St. Mary & St. John Weekly Update!

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

Have you ever reached the end of a long day and thought, “Lord, I have nothing left to give!”

I suspect we have all been there. Between work, family, responsibilities, and the seemingly endless list of things that need our attention, sometimes even the thought of doing one more thing for someone else can feel overwhelming.

And then along comes Jesus, reminding us of the two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Simple enough, right?

Well, until that neighbor needs something when we are already running on empty!

But here is something beautiful about what Jesus is teaching us. He isn't asking us to manufacture more love out of an already exhausted heart. He is inviting us to receive His love first.

You see, we sometimes get love backward. We think it begins with us, with our ability to be patient, generous, forgiving, and compassionate. But Scripture reminds us of something wonderful:

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

God loved us before we ever did a single thing to deserve it. He loved us into existence. He loves us through our successes and our struggles, through our good days and those days when we would just as soon pull the covers over our heads and start over tomorrow!

And that love isn't something we are meant to keep tucked away for ourselves.

God's love is meant to move us.

It moves us beyond our own worries and concerns. It opens our eyes to the person who is hurting, the neighbor who is lonely, the family struggling to make ends meet, or the stranger who simply needs someone to listen.

And sometimes love looks remarkably ordinary.

It's a phone call to someone we haven't spoken with in a while. A meal delivered to a neighbor. A kind word instead of a harsh one. A little patience when we would rather have things our own way.

It might even mean forgiving someone who hasn't asked to be forgiven.

Now there's one that can really stretch the heart!

But here's the thing. We cannot give what we have not first received.

That is why prayer matters. That is why the Eucharist matters. Every time we come to the altar, we encounter Jesus Christ, who gives Himself completely to us. We receive the very love we are called to share.

And when we allow that love to fill our hearts, something wonderful happens. We begin to see others a little differently. We become less concerned about what we have to give up and more attentive to what someone else might need.

Over these past months, I have witnessed countless examples of this kind of love in action. People reaching out to neighbors, offering a helping hand, sharing what they have, and giving their time simply because someone else needed them.

That is the Gospel coming alive right before our eyes!

My friends, Jesus never said loving God and loving our neighbor would always be easy. But He has promised that we would never have to do it alone.

So perhaps this week, instead of asking, “Lord, what more do You want me to do?” we might begin with a different prayer:

“Lord, help me recognize how deeply You love me. Fill my heart with that love, and then show me where You want me to share it.”

Because when God's love truly takes hold of our hearts, it cannot help but spill over into the lives of others.

And who knows? That little act of kindness you offer today might be exactly how someone else experiences the love of God.

After all, God's love was never meant to stay put. And neither were we!

May God bless you and all those whose lives you touch this week.

Deacon Don

AMDG — For the Greater Glory of God!

With work going on outside during the week - the Week Day Masses must remain as they have been.

Tuesday 6pm in Church

Wednesday 7pm in Church

Thursday 8:15am in Gym

Friday 7:30am in Chapel Enter through Rectory Door or Appleton St. Door

*First Friday at 6pm in Church

When we are able to transfer the remainder of the weekday Masses back into church we will. For the foreseeable future the Masses will remain like this. Thanks for your understanding!

We know that parking has been a challenge, especially with several spaces temporarily unavailable due to the ongoing restoration work. We appreciate your patience and want you to know that we are doing everything we can to make parking as convenient and safe as possible.

The good news is that we have some additional parking options available!

Mt. Tabor: Parking is available at Mt. Tabor, located next to St. Mary School on Second Street, toward the Marathon Gas Station.

VFW Parking Lot: We are especially grateful to our friends at the VFW, located across Third Street from the rectory, who have graciously offered the use of their parking lot during our weekend Masses. Between the lot and available street parking on both sides of the road, this provides space for approximately 25 additional vehicles. What a wonderful example of neighbors helping neighbors!

Your Safety Matters!

We recognize that Third Street is a busy road, and we want everyone to feel safe crossing to and from church. Great News - The Street Lights are re-installed!

To help, we have obtained a "Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalk" sign that will be placed in the roadway. In addition, volunteer crossing guards wearing bright yellow safety vests and carrying STOP signs will be available before and after Mass to assist pedestrians crossing Third Street.

