Phil’s Notes & Tidbits

Where can you find 4 religious sisters, 3 religious communities, 4 priests-including our diocesan vocation director, Irish ceili dancing, snow football, presentations on Saint Francis and Saint Claire, the Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, skits, all-night adoration, confessions being heard till 1:15AM in the morning, Mass, and a host of amazing young adult Catholics?   All were part of last weekend’s John Paul II Young Adult Discernment Retreat.  44 people were part of this retreat, now in its 9^th year.  

To give you a sense of the faithfulness of these young people, confessions began about 9PM on Saturday evening and didn’t end till 1:15AM. (Don’t worry, the priests truly enjoyed working with the young adults, even for such a long duration!)  Similarly, we had no difficulty filling all the time slots for all-night Eucharistic adoration.   It is always such an inspiration to be around so many amazing young people! 

The retreatants came from St. Peter’s of course, but others came from as far away as Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and La Crosse.   As far as I know, this is the only retreat of its kind in Wisconsin.  It is a beautiful gift to get this large a group of faith-filled young adults (ages 18-39) together to strengthen each other, inspire each other, and ultimately ask the most important questions, i.e. “what does God want me to do with my life?” 

This retreat was first initiated as an opportunity for the St. Peter’s college-DTS group to go deeper in their faith and concretely as God to what vocation He is calling them. 

Some of the evaluation sheet comments: 

“I was reunited and convicted of my Catholic faith again. I believe I have the strength and courage to say yes to God’s will and say no to my own.”

“…it was BEAUTIFUL being around people my age asking God about vocations.”

“I am encouraged by how many young folks are discerning their call.”      

“Please keep having these retreats!”

Please keep these young adults in your prayers—from retreats like this will come our future priests, future religious, and the future adult pillars of our parishes.    

God bless you!

Phil Lawson

Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

Phil’s Notes & Tidbits

“Now it springs forth…”

This phrase from the Book of Isaiah in today’s first reading is a good description of what has been flowing forth from St. Peter’s these past few years!  One way of measuring a parish’s relative “success” is the fruits that spring forth from it.  

One of the great blessings of working with young adults is seeing where God calls them.   Amazingly, 3 of our former college-DTS members are now religious education directors at their parishes.  In addition a fourth is volunteering for young adult offerings at her parish.   Phil Kosloski now directs all the religious education and evangelizataion efforts at Saints Peter & Paul Parish in Wisconsin Rapids.  Nick Landwehr is now the Director of Religious Education & Evangelization at St. Lawrence Parish in Wisconsin Rapids.  And Melissa Riese is the religious education coordinator and Youth Minister for 3 parishes in the Cashton area.   Finally, Natalie Elskamp is working on young adult events for her parish in Iowa.   I don’t know that you’ll find another parish in the diocese with that kind of results!  

St. Peter’s was blessed to both use their talents during those college years and in having the privilege of helping to form them in the careers they now work at.   A few years ago I was part of a conversation where my colleagues were lamenting the number of young people who were entering into parish work such as this.  We haven’t had that problem here!

On Wednesday, Feb. 8^th, we hosted the Vocation Night for Women with Sr. Mary David, FSGM and our own Sr. Michelle SSJ-TOF.  What a blessing it was!  We divided the evening into 2 sections, starting with pizza and conversation and with the sisters at 530PM.  25 young ladies showed up for this part!   The second half was a more formal presentation by the sisters on their vocations and both listening and responding to God’s call. For this, we also brought over the religious education girls from Grades 3-9.  Some 43 young ladies attended this portion.  The girls loved it, being glued to every word the sisters were saying.  Sr. Mary David, before heading back to LaCrosse that night, said to me she’s happy to come any time and mentioned how impressed she was with the young women here! 

This weekend I am with young adults from our parish and throughout the diocese at the annual John Paul II Discernment Retreat.  As I’ve mentioned previously, this retreat has been very powerful in helping young adults hear and respond to God’s call, with (so far!) 3 seminarians, 3 religious sisters, 1 religious brother, and 4 marriages coming out of it over the past 7 years we’ve held the retreat.  Please keep this weekend’s participants in your prayers!

