St. Charles Parish                                  
October 16, 2011

Pastoral Paragraph:   Please join us for the PTO Spaghetti Supper this Saturday evening October 15 from 5:00-7:30 PM.  It will be an enjoyable evening promising good food, fun and activity!  A big THANK YOU to the parish PTO who do such a tremendous job in supporting our school!

Our next Religious Education Class (CCD) is scheduled for this Wednesday evening October 19 from 6:45 – 8:25 PM.  For parents who wish to stay we will be previewing the new film series Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Father Robert Barron from the Archdiocese of Chicago and Word On Fire ministry.  The series, which will be televised by some PBS stations across the country (but is not scheduled in Wisconsin), leads us on a journey to explore the faith through stories, biographies, and images; in saints and poets, cathedrals and chants, priests and prophets.  Bishop Callahan, through the generosity of a major donor, has gifted the CD series and accompanying guides (a $300 value) to each parish in the Diocese.  CCD parents will begin reviewing the 10 week series and I hope to offer it again early in 2012 as a series that will continue through Lent. 

As we continue through October we look ahead to November and the month of remembering our loved ones who have died.  Wednesday, November 2 is the Commemoration of All Souls when we celebrate our own loved ones who have gone before us marked by the sign of faith.  We invite all of you to bring pictures of your family members or friends who have died.  We will display them at church through the feast of Christ the King on November 20.  This is for anyone, not just for those who have died this past year.  It would be helpful, but not necessary, if the picture is in a frame that could stand on its own.  Simply place them in the box at the main entrance of the Church.  Please make sure that all pictures are marked with your name, so that we can return them to the rightful owners.

And as we look ahead, its time to begin planning for the annual Steak Fry event that will be held early in December.  There will be a Steak Fry planning meeting on Wednesday evening at 7:00 in the school activity room.

This past Friday (October 14) I was in Eau Claire with Bishop Callahan as he blessed the new homeless shelter, Sojourner House, which Catholic Charities has established with the collaboration of a number of Eau Claire inter-faith and community groups.  On one hand it seems to have been a long period of meetings and much work, but on the other in just over a year it has moved from nothing to the ownership of a building and the major remodeling into a facility that will offer up to 40 people nightly shelter, warmth during the winter, and food.  The shelter will be open every night, 365 days a year, and we expect to welcome our first guests by the end of October after we do some “finishing touches” to the building and have orientation and training for new staff and volunteers. 

The Diocesan Annual Appeal is underway and hopefully you have received your individual pledge/gift materials in the mail.  This year our parish goal is $11,640.  This weekend we’ll view the Bishop’s video that accompanies the appeal – this year entitled, We Are the Diocese.  I hope you had a chance to review this important information and will give serious consideration to making a gift.  Remember, it’s not so much the size of the gift but that you participate with your parish.  There are many times when our gift may appear small, but, like the widow’s mite, it is much larger in the eyes of God, because it is given with love and gratitude.  Deacon Richard

CCD Classes this Wednesday October 19 from 6:45-8:15 pm in the school. 

Wendy’s Night Hosted by Kerry Woodhouse, Tuesday, October 18, 2011 5-7pm.  Wendy’s is located on the So. Side of LaCrosse on Mormon Coulee Rd. Drive-thru is included. Have a meal and help our school. Thank you for your support.

Magazine Sale Kick-Off   The St. Charles students will need the help and support of all family and friends in selling magazines. It is a great fundraiser for the school and a lot of fun excitement and activity for our students.

The La Crosse 40 Days for Life team invite you to join them for a mid-way prayer rally on Sunday, October 16 at 3:00 pm at the prayer vigil site, the corner of 7^th Street South and South Avenue in La Crosse.  This will make the 20^th day of the fall 40 Days for Life prayer vigil.  We hope you will join the many pro-life people in our area to pray for an end to abortion. 

Desoto Lutheran Church The Fall Festival Salisbury Steak Dinner at Desoto Lutheran Church is Thursday, October 20, 2011 from 4 pm – 7pm. Featuring Homemade Mashed Potatoes, Vegetables, Desserts, and beverages.  Adults: $8.00 * Children ages 6 – 12: $4.00 * Carry Outs available.

St. Mary Parish   The annual Turkey Dinner at St. Mary’s Parish is October 19, 2011. The dinner serving cafeteria style from 4:30 – 7:30 pm, includes Turkey, Dressing, Potatoes, Gravy, Vegetable, Coleslaw, Cranberries, Bread Pie and beverages.  Adults: $7.50 * Youth (5 – 12) $4.00 * under 5 free.  Carry outs are served from 4 – 6 pm or until 600 are served; one size: $8.00.

The New Translation of the Roman Missal will be implemented on the First Sunday of Advent. One of the goals of the new translation is to foster a deeper understanding of the Word of God in Scripture and the Eucharist.  For example, before the Communion Rite, the priest breaks the Host and shows it to the people, saying: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. The first part of this prayer echoes the words of John the Baptist, heralding the coming of the Christ: “The next day John say Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’” (John 1:29).  In the same way, we who are united in the Body of Christ in the Sacrament of Baptism and strengthened in the Eucharist are called to point others to Jesus through our words and actions. The second part of this prayer reflects the words of the Book of Revelation: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb’” (Rev. 19:9).  In this prayer, we are not rejoicing that we may receive the Eucharist.  Instead, we rejoice for those who have been found worthy to share in the heavenly Liturgy, the supper of the Lamb, and we pray that one day, we may join them in the everlasting life of the Kingdom of God. By delving more deeply into the scriptural background of the Mass, we come to know more closely Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, whose Pascal Mystery we celebrate.

