Spring Time for Sacraments
As is our tradition here at St. John’s, we began May with the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on the first Saturday of the month. This year, we had a larger class of First Communion children than in the recent past, with 28 children.
On Friday, we celebrated the second of three May weddings. Hannah Forgèt will marry Peter Bock on May 16. Hannah’s uncle, a priest from Omaha, Nebraska, will fly in to officiate this special occasion.
Also on Saturday morning, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee celebrated the ordination of three young men, Frs. Aaron, Brock, and Timothy.
Let us pray for all of these people, asking God’s fullness of graces to be with them as they receive the special sacraments.
A New Handicap-Accessible Door
Earlier this year, a parishioner suggested that there be a “handicap-accessible” door by the Adoration entrance to the church. After some inquiry, it was determined that an electric push-button door, such as the one we have on the east side of the church, would be possible. Those who have handicap issues are now able to come to Adoration with greater ease. Thank you for the suggestion.
Daily Mass
If you are available in the mornings, please join us for daily Mass at 8:00 a.m. Mass is followed by the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those with time to pray a little longer. This week, we have three Saints who are highlighted at Mass. On Tuesday, May 20, we celebrate St. Bernardine of Siena (a renowned partisan of peace in the Franciscan manner who mediated between feuding factions in Renaissance Italy), on Wednesday, May 21, we celebrate St. Christopher Magallanes (who was slain along with 24 companions by the anti-Catholic government of Mexico), and Thursday, May 22 is the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia (Patron Saint of impossible causes and hopeless circumstances).
Xaverian Missionaries’ Festival
The Annual Xaverian Mission Festival will be here before you know it. Parishioners are welcome to join the Xaverian Fathers on their mission grounds for a fun and relaxing weekend on June 21 and 22. There will be a 10:30 a.m. outdoor Mass on the grounds (or in the beer tent in case of rain) on Sunday morning, June 22. The St. Alphonsus Bell Choir provides the music for this special Mass. For those of you who enjoy handcrafting, they are requesting small homespun items (dish cloths, wash cloths, table runners, placemats, coasters, wall hangings, etc.) for their “local artisans” booth. If you would like to donate some homemade items, please bring them to Linda in the office on or before June 7. Also, volunteer help is always appreciated – before, during, and after the festival dates. If you are able to help in any way, please call Linda at (414) 421-0831. The pay is not great, but the benefits are priceless. Your support will, literally, reach “to the ends of the Earth.”
Email Scams
Our parish staff is reporting that they are receiving emails supposedly from me asking for a favor. Other versions claim I have laryngitis, so I cannot speak over the phone. Please know that neither I nor members of our staff or Parish Council will email asking for gift cards or other items. The email may display my name as the sender (Rev. Michael F. Merkt), but if you look closely, you will note irregularities in the actual email return address. Be sure to check for a mismatch between a sender’s display name and the email address. Email spoofing is a deceptive technique used to make an email appear as if it is from a trusted source. These are scams. Please do not answer these emails or click on any links contained in the emails.
Dear St. John's Community,
We hope this message finds you well. As summer approaches, we are excited to announce a fantastic opportunity to contribute to our community's meditation garden. This is the garden opposite the playground. Last year, we cleaned up the space and planted donated plants from our parishioners. Our next step will be to monitor what plants take root and to redefine the walking paths. We hope to plant again this fall and create a space with color, spring, summer, and fall. We also have some benches and a pergola being built by our Boy Scouts to add to the space. We are seeking volunteers to help weed the meditation garden once a week from July 2025 through August 2025.
How to Sign Up: Please contact Amanda Rios at amandavillanirios@gmail.com to express your interest and availability.
We appreciate your support and look forward to working together to establish our new meditation garden.
Warm regards,
Shane and Amanda Rios
Our Home and School Committee hosted our annual “Muffins with Moms” event before school on the morning of May 9. At 7:00 a.m., the doors opened to the smiling faces of moms and their children, not to mention at least one father and a number of grandmothers and grandfathers. The cafeteria was filled with joyful conversation and laughter as everyone enjoyed muffins—a big shout-out to our Home and School Committee for hosting the event.
"Go Out and Set Your Soul on Fire for God!"
We rejoice in the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV! Formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, he was chosen by the College of Cardinals on the third ballot on Thursday, May 9. A man deeply rooted in the Augustinian tradition, he professed solemn vows with the Order of St. Augustine on August 29, 1981, and later served as Superior General of the same order beginning in 2001.
In his first public appearance from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV quoted St. Augustine, offering us a glimpse into the heart of his spiritual vision. His papal motto, “In illo uno unum” (i.e., “In the One, we are one”), also draws directly from the writings of this great Doctor of the Church.
To better understand the theological and spiritual heritage that shapes Pope Leo XIV, we invite you to read Desire and Unity: Augustinian Spirituality for Today by Father Emmanuel-Marie Le Fébure du Bus (published by Ignatius Press in 2022). This accessible and inspiring book has been praised by Dr. Brant Pitre, among others, as “a beautiful and accessible introduction to the spirituality of Augustine,” encouraging readers to encounter Augustine as a mystic and teacher of the inner life.
Beginning in June, our parish will host a book study on this slim but enriching volume (only 158 pages). Whether you’re a longtime admirer of Augustine or just beginning to explore his insights, this is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your faith and understanding, guided by the spiritual compass of our new Pope. Stay tuned for details!
To keep up to date, join our SJE Adult Formation Flocknote or follow us on Facebook.
The Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (MACCW) is once again hosting a food-packing event to provide nutritious meals for children and families in several developing countries. This year, through Cross Catholic Outreach, we will pack 50,000 meals.
If you want to volunteer (we need 100), we will start after the 8:00 a.m. Mass and conclude approximately at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at St Mary’s Visitation Church in the Atrium, 1260 Church St. in Elm Grove. Join in the fun to help out for all or part of the event. All ages are welcome. Please register to volunteer on our website at MACCW.com.
Contact Jean Kelly at 414-430-6136 or jeanakelly@hotmail.com with any questions. Families welcome!
Join us on Thursday, May 15, 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
Friends, today’s Gospel instructs us in loving others with God’s love. We find joy in God alone, for our souls have been wired for God. But here’s the trick, and the whole of the Christian life is on display here: God is love. Love is God. God is self-emptying on behalf of the other. But this means, paradoxically, that to have God is to be what God is—and that means giving one’s life away.
Now we see the link between joy and commandments: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another.” And now we begin to understand the Church's laws, commands, and demands. All are designed to make us more adept at giving ourselves away. Don’t steal; don’t kill; don’t covet your neighbor’s goods or wife; honor your mother and father; worship God. These positive and negative commands are meant to awaken and make love possible.
Notice, please, that we are to love with a properly divine love: “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” Radical, radical, radical. Complete, excessive, over-the-top.
-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:
Sundays, Midnight to 1:00 a.m.
Mondays, 3:00 to 4:00 a.m.
Thursdays, Midnight to 1:00 a.m.
Saturdays, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Call 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.