Click image to download PDF of flyer.

COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKS!

 

Learn about “Circles of Support”: A neighbor-to-neighbor inmate re-integration Support program.

Learn about one way to make a difference and grow a stronger, safer community.

 Learn how “Circles of Support” offers a former inmate a pathway back  to the life they intended to build.

INFORMATIONAL ORIENTATION SESSION

Saturday, June 23, 2012; 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 426 Washington Street, Wausau 54401

 Main Presenter at Forum: Barbara Huning, “Circles of Support” Coordinator with AMOS, La Crosse, WI

 Enjoy refreshments and learn information about this transformational program and how it works. It’s a way to change lives for the better, while helping the community become stronger, safer, and healthier.

“I want you and the rest of the Circle to know that you are the best thing that has happened to me. I believe that if more lost people had support groups to push them in the right direction, a lot of things would be different for a lot of people.”

Circles of Support Core Member (former inmate)

“Circles of Support” is a program of The Restorative Justice Task Force of AMOS (Advocating, Mobilizing, & Organizing in Solidarity).  The Wausau area Treatment Instead of Prison task force (TIP) of NAOMI (North central Area congregations Organized to Make an Impact) is working to learn about “Circles of Support” as a strategy to support individuals released from prison as they reenter life in our communities, and to empower people as they work together to build a more just and healthy society.

For more info call coordinator Mark Timken (715) 803-0323 or e-mail him.

 

Click link to download PDF of study guide. ————————-> Study Guide

Link to Dynamic Catholic website. ———————-> Dynamic Catholic

Join us in standing up for our Religious Freedom!

On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. This mandate is not “just about birth control” but requires coverage for abortion causing drugs, like Plan B and ella. The exemption given to “religious employers” was so narrow that does not cover most faith-based organizations—including Catholic hospitals, universities, and charities—that help millions every year. Ironically, not even Jesus and his disciples would have qualified for the exemption, because it excludes those who mainly serve people of another faith.

 

What about the administration’s “accommodation?”

1. HHS has promised some kind of “accommodation,” but only after the election.

HHS said it would take an additional year to develop more regulations to “accommodate” religiously-affiliated charities, schools, and hospitals that still fall outside the “religious employer” exemption. The effect of these additional rules will not be felt until after the 2012 election, the time when the public is able to hold the Executive Branch accountable for its policies. This will remove an important incentive for HHS to provide the best protection for religious liberty .

 

2. The promised “accommodation”—even at its best—would still force our institutions to violate their beliefs.

Under the proposed “accommodation,” if an employee of these religious institutions wants coverage of abortion causing drugs or contraception directly from the insurer, the objecting employer is still forced to pay for it as a part of the employer’s insurance plan. Since there is no other source, the funds to pay for that coverage must come from the premiums of the employer and fellow employees, even those who object in conscience.

 

3. There is no exemption for objecting insurers, secular employers, for-profit religious employers, or individuals.

The U.S. bishops defend religious liberty for ALL. This is not only an issue of religious rights for religious employers; it involves the religious freedom of any employer or insurer who objects to providing coverage demanded by the mandate. Now, all insurers, including self-insurers, must provide the coverage to any employee who wants it. And only employers that are both non-profit and religious may qualify for the limited “accommodation.”

 

What can parishioners do?

 

1. Most importantly, fast and pray.

Pray that God will give our elected officials wise counsel and guidance in this matter.

 

2. Contact your elected officials by e-mail, phone, or FAX letter to support the Respect for Concience Act (House H.R. 1179, Senate S. 1467).

 

• Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121.
• Send your email to Congress through www.usccb.org/conscience or directly to your Congress person.
• Sample letters are given on the back of this sheet
• These letters are also posted under “HHS Mandate” on the Gospel of Life web page under the Outreach Commission tab of the parish web site

 

When?

Now is the time to build co-sponsors and support. Please act today!

