Dear friends,

The Trinity is the central mystery of our faith because, more than anything we could discover about God by observing the world around us – that God is all powerful or all knowing, for example – the doctrine of the Trinity reveals to us God’s inner life: who he is, his “heart of hearts” or his “core,” so to speak.

That God is three persons, all truly distinct from each other yet perfectly one, is not something we could have figured out; God had to reveal it. Although he alludes to it in the Old Testament, it was not until the Father sent his Son to become man that he disclosed it explicitly. Jesus Christ praises his Father, speaks intimately with him in prayer, always does his will, and, ultimately, offers himself on the cross out of love for him. By his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus reveals this mysterious relationship between the Father and the Son, the First and Second Persons of the Holy Trinity. And, as we would say that a tree which flowers produces flowers (which are real, tangible things) so these two Persons who love breathe forth, so to speak, Love – the third Person of the Trinity, whom we call the Holy Spirit.

The Father gives himself to the Son and the Son gives himself to the Father in this eternal communion of love. But he does not stop there. God called all of creation – including us – into existence so that we, too, could participate in this loving communion. Goodness pours itself out. God wishes to share with us the joy he experiences in his own goodness. He wants us to know what it is to love and to be loved.

It is impossible to overestimate how groundbreaking this revelation is for humanity. God is not just “out there” controlling the forces of nature and exacting punishment on a whim. God’s love is such that it wishes to share itself. And our role as human beings is to receive that love and to respond to it.

Imagine if this perspective – God’s perspective – were the lens through which we understood ourselves. Our society insists on independence and autonomy – on the freedom to define the meaning and purpose of our own life. It does not encourage us to offer ourselves as a gift to God and to others without counting the cost; it does not encourage us to sacrifice. Although God will never restrict our freedom, he has most certainly created each of us for a definite purpose: to become holier and holier each day so that, one day, we can be drawn fully into the eternal communion of love that is the Holy Trinity.

Peace with you!

Deacon Don

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Welcoming a new pastor is a significant moment in the life of our parishes, a time for new beginnings, renewed energy, and a deepening of our shared journey of faith.

Just as the disciples welcomed Jesus into their midst, and as the early Christian communities embraced the apostles sent to guide them, so too do we open our hearts and our doors to Father Matt. He comes to us not as a stranger, but as a brother in Christ, called by God and appointed by Bishop Ricken to serve as the spiritual leader of this flock.

Welcoming a new pastor is not merely a formality; it is an act of faith and an exercise in Christian charity. It requires us to open ourselves to the gifts and talents that Father Matt brings, even as he opens himself to the unique spirit and traditions of our parish.

How then, do we truly welcome our new pastor?

Firstly, with open hearts and minds. Let us set aside any preconceived notions or expectations and approach Father Matt with a spirit of acceptance and understanding. Every priest brings his own experiences, his own charisms, and his own way of serving the Lord. Let us be receptive to his leadership and willing to walk alongside him as he guides us in our faith journey.

Secondly, with prayerful support. Father Matt embarks on a significant responsibility. He will be our spiritual father, our teacher, and our guide. Let us lift him up in our prayers, asking God to grant him wisdom, strength, courage, and above all, a deep and abiding love for the people he is called to serve. Our prayers are a powerful source of grace and will be a constant source of encouragement for him.

Thirdly, with active participation. A parish is not simply a building; it is a living, breathing community of faith. Let us offer Father Matt our willingness to serve, to volunteer our time and talents, and to actively participate in the life of the parish. Whether it is through liturgical ministries, charitable outreach, faith formation, or simply offering a helping hand, our active involvement strengthens the entire community and supports our pastor in his mission.

Fourthly, with patience and understanding. Building relationships takes time. Father Matt will need time to get to know each of us, to understand the needs of our parishes, and to discern God's will for our future together. Let us extend to him the same patience and understanding that we would desire for ourselves in a new situation.

Finally, with joyful collaboration. The work of the Church is not the responsibility of the pastor alone, but of the entire community working together in Christ. Let us approach our collaboration with Father Matt with joy and enthusiasm, recognizing that each of us has a vital role to play in building up the Kingdom of God in our midst.

As we prepare to welcome Father Matt, let us remember the words of St. Paul: "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7).

Let us welcome Father Matt with open arms and joyful hearts. Let us promise him our prayers, our support, and our collaboration as we embark on this new chapter together. May the Holy Spirit guide him, strengthen him, and fill his ministry among us with abundant blessings. Let him find in our parishes a spiritual home and a loving family in Christ. May our actions in the days ahead reflect the love and unity that define us as a Catholic community.

Peace,

Deacon Don

Father Matt will be leaving on a previously arranged Youth Leadership Retreat that he has done for many years right after he takes over as Pastor of our parishes. He will be with us for his first Daily Mass on July 1, but then he will be gone through July 11. His first weekend Masses with us will be July 12 & 13, so prepare to welcome him then!

