The Evangelist
The monthly newsletter of the
Parish of Saint John the Apostle
March 2010
Dear Parish Family and Friends,
In my travels back and forth from Indiana I often take a different route to break up the monotony of the trip. On one such journey I came across a beautiful church setting high on a hill. The sign read 'The Shrine of Christ's Passion.' This got my interest and I decided that I would stop on my way home and investigate this shrine.
So I did stop and discovered a great gift shop. I asked about the shrine and the woman behind the counter directed me to a path outside a door at the back of the gift shop.
I began walking the path and soon found I was walking the way of the Cross. Each station had an automated devotion and meditation. The shrines were beautiful and I was particularly taken with the fourth station “Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother” I would like to share with you the devotion and meditation for this station.
Carrying His cross, Jesus looks up and sees His mother. How oppressive that experience must have been for both of them! How painful this must have been for Mary.
Mary, did you wonder what would become of your Son? What were your dreams for the boy? What were your hopes for the man? In the reality of this moment, you are cut to the heart, yet you remain faithful to the end. Mary, you are the perfect woman, wife, and mother.
What came to my mind at that moment was the overwhelming grief which my mother had displayed when she arrived for the burial of her newest grandson, someone she had never meet because he died during an emergency surgery to correct a heart valve. A month earlier I saw my mother filled with strength as she greeted family and friends at the funeral of my father. She remains the good wife.
I'm not saying my mother was perfect, but I am saying that God gives us examples of how we conduct our lives as Christians. In the case of my mother I believe it was Mary who set the example for her life. When I was made an orphan after my mother died, I came to understand that the example that my mother set in her life allowed me to know the meaning of Jesus as he said from the cross “Woman, behold thy Son, Son, behold thy Mother” As Christians we are never orphaned because God is our Father, Mary is our Mother and Christ our Brother.
So when you find yourself walking the way of the Cross, and you come to the fourth station, know that it is not Jesus alone who meets his Mother but we too as children of God greet her and lift her up in her pain and sorrow.
Yours in Christ,
Father Wirth
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Lay Ministries for March 2010
Sunday, March 7th Lent Three, Mass 10:00 a.m.
Server: Kevin Spaeth
Greeter Pat Dunar
Coffee Hour: Check list
Altar Guild: Amy Stillings
Sunday, March 14th Lent Four, Mass 10:00 a.m.
Server: Kevin Spaeth
Greeter: Ann Butler
Coffee Hour: Check list
Altar Guild Laurie Wright
Sunday, March 21st Passion Sunday, Mass 10:00 a.m.
Server: Kevin Spaeth
Greeter: Chris Dicks
Coffee Hour: Check list
Altar Guild: Amy Stillings
Sunday, March 28th PALM SUNDAY, Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
Servers: Al Butler & Kevin Spaeth
Greeter: David Stillings
Coffee Hour: Check list
Altar Guild: Father Wirth
April, 1st Maundy Thursday, Liturgy 6:15 p.m.
Servers: Al Butler & Kevin Spaeth
Altar Guild: Father Wirth
April 2nd: Good Friday, Liturgy 12:30 p.m.
Server: Kevin Spaeth
Altar Guild Father Wirth
April 4th EASTER DAY, LITURGY 10:00 A.M.
Servers: Al Butler & Kevin Spaeth
Greeters: Ann Butler and David Stillings
Coffee Hour Pot Luck Breakfast
Altar Guild: Laurie Wright
Other Announcements
The Pick 'N Save number is 771280 for St. John's. If you shop there regularly, then it is worthwhile to give them that number. They can link it to your Pick 'N Save shopper card, and you can easily begin one more way of supporting your parish! Thank you to everyone who is participating!
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N89 W16211 Main Street,
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051Telephone (262) 255-9626; Email Us
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