How great thou art!

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Refrain

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Refrain

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art!

Diocese of Kalamazoo announces student contest winners

Diocese of Kalamazoo announces student contest winners

“The Family Fully Alive”
         

          Winners of the inaugural student contest, “The Family Fully Alive”, have been chosen by a panel of diocesan judges. The contest was launched last fall to encourage students in both Catholic schools and religious education programs to explore the topic, “how is my family fully alive in the faith” through a variety of art mediums from painting, drawing, writing, music or video. Entries were received both locally and nationally.  St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, Coldwater; Holy Angels Parish (Religious Education Program), Sturgis; and Lake Michigan Catholic Elementary School, St. Joseph; were honored and will also receive awards for having submitted the most (local) entries.

 

Winners receive a monetary scholarship award donated by the Michigan Knights of Columbus and an official Diocese of Kalamazoo award signed by +Bishop Paul Bradley. Visit the diocesan website, diokzoo.org-student-contest winners, for a full list of winners.

 

Kalamazoo and National Student Contest Winners

 

ART Division 1 (Grades 4-8):
1^st Place WINNER: “Alive and Filled with the Spirit” by Maxine Poage, 8^th grade, St. Monica School, Kalamazoo, MI
1^st Place WINNER: “Faith Collage” by Serena Fontecchio, 7^th grade, St. Joseph Parish, Downingtown, PA
HONORABLE MENTION: “My Family Fully Alive Praying the Rosary” by Isabelle Shea, 5^th grade, St. Margaret Parish, Otsego, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “Faith” by Tania Lizzette Villegas, 6^th grade, St. Basil Catholic School, South Haven, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “Mi Familia” by Joselin Yarel Reyes, 3^rd-4^th grades, Holy Angels Parish, Sturgis, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “Family Alive” by Fernanda Garcia, 4^th grade, Holy Angels Parish, Sturgis, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “The Family Fully Alive: Actions Spread the Message” by Xin Wei Pei (Elva), 7^th grade, The OLC School, Jersey City, NJ
HONORABLE MENTION: “My Family Fully Alive” by Chanelle Jimenez, Mother Seton School, Union City, NJ
HONORABLE MENTION: “Family that Prays Together…Stays Together” by Anita Damodar-Desloire, 5^th grade, The OLC School, Jersey City, NJ
 

WRITING Division 1 (Grades 4-8):
1^st Place WINNER: “My Family is Fully Alive in the Faith” by Kathryn Wertheimer, 7^th grade, St. Basil Catholic School, South Haven, MI

1^st Place WINNER: “My Faith Alive in the Arts” (poem) by Joshua Schutte, 8^th grade, Emmanuel Parish, Beaver Creek, OH

HONORABLE MENTION: “The Family Fully Alive” (poem) by Ashleigh Cotter, 7^th grade, St. Michael School, Cranford, NJ
 

MUSIC Division 1 (Grades 4-8):
HONORABLE MENTION: “We’re All About the Mass” by Lucy Arbanas, 7^th grade, St. Basil Catholic School, South Haven, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “The Christian Family Fully Alive” by Scarlett Caballero, 5^th grade, Mother Seton School, Union City, NJ
HONORABLE MENTION: “Family Time = Together Time” by Michelle Pichardo, Saint Peter’s School, Belleville, NJ
 
VIDEO Division 1 (Grades 4-8):

1^st Place WINNER: "My Catholic Family" by Samantha Ochoa, 5^th grade, Mother Seton School, Union City, NJ

HONORABLE MENTION: “Faith in My Family” by Daniel Sanchez, 5^th grade, Mother Seton School, Union City, NJ

WRITING Division 2 (Grades 9-12):
1^st Place WINNER: “My Family Fully Alive” by Amanda Lawrence, 11^th grade, Hackett Catholic Prep, Kalamazoo, MI
1^st Place WINNER: “In Faith and Family” by Molly Schutte, 12^th grade, Emmanuel Catholic Church, Dayton, OH
HONORABLE MENTION: “Fully Alive: Fighting for the Kingdom” by Ian Poage, 11^th grade, Hackett Catholic Prep, Kalamazoo, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “My Family Fully Alive in the Faith” by Caroline Yapp, 11^th grade, Hackett Catholic Prep, Kalamazoo, MI
HONORABLE MENTION: “My Family Fully Alive” by Matt Mancuso, 11^th grade, Hackett Catholic Prep, Kalamazoo, MI

 

Marriage Gives Strength to Handle Life’s Changes

 

For husbands and wives, marriage is a reassurance that the couple will always be there for one another, no matter what happens. Throughout all of the changes that have come their way, Socorro and Tony have grown closer together and have found strength through their marriage. To learn more about the importance of marriage, visit Michigan Celebrates Marriage

 

My Lenten Journey

Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

Though 2015 is already in its second week (as I write this)... I continue to ponder on what a proper "resolution" would be for me this year.

I guess 2015 arrived faster than I anticipated because of the many "things" going on in my life. Isn't this the way it happens every year? Many people take longer to prepare for the end-of-year celebrations, than they do to prepare for their own end-of-life...knowing that this moment can arrive unexpectedly at any time!

So, again I ask: do you have a New Year's Resolution? What do you consider most important in your life today that will affect this year's outcome?

To me, what is most important, is to be present in every situation. To be truly present is to focus my attention on what is going on at each moment of my life. To live life with its hardships, pains and joys, being totally present (mind, body and spirit) is my resolution this year. I choose not to waste any moment in idle conversations...I'd rather be silent and present in the quiet of my heart - where the Lord reigns everyday, and waits to grow my love for all.