Pastor: Fr. David Timmerman

Transcription

1 The Epiphany of the Lord January 7, 2018 Pastor: Fr. David Timmerman Parkview Dr. Milton, WI S. Saint Joseph Circle Edgerton, WI Phone: After Hours Emergencies: Fax: Website: Parish Business Administrator: Vicki Kersten Faith Formation Administrator: Sabrina Elsen Faith Formation Admin Assistant: Paul Schultz Music Coordinator: Doreen Houge Phone: Fax: Website: Parish Office Administrator: Mary Ann Ivey Coordinator of Religious Education: Paul Jozwiak Director of Facilities & Maintenance: Jon Peterson

2 Sat. Jan. 6 Sun. Jan. 7 Mon. Jan. 8 Tues. Jan. 9 Wed. Jan. 10 Thurs. Jan. 11 Fri. Jan. 12 Sat. Jan. 13 Sun. Jan. 14 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. (St. Mary) Sr. Francis McCormick (St. Joseph) Celestine Stegeman (St. Mary) Virginia Garibay-Osborne (St. Joseph) Gary Ward No Mass No Mass No Mass No Mass No Mass (St. Mary) Celine Hying (St. Joseph) Jerry Richardson (St. Mary) St. Mary & St. Joseph Parishioners (St. Joseph) Jeff & Mark Ogle Confessions (all are welcome to attend at either parish): No Confessions at St. Mary this week. No Confessions at St. Joseph this week. Also by appointment with Fr. Dave Monday, January 8 Thursday, January 11 Isaiah 42:1-4, Samuel 4:1-11 Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, Mark 1:7-11 Mark 1:40-45 Tuesday, January 9 Friday, January 12 1 Samuel 1: Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a Psalm: 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd Psalm 89:16-17, Mark 1:21-28 Mark 2:1-12 Wednesday, January 10 Sunday, January 14 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 Mark 1: Corinthians 6;13c-15a, John 1:35-42

3 Please keep these parishioners and family members in your prayers: Dorothy Bomkamp Dakota Frank Daniels Bob Dibble Marilyn Erspamer Nicki Furlano Tracy Guenther Mary Hagen Jim Holterman Bill Hupp Don Hying Jim Jenkins Marion Kaiser Matt Keller Theresa Kingsbury Kathleen Knight Loren Krueger Scot Nelson Alden Peterson Kathy Rand Barb Rogan Rob Rosa Harry Saalfeld William & Gertrude Slein Sheila Sorge Kathy Trimberger Letitia Tyrrell Bob Urban Brett Urban Stewardship: A Way of Life Epiphany of the Lord...they fell down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasurers and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh Matthew 2:11 Notice the order of events in the Magi s visit. First, they knelt before Jesus and prayed to Him. Then they presented Him with their gifts. We, too, must take time to pray before we present our gifts to the Lord. We never know what God may be asking us to share! WORD OF LIFE: Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of life. Help us to cherish and protect this gift, even in the midst of fear, pain, and suffering....grant us the humility to accept help when we are in need, and teach us to be merciful to all. USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities Every Life is Worth Living

4 Wed. Jan. 10: NO RE CLASSES Thurs. Jan.11: NO 8:00 A.M. MASS Fri. Jan. 12: NO 8:00 A.M. MASS Sat. Jan. 13: 8:00 a.m. Rosary All are welcome to attend. 5:30 p.m. Mass Sun. Jan. 14: 10:30 a.m. Mass PreK Class 11:30 a.m. Coffee & Donuts PLEASE NOTE: We will not have Religious Education classes on January 10. Classes will resume on January 17. Special thanks to this week s social hosts of St. Joseph Donut Sunday Social: Ed and Rose Maty Please keep these parishioners and family members in your prayers. Liz Carlyn Erin Olver Kathy Heider Joey Hamann Gene Tom Cindy Roy Edward Seamon Rollonna Pat S. Norma Edward Siemienkowicz Jann Jill S. Severson Gen Peplinski Sue D. George Hatzinger Donna Nelson Cindy Mary Olsen Donna Campbell David Reilly Kyle C. Bruce Tully Joan C Denny B. Bob Robert Koch Jim Rod Anderson Jake Kathie Bill Schultz Lucille Firnstahl Cheryl B. Marion Linda Q. Jane M Natalie Beatrice L. Gracie Arthur John Winner Daryl L. Heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Constance M. Tobin-Garde who died on Tuesday, December 26.

