A note from Fr. Maria Dass: Thanks a lot for all your love and prayers. It was a joyful experience with you. Please keep me daily in your Holy Rosary. I do keep you all in my Holy Mass. Thanks a lot. You inspired me. Truly, Fr. Maria Dass

Calling all intercessors: St. John’s is blessed to have not one, but two prayer chains! Of all the ways we can live our faith, praying for others is one of the most effective and fruitful. Do you sense the Holy Spirit inviting you to join this illustrious group and help people in their time of need? If so, please contact Ann Bohnert at 715-389-2726 or Jane Gerend at 715-387-2019. The work you’ll be doing requires making a phone call and then storming Heaven with your prayers. This announcement means we could use more prayer partners and if you’re reading this, God has His eye on you!

Upcoming Jubilee of Mercy Events with Bishop Callahan: Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 3rd at Sacred Heart parish in Eau Claire at 12:00 p.m. If you cannot attend, consider joining our neighbors to the south for their patronal feast day Mass at 5:30 p.m. on June 3rd. Mass on Sunday, September 4th at the Cathedral in La Crosse will celebrate Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s canonization. This Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Callahan at 10:30 a.m. and all are invited to attend. 

Baptism Class for those requesting the baptism of their children will take place Tuesday, June 7, 5:30-8:00pm in Columbia Room. Pre-registration is required and you can do so by calling 715-384- 9565 ext 2. For those not registered in the parish, information will be given on how to do so. This class is for all parents of their first child and/or those who have not yet taken Father Martin’s Baptismal class

Save the dates: Our 4th Annual Parish Pull is scheduled for Friday, July 8th. Our 5th annual church picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 14th. It’s not too early to mark your calendar and imagine all the fun we’ll have together this summer

Attention Engaged Couples: Registration is now open for the Married Love: Two Becoming One classes in Marshfield starting this fall. The dates for 2016-2017 are: August 20th, November 5th, February 18th, and April 8th. Couples should first contact their priest and then plan to attend a class at least six months before their wedding. Register early because classes fill quickly. To register, contact Alanna Hart at hart_alanna@yahoo.com or 715-650-7310. 

Please consider signing up for one hour a week to adore our Lord. Openings are Fri. from 8-9am, Sat. 7-8pm and Sun. 1-2pm at Pope St. John Paul II Chapel. Why Adore: "It is a privilege that I cannot pass up that I could spend personal time with the God of the Universe face to face. Jesus is with us in spirit anytime, anyplace. Here He is with us in full comprehension." Call Jean at 715-387-0571 or Dale at 715-383-2262 for your holy hour or more information. ​

Parachute with the Angels and St. Catherine Labouré is the theme of this summer’s Vacation Bible School/Kidz Camp. This camp is for ages 3 through 6th grade and will be held from July 25th - 29th. Needed this year are teen helpers! If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, call Heather at 715-897-1941.

Captive Car Wash & Bake Sale – Sun., June 5th All cars parked in the parking lot during the 9 & 11am Masses will be washed by the young people participating in a Catholic Camp, Conference or World Youth Day Pilgrimage this summer. This car wash is a way to raise awareness through service as well as invite those who are interested to help them financially by a free-will offering at the exit. The same youth will also be holding a bake sale after all Sunday Masses. Contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber at 715-384-4989 x3, 715-659-4480 x4 or yministry@frontier.com if you have any questions. 

One tradition that occurs near the end of the Christmas Season is the annual blessing of homes around the Feast of the Epiphany. It is a beautiful tradition, because not only does it place God at the entrance of your home, it places your entire family under the protection of the Almighty and sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Before we look at how to administer the Epiphany blessing, let us briefly look at a passage from Scripture that reinforces the importance of this tradition:

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt…“Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household…and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening. Then they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them….In this manner you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you.” (Exodus 12:1-13, emphasis added)

It is no coincidence that the Epiphany blessing is traditionally written on the lintel of the main doorway and even some of the prayers echo God’s words of protection that He gave to Moses. While the Epiphany blessing was not given to us in the same manner as it was to Moses, the Church provides it for our own spiritual benefit. The Church desires our salvation and so gives us beautiful sacramentals to assist us along the path to Eternal Life.

