 Praised be Jesus Christ! The following is reprinted with permission of the author: “Marriage is an extremely important sacrament in the Catholic Church. We support families and their spiritual growth from baptism, first communion, and confirmation to marriage preparation and beyond. What follows is some information from our diocesan website about divorce, annulment, and the healing ministry our Church can provide. Please take a closer look, as there are many misconceptions about this topic. Divorce is unique among life experiences. There is no precedent that can prepare an individual for it. Divorce is a process, not an event. Legal divorce can be pinpointed to a moment in time, to the signing of a court decision, but not so the experience of divorce. The experience of divorce is the result of a series of incidents that eventually erode a relationship between a husband and wife. The ending of any marriage that has endured long enough for the two partners to invest portions of their lives, money, emotions, and dreams is often a devastating experience. Persons who have experienced the heartbreak of divorce are in need of much healing. One of the healing ministries of the Church open to the divorced is the annulment process. It is a unique way of bringing closure to a sad chapter in life. The annulment process may very well reveal that although two people struggled mightily to sustain a relationship, something essential to marital consent was lacking from the beginning, and therefore, the union could not be sustained. The annulment process is a procedure that cleans up some of the spiritual damage left over from a divorce. One aspect of that damage is the inability of the divorced person to enter another sacramental marriage at any time in any place. The nullity declaration, if that is the outcome of the investigation, is a declaration that a person’s marriage really wasn’t a true sacramental marriage, and therefore, the divorced person is able to marry in the Church as though for the first time. Now for some myths surrounding this topic: MYTH: An annulment renders the children of a marriage illegitimate. TRUTH: An annulment does not change the status of children in any way. MYTH: Annulments cost thousands of dollars. TRUTH: The Diocese of La Crosse requests a $400 contribution for a process that costs more than twice that to complete. In situations of great financial hardship, the amount requested is either reduced or waived entirely. [Moreover, as a parish we help cover this cost on a regular basis.] MYTH: It takes years to receive an annulment. TRUTH: Most cases in the Diocese of La Crosse are completed in less than eight months [My experience is that it’s closer to 6 months or less.] MYTH: An annulment means a marriage never existed. TRUTH: An annulment does not deny the reality that a civil marriage occurred. When an annulment is granted, it is a declaration that a union was entered with improper consent on the part of one or both parties and, as a result of that defective consent, the parties involved should be no longer held to their vows.” I picked this brochure up while at our annual Fall Clergy Conference in La Crosse and thought it was very well done. I’ve helped dozens of people work through the healing process of seeking an annulment and am very happy to assist you or someone you know who would benefit from this. For Catholics who remarried without an annulment, receiving Communion is prohibited. That’s hard news to bear. But the silver lining is what you just read. Call me if you would like help – God is magnificent in His ability to draw straight with crooked lines. May God grant healing to His children, especially those suffering the wounds of divorce and division! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin
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 Holy Day of Obligation * All Saints * Masses times @ Christ the King are: Oct. 31, 2018 @ 7 pm and Nov. 1, 2018 @ 8:30 am. Ministry participants are needed. Sign-up sheets have been placed on back table, in church. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Masses times at St. John the Baptist in Marshfield are: October 31, 2018 @ 6 pm and November 1, 2018 @ 6:30am/8amand 6pm.
