January 7, 2018 Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 ********************************* Manager or Magi? Ever taken an extended car trip? If your family was like most weeks of preparation were required. Road maps and guidebooks were consulted to ensure maximum fun with minimum inconvenience. Itineraries were made, and revised, half a dozen times before you left the kitchen table. Faced with the vagaries of travel, we strive to manage the future, forearmed with traveler s checks and motel reservations. Now what if Dad or Mom appeared one day with no maps or guidebooks and simply said, let s get in the car and go where God takes us. Would you climb in ready to be a Magi, or call your local psychiatrist? Would faith or fear win? It s not just a hypothetical question. Each day of our lives we face that same choice. When the morning greets us we have a fresh road to explore, a new trip to take. Will we trust in our plans and preparations, or allow God s grace, power and mystery to act in our lives? If we hold to our rigid schedules, we may feel more secure, but we may also miss the miracles God has in store. Which are you today, manager or magi? Copyright 2005 C L Enterprises
Weekly Calendar Monday, January 8 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Tuesday, January 9 7:00 am: Mass: Francis and Katie Thorne Wednesday, January 10 8:00 am: Parents of LeRoy & Bernie Lezotte 3:50 pm: CCD Gr. K-6 7:00 pm: CCD Gr. 7-12 Thursday, January 11 8:00 am: Mass: Louis Albrecht 3:15 pm: RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) Friday, January 12 8:00 am: Mass: Henry & Alfonse Stiemann 2:00 pm: Nursing Home Mass: Louis Albrecht Saturday, January 13 Memorial of Saint Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church 4:00 to 4:45 pm: Confessions 5:00 pm: Mass: Blessings for Father Varkey and Office Staff Sunday, January 14 Second Sunday in Ordinary time 7:00 to 7:30 am: Confessions 8:00 am: Mass: Warren and Janet England 10:30 am: Mass: Parishioners General Parish Information Father Varkey Emergency Cell Phone: 715-937-3664 New parishioners: You are most welcome to join the family of St. Mary s. Please contact the parish office. Prayer Chain: Contact Jean Kuhn 937-1161 Meal Ministry: Please contact Mary Sladich 743-4466 Bereavement Ministry: Contact Annie Augustine 937-1432 Elizabeth Ministry: Contact Renee Schoen 743-4059 Marriage: Contact with the parish is required six months to a year before marriage. Preparation begins with the first contact. Natural Family Planning: Please contact the Parish Office. Baptisms: Baptisms are celebrated during the 10:30 am Mass on the fourth Sunday of each month. Baptisms following Mass can also be scheduled. Preparation classes are necessary. Please contact the office for further info. Interfaith Caregivers Contact: 743-2885 Weekly Collection December 31, 2017 Tithe $4,461.71 Christmas 172.50 CCD Donation 50.00 Offertory 253.80 Student 10.30 Total $4,948.31 Weekly Budget $4,398.88 Uganda Student Sponsorships $200.00 Building Fund $340.00 Liturgical Ministries Saturday-Sunday, January 13-14 Lectors (A) (B) Sat. 5:00 pm Jean Moseley Delores Schmitt Sun. 8:00 am Rick Kuhn Donna Kuhn Sun.10:30 am Bob Barth Bob Barth Extraordinary Ministers Sat 5:00 pm Sun. 8:00 am Sun.10:30am Jean Moseley/Bonnie Langreck/Mary Sladich Rick Kuhn/Mary Luedtke/Jack Hammond Gretchen Fitzmaurice Cantors Sat: 5:00 pm JoAnn Blum/Lorraine Spencer Sun. 8:00 am Mike Hart/Mary Ann Ingold Sun.10:30am Rita Kuchenbecker/Renee Schoen Servers Sat. 5:00 pm Charlie Schoen Lucas Moseley Sun 8:00 am Gabriella Kuhn Gianna Kuhn Sun 10:30 am Maria Cortez Addison Moen Ushers for January Sat 5:00 pm. Kent Genteman/Gerald Gorbet/Richard Hagen/Tony Langreck Sun. 8:00 am John Langton/Jim Langreck/Al Spaete Sun.10:30am Steve Brey Rosary Leaders Sat. 5:00 pm Sun 8:00 am Sun 10:30 am Marian Ball Jack & Theresa Hammond Rick &Gretchen Fitzmaurice Greeter Schedule January 5:00 pm: 8:00 am: Dr. Greg & Linda Foster 10:30 am: Larry & Mary Sue Kyle Children s Liturgy of the Word 8 am: Alexis Wanish /10:30 am: Cindy Wirkuty
Parish Announcements Church Calendars are available in the carport vestibule and next to the bulletins. These calendars are a great resource to help follow the liturgical year. New Liturgical Schedules are available in the carport vestibule. Diocesan Annual Appeal 2017-2018 2017-2018 Target: $39,370 Pledges Received: $34,099 86% of Goal Please prayerfully discern your pledge and return in the return envelope from the Diocese of La Crosse, the parish office or place in the collection. Thank you in advance for your generosity. For more information go to http://diolc.org/stewardship. Financial Peace: Most Americans struggle with debt and aren t saving for the future. Dave Ramsey s Financial Peace University has helped thousands of Americans pay off their debt and save for the future. St Mary s will be offering his 9 week course entitled Financial Peace University starting January 15 th. More information will be coming. Call the office to sign up or with any questions. 2018 Tithing Envelopes are available in the carport vestibule. Diocese of La Crosse Parish History Books Have Arrived: A sample of this beautiful book including every parish s history and photos, and diocesan history celebrating the 150 year anniversary for the Diocese of La Crosse is located in the narthex. Those who reserved a copy have been contacted and we have some more to sell. If you would like to purchase a copy for $33 please contact the parish office. A great way to start the New Year grow in faith through study and faithful interaction. Feeding your Family s Soul: A collection of themes to include as a part of the family meal. Each theme has a reflection, prayer, saint story and recipe. A great way for children and parents to learn together and grow in our Faith. Cost is $12. Contact Stephanie Hannasch at the Parish Office for a copy. What s with the 12 days of Christmas? We are probably all familiar with the Christmas Carol that chronicles the 12 gifts someone s true love gave them. Interestingly, each gift