May 17, 2015 - Ascension of the Lord; 7th Sunday of Easter

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois

St. Francis High School Graduates

Michelle Schmidt Abilgail Schumacher Taylor Swingler Jordan Thoele Lea Thoele Sara Thoele Sarah Thoele Morgan Walk Megan Weichman John Wendt Brock Wente Jacob Wente Carrie Westendorf Jason Westendorf Rachel Westendorf Kaitlyn Will Casey Willenborg Katie Wortman Alexander Zwettler

Cassidy Lohman Clint Lohman Jenny McMahon Mitchell Meinhart Aaron Murdock Colin Niebrugge Kylie Oseland Richard Overbeck Nicholas Pals Denver Phillips Karson Pruemer Tanner Pruemer Kollin Ruesken Elizabeth Ruholl Nicholas Ruholl Tori Ruholl Anne Runde Cody Runde Ryan Sandschafer Ashley Schaufler

Alissa Apke Roy Beckman Danielle Bergfeld Leighton Blankenship Emily Buhnerkempe Patricia Campbell Madison Cowman Riley Drees Benjamin Feldhake Tommy Flach Brandon Funneman Janelle Gebben Tyler Gebben Chelsey Hardiek Austin Hartke Nicholas Hoedebecke Karli Isley Evan Koester Reid Koester Kylie Lewis

Congratulations

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Teutopolis, Illinois page 2

Parish Office 203 E. Main St., P.O. Box 730, Teutopolis, IL 62467-0730 Office Hours: Mon. -Fri. – 9:00 am -4:30 pm Phone.................................................... (217) 857-6404 Fax........................................................ (217) 857-1031 Parish E-mail....................stfrancischurch@mchsi.com Parish website: stfrancischurch.com Submit written bulletin notices by noon Monday. Diocesan website: www.dio.org Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation Number….. (217) 321-1155

Blake Aldrich Logan Blankenship Mikayla Blankenship Jeremy Boehm Seth Cothran Mason Cowman Mitchell Cowman Emma Deters Mitchell Deters Roddnie Deters Tyler Deters Julia Frey Savanna Gebben Rebecca Habing Jarrett Hardiek Josh Hardiek Julia Hardiek Julia Henderson

Jacob Herd Trenton Hoelscher Carter Jansen Ali Kingery Joseph Kingery Donovan Kitten Lanae Koester Audrey Kreke Tristen Lowrance Callie McMahon Callie Meinhart Kyele Mossman Allie Niebrugge Madison Niebrugge Derek Ozenkoski Aaron Poston Seth Probst Bryce Ruholl

Tyler Runde Julia Schmid Joseph Siemer Andrew Simmons Dawson Smith Alexander Thoele Codie Thompson Macy Vogt Kate Volk Elizabeth Waldhoff Clint Weber Kennedey Wendt Ben Wente Brayden Will Will Wortman Kendal Zerrusen Tyson Zerrusen

Congratulations Grade 8 St. Francis Graduates

Graduation Blessing Dear Lord,

The life that you have given us has many stages. Please bless these young people today,

as they leave one stage of life and begin another. Guide them as they finish this chapter in the story you have written for them,

and begin a new one, written on a fresh page. Help them to make the right choices, Lord.

May they always remember that past choices need not sully a bright future,

nor good choices in the past ensure that tomorrow will be carefree and easy.

Most of all, remind them, Lord, that no one’s story is fully lived

unless you are allowed to be its one, true author by those who live it.

Amen

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and

took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and

preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. -

Mk 16:19-20

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.

Liturgy Schedule 7th Week of Easter

May 18—24 Monday, St. John I Mass at 6:30 am & 12:10 pm Tuesday, Mass at 6:30 & 8:00 am Wednesday, St. Bernardine of Siena Mass at 6:30 & 8:00 am Thursday, St. Christopher Magallanes Mass at 6:30 am & 12:10 pm Friday, St. Rita of Cascia Mass at 6:30 & 8:00 am Saturday, Mass at 8:00 am & 5:30 pm Sunday, Pentecost Sunday Mass at 7:00, 8:45, 10:30 am

Confession Schedule Saturday, May 23 - 3:30-4:30 pm

Liturgy of the Hours with Friars

Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm

Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 5/10/2015 Year 310 Adult envelopes $7,987.00 $380,422.00 Other $948.27 $32,204.84 TOTAL $8,935.27 $412,626.84 Water for Life $1,097.51

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Pray for the Sick

Monday, May 18 • Graveside Service for Joan Merz, 10:00 am • Parish Finance mtg., 6:30 pm, Museum Dining

