MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

November 2019 | Issue III

- November is the month of The Holy Souls in Purgatory -

In Our Community...

Parishioners gathered as a community in Neumann Hall on Saturday, October 12th to enjoy beer, food, music and fellowship during the 2019 Oktoberfest. Thank you to the St. John Neumann Knights of Columbus Council #15090, for hosting this event.

We pray for one another...

for the recently departed souls:

May the Angels lead you into paradise;

may the martyrs come to welcome you

and take you to the holy city,

the new and eternal Jerusalem.

Amen.

St. John Neumann: Barbara Davis, Bernadette Deemer, Michael Goodwin, Jerome Lisiak, Thomas Masiakonski, Mary Meeusen, John Musiak, Catherine Polster, Nancy Rosinski, Arthur Schuh, Lambert Sutkiewicz, Michael Sweeney St. Joseph: Amelia Calderon, Carmella Condon, Alberto Hernandez, Patricia Jackson, Carmen Juarez, David Kozlowski, Elroy Lang, James Miller, Stanley Mindiola, Bonnie Montez, Elizabeth Nadolny, Sofia Oyerbides, Julienne Vuchork, Rollin Yanzer, St. Mary: Bernard Adee, Philip Bain, Cleo Balthazor, Hubert Bodwin, Elizabeth Bowe, George F. Busch, Angeleene “Angie” Butler, Agnes Catherine Carmichael, Molly Caven, Lawrence "Larry" Cisz , Rosemary Collins, Clayton Erickson, Robert Fenske, Wayne A. Fillinger Sr., Magdalena Gaulke, Peter Gramling, Char Guzman , William "Bill" P. Held, Gary Kohler, Mary Lavine, Nova Isabelle Mathews, Josephine Meola, Walter Pechulis, James Peters, Helen Reetz, James Rosenmerkel, Ronald Ryberg, Christopher Sheridan, Roger Stack, John Taylor, Sheila Costin Theroux, Martha Wichser, Richard Wilcox, Leo Benedict Wirtz, Ruth Wolf St. William: Otto Beglinger, Rita Beglinger, Nichole Carini, Martin Dable, Judy Dusold, Harriet Faestel, Mary Ellen Follansbee, George Gesior, Frances Gregory, Lillian Hekkers, Dennis Huelse, Monica Jones, Richard Kearney, Lu Vetric Kiedrowski, Olivia Kouhel, Mark Knuth, William Kremel, Carol Kuehn, Gene Kuehn, Elaine La Marche, John Libecki, Joseph Marino, Josh Mattheson, Grace McGuire, Betty McWilliams, Leo Nienas, Patricia Olson, Richard Otto, Lawrence Podoski, Santiago Ramirez, William Rostagno, Barbara Schneider, Susan Sieger, Cornelius Sixty, Judith Smrz, Betty Vissers, Kenneth Vondross, Donald Warsh, Joan Wiberg,

Request a Prayer
for yourself or a loved one in need - these requests will be prayed for at the city wide staff meeting by our staff and priests.

Become a Prayer Champion

Join our new CCWauk email prayer chain. When you receive the weekly email and prayer, pause for a few minutes and pray. Click the button to be added to the Flocknote Prayer Champion group.

I'll be a prayer champion!

We grow and learn together...

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November is the month of

The Holy Souls in Purgatory

As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Learn More...

Eternal rest grant unto them,

O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen

Celebrating the Day of the Dead

Photo: Joshua Y. Chiang

In Mexico and other Latin American countries, November 2nd marks the day of the faithful departed, more commonly known as the Day of the Dead. Traditionally, in preparation, an “altar of the dead” is put up and decorated with various Christian symbols.
Tradition, typical of the inculturation of Christianity with the pre-Hispanic cultures present in Mexico, seeks to create a space of memory and prayer for loved ones already deceased. (read Why do Catholics Celebrate the Day of the Dead)

Here are 8 important Christian symbols found in an altar of the dead...

1. Three Levels
The three levels on the altar of the dead are related to the "levels" of the Church: the militant Church, who live on earth; the purgative Church, the souls of the deceased who are in purgatory to prepare for the beatific vision of God; and the triumphant Church, which is in Heaven.
2. An arch
It serves as an allegory to the gateway to Heaven.
3. The Cross and an image of the Virgin
The Cross reminds us of the death of Christ, who gave his life for our sins, but who with his resurrection triumphed over death and opened the doors of Heaven to us. The image of the Virgin Mary reminds us that she is our mother and intercessor.

Learn More

4. Holy water
It reminds us of our baptism, which makes us children of God, members of Christ and our incorporation to the Church.
5. Photographs of our loved ones
They help us to remember them and keep them in mind in our prayers.
6. Candles
One, for each deceased loved one, symbolize the light of Christ, as well as faith and hope.
7. Food
At the altar of the dead, their favorite dishes are placed for our deceased loved ones.
8. Marigold flowers
They represent sunlight and are part of Mexican pre-Columbian traditions, which they believed led the dead to the altar. Placed in a cross pattern.

See Pictures

Discuss and Ponder the Word of God

Cup of Joe

Every Monday after 7:45 am Mass
St. William Parish

ANSPAC

Programa en Español para mujeres/

Women's group in Spanish
Every Thursday @ 9:00 am

St. John Neumann- Neumann Hall

Small Things with Great Love

Rights and Responsibilities

Throughout this year, Waukesha Catholic Schools and CCWauk Faith Formation are taking steps to work together to focus on Catholic identity and mission. As part of this collaboration, we have rolled out the theme, Do Small Things with Great Love. To help increase awareness of this idea for students, our Faith Formation and Religion classes have been focusing on a different Catholic social teaching theme each month.

During November, our focus is on the theme Rights and Responsibilities. The Catholic Church teaches us that every person has a fundamental right to life and human decency. All people have the right to education, schooling, food, work, clothing, housing, and love. These rights carry with them certain duties and responsibilities-to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

As Catholics, we are called to help protect the human dignity of all people; this is a tall order. But this year we are focusing on doing small things with great love.

Consider what you can do with great love in service of God’s people. Waukesha has amazing organizations that offer ways to do this work such as the HOPE Center, Life’s Connections, Eras, Catholic Charities, and more. These organizations help to serve people in various ways to ensure their human dignity is preserved. This month, take some time to explore these, and other, organizations and groups in our community. Learn a little about the Human Concerns committees we have as part of the CCWauk. Take some time to find small things you can do with great love in service to God’s people. Take time in prayer to ask God how you are being called to ensure the human decency of those whom you encounter every day.

Volunteer Opportunities

Stop and give thanks...

After November 1st, life seems to jump into high gear. With the hustle and bustle of planning Thanksgiving dinner starting the holiday shopping and everything else we have going on in our lives. At times, we forget to slow down and reflect on what the season of Thanks Giving is really about.

Take the time to take a deep breath, whether you are in Tuesday morning mass, or in your car after a long day of work and reflect on the gifts the Lord has given you.

Thanksgiving Table Prayer

O Gracious God,
we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us.
Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today.
Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here.
Thank you for our health, our work and our play.
Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence.
Open our hearts to your love.
We ask your blessing through Christ your son.

Amen.