PARISH 1722 Highland Avenue ● Eau Claire ● Wisconsin May 24th, 2020 ~ The Ascension of the Lord

PASTOR Fr. Francis Thadathil, MSFS….715-514-1022 [email protected] DEACON Dn. Gregory Power……………..715-828-2746 [email protected] ALL OPEN MASSES ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE CONFESSIONS By appointment only. Call Fr. Francis at 715-514-1022 or Email at [email protected] PARISH OFFICE Open Daily, Shortened Hours. You can leave message on Parish phone or send and email and it will be answered as soon as possible. Deb Welch, Secretary..……...... 715-835-9935 Julie Herman, Bulletins Bulletin deadline: Friday 5pm, 1 Week Prior [email protected] SCHOOL Kayla Bahnub, Principal…...…..715-830-2276

P.R.E.P. (Parish Religious Education Preparation) Linda Corey, Director……….....715-835-7721 [email protected] PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL John Sackett, Chair…………..…715-379-3202 BUILDING & GROUNDS Ed Kassing………………………..715-456-5080 PARISH NURSE On this Memorial Day, we pray for those who courageously laid down Karen Dolan……………..…….....715-579-5601 their lives for the cause of fre\dom. May the examples of their sacrifice inspire in us the selfles love of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. MUSIC Bles the families of our fal`en trocps, and fil` their homes and Shawn Muench, Director [email protected] their lives with Your strength and peace. PRAYER CHAIN Mary………………………………..715-834-6852 Nancy……………………………...715-834-5610 CALL THE PARISH OFFICE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR:  Joining the Parish Immaculate Conception Parish strives to be a faith-filled, Christ-centered  Weddings community, sharing the gifts of time, talent and treasure. We gather for  Baptisms worship and fellowship, provide opportunities for growth through  Anointing of the sick education and formation, serve the parish community and others in need,  If you are home-bound & would like to be and welcome all people, thereby witnessing to Christ’s love and presence. visited Immaculate Conception Eau Claire, Wisconsin MASS INTENTIONS PARISH NEWS Continued

