go and teach all nations, says the lord; i am with you ... · 5/24/2020 · dove. the holy spirit...
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CONNECT WITH US312 S. State StreetAppleton, WI 54911
BAPTISM Contact the the parish office CONFESSION Saturdays, 9 AM & by appt. (privacy assured)MARRIAGE Congratulations! Contact Fr. Bill in the parish office at least 6 months before your planned wedding date.ST MARY CEMETERY 920-882-4158XAVIER CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM 920-735-9380
INTER-PARISH-RELIGIOUS FORMATION (IPRF) 920-738-7413 / inter-parish.org
Diane Cahall, Coordinator K-4Jennifer Schubring, Coordinator 5-8Ben Wolf, Coordinator 9-12
May 24, 2020Seventh Sunday of Easter
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Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;I am with you always, until the end of the world.
MATTHEW 28:20
IN JOY & SORROW with Fr. BillSwichtenberg
As we have begun together a time of intense prayer for the unleashing of the power of the Holy Spirit into our hearts, into our parish family, and into our world (the Novena [Nine Days] to the Holy Spirit), I want to try to paint for you an understanding of the Holy Spirit that is in keeping with the “spirit” of Vatican Council II. Recall that Saint Pope John XXIII stunned the Catholic world in calling for an ecumenical council, a meeting of the world’s bishops in Rome that occurred on four successive autumns from 1962 through 1965. The powers-to-be in the Vatican Curia tried mightily to discourage Good Pope John XXIII from this bold endeavor. The Latin word for the experience which the Council captured was aggiornamento, which means a renewal or reawakening of sorts. Pope John believed that our Church had become stuffy, turned in on itself, and unaware of the signs of the times. His image was that the Council would throw open the windows of the Church, and allow the Holy Spirit to rush through the Church, casting off any desire for the status quo and embracing the hope that change ensures.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Holy Spirit (in Hebrew, ruah) is like the wind, storm, or gentle breeze that brought rain to the fields from the Mediterranean Sea. I do not know if there was a breeze or not at the Baptism of Jesus, but I do know that the Holy Spirit was present and came down from heaven in the bodily form of a dove. The Holy Spirit of God’s care was present to the Israelite people as they sojourned in the desert for forty years and was compared to an eagle hovering over its young ones. Note that this is a feminine image of the Holy Spirit.
In pagan religions, the dove was a symbol of goddesses like Venus and Athene. My friends, I am suggesting that it is appropriate to refer to the Holy Spirit as a “She.” Striking this balance between the use of the masculine and feminine pronouns when speaking of the Holy Trinity is very important as the Catholic Church continues to push back against the perception that it is controlled by all men. We have much work to do in empowering women to leadership roles in our church, especially
at the highest levels in the Curia at the Vatican. Pope Francis is committed to this prophetic movement.
The Holy Spirit dwells in every baptized believer. The fullness of the Holy Spirit in you is not a lesser fullness of the Holy Spirit that dwells in me, ordained as a priest. In the eyes of God, we are all equal in dignity. We do have different roles but each role is vital to our working together in the Lord’s name. All of us, in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, together as one in mind and heart, are moving towards the making of more and more disciples for Jesus and to building his kingdom of peace with justice and forgiveness now.
The theologian James Dunn writes that “the Holy Spirit is the future good which has become present for the person of faith - the power of the not yet which has already begun to be realized in his or her present experience.” The Holy Spirit is always moving us forth, out into the world, to establish Jesus’ Kingdom. The Church is oftentimes compared to a boat on the water. Using that image, the boat’s movement needs to be caused by the wind in the sails more than by the rowing of your or my oars. This “wind” is the Holy Spirit. The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit is in charge, not you or me. The Holy Spirit deepens our personal friendship with the Lord while at the same time the Spirit is yearning and hoping for the advancement of the common good for all people. The Holy Spirit refuses to allow us to be in a “Jesus and me” relationship. The Holy Spirit is certain that we are about “Jesus and us.”
I hope there is some food for prayer and thought in this reflection of the Holy Spirit. I trust that the Holy Spirit guided me in writing this down for us. It will do us good to allow the Spirit to have “her” way with us.
