Our next host week at St. Clement begins on Sunday, May 31. While that seems far away, it will be here soon. We continue to seek to expand our pool of volunteers for this important outreach to families with children experiencing homelessness. Recently, some member churches of the LAC have committed to help us and the Lancaster United Methodist Church during our host weeks. We also have a few people who assist us from Ss. Andrew-Thomas, and one person from Fennimore. But we do hope that others from our pastorate will join us in our work to support families experiencing a very difficult time for them and their children as they seek housing. To get involved or for more information contact Bill Manthe at 723-4913 or Peg Jonas at 723-2051.

Congratulations to the children from our parishes who have celebrated their First Holy Communion these last few weeks. We pray that they will cherish the gift of Christ present in the Eucharist and know God's love always: Genevieve Adam, Harrison Adams, Sawyer David, Killian Fritz, Zaylee Guthrie, Oliver Hampton, Jack Helmke, Tanner Junk, Finley Klar, Tucker Klein, Dane Leibfried, Woodlynn Meier, Jonathan Mumm, Elizabeth Oyen, Emma Roesch, Chloe Spaeth, Klair Timmerman, Hadley Uppena, David Wiedenbeck, Dakota Adams, Gracie Brewer, Jenna Freise, Luke Grinnell, Bodey Hamilton, Kalliope Hearn, Reuben Ihm, Liam King, Elliot Klein, Leighton Knapp, Xander Love, Korbin Miles, Aubree Nihles, Charles Reynolds, Connor Snyder, Henrietta Spraggon, Brynlee Udelhofen, and Benjamin White.

Children entering 5K-5th grade are invited to attend the Summer Bible School at St. Mary's on June 17-19.

The St. Mary Settlement Cemetery in Cassville is in need of new caretakers: after 35 years Rod and Bev need to retire due to health and family issues. Please call 608-725-5876 to get more information.

Thank you to all the ladies who baked the delicious treats for the Family Faith Formation sessions in our pastorate!

We have been informed that some parishioners are receiving messages claiming to be from Fr. Steve Brunner requesting help or parish information. These messages are fraudulent. Please do not respond, do not send any parish information, and do not click any links in these messages. Fr. Steve will never contact parishioners in this manner for personal requests. If you have received one of these messages, please delete it.

Please contact Mrs. Kenna St. Mary's School for more information about enrolling your child in the 3K Program.

Grief after the death of a loved one can be overwhelming. One can experience a host of feelings, thoughts, behaviors and physical reactions that can make one question one’s own mental wellbeing. There is the notion that, “time heals all wounds.” Time can bring healing, but it’s often what we do during this time that brings about relief and renewed hope. It has also been said that, “grief shared is grief diminished.” Those who have been involved in the ecumenical GriefShare bereavement support group can attest to this. Through video, discussion and sharing, GriefShare is a 12-session process that brings people together who have experienced loss and who seek support and healing in their unique journey. Our next GriefShare support group will begin on February 19 from 1:00-2:30 PM at St. Clement Church. To register online, go to: www.griefshare.org and choose “find a group.” You will see St. Clement listed. If our day/time are not the best for you, you will also see other offerings that may be a better fit. Contact Marcia Hampton at 608-732-8849 if you have questions or want to register.

Fr. Dick Leffler is currently at Edenbrook Nursing Home, 1300 N Water St, Platteville, WI 53818. He is undergoing therapy to regain strength. Fr. Dick was the pastor of Ss. Andrew-Thomas Parish for 27 years and is part of all of our families. Please take a moment to say a prayer for him to regain his strength. It would be wonderful to do a Christmas card shower for him to show our love and support.

"Everyone wants eternal youth. God created us with this desire because he wants to fulfill it. How? Through the Sacrament of Confession." Everyone is encouraged to take home a The Fountain of Youth book, and one for family and friends. We received the books as a gift from an anonymous person. There was no cost to our pastorate. The book was written by Dave Durand (a cofounder of Lighthouse Catholic Media) and endorsed by Bishop Hying and Fr. Mike Schmitz.

If you work or volunteer in any of our parish churches and serve in ministries involving children, please ensure your Diocesan Safe Environment Training is current.

St. John's Parish is seeking a Sacristan and a musician (organist) to play for the Sunday, 8:00 a.m. Mass.

Have you ever felt like what you are doing or where you are at just isn’t really your destination in life? Could it be that you are not just called to a new job or a different apartment, but to a whole new life? Might religious life be the life for you? I am Sister Kathleen Murphy and that whole new life came to me when I became a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity! It wasn’t a long journey from my farm home in the Diocese of Madison to our beautiful motherhouse in Manitowoc, and yet it was a chance to experience a God-given adventure. If you are up to enter on such a journey, visit my Community at https://fscc-calledtobe.org or even think about an in person stay with us here in Manitowoc, WI. As the Gospel urges, “Come and see!”

Hello! My name is Deacon Roger Scholbrock, and I’m a Permanent Deacon serving in the Diocese of Madison, currently assigned to the St. Joseph the Worker Pastorate. My wife, Wendy, and I have lived in the Potosi/Tennyson area for over 30 years, where we raised two daughters (now both married) and are blessed with one amazing grandson. After retiring from my previous career, I recently stepped into a new chapter as Pastoral Minister at St. Clement’s, following Bill Manthe’s retirement. It’s a big transition for me, and I sincerely appreciate your patience and support as I settle into this new role. For the past 40 years, I worked as a graphic designer, illustrator, museum and exhibit designer, and senior art director. Shifting into full-time ministry is certainly a major change—but one I’ve prayerfully hoped for over the years. I’ve often asked God to show me how I might use the gifts He’s given me in service to His people, and in His time, He answered. That’s what led me to retire from design and accept this new calling. I already have the pleasure of working alongside Leigh Boorn, our Director of Evangelization, across our pastorate communities. Together, we’re focused on offering prayer and outreach that helps individuals grow in their personal relationship with Christ Jesus. I’m truly excited to see how this ministry unfolds and how I can walk with you in your faith journey. I believe God is doing something beautiful in our parish, and together, we’re just beginning what promises to be a vibrant and faith-filled future. Pax, Deacon Roger

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].

October is traditionally devoted to the Holy Rosary! Legend has it that St. Dominic received the Rosary from Our Lady after he had been praying and doing penance for his lack of success in combatting the Albigensian heresy; in his vision, Mary gave Dominic the Rosary as a spiritual weapon and encouraged him to preach its use to others. The Mysteries of the Rosary are rooted in Scripture and offer us a summary of the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we pray the Rosary, we join Mary in the contemplation of these Mysteries and ask her to unite and conform us to her Son as we ponder His Paschal Mystery. This month, consider adding a Rosary to your daily prayer routine! The Joyful Mysteries are typically prayed on Monday and Saturday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday, and the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday, but the faithful are welcome to pray any Mysteries at any time. If you have a longer morning and evening commute, that can be a good time to get in a Rosary! And if a full Rosary each day feels like too much, try praying one Decade a day, perhaps accompanying it with a meditation on the corresponding Scripture passage to help you pray the Mystery more deeply. A guide to the Rosary can be found here: https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary "May Mary help us to welcome within ourselves the grace emanating from these Mysteries, so that through us we can 'water' society, beginning with our daily relationships, and purifying them from so many negative forces, thus opening them to the newness of God. The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, not mechanical and superficial but profoundly, it brings, in fact, peace and reconciliation. It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of each 'Hail Mary'." -Pope Benedict XVI