Join us for the Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets on Saturday, April 8, at 10:15am in the main Church
Join us for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Parish Grounds on Saturday, April 8, at 10:30am.
Children should bring a bag or basket to put their eggs in. After the Easter Egg hunt, join us in the Parish Hall for cookies and punch!
PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
Saturday, April 1, Mass at 5:00pm
Sunday, April 2, Mass at 8:30am and 10:30am
HOLY THURSDAY
April 6, Mass at 7:00pm
Procession to the Youth Center for Eucharistic Adoration after Mass
GOOD FRIDAY
April 7
Stations of the Cross at 12:00pm (noon)
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 1:00pm
HOLY SATURDAY – EASTER VIGIL
April 8
Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets at 10:15am in Church
Easter Egg Hunt on Church grounds at 10:30am
Easter Vigil Mass at 9:00pm in Church
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
April 9
Mass at 8:30 in Church
Mass at 10:30am in Church
Mass at 10:30am in the Historic Church
Final Soup Supper — Friday, March 24,
in the Parish Hall from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Stations of the Cross
Fridays, March 24 & 31
In Church at 7pm
Individual Reconciliation with Eucharistic Adoration
Monday, March 27, in the Main Church
from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
The Explore Priesthood Group is a discernment opportunity sponsored by the diocesan Office of Priestly Vocations. Each month, young men (ages 16 – 35) are invited to gather and discern God’s will for their lives.
Time for prayer and reflection will be held monthly at St. Stephen Parish in East Grand Rapids beginning at 12:30 p.m.
This year’s discernment opportunities are offered on the following Sunday: May 15.
Feel free to show up or call to let us know you are coming at 616-288-0910. Questions, email Pattie Reynolds (preynolds@grdiocese.org).
Franciscan Life Process Center’s Beggar’s Bell Bash is a celebration of the individual gifts of each person in West Michigan. Throughout history and across cultures, people in need have often used a beggar’s bell to encourage bystanders to become aware of their undiscovered giftedness. Proceeds from this event will support our counseling program, art program and further development of our land focus on connection, education, accessibility and our environmental impact. Join us for a strolling dinner, drinks and dancing with entertainment from the local West Michigan Band Brena.
Looking for opportunities to spend one on one time with Jesus? The Diocese of Grand Rapids has published an online schedule of weekly days and times when Eucharistic Adoration is available in parishes throughout our diocese. View the schedule at grdiocese.org, click on the “Parishes” menu, then “Adoration Schedules” from the dropdown.
The St. Robert Roundtable is an affiliate of the Employment and Resource Network and provides a support group and career coaching to unemployed and people in career transition. The group meets at St. Roberts (6477 Ada Dr, Ada; in classroom 203) every other week, Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 am and presents a varied program More information about EaRN can be found at their website: www.earn-network.org. For more information, contact: Bill Weitzel, 616-446-1873 Email:weitzelwj@aol.com.
4-01-20 Midweek Meditations
The gospel readings for daily Mass this week reveal the growing tension between Jesus and those refusing to 
understand or accept who he is. In today’s gospel from John 8:37, Jesus accuses them saying, “You are trying to kill me because my word has no room among you.”
‘My word has no room among you’ is a phrase that haunts me when I read it. How easy for me to judge them for not allowing the word of God to find a place in their hearts. Yet, the whole story of Jesus is replete with rejection by those who were supposedly religious; he is driven out of synagogues, scorned for dining with sinners, judged for healing on the sabbath, and finally mocked as he hangs on a cross.
All of which brings me back to that haunting line about finding room for God’s word. It can’t just be knowledge of God’s word- even the devil knows scripture. Have I made room in my heart and soul for Christ to truly dwell in such a way that my life is transformed by him to be a true disciple filled with genuine compassion, boundless mercy, and a servant-spirit?
Lord, help us always to make room for you in our lives.
Blessings,
Msgr. Bill Duncan
Reflection on
The Annunciation of the Lord
March 25, 2020
In the midst of our Lenten season we arrive at another special feast day- the Solemnity of the Annunciation of 
the Lord. This feast commemorates, in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, the angel Gabriel appearing to the young virgin, Mary to announce that she will bear a son conceived by the Holy Spirit to be named Jesus who will be called Son of the Most High.
We are so familiar with this story that perhaps we fail to grasp what truly has taken place. Mary is the first among all human beings to hear of God’s decision to come and dwell among us as one like us. She is greatly troubled by the angel’s greeting but is told not to be afraid. Before the angel’s departure she moves from fear to acceptance of God’s Word. God’s Word has been spoken and is now within her womb. How wondrous a moment for her and for all humanity. For, on behalf of all of us, Mary, who has found favor with God, welcomes with faith God incarnate into the world.
The Annunciation, the first of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, should indeed call us to rejoice. For now, in a world beset by a pandemic, we too might be afraid. We must hear the voice, not of an angel, but of the Lord himself who continually calls his disciples to not be afraid because he would always be with them- the Son of the Most High.
Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus!
Lenten peace,
Msgr. Bill
