Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran — The Last Rites

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Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran — The Last Rites (Summary)

This weekend in our series Arise: On Death and Dying, we reflect on one of the most consoling and misunderstood gifts of the Church at the end of life: the Last Rites. And right away—what I say at the end I’ll say at the beginning: Call early, and when the priest comes, ask for everything. Priests love offering the Last Rites. This is what we’re ordained to do—don’t worry about “bothering” us!

Today’s feast gives a fitting backdrop: the readings show us God’s life flowing like living water, Jesus as the true Temple, and St. Paul reminding us that we are God’s temple. Yet parts of our “temple” can fall into disrepair—sin, fear, neglect, or suffering. As life draws toward its end, those places can feel heavier. This is why Christ gave us the Last Rites.

First is Confession, the cleansing of the temple—restoring friendship with God, clearing away anything unresolved, and filling the soul with peace.

Second is the Anointing of the Sick, which brings Christ’s strength, healing, and courage into physical or spiritual weakness. It’s not only for the final moments—it’s for anyone seriously ill or preparing for major surgery.

Third is Holy Communion, Viaticum—food for the final journey, Christ Himself accompanying the soul home. And if death is near, ask for the Apostolic Pardon, a beautiful prayer granting full remission of temporal punishment.

So again: Call early. Call when your loved one can still confess, receive Communion, and take in every grace Christ offers. And when the priest arrives, ask for everything: Confession, Anointing, Holy Communion, and the Apostolic Pardon.

The Church does not fear death—Christ has conquered it. The Last Rites prepare the temple of our body and soul for rising with Him. They are Christ’s final embrace, His last strengthening for the journey home.

Call early—and ask for everything.

 

Check out www.haywardcatholic.org !

Listen to Father David’s Previous homily HERE.

 

Daily Consistent Prayer. | 29th Sunday in OT | Oct 19, 2025

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Father David’s Homily this week focuses on daily consistent prayer without getting weird!

Our readings for October 19, 2025 (the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time) focus on perseverance in prayer and faith. Key themes include: God will grant justice to his chosen ones who call out to him day and night, so believers should not grow weary in prayer, as exemplified by the persistent widow in the Gospel of Luke. The readings emphasize remaining steadfast in faith, with the Old Testament passage from Exodus illustrating how Moses’ prayer, supported by Aaron and Hur, secured victory, and the second reading from 2 Timothy calling for a diligent and patient proclamation of the word of God. 

Put On Your Nikes – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Put On Your Nikes – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Oct. 12, 2025)  by Father David Neuschwander

This Sunday’s reflection, “Put On Your Nikes,” invites us to see how God’s greatest miracles often unfold through the simplest acts of obedience. In the first reading, Naaman the leper seeks a dramatic miracle from the prophet Elisha. He expects spectacle — raised hands, loud prayers, something unmistakably “miraculous.” Instead, Elisha doesn’t even meet him in person. He simply sends word: “Go wash seven times in the Jordan River.”

Naaman is offended. The river is muddy, the instructions seem too ordinary — surely God wouldn’t work through something so small. But after some persuasion, Naaman obeys, takes the step of faith, and is healed. The miracle didn’t come through drama or grandeur; it came through obedience.

In the Gospel, we meet ten other lepers crying out to Jesus for mercy. They, too, are given a simple instruction: “Go show yourselves to the priests.” No physical touch, no thunderous command — just a quiet directive. And as they go, on the way, their healing takes place. Once again, the power of God meets their obedience.

Fr. David draws the parallel to our daily lives. God’s invitations often come through small promptings — the nudge to reach out to someone, the thought to say a kind word, the whisper to forgive, or to invite someone to pray. It’s easy to overthink or ignore those moments, expecting something “bigger” or more impressive. But the truth is, God delights in doing extraordinary things through ordinary faithfulness.

Across our parishes, that obedience is already bearing fruit — people returning to Mass, families joining RCIA, and hearts opening to serve. The message is clear: when God stirs your heart, don’t reason it away. Lace up your spiritual sneakers, step out in faith, and just do it.

Check out www.haywardcatholic.org !

Listen to Father David’s Previous homily HERE.

What Do I Spend My Time Thinking About?

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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 21, 2025) — What Do I Spend My Time Thinking About?

This weekend, we’re asked to pause and pay attention to our own thoughts: What do I actually spend the most time focusing on each day? Is it worries about the world, struggles at home or work, or concerns for our children and families? Or is it God’s kingdom, my role as His disciple, and how I live that out?

St. Paul reminds us in today’s readings that our thoughts and concerns don’t have to spiral into worry or discouragement. Instead, they can be transformed into prayer, into trust in God, and into the energy of discipleship. “First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone… lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument” (1 Tim 2).

Jesus also says in the Gospel, “No servant can serve two masters.” One practical way to discern who we’re serving is to notice what we think and talk about most. Is it our anxieties—or the Lord?

