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 - January 13, 2019

1/16/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Praised be Jesus Christ! Our diocesan marriage and family office is focusing on the scourge of pornography this year, along with the hope that God gives to all who struggle with this affront to our purity. Years ago a friend of mine was studying for the Jesuits (he is now a priest in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul, MN.) – one of their traditions is to spend a month on their own with no money. My friend spent the time walking from Saint Paul to Milwaukee, staying with priests along the way. He had many incredible adventures, but my favorite is the following one that he gave me permission to share with you: “Finally, there was the incident with “Cruisin’ Chubby.” I was pushing it an extra eight miles to Wisconsin Dells to try and catch the priest there after his 5:00 p.m. Mass. As I was marching along I passed a couple of strip clubs, one by the name of Cruisin’ Chubby’s – a name I recognized from having passed by several times in another location on I-94. Apparently this guy had some sort of chain going with these places. Both clubs elicited strong emotions from me: deep sadness, frustration, and anger over the evil of these places, over the objectification and use of women that goes on there. They struck me as disgusting works of the devil. If only the owner were here, I thought, I would like to meet him and give him a piece of my mind. But I hadn’t the time to check. Later, the five-o-clock hour had passed and I was still a mile or so out of town. I wouldn’t catch the priest by walking. I had to get a ride. So I stuck out my thumb and waited. I’m not sure how much time passed without a ride; all I can say is that I was much relieved when a well-preserved 60’s muscle car pulled over in front of me and came to a stop. I noted briefly as I approached that the characters on the license spelled out “Chubby,” but I didn’t think much of it. Nah... couldn’t be, I thought. The passenger seat was taken, so I climbed in back and was immediately struck by the kindness and good will of the man to whom I owed the ride. He was a middle-aged man with slicked back hair, wearing jeans and a t- shirt that looked like something a college student might wear returning from spring break. After a cordial greeting he asked where I was going. I asked if he knew where the Catholic Church was in town. “The Catholic Church, yeah, I know where that is. St. Cecelia’s, I’ve been there. That’s a nice church. I should go there more often myself.” A brief pause. “So, where you from? Did you go to college?” “Yeah, I went to Marquette,” I responded. Chubby replied, “Marquette, that’s in Milwaukee, right? Lots of good attorneys in Milwaukee. That’s where my attorney’s from, which you need in my line of work.” “Oh?” I said, “And what do you do for a living?” “I own and operate a chain of gentlemen’s clubs here in central Wisconsin, Cruisin Chubby’s. You may have seen them.” “Huh.” That’s all I could muster and I fell silent. Incredible. Just a few hours earlier I was filled with indignation, wishing I could meet this guy, and there I was, Cruisin with Chubby himself. God put me in the place I wanted to be and I balked.” I share this story because it reminds us that the people who run such places, as well as those who work there or frequent there are human just like us. They need our prayers, not our judgment. Ever since reading that story for the first time I’ve been much more inclined to pray when I see signs advertising sin in whatever form. In the weeks to come, we’ll discuss as sensitively as possible the many ways the devil is working to damage us through pornography and its progeny. In the meantime, a robust devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary has always been one of the best defenses against assaults on our purity.
May God grant purity of heart to all of His children, especially those most in need of His mercy!
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)