Good stewards strive to conform their
lives to that of Christ – emptying
themselves of all pride and putting
themselves at the service of others.
PASTORAL CALENDAR
SAT. MAR 31 – Father Brucker
5 PM-SJ-+ Herm, Bernadette & Ed Rasch & Kathy
Pavlovic by Family
SUN. APR 1 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
9 AM-SC- +Dr. Louis Beechnau by Ann Patterson
Fr. Vainavicz
11 AM–SJ-+ Members of St. Catherine,
St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph Parishes
Father Brucker
5 PM-SFX-+Norbert Denhof
by Lloyd & Brenda Goodno - Father Brucker
MON. APR 2
Is 42:1-7 Jn 12:1-11
9 AM-SFX-+John Kent by Mary Denhof
TUES. APR 3
Is 49:1-6 Jn 13:21-38
8 AM-SJ-+Ray Zemaitis
8:30-3:00 PM-ADORATION
WED. APR 4
Is 50:4-9a Mt 26:14-25
NO MASS
THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM
THURS. APR 5 – HOLY THURSDAY
Lk 4:16-21 Jn13:1-15 Ex 12:1-14 Cor 11:23-26
MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER-Fr. Brucker
7 PM–SJ-+Ruth Ruwersma by Charlene Rasch
FRI. APR 6 GOOD FRIDAY
Required Day of Fast and Abstinence
Is 52:13-53:12 Heb 4:15-5:9 Jn 18:1-19:42
CELEBRATION OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
1:30 PM-SC-Good Friday Services-Father Danner
7:00 PM-SJ-Good Friday Services-Father Brucker
SAT. APR 7 HOLY SATURDAY
Gn 1:1-22 Ex 14:15-15:1 Is 55:1-11 Mk 16:1-7
THE EASTER VIGIL MASS – Father Brucker
7 PM–SC-+Members of St. Catherine, St. Francis
Xavier and St. Joseph Parishes
SUN. APR 8 - EASTER SUNDAY
Acts 10:34a-43 Cor 5:6b-8 Jn 20:1-9 Lk 24:13-35
9 AM-SFX-+Chad VanDyke by Lornella Faucher
Father Brucker
Note: No 9:00 AM Mass at St. Catherine’s
11 AM-SJ- +Frances Kline by Margaret Miller
Father Vainavicz
Stations of the Cross - St.
Francis Xavier’s Church
6:45 PM - Wednesdays of Lent
April 4, 2012
Leader: Bill May
Cross Bearer: Kerry DeGraaf
APRIL 1, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
I heard that, due to a mix-up, a number of
people did not get a bulletin last week; so
I am repeating one thing from last week,
editing others, and adding a couple. See if you notice
the changes.
There have been a couple of times when families of
deceased people have had the wake in the church
building proper. I find this a bit uncomfortable. To
me, it seems like it would not be the proper place for
such activity. It seems to me that the church building
is reserved for sacred services, not for visiting and
sharing of stories, as is proper to a wake. Funeral
homes and family homes, even halls, are more suited
to this activity. I am therefore asking that we respect
the church building and its intended purpose and
have wakes in places other than the church itself. If
families want to have a viewing an hour before the
funeral Mass in the vestibule, that is acceptable.
Thank you for your consideration in this regard.
This is Holy Week. This is a week that we set aside
many wonderful activities and focus on the passion,
death, and resurrection of Jesus. We begin the week
with the blessing and distribution of palms and the
reading of the Passion according to St. Mark.
As we did last year, we will have one celebration of
the great Triduum (three days) for the Cluster
Parishes, using the two larger church buildings to
accommodate everyone. The Triduum begins on
Holy Thursday with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s
Supper which will be at St. Joseph’s this year at 7 PM.
