THE BANE AND THE BLESSED

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1 Second Sunday in January 20, 2019 Mind your own business. I tell myself that at those moments I find it most difficult to do so. Do you have those instances where you feel it urgent to say something to people you don t know, have never seen before and will never see again? Those young people I pass on the street who are smoking cigarettes. I realize they must know the health hazards. How could they not know? But I want them to live healthy lives. Mind your own business, I tell myself. Just mind your own business. But still I want them to please, please stop smoking. And I feel compelled to tell them. When I hear someone using God s holy name, especially the name of Jesus Christ, and doing so without regard for him or those who love him, I bow my head in reverence even as I harden my heart toward the profaner. Especially I struggle when I hear someone call another person stupid. Perhaps because my parents absolutely forbid us as children to use the term. But I fear how I may react one day when I hear someone use that word about another person. It pushes a button in me and I feel out of control. Mind your own business, I tell myself. But then I realize that there is no such thing as my own business. There is only the Father s business. And the question I must ask myself is not, What would Jesus do? but What does Jesus want me to do? And there are times I genuinely do not know the answer. The Lord be with you. Father John Parr THE BANE AND THE BLESSED

2 SEAS STEWARDSHIP New Year, New Beginnings for the Christian Steward Turning the page to a new calendar year gives us the feeling of a fresh start, a new beginning, and new opportunities. It is a time when people feel that they can begin anew with their lives. Common New Year s resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier; or to spend more time with family. Still others include managing money better and being more organized. Although there is nothing in the Bible or notable in Christian tradition about New Year s resolutions, many good stewards take advantage of this time of year to become closer to the Lord. They may re-commit themselves to pray more, to read the Bible, or to attend Mass more regularly. If you are looking for some helps in your New Year s resolutions, here are a few ideas to get you started: Practice gratitude Cultivating a grateful heart is the hallmark of a Christian steward. Every day, express thankfulness to the Lord and to others. Encounter the Lord each day Find time to be with the Lord each day, whether it be for an hour or ten minutes. Have a conversation with the Lord. Give your joys and worries to Him as well. Allow God s love to transform them. Our encounters will keep our eyes and ears open to the presence of Christ in our midst. Resist overwork There is a pressure to produce, meet goals, be successful. But activities that lead us to overwork, constant fatigue and worry do not give glory to God. What God calls us to do we can do well. Be mindful that life requires balance, down time and letting go of unrealistic goals. Nurture friendships Our friends are those we choose to be with, those with whom we spend our evenings, with whom we vacation, to whom we go to for advice. Friends are gifts from God who give us a greater appreciation of God s love for us. Friends need our time and love. Give more Good stewards realize that everything they have is entrusted to them as gift to be shared. There is no better place to begin than sharing with the community that gathers around the Lord s table at Mass. Consider what you are giving to your parish and local diocese and commit to an even greater contribution as circumstances allow. Make a difference in your parish community Believe it or not, your parish community can use your talents. Offering your talents to your faith community is one of the most effective ways to feel useful and connected to others, and it is a potentially lifechanging New Year s resolution. catholicstewardship.com SOUP FOR THE SUPER BOWL A warm bowl of soup on a cold winter day sounds pretty simple. As simple as turning on the TV and watching the big game. However, as accessible as a can of soup may sound, a bowl of soup or a hot meal can be a challenge for many people in our community. Can you spare a can of soup for a guest in need? It sounds pretty simple however, helping a neighbor in need is always important. Enjoy the Super Bowl while helping others, that s a win! During the weekend masses on February 2 nd and 3 rd, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Food Pantry will be collecting cans of soup for the SEAS Food Pantry. If you have an extra can, drop it off in the big soup container as you enter the gathering space. God Bless You and THANK YOU for helping our guests in need. FOR YOUR MARRIAGE Looking for a gift that will add lasting value to your relationship? Plan to attend a GIVEN mini-retreat in GIVEN is a short, powerful retreat for couples who are married or engaged. It is an opportunity to share, learn, and celebrate marriage with other couples through engaging talks, lively music, and adoration, prayer & reconciliation. A GIVEN retreat will be held on February 23, 2019 at Mary Mother of the Church in La Crosse. Contact the Diocese of La Crosse Office for Marriage and Family Life at to register. Susan Amundsen Sara (Wozney) Balaker Richard Brandau Trudy Brieske Mike Candahl Sr. Bridget Donaldson, OSB Elizabeth Donaldson Patrick Donaldson DeEtte Gillmeister Joe Gittens Sharon Grabar Lois Hanson June Kukovec Kent Limberg (military) Sue Lund PRAYER REQUESTS Jerome Malin Kevin McIntyre John Modjeski Judith Niedfeldt Ken Proctor Robert C. Ristow Bailey Rohrer Jordan Schadrie Celia Scholze Erica Schultz Sascha Stephens Pam Tischer Colleen Tisil Tim Van Eijl 2nd Sunday in 2 January 20, 2019

