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Diocese Honors Bishop James A. Murray (1932 – 2020)

Bishop Murray had a great heart for the Hispanic community. He was the one who started the Masses in the migrant camps. Each summer he celebrated several Masses in the fields and welcomed the farmworkers who each summer come to the nine counties of the diocese for the harvest. He always had a great smile and simplicity for the families.

March 2020 certainly lived by the old adage and “roared in like a lion.” What followed only amplified as the faithful grappled with all the challenges of the pandemic, which impacted all aspects of daily life from how we get groceries to how we do our jobs. And of course included on that list is how we practiced our faith. We’ve highlighted just a few of the many ways Bishop Bradley, diocesan staff, priests, deacons, parish staffs and Catholic Charities continued the work of the Church:

Diocese of Kalamazoo Patron Saint

Durante los primeros días de la orden “Quédese en casa, manténgase seguro” comencé una rutina diaria de dar un paseo por la tarde por mi vecindario. En un soleado día de primavera volví de mi caminata para encontrar una maravillosa sorpresa: un vecino amable, muy probablemente un niño, había escrito con tizas de colores en mi entrada, “Te amamos”. Este gesto de amabilidad iluminó mi día. Y es un gran ejemplo de cómo nuestras palabras, nuestra consideración hacen la diferencia.

During the early days of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe Order,” I began a daily routine of taking a late afternoon stroll around my neighborhood. On one sunny spring day, I returned from my walk to find a wonderful surprise — some thoughtful neighbor — most likely a child — had written in colorful chalk on my driveway, “We Love You.” This gesture of kindness brightened my day. And is a great example of how our words, our thoughtfulness make a difference.

Q: Dear Father: How do we receive the body and blood of Jesus if we can only receive the host? A: If someone had told me a year ago what it would be like today, I would have never believed them. None of us would have. We couldn’t have imagined that schools, stores, bars and restaurants would be closed. Who would have thought we’d be “social distancing,” unable to visit family and friends, or experiencing “contactless” shopping or deliveries? And if those things weren’t enough, we would soon face the necessity of suspending public Mass; only being able to celebrate Mass on TV or via social media. It makes me wonder what things will be like three months ... or six months ... or a year from now.

This year 2020 has been proclaimed as the Year of the Eucharist in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. What perfect timing for us all, and especially as married couples, to build a Eucharistic marriage. But what does that mean?

I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. It’s one that’s been met with utter shock and disbelief, especially by many of my friends as well as my favorite boss. I never really liked the fan favorite, Broadway musical legend Les Miserables until just this past winter when a stunning performance captured my heart and changed my mind.

This September, the Diocese of Kalamazoo will relaunch its annual appeal with a new structure; all monies raised over 50 percent of the parish goal will be returned to the parish. Bishop Bradley, who delayed the appeal, which was set to launch this past April, said this change, which will account for a 50 percent reduction in the diocesan operating budget, is necessary to secure the financial stability of the parishes.

Have you ever wanted to study the Bible and to understand better the sacred texts from a Catholic perspective? Then the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan may be for you.

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.