St. John Catholic Parish

05/30/2026

A new film on the Sacred Heart is coming to theaters this June and it has a few local showings!

"Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End" is a new docudrama that intertwines the story of Sacred Heart visionary and messenger St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with testimonies from priests, nuns, historians, and theologians who reflect on Jesus' revelations of love.

The film is showing in theaters through Fathom Entertainment and will be presented in English on June 9, 11, and 14; and in Spanish on June 10. In our diocese, it will play in Madison, Sun Prairie, Janesville, and Beloit (in English only; the closest the Spanish version is coming is the Chicago area). Check out https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/sacred-heart/ for more information and to see where and when it is showing near you!

(And don't forget, Bishop Hying is consecrating our diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the same week that this film is showing; get your tickets for the movie and then attend Bishop Hying's special Mass with consecration to the Sacred Heart on Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm at Sacred Hearts Church in Sun Prairie!)

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

Saint Joan of Arc
1412-1431
Feast day: May 30
Patronage: France; martyrs; captives; military personnel; people ridiculed for their piety; prisoners; soldiers
Joan of Arc, national heroine of France, was born in 1412 during the Hundred Years War. At age 12 she began receiving visions of Saint Michael, as well as other angels and saints, telling her to drive out the English. Possessing remarkable mental and physical courage, Joan led the French army to victory over the British at Orleans when she was 18. Several additional victories led to Charles VII’s coronation. Eventually burned at the stake, she held up a cross calling continually upon the name of Jesus. A retrial declared her innocent in 1456 making her a martyr. Joan of Arc was canonized 500 years later.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-joan-of-arc

05/30/2026

Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, we remember with deepest gratitude those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and pause to lift them and their families in prayer.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

05/25/2026

Today, the day after Pentecost, is the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church!

Today's memorial reminds us that since Mary is the Mother of Jesus, she is also the mother of all who are part of His Body, the Church. She received all of us as her sons and daughters when she received John as her son at the foot of the Cross, the scene of today's Gospel. Let us entrust ourselves and the whole Church today to her maternal care!

The image here is of a mosaic in St. Peter's Square, installed in 1981 at the request of Pope John Paul II, overlooking the spot in the Square where an attempt was made on his life in a shooting. The mosaic honors Mary's love and protection for all of us, her children, under the title "Mater Ecclesiae," Mother of the Church).

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

05/25/2026

Saint Bede the Venerable
Doctor of the Church
672/673-735
Feast Day: May 25 (New), May 27 (Trad)
Patronage: English writers, historians, Jarrow, St. Bede college and university
Saint Bede was a Benedictine monk in Britain. He was the greatest scholar, author, and teacher of his time, deeply versed in the sciences and history, and known as the “Father of English History”. As a linguist and translator, he brought the works of the Latin and Greek writings of the early church fathers to the English, which contributed significantly to English Christianity. St. Bede was the first to date events anno domin (AD). He’s called Venerable to acknowledge his wisdom and learning.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-bede-the-venerable

05/25/2026

Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

05/23/2026

Today, the Saturday before Pentecost, is the memorial of Mary, Queen of Apostles!

The word "apostle" means "one who is sent." After they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the apostles were empowered to go out to the whole world to preach the Gospel. If Mary is the queen of all who are sent, that means that she is our queen, since we have all been sent on mission! And she is our queen because she is the apostle par excellence. She was perfectly open to the action of the Holy Spirit at the Annunciation, when she allowed the Holy Spirit to overshadow her and to conceive the Word of God within her. Upon receiving this Word, she went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth to bring the good news to her. And as she mothered Jesus, she was continually attentive to Him and His actions, pondering everything in her heart (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51). Her listening heart and her willingness to do all that was asked of her make her the best example of apostolic readiness to all of us! Let us place ourselves today under the queenship of Mary as we witness to her Son in our daily lives.

Today is also a pastorate feast day; we send prayers and a shout-out to Queen of Apostles Parish! Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us!

(Queen of Apostles image from the Daughters of St. Paul)