Hello Everyone,

This past weekend we celebrated the Fourth Sunday in Lent.  Welcome to the first day of spring.  The school is on Spring Break so it’s really quite around here….

Once again the Religious Ed program will be selling Luminaries.  The Luminaires will line the sidewalk of the church on Saturday, April 8^th for the Easter Vigil. They can be purchased in memory of someone who is deceased, in honor of someone living, or to thank someone serving in our military. Names of all those who have a luminary purchased will be published the weekend of Easter. Luminaries are $5.00 per name, and all proceeds will go to SFX youth trips such as Steubenville Conference, Extreme Faith Camp, and Totus Tuus.   Please see the attached flyer or contact Kris in the office to see how you can purchase a Luminary.

Thank you to all who have supported our School Annual Appeal.  We have currently raised $33,392!!!  This is fantastic.  But even better news!  Another generous parishioner is putting up another $3,000 in matching funds.  If we can collect another $3,000, that will put us at $39,392.  Only $608 away from our $40,000 goal.  This is wonderful!  Thank you for your support of our school.  Thank you for your prayers and for your financial donations.

St Francis Xavier Catholic School has two teaching positions open for next school year.  We are looking to hire an Early Childhood Teacher and a Middle School Science teacher.  These positions are full time with benefits.  Our preferred candidate would be faith filled, a team player, and a positive collaborator with fellow teachers, administrators, students, parents, and members of the community. St Francis Xavier prides itself on delivering a traditional faith-based education rooted in Service, Faith, and academic eXcellence.  If you or anyone you know is interested in teaching at St Francis Xavier or would be interested in a Teacher Aide position at SFX, please contact Kate Shimel at 715-536-6083.

Father Jim will be presenting his final talk on Meditations on the Cross this coming Sunday March 26^th at 7pm in the worship space at SFX.  His talks can also be seen on our website www.stfrancismerrill.org.  We would like to thank Father Jim for taking time to visit our parish and give these talks.   

This week we will be praying the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday night at 6pm in the SFX worship space.  We will not be praying Stations of the Cross this Friday.

Friday Fish Fry update:

Week #1 : 563 meals

Week #2 : 613 meals

Week #3:  722 meals

Week #4:  664 meals

Week #5:  648 meals

We only have 2 weeks left of our delicious Fish Fry!!!  Many thanks to our volunteers and bakers and all who help make this Fish Fry a success.

We welcome to our parish family Harper James Reissmann.    Harper was baptized into Christ by Father Maria on Sunday after the 11am Mass at SJB.  Harper is the daughter of Austin and Cassandra Reissmann.  Willie Bialecki and Autumn Reissmann are Harper’s Godparents.  Please pray for Harper and her family as she grows in her Catholic faith.

We have two candidates among us who will be Confirmed at the Easter Vigil this year.  Please pray for Andrew Wallace and Mikayla Portilla Andreas as they enter the final preparations for entering the church.  

Holy Week Schedule:

Palm Sunday Mass:

            Saturday April 1 at 4pm – SFX

            Sunday April 2 at 7:30am and 9am – SFX

            Sunday April 2 at 11am – SJB

Holy Thursday Mass:

            Thursday April 6 at 7pm – SFX  (There will be no Mass at SJB on April 6)

Good Friday Service:

            Friday April 7 at 1pm – SFX

            Friday April 7 at 6pm – SJB

Easter Vigil Mass:

            Saturday April 8 at 8:30pm – SFX

Easter Sunday: 

            Sunday April 9 at 7:30am and 9am – SFX

            Sunday April 9 at 11am – SJB

We are in need of volunteers for our Holy Week Liturgies.   If you would like to volunteer to help decorate the church, read, bring up the oils, or have your feet washed please contact Kris in the office. 

Just a heads up!  Next week (probably Monday or Tuesday) you will be receiving a robo-phone call from the school regarding the Annual Appeal.  If you miss a call from the school, it was probably the robo call regarding the Annual Appeal.

Happy Spring,

Dcn Jim