You’re not racist.

I always thought that was enough.  Oh, I knew that I had my biases and prejudices, like everyone.  But because I was conscious of them and did not treat others unfairly because of them, I wasn’t racist.

I was certain that racism was not endorsed by the Bible.  Sure enough, in James 2:8-9, we read, “However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

I was also pretty sure that church leaders must have condemned racism.  In 2020’s “Open Wide Our Hearts,” the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops proclaimed, “Racism is evil because it attacks the inherent dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God.”

So, I thought I knew what racism was, that it was inconsistent with my faith, and that I wasn’t part of the problem.

But that’s no longer enough.  I have to take the next step; I have to be an anti-racist.  All Catholics have to be anti-racists.  Each of us must be part of the solution.

If we are to end the scourge of racism in our land, we must now stand up to all words, actions, traditions, and policies that prevent people from realizing their full potential, enjoying life to its fullest, and fulfilling the “more perfect union” the Constitution calls for.

It is time to take a side, and as Catholics that must be the side of anti-racism.

Elie Wiesel knew something about racism.  Millions of his Jewish people were murdered by the Nazis because of their ethnic backgrounds.  Wiesel himself was a survivor of the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.

“We must take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.  Sometimes we must interfere.  When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.  Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe” Elie Wiesel, 1986 Nobel Prize acceptance speech.

We can become the center of the universe when it comes to combatting racism.  The alternative is to do nothing, to say nothing, and allow the center of the universe to remain as it was.  As a black hole.

For more information, videos, and a Prayer to Overcome Racism, go online to www.usccb.org, the Issues and Actions tab, Racism drop-down box.

Written by: Parishioner Andrew Crane, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Dignity of Life Committee Member

The season of Advent has a social justice focus. In what ways are we helping our world prepare for Christ’s coming? Celebrate the season of Advent by focusing on others in need by collecting food items for a local pantry or family in need.

How to Discuss Politics in a Dignified Way
Social Justice Essay

“So, what do you think about impeachment?”

It’s Thanksgiving, and once again we can count on Uncle Charlie to bring up politics. As we approach another contentious election year, how can we maintain our Christian dignity when disagreeing with people we care about?

A common suggestion is to avoid politics altogether, and sometimes this may be the only solution. However, a better option might be to respectfully engage in polite discussion. When polarized Americans are retreating into two separate camps with their own cable news networks, websites, and radio shows, intergroup interactions could greatly benefit society.

When a friend or relative disagrees with you, ask whether that relationship is worth it, suggests author David Olarinoye. If so, consider giving up the goal of winning the argument. If you can, make the new goal coming to a truce. In this way, you know that there will be disagreement and that you’re not going to win but you’re not going to lose either.

Make yourself be heard, share the facts and statistics, and ask the other person to provide their sources of information. And let the other person do the same thing. Be a good listener. And remember that you will not convince someone that they are wrong and you are right.

Most people want to solve the same problems; they just have slightly different solutions. Seek out ideas that you both agree with. And keep it about the ideas – don’t make it personal. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

So when Uncle Charlie wants to talk politics on Thanksgiving, pass the gravy, and don’t necessarily pass on the opportunity to understand each other’s point of view just a little bit more.

Authored by Andrew Crane, parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Dignity of Life Committee

In his encyclical Laudato Si´, Pope Francis challenges us to care about and take action against climate change.

“It must be said that some committed and prayerful Christians, with the excuse of realism and pragmatism, tend to ridicule expressions of concern for the environment. Others are passive; they choose not to change their habits and thus become inconsistent. So what they all need is an ‘ecological conversion,’ whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ becomes evident in their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.”  ~Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si´, 217

Laudato Si´ “unambiguously accepts the scientific consensus that changes in the climate are largely man-made” and states that “climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day” and warns of “unprecedented destruction of ecosystems, with serious consequence for all of us” if prompt climate change mitigation efforts are not undertaken.

Although the science and politics surrounding climate change are still debated in the United States – unlike in most countries in the world – Pope Francis has no doubt that climate change is occurring and must be quickly addressed.

Carbon dioxide is at its highest level in 650,000 years.  Seventeen of the eighteen warmest years on record have occurred since 2001.  Arctic ice and polar ice sheets are losing mass at alarming rates.  Sea level has already risen seven inches in the past century.  The evidence of climate change is overwhelming, which is why 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agree that the climate is changing and that human activities are responsible.