3 FAITH FORMATION Consolation and desolation are natural aspects of the spiritual life, but what exactly are we talking about when we use these terms consolation and desolation? This week we ll look into Consolation. St. Ignatius said consolation is when, Some interior movement in the soul causes the soul to come inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord, and every increase of hope, faith, and charity, and all interior joy that calls and attracts the soul to heavenly things and to salvation. When you re experiencing consolation, God s voice is one of ease and clarity. You feel intimately close to Him and experience hardly any resistance going to prayer. When someone is experiencing spiritual consolation, they can also be described as living into the fruits of the Holy Spirit: joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol (Galatians 5:22-23). Being aware of the movements of the Holy Spirit in your life will help you to go deeper into relationship with God. It s important to remember that if someone is experiencing consolation, it s not because of something good that they have done, but rather, because of God s gift. However, we always do want to keep doing those things that enable us to be in right relationship with Him. Before you go to prayer, however, ask yourself, What is my motivation for coming to prayer? Remember: spiritual disciplines do not make us worthy of receiving God s love, we should love God for His own sake, and for the fact that He loves us for our own sake, too. We don t have to earn His love for Him to want to hold us close. For further knowledge of what to do in times of Consolation visit the LifeTeen Blog Important Faith Formation Dates Wed., Jan First Communion Parent Meeting at church 6:30 pm The St. Elizabeth Huberters are selling tickets for a raffle. Contact Pat Brueggen at for more information on prizes. Drawing will be Feb.16th. Need not be present to win. BAPTISM CLASS Expecting parents, the next Baptism class is Monday, February 18 at 6:30 pm. Parents, this session is an opportunity for you to enrich, deepen, and strengthen your Catholic Faith the Faith you are asking to have your child brought into at the celebration of their baptism. Unless there is an emergency, parents are required to attend our Baptism session before each child is presented for baptism. Therefore, if you are pregnant, now is the time for you to register for class. To register, call Sr. Bridget at the parish or go online at: to RSVP. God bless you! BURGUNDY BOOKS Beginning this week, we will have Little Burgundy Books available for all parishioners. We will pray with these books for the month of February to help ready ourselves to answer the call to Stewardship when we receive our 2019 parish Stewardship booklets at the beginning of Lent. Thank you, and God bless you as you discern the sharing of your gifts this year. APPEAL UPDATE Parish Target: $84,910 As of 1/14/19: $62,993 pledged 207 donors have pledged 75% of goal has been pledged Please send in your pledge as soon as possible if you have not done so. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS We have decided to cancel this year's Super Bowl Breakfast, to lack of interest of someone taking it over. I would like to thank Dave Hawes for all his hard work and dedication in chairing this event for 11+ years. Thank you Dave! Please visit seasholmen.org/knights-of-columbus for the monthly newsletter and Google calendar of events. PARISH INCOME (FISCAL YEAR 7/1/18-6/30/19) Last Week s Collections Weekly Budget Difference Annual Budget Envelopes/Plate.$ 6,596 $11,031 -$4,435 $573,616 Fiscal Year-to-Date $321,460 $319,899 $1,561 2nd Sunday in 3 January 20, 2019

