I have extended an invitation to Rev. James R. Horath to come to our parish on the weekend of January 26-27, 2019.  Father Horath will speak to you about the work being done by Unbound (previously known as CFCA), and how this provides a trustworthy way to actively participate in the social outreach of the Catholic Church and answer the Gospel call to serve the poor. 
 
Founded by lay Catholics, Unbound is an organization that has served more than 600,000 children, youth and elderly in 18 developing countries since 1981 - empowering them to make more choices in their lives, live with dignity and reach their potential.
 
Unbound’s unique sponsorship program is highly personalized.  It matches a child, youth or aging person at a project overseas with a sponsor in the U.S. who cares about and encourages that person.  With a monthly contribution, a sponsor helps to provide much-needed nourishing food, medical and dental care, the chance for a child to go to school, livelihood programs for families and much more.  All of these efforts are directed at affirming the dignity of every person in their local community.
 
Please join me in welcoming Father Horath to our parish.
 
Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ,
Rev. Shaji Joseph Pazhukkathara, Pastor
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Few scattered thoughts….
 
As I write this my mind is preoccupied about tomorrow mornings drive to airport. Tonight, I hope there won’t be too much snow.
 
I would like to share with you few thoughts for your reflection and prayer…
 
March 6th will be Ash Wednesday. During lent we all like to do something special for the season and prepare ourselves for the Jesus’ death and Resurrection.
 
Charismatic Prayer group: We are in the process of forming a Charismatic prayer group. Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Fr. Dean Buttrick will be celebrating 5 pm Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church and giving homily on Charismatic movement. After the Mass we will have Charismatic prayer group. If you would like to know more about it, please contact Deacon Chet at 715-762-4959. Thank you.
 
During Lent we are planning to start Adoration on Wednesdays at Immaculate Conception after the Mass. We will continue first Friday Adoration at St. Anthony’s. In addition we will start Wednesday at Immaculate Conception.
 
During Lent we will be doing a study on Presence. If you did sign up on Formed website, you can watch the video in advance to prepare yourselves for the study. If not, please sign up. Please go to stanthonysparkfalls.formed.org and sign up. Pete (Patrick) Pritzl will be leading the study. There will be more info on book study later. Thank you.

Little Tommy was so impressed by his sister’s wedding that he announced. “I want to have a wedding just like Linda had.” “That sounds great,” said his father. “But whom will you marry?” Tommy announced: “I want to marry grandma because she loves me and I love her.” “You can’t marry grandma,” his father said. “Why not?” Tommy protested. “Because she is my mother.” “Well,” reasoned Tommy, “Then why did you marry my mother?”
 
The last two weekends we celebrated Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord: God the Fathers reveals his son, Jesus, the Messiah. This weekend we see Jesus at the wedding of Cana: another revelation. Pope St. John Paul II gave us a beautiful gift when he introduced the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. The second mystery is the subject of today’s Gospel, the Wedding Feast at Cana where Jesus changed water into wine. The miracle at Cana is the first of seven “signs” in John’s Gospel - miraculous events by which Jesus showed forth his Divinity.
 
Throughout the Bible, marriage is the symbol of the Covenant relationship between God and His chosen people.  God is the faithful Groom and humanity is His beloved bride. We hear about divine marriage in the first reading. God is like a bridegroom who rejoices in his bride. Israel is God's bride. Jesus takes up the theme of divine marriage. He begins his public ministry by calling himself "the bridegroom." And in today's Gospel, Jesus the divine bridegroom attends a human wedding feast. He performs his first miracle on behalf of a young bride and groom.
 
The presence of the Lord at this marriage feast has resulted in our associating Cana with Catholic marriage.  But this miracle is more about the sacrament of the Eucharist than marriage. The first sign, Cana, points to the Final Sign in the Gospel of John, the crucifixion, when Jesus is raised upon the Cross. First of all, today’s Gospel passage points to the extraordinary transformation of the world begun at Cana. Its completion is at Calvary. Every reception of the Eucharist is a union with the crucified Savior whose blood has defeated the power of evil and transform our world. Mary’s instruction is very important, "Do whatever he tells you."
 
The miracle at Cana invites us to become Jesus and Mary. The question is how? Let us look at tragedies around our lives. Most of the time we wonder about it, try to find an answer. It is ok, beyond that discussion; the miracle at Cana invites us to perform another miracle by giving a helping hand through our thoughts, prayers, and actions. It is an invitation to become Mary and Joseph. Jesus breaks and shares with us at every Mass and we sent out do the same. When our hearts move towards the needy, the miracle happens, this celebration becomes meaningful… the celebration will continue in our life. Mary told Jesus, “they have no wine”….a thought for the other!

Trip to India: I will be leaving for India on January 23rd and will be back February 20th. We have priests for every weekend and on weekdays Deacon Chet, Bob, and Rick Harter will be leading the services. Please keep me in your prayers, I will keep you all in my prayer. I hope it won’t get too cold here and too warm in India either. It should be 80’s in Kerala, India.