Traditionally, a priest blesses chalk on the Feast of the Epiphany. The blessing is as follows (from the Roman Ritual):

Bless, + O Lord God, this creature, chalk, and let it be a help to mankind. Grant that those who will use it with faith in your most holy name, and with it inscribe on the doors of their homes the names of your saints, Casper, Melchior, and Baltassar, may through their merits and intercession enjoyhealth in body and protection of soul; through Christ our Lord.
​
Once you acquire the blessed chalk, either a priest or “head of the household” can bless the home in the following manner:


Upon entering the house:

Priest/Father: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.
Priest: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

All: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name. And His Mercy is from generation unto generations upon them that fear Him. He hath shewed might in His arm, He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our Fathers, Abraham and His seed forever.
After this is completed:

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
Priest: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Priest: All they from Saba shall come
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Priest: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Priest:
Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Priest: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Priest: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, walk through the house and bless each room by sprinkling with Epiphany/holy water and incensing it.

Take the blessed chalk and first write the initials of the three Wise Men, connected with Crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible). Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year so that they fall on both sides of the initials. It should look like this, for example

20 C+M+B 16

with the “20 “being the millennium and century, the “C” standing for the first Wise Man, Caspar, the “M” standing for Melchior, the “B” standing for Balthasar, and the “16” standing for the decade and year. It is also popularly believed that the Kings’ initials stand for “Christus mansionem benedicat” (“Christ bless this house”).

In the past, priests would visit each home in their parish after the Feast of the Epiphany, but it became more difficult to do that as parishes became larger and larger. That is why the “head of the household” (which if you are single or a widow is yourself) is permitted to do this blessing in place of the priest.

As a family, it is a beautiful tradition that gains more significance each year. The children enjoy it and you can always add Christmas hymns to help the younger children participate.

This blessing brings many graces upon those who practice it in faith and protects them from any spiritual enemies that may be lurking around.


Read the Entire Series

• The Prophecy is Fulfilled: The Joyous Christmas Season
• The Start of a New Year - Advent
• The Liturgical Year - Christ's Life Relived Each Year

Calling all intercessors: St. John’s is blessed to have not one, but two prayer chains! Of all the ways we can live our faith, praying for others is one of the most effective and fruitful. Do you sense the Holy Spirit inviting you to join this illustrious group and help people in their time of need? If so, please contact Ann Bohnert at 715-389-2726 or Jane Gerend at 715-387-2019. The work you’ll be doing requires making a phone call and then storming Heaven with your prayers. This announcement means we could use more prayer partners and if you’re reading this, God has His eye on you!

Upcoming Jubilee of Mercy Events with Bishop Callahan: Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 3rd at Sacred Heart parish in Eau Claire at 12:00 p.m. If you cannot attend, consider joining our neighbors to the south for their patronal feast day Mass at 5:30 p.m. on June 3rd. Mass on Sunday, September 4th at the Cathedral in La Crosse will celebrate Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s canonization. This Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Callahan at 10:30 a.m. and all are invited to attend. 

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is beginning on September 8th, 2016 with full entrance into the church occurring at Easter of 2017. RCIA is the process whereby a person learns about the beautiful Catholic faith that we sometimes take for granted. Please pick up a brochure at the entrance of the church if you or someone you know is interested in becoming Catholic or if you just want to deepen your understanding of the faith. This will be an excellent way to grow closer to God by learning about Catholicism and how it promotes heroic goodness! For more information, contact Dcn. Jeff Austin at 715-676-3186 or Jane Gerend at 715-387-2019. 

St. John’s Parish Family has the opportunity to aid the less fortunate in our area by serving a fellowship meal in the Gathering Room of St. Vincent de Paul Center. We meet on May 25th, at 3pm to set up, serve the meal at 5pm and finish with clean-up by 6:30pm. If you are able to help, call Jane at 715-387-2019 

Baptism Class for those requesting the baptism of their children will take place Tuesday, June 7, 5:30-8:00pm in Columbia Room. Pre-registration is required and you can do so by calling 715-384- 9565 ext 2. For those not registered in the parish, information will be given on how to do so. This class is for all parents of their first child and/or those who have not yet taken Father Martin’s Baptismal class

Save the dates: Our 4th Annual Parish Pull is scheduled for Friday, July 8th. Our 5th annual church picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 14th. It’s not too early to mark your calendar and imagine all the fun we’ll have together this summer

Attention Engaged Couples: Registration is now open for the Married Love: Two Becoming One classes in Marshfield starting this fall. The dates for 2016-2017 are: August 20th, November 5th, February 18th, and April 8th. Couples should first contact their priest and then plan to attend a class at least six months before their wedding. Register early because classes fill quickly. To register, contact Alanna Hart at hart_alanna@yahoo.com or 715-650-7310. 

