April 29, 2025
Pope Francis Memorial Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral - this evening
Please join us for a Requiem Mass honoring the late Pope Francis at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo, MI at 5:30 pm tonight.
Bishop Lohse Prays for the Election of Our Next Pope - May 6, 2025
Fr. Bob Creagan Leading Pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. - September 2025
Join Fr. Bob Creagan for a Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Washington, D.C .from September 21-27, 2025. This faith-based journey will consist of opportunities to strengthen your spiritual bond via daily Mass, as well as visits to shrines, cathedrals, and monuments, and more!
Space is limited, so secure your spot today! There is an initial deposit of $200 per person, with final payment due June 30, 2025. For more information on the itinerary and pricing, please check out the PDF file below.
Additional questions may be directed to Keith Tharp (517-285-3087).
Bishop's Annual Appeal kicks off this week
The 2025 Bishop's Annual Appeal kicks off this week. Informational mailers with included pledge cards have been mailed to all registered parishioners in the Diocese. For more information visit the diocesan website.
Remembering Pope Francis
On Thursday, April 24th, Bishop Edward Lohse along with Bishop Emeritus Paul Bradley, celebrated Mass with the special intention for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis.
Spring Showcase - May 2, 2025
Chesterton Academy: Knights of Our Lady invites all families with students in grades 7-10 to attend their Spring Showcase on Friday May 2nd, 2025 at 6:30pm. This event will be held at 736 Farmer Street, Otsego, Michigan. Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP at this link.
SAVE THE DATE: Upcoming Cursillo Community Events
Kalamazoo Cursillo Night at the Growlers - August 7
Join Kalamazoo Cursillo for a fun night in the stands as the Kalamazoo Growlers take on the Royal Oak Leprechauns on August 7, 2025. Group tickets are available with the promotional code: Cursillo on the Growlers website.
Our $15 tickets include a reserved bleacher ticket and a Growlers hat that can be picked up at Guest Services across from the team store. The added food option including the All-You-Can-Eat food and drink for 2 hours starting from the time gates open (5:35pm - 7:35pm) will be an additional 10 dollars ($25/ticket)
Cursillo Women's Weekend - October 2025
The 2025 Cursillo Women's Weekend will take place October 16-19 at the Amigo Center, 26455 Banker St., Sturgis, MI 49091. This 3-day weekend will help you experience your Catholic faith more fully. It will motivate you to engage in
a spiritual life filled with joy, laughter and enthusiasm.
a spiritual life filled with joy, laughter and enthusiasm.
Cursillo also provides a method for you to sustain a life close to Christ! Discover an enhanced and sustainable relationship with God through discussions led by a team of Catholic lay people and Spiritual Advisors, emphasizing the meaning of Grace and the Sacraments as well as the need for prayer and scripture to strengthen our union with God.
Spots are filling up for the 2025 retreat, so apply for yours soon! More information on the Women's Weekend can be found here.
Volunteers and local Knights councils contribute to success of The Presence
Local councils contributed to The Presence retreat, a Eucharistic-centered experience for high schoolers held this past March. Those include the following:
St. Mary - Knights of Columbus Council 9962
St. Catherine - Knights of Columbus Council 6980
St. Joseph, Kalamazoo
Knights of Columbus Watervliet 4055
Knights of Columbus Council 13305
Knights of Columbus Assembly 0513
Knights of Columbus Council 17232
St. Catherine - Knights of Columbus Council 6980
St. Joseph, Kalamazoo
Knights of Columbus Watervliet 4055
Knights of Columbus Council 13305
Knights of Columbus Assembly 0513
Knights of Columbus Council 17232
The Presence committee also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of private donors in conjunction with the Knights for:
- Meals for the entire weekend
- Beds to sleep on
- Keynote Nik Frank
- Musician Lee Roessler
- 170 pizzas for late-night snacks
- 300 glow sticks for fun
- 290 The Presence T-shirts
Learn more about how you can get involved. Contact: thepresencekalamazoo@gmail.com.
Bishop Lohse to bless newly restored St. Joseph Church in St. Joseph
Bishop Edward M. Lohse will bless the newly restored and renovated St. Joseph Church building in downtown St. Joseph on May 1, 2025, at a special Mass beginning at 6 p.m. Bishop Lohse will be joined by Bishop Emeritus Paul Bradley as well as Father Fabio Garzon, Vicar General and others former pastors and priests of St. Joseph and SS John Bernard.
The seven-month-long renovation and restoration included structural enhancements as well as the addition of stunning murals of the Nativity of Our Lord, the descent of the Holy Spirit and St. Joseph the Worker - shown above (feast day is May 1st ). The project has been funded through bequests and unsolicited donations.
