First Sunday of Advent | November 27, 2016 100 th Anniversary 1916 ~ 2016 SAINT JOHN the EVANGELIST CATHOLIC PARISH

85008 5 0 West Cold Spring Road | Greenfield, WI | 4 14-321-1965 | Fax: 414-321-4407

Weekend Schedule Saturday: 4:30pm Sunday: 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00am

Confessions Friday & Saturday: 8:30am

Anointing of the Sick First Saturday after the 4:30pm Mass.

Devotions after Daily Mass Monday through Saturday - Rosary Tuesday - St. Anthony Saturday - Mother of Perpetual Help

Baptism Third Sunday at 12:15pm. Please call the parish office to schedule. PRE-BAPTISMAL CLASS is required for parents with the first child. Please call the Religious Ed office to register.

Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Use entrance along the south side of the church.

Marriage Contact the parish office at least 6 months before intended date of marriage.

RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Adults interested in Baptism, Communion, and/or Confirmation are asked to contact the Religious Education office.

Parish Membership Families & single adults (over 18) are asked to visit the parish office to register.

Parish Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00am to 5:00pm Friday: 8:00am to 12:00pm Closed on Saturdays, Sundays or Holidays

Sick & Shut-Ins Call the parish office to arrange for Confession & Communion.

SCHOOL Mary Laidlaw-Otto, Principal www.sje.k12.wi.us 414-321-8540 (office) | 414-321-4450 (fax) www.stjohns-grfd.org | e-mail: rectory@stjohns-g r f d . o r g RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Bob Schram, Director PASTOR: Very Rev. Michael F. Merkt

414-321-8922 Leon J. Zalewski, Deacon ~ ~ Steven F. Pemper, Deacon St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic Eucharistic community faithful to the values and traditions of the Church. We strive to live our faith every day, to embrace stewardship, and to be nurtured by continuous Christian Formation.

. ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST · GREENFIELD

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD Mass Intentions We have begun our beautiful season of Advent. We prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior. However, external preparations often distract us from the spiritual and interior prepara- tions.

First Sunday Let me encourage each of us to add a little something more during these of Advent Advent days. We may do that extra more alone or as a couple or a family.

The Word Among Us is one resource that can be used on a daily basis to keep Jesus in the forefront of the Advent season.

On Sunday, December 11th, at 2:00pm in the Church, the parish choirs MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28 (ADVENT WEEKDAY) will be offering a music concert featuring the sounds of the season. 8:00 am †Lillian Berner - Bill & Laura Lee Wierzbinski †Steve Hoynik - Joyce & Beth Hoynik Saturday, December 19th at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Parish in Hales Cor- ners, there will be a Reconciliation Service with 10 priests available to hear TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 (ADVENT WEEKDAY) confessions. What a beautiful way to prepare for Christ by asking for- 7:30 am †Patricia Verfurth - Karen Verfurth giveness, emptying self and making more room for Christ. †Peter & Agatha Sanchez - Family †Vivian & Charles Riley - Sanchez Family We do have confessions here at St. John’s every Friday morning after the 8:00am Mass and on Saturday morning after the 8:00am Mass.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 (SAINT ANDREW, APOSTLE) The children will have the opportunity to have confessions heard on 8:00 am †Conrad Gerszewski - Kerry & Carol Kleiber Tuesday, December 13th. Advent Penance Services will be held at 9:30am †Johnny & Toni Hoefferle - Josephine Janezic for the day school students and at 6:30pm for the Religious Ed students. Parents, please help your children prepare for this special sacrament.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 (ADVENT WEEKDAY) If we each do something a little extra, even to do the same thing with a 7:30 am †Bill Barwig - Josephine Janezic little more attention, devotion, love, and care - all in preparation for †Joseph Androjna - Joseph & Michele Rifelj Christ’s birthday, will come with that much more blessing and meaning. Let us prepare for the coming of the Lord. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 (ADVENT WEEKDAY) Fr. Michael 8:00 am †Austin G. Weiss - Wife DeLores †Tom Smokovich - Family

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 (SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER, PRIEST) 8:00 am †Patricia Verfurth - Joseph & Mary Schaefer 4:30 pm †Kenneth Kling - Pat Kleber CD OF THE WEEK: WHY A PROTESTANT PASTOR BECAME CATHOLIC †Norb Reis - Edie Reis

