Solemnity of The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Transcription

1 Solemnity of The Nativity of St. John the Baptist What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. MASS SCHEDULE Weekends Saturdays - 5:00 p.m. Sundays - 8:00 a.m. & 10:15 a.m. Weekdays Tuesdays & Thursdays - 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays & Fridays - 7:00 a.m. CONFESSION SCHEDULE 30 minutes before weekday Masses 40 minutes before weekend Masses PARISH OFFICE HOURS Summer Parish office hours. The hours will be Monday thru Thursday 9 a.m. to Noon, and closed on Fridays. NEW TO OUR PARISH COMMUNITY? We are happy to welcome you to Immaculate Heart of Mary! To become a registered parishioner, please make sure to introduce yourself to Father Droessler after Holy Mass. Registration forms are available at the information table in the back of church, on our parish website, or at the parish office. INTERESTED IN BECOMING CATHOLIC OR RETURNING TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? Contact Kathy Marshall, RCIA Coordinator at , ext. 308 or kmarshall@ihmparish.org. MASS INTENTIONS Tuesday, June 26-8:30 a.m. Roy Swanke Sr. Wednesday, June 27-7 a.m. Done and Evelyn Doyle Thursday, June 28-8:30 a.m. Charlotte Donahue Friday, June 29-7 a.m. Vernon Akins Saturday, June 30-5 p.m. For the People of IHM Sunday, July 1-8:00 a.m. Rosemary Temple Sunday, July 1-10:15 a.m. Elizabeth Bard June 24, Schofield St., Monona, WI (608)

2 Rev. Fr. Chad Droessler, Pastor Sisters of Mary, Morning Star-Convent 4905 Schofield Street, Monona, WI PARISH STAFF Administrative Assistant Kathy Marshall Parish Secretaries Jodi Murphy (Mon.-Fri.) Bulletin, Office Cindy Dukerschein (Tue. and Wed.) Parish Records, Liturgy Schedules Finance Manager Bernie Heit Pastoral Care & Wedding Coordinator Ivonne Blahnik Director of Liturgical Music Catherine Henderson Faith Formation/Catechesis: Laura Soldner Shane Reinbold Maintenance Supervisor Mike Hegge IHM School Principal Callie Meiller From the Pastor s Desk M y Dear Family of Faith, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, which occurs each year on June 24. (A solemnity is a feast day of the highest rank in the liturgical calendar, celebrating a mystery of faith, an event in the life of Jesus, Mary, or another important saint. ) The birth date of John comes three months after the celebration of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy, which is also six months before the Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus. The Nativity of John the Baptist anticipates our celebration of Christmas. Ordinarily the Church observes the day of a saint's death as his/her feast, because that day marks their entrance into heaven. There are two exceptions, however - the birthdays of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. All others were stained with original sin at birth. But Mary, since her Immaculate Conception, was free from original sin, and John was cleansed of original sin while in the womb of his mother. This occurred at the visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth, when, upon their greeting, John leapt in the womb of his mother, filled with joy that he was in the presence of Jesus, his Lord, in the womb of His mother. We hear the story of the miraculous birth of John in today's Gospel from Luke. John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were very righteous people, and God chose them to be the parents of the one who would go ahead of our Lord to preach, baptize, and prepare the way for Jesus. The young John is typically depicted in art with a lamb, as he was the one to recognize and proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God. St. John the Baptist is the patron saint of builders, tailors, printers, baptism, conversion to faith, people dealing with storms and their effects, and people who need healing from spasms or seizures. John also serves as the patron saint of a variety of places throughout the world, such as Puerto Rico; Jordan, Quebec, Canada; Charleston, South Carolina (USA); Cornwall, England; and various cities in Italy. May your coming week be filled with many blessings, SANCTUARY LAMP FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 25 IN MEMORY OF: 2 2 Margaret Sam WELCOME TO OUR PARISH FAMILY Hunter Henderson Sara Quinchucua Catalina Quinchucua-Henderson Paul and Amanda Ruplinger and son Ronan MARRIAGE Please contact Ivonne Blahnik x309 for wedding guidelines. Weddings must be scheduled with the pastor at least six months in advance.

