We are filled with joy and looking forward to having Bishop Hying celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with 50 of our students from the pastorate. Please pray for them and their sponsors.

There will be an orientation meeting for all parents and students who will be celebrating their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion at St. Clement Church on September 17 from 6:00 -7:30 p.m.

Musicians and singers are needed for a praise and worship team for Saint Joseph the Worker Pastorate. A workshop will be held on August 23. Time to be determined. If you are interested or want more info, please contact Leigh at: [email protected].

I have announced my retirement as pastoral minister, effective August 31. God placed this on my heart 7-8 months ago, and His promptings have continued to this day. I spoke numerous times with my spiritual director about this, wanting to discern that this was truly coming from God. One of the concerns I had about retiring was the void if I left. But God took care of that as well. Fr. Steve and Dcn. Roger had been in discussions about the possibility of him coming on staff. It was God’s providence that brought this about for myself and Dcn. Roger. How good God is! Know that I am not moving and will still be involved at the parish. You’ll see me at Mass, lectoring and volunteering at the parish. I plan to continue coordinating our Family Promise Host week along with Peg Jonas, assisting at the Food Pantry and being the pastorate Mental Health Advocate. Please pray for me in the coming weeks, as change and adjustment can be challenging. May God watch over us all, and bless us in abundance. ~Bill Manthe

Everyone from our pastorate is invited to join us for a fabulous SUNSET CRUISE on Friday, August 1. The cruise will be from 8-10 p.m. and will depart from the Cassville Ferry Landing with loading to begin at 7:45 p.m. The cost is $12/person. Pay and Sign Up for the Cruise at the St. Clement Parish office. Please make checks out to Knights of Columbus and sign up ASAP! Bring your own chairs, drinks and snacks. Please Note: No Glass of any kind is allowed on the Ferry! We’ll be having live music too, for an enjoyable evening on the Mighty Mississippi! Invite your friends (and sign them up) and meet new friends from our pastorate! While everyone is invited, space is limited, so sign up soon. For more information, contact Bill & Judy Seyer at 608-988-6543.

SS. Andrew-Thomas School is seeking to hire a Music Teacher for the 2025/26 school year, please contact Beth at 608-763-2120 or [email protected].

On January 23, 2014, I retired from my job at FSA in Dodgeville. The next day I was asked to help with counting money for the church. This quickly led to being the bookkeeper for the parish. Then in 2023, I was asked to become the Administrator for the Parish. Now after 11 years of serving the parish, I have decided that it is time for me to allow someone else to have the privilege of helping. Therefore, on June 27, 2025, I will be stepping down as bookkeeper and Administrator of St. Andrew-Thomas Parish. It has been a great privilege for me to be able to help for the past 11 years, and my enjoyment came with helping all of you in the parish in any way that you required. Thank you to our priests, Leigh, Julie, Katherine, Cheryl and the congregation for making it memorable. You are ever in my prayers. - Aleise Oyen

We were overjoyed to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Fr. Sudhakar Reddy Devarapu's Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ yesterday with a beautiful Mass, delicious food and lots of wonderful people. We are very grateful that Bishop Donald Hying, many priests, and lots of father's friends and parish members were able to join us for the day. A huge & hearty THANK YOU to Gary Mumm and crew for preparing the delicious chicken and to Melanie Mergen and all of the fantastic volunteers from the parishes who helped to set up, serve the meal and cleaned up afterward. Thank you to everyone who brought desserts. The food was fabulous!!! A very special thank you to Jane Patterson and the choir members from our parishes for the amazing music for the Mass. We are very grateful to everyone who helped with the Mass especially Deacon Roger Scholbrock and Bill Manthe and the servers. Thank you to Donna Bark, Kim Vogt, Cathy Martin and helpers for the lovely flowers and making the church look stunning for the Mass. It was an incredible celebration and truly there aren't enough words to thank everyone who made it possible. God bless.

Ss. Andrew-Thomas Parish sincerely THANKS Pat Reuter for her many years of service to the Tennyson and Potosi Churches. She has kept our facilities in an immaculate condition and has always been there to support all activities, including weddings, funerals, and other pastoral events. Pat has decided to retire from her cleaning position, and we are in search of a new volunteer to walk in her shoes. The position requires approximately 20-30 hours a month and pay is negotiable. If interested, please get in touch with Aleise Oyen 608-331-7305 or Shirley Straka 608-770-9504 for additional consideration.

