Explore the latest bulletin articles from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish in Jackson, MI—featuring weekly reflections, pastoral insights, faith formation, community updates, and spiritual inspiration for parishioners
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THEOTOKOS IS US
Do you know the word THEOTOKOS? It’s an ancient Eastern title for Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God. It means God Bearer; the one who brings God into the world. Mary is not the ONLY Theotokos. As Christians, we are all called to be God bearers. The name Christian implies something similar; it means…
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The Church’s Church – from the Desk of Kathryn Fisher
Each year on November 9th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. Because the feast is not a holy day of obligation you might not be that aware of the significance of this celebration. This year the feast falls on a Sunday and so we should take the opportunity to…
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Remembering Our Loved Ones on All Souls’ Day: A Journey of Faith, Family, and Prayer
All Souls’ Day What would typically be the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time is, this year, All Souls’ Day since November 2nd falls on a Sunday. We celebrate this commemoration of All Souls’ with a special Mass of Remembrance annually, recalling those recently passed, as well as all who have gone before us, lifting them…
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from the Desk of Deacon Dave Etters : Unlocking the ‘Yearning of the Human Heart’
Unlocking the ‘Yearning of the Human Heart’Beneath our efforts in life to satisfy our basic human needs – even wants, lies adeeper longing, a yearning of the heart. Our busy lives often make it difficult topay attention to, or even recognize this longing. But, deep down what we trulydesire is truth, goodness and beauty –…
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State of the Parish, Christ Has No Body Now but Yours
From the Desk of Father Chas Canoy, 10/16/2025 Dear Parish Family, With all the tragic and yes evil events that have been happening in our world, the people of Jackson’s need for the Good News of Jesus Christ is all the more urgent! Maybe those recent occurrences or personal struggles have negatively impacted us. It…
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Together We Burn Bright: Fireside Chats at St. John
You’re Invited! A few weeks ago as Fr. Randy was preaching, he spoke of hot coals: “We here at St. John’s, along with all the other Jackson churches, have been tasked with setting fire to our city, bringing our community to Jesus, welcoming the kingdom of God here and now in Jackson, bringing our community…
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Who is Catechetical Sunday for?
Who is Catechetical Sunday for? Catechetical Sunday is recognized on the 3rd Sunday of September; this year that means today, September 21, 2025, but what is it and who is it for? Generally speaking, Catechetical Sunday observes and celebrates the catechists of our Church – those that teach and hand on the faith. It’s a…
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From the Desk of Todd Gale, Discipleship Coordinator & Spiritual Director, 9/14/25
EXALTATION OF THE CROSS AND OCIA Do you have the feeling that God is looking for YOU? He IS seeking you and is calling you to Himself. Wherever you are in this walk of life: a full-on believer or a turned off doubter, He wants to find YOU. And when you respond to his insistent…
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Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati & Sainthood
Models of Faith for Our Time: Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati & Carlo Acutis This weekend we celebrate the canonization of two new saints: Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis. As you may recall the canonization process has three main steps. The first of these is an investigation into the person’s life to find out if…
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What’s Your Story?
Joseph Gruber: 10/4/20 “What’s your story?” is a question I often ask other people. I love stories—I studied English literature in college, and one of the reasons I love studying the Bible with people now is my love for good narratives. And we all have stories—we all began, did something, and have at least ended…
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On Blessedness
From our Parish FOCUS Missionary, Joseph Gruber… It’s been a bit of a year, Jackson family! And it’s not over yet! Between a pandemic, protests, and a presidential election year, some might say it’s hard to live out a blessed life under these circumstances. But if we look at what Jesus says about a blessed…
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The Pearl of Great Price
From the desk of Deacon Dave Etters… Recently, there was a meme circulating on social media – a desert scene where a man was looking up to a towering genie hovering above a lamp. “Ask of me three wishes and I will grant them,” promised the genie. “Make me rich!” the man replied. The genie…
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To Hear the Spirit; Shema the Ruah
From our Director of Faith Formation, Todd Gale… Trying to maneuver through the news stories of our unsettling recent weeks takes some skill. There is a tsunami of information coming at us, wave after wave. If we do not use the OFF button, we could easily drown in information! Everyone has an opinion, it seems,…
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Why I Signed Up for Eucharistic Adoration
From our Director of Parish Life, Shayne Slough… When I first signed up about 4 years ago for the commitment of going to pray between 9-10 p.m. on a Sunday night before our Eucharistic Lord, I will admit I was a bit hesitant about the whole thing. Adoration was somewhat new to me, first of…
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The Feast of Corpus Christi
From the desk of Deacon Mike McCormick… Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. These are the words from today’s Gospel as we celebrate…
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Happy Return to Ordinary Time
From our Parish FOCUS Missionary, Joseph Gruber… Dear Parishioners, Happy return to Ordinary Time! Right now, there are all sorts of discussions of what a “new normal” is going to look like— people are wondering if will we still hug friends, have parties, continue to wear masks to the grocery story, etc. The Church, though,…
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The Ascension – A Victory Lap?
From the desk of Deacon Dave Etters… “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) It is customary for the winning driver of the…
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Sharing My Story: Reflecting on Motherhood and Mary in the Month of May
My faith journey, as many others do I’m sure, feels like a novel, with a main plot interwoven with several subplots along the way. One of the subplots is actually quite recent and is the guiding work of the Holy Spirit and how I started working here at St. John Parish. But that’s another story!…
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