We ask everyone to please use the designated crosswalk, follow the directions of our crossing guards, and exercise extra caution when driving through the area.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and understanding!

We know these temporary inconveniences can be frustrating, but every week brings us another step forward. We are grateful to the VFW, our volunteers, and all of you for helping us make the best of a challenging situation.

After all, a little extra walking isn't so bad when the destination is the Lord's table! 😊

We're glad you're coming to Mass, and we're doing our best to make sure there's a place for you to park when you get here!

May God bless you, and thank you for continuing to travel this road with us.

St. Mary & St. John the Baptist — Moving Forward Together!

We are delighted to share that we have been blessed to receive a documented second-class relic of Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen!

The relic is a piece of one of his vestments, a tangible connection to this remarkable shepherd of the Church whose powerful preaching, deep love for the Eucharist, and unwavering dedication to sharing the Gospel touched millions of lives.

Archbishop Sheen was one of the great Catholic evangelists of the twentieth century, bringing the message of Jesus Christ into countless homes through radio and television. His ability to communicate the beauty and truth of our Catholic faith continues to inspire people today.

The relic, along with prayer cards, is now displayed on the St. Joseph Altar at St. Mary. We invite you to stop by, spend a few moments in prayer, and ask for Blessed Fulton Sheen's intercession.

Relics are a beautiful part of our Catholic tradition. They remind us that holiness is not simply something we read about in history books. It is something lived by real people who loved Christ and devoted their lives to Him. And they remind us that we, too, are called to become saints!

What a wonderful blessing for our parish family as we continue to grow together in faith.

Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!

Celebrate All Saints’ Day with Our Parish Family

October 31 – November 1, 2026

What a blessing it is to be part of a Church with such a rich and beautiful history of holiness!

As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, we invite you to join us at St. Mary for a very special opportunity to encounter a treasured part of our Catholic heritage.

Throughout the weekend, our parish's remarkable collection of sacred relics will be on display for the faithful to view and venerate.

We are truly blessed to be custodians of such a beautiful collection, connecting us in a very tangible way to the holy men and women who have gone before us in faith.

Relics remind us that the saints were real people, just like you and me. They faced struggles, experienced joys and sorrows, and encountered many of the same challenges we face today. Yet, through God's grace, they lived lives of extraordinary faithfulness.

And here's the wonderful thing: holiness isn't reserved for a select few. Every one of us is called to become a saint!

As we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, surrounded by these reminders of our heavenly friends, may we be inspired by their example and encouraged by their prayers.

All Saints’ Day Mass Schedule

Saturday, October 31

• 4:00 PM – Vigil Mass

Sunday, November 1

• 9:00 AM – Holy Day Mass

• 11:00 AM – Holy Day Mass

All Masses will be celebrated at St. Mary Church.

We encourage you to take some time during the weekend to appreciate this extraordinary collection and reflect upon the great Communion of Saints—that beautiful truth that we are never alone on our journey of faith.

The saints are not simply figures from the pages of history. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ, cheering us on, interceding for us, and reminding us that heaven is our true home.

All you holy men and women, pray for us!

Monday, November 2, 2026

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”

November 2 is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, more commonly known as All Souls’ Day.

It is a day when the Church invites us to remember, honor, and, most importantly, pray for those who have gone before us in faith.

We remember our parents and grandparents, husbands and wives, children, family members, friends, and fellow parishioners. We remember those whose passing is still fresh in our hearts and those who have been gone for many years.

And we remember that, as Catholics, we believe death does not have the final word. Through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been given the promise of eternal life.

One of the most beautiful expressions of our Catholic faith is our belief in the Communion of Saints. Our prayers unite us with those who have gone before us, and praying for the dead is a spiritual work of mercy.

While All Souls’ Day is not a Holy Day of Obligation, what a wonderful opportunity it is to gather as a parish family and offer the greatest prayer of the Church, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, for the repose of their souls.

We invite you to join us for either of our All Souls’ Day Masses:

8:15 AM — St. Mary Church
Celebrated with the students of St. Mary Elementary School. All parishioners are welcome!