3 WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sunday, June 24 Food Pantry Collection Church KC s Degree Ceremony 11:30 a.m. CMR Monday, June 25 Tuesday, June 26 Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m. CB Wednesday, June 27 Eucharistic Adoration 7:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. Chapel Luke House Quilting Group 6 p.m. RB Thursday, June 28 Friday, June 29 Saturday, June 30 St. Anne s Bake Sale After Mass Church Scrip Sales After Mass Church CMR-Church Mtg. Rm., CR-Conference Rm., CB-Church Bsmt., RB-Rectory Bsmt., MH-Marian Hall STEWARDSHIP Stewardship Reflection for June 24, 2018 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet. ACTS 13:25 Stewardship is a lifestyle, it s not a program or a process. It s how we are called to live our lives twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week! It challenges us to live God-centered lives, not self-centered lives. Reflect on your daily activities - Do you do them for the glory of God or for the glory of your own name? STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Week: 51 Our Weekly Offertory Goal $15, June $6, EFT Weekly: $3, Total Offertory $10, Difference: -$5, Offertory Goal YTD $809, Actual Offertory: $764, Difference: -$45, Give Your First Fruits Back to God To Parish...5% To Diocese.1% To Charities...4% Remember the Church in your memorial and your will. Memorial Gifts A memorial gift to the IHM Capital Fund was recently received in memory of Joyce Friedl. We are grateful for this generous gift! Parish Budget Year Ends June 29 Our fiscal (budget) year will end this Friday, June 29. Thank you to all who have offered their stewardship gifts of treasure with our parish, along with your gifts of time and talent. Together we are building God s kingdom by sharing our blessings with the Church and each other. As you can see, our year-to-date parish offertory giving is $45,000 short of what is needed to meet our budget. A full fiscal year financial report will be provided in our fall parish newsletter. This week, we show our appreciation to our parish Finance Council and Trustees (Joan Ogden and Tom Kirschbaum). This dedicated group of parishioners meets regularly to assist in the monitoring and planning of the parish operating budget. Working with Father Chad, Callie Meiller and Bernie Heit, the trustees and Finance Council offer expertise and advice on financial matters at IHM. We are grateful for their willingness to share their gifts of stewardship with our parish! Our prayers and sympathy to the families and friends of: Sharon Miller Geraldine Reed Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 24 Monday: 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18; Ps 60:3-5, 12-13; Mt 7:1-5 Tuesday: 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36; Ps 48:2-4, 10-11; Mt 7:6, Wednesday: 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3; Ps 119:33-37, 40; Mt 7:15-20 Thursday: 2 Kgs 24:8-17; Ps 79:1b-5, 8, 9; Mt 7:21-29 Friday: Vigil: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 19:2-5; Gal 1:11-20; Jn 21:15-19 Day: Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34:2-9; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19 Saturday: Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Ps 74:1b-7, 20-21; Mt 8:15-17 Sunday: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk 5:21-43 [5:21-24, 35b-43] ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK Thank you to the parishioners and businesses who sponsor our bulletin. 3 3

4 IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL (PreK-8th Grade) Adopt-A-Student Tuition Assistance Scholarship Fund Did you know? The actual cost to educate one student at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School is $6,715. Of this, the parent investment is $3,225, and the parish investment is $3,490. For parents who desire to provide their child/ren with a Catholic education at IHM, but are unable to afford the full parent investment, IHM School offers a tuition assistance scholarship fund. How does it work? Families who desire financial assistance must fill out an application, which is then reviewed by a Scholarship Grant Committee. If a family qualifies, assistance is awarded through a scholarship, which provides a percentage of their full tuition costs. No student receives a full ride and no family pays their full cost. Assistance is for a one-year period and families need to re-apply each year. How can you help? To continue to offer quality Catholic education to every student, we rely on gifts and donations! This can be through a one-time gift, an annual or monthly gift using the "Adopt-A-Student" contribution envelopes, an online donation using your credit card, or by remembering IHM School in your will or memorial. Your investment ensures that funds will remain available for our future students. Please consider a financial gift to "adopt" one or more students at IHM School. Box Tops for Education We are still collecting Box Tops for Education. Please make sure to clip the Box Top image from grocery products and save them as one way to help IHM School earn extra money for school supplies. You may drop them off at the parish office or put them in the box on the cabinet in the Usher's Room. Scrip is available this summer! Mrs. Callie Meiller, Principal cmeiller@ihm-school.org 4913 Schofield Street, Monona, WI Phone: (608) Web: after Holy Mass June 30/July 1 online at shopwithscrip.com, enrollment code: DDFBD1BB7477 at the parish office from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Mon-Thur For more information, visit our school website: PARISH ACTIVITIES St. Anne's Altar Society Bake Sale The next St. Anne's Bake Sale will be after Holy Masses the weekend of June 30/July 1. All members of St. Anne's with last names beginning with A-M are asked to donate baked goods. Thank you! PASTORAL CARE IHM Quilting Group Our next meeting will be on June 27 at 6 p.m. in the Rectory Basement. Questions Ashley at or ashleythoel@gmail.com Please notify the parish office if you know of someone from our parish who is in the hospital, scheduled to be hospitalized, is in need of the Sacrament of Anointing, or will be moving to a nursing home or care facility. USCCB Religious Freedom Week June 22-29, 2018 Catholics across the United States are encouraged to pray and act in support of religious liberty at home and abroad during Serving Others in God's Love: Religious Freedom Week 2018, which begins on June 22, the Feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, and ends on June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. The chairman of the USCCB's Committee for Religious Liberty, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, states: "Religious freedom allows the space for people of faith to serve others in God's love in ministries like education, adoption and foster care, health care, and migration and refugee services. We encourage people of faith to reflect on the importance of religious freedom so that we might have the space to carry out our mission of service and mercy, and we invite everyone to pray for our brothers and sisters who face intense persecution in other parts of the world." [Religious] freedom remains one of America's most precious possessions. And, as my brothers, the United States Bishops, have reminded us, all are called to be vigilant, precisely as good citizens, to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it. - Pope Francis 4 4

