The North Star

Greetings!
Regularly, I return to the Latin phrase Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi which means "the law of prayer is the law of belief is the law of living." The way you pray shapes what you believe, and what you believe orders how you live your life. Worship of God is not just an isolated ritual; it is a map for daily life and behavior.
In the face of a vicious and dark culture it can seem intimidating and frightening to stand up for and live the faith. The easier path is to isolate our worship to home and personal belief to the privacy of the heart. However, we know through the Magisterium—the teaching authority of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit—that there are truths that must be proclaimed with our words and professed through our lives.
This Saturday is the Passion of St. John the Baptist. John was a unique person. As the forerunner of the Christ, John pointed other to Jesus with a spirit of humility. John also rightly pointed out immorality and wrongdoing when appropriate. In his case, John told King Herod that he could not marry Herodias, his brother's wife, which Herod had done. As a result, Herod imprisoned John and ultimately beheaded him. John's martyrdom, like any martyrdom, is one that required him to stand courageous in the Truth of Jesus Christ.
Courage is a requisite in the life of the Christian. In this Saturday's reflection in the Magnificat, Fr. Walter Farrell O.P. says, "It takes courage to be human. It takes even more courage to be Catholic. And it takes still more courage to reach those sublime heights of Catholicism which are called sanctity."
While we will all find ourselves in dilemmas of different sorts, sometimes the response required of us is clear as day; it simply takes courage to speak up and live the response. May we all find the courage to live well and live holiness through our worship, prayer, and participation in the sacraments to attain "those sublime heights of Catholicism which are called sanctity."
Vivat Jesus!
Reverend William Arnold, Pastor
St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
St. Columbkille, Elba
St. John the Baptist, Clyman
Annunciation, Fox Lake
St. Joseph, Waupun
Holy Family, Reeseville
August 29th & 30th
Saturday, August 29, 2026
4:00 PM Mass at Annunciation in Fox Lake - Fr. William Arnold
4:30 PM Mass at St. Katharine Drexel in Beaver Dam - Fr. Thomas Naidu
Sunday, August 30, 2026
7:30 AM Mass at St. Columbkille in Elba - Fr. Nick Dhein
8:00 AM Mass at St. Katharine Drexel in Beaver Dam - Fr. Thomas Naidu
8:30 AM Mass at Annunciation in Fox Lake - Fr. William Arnold
9:30 AM Mass at St. John the Baptist in Clyman - Fr. Nick Dhein
10:00 AM Mass at St. Katharine Drexel in Beaver Dam - Fr. Thomas Naidu
10:30 AM Mass at St. Joseph in Waupun - Fr. William Arnold
12:00 PM (Spanish) Mass at St. Katharine Drexel in Beaver Dam - Fr. Thomas Naidu
St. Katharine Drexel Faith Formation - Fall of 2026
Dear St. Katharine Drexel Parish Families,
We, Madeline and Clark Crombie, are excited to introduce ourselves as the K-7 Faith Formation Directors at St. Katharine Drexel Parish. We are a married couple; we both teach at St. Katharine Drexel School, and we recently welcomed our daughter into our family. As lifelong members of this parish, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that has shaped our own faith. We look forward to introducing ourselves more fully at Orientation Night, but for now, we simply want to say how honored we are to walk alongside you and your children this year. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of Faith Formation. Here is what you need to know for 2026–2027.
Class Schedule
Grades K-7: Wednesday nights, 6:15–7:30 PM, meeting in the church and school
Grades 8-10: Wednesday nights, 6:15–7:30 PM, meeting at the Parish Center
Confirmation: Sundays following the 10:00 AM Mass, concluding around 12:00 PM
Grades 8-10 and Confirmation are directed by Peter Laning, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (Grades 8–Confirmation). He can be reached at 920-887-2082, ext. 311, or laningp@stkds.com.
Orientation Night — Wednesday, September 9
Orientation Night is Wednesday, September 9, at 6:15 PM in the church. This evening marks the start of our Faith Formation year and is also the deadline to complete registration and payment. We ask that at least one parent attend. Please mark your calendars now.
How to Register
This year, we are using a new online registration system through Jotform. To register your child(ren), please use the link below:
Faith Formation Registration Form
Once you submit your registration through Jotform, you will automatically be directed to the Saint Katharine Drexel Congregation Payment Site to pay online [directions for online payment below].