4:00 PM — St. Mary Cemetery Chapel
A special opportunity to gather in prayer in the peaceful setting of our parish cemetery, surrounded by the resting places of so many who have gone before us.

Perhaps there is someone special you have been missing. Perhaps there is a name you haven’t spoken aloud in some time. Bring that person with you in your heart as we gather around the altar.

Because we never stop loving those who have gone before us. And we should never stop praying for them.

There are some things we don't realize how much we've missed until they're gone.

In the months since the tornado, our parish family has experienced many changes. Among them has been the absence of two beautiful and much-beloved traditions of prayer at St. Mary.

Well, it's time to bring them home!

We are delighted to announce the return of our monthly devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Peregrine, beginning once again at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Beginning in November!

🌹 Second Friday – Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Following the 7:30 AM Mass, we will gather for devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, following the beautiful tradition of St. Alphonsus Liguori.

For generations, Catholics have turned to our Blessed Mother, seeking her loving intercession in times of difficulty, uncertainty, and need. As our Mother of Perpetual Help, Mary reminds us that we never walk alone. She is always ready to lead us closer to her Son, Jesus Christ.

🙏 Fourth Friday – St. Peregrine Devotions

Following the 7:30 AM Mass, we will gather to seek the intercession of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those suffering from cancer.

These special prayers are offered for those battling cancer, their families and caregivers, and anyone facing a serious illness.

At the conclusion of the devotions, those present will have the opportunity to receive a special blessing with a first-class relic of St. Peregrine.

It is a beautiful opportunity to bring our worries, our suffering, and the people we love before the Lord, asking for healing, strength, comfort, and peace.

❤️ An Invitation to Come and Pray

These devotions have been a treasured part of our parish's spiritual life, offering countless people a place to bring their prayers, burdens, hopes, and gratitude.

The tornado may have interrupted our gatherings, but it certainly hasn't diminished our faith or our need for prayer!

Whether you have participated in these devotions for years or have never experienced them before, we warmly invite you to join us.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone who is struggling is simply to pray with them and for them.

Second and Fourth Fridays of Every Month
Immediately following the 7:30 AM Mass
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

Come with your intentions. Come with your burdens. Come with your hopes.

Come and experience the comfort, peace, and grace that come from gathering together in prayer.

Our Blessed Mother and St. Peregrine, pray for us!

We are offering to send college care packages to students twice a year (November and April). Last year we sent 20 packages to college students from our parishes (with the confirmation student's help), and they loved them!

If you would like to sign up for us to send your child a care package, you can fill out the form at this link: https://forms.gle/J1ziFKT1bz5ExwTB9

This ministry is funded ENTIRELY on donations!!

If you would like to donate toward the college care packages - we have an Amazon wishlist set up for this! You can either scan the QR code to the left to find the wishlist, follow the link below, or contact Bethany Robinson at the parish office to donate directly.

Amazon wishlist: https://a.co/2uDdd1n

DEADLINE for sign ups and donations is November 1

Since the tornado, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people asking one simple question:

“How can we help?”

There are many answers to that question. Pray for us. Worship with us. Help a neighbor. Support our restoration efforts.

But there is also one very simple way to help that doesn’t cost you anything extra: use Scrip.

Right now, our parishes are facing a difficult reality. While the needs created by the tornado continue to grow, our regular parish support has declined. With our churches temporarily closed and our parish family worshiping together at St. Patrick, we are also missing the loose collection offerings that normally help support the day-to-day mission of St. Mary and St. John.

That makes every opportunity to support our parishes especially important right now.

And Scrip is one of the easiest ways all of us can help.

When you purchase Scrip, you are simply buying gift cards for places where you already spend money—grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, retailers, and especially Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards and other home-improvement stores. You receive the full value of the gift card, while the retailer gives a percentage back to our parishes.

It costs you nothing extra.

Think about what is happening throughout our community right now.

People are repairing roofs. Replacing windows. Buying lumber, tools, paint and supplies. Families are replacing things that were damaged or lost in the storm.

Those purchases will be made anyway.

What if those same purchases could also help St. Mary and St. John recover?

A $50 gift card may not seem like much.

Neither does $100.

