Happy Mothers’ Day to all the women of our parish! May the Lord richly bless all of you! In his Apostolic Letter On the Dignity and Vocation of Women (15 August 1988) John Paul II wrote: “The Church gives thanks for each and every woman; for mothers, for sisters, for wives; for women consecrated to God in virginity; for women who watch over the human person in the family, which is the fundamental sign of the human community; for women who work professionally and who at times are burdened by a great social responsibility; for all the women as they have come forth from the heart of God in all the beauty and richness of their femininity and as they have been embraced by His eternal love” (31).

At 11:00 am on Thursday, May 25, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated within Mass at Saint Peter. In the Letter of James we read of this sacrament: “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them” (5:14-15). The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived” (1514). What is more, “the faithful who receive this sacrament can receive it several times if their illness becomes worse or another serious sickness afflicts them” (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 316). In the Roman rite the priest anoints with the Oil of the Infirm the sick person’s forehead and hands saying: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up” (Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum, 124). Immediately following the Mass a lunch will be served in Kolbe Hall. Please make your reservation now by calling the parish office.

Preparations for our parish picnic of June 10 and 11 are in full swing! By the hard work and dedication of every one of our parishioners we can make this another successful event. Do your part to publicize the picnic and sell those raffle tickets!

We are fortunate that Bishop Listecki is assigning one of our seminarians to live and work at Saint Peter’s this summer. Philip Kosloski, a member of Saint Wenceslaus in Milladore, will be moving into our rectory on May 25. Phil is just completing his first year of college at the Saint John Vianney Seminary on the campus of the University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota (the same college seminary from which I graduated!). He is no stranger to our parish as he was a faithful member of our Dead Theologians Society (DTS) and often participated in weekday Masses during vacation periods. Please be warm in your welcome of Phil. Pray for him and all the young men studying to be priests for our Diocese of La Crosse!

Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

The celebrations culminating Holy Week – the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday night through Evening Prayer of Easter Sunday – are known as the sacred Easter Triduum. “Christ redeemed us all and gave perfect glory to God principally through His Paschal Mystery: dying He destroyed our death and rising He restored our life. Therefore, the Easter Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord is the culmination of the entire liturgical year . . . These days are . . . of utmost importance in the spiritual and pastoral life of the Church” (Caeremoniale Episcoporum, 295-296).

With the Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (7:00 pm), the Church “devotes herself to the remembrance of the Last Supper. At this Supper on the night before He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus, loving those who were His own in the world even to the end, offered His Body and Blood to the Father under the appearances of bread and wine, gave them to the Apostles to eat and drink, then enjoined the Apostles and their successors in the Priesthood to offer them in turn . . . This Mass is, first of all, the memorial of the institution of the Eucharist . . . (It) is also the memorial of the institution of the Priesthood, by which Christ’s mission and sacrifice are perpetuated in the world. In addition, this Mass is the memorial of that love by which the Lord loved us even to death” (Caeremoniale Episcoporum, 297). Immediately following this Mass until Midnight, we have the opportunity to be with the Lord present in the Most Holy Eucharist. It was after the Last Supper that Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He extends that same invitation to us! Let us not have the Lord say to us as He said to the Apostles: “So you could not stay awake with me for even an hour?” (Matthew 26:40). 11:45 PM Night Prayer concludes the time of adoration.

At the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (12:10 pm & 2:15 pm), “the Church meditates on the Passion of her Lord and Spouse, adores the cross, commemorates her origin from the side of Christ asleep on the cross, and intercedes for the salvation of the whole world” (Paschales Solemnitatis, 58). Good Friday is a day of penance for Catholics: abstaining from eating meat for those 14 years of age and older, and fasting (one full meal and two smaller meals) for those who are 18 but not yet 59.

On Holy Saturday, we have the Blessing of Food for the First Meal of Easter (1:00 pm). “This custom arose from the discipline of fasting throughout Lent and the special Easter fast during the Easter Triduum. Easter was the first day when meat, eggs, and other foods could again be eaten” (Book of Blessings, 1701). The Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday (8:00 pm), “according to a most ancient tradition . . . (is) ‘one of vigil for the Lord’ (see Exodus 12:42), and the vigil celebrated during it, to commemorate that holy night when the Lord rose from the dead, is regarded as the ‘mother of all holy vigils’ (Augustine of Hippo, Sermo 219). For in that night the Church keeps vigil, waiting for the Resurrection of the Lord, and celebrates the Sacraments of Christian Initiation” (Paschales Solemnitatis, 77).

