Building & Grounds Update>>>
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May 2021 >>> Contents − Buildings & Grounds Update – p.1-2 − Human Concerns – p. 2-5 − Prayer & Worship – p. 5-6 − Liturgy – p. 7 − Faith Formation – p. 7-8 − Finance Council – p. 8 − Cabaret – p. 8 − School – p. 9 − Athletics – p. 9-12 www.SaintSebestianOnline.net 5400 West Washington Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53208 (414) 453-1061 Building & Grounds Update>>> Holly Rutenbeck Progress on Needed School and Church Upgrades In November and December 2020, Best Electric retrofitted the existing light fixtures in the cafeteria of the school with LED bulbs to reduce energy consumption. The lighting levels in the cafeteria remain the same with the added benefit of dimming the lights as needed for events. The cafeteria lighting upgrades were funded through the Sustainability Committee's 2019 Winter Boutique fundraiser. Thank you everyone for making the Boutique a success! At the same time as the cafeteria lighting upgrades, through the help of anonymous donors, all lighting fixtures were replaced with higher lumen LED lighting in the church hall. The new lights use significantly less energy and are much brighter, which has allowed the church hall to be used by the 8th Grade class every day for instruction due to social distancing needs. An additional outlet was also added to the church hall that can be used for events but is currently used for charging Chromebooks and Smartboard use. The 2017 Stop the Auction Project to 'Light the Bell Tower' is underway! Staff Electric installed conduit, pulled new wire, and installed an electrical circuit subpanel at the base of the bell tower. This subpanel was an addition to the original scope of work and will provide extra power to the church hall during Parish events and will allow future expansion of lighting the church. The lights will be installed at the cupola of the bell tower in the coming weeks. 1 Capital reserves combined with a School Foundation loan are funding this project to mitigate water infiltration that is causing paint peeling at the west side of the church. Contributions to Building Fund Debt Eliminations will repay the loan in the coming years. Human Concerns Updates>>> St. Vincent de Paul News Rich Mueller Helping Families in Need The St. Sebastian conference continues to serve neighbors by providing basic living necessities such as stoves, refrigerators, furniture, household items, etc. In the first quarter of 2021 we have helped approximately 32 families in need. We rely solely on donations and every penny goes to those in need. If you are able to donate, please do so by mail to the parish (mark it St. Sebastian's SVDP) or online at the parish website. Food Pantry at St. Catherine Feeding God’s Children On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m., the food pantry is open to area families and individuals in need. The pantry is located in the Father Jack Kern Community Center on 51st and Center Streets. The Food Pantry receives food through ongoing food drives at St. Catherine and St. Sebastian, Feeding America and additionally purchasing some groceries. The pantry also receives bread and meat deliveries on Fridays. Parish members organize the food. Since the pandemic, food has been pre-bagged and handed out at the door. Normally, shoppers come into the Community Center for a combination of choice and pre-packed groceries. The pantry serves an average of 151 individuals in 43 households each time and in 2020 served an average of 200 individuals each time. Food collection receptacles for the pantry are located at each entrance of the St. Sebastian gathering space. Don’t forget to check your cupboards or add a few items to your grocery shopping cart and bring them when you come to Mass. 2 Women’s Care Center Deacon Jim Matthias Collection of Baby Items May 2 and 9 The Friends for Life group at St. Sebastian will be holding a collection of baby items for Mother’s Day. Items can be left in the gathering space on May 2 or 9 and will be given to the Women’s Care Center for distribution. Items needed are diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6, umbrella strollers, and diaper bags. Gift cards (Pick-N- Save, Walmart, Target, gas stations) are acceptable and should be put in an envelope marked “Women’s Care Center” and placed in a collection basket at the end of Mass. This is important because so often, pro-lifers get the rap that they only care about the baby until it is born. The Archdiocese asked that every parish adopt a women’s care center as part of their Walking with Moms in Need program. This also ties in nicely with our own parish emphasis on social teaching - solidarity - being one human family regardless of our differences. The Women’s Care