Welcome to Our Lady of Grace Parish
a merged parish of St. Agnes-Sanford, St. Anne-Edenville & St. Philip Neri-Coleman
Office: 2500 N. West River Rd. + Sanford, MI 48657 + 989-687-5657
Welcome
Welcome! Whether you are a visitor or new to our parish, interested in becoming Catholic, seeking to return to the practice of your faith, or an active member of our parish, we are pleased that you have come to our website and we will do all that we can to assist you.
If you cannot find the information that you are seeking on this website, please call our parish office at 989-687-5657 during office hours, Mon-Fri from 8:00am-4:30pm, or email us at marcia.kosnik@ourladyofgracemi.org and we will make every effort to help you
Please join us on the weekend for Mass. We would love to meet you in person.
God bless you! We hope to see you soon!
On Sunday, Nov. 1, All Saints Day, Bishop Gruss will share an inspiring message about the Saints, growing in relationship with the Lord and more during the online youth event, Witness.
Although the event is geared towards young people, Bishop Gruss’ reflection is relevant to people of all ages and all are invited to participate in this online event. Bishop Gruss will be joined by Father Adam Maher, and several local faithful including Matthew Conley, a student from Midland and parishioner of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. Matthew was a finalist during a music competition at the National Catholic Youth Conference in 2019. He will share a musical performance as part of Witness including piano and song. Members of our local faith community will be joined by nationally known speaker Doug Tooke and the music group Village Lights from Nashville.
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 (All Saints Day) at 7 p.m.
WHERE: online at witnessevent.org
Please consider donating to the Christ's Mission Appeal
Christ’s Mission Appeal (formally CSA) gives Catholics in the Diocese of Saginaw an opportunity to offer thanksgiving to God for His indescribable gifts. Your generosity to this appeal allows for the continuation and expansion of a wide variety of ministries to the faithful, while engaging in the work of evangelization.
Your financial support and your prayers for the mission of our great diocese and the 2020 Christ’s Mission Appeal are necessary so that together we may “glorify God through our generosity.”
There are three ways to donate:
Securely Online: By clicking the link below
By Mail: Please complete the pledge card that is included in your Christ’s Mission Appeal mailing and return it in the envelope provided. Please return the pledge card to the Diocese of Saginaw.
In Person: You also may return the pledge card to your parish office or the Chancery Office, or drop it in the collection basket at Mass.
Online Giving is a web-based offertory solution that allows parishioners and visitors the opportunity to make donations, payments and pledges electronically from any location at any time.
New Office Hours
Monday-Thursday: 9:00am-2:00pm
Friday: 9:00am-12:00pm
Grace and Grief
Are you hurting or suffering due to loss from the area wide flooding?
Are you experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one?
Is your hurt due to family conflict, fear of the pandemic or just general concern about the world we live in?
If these words have spoken to you in any way we would like to have you join us for a six-week session on how to work through and manage your grief during this difficult time. If you have any questions or would like more information about these sessions, please contact Laura Scheibert at 989-687-5657 or laura.scheibert@ourladyofgracemi.org
Day/time choices for 6 week Grief Sessions: starting the week of October 12th
Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am Our Lady of Grace
Tuesdays 2:00-4:00pm Blessed Sacrament
Thursdays 9:30-11:30am St. Brigid
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm Assumption
Registration for K-12 Faith Formation has started
With our current need to social distance and protect the health of the vulnerable among us, this new year of Faith Formation will look different for at least the first few months.
Please register your Kindergarten through 12th Grade students for Faith Formation with the link below. Laura will reach out to you to make arrangements to get your student's new materials to you and help with setting up their virtual class.
Questions or concerns? Contact Laura at 687-5657 ext. 2 or laura.scheibert@ourladyofgracemi.org
Starting Sunday October 4, the Sunday Obligation will be reinstated meaning that all baptized Catholics are obligated to keep holy the Lord's Day by either attending Mass, if not compromised or taking care of one who is compromised, or by participating in a televised Mass and making a spiritual communion, etc. Please read Bishop Gruss' most recent letters to the faithful of the Diocese of Saginaw.
Masses have resumed at Our Lady of Grace
Bishop Gruss stated, "We believe that the spiritual life of people is an essential element to life, and therefore, it is time to begin to gradually open this part of society for the communal celebration of the Holy Eucharist,” To read the entire message, click HERE
Therefore, Masses have resumed at Our Lady of Grace with some restrictions. Please note that while Mass is limited to 25% capacity, the Saturday evening Mass will be held at St. Agnes in Sanford. A Mass will be offered at St. Anne on Wednesdays at noon. The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday - Friday Mass at 9:00am @ St. Agnes
Saturday Mass at 5:00pm @ St. Agnes
Sunday Mass at 8:30am and 11:00am @ St. Agnes
Wednesday Mass at 12:00noon @ St. Anne
Confessions will be held on Saturdays from 3:00pm-4:00pm @St. Agnes
We are asking that everyone please be patient with us as we navigate through these next few weeks. Many of these decisions are out of our control.
As much as we want to gather everyone together for the celebration of Mass, we also have a duty to protect the life of our parishioners. With that said, to maintain the social distancing guidelines, the church can only hold 25% capacity which for us is about 125 people.
The guidelines are as follows
Attendance is on a first come first serve basis. Once we reach 125 people, you will be asked to attend a different Mass.
Doors will open at 8:00am and 10:30am on Sunday to allow for disinfection of pews.
Please enter through the main vestibule (2nd door from West River Rd)
Face masks must be worn for everyone over the age of 2. If you forget a mask, one will be provided.
People will have to sit 6 feet apart with the exception of families.
Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass, after which everyone is asked to exit the church. This will allow us time to disinfect the church prior to the next Mass.
Communion from the Cup is temporarily suspended. We ask that when receiving communion, you consider receiving in your hands.
Please keep in mind that all of these changes are temporary.
GRIEF SUPPORT DURING COVID-19: As we continue to see how our lives are ever changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are realizing the wide reaching impact it has had on every part of our lives. We at Our Lady of Grace have recognized the need to enhance our grief support to those who have suffered the death of a loved one during this time of crisis, whether the death was caused by the virus or by any other means. Compassionate Companions Ministry which was developed by the Office of Respect Life at the Diocese of Saginaw is in response to these difficult and challenging times. This ministry offers a loving and a listening presence to the families of those that have recently died, through phone calls, emails and eventually in person visits. If you or a loved one is in need of someone to talk to we invite you to call, Laura Scheibert at 989-687-5657x2. In addition, if you are interested in participating in this ministry to provide support to those in need, please call contact number above for more information.
Sign up for weekly digital bulletins
Do you want to stay informed on what is happening in our Parish? Sign up for a weekly digital bulletin. Sign-up is free! When searching for the bulletin, type Our Lady of Grace, Sanford 48657
Pope Francis' prayer to Our Blessed Mother
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us:He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Let the Church always be a place of Mercy and Hope,
where everyone is Welcomed, Loved and Forgiven.
- Pope Francis