Divine Mercy Weekly Update

 

“I am the resurrection and the life; 

whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, 

and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

-John 11: 25-26

 

 

 

What’s Happening at Divine Mercy…

Keep reading for more details on these and other happenings.

Parish News

Thanks to all who joined us at our Parish Mission!   We are grateful to Fr. Greg Plata, OFM, for leading us in prayer and reflection over the course of our three Mission days.  We pray that all who attended grew in faith and understanding of our rich Catholic faith.  Check out our Mission page for photos and more thank you’s.  

The schedule for Holy Week and beyond is now available.  See our Mass schedule page for all the details.

Anointing of the Sick is offered on the last Saturday of each month, following the 4:00 p.m. Mass.  Anyone preparing for surgery or other medical procedure, and all those in need of healing are encouraged to come for Mass and stay for anointing.  

Holy Name Easter Sausage orders and payment are due this Saturday, 3/25.   PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR ORDERS IN THE COLLECTION BASKET; see a Holy Name member on Saturday in the Gathering Space to turn your order in.  Sausage Pickup will take place Sunday, April 2 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 695 College Avenue.  Use the order form in the bulletin or print one here.  Volunteers are needed to help cut and grind the sausage on Friday, 3/31 at 8:00 a.m. and make and package the sausage on 4/1.  To volunteer or ask a question, contact David Bartoshevich at 414-764-2836 or Dale Abramczyk at 414-762-3296.  Thank you!

Get all the latest Christian Formation news here.  Please keep our eight youth Confirmation Candidates in your prayers this weekend as they go on retreat this Friday-Saturday.  May God deepen their faith and help them to recognize and use the gifts of the Holy Spirit as they grow in discipleship. 

The next Grief Support is Monday, March 27th from 10-11:30 am at 800 Marquette Ave.  Fr. Bob Betz will be our special guest.  Fr. Bob's vocation as a priest, along with his volunteer work as chaplain for the fire department, has given him a wealth of wisdom on the topic of grief.  Hope you can come - bring a friend.

Do you have ten minutes to spare?  Each moment you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament brings joy, pleasure, and delight to His Sacred Heart.  Our Lenten 24-hour Adoration is approaching.  Please stop in for any amount of time that you can to pray!! Jesus will delight whether it is five minutes, 30 minutes or an hour.

For information about being an Adoration Anchor or Door monitor (for those who are able to commit to an hour or more) see the boards in the Gathering Space or Chapel or at https://bit.ly/31mFIRW.  We look forward to praying with you!

There are a number of special prayer periods during our Adoration.  Here is a schedule if you are trying to plan for communal prayer or silent prayer times:

 

Families are encouraged to join us for the Scriptural Stations of the Cross.  See here for more details. 

Join us for two Reconciliation opportunities during 24-Hour Adoration:  Friday, March 31, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, April 1, 10:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m..  We will have penance services with an examination of conscience.  Priests will then be available to hear your confession and offer individual absolution.  

Other options for reconciliation before Easter include Saturdays before Mass at Divine Mercy, 3:00 - 3:40 p.m., the Archdiocesan 12 Hours of Reconciliation on March 29th offered at 11 parishes across the Archdiocese, or visit Find a Confession anytime for area opportunities. Return to God with all your heart this Lent!

Did you know we are in the midst of a National Eucharistic Revival?  A recent Pew Research Center study showed that only 31% of Catholics believe in the true presence of our Lord in the Eucharist.  With only 39% of Catholics attending weekly Mass, we are in desperate need of our Lord!  Encounter Jesus in the Mass This Easter With This 7-Week Series Offered by the Eucharistic Revival.  A new reflection series will be released every Thursday from Divine Mercy Sunday to Pentecost, April 13 through May 25.  Find out more and sign up here.

Divine Mercy Catholic School is now enrolling students for the 2023-24 school year!  If you’re looking for an amazing school for your K3-8th graders - look no further!   We are part of the Wisconsin Parental Choice, Milwaukee Choice, and Racine Choice Schools. Visit our website and contact us today for more information and to arrange a tour.  414-764-4360 or admissions@divinemercysm.org.   Come see the Divine difference.  You belong here!

Save the Date!  Divine Mercy Women’s Retreat Committee invites all ladies, daughters, and friends to join us for Cup of Joy 4 on Saturday, June 10.  Connie Schneider will speak to us on how to let “Jesus, take the wheel.”  See the invitation here.

How do we respond to friends and family experiencing struggles with their identity?  This is obviously a very contentious topic in our day, but one that we can help speak into as a local Church.  The Office of Evangelization & Catechesis of the Archdiocese is offering a few presentations on "The Transgender Movement: What Catholics Need to Know."  The same presenters - from the Person & Identity Project - will be presenting.

These presentations are designed for adult Catholics in the pew - school parents, grandparents, young adults, etc..  The presentations will be held at Christ King in Wauwatosa on March 27 from 7-9 p.m., another at St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg on March 28 from 7-9 p.m., and another in Spanish at the archdiocesan offices on March 27 from 7-9 p.m..

These presentations are free, but registration is needed.  Click the respective links for information on how to register.  

DONATIONS NEEDED: Are you organizing, cleaning-out, simplifying, or decluttering during Lent? If so, please don't forget to set aside what you discard for the upcoming Christian Women Spring Rummage Sale! The sale will be held April 15th and more details will follow. Please note we cannot accept TVs/computers, broken furniture, broken toys or broken household items, or stained/ripped clothing. Have questions? Contact Charlotte Dey at 262-412-7706.

