October 6, 2026
World Day of Migrants and Refugees Mass -
September 29, 2026
In recognition of National Migration Week in the United States (September 21st-27th) and World Day of Migrants and Refugees (September 27th), Bishop Edward M. Lohse celebrated a special Mass at Holy Angels Parish, Sturgis.
800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis Mass and Blessing - October 3, 2026
To commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi (Feast Day - October 4), Bishop Edward M. Lohse celebrated Mass on Saturday, October 3, 2026, preceded by a Holy Hour and followed by a Blessing of the Pets on the Cathedral grounds, co-hosted by the SPCA of Southwest Michigan. During Mass, Bishop Lohse also bestowed an Apostolic Blessing, which imparted a plenary indulgence during this Year of St. Francis (January 10, 2026 - January 10, 2027, as proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV).
REMINDER: Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass - October 11, 2026
Couples celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries (decade and half-decade) of 25 years or more are invited to participate in the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward M. Lohse on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral (542 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). After Mass, there will be a reception at Fr. Crowley Center with a photo opportunity with Bishop Lohse. Please contact Jen Metzger with questions and RSVP at this link.
Diocesan White Mass - October 18, 2026
Bishop Edward M. Lohse cordially invites people of all faiths to join us for a Diocesan White Mass, honoring all healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, administrators, specialists, dentists, support personnel and caregivers) on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral (542 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007).
Read this article from OSV News to learn more about the Catholic tradition of Red, White and Blue Masses.
Read this article from OSV News to learn more about the Catholic tradition of Red, White and Blue Masses.
Young Adult Gethsemane Nights - November 5, 2026
Spend time before the Lord and join other young adults (18-35 & out of high school) in community and fellowship on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at St. Augustine Cathedral Parish in Kalamazoo.Join us for an evening of Adoration (6:30-7:30 p.m.) with Bishop Edward M. Lohse and social gathering (7:30-9 p.m.) with other like-minded young adults. Each month, the Gethsemane Night will take place in a different parish around the diocese. The next two gatherings will take place:
- Thursday, December 10, 2026, at St. Joseph Parish, St. Joseph
- Thursday, January 7, 2026, at St. Joseph Parish, Battle Creek
Stay up to date on all future young adult gatherings by joining the diocesan GroupMe here, run the by the Office of Mission and Ministry. Please contact Jen Metzger for more information.
The Presence Kalamazoo celebrates 15 years
The Presence Kalamazoo Retreat has been thriving for 15 years. Traditionally, this retreat is a 40-hour eucharistic experience for high school students, which began in 2013 under the guidance of Very Rev. Christopher Derda, V.F., and a dedicated group of lay volunteers, with support from the diocese.Over the years, this retreat has welcomed 2,283 high school students, accompanied by 528 chaperones. Throughout the years, there has also been participation from our Bishops, along with an average of 10 priests each year.
The Presence retreat is a significant occasion for our diocese, and we thank the Knights of Columbus and numerous private donors for their financial support. This year, we encourage parishioners to offer their spiritual support by praying for the students who will attend February 26-28, 2027.
We invite you to consider attending. Registration is open and it only takes two chaperones to bring a small group. For more information, please visit this link.
Diocesan group trip to SEEK 2027 - January 1-5, 2027
The Office of Mission and Ministry is organizing a group trip for young adults (18-35 & out of high school) to attend SEEK January 1-5, 2027, in Columbus, Ohio. SEEK is a five-day experience where thousands of Catholics come together to encounter Christ through prayer, Adoration, the sacraments, and inspiring speakers, including Fr. Mike Schmitz, Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Gregory Pine and Paul J. Kim. It’s a chance to focus on what matters most, grow in authentic community, and be transformed in your faith. To see a full schedule of events and learn more about the SEEK experience, visit this link. Registration and ticketing information for the diocesan trip will be coming soon; contact Jen Metzger with questions.
ESL Ministry in Bogota, Colombia
Last month parishioners from St. Peter Parish, Douglas (Patty Gilman, Bob Rilley, Amy Rilley) along with Very Reverend Fabio Garzon, Vicar General; participated in a program called The English Corner, an ESL ministry opportunity in Bogota, Colombia.The English Corner, an initiative that began in 2021 as a Parish Ministry aimed at supporting institutions interested in starting or strengthening English learning processes has its roots in the parish of St. Peter, Douglas.
The experience took place at the Don Bosco Campus of the Fundación Universidad Salesiana, thanks to the collaboration and willingness of different members of the Salesian Community. Visit this link for more information.
