Here & There Around the Diocese

FEBRUARY
CENTRAL DEANERY
Kalamazoo:
February 2, 9, 16, 23: Fr. Robert Barron’s Catholicism Complete Adult Study Program, facilitated by Fr. Larry Farrell and Deacon Kurt Lucas, St. Monica Parish Community Building, Kalamazoo, 12:30-3 pm or7-9 pm. Cost: $30 for a study guide. Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Contact: St. Monica Parish, 269-345-4389.

February 10: World Day of Prayer for the Sick Mass with Bishop Bradley, Lawrence Education Center auditorium, Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, noon. Catholics in need of healing, their caregivers and all who wish to pray for the sick are invited to attend the Mass to observe the World Day. For more information contact Mary Heintzkill at (269) 226-4898.

February 10: Organist in Recital Thomas Fielding, Dmus, St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo, 7 pm. A recital of organ music, performing works by William H. Harris, J.S. Bach, Robert Schumann, and others. Cost: Free will offering. Contact: St. Augustine Parish, 269-345-5147.

February 12: Polish Mass with Fr. Wieslaw Lipka, St. Monica Parish, Kalamazoo, 2 p.m.  Potluck following. Held every second Sunday of the month. Contact: St. Monica Parish 269-345-4389.

February 13: Theological Debate Club for Men. Topic: Problems with the Bible. TGI Fridays, West Main Street, Kalamazoo, 7-9 pm. Meets the 2nd Monday, every other even-numbered months. One hour of theological content for Diocesan Catechist Certification. Contact Deacon Kurt Lucas, Diocese of Kalamazoo, 269-903-0183.

February 17-19: Marriage Discovery Weekend, Transformations: CSJ Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo. A marriage preparation weekend for engaged couples. Contact: Jane Bodway, Office of Marriage and Family Ministry, 269-349-8714, ext. 113.

EASTERN DEANERY
Battle Creek:
February 22: Lenten Lunch Talk with Bishop James A. Murray, St. Jerome Parish Hall, Battle Creek, Ash Wednesday Mass at 10:30 am, speaker begins at 11:30 am. A light lunch of soup and bread to follow. Cost: free will offering. Contact: St. Jerome Parish, 269-968-2218.

February 29: Lenten Lunch Talk with Msgr. William Fitzgerald, St. Jerome Parish Hall, Battle Creek, 11:30 am. A light lunch of soup and bread to follow. Cost: free will offering. Contact: St. Jerome Parish, 269-968-2218.

LAKESHORE DEANERY
Bangor:
February 18: 43rd Annual Paczki Bal, Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Bangor, Polish Mass at 5 pm, dinner and dance 7-11 pm. Live music, The Polka Brothers. Cost: $5 cover charge for dance, $8 dinner. Contact: Jacque, 269-767-0641.

NORTHERN DEANERY
Byron Center:
February 12: Pancake Breakfast, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center, 9 am – 1 pm. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

February 18: 15th Annual Starry, Starry Night Dinner Auction, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center. Dinner and auction help support Catholic education. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

SOUTHEAST DEANERY
Coldwater:
February 4: 13th Annual Mardi Gras Auction, St. Charles Borromeo School, Coldwater. Contact: St. Charles Borromeo School for more information, 517-279-0404 or mescherb@scbelementary.org.

February 24: Stations of the Cross, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Coldwater, 7 pm. Contact: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 517-278-2650.

Union City:
February 23: Stations of the Cross, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Union City, following 7 pm Mass. Contact Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 517-278-2650.

SOUTHWEST DEANERY
Edwardsburg:
February 9: Taize Prayer Service, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Edwardsburg, 7 pm. All are welcome to come to this monthly prayer service and experience this form of meditative prayer and music that is a rather recent development in the church’s prayer life. Held every second Thursday of the month. Contact: Our Lady of the Lake Parish, 269-699-5870.

Niles:
February 11: St. Mark’s Trivia Night, St. Mark Parish, Niles, doors open at 6 pm and game starts promptly at 7 pm. For reservations call the parish office, 269-683-8650.

February 18-20: St. Mark’s Lenten Retreat with Archabbot Lambert Reilly, O.S.B. February 18, 5 pm Mass with conference, February 19,  10 am Mass, 4 pm conference and Benediction, February 20, 5 pm Mass and closing conference with buffet dinner. Call the parish office to sign up, 269-683-8650.

February 24: St. Mark’s Annual Fish Fry, St. Mark Parish, Niles, 4:30-7:30 pm. Homemade salads and desserts. Cost: Adults $9, Children (5-12) $4, 4 years and under free. Contact: St. Mark Parish, 269-683-8650.

Cassopolis:
February 18: Family Day, Camp Friedenswald, Cassopolis, 10 am – 3 pm. Families that include children and teens with disabilities are invited to a Family day of reflection and fun. Lunch is included, no cost, free will offering accepted. Contact: Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, 269-349-7276 asherzer@dioceseofkalamazoo.org.