God bless you!

Phil Lawson

Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

“Giving and Giving of Ourselves”

I want to highlight the beautiful response of our parish to the Giving Trees undertaken this past Advent.  Did you know St. Peter’s provides a gift to every one of parishioners who is in assisted living, nursing homes, or homebound?   Furthermore, the parish gives a Christmas gift to every single resident of Portage County Nursing Home and the Stevens Point Health Care Center, regardless of whether they are parishioners. This adds up to a hefty total of 224 gift bags that were distributed.  The beauty of this effort, apart from the token of love it shows those who are unable to physically get to St. Peter’s, is the wide breadth of parishioners involved.    The Family Life Committee does much of the preparation and coordination.  Countless parishioners took the tags from the trees and brought in an abundance of gifts.  When it came time to coordinate and prepare all the gifts for delivery, it was the Family Life Committee, aided by our homeschool families, last year’s RCIA Class, and various other parishioners who did the work.  For the delivery of the gifts—a large undertaking in and of itself!—the College DTS group took care of the 2 nursing homes, our parish Eucharistic ministers to the homebound took many of the gifts to the people they regularly visit, and students from Pacelli delivered the rest during their Service Day.   Overall, what a beautiful gesture for a parish to come together and give a gift of love and unity this Christmas.  Thanks to all who helped!

The ultimate “gift” we can give to Jesus is of course our lives in service to Him, in whatever way He calls, i.e. marriage, religious life, priesthood, or single.  This Saturday, Jan. 7^th was the Annual “Called By Name” event for the diocese.  Every parish is asked to submit names of high school and young adult men and women who they think might be open to a religious vocation.  These individuals then receive a personal letter from Bishop Callahan inviting them to a Day of Reflection at the Diocese which features priests, religious, conversations, presentations and Mass with the Bishop.  St. Peter’s submitted a list of 38 high school and college students to the Diocese.  Now, obviously not all of them will be called to those vocations, but it speaks highly of the parish to have such a large number!  And it’s a credit to the individuals named that the parish thinks so well of them!  Continue to pray for and encourage these vocations!

God bless you!

Phil Lawson

Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

Phil’s Notes & Tidbits

                        “Does It make a Difference?”

          Sometimes we’re tempted to wonder if our efforts make a difference.            This is particularly true in our efforts to proclaim the Gospel of Life in the face of a culture that seems to continually find new ways to degrade it.   

            We are incredibly blessed to have the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Pro-Life Apostolate approved by Bishop Raymond Burke, present at St. Peter’s, especially through the work of our own Jennifer Dunnett.  The Servants do tremendous pro-life work through their prayers, teaching, sidewalk counseling, peaceful demonstrations, and presentations—which literally take place all over the world.   It was tremendous to see just how deeply the parish has embraced this group in the response, (both donations & purchases) made at the bake sale the weekend of Nov. 12th/13th—and the many, many positive comments made about their work.  

            St. Peter’s has a justly deserved reputation as being one of the strongest “pro-life” parishes.  Did you know the pro-life group at UWSP, the Pointers for Life, originated about 7 years ago from St. Peter’s DTS & college students? 

          As far as the difference these efforts can make:  This past spring during a 40 Days for Life Campaign (DFL), sidewalk counselors related the following:   A woman and her two-year-old stopped by 40 DFL in Milwaukee. She wanted to show sidewalk counselors her little boy, alive today due to pro-lifers’ sidewalk counseling efforts. The mother had gone to the clinic seeking an abortion and had encountered these witnesses to life.   In talking with them, she changed her mind.  No one knew about this save until that very moment; like so much of the work that we do, the fruits are sometimes not seen till much later, if at all!

