Bulletins
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026 - 21st 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. 22 7:00 PM St. Patrick + Birtha, Gertrude, Anna, & Sadie (Fr. Tom)
Sun. Aug. 23 7:30 AM St. Patrick Good Health & Healing for Dan Kramer (Sue Knutson)
9:00 AM St. Mary + Samuel Zeldin (Judy Gyer)
10:30 AM St. Philip Living & Deceased members of my parishes
Mon. Aug. 24 8:30 AM St. Patrick Joe & Susie Schmieder Family (Ken & Peg Meyers)
Tue. Aug. 25 8:30 AM St. Philip + All Souls
Wed. Aug. 26 8:30 AM St. Patrick Blessings for Fr. Tom (Bishop Gerard)
Thur. Aug. 27 8:30 AM St. Mary + Royce Havlik
Fri. Aug. 28 8:30 AM St. Patrick + All Souls
Sat. Aug. 29 7:00 PM St. Patrick Special Intentions of Fr. Tom ( Fr. Tom)
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sun. Aug. 30 7:30 AM St. Patrick Living & Deceased Members of my Parishes
9:00 AM St. Mary + Royce Havlik (Family)
10:30 AM St. Philip + Virginia Murphy (David & Donna Swanson)
PLEASE NOTE: While I will offer Mass this week, I will be taking vacation time some days and so my availability may be limited this Monday through Friday.
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 or email: secretary@ncc.diolcparish.org
Bulletin Information Deadline: Mondays at 6:00 PM. Bulletin is posted on our website.
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.
We would like to acknowledge Carolyn Tiller for the weekly flowers she brings to the front of our sanctuary. Each week is another BEAUTIFUL flower arrangement from her gardens. We are very pleased and thankful for your artistry with your flowers; we are blessed to have you & Tim at St Philip's parish.
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. Mary's Parish is looking for workers to help run the Apple Fest food stand at the fairgrounds on September 26th and 27th. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of church with more details. If you are not able to help with the stand but want to donate baked goods, please see the signup sheet. Our next meeting is on Tuesday September 8th at 6:00PM. Questions-call John Powell at 608-521-0322
St. Patrick Announcements:
St. Patrick’s Annual Fall Bazaar is scheduled for Sunday, September 13th, Smoked Pork Chop Dinner is served from 11- 2 pm that day with games and basket raffle. Raffle Tickets are available to sell in the back of church. Each family is asked to provide: • Five $.25 items for Parcel Post game – Wrapped and Marked Boy or Girl (please no chocolate items nor items for adults) • Bingo Prize ($5 cash works as well) • Two Pies or Large Dessert for the Dinner – Groups 2 & 3 • Cake for the Cake Walk – Group 1 Pies for auction throughout the day are also welcome~ Bachelors may donate $15 instead of providing items for the Dinner.
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. The pies will be ready for pickup or delivery by September 18th. Please have orders in by September 13th.
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.
Life Guardians Meeting will be held at 6pm on August 10th at the Monsignor Baer Hall in Eastman. All are welcome to join us.
Life Guardians will be hosting the Annual Applefest Pancake Breakfast at the Gays Mills new community center on September 26th and 27th. We are looking for volunteers of all ages. Please call Pat Dearth if interested at (608) 279-2417.
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
Jeff Williams
Alan Whitby
Jenna Peterson
Janet Black Yznaga
Jeanette Wallenhorst
Connor Murray
Ron McCormick
Susan Monehen
Mason Evens
Isaiah Caya & 107th Maintenance Co.
Income from Last Week
St. Mary
Adults
527.00
Plate
123.00
Fall Fundraiser
300.00
Food Stand Fundraiser
40.00
Assumption
50.00
Religious Ed.
25.00
Mission Coop
60.00
Total
1,085.00
St. Philip
Adults
715.00
Plate
89.00
Stonework Fund
50.00
Religious Education
35.00
Votive Candles
23.55
Assumption
80.00
Raffle Fundraiser
300.00
Total
1,292.55
St. Patrick
Adults
601.00
Plate
276.00
Youth
1.00
Roof Fund
850.00
Votive Candles
28.00
Total
1,756.00
From the Priest’s Corner: The Keys of Our Lord's Kingdom
In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah we were introduced to Shabna, the steward of the King’s palace, a position of great importance being the keeper of the keys of the palace. He was the one who could lock and unlock the doors of the palace including the door that led to the King. Shabna, however, was a corrupt steward, who would be replaced by Eliakim who would be a faithful and trustworthy servant.
Isaiah’s prophecy was more than just explaining palace politics, as his words foretold a reality that came to fulfillment in our gospel reading. Jesus says to Simon Peter: I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Shabna and Eliakim were given physical keys that allowed them to give to others access to the wealth of the palace and to the King himself. Jesus gave the spiritual keys of His Kingdom to Peter and his successors, so they would be able to open the doors for believers to the spiritual wealth of God.
The Catholic Church founded by Jesus, is meant to endure until His second coming. The authority given to Peter does not end with his death. The Church teaches that this office of chief shepherd and teacher is handed down through apostolic succession to the Bishop of Rome to preserve unity throughout history.
The phrase "the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it" is taken as a divine guarantee. Catholics believe it ensures that the Church will permanently remain free from fundamental error in its dogmatic teachings on faith and morals.
Catholics understand that the Church will always be able to open the doors of the Kingdom of God through Her Sacraments and in Her preaching and teaching, being always guided by the Holy Spirit. As the Bride of Christ, the Church is entrusted with the responsibility of showing the faithful how best to know and love Her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
The spiritual keys of Peter are a gift to all of us. They open up to us the ability for us to receive God's sanctifying grace and to grow in moral goodness and holiness. May we pass joyfully through the doors that Peter and his successors open wide for us, so that we may one day experience eternal life partaking in the eternal wedding banquet of heaven.
