General

First Week of Advent

December 2, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. John’s,
Happy New Year! We have begun a new liturgical year this past Sunday with the 1st Sunday of Advent. Christ is coming and we are waiting in hope for his coming! We have many opportunities to receive him at St. John’s with events after Mass on Sunday morning and every evening this coming week as well as other events throughout the daytime hours. Please take some time to join us for one or more of these events and prepare for Christmas! See the information below. 
This coming Wednesday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We will celebrate with great joy the conception of Mary who was conceived without the stain of sin. We have 4 parish Masses at 6:30 am, 8:30 am, 5:30 pm, and 7 pm. Please note our school students and families are welcome to join us for a special Mass at 1 pm. Given the large enrollment and the many people who want to attend Mass, we decided to have a separate Mass (1 pm) for the school students to avoid overcrowding at the 8:30 am. Thank you for your understanding.
This Saturday our Sacramental Records Coordinator will be ordained to the Permanent Deaconate at the Cathedral at 10 am Saturday. Please pray for him and his classmates. Also this weekend, we have our deacons preaching once again, including Deacon Ben Snyder. He is in his fourth year at the St. Paul Seminary and will be ordained a priest for the diocese of Davenport Iowa in June. Please pray for him as he completes his studies. I also want to take a moment to thank our Permanent Deacons John Belian, Gary Schneider, and Rod Palmer for their generous service at the altar. They serve the Lord so generously and I am grateful for their ministry here at SJB.   Especially in the absence of a full-time associate pastor, they have stepped up to serve the pastoral needs of our parish and I am grateful for that. Please pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated religious life. If you or someone you know is discerning a call please do not hesitate to reach to me.  
As the Father loves me, so I also love you,
Father Paul Shovelain
Pastor