News From the Pastor

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05/19/13

The light turned yellow, just in front of her. She did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though she could have beaten the red light and made it through the intersection. The tailgating man was furious and laid on his horn as he missed his chance to get through the intersection, dropping his cell phone and shaver. As he was still in mid-rant, he heard a tap on his window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered him to exit his car with his hands up. He took him to the police station where he was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. The man was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with his personal effects. He said, “I am very sorry for the mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car when you were blowing your horn, gesturing the woman ahead of you, and cussing a blue streak. I noticed the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday School’ sign in the rear window, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. So naturally I assumed you had stolen the car.”

Pentecost…the sending of the Spirit to enable us to live our faith in our daily lives! As we open our hearts to that same miracle that empowered the “locked-door disciples” to leave the room and go forth and live the Good News, so we, too, are on a mission—to proclaim, in word and example, the love that God has for us and for all people. The gifts of the Holy Spirit give us the desire and the tools we need to make our world a better place, to see others through the eyes of Christ, and to live in such a way that everyone we encounter will know that we are His followers. May every day be a Pentecost for each of us; may the Spirit come alive through us to renew the face of the earth!

Congratulations and welcome to those who will be received into the Church this Sunday. We are a better community of faith for your presence among us. And thanks to Sr. Mary Ann and the RCIA team for your prayerful guidance to those who are confirmed!

In the Spirit, Fr. Dave

05/12/13

An old man and woman were married for many years. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, “When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life.” Neighbors feared him; the old man liked the fact that he was feared. To everyone’s relief, he died of a heart attack when he was 95. His wife had a closed casket at the funeral. After the burial, her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, “Aren’t you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?” The wife said, “Let him dig. I had him buried upside down and I know he won’t ask for directions!”

The feast of the Ascension celebrates Jesus’ return to the Father. Exactly how it happened and when it happened remains a mystery (although those who prefer to translate the bible literally would say there’s no mystery at all). Yet, the fact that there are mysteries in our faith does not diminish the reality that life is forever and in the kingdom of God, there is complete and total union with the God who has created all of life. We embrace those mysteries and live in the confidence that where Jesus has gone, we will someday follow.

This weekend finds me in the midst of a trip to Portugal (I will truly remember all of you at the shrine at Fatima) with several family members. I will be back Friday evening. I wish all of you Moms a Happy Mother’s Day and trust that your kids will treat you with great love (and even greater expense) as we celebrate that wonderful holiday. May our Blessed Mother grace each of you with wisdom and love!

Blessings, Fr. Dave

05/05/13

A pastor woke up one morning and, realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny spring day, decided he just had to play golf. He told the associate pastor that he was feeling sick and asked him to cover for him that day. As soon as the associate left the room, the pastor headed out of town to a golf course about forty miles away. This way he figured he wouldn’t accidentally run into anyone from his parish who knew him. Setting up on the first tee, he was all alone and breathed a sigh of relief. At that very moment, however, St. Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from heaven and exclaimed, “You’re not going to let him get away with this, are you?” The Lord sighed and said, “Well, I guess not.” The pastor hits the ball and it shot straight toward the pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell right into the hole. It was a 220-yard hole-in-one! St. Peter was outraged. He looked at the Lord and asked, “Why did you let him do that?” The Lord smiled and replied, “Who’s he going to tell?”

And to think that Bishop Banks is with us this Sunday to preside at Confirmation rather than playing a round of golf! How blessed are we! And the most blessed among us are those committed teens who are opening themselves to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They have prepared many hours and in many different ways for this moment of grace and we trust that the gifts the Spirit bestows will not be given in vain. Our confirmandi will take these gifts and make a difference in our world. They will grow the Church and reach out to those in need. They will witness to their faith in prayer and action and live their lives with grateful and generous hearts. Too “pie-in-the-sky” you say? Well, they are already doing all of the above. We have seen it and have been graced by their presence among us.

We also have witnessed the power of the Spirit through the commitment of Deacons Kenn Nelesen and Paul Kieffer. For 35 years, they have touched people’s lives with their proclaiming the Good News in our parish and our community. Through the using of their unique gifts and relying on the energy of the Spirit, they have been untiring servants of the risen Christ. Thank you for saying yes to the call to serve; may your anniversary and every day afford you humble gratitude for what Christ has accomplished through each of you.

In the Spirit, Fr. Dave

04/28/13

Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed mentor of the parishioners’ morals, kept sticking her nose into other people’s business. Several members did not approve of her extra-curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup parked in front of the town’s only bar one afternoon (couldn’t have been in Wisconsin). She emphatically told Frank (and many others) that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing! Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn’t explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing. Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred’s house, walked home, and left it there all night.

Sometimes we love our neighbors so much we just can’t stop talking about them. Can you imagine how quiet we would be if we lived the ol’ adage, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all!?” Jesus, in today’s Gospel, ends his farewell address on the night before he died by simply inviting us to love one another. That love takes on many forms, yet one form it never takes on is talking poorly about each other. It’s so difficult to be good all the time, but with God’s grace and the role modeling that Jesus gives, we can at least strive to raise the bar a little higher in our daily lives. This week, let us say only good things about each other and come to preview what life will be like in the kingdom, where all words are words of praise—for God and one another!

You are sooo good!  Fr. Dave

04/21/13

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, “Kemo Sabe, look towards the sky. What do you see?” The Lone Ranger replies, “I see millions of stars.” “What that tell you?” asks Tonto. The Lone Ranger ponders for a moment and then replies, “Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of stars. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Practically, it appears to be approximately quarter past three in the morning. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Tonto?” Tonto says, “It tells me you dumber than buffalo chip. It means someone stole the tent!”

Their tent may have been stolen, but we have nothing to fear. With Jesus as the Good Shepherd, not one sheep will be snatched from his hand. Just knowing that gives us a sense of security, for even if we run away or get lost, he will come after us till we are back in the fold. Of course, our experience seems to tell a different story. Many (even some of those we love) have wandered away from the herd and the shepherd; they have followed another voice that has called out to them. Nevertheless, Jesus is pursuing them in ways we may never fully appreciate and, while we do all we can to try to bring them back ourselves, the Shepherd may have other tricks up his cloak. We do as much as possible to be “field agents” of the Shepherd, but, in the end, simply trust that, in his own time, we will all be back together again. It is his promise! 

This is our last First Communion Sunday and these great children remind us of the joy that is ours in being part of the community of believers. Those “outside the flock” will never know the richness and the joy of belonging to the Shepherd. It is truly a gift to behold (in the eyes of our second graders and their families) and to celebrate (in the lives of each one of us). What a great grace to recognize in them the joy of being gathered around the Eucharistic table!

Happy days,  Fr. Dave

04/14/13

One day when Grandma was out, Grandpa was left in charge of their 2 ½ year-old granddaughter. Someone had given the little girl a tea set for her birthday and it was definitely her favorite toy. Grandpa was in the living room engrossed in watching a game on TV when the little girl brought him a cup of tea (which was just water). After several cups of tea and lots of praise for how yummy it was, Grandma came home. Grandpa made her wait in the living room to watch the little girl bring him a cup of tea because it was “just the cutest thing.” Grandma waited and, sure enough, in came the grandchild with a cup of tea, which she watched him drink up. Then Grandma says (as only a grandma would know), “Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet bowl?”

And Jesus, with all his wisdom, says the same to his disciples in the Gospel this weekend, “Did it ever occur to you to cast the fishing net off the other side of the boat?” And they did, and they caught lots of fish. The Gospel, of course, isn’t really about fishing. That’s just the backdrop for the appearance of the risen Christ. The Gospel is really about letting the Lord lead us to where life abounds, where there is more joy than imaginable. In John’s Gospel particularly, Jesus is always portrayed as extravagant. In his first miracle (called signs by John), the bride and groom need a few more glasses of wine. Jesus comes up with 150 gallons. In his last sign, after the resurrection, Jesus helps the disciples catch 153 fish. The moral of the story: if you and I ever think that God is stingy, we are looking in the wrong places; we are missing the signs.

What greater sign do we need these weeks than the joy on the faces of those receiving communion for the first time. One hundred (or so) of the “cutest little people” beaming with joy at their first Eucharist, their first “fully alive” encounter with the risen Lord, is a sure sign of God’s graciousness. The cynics and those who don’t understand would say, “All that fuss over a little wafer. Surely God could do better than that.” But we know better—the extravagance of God, who gives of his whole and entire self, is found in that little wafer and that small sip of wine. Thank God we know where to cast our nets!

Easter abundance,  Fr. Dave

04/07/13

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form called a “gripe” sheet, which tells mechanics about problems with the  aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form and then the pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by the pilots (marked “P”) and the solutions recorded (marked with an “S”) by maintenance engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

 

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

 

P: Something loose in cockpit.

S: Something tightened in cockpit.

 

P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on back-order.

 

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

 

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level.

 

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That’s what friction locks are for.

 

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

 

P: Suspected crack in windshield. 

S: Suspect you’re right.

 

P: Number 3 engine missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

 

P: Aircraft handles funny.

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

 

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

 

P: Noise coming from under the instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from the midget.

A sense of humor goes a long way in solving problems. Of course, sometimes it can cause problems if used insensitively or in a too-sarcastic way, but it often alleviates the pressure that builds up when things are not going right. I wonder if there was any laughter in that locked room in the Gospel this weekend when Thomas was putting his finger in Jesus’ nail marks or his hand in Jesus’ side. I can’t help but think there was at least a smile on the Lord’s face as Thomas had to eat his words from the week before. While laughter and joy are not the same, they are cousins, certainly. The closer you and I get to Christ, the more joy floods our souls. There is no room in heaven for sour pusses or folks who take everything too seriously. Serious attention needs to be given to many things in life, and while the journey of faith is often challenging, it is also en-lightening, thereby Jesus’ Easter message as the light of the world is often, “Lighten up!” May we know the joy in all that happens this week and may we take it with us into every relationship and event!     Easter joy,  Fr. Dave

03/31/13

Paddy phones an ambulance because his

mate’s been hit by a car.

Paddy:  Get an ambulance here quick; he’s bleeding for his nose and ears and I think both his legs are broken.

Operator: What is your location, sir?

Paddy:  Outside number 28 Eucalyptus Street.

Operator:  How do you spell that, sir?

Silence…(heavy breathing) and after a minute.

Operator:  Are you there, sir?

More heavy breathing and another minute later

Operator:  Sir, can you hear me?

This goes on for another few minutes until…

Operator:  Sir, please, can you hear me?

Paddy: Yes, sorry ‘bout dat. I couldn’t spell eucalyptus so I just dragged him round to Number 3 Oak Street.

When the women got to Jesus’ empty tomb, they were sure someone had moved him too. And, sadly, for many Christians throughout the world, Jesus has been moved—to the back burner. He no longer occupies the center of our lives as he did in years gone by.  However, the fire of Easter and the contagion of its joyful love energize us to do what we can to bring him back to the rightful place he belongs. Ham and jelly beans, family and friends, lilies and new clothes serve as great backdrop to what this feast is all about: Jesus Christ and the life he brings—not only to eternity but to our every day on the way. Let us rejoice, then, in the hopes that tomorrow will be as filled with Easter joy as is today, that this new life will spill over to work and school, and that next Sunday we will praise God with as much gusto as this Sunday. Have a wonderful day and an even more wonderful life-journey!

Easter joy,  Fr. Dave

03/24/13

A woman was at her hairdresser’s getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the beautician, who responded, “Rome? Why would anybody go there? It’s crowded and dirty and now, with a new Pope, it’ll be a mob scene. You’re crazy. So, how are you getting there? “We’re taking Continental,” was the    reply. “We got a great rate!” “Continental?” exclaimed the hairdresser. “That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they are always late.  So where are you staying in Rome?” “We’ll be at this exclusive little place on the Tiber River called Il Tiempo.” “Don’t go any further. I know the place. Everybody thinks it’s going to be something special and exclusive, but it’s really a dump.” “We’re going to see the Vatican and the new Pope.” “Yeah, sure you are,” laughed the hairdresser, “You and a million other people. He’ll look the size of an ant. Good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it.”

A month later, the woman came back in for a new hair appointment. The beautician asked her about her trip to Rome. “It was wonderful,” exclaimed the woman, “not only were we on time in one of Continental’s brand new planes, but it was overbooked so we got to fly first class. The food and the wine were wonderful and I had a handsome  28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great. They’d just finished a $5 million euro remodeling job and now it’s the jewel of the city. They even gave us a suite at no extra charge.” “Well,” muttered the hairdresser, “that’s all well and good, but I know you didn’t get to see the new Pope.” “Actually, we were quite lucky,” explained the woman, “because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard came up to us and said that the new Holy Father wanted to meet some random visitors so we were selected to meet him in his private chapel. Sure enough, five minutes later, in he walked and shook my hand. I knelt down and he spoke a few words right to me!” “Oh, really,” said the hairdresser, “What did he say?” He said, “Who screwed up your hair?”

It is truly amazing how some folks can be so negative all the time, always seeing the proverbial bottle as half empty, always focusing on what’s wrong rather than what’s wonderful. Some are already complaining about our new Pontiff and some, of course, would have complained no matter whom the cardinals chose. Back at the ranch here, some will be complaining about how long today’s reading from the Passion is, how dragged out all the Holy Week services are, and how crowded it will be for Easter with all those people who “only come to church twice a year and then expect me to give up my seat!!!” Ah yes, isn’t it wonderful how whiny we can be when we are about to celebrate the holiest week of the year and, even more so, the salvation it celebrates! When all the complaining happens, let us simply do what Christ did on his road to Calvary—smile and move on, praying for them, for  “they know not what they do.”

Seriously, the services are longer than usual, but they are so rich in meaning and celebratory ritual. Please come and join in the festivities. They only happen once a year and they simply wouldn’t be the same without you.

In all the love and humility of Holy Week,  Fr. Dave

03/17/13

Two women were sitting next to each other at a bar.   After a while, one looks at the other and says, “I can’t help but think, from listening to you, that you’re from Ireland.” The other woman responds proudly, “So am I! And where in Ireland are ya from?” The other woman answers, “I’m from Killarney, I am.” The first one  responds, “So am I! And what street did ya live on in Killarney?” The other woman says, “A lovely little area in the west end. I lived on Warbury St. in the old part of town.” The first one says, “Faith, and it’s a small world. So did I! So did I! And what school did ya go to?” The other woman answers, “Well, now, I went to the Holy Heart of Mary, of course.” The first one gets really excited and says, “So did I! Tell me, what year did ya graduate?” The other woman says, “Well, now, let’s see. I graduated in 1974.” The first woman exclaims, “The Good Lord must be smilin’ down on us! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same pub  tonight! Can you believe it? I graduated from Holy Heart of Mary in ’74 me self.” About this time, Michael walks into the pub, sits down, and orders a beer. Brian, the bartender, walks over to Michael shaking his head and mutters, “It’s going to be a long night tonight.” Michael asks, “And why do ya say that?” Brian answers, “The Murphy twins are drunk again!”

It’s always the women who are getting picked on (although most St. Paddy’s jokes are about men who are drinking). In the Gospel this weekend, it’s no different. If the woman was caught in the “very act of adultery,” where’s the guy? He gets off scot free? Something’s not right with this picture! But, be that as it may, and taking into account the cultural biases of the time, Jesus cuts through it all and proclaims that mercy is for God to give and judgment is for God to make. That leaves you and me off the hook. Making judgments is not our role in the community of disciples, and only God is as merciful as we would all someday like to be.

Holy Week begins next weekend. Let us journey together into the arms of a loving God and bring everyone along with us, regardless of how sinful we might think they are. All are worthy of God’s love and mercy; all are welcome to walk with Christ into Jerusalem, on to Calvary, and ultimately to the empty tomb. Let us prepare well this week for all that is about to unfold before us!

Erin go bragh!   Fr. Dave

03/10/13

Each Friday night after work, Ole would fire up his outdoor grill on the shore of Big Stone Lake and cook a venison steak. But…all of Ole’s friends and neighbors were Catholic and, since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Friday. The delicious aroma from the grilled steaks wafted over Ortonville all the way to Clinton and was finally causing such a temptation for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest. The priest came to visit Ole and suggested that he become Catholic. After several classes and much study, Ole attended Mass and, as the priest sprinkled holy water over him, said, “You were born a Lutheran, you were raised a Lutheran, but now you are a Catholic.” Ole’s neighbors were relieved, until Friday night arrived, and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood. The priest was called immediately by the neighbors and, as he rushed into Ole’s yard prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement. There stood Ole, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat, all the while chanting, “You were born a deer, you were raised a deer, but now you are a walleye.”

Conversion takes a lot more than a few sprinkles of holy water, as those who are in the RCIA process are well aware.  It also presumes, of course, that there is an ongoing inner conversion happening as well—not only in the hearts of those preparing to officially join the Church at the Easter Vigil, but in our hearts as well. It is what Lent is all about—turning to the Light that is Jesus Christ!

Conversion took place in the hearts of our Gospel characters in this weekend’s parable of the prodigal son. The younger brother had a change of heart as he returned home to his father. His father had to be able to forgive his son for taking off and wasting his inheritance before he could run down the road to embrace him. The mother (although unmentioned in the story) undoubtedly was in constant prayer as she supported her husband and other son throughout the whole ordeal. The only one whose heart was not turned toward God in the telling of the parable was the elder brother. One can only hope that conversion eventually took place after his brother was home for a while.

How about you and me? Has there been any conversion in the first half of Lent? If yes, praise God; if not, there is still time to look within and decide to come home to the Father.   May these days be filled with moments of grace as we journey together to Calvary and the empty tomb!

Lenten blessings, Fr. Dave

 

03/03/13

A man and his friend Schultz were walking down the street and a car honked the horn and the passengers shouted, “Hey Schultz!” His friend said to him, “You know them?” Schultz answered, “Yes, I do. Everyone knows Schultz.” Another car rode by and they honked and shouted, “Hey Schultz!” His friend commented, “You know them too?” Schultz answered, “Yes, everyone knows Schultz!” His friend got sick of it and decided to put him to the test. “You can’t know everyone. I bet you don’t know the governor!” Schultz answered, “Oh, yes. Walker and I go way back.” They bet $20 and drove down to Madison. Sure enough, Schultz and Governor Walker were good friends. His friend begrudgingly gave him the $20 and said, “You can’t know everyone.” Schultz said, “Sorry, everyone knows Schultz.” His friend then bet him $50 that he didn’t know the president. They flew to Washington D.C. and met the president. Sure enough, Schultz knew him too. His friend paid the bet and tried very hard to think of someone Schultz couldn’t know. Then he had an idea. Schultz was not Catholic so he couldn’t possibly know the pope. They flew to Rome and Schultz said to him, “You stand here in the square right under the Pope’s balcony and I will come out with the Pope.” When Schultz and Pope Benedict came out to wave to the people, Schultz looked down to make sure his friend was watching. He saw him, collapsed on the ground, so he ran down to see if he was all right. When he got there, his friend sat up and said, “When I saw you come out with the Pope, the woman next to me said, ‘Who’s that old guy in the robes next to Schultz?”

The worldwide interest in the retirement of the Holy Father as well as whom his successor will be is amazing. The presence and impact of the Christ through the Church is like none other. As he feels called to spend the rest of his days in prayer and meditation (and possibly write another book), the prayers of 1.3 billion Catholics and countless numbers of others across the world go with him. No matter how deep his solitude, he will neither be forgotten nor go unrecognized. And may his example of courage and faithfulness inspire all of us to listen to the call and follow direction which the Lord gives us!

As we await the cardinals’ choice for our next Holy Father, may the Holy Spirit fill their hearts with wisdom and confidence that he will be the one the Lord has chosen!

Vive il Papa!  Fr. Dave

02/24/13

From someone named Alice…

My name is Alice and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma on the wall, which bore his full name.  Suddenly I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name who had been in my high school class some 35 years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had such a crush on way back then? Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply-lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. After he had examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School. “Why, yes…yes, I did. I’m a Mustang,” he beamed proudly. “When did you graduate?” I asked. “Class of ’77,” he said. “Why do you ask?” “You were in my class!” I exclaimed. He looked at me closely. Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkle-faced, fat, gray-haired, decrepit, jerk asked, “What did you teach?”

The Transfiguration-event of Jesus and his three friends up on the mountain did not restore his youth or even turn the light on for the apostles who were trying to figure out just who this Jesus was. It was simply an intense God-encounter which changed their lives and reaffirmed their commitment to follow the One whom they would later call “the Christ.” Religious experiences, while hard to orchestrate on demand, can become more proximate if we are willing to place ourselves in an environment where they are more likely to occur—a church pew, a retreat, a mission trip, or even a bowl of soup for a sick neighbor.

