The Catholic Communities of St. Francis Xavier and St. John the Baptist

August 30, 2015

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK August 31, 2015

Monday: 1 Thes 4:13-18; Ps 96:1, 3-5, 11-13; Lk 4:16-30 Tuesday: 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Lk 4:31-37 Wednesday: Col 1:1-8; Ps 52:10-11; Lk 4:38-44 Thursday: Col 1:9-14; Ps 98:2-6; Lk 5:1-11 Friday: Col 1:15-20; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 5:33-39 Saturday: Col 1:21-23; Ps 54:3-4, 6, 8; Lk 6:1-5 Sunday: Is 35:4-7a; Ps 146:7-10; Jas 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37

THE SANCTUARY LIGHTS at SFX in “The Little Flower” Chapel burn in honor of: Ava Doering & William Doering.

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 9/23/15 at 6:00 PM Everyone is welcome to join us.

Mom’s 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-1PM Evening Prayer:

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

St. Francis on Tuesdays 5:30 PM, Fridays 7:30 AM At Pine Crest on Saturdays 9:30AM

St. John the Baptist Thursday social time: Every Thursday following 9:30 AM Mass Little Knights Playgroup:

We meet every Friday that school is in session from 9:00-10:30 AM in the

cafeteria

We appreciate the advertisers who support our bulletin:

Quirt Family Dental 2812 East Main St

715-536-9628

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/Evangelization — 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., Brett Swan…...……..…….....536-2803 ext. 221 Cemetery Sexton — John Hanson Parish Council Chairs — Lisa Hass (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 — Julie Bushor, Tracy Creel, Michelle Evans, Scott Nelson, Rick Meehean Religious Education — Maria Brickner School Principal — Sonja Doughty ..…….…… ..................... 536-6083 School Secretary — Cindy Gennrich….………… ................. 536-6083 Knights of Columbus — Bill Hanson, Grand Knight………..536-8471

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 Saturday………………………………………..6:00 PM at SJB Sunday……………………………………………8:00AM & 10:00 AM SFX Weekday Mass Tuesday…………………………………….…...6:00 PM at SFX Wednesday……………………………….…..9:00 AM at SFX Thursday ….9:30 AM at SJB and 10:15 AM at Pine Crest Friday………………………………………….....9:00 AM at SFX

Reconciliation Times (and by appointment) Saturday…..…..3:00 PM (SFX) & 7:15 PM (SJB) Tuesday………...5:30 PM (SFX) Wednesday….8:15 AM (SFX) Thursday…..9:15 AM (SJB) Friday………….8:15 AM (SFX)

Summer Parish Office hours: Monday 12:30 –4:00 PM

Tuesday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM (closed daily 12-12:30 for lunch)

Friday 8:30 AM-Noon

Low Gluten Eucharist (.01%) are available. Please see Fr. Chris before Mass.

Thank you to the family of Dolores Kamark for the donation of altar flowers in her memory.

MASS INTENTIONS Week of August 31, 2015

Tuesday 6:00 PM (SFX) Intention: † Ray & Ann Kress By: Pat & Kaz Buckett Wednesday 9:00 AM (SFX) Intention: † Jim Brannan By: Sandy Brannan Family Thursday 9:30 AM (SJB) Intention: † Jerry & Paul Kortnes By: Kathy Kortnes 10:15 AM (at Pine Crest) Intention: † Lester Bares By: Family Friday 8:00 AM (SFX) Intention: Special Intention of the Custy

Family Saturday 4:00 PM (SFX) Intention: † Sylvester & Evelyn Tomajcik By: Duane Tomajcik Family 6:00 PM (SJB) Intention: People of the Parish Sunday 8:00 AM (SFX) Intention: In honor of the Wedding Day of

Jack & Faye Semling 10:00 AM (SFX) Intention: † Melvin Ellenbecker By: Doris Ellenbecker

