Our Front Office is now open for in-person business from 10 am until 12 pm, Monday through Friday. Please be sure to wear a mask if you visit the office to help keep everyone safe! Also, during the season of Lent, we will offer daily private prayer Monday through Friday from 10 am until 12 pm in Trinity Chapel. Come bring your bible, your rosary, or just yourself and spend some time in the presence of Our Lord. Physical distancing will be in place and you must wear a face mask. Please stop by the office to let us know that you are heading into the chapel.

Today, Monday, February 22, 2021, beginning at approximately 10:55 am, we will stream the Mass of Christian Burial for Deacon Ed Feltes live on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stcatherinesiena/), on our website (https://https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/funeralmasses), on our YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/stcatherinesienaYouTube), and on the Diocese of Kalamazoo Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/catholicdioceseofkalamazoo). The funeral Mass will be recorded and the video will be available to view in all four locations following the Mass. You can find Deacon Ed's obituary here: https://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo/obituary.aspx?n=edward-feltes&pid=197795816&fhid=16489. Please continue to keep Deacon Ed, his family, his friends, and all who loved Ed in your thoughts and prayers! Eternal Rest Grant Unto Ed, O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. May He Rest in Peace.

Forgotten Man Ministries at the Kalamazoo County Jail has an urgent need at the jail for men’s sweat pants, sweatshirts, or hoodies (pullover or full-zip) in sizes L, XL, and 2XL. Note: New (preferred) and used (in good condition) sweat clothes are accepted. If you are able to donate, you may drop off donations in the vestibule of the main church or contact Chaplain Mark Herberger at kalamazocounty@forgottenman.org. Thank you for your generosity! In December, St. Catherine parishioners donated approximately 50 of the over 350 Christmas Gift Bags the jail inmates received. The men were extremely grateful. Not only did the gift bags include a Gospel message, but they were a tangible reminder to each of the inmates that they are not forgotten, but rather valued by Christians who still care and pray for them during this time when personal contact is not possible. We are praying that Kalamazoo area Christians come together and give sweats (pants, shirts/hoodies). Please pray for the inmate's spiritual and physical needs, and give as the Lord leads you. For more information about Forgotten Man Ministries, please click on the article title.

Just a reminder that due to the visitation for Deacon Ed Feltes, our 5 pm Sunday Mass will take place in the GYM at the Stanley Centre TODAY ONLY. Signs will be posted on the church doors as well. Thank you for your understanding! A visitation for Deacon Ed Feltes will take place beginning at 2 pm today, Sunday, February 21st, in the main church. This will be followed by a Rosary at 5 pm. To see the complete arrangements for Deacon Ed, please click on the article title. To view Deacon Ed's obituary, please go to https://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo/obituary.aspx?n=edward-feltes&pid=197795816&fhid=16489.

Dear Parishioners, Lent has begun! Now what? It can be a little challenging to get started in our Lenten practices (and a pandemic makes it even more challenging). If you remember Lent last year, everything started to fall apart after the first week. It looks like we will have a better and more consistent Lent this year. One of the things that continues to make Lent (and life) challenging is the fact that vaccinations are still ongoing. Our St. Catherine priests were all blessed to be vaccinated in the past few weeks. This will certainly help us as we continue to minister during these difficult times. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to pray for all of you! We will have a few Lenten activities in person, but not as many as in years past. Daily and weekend Masses will still be celebrated and the Stations of the Cross will be in person on Friday nights. We will continue to follow all our normal safety protocols for in-person activities. Please join us if you are able. We will continue to have virtual options for those who are unable to make it in person (Livestream Mass, Pre-Recorded Stations of the Cross, Pre-Recorded Lenten talks by your priests). Additional information about these opportunities will be published in our bulletin, on our website, and on our Facebook page. In fact, my Lenten talk on “The Saints and Lent” has been released for viewing (please click on the article title to view the video or visit https://youtu.be/RsopWKSlAG0). I urge you to make the most of Lent this year, as it will help to strengthen you during these most difficult times. Thanks for reading! Fr. Mark

As a Church, we pray for one another that the Lord continues to bless, guide, strengthen, and console us. One incredibly beautiful and ancient way we can pray for someone is to have a Mass offered for that person. It is a holy and devout practice to have Masses offered for a loved one, living or deceased. Masses may be offered on any day, but many offer them on a birthday, anniversary, or for a special need. To learn more about Mass Intentions, or to schedule a Mass Intention online, visit our website at https://stcatherinesiena.org/massintentions. Here are the Mass Intentions for February 20-28, 2021.

Our clergy will be recording three talks for Lent this year. Each of these talks will be released on Friday afternoons. Once the video is posted, it will be available for future watching. Today, we've posted Father Mark Vyverman's Lenten Talk, "The Saints and Lent". You can watch the video on our website (https://stcatherinesiena.org/videos), on our Facebook page, or on our YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/RsopWKSlAG0). For some additional information and reminders for this coming weekend, please click on the article title.

