Catholic Churches of NCC includes: Saint Patrick Parish Seneca WI; Saint Philip Parish Rolling Ground WI; Saint Mary Parish Gays Mills WI; St James Cemetery Rising Sun WI; Kneeland Cemetery Seneca WI catholicchurchesofncc.com

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul     June 29, 2025

St. Mary, St. Patrick, St. Philip Parishes

Mail address for all three parishes:  PO Box 35, Seneca WI 54654

Website: https://www.catholicchurchesofncc.com

Confessions: Usually, 30 minutes before every Mass and by appointment.

Mass Intentions This Week

Monthly Eucharistic Adoration:

* St. Patrick: First Friday after the 8:30 AM Mass

* St. Philip: First Sunday after the 10:30 AM Mass with confessions for 30 minutes.

Pastor: Fr. Tom Huff -- frtomhuff@gmail.com St. Patrick's Rectory 608-734-3252

Bookkeeper: Angie Martin -- 608-734-3931 stpatricks.seneca.bookkeeper@gmail.com

Bulletin/Mass Intentions/Membership: Yvonne Hady -- 608 485-2109 hadyy@mwt.net

Bulletin Information Deadline: Tuesdays at 4:00 PM. Bulletin is posted on our website.

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

Wed., July 2 Adult Faith Study at St. Mary’s, 7:00 PM

Income from Last Week

From the Priest’s Corner: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Today’s great Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul gives us an opportunity to focus on their callings and missions and in our own way, to relate to, and imitate in our own circumstances, those same missions.

Saint Peter was called by Jesus to be the rock on whom He would build His Church. Jesus did this despite all of Peter’s obvious weaknesses. Peter was one whose spirit was willing but whose flesh was weak. He put out into the deep at the Lord’s word, but then begged Jesus to depart because recognized that he was a sinful man. He generously gave up everything to follow Jesus, but then asked what he would get out of it. He would name Jesus the Messiah and Son of God but then object to Jesus’ fulfilling of His Mission, thinking only from a human perspective. He swore that even though he would have to die for Jesus, he would never betray him; and then deny three times that he even knew Him. Jesus, as we see in today’s Gospel, chose Peter not because he was perfect or made of granite. He did so because Peter would constantly get up after his falls and humbly depend on God.

Saint Paul was called by Jesus despite the fact that he had presided over the execution of St. Stephen and dragged many Christians out of their homes to arrest and imprison them. Yet when Jesus made Himself known to him, he understood that he was persecuting Jesus by persecuting the members of His Church. And so with this new understanding he immediately radically changed and used all the gifts God had given him to promote Jesus and to increase membership in His Church. Jesus said of him that he was a “chosen instrument” to carry His name before Gentiles, Israelites and kings and to suffer much for His name (Acts 9:15-16). And that’s what he did, spending the rest of his life traveling the world to bring Jesus and His gift of salvation to all who would listen.

Saints Peter and Paul were not just Christian heroes who both happened to die in Rome under the emperor Nero. Jesus Christ gave them both a Mission as the Rock on whom he would build his Church, and the Teacher of the Gentiles. Those key missions continue, first in the papacy, where the 267th Pope, Leo, has been called to proclaim Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Promises and the Son of the Living God. Pope Leo likewise continues the mission to preside in charity over all of the Churches, to be a sign of unity in the Church’s prophetic, priestly and pastoral mission, being the foremost teacher of sound and true doctrine of the faith.

Today is a day, therefore, is a day in which we commit ourselves to the structure of the Church Jesus has established. He Himself chose Peter and Paul and their work didn’t stop on the day of their martyrdom, but continues to this day. To be Catholic is to receive the teaching of the Apostles, and to build our life on it. We’re living in an age in which some Catholics sadly are essentially setting their own interpretations of the faith as what they will or will not believe or follow. This is not spiritually healthy. While Peter and Paul were not instant saints, we can learn from their growth in the Faith and imitate such growth according to our own life's situation. Like Peter, despite our sinfulness, despite our weakness, we’re called to confess Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Promises and the Son of God with a willingness to follow Him until death. Like Paul, despite our unworthiness or the things we’ve done contrary to the kingdom, we’re called to make up for lost time, to share with others the faith we have received, and to do all we can to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith.

St. Patrick Announcements:

More weekday Masses are needed at St. Patrick. Thank you!

St. Philip Announcements:

St. Philip Candles: Contact Bonnie Murphy. The cost is $5 per candle.

St. Mary Announcements:

Rosary – 30 minutes before Mass -- St. Mary’s Church is open each day from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You are welcome to stop in to pray and/or light a candle for your special intention.

First Sunday Potluck – Potluck brunch after Mass each first Sunday of the month. All are welcome, dish to share is appreciated, but not required.

Eucharistic Ministers - St. Mary's needs additional Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. The Precious Blood is now being offered at the Weekend Masses. If you are already an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and would like to serve, or if you are interested in becoming one, please contact Judy Geyer at 608-735-4538.

Divine Mercy: St. Faustina writes, “God loves us in His Son; the painful Passion of the Son of God constantly turns aside the wrath of God.” From the Divine Mercy Chaplet: “O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!” “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and the whole world.”

Tri-Parish Prayer List – We want to pray for the ill 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.

The 122nd St. Charles Homecoming Picnic

Is Sunday, July 6th, at the church, 707 Eagle St., Genoa, WI. The annual event is held on the first Sunday in July. Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each meal includes Pogy's grilled chicken and sides, as well as a serving of homemade risotto, which is a cheesy rice delicacy passed down through generations of Italian immigrants who settled in the area. Raffle drawings will begin at 3 p.m. Most events will be held outdoors, with dining options available inside the adjacent school. Entry is free and open to the public. Meals cost $15 each, smaller hot dog plates available for younger attendees for $6. For more information, visit St. Charles School and Parish Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StCharlesSchoolGenoa.

RESCHEDULED March for Life Wisconsin – July 26, 2025

Because of the national mass demonstrations organized suddenly for this past Saturday, June 14, and expected to draw thousands, closing streets around the Capitol, the Wisconsin March for Life has been rescheduled.  In the interest of ensuring the safety of our attendees, including families with children, this joyful and peaceful march to protect every human life has been rescheduled to 2-4pm on Saturday, July 26, 2025, on the State Street steps at the State Capitol in Madison. Please join us then to stand for life!  For future updates, please visit MarchforLifeWisconsin.org

SUMMER CAMP WITH THE DOMINICAN SISTERS

AT ST. MARYS IN VIROQUA for children from K-6th grades. The program will be from June 30th to July 4th, 2025. Register for whatever days works for you! The day will be from 8:30am (starting with Mass) until noon Monday through Thursday. The Sisters will also be at ST. MARY'S, GAYS MILLS on Monday, June 30^th at 6:30 for a Meet and Greet gathering. All are invited.

Families can use this link to register: https://forms.gle/ejUGQSbBxFGjggBUA

St. Mary's Parish in Viroqua 8:30am Summer Camp Mass celebrant schedule: Monday: Fr. Richards, Tuesday: Fr. Bowe, Wednesday: Fr. Huff, Thursday: Fr. Reither

Our evening Sister's Meet and greet at 6:30pm, Monday at Gays Mills (Elizabeth Gallagher is coordinating)

The Month of June for Catholics

The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, which falls in June, according to Catholic resources. The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is typically celebrated the day after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

Home enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Catholic practice where a family publicly acknowledges Jesus as the King of their home and consecrates themselves to His Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This involves displaying images of the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart in a prominent place and reciting prayers of consecration. Call Fr. Tom if you would like a Home Enthronement at your home.