5 January 13 & 14 Extraordinary Ministers 5:30 p.m. Ron & Nancy Cournaya 10:30 a.m. John Hammer, Jane Ogle Lectors 5:30 p.m. Bonnie Shell 10:30 a.m. Doug Kotecki Mass Servers 5:30 p.m. Carmen & Shane Crandall, Emma Kent 10:30 a.m. Joe Hatlen, Gracie & Lily Campbell Greeters 5:30 p.m. 1. Dona Pratt 2. Marge Hollenberger 3. Crandall Family 10:30 a.m. 1. Linda Wolff 2. Kotecki Family 3. Nancy Lietz MEALS ON WHEELS: St. Joseph has Meals on Wheels delivery January 8 thru February 4. We are looking for volunteers to help deliver Meals on Wheels in the city limits of Edgerton. We deliver the meals 7 days a week. They are picked up at the Edgerton Care Center at 11:00 a.m. and it only takes minutes. It is a great thing to do as a family or it can be done by one person. Please consider helping out by calling Mary Barrett at Thank you for helping. Mary Collection from Two Weeks Ago December 23/24/25 Envelopes $2, Offertory $ Christmas $4, Total $7, Collection from Last Week December 30/31 Envelopes $3,160,00 Offertory $ Christmas $ Total $3, Collection from Last Year December 31, 2016/January 1, 2017 Envelopes $ Offertory $1, Christmas $280,00 Total $2, WE GIVE THANKS: Our collection for Edgerton Community Outreach s Christmas meals on December 10 was $ Everyone at St. Joseph helped one way or another, giving a lot of people a great Christmas.

6 January 13/14 Reader One 4:00 p.m. Karen Cain 9:00 a.m. Pat Starr Reader Two 4:00 p.m. Frank Bua 9:00 a.m. Steve Vicenzi Commentator 4:00 p.m. Rick Elbert 9:00 a.m. Bob Cullen Musician 4:00 p.m. Angie McNally 9:00 a.m. Angie McNally Cantor 4:00 p.m. Cathy Crofts 9:00 a.m. Sharon Swanson Servers 4:00 p.m. Grace Crofts, Kellen Ryan 9:00 a.m. Kileigh Gorski, Ella Gorski, Carson Lee, Hayden Lee Extraordinary Ministers 4:00 p.m. Ron Yoss, Helen Dickinson*, Sue Gavigan 9:00 a.m. Mary Kay Mullen*, Lisa Shea Ushers 4:00 p.m. Allan Schmit, Paula Schmit, Eric Weins 9:00 a.m. Tom Lieder, Mike Goedert, Mike Roberts, Sandy Sokn, Tom Krausse *Denotes Check-In Person Sun. Jan. 7: 9:00 a.m. Seeds Ministry 10:00 a.m. YM Leader Inservice Mon. Jan. 8: 5:00 p.m. Interfaith Community Outreach meeting in the Ark. Tues. Jan. 9: 4:00 p.m. K-6 FF classes. NO Confessions 7:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus in the center. Wed. Jan. 10: 4:00 p.m. K-6 FF classes. 6:00 p.m. Finance Council in the Ark. Thurs. Jan. 11: 7:00 p.m. RCIA in Ark Sat./Sun. Jan. 13/14: Camillus Ministry Blood Pressure screening in the parish office following mass. Ark Library is open following mass. Sun. Jan. 14: 9:00 a.m. Seeds Ministry. 10:00 a.m. Family Ministry in the center. 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. High School in the lower level. 6:00 p.m. Middle School in the center. 6:00 p.m. Festival Leadership Meeting in the Ark.

