Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 20, 2025
Confessions are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. at the northwest entrance (opposite the Adoration entrance) of the church.
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Office Hours Parish (414) 321-1965 (414) 321-8540 School
Friday: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
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Father Michael Merkt, Pastor Email: mmerkt@stjohns-grfd.org
Steve Pemper, Deacon Email: spemper@aol.com
Denise Kasulke, Dir. of Administrative Services Email: dkasulke@stjohns-grfd.org
Karen Schulteis, Dir. of Liturgy & Music Email: kschulteis@stjohns-grfd.org
John Paul Shimek, Dir. of Lifelong Faith Formation Email: jpshimek@stjohns-grfd.org
George Pitman, Jr., Bookkeeper, Building & Grounds Email: gpitman@stjohns-grfd.org
Jan Sadlon, Parish Secretary Email: rectory@stjohns-grfd.org or jsadlon@stjohns-grfd.org
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Gospel Reflection
July 20, 2025
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of my close friends is a hermit priest who lives on a desert mountain. Recently, I found myself in a group conversation about him. One vehemently objected, “What does he do up there all day? Nothing! Priests are down here working, running parishes, making a difference, and he…he is doing nothing! What a waste.” The words dripped with indignation and resentment. Most of the group quietly nodded in silent agreement. Were they correct?
No! To see why, consider a similar scenario in this week’s gospel. Jesus visits his friends Martha and Mary. A hardworking and exasperated Martha complains to Jesus that her sister is attending to him rather than to urgent household tasks. Our Lord, rather than praising hospitality, explicitly celebrates the less-productive sister for doing the “one necessary thing.” He praises her for she “has chosen the better part” (Luke 10:42). Mary is busy doing what matters.
Before we freak out like Martha, consider that all work–domestic, manual, professional, ministerial, contemplative–is done to help us (sooner or later) to experience the love that makes us happy. We should be thankful for those who focus on the “better part” of radical, ceaseless prayer. They invite us to remember that the purpose of all work is the enjoyment of love. Contemplatives, hermits, anyone fervently committed to prayer–they invite us to cast aside our forgetful, resentful, and self-aggrandizing attitudes in exchange for hearts ready to do what is finally necessary.
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Love One Another Catholic Campaign
In the Summer of 2021, we entered the pilot wave of the Archdiocesan campaign, "Love One Another." Below is a video we produced to present some of our case elements. For a more detailed description of our case elements, or if you want to donate, please click here.
Welcome
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic Eucharistic community faithful to the values and traditions of the Church. We strive to live our faith every day, to embrace stewardship, and to be nurtured by continuous Christian Formation.