To learn more about how we can meet the pontiff’s challenge on climate change, please visit the website for Catholic Climate Covenant: www.catholicclimatecovenant.org.  Also, as always, consider this important issue of Catholic social teaching in mind when voting and when communicating with your elected representatives.

It is not too late to put our faith into action on climate change!  However, there will soon come a day when we are past the point of no return for preventing devastating ecological damage, mass extinctions, and human suffering.  We must remember we have borrowed the earth from our grandchildren.   We must also remember God has trusted us with the gifts of creation and asked us to be good stewards of its care.

By the Dignity of Life Committee

I wonder how many Christians are out in the world who say they believe in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, but in their hearts believe they are not worthy of God’s love.  It seems that no matter what happens, they feel God is not there for them.

For someone who recently completed the Alpha program, this became much more apparent to me.  I always believed in God, the power of prayer, and the strength of the Holy Spirit, but did not really think my prayers or beliefs would be of much help or difference to myself or others that I prayed for. I finally had to truly examine my life in the past and present to realize how much God is with me now and has been at all times.

Our faith could be compared to learning how to ride a bike.  God first gives us all the protective gear we need in prayer.  He then gives us plenty of encouragement with the help of the Holy Spirit.  If we fall, the saving power of Christ will help us to get back up. It is up to us to keep trying.  We want God to constantly hold the bike so we do not fail and fall.   Expecting God’s constant assistance, we might not learn on our own.  The beauty of the whole process is that we begin to “ride the bike” without Him holding it.  In other words, doing all the work for us.  God wants us to be able to ride the bike on our own with Him riding right alongside of us.

We need to practice to get better.  When we pray, we learn what God wants for us, how to grow towards Him, and become more like Him.  When we add fasting to our routine, we may learn to break self-destructive habits.  We also need that quiet time to discern what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us, leading us in the direction we need to go.  Last but not least, when we fail, we need to reach out to God through reconciliation for the saving grace paid for by Christ.

God will always be there through the ups and downs of our life whether we feel His hand on the bike or not.  We just have to realize and remember to believe He will hold the bike until we are ready.  So get all your protective gear in prayer, gather your courage using the Holy Spirit to move forward, and don’t worry if you fall.  Christ will be there to pick you up.

We can all ride that bike for LIFE!

By: Worship Committee, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

Thank you for your support of the school supplies project!  Parishioners and Dignity of Life Committee Members Mary Jo and Heather took a carload of assorted school supplies to St. Anthony’s Parish in Neopit. They were welcomed with appreciative arms and assured that the supplies will benefit extremely needy children at the start of the school year who don’t have the resources to go to a store and buy supplies.  They were excited to receive them.  Although the school supplies are being stored in the social hall at St. Anthony’s in Neopit they will also be shared with the children who live in Keshena.  (We also support these neighbors through our annual Christmas Sponsorship Program.)  Because of your generosity, these children can start school with the excitement and enthusiasm that most of us remember having on the first day of school.

While there, they received a tour of the church’s renovations.  Approximately two years ago, St. Anthony’s rectory completely burned down.  They received insurance money to “rebuild” the rectory.  However, after a lot of negotiations, they were able to use that money to do some much-needed repairs to their church.

They removed asbestos in the floor and replaced the flooring with new tile and carpet. They converted an extremely small bathroom into a handicap-accessible restroom and added a meditation room/family worship space.  The most beautiful part of their renovation story is that they were able to use lumber/wood from their own mill in Neopit.  Their finished, renovated church is the result of contributions and workmanship from their own community.

The most exciting news from Neopit is that they now have a priest who can celebrate Mass on Sundays.  For the past few years, they could only have one Mass on the weekend on Saturday, which greatly affected their attendance. Now with a Sunday Mass, their attendance is rising and their community is coming together.  They feel so blessed to have their recent renovations and our support throughout the years.

Thanks to all the parishioners for valuing and enriching our neighbors in Neopit and Keshena as we all continue to grow as disciples.

By the Dignity of Life Committee of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

Are we as parishioners truly aligned with our parish vision and mission?

The most important part of any community is to stay engaged and to build our faith as we continue to evangelize all that is good about our parish. To be successful we all need to continuously work on enthusiastically engaging others on what our vision and mission mean to us.

Our more engaged community leads to many benefits some of which include:

• A richer faith experience for each of us.
• A more vibrant parish doing more for others.
• Truly living our mission and vision to grow as disciples and grow disciples.

These alone add up to a huge difference for our parish community and its future.

