From the Office of Communications:

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From the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis & Initiation:

Arise! Walk in Truth!/¡Levántate! ¡Camina en la Verdad!, a Diocesan event for youth in grades 6 – 12, will take place on Saturday, March 17th at St. Joseph Elementary in Battle Creek.  Participants are urged to bring a donation of a pair of new or gently used shoes for Soles4Souls.  Keynote speaker Bob Perron, aka “Stooge for Christ,” separate tracks for Middle School and High School youth, dinner and Mass will fill the day with fun, faith and fellowship.  Cost is $25 for youth and $15 for adult chaperones if postmarked by March 1st.  After March 1st add $10.  Registration packets have been sent to all parish DREs and youth ministry contacts.  For more information contact Lisa Irwin at 269-903-0177. registration , flyer

NET Confirmation Retreat for youth in grades 7 - 12 preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, Saturday, April 28 from 11:30 a.m – 6:30 pm at St. Joseph, Kalamazoo.  Mass will be at 5:30pm.   There are about 30 spots open.  Cost is $20 for youth and $10 for chaperones.  For more information contact Lisa Irwin at 269-903-0177. registration

Education in Catholicism is a 6 part Lenten lecture series presented by Fr. John Fleckenstein on Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at St. Philip Parish Center in Battle Creek.  The series will begin on Feb. 22nd   and meet weekly through March 28th.  Social time begins at 6:30pm.  Lecture begins promptly at 7:00pm.  The series will explore the basics teachings of our beautiful Catholic faith.  For more information contact St. Philip Parish at 269-968-6645. 

Lenten Retreat Opportunity!  On March 3-4 Fr. Ted Martin will facilitate “The Divine Reading of the Bible:  Being Transformed by God’s Word” at Transformations Spirituality Center.  Retreat begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday and ends at 11 a.m .on Sunday.  Cost, if registered by Feb. 10th, is $100 double room, $125 single room and $80 commuter. After Feb. 10 add $20.  For more information contact the ECI Office at 269-903-0167. registation

Prayer in the Catholic Tradition, a Day of Reflection for Catechumen and Candidates,  Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Transformations Spirituality Center in Kalamazoo.  Fr. Don Klingler will facilitate the day.  Catechumen, candidates, sponsors, spouses and RCIA teams are invited.  Cost is $15 per person.  Registrations, with payment are due March 16.  For more information contact Lisa Irwin at 269-903-0177 or lirwin@dioceseofkalamazoo.org.  registration

Registrations are being taken NOW for the last two courses in the Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies Program.  Each weekend course provides knowledge, skills, practical tools, and techniques to assist the professional or volunteer leaders who minister to adolescents in a parish or school setting.  Courses can be taken as stand-alone workshops, for diocesan catechist certification, or an integrated formation program leading to a national certificate.   Remaining courses to be held in 2012 are:  Feb. 4-5, 2012  Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth trough Pastoral Care, Apr. 14-15, 2012  Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Prayer and Worship. For more information contact Lisa Irwin at 269-903-0177 or lirwin@dioceseofkalamazoo.org.

Calling all Catholic men!  The Theological Debate Club for Men will be discussing the topic “Problems with the Bible” on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012.   Listen to the debaters and pose your own questions and challenges.  Join us from 7:00pm - 9:00pm. at TGIFridays at West Main Street and US-131 in Kalamazoo. Need info?  Contact Dcn. Kurt Lucas, 269-903-0183 or Facebook event page (search for “Theological Debate Club”).
 Sponsored by Newman’s Bookshoppe & the Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo      

Important Dates for Catholic Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire and American Heritage Girls (youth, parents and leaders): March 1, 2012:  Nominations for adult religious emblems due March 15, 2012:  Youth applications for religious emblems due April 15, 2012. Annual Diocesan Scout Mass at 2:00 pm at St. Augustine Cathedral.  Scouts earning Catholic religious emblems will receive their medals from Bishop Bradley.  All Scouts and Scouters in attendance receive a special patch.  Reception will follow in the Crowley Center. Nomination forms for adult religious emblems:  http://www.dioceseofkalamazoo.org/eci/scouts2.html#awards2. For more information on Catholic Scouting contact Lisa Irwin at 269-903-0177.

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From the Office of Christian Worship:

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From the Office of Christian Service:

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From the Office of Marriage & Family Ministry:

Family Perspectives for Cycle B

Sympto-Thermal Method of Family Planning Class is scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 16, 7 pm.  The next two classes will be held on Thursday, March 1, 7 pm and on Thursday, March 22, 7 pm.  All sessions are held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 215 N Westnedge Avenue,  Kalamazoo. Pre-registration is required.  Registration deadline is one week before the beginning of the series.  A registration form can be downloaded at
www.dioceseofkalamazoo.org/nfp. There is a $60 fee for the series.  For more information call (269) 349-8714.

NFP – Healthy Love Schedule for 2012

World Marriage Day will be celebrated on Sunday, February 12th.  The USCCB Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth has shared Bishop Kevin Rhoades’ letter of January 17 addressed to the Bishops in the United States, highlighting helpful resources in anticipation of National Marriage Week and World Marriage Day in February.