What's Happening
at St. John's
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The Jubilee Year of St. Joseph
We continue to celebrate the Jubilee Year of St. Joseph. He is traditionally honored with special prayers during the month of March. Just recently, Pope Francis spelled out three lessons we can all learn from St. Joseph. “Jesus’ father on earth knew how to walk in darkness, how to listen to the voice of God, and how to go forward in silence.”
On Joseph’s struggle upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy, Pope Francis wrote: “Joseph fought within himself. In that struggle, the voice of God is heard, ‘Take Mary, bring her to your home. Take charge of the situation; take this situation in hand, and go forward.’ Joseph didn’t go to his friends to be comforted. He didn’t go to a psychiatrist so that he could interpret the dream. No, he believed and went forward. He took the situation in hand."
And then Pope Francis asked, “What was it that Joseph had to take up? Two things: fatherhood and mystery. Joseph took on a paternity that was not his own; it came from the Father. And he went ahead with that fatherhood and all it signified; not only supporting Mary and the Child but also raising the Child, teaching Him his trade, bringing Him up to manhood. And all this, without saying a word. In the Gospel, there is not a single word spoken by Joseph, a man of silence, of silent obedience. This is the great Joseph, whom God needed to carry forward the mystery of leading the people anew to the new Creation.”
Pope Francis has said the COVID-19 pandemic had drawn him to reflect even more on St. Joseph. So many people during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others, just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus. In his Apostolic Letter on the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis wrote: “I would like to share some personal reflections on this extraordinary figure, so close to our own human experience. My desire to do so increased during these months of the pandemic, when we experienced, amid the crisis, how our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people, people often overlooked. People who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines or on the latest television show, yet in these very days are surely shaping the decisive events of our history. Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others. They understood that no one is saved alone.
How many people exercise patience daily and offer hope, taking care to not spread panic but shared responsibility? How many fathers, mothers, grandparents, and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday ways, how to accept and deal with a crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead, and encouraging the practice of prayer? How many are praying, making sacrifices, and interceding for the good of all?
Each of us can discover in Joseph, the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence, an intercessor, a support, and a guide in times of trouble. St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadow can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all.”
Let us now make our prayer to him. We need only ask St. Joseph for the grace of graces- our conversion.
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you, God entrusted his only Son; in you, Mary
placed her trust; with you, Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a
father and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from all evil.
Amen.
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24-Hour Perpetual Adoration
St. John’s is fortunate to have 24-hour Perpetual Adoration. Please take advantage of this beautiful opportunity to stay close to God in these difficult times. Hand sanitizer is available in the Adoration entrance (south side of Church), and we ask that you practice social distancing and stay at least six feet from others while in Church.
There is an open hour on Mondays-
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Please call Kay Shomperlen if interested
in volunteering at 414-763-1250.
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Adult Education Program:
The Jewish Roots of Holy Week
If you knew that you only had one week left to live, how would you spend it? What would you do?
Most people know that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, died on Good Friday, and lay dead in the tomb on Holy Saturday. But what about the other days of Holy Week? What did Jesus choose to say and do in the last seven days of his life?
This DVD presentation of the Jewish Roots of Holy Week will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Church Hall. In these riveting presentations, Dr. Brant Pitre takes his knowledge of the Jewish Roots of Christianity and uses it to unveil the mysteries of the most sacred and solemn week of the entire year: “Holy Week.” You will discover:
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Palm Sunday: Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey?
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Holy Monday-Tuesday: Why did Jesus curse the fig tree on Holy Monday?
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Spy Wednesday: What is the hidden meaning of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus? Why is this day called “Spy Wednesday?”
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Holy Thursday: How exactly did the disciples prepare the Passover for Jesus?
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Good Friday: What is the meaning of the blood and water that flowed from Jesus’ side?
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Holy Saturday: Why did Jesus rest in the tomb? Where did Jesus’ soul go to on Holy Saturday?
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Easter Sunday: Why did Jesus rise on the “first day of the week?”
Please sign up after Mass in the Narthex beginning next weekend, March 6 & 7.
If you have any questions, please call
Laura Lee at (414) 840-0261 or
Chris (414) 507-7660 or
Austin at (414) 530-5770.
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Christian Women Meeting
Men’s and Boy’s Underwear Collection
All Christian Women are welcome to attend a meeting on Thursday, March 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the Church Hall. Social distancing and wearing of masks are required at all times. Please bring any canceled stamps you have collected.
Also, for Almsgiving for Lent, please bring new men’s or boy’s underwear or socks for the “St. Joseph Project” to cover the needs of those at the Capuchin Community - House of Peace. Monetary donations will also be accepted. Checks should be made payable to St. John’s.
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Save the following dates for
"The Best Catholic Fish Fry in Greenfield"
Friday, March 12
Friday, April 2
Friday, April 23
Friday, May 7
All will be "drive-thru" only.
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Come to our Drive-Thru Fish Fry
(4:00-7:00 p.m.)
You can order any number of menu items: A, B, C, or D, but please, no substitutions. All dinners will be prepared as ordered and are served “drive-thru” only. We are adhering to safe and strict food-handling procedures and social distancing practices.
- (A) Fried Fish (3 pieces) with French Fries
- (B) Fried Fish (3 pieces) with Parsley Potatoes
- (C) Baked Fish (3 pieces) with French Fries
- (D) Baked Fish (3 pieces) with Parsley Potatoes
Dinners include coleslaw, applesauce, tartar sauce,
bread, butter, and dessert.
All this for $11.00 per meal.
