Welcome and inspire all to share Christ’s love

through faith and service.

St. Bernard Congregation of Appleton 1617 West Pine Street, Appleton, WI 54914 920-739-0331

CONNECT:

WEBPAGE stbernardappleton.org

FACEBOOK stbernardappleton

EMAIL stbernard@stbernardappleton.org

September 20, 2020

PRIEST:

Father Jude Egbuna

ACTIVE DEACON:

Mike Eash Greg Humpal

RETIRED DEACONS:

Maury Reed Bob Vincent

MASS TIMES

4:30 pm Saturday 8:00 am Sunday 10:00 am Sunday

10:00 am Mass will also be livestreamed 8:00 am Tuesday-Friday

RECONCILIATION 3:00 pm Saturdays

Parish Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-2:00 pm Friday

8:30 am-Noon

MESSAGE FROM THE DIOCESE OF GREEN BAY

Following much careful consideration, the dispensation for Sunday Mass obligation has been lifted and beginning

this weekend, September 19 and 20, all Catholics will once again gather as a community of faith on Sundays. The lifting of the dispensation was announced in a decree issued by Bishop David Ricken on Monday, Sept. 7. www.gbdioc.org/sundayobligationdecree

With this news, please note there are still occasions when the obligation to attend Sunday Mass does not apply: *If individual Catholics struggle with serious health concerns or are physically or morally prevented from worshipping at Mass for a grave reason

*If individuals are frail due to illness or age or, in their well-formed consciences believe that going into public places including Sunday worship at Mass would place their health or the health of their loved ones in serious jeopardy

*If individuals are sick, or have been in contact with someone who has been sick The faithful who are unable to attend Mass are urged to make holy the Lord’s Day and to pray, read the Scriptures, watch a broadcast or livestreamed Mass and take part in acts of charity.

The diocese also issued guidelines for public Masses at www.gbdioc.org/sundayobligationreinstatement. These guidelines make clear that face masks are still required, and that, while restrictions will be lifted on the percentage

of people at Mass, the standards of social distancing will still be upheld. The obligation to attend Mass for Catholics reflects our faith in Jesus Christ, the blessing of the Holy Eucharist and

an acknowledgment of His great love for us.

MUSINGS FROM THE DEACON CAVE

Be Vewy, Vewy Qwiet

One of the staples growing up in the 1960’s was Saturday morning cartoons. The Jetson’s, Mighty Mouse, Underdog, The Flintstone’s, Tom & Jerry…the list could go on. The crown jewel of Saturday mornings, however, was Bugs Bunny and his cronies. I will have to admit there are episodes that I could probably still recite almost

word for word. One of the best animations features Bugs, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd where they argue about it being duck season or rabbit season. There is a scene where Bugs and Daffy go back and forth, “It’s duck season, it’s rabbit season, it’s duck season, it’s rabbit season, it’s rabbit season, it’s duck season!” The clever Bugs Bunny

outwits Daffy Duck by flipping the conversation to Daffy’s detriment. In the second reading today, Paul kind of sounds like the scenario above when he thinks about life and death in

Jesus. “It’s life, it’s death, it’s life, it’s death”…Paul cannot decide if it would be better for him to live or to die. To live means that he can continue to do the work of an evangelist, to die means that he will live with Christ. In the end, he says what is important is to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

When we choose empathy over anger, when we choose kindness over criticism, when we choose love over ideology…we choose to live to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. It is then, just like Paul, Christ will be magnified through us. This is not beyond our reach, but simply lies in the choices that we make every day.

Work to choose the next best thing in your life! Now where is that wasscally wabbit?

Deacon Mike

Sunday, September 20 Is 55:6-9/Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 [18a]/Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/Mt 20:1

Monday, September 21 Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 [5]/Mt 9:9-13

Tuesday, September 22 Prv 21:1-6, 10-13/Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34. 35, 44 [35]/Lk 8:19-21

Wednesday, September 23 Prv 30:5-9/Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 [105]/Lk 9:1-6

Thursday, September 24 Eccl 1:2-11/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17bc [1]/Lk 9:7-9

Friday, September 25 Eccl 3:1-11/Ps 144:1b and 2abc, 3-4 [1]/Lk 9:18-22

Saturday, September 26 Eccl 11:9—12:8/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17 [1]/Lk 9:43b-45

Sunday, September 27 Ez 18:25-28/Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [6a]/Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5/Mt 21:28-3

