From the Heart of a Shepherd

From the bulletin for The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026 August 02)

Mission Report to St. Mark's

It was such a joy to be back with you this past weekend to celebrate Mass and preach. Even

though the visit was short, it was a beautiful gift to see so many familiar faces, catch up with old

friends, and spend a little time with the parish that was such an important part of my life for so

many years.

When I think about St. Mark, I think about home. I first came to St. Mark as a college student,

simply looking for a place to grow closer to the Lord. I still remember the beginning of perpetual

adoration at the parish, and naively volunteering for the 2a.m. hour on Saturdays (hard as a

college freshman!) and the grace of those quiet moments sitting with Jesus. I remember

showing up to Emmaus with my guitar, helping with praise and worship, and seeing the Lord

work through those evenings of prayer and encounter.

Little by little, the Lord continued to lead me deeper into His plan. I served as a brother, and

later had the incredible blessing of serving as your associate pastor for two years. Those years

at St. Mark formed me in so many ways. I learned from you what it means to be a parish family:

to walk with one another, to celebrate new life, to support each other through challenges, and to

keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Looking back now, I can see how much the Lord used those years to prepare me for the

mission I have today. The things I experienced and learned at St. Mark continue to bear fruit in

ways I never could have imagined.

So, here is a little “mission report” from the far-off shores of Lake St. Clair!

For the past three years, I have had the blessing (and challenge!) of serving as pastor of St.

Isaac Jogues Parish. The Lord has been doing some amazing things. Our Sunday Mass

attendance has doubled, our baptisms have increased fivefold, and we have been blessed with

so many young families. There are lots of children, lots of energy, and plenty of crying

babies—which, honestly, makes me feel like I am back at St. Mark!

A lot of the things that I experienced at St. Mark have found a home here as well. Our altar

server program has exploded! We have started a high school youth group called Ignite, which

continues to be a beautiful part of life at St. Mark too. We have a young adult group, and we

have begun First Friday adoration, confession, and praise and worship music, very much in the

spirit of Emmaus. We are also in the process of building an adoration chapel, so that Jesus

present in the Eucharist can remain at the center of our parish life.

One of the great joys has been seeing the Lord work in the hearts of our young people. Through

our young adult group, there is currently a young man discerning religious life with Pro Ecclesia

Sancta. It is such a beautiful reminder that when a parish is close to the Heart of Jesus, He

continues to call people to give their lives completely to Him. Pray for more vocations!

Our school continues to be a tremendous blessing. We have about 195 students, from our

three-year-olds through eighth grade. One of my favorite parts of the day is simply stopping by

the classrooms, visiting with the students, and seeing them at lunch or recess. Their joy and

excitement are contagious, and they remind me every day of the importance of this mission.

Along with St. Isaac Jogues, I also oversee the operations of two neighboring parishes: Our

Lady of Hope and St. Margaret of Scotland. There are certainly plenty of challenges, and

some days there are more things to do than hours in the day. But the Holy Spirit is working hard

and living fast, I am just trying to keep up!

Beginning this year, I am very blessed to have Brother Adrian and Brother Nicolas working

directly with me in this mission. Father Marco and Brother David are serving another group of

parishes in Detroit proper. Sister Laura, Sister Maddie, and Sister Betsy continue to help with

our pastoral work as well. I am so grateful for each of them and for the ways the Lord provides.

Please keep us in your prayers. The mission is not always easy, but it is filled with so many

graces. Pray that I may continue to follow where the Lord leads, that I may serve His people

well, and that I may always remain close to His Sacred Heart.

And please know that I continue to pray for all of you. Stay close to the Lord and keep being the

one strong family united in Christ that you have always been.

Thank you for all the ways you formed me, encouraged me, and welcomed me into your lives.

St. Mark will always have a special place in my heart, and I am so grateful for the role you

played in my journey.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus bless you all!

In the Heart of Christ,

Fr. Joe Barron, P.E.S.

From the Heart of the Shepherd: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time