​Download Our New Parish App!

Our new St. John the Baptist & Christ the King Parish app is now available to download for iPhone and Android smart phones. Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, homilies, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

Help foster a stronger parish life at St. John the Baptist and Christ the King Parishes and better engage the New Evangelization.

Download our app today at myparishapp.com or search your phone's app store for myparish.

At the conclusion of the Easter season we celebrate in the Church the Ascension of our Lord, when Jesus returned to Heaven to be with His Heavenly Father.

The event is recorded in the book of Acts:

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.

While the apostles would have wanted Jesus to remain with them in physical form for the rest of their lives, He did not leave them to fend for themselves. Jesus knew that His disciples needed extra help in their mission of preaching and teaching and so He promised the Holy Spirit, or in other places called the Advocate.

These words of Jesus prepare the apostles for what would happen at Pentecost, when they would finally receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In the liturgy the Ascension of Jesus is celebrated with great joy and solemnity. This seems strange as one would think that Jesus leaving the apostles would be a time of mourning and loss. However, the angels who appeared to the apostles reminded them that this is only temporary and that Jesus will come again.

It is not like Good Friday, which commemorates a great tragedy, but instead focuses on the glory of Jesus' second coming and the promise of the Holy Spirit. The day also foreshadows our own promise of future glory, as the opening prayer at Mass prays:

Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God,
and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for the ascension of Christ your son
is our exaltation,
and, where the head has gone before in glory,
the Body is called to follow in hope.
Through our lord Jesus Christ, your son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The celebration reminds us that we too are not meant to remain on this earth, but are meant to be with Jesus in Heaven. We may be sad that Jesus did not remain on earth in physical form, but He only went to Heaven because He wants us to be with Him for all eternity.

To help us on our long and arduous road of life, Jesus gave us a Helper to assist us on our journey to Heaven. In our next article, we will look at who the Holy Spirit is and how He continues to help us and the Church draw closer to eternity.

Read the Entire Series

• Don't Forget to Feast!
• The Liturgy that Lasts Three Days!
• Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus During Holy Week
• What is Almsgiving?
• Why Do We Abstain from Meat on Fridays?
• Entering into a Prayerful Lent: Stations of the Cross
• What is the Purpose of Lent?
• What is Ordinary Time All About?
• The Epiphany Blessing - A Beautiful Tradition During the Christmas Season
• The Prophecy is Fulfilled: The Joyous Christmas Season
• The Start of a New Year - Advent
• The Liturgical Year - Christ's Life Relived Each Year

Come celebrate with us the Eucharist including the Sacrament of the Sick on Wednesday, July 27th at 9:00am. We extend a special invitation to the sick and homebound who feel well enough to come. Transportation to and from St. John’s will again be available. Please call the parish office 715-384-3252 ext. 2, Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm if you would like a ride to Church for this occasion or if you wish to volunteer to drive. 

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 July 27th 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. 

Save the Date! St. John’s Parish Picnic - August 14th, 2016 Plans are gearing up for our fifth annual church picnic! We’ll gather on Aug.14th from 4:00 - 7:00pm between the church and the school. This is a great chance for us once again to come together as a parish family and celebrate the faith that unites us! There will be food, fun, and plenty of fellowship. Come rain or shine. Andy Wanta will entertain us on his concertina and new this year, Raised Reckless. More information about sign up and how you can help will be coming soon! 

Bible Study Planned This Fall! Mark your calendar for Sept. 11th as that will be when the Great Adventure Matthew: the King and His Kingdom bible study will begin. More information is forthcoming! 

Come and experience the power of God and be renewed and strengthened to share God's love and peace in a troubled world. Pope Saint John Paul II Perpetual Adoration Chapel needs adorers: Mondays at 3-4pm or Fridays from 9-10pm. Contact Jean Kaiser at 715-387-0571 or Dale Garfield at 715-383-2262 for additional information or to schedule your holy hour, "the best time you will spend on earth". The Pope Saint John Paul II adoration Chapel is located at 510 South Columbus Ave. in Marshfield, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all are welcome to visit and pray anytime! 

