The Our Lady Queen of Heaven men's group has been around for a long time and we are always looking for new members.  We are a loosely organized group whereas we do not meet on any specific night, or time.  We maintain a list of men from the parish that are willing to give of their time and talents, to take on some of the tasks that need attending to in the life of Our Lady, Saint Mary's.  Whether that be cutting the grass, to repairing the playground equipment, to constructing a new confessional, a new front sign, to pouring concrete, to helping clear snow in the winter, there are numerous projects that they undertake.  If you would like to participate, as you can, please make contact with Deacon Tom.

Another beautiful ministry is serving at Mass.  At this time we have several adult servers, and a few middle and high school students serving.  We are looking for those who could participate in this ministry.  You will be trained and then scheduled to participate at the altar.  

Calvary Cemetery - There is always work that needs to be done at Calvary Cemetery.  At this moment we are working on clearing the land where the two houses once stood.  There are a lot of trees down, a lot of branches, and such that need to be removed.  We are also in the process of putting in a flag pole, some trees, and a statue in front of the mausoleum.  If you have some time, and a trailer, or just want to help, again just make contact with Deacon Tom

Annual Parish Picnic - Again many hands make the work so much easier.  We thank all for such a successful parish picnic.  We are always looking for those who would be able and willing to help with this annual affair.  We begin planning for next years picnic right after this years picnic.  Are you willing to help us out?  

These are some of the ministries of Our Lady Queen of Heaven.  If you can help us please just make contact with me.
Thank you and God Bless you!
 

If you have driven by Calvary Cemetery, you will notice that the two houses north of the cemetery have been removed.  Calvary Cemetery purchased the last house, so that there would be ample space available for expansion.
 
There is a fair amount of clean-up that needs to be done where the houses were located.  That will take some time.  The two-stall metal shed on site is now empty, purchased and will be moved.
 
Behind the Mausoleum is a 12 X 16 foot shed with a garage door.  It’s on concrete and is for sale.  It will need to be moved when purchased.  Please call Deacon Tom. if interested.
 
Pews that were donated were cut down to size and placed in the Mausoleum.  They still need some additional sanding and staining.  Soon there will be a new podium, so that committals for funerals can take place there.  There are future plans for shrubbery, trees, flag pole, etc. around the mausoleum.  Stay tuned.
 
The Parish Picnic Committee will meet one more time before the picnic.  Please pick up your raffle tickets.  When the sign-up sheets for the picnic are out, please sign up.  If you can, please find some time to help make the weekend special for our Church.
 
Thank you to all who have been donating books and items for the Flea Market. Now is a good time to go through your basement, garage or attic.  Those items may be donated to the Flea Market and Book Sale.  The garage door is open daily 7:00 until 3:30 Monday through Thursday.  It is open until noon on Friday.
 
Please drop off your items and leave them on the empty table or on the floor.  Please don’t leave items if the garage door is closed.

     One would have noticed by now that the front sign for our Church is missing.  The inner part of that sign that was donated by Phillip and Vinnie Eron, was worn to the point that it needs to be redone.
     The plexy-glass front was in need of replacement, along with the inside.  It is also in need of a new         lighting system.
     The new sign is being constructed right now.   it will include the name of our Church, and “Our Lady Queen of Heaven,” logo.  It will also include the Knights of Columbus logo on the bottom.  Along with these logo’s, there will be Mass times, and of course individual signage for our Pastor and  the Assumption Chaplain, our assistant.
     Then along with the Knights of Columbus logo, there will be the meeting times for the Knights.
     We thank the volunteers, that step up to help whenever there is a need for the Church.   Whether that be maintenance, ushering, serving, bake sale’s, rosary making, funeral dinners, picnic committee, quilters, and so many other situations, here at Our Lady Queen of Heaven,
The front sign is one of those needs.   Along with fixing the garden wall by Father’s residence, pouring a concrete slab between the back garages, to the weekly mowing of the lawn.  All of these projects are done by volunteer parish members, men and women alike.
     We not only thank those who are so willing to give of their time and talents, but also to those who give monies, for so many of these projects.
     If you are interested in helping in any way you can, just make contact with our office, and we will make contact with you.  God speed and God bless.

I am writing this the day after returning from the 43rd “Never Forgotten Honor Flight.” As we are now coming upon Memorial Day, this flight out to Washington D.C. to see all the veteran’s memorials, gave me feelings of humbled pride of service. I knew that, all these veterans, who were on this flight with me, also carry in their hearts and minds, all the soldiers, sailors and marines who did not return from war.

It had been 53 years since enlisting in the Army, wanting to serve my country. Admittedly after being deployed and coming back to Travis Air Force Base, near Los Angeles, when we were ready to take our next flight, we all were told to take our uniforms off. When I did get home, I got off the plane in Mosinee wearing blue jeans and sandals.

This honor flight is a memory I will carry till the day God calls me home. What a reception we received at Reagan Airport, from passengers waiting to board their planes. There was not a vet without a mist in their eyes. So many young children and teenagers walked up to us and welcomed us home. Ironically, as a retired firefighter, the Reagan Airport Fire Department, gave the honor flight a salute by a Cross spray of water over the plane in the Veterans honor. I was honored to meet so many other era Veterans, who are now getting on in years, many now in wheelchairs, or as they called them honor chairs.