I am part of a Cursillo team this weekend where thirty-some men are “likely” to experience a Transfiguration-event, drawing us closer to the Christ whom we follow.  Please pray that it will be a graced moment in time for all of us. These opportunities are hard to sell. Between work and sports and family obligations, very few are willing to say “yes” when invited. Nevertheless, Jesus keeps asking each of us to go up the mountain with him. It makes me wonder whether Peter, James, and John were the only ones he asked, or if the other nine (or perhaps many more) said, “No, I’m too busy.” Wherever we find ourselves at the moment of reading this, may we listen a little more closely to His call and a little more willing to say, “Yes, I’ll accompany you up the mountain.”

Happy Lent!   Fr. Dave

02/17/13

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly for the last 50 years. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin.  Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, the Hostess Twinkies (who are also near death), and Captain Crunch. The grave site was oiled high with flours. Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.  Born in Minnesota, Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 30 minutes.

Thankfully, Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that one does not survive on bread alone and, as we begin this Lenten season, it might be good for us to remember that insight. And let us, rather, look to the Word of God and the example of Jesus for sustenance. The temptations to renege on our Lenten commitments (various forms of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving) are already huge (some were blaming Fr. Dan, in fact, for not considering Sundays as days of Lent), but the Pillsbury Doughboy can serve as a reminder to us of what it is that we take with us into eternity (and it’s not Paczkis).

Let us regroup and begin again (those first few days since Ash Wednesday are just trials—Lent really begins today) as we strive to, as Jesus did, say to Satan, “Get lost! I’m stronger than you’ll ever be!” May these days of grace fill our hearts with love, our wills with resolve, and our souls with great peace!

Lenten blessings,  Fr. Dave

02/10/13

Dear Friends,

Two buddies entered a chocolate shoppe. As they were busy looking around, one of them stole three chocolate bars. As they left the store, he said to his friend, “Man, I’m the best thief ever. I stole three chocolate bars and no one saw me. You can’t beat that.” The friend replied, “You want to see something better? Let’s go back to the shop and I’ll show you real thievery.” So they went to the counter and he said to the shopkeeper, “Do you want to see magic?” The shopkeeper replied, “Sure!” The guy said, “Give me one chocolate bar.” The shopkeeper gave him one and he ate it. He then asked for a second bar and he ate that one as well. He then asked for a third and he finished that one off. The shopkeeper said, “But where’s the magic?”  The guy replied, “Check my friend’s pocket and you’ll find all three bars.”

It’s Bishop’s Appeal Weekend here at St. Francis and the cynics among us might just think, “This is highway robbery, or, at best, robbing Peter to pay Paul.” But we are part of a larger Church and the work that is done on the diocesan level in so many areas of Christian life is amazing. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical too, until I worked in the Vocations Office for seven years. Then I saw first-hand how many lives were touched through Catholic Charities, the Education and Youth Ministry Departments, the Lay and Diaconate Formation Offices, and so many others. As a Church, we are only as alive as we are willing to support one another. Let us be generous in our response and grateful in our faith!

Lent starts Wednesday. You all have received our Lenten calendar in the mail and hopefully it has found a prominent place on your refrigerator, not only to spare the office all the “What time is…?” phone calls, but to remind you to join us for as many opportunities-for-growth as your schedule permits. Let us grow together in faith during these holy days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and be totally renewed as we gather for Easter!

Happy Fasting!   Fr. Dave

02/03/13

Dear Friends,

After being married for thirty years, a wife asked her husband to describe her. He looked into her eyes for a few moments and then said, “You’re A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K! She then asked, “What does that mean?” He said, “Adorable, Beautiful, Cute, Delightful, Elegant, Foxy, Gorgeous, Hilarious. She smiled and said, “Oh, that’s so beautiful. But what about the I J K?” He said, “I’m Just Kidding!” The swelling in his eye is going down nicely and he should be able to chew again soon.

Last week Jesus came home, went into the synagogue and was a hero! This weekend he finishes his “talk” to his neighbors and friends and is run out of town. Had he said, “I’m just kidding,” they may have responded more favorably, but he couldn’t renege on the truth. Is honesty the best policy? Sometimes, silence is a virtue. But when it comes to the Word of God, it must be proclaimed and the chips must be allowed to fall where they may. That being said, we proclaim and live our faith in the most compassionate and tolerant ways possible. Jesus, while being forthright about his beliefs, welcomed into his circle, Samaritans and prostitutes and Pharisees and all the rest. Once he had touched their lives with his love, he could then proclaim the truth. May we, too, follow that method of evangelization—no condemning, only loving, and then preach the Gospel. Or as our patron, St. Francis always said, “Preach the Gospel always and, if you must, use words!” And may the St. Blaise throat blessing this weekend make our words even sweeter!

Love,  Fr. Dave

01/27/13

Dear Friends,

Here’s a test in which the student received a 0%. I think he or she deserves a re-correction.

Q1. In which battle did Napoleon die? His last battle.

Q2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?

At the bottom of the page.

Q3. The River Ravi flows in what state? Liquid.

Q4. What is the main reason for divorce? Marriage.

 Q5. What can you never eat for breakfast?  Lunch and dinner.

Q6. What is the major reason for failure? Exams.

Q7. What looks like half an apple? The other half.

Q8. If you throw a red stone into a blue see, what will it become? Wet.

Q9. How can a man go eight days without sleeping?

No problem, he sleeps at night.

Q10. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

You’ll never find an elephant with one hand.

Q11. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have? Very large hands.

Q12. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it? No time at all, the wall is already built.

Q13. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it? Any way you want, concrete floors are very hard to crack.

I think the kid deserves 100%.

In the Gospel this weekend, as Jesus goes home and wows the people in the synagogue, he becomes the “local kid who made good,” until later on in the Gospel when he ruffles a few feathers. Then he’s driven out of town. Each generation wants its kids to do well and we invest much time and prayer and money into assuring that happens.  As we enter into our annual Catholic Schools Week, I, for one, am extremely proud of both St. Francis of Assisi and Roncalli Catholic Schools. I am also most grateful for the ongoing support our children and staff receive from not only parents and family-members, but from the entire parish community. We are excellent schools because of the conviction of those who have gone before us to lay the foundation for Catholic education in Manitowoc and those who today lay the foundation for those generations who will come after us. The witnessing to our faith and the generosity with which we support our Church is never for our own benefit, but always for others. I am the faith-filled person I am because of my parents and grandparents, and our children, when they become adults, will recognize that as well. Blessings on all those for whom Catholic Schools Week is a true celebration of faith and love. 

Fr. Dave

01/20/13

Dear Friends,

A pastor decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars. The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. The third worm was out into a container of chocolate syrup and the fourth into a container of good clean soil. At the conclusion of the sermon, the minister reported the   following results: the first worm in the alcohol…dead! The second worm in the cigarette smoke…dead!  The third worm in the chocolate syrup…dead!   The fourth worm in the good clean soil…alive!  So the pastor asked the congregation, “What did you learn from this demonstration?” Maxine was sitting in the back pew, quickly raised her hand and said, “As long as you drink, smoke, and eat chocolate, you won’t have worms!”

Maxine would read today’s Gospel and think, “Jesus wants us to party on!” While he most certainly does want us to socialize and enjoy life, the 150 gallons of wine were not intended for those wedding guests to get trashed. Rather, the wine (symbolic of the joy that is ours as his disciples) manifests the generosity of God. None of us can ever out-love God. None of us can ever adequately repay God for the gift of his love. Thus, we celebrate well the goodness of God and thank him through the way we live our lives—serving others in his name. And while many of us may raise a glass now and then, the real toasting comes in extending our hands in service. May we serve one another well and come to know the joy of life in God’s kingdom, where the wine of love will never run out!

Fr. Dave

01/13/13

A teacher was helping one of her little pupils put on his boots. He had asked for help and she could see why. Even with her pulling and pushing, they still didn’t want to go on. By the time they had gotten the second boot on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost cried when he said, “They’re on the wrong feet.” She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off than putting them on. But she managed to keep her cool as, together, they worked to get the boots back on, this time on the correct feet. He then announced, “These aren’t my boots!” She bit her tongue, rather than get right in his face and scream, “Why didn’t you say so?” like she wanted to do. Once again she struggled to help him pull the boots off his little feet. No sooner had they gotten the boots off when he said, “They’re my brother’s boots. My mom made me wear ‘em.” Now she didn’t know if she should laugh or cry, but she mustered up enough grace and courage to wrestle those same boots onto his feet once again. Helping him into his coat, she asked, “Now, where are your  mittens?” He said, “I stuffed ‘em in the toes of my boots!” (She will be eligible for parole in three years.)

It’s too bad the Gospel writers didn’t ask Jesus more about his childhood (although Mary probably didn’t make him wear boots in Palestine), because we jump ahead this weekend to Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his public ministry. Although liturgically this feast is incorporated into the Christmas Season, His birth seems like a distant memory.

But that’s how life is: in the blink of an eye we move on. Our children grow up and stretch their wings and begin their own journeys down the life paths that they choose, even while we still watch and pray that their choices be good ones. Perhaps Mary and Joseph were also watching and praying while Jesus was being baptized by his friend and trailblazer. Perhaps they were wondering what it all meant. Perhaps they, too, were baptized. There is so much left unrecorded in the Word of God (of course, it was not meant to be historical or biographical, but theological, so there’s not a lot of “cutesy” material), that we can only wonder. But that “graced wondering” is often the root of meditation and what better month than January to spend time doing that! Let us, then, imagine ourselves on the shoreline of the Jordan River and begin to pull the pieces together in holy and creative wondering!

Winter blessings, Fr. Dave

 

01/06/13

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4-5 year-olds: “What does love mean?”

Here are some replies…

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too.”

“When someone loves you, the way they say your  name is different.”

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making the give you any back.”

“Love is when my Mommy makes coffee for my Daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, just to make sure the taste is okay.”

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend you hate.”

 “Love is like and old woman and an old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”

 “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.”

 “I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and then has to go out and buy new ones.”

 “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”

and finally… “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

There was a lot of love shared with all of us this Christmas; the gifts were as precious as those shared with the Christ Child by the Magi. The prayers, the treats, the cards and gifts shared with Fr. Dick and Fr. William and myself were overwhelming. The time that so many put into decorating our churches, assisting at the liturgies, and taking gifts to those confined to their homes was absolutely marvelous.  We are a graced faith-community and as the Magi took their gifts to present to the baby Jesus, so we share our gifts with one another. And that same Jesus smiles at us in gratitude for our love. May this self-giving never end; Let us make every day an epiphany of love!

Gratefully,  Fr. Dave

12/30/12

After getting all of Pope Benedict’s luggage loaded into the limo for the trip to the airport, the driver notices that the Pope is still standing on the curb. “Excuse me, Your Holiness,” says the driver, “Would you please take your seat so we can leave?” “Well, to tell you the truth,” says the Pope, “They never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal and I’d really like to drive today. Consider it your Christmas present to me.” “I’m sorry, Your Holiness,” says the driver, “but I cannot let you do that. I’d lose my job. What if something were to happen?” “Who’s going to tell?” responds the Pope.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets it when, after entering the highway, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 150 kph (remember, the Pope is German).  “Please slow down, Your Holiness,” the worried driver pleads, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens. “Oh no,” moans the driver, “I’m going to lose my license and my job!” The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the officer takes one look at him, goes back to his cycle, and gets on the radio. “I need to talk to the Chief,” he says to the dispatcher. The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him he just stopped a limo going over 150 kph. “So bust him,” says the Chief. “I don’t think we want to do that. He’s really important,” says the officer. The Chief exclaims, “All the more reason.’ “No, I mean really important,” says the persistent cop. The Chief then asks, “Well who do you have there? The mayor?” Cop: “Bigger.” Chief: “A senator?” Cop: “Bigger.” Chief: “The Prime Minister?” Cop: “Bigger.” “Well,” the Chief demands, “Who is it?” Cop: “I think it’s God!” the Chief is now truly befuddled, “Now just what makes you think it’s God?” Cop: “His chauffeur is the Pope!”

And the shepherds coming to Bethlehem will think that this baby in the manger is God, his chauffeur having been the donkey giving a ride to his mother. And we think he is God, too. But Christmas is really only a big deal for those who believe—that the baby Jesus is God, fully human, too, but God. To believe that makes all the difference in the world! Let us hope that many have deepened their faith through celebrating the birth of Christ once again so that this new year will be filled with fuller grace and deeper peace.

May our ongoing Christmas celebrations be times of giving and sharing—gifts of love and gifts of faith, for without either, Christmas will have been just another day and 2013 just another year!

Happy New Year!  Fr. Dave

 

12/23/12

Dear Friends,

A couple was Christmas shopping at the mall on the morning of Christmas Eve and the mall was packed. As the wife walked through the mall she was surprised to look up and see her husband was nowhere around. She was quite upset because they had a lot to do, but because she was so worried, she called him on her cell phone to ask him where he was. In a calm voice, the husband said, “Honey, you remember the jewelry store we went into about five years ago, where you fell in love with that diamond necklace that we could not afford and I told you that I would get it for you one day?” The wife choked up and started to cry and said, “Yes, dear, I do remember the jewelry store.” He said, “Well I’m in the bar right next door to it!”

And where will you and I be these next days? Lost or found? Alone or with loved ones? Irritating people or overwhelming them with kindness? In church with the family or waiting for them to come home? Fulfilled or disappointed? Entertaining guests or visiting? At the Bethlehem in my heart or still journeying there? Wherever we are, Jesus will be born into our world once again and the responses to that moment of grace will be varied. Let each of us respond as fully as he/she can and foster the peace and joy the newborn Savior is sent to bring.

Christmas blessings to all of you,  Fr. Dave

12/16/12

“Where is my Sunday paper?” the irate customer complained, as she loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was. “Madam,” the newspaper employee said, “Today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on Sunday.” There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition as she was heard to very quietly mutter, “Well, that explains why no one was at church either!”

My hunch is that very few people miss Sunday Mass because they mix up the days of the week. In fact, our parish council is so convinced that is the case that they are working feverishly on the challenge of increasing participation in Sunday Eucharist which is the center of our lives as Catholic Christians. In the new year, you may be asked to give us e-mail addresses, bring a friend to church (and even stay for the donut holes), evangelize others yourselves by gently inviting them to refocus their commitment to Christ, use your creative juices to help with radio advertising (Christ the Rock Church does a great job of this in the De Pere market), and many other helpful ways to “grow the Church” (Bishop Banks’ favorite phrase).

On this Joyful Sunday of Advent, the pink candle reminds us of the joy that is ours in being gathered together in God’s love. It is a joy that is contagious and thus it is the bottom line of the “new evangelization,” our magnetic smiles and warm personalities enticing others to want what we have. Perhaps our “joy level” is down a quart or two and, if that is the case, let’s regroup ourselves and, with grateful hearts, acknowledge just how thrilled we are to be preparing to welcome the newborn Savior. Even in the midst of Christmas frenzy, people will see through our busyness to a deeper peace and happiness at the coming of Christ.

You will be hearing more on being an inviting and hospitable people; we are a great parish family, proud to belong to Christ and each other and joyful in heart and soul because of it!

Joyfully,  Fr. Dave

12/09/12

Ramblings from an Old Geezer’s mind (not mine)

I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto his belt or her purse. I can’t afford one so I’m wearing my garage door opener. 

I also made a cover for my hearing aid and now I have what they call blue teeth, I think.

You know, I spent an absolute fortune on deodorant before I realized that people don’t like me anyway.

When people see a cat’s litter box, they always say, “Oh, have you got a cat?” Just once I want to say, “No, it’s for company!”

Applications always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. The other day I wrote, “9-1-1!”

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me—they’re cramming for finals. As for me, I hope God grades on a curve.

The Gospel this weekend has John the Baptist preaching repentance in the desert to prepare the folks for the coming of the Savior. Repentance, back then and now, starts with brutal honesty—you know, asking myself what I believe, how I come across to people, what my attitudes are, how giving I am, where I’m at with God in my life—deep, inner soul-searching to discover who I really am and who I truly want to be.  Then, when I uncover that real self, I look at in the mirror and decide whether or not I want to change. In the Catholic tradition, of course, we have the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help that transformative process, but, like anything else, it doesn’t do any good if I leave it on the shelf. So, let’s dust it off and show up at one of our Penance Services this week. There are four of them at different times and different sites, so there should be no excuses. And John the Baptist would be proud, that after all these years, people are still listening to him!

And, by the way, I hope St. Nick came to you this week. If not, that just may be added incentive to shape up!

Advent blessings, Fr. Dave

12/02/12

Husband down in Aisle 7…

A husband and wife are shopping in their local  supermarket when the husband picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart. “What do you think you’re doing?” asks the wife. “They’re on sale,” he replies, “only $10 for 24 cans.” “Put them back, we can’t afford them,” demands the wife and they continue on shopping. A few aisles later, the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket. “What do you think you’re doing?” asks the husband. “It’s my face cream. It makes me look   beautiful,” replies the wife. Her husband retorts,  “So does 24 cans of Bud and it’s half the price.”  He never knew what hit him.

The Word of God this weekend speaks of sudden and sometimes frightening inbreaks of God into our world. The vigilant folks will be ready for that to happen and, in their awareness, will welcome the Lord with open arms. Those who are preoccupied with self-indulgence will never know what hit them.  These are busy days for all of us, and while the Gospel may point to a future that we may never experience in our life time, if we are too busy, Christmas will come and go without any real meaning or spiritual significance.

The season of Advent seems like a contradiction:  telling us to slow down and be still during the craziest and most hectic month of the year. But then again, isn’t life really all about balance? If I don’t take time to smell the roses all I feel is their thorns. If I don’t spend time with the Savior during these next few weeks, then Christmas becomes a secular hype-fest rather than the touching of one’s soul with the grace and love of God. Let’s not be the “man down in Aisle 7” not knowing what hits us on December 24-25; rather let’s warmly welcome the newborn King with hearts renewed and arms opened. How each of us does that may vary, but to extend no welcome at all is truly a sad choice!

Advent blessings,  Fr. Dave

11/25/12

Dear Friends,

An old woman was sipping on a glass of wine, while sitting on the patio with her husband and she says, “I love you so much. I don’t know how I could ever live without you.” Her husband asks, “Is that you or the wine talking?” She replies, “It’s me…talking to the wine.”

This weekend’s feast of Christ the King begs the question, “Could I live without Christ?” To answer that, “No, I couldn’t!” then invites us to live that response in action. To be committed to Christ, to make him the center of my life, to give him the glory rather than myself, is the challenge of faithful discipleship. And while each of us would live that out a little differently, depending on one’s unique talents and life-circumstances, the common thread would be to put Jesus first. When I do that, every thought and action, each choice and response, all that I say and do, is colored by my faith.

Thanksgiving is now a memory for us and hopefully it was an opportunity for each of us to see Christ in those gathered around the table, as well as an opportunity for each of them to see Christ in us.  How cool would that be—to have family-members and friends say as we left the house, “It’s always so good to have them here. They are so wonderful!” rather than have them think, “Thankfully they’ll be at the in-laws for Christmas so we won’t have to put up with them till Easter!” The choice was ours—did we bring Christ to Thanksgiving dinner as well as the wine? Let’s ponder that for a moment and make sure that next time, He comes with us. After all, he IS the king!

Peace,  Fr. Dave

11/18/12

Dear Friends,

In a convent in Ireland, the 98 year-old Mother Superior lay dying. The sisters gathered around her bed trying to make her final journey comfortable. They tried giving her warm milk to drink but she refused it. One of the nuns took the glass back to the kitchen and then, remembering a bottle of Irish whiskey that they had received as a gift the previous Christmas, she opened it and poured a generous amount into the warm milk. Back at Mother Superior’s bed, they held the glass to her lips. The frail nun drank a little, then a little more, and before they knew it, she had finished the whole glass. As her eyes brightened, the nuns thought it would be a good opportunity to have one last conversation with their beloved leader. “Mother,” they asked earnestly, “please give us some of your wisdom before you leave us.” She raised herself up on one elbow, looked at them and said, “Don’t sell that cow!”

While I can’t imagine a milk/whiskey combo tasting very good, there will probably be both at most of our Thanksgiving dinners this week. And hopefully, we, too, will only be sharing our words of wisdom if asked. Moreover, as Mother Superior was grateful for the cow in their barn, so may we be grateful for those who work hard to prepare our dinner, those who sit with us at table, those who will be with us from their place at the heavenly banquet, and, most importantly, the God who has ordained for all of this to happen.

Gratitude, of course, is not a virtue that emanates from a date on a calendar, but from a heart that has been touched by love. Once we allow ourselves to be loved, our gratefulness is almost immediately transformed into generosity, as we begin the share the bounty with which we have been blessed. The bottom line? Stingy people have never allowed themselves to be loved. Because they rarely let anyone into their hearts and souls (perhaps because they feel “unworthy” of anyone’s love), they go through life ungrateful, and thus have no desire to share. Jesus, our mentor and Lord, gave it all, loved us into life, and showed us what it means to be generous. May we imitate him as we move beyond Thanksgiving into Advent and Christmas, a time when so many in the world depend on our goodness and generosity just to make them feel like they matter. Our Sharing Trees are up in all of our churches, just to remind us, in the words of our patron, that “it is in giving that we receive.”

