IN THIS EDITION: - Wind & Flame: The Promise of Pentecost
- Congratulations Confirmands!
- May is the month of Mary and moms
- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
- Volunteer opps at SRN: Serve, get involved, meet other parishioners!
- O.W.L.S. gathering May 8 & Knights of Columbus Pie Sale May 8 & 9
- Around our campus: What is the church narthex and what will I find there?
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Wind & Flame: The Promise of Pentecost
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As spring unfolds around us, the Church continues to live in the light of Easter, rejoicing in the risen Christ while looking ahead with hope. In this season, we turn our hearts toward Pentecost celebrated on Sunday, May 24—the great promise of wind and flame, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and set the Church in motion.
That same Spirit is alive and at work among us today, stirring faith, renewing courage, and calling each of us to witness with joy. May we open ourselves to this divine breath and be ready to receive the fire of God’s love anew.
About Pentecost - Read “Alive in the Spirit,” Hans Whitmer’s column on the sacrament of confirmation in the April 26 edition of our bulletin, p. 2
- Our parish has a FREE FORMED subscription for you. Sign up or log in to learn about the fruits of the spirit or pray a Pentecost Novena.
- Wear red to Mass the weekend of Pentecost to celebrate the birthday of the Church! The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. Red symbolizes the fiery tongues of flame that descended on the Apostles.
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Congratulations Confirmands!
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Congratulations to our newly confirmed young people! We pray they will continue to unwrap the gifts of the Holy Spirit and make use of them in their lives as they follow Christ.
Read about the April 26 Confirmation Mass and view Mass photos on our Flickr account.
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May is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary and moms
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In a special way, May is dedicated to honoring our Blessed Mother and moms.
During May, Catholics celebrate the tradition of the May Crowning which honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God by placing a floral crown on her statue. St. Robert celebrated this tradition on May 2 at the first Saturday Mass and a May Crowning will also be celebrated on May 6 during the 9:00 a.m. Mass. All are welcome!
Mary, more than anyone, can show us Jesus, lead us to Him and teach us to know and love Him, “so that we too can become capable of true love and be fountains of living water in the midst of a thirsting world.” (Deus caritas est, Pope Benedict XVI)
May is also dedicated to recognizing moms, grandmothers, stepmoms, and mothers-to-be. It’s also important to recognize that Mother’s Day can be difficult or painful for women who struggle with infertility, the loss of a child or children, or who are estranged from their own mothers.
Visit the Diocese of Grand Rapids website for prayers and other resources about Mary, Mother’s Day, and the month of May.
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May 4-8: Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
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During Teacher Appreciation Week, we offer our heartfelt gratitude to our St. Robert Catholic School teachers for the care, dedication, and love they show our students each day. They do far more than teach—they model a living faith, guiding young hearts and minds to know and love Jesus more deeply. Through their patience, compassion, and witness, they help shape not only strong learners, but faithful disciples. Thank you for the countless ways you lead, inspire, and reflect Christ’s love in our school community!
As you cross paths with them in the hallways of our school or in church, please take time this week to thank our teachers!
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Serve | Lend a Hand | Get to Know Other Parishioners
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In his homily for the April 26 Confirmation Mass, Bishop Walkowiak reminded our young people of how serving others is a lifetime endeavor through which our hearts are transformed and we experience what loving like Jesus involves. Parish life at St. Robert of Newminster offers many opportunities to serve!
Following are several volunteer opportunities we invite you to prayerfully consider:
- Bring the Eucharist once a month to one of the nursing homes our parish serves (we visit nine regularly). We are in need of three to six more people. If you have children or teens, bring them along. Our elderly parishioners love to interact with the youth.
- Take an elderly parishioner who can no longer drive to a doctor’s appointment, or bring a parishioner to and from weekend Mass through our parish’s transportation ministry.
- We are looking for individuals to serve with our Bereavement Ministry who would be willing to send a card to someone who recently lost a loved one and connect with and walk that journey with them.