            The fall 2011  40 Days for Life Campaign, which included a site in Wausau, just ended.  At least 508 lives were saved, that is women who went to the clinics seeking an abortion but had a change of heart due to the witness of these men and women.  Overall, an estimated 4500 babies have been saved through 40 Days for Life Campaigns around the country.  In fact, 19 abortion clinics have now closed down due to 40 Days for Life Campaigns.  And of course, the effort doesn’t stop with the conversion of heart.  These same witnesses to life are the first ones to offer support to the mother and baby.  I regularly get updates from their efforts in Madison, and I’m amazed at how quickly these pro-life witnesses are to open their own homes, share of their resources, even offers to adopt, whatever it takes to save a life.  What beautiful examples! 

            I mentioned our own Jennifer Dunnett, who is a member of the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I’d like to share one particular story.  Jennifer was praying at the abortion clinic in Madison when she encountered a young pregnant couple who didn’t feel they had any other options outside of an abortion.  Jennifer talked to them, loved them, and was able to direct them toward resources that could be of assistance.  That young couple chose to give life to their baby.  And Jennifer?  The couple invited her to the hospital where the birth took place.  See the picture of Jennifer holding Baby Zion.   Jennifer is currently working with them to bring their child to God in Baptism.   She indeed, made a difference, for without her, it’s likely Baby Zion…and countless others wouldn’t be here.   

          Monday, Dec. 12^th is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the Unborn. May She continue to intercede for all of us!

                        God bless you!

                        Phil Lawson

                        Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

Baby Zion & Jennifer

The Holy Name Society will meet for a Rosary at 7:35 AM and mass at 8:00 AM.  Following mass, the society will have an important meeting to discuss the future of the Holy Name Society at St. Peters.  Members, widows and spouses of members unable to attend, and anyone interested in joining are encouraged to attend.

One of the great joys of my position at St. Peter’s is witnessing and then celebrating our parishioners’ faith.  Last week I had the privilege of writing about our newest Leader of Prayer, Shirley Wanserski, and looking forward to our deacon candidate, Ray Heitzinger’s ordination date next year.   This week, with the start of the new school year, I want to highlight the amazing group of catechists St. Peter’s has produced.  

            The new REP Year began with Mass on Sept. 7^th celebrated by Fr. Joseph.  Following Mass, the students and parents got to meet their teachers and classes. 

            This year’s group of teachers includes, Mrs. Janine Worzella teaching Grade 1, now in her 2^nd year and has two of her own children in the program.  Mrs. Worzella is assisted by Miss Evelyn Frost who is a junior at SPASH.   Grade 2 is lead by Mrs. Eve Krueger, who is beginning her 15^th year preparing the children for 1^st Holy Communion and Reconciliation.  Mrs. Krueger is assisted by Miss Echo Terry who is a sophomore at SPASH.  Grade 3 is lead by Miss Christine Sommers and Miss Linnea Nordberg both 12^th grade homeschoolers.    Grade 4 is lead by Mrs. Theresa Belsha, in her 4^th year teaching, with 2 children in the SPACS system.  Mrs. Belsha is assisted by Miss Ashly Raether who is an 11^th grader at SPASH.  Grade 5 is lead by Mrs. Orsolya Gosztony, in her 2^nd year with us.  She was a former DRE at a parish in New York before moving to Stevens Point.  Mrs. Gosztony is assisted by Mr. Eddie Bernas who is a senior at Pacelli. 

Grade 6 is lead by Mrs. Angel Gebeau, now in her 10^th year teaching.  She is assisted by Miss Ivy Engwall, an 11^th grade homeschooler.  Grade 7 is lead by Mr. Kyle Rosenthal and Mr. Forrest Schey, both longtime parishioners, altar boys and now freshman at UWSP.   Grade 8 is lead by Mrs. Colleen Buss, another former DRE, now in her 11^th year teaching at St. Peter’s.  She is assisted by Mr. Fred Simons, our longest serving catechist in his 20^th year.  The 9^th grade Confirmation class is lead by myself, Mr. Phil Lawson, with assistance from Mr. Jim Traynor, now in his 7^th year and Mr. Patrick Burkhart, our music director and director of the youth apostolate.  Special mention also goes to Mrs. Ketura Frost who runs the REP Office on Wednesday evenings.  