Gratefully,  Fr. Dave

11/11/12

Dear Friends,

This morning on the interstate, I looked over to my left and there was a woman in a brand new Cadillac doing 70 mph with her face up to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner. I looked away for a couple of seconds to continue shaving and when I looked back, she was halfway over in my lane, still working on that makeup. As a man, I don’t scare easily, but she scared me so much I had to put on my seat belt and I dropped my electric shaver which knocked the donut out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car, using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my cell phone away from my ear, which fell into the coffee between my legs, splashed and burned, ruined the phone, soaked my trousers and disconnected an important call. Those darned women drivers!!!

It’s always someone else’s fault, isn’t it? The blame game disturbs relationships, alters moods, creates conflict, and often causes anger to linger much longer than it should. In fact, with a little stretch of the imagination, one could say that it is the reason we celebrate a national holiday this weekend. There are veterans that we honor on this Veterans Day because nations waged war against each other (after blaming each other for unjust actions, opposing principles, and aggressive behaviors). And we are so good at blaming. We did it with our siblings and classmates at a very early age; we continued doing it with neighbors and co-workers as we got older; and today, many are blaming those “idiots” who couldn’t see the light and voted for the wrong candidate. And wars are waged—at home, at work, and across the globe.

Nonetheless, we celebrate the sacrifice and heroism our veterans have made and, in many cases, continue to make as they strive to re-embrace the pulse of life back home. May our support of them be not only in words on this holiday, but also in deep commitment to ensure their emotional, physical, and financial health! Thanks, veterans, for all you have done. May we grow, as individuals and as a nation, because of your example of living for others rather than for one’s self!

Gratefully, Fr. Dave

11/04/12

Dear Friends,

Some political commentary down through the ages…

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to office—Aesop

The problem with political jokes is that they get elected—Henry Cate VII

If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in State of the Union messages, there wouldn’t be any inducement to get to heaven—Will Rogers

I offer my opponents a bargain: if they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them—        Adlai Stevenson

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river—Nikita Khrushchev

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other—Oscar Ameringer

A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country—Tex Guinan

I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians—Charles DeGaulle

Why pay money to have your family tree traced? Go into politics and your opponents will do it for you.—             Author unknown

Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks—Doug Larson

All of the satire notwithstanding, Tuesday is Election Day (for those who have not cast early ballots) and it is our civic and moral responsibility to vote. All the rhetoric has been spoken, all the debates have been waged, all the ads have been ignored, and all the arguments, pro and con, have been made. With prayerful consideration toward what or who is better for all of us (not just for myself), we vote our consciences and trust that God is with us on the journey, whatever the outcome. Seeming that it will be a close vote, at least on the national level, half the country will be dancing on Wednesday while the other half is checking realty prices in Canada. Ah yes, it will be an intense couple of days.

And speaking of intensity, how great is our International Food Fair! Great food, great crowds, great giving all come together for a wonderful evening! Fundraising should always be about funraising as well. Thanks to all who worked so hard to make this event fun; and thanks to all who support the event as sponsors, attendees, hosts, raffle ticket purchasers, and auction bidders. It’s a joy to be a part of it all!

Gratefully,  Fr. Dave

10/28/12

Dear Friends,

During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, “How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in a nursing home?” “Well,” he said, “we fill up a bathtub and then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup, and  a bucket to the person to empty the tub.” “Oh, I understand, “ I said. “A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”  “No,” he said. “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”

Last weekend, James and John wanted a chair near Jesus in the kingdom; this weekend, the blind man wants to be right along the road (in the front of the line) so Jesus will see him. And we, too, often wonder whether Jesus notices us and where we’ll be in the kingdom of God. This week the Church celebrates the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, and while they are not necessarily about placement in the kingdom, most saints certainly prayed that they would at least have a spot somewhere and those souls still en route trust in our prayers to hasten their journey. We can also be confident that the reverse is true—all the saints and all the souls are praying for us even as we remember them. These are two great celebrations of hopefulness and trust. May we celebrate them well!

Next Saturday will be my first Food Fair here at St. Francis. What a great time that will be! Let us spend this last week getting fired up, inviting friends and family-members to join us, and figuring out just what spot we want to be in for the auction. And even though I plan on winning the raffle, please buy a ticket or two anyway just so it seems more fair. Thanks and…see you there!

From your saint wannabe,  Fr. Dave

10/21/12

Dear Friends,

After living in the remote countryside of Ireland all his life, an old Irishman decided it was time to visit Dublin. In one of the stores he picks up a mirror and looks into it. Not ever having seen a mirror before, he remarked at the image staring back at him. “How ‘bout that!” he   exclaims, “Here’s a picture of me Fadder.” He bought the mirror thinking it was a picture of his dad, but on the way home he remembered that his wife didn’t like his father so he hung it in the shed and, every morning     before he would go fishing, he would go in there and look at it. His wife began to get suspicious of his many trips to the shed so, one day after her husband left, she went to the shed and found the mirror. As she looked into the glass, she fumed, “So that’s the ugly carp he’s running around with!”

Now, seriously, wouldn’t you love to go to Ireland and meet that couple! I’m not going to Ireland, but I am gone on vacation this week (we get four weeks/weekends per year in case you’re wondering). Last April, I came home from the Roncalli auction with a week at a time-share in Myrtle Beach, and this is the week it was to happen. I have relatives in Atlanta who are picking me up at the Charleston airport and spending the week with me so it should be fun (they’re relatives I like :) ). I’ll be back Friday night in time for a wedding rehearsal.

Now…back to the story. When I look into the mirror of my soul, do I see myself, as James and John did, sitting next to Jesus in the kingdom for all eternity? Do I, rather, see myself as far away from him just having crawled in the back door? Or, somewhere in between? Are there really thrones in the kingdom or is that a metaphor for reigning triumphantly? I hope we all see ourselves as “making it,” for if we don’t, our behavior will adjust accordingly. Trusting that I will get to heaven arranges my priorities, corrects my attitude, and influences my choices in life, for as I live here, so I will live there. Let us be confident, but not presumptuous, recognizing that accepting the gift of salvation is up to each of us. And in the joy of that confidence, may our example lead others to Christ!

Back soon,  Fr. Dave

10/14/12

Dear Friends,

There are lots of crazy things in this world and here are just a few of them.  :)

 · Why do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?

 · Why do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke?

 · Why do banks leave vault doors open and then chain their pens to the counters?

 · Why do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the   garage?

 · Why do hot dogs come in packages of ten and the buns in packages of eight?

 · Why do they have braille lettering on drive-up ATM machines?

And the questions continue. As any of us looks into him/herself and sees the contradictions and  inconsistencies, the only real question is, “What’s really going on here?” As I strive to be on who  follows Jesus (the one who says this weekend that the camel may have an easier time of getting through the needle’s eye than I will have getting through the pearly gates), I can ask the same question of Him, “What’s really going on here?” A mentor once told me to stay focused, be reasonable, and put others first. Sounds like common sense, which is seemingly much more rare than common!

I rode a camel once (on a crazy trip with friends to Morocco) and it was a bouncy moment in time. As the camel knelt down to rid himself of the load (me),  I joked that I rather enjoyed the idea of his kneeling in submission. May I be that camel, and kneel in submission to the One who saves me! And that’s what really should be going on here!

Autumn blessings, Fr. Dave

P.S. Thanks to all who had anything to do with making the Francisfest Mass, my official installation as pastor, and the pancake breakfast such a wonderful event.  

10/07/12

Dear Friends,

Some guy bought a new refrigerator for his house. To get rid of the old one, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it stating, “Free to a good home or garage. You want it, you take it!” For three days the fridge sat there without anyone looking twice. So he thought to himself that people were too mistrustful of this deal so he changed the sign to read, “Fridge for sale: $50.” The next day someone stole it.

We are often mistrustful of deals that are too good to be true or things that are free. Thus, many of us struggle with God’s free gift of salvation. We didn’t work for it, earn it, or deserve it, yet there it is—a free gift through God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus. And all of our goodness, all the love we show to others, all the faithfulness to the commitments we have made, all our outreach to those in need…is not to merit salvation, but to thank God for the tremendous gift.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for the gift of the priesthood and the opportunity to share it with all of you. I certainly did not deserve to be called to such a noble vocation (and there were some along the way who concurred with that assessment), but God often does not see us as we see ourselves. God looks at the gifts and overlooks the limitations.

In light of the Gospel this weekend, that may be an intrinsic part of the marriage vocation as well, for if spouses focus on the gifts of each other rather than the shortcomings, the relationship is much more likely to grow and endure. And, since love changes hearts  (and behaviors), that focusing on the goodness may indeed enable each other to “improve with age.” Let us be like children of the Gospel, then, quick to forgive and focused on what is beautiful and fun, as we grow together in faith and trust!

With all of that in mind, we welcome Bishop Ricken to our community today as he officially installs me as your pastor. After three months of initiation, it is my humble honor to commit myself to serving you and the broader Church with integrity and enthusiasm. May we be the peacemakers our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, calls us to be!

Fr. Dave

09/30/12

Different Ways of looking at the same things:

A little boy went to his mother and asked, “Mom, where did my intelligence come from?” The mom replied, “Well, you must have gotten it from your father because I still have mine!”

Mr. Clark, I have reviewed this case very carefully,” the divorce court judge said, “and I’ve decided to give your wife $775 a week.” “That’s very fair, your honor,” the     ex-husband said, “and every now and then I’ll try to send her a few bucks myself!”

A doctor examining a woman who had been rushed to the emergency room took the husband aside and said, “I don’t like the looks of your wife at all…” “Me, neither, Doc,” said the husband, “but she’s a great cook and really good with the kids!”

A traveler calls Delta Airlines and asks, “Can you tell me how long it takes to fly from Minneapolis to Atlanta?” The agent replies, “Just a minute, sir!” “Thank you,” the guy says and hangs up.

“My husband got me to believe in religion,” says a woman to the person on the bike next to her at the health club. “Really, that’s quite amazing,” comes the reply. “Yes,” she continues, “Until I married him I didn’t believe in hell!”

A man is recovering from surgery when the surgical nurse appears and asks him how he’s feeling. “I’m ok, but I did not appreciate the four-letter word the doctor kept using in surgery.” “What did he say?” asked the nurse. “Oops!”

Words are important not only for the meaning they convey, but for the way in which they color that meaning. In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus uses the phrase, “Anyone who is not against us is with us,” reminding “us” that all who believe in Jesus and live His Gospel, regardless of what religion they embrace, are enlivening the kingdom of God. As our parish, as well as Felician Village, Holy Family Hospital, and Silver Lake College of the Holy Family,   celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi this week, we extend the invitation to all of our neighbors to gather with us for the multitude of events that comprise this year’s Francisfest. Undoubtedly our patron saint dances in the streets of heaven when he sees how we work for peace, live simpler lives, and rejoice in the presence of God in all of creation, taking his life and example as our inspiration. May all of our celebrations and each of our days give glory to God and draw us closer to one another!

St. Francis, rejoice with us!  Fr. Dave

09/23/12

Letter from a Redneck farm kid in the Marines…

Dear Ma and Pa,

I am well. Hope you are. Tell brother Walt and brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all the places are filled. I was restless at first cuz you get to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but I’m getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things—no hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay—practically nothing. Men got to shave but its not so bad cuz there’s warm water. Breakfast is strong on the trimmings like fruit, juice, cereal, bacon, etc., but kind of weak and chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours holds you till noon when you get fed again. It’s no wonder these city boys can’t walk much.

We go on route marches, which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it’s not my place to tell him different, but the route march is about as far as to go to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don’t bother you none.

The next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don’t know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk’s head and don’t move and it ain’t shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don’t even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes. Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain’t like fighting with that ole bull at home. I’m about the best they got except for that Ug Jordan from over in Silver Lake.  I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I’m only 5’6” and 130 pounds and he’s 6’8” and nearly 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in. Your loving, daughter, Alice.

It’s so amazing, wouldn’t you say, how people can have such different perspectives on the same reality. Looking at things from varying backgrounds, expectations, and priorities can alter how you and I see the same thing. An election year brings that out in startling ways—we all want what’s best for our city, state, and nation, but how to achieve those goals truly varies from individual to individual.

I will be going on retreat this week (Monday through Thursday) along with 30 other priests from throughout the diocese (an annual retreat is required of us).  The bishop gave us three different options from which to choose; the others didn’t work into my schedule very well so I will be at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, along with Fr. Dan Felton, Fr. Tom Reynebeau, and many others that I deeply admire.  Undoubtedly the time away will be appreciated by each of us, yet the impact of the retreat may vary considerably due largely to the expectations we have going into the experience. Pray that it will touch each of us in the way in which God has designed. I will   return with my halo shining, ready to celebrate my first Francis Fest, at the end of which, on Sunday,  October 7, Bishop Ricken will officially install me as your pastor at the 10:00 AM Francis Fest Mass at Roncalli. Great timing for the retreat—a graced period of preparation for what will be a graced period of  ministry here on the lakeshore (those are my expectations and hopefully yours as well).

In prayer,  Fr. Dave

09/16/12

Dear Friends,

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the boss would not allow me to take even a little vacation. I thought that maybe if I acted “crazy,” then he would tell me to take some time off. So I hung upside-down from the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker asked me what I was doing. I told her that   I was pretending to be a light bulb so that the boss would think I was “crazy” and give me a few days off. A few minutes later the boss came into the office and asked, “What in the name of Pete are you doing?”   I told him I was a light bulb. He said, “You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days.” I jumped down and walked out of the office. When my co-worker followed me out the door, the boss yelled after her, “And where do you think you’re going?” She said, “I’m going home too. I can’t work in the dark!”

They say that certain kinds of craziness are contagious, kind of like a yawn or laughter. Goodness can be also, as can generosity. Gossip seems to be prevalent in certain workplaces more than others as do after-work happy hours. In this weekend’s Gospel, identifying Jesus for who he is begins with Peter and eventually spreads throughout all of the disciples and beyond. As “the Christ,” Jesus commands not only respect and gratitude, but a fundamental commitment to self-sacrifice. We who follow him all these centuries later are known not by our brilliance in      arguing nor by our proclaiming that we are right, but by our laying down our lives in imitation of the One we follow. And that, too, spreads throughout the Church and beyond. May each of us recommit this day to acknowledging Jesus as Lord and demonstrating that belief by giving of ourselves in generous and selfless ways!

In service,

Fr. Dave

09/09/12

Dear Friends,

A friend relayed this story to me the other day. “I was visiting my son last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. ‘This is the 21^st century,’ he said. ‘We don’t waste money on newspapers. Here, you can use my iPad.’ I can tell you this…that pesky fly never knew what hit it!”

Most of us would never think twice about swatting a fly or mosquito, although I have carried other pests (spiders, beetles, e.g.) outside telling them as I moved them that they’d be much happier outdoors. Philosophical and very personal arguments can be had regarding the ethics and/or common sense of spending thousands of dollars on care for a pet when so many in our world go to bed hungry every night. St. Augustine was the first theologian to come up with a “Just War” theory, trying to balance people’s right to protection with the mandate of Jesus to forgive one’s enemy and turn the other cheek.  And the Church has recently come out in support of “Going Green” initiatives in humanity’s desire to preserve our planet and its ecosystems. Life in every shape and form is a gift from the Creator; human life, from conception to natural death, is the pre-eminent gift.

As we mark the 11^th anniversary of 9-11 this week, most of us can remember exactly where we were when we received the news (I was on vacation with family in a little town in Germany). That kind of wanton violence is as unbelievable as it is inexcusable and sadly, rather than that event bringing the world closer together, it almost seems as if it has driven us further apart.  Nations, their leaders, and even common folk like us have drawn lines in the sand with even greater determination than ever before that no one crosses them. May this year’s anniversary be a day to begin reversing that trend!

On a very different, yet similar, note, many of us (who are old enough) can remember exactly where we were on July 26, 1969, when Neil Armstrong stepped out of the lunar module onto the surface of the moon for the first time in human history (I was at Greg Fischer’s cottage in northern Wisconsin, having taken that Friday off of work). How many across our planet were glued to our televisions, all hoping that this kind of progress would make the world closer and smaller and more united in common pursuits and destinies! With the passing of Mr. Armstrong last week, perhaps his death might also be a catalyst to work harder at just that.

 Peace and harmony to all,  Fr. Dave

09/02/12

Dear Friends,

A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist walk into his shop. The doctor was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage, “Hey Doc, wanna take a look at this?” The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag, and said, “Doc, look at this engine. I opened its ‘heart,’ took the valves out, repaired any damage, and then put all the parts back in. When I    finish, it works just like new. So, how come I make $45,000 a year and you make half a million when you and I do basically the same work?” The cardiologist paused, then smiled and leaned over, as he whispered to the mechanic, “Try doing it with the engine running!”

As our nation marks Labor Day this Monday, most of us would like to take a weekend away from work and simply relax up north or in the family room or at a game or wherever. Some of us work weekends, of course (now “Church” is not work, it’s a life…), and others are busily getting ready for school, but in the end, Labor Day reminds us of the divine imperative to engage in the labor of love that makes our world a better place (or as Jesus would say, “bringing the kingdom of God to fulfillment”). Whatever we happen to do for a livelihood is, in a sense, immaterial, for God simply requires that we use our gifts, treat others and our planet with respect, and leave the world a better place for our having walked through it.

So as we celebrate the holiday however we have decided, may it bring us closer together, energize us for whatever Tuesday shall be, and refocus our desire to see the presence of God at work, at home, and at play.

Happy Labor Day!  Fr. Dave

08/26/12

The Jury…

In a criminal justice system based on 12 individuals not smart enough to get out of jury duty, here is a jury to be proud of:

A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse.  In the defense’s closing statement, the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,   I have a surprise for you all,” the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. “Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom.” He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened. Finally the lawyer said, “Actually I made up the previous statement, but you all looked on with anticipation.   I therefore put it to you that you have reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was really killed, and I insist that you return a verdict of not guilty.

The jury retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. “But how?” inquired the lawyer. “You must have had some doubt. I saw all of you stare at the door.” The jury forewoman replied, “Yes, we did look, but your client didn’t!”

And on this last weekend of August we look at the door of summer that is soon to be closed (our college students are already off to the races) as we determine just how we will celebrate Labor Day next Monday. Time has a way of moving very quickly when one is having fun and, despite the July heat wave, summer was fun. Now that my feet are wet, meetings are resuming, school is in session, I know where the submarine is, and life on the lakeshore has blessed me once again.

People keep asking me when I’m going to start changing things (not sure if they want some things to be changed or everything to stay the same), and I usually answer by saying, “No major changes. Things are just fine!” There may be a few wrinkles ironed out down the road, but that’ll come from all of us together, not from me as one individual. So for now, let’s rejoice in today, in summer, and in the present moment, even as we dream about the grace that  autumn will once again be for us. Have a good week and don’t spend the whole week staring at the door!

Happy days,  Fr. Dave

08/19/12

Now here’s a little quiz for you regarding anthropomorphic nouns…

We are all familiar with a herd of cows, a flock of chickens, a school of fish, and a gaggle of geese. However, less widely known is a pride of lions, a murder of crows (as well as their cousins, the rooks and ravens), an exaltation of doves, and (presumably because they look so wise) a parliament of owls. Now…consider a group of baboons. Baboons are the loudest, most dangerous, most obnoxious, most viciously aggressive and least intelligent of all primates. And what is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or note… a congress. That just pretty much explains it all. You just can’t make this stuff up.

What might be the best descriptive noun for a group of Christians? The Mystical Body? The People of God? The Harbingers of Hope? The Disciples of Christ? The Respecters of Life? The Proclaimers of the Kingdom? What might you come up with?   All of the above? Yes…and more. The Church is the group of Christians, the word itself coming from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning called. As Church, we are those called into community by Christ to spread the kingdom of God. As we become the living body of Christ through our sharing in the Eucharist, we become the presence of Christ in our world today—at work and at play, at home and abroad, in joy and in sorrow—we are the Church!

What a great microcosm of the Church we here at St. Francis are, a little snapshot of what the universal Church is all about! May we always have room for those who want to become part of us, tolerance and understanding of those who are already with us, and communion with those who have gone before us!  Let us rejoice that we are on the inside looking out rather than on the outside looking in and may our joy be contagious and inviting!

Grateful to belong, Fr. Dave

08/12/12

Dear Friends,

I was visiting with Maxine the other day (you know, the cartoon lady) and she had some questions.

1)  Why isn’t the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

2)  If 4 out of 5 people suffer from arthritis, does that mean one out of five enjoys it?

3)  Why do croutons come in air-tight packages? Aren’t they just stale bread to begin with?

4)  If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren’t people from Holland called Holes?

5)  If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

6)  If it’s true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

7)  If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

8)  If American mothers use tiny little spoons and forks to feed their babies, do Chinese mothers use toothpicks?