Mercy & Mary Weekend Retreat for Adults: Join the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy for a weekend retreat featuring Fr. Gaitley, MIC. Retreat to be held from Fri., Aug. 5th through Sun., Aug. 7th at the University of Stevens Point. Final date to register online is July 20th. For more information or to register go to: http:// events.marianmissionaries.org/events/mercy-mary-weekend-retreat- stevens-point-wi ​

News from the USCCB:
USCCB President Calls For Dialogue, Peace In The Midst Of Violence WASHINGTON- Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement in relation to the July 17 fatal shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge, Lousiana...Read More
​
News from the Pope: 
Pope sends video message to WYD participants and to the Polish nation - Pope Francis has sent his personal greetings to young people from throughout the world gathering in Krakow for World Youth Day and to all the people of the “beloved Polish nation” as he prepares to travel to Poland next week....Read More

News from the Church: 
Harrisburg's Msgr. Vincent Topper Is Oldest and Longest-Serving Priest in U.S. - Just shy of his 104th birthday, Msgr. Vincent Topper says of his 80-year vocation, ‘I tried to be a good priest and to bring others to Christ.’....Read more

Youth Servers: The Sept. - Dec. serving schedule is being put together. Please call the parish office if you would like to switch Mass times or if you know of any dates that you will not be available. If you are in fourth grade or older and are interested in becoming a server, please call the Parish office at 715-384-9565. Thank You!
​
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. All registration forms should be turned in by July 15th. Questions? Call Heather Adler at 715-897-1941. 

Heart Retreat ~ Saturday, July 23rd, 10am to 8pm This amazing day is open to students entering 7th - 12th grade. A day to relax, have fun, and discover the closeness of God. Enjoy kayaking, live music, games, and ultimate frisbee. The goal of this retreat is to answer the question "What is in your heart?", and will focus on learning what it means to give God your heart. This is a free retreat hosted by Sacred Heart and Corpus Christi Youth Ministry in collaboration with the Youth Ministers of the Marshfield Catholic Deanery. Complete registration is required, and space is limited to 20 participants. Register Online at sacredheartmarshfield.org 

Share Your Cans Please drop off your empty aluminum cans in the can cage next to the rectory garage. The profits help youth attending the World Youth Day Pilgrimage with the Pope this summer 
​
Totus Tuus - Sacred Heart, Marshfield will offer a Catholic Youth Summer Program from July 31st - Aug. 5th. The children’s day session will begin on Aug. 1st and will run from 9am - 2:30pm. This program is free and will include a meal and snacks. The evening program for teens will begin July 31st (6:30-8:30pm) and go until Thurs. Aug. 4th. Snacks will be provided. This program is limited to 100 children. For more information or to register please call Kim at 715-884-2127. ​

While we seem to always remember to fast during Lent, few realize that the fasting we do is in preparation for the great feasting of Easter.

As Catholics, we know that our short lives on earth are a preparation for eternity and fasting is one way to prepare for our eternal home. However, in the process we forget that our ultimate hope of Heaven is not at all linked with fasting. In fact, it is the exact opposite; Heaven is referred to as the "Wedding Feast of the Lamb."

Now, feasting on earth does not mean gorging ourselves so much that we get sick. To feast as a Catholic means to enjoy the wonderful fruits of the earth with family and friends in a way that does not put the focus on food, but on the celebration.

Easter is a time to celebrate; it is a time to rejoice in the beauty and glory of the Resurrection. It is a time where we eagerly anticipate the joys of Heaven that Christ won for us on the cross.

That is why Lent is 40 days long and Easter is 50 days long! Our joys are meant to surpass our sufferings and sorrows!

We are an "Eater People" and feasting is an important aspect of Catholic life. It is not sinful to enjoy food and the Church has never been against eating delicious feasts.

So remember, fasting is always followed by a feast and reminds us of an important fact of life: the sufferings of this life are meant to be followed by the joys of Heaven.