MASS INTENTIONS WEEKLY READINGS ST. BERNARD PARISH STAFF

Bookkeeper

Barb Hoffman

Bulletin Editor Lisa Hecht

Business Administrator Dr. Colleen Sargent-Day

Care Ministry Coordinator Cathy Kulibert

Coordinator of Liturgy and Music

Sherry Zwicky

Evangelization/Communication

Coordinator Andy Schmidt

Faith Formation Coordinator

Deb Holzem

Maintenance Supervisor Jim Piette

Office Manager Edna Ulrich

*In Memory of

Saturday, September 19 4:30 pm *Donald Maas Members of St. Bernard

Sunday, September 20 8:00 am *Mike Tassoul & Fred Selig

10:00 am *Gene & Phyllis Thoma

Family

Tuesday, September 22 8:00 am *Tom Fountain

Wednesday, September 23 8:00 am *Dorothy Ryan

Thursday, September 24 8:00 am *Bernadette Bachman

Friday, September 25 8:00 am *Agnes Biese

Saturday, September 26 4:30 pm *Ken Kemps

Sunday, September 27 8:00 am *David Steckbauer AND Members of St. Bernard

10:00 am *Pamela LaVigne

RECONNECT GROUPS Come and reconnect as a parish community and share your experiences of living

during the current pandemic. We have several gathering times available, some virtual and some in person. Approximately 1hr. per session. If you would like to join a Reconnect Group, call Cathy at 739-0331 or email ckulibert@stbernardappleton.org.

or complete the on-line form https://forms.gle/p8naLMkZJFgNt6Q7

October session will be facilitated by Sherry & Pam, Musicians and will be virtual.

Date to be determined.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD

Thank you to our amazing St. Bernard Parishioners who

were the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.

“The world tells us to seek success, power and money;

God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” Pope Francis

Save the date!

Eggroll sale October 25 after the 10:00 am Mass.

Stop by our table October 25 and

place your order!

Your order will be ready for pick up the weekend of November 1

Look for the Eggroll Sale Order Form in the upcoming bulletins.

Congratulation to Courtney Cemiglia

and Nicholas Rainer on their marriage September 19

at St. Bernard Parish

FINANCIAL INFORMATION/HAPPENINGS

Thank you for continuing to support our parish financially, as you are able. Sunday offerings are by far the

largest portion of our financial support to St. Bernard Parish. We encourage you to give online or by mailing your Giving Envelope to our Parish Office (1617 West Pine Street, Appleton. WI 54914).

Weekly SCRIP Sales

Sold $4,700 Cost $4,482 Rebate $ 218

Scrip is available in our Parish Office.

Please call ahead at 739-0331 to place your order.

Weekly Giving 9/11/2020 Week 10 Envelope Collections $ 5,329 Loose Collections $ 520 YTD Actual Env. $116,254 YTD Loose $ 4,905 Last FYTD $123,604 Last FYTD $ 5,090

ANNUAL REPORT

Guide Book & Directory Advertising Opportunity

We are in the process of updating our annual Guide Book & Directory for our Church. This book will contain everything pertinent to our church: the various

ministries, organizations, committees, activities, functions and events plus a complete directory of all members. This book is being provided and direct-mailed to each

family at no cost to our church, and it is again being subsidized by local businesses that advertise. If you own or manage a business and would like to find out

about advertising in our book, please call Edna at our Parish Office at 739-0331.

Our Parish Annual Report are available in our Narthex

on the Welcome Counter. If you would like a copy, please pick one up.

Our 15th Annual Seminarian Collection

Hope for the Future: Help them Today. Have you made your gift? We in our Parish have raised $11,752. Thank you for your gift.

Missionary Appeal for the Diocese of Issele-UKU, Nigeria-My name is Father Callistus Elue. I am the Parochial

Vicar of the Tri-Parishes of Antigo, WI. I was ordained a priest on September 11, 2004, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku in Delta State, Nigeria. Since 2010, I have served the Diocese of Green Bay. I am active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. On behalf of my home Diocese of Issele-Uku. The Diocese was established on July 5, 1973. Located in Delta State, Nigeria, West Africa, it covers a total area of about 1,871 square miles.

Through the special blessing and grace of God, missionary work through grassroots evangelization continues to bear abundant fruit. Currently, the Diocese has 94 parishes with a total population of over 2,805,300, of which 884,589 are Catholics. Diocesan Priests number 235, Women’s Religious Groups number 107, and we currently

have 60 Major Seminarians. Needs and Missionary Co-op Priority The material resources and necessary infrastructure required for the work of evangelization are enormous. The Diocesan Emmaus School of Evangelization and our Junior Seminary continue

to struggle. However, our priority for this Appeal is our Seminarians; the cost of training future priests continues to rise. The diocese does not want to turn away those who have genuine vocations for lack of funds. The need is espe-cially great right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poverty, unemployment, and hunger are widespread. Most people survive on petty trading and subsistence farming yet remain resilient and contribute as generously as

they are able in cash, time and talent. The Seminarians engage in manual work normally outsourced, such as house-keeping, farming, maintenance, secretarial duties, and so on, in order to subsidize the entire costs. Please prayerfully consider donating to support this effort. Anything you feel called to give will be deeply

appreciated. On behalf of my diocese, thank you, and God bless you for your generosity.