“The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and hope, and through Baptism and Confirmation we are inserted into the Paschal Mystery of Christ, dying, buried, and raised with Him, and with Him we shall also reign”(Paschales Solemnitatis, 80). The Masses of Easter Sunday (6:30, 8:00 & 10:00 am)are celebrated with great solemnity.

This week marks the first full week of our Lenten observance. We join our Catholic brothers and sisters around the world in the ancient penitential discipline of the Church by abstaining from meat on the Fridays of Lent for those 14 years of age and older, and by fasting (one full meal, two smaller meals) on Good Friday for those who are 18 but not yet 59. Receiving the Sacrament of Penance is an essential component of our preparation for Easter. Numerous opportunities to celebrate the Lord’s merciful love are available this Lent: Wednesday through Saturday 7:30-7:45 am; Monday through Friday 4:45-5:00 pm; Wednesday 7:45-8:45 pm; Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 pm; and Sunday 7:00 -7:45pm. More frequent reception of Holy Communion is another means of spiritual renewal. You are invited to participate in the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered weekdays (Monday through Saturday 8:00 am and Monday through Friday at 5:15 pm), and to participate more fully, actively and consciously in our observance of the Lord’s Day (Saturday 4:00 pm; Sunday 8:00 am and 10:00 am). Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent afford us the opportunity to spend time with the Lord present in the Most Holy Eucharist. On Wednesdays of Lent the Blessed Sacrament is exposed following the 5:15 pm Mass until 8:45 pm. At 7:00pm, we pray the Stations of the Cross and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Exposition concludes with Night Prayer at 8:45 PM. On Fridays of Lent the Blessed Sacrament is exposed following the 8:00 am Mass until 5:00 pm. At 12:10 pm we pray the Stations of the Cross after which a soup lunch is served in Kolbe Hall. Exposition concludes with the Litany of the Sacred Heart and Benediction at 5:00 pm. Each week of Lent, we dedicate the period of Exposition to prayer for a special intention. The prayer intention for the First Week of Lent is God’s blessings on our parish – our family of families – and for a strengthening of family life and marriage, especially at Saint Peter’s. Please, remember that intention in your personal and family prayer as well.

It has become customary for the Pope to issue a brief message at the beginning of Lent. Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, in his Message for Lent 2006 reminds us that “Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards Him Who is the fount of mercy. It is a pilgrimage in which He Himself accompanies us through the desert of our poverty, sustaining us on our way towards the intense joy of Easter. Even in the ‘valley of darkness’ of which the Psalmist speaks (Psalm 23:4), while the tempter prompts us to despair or to place a vain hope in the work of our own hands, God is there to guard us and sustain us.” The particular theme that the Pope chose for his Lenten mediation is taken from Matthew 9:36: “Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity.” Benedict XVI writes: “Even now, the compassionate ‘gaze’ of Christ continues to fall upon individuals and peoples. He watches them, knowing that the divine ‘plan’ includes their call to salvation. Jesus knows the perils that put this plan at risk, and He is moved with pity for the crowds. He chooses to defend them from the wolves even at the cost of His own life. The gaze of Jesus embraces individuals and multitudes, and He brings them all before the Father, offering Himself as a sacrifice of expiation.” This Monday, March 6, we begin a series of presentations exploring the “gaze of Christ,” as Pope Benedict puts it. These sessions (7:00-8:00 pm) are independent of one another, so you are welcome to attend any or all of them. To facilitate your participation, childcare is provided. I am leading the first session that will explore just who this Jesus is who casts His gaze upon us.

Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. In the Collect (Opening Prayer) for this Mass we pray: “Lord, you give us Christ, the King of all creation. Open our hearts, free all the world to rejoice in His peace, to glory in His justice, to live in His love.” This great feast, one of the principal celebrations of our year in Christ, marks the last Sunday of the Church year. As our national day of giving thanks occurs this week as well, let us approach the Lord with hearts filled with gratitude for the blessings of the past year. “What return can I make to the Lord for all that He gives to me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord” (Psalm 115:12-13).

