From the Desk of Fr. Schaller - October 16, 2022

“Jesus told His disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” (Luke 18:1) This opening line from today’s Gospel introduces us to an important truth: it takes effort to be a disciple of Christ. There can be no such thing as a wimpy Christian! And prayer is the means by which one is strengthened for this “spiritual battle.” Some people get a little squeamish when such warlike images are used to describe living our Catholic Faith. This is not an attempt to glorify war, but rather an acknowledgment that similar virtues are needed when one is in a war: strength, courage, perseverance. Can a “physical war” be won without these qualities? All the more reason why we need them to live a vigorous Catholic life where we need to do “spiritual battle.”

For well over a decade now the WI Rapids Deanery has offered a Sunday Evening Mass at 6:00pm (5:00pm for the past year). Typically, the site has shifted every 2 years. On the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, this Mass will move from St. Lawrence to SS Peter & Paul and will revert to its original time of 6:00pm. To accommodate this additional Mass, and to make better use of resources, the current Sunday 8am & 10am Masses will be replaced with a 9:00am Mass. Therefore, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, the Mass schedule at SSPP will be: Saturday at 4:30pm, and Sunday at 9:00am and 6:00pm. I made this decision after consulting with our Parish Pastoral Council and the Deanery Clergy Council. Although the change may be an inconvenience for some families, there are several benefits: it will allow me to offer confessions each Sunday morning before the 9am Mass; it will strengthen our music, server, and other liturgical resources; and it will bring together a greater number of our parishioners for Mass and for social events which often follow Mass.

Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday. You will find an envelope for this appeal at the end of each pew. I hope you will also generously support the Missions through this collection.

May God bless you!
Fr. Schaller