Church Helper Needed
Before and after Mass, there are many chores done behind the scenes to prepare for the Liturgy and make sure it moves along smoothly, such as getting the Ciboriums (vessels that hold the host) and Chalices into the Sanctuary. We must also make sure the linens that are used such as the Purificator (the cloth that wipes the chalice after each sip) are washed and ironed. The people who do these behind-the-scenes chores are usually called Sacristans. At St. John’s, we have a variety of Sacristans, those who help set up for the weekday morning Masses and those who help on the weekends.
One consistent Sacristan is the one who washes and irons all of the linens. The Purificators that are used during the Mass, as well as some of the vestment parts like the Amice (which the priest wears), along with the cloths on top of the altar and credence table, periodically need to be washed. About three years ago, Eileen Barwig was our Sacristan for laundry until her unexpected death. Over the past three years, Mary Anne Kokalis has been our Sacristan. Mary Ann mentioned this weekend that she will be moving out of the area, probably by the end of April. Therefore, we are looking for one or two people who would be willing to do the laundry and wash and iron the linens that are used for Mass. This is usually done on a weekly basis. If you feel called to offer your services to the ministry of laundering the Mass linens, please contact the parish office. Since Mary Anne will be here for a few more weeks, training and “tricks of the trade” can be passed on.
Lenten Disciplines
During Lent, we are called by the Word of God to Pray, Fast, and Give Alms. Three great ways of praying during the Lenten season and all through the year are first by attending daily Mass during the week once or twice in addition to Sunday Mass. This coming week, there is a special Feast in honor of Mary’s Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel came from Heaven to ask Mary if she would be the mother of Jesus, the mother of God. Her response was quick and positive: “Let it be done according to Your Word.” Please join us this week at the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesday morning as we celebrate the Annunciation of Mary. Also, we have the privilege of having a Church that is open 24 hours of the day for Eucharistic Adoration. Please consider taking a moment or more to come and give thanks and praise to God for His special presence with us. Also, may we train our hearts to listen to the whispers of God. What may God be desiring to speak to us about this Lent?
Someone recently reminded me of the Graces and Indulgences that are connected to the praying of the Stations of the Cross. While Lent is the usual time we pray the Stations, they may be prayed anytime during the year. During Lent, 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.
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 6th through 8th-grade students attended the Catholic Youth Rally hosted by Arise MKE at Carroll College on March 14. It was an engaging opportunity to encounter Christ, not only with their classmates but with over 1,100 other Catholic students from Wisconsin. It was a powerful and prayerful worship experience for our middle school students. The worship band, The Scally Brothers, performed throughout the morning, and their positive message of faith was shared with all in attendance. The keynote speaker and hip-hop artist, Connor Flanagan, shared his encounters with Christ through his stories and his music. The message for the day was for all in attendance to grow closer with God. There was a great opportunity for all of us to grow closer to Jesus when all in attendance participated in Adoration.
It was great to see our students celebrate their faith throughout the day.
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!"
Are you looking for meaningful resources to guide you through a more prayerful and reflective Lent? Whether you’re seeking spiritual inspiration, daily prayers, or tools to deepen your connection with God, there are several apps that can support your Lenten journey. Here are three great ones to consider:
The Hallow App: The Hallow app is an excellent companion for anyone wanting to grow in their prayer life during Lent. It offers a variety of guided meditations, daily reflections, and prayer routines, including special Lenten content designed to help you focus on repentance, renewal, and spiritual growth. Whether you're new to meditation or already have a regular prayer practice, Hallow provides resources to deepen your faith with audio prayers, Scripture readings, and even specific challenges to help you stay focused on your Lenten commitments.
The Relevant Radio App: For those looking to integrate more spiritual nourishment into their day, the Relevant Radio app is a fantastic resource. This app offers Catholic talk radio, daily Mass readings, podcasts, and spiritual reflections. During Lent, you can tune in for inspiring discussions on how to live the season with purpose, hear stories of faith, and listen to prayerful content that helps you grow spiritually. Whether you're at home, in the car, or on the go, Relevant Radio offers a wealth of content that will keep you centered on your Lenten journey.
The iBreviary App: The iBreviary app is perfect for those who want to incorporate the Liturgy of the Hours into their daily prayer routine. The app makes it easy to pray the daily office, including Morning Prayer (Lauds), Evening Prayer (Vespers), and Night Prayer (Compline), along with many other prayers and devotions. It’s a great way to structure your day around prayer, allowing you to join in the Church’s constant prayer while providing a rhythm to your Lenten observance. The iBreviary app is available in multiple languages, so it's accessible to Catholics around the world.
These apps are great tools to help you stay spiritually connected during this season of Lent. They offer convenient access to prayer, Scripture, and reflection, empowering you to make this Lent a time of deeper devotion and growth. Whether you prefer listening, reading, or structured prayer times, these apps can enrich your journey through Lent and bring you closer to God. You can find these apps on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or any other platform where you typically download your apps.
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.
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
Reschedule
Due to winter weather, the Girl Scouts’ original Cookie Sale Date had to be postponed, and now, St. John’s Girl Scout Troop 37605 will sell cookies after both Masses on Sunday, March 23, and during the Fish Fry on March 28. Cookies are $6 per box. Checks, cash, and Venmo will be happily accepted. They thank you in advance for your Girl Scout cookie purchase. The long wait for thin mints is finally over.
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, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree that the owner cursed because it bore no fruit. On a deeper level, we may understand it to mean that the Lord expects us to bear spiritual fruit.
The fruit of the Spirit is the universal, all-embracing consequence of the Spirit’s presence in us. All people who live in the Spirit should manifest these qualities. The word “fruit” is especially good in this context.
In Psalm 1, we find this comparison: “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” The Spirit is this stream; when we are planted near it, we blossom.
Well, what are these fruits of the Holy Spirit? In the fifth chapter of Galatians, Paul enumerates them: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are wonderful criteria when discerning whether the Spirit is living in you and determining whether you are walking the right path.
-Bishop Robert Barron
Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Faith.
Your parish has gifted you with full access to the entire library of Word on Fire's feature-length films, and short, engaging series through Word on Fire Digital. Click the button below to browse all titles and watch on-demand.
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.
Thursdays, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 7:00 p.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.
