My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

In this glorious moment, the stone is rolled away, darkness gives way to light, and death is swallowed up in victory.

On Easter, we stand at the empty tomb, not with sorrow, but with hearts ablaze with the Good News. Jesus Christ, our Lord, is risen! This is not merely a story, but the Good News that transforms everything.

• Hope: Where there was despair, there is now hope, a hope that transcends even the darkest valleys of our lives.

• New Life: Where there was death, there is now new life. A life that is not bound by the limits of this world, but a life that stretches into eternity.

• Love: This is the ultimate victory of God’s love. A love that stopped at nothing, not even death, to redeem us and draw us into His embrace.

The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith; it is the promise that all that God has spoken is true and that He will bring all things to fulfillment.

As we celebrate Easter, may we go forth and proclaim this Good News. May we be witnesses to the resurrection, living lives filled with the hope, new life, and love of our risen Lord.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Peace be with you!

Deacon Don

Deacon Don is fine, dealing with some vision issues that have him sidelined from the Triduum. He's using the time to market the new Deacon Don Action figure! Thanks for your prayers!

The great Divine Mercy Sunday is coming. Let us prepare ourselves to receive this special grace that is given once a year— the restoration of Baptismal purity. On the Masses for Divine Mercy Sunday we be be signing/praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet during Holy Communion.

In addition to being Divine Mercy Sunday we will also celebrate First Communion for 23 of our young people! What a blessing. Due to the large size of the group this year, if you normally attend the 11am Mass we ask that you consider one of our other Masses that Weekend so that we can accommodate the families of the First Communicants. Thanks and Blessings!

We invite you to join us at St. Mary Parish at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23rd, for a special Rosary led by the WE LIFT team. We will pray for an end to world hunger and the success of our Rise Against Hunger Meal Pack event.

This is a fantastic opportunity!

St. Mary and St. John the Baptist Parishes in Menasha are seeking a full time Coordinator of Youth Ministry. This position will be responsible for fostering the current, vibrant youth ministry program within the parishes, which has been established for about 8 years. This may include, but is not limited to planning retreats, having monthly events for both middle school and high school, further developing our high school and adult core teams, planning summer activities and trips, and recruiting and training adult volunteers for events. This position will work to build relationships with youth who attend Faith Formation classes, area public schools, the homeschool community and students who attend area Catholic schools, as well as their parents. This position will work in collaboration with all 5 Catholic Parishes of Neenah and Menasha; sharing ideas and planning events with all parish youth leaders.

Candidates must be practicing Catholics, who have a desire to share their love of the Lord and the Catholic faith with students and parishioners. Candidates must also have a bachelor’s degree in theology or the equivalent. This position requires the ability to work nights and weekends. Interested applicants should submit their resume to ssiegel@smcatholicschools.org

FOCCUS = Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study

We have been blessed with more weddings planned for this year than we have had in quite a few years. As such, we need to add one or two FOCCUS Facilitator couples to assist with the mentoring of engaged couples.

The FOCCUS inventory continues to be an invaluable tool required by the Wisconsin Bishops for preparing couples for a healthy and fruitful life together. Couples entering into Catholic Marriage are required to attend a marriage preparation class and to complete the FOCCUS premarital inventory. FOCCUS Facilitators assist in the Engaged Couple Marriage Preparation Process at St. Mary and St. John the Baptist. They meet privately with engaged couples at least once prior to their marriage to help them celebrate their relationship strengths and communicate positively with each other about topics they may not have thoroughly addressed. As a couple prepares for marriage, the primary goal of facilitation is to help couples talk openly and respectfully to each other about matters that are important to lifelong healthy marriage and encourage them to apply that learning towards their future together.
FOCCUS Facilitators are mentor couples who serve as a supportive loving presence reflecting the love of Jesus to engaged couples through their love for one another. A certified FOCCUS couple attends a facilitator training workshop, is registered on the FOCCUS Inc. USA website, and they are associated with an organization that is approved to administer FOCCUS.

If you feel the Lord calling you to work with engaged couples, contact Deacon Don to get you signed up for FOCCUS Facilitator Training that is offered to married couples seeking to guide engaged couples through this ministry. Facilitator training involves several sessions to learn the theology of the sacrament of Marriage, facilitation skills and how to discuss issues that affect married couples. Facilitators must be Practicing Catholic couples, married at least five years themselves, who wish to help engaged couples form the basis for a long and happy Christian marriage.

If not you, please invite those you think would be a good fit for this.

We are starting our SPRING SCRIP TRIP! Ask for a Passport at the Parish office or Scrip table to see what 8 local vendors you need to purchase to help fill your passport! When you buy the local vendor scrip your passport will be stamped. Once your passport is filled, including the Cash Raffle Ticket ($100 will cover four passports, or 1 $25 section of a Raffle Ticket), you can turn the passport in and you will be entered into a drawing to win one of 3 prizes at our Parish Celebration on June 7. The prizes are a $50 Kwik Trip Card, $25 Kwik Trip Card or a $10 Kwik Trip Card. Just a way for us to have some fun and promote Scrip - Especially our great Local Vendors!

We need your stuff! We are collecting items for our SPRING RUMMAGE SALE. Items can be left off at Door#6 at St. Mary- DURING PARISH OFFICE HOURS. THE CUT OFF FOR DONATIONS IS MAY 23, 2025. Thank you! We will only be accepting donations through May 23, 2025!

If you need a receipt, please visit the parish office and they would be happy to give you one. If it is raining, please call the Parish Office, so that your donations can be brought inside.

