News from the Pope:
Pope Francis will publish an apostolic exhortation on holiness titled Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), the Vatican announced. Subtitled “The Call to Holiness in the Contemporary World,”Gaudete et Exsultate will be the third apostolic exhortation issued by Pope Francis. In 2016 he issued Amoris Laetitia, on love in the family, and in 2013 he issued Evangelii Gaudium, on the proclamation of the Gospel in today's world. Read More...
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Please pray for our students, and their families, who are preparing for their First Holy Communion. The sacrament will be celebrated on April 29 at the 10 am Mass. Please also pray for our catechists and volunteers who are preparing them. We have a large class this year with 15 students who will soon be receiving! Praised be Jesus Christ! A few weeks ago at the 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening Mass at Saint John’s a unique event took place. It was just at the time of the Doxology (i.e. when the priest sings “Through Him, with Him, and in Him . . .”) when a person walked into the back of the church and began dropping coins into the metal money box. As you can imagine, the noise echoed throughout the entire church. At first we were perplexed as to what was happening. But because the guy had a lot of change and was happily taking his time dropping coins one at a time into the box, we were able to figure out the cause of the distraction. I am proud to announce that I did not look back and scowl at the person – I only saw his back as he left church. My guess is that he had cleaned his couch that weekend (it was the beginning of March Madness) and decided to do something for God! Which leads us to the topic for this weekend’s bulletin: what to do with distractions and things that irritate us during Mass? The usual list of irritants includes people who come late and/or leave early; when cell phones go off or are being used, this too upsets people. Some think the time before Mass should be used to catch up on local news or read the bulletin. Finally, there are the folks who cough or sneeze into their hands but still are very intent on exchanging a rather slippery sign of peace. If I missed the aspect of parish life that bothers you, I’m sorry but we’d be here all day if I listed them all! Because it’s Divine Mercy Sunday, we’re invited to offer these irritations to God as a true experience of redemp- tive suffering. The Mass is the most saving activity on the plan- et, so it stands to reason that the devil would try to distract us or discourage us from coming. While we aspire to the Heaven- ly Liturgy, we’re still on earth and so we come far short of hit- ting the mark. We can each examine our conscience and ask God if we have some irritating habit that could be overcome for the good of the order. For example, when I cough I turn off the lapel microphone and try to always cover my mouth with my left hand – this keeps my right hand free of germs for the time of distribution of Holy Communion. Others work hard to overcome shyness so as to be more welcoming of visitors as well as regular parishioners. Finally, some people are learning about the option on a cell phone that replaces the ringtone with a very subtle buzz. Of course, there is still the wonderful possi- bility of using the power button to turn your cell phone off com- pletely for the duration of Mass. But for those who are now experiencing a tightening of the arteries, baby steps are fine . . . . just flip your phone to buzz or prepare yourself for public embarrassment. Divine Mercy Sunday gives us a chance to be truly merciful – Jesus is the measure and source of mercy and He grants these graces preeminently in the Sacraments. Christ the King will be hosting a Divine Mercy prayer service on Sun- day from 1:00-3:00 p.m. We’ll begin with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a 30 minute presentation by Sister Mary Veronica (who is founding a religious order based on Jesus’ appearances to Saint Faustina). Confessions will be available for the duration and we’ll conclude with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction. For the record, if you went to confession during Lent you’re not required to go again (unless you’re not in the state of sanctifying grace) to receive the ex- traordinary Divine Mercy grace (which is like a second Baptism). Merciful people handle the quirks of parish life better and are more equipped to offer their sufferings to Christ. If you feel your patience waning, join us on Sunday at Christ the King in Spencer for prayers and devotion. Afterwards Father Sedlacek is treating everyone to a Root Beer Float at the new A&W – nothing says mercy like a free treat (I have not asked Father about this because I didn’t want him to say ‘no’)! May God convert our complaining spirit to one of heroic suffering in the Spirit of Christ His Son! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin Parishioners of Christ the King * there is an “URGENT” need for your assistance in the “Ministry of Music” and to be part of your parish choir or choir leader as cantors at all the weekend masses. All questions and interest can be addressed to the choir members or organist at the mass you attend. We welcome you to participate!
Connect with your Parish like never before! Get parish and diocesan messages, daily readings, Catholic news and more by downloading the free myParish app today! Text “app” to “88202” to download the myParish App on your mobile device. You can also find it on iTunes or Google Play stores by searching for myParishApp. See more news in the bulletin.
News from the Church
“This statue is the three-dimensional representation in actual size of the Man of the Shroud, created following the precise measurements taken from the cloth in which the body of Christ was wrapped after the crucifixion,” explains Giulio Fanti, teacher of mechanical and thermal measurements at the University of Padua, who studies the Shroud. Based on his measurements, the professor has created a “carbon copy” in 3D which, he claims, allows him to affirm that these are the true features of the crucified Christ. Read More... Tanzania Mission Trip 2019 Plans are being made for an Intergenerational Parish Mission Trip of 20 people ages 16 and older to serve with the Sisters of Our Lady Queen of Africa, in Sumbawanga, Tanzania, Africa from June 17-28, 2019. This immersion experience will offer the chance to serve at the school, orphanage, and clinic. There will also be an opportunity for a safari and market experiences. Tentative cost is $2500 (dictated by airfare).