7 Collection From Last Week (December 31, 2017) Weekly Income Needs 8, Envelopes Christmas 6, Offertory ACH Auto-Debit Deficit Fiscal Year-To-Date Contributions YTD Income Needs 216, YTD Envelopes & ACH 202, YTD Offertory 17, Surplus 3, Collection from last year (January 1, 2017) Envelopes 11, Offertory ACH Auto-Debit 3, NOTE: Weekly and YTD income listed above does not include non-offertory income (tuition, fundraising, memorials, etc.) ARK LIBRARY: The Ark Library is open next weekend following all Masses. Browse through the many books and videos that our Ark Library has to offer. BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING: Camillus Ministry blood pressure screening is held next weekend in the parish office after all Masses. Week 1: Rob & Andrea Johnson THANK YOU! A very special thank you to the leadership team and helpers for sharing your talents to decorate the church and parish center for Christmas this year. You created a beautiful and elegant environment. We are truly blessed! Connie & Gene Bier, Evie & Fran Nett, Melanie Lee, Marlys Howe, Mark Burdick, Peggy Mayfield, Ruth Ann Ries, Pat Starr, Darlene Brewer, Judy & Rich Schambow, Mary & Rick Elbert, Pat Kolinski. For those adults available, the decorations will be removed on Sunday following mass. Adult assistance is needed!

8 Join the Marriage Prep Team Help Us Prepare Engaged Couples for Marriage! The Diocese of Madison invites you to share your marriage and your faith with newly engaged couples through our Marriage Prep Program. It is an opportunity to share your real life experiences and the beauty of God s plan for married love with couples preparing for marriage. We need couples that have experienced the trials, struggles, and joys of marital love and are striving to live their Catholic faith within their marriage. Visit madisondiocese.org/jointhempteam for more information OR Contact Beth Ulaszek at (608) or beth.ulaszek@madisondiocese.org for more information. Join us for a training session Friday, January 19 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Holy Name Heights in Madison DRINK PRAIRIE FARMS MILK AND GIVE TO WHAT MOOOVES YOU: What if you could affect real change by just saving your milk caps? Prairie Farms makes it easy for you to give back to your favorite cause, in your community. 1. Begin by purchasing Prairie Farms milk, or iced coffee in gallon or half gallon sizes. 2. Peel off the Prairie Farms cap sticker to reveal a unique, redeemable code. 3. Select the category: Faith-Based & Religions 4. Select the organization: St. Mary Parish, Milton, WI. 5. Enter cap codes. 6. Click the donate button. 7. It s that easy!! ADULT CATHOLIC SPIRIT CLUB: We will meet at noon on Wednesday, January 10 at St. John Vianney Marian Hall. A potluck dinner is served and you are asked to bring a dish to share, along with your own table service. Do you want to get away from it all? Val Galder Tour & Travel can help you. Burdette Richter will tell you about this Janesville-based company and some of his more memorable experiences as a Tour Director. Should be fun! Blood pressure screenings are available from 11:30 to noon. For more information, call Ginny at

9 Dear People of St. Mary and St. Joseph: I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all of you who remembered me during this Christmas season. The cards, notes, baked goods, assorted personal gifts and monetary gifts are truly appreciated. I do count myself blessed to be able to shepherd these two wonderful communities. In so many ways you live the gospel every day and in such a variety of ways. Please know that I pray for you every day and hope that your 2018 is filled with many joys and blessings. Peace & Joy Father Dave and Lily Your Catholic Faith On-Demand CODE: 7AH4V4 Register today! * Free subscription * Special THANK YOU to parishioners Gail & John Nordlof for the donation of altar wine at St. Mary Parish. Northleaf Winery, LLC 232 S Janesville Street Milton Wisconsin fax info@northleafwinery.com