9)  Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

10)  If lawyers are disbarred, then doesn’t it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

After a long and in-depth conversation with a young man the other night, he texted me when he got home and said, “Thanks for the great talk, but why do I  always leave with more questions than answers?”   My reply was, “So the conversations can continue.” And so it is with Christ. He, too, was always posing questions to his listeners and often they went unanswered. Sometimes, different people had different answers, and ultimately, all truth, all answers lie in God. And so we continue to wonder and question, to learn and grow, to ponder and pray, to share and discuss…

I always get a little concerned about those who are absolutely convinced that they are harbingers of the truth, you know, who have all the answers, who write off anyone who disagrees with them. These know-it-alls are more than annoying; they are often wrong and attempt to lead us down their path of knowledge and understanding. It’s why enlightened people belong to the Church, so that the inspiration of God, the truth that is Jesus Christ, and the wisdom of the Spirit can be relayed to us through those called by God to teach us, the magisterium.  And even the Church continues to grow and change, to re-explain the truth in new ways to new generations, to admit past mistakes and embrace a continual turning to the light that is Christ (metanoia). Let us be wary of those who have all the answers; rather, let us walk together, humbly acknowledging that we are all on the journey to the fullness of truth. We don’t have all the answers now.

Wednesday we celebrate the feast of the Assumption. Our faith tells us that at the moment of Mary’s death, she was taken, body and soul, into heaven. Try to explain that to those overwhelmed with their own brilliance. Children have no problem understanding it, however, which is why Jesus said, “I thank you Father for revealing to mere children what has been hidden from the learned and the clever.” As Mary’s children, then, let us gather for worship this week to celebrate this great holy day.

Love and blessings,

Fr. Dave

08/05/12

Dear Friends,

Charley, a new retiree-greeter, just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded, and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their “Older Person Friendly” policies. One day the boss called him in for a talk. “Charley, I have to tell you. I like your work ethic. You do a bang-up job when you finally get here, but your being late so often is quite bothersome.” “Yes, I know, boss, and I’m working on it.” “Well, good! You are a team player. That’s what I like to hear.” “Yes, sir, I understand your concern and I will try harder.” Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, “I know you’re retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you if you showed up in the morning late so often?”  The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled. He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin,   “They usually saluted and said, ‘Good morning, Admiral. Can I get your coffee, Sir?’”

How often in life we misread the signs! After Jesus fed the thousands on the hillside, they wanted more—more signs of His power, more healings, miracles, and wonders. But what they got instead was a lengthy speech about His being the Bread of Life. And they drifted away. And so do we. Once the religious experience is over (perhaps on a retreat, or one’s wedding or birth of a child, or recovering from an illness or a walk on the beach, or a graced moment in a deer stand), we forget about Him and go on our merry ways. Usually, however, once we’ve had the deep encounter, we come back. The problem for so many today seems to be that they have never had the encounter, or if they have had a graced moment, they did not recognize it as being the Lord.

Let us work together, as a community of faith, to invite our family-members, neighbors, and friends to see in those deeper life-experiences the presence of Christ, that they, too, may join us in praise of God’s gentle touch along the path of life.

See you next weekend at the Fish Boil/Pizza Party!  Christ will most certainly be there among us, nourishing us with fish and bread, love and laughter!

Fr. Dave

07/29/12

Dear Friends,

A fleeing Taliban, desperate for water, was plodding through the Afghan desert when he saw something far off in the distance. Hoping to find water, he hurried toward the oasis, only to find a little old Jewish man at a small stand, selling ties. The Taliban asked, “Do you have water?” The Jewish man replied, “I have no water. Would you like to buy a tie? They are only $5.” The Taliban shouted, “You idiot! I don’t need a tie.  I need water! I should kill you, but I must find water first.” “Ok,” said the little Jewish man, “It does not matter that you do not want to buy a tie and that you hate me. I will show you that I am bigger than that.   If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you will find a lovely restaurant. It has all the ice cold water you need. Shalom.” Cursing, the Taliban staggered away over the hill. Several hours later he staggered back, almost dead, and said, “You child of a mudpuppy, your brother won’t let me in without a tie.”

Now on the hillside with Jesus this weekend, there was no dress code or hostess or even a menu to choose from, but there may have been some confusion and complaining. You know how people get when they are in big crowds, especially in the hot sun. But somehow, Jesus met their needs and, in the process, called them to a deeper level of living. How many of them looked back at the incident as life-changing we’ll never know for sure, but chances are, most of them went back to their daily routines, talked about the cool experience, and never gave it another thought—just like we often do when the Lord nourishes us or helps us out of a tight spot.

If the Lord could nourish the deepest hunger within me, what would it be? If I could pick from a  smorgasbord of options, what would I select? To satiate my hunger for fame, or power, or money?  To fill my emptiness and loneliness? To make God more real in my hungry soul? To fill the bellies of those in our world who are without food or water?   To replace the inner pain or anxiety in a loved one’s heart with peace and joy? To believe that He can do just that takes quite a leap of faith, but it all begins, as it did for those on that Gospel hillside, with a willingness to walk along with him and listen to what he has to say. After all, the power of prayer is often found in listening rather than speaking, in thanking rather than asking. Let us walk with the Lord this week and see if we might not be a little more filled with goodness by the week’s end.

“Bless us, O Lord…”

Fr. Dave 

 

07/22/12

Dear Friends,

A priest was invited to a family’s home for dinner. He decided to go in formal attire and thus was wearing his collar. One of the kids kept looking at the collar and pointing it out to his little sister. Finally, when the priest realized what was going on, he took the collar out of his shirt and asked, “Do you know why I’m wearing this?” The boy nodded his head yes and replied, “It kills fleas and ticks for up to three months!”

I’m not sure if sheep have fleas and ticks similar to dogs, but they are certainly dirty, smelly animals, cute though they may be. Thus, when Jesus feels the pain of the people in the Gospel who “were like sheep without a shepherd,” we might read into his comment that as the Shepherd, he loves us right through anything in our lives that resembles “icky.” When we fall victim to thoughts and actions that are less than virtuous, he loves us through them. When we sin, his mercy cleanses and freshens us up. And when others think we are just plain ugly, he still thinks we’re cute.

We have a shepherd; we need not wander around lost and aimless. Of course, many times we would prefer to wander off on our own, thereby eliciting the same response Jesus has in the Gospel—feeling pity for us. Our poor shepherd! What we put him through!   Thankfully, he never tires or gives up on us, but is always there to welcome us back to the flock ridding us over and over again of any ticks or fleas we may have acquired during our time on our own.

Happy to be in the fold,

Fr. Dave

07/15/12

Dear Friends,

The grouchy, short-tempered doctor glared at the new patient. “Have you been to any doctor,” he asked rudely, “before you came to see me?” “No, sir,” replied the meek patient. “I went to a Shopko pharmacist.” “That shows how much sense some people have,” the doctor growled. “And what sort of idiotic advice did he give you?” “He told me to come and see you.”

And so here I am after one week in the former doctors’ office trying to keep my head above water and breathe the graced air of the Spirit so alive in the faith community here on the lakeshore. And just to prove God’s sense of humor, I’m in the room that was used for colonoscopies (don’t even go there). Happily, I have not yet received any advice that’s been idiotic—only helpful and encouraging.

The Gospel call to simplicity and humble trust comes alive in us whenever change is thrust upon us, or even when we seek out change, for that matter. This weekend Jesus says don’t worry about what to take along; just take Me along and it’ll all be okay. That same Lord has been very present to me in these days of transition and hopefully many of you can say the same. As summer continues to unfold for our enjoyment, may each of us embrace all that is new, all that is in the light, and all that love beckons us to be.

Summer blessings, Fr. Dave

07/07/12

Dear Friends,

A large number of family members got together to welcome an aunt’s significant other to the family.   He was seated across from a very inquisitive seven-year-old. The young boy kept staring at the man and never said a word—he just kept staring. As the man was growing more and more uncomfortable and  self-conscious, he finally put down his fork and said, “Tommy, why do you just keep staring at me?” Those seated at the table hushed to hear the little kid’s reply when he blurted out, “I’m waiting to see you drink like a fish!”

I suppose that for the first few months that I’m invited around your Eucharistic table (and others), you’ll be staring at me, wondering what I’m going to say or do next. And, to a lesser degree, I suppose I’ll be doing some of my own watching as we begin what I know will be a long and happy relationship. I am profoundly grateful for the welcome that I have already received from many of you through E-mails, texts, and  facebook messages and I promise to do what I can to appreciate the difficulty of saying good bye to both Fr. Dan and Fr. V as well as appreciating that innate discomfort we all have with change.  So…here’s to a new chapter to be composed by all of us together.   May we be open to the grace of the Spirit to ensure that it is very well-written!

Summer blessings, 

Fr. Dave

07/01/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to you on this beautiful summer day. The sun is shining. The temps are inviting. It is all pure gift. Everything we value in life is pure gift: life, love, friendships, family, summer sunshine, gentle breezes, the air we breathe, even our faith… it is all gift! A gift that is given freely and generously to us by God who the Source of our blessings and the Giver of the gifts.

What a gift it has been to be your pastor the last eight years. As a parish and as the civic community of Manitowoc you have been so kind, understanding, patient and endearing. What we have been able to do in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is simply amazing… and all is gift. As I prepare for my next assignment, please know that you have been permanently placed in my heart and prayers.   Manitowoc will always be home to me and I look forward to my visits home in the years ahead.

I am confident that you will embrace Fr. Dave Pleier and Fr. William Vandyn Hoven with a deep sense of welcome and hospitality. Along with Fr. Dick, they are God’s newest gifts to our parish community and the civic community of Manitowoc. God has truly blessed our parish with the gift of great priests and leaders.

On behalf of Sr. Renee, Fr. Viertel and myself, we would like to thank all who helped to plan and coordinate such beautiful farewell celebrations. Fr. Dick is also grateful for those who prepared the celebrations for his 40^th anniversary of ordination.    All is greatly appreciated!

Perhaps the letter of Paul to the Philippians best captures what I want to express to you as I write this final bulletin message:

  I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this,  that the one who began this good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

 All is pure gift.

 St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

06/24/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to you in what has now officially become the summer season. This is a great time of the year to recreate and reinvigorate ourselves physically and spiritually. As we take our summer vacations, remember we do not want to take a vacation from the presence of God. So if you are travelling, check out www.masstimes.org for a full listing of Churches/Masses in the United States.

As mentioned previously, this coming week will see a lot of “moving” activity with priests coming and going. Please keep all the priests who are in a moving mode in your prayers. In the midst of moving we continue to party! This weekend we will have a farewell reception for Fr. Viertel at the Grand Avenue Social Hall on Sunday, June 24^th, 11:30am-1:30pm. On Thursday, June 28^th, I will celebrate a farewell Mass at 6:00pm at the Waldo worship site with an ice cream reception to follow in the Elementary School Social Hall. Come and join us for these celebrations! As mentioned previously, the present priest team will celebrate the parish Masses for the last time on June 30/July 1.

There were five nominations brought forward for the position of Trustee-Secretary. Four of the nominees were honored to have been nominated, but turned down the opportunity because of previous commitments and obligations. Russ Schmidt accepted the nomination as the sole candidate. However, because this is a corporate position, the State of Wisconsin requires a paper ballot election. Therefore, next weekend an election will take place with Russ Schmidt appearing on the ballot as the only candidate, but an additional line will be available on the ballot for any write-in candidates as required by law.

As we are quickly moving to the end of June, which is also the end of the parish fiscal year, please take care of any stewardship giving that you may want to address so that it appears in this current fiscal year’s report. We are grateful for the many ways that parishioners support the ministry and mission of our parish community through their sharing, service and prayer.

Finally, this weekend we will have a reporter from the Catholic News Service with us as she is writing a national news story on the model of parish life as embodied at St. Francis of Assisi parish. This is a great tribute to our parish. If she approaches you for a comment, please feel free to offer any insights that you may have with regard to your parish experience.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

06/17/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

We have been given this precious day in June to remember our dads both here on earth and those in heaven, and those who have been like a dad to us. May God the Father in heaven pour out the fullness of God’s gifts of good health and happiness upon our earthly fathers.

A few items to keep you in the loop…

Ed Vander Bloomen, Jr. is the new worship site coordinator (ten hour position) at the Grand Avenue worship site. Ed has been serving as a sacristan at this worship site and will now assume the responsibilities of coordinating the worship activities and ministers at the Grand Avenue worship site. Kay Goswitz who is leaving this coordinator position to assume broader   parish health care outreach duties as our parish nurse (15 hour position) will work with Ed during the month of June to provide for a smooth transition.

Effective July 1, 2012, Brittany Wilms will be the new Assistant Youth Minister (30 hour position). Brittany brings a passion for the Lord as well as for youth and is excited to be on board.  She has many gifts and talents and will be moving to Manitowoc from Oshkosh in the coming months.  Brittany will begin taking Theology classes at Silver Lake College of the Holy Family to further her studies. As the Assistant Youth Minister, Brittany will assist Jon Blevins, Coordinator of Youth Ministry, with the LifeTeen, Confirmation, EDGE and Youth Ministry Service programs.

This past week, Fr. Viertel moved to the lower level of the rectory at Grand so that we can do some minor repairs to the upstairs quarters into which Fr. Pleier will be moving on June 27^th. Fr. William will begin to move his stuff into the Marshall rectory in the next   couple of weeks. Furthermore, I am happy to announce that Barbara Kratz, Director of Religious Education, will be moving from Green Bay to occupy and rent the house which Sr. Renee will leave on July 1^st. This move will place Barb in Manitowoc as she continues her ministry as Religious Education Director and on an interim basis assumes extended parish pastoral responsibilities at the Parish Office until a new Pastoral Associate is hired in place of Sr. Renee.

All the present priests will stay at their current worship sites through July 1^st. Beginning on July 7^th-8^th, Fr. Dick will be at the Waldo worship site, Fr. Pleier at Marshall and Fr. William at Grand. Now you know everything that I know at this time!!!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

06/10/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parishioners,

Greetings to you on this Feast of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Today reminds us of the centrality of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in our lives and in the life of the Church. Today also reminds us of the significance of the ministerial priesthood of Holy Orders. Therefore, I can think of no better day to celebrate the anniversaries of two great priests who have served the people of the Lakeshore area in so many ways.

Fr. Dick Klingeisen was ordained 40 years ago on June 10^th by Bishop Wycislo at St. Mary Church in Clark Mills. After being an associate pastor in Green Bay and Little Chute, Fr. Dick began his priestly service to the people of the Lakeshore area in 1982 as the chaplain at Holy Family Memorial and in 2008 as the associate pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Fr. Dick has a passion for serving the sick and homebound, a deep love for the priesthood and a strong commitment to advancing the Catholic understanding of Health Care Ministry. We are so blessed to have Fr. Dick as our priest.

Fr. John Neuser was ordained 50 years ago on June 9^th by Bishop Bona at the Cathedral in Green Bay. Serving in many parishes as an associate pastor, Fr. John is remembered in this area for his being a Pastor at Reedsville, Two Rivers, Brillion and Mishicot. Fr. John is known for his passion for preaching and presiding at Mass and his love for the Church.

Congratulations to Fr. Dick and Fr. John as they celebrate these significant anniversaries of their priestly ordinations. Alongside of a 40^th and 50^th anniversary, Fr. William Van Dyn Hoven is celebrating his one week anniversary of ordination! Congratulations to Fr. William who will begin his priestly life as an associate pastor to our parish community.

Recalling the many priests who have served our Lakeshore area since 1867, we give God praise and remember them in our prayers today on this Feast of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ:

Lord Jesus, we your people pray to You for our priests. You have given them to us for OUR needs. We pray for them in THEIR needs. We know that You have made them priests in the likeness of your own priesthood. You have consecrated them, set them aside, anointed them, filled them with the Holy Spirit, appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive, and to feed us with Your Body and Blood.  Amen

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

06/03/12

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

The summer season is upon us!  Praise the Lord!  As we begin our summer season, so we begin our summer dress.  Mindful of what we wear to Mass also says something as to how we clothe ourselves in Christ, I would like to include again these thoughts from a previous article written by Joel Stepanek. 

When you wake up in the morning you have an important decision to make: What do I wear today?    

Sometimes our clothing choices are motivated by mood; we pick clothing that reflects the way we feel or want to feel that day.  Other times our clothing choice may be dictated by a dress code or expectations of an event we are attending – very few people wear jeans and a t-shirt to a wedding.  Practicality sometimes will drive our choice of clothing – we wear a winter coat when it is cold and boots if we need to go out in snow.  Similarly, if we play a sport we may put on a special set of clothing to keep us safe or will help our performance.  Regardless of how we arrive on our clothing decision, what we wear is a good indicator of our attitude or posture toward an event or day.

There is a saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”  It underlines the fundamental connection between our thoughts and our action.  I would propose this one as well – “As you dress, so you shall think, so you shall be.”  Let’s be honest here – if I showed up on a dinner date with my fiancé (something we only do once each month) in jeans and a t-shirt she might be a little hurt.  My poor attire would certainly seem to reflect an attitude that I didn’t care about our date.  The same thing is true for Mass.  As much as we would like to make ourselves believe that we can throw on ripped jeans and a t-shirt and have the same reverence for Mass, the truth is that we are communicating a message that Mass is really just an ordinary thing.  We are saying through our dress that it is unimportant and no different than if we were hanging out and watching television.  This is reflected in our attitude.  Suddenly the cell phone stays on and the bulletin gets read during the homily.  Our attention wanes and we get distracted thinking about what is happening after Mass because it was never that important to begin with.

You don’t need to wear a full suit, but dress up in something that is out of the ordinary and semi-formal.  You may need to get up a little bit earlier or make sure your clothes are washed.  You might have to take more time to do your hair or iron your clothes.  But you will notice a change in how you feel at Mass and how you engage in it.  What message will your clothing speak this summer?

Finally, as we are celebrating a number of graduations at this time of year, it would be good for us to lift our graduates up in prayer:

Heavenly Father,

You watched your own child grow and pass each stage on his way to adulthood.

When he accepted baptism, You praised him, saying you were well pleased. 

When he accepted his trials, you comforted and raised him up. 

Grant that those who finish this step in their journey through life will have the wisdom, courage and grace of your Son.

And help me to show every day how proud and well-pleased

I am of my own beloved graduate.

St. Francis and St. Clare pray for us,  Fr. Dan

 

05/27/12

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

Lord, send us your Spirit and renew the face of the earth!  Today we embrace the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost and the end of our Easter season. Filled with the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, we will continue to give witness to the Risen Christ by the words we speak and the lives we live!

This weekend, we acknowledge the many ways that the Holy Spirit has used the abundant gifts and talents of Deacon Bob Beehner as a member of our Leadership Team in service to our parish community. Today, Deacon Bob is celebrating his Tenth Anniversary as a deacon. Congratulations, Deacon Bob! We are grateful for all of our parish deacons and their ministry. At this time, we also remember Steve Zimmer and Gary Wilhelm who are in the formation program and studying to become deacons.

This past week there was significant news coverage of the civil lawsuit involving the former Fr. John Feeney. The jury of the court ruled in favor of the plantiffs and awarded damages of $700,000. This whole event is so sad for the victims who were abused, for the Church and all who have anguished over the unacceptable actions of this now defrocked priest. In response to questions I have received, the monies given to the Bishop’s Appeal and all other diocesan collections, as well as all parish monies are protected from lawsuits such as these and are not in any way used to pay any of the damages awarded.

In the recently held Parish Town Hall Meeting, we announced that Fr. Pleier will be in residence at the Grand Avenue Rectory and Fr. William will be in residence at the Marshall rectory, along with Fr. Dick who already resides there. The facilities committee is reviewing the usage opportunities for the former Xavier School and now the Waldo rectory and the house in which Sr. Renee has been living. There is a process in place to review parish properties when they are open and available for other considerations.

Finally, a housekeeping matter. As priests we have become increasing aware of the number of parishioners who are leaving Mass right after they receive communion. In some instances, there may be a very good and unique reason for this early departure. However, in most cases we need to be reminded that it is our deepest desire to respect the Lord enough to remain with him in His Holy Mass until its completion. We are reminded of the words of Jesus to his disciples, “could you not watch and pray with me one hour?” In former times, the priests would publicly scold folks if they left their pews early. That is not our manner, nor our need – rather, I am sure that a gentle reminder for all of us is all that is necessary.

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

05/20/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings in the Risen Lord! As we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, we are reminded of the unity and love of the Father and the Son, who pour forth their unity and love into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

It is in that Spirit of the Father and the Son that we are united as a parish in a bond of love that sustains us in the blessings and challenges of parish life. Both Deacon William and Fr. Dave Pleier were in town this week as we go through a process of briefing and planning for their arrival in July. There will be a Parish Town Hall Meeting on May 22, 6:30pm, at the Grand Avenue worship site to update all parishioners on aspects of the transition and many other parish items of great interest. Please plan to attend this very important gathering!

During this time the Facilities Committee is reviewing possible schemas for the former Xavier School Building. They are also reviewing the use of the house where Sr. Renee presently resides as the house will be available after Sr. Renee moves to Green Bay. Also, it is most likely that Fr. William as a newly ordained priest will live with Fr. Klingeisen. Thus, the future use of one of the rectories will also be explored. The availability of a parish building always affords us the opportunity to review its overall condition, possible uses and how it fits into our parish planning and mission.

