Good Shepherd Catholic Church

Newsletter

BREAKING BREAD December 2014

Listen to the Lord by Mike Crain

The very first catechism of the Church

was the scriptures. St. Paul, even before

the gospels were written, said, “All

scripture is inspired by God and is useful

for teaching, for refutation, for

correction, and for training in

righteousness, so that one who belongs

to God may be competent, equipped for

every good work.” (2 Tim 3: 16-17) So it

is easy to see that the Sunday

proclamation of scripture, and our

reflection on it, is part of our catechesis

as Christians. Each weekend our homilist

invites us to make application of the

readings for that week to our daily lives

to see how God’s Word challenges,

comforts, or inspires us as disciples.

Listen to the Lord is our way as a parish

of trying to open the Sunday readings on

a child’s level. Using ideas and examples

appropriate to children we attempt to

help children see how they might live out

the call of the gospel in the experiences

that are part of their world. What does

“love your neighbor as yourself” mean

for a child? We provide background to

the story that they are hearing; to better

understand its meaning and how the

people of Jesus’ time might have heard

and understood what he said.

So at each weekend liturgy children 5th

grade and younger are invited forward

and led out of Mass to the Mary of

Magdala Chapel, where adults working

from a prepared plan break open the

weekly Word of God with the children,

giving them an opportunity to ask

questions or make personal connections

to the readings of the week. In doing so

we hope to help the living Word of God

come to life for our children and help

them to see the Word as a source of

guidance for their lives. After the

universal prayer, the children and their

adult leader return to celebrate with the

entire community the Liturgy of the

Eucharist.

This ministry extends and builds upon

the lessons of Generations of Faith and

Growing Faith that the children of the

parish participate in. It is also a

rewarding way for adults to share their

faith with others. If you would like to be

part of this ministry contact the Christian

Formation office, (262) 255-2035.

Contact Mike or Corinna in the CF office to help teach our

children during Listen to the Lord.

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St Michael’s

Dear Friends of Good Shepherd, St. Michael’s refugee resettlement has always been our mission for all 132 years of our existence as a parish. In the first ninety

years it was to serve 5 generations of German immigrants. Then around 1980 it was the diaspora from LAOS (Laotians and

Hmong). Recently around 2010, we have been helping our newest arrivals from MYANMAR (the old Burma). To date we serve

over 375 men, women and children who are recent arrivals. Imagine starting your life over on the other side of the world, not

speaking English well, having to find work, schools for the children, dealing with snow and winters here. More refugees are

coming; Catholic Charities is bringing 300 more this year. In addition we are being inundated by secondary migrations of people

from Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas and other states who are coming here to reconnect with our community because of their

relationship by faith as Catholics or kinship by blood. We help with ESL (English Second Language) classes; Pastoral Associates

who speak their languages. All manner of social services, licenses, courts, employment, housing, schooling, formation etc.

We also host Burmese Priests and Sisters who visit us occasionally from Myanmar, or from locations in the U.S. to attend to

their spiritual needs. I am sure you can think of many other ways to assist.

~ Your Home Missioners at St. Michael’s.

Combined Collections

Milwaukee Career Cooperative by Tonya Henry

Milwaukee Career Cooperative faces many challenges this year and in the years to come. A monumental task continues to be

funding employment transportation for Milwaukee and surrounding areas within a 45 mile radius. Additionally, agency mem-

bership is always challenging.

As a result of contributions, both financial and through volunteers from the Good Shepherd congregation, MCC continues to

provide its employment services to individuals finding it difficult to navigate in today’s “Million and one ways to employment.”

Unrestricted funds enable the agency to leverage additional funds for continued services. The board of volunteers, Jeffery

Messerknecht (President) and Anthony Burns (Vice President) have worked tirelessly to bring new members (3) to the board

of directors. The board continues to broaden its knowledge of the non-profit and for-profit sectors and how MCC provides job

seekers with access to the skills, jobs and mobility to benefit their families and communities. With over 500 individuals

completing MCC’s Job Orientation and Application process each year, clearly, there is still a need.

Thank you for your continued support in helping MCC to put people to work. Without your help the need would be greater.

Please keep us in prayer as we work to help individuals gain dignity.

