Happenings This Week:
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Grade School Faith Formation 3:45 pm –5:00 pm
High School Faith Formation 6:45 pm—8:00 pm
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Destination Imagination State Tournament - Stevens Point. Two St. Mary School teams will compete.
Knights of Columbus Annual Tootsie Roll Drive - at East Shore Industries
Other News, Notices, Announcements, Messages, and Happenings
Attention Confirmation Candidates:
The final session for Confirmation preparation will be held on April 19, 2009. The class will meet at Mrs. Wolske’s house. Please gather in the church parking lot after the 8:15 am. Mass & car pool to her house. Confirmation practice is Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 pm in the church. Candidates and their sponsors must attend.
Rosary Society breakfast report:
Our total profits for the breakfast and bake sale were $1,067.71. We put some of the money to wipe out the cafeteria chair fund balance, which is now $0.00. We are now working on mats to the entrances in church. Thank you so much to all the people who donated to the new chairs in the cafeteria.
Also a big thank you to all the members of our great parish who baked for the bake sale and participated in the plentiful breakfast and bought baked goods. If you haven’t seen the beautiful Spring decorations in the cafeteria, please stop and take a look at them. They are fantastic and the talented artists attend St. Mary School.
And last of all a big Thank You to all the wonderful ladies of our rosary society who worked so hard for the breakfast & bake sale and donated for both. Remember new members are always welcome!! Just contact Rose Marit 487-5407 or any member of the Rosary Society
FREE Skin Cancer Screening
Have You Noticed?
> A new growth on your skin?
> A discoloration of your skin?
> A mole that has changed color or has an irregular border?
You need to have it checked out. This is your chance to have a professional take a look.
When: Saturday, April 18th, 2009
Time: 9:00 am to Noon
Location: Luxemburg Medical Clinic
101 School Creek Trail
Luxemburg, WI
Cost: FREE
Registration: Please call Public Health at (920) 388-7160 .
The Bible and the Mass
This Faith Formation opportunity will be held at Holy Rosary on the following Thursdays: April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Advanced registration is required. Call St. Mary Parish Office 487-5005 or Holy Rosary Parish Office at 388-2285. This Bible and the Mass study will be presented by Laura Krzysiak and Cindy Massey.
Dear St. Mary Parish Members,
Once again the Knights of Columbus will have our annual Tootsie Roll Drive to help the Citizens with Mental Handicaps at East Shore Industries on April 18 & 19. Your generous contributions have helped purchase machines at East Shore Industries to accommodate there needs and give them a sense of purpose and belonging in life. Thanks again for your past and future support helping the K of C with this great cause. We look forward to seeing you with your donations before and after all the masses.
Thanks!
God Bless You!
Robert Reinhart, Chairman
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In Joy and Hope: JOURNEY TOGETHER ALONG THE LAKESHORE
I get just a bit frustrated and impatient because spring seems to take its good-old-natured time – no pun intended – in making its appearance in the Midwest and especially, it seems, on the Lakeshore. The unexpected snow storm – the blustery cold wind – the grey days – all of this gets very old –especially on these early days in April. There are two lines from the work of the Jesuit priest-poet Father Gerard Manley Hopkins that come to mind as I am waiting for spring: “What is all this juice and all this joy?” and “There lives the dearest freshness deep down things.”
The word “Easter” is thought to come from an ancient word “eastre” meaning spring. Might Easter not be all about “joy” and “freshness”? We believers stand at the opening to the empty tomb – sometimes feeling an emptiness in our own hearts and minds and spirits and bodies. We often times experience disappointment and despair, fear and shame, serious illness, separation and divorce, addiction and personality disorders, loneliness and guilt. Our national and world communities are experiencing economic instability and unemployment, war and terrorism, AIDS and malaria, violence and hatred, and a deadly fascination with nuclear weapons. We sometimes wonder where is all the “freshness” and “joy”?
In his homily at the Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Lent, as Archbishop Vincent Nichols prepared to meet all of those becoming Catholic in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, England, he referred to the great Italian painter of the Middle Ages, Carravaggio, and one of his masterpieces, “The Conversion of Saul.” “There is Saul, crashed to the ground from his position of strength and eminence on his horse, with arms outstretched in seeming helplessness. We too must know our need of God at every moment. But the painting also bears another interpretation. If you turn the painting upside down, and look again at the face of Saul, what you see may seem surprising. His face is bathed in wonderful light. It is utterly peaceful, without a hint of anger, fear or distress. His eyes are serenely closed. He looks entirely happy, taken up in hidden joy. He holds out his arms in a gesture of longing welcome.”
Surprise! Surprise! Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive! Jesus is real! Jesus is with us! Jesus is within us! That first morning of the Resurrection has turned everything upside down. At the empty tomb, in joy and hope, everything is transformed. Everything is made fresh and new. Death is really life, sorrow is really joy, and darkness is really light. Standing before the empty tomb in faith, let the Risen Jesus takes your aches and pains, your hurts, your tears, and your fears and roll them up and set them aside in the tomb. Take a moment to breathe in the freshness, the joy, and the new life that the Resurrection of Jesus brings. Hear him call you by name. “Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will help you through whatever is draining your spirit. I make all things new.”
Happy Easter! Happy Spring!
Father Bill +
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St. Mary Parish Lights