The question is, are we doing enough to make our parish community’s experience the best it can be? Are we welcoming and appreciative of visitors? How can we better tell our story? Who else can we greet and talk to? Who can we invite to join us at Mass or at one of our wonderful events?

If each of us does just a little bit more, that will make our parish community experience and our own personal experience even better. As Deacon Mark mentioned in his sermon several weeks ago, when we enter the gates of heaven if we’re asked “who did we bring with us?” How will you answer that question?

By: SEAS* Marketing Committee

* St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

Identifying with our parish mission and vision is what makes disciples out of our parishioners … those people who have the positive energy and passion to engage others in the parish community and beyond, making all feel connected, for the good of everyone.

When discipleship-focused evangelism happens in a parish, it’s dynamic. You can feel the intense energy from your interaction with others.  It’s what makes captivated believers out of church-goers.  And it makes the job of achieving our mission and vision much more realistic and meaningful.

We need to encourage everyone — no matter what their place in the parish community — to truly follow Jesus’ teachings and share that with others. They could be anyone, anywhere – on a committee, an occasional attendee at Mass, a child, or a member of the staff.  We all need to share our beliefs, what we’ve learned along the way, and our success stories with each other. This will help build our community of disciples bring the SEAS mission and vision to life.

Romans 12:4-8. “For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.  Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Submitted by: Marketing Committee

As the Dignity of Life Committee transitions to our summer break, we wanted to give an update on our activities and a preview of some of our plans for next year.  Perhaps our most important accomplishment in 2016-17 was the continued addition of engaged members.  We are blessed to have people who are passionate about the causes our committee supports!

Among other parish events in 2016-17, such as the Ministry Fair and staffing the Welcome Desk, we continued with our Christmas sponsorship program of our friends in Neopit, the Respect Life Baby Shower, and the Back-to-School collection.  We also added a used school supply collection as well as a letter-writing initiative for those prisoners in solitary confinement.

In 2017-18, we are expanding our efforts to touch upon other pillars of the Dignity of Life’s charter.  Our goal is to provide social justice information and updates to help parishioners be more knowledgeable Catholics and make informed choices when voting and lobbying government.  We also plan to expand our prison ministry particularly in the areas of providing hope to prisoners.

We are evaluating opportunities for our parish to become more connected globally.  We are particularly excited about a program called Sole Hope in which our parish families can “make” denim shoes for people in Uganda suffering from jiggers.

We are formulating an environmental program as a reminder to all of us of our stewardship responsibility of our earth that will also provide an opportunity for grade school students and families to get involved in a fun activity.

Before we break for the summer, and most importantly, the Dignity of Life Committee extends our sincere thanks to Father Paul Demuth for his support and guidance.  Our committee will miss you but we wish you the best in your well-deserved semi-retirement!

Submitted by: Dignity of Life Committee

You will not find the “Stations of the Cross” discussed or listed in the Bible as we know them today.  They are based on the stories of Christ’s arrest, trial, and death.

Jesus’ followers told the story of his passion, death, and resurrection from the earliest of days.  When pilgrims came to Jerusalem, they were anxious to see the sites where Jesus lived, ministered, and died.  Soon, however, people moved around so much that they were unable to visit these holy sites.  By the 1500s, people all over the world began to create replicas of the places along the route in Jerusalem.  Eventually these shrines became the 14 stations we know and celebrate today.  Like our parish, many Catholic churches have the “Stations of the Cross” surrounding the walls of their sanctuaries.  There are many written prayers and meditations associated with the Stations that the faithful pray during the season of Lent.

The word station comes from the Latin word that means to stand.  We are walking from Christ’s trial to His crucifixion at Calvary.  We stop at each station to commemorate various events that took place along the way.  The act of walking and praying becomes a devotional act, because we are walking with Jesus as he walks to Calvary.

Brought to you by the Worship Committee & Gloria Nolan, Pastoral Minister.  Source: www.Catholiceducation.org

Home ownership comes with the responsibility of home maintenance.  Initially there is the purchase of fixtures, small home repairs and general upkeep.  After time, replacement of appliances, cabinets or flooring might occur.  Being a homeowner requires constant attention to the maintenance of your home to prevent disrepair or ruin.

Our body requires more care than our home.  Sometimes minor adjustments in our diet and exercise are enough to keep our body in shape and in good health.  We go to the dentist, eye doctor, and medical doctor to make sure we are on the right track to live a healthy lifestyle.

