Category: News

Mid-life Singles (mid-30s to 50s): Are you looking for a renewed sense of purpose & belonging in the New Year? Register today for a life-changing REFLECT weekend retreat at the St. Francis Retreat Center, in DeWitt, MI (10 miles north of Lansing), on Feb 24-26, 2023. Take a chance and get involved… you won’t regret it!  Cost is $215 for meals and a single room. Visit www.ReflectRetreat.com, e-mail reflect.michigan@gmail.com, or call (586) 770-1772 for details.   

Bishop Bradley released the following statement on the death of
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vicki Cessna, vcessna@diokzoo.org; 269-929-8298

December 31, 2022 (Kalamazoo, Mich.): The Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley has released the following statement on the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI:

“It is with great confidence in Christ’s promises, yet with sadness of heart, that we have received the news that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, has been called from this world to the eternal life with our Heavenly Father.  At the same time, we offer our prayers for the repose of the soul of Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, who has “finished the race” here on earth, that he may enjoy at last the eternal rest and unending joy of the saints in Heaven.

“Pope Benedict’s contribution to the Church has been immeasurable: from his early days as a priest, when he was an expert for the Second Vatican Council, to his role as President of the Commission to draft the Catechism of the Catholic Church, to his tenure as Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, to his election on April 19, 2005, as the 265th Roman Pontiff and Shepherd of the more than one billion Catholics world-wide.  He led the Church with courage and gentle dignity; through his writings and teaching, including his encyclicals “Deus est Caritas” (“God is Love”, 2005), “Spe Salvi” (“Saved by Hope”, 2007), and “Caritas in Veritate” (“Love in Truth”, 2009), he gave the Church greater insight and clarity into our faith.   During his papacy, Pope Benedict’s guidance, teaching, and pastoral governance moved the Church forward into a time of renewal, through the call to a New Evangelization.

“Pope Emeritus Benedict captivated our nation with his Apostolic Visit to the United States in 2008, during which he celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium, and gave an inspiring address to the United Nations. I had the great pleasure of meeting Pope Emeritus Benedict on two separate occasions, the last of which was in 2010, when I presented him with a spiritual bouquet of prayers from the Faithful of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. He felt our prayers then and continued to receive them during his years as Pope Emeritus. He will be known for his surprising and historic resignation from the papacy on February 28, 2013.

“Let us join together in prayer, asking our Loving God to welcome Pope Emeritus Benedict into the Heavenly Kingdom. May he receive the reward for his 95 years of faithful witness to and love for Jesus Christ, as we offer our thanksgiving to the Lord for this Holy Father’s long-standing service to the Church and to the world.” 

Bishop Bradley will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, January 4^th, at 12:10 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo and has asked all 59 parishes in the Diocese of Kalamazoo to also offer Masses in the Holy Father’s eternal rest. For a list of parishes visit www.diokzoo.org.

W. D. Boyce Award

St. Philip, St. Joseph, & St. Jerome Catholic Churches

A Scout is Reverent! A Scout does his/her duty to God! Those phrases come from the Scout Law and the Scout Oath. Each recited by Scouts across the United States at the opening of their troop meetings.

Beginning in 1923 the Scouts of Troop 325 (previously Troop 25) and later the Cub Scouts in Pack 325 have called St. Philip home. As St. Joseph and St. Jerome’s were built in 1942 and 1957 respectively, the Catholic Churches of Battle Creek became home to a vibrant and active Troops and Packs. Through the years the Scouts have done numerous service projects and assisted the Churches and Schools in many activities. Hundreds of boys (and now girls) have learned lifelong lessons and skills from their time in the Troop and Pack. As of today, Troop 325 has seen 169 scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting. Many of these Eagle Scouts owe a great big thank you to the Priests, staff and parishioners of St. Philip, St. Joseph, and St. Jerome, who generously supported their Eagle Scout projects with their time, talent, treasure, and prayers.

Scouting is not the only way that the Battle Creek Area Catholic Churches serve youth. For more than 100 years St. Philip Catholic Central has been educating the youth of your community. Now through the Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools, children attend St. Joseph Elementary, St. Joseph Middle School, and St. Philip Catholic Central. This combined with each church’s religious education programs, means that hundreds of children every year are learning what it means to be Reverent, how to serve others, how to serve their community and how to do their duty to God.

On Tuesday  December 13^th, the Boy Scouts of America recognized all three Battle Parish’s (St. Jerome, St. Joseph, and St. Philip) with the W.D. Boyce Leadership Award.  The recognition was for demonstrated leadership in service to the youth of Calhoun County in three ways:  1)  Exhibiting leadership that impacts area youth in a positive way, 2)  Exhibiting leadership in a positive fashion for the good in Society, and 3)  Creative leadership.  Rev.  Ankley  was present to represent St. Joseph and St. Jerome Parishes.  Rev. Richardson was present to represent St. Philip Parish.

Additionally an individual W.D. Boyce Award was presented to Hon. John Hallacy.  He is a member of St. Joseph Parish.  He serves on the Committees for both Cub Scout Pack #325, and Scout Troop #325, both of which are sponsored by all three churches.  Judge Hallacy has also served on the Diocese of Kalamazoo Catholic Committee on Scouting for many years.

W.D. Boyce is the Chicago businessman who formally organized the Scouting movement in the United States in 1910.

Join us for our annual fundraiser and enjoy good food, fun, and faith.

There are activities for people of all ages. Bring the family, have a great time, and support your parishes!

The 32nd All Saints Superfest will be held September 21, 22, and 23 on the grounds of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek.

September Good News & Brews
Married and single young adults from college through their 30s are welcome to come enjoy discussion, fellowship and music from (newly named) Jeremiah and the Hebrews and featured speaker Sr. Joseph Andrew on holiness/vocation at Arcadia Brewing Company in Kalamazoo on Sept. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. Future dates are: Oct. 11; Nov. 8; Dec. 13.

A special Mass for couples of the Diocese of Kalamazoo who are celebrating their 50^th Wedding Anniversaries  in 2018 will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2018, 3:00 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo.  Couples celebrating their 50^th Anniversary any time in 2018 are asked to contact their parish office so that their names can be submitted for a personal invitation from Bishop Bradley to participate in this celebration.  Invitations will be mailed beginning August 20^th.

SAVE THE  DATE!

Eucharistic Adoration Fellowship & Information Potluck

Date:  Thursday, June 21, 2018

Time:  5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Place:  St. Philip Parish Center

Calling all past, present, and future Adorers!  We are having a celebration.  Bring a dish to pass and your stories to tell for an evening of fellowship and information.

More information to come!  STAY TUNED…

The Eighth Annual St. Jerome’s Council of
Catholic Women Purse Bingo will be held on
Saturday, May 19th. Doors will open at 5:30
p.m. The cost is $12.00 per person and includes
homemade desserts, 20 games for purses valued
over 50-100 dollars. The cover all purse is
worth over $300! 50/50 tickets will be sold.
Contact Pat Smith for more information at: 269-317-8514.

Are you a caregiver for a parent, relative, or friend? The Friends
of St. John the Caregiver will meet at 6pm on Wednesday, Feb. 7
in the St. Philip parish center. For more information contact John
Grap at 269-213-7604, johnnygrap@gmail.com, or on Facebook.
But you, O LORD, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my
head! When I call out to the LORD, he answers me from his holy
mountain. – from Psalm 3