Neither does one trip to the hardware store or grocery store.

But multiply those purchases by hundreds of parishioners and friends of our parishes, week after week, and suddenly those little percentages become something much bigger.

Every little bit helps. And right now, we truly need every little bit.

The easiest way to stop by the Parish Office during the week. You can also purchase online using the RaiseRight App, where many gift cards can be purchased instantly as eGift cards right from your phone or computer.

And this Saturday, we will once again have a Scrip table before and after our 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Church. If you have never used Scrip or RaiseRight before, please stop by. Our volunteers would be happy to help you get started.

Our beloved churches have been wounded, but our Church is very much alive.

We see it every time we gather for Mass. We see it in neighbors helping neighbors. We see it in volunteers giving countless hours. We see it in your prayers, your encouragement and your generosity.

Now we can see it in something as ordinary as buying groceries, filling the gas tank or making that next trip to the home-improvement store.

Before you make your next purchase, please think Scrip.

You were going to make the purchase anyway.

Why not let it help rebuild our parish family, too?

One gift card. One purchase. One small act at a time.

Together, it adds up.

Together, we make a difference.

And together, with God's help, St. Mary & St. John Strong will rise again.

Thank you for loving our parishes. Thank you for standing with us. And thank you for helping us rebuild.

Our three cemeteries are now open again for visiting. Please use prudence when visiting as we work to restore a few areas with downed branches still to a safe status; please refrain from visiting the particular areas with downed branches.

Please join us at St. Mary Cemetery at the Rosary Garden (to the south of the chapel) this Thursday next October 29 at 3PM as we pray a rosary for the souls of the dearly departed who are laid to rest at our three cemeteries!

This is our Last Cemetery Rosary until My! Please invite a friend! All are welcome!

One way to know is if you receive regular communications from us, such as offertory envelopes, newsletters or emails. If you do not receive at least one of these, then perhaps you are not registered here, you may want to check with the parish office staff.
Registering in the parish is a statement of faith and confidence in the life and work of our parish.
As parish members, we are all here to help each other on our spiritual journey; we don’t want to do this alone.

Please note that In order to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Matrimony, to have access to Letters of Eligibility, to stand as a God Parent at Baptism, Sponsor at Confirmation, or to receive a tuition discount at St. Mary Catholic Schools, you need to be registered as a Parishioner at St. Mary or St. John the Baptist Parishes.

As much as you need us, we need you, too! Click this link https://forms.gle/pPtLZjDbh3nuxfA47

to fill out a new member form, or scan the QR Code! Please call Deacon Don in the Parish Office if you have any questions. (920) 725-7714 x416.

Xavier Theatre presents the 2026 showing of Christmas Stars, the 30th edition of our annual holiday revue! Performances will be at 7:00 pm December 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, and at 1:00 pm December 5, 6, 12, and 13. Adult tickets are $18, senior citizens: $17, high school students: $17, and children 8th grade or under: $10. On the Thursday showings (the 4th and 11th), adult tickets are $14 and child tickets are $9. There is also a family ticket package option that is two adult tickets with two student tickets for only $50 ($6 in savings). Ticket prices do not include service fees on credit card purchases. These fees are established by Ludus, our box office vendor, and are nonrefundable.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.xaviertheatre.com or through the Xavier box office, (920) 733-8840. The box office is open Mondays and Wednesdays, from noon until 3:00 pm, for phone orders and walk-up sales, increasing to Monday through Friday beginning October 26th. You may leave a phone message at any time. If you visit the box office in person, please park in the Visitor Parking Spaces in front of Xavier High School and enter through the Main Entrance. You will need to check in at the Main Office prior to visiting the Box Office.

We have many more stars available. These sales will help fund the next phase of our restoration which will refurbish the pews and sanctuary flooring and other things. Buying a "Star" honors your loved ones with the cherished gift of perpetual prayer. You can fill out a Star Card at church or at the Parish Office or purchase your star online through We Share. Give the gift of perpetual prayer! Commemorative Certificates available for gift giving!

