News
News
Please take a moment to read this important message from Bishop Ricken:
Message from Bishop Ricken - January 26, 2012 (click on this link)
To learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration's decision in this matter, please visit: www.usccb.org/conscience
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: 40th 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 17th, 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 19th, 20th and 21st 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 20th 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 8th. 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 29th, 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 29th 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 18th, 6:30-8:00pm, at the Waldo worship site!
On Monday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 26th, 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 24th or 26th, 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 19th, 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 18th, 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 2nd, 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 29th 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 16th.
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 14th 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 11th.
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 31st 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 13th 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 12th. 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 12th, 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 29th! 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 12th, 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
07/10/11 - Letter from the Pastor
Rainbows of roses
Songs of the robins
Lily of the valley borders
Sunshine to warm the heart
Oh what joy this season does impart!
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.
"Our mission will include the preservation of our Catholic heritage and history while assisting families in time of grief and need" Jerry stated. He continued with "I'm excited to be working with a great group of volunteers and a very dedicated staff who share the common goal of offering 'seamless service' to the families that we serve at our four cemeteries."
As was announced at Memorial Day services at Calvary Cemetery chapel, the Diocese of Green Bay has transferred management and ownership of Calvary Cemetery, St. Mary Cemetery, Old St. Mary Cemetery and St. Peter Cemetery to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. In accepting this transfer, Fr. Dan Felton announced the formation of a new corporation known as "Calvary Cemetery of Manitowoc, Inc." He further stated "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."
The Parish and Calvary Cemetery of Manitowoc, Inc. will be taking over the operation of our four local Catholic cemeteries on July 1st. a Board of Directors and Cemetery Committee have been appointed to oversee a smooth and transparent takeover.
To contact Jerry Schermetzler for your families' pre-planning needs, or to volunteer your services, please call Jerry at 684-3646, or email jerry.schermetzler@sfamanitowoc.com or calvarymausoleum@yahoo.com.
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
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.
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 |
SFA Parish Annual Report 2009-2010
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.