How could we forget our mother? This Mother’s Day, we not only celebrate our own mothers and grandmothers, but it is also a good day to remember Our Lady. Our mothers and grandmothers fed us and cared for us. They helped us when we were having a difficult day or week. They comforted us in our sorrows and shared in our joys. This is exactly what the Blessed Mother does for us in a spiritual way. She is our strength and our guide when we are struggling in our life of faith. She directs us to her Son and shows us His love and His mercy. We honor our Lady in this month of May for she never leads us astray and becomes our strength in times of need.
Some of you may be wondering why you have not seen Father Joseph or Deacon Doran for a week or so. Both of them are on pilgrimage during these first days of May. Along with the many other pilgrims from our diocese, they are visiting Fatima and Lourdes. These holy places, where miracles and healings have taken place, are another way that we see the love of the Mother radiate in the world among us.
How many titles does the Blessed Mother have? There are many titles given to her over the ages. Some are particular to a country or culture. Others are devotional titles given to Mary (around 50). Then we have those titles given to the apparitions of Mary (such as Lourdes and Fatima). As you probably know, it often takes some time for the Universal Church to certify and recognize that an apparition has taken place. Yet these places of pilgrimage are around for many years before the Church formally recognizes them. There are six devotional titles given to Mary (such as Mary, Mother of God). We know our Lady by many names, but each time we call upon her, we know that she will always seek to bring us closer to her Son.
As we reach this Mother’s Day weekend, we are several weeks into our annual Bishop’s Appeal for 2026. Thank you to everyone who has pledged and given to this appeal. Yet we still need everyone’s assistance to successfully finish this year’s campaign at St. Catherine. Please prayerfully consider making a gift to our Bishop’s Appeal as it supports our Catholic Charities, supports the education of future priests, and allows the Church to be present in our nine counties. This appeal reminds us how all of us are united in Christ and in the ministry of the Church to those in our nine counties of Southwestern Michigan. If we receive any monies over our parish goal, this is refunded to us, and we will use it to pay down our loan from the diocese that we received 20 years ago to fund the renovation of the church building.
Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers! Thanks for reading!