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It’s a rare block of uninterrupted time on Don Bouchard’s calendar when we sit down together at Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo’s offices. The busy physician not only guides the agency as its Executive Director, but he also runs his six-year-old practice, Holy Family Healthcare, and serves in his diaconate ministry for St. Augustine Cathedral Parish, Kalamazoo. It’s a demanding schedule that keeps him busy with stops all around Southwest Michigan, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Easter is the holiest day of our Catholic faith. After 40 days of penance through prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent, and the three days of preparation during the Easter triduum, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life. Through the centuries Catholics have developed many traditions for celebrating Holy Week. Incorporating these traditions into our personal observances lends a rich experience of the true message of this time in our liturgical calendar.

Each Easter Vigil thousands of people across the world enter into full communion with the Church through the sacraments of initiation. Southwest Michigan Catholic interviewed Jessica Woods, a 27-year-old Ferris State University pharmacy student and parishioner of St. Mary Parish, Marshall, who was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church last year.

Q: Why do I have to go to confession with a priest? God knows what’s in my heart — isn’t saying I’m sorry to him in prayer enough? A: The simple answer? For the grace.

Kathy finds healing at Rachel’s Vineyard retreats Kathy Dey had been on a hero’s journey through death and shame, until a spirit led her to a life of love and greater joy than she ever imagined. As with the best adventures, this one revolves around an unlikely hero.

Living the Mission of the Eucharist - For a group of neighborhood children, living the mission of the Eucharist meant turning an otherwise ordinary summer day into a way to help other children.

Living the mission of the Eucharist - Last month, Bishop Paul J. Bradley began the first of 26 pastoral visits to the 26 Parish Collaboratives in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The first stop on the “Loving God and Your Neighbor” pastoral tour was on Feb. 28 when Bishop Bradley visited St. Mark Parish, Niles. The day began with a series of meetings with Parish and Finance council members as well as the clergy serving St. Mark’s. The day also included the celebration of the Vigil Mass followed by a parish dinner featuring a talk by Bishop Bradley. The pastoral visit concluded with Benediction.

Living the Mission of the Eucharist - Volunteering is nothing new for Kathy Keagle. The St. Ambrose Parish, Parchment Parishioner has been generous with her time since her days as a Girl Scout leader and volunteer at her parish while raising her three children. Recently the retired medical technologist was invited by a close friend who was a volunteer for Ascension Borgess to give volunteering at the hospital a try.

 La Diócesis de Kalamazoo les da la bienvenida a las Hermanas Delia Aurora Ibarra, Paubla Jaritza Garcia, y Daysis Evangelista Uriarte de la Congregación de las Hermanas Siervas del Divino Rostro. Ellas son una comunidad joven, fundada en Nicaragua por la Madre Teresita Ortez para servir en la Iglesia a los más pobres, a los niños abandonados.

The Diocese of Kalamazoo welcomes Sister Delia Aurora Ibarra, Sister Paubla Jaritza Garcia and Sister Daysis Evangelista Uriarte of the Congregation of the Siervas del Divino Rostro (Servants of the Divine Face). They are a young community, founded in Nicaragua by Mother Teresita Ortez to serve the poor and abandoned children in the Church.

Advocate of peace, advisor to popes: Catherine of Siena

“There is no greater love within a marriage and a family than for the spouses and children to lay down their lives for one another. This is the heart of the vocation of marriage, the heart of the call to become holy.” (Marriage and Life in the Divine Plan, A Pastoral Letter, USCCB 2009)

Durante esta época del año, muchas personas esperan unas “Vacaciones de Primavera”. Recientemente tuve el gran placer de pasar unos días con mis seis hermanos en la soleada Florida. Estas breves vacaciones familiars proporcionaron un especial y bienvenido tiempo juntos, así como un descanso de nuestras responsabilidades ordinarias y nuestros horarios de rutina.

During this time of year many people look forward to a “Spring Break.” Just recently I had the great pleasure to spend time with my six siblings in sunny Florida for a few days. This brief family vacation provided both a welcome and special time together as well as a break from our ordinary responsibilities and routine schedules.

I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE MAGIC OF THE STILLNESS of the house as I cozied up on our living room couch nursing my infant daughter. It’s one of my fondest memories of being a new mom — all thoughts of “to do” lists set aside. Just the sounds of my own breathing in rhythm with the sleeping infant with the full belly nuzzling into me. It was in those sweet moments, where time seemed suspended and all seemed right with the world.

On any given day, you may encounter Angelica Valdes dropping her 10-year-old daughter Alexa off at school; or volunteering at the migrant camps; or participating in a Bible study with her fellow “Women of the Word” parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage; or helping to run the diocesan San Agustin Institute for Hispanic Lay Ministry Formation Program.

En cualquier día, encontrará a Angélica Valdés dejando a su hija de 10 años, Alexa, en la escuela; o como voluntaria en los campos migrantes; o participando en el estudio Bíblico con sus compañeras del grupo de “Mujeres de la Palabra” en la parroquia de St. Catherine of Siena; o ayudando a coordinar el programa diocesano, Instituto San Agustín Programa de Formación Pastoral y Liderazgo.

During the season of Advent (from Latin adventus, “a coming”), we are prayerfully and joyfully awaiting the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent also marks the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Church. These weeks allow us to focus on deepening our prayer life, both individually and as a family and, hopefully, inspire us to strengthen traditions centered around preparing ourselves and our homes for a new year with Christ.

Father James Vinh Le’s journey through mine fields and refugee camps to the priesthood

When the calendar announces that December has arrived, we immediately feel that it is the season for celebrations, feasts, and, especially, meditation on who are the real protagonists of this season: Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the Magi and the simple shepherds of Bethlehem.