Hello to all, I miss your smiling faces!
Fr. Pat, Forest, Rasmus and I are all doing well in the rectory.  With being cooped up for over a week, surprisingly there have been no arguments-with the dogs either.
We are continuing to say Mass daily in our newly painted rectory chapel.  The intentions for the specific Masses each day are our main intentions, while we continue to keep each of you, our parish family, in our prayerful intentions during our celebrations with the parish directory on the altar.  I can honestly say there is no substitute for each of you, the “living stones” of the Church.  Though the Mass is always a beautiful prayer and a great blessing to celebrate, I have to be honest and say as each day passes I miss the beauty and comfort of our family gathered around the altar.  I want to thank each and every one of you for the terrible sacrifice you are forced to make in not receiving our Lord physically in the Eucharist.  I pray that you are spiritually receiving Jesus weekly or even daily by watching any of the many live streamed Masses, listed in our bulletin, from parishes that have the capability to do so.  Please make sure to pray the Act of Spiritual Communion prayer (I’m not sure who to give credit to for this prayer, only to say it was not me)
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.  I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.  Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
At this most unprecedented time in our own history as well as that of our Church, I would also like to encourage you all to continue to pray the prayer of Saint Michael the Archangel written by Pope Leo XIII in 1884 for protection.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
Please be safe, healthy and find a little joy in someone or something each day to offer a prayer a gratitude to our God.  Please remember to reach out to your neighbors and make sure they are well.
Peace and prayers for health and safety,
 
Fr. Art Mattulke
 

Due to regulations set out by the government, the rectory office will be closed until further notice.  Anyone wishing to call the rectory can do so and leave a message.  Messages will be checked periodically throughout the day.  Please continue to check this website for further updates and important information.  Please know that you continue to be in the prayers of Fr. Art and Fr. Pat.  Regularly scheduled Mass intentions are being offered privately daily. Let us continue to pray for each other during this challenging time.

March 19, 2020
Dear Families of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Community School,
To say we are living in unprecedented times and treading unchartered waters is by far an understatement.  Though these times are certainly difficult and anxiety-inducing, we need to remember that we are not alone. As Pope Francis says, “United in Christ, we are never alone.”  Our God walks this and every journey with us.  I am reminded of Matthew 8:23-27, when Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee because the disciples were in fear for their lives.  Jesus can and will do the same for all of us. Let’s put our trust in Him, seriously taking all the necessary precautions we are being directed to follow, and know that God has this. 
 
While it is true, for the time being that we are not able to attend Mass in person or to be able to receive the Eucharist physically, I would suggest looking at the Parish or School website or Facebook page for links to live-streamed daily Masses and adoration, where we can receive the Lord in the Eucharist spiritually.  Our beautiful Church is open every day for private prayer, reflection, and devotion from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Fr. Pat, our Deacons, and I are always only an email or phone call away; please feel free to reach out to us anytime.  Our Church Bulletin will be on the Parish website every week to allow you to keep up to date and in touch. 
 
Please be the voice of Christ to your neighbors, especially the ill and aging, by giving them a call and making sure they are alright and have what they need.  Our Outreach and Saint Vincent de Paul Society are still going strong and stand ready to assist where and when needed in whatever way permitted.
 
Our teachers have worked very hard to get assignments together for our students to take home. They remain very dedicated to the education and formation of our students and will remain in contact remotely, helping to bring some stability to this difficult time.
 
If any school family is encountering financial difficulties because of job loss, layoff, or illness during this tumultuous time, please feel free to contact Mr. Wach or myself to allow our Tuition Angels fund to help alleviate some stress.
  
I also suggest that we all join in the prayer composed by Pope Francis for an end to the Coronavirus:  
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
 
There is a very powerful prayer that we can pray as a family called the Surrender Novena, which you can find by searching ‘The Surrender Novena’ on the internet.
 