Adoration will continue until 10 PM (there will be
Night Prayer at 9:50 PM). On Good Friday, we will
have two celebrations of the “Lord’s Passion”, as it is
now called, one at 1:30 PM at St. Catherine’s and one
at 7 PM at St. Joseph’s. On Holy Saturday, the Easter
Vigil Mass will be at St. Catherine’s at 7 PM. On Easter
Sunday we will have 9:00 AM Mass at St. Francis
Xavier’s (no 9 AM Mass at St. Catherine’s) and the
regular 11:00 AM Mass at St. Joseph’s. There will be
no 5 PM Mass at St. Francis Xavier’s on Easter
Sunday.
Please remember that we are not allowed to have
Funeral Masses on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or
Holy Saturday. Funeral Masses would have to be on
the Monday or Tuesday after Easter.
I love you,
Fr. Fred
St. Catherine’s Parish Information
ST CATHERINE’S COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mark Arends (F), Mary Arends (F), Jim Jensen (F),
Jason Helsen (F), Marge Rusco (F), Ethel Nutt (F), Jill
Nutt (F), Misty Conran (F), Kevin Murphy (F), Dorothy
Posobiec (P), Marilee Herremans (P), Clarence Korson
(P), Paul Herremans (P), Howard Woodard (P)
LITURGICAL ASSIGNMENTS
proportion to our interior freedom from our own selfish
thoughts and behaviors.
FISH FRY HELP NEEDED!!
We are in need of cakes and people for the April 06,
2012 Fish Fry! Help is especially need for clean-up from
7:00 to 9:00pm. Thank you. Kevin Murphy.
OF INTEREST TO
ST. CATHERINE’S & ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S
APRIL 06, 2012-1:30 PM
Sacristan: Roger & Marge Rusco
Eucharistic Ministers: Ethel Nutt & Becky Langland
Lector: Kathy Morey
Ushers: Paul Herremans, John Swanson, Brad
Woodard & Howard Woodard
Mass Servers: Alicia and Emily Spruit
Music: Eileen Hoogterp
APRIL 07, 2012-7:00 PM
Greeters & Gifts: Mary Engle and Kathy Bensinger
Sacristan: Roger & Marge Rusco
Eucharistic Ministers: Jake Grimm, Mark Grover &
Cheryl Helsen
Lector: Rich Grover
Children’s Liturgy: No Children’s Liturgy
Ushers: Paul Herremans, John Swanson, Brad
Woodard & Howard Woodard
Mass Servers: Colleen and Kaycie Murphy, Travis
Helsen and Isaiah Nutt
Music: Eileen Hoogterp & Cluster Choir
Money Counters: Fred & Connie Riplo
COLLECTION FOR MARCH 25, 2012
82 Adults - - $4,038.40, 13 Youth - $41.00,
Loose - $40.12 Votive - $33.00, for a total of
$4,152.52. Helping Hands Scholarship Fund $200.00. Thank you for your continued
support!
MASS ATTENDANCE COUNT
Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 237
CENTERING PRAYER – Chapel at St. Catherine
Church, following Friday’s Mass.
Centering Prayer – Contemplative Prayer - 20 – 30
minutes daily, in silence, eyes closed, alone or in a
group.
Practicing Centering Prayer (listening to God in silence)
regularly, helps put us on a Spiritual Journey because
we learn about or own emotional programs for
happiness which prevents us from reacting to other
people and their needs. When locked into our private
world of loving ourselves and our desires excessively we
are not present or even aware of the needs of others
when they seek help. The clearness with which we see
other people’s needs and respond to them is direct
April 01, 2012 – Youth Ministry – Special session at St.
Joseph’s.
April 04, 2012 – K – 6 NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
April 08, 2012 – Youth Ministry – NO CLASS
April 15, 2012 – Youth Ministry – Open Gym & Movie
Night at St. Catherine’s Hall 6:00 – 8:00pm.
Antioch Weekend – April 13, 2012 at 7:00pm until April
15, 2012 at 3:00pm. Hosted by St. Jude’s Parish, Grand
Rapids. For more information please contact Bill Miller
at 616-262-5168.
