The North Star

Greetings!

During the month of October, the Church observes Respect Life Month. This annual observance is a time to recognize and seriously consider the importance of celebrating, protecting, and defending life at all stages, from conception until natural death.

This year’s theme for Respect Life Month is “Mary, Mother of Life”—an appropriate theme because October is also the month of the Holy Rosary. October 7 is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, which recalls the Battle of Lepanto, a major naval engagement between the Holy League and the Ottoman Empire in 1571. After Pope Pius V called upon all of Christendom to pray the Holy Rosary for the success of the Holy League, the tide turned, and the Christian fleet defeated the Ottoman forces and halted their expansion.

Today, we turn, with conviction and trust, to Our Lady, that through her intercession, the powers of darkness and evil may be defeated and crushed. The enemy is no longer as clearly defined or visible as it was in the past. Little by little, foolish rationalization and false compassion have led to the justification of the taking of innocent human life through abortion and euthanasia. As Catholics, we have a responsibility to defend all life, especially the most vulnerable, from the unborn child to the eldest among us.

As legislation for assisted suicide becomes more commonplace and is increasingly introduced in state legislatures, I encourage each of us to better form our consciences and combat this grave evil. Archbishop Grob recently introduced Love—Until the Last Breath. The goal of this campaign is to provide Catholics with a better understanding of the Church’s teaching on the dignity of every human life and why the Church cannot support assisted suicide. Just as importantly, the campaign is an opportunity to reflect on how we can better care for and accompany people who are suffering, as well as support their families and caregivers.

To fight this evil, it is important to pray and fast. Choose a day of the week to refrain from eating between meals, watching a favorite television show, or enjoying a dessert as a penance and offering to the Lord in atonement for these grave violations against the dignity of human life. Take time each day to intentionally pray that the Sacred Heart of Jesus triumph over the darkness of death. Finally, take opportunities to educate yourself. The Love—Until the Last Breath campaign includes various presentations throughout the archdiocese where you can learn more about the Church’s teaching on end-of-life issues and how we can better uphold the dignity of human life.

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

Saturday, October 10, 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, October 11, 2026

7:30 AM Mass at St. Columbkille in Elba - Fr. John Radetski

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 Holy Family in Reeseville - Fr. John Radetski

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

The 12:00 PM confessions at St. Katharine Drexel on Friday, October 9th are canceled.

Fr. Thomas Naidu will be available to hear confessions at 5:30 PM at St. Katharine Drexel.

The Response is: Mary, pray for us.

Mary, Mother of all Life,
help us to respect human life from the moment of conception
to the moment of natural death. R.

Mary, Mother of Compassion,
You showed us how valuable a single life can be;
Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. R.

Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus,
with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family.
Guard and protect all families in this earthly life; R.

Mary, Mother Most Holy,
You sanctified the vocation of motherhood;
Pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. R.

Mary, Mother of Sorrows,
Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword of suffering would pierce your heart;
Bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. R.

Mary, Full of Grace,
You had a choice in responding to God’s call;
Help us always to say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives,
And strive always to do whatever he tells us. R.

Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted,
Gather within your motherly mantle all who are in need of God’s healing,
Especially those who have been involved in abortion;
Help them to experience the love and mercy of Christ, your Son. R.

Mary, Intercessor and Advocate,
We lift up the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and vulnerable members of society;
Help them to never abandon hope, but to place their trust in the God who gave them life. R.

Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate, you bore in your womb him whom the heavens cannot contain;
Help us to bear witness to Christ by the example of our lives
And show the world the extravagant love of God. R.

All:
Remember, o most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.

On Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, there will be a brief commissioning ceremony after the homily for all current and new Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at all Masses at St. Katharine Drexel.

In extraordinary circumstances, when there are few ordinary ministers of Holy Communion—which include bishops, priests, and deacons—the situation may warrant that lay people be deputed to assist in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. These individuals should have received the Sacraments of Initiation, which include Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Naturally, they should live a life consistent with this ministry and demonstrate devotion and deep reverence for Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist.

Additionally, these ministers assist in the noble ministry of bringing Holy Communion to the homebound who are unable to be physically present with the community for the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass.

I invite those who are already serving, as well as those who would like to participate in this ministry, to be part of this commissioning.

Saturday, October 17 | 9:00 a.m.

St. Dominic Catholic Parish - Brookfield

The Mass celebrated by Most Rev. Jeffrey S. Grob is followed by breakfast and a talk "Staying Human in an Era of Artificial Intelligence: Reflections on Magnifica Humanitas" by Dr. Joseph M. Vukov, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago and Associate Director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage.

Potluck on Thursday, October 15, at St. John the Baptist in Clyman.

Come out for lunch and stay for the fellowship!

Please RSVP to Sally Othmer. (920) 296-7960.

This is for anyone who is not baptized, baptized in another Christian denomination, or is Catholic and would like to receive the sacrament of confirmation.

Any questions, contact Fr. Nick at dheinn@stkds.com or call 920-887-2082 x305.

St. Katharine Drexel School families will be in the Narthex after each Mass with tickets or stop by the Parish or School office to purchase.

Ticket includes: $20 of digital music downloads, plus the popular 10-week Football Mania Contest! Each game card contains three random football teams in each of the last 10 weeks of the pro football season. Add up the points scored by your three teams each week. If your total score is in the top 25%, payouts range up to $400! The five lowest-scoring game cards win $25! Tickets are $20 each with $14 going directly to St. Katharine Drexel School! One ticket, ten chances to win!

Online tickets are also available at https://www.charitymania.com/give/GG003

Thank you for supporting St. Katharine Drexel School!

Let Fr. Will know what special intentions you would like him to add to his personal prayer list.

Reverend William Arnold, Pastor

(920)887-2082 Extension 302 | arnoldw@stkds.com

-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

2026-2027 Tri Parish Mass Schedule

-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

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

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