Father Bill +
May 24, 2020WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULEOur scheduled intentions will be prayed during our online Masses at www.stmaryparish.org.
Tue., May 26Wed., May 27Thur., May 28Fri., May 29
Sun., May 31
8:30 am David Springer8:30 am Rita Bardon8:30 am Charles & Lucy Fisher8:30 pm Parishioners of St. Mary9:45 am Harold Blanshan, Judy & Gene Wendt, Marsha Wiltzius
IN LOVING MEMORYPlease pray for the families of William Schulz, Richard Penkala and Richard Kohl. May fond memories comfort you at this time. If you have lost a loved one and would like him or her to be remembered in the bulletin, call the parish office at 739-5119.
ST MARY PARISH SUPPORTApril Budget Received Variance
received 5/4-5/8 $14,857
May month-to-date $56,500 $54,756 $-1,744
7/1/19-5/31/20
Fiscal Year To Date $782,700 $728,448 $-54,252
THIS WEEK'S VIRTUAL EVENTS AT ST MARYMon. May 25, 7pm Virtual Alpha
Session 8
Tues., May 26, 6pm Easter Retreat with Fr. BillSession 7
Wed., May 27, 10am Easter Retreat with Fr. BillSession 7
Wed., May 27 3pm Virtual Bingo with Fr. Bill
Wed., May 27 8pm Women's Book DiscussionSession 6
Thur., May 28 10am Book Discussion, Dcn. Keith Strohm book, Session 5
Thur., May 28 1pm Story Hour with Father Bill
Thur., May 28, 7pm Virtual AlphaSession 9
PARISH OFFICE AND CHURCH HOURSThe parish office will be open from 8:00 am-1:00 pm Monday-Thursday, closed on Friday. The church will be open from 9:00 am-1:00 pm, Monday-Thursday. Please call Fr. Bill at 920-422-4316 with any needs.
The parish office will be closed on Monday, May 25th for Memorial Day.
PRAYER NEEDSContact Mary Jo Zilisch (920-734-1182 or 920-843-1249) or Laurie Richter ([email protected]) if you have a prayer need. Please remember the requests in our prayer baskets.
PRAYER CHAINWe have an active prayer chain, and recognize that right now, prayers are of the highest importance. Please contact Deacon Gerry at the parish office or click on the Prayer Chain link on our parish website to be included as one of the people who pray for requested prayers, or to submit a prayer request.
WHAT IS FAITH DIRECT?Faith Direct is a secure, super useful and easy way to
support St. Mary Parish through electronic giving. There are two easy ways to give with Faith Direct:
1. Go to the parish website at stmaryparish.org and click
on the Blue DONATE button in the upper-right corner of
the homepage to get started.
2. Text to Give - Open a new text message and enter
(920-294-1189) in the ‘TO’ Field; In the ‘TEXT MESSAGE’
field, enter a dollar amount, then hit SEND. You will be
prompted for the next steps.
Need help with set-up? Call Faith Direct toll free: 1-866-
507-8757 or contact Pam Acker in the parish office at
(920) 739-5119 or [email protected].
Seventh Sunday of Easter PARISH CONTACTS
Fr. Bill Swichtenberg Pastor cell [email protected]
Dcn. Gerry SchraufnagelMinister of Pastoral Care cell 920-540-9594
Mary Ann OttoMinister of Missionary Discipleship
Nadine DuncanMinister of Neighborhood Pastoral Outreach & Parish Vitality
Tom WalterMinister of Liturgical Music
Theresa RohmMinister of Business Administration
Pam AckerMinister of Bookkeeping
Chip AckerMinister of Cemetery & Facilities Management
Julie MorseMinister of Administrative Assistance
Kathy JohnsonMinister of Communication Support
Ben WolfYouth Minister 738-7413
Joseph Galarowicz Parish Trustee 419-1166
Ted Suess Parish Trustee 636-8855
Cindy BoyerPastoral Leadership Council Chair 858-7345
Mike HurleyFinance Council Chair 740-7077
VIRTUAL BINGO!Schedule some prayer, fun and silliness into your day by playing virtualbingo with Fr. Bill via Zoom. Details on how to participate are available on our parish website on the Virtual Events page.
