St. Anne Catholic Church

SEE CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE BELOW.  DAILY MASS TIMES: Tues-Sat. 7 a.m. | CONFESSION FOLLOWING Wed, Friday & Sat. Mass | ADORATION FOLLOWING Wed & Friday Mass | WEEKEND MASS TIMES: Saturday 5:15 p.m., Sunday 9:15 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. (262) 942-8300. 

Flowers of the Field: Reflections On Family

Reflections on Family by Mike Nuzzo

Good morning everyone, my name is Mike Nuzzo.  My wife, Anna, and I have been members of St Anne since 2005.   I have been asked to share some of my experiences with you, and reflect on our current efforts towards the Flowers of the Field campaign, which I am blessed to serve as part of the committee.

Over the past several years, I have grown significantly in my faith, in large part due to this parish.   This has helped my life at home and at work, giving me guidance and inspiration to do the right thing, and find peace when times are difficult. At home I have had more patience with my two boys, and at work I am able to trust in God’s will and not constantly worry about the future.  This in turn makes me more pleasant to be around at home.  It is the little moments that have made this change, interactions with different members and ministries.

I think the best summary of this journey is when we went to the movies with several families from our parish.  When one of the younger children was told about it, she asked “will our whole family be there?”  Her mom said yes, mommy, daddy and all of us are going, and she said, “No, I mean our WHOLE family” …meaning all of the families that were coming.  I thought about this a lot afterwards, and it came to me that this is the same thing I have experienced:  St. Anne is my family, and this parish is our home.

So with that thought, I would like to say “Welcome Home”.

I was reflecting on the goals of this campaign, and as a business owner, I tend to start looking at things with a business perspective.  But then it hit me, these aren’t business type goals:  Human Concerns, Outreach, Music Ministry, etc.  These are the goals of a Family!  Yes, we have to view them with a financial perspective, but isn’t that true of any family planning?

Take music for example.  Most of you have probably decorated for the season.  When I was a boy, one of my fondest memories was listening to “The Little Drummer Boy” while decorating the tree.  I still remember walking around the living room banging on my imaginary drum.  I’m sure all of you have a similar memory, or there is a special song that really brings the Holy Spirit into your heart, especially this time of year.

The same is true for Human Concerns and Outreach: reaching out to the needs of our parish and the community, inviting people to our church, and strengthening the relationships within our parish.  Is this really much different than what we do with our own families every day?

Or how about the gathering area remodeling?  At home, I like to think of myself as a fairly handy person, and regularly dive into different home improvement projects.  One year, I installed Pergo flooring in our kitchen.  After a hard weekend of work, the floor was done, but I didn’t have the energy to finish the trim.  I thought the floor looked good, and gave myself a nice pat on the back, saying I would finish the trim…”tomorrow”.  Well, it was quite a while before I finished that trim, and every day I got more used to the floor without it.  Finally I got it done, after some “friendly urging” from Anna. I was shocked at how much better it looked now!

Friends and neighbors probably weren’t as impressed with my flooring project as I was, until the trim was done.  We have a similar “unfinished project” at our home here.  While many of us are used to the concrete block and exposed steel, it is very noticeable to visitors and newcomers.  I think we will all be surprised at how much impact a finished gathering area will have.

Now we get to the part everyone loves to talk about, our mortgage… Every January my family sits down and puts together a budget for the coming year, and reviews what we did the year before.  A key focus of this is looking at additional needs of the family, and sacrifices we need to make.  We recently refinanced our home mortgage to take advantage of a lower rate.  In the near future, our St Anne Family would like to refinance our mortgage to more favorable terms, but to do this we have to reduce our debt ratio for the banks.  This is the primary goal of our campaign, and is a major step towards making room in our monthly budget for the future needs of this family.

St Anne Church is where your family in Christ gathers. As you can see, our family has some things to do, and we need everyone to pitch in.  At the presentation of this campaign to the leadership of the parish, there was a strong positive response that we are running this campaign In House, and I think you will agree that this is due to the sense of Family this parish has.

So again I say to you “Welcome Home.'”  You will soon see a garden growing in our gathering area, with a flower representing each $1,000 pledged.  We ask your help in planting our garden.

Thank you, and have a Merry Christmas!

 

How does our conscience guide us?

Advent is a penitential season, a time to recognize that Jesus came to save us from ourselves.  Taking time to examine our conscience and be honest with ourselves is one of the things that the Church encourages us to focus on during Advent.  Father Bob mentioned four Advent tasks in a recent homily:  1) take time to pray; 2) examine our conscience honestly; 3) ask for forgiveness; and 4) rejoice!

