Greetings to the Parishioners of St John the Baptist and Christ the King,
As most of you know by now, I have been assigned to serve as your pastor beginning in July of this year. I will be arriving sometime July 5th, and will begin my service at that time. Following is a short bio, and I will be introducing myself in the coming weeks. God bless, and know you are in my prayers as we begin this next chapter in the parish life here in Marshfield. In the mid to late ‘90’s, I began discerning a call to serve God and His Church as a priest. I spent some time in a religious order, studying in French speaking Canada, New York and Mexico. After finishing Philosophy, I left the order and took a year to discern diocesan priesthood. Coming to the Diocese of La Crosse under then-Bishop Burke, I attended Major Seminary at the Josephinum in Columbus Ohio and Mundelein Seminary outside of Chicago, I was ordained for the diocese of La Crosse in 2007 by now Archbishop Listecki. My first assignment was as Associate Pastor in Chippewa Falls, serving at both Notre Dame and Holy Ghost Parishes, and as chaplain to the McDonnell Middle School and High School for 2 years. In 2009, I was assigned to St Gabriel and St John Nepumuc in Prairie du Chien and Sacred Heart in Wauzeka. In 2012 Sacred Heart was given to the pastor at Eastman, and we merged the 2 Prairie du Chien parishes into one, Holy Family Parish, where I have been the pastor since that time. Holy Family is a fairly large parish in our diocese, with somewhere in the neighborhood of 1150 to 1200 families along with a parish pre-k to 8th grade school. I come from a large family in N.E. Iowa, with 6 brothers and 6 sisters. Of these I am the middle child, and so have the middle child syndrome in spades. I am a later vocation (46 when ordained) and spent almost 20 years in farming and manufacturing with family businesses. I also served my home community as an EMT for over 10 years. In my free time, I enjoy a variety of activities ranging from walking and hiking, hunting and fishing, golfing and riding bikes. In addition, I have held a private pilot certificate since the early 1980’s. About a year and a half ago, I got a dog, Syd. He is a half Mini Australian Shepherd and half Standard Poodle. I am sure you will be seeing him and me in the area. He tends to be a bit stand-offish, and is used to a small town feel, but hopefully he will make the adjustment quickly. Looking forward to getting to know many of you and beginning my service to you as your pastor. God bless. Fr. Jim
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*** Attention *** Christ the King is always seeking parishioners to serve in various “Ministries” for the weekend Masses here at Christ the King . These ministries include lector / cross bearer / server / minister of Holy Communion / Minister of Welcome (usher). Consider wisely how you can serve God and your parish through these ministries. If you have questions about a particular ministry, do not hesitate to ask questions of those parishioners who already are in that ministry and can give you an insight as to what their part is in the celebration of the mass. You may also ask the pastor or Deacon Jeff Austin about any of the ministries Below are some videos from a recent celebration honoring Father Martin's 20 years as a priest and a final farewell before he leaves for his new assignment. Witnesses for Christ Conference
Aug. 9-10 in La Crosse Michael Hall from Catholic Christian Outreach & Fr. Lou Molinelli, SDB, from St. John Bosco’s order will guide you in developing simple skills regarding intentional accompaniment. For more info & to register, visit diolc.org/catechesis/witnesses-for-Christ-conference-201 Thanks to everyone who supported our Picnic in the Park Stand, Soda sale during the Dairyfest Parade in Mfld., and our Brat Stands at Festival. Thanks for your support! Praised be Jesus Christ! “And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches,” (2 Corinthians 11:28). Back in January when I was visiting the dentist I was asked by my hygienist if I ground my teeth at night. While I assured her that I don’t, she explained that my teeth are not as crowned as they once were . . . which led to her next question about whether I clench my teeth. And upon observation over the past 6 months, the truth is that I do. When I started this behavior is anyone’s guess. The reason I quoted Saint Paul at the beginning of this bulletin article is to suggest that there’s a correlation between stress and parenthood. When I became a pastor in 2011, while I don’t think I noticed it at first, gradually I entered a world familiar to all parents: the world of worrying about children. As far as I can tell, this is a phenomenon that will probably only end in death. Saint Paul clearly felt it, and if my teeth are any indication, then I must have felt it too. But such anxiety, stress, and fear are not always terrible things to be avoided at all costs. Given the fact that Jesus said we must deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him, it seems that He knew our love for others would be a real burden that would take its toll on us. In our world today so many want to lay down this cross, whether by pushing to legalize drugs or by wallowing up to the trough of materialism. Thank God for His gift of faith, which more than any other reality in the world has the capacity to trans- form our suffering into true holiness. Think of the wrinkled face of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta – those many worry lines were produced by a lifetime of love for God and His most abandoned people. True love costs a lot, and none of us is up to its demands. Only with God’s grace can we bear the suffering that comes with loving someone. The good news is that His grace is available to us, preeminently in the Sacraments. As my time at Christ the King and Saint John’s now comes to its end, people have sometimes said things to the effect that they’re not sure how things will go on once I leave. And honestly, that has been a source of fear and anxiety for me, as I’ve worried that maybe I didn’t do enough to assure a seamless transition. But a friend of mine said just the right thing at the right time when he reminded me that the graveyards are full of irreplaceable people. In other words, by God’s grace life will go on. The faith in these parishes is very deep, and no matter who the pastor is or who the Bishop is, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8). I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how it felt to arrive here with hope but also a lot of naiveté. And along with that I remember the stories of how Father Stoetzel cried before leaving for his new assignment. Yes, all parents, both biological and spiritual, must bear crosses and some of the most difficult ones have to do with detachment and change. But Father Stoetzel was wise to include in his final bulletin column these words spoken by Jesus Himself: “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God,” (Luke 9:62). So in imitation of my predecessor, I too will refrain from returning to these two parishes that I have loved with all of my heart. The Lord has asked me to follow Him wherever He goes, and with His help I will try to do that. You will al- ways be welcome to visit or write and I include my new address below for those interested. Thank you for being so good to me, for your constant prayers, and your generous love. Even if my teeth are flatter than they once were, you were worth it!
