Before anyone calls them “Father,” priests are brothers, cousins, friends, sometimes even uncles or godfathers. But always, their first title is: son.

Have you ever found yourself longing for the community and support of life in a religious order but know life as a priest, sister or brother is not what you are called to?

Each year, Caring Network, a program of Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo (CCDOK), provides services for more than 350 pregnant and parenting women and families with needs ranging from parenting classes to clothing, diapers and baby equipment.

IT’S A LONG-AWAITED WARM DAY and Jesús Hernández, like many twenty-somethings, is hanging out with his friends. On this particular Sunday afternoon, Jesús, his brother Oscar and a friend, Alex, are commiserating about Michigan State University’s loss in the Final Four while they swap light-hearted quips about a host of things from girlfriends to wardrobe choices. They’re soon joined by another person who they greet with big smiles.

After three years of planning and participation in the fifth National Encuentro, new priorities and initiatives are being planned for the Hispanic Catholic community within the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

Associates, Congregation of St. Joseph MEET AT HOMES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE Daily life: Always moving toward profound love of God and neighborwithout distinction In a nutshell: “In response to God’s great love and mutual support, we aredeeply engaged in living the Congregation of St. Joseph’s mission of unityand inclusive love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.” Contact: Leah Hinman — lhinman@csjoseph.org Mary Rita Sayers, CSJ — msayers@csjoseph.org

As we reflect on our lives, many of us can see a point in time or event that might be described as a watershed moment, a moment that transformed us. Speaking for myself, and I’m sure all my brother priests and deacons, that moment for us is the day of our ordination when, through the sacrament of holy orders, we become a priest of Jesus Christ or a deacon of the Church. For those of you who are parents, that moment might be the birth of your first child. Others may see it in the beginning of a new profession or career. Those moments are ones that are forever life-changing.

“Angel on one shoulder; devil on the other. Who are you going to listen to?”

Al reflexionar sobre nuestras vidas, muchos de nosotros podemos ver un momento específico o un evento que podría describirse como decisivo y transformador. Hablando por mí mismo, y estoy seguro de que para todos mis hermanos sacerdotes y diáconos, ese momento es el día de nuestra ordenación cuando, a través del sacramento de las órdenes santas, nos convertimos en sacerdotes de Jesucristo o diáconos de la Iglesia. Para aquellos de ustedes que son padres, ese momento podría ser el nacimiento de su primer hijo. Otros pueden verlo al comienzo de una nueva profesión o carrera. Esos momentos son los que siempre cambian la vida.

With the school year finished and family vacations dominating the schedule, it can be easy to let your faith commitments take a back seat to summer fun. However, with a little planning, you can keep your summer both faith-focused and fun-filled. Here are some ideas and resources.

Just as the earth transforms with each season of spring, summer, fall and winter, so too does a couple’s marriage relationship experience its own seasons. We begin married life with excitement and expectation for what’s to come. As newlyweds, our hearts are similar to spring buds as we form a new life together. Summer months are the fun-filled activity era, laying the ground work ahead as we move into fall and winter, with its own sets of challenges.

I LOVE A GOOD ROAD TRIP. It all began from the time I was growing up and my folks, with six children in tow, made cross-country treks to visit extended family — my paternal grandmother in New Mexico and my mother’s aunts and uncles in Massachusetts. It was always an adventure.

Después de tres años de planificación y participación en el V Encuentro Nacional, se están planificando nuevas prioridades e iniciativas para la comunidad católica hispana dentro de la Diócesis de Kalamazoo.

As a young bride, Amy Huntington Cupp always knew she wanted a strong faith practice to be at the center of her family. Little did she know then that twenty years after her own conversion to Catholicism not only would she witness her mom, Mary, joining the Church but she’d also be her sponsor. And while their faith journeys had them arriving at the same destination, their journey getting there was markedly different.

How does a former Lutheran music major and IT professional find his way to the Catholic Church and the priesthood? For Father Craig Lusk, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Marshall, and St. John the Evangelist Parish, Albion, the seeds of his faith journey were planted during his childhood, years ago in his quaint South Redford, Mich. (suburban Detroit) neighborhood.

It was standing room only as the St. Clare Parish community gathered with Bishop Bradley and honored guests for the dedication Mass of the new church building. Despite the blustery winter day, the joy-filled occasion was the culmination of more than two decades of the community’s perseverance and dedication to realize its vision for a new and expanded church home.

When Joe sings the famous song “Old Man River” in the musical “Showboat,” a lot of people can relate to the line, “I’m tired of living and scared of dying.” But Catholics don’t need to fear death. In fact in St. Joseph, whose feast day we celebrate March 19, we even have a patron saint who can help us obtain the grace of a happy death.

Muchas veces pensamos que ser misionero implica viajar a un país diferente, pero ¿qué pasaría si fuéramos misioneros en nuestro propio país o, mejor aún, en nuestra propia diócesis? Durante los meses de verano en nuestra diócesis tenemos trabajadores agrícolas migrantes que vienen a trabajar para cosechar los cultivos. Llegan a los condados de Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph y Van Buren: Los nueve condados que forman la Diócesis de Kalamazoo. Hay aproximadamente 300 campos. ¿En qué consiste el ministerio con migrantes? En brindar juegos, lecturas, estudios bíblicos y más para adultos, niños y jóvenes, o la oportunidad de simplemente estar presentes escuchando a la gente. Las visitas se realizan una vez a la semana durante el fin de junio y durante todo el mes de julio y/o agosto, y duran aproximadamente una hora.

Many times you think that being a missionary involves traveling to a different country, but what if you were a missionary in your own country or, better yet, in your own diocese? During the summer months in our diocese, we have migrant farmworkers who come to harvest the crops. They come to Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties, the nine counties that form the Diocese of Kalamazoo. There are approximately 300 camps. And what does migrant ministry entail? Games, readings, Bible studies and more are provided for adults, children and youth, or the opportunity to just simply be present, listening to the people. The visits are done once a week during the end of June, and for the entire month of July and/or August, and last about an hour.

When you pull into the parking lot of The Ark Shelter, your first impression of the facility is probably anything but homey. Its orange brick exterior and looming façade seem more like a typical 1980s office suite than a safe haven for youth in crisis.