Holy Family December 27, 2015

St. Francis Xavier & St. John the Baptist Catholic Churches

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK October 17, 2016

Monday: Eph 2:1-10; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 12:13-21 Tuesday: 2 Tm 4:10-17b; Ps 145:10-13, 17-18; Lk 10:1-9 Wednesday: Eph 3:2-12; Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Lk 12:39-48 Thursday: Eph 3:14-21; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19; Lk

12:49-53 Friday: Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 12:54-59 Saturday: Eph 4:7-16; Ps 122:1-5; Lk 13:1-9 Sunday: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3, 17-19, 23; 2 Tm

4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14

THE SANCTUARY LIGHTS at SFX in “The Little Flower” Chapel burn in honor of: Alana Sample and the Eckardt Family.

PRAYER CHAIN: Please call Kris at the Parish Office with your prayer chain requests. You may leave a message if necessary. The messages are checked daily even on weekends. Thank you.

The Parish Communities of : St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church ~ St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Physical & mailing address:1708 East Tenth Street, Merrill, WI 54452 Physical address: N4887 Hwy 17, Bloomville

Come and Join Us Friends of Jesus Charismatic Prayer Group:

Our next meeting is October 26, 2016 at 6:00 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Moms in Prayer: Meetings vary. Call Irene at 536-9430.

Eucharistic Adoration: In “The Little Flower Chapel” Sun-Thur, 5AM-12AM

Friday 5AM-10PM, Saturday 5AM-11 AM Evening Prayer:

Wednesday at 5:45 PM in “The Little Flower Chapel” Rosary:

St. Francis: Tuesday @ 5:30 PM & Friday @ 7:30 AM St. John’s :Thursdays @ 8:30 AM

and Pine Crest on Saturdays @ 9:30AM St. John the Baptist Thursday Social Time:

Every Thursday following 9:00 AM Mass Little Knights Playgroup:

We meet every Friday from 9-10:30 AM when school is in session. You may ring

the bell at door #7 for entrance.

We appreciate the advertisers who support our bulletin:

Reindl Printing 1300 Johnson Street, Merrill

715.536.9537

Parish Directory Parish Office……………………………………………...536-2803 Pastor — Father Chris Kemp…….……………………..536-2803 ext. 218 Retired Clergy — Father Joseph Kleinheinz…………….….536-2803 Deacon — Jim Arndt……………………………...……..536-2803 ext. 215 Parish Secretary — Kris Leggett.………………………..536-2803 ext. 202 Financial Assistant — Laura Reiter……………………...536-2803 ext. 219 Parish Outreach— Sr. Dolores Lilla………………….....536-7487 DRE — Joe Velie……………………………………......536-2803 ext. 222 Music Director — Mary Ament………………………....536-2803 ext. 230 Building Maintenance Supervisor — John Hanson…….536-2803 ext. 221 Custodian — Wolfgang Lenk.……………...……..…….....536-2803 ext. 221 Cemetery Sexton — John Hanson Parish Council Chairs — Dr. Robert Sedlacek (SFX), Anne Schoone (SJB) Trustees St. Francis Xavier — Pat Buckett (Pastoral) Jim Brickner (Finance) Trustees St. John the Baptist — Jim St. Mary, Leona Vander Sanden

Liturgy Committee — Pete McConnell (SFX), Angela Frick (SJB)

School Committee — Kate Shimel, Tracy Creel, Michelle Evans, Scott Nelson, Rick Meehean Religious Education — Maraline Collins School Principal — Sonja Doughty ..…….……536-6083 School Secretary — Cindy Gennrich….………… 536-6083 Knights of Columbus — Jim Finucan, Grand Knight………..539-3450

Parish Website: www.stfrancismerrill.org Staff email addresses are listed on the parish website St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store…. 539-1131 St. Vincent de Paul Outreach……. 539-2666 St. Vincent Free Clinic………..…… 539-9566 Merrill Community Food Pantry…………………………..536-4505

Mass Schedule (SJB-St. John Baptist SFX-St. Francis Xavier) Weekend Mass Saturday……………………………………….. 4:00 PM at SFX Sunday……………………………………………7:45 AM & 9:30 AM SFX Sunday…………………………………………..11:30 AM at SJB Weekday Mass Tuesday…………………………………….…... 6:00 PM at SFX Wednesday……………………………….….. 9:00 AM at SFX Thursday ….9:00 AM at SJB and 10:30 AM at Pine Crest Friday………………………………………….....8:00 AM at SFX

