Extracts from Pope's New Book, 'The Name of God Is Mercy' Pope Francis’ first book, The Name of God Is Mercy, in which the Holy Father expands on his vision of God’s mercy, [was published on Tuesday]. The work is a book-length interview with Vaticanist Andrea Tornielli of La Stampa. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Italian film director Roberto Benigni, and Zhang Agostino Jianqing of Padua prison will be presenting the book at a press launch tomorrow at the Augustinianum in Rome. ...the book’s publishers, Piemme, have made the following extracts available. Pope John Paul I: ‘engraved in dust’ The Holy Father also remembers being touched by the writings of his predecessor Pope John Paul I, Albino Luciani. “There is the homily when Albino Luciani said he had been chosen because the Lord preferred that certain things not be engraved in bronze or marble but in the dust, so that if the writing had remained, it would have been clear that the merit was all and only God’s. He, the bishop and future Pope John Paul I, called himself ‘dust’.” “I have to say that when I speak of this, I always think of what Peter told Jesus on the Sunday of his resurrection, when he met him on his own, a meeting hinted at in the Gospel of Luke. What might Peter have said to the Messiah upon his resurrection from the tomb? Might he have said that he felt like a sinner? He must have thought of his betrayal, of what had happened a few days earlier when he pretended three times not to recognise Jesus in the courtyard of the High Priest’s house. He must have thought of his bitter and public tears.” “If Peter did all of that, if the gospels describe his sin and denials to us, and if despite all this Jesus said [to him], ‘tend my sheep’ (John 21), I don’t think we should be surprised if his successors describe themselves as sinners. It is nothing new.”...Read more March For Life Pilgrimage taking place January 20 thru 24, 2016 A group from the Diocese of La Crosse will be witnesses to the dignity of life for the unborn, elderly, and those who society regards as useless. We will be traveling via motorcoach. Please pray that they have safe travels to Washington, DC and back again to Wisconsin.
Pilgrimage with the Pope and a Saint: World Youth Day 2016 July 2016 be part of a 17-day pilgrimage to Poland for a gathering with Pope Francis and youth from around the world to celebrate World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow. As part of the pilgrimage, we will also visit Wadowice, the birthplace of St Pope John Paul II as well as Czestochowa, Auschwitz & Birkenau, where St. Maximillian Kolbe gave his life and much more. There will be an information meeting 7pm., Jan 29, 2016 in Schuh Hall at St. John’s. For more details, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber. Steubenville Youth Conference for teens presently in grades 8-12 . An awesome, high energy event with 2,000 other teens . PLUS: we'll roll up our sleeves and lend a hand while serving others. It will be at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, July 29-31 The cost will be about $260? includes most meals, transportation, & all housing A deposit of $50 is needed with sign up soon. To sign up, please contact: Dan Kitzhaber SHS High School Luncheon Bible Study: Every Tuesday meet in room 310 during your lunch period. Bring a hunger to grow in your faith. We take turns providing the food. We read, discuss & share God’s Word and the food. This year, we’ll be reading the Gospel of Mark. This is a GREAT opportunity! Bring your friends!!
Let us first take a more detailed look at the spiritual works of mercy and discover practical ways that we can live them in our lives. For this article we will examine the first two spiritual works of mercy.
Instruct the Ignorant The first spiritual work of mercy is to “instruct the ignorant.” Jesus gave this command to His apostles when He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) While initially directed towards the apostles, the obligation to "instruct the ignorant" applies to us today as much as it did in the first century. Even though the Gospel has reached every continent, many people in our world are ignorant of what Jesus actually taught. This is due to many factors, including the numerous interpretations of the Gospels. We must always sift through what we are taught in light of official Church teaching and the public teachings of the pope. When we do that, we are able to recognize a false interpretation of the Gospel and point it out to a friend or family member. However, we must be remember that Jesus gave His “apostles” the direct mandate to “teach.” Bishops are the first catechists in their diocese and priests are cooperators with him. After priests come deacons and after deacons come lay catechists. Most dioceses have a certification program that “certifies” a specific catechist for teaching the faith, because each catechist assists the bishop in his mission and can only teach with his permission. While, we