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And it happened that, while He was with them at table, He tookbread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With thattheir eyes were opened and they recognized Him.

St. Joseph Catholic ChurchPage 2Battle Creek, MIDue to the Executive Order to suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life: The Church is closed, the Parish Office is closed, all events are canceled until May 3, this includesAdoration, Confessions and Stations. Masses will be celebrated privately by our parish priests and all Mass intentions will be honored. See the lower right side of this page for a list of everything that is live-streamed on Facebook.Mass ScheduleAll Masses are Celebrated privately by our priestsOn Sundays there are 3 Masses live-streamed:8 am in English, 10 am in Spanish, 12 pm BurmeseThe 8 am Mass is live-streamed every day.Saturday, April 25 – Vigil: Third Sunday of Easter5:00 pm † Mark Saunders by Bob & Kathy ValknerSunday, April 26 – Third Sunday of Easter8:00 am † Allen Federico by Bagwell Family10:00 am † Dan Boone by Bob and Kathy Valkner12:00 pm † Helen Kowalski by Frank Kowalski2:00 pm For the People of St. Joseph & St. Jerome Burmese5:00 pm † Holy Souls in Purgatory SpanishMonday, April 278:00 am † Eileen Kilbourn by Frank & Jonny SkeltisTuesday, April 288:00 am † Jeff Okon by Neil & Nancy HaackWednesday, April 298:00 am † Sr. Anne Marie Marko by Roy & Agnes MarkoThursday, April 308:00 am † Edna & Carlo Zanetti by Mary Lohrstorfer9:00 pm † Danny Trunick by Francisco FamilyFirst Friday, May 18:00 am † INTENTIONSaturday, May 28:00 am † Lorraine E. Freed by S. Joseph ParishWe pray for the day when wewill be able to resume weeklyAdoration of the Blessed Sacramentat St. Joseph Catholic Church.Fr. Andrew RaczkowskiHoly Angels Catholic Church402 S. Nottawa St.Sturgis, MI 49091frandrew@holyangelssturgis.orgLiturgy of the Hours, eBreviaryThe Liturgy of the Hoursprayer for the current houris offered at the QR codebelow, courtesy ofebreviary.com.Saturday, May 2 – Vigil: Fourth Sunday of Easter5:00 pm † Chuck O’Heran (30th Anniversary) byHelen O’Heran-RettenmaierSunday, May 3 – Fourth Sunday of Easter8:00 am † John Vincent Abramowicz (60th Anniversary) byLinda Abramowicz10:00 am † Alicia Hernandez by Campos Family12:00 pm For the People of St. Joseph & St. Jerome5:00 pm † Holy Souls in Purgatory SpanishReadings for:Fourth Sunday of EasterActs 2: 14a, 36-41, 1 Pt 2: 20b-25, Jn 10: 1-10St. Joseph Parish Website stjosephbc.org.Morning Prayer, DaytimePrayer, Evening Prayer andNight Prayer are availablefor every day.The Diocese of Kalamazoohas and will continue to cooperatewith the Michigan Attorney General’sinvestigation and encourages anyone with information related tomisconduct to call the reportingnumber set-up by the MichiganAttorney General’s office at: 844.324.3374.Hope of the Sick, Pray for Us

