SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Our lives have been impacted by these challenging days of this world-wide pandemic in many ways, including our lives of faith. One of those impacts has affected the reception of the Sacraments, which in some cases have been delayed or made inaccessible. In any given year, I have the privilege of celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation for on average 1,000 young people and adults throughout our beautiful Diocese. Of the many wonderful aspects of being your Bishop, celebrating Confirmations, and visiting so many of our Parishes for these major events, are truly highlights of my ministry.
However, due to COVID-19, all Confirmations during the spring of this year were postponed. It was my intention and sincere hope that this fall, we would be able to schedule regional Confirmations in order to celebrate the postponed spring Confirmations as well as those scheduled for this fall. However, it has become very clear that will not be possible since the pandemic remains a very serious concern, in that we are still restricted in what we can do, and must maintain social distancing with limited numbers of people able to gather at one time.
During these past few weeks, I have prayerfully and carefully pondered what to do. I have discussed this matter with our Presbyteral Council, with my diocesan staff, and with all our priests and deacons at virtual Deanery meetings held last week. As a result, I have decided to make available to each Pastor the possibility of requesting the extraordinary permission to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for those in their Parish who are prepared and eligible to receive this Sacrament. This permission, once granted, will be valid only from August 1, 2020 until November 28, 2020. After consultation and proper planning with his Parish leadership and the families of the Candidates for Confirmation, each Pastor will submit the information with a request for permission to me. Once I have reviewed the materials and determine that all is in order, I will grant the permission.
While I will not have the joy of actually being present for each parish celebration of Confirmation, I do intend to be directly involved in several ways: I am writing a special Pastoral Letter to those to be Confirmed, encouraging them during this important time in their faith journey; I will be providing a video message to each parish group of Candidates in which I will share with them how special this Sacrament is for their lives, and to express my personal disappointment at not being able to be with them in person; and I will provide for each Candidate a signed remembrance card from me on the day of their Confirmation. In addition, on the day of each Parish Confirmation, I will offer my Mass that same day for their spiritual intentions.
For the Bishop not to administer this Sacrament with our young people is not ideal; it is also a great personal disappointment for me. However, to delay or withhold the Sacrament and its graces until the pandemic is over would be an even greater disappointment. These Candidates for Confirmation, prepared and disposed to receive this Sacrament, need the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit, and the seven-fold gifts He will bring to them: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude (Courage), Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe). Therefore, for the greater good, I am providing this exception and willing to grant this extraordinary permission so that the Sacramental graces can be received.
Please prayerfully remember all those to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this fall. Let us also pray for one another, that our faith will remain strong, and that God’s Loving Presence and the gifts of the Sacraments will keep us alive in His Spirit!
Assuring you of my daily prayers, and humbly asking for your prayers for me, I remain
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley
Bishop of Kalamazoo




 

We are considering having an outdoor Mass during Covid-19 and want to gather some feedback from our parishioners.   Especially the parishioners who have NOT returned to Mass yet due to this virus and feeling too compromised.   Would this be incentive for YOU to come to Mass if it was held outdoors (may have seats, blankets, or possibly just have cars parked and you sit in your car)?   Please let us know what you think by email at info@sscmparish.org    Have a great day!

                                                                                                                                   
July 18, 2020

Dear Parishioners of Ss. Cyril & Methodius and St. Therese Parishes:
 
In the midst of everything we're dealing with, we were all surprised last weekend by the sudden announcement of your pastor, Fr. Alphonsus, for personal reasons.  Let me stop any false rumors that may have started – there was no financial malfeasance, there was no misbehavior with children, and he is not getting married.  He remains a priest in good standing, and he is awaiting a decision about a new assignment which comes from the leaders of his religious order (the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales), not Bishop Bradley.  He moved out of the rectory in Wayland and currently is living at the rectory in Hastings with one of his Fransalian colleagues.
 
I was just as surprised as you to find myself here last weekend to be introduced as the temporary administrator appointed by Bishop Bradley to take care of the parishes until a new pastor is appointed.  I am a "fill-in."  What I intend to do as best I can is take care of your pastoral needs and help you prepare for whoever comes.  This period is a bit of a gift, because most of the time there is no "transition period" between pastors -- usually one priest leaves and the next day the new one arrives, and there's only time to change the sheets on the bed.  I met with your parish and finance councils and school LCAB members last Wednesday evening to introduce myself and to offer my assistance (if they want it) to help with the transition.  I will be here for the weekend and weekday Masses, funerals and weddings, and special needs as they occur.
 
I will not be here full-time, however, as I still have my other responsibilities.  They include
1.  My full-time position in the Diocese as the Advocate for Priestly Ministry and Support;  in that position I assist priests with everything from continuing education to retirement, orientation for newly ordained priests and new pastors, mentoring, and planning annual events such as our priest retreat in Lent, the convocation in the fall, and celebration for priests' jubilees and for the deceased clergy.
2.  I am also a canonist (canon lawyer, lawyer in church law) and work in the Tribunal.  Recently our administrator went home to God, and so I am serving as a temporary administrator for the tribunal until a new administrator is hired.
3.  I am also the cofounder and director for the diocesan Trauma Recovery Program – a free program for people in our diocese who experienced abuse or neglect during their childhood.
4.  Finally, I am the Executive Director for a small nonprofit called Trauma Recovery Associates.  We sponsor additional groups for trauma recovery for the community at large, as well as site-based programs in places such as the jail, the domestic abuse shelter, and a transitional home for women moving out of incarceration  FYI we recently launched a new program called RENEW for people who are experiencing difficulty due to the pandemic and its effects.  It is free, and available on our website at www.TraumaRecoveryAssociates.com.
 
Hay un programa que se llama RENOVARSE, y está disponible en español tambien.  El programa  en forma gratutia existe para ayudar los personas que sufren en consequencia del pandemia y sus efectos.  Vaya al sitio del web www.TraumaRecoveryAssociates.com.
 
I tell you these things, so you will understand why I am not present at the parish all the time.  I will be moving around between my office and home in Battle Creek, two offices in Kalamazoo, and your parishes in Wayland and Gun Lake.
 
I ask God's blessing on Fr. Alphonsus and all of you as we move through this transition.
                                                                                                                       
Fr. Ken Schmidt         
 

We have added a DONATION button to MyParish app labeled "Giving" AND on our website if you prefer to send in your church tithing electronically instead of mailing. Go to our website: www.sscmparish.org and click on the square that says "Donation" and it will go to the page where you fill out the pertinent information. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT especially at this most difficult time in our lives. Stay safe, stay healthy. Hope to see you soon in church!