Welcome To GOOD SHEPHERD Catholic Church Menomonee Falls, WI Third Sunday of Lent March 7, 2010 Parish Life This Week Monday, March 8 9:00am Keep Warm Quilters 7:00pm MISSION at St. Agnes Daylight Savings time begins Saturday, March 13. Turn clocks forward one hour! Spring forward. Tuesday, March 9 9:00am Liturgy In Thanksgiving 1:00pm Faith Sharing 7:00pm MISSION at St. Agnes Wednesday, March 10 Franciscan Peacemakers Lunch drop-off 7:00pm MISSION at St. Agnes Communal Penance Service 7:00pm Adult Confirmation Thursday, March 11 10:30am Liturgy For Residents & Staff (at MFHCC) 10:00am Centering Prayer Friday, March 12 9:00am Liturgy Justice & Peace Saturday, March 13 Library Book Share Blood Pressure before & after Mass 4:30pm Liturgy For the unemployed and underemployed 5:30pm Generations of Faith 6:00pm Date Your Mate Sunday, March 14 Library Book Share Blood Pressure before & after Masses 8:30 & 11:00 Listen to the Lord Gr K-5 8:30am Liturgy For the Parish 8:30am Generations of Faith 11:00am Liturgy John Horn 6:00pm Evening Prayer 7:00pm Gay & Straight in Christ Mar 15 Mar 17 Mar 17 Upcoming Events Commission Meetings St. Ben s Meal Program Healing Circle (DVD presentation) And he told them this parable: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?'" - Lk 13:6-7 OUR MISSION STATEMENT Good Shepherd is a Christian, caring community, nourished by a joyful spirit-filled liturgy that inspires our daily lives. We strive to welcome, accept and love all people as they are, and through our ministries reach out with active concern to those in need.
The Sin of the World Has the mission of Jesus failed? Has the Lamb of God taken away the sin of the world? Does the world care? We take sad solace in thinking it would be worse if not for Jesus. How much worse? I am innocent. I have faith. I am spiritual. If every individual in a world of 6,500,000,000 people maintains personal innocence, faith and spirituality, why are things out there bad? Where are we deceiving ourselves? Each woman is another Eve and each man another Adam. Things happen because we choose to act as we do or fail to act as we should in high rebellion against God. Was God s first mistake giving us free will? The original Hebrew of the Book of Genesis calls human beings breathing clay. We re not rational animals. We are incarnate spirits. Our existence is spirit-based, Godly. How does our shared humanity, our spirituality, our divine image get so pummeled and pasted? And we do it to each other! As St. Augustine of Hippo said: Sin is the punishment of sin. Our choice of sin perpetuates the effects of sin. Love perpetuates the effects of love. Yes, God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. (Gospel of John, 3:16) God s love was the motive behind sending Jesus Christ: a visible, living sign of love and mercy, peace and forgiveness, flesh and blood, like us in all this except sin. How can Christ make a difference? How should we be different because of Christ? Despite out deeply spiritual essences, we are complicit with the sin of the world. When we are inert and tepid, irresponsible and selfish, our individual sinfulness becomes distorted and egregious and heinous. We might shrug our shoulders. Nothing can ever change. That s the despair sown by sin, the defeat dealt by acknowledging our role in how the world is and operates. Here are some things to ponder that might help us uproot the twisty, snarled tentacles of the sin of the world embedded in us. How the Sin of the World does things How God teaches us to be and act Choosing comparison and competition. Opting for acceptance and cooperation. Making human structures and systems Adopting God s plan and will divine as the ways to happiness. as the ways to happiness. Rejoicing in others pains and problems. Supporting others in healing and hope Enshrining wrong relationships with creation Respecting creation as God s gift and by savaging the planet & exploiting resources. handiwork sustaining us as nothing else can. Favoring appearance and externals. Appreciating deeper beauty and true essence. Opting for exclusion. Setting up limits and Embracing all without judgment, condition, boundaries in every aspect of life. exception or rejection. Setting each person apart as a special case in Believing there is much to be gained by being need of special rules, especially yourself. part of something bigger, nobler