FNE Bread Sale Fundraiser February 3&4 4:30pm Mass, Feb. 3 & 9:30am Feb.4 @ SVdP 7:00am & 9:00am Feb. 4 @ SSPP White or Wheat Bread $5/loaf Fundraiser for FNE Explorers, a Wisconsin Rapids area Catholic scouting group. “Human life is sacred.” This is certainly a tenet of our Catholic Faith, and indeed should be for all Christians. Nevertheless, the effort to restore respect for and the dignity of human life is not only a religious issue. The founding document of our nation proclaims that each and every person has the “unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Good old-fashioned common sense confirms what we also believe by faith: human life is unique and precious. That is why men and women of good will - of every faith, and of no faith - see the truth clearly and eloquently taught by the late Pope Saint John Paul II. We seem to be slipping more deeply into a “culture of death.” To prevent this slide from destroying us, said the Holy Father, we must embrace a true “culture of life.” This means we must work continuously to foster an attitude in ourselves and in others which respects the dignity of every human life. Certainly, many in our parishes and community already do this by their support of worthy efforts like Pro-Life Wisconsin, Birthright, 40 Days for Life, food pantries, and many others. The 51st anniversary of Roe V. Wade (though overturned last year) still provides the occasion to make your voice heard publicly as a witness for life: in your conversations with your children, co-workers, family members, or with fellow students. If the Spirit moves you, you can even write a letter to the Editor of the local papers as a public witness. And of course, carefully examine where the candidates & political parties stand on the ‘life issues’ whenever you vote for our government representatives.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Gather up all your dried palms from past years and bring them to church (gather space at SVdP, Holy Family Cenacle at SSPP). We will burn them after Mass on Sunday, February 11, and the ashes will be used to mark our heads on Ash Wednesday to signify our embrace of the penitential season of Lent. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller Friends in Faith 3pm, 1st & 3rd Mondays Join us as we seek to help deepen our prayer life & faith through informal group discussion in a relaxed setting. For more info, contact Sr. Barbara Wisconsin Rapids Area Serra Club 11:00am, 1st & 3rd Fridays @ SSPP church We invite you to learn more about our unique group who have made a commitment to support those who choose a Catholic religious vocation with our prayers & donations. For more info, contact Phil Parker The first reading in Sunday’s Mass recounts the calling of Samuel by God. God revealed Himself in a special way to His prophets. No one simply decided, “I think I’ll be a prophet”. One had to be called by God. The same holds true in the New Testament, which is seen in the Gospel with the calling of the Apostles by Jesus. From the beginning God has called men to serve Him; He continues to do so today when He calls men to serve as priests. All my predecessor pastors here at SVdP and SSPP, all the priests serving in our diocese, and I all experienced that call. Certainly, such a call is felt in the heart of a man; it is an interior and personal experience. Nevertheless, in order to ensure that such a call is authentic, it needs to be confirmed by those to whom the Lord entrusted His pastoral care. In the case of Sunday’s first reading, it was Eli who helped Samuel discern that God was calling him. In the Church today the Bishop has that responsibility. He will often appoint others to assist him in this important task. Fr. Nate Kuhn, our Diocesan Vocation Director, visits all our seminarians during the school year (we have men studying at several seminaries), confers with their teachers and spiritual advisors, and ensures that each seminarian is receiving the proper academic, human, and spiritual formation necessary for him to discern his calling to the priesthood. Fr. Kuhn also works with the parish priests, and the Chaplains at our Catholic High Schools and Newman University parishes, to make more young men aware of the need for good priests and the need for each of them to consider his own vocation. Continue to pray for all our diocesan seminarians. And pray that they, and all young men and women, will be given the courage to consider well the plan that God has for them. Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent, is just a month away! In preparation for Lent I’m asking that you collect your palms from past years’ Palm Sunday, and place them in the box provided in the gather space (SVdP) and Holy Family Cenacle (SSPP). We will burn them after Mass on Sunday, February 11, and the ashes used to mark our heads on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller Dead Theologians Society January 10, 6:30pm in the SSPP Church basement DTS is a youth group for middle and high schoolers from around the deanery. Like the first Christians under persecution, the DTS meets in a catacomb-like space, learns about God and his saints, and chants praises to God. There is plenty of pizza and fun, too! Mark Twain once said, “When I was 18, I thought my father was an old fool. When I turned 21, I was surprised at how much he had learned in 3 years.” The book of Sirach (today’s optional first reading, Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14) teaches a truth that Mark Twain apparently eventually learned. To respect and honor one’s parents is not only a commandment from God; it is also just and good. The admonition to “care for your father when he is old” takes on an even greater urgency in our own culture where more people are living longer. A number of cultural changes make fulfilling this commandment seemingly more difficult. Among these are: fewer children (to take care of aging parents), more mobility (children live hundreds or thousands of miles from parents), and a cultural attitude which more and more considers “unproductive” persons as a burden on society. To address these issues the Church must integrate the truth of God’s Word with wise planning. It is encouraging to see efforts made to make “homes for the aged” much more like homes. I have heard and read of such homes being built near elementary schools so that both the young and the old benefit from each other’s presence. This seems like a good idea. Still, the best choice ought to be for the family itself to take care of aging parents. Though not always possible – especially when medical care is needed – the care of aging parents within the home can be a true blessing to the whole family. God promises a blessing upon those who honor their parents.
According to IRS regulations, donations to our parish must be received (or postmarked) by December 31, 2023 in order to be considered a charitable gift for the current tax year. Your financial support of St. Vincent de Paul and SS Peter & Paul Parish is needed and is deeply appreciated! On behalf of Fr. Daniel Williams, Deacons Jerry Ruesch & Tony Biolo and all the staff, I want to thank you for the many Christmas gifts, cards, and greetings we have received. May God bless you and your family during this Holy Season of Christmas! And may 2024 be a year of grace, peace, and blessing!! May God bless you! Fr. Schaller Job Opening Eastside Parishes Secretary Part-time: 16-20 hours per week Contact the parish office for more information or to apply. Mary, the Mother of God Monday, January 1 MASS SCHEDULE 8am @ SS Peter & Paul Due to this Solemnity falling on a Monday, this is not a Holy Day pof Obligation this year. The first reading for the Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent (from the second book of Samuel) records the conversation between King David and (through the prophet Nathan) God. David, having firmly established his reign, now decides that he should build a house (Temple) suitable for the Ark of the Covenant. The prophet conveys to David God’s message that He (God) will instead establish a house for David. This use of the word “house” refers to the royal line of succession - like the “House of Windsor” in the British Monarchy. God promises David that “your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me.” (2 Samuel 7:16) This promise - made nearly a thousand years before the birth of Christ - is fulfilled in the account recorded in today’s Gospel. God, speaking through His messenger, the angel Gabriel, announces that Mary is to bear a son. “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father....” (Luke 1:32) The Church marks the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord with four Masses: Christmas Vigil Mass, Mass at Midnight, Mass at Dawn, and Mass during the Day. (Both the Lumen Christi Missal and the Missalette provide the different antiphons and Scripture readings for each Mass.) And we will celebrate three here at SSPP & SVdP: 4:30pm Vigil (SVdP), Mass at Midnight (SSPP), and Christmas Day at 9:00am (SSPP) and 9:30am (SVdP). There remains still many troubles in this world, but we still celebrate the Birth of our Lord! I have fond memories from my childhood of attending Midnight Mass with my family, and then again on Christmas day. Though there is no requirement to do so, I would still encourage you to attend a Christmas Day Mass even if you attended Mass during the previous eve. You may want to foster (or renew) this beautiful custom with your family. Be assured that, with Father Williams, Deacons Jerry Ruesch and Tony Biolo and all the staff, I will be pray- ing for all the people of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saints Peter & Paul Church during this Holy Season. May God grant you a Blessed Christmas and a Holy New Year! May God bless you! Fr. Schaller |