St. Thomas More Parish Blood Drive - October 8, 2026
St. Thomas More Student Parish, Kalamazoo, will host a Community Blood Drive this Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the parish Social Hall (421 Monroe St, Kalamazoo, MI 49006). Please see the attached flyer for more information. Use the QR code on the flyer or visit this link to register for a time slot.REMINDER: Rosary for America - October 10, 2026
In celebration of over 100 years of the "Miracle of the Sun", there will be a group gathered at the Knights of Columbus Parking Lot on Red Arrow Highway in Paw Paw on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 12 p.m./Noon. Please see the flyer below or contact Deborah Leath (574-210-1706) for more information.
St. Vincent de Paul 100th Anniversary Mass -
November 8, 2026
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the St. Augustine Conference will celebrate Mass on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. A light reception will follow at the Crowley Center. All are welcome to attend, especially past and current volunteers whose work supports the mission of St. Vincent de Paul.
Liturgical Living - Feast Days: October 7 -13
- Wednesday, October 7 - Our Lady of the Rosary
- Celebrates the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto in 1751 due to the intercession of Mary and the prayer of the Most Holy Rosary
- Friday, October 9 - Sts. Denis & Companions, John Leonardi, and John Henry Newman
- St. Denis, Bishop, and Companions, Martyrs, is the Patron Saint of France and the French, diabolical possession and headaches
- St. John Leonardi, Priest, is the Patron Saint of Pharmacists
- St. John Henry Newman, Priest and Doctor of the Church, is the Patron Saint of “Newman Centers” at secular colleges and universities
Pray for Our Clergy - October 5 - 9, 2026
This week, please join our Catholic school students and staff in praying for Rev. Leonel Cartagena, S.T.L.; Dcn. Mark Chrusciel, Rev. Simon Chummar, S.T.L.; and Dcn. Bart Connelly.
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our Clergy.
Through them, we experience your strong presence in the sacraments.
Help our Clergy to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need
to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.
5th Annual St. Nicholas Fundraiser - December 4, 2026
Tickets for the Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo (CCDOK) 5th Annual St. Nicholas Fundraiser on Friday, December 4, 2026, at the Kalamazoo Country Club are on-sale now. The evening will include dinner, drinks, music, an auction and a raffle drawing. All proceeds help provide support for CCDOK programs, which benefit youth-in-crisis, pregnant & parenting families, mental health counseling clients, immigration services, food & emergency utility assistance programs and more. See the attached flyer for more information. Visit this link to purchase fundraiser tickets today.
Relic Tour from Ireland Visits National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (Wisconsin) - October 4-7, 2026
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (Green Bay, Wis.), the first and only Marian Apparition Site in the United States will host a Relic Tour from Ireland October 4-7, 2026, with additional events during the Annual Solemnity of Our Lady of Champion October 7-9, 2026.From Oct. 4-7 between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Traveling Saints, an Ireland-based apostolate and custodian of more than 200 relics, will display 18 sacred relics at the Shrine for pilgrims to learn about the saints, venerate their relics, and seek their intercession. The relics include those of Pope Innocent II, St. Charbel Makhlouf, St. Dominic de Guzman, OP, Saint Philip Neri, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and even a relic from Jesus’ Manger.
The Solemnity activities Oct 7-9 honor Our Blessed Mother and remember Her 1859 apparitions to Adele Brice through opportunities for prayer, reflection, and peace. Each day will include Mass, Confession and a Rosary Procession.
More information and the full schedule for the Solemnity is available online here. The Masses will be livestreamed on The Shrine’s YouTube channel.
During Respect Life Month, Bishop Thomas Requests Prayer and Action on the Abortion Pill
Each October since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States observes Respect Life Month and focuses on reflecting more deeply on the dignity and gift of human life. This year, the theme chosen is Mary, Mother of Life. “Our Blessed Mother is our model for upholding the sanctity of all human life in every stage and circumstance. We entrust all our efforts to protect mothers and babies to her motherly care, which we greatly need at this time,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a statement inviting the faithful into prayer, deeper reflection, and action during the month of October.
“Today, with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks,” said Bishop Thomas. “This means that more women, many of whom have been misinformed about the nature and risks of the abortion pill, will have an abortion alone at home, without any medical supervision. It also sets up additional opportunities for exploitation by violent partners or human traffickers. These affronts to human dignity demand our response.”
Through a focused effort of prayer and action to stop the spread of the abortion pill, the Committee on Pro-Life Activities has encouraged the faithful to learn about the dangers of the abortion pill and take action by sending messages to pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. “I thank the many thousands of Catholics across the country who have embraced the nationwide invitation to prayer and action on abortion pills, and I ask that we continue our prayers and advocacy throughout the month of October. Please join us at Respect Life Prayer and Action,” Bishop Thomas said.