In preparation for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asked us to be "Merciful like the Father." This is the "theme" for the Holy Year and is drawn from the Gospel of Luke where Jesus says, "Be merciful just as your Father is merciful" (Lk 6:36). But how is the Father merciful? It is best to talk about God's mercy in light of His justice. Pope Francis explains, "These are not two contradictory realities, but two dimensions of a single reality that unfolds progressively until it culminates in the fullness of love. Justice is a fundamental concept for civil society, which is meant to be governed by the rule of law. Justice is also understood as that which is rightly due to each individual. In the Bible, there are many references to divine justice and to God as 'judge'. In these passages, justice is understood as the full observance of the Law and the behaviour of every good Israelite in conformity with God’s commandments....justice is conceived essentially as the faithful abandonment of oneself to God’s will" (Bull of Indiction, emphasis added). We are then judged by God on how faithful we are to His commandments and how much we have abandoned ourselves to His holy will. However, God's justice does not end there. God desires that all of His people be brought into right relationship with Him and He actively reaches out to them. He is not a cold judge who scorns those outside of the Law. Instead, His justice requires Him to seek out the lost and to make every attempt to bring them within His precepts. As the Catechism states, "Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person" (CCC 2567). Pope Francis restates this same reality and connects it to God's Mercy. He says, "Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe" (Bull of Indiction). God even revealed this type of mercy in the Old Testament through the Prophet Ezekiel when He said, "Is it my will that a sinner should die, says the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23). Mercy does not negate the Law in any way, nor does it make it superfluous. God maintains that we should remain faithful to His commandments and we are judged accordingly. However, God is not a stationary being, or even a Zeus-type figure who sends lightning bolts on poor sinners. Instead, He seeks out the lost sheep and places them on His shoulders to bring them back to Him. Unfortunately, we often reject God when He comes knocking at our door. We reject His attempts to bring us back to the sheep-fold and when we do so, we remain outside His loving embrace. The more we reject Him, the harder it will be for us to accept Him when we are face-to-face with Him at the end of our lives. The good news is that He will never stop trying. No matter how far we are away from God, He will always seek us out. It is up to us to accept Him into our lives and allow His love to envelop us. So how is the Father merciful? Let us remember these words of Pope Francis, especially during times when we think we have been abandoned by God because of our sinfulness, "God does not deny justice. He rather envelopes it and surpasses it with an even greater event in which we experience love as the foundation of true justice. Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe" (Bull of Indiction)
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Celebration of Christmas Eve. / Christmas Day / New Year’s @ Christ the King Parish
December 24th * Mass @ 4 pm with singing to start @ 3:30 pm * Mass @ 10 pm with choir to start singing @ 9:30 pm * December 25th * Mass @ 10 am New Year’s Eve.-Dec. 31, 2015 * Mass @ 7 pm New Year’s Day-January 1, 2016 * Mass @ 8:30 am *** Ministry Participants are needed. *** Sign up sheets have been placed on table in gathering room of church.. Thank you for helping at these Christmas and New Year’s masses. The Children’s Christmas Eve. (Mass @ 4 pm on Christmas Eve.) Those that wish to participate please come to these practices, after school on Wednesday afternoons on these dates: Wednesday: Dec. 16 * Dec. 23. They may participate even if a sign up sheet has not been filled out. We ask that you bring your child / children to the church on these days. Questions call Bernice Becker 715-659-3865. Church decorating for Christmas will take place on Sunday - December 20, 2015 after the 10 a.m. mass. There is a saying, “many hands help the task, to be completed in a timely manner. A sign up sheet has been placed on back table and if you are able to give your time & talent on this day, we would appreciate your help. “Thank you” for supporting the Annual Christ the King / St. Veronica Craft and Bake Sale that was held last weekend. It was well attended and the purchases you made help the PCCW with upcoming projects for 2016. God’s blessings. Christ the King “ornament tradition”, which has been a success in previous years. You are asked to provide an ornament (purchased or hand-made) (* only if you choose to do so) for the large gathering room Christmas tree which is placed in front of the stained glass window. The tree will be put up on decorating day-Sunday-Dec. 20th after the 10 am mass. We ask that you keep in mind when choosing an ornament to keep the theme “religious and respectable” Example: Baby Jesus / Jesus, Mary & Joseph in the manger / Angels / Christmas Wreath / Christmas Tree / Cross, etc. This is a wonderful project to involve your families in preparing for the birth of baby Jesus. Your ornament will be stored away after Christmas, when the tree is taken down in January, and it will be used in the upcoming years. If you wish to have your ornament back, we ask that you personally remove it and take it home in January. Thank you for participating.