Over the past several weeks, I have highlighted the spiritual importance the Church attaches to our praying for the faithful departed. Praying for the dead is one of the seven spiritual works of mercy and should be part of our daily spiritual routine. Already in the times of the Old Testament there is clear evidence of the practice of praying for the dead among the Jews (2 Maccabees 12:40-45). From the very beginnings of the Church, there is ample attestation of prayers for the dead in the pious inscriptions found at the tombs of the Christian dead. For example, in the catacombs of Priscilla in Rome, Italy, we find this Latin inscription at the burial place of a man named Agape: “I beg you, brothers, to pray when you come here and beg the Father and the Son in all your prayers, that they may save for eternity Agape” (ICUR IX, 25962b). In the same cemetery, we read a Greek inscription at the tomb of a fellow named Epictetus: “In the name of eternal hope, you who read (this), remember Epictetus!” (ICUR IX, 26034). Thus, as it was for our ancestors in the faith, visits to the graves or tombs of our beloved dead to pray for their eternal rest should be a regular part of our Christian life. In addition, to bury the dead is one of the seven corporal works of mercy. Whether you personally knew the person or not, I encourage you to pray for and bury the dead by your participation in the funeral rites of the Church – the Vigil for the Deceased (the wake), the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal at the grave or mausoleum. Requiescant in pace. May they rest in peace.

Next Sunday—the First Sunday of Advent – begins a new Church year. Watch your mail for a letter from me about this holy season at Saint Peter’s and our spiritual preparation for the birth of the Savior. Please take special note of a three-part series on prayer that I will be leading. These sessions are on Monday evenings (November 28, December 5 and 19) from 6:30-8:00 pm. In addition to the presentation by me, there will be time for discussion and your questions, plus the opportunity to actually pray together. Some of the matters to be addressed include: “What is prayer?” “Why should I pray?” “How do I pray?” “What are the different kinds of prayer?” “How can I be consistent in my prayer life?” “How do I handle distractions?” “How do I carve time out of my day to pray?” The content of this series should be beneficial for beginners as well as those well advanced along the path of prayer.

Saint Peter, pray for us!

From the very beginnings of the Church, it was customary for the faithful to donate the bread and wine to be used in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. In time, offerings of money were substituted for the actual bread and wine. Money given in excess of what was necessary for the procuring of the bread and wine was used to assist the poor and, eventually, to support the clergy. Thus, it became customary for the priest to accept from the faithful a donation (formerly called a “stipend”) in return for remembering a specific intention in the celebration of a . Through this voluntary offering, the donor seeks spiritual benefits that God may bestow upon the persons or concerns that are specially held in prayer at the Mass. What is more, the Code of Canon Law (canon 946) notes that the donor himself benefits: “Christ’s faithful who make an offering so that Mass can be celebrated for their intention, contribute to the good of the Church, and by that offering they share in the Church’s concern for the support of its ministers and its activities.”

According to the Council of Trent (1545-1563), the Mass “is quite properly offered according to apostolic tradition not only for the sins, punishments, satisfactions and other needs of the faithful who are living, but also for those who have died in Christ but are not yet fully purified” (Session XXII, Chapter 2). In his Pastoral Letter on the Christian Burial of the Dead (2 November 2000), then-Bishop Raymond Burke emphasized the latter: “The age-old custom of making an offering so that Mass may be celebrated for the eternal rest of the deceased is to be commended . . . (Indeed) there is no more effective means to express our love and provide spiritual help for those who have died than to have the Mass offered for the eternal repose of their souls” (9-10). The deep faith and ardent charity of the parishioners of Saint Peter manifests itself in the numerous Mass offerings you donate to the parish, especially for your beloved dead. This abundance creates something of a problem insofar as your requests for Mass intentions far exceed the number of Masses offered at Saint Peter’s. In order to encourage the orderly flourishing of this pious practice in our parish, please keep the following in mind:

1. Universal Church discipline as contained in the Code of Canon Law (canons 945-958) strictly regulates the offerings made for the celebration of Mass.

2. As your Pastor, I am “obliged to apply a Mass for the people (pro populo) entrusted to (me) on each Sunday and holy day of obligation” (Code of Canon Law, 534). Take consolation in the fact that every weekend and holy day of obligation a Mass is offered for all of you who are parish members of Saint Peter.

3. The suggested amount of the Mass offering, as determined by the Bishops of Wisconsin, is ten dollars ($10.00). These monies are deposited in a separate account of our parish called the Mass Offering Account. Note that no one is denied the celebration of a Mass for a particular intention based on inability to make an offering.

