From the Desk of Fr. Mike
Merry Christmas to All!
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/27/19
From Fr. Mike and all of the staff here at St. Joseph of the Lakes we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
The Third Week of Advent
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/23/19
say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.
I have experienced too often in my 36 years of priesthood a person who is approaching death being afraid. They are afraid of what the moment of death will bring; they are afraid of the ... Read More »
Prayer for the Advent Season
Posted by Anne Serwe on 12/02/19
From Justin Holcomb is an Episcopal priest and teaches theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary
Advent Readings
Advent readings are themed Scripture readings for each Sunday of Advent. The four weeks of Advent are broken down into the themes: Hope (or promise) Preparation (waiting or prophecy) Joy ... Read More »
Jesus promises Wisdom
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/18/19
“...and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist ... Read More »
Ad Limina Visits Coming Soon
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/11/19
The United States bishops have begun their ad limina visits. In the Roman Catholic Church, a quinquennial visit ad limina, more fully ad limina apostolorum or simply an ad limina visit, means the obligation of residential diocesan bishops and certain prelates with territorial jurisdiction (such as territorial abbots), of ... Read More »
The Church is a Very Big Place
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/04/19
The synod of the Amazon bishops that took place in Rome has ended. According to several sources they covered many different issues, including the possibility of ordaining married men and ordaining women as deacons. These have been publicly discussed issues. How the Pope will respond to the recommendations that ... Read More »
God be Merciful to Me
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/28/19
Often times in the confessional the nervous penitent will freeze up just before they pray the act of contrition. I cannot blame them. Even though we have two different versions of the act of contrition posted in several places within the confessional it can be rather daunting to actually ... Read More »
God Inspires Us to Pray & Act
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/21/19
In today’s first reading the Israelites are battling Amalek and his army. Moses stands on a hill overlooking the battle. He has the staff of God in his hand. As long as he keeps the staff raised above his head the Israelites had the better of the fight. When ... Read More »
Faith in Action
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/07/19
2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. 3 For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will ... Read More »
Care of the Poor
Posted by Anne Serwe on 9/30/19
Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
There is a strong implication within our culture of misinterpreting the biblical message through the lens of the “gospel of prosperity”. We are tempted to make ... Read More »