Anniversary of Fr. Reginald
Fr. Reginald, who periodically helps with daily Masses and Confessions at St. John’s, celebrates the 12th anniversary of his ordination this Sunday, October 20. In celebration of his anniversary, he will be both the main celebrant and homilist at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. May we ask God’s continued blessing on him and give thanks for all of his ministry here at St. John’s.
Landscaping
As the completion of the interior of the new bathroom approaches in early November, the outside area is being landscaped. A big thank you to one of our parishioners, Marty Gregorcich, who donated a Japanese Maple tree in memory of his wife. Last week, Larry Elliott and Marty planted the tree.
Also, a gracious thank you to the many gardeners who have labored since Spring in the many gardens that bless the parish property. Of all the years since the gardens were first planted, I would say I have heard more compliments on the beauty of the grounds this year. On a side note, the gardeners are aware that their bodies are aging, and they could use some younger volunteers to help them next spring in the flower beds—more information on these opportunities to come.
While there are many lovely flower beds outside, we also have welcoming flowers in the church throughout the seasons of the year. A hardy thank you to the committee that keeps the church looking so beautiful. In August, many of the beautiful gladiolas were donated by parishioner Josephine Cerda. And now, as we enter the fall months, the colorful mums in Church were donated by the New Berlin Farmers Market and owners and parishioners Joe and Becky Sanfelippo.
In Preparation for November and
Praying for the Souls in Purgatory
In preparation for praying for the Souls in Purgatory, we were able to obtain the prayer pamphlet A Month with our Friends, the Souls in Purgatory. We have received these prayer pamphlets through the generosity of parishioners John and Donnella McAdams. We ask for a donation of $5 for each booklet, and the money will be used to have Masses said for the Souls in Purgatory. The booklet is compiled so that there are prayers and reflections for each day of the 30 days of Praying for the Souls. The author of this spiritually valuable pamphlet, Fr. Berlioux, states: “The objective of this short work is to relieve the dead and to be of use to the living. It is a well-known fact in the Christian world that the prayers of the living are beneficial to the dead. However, we are not sufficiently aware of how beneficial for the living are the suffrages (their prayers for our benefit) of the dead.”
2024 Catholic Stewardship Appeal
Our goal for this year’s Archdiocesan Stewardship Appeal is $71,000. As of today, we have donations of $38,423. We are quite behind compared to past years of generous giving. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to this Appeal, as it helps the Archbishop run the Diocese and its many valuable ministries.
Christmas Concert Voices Needed
If you would be interested in joining the Adult Choir just for the Christmas Concert on December 8 this year, please reach out to Karen Schulteis at the parish office (kschulteis@stjohns-grfd.org or (414) 321-1965, ext. 125). This is a short-term commitment that would involve five to six rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Why not give it a try?
Work Where Your Faith Is
Mrs. Spiegelhoff, our 4th-grade teacher, recently resigned due to medical issues. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
We need a 4th-grade teacher. Here is a link to the job posting on the Archmil website. If you or anyone you know might be interested, please contact Mr. Oberdorf at 414-321-1965.
Narthex Bathroom Project
The St. John’s Christian Women's Society will meet on Thursday, October 31, at 6:00 p.m. in the Church Hall. Their guest speaker will be “The Victorian Undertaker.” Be sure to wear something spooky for Halloween. And please remember to return your filled “Boxes of Joy” for the children in foreign countries at Christmas. All women are welcome to join.
Also, mark your calendars for the Christian Women Harvest Craft & Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Over 65 exhibitors will be present throughout the Gym, School hallways, and Church Hall.
Join us on Thursday, October 17, and every third Thursday for our council meeting in the parish hall. We will start by praying the Rosary (all are welcome) at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.
If you want to discover what the Knights are all about, join us for the Rosary or the meeting; contact Len, Peter, or Jason.
Len Felske, Membership Director, at 414-339-5779
Peter Kurz, Worthy Grand Knight, at 414-659-2656
Jason Zidek, Deputy Grand Knight, at 414-793-0450
We have many programs you may be interested in participating in or leading.
https://www.kofc.org/en/what-we-do/faith-in-action-programs/index.html
We have a weekly prayer service each Monday to start our week. In our prayer service this week, we reflected on one of the greatest gifts that God has given us, the Blessed Mother. In the coming weeks, we will learn different devotions to Our Lady to help develop a greater love for Mother Mary and set our souls on fire for God. Our focus for this prayer service was the power of the Rosary. Mrs. Prideaux, our first-grade teacher, did an outstanding job of explaining the power of reciting the Rosary. The videos we watched, the prayers we said, and the passionate lecture on the power of prayer by Mrs. Prideaux were evident when a few of our students decided to break out their rosaries at recess.
Field trip fun! Our K4- 2nd grade students spent the day at Green Meadows Farm. Pony rides, hay rides, farm animals, a kitten barn, multiple playgrounds, and picking a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch were all part of the fun. The students had an outstanding time.