How do we use our conscience to guide us in our every day?  Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia reflected on this:  “Conscience is never merely a matter of personal opinion or private preference.  It is not a pious alibi for doing what we want… ‘In forming their consciences, the faithful must pay careful attention to the sacred and certain teaching of the Church.  For the Catholic Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth.'”

(Note: Communal Advent Reconciliation prayer services are being offered as follows:  Sat., Dec. 17, 10 a.m. St. Mark’s; Tues., Dec. 20, noon, St. Elizabeth’s. Individual reconciliation will be offered at St. Anne’s, Sat., Dec. 17, 9:30 a.m., Wed., Dec. 21, 4:30-6 p.m. or by appointment.)

“What is the meaning of prayer?”

Often prayer can seem overwhelming. Where do I start? What do I say?  How often should I pray?  St. Therese of Avila put it simply, “For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”  And, what constitutes friendship? In friendships, two people share of themselves.  Perhaps, you share your innermost feelings..your dreams…your hardships and struggles.  Maybe you laugh together or cry together.  Our Lord wants to be our best friend. He wants our whole selves — to be in friendship.  During his Sunday homily on Nov. 27, Father Bob Weighner spoke of prayer as one of four things we should consider doing more of during this Advent season.  Make it a priority — call on your best friend.

 

“Giving Our All” A Reflection of Sr. Virgina’s Passing by Theresa Setter

Hello my friends,

Last night when I got the shocking news about Sr. Virginia being hit and killed, accidently in a car accident, I was numb. I never had the privilege of having her as one of my teachers at St. Joe’s-(73-77) but I still had a great respect and almost reverence for her as a
person. I knew from all the Sister Virginia stories I have heard during the
years, that she was an excellent teacher and mentor to so many young people. Just last week, I saw her of all places in the hair coloring aisle at Target so I decided not to bother her but now I wish I had.

This weekend, the church begins the first Sunday of Advent and we will hear in Mark’s Gospel Jesus saying to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. No doubt
Sister Virginia was welcomed last night into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the King.

It’s no coincidence that she passed from this life to eternal life on the feast of the Presentation Of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a reflection written by Paul Pennick taken from “Living Faith” a daily Catholic devotional, I found yesterday’s Gospel from St. Luke 21:2 very comforting in light of this tragic situation. It’s about Jesus noticing a poor widow putting in two small coins.

The writer goes to say, “The story of the widow and today’s feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary seem somehow related. Here is a poor woman probably alone in the world reaching into her purse for her last two coins. She gave everything, her all to God. And God notices this.

St. Jerome and St. James write that Mary distinguished herself by her piety and her devotion to her studies and service. It is, then no surprise that this exemplary Jewish woman would be chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. When Mary was asked to assume this honor, she of course said, yes. Like the poor widow, Mary, trusted in God and gave her all to him.”

Like the poor widow, Sr. Virginia trusted in God and gave her all to Him. Sister followed in Mary’s example of giving her all to God through her service of teaching and being a wonderful role model of her Catholic faith, to her students at St. Joe’s High School for so many decades. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

My own sister, Susie was at St. Anne’s Parish this weekend and saw Sr. Virginia in the assembly at the 10:15 am Mass.  It’s comforting to know that the last Sunday Gospel Sr. Virginia heard proclaimed was taken from Matthew 25: “Come, you have my Father’s blessing. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.”

May she rest in peace and dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Last but certainly not least, please also keep Jenny and her entire family in your thoughts And prayers during this most difficult and challenging time in the days and weeks ahead.

God bless you all. St. Joe’s has and will always remain such a special part of my life. We are all part of that great big family, the Body of Christ and so feel so connected whether it be in joy or in sorrow.

Love,

Theresa

Class of 77

Homily Notes on Christ the King and the New Roman Missal

Fr. Bob shares his homily notes from Sunday, November 20, which was the Solemnity of Christ the King. He also gives us some background on the upcoming changes in our Liturgy, which reflect the New Roman Missal. He speaks of the criteria that was used when bringing this new translation to fullfillment.

Homily Notes from November 20 by Fr. Bob Weighner

Christ the King.  End of the liturgical year.  Ancient times – the King would always go last in the procession.  Like when the Bishop was  here.  Or like King David – dancing before the Ark.   Protocol – befitting the royal dignity.   King – last in the liturgical year.  Think of the procession of the liturgical year:   the purple robes of Advent, the White robes of Christmas, first Green of OT in Spring, then again purple and white for Lent and Easter.
Then Green of OT.  Now and then – robes of RED – Palm Sunday, Pentecost.  And at
the end, as our year closes, the glorious King – in white.

Jesus – INTRINSICALLY a King.   King of King and Lord of Lords – glory and honor and power.  He is a GOOD KING – Scripture speaks of him as a SHEPHERD – goes in search of, seeks out the lost.  And power – at the end, he will separate his followers from those who do not honor him.