St. Francis Xavier’s Parish Information
ST. FRANCIS COUNCIL MEMBERS
Rick Alt (F), Jim Arends (F), Matt Block (F), ), DJ Krum
(F), Jerry Moore (F), Fred Riplo (F), Irene Bosman (P),
Bill May (P), David Dolphin (P), Bill Miller (P), Tom
Stream (P), Diana VanOeffelen (P)
LITURGICAL ASSIGNMENTS
APRIL 08, 2012, 9:00 AM
Greeter: Barb VanDyke
Sacristan: Connie Riplo
Eucharistic Ministers: Dave Szost and Taylor Szost
Lector: Lara Swidwinski
Ushers: Bill Miller, Jerry Moore, Mike Swidwinski &
Bill May
Mass Servers: Nikki Szost & Dane Denhof
Gift Bearers: Rich Creager Family
Music: Eileen Hoogterp & Cluster Choir
Money Counters: Ron Rider & Dave Szost
COLLECTION FOR MARCH 25, 2012
31 Adults--$1,259.00, 6 Youth-$6.00, Loose$75.10, Votive - $9.00, for a total of $1,349.10.
Food Pantry-$169.00
Thank you for your continued support!
MASS ATTENDANCE COUNT
Sunday, March 18, 2012 – 70
FOOD PANTRY
LITURGICAL NOTES
During the 6 Sundays of Lent,
beginning February 26th and ending
April 1, a second collection will be taken
up after Communion for St. Francis
Xavier’s Food Pantry. This is our main fund raiser to help
with food supplies for those in need. Food Pantry
envelopes will not be used at St. Francis during the 6
Sunday’s of Lent. If any of our cluster parishes would
like to participate, you may put an envelope marked
“SFT Food Pantry” in the regular collection or you may
send a check to our parish office at St. Francis. All
donations will be greatly appreciated. Barb VanDyke,
Coordinator of our Food Pantry.
February 26th: $148.00
March 4th: $420.00
March 11th: $248.72
March 18th: $287.52
March 25: $169.00
Rosary Intention for April-Let us pray for
protection, guidance, and strength for those people
worldwide who are to be received into the Catholic
Faith this Easter and especially our own parishioners.
St. Joseph’s Parish
News & Information
LITURGICAL MINISTRY
SCHEDULE
READERS
Holy Thurs.- 1st-Bill May, 2nd- Bill Gavin
Petitions-Florence Postema
Good Fri-Jean Piccard & Ben Looks
Apr 8-11 AM-Jean Piccard
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Holy Thursday-Deb Clelland
Good Fri-Rick Cederholm
Apr 8- 11 AM-Michelle Allers
MINISTERS OF THE CUP
Holy Thursday-Mary Engle, AnnaMae Wioodard,
Apr 8-11 AM-Vivian Armock &Mary VenHuizen
MUSIC SCHEDULE
Holy Thurs-Eileen Hoogterp & Cluster Choir
Apr 8-11 AM-Eileen Hoogterp & Cluster Choir
CROSS HOLDERS-GOOD FRIDAY
Steve Umlor & Joe Dietrich
GREETERS
Apr 8-11 AM-Karen & Dan Carmody & Joy & Ryan Umlor
PARISH INFORMATION
Religious Ed Classes – No CCD Classes this Sunday
Youth Ministry-All teens should attend the Cluster
Program this Sunday evening at St .Joseph’s, families
are encouraged to come as well. Please rsvp to Val if
you are coming.
IGNITE A TEEN - HUMAN VOTIVE CANDLE fundraiser
is now completed. On behalf of all the teens and myself:
Thank you so much for your support and generosity in
this fundraiser! We look forward to praying for your
intentions.
God Bless, Valerie
Parish Expo will take place on April 21st and 22nd after
the Masses. All committees please contact Lorrain
Dietrich 899-2907 or the church office with your retiring
members.
