March 23/24, 2019| Third Sunday of Lent

W e l c o m e t o t h e P a r i s h C o m m u n i t i e s o f

ST. MICHAEL & ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

ST. MICHAEL & ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST 2 Visit our Website at http://stjohnstmichael.com

Third Sunday of Lent “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in

his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it

[he] found none.” We live in a results-driven society. It

can be easy to put pressure on ourselves to succeed. If

we’re not keeping up with the perceived “good life” of

those around us, we feel anxious and disappointed.

Some of the Gospel stories about fruitfulness can seem

to play out in this fashion. “For three years now I have

come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found

none. So cut it down.” The message seems to be clear.

Abide in God and bear fruit! Stand apart from God and

be barren. But what happens when we’re trying, but

the growth we wanted doesn’t seem to be coming our

way? What if it feels like life just isn’t bearing fruit?

This Sunday, Jesus gives us a sign of hope. “[The

gardener] said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this

year also; it may bear fruit in the future.’” How quick

we can be to judge! Perhaps you started out Lent with

high hopes and big ideas for getting closer to God.

Maybe things haven’t gone exactly like you thought. It

can be easy to lose patience with our failures or slow

growth. We shouldn’t be too quick to assume that God

has given up on us. He hasn’t.

The same ideas apply to those around us. Perhaps

we’re the planter of the fig tree. We expect a certain

amount of growth from someone in our life, and they

just aren’t measuring up. Let today’s Gospel be a

gentle nudge for mercy. As Lent continues to unfold,

be patient with yourself and those around you. Wait

for God to provide the growth.

St. John and St. Michael Catholic Parishes are vibrant faith communities committed to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ through lives of prayer, service and education while ac-tively proclaiming “all are welcome.”

DISCIPLES ON THE WAY Looking Ahead

Sun., March 24 Bingo

1:30 PM Serenity Gardens, Gillett

Mon., March 25 Knights of Columbus Mtg.

7:00 PM at St. Michael

Wed., March 27 Soup & Scripture

Noon - Hillside Assembly, Gillett

Reconciliation

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - St. Michael

Thur., March 28 Stations of the Cross

5:00 PM - St. Michael

Fri., March 29 Stations of the Cross

5:00 PM - St. John

Easter Flower Donations

Flower donations can be made by put-

ting the name of the person in whose

memory the donation is given on an en-

velope and placing it in the collection

basket, or mailing it to the parish office.

A Message from the Pastor

Dear Friends,

During this time of Lent, we are called to repentance.

Like the fig tree in today’s Gospel, we are called to

change and become something new in Christ. To help

us live lives that bear fruit, we need God’s loving

grace. We find this grace in the Sacrament of Recon-

ciliation.

More than the confession of sins, the Sacrament of

Reconciliation is about the love of God. Whenever I

hear confessions, I always feel God’s love and grace at

work. I am moved to reflect on my own life by the

penitent’s humble sincerity and faith.

We are good people, and most probably we don’t like

to admit that we are sinners. Yet Lent is the season that

calls us to conversion and reconciliation with one an-

other and with God.

Confession helps us to know ourselves better as we

discover our weaknesses and focus our hearts and

minds on overcoming these weaknesses. By humbly

admitting and asking forgiveness for our sins, we be-

come stronger and more saintly. Through God’s loving

mercy, we let go of the guilt, pain, aggression, and bit-

terness we harbor because of our sinfulness. In ex-

change, we experience God’s peace.

Easter is only five weeks away. I encourage you to

prepare your hearts for the joyful Paschal celebration

by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

May the Good Lord bless us always!

God bless us all!

Fr. Robert Ni Ni

MARCH 23/24, 2019 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

3 Visit our Website at http://stjohnstmichael.com

ST. MICHAEL PARISH SUPPORT

Needed Each Week ......................................... $2110.00

Received March 16/17 .................................... $1806.00

Building & Repair ............................................. $465.00

Bishop’s Appeal to Date: $7535.00 of $10262 (73%)

ST. JOHN PARISH SUPPORT

Needed Each Week ......................................... $1912.00

Received March 16/17 .................................... $1058.00

Bishop’s Appeal to Date: $3485.00 of $10332 (34%)

LIVING LIVES OF MERCY

Faith Formation News Wed., March 27 St. Michael, 1st-7th Grade After school - 5:00 PM

St. Michael, 8th–11th Grade

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Sun., March 31 No classes

Wed., April 3 St. John, 1st-7th Grade

6:00 - 7:00 PM

St. Michael, 1st-7th Grade After school - 5:00 PM

Lenten Project During this Lenten season, we

will again be collecting donations

to support the Smile Train organi-

zation. Millions of children in developing countries

with untreated clefts live in isolation and have diffi-

culty eating, breathing and speaking. Smile Train is

an organization that provides free cleft repair surgery

and care to these children. They have provided safe,

high-quality cleft surgery and related treatment in 85+

countries worldwide. Repair surgery can cost as little

as $250, and the impact is life-changing for patients

and families.

