Palm Sunday and Holy Week - 2026
All parishioners are encouraged to wear “Red” on Palm Sunday, March 29, to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the shedding of His Blood on the cross. Red is also associated with the Holy Spirit and represents the fire and passion of God’s love.
Holy Thursday Mass will begin at 7:00 p.m. on April 2. We will remember Jesus, the washing of the apostles' feet, and the first Eucharist. On Holy Thursday, we will have Perpetual Adoration throughout the night until 6:00 a.m. on Good Friday morning. In the past, Adoration ended with Mass on Thursday. The church allows Adoration through the night on Holy Thursday until sunrise on Good Friday. Since we have not had Adoration on Holy Thursday in recent years, I am inviting people to take some time during the nighttime hours to make use of this sacred time for prayer. Please enter through the Adoration door on the south side of the church.
Good Friday Service will begin at 1:00 p.m. on April 3, when we will remember the Passion of Christ and Venerate the Cross. We conclude the Service with the reception of Holy Communion. There will be a special collection to support the financial care and upkeep of the Christian Shrines in the Holy Land. The Church will close after the Good Friday Service and will remain closed until Saturday at Noon, when we will have the traditional blessing of the Easter food baskets.
Church will then reopen at 7:00 p.m. to prepare for the Holy Saturday Vigil Mass at 8:00 p.m. in church, and we will then continue (weather permitting) outside at the bonfire.
On Easter Sunday, there will be two Masses in the morning at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Please prayerfully partake in these Holy Week and Easter Sunday Services as we are reminded of all that Jesus has done for generations of people through His suffering, His Passion, and His Resurrection to eternal life.
Weekly Lenten Theme
Each week during Lent, our parish has celebrated a different theme designed to help your journey through the 40 days of Lent with intention, reflection, and spiritual renewal. The theme of the fifth week is Perseverance and Faith. We should ask for strength to endure our challenges with hope and pray for someone who is going through a difficult time. And the scripture suggestion is Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Daily Rosary in the Church at 3:00 p.m.
While most parishioners know that our parish has 24/7 Perpetual Adoration, you may not know that the Rosary is recited in Church at 3:00 p.m. each weekday. You are welcome to stop in and join this prayer group as they recite the Rosary. There is no commitment; just come whenever it is convenient.
Dearest St. Joseph,
at the word of an angel,
You lovingly took Mary into your home.
As God’s humble servant, you guided
The Holy Family on the road to Bethlehem,
welcomed Jesus as your own son
in the shelter of a manger,
and fled far from your homeland
for the safety of both Mother and Child.
We praise God that as their faithful protector,
You never hesitated to sacrifice
for those entrusted to you.
May your example inspire us also
to welcome, cherish, and safeguard
God’s most precious gift of life.
Help us to faithfully commit ourselves
to the service and defense of human life
—especially where it is
vulnerable or threatened.
Obtain for us the grace
to do the will of God in all things.
Amen.
Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.
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.
Volunteers are needed for the Friday Rosary service (2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) at the Village of Manor Park (84th and Oklahoma Avenue), a healthcare facility. Leaders follow a scripted prayer sheet consisting of the Rosary, Cenacle prayers, and Divine Mercy. Service is also televised throughout the facility via closed-circuit TV for residents who cannot leave their rooms to attend the Chapel. Transport volunteers are needed to transport residents from their rooms to the Chapel for service. No lifting involved, if needed, would use a wheelchair to transport but volunteers must be able and comfortable walking a distance.
Dedicated time commitment: two hours per month, Fridays, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Help us continue St. John’s Rosary Outreach Program started by parishioner Bill Welch some 32 years ago. Please call Chris Kiel at 414-529-7731 (do not text) for more information.
Dedicated time commitment: two hours per month, Fridays, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Help us continue St. John’s Rosary Outreach Program started by parishioner Bill Welch some 32 years ago. Please call Chris Kiel at 414-529-7731 (do not text) for more information.
Our 6th-8th-grade students had an incredible opportunity on March 13 to attend the Students of Christ Youth Rally! Surrounded by more than 3,000 fellow Catholic students from across Wisconsin, the day was filled with energy, faith, and powerful moments of encounter with Christ.