and holier. Venerating of the individual, solitary path. Acceptance of communal life and spirituality. Acting as if God is mute or inert. Waiting for Watching for the activity, word and love of God; someone holy to tell you what God wants. God as integral to human existence. Relishing the fantasy, deception and lies. Living in the reality, truth and authenticity. Looking for diversion, mood-alteration Trusting the truth as the way to freedom and and escape frittering our lives away joy. Living in the moment. Acting maturely. How long until we humans relent and Re-Lent? Is this generation intent on boldly (and stupidly) repeating the disasters? Do we want to perpetuate the sin of the world for another generation? Chuck Murphy
March 7, 2010 Third Sunday of Lent Food Pantry Needs: canned meat, canned fruit, cereal, boxed meals Parish Mission Begins This Sunday Night! Unleashing the Reconciling Power of Jesus in Our Lives Presenters: Fr. Don Hying and Sr. Fran Cunningham, SSSF 7:00pm 8:30pm Each Night Sunday, March 7 Monday, March 8 Tuesday, March 9 Wednesday, March 10 Cluster Communal Penance Service WHERE: St. Agnes Catholic Church 12801 W. Fairmount Ave Butler, WI Easy Directions! Take Lilly Road to Hampton. Turn left on Hampton Go to 127th Street (Stop light at that intersection) Turn Left on 127th Turn left on Fairmount Immigration Corner G.S.I.S.G. (Good Shepherd Immigration Study Group) This weekend after Mass, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee are encouraged to participate in a national postcard campaign asking legislators to support immigration reform legislation that keeps immigrant families together, adopts smart and humane enforcement policies, and ensures that immigrants without legal status register with the government and begin a path toward citizenship. The postcards will be presented personally this week to our legislators. If you prefer, you may send an electronic postcard at www.justiceforimmigrants.org. Catholics Returning Home After reading this article, please pass it on to a friend who might be interested. An Invitation to Non-Practicing Catholics ~ The Church has changed and you may not know it! Has it been awhile since you ve been to Church? Are you mad at the Church or at God? Please give us, and yourself another chance. Join us for informal sessions for nonpracticing Catholics. We would like to know your feelings and try to address your questions. The Four Saints and Good Shepherd cluster Parishes in the Menomonee Falls/Butler area are offering informal weekly sessions called Catholics Returning Home. The sessions will be held at 7:00 p.m. on six consecutive Thursday evenings beginning April 15, 2010, at Saint James Parish. For more information call Catholics Returning Home Laverne (262) 251-3968 or Shirley (262) 251-3888. An Introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls With Dr. Deirdre Dempsey of Marquette University Thursday, March 25 th ~ 7-9:00 pm at Good Shepherd Parish ~ Daniels Hall This evening will offer an overview of the Dead Sea Scrolls including: * The history of the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls; * The politics and problems that impacted the publication of the scrolls, and * The importance of the scrolls for Christians and Jews. Dr. Dempsey is an associate professor in the Department of Theology at Marquette University. She has taught courses on the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as courses on a variety of Old Testament books. Her Ph.D. is from the Catholic University of America - the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures and her area of expertise is Northwest Semitic Languages - Hebrew and Aramaic. To register contact Marguerite Thompson margueritet@archmil.org or 262 255 2035 ext. 23. There is no fee. However, a free will offering will be gratefully accepted. Immigration Cards Our U.S. Catholic Bishops encourage us to sign all three cards. All citizens can sign. You do not need to be of voting age. This is only a request for Congress to begin the process to fix our broken immigration system. We hope to turn in all 750 of our cards on Palm Sunday. If you missed your opportunity please call Meriel Christensen at 414-353-6376 for a set of cards. The cards will be presented to Bishop Sklba at a 4:00 p.m. prayer vigil on Palm Sunday at St. Joseph's Convent on 27th and Greenfield. All are welcome.