 

House of Representatives (H.R. 1179):

 

Representative Sean Duffy cosponsored H.R. 1179 on 10/4/11. It is still important that he hear your support for this bill:

 

Honorable Sean Duffy
1208 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(855) 585-4251 (toll-free)
Fax: (202) 225-3240
email: duffy.house.gov/contact-me

 

Dear Mr. Duffy,

 

Thank you for co-sponsoring the Respect for Rights Conscience Act (H.R. 1179). The Obama administration’s decision to mandate coverage of sterilization and contraceptives, including drugs that can cause an abortion, makes passage of this measure especially urgent. Please ensure that the religious liberty and conscience rights of all participants in our nation’s health care system are respected.

 

Senate (S. 1467)

 

Neither Senator Ron Johnson nor Senator Herb Kohl has cosponsored the Senate bill.

 

Honorable Ron Johnson	Honorable Herb Kohl
386 Russell Senate Office Building	330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510	Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5323	(800) 247-5645 (toll-free)
Fax:  202-224-2725	Fax: (202) 224-9787
Email: ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact	Email: senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov

 

Dear Senator (Johnson or Kohl),

 

Please co-sponsor and support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (S. 1467). The Obama administration’s decision to mandate coverage of sterilization and contraceptives, including drugs that can cause an abortion, makes passage of this measure especially urgent. Please ensure that the religious liberty and conscience rights of all participants in our nation’s health care system are respected.

The Baby Bottle Campaign supports the life-saving mission of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center of Wausau. HOPE gives support to women and men with unplanned pregnancies. It provides pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, as well as truthful information about pregnancy, adoption, abortion and parenting.

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Monday, March 5

Tuesday, March 6

Wednesday, March 7

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Morning Session from 9:30-10:30 a.m. with social hour until 11:30 a.m.
Evening Session from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with social hour until 8:30 p.m.

Sessions Themes and Scripture

Monday, March 5: Call to follow Jesus–John 1
Tuesday, March 6: Knowing, Loving and Abiding in Jesus–John 10:11-18; 15:1-17
Wednesday, March 7: Seeking and Finding Jesus–John 6:1-14, 51-58; 20:1-18

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 Sister Mary Margaret Pazdan, OP, is Emerita Professor of Biblical Studies at Aquinas Institute of Theology (St. Louis, Missouri). She teaches Biblical Courses on the Master’s level as well as Doctoral Students in Preaching. As a biblical scholar her interest and passion are inviting disciples to savor scripture as a lifeline for education and formation. As a preacher, her studying, praying, and living in dialogue with others create a living Word of blessing and challenge. Sister Mary Margaret enjoys giving days of prayer, retreats and parish renewal days.

 

 As a preacher, her studying, praying, and living in dialogue with others create a living Word of blessing and challenge.

Click image to download flyer. Just print, fill it out, and leave the bottom portion in one of the Egg Roll baskets near the church entrances!

Growing in Our Appreciation for the Mass

Our parish will be running a fascinating 5-part series on the Mass, entitled, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass. In this study, you will come to know and understand the Mass like never before. You will discover the rich meanings behind why we say what we say and do during the Liturgy. The words and gestures of the Mass will be seen in a new light, leading you to a richer, more fruitful worship experience.

Dates and Times:

• Held on Wednesdays
• Choose between two schedules:

1. 1. 9:30 AM –10:45 AM
2. 2. 6:15 PM-7:30 PM

Month	Date	Session
October	19	Introduction/#1
November	9	Session #2
November	30	Session #3
January	11	Session #4
January	25	Session #5
February	8	Session #6

 Location:

• St. Anne’s South Gathering Space

 Registration:

• Come as you are!!
• Registration will be at the door, no pre-registration required
• $20 participant packets will be available for purchase

For More Information:

• Contact Barb Ceranski in the Parish Office
  • 715-849-3930 x305
  • barbc@stanneswausau.org
• Sign up for email alerts for each of the sessions!!
• To learn more about the sessions go to: guidetothemass.com

Bibliography and Resources for Theme 2011-12

 Theme  : Do This In Memory of Me – Living the  Eucharist

 

Articles and Catholic Updates – Parish Library

• C0705 Finding Jesus in the Eucharist: Four Ways He is Present
• C0495  First Communion Joining the Family Table
• C1094  Follow the Way of Love
• CU 0987  How All of Us Celebrate the Mass
• CU 0882  How to Participate More Actively in the Mass
• CU 0887  Lay Catholics Today: We’ve Arrived’
• C0996  Real Presence in the Eucharist
• C1092  Seeing Family Life as Holy, Warts and All
• C0602  Disciplines of Successful Catholics
• CU0586 Seven Ways to Enrich Faith-Life in your Home
• CU810 Changing How we Pray
• C0311  The Roman Missal – Embracing the New Translation

 

 

CD/DVD – Parish Library

Becoming the Eucharist We Celebrate  by Fr. Dan Crosby, Cap., S.T.L.