Room • DeColores Board mtg., 7:00 pm, Museum

Meeting Room Tuesday, May 19 • Secular Franciscans meet, 6:00 pm St. Clare, 7:00

pm Church Wednesday, May 20 • Rosary, 8:00 pm, Chapel Thursday, May 21 • Parish Pastoral Council mtg., 7:00 pm, St. Clare • Monastery Museum mtg., 8:00 pm, Museum

Meeting Room • Adult Choir, 7:00 pm Saturday, May 23 • Confessions, 3:30-4:30 pm

Parish Calendar

Please remember in your prayers: Cheryl Ann Huber, Anna Habing, Jack Hardiek, Paula Spencer, Lucille Worman, Agnes Kremer, Pauline Gobczynski, Devin Mette, Harold Hardiek, Margaret Pruemer, Will Niccum, Joe Ruholl, Rosie Myers, Vince Huelsing, Anne Nelson, Emily (Heuerman) McCabe, Lorraine Deters, Martha Pruemer, Ann Weis

Special Collection—Retired Diocesan Priests. Please pray and support our priests who have served so gen-erously in various apostolates throughout the diocese. Your generous contribution will go towards the retirement and health care needs of our priests. Please use the envelope included in your set. Thank you.

Homebound Ministry Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound for Sunday, May 24th are Theresa Funneman 821-4867 and Mary Jane Koester 857-3697,

Mass Intentions Monday, May 18, 6:30: Scott Westendorf (death anniv.) Monday, May 18, 12:10: Bernice Gaddis Tuesday, May 19, 6:30: Gene Nosbisch Tuesday, May 19, 8:05: Ed & Elizabeth Worman Wednesday, May 20, 6:30: Marie Martin Wednesday, May 20, 8:05: AID Thursday, May 21, 6:30: Louis & Mary Buenker Family Thursday, May 21, 12:10: Jeanette Bergfeld Friday, May 22, 6:30: Robert Funneman Friday, May 22, 8:05: August & Marian Schultz Family Saturday, May 23, 8:00: Jerry Haarmann Saturday, May 23, 5:30: Helen Thoele Sunday, May 24, 7:00: Pro Populo Sunday, May 24, 8:45: Gene Nosbisch Sunday, May 24, 10:30: Jerry Haarmann

Wake up the World,! Year of Consecrated Life. “If you are what you should be,

then you will set the world on fire.” —Saint Catherine of Siena

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Religious Education News

God Bless Those Serving our Country. Anthony Vahling, Jeremy Deters, Caleb Hoene, Kevin Wernsing. If you would like a name added, please contact the parish office.

RCIA continues to meet in the museum meeting room at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. This week’s session is the Bible: how it came to be, differences in Protestant and Catholic Bibles and how that happened. Come and bring a friend.

Mission Impossible ? “Make me an instrument of your peace.” This week we ponder concrete ways we can be a better instrument of peace in our life. (compromise, give in, don’t back talk, bite your tongue, etc…)

Bible study has ended for the summer. Keep reading, reflecting and enjoy some God time in the sun.

GRADE SCHOOL- Thanks to all the catechists, Mass supervisors, video presenters, substitutes, office helpers, children, parents, parishioners, prayer spon-sors for a wonderful year of religious education. As we conclude this year, we are looking forward to next year’s staffing. Do you qualify? We need two Grade 4 catechists for Wednesday and Thursday each week and two Sunday Gospel cate-chists for Friday. For Grade 1 we need a Monday, Tuesday catechist to teach the textbook about God’s creation and God’s Love; a Wednesday Mass walker to take the children to church for Mass; a Thursday catechist to present a video; and a Friday catechist to teach about the upcoming Sunday readings. There will be a sign-up on Sunday, May 31, or you may call the office at 857-6477 at any time Grade 6 parents, please send in your registration form for Grade 7 as soon as possible. If you have mis-placed the registration form, please check the front entrance of church for another form. We appreciate your timely response. JUNIOR HIGH –Grade 7 parents, we appreciate your prompt response in registering your 7th graders for Grade 8 for the 15-16 year of religious education. If you have not sent in the registration form, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you. There are forms at the front entrance to church if you need one. For ques-tions, call 857-6477.

55+ is going to see Driving Miss Daisy on Sunday, Au-gust 16, at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. Our bus will leave at 11:30 am, stop for lunch, and attend the 2 pm show! Cost is just $35 and includes your trans-portation and your show ticket. Tickets are limited! Please call the parish office to reserve yours today!

