Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor | St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church | Jackson, Michigan
Discover pastoral reflections and homilies from Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Jackson, MI. Stay rooted in faith and parish life.
-
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,
-
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
-
Watch: A Glorious Restoration | Saint John the Evangelist in Jackson
WATCH: A HEAVENLY RESTORATION | SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST, JACKSON: Constructed in 1857, Saint John the Evangelist in Jackson is the oldest church building in the Diocese of Lansing. Watch this short film as pastor, Father Chas Canoy, explains the parish’s desire to return their beloved building to its former glory by commissioning local artist, Joseph
-
Sharing Our Faith Stories, OCIA 2025
from Tim, Pat, Ryan Grace, and Nathan Ehlert Tim, Pam, Ryan Grace, and Nathan Ehlert made their decision to convert to Catholicism as a family. Our journey began with Pam’s health crisis in 2021. Pam had a cardiac event; the family wasn’t sure if Pam would survive and, if she did, what her quality of
-
From the Desk of Shayne Slough, Director of Parish Life, 6/15/25
As we launched into “Ordinary Time” and concluded the Easter Season right after last Sunday’s celebration of Pentecost, our Sunday celebrations continue to be anything but “ordinary” this month of June! This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, next weekend is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, and as we wrap up the
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 4/20/25
Christ’s Resurrection Raises Saints! Dear Parish Family, The power of Jesus’ Resurrection gives us all the calling and capacity to become all that God desired for us to be: SAINTS. The power of Jesus’ Resurrection makes God’s command to us possible: “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” The power of Jesus’
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 12/22/24
SIGNS OF HOPE IN THIS JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE 2025! Dear Parish Family, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!” (Jn 1:5). The Light of the World, Jesus the Christ, first shone in the darkness in the bleakest of circumstances, in the backwoods of Bethlehem, in a cave where
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 11/17/24
State of the Parish – “God’s Co-Workers in Unifying the Human Family” Dear Parish Family, The bitter division and demonization of one another this past year have caused so much stress and broken the hearts of countless people in our country. Such entrenched conflict begins with the insecurity and bitter conflict within our own hearts.
-
Parish Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi – May 2025, Jubilee Year
JOIN US as we travel to Assisi and Rome in the Jubilee Year of 2025! Check out the itinerary below! CLICK HERE to find out more and to register at Corporate Travel! Update: Fr. Steve Mattson will not be able to join Fr. Chas on this pilgrimage, after all.
-
From the Desks of Shayne & Todd – 11/03/24
Walk With One… and more! Our core purpose statement for St. John the Evangelist is “To fulfill the Great Commission and form a community of missionary disciples in Jackson, Michigan”. This is our parish CULTURE, our environment and ecosystem. It’s who we are as a parish. We have been immersed in the basic training of
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy – June 2, 2024
SUMMER IS UPON US! PLEASE DRESS FOR WORSHIP! Dear Parish Family, During this time of the National Eucharistic Revival, there is a greater emphasis on celebrating and honoring the Real Presence of Jesus our Lord in the Eucharist. So especially if you’ve never attended an outdoor Eucharistic procession, this is the year! TODAY (Sunday, 6/2
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 3/31/24
Humanity’s Two Enemies Conquered! On April 3rd of last year, Fr. Jim Shaver had passed away. Later this next week, we will be celebrating the first anniversary of his passing. Many of you witnessed for the first time the funeral of a priest, over which our bishop presides and many brother priests from around the
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 12/24/23
God Making Himself Small for Us Dear Parish Family, In over 18 years of priesthood, I’ve celebrated the baptisms of many infants. Babies draw everyone’s attention and affection. There is little that disarms us and endears us more than a small baby. The biggest wonder of Christmas is the gift of the infant Jesus. Our
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 10/29/23
State of the Parish 2023 Bulletin Article Our Collective Work of “Subversion!” Dear Parish Family, As your pastor, I am so proud of our parishioners and their support of our faith community! The contributions of your time, talent and treasure further the Kingdom of God in our midst! It is so important to remember the
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor
October 8, 2023 Dear Parish Family, I am always impressed by the love I see being lived out in the families of our parish, and I am grateful to God and to all of you for your tireless efforts to protect the dignity of your marriage and family, especially in the cultural milieu that we
-
We Invite You to Come and See! 9/10/23
Dear Parishioners, 1856. In this year, the “Mother Church of Jackson” laid its cornerstone, and from that moment on, parish life at St. John the Evangelist Parish began! This year, we celebrate our 166th year as a parish and our 150th year of St. John School! So first, a big THANK YOU… We have over
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 8/27/23
Wondering what The RESCUE Project is all about? Here’s what ACTS XXIX, led by Fr. John Riccardo, says about it… “We passionately believe that the most urgent task is the compelling proclamation of the Gospel, one that not only shares it in an attractive – and concentrated – way, but that also offers people a
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 4/9/23
A Blessed Easter to All! Death Is Conquered! Last weekend, I received word that Fr. Jim Shaver was entering his final days. While his family asked for privacy, they were allowing his brother priests to come by to wish him farewell. So Fr. Tim Nelson and I decided to drive from Jackson to Detroit in
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor
Dear Parish Family, An important component to our Lenten journey is reflecting upon the stewardship of all with which we have been blessed. I am so pleased and proud of your response in these last two months after our parish’s Sunday offertory was behind budget approaching this last Christmas. You recognized the need, and your
-
From the Desk of Bill Mitch, Director of Parish Operations
A married couple’s primary objective is to get one another into heaven. There are many other responsibilities that come with being married, but all of them should be pointing toward this primary driver. Abby Mitch is going to get me to heaven and I, her. My wife is a big part of my faith journey
-
From the Desk of Joseph Gruber, Parish FOCUS Missionary – 1/22/23
Farewell, But Not Goodbye! Greetings, St John the Evangelist parish! I want to start by thanking Fr. Chas and the whole parish for bringing myself and my family here to serve as missionaries in the parish! Five years ago, my wife Crystal and I started the adventure of being parish missionaries here in Jackson! After
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy, Pastor – 12/25/22
Keep Your Gaze Upon the Stable at Bethlehem! Dear Parish Family, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, wants to minister to YOU this Christmas and throughout 2023. Allow him to do so! I know for so many of us, with all that has gone on in the world, these last couple of years have been disorienting
-
From the Desk of Angel Koerkel, Coordinator of Sacramental Preparation – 12/11/22
Today we celebrate the GAUDETE of Advent! In lighting the third candle, the rose-colored one, we are filled with the JOYful realization that our wait is almost over. Anticipation is an exciting part of any journey. It allows us to reflect on what (WHO) we are anticipating and gives us the great grace of time
-
From the Desk of Fr. Chas Canoy
Keep Fighting Like Heaven for Christ our King! Dear Parish Family, Quite a few of you came up to me to express your dismay at the election results, particularly regarding the outcome of Proposal 3. We have come to a point in our cherished state of Michigan that the people freely have chosen to have