Mass Intentions MONDAY, May 25th Weekday If you would like a Mass said for your loved one or an intention, please contact the Parish Office TUESDAY, May 26th at 715-835-9935 Philip Neri, Priest Mass Intention †Anne Herman From the IC Parish Emergency Response Team... WEDNESDAY, May 27th We are grateful for our parish donors who have generously given money Easter Weekday to support the team's efforts. Some of the funds have been converted Mass Intention †Jenni Netland into scrip cards (gas, food, pharmacy) which financially benefits BOTH †John Oberbeck our Parish and RCS. We have been able to assist several Parish and THURSDAY, May 28th RCS families experiencing difficulties at this time and remain in operation Easter Weekday to assist many more individuals and families that may experience Mass Intention †Joe Orfe financial stress or food insecurity in the coming months. Thank you to the team of our volunteers and those parish members who have donated. FRIDAY, May 29th To volunteer or request help, contact : Easter Weekday Dan Leibham at 715-225-4532: email [email protected] Mass Intention †Edna Christenson Patty Usher at 715-563-5368: email: [email protected] SATURDAY, May 30th Pentecost Sunday Thank Your for Supporting your Church Mass Intention †Rose Flanders Thank you for continuing to make contributions to the Church. We SUNDAY, May 31st cannot survive without your generous support. Drop any donation in the Pentecost Sunday mail slot, left of the Parish Office door. 8:30am Mass Intention †LaVerne Klees 10:30am Mass Intention †Deceased members  Mail in your weekly/monthly offering to: of the Andrews Family 1712 Highland Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701  Send payments through your online banking.  You can sign up for ACH Donations. Please use the link on the website for the ACH Form. It will need to be returned to the Parish Office with a voided check. Please be sure to be clear about which week(s) you would like to donate in the month, and when to start.  Go to https://diolc.org/immaculate-conception-eau-claire/ for online PARISH NEWS giving. Use your credit or debit card to make a one-time or recurring donation to Immaculate Conception. Families Joining for the Mass People that are having Masses said, may come to the Mass, provided Reopening the Church for Public Masses at Weekends there are less than 8 people, and you arrange time and number with Fr. Francis prior to the Mass. We earnestly desire it. We pray for the reopening to happen soon. We Masses are not going to be celebrated at the usual times. Therefore, the might have mixed feelings about it. We also hear of the scaling up of the particular families need to check with Fr. Francis in advance. A time can spread of virus due to the mass gatherings elsewhere in the country. be set that works the best for all. All that it tells us is caution required. Bishops of Wisconsin have taken a close watch of the reality that surrounds the spread of the virus. Let us *DIRECTION FOR ALL THOSE WHO COME TO PRAY* appreciate the efforts of our leaders, be it government leaders or the Our Church remains open from 7:00am till 4:30pm on all days of the religious leaders. week. Parishioners are free to come and pray individually in the church. The good news is that the Diocese of Lacrosse is developing the It is important for everyone who comes in to pray, to check that no more process for the reopening of churches for Sunday mass. Safety than 10 people are physically present in the Church at the same time. measures and strict protocols are to be established by each Parish. Please sit in Reserved Areas. If you need Spiritual Assistance Diocesan-level training of the volunteers will take place. The volunteer (Confession/Communion/Anointing), call Fr. Francis at 715-514-1022. teams of the Parish will be given training. Once every Parish has met all the requirements, the Bishop would give his approval for the opening of Watch our Parish Website for Up-to-date Information: the Church. Website: https://www.ic-ec.us/ In the meeting of the Parish Council members, the measures to be Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iccatholicchurch/ followed here at Immaculate Conception Parish will be reviewed. Immaculate Conception Masses: I request every member of the Parish to be patient with this process for Livestream - https://www.youtube.com/channel/ the greater good of the community. Let us remain positive. Personally, UCsDc1NP_PItBX6sVMCDqong?view_as=subscriber I thank you for your continuing support to me and the Parish. Diocesan Masses: Live Stream Schedule at diolc.org/live Sunday Mass with Bishop Callahan – 9:30 am, on Channel 18 Daily Mass (Monday-Saturday) from the Cathedral – 8:00am Web Site: ic-ec.us facebook.com/iccatholicchurch PARISH NEWS Continued FORMED ~ Have you registered yet?