4 DAY OF PRAYER FOR LIFE Day of Prayer for Life to be held at the Shrine of Guadalupe in La Crosse on January 22, There will be a talk by Joe Scheidler, founder of the Pro-Life Action League. The talk will be at 10 AM in the lower level of the church with Holy Mass at 11. A complete schedule can be found on the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe website: PARISH INFORMATION The annual Baby Bottles for Birthright fundraiser for Birthright of La Crosse is here! Birthright is an international pro-life organization that helps women struggling with unplanned pregnancies, by offering emotional support, practical resources, and referrals. The La Crosse chapter has been around since 1976, thanks to the work of our dedicated volunteers and the generous support of church congregations in the area. Please take a baby bottle and fill it with your spare change, cash, or check from January 20th through February 17th, as a tax deductible donation to Birthright of La Crosse! Please return the baby bottle and completed insert no later than February 17th! Your support will be greatly appreciated by moms and dads to be, their unborn children, and us too! Attention Liturgical Ministers Please inform Sandy in the office of your unavailable dates for March, April and May by Feb. 4th. The next schedule will be available Feb. 15th. Thank you. SAYING GOOD-BYE IS AS IMPORTANT AS SAYING HELLO! As a parish, we have the opportunity to say hello and welcome to our new parishioners; however, we rarely have the opportunity to say thank you and farewell to those who leave our parish. Saying good-bye is difficult but it is so important. As a member of the Faith Community of St Elizabeth s, no parishioner should one day simply just disappear. If you are retiring and moving to a warmer climate, or perhaps downsizing and relocating out-of-town for whatever reason, please do not just move away and not let us know. We know that St Elizabeth s is not always on the to-do list as one packs and prepares for a move, but we request that you do add the Parish Office to the list so we might properly say God bless you, thank you and good-bye! PARISH INFORMATION PARISH RECTORY & OFFICE Phone Fax Number office@seasholmen.org STAFF Pastor, Father John Parr pastor@seasholmen.org Pastor Emeritus, Monsignor Delbert J. Malin djm133@charter.net sbridget@seasholmen.org Pastoral Minister, Carol Reider carol@seasholmen.org C.R.E. (3 years-gr. 5),.Mary Luebke reled@seasholmen.org youth@seasholmen.org Director of Music, Beth Lakmann music@seasholmen.org Secretary, Sandy Jerue office@seasholmen.org Sister Jean sjean@seasholmen.org MASS SCHEDULE Weekend: Sat. 5:00 pm and Sun. 8:00 & 10:15 am Weekday: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am except Tues. 7:00 am Gluten Free Hosts: St. Elizabeth s has gluten free hosts available. Please contact Fr. Parr, and he will make the necessary arrangements. SACRAMENTS Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 pm or by appointment. Baptism: Baptism involves membership in the church. Parents are to attend three sessions early in the pregnancy. Marriage: Our church is trying to create successful marriages. This takes some time. Arrangements for a wedding date are to be made at least six months before the anticipated date. Anointing of the Sick: Communal celebrations in fall and spring. Individual celebrations upon request. Please call the office when family members are hospitalized. PASTORAL VISITATION Anyone who desires a personal home visit is invited to call the parish office. CATECHUMENATE Anyone wishing to become a full member of the Church is invited to visit the parish office. NEW PARISHIONERS Please call the parish office. Parish Council Members Alyson Haugen Laura Antonie Len Beranek Jennifer Fisk Finance Council Members Barry Ploessl Janice Dvoracek Brian Clements Les Giesler Angie Hendrikson Shelly Linskey Christine Olson Larry Warzynski Shawn Handland Pat Stephens Larry Warzynski nd Sunday in 4 January 20, 2019

5 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sunday, January 20 2nd Sunday in 8:00 am Mass Marion Ross 10:15am Mass People of SEAS Monday, January 21 St. Agnes 8:30 am Mass Charles Brueggen 2pm-4pm Card Making Tuesday, January 22 Weekday 7:00 am Mass Patricia Wannemuehler Wednesday, January 23 Weekday 8:30 am Mass Poor Souls 6:30 pm Faith Formation classes Thursday, January 24 St. Francis desales 8:30 am Mass Mary T. Randall 6:30 pm Choir practice Friday, January 25 The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle 8:30 am Mass Special Intention for Msgr. Malin Saturday, January 26 Sts. Timothy and Titus 8:00 am Pray the Rosary 4:00 pm Sacrament of Penance Vigil: 3rd Sunday in 5:00 PM Mass Charles Reid Family Members Sunday, January 27 3rd Sunday in 8:00 am Mass People of SEAS 10:15am Mass John Marshall Visit seasholmen.org for the parish calendar of events RETREAT Diaconate Discernment Retreat Feb. 1-2, 2019 Are you a man at least 35 years of age who feels a yearning to give yourself more radically to the service of God and the Church as a deacon? Talk to your pastor about attending the Discernment Retreat to be held at St. Anthony Spirituality Center Feb. 1-2, 2019, and then call the Office for Ministries and Social Concerns at A new deacon formation class will begin in the fall and attendance at the Discernment Retreat is a prerequisite. For more on the diaconate and the discernment retreat, visit HAPPENINGS IN OUR FAITH COMMUNITY Congratulations to Lacey and Travis Zabinski as they enter into the Sacrament of Marriage. May they grow in love for the Lord and for each other. ELIZABETH MINISTRY We will have another meeting for our Elizabeth Ministry committee on Tuesday, February 19th at 6:30 pm in the gathering place. Elizabeth Ministry is an outreach program for women to affirm, support, encourage, and assist women in response to their needs during their childbearing years. If you are a woman with experiences in the areas of infertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, birth, adoption, or infant crisis, we ask you to prayerfully consider if you would like to be a part of this vital ministry. Come and help us determine how we can best serve the young families of our parish. Please call or Carol Reider in the parish office to RSVP or if you have any questions. Thank you. See you on the 19 th! LOVE TO SING? Do you love to sing? We could always use more members in the choir. Practice will be at 6:30pm on Thursdays beginning January 24th. We would love for you to join us. CARD MAKING FOR THE HOMEBOUND Get your creative juices flowing and help create greeting cards for our parishioners who are homebound. It is one way to make our homebound know that the parish is thinking and praying for them. No experience needed. Please join us on Mon., Jan. 21from 2-4pm in the gathering place. Registered Members- Please remember to inform the parish office of any address, phone or changes. You may also access your parish records online at: lacrosse.parishsoftfamilysuite.com. If you have any questions, contact Sandy in the parish office. 2nd Sunday in 5 January 20, 2019