St. Joseph Ridge Parish W2601 State Road 33 La Crosse, WI 54601 608-788-1646

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time January 24, 2016 Rev. Timothy Welles – Pastor & Member of the Mariological Society of America PHONE (608) 788-1646 * Father Tim’s Cell (920) 471-8240 WEB SITE: www.saintjosephridgeparish.com E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday, 4:00 PM; Sunday, 8:30 AM Please feel free to submit pictures of church to [email protected]. Thank you.

“Thank You for listening to MY words….” Today we learn about the power of words. This is really incredible: As I was looking through my college textbooks from years ago, I read about the studies of Social Workers; and they tell us the right words at the right time can either heal us; or if taken to the extreme; words can actually make us ill! For the greater part of the 1960’s and 1970’s my favorite comedian was George Carlin. He was banned from the public airwaves—both TV and radio—for his comedy routine of the “Seven dirty words you cannot say on television.” And I cannot use those in this bulletin or in Church either! Some people need to learn that certain words just cannot be said anywhere and at any time they like. I used to work at a pizza crust manufacturing plant in Green Bay and the language used there for factory work was more than “colorful” —even though were & are laws about appropriate language in the workplace. One co-worker got himself into trouble with management with his inappropriate language—and more than once—he found himself getting 3 days off without pay for his behavior. Even when I go back to Green Bay from time to time for a Packers game it seems that people use words that you least expect at times—it might even sound like “military” language with perhaps the “mouth of a sailor” to describe the language I write as “@#$%!” Even in young children we need to discipline them when the wrong words come out—not to hurt them or harm them—but to let them know that people can be offended by their words. Some priests even like to take MY words and use them for THEIR words in their homilies! (the little thieves!) Some words we use in foreign countries can be quite funny—depending upon how we use them. Try explaining a “hot dog”—the food!—to a foreigner; and they will take it literally to mean we are eating a hot dog—a warm canine! When my German Teacher asked for “Coffee Cake” in Germany; that’s what he got! The German waitress misunderstood and literally gave him “coffee poured on cake!” Even the singing group “The Police”; a group that is known for their “atheist” lyrics; sang a song about words entitled “DA DO DO DO; DA DA DA DA; is all I want to say to you!” back in 1980. You may recall some of the lyrics: “Poets, Priests, and Politicians; all have words to thank you for their positions; Words that scream for your submission, and no one’s jamming their transmission. Because when their eloquence escapes you, their logic ties you up and fakes you….” In the readings today we hear the words of the 10 commandments. But unfortunately, throughout the ages, no one seems to listen to the words of God! Through the centuries, it seems nothing changes! People just cannot accept the words of God! One thing in common: we all hear the same words. Why then do most people reject God’s words? Even the best of philosophers cannot answer this question! Jesus comes back to His hometown of Nazareth—remember how no true prophet is accepted in his own hometown—and proclaims the scroll from the prophet Isaiah that “He is the fulfillment of all scripture!” Our faith comes from listening to Him! No one is jamming the transmission of the words of God on us, we do a good job of that all by ourselves by twisting God’s words our way. We all have a tendency to twist the words of God around—especially the 10 commandments—to our own accord and satisfaction. What is the result? Mostly, the lost sanctity of all human life! Recall with me on January 22, 1973, when some “wise men” on the US Supreme Court decided through “their words” that “a mother can legally kill her unborn child through the sin of abortion”— and abortion was made legal in all 50 states. Last Friday was the anniversary of this “Roe Vs. Wade” legalized madness; and every year on this date in Washington DC is the “right to life” march; usually from the Washington Monument to the US Supreme Court building. We pray that our young people represented us and all the unborn well—to show our country that this law needs to be overturned to protect the rights of all—from conception to natural death. I ask you that you earnestly seek the mercy of God on this nation and on all who commit these crimes against the most weak and vulnerable of us all—the unborn. I urge you to go in front of the Blessed Sacrament and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the most Holy Rosary and ask—rather, “beg” —Jesus and Mary for their love and mercy upon us, this nation, and the whole world! Rev. Timothy J. Welles/Pastor

