This Week in Our Parish

First Sunday of Lent March 5, 2017 Sunday Mass

Saturday 6:00 PM

Sunday 7:30 AM & 11:00 AM

Daily Mass Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and

Thursday 8:00 AM Friday-Stations of the Cross at

5:00 PM followed by Mass

Religious Education Sunday’s

Religious Education Pre-K through Grade 5

9:45 AM Grades 6 -12

6:30 PM

Liturgy of the Hours This ancient communal prayer of the

Church is prayed after all weekday Masses.

Rosary The Holy Rosary is prayed 30 minutes

before all Saturday, Sunday, and weekday Masses.

Sacrament of Reconciliation Confessions are heard before all

Sunday Masses and after all weekday Masses

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

First Thursday of the Month 8:00 AM to Noon

Benediction at Noon

Bethel Home Mass and Rosary held on 3rd Friday of

each month at 10:15AM

Norseland Mass and rosary held on 2nd & 4th

Wednesday of each month at 9:30 AM

Change in Mass Schedule during Lent – Please note change in Mass times for

Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. Mass on Wednesday will be at 8:00 AM. On

Fridays, Stations of the Cross will be at 5:00 PM with Mass to follow.

Operation Rice Bowl - Through our generous almsgiving during Lent we can help

Catholic Relief Services help others. Jesus urges us to pray, fast and give alms during

Lent. Youth in our REP program participate in the Mite Box collection in support of our

diocesan mission parish in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Rice Bowls can be found in the large

basket in the Atrium. Please participate!

Scholarship- St. Mary Parish will award two scholarships to high school seniors

graduating in 2017 who will pursue their education at a school of higher education in the

fall of this year. One award will be from the PCCW in the amount of $500. A second

award will be from St. Mary Parish (formerly known as The Maureen Brennan

Scholarship) in the amount of $450. Applications are available in the Atrium.

Completed applications must be submitted to the parish office by Monday, April 3. All

high school seniors from Annunciation of the BVM are invited to apply. These

scholarships are provided as a sign of the deep respect that the parish has for its youths

and their ongoing formation and education.

PCCW News –Individuals are needed to co-chair the Mother Cabrini and Saint

Anthony Circles. Co-chair’s work together to coordinate events that fall in their work

months (2-3 months per year). Please consider this rewarding service and have fun

working with other women in the Parish. Contact Joyce Humfeld (608) 634-4059 with

your “yes” to be a Circle Chairperson.

Lenten Program. Communal Penance Service for all members of the parish will be held from

6:30 -8:00 PM on Sunday April 2.

Palm Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 6:00 PM on Saturday, April 8 and

7:30 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday April 9.

Holy Week

Holy Thursday Mass begins at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 13 and will be

followed by Adoration, concluding with Night Prayer at 10:00 PM.

Good Friday Liturgy begins at 1:00 PM on Friday April 14.

Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 PM on Holy Saturday, April 15.

Easter Sunday Masses will be celebrated at 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM on

Sunday,

April 16.

Fr. Joseph Arokiam OFM Cap, Parochial Administrator (715-937-5117) Julie Moore, Bookkeeper <stmarybookkeeper@mwt.net Kris Matheys, Secretary<stmaryparish@mwt.net Tara Lyons, Director of Religious Education <tara.m.lyons@gmail.com>

400 Congress Avenue, Viroqua, WI 54665, 608-637-7711

March 5, 2017

Jesus’s Desert Experience

When Jesus was on earth, He was all God AND all man in one form. That’s why He’s

called “Son of Man” and “Son of God” in the Bible. But even though he was God’s son

and He and the Father were one, Jesus fasted. Why? He knew he would face every

difficulty known to mankind and that He needed to fast to have the strength to

overcome in every situation. Jesus fasted to show us that we didn’t have to be

controlled by our appetites. He fasted to be our example of how to be an overcomer

regardless of what we might face in life. If Jesus was led to fast, doesn’t it make sense

that it is really important for us to fast?

Before Jesus began His ministry on earth, He fasted. “After his baptism, as Jesus came

up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending

like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved

Son, who brings me great joy.’ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to

be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became

very hungry.” (Matthew 3:16-4:2).