Area Food Pantries by Jane Clare Ishiguro

The Falls Area Food Pantry served about 1800 people in 2013. Its mission is to gather and distribute food to those with acute

or chronic need who live in the greater Menomonee Falls area. This good ministry strives to raise awareness of hunger in our

area and provide volunteer opportunities for community members to serve one another. Good Shepherd’s support is greatly

appreciated – both in our financial support through the Combined Collections and ongoing food donations throughout the

year. The Food Pantry of Waukesha County provides food to Waukesha County residents who go hungry every day. This

pantry started humbly in 1978 in the basement of a volunteer’s home. Today it fosters compassion and hope by serving over

5,700 residents each month. In addition to food, this important ministry provides other goods and services, working with

clients to help them become more self-sufficient. Pantry clients are mostly children, working poor and people who have fallen

under tough times. The pantry staff works to improve their conditions – one person at a time. The Food Pantry of Waukesha

County is most grateful for our support.

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Good Shepherd Reaching Out to the Poor and Marginalized by Jane Clare Ishiguro These are the latest donations discerned by Good Shepherd’s Deacon Gene Outreach Fund – two grants to support ministries

working globally and two, locally.

$500 to Catholic Relief Services to support their global efforts to help communities most affected by ebola. For more

information or to make your own donation, go to www.catholicreliefservices.org

$1000 to Mary’s Pence, a global initiative which invests in women across the Americas by funding community initiatives and

fostering collaborations to create social change. Mary’s Pence envisions a world where empowered women and their

communities flourish in solidarity and justice. www.maryspence.org

$1000 to Common Ground, an organization of organizations that work together toward igniting positive change within our

area. Two specific areas Common Ground has been working in are transportation for seniors and people with disabilities and

healthy families, supporting the Parent Infrastructure Network. www.commongroundwi.org

$500 to the Community Projects for Seniors which serves senior citizens and disabled individuals older than 50 who reside in

low-income housing. Services are provided at 200 sites in 50 Southeastern Wisconsin cities in eight counties –‘”brightening

the lives of low income senior citizens.” www.cpsforseniors.org

Confirmation by Bryan Ramsey

The Confirmation programs of Good Shepherd, St. Mary and St. James joined together on Sunday, October 19th for a

candidate-sponsor day of reflection. We were grateful to have Fr. Luke Strand, Vocations Director of the Archdiocese of

Milwaukee, join us for the second straight year to talk about "Vocations: A Call to All of God's Children." It was a lively

gathering of 270 or so Confirmation candidates and their sponsors to consider God's call in their life as Catholics.

It was a vibrant atmosphere that began at 11:00 Mass. The energy continued into lunch and the introduction that followed

by our respective church leaders: Good Shepherd Parish Director Deacon Sandy Sites, St. James Pastoral Associate and Parish

Director Daryl Olszewski and St. Mary Pastor Fr. John Burns. The variety of calls on their lives personally and as part of our

parish leadership teams highlighted our vocations theme quite succinctly.

That offered a perfect introduction to Fr. Luke's talk on vocations. I'm not sure many of us have heard a take on the Church

like that of Fr. Luke's. His youthful delivery related to the sponsors and, more importantly, the candidates. It was a

passionate plea for a life with Jesus - whether Fr. Luke was talking about being a priest, sister, deacon, business professional

or student. It was a proud day for Good Shepherd and we were grateful to host such a special event for our emerging adults.

Confirmation candidates and their sponsors enjoy

lunch in Daniels Hall.

Deacon Sandy Sites, speaks about his vocation as

Parish Director of Good Shepherd.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

30 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 6:00 PM Evening Prayer

1 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 9:00 AM Sleeping Bags and More 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group 7:00 PM Pastoral Council Meeting

2 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Grief Support Group

3 9:00 AM Widening of the Circle 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Doubters, Thinkers, Seekers

4 10:30 AM Communion Service at Menomonee Place 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Ellacuria Meeting

5 8:30 AM Liturgy 5:30 PM Junior High Retreat

6 Fair Trade Sale 9:30 AM Children’s Choir Rehearsal 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:30 PM Blood Pressure Checks

7 Fair Trade Sale 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 9:30 AM Farmer’s Market 9:30 & 12:00 Blood Pressures 6:00 PM Cathedral Center Meal 6:00 PM Mass of Anticipation - Immaculate Conception

8 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 9:00 AM Sleeping Bags and More 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group 7:00 PM Commissions Meeting