This last Sunday liturgical year, eve of Advent, is different.  After 40 years, there is a NEW TRANSLATION of the Roman Missal = the prayer book of the Mass.  A new translation of the Latin Missal that was approved at Vatican II.  Not ‘going back’ as some have said.

SOME HISTORY:

Translation of Latin done with some haste.  Not sufficiently faithful to the text.  Some detrimental elements reflecting the cultural prejudice of the English language (especially USA)

2 groups:  ICEL – International Commission on English in the Liturgy (founded 1963) – composed of all English speaking Congregations (US, England, Australia, South Africa, Philippines, etc.) to work on the new translation.   Vox clara – ‘clear voice’ (founded 2001).  A Committee of senior Bishops from around the English-speaking world (vox clara groups exist for 4 different languages – English, Spanish, French, German) was established in 2001 to give advice to the Congregation for Divine Worship and ICEL regarding matters of liturgical translations of Latin liturgical texts into the English language, and to strengthen effective cooperation with the Conferences of Bishops in this
regard.  English ‘vox clara’ commission headed by Cardinal Pell of Australia.  Overall, translation elaborated since 1961.  New translation finally approved by
bishops, Vatican.

Translators – huge task.  What were they looking for?
Basically, 3 things.

First – an elegant, courtly language.  Fits – the Solemnity of Christ the King .  New translation restores the courtliness, elegance of the original text.  Latin prayers go back many centuries.  Authors knew they addressed a king – of the universe.  Not the language of the street or casual chatting with friends.

How would you speak to a dignitary – president or bishop.  Won’t use slang.  “Dude, check it!”.  That’s no way to talk to a king, a president, a dignitary!

Liturgical language is like that of the court.  Fit for a king.

USA – always a ‘business language’.  Even more, in the late 60’s – speech became even more direct, unadorned, honest, blunt.   Compare Dialogue in movies from 30s or 40s as compared to 70s and 80s.  Or listen to Fulton Sheen vs. how we preach today.   We developed a prejudice against  fussy or ornamental speech.  This “cultural prejudice” – also influenced the Church, translations.  Critics of the first translation said it “flattened out” the language of the liturgy.

E.G. – Let’s look at OPENING PRAYER from Monday first week of Advent – contrast them:

CURRENT: ‘Lord our God, help us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son. May he find us waiting, eager in joyful prayer.  We ask this….    Short sentences, direct.

New translation – ‘Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God, as we await the advent of Christ your Son, so he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise.  Who lives and reigns…

More formal language.  Reflects the rhythm and style of the Latin.  More PRECISE, more ACTIVE.

Second – a greater theological density to the new translations.   Prejudice then that an overly theological language would turn people off.  Make it less accessible.   Another
example:

Post communion prayer, 30th Sunday OT.
CURRENT:  “Lord bring to perfection within us the communion we share in
this sacrament.  May our celebration have an effect in our lives.”

New translation (remember, these are translated from the same Latin text).  “May your sacraments, O Lord, we pray, perfect in us what lies within them, that what we now celebrate in signs we may one day possess in truth.”   Same Latin?  Seemingly not even a vague relation.   First – short, blunt – like an instruction manual.  ‘have an effect in our
lives’.    What KIND of effect?  An “effect”.  Cold term.    2nd version – theologically dense – ‘may your sacraments perfect in us what lies in them’  = speaks of a sacramental grace that lies in the sacraments.   THAT’S the effect we’re praying for.   ‘What we now celebrate in signs we may one day possess in truth’.    Beautiful, rich.

3rd quality – more poetic and scriptural. Conscious decision earlier translators – to ‘trim’ the imagery we find in the Bible, make it ‘practical’.  But, Psalms, prophets –
richly imaged.  Metaphor,  poetry.

EG – 1st Sunday Advent, opening prayer.

CURRENT version: “All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good, that Christ might find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the
kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns…”  What we’ve prayed the last 40
years.

New version – more true to the original:  “Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ… “    Almost comical how different.  Courtly – language of petition.  Really, so much has been missing…

Another change you’ll note ‘and with your Spirit’.   Unique to English speaking countries.  Not just addressing the priest, but the Holy Spirit that came upon him at ordination, allows him to function as ‘alter Christus’, another Christ.   Roughly = ‘and also with the Holy Spirit, that enables and empowers you to act in the person of Christ’.

Unleashing some of the power and imagery and beauty of the Latin text that we’ve been missing in the past years.

So – keep in mind as we work through the new translations:

1)  Courtly language – befitting a King

2)  Theologically richer language – truer to the original prayers

3)  Poetic language with rich images – truer to the Scripture
 

St. Anne Catholic Church
9091 Prairie Ridge Blvd.
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
(262) 942-8300 or (262) 331-0906

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