By the way, to squelch any rumors before they begin, the dumpster outside of the Waldo rectory will be the recipient of items in the rectory attic and basement that are no longer needed.  I think it is time for a little house cleaning!

These are the last days of the Easter season and perhaps it is time for you to do some last minute housecleaning as well. Embrace the unity and love of the Holy Spirit and cleanse your soul of any remaining dirt and sin, so that in the Holy Spirit of grace you may be united and in love with the Father and the Son.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

05/13/12

With praise and thanksgiving

to Almighty God

the Church of Green Bay

joyfully invites you to attend

the Rite of Ordination to the

Priesthood of Jesus Christ

of

 

 William  Joseph Van Dynhoven

 

 through

the Laying on of Hands and

the Invocation of

the Holy Spirit

 

 by His Excellency

The Most Reverend David L. Ricken

Bishop of Green Bay

 

Saturday, the second day of June

in the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve

at ten o’clock in the morning

 

 St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

140 South Monroe Avenue (Hwy 57)

Green Bay, Wisconsin

 

A light reception will follow at the

Bishop Wycislo Center at the Cathedral

 

05/06/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Easter Greetings in the Risen Lord! I am sure that last weekend’s announcement regarding the reassignment of Fr. Viertel and myself caught a number of people thinking, “Wow, I didn’t see that one coming.” I suppose in a certain sense that could be the motto for the Holy Spirit. Often we don’t see what the Holy Spirit has in mind until we have made the change and lived the new experience. Trust in that Spirit who has, does and will lead us throughout our lives no matter the circumstances.  If you were away last weekend and missed the announcement, you can view it on our website, www.sfamanitowoc.org

In the video, I did not mention what our plans are for the hiring of a new pastoral associate as Sr. Renee takes up her new position with her Religious Community as of July 1. The present parish leadership team feels it would be most appropriate to wait until Fr. Pleier is fully on board before hiring someone into this position. He will want to be involved in this process and decision as the new pastoral associate will be on his Leadership Team. In the meantime, all of Sr. Renee’s pastoral responsibilities have been shifted to others on our staff on an interim basis so as to provide consistent pastoral care in the in-between time.

Many of you have been asking about the various celebrations that will take place to celebrate these “comings and goings.” These are the dates that are in place:

           June 3       Sr. Renee: Reception  (Waldo, 1:00pm)

          June 10     Fr. Dick: 40^th anniversary Reception  (Waldo, after 9:30 Mass)

          June 24     Fr. Viertel: Reception  (Grand, after 10:30 Mass)

          June 28     Fr. Dan: Mass & Reception  (Waldo, 6:00-8:30pm)

          July            Fr. Dave & Fr. William Reception of Welcome  (TBA)

This weekend Bishop Ricken will be with us to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please keep our young men and women your prayers as they are filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and as they are “called to be holy, fully engaged and fully alive” in the Lord! A special thank you to Jon Blevins, Colleen Friel and the Confirmation & LifeTeen Core Team for preparing our confirmandi for this sacrament.

So much to be thankful for as an Easter people. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

04/29/12

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

Easter greetings of deep faith and great joy to you! The lilies have faded and given up as they quickly exit from our Easter decorations. The faith we proclaim in Jesus Christ will never fade. As Christians we refuse to give up on our proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior!

One of the ways that we sustain our Easter faith and joy is through the celebration of the seven sacraments. With Easter waters flowing once again, we are baptizing infants every weekend, Confirmation is right around the corner as Bishop Ricken will be with us next Saturday to confirm our young men and women in the Holy Spirit, children are receiving their First Communions with such great joy, couples are coming to the Sacrament of marriage seeking to make God the center of their union, Deacon William is preparing to be ordained a priest and the faithful are coming to the Lord by the droves to be reconciled and healed.

Another way that we sustain our Easter faith and joy is by participating in the Mass on a regular basis and   inviting others to do the same. Every Sunday Mass is a celebration of Easter and the paschal mystery that Jesus Christ was “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried and on the third day rose again from the dead.”

As we are rushing toward the powerful feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, take some time in prayer to ask yourself a simple question: what difference does it make in my life and the way that I live my life, knowing that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead?

May our loving God continue to bless you and your loved ones with a bold Easter faith and an abundant Easter joy!

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

04/22/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings in the Risen Lord! Even though the weather has been less than Easter-like, the Lord Jesus is the Risen Lord of our life no matter what the weather is or the season that prevails. Continue to be a disciple of charity and joy in these 50 days of the Easter season!

As we enter into these last months of our school year, we are already gearing up for next Fall. Catholic School education and formation is a primary expression of our ministry and mission. We are so blessed to have a Pre-School through College Catholic School ministry in Manitowoc. Great things are happening!

Our enrollment to our SFA Elementary and Middle School is strong and is growing. For instance, we were expecting 35 children to be enrolled in our kindergarten class for next year and our enrollment is already at 51 children and growing. This growth is related to our expansion of the pre-school program. If you have a child who is of pre-school age, please contact us so we can explain to you all of the educational and formational programs that are available.

Our Roncalli High School continues to remain strong in its sense of academics, spirituality and service. Next year’s Freshman class will be 90 students, with a total enrollment of 370. Roncalli is also looking to become more diverse and global in its mission as it introduces an International Student Program next year. Please plan on attending the Roncalli Pierside Auction on April 28th!

Our Silver Lake College of the Holy Family is strong and expanding. In June of this year, SLC of the Holy Family will break ground for the building of a $10,000,000 Fine Arts Center which will serve the College, Conservatory and Community. Right around the corner, with the support of donors, SLC of the Holy Family is planning to build an Events & Sports Center on campus as well.

Alongside of our Catholic School ministry, our Catholic Religious Education program is strong and growing. We rejoice with the 92 children who are receiving their First Communion. Our Middle School Edge program and our LifeTeen High School program continue to educate and form hundreds of our teens. We are so blessed!

To sustain a strong and growing Catholic education and formation ministry and mission, the Diocesan Department of Education has released recently a strategic plan for all aspects of education and formation. Additionally, Bishop Ricken has announced a plan for the catechetical training of all catechists so that we are assured that the foundations of faith are being taught with knowledge and understanding. Finally, Catholic education and formation is one of the six emphases in the Pastoral Letter as we are called to be holy, engaged and alive in the Risen Lord.

Having said all of these good things, I acknowledge the many sacrifices that are made for the benefit of our children and youth.  Without your support and sacrifice these ministries and this mission would not be possible. And none of our education and formation programs will be impacting unless our children and youth are being educated and formed by their experience of faith in their home. That is why I pray that all of our Easter relationships with the Lord are growing and strong.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

 

04/15/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Alleluia! May the abundant blessings of this Easter season be upon you and your loved ones!

The celebration of Easter is the source and summit of our lives as disciples of the Lord. Everything we do as a Christian leads up to and flow from Easter. This is why at the Sunday Mass we profess that we believe in “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of our bodies and everlasting life.” If we truly embrace these beliefs, then even now the manner in which we will live our lives will be radically different than that of an unbeliever. I am afraid that many times our manner of life as a believer is not all that different from the life of an unbeliever – because we really don’t believe or comprehend the magnitude of that which we believe and profess as an Easter people.

Just begin to imagine: Christ died for our sins so that we might attain heaven, our very person is never going to die and our life on earth and in heaven reflects the joy, justice, peace, happiness and love that is  gloriously ours in the Kingdom of God! For fifty days we will ponder these things because we need to believe and comprehend them even more deeply!

A special thank you again to all who have made our Lenten and Easter celebrations so prayerful and beautiful.  Hundreds of parishioners gave of their gifts and talents in service to our community and in honor of God as the giver of the gifts. How are you using your gifts and talents in service to others in this Easter season as a manifestation of the abundant life we find in the Easter Christ?

As we celebrate First Communions, may our entire parish be filled with expectant joy. It is impossible to be an Easter people without also being a joy-full people. In the early Christian community, people were drawn to the followers of Christ because they were so cheerful, hopeful and joyful. Is that what draws people to you and to our parish?

One final note, this Tuesday, April 17^th, Fr. Dick and our parish community will celebrate a Memorial Mass  at 6:30 PM at the Waldo worship site for his father, Lester. All parishioners and friends of the parish are invited to celebrate this Mass as a sign of our on-going support of Fr. Dick and his family.

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

04/08/12

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is Risen and so are we as disciples of the Lord!

A heartfelt thank you is extended to all who have made our Holy Week celebrations so prayerful and meaningful. Your willingness as a steward of God to share your time and talents in service to our community is greatly appreciated by all. A special thank you is extended also to Ann Lensmire, Director of  Music and Sr. Lynne Jagemann, Director of  Worship, for all of their leadership.

The life, love and joy that is ours in the Risen Lord is so deep and wide that it will take us 50 days to fathom the mystery before us. During these 50 days as a parish community we will celebrate the Eucharist, Divine Mercy Sunday, First Communions, weddings and Confirmation as a way of sustaining our Easter joy! During these 50 days in our homes we will welcome guests to cookouts, plant flowers, open the house windows to let in some fresh air, put away our winter clothes and fly kites as a way of sustaining our Easter joy! Alleluia!

On behalf of the entire Parish and School Staff, we would like to wish you and your loved ones a very blessed and joyful Easter season. May we deepen our love for the Lord who is our promise of new life, new hope and new joy!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

04/01/12

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

We are about to embark upon the most holy of all weeks. These are sacred days as we celebrate the holy Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. These are days when we must be present to the Lord and not fall asleep in his presence. In our longing for the holy let us be attentive to Holy Week.

On Tuesday, the priests of the Green Bay Diocese will gather with Bishop Ricken at the Cathedral to renew our vows and commitment as priests. I am so grateful for Fr. Dick Klingeisen and Fr. Viertel. What a joy it is to pastor our parish with them. Fr. Viertel has been a wonderful presence to our parish community. Fr. Dick is a great witness to what it means to be a servant leader. In addition to the many ways that he serves our parish community, he also has been effective in his role as a Vicar. 

Fr. Dick appreciates the many ways that you have reached out to him and his family in this time of hardship. Fr. Dick has been there for so many families in their grief and now we want to return that support to him a hundred-fold. There will be a special Memorial Mass offered by Fr. Dick here at St. Francis of Assisi in memory of his father, Lester.  The date and time of that Memorial Mass will be announced at a later date. Our parish community has experienced a number of funerals this Spring. At one point we had 30 funerals in a five week period. I appreciate everyone who is involved in ministry to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. It is a ministry of support that families always remember.

If you will be away next week for Easter Sunday, let me take this opportunity even now to wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter. If you will be travelling, please check out www.masstimes.org for a listing of churches and mass schedules throughout the country.

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

03/25/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

The Lenten season is moving along so swiftly. Can you honestly say that you are more fully engaged in your pursuit of holiness and more fully alive in the Lord? Have you shared your faith with anyone this Lenten season or invited anyone to the Sunday Mass?

To help things along, this week we will have our Parish Mission. This is a great opportunity to spend some time with three dynamic speakers who see their sole purpose as helping you to become holy, engaged and alive. Come one, two or three nights and be charged and challenged as a disciple of the Lord. Bring your friends, neighbors, family members! Make this Parish Mission heart and core to your Lenten preparations. What a great way to prepare yourself to celebrate the Easter mysteries!

We are entering into the final days of our Lenten season. There are so many ways to prepare our hearts to receive the Easter Christ. That is God’s deepest desire, that we may more deeply and fully receive the fullness of God’s love that is given to us in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Before you know it Holy Week will be here with all of its prayerful services. Please plan ahead by clearing your calendar, arranging for a babysitter and whatever else you must do, to be present at the sacred liturgy of Triduum.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

03/18/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

The celebration of the fourth Sunday of Lent is known as Laetare Sunday. The word Laudete, means rejoice in Latin. So, we are commanded to give God praise as we gratefully acknowledge with humble hearts all that God is doing for us in this holy season of Lent. Our only response is to grow in holiness and to be more fully engaged and alive in the Lord!

One of the great traditions in our Church is the praying of the Stations of the Cross. Inasmuch as the Way of the Cross, made in this way, constitutes a miniature pilgrimage to the holy places at Jerusalem, the origin of the devotion may be traced to the Holy Land. The Via Dolorosa at Jerusalem (though not called by that name before the sixteenth century) was reverently marked out from the earliest times and has been the goal of pious pilgrims ever since the days of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. This week in addition to our regularly scheduled Stations of the Cross, there will be Family Stations of the Cross at the FFC Church on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm and Catholic School Stations of the Cross on Wednesday at 1:30pm in the SFA Middle School Gym and on Friday at 11:15am in the Waldo worship site. All parishioners are invited to any one of these services.

Mark your calendars for March 27, 28, 29 as we will have a Parish Mission on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm. A Parish Mission is an old tradition in the Catholic Church to assemble the people for three days of talks, prayers and spiritual exercises that will prepare us for the coming of the Easter Christ. This year I, along with Mary Ann Otto and Raymond Weiss, will be preaching this Parish Mission. Plan to attend this very important Lenten retreat experience!!!

Finally, on Monday of this week we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this feast day the Prayer over the Offerings calls on us to imitate the unselfish love of Joseph.

St. Joseph, St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!    Fr. Dan

03/11/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to you in that Lenten Spirit that calls us to be holy, fully engaged and fully alive! Hopefully you have listened to the CD that we gave you at the beginning of Lent and have identified the two or three people in your life that you will be attentive to in deepening their journey of faith. The mission to call others into a deeper relationship with Christ, especially given to us in the Holy Mass, is not an option but a command of Jesus as his disciples!

Sr. Renee has lived the Spirit of that mission in so many ways in the time that she has ministered in Manitowoc, first at St. Andrew and St. Boniface parishes and now at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Recently, Sr. Renee was asked by the leadership of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, to return to serve in Community Ministry in Green Bay. Effective July 1, 2012, Sr. Renee will serve in a special role to the Leadership Team of her religious community. As much as our parish community and staff will miss Sr. Renee, this is a wonderful opportunity for her and of great benefit to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross.

There are so many parishioners who have been impacted by the calm, steady and pastoral presence of Sr. Renee. She has been a pillar of service and strength in the countless responsibilities that she has assumed, many times behind the scenes. As a Pastoral Associate and a member of our Parish Leadership Team, she has been the go to leader for the parish pastoral care outreach, social concerns outreach, parish organizations and office walk-in pastoral care. She has always carried out these overwhelming responsibilities with a profound presence of gracefulness and hospitality.

Sister Renee will continue here at St. Francis of Assisi through June 30, 2012. Of course, we will have an appreciation celebration for her in the days ahead. In the meantime, please continue to keep Sr. Renee in your prayers as she transitions into this new mission in her life. In the months ahead, we will be looking to fill this position and all of its parish responsibilities. Keep that process in your prayers as well.

St. Francis of the Holy Cross and St. Clare, pray for us!  

Fr. Dan

03/04/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

In the folds of time are memories for the making. It was seven years ago this very weekend that I came to Manitowoc as the Administrator of St. Paul Parish. In a matter of four months, we witnessed the Spirit-led opening of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. At that time, I had the privilege of becoming the first pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. I have always been humbly awed by the ability of our parish community to grieve hard that which was, and embrace widely that which became the seventh reorganization of our Catholic Community beginning with the establishment of The Maternity of Mary Catholic Church in Manitowoc Rapids in 1850. Please know how proud I am to be a part of such a great parish community as I begin my eighth year.

This year for Lent we have accentuated the beautiful crucifixes that we have at each of our worship sites. With Jesus on the cross as our focal point we are made strong as we pick up our own crosses in life. For Christians, the crucifix is a sign of sacrificial love and the promise of everlasting life. During these holy days of Lent as we gaze upon the crucifix in our worship sites, in our homes and on our rosaries, let us pray the beautiful prayer given to us by St. Francis of Assisi:

St. Francis Prayer Before the Crucifix

Most High, glorious God,

Enlighten the darkness of my heart

And give me true faith,

Certain hope, and perfect charity,

Sense, and knowledge,

Lord, that I may carry out

Your holy and true command.

Amen.

Remember during these days of Lent we are challenged to grow our call to be holy, engaged and alive in the Lord by 1% and we are called to invite one other person in our lives to the Sunday Mass. You will be amazed at what a difference of one can make in our lives! Another way to be holy, engaged and alive in the Lord is by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In our parish and Manitowoc County there are over twenty Reconciliation Services taking place, as well as on Saturdays. Imagine, through the reception of this sacred Sacrament, by the power of Jesus Christ, every sin you have ever committed will be forgiven and you will be restored to a pure state of grace.

St. Francis, St. Clare & St. Vincent Ferrer (patron saint of reconciliation), pray for us!  Fr. Dan

02/26/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

During these 40 days of fasting, we are called to fasting, praying and almsgiving. Do not let these days pass you by unattended. The Church affords us this wonderful opportunity to be holy, fully engaged and fully alive in the Lord! Embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Stations of Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, Sunday Vespers, the Parish Mission and Presentations on the Mass as ways to deepen your relationship with the Lord.

During these forty days of  Lent, we want to deepen our understanding of and reverence for the Lord in the Mass, invite others to engage in the Sunday Mass and reclaim Sunday as the Sabbath. There is a book on the market that claims that a difference of 1% can make all the difference in the world—the difference between good and great is 1%.  In light of this factor of 1%, we are seeking in Lent, in both a personal and communal way, to discover ways to increase by 1% our call to be holy, engaged and alive. If you and I can discover and embrace that factor of 1%, it will make all the difference in the world in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

During these forty days, we are a people who fast from our sinful ways (like gossip), fast from our greatest in joys so that we may never take our blessings for granted (like chocolate), stretch our almsgiving of charity (like corporal works of mercy) and virtues (like patience & kindness) and deepen our prayer life (like Stations of the Cross, Vespers, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament).

Hopefully you have been listening to the CD by Joel Stepanek and learning about ways to invite others to the rich traditions of our faith, especially the Sunday Mass. If each parishioner who is engaged in his/her faith and Sunday Mass would invite one other person to come with them to the Sunday Mass, that one person coming to the Lord in the Mass would make all the difference in the world to that person and to our parish family!

St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Paschal Baylon (Patron Saint of the Eucharist/Mass), pray for us!

Fr. Dan

02/19/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive! is our theme for Lent and our church year. This theme comes from Bishop Ricken’s Pastoral Letter on Parishes that established our pastoral plan for the next five years. It is a theme that you will encounter over and over again as we move ahead as disciples of the Lord. Even now, a question that you may want to ask yourself is simply, “am I holy, engaged and alive in the Lord?”

Our participation in the Sunday Mass will be at the heart and core of our Lenten call to be holy, engaged and alive! We will deepen our understanding of and reverence for the Sunday Mass, invite others to be fully engaged in the Sunday Mass and reclaim Sunday as the Sabbath. The opportunities to embrace these goals have been outlined in the Lenten Newsletter that you should have received this past week. Take the time to pray over these opportunities and then choose the experiences that will deepen your call to be holy, engaged and alive!

Another way to be holy, engaged and alive is to live the rich social justice tradition that is so much a part of our Catholic heritage. As you well know the Bishops have been engaged in a very alive dialogue with President Obama regarding the religious liberty issues surrounding the retention of HHS's nationwide mandate of insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients. For our understanding, the position of the Bishops can be summarized in these four points:

The Administration has indicated it is retaining the narrow exemption for “religious employers” such as churches and houses of worship. Our concern remains strong that the government is creating its own definitions of who is “religious enough” for full protection.

These latter (religious but non-exempt) employers will have a year (up to August 2013) to work out final details of this, with a further rule to be issued by the Administration before the end of that period. The advantage is that we can take part in this dialogue; the down side is that we may not know the final actual details of some aspects of the policy until well into the New Year.

There is a serious dilemma regarding self-insured plans, where a religious organization is both employer and  insurer, and regarding student health plans offered by religious colleges and universities. It appears that such plans will be required to offer the objectionable coverage.

It seems clear there is no exemption for Catholic and other individuals who work for secular employers; for such individuals who own or operate a business; or for employers who have a moral (not religious) objection to some procedures such as the abortifacient drug Ella.

The Bishops are asking that you write our legislators opposing this HHS measure. This is another way to be holy engaged and alive!

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

   Write to Congress and the Senate supporting the

 Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

 (H.R. 1179, S. 1467).

Rep. Thomas Petri, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515;   (202) 225-2476

Senator Herb Kohl,  330 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510;   (202) 224-5653

Senator Ron Johnson, 386 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510;   (202) 224-5323

02/12/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

We are quickly moving through the month of February which is filled with one thousand and one stories of God’s glory! If we are living as disciples of the Lord then every day should hold at least one glory story for you to share with others. What is your glory story for today?