9 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice

10 7:00 PM Choir Practice

11 10:30 AM Communion Service at MFHCC 7:00 PM Choir Practice

12 8:30 AM Liturgy

13 9:30 AM Children’s Choir Rehearsal 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:40 PM Generations of Faith

14 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 8:30 AM Generations of Faith 6:00 PM Evening Prayer 7:00 PM Gay & Straight In Christ

15 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 9:00 AM Sleeping Bags and More 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group 6:00 PM 21! Middle School Youth Group at St. Mary - (The Best Christmas Party Ever)

16 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Cluster Communal Penance 7:00 PM Grief Support Group

17 St. Ben's Drop Off - until 3:30 PM Teams 3, 4 & 1 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Men’s Group

18 7:00 PM Choir Practice

19 8:30 AM Liturgy

20 9:30 AM Children’s Choir Rehearsal 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:45 PM Las Posadas

21 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 6:00 PM Evening Prayer

22 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group

23 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice

24 Christmas Eve - Offices Closed 4:00 PM Mass 10:00 PM Mass

25 Christmas Day - Offices Closed 8:30 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass

26

NO MASS

27 8:00 AM Reader’s Prep @ St. James 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:45 PM Welcome Weekend

28 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 9:45 AM & 12:15 PM Welcome Weekend

29 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group

30 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Reader Prep @ GS

31 6:00 PM Mass of Anticipation - Mary, Mother of God

1 New Years Day - Offices Closed

2 8:30 AM Liturgy

3 Library Book Share 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:30 PM Blood Pressure Checks

Good Shepherd Parish Calendar December

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

30 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 6:00 PM Evening Prayer

1 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 9:00 AM Sleeping Bags and More 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group 7:00 PM Pastoral Council Meeting

2 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Grief Support Group

3 9:00 AM Widening of the Circle 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Doubters, Thinkers, Seekers

4 10:30 AM Communion Service at Menomonee Place 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Ellacuria Meeting

5 8:30 AM Liturgy 5:30 PM Junior High Retreat

6 Fair Trade Sale 9:30 AM Children’s Choir Rehearsal 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:30 PM Blood Pressure Checks

7 Fair Trade Sale 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 9:30 AM Farmer’s Market 9:30 & 12:00 Blood Pressures 6:00 PM Cathedral Center Meal 6:00 PM Mass of Anticipation - Immaculate Conception

8 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 9:00 AM Sleeping Bags and More 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group 7:00 PM Commissions Meeting

9 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice

10 7:00 PM Choir Practice

11 10:30 AM Communion Service at MFHCC 7:00 PM Choir Practice

12 8:30 AM Liturgy

13 9:30 AM Children’s Choir Rehearsal 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:40 PM Generations of Faith

14 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 8:30 AM Generations of Faith 6:00 PM Evening Prayer 7:00 PM Gay & Straight In Christ

15 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 9:00 AM Sleeping Bags and More 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group 6:00 PM 21! Middle School Youth Group at St. Mary - (The Best Christmas Party Ever)

16 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Cluster Communal Penance 7:00 PM Grief Support Group

17 St. Ben's Drop Off - until 3:30 PM Teams 3, 4 & 1 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Men’s Group

18 7:00 PM Choir Practice

19 8:30 AM Liturgy

20 9:30 AM Children’s Choir Rehearsal 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:45 PM Las Posadas

21 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 6:00 PM Evening Prayer

22 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group

23 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice

24 Christmas Eve - Offices Closed 4:00 PM Mass 10:00 PM Mass

25 Christmas Day - Offices Closed 8:30 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass

26

NO MASS

27 8:00 AM Reader’s Prep @ St. James 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:45 PM Welcome Weekend

28 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM - Liturgy 9:45 AM & 12:15 PM Welcome Weekend

29 9:00 AM Centering Prayer 11:00 AM Faith Sharing Group

30 8:30 AM - Liturgy 7:00 PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM Reader Prep @ GS

31 6:00 PM Mass of Anticipation - Mary, Mother of God

1 New Years Day - Offices Closed

2 8:30 AM Liturgy

3 Library Book Share 3:30 PM Reconciliation 4:30 PM Liturgy 5:30 PM Blood Pressure Checks

Save the Date! for the Our annual Corn Roast is coming up on Saturday, August 9th.

We will begin with an outdoor Mass at 4:30 pm.