The family of Gilford Hockey would like to thank
Father Fred for his many visits, blessings, and prayers.
We would also like to thank the Organist, Reader,
Eucharistic and Cup Minister, Altar Servers and the
ladies who prepared the delicious lunch and everyone
who sent thought and prayers. God Bless All.
The Hockey Family
CHURCH CLEANING FOR APRIL
4/7-Christina VanMaldegen, Nicole & Kim
VanOeffelen & Kelly VanWeelde
4/14-Mary & Kelly VenHuizen, Dee Visser &
Michelle Vlug
4/21-Marj Williams, Tracy Worrell, Kathleen Zimmer, &
Andrea Zimmer
4/28-Marilyn & Dorothy Zemaitis, Diane Zimmer
& Andrea Zimmer
Please check the storage closet for the list of things to be
done. If you can’t make your schedule time please switch
with someone.
GIVING BACK TO GOD
3-25-2012
USHERS SCHEDULE
Apr 8-11 AM-Mike Kluting & Son & Joe Klein Jr
ADULT ENVELOPES
ADULT (84) $3414
YOUTH (7) $ 6
LOOSE
$117
ALTAR SERVER
Holy Thurs.- Trevor & Carl Dietrich, & Erik Bouwhuis
Good Fri-Lucas & Evan Grzybowski
Apr 8-11 AM-Max & Sam Glass & Courtney Koelsch
Catholic Relief Services $1435
Thank you for your support
Mass attendance
Fuel $70
TOTAL $3607
5 pm-233
11 am-165
CLUSTER INFORMATION
Contact Information for School Cluster
Contact Melanie Grover at:
groverm@gvsu.edu.
Cell phone: 231-557-6602.
Contact Kendra DeYoung at
kendeyoun@gmail.com. Phone: 616-437-0173.
Bishop Walter A. Hurley will celebrate the liturgies
of Holy Week and Easter at the Cathedral of Saint
Andrew. Live webcasts of the Palm Sunday Mass,
Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday Mass, the Good
Friday liturgy and Easter Sunday Mass will be
available for viewing on the Diocese of Grand
Rapids website, www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org (in
the Resources section, click “Live Webcast” under
"Mass at the Cathedral"). The Masses on Palm
Sunday and Easter Sunday will also be televised
live at 10 a.m. on WXMI FOX 17.
The schedule is as follows: April 1, 10 a.m. – Palm
Sunday Mass; April 3, 7 p.m. – Chrism Mass (this is
a ticketed event); April 5, 7 p.m. – Holy Thursday
Mass; April 6, 1 p.m. – Good Friday liturgy; April 8,
10 a.m. – Easter Sunday. Inquiries/questions about
the live televised broadcasts and webcasts of Mass
from the cathedral may be addressed to the
diocesan office of communications, 616-475-1240.
SUB SANDWICH/CHEESECAKE FUNDRAISER
St. Catherine/St. Francis Xavier’s Youth
Ministry will be selling subs and
cheesecakes March 04 – April 9, 2012.
Cost range from $4.00- $4.25 for subs
and $11.00 - $14.00 for cheesecake. We will place the
order with Sobie Meats (on Aunt Millie’s buns) on April
12th and delivery will be April 23rd. Proceeds from this
sale will help pay for this year’s Mission Trip!
RAVENNA COMMUNITY FISH FRY
Please join us every Friday night during
Lent for our Fish Fry. Dinner will be
served from 5:00 – 8:00pm. Cost is
$10.00 for Adults, $5.00 for children 5-12
and Children under 5 are free. Please join us at St.
Catherine’s Hall on:
April 06 – Hosted by St. Catherine
ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL
The students have been very busy with “March is
Reading” month. We have had many guest readers:
Griff, Fr.Fred, Dave Faber, and Kendra DeYoung. Author
Jim Penrice was able to come in to speak with students
about writing and his books. We were able to celebrate
Fr. Fred’s birthday and the Feast of St. Joseph with a
special Mass and pizza lunch. We ended the month
with blankets and pillows for a final “read in” in the
church basement. The children have also lead and
participated in Stations of the Cross each week for lent.
