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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This Week’s Bulletin Article | Diocesan Services Appeal 2026
Diocesan Services Appeal “What we give is what we have from the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 29:14) Bishol Earl has chosen this verse from the Old Testament as the theme of this year’s Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA). It is a simple phrase that helps us to understand generosity. God gives freely to us and when we…
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Lent 2026: Don’t Just Pass It By, February 22, 2026
This year for Lent, rather than give up ice cream (that’s not REALLY a difficult fast anymore), or add a virtue like being kinder to people (NAH, that never goes well), or attempt Exodus 90 (THAT never goes well either), I’m going to try to be intentionally aware of my daily practice of Catholicism. What…
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Disciple Maker Index Survey, 2026
“Be ready! Be prepared for Lent! Get your fasting ready, please!” I got this advice from my granddaughter Lucy, who will soon be six, as I asked her for some encouragement for my bulletin article which is partly about Lent.. While I write this, we are having a grand time visiting her, her two sisters,…
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Salt & Light, February 6, 2026
In this week’s Gospel Jesus speaks on the nature of effective evangelization: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world…Just so, your…
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Exploring the Kingdom of God, January 30, 2026
The Kingdom of God: The mystery of the Kingdom of God is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith. It was such an important part of what Jesus wanted to communicate during His time on earth. There are over forty parables about the Kingdom of God in the Gospels. When Pope St. John Paul…
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from the Desk of Tara Brady, January, 23. 2026
Today, may God give me the eyes to see His Truth, Beauty, and Goodness; the heart to love Him; and the will to become a saint. This week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week and the joy that fills Saint John School! We celebrate our parish, whose prayers and financial support strengthen our mission; our students,…
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Troubadour of a Nobler Romance , January 18, 2026
In early December, instead of “decking our halls with boughs of holly,” Marcia and I were in flight to Rome for a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome. We were led by Sister Faith Marie Woolsey, FSE, daughter of parishioners Mike and Ellen Woolsey, and fellow Franciscan Sisters from Assisi and Rome. And truly,…
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The Baptism of the Lord, January 11, 2026
To baptize means to dunk, drown, submerse, wash. John’s baptism was something new; there were lots of Jewish washing rituals and rites, but his was so unique that St. John became known as “the Baptizer.” He took the practice of mikvah (mick-VEH; a Jewish bathing ritual) away from the temple and took it out to…
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The Beauty That Satisfies, January 04, 2026
Beauty – I think that is ultimately what we all yearn for as human beings. It is great when we find it, but unfortunately the pleasure in obtaining it dissipates all too soon, and we are on to the next best thing. Coincidingly, beautiful things lose their splendor to the corrupting progression of time, even…
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from the Desk of Father Chas Canoy, The Wedding Feast of the Lamb Revealed: A Christmas Gift to Our Parish
Merry Christmas, dear parish family and to all visitors! This Christmas of 2025 is extra special not only because it is a Jubilee Year, but also because Christmas Eve marks the unveiling of the yearlong painting of “Macklin’s Masterpiece” in the apse. The apse is the semicircular recess at the back of our church’s sanctuary,…
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Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, from the Desk of Father Randy Koenigsknecht
Third Sunday of Advent We have now reached the Third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday or Rejoicing Sunday. While the past two Sundays have focused on preparation for Jesus’s coming, this Sunday focuses instead on rejoicing in the Lord and his coming. There are three particular reasons that the Lord…
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May the Peace of Christ Disturb You, from the Desk of Angel Koerkel
Welcome, friends, to the Second Sunday of Advent, 2025. The theme of the second Sunday is “Peace” and this year we find this day falling between two great celebrations: the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6) and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8). Of course, each of these has loads to talk about,…
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1st Sunday in Advent, Always Improve Your Foxhole
I heard this countless times during my time in the Army. It comes from the idea that when aninfantryman first takes a position on the battlefield, he immediately digs into the ground to createa barrier between himself and the danger in front of him. At first, it may be just a few inchesdown, just enough…
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From the Desk of Evan Connors, Discipleship Assistant – 11/23/25
Hello, St. John the Evangelist Parish and St. Joseph Oratory! My name is Evan Connors; I am the new Discipleship Assistant here at the mother church of Jackson. A little bit about me: I have lived in the Diocese of Lansing my whole life, being a member of various parishes encompassing the Flint and Lansing…
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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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