Father Samuel Martin, our pastor, these past 8 years will be our celebrant at weekend masses on June 29 and 30, 2019. After the 4 p.m. mass on June 29th, there will be a reception for him, in the dining hall of church. Father begins his new assignment on July 1st. He will definitely be missed but not forgotten. Please keep him in your daily prayers as he begins using the talents God has given him, as a pastor to guide the members of his new parish.
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From the Church
Pope Francis has recognized the heroic virtue of Father Augustus Tolton, a man born into slavery who eventually became a priest in the United States. With the decree, Father Tolton (1854-1897) is now recognized as venerable, a step along the path of canonization. Read Father Tolton’s story below. Read More... Connect with your Parish like never before! Get parish and diocesan messages, daily readings, Catholic news and more by downloading the free myParish app today! Text “app” to “88202” to download the myParish app on your mobile device. You can also find it on iTunes or Google Play stores by searching for myParishApp. Praised be Jesus Christ! My parents celebrated their 50th anniversary on Friday, June 14 and it was a day of sincere gratitude to God. We took a family picture and then celebrated Mass at Saint Wenceslaus in Eastman. Afterwards we had a meal and shared many fond memories of the years that we spent growing up together. I know there were times when I wondered if Mom and Dad would achieve this milestone. Not only was it a concern based on Dad’s waning health; marriage is tough and I know both Mom and Dad were tempted at times to throw in the towel. The fact that they are still together is a testament to their faith in God, which contributed mightily to helping them endure the many trials of life. As you know, my Mom was with the School Sisters of Notre Dame for about ten years and Dad spent a year in the seminary. Mom never made final vows because it simply wasn’t God’s will for her. By the time she and Dad met, I suspect Dad had resigned himself to the single life and was busy running the farm that would become our home. My parents both received good spiritual formation and they were generous in sharing it with us. Their practice of the faith was constant, and I look back with profound gratitude because of the countless graces that were available to me and my siblings. For example, my brother Tom and I probably served more Masses than anyone else in our parish... anytime it looked like Father needed help, Dad “invited” us to suit up and serve. At Masses when we weren’t serving, especially if it was Holy Week or Christmas, Mom recruited us to sing in our little choir as she played the organ. Once again, we weren’t always thrilled about it, but a retrospective glance shows how blessed we were by such opportunities. God knows we had lots of struggles and we each carry the wounds that are simply a part of growing up with other imperfect human beings. Somewhere Oscar Wilde captured it perfectly when he said something to the effect that, “When we’re little we idolize our parents, as we get older we judge them, but if we get close enough to God, we forgive them.” Yes, my parents made countless sacrifices so that I could live a good life and I thank God for the tremendous gift He gave me in sending me to my Mom and Dad. As we remember fatherhood this weekend and pray for all of our dear Dads, it’s right for us to remember that only God is a perfect parent. The rest fall short, some woefully. But we thank God anyway, because we know He can draw straight with even the most crooked lines. I’ll close with the anniversary blessing that I gave my Mom and Dad (and I’ve given it dozens of times here too): “On the day of your wedding, you stood before the altar of God and solemnly vowed your love to each other. Today you stand before the altar, your family and friends, in striking testimony of what God’s grace, conferred in matrimony can accomplish in a husband and wife who carefully guard and use the divine treasure that is in them. The world today has great need of the living sermon which your example of fidelity and love shows forth. You have been dauntless in the face of many problems and difficulties, known only to yourselves and hidden from others that could have made your marriage something entirely other than it has actually been. We have every reason to believe that your married love has closely resembled Christ’s love for His spotless bride, the Church. The way has not always been easy. You have had to endure suffering together. But because you have been faithful to God, He has been faithful to you, blessed you abundantly, and with His help you have been able to accomplish what you of yourselves without divine aid could never have accomplished. You were married in Christ and Christ has continued these many years to be your portion in happiness and your chalice in sorrow. We beg Him to guide you and watch over you, helping you to persevere in fidelity and love for the years ahead, which we pray will be many and blessed.” May God bless all Fathers with a share of His selflessness and peace! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin 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. Please call Jean Kaiser
From the Pope
Pope Francis releases a video message accompanying his prayer intention for June, which is that priests may commit themselves to "solidarity with those who are most poor." In his prayer intention for the month of June 2019, Pope Francis calls us to pray that priests, "through the modesty and humility of their lives, commit themselves actively, above all, to solidarity with those who are most poor." It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his prayer intention for each month. Read More... Please support Youth Ministry on Friday, June 28th at the Festival Brat Barn in Mfld. Profits will go towards Adventure Camp, Steubenville Conferences, and the March for life. You can also sign up to work at the Brat Barn on the parish website.