4. Offerings for Masses that cannot be celebrated at Saint Peter’s within one year must be forwarded to the Mission Office of our Diocese. Thus, priests in the missions who lack Mass offerings (see Code of Canon Law 953, 956) will offer these Masses.

5. Tharcy Glodowski is our staff member who does an outstanding job processing all your Mass intention requests. You may contact her at the parish office.

6. The scheduling of Mass intentions at Saint Peter is on a first come, first served, basis.

7. Mass intentions may be requested up to twelve months in advance.

8. Each parishioner may request a maximum of three Mass intentions to be celebrated at Saint Peter’s in a twelve-month period. Only one of these may be for a weekend Mass.

9. It is not always possible to accommodate your request for a specific date or time at a parish Mass. In that case, with your approval, Tharcy may forward the intention to Fathers Worzalla or Sakowski in order to meet your request in a timely fashion.

Saint Peter, pray for us!

Solemnity of Christ the King- Father Kevin Louis’s Bulletin Column – November 26, 2006

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Last Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Just what does it mean for us to worship Christ as King of the Universe?  The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer for the Mass of Christ the King speaks of Jesus being anointed, an ancient gesture mentioned in II Samuel – there referring to David as king of Israel (5:13) – a gesture whereby someone is consecrated before God and the community as priest, prophet or king.  The Preface tells us Jesus is anointed as “eternal priest” by offering “His life on the altar of the cross.”  The Book of Revelation speaks of this priestly sacrifice of Christ – He who “loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father” (1:5-6).

The Preface also tells us Jesus is anointed as “universal king” insofar as “He claims dominion over all creation.”  Indeed, the prophet Daniel speaks of the “Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven . . . (the one who) received dominion, glory and kingship . . . (the one whom) nations and peoples of every language serve” (7:13-14).  The Collect (Opening Prayer) of today’s Mass speaks of Christ’s Kingship being manifested by His breaking “the power of evil” and making “all things new.”  Jesus exercises this kingly power in our lives by the forgiveness of sins and re-creation that is ours through the Sacrament of Baptism.

The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer further specifies that Jesus has dominion over all creation so that upon His return He may present to the Father “an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”  Therefore, we acknowledge Christ as King and cooperate with Him in bringing about the Kingdom when we live by the Gospel (cf. Prayer after Communion) – when we practice the truth (cf. John 18:37) and respect life, when we cultivate a life of prayer and good works, when we work for justice and peace informed by the virtue of charity.  In this way, then, we on earth are united with those in heaven in acclaiming God’s glory (cf. Collect).  With our celebration of Christ the King we pray that our praise and worship of God may never cease until His Kingdom is fully made manifest upon the glorious return of the Son, Christ our King.

Pope Benedict XVI makes a pastoral visit to Turkey from November 28 through December 1.  The Knights of Columbus are encouraging their membership to spiritually accompany our Holy Father before and during this historic pilgrimage.  I exhort you to offer daily this prayer composed for the occasion by Bishop William Lori, Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus: “Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, we humbly ask that you sustain, inspire, and protect your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, as he goes on pilgrimage to Turkey – a land to which Saint Paul brought the Gospel of your Son; a land where once the Mother of your Son, the Seat of Wisdom, dwelt; a land where faith in your Son’s true divinity was definitively professed.  Bless our Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of truth and love to all people of faith and good will dwelling in this land so rich in history.  In the power of the Holy Spirit, may this visit of the Holy Father bring about deeper ties of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and those who profess Islam.  May the prayers and events of these historic days greatly contribute both to greater accord among those who worship you, the living and true God, and also to peace in our world so often torn apart by war and sectarian violence.  We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims.  Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love.  We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.”

Fr. Louis Bulletin Letter – November 5, 2006 – Upcoming Elections, Marriage Amendment

Congratulations to our parishioners who received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Thank you to Phil Lawson and Jim Traynor who have worked diligently with those preparing for Confirmation. Thanks, too, to all those who assisted with the liturgy and the reception. “All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence” (Rite of Confirmation, 42). May the Lord renew in each one of us the graces of Confirmation!

This weekend we are happy to officially welcome to Saint Peter Haesi Fanizius, our new Director of Sacred Music and Organist. Please consider becoming a partner with him in this fresh start of sacred music at Saint Peter. Haesi will meet with current and prospective choir members, cantors, instrumentalists and any interested parties in the choir loft at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 7. Please be generous in offering your talents!