As mentioned last week, we are in the throes of kicking off our Bishop’s Appeal. This weekend in a video clip the Bishop will speak to us of the many glory stories that are embodied in the lives and hearts of those who benefit by this Appeal. Certainly our parish and the Manitowoc area receive a lot of support and help through the Appeal:   Manitowoc Catholic Charities, SFA Parish and School, Roncalli High School, Holy Family Memorial, Silver Lake College of the Holy Family and many individuals and families are impacted by the funds of this appeal. In a     certain sense, locally and at a diocesan level, it is a one stop/one give to a lot of programs and services. Please be generous in your stewardship giving to the Bishop’s Appeal! Our stewardship goal is $184,000.

Please keep in your prayers the Middle School teens who are attending the Edge Retreat this weekend. Our Edge Program is our religious education program for Middle School teens and generally draws about 150 teens every Monday evening. This year we are also starting Parent Life which seeks to be of support to parents of Middle & High School teenagers. Often we meet and cover the subject topics that the teens are covering in their programs. I would like to extend to you the following invitation…

Please join the Parent Life group on

Sunday, February 19th after the LifeTeen Mass

in the Damascus Center.

We’ll be exploring “The Two Shall Become One:

Theology of the Body”.

Theology of the Body is based on

Pope John Paul II vision of love and life.

It answers questions about love, sexual morality and

how we are uniquely created for greatness.

I hope you will be able to join me and

other Middle & High School parents next Sunday

for some appetizers, drinks and exploration of

this high interest topic.  Thank you!

 

As we sing every week, Glory to God in the highest!    

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

02/05/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to all in the midst of Super Bowl Sunday. Actually, when you stop to think about it, are not all Sundays super?

This weekend we kick off the Bishop’s Appeal. The donations that are made to the Bishop’s Appeal help to extend the ministry and mission of Christ not only to our parish community, but even beyond to all of Northeastern Wisconsin! As a parish community we benefit directly from the Bishop’s Appeal: there is a Diocesan Catholic Charities Office located in Manitowoc, Dr. Joe Bound and the Diocesan Department of Education have been in Manitowoc helping with a number of items related to the Catholic Schools in our area, the Diocesan Department of Evangelization has  collaborated with our Parish Stewardship Commission on a number of evangelization outreach actions and our parish will benefit from the help of the diocese in implementing Bp. Ricken’s Pastoral Letter, Parishes: Called to Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive!

But the Bishop’s Appeal is not only about how we benefit from this appeal. It is also about the responsibility we bear as Catholics to make sure that our ministry and mission extends to all people of Northeastern Wisconsin. A contribution to the Bishop’s Appeal is a way of responding to the charge of Jesus to proclaim to all people that the Reign of God is at hand! It is a One Stop, One Give that benefits thousands of people who are in need!

Our parish assessment for the Bishop’s Appeal is $184,000. Last year was the first year as St. Francis of Assisi Parish that we met our Appeal Goal. Given that our parish budget is tight, we do not want to have to dip into our operations to cover any shortfall on our Bishop Appeal Goal. Please consider increasing your Bishop Appeal contribution for this year – every increase, even of $10-$20, will make a big difference in our capacity to meet our assessment. Personally, I am a member of the Crozier Society which includes parishioners who contribute $500 or more to the Appeal. Please join me in becoming a member of the Crozier Society! Remember, the Bishop’s Appeal is not just about giving, but rather about the Catholic ministry and mission of education, evangelization, worship, stewardship and social justice!

As we wrap up Catholic Schools week, we are grateful to all who have supported our Catholic School Mission for 144 years, covering the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries. We have a good plan in place to sustain our Catholic School for years to come. Blessings to our benefactors and all those who have benefitted from this core ministry to our children.

It has been a mild winter to date. Spend some time in a prayer of gratitude for the bounty of these blessings, especially those blessings we may be taking for granted.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

01/29/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Wow!  What happened to the month of January? Every day is so precious and ever month a gift from God. As we end the first month of the year 2012, let us pause for a moment and give thanks to God for the many blessings in our lives, especially those blessings that we are taking for granted these days.

One of the blessings that we take for granted is our St. Francis of Assisi School. The mission of our local Catholic School spans three centuries and one hundred forty four years. This coming week we will celebrate the rich heritage and tradition of Catholic Schools Week, January 29-February 5. Please help us to celebrate our call to be holy, fully engaged and fully alive in the “Faith, Academics & Service” of our parish school.

Another blessing that we take for granted is the radio broadcast Mass. We have been airing the Sunday Mass at WCUB since the early 1960’s. Over that period of time, tens of thousands of parishioners and friends alike have listened to the Sunday Mass in their homes, on the road, in health care facilities and nursing homes – literally as far as our air waves can carry us!

In recent years, we have seen a decline in the “sponsors” of this radio ministry. Whereas in the past, every Sunday Mass was sponsored by an individual or family (sometimes with a waiting list), this past year only half of the Masses were sponsored.  As our budget is tight these days, we will need to evaluate whether or not we can continue this service in the months that are ahead. Perhaps you or a group of your friends would like to sponsor a broadcast Sunday Mass. A sponsorship is $175. Please think and pray about this opportunity to serve others with the God blessing of the Sunday Mass. Our parish office staff will make all of the arrangements for you.

I am very happy to announce that Joel Stepanek has been hired by LifeTeen International as their Coordinator of LifeTeen Support Resources. Joel will be located at the LifeTeen Offices in Mesa, Arizona. Our parish community is grateful for Joel’s years on our staff and we wish him the fullness of God’s blessings as he begins this new ministry. Joel’s last day with us will be February 3, 2012.

As previously announced, Colleen Friel will coordinate the LifeTeen and Confirmation programs and Jon Blevins will coordinate the Edge Middle School program through this school year. As has been the case, these two positions are overseen by Barbara Kratz, Director of Religious Education.

As we praise God for the many blessings in our lives, let us remember that God’s generosity will never be outdone!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

01/22/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to you. I hope that the beginnings of this new year find you happy and healthy! It is also the time of the year when we tend to face a number of health and medical issues. It is very important that if you go into a medical facility of any sort for a short or long term stay that you or a family member call the parish or tell the staff at the medical facility to call the parish office to tell us that you would like someone from our parish to visit you during your stay. HIPAA Laws these days are very strict with regard to the disclosure that you are in the hospital, nursing home, extended care or whatever kind of health facility. Do not assume that we know that you are staying in these institutions.

Fr. Joel, the priest chaplain at Holy Family Memorial, is present during the day to tend to the personal and sacramental needs of the patients. The priests from SFA are on call at night to do the same. Additionally, the priests in the area have worked out a schedule with Aurora Hospital for a priest to be on call for each day of the week. The deacons visit the hospitals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Fr. Dick and Sr. Renee doing visits during the   in-between times. They see patients that have requested a visit from the parish.

A combination of priests, lay prayer leaders and deacons do weekly liturgical services at Care Partners, Felician Village, Fieldcrest Manor, Harmony West, Kindred Hearts, Laurel Grove, Manitou Manor, Manitowoc Health & Rehab Center, Northridge, Parkview Haven, Rivers Bend, Riverwood Estates, Rosewood House, Shady Lane, Walnut Grove and Whitetail Estates. Twice a year all of the residents in these facilities receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Anointing is also done per request.

There are sixty parishioners who are homebound that are visited on a regular basis by care ministers, by Sister Rita Mae, and by other parishioners. Those who are homebound also receive the Sacrament of the Anointing twice a year or upon request.

On any given day, the priests respond to requests for a pastoral visit or are called to do the Sacrament of the Anointing. Many days the priests are tending to parishioners who are dying.

Once again, it is very important that you request a visit from your parish or inform us yourself that you are entering a health care facility or have become homebound on a short or long term basis. If your pastoral needs are not being addressed, chances are very good that we are not aware of your pastoral need.

I am very grateful to all who minister to the health needs of our parishioners. If you would like to be a part of this ministry please contact Fr. Dick Klingeisen or Sr. Renee.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

01/15/12

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

As we move from Christmastime to Christmastide (through February 2), let us embrace the Spirit of Christmas not only in the season, but as a way of life. The best way to maintain our relationship with the Christmas Christ as our Lord and Savior throughout the year is in the celebration of the Mass. Everything that we do as Catholics leads to the Mass and flows from the Mass. This is why the Mass is called the source and summit of our lives.

This year we are going to center ourselves once again in the Sunday Mass. As such, we will seek to deepen our  reverence for and participation in the Mass, to invite those who do not participate in the Mass on a regular basis to do so and to regain a sense of what the Sunday Sabbath is all about (aka the third commandment). Our whole parish and school is going to be mobilized to make the celebration of the Mass heart and core to who and whose we are as Catholics.

Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict have talked about this mobilization as the “New Evangelization.” This New Evangelization seeks to call all people to be holy, fully engaged and fully alive in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is with this sense of New Evangelization in mind that Joel Stepanek will be offering the Shield Evangelization Training this week Tuesday, 6:30pm at the Waldo worship site. Come and learn more about this New Evangelization (see this bulletin for a more complete explanation of this presentation).

This past week I gave an update on the status of our new Catholic School building project. After meeting with the donors, it is surmised that the earliest the new schools doors will open is in Fall, 2015. This means that the shovel would go in the ground around April, 2014. If in fact the stocks in the donors portfolios would reach the benchmarks sooner than that, then we would begin the project immediately. We will continue to monitor the situation with the donors. In January, 2014 there will be a summit of stakeholders to evaluate where we are at and how we will proceed. To hear my presentation in full, go to our website www.sfamanitowoc.org and click on to Media Center.

As we enter into what is called “measured time” in the life of the church, let us embrace the immeasurable love of the Father given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

01/08/12 - Letter from the Pastor

Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to you as we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany and the manifestation of Jesus as Lord and Savior. As we bask in these last days of the Christmas season, we prepare ourselves to embrace the spirit of Christmas as a way of life. As disciples of the Lord we seek to grow closer to our Lord and Savior everyday of this new year and to invite others who are not close to the Lord into that same meaningful and life-giving relationship!

During Christmas week, we celebrated the Resurrection Mass for Br. Gary Smith, SFC. Br. Gary is a Christian Brother who taught at Roncalli High School for the last fourteen years. A man of many talents, Br. Gary touched the lives of hundreds of students and families in his ministry of teaching. In our conversations regarding vocational call, we rarely talk about the vocation of Brothers Religious. As a male Religious, a Brother is a lay Christian who commits himself to Christ and the Christian community by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Not only is he in service to the community, he himself lives in a religious community that centers his life. It is from this root and from his own interior life that he is able to meet the needs of the Church in ministries such as teaching, social work, technical occupations, etc. Some religious communities, such as the Christian Brothers, are composed exclusively of Brothers Religious. As we reflect upon the many vocations of married life, religious life, priestly life and single life, perhaps you have a vocational call to be a Brother Religious?

Beginning with this weekend, Deacon William will be back on the weekends only to assist at Masses and other parish activities. This is part of Deacon William’s on-going formation before he is ordained a priest for the Diocese of Green Bay on June 2, 2012. Please welcome Deacon William and enjoy his ministry and presence to our community over the next five months.

This Tuesday there will be a Parish & School Town Hall Meeting at 6:30pm in the Marshall worship site. At this Town Hall Meeting there will be an update on the timetable for our new school, as well as other related items. Your attendance at this meeting is important to our goal of keeping all parishioners informed and up to date.

As the magi came to give homage to Jesus as Lord and Savior, may we continually fall to our knees in adoration before the Lord of our life.

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

01/01/12 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Merry Christmas! We continue to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas -- that's how long it takes to fathom the love that God has for us in the coming of the Christmas Christ. Let us continue to bask in the lavishness of that love with family and friends! A special thank you to all who have shared their gifts and talents to make this Christmas season so meaningful and prayerful.

Happy New Year! The beginning of a new year is always a time of remembering and reckoning. Take some time this weekend to remember the many people, events and experiences that have filled up your life this past year ... the good and the bad... and offer all of these moments to Jesus Christ who is the Lord of all times and the Savior of all seasons. As far as the reckoning is concerned, if we have hurt someone during this year, through the mercy of God, may we seek healing and  forgiveness.

Blessed Feast Day!  This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, our Lady's greatest title. This feast is the octave of Christmas. In the modern Roman Calendar only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave.

"Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat of Wisdom."   — Catechism of the Catholic Church 721

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

12/25/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

A Savior is born unto us!  Imagine, A Savior—literally the One who can save us—from the many ways that we do not embody the presence of God and the Reign of God that is at hand.  So God decided to make it real, real clear and became one like us in all ways except sin, so that we might know how to live our lives without sin, and thus be saved! 

As we begin our season of Christmas, I would like to thank Ann Lensmire, Director of Music and Sr. Lynne Jagemann, Director of Liturgy, for all of their time and energy in preparing the liturgies for this sacred season—along with all the coordinators, liturgical ministers and musicians!  Your service to God and our parish community is greatly appreciated.

During these Twelve Days of Christmas, on behalf of the St. Francis Parish and School Staff, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry and Joyful Christmas!  May the lavish love and abundant goodness of our God rest in your home and heart.

REJOICE, Jerusalem!  All you lovers of Sion, share our festivities!   On this day the age-old bonds of Adam’s condemnation were broken, paradise was opened for us, the serpent was crushed, and the woman, whom he once deceived, lives now as mother of the creator….Let all creation dance and thrill with joy, for Christ has come to call it home and to save our souls.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

12/18/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Greetings to you on this fourth and last Sunday of Advent. In these last days of this holy season, let us grow closer to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our embrace of the coming of the Christmas Christ acknowledges that we stand in need of a Savior who came into this world to save us from our sinfulness with the promise of salvation. Remember Advent is not so much what we are going to do for God as it is being open to what God wants to do for us!

On Tuesday of this week Joel Stepanek will give a presentation on how we can share our faith in a world that seems uninterested or even hostile towards it.  How do we spread this “good news” of Jesus to the people we love the most?  Joel Stepanek will look at the “why” and “how” of sharing our faith.  Join us at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, December 20^th at the Waldo Blvd worship site. All ages are welcome!

Please see this bulletin for the full schedule of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses. There will be a worship site annex set up in the elementary school hall at the Waldo worship site for the Christmas Eve 4:00 Mass. This will feature a live cablecast of the Mass into the annex site. Due to the fire codes and for the safety of all, parishioners will be asked to go to the Waldo annex site once we have reached capacity inside of the church. Also, please remember it is very difficult, if not almost impossible, to hold or save seats for family members. At the discretion of the priest, the directive may be given to fill all available seats in the church.

Soon there will be many among us who attend a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Mass who might not otherwise be found in the pews on a weekly basis.  Often we make derogatory remarks about the folks who only come at Christmas and Easter.  If we are truly a parish community who practices “radical hospitality” and a parish community who embraces the spreading of the Good News as our primary mission and reason for being—then we will treat all those who come to be with us with a deep sense of dignity and respect.  

If you are traveling elsewhere for Christmas, may your journey be safe and free from harm. From the SFA Parish and School staff we wish you and yours a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

12/11/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Rejoice! Again, I say Rejoice! Today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday as we joyfully have reached the half-way mark in our journey through the holy season of Advent. Are you closer to the Lord because of your Advent observances and prayers? Have you opened your heart to what the Lord wants to do for you and through you during these days of Advent? Wherever you may be in your Advent journey, take the time this week to rejoice. Rejoicing is a sign of our discipleship and belief in the Jesus as our Savior.

One of the great Advent traditions is receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We should not be afraid of this beautiful Sacrament given to us by the Church in the Lord Jesus. How many times a year do we take our car to be washed of its dirt and grime? Cleansed and cleaned, the car looks like it’s new. Why wouldn’t we want to do the same with our soul? The Sacrament of Reconciliation washes away every sin that we have ever committed – cleansed and clean we begin our Christian journey anew in a pure state of grace. This coming week we will offer four opportunities to receive this powerful Sacrament. Come and be saved from your sin by your Savior.

I am happy to announce that Bill Schleis will be the new Liturgy Coordinator at the Marshall worship site, effective immediately.  Bill is presently employed by Spancrete Industries as a design supervisor. Bill is serving as a Sacristan at the Marshall worship site and will bring an abundance of gifts to this part-time Liturgy Coordinator position. Additionally, Mark Knipp will become the Liturgy Coordinator at the Waldo worship site, effective immediately. Mark has been a Liturgy Coordinator for four years and given that experience he will be a great asset at the Waldo worship site. Kay Goswitz will continue as the Liturgy Coordinator at the Grand Avenue worship site. Finally, as Raissa Van Serke ends her time as the Liturgy Coordinator at the Waldo worship site, we are very grateful to her for the significant contributions she has made to growing our liturgical ministry at this worship site. The Liturgy Coordinator position is ten hours per week.

Rejoice! Again, I say Rejoice! St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

12/04/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

As we continue to journey through this Advent time, let us seek to grow closer to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. For truly we stand in need of a Savior, the only One who can save us from our sins and promise us salvation.

This Monday, Fr. Dick, Fr. V and I will all be at the Sacrament of Reconciliation Service for the priests of the Green Bay Diocese. As priests, we too, stand in need of a Savior. Please pray for us, that through the abundant mercy of God, we may be forgiven our sins and restored to a state of grace. Please note the times of the Advent Reconciliation services that will be provided in our parish. Along with your priests, plan to receive this precious Sacrament of forgiveness and grace during the holy season of Advent.

We also honor Mary who was conceived immaculately so that she might give birth to a Savior. Please see this bulletin for a listing of our Holy Day Masses for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on Thursday, December 8^th. This is a holy day of obligation.

There are also a number of Christmas programs offered to us this week: Roncalli Christmas Show (Dec 4), SFA Middle School Christmas Band Concert (Dec 6) and SFA Elementary Christmas Program (Dec 7). The religious Education Program will also offer a Christmas Program called, “A Thrill of Hope” on Dec 12 & Dec 14. All parishioners are invited to these programs.

This weekend we will recognize Arnie Kapitz and his many years of directing the Men’s Choir. As Arnie steps down as the director, we cherish the many ways that he has shared with the choir and congregation his love for music. Arnie is a great example of how we are called to holiness, to be fully engaged and fully alive! Blessings upon Arnie and his loved ones in the days ahead.

A special thank you to all who gave to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. This fund is used to address immediate and important pastoral needs that arise and are not in the operating budget. Please keep this fund in mind as you do your end of the year tax work. Also, thanks to all who are participating in our Giving Tree project. Remember to have your gifts returned by noon on Sunday, December 11.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

11/27/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Happy New Year! That’s right, Happy New Year!   With the First Sunday of Advent we begin our new liturgical Church year. This Church New Year begins with a bang as we celebrate the Mass for the first time with our new Roman Missal. A special thank you is extended to all who have helped us to prepare for this historical moment.

With this Church New Year we are launching a yearlong parish theme of “Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive!” With an emphasis on the “Eucharist” and “Stewardship as a Way of Life” we will be challenged in many ways to grow and deepen our call to be holy, engaged and alive in our faith and love for the Lord. Hang on to your hats, folks, here we go…

This coming Tuesday, November 29^th, we will have a very important Parish Town Hall Meeting to look at  and to report on a whole lot of parish activities that I want you to be aware of in the weeks and months ahead. Please make it a priority to be with us on Tuesday, November 29^th at 12:10pm or 6:30pm at the Grand Avenue worship site.

Please know that at the recommendation of the Finance Council our parish community made a $10,000 donation (to be given over a three year period) to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish for the building of their new church. Traditionally, a parish has always made a tithe to a neighboring parish on an occasion as such. More importantly, our mission to “love our neighbor as we would want to be loved in return” is at the heart of this gift. St. Thomas the Apostle prayed for us every weekend when we were going through our transition and they have been very supportive of our Catholic School. I presented the donation recently at their Annual parish Meeting. Many were moved to tears by our support.

You should have received the Advent Newsletter highlighting all of the programs, services and activities for the season of Advent, including Reconciliation Services – these are all opportunities to be holy, engaged and alive!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

11/20/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King and the ending of our Church Year. It is a time for us to gather all that has happened in this Church Year—the good and the bad, the successes and the failures, the steps ahead and the steps backward—as we place all at the feet of our Savior, confidant that by the reign of our King all things are redeemed and made new!

Next weekend we will celebrate the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new Church Year with its cycles of seasons, feasts and holy days. To help us mark the passing of precious time in this new Church Year, the funeral homes of Manitowoc have provided us with beautiful calendars which are available next weekend. We are grateful to Pffefer Funeral Home, Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Jens, Reinbold & Pffefer Funeral Home for providing these calendars and for all that they do in service to our parishioners.

As we bring our Church Year to an end on this Feast of Christ the King, these are some questions that we may want to use as part of our prayer and reflections:

·  Would I say that I am closer to the Lord than I was a year ago at this time?

·  How have I used my gifts and talents in service to others?

·  With whom do I still need to be reconciled?  Is this the time to seek that reconciliation?

·  How did God use me as an instrument to announce the Reign of God that is at hand to the people of Manitowoc?