Living the Eucharist by Paulist Evangelization (Parish Starter Kit – 7 DVD’s Small group packet, bulletin inserts, prayer cards, brochure etc.)

Do This In Memory of Me: Living the Eucharist Convocation and Outline by Fr. John Parr

 

Websites

USCCB:  www.usccb.org/catecheticalsunday/

Center for Ministry Development:   www.cmdnet.org/

RTJ’s Creative Catechist:  www.rtjscreativecatechist.com/

Paulist Evangelization Ministries www.livingtheeucharist.org

Do This In Memory of Me: Living the Eucharist Convocation by Fr. John Parr     (YouTube) www.stanneswausau.org/administration/convocation/2011-2

 

Resource Books – Parish library

• The Conspiracy of Compassion by Joseph Nassal

Summary of themes from the book: We can discern how the Spirit of God breathing within us gives us the courage to change from self-centered ways into a growing respect for the needs of others.  It is because of God’s memory that we can be compassionate.  It is in seeing our own brokenness that we can see the brokenness of others.  … a desire to come together to share our experience, honest dialogue and listening to one another’s stories.  Our service to one another is based on our ability to remember.  The challenge of ever Eucharist is to go forth as people who remember, to break the bread of friendship with an ever widening circle.  We are challenged to be the real presence of Christ in the world.

• Eucharist –Celebrating it’s rhythms in our lives by Paul Bernier

Summary of themes from the book: The Eucharist is gathering, storytelling, prophetic, nurturing and missionary which rhythm together to captures who we are and gives us the strength to live the Eucharist more fully. Eucharist gives us power to transform our everyday lives.

• Making the Eucharist Matter by Frank Andersen,M.S.C.

Summary of themes from the book: Eucharist allows us to embody Jesus and his values, to embrace the compassion he showed to all.  Eucharist is how we are church.  Eucharist is quality of insight gained through ritual.  It is our living that we celebrate in Eucharist.

• Community, Eucharist and Spirituality by Kenan Osborne

Summary of themes from the book: Interplay of speaker and hearer, can one hear the news as good?  Intersection of culture – local issues and meaning.  Jesus the Light, the church itself is lunar and must reflect Jesus.  Word and Eucharist must be united and lived more fully.  By our life we preach the gospel, and in the lives of others we hear the gospel.  Have a sacramental world view to love one another.

• Life on the Vine Cultivating the  fruits of the Spirit  by Philip Kenneson

Summary of themes from the book: Love is always a gift not earned.  God’s love is stead fast regardless of our response.  God’s love is a suffering love, in the very fabric of love, to suffer for and with others. God’s love knows no bounds. The defining feature of God’s love is its “other directedness”.  We are called out of ourselves to live a life of concern for the well-being of others.  We cannot love other people without paying attention to them.   We need to realize that the community is the body of Christ to receive each other as gifts. How much time do we devote to the needs and concerns of others?  To see “our stuff” more as resources for furthering God’s Reign.  To give without expectation of a return.

• The Cup of our Life by Joyce Rupp
• THE MASS is Never Ended: Rediscovering Our Mission to Transform the World by Gregory F. Augustine Pierce
• Hearts Afire by Jesuit Father J-Glenn Murray

 

 

JIF Theme Contact Info

 

Melanie GuckenbergSecretary	608-797-9993	melaniedeeg@yahoo.com
Sarah KeeneFacilitator	715-212-2568	keenesc@kellyservices.com
Jenny Murphy	715-838-9190	jennymurphy.25@gmail.com
Fr.Steve	715-849-3930 Ext. 302	frsteve@stanneswausau.org
Barb Ceranski	715-849-3930 Ext. 305	barbc@stanneswausau.org

 

The vision for this liturgical year is to continue to foster intergenerational faith development, in which all members of our St. Anne’s community can take part and become involved. This vision starts with a strong theme; a theme that can be intertwined into all aspects of our lives. Whether as parent, sibling, son or daughter, neighbor, employee, boss, etc., how can we live the Eucharist? Answering this question is the key when developing the path we are going to take. How are we going to ensure that the theme is always in the forefront and tied to activities or events?