MARCH
CENTRAL DEANERY
Kalamazoo:
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Fr. Robert Barron’s Catholicism Complete Adult Study Program, facilitated by Fr. Larry Farrell and Deacon Kurt Lucas, St. Monica Parish Community Building, Kalamazoo, 12:30-3 pm or7-9 pm. Cost: $30 for a study guide. Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Contact: St. Monica Parish, 269-345-4389.

March 2: Mental Illness and the Parish Workshop, Transformations Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo, 9 am – 3:30 pm. Welcoming persons with mental illness and their families is the topic of a workshop. No cost, lunch is not included but can be ordered in advance. Contact: Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, 269-349-7276 asherzer@dioceseofkalamazoo.org.

March 3-4: The Divine Reading of the Bible: Being Transformed by God’s Word Retreat, Fr. Ted Martin Facilitator, Transformations Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo, 8 am Saturday – 11 am Sunday. Retreat includes Masses, Reconciliation, Conferences, Eucharistic Adoration and Personal Opportunities for Prayer. Cost: $100 Double Occupancy, $125 Single Occupancy, $80 Sleep at Home. Registration deadline, February 10, add $20 to your registration after February 10. Contact: Office of Evangelization, Catechesis & Initiation, 269-903-0185 for more information or to register.

March 11: Polish Mass with Fr. Wieslaw Lipka, St. Monica Parish, Kalamazoo, 2 p.m.  Potluck following. Held every second Sunday of the month. Contact: St. Monica Parish 269-345-4389.

March 19: Third Monday Viewing & Discussion Group, facilitated by Fr. Larry Farrell and Deacon Kurt Lucas, St. Monica Parish Community Building, Kalamazoo, 7-9 pm. No cost, pre-registration not required. We will be viewing a portion of Fr. Robert Barron’s DVD series Catholicism.

March 23-25: Marriage Discovery Weekend, Transformations: CSJ Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo. A marriage preparation weekend for engaged couples. Contact: Jane Bodway, Office of Marriage and Family Ministry, 269-349-8714, ext. 113.

March 31: Day of Reflection for Catechumen and Candidates, facilitated by Fr. Don Klingler, Transformations: CSJ Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo, 9 am – 3 pm. Contact: Lisa Irwin, 269-903-0177 or Lirwin@dioceseofkalamazoo.org.

EASTERN DEANERY
Battle Creek:
March 7: Lenten Lunch Talk with Fr. John Fleckenstein, St. Jerome Parish Hall, Battle Creek, 11:30 am. A light lunch of soup and bread to follow. Cost: free will offering. Contact: St. Jerome Parish, 269-968-2218.

March 9: “Forgiveness” a presentation by Fr. Ken Schmidt, St. Joseph, Battle Creek. Contact: Deacon Mike Moreno, 269-601-1977.

March 14: Lenten Lunch Talk with Fr. Ken Schmidt, St. Jerome Parish Hall, Battle Creek, 11:30 am. A light lunch of soup and bread to follow. Cost: free will offering. Contact: St. Jerome Parish, 269-968-2218.

March 17: Arise! Walk in Truth!/ ¡Levántate! ¡Camina en la Verdad! Diocesan Youth Rally, St. Joseph Elementary/Middle School, Battle Creek. For youth in grades 6-12 featuring keynote speaker Stooge for Christ. Contact: Lisa Irwin, 269-903-0177.

March 21: Lenten Lunch Talk with Bishop Paul J. Bradley, St. Jerome Parish Hall, Battle Creek, 11:30 am. A light lunch of soup and bread to follow. Cost: free will offering. Contact: St. Jerome Parish, 269-968-2218.

March 28: Lenten Lunch Talk with Fr. David Grondz, St. Jerome Parish Hall, Battle Creek, 11:30 am. A light lunch of soup and bread to follow. Cost: free will offering. Contact: St. Jerome Parish, 269-968-2218.

NORTHERN DEANERY
Byron Center:
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Stations of the Cross, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center, 2:20 & 7 pm. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

March 7, 14, 21, 28: Bible Study, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center, 10 am & 6:30 pm. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

March 8: Soup Supper, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center, 4-6:30 pm. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

March 11: Pancake Breakfast, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center, 9 am – 1 pm. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

March 22: Anointing of the Sick Mass, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

March 25: Communal Penance Service with Individual Reconciliation, St. Mary’s Visitation, Byron Center, 4 pm. Contact: St. Mary’s Visitation, 616-681-9701.

SOUTHEAST DEANERY
Coldwater:
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Stations of the Cross, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Coldwater, 7 pm. Contact: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 517-278-2650.

Union City:
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Stations of the Cross, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Union City, following 7 pm Mass. Contact Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 517-278-2650.

SOUTHWEST DEANERY
Edwardsburg:
March 8: Taize Prayer Service, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Edwardsburg, 7 pm. All are welcome to come to this monthly prayer service and experience this form of meditative prayer and music that is a rather recent development in the church’s prayer life. Held every second Thursday of the month. Contact: Our Lady of the Lake Parish, 269-699-5870.