VBS has been set for July 6, 7 & 8! We will have great Bible stories, mu-

sic, snacks, crafts, games & more! VBS is open to students ages 4-6th grade. Helpers are invited from incoming 7th graders on up! Permission slips for participants and helpers (who are under 18) are available online or at the entrances of church! It’s going to be a great year for VBS!

Lets Stay Connected. If you have recently discon-tinued your land line and gone only to cell phone, please call the parish office (857-6404) to update this information. Thank you.

Attend an Introductory Session to learn about the Creighton Model Fertility Care System, which teaches women and couples to identify the naturally occurring times of fertility and infertility in a woman’s cycle. This system can be used to avoid or achieve pregnancy, identify and treat women’s health problems, and assist couples suf-fering from infertility. The session will take place Friday, May 29th, 6:30-7:45 pm at St. Francis Church in the Mu-seum Dining Room. Please contact Kate Pruemer, FCPI at 217-821-1840 or kpruemer@gmail.com to register or to obtain more information.

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Thank You. St. Francis Parish would like to thank the following 15 high school seniors of the class of 2015 for their 9 years of service in the server ministry. These young men and young women began this ministry in 4th grade and have continued throughout their high school years. We appreciate all the time and faithfulness you have given to this ministry. Thank you for a job well done and may God bless you in all your future endeavors!

Special thanks to Mitch Meinhart and Jordan Thoele of the class of 2015 for their service as sacristans for the past 2 years at the 10:30 am Sunday Mass. Mitch and Jordan, your help has been greatly appreciated. God bless you always!

Emily Buhnerkempe Austin Hartke Evan Koester Jenny McMahon Mitch Meinhart Kylie Oseland Ellie Ruholl Nick Ruholl

Tori Ruholl Anne Runde Cody Runde Michelle Schmidt Megan Weichman Jason Westendorf Katie Wortman

Baby Bottle Project. If you missed receiving a baby bottle last weekend, there are more available this weekend at the front and side church entrances. Please collect your change or other donation to benefit the Family Life Center in Effingham. Your funds will help provide their pro-life services of free pregnancy tests, free limited ultrasound, layettes, and educational resources on pregnancy, absti-nence, adoption, abortion risks and procedures, abortion recovery, parenting, and relationships. The bottles are to be returned to church on Father’s Day.

Prayer Vigil for Life will be held at St. Aloysius, Bishop Creek, on May 18th. Fr. Joe Carlos will be cele-brant of the 6:30 pm Mass. Praying the rosary will begin at 6:00 pm. The 7:30 business meeting will be conducted in the parish center. Everyone is urged to join us in prayer for an end to abortion.

Rosary Vigil every Tuesday, 12:00 pm—4:00 pm at the Effingham Planned Parenthood. “Planned Parenthood is just waiting for her moment of crisis...telling her that pre-marital sex is OK, free contraception, STD tests/treatment, and when she does become pregnant, she will turn to them, not her parents, once again to take care of her ‘problem’”. (Students for Life) Please come and pray with us. Bring a chair if you like.

American Legion Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 24th, 10:00 am, at St. Francis Cemetery.

Sympathy. We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Joseph Borries. May God welcome him into the joy of His everlasting presence.

Meals on Wheels Benefit Night is Friday, May 29, at Teutopolis KC Hall. Doors open at 5:30 pm—Meal at 6:00 pm. Join our community in a night of great food and entertainment in an effort to support Meals on Wheels! This organization, which has provided meals for hundreds of senior citizens in our area, is at risk of being cut due to lack of funding. This benefit night will feature live music from local artists such as Heather And Marty, LP and the HoneyBee, and Flight Fifty. There will also be a 50/50 and BBQ dinner. All profits will go directly to Meals on Wheels. Together we’ll let no senior citizen go hungry! Admission: $30 per person; $35 at the door; $300 per 8-top table. Tickets can be purchased from Nancy Hoene 857-3848, Norma Deters 857-3365, Teutopolis KC Hall, Teutopolis State Bank and all First National Bank of Dieterich locations.

Summer Tennis League/Lessons for 8-13 year olds, beginners and intermediates (boys and girls) will be held from June 1 to August 14. This is not school specific ~ just anyone wanting to learn and improve. Groups will be somewhat small to help with instruction and fun. Please e-mail Alan Kowalke at kowalkefamily4@gmail.com or call 347-2692 for more information and to register. There are many options starting at $10.

