What's Happening During Our Catholic Comeback |
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As we navigate our Catholic Comeback, this newsletter will continue to bring you
updated information.
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Confessions will be canceled on
Saturday, September 12
Due to the First Holy Communion Mass.
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Festival Begging Letter
I am very pleased to say that we have surpassed our $70,000 goal to replace what we lost when cancelling the Parish Festival due to Covid-19. As of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, the amount that has come in is $79,295. On behalf of the entire parish, I send a big thank you to those who were able to make a contribution to this important fund. It will help us pay our bills without extra stress or worry over the next nine months.
As summer begins to wind down, I can say that we have accomplished all of our summer projects: the biggest is the new concrete in front of church, then the demolition of the deteriorated church chimneys, and the new sound system along with the equipment for the live streaming of Mass and Adoration. Also, we were able to do some preventative work and repairs to the school roofs. Through your generous, sacrificial giving, we have been able to complete all of that.
In the spring, we hope to finish the concrete work by replacing the sidewalks where there are cracks and crumbling, as well as tuck-pointing some of the buildings, especially the parish office building.
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24-Hour Perpetual Adoration
“Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been the fervent devotion of the Saints,” wrote Fr. Stefano Manelli, (OFM). “Their adoration lasted hours and hours, sometimes whole days or nights. There - ‘at Jesus’ feet’ - like Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:39), keeping Him fond and intimate company, absorbed in contemplating Him, they surrendered their hearts in a pure and fragrant offering of adoring love.”
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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Christian Women
Meeting and Social
Members of St. John’s Christian Women Society will begin their new season with a Mass on Thursday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m. in Church. Please wear a mask. We will have a short meeting and social to follow in the Church Hall. Social distancing and seating will be required. Also, your yearly $5 dues need to be paid at this time or drop off or mail your check to the Parish Office.
Payment must be by Check Only made payable to
St. John’s Christian Women.
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2020 Seminary Dinner
Friday, September 25
(6:30 - 7:15 p.m.)
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Please join the St. Francis de Sales Seminary in celebrating 175 years of priestly formation! While they are unable to gather everyone together this year, the joy and hope of their Annual Dinner will still be offered to all during a live event that will take place on the front steps of the Seminary. The program will be streamed on their website for online viewing.
They ask that you please support the formation of holy priests by celebrating with them during the event, by praying for the men, and by contributing generously to their formation. Your gift is so important to the men who are studying to become your priests.
To receive an email reminder and link to watch the event online, please register at www.sfs.edu/DinnerRegistration. There is no fee for online viewing. To attend the event in person, please register at www.sfs.edu/DinnerRegistration. There is a $50 cost to attend in person, however children attending with a parent are free. A limited number of people will be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis. Then bring a lawn chair and enjoy! Guests will be asked to respect proper social distancing. In the event of inclement weather, the viewing party will regretfully have to be cancelled and the seminarians will move indoors.
Contributions are accepted either online or checks can be mailed to the St. Francis de Sales Seminary, 3257 South Lake Drive, Saint Francis, WI 53235. You can sponsor a Seminarian for as little as $150 or contribute up to $25,000 or more.
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Your donations are needed and will help us
continue to operate during these unsettling times.
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Twenty-fourth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
September 12/13, 2020
Today’s readings call us to look inward to the state of our hearts, our thoughts, and emotions.
Our first reading, from Sirach, addresses the complicated emotion of anger. “Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?” We have all been wounded by others at some point, some perhaps quite deeply. Our emotions are gifts from God. But we must steward them well, rather than allowing them to overcome us.
How do we do this? Sirach tells us. “Remember your last days, set enmity aside... Remember the Most High’s covenant and overlook faults.” We embrace the stewardship mindset, not brooding over hurts, but recalling all the gifts our good God has given us, all the love He continually pours out upon us, and we put our focus and trust in Him.
In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus reminds us of the true position we have before Him in light of all that He has done for us, comparing the kingdom of heaven to a “king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.” In the parable, a debtor is brought before the king, owing such an overwhelming debt that it could not be repaid. Yet, the king is filled with compassion for the servant, forgives the debt, and lets him go free.
Doesn’t that sound like each of us in relation to the King of Kings? The Father has given us life and then sent His only Son to die for us, to free us from our sin “debts” and make eternal life with Him possible for us. It is impossible for us to repay this debt. All we can do is thank God by giving Him our whole selves, inside and out.
What joy and freedom we find in the stewardship way of life!
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Busy Times
What a joy filled weekend for us! Our current third graders will finally able to celebrate their First Holy Communion. First Communion is perhaps the most memorable sacrament for all of us. Many of my childhood memories have faded with the passing of time, but I remember my First Communion as clearly as if it were last week.
These children will certainly have a tale to tell when they are adults - of the great pandemic of 2020 and how it changed their lives. Providing them with a celebration of this amazing sacrament is so important, and we are blessed to finally be able to do so. Six months later, the celebration will look a little different than it might have back in May, but it will still be a time of joy as we welcome new members to Christ’s table.
Following our celebration on Saturday, the third graders who attend our school will have the opportunity to celebrate with their school family at our Wednesday morning Mass. Planning and executing our school Masses, as we work to keep our students distanced from each other, is quite the challenge, but we have found a way to make it work. We can’t wait to receive Communion with these deserving third graders at our school Mass!
I know you join me in praying that our community remains happy and healthy.
...Together in God’s Name
Mary Laidlaw-Otto, Principal
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Restaurant Night
Join us for the first restaurant fundraiser of the year. Tuesday, September 22, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Cafe Zupas located at 8775 W. Sura Lane in Greenfield.
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Greetings from your Director of Religious Education,
Our schedule for Religious Education Programs for the first two months is as follows:
October 4, 2020
Grades 1-8 9:30 to 10:45 p.m.
Grades 9-11 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
October 11, 2020
Grades 1-8 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Grades 9-11 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
October 18, 2020
Grades 1-8 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Grades 9-11 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
November 8, 2020
Grades 1-8 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Grades 9-11 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
November 15, 2020
Grades 1-8 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Grades 9-11 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
November 22, 2020
Grades 1-8 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Grades 9-11 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
We hope to begin Adult Religious Education Programs in November.
God Bless!
Austin Rahill, DRE
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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:
- Monday at 8:00 a.m.
- Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.
- Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.
- Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
- Friday at 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and 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 daily 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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In this illuminating talk, Fr. Michael Gaitley recounts how Archbishop Karol Wojtyla, later Pope St. John Paul II, used the teachings of the Second Vatican Council with great success to help Catholics in his diocese live their faith to the fullest. Learn how Vatican II provides a map to help us enrich our lives through faith and effectively experience the good news of God’s divine mercy. |
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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. We will be outside under the tent in front of the church. 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.
Our enrollment code is 18DE7D4F11822. 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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Here’s how it works:
Receive a Daily Teaching Minute via email beginning September 8
Bonus: Invite your family and friends to pray with us
With everything going on right now in the Church and the world, now is a very good time to pray. Our Blessed Mother is a powerful intercessor and we call upon her protection and guidance as we face mounting tension, division, and unrest in our nation. We pray that she might guide us and promote peace and unity in our nation and our Church.
At the conclusion of the novena, we will celebrate a special Mass on November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints. May all the saints, and especially the Mother of God, be with us and respond to our needs.
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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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