St. Joseph Ridge Parish

St. Peters, Middle Ridge Sat. 8:00 PM & Sun. 10:00 AM Wed. & Fri. - 8:00 AM

MASS TIMES

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, Jan. 23, 4:00 PM Sunday, Jan. 24, 8:30 AM Tuesday, Jan. 26, 8:30 AM Thursday, Jan. 28, 8:30 AM Saturday, Jan. 30, 4:00 PM Sunday, Jan. 31, 8:30 AM

Our Parish Family St. Mary, Coon Valley +Donald Weber +Robert Clements Sat. 4:00 PM & Sun. 8:30 AM +Charles Stellick Wed. & Fri. 8:30 AM +Clarence Meyers +Edward & Julianna Lusk; Otto & Dorothy Hayes; Agnes Wehrenberg & Arnold Pederson LITURGICAL MINISTERS

Saturday, January 30, 4:00 PM Servers: Becca Amundson & Volunteer Ushers: Larry Mikshowsky & Rick Mikshowsky Reader: Bill Weber Communion Minister: Evie Mikshowsky

Sunday, January 31, 8:30 AM Servers: Ethan & Grace Hundt Ushers: La Verne Clements & Bill Patterson Reader: Donna Clements Communion Minister: Stan Clements

LAST WEEK’S STEWARDSHIP: Adult Envelopes, $1,177.00; Offertory, $165.00; Initial offering, $2.00; Solemnity of Mary, 10.00. CONGRATULATIONS! WE DID IT! BUT PLEASE DON’T STOP GIVING!!! THE DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL TARGET IS $15,890.00: As of 1/23/2016 we have $17,435.00 pledged fr om 78 families. That is $1,545.00 over target. Any pledges now come r ight back to the par ish. So if you intended on pledging an amount please still do and the money will come back to us!! RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Regular schedule - Wednesday, January 27, 2016. Grade 1 - 5 from 5:45 to 7:00 PM and Grades 6 - 10 from 7:15 to 8:30 PM. UPCOMING MEETINGS PCCW MEETING: Monday, Febr uar y 15, 2016 at 7:00 PM in the school hall. PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING: Thur sday, Febr uar y 18, 2016 at 7:00 PM in the school hall. ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ar e in the back of chur ch this weekend. Any not picked up this weekend will be put in the mail on Monday the 25th. Please take yours home today! CCHD - Next week’s collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) needs your help. CCHD was founded to break the cycle of poverty in the United States by funding organizations that help individuals help themselves. With a tradition of improving education, housing situations, and community economic development, CCHD continues to make a positive impact in communities nationwide. Your contribution will defend human dignity and reach out to those living on the margins. Please give to the CCHD Collection. Envelopes for this collection are attached to today’s bulletin but more may be found in the back of church. BABY BOTTLES FOR BIRTHRIGHT! The annual fund-raiser for Birthright of La Crosse is here. On January 24 and 31, 2016, baby bottles will be available to take home and fill with spare change (or more.) Birthright is an international volunteer organization, with a La Crosse chapter since 1976, available to those with an unintended pregnancy to provide love, information, a gentle listening space and referrals as well as emotional and material support where needed. Your donations are a cooperative effort to achieve this mission. Please take a bottle home, read the insert and return the bottle, full or empty, on February 14th or 21st, 2016. Thank you. Important: Fund-raiser bottles are not safe for infant feeding. AQUINAS FOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION! All ar e invited to the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas Founder s Day Mass on Thursday, January 28th, 2016 at 9:30 AM in the Reinhart Gym at Aquinas High School. You are also invited to the Founders’ Day Dinner which is Sunday, January 31st at the Radisson Hotel Ballroom. Social begins at 5:00 PM. More information and invitations can be found in the back of church. PRAYER CHAIN - It is time to do an update of our pr ayer chain list. If you ar e inter ested in being a par t of our pr ayer chain group or wish to make a change, please contact the office at 608-788-1646. Please make sure you are fairly easy to contact since some of our prayers are time sensitive. Thank you.

VFW PANCAKE BREAKFAST On Sunday, J anuar y 24th the VFW has a pancake breakfast from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon for $6.00. Included in the breakfast is all you care to eat pancakes and sausages, coffee and orange juice. VFW Post 1530, 630 6th St South, La Crosse, WI 54601. 608-785-1530.

CONFESSIONS - every Saturday from 3:30 to 3:50 PM or by appointment.

