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News from the Bishop:
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us! - I urge you, my dear brothers and sisters, pray the Rosary! Be active in your devotion to the Mother of God. She has been involved—over centuries—in the affairs of humanity and has warned us about so many aspects of our silliness and empty pursuits. She has been right—every time!.....Read More News from the Pope: Pope Francis at Mass in Santa Marta: rediscover your roots - (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday morning. In remarks to the faithful following the Readings of the Day, the Holy Father reflected on the importance of keeping tethered to our roots – especially our spiritual roots – and avoiding what he called “psychological self-exile”......Read More News from the Church: Consecrated to the Blessed Mother: Dioceses Across the US Are Joined to Mary - The 100th anniversary of Fatima this year is a major reminder that, at Fatima, Mary shared the importance of consecration to her Immaculate Heart. This Fatima centennial has prompted several dioceses across the country and world to consecrate or re-consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary......Read more Youth Fundraiser All teens can begin to earn money toward Adventure Camp, World Youth Day, Steubenville Conference, Mission Trip ... or any of the great opportunities offered. The fundraiser presently available is selling Younkers Community Day booklets. You sell the booklet for $5 (you earn the entire $5), the buyer gets a $10 coupon (a $5 savings) and everyone is happy!
This is only available through Nov. 8. For more details, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber. March For Life Pilgrimage 2018 The March for Life pilgrimage will be Jan 17-21, 2018. All people 13 years of age and older are invited to be a witness to the dignity of life for the unborn, elderly, and those who society regards as useless. We’ll travel with a Diocesan group via motorcoach. This is for YOUTH & ADULTS. Cost is ~$330 for teens, $290 for chaperones. Deposit of $175 due by Dec. 1. Pilgrims will also get a hooded sweatshirt. Fundraising options and need-based scholarships are available. (*$25 less if you have a hood from previous March) For more information, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber Pilgrims for Life Fundraiser – Need PINT Jars & Cloth The youth preparing to participate in the March for Life will again be making and selling delicious Jar Mixes. We need more PINT size canning jars as well as Christmas colored cloth scraps for covering jars. If you have some to donate, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber SHS High School Luncheon Bible Study: Starting Sept 12, then every Tuesday meet in room 310 during your lunch period. Bring your lunch and a hunger to grow in your faith. We read, discuss & share God’s Word and the food. This year, we’ll be reading 1 Corinthians. This is a GREAT opportunity! Bring your friends!! Praised be Jesus Christ! A month ago (September 7th to be exact) I climbed Mount Elbert, the highest point in the Colorado Rockies, coming in at 14,440 feet above sea level. As I mentioned during daily Mass once or twice, climbing in high altitude is a lot harder than I would have imagined and there are times when quitting seems like a viable option. Because Mount Elbert has a couple of “false summits,” I was reminded of a quote from C.S. Lewis in his book The Four Loves: “Let us suppose we are doing a mountain walk to the village which is our home. At mid-day we come to the top of a cliff where we are, in space, very near it because it is just below us. We could drop a stone into it. But as we are no cragsmen, we can’t get down! We must go a long way round; five miles maybe. At many points during that detour we shall, statically, be further from the village than we were when we sat above the cliff. But only statically. In terms of progress we shall be far “nearer” our baths and tea!” Except for the bath and tea reference, the rest of the quote is something that we can relate to in terms of our spiritual journey. Have you ever felt that, in spite of your best efforts, you’re further from true holiness than you were when you first set out to follow the Lord? It’s a common experience, one we refer to when we use the phrase “I take one step forward and two back.” Many of us find ourselves confessing the same sins year after year, hoping that someday we will overcome these temptations. One of the realities of alpine hiking is that the folks on the mountain tend to be very encouraging. At one point I was in the steepest section and I knew I had at least another hour of rigorous hiking before reaching the top. A climber was descending and stopped to give me a much-needed pep talk: “Hey, you’re doing great! Slow and steady and you’re sure to make the top.” And he was right! The spiritual life is similar, a fact pointed out by Evelyn Underhill when she wrote, “A lot of the road to Heaven has to be taken at 30 miles per hour.” Yes, we’d prefer to be saints by the end of the week so we could relax and congratulate ourselves on a job well done. But by God’s design, becoming a genuinely good person is the work of a lifetime – and because we’ll need some encouragement along the way, Jesus established the Church. Saint John of the Cross titled one of his spiritual masterpieces The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and it too accurately depicts the spiritual life as challenging. As a case in point, Saint John wrote “to love is to strip oneself for God of all that is not God.” By this point some readers are probably wondering, “If the spiritual life is so difficult, then why bother? Why not kick back and enjoy life?” These are fair questions, and Jesus heard them many times too, even from His closest friends (e.g. “But Lord, this is impossible!”). His response echoes down through the centuries and it still startles: “Come and see.” Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves and He realizes that we were made for great adventures. While we tend to be timid when it comes to the greatest spiritual adventures, Jesus put deep inside each of us a desire to do something remarkable, to become someone great. And to that end He piques our curiosity by inviting us to follow Him, to try to live His life. Many of us chicken out and fall back, some for most of their lifetime. But Jesus never gives up on us – He believes in us, that if we wanted to, we could climb that mountain that has beckoned to us for all of our life. Yes, it’s harder than any of us like... but together, “slow and steady,” we can make it to the top! Come Holy Spirit, inspire us to find joy in service and peace in the midst of our greatest trials! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin The Family Life Committee of the parish is participating in the “Winter Clothing Drive” again with the Spencer Schools. We ask that you bring gently worn winter coats, boots, hats and scarfs. We will be accepting * children * teen * women * men * size winter clothing . Please bring to the gathering room , of the church, your contributions , in sturdy bags, by the deadline of Sunday-October 29, 2017. Thank you.
During the “Month of October ” the rosary only will be recited 20 minutes before Mass * Needed: Parishioners of the parish to lead the congregation in reciting the rosary. A sign-up sheet can be found on back table in gathering room. Your help in being a prayer leader (Ladies, men or young adults) in reciting the rosary would be greatly appreciated. Parishioners * Please show respect for the rosary being prayed and enter church quietly. Thank you. The next “Baptismal” preparation class will be on Tuesday - October 3, 2017 @ 5:30 pm - 8 pm. @ St. John’s in Mfld. / Columbia room of the school. * You are served a nicer little meal * Pre-registration is required; please do so by calling 715-659-4480. For those not registered as members at Christ the King parish, information will be given on how to do so. This class is mandatory for all parents expecting their first child and/or those who have not taken Father Martin’s baptismal class. 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 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
News from the USCCB:
U.S. Bishops Welcome Bipartisan Bill That Seeks Climate Solutions - WASHINGTON— Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Bishop Oscar Cantú voiced their support for the Climate Solutions Commission Act of 2017, a bill that would establish a bipartisan National Climate Solutions Commission.....Read More News from the Pope: Pope invites all to 'Share the Journey' of migrants and refugees - (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has loudly and clearly welcomed migrants, refugees and asylum seekers while expressing his support and gratitude for the Caritas Internationalis' “Share the Journey” campaign.....Read More News from the Church: Archdiocese of Mexico City Offers Free Medical Care to Earthquake Victims - The Archdiocese of Mexico City has announced that anyone needing medical care can go to the Catholic Church’s clinics and hospitals even if they are unable to pay, following the Sept. 19 7.1-magnitude earthquake devastated Mexico City and surrounding areas, killing more than 300 and leaving thousands homeless.....Read more March For Life Pilgrimage 2018 The March for Life pilgrimage will be Jan 17-21, 2018. All people 13 years of age and older are invited to be a witness to the dignity of life for the unborn, elderly, and those who society regards as useless. We’ll travel with a Diocesan group via motorcoach. This is for YOUTH & ADULTS. Cost is ~$330 for teens, $290 for chaperones. Deposit of $175 due by Dec. 1. Pilgrims will also get a hooded sweatshirt. Fundraising options and need-based scholarships are available. (*$25 less if you have a hood from previous March) For more information, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber
Youth Fundraiser All teens can begin to earn money toward Adventure Camp, World Youth Day, Steubenville Conference, Mission Trip ... or any of the great opportunities offered. The fundraiser presently available is selling Younkers Community Day booklets. You sell the booklet for $5 (you earn the entire $5), the buyer gets a $10 coupon (a $5 savings) and everyone is happy! This is only available through Nov. 8. For more details, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber. Pilgrims for Life Fundraiser – Need PINT Jars & Cloth The youth preparing to participate in the March for Life will again be making and selling delicious Jar Mixes. We need more PINT size canning jars as well as Christmas colored cloth scraps for covering jars. If you have some to donate, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber SHS High School Luncheon Bible Study: Starting Sept 12, then every Tuesday meet in room 310 during your lunch period. Bring your lunch and a hunger to grow in your faith. We read, discuss & share God’s Word and the food. This year, we’ll be reading 1 Corinthians. This is a GREAT opportunity! Bring your friends!!