WELCOME FATHER CALLISTUS ELUE THIS WEEKEND

FORMED

St. Bernard Social Justice Committee Haiti Dental Collection

St Bernard Social Justice Committee is sponsoring a Dental Collection for the people of Haiti. We are collecting toothpaste, dental floss, children toothbrushes & adult toothbrushes. If you would like to donate any of these items, please return your donations to our Parish. All donations can be put by the coat rack area. If you would like to give a gift of money to our collection, please put in an

envelope marked Haiti Dental Collection. Please bring your donation to our Parish Office We will be collecting until September 30. Thank you for your continued support. If you would like to learn more about the Dental Collection for Haiti, please go to our Parish Website.

A letter from Dr. Tim Brown explains about the ministry his team is providing.

HAPPENINGS

Faith Formation/Discipleship Nights Returns-September 23 for most Students

Sunday, September 30 for High School families who choose Sunday evenings. Due to Covid-19 no meals will be served until further notice. Adults! Sign up for Wednesday, 6:30 Reconnect Group. Attend a session for yourself while your child is in their session, or just because the time is convenient!

For details, or to sign up please visit our website. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Deb at 739-8912 or email dholzem@stbernardappleton.org

Faith Formation Registration! Classes will be held online and/or in person.

Classes are: Wednesdays, 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm.-Grades 6-11, Wednesday, 6:30 pm. Ages K-5, family mingling program, Wednesdays at 4:30 pm.

To make things easier for you, please visit our Website stbernardappleton.org to register.

Faith Formation

Registration

stbernardappleton.org

739-8912

Gospel Meditation-If I work for five hours, I expect to get paid for five hours. If I work for two, I expect to get paid for two. What if we worked for a company that paid everyone the same amount regardless of how long they worked? How would we feel going home with the same pay for working eight hours as my co-worker did for working only two hours? Secular wisdom would have a huge problem with this and a visit to the Labor Board would quickly pursue. But this is God’s wisdom and God’s ways. We sometimes think that if we pray more, better, or more fervently and go over and above with the practice of our faith, God will somehow reward us and present us with some kind of merit badge. We are so wrong. Spiritual practices have only one true purpose: to deepen our love for God. In deepening our love for God, we also increase our ability to see God’s presence around us, living life more purposefully and contemplatively. What if God chooses to treat someone who has come on the scene of faith later in life the same as someone who has devoted their whole lives to it? Does it really matter? If we have the merit badge notion of faith, we can find ourselves feeling a little arrogant and even jealous of folks who have not followed the same path that we have. We can even see ourselves as the privileged few who have a corner on the faith and fully possess it. That thinking doesn’t square with God. God is all about mercy in abundance and is ready to take anyone to himself regard-less of when they come. He is only happy that they have come home and delights in their return. After all, if you really and truly love someone, does it matter what they will give you in return or what you receive as a benefit? If relationships were assessed based upon productivity, they would lack authentic love. We invest too much self interest in our prayer and neglect to see it as an opportunity to pursue our Lover and deepen the intimate bond we have with God.

When we breathe our last, all that is of consequence is union with God. If my love for God is real, I am going to

want to live the Gospel, abide by the commandments, practice my faith, forgive and love my neighbor, and care for the environment, regardless of how much time it takes or benefits me. We want God to think and behave as we do, and in doing so, we set ourselves up for disappointment. God has a totally different agenda and that’s okay.

Last week I reviewed how to access FORMED and get involved in taking advantage of this fantastic offer by our

Parish. FORMED NOW! Is a fairly new offering. From the readings this past Sunday about Peter asking Jesus how many times we have to forgive others, on episode 23 they are talking about Forgiveness. It appears that there are many episodes that you can find one and listen to and watch it and learn from this at your leisure. Each is approximately 30 minutes or so.

Dr. Tim Gray and other special guests are discussing what is happening right now in such uncertain times. In times of anxiety, fear, chaos we have to place our trust in God. Our faith is our guide. Hearing troubling news can have us feel unsettled. Jesus tells us to “not be anxious”. Maybe taking a look at these episodes could be of help to each

of us right now??? Submitted weekly by a St. Bernard Parishioner