Bishop Listecki has written an important letter to all the faithful of our Diocese. Please take the time to carefully consider what our Bishop says with regard to two referenda placed before us citizens of Wisconsin this Tuesday. Bishop Listecki, in union with the other Catholic Bishops of our State, urges us to vote “YES” on the proposed amendment to the State Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. He also recommends that we vote “NO” on the advisory referendum to restore the death penalty. Our diocesan website www.dioceseoflacrosse.com has links to accurate information to assist you in the formation of your conscience and political judgment according to our faith – especially in what pertains to the natural moral order established by God in creation.

Out-of-state special interest groups have been pouring large amounts of money into Wisconsin hoping to make our State the first one to fail to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Early on their slick media campaign claimed that there would be dreadful consequences to all sorts of people if this amendment passed. Their most recent ads are now claiming that nothing will change if the amendment passes! Hmmm. That should be a tip-off right there that these people are up to no good and are not telling the truth!

If anyone has any doubt about how important it is to vote “YES” to amending our State Constitution to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman, just look at what happened last week in New Jersey. On October 25 that state’s Supreme Court ruled that the New Jersey legislature had to rewrite its laws within 180 days to make marriage (or something equivalent to marriage) available to homosexuals. In light of this development, an official within our State government rightly noted that “this is exactly why we’re doing the constitutional amendment because we have activist judges on our Supreme Court like Massachusetts and New Jersey have activist judges on theirs. If we do not succeed with amending our state constitution with a ‘YES’ vote on November 7, we are very likely to end up with a ruling like Massachusetts or New Jersey in the next few years” (as reported in the October 25 online edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). For the facts, please consult the enclosed Frequently Asked Questions sheet produced by “Vote Yes for Marriage,” a group dedicated exclusively to passing Wisconsin’s Marriage Protection Amendment.

Please pray for Bishop Listecki and all the active priests in our Diocese who are meeting in Tomah November 9-10. The Bishop has called the priests together so that he might present to us the initial draft of the pastoral plan for the entire Diocese. This comprehensive plan was developed to establish a more equitable distribution of the clergy in order to meet the spiritual needs of the faithful of our Diocese. This meeting and discussion is only the first step of the process of consultation before the plan is finalized.

Fr. Louis Bulletin Letter – October 29, 2006 – Wisconsin’s Marriage Amendment Issue

The Catholic Bishops of our State have asked us to affirm Wisconsin’s 153-year commitment to human life by voting “NO” on the upcoming advisory referendum to restore the death penalty. Also, they urge us to vote “YES” on a proposed amendment to the State Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Consult this bulletin and our diocesan website www.dioceseoflacrosse.com

for accurate information to assist you in the formation of your conscience and political judgment according to our faith – especially in what pertains to the natural moral order established by God in creation.

The irrational attacks on the Catholic Church in our State of Wisconsinhave stepped up in recent weeks. The media widely reported that a self-proclaimed “watchdog group working for clean government and real democracy” – the so-called “Wisconsin Democracy Campaign” – that opposes the proposed marriage amendment, accused the Diocese of Madison of failing to disclose its attempts to influence the November vote on this amendment. This group demanded that our State Elections Board take action against the Diocese for failing to register its activities in supporting the marriage amendment. They cited a flier prepared by the Diocese and distributed at Saint Maria Goretti Parish in Madison. In a media release of October 18 the Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Madison answered this complaint by emphasizing these facts: (1) “The Church does not play partisan politics. The Church does not support individual candidates or parties. This does not mean that when important issues (often very emotional issues) arise, the Church will remain quiet while the truths of the dignity of the human person and of Christ are being threatened. The Church and Her members have a moral responsibility to engage the culture and political world in which we live; (2) The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign has complained to the Elections Board over the appropriateness of a brochure the Diocese of Madison created for and distributed directly to is parishioners; (3) Relevant to this complaint, there are state reporting requirements; (4) There is an important exception to these requirements. These requirements do not apply when the Church communicates only with Her members. In a Catholic setting, an item in a diocesan or parish mailing that goes only to Catholics would be exempt, as should be materials distributed at Catholic activities in Catholic venues.”

