Our upcoming Authenticum lecture features Dr. Nathan Schmiedicke, Professor of Biblical Theology at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska.

Join us Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 in Cebelak Parish Hall for his talk titled: “BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD: New Covenant Circumcision and the Meaning of Masculinity.”

DR. SCHMIEDICKE is a native of the Grand Rapids area. He graduated from Thomas Aquinas College in California and did his M.A. and PhD in Biblical Theology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Since then, he has taught for various institutions of higher learning (St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and Villanova University in Philadelphia, Wyoming Catholic College, the University of Mary). He currently teaches Scripture for Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary(FSSP) in Lincoln, NE. He has appeared on EWTN and Catholic Answers live.

WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2026

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish – Cebelak Hall

151 Garfield Ave. SW Grand Rapids

Wine & Cheese Social 6:30pm

LECTURE BEGINS: 7:00PM

Authenticum Lectures are now available in podcast format through Spotify, Anchor, and Sacred Heart Parish Website. 

ALL ADULTS OF EVERY AGE ARE INVITED. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. 

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience (WWME) is a time set aside for you and your spouse to connect more deeply and fan the spark of your love. Through presentations and time for private discussion, WWME offers tools to take your marriage to the next level. Apply today at wwme.org.

Upcoming Experiences: Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 Country Inn & Suites – Grand Rapids

As 2026 approaches, we have a new year of opportunities for flower-arranging in the church around the liturgical calendar. Many hands make light work and there are plenty of options this year in which you can help us! Visit the sign up here: https://shojgr.flocknote.com/signup/238398 or by scanning the QR code. Thank you for your service.

Middle Schoolers (grades 5-8) interested in Youth Ministry announcements, join here: https:// shojgr.flocknote.com/msyouth

High Schoolers (grades 9-12) interested in Youth Ministry announcements, join here: https://shojgr.flocknote.com/hsyouthgroup

Discernment is a time of obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding. If you are considering the priesthood, the Diocese of Grand Rapids invites you to meet with other young men (ages 16+) to gather and discern God’s will for your life.

Meetings will take place from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at St. Luke University Parish, 10144 42nd Ave., Georgetown Twp. and are offered on the following Sundays in 2026: Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 22, Apr. 19, May 17

Organ Update

On January 19th acoustic technicians will arrive from Italy to begin the voicing and tuning process on our new organ. Please note this is about an 8 week process that requires silence in the church. All Masses will remain upstairs but we will be shutting access to the church after daily Masses on Monday through Saturday. Thank you for your continued support and patience and flexibility during this final stage.

---

The Fratelli Ruffatti Organ-Building Crew has departed for home after 6 grueling, 70-hour work weeks at Sacred Heart. Few of us anticipated the complexity of this installation, an interdisciplinary endeavor involving master-level carpentry, metallurgy, mechanical and electrical engineering, millwrighting, and construction, in addition to a deep knowledge of the musical and liturgical nature of organs. The Ruffatti team were clearly experts. It was also evident that their success was strengthened in a significant measure by the numerous people from our parish (and even other parishes) who either saw a need and pitched in or responded to a specific call for help. We had top gun contractors, strategizers, heavy lifters, riggers, encouragers, trash cleaners, communicators – it was an amazing demonstration of our community stepping out of their normal rhythm for the greater good of us all. The Ruffatti crew has done work all over Europe, the USA, and Asia, so they know what’s “typical” and what’s “exceptional” for support from their customers. They mentioned specifically how impressed and thankful they were for our ongoing help. They were also thankful to various parishioners inviting their team for a home-cooked dinner. (Subway was never intended to constitute a steady diet.) All in all, we saw a BIG demonstration of the Catholic community at Sacred Heart. Thank you to everyone who stepped forward to assist both them and us in showing Christ’s love to our visitors. It was no accident that the installation team ended their labors on the Feast of St. Cecilia—they have built her a glorious shrine, framing her beautiful window with such a magnificent instrument. However, the organ is not yet finished. After Epiphany, another team from Italy will be with us until the end of February. This is the voicing and tuning team, responsible for adjusting the timbre, wind pressure, and resonance of each of the 2,000+ pipes. The upper church will be closed during the week due to their need for absolute silence. After 2 months of adjustments, the organ will be formally dedicated on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, with a 5:30pm dedication recital given by our Music Director Jonathan Bading and a 7pm Mass featuring the choir of Aquinas College. Until that day, we will be using our digital organ to get us through the Christmas season. Good things come to those who wait!

We are in need of permanent First Friday Adorers for the 1pm, 4pm and 10pm time slots. If you would like to volunteer for one of these hours to adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, please email Noelle at parishoffice@shgr.org

As 2026 approaches, we have a new year of opportunities for flower arranging in the church around the liturgical calendar. Many hands make light work and there are plenty of options this year in which you can help us! Visit the sign up here: https://shojgr.flocknote.com/signup/238398 or by scanning the QR code. Thank you for your service.

Tickets are now SOLD OUT for the annual Men’s Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, February 7. Contact Michael Tober at dre@shgr.org or call the parish office at 616-459-8362 if you have questions or want to make a donation.

Please join us in praying for our Seminarians.