ST. CATHERINE

CHURCH

www.saintcatherine51.org

Here to Stay, Here to Serve! How Receptive Am I to the Word of God?

If you ask anyone, even children, ”Why do you eat food?,” We are a Christ-centered community, the vital and they will all have a common answer—food is necessary for life. spiritual presence of the Catholic Church It provides nutrients that provide energy for activity, growth in Sherman Park and beyond. and all functions of the body such as breathing and keeping Living the Gospel, we welcome, learn, serve and celebrate. warm; as well as materials for the growth and repair of the body and for keeping the immune system healthy. If you don’t have food, you become weak and die. Food is for the body as the word of God is for the soul.

The question we all need to ask ourselves, then, is how often do I nourish my soul with the word of God? If we don’t nourish our souls, we become spiritually weak, and we fall to any small temptation or tribulation that comes our way. The majority of us are typical Catholics; we never read the scripture by our- selves—we only hear the scripture read at Mass. It’s okay if we only hear it at Mass, but the question which arises is: do we pay attentionto the word of God; do we treasure it and put it into practice? The word of God is not informative, but transforma- tive. We need to be transformed and become like Christ.

The first reading and the gospel have a common theme which is a question:“ How receptive am I to the word of God?” Both readings present seeds as an analogy for the word of God. “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”(Is.55:10-11)

The gospel poses another question: “What type of soil does my life offer to receive the word of God?” The sower in the parable is Jesus; the seed is God’s word and the seedbeds— path, rock, thorns, and good soil—are we who listen to God’s word. The problem is not that we fail to receive God’s word, but that we fail to treasure it and put it into practice.

There are three steps involved in responding to God’s word: receiving it, treasuring it and practicing it. First, receiving it; we might call it “mind.” Our mind needs to listen attentively as God’s word is read and explained. Second, treasuring it; we might call it “heart.” We need to take the word of God to heart and consider its implication in our lives. Third, putting God’s word into practice; we might call “soul.” This is the Member of the Westside Catholic Parishes deepest, truest meaning. Every time we hear the word of with Saint Sebastian God, we need to be transformed. I challenge you to read the readings before attending Mass, so your “soil” will be prepared July 12, 2020 to receive God’s word. Fr. Peter Patrick Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Parish Office … 445-5115 ... Fax 445-5198 Mass Intentions & Scripture Readings 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Monday - Friday Sunday, July 12 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time [email protected] - [email protected] 9:00 am † Elaine Long-Smith (Carol Sample) [email protected] St. Sebastian Office … 453-1061 Is 55:10-11/Ps 65:10-14/Rom 8:18-23/Mt 13:1-23 Monday, July 13 St. Henry Parish Staff Rev. Peter Patrick Kimani, Pastor Is 1:10-17/Ps 50:8-23/Mt 10:34;11:1 Ralph & Jane Kornburger, Deacon Couple Tuesday, July 14 St. Kateri Tekakwitha Amy Rebholz, Child Formation Minister 8:30 am † Frank & Esther Hunt († Mary Hunt) Ed Duncklee, Adult Formation Is 7:1-9/Ps 48:2-8 /Mt 11:20-24 Margaret Lee, Youth & Young Adult Minister Wednesday, July 15 St. Bonaventure Doug Scott, Director Is 10:5-7, 13b-16/Ps 94:5-15/Mt 11:25-27 Carole Poth, Cluster Administrator Thursday, July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Joann Perleberg, Director of Finances Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19/Ps 102:13-21/Mt 11:28-30 Sister Pat Russell, Parish Office Assistant Friday, July 17 Parish School 445-2846 Fax 445-0448 8:30 am † Lillian & William Bauer (Estate) Jade Cottrell,Principal Office Open 7:30 am - 3:30 pm Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8/Is 38:10-16/Mt 12:1-8

Parish Trustees Sunday, July 19 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Toni Wagner, Secretary - Mary Brooks, Treasurer 9:00 am † Frank & Esther Hunt († Mary Hunt)