The Corn Roast begins at 5:30 pm with music, games and food!

Save the Date! Winter Farmer’s Market,

Sunday, December 7th, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Admission to Market is Free

Brunch tickets are $5 per person,

$20 per family of 4 or greater, children 4 and under are free.

Tickets available in the parish office. Good Shepherd Parish Calendar December

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Pastoral Council Meeting Notes November 3rd, 2014

Parish Director Report

Joint Cluster meetings had been

discontinued. A recommendation was

made to re-establish these gatherings.

The decision was made to have four

representatives (pastor or parish director,

one staff member, one council member,

one parishioner-at-large) from each of

the 3 parishes (St. Mary, St. James and

Good Shepherd). The group will meet 3-4

times/year. The first meeting was held

Oct. 30. Good Shepherd will recruit a

parishioner-at-large to join Sandy, Mike

Crain, and Chuck Koenings.

Who are we as Good Shepherd in 2015

and beyond? As an outcome of the

synod (initial plans for

implementation will be ready by January

2015), we will attempt to answer this

question for our parish.

With a tentative kickoff in January, the

process may include survey via web and

print, prayer, discussion with council,

commissions/committees, staff, with

town hall meetings to follow.

Mass attendance data: A slight but

steady increase in attendance has been

noted. Sandy will e-mail spreadsheet

data to council members and will update

periodically.

Stewardship Sunday - November 15 and

16; Tim Nolan is working with the

stewardship committee in developing a

new approach to stewardship;

stewardship prayer will be closing prayer

at Sunday liturgies; Nov. 15-16 will be

commitment weekend; commitment

cards will be brought to the altar area by

parishioners.

Enhance Your Soul with Musings by Maggie Brooks

Albert Schweitzer said, “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes

out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.

We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

Has your inner fire for something ever gone out?

Maybe for volunteering, or religion or singing, or

being cheerful? Maybe we have to be proactive

and look for someone to rekindle our inner spirit.

What do you think?

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Meet

Ellis Family By Meriel Christensen

Yes, we have two Ellis families at Good

Shepherd. This time we meet Jerry and

Sharon Ellis. Both were born in the

month of January, in Wisconsin - Jerry in

Mauston and Sharon in Milwaukee.

Jerry likes to tell people that Sharon

married a younger man. Sharon reminds

us it was only by one year.

Sharon travels a lot for business. On one

of her weekend’s home in 1979, she met

Jerry during an evening out with friends.

The Bee Gees, and Donna Summers had

something to do with Sharon becoming

Mrs. Ellis. As they danced, she says, it

was love at first sight.

They were married at St. Rita Parish in

West Allis in 1982 and as Sharon says,

she gladly married into Menomonee

Falls. The family went to St. Anthony’s in

the Falls. Sharon got involved in parish

collaboration, “way back when”. Joe

Strazishar and Deacon Gene Christensen

were also working on parish

collaboration. To our good luck the four

of them hit it off and the Ellis family

made the move to Good Shepherd.

Jerry is the Fluids Handling Sales

Manager at Rundle-Spence, a wholesale

plumbing, heating, and well/septic

products company in New Berlin. He and

Deacon Gene had a lot in common in

their field of work – they just worked for

different companies.

Sharon owns a communications

consulting practice – SQE

Communications Group – and continues

to travel around the country and the

globe. Client engagements have taken

her as far as India, where she fell in love

with the people and the culture.

Jerry is an avid golfer and enjoys playing

in leagues and with clients all summer

long. Sharon golfs too just not as well or

as often. They both enjoy touring on

their Harley-Davidson motor cycle and

travel to warm destinations such as the

Caribbean and Mexico. Their recent trips

include the Grand Canyon and a River

Cruise on the Danube. In February, they

will travel to Punta Cana for a good dose

of Vitamin D.

Sharon graduated from the certificate

program at St. Francis Seminary in 2006.

Her ministry is to work with Parish

Teams, and St. Francis Seminarians, to

develop their leadership and

communications knowledge and skills.

She is also a proclaimer at Good

Shepherd. You will see her at 4:30 or

11:00 o’clock mass. In the community

she serves on the CMH Foundation and

Hospital Board of Directors.

Jerry’s ministry is to be a prayerful

member of the assembly and keep

everything on the home front running

smoothly while Sharon is traveling for

business. Like all good sons he helps

with the Honey-Do-List for his Mother,

Marlene. He and his mother then take

care of his aunt who lives at the

Arboretum.