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

11/03/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

In this harvesting time of the year, let us count our blessings with a heart filled with gratitude – blessings that we often take for granted. All that we have is a gift from God and our God is a God of abundance and bounty. Even in the most difficult of times, the lavishness of God’s love, the depth of God’s strength and the plentitude of God’s peace permeates our challenges, thus always giving us a reason to hope and give thanks. As we proclaim at every Mass: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God! It is right to give Him thanks and praise!

This weekend we are reflecting upon those God-given blessings and how we share a portion of those blessings with others. As stewards of the blessings that have been given to us, we have been asked to tend to and to share those blessings in such a way as to build up the Reign of God here upon the earth. The intent of the Giver of the gifts was not to hoard, but to share.

During Lent we had the opportunity to share our prayers and during the springtime we reflected upon our sharing in service to others. This weekend we reflect upon our sharing of money and the resources that we have been blessed with in life. I would imagine that most people would find it surprising that the number one topic of Jesus’ preaching was money. Jesus as Lord and Savior realized that the money and resources that we have are the last areas of our lives that we are willing to surrender to God’s will. To freely share a portion of our money and resources   finally frees us to make Christ the center of our lives – the return on that center will blow us away in our embrace of happiness and holiness.

Generally speaking, Catholics struggle with surrendering their money and resources to the will of God. On an average, Catholics give less than 1% of their money and resources back to God through the Church or to charities. Once again, we remember that it is the intent of God as the giver of the gifts that we share a portion of those blessing in service to others.

For many in our parish community, we are diligent and intentional in figuring out what is “right to give God thanks and praise.” But for others, we have rarely ever stopped to think and pray about what is the right sharing for me as I surrender myself to God’s will or what percent of my money and resources am I returning to the Church and to charities or how free am I of my money and resources to claim Christ as the center of my life. The answer to these questions impacts greatly our happiness and holiness.

When it comes to stewardship of sharing it is a matter between you and God. It is up to each individual and family to figure out what is “right to give thanks and praise.” Whatever that sharing may be, there is one thing that we can be sure of, that God’s sharing of blessings and gifts in return will be even greater!

Glory and praise to our God, many are the blessings He bears to those who trust in His ways.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

 

11/06/11 - Letter from Joel Stepanek

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

When you wake up in the morning you have an important decision to make: What do I wear today?    

Sometimes our clothing choices are motivated by mood; we pick clothing that reflects the way we feel or want to feel that day.  Other times our clothing choice may be dictated by a dress code or expectations of an event we are attending – very few people wear jeans and a t-shirt to a wedding.  Practicality sometimes will drive our choice of clothing – we wear a winter coat when it is cold and boots if we need to go out in snow.  Similarly, if we play a sport we may put on a special set of clothing to keep us safe or will help our performance.  Regardless of how we arrive on our clothing decision, what we wear is a good indicator of our attitude or posture toward an event or day.

Consider the example of the wedding.  When a bride puts on her wedding gown it is different than any other dress because that day is different than any other day.  Likewise, if we dress up for a job interview we are saying that what we are about to do is important.  Several years ago the idea of one’s “Sunday Best” seemed to be dropped by the wayside.  As the Church embraced the idea that people should “come as you are,” (a good thing without a doubt) we lost the notion of reverence through our dress.  People now come to church dressed like it’s any other day.  Did you know that the “gathering rite” actually begins as you get ready to come to church?  When we put on nice clothes, our “Sunday Best,” we are acknowledging that what we are about to do is important; it is different than any other time of the week.  There is a difference between “coming as you are,” and simply being lazy about what you choose to wear.

There is a saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”  It underlines the fundamental connection between our thoughts and our action.  I would propose this one as well – “As you dress, so you shall think, so you shall be.”  Let’s be honest here – if I showed up on a dinner date with my fiancé (something we only do once each month) in jeans and a t-shirt she might be a little hurt.  My poor attire would certainly seem to reflect an attitude that I didn’t care about our date.  The same thing is true for Mass.  As much as we would like to make ourselves believe that we can throw on ripped jeans and a t-shirt and have the same reverence for Mass, the truth is that we are communicating a message that Mass is really just an ordinary thing.  We are saying through our dress that it is unimportant and no different than if we were hanging out and watching television.  This is reflected in our attitude.  Suddenly the cell phone stays on and the bulletin gets read during the homily.  Our attention wanes and we get distracted thinking about what is happening after Mass because it was never that important to begin with.

As we begin our introduction of the Third Edition of the New Roman Missal we have a great opportunity to embrace change not only with our hearts and voices but with our attire.  I challenge you to this:  For the next month make a deliberate effort to dress up for Mass.  You don’t need to wear a full suit, but dress up in something that is out of the ordinary and semi-formal.  You may need to get up a little bit earlier or make sure your clothes are washed.  You might have to take more time to do your hair or iron your clothes.  But you will notice a change in how you feel at Mass and how you engage in it.  In four weeks you can change your entire posture towards Mass right in time for the New Roman Missal.  What message will your clothing speak this week?

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  

Joel Stepanek, Director of Youth Ministry

10/30/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

This weekend we are celebrating the autumn Triduum of Hallow’s Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  We remember this weekend, the many blessing of our life, especially the gifts of grace and the promise of everlasting life. 

Caring for those who have died and those who grieve their lost ones is an important part of our parish ministry and outreach.  Last year alone we celebrated over 230 parish funerals.  There are many who are called to this ministry:  priests, leadership team, deacons, office staff, care team and home visitors, grief support group team, funeral directors, cooks and servers for funeral luncheons, Resurrection choir, maintenance crews, mass acolytes and those who walk with us through the valley of death into new life and resurrection.  A special thank you is extended to those who share their gifts and talents in this sacred ministry.

Let us pray this week with those who have been gathered to God before us, this great Communion of Saints.  Someday we shall all be together again in the fullness of God’s Kingdom!

Next weekend we will have our International Food Fair. All parishioners are invited to come and to eat some great food and spend some leisurely time with family and friends. This event is so important to our ability to make our SFA Catholic School education accessible and affordable for all families. The cost of educating a child at SFA Catholic School is $5300 per pupil. Tuition and parish subsidy covers $4300 of the cost, leaving a balance of $1000 per pupil to be raised through third source funding. The purpose of this important event is to help us bridge this gap of $1000. Your presence and support of the International Food Fair is crucial to our ability to live the 130+ years Catholic School heritage and mission that has been entrusted to our generation. Come and join us for some great food and an even greater purpose!

As we enter into these holy days of an autumn season, let us embrace these days as an opportunity to grow in grace so that gracefully we may give thanks to God who is the giver of all gifts!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!   Fr. Dan

10/23/11 - Note from Fr. John Schuetze

Hello St Francis of Assisi Parish,

It was wonderful to be home in Manitowoc in October!  The leave changed colors painting the landscape for me and the weather was awesome.  I enjoyed watching the leaves gently falling to the ground giving way to winter in time for me to exit to the south for the winter.  Seriously I miss Wisconsin and all of you, but I am enjoying the Air Force very much.  Keesler Air Force Base here in Biloxi MS is great.  It was almost destroyed along with much of Biloxi during hurricane Katrina but has been rebuilt and is very nice. 

I left Minot Air Force Base in April and arrived at Keesler, which is a training base.  My main responsibility here is as a chaplain in the Student Ministry Center known as the ‘Fishbowl’.  Students arrive here after basic training for technical school and spend free time this facility.  Chaplains help them to have appropriate activities to enjoy their free time.  We are also available when issues arise and they arise all the time. 

Mississippi is a nice home away from home, which by the way is the name of one of our next programs Home Away From Home, connecting student with local families to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.  I hope and pray you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Father John Schuetze

113 Curtiss Drive

 Biloxi, MS 39531

10/16/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Praise be the God of creation for these beautiful autumn days! All is gift! All is a source of our gratitude!

There are many opportunities these days for each of us as an adult to grow and deepen our faith lives. Next Tuesday, Joel Stepanek, our Director of Youth Ministry, will begin a series of monthly talks on “The Shield Evangelization Training.” The purpose of these talks is to equip parish members with the skills, vocabulary, and methods necessary for sharing the Good News with those around them, and with the knowledge and techniques needed to defend and share our Catholic faith when asked questions by family, friends, and members of the broader community.

The first of his presentations will focus on the basic elements of Catholic belief, especially those that distinguish the Catholic tradition from others. The goal of this session is to give participants a grounded theological perspective on our own beliefs including sacraments, Mary, saints, salvation, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. These will be the building blocks used in the following sessions. Join us for The Shield Evangelization Training next Tuesday, October 18^th, 6:30-8:00pm, at the Waldo worship site!

On Monday, October 24^th and Wednesday, October 26^th, Barbara Kratz, our Director of Religious Education, will present “Praying the Mass Today.” All parishioners are invited to attend one of these sessions to get a deeper and more prayerful  understanding of the changes in the New Roman Missal that will be introduced the First Sunday of Advent. Join us for one of these presentations on October 24^th or 26^th, 6:30-7:30pm, at the Faith Formation Center School Basement.

We will celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in the context of the Eucharist this coming Wednesday, October 19^th, 1:30pm, at the SFA Grand Avenue worship site. All parishioners, friends and neighbors are invited to this Sacrament of Healing.

May the blessings of God be upon you and your loved ones.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

10/09/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

This past week Fr. Dick, Fr. Viertel and I joined Bishop Ricken and over 100 Priests and Parish Directors for our annual Clergy Congress. For the past three years this event has been hosted in Manitowoc at the Holiday Inn. The spirit of the priests and parish directors of the diocese is positive and strong. Even though we face many challenges in our parishes, there are so many signs of the hand of God working in and though our parishes to bring forth the kingdom to all people in our community.

A lot of time and references were made to the Pastoral Letter written by Bishop Ricken, Parishes: Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive! This Pastoral Letter identifies six areas of parish life that are to be deepened and renewed in each parish over the next 5-7 years. These pastoral areas include: evangelization; Youth, Young Adults and Family; Leadership; Education; Eucharist; and Dignity of Human Life. These six pastoral areas surfaced last year from the “discovery and dreams” exercise that we and 120 other parishes went through in the planning process. Beginning with the Eucharist, the Pastoral Council and Parish Leadership are to put together and plan for the implementation of the Bishop’s Pastoral letter.

The Bishop has appointed Mark Mogilka, Diocesan Director of Stewardship and Pastoral Services and myself to coordinate the Pastoral Letter for the Diocese of Green Bay. To that end, in the last three weeks we held nine workshops around the diocese to provide the tools and resources that parishes will use to develop their own plan for implementation. Our Pastoral Council members were at these sessions and will now lead us in determining how our parish community will deepen these areas of parish life so that we may grow in holiness and become even more fully engaged and fully alive!

Last weekend we celebrated our Francis Fest Mass and Pancake Breakfast! It was a great celebration and we are very thankful to John Stelzer, Ann Lensmire, Sr. Lynne Jagemann, Mark Knipp, Raissa Van Serke, Kay Goswitz, Patrick Brandel, Dcn. Bob Beehner, Connie Heinzen and all who helped to make this event such a great success! It was a wonderful way to celebrate our patron St. Francis of Assisi.

Remember during the month of October to pray the rosary, respect life and give thanks for the beauty of the Autumn season.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

10/02/11 - Letter from the Pastor

 

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

This time of the year boasts of great feast days for the Saints of our church. This weekend we are celebrating the feast of St. Francis, our parish patron saint. St. Francis has been a great inspiration for all of us as parishioners under his guidance. The charge which St. Francis embraced challenged him to “rebuild the church.” As a parish community we too have taken that charge to heart as we have sought to rebuild the church of Manitowoc. Through the intercession of St. Francis at the glorious throne of God, may our parish continue to embrace our purpose and mission with the passion and zeal of St. Francis.

This past week we also celebrated the Feast of the Archangels. As we remember St. Michael the   Archangel, I am also calling to mind the many ways that Sr. Michael has been that angelic presence to so many in our parish community. For decades, Sr. Michael has reached out to the homebound, the sick and the needy at the former Sacred Heart Parish and St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Many of those who have been served by her person have often said that she is their “little angel.” In our tradition, angels are described as being “messengers of God’s presence.” On many an occasion and in countless ways, Sr. Michael has been that messenger.

Recently, Sr. Michael has stepped back from her full time responsibilities as an outreach minister. Even though she is not on a regular schedule of homecare visits, Sr. Michael continues to lift her special people up in her thoughts and prayers. As a parish community we are grateful to Sr. Michael for her great gospel witness of care and compassion. If you would like to write Sr. Michael Majeskie a note, her address is:  2409 S. Alverno Road, Manitowoc, WI 54220.

The great feasts of the Saints are not only for those who are in heaven before the throne of God, but also a celebration of our common call to holiness as the People of God here upon the earth. As we are the messengers of God’s presence to one another, let us walk that path of holiness, fully engaged and fully alive!

As we have done on so many occasion, we ask all of our prayers through the intercession of these blessed ones –

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

09/25/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

What happened? It feels like we were just settling into the beginning of September and poof we are in the last days of this precious month. Such is the gift of time. Every day is a blessing and every month is precious gift. Let us never take the days and months of our life for granted.

So here comes the new month of October with all of its special blessings!

During the month of October we celebrate the feast day of our parish patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. Next weekend on Sunday, October 2, we will have a special parish-wide Sunday Mass at 10:00am in the Roncalli auditorium. All parishioners are invited to this Francis Fest celebration of the Mass and a Pancake breakfast that will immediately follow the Mass.  Remember, the last regularly scheduled Mass at each one of our worship sites next weekend will be cancelled to allow all parishioners to go to our special Francis Fest Mass.

During the month of October we renew our fundamental reverence for all of life. This year we are offering the Spiritual Adoption Program as a way of support to both parents and the life of an infant. We are also called to   participate in the “40 Days for Life” campaign (see this bulletin for more information). It is a month for us to be aware of how respectful we are of those around us as infants, children, teens and grown-ups.

During the month of October we re-emphasize the praying of the rosary as powerful prayer tradition in our church. It is a month to pray or learn how to pray the rosary. It is a month that honors Mary as Our Lady of the Rosary. It is a month for us to join our Rosary Guild which meets every first Thursday of the month to make rosaries. It is a month to participate in the Marian Eucharistic Conference or to travel to Champion for a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help.

Embrace the beginning of a new month as a gift filled with opportunities, possibilities and dreams just waiting to happen. Remember, before you know it, poof it will be gone!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

09/18/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

Greetings in our Lord Jesus Christ as we celebrate this Catechetical Sunday! Today we remember the many ways that we seek to grow in our faith and relationship with the Lord throughout our lifetime from infancy to adulthood. On this Catechetical Sunday we renew our teaching mission in our Catholic School, Religious Education Program, Edge and LifeTeen.

We also affirm our mission to adult catechesis and spiritual formation. I would like to highlight some of the ways that we will emphasize our catechetical growth as ADULTS! Beginning next weekend we will begin to learn about some of the changes that will be made in our Mass as we anticipate the introduction of the new Roman Missal on the first weekend of Advent (see last week’s Pastor comments on our Website for a full explanation of the new Roman Missal). The teachings on this newly revised Mass will be covered over the next eight weekends. This will allows us to embrace anew our love for and understanding of the Eucharist.

During the course of this year there will also be an abundance of adult education & formation opportunities:

 Zimmer Forum

Sep 13 - Faith Maps, Bp. Morneau

Oct 11 - Vatican II, Fr. Swichtenberg

Nov 8 - Glittering Vices, Paul Wadell

Dec 13 - Anna Karenina, David Gilboa

Feb 14 -  Hoops & Homilies, Brian Shaw

Mar 13 - Irish & Civilization, Julianne Donlan

Apr 10 - Life Together, Bp. Jim Sustman

 

SFA LifeTeen Education for All Adults & Teens

Nov 2 - Existence of God, Colleen Friel

Jan 4 – Eucharist, Joel Stepanek

Feb 15 – Creed, Joel Stepanek

Apr 11 – Mission, Joel Stepanek

 

SFA Shield:  Catholic Evangelization & Apologetics

Oct 18 - Catholic Faith, Joel Stepanek

Nov 15 - Faith Traditions, Joel Stepanek

Dec 20 - Evangelism 101, Joel Stepanek

Jan 17 - Defending Faith, Joel Stepanek

Feb 21 – Emmaus, Joel Stepanek

Mar 20 - Sent Out, Joel Stepanek

 

SFA Religious Education for All Adults

Oct 24 - Intro to Roman Missal, Barb Kratz

Oct 26 - Intro to Roman Missal, Barb Kratz

In addition to these opportunities, following are adult education programs that are being offered at St. Peter the  Fisherman and St. Thomas the Apostle parishes. Catechetical Sunday reminds us that growing our faith and love for the Lord is a life-long endeavor!

St. Peter the Fisherman Adult Education

Mon AM, OT/NT - Deacon Kurt Grube

Sept 19—May 24

Thu AM, Mystery of Love -  Fr. Tom Reynebeau

Twice a month, Sep 8—Feb 16

Thu AM,  Theology of the Body - Christopher West DVDs

Twice a month, Mar 1—May 31

St. Thomas the Apostle Adult Education

Thu AM Women of Grace Chris Franda

Sep 8—Nov 3

 Tue Aft., Changes in the Mass    

Sep 27, Oct 18, 25;  Nov 8, 15 - Greg Friedman, OFM  DVDs

 Repeated Wed Eve Sep 28, Oct 19,26 & Nov 9, 16

 

 St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!  Fr. Dan

 

09/11/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian existence. Everything we be and do as a Christian is gathered into and flows from the Eucharist. Bishop Ricken in his Pastoral Letter, Parishes: Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive, has proclaimed the Eucharist as the first focus area to be addressed by parishes in their call to be holy, engaged and alive!

As a parish community we will seek to grow and deepen our embrace of the Eucharist this coming year in a variety of ways.  I would like to clarify three ways on how we are presently preparing ourselves to celebrate the Eucharist as the source and  summit of our Christian life.

Full Compliance with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)

During this past Lenten season we spent some time adjusting our celebration of the Eucharist to be in full compliance with GIRM. This included the placement of the tabernacles from the side altars to the middle of the sanctuary, communion ministers coming into the sanctuary after the priest received the precious blood, folded hands for the praying of the Our Father, the priest taking the consecrated hosts back to the tabernacle and parishioners genuflecting towards the blessed sacrament when entering and leaving the pew.

Introduction of the newly revised Roman Missal

Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, the Roman Catholic Church will introduce a newly revised Roman Missal. For the most part the Mass will remain the same, but some of the words we hear and say will change. The new English translation will be more faithful to the texts first composed in Latin. For instance, some of the words in the Gloria, the Creed and the Holy, Holy will change, as well as some of the congregational responses and presider prayers. Beginning with Catechetical Sunday, September 18^th, we will initiate a process of preparation to familiarize ourselves with these changes, so that when the First Sunday of Advent arrives we will feel fully prepared and ready to celebrate the Mass as the source and summit of our Christian life.

Diocesan Offering of the Latin Tridentine Mass at the SFA Faith Formation Center

The way that we will celebrate the Mass in the newly revised Roman Missal is called the ordinary way of celebrating the Mass which was first promulgated in 1970 in response to the reforms called forth by the Second Vatican Council. The Roman Catholic Church also has an extraordinary way of celebrating the Mass, commonly known as the Tridentine rite, which is celebrated according to the 1962 (Pre-Vatican II) Roman Missal.

This past year, a new Vatican Instruction calls on local bishops and pastors to respond to those who seek the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal. In response to this Instruction, Bishop Ricken asked that the former St. Boniface Church be used as a “diocesan worship site” for the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. Beginning on October 2^nd, the faithful from around the diocese who wish to celebrate the Latin Tridentine Mass may do so on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month at 1:30pm at the Faith Formation Center worship site. Canon Hellmann, a priest of the Society of Christ the King, will preside at this Mass.

The Latin Tridentine Mass is not a Latin version of the ordinary Roman Missal rite that we celebrate on Sundays. Rather, it is an extraordinary way of celebrating the Mass that predates the Second Vatican Council in its use of Latin as the liturgical language, the limited participation of the faithful in song and words with an emphasis on a mental union of the soul and the Church, prayers at the foot of the altar by the priest, etc.

For the faithful who desire to worship according to the Tridentine rite, a booklet will be provided to help follow the rite and language.

All of these expressions of the Mass emphasize again our understanding of the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Christian existence. Even though the form by which we celebrate the Mass may change, the substance of that which we celebrate remains the same: the manifestation of the real presence of Jesus Christ given and shared in His most precious body and blood.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!                     

 

 

09/04/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Happy Labor Day weekend! The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. In a special way this weekend we also pray for those who are unemployed and looking for work. May God’s Spirit of perseverance and strength be upon them.

Families within our parish community are strongly supported when a loved one dies. One of the ways that we reach out to families is by offering and providing a beautiful luncheon after a funeral. Last year we had about 240 funerals, many of which had a funeral luncheon after the service at one of our three worship sites. As we have all of our funeral luncheons in our school buildings, the schedule of the students on the day of a funeral luncheon is changed to accommodate those attending the luncheon.

