Dear Parishioners,

This past week, we reached the one-year anniversary of the Portage tornado. I thank all of you for your patience with all the rebuilding we had to do on the parish complex. We still have some landscaping things to finish. For all those who are still working on their own properties due to the tornado or other storms last year, you are still in our prayers!

We are now several weeks into our Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Thank you to all who have already pledged and given to this appeal that supports so many ministries in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Just a reminder that our goal this year is $289,211. This annual appeal can remind us, that as the Church, we are to reach out to those around us in the name of Christ. If you haven’t received your pledge packet in the mail yet, please pick up a pledge envelope that can be found at the entrances of the church or feel free to donate online at the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

One of the significant areas that the Bishop’s Appeal supports is the education of our seminarians. After several years in the seminary, Paul Thuantho is scheduled to be ordained as a priest for our diocese on May 31st. When I was pastor in Battle Creek at St. Joseph Parish, he was in high school and was thinking about entering the seminary. Now, all these years later, he will soon be a priest, God willing! Of course, today is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations! As we look around us, we see how the number of priests continue to shrink, one by one. Just a few years ago, there were five priests serving this parish. Now there is just two of us. Could there be someone from our parish that is contemplating a call to the priesthood or the religious life? Yes, that is a possibility. Please keep Paul in your prayers as he readies for his ordination and pray that the Lord may call someone from our parish to serve the Church as a priest!

Please pray for our youth from St. Catherine who are being confirmed this coming Wednesday evening at the Cathedral. This important moment in their life of faith helps them to grow closer to Christ.

Finally, how can we forget about our mothers? This second weekend of May is Mother’s Day! We thank God for the gift of our mothers and ask the Lord to watch over them and guide them as they guide us through life. For all of you that celebrate this day, Happy Mother’s Day!

Thanks for reading!

 Fr. Mark