Now that Lent is underway, we have a few reminders for you about Lenten Events. First, beginning tonight, Friday, February 19th, join us in the Church at 7 pm for Stations of the Cross. We still need a few Ushers each week to help guide participants to their seats and make sure all COVID protocols are followed. If you would be willing to help us, please contact Alana Murray (frontdesk@stcatherinesiena.org or 327-5165). If you are unable to join us in person, please check out the multiple online/virtual Stations of the Cross options on our Lenten Resources page (https://stcatherinesiena.org/lentenresources) under General Resources for Lent->Stations of the Cross. Lent is a time of repentance and of uniting ourselves to Christ during his 40 days in the desert. During this sacred season, CRS Rice Bowl—Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten faith-in-action program—invites us to reflect on how caring for our neighbor is caring for Christ. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me drink (Matthew 25:35). Visit www.crsricebowl.org for resources for families and parishes. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl anytime in our main entrance vestibule or Marian Hall vestibule. If you have any questions regarding the Rice Bowl program, please contact Marianne at mverner@stcatherinesiena.org. Looking for more ways to observe Lent? Join Parishioner, Katie Fisher, and her Lenten Group, “Living Faithfully and Fruitfully,” who support each other during Lent with fasting and abstinence goals. Men and women of all ages are invited to share encouragement, sermons, prayer requests, and their fasting and abstinence goals. Join this judgment-free zone for support on your Lenten journey or to learn more about how other St. Catherine’s parishioners are fasting and abstaining this Lent. Request to join this private group through Katie’s group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/633106954114447 or email Katie with any questions at katiefisherot@hotmail.com. Please continue to check our bulletin (https://stcatherinesiena.org/bulletins), our website news & announcements page (https://stcatherinesiena.org/news), our parish Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stcatherinesiena/), and our Lenten Resources page on our website (https://stcatherinesiena.org/lentenresources) for more Lenten events, resources, and tools. Wishing everyone a blessed and holy Lent!

Our RCIA Participants will be at the Cathedral this Sunday, February 21 at 3:30 pm for the Rite of Election. Please pray for them during their final steps of the RCIA process. The Rite of Election will be streamed live on the Diocese of Kalamazoo website (https://diokzoo.org/live) and the Diocese of Kalamazoo Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/catholicdioceseofkalamazoo). Please consider watching the live stream to "join" and support our candidates virtually!

Are you a caregiver for someone with a disability? Do you sometimes feel alone or overwhelmed? You are invited to a "Caregivers Connection" virtual gathering sponsored by the Diocese of Kalamazoo on Sunday, February 21st, from 1 pm until 2 pm. The focus is to build relationships, share faith and experiences, and create a supportive community. To learn more or to register go to https://diokzoo.org/caregivers or contact Lisa Irwin at the Diocese of Kalamazoo 269-903-0177 or by email at lirwin@diokzoo.org. Zoom link will be sent to those who register by today, February 18th.

Join us in-person on Fridays during Lent, beginning on February 19th, at 7:00 pm in the Church for Stations of the Cross. Want to know more about Stations of the Cross? Please click on the article title to learn more! Would you be willing to help out as an Usher during the Friday Stations of the Cross? We need a few people each week to help guide participants to their seats and make sure all COVID protocols are followed. If you would be willing to help us, please contact Alana Murray (frontdesk@stcatherinesiena.org or 327-5165). If you are unable to join us in person, there are many online/virtual Stations of the Cross options available. Please click on the article title to see some of the online/virtual options available.

Please join the St. Catherine Respect Life Ministry team in peaceful prayer and fasting to end abortion. The next 40 Days for Life campaign takes place during Lent (February 17 through March 28). We pray in front of Planned Parenthood, 4201 W. Michigan Ave., on the public sidewalk. Join with our brothers and sisters from area parishes to help to end abortion in Kalamazoo. Our prayers and fasting make a difference. Please consider signing up for one hour a week. St Catherine's main day is Wednesday. You can sign up by registering online at https://www.40daysforlife.com/kalamazoo, emailing respectlife@stcatherine.org, or calling Joe Magalski at 989-992-6085.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, is Ash Wednesday, the official beginning of the Lenten season. We will have Masses at 9:15 am, 12:10 pm, and 7:00 pm (also streamed live on our parish website, our parish Facebook page, and our YouTube channel). All Masses will take place in the Church. We hope you'll consider joining us in person or online! We are still in need of Ushers for all of our Ash Wednesday Masses. If you are able to help, please sign up using Ministry Scheduler Pro or contact Alana Murray (frontdesk@stcatherinesiena.org or 327-5165). Starting Ash Wednesday, the translation of the conclusion of collects in the Roman Missal, “one” is to be omitted before “God." The conclusions will now read “God, for ever and ever." Read more about this decision by the US Bishops at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/us-bishops-adjust-liturgical-translation-following-concern-of-cdw-92437. Beginning tomorrow, we will offer daily Private Prayer Monday through Friday from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm in Trinity Chapel. Come bring your bible, your rosary, or just yourself and spend some time in the presence of Our Lord. Physical distancing will be in place and you must wear a face mask. Please stop by the office to let us know that you are heading into the chapel. We hope you can join us in person this Lent as we continue to follow all the same safety protocols, capacity limits, and cleaning procedures. Otherwise, please join us virtually during this upcoming Lenten Season. On our website (https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/lentenresources), you will find a list of all of our parish Lenten activities, as well as quite a few other helpful resources to help you celebrate the season of Lent - however, and wherever you decide to celebrate it. We will continue to add more resources to this page throughout Lent, so please visit often. You can also find a PDF of our parish's 2021 Lenten Activities on our website:http://bit.ly/SCSLent2021. Please continue to watch our bulletin, our website, and our Facebook page for the latest information about our Lenten activities and other events coming up at the parish.

