October 27, 2026
Priests Appointment Announcement
Pastor Appointment
The Reverend Albert Kemboi Tuitoek has been appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish and St. Jerome Parish, both in Battle Creek, effective November 14, 2026, and continues to June 30, 2032.
Administrator
The Reverend Robert Creagan has been appointed as Administrator of St. Ambrose Parish, Parchment ad nutum episcopi. He remains Rector of St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo.
The Diocese of Kalamazoo will provide for temporary assistance to the parishes during this time of transition.
The Diocese of Kalamazoo welcomes Bishop Félix Ramírez Barajas, Diocese of Málaga–Soatá, Colombia
The Diocese of Kalamazoo recently welcomed Bishop Félix Ramírez Barajas, shepherd of the Diocese of Málaga–Soatá in Colombia. His visit offered a meaningful opportunity for fraternal conversation and for learning more about the pastoral life of our local Church.
During his time with us, Bishop Ramírez met with Bishop Edward Lohse to share insights on the pastoral challenges and evangelizing opportunities present in both dioceses. He also introduced the project “Pastoral and Evangelization Center with Care for Senior Priests,” seeking support for its development in his home diocese. Bishop Ramírez was also able to join San Felipe de Jesus Parish, Fennville, for a Mass with the Missionary Childhood Group (pictured above).
This visit strengthened the bonds of ecclesial communion and renewed our shared commitment to building a Church that is close to her people, rooted in synodality, and dedicated to serving the People of God. See the attached document below to learn more about the Diocese of Málaga–Soatá.
La Diócesis de Kalamazoo recibió la visita de monseñor Félix Ramírez Barajas, obispo de la Diócesis de Málaga–Soatá (Colombia). Su presencia abrió un espacio de diálogo fraterno y de conocimiento directo sobre la realidad pastoral de nuestras comunidades.
Durante su estancia, monseñor Ramírez se reunió con nuestro obispo, monseñor Edward Lohse, con quien compartió perspectivas sobre los desafíos y oportunidades evangelizadoras de ambas diócesis. En este encuentro presentó el proyecto “Casa de pastoral, evangelización y atención a sacerdotes mayores”, con el propósito de buscar apoyo para su desarrollo.
La visita fortaleció los lazos de comunión eclesial y renovó el compromiso de seguir construyendo una Iglesia cercana, sinodal y al servicio del Pueblo de Dios.
Kalamazoo Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Golden Rose Award - Nominations Open
The KDCCW will present the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) Golden Rose Award to outstanding young women within the Diocese of Kalamazoo in Spring 2027. Female high school seniors may be nominated for this award by their parish priest, youth group leader or school counselor. To be eligible for this award, the young woman must demonstrate outstanding Christian qualities of spirituality, service and leadership within her youth group, school, parish and/or community. The individual making the nomination should provide the student with the attached application form, to be completed as soon as possible so that it may be submitted to the nominee's parish priest for approval and letter of recommendation. All applications, approvals and letters of recommendation must be submitted by Friday, December 18, 2026. Please see the attached memo and application form for more information. Contact Cathy Lucas, Chair, KDCCW Golden Rose Award Committee, with questions.REMINDER: Diocesan Pastoral Center Closed Today - October 27, 2026
The Diocesan Pastoral Center will be closed today, October 27, 2026. The diocese is hosting a “Connecting with our Parishes” event off-site for all diocesan and parish staff members. You may reach diocesan staff members via email but please note there may be a delay in a response.
Young Adult Pumpkin Carving - October 28, 2026
St. Monica Parish's Young Adult Group, Third Place, invites all Catholic Young Adults (ages 18-39) and their children to bring pumpkins to the St. Monica Community Building (4408 S. Westnedge Ave) tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of fellowship and pumpkin carving.
All Hallows Eve Potluck - October 31, 2026
St. Monica Parish's Young Adult Group, Third Place, invites all Catholic Young Adults (ages 18-39) to join a potluck celebrating All Hallows Eve (Halloween) this Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Monica's Community Building (4408 S. Westnedge Ave.). Feel free to dress up as a Saint or come as you are.
