What do we seek in life?

07-26-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear people of God,

Wishing you all a peace and joy in the Holy names of our Jesus Christ, our Mother Mary and Joseph!

Last two weeks, we have been hearing parables about the kingdom of heaven. Today’s Gospel also speaks about the Kingdom of Heaven. It is like a Treasure buried in the field, like a merchant searching Pearls and like a Net thrown into sea, which collects fish of every kind.

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Cultivate a Desire for God

07-19-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear people of God,

In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us three parables; the parable of Weeds, the parable of Mustard seed and the parable of Yeast. All three parables are about the kingdom of God. Here I would like to write about the parable of Weeds alone.

There were people in Our Lord’s time who wanted him to separate the bad from the good as well. Among them were people who claimed the moral high ground, the Pharisees whose name means “the separated ones.” Our Lord didn’t do. He had all sorts of people around him, a rainbow coalition of people, the learned, the ignorant, the good-living, the bad living, tax-collectors, prostitutes, the lot. Why doesn’t he weed them out?

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The Sower and the Seeds

07-12-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

I thank all for your warm welcome with your words and especially with your smiles. I am very happy to come in contact with all through this my first bulletin writing.

In the fifteenth week to Ordinary Sunday, Jesus gives us the parable of a sower, sowing seeds and an explanation, which comes from Saint Matthew. There are people who don’t understand the word of the kingdom and the evil comes and steals away what was sown in the heart. The second group are those who hear the word and receive it immediately with joy but when difficulties come, these peopleimmediately fall away.

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Introducing Fr. Doss

07-05-2020Weekly Reflection

Dear People,

I am happy to introduce myself. I am Fr. Doss from the Diocese of Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India. I was ordained April 25, 2007. I served happily as a Pastor in two remote villages for almost 11 years. From an unknown village of Tamil Nadu, God has brought me here to the Diocese of La Crosse to have a different pastoral experience. I was at Wisconsin Rapids for three months. I was at Holy Ghost Church, Chippewa Falls for seven months and now I have been sent here to render my services to you.

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Farewell and Thank You!

07-01-2020Weekly ReflectionFather Prince Raja

A big thanks to all of you especially Deacon and ladies who organized the drive up farewell for me on Sunday. In this uncertain times, I really appreciate all of you who drove to my rectory to say goodbye to me, and our three parish Knights of Columbus members, PCCW members and our parishioners who wished me with beautiful greeting cards, gifts and treats, thank you so much for your love and kind words. I will keep you all in prayers.

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13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

06-28-2020Weekly ReflectionFather Prince Raja

When I offered the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on 19 June 2020, I got this reading from Dt 7:6 "Moses said to the people: "You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God; he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own."

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Mission appeal on behalf of Archbishop Anthony Papusamy for Madurai Archdiocese, India

06-21-2020Weekly ReflectionFather Prince Raja

Hello This is Father Prince Raja, every year from the society of the propagation of the faith, our parishes will get a visiting priest to make a mission appeal for their diocese or their congregation, since this week and next week will be my last in our parishes, I am doing this missionary cooperative program 2020 for my diocese back in India, at present my archbisop can't be here to do this Mission appeal, on behalf of my Archbishop Anthony Papusamy for Madurai Archdiocese, India, I will give some brief history of my diocese and the works that are being done there with your help.

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Holy Eucharist as a Sacrificial Meal

06-14-2020Weekly ReflectionFather Prince Raja

This weekend diocese of La Crosse asked me to make this announcement since I will be released from all my responsibilities as a pastor of our three parishes from July 2, 2020, our parishes will have a new administrator Fr. Aruldoss who is at present serving in Chippewa Falls Holy Ghost Parish as a associate pastor. Fr. Aruldoss and me come from the same state of southern India. Though we belong to different dioceses, we speak same language and we studied together in seminary. Let's welcome Father to our three parishes.

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How real is your God?

06-07-2020Weekly ReflectionFather Prince Raja

I once had a spiritual director who was fond of asking the question: "What is your God like?" he would then challenge me to go even deeper as he would continue to ask: "What does God feel like for you? What does He smell like? What does He taste like? What does He look like? What does He sound like for you?" Initially these questions seemed silly, and even difficult to answer. Eventually they opened up for me a whole new way of perceiving God. For instance, if you were to ask me: "What does God smell like for you?" I might say something like: "He smells like the fragrance of a cool evening in a hilly area after some showers; the air is fresh; there is a limy fragrance in the air; and you just want to take in a deep breath." This God is real to me! Yes, it is analogical. In fact all our talking about God is analogical. But these images make God real to us.

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Pentecost

05-30-2020Weekly ReflectionFather Prince Raja

Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the status quo of the contemporary society on several fronts. Its impact has been felt across almost every aspect of life, including healthcare services, economics, entertainment industry and sports, work and family life, and in religious and educational practices. Amidst these global disruptions, the winners have been the contemporary twins, Information Technology (IT) and internet (webinar Zoom). I really appreciate and thank you all for your great support towards our parishes during this uncertain times. I remembered all your family members and your intentions in my daily private mass.

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Reopening our Churches for Sunday Holy Mass beginning May 30/31

05-20-2020Weekly ReflectionDeacon Ed Wendt

PENDING APPROVAL BY THE DIOCESE OF LA CROSSE

We are about to embark in possibly dangerous seas. The Covid-19 continues to threaten the lives of many people and we are faced with a challenge to reopen our churches for public worship. We cannot allow fear to dictate an abandonment of our churches, but must rely on faith in the divine physician to walk with us, to protect us, and if need to, heal us. Our faith in Christ Jesus is the life preserver in this pandemic ocean. That being said we must also take precautionary measures to insure our well-being.

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Good News

05-13-2020Weekly ReflectionDeacon Ed Wendt

My Dear Family,

How great it is that our God loves us. Not only does God continue to love us, God chooses to abide within us. This is the Good News!

It's not only good news – we're also given some helpful direction in how to share this news with others. Paul helps us with that most difficult of all church concepts, evangelization.

Paul treats the Athenians with courtesy and seriousness. "I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship." He didn't rush into their temple and begin by tearing down what was sacred to them. Paul took the time to walk around, to see who they were and how they prayed. He noticed the altar to an unknown god, and he built on this. His thoughtfulness allowed the Athenians to hear him with open minds. What a lesson for us all.

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I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

05-06-2020Weekly ReflectionDeacon Ed Wendt

My Dear Family,

When have so many people, everywhere, felt so uncertain, had so many unanswered and unanswerable questions all at the same time? When have so many plans been upended, suspended? When have so many guidelines been provisional, temporary, subject to revision? How long will this last? When will we get to attend Mass/go out/gather/travel/work normally/work at all/hug/feel safe again? Grief, illness, this unseen virus with its terrible tentacles that reach into our homes, churches, schools, hospitals, economy all leave us feeling adrift, even more than we often do as humans. We may feel suspended, floating (not in a good way), unable to get a foothold on something solid and dependable, concrete and unshakeable. It’s all up in the air.

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