†Marie Mejac - Irena Kunovar Dr. Scott Hahn explains through his legendary testimony how he was militantly anti-Catholic but SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 (SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT) self-driven to seek the truth. This ultimately led him 8:00 am †Frank & Geraldine Jenko - Daughters into the Catholic Church. He soon became an †Len Topczewski - Family ardent defender of the Faith and one of its most †Joseph Androjna - Matilda Simcic passionate promoters. 9:30 am †Eddie & Dolly Kulpa - Hank & Kaye Olszewski (Youth Choir) For the Members of St. John’s Parish Pick up a copy of this CD in the narthex today. Suggested donation is $4.00. 11:00 am †Joseph & Anna Baumann - Estate (Adult Choir) †Lucille Cannistra - Marjorie Trentadue & Family Comforting the Bereaved

Readings for the Week of November 27, 2016 this Holiday Season Monday: Is 4:2-6/Ps 122/Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10/Ps 72/Lk 10:21-24 Grief shared is grief diminished. Wednesday: Rom 10:9-18/Ps 23/Mt 4:18-22 Call, write notes, or visit. The Thursday: Is 26:1-6/Ps 118/Mt 7:21, 24-27 greatest pain of the griever is Friday: Is 29:17-24/Ps 27/Mt 9:27-31 loneliness. Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26/Ps 147/Mt 9:35--10:1, 5a, 6-8 Next Sunday: Is 11:1-10/Ps 72/Rom 15:4-9/Mt 3:1-12 Bring them a little gift. It is a ©Liturgical Publications Inc symbol of your love and Clear glass candle This Week’s Sanctuary Candle & compassion. holders and 5-day Tabernacle Candles are lit for the inserts for home use

†Otto & Alice Wendler are available for purchase in the Putting together your holiday travel plans or just To reserve the candles for your special parish office. The trying to get away for the weekend? Need to intention, visit the parish office. Cost: $3/candle. cost is $3.00/each. find a parish when you’re away from home? Visit www.masstimes.org for the location and Bulletin Deadline is Monday at Noon. schedule of Masses of Catholic Churches You may email your item to [email protected] throughout the United States.

. NOVEMBER 27, 2016 · FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful opportunity to spend time with family. Here at school our youngest students prepare for the holiday with our annual Thanksgiving Pageant. This delightful event has our K4, K5 and first graders taking on the roles of turkeys, School Native Americans, and pilgrims. A short play and a variety of songs entertain our parents and grandparents. Following the program, Spo s students have their own “feast”; an opportunity to taste a sampling of traditional Thanksgiving food. It is just simply a lot of fun to watch our youngest students perform for their adoring fans!

Immediately following Thanksgiving, we begin our Advent activities. Throughout Advent, our Monday morning prayer services will take on a slightly different look. We light an Advent wreath, and take a few moments before we begin our busy days to pray together. This activi- ty reminds us of our Advent promise to live out our school theme: “Put Your Faith in Action”. Throughout Advent, as a school community, we will work to support our classmates, families, and the greater community. Our teachers will model these behaviors with each other, as they guide our stu- dents to new understanding. At this busy time of year, patience is a challenge for all of us. What a wonderful opportunity for growth for all members of our community! Mary Laidlaw Otto, Principal

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! You are invited to join our students for the dress rehearsal of our Christmas program on Wednesday, December 14th, at 12:30pm, in our school gymnasium. Please consider joining us for an afternoon of song. What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Discipline - The Church has three levels of authoritative teaching: dogmas, doctrines, and discipline. Church discipline, or rules, are required stand- ards of behavior (e.g., abstaining from meat on Lenten Fridays, fasting one hour before receiving , celibate clergy, etc.). Unlike dogmas and doctrines, rules are man-made and have often (throughout the history of the Church) been changed. For instance: Catholics were required to abstain from meat on every Friday throughout the year; now it is only the Fridays during Lent. Catholics had to begin their Eucharistic fast on Sun- day at midnight; now it is one hour. Priests were once allowed to be married (St. Peter was married); currently they are required to be celibate. Those who flagrantly disobey rules are not heretics nor are they in error; they are considered to be disobedient. Consciously violating a Church rule is a grave sin and requires sacramental reconciliation before the worthy reception of the Eucharist. Disagreement over a rule, however, does not make one heretical, in error, or disobedient, as long as the person is compliant with the rule. Bob Schram, Director of Religious Education

