From the heart of our Pastoral Associate...Dr. Kathie Amidei
Siblings
My five-year-old grandson, Mason, is an old soul. Last week he was eating chicken nuggets at the island in my kitchen, when he announced, "I am never getting married." He then gestured, with his Ninja Turtle fork, toward his two-year-old brother and said, "We're staying together." He paused and said, "I don't know what we are going to do when mommy and daddy go to heaven, but that will be a really long time." And he resumed eating. Subject closed. I think he was just pondering the future.
I nodded and smiled, but then continued to consider his early wisdom of knowing siblings are important. I know siblings aren't a gift we all have. Just a grace when we do. What came to mind was that Mason's Great-Grandpa, John, had spent the last years of his life living with his brother, Chuck, his best buddy. If not for Chuck and his wife, those years may have been very lonely for John. Instead, they were some of the happiest years of his life.
As I reflect on my life, I realize my siblings impacted the person I became in countless ways. Siblings are the first community we encounter. They have the power to inspire, teach, guide, nurture, protect and love us. Ultimately, they will most likely be the family we know the longest and our lives may have threads of connections with them we share with no one else.
My friend, Jill, tells her girls, "Your sisters are your best friends and
always will be." She herself is an only child but is hoping to cultivate deep bonds that won't break when her children need each other. She said, "I won't always be there for them. I want them to have the peace and security of having each other's best interest at heart as they grow into adulthood and beyond. The gifts of loving God and loving each other are some of the most important and powerful gifts I can give them." Our siblings form the landscape of our childhood and as, Jill said, are a gift to last a lifetime.
Have questions about your faith or know someone who does? Invite them to join you for Alpha. Sign up now! ...ALPHA... Join the Adventure!!
Thank you to everyone who supported Mostaccioli Madness for the school
8th grade trip to Washington D.C.
Spread the Loveis a food drive to help people in Lake Country! "Kids helping hungry kids." It was started by Killian Weston 4 years ago to benefit the Hartland Area Food Pantry.
Attention lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist:
The archdiocese, in conjunction with Liturgical Training Publications (LTP) is providing opportunities for training and formation.
The Family Program Prayer Fair is open to the community on Monday, Feb 20. The Daily Examen, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Rosary, and more...you can read about the options here and register. Parents, please attend with your children. We hope you will join us.
Help is needed on Feb. 17, from 2:30-4pm and Feb. 18, from 5:30-6:30pm to set up for our Prayer Fair. Please email
Ann if you are able to help.
We had a great Catholic Schools Week! See this week's bulletin article from our principal for pictures of our fun. Registration is now open for the 2017-18 school year. If you would like to schedule a tour during the day, contact our Principal,
Ellen Knippel or call the school office 262-691-0460.
Employment Opportunities:
Our school is seeking two people to work the after school care program effective immediately. One is with the 3K-5K students and the other position is with our 1st-8th grade program. Both are salaried positions with hours of 2:15-6pm. Contact the school office if interested (691-0460).
Do you have a passion for event organization and food preparation?
St. Anthony on the Lake is currently looking to fill the position of Hospitality/ Food Service Ministry Coordinator. This individual will be responsible for coordinating the purchase, preparation and serving of food for a variety of events at the parish while working with a group of dedicated volunteers. Hours will be approximately 25-30 hours per month and include some days, evenings and weekends. For more information, please contact
Art Scheuber at 262-691-1173.
Eucharistic Adoration is open for anyone to stop in. Can you give an hour each week? The following hours need to be covered: Wed. noon-1 and 7-8pm, Thurs. 11-noon and noon-1pm, and Friday 10-11am. Contact Nancy Kelley at 549-0981 or Dave Lechtenberg at 424-6162.
Prayers for all people dealing with Cancer. We pray for courage for each person affected by this disease, and for support for their families, friends, doctors and caregivers. We continue to pray for Tim's father, Anna, Eli, and John.
Prayers for all marriages, We pray for a deepening love and awareness of God's presence in marriage; and that this St. Valentine's Day, marital love is a witness to God's Grace in the world.
Prayers for families going through difficult times. We pray that we are each open to be there for families we know who are in trying times. For fortitude and grace in the midst of struggle.
Prayers for all mental health. We pray for rays of sunshine for those who are dealing with depression and mental illness and for their families to have strength to cope and offer support.
Supporting the lifelong journey of love and faith in marriage.
St. Anthony on the Lake believes in affirming the sacredness of marriage with our faith community. We also recognize the stress daily life places on this bond. Though the year, the Marriage Enrichment ministry offers opportunities for all engaged and married couples to enrich their relationship. A variety of programs provide the setting for couples to spend time together learning, communicating and socializing.
We had over 40 couples join us for the Trivia Night last weekend. Here are a few of our contestants in the Minute-to-win-it challenge. Thank you to all who attended!