Extra pieces of fish $2.00 each (limit 2 per dinner)
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Daylight Savings Time
Make sure to move your clocks ahead one (1) hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 13.
That way, you won't be
late for Mass.
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Holy Name Society News
The Holy Name Society will celebrate Corporate Communion at 8:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 14, 2021. They will also pray the Rosary at 7:20 a.m. in the Church before Mass.
NO Meeting or Breakfast will follow. All men 16 and older are welcome, and fathers are encouraged to bring their sons 8 years and older.
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Your donations are needed and will help us
continue to operate during these unsettling times.
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Third Sunday of Lent
March 6/7, 2021
Our readings call us to roll up our sleeves and persevere through the remainder of Lent by committing to a more faithful life with Christ.
In today's Gospel, Jesus purifies the temple area because it is being misused as a marketplace. He becomes angry at their lack of reverence for God. He spills the coins of the money-changers and overturns tables, saying, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
Jesus witnessed the way people mistreated the temple — the place to worship God and God alone. He drives out evil and works to purify all that is sinful in that place. This is what Jesus wants to do for us this Lenten season. He wants to remove all impurity and evil in our lives and hearts so that we may have a proper dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Let us ask ourselves, what areas of our life need cleansing? Let us name those areas and invite Jesus to purify us. He became man to carry our burdens and wipe away our sins. He has given us boundless mercy, but we must do our part to seek it and commit to living a more faithful life as a disciple of Christ. With this knowledge, let us seek to be purified from our sins so that our hearts might be a true temple of the Holy Spirit.
This season of Lent is only halfway done — there is still time to work through our shortcomings and purify our hearts for Easter morning. But let us not waste another moment. Let us name our shortcomings, seek God’s mercy and invite Him to transform our hearts.
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This weekend, I am sharing a letter which I sent to our school families a couple of weeks ago.
“I am writing to share an important update with you today. I have made the difficult decision to retire from my position as principal at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year.
My time at St. John the Evangelist has been the most rewarding of my career in education. Over the last 14 years, I have come to consider SJE my home, and our staff, students, and families as close as my own family. After 38 years in Catholic education, I cannot think of a better place to end my career.
I am extremely proud of our staff. Their devotion to providing an exemplary education while keeping our Catholic faith at the center of all that we do is a true blessing to our students. This year has been full of the challenges of Covid-19. Our staff has faced these challenges, constantly changing their practices to meet the needs of their students both last spring, and again when we returned to in-person learning in August.
The search for a new principal will begin immediately. Fr. Michael will be assisted by members of our staff, as well as parents and parishioners. He will update families as information becomes available.
I have known some of our school families since I began at SJE in the fall of 2007. Whether your family has been here for the last 14 years, or this is your first year at SJE, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve you. Spending my days with our children has been one of the greatest blessings of my life."
One of the things I have treasured most about my time here at SJE is the support I have received from the parish. So many of our schools seem to operate as independent entities, but our children and their families are blessed with unconditional support from parishioners who truly view our school as a mission. Thank you so very much.
...Together in God’s Name
Mary Laidlaw-Otto, Principal
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Live-streaming: Mass and Adoration
We are live-streaming daily and Sunday Masses as well as Adoration for those who are unable to attend:
Daily Masses are:
Monday thru Saturday 8:00 a.m.
Weekend Masses are:
Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Our YouTube channel is SJE-Greenfield.
If you miss the livestream, you can watch the upload of each Mass on our YouTube channel.
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CDs from Augustine Institute
Did you know we have CDs (and other items) located in the narthex? Each week we will highlight one of the available CDs.
Cost is $4 each.
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Father Mitch is a priest of the Society of Jesus, a highly respected scripture scholar and author, a regular host of EWTN Television and Radio, and the founder and president of Ignatius Productions—a Catholic teaching and media apostolate. Listen as Fr. Pacwa describes the "big picture" of the Catholic Faith while explaining the perspective that Catholics ought to have in their relation to and with God. |
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Start earning the easy way with the new mobile app: RaiseRight by ShopWithScrip
RaiseRight is simply the right way to fundraise for our organization. Shop gift cards from more than 750 top brands to earn on your daily purchases—right from your phone.
Turn your shopping list into fundraising
- Discover new earning opportunities every day
- Narrow your search with categories that fit your everyday shopping needs
- Easily browse brands offering bonus earnings
- Add brands you love to your Favorites for faster shopping
- Manage your gift cards in one place: your Wallet
Pick up right where you left off. Sign in with your same ShopWithScrip username and password. Access your gift cards right away. And check out with payment information already saved to your account.
SCRIP will now be sold before and after all weekend Masses. As always, SCRIP is available at the parish office during regular business hours. We have materials available below if you would like to set up an online account.
You can also click here to view a how-to video from Scrip on how to open an account.
To protect the program from fraud, please contact the Parish or School offices for the enrollment code. Once you have an online account you can pay by direct debit from your checking account (Presto Pay), by credit card, or by check here in the parish office. If we do not have the item in stock, we will order on Monday and have the cards by Thursday. Once you have the physical card you can enroll it in your "wallet" and reload it as needed.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the parish office at 414-321-1965.
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This program allows .5% of your shopping on Amazon to be donated to St. John the Evangelist.
If you purchase Scrip, St. John's receives an additional 2.25%. That's 2.75% of your purchases to St. John's if you are already shopping Amazon.
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The newsletter is published on Thursdays. Articles for each week's publication are due on Mondays at noon.
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"Remember God's Will in Yours!"
Please keep the needs of St. John the Evangelist in mind as you do your estate planning. For information on how to include the parish as a beneficiary, contact the Parish Office at 414-321-1965.
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