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We offer our prayers of support for all those in Three Rivers and surrounding area impacted by this afternoon's tornado. We are grateful that all those at Immaculate Conception School of Three Rivers school and church were able to shelter in place and remain safe. Immaculate Conception Church sustained some damage from the storm and will be closed this weekend and not offering Mass. Contact surrounding parishes for Mass times (https://diokzoo.org/parishfinder) . We offer this prayer (courtesy of Catholic Charities USA): God of hope and mercy, we lift up to you all victims of natural disasters and those responding with assistance and aid. Protect all who are in any form of danger; provide practical help to those in need; strengthen the weary, console the grieving, heal the suffering; and bless those engaged in disaster relief efforts with safety and courage. Help all people of good will respond with compassion and generous hearts. Amen.

Bishop Edward M. Lohse has made the following appointments

Bishop Lohse will celebrate The Presentation of Our Lord (Candlemas) and Word Day of Consecrated Life Mass on February 2nd at 6 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo. All are invited.

Bishop Lohse will celebrate a Mass in honor of Deceased Clergy who served the Diocese of Kalamazoo on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 4 p.m. The Mass will be live streamed at diokzoo.org/live

September 8, 2025 (Kalamazoo, MI) — The Diocese of Kalamazoo has announced the release of its newly revised Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. This policy replaces all previous editions and establishes updated safeguards, standards, and procedures for protecting children and youth across diocesan parishes, schools, and Catholic ministries.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (August 27, 2025): The Most Reverend Edward M. Lohse has made the following statement on the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on August 27:

Bishop Lohse has made a number of pastoral appointments that will become effective September 1, 2025. Click on full details for full listing.

The Most Rev. Edward M. Lohse has made the following pastoral appointments and pastoral announcements for the Diocese of Kalamazoo which are effective July 1, 2025:

“On behalf of the faithful, clergy, and religious of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, I would like to express our great joy at the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Roman Pontiff, the 266th successor of Saint Peter. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Cardinal-electors have elected the new Holy Father. He has now assumed the pastoral leadership of the Universal Church. “We pledge our prayers in support of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, in communion with him and with all who look to the Successor of Saint Peter, the Vicar of Christ, as the visible head of the pilgrim Church on earth. Our new Holy Father, the first American to be elected pope, is no stranger to the Diocese of Kalamazoo as he spent his high school years here in minor seminary.” “In this joyful Easter season as we continue to celebrate Christ’s triumph over sin and death, may God pour forth his blessings upon Pope N. May the Holy Father be strengthened and supported by our prayers.” As is customary, churches across the Diocese of Kalamazoo rang their bells upon the news of the election of the new Pope. Additionally, the doors of churches are adorned in celebratory gold and white bunting. People are invited to visit one of the 59 Catholic churches to pray for the newly elected Holy Father [see diokzoo.org for a listing of parishes in the Diocese]. Bishop Lohse will celebrate a special Mass honoring Pope Leo XIV on Monday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo.

Bishop Edward M. Lohse has released the following statement following the news regarding Pope Francis’ passing into eternal life: “I join with all of the faithful in the Diocese of Kalamazoo in offering prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. His impact on the Catholic Church during the twelve years of his pontificate has been immense. While we personally mourn his loss among us, we place our hope in the promise of eternal life, a hope which – as Pope Francis reminded us so many times – does not disappoint. Christ is truly risen. “Pope Francis will be known for calling the Church to reach out actively to our brothers and sisters who live ‘in the periphery’, as he was accustomed to say. He will be remembered for his teaching, especially his four encyclicals including Laudato Sì and his concern for our common home, but most especially I think that he will be remembered for his compassion toward those who find themselves struggling with life or faith or hope. “We were fortunate in this country to experience his 2015 Apostolic Visit to the United States, with his addresses both to Congress and the United Nations and his presence during the World Meeting of Families. During my years working in Rome, whenever I had the privilege to see or hear Pope Francis in person, his warmth and compassion and fidelity to the faith always came through clearly. “During these days of mourning in which we find our strength in the Easter message of resurrection and new life, I invite all people of good will to join us in prayer, asking God to welcome Pope Francis into the Heavenly Kingdom and giving thanks for the graces of his pontificate."

Bishop Lohse announces Pastoral and Diocesan Administrative Appointments including deacon official assignments, a priestly sabbatical and two diocesan administrative positions.

“Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2) In this Holy Year, we remember our call to be Pilgrims of Hope. There is no greater pilgrimage than the journey we take into the interior of our own soul, where we will meet the Lord in the full honesty of who we are: sinners who imperfect, and yet who are loved and forgiven and reconciled in the Blood of Jesus, children of the Father who loves us. In this year of favor from the Lord, let us embrace this holy season of Lent as a time of grace, an acceptable time, a day of salvation, and let us return to the Lord with our whole hearts.

Bishop Lohse has appointed five priests as Deans and as such they now have the title of Vicar Forane. The appointments are effective immediately for a term expiring January 1, 20230.