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What was life like for a typical 25-year-old man in 1971? For those who weren’t drafted and serving in Vietnam, they were likely working a job, bringing home a respectable $10,000/year (average annual income), and saving for a house. For entertainment, they might catch the popular “Fiddler on the Roof,” splurging the $1.15 for the movie ticket. Or that year you may find them gathered around the television with family and friends, captivated by the Apollo 14 moon landing. And for Pittsburgh Pirates fans, they might be spending time cheering on their team during what would become their World Series winning season.

Camille DeLano’s day begins like so many educators. She’s up early and out the door by 6 a.m. to start her hour-long commute to Saint Basil Elementary School from her home in Dorr. She never tires of the view of Lake Michigan that greets her each day as Saint Basil sits just feet from the shoreline in South Haven. “I love the lake — it’s different each day.”

The Diocese of Kalamazoo expresses its gratitude to Sister Maryud Cortes, Religious Sister of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Divine Spirit (MSDE) for all her commitment and support during these last two and a half years she was in the Diocesan Secretariat for Parish Life and Lay Leadership. She was part of the Diocesan Team of the Office of Hispanic Ministry.

La Diócesis de Kalamazoo expresa su gratitud a la Hermana Maryud Cortes, Religiosa de las Hermanas Misioneras Siervas del Divino Espíritu (MSDE) por todo su compromiso y apoyo durante estos últimos dos años y medio que estuvo en el Secretariado Diocesano para la Vida Parroquial y Liderazgo Laical. Ella formo parte del Equipo de la Oficina Diocesana del Ministerio Hispano.

A mom with a traumatic past who never trusted a therapist. A couple who were close to divorce. A youth who felt they were to blame for all their trauma and pain. For Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo, these are the stories of just three patients who have been served by the counseling team at Bridges Mental Health Counseling Services.

In those weeks leading up to the announcement of our new bishop in 2009, I was one of only a few privy to who that was by nature of my position as director of communications. A few of us were charged with coordinating the logistics of this important moment in the Church, and, as such, I was on the phone quite a bit with my counterpart, Bob, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Make these special votives to blend atmosphere and faith -- In January, I attended a prayer service for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday at my church. The entire evening was quite beautiful. What really set the tone was what I saw driving up to the church before the service. In the darkness of the night were hundreds of luminaria lining the sidewalk and driveway going into the church. On each was written, “choose life.” They created such a beautiful and serene effect on such a cold January night. Like all of those who came that evening to pray for troubled mothers and their babies, these luminaria were warm beacons of hope in an otherwise dark landscape.

Patron Saint of Nurses -- Feast Day: June 24th

I’ll be honest. Weddings are not always my favorite thing to celebrate. Don’t get me wrong, there are many parts of them that are enjoyable. But, I am much more interested in the beginning of a man and a woman’s marriage, than I am the wedding itself. I always pray that every marriage will be lifelong and fruitful. Along those lines, it is always joyful when a married couple celebrate their wedding anniversary. This is often a very meaningful day for them, and it is especially happy when it is a very special anniversary, such as their silver or golden anniversary.

This is truly my favorite time of year as we witness the rebirth of nature around us: the robin eggs, the daffodils, the worms, the birds chirping in the early morning and the longer days of sunlight. And this spring, we are also beginning to emerge from the darkness and challenges caused by the awful pandemic. We are finally able to experience activities and events that we have not been able to enjoy in more than a year — going out to eat, hugging a family member or, what I hope is at the top of your list, returning to your parish to celebrate Holy Mass.

Esta es verdaderamente mi época favorita del año, ya que somos testigos del renacimiento de la naturaleza que nos rodea; los huevos del petirrojo, los narcisos, los gusanos, los pájaros que cantan temprano en la mañana y los días más largos de luz solar. Y esta primavera, también estamos comenzando a salir de la oscuridad y los desafíos causados por la terrible pandemia. Finalmente podemos experimentar actividades y eventos que no hemos podido disfrutar en más de un año: salir a comer, abrazar a un miembro de la familia o lo que espero esté en la parte superior de su lista, regresar a su parroquia para celebrar la Santa Misa.

"How can I keep from singing?” These are words from a favorite song that remind me of spring. I look outside my window, and I see flowers blooming and birds singing, as the earth seems to be renewing itself in front of my eyes. How can I keep from singing God’s praises?

A large, muscle-bound man walks into the bookstore, fresh from the gym. He looks a bit stunned. “I don’t even know what I’m doing here,” he says, shaking his head a little, in confusion. “Something just came over me and somehow I walked down here.” And he begins to sob, overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. His story is one of many lives touched by God’s work through Newman’s Bookshoppe.

When most people join the Church, they remember the exact moment they decided to become Catholic. Arlea Swager’s “aha” moment can be attributed to St. Peter. “Jesus giving the keys to the kingdom to St. Peter — that was it for me.” “Yep, it all started with Peter,” she says.

YES! If you ask a certain generation of life-long Catholics, most should be able to tell you a quick definition of a sacrament. They would tell you something like, “a sacrament is a sacred sign, instituted by God, to give grace.” You might also hear someone say that a sacrament is “an outward sign of an inward reality.” Either way, we could say that the seven sacraments of the Church are the foundation of our faith. These sacraments are, of course: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. Ordinarily, these sacraments are conferred by a priest. Two of them, baptism and matrimony, may be conferred by a deacon

“Prudence is the mother of virtues which depends upon the practical wisdom gained by experience matched with an agile mind to make decisions in the here and now. Each time Joseph knew the will of God, he acted decisively, swiftly and accurately. He acted neither rashly nor timidly, but prudently.”*

We are all familiar with the term “unsung hero,” but throughout the last eleven months of this worldwide pandemic, that term has taken on new meaning. We admire all those working on “the front lines,” fulfilling essential services for our local communities, all the while helping the rest of us to stay safe. Among those “unsung heroes” are all those in the medical field — doctors, nurses, EMTs; public safety officials and all “first responders”; educators, parents, as well as our clergy and community/parish volunteers and so many more. As I think about the characteristics of those individuals, we almost can’t help but acknowledge that St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, stands out as the primary example of an unsung hero, as he quietly, yet heroically, cared for the Holy Family.

This is the common exchange I have while reminiscing with friends or colleagues about high school and the topic eventually turns to prom — a milestone event I have never attended. In my day (a phrase that already dates me), it was not yet popular to attend prom in a group, sans date. In fact, it was unheard of at my co-ed, traditional Catholic high school. So I didn’t go, because, as I’ve answered hundreds of times to the kind incredulity of my friends, no one asked me. Despite the predictions of my teenage self, I sur-vived. And, if anything, the pang of missing out on what is often hyped as the quint-essential high school memory, has probably contributed in some way to my being both adventurous and comfortable doing things on my own.

You know that feeling when it’s just easier to do something than not do it?” For most of us, that probably means everything from completing a mundane chore to answering an email. For Theresa McFall, that was the simple explanation for why she volunteered her nursing skills at one of the nation’s COVID-19 hotspots, for the Congregation of Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi (commonly known as the Felician Sisters).

As many families experience more together time, from distance learning or remote work or other life changes, now is an opportune time to revisit how you celebrate faith at home.