This week, simply pay attention: Do my concerns lead me deeper into worry, or do they become fuel for prayer and for living as Christ’s disciple?

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: How Should Christians Respond?

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Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross  — How Should Christians Respond?

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 14, 2025) This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Cross, once a sign of suffering and death, has become for us the ultimate sign of hope: the place where God’s love conquered sin and death.

In light of recent tragedies, including the heartbreaking shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, how are we as Christians called to respond?

  • With prayer — not as a last resort, but as a powerful act that lifts the suffering to God.

  • Through the sacraments — especially the Eucharist and confession, where Christ’s grace enters our broken world.

  • By intentional relationships — reaching out, befriending, and witnessing God’s love to those who may feel unseen.

  • With courage as disciples — stepping out of our comfort zones to share the Gospel, even if it feels uncomfortable or seems to make only a small difference.

The Cross reminds us that love is stronger than death, and Christ is stronger than violence. Even if it feels like there’s just a 1% chance that our words or actions could help someone turn back to God, that 1% is worth it — because eternity is at stake.

So we lift high the Cross: proclaiming the love of Christ, living as disciples with conviction, and trusting that God can transform even tragedy into hope.

Catholic Services Appeal Weekend

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This weekend we begin our Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) — the annual appeal that sustains our Diocese in Northern Wisconsin.

  • St. Joseph Parish Goal: $65,127

  • St. Ann Parish Goal: $15,973
    (We met our goals last year, and with your help, we can do it again!)

But this isn’t just about meeting a financial goal. The true call is to grow in Prayerful Generosity:

  • Prayerful — Jesus prayed for us and intercedes for us.

  • Generous — Jesus gave his life for us.

Why Support the CSA?

  • Funds the education and formation of seminarians (7 this year, most in 16 years, at $50,000 per seminarian annually).

  • Brings international priests to serve our parishes (currently 26 of our 42 active priests are international).

  • Supports youth faith experiences (Extreme Faith Camp, Totus Tuus, March for Life, retreats).

  • Offers adult retreats and formation.

  • Provides essential administrative and legal guidance for parishes.

  • Strengthens Catholic schools, including St. Francis Solanus in our cluster.

How to Give

  • Use CSA envelopes mailed to you or found at church entrances/bulletins. Return in the collection, bring to the parish office, or mail directly.

  • Give online at haywardcatholic.org under the Give tab, designating the 2025–2026 CSA for St. Joseph or St. Ann.

Any amount above our goal comes back to our parishes!

Challenge: Grow in Prayerful Generosity. Give more this year than last — and pray for the causes you support. In doing so, we become more like Jesus.

Retirement: For Me or For God?

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Retirement: For Me or For God? 

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 08/03/25

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells of a wealthy man who stored up riches for himself, only to be called a fool by God—not for working hard, but for forgetting eternity. He lived as though his future belonged to him, not to God.

This challenges us in a culture that views retirement as finally doing what we want. The Christian question is different: Is retirement about me, or is it about God and others?

  • Ecclesiastes reminds us that work without God is vanity.

  • St. Paul urges us to “seek what is above” and put on Christ.

Retirement, then, isn’t the reward for decades of labor. It’s a new vocation—a fresh opportunity to serve, love, and live for God more freely. The Christian mission never retires.

Key Questions:

  • Am I investing my time, resources, and energy in what matters to God?

  • Am I growing as His disciple and helping others come to Him?

True retirement is not self-indulgence, but self-gift. Not vanity, but eternal value. Every day, even in small hidden moments, we are called to glorify God and bring souls to Him.

Wanting to Want “All”

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (07/13/25) Wanting to Want “All”

In this episode, we reflect on Jesus’ call to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind—a total, undivided love. We ask the honest question: Do I really love God with all, or just a lot, a majority, or maybe only some? This homily challenges us to move from partial devotion to wholehearted surrender, inviting us to desire a deeper, fuller love for God that shapes every part of our lives.

True Freedom

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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time | 07/06/25

This week, we reflect on the meaning of freedom—not just as Americans celebrating Independence Day, but as Christians sent into the world. True freedom isn’t about doing whatever we want; it’s the gift of choosing love, sacrifice, and God’s will. In the Gospel, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples two by two—not alone, but united in mission and reliant on God’s grace. Their joy comes not from their own accomplishments but from seeing what God did through them. As we cherish our country’s liberty, we’re reminded that freedom without virtue can lead us astray. Christian freedom is always “freedom for”—for holiness, justice, and love of neighbor. This episode challenges us to step out of comfort zones and use our freedom to transform the world for Christ.

Pray for Us

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Solemnity of Saints Peters and Paul

We are not on this journey of faith alone.  We turn to each other so naturally when we need help, especially to our friends and family.  The saints are our friends in heaven, our family in heaven; they are alive in Christ!  So ask for their help, their prayers, their support as fellow members of the Body of Christ.

St. Peter…pray for us.
St. Paul…pray for us.
All you holy men and women…pray for us.