Dear Parishioners, This month of May is always a special time that we dedicate to the honor and intercession of Our Lady, the Blessed Mother. As we recognize quite often in our faith life, one of her purposes is to draw us closer to her son through faith. She always points the way to Him. This weekend, and again on Pentecost, our students will be receiving their First Holy Communion. What a special way that she reminds us of how her son gave His life for us but also leaves us with a way to continue to recognize Him each time we celebrate the Mass and receive His Body and His Blood. I believe that you have heard me mention several times that this year is a time of Eucharistic Renewal. We can’t forget about this great gift that we have been given. This summer there will be a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and National Eucharistic Congress. This Eucharistic Congress will be the first one that has taken place in the US in more than 80 years. Recently, the Holy Father has granted a Plenary Indulgence for all those who participate in the Pilgrimage. Those who are elderly, ill, and unable to take part can also participate in spirit. Those who participate in the Congress can receive a Papal Blessing with a Plenary Indulgence at the closing Mass. The Year of Renewal concludes with the Pilgrimage and the Eucharistic Congress. As our Faith Formation and Youth Formation classes have wrapped up for this academic year, it’s time to focus our full attention on our annual Vacation Bible School. If you haven’t done so already, please register for this year’s VBS that will be held from July 15-19. Please check for additional information in the bulletin or on our website. Hope to see you there! Thank you to everyone that has made a pledge to our Bishop’s Annual Appeal. For those who haven’t pledged yet, please prayerfully consider taking part in the ministry of the Church in Western Michigan. If you haven’t received your pledge packet, please stop by the church office or go online to the Diocese of Kalamazoo to make your pledge there. NOTE: Thursday, May 9th is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. The Feast of the Ascension is transferred to Sunday, May 12th. Thanks for reading! Fr. Mark