Throughout their history, the Jewish people rightly saw themselves as the chosen people of God, the royal race and religion. It had been decreed as such by God, and their entire way of being in the world was in accordance with it. It is not surprising, therefore, that some of the early followers of Christ felt that Gentile believers needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. In short, they needed to become Jewish before being baptized into Christ.

The Council of Jerusalem was a meeting the Apostles and other leaders within the Church held in order to discern the workings of the Holy Spirit with regard to this matter. The decision was that Gentiles did not have to follow the Jewish ceremonial laws, for the Holy Spirit had in truth and fact come upon the Gentiles without such things taking place. Therefore, it must not be necessary. We are told in chapter 11 of the Acts of the Apostles that, when [the Jewish leaders] heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, “God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles”.

This was a new and all-important elimination of barriers – something our God loves to do! It is what Jesus spent most of his ministry doing, removing things that separated us from one another and from God. In God’s economy, the distinctions that dominate our personal relations are cast aside. Wealth, race, gender, prestige, skill, even religion, are subjugated to the great equalizer of God’s unifying love and unlimited grace. This does not mean that every religion is the same, but rather that every person is equally worthy of God’s love in God’s eyes.

In this weekend's second reading from the Book of Revelation, we get a glimpse of the new Jerusalem, the eternal kingdom where this unifying love reigns. The greatest symbol of Judaism, the holy temple, has been replaced by the eternal Temple, Jesus Christ. The twelve gates, which represent the twelve tribes of Israel, are open not just to Jews by blood, but to all, by grace.

In this way, God says, “Come to the table in my holy city, one and all!” Actually, God goes one step further, saying not just “Come” but “I want to come to you!” In John’s Gospel, Jesus declares that he and the Father will come to [whoever keeps his word] and make our dwelling with him. The phrase make our dwelling can also be translated as “put up a tent.” From this phrase we get the word “tabernacle.” Indeed, God wants a tabernacle within each of us, a safe place for God to dwell. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which knows no bounds.

Despite our human attempts to categorize and differentiate, the Holy Spirit moves at will, coming to all who are receptive to him. As we approach the Eucharistic table, let us express our gratitude for God’s boundless grace.

May the joy of Easter and the Peace of our Risen Lord be with you!

Deacon Don

Trouble with link - view the video here: - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16gt326S3L/

Scan the QR Code or click the link below to sign up to help out at the Parish Celebration! It is going to be a good one, so we need all hands on deck!

St. Mary Site 540 Second Street Menasha

Thursday, June 19 8 am-5 pm

Saturday, June 21 8 am-2 pm

Saturday ONLY:

$5 Bag Sale; Large Items Half Off

Bakery and Canned Goods!

This is a fantastic opportunity!

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.

St. Mary and St. John the Baptist trustee elections will be held on the weekend of June 28 & 29. Please prayerfully consider whether you or someone you know may be called to the role of Secretary Trustee (St. Mary) or Treasurer Trustee (St. John). All candidates who are at least 18 years of age and who receive at least ten nominations and are approved by the Pastor between May 17 and June 8 will be included in the final vote, which again will be held the weekend of June 28 & 29. Nomination forms will be found in the back of both churches, at the parish office, and on our website, along with additional details on trustee roles and responsibilities. Completed forms should be deposited in designated lock boxes in the back of both churches or at the parish office, no later than June 8.

Our beautiful church altar linens, which grace our sacred space for every Mass and special celebration, require loving and meticulous care. This is a truly special ministry, often unseen but deeply significant, contributing to the reverence and beauty of our liturgy.

We are seeking dedicated individuals to join our Altar Linen Ministry, specifically for the larger altar cloths. This involves:

• Washing, ironing, and mending the altar cloths.

• Ensuring these linens are prepared with reverence and attention to detail.

This ministry is perfect for someone who:

• Has a gentle touch and an eye for detail.

• Enjoys quiet, contemplative work.

• Desires to serve Christ in a direct and tangible way, preparing His altar for the Holy Sacrifice.

If you feel called to this unique and essential service, please contact Deacon Don at the Parish Office at (920) 725-7714 x416 or donschultz@smcatholicschools.org. We would be delighted to speak with you about this beautiful opportunity to contribute to the holiness of our worship.

Your devotion will help keep our altar a place of profound beauty and reverence.

God bless you for your consideration.

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 people to bring meals for breakfast and lunch for our missionaries throughout the week, and to host them for dinner. Please take a look at the sign up genius to see if you can help us feed our missionaries!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040545AAAA22A7FC1-55708906-totus#/

We want to help educate your children in the Catholic Faith - Our Wednesday evening Faith Formation program offers a WIDE variety of hands-on experiences to bring your child closer to God. Registration is now open for Faith Formation 2025-26 and you can get a $25 discount PER STUDENT for next year if you register your child for Faith Formation before June 30!

Contact Tina Peirick at 920-729-4560

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

5th Grade Recognition:

Our 5th graders have wings to fly! We celebrated their achievements and hard work this week at their Recognition Ceremony. The 4th grade families did a beautiful job of decorating our cafeteria, hosting the breakfast, and making an end of the year video for the special celebration. Following our Mass, this event was topped off with a special handoff from our staff to the Middle School principal and dean of students. We are sad to see them go but we are so happy that we had the opportunity to be a small part of their academic and faith formation. Go Zephyrs!

PB&J Drive:

WOW!!! We collected A LOT! Thank you so much for helping us with this drive. We are thrilled to help local families with summer hunger.

JUNE

2 - Field Day (AM) Classroom Cleanup (PM)

3 - Bay Beach K-5th (tickets, groups, etc.)

4 - Living Library (AM) Classroom Cleanup (PM)

5 - Activities & Yearbook Signing 8-10 am, Mass 10 am, Playground Fun 11 am, Staff Lunch 12 noon (off-site)

Are you looking for a seasonal job? Do you enjoy being outside while doing a meaningful job that helps your local parish and community? Please consider applying to be a Cemetery Worker for the St. Mary and St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemeteries! Please reach out to 920-725-7714 ext. 418 or ssiegel@smcatholicschools.org if you are interested to learn more and apply!

Please join members of our diocese as we March for Life in Wisconsin!

For more infomraiton and to register for the bus, visit: March for Life Wisconsin

Dear Parish Families,

We’re thrilled to invite your child to the SaLT Theatre Camp this summer at Lawrence University! Campers will dive into drama, movement, improv, and design workshops—building confidence, creativity, and new friendships. The camp is taught by two Lawrence professors, and eight Lawrence theatre and dance students!

Camp Dates & Times

• June 16–20: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily

• June 21 (Showcase Day): 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Music & Drama Building (Stansbury Theatre, Cloak Theatre, Barber Dance Room, and the Design Studio)
Ages: Rising Grades 2–5
Tuition: Free

Please complete your child’s registration by clicking the link above. Space is limited to 40 campers, so don’t delay!

You may register at- https://www.lawrence.edu/summer-lawrence/summer-lawrence-theatre-salt-camp

If you have any questions, feel free to reply to the email below. We can’t wait to see your young performers back on stage!

Break a leg,

Austin Rose
SaLT Theatre Camp Coordinator
Lawrence University

rosea@lawrence.edu

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.