Dear Parishioners,

In another year, our parish will be celebrating its 60th anniversary. Yes, in 1966, a small group of people started meeting at the school to celebrate Sunday Masses. This group continued to grow until the main church building was built a few years later along with the convent (now the rectory). The Portage area has grown a lot since then.  

The only reason that this came to mind is that I was looking at the Ordo, the planning book that priests and deacons look at each week to see what Masses and feast days are celebrated and what prayers and readings we should use. Our Ordo is for use in the State of Michigan and in the 7 dioceses that make up this region. This book also lists the dates of death for priests that served in these dioceses. On this day, in 2014, one of the first pastors of St. Catherine (from 1971-1976), Fr. John Grathwohl, went to his heavenly reward. Some of you may remember Fr. Grathwohl and his service to our parish and to several other parishes in the Kalamazoo area. Please pray for him on this anniversary of his death and the several other priests that have also served our parish and have gone to meet the Lord over these past 59 years. 

This Sunday also marks the halfway point of the Lenten Season: Laetare Sunday. The Rose vestments come out of storage once again for the priests and deacons to wear. For we are to rejoice for what the Lord has done for us. We now are entering into the holiest time of the year as we continue our journey to Holy Week and the celebration of our Lord’s Passion and His Resurrection.

Please continue to keep in your prayers our Catechumens and Candidates as they prepare to celebrate the Sacraments on the Easter Vigil.

Thanks for reading!

Fr. Mark