Bulletins
Sunday, August 16th, 2026
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Mary, St. Patrick, St. Philip Parishes
Mailing address for all three parishes: PO Box 35, Seneca WI 54654
Website: https://www.catholicchurchesofncc.com
Confessions: Normally, 30 minutes before every Mass and by appointment.
Normal Monthly Eucharistic Adoration:
St. Patrick: First Friday after the 8:30 AM Mass
St. Philip: First Sunday after the 10:30 AM Mass
Mass Intentions This Week
Sat. Aug. 15 7:00 PM St. Patrick + Cecilia Pettera (Larry & Sharee Severson)
Sun. Aug. 16 7:30 AM St. Patrick Good Health & Healing for Dan Kramer (Sue Knutson)
9:00 AM St. Mary Living & Deceased Members of our Parishes
10:30 AM St. Philip + All Souls
Mon. Aug. 17 8:30 AM St. Patrick Blessings for Fr. Tom (Bishop Gerard)
Tue. Aug. 18 8:30 AM St. Philip + Bobby Wilson
Wed. Aug. 19 8:30 AM St. Patrick Christopher Myers & his intentions (Ken & Peg Myers)
Thur. Aug. 20 8:30 AM St. Mary + Beth Scheckel
Fri. Aug. 21 8:30 AM St. Patrick + All Souls
Sat. Aug. 22 7:00 PM St. Patrick + Birtha, Gertrude, Anna, & Sadie (Fr. Tom)
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sun. Aug. 23 7:30 AM St. Patrick Good Health & Healing for Mark Kramer (Sue Knutson)
9:00 AM St. Mary + Samual Zeldin (Judy Gyer)
10:30 AM St. Philip Living & Deceased members of my parishes
Pastor: Fr. Tom Huff – Rectory 608-734-3252 email: frtomhuff@gmail.com
Bookkeeper, Bulletin, Mass Intentions, Membership: Kevin Murray 608-391-0434 or 608-734-3931
email: secretary@ncc.diolcparish.org
Bulletin Information Deadline: Mondays at 6:00 PM. Bulletin is posted on our website.
Upcoming Parish Events:
None this week
St. Philip Announcements:
St. Philip Candles: Contact Bonnie Murphy. The cost is $5 per candle.
Food Pantry items are needed. Please leave any gift at the rear of the Church.
St. Mary Announcements:
Rosary – 30 minutes before Mass
First Sunday Potluck Brunch after Mass each first Sunday of the month. All are welcome, dish to share is appreciated, but not required. Next potluck is Sunday, September 6th.
Saint Mary’s is open 7:00am – 7:00pm daily. Please feel free to come and pray and light a candle if you would like.
Food Pantry Donations can be left in the basket in the rear of the Church.
St. Mary's is looking for Religious Education Teachers for the upcoming year. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00. Classes start in mid-September and end by May. The religious education calendar follows the school calendar. Please contact Yvonne Hady at 485-2109 or email to hadyy@mwt.net as soon as possible if interested.
St. Patrick Announcements:
Dear St. Patrick Parishioners, Thank you for all the donations for the painting of our church roof. We have exceeded our goal at this time. We are hoping for the painting to be done this September. Donated funds not used for the roof will be placed in a reserved fund for either a new lift or redoing the windows on the front of the church to match the side windows. Thank you for helping to keep St. Patrick's Parish in good shape!
Worker sign-up sheets for the fall bazaar are now available in the back of the church. Please consider signing up for more than one shift if you are able. Thank you!
Tri-Parish Announcements:
Are you looking for a way to get volunteer hours to use for confirmation or high school graduation? You’re in luck! Life Guardians are hosting the Applefest Pancake Breakfast Saturday September 26th and Sunday September 27th. St. Mary’s is hosting a taco and pie with ice cream stand at the fair grounds during Apple fest on the same days. The Gays Mills Lions Club is looking for help at the fairgrounds working at the gate and parking cars. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Call Pat Dearth if you would like to volunteer a few hours at 608-279-2417.
For Mass Intentions, if donating by check, please make all checks payable to: St. Mary Stipend Fund. To avoid errors, please print clearly the intention, who the intention is by, and if a specific date for Mass is requested. Thank You
Tri-Parish Adult Faith Study will be at St. Mary’s on Tuesday, August 11th at 7:00 PM.