 

As you continue to plan the liturgical year, we ask that you keep some basic questions in mind:

• Remember…Every committee/council is a JIF committee/council
• How can we interweave the theme into all that we do? Ask yourselves, does this plan reinforce the theme?
• As we move forward, how will we include all ages in our activities?
• How are we growing as a greater community?
• Are we continuing to use the theme imagery throughout the year; i.e. logo, basket, song?

 

Theme Imagery

 

The Logo:

 

• Please use the logo on all correspondence or materials shared with the St. Anne’s community.
• The logo will have a continuous place on the bulletin and website, but we ask that it be incorporated throughout Commissions and Ministries to create continuity and branding.

 

The Song: #808 – “Let us be Bread”

• The song will be used at various times throughout the year during liturgy, but perhaps it could be used at other times. For instance:
  • To kick off a monthly meeting
  • During the opening of Sunday’s Faith Formation classes.
  • Opening song during an event or gathering

 

The Scripture Story: Matthew 14: 13-20

 

 The Theme Symbol:   Basket

 

• The basket symbolizes God’s abundant love and provision for us if we recognize what we have to give.
• Below are the ideas that we developed when brainstorming why  “Basket” should be the physical symbol of this year’s theme:

• “Do This in Memory of Me – Living the Eucharist” What are you going put in your basket so that you can bring abundance to the community and parish.
• Loaves and Fishes and God’s abundance, the boy brought and God multiplied.  What do we bring to God?  What will we do knowing that God will bless us abundantly?
• Baskets are woven together; we as a community are woven together as a family.  We are united.  When one strand or part of the basket is broken the other parts support the weak. 
• We already use baskets to bring our gifts to the altar.  What other gifts can we bring in our baskets to mass and for the Lord in gratitude?
• Bread baskets at dinner tables, baskets of fruit, and gift baskets all provide nourishment and nurturing.
• Similar to the blessing cup, families can have a basket where they write what gifts/ spiritual sacrifices that they provided Jesus that day.
• Children know about baskets and can relate to the boy who brought the loaves and fishes.  Easter baskets are a symbol that is already tangible to the young and this year we can build on that symbol.
• Be the light to the world.  We are not to hide our light under a bushel basket.
• The symbol is not strictly Catholic and could be used for ministries outside of the parish like NAOMI as requested by the parish council.
• Baskets are not obvious as a symbol of Eucharist and will require discussion.

 

Additional Event or Activity Ideas:

• You are not being asked to reinvent the wheel. How can the theme be incorporated and infused into what is already happening?

• Use the ideas that developed during the convocation breakout sessions as a basis for events or activities.
• Examples of events/activities:
  • “Weave a Basket” – The Theme team would ask the community to help weave the community basket. Every time an individual or group performs an act with the Theme in mind, we document the activity or event on a strip of paper and then weave it into the basket. The goal would to create an entire basket with the aid of all community members. A physical symbol that would represent our journey in faith together.
  • Thermometer to Measure Volunteers: parishes are now starting to measure their growing number of volunteers with a thermometer, much like organizations do to measure monetary donations. How could St. Anne’s use baskets to measure volunteer growth?
  • Basket of Giving: during the Advent season, ask the kids in Faith Formation to write down something that they did to help others or for the betterment of the community. Challenge them to do something each week.
  • “How did you fill your basket today?” Stewardship can ask people to look beyond monetary contributions, but ask that we give of our life and time. Encourage to fill their basket and give back in new ways.
  • Polka Fest: How can we blend the theme into the largest of St. Anne’s events? Charge a food donation for general admission? Or receive a raffle ticket when you bring in a food or clothing donation.