Fr. Herbert is celebrating his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ this coming Saturday, May 17. What a marvelous milestone for such a wonderful priest who has celebrated Mass at St. Clement on so many occasions. We thank and congratulate him, and wish him much joy and many blessings. "Well done my good and faithful servant!" Cards and well-wishes can be sent to: 669 S. Washington St., Apt. C2, Lancaster, WI 53813.

We are very grateful to the parents for following through with the promises they made at their child’s Baptism, to bring them up in the practice of the faith. May God continue to bless them as they teach their child about Christ’s love and presence in the Eucharist. Our First Communicants: Kinsley Breuer Madilyn Cooper Everett Guthrie Jensen Hampton Clay Mezera Case Mulrooney Liam Needham Everett Patterson Owen Price Reid Raisbeck Bennett Redman Scarlett Udelhoven

St. Clement Parish First Communion May 4, 2025 Congratulations to all our First Communicants! Asher Thomas Son of Josh & Jennifer Bailie Maverick Joseph Son of Jason & Brittney Cliff Asher Burton Son of Elias & Taylor Cox Adalle Jean Daughter of Mitch & Brandi Dreher Margot Kay Daughter of Eric Dunbar & Bethany Hammel Harper Verlie Daughter of David & Katie Gerhards Annie Ethel Daughter of Daniel & Katie Glass Luella Clare Daughter of Andy & Heidi Haas Bronson John Son of Jesse & Jeanna Hampton Lincoln Remigius Son of Chris & Sue Hoerth Lidia Marie Daughter of Trevor & Heidi Junk Kyler Daniel Son of Dan & Katie Kirschbaum Ivy Sue Daughter of Brandon & Samantha Klein Emersyn Ann Daughter of Josh & Danielle McLimans Adrian Ashan Son of Chanaka & Roshini Mendis Brock Andrew Son of Andrew & Jody Miles Ezra Abe Son of Ryan & Patience Miles Veda Jean Daughter of Matthew & Abby Rasmussen Harper Lynne Daughter of Kyle & Katie Reuter Sara Mae Daughter of Andrew Schluenz & Emilie Bray Charley Elenor Daughter of Scott & Molly Snyder Herman Paul Son of John & Bridget Spraggon Madeleine Anne Daughter of Jacob & Katelyn Stoeffler Evelyn Grace Daughter of Brad & Jody Sturmer Vale Helene Daughter of Brian & Andrea Timmerman

After looking over St. Mary's Rectory roof and windows, St. Mary's Parish Council has decided to have the remaining 30 original 1949 rectory windows replaced this year. This project will cost approximately $51,000.00 and should be completed sometime later this summer or early fall. While there are some restricted maintenance funds that can be used toward the cost, St. Mary's Parish Council is hoping that generous people in our parish and pastorate will be able to help with this expense by making donations to ST. MARY'S RECTORY WINDOW PROJECT. Please contact St. Mary's Parish office at 608-994-2526 for more information.

Leigh is navigating the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Cassie, who tragically passed away in a car accident on August 16, 2024. In this time of grief, Leigh has found comfort in her God's mercy and in the love and prayers of her family, friends, and community. This fundraiser has been created for those who feel called to help ease the burdens Leigh is carrying. Contributions will help alleviate the financial strain from the accident and burial, as she leans into God’s grace. Leigh is deeply grateful for your prayers, generosity, and compassion. She holds close the promise of Christ’s peace. Thank you for walking alongside her during this journey

Women of the pastorate, give your week a Great Start on Monday mornings with coffee and donuts at 8:00 AM, prayer, Scripture readings of the day and discussion, 8:15 – 9:15, lower level of St. Clement Rectory, beginning Monday, Feb. 24. Sponsored by St. Clement Council of Catholic Women. Bring your copy of Word Among Us or Magnificat. Questions? Call or text Bernadette Schaefer at 608-732-7475.

We are looking for a few good men/women who like to bake to help make desserts for our Youth Nights in Lancaster. The next gathering would be January 29 at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Leigh Boorn via email [email protected] if you can help. Thank You in Advance!

