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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - Sunday, November 3rd from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Please join us for some or all of this time of prayer. The 2nd Collection will be going to our Helping Hands Fund. It supports the poor at the door in Grafton and the surrounding area. Please Pick Up Your Copies By The Bulletins For The: Advent & Christmas Schedule Poinsettia Order Forms Family Advent Calendar Challenge We begin Advent with a reminder from St. Paul that we are called to be children of the light. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and He entered our souls through the gift of Baptism. He deepens this bond every time we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist in a state of grace. Union with Christ empowers us to radiate His truth, goodness and love to a culture shrouded in the darkness of corruption and death. But what happens if a person grafted to Jesus Christ chooses sin instead of Him? St. Macarius aptly describes the plight of a Christian compromised with evil. He states, “When God was displeased with the Jews, he delivered Jerusalem to the enemy, and they were conquered by those who hated them; there were no more sacrifices or feasts. Likewise angered at a soul who had broken his commands, God handed it over to its enemies, who corrupted and totally dishonored it. When a house has no master living in it, it becomes dark, vile and contemptible, choked with filth and disgusting refuse. So too is a soul which has lost its master, who once rejoiced there with his angels. This soul is darkened with sin, its desires are degraded, and it knows nothing but shame. Woe to the path that is not walked on, or along which the voices of men are not heard, for then it becomes the haunt of wild animals. Woe to the soul if the Lord does not walk within it to banish with his voice the spiritual beasts of sin. Woe to the house where no master dwells, to the field where no farmer works, to the pilotless ship, storm-tossed and sinking. Woe to the soul without Christ as its true pilot; drifting in the darkness, buffeted by the waves of passion, storm-tossed at the mercy of evil spirits, its end is destruction. Woe to the soul that does not have Christ to cultivate it with care to produce the good fruit of the Holy Spirit. Left to itself, it is choked with thorns and thistles; instead of fruit it produces only what is fit for burning. Woe to the soul that does not have Christ dwelling in it; deserted and foul with the filth of the passions, it becomes a haven for all the vices.” Last weekend, I spoke at one of the Masses about the shameful display of immorality that was promoted by the local school play. I’m sure what I said bothered some people, but the truth is always difficult for those not living in it. That profane production was a glaring statement of how far Christians have compromised themselves to the dark spirit of the world. Even many of those who objected to the content of the play still allowed their children to participate in it, thus rendering their objection irrelevant and their witness to Christ thrown to the wind. Advent is a special time of grace for us to repent of our sins, go to Confession, and plunge further into the godly light of Jesus Christ. The Second Person of the Holy Trinity inspires us to a life of holiness by Himself becoming man in order to save us. If we have failed Him in any way, let us not be discouraged, but return to His merciful Heart that is open wide for sinners. He is a loving God who desires what is best for us. Trust Him. May God be praised and may you be blessed! Mission Statement To walk by Faith, to be known by Love and to be a Beacon of Light in our community. We are asking that you pray 3 Hail Marys after each Mass for people to come back to their Catholic Faith. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eucharist Schedule Saturday:5:00 pm - St. John’s, Grafton Sunday: 7:30 am - Sacred Heart, Oakwood 9:30 am - St. John’s, Grafton Reconciliation Saturday: 4:00 - 4:45 pm - St. John’s Sunday: 7:10 am - Sacred Heart, Oakwood 9:00 - 9:15 am - St. John’s ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Parish Office: 352-1648 Fr. Jeff’s Cell phone - 1-314-750-8937 Parish Kitchen: 352-0499 Pastor: Fr. Jeff Eppler Retired Priest in Residence: Fr. Bernard Schneider Deacon/Pastoral Minister/Faith Formation Director: Rev. Mr. Michael Grzadzielewski Parish Secretary: DeeDee Vogsland Environmental Services: David Demester, Paul Bina ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Parish Lay Directors: Paul Houdek, Mary (John) Dusek Pastoral Council: Jeff Blanchard, Leanne Campbell, Kelly Dokken, Paul Dolan, Brittany Dusek, Ernie Dusek, Sandra Irmen, Lee Lessard, Denise Moe, Sean Osowski, Micky Schumacher, Al Szklarski, Marta Balderas - Hispanic Ministry Liaison. Finance Council: Matt Beneda, Mary (John) Dusek, Paul Houdek, JoAnn Lizakowski, Kathy Maus, Donny Suda, Stacey Van Bruggen Baptism Prep Classes - On the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Gathering Space. Call 352-1648 to register. Training for Eucharistic Ministers of Communion - on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:15 pm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FORMED: Youth and Adult Faith Formation at formed.org Parish Access code:PNWMV2 Bulletin - find it at stjohnsgrafton.com Emails: Father Jeff at [email protected] DeeDee at [email protected] Need a ride to church: Call Frank Janousek at 520-1730 or Jim Kosmatka at 360-2061 Bulletin Deadline - Wednesday 4:00 p.m. St. John the Evangelist Sacred Heart - Oakwood December 1, 2019 1515 Western Ave. First Sunday of Advent Grafton, ND 58237