Reconciliation Times (and by appointment) Saturday…..…..9:00 AM & 3:00 PM (SFX)

Tuesday………...5:30 PM (SFX) Wednesday….8:15 AM (SFX) 1st Sunday of the month …..12:30 PM (SJB)

Parish Office Hours: Monday 12:30–4:00 PM Tuesday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM (closed daily 12-12:30 for lunch)

Altar Flowers this weekend are in loving memory of: Rick Semling

By: Jack & Faye Semling Family

MASS INTENTIONS Week of October 17, 2016

Tuesday 6:00 PM (SFX) Intention: † Ed Klune By: Barb & Skip Ott Wednesday 9:00 AM (SFX) Intention: † Helen Marie Ziesemer By: Family Thursday 9:00 AM (SJB) Intention of: Healing of Jim Feuerstein By: Jim & Emily Pankow 10:30 AM (at Pine Crest) Intention: † Joseph Blair By: Family Friday 8:00 AM (SFX) Intentions of: Pope Francis Saturday 4:00 PM (SFX) Intention: † Geno & Florence Bosi By: Family Sunday 7:45 AM (SFX) Intention: † Stanley & Helen Germain By: Family 9:30 AM (SFX) Intention: † Stanley & Helen Germain By: Rob & Barb Hartwig 11:30 AM (SJB) Intention: People of the Parish

Weekly Schedule: October 17-23, 2016

Monday 10/17

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Tuesday 10/18 St. Luke

No Reconciliation

6:00 PM SFX Mass 6:00 PM SFX Liturgy Committee

6:45 PM SFX Family Choir

Wednesday 10/19 Ss. John de Brébeuf,

Isaac Jogues, and Companions

8:15 AM SFX Reconciliation

9:00 AM SFX Mass

3:15 PM SFX children’s choir

5:00 PM SFX MS/HS Music

6:00 PM SFX Treasures of the Church

Thursday 10/20 St. Paul of the Cross 9:00 AM SJB Mass and Social

10:30 AM Pine Crest Mass

1:00 PM SFX 33 Days 6:00 PM SFX RCIA

6:30 PM SFX Bell Choir

Friday 10/21

8:00 AM SFX Mass

12:00 PM 22 Day Kick Off –Vet’s Cemetery

Saturday 10/22 St. John Paul II

3:00 PM SFX Reconciliation

4:00 PM SFX Mass

Sunday 10/23

7:45 AM SFX Mass

9:30 AM SFX Mass

11:30 AM SJB Mass

LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE October 22-23, 2016

Readers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Lisa Hass, Susan Ryman 7:45 AM (SFX) Mary Ball, Katy Ball 9:30 AM (SFX) Pat Buckett, Mary Ann VDG Servers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Hailey & Madisyn Krueger, Volunteer 7:45 AM (SFX) Brian Ball, Connor & Troy Mootz 9:30 AM (SFX) Maddy Leischer, M, A, M. Rydeski Greeters/Ushers: 4:00 PM (SFX) C. Heller, L. McAllister, Volunteers 7:45 AM (SFX) T. Ball, A & M Goetsch, K. Cournaya 9:30 AM (SFX) K & A Cohrs, J & L Ruprecht SCRIP sellers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Mary & Phil Ziesemer 7:45 AM (SFX) Sharon & Mark Zipperer 9:30 AM (SFX) Clark & Betty Ambrose

Ministry Schedules and sub lists for both parishes are on our website: www.stfrancismerrill.org

New Ministry Schedules for November & December are now available on the bulletin board in the back of Church

and on our website.

SACRAMENTS Baptism: Please call the parish office to schedule a baptism. You must be a registered and contributing member of the parish to have your child receive this sacrament.

Anointing of the sick: This sacrament is available upon request by calling the parish office. Please do not wait until it becomes an emergency because a priest will not always be immediately available.