MISSALETTES FOR THE HOMEBOUND If you haven’t already done so, you still Thank you to all who participated in any hahave time to select an envelope from the tree, way in the 33 Days to Merciful Love: Help those who are homebound more purchaseppu the gift (please don’t wrap it) and Merciful Father, in the name of our lovable fully participate in the televised placepl it under the Giving Tree by Decem- Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and all the Saints, Masses on Channels 24 and 6. If you berbe 11th. Remember to decorate and return I ask You to set me on fire with your know someone who is homebound thetth special ornament that is included in the Spirit of Love and grant me the grace of and is not able to attend Mass, please envelope. making You deeply loved. Amen contact Maria Prado at 769-3504 or send their name, address and phone number to [email protected]. A FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - "Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come." Jesus doesn't Missalette and a home- tell us when he will come again; but he does tell us all we need to know. First, He leaves no doubt in our minds that He will in bound Newsletter will be fact return--this isn't a question we have to debate. And secondly, He tells us what we need to do to be ready: stay awake! sent to their home free As long as we don't doze off while we're waiting, everything will be all right. of charge.

So our task is a relatively simple one. We are called to be on the lookout. We are supposed to be ready for the Lord when He appears. This is a straightforward instruction to be sure. But it does contain an inherent challenge: it's often much easier to hit the snooze button than to get up and at 'em. It's our task, however, to make sure we don't give in to the temptation to fall back asleep.

This is what the season of Advent helps us to do. It's like the Church's alarm clock, ringing with persistence in our ears: Wake up! Throw off the covers of apathy and distraction! Jesus is coming! Get up and get your house in order before he arrives!

What exactly this means will be different for all of us--the particular behaviors we need to change, the specific virtues we need to develop--all of this is unique to each individual. But our common goal is the same--to clean house in our hearts and make ourselves ready to welcome the Lord. Yes, His return at the end of time will be a momentous event, but even if we never experience it during our lifetime, Jesus still wants to come to us here and now, to dwell in our hearts through the pres- ence of His Spirit. This Advent, let's be ready to welcome the Lord every minute of every day.

All are welcome to attend an Advent Cluster Penance Service held at St. Mary Parish (9520 W Forest Home Ave, Hales Corners) at 7:00pm on Saturday, December 17th. Priests from our parish cluster (St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary’s - Hales Corners, St. Alphon- sus - Greendale and St. Martin of Tours - Franklin) will be available to hear individual confessions.

THE POWER OF PRAYER… Parish Financial Stewardship Summary On October 15th 2016, over 15,000 FATIMA Public Square Rosary Rallies across Ameri- Due to the advanced deadlines for the Thanksgiving holiday, the ca, PRAYED FOR OUR NATION - including here at St. John’s. 24 days later, our nation Parish Financial Stewardship Summary numbers were not available. voted for a change in our country’s leadership pledging to allow religious freedom. Please see next weekend’s bulletin. Your continued prayers are needed. God is listening.

. ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST PARISH STAFF DIRECTORY Please join us in welcoming Do You Know? our newest parish members: PARISH OFFICE...... 414-321-1965 Between 1982 and 1984 St. John’s par- 100 PASTOR ...... Very Rev. Michael F. Merkt x 105 ticipated in an nationwide spiritual Stephen and Amanda ...... [email protected] 1916 2016 renewal program where small groups Hanlon

DEACON ...... Leon J. Zalewski - 414-281-5438 met and were challenged to grow in ...... [email protected] their personal relationship with God. What was the name

DEACON ...... Steven F. Pemper - 414-737-5023 of this program?

RENEW RENEW : r e w s n ...... [email protected] A

DIRECTOR OF LITURGY AND MUSIC ...... Karen Schulteis x 125 ...... [email protected] From the Mailbag…

DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . Denise Kasulke x 107 Daily pilgrimages from Milwaukee to the Shrine of our Lady of Good Help (a Marian apparition site ...... [email protected] approved by the Catholic Church near Green Bay, WI) the only one of its kind in the US. Cost: $40/

BOOKKEEPER person (groups of four) lunch included. If interested, please call 414-204-0653...... George Pitman, Jr. x 106 ...... [email protected] Want to learn more about Natural Family Planning? Here’s some chances coming soon! These

SECRETARY ...... Jodi Lee Bowers x 101 classes are for the Marquette method. Which used the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor. Sign up today! For ...... [email protected] more information on the Marquette Method and other models, contact Ali Butler at 414-758-2241.