            As you can see, we have a tremendous group of catechists, who come from a delightful cross-section of the parish.  Our parish children are incredibly blessed to have such dedicated and faithful models of Christian living!  And it’s something the whole parish can take great pride in. 

God bless you!

                        Phil Lawson

                        Director of Catechesis & Evangelization

“To Jesus Through Mary”

The Holy Family Catholic Homeschool Association (HFCHA) is a Roman Catholic Association of St. Peter’s Parish in Stevens Point, WI. Founded on Adoration of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, we exist to pray together and to support and assist homeschool families. HFCHA is open to all homeschooling families who embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church and the purpose of our group.

We gather to support each other in the task of home schooling throughout the school year through various events and activities. Here is a brief summary of our activities:

First Friday Mass, Adoration, & Breakfast Pot-luck—Each Month we gather in honor of the First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart for Mass, adoration and fellowship as a group. Note occasionally these meetings are moved to an alternate Friday to avoid holiday weekends.

Thursday Classes Grades 7 & up – Every Thursday classes are offered for students grades 7 and up. The topics have varied and have included Theology, History, Latin, Church History, Scripture, Advanced Math and Applied Physics.  More information about the 2011-2012 offerings.

Monthly Mom’s Meetings—August through May we gather at a family’s house or at St. Peter’s for fellowship and support, occasional guest speakers as well as to plan activities and group events. Four of these meetings are official planning meetings (August, October, January and April) where we plan the group’s events and the remaining six are for fellowship, support or any topic that group members express interest in such as curriculum swap, guest speakers on homeschooling through high school, etc. Everyone brings a dessert or snack to share. And the location is announced in the newsletter.

Basketball Team—The Knights: Each year boys in grades 7 and up are welcome to play on The Knights Basketball Team to compete in the Northern Christian School Conference January through March.

All Saints Party: Come Celebrate All Saints Day in style—the children dress up as their favorite saint and play heavenly games and join in friendly competition where the goal is out of this world.

Annual Family Dance: Join other Families for the event of the year, great music and company make for a night you’ll remember.

Annual Adults Christmas Party: A night out with other Catholic Parents

Annual Book sale: Each year in the spring we sponsor a used book sale where parents can sell their old curriculum and get great deals on the next year’s curriculum

Graduation Ceremony: Each May we gather to celebrate 8th grade and High School Graduations.

Plays: This past year we put on our first group play—a spoof on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It was a great success and we look forward to doing it again soon.

Field Trips: Each month Mom’s volunteer to organize field trips that all members are welcome to participate in. Some examples are the Corn maze ,Fish Hatchery, Post Office, Fire Station, Children Museum, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Sledding, Rudolph Cheese Factory, Schmeekle Reserve, Nursing Home, Rudolph Grotto and the State Capitol.

Daily Mass Altar Servers— The HFCHA coordinates with St. Peter’s Parish to provide altar servers for the weekday Masses there. One parent is responsible for the server’s schedule.

Bake Sale Fundraiser— Each year, as needed, the HFCHA has a bake sale after the Sunday Masses to raise money for group activities.

Members-at-large: Anyone is welcome sign-up to receive the e-newsletter, attend any group events, be listed in the group directory and be on the phone tree. We would love to have you join us! If you like what you see and want to take the next step:

Active members of the HFCHA are those who

1. Attend August planning meeting (or arrange for their vote/input to be shared at the meeting);
2. Organize at least 1 field trip or help with 1 group event;
3. Help with a fundraiser or pay family membership fee of $10.

Active members have a vote on any official group business.

Service Team – Our Service team consists of five members, at least 1 member of which belongs to St. Peter’s Parish, under the Spiritual leadership of the Pastor of St. Peter’s. The Service team is responsible for

1. making decisions on behalf of the group when needed;
2. resolving any conflicts that may arise;
3. deciding when to consult with the Spiritual director about group business.

These responsibilities are carried out by team prayer and discussion and majority vote. The service team, as elected members, are responsible for representing HFCHA as a whole. The service team will be determined each year at the August planning meeting through a majority vote of active members.