SFX=St. Francis Xavier SJB= St. John the Baptist

MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST at Park Place October 23, 2016: Paul Proulx

———————————————————————————— ROSARY LEADER at Pine Crest

October 22, 2016: Karen Cournaya ————————————————————————————

FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEER Week of October 23, 2016: Clark Ambrose

Parish News PASTOR’S CORNER by: Fr. Chris

Before we begin with this week’s readings, it may be beneficial to give some background to what had taken place prior to today’s first reading from Exodus. Moses had defeated the Egyptian army by raising his staff and now the people are in the wilderness where God tests them. They

come upon the waters of Marah, bitter waters which the people cannot drink and they complain. However by Moses touching his staff to the waters, the water is made sweet. We are also called to notice how the water of Marah is a reference to the water of the Nile. could not be drunk because it had turned to blood and how the Egyptians hearts were further hardened towards Yahweh. Then there is the Quail and the Manna which come to the people, but the people complain, and the food of Pharaoh is preferred. Next, the people are again complaining about the water at Meribah. Here, Moses is instructed to strike the rock with the staff and from it water flows. What is shown in all of these stories is how Yahweh proves his mastery over the hostile environments. Then we have today’s story, the defeat of the Amalekites. Moses uses the same rod he used to defeat Pharaoh, yet notice it is only when it is raised that we see that it is Yahweh who fights for Israel.

In the New Testament, Jesus is depicted as another Moses, but even greater. With this in mind, as we look at this week’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples a parable about praying and not growing weary. In instructing them about the parable, Jesus says “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call on him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?” Well, if there is one thing we should know about God, He is always faithful and right on time! Yet, it is His time. Even when things seem like they are getting crazy in life, God knows what is happening. Even though many areas of the culture and society may not fear God, or respect any human being, we are called to have faith. And we are to continue to pray and trust that God works out things according to His plan.

Please pray for the following parishioners of both parishes who are in need of your prayers: Jim Peterson, Phil Sheil, and Bryan Rammer.

World Apostalate of Fatima’s U.S. Tour for Peace is coming to our Diocese! The statue will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rice Lake on Tuesday, October 18th. A full 18 hours of prayer will take place. Visit www.stjosephricelake.org for details.

Wedding Banns I: Amie Laak and Anthony Gruetzmacher announce their intent to receive the sacrament of matrimony on November 5th. The ask for your prayers.

SFX CCW Update: We have had an exciting start to the Council of Catholic Women at St. Francis this year: Two, successful, pancake breakfast fundraisers and a Pilgrimage trip to the Shrine in Green Bay, and some incredible speakers. We hope you will think about joining us as we expand on our activities and help to St. Francis. Thank you to the volunteers for our pancake

breakfast for the Music Department. We raised $400 to go toward the purchase of new music and instruments for the school and church programs. We will all benefit from this! We are truly blessed with a great group of volunteers!

Our next meeting will be Oct. 26th at 6:30pm in the school cafeteria. Please plan on joining us as we plan our Christmas Party and start looking at dates for our Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse in April.

Mark Dec. 28th on your calendars for our Women of St. Francis Christmas Party. Details to come.

Please contact me if you have any questions or ideas. Chris McCarthy 715-212-1218.

Sportsmen's Banquet Wrap-Up: The final numbers are in on this year’s Sportsmen's Banquet. Tickets for the event were sold out three weeks in advance this year! The total profit that was made on this fun night was $16,693.70! This is over $1,000 more than last year’s event. St. Francis Xavier Church would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to the dedicated committee members who spent months organizing the night, the volunteers who worked at the banquet, and Les & Jim’s for hosting this special event. St. Francis Xavier is truly blessed with parishioners who serve the needs of the parish.

Home Energy Assistance: Lincoln County Department of Social Services is currently taking applications to assist those with their heating bills this season. Please call 715-539-1344 to make an appointment.

For Sale: 2007 Cub Cadet RZT 50" zero turn lawn mower. Includes twin bag leaf bagger. Kawasaki gas powered engine. $500.00 OBO. The machine has good tires, and runs good. We will change oil, filter, and blades for that price, and grease machine also. Call John in the maintenance department for more information.

Last week Wednesday, St. Francis students in grades 4-8 had the privilege of spending the afternoon at Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau. While there they were able to enjoy a guided tour of the 41st annual Birds in Art exhibit, which featured original paintings, sculptures, and graphics created within the last three years by 112 artists from throughout the world. This year’s exhibit left students and teachers excited and inspired! The highlight of the day was meeting, and then working with Connecticut-based Birds in Art artist Sean Murtha! Our students used chalk pencils on toned paper (just like Sean does while working in the field) to sketch avian sculptures from the Museum’s collection. Students sketches are now on display in the middle school hallway. Pictured is Sam Nelson, working on his sketch.