The family includes one son, Michael

age 29. He is an avid golfer like his

father and, he is an entrepreneur and

Business Consultant like his mother.

Michael lives in Germantown. Sharon

left her position with the Fiserv

organization after 20 years because

Michael was 3 years old at the time and

she was a VP in Acquisitions and

Mergers which, too often, put her on

“the road again.” Michael graduated

summa cum laude from UW-Oshkosh.

Although he is a successful

entrepreneur, his most important

position now is driving his mother

to the airport.

Of course the family dog, Cooper, a 7

year old Black Lab has to stay home with

Jerry when Sharon travels. Coopers

favorite things in the world are tennis

balls and walks. Lucky for Jerry, Cooper

isn’t so attracted to golf balls.

We need families

to feature in

“Meet the Family”.

Please call

Meriel Christensen

(414) 353-6376

or email at

meriel1204@att.net

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Furthering the spiritual growth of the Good Shepherd Community

by providing an inspirational view of parish life.

www.mygoodshepherd.org • Phone: (262) 255-2035

N88 W17658 Christman Rd, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Mark Steimle…………………………………………….…Editor

Mary Crawford……………………….Layout Coordinator

Mary Ann Erdtmann..............................Staff Writer

Meriel Christensen................................Staff Writer

Mary Kult...............................................Staff Writer

Laverne Schoonover..............................Staff Writer

BREAKING BREAD

Welcoming New Members ~ Chris and Jeanne Aliota, Josh 15, Alyssa 5, Austin 16 ~ Ron and Erma Muller

Celebrating Marriage Richard H. Pearse & Kelly Ann (Gillingham) Pearse

By Laverne Schoonover

For a Happy and Healthy New Year

As another year comes to a close, let us prepare for the

next one by resolving to make positive changes in order to

make it a better one for us and for our families.

We can start the new year off right by resolving to change

the negative aspects of our lives. This means taking time

for real self introspection. Ask yourself what it is that keeps

you from loving and serving God in the manner He

deserves. Ask yourself what it is that prevents you from

taking care of your health needs, like getting the tests you

may need to keep your health on an even keel, and by

avoiding the things that may hinder you from keeping

healthy. Ask yourself what it is that prevents you from

being the loving father or mother that your children need.

Change your chemistry. It's a fact: how you think, actually

affects how your body functions. A dark disposition can

make you sick. Accommodating low-level anger, anxiety, or

the blues over the long haul does suppress your immune

system and invites all sorts of chronic disease to gain a

foothold. We were designed for happiness, not misery, so

when we focus on the negative, we're not being good

stewards of the life we're given, and in the process we're

probably driving everyone around us crazy. Try focusing on

curbing negative speech. The softer the words are, the

softer your thoughts will become. And the gentler the

thoughts, the kinder your heart may become.

There are many things that you can do to make the next

year a better one. Just remember that with God all things

are possible, so ask for His help. I wish you a happy and

healthy new year.

Your Green Corner

Why host a Winter Farmer’s Market? Hosting a Winter Farmer’s

Market engages the congregation in several vital issues: nutrition

and health, environmental stewardship and sustainability, food

security, economic justice for farmers and community building

for Good Shepherd.

Who benefits from the Market? Individual’s benefit by having

access to fresh healthy locally grown food. Pastoral Care, GOF

and Confirmation students will prepare and serve a meal

prepared with products of participating farmers so that you

can experience the taste of local sustainable- produced foods.

Providing this type of meal communicates values important to

all the great faiths around the world: Abundance, gratitude,

hospitality, community, stewardship, justice, and love. The

environment benefits by lessoning the impact of transporting

food and by using sustainable farming practices. Our

congregation and the surrounding community benefits by

making you aware of the market’s existence, its values and

offerings. Farmers, at the Market, benefit by selling and

increasing their incomes during off-season months.

FYI: This year the Confirmation students overwhelmingly

chose to do the Market as their Confirmation project.

Please consider partaking in the this year’s “Farmer’s Market” December 7th from 9 till 12:30 Please Pre-register for Brunch.

Tickets are $5 per person, $20 per family of 4 or greater,

4 and under eat free. Tickets available after Mass or thru the

Parish Office.

By Mary Kult