What's Happening
at St. John's
Parish News
Missionary Outreach -
Sister Jan Gregorcich

At this weekend’s Masses, Sr. Jan Gregorcich, SSND, will speak briefly about the importance of access to fresh water around the world. In Central America, 35 percent of the population lacks running water. For communities without clean water, children often fall ill and miss school. Women spend a large part of their day collecting water, preventing them from devoting time and energy to their families. Simply put, quality of life greatly suffers without clean water.
 
In recent years, Sr. Jan’s team has constructed water projects using PVC pipes to bring fresh water to remote villages in Guatemala. Thanks to their hard work, 576 people now have access to clean water. Currently, the team is working on a water project for another community. When completed later this year, 636 more people will have access to clean water. Today, Sister Jan is asking you to help fund their next water project. Thirty-three families are waiting for access to clean water. Through your support, they will be much closer to their goal of clean water in their village.
 
Statue of Our Lady of Fatima
Coming to Milwaukee

The traveling statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be in Wisconsin. It will visit St. John’s on September 23 (the Feast of Padre Pio). From 10:00am until 3:00pm, there will be private prayer and Adoration. You may bring your prayer petitions to place in the basket next to the statue. At 3:00pm, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Rosary will be recited. At 4:00pm, the statue custodian will speak to parishioners. At 6:00, Deacon Steve will reflect on the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, followed by Consecration and Benediction. All are welcome.
One of the essential Fatima messages from Mary is devotion to her Immaculate Heart.
 
“Jesus wishes you to establish devotion in the world to My Immaculate Heart. My Immaculate Heart will be your comfort and the way which will lead you to God.”

Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA)
Begins This Weekend

If you are interested in joining the Catholic Faith, or know someone who is, this weekend is the first session of this year’s process. RCIA is also open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic Faith or has questions about any aspect of the Catholic Faith. All are welcome. The new RCIA session starts with a “Welcome” meeting on Sunday, September 26 at Noon in Rectory Room A. Please call Austin Rahill at (414) 530-5770 for more information.
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 one open hour
Mondays-
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

If interested in volunteering for this open hour, call Kay Shomperlen at 414-763-1250.
The Hidden King -
The Jewish Roots of St. Joseph
(Encore Presentation)

In case you missed the recent Saturday program, an encore DVD presentation by Dr. Brant Pitre is scheduled for September and early October. Come and learn about this amazing yet silent man, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. Session one will be held on Monday, September 20. The topic will be “The Hidden King.” Session two will be held on Monday, September 27. The topic will be “The Most Chaste Spouse.” And session three will be held on Monday, October 4. The topic will be “The Shadow of the Father.” All three sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Church Hall. Sign up in the narthex.

For more information,
call or text Laura Lee at (414) 840-0261.
We are just a few short weeks away from our Fall Fest Auction. Our online auction site will be opening soon for registration.

Some of the amazing items we will have to bid on are:

  • Signed and Framed Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey
  • 65 inch Smart TV
  • Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Dinnerware (setting for 12)
  • Cookware and Bakeware baskets
  • Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee County Zoo gift cards
  • Gift certificates
  • And so much more!


Please note the change in dates. We have so many wonderful items that we are still working on getting everything together.

Bidding will open at noon on Sunday, October 17, and close at 4:00 p.m. sharp on Sunday, October 24.

If you have any questions, please email Denise Kasulke at

Thank you for your support!
Silent Preached Retreat for Women

Ladies of the Parish: Mark your calendars and let God speak to you and revitalize your spirit, Friday, October 1, through Sunday, October 3, at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc. This year’s theme is “Healing in a Wounded World.”
 
How do we return to those basic gospel values that bring us a sense of healing, not only to the world but to each one of us? This retreat is a great opportunity to encounter our need for Jesus.
 
The weekend starts around 7:00 p.m., with check-in between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The retreat ends at noon on Sunday. Carpooling is available. For details and to sign up, please call Barb at (414) 448-7117. You may also register directly at the Redemptorist Retreat Center by calling (262) 567-6900 or on their website: www.redemptoristretreat.org. The cost is $230 per person. The center is located at 1800 N. Timber Trail Lane on the shores of Crooked Lake in Oconomowoc.
St. John’s Respect Life Committee News

Most people know that the Roe V. Wade ruling in 1973 made abortion legal, but now, a movie tells the story of the legal maneuvering and court intrigue that led to the Supreme Court decision. A free screening of the movie Roe V. Wade will be shown on Tuesday, September 21 at 6:00 p.m., with a matinee showing at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22. The movie will be shown in the Church Hall. This film is rated PG-13 and is intended for mature audiences. Children under 13 are not allowed.
 
The Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign will begin on Wednesday, September 22, and organizers say this will be the biggest and best campaign ever. 40 Days is an internationally coordinated campaign that aims to end abortion locally nationally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful vigil in front of abortion clinics nationwide. As division and anger fill our culture, what a joy to peacefully take the love and mercy of Jesus Christ to the front lines. Past 40 Days for Life campaigns have been a source of healing for so many who have been abused, lonely, and feel they have no other option but to end the life of their child. Please pray for the unborn and an end to abortion.
Classes Start October 3, which is only 2 weeks away! We have an amazing core of Catechists who are passionate about teaching the Catholic Faith. If you want your child or children in the parish's Religious Education program this year, you can enroll them on our website, www.stjohns-grfd.org. Please click on Religious Education from the Home Page and select the Grade 1-10 or Confirmation Online Registration option. You should fill out the online form and can register up to four children.

Classes for grade school (1-8) start on Sunday, October 3, from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. (new time). Classes will let out in time for families to attend the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Classes for high school (grades 9, 10, and Confirmation) start on Sunday, October 3, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Your donations are needed and will help us
continue to operate during these unsettling times.
Twenty-Fifth Sunday
in Ordinary Time
September 18/19, 2021

There is something about being first. Great satisfaction is achieved whether it be first in line, first to be picked for the team, or the first one to finish their work. Our egos love being first. It somehow sets us apart from everyone else, gives us a sense of pride, and positions us to feel better than others. When we are first, we can glory in our efforts, skills, and achievements. Isn’t that what really matters? After all, we are taught from a very young age to be proficient, stay on top, be the best at what we do, and win the praise and esteem of others. This is the stuff that makes us successful and provides us with a comfortable, satisfying life.
 
Jesus wants none of it. All of the details we anguish over mean little to the kingdom of God. Do you want to be first? Then, be a servant and welcome a child. All of this is the opposite of our often vehement pursuits. If we are serious about following Jesus and living the Gospel, then we must put the needs of others before our own. If we continue to listen only to the noise of the world, we are going to continue to believe the illusions we inherit. Those illusions come in many forms, but all have things in common: me before you, being on top and not the bottom, us versus them, personal security over universal harmony and peace. When are we going to learn that always striving to be the best and first is an empty pursuit in our struggle for happiness? While satisfying our ego with this momentary boost of esteem may feel good for a moment, is it what we really desire?
 
If we can break from the world’s noise and create a space of sacred silence in our lives, we can begin to listen and see that we are being called in another direction. What we really desire is not the bolstering of our egos but the innocence we lost somewhere along the way. When we can be playful, joyful, and even somewhat carefree, life is good. We want our relationships to work, a place to call home, and to live peaceful lives with our sisters and brothers. Only a servant can do this. The servant’s prayer seeks to detach from self-concern in order to be used by God. Rather than worrying about being first and coming out on top, we can be inspired, guided, empowered, and led to do good works. Stop worrying about being first and put greater energy into feeling joy.
 
©LPi
School News
The Fun Run and Tailgate Party was held on Friday, September 10, and was well attended. We had over 90 runners including some parents, many spectators, and a lot of volunteers. Our students ran a total of 166 miles. After the run, the participants had cheese sticks, fruit, and chocolate milk to replenish their bodies. After a short rest, the tailgate party began. We had burgers, brats, hot dogs, chips, and ice cream sandwiches. It was great to see our school community come together for an evening of running, eating, and fun. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and/or helped with the many parts of the event.
 
We celebrated Mass for the first time this school year on September 8. One of the second graders summed it up best on his way into school Wednesday when he said, “I am so excited! We get to go to Church today.” I told him I felt the same way. His excitement definitely made my smile grow and brought joy to my heart. Our 8th graders prepared the Mass and did an outstanding job leading our celebration.
 
On September 23, the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be at St. John the Evangelist. The custodian of the statue will talk with our students at 8:45 a.m. Then we will have a statue procession into the Church with our school children. Our 4th through 8th-grade students will lead us in the Rosary. We are looking forward to the day. 

"Stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong."
1 Corinthians 16:13
Spring Bulb Fundraiser
You can beautify your garden and raise money for St. John’s Parish School at the same time! The Home & School Association has teamed up with a local organization to provide dozens of varieties of bulbs that will produce colorful spring and summer flowers.
 
Order forms are available in the school office, parish office, and in the Church narthex. Orders must be placed and paid for by October 1. You can see the complete color selection of bulbs and their prices online and also place your order: www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/index.php/marketplace/seller/profile/shop/sje and your bulbs will be shipped directly to your home for a flat rate of $6.00. If you order through the form provided, there are no shipping fees. The bulbs will be delivered to the school by October 8 (and students can bring them home) or to the parish office where they will be available for pickup during normal business hours.
 
For more information, please contact Jennifer Cone at Blowfish1985@aol.com.
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.
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.
In this informative presentation, Dr. Scott Hahn, a former Presbyterian minister, provides the biblical basis for the Church's teaching on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the significance of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Dr. Hahn gives us a greater understanding of our vocation to be the living presence of Christ in the world.
Holy Name and Home & School will now sell SCRIP 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 get in touch with 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), credit card, or 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.
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.
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.
The newsletter is published on Thursdays. Articles for each week's publication are due on Mondays at noon.

To submit articles e-mail to: newsletter@stjohns-grfd.org
"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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