SAINTS JOSEPH, PETER, BONIFACE & ASSUMPTION BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

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1 EPHIPHANY OF THE LORD Ι JANUARY 7, 2018 SAINTS JOSEPH, PETER, BONIFACE & ASSUMPTION BLESSED VIRGIN MARY P A R I S H C L U S T E R ONE. HOLY. APOSTOLIC. UNIVERSAL CHURCH. WE ARE CATHOLIC. WE ARE FAMILY. WELCOME HOME! B A R R O N, C A M E R O N, C H E T E K & S T R I C K L A N D, W I Christmas Vigil Mass, 4pm at St. Peter: Fr. Bala holding representation of baby Jesus along with youth singing Away in a Manger for the congregation Mass Schedule 4PM, STRICKLAND 6PM ST. PETER, CAMERON 8AM ST. PETER, CAMERON 9:30AM ST. JOSEPH, BARRON 11AM ST. BONIFACE, CHETEK Fr. Bala will be visiting his family in India from January 8th, 2018 through February 9th, In his absence, Deacon Dan Ford and visiting priests, Fr. James Brinkman, Fr. Ron Zgunda, and Fr. Dennis Mullen will offer all weekend and weekday Masses as regularly scheduled. Note some of the weekday services will be Communion Services. C O N N E C T! W I T H T H E W O RD MESSAGE FOR THE WEEK "Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." What a wonderful example the Magi give us in their visit to the infant Jesus. First of all, they demonstrate profound faith in God's word, spoken through the prophet Micah: "And you, Bethlehem... from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel" (cf. 5:2). Embarking on a long and difficult journey, they trust that they will find this newborn king of the Jews in Bethlehem as the prophecy announced. At the home of the Holy Family, the Magi give us an example of profound humility. These important men do not hesitate to bow down, to "prostrate themselves", and give homage to a tiny babe. Putting their own position out of their minds, they reverently worship the infant Lord even as he sits on the lap of his mother. The generosity of these three "kings" is also evident as they open their treasure boxes and give to the poor child the richest of gifts. We understand the gold to symbolize the earthly kingship of Christ, the frankincense to represent his divinity, and the myrrh to stand as a symbol of the anointing he will receive upon his death. Finally, the wisdom of these men is evident in their decision to return to their country "by another way." Understanding the threat that King Herod posed to Jesus, they followed a plan that would help keep the divine child safe even though it meant inconvenience to themselves. Faith, humility, generosity, and wisdom. These gifts are the real legacy of the Three Kings. Today, let us ask God for the blessing of having these gifts in our lives. SUNDAY READINGS Isaiah 60:1-6 The prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when all nations would proclaim the praises of the Lord through the people of Israel. How did Isaiah envision this happening? Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Paul spoke to the Ephesians about God's salvation now offered to all people through Jesus Christ. Why do you think some people find this idea threatening? Matthew 2:1-12 How does the visit of the Magi fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah heard in the first reading?

2 4:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:00 pm 7:30 am 8:00 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 11:00 am M/M Sigmund Klawiter by Gene & Bernice Rose & Tony Skrupy by Roger & Sharon Kaiser All the People of our Parish Cluster John Leaman by Bud & Mary Jo Mizer Pamela Geisinger by Linus & Judy Earney Tuesday 5:00 pm NO MASS Wednesday 7:15 am Rosary/Morning Prayer 8:00 am Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 pm 2:45 pm Divine Mercy Chaplet Thursday 8:30 am Rosary/ Morning Prayer 9:00 am Eucharistic Adoration until 4:00 pm Friday 8:00 am NO MASS 4:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:00 pm 7:30 am 8:00 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 11:00 am Nancy Michalski All the People of our Parish Cluster Dennis Sailor by Friends and Family Karen Elliot by Darryl & Anne Richard Scott by Linus & Judy -St. Boniface -St. Joseph -St. Peter -Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Thank you! for your continued financial support! Your contributions are vital to your parish. Weekly Adult Sacrificial Giving 12/24 Loose Cluster Administrative Office E. LaSalle Avenue Barron, WI Phone: Fax: Ministry Staff Fr. Bala Raju Policetty, Sacramental Minister Very Reverend John Gerritts.Supervising Pastor Patty Gerber, Parish Director Office Staff Mary Bell, Bookkeeper Marsha Rheingans, Secretary/Bookkeeper Anne Stephens, Faith Formation Mindy Hamilton, Assistant Religious Education Coordinator Sacraments Reconciliation: Father Bala will be present in the Confessional, for Reconciliation at all parishes, 30 minutes prior to all Masses, Tuesday-; and prior to Mass at St. Peter; and 9-10am on the1st of the month at St. Joseph. Reconciliation may also be received following most Masses or by appointment. Anointing of the Sick: By appointment, please call parish office first. If an emergency, please call Father Bala Policetty directly. Baptism: Please call the parish office to schedule. First time parents, please plan to attend a baptismal preparation session prior to your child s baptism. Marriage: Please make arrangements for marriage prep classes beginning six months before the wedding. Homebound Communion Communion is given weekly to our cluster homebound parishioners. If you would like to be added to the list, please call the cluster office. Pastoral Visits: Please contact Father Policetty if you or a loved one would like to be visited. Special Total $146 $181 $1284 $1611 STB $851 $167 $2782 $3780 STJ $1261 $221 $1725 $3207 STP $1227 $196 $4084 $5507 MON Rosary/Morning Star Prayer Group, STJ

