Did you know? Regular blood donation can be beneficial for your health. It helps regulate iron levels, which can reduce the risk of certain health issues like heart disease. Plus, with the colder weather approaching, maintaining a healthy blood supply is crucial for cancer patients and patients in need. . Please consider donating at your local blood drive at St. Joseph Church on March 4th. Click the link below to view available appointments. Making your appointment now helps the Versiti team plan for how many staff members to bring.

https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11599066

As we prepare for the beginning of Lent, we invite you to consider serving as a liturgical minister during our Ash Wednesday Masses on March 5th. Your role will be an important part of our community’s reflection and prayer as we mark this holy season of penance and renewal.

To view available opportunities to serve visit our online sign up by clicking the link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448A4AD2AA5FE3-54954231-ashwednesday

Thank you for your continued dedication to our parish community.

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.

In Bishop Walkowiak’s letter, published in October, 2024 we were made aware of the Pastoral Planning process that was to take place.

We now have the statistical data that was gathered Diocesan wide.  These findings are published and accessible via the Diocese of Grand Rapids website. Click the link to be taken to their site: https://grdiocese.org/rooted-in-christ-diocesan-wide-pastoral-planning-process-begins/

We would encourage all parishioners to review this information and offer feedback.   This will address the future of our parishes and your voice matters.

As you review these reports, note that both St. Joseph-St. Mary and St. Charles Borromeo are part of the East Deanery. 

Please direct email responses to: bulletin@saintscjm.com.

Written responses may be left at either Parish office by January 13, 2025.

On January 15, 2025, your representatives will take your responses

to our gatherings and share your feedback and concerns.

Thank you,

St. Joseph-St. Mary

    Olga Albert

    Brian Jenks

St. Charles

    Ron Woychehoski

    Karin Kwiet-Darvill

The Widow’s Mite – A Holy Offering

We were blessed this fall to have Deacon Jim Hessler share an enlightening perspective on stewardship based on “the widow’s mite.” This is an interesting and well-founded perspective on how we are called to share our treasure to further God’s work.  If you missed his homily, we encourage you to click the link below. Some of his thoughts are summarized below.  

Deacon Jim shares that the widow’s gift was from her poverty, a sacrificial gift, which makes it holy! Jesus was not impressed by the larger gifts of other contributors but drew attention to the widow’s mighty gift of two coins. God blesses sacrificial gifts because we must rearrange our priorities and consciously choose to put God first. His graces then flow into our spiritual lives leaving us more grateful, joyfilled, with an improved spiritual life and feeling a sense of contentment only God can provide. God will not be outdone in his generosity! 

If your spiritual life doesn’t seem to be making progress or if your prayer life seems dry, perhaps the area of finances is the door you have left propped open in the fortress of your spiritual life. Leaving this door open keeps you from completely trusting in God and allows the cold draft of sin to separate us from His warm embrace. God doesn’t need our money but uses our money to prove we can trust him.    

Low volume. Please turn up your volume or use headphones to listen.

St. Charles School PTO is hosting a craft sale on Saturday, November 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. All handmade and homemade crafts are featured at our craft sale. We are taking applications for crafters now.

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.

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.