This week, you will receive a letter from Bishop Walkowiak asking you to make your commitment to support the work of our diocesan programs and ministries through the Catholic Services Appeal. These are ministries that benefit us all but are difficult for any one parish to provide on its own. Your gift to the CSA enables the Catholic Church to reach out to people in our 11 counties in a variety of ways, including through seminarian and deacon formation; youth programming; support for the homebound and incarcerated; families who are struggling; the hungry, and the homeless. Through the CSA, we all work together to care for the Church by sharing the gifts God has granted us. Our parish goal is 100% participation, which means every parishioner should return their pledge card. Please join us in this important work!

Click here to make your 2026 CSA pledge online.

Dear Folks

God is at work even when we don’t understand, in fact, that is often when He does his best work.  Often, we get to serve God with our strength, but sometimes we serve God with our weakness. 

I’m very grateful to St. Charles and St. Joseph-St. Mary for the powerful years there. I have left pieces of my heart in many, many places. I will carry with myself parts of the parishes forever, and a hope you carry parts of me. 

It is so ironic that I’ve seen my strength as connected to words, and God has given me an extra challenge with words now.  I have always had to type carefully and now I have to type even more carefully.  God had such a twisted imagination. 

I won’t say goodbye, because I don’t know what it happening next, but I will say:

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

Fr. Jim Update 4-23-2026

First, please know that Fr. Jim deeply appreciates your cards, notes, and prayers—they continue to be delivered to him each week.  These lift his spirits as he continues to adjust to his ‘new normal’.

He is continuing to make steady progress. His eyesight has improved, and he has successfully passed his eye exams. He has now been cleared to drive, though he is keeping his trips short and limited to familiar routes.

Fr. Jim is also staying active, walking about two miles each day, sometimes more. While he still experiences occasional difficulty finding words, this is happening less frequently.

If you would be interested in visiting him—perhaps going out for coffee or sharing a meal—please feel free to contact the office, and we will be happy to help make the connection.

We are also planning a “thank you” reception, likely near the end of June. Please watch the bulletin for more details as they become available.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

St. Charles School PTO is hosting a craft sale on Saturday, November 7th 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 call Dana Morris for more information at 989-388-1099.

Click here for a printable copy of the Craft Vendor application.

We hope to see you there!

Fr. Tom Brown has graciously offered to hear confessions on Saturdays before the 4:30 PM Mass. Reconciliation will begin at 3:00 pm. Please watch the bulletin for schedule changes.

Classes start Sunday, August 24th. Click on the link below to register online.

Online Registration for Faith Formation Classes

Make your appointment today for the September 2nd Versiti Blood Drive at St. Joseph Church. All attempting donors with a valid email address will receive a $25 e-gift card. Click the link below to schedule your appointment.

https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11599068

We have an update to the weekday Mass schedule. Weekday Masses and Reconciliation will be held the weeks of June 16th & June 23.

Beginning the week of June 30th Weekday Masses and Reconciliation are paused through at least early fall. Please pick up one of the flyers available at each worship site listing nearby weekday Masses and Reconciliation for your convenience.

The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) is Sunday June 22nd. We will have a Eucharistic Procession, 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 22nd.

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

Fr. Jim will be gone on a planned vacation May 19th through May 26th. While he is gone the weekday Masses and Reconciliation are cancelled. Adoration on Tuesday at St. Joseph and Wednesday at St. Charles will take place as scheduled.

Fr. Jim will also be out of the office on Tuesday, May 27th and Wednesday, May 28th for medical appointments. Due to that Mass & Reconciliation scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 at St. Joseph is cancelled, and Mass scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th at St. Charles is cancelled. Adoration at both worship sites will take place as scheduled.

Click the link below for a list of nearby parishes offering Reconciliation and weekday Masses.
 

https://saintscjm.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Nearby-Reconciliation-Weekday-Mass-Guide.pdf