Pastoral Council Wis 12:13, 16-19/Ps 86:5-16/Rom 8:26-27/Mt 13:24-43 Miguel Camacho, Brendan Holahan, Kathy Kent, Mary Kroli- kowski, Matt Melendes, James Napper, Jessica Quintanilla, Liturgical Ministers Kris Reck, Brenda Scharping, Becky Troy Sunday, July 12 - 9:00 am - Fr. Peter Patrick The Week Ahead Lector Ron Ranallo Sunday, July 12 Sunday, July 19 - 9:00 am 9:00 am Mass (Church) Lector Marianne Hondel

Tuesday, July 14 8:30 am Mass (Church) Reflections on this Sunday’s Readings 9:30 am St. Vincent de Paul Meeting (R) First Reading – Isaiah 55: 10-11 1:00 pm Building and Grounds Meeting (R) The Jews in captivity are hopeful that they will soon be 4:00 pm School Committee (Online) released from Babylon. The prophet reminds them of their 6:30 pm Spiritual Life and Worship (R) dependence in and on God. Friday, July 17 —In what ways are you God’s agent, helping the Word of God 8:30 am Mass (Church) spread and helping God achieve the Kingdom? Saturday, July 18 —How have you seen God work wonders even in an 9:00 am Trail Experience Garden Club “impossible” situation? Sunday, July 19 9:00 am Mass (Church) Second Reading – Romans 8: 18-23 We are all born dying – this is an inescapable truth. Our entire “Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see life, long or short, is preparation for death and our afterlife. In good days?” from the Prologue to the Rule of St. Benedict this passage, Paul preaches that ALL of creation longs for eter-

Do you wish to live a balanced, meaningful and more contem- nal life with God for it surpasses all experience in this life. We plative life? To increase your spiritual strength? Then consider live with a question of balance; we must live well in this life yet joining us, Milwaukee area Oblates of St. Benedict. We are part we must not cling to it so dearly that we fear eternal life. of the oblate community of Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madi- —To what do you look forward in the next life? son. Our values are based in the Bible and the Rule of St. Bene- Gospel – Matthew 13: 1-23 dict. We are not a religion, but are a learning community that Imagine yourself in this crowd. Why are you here? What do honors diversity and difference, and includes women and men you seek from this Jesus? Jesus meant his parables to shock from a wide range of religious backgrounds and traditions. If and befuddle his audience for a reason; he told parables to you are interested or would like more information, go to bene- make his audience think beyond their expectations. dictinewomen.org/oblates, click on “learn more about becom- ing an oblate candidate,“ and complete the form that follows. The parable of the sower and the seed still poses a challenge Or contact Marge Nixon at [email protected] today to “those who have ears.” —How would you describe God’s abundant blessings today? —How can we risk our hearts (like the soil in the parable) to Regular Contributions from 6/28/20 $186,227 Prior YTD Amount 189,528 receive God's Word (like the seeds)? Surplus/Deficit vs. Prior Year $ (3,301) July 12, 2020|2 Pray for Our Sick Celebrate Confirmation! Maryl Barrett, Michael Barton, Carol & Joe Brien, Tom Cavanaugh, We rejoice as Yvette Baczinski will celebrate the Annie Coleman, Chuck Cooney, Ellie Cunningham, Elaine Fernando, Sacrament of Confirmation, Sunday, July 26, at Mass. Ernest Herre, James Krutina, Evelyn Martinez, Bev & Gerry Narus, Diane Neicheril, Steve O’Connell, Andréa Olds, Tom Plakut, David Pleskatcheck, Ron & Trudy Ranallo, Don Richards, Margaret Schmidt, Get Out The Vote! Sr. Mary Ann Schmidt, Carmel Stage, Bill Steger, Larry Teufel, Kathy The right to vote is a treasured benefit of being a citizen of this Zambo country and a sacred responsibility of an American Catholic. Common Ground is sponsoring an initiative to make sure all More Reading Tutors Are Needed . . . citizens are registered and encouraged to vote. Do YOU know for the 2020-12 school year. The Ignatian Volunteer Corps of anyone in your , acquaintances or neighborhood who sponsors the program which has been active in our school for may not be registered to vote? Our Common Ground team will the past two years. Each tutor works one-on-one with the contact them and walk them through the process. Contact Toni same two or three students in K-5 through 3rd grade once a Wagner and Margaret Ward, co-chairs of this important work. week for 1 1/2 hours. Training and learning modules give vol- unteers support. For information or to volunteer, Contact Kath- “Let Justice Surge Like Water” Amos:5:24 leen Mantz at [email protected] How do the Scriptures call us to justice? How can a believer in God’s love for all his people respond to this call? Share an ex- Senior Ministry perience when your stand for justice met opposition. Send arti- “It is reasonable for a senior to question if now is the time to cles for Reflections of Faith to [email protected] make a move. Living in the midst of a pandemic puts a new light on everything, including the idea of changing your ad- Catechesis via Zoom dress. There are many reasons why someone considers leaving Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd teachers, Julie Ristow their home of many years: their home may become less a la- and Marie Fessenbecker, met with their Level 1 class this past bor of love and more just a labor; maybe the stairs have be- week. They sang some songs and did a couple of “mini-lessons” come more difficult to navigate; or in the midst of their isola- and reported how responsive the children were and how good tion they’ve had the time to assess their life in a new light. I it was to see them. Thank you, Julie and Marie! heard someone reference our new world with this statement recently. ’You know the world hasn’t stopped.’ Unfortunately Black Men in Prison it has for some people; they only see what they’ve lost, instead "We are currently in an era of mass incarceration and excessive of considering that in every circumstance there are gifts punishment in which the politics of fear and anger . . . reinforce waiting to be opened and acknowledged.” Adele Lund the narrative of racial difference. We imprison people of color

