 PCCW - All SS Peter & Paul Units 6:00pm, Thu, Oct. 13 @ SSPP church basement All ladies of the parish are asked to attend. We are working on the plans for the DCCW deanery meeting & dinner held here at SSPP next Apr. 27, 2023. All your help is needed to make this project a success.  105th Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun 5pm, Thu, Oct. 13 @ St. Philip, Rudolph In honor of Our Lady of Fatima, all are invited to come & pray with us, beginning with Mass. The evening will also include Enrollment in the Brown Scapular Confraternity, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, & Benediction.  While reading through the Gospels one regularly encounters references to the Samaritans and the strained relations that the Jews had with them. The source of the conflict goes back more than 700 years before the time of Christ. The original 12 Tribes of Israel had split into two separate nations: ten Tribes to the north, and two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) to the south. The northern kingdom had been defeated by the Assyrians around 722 B.C. The Assyrians forcibly moved many of the people to other lands (the “lost tribes of Israel”) and moved five foreign peoples into the area. The resulting “mixed” population led to a compromise of their faith. Because of this compromise, the two southern Tribes (the Jews – descendants of Judah) would no longer have anything to do with the Samaritans (of Samaria) to the north. Now, at the time of Jesus – more than 700 years later – there still exists great hostility between them. Talk about holding a grudge! But in today’s Gospel, it is the lone Samaritan among the ten lepers healed that returns to give thanks to God. It is one more example of how even those (especially those?!) who have been estranged from God are most open to being reconciled to Him.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has stated, “The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent and treasure.” I want to express my deep gratitude to our parishioners who generously support the works of the Church; and in a particular way those who have already returned their pledge card for the Inspired by the Spirit Capital Campaign. If you have not yet returned your pledge card, I hope you will consider a generous gift, according to your means. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller  Calvary Cemetery Fall Cleanup! 9am-Noon, Sat, Oct. 8 @ Calvary Cemetery Bring your rakes, work gloves, trash bags, mowers, leaf blowers, & a smile :) to help us in our cemetery Fall Cleanup. Cookout to end cleanup!  We have a beautiful passage from Saint Paul’s second letter to Timothy in today’s second reading. “Beloved: I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” Paul wrote three personal letters which are contained in the New Testament – two to Timothy, and one to Titus – which scholars refer to as the “Pastoral letters”, since they contain instructions on how to be good shepherds (pastores in Latin) for Christ’s flock, the Church. This passage recalls how Timothy was ordained to be the bishop to the Church in Ephesus: by the laying on of hands. These three letters – and in a special way, this passage – remain an excellent reminder for all ordained ministers: deacons, priests, and bishops; and a source of encouragement for them in difficult times. We continue to experience the suffering in the Church in the United States brought about by the reported instances of priestly sexual abuse and misconduct in 2002 (and subsequently). Though the instances of such abuse in our Diocese have been fewer than in other dioceses, they still constitute a grave harm to the victims and to the whole Church. And the burdens of pastoral ministry, which are already great because of the shortage of priests, were increased because of this public scandal. And yet, this has also brought about needed purification in the Church. The young men responding to the call to the priesthood seem more intent upon embracing a way of life which gives clear witness to their love of the Catholic Faith and fidelity to the demands of the priestly life. Please pray for our diocesan seminarians, especially for Jared Clements and Isaac Pecha ordained Deacons in Rome this past Thursday. And pray for our Bishop, William Callahan, and all our priests (including your pastor!), that they may “stir into flame the gift of God” which they received at their ordination, and that God will strengthen them to be faithful shepherds of Christ’s flock.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has stated, “The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well -being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent and treasure.” How do you share your gifts? Do you do it consistently? I welcome Fr. Paul Farin from Cross Catholic Outreach to our parish. He is here this weekend on behalf of the poor in developing countries. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller  Who is responsible for the care of the poor? That isn’t the easiest question to answer. But today’s readings (from the prophet Amos and the story of Lazarus and the Rich man in the Gospel) make it abundantly clear that those who believe in God – and especially followers of Jesus Christ – must respond to these social needs. There is both a personal and a corporate responsibility which our Faith places upon us. In a country where many social programs (supported by our taxes) are provided by government, there is a tendency to shift all responsibility to the corporate. “Why doesn’t the government do something about this?” is a typical response. The Church fully recognizes that many types of social needs can and should be handled by individuals, while others must be addressed by a larger social organization. This is called the “principle of subsidiarity”. A simple example of that is the way we take care of roads. Individuals cannot pave and maintain roads. It is necessary for larger social structures to do this. So, it is proper and sensible that city governments take care of city streets, the county takes care of county roads, and the state cares for its highways. It is evident that we don’t want the federal government to be responsible for city streets. (They would never get plowed in winter!) And individuals should take care of their own driveways. Likewise, our Christian charity begins at home. It is right and good that one cares first for his family, then those in need with whom he comes in contact – the “Lazarus” next door or down the street. But we shouldn’t leave the corporate action of caring for the needy only to government. The whole Church (through the parish, diocese, or even larger combined efforts of the faithful of a whole country) needs to act in those cases where individual action is insufficient. That is part of the wisdom of our Diocesan Annual Appeal: through our combined efforts we can supply the means to assist many people in need who would otherwise be left unaided. “Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied graces: whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever.” (1 Peter 4:9-11)
I leave tomorrow (Monday) with our group for an 11- day pilgrimage to Italy. The highlight will be the diaconate ordination at St. Peter’s Basilica of two of our men from the diocese. My thanks to the priests who will be assisting during my absence. Please note several changes of the confession and daily Mass schedule while I’m gone. Arrivederci! May God bless you! Fr. Schaller  1-2pm, Sun, Oct. 2 @ Riverview Expressway Bridge Gather 12:45pm @ River Hill Dental parking lot A life chain will be held commemorating the lives lost to abortion & to pray for an end to abortion. Everyone is welcome to join us.  Wisconsin Rapids Area Serra Club 11:45am, 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.  Today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus recounts the dialogue between God and Moses while Moses was on Mount Sinai. The Chosen People of Israel, having grown impatient because Moses had been gone for so long, have Aaron fashion a golden calf which they then begin to worship. I’ve always found this passage to be a humorous presentation of a serious issue. God tells Moses to “go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.” But Moses responds, “Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt...” It seems as if neither God nor Moses wants to take responsibility for these people! In the end, of course, God was faithful to His promise to the Chosen People and eventually led them to the Promised Land. Despite their sins (for which they deserved, and received, punishment), the Lord remained their loving Father. The Lord does not abandon the lost. Jesus’ parable (in today’s Gospel) confirms this truth. No matter where we might wander, or for how long we might wander from God, He remains our loving Father – our Good Shepherd – Who always seeks out the lost and rejoices in their return.
We marked the anniversary of the terrorist attack on our country today, September 11. The passage of these 21 years does not diminish the shock, outrage, and anger that many rightly experienced after this deliberate assault against our country, and the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Make no mistake about it: the direct and intentional killing of innocent people is evil. It is a moral evil, since it was the act of men, who are moral agents. The brunt of violent and radical Islamism seems to have shifted more to Africa, where our Christian brothers and sisters continue to suffer much from terrible attacks. Please continue to pray for them, and those in the Middle East, who witness to the Faith by the shedding of their blood. May God bless you! Fr. Schaller  PCCW - New Member Social
5:30pm, Thu, Sep. 15 @ SSPP church basement All women of the parish who would like to connect with the Parish Council of Catholic Women are invited. Please join us! PCCW - All SS Peter & Paul Units 6:00pm, Thu, Sep. 15 @ SSPP church basement We are starting to plan the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) deanery convention held here at SSPP next April 2023. All ladies of the parish are asked to attend to help plan this big event. St. Gianna’s Unit 4 will be our hostess. |