What is #GivingTuesday? What does it have to do with Our Catholic Community of St. Charles & St. Joseph-St. Mary? It is a global day dedicated to giving back, especially after the commercialism and consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is a time to think about giving rather than receiving.

And giving back is what we do every day as Catholic Christians. So why not participate with millions around the world during this secular event to support our own ministries?

Bishop Walkowiak is encouraging Catholics to participate by supporting parishes, schools and ministries right here in West Michigan. You are being asked to #GiveCatholicWM on #Giving Tuesday. It is our own local link to this day of giving back.

To make your donation online click this link: https://grdiocese.org/giving-tuesday/
Here are ways you can participate on Tuesday, Nov. 28:

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.

It is time to start signing up liturgical ministers for the Christmas liturgies. We continue the tradition of asking for volunteers for these Masses understanding that there are a lot of parishioners who travel during the holidays. This year there are important things to remember. You will still need to fulfill your weekend obligation by attending Mass Saturday evening or Sunday Morning, as well as attending Christmas Eve Mass Sunday evening or Monday morning. 

Below is the Dec. 23/24 weekend obligation Mass schedule.

• Dec. 23- 4:30 pm at SJ and 7:00pm at SC
• Dec. 24- 8:30 am at SM and 11:00 am at SC

Below is the Christmas Liturgy Mass schedule.

• Dec. 24- 4:00 pm at SC and 7:00 pm at SM
• Dec. 25- 8:30 am at SJ and 11:00 am at SC

Click on one of these links to sign up online, or call either parish office to sign up.

Christmas Eve

4:00 pm at St. Charles: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448A4AD2AA5FE3-44542349-christmas

7:00 pm at St. Mary:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448A4AD2AA5FE3-44542432-christmas

Christmas Day

8:30 am at St. Joseph:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448A4AD2AA5FE3-44542323-christmas

11:00 am Mass at St. Charles:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0448A4AD2AA5FE3-44542325-christmas

This is a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church. 

      We are expecting tens of thousands of pilgrims—but space is limited. 

When   July 17-21, 2024

Where  Lucas Oil Stadium  Indianapolis, Indiana

Who      80,000+ Catholics

Jesus Christ will be there. Will you?

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 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!

Walking With Moms in Need is sponsoring a Free Family Dinner at St. Joseph Church on Thursday June 1st. Help support this event by donating any size diapers, diaper cream, and wipes. Donations can be dropped off at St. Charles, St. Joseph, or St. Mary by May 31st.

Help us spread the word to our community!