Image courtesy of Thinkstock.com
Traditional Advent service
An Advent Service of Lessons and Carols is at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Frederic. The service consists of Bible readings and hymns in preparation for Christmas. A light supper social will follow the service.
Animated film showing
“The Star” will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 – Feast of the Epiphany – in the side hall at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Whittlesey. Popcorn and drinks will be provided; supervision is requested for ages 4 and younger. The animated film “The Star” is about a small but brave donkey who yearns for a life beyond the daily grind. Finally leaving for adventure, he meets up with a sheep and dove; the three become accidental heroes in the first Christmas. Call Megan Niggemann, 715-560-0151, for information.
Koinonia retreats in 2019
Koinonia is a community experience in Christian living designed especially for adults. This N.E.W. retreat weekend is an official program of the Diocese of Superior.
The weekend consists of presentations, discussions, reflections, sharing, prayer and liturgical celebrations. Retreat dates in 2019 include a daylong retreat Jan. 26 in Tony and weekend retreats from March 15-17 in River Falls and Oct. 11-13 in Dobie. Contact Bluette Puchner, , for information.
Respect Life essay contest
Students in grades five through 12 are invited to enter the annual Respect Life essay contest hosted by the Diocese of Superior Respect Life Office. Students are asked to write a poem or essay explaining what this year’s theme, “Every Life: Cherished, chosen, sent,” means to them. Students writing essays in grades five through eight should submit 150-200 words; high school students should submit 200-300 words. Entries are disqualified if the number of words does not meet the standard; poems can be any length. Please list the contestant’s name and address, the number of words in the essay, grade, teacher’s name and contact information, and specify home school, religious education or Catholic school. Send entries to Diocese of Superior Respect Life Office, PO Box 969, Superior WI 54880. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 28. Contact Bonita Thom, 715-392-2937 or , with any further questions. Quotes from submissions will be printed in the Superior Catholic Herald. Prizes will be awarded for entries chosen by the judging committee.
Party for young adults
A New Year’s party for young adults is taking place from 6 p.m. to midnight New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Dobie. All young adults and college students ages 18 and older are invited for Mass and board games. Please bring snacks, nonalcoholic beverages and board games. Mass is 6 p.m., social is 7 to 11 p.m., and adoration, praise and worship and benediction are at 11 p.m. To attend, contact Chris Hurtubise, , by Dec. 20.
Bond set for former priest
Bond is set at $500,000 for a former priest of the Diocese of Superior who was removed from the priesthood in 1988 for sexually abusing minors. A preliminary hearing for Thomas E. Erickson, Minneapolis, was Dec. 12 at the Sawyer County Courthouse in Hayward. Ericksen, now 71, is charged with felony counts of first- and second-degree sexual assault of a minor and second-degree sexual assault of an unconscious victim for allegedly molesting boys in 1982 and 1983 when he was serving as a pastor in Winter. If Ericksen makes bail, he will have to turn in his passport, and he will not be permitted to have contact with anyone younger than 18 years old. A more comprehensive article on the Ericksen case will follow in an upcoming issue of the Superior Catholic Herald.
Holiday hours
The Diocese of Superior Chancery will be closed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24-25, and Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Blessed
holidays to all.
