St John the Baptist Catholic Church
  • Home
  • Bulletin
  • Parish News
    • Virtual Tour
    • Parish Blog
    • From the Pastor >
      • Welcome
      • Father's Homilies
      • Parish Mission 2020
      • Parish Mission 2018
      • Parish Mission 2014
    • Parish History >
      • Brief Parish History
      • Extensive Parish Histories
      • Parish Directories
      • Parish History Photo Gallery
    • Past Events
    • Sacred Restoration
    • Staff Directory
    • Parish Committees >
      • Family Life
      • Social Justice
  • Ministries
    • Prayer Chain
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • Mission Team
    • Marriage Resources
    • Ministry Schedules >
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Lector Schedule
      • Server Schedule
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Holy Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Holy Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
    • Sacrament of the Sick
  • Religious Education
    • First Communion 2020 >
      • More from July 12 ...
      • More from August 16 ...
    • Marshfield Faith Formation
    • Cherubs
    • Catholic Kids Camp / VBS
    • Columbus Catholic Schools
    • MERIT - for Special Needs
    • Ongoing Education
  • Evangelization/Youth Ministry
    • Formed.org
    • Youth Group
    • Small Groups
    • Adventure Camp
    • Serving the Community >
      • Rotary Winter Wonderland
      • SVDP Fellowship Meal
    • Fundraising Opportunities

From the Desk of Father Martin, December 25

12/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Merry Christmas! One year I heard a man recalling one of his fondest memories of Christmas: he was serving in the military and had to work Christmas Eve in the news room. It was generally a very chaotic place, with messages coming and going from all over the world. That evening, however, the room gradually became quieter until it was almost completely silent. Periodically a message came through: “Merry Christmas from General Smith to General Anderson.” Then later, “The troops of the 105th send their fondest wishes to their families on this holy night of Christmas.” The man telling the story said it was the only time he ever could recall such peace in the world, and it all had to do with a baby born 20 centuries ago in a place very few even knew existed. Another beautiful story comes from a book titled, The Pope and the Ceo by Andreas Widmer. Widmer was a member of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican for two years and described his first Christmas away from home. He was only 20 years old and extremely homesick. Because he was one of the newest recruits, he got the unenviable task of working Christmas Eve. Having just got off the phone with his family, he spent the shift crying and feeling pretty sorry for himself. About 10:00 p.m. Pope John Paul II came out of his apartment on his way to getting ready for Midnight Mass. Here’s Widmer’s account of what happened next: “As he came out, he paused about twenty feet from me. He looked at me for some time without saying anything. Then he spoke. “You’re new! What’s your name?” he asked. I told him and he came closer, peering into my reddened eyes. He immediately understood what was going on and said, “This is your first Christmas away from home, isn’t it?” I replied in the affirmative, barely holding back tears as I answered. Yet again, he stepped closer, pausing just inches from me this time. Taking my hand with one hand and holding my elbow with the other, he pulled me slightly toward him, looked at me with his deep gray eyes, and said, “Andreas, I want to thank you for the sacrifice you are making for the Church. I will pray for you during Mass this evening.” That was all I needed. Someone had noticed my pain, someone had cared, and that someone was the Pope himself.” As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we remember the countless people who are not able to be with family and friends for a variety of reasons. And let’s say a prayer for whoever they are, that Christ, the Prince of Peace, may bless their sacrifice or sweeten their sorrow. One of my favorite stories of Christmas comes from another book, this one titled The Shadow of His Wings by Father Gereon Goldmann. While a prisoner of war in northern Africa, Goldmann described celebrating Midnight Mass in the most forlorn of places: “It was Christmas, a time of peace to all of good will. It was not difficult to reach the hearts of these men then with the glad tidings of Christmas. After Mass I heard confessions for hours. Tears of sorrow, together with the sacramental absolution, wiped away all wrongdoing. As penance I gave a week’s compulsory attendance at Mass; many kept it up for months after their ‘sentence’ had expired. To this day, I receive letters from some of the men who were there, telling me it was the best Christmas they ever had. It could not have been more real; we were in a barracks without windows or doors, in the cold wind that brought snow with it; the men were ragged, thin, and hungry; we did not have to visualize the poverty and want and barrenness of the first Christmas – we were living it every day. We had nothing of those things that had made Christmas such a joyous feast at home, but we felt in our hearts as never before that the Christ Child came into this world in want and poverty, and we felt this peace and joy in our hearts.” 

​May you feel the love that brought Jesus to us – and may your fidelity always keep you close to Him! 

Your friend in Christ, Father Martin
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    MASS SCHEDULE
      Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM

      Saturday: 8:00 AM
      Saturday: 4:30 PM

      Sunday: 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 AM
    CONFESSION SCHEDULE
     Tuesday–Friday: 6:30 - 6:50 AM
     1st and 3rd Fridays: Confessions begin at 6:00*
     Saturday: 3:30 - 4:15 PM

    *Friday confessions begin at 6:00, but vary in duration
    ADORATION

    PERPETUAL ADORATION:  The Marshfield Deanery has the St. John Paul II Adoration Chapel located in the lower level of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, at 201 W. Blodgett Street. The chapel is accessible from the rear parking lot.  For more information or to sign up, contact Jean Kaiser at 715-503-0118 or Deacon Ray Draeger at 715-207-6085. Click on the image below for more information
    Picture

    Stay Connected with Our Parish

    Welcome From Our Pastor
    Picture
    Welcome to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church!  Ever since 1877 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God.  Pope John Paul II called the parish a “school of prayer” and St. John’s is committed to promoting growth in holiness in every state in life.  Each of us is called... Read More
    ​

    Picture

    Safe Environment Program

    Picture

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Adult Formation
    Catholic News
    Father Martin
    Homilies
    Parish News
    Pastor's Desk
    Youth

    RSS Feed

 *All photos and videos on this site are used with permission. Special thanks to Dorothy Flees for contributing countless photos. Unauthorized duplication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. | Copyright © 2020 Saint John the Baptist Parish. All Rights Reserved.
201 W. Blodgett St.. Marshfield, WI 54449 
​  715-384-3252 (parish office) 715-384-4989 (school)