The rally began with a warm welcome and blessing from Bishop Haines, setting the tone for a meaningful and spirit-filled experience. Throughout the day, Nick Scanlan and his band inspired the crowd with uplifting, faith-filled music that truly resonated with our students. Dynamic guest speakers challenged everyone in attendance to live out their faith boldly and embrace their place in God’s family.
One of the most impactful moments of the day was the opportunity for Adoration, where students were able to spend quiet, personal time with Jesus. It was a beautiful and reverent experience that left a lasting impression on many hearts.
It was great to see our students participate and celebrate their faith. It was a joyful day that helped our students grow closer to Christ and will inspire them to live out His love each day!
The rally began with a warm welcome and blessing from Bishop Haines, setting the tone for a meaningful and spirit-filled experience. Throughout the day, Nick Scanlan and his band inspired the crowd with uplifting, faith-filled music that truly resonated with our students. Dynamic guest speakers challenged everyone in attendance to live out their faith boldly and embrace their place in God’s family.
One of the most impactful moments of the day was the opportunity for Adoration, where students were able to spend quiet, personal time with Jesus. It was a beautiful and reverent experience that left a lasting impression on many hearts.
It was great to see our students participate and celebrate their faith. It was a joyful day that helped our students grow closer to Christ and will inspire them to live out His love each day!
"Live a life that reflects God's love."
Pray, Reconcile, and Rejoice –
Lenten Day of Reconciliation
As part of our Lenten journey, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee invites all the faithful to participate in “Pray, Reconcile, and Rejoice: Day of Reconciliation” on Wednesday, March 25. On this special day, priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at multiple parishes throughout the archdiocese from morning through evening, making it easier for Catholics to experience God’s mercy during Lent.
Confession will be offered at 11 parishes across the archdiocese, with many locations offering extended hours and some providing the sacrament in Spanish. The day runs approximately 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and includes all metro-Milwaukee counties, allowing parishioners to come whenever their schedule permits. Lent is a privileged time for repentance, renewal, and returning to the Lord. Consider setting aside time on this day to receive the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and prepare your heart more deeply for the celebration of Easter.
The closest parish for St. John’s parishioners is St. Matthias Parish at 9306 W. Beloit Road in Milwaukee (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.). For a full list of locations and times, visit: https://www.archmil.org/events/pray-reconcile-and-rejoice-day-of-reconciliation
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Sunday, March 22, 2026 | Fifth Sunday of Lent| John 11:1–45 (or 11:3–7, 17, 20–27, 33b–45)
Friends, today’s Gospel speaks of Jesus’ conquest of death in the raising of Lazarus. What if death is not at all what God intended? Mind you, I mean death as we experience it—as something fearful, horrible, terrifying. This comes from having turned from God.
Jesus came primarily as a warrior whose final enemy is death. It is easy to domesticate Jesus, presenting him as a kindly moral teacher. But that is not how the Gospels present him. He is a cosmic warrior who has come to do battle with those forces that keep us from being fully alive.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus deals with the effects of death and a death-obsessed culture: violence, hatred, egotism, exclusion, false religion, and phony community. But the final enemy he must face down is death itself. Like Frodo going into Mordor, he has to go into death’s domain, get into close quarters with it, and take it on.
Coming to Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus feels the deepest emotions and begins to weep. This is God entering into the darkness, confusion, and agony of the death of sinners. He doesn’t blithely stand above our situation, but rather takes it on and feels it at its deepest level.
Jesus came primarily as a warrior whose final enemy is death. It is easy to domesticate Jesus, presenting him as a kindly moral teacher. But that is not how the Gospels present him. He is a cosmic warrior who has come to do battle with those forces that keep us from being fully alive.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus deals with the effects of death and a death-obsessed culture: violence, hatred, egotism, exclusion, false religion, and phony community. But the final enemy he must face down is death itself. Like Frodo going into Mordor, he has to go into death’s domain, get into close quarters with it, and take it on.
Coming to Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus feels the deepest emotions and begins to weep. This is God entering into the darkness, confusion, and agony of the death of sinners. He doesn’t blithely stand above our situation, but rather takes it on and feels it at its deepest level.
-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.
We are currently seeking Adorers for several different hours during the week, with many options to fit your weekly schedule! Please consider an hour during the day, the evening, or overnight.
If you are looking for some quiet time to be with Our Lord, please call or text 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.