Weekly Schedule: August 31-September 6, 2015 Monday

8/31 Fr. Chris’s

Day Off

Tuesday 9/1

First Day of School 5:30 PM SFX Reconciliation

6:00 PM SFX Mass

Wednesday 9/2

8:15 AM SFX Reconciliation

9:00 AM SFX Mass

6:30 pm 11th Grade Confirmation parent meeting

Thursday 9/3

9:30 AM Mass at SJB Social follows

6:00 PM RCIA 6:30 PM Bell Choir

Friday 9/4

8:00 AM SFX Mass Earlier Start

Time

Saturday 9/5

3:00 PM SFX Reconciliation

4:00 PM SFX Mass

6:00 PM SJB Mass

Sunday 9/6

8:00 AM SFX Mass

10:00 AM SFX Mass

LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE September 5-6, 2015

Readers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Susan Ryman, Lisa Hass 6:00 PM (SJB) Cole Gustke, Karen Polacek 8:00 AM (SFX) Tom Huftel, Mary Ball 10:00 AM (SFX) Michaela Raleigh, Mary Ann VDG Servers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Andy Hass, Clayton & Mason Evans 6:00 PM (SJB) Volunteers 8:00 AM (SFX) Brian Ball, Bobby Hoff, Deb Hoff 10:00 AM (SFX) Brant Raleigh, Elliott Hanson, Ava Cohrs Greeters/Ushers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Don MacSwain, Joe Folta, Volunteers 6:00 PM (SJB) Paul Polacek, George Lawrie 8:00 AM (SFX) G., A. Goetsch, T. Ball, A. Ball 10:00 AM (SFX) K. Cohrs, N. Raleigh, S & N Nelson .SCRIP sellers: 4:00 PM (SFX) Michelle Evans 8:00 AM (SFX) Audrey Huftel, Barb E. Adams 10:00 AM (SFX) Alicia Weix, Hilde Hantke Ministry Schedules and sub lists for both parishes are

on our website: www.stfrancismerrill.org

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 September 6, 2015: Deb Koepke

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

September 4, 2015: Karen Cournaya ————————————————————————————

FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEER Week of September 6, 2015: Betty Weix

School Registration: We still have openings in our afternoon 4K program, however our 3K, 5 year old kindergarten, and First Grade classrooms are now full. If you would like to be put on a waiting list please call the school office. Staff Retreat: The school and parish staffs got ready for the new school year by attending a retreat at St. Anthony’s on August 25. We spent the day in spiritual renewal as we had a great time outside of the parish praising and thanking God for our many gifts and talents. Garden Surplus? If you have a surplus of fruits or vegetables from your garden this summer, think of helping out our hot lunch program. Please call Barb in the kitchen (715-536-2803 ext. 203) for more information.

SFX School News 11th grade Confirmation Retreat: The Confirmation retreat for the 11th grade only will be held at St. John the Baptist Church in Bloomville on September 19. Please note the change in location. The 11th grade Confirmation candidates need to be present at 10:45 am. The retreat will conclude after 6:00 PM Mass. Lunch and snacks will be provided. The cost for the retreat is $35 per candidate.

Questions? Do you have questions about Catholicism or are you interested in joining the Catholic Church? Have you been baptized Catholic but have missed Confirmation or First Communion and wish to receive these sacraments? If you do, please contact Joe Velie at 536-2803 ext. 222.

Religious Education Classes: All classes K-11 begin on Wednesday, September 9th and run from 6-7 PM. If you haven’t registered your children, please do so this week. Registration forms are available online at: www.stfrancismerrill.org.

Religious Education News

CALLING ALL SINGERS, YOUNG & OLD…

Family Choir rehearsals begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6:45 p.m. in the church. As always, we welcome new

members, existing members and previous members. Can't make a full year's commitment? Join us for part of the year, such as for our Confirmation Liturgy (Nov. 1), the Advent/Christmas season, or the Lent/Easter season. Can’t make all of the rehearsals? New technology may help you learn your music faster; call me if you'd like to hear more about this option.

The Children's Choir, grades 2 – 5, will begin rehearsals on Wed., Sept. 9, from 3:15 – 4:15 in the school music room. This choir is open to all St. Francis Parish students in grades 2 – 5; if you can't make it to St. Francis from your school by 3:15, just come as soon as you can. Call me for more information or pick up a registration form on the bulletin board in the back of church.

The Middle/High School Ensemble, grades 6 -12, will begin rehearsals on Wed., Sept. 9, from 5:00 – 6:00 in the school music room.

For more info on any of these choirs, check the parish website, the brochures in back of church, or call Mary Ament at 536-2803, ext. 230.  

Eucharistic Adoration

“The worship given to the Trinity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...must fill our churches also outside the timetable of the Masses...This worship must be prominent in all our encounters with the Blessed Sacrament...Adoration of

Christ in this sacrament of love must also find expression in various forms of Eucharistic devotion: persona prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, hours of adoration, periods of exposition - short, prolonged, and annual (40 hours) -Eucharistic benediction, Eucharistic processions, Eucharistic Congresses...Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and in contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease. “ - Pope St. John Paul II Hours without an adorer: 11:00 AM Thursday 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Sunday & 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Thursday and Friday Please note that you can adore at anytime. Many hours need prayer partners…. For more information please call Phil/Mary at 715-536-4825.

Parish News PASTOR’S CORNER by: Fr. Chris

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

These last five weeks we have looked at the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, and have been given just a glimpse of what love is and what a gift Jesus is for us in the Eucharist. This gift is given so freely to

us. But now we have made another turn in our readings for the liturgy and we are once again reading from the Gospel of Mark.

The readings for today, speak much about the traditions the Pharisees were keeping. But was there really anything wrong with what they were doing? Doesn’t it seem like they were at least keeping good hygiene which was part of the purifying they were speaking of? Yeah, but notice what Jesus is trying to get across to the Pharisees. They have made a Ritual out of doing these things. They have made it their set of forms, for their public worship, making them and what they do their main focal point. They think this helps in increasing their image and status, but they are missing the deeper reality of what God would like for them and Jesus is shedding light on the status barrier they have built.