10 ROSARY COLLECTION: St. Joseph Knights of Columbus are collecting rosaries to be used as part of a program to increase devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary through the rosary. If you have extra rosaries in your house, we would like to receive them. Or, if you receive rosaries in the mail from charitable organizations and don't know what to do with them, we would love to have them. Please drop any rosaries you wish to donate into the collection box that is located in the church entrance. Thank you! (St. Mary parishioners can bring their extra rosaries to the parish office and we will forward to St. Joe s). WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE will again have a billboard facing Culver s on Milton Avenue in January starting on January 1 and ending on February 25. Above is a picture of the coming billboard. Please pray that mothers will call the phone number HELP on the billboard, which connects to local pregnancy center. If you would like to contribute to this project, please send your donation to Wisconsin Right to Life, PO Box 1386, Janesville, WI On Saturday, January 20 & Sunday, January 21 members of our Outreach Commission will be available at each Church entrance to accept donations to support this project for the dignity & preciousness of unborn babies and their mothers. EUCHRE TOURNAMENT Hosted by KC 9230 January 13 St. William Parish Hall 1822 Ravine Janesville, WI Entry Fee: $10 Registration: 5:30 p.m. Cards: 6:00 p.m. Cash Prizes and 50/50 Raffle Beverages and sandwiches available for purchase. All are welcome, singles or couples All net proceeds will go toward supporting our local charities For more information contact Bill Slatter

11 MARCH FOR LIFE: Why would you take a day to learn about life issues and stand in Chicago s Federal Plaza listening to speakers like Pat McCaskey, co-owner of the Chicago Bears? What can he tell you about valuing life? Do you feel you have heard the pro-life message and not much more can be said? Would you be surprised to learn that abortions are declining? That young people are more pro-life? That pregnancy centers far outnumber abortion clinics? These are causes for hope, but we need to press for greater justice! As we wait in these darkening days of winter, for the joyous coming of the birth of Jesus, do you ever ponder that millions eagerly await this celebration? And yet, less than a month after we celebrate His birth, we face the disturbing commemoration of Roe v. Wade and the death of millions upon millions of unborn babies. How do we hold both truths in our hearts? We honor Jesus in our celebration of Christmas with friends and family. That gives us strength to face the sorrows and struggles in live. As we enjoy to bright, gleaming lights of Christmas, let s also plan to shine a light on the injustice of abortion. Several groups are sponsoring a bus to the Chicago March for Life on Sunday, January 14. You are not just invited to join us, you are urged and encouraged to take a stand for life. There will be a bus pick -up in Madison and in Janesville. Make January 14 a standout day in 2018 and reserve your seat today. WHAT: Chicago March for Life WHEN: Sunday, January 14. Bus leaves Madison at 9:00 a.m., pick up in Janesville at 10:00 a.m. and return around 6:00 p.m. to Janesville and 7:00 p.m. to Madison. HOW: Reserve your bus seats by mailing a check for $25 per person to WRL Dane County, PO Box 46454, Madison 53744, with name, phone and by January 7. Bring a bag lunch and we ll supply water and dessert. WHERE: Further details about bus pick-up locations will be sent upon registration. Questions? Call More information at

12 TAIZE PRAYER AT NATIVITY OF MARY, JANESVILLE: Taize Prayer began in the little community of Taize, France during the 1940 s following the destruction of World War II. A group of religious men sought to create an ecumenical form of prayer that would foster reconciliation and peace among all people. Today, Taize Prayer is celebrated throughout the world, bringing Christians of all traditions together to sing, to hear God s words in Scripture, and to listen in silence for God s voice in their hearts. In that spirit, we gather at Nativity of Mary, Janesville as we have since February, 1998, to offer this prayer. You are invited to experience Taize Prayer with us on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. You will find it an opportunity to take a few moments from the busy-ness of your life and simply be in God s presence. Christmas is over, and now we can pause and savor the delights of the season and look ahead to a new year. Perhaps this is the time to make a difference in your prayer life. If you have thought about participating in Taize Prayer but just haven t made a commitment to do so, resolve that 2018 will be the year that you say yes to that invitation. Join us for Taize Prayer on Monday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. As always, our time together will be a chance to un-crowd our hearts and minds and refresh our spirits. Come and bask in the light of candles and the warmth of friendship, raise your voices in simple and prayerful songs, attend to God s message in Scripture, and listen in silence for God s voice in your heart. Dates in 2018 for Taize Prayer (second Monday of every month) January 8 July 9 February 12 August 13 March 12 September 10 April 9 October 8 May 14 November 12 June 11 December 10 ST. JOSEPH DONUT SUNDAY UPDATE FROM SUE TRONNES: We are now just over a year into offering the weekly Donut Sunday program and I want to thank all the parish members, parish groups and business sponsors that have hosted and sponsored our events. Changing this program from a monthly event to a weekly program began as the work of the Parish Pastoral Council as a way for us to begin fulfilling our mission of Building a Welcoming Continued