5 RESPECT LIFE/SOCIAL JUSTICE Monona Munchies Summer Lunches Monona Munchies, provides FREE lunches to area families who may need a nutritious lunch. Monday Friday from June 18 - July 13 (No June 29, July 3, 4, and 5), 11:45 12:30 p.m. If it's raining or storming, we will cancel! We serve lunch at Schaefer Park Shelter. If you would like to donate any money or food, please contact Margaret Breunig Clark at Send checks made out to Monona Munchies Inc., 6211 Winnequah Rd, Monona, WI To volunteer use Sign-Up Genius account: monona1. Natural Family Planning Fertility awareness (or natural family planning NFP) is more than just a family planning method. It s a great way to learn about your spouse s fertility; in addition, you will become versed in how to communicate with your spouse about topics you probably have never talked about topics that speak to the heart of each of us who are married or planning to be married. To register for any of these, go to diocesan website: Donating to Pregnancy Care Centers Pregnancy Helpline Inc, 1862 Beld St, Madison, , open Sat 9 a.m p.m. and Tue. 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. There is a small bin in the Usher s Room for donations. Questions? Call Mary Keaveny, IHM St. Anne s Prolife Coordinator at Women s Care Center, 3711 Orin Rd, Madison, , open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. PRAYERS Family Adoration Our next gathering will be Thursday, July 19 at 5:30pm. Following adoration, enjoy a potluck dinner in the Church Meeting Room! Please contact Kelly Bond at or jkbond2@frontier.com to be added to our monthly list. Last names: A-H Main dish (to feed 12-15), I-P Dessert, Q-Z Side dish. ADULT FAITH ENRICHMENT IHM Young Adults Group For 20's and 30's interested in living and sharing their Catholic faith. Check out our Facebook page (IHM Young Adults), and sign up for our list, YoungAdultsIHM@gmail.com. In Search of Young Adults SPIRITUS is seeking young Catholic adults, years of age, to join the SPIRITUS missionary team this August. SPIRITUS ignites the faith in thousands of young Catholics through retreats and parish youth ministry each year! Missionaries live in community and travel to parishes and schools throughout Wisconsin; they receive training, formation, spiritual direction, lodging, food, a monthly allowance, health insurance and a $2,000 spend upon completion of the 9-month program. It is a unique opportunity to serve our Lord and help young Catholics grow in faith. Visit contact Andrea at andreaschool@spiritusministries.org, or (920) x5 for more information. RCIA Joining the Catholic Church Are you (or is someone you know) thinking of becoming Catholic? Have you been away from the Church and are wondering if you should return? Are you baptized, but haven t received your First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation? RCIA sessions are held from October through April on Sunday mornings between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in the parish office conference room (typically 3 Sundays per month). The reception of Sacraments will take place at the Easter Vigil Holy Mass on April 20, To find out more, contact Kathy Marshall, RCIA Coordinator, at kmarshall@ihmparish.org or (ext. 308). Weekly Eucharistic Adoration Wednesdays - 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Begins after daily Mass in church and continues in the Adoration Chapel. For more information, contact Janice Miller - janicejmiller@hotmail.com or

