 Praised be Jesus Christ! I’ve been meaning to share with you the best quote I found in one of the many Christmas cards I received this year: “Knowing that God supplies all our necessities, and that one of our necessities is that we surrender to Him, we should not be surprised that He comes to us an infant; for surrender to an infant, any infant is easy. Surely never did God receive more fully what is due to Him from man than when He was an infant. Every infant demands and receives the most complete self-giving that we are capable of. The perfection of surrender to God is Mary with the infant Christ.” The quote comes from Caryl Houselander and is found in her book, Wood of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross. I share it here because we begin Catholic Schools Week and so we are reminded of Christ’s plea, “Let the children come to me,” (Mt. 19:14). We’re blessed with excellent Catholic schools and so are given the opportunity to live out our two-fold mission: 1) to bring the Sacraments to Christ’s people, and 2) to educate Christ’s people so that they understand and reverence the graces Christ gives as He nourishes, heals, and forgives us through the Sacraments of the Church. Many priests need to experience conversion to believe what I’ve just written – I needed such a conversion too, as I was sometimes guilty of wondering if the sacrifices necessary to keep a Catholic school open and viable were really worth it. The answer is unequivocally “yes”! Many of our future priests, religious, and active lay members will be products of Catholic schools. I hope each of our parents considers offering their children the gift of a Catholic education. My parents made heroic sacrifices so that I could attend a Catholic high school seminary (Holy Name in Madison) and God knows it put me on a path that has been a gift in my life. Please attend or encourage other young families to attend one of the Open Houses Columbus will be hosting: Our Lady of Peace is hosting theirs from 5:00-6:30 p.m. on February 12th, Saint John’s is scheduled for February 19th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and Columbus Middle and High School’s is set for February 21st from 6:00-7:30 p.m. I’ll close with the original “Prayer for Columbus High School” which has been recently revised and updated by our own Father Sedlacek (please pray it sincerely for our children, their parents, and all faculty and staff of Columbus Catholic Schools): O Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who in giving Your Church the duty and power to bring Your holy teachings to the faithful, said to the Apostles, ‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,’ look in Your mercy upon our imperfect but sincere efforts to carry out this divine commission. Just as, through the Holy Spirit, You imparted to the apostles the knowledge and the courage to go forth into a pagan world as the leaven of salvation, so also grant to the young men and women being educated at Columbus Catholic Schools the necessary knowledge and courage to go forth in life as the shining light of Your Truth and the salt of Christian example to save from its own destruction a world that is hostile to Christ’s teachings. May we, the staff, teachers, parents, and all the faithful, not count any sacrifice too great for the fulfillment of this lofty goal, but rather grant to us a true spirit of Godly zeal, unsparing self-denial, and Christ-like charity in the holy work of giving Your dearly beloved children a firm grasp of their faith and a desire to know You, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.” May God continue to bless our Columbus Catholic Schools with families who live the faith with true joy! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin
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 REMINDER to Parishioners * 24 Hour Eucharistic Adoration for 2017 - First Friday – February 2 through February 3
** 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 before the start of each hour and you will be let in by person already inside of church. See more news in the bulletin.
 From the Bishop:
We have an opportunity, as 2018 comes into existence, to experience something unique. For us, in the Diocese of La Crosse, 2018 is an anniversary year—our Sesquicentennial Year. For one hundred and fifty years, people living in western and north central Wisconsin have worked hard to develop a sense of the Catholic faith. Their diligence allows each one of us to possess a sense of integrity and centeredness that opens us to a useable future filled with purpose and hope. Read More..  Steubenville Youth Conference for teens presently in grades 8-12 An awesome, high
energy event with 2,000 other teens . PLUS: we'll roll up our sleeves and lend a hand while serving others. It will be at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, July 27-29 The cost of $270 includes most meals, transportation, & all housing A deposit of $50 is needed with sign up by Feb. 10. There will be an Information Meeting on Mon., Feb. 5 from 7-8pm To sign up, please contact: please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber. CATHOLIC Adventure Camp July 8-13. This is for teens currently in grades 6-12. Crosswoods Christian Adven- ture Camp, located south of Ashland, has been reserved for the Diocese of LaCrosse! This high adventure week will offer you the chance for rock climbing, repelling, canoeing, mountain bike riding, low ropes and high ropes, adventure trails, hiking, and time for prayer, the sacraments and reflection on God’s marvelous creation. The total cost will be $410 for youth and $250 for adults. Signup soon. Financial help is available. There will be an Information Meeting on Mon., Feb. 5 from 6:30-7:30pm If you have any other questions, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber.  