Category Archives: News

For Vera Willard and Mike Willard Jr.

Vera Willard, a St. Charles parishioner, and her son Mike Willard Jr. have died within days of each other. At this time there are no funeral plans being made. Marshall Funeral Home will be meeting with family members in the next couple of weeks. Please watch for updates to the obituary on the Marshall Funeral Home website: https://www.marshallfuneralhomeinc.com/obituaries/vera-michael-willard

Please keep Vera and Michael Jr. in your prayers.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Listen to and Learn the Latin Mass Parts

Click here for a printable copy of the Latin Mass parts.

Panis Angelicus Pronunciation

Panis angélicus, fit panis hóminum,
Dat panis cáelicus figúris términum.
O res mirábilis mandúcat Dóminum,
Pauper, servus et húmilis.

Te, trina Déitas únaque, póscimus,
Sic nos tu vísita, sicut te cólimus;
Per tuas sémitas duc nos quo téndimus,
Ad lucem quam inhábitas.

Sanctus 308-B

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Translation:
Sanctus = holy
Dóminus = Lord
Deus = God
Sábaoth = of heavenly armies
Pleni = full of
sunt = are
caeli = heaven
et = and
terra = earth
glória = glory
tua = your
Hosána = praise or adoration
excélsis = the highest
Benedictus = blessed
qui = who
venit = (He) comes
in nómine = in the name
Dómini – of the Lord.

Memorial Acclamation 309-B

Mysterium fidei! Literally: Mysterium = the mystery; fidei = of faith.
The Mystery of Faith!
We all respond:
Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine,
et tuam resurrectionem confitemur,
donec venias.
Mortem = death
tuam = Your
annuntiamus = we announce or proclaim
Domine = Lord.
We proclaim Your death, O Lord.
et = and
tuam = Your
resurectionem = resurrection
confitemur = confess.
And confess Your resurrection.
donec = until
venias = come.
Until You Come
The whole acclamation:
Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine,                           We proclaim Your death, O Lord,
et tuam resurrectionem confitemur,                               and confess Your resurrection,
donec venias.                                                                              until You come

Agus Dei 313-B

Agnus Dei,                                             Lamb of God
qui tolis peccata mundi,                 who takes away the sins of the world,
miserere nobis.                                   have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei,                                             Lamb of God
qui tolis peccata mundi,                 who takes away the sins of the world,
miserere nobis.                                   have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei,                                             Lamb of God
qui tolis peccata mundi,                 who takes away the sins of the world,
dona nobis pacem.                           grant us peace.

Ash Wednesday ~ February 14th

Guidance on Fasting and Abstinence During Lent

When do I…?

Fast and Abstain:

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Abstain:

All Fridays during Lent

Who has to…?

Fast: Catholics who are 18 years of age, but not yet 59, are obliged

Abstain: Observed by all Catholics 14 years– old and older

What is…?

Fast: eating one full meal, as well as two small meals that together are not equal to a full meal

Abstinence: refrain from eating meat

Note: Persons that are exempt from fasting include: the physically or mentally ill, individuals with chronic illness, and those pregnant or nursing.

Come, Follow Me “ The Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith”

Please join us this Friday January, 26th at 6PM as we continue our series with a presentation called: ‘ The Eucharist, the Source and Summit of Our Faith”.  In this presentation we will gain a deeper understanding of the Eucharist by looking at Scripture, the Church Fathers, Church documents, and scientific research. The Eucharist is at the center of our faith and the more that we know, the better we can explain and defend this sacrament to Catholics and non Catholics. This great Gift that is the center of our faith.  We will have refreshments following the presentation.

Catholic High School Interest Survey

Our Catholic Community of St. Charles and St. Joseph-St. Mary is exploring the feasibility of a new Catholic high school to serve our community and surrounding parishes. We would like to gather your opinion and ideas. Your response to this inquiry is very important whether or not you (might/would) consider enrolling your children in this school.

Please complete only ONE INQUIRY FOR YOUR FAMILY and return it no later than December 18, 2023. Use this link to take the survey online. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGM3MpwtYaK5d-MbZ-IYemuCqoOBS6J28RqzeWVYHAGKEf7Q/closedform

A few things to consider as you complete this inquiry

Catholic Education:   The school will provide a superior Catholic education that empowers every student to develop into the individual God created him/her to be. The school will embrace and exemplify the teaching and tradition of the Church in areas of virtue, life, Scripture, the sacraments and social teaching. A strong Catholic identity will be present in all aspects of the school experience.

Academics: This inquiry looks to gather information to design an academic program that fits the needs of our community. This could be a traditional diocesan, vocational based or a classical education program. This program will be designed, so that current St Charles students and all other surrounding Catholic school, homeschool, and elementary/ middle school programs can easily transition into this new high school. 

Beyond academics: School partnerships will be pursued for co-curricular opportunities to the extent they are available, in collaboration with neighboring public and private schools and/or community organizations.

Cost: For this inquiry, assume that tuition will not be a barrier for you when considering whether you should enroll your child/children. Financial support for families will be offered based on need. Every effort will be made to ensure the school is financially prudent and affordable for all families.

Location: The high school would be located at St. Joseph located in Belding. It would use the current school facility that is already on site. In addition to Our Catholic Community of St Charles and St Joseph-St Mary, the new school looks to serve all surrounding parishes within our diocese including Montcalm, Ionia, and eastern Kent Counties.

Timeline: Realistically, starting a new high school could take 3-5 years. The purpose of this inquiry is to see how many people see this as a need. The more interest that there is, with people willing to help in whatever ways that they can, and lots of prayer, anything is possible with God!

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful response to all the inquiry questions.

We take your privacy seriously. Information collected during this inquiry process is confidential and will be used for the sole purpose of the feasibility study conducted by SaintsCJM and the Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Your personal information will not be given to any other party or used for any other purpose.

Serve the Lord With Gladness – Ministries Most in Need of Help

High School Online Commitment Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdczB8aUvXIas6CuwfA1qoyMGrZoHggGf8imF5yC7bQifXFAQ/viewform?usp=sharing

Adult Online Commitment Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckFjmzHT0arXrorgzNC4Bn2s_tqik2LgG0WONC_Mmqhz-KwA/viewform?usp=sharing

Elementary and Middle School Online Commitment Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyKecppFs6eJLP535547HCPgiExn_yNeSLMx92tjn6MzVeOQ/viewform?usp=sharing

The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ Eucharistic Procession on Sunday, June 11th

The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) is Sunday June 11th. We will have Eucharistic Processions including Benediction in church after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Watch this beautiful video from 2017’s procession. Join us in this rich treasure of our faith and be a witness in our communities on Sunday June 11th.

** Special thanks to Jake Schmiedicke and Ice Pictures Productions www.IcePicturesProductions.com for producing this beautiful video for us!