Mrs. McAleer's 5th grade students are working on their inquiry of an explorer of their choice. The 5th graders were trilled to use the new Chromebooks for their inquiries.
The Chromebooks can be checked-out by the classroom teacher. The Long Range Planning Committee is currently reviewing a technology plan for technology usage in our school. If you are interested in learning more about the technology in our school or making a donation to our technology fund please contact Mrs. Hernandez. MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY OF THE WEEK: join our prayer network. Members pray for requests received from parishioners and others. You pray at your convenience. To join or request prayers, contact John Kielich at jkielich@wi.rr.com or call 414 449-5094.
I received a message from James Anthony in Tanzania that the fifth well has been completed, this one in the village of Bendera-mbili. I quote from his e-mail: There are about 1500 people, the majority of whom are peasant farmers. In the past the villagers did not have access to clean potable water. They used to fetch water from unprotected shallow wells, which caused so much suffering due to the contamination of water. They have been frequently suffering from water borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera. A few days ago we completed the construction of this fifth new well and handed it over to the villagers. We are extremely happy for completing this well successfully. We are also very grateful for your generous support, which transforms the lives of our people! I thank you also: Pius Parishioners Always Come Through!! Last week our readings called us to be conscious of preparing ourselves for meeting Christ at the end of our lives. We do that by living as Christ did: taking care of those in need. If we live for others, then we will be at peace when Christ says, when I was hungry, you gave me to eat… Our readings this week add another dimension: when we live for others, when we are taking care of the needy, when we are patient and forgiving, we are giving an example that draws others to Christ: we become evangelizers, we become a voice crying in the wilderness, we make straight the crooked paths…in other words, we help others come to know Christ. I invite us to reflect that when we live Gospel values, we are not only preparing our way, but, like John the Baptist, we are preparing the way of the Lord so that others can find Him. I end by quoting a phrase from last Monday’s reflection in our Advent booklet: Never let me forget, I pray, that I may be the only Christ [others] see this season. -- Paul James Portland, SDS We focus on how we, like Mary are called to do great things. This will be Food Sunday—you are asked to bring food for those in need in our community.
It’s time again to be a holiday hero!
Please consider donating blood at Dick’s 18th Blood Drive, sponsored by Wauwatosa Catholic School, on Saturday, December 30th, from 8 AM to 1 PM, right here in the cafeteria at St. Pius. Blood supplies always run low over the holidays, but unfortunately the need never takes a holiday. You can make an appointment online by going to www.bcw.edu/Dicks18 or by calling Mary at 414-915-4147. As a thank you, a pancake and sausage breakfast will be served to all attempting donors and their guests.Thank you for your continued support. MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY of the week: participate in Card Sunday, Gift Sunday, Food Sunday, and Family Sunday, each one a different Sunday in Advent. See the Events page for more information>>
Thank you to all who participated in our recent “all-parish” meetings, both those who presented and those who attended. Participants seemed to find the meetings informative and helpful. This is arguably the busiest time of the year for many of us. For some quiet time, come to our chapel on the Friday mornings of Advent (December 8, 15, 22). The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from after the 8 am Mass until noon. Spend some quiet time with the Lord as we prepare to celebrate His birth! An Advent booklet with daily reflections from Pope Francis for adults and an Advent calendar for children have been handed out at Masses the last two weekends. If you do not have a copy yet, they are available at the parish office during the week and at Masses on the weekend. We know that Advent is about waiting. But, waiting for what? If we are focused on celebrating Christmas, we are in the past. If we are preparing to meet the Lord at the end of our lives, we are focused on the future. But if we are conscious of trying to meet Christ in the people and events of our daily lives, we are living in the present! Many of our Advent songs have the words, “Come, Lord Jesus.” May our focus this Advent be on meeting Christ in the people and events of our daily lives, bringing His love to all we meet, here and now! Have a blessed and prayerful Advent. -- Paul James Portland, SDS Tri-Parish Celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Thursday, December 7th at 7 PM | St. Pius X Parish Mass will also be held as usual at 8 AM on Friday, December 8th. Anointing of the Sick December 9 and 10 | St. Pius X Parish All those who wish, are invited to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at any of the masses on the weekend of December 9th/10th. If you know of someone who would benefit from this sacrament, please invite them to worship with us that weekend. Communal Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation Sunday, December 10th at 6 PM | St. Pius X Parish Priests will be available for individual confession. Confessions are also heard from 4 - 4:30 pm every Saturday in the Reconciliation Room in the Chapel. You are reminded that contributions for calendar year 2017 must be received in the parish office by December 31, or in an envelope postmarked no later than December 31, 2017.