Parish Environment Committee:  Holy Week and Easter Church Decorating Help Needed!  The Parish Environment Committee is now accepting sign-ups for volunteers to help with decorating the church (Marquette Ave campus) for Holy Week and Easter.  Similar to decorating for Advent/Christmas, changes will occur at the church over the course of several different dates with Holy Week being the busiest.  Please use the sign-up link to reserve your spot.

If you have general questions about helping out with the Parish Environment team or would like to attend a Parish Environment Committee Meeting, please email Jenelle Mancheski (jenellemancheski@yahoo.com ) and Vanessa Schmoll (herrmann_vanessa@yahoo.com ) directly.

Are you preparing for a child, or have a child in need of baptism?  Sign up for our next baptism class on Wednesday, 5/10/2023 from 6:30-7:30 pm, held at 800 Marquette Avenue.  **Baptisms are not held during Lent.**  Families should contact Chris Mancheski, Director of Faith Formation, at 414-762-6810 ext. 3212 or chrismancheski@divinemercysm.org  AND sign up on the link provided.

Are you recently engaged and intend on having a sacramental marriage?  Are you civilly married and would like your marriage blessed?  We invite you for marriage preparation or convalidation!  What’s that?  Contact Chris Mancheski for more information at 414-762-6810 ext. 3212 or chrismancheski@divinemercysm.org. 

• March 31 - April 1, noon - noon - 24-Hr Adoration at 800 Marquette Ave
• March 31 - Penance Service, 6-8 p.m. at 800 Marquette Ave
• April 1 - Penance Service, 10 a.m. - noon at 800 Marquette Ave
• April 15 - Spring Rummage Sale at College Avenue
• April 16 - Divine Mercy Sunday

 Mark your calendar and watch for coming details on these events!

On-going Offerings 

Monday Morning Bible Study  meets every Monday right after Mass in the conference room in the parish office; about 9:15 a.m..  We would love to have you!  Please contact Laurie Bania if you have any questions at 414-350-8469 or the office and leave a message.  

Mother of Perpetual Help devotion and Rosary is offered every Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel at College Avenue.  

Students and friends in grades 6-12 are invited to join us for Youth Group for our Lenten series-  “40”.  We meet Mondays in the gym at 695 College Avenue from 6-8 p.m..  Come join us!

St. Anthony Devotional Group meets every other Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel at College Avenue.  The group will next meet on Tuesday, April 4.  All are welcome!

Women's Bible Study meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Marquette Ave.  Please call Laurie Bania with any questions at 414-350-8469 and leave a message.  

Divine Mercy’s St. Vincent de Paul Society hosts a Food Pantry every Tuesday from 11am-1pm at 800 Marquette Avenue. The need has been steady and bins for food collection will be in the entry of church on a weekly basis.  At this time our shelves are approaching capacity with food and we would appreciate the following items in lieu of food: toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, body wash/soap, cotton swabs, bandages, etc.). Your support is deeply appreciated!!   If you have questions or want to get involved, contact Chad Geurts at 414-892-3909. 

Divine Mercy’s Dynamic Men’s Group meets Wednesday Nights, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Gathering Space at 800 Marquette Avenue.   Here are the dates so you can join us:   March 29 - April 19, 26 - May 10, 17 

Same format as this past fall. Fellowship starts at 6 PM. Short video at 6:30 PM followed by small group discussions. Finished usually no later than 7:45 PM. Many of you have talked about how much attending these sessions have meant to you. Share this joy with a friend or relative and bring them along. For more information, contact Gary Branger at garybranger@divinemercysm.org .

In need of prayers for yourself or someone else? Call on our Prayer Network by contacting Dolores 414-762-0194 or Audrey 414-762-4638, so we can pray for your intentions. We also have established an email address for your prayer requests: Memorare72@gmail.com. We hope to help many through our prayers!

Unable to join us for Mass in person?  Our homebound brothers and sisters are still an important part of our parish, and we continue to pray with and for you. If you are unable to attend with us in person at this time, we livestream our Mass each Sunday.  Please contact the parish office at 414-762-6810 if you or someone you know would like a visit with Communion as well.  Masses are available for viewing anytime on our YouTube channel.  Live streams appear at the top of the page as they occur.  Our channel also has a cache of 200+ videos from the last two years nested under playlists according to type.  Listen to a homily again or share it with someone else, hear our ABIDE speakers, and more! 

Guatemalan coffee is available for sale at the Parish Office.  Cafe Juan Ana was established in 1992 by Fr. Greg Schaffer in response to challenges faced by primarily indigenous coffee farmers. Named in honor of his father & mother, John & Ann, the coffee is a delicious treat, with beans grown in rich volcanic soil.  A variety of coffee is available for $13.00 per bag.  After the independent farmer is paid, processing & shipping is covered, the balance of each bag purchased goes toward educational scholarships that Divine Mercy provides to needy students in Chinique, Guatemala.  Thank you for your purchase!

Order from the very popular Berres Brothers Coffee (Wisconsin made) and the company will give 15% off and make a 15% donation to the Scholarship Fund for a student at Divine Mercy. Opt to pay for shipping, or pick up in Watertown to save a little more money. Berres Brothers has excellent flavored coffees, as well as other options, perfect for gifts or as a treat for yourself.  Just visit www.berresbrothers.com/discount/FFSF and use code FFSF. Thank you for your support!