 From the Church:
As many as 5,000 Salvadorans present in St. Peter’s Square cried, prayed, and expressed their joy at an event they were patiently waiting for, for the past 28 years. The Pope referred to Paul VI as “a saint who lived amidst difficulties and misunderstandings” and to the new Central American saint as “the bishop of the poor:” “It is beautiful that, next to Paul VI and the other saints we recognize today, we find Monsignor Romero, who left the security of the world, including his own safety, to surrender his life to the Gospel, remaining close to the poor and his people.” The same can be said of Francesco Spinelli, Vincenzo Romano, Maria Caterina Kasper, Nazaria Ignazia Saint Teresa of Jesus, and also of the 19-year-old from Naples, Nunzio Sulprizio, who was also canonized. Read More...  We are getting closer to starting the lunch-time Bible Study at Spencer High School, possibly starting October 30th. All high school students welcome!  Praised be Jesus Christ! One of the advantages of writing these columns is that I can pan the audience for things that I need. Now before you accuse me of being manipulative, I want to share the true story of Archbishop Fulton Sheen: once on a live show he mentioned how he loved homemade chocolate chip cookies. When he came to work the following Monday morning he was greeted by several tons of chocolate chip cookies that had been mailed in from every part of the United States and beyond. On the same note, Father Burish used to shake his head in disbelief at all the food that came in to our rectory... I told him that he couldn’t possibly be surprised by this, as he was constantly whining about how cold the rectory always was and how little there was to eat (and his appearance certainly worked in his favor)! So, what is it that I need? Well, how about your recommendations for great books and inspiring movies.. I periodically share my favorites with you but must admit that many of these were suggested by others who discovered them first. For example, close friends sent me the musical “The Greatest Showman” and I absolutely loved watching it. Based on the life of P.T. Barnum, the music is stirring and the focus on our inherent dignity as children of God is a theme that stays with you long after the credits have run. Other movies that I’ve enjoyed this past year were “Dunkirk” (a true story about World War II that for some reason I knew practically nothing about) and “The Darkest Hour” (set at almost the exact same time as Dunkirk, it movingly portrays the significant role played by Winston Churchill). And for those who enjoy kids’ movies, I watched “Ferdinand” on the way back from our pilgrimage last April – my favorite scene by far was the dance off between the bulls and the German horses. Friends shared with me a new movie about Saint Maria Goretti (fantastic – the Italians, hands down, make the best saint movies!) and a much older movie about Saint Thomas Beckett (“Beckett,” 1964, Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton), which does an amazing job of portraying the unique path of a saint who, but for the grace of God, could have ended up becoming someone much different. Now on to the best books of recent memory: I will start with my favorite from the past year, namely The Time Before You Die, by Lucy Beckett. This author has written the best book I’ve ever read about the Reformation in England and it has caused me to see that event very differently. Beckett has a beautiful way of getting inside the heart and mind of her characters and in the case of her main character, Robert Fletcher, I couldn’t help but love him and sympathize with the struggles of his life. Another favorite of this past year was Mark Sullivan’s Beneath a Scarlet Sky. This true tale of the harrowing heroism of Pino Lello and his family will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to finish. On a more contemplative note, I’ve now read two books by Robert Cardinal Sarah and would especially recommend The Power of Silence. The parts I found to be most compelling were the insights shared by a Carthusian monk who is interviewed extensively by the author. For those of you who are ready to take the next step in your spiritual life, this would make an excellent choice and could make a great companion for your regular visits to the Adoration Chapel. To round out the reading recommendations, friends bought me the book Loosing the Lion by Huizenga and it’s one of the best books I’ve read about Scripture (in this case, the Gospel of Saint Mark). And for those who appreciate biography, The Abbess of Andalusia is hands down the best book I’ve ever read about Flannery O’Connor. In closing, this column is intended to be a quid pro quo – i.e. I’ve offered you my suggestions and now I’m hoping some of you will share with me some of yours. But please just share titles – I’d rather not have an Amazon semi-trailer sitting in front of the rectory next week!
May God lead us to awe and wonder in what we read and watch, so that our souls might better magnify Him! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin  Christ the King Parish is in need of people to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at all masses, especially 4 pm mass on Saturday and taking the Eucharist to our homebound members. An invitation is extended to those who feel God is asking them to participate more in their parish. A training session at St. John’s Rectory in Mfld. on Tuesday-January 15, 2019 at 6 p.m. Please take time in prayer, as to if this how you wish to be of service in your parish . You will receive special graces for participating in this ministry. After training has been done, your name will be submitted to the diocese for you to be commissioned as Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. After approval has been given, your name than will be placed on the ministry schedule.
 From the Pope:
The 5th Commandment — do not kill — “rises up like a wall of defense” protecting the basic value in human relationships, the value of life. And a main breach of that Commandment is the taking of human life in the womb: abortion is like “hiring a hitman to solve a problem.” This was Pope Francis’ observation today at the general audience, as he continued his catechesis series on the Ten Commandments. “It could be said,” Francis observed, “that all the evil enacted in the world is summarized in this: disregard for life.” Read More...  Holy Day of Obligation * All Saints * Masses times @ Christ the King are: Oct. 31, 2018 @ 7 pm and Nov. 1, 2018 @ 8:30 am. Ministry participants are needed. Sign-up sheets have been placed on back table, in church. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Masses times at St. John the Baptist in Marshfield are: October 31, 2018 @ 6 pm and November 1, 2018 @ 6:30am/8amand 6pm. |
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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