ALERT J anuar y is National Slaver y and Human Tr afficking Awareness month. Women, men and children in the U.S. and around the world are subjected to forced labor, domestic servitude and the sex trade at the hands of human traffickers. U.S. Catholic Sisters are working together to end this crime. Learn more about it at sistersagainsttrafficking.org. Ending Slavery is everyone’s work.

BAPTISM! If you wish to have your child baptized, please contact Father Tim at the numbers on the front of the bulletin.

FIRST SATURDAYS FOR PEACE. Please join us in observing First Saturdays as Our Lady requested at Fatima in order to obtain peace for the world. On Saturday, February 6, 2016, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father Jacinto M. Chapin, F.I., will give a presentation on one of the mysteries of the Rosary. His talk will begin at 11:15 a.m. in the Shrine Church, the Holy Rosary will follow at 11:45 a.m. and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 12:15 p.m. Confession will be available from 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and also following the 12:15 p.m. Mass. WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Couples who make Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends not only rediscover the joy, intimacy & romance in their relationships, but also become more active in their parish. Together, we are making marriages, families and our Church stronger & healthier. Jesus came into the world to bring the good news, to proclaim liberty, give the recovery of sight, and free the oppressed. Are you letting Him proclaim the good news to you in your marriage? Strengthen, renew, and rekindle your marriage sacrament by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend on Feb. 12 – 14 in Ankeny IA and May 13 – 15 in Dubuque IA. Early registration is highly recommended. For more information visit our website at: www.iowa-wwme.org or call 563-927-4352. ST. ANTHONY’S RETREAT CENTER: Evening for Lovers Feb. 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m. We’ve planned a great date night for married couples. Sign up today for our Evening for Lovers. We’ll gather to share a scrumptious meal and reflect on a topic design to strengthen and nourish our marriages. Presented by Deacon Bryan and Michele Hilts. Cost: $55 per couple. Contact St. Anthony’s at 715-443-2236, [email protected]. Go to www.sarcenter.com to find more information or to register for an upcoming event. FAT TUESDAY BRUNCH BUFFET, You ar e invited to join us for our Fat Tuesday Brunch Buffet on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 9 AM – 3 PM at the Culina Mariana Café at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. $14.99. For further information, call 608-788-8400, or: http://www.guadalupeshrine.org/visit/seasonal.

THE ROSARY is r ecited befor e the Satur day-evening Mass around 3:30 PM.

PRAYER INTENTIONS for the sick in our Par ish. Anyone who is ill and/or needs prayers is encouraged to call the rectory office at 608-788-1646 to have your name added to our weekend intentions. Your name will be announced at both Masses. Please also let Father Tim know if you would like communion brought to you. UPCOMING DATES: February 10, 2016 Ash Wednesday Mass at 6:30 PM Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 Sunday, April 3, 2016 PCCW Pancake Breakfast Saturday, April 16, 2016 First Communion Student Retreat Sunday, April 17, 2016 First Holy Communion Wednesday, April 20, 2016 Confirmation Wednesday, April 27, 2016 - 6:30 PM Closing Rel. Ed. Mass HAVE YOU MOVED OR PLAN ON MOVING?? Please remember to notify the parish office by phone, 608-788-1646 or by email, . Father Tim would like to visit the homebound, so please keep us notified. Also, if you would like visits from Father Tim, please give him a call and let him know. The rectory phone is 608-788-1646 and his cell phone is 920-471-8240. NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP) Lear n NFP at home and at your own pace with the Home Study Course from NFP international, www.nfpandmore.org. Includes Ecological Breastfeeding (it really can space babies), a double-check system of fertility awareness, and Catholic teaching that’s easy to understand. Work with a live instructor by email. Completion certificate. Only $70. We are listed at the U.S Bishops' website under NFP long distance learning: http:// www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural -family-planning/nfp-distance-learning.cfm DO YOU HAVE AN APPLE OR ANDROID SMART PHONE?? Don’t miss out on anything else!! Join MY PARISH APP to have our bulletin, prayers, daily readings and so much more at your fingertips. Just download My Parish App on your smart phone; text App to 88202 or visit myparishapp.com. After downloading, search for St. Joseph Ridge Parish. Please feel free to contact Stacy on her cell phone (608-769-8828) for help downloading this valuable tool. You won’t regret it. Do It Now!!