Parishioner News
We welcome the following individuals and families to our parish: Julie Leutloff; Dalton Wick and daughter Arya; Karl & Lani Curda; Chloe Landridge; Keven Auloos; Heidi Friese, and son Joseph (Joey).
We celebrate the children who have been baptized: Abigail Louise Schwabe, Zander Jael Quiñones, Callahan Kyle Bachofen, and Isla Rae Burks.
We congratulate the couple who were married at the parish: Christian Gonzalez and Annie Kaminski.
We also mourn the individuals from the parish who recently died: John H. O’Connell, Connie Jean Elliott, Richard Formankiewicz, and David H. Zimmerman.
Congratulations to our 8th-Grade Graduates
Please offer your congratulations to our 8th-grade graduates from St. John’s Parish School. We are proud to celebrate their growth in wisdom, knowledge, and faith during their years of study. We are grateful to our teachers and parents, who have supported them along the way, both in and out of the classroom, and prepared them for the journey ahead. We thank the Lord for the gift of these 17 young graduates. Our hearts are full of gratitude and joy for the class of 2026.
Saints Celebrated in the Week Ahead
Please remember the saints and their feast days that we will celebrate at the 8:00 a.m. daily Mass this coming week:
June 9, St. Ephrem, Deacon: known as the saint of daily living because he often emerged from solitude to teach people how to live the faith in a practical way. He is also known as the “Harp of the Holy Spirit” for his poetic and musical gifts.
June 11, St. Barnabas, Apostle: While not one of the 12 Apostles, he was a prominent figure in the early Church. He was known for his kindness, encouragement, and ability to welcome new believers. Barnabas and St. Paul traveled together and helped transform Christianity from a Jewish sect into a multi-ethnic global Church.
June 12, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: This feast honors the divine love and mercy of Christ, symbolized by His heart. It emphasizes God’s intimate care, compassion, and steadfast love for all people, especially those who are suffering, burdened, or in need of mercy. All of the faithful are invited to trust in His care and emulate His love in their own lives.
June 13, The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary: This feast day honors Mary’s profound interior life, where she experienced both joys and sorrows, yet remained faithful, as we too are called to do. Mary, by a singular grace and privilege of God Almighty, was preserved from all stain of original sin.
June 13, St. Anthony of Padua, Priest: St. Anthony was a Franciscan friar born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1195. One of St. Francis of Assisi’s most celebrated followers, he is known for his theological knowledge and missionary work. He is most famously invoked for the return of lost objects.
Firecracker Backer Donations
As a Firecracker Backer, you may choose to donate at any of the following levels:
Diamond $1,000
Platinum $500
Gold $250
Silver $150
Bronze $100
Copper $50
Your name or business would appear on the donor placemat, which is used at our Fish Fry and Chicken Dinners, Pancake and Holy Name breakfasts, and any other special event at St. John’s. Please make checks payable to St. John the Evangelist and drop them off or mail them to the Parish Office by Monday, June 29. Thank you so much for your many donations for our Parish Festival Fireworks.
Any questions? Call Diane Gaffke at (414) 573-5461.
Booth Sponsorship
St. John’s invites you to support our beloved festival by becoming an official sponsor of a festival booth or game for your business or organization, or by honoring a loved one with a sponsorship. St. John’s is an extremely popular festival that attracts thousands of attendees, providing strong traffic for your sponsorship. The cost is $175, which includes a professionally produced custom sign and inclusion in daily announcements on the PA system throughout the three-day festival weekend.
Please contact Dave Radke at (414) 529-2356 to become a sponsor or if you are interested in learning more about the opportunity to not only promote your business, but help St. John’s thrive for years to come.
Booth Captains Needed
The following booths need captains:
Friday: Bank Shot, Belgium Waffle, Coke Toss (6:00 - 11:00 p.m.), Door Security, Nachos, Ride Tickets, Roller Bowler, Spoit Challenge, Turkey Shoot, Wild Kingdom
Saturday: Amazo, Bean Bag Toss, Belgium Waffle, Brandy Spin, Coke Toss (6:00 - 11:00 p.m.), Door Security, Pot O'Gold, Ride Tickets, Roller Bowler, Turkey Shoot, Wild Kingdom
Sunday: 3 Pin Bowl, Bean Bag Toss, Coke Toss (5:00-9:00 p.m.), Door Security, Nachos, Ride Tickets, Wild Kingdom
Contact Marie Stemo at 414-427-7467 to volunteer.
Raffle and Various Booth Items Needed
We need items for various festival booths. Please bring items to the parish office.
- Mystery Package Booth: Items should be NEW and worth at least 50 cents for men, women, and children.
- Raffle Booth: Larger items such as electronics, appliances, lawn equipment, or any other larger items you think someone would be eager to buy a chance to win.
- Grocery Booth: A wide variety of non-perishable (not expired) food items is needed.
- Gentlemen’s Chest: We need new and unopened bottles of wine, whiskey, vodka, gin, and after-dinner cordials.
Hamburger & Hot Dog Booth
Volunteers are also needed at the Hamburger & Hot Dog Booth. This is a great opportunity for families to work together. Four-hour shifts are the minimum, but longer shifts are also available with a break as needed.
If you're available and interested in lending a hand, please call or text
Chery Cincotta at 414-378-5222. Thanks!