have a duty to evangelize our coworkers or family members, we must do so knowing that we can only take them so far. We must act like arrows, pointing to the truth, bringing these precious souls to those who can instruct them properly. When our knowledge fails, we turn to the Church for assistance. This work of mercy must not be done lightly as the fate of a person’s soul hangs in the balance. Counsel the Doubtful The second spiritual work of mercy is to “counsel the doubtful.” The basic definition of “counsel” is “giving instruction or advice to direct the judgment of another.” To “counsel” in the spiritual realm refers to helping someone with a difficult spiritual decision they are about to make. What makes this an even trickier situation is that the person receiving counsel is “doubtful.” This means that the person is “uncertain” about the outcome and questions the possibility of a resolution. Putting it all together, to “counsel the doubtful” is to give an unsettled person wise advice concerning a spiritual decision. What does this spiritual work of mercy look like in the real world? Spiritual Direction Most commonly those involved with spiritual direction perform this work of mercy. In such cases, a priest, religious, deacon or even a lay person are charged with the task of leading troubled souls to spiritual solutions. It requires a very holy and devout person to sift through the muddy waters of life to give consoling words to someone in need. However, this work of mercy is not meant to be performed only by qualified priests, but should be much more common among lay men and women. The reason being that our friends and family come to us on a regular basis for guidance in spiritual matters. Often they do not even think of talking to a priest, or are uncomfortable or embarrassed to do so. They may not even be Catholic and are struggling in the spiritual life and have no one to turn to except us. One aid that has been helpful to the laity is the book The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living, which helps a person understand God’s action in their soul. Once a person can better understand God's movements in his/her own heart, he/she can then help someone else in need. When the spiritual situation requires a more detailed theological response, we should always have recourse to our parish priest and ask for his assistance. “Counseling the doubtful” is an important work of mercy that is especially revealed in spiritual direction, but should also be taught to the average Catholic who seeks to bring peace of mind to a friend or family member. Next week, we will look at "Admonishing the Sinner" and "Bearing Wrongs Patiently." Read the Entire Series Would you like to go to Italy during Jubilee Year of Mercy on a “Pilgrimage to Italy” for the Diaconate Ordination of Aaron Becker from September 21 thru October 1, 2016 Sponsored by St. Bronislava Catholic Church. George’s International Tours has informed us that there are limited openings available but you must take and fill out a reservation application soon. Brochures on this trip along with applications can be found on back table in church.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Mfld. invites you to join Fr. Leo Patalinghug, founder of the Grace Before Meals movement, for a cooking demonstration and inspiration for family meals and family life. Free will offering is asked. Raffle tickets will be sold at the event for a chance to join Fr. Leo onstage and sample his cooking. WHERE: UW-Wood County Marshfield, Helen Laird Theatre, 2000 W 5th St, Marshfield, WI 54449 WHEN: Friday, January 15th, 2016. Doors open 6:00 pm. Show starts at 7:00 pm. **LIMITED SEATING! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE** PROCEEDS GO TO BUILD THE DIVINE MERCY CONVENT FOR THE SISTERS OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF AFRICA IN TANZANIA. If you have questions please call Sandra Steiner @ 715-384-4397 In his Sunday Angelus remarks Pope Francis stressed the importance of both knowing and celebrating the day of our baptism, since it is through the sacrament that we become children of God.
“I ask you a question: Who among you remembers the day of their baptism?” the Pope asked Jan. 10, marking the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. “Certainly, not everyone” knows the date, he noted, and urged those who don’t to go and look for it, if necessary asking parents, grandparents, godparents or even their parish for help. Baptism is important to celebrate because “it’s the date of our rebirth as children of God,” Francis said, and he gave those present “the homework” of finding the date of theirs during the coming week...Read more Pope: Humanity Seeks God, and the Magi Show Us Where to Find Him VATICAN CITY — In a restless age when humanity fails to find the answer to their continuous searching, the Magi who go out looking for Christ only to find him in a humble stable in Bethlehem are a key example of where to turn, Pope Francis has said.