The Bishop of Madison, Robert C. Morlino, stated the following regarding the complaint lodged by the so-called Wisconsin Democracy Campaign: “Saint John the Baptist laid down his life to protect the marriage bond. Throughout the history of the Catholic Church the Popes, the successors of Saint Peter, have similarly defended the marriage bond specifically, even up to the present in the case of Pope Benedict XVI. It is my responsibility and obligation to maintain that communion. When, in parish settings or other Catholic contexts, I insist upon the truth of what reason and faith teach us about marriage, I am maintaining that communion. To claim that I must pay a fee and report to the state about my teaching activities in Catholic venues blatantly violates the rights of myself and my sister and brother Catholics to the free exercise of religion. To have my teaching about marriage in Catholic venues called ‘electioneering,’ so as to seek the imposition of penalties from the State, seems an attempt to intimidate the Catholic Church as we try to teach the truth in an admittedly volatile atmosphere. Such persecution would surely be inappropriate. I wish only to protect the truth about marriage and to proclaim that there is no right to redefine marriage. I stand against denying anyone’s basic human rights, and as we move ahead in the future, I will do everything to support authentic human rights for all people. The right to redefine marriage is not one of those authentic human rights. I pray that the Lord will give our citizenry wisdom to act prudently and truthfully with regard to the marriage referendum.”

Congratulations and thank you to Bishop Morlino and the Diocese of Madison for their swift and definitive response to this thinly-veiled attempt to bully the Catholic Church into silence. As Bishop Morlino rightly points out, not only was this “complaint” evidently an attempt at intimidation of the Church, but also a persecution as it sought to impose penalties on us for our free exercise of religion. It is rather ironic that a group committed to “clean government and real democracy” should promote the violation of a right guaranteed by the First Amendment of our United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”! It is a principle also enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948): “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.” One final note – is it not rather strange that this watchdog group did not register a similar complaint with regard to the Bishop’s stance on the death penalty?

Strengthen Your Brethren, Fr. Louis Bulletin Letter – October 22, 2006

Thank you to John Krupka and the committee that organized last weekend’s “For Pete’s Sake Fun Night” at Michelle’s Restaurant. And what a fun night it was! As your Pastor, I always enjoy those opportunities to spend time with you in a relaxing and informal atmosphere. With regard to all the games and raffles that night, I can report that my luck has not changed since being named your Pastor. I did not win a thing!

Speaking of being named your Pastor, it is hard to believe that this past week (October 18) marked the first anniversary of my installation by Bishop Listecki. With gratitude I recall that Mass in which so many of you participated offering your prayerful support and encouragement. During his homily that night the Bishop revealed that he almost did not send me to Saint Peter as he contemplated keeping me on his staff in La Crosse where he had assigned me from April through June 2005. I sure am glad he did send me to you! The Lord through Bishop Listecki has entrusted you to me. Relying above all on God’s grace and also on your prayers, your generosity and cooperation in our common mission, your patience with my foibles, and your forgiveness for my faults, I seek to do that which the Bishop exhorted me during the installation Mass: “Always be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do.” Let us pray for one another!

Please remember in prayer the young people of our parish preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation to be celebrated by Bishop Listecki at 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 29. All of you are most warmly welcomed and encouraged to attend this special Mass. The ones to be confirmed (confirmandi) have been readying themselves to receive that strengthening of the Holy Spirit by prayer, study, and the exercise of charity. Last weekend several women of our parish led a retreat for the girls at the Lions’ Camp. On Saturday night Phil Lawson and I spent several hours with them. During Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament I heard their Confessions and then celebrated the Mass. After Mass and the veneration of a relic of the twelve-year-old virgin and martyr, Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902), the girls convinced Phil and me to stay and play a round of charades with them! This weekend the boys are on retreat. We’ll see what they have in store after the Saturday Mass!

