News - September 2019 RSS Feed

Sitting across from bespectacled Josh Ingraham, it’s hard to imagine that he was once “quite a handful,” as he calls it. The earnest young man, a junior this year at St. Philip Catholic Central, seems more interested in discussing his latest adventure camping trip than in causing trouble. But it was his troublemaking, he says, that got him kicked out of two public schools before second grade — a series of events that led his mom, Renee, to enroll him at St. Joseph Elementary School in Battle Creek.

This October, the legendary coach Lou Holtz will come to Kalamazoo for an evening of inspiration and words of wisdom. Southwest Michigan Catholic spoke with Holtz who shared an interesting tie to Kalamazoo and insight into how his Catholic faith has been at the center of his life.

It might have been helping out at the Tootsie Roll Drive or delivering baskets to the homebound. Whatever the reason, it was Brother Fred Cabras’ love of service, cultivated from the time he was a young boy tagging along with his parents, that eventually drew him to consider joining the Capuchins.

On April 17, I attended a lecture at Notre Dame University presented by Mary Meg McCarthy. She is the director of the National Immigration Justice Center and a strong human rights advocate for immigrants. I was inspired by her talk and commitment. I spoke with her after about how I might see for myself the reality of the crisis at the border. She gave me a connection with Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Laredo, Texas.

“Stewardship is perhaps one of the most misunderstood words in the Church today,” said Tom Dowdall, director of stewardship and development for the diocese. “Some people think it is all about giving money. Others think it means only time, talent and treasure. Some wonder if it is just another word for fundraising. In reality, stewardship is the word that describes our entire relationship with God.”

Bishop Bradley is inviting all the faithful throughout the Diocese of Kalamazoo to attend the historic Eucharistic Congress, the first one the diocese has convened. The day-long event, entitled “Ignite the Faith” is designed to engage, inspire and activate participants’ call to be missionary disciples.

Gracias al esfuerzo, amor y dedicación de muchas personas que fueron pioneros en la Diócesis de Kalamazoo, tenemos al Ministerio Hispano. En el momento actual, año 2019, el Ministerio Hispano forma parte del Secretariado para la Vida Parroquial y Liderazgo Laical (Secretariat for Parish Life and Lay Leadership) y tiene por nombre el Ministerio Hispano. El equipo del Ministerio Hispano lo conforman M. Verónica Rodríguez, Directora Asociada del Secretariado para la Vida Parroquial y Liderazgo Laical, Hermana Maryud Cortes-Restrepo, Directora Asociada del Secretariado para la Vida Parroquial y Liderazgo Laical, Dra. Angélica Valdés, Coordinadora del Instituto San Agustín, y María Trumm, Asistente del Ministerio Hispano.

Hispanic Ministry exists today thanks to the efforts, love and dedication of many people who were pioneers in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The Hispanic Ministry forms part of the Secretariat for Parish Life & Lay Leadership. M. Veronica Rodriguez, Associate Director, Sister Maryud\ Cortes-Restrepo, Associate Director, Dr. Angelica Valdes, Coordinator of St. Augustine Institute, and Maria Trumm, Support Specialist, make up the Hispanic Ministry team.