A check dated December 31 or earlier, but not in the parish’s possession or in a valid postmarked Envelope and received by the parish office on January 1 or later is a 2018 contribution. Thank you for your financial support of our Parish Mission! Gift Sunday is a long-standing (35+ years) tradition at St. Pius X. It offers the opportunity to give traditional gifts for individuals as well as to give ‘alternative gifts or items’*. Both help meet needs as expressed by the above programs. The organizations are all contacted, and the list is updated annually. The Gift Guide for individuals provides suggestions for ideas of items most needed including gift card suggestions.
PLEASE WRAP AND LABEL THE PACKAGE WITH THE ITEM / SIZE AND AGE GROUP (i.e. boy basketball 10 yrs – teen, 4T boy blue shirt and pants, woman’s Med black gloves, etc.) NOTE: Gift cards may be purchased in the back of church through St. Pius’ Scrip program, placed in an envelope and labeled. There will be a box for gift cards in front of the alter. Have the kids come shop at our
SECRET SANTA WORKSHOP Where they can do all of their holiday shopping! And maybe…even get to see SANTA! …bring your own camera! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2017 CAFETERIA – 9AM UNTIL 1PM $6.00 ADULTS $4.00 CHILDREN 5 – 13 YEARS FREE – UNDER 5 YEARS Sponsored by CLC MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY of the week: have your children participate in our Christmas pageant and/or support it with your time and talent. There are only two rehearsals and it is a wonderful experience for the children, one they will remember all their lives. Registration forms, which contain more information, can be picked up at the scrip table in the back of church or can be found on our website.
If you have not yet sent in your pledge card for next year, please do so. As of November 15 (when I am writing this), only 172 or 35% of our families have responded, pledging $278,194 of our goal of $425,000. Returned pledge cards are important to the budgeting process. Thank you. Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, which ends our Church year. What does it mean for Christ to be a King? Our first reading from the prophet Ezekiel helps us understand Christ as King: he is the Good Shepherd. Over and over we hear “I myself”: I MYSELF will tend my sheep, I MYSELF will look after my sheep, I MYSELF will pasture my sheep, I MYSELF will give them rest… Our King has a personal interest in us, He walks with us. Our Gospels tells us CLEARLY what response He wants from us: I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink… He tells us “all the nations” will be gathered at the end of time. There is no question about what denomination we belonged to, our religious practices: ALL THE NATIONS will be there, each and every person. The only question is how we treated those who were in need. It is as clear as can be, supported by Christ’s own actions and example. As we end this Church year and prepare to begin another with the first Sunday of Advent, I invite us to reflect on these two questions: am I more generous to those in need with my time, talent, and treasure as I end this Church year than I was at the beginning? How can I grow more generous in the year that will begin? And let us support each other with prayer and example. -- Paul James Portland, SDS MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY of the week: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (or CGS) is a religious formation process that invites the child into a prepared environment, called an Atrium, to encounter God in a deeply personal way. The hands-on approach, along with a deep respect for the child's own relationship with God, fulfills the child's needs to "help me to know God myself." The adult catechist, formed in the Montessori and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd methodologies becomes a co-listener to God with the child and while the adult presents the presentations, they connect the child with the materials used in the presentation and then get out of the way to allow God to do the work within the child. This fruitful process will be slowly implemented in our parish starting with our youngest members (3 & 4 year olds) next year and eventually serve as the religious formation for our children ages 12 and under. There are various ways to support this ministry (prayer, becoming a catechist, helping build objects for the atrium, etc.). To find out more about this ministry contact Samantha El-Azem, our Director of Formation for Children, at elazems@christkingparish.org.
