IN THIS EDITION: - Ash Wednesday is Feb. 18: In bulletin and online resources for your Lenten journey
- Welcoming Father Steven Borello this weekend
- We’ve got spirit! Support the Mini Cougars in the Parish Activity Center this Saturday
- Holy Hour for Peace with Bishop Walkowiak Feb. 16
- SRN Parish Ministry Guide: 2026 refresh
- Calling 4th-12th graders who love to sing: Registration is open for the Pueri Cantores Youth Choral Festival & Mass March 21
- SHINE Youth Rally March 22: Register your middle schooler!
- St. Robert School News: March is Reading Month
- Parish Calendar: Feb. 7/8 and the week ahead
|
Turning our hearts toward Lent
|
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which falls this year on
Feb. 18.
The 40-day season of Lent is a time of grace, renewal, and conversion. During this holy season, the Church calls us into the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help us prepare for the profound celebration of Holy Week and Easter, when we remember Christ’s passion, death, and glorious resurrection.
Print and Online Lenten Resources: - NEW for 2026! LOOK INSIDE this weekend’s bulletin for our printed “Guide to Lent at SRN.” Copies will also be available at the Welcome Desk and on the tables around the narthex leading up to and after Ash Wednesday. For a print-at-home version, please see the PDF attached to this message.
- The Lent at SRN page is LIVE on our website. Visit anytime from anywhere. Our Lent web page includes liturgical schedules, a special events calendar and everything in between (including online resources for ALL ages).
A Glimpse Inside our Lenten Guide: Highlights - Ash Wednesday Masses at St. Robert will be celebrated Feb. 18 at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- PLEASE NOTE:
- Ashes WILL NOT be distributed from the parish or school offices this year.
- There will be no evening Faith Formation sessions or Community Dinner on Ash Wednesday. Faith Formation sessions WILL BE held Tuesday evening, Feb. 17
- For Ash Wednesday Mass times at churches around the diocese, visit the Diocese of Grand Rapids website.
- Extended hours for confession during Lent: Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. In addition, on each Wednesday and Saturday of Lent, Father Tony and one additional priest will be available to hear confessions.
- Mark your calendar: For our Lenten Penance Service with individual confession, Thursday, March 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Join us for our SRN Fish Fries hosted by the St. Robert Home & School Association: Friday, March 20 and 27 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Newminster Hall. Purchase tickets in advance. Click the link below for details. We encourage parishioners and guests to stay and pray the Stations of the Cross after the Fish Fry dinners.
- Stations of the Cross will be prayed every Friday of Lent at 6:30 p.m. in the church.
- Our parish has a free FORMED subscription for you. To access Lenten resources (and other exceptional Catholic content) on FORMED, sign up for your account today! Your access is compliments of St. Robert of Newminster. Visit signup.formed.org and enter our zip code (49301) and select our parish. Contact the Parish Office with questions.
|
Please join us in welcoming Father Steven Borello this weekend!
We are grateful to have him with us as he celebrates the sacraments and shares the hope and energy of the New Evangelization through the mission of FOCUS — the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.
Father Borello will be speaking with our parish community about how
|
FOCUS is forming missionary disciples on college campuses and beyond. Be sure to stop in the narthex to say hello, and learn more about this inspiring ministry.
A NOTE ABOUT CONFESSION ON SATURDAY, FEB. 7:
While Father Tony is away on vacation, Father Borello and Father Ken Boyak, CSP, will be at SRN to hear confessions on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration will also be available on Saturday from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m.
|
Support the CC Mini Cougars & experience the new Parish Activity Center
|
Please come join us for the first ever Catholic Central Mini Cougar Showcase Showdown! We warmly invite the SRN church and school community to cheer on our talented K-5 competitive cheerleaders. This exciting event celebrates the hard work and dedication these young athletes have put in throughout the year.
|
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 7, 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Parish Activity Center (enter through Doors H & I: Door H is barrier-free; Door I is Handicap Accessible. Click here for a campus map.)
Admission is free! Don’t miss this chance to support our Mini Cougars and enjoy an uplifting display of spirit and teamwork. We can’t wait to see you there!
|
Hot off the presses: 2026 Parish Ministry Guide
|
Pick up your copy of the Parish Ministry Guide updated for 2026 at the Welcome Desk before or after any weekend Mass or stop by the Parish Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays.
The 2026 edition highlights new ministries and includes handy QR codes at the top of the pages so you can zip straight to the info you want online.
And the fun doesn’t stop there—a digital flipbook version will be available soon on our website. Stay tuned!
|
This isn’t just a handy resource, it’s an opportunity to explore the many ministries available through our parish and prayerfully discern where God may be calling you to engage and serve. To learn more, click the button below.
NEW TO OUR PARISH? Visit the “I’m New” page of our website or stop by the Welcome Desk in the church narthex before or after any weekend Mass to say hello. Also, every second weekend of the month at St. Robert is Newcomer Welcome Weekend when, during Masses, we invite new parish members to come forward for a blessing from Father Tony. We look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you better!
|
Join Bishop Walkowiak and the faithful from across the diocese as we unite in prayer for peace in our country. Let us pray for reconciliation where there is division; for justice where there are violations of fundamental rights, and for consolation for all who feel overwhelmed by fear or loss.
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 16 at
7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 301 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids
|
Calling all 4th-12th grade singers!
|
SHINE Middle School Youth Rally March 22
|
For three decades, SHINE has helped middle school youth encounter Jesus through worship, dynamic talks, and the Eucharist.
🎤 This year’s event will feature national speaker & musician Paul J. Kim!
📅 Sunday, March 22, 2026 | 1:00–6:30 p.m.
📍 3-Mile Project
👥 5th–8th graders
💵 $35 early bird (free T-shirt!) | $45 at the door.
Sign up by Friday, Feb. 27.
🍕 Free pizza + concessions available
Our SRN Faith Formation Office is currently accepting SHINE registrations and, once all registrations are collected, they will register our group of middle schoolers with SHINE organizers. For additional details and to register your young person, click the link below:
Questions? Contact Hans Whitmer, director of faith formation, HWhitmer@strobertchurch.org, or (616) 676-9111, ext. 117.
|
St. Robert Catholic School is buzzing with excitement for the annual March Read-A-Thon. While this year’s “Buzzing with Books” Read-A-Thon officially kicks off March 1 with lots of fun things planned, our school is currently seeking sponsors (see below) to help make this exciting event a success for our students and school community.
|
Please reach out to school parent and parishioner Suzanne Fuchs if you’d like to lend your support, get involved, or if you have questions, SuzanneFuchs1@gmail.com.
|
As a Catholic community, we proclaim the Good News by serving God and neighbor as we grow in loving relationship with Christ.
|
|
Be a vibrant, welcoming faith community inviting all people to know Christ through
worship and sacraments,
evangelization and catechesis,
charity and service.
|
|
|