3 F A I T H F O R M A T I O N RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS My mother-in-law was the best gift-giver I ever knew. One could say my parents spoiled me growing up, but there was something about her gifts to me that made me feel overwhelmed. I guess it was that after several years I still was surprised that she would think enough of me to get me something no one else would. She was able to make me feel special every time. Of course, I believe she honored me in this way because I accepted her greatest gift to me, her daughter. Sadly, my mother-in-law did not live long in this world. She passed away over a decade ago due to an aggressive cancer. Some of her material gifts to me remain, while others are long gone. But the memories and the effect of those gifts remain because it was never all about the gifts themselves. It was about relationship. It was about her and me. It was about love. What we offer Jesus is never about the gift itself. It is about the motivation behind the action and the effect that action has on the body of Christ. Many of the gifts we give today to God and his people will fade away like the mist of the early morning, but the effects of those actions will last forever. It is about relationship. It is about God and us. It is about love. Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS Father Bala Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, Thanks a million! I wish to give you so much more than just a thank you note for the beautiful Christmas cards and gifts (sweets & cookies) that you have sent me with valuable words of prayer, appreciation and encouragement and much more your valuable prayers. This is great, I feel, in this way, you express your love, respect and appreciation to your priest. This really helps me to boost and devote myself more to my ministry than ever. Thank you so much for all that you have done to help me to settle down in my ministry over here. Thanks again for inviting me into your lovely homes. Thank you for your warm welcome and for the delicious meals. I was so touched by all the support you have given me. Thank you for all that you have taught me, different insights on different occasions. Thanks, thanks and thanks to one and all once again. May God bless you all always. Continue to pray for me as I do the same for you. Good-bye till we meet again. Your priest Fr. Bala Policetty Catholic traditions explained ~ Besides the Wise Men, what is significant about the Epiphany? Epiphany means "manifestation," or public display. The feast is usually celebrated January 6. In the US, it is celebrated on the nearest to January 6. It originates from a story unique to Matthew (2:1-12). Magi from the East come to offer homage to the newborn King, presenting him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This part of Matthew's infancy narrative differs from Luke's account of the birth of Jesus. In Luke there are no Magi, star, nor gifts. Luke has Jesus being born in a stable after Mary and Joseph's long travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Matthew seems to have the family living in a house in Bethlehem, where the Magi find them. Why these differences? They stem from the needs and concerns of the audience the authors were addressing, as well as the theological stance of each author. Knowing the original intention helps get at the correct interpretation of the text. Since Matthew was writing primarily to a Jewish community, his concern was to show that Jesus did not come just for Jews, but for Gentiles as well. From his very birth, Jesus not only manifests himself to Jews, but also to Gentiles, who are prominently included in the manifestation, symbolized by the Magi and their journey. This is the most significant aspect of the feast of Epiphany. How do you manifest Jesus to all with whom you come into contact? TUES WED THURS 5pm Communion Service, STP 7:15am 7:50am 5:30pm Communion Service, STJ Rosary, STJ Eucharistic Adoration, STJ Youth Choir Practice, STP Religious Education Classes Grades PK-10, STP 8:30am 9am Communion Service, STB Eucharistic Adoration, STB