It’s Time to Rediscover God’s Mercy, Pope Says at Jubilee's Opening - VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has officially commenced the Jubilee of Mercy, calling those who pass through the newly-opened Holy Door to rediscover God’s mercy and experience the mystery of his love. “This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,” Pope Francis said in his homily for Mass, just before opening the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. “To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them. This will be a year in which we grow ever more convinced of God’s mercy.” Mercy, he said, must be placed before judgement, though “God’s judgment will always be in the light of his mercy.” Read more... Pope Francis: Mercy Pleases God the Most - VATICAN CITY — The day after opening the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis dedicated his general audience remarks to answering the question of why he called for a jubilee on the subject, saying the primary reason is simply because it’s needed. “Why a Jubilee of Mercy? What does this mean?” the Pope asked pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 9. The answer, he said, is because “the Church needs this extraordinary moment. I’m not (just) saying, ‘It’s good,’ — no! I’m saying: The Church needs it.” Read more... EXTREME CHARGE Youth Rally Dec 12 Mfld. Deanery is hosting a youth rally at OLP expecting 500 teens from across the Diocese to celebrate faith starting with 5:30pm Mass followed by food and then Rally time until 9:30. The feature band SONAR has played for thousands across the country. Free-Will offering will be taken. For more information, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber at [email protected]. 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 in Schuh Hall at St. John’s. For more details, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber. SHS High School Luncheon Bible Study: Starting Sept 15, then 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!! Teen & Young Adult Retreat Team Looking for teens and young adults to help lead youth retreats. Living Stones is the name of the group and it rocks! Meet lots of great people, grow in your faith, and have tons of fun. If interested, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber. Beginning on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church will celebrate an "Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.” This upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy is not only one of the most unique Holy Year’s the Church has celebrated in recent history, but is more importantly exactly what our world needs right now. It is the right kind of medicine that our wounded and broken world requires. The uniqueness of this Jubilee Year is clearly evident throughout the Bull of Indiction that Pope Francis promulgated on Divine Mercy Sunday. First of all, he desired that the traditional “Holy Door” would not be confined to the churches in Rome, but that it would be present in every Diocese in the world. This kind of extension to every Diocese has never been done before in the history of Jubilee years. Additionally, these doors have been called “Doors of Mercy” in order to further emphasize their purpose. Pope Francis did all of this to ensure that God’s grace and mercy would be readily available to all people. Secondly, Pope Francis has decided to send out “Missionaries of Mercy” during Lent, who are given the task to travel throughout the world bringing God’s abundant mercy to all people. They will even be granted the ability to forgive sins that are traditionally reserved to the Holy See. By doing this, Pope Francis again is highlighting the reality that God desires to be with His people and is always ready to reconcile sinners. These “Missionaries” are images of the Good Shepherd, going out to all the world seeking the lost sheep. These are just two of the ways that the upcoming Jubilee Year is unique and they both highlight the simple truth that our God is not a distant God, but Love and Mercy Itself. Our God desires above all things to be with us. This is the message that our world needs to hear. We need to know that God is tirelessly seeking us out, beckoning us to come back into full communion with Him. We need to know that even in the midst of all the violence and wars around us, God is there offering to us His mercy. We need to return to the font of Divine Mercy and show the world how God is a loving Father, ready to embrace and heal us like the Father of the Prodigal Son. Our world is broken, bruised and battered and many desire to return to God, but often do not see Him in their friends or family members. We need to learn again what it means to be “Merciful like the Father” and go out to the all the world as missionaries of his Mercy. But what does it mean to be "Merciful like the Father" (which is the theme of this Jubilee Year)? This question is what we will meditate on over the next several weeks as we discover how to make the most of this upcoming Jubilee Year. Aging religious need your help. In the United States today, there are more than 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. These religious worked tirelessly in Catholic schools, hospitals, and agencies, usually for little to no pay at all. As a result, many religious communities lack adequate savings for retirement and eldercare. Your gift for the Retirement Fund for the Religious helps provide medications, nursing care, and more. Please be generous. Donation envelopes have been placed at end of pews and we request that you bring back your donation and place it in collection basket at offertory by Sunday-December 20, 2015 deadline. Thank you.
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation Monday - December 7- Vigil Mass Christ the King @ 7 p.m. St. John’s in Mfld @ 5:15 p.m. Tuesday-December 8 Christ the King @ 8:30 a.m. St. John’s in Mfld. 7 a.m. / 8 a.m. / 6 p.m. Christ the King choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve. 10 p.m. mass will be held beginning on Sunday-December 6th * Sunday- December 13 following the 10 a.m. mass @ 11:15 a.m. Please plan on attending at least 2 rehearsals (preferably all 3) if you intend to join us in singing on Christmas Evening. ***** Also wanted- piano players to accompany the choir. All are welcome ! The “Giving Tree for 2015 ” is again in the Gathering Room. The Tree is sponsored by the Family Life and the Social Justice Com- mittees. Each year we, as well as the families who receive the gifts, are overwhelmed by your generosity. * If you take a tag, please write your name & phone number on the sheet provided by the tree. * The gifts need to be brought back to the Gathering Room by or on Sunday-December 13, 2015 * Remember to leave the tag on the gift so we can get it to the right person/family. * The items mentioned on the gift tags are suggestions: do not feel that you need to get more than one item. * We welcome any comments or suggestions. If you have any questions please call Carol Sallee @ 715-255-8158. To share with you, the gifts you bring and place under the tree are moved from under the tree to a storage area until Dec. 13th . ATTENTON: “NEW TAGS” are on Giving Tree. Please help by taking one, if you are able to. The Children’s Christmas Eve. (Mass @ 4 pm on Christmas Eve.) Those that wish to participate please come to these practices, after school on Wednesday afternoons on these dates: Wednesday: Dec. 9 * Dec. 16 * Dec. 23. They may participate even if a sign up sheet has not been filled out. We ask that you bring your child / children to the church on these days. Questions call Bernice Becker 715-659-3865. Church decorating for Christmas will take place on Sunday - December 20, 2015 after the 10 a.m. mass. There is a saying, “many hands help the task, to be completed in a timely manner. A sign up sheet has been placed on back table and if you are able to give your time & talent on this day, we would appreciate your help. Communal Penance services will be held during Advent-2015 @ these parishes: Dec. 10th at Sacred Heart in Mfld. at 5:30pm Dec. 17th at St. John’s in Mfld. at 5:30pm
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MASS SCHEDULE
Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 3:15 - 3:45 PM OFFICE HOURS
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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