The Season of Lent 2026 Has Begun
We have begun the season of Lent, a time of preparation and penance. On Ash Wednesday, we were invited to take up practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Participating in Mass, praying during Eucharistic Adoration, and taking advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are very straightforward ways for each of us to grow in our friendship with Jesus during this Lenten season of 40 days.
At St. John’s, we have two opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Friday and Saturday mornings after the 8:00 a.m. Masses.
This Lent, on Wednesday, March 25, there will be 12 hours of Reconciliation at St. Matthias Catholic Parish from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. There will be six priests available during the 12 hours to hear confessions. Last year, nearly 1,000 people went to confession on this special day.
Also, during the 40 days of Lent, I invite and encourage people to strive to make it to Mass during the week: each day, or once or twice each week of Lent.
Lent is also a beautiful time to make an effort to partake in Eucharistic Adoration. This can be a great time to build in 20 minutes or even an hour of silence, prayer, a rosary, and meditation into your weekly schedule.
In addition, mark your calendar now for our parish Lenten retreat with Fr. James Kubicki. Father will be speaking on the gifts of baptism, particularly how we are called to be: Priests, Prophets, and Kings. Fr. Jim will be with us at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18. The Monday evening session will be followed by refreshments and fellowship in the Hall.
Let us make this the best Lent ever by giving God a bit of our day each day for 40 days. And as a beloved now-deceased priest used to say, “And what we do for Lent, let us continue to do afterwards.”
Compassion in Action
Six-Week Lenten Drive to Help the Less Fortunate
Parishioners are asked to support our school chapter of the National Junior Honor Society by donating various items during Lent.
Only NEW products can be accepted, and they are collecting for both children and adults. You may bring your donations to the Church and leave them in the marked boxes in the Narthex or bring them to the parish office during the work week. The products collected will change each week. Please see the flyer below.
Thank you for your generosity. Items will be given to Robyn’s Nest, Kathy’s House, and the Milwaukee Diaper Mission.
Your Virtuous Lenten Journey
Men of St. John’s parish, the St. John’s Men’s Group, and the Men of Christ invite you to join them for Your Virtuous Lenten Journey every Saturday morning during Lent, starting on Saturday, February 21, at 7:00 a.m. This journey covers a 40-day path of intentional growth to slow down and allow God to strengthen your life. This journey includes an invitation to attend the 20th Annual Men of Christ Conference—Building Men of Virtue on March 14, which is sure to be an inspiring day for men of all ages at the Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee.
This Lent, they hope you will be ready to join them and step out of the ordinary and do something extraordinary—let God stretch you, strengthen you, and lead you deeper into virtue.
Please see below for the complete schedule. If you have any questions, please contact Will Starcevich at 414-531-7005.
100th Day of School
We’ve reached our 100th day of school—a big milestone worth celebrating! Our K4 through Grade 2 students marked the day with hands-on, high-energy activities centered on the number 100. Students counted, jumped, listed, and built all things to 100. The fun continued as students dressed up as 100-year old citizens, complete with creative costumes and big personalities. For being 100 years old, these students were impressively active and full of excitement.
"Live a life that reflects God's love."
Do You Go to Dave & Busters?
If so, can you support our Amazing School?
St. John the Evangelist is pumped to continue our Dave & Buster’s Power Card Fundraising Campaign until March 9, 2026!
When you purchase a Dave & Buster’s Power Card from our fundraising page, 50% of your order directly supports St. John the Evangelist! Whether it’s classic arcade thrills, action-packed racing, or multiplayer challenge, enjoy endless gaming fun at any Dave & Buster’s location nationwide when you purchase your Power Card at the link below.
Don’t forget to share it with friends and family to join in the fun: grouprai.se/davebusters69004m.
Experience Our Lady of Guadalupe
We are blessed to share that the life-size Madre Peregrina (Pilgrim Mother) statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe—a moving symbol of Mary’s maternal love and peacemaking presence—is visiting our Archdiocese as part of its international tour preparing for the 500th anniversary of the apparition to St. Juan Diego. During its visit, the statue will be accompanied by presentations and prayer experiences that illuminate the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with opportunities to pray the Rosary, make spiritual intentions, and deepen your devotion to the Blessed Mother in both English and Spanish. The pilgrimage begins on February 20 at the Basilica of St. Josaphat. The Madre Peregrina statue will remain at the Basilica through Thursday, February 25, with daily opportunities for prayer, quiet veneration, presentations, and reflection on the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The bilingual experience includes guided prayer, music, and storytelling that brings to life Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego in 1531 and welcomes believers of all ages to encounter her maternal presence. There is no cost to attend, and all are welcome to take part in this historic moment of grace here in Wisconsin. Please visit guadalupewi.org for specific times and registration.
To stay updated, join our SJE Adult Formation Flocknote or follow us on Facebook.
Sunday, February 22, 2026 | First Sunday of Lent| Matthew 4:1–11
Friends, today’s Gospel tells of the Lord’s temptation in the desert. After forty days of fasting in the desert (evocative of Israel’s forty years of wandering in the desert), Jesus meets the devil, who proceeds to lure the Messiah onto the path of sin. Jesus’ sacrifice will entail his coming to battle sin at close quarters, his willingness, therefore, to be drawn by its power, to come under its sway.
Satan first tempts him with sensual pleasure: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” One of the most elemental forms of spiritual dysfunction is to make the satisfaction of sensual desire the center of one’s life. Jesus responds: “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Jesus enters, through psychological and spiritual identification, into the condition of the person lured by this sin, but then he manages to withstand the temptation and, in fact, to twist this perversion back to rectitude.
Satan first tempts him with sensual pleasure: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” One of the most elemental forms of spiritual dysfunction is to make the satisfaction of sensual desire the center of one’s life. Jesus responds: “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Jesus enters, through psychological and spiritual identification, into the condition of the person lured by this sin, but then he manages to withstand the temptation and, in fact, to twist this perversion back to rectitude.
-Bishop Robert Barron
St. John’s is fortunate to have 24-hour Perpetual Adoration. Please take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to draw closer to God.
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.