Praised be Jesus Christ! Some of you got to see Sister Nancy Murray’s performance of the life of Saint Catherine of Siena – her ability to bring Saint Catherine to life was amazing and thoroughly inspiring! So many times saints seem like distant and inimitable people with whom we have nothing in common. The truth is the saints were like us in practically every way possible. What paved their way to Heaven was the simple, daily decision to love God more than their sins. Now that is an attainable goal! Because we celebrate the feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux this weekend (October 1st), it is fitting to consider how she is fulfilling her promise “to spend my Heaven doing good on earth.” Saint Therese became a Carmelite nun after overcoming some serious struggles during her childhood. Although she died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 in 1897, her short life has inspired millions of people and led Pope Saint Pius X to call her “the greatest saint of modern times.” Because of her deep relationship with Jesus, Therese realized early on that suffering helps the soul to grow. Living in community with all women gave Therese many opportunities to begin to practice her “little way,” and she was always ready for annoyance: “I want it, I count on it.. so, I am always happy,” (Saint Therese of Lisieux, Fr. Bernard Bro, pg. 62). Therese was a realist and understood that irritations and inconveniences are a constant in our world. Her genius was not to waste these things by complaining about them – she once wrote that “sanctity does not consist in saying beautiful things, it does not even consist in thinking them, in feeling them... it consists in suffering and suffering everything,” (Ibid, pg. 223). And Therese certainly suffered more than her share of slights. For example, one of the Sisters wrote that “My Sister Therese of the Child Jesus is going to die soon; and I really wonder what our mother will be able to say after her death. She will be very embarrassed, for this little sister, as likeable as she is, has certainly done nothing worth the trouble of being recounted,” (Ibid, pg. 2). Wasted suffering is one of the most lamentable aspects of human life – our faith teaches that we were saved by a God who suffered, died and rose again. And so for God, suffering is holy... sadly, for many of us this is not our experience. Our world teaches that suffering is to be avoided or medicated away as soon as possible. Hidden is the wisdom of God that teaches us to offer our suffering to the Lord so that our hearts will be more and more configured to His perfect love. Therese learned and lived this doctrine and it made her one of the most effective intercessor our world has seen. Early in her religious life Therese heard of the murderer Pranzini who vowed that he would not repent of his crimes. Therese stormed Heaven and offered all of her suffering for his conversion – just moments before he was put to death by the guillotine Pranzini reached out to the priest who was there and asked to kiss his crucifix. This was the first step toward authentic spiritual motherhood in Therese; later she read about “Hyacinthe Loyson, a former Carmelite friar and preacher at Notre Dame de Paris, married and founder of a church, was very much in the news. Therese never stopped interceding for him and offered her last Communion on his behalf,” (Ibid, pg. 135). Therese accepted suffering because it was the way of Our Lord, who bent down to become one of us and share in our weakness. Therese was no stranger to human brokenness, and admitted that she had been tempted by suicide earlier in life. While this is not what we expect of the saints, the fact is that their sufferings were real and sometimes overwhelming. When asked if she was enjoying her life of spiritual ease, Therese responded, “Do not believe I am swimming in consolations; oh, no, my consolation is to have none on earth,” (Ibid, pg. 200).
May the intercession of Saint Therese help us to be purified by our sufferings! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin |
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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