St. Joseph’s VBS-“SKY”-Everything is
Possible With God. At SKY, kids discover
that everything is possible with God! SKY
is filled with incredible Bible-learning experiences kids
see, hear, touch, and even taste! Plus, we’ll help kids
discover how to see evidence of God in everyday life. So
mark your calendar-June 18 through June 22-for this lifechanging adventure!
If you would like to help with the planning of this year’s
program, please contact Shirley Klein at 899-2384 as
soon as possible.
St. Catherine/St. Francis Xavier’s
VBS - At Sky, kids discover that
everything is possible with God! Sky
is filled with incredible Bible-learning experiences kids
see, hear, touch, and even taste! Sciency-Fun Gizmos™,
team-building games, cool Bible songs, and tasty treats
are just a few of the Sky activities that help faith flow into
real life. This year’s VBS is June 11 – 15, 2012 at St.
Catherine’s Hall. If you would like to join the crew,
please contact Diane at (231) 853-6222.
FAMILY PERSPECTIVE
by Bud Ozar
The Passion of Jesus makes it clear: no one escapes
suffering. Suffering is inevitable, but no one should
suffer alone. That is one of the primary roles of families,
to stand with and support each other in suffering
The CLUSTER CHOIR is celebrating the
season of Lent culminating with the
Masses of the Triduum and the Easter
Vigil and Easter Morning. Parishioners of all three
parishes are invited to join this seasonal choir. We will
be preparing music for the Lenten season as well as the
liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil
and Easter Morning! We are asked to pray, fast and give
alms during the season of Lent. St. Augustine has told
us that “singing is praying twice” -- just think of the
prayer that will be lifted as you join in the music ministry
of your Cluster Parishes! May you have a Holy Season
of Prayer, fasting and alms giving!
Tuesday
April 3, 2012
Rehearsal at St. Joseph/Wright
7:00-9:00 PM
Holy Thursday
April 5, 2012
7:00 PM
Mass at St. Joseph/Wright
Arrive at 6:15 PM - BLACK/WHITE ATTIRE
Good Friday
April 6, 2012
1:30 PM
St. Catherine/POSSIBLE CHOIR!
7:00 PM
St. Joseph/POSSIBLE CHOIR
Easter Vigil
April 7, 2012
7:00 PM
Mass at St. Catherine/Ravenna
Easter Morning
April 8, 2012
9:00 AM
Mass at St. Francis Xavier
11:00 AM
Mass at St. Joseph/Wright
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Mrs. Eileen Hoogterp, Director of Music by phoning any
one of the parish offices. You message will be
forwarded. Thank you!
FLOWER SALE
St. Catherine’s Home and School is having
a Flower Sale until Monday April 16th. The
cost is $12 per hanging basket. Please call
the School Office (231.853.6743) or contact
a school family to order. Delivery will be May 9th, just in
time for Mother’s Day!
Knights of Columbus This will be the final Sunday for
the all you can eat breakfast! Serving is 9:00 am to 1:00
pm. Cost is $6.50 for adults, $3.50 ages 5-11 years of
age and free for 4 and under.
Knights of Columbus will be at all 3 churches this
weekend for their annual Tootsie Roll Drive for the
Mentally Impaired. Please be sure to help with this very
worthy cause.
WORD ON FIRE
St. Michaels, Coopersville Adult Faith Formation
program will be offering the viewing of Fr. Robert
Barron’s, “Catholicism – Word on Fire” DVD program.
The program is offered at Noon on each Sunday during
Lent (Feb. 26 – Apr. 1st). Each session will last about an
hour. This program illustrates the truth, goodness and
beauty of the Catholic Faith in an epic media experience.