has a Catholic Christian understanding, but I won t get into that here. In the church s calendar, the 12 days of Christmas are the joyful time between Christmas and the Epiphany. The time preceding Christmas, we call Advent, is a time of preparation for the coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It is a reserved time of hope while the secular world is already celebrating Christmas well before and promptly following December 25 th. The Catholic Christmas party is just getting started on December 25 th. This time between Christmas and Epiphany are filled with wonderful feast days of people we consider companions of Christ such as St Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, The Holy Family and Mary, Mother of God. The liturgical season of Christmas end with the Baptism of the Lord. Building and Grounds Committee Meeting has been changed to Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 6 pm. The Committee will meet in the parish office. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Teaching the faith begins in the home CCD Assignments Grade 1 - Mrs. Grota: Color the picture of St. Joseph the Worker. Return to class. Collect Box Tops. Grade 2 - Mrs. Carney: Say your prayers every day. Read Chapter 12 & 13 in textbook and complete workbook lessons. Grade 3 -Mrs. Schmitt: Do page 5 of Review sheet and study for test. Grade 4 Mrs. Kren: Say prayers daily. Dates for Parents of Second Graders Receiving First Communion (Student and at least one parent asked to attend all of the following events) Saturday February 17 th 9:30am-12:30 pm - Retreat Saturday March 17 th 9 am - First Reconciliation Saturday April 28 th 9 am - First Communion Rehearsal Sunday April 29 th 10:30 am - Mass First Communion
Sponsoring students at Our Lady of Guadalupe School: The 2018 school year for the students at the Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Uganda begins in January. The cost to sponsor a student for the year is $100. This covers a uniform, school lunches, and tuition. If you would be willing to help out please contact Martha at the parish office. Funding really helps the student, their families, and the school as it continues to grow. God bless all of you for your generous sponsorships in the past. You are making a difference in the lives of many. Tenth Annual Trivia Night Saturday, January 27, 2018 7 pm to 9 pm Join in the fun and raise money for a great cause. All proceeds support the ongoing efforts of our relationship with Uganda Africa. Please contact the parish office and let Martha Opelt know if you are having a team. Mark Your Calendar for the Annual Mardi Gras Pancake Breakfast Sunday, February 11, 2018 The following is from a Homily from Pope Benedict XVI during Marian Vespers with the Religious and Seminarians of Bavaria Basilica of Saint Anne, Altotting, September 11, 2006 The Hidden Treasure: To be with Christ - how does this come about? Well, the first and most important thing for the priest is his daily Mass, always celebrated with deep interior participation. If we celebrate Mass truly as men of prayer, if in Communion we let ourselves truly be embraced by him and receive him - then we are being with Him. The Liturgy of the Hours is another fundamental way of being with Christ: here we pray as people conscious of our need to speak with God, while lifting up all those others who have neither the time nor the ability to pray in this way. If our Eucharistic celebration and the Liturgy of the Hours are to remain meaningful, we need to devote ourselves constantly anew to the spiritual reading of sacred Scripture; not only to be able to decipher and explain words from the distant past, but to discover the word of comfort that the Lord is now speaking to me, the Lord who challenges me by this word. Only in this way will we be capable of bringing the inspired Word to the men and women of our time as the contemporary and living Word of God. Eucharistic adoration is an essential way of being with the Lord. In one of his parables the Lord speaks of a treasure hidden in the field. The hidden treasure is Jesus himself, the Kingdom in person. (Note: When the faithful attend Mass devoutly, pray the psalms, meditate on the Word of God, and visit our Lord at Adoration they are with God. Through meditation and reflection one discovers how to apply the Gospel to daily life.) Area Events Proceeds support the ongoing efforts of our relationship with Uganda Africa. New Faith Alive Book on the Beatitudes Christopher Ruff has written a new book for small groups, titled Blessed Are You and centered on the Beatitudes (available Feb. 7). Like the previous books in the Discipleship Series, it includes Scripture, prayer and stories of people who exemplify each theme. It also incorporates discussion questions and a modest service component to put faith in action. To order ($10 each), call the Office for Ministries and Social Concerns at 608-791- 0161 or email ministries@diolc.org. Visit www.diolc.org/faith-alive for more information and a preview. Human Trafficking in Wisconsin: Faith Lutheran Church of Marshfield is sponsoring an adult community education workshop about Human Trafficking in Wisconsin on Saturday, January 13 from 9:00-12:15 presented by Lisa Sennholz, founder and director of the Damascus Road Project, a non-profit dedicated to ending human trafficking through education and advocacy. To register and for questions email flcevent@hotmail.com. Come and learn more about trafficking to help stop it. FATHER-DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT There will be a Marshfield Deanery "Father-Daughter Dinner and Dance" on Saturday, February 3 rd 5-7:30pm for fathers (or father-figures) and their daughters. This event will take place in Dillenburg Hall at Our Lady of Peace. Registration forms are located in the carport vestibule. They are due by January 18 th.
Melody Gardens Restaurant & Skateland: Christian Music and skating games throughout the evening will be held on the following dates from 7:30 pm to 10 pm: January 26, February 23, March 23, April 27, 2018.