{"id":16242,"date":"2022-06-30T20:57:15","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T00:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=16242"},"modified":"2022-06-30T20:57:15","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T00:57:15","slug":"features-225","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=16242","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>St. Joseph Church then and now<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Hfv8bs77zFQ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>Weekend Mass<\/em><br \/>\nWeekend Masses will be held in the Wilson Center Auditorium, half a block west of us at 101 Cass St. There are accessible entrances at the northwest corner to the auditorium and at the back of the Wilson Center.<\/p>\n<p><em>Other celebrations<\/em><br \/>\nWeekday Masses will be held in the Youth Room, which will be converted to a Day Chapel. This room is in the school building and is entered from the parking lot north of the church. Note: there is one step down when you enter the room.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Day Chapel<\/em> will be our weekday home away from home. The Blessed Sacrament will be reposed there, and you may stop in during the day for private prayers. The sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation will also take place in the Day Chapel.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Youth Group<\/em> will meet in the church basement. One of the meeting rooms has been converted into a temporary home for them.<\/p>\n<p><em>Funerals<\/em> will be held at the funeral homes.<\/p>\n<p><em>Weddings<\/em> Most Holy Trinity Parish in Fowler will host us for wedding liturgies.<\/p>\n<p><em>Parish business<\/em><br \/>\nThe parish office will still be open for regular office hours, and the basement meeting rooms will still be used. The church basement will be accessible from only the two north entrances to the church. The rest of the church building will be closed.<\/p>\n<p><em>Can I stop in to see how the work is coming along? <\/em><br \/>\nThe contractor asks that you refrain from stopping by to see the changes. The church will be a hazardous construction site when asbestos is being removed, lead paint is disturbed, and subcontractors are working on the ceilings and walls.<\/p>\n<p><em>How long will this take? <\/em><br \/>\nThe contractor estimates that we could be out of our church for six months. The pew manufacturer anticipates seven to eight months.<\/p>\n<p><em><br \/>\nHow are they paying for this? <\/em><br \/>\nThe majority of the project is being funded with a parishioner\u2019s bequest, the Witness to Hope capital campaign, and funds raised through the hard work of our former Altar Society members. We will also use our Building Fund and general savings account. This plan was recommended by our Finance Council to the Diocese and was approved by their Finance Council and College of Consultors.<\/p>\n<p>The parish is fortunate to not have to raise money for this project. If you would like to help, though, please make your donation to the Building Fund using the gray envelope in the parish packet or by choosing the Building Fund in Online Giving.<\/p>\n<p><em>Why are we getting rid of the church pews? Couldn\u2019t we just refinish them? <\/em><br \/>\nYes, they could refinish them, but they were pleasantly surprised at the relatively small difference in cost between refinishing the creaky, laminated pews and purchasing new, solid oak pews. New pews will also allow them to incorporate spots for wheelchairs and walkers and to make some of the walkways a little wider.<\/p>\n<p><em>Why haven\u2019t I heard about this before now? <\/em><br \/>\nThe initial plan to repaint the church was part of the Witness to Hope capital campaign rolled out to all parishioners in the first half of 2017. In the spring of 2019, two \u201ctown hall meetings\u201d were held for everyone to learn more about the proposed changes and to offer feedback. During 2020 and most of 2021 progress was on pause, but periodic articles in the bulletin have referred to the project.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Cupcakes and Kisses donates to local organizations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/cupcakes.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"394\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16246\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Cupcakes and Kisses in St. Johns recently donated cupcakes to the staff of  Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan and St. Vincent de Paul. They say they love being a part of the St. Johns community and partnering with so many wonderful organizations.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Remember When<\/strong> &#8211; Fireworks make special move in 2012<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/fireworks.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"586\" height=\"326\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12864\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The St. Johns Rotary Club sponsors a terrific 4th of July fireworks display every year up at the St. Johns City Park. Due to school and athletic field construction, the site of this year\u2019s display has been moved to the St. Johns Middle School athletic fields off Townsend Road.<\/p>\n<p>Please note only limited parking is available.<\/p>\n<p>Before the fireworks begin, please be sure to take in some live music at the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Maralyn&#8217;s Pet Corner<\/strong> &#8211; 8 Tips for Helping a Dog That&#8217;s Scared of Fireworks<\/p>\n<p>Fireworks might be awe-inspiring for some people, but many dogs are scared of fireworks and find the sound and spectacle of them terrifying. Dog fireworks anxiety can leave your pets in a panicked state.<\/p>\n<p>It should go without saying that anxious dogs don\u2019t belong at fireworks displays, but even dogs that are at home can be overwhelmed by the noise, especially if the neighbors are setting off their own. That\u2019s why it is so important to help your pet.