For more information, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber . Praised be Jesus Christ! “A man and his five-year old son were driving past a cemetery and noticed a large pile of dirt next to a freshly dug grave when the little boy exclaimed, ‘Look, Dad, one got out!’” Yes, that’s exactly what we celebrate on Easter, the fact that one literally walked away from the grave never to return there again. Jesus prophesied that He had power to both lay down His life and take it up again, and we praise Him today that He fulfilled all that He said He would do to save our souls. Easter is the annual reminder that no one goes to Heaven except by the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. God knows we forget this or take it for granted more often than we care to admit. But we can be happy today because death is not the end of our story. For all of you grieving the death of a loved one, this does console, even if the hurt takes a long time to heal. Easter reminds us that Christians grieve, but not like the rest insofar as we have in Christ the hope of eternal life. We pray today for all who will be making their final journey on this planet around the sun, that God will give them the grace of perseverance in their faith and humble contrition for their sins. While we never know the day or the hour, it’s enough to know that every year marks a closer approach to the day God will call us home. Easter helps us to think more about Heaven and that affects the way we spend our limited time on earth. A month ago I watched a very disappointing movie about people who only lived for the here and now. When Heaven is denied, all that is left is to get rich or die trying (which, by the way, is the name of a rap album from some years back). People who do not believe in Heaven tend to desperately attempt to reproduce it here. But here we have no lasting city, and most of the things we covet are vulnerable to rust or robbers. Heaven, on the other hand, gives hope to those who suffer, especially those who are poor, addicted, and otherwise considered hopeless. Jesus promised that the last shall be first, and this is such an encouragement for people who have known more than their share of suffering and loneliness. The saints were absolutely focused on gaining Heaven, which freed their hearts of the usual anxieties that weigh so many of us down. For example, Saint Philip Neri was offered the scarlet red of being named a Cardinal of the Catholic Church; he declined such an honor and said what he really wanted was a place with God in Heaven. The adage that has helped many attain such perspective claims that, “blessed is the one who gives what he cannot keep so as to gain what he cannot lose.” Easter ought to fill us with joy because it shows how God saves His best for last. For those who believe in Heaven, the time on earth is better because we no longer are driven by our tendency to horde and control. People convinced of Heaven hold everything with a light grip because these things are fleeting and must be left behind when God comes to take us home. Though we’re inclined toward the darkness at times (for example, people who read Dante’s The Divine Comedy usually read the Inferno and not the Paradiso), Easter is a clarion call from God to set our sights on His Kingdom which will never end. The little boy at the beginning of this article was more correct than he knew when he thought one dead person had managed to escape the confines of the cemetery. Twenty centuries ago that is precisely what happened. And because Jesus’ love proved to be stronger than both sin and death, His invitation to spend eternity with Him in Heaven is real. In Jesus, God the Father proved His love for us. The point of our limited time in this world is to receive and reciprocate that love. Our parishes offer the Mass faithfully so that more and more people will choose God. Easter definitively proves that He chose us.
May God bless you and your family with the joy of His Son’s victory over sin and death! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin April 8 * Divine Mercy Sunday * @ Christ the King Church @ 1 pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament * Presentation by Sister Mary Veronica * Chaplet * Adoration and Benediction. Confessions will be available throughout the program. Your attendance on this afternoon will bring you many spiritual blessings. We look forward to seeing you.
REMINDER to Parishioners * 24 Hour Eucharistic Adoration for 2017 - First Friday – April 6 through April 7 ** Starting at 9 am on Friday an ending at 9 am on Saturday) Note: There will be a prayer petition book placed out the week prior to our First Friday Eucharistic Adoration. Anyone wishing to have petitions offered during Adoration may enter their petition into the book and they will be prayed for. Attention: Church doors are locked @ 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. if you are coming to pray during this time please knock on door (under carport) 5 minutes be- fore the start of each hour and you will be let in by person already inside of church. Evening of Recollection * Led by Fr. Martin * Eucharistic Adoration and Reflection * The evenings will alternate between St. John and Christ the King parishes. Time: 6:30 pm-8 pm Thursday– April 5 , 2018 Theme: I Believe in Love @ Christ the King in Spencer See more news in the bulletin.
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MASS SCHEDULE
Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 3:15 - 3:45 PM OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Stay Connected with Our ParishWelcome from Our PastorWelcome to Christ the King Catholic Church! Ever since 1938 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God. Our mission statement is essentially found in the stained glass window above the main altar: “For Christ our King.” Insofar as God made us and we belong to Him, we have come to... Read More
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