13 Continued Home of Worship, Stewardship & Fellowship. I hope that everyone who has participated has felt welcomed and has enjoyed the fellowship of our many interesting parish members. To keep this program going, of course we will need the continuing help of volunteers. A new sign-up board is posted in the vestibule for our next quarter of Donut Sunday. Please take a look at the schedule and sign up for this worthwhile project - individuals, families and groups are all welcome! If you have any questions about hosting, please let me know. Truly it only takes a few minutes before and after Mass on Sunday mornings and you will find that in serving the Lord and our parish, the return back to you in the form of God s blessings of friendship and fellowship will be more than worthwhile! Thank you to all following individuals, families and groups that hosted weekly Donut Sundays: Patti Behrens, Doug & Katie Kotecki family, Jared & Kristin Hammer family, Kelly & Andy Aleson family, Marge Hollenberger, Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, Fellowship Committee, Wendy Oren family, David Esau, Thomas- Cunningham family, Jason & Missy Oswald family, Jenson family, John & Jean Hammer family, Barrett/Hatlen families, John & Gina Petry family, Jon Peterson, Confirmation class Mrs. Rita Fox, RE students grade 6-8 Laura Kisting/Becky Eastman, Daryl & Holly Fox family, Mary Barrett, Tara Debilzen family, Ryan Tronnes, Meredith Vitaioli family, Amanda Wilson, Ed & Rose Maty, and Ron & Nancy Cournaya Thank you to all the parish groups and businesses that paid for the weekly donuts & beverages: Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Fellowship Committee, Oren s Auto Body, i90 Enterprises, Petry Chiropractic, Patti Behrens, Jason & Missy Oswald family, Steponkus Tax Service, Joe Daniels Construction, Edgerton Pharmacy, Albrecht Funeral Home, Becker Construction, Archie Monuments, Terry Dickinson, Apfel-Ehlert Funeral Home, St. Joseph Religious Education, Harbor Recreation, Bonnie Homuth, and Terry & Carol Kent. SPECIAL THANKS go to Mary Ann Ivey for ordering the donuts with Piggly Wiggly each week and to Jon Peterson for always having the hall prepped and ready for the event. If I have missed thanking anyone that was involved, I apologize in advance. We are truly blessed to have so many people in our parish willing to step up and help out! For more information, please contact Sue Tronnes at or stronnes@gmail.com

14 Seeds: All Preschool/Kindergarten children are welcome to join us for SEEDS in the Center. Just listen for Fr. Dave at the beginning of Mass to say, Where are my kids? That s your cue to come forth! Children will return to their families for the consecration. Classes resume on Sunday, January 7! Elementary: Classes are back in full swing! During Lent, the children are divided into their grades for their lessons. Kdg/1st: Prayers 2nd: Sacrament Focus 3rd Grade: Matchstick Crosses 4th: Stations of the Cross 5th: ACRE Test prep 6th: CRS Rice Bowls Additional volunteers are needed during class February 28, March 6, 13 & 20 Family & Youth Ministry: Classes resume Sunday, January 14 Mark your calendars for Christian artists coming this way in January... Family Night with Matt Baird at St. Patrick, Janesville Matt Baird, lead vocalist for the rock band "Spoken" will be performing at St Patrick Parish School on Friday evening, January 19 at 7pm. Matt is a Christian artist who will be performing his acoustical arrangements and sharing his love for the Christian faith. Join us for a prayerful and powerful evening. Bring your family and friends. This evening is open to the public (suggested donation $5 per person.) Joyful Noise is coming to St. Mary, Milton! Join us for 4:00 p.m. Mass Saturday, January 20, 2018 Stay for an hour of praise and worship afterward!