No admission will be charged, however a free will
offering will be appreciated. 17150 88th Ave,
Coopersville, MI 49404. Contact Debbie Veneklase with
any questions 616-837-8158.
REDISCOVER CATHOLICISM
"Rediscover Catholicism" Lenten Series - Please join us,
Tuesday at 6:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church, Muskegon,
as we conclude the last of our six seminars in our Lenten
series. Come hear about the richness of the Catholic
faith as we anticipate the greatest celebration of our
Church -- the passion, death, and resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ!
ST. MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL POSITION
St. Mary Catholic School, Big Rapids, Michigan is
seeking candidates for the position of Principal. The
applicant must be a practicing Catholic with a MA in
Education or its equivalent and have a valid Michigan
teaching certificate. Furthermore, he/she must have an
Advance Catechetical Certification or a willingness to
pursue such a certification shortly after hiring.
Experience is a plus. The school currently enrolls 100 K8 students and 36 preschoolers. Please send inquires,
resume, transcripts, and references to: The Search
Committee, 1009 Marion Ave, Big Rapids, MI. 49307,
or email: bmorawa@stmarybr.org, or fax 231 796 9231
RELAY FOR LIFE
The American Cancer Society and Kathy’s Crew would
like to invite all cancer survivors to the Relay for Life
Survivor lap and Reception June 1st at 6pm at Mona
Shores High School track in Muskegon. You and you
caregiver will be invited to join in the victory lap followed
by a reception featuring a meal for survivors and
caregivers compliments of Harris Hospitality. A cancer
survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer,
but has not lost the battle. Forms are available from:
Hannah Smoker (616) 551.4037,
Hannah.smoker@cancer.org or Jim Engle (616)
481.1621, englejk@gmail.com.
You are invited! Fr. Larry Snyder, President & CEO
of Catholic Charities USA, will be speaking at a
luncheon hosted by Catholic Charities West
Michigan (CCWM) Thursday, April 26, 2012 at
Cathedral Square Center. Parishioners of the Diocese
of Grand Rapids are invited to join this no cost luncheon
to listen to Fr. Snyder’s message, 10 Years From Now, a
discussion about the increasing number of those living in
poverty in the U.S. and how we can be a part of the
solutions that will help all people in our communities to
be thriving in the future. Please contact Jean Katt,
CCWM Parish Relations & Social Ministry Coordinator,
at jkatt@ccwestmi.org or (616) 551.5663 for more
information or to reserve your place. Seating is limited.
Looking for something fun to do during spring
break? Bring the kids and your creativity to Gallery
303, God’s Kitchen Gift & Painting Studio. We are
celebrating Spring Break and invite you to join in the fun
during the week of April 3rd through April 7th. A
selection of paint your own pottery items, flowerpots and
mini canvases are priced at $5 (includes studio fee)
which means a group/family of 4 can paint for $20! It’s
the perfect time to paint that 1st Communion
Commemorative Plate and not too early to make a gift
for Mothers/ Fathers Day. Join us for some great
family fun and feel good knowing that the proceeds
benefit the food and pantry programs of God’s Kitchen.
Location: 303 Division Ave, Grand Rapids, phone:
(616) 224-1294. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday
10am to 4pm.
God's Kitchen, a program of Catholic Charities West
Michigan, is in great need of buffet style ham (with
no bone), cream based soups, canned gravies and
vegetables for an Easter meal. Call Director Rob Miller
at (616) 454-4110 if you have any questions or to
arrange for pick-up or drop off your donations at God's
Kitchen, 303 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids.
If you struggle with depression, anxiety and a constant
feeling of being over stressed in your life, help is
available for you. We encourage you to call the
Behavioral Health Department of Catholic Charities
West Michigan to gather more information about our
counseling services or to make an appointment with one
of our highly qualified counselors at 1-877-359-6523.
CCWM will provide you with a safe and confidential
opportunity to address your pain to find hope and
healing