Dear Family of Faith,

As we approach the joyful and significant feast of Pentecost, we are reminded of the wondrous outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the early disciples and the birth of the Church. This extraordinary event continues to resonate with profound meaning in our lives as Catholic faithful.
 
Think of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit could transform fearful, ordinary fishermen, into courageous missionaries, think of what He can do to us. 

All week long I’ve been praying the original novena to the Holy Spirit, the whole Church has been praying for the gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts enable us to live virtuous lives and respond faithfully to God’s call.
 
In just over a month our parish will come together to be part of Pastorate 26. The powerful wind and tongues of fire that accompanied this divine visitation signaled the beginning of a new era, empowering the disciples to boldly proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Please God, our new Pastorate will have this same fervor given to the Apostles, directed toward mission, animated by the Spirit.

May the Holy Spirit descend upon us and renew the face of the earth!
 
 Fr. Chad M. Droessler 

Congratulations to newlyweds, Tim & Sara Whitney! And God’s blessings to Louis, Collin and Dominic who were baptized last weekend! 

Their son, Joseph, was ordained to the priesthood May 20 by Archbishop Listecki. Fr. Joseph will begin his first assignment at the downtown family of parishes in Milwaukee, including St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. Pray for Fr. Joseph!

Usher Volunteer Needed for Sunday 10:15am Masses
We are especially in need of ushers and a few more leaders for our 10:15am Mass. Please sign up here. 

The Seven Sisters Apostolate group for our pastorate is in need of an adorer to pray a holy hour for Fr. Chad’s intentions on Thursdays beginning June 22 for the following twelve months. This is open to women, and subs are available when needed. Contact Kelly for details: kellybond4@icloud.com or 608-445-0893. Go to https://sevensistersapostolate.org to find out more about this worldwide apostolate. 

The Eagle’s Nest is where you can purchase, swap or donate gently-used uniforms. This is a great time to donate uniforms if your child is graduating or if they have outgrown them. Uniforms can be placed in the bin outside of the school office, or labeled and put in the usher’s room.

Please register by 6/1 for this early bird pricing! Strengthen your child’s Catholic faith & grow in community this summer at Vacation Bible School (VBS)! It will take place at IHM Mon-Fri 7/17-7/21 for all children going into 4K-6th Grade! The theme is Cathletics: Training to be Champions for Christ! It is an Olympic/Sports-themed program, where children will be inspired to set GOALS and AIM for a commitment to excellence in their Catholic faith. We will need adult volunteers and youth volunteers (7th Grade and up)! More information can be viewed here.

Our Lord desires closeness with you – whether it is by praying the rosary, talking to Jesus or sitting in silence. Adoration takes place Mon-Sat from 6am-8pm and Sun 4pm-8pm in the Mary Morning Star Chapel. Adorers are welcome to drop in. See the sign up sheet to view open times and make a weekly commitment. Current needs are: Tues 3pm & 5pm, Fri 6am & 7pm, Sun 3pm & 5pm. If the available hours do not work, please feel free to commit to a time that works for your schedule!

A group of IHM ladies have made beautiful prayer shawls for those experiencing a challenging life situation, such as: a critical/terminal illness, a pending surgery, bereavement, loss, or loneliness. The ladies prayed for the recipient while making them, hoping the prayer shawl will provide a tangible encounter of God’s love and show our parish’s care and concern. Please contact the parish office at ihmoffice@ihmparish.org if you would like to pick one up for a parishioner.

The IHM Choir provides music for the 10:15am Sunday Mass and rehearses on Thursdays from 7pm-8:30pm. The choir is open to all adults, no audition or singing experience necessary! Any parishioner (child, adult, or school student) with piano experience is eligible for free organ lessons through the parish. Please contact Michael at mmills@ihmparish.org for more information.

Catholic Books & Resources
If you’re looking for inspirational Catholic books and CD’s, please visit the kiosk in the narthex. We ask that you help cover the cost by using the envelopes provided and place them in the offertory collection. There are books that can be borrowed; they are labeled as such and located on the lower shelf. 

Please join us in praying for the dead. All Masses are at 10am at the Resurrection Cemetery Chapel, 2705 Regent St., Madison. May 29 Memorial Day Bishop Donald Hying, Jun 16 Msgr. James Bartylla.

St. Lawrence Seminary High School is hosting a summer retreat from 6/12-6/14 for boys going into grades 7-9. See the flyer for more details! 

Chesterton Academy – Queen of Martyrs, a Catholic high school featuring a classical curriculum will be opening in Fall 2024 in Sun Prairie! An information session will be held Tues 6/13 at 7pm at St. Albert the Great in Sun Prairie. To register for the event, visit ChestertonQofM.com.

Registration is now open for Seen, Known, Loved: A Virtual Retreat for Grieving Mothers. June 9 &10. Register here.

Join Fr. Mark Foley and the Totus Tuus team for a summer catechetical program called Totus Tuus! It is for Catholic youth in Grades 1-12. It is dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, apologetics, Christian witness, the sacraments, Marian devotion, and Eucharistic adoration. Grades 1-6 will take place at Christ the King 7/10-7/14 and grades 7-12 will take place 7/9-7/13. Volunteers are needed! More information can be viewed here.

Jesus is present in the Eucharist in His totality and He calls us to an encounter with Him in the Eucharist. It’s time to answer Christ’s call! In response to Christ’s call, on Corpus Christi, 2022, America’s Bishops inaugurated a National Eucharistic Revival to renew and deepen our relationship with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. The Madison Diocese joins this national revival with its own Congress. So, mark your calendar for our first-ever, Madison Diocesan Eucharistic Congress – a joy-filled, spiritual weekend dedicated entirely to Jesus’ Eucharistic glory and to our encounter with Christ. This will take place 9/29-10/1 at St. John the Baptist in Waunakee. There is no cost to attend.Visit the website for more details, see the weekend schedule and to pre-register!

Earn a rebate for IHM simply by buying gift cards to use for everyday purchases, instead of cash or credit cards. You get the full amount of the gift card you purchase AND the parish & school receives a rebate!  RaiseRight gift cards are available using the smartphone app, online, in the parish office during office hours, or in the Narthex after Mass on May 27/28. Buying gift cards using the app is quick and easy! Stop by if you’d like assistance setting up or navigating this app on your smartphone.