“Inspired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) formal statement, Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography, Safe Haven Sunday is a weekend set aside within the liturgical calendar by dioceses and parishes to directly address the societal harms of pornography.

Within the context of the Mass, parishes are able to provide teaching and resources that will support and protect individuals, marriages, and families in making all homes a safe haven.” – Covenant Eyes

In 2023, the Diocese of Lansing launched its first annual Safe Haven Sunday to be held the second Sunday of October. It is our desire to assist families in safeguarding their children from pornography by partnering with Covenant Eyes and provide Safe Haven Sunday.

Resources:

Covenant Eyes – Safe Haven Sunday Resources

Defend Young Minds – Books

Daily encouragement – Email Challenges

Some Statistics on Porn Use in the United States

What do people think about porn?

Pornography has become increasingly commonplace. However, a hopeful trend is that younger generations are becoming more likely to recognize the harms of pornography.

• 46% of people believe that porn is harmful.
• 38% are neutral about porn’s effects.
• Millennials are the likeliest group to view pornography favorably.
• Gen Z has a more negative view of pornography.⁹

• 41% of teens say they believe watching porn is wrong. 38% do not believe it is wrong.
• Half of teens say they “feel guilty or ashamed” after watching online porn.¹⁰

How many people watch pornography?

Despite the recognition of the negative effects of pornography. The number of people consuming pornography continues to rise.

• 61% of the general population report viewing pornography.
• 78% of men watch pornography.
• 44% of women watch pornography.

How many teens watch porn?

• 73% of teens have consumed pornography. 
• Most teens who view pornography have been exposed to aggressive and/or violent forms of pornography.
• 12 is the average age of first exposure.¹¹

How many Christians watch porn?

• 54% of practicing Christians watch pornography.
• 75% of Christian men watch pornography.
• 40% of Christian women consume pornography.
• 22% of Christians view pornography at least once a week, compared to 31% of non-Christians who view pornography at least weekly.¹²

Resources:

Find out more – Covenant Eyes

Posts and Articles – Blog

Daily encouragement – Email Challenges

98% of the fluorescent lights in the Family Life Center and Church were rewired and lamps replaced with high efficiency LED’s.  David, Hayden, Caiden, Kohen, and Ashtin helped complete a large part of the project in August.  Thanks for stepping up and saying yes! 

Christians throughout Genesee County are invited to take part in the international 40 Days for Life effort from September 23 through November 3.

This year Jim and Nancy Hall are heading up the Flint campaign involving multiple churches.  They are asking for volunteers to hold vigil at Planned Parenthood.  Please contact them if you are able to help:  (810) 639-2551, (810) 287-1642 or (810) 287-3122 or sign-up here

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Join now to sign up for our prayer vigil and keep in touch with us. https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/flint and email us at Flint40Daysforlife@gmail.com

Are you or someone you know seeking a closer relationship with Jesus?  Are there questions about the Catholic faith that need to be answered?  Or would you like to help others in their journey toward discerning the Catholic faith?  Then consider participating in this year’s Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)!  Classes will be starting soon.  If you would like to join us, or have any questions, please call the parish office or Bill or Sherry Stroup at 810-348-6990.

See more information here

Pope Francis opened the Jubilee Year of Hope for the universal Church on Christmas Eve 2024 in Rome. Pope Francis released a papal bull proclaiming the Holy Year 2025. The Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year is entitled Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint” and can be found here). In addition, the Apostolic Penitentiary has published this decree.

The Jubilee of Hope Opened in the Diocese of Lansing on December 29, 2024,
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

To Strengthen & Share Hope

A central aspect of the Jubilee Year is the Jubilee Year Indulgence.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY
INDULGENCES FOR JUBILEE YEAR 2025

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.

The indulgence applies to sins already forgiven. A plenary indulgence cleanses the soul as if the person had just been baptized. Plenary indulgences obtained during the Jubilee Year can also be applied to souls in purgatory with the possibility of obtaining two plenary indulgences for the deceased in one day.

To obtain an indulgence, the usual conditions of detachment from all sin, sacramental confession, holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope must be met. (Usually, an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be).

1. Make a Pilgrimage to Rome and pray for the Pope’s intentions in any one of the Four Major Papal Basilicas (St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, or St. Paul Outside the Walls) or any of the special Jubilee churches listed by the Apostolic penitentiary in Rome.
    
2. Make a pilgrimage to one of the following churches in Italy: Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto Basilica of Our Lady of Pompeii, Basilica in St. Anthony in Padua, OR in the Holy Land: Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
    
3. Perform an extraordinary work of mercy such as a generous gift to the poor, or visiting nursing homes or prisons
4. Participate in diocesan or parish sponsored spiritual exercises, missions, or formation activities based on the documents of the Second Vatican Council or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
    
5. Visit any local Cathedral, Marian Shrine, or other special church designated by the local bishop for obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence.
    
6. Fasting at least one day a week from “futile distractions” such as social media, television, video games, certain phone Holy Doors: Holy Doors are to be opened at the Papal Basilicas of St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls (no. 6) and at the Rebibbia Prison in Rome. The Dicastery for Evangelization notes that the distinguishing mark of the Jubilee Year is not the Holy Door, but rather the Jubilee Indulgence, received through the Sacrament of Penance and acts of charity and hope. The various ways and many places where this indulgence may be obtained are summarized above and are outlined in the Apostolic Penitentiary’s Decree on the Granting of the Jubilee Indulgence, issued May 13, 2024. 

Holy Doors:

Holy Doors are to be opened at the Papal Basilicas of St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls (no. 6) and at the Rebibbia Prison in Rome. The Dicastery for Evangelization notes that the distinguishing mark of the Jubilee Year is not the Holy Door, but rather the Jubilee Indulgence, received through the Sacrament of Penance and acts of charity and hope. The various ways and many places where this indulgence may be obtained are summarized above and are outlined in the Apostolic Penitentiary’s Decree on the Granting of the Jubilee Indulgence issued May 13, 2024.

Click here to learn more:

+Find out conditions for how to obtain the Jubilee Year Indulgences

+Diocesan Events for the Jubilee Year

+Places of Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Lansing

+Questions Regarding Indulgences