The Effingham County 4-H Foundation is once again hosting the 4-H BBQ. This fundraiser will be held on Sunday, June 7, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, at the Effingham Elks Club. Pork chops and pork burgers will be served with all the trimmings, including homemade des-serts. Drive-thru will be available, and you don’t even have to get out of your vehicle. There will be a silent auction and bake sale throughout the day. Free-will donation for the meal. Come support the youth of Effingham County.

5K Spirit Fun Run for St. Jude sponsored by St. Thomas Civics Club, Newton, will be held May 30th. Time: 8:00 am, registration begins at 7:00 am. Cost: $15. Runners can collect pledges to raise money for St. Jude’s. For more information, call 618-783-3517.

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Mass of Thanksgiving. Rev. Martin Smith will celebrate a “Mass of Thanksgiving” on Wednesday, June 10, at 7:00pm, at Sacred Heart Church with a reception fol-lowing at the Sacred Heart Parish Center. He was or-dained a priest on Saturday, May 23, at the Cathedral in Springfield with several parishioners in attendance. Rever-end Martin Smith, newly ordained, is appointed Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, and Chaplain of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, effective July 1, 2015. We are very fortunate to have him join us the week of June 8-12, assist-ing at the parishes and working with Totus Tuus. Fr. Smith served his internship in the Effingham area, and got to know many Sacred Heart, St. Anthony & St. Mary students and their families. Everyone is invited to the Mass on June 10, as we celebrate his recent ordination.

Priest Ordinations. Deacon Samuel Bagyo Jr., Dea-con Adam Prichard, Deacon Martin Smith and Deacon Ja-son Stone will be ordained at the Cathedral of the Immacu-late Conception in Springfield on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 10:30 am, by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. Please continue to pray for these men and for all our seminarians. Pray, too, for more vocations to the priesthood and reli-gious life.

Marriage Challenges? Retrouvaille (a French word meaning rediscovery) is a program to help couples heal and renew their marriages and offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship. It has helped thousands of couples with marital problems and crises, even couples who are separated and divorced. The next program begins with the weekend of June 5 –7, 2015. For further information, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Today is As-cension Sunday and we are reminded that Jesus is on his throne. Do we allow him to reign over our lives? One of the ways we show this is by living in humility, gentleness and love in a bond of peace. Do we reflect this in our mar-riage relationship? Allow Jesus to be Lord of your mar-riage relationship. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is August 7—9. To register or for more information, call 314-469-7317 or go online to www.stl-wwme.org.

What is Faith Community Nursing? Faith Community Nursing is a specialized area of professional nursing practice focusing on the promotion of health and wellness within the context of the values, beliefs and prac-tices of a faith community. This is primarily a voluntary service to the faith community carrying out the healing ministry of the Church. These nurses are not involved in diagnosis or treatment, but rather in promoting wellness. Faith Community Nurses may serve a variety of roles including: health advisor, educator on health issues, visit church members at home or hospital, make referrals to community resources or assist in obtaining needed health services, develop support groups within the Church, train and coordinate volunteers and provide health screening. The extent to which these services are provided vary with each congregation and church needs. St. John’s College in Springfield offers quarterly meetings offering continuing education for the Faith Community Nurse (FCN) to meet their educational needs and updates on current health issues. These quarterly meetings allow time to network with other Faith Community Nurses, sharing ideas and experiences. To consider becoming a Faith Community Nurse, you must have a current RN license with 3 years of experience with a desire to carry out a healing ministry of mind, body and spirit for your faith community. Visit: ContinuingEd@StJohnsCollegeSpringfield.edu.

Today is a Special Day All you peoples, clap your hands, Shout to God with cries of gladness. Psalm 47:2 Today is a special day—even though it may be an “ordinary” day for most of us. What makes today so special even if it isn’t a birthday, anniversary or some other signifi-cant event? It is special because, in the entire history of the universe, there has never been another day just like today. In your own lifetime, too, there has never been a day like today either. What’s more, there will never be another day exactly like today again. Today is the day to which all your preceding days have been leading up to. And today is the day from which the rest of your life will flow. If you were aware of how precious this day is, you certainly would not waste it, nor would you be able to restrain your joy and gratitude. The great British writer, G.K. Chesterton wrote this poem at the end of an ordinary day: “Here dies another day during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world round me; and with tomorrow begins another. Why am I allowed two?” LIVING FAITH Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

Holy Humor...Bulletin Blooper. The pastor will light his candle from the altar candles. The ushers will light their candles from the pastor’s candle. The ushers will turn and light each worshipper in the first pew.