Today, Tuesday, February 16, 2021, beginning at approximately 10:55 am, we will stream the Mass of Christian Burial for Rosemary Bastos live here on our website (click on the article title or go to https://www.stcatherinesiena.org/funeralmasses), on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stcatherinesiena/), and on our YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/stcatherinesienaYouTube). The funeral Mass will be recorded and the video will be available to view in all three locations following the Mass. You can find Rosemary's obituary here: https://betzlerlifestory.com/obituaries/rosemary-d-bastos.134910. Please continue to keep Rosemary, her family, her friends, and all who loved Rosemary in your thoughts and prayers! Eternal Rest Grant Unto Rosemary, O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her. May She Rest in Peace.

Funeral arrangements have been finalized for Deacon Ed Feltes. Please click on the article title to view details. Please continue to keep Deacon Ed, his family, his friends, and all who loved him in your prayers during this challenging time.

Mark your calendars: Beginning Saturday, February 20, at 3:30 pm, the rosary will be prayed prior to the 4:00 pm Mass every Saturday. Join our Knights of Columbus (KOC) in the church for this prayer led by one of the knights. When you come in, be sure to tell the ushers that you are there for the rosary so they will seat you with the group praying the rosary. If you are unable to make praying the rosary in person, our KOC group also offers an online rosary via Zoom on Sundays at 9:00 am. To join, go to http://bit.ly/KOCRosary to get to Zoom. Meeting ID: 931 1348 9747 Password: 157576 Note - the Zoom software/application is free. If you have any questions about the rosary meetings, please contact the Front Office at 327-5165 or frontdesk@stcatherinesiena.org.

With Lent starting this Wednesday, we hope your family will incorporate time to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. While our Children's Faith Formation classes can’t meet in the classrooms this year, we have several websites we recommend with Lenten Activities for the Family. Please click on the article title to see our list of resources. If you need any additional ideas or resources, feel free to contact Karen Galloway anytime!  Don’t forget—we also have a Facebook page just for our Children’s Faith Formation children/parents. Please request to join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/stcatherinesienacff. Karen Galloway, our Children's Faith Formation Director, will approve your request and you’ll have access to the most up to date information on CFF classes and any future programs.

With sadness, we share that Deacon Ed Feltes, a long-time Deacon at St. Catherine’s, passed away peacefully at home this morning, the Feast of St. Valentine, surrounded by his family. Funeral arrangements are pending, but we will post more details as they become available. Please continue to pray for Deacon Ed, his wife, Jessica, his son, Christopher, and all of his family and friends during this difficult time. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Dear Parishioners, For the last several weeks, I have been doing a “countdown” of columns to prepare everyone for the differences they will notice when we celebrate Lent during a Pandemic. Yes, we will be able to receive ashes in person at Mass on Ash Wednesday (although they will be sprinkled on our foreheads-they will not be imposed on our foreheads in the shape of a Cross like normal). Yes, we will have Stations of the Cross on Friday nights at 7:00 pm in person (yet a virtual version can be found on St. Catherine’s website). Yes, we will have some Lenten talks this year, but they will be held virtually. The way we receive ashes this year will be the change that will cause us to pause. This is the way ashes are distributed on Ash Wednesday in Europe and in other places around the world. But it hasn’t been our experience here in the United States. It does allow us to maintain a contactless environment and still accomplish the same thing. In fact, the Holy Father is encouraging priests and deacons to distribute ashes this way in this time of Pandemic. We will have three Lenten talks that will be recorded. Once they are released and posted on our website, they will be available throughout Lent. The topics for the talks this year are: “The Saints and Lent” by Fr. Mark. “Lent, Give Up, But Also Give Forward” by Fr. Bill. “Lord, Teach Me How To Pray” by Fr. Jeff. If you are able to join us in person this Lent, all the same protocols, capacities, and safety measures and cleaning will continue. Otherwise, please join us in a virtual way during this upcoming Lenten Season. Also, please check out the section in today’s bulletin that reminds us of the days of fasting and abstinence that begin this week on Ash Wednesday. Thanks for reading! Fr. Mark

We would like to extend a warm St. Catherine's welcome to all our new members for the month of January 2021. We're glad you're part of our St. Catherine's Family. Please click on the article title to see the complete list of January New Members.