Knights of Columbus Council #11957 St. Therese Of Lisieux Shelby Twp., MI

01/14/2026

Armor of God is a St. Therese of Lisieux men's group hosted by the Knights of Columbus. The group meets once per month at St. Therese of Lisieux church to view and discuss videos from the "Into the Breach" series which covers many subjects of interest to today's Catholic Man. The dates of the coming meetings are January 19, February 16, March 9, April 13, May 18, and June 15, 2026. Attend a meeting to join with other men of the parish as we meet to grow in Faith, Formation and Fraternity.

01/14/2026

The Annual Antonio G. Vittorini Memorial Pasta Dinner for Vocations will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at St. Therese of Lisieux church after the 4:30pm Mass. Join us for a great pasta dinner and meet some of the seminarians that are working hard to achieve their dream of becoming a priest. There is no charge to attend, but a donation for the seminarians is requested. All donations will go to support our future priests. Please mark this date on your calendar.

01/10/2026

Raffle tickets based on the 3-digit lottery drawings in May are on sale at St. Therese of Lisieux after all weekend Masses. The tickets cost $10 each with all proceeds will go to assist Michigan citizens with intellectual/developmental disabilities. As the ticket in the photo shows, you can win $25 if you have a ticket one number less or one number more than that drawn, or you can win $100, $200, or $300 if you have the ticket with the number drawn on that date. Don't wait; get your tickets now.

12/18/2025

The 65th Anniversary of Fr. Tom Sutherland's ordination as a priest is tomorrow, Dec. 18, 2025. This landmark event in his life is being celebrated on January 24, 2026, with a Mass and luncheon. The Mass is free, and the cost of the luncheon is $40 per person. Tickets may be purchased at the St. Therese parish office. A headcount of the number of people attending the luncheon must be given to the Italian Cultural Society by January 4th. Get your tickets now and join us in honoring this achievement by a man selected by God to serve us.

04/21/2025

A prayer service featuring an icon depicting the most famous image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 11957, will be held at St. Therese of Lisieux on Tuesday, April 22nd at 5:30pm. The image was painted in 1767 by Pompeo Batoni and is now venerated in the church of the Gesu in Rome. The reproduction bears the blessing of Pope Francis, through the Papal Almoner, and is one of more than (300) icons traveling across the world, from council to council, for veneration and use in prayer services.

Join us for the Sacred Heart Holy Hour on April 22nd will include readings from Sacred Scripture and reflections from Pope Francis on the Sacred Heart, as well as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayers to the Sacred Heart and a time for silent prayer.

01/26/2024

Fish Fry runs each Friday from Feb. 16 - Mar. 22 from 4:00-7:00pm. Join us for some great food.

01/24/2024

Nine Days for Life Novena - Day 9

INTERCESSION

May all who defend life find strength and renewal in the Holy Spirit.

PRAYERS

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be


REFLECTION

God has carefully, tenderly created every person in His own image and likeness, to be in a loving relationship with Himself. From each tiny child knit within a mother’s womb, to every person approaching death, all are loved perfectly and completely by God: “It is therefore a service of love which we are all committed to ensure to our neighbor, that his or her life may be always defended and promoted, especially when it is weak or threatened [emphasis added]” (Evangelium vitae 77).



In a world in which those who are most vulnerable are so often overlooked and disregarded, Christ calls us to embrace and uphold the unconditional dignity of every human life. In answering this call, we help to build “a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love” (EV 77). May the Holy Spirit continually renew us as we strive to faithfully defend God’s gift of life.


ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.)

Do you love your cup of coffee? Abstain from caffeine today, or try your coffee black.


“Unplug” for some time today, and reflect on how God may be asking you to help build a culture of life in your home, workplace, or Church community.

Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today's intention.

ONE STEP FURTHER

Watching the news and reading headlines, we may often feel helpless in the face of heartbreaking lack of respect for human life. When our efforts to make a difference feel small, it’s important to remember that changing the culture is a process of conversion that begins in our own hearts. It includes a willingness to be instructed by the Holy Spirit and a desire to be close to Jesus—the source of joy and love. “How to Build a Culture of Life” briefly explains where to start.

01/22/2024

Nine Novena - Day 7
DID YOU KNOW?

“In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373).



More Information: usccb.org/january-22



INTERCESSION

May all preborn children be protected in law and welcomed in love.

PRAYERS

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be


REFLECTION

Today, we mourn the many children’s lives ended by abortion and remember in prayer those who suffer the aftermath. We pray that children in their mothers’ wombs would again be protected in law and do penance in reparation for abortions that have been committed in our world.



In his encyclical Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life), Pope John Paul II said, “may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer” (EV 100). May that prayer arise in our hearts today and each day forward until every human being is protected in law and welcomed in love.


ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.)

Fast from one meal today.


Offer this brief “Prayer for Life” for all preborn children whose lives are at risk.

Father and maker of all, you adorn all creation with splendor and beauty, and fashion human lives in your image and likeness. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of life.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today's intention.

