Anniversary: Bishop Paul V. Donovan Founder’s Society for Outstanding Service 2021 Award Recipients

This prestigious award was inaugurated July 21, 2021, in observation of the Diocese of Kalamazoo’s 50th Anniversary of its establishment, along with the 50th Anniversary of the Episcopal Consecration of our first Bishop, the Most Reverend Paul Vincent Donovan (1924-2011). Bishop Donovan served as the first Shepherd of the Diocese from July 21, 1971 until his retirement in January, 1995. He chose as his Episcopal Motto: “To Serve rather than be served.” (Mt. 20:28)

In his memory, and in honor of his close to 25 years as the first Shepherd of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Bishop Paul J. Bradley has inaugurated the “Bishop Paul V. Donovan Founder’s Society for Outstanding Service.” Beginning in this Golden Jubilee Year of 2021, recipients of this recognition will be named annually. Honorees will be chosen who exemplify tireless service in the name of Jesus and reflect a love for God and the Church. Recipients will receive a bronze medallion, and their names will be inscribed on a wall plaque near the Mother of Mercy Chapel within the Bishop Paul V. Donovan Diocesan Pastoral Center.

The Diocese of Kalamazoo is honored to recognize Sir Michael Emmons and Sister Betty Veenhuis as the 2021 recipients.

Sir Michael Emmons has the distinction of being the Master of Ceremonies for all four Bishops of Kalamazoo. He began his volunteer ministry to the diocese on June 1, 1977 at the request of Bishop Donovan and continued serving for Bishop Alfred Markiewicz, Bishop James A. Murray and Bishop Paul J. Bradley. In his professional career, Sir Michael held executive positions with AT&T until accepting Bishop Bradley’s appointment as Chancellor/Executive Director of Administration in December, 2010. He was later named the Director of Episcopal Ceremonies until his recent retirement this past May. Throughout his four decades of serving bishops, while juggling his professional responsibilities, Sir Michael tirelessly volunteered his time, logging many miles crossing the nine counties of the diocese and attending hundreds of confirmation, rededication and special diocesan liturgies. His goal, he says, was to quietly “lighten the load of the bishop so they can be present to the people of Kalamazoo as Servants of Christ.” His many years of service were motivated, he adds, by his desire to “give back to God for all the graces he gave me.” Sir Michael is a life-long member of St. Augustine Cathedral and a graduate of Hackett Catholic Prep, Sacred Heart Seminary and Nazareth College. He is also a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.

Sister Elizabeth “Betty” Veenhuis, SSJ, has devoted her life and ministry as a Sister of St. Joseph to serving God’s people. The Kalamazoo native entered the congregation after graduation from St. Augustine High School in 1955. After a
number of years serving as an elementary school teacher and administrator, Sister Betty returned to Kalamazoo in 1971 to assume a leadership role with the congregation. Her past fifty years of ministry have greatly impacted both the Church as well as the Kalamazoo community. She was instrumental in the formation of Dillon House and Bethany House. For more than two decades, Sr. Betty worked as a hospital administrator at Borgess Ascension, where she advocated for patients and families. During her many years at Borgess, Sr. Betty says, “I gained so much more than I gave.” Sr. Betty stresses that she is accepting this award on behalf of all the Sisters of St. Joseph who have served in Southwest Michigan for more than 130 years. “I stand on the shoulders of all the Sisters who sacrificed so much in their ministry,” she says. “None of the blessings in my life would be possible without the grace of God and with my constant companions, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” Sr. Betty is a graduate of Nazareth College and the University of Wisconsin. She has held numerous leadership positions on both Church and local community boards, including the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Finance Council and the Kalamazoo County Integrated Services Board.