SAINT JOHN the EVANGELIST
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Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe | November 22, 2020 SAINT JOHN the EVANGELIST CATHOLIC PARISH 8500 West Cold Spring Road | Greenfield, WI 53228 | 414-321-1965 | Fax: 414-321-4407 Pastor: Very Rev. Michael F. Merkt - Deacon: Steven F. Pemper . ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST · GREENFIELD From the Pastor’s Desk THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS On behalf of myself and the entire staff here at St. John’s Parish and School, may you have a very blessed and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. While the Covid-19 outbreak and flu season will change many of our traditional ways of celebrating, may we still find creative ways to reconnect with family and friends. Also, let us be thankful to God for all the blessings in our daily lives. And may we find time to relax and catch up on our rest. PRAYING FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY Fr. Michael From 1903 through 1946 lived a saintly Poor Clare Nun in Italy by the name of Sr. Maria Consolata Betrone. She had what we call a Mystical relationship with Jesus. In doing so, she also had a great devotion to the souls in Purgatory. The Lord told her in a revelation that this short simple prayer: “Jesus, Mary, I Love You, Save Souls” is a prayer that one may pray often and each time, releases souls from Purgatory. In this month of November, which is designated for us to pray for souls, let us develop a habit of praying throughout the day for men, women, and children who have gone before us asking God for their entrance into Heaven by praying : “Jesus, Mary, I Love You, Save Souls.” CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP APPEAL SJE Catholic Stewardship Appeal is falling short for the year. If you have not made a commitment yet, please do so. BLOOD DRIVE Please register for the St. John the Evangelist Blood Drive, being held on Wednesday, November 25, 11:00am - 4:00pm at Kulwicki Park, 10777 W. Cold Spring Road in Greenfield. There is an immediate need for blood. Sign up at https://bit.ly/stjohngreenfield1125 or call 877-232-4376. See the insert in today’s bulletin. 24-HOUR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION The following Angel of Peace Prayer was taught to the three children of Fatima during the Angel’s apparition to them in the fall of 1916: “Oh Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.” St. John’s is fortunate to have 24-hour Perpetual Adoration. Please take advantage of this beautiful opportunity to stay close to God. Hand sanitizer is available at the Adoration entrance (south side of Church) and we ask that you wear a mask and stay at least six feet from others while in Church. There is an open hour on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00pm. Please call Kay Shomperlen if interested in volunteering at 414-763-1250. CD of the Week: Why Almsgiving Advent, the season in which we prepare for Christmas, is a penitential season. One of the key acts of penance that the Church recommends is almsgiving. But why? Citing the Old and New Testaments, the Catechism, and his own engaging personal stories, professor and author Dr. Michael Barber explains the “inner logic” of almsgiving, and how this often-misunderstood aspect of our faith is a critically important good work, related to our own unmerited redemption in Jesus Christ. Pick up a copy of this CD in the Narthex. Suggested donation is $4. 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 Nov. 22 Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Nov. 25 Nov. 26 Nov. 27 Nov. 28 Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. The Late Rev. Dennis Michael Thomas Andrew Paul Richard Edward . Lewis Lightner Lijewski Linn Lippert Liska Lisowski NOVEMBER 22, 2020 · OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE From the Principal’s Desk I am in my 14th year as principal here at SJE, I have been writing a weekly bulletin article for about 10 of those years. Those of you who faithfully read my musings each week know that I often look back at the articles from previous years. I started doing this because it helps me to make sure that I am including important information. However, along the way it has become valuable in considering where we were, how we have built on the challenges along the way, and, of course, an opportunity to think about how we have grown to where we are. Mary Laidlaw-Otto The challenges we face this year were completely unimaginable last year at this time, when we were planning how to fit in painting and the installation of new flooring in our hallways. Right now, in the face of daily reports of disease burden, sudden pivots to virtual education, and friends and family suffering through illness, everything I shared with you last year seems, at best, unimportant. Our days have changed in so many ways. Instead of greeting students with a handshake in the morning, each child must have their temperature taken as they enter the building. Once inside, we work to remain apart (with varying degrees of success). These practices have allowed us to stay in person thus far. In spite of these challenges, as we approach Thanksgiving, there are still so many things to be grateful for. I am grateful for the good humor of our students and teachers. Our days are filled with “aha” moments. Our students light up with new discoveries, mastery of skills, and experimentation. Our teachers, working to plan for both in person and virtual students, faced with daily news of quarantine, and endlessly adjusting their lessons to meet the needs of all learners, regardless of where the learning is taking place, maintain the positive attitudes necessary to nurture emotional health for our students. Last, but certainly not least, I am grateful for our parish staff. Fr. Michael, Karen Schulteis, and Denise Kasulke work together to ensure that our students have the opportunity to come together for Mass each week, in person, and that our Mass is live-streamed for parents and parishioners. If you have not watched one of our school Masses, I strongly encourage you to take time to join us in prayer. There are many lessons for which to be grateful this year. Perhaps the most important one is that of support for each other. Together, we are a strong team. For that, I am the most grateful. Together in God’s Name. Mark your calendars for our annual Home and School Cookie Walk - pandemic edition. Pre-packed one-pound boxes of home- made Christmas cookies will be available for pre-purchase and pickup after Masses on December 12 and 13. Cookies are priced reasonably at $8 per pound. To order, call the school office at 414-321-8540 or use the order form in next week’s bulletin. Cousins Sub Day to Benefit SJE School - Wednesday, November 25, 2020, ALL DAY, 7495 W. Layton Avenue in Greenfield SCRIP cards for Cousins are available at the parish office during regular business hours or after all weekend Masses. THE JEWISH ROOTS OF ADVENT - RECAP On November 14, we had a wonderful retreat on the meaning of Advent. In reading from the Old Testament, we found a lot of meaning in looking through Popes, Catechism, and Holy Scripture. Adventus is the Latin word meaning “coming.” To begin, we need to understand that Advent has a two-fold meaning: Second Advent of Christ as Judge (GK Parousia; Matt 24:27; 1 Cor 15:23; 2 Thess 2:8) and First Advent of Christ in the Incarnation. Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming to us is remembered; and as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ’s Second Austin Rahill Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation. We see Advent in an existential way as it is happening and is going to happen. The two events are past and future in that Jesus came through the Incarnation and will come again for the Judgement of the World. It is a unique time to prepare for Christmas and rejoice that it has already come and that it may be our last. In the final analysis, as the Church waits for the Lord, we have to endure what He did. This is very much prophetic to where we are right now. As we read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), we see it spelled out: Before Christ's second coming, the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on Earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in His death and Resurrection. The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God's victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from Heaven.