SAINTS PETER & PAUL PARISH TOWN HALL Wednesday May 1st 6:30 Discussion regarding funding for new boiler SSPP Rummage Sale Thursday April 25- Saturday April 27 Proceeds will benefit youth ministry at the parish . Many years ago St. Pope John Paul II designated this Sunday as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Here at SSPP & SVdP we pray after every Mass for vocations: for priests and deacons, for religious men and women, and for married and single people, too. We do that because all Christians have a vocation. We have a common vocation - that is, a call from God - to holiness. But the common vocation to holiness that God calls us to must be lived out in a definite way. For priests it means a certain way of living, for consecrated men and women (the religious life) it means another, and for single people and married people it means living faithfully according to those states of life. For all, the common goal is holiness - that is, a life in communion with God. There always remains a temptation to mediocrity - the easy way: “What’s the least I have to do to get into Heaven?” or “What’s the most I can get away with, and still avoid Hell?” The example of St. Pope John Paul II has shaken us from this sort of spiritual lethargy. His life was a visible reminder of the sacrifice that is required from each authentic follower of Christ – and validation that the sacrifice is worth it. While affirming the truth that ALL of us are called to a life of holiness, the Church still demands a unique witness from her priests. Some people suggest that if we would ‘soften the sacrifice’ of the priesthood – by relaxing the rule of celibacy and ordaining married men – we would have many more priests. But that argument fails even on natural grounds. For example, why does the most difficult and disciplined branch of the military services – the Marine Corps – regularly fill its quota of enlistees when the other branches sometimes struggle to do so? Answer: because it is in the very heart of a young man to seek, and embrace, a challenge. Well, John Paul II understood that principle very well. He challenged young people to reject the selfishness of materialism, and to follow Christ. And the young people loved him. Most of the millions who flooded Rome after his death in 2005 were young people. To these same young people the Pope has entrusted the mission of the New Evangelization. What is that mission? To help each person follow Christ. To help each person be holy. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller The Blue Army/ World Apostolate of Fatima 3pm, 2nd & 4th Mondays @ SSPP School All SSPP parishioners are invited to join this prayer cell of the World Apostolate of Fatima to pray & learn about Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima. SAVE THE DATE! The Totus Tuus Summer Program will be coming to SSPP July 7th-12th. Registration forms will be available soon! From time to time one reads in one of the national news magazines, or sees on one of the cable TV channels, some (reputed) scripture scholar who questions the traditional understanding of the nature of Jesus, and the truth of His resurrection. These articles (or programs) are especially common at this time of year. Each year at Easter we proclaim who Jesus is: the son of God and the son of Mary, who suffered, died, and truly - bodily - rose from the dead. The Gospel from today’s Mass records for us another instance where Jesus appears to His disciples. He invites them to touch Him to see that He is not a ghost. And then He ate with them to give them further proof. I can’t imagine what kind of faith those “doubting scholars” would expect us to have if we accepted what they propose. I propose we stick with the testimony of the Apostles and the creed that we recite each Sunday at Mass. Our Faith is not made up of fanciful notions, myths, or legends. It is real, true, and historical. We typically celebrate many sacraments in the Easter season, especially the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. At the Easter Vigil we received the Daniel & Laura Flood family into the Church at SSPP; and we look forward to the baptism of several children in the upcoming weeks. The young children of both parishes will be receiving their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 5. And last Saturday Bishop Callahan confirmed 54 young people from the WI Rapids Deanery, including 5 from SVdP and 8 from SSPP. Please pray for our newly Confirmed, that, having been “sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit”, they may be strengthened to live a full, conscious, and active life as true sons and daughters of the Father, and fervent disciples of our Savior, Jesus Christ! May God bless you! Fr. Schaller Wisconsin Rapids Catholic Parishes SPRING SPEAKER A Devotional Journey into the Mass Q& A with Christopher Carstens Tuesday April 30, 2024 @ SSPP Mass 5:30 Talk from 6:30--7:30 Refreshments and Snacks Provided Glacier Lake FNE Explorers “Pancake Breakfast" Sunday, April 21st, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church 1110 1st Street North, Wisconsin Rapids. Menu includes: po- tato pancakes, buttermilk pancakes, sausage, real maple syrup, applesauce, cheese, cookies and choice of bev- erage. Adults $10.00; Children ages 5-12 $5.00; Children 4 & under eat free; Maximum Family Rate $40.00. Please enter through the Drive-Up Entrance and use the Elevator to reach the lower level. Deep Cleaning for Easter! Please join us after the 8AM Mass on March 23rd. Please bring rags and buckets and a vacuum if you can. A pizza lunch will be provided following cleaning. Sign up sheet located in the Holy Family Cenacle. The Blue Army/ World Apostolate of Fatima 3pm, 2nd & 4th Mondays @ SSPP School All SSPP parishioners are invited to join this prayer cell of the World Apostolate of Fatima to pray & learn about Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima. For more info, please call Leah Allison |