Courtesy Corner Vocation Corner Moses heard God s call from a burning bush. What is your passion, your burning bush? Take time to know what God is sending you to do and be. Wisdom Literature: A Response in Time of Chaos A Religious Education Session for Adults You are invited to join Reverend Dr. Stephen Lampe, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Cardinal Stritch University, for the inspiring session, Wisdom Literature: A Response in Time of Chaos, on Saturday, April 10 from 8:00-11:45 A.M., at Cardinal Stritch University, 6801 North Yates Road, Milwaukee (continental breakfast included.) The cost will be covered by Good Shepherd s Eschweiler New Century Fund. Please register through Jane Clare ishiguroj@archmil.org or 262 255 2035. (There may be an opportunity for ridesharing). Brown Bag Lunch at Repairers March 19 Plan to attend the Brown Bag lunch. Those who have attended found it a moving experience. Our next Brown Bag lunch takes place on Friday, March 19. It includes having lunch and reflecting on the following Sunday s Gospel with members of Repairers of the Breach, a daytime homeless shelter in Milwaukee. We will carpool from Good Shepherd at 11:15 a.m. The Brown Bag lunch begins at noon and ends at 1 p.m. There will be a short reflection time afterwards. If you can attend and/or provide 10 lunches, please contact Mary Ann Erdtmann 414-353-8740, mae63@sbcglobal.net. SINGLE SOULS 35+: SUNDAY MARCH 14TH, join us at The Village Bowl in Menomonee Falls at 6 p.m for $1.99 open bowling. Contact Linda at 345-5104 for more information SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Cluster Communal Penance Services, St. Agnes, Wednesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. Individual Penance (in the reconciliation room in the Day Chapel, south entrance) Saturday, March 13, 3:00 p.m. Student scholarship Knights of Columbus Council #4240 will be offering a $750.00 scholarship to a student from the parish who will be attending a Catholic High School for the 2010-2011 school year. Any interested student may pick up an application form and information from the school office or by contacting Harry Goetz at 251-3656. You re Invited to Help: Volunteer Tutors Needed Interfaith Seniors of Waukesha sponsors a tutoring program at Riverside Elementary School. High School students are needed after school for one on one tutoring from 3:35-4:30.We also are looking for people 55+ to help one on one, or in small groups during the school day. If you are interested, please contact Mary at 250-6465, or email maryhs@interfaithwaukesha.org. Scripture Readings For the Week Readings for the Week of March 7, 2010 Sunday: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/Lk 13:1-9 Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Lk 4:24-30 Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Mt 18:21-35 Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19 Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23 Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34 Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14 Next Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Good Shepherd Directory N88 W17658 Christman Road Menomonee Falls, WI 53051-2630 Parish Offices... (262) 255-2035 Courtesy/Hall Phones... (262) 255-2213 Fax... (262) 255-2020 Website... www.mygoodshepherd.org Pastoral Team Pastor... Kenneth Mich Deacon... Gene Christensen Deacon...Sandy Sites Pastoral Associate... Jane Clare Ishiguro Director, Administrative Services... Mark Steimle Director, Liturgy & Music...S. Joann Julka, SSSF Administrative Assistant... Marguerite Thompson Custodian... Jerry Podkowinski Liturgical Secretary... Gene Christensen Director, Child Ministry... Lorrie Maples Director, Youth Ministry... Suzanne Foster CF Administrative Assistant... Shari Rodriguez Coordinator of Time & Talent... Shari Rodriguez Pastoral Ministers:... Ann Castiglione Pastoral Care Coordinator... Cheryl Matusiak Pastoral Council Dave Christensen... Chairperson Jim Yerger... Vice Chairperson Jeff Bloedorn... Secretary Marty Hassenfelt... Trustee Treasurer Bob Wachowiak... Trustee Secretary Eric Bloedorn, Tom Dueppen, Beth Gonstead, Steven Grieb, Vivian Hughes, Larry Kolb, Tom Moran, Julie Nolan, Mary Oswald, Patrick Taugher Staff Email Parish Office... goodshepherd@gdinet.com Ann Castiglione... castiglionea@archmil.org Gene Christensen... christenseng@archmil.org Suzanne Foster... sfoster@archmil.org Jane Clare Ishiguro... ishiguroj@archmil.org S. Joann Julka, SSSF... julkaj@archmil.org Lorrie Maples... maplesl@archmil.org Cheryl Matusiak... matusiakcl@archmil.org Kenneth Mich... michk@archmil.org Shari Rodriguez... srodriguez@archmil.org Sandy Sites... sitess@archmil.org Mark Steimle... steimlem@archmil.org Marguerite Thompson... margueritet@archmil.org For the Hard of Hearing Hearing Assisted Devices available for celebrations and services, see usher for assistance. Liturgy Schedule Weekend: Saturday 4:30 pm; Sunday 8:30 am & 11:00 am Childcare (4 & under) during Sunday liturgies in Rm. 219. Sunday 11:00 am liturgy signed for the deaf. Weekday: Tuesday & Friday 9:00 am; Thursday 10:30 am (at MFHCC, Tamarack, or Northfield Manor); 1st Tuesday 9:00 am (at Messner Manor) Sacraments Reconciliation: Communal services held in Advent & Lent. Individual confession by appointment with the pastor. Marriage: Preparation begins by calling the pastor no later than 6 months prior to the planned date. Children s Baptism: Call the pastor to register. Next celebrations are: April 10/11 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults RCIA is a time to consider full membership into the Catholic Faith. Call our office for more information. Adult Confirmation Call our office if you wish to be confirmed. Membership Families or individuals over 17 are invited to join our Faith Community! Call the Parish offices.