Blood Drive FORMED SUBSCRIPTION RENEWED Our next blood drive is scheduled for Monday, Unlimited use for one year! You can use any device from anywhere at June 15th from 12:00pm - 6:00pm. There is a anytime! We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy greater need of blood since COVID-19 has the benefits to watch, read, learn… Learn your faith at a deeper level evolved. There will be extra precautions taken. For through movies, talks and discussions, etc.. those individuals who are able to donate, thank Go to ic-ecwi.formed.org create your personal account, then use you! Blood has never been needed more than at code 3R7T8Y for access. times like these! Sign up at redcrossblood.org. Through the generous donations of Parish Members, FORMED is again EFFECTIVE: May 1,2020 The American Red Cross continues to closely offered for the next year to our Parishioners. monitor the evolving situation of COVID-19. Our commitment to operate blood drives in the safest way possible for our donors, volunteers and FORMED ~What’s on... staff remains a top priority. SAFETY FIRST At each blood drive, In addition to our standard procedures, we have implemented additional precautions that you will notice at your local blood drive: Wellness and Protection • Checking temperature of all staff, volunteers and donors before entering blood drive. If any staff, volunteer or donor has a temperature greater than 99.5°F they will not be able to donate/work at the drive. Staff and volunteers will wear gloves throughout entire drive, changing gloves often. All staff, volunteers and donors will be required to wear face masks or coverings at the blood drive in alignment with CDC public guide lines. Please bring your own mask if you have one or one will be provided by Red Cross. There will be donor educational materials on COVID-19 and stop sign at entrances to avert ineligible donors. Hand sanitizer will be available at check-in, health history and refreshment areas and blood donors will be asked to use it before and during the donation process. Donors beds will be sanitized between every donor. Emil Kapaun—priest, soldier, and hero—was a rare man. Routinely disinfecting common surfaces at the drive. Donor areas will be He was awarded posthumously the , the nation's highest set up to allow 6 feet distancing. Only blood donors will be permitted at military award, and is also being considered by the Vatican for the blood drive. After check-in, donors will be asked to wait in a as a saint. designated area (or even car), donors may be asked for a phone number to get notified it’s their turn. Just as remarkable are the many non-Catholic witnesses who attest to For more information on COVID-19 go to RedCrossblood.org Father Kapaun's heroism: the Protestants, Jews, and Muslims who either Please contact Karen Dolan @ [email protected] served with the military in the thick of battle or endured with him or call 715-579-5601 if you have any concerns. the incredibly brutal conditions of a camp. These Korean War veterans, no matter their religion, agree that Father Kapaun did We need teams of volunteers! more to save lives and maintain morale than any other man they know. The diocesan instruction is to have teams of volunteers from the “not Then there are the alleged miracles— and recent healings attributed to vulnerable” category (the age group of 25-60 years, who are healthy and Father Kapaun's intercession that defy scientific explanation. Under have no symptoms of Covid 19 or issues related to respiratory health). investigation by the Vatican as a necessary step in the process of Here’s an invitation to the healthy and fearless, young persons of the canonization, these cures witnessed by non-Catholic doctors are also parish to engage in service to the community. If you are ready, please covered in this book. send an email to: In tracking down the story of Father Kapaun for the Wichita Eagle, Wenzl Dan Leibham at 715-225-4532: email [email protected] and Heying uncovered a paradox. Kapaun's ordinary background as the Patty Usher at 715-563-5368: email: [email protected] son of Czech immigrant farmers in Kansas sowed the seeds of his greatness. His faith, generosity, and grit began with his family's humility, thrift, and hard work.

KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS

Cyclone Amphan to hit Bangladesh and the coastal regions of India As this bulletin goes to press, I get the news of a Super Cyclone Amphan ANNOUNCING MARRIAGE BANNS forming in the Bay of Bengal, moving at a wind speed of 220-230kph. The forecast is that it will make landfall early on May 20th. It seems it is Kelly Anne Geraghty, daughter of Linda and James Geraghty of the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal according to data Immaculate Conception Parish, Eau Claire and William Louis Melcher, from the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center. It is the equivalent of a son of Joanne and William Melcher of Immaculate Conception Church, Category 5 hurricane and more powerful than Cyclone Sidr, which left a Eau Claire, have been engaged and agree to be married here at trail of devastation in Bangladesh’s southern coastal zone and killed Immaculate Conception Parish on June 6, 2020. more than 3,500 people in 2007. Please pray for their safety. Immaculate Conception Eau Claire, Wisconsin CONFIRMATION NEWS SCHOOL NEWS

Question of the Week for Mass on May 24: How can Jesus say “I The last day of instruction for the 2019-2020 School Year will be Friday, am with you always” at the very time he is physically leaving his May 22nd. Our faculty and staff have been working hard to keep our apostles to ascend into heaven? students learning at home. They have also taken the time to put together If you don’t hear the answer in the homily or know it from your some fun activities for the children, including Virtual Sports Day, a Virtual previous study of the faith, find the answer at FORMED.org. Go to Spirit Week and video calls to keep the children in touch with one ic-ecwi.formed.org to create your personal account, then use the code another. I want to personally thank our dedicated staff, our supportive 3R7T8Y for access. Once you have an account, sign in is two clicks parents and all parishioners for your continued hard work and prayers. away on the same device. Once you are in FORMED, use the search  The final curbside drop off of instructional materials will take place button. Type in ‘Opening the Word’ and click on this application to find Tuesday, May 26th from 1:30pm - 4:30pm and Wednesday, the six minute teaching on the May 24 readings. A short video reveals May 27th from 8am - 11am. the answer to the question and offers some great quotes from  The 5th Grade Promotion Mass and Ceremony will take place via Leo the Great and St. Teresa of Avila. Webex on Tuesday, May 26th at 9am. The ceremony will be 9th Grade Candidates: Your next and final Small Group Meeting of the recorded and shared at a later date. year is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th, 7pm - 8:30pm, via Zoom.  Report Cards will be mailed home the week of June 8th. See you then! Keep in mind the guidelines for considerate ‘zooming.’ We wish good luck to all our staff who will be leaving Immaculate All Candidates: Living Your Faith Hours Requirements… Conception this year! The minimum of seven hours service to the parish and the requirement Mrs. Donna Simon to participate in liturgical ministries is suspended. However, where Mrs. Amy Canfield service to the parish can be safely completed, candidates are encour- Ms. Sherry Lesczykowski aged to participate. The minimum number of service hours per year Mrs. Malia Clements is 15 hours, with deadline to complete them May 30th, for both 9th “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that and 10th graders. Service hour sheets can be placed in the box just you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” -Romans 15:13 inside the Sherwin Ave entrance of the church or saved as a PDF or word document and sent as an attachment in an email to Linda Corey. [email protected]. Include a selfie of yourself doing service, if you can—thanks!