15 Did you know that a priest born right here in Wisconsin is the first American-born man to be declared Blessed by the Catholic Church? That is one step away from being called a saint! There was a special Beatification Mass to mark his new status in Detroit, Michigan on Nov. 18, Bernard Francis Casey was born on Nov. 25, 1870 to Irish immigrant parents on a farm near Oak Grove, Wisconsin along the Mississippi River. When he became a priest in 1904, he celebrated his first Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Appleton. Because of academic struggles in the seminary, Father Solanus (he took this name when he was admitted to the Capuchin Order) never received permission to hear confessions or preach a sermon. He was assigned to the post of Porter, or doorkeeper, one of the lowest tasks in the community. He celebrated the Eucharist each day and carried on his apostolic work with humility in a tiny office where people by the thousands visited, seeking counsel and spiritual guidance. He lived an extraordinary life of holiness and the Capuchin Friars of the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit have released a 72-minute film titled EXTRAORDINARY: Stories about Father Solanus Casey for Children. It features eleven different true stories about Fr. Solanus that showcase this humble priest s spirituality and ministry. As each story unfolds, a child colors a large drawing, eventually revealed to be an illustration of the story. It can be viewed in its entirety online and has also been broken up into 5-9 minute segments. On the Faith Formation blog, which you can access on St. Mary s website or directly at saintmarymiltonfaithformation.weebly.com, we ll post a new episode each week that you can watch, along with the featured drawing (that you could download, print off, and color yourself!) and discussion questions.

16 SCRIP ON SALE JANUARY 6 & 7 AT ST. JOSEPH: In addition to taking orders for scrip gift cards, the Fellowship Committee will sell the following retailer s cards in the denominations listed after Mass: Buffalo Wild Wings $25 Culver s $25 Dick s $25 Kwik Trip $100 & $25 Old Navy $25 Piggly Wiggly $100 & $25 Starbucks $10 Subway $10 Target $25 Walgreen s $25 Walmart/Sam s $25 Woodman s $100 & $50 Order forms are located under the Scrip Mailbox outside the parish office and on the parish website: You can place your order in the Scrip Mailbox or drop off at the Scrip Table after Mass January 6 and 7.. Orders will be available for pick up after Mass January 13 and 14. Thank you for your support! THANK YOU! Thanks to all of those who helped decorate St. Joseph Church on Friday, December 22. You did a great job and had fun while you worked. Beautiful job and Father treated all to donuts. Thanks for the donuts and artful direction with decorations from Father Dave. The following were our helpers: Meg Collins, Pat Vogel, Paul Schultz, Bill Schultz, Dan Brantner, Paul Jozwiak, Bill and Amber Osmulski, Brian Timmerman, Joan Poettgen, Dave Esau, Marge Hollenberger, Tara Debilzen and daughter BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE! P.S. Big thanks to Mary Ann Ivey and Dan Brantner for the time consuming job of watering the trees and 45 poinsettias! Jon Peterson To the People of Saint Mary: We at Milton Food Pantry can never adequately thank you all for everything you do for us in our mission to serve those in need. Your monthly $300 gift, the use of your facility, the people who come from St. Mary to serve at the Pantry. But we do thank you, and thank God! Milton Food Pantry Volunteers