What about our soul?  How are we keeping this vital part of us alive and well?  What inspires and energizes us in the most intimate part of our being? How do we do maintenance on our soul?

I believe it is God, who makes His home in our hearts when we open them in invitation to Him.  What ways can we invite God into our lives so that He is able to work through and in us?  We can begin with good habits.  Do we pray every day, taking valuable time to communicate with God?  Do we watch what we say and do and how we treat other people?  Do we attend Mass and take advantage of other opportunities for spiritual enrichment?  Do we actively seek out ways to protect and care for our faith, keeping our heart and mind open to how God is leading us?

We have the ability and talent to be the best we can be, but only if we pay attention and affirm the faith offered to us freely through Jesus Christ.  Whether it is a small fix or major repair job, we just need to do it!

Worship Committee

Below  are some suggestions for making Thanksgiving an opportunity for expressing our gratitude to the Lord in creative ways.

Write “I’m thankful for you” cards and give them out or e-mail them on Thanksgiving (or mail them beforehand).

Take a walk. Find a place to enjoy God’s gift of creation. Head out the door for a refreshing walk. Invite family, friends or others to share the experience too.

Take advantage of the Thanksgiving holidays to focus on what you’re grateful for and the things you appreciate about yourself and others. It is an ideal time to remember and to celebrate the many blessings in our lives.

The Thanksgiving holiday is an excellent time to rediscover the psalms of praise and thanksgiving. When you find a quiet moment, sit and relax with your bible.  Think of a time when awe and gratitude overwhelmed  you. Maybe it was a sunrise, or children playing in a park, an inspirational hymn at Mass, a family gathering, or a walk in the woods. Remember how you appreciated that special moment. Then, open your bible to one of the psalms of thanksgiving and recite it to yourself, like Psalm 118 for instance:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Listen to the words. Close your eyes. Let the psalm speak to you.

Other psalms of praise and thanksgiving you might consider include psalms 92, 95, 98, 100, 103, 104, 105, 107, 111, 117, 145, and 147.

Whatever psalm you choose for that quiet moment, thank God for that special time of awe as well as all the good things in your life, and praise God for his glorious deeds.

Let us pray . . .

Thank you, Lord

For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the beauty of the earth and its amazing colors; for crisp autumn mornings and sparkling winter nights; for mountains and forests, rivers and seashores.

Thank you, Lord

For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the water that cleanses, the clothes that bring warmth, the food that nourishes, and the home that gives comfort.

Thank you, Lord

For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for those who love us and care for us; for those who value us for who we are; for those we call family, friends, neighbors.

Thank you, Lord

For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the gift of Christ, your Son; for His life, His gospel, His cross, and His Church; for His Eucharistic meal and the promise to be with us always.

Thank you, Lord

For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the time you’ve allotted us, the life you’ve offered us, the opportunities you’ve afforded us, and the miracles you’ve worked for us.

Thank you, Lord

For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; and for your infinite love that meets our daily needs. May our love, too, be known for its abundance, its readiness to bless and heal, to offer peace and promote justice, and to serve in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Excerpts taken from the International Catholic Stewardship Council, Catholic Stewardship, November 2016, e-Bulletin

A few years back while attending Mass, we were asked to prayerfully reflect on how we could share our talents with the parish. Papers with a checklist of committees were shared and pencils provided. I wanted to check something on that sheet and contribute. I reviewed the list several times, but I didn’t see anything that I thought would be a good fit for me and honestly, I am hesitant when asked to step outside my comfort zone. So I folded up the paper and placed it in my pocket. I didn’t turn it in.

After Mass ended, I spent some time in our beautiful gathering space visiting and found a friend who was working at the parish. I told her I really wanted to check something on the list, but the “something” I was looking for wasn’t there. We discussed my interests and my fears about trying something outside my comfort zone. After a few moments she said, “Did you know we have a Marketing Committee?”  I was beyond excited and immediately wanted to know what I needed to do to get involved. Introductions were made, I attended the next meeting, made some new friends and found my “something”.

Have you reflected and found your “something?” If so, that is wonderful, congratulations! Thank you for sharing your gifts with our parish!

If not, it may be easier than you think. Your “something” could be serving on a committee, but maybe it is something you haven’t found yet. Here are just a few ways to get involved: volunteering for events, welcoming parishioners, teaching Faith Formation, helping with the grounds, organizing packages for our Christmas gift giving – the list goes on and on. Still not sure? Reach out to Fr. Paul, a staff or committee member, or me. We’re all here and ready to help you find your “something”.