- If you’re interested in getting involved in the above opportunities, please contact Katie Mendenhall, director of pastoral care, KMendenhall@strobertchurch.org or
(616) 676-9111.
- Be a welcoming presence at our parish’s Welcome Desk! Greet newcomers and help answer questions from parishioners before and after weekend Masses. All it takes is a willing heart, a smile and a welcoming spirit! Plenty of openings are still available in May! Sign up here.
- St. Robert’s 75th Anniversary celebration is kicking off this November. The main committee and sub-committees are forming now. Contact Molly Reppuhn to learn more, mollyr@strobertchurch.org or (616) 676-9111.
- Wedding Coordinator Team – Help engaged couples and their families prepare for and celebrate their rehearsal and special day! Contact Molly Reppuhn to learn more and sign up, see her contact info above.
- Looking for a way to give back and show God’s love? St. Robert has a team of parishioners who prepare and serve lunch at Dégagé Ministries in downtown Grand Rapids. We gather at SRN the first Friday of every month and travel downtown together. Follow this link for more information or to sign up. Questions? Contact Randy Heldt (616) 633-1083 or heldtrl@comcast.net.
For additional ways to serve and get involved, explore our Parish Ministry Guide online at this link, or pick up a printed copy before or after weekend Masses at the Welcome Desk in the narthex.
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Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors welcome Lynn Tepper in May!
Meet Lynne Brown Tepper, executive and artistic director of Circle Theatre, and learn about the theatre’s upcoming productions at the next O.W.L.S. gathering on Friday, May 8 in the Parish Life Center (use Door E, M or N).
Schedule: 9:30 a.m. – Food and fellowship 10:00 a.m. – Presentation
Bring a potluck dish to share (Last names beginning with A through L, bring a sweet treat, M through Z, bring a savory dish!)
RSVP to Lu Paletta lupaletta@gmail.com
Especially for our 55+ parishioners and guests, Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors meets monthly August to May on the second Friday of the month. To learn more, visit https://strobertchurch.org/ministry/o-w-l-s/.
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Discover our church narthex
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What IS the narthex?
The narthex is the vestibule, or lobby of the church, serving as a transitional (and gathering) space between the world outside our church doors and the sacred worship area, called the Sanctuary (also sometimes referred to here as the “main church.”)
What will I find there? - Welcome Desk – Stop by to say hello or introduce yourself before or after any weekend Mass. Great conversations and connections happen in this space!
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- Gift Bearer Sign Ups & Prayer Intentions – In the binders on the table & podium near Door D, sign your family up to be gift bearers at weekend Mass or ask for prayer.
- Baptismal Font – Dip your fingers into the water of the baptismal font to bless yourself as you enter the sanctuary.
- Holy Oils – The sacred chrism and other holy oils blessed by the bishop at the annual Chrism Mass and used during sacraments in our parish are housed near the baptismal font.
- Food Pantry and HELP Pregnancy Donations
- Our parish partners with two local pantries – Northwest Food Pantry and The Other Way Ministries – to provide non-perishable food items and hygiene products on alternating weeks. Lists of needed items are on the bulletin board near the baptismal font and donations can be dropped in the woven baskets around the narthex.
- St. Robert Parish also supports HELP Pregnancy Aid. A list of needed donations, some urgently needed, is found on the poster next to the cradle near the Welcome Desk. New and gently used donations can be placed inside the cradle. The SRN Respect Life committee delivers the items weekly to HELP.
- TV Monitors, Bulletin Boards & Tables – Check them out! These locations are sources for important parish news, updates and events, and faith formation offerings.
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Weekly Bulletin: Click here to read our latest bulletins online.
Homilies: Listen to Father Tony’s Sunday homilies on: our website or YouTube Channel anytime that’s convenient for you.
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As a Catholic community, we proclaim the Good News by serving God and neighbor as we grow in loving relationship with Christ.
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Be a vibrant, welcoming faith community inviting all people to know Christ through
worship and sacraments,
evangelization and catechesis,
charity and service.
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