Chicken and Wild Game Dinner - November 1, 2026
St. Mary's Visitation Parish, Byron Center, will hold buffet-style Chicken and Wild Game Dinner this Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The dinner will include chicken & wild game, mashed potatoes, biscuits & gravy, beans, coleslaw, rolls, pie and beverages. Please see the attached flyer for pricing information. There will be Bingo starting at 10:30 a.m. with the chance to win 3 cash prices.1st Saturday Rosary - November 7, 2026
The 1st Saturday Rosary will be prayed Saturday, November 7th at 11:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus parking lot on Red Arrow Hwy in Paw Paw, MI. Please join us as we pray to Our Lady. Please bring a chair if needed.Additionally, please note that the December 1st Saturday Rosary will be weather-dependent and that there will be no 1st Saturday Rosary gathering in January and February 2027.
Christmas Craft Fair - November 14, 2026
St. Thomas More Parish, Kalamazoo, will hold a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go to St. Tom's Toilet Paper Ministry, which has helped provide several thousand rolls of toilet paper to those in need since its creation in 2015.
Liturgical Living - Feast Days: October 28 - November 3
- Wednesday, October 28 - Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
- St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot; Patron Saint of sawyers, tanners and woodcutters
- St. Jude (Thaddaeus/Taddeo) is the Patron Saint of hopeless causes, desperate situations and hospital workers
- Sunday, November 1 - Solemnity of All Saints
- Dedicated to all the holy men and women in Heaven who have been recognized by the Church as saints
- Monday, November 2 - All Souls Day
- Also known as The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed; the Church remembers and prays for all our brothers and sisters who have faithfully departed
- Tuesday, November 3 - St. Martin de Porres, Religious
- Patron Saint of barbers, the sick and street cleaners
Pray for Our Clergy - October 26 - 30, 2026
This week, please join our Catholic school students and staff in praying for Reverends John Fleckenstein and Robert Flickinger, and Very Reverend Fabio Garzon, S.T.L., V.G.
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.
Anchor Middle School Conference Registration Open Now
The 2027 Anchor Conference will take place Saturday, March 13th, 2027 from 9:00 a.m. — 5:30 p.m. at Detroit Catholic Central High School (Novi, Mich.). The cost for the conference is $40/person, with lunch available for purchase. Please contact your parish youth ministry leaders to register.
The Anchor Conference invites middle school youth (grades 6-8) from across Michigan to experience powerful prayer, inspiring messages from nationally-renowned speaker Braden Johnson, and a life-changing encounter with Jesus in the Sacraments. Through Mass, confession, community, and time with Jesus in Adoration, this is your opportunity to anchor your heart in His love and purpose. Learn more about Anchor at this link.
The Anchor Conference invites middle school youth (grades 6-8) from across Michigan to experience powerful prayer, inspiring messages from nationally-renowned speaker Braden Johnson, and a life-changing encounter with Jesus in the Sacraments. Through Mass, confession, community, and time with Jesus in Adoration, this is your opportunity to anchor your heart in His love and purpose. Learn more about Anchor at this link.
National Eucharistic Congress to return to Indianapolis in 2029
The National Eucharistic Congress will return to Indianapolis in the summer of 2029, bringing Catholics from across the United States together once again for a national celebration centered on Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist. Tens of thousands of Catholics gathered in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024, marking the return of the national Congress tradition to the United States after more than 80 years.The 2029 Congress will not simply recreate the experience of 2024. Instead, it will build upon what God has already begun through the National Eucharistic Revival. The Eucharistic Revival has continued to bear fruit before and after the 2024 Congress, with impact report data revealing renewed participation in Eucharistic adoration and Confession, greater reverence at Mass, increased confidence among clergy in preaching about the Real Presence, and growth in parish evangelization and service. Additional details about dates, registration, programming, and opportunities to participate in the 2029 National Eucharistic Congress will be announced at a later date.
See the attached press release for more information.
Pope Leo urges young people to register for 2027 World Youth Day
On the October 22nd feast day of Pope St. John Paul II—the creator of World Youth Day—Pope Leo XIV sent a message to young people around the world, urging them to register for WYD Seoul 2027, saying it will offer an experience of “an even greater sense of unity, for we are all members of the one Body of Christ.”A pilgrimage, he said, offers the chance to both discover Christian sites in a different place and to have time and space to encounter God on a deeper level, personally, and communally in the Church. Read the full article from Vatican News here.
Learn more about the Diocese of Kalamazoo's Young Adult Pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2027 at this link.