6 VOCATIONS How is God Calling You? If you are discerning God's call for your vocation - whether it be to the priesthood, consecrated religious life, marriage or as a single adult - the Diocese of Madison Office of Vocations can help! For more information, visit A REFLECTION ON SUFFERING BY FRANCISCO OGBONNA (SEMINARIAN) Have you ever paused for a while to ask yourself a very fundamental and existential question, What would one s life or the world be like if there was nothing like suffering? Suffering is inevitable and it could take different forms, it could be mental suffering, physical suffering, emotional suffering, etc. However, we human beings by nature tend to avoid anything that will cause us suffering and pain, but no matter how we try to run away from it or avoid it, there are sufferings we can t avoid in our lives. Yet, paradoxically or oddly such sufferings in the end can make one a better person and an instrument to bring about meaning, fulfillment and purpose in life. However, our faith and hope in God during times of sufferings determines if it will be meaningful or not. According to Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor, in his book, Man s Search for Meaning. He holds, If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering because suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death, and without suffering human life cannot be complete. Suffering could be inflicted on someone and at times suffering could be caused by oneself or perhaps an occurrence meant for our sanctification. Nonetheless, one may ask the question, what is suffering? Suffering is the experience of pain and sorrow that results from the hardships, scourges, insults, betrayal, broken promises and relationships, hatred, illnesses, diseases, humiliation, injuries, disgrace, shame, hunger, denial of freedom, starvation and injustice that we face in our daily lives. It could be in our families, places of work or the community in which we live. All these experiences lead to suffering because of the pain and sorrow they bring with them. This reminds me of my own experience of suffering some years back when I tried to convert to Catholicism. As a teenager I wanted to convert to Catholicism because of the great love I discovered in the Catholic Faith which led me to abandon my family denomination, namely the Anglican community. I faced great suffering both emotionally, physically and mentally. Anytime I went to worship in a Catholic Church I was publicly humiliated by a close relative whom I was staying with at that time and I was restricted from going to see my Catholic friends and even from going outside alone because they thought I would secretly go to a Catholic Parish for Mass. Each time I was caught praying the Rosary I was starved for days and forced to sleep on the bare floors without carpet or bed sheet. I was treated like an outcast. In the eyes of my relatives I had neither value nor dignity in as much as I was choosing to leave their Anglican Faith for Catholicism. Every member of my relative family abandoned me, I was rejected by the people close to me, people whom I regarded as family. In the midst of the harsh treatments, I had a very great picture of the life I wanted to live in Christ as a Catholic. I wanted to serve God as a Catholic Priest and to be a blessing to souls through the Sacraments. The desire to serve God as a Catholic Priest was my great dream and vision and this helped me to embrace and accept the cup of suffering that was placed before me. With this attitude I saw life beyond my present circumstances. I saw meaning in all that I was going through at the moment. I saw the experience as a preparation for some greater things in Christ and this attitude truly gave me a great motivation and Faith in God. Suffering is inevitable in our lives and it might be in different forms. So, whatever forms or whatever kinds of suffering you are privileged to face, never lose sight of God s presence and power sustaining you in the midst of your suffering. Always remember the saying, after the rain comes the sunshine. Never lose Faith in God no matter the situation or condition you find yourself in. MAY THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINE IN THE DARKNESS FOR YOU IN YOUR IN YOUR MOST DIFFI- CULT MOMENTS. AMEN 6 6 6

7 AREA EVENTS 2018 Rosary Rallies Rosary Rallies for Religious Freedom at the Christ the King Marian Garden, on Tuesdays beginning June 19 through October 30, 7:00-8:00 p.m. before Labor Day and 6:30-7:30 p.m. after Labor Day. This year s theme is Serving Others in God s Love. The purpose of the Rosary Rallies is to combat the challenges to our Religious Freedom, with the most powerful weapon, the Holy Rosary. If possible bring a chair. For inclement weather, the Rosary will be prayed in the Christ the King Chapel. For more information, contact Julie at or julieallington@gmail.com. Prayer to Sts. Peter and Paul In the following prayer we honor the two great Apostles Peter and Paul whose solemnity is June 29, and in many parts of the world it is a holy day of obligation. The veneration of the Princes of Apostles has its roots in the foundation of the Church. Together the two saints are the solid rock on which the Church was built, through their preaching, Peter to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles, and their martyrdom, both by the hand of Nero. One way to honor these great saints is the following prayer through which we ask for their intercession. O Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and forever to be my special patrons and advocates, you, St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, because you are the Rock upon which almighty God has built His Church; you, St. Paul because you were fore chosen by God as the vessel of election and the preacher of truth to the whole world. Obtain for me, I pray you, lively faith, firm hope and burning love; complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even to death; so that, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be able to overcome the devil, and may I be made worthy of the Promises of Christ and enjoy His presence and love Him forever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. Patriotic Rosary For the Consecration Of Our Nation St. Francis Xavier Parish, 2947 Thinnes Street, Cross Plains, WI, on Wednesday evening, July 11,2018, beginning at 7:00p.m. Please join us for this beautiful rosary which includes patriotic songs, and prayer for the citizens of every state in our country, as well as our national leaders. Together Entering Christ TEC is a weekend experience that is scriptural, gives a well-defined outline of doctrine, presents liturgy in attractive forms, and brings the Gospel message alive through the witness of a community of adults and young people centered around Christ. Those who are freshmen in high school and older are invited to take part in a KAIROS TEC weekend. Upcoming TEC Retreats. TEC #173: Friday, July at St. Christopher Parish in Verona, TEC #174: Friday, Oct at St. Cecilia School in Wisconsin Dells. For more information contact Marie Lins at marie.lins@madisondiocese.org. 7