<\/p>\n<p>Dogs that are scared of fireworks might hide, tremble, pace, or whine in response to the sounds, leading pet parents to consider trying pet meds to help deal with the behaviors. But there are alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>The following tips might help reduce dog fireworks anxiety\u2014whether you choose to train before scheduled fireworks or need tips that you can use right away.<\/p>\n<p><em>1. Use Sound Training to Relieve Dog Fireworks Anxiety<\/em><\/p>\n<p>You can help dogs that are afraid of fireworks learn to cope with them by setting up training sessions throughout the year, well in advance of events such as the Fourth of July or New Year\u2019s Eve fireworks displays.<\/p>\n<p>Begin by playing a fireworks sound effect (many are available free online) at a very low level for a brief period while giving your dog a series of small, tasty dog treats and lots of praise when they remain calm. Then turn the sound off and stop giving treats.<\/p>\n<p>Repeat the process with the sound at a low level until your dog looks to you expectantly when it starts. Always be sure to check that your dog is comfortable with the sounds and not displaying signs of anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Gradually turn up the sound in subsequent training sessions, varying the recordings to include a variety of firework types, until your dog begins to associate the noises with goodies and praise for having a calm demeanor.<\/p>\n<p><em>2. Try a Dog Anxiety Vest<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Much like swaddling helps to calm infants, a snug garment that puts gentle pressure on your dog\u2019s torso can reduce fireworks anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Get your dog used to wearing a pressure wrap\u2014like a dog anxiety vest\u2014before fireworks so that by the time the event arrives, your dog will be comfortable with the garment.<\/p>\n<p>You can either make your own by wrapping stretchy fabric around your dog\u2019s shoulders and chest (make sure it\u2019s not so tight that it restricts blood flow or the ability to breathe) or opt for a ThunderShirt that uses a patented \u201chugging\u201d design to help reduce stress from dog fireworks anxiety.<\/p>\n<p><em>3. Schedule a Pre-Fireworks Workout<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Going for a long hike or spending time playing with pals during the day will help wear out your dog before the fireworks begin.<\/p>\n<p>A dog that\u2019s mentally and physically exhausted might be less likely to react to fireworks, so plan a day of fun activities that will leave your dog ready for a snooze.<\/p>\n<p><em>4. Schedule Meals and Potty Time Early<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to time your dog\u2019s dinner and potty trips well in advance of nightfall, since fireworks typically start as soon as the sun sets. There\u2019s nothing worse than a dog that\u2019s scared of fireworks that needs a potty break but is too terrified to step out the door.<\/p>\n<p>Give your dog enough time to finish his dinner, digest and potty before the noise begins so that he\u2019s not forced to hold it during an already stressful period.<\/p>\n<p><em>5. Keep Your Pup Occupied During Fireworks<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Provide distraction by giving your dog something delicious to focus on during fireworks, like a KONG Classic dog toy.<\/p>\n<p>Stuff the busy toy with special goodies like your dog\u2019s all-time favorite treat so that he has something else to focus on during the noise.<\/p>\n<p><em>6. Muffle the Noise<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to understand why dogs are scared of fireworks; the unpredictable booming sounds can be perceived as an impending threat and make a dog feel vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p>While counterconditioning with a fireworks recording throughout the year will help your dog learn to cope with the noise, an easy way to manage dog fireworks anxiety during the event is to simply muffle the sounds with something else.<\/p>\n<p>Plug in a white noise machine or turn on some calming music loud enough so that the fireworks are camouflaged. If your dog\u2019s \u201csafe zone\u201d is his crate, you can also cover the top, sides, and back with a thick blanket and play music or sounds for him. Just make sure your dog can leave the crate if he wants to.<\/p>\n<p><em>7. Comfort Your Dog<\/em><\/p>\n<p>You might have heard that comforting your dog in times of stress can reinforce his fears. However, your dog\u2019s reactions to fireworks are based on a legitimate fear. Providing comfort during this time is appropriate and often helpful.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting close to your dog, petting him gently and offering quiet words of reassurance during scary events like fireworks can help to center your dog and might even reduce his fearfulness. Plus, doing so will help your dog understand that you\u2019re his partner and that he can always turn to you when he\u2019s feeling scared.<\/p>\n<p><em>8. Consult a Professional<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If your dog\u2019s behavior doesn\u2019t improve, find a positive trainer to help you and your dog work through relaxation protocols.<\/p>\n<p>If your dog\u2019s fireworks anxiety puts them or you in danger, talk with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist about anxiety medication for dogs and whether it is necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that your dog\u2019s fireworks anxiety is a visceral response, and it will likely take a multi-step approach to help your dog feel more comfortable with the sounds.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>St. Joseph Church then and now Weekend Mass Weekend Masses will be held in the Wilson Center Auditorium, half a block west of us at 101 Cass St. There are accessible entrances at the northwest corner to the auditorium and at the back of the Wilson Center. Other celebrations Weekday Masses will be held in <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=16242\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16242"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16242\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}