St. John XXIII Catholic Church

09/16/2026

Sharon K Moeller passed away September 15. Funeral Liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, at St. John XXIII Parish, 151 St. Mary Dr, Hemlock, MI 48626. Rev. Fr. Sunil Kumar Pallela will officiate with burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

Friends may visit the family from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at W. L. Case and Company Funeral Directors, 201 N. Miller Rd, Saginaw, MI 48609, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass on Friday at the church. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. John XXIII Parish, St. Mary Catholic Church.

https://www.casefuneralhome.com/obituaries/sharon-moeller?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXwyNwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHlbIqJIMAq1Z0eIRLw48uq_4BD9Sq70a-ytlhFWoiV7KcDpv4HJagi_O4Hqy_aem_CsETFMOZRi7pSae_e6drOQ

View Sharon Kay Moeller's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/12/2026

This weekend you will notice in our Hemlock location we have a giving tree of sorts located in the front of the church.

Our parish, along with St. Agnes, St. Francis of Assissi and St. John Vianney Confirmation students will be doing a service project that we would love for you to help support.

You can pull a hanging tag from the tree, purchase the requested food item and return the item back to the red bin before November 1st.

Our students will be putting together treat bags for the Eastside Soup Kitchen for them to hand out to kids during November.

We appreciate your support for our Confirmation students.

09/11/2026

Faith Formation sign-up this weekend September 12/13 after all Mass times.

Welcome to a brand-new year of Faith Formation!
We are so excited to invite all children in grades K-5 to step into an adventure where God’s love comes alive. This year, we aren't just reading stories—we are stepping into the Bible, discovering the amazing secrets of the Mass, and learning how to be real-world superheroes of faith!

Through awesome games, creative crafts, and dynamic lessons, your child will build lifelong friendships, discover the power of prayer, and get ready for beautiful milestones like First Holy Communion.

Get ready for unforgettable moments, big smiles, and a deeper friendship with Jesus! Classes start soon and we cannot wait to welcome your family.

Registration is officially open—let the adventure begin!
Faith Formation classes start October 4th and will take place on Sundays from 9:15AM – 10:45AM at the Hemlock Parish Center. Please see the calendar for specific dates. We invite the children and their families to attend the 11AM Mass with us after class.

Reconciliation/First Communion Prep requirements: children need to be in 2nd Grade and must attend Faith Formation classes in addition to the Reconciliation/First Communion curriculum classes.

For more information see Keri Fabien, our Faith Formation Director after one of the Masses this weekend or you can email her at [email protected] or 989-642-5606 Ext 4.

09/09/2026

On Sept. 9, the Catholic Church celebrates St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit missionary who spent his life in the service of African slaves brought against their will to South America during the 17th century.
Read More:

https://ow.ly/cyex50YVR47

09/08/2026

Save the date for Parish Youth - Grades 6th-12th

Click the link to sign-up https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/10-3-26

09/02/2026

Pope Leo's September Prayer Intention

Pope Leo XIV invites everyone to pray for “the care of water” durin...

08/28/2026

Are you interested in becoming Catholic or know someone who is? Our parish can help you take the next step in your journey. Starting in October, we will begin classes for OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults).

These sessions are for anyone over age 8 that are not baptized or who are coming from another faith. This also is for anyone who needs to celebrate Eucharist or Confirmation, but has already been baptized Catholic. Individuals seeking baptism are called catechumens. Baptized individuals seeking full initiation into the Catholic church are called candidates.

The OCIA process involves not just attending classes, but attending Mass with your parish community. We are here to help you build your faith and relationship with Jesus.

As a group we gather together to learn more about the Catholic faith, traditions and teachings of the Church and walk with you on your faith journey. You'll be provided workbooks that you can do independently in between sessions that we meet in person.

Please reach out to Keri Fabien, our OCIA Coordinator, to get more information or sign-up today for our upcoming session. You can reach out via email at [email protected] or at 989-642-5606 Ext 4.

https://saginaw.org/curious-about-catholic-faith

08/26/2026

Sacrament of Confirmation final sign-up invitation.

We are inviting children ages 12 and up to join us. All students must be 12 by November 10th. By being Confirmed, your child will receive a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit and complete the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church.

Letters were mailed out on July 15th providing information regarding the program. We have partnered with St. Agnes Freeland and St. John Vianney Saginaw so our students can have a group experience learning more about their faith as they prepare for 2 years for Confirmation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is not to simply “check off” a box or “graduate” from faith formation. Rather, it is intended to help build lifelong disciples of Jesus and His Church.

Any questions please reach out to our Faith Formation Director Keri Fabien at [email protected] or call the office at 989-642-5606 Ext 4.

Local news from the Diocese of Saginaw

08/25/2026

Lorraine "Lori" Jarusel, of Plano, Texas, passed away on August 6, 2026. Lorraine is the sister of Diane Hagarty.

Cremation has taken place, and a funeral service will take place on September 10th, 2026 at Sacred Heart Church of Merrill located at 140 E Church St. Family visitation at 10:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am. Lori will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Merrill, Michigan, beside her beloved parents.

Please keep their family in your prayers during this time.
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Lorraine "Lori" Jarusel, of Plano, Texas, and most recently of the Midland area, passed away on August 6, 2026, at the age of 76.

Lori was born on June 9, 1950, in Merrill, Michigan, to Albin and Ellen Jarusel, who preceded her in death.

A proud graduate of Merrill High School, Lori went on to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Economics from Saginaw Valley State University. Throughout her distinguished professional career, she held positions with a law firm, Dow Chemical Company, AT&T, and ultimately Texas Instruments, where she retired as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Lori made her home in Plano, Texas, where she lived for many years and built lasting friendships while enjoying a successful career. In the final months of her life, she returned to the Midland area to be closer to family.

A devoted member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano, Lori generously gave her time in service to her church and community. She volunteered with her parish, was an active member of the Junior League, and served on the Board of Directors of her homeowner’s association. She was known for her leadership, generosity, and willingness to serve others.

Lori embraced life with enthusiasm. She enjoyed music, traveling, and spending time with her close circle of friends, especially during lively game nights that created countless cherished memories. Her career and personal adventures took her throughout the world, and she was proud to have been recognized by American Airlines as a Million Miler. She treasured the many friendships she developed over the years, especially those with Ken Melton, Kathy Sawey, Sharon Stark, Laura Carper, and many other dear friends whose companionship enriched her life.

Lori is survived by her sister, Diane Hagarty of Hemlock, Michigan; her nephews, John Hagarty (Julie) of Hemlock, Michigan, Joseph Hagarty (Annette) of El Granada, California, and Thomas Hagarty (Karen) of Saginaw, Michigan; along with several beloved great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to her parents, Lori was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Richard Hagarty.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff of Independence Village/StoryPoint of Midland, Michigan, for the compassionate care, kindness, love, and support they provided to Lori during her time there. Their extraordinary commitment brought comfort not only to Lori but also to her family, and for that they will be forever grateful.

Cremation has taken place, and a funeral service will take place on September 10th, 2026 at Sacred Heart Church of Merrill located at 140 E Church St. Family visitation at 10:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am. Lori will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Merrill, Michigan, beside her beloved parents.

Lori will be remembered for her intelligence, determination, generosity, adventurous spirit, and unwavering loyalty to her family and friends. She lived a life marked by hard work, faith, service, and enduring friendships, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and love that will be cherished by all who knew her.