January 26, 2025 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends,
This week is CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK here at the parishes and also in the country. This week, we give thanks to God in a more intentional way for the gift of Catholic Education and for those who make it possible – parents, teachers, donors, etc.
Our own Catholic East will have an exciting week celebrating Catholic Education. One highlight of the week is the Vocations Fair that will take place this Wednesday, January 29 from 9am until 11am. If you would like to share your vocation story with our children at Catholic East, please contact our principal Mr. Woodlin at jwoodlin@catholiceast.org for more information on how to join this initiative!
Next Sunday, February 2nd, we will celebrate the PRESENTATION OF THE LORD. Christ is the light that conquers all darkness in our hearts, but also in our families and neighborhoods. Here at the Family of Five we will be blessing candles at all the Masses next weekend so please, feel free to bring your candles to Mass on Feb 1st and 2nd and let the light of Christ enter your homes, schools and workplaces!
Lastly but certainly not least, to conquer the darkness in our hearts we need the gift of healing from the Lord Jesus. On Thursday, February 6th we will begin an eight-video series called Healing the Whole Person: Engaging Your Story. I have personally benefitted from this journey of experiencing the Lord’s mercy and kindness in my woundedness and places of pain. Our own sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT together with Dr. Bob Schuchts will lead us through these 8 videos to a loving encounter with the most loving Heart of Jesus. If you are interested in joining this pilgrimage of healing, please contact Terri Balash at tbalash@ffpmke.org.
With love,
Fr. Carlos
January 19, 2025 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters & Brothers,
On behalf of Father Tim, Father Carlos, Father Joseph, the entire Family of Five Parishes Staff, all our parishioners, especially those of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, I extend a very warm welcome to Archbishop Jeffery Grob to Milwaukee and our family of parishes. We are so happy you are with us, and we look forward to your leadership and friendship. Be assured of our love, support, and prayers.
If you have not already done so, please see Trevor Beach’s announcement regarding his new position on our staff. In a previous bulletin column, I mentioned that Trevor and I planned to bring the ALPHA series to our parishes. In light of the change in Trevor’s responsibilities, we cannot do ALPHA at this time. I hope that we will be able to do so in the future.
As you read this article, I am away on my annual personal retreat. I am with the Trappist Monks at New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa. Please know that I am praying for all of you, and I ask that you please remember me in your prayers as well. I will be back for Masses next weekend.
With my love,
Fr. Brian
January 12, 2025 – The Baptism of the Lord
Dear Friends,
Please keep Bishop Jeffrey Grob in your prayers this week as he is installed as the next Archbishop of our
beloved Archdiocese. May the Holy Spirit fill him with the gifts of courage and zeal, and the peace of heart that
flows from Christ’s great love for all of us.
As I mentioned in my homily at the New Year, I remember Sr. Ellen Barrett and her sage aphorism: “Change is inevitable; growth is optional.” Let’s all pray our way through the changes in our lives and the life of our Church! Change is not to be feared, but welcomed as a chance for new growth!
I am so awed at the Apostolic Succession of our leaders! We stand on the shoulders of those who take us back to Christ! We have been through much and, by the grace of God, will hand on a vibrant Church to our children, and as is said in a wedding blessing, to our children’s children’s children!
Ad multos annos, here’s to many years, new Archbishop Grob!
God Bless,
Fr. Tim
January 5th, 2025 – The Epiphany of the Lord
Merry Christmas! Happy Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord!
As many of you know, I love the liturgy of the Church. When we hear the word “liturgy,” we often think of Mass; however, the church’s liturgy is so much more than Mass. Liturgy is the public work of the church, which includes Mass, the celebration of the sacraments, and the liturgy of the hours among other public acts of prayers. The liturgy of the hours is the daily prayer of the church that clergy and many religious are required to pray. Some beautiful antiphons and readings come from the liturgy of the hours that many people never pray or hear.
Today includes one of my favorite antiphons of the year, which is prayed during evening prayer on Sunday night:
“Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation.” What a beautiful statement connecting these three great mysteries. Jesus reveals himself through these three events to show the world that he has come to bring us in communion with God. When we read the story of the Magi, the church invites us to not only think of this moment in Christ’s life but to connect it to these other moments to allow Jesus to reveal himself in our lives as well.
I pray you have time in the remaining Christmas season to reflect on how the Lord reveals himself in your lives.
