Festival
Please join us this weekend as we open our 57th Parish Festival. On Friday evening, we begin with our delicious Fish Fry at 4:00 pm. What follows is a great variety of foods, games, rides, and music on the festival grounds. On Saturday, we begin at 3:30 pm with the Flag Raising ceremony. And more fun, food, and music will be found on the festival grounds. Sunday’s Roasted Chicken dinner begins at 11:30 am and continues until 2:00 pm. With plenty of music, grilled foods, roasted corn, Belgian waffles, and games found on the festival grounds. The list goes on and on. We conclude on Sunday evening at 9:15 pm with a terrific fireworks show.
Immediately following the fireworks, the take down of the festival grounds begins. Work continues until 2:00 am. If you are reasonably healthy and somewhat strong, please stay to help take down and put away Festival 2026. Festival tear down continues Monday and each day during the week until the task is complete. Lunch will be provided each day.
And a big thank you to everyone who is helping to make this the best festival ever. Thanks to those who have volunteered and are working at the festival, and to all who attend and make all the work worthwhile. I also ask that each of us continue to pray for good weather, enjoyment, and safety of all.
Feast Days in the Week Ahead
On the Catholic Liturgical Calendar for this week, there are some well-known saints who will be remembered and celebrated.
On Wednesday, July 29, we remember Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus on their Feast Day. Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were siblings who lived in Bethany and were close friends of Jesus. Their feast day honors the unique relationship with Him and their roles in the Gospel narratives. Martha is often recognized for her service and hospitality, Mary for her contemplative nature, and Lazarus for being raised from the dead by Jesus, which signifies His power over death.
On Thursday, July 30, St. Peter Chrysologus, a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He was born in Italy around 380 AD and was known as the Doctor of Homilies for his concise, eloquent, and theologically rich sermons. He is remembered for defending orthodoxy against heresies, promoting the Eucharist, and leading a spiritual campaign against paganism.
On Friday, July 31, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Spiritual Exercises, a timeless roadmap for finding God in all things. It is a time when Jesuits gather, give thanks, reminisce, and recommit to the service of the Church under the charism of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
On Saturday, August 1, is the Feast Day of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church and author of many inspirational writings. His life is a powerful example of spiritual resilience in the face of suffering and adversity.
The Festival Committee needs your help and asks that you set aside some time to assist, as the Festival is almost here!
- Thursday, July 23, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Various duties (day and evening shifts) - Lunch will be provided
- Friday, July 24, 9:00 a.m. until done - Various duties
- Sunday, July 26, after fireworks until 2:00 a.m.: Please meet at the Shed (help is also needed July 27, 28 & 29).
Contact Bob Stemo (262) 219-4251
Grocery & Mystery Package Needs
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.
- Grocery Booth: A wide variety of non-perishable (not expired) food items is needed.
Sunday, July 26, 2026 | Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Matthew 13:44–52 (or 13:44–46)
Friends, Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel of the treasure buried in a field that a man stumbles upon. And he sells everything he has in order to buy that field. Could the field be the human heart, the treasure be the imago of Christ, and the selling of everything be the surrendering of all for the sake of the mission?
Jesus also speaks of the merchant’s search for a pearl of great price; when he finds the pearl, the merchant sells everything in order to acquire it. Could this pearl be the one thing worth looking for? And could the selling off of everything else be the living out of the successful, centered life?
Joseph Campbell says that the greatest tragedy in life is not so much failure but rather climbing the ladder of success and finding out that it is up against the wrong wall! Bob Dylan was reflecting ruefully on the same phenomenon when he said, “You find out when you reach the top / you’re on the bottom.” We can spend our entire lives pursuing goals that are worthless, or even goals that are objectively good but not ours—or, better, not Christ’s for us.
-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 are FIVE open hours of Adoration:
Sundays 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Fridays 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 4:00 a.m.
Saturdays Midnight to 1:00 a.m. and 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.