PARISH FAX ...... 414-321-4407 The Indian Community School (10405 W St Martin’s Rd, Franklin) will host their annual Breakfast with WEBSITE ...... www.stjohns-grfd.org Santa and Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 3rd from 8:00am to 1:00pm. Breakfast served

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE ...... 414-321-8922 until 11:45am. Cost: $3/Elder & Children 4-12; $5/Adults & Children 13+. Children’s price includes DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ...... Bob Schram one craft, one cookie to decorate and one game of bingo. Also watch a sneak preview of the Choir’s ...... [email protected] Winter Concert at 11:45am. CRAFTERS NEEDED! Those interested in participating are asked to contact Pamela Ninham at [email protected] or 414-525-6121. SCHOOL OFFICE ...... 414-321-8540

PRINCIPAL ...... Mary Laidlaw-Otto News from the Capuchin Community Services ...... [email protected] CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE - We assist 1,000 central city households by allowing parents to "shop" for toys in a respectable store-like atmosphere at the Capuchin Community Services’ House of Peace SECRETARY...... Mary Jo Kaminski site. We are currently in need of Christmas presents for over 3,000 children 8 years of age and under...... [email protected] Can you help us brighten a child's life with a Christmas gift? New unwrapped toys can be dropped off SCHOOL FAX ...... 414-321-4450 at the Capuchin Community Services’ House of Peace site located at 1702 W. Walnut, Monday- WEBSITE ...... www.sje.k12.wi.us Friday, between 8:30 AM-Noon and 1:30-3:30 PM, at the 17th Street door, located at the U-drive. PARISH HALL ...... 414-321-5940 www.CapuchinCommunityServices.org.

PARISH GYM ...... 414-321-0079 CHRISTMAS CARDS NOW AVAILABLE - Share your Christmas greetings with family and friends and help feed Milwaukee's poor, hungry, and homeless. Capuchin Community Services is offering two Christ- UPCOMING DATES mas card designs; artwork created by Capuchin Friar Michael Gaffney. Cards are available in packs December 2 ...... SVdP Meal Program of 10 for $10. Order yours by visiting: www.CapuchinCommunityServices.org.

December 3 ...... Anointing of the Sick Christ Alive in Our Marriage Retreat - This day long retreat on Saturday, January 28th is for young December 7 ...... Advent School Confessions adult couples in their first five years of marriage. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of December 10/11 ...... Prayer Shawl Drop-off December 10/11 ...... Giving Tree your vocation and how you are being invited to live out your faith. Spend the day hearing talks by December 11 ...... Christmas Music Concert other young couples, talking with your spouse and other couples, and praying and reflecting as a cou- December 13 ...... RE Advent Confessions ple. This event will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Parish - Downtown Milwaukee December 14 ...... School Christmas Concert beginning at 10:00am and concludes with the 5:15pm Mass at the parish. Information and registration December 22 ... 11:00am School Dismissal (Christmas) can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ChristAliveinOurMarriage2017. December 23-January 3 . No School (Christmas Break) December 24 .. 4; 4:15; 10pm Masses Calling Teens to Serve! It’s never to early to start making summer plans. Registration is now open December 25 . 8; 9:30; 11am Christmas Day Masses for teens aged 15 through 18 to participate in Reach Out Reach In, a summer service week sponsored December 26 ...... Parish Office Closed by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, held July 9-14, 2017. This program is local and is great for teens December 31 ...... 4:30pm New Year’s Eve Mass who want to be involved in direct service and social action. The sites, located around the Archdiocese January 1 ...... 8; 9:30; 11am New Year’s Day Masses of Milwaukee, included homeless shelters, adult day car, community organizations, meal programs, January 2 ...... Parish Office Closed family/organic farms, child care and more. Scholarships are available. For more information visit, January 10 ...... Pastoral Council www.archmil.org/RORI. January 24 .... 1st Penance/1st Communion Parent Mtg We currently have 128 Senior Priests living throughout our archdiocese. Many of these retired priests are quite active and live independently. However, they sometimes have a health episode that limits their abilities for a period of time. It is at times like this that they may need assistance with rides or St. John the Evangelist shopping. If you would like to be put on a call list to assist our Senior Priests, please contact Sharon Catholic Church Krueger at 414-769-3452.

Volunteers Today… Touch Lives with “More Heart in Your Hands” at St. Camillus - Available volunteer opportunities include: Meal Delivery, Thrift Shop, Bingo Assistant, Resident Escort, Chapel St. John the Evangelist Aide, Activity/Craft Assistant, Mail Support, Pet Therapy. For more information, please contact Krista Catholic School, Greenfield Simko at 414-259-6328. St. Camillus is located at 10101 W Wisconsin Ave, Wauwatosa (Across from the zoo.)

