Passion of Christ Play
Sunday, March 30
Parishioners are invited to a free cultural and spiritual event this Lent as we prepare for Easter. This Sunday, the play “The Passion of Christ” will be performed at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, 2427 15th Street in Milwaukee. There will be two performances: 12:00 p.m. in Polish and 3:00 p.m. in English. The play will feature a professional acting group from Chicago. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. This live theater production has been performed for over 30 years.
Zeal for My House Capital Campaign
This Zeal for My House is the name of the Capital Campaign for the greatly needed upgrades at St. Francis Seminary. The building, built over 150 years ago, houses seminarians and administration offices and needs major repairs, including electrical, plumbing, and roofing. They are also adding a new auditorium. Please find further information and contribution envelopes in your pews. Please consider participating in this most worthy Capital Campaign in this season of almsgiving.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
This past Tuesday, March 25, the church celebrated the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The Annunciation celebrates the moment when Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). Mary quickly states that she is willing to do what God asks of her. The Angelus Prayer is a daily prayer that commemorates the Annunciation and is usually prayed at 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
R: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R: Be it done to me according to Your word. Hail Mary.
V: And the Word was made flesh:
R: And dwelt among us. Hail Mary.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God:
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, Your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ Your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
Thank You
And a huge Thank You from our parish Girl Scouts for all your cookie purchases last Sunday!
Ms. Woytych invited the K4 families to a St. Joseph’s Feast Day Pizza Picnic after school on Wednesday, March 19. Families played “Get to Know You” bingo. There was a raffle for gift cards. Children played in the gym together. Everyone had pizza at the celebration. The party was held in a picnic style, with families lounging on blankets and lawn chairs in the school gym. Families provided snacks, desserts, and canned goods to donate to a local food pantry. Every K4 family participated, and all had fun—a big shout-out to Ms. Woytych for organizing an event that strengthens our St. John’s community.
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!"
Lent is a time to refocus our hearts on God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Many have found a helpful guide in St. Teresa of Ávila’s Way of Perfection, where she offers practical and spiritual wisdom on deepening our relationship with God. Her reflections on detachment, humility, and prayer speak directly to the Lenten call to conversion.
A group of parishioners recently began studying this spiritual classic using the Study Edition prepared by Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D., published by the Institute of Carmelite Studies Publications in Washington, D.C. Based on the Valladolid manuscript of 1566, one of St. Teresa’s most mature writings on prayer, this edition presents her insights in a clear and accessible way. In the first seven chapters, St. Teresa invites readers to examine their attachments, embrace simplicity, and cultivate a prayerful life — themes that align beautifully with the Lenten journey. In our group session on Friday, March 21, we followed a video presentation on the text from Carmel Cast (a YouTube ministry of ICS Publications), read selections of the text, and engaged in some thoughtful conversation.
For those seeking a more meaningful Lenten observance, following St. Teresa’s wisdom can lead to a greater awareness of God’s presence and a renewed commitment to prayer. Her words encourage us to let go of what hinders our spiritual growth and to trust God more deeply.
Whether reading alone or with others, The Way of Perfection can serve as a faithful companion this Lent. Consider setting aside time for reflection and allowing St. Teresa to guide you on the path of spiritual renewal. To find The Way of Perfection and other writings from St. Teresa, visit icspublications.org.
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 Society will meet on Thursday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the church hall. Our guest speaker will be from Street Angels - Milwaukee Outreach. Please bring your almsgiving items from the donation list you were provided.
Meeting Date & Location Change
April Only
Join us on Thursday, April 3, for new member orientation at 6:15 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting at 7:00 p.m. We will meet at the KC Center, 16334 W. Glendale Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151. Please note, there will be no meeting on Thursday, April 18 (Holy Thursday).
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
The Knights of Columbus will accept donations before and after all Masses on the weekend of April 5 and 6. These donations will support people with intellectual disabilities. The Knights will match up to $1,000 to benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin, as they will compete in the 2026 USA Games as Team Wisconsin. Please be generous.
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, at the core of today’s Gospel is a portrait of our God, who is prodigal. The father stands for the God whose very nature is to give, the God who simply is love. The younger son stands for all of us sinners who tend to misunderstand how to access the divine love.
Since God exists only in gift form, his life, even in principle, cannot become a possession. Instead, it is “had” only on the fly, only in the measure that it is given away. When we cling to it, it disappears, according to a kind of spiritual physics.
The Greek that lies behind “distant country” in the parable is chora makra; that means, literally, “the great emptiness.” Trying to turn the divine gift into the ego’s possession necessarily results in nothing, nonbeing, the void.
St. John Paul II formulated the principle here as “the law of the gift”—that your being increases inasmuch as you give it away. If clinging and possessing are the marks of the chora makra, then the law of the gift is the defining dynamic of the father’s house, where the robe and the ring and the fatted calf are on permanent offer.
-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, 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.
Thursdays, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm
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.