Blessed Father Luigi Guanella will be canonized as a saint next Sunday October 23 by Pope Benedict XVI.  Father Guanella is from the Campodolcino area of Italy which is the area from where many of our founding families and settlers immigrated many years ago.  This past August several of our parish members went to a family reunion in Campodolcino and returned with the gift of a painting of St. Guanella for us.  Below is a text of the greeting they received from Paulo Via on their arrival.  On October 23 we want to join in a particular way with the joy of the universal church as Father Guanella is canonized.  We’ll have a special blessing of the painting of St. Guanella at the 10:00 Mass followed by a desert reception in the gym.  Of course, everyone is invited and urged to attend - you don’t need to be on the Guanella family tree to participate!  For more information please contact Bill Trussoni or Gary Venner.

Paulo Via’s greeting

My short talk is about a suitcase and two dreams. A suitcase that is a metaphor of the journey across the ocean undertaken by many people from this country years and years ago. Many of them left, carrying with them just a few things, to survive.  A few things and a suitcase, which meant to them the world: the world in a suitcase. And this is the first dream. They were escaping this harsh land, dreaming of a better life somewhere else, as we can read in many letters they wrote to relatives and friends that had already crossed the ocean.  One of them reads: “If life is better over there, I’d like to come myself because you know what life is like over here, in the evening, when the sun goes down and it’s dark and no money in your pocket.” And they set off for unknown lands on the trip of their life.

Now that suitcase is displayed in different museums from Ellis Island to Melbourne.  And after so many years it is still not empty.  It keeps a secret. It keeps the secret of the second dream, the hope of coming back home; it keeps a promise and a wish. This was the promise (quoting from another letter again): “If God keeps me in good health, in two years I’ll be back home.” Back home. The magical words. But they didn’t come back and they passed on, handing down to the next generations the dream and the promise. I’ll be back. You took on their promise and after 150 years you fulfilled their commitment, you made their dream come true.  That’s why you are here today.  You’ve come back home and they too have come back with you. So, welcome. Your homeland has always been waiting for you.  Welcome.  Welcome again! 

Day on Grief  St. Anthony Spirituality Center, Marathon, is offering a Day entitled “The Grief Journey~Wounded, weeping, Turning, trusting; Healing, hoping..” The Day will be held November 12, 2011.   Presented by Rita Simon. Begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes by 4:00 p.m.  Noon meal is included in the day. Offering: $40.00 Contact St. Anthony’s at (715) 443-2236 to register, if you need a ride for this retreat, or to receive additional information. E-Mail: info@sarcenter.com. Web-Site: www.sarcenter.com.

Blessed Sacrament Parish Is offering a series of presentations on Catholic Church history.  The second series will be offered Wednesday, October 19, 7:00 – 7:45 P.M. in the Blessed Sacrament School cafeteria.  The topic is “The Great Heresies – 300 – 500 A.D.”  This series is intended for all confirmed Catholics and other who might be interested.

Ethical Issues in Catholic Healthcare Do you want to know more about Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues and healthcare?  Then come to the conference on “Ethical Issues in Catholic Healthcare,” to be held Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse.  Geared to healthcare workers and lay people alike, this major conference will feature Fr. Tad Pacholczyk and Dr. John Haas of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, as well as a Mass celebrated by Bishop William Callahan.  The cost is only $25 for non-medical registrants, and includes lunch.  For more information and to register, go to www.guadalupeshrine.org and click on “Upcoming Events”, or call 877-799-4059.

Weekend Silent Theme Retreat for Woman and Men St. Anthony Spirituality Center, Marathon, is offering a Silent Retreat for Women and Men the weekend of November 11-13, 2011.  The theme for this silent retreat is “Living in Difficult Times, Learning from St. Francis.” Begins with 7:00 supper on Friday evening and ends with the noon meal on Sunday. Offering: $155.00. Contact St. Anthony’s at (715) 443-2236 to register, if you need a ride for this retreat, or to receive additional information. E-Mail: info@sarcenter.com.  Web-Site: www.sarcenter.com. Bookstore is open to the public on Saturday from 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Monthly Prayer Evening St. Anthony Spirituality Center, Marathon, is offering a Prayer Evening on November 14, 2011. The Evening is entitled, “Everyday Prayer for Everyday People.” These Evenings will be held on the second Monday of each month September through May.  It will be a time for people to come with all their needs and concerns and to join in prayer with each other. Time for prayer together, a presentation by either Mary Yessa or Fr. Tom Zelinski, quiet time, closing prayer service and blessing. There will also be a blessing of blankets.  Those attending may bring one or more blankets to be blessed for your use or to be passed on. Begins 7:00 p.m. and concludes 8:30 p.m. Free will offering. No registration required. Contact St. Anthony’s at (715) 443-2236 if you need a ride for this Evening, or to receive additional information. E-Mail: info@sarcenter.com.  Web-Site: www.sarcenter.com.

Church Bulletin Please forward your information for the church bulletin to the St. Charles School office by Wednesday of each week at 689-2642 or stcharle@mwt.net

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