The Call to Lenten Prayer-Some Thoughts
Studies continue to show that prayer is a very common activity, even among those who profess not to believe in God. Prayer is often defined as an intimate conversation with God, something we should work on doing regularly. When we pray, it is good to pray with faith and confidence. Pray with the practice and desire to forgive those who have offended us. And pray with persistence. Sometimes, we give up too easily on our prayers. St. Augustine said that God sometimes delays in giving us what we want because he wants our hearts to expand. Scripture tells us when we pray, we pray all in the name of Jesus.
A great opportunity for prayer is with daily Mass. When you are able, join us Monday through Saturday at 8:00 a.m. for daily Mass. This coming week, the Church is celebrating two of the great saints. On Monday, March 17, we celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick and the Feast of St. Joseph on Wednesday. Please join us as we celebrate.
Stations of the Cross
This Lent, we will have three opportunities to partake in the Stations of the Cross. We have Stations on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00 p.m. Our parish school students lead Stations on Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
Outstanding Fish Fry
This past week, we sold the most fish dinners (793) in two-and-a-half hours - a big thank you to all those who volunteer to make the fish fry’s such a success. There are many people involved in making for a successful Lenten Friday Fish Fry: from those who order the supplies, those who prep the food, set up the Gym, sell tickets, serve food as well as those who oversee the beverages and desserts. And don’t forget the volunteers who clear off the tables and pick up the trays during the dinners, and then take it all down and clean everything up. Many thanks to one and all.
The Passion of Christ - Sunday, March 30
Parishioners are invited to a free cultural and spiritual event this Lent as we prepare for Easter. Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish have recruited volunteer actors and singers from the Chicago area to present “The Passion of Christ” in Milwaukee in both English and Polish. This live theater production has been performed for over 30 years. The presentation in Polish begins at noon, and the English performance begins at 3:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Richard at (414) 810-8158 or rabiega4@yahoo.com. Admission is free; donations will be accepted.
Honey for Sale
We continue to sell jars of raw, local honey in the parish office. Each jar is $24, and we accept cash or checks.
Our Lenten theme this year is “Be Merciful Just as Your Father Is Merciful.” Our focus this year will be to link some of the miracles Jesus performed with the Corporal Works of Mercy. We will encounter a new story and a new Work of Mercy each Monday at our Monday morning prayer service. Our National Junior Honor Society team, assisted by our Girl Scouts, will lead our school in our annual Lenten collection.
As part of our Lenten experience, the National Junior Honor Society has invited the parish community to participate in our service-learning project, “Be Merciful: Compassion in Action,” to benefit Catholic Charities and other local food pantries and shelters. Each week our collection suggestions will relate to the Corporal Work of Mercy we have focused on at the prayer service. Please see below for items that are being collected each week. Although we change our focus each week, any of the items may be donated at any time throughout Lent. Donations may be dropped off in the Church narthex or in the parish office.
Week 1: Give Drink to the Thirsty (March 3-14) Bottled water, juice, and juice boxes.
Week 2: Comfort the Imprisoned (March 10-14) Pads of paper (no names on them), pens, envelopes, etc.
Week 3: Shelter the Homeless (March 17-21) Disinfecting sprays/wipes, sponges, window and all-purpose cleaners, etc.
Week 4: Comfort the Sick (March 24-28) Toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body wash, soap, etc.
Week 5: Feed the Hungry (March 31-April 4) Non-perishable food items—soup, granola bars, cereal, macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, canned meat/stew, etc.
Week 6: Bury the Dead (April 7-11) We will spend time this week creating sympathy/thinking of you cards for the families of parishioners who have recently passed away.
Week 7: Clothe the Naked (April 14-17) NEW Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s socks and underwear.
Please visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063321523652 to see more pictures!
"Go Out and Set Your Soul on Fire for God!"
Habemus Papam: 12 Years Later
On Thursday, March 13, Catholics marked the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ election to the Chair of St. Peter. Twelve years ago, I had the privilege of being in St. Peter’s Square on the night of his election. I vividly remember the excitement that spread through the crowd that night when it was announced that the College of Cardinals had chosen a Pope from the Americas. After many people had departed the square, young pilgrims remained there most of the night, praying for the new pope. Brazilian and Argentine visitors exchanged flags and even played soccer late into the night. The energy in the square was electric. A friend of mine, a Vatican journalist from India, had been in the square on the night of October 16, 1978, when Pope St. John Paul II was elected. He said the atmosphere in the square that night was similar: Just as John Paul II had been elected from “a faraway land,” so too the cardinals had chosen a Pope from across the globe. In fact, Francis himself said that his “brother Cardinals [had] gone to the ends of the earth” to elect him.
