Parishioner News
We celebrate the children recently baptized: Steve Wick and Ayra Wick, Sanel Ramiz Sejfovic, and Ricardo Daniel Balderes Mendoza.
We also mourn the individuals who have died: Alexandra Fryjoff, Robert S. Bartol, and Michael J. Kelly.
All Souls Day
On Monday, the church will celebrate All Souls Day, a special day set aside to pray for all those who have died and may be in Purgatory. Praying for the souls in Purgatory is a great act of charity. While these Holy Souls cannot pray for themselves, we can help them with our prayers, and they can pray for us.
Once again, we will be providing a pamphlet called A Month with our Friends-the Souls in Purgatory, Knowing Them, Praying to Them, Delivering Them. We ask for a $5 donation for the booklet. We use the money for Masses for the Souls in Purgatory. This pamphlet, composed in the 1880s, was designed to help us pray for these souls each day of the month, especially during the 30 days of November.
Next weekend, November 7 and 8, we as a parish will pray for those who have died from our parish over the past year. The families of these deceased are once again invited to join us for the weekend Masses as we pray for their loved ones. Masses on this Sunday will be followed by a delicious complimentary pancake breakfast. Please plan to partake.
From Here to Eternity with St. Francis of Assisi
by Fr. Glen Sudano
Back by popular demand is Fr. Glenn Sudano, a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR). Coming this November 22, 23, and 24, the parish will host a pre-Advent retreat. Fr. Glenn will speak for those three evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the church. His first topic, on Sunday, November 22, is “Journey with St. Francis to the Crib,” followed by a reception in the Church Hall. Fr. Glenn will also have his latest book available for purchase, along with a book signing. On Monday, he will speak on “Journey with St. Francis to the Cross.” Reconciliation will also be available. On Tuesday, he will speak on “Journey with St. Francis to the Eucharist.” Please plan to attend this pre-Advent retreat.
Click here to register
The Christian Women Society will meet on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 pm in the Church Hall. We need non-perishable food items for our upcoming Craft Fair Grocery Raffle. The guest speaker will demonstrate homemade candy. Cash-and-carry items will be available. All women are welcome to attend.
The next St. John Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting is Thursday, November 5, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the School Multi-Purpose Room. Please enter through Door #12. Yarn, needles, and hooks will be available. For more information, call Julie Kloiber at (414) 688-8343. All knitters, crocheters, and other needleworkers are invited to the next Stitch Night for crafting and conversation.
The St. John the Evangelist Holy Name Society will gather for Corporate Communion at the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 8. Rosary will begin at 7:30 a.m. Please join them for the All-You-Can-Eat Pancake breakfast in the Church Hall starting at 9:30 a.m. All men (and their sons) are invited to join the Holy Name Society.
Growing in Prayer
Prayer is an essential part of our spiritual lives, and it is something we should strive to develop into a daily habit. Our dedicated catechists understand the importance of daily prayer and take great care in teaching our youth the many ways we can communicate with God.
Our 3rd and 4th graders learned that prayer can take many forms, including praise, repentance, asking, and listening in silence. One way to remember these different types of prayer is through the acronym PRAY:
- P – Praise: Praise God for the many gifts and blessings He has given us.
- R – Repent: Ask God for forgiveness for the mistakes and sins we have committed. One way to do this is through a daily examination of conscience.
- A – Ask: Bring our needs and desires to God in prayer, including prayers for others who need His healing, comfort, and help.
- Y – Yield: Slow down, become still, and listen for God’s voice and His plan for our lives.
Our First Communion students also took time to reflect on the many blessings in their lives by writing down the things for which they are thankful. Many expressed gratitude for family, friends, food, water, transportation, and the gift of life. One student shared gratitude for the ability to learn new things, while another expressed thankfulness for the Holy Trinity and holy water. Their responses are wonderful reminders that we, too, can find countless simple blessings to appreciate in our everyday lives.
Our Confirmation candidates are also deepening their understanding of what brings true happiness and fulfillment in life. They are learning that lasting joy comes from knowing, loving, and serving God, while a self-centered life can leave us feeling empty.
We challenge you to make more time for prayer throughout your day! Whether it is thirty seconds of silence, a simple “I love You, Jesus,” the recitation of the Rosary, time spent with Jesus in Adoration, or attending Mass, even the smallest moments of prayer can lead to a profound transformation in our relationship with God.
Let us continue to grow in faith, recognize the blessings God places in our lives, and make prayer a meaningful part of each day.
Dictionary Day
We had a big morning at St. John's School filled with learning, laughter, and fun! Students in grades 3-8 teamed up in mixed-grade groups for an exciting Dictionary Day filled with activities that strengthened their spelling, vocabulary, and dictionary skills. From Scattergories and Fact or Fiction to Dictionary Dash, ABC 123, and the ever-popular Stump the Teachers, students put their knowledge to the test while learning together.
The fun continued with an all-school recess, where big buddies, siblings from different grade levels, enjoyed their time together, and even teachers joined in games of tag and jump rope. We wrapped up our wonderful morning with prayer and giving thanks for our school community. It was a joyful day of learning, friendship, and community at St. John's School.
Today and Every Day Be a Peacemaker
Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Solemnity of All Saints | Matthew 5:1–12a
Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Many who have stood before the Gothic rose windows—brightly fashioned with images of the saints—have heard them sing. The Lord Jesus says, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” and this wonderful loss of self happens when we listen to the singing of the rose window.
The rose is also an evocative symbol of what the spiritual masters refer to as the center. At the center, Christ is depicted. Then wheeling around the Christic core is a harmoniously arranged amalgam of “medallions,” images from the lives of the saints.
The medallions are often connected to one another and to the center by a series of spokes. This structured harmony is meant to picture the well-ordered soul. When divine power is the uncompromised center of our lives—as it is for the saints—the myriad energies of our souls—intellectual, moral, physical, emotional, sexual—tend to fall into harmony around it.
When Christ is the “ground” of the soul, the soul finds peace, order, and beauty. Make God’s will the center of your concerns, and your proximate needs, desires, and longings will tend to find their place.
The rose is also an evocative symbol of what the spiritual masters refer to as the center. At the center, Christ is depicted. Then wheeling around the Christic core is a harmoniously arranged amalgam of “medallions,” images from the lives of the saints.
The medallions are often connected to one another and to the center by a series of spokes. This structured harmony is meant to picture the well-ordered soul. When divine power is the uncompromised center of our lives—as it is for the saints—the myriad energies of our souls—intellectual, moral, physical, emotional, sexual—tend to fall into harmony around it.
When Christ is the “ground” of the soul, the soul finds peace, order, and beauty. Make God’s will the center of your concerns, and your proximate needs, desires, and longings will tend to find their place.
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 THREE open hours of Adoration:
Thursdays 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Saturdays, Midnight to 1:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 2:00 a.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 through Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
Weekend Masses:
Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.
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.