ONE STEP FURTHER

More women and girls consider abortion than we may realize. They are our relatives and friends, people who work with us or for us. Even if someone identifies as being pro-life, the shock of an unexpected pregnancy, the devastation of a difficult prenatal diagnosis, shame, pressures, or fears may influence her to consider abortion.

If someone shared with you that she was pregnant and hadn't ruled out having an abortion, would you know how to respond in a loving way that is life-affirming for both her and her baby? Learn about the four steps of the L.O.V.E. Approach™*: Listen and Learn, Open Options, Vision and Value, and Extend and Empower.

(en español) A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, ...

01/21/2024

Nine Day Novena - Day 6

Intercession: May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: When God fashioned the human person in His own image and likeness, He destined us for eternal life with Himself. Yet because of the sin of our first parents, death entered the world. The book of Genesis recounts the first occasion in which a person takes the life of another, as Cain violently kills his brother Abel. This instance of brother rising up against brother “at the very dawn of history is thus a sad witness of how evil spreads with amazing speed” (Evangelium vitae 8).
Since this time, disregard for human life has continued to spread. When we, like Cain, allow sin to find a place in our hearts, we become blinded to the truth. Sometimes this blindness might be so deep that we fail to recognize the undeniable humanity of preborn children. We may even tragically believe the lie that abortion is an act of compassion. But we know that “life, especially human life, belongs only to God: for this reason whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself” (EV 9). Let us pray that all who support abortion will encounter the transforming love of the Father and, with repentant hearts, seek His mercy.
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
▪ Smile. Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and to share the light of Christ with those most in need of His love and mercy.
▪ Make an act of faith, hope, or love (usccb.org/faith-hope-love).
▪ Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
One Step Further: Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life) was written to reaffirm the value and inviolability of every human life and to appeal to all people to respect, protect, love, and serve every human life. A brief summary highlights key themes and foundational teachings from the papal encyclical, exploring how the Church’s teachings regarding human life are at the heart of Jesus’ entire Gospel message (respectlife.org/gospel-of-life-summary).
Excerpts from Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life), nos. 8-9 © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2023, USCCB, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

01/21/2024

Nine Days for Life Novena - Day 5

Intercession: May every pregnant mother choosing adoption receive grace and support in embracing this loving option.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: Mothers placing their children for adoption often face many challenges along the way. One of the greatest obstacles can be perceiving adoption as abandonment. But a mother who determines that making an adoption plan is best for her child isn’t deserting her child. Rather, she is following the example of Christ’s sacrificial love on the Cross in choosing a life-giving option that she has determined is ultimately in the best interest of her child, even at great cost to herself. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that, in the face of fears and trials, we can “hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm” (Heb 6:18-19). We pray that each expectant mother will be filled with “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding” (Phil 4:7) as she decides which life-giving option is best for her child. Let us all cling fast to the anchor of hope, for we have received “a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Rom 8:15).
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
▪ Do you have a sweet tooth? Or do you prefer salty snacks? Pick your favorite kind of treat, and give it up for the day.
▪ Look up one of the Scripture passages from today’s reflection, and spend some time with it in prayer. What is the Lord saying to you?
▪ Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
One Step Further: “Accompanying Expectant Mothers Considering Adoption” suggests nine ways to offer ongoing support to a woman who is considering making an adoption plan for her preborn child (respectlife.org/mothers-considering-adoption). Many of the tips given are also helpful for supporting a friend who is experiencing a challenging or unexpected pregnancy, even if adoption has not been brought up. Supplemental resources regarding adoption can be found at usccb.org/adoption-resources.

01/19/2024

Nine Days for Life Novena - Day 4

Intercession: May every father of a preborn child lovingly support the mother of his child in welcoming new life.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection: Fatherhood has its origins in God, who chose to reveal Himself to us as Our Father, sending his only Son for the sake of our salvation. Fathers therefore have a special role “in revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God” (Familiaris consortio 25). Fathers are called to exhibit “generous responsibility for the life conceived under the heart of the mother” (FC 25). They are uniquely entrusted with the protection and defense of both mother and child and, in this way, in safeguarding the sanctity of human life.
As evidenced in our world today, the role of the father “is of unique and irreplaceable importance” (FC 25). Often women choose abortion because they do not have the support of the child’s father, or—even worse—the father of the child pressures her to make the decision to abort. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge with compassion that men can also be overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy and that society increasingly tells them that they should have no say in their children’s lives. In the face of these false messages, we pray that fathers of preborn children will find courage in the example of Saint Joseph—who embraced the role of father amid difficult circumstances—and offer loving, life-affirming support to the mothers of their children.
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
▪ Give up sleeping on your pillow—or even your bed—tonight. Offer this small sacrifice for the intention that fathers of preborn children will courageously answer their call to support both mother and child.
▪ Pray a decade of the Rosary for all fathers of preborn children, that through her intercession, Our Lady may inspire in them the virtues of Saint Joseph: usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary.
▪ Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
One Step Further: Research continues to show that one of the top reasons a woman chooses abortion is due to a lack of financial resources. Read “Poverty and Abortion: A Vicious Cycle,” which explores the connections between abortion and poverty, and how the absence of fathers contributes to this ongoing cycle (respectlife.org/poverty-and-abortion).