NEWSPAPERSDue to the COVID 19 pandemic, St. Mary Parish will no longer collect newspapers to be utilized by a local farmer. Please continue to care for our environment by recycling your newspapers with your local city recycling program. We are in the process of forming an environmental committee in the future to address ways St Mary can best care for planet earth.
FACE MASKS AVAILABLECloth face masks have been donated by members of our parish sewers for those who need them. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements to get one. Thank you to those who provided them!
FATHER’S DAY TRIBUTEWe are creating a slide show to celebrate Father’s Day, and we need your help. Please send in a photo of your dad and include his name and a message. The slide show will be on our parish website, stmaryparish.org, for Father’s Day weekend. Please send these in no later than Sunday, June 7th.
MASS INTENTIONSThere are open Mass intentions for this month and beyond. Please contact Julie in the parish office to schedule.
MEMORIAL DAY PRAYERGod of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride.Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters.Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace.We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.
Furnace/Air Conditioning Sales and Service 734-1436
100 E 7th Street Kaukauna, WI 54130 920-766-1771
CHRISTENSEN & WISNET, INC.
725-2604
1401 E John St, Appleton 993-8847 Hours: Sun-Thur 6am-8pm; Fri-Sat 6am-9pm
Sherri Schneider Program Director Parish Member 1800 S Lawe St. Appleton, WI (920)738-7770
CHRISTENSEN HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 1609 W Wisconsin Ave., Appleton
731-3002
1400 N Rankin St Casey McHugh Appleton WI 54911 920-364-9400
1415 N Richmond St Appleton, WI 54911
734-5944 Power Center #832-1415
Hammett, Bellin, & Oswald, LLC
Attorneys at Law 720-0000
Attorney Jeffrey T. Oswald Parish Member
BBrreettttsscchhnneeiiddeerr TTrreettttiinn--NNiicckkeell
Celebrating 125 years of Faithful Service 606 N. Oneida St. 733-7383
btlfuneral.com
1111
Beautiful St. Mary’s Cemetery
2121 W Prospect Avenue 882-4158
Authorized Sales & Service for
TOYOTA – 3000 W Wisconsin Ave
1111
~~ MMoonnuummeennttss ~~ APPLETON
MARBLE & GRANITE Courteous Professional Service Since 1887
733-2938
850 W. Elsner Rd Appleton, WI 54913
www.willowlanecare.com 920-380-0511
“We’re not just a community… we’re family!”
Nancy Lindo-Drusch, MD
James R. Richter, MD 730-2747 www.familycarefc.com
ATTORNEY JOHN SCHOMISCH, JR.
www.onelawgroupsc.com Personal Injury Law
920-330-9211
TOM & SHERRI SCHNEIDER
920-450-3673
PENDERGAST MATTRESS FACTORY 1176 N Lynndale Dr 920-734-6388
“We Support $crip”
Serving the Valley for over 100 years
734-7770
Konz Wood Products Appleton, WI
Mike & Vickee Holschbach Owners CCaatteerriinngg 2340 Holly Rd. Neenah WI 54956 920-882-0071 Fax: 920-882-0085
FOUR SEASONS HEATING & COOLING
832-1462 711 Deerview Drive, Appleton
Jean Long Manteufel 734-3260
Hill Top Bakery
Mark & Lynn Engel • Owners
537 N Superior St • 739-1231 3212 S Oneida St • 831-9905
1066 American Dr • Neenah • 725-2494 MP#222563
KEYES & SONS PLUMBING AND HEATING, INC
(920) 993-5406 [email protected] [email protected]
KofC Council 607 Charitable Foundation
www.kofc607.org
Cathy L Miller Ace Realty
PH: 920.475.0840 [email protected]
David Wilda
2211 N. Richmond St. N1858 Greenville Dr. Appleton, WI 54911 Greenville, WI 54942 (920)733-5435 www.valleyfh.com
Mark W. Otto, CPA Neenah 920-725-6075 [email protected] Brillion 920-756-3696
Since
1956
920-734-7630 BOB FULLER 2006 N Meade St, Appleton WI 54911