Please consider signing up for one hour a week to adore our Lord. Openings are Fri. from 8-9am, Sat. 7-8pm and Sun. 1-2pm at Pope St. John Paul II Chapel. Why Adore: "It is a privilege that I cannot pass up that I could spend personal time with the God of the Universe face to face. Jesus is with us in spirit anytime, anyplace. Here He is with us in full comprehension." Call Jean at 715-387-0571 or Dale at 715-383-2262 for your holy hour or more information. 

News from the USCCB:
USCCB Chairmen Respond to Administration's New Guidance Letter on Title IX Application - WASHINGTON—Two Committee chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement in response to guidance issued May 13 by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education entitled "Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students":
The Catholic Church consistently affirms the inherent dignity of each and every human person and advocates for the wellbeing of all people, particularly the most vulnerable. Especially at a young age and in schools, it is important that our children understand the depth of God's love for them and their intrinsic worth and beauty. Children should always be and feel safe and secure and know they are loved.
The guidance issued May 13 by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education that treats "a student's gender identity as the student's sex" is deeply disturbing....Read More
News from the Vatican:
Pope Francis: ‘To ignore the poor is to despise God’ - Speaking on Wednesday morning at the weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square the Pope also decried the inequality and contradictions in the world as he reflected on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. He noted that the lives of these two people...Read MoreNews from the Church:
Professional Soccer Player Returns to His Fans in Chile — as a Priest - SANTIAGO, Chile — With a Mass celebrated in the chapel where he used to pray, former soccer star Chase Hilgenbrinck was reunited recently with the faithful, friends and fans — not as a soccer star, but as a priest.
Before he was Father Hilgenbrinck, the American was a successful pro-soccer player who spent four seasons in Chile before returning to the United States. He played for the New England Revolution team before experiencing a call to the priesthood and leaving behind his soccer career to enter seminary. In 2014, he was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., where he currently serves...Read more

Near the end of December, Advent gives way to the joyous time of Christmas. It is a beautiful time of year to celebrate the brith of Christ; the coming of our Savior into the world.

Christmas is a feast that teaches us many spiritual truths, including the reality that we must become "little" to enter into the Kingdom of God. As the Catechism notes:

"526 To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom. For this, we must humble ourselves and become little. Even more: to become "children of God" we must be "born from above" or "born of God". Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us. Christmas is the mystery of this "marvelous exchange": 

O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity."

The English word "Christmas," comes from the Old English CrÄ«stesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass." This focuses our attention on how we should celebrate the feast of Christmas, namely, by attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where Christ comes again in the Holy Eucharist.

The Church gives us three separate Masses to celebrate on Christmas, each with their own readings:Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, and Mass during Christmas Day. A highlight of theses three Masses is the Midnight Mass. It is at this Mass that we commemorate the approximate time of Christ's birth as it is believed He was born in the middle of the night.

The liturgical season of Christmas, contrary to popular belief, does not end on December 26th. While it is one of the shorter seasons of the year, it extends all the way to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January. Additionally, because of the solemnity of Christmas, it is given an "octave," which means that the eight days following Christmas are celebrated as if it was Christmas. The "Gloria" is said/sung on each of these eight days and the readings at Mass revolve around the mystery of Christ's birth. If we were to celebrate the Octave of Christmas in our homes in a similar manner to how we celebrate it in the liturgy at church, we would open presents every day for eight straight days!

During the Christmas season, there are the feasts of the Holy Family, Mary, Mother of God and theEpiphany of Our Lord. These three feasts enrich our understanding of Christmas and help us deepen our love of God and the Incarnation.

The color for the season of Christmas is white and signifies purity, light and celebration. Jesus is known as the "light of the world," who came to shatter our darkness, and so we celebrate His brith by using white in the liturgy.

While the Christmas season is focused on the beginning of our salvation, it also foreshadows what is to come in Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. The gifts of the Magi are the most obvious signs of what is to come, symbolizing Christ's kingship (gold), priesthood (frankincense) and burial (myrrh). So even though it is a joyous time of celebration, Christmas prepares us for the somber season of Lent and gives us a foretaste of the even more joyous season of Easter.

​Read the Entire Series

• The Start of a New Year - Advent
• The Liturgical Year - Christ's Life Relived Each Year