Spring Ahead! Turn your clocks forward one hour next Saturday, March 13 We Were There, Were You? Mark your calendar! A dramatization of the Passion of Christ. Cast- Good Shepherd Parishioners. When? Tuesday March 30-7:00 pm., and Good Friday, April 2, 3:00 p.m. Cost: Free Library Book Share Coming! The quarterly Good Shepherd Library Book Share will be here on the weekend of March 13-14 in the narthex after all the Masses. Be sure to stop by and to which title, author or topic might be calling out to you. And please be sure to return the library books you have borrowed. There is a box for returned library books on top of the mailboxes in Daniels Hall. We thank you! Retreat for Grades 6-7-8 Attendance Expected Friends Welcome! Non-parishioners pay $5.00. Parishioners Free Saturday, March 27, 11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Lunch and beverages provided. A Call to Servant Leadership We need each of you to reflect on your talents and your willingness to serve God as a member of the Pastoral Council. The first phase of the Pastoral Council discernment process will begin on the weekend of March 20 th and 21 st, when you can nominate yourself or a fellow parishioner. To assure the future vibrancy of Good Shepherd, we need at least four of you to step forward and become part of the servant leadership that has always been the hallmark of our parish. So, please search your heart. Your talents are truly needed. We ask all of you to pray for the successful fulfillment of these Pastoral Council positions. LISTEN TO THE LORD - a ministry of the word for children Listen to the Lord is a ministry for children K5-5th grade. Every Sunday at the 8:30 AM Mass and at the 11:00 Mass, 10-20 children are sent to the day chapel after the opening prayer to break open the word with their peers. They sing a short psalm and gospel acclamation, hear the reading, share what they have heard, pray intercessions and sing the creed. The children are always well behaved and a joy to be with. Please consider this ministry as it is important to the children and to Good Shepherd. We have wonderful materials, training, support and flexible scheduling, if you decide this ministry is for you. Teaching others is the best way to learn. Call Lorrie Maples at the Christian Formation Office at 262.225.2035 x 24, or send an email to maplesl@archmil.org. Chrism Mass Everyone Welcome The blessing of the Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick and Consecration of Chrism at the celebration of the Mass of Chrism, March 30, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral Church of Saint John the Evangelist, 802 North Jackson Street, Milwaukee. If you cannot be present for this celebration, we invite you to be with Archbishop Dolan in prayer as he blesses these Oils and prays for those who will receive them. Fair Trade Sale March 20/21 after masses Fair trade coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate available for sale after masses in the narthex. Benefits farmers and trades-people of these popular items with proceeds going to our sister parish in Ellacuria. Friends of Gay and Straight in Christ, Please join us at our next monthly gathering on Sunday March 14th at 7:00 pm in the chapel. We have a lot happening these days and we'd love to share it with you! In the Spotlight, 2010 An Adult Formation series - 9:45 am Sunday Mornings Daniels Hall Childcare Next Time: 5th Sunday of Lent March 21 and 2nd Sunday of Easter April 11: Mini Course on Discovering the Bible s DNA with Dr. Patrick Russell The various people, different places, and historical periods of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, can often get as tangled up in our minds as the strings of Christmas tree lights! These session will unveil the Bible s basic themes its DNA structure which organize the biblical books and their contents. The first session will focus on the Old Testament, while the second session will delve into the New Testament. Through this process, we will discover that the biblical writings outline the two fundamental ways that we are genetically drawn into relationship with the greatest mystery: God s love. Dr. Patrick Russell is Assistant Professor of Scripture studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology, in Hales Corners, WI. He has his Ph.D. from Marquette University in biblical studies. He is author of The God Questions: What Forms and Shapes Us (Liguori Publications, 2007) and numerous articles on Scripture and spirituality. He is married to Stephanie and they have four sons.