Praised be Jesus Christ! When some of the folks around here asked if they could organize a celebration of my 20th anniversary as a priest, I reluctantly consented. My resistance came from believing I’d still be here for my 25th and that would be the more appropriate milestone to celebrate. Needless to say, I was wrong. Whenever a priest has the honor of giving a blessing for couples celebrating anniversaries, the emotions that are stirred are very powerful and often bring tears of gratitude to God. So often these couples are remembering the joys and the heartaches that, by God’s grace, have woven a tapestry of love and survival. As I look back over 20 years (I was ordained on June 26th of 1999 in our Cathedral in La Crosse), first I am amazed at how quickly it went by. Then I remember all of the people who were instrumental in helping me to hear God’s call and answer it. As you know, I found out years later that my Grandma Martin prayed a Rosary every day so that one day there would be a priest in the family. Even though she died when I was 11 years old, I feel her presence in my life and the diamond from her wedding ring is embedded in my chalice. My parents made heroic sacrifices (and that puts it mildly) so that I could attend a high school seminary for four years in Madison. My siblings were always supportive – they continue to accept the fact that I am almost never around for family events. There were many faithful priests who inspired and supported me and someday in Heaven God will reward them for this. When I went to college and then to Rome, our Diocese and the faithful always made me feel loved and that helped me to persevere when the road seemed to grow long and difficult. My classmates, especially during my years in Rome, were and continue to be the best friends I have in this world. For example, my friend Father Graham (some of you met him while we were at Lourdes last April) came to Wisconsin two weeks before my ordination and helped me practice celebrating Mass. That eased my nerves immeasurably and I’ll never forget those halcyon days together. Once ordained I spent an unforgettable summer with Father Hirsch serving four parishes and living at Saint Mary’s Ridge. Over the years when I have witnessed the nerves of a newly-ordained, I’m transported back to my own humble beginnings and I remember how kind and patient the people of God were as I learned the ropes. I returned to Rome to complete my degree (a license in Moral Theology from the JP II Institute) and then found out I would be a chaplain and instructor of Theology at Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids. I was so young and in retrospect it seems the students knew they could work me any time they wanted! I learned a lot about teaching and even more about human nature and I loved my two years serving the people in Central Wisconsin. Then nine years of chaplaincy and teaching at Aquinas High School in La Crosse rounded out the things I was learning about how to pass on the faith. I was also in charge of the high school seminary: one of the boys in my last class of 2011 will be ordained a priest on June 22nd. His name is Brandon Guenther and I am so proud of him. Finally, having taught for 11 years, I asked to have the honor of becoming a pastor. And so to Marshfield and Spencer I came, knowing hardly anybody and knowing hardly anything about being a pastor! As I’ve mentioned, these have truly been the best years of my life – for a variety of reasons, this has been the best fit so far for the way God made me. I really thought I was going to be staying on for the foreseeable future – but God’s ways are not always our ways. As I look back over the past 20 years I think of all of the people who have helped me to be the priest I am today: only God could sufficiently describe how much our lives affect others. For the rest of my days you will be a part of my life and for that I thank you and I thank God for creating you and letting me get to know you.
May God be praised for helping us to live our vocations in fidelity to Him and to each other! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin Save the Date: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church’s 7th annual “Parish Pull” will take place on Friday-July 12th. This year the proceeds will be donated to Columbus Catholic Schools and PIER of Wisconsin ( a nonprofit organization that teaches sign language, among other things
From the Church
The St. Mary’s Seven: How One Parish Gave the Church Seven Priests in Seven Years Since 2003, St. Mary’s parish [in Hudson, Ohio] has seen approximately 25 men discern the call to the priesthood, with nine as priests. According to priests and parishioners, the “secret” to the parish’s vocations culture is proposing to youth, by word and example, the beauty of living their lives in fellowship and prayer with Jesus Christ and making seminary a normal part of a young man’s discernment when considering where Jesus is calling him. Father Mann said St. Mary’s “is a very happy parish” that has produced “normal and joyful priests.” “We had a very strong youth ministry and a priest who was fully happy and engaged in his priesthood,” Father Mann said. The parochial vicar at the time, Father Damian Ference, was actively engaged with St. Mary’s youth ministry, “knew us by name, looked us in the eyes and said, ‘You should consider being a priest.’” Read More... |
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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