SFX School News IMPORTANT! Wednesday October 19:

Grades K-8 will not have classes. Please attend Treasures of the Church as a family it begins at 6 PM. There will be no check-in for K-8. Confirmation will meet at St. Francis Xavier, in the church, to attend Treasures of the Church. There will be a check-in table in the back of church for 9-10 grades.

Silver Ring Thing: Holy Rosary Parish in Medford is hosting the Silver Ring Thing. On October 26 at 6:30 PM. The Silver Ring Thing is a radical response to culture’s view of love and relationships. Through community-wide outreach events and resources, they defy the meet-up, hook-up, break-up culture of today and inspire teens to a pure life centered in a relationship with Jesus Christ. There is required attendance at this event for Confirmation students, but all high school and middle school teens are welcome to attend.

RCIA: RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), the process by which anyone who wishes to join the Catholic Church or is Catholic but has missed Confirmation and wishes to receive that sacrament, will be meeting Thursday evenings in the Conference room at 6 pm and will last about one hour.

For more information regarding any of the above, please contact Joe Velie at 536-2803 extension 222.

Religious Education News

From the Holy Father’s General Audience: 10-12-16

Dear Brothers and Sisters: During this Holy Year of Mercy, we have reflected on God’s mercy, revealed especially in the incarnation of his Son, and on our duty, as followers of Jesus, to be

“merciful like the Father”. In Saint Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord tells us that we will be judged by the mercy we show to him, present in the least of our brothers and sisters. His words have inspired the seven traditional “corporal” works of mercy – feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead. The Church’s tradition also adds seven “spiritual” works of mercy – counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing sinners, comforting the afflicted, forgiving offences, bearing patiently those who do us ill, and praying for the living and the dead. As expressions of living faith, these works are often carried out quietly and with simple gestures. Yet, as Saints like Mother Teresa of Calcutta show us, they reveal the merciful face of Christ and can change the culture around us. Let us keep them always in mind and strive to practice them daily.

**For more information visit: www.news.va**

22 Day Pushup Challenge Honoring Central Wisconsin Veterans at SFX Cemetery

Midwest Communications Rock 94.7 proudly announces that their Manager, Terry Stevens, will be challenging our community to join him in the 22 Pushup Challenge. This challenge was designed to raise awareness of the average 22 veterans and active duty service members who commit suicide daily in the United States due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Each day at Noon for 22 days, leading up to Veteran’s Day on November 11th, Terry Stevens will do 22 pushups in a public place with the hopes that others in the community will join him in his effort. The first 22 day challenge will kick off on Friday, October 21st at St. Francis Xavier Veteran’s Memorial at Noon. Family, friends and community members, are all welcome to attend.

6:00 PM

St. Francis Xavier School Annual Asbestos Notification

2015-2016

This notice has been written to comply with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations requiring yearly notification of asbestos activities within the St. Francis Xavier School An asbestos management Plan was developed in 1988 and was recently updated. The Management Plan is available to anyone for viewing by visiting the Maintenance Department during regular office hours. Abatement of asbestos containing building materials is performed when necessary by accredited persons prior to disturbance during scheduled renovation or construction projects. Any future asbestos activities will again be published along with this annual written notice. If you have any questions please call John Hanson, Maintenance Supervisor.

St. Francis Xavier Home & School Christmas Bazaar

Saturday, November 12 8:30-4:00 Sunday, November 13 8:30-Noon

FEATURING Basket Raffles Vendors/crafts

Soup/sandwich lunch Poker run stop

Specialty cookie and candy sale St. Francis pens, bags, cookbooks, etc…

——————— Volunteers Needed:

Decorating the cafeteria Friday Selling basket raffle tickets—Sat/Sun

Restocking cookie/candy and cashiering Sat/Sun Kitchen work and cashier Sat/Sun

Clean Up Sunday Donations Needed:

Specialty cookies and candy Food for the lunch

Items for basket raffles

**See the sign up sheets in the back of church**

The Christmas Spirit Appeal has already begun preparing to bring Christmas to 250 needy families in our county. In addition to gifts each family will receive a complete Christmas Dinner. St. Francis Xavier has agreed to donate boxed brownie mixes and gravy envelopes. We need to collect 250 of each, and we are currently at 35 for each. You may place them in the baskets in the back of church, or bring them to the parish office. Thank you and may God Bless your generosity!