Sustainability at record levels by making up new crimes, which are dispropor- tionally enforced against those who are black or brown. We are You can reduce air conditioning energy use 20-50% by switch- the nation with the highest rate of incarceration in the world, ing to high-efficiency air conditioners and taking other actions a phenomenon that is inexorably linked to our history of racial to lower your home cooling costs. While the quickest way to inequality." Bryan Stevenson:America's Original Sin by Jim Wallis save energy is to regularly clean and replace your cooling unit’s filters, the least expensive and most energy-efficient way Save the Date! to cool a home is ventilation. More at: energy.gov/downloads/ “Mixtape,” St. Sebastian’s variety show scheduled for last energy-saver-101-home-cooling-infographic March, has been rescheduled for Friday, April 16, & Saturday, Supplies for St. Catherine Community Kitchen April 17, 2021. Look forward to music and laughter brought to As we begin to look to the time when we can gather for meals you by St. Catherine and St. Sebastian entertainers! and parties in our parishes, St. Catherine’s is looking to earn some supplies that will be anti-bacterial and safe for the gen- Book Club . . . eral community. We are having an online “Norwex Party” to is reading My French Whore by Gene Wilder and will meet get these products. These are quality products which may be Thursday, July 23, at 5:30 pm. familiar to many of you. To learn more about products you would purchase for your home and benefit St. Catherine’s, Eucharistic Liturgiesare celebrated on Sundays at 9:00 am. check out our parish website between July 9-18. For those who Weekday Mass is at 8:30 am, T & Fr in church; at 8:15 am online at St. Sebastian/Facebook, M & W would like to see a catalogue, one will be available in the par- For an Infant’s Baptism, contact the parish office during the ish office. Two people who use and recommend the products prenatal time to begin preparation. are Annie Wiesen and Jessica Quintanilla. Your support is ap- Those discerning a call to Marriage should contact the parish preciated. Questions? Call Mary Miller 414-962-9844 office at least six months prior to the wedding date.

Recovery Groups-All groups meet in the Community Ctr. For Non-Infant Baptisms, First Communion, First Reconcilia- AA: Sunday 11:00 am AAA: Thursday 7:00 pm tion, Confirmationand Information about the Catholic Church, call the parish office. Tuesday 7:00 pm Friday 6:30 pm Confessions/Reconciliation -2nd & 4th Sunday, & every 5th Sunday before Mass. Or schedule with Fr. Peter Patrick. 3 | St Catherine Church, Milwaukee WI

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