Now, if you think your something might be hanging out once a month (with a little bit of task follow up in between) with a fun group of creative people, the Marketing Committee would love to hear from you! We are looking for a few folks with a knack for written communication, who are creative thinkers, are willing to participate in implementation, and enjoy melding the creative and strategic together.  Please consider joining us! If interested or if you would like to learn more, please reach out to me or contact the parish office – seas@seagb.org or (920) 499-1546.

Special thanks to Mike Curtin, former Marketing Chair/Current Pastoral Council Vice Chair, and the Marketing Committee for welcoming me and making me feel like a valuable part of the team. It has been a truly enriching experience thus far!

So glad I found my “something” and you will be too!

Claire Williams, Marketing Committee Chair
chogan@new.rr.com

Everyone knows that when we hand out advice to others, we can expect that they may not want to hear it, and they often don’t take it. But it is in our human nature to want to help other people avoid the pitfalls that we may have experienced.

Jesus knew this.  When he wanted to get His point across, He used parables as explanation instead of pointing out the impending or unsuspected difficulty, danger, or error one may fall into.  There are more than 40 parables in the bible.

They each have pertinent meaning for us today as much as they did back then.  Depending on what stage of life you are in, the same parable can have different meanings for you at different times during your life.  For example, in the parable of the prodigal son, you might relate to the self-centered younger son who wishes to be on his own thinking he’s ready for what the world has to offer and not aware that there may be trouble ahead.  At another stage in life, you may feel like the self-righteous, older son dutifully staying at home being obedient and stable. At another stage in life, you might feel like the parent of either of these sons trying to understand what your child is going through but continuing to love them and forgive their failings.

Hearing the parables of the Gospels offers us advice from Jesus and gentle reminders of how we are called to conduct ourselves.  The best part of all this is that Jesus didn’t just speak to us in parables.  He gives us a direct line of communication to be with Him in the Mass. Jesus is our Savior and friend who wants only to help us.  Christ reaches out to you and me with his “Word”, with his presence in the Eucharist, and in quiet communication with him through prayer, so that as Matthew Kelly says, “we can become the best version of ourselves” living with passion and purpose.

Clare Occhino, Worship Committee

There are going to be quite a few blank spaces throughout this blog.  Why you ask?  There are too many exciting details that shall remain secret until the right time, and that time is not now.  However, we will share some details to whet your appetite and hopefully you’ll use a black sharpie to write in the date, time, and place on your calendar.

Date:  Sunday, October 30
Time:  11:30am until 4 pm
Place:  The Automobile Gallery
400 S. Adams St., Green Bay, WI

We have ONE AMAZING Live Auction opportunity you won’t want to miss out on. Actually it’s FOUR AMAZING items in one package deal:

Green Bay Packer__________________
Collector’s autographed ______________
Some warm weather ________________
A close up of _____________________

The auction will be held during half time of the Packer game.  We want you to enjoy watching the Packers beat the Falcons, great food and drink with your fellow parishioners and friends, and the most amazing collection of vintage and contemporary automobiles spanning over the past 100 years, all under one spectacular roof in downtown Green Bay.  There is limited seating, so you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity for sponsorship and tickets.  More details are coming soon for this exciting event!

Yours truly,
Your Fall Fundraiser Committee
Diana Ball, Sheila Curtin and Angela Trgovac

The parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish have been so generous in their donation of “leftover” school supplies for the parishioner’s children of St. Anthony’s Parish and the residents in Neopit.  The Dignity of Life committee thanks you for your generosity.

Amy and I drove out to Neopit together to deliver the “leftover” school supplies.  The collection of used school supplies filled the back of my van.  The receptionist at St. Anthony’s Parish was delighted to see the collection of notebooks, pens, pencils, book bags, and art supplies as some of the assistance the children used to receive from other resources is no longer available.

Our parish has embraced the opportunity to assist the folks in Neopit since our parish started.  They face poverty and obstacles that we cannot imagine.  However, they have an amazing gift of faith and spirituality that they embrace.  While in Neopit, Amy and I took a tour of St. Anthony’s church.  The rich culture of their connection to nature and the love of the land are evident in their church.

St. Anthony’s Parish shares a priest with a parish in Keshena.  Because of this, for many years their only Mass was on Saturday evening.  The folks in Keshena struggled with recognizing Saturday as a time for worship and really wanted a Sunday morning Mass.  They are so happy that they now have a Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Their attendance at Mass and participation in the church community is growing.  In fact, they invited our parish to join them in a celebration.  This is something we may want to consider.