Please note, while we thank everyone for their donations, we do ask that you do not leave items that are broken, not working or not in a saleable condition. We also no longer accept magazines. We take pride in our rummage sale and want to maintain our reputation. Items needing to be thrown out burden the parish with extra costs. Thank you!

CGS Corner (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd)

In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the children’s work is their prayer. That could mean working with the diorama’s and materials they have been shown, looking something up in the Bible, writing out a parable, or drawing something from what they have seen or talked about in the Atrium. Below are a few of the children’s prayers through their work. How beautiful!

If you would like to observe a session to see this beautiful work in action, please contact Bethany Robinson at (920)725-7714 ext. 424

Our mission organization, Catholic Mission Trips, gave us more time to register!! We still have spots open for our Oklahoma mission trip AND our Local Mission Trip!

I've personally been on mission trips with students and seen the change one week can make.

It's amazing the way that God works when we allow Him the time to give of ourselves to serve others. This is a week that you won't regret.

Next weekend we will have students speaking at all the Masses to share what they are excited about and why they want to go on Mission. They will be asking for support in your prayers and financial donation if you feel called to give!

If your child/ grandchild is interested in GOING on Local or Out of State Mission, and just want to learn more, click here for information on BOTH missions:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18JBRbUAsOVMlP6CVZGA09ahxky4HNjjx9szpuzytXlY/edit?usp=sharing

Register HERE: https://www.smmneenah.org/summer-mission-registration

Questions? Contact Bethany Robinson at the Parish Office!

brobinson@smcatholicschools.org

This summer, we are in need of one or two host families

During the week of

June 21-27:

· to host our 4 Totus Tuus Missionaries

During the week of July 20-24:

· To host our 4-5 Camp Tekakwitha Missionaries

If you are interested, please contact Bethany Robinson for more information at (920)725-7714 ext. 424

Or at brobinson@smcatholicschools.org

When: June 22-27

Where: St. Mary Parish

What is Totus Tuus?

Totus Tuus is a weeklong program for children grades K-5 and 6-12 to get together and have fun while learning about the Catholic faith with young adult missionaries. Students will interact with each other and the missionaries on their own grade levels and learn just how exciting our faith can be!

Register Here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSep2ir9piSeumPZEkbVEK7YKr0D5bcLIkNUHb1gSnQhKsLdPw/viewform?usp=sharing

Details:

• Children currently in grades Kindergarten - 12th grade
• Sunday - Thursday evenings 7-9pm for 6-12th grade
• Monday - Friday day program 9am - 2:30pm for K-5 grade

When: July 20-24

Where: St. Mary Parish

What is Day Camp?

Day Camp is great for campers who are seeking a summer camp experience but are not quite ready or interested for the full residential camp in Shawano. Camp Tekakwitha offers teambuilding, fun, and great community-building in a faith-filled environment.

• Children currently in grades 4K - 4
• Sunday night meet the camp counselors 4-6pm
• Monday - Thursday Camp Tekakwitha Summer Camp Activities from 8am-4pm

Click here to Register!

https://www.camptekakwitha.org/summer-camp/day-camp

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!

New Tour availability, by appointment!

We are now offering tours by appointment
for the following tour times:

Monday 10am-3pm

Tuesday 1-4pm and 6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday 1-5pm

Thursday 2-4pm

To come for a tour you need to sign up at least 2 days ahead of time
so that we can make sure we have our docents ready for you!
Click here to visit our beautiful Church today!
https://calendly.com/brobinson-smcatholicschools/60min?back=1&month=2025-01

St. Mary Elementary Principal’s Corner

FIRST GRADE

1st Grade is excitedly awaiting Easter along with the hatching of their chicks and ducks. In preparation for these exciting events, they took a trip to our Maker Space to make nests that would keep baby chicks and ducks warm. You can see some pictures of their work here!

ENROLLMENT

Please help us spread the word about our beautiful school! We are thriving and are looking at an enrollment of 140 this coming school year. Interested families can call Mrs. Blahnik directly at 512-843-0808. Please leave a message and she will reach out to you as soon as possible.

With gratitude and joy, Mrs. Blahnik

CALENDAR ITEMS

April 18 - No School - Good Friday

April 21 - No School - Easter Monday

April 22 - Mass 10 am

April 25 - TENTATIVE - Family Game Night in Gym from 5-7 pm

April 27 - First Holy Communion Weekend!

May 5th - Spring Concert at 6:00 pm

May 12th - Spring Band Concert at 6:00 pm (4th and 5th only)

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.

As much as you need us, we need you, too! Stop by the welcome table at either parish for a New Member Form. Please call Deacon Don in the Parish Office if you have any questions. (920) 725-7714 x416.

Jesus is waiting for you!

Adoring Christ in the

We are blessed to have 8 hours of Adoration followed by Benediction available to us each week!

Find a time that meets your schedule. Spending time with Jesus will change your life!

Eucharistic Adoration is available at

St. Mary

Tuesdays: 6:30am – 7:30am and 12pm – 1pm

Wednesdays: 12pm – 1pm and 6pm – 7pm

St. John the Baptist

Thursdays: 6:30am – 7:30am and 12pm – 1pm

Fridays: 12pm – 1pm and 6pm – 7pm

Perpetual Adoration is available at the Twin Cities Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Margaret Mary.

Pray for one another. One of the greatest things we can do for our friends and family is to pray for them before the Blessed Sacrament. When we pray for others, it also allows us to experience the joy that comes from seeing someone else receive God’s blessings. It is a wonderful feeling to know that we have played a part in someone else’s healing or salvation.

To let you let your loved ones know you have prayed for them, we have made some beautiful prayer cards for you to fill out and give them.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” ( Galatians 6:2)

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.