So far, we have raised $164.00. We ask that you

please bring your donations to Mass during Lent and

place in the provided donation box.

Community Lenten Soup & Scripture

The next Soup &

Scripture will be held

on Wednesday, March

27th, at Hillside

Assembly Church,

Gillett, from noon until 1:00 PM. Please join us for

warm soup, sandwiches and good fellowship.

Volunteers Needed

St. John is looking for help when the parish provides a

meal after Funeral Masses. We currently are in need of

people who can set the tables up, organize and serve

the food that parishioners generously provide, and/or

cleaning up. Please consider helping your parish fam-

ily as they are grieving the loss of a loved one by con-

tacting Gayle Seidl at (715) 745-6017 or calling the

parish office.

World’s Poor Collection - March 30/31

There will be a special collection next weekend at St.

Michael and St. John for the World’s Poor. You may

contribute to any one or all of the following funds:

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development,

Catholic Relief Services, Peter’s Pence and the

Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa.

Envelopes for this collection can be found at the

entrances. Please give generously!

“Stepping On” Falls Prevention Workshop

Wed. 9:00 to 11:00 AM, April 3rd to May 15th

Riverview Town Hall – 15476 Hwy 32 N, Mountain

Thur. 9:00 to 11:00 AM April 4th to May 16th

Suring Area Public Library – 604 E Main St, Suring For both women and men who want to take action to

stay independent and free of painful injuries. Fee is

$25.00 and includes all sessions, snacks, supplies and

more. Register in advance by contacting Carol Lubeck

at 920-373-1441.

The second collection at St. Michael this

weekend is to help defray the cost of winter

heating. Thank you for your generosity.

MARCH 23/24, 2019 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 4b ST. MICHAEL & ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST 4a

MASS INTENTIONS For the Week of March 25 - 31

ST. MICHAEL - CHUTE POND SUNDAY, MARCH 31

7:30 AM † Hubert Robenhorst

ST. MICHAEL - SURING

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

8:45 AM † Open

ST. JOHN - GILLETT

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

4:00 PM † Open SUNDAY, MARCH 31

10:00 AM † Sr. Dorothy Kurzawa

By Timm Family

MINISTERS OF THE MASS

CHUTE POND

SUNDAY 3/31 7:30 AM

Ministers of the Word Ellen Brickner Ministers of Communion Dave Nieling Len Pelishek

SURING SUNDAY 3/31 8:45 AM

Ministers of the Word Pat Schulz

Ministers of Communion Sheelagh School Barb Truttman

Edie Schmidt

Hospitality Ministers Bernie McCarthy

Phil Fischer, Jr.

Ministers of Altar Cash VanBellinger

Kelsey Smith

Greeters Philip & Elaine Fischer

Wylee VanBellinger

GILLETT

SATURDAY 3/30 4:00 PM

Ministers of the Word Jay Conley

Ministers of Communion Jan Brooks Felecia Kroll

Stephanie Schmutzer

Hospitality Ministers Colleen Warrichaiet

Barb Makoski

Ministers of Altar Erich & Isabella Schmutzer

Greeters Louie Tenaglia

Colleen Warrichaiet SUNDAY 3/31 10:00 AM

Ministers of the Word Lyman Wocking

Ministers of Communion Lyman Wocking Cliff Gerbers

Mary Matuszewski

Hospitality Ministers Jack Arneson Brianna DeBauch

Ministers of Altar Tyler Frank Hope Soper

Greeters Brianna DeBauch Liz Soper

Readings for the Week of March 24, 2019 Sunday: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4,

6-7, 8, 11 [8a]/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/

Lk 13:1-9

Monday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Ps 40:7-8, 8b-9,

10, 11 [8a, 9a]/Heb 10:4-10/Lk

1:26-38

Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and

7bc, 8-9 [6a]/Mt 18:21-35

Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19

-20 [12a]/Mt 5:17-19

Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 [8]/

Lk 11:14-23

Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10

-11ab, 14 and 17 [cf. 11 and 9a]/

Mk 12:28-34

Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-

21ab [cf. Hos 6:6]/Lk 18:9-14

Next Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

[9a]/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3,

11-32

“But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!”

(Lk 13:5b)

Open Dates For Mass Intentions

St. Michael Parish

Suring, Sunday: March 31, May 5,12, 19, 26

Chapel, Sunday: April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

St. John Parish

Saturdays: March 30, April 6, 13, 27, May 4, 11,

18

Sundays: April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 19, 26