PREP NEWS KIDS CORNER

Catechists, Aides, Small Group Leaders, Student Leaders: Turn in your Catechist Handbook (the binder or folder), textbooks and any other materials on loan from the parish by June 1st. There is a Pack ‘N Roll at the northwest entrance of the church for this purpose and that entrance is unlocked from 8:30am until 4:30pm, seven days a week. If you have questions or special requests regarding materials, call Linda at 715-514- 9560 before June 1st. Please return your END OF THE YEAR SURVEY by June 1st, as well. Thank you! Registration for 2020-2021: Please register your child(ren) early, so the new PREP/Confirmation Staff can plan for the needed number of volunteers, texts and materials. New to the parish? Don’t forget to register your family at the parish office by calling 715-835-9935. NEW STUDENT registration forms and RETURNING STUDENT registration forms are available on the parish website, ic-ec.us/. Go to the Religious Education Page to print out registration forms. You may also call or email the PREP & YM office. Contact us at 715-835-7721 or send an email to: [email protected]. Leave or send a message with your address and we will send the forms. A big THANK YOU to our catechists, catechist aides, and small group leaders, who have been FAITHFUL in keeping our program going through emails, videos and on-line learning! And parents and grandparents who are teaching at home and modeling the practice of prayer in or from the home: we affirm you!! The seeds of faith you plant today will sprout and grow in our children and grandchildren…THANKS BE TO GOD! We are HERE FOR YOU and please email if you have questions or concerns: Maureen Kolstad ([email protected]) for grades 1-5 and Linda Corey ([email protected]) for grades 6-10. Readings for the week of May 24, 2020 FROM THE PASTOR’S PEN Sunday: Ascension: Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 [6]/ Eph 1:17-23/Mt 28:16-20 The Pandemic has led Governments to enforce “Stay at Home Order” on th its citizens with a goal to reduce the spread of the virus. As always, in 7 Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:12-14/Ps 27:1, 4, 7-8 [13]/1 Pt 4:13-16/ tough times, the best and worst of human nature finds expression. We Jn 17:1-11a read, see and hear a lot of that every day. Over the past months, I have Monday: Acts 19:1-8/Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab [33a]/Jn 16:29-33 received several videos, quotes and cartoons related to this theme. Most Tuesday: Acts 20:17-27/Ps 68:10-11, 20-21 [33a]/Jn 17:1-11a of them are humorously thought provoking and inspiring. Recently a friend sent me a cartoon that has a group of children dressed up in Wednesday: Acts 20:28-38/Ps 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab [33a]/ construction attire and equipment, doing work over and around a Globe Jn 17:11b-19 with the caption: “The world is closed for Renovation, Grand opening Thursday: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 [1]/ soon. Stay home, stay safe”. It caught my attention because the week of Jn 17:20-26 May 16th - 24th has been celebrated as environmental protection week, Friday: Acts 25:13b-21/Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab [19a]/ marking the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Jn 21:15-19 Si’ (Praise Be to You), on care for our common home. This pandemic has brought home to us this truth ever more forcefully- earth is our Saturday: Morning: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31/Ps 11:4, 5 and 7 [cf. 7b]/ common home. Everything each of us does has an impact on it. Through Jn 21:20-25 this encyclical, Pope Francis has called on the Catholics of the world to Next Sunday: Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b or Ez 37:1-14 or care, protect and revive our environment from further destruction. Jl 3:1-5/Ps 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29, 30 [cf. 30]/ I don’t know under what circumstances the term “New Normal” has ever Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39. Extended