SCRIP News…. Kwik Trip donated an additional $165.77 last month to our SCRIP program. Kwik Trip donates 15% of all in store purchases to our school. This is in addition to 5% of all gasoline sales. Kwik Trip has great prices on bananas, milk, butter, eggs, bakery and more! Thank you Kwik Trip for your support.

Congratulations to Wendy Arndt the September winner of $25 in Free SCRIP! Each time you purchase SCRIP you are entered into our monthly drawing. The more you buy, the more chances you have to win!

St. John the Baptist—Bloomville, WI Parish Support—October 2, 2016 Actual Amount of envelopes & loose: $1023.00 Amount Needed for the budget: $1069.23 Over (Under) Since 7/1/16: ($2164.80)

Who’s Who: Trustees: Jim St. Mary, Leona Vander Sanden Parish Council: Anne Schoone (Chair), Paul Polacek Joe Zimmerman, Kris Block, and Bernie Ineichen

Liturgical Ministries— October 23, 2016 Readers: Karen Polacek, Joe Zimmerman Greeters/Ushers: Paul Polacek, Louie Leder Servers: Volunteers Due to an error on the schedule, volunteers are needed for October 30, 2016. Thank you.

Save the Date: December 4 Christmas Bazaar

Mass 11:00 AM Chicken Dinner

Bake Sale/Sweepstakes Drawing

In the Gospel today Jesus tells his disciples to pray always without becoming weary, indeed our prayer must always be an expression of our love for God, our family, our world, and especially for the suffering poor. As you pray for the ministries of the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul pray also a special prayer for the poor who have no one to pray for them.

T H A N K

Y O U

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Pancake Breakfast & Bake Sale When: Sunday, October 23,2016 Time: 9 AM-1PM Serving: Regular & Potato Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, Beverage Cost: Free Will donation Please call Dorothy Gennrich if you can volunteer, (715-873-4683) or use the sign up sheets in church.

OUR GIFTS TO OUR LORD For the weekend of Oct. 1 ‐ Oct. 2, 2016    St. Francis Xavier  Actual  Amt needed 

Over (Under) since 7/1/16   

Adult Envelopes  $5,483.00  $7,834.62  ($17,583.51)   

Loose Collec on  $242.50  $282.69  ($288.17)   

ACH giving  $1,786.00  $1,192.31  $1,147.66    

Debt Relief  $883.25  $826.92  $194.71    

TOTAL  $8,394.75  $10,136.54  ‐$16,529.31   

Bequests and Memorials (July-September 2016) For St. Francis Xavier Church:

In Memory of Ed Klune By Charles & Joyce Batchelder In Memory of Charles Pierotti By Robert & Barbara Ott and Charles & Joyce Batchelder In Memory of Sandy Zettler By Robert & Faith Winter, Ruth Harbath, and Sally Wiley For St. Francis Xavier Catholic School: In Memory of Grace Wendorf By Lee Thompson & Wayne Thompson In Memory of Grandma Frances By Noelle & Charles Stine In Memory of Todd Hanson By William & Kathleen Wulf (for the school Library) For Veterans Memorial Cemetery:

In Memory of Garth Swanson By LeRoy & Connie Fischer In Memory of Daniel Harkner By Vernette Heuser In Memory of Andy Fischer By Michael & Patti Knab, Jerrald & Debbie Laak, Marge & Phil Kamke, Emil & Donna Jensen, Jay & Cindy Van Laanen, Irma Stine, Bill & Mary Fischer, Jim & Deanna Kol-be, Floyd Hackbart, Kevin & Tammy Cohrs, John & Gladys Case, Dave Jackson, Larry Burrow, Roger & Donna Baum-gart, Milton & Marion Buntrock, Peg Krygh, Nancy Craig, Elroy Lemke & Doris Neubauer, Harold Butalla, Arlean Jogodzinski, Darrell & Jane Barker, David & Cindy Lam-brecht, Allan & Tammy Klade, Don & Alma Bloechl, Ellen Reger, Eugene & Gloria Bondiski, Bill & Carol Weber, Calvin & Jackie Forsberg, Dieter & Pam Nickel, Harlan & Phyllis Fausch, and Alan & Marie Malm

Total of all Memorials: $1,095.00 Thank you to everyone who has donated memorials in memory of their loved ones. It is a wonderful way to re-member them and to help our parishes and school !