Celebrating a new school year with catholic schools

This October, the legendary coach Lou Holtz will come to Kalamazoo for an evening of inspiration and words of wisdom. Southwest Michigan Catholic spoke with Holtz who shared an interesting tie to Kalamazoo and insight into how his Catholic faith has been at the center of his life.

Before anyone calls them “Father,” priests are brothers, cousins, friends, sometimes even uncles or godfathers. But always, their first title is: son.

“HEY ED!” “OH — HI FATHER CHRIS.” Students at St. Joseph Elementary School love to shout out to their pastor, Father Chris Ankley, as he walks the halls, but who is this “Ed”? Why, it’s his beloved companion, a nine-year-old Cockapoo. Father Chris, who was a practicing veterinarian for more than a decade before entering the seminary, doesn’t mind taking second billing to his popular canine, who he named after one of his favorite former patients. The kids obviously love both pooch and priest.