Now, 12 years later, the Argentine Pope has marked the 12th anniversary of his election at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. While his medical team reports that he is no longer in danger of death from bilateral pneumonia, he continues to recover under their watchful eye. As he heals from his long illness, let us remain close to him in prayer. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops suggests this prayer from the third typical edition of the Roman Missal:
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on
your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray that by word and example, he may be of service to
those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
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.
The Christian Women's Society will meet on Thursday, March 13, at 4:00 p.m. in the Church Hall for its annual Chili Dump gathering. Members are asked to bring their assigned food items to share. Be sure to wear something “Green” and bring your layette donations.
Christian Women Parish Baby Shower
March 29 & 30
Parishioners are asked to bring their unwrapped NEW layette items and diapers to Mass the weekend of March 29 and 30. For further information on what to donate to the parish’s annual Baby Shower, look for the flyer in next week's newsletter.
Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of
Catholic Women News
The Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (MACCW) invites parishioners to the Day Break Mini Retreat - A Day for Supporting Women in Need - Layette Convention on Saturday, March 29, at St. John Vianney Catholic Parish, 17500 Gebhardt Road in Brookfield. The day starts at 8:00 a.m. with a continental breakfast followed by Reflection and Liturgy of the Eucharist with Bishop Donald Hying, lunch, speakers from three on-site Pregnancy/Family Support Centers, and Mater Filius Milwaukee. Please bring layette items and your Parish layette donations. Join women from throughout the Archdiocese, sharing in faith and fun! Bring friends and family; all are welcome! MACCW members are $35, and non-members are $40. Visit MACCW.com/events for more information. Please register by March 21.
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
It’s the sweetest time of the year. St. John’s Girl Scout Troop 37605 will sell cookies after both Masses on Sunday, March 16. Cookies are $6 per box. Checks, cash, and Venmo will be happily accepted. Their theme this year is “Kindness,” and they would love to share their hearts and smiles with you even if you stop by to say hello. They thank you in advance for your Girl Scout cookie purchase.
The winners of the KC Free Throw Championship that took place earlier this month will compete at the Archdiocese level Championship on Saturday, March 15, at
St. Margaret Mary. Registration starts at 10:00, and competition begins at 10:30 a.m.
Join us on Thursday, March 20, 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
2025 Men of Christ Conference
Attention men of the parish: Here is updated information on the Men of Christ Conference. You are invited to join the 2025 Men of Christ Conference—Courage Under Fire—which will be held in parishes across the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Our parish will meet with other local parishes at Carroll University (100 N. East Avenue in Waukesha). The day will feature both virtual and live elements. The morning will feature well-known speakers, Mass, Adoration, Confession and fellowship. Get all the details and register at MenOfChrist.net. Your ticket will be sent to your email address. The day begins on Saturday, March 29, with recitation of the Rosary at 7:05 a.m., Mass at 7:30 a.m. with the program to follow. It should end at 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Butch Sarnowski at (414) 403-0624 or email him at: ronsarnowski@gmail.com for more information.
Friends, today’s Gospel recounts the story of the Transfiguration. Here, the glorified Jesus represents the fulfillment of the Old Testament revelation, symbolized by Moses, who represents the Law, and Elijah, who represents the prophets.
Let’s look at the two basic divisions. God gave the Torah, the Law, to his people so that they might become priestly people, holy nations, and people set apart in the hopes that they would then function as a sort of magnet to the rest of the world. But the Law didn’t take. From the beginning, the people turned away from its dictates and became as bad as the nations around them.
And then there are the prophets. Over and over, we hear the call to be faithful to the Torah and follow the ways of the Lord. The prophets repeatedly turn on Israel, reminding her of her sinfulness.
And then came Jesus, God, and man. Jesus did what no hero of Judaism had ever done: He fulfilled the Law and remained utterly obedient to the Father's demands, even to the point of laying down his life. He thus fulfilled the Torah and the prophets.
-Bishop Robert Barron
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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.
Please read carefully, as many of our open hours have changed. We are currently in need of one (or ideally two) people for the following:
Mondays, 3:00 to 4:00 a.m.
Tuesdays, 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.
Saturdays, 1:00 to 2:00 a.m.
We also seek a second Adorer for Fridays, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Call Kay Shomperlen at 414-763-1250 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.