Third Sunday of EasterPage 3April 26, 2020From Fr. Christopher AnkleyDear Friends,A few years ago I went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Iwent with a group of priests from my seminary and wewent for the canonizations of Popes John XXIII andJohn Paul II. My seminary was named for Pope JohnXXIII. I was able to celebrate Mass in some verybeautiful Churches including St. Peter’s Basilica. Asfor the canonizations I didn’t get as close as I wanted.The crowds of mostly young people were in the way,and we were edged out. Only Bishop Uglietto whotravelled with us and two of the priest faculty at myseminary were able to concelebrate mass. We had towatch the Mass from a screen, still an awesome experience.Now we began our Pilgrimage in Assisi and we startedby visiting St. Clare’s Monastery of the Poor Clares,founded way back in the 13th century. St. Clare wasthe first woman to write a rule of life for a religiouscommunity. She was very adamant about being theone to write the rule, and the pope of the time eventually gave in and accepted her written rule. This monastery was at the top of a hill that overlooked a valleyof fields. It was about a 90 degree angle walk, goingup the hill to see the monastery.In this monastery we were shown where St. Clare ate,and slept, and prayed. Our tour guide also showed us astatue of Clare positioned on the edge of the hill. Itoverlooked the valley below. This statue showed St.Clare holding a monstrance. As we know a monstrance is used to display the Eucharist during adoration. Our tour guide went on to tell us why the citizensof Assisi had commissioned this statue.In her 80’s towards the end of her life Clare was verysick and was confined to her cell, which she rarely left.This time of the 13th century was also a very dangeroustime. That region of Italy was at war with the Saracens. The Saracens were looking for territory to conquer and to plunder. The men of Assisi had left thetown to fight. Only women and children were left behind. One of the Poor Clare Sisters who was keepingwatch at the wall surrounding the monastery saw downin the valley a group of Saracens making their way upthe hill. The wall at that point was very low and easilyscaled, it was an easy access into Assisi. This sisterwas worried and scared about what would happen tothem if the Saracens made it over their wall and entered the monastery. She’d heard the rumors of whathad happened to the other woman who had met theSaracens. And so to Mother Clare she ran.She found Clare sleeping on her mat of straw so shewoke her up to tell her that they were about to be overrun by an army. “Tell us what to do Mother Clare!”the nun yelled. So St. Clare told her, “Go to the chapeland get the Eucharist, get the Blessed Sacrament. PutHim in the monstrance and bring Him to me.” Andso the sister did as she was told, and brought themonstrance back containing our Lord, the BlessedSacrament.So Clare held the monstrance and asked for twosisters to help her up and to take her to the top of thewall overlooking the valley. So there, on top of thewall she stood praying, praying full of confidence.Here was an 80 year old woman standing on top ofa wall praying. And as she prayed she held themonstrance as high as she could, pointing it towardsthe advancing army. And what happened next hasbeen noted in history books. The advancing armystopped, turned away, and retreated. We might askourselves, “What did they see when looking at anaged nun holding aloft the Blessed Sacrament.What Divine power and strength did theyrecognize? Did they see the power of Heaven? Theprayers of a Saint are a powerful thing, but evenmore powerful is the Eucharist. When the priestelevates the Sacred Host that is our window intoHeaven. As we know the Mass joins Heaven andEarth, we all worship together. We all look uponthe same Sacred Host. We see what looks to bebread, but in faith, we know that it is Jesus. Thosein Heaven look upon the same Host, but instead ofwhat looks to be bread they see Jesus, they see Jesusoffering Himself to the Father on our behalf. TheMass makes present to us the one saving sacrifice ofJesus Christ.From the gospel today the two disciples on the wayto Emmaus at first didn’t recognize our Lord. Itwas only in the breaking of the Bread that theyreally saw Him. And after receiving the Eucharistthey knew Him, their eyes were opened. Thirteencenturies later on the plains of Assisi the Saracenssaw something they didn’t fully understand, theyexperienced a power they didn’t understand andthey retreated, running in the opposite direction.They ran from the Eucharist.My prayer for us today is that we are always doingthe exact opposite of what the Saracens did, they ranfrom the Eucharist, let us, instead, run to theEucharist, always running to that Divine power andstrength, in moments of sorrow and anxiety but alsoin moments of joy and thanksgiving, always runningwith our eyes wide open always praying for thegrace to recognize our Lord in every Holy Eucharistwe receive.Peace and all good,Fr. Christopher J. Ankley

St. Joseph Catholic ChurchPage 4Battle Creek, MIPrayers for the Sick/Those in NeedPrayers for the DeceasedConnecting with Mercy Never underestimate the power of a few kind words. Write, email, or text someone whois alone, and let them know you are thinking of them, praying for them. This is mercy, too.Honor thy Mother and FatherTri-Parish Pro-Life Ministry invites you to join us inhonoring mothers and fathers for giving us life. DuringMay and June, Masses have been scheduled at all threeparishes to remember and pray for both our living anddeceased parents. If you would like your loved onesremembered at these special Masses, please email us at:prolifeministrybc@yahoo.com by May 9 with yourname(s), the parish you attend, and the names of yourloved ones. These names will be included in a specialinsert in the bulletins on Father’s Day.Masses will be said:St. JeromeMay 10 & June 21 at 10:00 amSt. JosephMay 10 at 10 am; May 23 at 5 pmJune 7 at 10 am; June 21 at 8 amSt. PhilipMay 10 at 11:30 am, May 16 at 4:30 pmJune 21 at 9 am, June 28 at 11:30 amDonations would be very much appreciated and can bedropped in the collection baskets when Masses resumein an envelope marked “Tri-Parish Pro-Life Ministry”.Checks can be made out to “Tri-Parish Pro-Life Ministry”."Thank you, Mom and Dad,for the gift of life!Tri-Parish Pro-LifeSpiritual Adoption ProgramWe have completed our first month of praying for ourspiritually adopted baby which Began on March 25.MONTH 1 – Developing BabyThank you for praying forme. I am one month old now.I have a heart pumping myblood and a backbone.I am very, very tiny and Iappreciate your prayers.Your spiritually adopted baby has been quite active overthe past month. Already your baby is 10,000 times biggerthan at conception. Our baby has developed thefoundations of her brain, spinal cord, and nervous systemby the 20th day. Her heart began to beat on the 21st day,pumping blood through its own circulatory system and theblood type can be different from her mother’s.Your baby is most vulnerable during the next month ofbeing aborted. Pray that the Lord of Life might move theheart of her mother to give her the most precious gift ofall - - the gift of life.