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18 At the beginning of a new year, it can be beneficial to review the basics for being a Catholic in good standing. God has given the Church the authority to make laws to direct our efforts toward achieving eternal salvation, and, in addition to the biblical call to practice works of mercy (Matthew 25:41-46), the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40), and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11), has given the following obligatory laws as the basis of living a moral life as a Christian: What are the precepts of the Church? 1 They are: 1) to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation and to refrain from work and activities which could impede the sanctification of those days; 2) to confess one's sins, receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once each year; 3) to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season; 4) to abstain from eating meat and to observe the days of fasting established by the Church; and 5) to help to provide for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability. The second precept originates with priests acting as mediators of forgiveness, going as far back as the third book of the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:20-22). In the New Covenant, Jesus Christ delegated authority to his ministers to act as instruments of reconciliation as well. He did this after his resurrection, when he appeared to his disciples, breathed on them and said to them, Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained (John 20:22-23). This power to forgive sins is exercised in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that this second precept ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness (#2042). It further clarifies our duty: According to the Church's command, after having attained the age of discretion (generally held to be about seven years of age), each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year. Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution (#1457). Absolution is obtained after contrition, confession, satisfaction (explain -ed in # ). Of course, this isn t to suggest that it is desirable to postpone the confession of a grave sin for a period of an entire year. This is to help us fulfill the third precept, which we will discuss next week. We also need to remember that this obligation does not fall upon those who are unable to fulfill it due to age, infirmity or some other good reason. It is not enough to simply pray to God yourself for acquittal of your sins.

19 Divine forgiveness for the sin may already have taken place; the contrition of the penitent may have been such that he or she has indeed been pardoned by God. Nevertheless, the obligation remains to submit oneself to the power and ministry of the Church in the sacrament of reconciliation 2. Confession not only confers the grace of absolution, but also the grace to avoid sin in the future. This is why would shouldn t save up only our mortal sins before partaking of this sacrament. Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit (#1458). Things that we consider valuable we take care of, don t we? If we only brushed our teeth once a year, what kind of shape would they be in (if they haven t already fallen out!)? What if we only washed our car once of year, letting the corroding salt cling to it until then? How much more valuable is our eternal soul? Pope John Paul wrote that it would be foolish, as well as presumptuous, to wish arbitrarily to disregard the means of grace and salvation which the Lord has provided and... to claim to receive forgiveness while doing without the sacrament which was instituted by Christ precisely for forgiveness" 3. Paul Schultz 1 Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, question New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, commenting on Canons 988 and 989 3"On Reconciliation and Penance," #31 Follow-up to the first precept For further reading regarding the doctrinal foundations of this precept and how to renew this age-old tradition and teaching of the Church, seek out Pope John Paul II s Apostolic Letter called Dies Domini, subtitled On Keeping the Lord s Day Holy. For example, he writes on the importance of refraining from unnecessary labor: Through Sunday rest, daily concerns and tasks can find their proper perspective: the material things about which we worry give way to spiritual values; in a moment of encounter and less pressured exchange, we see the true face of the people with whom we live (#67). When missing Mass for a grave reason or for something over which you had no control, the pope instructs that the faithful who, because of sickness, disability or some other serious cause, are prevented from taking part, should as best they can unite themselves with the celebration of Sunday Mass from afar, preferably by means of the readings and prayers for that day from the Missal, as well as through their desire for the Eucharist (#54). One way to express a desire for the Eucharist is through an Act of Spiritual Communion, like the prayer shown below.

20 837 Parkview Dr. Milton, WI S. Saint Joseph Circle Edgerton, WI

21 TO THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOSEPH: During the last days of advent, Mary Ann Ivey, our parish office administrator and bookkeeper experienced some medical issues that required a hospital stay. It turns out that while Mary Ann is recovering she will have to leave her job at St. Joseph. We want to thank her for her 5 years of service to our parish and hope that she recovers and goes on to do good things for others. This means that we are searching for a new office manager for St. Joseph. The meat of the job includes manning the front office of the parish: answering phones, opening the mail, scheduling masses, recording sacraments, working with Father Dave and the religious education program and the various committees of the parish. The person would need to be in the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. If you know of anyone who might be interested in applying for this position, please have them contact the office and submit a resume of their past work experience. Father Dave