Our 7th and 8th graders volunteered at Feeding America. In under two hours, they sorted, packed, and labeled 4,225 pounds of food, which translates into 3,520 meals. Students had a great attitude while providing a much-needed service for hungry families in Milwaukee County.
"Go Out and Set Your Soul on Fire for God!"
After-School Care Help Needed
St. John the Evangelist School seeks to hire someone part-time in our After-School program. The employee provides a safe, fun program for students each school day from 2:30 p.m. until approximately 6:00 p.m. (or until the last student goes home). This new hire may choose to work two to five days per week, and a schedule will be worked out with our other after-school care providers. The employee must be willing to supervise students outdoors, as well as engage in indoor activities such as board games. The position is open immediately. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, willing to submit to a criminal background check, and participate in Archdiocesan Safeguarding training.
If interested, please call the school principal, Ben Oberdorf, at 414-321-8540 or email at boberdorf@sje.school.
Embark on a Spiritual Journey Through
St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle
Last week, parishioners embarked on a study of St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. This captivating masterpiece of spiritual writing offers a profound exploration of the human soul’s journey toward union with God. Using the evocative image of a castle, St. Teresa guides us through seven dwelling places, each representing a distinct stage of spiritual growth. From the outer courtyard to the inner sanctum, we witness the transformative power of grace as the soul is gradually purified and elevated. There’s still time to join our book study, which will meet on October 25, November 8 and 22, December 13, and January 10 and 24. To join us on this deep dive into the rich tapestry of St. Teresa’s experiences and teachings and to gain a deeper understanding of your own spiritual path, visit:
Join us for a special evening of faith and theater on Sunday, October 27, at 3:00 p.m. Milwaukee’s acclaimed Christian theater company, Acacia Theater, proudly presents Acts of Peace: A Journey through One Acts. Directed by the talented trio of Elaine Rewolinski, Alexandria Eggert, and Janet Bouman, this thought-provoking production explores themes of faith, community, and human connection.
- Theophilus North explores the story of a young man who leaves his hometown and discovers a sense of community.
- The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden follows a family as it finds solace and connection during a difficult time.
- King of Kings, Prince of Peace tells the timeless story of God’s love for humanity.
Following the performance, we’ll gather for dinner at a local restaurant to discuss our impressions and connect with fellow parishioners. Tickets are $12 per person. Please contact me at 414-321-8922 or jpshimek@stjohns-grfd.org to reserve your ticket.
Celebrate fall with memorable stories, good friends, and delicious treats! Join us for Storytelling After Dark on Tuesday, October 29, at 7:00 p.m. Acclaimed Catholic authors Joshua Hren (Founder and Editor of Wiseblood Books) and Sally Thomas will share their talents at Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. in Walker’s Point. This free public event is the perfect way to connect with friends and your local community. But space is limited, so register today!
As always, you can stay updated with the latest information about programs and other offerings by joining our SJE Adult Formation Flocknote or following us on Facebook.
October 20 | The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Friends, in today’s Gospel, James and John ask Jesus to place them in high places in his kingdom. They are asking for two of the classic four substitutes for God: wealth, pleasure, power, and honor, specifically for the last two. Power is not, in itself, a bad thing. And the same is true of honor. Thomas Aquinas said that honor is the flag of virtue. It’s a way of signaling to others something that’s worth noticing.
So, what’s the problem? The problem is that they are asking for these two things in the wrong spirit. The ego will want to use power, not for God’s purposes or in service of truth, beauty, and goodness, but for its own aggrandizement and defense. When honor is sought for its own sake or in order to puff up the ego, it becomes dangerous as well.
So what’s the way out? “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” When you serve others, when you become the least, you are accessing the power of God, and you are seeking the honor of God.
-Bishop Robert Barron
Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Faith.
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St. John’s is fortunate to have 24-hour Perpetual Adoration. Please take advantage of this beautiful opportunity to stay close to God.
We need a second Adorer on many of the overnight hours, especially 12 midnight, 1 a.m., and 2 a.m., any night of the week. These hours are a bit of a sacrifice, to be sure, but there is great peacefulness in the quiet overnight hours. You can always try it out for a few weeks and see how it works for you.
Call or text Mary-Eileen Swart at 414-687-3512 if you are interested.
Live-streaming: Mass and Adoration
We are live-streaming daily and Sunday Masses as well as Adoration for those who are unable to attend:
Daily Masses:
Monday thru Saturday 8:00 am
Weekend Masses:
Saturday at 4:30 pm
Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 am
If you miss the Livestream, you can watch the upload of each Mass on our YouTube channel.
Scrip is available at all weekend Masses or during regular business hours at the parish office.
Download the RaiseRight app to reload cards, purchase ecards, or purchase physical cards. Contact the Parish Office or School Office for the enrollment code.