Prefer to pay in person? You may still submit your registration online and pay later by check. Simply bring a check made payable to "St. Katharine Drexel Parish" to the Parish Center or to Orientation Night.
How to Pay Online
On the payment site, you will see several giving options. The ones relevant to Faith Formation are:
Faith Formation Registration — for students in Kindergarten–1st Grade and 3rd–10th Grade
Faith Formation – Confirmation — for students enrolled in Confirmation classes
Sacramental Registration — for children receiving First Reconciliation or First Eucharist
To pay, click the "Pay Now" button under the option that applies to your family, then click "Add to Basket." If you have children in more than one of the three groups listed above, start with any one of them, then add the others by clicking "See All" under the "Explore More Ways to Give" section. Once all of your children have been added, click "Continue to Payment" and enter your payment information.
Tuition & Fees 2026–2027
Grades K-10 Registration:
$40.00 — one student
$80.00 — two students
$120.00 — three or more students
Sacramental fee (First Reconciliation and First Eucharist families): add $30.00
Confirmation: $100.00 per student (covers the retreat and supplies for sacramental preparation)
If you are or would like to be a catechist, your registration fee will be waived. Please contact Madeline and Clark Crombie at faithformation@stkds.com. Furthermore, flexible payment options are available by contacting the parish office at 920-887-2082.
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out:
St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center: 920-887-2082
Madeline & Clark Crombie: faithformation@stkds.com
Peter Laning: 920-887-2082 ext. 311, or laningp@stkds.com.
You can also find information on our parish website (www.stkatharinedrexelbd.org), in the bulletin, and through messages from the faithformation@stkds.com email account.
We are looking forward to getting to know your families, supporting your children as they grow in their relationship with Christ, and walking alongside you in faith. We are excited for all that God has planned for our parish community this year.
In Christ,
Madeline & Clark Crombie
K-7 Faith Formation Directors
St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Prayer Intentions
Let Fr. Will know what special intentions you would like him to add to his personal prayer list.
Contact Information
Reverend William Arnold, Pastor
(920)887-2082 Extension 302 | arnoldw@stkds.com
Mass Times
-Monday-
8:20 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
-Tuesday-
5:30 PM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
-Wednesday-
8:00 AM at St. Joseph, Waupun
8:20 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
5:30 PM at Holy Family, Reeseville
-Thursday-
8:20 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
7:00 PM at St. Columbkille, Elba
-Friday-
8:00 AM at Annunciation, Fox Lake
8:20 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
-Saturday-
9:00 AM at St. John the Baptist, Clyman
-Saturday-
4:00 PM Vigil Mass at Annunciation, Fox Lake
4:30 PM Vigil Mass at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
-Sunday-
7:30 AM at Tri Parishes (See Tri Parish Mass Schedule)
8:00 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
8:30 AM at Annunciation, Fox Lake
9:30 AM at Tri Parishes (See Tri Parish Mass Schedule)
10:00 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
10:30 AM at St. Joseph, Waupun
12:00 PM (Spanish) at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
-Wednesday-
8:30-9:00 AM every third Wednesday at St. Joseph, Waupun
-Friday-
8:30-9:00 AM every fourth Friday at Annunciation, Fox Lake
9:00 AM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
(concludes with Benediction at 6:50 PM)
-Saturday-
9:30-10:30 AM at St. John the Baptist, Clyman
Confessions
Wednesday: 8:30 AM at St. Joseph, Waupun
Thursday: 6:00-6:45 PM at St. Columbkille, Elba
Friday: 8:30 AM at Annunciation, Fox Lake
Friday: 12:00-1:00 PM & 5:30-6:30 PM at St. Katharine Drexel, Beaver Dam
Saturday: 9:30-10:20 AM at St. John the Baptist, Clyman
Saturday: 3:00-3:45 PM at Annunciation, Fox Lake
Devotions
Anointing of the Sick
Fr. Will Arnold: (920)887-2082 x302
arnoldw@stkds.com
Fr. Nick Dhein: (920)887-2082 x305
dheinn@stkds.com
Fr. Thomas Naidu: (920)887-2082 x309
naidut@stkds.com