Please know that you are all remembered in the daily prayers of all the religious and clergy here at Saints Peter and Paul.  I personally would like you to know that our parish directory is on the altar as Fr. Pat and I celebrate Masses each day so that you all are included in the celebration and when we receive Holy Communion.  We do so with each and every one of you in our hearts.  Be assured that all scheduled Mass intentions are being offered as we continue to celebrate Mass daily.
With Jesus as our head, we will get through this together and become an even stronger family and Church. As C.S. Lewis said, “hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”   We know our destiny in the Lord is extraordinary so we can apply the beautiful words of Saint Padre Pio to the hardships we are now facing: “pray, hope, and don’t worry.”
 
 
 With Peace and Prayers,
 Fr. Arthur Mattulke 
 

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March 26, 2020
 
Dear Families of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Community School,
 
On March 25 we celebrated the Annunciation of the Lord.  We were reminded of the story we have heard so many times of the Angel Gabriel sent to Mary to give her the message that she will be the mother of Jesus.  Mary was troubled, probably afraid, and wondering what this message would mean for her.  Because she was filled with God’s grace, she was able to say “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Mary was filled with all of the grace she needed to say “yes” to God.  Mary faced all of the joys and difficulties in her life.
 
In this time now in our world, we are faced with much anxiety, pain, and uncertainty with the Coronavirus.  We are called to pray.  Let us approach Mary and ask her to intercede for us to her Son Jesus as we pray for our families, our community, our neighborhoods, our world.  We remember in prayer also the first responders and all those men and women in health care as they risk their lives to bring healing to others.  It may be easy to tell someone that we need to trust in God, to take one day at a time, and to encourage others that God has a plan for our lives.  It may be more difficult for us individually to believe in God’s love for us, to trust in Him and to know He gives us the strength each day to do what He wants from us.  Yes, we are called to pray.  God is always with us and His grace is always available to us.  As Mary said “yes”, Jesus was born into the world.  When we say “yes” to God, imagine what wonders God has is store.
 
Let us bring to God all of our concerns with this virus challenge we are facing.  Let us be positive, optimistic, and encouraging to one another.  Many people may be taking a walk outside.  As we look at God’s creation, we are filled with gratitude and thankfulness.  Let us try to find one or more things each day to be grateful to God for and bring that thanks to God in prayer.  Is God calling us to more prayer these days???  Our Pope Francis reminds us to pray.  We spend time on what matters most to us.  God is with us in all of the challenges of these days.  He reminds us to be a person of hope and gratitude.
 
All of our faculty members in our school are so creative in the lessons they are preparing for the students each day.  Students are completing work packets, watching videos of their teachers reading a story or introducing a new lesson.  Education is continuing for the students at SSPP. Some families encounter difficulties and maybe even frustration with this “new learning” because of their own jobs, the number of children they are monitoring on the computers, or the time they need to be present to their children in different ways.  Our families are encouraged to do the best they are able.  We remember each other in prayer.
 
I offer you this prayer that I came across in a church bulletin:
 
Remember In Your Prayers
all those affected by the coronavirus throughout the world
 
Compassionate and Loving Father,
in the face of confusion and concern impart to us the calm of Your presence.
 
In You, allow us to find hope and healing.
 
Be with those who serve the sick and give them Your caring hands.
 
Be with those who lead and give them Your spirit of wisdom.
 
Be with those who have fallen ill and give them Your comforting heart.
 
Wrap Your arms around our world and hold us in Your Love.
 
Allow us at this time of trial to then serve as instruments of that love to all we meet.
 
We ask this in Your name.  Amen.
 
 
 
In prayer,
Sister Marilyn Ann
 
 

• Require the use of Personal Time Off (PTO), sick time, and/or vacation time
• Employees take time off without pay
• Lay the employee off

·         There are NOT to be any public celebrations, even outside including live Stations of Cross

·         Currently there should be no public celebrations of Mass or Communion Services.

·         The Celebration of Reconciliation is allowed ONLY in grave situations as well as Anointing of the Sick.  A priest may use a cotton-tipped swab or cotton ball as an instrument to anoint the sick person (cf. can. 1000 §2).  The priest dips the cotton swab in the Oil for the Sick.