St. Joseph is considered one of the oldest Catholic communities in Southwest Michigan beginning in 1679 when explorer Robert de LaSalle arrived. Shortly after the completion of LaSalle’s fort, a mission was maintained for the benefit of early French settlers as well as Potawatomi Native American converts to the Catholic faith. The present church building dates to 1869 and was embellished by the addition of the spire in 1891.
“As we enter this next chapter in the life of our historic parish, I am confident that the good work that God continues to do here will be brought to fulfillment,” said Father John Fleckenstein, pastor, St. Joseph Parish.
1st Saturday Rosary - May 3, 2025
St. Mary's Parish, Paw Paw will be praying the 1st Saturday Rosary for Our Lady's month of May on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM at the Knights of Columbus Grotto in Paw Paw, MI. Please bring your chair if needed and join us in honoring Our Lady.
St. Thomas More Student Parish hosts talk on refugees
HEAR OUR VOICES! HEAR OUR STORIES
REFUGEES SPEAK
at St. Tom's on Monday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Speaker Afifa Thaj of Samaritas will explain who refugees are, how they are vetted before they arrive in the U.S., and what is going on right now with refugee resettlement.
Refugees, both old and new, will talk about their experiences, why they left their country, how they landed in Kalamazoo, and what they hope for now that they are here.
Elsie Romano will talk about her experience as a volunteer with refugees since 2016.
The St. Stanislaus Reverse Raffle - May 2, 2025
Join us for an evening where you'll be immersed in Kentucky Derby fun! This year's event will offer a "fresh" look, complete with some new twists and games, an updated silent auction, and a menu that would make the Kentucky Derby proud. Come see what's new on May 2!
$25 Dinner tickets include admission to the Live Event, dinner, and drinks. Reverse Raffle tickets are separate. The silent auction portion of the event will be here online beginning Wednesday, April 30, and continuing online through the evening on May 2.
Payments may be made by credit card through this website or by check to the school office. If you need help registering, we are happy to assist-just stop by the school office!
Thank you for supporting St. Stanislaus School!
Honoring Volunteers
Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo recently honored its volunteers at a luncheon held at the Bread of Life distribution facility in Portage. Learn how you can volunteer by visiting CCDOK's websitehere.
MCC Announces Death of Sr. Monica Kostielney, R.S.M.
Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) announced with mourning today that Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M., former president and CEO of the organization, died on Monday, April 28th at the age of 87.
Sister Monica’s career with MCC spanned four decades, beginning in 1972 as a volunteer on a statewide ballot campaign and continued through to her appointment in 1994 as president and CEO, a position she held until her retirement in 2010. Sister Monica became the first female in the country to lead a state Catholic conference, and soon thereafter the first woman to chair the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors. Her career included several gubernatorial appointments, numerous board positions, lifetime achievement awards, and countless friends and colleagues in Michigan and across the country.
Sister Monica’s funeral will take place Tuesday, May 6 at Mercy Circle, a retirement community for Religious Sisters of Mercy, located at 3659 West 99th Street in Chicago, Illinois. There will be a gathering from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. which will be immediately followed by the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will then be held at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Arrangements are provided by Thompson and Kuenster of Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Learn more about Sister Monica's vocation and lasting legacy here.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) plans Call Congress initiative
CRS is calling for a Call Congress Day for Tuesday, April 29 (see document below). According to an "Action Alert" from CRS, the administration’s disruption of international humanitarian and development assistance has significantly impacted millions of vulnerable people worldwide, including women and children.
In the next phase of codifying spending cuts, it's anticipated the administration will request Congress to cancel previously appropriated funds for humanitarian and development assistance through a process called rescissions. These funds were intended to support vulnerable families and communities by ensuring access to emergency food aid, helping smallholder farmers improve their crops and strengthening community capacity to meet their own needs. Rescinding these funds means fewer people will receive lifesaving and life-affirming aid, and needs will continue to rise.
Congress is also assessing support for lifesaving aid in the fiscal year 2026 federal budget. Congress has traditionally supported international humanitarian and development funding. As the U.S. realigns its spending around the broad objectives of making America safer, stronger and more prosperous, we must ensure that lifesaving and life-affirming aid remains a central and contributing component of this strategy.
📣 Please lift your voice on behalf of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers and urge Congress to:
- Oppose rescissions of previously appropriated funds for lifesaving humanitarian and development assistance.
- Maintain current funding levels for poverty-reducing international assistance in fiscal year 2026 appropriations.
Check the document below for tips for calling Congress members.