With the water of the Jordan River still running down His face and clothes, God

declared how pleased He was with Jesus. What better time to launch a public ministry

than when God Himself publicly proclaims His pleasure in you! But instead of

capitalizing on the publicity, Jesus went into total isolation for 40 days, eating nothing

and being tempted by the devil. Jesus fasted in the desert before He preached one

sermon, before He healed anyone, and before He called any disciples. When Jesus

successfully completed His fast, He was prepared for the spiritual battles ahead as He

stepped out into His destiny on earth.

What spiritual battles are you experiencing in your life? Do you need breakthroughs in

your personal life, your family, your finances, your church or your community? Follow

Jesus’ example. Pray and fast for a release of God’s power to overcome and be

victorious. God will give you increase and pour blessings into your life as you fast and

pray and you will be prepared to fulfill the destiny He has planned you.

Fr. Joe

March 5, 2017

FINANCIAL REPORT Weekend February 26, 2017

Adults: $2239.0 Youth: $3.00

Offertory: $183.00 Total: $2425.00

Needed Weekly: $3,400.00 Special Collection:

Door of Hope $136.56 DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL

2016-2017 Target: $36,869.00

Total Pledged & Received: $35,052.00 Thank you!

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 4, 6:00 PM + Lorraine Groh (Glen & Charlotte Monroe) Sunday, March 5, 7:30 AM + Jeanne Kabat Sunday, March 5, 11:00 AM + Rose “Betty” Dingels (Patricia Rubasch)) Monday, March 6, 8:00 AM + Richard Trussoni (Jeanette Amundson) Tuesday, March 7, 8:00 AM + Roger Biebl (Dave & Kris Matheys) Wednesday, March 8, 8:00 AM+ Sandi Kuehn Thursday, March 9, 8:00 AM + Mass Friday, March10, 5:00 PM + Stations of the Cross followed by

Mass Saturday, March 11, 6:00 PM + Roger Adel (Mrs. Philip Higgins & Family)) Sunday, March 12, 7:30 AM + People of St. Mary’s Parish Sunday, March 12, 11:00 AM + Elred Speldrich (Joseph Club)

Saturday, February 25, 6:00 PM + People of St. Mary’s Parish Sunday, February 26, 7:30 AM + Ed & Verna Mashak (Mashak Family) Sunday, February 26, 11:00 AM + Chuck Hemmersbach (People of St. Mary’s Parish)

Saints of the week:

*SS. Perpetua and Felicity

* St. John of God

*St. Frances of Rome

FURTHER INTEREST

We extend sympathy to the family of Darlene Gilardi who died this past week. Her funeral was on Friday, March 3. May her

soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

We extend sympathy to the family of Reynold “Reinie” Leis who died this past week. The Funeral Mass will be held here at St.

Mary’s on Monday, March 6 at 11:00 AM. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.

The Maureen Brennan Scholarship came about as a concept of Father Cook’s. The Brennan’s contribution advanced it to a

reality. Once the scholarship started the Brennan’s kept a good thing going. Maureen had been a chemistry/biology double

major at the University of St. Thomas. Maureen's career goal was to achieve a MD degree and then to do scientific research for

a cure for cancer. Ironically it was a very rapid form of cancer that ended her education in 1996 about the time she was making

application to various medical schools. Maureen's educational drive convinced the Brennan’s to participate and help sponsor St.

Mary's scholarship efforts. They observed the youth of St Mary's and knew through their experience the pride parents hold for

their sons and daughters. It was a quiet means for them to encourage the educational soul of St. Mary's parish. But now, much

sooner than expected, economic realities of a retirement budget has brought the good thing to an end. Tom and Jane Brennan

wish to thank St. Mary's for allowing them to honor their daughter. “Thank you St Mary's for allowing this tribute!”

Looking for a close by Fish Fry? Use the Fish Frynder Use the website www.diolc.org/fishfrynder to find where and when a fish fry, or other parish Lenten meal, is taking place in

your area.

The bishops of Wisconsin announce a special dispensation for Catholics statewide from adhering to the law of abstinence for

Friday, March 17, 2017. This Lenten dispensation will allow the faithful to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick.

This Week we highlight Effinger Equipment Sales and Service as the bulletin sponsor of the week

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