Our next meeting is Friday, June 12, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Meeting location is 8101 W. Dreyer Place, easy access, no stairs. Bring your new creations of Prayer Pockets, Shawls, Lap Blankets, Twiddle Muffs, and Baptismal Gifts. If you enjoy knitting and crocheting, please join us and learn more about this ministry. Thank you for your monetary and new yarn donations, dropped off at the Parish Office, to support this mission!
For more information, contact Diane Oakland at 414-617-0721 or email dianeoak@gmail.com.
Respect Life
Popcorn for Pops
In honor of Father’s Day, the Respect Life Committee will be selling small bags of Badger Popcorn. It’s been very popular for the last few years. Pro-Life Wisconsin is supplying three-ounce bags of popcorn. The cost is $3 per bag or two for $5. The popcorn sales will take place at all Masses on Father’s Day weekend, June 20 and 21.
Planting Day
Our school’s planting day was a wonderful success! The day began with a prayer service in the garden, reminding us of the importance of caring for God’s creation and the many gifts God has given us. Students, staff, and volunteers then came together and planted our garden with plenty of teamwork. The day was filled with smiles, hard work, and school spirit. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Courchane, Mrs. Cone, Mrs. Ehrmann, the school staff, and students for all of their efforts in making planting day a success.
"Live a life that reflects God's love."
Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer Intention for June
For the values of sports: Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
U.S. Bishops Will Consecrate Our Country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the U.S. Catholic Bishops will solemnly consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This historic act takes place in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's signing.
What Does This Consecration Mean?
To "consecrate" means to set something apart as holy and dedicated entirely to God. By consecrating our country to the Sacred Heart, the bishops are publicly placing the nation under the protection, guidance, and mercy of Christ's perfect love. It is an act of trust and a prayer for national renewal, asking that our society may be shaped by the justice, peace, and sacrificial love flowing from the heart of Christ.
How You Can Participate
The lay faithful are invited to accompany this national event through personal prayer, devotion, and action. Here are practical ways your family can join in:
Pray the National Novena: Join Catholics across the country from June 3 to June 11 in praying the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Drawing from the Litany of the Sacred Heart and Pope Francis’s encyclical Dilexit Nos, this novena prepares our hearts for the consecration.
Enthrone the Sacred Heart in Your Home: Bring this national consecration into your daily life by formally enthroning an image of the Sacred Heart in your home, dedicating your family to His love.
Practice Reparation: Offer your Holy Communion, time in Eucharistic Adoration, or acts of charity on June 11 (and throughout the year) in reparation for sins against God's love, praying for the healing of our nation.
For more information, visit usccb.org/consecration-united-states-sacred-heart-jesus.
To stay updated, join our SJE Adult Formation Flocknote or follow us on Facebook.
Vacation Bible School
Elementary school–aged children entering grades K5 through 6 are invited to join us for an exciting week of faith and fun at our 2026 Vacation Bible School: Rainforest Falls – An Epic Adventure of Faith! Vacation Bible School will run from June 15-19 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
Each day, children will discover God’s love through engaging Bible stories, music, games, and hands-on activities in a vibrant rainforest setting. A snack will be included.
Space is limited, so please register today. There is no cost for the program; it is covered by a generous donor.
Students entering grades 7 and 8 are welcome to apply as Junior Crew Leaders, and high school students may apply to serve as Rainforest Rangers. For more information about the Rainforest Rangers program, please contact me.
To register campers (grades K5-6) and Junior Crew Leaders (grades 7-8), click here, or contact me at jpshimek@stjohns-grfd.org.
To stay updated, join our SJE Adult Formation Flocknote or follow us on Facebook.
Sunday, June 7, 2026 | Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
John 6:51–58
John 6:51–58
Friends, today’s Gospel passage is one of the most shocking in the New Testament. Those who heard it were not only repulsed intellectually; they were disgusted, viscerally. For a Jewish man to be insinuating that you should eat his own flesh and drink his blood was about as nauseating and religiously objectionable as you could get.
So what does Jesus do? Does he soften his rhetoric? Does he offer a metaphorical or symbolic interpretation? Does he back off? On the contrary, he intensifies what he just said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” As all the scholars point out, the verb used here in Greek is trogein, which denotes how an animal eats.
So what do we do? If we stand in the great Catholic tradition, we honor these mysterious and wonderful words of Jesus. We resist all attempts to soften them, explain them away, or make them easier to swallow. We affirm, with all of our hearts, the doctrine of the Real Presence.
So what does Jesus do? Does he soften his rhetoric? Does he offer a metaphorical or symbolic interpretation? Does he back off? On the contrary, he intensifies what he just said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” As all the scholars point out, the verb used here in Greek is trogein, which denotes how an animal eats.
So what do we do? If we stand in the great Catholic tradition, we honor these mysterious and wonderful words of Jesus. We resist all attempts to soften them, explain them away, or make them easier to swallow. We affirm, with all of our hearts, the doctrine of the Real Presence.
-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.
There is one open hour of Adoration:
Saturdays 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
We are also seeking Adorers for several hours during the week, with many options to fit your schedule! Please consider an hour during the day, the evening, or overnight.
You are welcome to sign up temporarily to see how it works with your schedule. 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 most weekend Masses (unless it's a holiday weekend), 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.