Still considering a New Year’s resolution? Decide now to take part in one of Grant Co. Right to Life’s upcoming 2025 activities! 1. Pray for GCRTL’s efforts to bring a Safe Haven Baby Box to Grant County. 2. Help plan a movie night! Join a team to bring the full-length documentary, Unthinkable, by former PP clinic director, Abby Johnson, to a Grant Co. theater. (Or donate to offset costs.) 3. 2/4/25: Participate - from anywhere – in a 6 p.m. GCRTL Zoom meeting. Call for log-in info. 4. 3/1/25: Volunteer at a GCRTL table at a late a.m. Platteville Public Library Involvement Fair. 5. 4/5/25: Attend a free WI RTL Pregnancy Help Center conference in Wausau. By 3/21/25, register at https://www.classy.org/event/2025-pregnancy-help-center-spring-conference/e626057 . 6. Participate in a group to distribute small gifts to nursing home residents. Consider making a walker bag or lap blanket for residents. (GCRTL will provide materials.) For more info., text or call Marge at 608.732.0850 or email [email protected] (NEW address!)

Other Religions This week in our continuing series on evangelization tips we're talking about evangelizing people who belong to other religions. When you encounter a person who is of a non-Christian religion, it can be challenging to know how to convince them of the divinity of Jesus and the truth of the Catholic Church. We first have to remember that it is God who does the real work in the heart, while we only offer points for consideration. Perhaps a place to start is with the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who once stated a universal truth that, "All men by nature desire to know." Despite all of our differences, one thing brings together non-Christians who believe in God. To some degree, all of them desire "something greater." When sharing the Gospel with non-Christian believers in God, there are many arguments that you can use in a discussion. Here are a few: 1) Lord, Liar, Lunatic or Legend, 2) prophecies, and 3) miracles and private revelation. The Lord, Liar, Lunatic, or Legend argument, developed from C.S. Lewis' "trilemma," makes the case that Jesus can't be simply a good moral teacher if He is not also God. He has to be lying about being God, which would make Him evil, or must be crazy to proclaim such a thing, which makes him unfit to be God. Or He's simply a legend, that is, people in the early church exaggerated accounts of Him, making Him a deity. While this argument doesn't prove that Jesus was God, it does narrow down things. When carried on to its conclusion, it shows that the best explanation for Jesus' life was that He is divine. That is, the deity of Christ (while not irrefutable) has more explanatory power than the other available options. The argument from prophecies shows that biblical prophecies have come to fruition and reveal a God who loves us and wants us to know Him. The Virgin Birth is one such prophecy which is mentioned in Isaiah 7:14. It is fulfilled in the Incarnation of Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary (Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:26- 38). This is just a starting point ... there are numerous more. The argument from miracles and private revelation shows God's continual care and providence for His people in the present. A final point: personal testimonies and stories add to these arguments by presenting a sincere witness to the Faith. This evangelization tip was brought to you by St. Paul Street Evangelization. Take our course, One Good Reason for Non-Christian Believers at evangelizationschool.com. ©Copyright St. Paul Street Evangelization 2024

This week in our continuing series on evangelization tips, we’re talking about evangelizing Protestants with One Good Reason. While we certainly have a lot in common with our separated brethren, there’s a lot that makes us different too. We need to strive for genuine Catholic ecumenism … promoting unity among the world's Christian Churches. Here’s a quote from a document of the Second Vatican Council that helps describe how we should practically approach this ecumenism: “Catholics, in their ecumenical work, must assuredly be concerned for their separated brethren, praying for them, keeping them informed about the Church, making the first approaches toward them … But their primary duty is to make a careful and honest appraisal of whatever needs to be done in order that its life may bear witness more clearly and faithfully to the teachings and institutions which have come to it from Christ through the Apostles.” (Unitatis Redintegratio, Ch. 1, Par. 4) You might still be wondering, what does this ecuminism look like in everyday life, applying the One Good Reason technique? Here are two examples: Maybe you’d like to focus on the beauty, truth, and mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist. You could say something like, “One good reason I’m Catholic is that we have the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. During the words of consecration, we believe that He becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine. We then consume Him, which means His divine presence lives inside of us. Having Jesus in me keeps me on the path to heaven.” Or how about the sacrament of penance? Here, you might say something like the following: “One good reason I’m Catholic is that I can go to Confession. Jesus established this sacrament in John 20:23, saying to the apostles, ‘If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ He knew that we’d need to unload our transgressions to another human being, and hear the words of forgiveness … so he allowed the priest to stand in as a representative of Christ.” These are just a couple examples. However you approach it, just make sure to remain charitable without straying from the truth. This evangelization tip was brought to you by St. Paul Street Evangelization. Take our course One Good Reason for Protestants at evangelizationschool.com.