“Lord, I come to your tender heart today,

to you who have words that set my heart ablaze, to you who pour out compassion on the little ones and the poor, on those who suffer, and on all human miseries.

I desire to know you more, to contemplate you in the Gospel, to be with you and learn from you and from the charity with which you allowed yourself to be touched by all forms of poverty. You showed us the Father’s love by loving us without measure with your divine and human heart.

Grant all your children the grace of encountering you. Change, shape, and transform our plans, so that we seek only you in every circumstance: in prayer, in work, in encounters, and in our daily routine. From this encounter, send us out on mission, a mission of compassion for the world in which you are the source from which all consolation flows.

Amen.”

If your looking for a sweet Father’s Day treat for a great Dad, we have you covered! Father’s Day chocolate bars will be available at all Masses on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. Your donations will benefit Right to Life and will help defend life from conception to natural death.

Rev. Robert Thorn was raised the fourth of 9 children in a very Catholic family in Janesville, Wisconsin. After a powerful conversion back to his faith, he became a Capuchin Franciscan at the age of 42. Fr Bob was ordained to the priesthood in 1999. After 4 years as an associate pastor at St Mary in Marathon City, WI he left the Capuchins in 2002 and was incardinated into the Diocese of La Crosse where he served as the pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Wausau for 20 years prior to his retirement July 2022. Fr. Thorn now helps out at parishes in the Green Bay, Superior, and La Crosse Dioceses. He has worked in the healing and deliverance ministry in the Diocese of La Crosse since 2008, but his involvement in the healing ministry stretches back to 1992. Father Thorn had his conversion experience back to his faith In Medjugorje. He has been to Medjugorje about 14 times.

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.

We are so grateful to everyone who showed up on Saturday, April 26th, at St. Gabriel Church to help pack over 50,000 meals with Rise Against Hunger! Your time, energy, and compassion made a real difference—and it was inspiring to see our community come together to serve those in need. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ in action!

St. Mary has 2 nominations; Anne Hoernke (incumbent) and Austin Rose. Learn about then in their bios below:

Ann Hoernke

Hi my name is Ann Hoernke and I am a life-long member of St. Mary Parish. I am the current

Secretary Trustee and would like to continue for another term. I have been an active member of

the parish for many years. I served on the parish school board many years ago and was also on

the parish Worship committee. I was a member of the Finance Council too and still attend the

Finance Council meetings along with the Pastoral Council meetings. I am a lector and

Eucharistic minister and have helped in training others in those ministries. I’ve assisted in

decorating for Christmas too. I was also part of the “one by One” committee. My husband, Mike,

and I help clean the church on Monday mornings, and you can catch us working the Knights of

Columbus monthly fish fries.

I am a strong supporter of our school system. I graduated from St. Mary Central, as did all three

of our children. I retired as a science teacher from St. Mary Catholic High School in 2015, but I

sub there often because I miss teaching!

As Secretary Trustee I’ve been an active part of the Pastoral Council. We have been working to

define roles on the Council and find the right people to fill those positions. We need to have the

Council take a more active role in decision-making and event planning for our parish to take

some stress off of our staff.

Austin Rose

My name is Austin Rose, and I am writing to express my sincere interest in serving as a trustee of our beloved parish. As a director and theatrical design professor at Lawrence University, and an educator with over fifteen years of experience, I bring a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and stewardship.

Within the parish, I currently serve as head of the Worship Committee and coordinate seasonal decorations in collaboration with the Altar Guild. I also train our altar servers, serve as a docent for parish tours, and act as a consultant on the historical mission and preservation of our church’s sacred antiquities. Additionally, I was honored to serve on the design committee for our recent restoration efforts and to coordinate our grand reveal celebration.

St. Mary’s stands as one of the most prestigious churches in both the diocese and the state of Wisconsin. I believe our future trajectory is stellar, and I am eager to take a more active role in helping shape that future—while always honoring the rich history and traditions that define us. Thank you for your consideration.

With sincere gratitude and devotion,

Austin Rose

______________________________________________________________________________________

St. John the Baptist has 1 nomination; Tom Michaelkiewicz (incumbent). Learn about Tom in his bio below:

Tom Michalkiewicz

My name is Tom Michalkiewicz and I would Like to be the finance trustee for the next two years. I have been married for 46 years and am a life long member of St. John's. I'm presently the treasurer trustee, chairman of the cemetery committee, on the finance council and lawnkeeper at St. John's. I am also on the maintenance/cleaning committee for the church. Please vote for me this next election.

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 need people to bring meals for breakfast and lunch for our missionaries throughout the week of June 22 - June 27, 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!

Check out some of the amazing things our teens have done in the community!

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

During the week of July 20-24 to host our 5 Camp Tekakwitha Missionaries—or two host families to host 2-3 people each!

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

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

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.

October 25, 2025

For more information or to register contact marriageministries@gbdioc.org or call us at 920-272-8283

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.