Praised be Jesus Christ! The following excerpt comes from the new book we’re selling that commemorates our 150th anniversary as a Diocese: “Holy Cross, Cornell is the northern most parish of the Diocese of La Crosse. The first church was built in 1916. The priest came to Cornell once a month to say Mass because the rectory was in Jim Falls. During the 1920’s the Ku Klux Klan was formed in the area and by 1924 they were very active in Cornell, marching up Main St. with their hoods and torches whenever the priest came to town. There was a wooded area at the end of Main St. and here the Klan would burn a cross. It was during one of these fiery episodes that Fr. Minwegen decided to travel to Eau Claire and find out who owned the land. The option had expired one week earlier, so he put down $50 of parish money and the 10 acres at the end of Main St. now belonged to Holy Cross,” (pg. 297, Feed My Lambs). Pretty amazing story, don’t you think?! I share it here partially as a marketing ploy but mostly as an introduction to the sanctity of human life that we defend and promote as we remember the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade on January 22nd. For 45 years our country has legally terminated our nascent brothers and sisters and we are praying and offering sacrifices so that this will end. The blindness that led people to join the Ku Klux Klan is still operating at full tilt, but is now found in the much more refined arenas of politics and Planned Parenthood. Sins against the image and likeness of God are not new, for as Jesus pointed out, Satan “was a murderer from the beginning,” (Jn. 8:44) and he has been duping the world ever since. Whether it’s in the form of racism or sexism, assaults on human dignity are always and everywhere to be condemned with charity and courage. And while today most people would say that groups like the Ku Klux Klan were clearly an affront to human dignity, many are still blind to the reality that abortion and contraception tend to inordinately target minorities, especially African Americans and Hispanics. Suffice it to point out that a 2010 Census revealed that 79% of Planned Parenthood surgical abortion facilities are located within walking distance of African American or Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods. When I was a kid I watched the movie “Boyz in the Hood” and I’ve never forgotten the question posed by one of the characters: “Why is it that there is a gun shop on almost every corner in this community? I’ll tell you why. For the same reason that there is a liquor store on almost every corner in the black community. Why? They want us to kill ourselves.” Racism and sexism are fruits of original sin and will probably be with us until the end of the world. The problem is when they’re not challenged. Every child has a right to be born. Terminating an innocent human being is always wrong. The foundress of Planned Parenthood was Margaret Sanger and her teaching was unabashedly racist. This racism has been codified by Roe vs. Wade, a law that has been consistently used to free us of the burden of black kids, Hispanic kids, kids with special needs, and the list goes on. Now it would be inaccurate to say that all people who are in favor of abortion are racists or sexists. But I do not think you could ever say of abortion advocates that they understand Jesus Christ’s preferential love for those who are most vulnerable and marginalized in this world... Now let’s close with a happy ending, shall we? Again, from our sesquicentennial book comes the following conclusion to the story we started above: “After 100 years Holy Cross was blessed with a priest from our parish. Fr. Daniel J. Sedlacek was ordained June 25, 2016 by Bishop Callahan at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, La Crosse. He said his first Mass at Holy Cross on Sunday, June 26, 2016 (very near the spot where the KKK burned crosses all those years ago).”
May God give us the grace to pray and fast for an end to abortion and all other crimes against human dignity! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin  The Holy Names Society Annual Pancake and Raffle will be taking place on Sunday, March 4, 2018 after the 8 a.m. mass.
To save postage costs: parishioner’s raffle tickets have been placed on table, in gathering room. Please locate your personal addressed labeled envelope and take with you. If you would like to have more for yourself or to sell they are available on the table, also. Men and youth of the parish your time and talent is needed in the preparation for this annual event. Set-up, serving, kitchen help, pancake grillers, clean-up, etc. Remember this is the only fundraiser that the Holy Name Society has each year and this can only take place, if there are volunteers helping. Contact Todd Rueth or Tom Springob to say you will be there to give your services to the Holy Name Society and this fundraiser See more news in the bulletin.
 On January 18, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will launch the national "9 Days for Life" campaign calling Catholics and the faithful together for a 9-day "digital pilgrimage" focusing on cherishing the gift of human life from conception to natural death. The campaign surrounds the annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, which occurs on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade—the Supreme court decision that made abortion legal throughout the United States. The overarching intention of the centerpiece novena is the end to abortion, and each day highlights a different intention related to respect for human life: end of life care, human trafficking, healing after abortion, the death penalty, and more. Participants are called to both prayer and action unified around each day's specific intention and can subscribe to receive daily messages at www.9daysforlife.com
 The March for Life pilgrimage will take place January 17-21, 2018. A Diocese of
La Crosse group of pilgrims will be a witnesses to the dignity of life for the unborn, elderly, and those who society regards as useless. Please keep them in your prayers for a safe journey to Washington D.C. and than back to Wisconsin. |
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 Pastor
Welcome 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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