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The Advent Season calls us to continue “waiting in joyful hope” for all that God intends to do for us, and the Christmas Season urges us to be filled with Joy as we celebrate Jesus’ Birth, God with us forever. Even in the face of the tremendous disappointment that many of us experienced in the recent mid-term elections when the prolife agenda seemed to be overtaken by a more radical pro-abortion mentality, we must heed St. Paul’s advice: “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, and persevere in prayer.” (Rom.12:12) As we approach the joyous celebration of Christmas, when Jesus came into the world as we all did, we need to keep in mind that throughout his earthly ministry Jesus said, “Do not be afraid!” Jesus has won the ultimate battle over sin and death. Jesus has defeated the binding power of the Evil One. Jesus has promised us that He has “built His Church upon Rock, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18) That is the reason why we can rejoice in hope. As followers of Christ, we know the end of the story — God’s ways will ultimately prevail, and so we endure in these current afflictions. Jesus has shown us the power of prayer in His own life, and He has urged us to pray always; therefore, even now, we must persevere in prayer.

It was a covert operation. Outfitted in our black hats and hoodies, my then-eight-year-old son and I took off on our mission: to deliver a Christmas tree to our friend Sharon. She had decided to forgo having a Christmas tree that year since she’d be away visiting out-of-state family. When Jay overheard us talking and she mentioned she didn’t have a tree, he was horrified, indignant even, in the starry-eyed, Christmas-waiting way that eight-year-olds can be. “But Sharon must have a tree! It’s just not right!”

A time as exciting as the holiday season growing nearer every year (it seems), and yet there is a certain melancholy in the air because we will be celebrating with one less member in the family this time.” These words were shared by a dear family friend who had recently lost his spouse of more than 50 years. What do you say to someone who loses a spouse, a child, a friend, a family member, just before the holidays? How can we find consolation as many still grieve a recent loss and find participating in the merriment of the holidays challenging? For answers we can first look to our faith.

‘My mom paid to have a Mass said for my dad on his birthday — what does that even mean?’

Liz Ryan is one of those people who lights up a room with her ever-present smile and endless positivity. So much so that her exuberance makes some people suspicious. “What is it that you do that makes you happy all the time,” is a question Liz says she gets asked a lot. Her response? “It’s God. Not a big secret — knowing his joy is my joy.”

The Catholic faith has been an important aspect of the life of southwest Michigan for a long time — from Chief Pokagon walking to Detroit to beg for the spiritual needs of the region and requesting a priest to be stationed here, to Msgr. O’Brien establishing Borgess Hospital and bringing the Sisters of St. Joseph to the region. Every day and age has had its own challenges and needs. The Church consistently desires to meet those needs. Today is no different.

Just eight years ago, Deacon Don Bouchard, D.O., and his late wife, Theresa, created Holy Family Healthcare as a mobile unit. Their mission was to serve the migrant and local communities with Catholic-based family healthcare, treating the whole person. Now, thanks to the generosity of donors and a matching grant from Catholic Extension, the organization is operating from its new 4,000-square-foot offices in downtown Hartford, increasing its capacity to serve surrounding communities.

Hundreds of households in our nine-county diocesan area face difficult decisions between having heat and paying for other necessities like food or medicine each winter. From its inception in the early 1980s until now, the Home Heating Assistance Program has given more than $2.2 million and aided more than 13,000 families in our diocese to make that decision a little easier.

When we hear the word “renewal,” the first thoughts we have may be of mundane tasks like renewing our license plates or our library cards. Or we may think about renewal as in going on a vacation and taking a break from our everyday tasks, chores and work. However, when we speak of spiritual renewal, it’s a more complex, deeper process, one where we strengthen our relationship and undergo a conversion of heart. Many beautiful renewal occasions happen within our faith lives. We renew our baptismal promises at Easter Mass. Our 50th anniversary couples renew their sacred wedding vows and their sacramental commitment to each other at our annual diocesan Mass. As priests, we renew our priestly promises at the annual Chrism Mass and at Ordination Masses.

Dear Father: I have major surgery coming up and my friend suggested I get anointed by our pastor. I thought that that sacrament was used only when one is about to pass away?

“It's so awesome — can we tell people about this?!" That was Heather Hicks’ question after learning about the online faith formation courses offered through the diocese’s Institute of Missionary Discipleship (IMD). The newly appointed Director of Religious Education for St. Cyril Parish, Nashville, was embarking on completing her catechist certification and was enthralled with the online courses, which are offered through a partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville.

The daily life of a priest may surprise you. If you’re Father José Haro, activities can range from celebrating Mass to unclogging a toilet to even contending with a wild turkey. In this diocesan “Year of Priestly Spiritual Renewal and Prayer for Vocations,” I caught up with Father José, the pastor of St. Mary Parish, Kalamazoo, and Director of Vocations for the Diocese to get a better glimpse into a day in the life of a priest.

This year’s two distinguished honorees of the Bishop Paul V. Donovan Founder’s Society Award for Outstanding service are Msgr. Michael Hazard, Vicar General and hospital chaplain, and Margaret Mary (Peggy) Gallagher, retired religious education director of St. Joseph Parish, St. Joseph. Honorees are chosen who exemplify tireless service in the name of Jesus and who reflect a love for God through service to the Catholic Church and the members of the Body of Christ. The 2022 recipients were honored during the Feast of St. Augustine Mass on Aug. 28, 2022, at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo.

As he walks the halls of his alma mater, John Proos stops to greet the school staff, joke with one of the high school students and give a shoutout to his daughter Nora’s soccer teammate on a great game. The memories come flooding back for the 1988 graduate of Lake Michigan Catholic (LMC)* [now Our Lady of the Lake] as he recalls the lifelong friends he made and the faith-centered education that paved his path to public service.

Vacations can be fun and educational, while still incorporating your faith life. Here are some great spots to visit in Michigan and Indiana.

A new era for Lake Michigan Catholic (LMC) schools began with the announcement that LMC is becoming Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School. The announcement was made official on March 2, 2022. The new name reflects the school’s renewed focus on education, faith and citizenship, a charge led by canonical pastor Father John D. Fleckenstein.

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose." (Isaiah 35:1)

“Vengan a mí los que van cansados, llevando pesadas cargas, y yo los aliviaré”. (Mt 11,28)