As with our family, we care deeply for our church and want to ensure that it will continue to flourish and grow long after we are gone. St. Mary & St. John Parishes are sustained by the generosity of our parishioners through time, talent, and treasure. We are sincerely grateful for kind remembrances in memorials, donations, and wills. Donations may be tax deductible. For all that you do Thank You!!

Bequests & Legacy Giving

Charitable gift planning is stewardship of our assets, just like our weekly offering. Please consider St. Mary and/or St. John the Baptist Parish in your estate planning.

The simplest planned gift to St. Mary and/or St. John the Baptist Parish is a bequest in your last will or testament or in your living trust. This demonstrates the obvious necessity to have a valid will or trust in order to accomplish your goal of leaving a legacy to the Church as your final act of stewardship.

Even if you choose to make an outright bequest to St. Mary and/or St. John the Baptist Parish, you may consider the parish as the beneficiary of a contingent bequest in the event all your other named beneficiaries no longer exist at the time of your death. This is sometimes referred to as a “clean up” provision. It ensures that your property is distributed according to your plan rather than the state law on estate distributions.

A tax planning point for bequests: To the extent possible, your bequest should be from assets referred to in the Internal Revenue Code as “income in respect of a decedent.” Some examples of these assets are U.S. savings bonds and retirement plans such as 401(k) plans and IRAs. Such gifts to St. Matthew are ideal because they are subject to income tax if received by a tax-paying beneficiary, such as a family member. However, since the Church like other charities, is tax-exempt, income tax can be avoided on bequests of these assets. Other assets, such as bank accounts, life insurance and corporate stocks and bonds, and real estate proper-ties which do not involve income tax shortcoming, are better assets to distribute to family members.

Bequests may take several different forms:

A bequest of a specific amount

“I give $$$ to ….”

A bequest of specific property:

“I give 100 shares of XYZ Corporation to….”

A bequest of a portion of the residue of your estate:

“I give 10 percent of the remaining property in my estate to….”

A bequest of the complete residue of your estate:

“I give all of the remaining property in my estate to.…”

If you are seriously considering a bequest or legacy contribution to St. Mary and/or St. John the Baptist Parish, contact your family attorney to see how you can best give to St. Mary and/or St. John the Baptist Parish

. Attorneys have information with respect to the documentation you will need.

IRA Giving

Age 70 ½? — Make a Tax-Free Charitable Gift through Your IRA!

Normally, a distribution from your IRA is taxed as ordinary income. However, federal tax legislation enacted in December 2015, allows you, if you are 70½ or older, to make a direct gift from your IRA to the Church through your parish, or other qualified charity without the distribution taxed as income to you. Unlike prior years, this legislation has no expiration date.

The IRA charitable rollover law may provide a very good charitable giving vehicle if you are age 70 ½ and take the standard deduction rather than itemize deductions on your tax return. The law may also allow you to avoid a tax increase on your Social Security benefits. Thus, your IRA could be considered a special fund for distributions to the Church and charities without the normal consequences of reporting additional taxable income.

The distribution must be from your IRA, not a 401(k) or other retirement plan. However, consult with your financial or tax advisor about the possibility of transferring funds from one of these other plans to establish an IRA, with the distribution to charity coming from the newly established IRA.

The IRA distribution must be a direct charitable gift and not a distribution to a donor-advised fund, a charitable remainder trust or for a charitable gift annuity. Distributions to charity cannot exceed $100,000 in a taxable year.

To take advantage of the IRA charitable rollover to support the Church, please review the following helpful tips on how to handle your charitable gift correctly:

• Contact your IRA custodian or representative before making a gift to arrange for the proper transfer of funds from your IRA directly to the Church and other qualified charities. The check or other payment issued from the IRA must be made payable to the charity.
• If you have elected to have income tax withheld from your normal IRA distributions, advise your IRA administrator not to withhold taxes from distributions to charity.
• Consult your tax advisor for the tax reporting of the special election described above.

While this topic is fresh on your mind, ask your attorney and financial advisor how to make the Church a beneficiary of your will or trust or your IRA.

For more information about how you and the Church can benefit from an IRA charitable rollover, contact the parish office at 920-725-7714.

These helpful tips are only for your information and are not to be considered as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your legal, tax and financial advisors to implement the benefits of the IRA charitable rollover law and related matters.