Thank you for helping these children have supplies to enjoy this summer and to use in the fall when they return to school.  Once again, our parish family has been so kind and generous.

~Mary Jo, Dignity of Life Committee

P.S. We also support the Neopit and Keshena community during Christmas.  At Christmas, we provide families with a food basket, clothes and gifts.  The residents in Neopit are always so grateful for our gifts.  Without these gifts, many would not have a Christmas meal or a gift for their children.

Hopefully by now, you have taken the opportunity to turn in your prayer commitment card.  If not, please consider this additional suggestion.

For some of us, setting a specific time to pray outside of church is difficult.  We can’t seem to find time in the morning because we either get out of bed and hit the ground running or we rise at the last second and seem to play catch up all day.  By day’s end, we are often too tired to pray or we are trying to do one more last-minute task before sleeping.  We can definitely try to improve these behaviors but in the meantime, we can take time to reflect on the following. . .

Psalm 139:1,4 – O Lord, You have searched me and known me.  Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold O Lord, You know it all. 

Instead of setting aside a special time for prayer, maybe it’s more about consciously including God in every facet of our day. For example, if things are going well, pause for a moment and acknowledge God’s hand in how your day is going.  Thank Him right there and then!  Or perhaps your day isn’t going as planned and you are experiencing feelings of anger and frustration and have lost patience with yourself and others.  This is the perfect time to take a moment and turn to God and let him abide in your heart and soul.

While it is important to start and end our day with prayer, it is equally important to pause and consciously include God in all we say, do, and feel during our day.  He already knows what we think before there is a word on our tongue but our acceptance of this truth is a beautiful way to acknowledge His spirit and love working in our lives!

Worship Committee

When you get the opportunity, take a few quiet moments to do something that I’m sure many of us have never done.  Take maybe three or four minutes and pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, very slowly – one sentence at a time.  As you finish each sentence, stop and reflect on the words and meaning of that sentence.

The prayer that Jesus Christ taught us 2000 years ago is as relevant, possibly even more so, today as it was back then.  God’s message is very clear, very simple, but sometimes not easy.

• His name is above all others.
• He has prepared a place for us in Heaven.
• His will, not ours will be done.
• Trust that He will provide.
• Forgive others so that we can be forgiven.
• God will never lead us to sin.

As you pray, other thoughts may come to you or stand out.  But by being intentional in your prayer, the focus will return to God.

Submitted by: Stewardship Committee

What the ‘Our Father’ Says About Us

It was great to see so many of you visit the “Community Center” to learn more about the Dignity of Life Committee and all the ministries our parish supports.  Many of you realized you are already an honorary member of the Dignity of Life Committee when you:

• lovingly wrap a Christmas gift for a child in Neopit who may have gone without
• knit baby blankets, hats and booties for new mothers who count on Love Life to supplement their baby gear
• share your garden’s bounty with fellow parishioners
• pray for the unborn
• donate food items for Pat’s Pantry

The Dignity of Life Committee spans a wide array of “subcommittees” and we are looking for people who would be willing to chair a subcommittee so we can continue to evangelize on behalf of our parish.  We have a list of parishioners who want to participate in these efforts but we need leaders to lead!

Do you have a green thumb; lose your breath at the beauty of summer blooms?  We need someone to chair the “Environmental Subcommittee.”  In this role, you can help create a vision for our produce-sharing program, ensure that our Prayer Path stays groomed, educate our parish on Pope Francis’ Encyclical: “Our Common Home – Laudato Si,” or create a community garden, and/or develop other initiatives.

Are you interested in how Catholic parishes form, grow, and prosper in other countries?  Would you be interested in helping us “twin” with a parish somewhere around the world?  We need someone to chair the “Global Issues Subcommittee.”

Do you have a passion for ensuring that our senior parishioners know how much they are loved and respected?  Elder services is one of the ministries supported in the “Respect Life Subcommittee” where we also need a chair.

The infrastructure is already in place for these subcommittees and as mentioned, we have parishioners who want to help– we just need people to spearhead our efforts!   If you hear God calling you to get involved and would like more information on these subcommittee chair positions or just want more information about the Dignity of Life Committee overall, please contact Wendy Novak at (920) 499-6849.

Congratulations to Gabby Otto who won the Dignity of Life sponsored raffle which included a picnic basket and a membership to the Botanical Garden!

By: Your Dignity of Life Committee