The Couple Checkup is a fun, easy way to take a closer look at your marriage, increase relationship strengths and above all-spark meaningful conversation between you and your partner. You and your spouse take an online assessment at home and print out the results. Then join other couples for three nights of small group discussion and laughter on the key topics covered in the assessment. We are hoping to offer this opportunity in the spring. Please email
Debbie Klimko if you are interested.
Catholic Stewardship Appeal
The Catholic Stewardship Appeal video was shown at all Masses. Help pass on our faith to the next generation. Give to the Catholic Stewardship Appeal to strengthen Catholic high schools, elementary school and Christian formation programs. Information and video here.
Help Us Celebrate 100 Years - By Sharing YOUR Story!
Did you know that our parish will celebrate 100 years on June 30th, 2018? As we prepare to mark this exciting moment, we are embarking on a living history project. Do you have a memorable story from St. Anthony's history? Is your family tied to the origins of our parish? Do you have photos, documents or other artifacts that represent important moments in our history and development over the years?
Moms Group: Tuesday, February 14, 9:30-11am. New moms welcome. We have many little ones becoming friends as we share with one another. Topic for this next session: Relationships.
Open Gym: Wednesday, February 15, 10-11:30.
Field Trip: Feb. 24, 10:00, we will meet at Betty Brinn Children's Museum
During the 9:00 Mass, you have the option to have you children ages 4 through 1
st grade participate in
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW). No pre-registration is necessary. All children are welcome and encouraged to attend. Older children are welcome as helpers. They are called up to the front of church as the Liturgy of the word begins, and follow the teacher out where they participate in an age-appropriate telling of the readings for the day.They return to Mass during the presentation of the gifts.
We welcomed two new moms and their children to Guardians and Angels yesterday. We sang "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart" and made a heart craft. Guardians and Angels meets again on Wed. Feb. 22. Moms/dads/grandparents/caretakers are invited to bring thier little ones for this faith-based play group.
Are you interested in helping with Baptism ministry or volunteering in our childcare room? Contact Kathy Paro.
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The preschoolers at Sunday Family Program talked about LOVE. Love in their family, the love of Jesus and what they love.
Preschool children and their families are invited to join the school children for the Fat Tuesday evening celebration on Feb. 28. Sign-up and more information will be on the website soon. Email
Angie if you are interested in attending.
Grades 1-5
First Communion
The preparation session for First communion will be held for parents/child on Thursday, February 16, at 6:15pm. Please return the registration sheet with your date selection.
Family Program in the classroom:
Our 1st graders on Sunday learned about Jesus Our Savior and added a page to their journal, decorating a cross with Mrs. Posnanski.
The 4th grade class learned about the Ten Commandments and read them from the bible.
Registration is open_ Click Photo_
Middle School Ministry
Registration is now open for our middle school mission experience: Summer Outreach Camp! This is a half week Christ-centered mission July 25-27, offering 7th & 8th graders an opportunity to serve our
neighbors and community through hands-on assistance and work. We'll stay overnight here and spend the days serving in Waukesha County.
Middle in the Middle - where youth in middle school meet in the middle of the month for fun, fellowship, faith and food, meets on February 15. You can RSVP online. In February we'll be playing faith facts games.
You can see one of the games we played during our family program class on the middle school blog.
Subscribe to automatically get information and see photos of every session! Our topic this month is Church. Thank you to our special guests that came into classes this week and shared about the ways they are involved in our church.
High School Ministry
SPARK:Eucharistic Adoration: teen-friendly; all are welcome; Monday, Feb. 13, 5:30-6:30pm.
Sophomore Retreat: 42 junior and senior peer leaders and about 26 adult leaders and parent chaperones/sleepers made the Sophomore retreat a memorable experience for the 80 retreatants. Speakers from McCannon Brown's Homeless Sanctuary shared their story also to add to the impact of the retreat
Senior Snow Ball
We had 17 High School teens who attended Snow Ball at Mission Creek Memory Care Facility on Friday, February 3.
Summer Mission Trips: Preparations are underway for the high school mission trips! We are accepting new registrations until TOMORROW! Final payments are due now. Please contact Ann Fons if you are interested in serving as a chaperone on either trip.
Family Program
Our Family Activity this week included choosing options for our prayer fair next time. If you were absent, you should have received an email to let us know what your choices are. If you are going to be absent on Feb. 19/20, please email Ann. Watch for an email a few days before family program with more details about the Prayer Fair logistics.
The speaker for the adult session was Al McCauley on the topic of Praying with Art. He shared several beautiful pieces of art work and explained the history and meaning, as well as gave us thoughts to ponder for our own understanding. His powerpoint of artwork is available here.
See photos and hear more about each family program, as well as links to handouts, on the Family Program Blog.
LaPetite Family Program
In LaPetite we have learned 8 bible stories so far and are adding to our stained glass puzzle with each new story. This week we learned about Jesus washing his disciples feet.
Family Inspiration
Father God, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child. In Jesus name, Amen