I have received a thank you note from Father Diego for our Sister Parish collection which was sent recently. They will use the money to buy materials for a catechetical center in Viucalitz, one of their outstations that is growing and hosting more formation activities. I thank all of you who contributed. PACT!! Upon the recommendation of our Task Force on Formation and Discipleship, we will be distributing two aids to prayer for the season of Advent. For adults it will be In the Light of Hope, daily reflections by Pope Francis. For children there is an Advent calendar with activities, etc., for each day. Both will be distributed after Mass the weekends of November 25/26 and December 2/3. Advent begins on December 3. Hopefully, these resources will help us enter more fully into the Advent season. Last week I signed the lease with Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School to start their new school in our building. Beginning in July, 2018, they will lease the first floor of the school. Either one or two years later, they will lease the entire school building. The income from this lease will enable us to attend to some long overdue building maintenance. I thank Dean Weyer, our Director of Administrative Services, for all his hard work in bringing about this joint venture. Please remember to turn in your pledge card and be as generous as possible. We need increased support from parishioners to be able to cover our ongoing ministerial expenses. Thank you. In the 25th chapter of Matthew from which our Gospels are taken these last Sundays of the Church year, Jesus moves from the wise and foolish virgins to the rich man who gives five talents to one servant, two to another, and one to a third. The first two double the talents given them, the third one buries the talent. The rich man was not concerned about the money but rather the attitudes of his servants. The two who earned money had learned from him and emulated his practices. The third servant recognized how his master did business but did not follow his example. The point for us is this: Jesus has given each of us time, talent, and treasure. He has modeled for us in His life how we should live and use the gifts that have been given to us. It doesn’t matter how much or how little we have been given: we are called to use what we have been given as Jesus has modeled for us. If we do that, we will be ready when the Master returns, as were the five wise virgins in our Gospel last week. Let us pray for each other, asking God in these last weeks of the Church year to help us grow in in our ability to share generously. -- Paul James Portland, SDS Head to Cathedral Square and find the WCS World Peace Tree. Here’s a picture to give you a clue of what to look for. When you find it, post a photo on social media and tag it #WCSworldpeacetree17
If you plan on attending the Wauwatosa Village Holiday Tree Lighting, look out for some of our very own Tosa Catholic elves who will be handing out coupons for discounted December skate nights! Tuesday, November 28
10 AM Mass followed by entertainment: Accordionist Roger Boll Luncheon Menu: stuffed chicken breast—potatoes salads, rolls. coffee, desert Come and bring a friend RSVP Sue Langel ~ 445-6266 November 19th Mass with Class
Mass 6 PM Fr. Paul Portland At the 6 PM Mass “Rite of Commitment” Juniors. Juniors Confirmation Candidate and Sponsor night 7 – 8:30 PM Freshmen and Sophomores in small groups. Have a Very Blessed Thanksgiving! Remember to Thank God above all! December 3rd Mass with Class Mass 6 PM Fr. Phillip Bogacki Class 7 – 8:30 All Grades Meet in Small groups! December 10th Summer Outreach Mission Trip at 7:00 PM St. Pius X in the Cafe – enter at the Gym doors! Trip is June 10 – 15th to Mishawaka IN. Catholic Heart Work Camp. Scholarship money available. We are called to be Jesus’ Disciples! December 17th Mass 6 PM at St. BERNARD (PLEASE note: New location for this night) 7 – 8:30 PM at St. BERNARD Special Eucharistic Adoration Night with Praise and Worship Music led by Ben Wagner. Questions Call Barb Abler 414-322-0298 or blerb@archmil.org December 3rd, 2017—11:30am-1:30PM | North Hall, Christ King Parish
Bring your family for an afternoon of ADVENTure as we explore what this special season of preparation has in store for each and every one of us. There will even be a hot chocolate bar to enjoy! Come right at the beginning so you do not miss out on any of our exciting ADVENT activities. Admission: A plate of cookies! RSVP Here: https://goo.gl/forms/NxofckdjXybv46wg1 |