1104 South 9th Avenue Wausau, WI. 54401 715-842-4543 May God be praised for giving us these wonderful years together! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin Please note: That 24 hour Eucharistic adoration on July 5th thru July 6th here at the parish will not take place as this is part of the July 4th extended weekend. Men of the Cross 2019
Sat, Oct. 26 in La Crosse The Men of the Cross Men’s Conference exists to empower and motivate men to live out God’s view of manhood and be the best husbands, fathers, and leaders God has called them to be. You will not want to miss out on October 26, 2019 conference, which will be taking place at Aquinas Catholic High School, located in La Crosse, WI. Our keynote speaker will be Steve Ray, a dynamic convert sure to engage men of all ages. Register at: https://menofthecross.org/ Registration is now taking place for The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at St. John the Baptist Parish. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level 1 is for 3-6 year old and is a Montessori-based Catholic faith formation where children can grow in their relationship with God through a deep engagement in Scripture and liturgy. There are two sessions offered, Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. or Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., cost $25/child starting in September. Praised be Jesus Christ! This penultimate column will be dedicated to thanking people who have made serving here a source of great joy. There are so many reasons to be grateful, but let me start with an ordinary one: you fed me good and nutritious food and that’s one of the reasons my Mom sleeps better at night. My idea of a well-stocked kitchen is a microwave, a toaster, and most importantly, a coffee maker! Once I get to Wausau I’ll probably take the time to cook a bit more often (I can hear people giggling and guffawing – especially Father Burish). For all of you who brought in meals and delectable sweets and fresh produce and fantastic wild game, I’m going to miss you! They say the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and so my heart is now full. Another group to thank is my staff and all with whom I collaborated during these past eight years. Both of these parishes are blessed with fantastic people who serve selflessly and generously and Father Weighner will now benefit from having such a strong staff. I will truly miss Sister Rita, whose very life has been a living Gospel for me and whose friendship gave me courage and hope. I’d also like to thank Deacon Jeff Austin for his fidelity to Christ and constant support. These are active parishes and I think of all of the groups that animate the faith by teaching, service, and prayer. From Eucharistic Adoration to serving meals at Saint Vincent de Paul’s, there are amazing signs of faith, hope and love in these two communities. It was an honor to serve alongside so many good people. I also must thank those of you who pray ceaselessly for priests. Our prayer for vocations is indispensable in helping our young people find God’s will for their life. But once they do, we owe it to them to continue praying so that they persevere. Good priests are a combination of God’s grace, good formation, and the prayerful support of the faithful. If I ever do become truly holy, each of you will receive credit. So many of you prayed for me every day and I can never repay that or fully explain what a difference that made. I know you’ll pray for the new pastor with the same fervor and that will help him to adjust and heal from the hurt of leaving the people he’s loved and served for the past decade. And let me thank you now for the prayers you will continue to offer for me – I know I will sorely need them in the years ahead. And lest I forget, I probably owe the deepest gratitude to the folks who helped me to grow by challenging me in various ways. Saint Thomas Aquinas said we owe more to those who disagree with us than to our allies because the former demand so much more. So thank you to those who stretched my heart the most by trying me more than you know. Of course, now that my farewell party has come and gone, I owe so many of you gratitude for your kind words, cards, and generous gifts. It was a tremendous foretaste of the communion we will one day, please God, share in Heaven. I can honestly say is that you brought out the best in me and for that we can collectively thank God. As I take leave of Marshfield and Spencer, I’m reminded of the poetic words written in 1870 by a young priest leaving Rome for the last time. His sentiments are mine and they make clear how hard it is to say good bye: “This evening I bade a sad farewell to the friends I love best perhaps on earth, to the College most dear, to the years the happiest of my life, and to the City of my very soul, to the soil moistened by the life stream of martyrs. Farewell Rome, but not, I hope, forever,” (John Cardinal Foley). May God bless each of you with the joy that comes to those who have served Him well! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin |
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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