Would you pray for a priest each day? “Be close to your priests with your affection and with your prayers that they may always be shepherds according to God’s heart. ~ Pope Francis NOVEMBER 27 NOVEMBER 28 NOVEMBER 29 NOVEMBER 30 DECEMBER 1 DECEMBER 2 DECEMBER 3

Rev. William Rev. Chistopher Rev. Kenneth Rev. Thomas Archbishop Jerome Rev. William All Xaverian Key Klusman Knippel Knobel Listecki Kohler Priests

St. Francis Xavier

. THE TRADITION OF THE CHRISTMAS Christmas (Oplatki) are a beautiful Christmas custom brought to the U.S. by the East- This Week ern European immigrants. Christ was born in Bethlehem, meaning house of bread. He continues Monday, Nov. 28 to be born on our altars under the appearance of Bread in the Eucharist. The unleavened bread 5:30-9:30pm Basketball Practice - Gym of the Christmas Wafer reminds us of Christ who came to bring us “Peace.” By sharing the wafer with our family and friends at the Christmas meal, we offer one another the Peace of Christ as we forgive offenses of the past year and offer our pledge of love as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas wafers (Oplatki) are now available for purchase after all Masses today or at the parish office. Suggested donation $2.00/each.

Tuesday, Nov. 29 2:45pm School Youth Choir - Music Rm CHRISTIAN WOMEN will have their annual Christmas gathering this Thursday, December 4:00pm Finance Council - Rm A 1st at 6:00pm in the church hall. Please bring the food item you were assigned to share. 5:30pm RE Youth Choir - Music Rm Last name beginning with: 5:30-7:30pm Basketball Practice - Gym A - J: Bring Hot Dishes (Vegetable, Potato, etc.) Bring by 5:45pm 6:00pm RE Grs 1-8 K - P: Bring Salad or Jell-O 7:00pm Adult Choir - Music Rm Q - Z: Bring Desserts Ladies, please remember to also bring your layette/diaper items. See you there!! Wednesday, Nov. 30 4:30-7:30pm Basketball Practice - Gym ABLAZEAB Youth Group invites all high school youth to their next meeting 6:30pm Dartball - Hall THISTTHI Sunday, November 27th in the Fr. Grom Activity Center (Gym). CoCome and enjoy a night of faith, fellowship and fun! Questions?? Contact JoJohn Radke at [email protected].

The ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MEAL PROGRAM will be preparing food next Thursday, Dec. 1 Friday, December 2nd in the church hall. Those who have volunteered to 3:00pm Youth Hand Bells - Music Rm bring food items are asked to have their items TO THE PARISH OFFICE BE- 5:00-8:30pm Basketball Practice - Gym FORE NOON ON FRIDAY. Items brought after that are to be taken directly to 5:30pm Adult Hand Bells - Music Rm the church hall. Thank you for helping those in need. 6:00pm Divine Mercy - Library 6:00pm Art Club - Rm C 6:00pm Christian Women - Hall 6:30pm RCIA - Rm B Please be aware, until further notice, SCRIP Gift Cards will NOT be avail- SCRIP 7:00pm Slovene Choir - Music Rm able in the narthex after Mass or in the church hall Thursdays after school. SCRIP Gift Cards can be obtained online www.shopwithscrip.com with Friday, Dec. 2 enenrollment code: 18DE7D4F11822 or by calling the parish office at 414-321- 8:30am Confessions - Church 191965. 2:00pm SVdP Meal Program - Hall

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE WORD AMONG US LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH meditation booklets for Families wishing to help are asked to sign up on Advent are available in the the sheet on the table in the narthex. narthex after all Masses or in Saturday, Dec. 3 the parish office for $2.00. 8:30am Confessions - Church Anointing of the Sick after 4:30pm Mass CHRISTMAS FLOWERS will be displayed in thanksgiving, Giving Tree 2017 PARISH CALENDARS are honor or memory of someone this Christmas. available after all Masses You may include your intention on the Memo- today. One calendar to a rial flyer in this weekend’s bulletin and turn in family, please. to the parish office by December 16th. Sunday, Dec. 4 Giving Tree Children’s Liturgy of the Word at 9:30am Mass THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK will be administered after the 4:30pm Mass next Saturday.

Immaculate Conception December 8th Raffle Calendar Winners A Holy Day of Obligation

We celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 11/14/2016 Mert Jambor ...... $25 of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation, requiring all Catholics who have 11/15/2016 Matt Jaques ...... $25 reached the ageag of reason to attend Mass. 11/16/2016 Kris McKillop ...... $25 11/17/2016 Mary Gonzalez ...... $25

Masses for the Holy Day will be offered on 11/18/2016 Emma Rehm ...... $25 Thursday, December 8th at 8:00am, Noon & 6:30pm. 11/19/2016 Judy Hunholz ...... $25 11/20/2016 Julian Moshea ...... $50

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