Vigil: Gn 11:1-9/ been coined. At this time, our world shares a common critical moment. It Ps 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15/Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b/Dn 3:52, 53, reminds us all how normal each of us are in the most “essential” 55, 56 [52b] or Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11/Ez 37:1-14/Ps 107:2-3, denominators of life- food, water, shelter, calm, peace. These are 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [1]/Jl 3:1-5/Ps 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-28, 29, 30 essential and most important normal to us all. Yet for many around the [cf. 30]/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39. Day: Acts 2:1-11/ world, and especially at this time, this normal has become an Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 [cf. 30]/1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13/ excruciatingly abnormal reality. Jn 20:19-23 The Ascension - the departure of Jesus in his physical IN OTHER NEWS presence - suddenly catapulted the world of the disciples. Thrown into a “new normal” - a life without the immediate and close physical presence Maureen Kolstad and Linda Corey recently home-delivered gifts of of Jesus with them - was something they were forced to adapt appreciation to parish catechists, who served our parish families in themselves. The transition has not been easy for them. Just like us extraordinary ways this year. during this pandemic, we had to make swift modifications in every way with technology, they had to rely on a new technology - the invisible Advocate whom Jesus promised! They had to change and adapt knowing their limits and the power of this Advocate with them. From then on, their lives intertwined to a new normal - a collaborative work with the Advocate - the Spirit. Their lives entered on a new phase, and the rest is history. We are all in that history! What a joy and privilege to be a Catholic Christian in these trying times! This pandemic leads us also to a “new normal” - live streaming, social media and email blasts are now the new norm in the wake of restrictions and social distancing. All of us have been pushed into a massive change that we hardly ever imagined - online campus as church community. Would this experience serve as an effective ongoing tool to lead people to come to church? Or, would this allow the already consumer-oriented and disengaged church goers on the way out as this seems a less messy option? The answers are in your hearts. “...Grand opening soon”, said the caricature caption. When? How? After GIFT’S RETURNED TO GOD the pandemic, how would this world look like? One can never adequately Week of May 10th gauge the psychological, spiritual, social and economic fall out of this pandemic. “I wish, we could get back to the old normal,” said an elderly person to me the other day. And, as much as we wish things would go Envelopes: $14,619.90 back to normal, they probably won’t. Just as for the disciples, so to us Easter: $1,350.00 Thank now, we need the divine advocate to guide us not only now, but even ACH: $1,665.00 after the pandemic. With the divine helper at the side of the disciples Online: $1,606.99 You! they felt the power of a grand opening. May we too! Plate: $125.00

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DANIEL DONNELLAN REALTOR GRI, CRS, ABR 1233 W. Clairmont • Eau Claire TRUSTED PARISH MEMBER [email protected] Angela Prissel, D.C. Residential, Investment Property, 829 W. Clairemont Ave. • 833-3505 (715) 830-7444 Commercial Real Estate Parishioner www.myECchiro.com www.atsservicecenter.com 715.579.1418 *Call or Text

GAYLE M. KRECKLOW Broker/Owner | GRI, CRS, SRES

Where Service Comes First 20+ Years Licensed Broker GENERAL CONTRACTOR Parishioner 2147 Brackett Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 715.797.0211 [email protected] (715) 835-8175 • www.mclllc.com For ad info. call 1-800-950-9952 • www.4lpi.com Immaculate Conception, Eau Claire, WI A 4C 02-0205