“Like the Magi, countless people, in our own day, have a restless heart which continues to seek without finding sure answers,” the Pope said in his Jan. 6 homily for the Feast of the Epiphany. “They too are looking for a star to show them the path to Bethlehem.” Read more Pope Francis Makes Surprise Visit to Site of the First Nativity Scene VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis made a surprise visit Monday to the Italian hill town of Greccio, where, centuries earlier, St. Francis of Assisi created the first Nativity scene. The Jan. 4 visit included a stop at the sanctuary of the manger scene (Santuario del Presepe), where the Pope met with members of the Franciscan order. There, he prayed before a 15th-century fresco depicting the Nativity scene of Greccio on one side and the Nativity of Greccio on the other. Read more Pope Francis to Pilgrims: Throw Open the Door of Your Heart to Christ VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis led the first Marian prayer of the new year with swarms of pilgrims gathered at the Vatican Sunday, urging an openness to Jesus in our hearts so that evil won't prevail in our lives. Speaking to a packed St. Peter's Square Jan. 3, the Pope reflected on the day's reading from the first chapter of St. John's Gospel, where “the Word” was “made flesh and dwelt among us.” But despite the reality of Christ's presence on earth, St. John “does not hide the dramatic nature of the incarnation of the Son of God” — since the “gift of the love of God is matched with the non-reception on the part of men,” the Pope said. Read more January 15th-16th, 2016! Fr. Leo, the cooking Priest from Grace Before Meals, will give us a weekend of savoring our faith! Following is a brief itinerary:
For the past several weeks, we have been reflecting on what it means to be "Merciful like the Father." This week, we will finally start to reflect on practical ways that we can imitate God's mercy and be a channel of it for others. During Pope Francis' Bull of Indiction, he encouraged everyone to focus on the "corporal and spiritual works of mercy" during this Jubilee Year. He said: It is my burning desire that, during this Jubilee, the Christian people may reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It will be a way to reawaken our conscience, too often grown dull in the face of poverty. And let us enter more deeply into the heart of the Gospel where the poor have a special experience of God’s mercy. Jesus introduces us to these works of mercy in his preaching so that we can know whether or not we are living as his disciples (15, emphasis added). Pope Francis goes on to remind us that Jesus used these works of mercy as criteria for our admittance into the Heavenly Kingdom: We cannot escape the Lord’s words to us, and they will serve as the criteria upon which we will be judged: whether we have fed the hungry and given drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger and clothed the naked, or spent time with the sick and those in prison (cf. Mt 25:31-45). Moreover, we will be asked if we have helped others to escape the doubt that causes them to fall into despair and which is often a source of loneliness; if we have helped to overcome the ignorance in which millions of people live...Let us not forget the words of Saint John of the Cross: “as we prepare to leave this life, we will be judged on the basis of love” (15, emphasis added). Therefore, it is vital that we reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and examine our lives to see if we are living up to Christ's commands. So what are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy? Corporal Works of Mercy
However, for most of us just making a list of the works of mercy doesn't help. We still don't know how to practice the works of mercy and live them out. That is our task for the next few weeks. We will take a look at these works of mercy and reflect on ways that we can practice them in everyday life. Read the Entire Series “Thank You” I have to be careful when priests visit the rectory at this time of the year because they become rather jealous of the generosity of the people of Christ the King and St. John’s. From homemade baked goods to thoughtful cards, from remembrances in Masses to monetary gifts, you are the best parishes I’ve ever served as pastor. I realize someone will point out that you’re the only parishes I’ve ever served as pastor, but the point still stands! Father Kuhn and I pray for you and your intentions everyday and we work hard to serve you to the best of our ability. Your prayers for us are your greatest gift because they make clear your love for God and for us. Thank you for all you do for Father Kuhn and me. More importantly, thank you for your deep faith in Our Lord and for loving and serving Him so sincerely. May God bless and reward you for making Father Kuhn and me feel so welcomed in Marshfield and Spencer! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin “Thank You” to those people and families who gave their time and talent on Dec. 20th to help decorate the church for our Christmas celebrations. Our church looks so beautiful! A “Thank You” to our ministry participants, for aiding Father Kuhn in the celebration of Christmas Mass and music ministry participants for providing us with wonderful music filling our hearts with joy, in the celebration of Jesus’ birth. God bless you for your commitment your parish. Help is needed on Sunday-January 10, 2016 after the 10 a.m. Mass, Christmas decorations will be taken down and placed in storage until next Christmas. Your time & talent is greatly appreciated in lending a hand to help. Emerald Faith! There is certainly a buzz about the pilgrimage to Ireland, scheduled for August 16th –25th, 2016. The chance to sign up is here –Brochures are available. and have been placed in church. Parishioners of St. John’s and Christ the King will have first dibs; after a couple of weeks it will then be opened up to the general public. There is space for 50 people. Should you want to learn more about the wonderful pilgrimage company that will be making all of this possible, please go to their website: materdeitours.com St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Marshfield invites you to join Fr. Leo Patalinghug, founder of the Grace Before Meals movement, for a cooking demonstration and inspiration for family meals and family life. Free will offering is asked. Raffle tickets will be sold at the event for a chance to join Fr. Leo onstage and sample his cooking. WHERE: UW-Wood County Marsh eld, Helen Laird Theatre, 2000 W 5th St, Marsh eld, WI 54449 WHEN: Friday, January 15th, 2016. Doors open 6:00 pm. Show starts at 7:00 pm. **LIMITED SEATING! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE** PROCEEDS GO TO BUILD THE DIVINE MERCY CONVENT FOR THE SISTERS OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF AFRICA IN TANZANIA. If you have ques ons please call Sandra Steiner @ 715-384-4397
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Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Stay Connected with Our ParishWelcome from Our PastorWelcome to Christ the King Catholic Church! Ever since 1938 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God. Our mission statement is essentially found in the stained glass window above the main altar: “For Christ our King.” Insofar as God made us and we belong to Him, we have come to... Read More
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