What's Happening
at St. John's
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Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Holy Day of Obligation
Vigil Mass
Thursday, December 31
4:00 p.m.
Friday, January 1
9:30 a.m.
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Christmas Blessings Continued
As we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the 12th Day of Christmas, I would like to say a word of thanks to the many people who helped make Christmas Masses a spiritual and beautiful celebration.
A hearty thank you to Karen Schulteis, cantors, and extra musicians, along with the Bell Choir. Under the restrictions of Covid, they prepared a beautiful selection and executed prayerful and beautiful Christmas music.
Also, I would like to thank the many Liturgical Ministers (many of whom served more than one Mass), Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers along with the Acolytes. There are also many people behind the scenes who helped prepare for the Christmas Masses, such as the Church decorators, families who helped set up chairs in the gym, and our parish secretary who helped elicit and keep track of all the Ministers for Christmas. And a big thank you to you, the family and friends who attended the Christmas Masses. Your attendance and faith are awe-inspiring.
I have received many positive comments about all of the above, and I thank you for your “yes” to God and to St. John’s parish.
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Icon of St. John the Evangelist
This past weekend, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family. However, usually on December 27, it is the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, the patron of our parish. I decided back in March when the Churches were closed to bless our new icon of St. John the Evangelist on his designated Feast Day, December 27.
A number of people asked about the symbolism of this icon. This is what the Artist Abbot Damian Higgins stated about it:
“Christ is dressed in a blue outer garment and a red undergarment. The red garment refers to his divinity and the blue to his humanity. The positioning of his fingers is a reference to his name. With his right hand, he is forming the Greek letters of IC-XC for Jesus the Christ. In his left hand, he is, of course, holding the bread that is consecrated as His body.
The eagle on the right shoulder of Christ is the biblical symbol for St. John the Evangelist. John is leaning into the Christ figure with his head on the chest of Christ both as a symbol of John as the Beloved and as a position of reference as he prepares to receive the Holy Mystery of Communion.
St. John is dressed in blue and bright red/orange. The bright garment is a symbol of him as a theologian and the blue of his work as an Apostle.
The cloudy blue background is both a reminder of Heavenly glory as well as an effort to compliment the colors in the other icons that already exist in the Church.
Christ is enthroned to remind us that he now dwells in Heaven but is not separated from Earth.
The icon is a doorway, whereby Faith, we may encounter the living God and the Saints.”
Iconography is the one art form where the viewer, you and I, are, in fact, the ones being viewed. We approach the icon with the understanding that the one pictured in the icon is, in fact, coming to see us. Our prayers before the icon make it possible for us to be in communion/fellowship with Christ and the Saints.
Prayer Used to Bless the Icon
(an adaptation from the formal prayer):
Almighty and ever-living God.
It does not displease You that images of Your saints are carved or painted.
For as often as we look on these images with our bodily eyes,
so often we do consider the actions of Your saints with our mind’s spiritual eyes.
And ponder their holiness for our imitation.
We ask You to bless and sanctify this image of St. John the Evangelist, the beloved Apostle of Your Son Jesus.
Grant that whoever in the presence of this image
pays devout reverence and honor to St. John the Evangelist
may through his merits and intercession win grace in this life,
and everlasting Glory in the world to come.
Through Christ our Lord. 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.
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Thursday, December 31- 8:00 a.m. to Noon
Friday, January 1- CLOSED
Normal Office hours resume on Monday, January 4, 2020
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
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THE 2020 PARISH FINANCIAL BOOKS WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 31
If you wish to have any contributions credited to your account for 2020, it must be received by the end of the day, December 31. Any contributions received after the end of day on December 31 will be credited to 2021. PLEASE BE AWARE: Even if your check is dated 2020, it must be POSTMARKED in 2020, or it will be credited to 2021.
QUESTIONS??
Please call the parish office to avoid any complications with your 2020 tax deductions.
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Bipolar Ionization System
A Continuation
As I recently mentioned, the Bipolar Air Cleaner has been installed in the Church, which also covers the Church Hall. Since we collected $6,000 more than needed, we decided to move ahead and do the entire property.
This will include each school classroom at a cost of $13,900, the Rectory and Parish Office space at a cost of $3,000, and the Gym at a cost of $4,300. The total cost for the rest of the property is $21,200. Minus the $6,000 that has already been donated, we need to collect an additional $15,200.
Again, on behalf of the entire parish, which is currently benefitting, and the parish school and office, which will benefit from our new air cleaner, a warm thank you for your generosity.
Fr. Michael
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Holy Name Society News
The Holy Name Society will celebrate Corporate Communion at the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 10, 2020. 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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Men's Retreat
February 26-28, 2021
A retreat for men will be held from Friday, Feb. 26, to Sunday, Feb. 28th, 2021 at the Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Oconomowoc. The weekend starts around 7:00 p.m. (Check-in starts at 6-6:30 p.m.) on Friday and ends around Noon on Sunday. Carpooling is available.
Social Distancing and mask-wearing will be required.
For details and to sign up,
call Ron. Heser at 414-448-7117
or the Retreat Center at 262-567-6900.
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Your donations are needed and will help us
continue to operate during these unsettling times.
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The Epiphany of
Our Lord
January 2/3, 2021
Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. The Gospel account of the three magi traveling to meet Baby Jesus is one that we know well. Yet, when we pause to reflect on this moment when these men met Christ for the first time, we recognize that there is much to be said for us still today.
When the magi entered the house, it says, “they saw the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” Clearly, these men knew that they were in the presence of their King. They also came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which symbolize Christ’s kingship, divinity, and humanity.
Christ is still manifesting Himself to us today. We enter God’s house weekly, and we are in His presence. When we meet Him, do we offer Him our gifts — our time, talent, and treasure? As Christian stewards, we are called to respond with love, reverence, and gratitude.
Let us prepare our hearts to receive Christ’s many manifestations in our lives. We just need a grateful disposition to receive them.
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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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Throughout the Church's history, there has been crisis and confusion over Church teaching. Today, there is crisis and confusion surrounding the Sacrament of Marriage. As Augustine Institute President and Professor Dr. Tim Gray explains, this crisis presents an immense opportunity, as it encourages us to explore and discover the depth of this mystery, described by Pope Benedict XVI as "a Gospel in itself". When lived faithfully and well, marriage serves as a bold witness to the love and saving power of 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
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- 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 Wednesdays. 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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