It was a whirlwind of a day going out and coming back to the hundreds of, family, friends, veterans groups, and so many others, who turned out at Mosinee Airport to welcome us back. I was honored to have my son as my Guardian on the flight, to be on this flight with Bill Plante from our parish, and to see Andy and Deb, from our church family, giving of themselves as volunteers, and guardians, for all the honor flights.

As we were just a short time out from Mosinee, coming back, we had what we longed to hear in the service; “Mail Call!” I personally want to humbly thank all those who sent a card, and/or letter of thanks for our service, and to all the wonderful children in our parish family who sent a letter of love and thanks.

In remembering, “Memorial Day,” we all stand in silence and prayer, to honor, and remember those Veterans who fell in battle for the freedom of our country. All of the Veterans on this Honor Flight were humbled to be given such a wonderful, proud to have served, “Welcome Home.”

My last column talked about Jail Ministry and one particular inmate who turned his life around to Christ.  That former inmate is now part of Jail Ministry.  This is a person who can sit with these inmates and empathize with them, he can help them more than anyone of us could, because he was in their situation in life, and can show them, by his own life now, that you can be converted, from a life where jail is a revolving door, or a life where you are part of the solution.

Visiting the sick is another beautiful ministry of the clergy, and especially the Deacon.  A part of their own ministry is taking the precious Body of our Lord to the sick and dying, sitting and praying with them.  If you have a loved one that is for one reason or another, in the hospital, or is at home for a period of time, please let our family here at Our Lady know, and we will be more than happy to make sure that you are not only included in our prayers, but are visited and have the opportunity to receive our Lord, in your time of need. 

Remember the Anointing of the Sick can only be given by the Priest.  Anointing of the Sick can be given to those who are going in for a very serious operation, for those who suddenly are ill and the outcome is   uncertain, and of course to those who are being called home to our Lord. This anointing of the sick includes confession, if possible, viaticum, receiving our Lord in the Eucharist, along with the prayers and anointing with the oil of the sick.  Remind your children that you want this anointing if anything like the above should happen to you.

All of us are part of this beautiful family of Catholic Christians, and because we are family, here at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, please let us know if you are in any way unable to attend Church, because of an accident or illness, and would like to receive, not only a visit from the clergy, but the precious Body of our Lord in the Eucharist.

This coming week we will again go to the County Jail to visit, pray with and for, inmates incarcerated for various offenses.
    
We are truly blessed to have a number of deacons, and laity that give of their time to visit these inmates.  For the deacons we of course go to visit the male  inmates, and there is a separate ministry of lay women who visit with the female inmates.
    
The response to this ministry by the inmates, has been for the most part, very positive. This has been a much needed, and ongoing ministry now for many years.  For myself, personally I was totally out of my comfort zone when I first became part of this ministry, but really over time, it has come to be one of my  favorites.  We have seen what this means to those who need to hear that there is another road they can take in life, and that it is not too late to turn back, go to that fork in the road of life, and take the narrow path.
    
One specific story that I will mention is about Mike (not his real name).  Mike came up to me, outside of the jail, and told me who he was and how much the ministry had changed his life.  I did not remember Mike at the time, because there are so many that you see over the years, but he remembered me coming with other Deacons, and lay personal to talk to several inmates.     
                                                                      
Mike did spend a fair amount of time in jail, but  after finding the Lord and committing himself to him, he has found, and married the love of his life, and now has two beautiful little girls.  He has turned his life around because someone took the time to visit him when he needed it most.                                                

 Please continue to pray for these inmates, for it is at this level that we can more easily reach them.

As we begin this Lenten Season, we are all striving to listen to the voice of God calling out to us.  We are all looking for a personal renewal, for repentance and forgiveness, and the willingness to follow Jesus, as he carries the Cross of life, all the way to Calvary.

As your servant, I am now in my fifth year of being your deacon.  What a blessing this calling has truly been to one who is unworthy.  We never know when God is calling us to further service. We need to find that quiet moment and listen, in prayer, to the voice of God.  “Whom shall I send?”  “Send Me.”

This is a good time of the year to listen for the voice of God, and if you feel he may be calling you to the diaconate, please take that to prayer, and really consider it.  No one becomes a deacon because of the title, it is truly a calling of further service in the Church. Diaconate means “servant,” the very reason why the deacon wears the dalmatic, the vestment that has sleeves in it.  The sleeves look like they are rolled up, preparing that person for the work of the church, in charity.  Roll up your sleeves and go to work for the Lord.

The Diocese of La Crosse has an excellent diaconate formation program, so much so that it encompasses the Dioceses of Madison and Superior.  The whole program is five years of study, once you are accepted by the diocese and complete background checks.  The first two years are very much discernment driven, for this is the time when you will know, and the Church will know, if this is right for the both of you.  It is not failure to step back from the program, it is discernment that you must take to prayer, and in prayer the good Lord will let you know.

A new class will be beginning in the fall, if you feel called—if you have even the littlest bit of interest—that may be God calling you. The program is set up so that those who apply should be ordained before age 65, with some exceptions.