Jesus, in this passage, cuts through their ritual washing by saying how “nothing that enters one from the outside can defile that person, but the things that come from within are what defile.” Much of our spiritual life is interior, at least that is where it begins. It is expressed through our exterior, of how we come before the Lord in our liturgies and also how we treat people in our daily lives. What the Pharisees are missing is that it is not about how they are perceived, their image and how they are climbing within social status, but how one is to allow God into the interior and work. It is our interior where we see our fallen nature and where we can allow God to do His work of love within each of us.

-Fr. Chris

The family rosary will be held on September 13th, not September 6th. We begin at 6 PM.

Handbell Notes: Handbell rehearsals will begin on Thursday, September 3, 2015. We will meet at 6:30 p.m. There are 3 positions open in our ensemble and we would love to get those bells ringing again. If you are interested in ringing, please call Allan for more details at 715-636-6463.

Parish Office Hours: As school begins, the parish office will resume their normal office hours: Monday 12:30 –4:00 PM Tuesday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM Friday 8:30 AM-3:00 PM

St. Francis Fall Festival: Save the date… October 4th…. For a fall festival. We are planning on a grand welcome for Fr. Chris including: Mass at 10:00 AM Knights of Columbus grilled chicken dinner Large item Live Auction Games for the kids Keep watching the bulletin for more information. If you want to get involved in the planning please call the parish office.

Change in Friday morning Mass time: Beginning Friday, September 4th, Friday morning Mass will begin at 8 AM. We hope this will accommodate the schedules of parishioners who are working. Rosary will begin at about 7:30 AM. There will no longer be confessions on Friday mornings.

50+ Potluck: Our first potluck of the year is September 12th! Everyone is invited for a great lunch followed by bingo and cards. We meet in the cafeteria at 12:30 PM. Bring a dish to pass and a friend.

K of C News: Our Knights of Columbus will be hosting 1st, 2nd, & 3rd degree Exemplifications here at St. Francis on Sunday, September 20th. St. Francis will be hosting Knights from around the area. If you are interested in joining the Knights, or are already a Knight and wish to further your degrees in service, please consider attending on the 20th. You can contact Grand Knight Bill Hanson at 715-536-8471.

The parish office is closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day.

Ministry schedules for September and October are now posted on the bulletin board in the entrance hallway to Church, as well as on the parish website:

www.stfrancismerrill.org

Tickets are going fast….. There are less than 20 tickets available. Tickets will not be held without payment. Thank you.

SCRIP News….

Fall is back! It is that time of year where we get back in the routine of school, and schedules. Did you fall out of your SCRIP routine? With vacations and traveling have you forgotten to purchase SCRIP before you go grocery shopping, or to buy gas? Well it is never to late to start again. SCRIP is available at weekend Mass, and at the parish office.

The SCRIP profit for the month of August was $2075.78.

Will you be cooking out for Labor Day? Having friends over to celebrate the end of summer? Don’t forget to buy SCRIP for your groceries first. We have SCRIP for County Market, Piggly Wiggly, Pick N Save, and Wal-Mart. SCRIP is a great habit to start and each purchase helps our school.

The Liturgy Committee would like to teach us about the Saints of the day and special feast days:

Sunday: Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Thursday: St. Gregory the Great Friday: First Friday Saturday: Blessed Virgin Mary; First Saturday

L I T U R G Y

St. John the Baptist News Thursday Morning Rosary: Please join us every Thursday morning at 9:00 AM as we pray the rosary before Mass. We celebrate Mass at 9:30 AM with a potluck social after. We would love to see our Thursday morning group grow!

Hearing Impaired: Assistive listening devices are available at St. John the Baptist. Please see an usher before Mass for assistance.

Ministry Schedules: Please pick up a new ministry schedule for September and October today.

T H A N K

Y O U

From the Holy Father’s General Audience:

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

We continue our catechesis today by reflecting on work, which complements our moments of

celebration and which is also a part of God’s creative design. Through work, the family is cared for and children are provided with a dignified life. So too the common good is served, as witnessed by the example of so many fathers and mothers who teach their children the value of work for family life and society. The Scriptures speak of this in the Holy Family, describing Jesus as the son of a carpenter and a carpenter himself. As Christians we know that work and the spiritual life are not opposed, but in harmony, as work expresses the dignity of the person, created in God’s image. When we engage in work, we share in creation by caring for the earth and cultivating it. If, however, we reduce work to profit and disregard its effects on humanity and the world, the environment and our lives suffer. This especially hurts the poor and families. God has given Christian families the challenge and mission to make present the foundations of his creation: a true understanding of the identity of man and woman and the bond they share, their call to bring children into the world, and the gift of work in making the world ever more fruitful and hospitable. May God help us to embrace this call in joy and hope, especially amidst the many challenges we face today.

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