Center is a nonprofit organization that provides free counseling, support and education to women facing unexpected pregnancies. Their mission is to help pregnant women from our communities choose life for their babies, have healthier pregnancies, become better parents and take first steps to self-sufficiency. In Milwaukee, they are located directly across the street from one of Wisconsin’s busiest abortion providers and due to their location, many of their clients are seriously considering abortion. Between their two Milwaukee centers, they see an average of 31 women per day. Currently, one in ten babies born in Milwaukee County are born to Women’s Care Center moms. They provide free medical grade pregnancy tests, and Ultrasounds (which were donated by Knight of Columbus and the Knights of Malta), 92% of Women’s Care Center moms choose life for their baby. When they choose life, these same parents take important steps to self-sufficiency by attending free parenting classes. Their group parenting classes have pivoted to Zoom format, and they have seen an increase in participation in these virtual classes, with nearly forty moms and dads tuning in to each class. Since the pandemic began, women who were already financially stressed are facing even greater economic hardship, causing many of them to seriously consider abortion. Now more than ever, their mission is to bring hope and support to women facing unexpected pregnancies is crucial. Unlike Planned Parenthood - Women’s Care Center receives no government funding and relies on donations from the community to keep their doors open. They provide prenatal and postnatal health care to mothers AND their babies. Thank you in advance for your help with this parish project. 3 Facing Racism Susan Ragatz Awareness Requires Action Many of us have been blind to the extent of the racism around us, perhaps innocently unaware, but now we all know it still exists, and have seen examples of its nearness and its extent. Last year, a 17-year-old girl saw injustice by someone in authority, someone who ignored the pleas of others. With no power or authority to intervene, she chose to bear witness to the painful death of another. Because of that act, we all became witnesses. As believers, and children of God, we have an obligation to stand against wickedness, and stand witness with all our brothers and sisters. Pope Francis said: “My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.” How we choose to follow that injunction is up to us, but the challenge is there for each of us. Religion is not a Sunday thing, it’s there for every breath we take. Let’s do our best. Mass Incarceration Group Update Mary Carian Contact Legislators to Promote Social Justice A state budget which reforms criminal justice, improves public safety, and saves money continues to be our focus. In April, we were busy asking faith and organizational leaders to sign WISDOM’s letter to the state finance committee, speaking at a finance committee hearing in Whitewater, and participating in WISDOM’s Virtual Action Day which included virtual visits with legislators. All legislators have received paper copies of Wisdom Priorities for Wisconsin. If you would like an electronic copy, email [email protected]. Our quarterly bi-parish Facing Racism Group meeting yielded an unexpected connection with a south shore group interested in contacting their finance committee representative. Have you contacted your state legislator yet? The 2021-2023 WI budget provides a unique opportunity to foster social justice, save money, and develop bipartisanship. 4 Please email Senator Dale Kooyenga or phone him (866) 817-6061 if you live in Wauwatosa, Elm Grove, Brookfield or New Berlin because he serves on the finance committee. Otherwise, find your legislators here. Emails and calls should be short and include your address. Something like “fully fund TAD (treatment alternatives and diversions), earned early release, and transitional jobs to save money and increase public safety.” Want additional information on issues? Contact WISDOM or Mary Carian at [email protected] or (414) 258-2162. PLEASE CALL or EMAIL your legislators ASAP. WISDOM is a WI affiliation of primarily faith-based groups working for social justice. MICAH (Milwaukee Inner City Churches Allied for Hope) is affiliated with WISDOM. St. Sebastian Parish has belonged to MICAH for more than 30 years. Prayer & Worship >>> Personal Prayer Father Peter Patrick Kimani Communion with God Through Prayer All of us have different ways and forms of prayers. Some have adapted a certain spirituality of prayers. A prayer is a personal response to God’s presence. It’s a person-to-person communication with God. I would like to share the St. Ignatius of Loyola Daily Examen which I shared on the first Sunday of Lent.