All priests, bishops, and even the pope were ordained deacons first.  Some are transitional, meaning they will be ordained to the priesthood within a year. Others, like myself, are permanent deacons, I will  go no further.  Deacons can be married as long as you are married before ordination. Being a permanent deacon, for most, is a volunteer position, an unpaid position, but a very rewarding answer to God’s call.  “Send me Lord.”       

We are all called to a vocation in life. A call to take our God-given talents, and use them for our benefit, our own improvement, but more importantly for the betterment of those we meet in our everyday lives. Whether we are single, married, religious life, or clergy, God calls each one of us to be that difference. A ripple in the water of life that will touch and will influence society in a positive way.

Abraham heard the call and followed in faith. John the Baptist understood his calling in life, listened, and was obedient to the will of God. Jesus, in our own humanity, understood his calling and was obedient to the will of the Father.

In a society that sounds a continuous call for personal autonomy, a call that resonates for personal self-rule, and for a subjective belief in what is the truth, it becomes a culture where truth becomes relative. Accepting for themselves what is right or wrong, and that like a ripple in the water will affect all of society.

It takes moral courage, something that is rare in a society of this self-truth, to accept even for a moment in life, that there is something bigger than all of us and acting on that belief. As stated in a recent homily, this “Moment of clarity,” came to light, when a critically injured football player, brought two opposing teams and a nation to their knees in prayer for his recovery. In that moment, those who were watching football that night, saw an announcer ask for a moment of prayer. Not a moment of silence, but a moment of prayer, and he personally led that prayer for over a minute. He wasn’t thinking of any consequences for leading a prayer to someone bigger than all of us.

We are all called in life to have that moral courage, to use what is instilled in our hearts by God for our benefit. More importantly for the betterment of our neighbor. Like the ripple in the water, that moral courage has an impact on all society.

This is a beautiful Christmas Story that was part of a homily a couple years ago-it is so worth retelling. The story is about a local school that would be holding their annual production of the Nativity play, and also about Wally, who was nine years old at the time and in second grade, instead of fourth grade, due to the fact that he had challenges that made it difficult for him to keep up with the other children.  Wally was that type of kid, bigger than the other kids, but well-liked.  Wally was very excited to be part of the Christmas play that year, for he was able to play the innkeeper.  The play’s director liked Wally and wanted him to be able to be a part of the play and yet be able to remember his lines, so with Wally playing the innkeeper, she would be able to stand behind the door of the set and prompt him if necessary.

On the night of the Nativity play, everything was going along just as rehearsed, when it came time for Joseph to appear at the Inn.  Joseph slowly and     tenderly guided Mary to the door of the Inn, knocked on the door and it was then that Wally appeared    saying; “What do you want?”  “We seek lodging,”    Joseph said, and Wally right on cue said; “Seek it elsewhere, the Inn is filled.”

 Joseph spoke again; “Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain, we have come far and are very tired, and again Wally hit his cue, and sternly said; “There is no room in this Inn for you.”

Joseph then said; “Please, this is my wife Mary, who is heavy with child, and needs a place to rest, there must be some small corner for her, please, she is so tired.”

This time there was silence, and the prompter had to tell Wally to say the words; “be gone there is no room.”  Wally was quick to repeat it; “Be gone there is no room.”

It was then that Joseph on cue placed his arm around Mary and with her head on Joseph’s shoulder, the two of them started to move away.  It was then that people began to notice that Wally had not gone back into the Inn, but instead was watching, now with a distant look on his face. Those present saw his mouth open and his eyes full of tears, and it was then that the Nativity Story, this pageant would be different from the others, for it was then that Wally called out to Joseph; “DON’T GO JOSEPH, BRING MARY BACK, and then his face grew into a bright smile when he said, “YOU CAN HAVE MY ROOM.”

What Christmas is all about, seeing Christ in  others, making room for Him, in our hearts. Merry Christmas.

On November 11th the United States stops to honor those who have given of themselves, all through our rich history, to maintain the freedom we so many times take for granted.

Whether it was in peace, or wartime, millions of men and women have served this great nation, to maintain that freedom.  In a world that is slowly allowing our freedoms to be challenged, and to be slowly taken away, these brave men and women remind us that those freedoms came at a price.  We must continue to pay that price to preserve them.

This Republic stands on the principle of being blessed by God, and that all, not just a specified group, were made in the image and likeness of God.  When we are not willing to stand up for these ideologies, then we will fall for the ideology of self-glory, authority and power.  These ideologies  seek to undermine these principles.  They hover over how each of us live and think, all the while putting God aside.

As we remember the great sacrifices that each of these Veterans gave to hold up those precious freedoms of this Republic, let us all stay alert to those who strive to take away those inalienable, these absolute, undeniable rights, for their vain glory, their self-promoting, never-ending quest for power over all of us, and  fight for the ideology that says that we all have the right to life, the right of speech, the right to pursue happiness, the right to worship our God, the right to be an American.  These rights we hold sacred, for we are and will fight to always be one nation, under God, indivisible, inseparable, with liberty and justice for all.