4 P R A Y E R S & P R A Y E R F U L O P P O R T U N I T I E S Please Pray For: All of our cluster parishioners in hospitals, at home and in the nursing homes & for those in the Armed Forces. Especially for: Will Simon, Adeline Tadel, Laura Johanson, Jackie Brohman, Ida Nevin, Chris Wigchers, Declan Fisher, Judy Lentz, Robert Ryan, Jim Smith, Joan Krug, Josie Romanowski, Joyce Trotter, Dale Jakel, Ruth Huiras, Dc. Cullen, Mary & Bill Bell, H. B., Darlene Townsend, Dc. Jim and Barb Dennis, Diane DeMars, Anita Grygiel, Judy Graf, Nancy Kukla, Jo Ann Lundequam, Sandy Garr, Marie Greenbush, Larry Toufar, Jane Anderson, Pam Luethi, Fr. John Brown, Jim Haas, Doug Rutledge, Janelle Wilson, Joan Fostvedt, Judi Peltier, Joe Puziewicz, George & Betty Scott & Norma Licht. parish office. To be added or removed, please contact the Attitude of Gratitude Every week, parishioners and employees of our parishes go over and beyond to make our Catholic Parish Cluster something special! Please contact the parish office if you would like to add someone to this recognition list! We would like to thank Jim Schroeder who has been making the Advent Wreaths for in Strickland for many years. Also sincere thanks to Shawn Kraczek who donated two Christmas trees to this year. We greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity! The tradition of offering Masses for others, particularly the dead, originates in the very early Church. The effects of the Mass bring certain benefits or fruits. The general fruits of the Mass are the effects upon the whole Church to the living faithful as well as the poor souls in purgatory. An individual may ask the priest to offer a Mass for several reasons: for example, in thanksgiving, for the intentions of another person (such as on a birthday), anniversaries, for special blessings, healing, or, as is most common, for the repose of the soul of someone who has died. One must never forget the infinite graces that flow from the Sacrifice of the Mass which benefit ones soul. Our cluster parishes have many Mass intentions available for the 2018 Masses. If you would like to have Mass said for your intention, please contact the office On Jordan s bank the Baptist s cry announces that the Lord is nigh. Awake and harken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings! Then cleansed be every life from sin: make straight the way for God within, and let us all our hearts prepare for Christ to come and enter there. We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward. Without your grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay. Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and make us rise to fall no more. O let your face upon us shine and fill the world with love divine. All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won, whom with the Father we adore, and Holy Spirit, evermore. Charles Coffin FRI SAT SUN Communion Service, STP 4pm Mass, Mass, STP 9:30am 11am Mass, STP Mass, STJ Mass, STB

5 CLUSTER NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, :30PM AT RIVERVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL PLEASE CONTACT KEN BURMEISTER BARRON/CAMERON KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 7022 All ladies of St. Joseph are invited and encouraged to join us at our Ladies Guild meeting, this, January 7th, after the 9:30am Mass. All Parishes / All Families With our HUGE success last year, we will once again be holding a cluster wide, Love Your Neighbor collection, for all of our community s food pantries and the Benjamin s House. January 1st through February 7th Religious education students will be challenged to see which class can bring in the most items! All parishes are challenged to fill their entry-ways with donated items at the designated drop locations. THE COOKING PRIEST Wednesday, Jan. 17th, 6:15pm At St. Joseph, Rice Lake You ve seen him on TV now Father Leo Patalinghug, the Cooking Priest, is coming to Rice Lake for a funfilled evening of cooking, faith, and a bit of karate. Adults & ages 11+ are invited to this Grace Before Meals special presentation. You ll be inspired by Fr. Leo s dynamic messages and handy cooking tips, delivered while he prepares a favorite dessert recipe for the audience to try. There s a place for YOU at this table! PLEASE REGISTER by January 8th at: < FrLeo18> Cost: Free-will offering. Contact: Laura Schissel, ext. 5 PARISHIONERS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A ECIAL MUSICAL PRESENTATION ON FEB. 7TH AT 6PM, AT ST. PETER, CAMERON, FEATURING THE ALY-ALEIGHA BAND! Aly-Aleigha