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.
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Break Away from Indifference!
Dear Parish Family, This Sunday marks the beginning of February already, and with Ash Wednesday already on February 18, Lent will be upon us before we know it. Have you thought about what to give up for Lent this year? How about giving up any indifference in our lives? Pope Francis released his annual Lenten
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Rallying a Corps of Disciples for the Lord!
Dear Parish Family, The Historic Diocesan Assembly held this past November 19 and 20 was a real shot in the arm for our Diocese of Lansing. Over 800 priests, deacons, lay ministers, and parish lay leaders were present with all but two of the over 80 parishes in our diocese represented. The effect has been
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Merry Christmas!
Dear Parish Family, JOY has come into the world because our Savior is born for us! Amidst the darkness, a light shines brightly, the hope of humanity, Jesus Christ our Lord! A very Merry Christmas to you and yours! For those who we don’t see very often outside the Christmas season, I encourage you to
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The Holiday Season Is Also Flu Season!
Dear Parish Family, The Holy Day season also means that flu season is upon us. Thus, please use discretion during the celebration of the Mass, particularly in two areas: 1) at the “Our Father” and the sign of peace and 2) at the reception of Holy Communion. At the “Our Father” and at the sign
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Happy Gaudete Sunday!
Dear Parish Family, Happy Gaudete Sunday! Gaudete means “Rejoice,” and we rejoice because the “Lord is near at hand!” We’re over the hump, the halfway point, in our preparation for the coming of our Savior. Let us express our rejoicing together at the Friday evening Hour of Adoration, “O Come, Let Us Adore Him!” at
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O Come, Let Us Adore Him
Dear Parish Family, I was able to visit my folks in Missouri for Thanksgiving and thus able to tell them all about parish life. There is much for which to be thankful, the greatest of which is the gift of God giving his very own self to us in Jesus Christ. All gifts come from
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We Need You!
Dear Parish Family, The entire parish staff joined hundreds of priests and lay people involved in parish ministry in the Diocese of Lansing for the historic diocesan assembly convoked by Bishop Boyea. It was an exhilarating two days, filled with the Holy Spirit, that set the course for implementing the New Evangelization in the parishes
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A Big Thank You!
Thank you to all who came to the Installation Mass at noon last Sunday! Because it has been 19 years since the last one, this was the first time for many to be at an installation. A few commented to me of their surprise at being so moved by it, and I certainly had a
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Making it Official
Dear Parish Family, Every July, as priests reach the age of retirement and receive “senior priest” status, new pastors are assigned at the parishes from which they retire. Sometime during their first year at their new assignments, the bishop visits each parish with new pastors and “installs” them. Bishop Boyea is here this Sunday for
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Purgatory Prepares Us for Heaven!
Dear Parish Family, “Father, it’s been ages since I last heard about purgatory from the pulpit!” said one parishioner. “You really rocked me with that sermon!” said one senior. Yes, both an elderly man and a woman really used the phrase, “rocked me!” Is that a Jackson thing? Anyway, those were the kinds of comments
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Hearty Congratulations! We did it!
Dear Parish Family, CONGRATULATIONS! We have hit our goal of $100,000 for our “Thank You, Fr. Murray” fund, which means that the Diocese of Lansing will wipe out an additional $100,000 off our debt! When you add that with the $420,000 that Fr. Francis Murray donated to our general fund, that frees us from all
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Remembering St. John Paul the Great!
Dear Parish Family, My column for the Sunday bulletin is due on Wednesday, and this particular Wednesday happens to be the very first feast day that we celebrate St. John Paul the Great since his canonization this past April 27. He is a personal hero to so many who grew up during his pontificate. He
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Bishop Earl is coming on Nov. 16
Dear Parish Family, On Sunday, November 16, our very own Bishop Earl Boyea is coming to our parish to install me as your new pastor. The Installation will be at the noon Mass that Sunday, as well as some type of reception in the parish hall afterwards.
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Did you see Fr. Chas on JTV?
Check out the video below and watch Fr. Chas’ appearance on JTV, interviewed by Bart Hawley. This segment originally aired on October 9, 2014.
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New Evangelists Wanted!
Dear Parish Family, Do you have a desire to help people encounter our Lord Jesus and enter a relationship with him through the life of the Church? Maybe you sense in your relationship with God that he is calling you to something deeper by which he will use you to draw others to himself, but
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With Brother Priests at the Presbyteral Convocation!
Dear Parish Family, As I write this, I am up north at Boyne Highlands for the annual Diocese of Lansing Presbyteral Convocation. “Presbyter” is just another term for priest. Every year, our bishop and the priests of the diocese gather for several days in autumn for 1) continual formation, 2) diocesan business, 3) fellowship, and
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Rolling with the Departure of JCMS
Dear Parish Family, This is the third of a series of bulletin articles on the findings of the diocesan parish audit. Last week reviewed the outstanding parish debt of $615,041 and how the combination of Fr. Murray’s generous bequest of $420,000 and the gracious willingness of the diocese to forgive about half of the remaining
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Fireside Chat Invitation
Have you heard about the Fireside Chat Program? Soon, Fr. Chas will be inviting you to a Fireside Chat in your neighborhood!
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Poised for the Future!
For the full unedited audio version, please listen to Fr. Chas’ homily on 9-21-2014. This is the second in a series of bulletin articles addressing the diocesan parish audit. This week, I would like to give you a broad overview of the financial situation of the parish, highlighting those areas that are of great concern.
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Our Bishop is Coming to St. John!
Dear Parish Family, Having been 19 years since the last time there had been a change in pastors here at St. John the Evangelist, there are a few things as a matter of protocol that occur on the diocesan level of which you may not be aware.
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Asking for Your Prayers as I Complete My S.T.L. Degree
Dear Parish Family, This week, I will be back at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, where I served on the faculty for the last four years just before coming here in late June. I am returning there to finish the very last component of a pontifical degree called the Licentiate in Sacred Theology
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The Importance of Silence
Dear Parish Family, At last Sunday’s homily, I spoke of the importance of having moments of silence not just at Mass, but in our daily lives as well. I asked you to give silence a try sometime during the week. Have you been able to do so? Silence is the language in which God
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Don’t Just Survive. Conquer!
Dear Parish Family, With such a long history, I was surprised that our parish did not have a logo that reflected that rich past, as well as our bright future and our patron saint. These were the driving concepts for what you see in our parish’s new logo. Allow me to share the meaning
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First month was one to remember!
Last weekend marked my first month in the parish. I am filled with gratitude for being back in parish life after four years of academia and formation work at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. I loved serving on the faculty and helping form our future priests at the seminary, but I feel most at home in