Last year funeral luncheons at the SFA Middle School cancelled physical education classes numerous times. This coming school year, with the addition of the fifth grade class at the Middle School there will be a need for additional physical education classes. Additionally, the one physical education instructor for our Catholic School will be at the Middle School site on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

After consultation with the Parish Leadership Team and the funeral luncheon coordinators at SFA Grand and Marshall, it has been decided that beginning on August 29^th when a luncheon occurs on a Tuesday or a Thursday  during the school year at the SFA Middle School on    Marshall, that the funeral luncheon will be served at the SFA Grand Avenue site in the school.  All other days of the week the luncheon can take place at the SFA Marshall worship site. This arrangement will allow us to be supportive of our parish families who have lost a loved one and the students in our Catholic School.

Next weekend we will begin our Sunday Evening LifeTeen Mass which will begin at 5:00pm. The music and celebration of the Mass will be geared to young adults. However, all ages are invited to this Mass.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

08/24/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

The last days of the summer season are vanishing swiftly as the evening dusk comes earlier and the night air is more crisp. Even in this moment there is still reason to embrace this sacred season as a time for renewal and re-creation!

For families who have children, household energies are turning away from vacation days to school days. This coming week as a parish we will begin the 153rd year of continuous Catholic School education in Manitowoc. What a rich tradition and heritage, not of the past, but in the present. This year we will have 465 students at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School.  Serving these students will be 28 part-time and full-time  teachers. Mrs. Linda Bender is the principal at SFA Elementary School and Mr. Jim Clark is the principal at SFA Middle School. As the new school year gears up we pray God’s blessings upon all students, teachers, principals and staffs:

Send your Spirit upon our students,school staffs and families

and fill them with your wisdom and blessings.

Grant that during this academic year

they may devote themselves to their studies

and share what they have learned with others.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The summer season provides for lush lawns and blooming flowers … that is, if some attend to these matters. We are very grateful to Bob Becker, Milt & Karen Bashaw, Bob Franke, Gerry Heinzen, Dave & Nicole Schmaling, Steve & Doreen Strouf, Hank Sturm, Jim Stephani, Mick Rolland, Jerry Neumann and Tom & Diana Hartman, who have donated their stewardship time and talent to caring for our parish and school grounds. Your efforts are greatly appreciated! As the lawns begin to brown and the summer flowers wilt, bring on the mums and brown eyed susan flowers of autumn as there is always a reason to rejoice!

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

 

08/21/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

The Fish Boil was a huge success and so much fun! What a great way to celebrate the last days of our summer season. Thanks to all who helped to organize this event. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

As our energies turn from the season of summer to fall, there is a matter that I would like to bring to your attention. A new Vatican instruction calls on local bishops to respond to Catholics who seek the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal, more commonly known as the Tridentine rite. The instruction issued by the Vatican on May 13, 2011, said bishops and pastors should approve such a Mass for groups of the faithful, even when such groups are small or are formed from different parishes of the diocese. These faithful cannot contest the validity of the modern Mass or the authority of the Pope. The Tridentine Mass is not the present day Sunday Mass in Latin. Rather, it is a rite unto itself. The rubics of the old rite are demanding with movements and particular gestures that are complex.

This instruction states that local bishops have the responsibility to make sure that the Tridentine Mass is provided for in agreement with the pope’s expressed desires. Presently, the priests who belong to the Institute of Christ the King preside at the Tridentine Masses which are now held at the St. Joseph Chapel on the Green Bay diocesan campus. To be honest, for reasons of language and ritual, I would not know how to preside at the Tridentine Mass. At this time, the faithful who gather from around the diocese for the celebration of the Tridentine Mass are outgrowing the campus chapel which has very limited seating.

As a result, Bishop Ricken has asked that the Faith Formation Center Church (St. Boniface) be used to     celebrate the Tridentine Mass in response to the Vatican instruction. The faithful who gather for this Mass will come from all over the diocese, including those who locally desire to attend. Canon Andreas Hellmann, who is a priest of the Institute of Christ the King and the pastor, will preside at a Tridentine Mass at the Faith Formation Center Church. This Tridentine Mass will be celebrated at 1:15pm every other week beginning in October. The Institute of Christ the King will rent this space for Sunday afternoons only. The rest of the week all of our Religious Education programs and Adoration practices will continue as usual. Likewise, even though the Tridentine Mass which is an extraordinary form of the Mass will be celebrated at this site, we will continue the present practice of not using this site for the regular celebration of Sunday and other    Sacramental Masses.

I will share more about this matter in the weeks ahead. This weekend the information that I am sharing with you will simultaneously be shared with the community of faithful at the St. Joseph Chapel. This arrangement to provide a place for the Tridentine Mass will be on a pilot basis and evaluated in June, 2012.

May these last days of summer be filled with abundant Son-light!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

 

Our Catholic Cemeteries

To plan for future expansion of our Catholic cemeteries in Manitowoc, the Family Services Department of Calvary Chapel Mausoleum will be randomly contacting members of St. Francis of Assisi parish to ask your thoughts regarding the cemetery and mausoleum operation and how your family uses the current facilities. Your answers will help insure that our parish cemeteries and mausoleum will be ready for the future needs of the families we serve. Thank you in advance for assisting in this very important endeavor.

Jerry (Toby) Schermetzler

Family Services Manager

Calvary Chapel Mausoleum

“Life has changed…not ended”

 

08/14/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

I am so grateful for the many ways that our parishioners give so generously of their time talent and treasure in service of the Kingdom of God! There are many manifestations of stewardship in our midst!  Like…

For the first time ever as a parish, we reached our Bishop Appeal target of $186,900!!! Thank you to the 1,673 families who gave a portion of their treasure to this important fund that serves so many people in our local community and the northeastern Wisconsin. Also, thank you to those who have given over $2000 to our Good Shepherd Fund where are our funds are low and the need great.

Thank you to Joe Debilzen and the many, many  people who have given of their time and talent to make our Parish Fish Boil and Outdoor Mass so successful. Events like this are months in the planning. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

On another note, the Leadership Team, Worship Coordinator Team, SFA School Administrative Team and LifeTeen Core Team have reviewed and now have recommended the following Mass time changes:

SFA Waldo 7:15am Mass to 7:00am Mass, effective August 16^th.

Reason: With the two elementary school programs and services being combined into one elementary school at the Waldo site, the school day will begin earlier at 8:15am. From 7:45am on there will be buses arriving and car drop-offs of children at this site. This will make for a heavy pattern of traffic around the school, especially on 14^th Street. For the safety and convenience of both school children and morning Mass worshippers, we have moved up the morning mass by fifteen Minutes. This will allow for the morning Mass worshippers to leave before the school crowds start to arrive.

SFA Waldo Sunday Evening 6:00 LifeTeen Mass to 5:00pm, effective September 11^th.

Reason: Many students and adults have requested an earlier start time for this Sunday evening Mass. By    moving the Mass an hour earlier, it will allow students more study time in the evening after the LifeTeen Mass and LifeNight, will end earlier for families who may have younger children, will provide a longer period of daylight for driving for the elderly and help the LifeTeen Core Team to conclude their responsibilities earlier. This change of time will be on a pilot basis for this year and evaluated at the end of the Sunday evening Mass the week before Memorial Day.

Finally, even though the Feast of the Assumption of Mary is not obligatory because it falls on a Monday, it is still a Holy Day. Please make every effort to honor our Blessed Mother Mary by attending one of the Holy Day Masses at 6:30am, 7:15am or 6:00pm.

St. Mary, St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan Felton

 

 

 

08/07/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

The dog days of summer have arrived! These are the days when the dog star is in alignment for some last summer time heat and relaxation.

One of the ways to enjoy these dog days of August is attend the Parish Fish Boil that will be coming up next Friday. This is just a wonderful way to relax and have some great food, fun and friendship. See this bulletin for all of the events and activities that are a part of the Fish Boil. Make sure that you get your winning “Reeling in the Cash” raffle ticket in as soon as possible! The Fish Boil begins at 4:00pm, Roncalli Marching Band at 6:30pm,  American Catholic Idol competition is at 8:00pm and the Raffle drawing is at 9:00pm. Just come and have some good old fashion fun!

Next Saturday we will have an outdoor 4:30pm Mass at the Waldo worship site featuring jazz music as our expression of adoration and praise. We have seats under the tent or just bring along a lawn chair for immediate seating. After Mass we will have the world’s largest free pizza party for one and all. Thanks to the donor of our free pizza!  The Saturday Grand Avenue and Marshall Masses will also take place per usual.

Don’t let these lazy, crazy dog days of August go by without notice, the hectic last summer days will soon be upon us!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan 

 

07/31/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

It is hard to believe that we are at the threshold of the month of August. The summer season moves with such a sense of briskness. Enjoy the dog days of summer that will soon be upon us!

The summer season has seen our parish & school maintenance staff working feverishly to get items moved from our three school campuses into the elementary and middle school sites; to get all of our facilities cleaned, scrubbed and polished; and to get fresh paints on the walls, repairs made and windows replaced. Many a day the temperatures have soared, but our crew kept working.  We are very appreciative of all of their efforts. We also appreciate the many volunteers who have given of their time and talents. There will be other projects coming up, so if you signed up to help out and haven’t been contacted, don’t count yourself out!

We are thankful that Fr. Dick and his volunteer crew are back safely from Appalachia! This is the 31^st year that Fr. Dick has taken a working crew to this area of the  country. Many families have been helped in those 31 years and many lives of our parishioners have been touched by the people they have served.

With all of this volunteering and serving going on, our parish community is proud to be a sponsor of the United Way Days of Caring.  Register your “Day of Caring” drive by July 15th and complete it by August 13^th to be acknowledged at the 2011 United Way Kickoff. Please send * Company * Contact person * Phone * Email * Drive   Details to Jane Winans at jane@unitedwaymanitowoc.org

Deacon William, Fr. V and Fr. Dan are working hard to get their American Catholic Idol (8:00pm) acts together for the Parish Fish Boil on August 12^th. We are excited to have the Roncalli Marching Band (6:30pm) with us for this event as well. There will be great food, refreshments, auction items, music and much more a happening. Mark your calendar, this is an event you do not want to miss!!!

May the blessings of summer sunshine bring a lightness of heart!

St. Francis and St. Clare, pray for us!

 

07/24/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

It’s summertime! It’s supposed to be hot! Let us embrace the summer season as a precious gift of sunshine, swimming and sweating!

A special thank you to Randy Miller and Gunther Skaletz for coming forth to offer their services as a Trustee-Treasurer. As a result of the elections last weekend, Randy Miller will serve our parish community as a Trustee.

We are also grateful for all who agreed to throw their name in a hat for membership on the Pastoral Council. As a result of our prayer to the Holy Spirit, Steve Brahm was selected as the new member of the Pastoral Council. As Steve comes onto the Council, we say thank you Kerry Sievert who will be leaving the Council having served his term.

Fr. Dick will be back home this week from his service trip to Appalachia. We are so fortunate to have the likes of Fr. Finian and Fr. Jim Vanden Hogen who have taken the Masses the last three weekends. Their presence has provided for prayerful liturgies in the pastoral care of our parishioners.

This weekend we welcome Fr. Joseph Palamthattel and Fr. Robert Falk who are with us for the missionary appeal. As we are all called by our baptism to be missionaries for the Lord, let us be generous in our support of those called in particular to this ministry.

Remember, the Parish Fish Boil is coming soon. On Friday, August 12^th, we will feature our famous fish boil and desserts. This year the Roncalli Marching Band will be joining us for a performance at 6:30pm and of course there will be the charitable, but ferocious American Catholic Idol competition with all of its surprises at 8:00pm. MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO ATTEND THIS GREAT PARISH EVENT! The following day we will have an outdoor Mass at the Waldo worship site at 4:30pm, featuring Jazz music in praise of our God. Following the Mass we will have free pizza for all!

Thank you Lord for the gift of summer and all of its events, people and experiences!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan Felton

 

07/17/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

Finally the summer season has arrived with a  sustainability of sunshine and solace. I pray that you will find the time to re-create in the splendor of a season so sweet, but so short!

This weekend we will elect a trustee and select a member of the Pastoral Council. We are grateful to all who offered to serve our community in a leadership capacity. I am confident that the Holy Spirit will guide us in our discernment of who is being called at this time to serve our community.

There is still time to get your golf clubs out and to join us for our St. Francis of Assisi School Golf Outing on Friday, July 29^th! A special thank you to Candice Giesen and all who have planned and sponsored this great event for our Catholic School. Proceeds from this event will benefit our technology program and the purchase of Smart Boards.

The Parish Fish Boil is coming right around the corner as well. On Friday,  August 12^th, we will feature our famous fish boil and desserts. This year the  Roncalli Marching Band will be joining us for a performance and of course there will be the charitable, but ferocious American Catholic Idol competition with all of its surprises. MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO ATTEND THIS GREAT PARISH EVENT! The following day we will have an outdoor Mass at the Waldo worship site at 4:30pm, featuring Jazz music in praise of our God. Following the Mass we will have free pizza for all!

In the lull of leisure don’t forget to attend the next “R” Father discussion this Wednesday at the Lighthouse Inn, to contribute to the KAN Cool for School Project and to pray for Fr. Dick and the crew that is ministering in Appalachia!

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan Felton

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07/10/11 - Letter from the Pastor

 

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St. Francis of Assisi Parish & Calvary Cemetery of Manitowoc, Inc. Joint News Release:

St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Calvary Cemetery of Manitowoc, Inc. are pleased to announce that Jerry Schermetzler has accepted the position of Family Services manager for Calvary Cemetery of Manitowoc, Inc. Jerry is a long time resident of our area who brings experience, sincere compassion and knowledge to this position. Jerry is a graduate of the former St. Boniface School and of Roncalli High School. His experience includes product management as well as experience as a Family Services.

 

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7/03/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear parishioners & Friends of the Parish,

This weekend, we are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy as citizens. The Fourth of July is not only an acknowledgement of our "Independence", but also our "Interdependence" as we seek, as citizens and Christians, a common good for all. Let us worship our God as the giver of all freedoms and gifts - and then go off to enjoy the parades and family gatherings.

This weekend, we also mark the 6th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi! Six years ago at midnight, we rang the church bells announcing the birth of a new parish community. I am so thankful for the many ways that you as parishioners have brought to life the purpose and mission for which our parish was brought into being by the Holy Spirit.

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan Felton

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6/26/11 - Letter from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends of the Parish,
The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our faith! The Feast of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ reminds all of us of how privileged we are to receive the very real presence of Jesus Christ as His Body and Blood. We should approach Communion with a sense of trembling and awe as we encounter Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And yet, how often we approach Communion as a time to get up and stretch our legs as we are walking towards the front of the church, distracted by the people we recognize along the way and how often we robotically say Amen as though we are just receiving a piece of bread and returning to our places. Every time we come to communion it should be as though it is our first communion and last communion – with awe, joy and reverence!
On this Feast Day we will place a cross on our altars. This placement of the cross is best summarized by Pope Benedict in his book, ?The Spirit of the Liturgy.? Pope Benedict states:
Facing east at the altar was linked with the “sign of the Son of Man”, with the Cross, which announces the Lord’s Second Coming. That is why very early on the east was linked with the sign of the Cross. Where a direct common turning toward the east is not possible, the cross can serve as the interior “east” of faith. It should stand in the middle of the altar and be the common point of focus for both priest and praying community. In this way we obey the ancient call to prayer: “Conversi ad Dominum”, Turn toward the Lord!
Last weekend we had a great celebration of the history and heritage of St. Andrew/Xavier School. A special thank you is extended to the parishioners and staff who organized this event: Sr. Barbara, Jean Hopka, Chris Clark, Tracy Leiker, Sue Clark, Pete & Lynn Hoffman Family, Tricia Dewane, Mary Brazzale, Kiara Crowley Oswald, Sharon Bender, Dawn Jacobsen and Linda Bender.
As we consolidate our two elementary campuses into one St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School campus, the question arises as to what happens now with St. Andrew/Xavier School. If you remember, we have put into place a process that takes place when any building becomes available. The first step to that process is that for nine months, beginning in September, we as a parish will discern if we have any program/service needs for the building or if the broader civic community has any suggestions as to how they might use this available space. The response to this first step will determine where we go from there.
As we begin our summer season, may it be a time of re-creation!
St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Fr. Dan

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Calvary Cemetery Memorial Day Mass - Ritual of Transference of Manitowoc Catholic Cemetery Properties - May 28, 2011

Statement from Bishop Ricken:

I am happy to announce today that, after careful consultation and consideration, the Diocese of Green Bay will return Calvary Cemetery, St. Mary Cemetery and St. Peter Cemetery back to their rightful owners: the local Catholic Church of Manitowoc. This transference of cemetery properties will take effect on July 1st of this year.
Since 1984, the Diocese of Green Bay has managed and owned these cemetery properties. However, the heritage of these cemeteries rests with the ministry and mission of the Catholic Church in this area -- a parish and cemetery history that extends back to the 19th century.
I pray that these cemeteries will continue to be cared for in a manner that is worthy of their purpose: to provide Catholic cemeteries that bury the dead with a deep reverence for the body and spiritual support to the loved ones who remain.
In conclusion, I present to you this scroll of deeds. May God bring to fruition the good work that has begun in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our promise of salvation.

Statement from Fr. Dan:

Bishop Ricken, the Catholic Community of Manitowoc will continue to care for these cemeteries in a manner that is worthy of their purpose. To that end, I have directed that a corporation be formed which will be known as Calvary Cemetery of Manitowoc, Inc. This cemetery corporation will work hand in hand with St. Francis of Assisi Parish to care for and manage all four of our Catholic Cemeteries (Calvary Cemetery, St. Peter Cemetery on S. 26th Street, St. Mary Cemetery across from Felician Village and Old St. Mary Cemetery off of Rapids Road).
It is so important that we bury those who have died in a manner that is holy and respectful. As a parish community, we embrace the challenge of managing these four cemeteries as part of our Godly mission to bury the dead as we walk with those who grieve the loss of a loved one. In the months and years ahead, there will be many ways that we will be asked to share in this special ministry and mission of caring for the well-being of what will now become our cemeteries.

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Social Concerns - Good Shepherd Fund Report

For the first four months of 2011, the Social Concerns Outreach has helped 67 families/individuals with rent, security deposits, food, utility bills, hotel rooms for homeless people & other miscellaneous items.  Following is a breakdown of monies spent in each area.  Thank you for your donations to the Good Shepher Fund.

 

	April	YTD
Rent & Security Deposits	$1,244.00	$4,124.00
Food Vouchers	75.00	185.00
Gas, electric & water bills	3,651.15	5,784.70
Hotel rooms for homeless	40.00	294.97
Miscellaneous	0	383.63
Total Amount =	$5,010.15	$10,772.30

 

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SFA Parish Annual Report 2009-2010

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February 22nd Parish Town Hall Meeting Information:

 

Parish Visioning Process

Earlier this year we did a survey in our parish (along with every other parish in the diocese) as to what are our best examples of parish vitality and life and what are our hopes and dreams for parish life into the future. In our parish alone we had over 1375 surveys returned and collated. These were the results of those surveys:

Top five examples of parish vitality and life:

• Alive and vibrant celebrations of the Mass
• Celebration and spirit of the LifeTeen Mass
• Vibrancy and variation of music and singing at the Mass
• The involvement of the community in the ministry & mission of the parish & school
• Priest homilies

Top five hopes and dreams for the future of our parish:

• Get even more parishioners involved in the life of the parish
• Increase the number of parishioners who celebrate the Sunday Mass
• Enhance ministry of our youth, young adults and families
• Create more community building events
• Provide for a financial stability

 

SFA School Campus Reorganization

For over 150 years, our Parish Catholic school has sought to enrich our heart and soul. The patterns of our organization and the buildings that we use for our Catholic School education have changed countless times, but the purpose and mission of our Catholic School has remained the same: immerse our children into an education and experience of the Catholic faith to form their body, heart and soul as disciples of the Lord.

After much deliberation, the Board of Education has decided to move from the current three campus to a two campus structure beginning with the Fall 2011 school year. Additionally, the Board of Education approved the transition of the current fourth grade class to attend fifth grade at the St. Francis of Assisi Middle School campus at that same time. This decision will allow us to keep the tuition for next year the same as this year at $1,700 per student, with no increase; will keep all of our programs and services in place; and will provide for a $40,000 re-duction in parish subsidy to $1,235,000.

Next year the Preschool through fourth grades will be housed at the St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School campus (located at the Waldo site) and the fifth through eighth grades will be housed at the St. Francis of Assisi Middle School campus (located at the Marshall site).

A Parish Facilities Committee has established a process to be utilized when a parish building becomes available: discern if the property can be used for other parish programs & services; go to the community at large to see if there are community programs and services who may want to lease or buy the available property; if there is no parish nor community need for the property then dispose of the building and ready it for another use such as parking, gathering space, etc. This process will be utilized for the Xavier Campus as it becomes available next Fall.

The restructuring of our school campus structure will provide for a good sense of stability and direction until our new Catholic school is built on Michigan Avenue.