Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend we began our 2025 Bishop’s Annual Appeal. If you haven’t received them already, please look for the special mailing that is being sent to your homes. There are some slight changes to the appeal this year. The mailing looks a little different than in the past and the pledge envelope is included with the pamphlet. There is still an option to make your pledge to the appeal online at the diocesan website www.diokzoo.org. If you prefer to use the pledge envelope, please make your check payable to Bishop’s Annual Appeal and, in the memo line, write St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Our parish goal this year is $289,211, which is a slight increase from last year. I ask that you prayerfully consider a pledge to this year’s appeal to help support the many ministries of Bishop Lohse and the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

As we begin this month of May, a special month dedicated to our Blessed Mother, we all know that we are in a very busy time. Starting this weekend, we will have one group of students making their First Communion at the 9 AM Mass. The second group of students will be at the 5 PM Mass on the 18th. In between these two groups of First Communion students, our 2025 Confirmation class will be receiving the Sacrament on May 14th at the Cathedral. Please keep all of them in prayer as they receive their sacraments. 

One of the things that the Bishop’s Appeal supports is the education of our seminarians studying for the Diocese of Kalamazoo. At the end of this month of May, we will be celebrating the priesthood ordination of one of our seminarians. I will be giving you more information about this ordination as it approaches. Thank you for your support and prayers for all our seminarians! 

Thanks for reading! 

Fr. Mark