"Happy and joy-filled Grandparents Day and Happy Pioneer Days!"
"Happy and joy-filled Grandparent's Day and Happy Pioneer Days!"
Happy and joy-filled Grandparents Day and Happy Pioneer Days!
This weekend we celebrate Butternut Pioneer Days. Let us celebrate the spirit of community, family and friends.
In 2021, Pope Francis announced World Day for the Grandparents and the Elderly. The Pope invites us to be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July, coinciding with the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents and Jesus’ grand- parents, Sts. Joachim and Anne.
Pope Francis, in his message says, “God never abandons his children, never. Even when our age advances and our powers decline, when our hair grows white and our role in society lessens, when our lives become less productive and can risk appearing useless.” Through this celebration, the Pope wants to remind us about the contribution of our grandparents and elderly. He said in 2021 message, “Young people, adults, and our society cannot save themselves without the elderly.”
We celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. They have a great gift, the gift of faith which they want to share with us all. We must be open to receiving the gift. Again, it is a call for deeper appreciation. Let us honor our grandparents and elderly and recognize the gift they have shared with us.
This Sunday we have the Gospel reading from John chapter 6, which is foundational theology of the Eucharist. This chapter begins with multiplication of loaves and fish. Jesus looked at the crowd, hungry, tired and worn out. John says, “The Jewish feast of Passover was near.” The Passover was celebrated annually in Jerusalem to commemorate the liberation of Israel from slavery (Exodus 12). When the Passover was at hand, Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the hungry. And during the Passover meal Jesus instituted the Eucharist. There are two miracles in John involving bread (John 6:1-14) and wine (John 2:1-11). At the last Supper Jesus takes the bread and wine to bless and give thanks and give to his disciples and say, “This is my Body” and “This is My Blood.”
Last weekend, I was attending the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis – 60,000 people came together to celebrate faith from all over the United States. For me the pivotal moment is the celebration of the Eucharist, Adoration and Eucharistic procession.
During the homily, Cardinal Dolan shared the story of Father Walter Ciszek, an American Jesuit missionary. He said Father Ciszek was arrested as a Vatican spy during World War II and spent 23 years in the Gulag sneaking Holy Communion with an eye drop of wine or crumbs of bread. He then spent five years unable to receive it. Father Ciszek wrote, “I was deprived of that spiritual food and the powerful reality of Holy Communion. I literally hunger to be able to receive Him once again. I knew I desperately needed that source of strength, that bread of life it provides. It was a hunger of soul as real as the bodily hunger I constantly experienced through those years.” At the closing Mass, Cardinal Luis Tagle asked 60,000 people gathered whether they would stay with Jesus. Everyone answered, “Yes.” Then he said, those who stay with Jesus will be sent by Jesus.
One point to take away was “Walk With One.” Bishop Cozcens said at the final mark to the 60,000 pilgrims to walk with one. He asked to think about one person whom you would like to see in the church and pray for that individual or family. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with them. I would like to invite you to think about one family where each one of us can pray and eventually befriend them and invite them to the faith.
Immaculate Conception Church – Exterior renovation project.
We have a beautiful church. Our forefathers built this beautiful church 114 years ago. We have to preserve it for the next generation.
Little more than a year ago, we noticed some damage on the west side of the interior wall. Some of the paint was peeling off and some other damages. Since then, it has been part of the discussion of building committee meetings and also the Parish, and Finance councils. First we approached Conrad Schmitt Studio from New Berlin. They gave a bid for the interior work, but they advised us to perform exterior work first, to prepare for the interior work.
The Building Committee was doing some searching regarding the exterior work. Two companies looked at the exterior work and gave us a proposal. So we decided to go with Krause Konstruction from Coon Valley, WI.
The exterior work includes: replacing defaced bricks, reinforcing the brick attachment on the north side, power washing, sealing the brickwork, replacing louvers, painting the trim work and the list goes on. This work is scheduled to begin summer 2025 by Krause Construction.
In the meantime, we are going to start a fundraising. We have some savings, but we don't want to use up everything. Once the exterior work is completed, we need to look at the interior work. Our church is beautiful but it is an old building, there will be other works down the road.
Our total cost for this project is $106,600.00. If everyone participates, together we can reach the goal. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!