The Weekly Bulletin is available on our parishes website, this is the link to the bulletin page, updated every Friday: https://www.catholicchurchesofncc.com/bulletins
Other Announcements:
Life Guardians are selling Apple Pies Again! Sign up sheets are in the back of all three Churches, or you may call Pat Dearth at 608-279-2417 to place an order. A 9” pie is $12.00
Richland Center Knights of Columbus is hosting a Father and Son Banquet. September 9th. Social @6:00. Dinner @6:30. Final Blessing @ 8:00. Adults $20.00. 10 & Under $15.00. Guest speaker Fr. Nate Kuhn, Pastor at St Mary's Richland Center. Call for tickets: Ed Pulvermacher 608-647-2450. Or Gary Peckham. 608-647-6578.
Income from Last Week:
St. Mary
Adults
385.00
Plate
152.00
Food Stand Fundraiser
40.00
Votive Candles
122.50
Assumption
5.00
Total
814.50
St. Philip
Adults
765.00
Plate
116.00
Stonework Fund
750.00
Mission Coop
40.00
Religious Education
25.00
Assumption
100.00
Raffle Fundraiser
1,450.00
Catholic Life
16.00
Total
3,262.00
St. Patrick
Adults
496.00
Plate
216.00
Roof Fund
2,500.00
Youth
1.00
Mission Coop
50.00
Votive Candles
54.00
Total
3,317.00
Tri-Parish Prayer List – We want to pray for the sick and others in our parishes who need ongoing prayer. To be placed on or to place someone on our prayer list, please call: Sue Peterson 608-735-4865, Bonnie Murphy 608-386-4954, or Ica Boylen 608-734-3287.
Tyrone Beaty
Michael Monehen
Rosanne Feye
David Jacobsen
Steve Trussoni
Janice Coggins
Sequohay Dockry
Mary (Moran) Orvis
Marian Beall
Karen McCoy
Jenna Friar
Maria Camacho
Bob Wharton
Jeri Gorman
Loyde Beers
Lisa Glass
Greg Roth
Wade Dull
Kiara Meier
Shirley Whitby
Shay Vought
Rick Boehm
Tom Gillette
Rita Helgerson
Jeff Croke
Joyce Fisher
Gary “Bucky” George
Marvin Hansen
Claudia Safley
Eve Trussoni
Rob Donohue
Larry Boehm
Todd Safley
John & Betty Lynch
Rhiana Morga
Joshua Ecklund
William Wright
Rob Tittle
Gene & Mary Murphy
Linda Cowan
Jerry Boehm
Phyllis Bell
Donnie Moran
Jess Zimple
Lea Whitby
Nicholas Currich
Alan Whitby
Jenna Peterson
Janet Black Yznaga
Jeanette Wallenhorst
Connor Murray
Ron McCormick
Susan Monehen
Mason Evens
Isaiah Caya & 107th Maintenance Co.
From the Priest’s Corner: A Person whose Heart is Open to Jesus
In today's gospel, Jesus appears to be indifferent or uncompassionate to a plea for help by a distraught Canaanite woman. However, to draw such a conclusion is contrary to who Jesus is.
The Canaanites were non-Jewish people living in Israel. This woman must have heard about or witnessed some of the healing powers of Jesus. She even calls Jesus by a messianic title; “Lord, Son of David”. However, her request is met by silence from Jesus.
So, the woman persists. Jesus then replies that He was “sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Jesus’ mission was first to the people of the covenant, that is, the Jews, who were awaiting the Messiah. The mission to the gentiles was given by Jesus to His disciples at His Ascension, when He said, “Go out and make disciples of all the nations”.
But the woman did Jesus homage, saying, "Lord, help me." Jesus responds by saying that “it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs”. The Jews considered gentiles as “dogs.” However, Jesus used the diminutive form for “dog,” better translated as “puppy.” So instead of using the insulting word “dog,” He uses the more gentle word “puppy.” Our English translation from the Greek text misses this distinction.
Being determined and quick of mind she responds, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." What is most important is the woman’s perseverance and faith in Jesus. While it is true, that the mission of Jesus was to the people of Israel, we also see Him granting the requests of non-Jewish people, whose hearts were open to the power of Jesus and the truth His teachings. And while her faith was tested by Jesus, the woman's perseverance was finally rewarded.
In the end, Jesus grants her request, “Oh woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” Our Lord praises this gentile “puppy” for her faith and perseverance, that surpassed many of the Jewish People of her day. Her trust and perseverance is a model for us all. We too need recognize Jesus as the one who brings us salvation, who heals us from the sickness of our souls, the One whom we can depend upon.
Today's gospel reminds us that being baptized a Christian is no guarantee of salvation, just as being a member of the Jewish People was no guarantee of recognizing the reality of who Jesus was and the truth His teachings. It is good for us to examine our hearts, minds and the way we live our lives, to see if our faith surpasses that of the Canaanite woman, by recognizing Jesus not only as our Lord and Master, but also as our God and Savior.