Read the Entire Series

• The Liturgy that Lasts Three Days!
  
• Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus During Holy Week
• What is Almsgiving?
• Why Do We Abstain from Meat on Fridays?
• Entering into a Prayerful Lent: Stations of the Cross
• What is the Purpose of Lent?
• What is Ordinary Time All About?
• The Epiphany Blessing - A Beautiful Tradition During the Christmas Season
• The Prophecy is Fulfilled: The Joyous Christmas Season
• The Start of a New Year - Advent
• The Liturgical Year - Christ's Life Relived Each Year

Save the Date! St. John’s Parish Picnic - August 14th, 2016 Plans are gearing up for our fifth annual church picnic! We’ll gather on Aug.14th from 4:00 - 7:00pm between the church and the school. This is a great chance for us once again to come together as a parish family and celebrate the faith that unites us! There will be food, fun, and plenty of fellowship. Come rain or shine. Andy Wanta will entertain us on his concertina and new this year, Raised Reckless. More information about sign up and how you can help will be coming soon! 

Praise for the Parish Pull: Congratulations to all who had a hand in the 4th annual Parish Pull – it was the best one yet! Praise God for the weather that allowed us to host over 3,000 eager pulling fans. Every year I have to come up with new superlatives as I attempt to express my gratitude to each of you who generously volunteered. I think of all the good that comes from this event and am proud to see so many St. John’s parishioners selflessly doing their part. I did my best to get around and thank each of our volunteers personally – if I missed you, please know of my sincere gratitude. Oh, and for those who measure success by numbers, it was far and away the biggest crowd, the most pullers, and the most money raised for Columbus Catholic Schools, the Opportunity Development Center, and the Marshfield Area Respite Care Center. A safe bet is that we cleared $35,000.00 – all for the greater glory and honor of God!
​
Parachute with the Angels: Help us provide an outstanding Vacation Bible School experience for our young people by taking an “ornament” off of our tree (located in the back of church) and either purchase or donate money for the item listed. Please, return the item to the box provided, or place the money in a marked envelope in the collection by July 17th. 

Come celebrate with us the Eucharist including the Sacrament of the Sick on Wednesday, July 27th at 9:00am. We extend a special invitation to the sick and homebound who feel well enough to come. Transportation to and from St. John’s will again be available. Please call the parish office 715-384-3252 ext. 2, Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm if you would like a ride to Church for this occasion or if you wish to volunteer to drive. 

Women at the Well is a lay apostolate whose mission is to provide direction, hope and healing to women whose lives have taken a turn for reasons they may or may not understand and who, as a result, are experiencing emotional and/or spiritual distress. The goals of the ministry are to support women who are suffering by applying biblical and ecclesial principles to their lives and their situations through prayer and individual work with reliance on the Holy Spirit. It is not professional therapy, but an opportunity to "drink from" rather than "jump in". All sessions and inquiries are 100% confidential. Questions? Please call: 715-305-2261. The next meeting for WAW will be Thursday, July 21st and will meet in St. Francis Hall.

Come and experience the power of God and be renewed and strengthened to share God's love and peace in a troubled world. Pope Saint John Paul II Perpetual Adoration Chapel needs adorers: Mondays at 3-4pm or Fridays from 9-10pm. Contact Jean Kaiser at 715-387-0571 or Dale Garfield at 715-383-2262 for additional information or to schedule your holy hour, "the best time you will spend on earth". The Pope Saint John Paul II adoration Chapel is located at 510 South Columbus Ave. in Marshfield, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all are welcome to visit and pray anytime! 

Mercy & Mary Weekend Retreat for Adults: Join the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy for a weekend retreat featuring Fr. Gaitley, MIC. Retreat to be held from Fri., Aug. 5th through Sun., Aug. 7th at the University of Stevens Point. Final date to register online is July 20th. For more information or to register go to: http:// events.marianmissionaries.org/events/mercy-mary-weekend-retreat- stevens-point-wi ​