroit since 1966, always serving in racially integrating city parishes. His pastoral specialty is blending Holy Scripture and Human Psychology. He has taught at local Catholic colleges, and supports everyone’s participation at Sunday Mass, lay leadership, and a parish school that gives our children a good start.