I am happy (and relieved!) to welcome Mr. Haesi Fanizius as our new Director of Sacred Music and Organist effective November 1. Haesi (pronounced hay-zee) comes to us from Waterford, Wisconsin, with an incredibly rich and varied career in church music. He began as a student and assistant organist in Laufen-Leipzig, Germany, in 1946. Since 1956 Haesi has served in Illinois and Wisconsin at a number of Catholic parishes as well as several Lutheran and Episcopal congregations. Given the historical ethnic heritage of Saint Peter, he will feel right at home insofar as he formerly served as Organist and Choirmaster at Polish parishes in Chicago and Milwaukee! In fact, at Saint Casmir in Milwaukee Haesi directed the choir for their Sunday Mass in Polish! His background includes playing the organ, harpsichord, and piano, directing choirs (for both adults and children), and teaching music at a parochial school, besides composing music for voice and handbells. Into many of the congregations he has served Hasesi has introduced handbells. In the last decade in the Milwaukee area he founded and developed a chamber orchestra of high school students to perform classical sacred works. Haesi has been a member of national organizations of organists in both the United States and Canada. He is of Egyptian descent and is a Coptic Orthodox Christian. Haesi is very knowledgeable about music in the Divine Liturgy and has incredible energy and infectious enthusiasm. Please consider becoming a partner with him in this fresh start of sacred music at Saint Peter. Haesi will meet with current and prospective choir members, cantors, and any interested parties in the choir loft at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 7. Please give him a warm welcome!

The Catholic Bishops of our State have asked us to affirm Wisconsin’s 153-year commitment to human life by voting “NO” on the upcoming advisory referendum to restore the death penalty. Also, they urge us to vote “YES” on a proposed amendment to the State Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Watch this bulletin each week for accurate information to assist you in the formation of your conscience and political judgment according to our faith – especially in what pertains to the natural moral order established by God in creation.

Strengthen Your Brethren, Catholic Voting – October 15, 2006

As a little boy I loved to accompany my dad on errands outside the home. Sometimes that meant a trip within the city of Marshfield, other times a jaunt into the countryside, still other occasions a journey to another city. It did not matter where we were going or what the task was. I was with dad and that was what counted. It was always an adventure for me, going into the world with dad. There are many fun and interesting things I remember from those ventures. One of the stranger details that got seared into my memory was the rather common vision of mounds of garbage that people had dumped along the roads, cascading down the embankments and hills. And I recall my bewilderment at why anyone would ever do such a thing. It seemed such a terrible contrast, the beautiful lush green Wisconsin countryside frequently gashed by the ugly, rusting, rotting trash. As a little boy I also remember the often-run television ads and the special programs in school exhorting us not to pollute. This was something important, and I got the message. Throughout the intervening years, enjoying the incomparable Wisconsin outdoors, I have been filled with wonder at the remarkable progress we made in this area. The sight of such piles of rubbish truly has become a rarity. I often think of the fact that we had the will, the resolve, to accomplish this. If by such firm conviction and determination we were able achieve so much with regard to the environment, what about other matters, matters of more weighty consequence?

Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. Beyond the stories and images – the reality – of violence, war, and hatred that bombard us daily in the news, who has not been shaken in recent weeks by 15-year-old Eric Hainstock murdering his principal, John Klang, in the tiny high school in Cazenovia? Or Charles Roberts slaughtering the little Pennsylvania Amish girls Naomi, Marian, Mary Liz, Lena, and Anna Mae? Yet, should such horrors really catch us completely by surprise? This is the culture that we have created, a culture of death on an unprecedented scale – the murder every year in the womb of millions of our most innocent and defenseless fellow citizens, the propagation of hatred and violence in the name of God on a global scale, the extermination under the guise of mercy of the infirm and aged and handicapped, the abject and inhuman material and spiritual poverty in which so many of our brothers and sisters live, the proposal of violence as the default response to problems and disputes at every level of human interaction. Although it may be tempting to do so, not one of us can so easily absolve himself of his responsibility for bringing about this state of affairs. Do we – do I – have the will to change this culture from one of death to that of life? Do we – do I – have the resolve to transform this civilization into one of love? Do we – do I – have the courage and conviction to promote and live the profound truth about the human person?

As always, this November affords us the opportunity to fulfill an important aspect of our civic responsibility by casting our ballots on several issues and for various candidates for public office. Through our vote we Catholics can – and must – contribute to the transformation of society through the promotion of an authentic understanding of the human person and the family, a respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the most defenseless. Two issues of grave importance will appear on the Wisconsin ballot this year: (1) a proposed amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman; and (2) an advisory referendum on the restoration of the death penalty. There is a lot of misinformation and plain old lies being peddled by various interest groups with regard to these issues. Do not be fooled! In order to help you to inform your conscience and political judgment according to our faith – especially in what pertains to the natural moral order established by God in creation – please carefully consult this bulletin in the coming weeks and watch for the special inserts provided for us by our Bishops of Wisconsin.